Dead Man Down - Dragon Tattoo Director | Noomi Rapace & Colin Farrell

[CarrotBun]

Red Band
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI2ruUmvuKU[/ame]

 

[the Doctor]

looking good,can't wait for this.

 

[CelticPredator]

I heard this movie is beyond boring. I'll skip it.

 

[CarrotBun]

It was fantastic! Don't be such a sheep LOL

It was a Neo Noir character piece as opposed to a straight action film, which was a good thing to me. I never found it boring either as all of the characters are really interesting. It's like an old crime film, so if you like those you'll be a huge fan.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebAHzj-Q6QM[/ame]
9/10 audience reaction
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDw4AH_dDkM[/ame]

here's a well done review from imdb

A fascinatingly grim look at revenge and, less commonly, the aftermath.

The revenge genre is often a tired one. The majority are either so sullen that they lose sight of what makes these fantasies entertaining or too silly to offer any glimpse of realism or consequence. "Dead Man Down" offers just the right amount of grittiness to be taken seriously, but also maintains its own identity with a heavy focus on character development and a more philosophical viewpoint on the nature of getting even. The vengeful gangster and his plight may be a repetitive backstory, but the cryptic structuring, attention to emotion, and competent acting strengthens the refreshingly fluctuating twists. While the conclusion digresses into a prosaic, albeit satisfying action sequence, it doesn't dilute the antiheros' uniquely warped relationship or their infectiously harsh personalities.

When crime lord Alphonse's (Terence Howard) men begin turning up murdered, along with enigmatic clues elaborating on the responsible party, the gangster looks to his henchmen Victor (Colin Farrell) and Darcy (Dominic Cooper) for answers. But Victor has his own plans, including a labored revenge scheme against those that wronged him in the past. As he steadily brings his complex machinations to fruition, he starts an unlikely relationship with his neighbor, Beatrice (Noomi Rapace), an emotionally damaged woman with desires just as ominous as his. Forced into a vicious cycle of vengeance, Victor must attempt to not only satisfy his demons but also salvage the soul of his newfound companion.

Adorned with an impossibly generic title, "Dead Man Down" is unexpectedly an absorbingly unique revenge fantasy. Devoid of the typical action, adventure, and beauteous damsels-in-distress, it is instead a morbidly dark, fascinatingly grim look at revenge and, less commonly, the aftermath. The emotions experienced by the hateful, the murderous, and the defensive are scrutinized beyond the normal array of purely evil entities undergoing deserved comeuppance. Nothing is black and white in the film – instead, every character is tinged with complications and questionable qualities, making this group of antiheroes unpredictable, sympathetic, or repugnant in alternating turns.

It's rare to see a crime thriller spend so much time on character development. It's also quite welcome – the ulterior motives, extortive attitudes, and sabotage aren't awkwardly spontaneous but rather sensible operations for generously analyzed mentalities. These aren't cardboard cutouts; and excessive dialogue doesn't make up for lack of substance. Instead, director Niels Arden Oplev opts for prolonged, brooding facial communications that convey much more than stale words. It's a feat for Farrell to be so convincing as an implacable gangster (his best role since "In Bruges") and Rapace is sensational as an equally bitter survivor who literally wears the scars of mental anguish on her face. Howard is one of the few weak spots, once again taking a sinister role and making it apprehensive. And although the climax embodies the raging, explosive visualization of suspenseful retribution that audiences crave (a contrasting culmination for the sake of crowd-pleasing action), it's the contrived satisfaction "Dead Man Down" needs to soften the blow of such a severe, serious series of retaliations.

 

[CelticPredator]

I'll trust my critics.

 

[CarrotBun]

Only Sheeps judge art that way.

 

[CelticPredator]

I doubt this movie is art.

Besides. The trailer lied. That's OK. But I wanted to see the trailer movie. So i'll wait for the redbox.

 

[CarrotBun]

Film is art! If you haven't seen it I don't see why you're talking /:

And it didn't "lie".... rather the TV Spots did in a way to make it seem like soulless action when it has depth, tension, mystery
You think that is a negative?? bleh
I choose to support films like this as opposed to the opposite : P : P

 

[CarrotBun]

another imdb review

American Neo-Noir meets romantic European fable

He looks out the window in the night sky after a long day's work, thinking of what has become of himself. Across his apartment balcony, in the window of the building opposite his, stares a woman, solemn, pained. Their eyes meet, and, slowly, they wave at each other. Not a word was spoken.

Subtle scenes like these evoke memories of the raw power of film - it is emotion, not words or sometimes action - that drive a motion picture. Thing is, Vic is a thug working for a ruthless mobster; and Beatrice is a traumatized victim of a car accident. The subtlety will not last long, but it does make healthy re-appearances.

