Customer Reviews

Domino (Widescreen New Line Platinum Series)

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(20)
2 star:		(19)
1 star:		(32)

 

 

Imagine that before going to bed one night, you've read a magazine article about bounty hunter Domino Harvey, watched an over-the-top action movie and taken a hit of acid. Your dreams would likely resemble Tony Scott's new film, Domino. The film opens with "This is based on a true story........ sort of", and "sort of" is certainly accurate. If you're expecting a film biography of Domino Harvey, then you will certainly be disappointed with this movie. It's not a biography at all, in fact after seeing the movie you might know less about Domino Harvey than you did before. However, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Rather than delivering another dull overly reverent biopic, Tony Scott brings forth something entirely different. The movie is a mixture of fact and fiction, however there's certainly a lot more fiction than fact. Domino Harvey was a real person who was really a bounty hunter, and died earlier this year. Several other characters in the movie were based on real people. The film's plot was most likely entirely concocted for the movie, however. The fact that it was scripted by Donnie Darko writer/director Richard Kelly explains some of the craziness. I think its separation from reality is one intriguing thing about it, though. It's not supposed to be an accurate biopic, it's merely an action-crime thriller involving several real characters.

Keira Knightley stars as Domino giving a boisterous, abrasive performance that is both thrilling and provocative. She manages to distance herself from her previously girlish roles in such movies as Pirates of the Caribbean and Bend It Like Beckham. Indeed my initial interest in seeing this movie was the image of Keira Knightley brandishing machine guns. How could I resist? But that's not all. You also get Mickey Rourke in full tough-guy mode as Domino's partner Ed Mosbey.

And as if the prospect of Keira Knightley and Mickey Rourke as gun-wielding bounty hunters weren't enough, you also get Christopher Walken as a crazy television producer. However, the insanity doesn't stop there! Tom Waits appears as a sort of religious prophet, and Brian Austin Green and Ian Ziering of Beverly Hills 90210 star as themselves! Then, by the time the movie goes to the Jerry Springer show with Mo'Nique unveiling her new categories for racially mixed people, you wonder when the kitchen sink is going to show up. In one scene, Christopher Walken's character is described as having "the attention span of a ferret on crystal meth," and that pretty much sums up the movie as a whole.

It really is a crazy flick. It could be called many things. It's being called a severe case of style over substance, and that's certainly true. However whatever it is, one thing it certainly isn't is boring. There is nearly always something interesting and exciting going on onscreen. High art it's definitely not, but it is an outrageously entertaining movie. Whether or not most viewers like it will most likely depend on personal taste.

Domino is already sharply dividing critics, but that's certainly understandable. If you're at all familiar with Tony Scott's work as a director, then you probably know what to expect. He's not a fan of long takes and the average length of his shots tends to be about two seconds. Domino only increases the hyperkinetic filmmaking style that he's been working on. Viewers will find this to be either enjoyable and interesting or immensely frustrating. Personally, I didn't mind. The movie only occasionally made my head hurt. Anyone with epilepsy will certainly want to stay far away. However, those with a high tolerance for indulgence and manic camerawork and editing may find much to enjoy in Domino. For some, it will certainly be sensory overload, but others will enjoy the over-the-top ultraviolent whacked-out spectacle for what it is. I see definite cult potential for this movie.

Domino Harvey (Knightley), daughter of actor Laurence Harvey, was a model turned bounty hunter before her recent death. This is her story (sort of). The story is exaggerated and even retold as new information becomes known. Domino is looking to get away from the 90210 world she has lived in, and joins Ed (Roarke) and Choco (Ramirez) as a bounty hunter. They all work for Claremont Williams (Lindo), bringing fugitives to justice. When Williams gets them all involved in a scheme that involves the mob, a billionaire and $300,000, Domino must find a way to get her and her crew out unscathed.

"domino" is a glorious mess that both works and doesn't work depending upon the moment. Director Tony Scott employs ADD filmmaking to get Domino's frantic story across. The constant quick cuts work against the story, but after a while become bearable. Knightly does an adequate job as the titular character, with great support from Rourke. Ironically, two of the best roles are Brian Austin Green and Ian Ziering (from "Beverly Hills 90210") playing themselves as hosts of a reality show focusing on Domino and her gang.

This film will probably either be loved or hated by the average viewer, most likely hated. It is not a bad film though, just one that could have been better. I think Tony Scott accomplished what he set out to do, but for this moviegoer, it wasn't enough. Wait for DVD.

