Get Carter (2000)
In the early 2000s, Sylvester Stallone was struggling to rebuild himself from some of his cheesy action movies of the 90s, and these efforts didn’t all meet with much success. Get Carter is a remake of a 1971 film of the same name starring Michael Caine in the title role, and this remake was received with negative criticism and a poor box office take. However, I saw this film on opening weekend, and I have very much liked it ever since. Having still not seen the original movie, I imagine I have the ability to view it much more objectively. Still, almost any movie promising Sylvester Stallone in a fist fight with Mickey Rourke and a hilarious John C. McGinley is pretty cool to begin with, but I honestly feel the film has a lot of worthwhile merit in many regards.
His name is Jack Carter, and you don’t want to know him. When it’s your time to settle your debts, you pay what you owe, or Carter will make you pay. While working for the mob in Las Vegas, Carter (Sylvester Stallone) learns that his brother has died, and returns home to Seattle in order to learns the how’s and why’s. His brother left behind a wife, Gloria (Miranda Richardson), and a teenage daughter, Doreen (Rachel Leigh Cook), which Jack feels he must now take care of since he was not around when it mattered most. Though, when digging into the death of his brother, Jack comes to suspect that is was no accident, and that someone has to pay up.
Now, what even some of the middle of the road reviews gave credit to was that Stallone is solid as Jack Carter, and I enthusiastically agree. I really like that Jack is a guy who carries a weight of regret with him to where he has this post-facto sense of responsibility. He might be a guy who beats people up for a crime syndicate, but there’s a certain moral compass to Jack which Stallone grasps onto perfectly. There’s a lot of subtlety to his performance showing the superb reversal on the over-the-top action hero roles of Judge Dredd or Demolition Man. He brings with him a low key presence of intimidation, but still finds those moments of clever signature Stallone charm and wit. Jack Carter has a warm heart and compassion for those he cares about, and this comes so very naturally to Stallone. There’s such a great depth of dimension to what he does here. Sly gives us a complex character who intensifies the emotional drive of the film. It’s also amazing seeing how bulked up Stallone got for this movie. He’s larger than ever, and it really works for Jack’s tough, bad ass presence. Yet, it is that softer side of Jack Carter that really impresses as he shows a lot of pain after a certain point really hitting you deep in the heart, and that translates into a venomous vengeful determination in the film’s third act. It’s an awesome, compelling performance by Sylvester Stallone that amazingly reminds you that he can be a stunning, complex actor. I think it’s one of his best performances since First Blood.
A lot of the depth of heart and substance is carried on through Miranda Richardson and Rachel Leigh Cook. Richardson is great as Gloria who is in this constant uncertainty about Jack. At times she can confide in him about her problems with Doreen, but at other times, can condemn Jack for bringing further trouble upon them and being absent from their lives until Richie died. Richardson has pitch perfect chemistry with Stallone standing strong on her own while showing the emotional turmoil inside. Meanwhile, Cook very easily endears herself to Jack and an audience with some sad sweetness and sympathetic charm. As certain things are revealed, and far more tragic layers are peeled back from Doreen, Cook is really able to demonstrate the soul of her heartbreaking talent. It really ends up being the pulsating emotional core of this film.
I really like the scenes between Stallone and Mickey Rourke. These are two actors who genuinely seem like they enjoyed working off each other. They’ve got the right rhythm and chemistry that these two characters should have being old acquaintances and all. Rourke has the right charisma and air of sleaze as Cyrus Paice which makes him very entertaining to watch, but also, a real piece of scum that you want to see get busted up by the end. Rourke and Stallone are two buffed up bulls ready to lock horns regularly, and when they do finally trade punches, it’s a straight up bad ass brawl.
Anyone who loves John C. McGinley’s comedy work would also love him here. He plays Con McCarty, an associate of Jack’s in the Las Vegas syndicate, and I swear he ad-libbed the majority of his dialogue. It is just so brilliantly quick witted, off the cuff, and hilarious that he’s an utter, endless joy. It’s a performance like this which shows that this is a film that is interested in balancing the heavyweight drama with sharp beats of levity. And Alan Cumming is quite good as the geeky wet rag dot-com millionaire of Jeremy Kinnear who has gotten in way too damn deep with seedy individuals. He is a pleasure to watch in this role as Stallone looms over him with his brute intimidation. Of course, Michael Caine does a fine job in a somewhat small role as Richie’s now former employer, and Caine and Stallone have some solid scenes together. Apparently, even Caine endorsed Stallone as a respectable successor to his original role, and including him in this cast was a really nice touch.
