Travis Simpkins: Daniel Craig

Showing posts with label Daniel Craig. Show all posts

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Cowboys & Aliens (2011): Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford and Olivia Wilde

Directed by Jon Favreau, based on the 2006 graphic novel, Cowboys & Aliens (2011) successfully blended the Sci-Fi and Western film genres… although it was not the first time it was done (the odd mix stretches back to the 1950's), it works particularly well here. The story concerns an amnesiac outlaw, a cattleman and other Old West townspeople who battle aliens that have come to Earth to mine for gold and conduct experiments on abducted humans. Great action and CGI effects run throughout. Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford are superb in the lead roles. Olivia Wilde is beautiful as a star child. The rest of the cast is good as well, including Sam Rockwell and Keith Carradine.

Cowboys & Aliens. 2011: Daniel Craig

Cowboys & Aliens. 2011: Olivia Wilde

Cowboys & Aliens. 2011

Cowboys & Aliens. 2011: Daniel Craig

Cowboys & Aliens. 2011: Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford

Cowboys & Aliens. 2011

Cowboys & Aliens. 2011: Olivia Wilde

Cowboys & Aliens. 2011

Cowboys & Aliens. 2011: Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford

Cowboys & Aliens. 2011: Harrison Ford

Cowboys & Aliens. 2011: Daniel Craig

"Cowboys & Aliens"- movie trailer

Saturday, August 31, 2019

Road to Perdition (2002): Tom Hanks, Paul Newman and Jude Law

Based on the graphic novel series of the same name, Road to Perdition (2002) was the highly acclaimed and highly anticipated second film by director Sam Mendes (American Beauty). With limited, sparse dialogue in the script, Mendes was able to convey much of the story through the powerful cinematography of Conrad Hall. Sadly, Road to Perdition was Hall's last film, but he deservedly won a posthumous Academy Award for his brilliant work on it. Starring Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Jude Law and Daniel Craig, the film perfectly recreates depression-era 1931 Chicago, in a respectful nod to the source material. A splendid work all around, Road to Perdition is a masterwork of atmosphere, and in terms of establishing time and place, and is deserving of repeat viewings.

1931: Michael Sullivan, Sr. (Tom Hanks) has been a trusted enforcer for Irish mob boss John Rooney (Paul Newman) for years...

Road to Perdition. 2002: Tom Hanks and Paul Newman

Their families are intertwined, with Rooney acting as a father to Sullivan, and as a grandfather figure to Sullivan's two young sons...

Road to Perdition. 2002: Paul Newman

But John's son, Connor Rooney (Daniel Craig) is a bad seed with a chip on his shoulder...

Road to Perdition. 2002: Daniel Craig

Connor snaps during a routine job with Sullivan, killing the man they were meeting with. Sullivan's eldest son, Michael, Jr., having hidden in the car, witnesses the bloodbath. Afraid young Michael will talk, Connor orders that the entire Sullivan family (wife, children and Sullivan himself) be murdered. Only the two Michaels, Sr. and Jr., father and son survive. Michael Sullivan vows to avenge the deaths of his wife and youngest son...

Road to Perdition. 2002: Tom Hanks

But Connor Rooney has gone into hiding and is being protected by powerful men, including his father...

Road to Perdition. 2002: Daniel Craig

and they have hired an assassin of their own to kill Sullivan, Harlen Maguire (Jude Law), a sadistic hitman with a penchant for photographing his victims post-mortem...

Road to Perdition. 2002: Jude Law

Michael Sullivan must track down and kill those responsible...

Road to Perdition. 2002: Tom Hanks

including John Rooney, the man who has been like a father to him...

Road to Perdition. 2002: Tom Hanks and Paul Newman

so that Michael, Jr. can be free to live a safe life...

Road to Perdition. 2002

Friday, September 28, 2018

Cowboys and Aliens (2011): Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford

Though it seems like a new concept because it hasn't been done in a while, mixing Sci-Fi and Western genres in films dates back to the 1950s. In Cowboys and Aliens (2011), the idea gets a fresh revitalization with all the technological advances of modern film being put to use by director Jon Favreau. Overall, it's a solid story with great characters and a strong cast, including Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford.

Daniel Craig plays an outlaw who wakes up in the desert with amnesia and a strange contraption on his wrist...

Cowboys and Aliens. 2011: Daniel Craig

Harrison Ford plays a cattle baron who basically owns the nearby town. Tensions between the townspeople suddenly seem minuscule when they are attacked by Aliens who kidnap a bunch of their loved ones...

Cowboys and Aliens. 2011: Daniel Craig

Cowboys and Aliens. 2011: Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford

Now, despite many differences, all the surviving people must work together to locate the mother ship...

Cowboys and Aliens. 2011: Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford

They must battle the Aliens and rescue their kin...

Cowboys and Aliens. 2011: Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford

Cowboys and Aliens. 2011: Daniel Craig

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001): Angelina Jolie, Archaeology and the Illuminati

Directed by Simon West, based on the popular video game series, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) finds Angelina Jolie as a fantasy brought to life with stunning action and effects. The story concerns Lara Croft's quest to recover two pieces of an ancient triangle of light that can control time when placed together during planetary alignment. Masonic symbolism is prevalent, including the use of the All Seeing Eye, the Pyramid, the red cross of the Knights Templar, Light in the context of Freemasonry... and the casting of the Illuminati as the villainous secret society. Much like in the Indiana Jones series, archaeology and looting are popularized and glorified for mass market consumption… but with an entertaining and humorous edge. Angelina Jolie is beautiful and agile in her role, performing her own tough stunts. Daniel Craig appears in a supporting role. The rest of the cast is good as well, including Jolie's father, Jon Voight.