you just sit and stay inside yourself. You wait for me to talk. I like that.

Average rating: 7.0

The Beekeeper (2024) - "A retired clandestine operative seeks revenge after his kind-hearten landlady is driven to suicide by a devastating phishing scam that steals millions from her charity. His quest for justice escalates, revealing a web of corruption and deceit as he uncovers the true extent of the scam's impact. The operative, known for his unique skills and unwavering resolve, employs his expertise to dismantle the criminal network and bring those responsible to justice, while also confronting the personal toll of his actions."
length: 1 hour, 45 minutes

source: I borrowed the DVD through the public library
I watched it because: Jason Statham is one of my favorites
IMDB: 6.3/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 71% Audience: 92%
my IMDB: 7/10

MPAA rating: R

notable quote: "'You're a good looking kid. You really are. You know that?'

    'What does that mean?'

    'It means that God doesn't give with both hands.'"

directed by: David Ayer

my notes: I like this. Overall, it's a beautiful film to watch, with great lighting and unique camera work. Statham is getting better as he's aging, settling into a higher level of 'strong, silent and lethal' rather than just the 'violent, obnoxious, and more violent' of his youth. The supporting players—particularly Jemma Redgrave (President Danforth) and Bobby Naderi (Agent Wiley)—raise it to a different sort of dramatic level. The script isn't Oscar-worthy but neither is it the worst I've ever seen. The film is entertaining and engaging.  (If you can't deal with heavy metaphor, though, you might want to skip it.) 

overall:  recommended

 

Out of the Past (1947) - "The quiet life of small-town gas station owner Jeff Bailey (Robert Mitchum) is interrupted when a figure from his shady past, small-time crook Joe Stephanos (Paul Valentine), recognizes him. Stephanos' boss, gambler Whit Sterling (Kirk Douglas), had hired Jeff to track down Kathie Moffat (Jane Greer), a girlfriend who shot Whit and made off with $40,000 of his. Jeff and Kathie fell in love, but she left him to go back to Sterling—who now wants Jeff to settle a few old scores."
length: 1 hour, 37 minutes

source: I borrowed the DVD through the public library
I watched it because: it was recommended as a terrific noir film
IMDB: 8.0/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 93% Audience: 92%
my IMDB: 8/10

MPAA rating: Approved

notable quote: "'Cigarette?'

    'Smoking.'"

directed by: Jacques Tourneur

my notes: I'm surprised by how much I liked this. Mitchum can be a hard sell for me, but this is a nice showpiece for his unique talents and charms. This script is a great match for Mitchum's skill with clever dialog and quiet power. He's a great foil for the ladies in the cast, and also for Kirk Douglas (mustachio-twirling notwithstanding). 

    Roger Ebert's review is here, with which I agree.  

The movie’s final scene, between the hometown girl Ann and Jimmy, Jeff’s hired kid at the gas station, reflects the moral murkiness of the film with its quiet ambiguity. I won’t reveal the details, but as Jimmy answers Ann’s question, is he telling her what he believes, what he thinks she wants to believe, or what he thinks it will be best for her to believe?

overall: strongly recommended

Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) - "South African smugglers find themselves being hounded and harassed by Riggs and Murtaugh, two mismatched Los Angeles police officers. However, the South Africans are protected by diplomatic immunity, and so the two are assigned to witness-protection duty in an attempt by their captain to keep his job. It is only when this witness reveals to them that he has already dealt with the smugglers that the trouble really starts."
length: 1 hour, 54 minutes

source: I own the DVD (series)
I watched it because: I was working on a terribly dull project that only required half my brain, and I needed to keep the other half awake
IMDB: 7.3/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 82% Audience: 78%
my IMDB: 6/10

MPAA rating: R

notable quote: "'What are you doing?'

    'I was just checking to see if I was standing on plastic.'"

directed by: Richard Donner

my notes: the action is top-notch, but there's bad law at the heart of it so I can't accept it unconditionally.

    Roger Ebert's review is here, with which I disagree in the general premise.

Academy Award nominee: Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing—Robert G. Henderson, Alan Robert Murray
overall: marginally recommended

Kiss of the Dragon (2001) - "Jet Li plays Liu Jian, China's top government agent, who arrives in Paris from Shanghai to carry out a sensitive, top-secret mission. Liu is in Paris to assist Richard (Tcheky Karyo), an unorthodox police official with a small army to back him up. The mission goes horribly wrong, as the man Liu had come to help betrays him."
length: 1 hour, 38 minutes

source: I borrowed the DVD through the public library
I watched it because: I'd seen it only once before, and had not reviewed it
IMDB: 6.6/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 53% Audience: 68%
my IMDB: 7/10

MPAA rating: R

notable quote: "'No, no, no, no needles.'

    'No needles? No.' [picks the lock on her handcuffs]

    'Ow! How did you do that?' 

    'Chinese magic."

directed by: Chris Nahon

my notes: the film was produced and co-written by Luc Besson, writer and director of some of my favorite films (most notably The Professional, 1994). Jet Li also has writing credit, which I don't recall seeing on his films before. That's pretty cool.

    Li is as awesome as always, quirky and slightly awkward as the brilliant law enforcement agent. He shines in the fight scenes, which are obviously well planned and carefully executed but have the effect of complete mayhem. My new favorite is below.

    The rest of the cast is marvelous. I haven't seen Bridget Fonda (Jessica) since the personally-difficult Singles (1992). She's a great listener, even in an action film—and gorgeous besides. And my new favorite, Tchéky Karyo, makes an outstanding, oily bad guy.  

    Roger Ebert's review is here, with which I mostly agree.

overall:  recommended

 

[the title quotation is from Out of the Past]