Michael-Rooker Movie Reviews

I watched this movie tonight. I am still in shock. My rating is not on the actors/actresses......for they were all excellent. However this movie was more of a documentary about child abuse than it was a movie for entertainment purposes. I believe there is a place and time for this movie.....but on the family entertainment shelf at a popular movie rental chain, is not the proper place. Knowing I have a almost 10 year old girl in my home, I read the cover and it gave me no indication that we would witness this little girl being beaten in the face, her body beaten with belts and ofcourse no indication of the fact it was going to show her being raped....and show it so clearly at that. I wanted to turn the movie off....yet I also wanted my ten year old to see that the man would be punnished. Unfortunately....instead.....the movie showed my daughter that if you let anyone know......two things will happen. 1. the man will not be punnished. 2. Your mommy is going to pick him over you even after she see's him raping you with blood pouring off of your face from his earlier fist contact. Majority of movie rentals are for enjoyment in the privacy of our homes. There was nothing enjoyable about this movie. If they are not for enjoyment, then they need to be clearly marked as such by the packaging and also by the movie rental company. As well in a different part of the business....perhaps in the educational part or public service area. But if they did that.....then the movie would not bring in as much profit.....so again....the movie makers and the business's renting out this movie....put the all mighty dollar ahead of the best interest of the family. I am not blind to this problem in our society, however we watch movies for entertainment reasons, and this was not entertainment.

I have owned a copy of this movie, in one form or another, since it was first available and watch it about once every six months or so. The acting is impressive for a made for TV vehicle but the staying power, I believe, rests with the power of the story's visuals and its words. I understand Ms Huston agreed to direct "Bastard out of Carolina" only if she was allowed to show the true ugliness found in the novel. She used her freedom very wisely and managed to draw the needed emotions out of her cast.

I honestly believe this tele-movie is must seeing for all of us. The story is true and it is being repeated all around us every minute of every day by our neighbors, friends, and relatives against our loved ones. Until we believe this and look very closely for the signs things will only get worse.

This movie made me sob at the end of it - something that rarely happens due to movies. My best friend was raped by her father, and this movie made me truly realize the sort of pain and torture she went through. This is a very incredible, albeit disturbing film that I think people really need to watch. Incest is a very real and terrible thing in our society and we need to stop keeping it under wraps and pretending it doesn't exist. The acting is very real, and I think the girl that plays Bone does a fantastic job. Yes the movie is shocking. Yes, you -do- see the father beat and rape his child. But why is that so terrible when there are movies out there with unnecessary full frontal nudity? With explicit sex scenes? This rape scene is very vital to the movie and plays a very powerful and pivotal point, and I think that putting it in the movie is not to make is "shocking" and make you gasp, but to make you realize the true horror of real rape and incest. If you were shocked then good - just think this was a movie. Yes it may be shocking but it is REAL. Can't say that about movies where the man and the woman meet in a bus station and then have sex that night.

I have owned a copy of this movie, in one form or another, since it was first available and watch it about once every six months or so. The acting is impressive for a made for TV vehicle but the staying power, I believe, rests with the power of the story's visuals and its words. I understand Ms Huston agreed to direct "Bastard out of Carolina" only if she was allowed to show the true ugliness found in the novel. She used her freedom very wisely and managed to draw the needed emotions out of her cast.

I honestly believe this tele-movie is must seeing for all of us. The story is true and it is being repeated all around us every minute of every day by our neighbors, friends, and relatives against our loved ones. Until we believe this and look very closely for the signs things will only get worse.

This movie is amazing. It's tragic as it's real, it can do nothing but enrage you, and more likely to create a conscience on any rational human being about what should never happen in the world. The performances are equally shocking for it's realism, you can't miss this one, though you need a strong stomach, and to realize that this is something that's ought to stop long ago, but it still happens, so you'll be contributing to an incredible cause by watching this video, and then doing ANYTHING to prevent this from happening. It's about Child abuse, excessive and sick love for someone who hurts your own child, which is truly sick but that seriously happens. There aren't enough words to tell how much this movie affected me, and I'm sure no one would miss it's powerful message. I seldomly write reviews, but this was a must-do. And I wish there is something I can do as well, so that means so can you. As a writer on it's beginnings as well as a screenwriter, I hope someday I can reach some of the power of this movie to keep this from happening.

