Cast: Denzel Washington (Frank Lucas), Russell Crowe (Richie Roberts), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Huey Lucas), Josh Brolin (Detective Trupo)
For complete info on this great cast, see IMDb’s American Gangster page.
I’ll see almost any movie with Denzel Washington, so I was sold on this movie from the start. After seeing American Gangster, I think I’m going to have to read the book, since the story really intrigued me. Real-life stories like this always grab my attention. The movie was very well done. It had an amazing cast and really made me jump in a couple points. It seemed every time I was ready for something bad to happen it didn’t and when I least expected it, *bang*… It always impresses me when a movie can do that throughout the story, since I’m not exactly stupid and normally I catch on quickly. The way American Gangster was directed, it kept me on my guard for the whole movie, which is rare.
The true story behind American Gangster interested me and the movie made me a lot more curious about the real story. I highly recommend seeing American Gangster in the theatre or renting it when it makes it to DVD, which doesn’t seem to take long these days.
Grade: A-
Labels: 2007, crime, Denzel Washington, drama, movie, Russell Crowe, thriller
Reviewed by Kat at the 8:30 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Denzel Washington (Doug Carlin), Paula Patton (Claire Kuchever), Val Kilmer (Agent Pryzwarra), James Caviezel (Carroll Oerstadt)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's Deja Vu page.
Since I don't pay very close attention to previews or read about movies before seeing them, I didn't realize that Deja Vu was so much of a sci-fi movie. I thought it was just action. The sci-fi twist worked very well and made the movie much more entertaining than it would have been without that angle.
If you missed Deja Vu in theatres, I definitely recommend renting this entertaining sci-fi action movie with a bit of romance thrown in. Unlike many movies of its kind, Deja Vu does not concentrate on the love story. It's a good action movie with a sci-fi spin.
Grade: B+
Labels: 2006, action, Denzel Washington, James Caviezel, movie, Paula Patton, romance, sci-fi, thriller, Val Kilmer
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:45 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Denzel Washington (Detective Keith Frazier), Clive Owen (Dalton Russell), Jodie Foster (Madeline White), Christopher Plummer (Arthur Case), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Detective Bill Mitchell)
For complete info on this amazing cast and crew, see IMDb's Inside Man page.
Rent Inside Man now if you missed it in theatres. I wish it had stayed around long enough for us to see it in a theatre. Inside Man kept my interest through the entire movie with many twists and turns. The fact that it took place right by the apartment my dad moved out of last week made it more interesting, too.
Spike Lee does a wonderful job with an amazing cast. I should have known (from what Jodi Foster has said about being super selective with her movie choices) that this would be a great movie, but I don't think her last few have been this good.
As a huge Christopher Plummer fan (dating back to when I first saw The Sound of Music) it was really interesting to see him in this role. Definitely a huge departure from Captain Von Trapp. In fact, it'd be hard to find a character who is less like the Captain than Arthur Case.
Inside Man kept me guessing about aspects of the plot from beginning to end and the final scene of the movie was absolutely perfect. I definitely recommend renting Inside Man! It's a wonderful story that's well assembled to make a very exciting movie.
Grade: A
Labels: 2006, Clive Owen, crime, Denzel Washington, drama, Jodie Foster, movie, thriller
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:20 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Denzel Washington (Creasy), Dakota Fanning (Pita), Marc Anthony (Samuel), Radha Mitchell (lisa), Christopher Walken (Rayburn)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's Man on Fire page.
This movie about a former assassin hired to protect a family and then exacting vengeance on those who kidnapped the family's daughter is very well done. Of course, with a cast that includes Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning, I'd expect nothing less. Who better to exact revenge than someone who used to be an assassin? I'm sure Pita's family was glad they hired Creasy!
I definitely recommend renting this one if you missed it in theatres.
Grade: B+
Labels: 2004, action, Christopher Walken, crime, Dakota Fanning, Denzel Washington, drama, movie, thriller
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:30 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Denzel Washington (John Quincy Archibald), Robert Duvall (Lt. Frank Grimes), James Woods (Dr. Raymond Turner), Daniel E. Smith (Mike Archibald), Kimberly Elise (Denise Archibald)
I remember in interviews that Denzel Washington said he figured this movie would allow people to forgive him for playing such an asshole in Training Day and I agree completely. I think his portrayal of a man desperate to save his son is very touching. Who hasn't founght with insurance companies at some point? And who wouldn't do just about anything to save their own child if they were lying in a hospital bed about to die? John Q definitely takes this concept to the extreme, but I think it's a well done drama about a man who takes a hospital ER hostage so that the doctors will agree to operate on his son.
Grade: B
Labels: 2002, crime, Denzel Washington, drama, movie, thriller
Reviewed by Kat at the 1:55 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Denzel Washington (Coach Herman Boone), Will Patton (Coach Bill Yoast)
For complete cast, see IMDb's Remember the Titans page.
This true story of racial integration and a team dealing with an African-American coach for the first time is wonderful. I'm so glad that it was made into a movie. Remember the Titans is the best of both worlds - football and a touching story!
Grade: B+
Labels: 2000, Denzel Washington, drama, movie, Ryan Gosling, sports
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Denzel Washington (Dudley), Whitney Houston (Julia Biggs), Courtney B. Vance (Reverend Henry Biggs), Gregory Hines (Joe Hamilton)
For complete info, see IMDb's The Preacher's Wife page.
A little too schmaltzy for my taste, but not bad as holiday movies go. Sure, Whitney Houston's not a good actress, but Denzel Washington is a wonderful actor and I guess they figure if they surround her with great actors the fact that she can't act won't be as annoying. It worked better in this one than it did in her other movies, I think. Probably because The Preacher's Wife is just a light, sugary holiday movie, not meant to be anything more than a sweet romantic comedy.
Not worth seeing in theatres, but worth the time to watch it when it turns up on HBO.
Grade: B-
Labels: 1996, comedy, Denzel Washington, drama, fantasy, movie, romance
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:50 PM show | 0 screams