“That Good Night”
There have been great actors who’ve tragically died before their final film was ever finally released. Heath Ledger never got to see the film or accept his well-deserved Oscar for playing the villainous Joker in Chris Nolan’s “The Dark Knight.” John Cazale likewise died before the gripping and war-torn classic “The Deer Hunter” ever debuted before audiences. One has to wonder if amongst their dying thoughts were hopes of the film being a success.
Acclaimed BAFTA winner John Hurt quietly passed away in 2017, but not before finishing up a film that is just now being released posthumously. “That Good Night” is among one of his finer works that shouldn’t be overlooked just because he passed before it was released.
Hurt stars as Ralph, a terminally ill man who cannot come to grips with his upcoming mortality. He instead makes a quick deal with someone slyly alluded to as The Visitor, a formal man dressed totally in white and played with impeccable style by the always splendid Charles Dance. A deal is made regarding euthanasia, and Ralph looks to spend a weekend with his somewhat distant son Michael and inform him of his plan. A wrench is thrown when Michael brings his comely new lady along to meet Ralph for the first time. Situations transpire that cast a whole new light on Ralph’s terminal plan.
Hurt filmed this around the same time he was diagnosed with a late stage pancreatic cancer, which ultimately proved fatal for him after filming. There are lines of Shakespeare dialogue that Hurt no doubt learned palling around with Peter O’Toole, Richard Harris, and Oliver Reed during his younger theater days. Based partially on a British play of the early ’90s of the same name, the acting here is performed in a stage play-like way. There’s no better way for a plucky old thespian to bow out.
“The Informer”
I have a thirst for preposterous action films. Saturday matinee-esque serials are the best, but every once in a while there’s a film that comes along that would play more to the Saturday night crowd, and I’m here to tell you there’s nothing wrong with that. “The Informer” is such a Saturday night film, and it stars Joel Kinnaman as Pete Koslow, a special agent who became an informant for the FBI in taking down an Eastern European mafia group. Thinking his mission was finished, Pete finds himself drawn back into a violent world where he must endure a prison stint while working to save his family on the outside. This is one of those actioners where anyone could be a double agent, or mafia hit man. The cast is rounded out with Clive Owen and the always-dependable Rosamund Pike.
“The Informer” comes off like a version of Martin Scorsese’s Oscar winner “The Departed,” with bad cops, good cops, corruption and literal mafia generals. The prime difference is that “The Informer” carries a bit less drama and a few more body bags. The violence in this film isn’t cartoonish or over the top, but by the end of the film you cannot help feel anything but satisfied with the wild ride you’ve just been on. Looking for the perfect streaming action film for a Saturday night? “The Informer” is a solid choice.
There have been great actors who’ve tragically died before their final film was ever finally released. Heath Ledger never got to see the film or accept his well-deserved Oscar for playing the villainous Joker in Chris Nolan’s “The Dark Knight.” John Cazale likewise died before the gripping and war-torn classic “The Deer Hunter” ever debuted before audiences. One has to wonder if amongst their dying thoughts were hopes of the film being a success.
Acclaimed BAFTA winner John Hurt quietly passed away in 2017, but not before finishing up a film that is just now being released posthumously. “That Good Night” is among one of his finer works that shouldn’t be overlooked just because he passed before it was released.
Hurt stars as Ralph, a terminally ill man who cannot come to grips with his upcoming mortality. He instead makes a quick deal with someone slyly alluded to as The Visitor, a formal man dressed totally in white and played with impeccable style by the always splendid Charles Dance. A deal is made regarding euthanasia, and Ralph looks to spend a weekend with his somewhat distant son Michael and inform him of his plan. A wrench is thrown when Michael brings his comely new lady along to meet Ralph for the first time. Situations transpire that cast a whole new light on Ralph’s terminal plan.
Hurt filmed this around the same time he was diagnosed with a late stage pancreatic cancer, which ultimately proved fatal for him after filming. There are lines of Shakespeare dialogue that Hurt no doubt learned palling around with Peter O’Toole, Richard Harris, and Oliver Reed during his younger theater days. Based partially on a British play of the early ’90s of the same name, the acting here is performed in a stage play-like way. There’s no better way for a plucky old thespian to bow out.
“The Informer”
I have a thirst for preposterous action films. Saturday matinee-esque serials are the best, but every once in a while there’s a film that comes along that would play more to the Saturday night crowd, and I’m here to tell you there’s nothing wrong with that. “The Informer” is such a Saturday night film, and it stars Joel Kinnaman as Pete Koslow, a special agent who became an informant for the FBI in taking down an Eastern European mafia group. Thinking his mission was finished, Pete finds himself drawn back into a violent world where he must endure a prison stint while working to save his family on the outside. This is one of those actioners where anyone could be a double agent, or mafia hit man. The cast is rounded out with Clive Owen and the always-dependable Rosamund Pike.
“The Informer” comes off like a version of Martin Scorsese’s Oscar winner “The Departed,” with bad cops, good cops, corruption and literal mafia generals. The prime difference is that “The Informer” carries a bit less drama and a few more body bags. The violence in this film isn’t cartoonish or over the top, but by the end of the film you cannot help feel anything but satisfied with the wild ride you’ve just been on. Looking for the perfect streaming action film for a Saturday night? “The Informer” is a solid choice.
RSS Feed