terkoss
Recorded on the DVR, I've probably watched it six times already. The Bag Man quite obviously isn't for everybody. Maybe expectations. Maybe there's just something missing with some who "didn't get it", or don't have that *something* inside them that finds the allure.Analysis is tough on this one. It's not a sophisticated storyline. The script only has moments of clever dialogue. Mostly, it's the overall mood, I suppose. It's in directing, the soundtrack, cinematography, etc. that gives it its appeal for me. I gave it a "7" rating, because I don't abuse and overreact. An 8 has to be exceptional. A 9...genuinely phenomenal. I've never yet given a film a 10. Conversely, a 6 still has some merit. A 5 is so-so, but some definite cringe-worthy moments. And so forth. Point being, I saw quite a few 1s in the reviews (and 2s and 3s). A 1 is virtual static on the screen in my mind, or something that looks like a 2nd Grade movie project that somehow made it to the big screen. IMDb raters...sigh. Well, a rating is in the eye of the rater. For those of us who "get it", I bet we'd agree that those who didn't just don't have the receptors to pick up on the Director's vision.Cusack's as an actor was my initial attraction. His roles in Identity and others drew me in. His performance in TBM was as intriguing as any of his other best films. Sorry, but Cell was a bummer. His acting was lackluster and the film was just weird (the ending was just funky, as hard as I tried to play along). But in TBM, he was at the top of his game. I didn't "see" acting. I saw what I love about him most; a natural born actor who takes me into the life of the character. Can't ask for more.De Niro: Another reviewer is correct to an extent - that he can play a gangster in his sleep. Agreed, but ol' Bob is also in major cruise mode in his career, being his Golden Years. I've seen the passion receding over the last 15 years. Even in more significant roles like Silver Linings Playbook, I've detected less than 100% from him like in his most impacting historical roles. That wasn't the objective here, to play a character like Leonard in Awakenings, or Rupert Pupkin in the King of Comedy. However, there was only a fleeting moment or two at best when I felt he wasn't fully immersed in the smaller role of Dragna. I got the impression he really liked this role. Interestingly, he looked physically better than I've seen him in years. He was tan, had super cool hair, slick and hip glasses, and he slipped right in to the image of that character. I wouldn't be surprised if that's why he accepted the part. I'm not convinced it was the script that captivated him. Even his opening lines are relatively straightforward. Yes, some of his later banter was medium-witty, but nothing that will leave one changed forever. Regardless, he was cooler looking than I've seen him in years. But don't get me wrong. I'm not interested in seeing De Niro look cool. His character's cool worked perfectly with the mood of the film.Crispin Glover was captivating. So smooth and believable as Ned, the motel clerk. If one thinks of the non-event checking into a hotel can be, Ned makes it the polar opposite of that. In short, the character of Ned is loaded with character. And while other reviewers speak for you and me, "...you can't help but think...", I'll speak for myself: I love Crispin in this role. I haven't seen him in a while, but I still remember his impact on me in his role in the movie Teachers. He was powerful then, and hasn't lost anything in his dedication to his roles.Rebecca Da Costa: A very intriguing choice in casting. An odd voice (accent), and at first, wondered if her acting was up to par. In the end, I believe her acting was fine. It was just her odd personality, which added to the unusual chapter of Jack's (Cusack) life. It augmented the realism of finding oneself amidst a troubled, yet fascinating person. Some people aren't attracted to those types. Maybe that makes the difference...the secret desire to live a chapter of Jack's life. That's what a film should do - take us inside it and live that life for a couple hours; have us wonder whether Rivka (Da Costa) was a cheap hooker, or someone we could fall in love with; a caring, smart and compassionate person. A foreigner who just so happens to be uniquely beautiful, awkwardly trying to seduce, yet too often showing her genuine self and sincerity as a human being.On the surface, if I didn't get "immersed", I'd probably give it a 5. But I got sucked in. I got it. A solid 7 for me. Bravo to those who made this film. I'll be watching it again.
