Thriller & Mystery > Hopper, Dennis Thriller & Mystery

Oh what tangled webs some weave - The Black Widow

Advantages: Excellent acting and suspence.
Disadvantages: Check for sub-title availablity. The end of the story lets it down.

Black Widow (after the spider) was a film that fit perfectly into the suspense/crime/thriller genre, released in 1987 and starring Theresa Russell (appearances on Law and Order and American Heiress) as the Spider and Debra Winger (An Officer and a Gentleman, Leap of Faith) as the federal agent from the Justice Department who is on her tail. The cast also included other notable actors such as Dennis Hopper and Terry O'Quinn. The original film was ...
...permission to follow the suspected Black Widow, and pose undercover, that is when the real battle begins. Previously she had been an observer but now she becomes Catherine's friend, perhaps only friend (which is a key factor in their relationship because Catherine seems to push her away to save her whilst keeping up he facade), and borrows her clothes, hair stylist and even falls for intended husband no: 4. Both characters seem to be battling each ...

ladyofsorrow 26.03.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Black Widow (DVD)

House of 9

Advantages: A classic theme
Disadvantages: Terrible script, terrible acting and a disappointing ending

...quite stop myself from putting House of 9 in my Amazon basket – maybe Dennis Hopper would make up for it? The idea behind this film is similar to that of Saw 2 and based on the classic “And Then There Were None” theme of several people being forced together only for their number to be reduced until there is only 1 (or possibly 2 or even none) person still standing. In House of 9, 9 strangers are abducted from their everyday life only to be imprisoned ...
...they try to escape the house and the game until eventually some of them start playing along. The idea is simple, but as ideas go the simple ones are often more likely to create real tension and drama. Sadly, in this case, the film does not have much more than the classic theme going for it. If this film had tried a bit harder to be different from the stereotypical straight-to-DVD horror it would have fared much better. As it is it sticks absolutely ...

annaroos1 16.06.2007 · Read full review
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Review of House Of 9 (DVD)

Weekend of Exceitement from Peckinpah and Ludlum!

Advantages: Great cast
Disadvantages: Confusing unless you're up on your Cold War politics

The Osterman Weekend is a 1983 thriller originally penned by Robert Ludlum, who is also the author of the Bourne saga. The film was released at a time when Cold War conspiracies were the plot for many TV series, film and book. Recent events with Aghanistan had heightened friction between the States and the USSR, and thus this film touched a very nervous point. The Plot This is a lesson in conspiracy gone wrong. John Tanner is the host for a TV ...
...and experiences a kidnapping attempt. The CIA persuade him to go ahead with the reunion and to try and turn one or all of his friends into double agents. Watch the sparks fly and look out for the brilliant twists and turns throughout the film! The Cast This is a brilliant cast. Tanner is played by Rutger Hauer, in prime having just filmed Blade Runner the year before. His three supposed defector friends are played by Craig T Nelson, Chris Sarandon ...

pmcds 06.03.2008 · Read full review
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Review of The Osterman Weekend (DVD)

Reunion fun

Advantages: Good entertainment, some good acting
Disadvantages: Story not very believable

...When he is approached by the CIA, who tell him that three of his closest friends, with whom he has a reunion every year, are working for the KGB, he is cynical enough not to believe a word of it. But being presented with video evidence of their allegiance and nearly losing his wife and son in a kidnap attempt, he is convinced enough to realise that something is desperately wrong. A CIA agent and senior political figure persuade him to go ahead with ...
...agents. At first, the weekend seems to go well. But eventually, the strain of the situation begins to show and the house party begin to suspect each other of stabbing them in the back. Monitored closely by the CIA agent, the weekend deteriorates into panic, fear and the fight for survival. Will John manage to persuade his friends to come back over? Or maybe things aren't quite as they seem.... I had never heard of this film, made back in 1983, but ...

sunmeilan 29.05.2007 · Read full review
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Review of The Osterman Weekend (DVD)

24 Series 1-5

Advantages: Exciting, gripping, unconventional
Disadvantages: Can get a little samey sometimes, Kim Bauer is very annoying!

24 is a series which takes place over 24 hours and each episode covers one hour. There have been five seasons to date and it has been a very successful show both in America and worldwide. Jack Bauer is a federal agent who works for the Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU). He is willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. Each series of 24 covers a different threat faced by the USA. Jack Bauer and his Counter Terrorist Unit are asked to help handle ...
...Bauer is its supporting cast. The CTU staff all have their own individual characters and quirks and the President of the USA is a very powerful and charasmatic figure. The villains are well drawn in shades of grey and are never charactures. It is a drama that takes itself seriously and doesn't dumb down to its audience. ...

socnsum1 18.10.2006 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: not helpful
Review of 24 - Series 1-5 - Complete (DVD)