When I first saw `Domino' I was in love. I must admit that I adore Tony Scott's directing style. I remember when I first saw `Man on Fire', I was just blown away by the way Scott could capture your attention so effortlessly. I am a huge fan of his brother Ridley (one of our finest working directors) and while I feel Ridley is the finer director, Tony is working his way up their on his own terms. So to get back to my initial statement, when I first saw `Domino' I was smitten, or in love, whatever I said at first. Upon repeated viewings though, I have found that the film, while fun and explosive and utterly irresistible, is not without flaws; quite a few to be honest.

`Domino' tells the fictionalized story of real life bounty hunter Domino Harvey. Former model and daughter of a famous actor, Domino lived a life of prestige and glamour but she desired something a little more gritty. She resented her money and prominence and wanted to escape it as quickly as possible. When by chance she received an opportunity to do so, she took it, and thus joined bounty hunters Ed and Choco.

Quite possibly the only part of this movie that is true is the fact that Domino Harvey was a real person. More of the story could be based on actual events (I use the word `could' strongly here) but it really doesn't matter much. Whether it's true or not is not the issue. Even the film itself tells you before it begins that this is `sort of' the truth, and we as the audience can appreciate that. This is a way for Scott to pay homage to a friend and he does so with guts and bravado. There is no denying that `Domino' is an exciting visual feast and delivers a good time.

There is a problem though with the manic style in which Scott tells this story. It may not be true, but it should still at least be understandable, and while I'm not saying that the story is impossible to `get' I am saying that it takes a lot out of you to follow it coherently. The film is all over place in most parts, jumping time frames, repeating itself, stuttering, changing direction, jumping back, shifting focus; delivering large amounts of information at once and then going back and changing its mind on us. If you focus your attention you'll get it, but if you are not one who is used to having to really pay close attention you'll find yourself lost, and once you're lost you won't be able to find your way back. `Man on Fire' is a little more controlled, a film that uses the visual flare Tony Scott is known for but with restraint so as not to take away from the impact of the film.

To quote Mena Suvari's character; this film "has the attention span of a ferret on crystal meth."

The plot development is a little overly complicated at times, so much so that it causes me to question Scott's decision to simplify Domino's initiation into the world of bounty hunting. He takes a lot of time to develop this twisted and intricate DMV scam but skimps on showing us how Domino became the bounty hunter that she was (I highly doubt it was as easy as the film makes it seem).

A major highlight to the film though is the acting on the part of the entire cast. Keira Knightley and Mickey Rourke had a great year in 2005. They both gave award winning performances (Knightley in `Pride and Prejudice' and Rourke in `Sin City'), and Knightley even went on to garner an Oscar nomination. Here they excel at playing the character they are given. Knightley gives Harvey heart, and she manages to engage the audience and get us invested in her. Rourke creates a father figure for Domino, but never waters him down. He's still rough and gruff and extreme. Edgar Ramirez does a great job as Choco, the bounty hunter after Domino's heart, and Delroy Lindo is his usual fantastic self as Claremont, Domino's boss. The cast is extensive and serves us memorable performances by everyone from Mo'Nique (her Jerry Springer scene alone is unforgettable) to 90210 stars Ziering and Green (who do a stand up job of digging into their own celebrity).

True, `Domino' could have been a little cleaner, but then again, maybe that would have taken away from the impact Scott was going for. I would have liked to have seen Scott use a little more restraint with his style and delivered something a little more heavy hitting like `Man on Fire' (possibly his best film) and I would have liked to have seem a little more though gone into fleshing out these characters a little morel; but in the end I can't really complain too much. `Domino' is fun and exciting and engaging and serves up a deliciously violent good time. It's not perfect, but no one asked it to be.