One of the best though shocking movies ever filmed.

This movie is amazing. It's tragic as it's real, it can do nothing but enrage you, and more likely to create a conscience on any rational human being about what should never happen in the world. The performances are equally shocking for it's realism, you can't miss this one, though you need a strong stomach, and to realize that this is something that's ought to stop long ago, but it still happens, so you'll be contributing to an incredible cause by watching this video, and then doing ANYTHING to prevent this from happening. It's about Child abuse, excessive and sick love for someone who hurts your own child, which is truly sick but that seriously happens.

Enough words do not exist to describe the effect this movie had in me, and I'm sure no one would miss it's powerful message. I seldomly write reviews, but this was a must-do. And I wish there is something I can do as well, so that means so can you.

As a writer on it's beginnings as well as a screenwriter, I hope someday I can reach some of the power of this movie to keep this from happening.

You really can't miss this one

While Jean-Claude Van Damme may be a direct to video action star now, Replicant is a surprisingly good film that should have seen time in theaters instead of other Van Damme flops like Knock Off and Double Team. The storyline, which has Van Damme doing double duty as a serial killer called The Torch and a clone of the killer, is instantly ignored as we see how surprisingly creepy and effective Van Damme is as the killer, and how naive and innocent he is as the developing clone. Michael Rooker is great as well (he always is though) as the ex-cop on the killer's trail. The action scenes are very well put together, and as I said before, the acting from Van Damme is so unbelieveably good in his dual roles that you might forgive him for films like Street Fighter and The Quest (well, maybe not), but all in all, Replicant is one of Van Damme's best, and it is a shame it has gone direct to video.

Okay, folks. Nobody is going to mistake Jean Claude for Al Pacino, but let's be honest - he's a fun actor with a slew of fun movies. If you like action and martial arts, you can't help but admire the master (and former world-champion) Jean Claude Van-Damme.

Directed by Ringo Lam (Maximum Risk) the action sequences are as realistic as they come (que the apartment exposion with debris floating over innocent passer-by's down below). This is a direct-to-video flick, but the budget is higher than most theatrical blow-busters ... Yes, Van Damme squares off against himself (again), but this time, it manages to be fun (unlike Double Impact where the acting is simply grotesque). The music is complimentary to the dark theme, and the acting is (surprisingly) average. ... For Van Damme fans, you'll love it. The protagonist, Van Damme, is silly but interesting. The antagonist, Van Damme, is convincing as if our former world-champ missed his calling in non-verbal roles as the broad-shouldered bad-ass capable of defeating even a Terminator.

Okay, okay. Yes, I love Van Damme flicks. But this film is simply cool. There are no stupid one-liners or ridiculous special-effects. The stunts are amazing, and Jean Claude finally returns to the amazing arts we haven't seen since Kickboxer or Bloodsport.

If you love Van Damme, you'll cheer over this flick. If not, drive through. This movie is fun and full of explosions, fight-sequences, incredible accidents and thrill-rides. Enjoy, and rok on, Jean Claude! You're still the man!

I saw this movie earlier this year, very good effects, stunts, fights, characters, story, acting and all! The entire package is there! I would recommend getting this movie on DVD. Its one of Van Damme's BEST films ever.

While Jean-Claude Van Damme may be a direct to video action star now, Replicant is a surprisingly good film that should have seen time in theaters instead of other Van Damme flops like Knock Off and Double Team. The storyline, which has Van Damme doing double duty as a serial killer called The Torch and a clone of the killer, is instantly ignored as we see how surprisingly creepy and effective Van Damme is as the killer, and how naive and innocent he is as the developing clone. Michael Rooker is great as well (he always is though) as the ex-cop on the killer's trail. The action scenes are very well put together, and as I said before, the acting from Van Damme is so unbelieveably good in his dual roles that you might forgive him for films like Street Fighter and The Quest (well, maybe not), but all in all, Replicant is one of Van Damme's best, and it is a shame it has gone direct to video.

Okay, folks. Nobody is going to mistake Jean Claude for Al Pacino, but let's be honest - he's a fun actor with a slew of fun movies. If you like action and martial arts, you can't help but admire the master (and former world-champion) Jean Claude Van-Damme.

