Recently in Morgan Freeman Category

Drama. Directed by David Fincher. Starring Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey, R. Lee Ermey, Richard Roundtree, John Cassini. Drama/Thriller

Synopsis: A veteran detective in his last week before retirement teams up reluctantly with a hard charging rookie detective to investigate a unique and sadistic serial killer who tortures and kills his victims as reflections of the seven deadly sins.

This creepy, disturbing thriller is another that should be on everyone's list of all timers. The only reason not to like this one is if you don't like the genre or the theme, there is nothing else to complain about otherwise.

Forbeding from the opening scenes, Seven is the story of two detectives put together at very different stages of their career. Detective Somerset (Morgan Freeman/Levity) is a deep thinking, experienced detective who is burned out all the way to heck and back. Somerset is days away from retirement when he is paired with rookie detective Mills (Brad Pitt/Kalifornia). Mills is headstrong, idealistic, and has more than a little chip on his shoulder, which may be why he requested duty in the mean streets of the (nameless) big city.

They don't hit it off well at the beginning.

That pales in importance to a couple of murders that they are investigating, which are exceptional in their cruelty and viciousness. Its not long before the pair realize they are tracking a killer who is killing victims in accordance with the "7 deadly sins" of classic literature: sloth, greed, gluttony, lust, wrath, envy,and vanity. Trust me when I say, not wanting to be a spolier, that these killings are a little different, to say the least. As just one example, the "gluttony" murder is one with an obese victim who is forced to eat himself to death by the killer.

I don't feel too guilty by telling you-as you probably already know, even if you have not seen the movie-that Kevin Spacey (The Negotiator) plays John Doe, the mysterious killer who does not appear in full face on screen until the last third of the flick. Trust me, its worth the wait as Spacey outdoes himself in the sinister, creepy mode of his character. Freeman and Pitt are also matched well as the "May/December" cop pair who really never buddy up, they do grow to respect one another, and their professional relationship is important to the film as the backdrop of the killings doesn't really domiante the film until the last 20 minutes.

Few films can be really great without a strong supporting cast and this one is no exception. Gwyneth Paltrow (Proof) is really good as Mills' shy, demure wife and you'll love R. Lee Ermey (Full Metal Jacket) playing a familiar type (himself?) as the boss of Somerset and Mills.

Thankfully, the DVD version comes with some interesting special features. One of the good things about seeing some older flicks on DVD is that the commentaries of the director and actors are done well after the fact, so they know the impact of the film and have the advantage of hindsight. Neat stuff.

Great movie.   

Directed by Lasse Hallstrom. Starring Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Lopez, Camryn Manheim, Josh Lucas, Becca Gardner, Damian Lewis. Drama. Synopsis: A young woman flees her abusive boyfriend with her daughter and goes to rural Wyoming, where she asks to be taken in by her former father-in-law and his disabled friend, knowing that her deceased husband's father still blames her for the death of his son. 

An Unfinished Life is an excellent story that is parts drama, romance, and western. The story is good and real, there is something there for almost anyone to relate to in experience or circumstances that we have thought about.

Jean (Jennifer Lopez) is a young mother who is in a terribly abusive situation, and our story starts with her just having received a beating from her boyfriend, Gary (Damian Lewis Band of Brothers). There is a poignant scene where her daughter, Griff (Becca Gardner) pleads with her that she promised they would leave if it happened once more. So, off they go, but to where?

Well, they leave Iowa with an unformed plan but, not having many options, head to Wyoming, where we learn, along with Griff, that she has a grandfather named Einar (Robert Redford  The Sting, Sneakers). Jean was married to Griff's father who was killed in an auto accident before Griff was born...and Jean was driving. Making it even more interesting is the fact that Einar does not even know about Griff and is pretty up front in his desire that Jean not stay with them...the "them" being Einar and his best friend Mitch (Morgan Freeman Glory, Lucky Seven), who is disabled after being mauled by a bear.

The other important characters in this story are Nina (Camryn Manheim Sudden Impact The L Word) who Jean befriends at her waitressing job and the local Sheriff (Josh Lucas Glory Road) who might just become the new man in Jean's life.

You would predict that a significant subplot would be the pursuit of Jean by Gary and you're right, but the story is much richer than that. The relationships of Einar: with his daughter-in-law who he refuses to forgive; his new found granddaughter, and his friend who he primarily takes care of carry the film. Redford is amazing here and a much more gruff character than he usually plays. Morgan Freeman is in a characteristic role: wise and commanding of respect.

I must say that I have never been a big fan of Lopez, never really into the whole "J-Lo" thing. But, I have to admit that she is a very good actress...at least in this film. And you've got to respect her willingness to go for it here in a role that is as far from glamorous as you can get.

There is something here for everyone, we all have unfinished business, regrets, and possibly relationships out there that we know need to be mended. This flick does a nice job of telling a story of people with all of those things and more.

