The Bag Man (2014)

This was not a great movie, but there was plenty of fun stuff going on. I laughed out loud a few times, and had fun almost the whole way. Not everyone will like it, sure, but I don't see how it is as bad as a lot of the reviews are saying, and I wonder if those people had mistaken expectations? Like they thought it would be tense and gritty, grim and threatening? But it's not--it's a left-field black comedy with some tight action moments and--yes--actual character development. Maybe you have to have the right kind of sense of humor to enjoy it--almost nothing in this movie is meant to be taken seriously, not even the weird romantic tension that develops, and certainly not the eventually revealed backstory that drives the plot. I would rather watch 10 quirky, off-beat, low-budget indie black comedies like this than 1 (imho) flat-footed, ham-fisted, self-serious big-effects-budget film like ... Skyfall.

Fmovies: That is the "german" title of the movie, which sees Cusack as a lovable bad guy. And while he is doing some despicable things, he also acts in a way that makes the audience care for him. Just the fact that it is Cusack playing that guy/character gives him some points in that direction. Only Paul Rudd might have had a more positive resonance from the audience (and it would have been fun to see him in a role like this).

The twists and turns of the movie are more or less predictable, but the movie is really nicely done. There is also a scene (a "clash" of some sorts, that you know is coming), with some really intense and good dialog (especially De Niros delivery). The rest is OK, with a leading lady that would bewitch almost any (straight) male.

I'm a pretty big DeNiro fan and basically only bought this movie because he was in it. Needless to say, I really regret my decision. The characters in this movie are never developed further than when they are first introduced and it is evident that the writers got tired of writing a TERRIBLE movie and just threw some twists in to tie up loose ends. Cusack's attempt at being a "BA action star" in this movie is a clear failure. The best performance in the movie comes from Crispin Glover, and that really isn't saying much. If I can just get one person to reconsider watching this movie, I'll feel as if I've done by job and possibly saved someone's life because this movie made me want to kill myself. I only gave it a 2/10 because there's a midget in the movie and the way some of the people die is pretty exciting.

DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE.

The Bag Man fmovies. I usually watch movies based on their high IMDb scores, but movies like "The Bag Man" are why I sometimes dip down into the 5's and 6's. At first I was surprised to see so many reviewers call it "boring", "bad" and "nonsensical", but then I realized that this film just isn't for everybody, but for some--like me--it's riveting. Almost the entire movie takes place during one night at a roadside hotel, where our protagonist, a contract killer (Cusack), is meant to go with a package and wait for pickup. Only everything and everyone around him seem to be set against him. The characters he meets and adventures he has there are fascinating, quirky, and surreal. The best way I can describe it is as a mix between "Identity", "Mulholland Dr.", and The Book of Genesis.

I think this movie has gotten so many bad reviews because it doesn't fit the mold. It defies expectations, and some people won't like that. But if you're looking for something different, something that can surprise you, watch "The Bag Man". And try to vanquish your expectations.

Special props to Crispin Glover for portraying the hilariously strange Ned. My favorite character!

Its physically and emotionally draining to see one of the greatest actors of all time succumb himself to such a bad streak of films this year... thats right, I'm talking about Robert De Niro. the Goodfella... the Raging Bull... Don Corleone...Al Capone... the list is endless. I can't wrap my mind around why he does such horrible films these days like The Bag Man, The Big Wedding, Last Vegas(Hangover on Viagra), Killing Season,Grudge Match. Little Fockers..etc. The man is 70 now and has only so many years left before he retires. Obviously people will always remember him by the earlier films, but I think he's more than capable of doing one last memorable film. As far as the Bag Man goes, the story was sloppy, acting was mediocre and thats because the script was bad not the actors, cinematography was a lot of dark lighting, and the music had that ominous CSI random guitar solo feel to it. I only ate half my popcorn and threw the rest away, I got too sick of looking at who and what was on the screen. I wish all of them actually wore bags on there heads, that might have saved the film. 3/10. sorry Robbie.

If you like films like Pulp Fiction or Reservoir Dogs than you'll love the Bag Man. Really good neo noir film with dark humor and a gritty, hip, edgy factor. John Cusack is great as "Jack" the hit-man assigned by Robert De Niro to look after a mysterious bag with unknown contents. Most of the film takes place at a seedy motel that's the perfect setting for an offbeat crime thriller like this. Very cool, and a lot of fun. Also, look for Rebecca Da Costa the film's mysterious heroine to become a big star. She's not only stunning, but also a very good actress. As a big fan of the mysterious Tarantino-esque films, I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a fun flick.