Tony Scott's follow up to his hit film "Man on Fire" begins with the tag line:
"This is Based on a True Story...Sort of". That's probably the most accurate way to put it. Before seeing this movie, I had known nothing about this film except what I read in a short synopsis. The film was about a model named Domino Harvey, who's father had been an actor named Laurence Harvey who became an award winning bounty hunter. Then she died (I believe it was a drug overdose) while she was awaiting federal drug charges against her. So, I'm not sure how much of this film is true and personally...I don't give a f**k.
I had wanted to see this movie when it came to theatres and was pushed to see it more when Quentin Tarantino named it as one of his top 5 favorite films of the year on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Scott's last film "Man on Fire" was the first movie I had seen by Scott that portrayed his new directing style. Which means the psychedellc, overlighted shots you see in this film. I don't mind this cinematography and it works better in this movie then it did in MOF. But, anyway...This movie was not liked by critics for the most part, although three of the most respected critics (Roger Ebert, Richard Roeper, and Peter Travers) did like it, so I was expecting just another film like "Man on Fire" which is entertaining the first couple times and then just gets boring.
I also wasn't sure if I'd buy Keira Knightley as a bad girl. I'd already seen her do a medieval version bad girl in "King Arthur". But, from the first frame of this movie to the last, I loved it. This movie has a great script (no matter howt true it is), Scott's direction is in top form, and the performances are great and believable. This is probably my favorite action film of 2005, it's certainly the most entertaining. I was engrossed in this movie, glued to my seat even. It's not that the twists in this movie are good or anything, but just that it's fascinating and never boring. Anyway, here's my necessary synopsis.
Knightly plays Domino. Ever since she was a little girl Domino has loathed Hollywood (and the series "Beverly Hills 90210") and wanted to be a rebel. Not only does she want to be, she is...And she's good at it. Eventually she attends a bounty hunter seminar and catches the attention of veteran bounty hunter Ed and his co-worker Choco (Edgar Ramirez), who speaks perfect english but thinks its cute to talk in spanish in almost every scene in the movie. The two see her at first as just a way of looking like "two of the coolest guys in the world" but soon she becomes a real part of the team. It is then that Domino, Ed, and Choco are assigned by their boss Claremont Williams III to track down the people responsible for stealing ten million dollars from an armored truck, which was apparently robbed by a mob bosses two children and a couple of other guys who don ex-first lady masks.
Anyway, I don't want to say much more about the film except that I urge you to see it. This is truly an entertaining movie, no kidding...I almost forgot to mention that it's also funny. The "Blacktino" scene I found hilarious and
the way Rourke and Knightly slyly utter a lot of their dialouge is very good.
--A.

And I want to add, for all those male Keira Knightley fans. Hate to burst your bubble, but according to an interview I read in People Magazine she's using a body double in her sex scenes.

Cool music, cool actors with great acting, not bad story line, made all the better with DTS sound. Turn it up and enjoy. How this almost escaped under my radar is beyond me. Thank goodness I caught it. 2 viewings in 2 days, mainly for the music.

All it needs to round it off is a soundtrack. (If there is one, I can't find it).

This is probably one of the most under-rated films to come our way in a long time. With a star cast, this movie could have done well with marketing. (At least here in Australia).

In my collection of over 500 DVD's, this is definately in the top 10.

Tony Scott has a lock and load style of directing, a manner of making a film like a fast ride in the editing room where you must depend on rapid sequence fragments to keep the whole story together, an artsy and at times a bit over the top pretentious visual language that, depending on the story, can work very well in enhancing the effect of the film experience.

DOMINO is a very daring and exciting version of Domino Harvey's life as a wealthy daughter of movie star Laurence Harvey, a successful model, but a disillusioned soul who chucks it all and turns her life around and becomes a bounty hunter. The story is based on fact (the real Domino Harvey had a hand in the film before her death just before the film was released) and that makes it even more suspenseful. Domino is played by Keira Knightly who more than demonstrates that she is an actress to watch. Her involvement with fellow bounty hunters Ed Moseby (Mickey Rourke) and Choco (Edgar Ramirez) along with characters enacted by Delroy Lindo, Mo'Nique, Riz Abbasi, Dabney Coleman, Brian Austin Green, and Lucy Liu to name only a few memebers of this talented cast is on the center of the target. There is much violence, some very amusing sequences, and lots of pyrotechnical and other action gimmicks that add to the film's flavor.

But the overall success of this 'biopic' is due to Tony Scott's signature vision of visual storytelling. It just works - but you have to surrender to the style that is evident from the opening shots in order to enjoy and appreciate this wild ride. The DVD has a lot of information about the real Domino Harvey with conversations while the crew discuss the characters and the actors portraying them in the film. Worth a careful look. Grady Harp, March 06

Domino Harvey sits in the interrogation room. Across the table from her is a cocky FBI agent who assumes she knows it all. Domino is about to teach this woman a thing or two.

For Domino's story is a wild one, a story violence, passion, anger, resentment, joy, and, most importantly, of finding oneself. We all hope to find ourselves one day...sometimes it's in the arms of the ones we love...other times its with a gun in our hands.

