Wrong Turn at Tahoe

"When local underground crime boss Vincent (Miguel Ferrer) betrays volatile big-time drug dealer Nino (Harvey Keitel), he touches off a dangerous mob war that soon engulfs his friend and debt-collector protégé, Joshua (Cuba Gooding Jr.). As the conflict escalates between the rival factions, Joshua must risk everything to even the score with Nino. This tense thriller from director Franck Khalfoun also stars Leonor Varela and Johnny Messner." -- Netflix

I liked this movie for its compactness. It covered a short time period, there was a limited number of characters, and the basic premise was neat and tidy presented without car chases, police sirens, or special effects.

It all takes off from a simple lie told by a junkie because of a $3000 debt, and the killing started. I thought it was going to be a story about Lake Tahoe and therefore maybe gambling, but it was set in New York State, and Tahoe was the name of a drug dealer.

Not for the weak-at-heart, there's plenty of profanity, blood, and death, but the story and direction were so focussed it all came together in a very interesting manner, like reading a good crime novel. I reminded me of that George Clooney movie "Michael Clayton," not a big-deal, flashy production, just a good story well-told.

Public Enemies
Starring Johnny Depp as John Dillinger the depression-era bank robber who was tracked down by the FBI and shot coming out of a movie theater.

This movie is a rehash of "The Lady in Red," a 1979 movie: "Pamela Sue Martin stars as the infamous Lady In Red, Polly Franklin, whose bright red dress served as an identifying beacon for the FBI's murder of Public Enemy #1, John Dillinger. From sweatshop to dime-a-dance hall, from prison to house of prostitution, Polly's journey brings her ever closer to the gang-run crime world of the 30's." (Netflix)

with a dash of "Bonnie and Clyde," in particular the part where the whole house got shot up by the cops. And some Elliott Ness and "Untouchables" thrown in.

So, having seen those kinds of movies back in the day, I knew how this one was going to turn out, making it a boring 2 hours and 20 minutes. I took a shower in the middle of it, came back, and nothing new had happened.

Because I knew how it was going to end, I kept wondering why someone who was so pursued by the FBI, to the point that his mug shot was shown to movie audiences all over the country, ("Look to your left, look to your right. Do you see this man in your row?") would go to a movie. Question answered: It was the heat of summer and he wanted to go sit in the air conditioning.

Would I watch it again? No, too long and boring. Do I recommend it? If it's the first depression-era FBI-catching-the-bank-robbers movie you'll ever see it's probably pretty good.