Directed by Ringo Lam (Maximum Risk) the action sequences are as realistic as they come (que the apartment exposion with debris floating over innocent passer-by's down below). This is a direct-to-video flick, but the budget is higher than most theatrical blow-busters ... Yes, Van Damme squares off against himself (again), but this time, it manages to be fun (unlike Double Impact where the acting is simply grotesque). The music is complimentary to the dark theme, and the acting is (surprisingly) average. ... For Van Damme fans, you'll love it. The protagonist, Van Damme, is silly but interesting. The antagonist, Van Damme, is convincing as if our former world-champ missed his calling in non-verbal roles as the broad-shouldered bad-ass capable of defeating even a Terminator.

Okay, okay. Yes, I love Van Damme flicks. But this film is simply cool. There are no stupid one-liners or ridiculous special-effects. The stunts are amazing, and Jean Claude finally returns to the amazing arts we haven't seen since Kickboxer or Bloodsport.

If you love Van Damme, you'll cheer over this flick. If not, drive through. This movie is fun and full of explosions, fight-sequences, incredible accidents and thrill-rides. Enjoy, and rok on, Jean Claude! You're still the man!

I saw this movie earlier this year, very good effects, stunts, fights, characters, story, acting and all! The entire package is there! I would recommend getting this movie on DVD. Its one of Van Damme's BEST films ever.

While Jean-Claude Van Damme may be a direct to video action star now, Replicant is a surprisingly good film that should have seen time in theaters instead of other Van Damme flops like Knock Off and Double Team. The storyline, which has Van Damme doing double duty as a serial killer called The Torch and a clone of the killer, is instantly ignored as we see how surprisingly creepy and effective Van Damme is as the killer, and how naive and innocent he is as the developing clone. Michael Rooker is great as well (he always is though) as the ex-cop on the killer's trail. The action scenes are very well put together, and as I said before, the acting from Van Damme is so unbelieveably good in his dual roles that you might forgive him for films like Street Fighter and The Quest (well, maybe not), but all in all, Replicant is one of Van Damme's best, and it is a shame it has gone direct to video.

Okay, folks. Nobody is going to mistake Jean Claude for Al Pacino, but let's be honest - he's a fun actor with a slew of fun movies. If you like action and martial arts, you can't help but admire the master (and former world-champion) Jean Claude Van-Damme.

Directed by Ringo Lam (Maximum Risk) the action sequences are as realistic as they come (que the apartment exposion with debris floating over innocent passer-by's down below). This is a direct-to-video flick, but the budget is higher than most theatrical blow-busters ... Yes, Van Damme squares off against himself (again), but this time, it manages to be fun (unlike Double Impact where the acting is simply grotesque). The music is complimentary to the dark theme, and the acting is (surprisingly) average. ... For Van Damme fans, you'll love it. The protagonist, Van Damme, is silly but interesting. The antagonist, Van Damme, is convincing as if our former world-champ missed his calling in non-verbal roles as the broad-shouldered bad-ass capable of defeating even a Terminator.

Okay, okay. Yes, I love Van Damme flicks. But this film is simply cool. There are no stupid one-liners or ridiculous special-effects. The stunts are amazing, and Jean Claude finally returns to the amazing arts we haven't seen since Kickboxer or Bloodsport.

If you love Van Damme, you'll cheer over this flick. If not, drive through. This movie is fun and full of explosions, fight-sequences, incredible accidents and thrill-rides. Enjoy, and rok on, Jean Claude! You're still the man!

I saw this movie earlier this year, very good effects, stunts, fights, characters, story, acting and all! The entire package is there! I would recommend getting this movie on DVD. Its one of Van Damme's BEST films ever.

Deciever aka Liar is caught in a real Catch22. On the one hand it wants to play mind games, to prove how opaque our first impressions really are. On the other it wants to be a drama about the moral impotence and bottled up rage of men. We don't know enough about the cop Braxton(Chris Penn) or his partner Kennisaw(Michael Rooker) to care about either their gambling or marital problems resprectively.

The opacity ofcourse is deliberate. If you want twists and turns then you must have mysterious characters doing inexplicable things. Well there goes the drama. The lack of character development allows the film-makers to do complete 180s with the plot, but any resulting suspense is academic with none of the viceral impact of say Se7en.

