The Commuter (2018)

There was a time when I loved watching action flicks, especially those starring Liam Neeson. I don’t know why but I just loved the man. I no longer am a fan of those movies and I think Neeson is at his best when he is far away from the action —Schindler’s List, Love, Actually— but I decided to check out The Commuter anyway as it looked like a silly movie to enjoy during the holidays. Silly, it is. Enjoyable, not so much.

The film follows Michael MacCauley (Liam Neeson), a former cop turned insurance salesman. He goes through the same routine every day, a routine that includes taking the same commuter train and interacting with the other commuters. One day he’s fired from his job and, on his way home, he is approached by a woman (Vera Farmiga) who offers him £ 100,000 to identify which passenger does not belong.

In other words, it’s basically the plot to Non-Stop, only it takes place on a train instead of a plane. It is utterly ridiculous, clichéd and beyond predictable —I knew that twist would come right from the start because you don’t use that actor for a few minutes only. Unless you have the people who are watching your film for that actor. It’s got so many holes, it could beat Swiss cheese in a holes competition if there was such a thing.

The worst part is the main character though. At the beginning, Michael MacCauley is established as an average, ordinary guy who has commuted to work on the same train every working day for 10 years. So when he finds himself in that situation, I was intrigued. Unfortunately, we learn pretty soon that he is a former cop and he ends up being the same, uninteresting character Liam Neeson has been playing for the past 10 years, the one-dimensional badass. The problem? Neeson is 66-year-old —he plays a 60-year-old dude here though— and he is just not believable as someone who beats the shit out of a fit 45-year-old man. 

StudioCanal UK, Lionsgate

As for the supporting characters, they are forgettable to say the least as they have no development nor characterization whatsoever. The performances are just as forgettable. Also, why waste Jonathan Banks and Elizabeth McGovern with characters that are barely in the film?

The action isn't that good either. Actually, The Commuter would have done better without the action sequences since they are pretty dull and unexciting. As for the visuals, they are pretty dreadful. Overall, the film is just a huge disappointment, as it's not nearly as enjoyable and entertaining as a Collet-Serra/Neeson action flick usually is.

The Judge (2014)

I really wanted to see The Judge when it came out because of its cast, but I missed it when it was in theatres and then I kept putting it off because of its running time. Eventually, I even forgot what the film was about so I kept putting it off, mainly because I was afraid it'd be a long, boring courtroom drama, which is crazy since I love courtroom dramas. 

The film follows Hank Palmer (Robert Downey Jr.), a successful and unethical defence attorney in Chicago. When his brother Glen (Vincent D'Onofrio) calls to let him know that their mother has passed away, Hank returns to his hometown in Indiana and soon ends up being the lawyer to his estranged father (Robert Duvall), the town's judge, who is suspected of murder. 

It's a very simple story that should not take 2 hours to be told and yet it does as there are way too many subplots —Hank Palmer's divorce, Hank Palmer's high school girlfriend who has a college-age daughter who could be his daughter, and the courtoom drama. Not to mention the subplot going on with Glen's two sons— that go nowhere and fail to be interesting. Despite this, The Judge manages to be a very compelling and engaging drama as it mainly centres on the father-and-son relationship, which makes you reflect on how hard it is to grow up not without your father's approval, but with his disapproval, and the complex relationship between siblings. 

The characters needed more work too as they all are a bit stereotyped, lack development —especially when it comes to supporting characters—, their characterization isn't always consistent, and some —the prosecuting attorney, to mention one— are given a backstory for no reason at all, which kind of ends up creating another subplot. 

The performances, on the other hand, are great. Robert Downey Jr. gives one of the, if not the best performance of his career as Hank Palmer. He nails the dramatic scenes and brings to be screen his typical magnetism, which will make you like him/his character even though he is a horrible man —he displays too much cockiness at the beginning of the film though. Robert Duvall is, however, the Robert who absolutely steals the show here. He's fearless in portraying an ageing man who is losing it, and proves that an actor doesn't need a great script to give a great, Award-worthy performance. Vincent D'Onofrio, who unfortunately has way less screen time than he deserves, is terrific as Glen as he brings depth to a character who had none on paper. The cast also features Jeremy Strong who does good in the role of Hank's mentally challenged younger brother, Dale, Billy Bob Thornton and Vera Farmiga, both talented and both wasted with characters they can't do anything with. 

