Comwayon
A Disappointing Continuation
Kidskycom
It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.
Stephanie
There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes
Sarita Rafferty
There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.
Kay
I agree with the 10 January 2107 review ("The movie isn't bad..."). I had recorded this movie and was going to check out the first few minutes and watch something else, but I couldn't stop watching. The story may be simple but the cast is stellar, and the story moves along at a steady pace. I liked the fact that we weren't sure through most of the movie what the characters were likely to do. The average of 5.2 is way too low in my opinion. Anthony Hopkins is great of course, but how about Hal Holbrook's understated and as usual impressive. Alexander Ludwig's performance was a continuous surprise of excellence--surprising I suppose only because I haven't been paying enough attention to his career.
punisherversion1
Blackway: Directed by Daniel Alfredson and written by Gregory Jacobs and Joe GangemiBlackway is a movie about a woman harassed and stalked by a crazed ex cop turned omnious monstrous all powerful crime lord. She tries to get help from the sheriff who turns her down but sends her to these loggers. Anthony Hopkins and a friend of hers decides to help her in her quest to get him to leave her alone. He's crazy so there is only one way this can end. Oh boy this movie. In the very beginning, Julia Stiles' character goes to the sheriff to report this guy. She mentions that he physically attacked her and there were witnesses and she chose not to report it until later. What? Why? This guy is made out to be this all powerful boogeyman. I did expect that he might end up being supernatural monster but I should have known better. He's built up pretty big but he is just a regular old fashioned crazy person who thinks everything and everyone belongs to him and he can do what he wants when he wants. He has affected these people in different ways. This is not a good movie. It tries to play up the suspense but it just feels hollow. Everybody seems like they're going through the motions. The location plays into a lot of what it is trying to do. It is suffocating but the director is clearly trying to use it to substitute for real tension. I would skip this movie. I give this movie a D.
sddavis63
This movie is stupid from the start. There's no kinder way to put it. In the first 10 minutes or so we discover that Lillian (Julia Stiles) was attacked by Blackway (Ray Liotta) in the parking lot of a restaurant she worked in. But she didn't report it to the police. Then she discovered that Blackway has been following her all over town. But she didn't report it to the police. Then, in spite of the fact that Blackway (a) has already attacked her once, and (b) has been following her all over town she simply leaves her front door open (not just unlocked - but wide open) on two occasions, virtually inviting Blackway in for a drink. Or something. Seriously - Lillian is not playing with a full deck. Finally, after Blackway decapitates her cat - she goes to the police, only to find a sheriff who's terrified of Blackway and just tells her to leave town - or to find Scotty, who can take care of Blackway. Except Scotty wants nothing to do with Blackway (so why did we need Scotty in the picture anyway for the one scene he appeared in?) So Lester (Anthony Hopkins) steps up with his young friend Nate (Alexander Ludwig) and Lester, Nate and Lillian go searching for Blackway with a gun - except that Lillian says she'd rather do this without guns - but the guy attacked her and cut the head off her friggin' cat! He's insane! The police won't help you because they're terrified of him! You need a gun! Desperately! Preferably more than one! And why - if Blackway is constantly following Lillian, does he apparently have no clue that she's teamed up with these two and is looking for him? My head hurt by the time all came out.Has Anthony Hopkins gone into the poor house? Was he in desperate need of money? Why did he star in this? He's a flippin' Oscar- winning actor. He didn't need this turkey on his resume. And Liotta? He's not got the resume of Hopkins - but I still have the same questions. Same for Stiles. And what of Hal Holbrook? I was embarrassed for him. He had a nothing part as an old guy in charge of some sort of logging company who sits around the office spinning yarns about how loggers off in the woods for long periods of time have sex with trees. Oh my Lord.Having said all that, Hopkins and Liotta and Stiles were all OK in their roles. I "got" Hopkins' character of Lester. His daughter died of a drug overdose, the drugs were probably supplied by Blackway or his men, and now Lester has a chance for revenge and doesn't care if he gets killed looking for it. I get that. It was just a dumb movie is all. I was intrigued by Blackway, and there's some decent suspense as the search closes in on him. But the movie adds some totally unnecessary scenes at the end (which doesn't mitigate the fact that the whole movie was unnecessary) making you wonder: why? Just end the thing. Please. Which looked like what Anthony Hopkins was asking as he stared out the window with a blank look on his face in the thankfully very last scene. (3/10)
Film Watchin Fool
What you can expect is a very run of the mill drama/thriller. It is predictable, methodical, and straight forward. Solid cast/acting with a mediocre plot and product.Acting/Casting: 6* - The cast is solid (Hopkins, Stiles, Liotta) and all plays their roles well. Nothing exceptional and nothing terrible. It joins the many movies out there with big names and a average product.Directing/Cinematography/Technical: 5.5* - I thought that the scenery was solid with the majority of the movie shot in a dark and dreary manner with music to match. To be honest, it was par for the course and really matches the entire package of the film.Plot/Characters: 5* - Untouchable, corrupt bad guy vs. a few fed up and wronged townspeople. The biggest suspense is tracking down Blackway, which I think speaks for itself.Entertainment Value: 5.5* - It is only marginally entertaining due to the fact that it is very predictable and void of surprises. You know what is coming, but is still makes for a solid watch.My Score: 6+5.5+5+5.5 = 22/4 = 5.5 Email your thoughts to filmwatchinfool@gmail.com