Credibility is a vital element when it comes to thrillers. Even when they're set in space we have to believe that the film-makers know as much as we do, that they are on the same ride as we are. But in Liar the Pate brother cheat, they give us flashbacks that are meant specifically for the audience. I believe they did this to avoid the supposed monotony of the one room setting, but the flashbacks all but destroy the film. If they can see beyond the characters' lies, it means that Liar is nothing more then manipulative mental masterbation where they provide the audience with red herrings to a solution they already know. As a frame of reference lets use Roman Polanski's underrated 1994 film Death & The Maiden. That film was set in a single location and used no flashbacks, but its characters were so well written and acted that it generated more genuine suspense in a single scene then Liar does in its entire running time. Another film, 1995's masterful The Usual Suspects justified the use of flashbacks by having a character tell a story and then let the director realise his story visually.

Did I even mention the film's laughable tendancy to treat Epilepsy as if it were the demon possessing Linda Blair in The Exorcist.

Its a shame really because the film is technically remarkable(lots of shadows, darkness and gold light). It also waists the brilliant Tim Roth, who as the rich, bitter, manipulative and epileptic suspect James Walter Wayland gives a preverse and powerful performance. Had the film been as clear eyed and sharp as Roth's performance we might have really had something here. Considering that Liar is ultimately about manipulation, it might be cleverly ironic that its authors would lie to and manipulate the audience. It would be cleverly ironic if weren't so incredibly frustrating.

(by the way, just in case your not sure, Lynchian means like something David Lynch would Direct.) I have heard many people bag this movie, saying it doesn't make sence and it's too hard to follow. So I was glad to see these other reveiwers who felt as i did about this very unique movie. Tim Roth does his Best acting since Reservoir dogs in this rivorting thriller. I won't say anything about plot because its all to hard to put in words, but i will say this. Anyone who likes it, see the film "LOST HIGHWAY".

The cool thing about watching movies constantly is that you see so many bad ones that occasionally a movie as slick as this plays out. The cast is top notch, as is the directing by the Pate brothers, whose other credits include "The Grave" and the short lived but cool TV show "GvsE". Plenty of twists and turns abound in this movie that centers around Roth(in one of his best performances) taking a lie ditector test from two shady cops(Rooker and Penn) to find out if he is a murderer. A film that relies on character development and suprises that pays off in the end with something to think about, this is a good one. It would be nice to see on DVD but is not yet released on that format.

Deciever aka Liar is caught in a real Catch22. On the one hand it wants to play mind games, to prove how opaque our first impressions really are. On the other it wants to be a drama about the moral impotence and bottled up rage of men. We don't know enough about the cop Braxton(Chris Penn) or his partner Kennisaw(Michael Rooker) to care about either their gambling or marital problems resprectively.

The opacity ofcourse is deliberate. If you want twists and turns then you must have mysterious characters doing inexplicable things. Well there goes the drama. The lack of character development allows the film-makers to do complete 180s with the plot, but any resulting suspense is academic with none of the viceral impact of say Se7en.

Credibility is a vital element when it comes to thrillers. Even when they're set in space we have to believe that the film-makers know as much as we do, that they are on the same ride as we are. But in Liar the Pate brother cheat, they give us flashbacks that are meant specifically for the audience. I believe they did this to avoid the supposed monotony of the one room setting, but the flashbacks all but destroy the film. If they can see beyond the characters' lies, it means that Liar is nothing more then manipulative mental masterbation where they provide the audience with red herrings to a solution they already know. As a frame of reference lets use Roman Polanski's underrated 1994 film Death & The Maiden. That film was set in a single location and used no flashbacks, but its characters were so well written and acted that it generated more genuine suspense in a single scene then Liar does in its entire running time. Another film, 1995's masterful The Usual Suspects justified the use of flashbacks by having a character tell a story and then let the director realise his story visually.

Did I even mention the film's laughable tendancy to treat Epilepsy as if it were the demon possessing Linda Blair in The Exorcist.

Its a shame really because the film is technically remarkable(lots of shadows, darkness and gold light). It also waists the brilliant Tim Roth, who as the rich, bitter, manipulative and epileptic suspect James Walter Wayland gives a preverse and powerful performance. Had the film been as clear eyed and sharp as Roth's performance we might have really had something here. Considering that Liar is ultimately about manipulation, it might be cleverly ironic that its authors would lie to and manipulate the audience. It would be cleverly ironic if weren't so incredibly frustrating.