Excellent movie.

Drama/Action. Directed by David Burke. Starring Justin Timberlake, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey, LL Cool J, Dylan McDermott, John Heard, Cary Elwes, Roselyn Sanchez, Piper Perabo. Action/Drama. Synopsis: A young reporter for a community newspaper smells a rat in a case he is covering involving a special unit of the local police force. After convincing his reluctant editor to give him the backing in pursuing this story, he finds out that the corruption is deeper than even he believed.

This is one of those films that you buy or rent just based on the cast of actors if you are a movie buff, with a couple of Oscar winners, music personalities, and solid character actors all throughout. And, I will say, Edison Force does come through in the acting department, with solid performances top to bottom. Having said that, while it is a good flick, it is a little of a disappointment based on the expectations that one would have from seeing the names on the front of the DVD cover.

The story starts with a bang, literally and figuratively, as we are introduced to cop partners Deed (LL Cool J) and Lazorov (Dylan McDermott) who are hard hitting members of the special F.R.A.T unit of the police force of Edison. Lazerov, in particular, employs the "take no prisoners" approach to policing...as well as the entrepreneurial approach, as he and a reluctant Deed shake down a couple of alleged drug dealers, murdering one and swearing the survivor, Isiah (Damien Wayans The Last Boy Scout) to silence as well as the story that it was him who shot his buddy, not Lazerov.

It is at the trial of this case that the film's main protagonist, Pollack (Justin Timberlake) notices some unusual conversation between Isiah and Deed after Deed gets down off the stand and wants to pursue his instinct and look a little closer at F.R.A.T. Pollack works for a small, community newspaper with a burned out editor named Ashford (Morgan Freeman The Bucket List) who is skeptical of Pollack's work ethic and focused primarily on selling ads for his paper. Pollack does eventually convince Ashford to support him in his pursuit of the story, after some advice from his girlfriend Willow (piper Perabo) who basically tells him that he does have to work harder.

Pollack immediately starts to bump up against the establishment in Edison, facing the head of the unit, (John Heard The Pelican Brief) , the politically motivated District Attorney (Cary Elwes Saw), and basically the wall of silence and disinformation. This changes suddenly when Pollack gets Isiah to (foolishly) agree to tell him what really happened in return for help with his sick mother, and the aggressive members of F.R.A.T. take things a little too far with physical attacks on Pollack and Willow.

Of course, there are always good cops in any corrupt cop movie and, in this flick, the good guys within the system are the guilt ridden Deed, troubled by his desire to take a step that no member of F.R.A.T. has taken before....getting married. In Deed's case, his intended is Maria (Roselyn Sanchez) and, just by happenstance, he pops the big question to her in a public place where Pollack and Willow are minutes before they are attacked. Also on the good guy within the system team is D.A. investigator Wallace (Kevin Spacey Seven), who plays this one exceptionally cool and tough.

As I said, the acting is very good, Timberlake surprised me with his ability to not get blown off the screen, since in almost every scene he is playing off an actor/actress who is more accomplished and talented than he is. But, I think this is a point in the casting of the movie, after all, in this story I think Pollack is supposed to seem overmatched and in over his head.

McDermott is wonderfully evil, a cop clearly way over the edge, played with just the right intensity. I don't think I've seen him better. LL Cool J's Deed is the second most important character to the story behind Pollack, and he comes through in big way. The more I watch LL Cool J, the more I think of him as an actor who does music as opposed to a musician who is trying to act. he's good, folks, this role must have been written for him. Cary Elwes and John Heard both checked in well with their customary strong supporting performances and you know Freeman and Spacey were excellent.

So, what is my problem with this flick? Well, the story. It was interesting and action packed, but it was too far fetched for me in some parts, and some important character development was lacking. Why is Wallace, the primary investigator for the corrupt D.A., so readily willing to help bring his boss down (or try to) and how come F.R.A.T. doesn't know he's working with the scribes? Can F.R.A.T. really be that concerned with secrecy when Lazerov is walking the streets, jacking up people left and right? Also, since everyone in Edison seems to be in on this and there is no one to trust, once the bullets start flying and the body count starts to add up, why wouldn't anyone at least entertain the thought of going to another jurisdiction or blowing the story in a national paper instead of insisting on doing it from the inside? (You know, maybe a call to USA Today, CNN, F.B.I., or the New York Times) I know people are apathetic in this culture sometimes, but can you really have machine gun battles (don't forget the flamethrowers) in the streets of any city in broad daylight without someone calling somebody? And, why are talented female actors used so minimally when there is a chance for a really good story like Sanchez and Perabo in this one?

Maybe I'm being too hard on the film, but it wasn't a great film, and that is what I expected, and the story is too way out to be great. But, its still good.