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A Quiet Place (2018)
A Quiet Place (2018)
Before seeing this film, I thought right away that it looked like an M. Night Shyamalan movie. Perhaps it would be reminiscent of Signs (2002). I assumed that Shyamalan was the director until I saw that it was directed by, produced by, and stars John Krasinski.
I am really picky when it comes to horror movies that I get excited about. This one sparked my interest. I saw this on opening night, but I did not get to review it until now.
A Quiet Place takes place in the not so distant future where people are being hunted by vicious creatures that attack when they hear sound. The film follows one particular family that is trying to survive.
The movie was directed by John Krasinski and the noteworthy cast includes John Krasinski, Emily Blunt (Krasinski’s wife), Millicent Simmons, Noah Jupe, and Cade Woodward.
Krasinski has come a long way from his days of selling paper in The Office (2005). I really only started taking him seriously after seeing 13 Hours (2016). I think that he has successfully transitioned from comedy to more serious acting and this movie is further proof.
A Quiet Place was way better than Signs.
The chemistry between Blunt and Krasinski felt very genuine. Such a simple thing like that is easy when it is a real life couple onscreen. However, that connection can make all of the difference.
This is not a bloodbath horror movie. That is what I especially enjoyed about A Quiet Place. The film keeps you in suspense throughout basically the entire movie. It is edge-of-your seat excitement with enough jumpy scenes to make it worth your while.
The film is unique because it really does not contain a lot of dialogue. I feel like this adds to the suspense. The theater that I was in was eerily a quiet place. Our eyes were glued to the screen, and the hair on the back of our necks stood up as we were desperately wanting to know what was going to happen next.
A Quiet Place was a breath of fresh air for the horror genre. It is a reminder that a good spooky story meticulously executed is all that it takes to be a quality scary movie. It seems like such a simple concept, but most horror movies these days have trouble achieving this. There really was nothing wrong with this film. It was chilling from start to finish. Alfred Hitchcock would be proud.
I rate this movie a 9 on a scale of 1-10.
If you liked this film then you might also enjoy:
The Others (2001)
Signs (2002)
Looper (2012)
13 Hours (2016)
Happy Birthday to Alfred Hitchcock
Happy Birthday to Alfred Hitchcock! The master of suspense would have turned 114 years old today.
He is easily considered one of the best film directors to ever live. Arguably Hitchcock impacted the movie industry more than any other director. His methods forever changed movies.
His 4 most famous films are Psycho (1960), Rear Window (1954), Vertigo (1958) and North By Northwest (1959).
Happy Birthday to Eva Marie Saint
Happy Birthday to Eva Marie Saint! The famous actress turns 89 years old today.
She is most known for playing the leading lady opposite Cary Grant in Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece, North By Northwest (1959). In real life, Grant is 20 years her senior.
I find this picture fitting considering it’s the 4th of July.
Eva Marie Saint has been making movies and television shows for the last 66 years.
Cheers to you Eva!
Happy Birthday to James Stewart
Happy Birthday to James Stewart! Mr. Stewart would be 105 years old today.
The amazing actor was great in Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window (1954) and Vertigo (1958). But, he will forever go down in history as George Bailey in Frank Capra‘s It’s a Wonderful Life (1946). He is a true film legend.
“You sit around here and you spin your little webs and you think the whole world revolves around you and your money. Well, it doesn’t, Mr. Potter. In the whole vast configuration of things, I’d say you were nothing but a scurvy little spider! And…And that goes for you, too!” -George Bailey
Hitchcock (2012)
Hitchcock (2012)
In Hitchcock Anthony Hopkins steps into the shoes of the Master of Suspense and they fit him quite well. In fact, he seemed so much like Alfred Hitchcock that at times I forgot it was actually Anthony Hopkins. They even have the same monogrammed towels, although, that’s merely a coincidence. Or is it?
Hitchcock is based off of Stephen Rebello’s non-fiction book Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho. The film gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the relationship that Alfred Hitchcock had with his wife and the struggle he went through to create his most popular beloved masterpiece, Psycho (1960).
I am a huge Hitchcock fan, and I was not familiar with a lot of the events that occurred in this story. The movie was a sort of tribute to the legendary genius film director. It was enlightening and very entertaining.
