Harry Brown (2009)

3.5 / 5
Tagline:  One Man Will Stand Alone
Directed by:  Daniel Barber
Written by:  Gary Young
Actors include:  Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, David Bradley
Genre:  Action, Crime, Drama
Length:  103 minutes
Banned:  Nope

Review: 

Every year must have a decent revenge flick, and for 2009 Harry Brown is where it's at.  Michael Caine plays the title character, a lonely man living in a dangerous neighborhood.  After his only friend and Wife are killed by the street toughs, he decides to take matters into his own hands (he's an ex-serviceman).  The Police of course are useless and they seem oblivious to Caine, but when it starts coming together they are willing to look the other way (lazy butts).  It's kinda missing the sentimentality that made Gran Torino so effective, and it's not quite as brutal or satisfying as the Death Wish.  Still it's highly entertaining and Caine does a good job, and the pacing is quite good despite the lack of originality.  I'm always a sucker for a good revenge film and this is a good one, just not in league with some of the classics!

Availability:  On DVD & Blu-Ray

Absolution (1978) aka Death By Confession

4 / 5 Oct '10
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Anthony Page
Written by: Anthony Shaffer
Actors include: Richard Burton, Dominic Guard, David Bradley
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Drama
Length: 95 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Although this starts out like a rather stuffy drama at an English Catholic School, it works into one heck of a wicked mystery if you are patient. Richard Burton plays Father Goddard, a stodgy leader whom the boys seem to quite dislike. They devise a plan to trick the Priest using the rules of confession, see Priests cannot tell anyone what they hear during confession. A boy tells the Priest that he killed a hobo and where for him to find the body. It turns out that it's a scarecrow, but later in confession he claims he's actually killed the hobo this time for real and to look in the same place. This time of course there is a body. It's really rather intense and I love how our perceptions change as this goes on, or maybe that was just me. It is a bit dry but the story was more than enough to keep me hanging on, also Burton's portrayal is really impressive. Watch it if you like a good thriller but be prepared to be patient for the first while, it will pay off.

Availability:  Not on DVD