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Blood Ties

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Blood Ties (2014)

March. 21,2014
|
6.5
|
R
| Drama Thriller Crime
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Two brothers, on either side of the law, face off over organized crime in Brooklyn during the 1970s.

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Reviews

Actuakers
2014/03/21

One of my all time favorites.

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SunnyHello
2014/03/22

Nice effects though.

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Kaydan Christian
2014/03/23

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

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Brenda
2014/03/24

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

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Floated2
2014/03/25

Blood Ties sets the standard as a film taken place during the 1970's. The basics, Chris (Clive Owen) is just out of the joint, trying to go straight and essentially do right by his cop brother Frank (Billy Crudup), but he's got a messy past to deal with, including making amends with Monica (Marion Cotillard), a prostitute and mother to his children. Meanwhile, Chris falls into a relationship with Natalie (Mila Kunis), a girl he meets during a stint working at a garage. Frank tries desperately to vouch for his brother to his cop pals, who suspect he's going fall back into the life of crime, while he enters a romance with Vanessa (Zoe Saldana), an ex-girlfriend whose boyfriend Scarfo (Matthias Schoenaerts) he recently busted and sent to jail. Blood Ties does take quite a while to make an impression but the does get interesting in it's final 40 minutes or so. It may be a slow film, but the characters and acting performances from the cast make up for its redundant plots, and lack of plot holes.

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g-bodyl
2014/03/26

Blood Ties reminds me somewhat of the 2007 film, "We Own the Night." Despite similar themes and a similar plot, I felt connected more to this story. Maybe it was because of the character-driven plot and the excellent lines of dialogue, but this movie is a solid piece of art exploring themes of brotherhood....but from opposite sides of the law. The movie isn't flawless, but it's one movie people should check out. Guillaume Canet's English-speaking film debut is about a man named Chris, who was just released from prison after serving 12 years for murder. He is picked up by his younger brother Frank, who serves as a cop. Chris tries to live life as a regular man, but once he rejoins his crime life, Frank must decide which life is better: his brother's or his as a cop. For a limited release, the film has an excellent cast. I thought everyone did a solid job, though one could deny this film is their best works. Clive Owen, as always, delivers a good performance as the crime- happy Chris. Billy Crudup does the same as his younger brother. James Caan delivered a tasty role as the father of the two men. I particularly liked Marion Cotillard's haunting, sexy performance as Chris's ex-wife, Monica. Finally, Mila Kunis did a decent job as Chris's new lover, Natalie. Overall, Blood Ties is a great crime film that fits extremely well in its 1970's setting. I loved the soundtrack of the film, which added to the groove of the movie. It felt like this film was made in 1975, and that is an added bonus. If you expect an action/gangster film, look elsewhere because this a film focused on the characters. However, that ending was a very strong ending, better than I expected it to be. My Grade: A-

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N T
2014/03/27

At first I had doubts about this movie, the story took a long to time to build its self up, but goddamn was the wait worth it.Great performance from Clive Owen, great character development, great side characters and great story pacing. This movie is very relatable as I myself have a brother with who I always fight and yet at the end of the day we would take a bullet for each other. Blood Ties will keep you wanting to find out what will happen next throughout the movie and after all that is what we want from a Drama/Thriller.Gem of a movie 8/10.

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eddie_baggins
2014/03/28

While there is much to be commended in the fact that director Guillaume Canet and his production team have here in Blood Ties created a very decent recreation of the 1970's (with an overuse of record players, we get it OK, there weren't IPod's/CD's back then!) there is also much to be made of the fact that Blood Ties is a lifeless, seen a thousand times before, dull and dreary tale that fails to announce to us just why it exists.On paper, things within Blood Ties would seem to add up to a pretty decent family/crime drama, even moments within seem to suggest Sidney Lumet was a huge inspiration. We have a name cast in the form of Clive Owen, Mila Kunis, Zoe Saldana and the ever disappointing Billy Crudup, then behind the scenes you have a film not only produced but co-written by crime genre specialist James Grey and director Guillaume Canet who has a decent track record in his native homeland of France with films such as the excellent Tell No One and the decent Little White Lies, but nothing within Blood Ties ads up to any anything decent, nothing we see here feels emotionally engaging and no one truly seems to care enough to change it.Blood Ties needed someone too step up their game exceptionally within the piece, yet all participants seemingly rested on their laurels with the material and expected fireworks to happen. Canet's direction clearly did not help this dull overbearing feeling however with his stale, beyond workmanlike gig behind the camera transferring to one of the most bereft of life movies you'd care to see. Where is the tension to be found between warring brothers? The heart pounding experience of a crime in progress or the sparks between lovers? There is none of that to be found here despite the potential for it.Bloods Ties best moments are all taken/borrowed from other much better films of the same genre, whether it be a climatic train station scene (Carlito's Way), a bank heist gone wrong (Heat) or brothers torn between loyalty to their family/friends or loyalty to their job (We Own the Night or State of Grace) and they go to show you just what can be done with this type of film if it's done right. Blood Ties doesn't do many things right and that makes this a film worthy of being crossed off your to watch list, even if the cast list looks like a sure fire success.1 record player out of 5 For more movie reviews and opinions check into - www.jordanandeddie.wordpress.com

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