Kiele Sanchez

Posts Tagged ‘David Twohy’

A Perfect Getaway, Kiele Sanchez – Download on iTunes

Kiele Sanchez

A Perfect Getaway on iTunes

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6 strangers. 2 killers. No getting away… Milla Jovovich, Steve Zahn, Timothy Olyphant and Kiele Sanchez star in this shocking Unrated version of the gripping suspense thriller from director David Twohy about an island vacation that turns deadly. Honeymooners Cliff (Zahn) and Cydney (Jovovich) are hiking a jungle trail to a remote Hawaiian beach when they hear that police have uncovered a grisly murder scene and the suspected killers are somewhere nearby. Unsure whether to stay or flee, the pair joins two other couples when things start to go horribly wrong. Far from civilization, a brutal battle for survival begins where danger lurks along every twist of the path and no one is who they seem.

© 2009 Rogue Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

A Perfect Getaway

Starring – Steve Zahn, Timothy Olyphant, Milla Jovovich, Kiele Sanchez, Marley Shelton, Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Ruivivar, Dale Dickey, Peter Navy Tuiasosopo, Wendy Braun

Written and Directed by – David Twohy

A newlywed couple on their honeymoon in Hawaii run into two other couples after hearing that a psychopathic couple are killing tourists.

Going into this one I wasn’t expecting much. In fact, if Milla Jovovich hadn’t been in this one I probably never would have watched it but I’m really glad I did. I really enjoyed this one. It’s pretty run of the mill in the grand scheme of things and there’s a twist that should have been quite obvious to me, but it still managed to have me on the edge of my seat.

To raise this flick above the usual thriller standards are the performances of Timothy Olyphant, Steve Zahn and Milla Jovovich. Olyphant plays this funny yet creepy guy who may or may not be half of the killer couple. His stories of being in Iraq and how he’s survived countless disasters can be pretty hilarious, and after each story his girlfriend has to chime in with ‘He’s just so hard to kill.’ which plays into suggestions of them being the killers. The problem is there’s another couple on the island who seem to be just the right types for psychopathic killers. Who could it be?

I’m pretty sure that anyone even remotely paying attention will see the twist coming. I’ve said numerous times before that these things are always way over my head and I like to think that it helps me to enjoy movies a bit more. This is going to be the downfall of the movie in most peoples eyes because it will take away from the impact of the film. Even with a twist you might already know, Timothy Olyphant’s performance should be enough to entertain you.

I’d like to go more into the movie but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. There must be somebody out there like me, whose brain shuts off when they watch flicks so the surprises are still there, and it wouldn’t be fair to ruin it. On top of great performances there are some amazing shots in there. I’ve never been a fan of leaving Canada since it always seems like it would result in a plane ride and I am seriously afraid of flying but after seeing some of the beautiful scenery on display here I may reconsider. Gorgeous waterfalls and crystal clear water washing onto sandy beaches made me wish I was there now instead of the freezing cold that’s hanging around out here now.

There’s some playing with the audience in this one as well that made the movie fun. Steve Zahn’s character is a screenwriter and Olyphant’s character had once taken a crash course in screenwriting, leading to discussions about the structure of films. This includes throwing in a ‘red herring’ to throw the audience off. They’re basically addressing the same ideas that the film itself is presenting and it seems as if they’re tapping on the fourth wall. Looking back on it now it’s pretty obvious what was going on but if you can get by that you will find an entertaining flick. It doesn’t break the mold but it fits just right and there are some strong performances in the movie that should help you enjoy it.

Timothy Olyphant at KieleSanchez.com

Timothy Olyphant x Kiele Sanchez have the American Spirit in A Perfect Getaway!

The Film starts with a couple, Cliff and Cydney Anderson, honeymooning on the Hawaiian Islands.  While taking in the scenery of the great outdoors during an 11-mile nature trek across one of the islands, they come across a group of girls who have just learned that there have been some murders on the islands and that the killers have yet to be caught.  Fearing that it might be the abrasive couple that they didn’t give a ride to and is now on the same hike that they are on, they decide to continue on with another couple, Nick and Gina.  However, the idea of “safety in numbers” starts to seem fallible as paranoia sets in and everyone starts to become suspicious of everyone else, changing the hike into a game of “everyone’s a suspect.”

Starting with hand held footage from the wedding, this film quickly puts the viewer on their guard.  After all, beginning a film of this genre with something as happy and nostalgic as a wedding video can never be a good sign for the characters involved.  Then the story picks up with the couple in a really beautiful part of Hawaii (and Puerto Rico if you are keeping track of actual shooting locations) that’s sunny and romantic, yet creepy thanks to the surrounding dense greenery with iffy cell phone reception.  By keeping the footage shot mainly to the daytime, the story becomes slightly more off-putting and uncomfortable thanks to the sunshine mixed with the potential for brutality like with what has been done in The Ruins and Lost.

