pilotridge101 Reviews

M (1931)

A powerful tale of community and insanity

[10/10 · 29 April 2014]

"M" is an incredible masterpiece. It's cliché to say something is a head of it's time but "M" is. This films excellence did not surprise me when I first watched it knowing it came from the visionary Fritz Lang. Usually when we think of serial killer films we think of a cop and a killer fighting and the cop eventually finding the killer, but in "M" you also have other criminals and even townspeople searching for the madman. It's incredible script, cinematography and Peter Lorre's performance inspired many films of this genre but you can see that not film can match the wonderfully exiting, suspenseful and overall genius "M".

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

The Avengers of WWII

[10/10 · 5 February 2014]

Inglourious Basterds is one of Quentin Tarantino's finest films. Of course its writing is superb as always. Its acting is great and its storyline is very original. In the trailer of the film it makes it seem as if its chalk full of violence. But in reality it is not that violent. I mean its not chalk full of it but when there is violence its BAD! From cameo appearances from B.J. Novak (The Office) to Rod Taylor (The Birds)it adds an element only Quentin could create. Its storyline is so crazy that it seems that it could almost be true. It has a blend of comedy and violence and of course dialogue all of which you should expect from a Tarantino movie. I think that The Basterds will stay in the minds of anyone who watch's it from Brad Pitts accent to the fear caused by Christophe Waltz.

Goodfellas (1990)

One of the greats such as "White Heat" and "The Roaring Twenties"

[10/10 · 5 February 2014]

Goodfellas. We may think of them as our neighbors who wave to us while they mow their lawn or maybe the nice couple that plays golf down the road. But in this case the Goodfellas, the Wiseguys are trigger happy Tommy DeVito(Joe Pesci), straight talker Jimmy Conway(Robert DeNiro)and cocaine snorting Henry Hill(Ray Liotta). This film is one of Scorsese's masterpieces. It has the originality of "White Heat" and realism in a category all its own. Its writing by the books original author Nick Peleggi and by director Martin Scorsese is wonderful. Its cinematography is right on par. And its acting is superb. This movie is one of the best films about the mob life and arguably one of the best films ever made. It has a blend of comedy, darkness and everyday situations which is one of my favorite parts of the film.

Zodiac (2007)

A true thriller set in the fog of San Francisco

[9/10 · 6 January 2014]

David Fincher's "Zodiac" is based on the non-fiction book of the same title by the films main character Robert Graysmith. It spans from 1969 to 1991 following the trail of the infamous Zodiac killer who leaves notes and cyphers to the San Francisco Chronicle and other newspapers in the San Francisco and Vallejo area to gain fame. Cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) who works at the Chronicle starts getting into the investigation after it dies down years later he uncovers the trail including its investigators. One of them being David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo). I have liked Fincher's films in the past and I liked this one as well. I thought that the acting screenplay and cinematography were outstanding especially the role of Zodiac portrayed wonderfully by John Caroll Lynch.

Apocalypse Now (1979)

One of the greatest war films ever made.

[10/10 · 5 January 2014]

Francis Ford Coppola's film based on Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" is an excellent piece of film. It is set in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam war. Following Captain Willard (Martin Sheen)from Vietnam to Cambodia tracking Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando) who has declared himself a god amongst men in a large native tribe and has gone completely insane. The mission for the captain is to track and terminate the Colonel. Along the way he meets Lt. Kilgore (Robert Duvall) who famously says the words: "I love the smell of napalm in the morning". He also meets a crazed photojournalist (Dennis Hopper) and Colonel Lucas (Harrison Ford). I think this film was a masterpiece! From the cinematography and acting to the music. Although it may be slow at times its all worth it when we meet the colonel near the end. Despite its horrid luck from actors turning up high and drunk on set, to injuries, to Brando's reluctance to show up. "Apocalypse Now" is one of the best war films ever made.