Recommended Double Feature: Kill the Irishman & The Iceman

Something I always enjoy doing when spending the night in or enjoying a quiet day off is finding a pair of films that go well together either because of genre, lead actor, or director. With that being said, I'm a big fan of movies about organized crime and these two, Kill the Irishman and The Iceman, make for a solid double feature if you want to spend an afternoon with a couple movies.

Both films are crime-thrillers based on actual people, they were released just two years apart, they largely take place in the 1960's and 70's, and both hold very similar Rotten Tomatoes scores. Also, despite the films having pretty good casts (Kill the Irishman stars Ray Stevenson, Val Kilmer, Vincent D'Onofrio, and Christopher Walken whereas The Iceman stars Michael Shannon, Winona Ryder, Chris Evans and Ray Liotta) they were both box-office disappointments. Quality-wise the movies are very similar; I like the cast of Kill the Irishman a little better and I also think it's just the more interesting movie overall. However, in the hands a more capable director The Iceman could've been the better of the two. Neither film is a top-tier entry in the genre like Goodfellas, The Godfather, or The Untouchables but they're still good entertaining movies.

If you're also fan of the genre then I recommend checking both of these out.

I give Kill the Irishman a 3.5 out of 5 and The Iceman a 3 out of 5.

The Ghost and the Darkness

This one was recommended to me recently, and the plot sounded so interesting that it immediately jumped to the top of my watch-list.

Released in 1996, The Ghost and the Darkness is about the construction of a railway bridge in East Africa that is being delayed by two man-eating lions that have been picking off the workers. After several failed attempts by the construction engineer (played by Val Kilmer) to kill the lions, a world-renowned big-game hunter (played by Michael Douglas) is brought in to help. It's not long before it is revealed that these lions aren't so much hunting for food, but rather for sport. Perfect for any one that enjoys a good 'the hunter becomes the hunted' type of story.

The film has some really tense build ups with good payoffs, it's paced very well, and it's overall a very interesting story. However, it isn't perfect. Kilmer's acting is a bit uneven, and there are a few scenes that probably could've either been reworked to add to the tension or cut out entirely. Also, the Sir Robert Beaumont (played by Tom Wilkinson), who sends Kilmer's character to Africa in the first place, is a really one-dimensional character. He's essentially just there to be a jerk and tell Kilmer that the bridge needs to get done.

 

I'm tempted to give this one some bonus points because I really like the cast and I'm a big fan of late 19th century/early 20th century period-pieces, but I try to make these reviews as objective as possible and you can find faults in this one if you're looking for them.

Overall, while it isn't perfect, I did really enjoy it and recommend checking it out.

3.5 out of 5.

Have a suggestion for a review?

Leave a comment below.

80's Month Day 3: Top Gun

"I feel the need... the need for speed"

There are a lot of 80's movies that I love and rewatch time and time again so I don't know if I can ever pick an overall favorite, but one of the films high on the list would definitely be 1986's Top Gun.

 To describe the plot in any real detail would probably make it sound pretty boring because talking about this character being a United States Naval Aviator, and that one being a Radar Intercept Officer, and so on doesn't make it sound like the fun, high-flying, 80's-tastic, action flick that it is. So, I'll just give anyone who hasn't seen it the short version. Tom Cruise plays Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a hot-shot and often reckless F-14A Tomcat pilot who, along with his good buddy Nick "Goose" Bradshaw (played by Anthony Edwards), gets sent to attend 'Top Gun' school. Top Gun is where the military's best pilot go for some specialized air combat training, and there is some competition among the students to be the best and win the Top Gun award.
 A rivalry immediately develops between Maverick and fellow student/pilot Tom "Iceman" Kazanski (played by Val Kilmer). Maverick also ends up in a romantic relationship with an astrophysicist and civilian Top Gun instructor named Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood (played by Kelly McGillis). All this, plus a pretty solid soundtrack highlighted by Kenny Loggins' Danger Zone and some cool aerial action scenes, result in a fun and entertaining movie with some memorably chessy quotes.

Overall, I'm not sure that anyone would necessarily call Top Gun a cinematic masterpiece but, it's and enjoyable popcorn movie.
I give it a 4 out of 5.


Have a suggestion for a review?
Leave it in the comments below.