Though the setting and how the film is shot adds a lot to the overall feel of the film, most of the creepy factor actually comes from the characters themselves.  Though there are a few obvious standouts as to who can be suspected of being murderers, this film is full of potential red herrings.  First there is the above-mentioned couple, Cleo and Kale (Marley Shelton and Chris Hemsworth), who appear to be stalking Cliff and Cydney and seem to have enough anger issues to kill someone over not being given a ride.  Then there is Nick and Gina (Timothy Olyphant and Kiele Sanchez), whose hospitality mixed with death-defying wild stories makes them a prime contender for the murderous couple as well.  But then after the main couples are assessed, there are plenty of other characters to start to wonder about, and every action and word spoken becomes a potential clue as to the killers’ identities.  Every glace becomes suspicious, and at one point I was even willing to throw the group of girls from the beginning of the film into the suspect pot.  In other words, everyone is a suspect, and it is easy to spend every moment trying to piece what is really happening together until the murderers are revealed.  And though this revelation may not be that surprising once it finally enters out into the open, it is still deserved because of all the work up to that point.  But I will say the flashback scene following is a little much and drags on longer than it should, sticking out like a soar thumb thanks to the monotonous use of blue throughout its entirety.

The “who-done-it” element is one of the best parts of the film thanks to the cast being filled with actors capable of great performances, with Olyphant’s portrayal of the off kilter war vet being a highlight.  Plus, the film warrants as many cheers as it does “ugh! Don’t do that!” cries because these characters obviously don’t always show the best decision making for the type of film they find themselves in.  But with its minor flaws, A Perfect Getaway remains an entertaining thriller that keeps you reassessing what you know the whole time.

Final Grade: A-

Kiele Sanchez and Timothy Olyphant

A Perfect Getaway

Directed by David Twohy

David Twohy is a seasoned screenwriter and ambitious, although he’s very hit-and-miss as a  director, but he delivers a surprisingly compelling and entertaining thriller with A Perfect Getaway. There’s a couple of  couple’s on a Hawaiian vacation (Steve Zahn and Milla Jovovich) meet another couple (Chris Hemsworth, looking very Thor-ready in his shirtless, and Mary Shelton) hitchhiking and after an amicable, but tense, exchange, the hitchers refuse a ride. Cliff and Sydney (Zahn and Jovovich, both in top form) continue along to their camping trail destination. On the path, they meet the charismatic, possibly eccentric Nick (Deadwood’s Timothy Olyphant), who has one almost unbelievable tale after another to tell of his crazy adventures as what he jokingly calls an “American Jedi.” Nick guides the couple to his partner Gina (Kiele Sanchez, holding up well surrounded by superior actors) and despite any misgivings about Nick’s mental health, the couples decide to formally hit the trail together. Shortly after, word begins to spread from other hikers on the trail that vacationing couples were recently found murdered in the area. Suspicions abound and Twohy’s oh-so-clever screenplay taunts the audience with references to storytelling devices, as Nick banters endlessly with Cliff about screenwriting. The winking at genre expectations would be too much were it not specifically appropriate to the interaction between the two men. Almost the entire script can be read in multiple ways, and coupled with superb acting from the pivotal roles, A Perfect Getaway is almost a perfect gift for audiences who love to hunt for clues. It’s a shame then, after a brilliant and sensible twist, Twohy feels the need to over explain, bloating what could have been a viciously tight final act. There’s plenty of satisfaction, largely thanks to the electric awesomeness of Timothy Olyphant, but hand holding flashbacks mute the film’s overall impact. The original ending is the only special feature included, and while the minor changes from it are important to the emotional resolution of the film, this is the kind of thoughtful movie making that deserves more thorough examination, let’s just give this film a big thumbs up because the scenery by itself is wonderful, but so is the movie.

Kiele Sanchez in A Perfect Getaway

A Perfect Getaway, (The Blu-ray holds additional supplements, including an alternate ending.) Writer and director David Twohy cheats and plays tricks on his audience. But he delivers a gripping adventure-mystery with several unforeseen twists that force the audience to change allegiances and perceptions.

A honeymooning couple (Steve Zahn and Milla Jovovich) travels to Hawaii’s most remote island for a prolonged hike to an even more isolated beach. Along the way, they encounter two other questionable hiking couples and end up traveling with one (Tim Olyphant and Kiele Sanchez). Meanwhile, they learn on their BlackBerry that a couple in Honolulu has been brutally mutilated.

Twohy casts doubt over everyone, setting his film up for a chilling third act filled with action and violence. During the mayhem, cinematographer Mark Plummer ably captures the stunning Hawaiian scenery.

The DVD offers both R-rated (98 minutes) and unrated (108 minutes) versions. Please don’t forget, the Blu-ray holds additional supplements, including an alternate ending!

Blu-ray Available at Amazon