The film "Parcel" (reviews of film critics confirm this) is a stylish thriller about dreams and morality. Director Richard Kelly, who filmed the opus Button, Button by Richard Matheson, made an old-fashioned and prohibitively stylish film that is very unusual and strange to watch for a contemporary. The original name of the film project is “Box”.
Pandora's Box
The film "Package" received mixed reviews from viewers; it failed at the box office in the United States. Neither the presence of Cameron Diaz in the main female role , nor the experience of the director-scriptwriter of Domino (2005) and the director of Donnie Darko (2001) saved the situation.
The film takes place in 1976. The main characters - the family couple Arthur (James Marsden) and Norma (Cameron Diaz) - are experiencing serious financial difficulties. The norm is reduced at work, and Arthur does not pass the selection for astronauts. At this time, a strange man appears on their doorstep , offering an even more unusual deal.
Its conditions are quite simple: there is a button in the transmitted box, if you press it, one stranger will die, and the couple will receive a million dollars. This is the plot of the picture “Parcel”. Reviews of the film prove that this kind of prologue is a stunning anticipation of subsequent events, discouraging and exploding the brain.
Unable to resist the temptation
The family couple makes their choice, they click on the button and get a million. But further after euphoria, the couple seriously worried about their further fate, stepping on the next rake. Now their fate is in the hands of the very strange type of Mr. Steward (Frank Langella), who continues the game, not going to change the rules. This is the plot of Richard Kelly's “Package” project. Reviews of the film say it is essentially a remake of one of the episodes of The Twilight Zone.
Without revealing intrigue and plot secrets, it is worth noting the ingenious interweaving of conspiracy theories into the storyline. The director tried to saturate the plot with a fair amount of branded chips, most of which seem at least strange. “Package” is a 2009 film (reviews confirm this), full of irrational inserts. Not everyone watching understands the events taking place in the second part of the picture.
Dramatic ending
The film “Parcel” (2009) received conflicting reviews to a greater extent because the further development of the storyline simply confuses the viewer. In the life of the heroes who pressed the button, real madness begins: bleeding zombies appear from nowhere, the heroes are chased by a laughing boy, they find themselves on the sidelines of top-secret laboratories and are no longer able to clearly determine which world and dimension they are in.
Closer to the climax, realistic motifs reappear in the picture. The protagonists are told that the atonement is real, but the price, as usual, is prohibitive, and it will have to be paid in full. Such a lesson in life is the film “Parcel”. Reviews of film critics called the work of Kelly an excellent psychological thriller with killer morality and an exciting philosophy.
Summary
The efforts of the director are noticeable to the inexperienced film fan, however, like the mistakes. Kelly throughout the entire timing of the film withstands the detached meaningful intonation, building filigree plans. Musical accompaniment - the creation of rockers Arcade Fire. The minimalistic troubling soundtrack is one of the few indisputable successes that the movie "Parcel" has.
The reviews of the experts, written in a positive way, are also noted by the outstanding plot monolith, which in the second part of the picture breaks up into three separate lines: fantastic Martian features, the Mateson plot and mystical elements. Unfortunately, according to leading filmmakers, the author managed to complete only one, the other two remained incomplete.
"Package" by Jesse Johnson
Jesse Johnson's action movie “Parcel” (2012) received not very happy reviews. Viewers noted that if you want to determine what to expect from the movie, you need to pay attention to casting and a group of creators. So, recognizing the actors who play the main roles in the project of little-known director Johnson and screenwriter Derek Colstad, it immediately becomes clear that there will be no special deep moral implication and philosophizing in the film. The fact is that Dolph Lundgren and Steve Austin have not been acting in high-quality, high-budget blockbusters for quite some time. The actors focused on Category B. projects. “Package” is a film whose reviews have identified the film as representative of a strong but low-budget brainchild of category B.
Plot
The plot narrative of the picture is indivisible into branches and simple enough. The main character, Tommy, nicknamed German, is a general professional: security guard, bouncer, and courier. On the confidential assignment of his boss, Tommy is obliged to deliver the parcel to one of the local criminal authorities. The deal is mutually beneficial: with his efforts, the German will pay off the debts of his bad brother. But, as it turned out, there are a lot of applicants for this premise, among them criminal elements of all stripes. So begins the deadly race for the ownership of the coveted premise - a game of survival.
Commonplace traditions
Such paintings as “Parcel”, reviews of film critics deserve to be mean. They are called simple and straightforward. Scenarios are monolithic, without special tricks and multi-paths. There is no moral subtext that the director is trying to convey to the audience through the actions of the central characters. The development of the storyline is understandable and predictable: a lot of shootings, spectacular fights, chases, sometimes ridiculous actions of heroes and a climax that was clear from the first minutes of timekeeping. In addition to the above, the action movie “Parcel” (2013), reviews of those watching this only confirm, it has weak special effects, medium-level cameraman work and a soundtrack standard for action pictures.
Cast
Actors who performed the roles of the main characters did not go beyond the usual roles. Critics were particularly picky when considering Steve Austin's game (the pseudonym Ice Block). Their verdict was categorical - according to experts, he can be called an actor with a stretch. He ran the whole film, fought with a stoneless face without emotion. Weak changes in Austin's facial expressions were observed only once in the scene, when the actor saw himself with a naked torso in the hospital. Basically, what can you expect from a former professional wrestler? His filmography includes about 20 paintings, the most significant are: “Detective Nash Bridges”, “The Expendables”.
The master of martial arts, the star of action movies from 1980-1990, Dolph Lundgren managed to get used to the role, demonstrate acting talent and earn more indulgent reviews from critics and enthusiastic fans. Against the background of his partner on the set of Steve, he looked in a favorable light, if you evaluate the dramatic talent. The actor’s return to The Expendables attracted the attention of filmmakers to his person, including Jesse Johnson, who invited Lundgren to the main role in his project. Those episodes in which Dolph dominated were named the best in the film “Parcel”.
The English actor and stuntman of Irish descent Darren Shahlawi in the role of one of the hunters for the ill-fated parcel was convincing. And the production fights with his participation were extremely realistic and spectacular, which is not surprising, since from the age of 7 Darren was seriously involved in karate, judo and other martial arts.