Scenes of the Crime

Rating:
Summary: Surprising Realism.
Review: Based on a true story, the film speculates on the events of five murders that surrounded the kidnapping of an organized crime boss (Jeff Bridges). The kidnapping starts to go wrong, but is 'held together' by the innocent driver, despite his inexperience. It is obvious that the boy-driver is way out of his league, his new associates are professional criminals and killers, and it's curious that he's not 'taken out' from the beginning, but he's spared, and as a result of his choice to remain involved, his actions and inactions set off a series of unexpected circumstances.

This film has a surprising realism. Gangster films have almost become a single genre, and as viewers, we've been bombarded with that particular gangster 'type', and to a certain extent, have become desensitized to it. They're simply not dangerous anymore or don't evoke that needed fear and tension. In ~Scenes of the Crime~ these men came across to me as seriously dangerous, very dangerous; just to know these guys would be a liability. This is what made this film enjoyable, its decision to keep the story real and the actor's more than believable performances.

What this film lacks in big budget fanfare, it more than makes up in excellent directing, editing and great acting from the entire cast.

Rating:
Summary: great movie!
Review: I thought this was a very good movie. I'll spare you the plot summary since it's probably better if you just read the back of the DVD case and pop it in and watch it. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Highly recommended for those that like "caper" or "gangster" movies with a twist.

Rating:
Summary: High Expectations that Left Me Disappointed
Review: I was expecting a B movie--with a little class because Jeff Bridges was in this movie. Everything was going great--good acting, superb visuals, good audio, interesting storyline, gradual buildup of suspense--and then BOOM! THE END. WHAT??? Yes, that's right. It was over just like that. (SIGH) The ending of this movie ranks as one of the worst endings I have ever seen!!! (yes that's 3 exclamation points)

(Another sigh) This movie was excellent up until the end. I never could understand what reviewers meant when they said that, but now I understand completely.

Did some research and found out the budget for this movie was around 10 million and production wrapped up in about 1.5 months. Wow! Now I understand. Everything else was done in the editing room! What a disappointment! Once again--superb movie until the end, which is sudden and leaves you hanging. You know what happens because they tell you but they do it abruptly. Everything is wrapped up too quick--as if the budget had been reached. (Last Sigh)

And wow, that driver was a pu$$y. Geez, if that truly was a professional gangster in the van...he would have been out in 2 minutes after his hands were untied.

Rating:
Summary: Worthwhile Character-Driven Thriller
Review: Jon Abrahams is Lenny who's not really one of the bed guys except in very small time ways, doing the occasional driving job for some gangster types he knows. Then one day he finds himself in way over his head as everything goes very badly wrong. He is the guy driving the van when Rick (Peter Greene) kidnaps bigshot gangster Jimmy Berg (Bridges) at the orders of bigshot ganster Trevor who wants some leverage with Jimmy's partner bigshot ganster Steve. But then Steve's men catch them up and suddenly Rick is dead on the pavement leaving Lenny alone in the van with Jimmy as hostage, parked (illegally) out in a city street with Steve's men all around him armed to the teeth. This is naturally all rather stressful for the poor man. Jimmy seems all sweet and reasonable and insists that Lenny just has to let him go on his way and all will be well. But his henchmen, especially the main guy Seth, are just as scary as can be - so can Lenny really be sure they won't just casually waste him the moment their boss is safe? Tricky call. And then before long here is Trevor on the cellphone to Lenny telling him to be sure he doesn't let his prisoner go and clearly he's in trouble if he does. So now the challenge of figuring out who to trust and what in the world to do is getting desperate indeed...

It's a short film on a generally modest scale. It's nothing terribly special but it's certainly a very decent, nicely directed, intelligent, character-driven thriller well worth checking out. In its protracted focus on a single hopelessly pressured individual stuck in the middle of a city street waiting out a desperate situation and expecting to be shot at any second, it rather calls Schumacher's "Phone Booth" to mind but is a great deal better. The direction is taut, the intrigue and suspense nicely maintained. The nicest thing about it is the contrast, that so freaks Lenny out, between the apparently very nice and reasonable (Here, have some of my sandwich, trust me, I want to help you...) Jimmy, excellently played by Bridges, and the marvellously scary and unpleasant Seth, perfectly played by Noah Wyle, lurking outside the van with his creepy smile...

Rating:
Summary: The original 'Phonebooth'. Don't know who is good...or evil.
Review: Now I know what Phonebooth was like (which I haven't seen). Jeff Bridges is amazing, as to Noah Whyle (who I've followed closely as a fan since and purely for his Donnie Darko appearance). Lenny the guy from Scary Movie was annoying at first, I wanted him dead...but funny how things can change. I wanted to side with the Bridges character but after reading some reviews, there's speculation he was the bad evil guy. I thought Whyle was good...or is he? I don't know...the plot is all over the place. I reccommend this for Bridges and Whyle fans. It certainly kept me hooked from the start with it's relentless tension. Would give it 5 stars if they resolved and gave DVD information (newspaper articles?) on what they meant 'based on a real story' or is that anoymonity/defamation issue getting in the way again...?

Rating:
Summary: It's certainly different ...
Review: While I am a great fan of Jeff Bridges, this movie fell short of his powerful acting abilities...yet intrigued me throughout.

So, how to describe this strange, convoluted film? There is a certain Tarantino-esque quality to the story line, which is revealed through bizaar actions and dialogue. I was involved in the film, and shocked by its sudden ending. Yet, what other ending would have been possible for the reluctant hero.

If you like the slow revelation of who is who, and why pieces fall as they do, then this is a good film for a rainy night. I'd say it's probably a "B-" film, but I do not feel as if I wasted my time watching it. Instead, I still think about the twists and the way all of the characters eventually came together.

Only three stars worth of fascination though.

Victoria Tarrani

Rating:
Summary: It's certainly different ...
Review: While I am a great fan of Jeff Bridges, this movie fell short of his powerful acting abilities...yet intrigued me throughout.

So, how to describe this strange, convoluted film? There is a certain Tarantino-esque quality to the story line, which is revealed through bizaar actions and dialogue. I was involved in the film, and shocked by its sudden ending. Yet, what other ending would have been possible for the reluctant hero.

If you like the slow revelation of who is who, and why pieces fall as they do, then this is a good film for a rainy night. I'd say it's probably a "B-" film, but I do not feel as if I wasted my time watching it. Instead, I still think about the twists and the way all of the characters eventually came together.

Only three stars worth of fascination though.

Victoria Tarrani