Art of Revenge (2003)

Fantastic!

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

SPOILERS:I put this movie on, not expecting much and had no idea what I was getting into. Man what a twisted movie! Art of Revenge is a really strange movie, an indie film, which I had the feeling it was within the first five minutes and then after looking it up on line, found that it was so. The movie isn't a thriller-no Violence, or horror etc etc. What it is is The Grifters meets She devil meets about half a dozen other movies. But somehow the movie retains some originality. It's more then just a standard revenge tale, It has that nourish component and more "twists" then a roller coaster. It's a pretty twisted movie but completely absorbing.The movie walks a thin line between tawdry and really really sleazy and though there are a few times when it gets into a bit of the latter, this remains for the most part, an interesting movie. There's a diabolical quality to "Tuesday" the mysterious grifter hired to do the seducing and conquering. The movie and dialog are quiet, and stealthy and there's a lot bubbling beneath the surface with all these characters. one never really knows what's gonna happen from moment to moment. It is a strange and dark movie that always stays interesting.The "twists" in this are many and the movie manages to surprise not just once but several times which is a major plus. The ending is a bit murky and though much of it is similar to other movies, it still retained a bit of cleverness. If I had one problem with this, it is the fact that there are a few things that make little-actually-no sense whatsoever. The final confrontation between Izzy, Juliette and Matt is a surprise but one wonders how it could be known exactly what Izzy would do. I would have liked an ending that was a bit more realistic and cohesive. It was to muddled.In spite of that, I'd give this a 7, probably more if not for the last twenty minutes or so. It had some really interesting components though in terms of revenge movies this makes others, such as She devil, look like snow white or something, it has no comedic elements at all. If one's in the mood for twisted, you've found it here in this strange quiet tale of revenge and duplicity. Nowhere near a 10 but certainly grabs your attention and keeps it. I'd give it a 7 of 10.

The movie was insane! Great story line, a very dangerous movie for bitter women to see.... be ware men! It was a good movie, but the actiing wasn't all that great. Stephan Jenkins, (lead singer/songwriter for the band Third Eye Blind) is not the best actor, but he admits it, and he actually he did a better job acting as the movie progressed. He did a good job for his first time acting. And come on ladies... you have to see this movie because of the fact Stephan Jenkins is a babe! Woa! So overall it was a good movie, kept your attention, it's an independent film and I enjoyed it! I recommend it to the viewing audience.

