Year: 2011
Genre: Comedy
Director: Seth Gordon
Plot: Three men tormented by their bosses hatch a plan to kill them. But since they're amateurs and clumsy, things don't go according to plan.
The gist: The subject matter is something we can all relate to, especially if you work for someone higher than you. Director Seth Gordon uses this to his advantage and lets us follow three good natured but at times silly guys who plan on doing away each other's bosses.
If you're familiar with The Hangover and slapstick style comedy, then you should know what you're in for. Some of it works, some other jokes just fall flat.
The good: Kevin Spacey is perfect as the boss who stops at nothing to torment Jason Bateman, enough for you to despise the guy easily. Jennifer Aniston isn't half bad either as the boss who sexually harasses Charlie Day. Jamie Foxx is pretty good too as their murder consultant.
The bad: Charlie Day is all over the place for the most part. He's the resident dumb guy that Bateman & Sudeikis picks on, and he gets quite annoying at times. Colin Farrell is underused here unfortunately. And as mentioned, some of the jokes just didn't hit the mark. The ending is also much too convenient.
Verdict: It's a decent attempt at comedy featuring a subject everyone can relate to, but it could have been better. (2.5/5)
Year: 2011
Genre: Crime drama
Director: Ami Canaan Mann
Plot: A pair of detectives investigate the disappearance of a young girl at the notorious Killing Fields in Texas.
The gist: This film is the feature film debut of sorts for Ami Mann, daughter of Michael Mann. It follows two detectives investigating two cases, one is a death of a young girl, the other a disappearance of another girl.
The two cases overlap as the two guys put their heads together trying to solve both mysteries while another girl who is close to one of them becomes a potential target.
Authenticity of the happenings are solid. It sometimes feels like we're watching a dramatization of the stuff we see on the Crime & Investigation network. The Texas countryside is also an interesting location for such a film.
The good: Sam Worthington is excellent as Mike Souder, as the character is the cranky and hot tempered of the two, which allows him to move away from the usual heroic characters he's been playing in Avatar and Clash Of The Titans. He's perfectly contrasted by Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Brian Heigh, the 'good cop' who is more emotionally invested in the murders. Jessica Chastain is good as a fellow detective but doesn't get much air time. Chloe Moretz is also convincing as the potential victim of the killers.
The bad: Because the cases overlap, there are times when it's hard to determine which case they're working on at any given moment. Editing and lighting could use some tightening too.
Verdict: Overall it plays like a TV movie, and probably better that way. The subject matter is fascinating but its execution is average. (2.5/5)
