DVD Round-Up: "Seven" (1995) - Starring Morgan Freeman and "The Next Three Days" (2010) - Starring Russell Crowe

Seven (1995)

The Basics: Thriller surrounding the search for a serial killer that finds a grizzled, soon to be retired police detective, William Somerset (Morgan Freeman), joining forces with a much younger and recently transferred Detective David Mills. The duo desperately search for the killer, who is patterning his murders on the seven deadly sins; gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, pride, lust, and envy.

Reasons to Watch: The superb cast is led with quiet determination by Morgan Freeman and the manic undertones of Brad Pitt. The cold, calculating killer (no spoilers here) is able to utilize his intelligence and knowledge of psychology to keep everyone off balance. Gwyneth Paltrow brings a refreshing air of innocence to her role, as David's lonely wife, Tracy.

The Bottom Line: Great performances, an intricate and intelligent screenplay, by Andrew Kevin Walker, and the deft direction of David Fincher make Seven an unforgettable psychological thriller that will get under your skin and may stay with you long after the film ends. During the film, I thought the killer might be either Mills or Somerset, which is to the credit of the screenplay and to the performances from Freeman and Pitt. If you have never seen the film, consider them both suspects.

The Next Three Days (2012)

The Basics: A wife and mother, Lara Brennan (Elizabeth Banks), is convicted of a murder that she may or may not have committed. Her distraught husband, John (Russell Crowe), becomes obsessed with an intricate plot that he designed to help her escape from prison.

Reasons to Watch: The terrific cast, including Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks, Liam Neeson and Brian Dennehy, deliver strong work. The movie was filmed on location in Pittsburgh, PA and, as a former resident, I appreciated seeing so many familiar sites.

The Bottom Line: An overly long and completely unrealistic film that managed to hold my attention, despite those flaws. Viewers who can suspend their disbelief may find it more enjoyable than those who cannot.

DVD Round-Up: Gus Van Sant's "Paranoid Park" and Bryan Singer's "The Usual Suspects"

Paranoid Park (2007)

The Basics - Alex (Gabe Nevins), a teenage skateboarder, unintentionally causes a security guard to fall to his death. He tries to get rid of any potential evidence, but the police soon come calling.

Reasons to Watch - Gabe Nevins delivers a subtle, understated and convincing portrayal of a good kid whose future is threatened because of an accident. Gus Van Sant's low key direction is effective and the screenplay's sparse dialogue is appropriate, considering Gabe is trying to figure out how to stay out of trouble, while dealing with his guilt over the security guard's death. The soundtrack and cinematography are both memorable.

The Bottom Line - A slow paced Independent film that held my attention right up until the end. However, I felt kind of cheated because I expected some sort of resolution, but it is ultimately up to viewers to decide Gabe's fate.

The Usual Suspects (1995)

The Basics - A small time con man, Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey), undergoes interrogation by U.S. Customs agent Dave Kujan (Chazz Palminteri) concerning a massacre aboard a ship docked near Los Angeles. The film is told in flashbacks, as Kint relays a remarkable story about a group of criminals who are working a job for Keyser Söze, a notorious mob boss, which ends with the massacre.

Reasons to Watch - The screenplay, by Christopher McQuarrie, and the performance by Spacey were both awarded Oscars, for Original Screenplay and Supporting Actor, respectively. The Usual Suspects is a film for intelligent viewers that features an outstanding cast and an ending which caught me completely by surprise.

The Bottom Line - I do not know why it took me so long to watch The Usual Suspects, but I am glad I finally did. I must admit that I was not completely sold on the film until the very end, when everything made sense and I could appreciate the substantial effort put forth here from all involved. A great film loaded with surprises.