The Nic Cage Experience..."Gone In Sixty Seconds"

Gone In Sixty Seconds (2000)

PG-13

Starring Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, Giovanni Ribisi, Will Patton, Delroy Lindo, Timothy Olyphant, Chi McBride, Robert Duvall,

Directed by Dominic Sena

The Story:

"Memphis" Raines (Cage) is an ex-car thief who went straight years ago. When his little brother (Ribisi) gets in over his head in a car-theft deal, it's up to Memphis to save the day, and his brother's life. He reassembles his old crew (McBride, Duvall, Jolie and more!) to get a mountain of cars stolen in one night. Meanwhile, the cops (Lindo, Olyphant) know he's up to something and are out to bust him.

This is just plain, stupid fun.
:)

I have no idea how much of this film is a remake of the 70s film by the same name, and I don't really care.

This is an all-star, popcorn film that doesn't disappoint.

And that says something, because Nicolas Cage is a myriad of disappointment on many of his films.

However, when he's on, and they're fun, there's no stopping how fun it can be!

(See Con-Air for the best example of Nic Cage/All-Star popcorn fun!)

The fact that this is a heist/caper film helps sway my opinion as well.

The movie is fun, dialogue is hilarious and the action stunts are amazing.

So many stars, many in different phases of their career (starting or peaking), but for me, it all works.

This is one of those films that if it's on, I'm watching it.

Which is why this review is coming now (better late than never) because when I had cable, I was surfing and it was on, so I watched.

Still loved it.

Great B movie fun.

In fact..

Final Grade: B+

Forget Friday Night Lights But Always "Remember The Titans"

Remember the Titans (2000)

Rated PG

Starring Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Donald Faison, Hayden Panettiere, Ryan Gosling, Wood Harris, Ryan Hurst, Kate Bosworth

Directed by Boaz Yakin

The Story:

The year is 1971 and a federal mandate declares that an all-white school and an all-black school be integrated. Coach Herman Boone (Washington) is brought in as the head coach ahead of Coach Bill Yoast (Patton) who must swallow his pride and coach the defense instead. They assemble a talented mixture of athletes of both color and prepare for their season.  Before the year is over, this Virginia community is going to learn to overcome the obstacle of race as the Titans respond to the controversy in the only way that truly matters: they win.

Of course, this is based on a true story.

Add to that, this is produced by Walt Disney studios.

I would have to say that pound for pound, nobody does true stories better than Disney.

Naturally, Washington gives a great performance.  When doesn't he?

Patton does as well. He's a seriously underrated character actor who never gives a bad performance, and usually elevates any film he's in just by being there.

That said, the movie is about the football players, and how they gel to become a team.

I won't single out any one as better than the other in their performance because like the men they portrayed, they do this as a team, and they shine.

I will give mention to young Hayden Panettiere though. Already an accomplished actress by the time she got this role, I would say this is the film that catapulted her on her way to stardom.

She is absolutely precious as Coach Yoast's daughter who lives and breathes the game, almost more so than her father does.

This is one of those great sports movies that is great, even for people who don't like sports.

Final Grade: A-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: This is one of those movies I've always meant to pick up and add to the library, but have yet to get around to doing so.  Perhaps next year with the inevitable 15th anniversary re-release?

Time To Go! "Fled"

Fled (1996)

Rated R for language and violence

Starring Laurence Fishburne, Stephen Baldwin, Will Patton, Salma Hayek

Directed by Kevin Hooks

The Story:

Piper (Fishburne) and Dodge (Baldwin) are convicts on a chain gang.  When a break-out happens, the two convicts make a run for it.  It seems that Dodge has some incriminating evidence on a disc that will lead to millions of dollars.  Piper... well there is more to his story than he is willing to share with Dodge.  They are pursued by Detective Gibson (Patton) who thinks something smells fishy about the whole setup.

This is another guilty pleasure movie for me.

It's about 90 minutes of pure adrenaline that never slows down, and rarely pauses for anything other than a quick joke, and then back to the action.

You've seen the movie, even if you've never seen the movie before.

They basically steal every scene in their movie from other movies and put their spin on it.

Heck, Dodge spouts out movie references and quotes throughout the movie with a wink and a nod to allow us to enjoy the joke.

The best one comes at the end of the movie, when he references another movie that Fishburne was in.

Comedy. Gold.

:)

Slow night, can't figure out something to watch, that's when Fled gets the call.

It's a B movie that knows it's a B movie and has a blast attempting to be the best B movie it can be.

Final Grade: Solid B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I already own it, and I would say it sees the light of day every few years or so.