Get Carter (released in 2000) - Starring Sylvester Stallone, Miranda Richardson, Rachael Leigh Cook, Alan Cumming, Mickey Rourke, Michael Caine

Get Carter is a 2000 film directed by Stephen Kay; it is a remake of the 1971 film by the same name, starring Michael Caine. Both films drew inspiration from the book Jack’s Return Home by the British author Ted Lewis. Michael Caine is a part of this film as well. The 2000 version stars Sylvester Stallone in the main lead as a mob enforcer named Jack Carter who returns to his hometown when he gets the sad news of his brother’s death in an accident. At the funeral he can feel that his presence is not welcome, as Gloria and Doreen Carter - his sister in law and niece, tell him in no uncertain terms that Ritchie would’ve appreciated his being around when he was alive, to them Jack is just ‘a picture on the piano’. He also bumps into a stranger, a lady who does not disclose her identity to him.
His years in the mob have given him ample of experience and he has a hunch that Ritchie’s ‘accident’ was anything but. Doreen confides to Jack that although the authorities claim that her father died in an accident caused by his drinking - she says he never drank, at least he wouldn’t get dead drunk and drive around town in a storm! On the other hand, Jack’s boss Les Fletcher (the voice of Tom Sizemore) wants him back in Vegas; he is upset that Carter is missing from ‘work’. Con McCarty (John C. McGinley) tells Carter that things are getting difficult as the news of Jack’s affair with the boss’s wife Audrey (Gretchen Mol) are making the social circuit.
In a bid to get to the mystery surrounding Richard’s death, Jack stops by Cliff Brumby’s (Michael Caine) office. Cliff is a loan shark and owner of the club where Ritchie worked for five years as manager until his untimely death. Cliff asks Jack if he knew about Ritchie and Geraldine’s affair – she is the woman from the funeral. Carter tails her to her workplace, where she is with Cyrus Paice (Mickey Rourke) - who is an acquaintance from the past. Carter is suspicious of Paice, for whom Geraldine works.




As he tails Paice, he is led to Jeremy Kinnear (Alan Cumming), a well established business man who owns a computer company, which is worth ‘gazillions’. Jeremy leads a dual existence, playing to the gallery of stockholders with his pin stripes, and having some risqué fun in his free time - thanks to Cyrus Paice and his escort service. After his interaction with Jack, Jeremy is freaking out with someone over the phone, telling the person he wants nothing to do with the big brother and wants him gone.
As Jack delves deeper into the case, he finds out that Cyrus is infact running well oiled machinery that breeds pornography - his niece Doreen is one of the girls implicated and sexually abused by Paice, even Geraldine is roped in to track girls, who are later drugged and raped, and filmed. Given that Richard and Geraldine were lovers, out of loyalty and friendship, she hands over the disc with the proof of what has been happening - it was when Ritchie decided to go to the police that he was killed.
Now Carter sets out to take revenge for his brother's death, and there are a few killings that happen as a result. Although the film received no critical appreciation and did not make too much money either, yet it was welcomed by audiences who lapped up Stallone’s sharply dressed, mafia image. The soundtrack and visuals added to the thrill of the viewing experience and feel of the film.

Victory - Movie about soccer match and escape during Nazi rule - released in 1981 - Starring Sylvester Stallone, Michael Cane and Pele

Based on the Hungarian drama Two Half Times in Hell by Zoltan Fabri, Escape to Victory (or simply 'Victory' in North America), was released in 1981, starring Sylvester Stallone, Michael Cane, Max Von Sydow and Daniel Massey and was directed by John Huston. However, the USP of the film were the football players who starred in it, including the legend Pele. A rare film with an international ensemble cast.

The story is about the Allied POWs in a German war camp. Major Karl von Steiner (Max Von Sydow) is the camp commander, a former member of the German National Football team. Nazi big wigs order the Major to set up an exhibition match between the prisoners and cream of the German team, in Paris. Captain John Colby (Michael Caine) is the man coaching the POWs; he was part of the West Ham United, before the war broke out. The team is unaware that they being used as pawns in a Nazi Propaganda bid.

