Rating: Summary: Haunting Review: Martin Scorcese is widely considered one of the most important filmmakers of all time. His films contain a rare power that dive into the darker parts of human greed, addiction, and violence. Bringing out the Dead is no acceptation to this rule and proves that yet again Scorcese can present to his audience a gripping tale that will affect the way you see your own environment. In Bringing out the Dead we meet Frank Pierce (Nicholas Cage) a paramedic working in New York's notorious Hells Kitchen. Frank feels he is lost. He ponders the meaning of his job, wonders if he is trying to cheat people from their fate, and even sees ghosts from the people he could not save. He is a man working in an insane world and fears he either must join the insanity, or get out while he can. Getting out is certainly what he attempts to do, however his boss will not fire him even after he begs for it. As film progresses, we learn more about Frank various paramedics he is partnered with (John Goodman, Ving Rhames, and Tom Sizemore). Each of them posses extreme personalities and require extreme reactions out of Frank. It is an interesting technique at character development that few directors could pull of on such an effective level. Each of them symbolizes an option to Frank as to how he can deal with the insanity of Hells Kitchen. Films like Bringing out the Dead are hard to come by. It is dark, gritty, methodical, and offers no clear cut answers for the problems it presents. Perhaps these films aren't for everyone, but I'll take them over the cut and dry Hollywood blockbusters any day of the week.
Rating: Summary: BAD Movie - incoherent, lack of plot Review: Do not watch this long, terribly incoherent movie. The scenes do not flow together in a sensible manner. There was NO storyline. In essence, the whole film was just some senseless hallucinations of this guilt-ridden paramedic played by Nicholas Cage. There were too much illogical ideas in this movie. The characters in the movie were behaving in a way I really don't understand. Why was the other paramedic beating up his patient - cuz he despied him? What happened to Nicholas Cage in the end? Why did Nicholas Cage stop his narrating towards the second half of the movie. I was, annoyed and at best, baffled, for the length of the film. Trying to make comedy of a dark theme such as death was a failure here. The handling of mood in the movie was simply ridiculous. One moment, the viewer is put through a serious, dramatic tension, and quite abruptly, fun, disco music takes over. It was difficult to adapt one's dispostion to suit the movie with its incoherent style of mood. To talk about real drama, this movie really doesn't have it. The movie keeps repeating the same idea - of how the paramedics arrive at a scene where someone dies in their hands. There was no outstanding, central storyline - Perhaps this could explain why there was even no conclusion for the movie! The movie's good point was the noteworthy performances of the actors. But the incoherence, flat storyline pretty much destroys everything. I'm actually surprised at the sizeable amount of aclaim for this movie. With that in mind, I think it's fair to conclude, this movie is one that some esoteric folks will appreciate, but for the regular viewers like me, this is one that's best left untouched.
Rating: Summary: Bringing Out the Dead Review: Director Martin Scorsese has made more truly outstanding films in the last thirty years than any other director working in Hollywood. While BOTD is probably not on par with the director's very best work (Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, After Hours), it is definitely a worthy extension of those films. BOTD is part Taxi Driver-style urban nightmare and part surrealist nightmare/black comedy ala After Hours and King of Comedy. This movies principle strength is the way the camera and screenplay come together to slash and whirl through the urban madness of late 80's-early 90's New York. Director Scorsese and writer Paul Schrader are aided in this by an extremely strong supporting cast, including John Goodman, Ving Rhames, and Tom Sizemore, who bring the craziness into sharp focus against the remarkably deadpan lead performance of Cage.