(by the way, just in case your not sure, Lynchian means like something David Lynch would Direct.) I have heard many people bag this movie, saying it doesn't make sence and it's too hard to follow. So I was glad to see these other reveiwers who felt as i did about this very unique movie. Tim Roth does his Best acting since Reservoir dogs in this rivorting thriller. I won't say anything about plot because its all to hard to put in words, but i will say this. Anyone who likes it, see the film "LOST HIGHWAY".

The cool thing about watching movies constantly is that you see so many bad ones that occasionally a movie as slick as this plays out. The cast is top notch, as is the directing by the Pate brothers, whose other credits include "The Grave" and the short lived but cool TV show "GvsE". Plenty of twists and turns abound in this movie that centers around Roth(in one of his best performances) taking a lie ditector test from two shady cops(Rooker and Penn) to find out if he is a murderer. A film that relies on character development and suprises that pays off in the end with something to think about, this is a good one. It would be nice to see on DVD but is not yet released on that format.

One person who reviewed this film asked the question, "where are the black voices?" I think there were black voices in this film. The problem is that those voices were weak, cowardly and ineffectual. It's as if black southerners had no part in the struggle for their own freedom. Freedom and equal rights could only be obtained by the good will of northern whites and the united states government. In some way this white liberal racist attitude isn't much better than the low life klansmen.

The best way to view this movie is from the perspective of good versus evil. Good does win out and the evil klan is brought to justice. That does mean something. The production is good and the performances are too. Gene hackman gives an oscar caliber performance and willem defoe is convincing. Certainly an entertaining film but it doesn't reach it's potential as a great film.

...............socks

I remember watching this movie in a Florida movie theater when it first came out (I was stationed at Orlando Naval Base back then). Watching the movie was an overwhelming emotional experience, and many scenes shook me to the core with their raw emotional power. Mississippi Burning is THE definitive movie about the atmosphere of racism and violence that pervaded the Civil Rights era, with its dead on accurate portrayal and recreation of a small 60's Southern town. We get to intimately know the kinds of places where 3 young men, or any individuals interested in the plight of the oppressed, might disappear or get killed in the 60's South. We understand what it was like to be Black and live in such a divided society. Most important, we know that evil racism has no logical explanation save for the fact that it is taught and learned from one generation to the next.

This movie has been unfairly and recklessly attacked by overeager movie critics and experts on social affairs, all of whom feel guilty about praising such an important and powerful piece of film making (they don't DARE want to be called racist for praising the film!).

The most common criticism is that this movie doesn't have any strong Black characters. This is absolutely false. There are several strong Black characters in this movie. There is a scene where a Black preacher gives a strong condemnation about the killings of the young men. There are several scenes with a brave young Black child, deeply religious, who somehow manages to find courage amongst his tears and fright (in one exceptional scene, he doesn't run away during a Klan disruption of a church gathering, instead, he kneels and prays). And in the most controversial and powerful scene in the entire movie, a strong Black father (father of the previously mentioned young boy), fed up with the racists, goes out into the night with a shotgun shouting that he will not take this abuse anymore.

The other major criticism is that the movie focuses on White characters. This is not valid. I do certainly agree that many Hollywood movies tend to center the action around White actors, even if the story is about minorities (i.e., Come See the Paradise, Windtalkers, etc. etc.) However, this is one case where it was absolutely necessary for the story to be seen through the eyes of two White FBI agents. The two White agents (Gene Hackman in one of the greatest movie performances of all time) represent the opposite spectrum of the evil Southern racists. Just as the Southerners see the world in their segregated view, the two FBI agents see the world in their enlightened and open view, and in fact they stand for many White people that not only gave their lives for the cause of Civil Rights, but made their voices heard and actions seen so that segregation would one day end. The Civil Rights era is as much a story about White Americans as it is Black Americans, so I applaud the filmmakers for being courageous about this.

I recently watched the DVD version and it affected me as much as when I first saw it, and I make it a point to see several times a year. There are scenes that are so heartbreaking they will leave you in tears, and moments of beauty and power so self assured that you know you are watching a masterpiece that will one day stand the test of time. This movie is required viewing for all of the youth in America today, many of whom are clueless as to the Civil Rights period (and others simply do not care).

