Finder's Fee

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable but extremely hurt by its final act!
Review: In FIGHT CLUB, Brad Pitt's character asks the character played by Edward Norton if he could fight anyone who would it be. My answer to that question would have to be SURVIVOR host Jeff Probst (or perhaps Dr. Phil). Don't ask me why? Probst just really gets on my nerves on that show. So much so that after somewhat enjoying the show's first season I quit watching after that just because of its host. So, when I first heard of FINDER'S FEE I became outraged that just because the guy was the host of a popular reality show that he would be given the chance to write and direct his own film. Naturally, when I saw the film on the shelf of my local video store I had to rent it. I wanted to hate it. I couldn't wait to hate it and tear it apart piece by piece. Did I hate it? No, I'm sorry to say that I didn't. However, I didn't love it either. At least I can find some comfort in that.

First off, the film has an interesting concept. If you found a winning lottery ticket in a stranger's wallet would you give it back? I'd like to think that I would but who knows? That would probably be a hard thing to do. And who knows more about the crazy things people will do for money than writer/director Jeff Probst? I mean, the man sees people competing for money on a daily basis so he knows a thing or two about the plot from first hand experiences.

Anyway, for the first hour and twenty minutes or so the film seems to be moving a long rather nicely until suddenly a certain character does something that seems very out of character by smashing a certain someone in the head with a champagne bottle. I was baffled. This, to me, just felt like it came completely out of left field. While the action does lead to some of the film's more exciting moments that's just not where I saw the film heading from the way the first acts played out. Normally, I would be happy to be surprised by the final act but this surprise just seemed to out there no matter who the director of the film was.

All in all, FINDER'S FEE is an enjoyable little movie that is extremely hurt by it's final twenty minutes and Jeff Probst proves he may have some talent behind the lens but that doesn't mean I have to like him.

The film stars Matthew Lillaird (SCREAM, SCOOBY DOO), Eric Palladino (U-571), Dash Mihok (BASIC, WHITEBOYS), Ryan Reynolds (VAN WILDER, THE IN-LAWS), James Earl Jones (PATRIOT GAMES, CONAN THE BARBARIAN), and Robert Forster (JACKIE BROWN, VIGILANTE)

C-

Rating:
Summary: I LOVED this movie!!!!!!!!!
Review: Not since the Fight Club have I been this excited about a movie.
The writing is intense, the direction perfect and the acting so wonderful that you become one with the film. Very intelligent film with lots of twists and turns. You truly do not know what is going to happen next. The suspense is so taught at times that you will find yourself holding your breath. Please see this film! Bravo to the writer, director and cast.

Rating:
Summary: I LOVED this movie!!!!!!!!!
Review: Not since the Fight Club have I been this excited about a movie.
The writing is intense, the direction perfect and the acting so wonderful that you become one with the film. Very intelligent film with lots of twists and turns. You truly do not know what is going to happen next. The suspense is so taught at times that you will find yourself holding your breath. Please see this film! Bravo to the writer, director and cast.