| Will keep you awake. |
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| written by kohnfused1 |
March 7, 2006 - 9:45 AM PST |
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3 out of 3 members found this review helpful
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| A tight and taut thriller that will keep your attention for all of its economical 77 minutes. By Tinseltown's standards, movies like this are considered more of an oddity than a rarity. A smart script, believable characters, and "filler" free scenes are the ingredients that make this film work. You know you're watching excellent writing when "set ups" are kept to a minimum and are actually worked into the movie without being spoon-fed to the audience. Kudos all around. If you want to see a refreshing movie that won't take up your time nor kill your brain cells, then rent this wonderful little gem. You won't be disappointed. |
| The Wonder of Good Craft |
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| written by talltale |
December 24, 2005 - 2:32 PM PST |
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5 out of 6 members found this review helpful
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Basically a piece of disposable entertainment, the resolutely "B" movie RED EYE nonetheless may rank among the ten--maybe five--best American films of the year. Sheer, technical moviemaking craft, particularly in terms of smart, fast writing, is an endangered species in our time. Instead we get bloated, full-of-it (and themselves), would-be important ensemble pieces like Paul Haggis' "Crash" or Stephen Gaghan's "Syriana" or "Traffic." Carl Ellsworth's screenplay for "Red Eye" is so good, so tight, real and full of suspense, humor and fun--all beautifully abetted by Wes Craven's direction (how good to see this fellow back in form!)--that it almost seems miraculous, when compared to much of what passes for class filmmaking today.
First moment to last, not a shot nor a line of dialog is wasted, and the barely 80 minutes (plus credits) running time is chock-a-block with thrills and surprise. Leads Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy are excellent, and so is the entire ensemble cast, right down to the smallest roles (watch the short "Making Of" extra to learn how they cast the femme half of the obnoxious hotel guest duo). It is particularly gratifying to see a film in which women--McAdams' character and her assistant (nicely played by Jayma Mays)--behave like intelligent, humane, cooperative people, while in the midst of terrible crisis. Watching "Red Eye," even after all the terrific things I'd heard about it, was not disappointing in the slightest. What a treat! |
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