DEATH SENTENCE
RYAN: “Death Sentence” opens today and it stars Kevin Bacon in a tour de force performance.
CAROLINE: This movie was so not what I expected. I thought it was going to be a family drama with a minor revenge theme, but in fact it’s very bloody, violent, gritty and really good.
RYAN: Well, it is a family drama, but it’s directed by the guy who did the “Saw” films, James Wan, so he makes it gory and thrilling. It’s almost half drama/half horror film, because it’s really scary in parts.
CAROLINE: I totally yelled out loud several times, as did the rest of the audience. The violence is really grisly, but it’s also kind of necessary. The movie is about a disgusting gang so the violence fits in well.
RYAN: It’s also very well cast. Kelly Preston plays the wife, and she’s excellent. The kids are great and John Goodman is funny and evil. And the gang members are really scary and good.
CAROLINE: Everyone was really intense in this movie. They didn’t mess around on this shoot. I can’t even imagine the emotional places that these actors had to go to, especially Kevin Bacon and Kelly Preston who play parents whose son is murdered. Not easy.
RYAN: It’s not an Oscar-caliber film, but the director left no loose ends in terms of lighting, camera work, music, editing, etc. It was all so well done. And one of the scenes is one of the most brilliant we’ve ever seen. It takes place in a parking garage, and it’s one continuous shot that lasts several minutes and it’s just expertly choreographed.
CAROLINE: It’s pretty unbelievable. You’re watching for a minute or two and thinking, “Wow, this is a really cool scene,” but then you’re like, “Oh my God, is this still the same shot? How could that be?” What we learned from the production notes is that they built an elaborate crane system and had 6 different camera operators passing the camera around to get the shot right. And it really works.
RYAN: Hi. John Goodman’s fat as a mansion.
CAROLINE: He is a large man.
RYAN: I feel like this is a really modern film.
CAROLINE: It’s sort of a combo; it’s partly a ‘70s revenge flick, but it’s updated to include the drug and gang problems of today, as well as how connected we all are with cell phones and such. The movie also has kind of a ‘70s look because the color is kinda washed out. It’s very cool.
RYAN: Bottom line?
CAROLINE: I’m a little shocked by this movie, but in a good way. It’s certainly not for everyone; it’s really bloody. I’m not going to recommend it to my mom. But if you like revenge flicks, you’ll love this.
RYAN: There’s a little of the action genre thrown in there too. I actually applauded after one action sequence, and I hadn’t done that since seeing “Live Free or Die Hard” earlier this summer. I definitely recommend this movie. Everything is great except the ending, which I didn’t love. The last few minutes lost steam, and I wanted a little more of a climactic closure.
CAROLINE: Yeah, the ending is a little implausible and uncertain. Ooh, one more thing – let’s not forget Aisha Tyler is in this movie.
RYAN: She’s got not one but two movies opening this week between this and “Balls of Fury.” Go Aisha!
CAROLINE: She’s having the best week ever.