Michael O'Keefe
A touch of noir slips into this crime caper. A hit man named Jack(John Cusack)is summoned to a seedy motel deep in the Bayou by a dangerous crime boss named Dragna(Robert De Niro). Jack is offered a handsome compensation, but he must complete a slight chore of picking up a bag and wait in the Louisiana hotel. Jack is ordered to not open the bag. The hit man is hold up in room 13 and while waiting realizes that Dragna ordered a dozen more hired killers to do the same.A bit antsy, and you've already come to your own conclusion for a finale several times before closing credits. This movie runs about 1 hr. 49 min and Mr. De Niro is on screen almost 40 of those minutes. Who got their money's worth this time? Also in the cast: Crispin Glover, Rebecca Da Costa, Martin Klebba, Dominic Purcell, David Shambris and Kirk 'Sticky Fingaz' Jones.
Johnny_Hing
I've been a huge De Niro fan since the 70's and have always enjoyed Cusak's work since The Grifters. But alas, they were not able to carry this film. Their characters were not at all likable. I didn't find myself rooting for either one of them, nor the girl. You don't see much of De Niro anyway, except at the beginning and again towards the end. The motel clerk was okay (thought it was Steve Zahn at first), but even he pooped out with his "don't touch my wheelchair!" scene.This is a dark movie - literally. Very dim lighting. Not easy on the eyes. You don't see any daylight until the final scene. I happen to sometimes like dark movies, and I also like "sleazy motel" movies, but there has to be some interesting stuff going on to make up for for what is missing visually. Witty dialogue would help, but there is none to be found. Plot? Blah. What is in the bag is way too predictable. Too much senseless violence. Okay, it has a surprise twist at the end, and I can bump it a half star for that. So... 2 stars total for me.PS: In reading through several dozen pages of the favorable reviews, it almost looks as if they were written by the same person employing many different aliases... same broken English, same adjectives, same rushed format. Surely I'm not the only one who has noticed this. Wow.
eddie_baggins
A true oddity of a film that marks it near impossible to categorize, The Bag Man is bargain basement filmmaking at its most strange and oddly intriguing and a film that you can sense being added to the plethora's of cult movies marked "So bad it's so good" for make no doubt about it readers The Bag Man is a bad movie that still deserves to be checked out.With headliners in the form of the ever slumming it John Cusack and the increasingly stuck on auto pilot Robert De Niro there is no doubt that many viewers will check into this seedy joint expecting some high quality thrills and spills but they will find themselves surely disappointed with a tale that veers frequently between dark brutal violence, Lynch like abstract comical moments and a story that will keep you glued thanks to the human nature in all of us wanting to know just what is in the titular "bag" and what is Mr. De Niro's crime boss Dragna actually up to. The Bag Man's premise and execution are all wholly unbelievable yet it's all played and directed in such a way that it all works to a low level of entertainment.John Cusack and his humongous mullet have fun with a role that is all types of generic in the form of hit-man/sad sack Jack and relative newcomer Da Costa isn't completely wasted as street girl with a conscience Rivka but it's in the supports of Crispin Glover and De Niro that the film has some of its most wacky and memorable moments. Glover while not having abundant screen time makes the most of his wheelchair bound creepy motel owner Ned and De Niro gets to chew through some seriously over the top monologues as Dragna and even gets one of the more shocking acts of on screen violence in recent memory under his belt within the first 30 minutes of the film. There is also strange joyous quality's shown by director Grovic who masters proceedings like some movie class graduate having fun with bright lights and dim lit hotel rooms and forgetting to direct with any type of originality.The Bag Man is by no means a film worthy of rushing out to get but it's also a unique and frequently must see to believe strange journey filled with one eyed pimps, Croatian midgets, a hamming it acting great and a mysterious bag and all those elements ad up to a film that is worthy of a late night watch and no doubt a few laughs with a room full of film lovers.2 bad cases of road rash out of 5 For more movie reviews and opinions check into - www.jordanandeddie.wordpress.com