Just as Hitchcock was able to get tons of popular actors to act in his films, Hitchcock the movie is overrun with a number of great actors: Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson, Danny Huston, Jessica Biel, Toni Collette, Michael Stuhlbarg, Michael Wincott, James D’Arcy, Richard Portnow, Kurtwood Smith, Ralph Macchio, Wallace Langham, Currie Graham, Spencer Garrett, and Frank Collison. Sacha Gervasi directs the movie.
Helen Mirren is superb as Hitchcock’s wife Alma. The chemistry between Mirren and Hopkins on screen is perfect.
The filming of Psycho was very tastefully recreated in Hitchcock. Scarlett Johansson does an excellent job playing Janet Leigh. Jessica Biel is a great Vera Miles. I thought James D’Arcy was a pretty believable Anthony Perkins.
Anthony Hopkins did for Hitchcock what Daniel Day-Lewis did for Lincoln (2012). They didn’t just act the part. They became the part.
If you are an Alfred Hitchcock fan like I am, than you will most certainly enjoy Hitchcock.
I rate this movie a 9 on a scale of 1-10.
Buy, rent, or run? Buy.
Note: You might be wondering why the name Ralph Macchio sounds so familiar. He was the original Karate Kid (Daniel Larusso) in The Karate Kid (1984). Can you believe he is already 51 years old?
Jack Reacher (2012)
Jack Reacher (2012)
This was a highly anticipated movie for me to see. I was excited to see it about a year ago when I first heard it was being filmed. This was all mainly because in the last year and a half or so, I read all 17 Jack Reacher novels written by Lee Child. I absolutely loved the books. What a wonderful series! I read through those stories like a fat kid eats a candy bar. I just could not get enough.
Being the Reacher fan that I am, I was very skeptical when I first heard that Tom Cruise was going to play the part of Jack Reacher in the movie. I think that Cruise is one of the best actors of our time. But physically, Tom Cruise is 5’7’’ and 170lbs. while Jack Reacher is 6’5’’ and depending on the book, anywhere from 210-250lbs. In other words, Cruise is 10 inches shorter and 80lbs. lighter than the character that he plays.
An unemployed Lee Child was at the grocery store with his wife and he would help reach groceries that were on the top shelf. His wife joked that he could get a job as a Reacher at the store. That is where Jack Reacher gets his name.
Tom Cruise could not reach the top shelf and therefore he could never get a job as a Reacher. For all we know, he probably can’t reach the middle shelf. This being said, Cruise is going to play the role of Reacher. How is that going to work?
It worked. It was an enormous reach, but Cruise pulled it off. Somehow the camera added 80lbs and 10 inches. He did it. He was Reacher. He was not actually any bigger, but he was a walking, talking, ass-kicking, Jack Reacher.
Jack Reacher was a smart, fun, action adventure that was a worthy screen depiction of a very solid novel called One Shot. One Shot is the 9th novel in the Reacher series. It is not necessary to read the books in order and therefore not necessary to film the movies in order.
I think that the filmmakers could film the Reacher series James Bond style. Get a new actor to play Jack Reacher and a new director every few movies. That gives you 17 and counting quality stories to work from. They should do it. I would watch them all. That would keep the characters fresh and the stories already speak for themselves. My favorite Reacher novel is Persuader. I hope they turn that one into a movie.
It was a treat to see 81-year-old Robert Duvall in the film. He’s still got it.
Lee Child also has a cameo in the movie. Without spoiling the story, just look for a guy who hands something to Tom Cruise. If the other books get turned into movies, it would be cool if Child went all Alfred Hitchcock and had a cameo in every movie.
I wondered why the movie was named Jack Reacher and not One Shot like the novel that it is based off of. My only conclusion is that more people are familiar with Jack Reacher than One Shot and therefore would likely be more interested in seeing the movie. Jack Reacher’s reputation is enough to fill the seats, but the title One Shot is not. With that being said, One Shot is not the best novel in the Reacher series. There are multiple Reacher books that are better than that one. In other words, there should be plenty of awesome Reacher movies to come. At least, I hope so.
I rate this movie an 9 out of 10.
Buy, rent, or run? Buy.
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