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Reviews
Legacy (2010)
* Intense Psychological Thriller ... Makes You Think! *
Legacy is one of those films in the vein of your 'Memento', 'Manchurian Candidate' or 'Marathon Man'. By this I mean, the classic high pressure dramatic thriller scenario where the protagonist seems to be the only person plugged into the truth while the powers that be perpetuate an illusion to the world that he feels the necessity to break. The drama and intensity is then heightened by the fact that the key players in opposition to his revelation of the truth have all the power and he stands alone. Will he succeed in his mission or wont he? ... there in lies the movie !!
Idris Elba carries the responsibility for this lead role in 'Legacy' and does so, surprisingly, to impressive effect. I was never particularly fond of 'The Wire' nor am I a massive fan of Idris but he had a job to do in this movie, a very difficult job I might add as he anchors what is to all intents and purposes a solo lead plot, and he did that job d**n well. He never ceases to be convincing or engaging and he immerses himself in the role with a relentless conviction from start to finish that has me wondering whether award season might just send him a few surprises. We'll wait and see !!
On the flip side, some of the drama that 'Manchurian Candidate' or 'Marathon Man' use theatrics and dialogue to achieve, 'Legacy' sometimes uses brut violence instead. For those of a delicate disposition, this can be heavy going but for those, who could make it through 'Rambo 4' without passing out, this is a walk in the park!
'Legacy' is a film that improves on reflection. Long after you have watched it, while you are sitting in your kitchen waiting for the toaster to do its thing, you find yourself having private EUREKA moments when the stars seem to align and the movie makes a whole new level of sense. Moments that have the same shock effect on you as for instance, the Keyser Soze moment from 'The Usual Suspects' or the revelation of the true meaning of Haley Joel Osment's 'I see dead people' at the end of 'Sixth Sense'. (Here comes the spoiler ... 'Legacy' also has one of those plot shockers!)
All in all 'Legacy' is a good watch that I would recommend, but approach it with an alert mind and sturdy nerves, it is not for the faint hearted !
Limbo (2004)
A summary of "Limbo" does no more than dilute its merit. "Pi", "Exorcist", "Memento". Did you like them? ... You'll LOVE "Limbo"!
First time director, allegedly ... first movie, allegedly ... ridiculously small budget, allegedly ... Either someone thinks I am very gullible or movie-makers all over the world should think about making church on Sundays a regular practice ... alternatively, they should spare themselves countless hours in AA further down the line (when directors and their movies like this become common practice) and quit now!!
We live in a particularly distressing age of movie making where the most basic aspect of any movie, THE STORY, has fallen to the wayside. Nowadays stories (when they are not biographic or lifted directly from already successful books) are unimpressive at best. Montage is either stroboscopic or lethargic and cinematography is either "periodic" or over zealously "hand-held". Let us just say disenchantment with the silver screen has set in. However, I am always optimistic and sometimes it pays off and that pay off in 2005 came in the form of Thomas Ikimi's "Limbo". A conceptually and literally dark and pensive, quasi-thriller, which unselfishly and also uncompromisingly dives head first into moral debates on life, human nature, free will and religion. Rather than risk going so far into how impressed I was with Thomas Ikimi's "FIRST" cinematic effort and end up looking like a groupie ... all I will say is I am counting the days until the release of his next feature and with Ikimi's discovery of a rare diamond in Joe Holt, the wait for his next offering also seems endless. !!! BRAVO !!!