Keira Knightley, Mickey Rourke, Edgar Ramirez, and Delroy Lindo help carry this film with their near-flawless performances. Superb cameos by Tom Waits, Christopher Walken, Lucy Liu, Jerry Springer (yes, Jerry Springer), and still others help flesh out this hectic, topsy-turvy film. Tony Scott proves once again his directing prowess, with a script that is well-written but not overly so (there are enough flaws in this movie to keep you grounded, but not so many as to detract from your enjoyment). "Domino" is fast and it is furiuos and it is relentless...if you don't like your movies this way, then please don't watch this one. If, however, you like your action movies honest, hectic, and darkly humorous...here you go. "Domino" will knock you off your feet.

Directed with whacked out flair by Tony Scott and featuring a screenplay written by Donnie Darko director Richard Kelly, Domino is, as a previous reviewer excellently put it, a whacked out acid trip of a movie. And it is, and it's also quite fun, which is something that was unexpected. Keira Knightley puts in a surprising turn as the late fashion model turned bounty hunter Domino Harvey, who finds herself up to her neck with the mob, stolen money, and reality TV. Her bounty hunting mentor Ed (Mickey Rourke, great here as well) and his partner Choco (Edgar Ramirez) are along for the ride, as are 90210 stars Ian Ziering and Brian Austin Green as themselves as celebrity hostages. The plot is all so convoluted, but Scott's visual flair (more similar to his work on Man on Fire than any of his previous works) helps the film pack a bloody punch. Knightley is beautiful, alluring, and dangerous in the title role, and continues to show more promise as an actress. The rest of the cast, including Christopher Walken, Mena Suvari, Delroy Lindo, Dabney Coleman, Jacqueline Bisset, and Lucy Liu, are all great as well. All in all, no matter how much of it is fictionalized, Domino is a fun trip that is worth taking.

There are movies in which a certain manic energy, a quick-paced, never slow down feel keeps the movie from sinking. These movies tend to have an impausible plot line, but the viewers never have a chance to comment on it, think about it or invest too much in it because before they can the movie is veering off again. These kinds of movies can be quite exciting, fasten your seatbelts its going to be a bumpy ride.

Domino is one of these films for the first hour. Domino is said to be based on a true story. Sort of. The truth is that there was a Domino Harvey (recently deceased due to a drug over-dose), she was a model turned bounty hunter. But what happened in the movie is a fictionalized, acid trip of a film. It has enough manic energy to go around for an additional movie. Its full of jump cuts, flash cuts, images filtered over others, changes in time and place. I enjoyed how the movie began towards the end, then worked its way, haphazzardly mind you, back to the ending. Out of sequence. Sort of. Telling the main story, but also of how Domino got to the main story which shows us how she is being interogated by the police. Confusing? Nah, not really. Just don't think about it.

The folly in these movies happens when and if the movie loses its momentum. Unfortunately, at about the hour mark, Domino loses the momentum. It begins to take itself a little more seriously than the events leading up to it belied (cutting off a person's arm because the cell phone cut out and you missed take off the shirt and instead decided to cut off the arm?). Unfortunately, when it takes a stumbling step, it lost all of the energy that preceeded it. And I grew bored. The overtly complex plot lay in ruins as far as I was concerned and I couldn't get back into it.

Its unfortunate, because it was a fun movie. Sort of.

I LOVE a good action movie and I thought this one ROCKED! Keira was tough yet sexy, the movie had a nice fast pace, the plot and ending were good and I think it followed the story of the real Domino fairly well (a sad story though, the special feaures on the DVD talk about the real Domino who died before the movie came out, very interesting stuff) There is never a dull moment in this movie and although they kind of Hollywood-ized the story, I still think it came out great. The dizzy acid-trip camera was a bit much at times but it WAS interesting and original the way they filmed it. Some people think it glorified violence but I don't think it does. You can't please everyone all the time. Domino is NOT a wimpy movie and not for kids or the faint of heart! Personally I thought it was an honest movie, an intense movie, it was edgy, a little sexy, had some humor and makes you think. I also feel that the true life story of the real Domino might carry a strong anti-drug and anti violence message, especially considering she died so young probably from all the stress and abuse of her body. Either way I really enjoyed this film and would watch it again and again...Especially the line where the snooty chick is giving Domino attitude and Domino asks "Have you had a nose job?" the girl says "No" and Domino punches her in the face! AWESOME! Instant classic line, especially when said in a British accent! I laughed so hard I had to watch the scene again! Overall, if you like action movies, don't mind guns, blood, guts and extreme violence, you'll LOVE this movie!