I wasn't expecting much renting this movie. I thought I was in for a dumbass B Movie flick. But my girlfriend really wanted to check out Stephen Jenkins' (from Third Eye Blind) performance.Yea, it kind of blows when you have to watch a film that you wouldn't normally give a second glance to. But every once in a while, however, something surprises you.Such is the case with ART OF REVENGE, a thriller-ish drama from Gator Home Entertainment, distributed by the good folks at mti Home Video. It?s not so much that the movie looked dull, it just didn?t appear to be the kind of flick I normally gravitate too, like horror, Sci-fi, bathroom humor... you know, the more mature stuff. This despite the fact that the cover art suggests knife murders and lesbian love affairs.Having more in common with a Lifetime Network tele-film than an erotic flavored thriller, ART OF REVENGE ended up not having any nudity, lesbian love scenes, or knifings, but heck if I didn?t enjoy the flick anyway. Now I?m not saying that ART OF REVENGE is this fantastic movie that?s going to change the way you look at cinema for the rest of your life. It is, however, a simple little flick that manages to entertain and perhaps even work as a catharsis for those who have had their love spurned. Realistically, I doubt that everything could come together as perfectly as it does in this film, but hey, this is just escapism entertainment. Just relax and go with it. Joyce Hyser (HOLLYWOOD KNIGHTS) plays Laura, a successful business woman who?s been carrying her husband Matt (Stephan Jenkins from the band, Third Eye Blind) on her coat tails for quite a few years. Now at long last, his dreams of being a big time architect are about to become reality. For Laura, this means that they can finally have a baby together. For Matt, this means he?ll be making good money and be able to have his choice of California debutantes. Not only does he not need Laura?s support anymore, he wants her gone so that he can pursue the lifestyle he?s always secretly fantasized about, that of the wealthy single stud. Needless to say, Laura isn?t too happy about getting kicked to the roadside, especially after years of nurturing him during his starving artist days. Laura doesn?t get mad though, she just gets even.Enter the beautiful Tuesday, played by Nichole Hiltz (AUSTIN POWERS IN GOLDMEMBER). Blond hair. Frosty blue eyes. Mysterious. Classy. She?s even interested in the same artists and poets that Matt admires. Could Matt have just found his idea woman? His perfect match? Or is she just a little bit too perfect? And how is it that Laura has gone from bitter ex-wife to supportive best friend? Well, if you read the back of the video box then I?m probably not spoiling anything by telling you that Laura and Tuesday just might be working together to teach Matt a lesson that he will never forget. The question is, since Tuesday is basically a wild card, can even Laura be sure that Tuesday is not going to pull a double cross on her as well? How far can you trust someone who?s in the business of deception? I did a have a few problems with ART OF REVENGE, mostly concerning elements of the story. For example, one of casualties in Laura?s revenge plot is her best friend Izzy?s marriage. Although it?s clear that Izzy?s husband Ben, played by David DeLuise ("Bug" from THIRD ROCK FROM THE SUN), deserves what he gets, I never understood Laura?s total lack of empathy when it comes to destroying the marriage of her best friend. As cold and calculating as Laura seems, you can still relate to her being the underdog and root for her. However, when she stabs her friend in the back , figuratively speaking, with out any kind of provocation other than it was a necessary loss to achieve the bigger goal, Laura goes from being the poster girl for scorned women to just a plain old hateful bitch. Once this happens, the movie is left with no redeeming characters, anti heroes or otherwise, for the audience to get behind.My second complaint comes right about the time when Izzy, played by Tembi Locke (STEEL), realizes her marriage is over. We see Tuesday entering Izzy and Ben?s house to plant some incriminating evidence, then we cut to Izzy crying, explaining how she found the evidence and told Ben that their marriage was over. Not only are we completely cheated out of seeing the confrontation between Izzy and Ben, but the jump forward in time creates momentary confusion as well. The problem isn?t so much that it?s difficult to put two and two together and figure out what just happened, I just feel that when you have to stop to figure it out, even if it only takes a second or two, then the director (in this case, Simon Gornick) has failed to keep you involved in the world he has just created. It?s not unlike having the show interrupted with a commercial break. Not really that big of a deal I guess, but I just thought that I would mention it. It?s either this or write a whole paragraph about how cute I think actress Nichole Hiltz is. Hello nurse!Anyway, ART OF REVENGE is a pretty decent little film that a guy can watch with his wife or girlfriend, unless he?s thinking about dumping her soon, then he might want to go with something more along the lines of FRIED GREEN TOMATOES instead. Fans of the rock band, Third Eye Blind, will want to check this out to get their Stephan Jenkins fix. He turns in a pretty good performance as self centered Matt. Not unlike Bon Jovi, I can see his acting becoming more polished and moving up to bigger films if he continues to pursue acting.

I didn't expect much when I picked up `Art of Revenge' because, frankly, I hadn't heard much or anything about it. A terrific surprise. This stylishly sophisticated `unknown' film probably didn't have a big budget - the `ad' campaign, or lack thereof being the indication. But first time director Simon Gornick has created a true sleeper film, that looks like much more than it must have cost, and has `LA-Noir' infused in every scene. Despite its hyperbolic, salacious cover - this isn't some sleazy, mindless hack job filled with naked bimbos with big knives. Instead it's a skillfully put together small film for which the director and the director of photography deserve tremendous credit. It looks like a Vilmos Zsigmond film (think `The Two Jakes') with beautifully lit scenes that capture the edgy essence of a sun drenched LA - in which menace lies behind a landscape that is deceptively friendly and cheerful. The script doesn't rush its slowly revealed story, which for action junkies may be disappointing. But for mystery fans, and filmgoers who don't need monsters jumping out from bushes every few minutes or so, who appreciate a film that respects its own characters - and the audiences' intelligence - AOR builds with a self assured, relaxed fluidity that mirrors the casual, careless lives of LA's less likeable citizens. Director Gornick, his cast, and his crew have created a film that lures you in - just as the characters manipulate each other, with the lure of beauty - and then show a much tougher, dangerous reality underneath the exteriors.