Sam C. Mac, or at least his headline at the Playlist Nation, asks if a possible return to form for Japanese comedian turned tough-guy actor-director-painter “Beat” Takeshi Kitano is a good thing. (Apparently some, but not all critics, are responding that way to his latest film “Outrage, which is premiering at Cannes.)
In response, I’m posting the two scenes below that show Kitano doing what he does best. Creating the kind of mind-bending bad-assery that is as scary as it hypnotic, and the kind of beauty that make strong men and women cry.
First, from “Fireworks“:
From “Dolls”
This movie really got to me at the AFI Film Festival some years back and if you’re wondering why the young couple is tethered together, I can’t remember. I’d look it up but I’m afraid I’d ruin my computer weeping on the keyboard. It’s that kind of a movie.
The origins of “Legion” – a group of strangers fight off an unholy invasion – can be found in a dozen low-budget movies from “Assault on Precinct 13” to “Evil Dead,” and as source material goes, those are two damned fine titles to borrow, as it were. And “Legion” pays decent tribute in the process, serving up some enjoyable moments both humorous and dreadful (as in full of dread, not as in miserable). Paul Bettany is the archangel Michael, rebelling against God’s order to essentially launch the apocalypse by killing the unborn child of a truck stop waitress in the middle of nowhere. Instead, Michael leads the truck stop employees and their few patrons into fending off an army of angel-possessed (that’s right, angel-possessed) people who have suddenly swarmed on them. And what a group of employees and patrons this is. You’d expect Dennis Quaid and Charles S. Dutton to be here, but Kate Walsh’s appearance as an angry mom is a nice surprise. The dialogue is decent enough for what is clearly a B movie, but it’s a bit too slick for its own good. Movies of this ilk should have swagger and personality, not glossy production value. Still, Bettany handles the lead role with aplomb, taking the role seriously but not too seriously. Overall, it’s an acceptable entry into the supernatural horror genre, but if we’re lucky, this won’t pull a “Prophecy” and inspire a series of unnecessary sequels.
