Customer Reviews

.45

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I rented this DVD with no prior knowledge of its content and was thoroughly impressed by the cast and screenplay by first-time director Gary Lennon. I recall Milla Jojovich as being mildly amusing in "The Fifth Element", but she has matured into a devastatingly effective lead actress. Her chemistry with co-star Angus Macfayden (as "Big Al") is palpable, with steaming passion, violence, and finally a level of hate-revenge that rivals "Body Heat" or "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe". Her character, Kat,is a master manipulator and it is mesmerizing to watch her slowly gain control of her situation and punish those who have caused her harm.

Do not be mislead by the variation in critical response. This movie is absolutely superb. If clever dialog, brilliant acting, strong memorable characters, and a great story appeal to you, then I strongly suggest that you rent, borrow, buy, or steal a copy and see for yourself.

Before watching Gary Lennon's ".45," I was under the impression that this modern-day noir film is about a vengeful woman battered by her lover. Well, the film's story itself is essentially true, but what impressed me most while watching the film is not the revenge part, but the credible performances from the leading actors Milla Jovovich and Angus Macfadyen, and their chracters' love and hate relations.

Milla Jovoich plays "Kate," living with Angus Macfadyen's "Big Al," who is, in her words, "king of neighborhood" in New York City. They do petty crimes, selling guns and other stolen goods, but Kate really wants a quite life by seaside. But Big Al wouldn't listen, preferring to do his "business" in his own way, dragging his childhood friend Reilly (Stephen Dorff) into another car theft. Moreover, when he is in a bad mood, jealous Big Al beats her up terribly and nearly kills her.

Kate meets social worker Liz (Aisha Tyler) working for battered women. Despite the sincere advice from Liz, Reilly and Vic (Sarah Strange), another friend of Kate, Kate refuses to leave Big Al until she decided on a more drastic move than what they suggested.

".45" is part about domestic violence, and I think the film is credible in describing such a case of men treating women terribly, thanks to the strong acting from Jovovich (with her swollen face) and Macfadyen as egocentric small-time crook.

The film also contains lots of F-words and one sexy, hot shower room scene, which I should think are part of the film's merits. Evidently Milla Jovovich is trying to seek a new direction in her career, and though sometimes she looks overacting, her acting is very good, far better than in "The House on Turk Street" or "Ultraviolet."

Still I couldn't bring myself to give the film itself 4 stars or more because the second part needs a better story. I cannot write about it in detail, but anyone looking for more elaborate revenge plans (like me) would find the film's wrap-up a letdown after seeing fine performances unanimously from the actors. And even those who find ".45" a realistic portrait of criminals and underworld would think that too much time is spent for the "interview" sections, where some characters (including Kate) talk about themselves or others directly to the camera.

Despite these flaws, ".45" shows the talent of Gary Lennon who has induced the actors to show their best, and knows how to present interesting characters. This crime drama is better than its straight-to-DVD release would imply.

Noted playwright and screenwriter Gary Lennon's directing debut effort is one of the edgiest and most entertaining and brutally honest movies of the year. Under his tight direction, Milla Jovovich and Agnus MacFadyen (both non-American thesps) are quite believable as a tough-as-nails Hell's Kitchen couple who are caught up in a dark and twisted relationship. Lennon also manages to get sharp, memorable performances from his supporting cast--an eclectic group that includes Aisha Tylor, Sarah Strange and the very under-rated actor Stephen Dorff (in what may be the best turn of his career). Sharp photography, surprising flashes of dark humor and first-person camera confessionals are some of the movie's other strong stylistic touches. Gritty modern-day neo-noir was never so much fun!

.45 is a frightening, gritty film with great performances from Milla Jovovich and Angus Macfadyen. Gary Lennon's direction is superb.

".45" is presented as a kind of parody documentary, often showing hillarious clips of interviews with the main characters' friends and relatives. In that respect, its comic format reminds me of THIS IS SPINAL TAP, A MIGHTY WIND, BEST IN SHOW, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, and other films starring Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Catherine O'Hara, Fred Willard, and that gang.

Milla Jovovich, who stars as Kat, a small-time New York City gun dealer, finds herself being physically abused by her live-in boyfriend Big Al (Angus Macfadyen), a small-time fence and gun-dealer. She decides that she needs more help than a social worker (Aisha Tylyer) can legitimately provide her, so she takes steps to have Big Al permanently removed from her life. Since she is physically attractive to both men and women, it appears that she will have no difficulty getting the help she wants.

Viewers need to be aware that this video is FULL OF NUDITY and FULL OF "R-RATED LANGUAGE," so they will probably not feel comfortable watching it with either their young children or their parents and grandparents.

Throughout 97 percent of this movie you will probably find yourself laughing very hard, so you might want to urinate just before viewing it.

My sole objection was to the 0.25 percent of the film which showed very vividly the explicit bloody violence Big Al inflicts on Kat. Yes, we need to know what he has done in order to appreciate her need for revenge--but the majority of the violence could have been presented indirectly with shadows and sounds and a scene or two showing her cuts and bruises. I am not against graphic violence per se when it fits the mood and plot of a film (such as ROB ROY or BRAVEHEART or MAD MAX)--but I am against whatever disrupts the unity and flow of what is essentially a comedy, and this sort of material did so in this film.

The acting wasn't that great, especially when the actors were talking right into the camera, in documentary style filmmaking, which didn't really suit the material, which wasn't all that interesting.

This is a good movie, although it's kinda slow and predictable. Plus, it doesn't really take enough time to fill out the characters, altough each part was solidly acted, with considerable praise to Milla Jovovich and Steven Dorff. So if you've got a couple of hours to kill, pick up this dvd and give it a whirl.

.45 is a breath of fresh air when it comes to the genre of indie movies. Funny often biting humor mixed with a cast of characters you don't see every day. Milla Jovovich gives a GREAT performance as a lovestruck neighborhood girl who is caught in an abusive relationship. Speeches directed to the camera are really funny. The beating scene is a bit hard to watch but so compelling you can't help but. The dialogue keeps it going. In a world of cookie cutter movies, .45 is unique and worthwhile!

there is never a dull moment in this movie! It's raw and real. The director got the best performance out of Milla that's I've ever seen! And she does some totally nude scenes, and her body is perfection!! I've seen a lot of her scifi movies, and this is as good as any of those. If you like them, you'll like this!

I wasn't too familiar with the previous work of Gary Lennon but after watching this film, he is definitely somebody who I will want to keep an eye out for. I watched .45 at a screening and immediately fell in love with its complex characters, darkness, and a hyper-realism, which is reminiscent of all the great 1970's movies.

The cast is comprised of Milla Jovovich, Angus Macfadyen, Stephen Dorff, Aisha Tyler and Sarah Strange. It is fantastic and works as a well-oiled machine. Their performances and feelings are never glorified and despite all characters having attributes, which are very easy to hate, you never quite can, because they are human.

It is that complexity which I really admired. I recently heard a great quote "The sign of a master director is that he makes you believe" if that is indeed the case, then Gary Lennon has accomplished what not a lot of directors can. He gave me a glimpse into a world of tension without ever glorifying it; he gave me an insight to a very harsh reality.

I highly recommend this movie.