A gut-wrenching thriller from start to finish, the movie's breakneck pace is akin to any topnotch suspense movie of our time, while managing an excellent depiction of the 1960's civil rights struggle in the US as well.

Despite its theme's sombre contours the film never gets all preachy about the subject. Gene Hackman is picture perfect although his vigilante FBI loose-cannon role occasionally gets a bit far-fetched. A salon scene between him and one of the rogue cops who moonlight as members of Ku-Klux-Klan will remain in your memory for a long time.

The racism theme may appear a bit dated to viewers of this generation, but it is integral to the theme (as it was to the actual civil war.) Plus, let's not forget that the movie was made in 1988, and watching it now I still couldn't help getting touched by the identifiable theme. Frankly, I don't really understand what racially oriented quibbles reviewers have with the movie -- this is not some drummed up theme, this is ACTUALLY what happened in Mississippi.

A taut, absorbing, and worthwhile film that you must watch if you haven't already.

It doesn't take long before the film CLIFFHANGER reveals its formula. We've seen the story before and we'll see it again. When Renny Harlin took over directing chores, he put a strong emphasis on effects and action, both of which can't bring the film to greatness.

Sylvester Stallone is our hero, who suffers from guilt associated with the high altitude death of a friend. But, when another friend is abducted by villains seeking three cases full of money scattered atop mountain peaks, he must put it all aside and come to terms with himself. Stallone has played this part before and this performance will never be confused with a personal stretch.

Some of the special effects are marvelous at times placing Stallone upon Vertigo inducing heights. Most of the films action may not be original, but with Renny Harlin constructing it as he did in DIE HARD 2, it is pretty cool.

The Collector's Edition DVD has a great audio/video transfer and 3 audio commentaries (by Stallone, the tech crew and Harlin) highlighting the creation of the film. This is often more interesting than the film itself. There are also some deleted scenes to look at and a making of documentary. Not the greatest of films, CLIFFHANGER manages to make it slightly above average.

I thought this movie was very exciting, and Sylvester Stallone has never looked better! Great Action ! and a good plot, much better action movie than most!! I have the DVD and the picture and sound quality are excellent,(anamorphic widescreen and 5.1 dolby digital)Also some great special features on disc "How it was done", and Commentary, etc.. If you are a fan of Action Movies or Stallone ... GET THIS !!!

Has Sylvester Stallone ever made a 5-Star movie? You bet. "Rocky" is one, and "Cliffhanger" is the other. John Lithgow plays the perfect villan set beautifully in the snow covered Rockies. This movie is non stop action and it has a bit of everything... like a nice plane crash scene; above average dialogue (yes, even for Sly); some good chases; kids on snowboards; and innocent people being mamed. There's even a few touching moments with Sly and his girlfriend (or should we say exgirlfriend?). This DVD package offers some nice features and the widescreen version with the great views is the only way to go. Stallone's made a ton of movies and this one is easily one of his best. Great action flick!

Reading a previous review,which was strongly negative,I fear few would take a chance on this film, which despite defects, is well above average in content.This film is surprisingly well crafted considering its' obviously limited budget. As to the charge that the film doesn't make sense, I somehow feel a previous reviewer is not familiar with Native American culture, and expected some 1950's style traditional "Cowboys and Indians" movie told from a European cultural perpective. Sorry, no John Wayne with a Blonde hanging on his arm, shooting down piles of faceless Indians circling the wagons in this one. Hiawatha is shown to be a complex God/Man,but not without flaws. Minihaha is a stunningly beautiful, but difficult woman. There is good action and good development of the emotional relationships between the protaganists. I was thrilled by some of the hand to hand combat, and moved by the scenes of great tragedy. Certainly, some minor scenes are seriously flawed, but not unforgivingly so. THE STORY TOLD IN THIS FILM IS A GREAT ONE! There are small elements of Native American religious culture contained in this film which are very rare to see in American Cinema.

Wonderful movie, helped me to understand the Warrior spirit. I shared this film with a True Mohican Warrior, and he also felt this movie was very good.

I have seen this movie many times and enjoy it every time.