Captain Robert Hatch (Sylvester Stallone) insists that the opportunity should be utilized to plan an escape, though Colby insists that the plan would be doomed from the start, taking precious lives. Initially Colby had not included Hatch in the team, and after much pleading, he gets to be a part of it - as a trainer. In on the plan are a bunch of Brit officers who encourage the whole deal, even the French Resistance is out to help them. Colby’s superiors weigh in on his decision, using their influence to change his mind - succeeding in the end.

Hatch makes a risky attempt to escape first, he contacts the Resistance, knowing full well that they will not refuse; the French chalk out an escape route, through tunnels below the Colombes Stadium in Paris, which will lead to the showers in the locker rooms.

Robert Hatch will have to allow himself to be recaptured, so that once he’s back in the war camp, he can share the details with the others. As luck would have it, Robert is put into solitary confinement, this ruins his chances of sharing the details with his fellow prisoners; Colby rises to the occasion and tells Steiner that they need Hatch back (he is also the stand-in goalkeeper) in the team, since the first goalkeeper in the lineup has fractured his arm - the poor man has to undergo a forced fracture to prove the story right.

When the day of the match arrives, a group led by Robert is ready to escape during half time, but the others are taken up by the spirit of the moment, and insist that they finish the match and then leave, even though they are trailing by three goals. Although the bias towards the Germans and prejudice towards the Allies is evident, for all to see, yet the Allied players persevere, and the match ends in a draw. The penalty kick goal by the POWs is disqualified, and yet they manage to win the game. In the confusion following the game -  all the men escape.

However in reality, the 11 Ukrainian members who played the game during the Second World War had multiple games and defeated the Germans in all of them, and were recaptured, sent to camps where 4 of them died. These are the words inscribed on the memorial for the eleven footballers on whose lives the story of the film Escape to Victory is based:

“For our beautiful presence

They fell in a fight…

For ages your glory won’t fade,

The fearless hero-athletes.”

Remarkable movie highlighting the spirit of mankind to achieve the seemingly impossible. Must watch, classic!

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (released in 1988) - a comedy starring greats such as Michael Caine and Steve Martin

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels stars Michael Caine, Steve Martin and Glenne Headley in the lead roles. Directed by Frank Oz this comedy film is loosely adapted from the 1964 movie, Bed Time Story.
Lawrence Jamieson is a suave con artist who preys on wealthy women on the French Riviera under the benevolent protection of the inspector Andre, who takes a cut from the spoils. But soon their trade suffers loses due to the activities of another con called The Jackal. Lawrence assumes another small time crook Freddy to be The Jackal and offers to tutor him. Freddy soon finds himself as the sidekick who does not achieve anything from the con. Soon irritated by Lawrence's behavior Freddy plans to strike out on his own and Lawrence proposes the wager. Lawrence informs him that the town was too small to hold both of them and thus the first one to con 50000 dollars off their victim would get the opportunity to stay and Freddy agrees to the wager.
Fredy and Lawrence zero in on Janet Colgate, an airhead heiress. Freddy disguises himself as a paraplegic sailor on a wheel chair who desperately needs 50000 dollars for his treatment. Janet falls for this line and assures him of that amount. Lawrence enters the plot as the psychiatrist who can provide this wonder cure. Soon begins the game of one one-upmanship between Freddy and Lawrence to get one up on Janet's sympathies.