Warner Bros. Pictures

David Dobkin's direction is also pretty solid. Although he relies a little too much on clichés and because of the tone, the film at times feels like a sappy melodrama, he manages to make a heavy, serious film with some humour and playfulness in it, rather than the opposite, which is exactly what I was expecting from him. Also, I found the slow pacing to fit the story very well —the long running time did not bother me at all. Actually, time flew by as I was watching this flawed and yet touching, emotional and absorbing film.

The Conjuring 2 (2016)

If you have read yesterday's review then you already know that The Conjuring blew me away. I don't remember the last time a movie scared me that much. Actually, I don't believe it ever happened. That, the recurring cast, Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, and the recurring director, James Wan, set my hopes pretty high for The Conjuring 2.

Just like the previous film, this one too is based on true events and follows Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) as they travel to London, England, where a single mother, Peggy Hodgson (Frances O'Connor), and her four children are being haunted by an unknown, evil entity who eventually posses the second oldest daughter, Janet (Madison Wolfe).

And just like in The Conjuring, the plot is a chaotic mess. Once again we have the typical haunted house storyline, and then a subplot involving another demonic presence --the nun tormenting the Warrens as opposed to Annabelle. There's a quite brilliant twist at the end though that connects the various plot elements and makes the plot, specifically the ending, work better than it did in the first time. Unfortunately, unlike the first time, the story wasn't compelling enough to keep me interested, and by the time the twist came, I was bored out of my mind.

The characters are still pretty good though. Just like its predecessor, The Conjuring 2 takes the time needed to build and develop its characters and the result is likeable and believable characters we care about and root for.

And once again the cast does a good job. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are both great as Ed and Lorraine and their great chemistry really makes the film work as the film heavily relies on their characters' relationship. Also, Wilson sings an Elvis song and he is amazing. However, it's Madison Wolfe who stands out with her vulnerable and frightening performance as Janet.

Warner Bros. Pictures

At last, James Wan direction is still pretty good as the camera work is still excellent and the atmosphere and tension he delivers throughout the film is quite impressive, especially considering the not so brilliant story. However, the film isn't as scary as its predecessor was. Maybe it's because instead of amazing makeup and costumes, it heavily relies on non-so good and unrealistic CGI that is rather distracting; or because every time something scary was happening, Wan cut to the next scene before something really scary happened.

The Conjuring (2013)

I'll start this by saying that I'm an atheist, I don't believe in paranormal activities and therefore I don't like to waste my time with paranormal horror movies. But there's someone in the blogosphere *cough*Margaret*cough* who keeps praising James Wan so I decided to watch one of his most loved films, The Conjuring. 

As you probably know the film is based on true events and tells the story of the Perron family who shortly after moving into their "new" dilapidated farmhouse in Rhode Island begins to experience paranormal events. Fearful, they ask for the help of Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga), two paranormal investigators that soon discover there's a witch haunting the house and the area surrounding it.

The plot certainly isn't the film's greatest strength as it lacks originality and it's a little all over the place. The main storyline, the one you just read, is pretty much your typical haunted house story and as such, it's clichéd and predictable. Everything else is quite a mess as there's too much going on --the Annabelle doll, the melodrama between and Ed and Lorraine as they want to stop doing their job but they also want to continue because helping other is their mission from God-- and nothing really gets the conclusion it deserves. And yet there's something about it that was so compelling it kept me interested and invested in The Conjuring for the whole time.

The characters are definitely one of those compelling aspects. Unlike most horrors nowadays, this film takes its time to get the audience know its characters, both the Warrens and the Perrons, which makes them more interesting and relatable than your average horror characters. We get invested in them, we care about them, and we root for them.

It wouldn't be fair to praise only the writers for this as the reason they are so effective is the cast. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are both excellent as the husband and wife --they do a great job at exploring their characters and their chemistry is pretty good. The rest of the cast does a good job too, the stand out being Lili Taylor as Carolyn Perron whose transition from innocent and loving mother to terrifying monster.

Warner Bros. Pictures

At last but not least director James Wan, the man without whom The Conjuring wouldn't be the same --I'm not sure it would even work without him. Wan was able to give the film a 70s look which makes it feel very authentic and real. His stylish camera work which includes tracking shots and very creative angles --I loved when he turned the camera upside down-- gives the film such a creepy, haunting and frightening atmosphere. He builds tension and delivers terror beautifully and, while there still are jump scares, they are effective because they have a reason to be there. Also, there's no sex, no gore and no cursing, isn't that refreshing for a horror?

Ultimately, The Conjuring isn't perfect but it's pretty terrifying. As I said above, I don't believe in these things but I was genuinely scared while watching the film. It sent chills down my spine several times, I'm not kidding.