Ghosts: Road to Perdition

Hello all. I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while, I've been very busy with life. but I've managed to get enough time together here to post another great scene from another great movie.

One of my personal favorites, and possibly one of the most underrated films of all time, Road to Perdition (2002).

The film is the follows a American-Irish Gangster Michael Sullivan (Tom Hanks) and his son Michael Jr. (Tyler Hoechlin).  Michael Sullivan works as a hitman for mob boss Rooney Sullivan (Paul Newman) and his son Connor (Daniel Craig). Conner turns against Michael and his family when Michael Jr. witnesses a crime he committed, a which point Michael and his soon flee to Chicago.

A couple of points to note here. Mainly that the whole of the main cast, Tom Hanks, the great Paul Newman, Daniel Craig, and Jude Law (who makes an appearance as an assassin) are all at the top of their game here. Thomas Newman did the soundtrack here, and as is always with him, it is great.

WARNING: this scene contains spoilers.
In this scene I have chosen, Michael Sullivan has no options but to take revenge on his previous boss. This scene is very well shot, with the poetic weather and a great piece from the soundtrack. My favorite scene from the movie.

Go home, get your Shinebox: Goodfellas

I could have picked perhaps any scene in this movie, and it would have been a classic. And I may just put more scenes up later, but this is one of the best from the movie, Goodfellas (1990).

If this is a movie you haven't seen, it is a movie you must see, especially if you like Gangster movies. Based on the non-fiction book Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi, and directed by the great Martin Scorsese, Goodfellas follows the story of Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), and his fellow wiseguy colleagues, Jimmy "The Gent" Conway (Robert De Niro) and Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci) during their rise and fall in organized crime, spanning three decades.

In this scene, quick tempered Tommy is rattled by another gangster Billy Batts (Frank Vincent), and things quickly turn violent.






Martin Scorsese is on top form when directing this movie, and this is without a doubt a classic. I challenge anyone to not enjoy this movie. The main cast preform fantastically, Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci all being at the very top of their game. This movie is truly one of the greatest gangster films ever made.

GoodFellas @IMDb

Spectacular: American Beauty

I'm not sure where most people stand on this movie, but for me, it's one of my favorites of all time. Directed by Sam Mendes and written by Alan Ball, American Beauty is the story of Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) a middle-aged office worker who has a midlife crisis and becomes infatuated with his daughter's best friend, Angela (Mena Suvari).  There is really more to the movie than that, but for the nature of this scene, that is all that is necessary to give away.



There is so much about this movie I think makes it great, to name a few; Kevin Spacey's performance. I'm a Spacey fan as it is, but he was just top notch in this, not much more than that to say, he was fantastic in this movie. It also helps that the movie score was Thomas Newman, who is a well known composer when it comes to film scores, and did a great job here. And finally the directing and writing of this movie and just to a standard that you don't see often in film. Some people have a different opinion about this movie, but if you ask me, this is truly a modern classic.

American Beauty @ IMDb

How far to the Russians? : Snatch

Time for a bit of British I think. Good cast, good plot, good director. Snatch.

Written and directed by Guy Ritchie, snatch is a story about underground boxing, bookmakers gangsters and a stolen diamond. I'm not even going to try and out line the plot, you really have to watch it. But what I do promise is a good crime thriller.
A few of the cast need special mention here. The film has a great duo in the form of Jason Statham and Stephen Graham. You may remember, back the days of 2000, that Jason Statham wasn't always cast in god awful action roles. In Snatch he is really in his element, more than just a type-cast tough guy, but a tough guy none-the-less. Stephen Graham on the other hand, I feel is a greatly under rated actor, and I believe this wont be the last time he makes this blog. He was great in Snatch, and just about everything I've seen him in, most recently This is England '86. Vinne Jones plays the same character that he does in every movie he's ever been in, and does it well. Brad Pitt, was a little less convincing in his role as a Irish Pikey, but not enough to spoil the part or the movie.

Once again, I would find it hard to describe what is going on in this scene, if you've already seen the movie you'll understand, if you've not, then you wont. It's as simple as that. Enjoy.



Snatch @ IMDb

No Skate Zone: Observe and Report.

Last year (2009) there is a good chance many of you may remember a film called 'Paul Blart: Mall Cop'. You are less likely to have heard of a film called Observe and Report also a film about mall security. The two movies had the misfortune of being produced, shot and released very much around the same time, and as far as promotion is concerned, Paul Blart seemed to come out on top. What we probably can all agree on is that Paul Blart was, despite being a box office success, a poor movie at best.