I really adore the look of this film from director of photography Mauro Fiore. It’s soaked in this somber tone of overcast gloom of blues and greens that really absorb you into the tone of the movie. Director Stephen Kay really pushed hard to have this filmed in Seattle, and the beauty of the rain soaked city makes the film feel a little more unique. There’s also some unconventional style to Get Carter that might not work for many films, but all of the artistic flourishes really meld together beautifully, in my opinion. The strategic slow motion beats add a sense of grace to the photography, and Fiore moves the camera extremely competently with plenty of steadicam. I like that when Jack’s whole world turns upside down so does the camera accentuating a particularly unique filmmaking style that I really like here. There is some stylish editing with a few jumpy cuts, flash frames, and speed changes. I could see how some would find that irritating, but I really got absorbed into the mindset of this movie. Stephen Kay uses these stylistic choices to slip you into a character’s perception such as Jack’s world fracturing. Get Carter was edited by Academy Award winner Jerry Greenberg who also edited The French Connection, Apocalypse Now, Kramer vs. Kramer, and Scarface. Here, he superbly executes Stephen Kay’s vision right from the opening credits sequence onward.
There is a great, moody collection of music here in addition to Tyler Bates’ unique and stylish score. The original theme for the 1971 film by Roy Budd is utilized and remixed for this remake, and it is a beautiful composition that just tingles my senses. There are some techno tracks infusing some dance club style vibes into the movie. I particularly love the ethereal Moby track during the funeral scene. All of this music creates a very soulful or energized originality to this film that melds well with its visual stylings.
There is some really well put together action including a couple of very smart, tense car chases. Action directors who love their shaky cam could learn something from this film. Stephen Kay does make use of some unsteady photography and tight framing, but the editing is properly paced so to not confuse an audience. There are quick cuts, but because the lighting is clear, the compositions are just right using good angles, it all works. The latter car chase is really great, and it has a really cool stunt crash at the end. Yet, while there is exciting action, this film maintains that emotional and character based focus as Jack Carter delves further into the seedy underbelly of Seattle.
When Jack goes into full-on revenge mode, this movie gets dead-on bad ass. The grit really surfaces in the visual style and Stallone’s performance. Everything gets pretty dark and intense as Jack deals out his sense of personal justice in violent, sometimes lethal ways. This is a revenge movie driven by a lot of emotional depth and substance. Jack is going to clean out the trash, but the mending of emotional wounds is just as important to him, if not more so. It’s all wrapped up in his personal sense of obligation to the extended family he’s neglected, and a need to prove to himself and others that he can be a better man than his history has shown. There’s also a subplot where Jack Carter is involved with the syndicate boss’ woman back in Vegas, and this runs through the film a little. It’s another emotional tether that puts stress upon Jack especially when Con is sent to “take care of business” with much intended finality. Most revenge movies are just about the violent retribution, but this movie really delves you deeply into the hearts and souls of its sympathetic characters.
Get Carter is damn good, in my opinion, because it does take the time to develop its character and give you a dimensionality to connect with. You feel Jack’s pain and his need to put things right, and your sympathy easily flows for Doreen as the film progresses. Stephen Kay did do a really exceptional job with making these characters feel poignant, and have the consequences of everyone’s actions feel like they carry the weight of the world. This is really the kind of revenge thriller that truly captivates me because it’s not just gunning people down for ninety minutes, which does have its satisfying qualities. The substance of everything here saturates the film, and Stallone carries it all so amazingly well. The ending might have used a little more weight and veracity, but the payoff is satisfying regardless. I highly recommend this remake of Get Carter. If you’re a Stallone fan, like me, you should definitely give this a watch.
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
I haven’t been a loyal follower of Tim Burton’s career, but the films I have seen from him, I very much do enjoy. Sleepy Hollow is a very pleasant entry in his career, collaborating with Johnny Depp, that strikes the right balance between Burton’s quirky humor and dramatic gothic storytelling. It’s fun, exciting, and scary all at the same time.
Constable Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) of the New York police arrives in the small village of Sleepy Hollow in 1799 to solve a mystery of murders. With all the victims found with their heads missing, everybody in Sleepy Hollow is talking about the ghost of the “Headless Horseman.” He is supposedly out in the woods seeking revenge for his murder many years ago. Crane, believing only in logic, refuses to believe the public’s theory about the horseman and begins his investigations, only to find his faith shattered when he himself encounters the headless horseman. Yet, he is compelled to resolve his investigation after falling deeply in love with the beautiful young Katrina (Christina Ricci). Their fates intertwine as Ichabod attempts to unravel the supernatural and wicked mysteries that threaten everyone’s lives in Sleepy Hollow. It’s a magical tale of sense against myth.
While I think general audiences today are a little worn out on the repeated Burton-Depp collaborations, Sleepy Hollow is an excellent piece of work that’s worth your while. Depp does a brilliant job as Constable Crane. He brings a certain young naivety to the ambitious investigator. He has bold new ideas about using science and intellect to deduce crimes that his superiors lightly dismiss. The contrast of everyone’s grim, fearsome attitudes to Crane’s more upbeat mentality creates an amusing dynamic. Crane is definitely intelligent and educated, but Depp’s clever, delicate balance between the serious and the tongue-in-cheek tone of Crane makes him such a delight. True to the source material, Ichabod is somewhat cowardly, but he can muster up courage when it counts. Beyond all else, he’s determined to resolve this twisting mystery that seems to have an air of conspiracy about it. That’s what makes him a character to invest yourself in. Despite his own trembling fears, he picks himself back up and pushes forward to finish what he began. Depp shows a lot of sweet charm and humor making Ichabod a pure hearted hero that both amuses and inspires.
