Re-watched The Usual Suspects, the initial setup with five criminals getting connected during a police crackdown is compelling (it turns out the movie was developed based on the initial scene in the poster with the line up). The acting is also strong with Gabriel Byrne, Benicio Del Toro and even Stephen Baldwin doing a great job. Chazz Palminteri plays to his typecast, but it works well.

I also personally appreciate the 90s cinematography, scene design and the score.

I have to say the main hook and ending seem very contrived (much more so when I first watched the movie in the early 2000s). It does not seem convincing, well connected criminals usually have state backing rather than being a “ghost”. And a senior criminal would not directly involve themselves in an assassination attempt or risk third parties acting in an independent manner. The behaviour of the police was also unconvincing.

Spacey’s presence also taints the movie in a way that it did not on the initial viewing.

That being said, it’s a solid 6/10 action packed, crime thriller. You could do a lot worse.

I finally watched Contagion after hearing about it since Covid. It’s eerie how many things they got right about a global pandemic: the blogger with his BS treatment, vilifying the head of the CDC… The list goes on.

I also watched the Deathstalker remake. It was okay, but that was to be expected.

I watched Anatomy of a Fall last night. Possibly a little overrated? It was a good film, well shot and acted, that took a more intimate and human approach to the courtroom drama sub-genre.

Still, it felt like it was lacking something. Perhaps not a “twist”, I think American films have conditioned us to expect those too often in these sorts of films, but maybe some kind of additional exploration to one or more of the characters. There are subplots that hinted at but never really expanded upon. I’m a bit confused as to how this won a Palme d’Or, though I guess it is French.

Ruin: Money, Ego and Deception at FTX.

This is a late edition to this post as I just watched it last night. The first half is a bit slow as it lays out how “The JP Morgan of Crypto-Currency”, Sam Bankman-Fried, built his reputation and fame. I am being disingenuous as a bit slow is an under statement. It is kind of a dull slog really.

If you can make it through the setup. In the second half as it delves into the inner workings of FTX and it primary competitor Binance it gets really good. How Bianace crushed FTX in a five day period really is a master stroke of business strategy. How terribly run FTX was is another masterclass of how not to run a business.

It really is wild the power of personality and celebrity worship that allowed The JP Morgan of Crypto to earn and spend billions of dollars. All by selling a lie.

I rewatched Hell or High Water. This was back when Sheridan didn’t write via the regurgitation and recycle method.

Sheridan has a three flick streak that was one for the ages.