Niels Arden Oplev's "Dead Man Down" is the English-language debut (third this year overall following two Korean efforts) of the Swedish filmmaker famous for the original "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" film. He even brought along his star Noomi Rapace for the ride. It is a joy to see a modern filmmaker who cares for and loves his characters as much as the audience expects themselves to, that we are invested in them strongly and want to see them succeed. He crafts the film with love, as the cinematography gracefully dances around the characters, as if it was a complex ballet intrigue and hidden motives. Do we really want to right that wrong? Will it be worth it in the end? For us and for our loved ones?

The movie is, first and foremost, a revenge thriller. But surprisingly, it is also a compelling love story. From the moment the film opens we are thrust into the urban jungle of New York City (accentuated with a moody and atmospheric score by Jacob Groth, composer of the original "Millennium" trilogy), but with a poignant yet meaningful statement by Vic's friend Darcy (Cooper). Writer J.H. Wyman uses strands of earlier revenge films, twisty film-noirs and the classic melodramatic romance of earlier Hollywood films and incorporated them into his screenplay. Oplev transforms the screenplay, with such passionate energy and inventiveness, that the whole film somehow resembles a classic romantic European fable - sort of like this big tough warrior who falls in love with a wounded soul in a far-away and dangerous land, and both become kindred spirits. It is engrossing and captivating to watch the characters actually become real human beings, instead of being caricatures. This is a film where the characters' decisions affects what happens next.

The film would not succeed had it not been for the two leads, Colin Farrell and Noomi Rapace, followed by a strong and diverse supporting cast. Farrell is strong as Vic, big, tough but withdrawn and solemn, slowly hiding away his anguish and rage towards his real enemy. Rapace, an actress whom I'm starting to grow fond of, is quite wonderful as Beatrice, who is traumatized but is still capable of captivating the lonely Vic. She walks and talks with unease, but there are times where she switches gears and becomes intensely aggressive in her true goal, where it will reveal is eating her up slowly but surely. The strong chemistry between the duo make the movie much, much better than it was intended.

The rest of the cast consists of Terrence Howard as a deliciously ruthless and intimidating as the villain Alphonse (watch the scene where he confronts Vic in a dark apartment room, with backlighting in Paul Cameron's cinematography brilliantly capturing the essence of noir), Dominic Cooper giving Darcy a human and realistic portrayal of a stock crime film character, and brief but warmly welcome appearances of F. Murray Abraham and Isabelle Huppert.

This is a movie which has something for both guys and gals. Guys will go for the gritty story and the obligatory "Colin Farrell kicks ***" scenes, especially the violent climax. Women would go just to see Farrell the romantic, and the compelling chemistry between the two leads are enough to make them swoon over. But the film is so well made, the characters and story strongly developed and very compelling enough to hold my attention for two hours, that really, you couldn't ask for a more well rounded revenge thriller of late. This is a movie which actually is a real movie, instead of feeling like a movie or being a commercial/stunt/SFX reel. Kudos to especially Oplev, Farrell and Rapace for making a strong, real film about lovable characters.

No doubt the marketing for the film is way off (as an action thriller, as usual) and reveals quite too much. Doesn't matter. "Dead Man Down" is the finest and most meaningful revenge film in years.

 

[CelticPredator]

Film is art! If you haven't seen it I don't see why you're talking /:

And it didn't "lie".... rather the TV Spots did in a way to make it seem like soulless action when it has depth, tension, mystery
You think that is a negative?? bleh
I choose to support films like this as opposed to the opposite : P : P

No. I'm just sure THIS film isn't art.

 

[CarrotBun]

Sure without watching?
All films are art. And people who can't think for themselves and judge art this way are sheep.

 

[CelticPredator]

Transformers is art. Twilight is art. Porn is art. Got ya,.

 

[CarrotBun]

If you take a film class it will be under the art category.
Film itself is an art.
You can draw p*rn, but that does not mean drawing is not an art.

People who can't think for themselves are clearly not artists and I have the lowest opinions of them.
Lower than carjackers and convicts.

 

[CelticPredator]

If I film porn, it's art. Sweet. I'm going to make an art film about grandma porn.

 

[CarrotBun]

Art is subjective. Do you not understand this?
Nice dodging of the original points btw.
You haven't seen the film. You are a joke.

 

[Duck]

If you take a film class it will be under the art category.
Film itself is an art.
You can draw p*rn, but that does not mean drawing is not an art.

People who can't think for themselves are clearly not artists and I have the lowest opinions of them.
Lower than carjackers and convicts.

So your saying criminals are better than non artists? Yep probably one of the stupidest things I've read.

 

[CarrotBun]

cause you didn't read it!

I said "people who can't think for themselves are clearly non artists and I have the lowest opinions of them."
Not all non artists can't think for themselves

 

[CelticPredator]

I came here to troll you. But I just got something infinitely funnier out this then I planned.

 

[CarrotBun]

eat a muppet

 

[CelticPredator]

Looks like your sig already is.