CAPE FEAR is minor Scorsese, a 1991 update of the 1962 film of the same name. It is second-tier Scorsese, but man, is it still riveting. It's a basic story, a cat-and-mouse game between Defense Counselor Sam Bowden (Nick Nolte, in the role played by Gregory Peck in the original) and just-released ex-con Max Cady. Robert De Niro is Cady, and I mean that almost literally.
This is De Niro's show. While it may have been just another stab at mainstream success for Scorsese, you can tell from the first frame of the movie that Bobby D. took it seriously. He was nearly fifty years old when the film was shot, but you would never be able to tell from his physical appearance. Sporting a mean six-pack and covered in tattoos, he remarks " there isn't much to do in prison except desecrate your flesh."
De Niro is scarily good as the bad guy, a man who is disturbed to the bone but still manages to convey feelings of sympathy. He elevates everyone else around him. Nolte, Jessica Lange, and Juliette Lewis play the family he quickly scares the bejebus out of. While they all do fine jobs, you can tell it is De Niro's presence that light the fuel in their performances.
SNATCH is a damn enjoyable import from British director Guy Richie (Madonna's ex). It is basically another PULP FICTION-inspired crime drama, with interlapping storylines, witty dialogue, and gleeful caricature performances from Jason Statham, Brad Pitt, Vinnie Jones, Dennis Farina, Benicio Del Toro, and several others playing jewel thieves, boxers, promoters, gangsters, and gypsies all trying to lay their hands on an 84-karat diamond. Many people hate these movies because they have so much in common (ahem, they rip off) with PULP FICTION. Meaning they are clever, over-the-top, and entertaining. These are all bad things, you know.
Anyway, SNATCH has a ton of energy. It doesn't stop moving throughout its 100-minute running time, and it doesn't waste any time with messages or any bullshit like that to run away from the plot. It knows that its not a particularly important movie, and it's alright with that. Brad Pitt, who always finds a way to entertain me, has almost illegal amounts of fun with his role as a gypsy bareknuckle boxer who fights till he's burger, but usually doesn't have to, seeing how he knocks out guys twice his size with one punch usually. Plausible? No. Juicy? Hell yes. Seeing him fall down after a meaty left hook, in slow motion glory, and then jump up and knock the big bastard out is just fucking awesome.
Both get a B+
Son of a bitch, PULP FICTION is on. Bruce Willis and Ving Rhames just got through That Scene. You know the one. Thank Jesus for HBO.
1 comment:
As manly movies go, these are indeed two of the best .. I think I still prefer Robert Mitchum's performance in the original "Cape Fear" by just a nose over De Niro's in the remake .. Mitchum is just thoroughly terrifying
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