Solace

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When do you realize whether the movie might turn out good or exactly the opposite - it's bad and its about to get worse? You're right - at the very beginning. Look at those first mise-en-scenes, listen to the first lines of dialogue and you should be able to recognize right away either this movie has any ambition to be at least good in its own genre or its own limits, like 16 blocks with Mos Def... or something like that you know? Or is it full automatic Hollywood business project - screenwriter has done his minimum for just to get the job done. Director is someone who agreed to make the movie for small buck. Couple of strong names are being thrown in to the mix to attract audience enough to get them pay these 10 dollars. Those fine actors will do the movie within couple of months and they get a reasonable paycheck - now they have their rents paid and they can get some project they really like. And out it goes to the marketing machine. This movie is the other one. Straight down from the story boards. Dialogue does not work at all - who cares. Its not my job to rewrite the dialogue. Acting is uneven. Sometimes its on point, sometimes a guy has most inappropriate smile on his face. Guy tells a joke. Its not funny. Other dude laughs his guts out. Clichés are in the most trivial scenes - "John I drove 3 hours to see you. You know I will not go back without talking to you. I will beak down the door if I have to" "You are real pain in the ass Joe, you know that?" "I've heard it before". etc. If you don't care if dialogue works, if movie has not a single original little idea or angle, you just want somehow to get these hour and a half by - then you can watch this. if you have some other reasons - there's nothing for you.

After a dreadful Summer, this reviewer is willing to watch any half- decent film, if the trailer appeals. Sadly, the trailer for this film showed too much. As did the film. The camera was constantly spinning and swinging, thus spoiling viewing. The movie was filmed like a cheap horror movie that viewers may see on late-night cable channels. It is without doubt the worst-filmed movie that I have ever seen in a cinema. As story opens, we realize a killer is loose. As the trailer shows, the gimmick of this film is that Anthony Hopkins, who played Dr Hannibal Lecter, (Hannibal the Cannibal), in 'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991), here is playing a good guy. The other gimmick, is that both he, and the killer, have ESP. This was a good premise, but the film played out as a rather predictable, and derivative, by the numbers story. 'Solace' has a UK rating of 15, and the horror-style of filming, had the audience gasping at some of the more gory scenes. Further gasps were caused by a couple of clever twists. Sadly, much more was rather predictable. One highlight of the film was the choice of music. The choice of music early on in the film is sublime. Firstly, when Anthony Hopkins, in the country, starts taking an interest in the case, and secondly, when he is walking along the street after arriving in the city. Other music also adds to the excitement in scenes throughout the film. Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Abbie Cornish play FBI Agents trying to track down the killer. Mr Morgan recently played a horrible and memorable villain in the Western 'The Salvation' (2014). Both Mr Morgan and Miss Cornish have emotional scenes, which they play well. Kenny Johnson, familiar from 'The Shield' TV series, (2002-2006), is also good in a small part. Director Afonso Poyart must take the blame for this badly filmed movie. There are car-chases with takes so fast that they are like a blur, and the viewer has no real idea what is happening. Overall, the movie is filmed like a cheap horror movie. There are one or two clever flourishes, but on the whole, it is just uncomfortable viewing. The film does raise an interesting moral question but it never answers it. The subject-matter actually leaves a bit of a sour taste in the mouth. The story was written by Ted Griffin and the screenplay by Sean Bailey. Both Mr Bailey and Sir Anthony Hopkins were Executive Producers. As said, the interesting opening premise, sadly does not live up to it's promise. No doubt, there may be some who have taken drugs, who will enjoy the spinning camera work. For others though, they may wish the drugs they took were travel-sickness pills, or maybe just took a sick-bag. Those familiar with Director Paul Greengrass's 'Captain Phillips' (2013), and Director Anton Corbijn's 'A Most Wanted Man' (2014), are warned that this film 'Solace' is a much more badly filmed movie. 6/10.

Firstly, I liked this movie very much. What I didn't like were 2 things: the story was a bit lame (the directing makes it unpredictable) but otherwise the story was flatly OK. The second thing: the tempo and the editing were fast as if it were a TV series. Other than that, it was excellent. The mood of the movie with its colors and lenses and frames was different than anything I've seen, as if the director intentionally wanted to give this genre a different approach. Thus the contre point description: it's too fast and too lucid to belong to this genre. That being said, I can reiterate now and say I liked this movie. It worked for me. It's surprisingly haunting, fresh, it doesn't bore you for a second and it keeps building up. Other than the lame story and the fast editing tempo it's a great effort by an amateur genius (the director). It lingers in your mind, the contre point aspect, the score, the script, the performance by the actors. It's really worth a watch.

John Clancy lives in solitude, separated from his wife after his daughter's death. FBI agent Joe calls on him for assistance in a serial killing case because John has a psychic ability to pick up information from objects and people, and this killer is leaving clues but no forensic detail. The trouble is, John determines, that the killer has similar abilities to John's, only better. Superficially a straightforward crime suspense thriller with a psychic element to it, this film has two good things going for it. One is the title or, more precisely, what the title means, which doesn't become clear until about halfway through, and which supercharges the ending: there is an aspect of the plot which provides you with some serious food for thought. And the other is Anthony Hopkins' performance. We know he is a consummate actor, but we also know he can chew scenery when he is required to. Here, he gives us a man whose abilities torment him beyond comprehension, and who chooses to deal with that by living in solitude which means he doesn't come into contact with the things which trigger them. And, when he does move into the busy world, he keeps his reactions under tight control with a veneer of serenity which masks what is going on underneath (yet Hopkins lets you know nevertheless). It is a subtle, understated performance, perhaps his best since the Silence Of The Lambs. I really enjoyed this, and the end knocked me for six.

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source: Solace

I watched the movie without checking any reviews or ratings, and without any expectations. In the very beginning I got the impression that here we have another thriller, with a very special serial murder case, where the case is too complicated for the protagonists, so they need the archetypal smarter retired fellow for solving the case. It turned out the movie is not about that at all, but much more interesting. The movie triggers confronting feelings of morals and reasoning. The scenes are beautiful and riveting. The actors are doing good job. The story is not the most realistic as compared with "Unforegiven" or "Goodfellas" but there is a good substance for focus and consideration. So, in short, enjoy 1:41 minutes of time!

Really thrilling experience! First of all very well shot! And acting was on point! Now to story line without spoiling anything... A psychic works with the FBI in order to hunt down a serial killer. Serial killer has his signature on his all murders. Plus he seems to be one step ahead of the police. So one of our heroes tries to contact old colleague. A friend of his. John Clancy. John's daughter died 2 years ago. And her early death still haunts John. So when approached by Agent Joe Merriweather, John was reluctant to help. He did not look interested in case. However, there is something interesting about the cases. It is not a usual serial killer they are looking for. A killer with ideology. The guy who is murdering only specific type of people. John quickly finds the some clues and their thrilling chase to find this wanted man begins... Great watch! Would definitely recommend to anyone who is looking for artistic murder mystery!