Rating: Summary: THE NIGHT OF THE RISING DEAD Review: Martin Scorsese belongs to the priceless category of the authors-directors. If, by any chance, you've missed the initial credits of BRINGING OUT THE DEAD, the themes treated by the movie, its style will soon reveal to you the name of the director. At last, one has the impression that cinema is an artistic media, like a painting or a book, and not only the empty shell it has become 105 years after its birth. Would it be for this reason only, I thank you Martin Scorsese. Who else today could have the nerves to talk, movies after movies, of personal redemption or of intimate guiltiness ? These themes are not particularly modern, they shake in your mind and your heart ideas and feelings you would have preferred to forget. Going to the theaters with Martin Scorsese is not a matter of fun, you're not going to have a great time with him, you are going to be involved. Cinema at no risk doesn't exist anymore with Scorsese. Some will say that Martin Scorsese is just a catholic director. So what ! Our entire western civilization is built on such ideas as Redemption, Guiltiness, Bad and Evil even if one would like to forget it. Nicholas CAGE, in BRINGING OUT THE DEAD, like a modern Jesus, will doubt, suffer and be tempted. In a reddish Golgotha-like New-York City tower, he will even discuss with the bad guy but will avoid crucifixion. A terrible last nightmare converts the sirens of his ambulance into the trumpets of the Apocalypse and the dead soon rise from the ground. Also note that, as always in Martin Scorsese's movies, the musical score is perfect. The under-average bonus features present a featurette and two trailers. Great images and sound. A DVD for Christmas.
Rating: Summary: reality healthcare Review: I work in healthcare and after working 60-70 hours in a hard week this is what my dreams are like. In all honesty I was impressed with how the frustration and joy of working with people came through more effectively than I've ever seen before. It may be harder to follow than ER, but this movie is more realistic, (like life, it can't be translated with Cliffs notes.) This movie will be interpreted differently be each viewer. It's a great conversation starter.
Rating: Summary: An interesting watch Review: This is a morbid film set in a dingy place. I thought the movie was very well made but it may make you a bit depressed. There's a dose of crazy in there, as well. It'll keep you on your toes.
Rating: Summary: Tale of Redemption Review: Bringing out the Dead strikes me as a fitting companion to Scorsese's Taxi Driver. In Taxi Driver, the protagonist views the world around him from the vantage point of a fiery Old Testament prophet. He wants to "wash the filth" from the hellish city he drives in. Frank Pierce is more of a flawed Christ figure. He is literally dying of compassion for the suffering of the people he encounters in his work. He contrasts with his fellow drivers, who have retreated into indifference, bad faith "religiousity" and actual sadism in their response to their daily encounters with others' pain and loss. He wants to save but is a failed "savior," having not "saved" anyone for a long time. He daily tries to quit his job ("let this cup pass by me..." ) but always resignedly returns to his duty ("...but not my will be done but yours." His drug induced vision of lifting up the souls of people he's seen die in the streets is an epiphany. He's able to see beyond the pain to something deeper, something tinged with joy. This is a beautiful and moving film.
Rating: Summary: HORRIBLE..I didn't even watch it all Review: I am an enormous Nicolas Cage fan...they trapped this man into this movie, or something. Total let down. I about went to sleep. So so sosososososossosososo boring. No story, except he's a EMT that needs some sleep and coffee (and maybe a shrink). Gosh, I can't believe they wasted Cage's precious time on this one. I can't believe it has more than one star as an average rating, either...and trust me...I am a BIG movie person. But..this is the only BAD movie I have seen Cage do...and heck, it wasn't his fault..he was tricked into it or something!!hahaha Blackmale, maybe? :o)
Rating: Summary: Some of the best people in Hollywood can't save this script! Review: I have been a fan of Martin Scorsese and Nicolas Cage, but I thought the story line was beyond any help. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the whole storyline is two paramedics driving out to emergency calls, and not being able to save the person. They go back to the hospital, and then wait for another call. And the movie keeps repeating this every 5 minutes... Drive to call, watch another person die, drive back to hospital, wait... When I left the theater, I could have sworn that the movie was 4 hours long, when in fact it was 90 minutes. The dialogue was dry, and spending half the time watching 2 people drive around gets old fast too. Imagine a film about watching your dad drive to work. That would be more interesting. I'm just trying to save you 90 minutes that I wasted on this film. -Ciao
Rating: Summary: Frenetic Review: I like this movie.It's skittish and kinda dopey.Something about it reminds me of a Fat Albert episode where everybody's beating each other up.I like the way the actors are intensely tired.The whole movie works best when you are tired and hungry.My favorate Scorsese movies are After Hours,Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore,and this one.This one is pretty funny.
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