Virtuosity

Virtuosity

Gary Lucchesi Productions etc.

August 4, 1995

Sci-Fi

DVD
D

A world where virtual reality and real reality are equally unrealistic.  Brett Leonard directed.

2 Guns

2 Guns

Marc Platt Productions

August 2, 2013

Crime Comedy
DVD
C-

Not really my thing, but the banter wasn't bad.  Baltasar Kormákur directed, between 101 Reykjavík and Adrift.

Training Day

Training Day

Village Roadshow Pictures

October 5, 2001

Crime Drama

DVD
D-

Although the first quarter hour wasn't as violent as it could've been, Denzel's character was obnoxious.  Antoine Fuqua directed, between The Replacement Killers and Shooter.

The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)

The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)

Columbia etc.

June 12, 2009

Crime Drama

DVD
D-

I'm assuming that the '70s version at least had fun fashion.  This is based on the novel by John Godey, and directed by Tony Scott, after Crimson Tide and Spy Game, which are also D-s.

Safe House (2012)

Safe House (2012)

Universal etc.

February 10, 2012

Action

DVD
D-

Boring, violent, maybe racist.  Daniel Espinosa directed, five years before Life.

Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Sony Pictures etc.

November 22, 2017

Crime Drama?
DVD
C

I'm generally not big on legal dramas, but I was almost intrigued.  Dan Gilroy wrote and directed.

Out of Time

Out of Time

MGM etc.

October 3, 2003

Crime Drama, Romance?

DVD
D-

The misogyny alone is worth a D-, and the fact that every character seems to be convinced of their own wit irritated me, but the music and Florida scenery help balance things out.  Carl Franklin directed, eight years after he did far more justice to Denzel, and to women, in Devil in a Blue Dress.

The Manchurian Candidate (2004)

The Manchurian Candidate (2004)

Paramount

July 30, 2004

Drama?

DVD
D

Pretty dull, and no, I've never seen the '60s version or read the Richard Condon novel.  Jonathan Demme directed.

The Little Things

The Little Things

Warner Bros.

January 29, 2021

Crime Drama

DVD

D

Not my thing, but yay, my first 2021 movie.  (I haven't gone to a movie theater in like two years, even pre-Covid.)  John Lee Hancock wrote and directed.

John Q.

John Q.

New Line

February 15, 2002

Drama

DVD
C-

An off-putting beginning with the car crash set to classical music, and then you just know something terrible is going to happen to John's wonderful little son.  Nick Cassavetes, son of John (and Gena Rowlands) directed.

The Hurricane

The Hurricane

Universal

December 29, 1999

Mystery, Sports Drama, Historical Drama

DVD
D+

I can see it's well made, but not my kind of movie.  It's based on two books, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter's own The Sixteenth Round: From Number 1 Contender To 45472 and Lazarus and the Hurricane by Sam Chaiton and Terry Swinton.  Norman Jewison directed.

He Got Game

He Got Game

Buena Vista [Disney]

May 1, 1998

Sports Drama

DVD
D+

It's weird to see a Disney movie start in prison, even one written and directed by Spike Lee, although the music during the basketball scenes is very Disney.

Fences

Fences
Paramount
December 25, 2016
Historical Drama
DVD
C-

A Black garbage collector (Denzel Washington, who also directed) talks a lot in 1950s Pittsburgh.

Devil in a Blue Dress

Devil in a Blue Dress
TriStar
September 29, 1995
Crime Drama
DVD
B-

This neo-noir mostly works well, with its blend of mystery and social commentary, although there were times I found it confusing, and others that I found it predictable.  (I knew the Beals character was "passing" as soon as I saw her.)  The look and sound of 1940s Los Angeles are especially well done.

Carl Franklin directed and wrote the screenplay based on the Walter Mosley novel.  Denzel's then 11-year-old son, John David Washington, appears very briefly at the end, as Boy with Toy Rifle, 23 years before he'd star in BlacKKKlansman.

Crimson Tide

Crimson Tide
Buena Vista AKA Disney
May 12, 1995
Action
DVD
D-

Not only is this a Simpson-Bruckheimer movie about the military, but characters' obnoxiousness is presented as wit.  Still, it wasn't racist or violent (just sexist) in the first quarter hour.  Tony Scott directed.

This is the fourth Gene Hackman film I've rejected, and with each one I thank God that Robert Reed snagged the Mike Brady role.