I will absolutely admit that I once had a fascination with Christina Ricci. She’s a beautiful and highly talent actress who doesn’t shy away from challenging material. What she gives us as Katrina is a lovely, graceful young lady that is indeed bewitching. She carries an ethereal aura about her reflecting Katrina’s depth and purity of soul. Ricci and Depp have a gorgeous chemistry that really lights up the screen, and enraptures an audience with their magic. They are such an excellent fit that I’d love to see more of them together.
At the time of release, it was kept a secret that the Hessian Horseman was portrayed by Christopher Walken. It was an added pleasant surprise when I first saw the film in 1999. Aside from some animalistic grunts as he slays his victims., the Horseman has no lines of dialogue, and doesn’t need any due to how he is portrayed and presented. It was a great idea to tell the Horseman’s story early on to have the bloodthirsty psychotic face embed itself in the audience’s minds. The Horseman filed his teeth to a razor sharp point that made him appear more frightening in his enemies’ eyes. It’s an amazing, ferocious design that sends a chill up your spine, especially in conjunction with Walken’s charismatic physicality. It’s also great that the Horseman is not the ultimate villain, but a weapon used by a treacherous conspirator.
Tim Burton really culled together a magnificent cast with several veterans of stage and screen as well as some fine young talents such as Casper Van Dien. Adding in some Hammer Films alumnus like Christopher Lee and Michael Gough was a very nice touch. Miranda Richardson has a wonderful turn in this film that she seemed very enthusiastic about throwing herself into. Her overall performance is marvelous.
The visual effects of Sleepy Hollow are astonishingly good. Just getting the Headless Horseman to become a reality on screen was a big challenge, I’m sure, and there is nothing but top notch quality on display here. The various decapitations and other gory slayings are phenomenally done. What else would you expect from Industrial Light & Magic? The effects never cease to impress throughout the entire movie. The film has a generous helping of blood and gore to make some squirm or jump in their seats while others will simply relish its exquisite glory. The practical effects are seamlessly integrated with the digital effects for a visually amazing experience. I cannot praise this work highly enough. While there are some silly moments with the visual effects, they are perfectly at home in a Tim Burton movie.
The gothic aesthetics of Tim Burton are realized in a magnificent way. The film has a slightly desaturated, gritty look giving way to a more grim feeling of looming danger. Sleepy Hollow is shot beautifully, strongly maintaining that dark tone of horror and tension. Yet, there are plenty of picturesque sequences, such as a series of dreams Ichabod has which further enrich the fantastical, and sometimes, enchanting aspects of the movie. This truly is a visually gorgeous film in a style that could only come from the imagination of Tim Burton. And of course, Danny Elfman created a powerfully grandiose score that fits perfectly with Burton’s gothic stylings. It is a stunning, sweeping piece of work that enhances all the dark, lovely, and magical atmospheres of Sleepy Hollow.
This movie really is a lot of fun. Burton doesn’t take it too seriously as he applies his own dark comedy to the more violent, gruesome moments. So, while the Horseman is chasing down and chopping off the heads of hapless victims, there’s usually a humorous quirk in there, but Burton keeps it in check. He never allows it to compromise the dramatic integrity of the story, and instead sort of does it at Ichabod’s expense, which is entirely fitting. Said story has plenty of mysterious aura and thrilling moments of tense horror and suspense. The Horsemen, head or no, is very scary and intimidating. He’s mercilessly violent and very smart. There are superbly executed plot twists that are never cheap. This is a smartly crafted screenplay which weaves its way around these solidly conceived characters. The secrets and manipulations abound under the surface of this quiet village make for a fertile ground for this sort of story. How everything is unraveled in the end is quite wicked.
That said, this has a hell of a great climax with plenty of fiery action and dramatic revelations. Characters are kept in serious peril as it becomes a race to save lives while the Horseman in unleashed once again. Action and suspense build up to a highly energetic and exciting level, and the pay-off is quite ironic and fitting. It is all very satisfying tying up all the plot and character threads with that classic Tim Burton wit and charm.
This is a beautifully crafted film in every aspect. It’s a visual masterwork backed by an excellent script written by the deeply talented Andrew Kevin Walker with a story co-developed by Kevin Yagher. The latter of the two also worked on the creature effects here, and doing a remarkable job at it, too. There are many tried and true Tim Burton talents who were involved with this film which instilled it with an amazing depth of artistry and talent. The film definitely delivers on exciting tension and fearsome scares with a light air of dark, quirky humor. It also weaves an enchanting love story through its haunting and startling mystery. I really, really like Sleepy Hollow because, beyond everything else, it’s just a fun watch with plenty to take pleasure in. This is truly one of Tim Burton’s finest outings, and I’m glad that Johnny Depp was along for the ride. They both do a brilliant job through every frame of this film. I give Sleepy Hollow my full recommendation. It’s more than worth your while.
Forever Cinematic Movie Reviews 
You must be logged in to post a comment.