Review of Blood Ties (2014) by Nikolayg — 23 May 2015

Ignore the mediocre ratings. This film is a gem. I'm in my mid-50s so I remember the 70s well. Unlike other period films that exaggerate the styles and attitudes of the 1970s, Blood Ties simply gets the 70s spot on correct.

What a relief. The story is a complex interweaving of dramas involving a cop, his criminal brother, and the women in their lives. Those who think this movie are slow are looking for an action flick, which this is not.

If you think Indiana Jones is a normally paced movie, then you might think this is slow. This is a drama that bothers to explore character, so that when the characters do things you know why. Rather than a series of nearly random set pieces as you get in crazy action flicks, here you get an actual story that is driven by the needs and desires of the characters who inhabit the movie.

Imagine that. I think Zoe Saldana is the best actress in Hollywood and the sexiest to boot; it is a thrill to see her in something other than a super hero, action, or sci-fi flick. There is action in this of course.

It's a violent film, but it is essentially a drama. Clive Owen, too, a great actor who doesn't get enough good roles. This film was a real treat. If you like films that maintain a tight story while at the same time embracing a broad cast of characters and their backgrounds, this movie is for you.

I wish it were a TV series so I could watch it every week for years.