Observe and Report however, was (althought not classic) a far more watchable film, even if less known. Written and directed by Jody Hill, Observe and Report follows Ronnie Barnhardt (Seth Rogen), the over jelous head of security at Forest Ridge Mall. When an anoymous flasher exposes himself to the shoppers in the parking lot, Ronnie lanuches his own investigation along side the police investigation, headed by Detective Harrison (Ray Liotta). Over the movie the two develope a distinct dislike for each other as the plot unfolds.

In the scene I have chosen today, Ronnie, has become disenfranchised with his carear as head of security, and himself and fellow officer Dennis (Michael Peña) go to show some Skateboarders whats what.



The film is a black comedy, and it carries it well. And as a side note it had a pretty kickin soundtrack. I am still undecided on Seth Rogen, however he played the part well, and was well suited to the role. I was surpised at first to see Ray Liotta in Observe and Report, but as usual he played his part very well. I'm more about individual scenes than reviewing movies as a whole, but if you're looking for some laughs and nothing too serious, then this movie is more than watchable, and offers far more than Paul Blart: Mall Cop.

Observe and Report @ IMDb

The Chronic: Extract

Here's another one from Mike Judge here, Extract (2009). This is by no-means a classic film, and not some of Judge's best work. However I watched it and enjoyed it, regardless of it not living up to the standard of other works from Judge.

The film follows Joel Reyn (Jason Bateman), the owner of a flavor-extract company, hence the name of the movie. The business is successful, however his marriage is not, sexlessness being the issue. During the film, Joel falls foul of a sexy con artist named Cindy (Mila Kunis), who takes avantage of a mishap at the factory, (An employee loses one of his fellas).

In this scene, after finding out his wife is cheating on him, Joel desides to unwind with his friend Dean (Ben Affleck) and a guy named Willie (Matt Schulze). Other than the fact this scene is just funny, there are a few subtle editing tricks that empathize the effects of the drug, to the viewer.

Cameron's Day off

Today's pick is from a movie that many of us will reconize as a classic, Ferris Bueller's day off. Directed written and produced by John Hughes. The film follows Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) who decides to skip school by faking illness and persuades his girlfriend Slone (Mia Sara) and his best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck), who turns out to be quite a character, to join him.

In this scene, after being continuously phoned by Ferris, and urged to drive over and 'come pick him up' Cameron considers his options in a calm and collected way.



Many teen movies from the 80s have aged horribly and faded into obscurity. Ferris Bueller's Day Off however remains a classic. For what reason I'm not sure, I do however agree with it's status as a classic. Ferris isn't in himself a lovable character, in fact he can be somewhat annoying. Whereas Cameron for some reason seem to be a character that a lot of people, myself included, can relate to a lot better. It is perhaps this balance in the two main roles that make this movie such good viewing, that, and the writing and directing of the late John Hughes.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off @ IMDb

Old man Dies

Feeling the blog is a little bare, gonna add another post in here.

The next Scene I've chosen to put up here is from Sin City (2005), based on Frank Miller graphic novels of the same name. Frank Miller also directed the movie, along side Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino as a guest director. The movie follows various different plots which all intertwine although are separate from each other. The movie was almost entirely shot on green screen which aided to it's graphic novel appearance. This added along with a good cast, good direction and some kick ass action scene made this a good watch.

The scene I've chosen follows the story of John Hartigan (Bruce Willis) and Nancy Callahan (Jessica Alba) in a battle against corruption and cover ups. The conclusion of this story winds up being somewhat unexpected and touching.

Warning the Clip contains SPOILERS.



Sin City at IMDb

Getting the ball rolling

Got some free time on my hands, so I'm setting up this blog to share some of my favorite moments from some of the great, (And not so great) movies and Television shows out there.

The first scene I've chosen to blog, is from Mike Judge's Office Space, starting (among other) Ron Livingston, Jennifer Anistion and Gary Cole. The movie follows Peter Gibbons (Ron Lovingston) in very routine office job, reprogramming bank software for the expected Y2K disaster. Much of the movie revolves around common day annoyances of office life. I wont give away the major plot of the movie, but I will say it's other a watch, and it's title as a cult classic.

In this scene Gibbons and his fellow workmates, vent their anger on the office fax machine, which had been refusing to work correctly.



The song in the video is Ghetto Boyz - Still

Office Space At  IMDb