thriller
KNOWING is half the battle…
April 29th, 2009
Hello. My name is James Harleman, and I’m a Cage-aholic. I thought I’d given up on the Nicolas for good, but last week I fell off the wagon and watched his latest film, KNOWING.
A friend invited me, and I couldn’t resist… and you know what? I’m not sorry.
I used to have it BAD. Seriously, [...]
TAKEN pt. 3: Our Father’s Relentless Pursuit
March 26th, 2009
“Our fathers were our models for God. If our fathers failed, what does that tell you about God?”
– Tyler Durden, Fight Club
(For the introduction to our series on Taken, click here)
More than redeeming the role of daddy and emphasizing a child’s folly, Taken truly transcends these archetypes and fills the viewer with a glimpse of [...]
TAKEN pt. 2: Her Father’s Regulation
March 23rd, 2009
“A wise son (or daughter) heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not listen to him.” – Proverbs
(For the introduction to our series on Taken, click here)
Kim knows what she’s doing; she can take care of herself. Dad worries too much. What could go wrong? The horrifying truth is revealed in Taken when her naiveté, her [...]
TAKEN pt. 1: A Father’s Redemption
March 19th, 2009
“Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and the parents are the pride of their children.” – Proverbs
(For the introduction to our series on Taken, click here)
Pierre Morel’s Taken focuses on a familiar scenario in our generation: absentee Dad. Statistics suggest 40% of kids in the United States go to bed with no Dad [...]
We’ll Always Have Paris… DESTROYED
March 14th, 2009
review by James Harleman
Have we fallen in love with Paris, or have we decided to destroy it? As my wife and I were planning a romantic Valentine’s getaway in January this year the trailer for Taken, Pierre Morel’s film debuted featuring Liam Neeson running amuck through Paris, made us think twice about going. Later this [...]
You Can’t Stop What’s Coming…
May 20th, 2008
Audio Review of
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
by Pastor James Harleman
The COEN BROTHERS adapted Cormac McCarthy’s novel into this film of the same name, After writing No Country in 2005, the 75 year old McCarthy has won a Pulitzer Prize for his novel “The Road” in 2006, once again exploring his familiar themes of extreme [...]
Is it fate or chance that haunts the Children of Men?
February 5th, 2008
Alfonso Cuarón’s film adaptation of the P.D. James’ book Children of Men is an incredible work of art marked by some of the most amazing cinematography I have seen. Opening on Christmas day in 2006, critics compared the characters of Theo and Kee with Joseph and Mary, calling the film a “modern day nativity story”.
Children [...]
Bourne Again… and Again… and Again
January 4th, 2008
A review of The Bourne Ultimatum
with reflections on the Bourne Trilogy
by James Harleman
(watch for an AUDIO session on the Bourne to be posted soon as well)
When The Bourne Identity came out, I thoroughly enjoyed its themes. Sure, to some it was nothing more than a brisk, tightly-paced action movie by Doug Liman; however, the redemptive [...]
Illusion of Good Intentions
June 7th, 2007
I keep expecting director Christopher Nolan to swing and miss. He gave us a stirring Memento, wrestled with Insomnia, ensured that Batman Begins, and capped things off with The Prestige, my pick for greatest film of 2006. (In 2008, he’ll give us the next Bat-installment with The Dark Knight.) This 37 year old Brit not only seems to [...]
I predict… disappointment.
March 19th, 2007
Premonition
Director: Mennan Yapo
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Julian McMahon
TriStar Pictures, 2007
Rated: PG-13
According to Webster’s Dictionary, a premonition is “previous notice or advance warning”. If only Sandra Bullock had received such notice before signing on to star in this Jenga-like movie that crumples under its own internal logic.
Better yet, if only I’d lived Saturday before Friday, obtained advance [...]