I find these to be one of the real comic tracks of all times, the scenes of the cure. You have the uptight Lawrence playing the psychiatrist who almost tortures Freddy who tries hard to swallow the pain. Its hard keep yourself from laughing hard as Lawrence stamps and prods and hits the supposedly unfeeling legs of Freddy. Anytime you feel low just go to these priceless scenes to give you the instant upliftment.
Lawrence discovers that Janet is not wealthy and she in-fact has to pool all her resources to pay for the treatment. Impressed by her good heart, the gallant Lawrence calls of the bet. Freddy cheekily agrees and wagers a change. He proposes that whoever manages to bed Janet first will remain in the town and Lawrence reluctantly agrees to it. Freddy then manipulates some English sailors to capture Lawrence and goes to Janet and informs her about the miracle cure of love. But Lawrence frees himself from the sailors, and informs them of Freddy's intentions and they capture Freddy for their unruly party. Freddy again reaches Janet and they kiss and undress to make love. Lawrence accepts his defeat with grace and waits for Freddy in his house, but is soon confronted by the tearful Janet who informs him that Freddy had robbed her of 50000 dollars. A gallant Lawrence gives her the money and puts her on the plane and informs Andre who soon captures Freddy. As Lawrence admonishes Fredy of his behavior, he is informed by the raving ranting Freddy that they have been taken by a ride by Janet who is really the Jackal intent on conning them.
As they assess their loss at Lawrence's villa, Janet makes in an appearance as Paula the Realtor, leading a pack of wealthy retirees and they all join hands to find new prey. This movie is one of the funniest movies of the century, sure to lift you mood. All the three actors blow the socks of your feet with their flawless performances and are the favorite of the critics. The audience also gave them their thumbs up as Dirty Rotten Scoundrels became one of the highest grosser of 1988.

Too Late the Hero (released in 1970) - A war movie, starring Michael Caine, and Henry Fonda

Too Late the Hero is a 1970 Anglo-American war film directed by Robert Aldrich, and starring Michael Caine, Henry Fonda, Cliff Robertson, Ken Takakura, Denholm Elliott, Ian Bannen, Lance Percival, Ronald Fraser, Harry Andrews and Percy Herbert.
Sam Lawson is an American Lieutenant who works as a Japanese language expert during the world war two. He has always avoided direct combat duty. But as luck could have it he is assigned to the British Infantry unit in the New Hebrides for combat duty
The unit is commanded by Colonel Thompson, with a duty of observing the movements of the Japanese for the Allied forces. The British unit is situated in the middle of a large field near a jungle and the other side of the jungle the Japanese keep watch. The observation and communications post of the Japanese give information about the movements of the ships in the Pacific. The Japanese radio operator gives an “All is well” signal every evening and the Allies need the help of Lawson to fake this signal. An American Naval convoy is attempting for a passage and it needs to buy 24 hours time to sail undetected to reach the war zone with supplies. The British commando unit of Lawson is assigned to destroy this observation post and emit a fake signal to confuse the Japanese.



Captain Hornsby an uppity British officer leads a patrol to destroy the Japanese observation post. They ambush a Japanese patrol and three of them, Currie, Connelly and Riddle are killed. Tosh, a cynical medic and others blames Hornsby's poor leadership for the killings. Campbell cuts a Japanese officers finger and steals his ring. One of the sergeant majors, Johnstone, is fatally wounded, is left behind by Hornsby and is then killed by the Japanese.
Scott the radio operator ruins the radio and this forces Hornsby to personally enter the Japanese post and capture the radio to sent in the signal. But Lawson feels that it is a suicidal attempt and try to stop them from doing it. In the resulting melee the Japanese men attack and kill Hornsby and Scott. Lawson being the senior ranking officer, leads the men to the jungle to safety. Japanese Major Yamaguchi tries to stop them from getting back to the camp and reporting about the airfield and arsenal present. They put up loud speakers and try to terrorize them to surrender. But Lawson and Tosh see through heir plan and ask the men to march forward to camp. But Campbell who is scared is in favor of surrender,manipulates the others to run away. But they are caught and Campbell is executed as the stolen ring is found on him. The Japanese use other soldiers as bargaining chips and ask for Lawson and Tosh to surrender. But both of them do not trust Yamaguchi's surrender plans and plan to make run for the camp. As they run zig zag through the fire of bullets both of them are hit. Tosh is wounded but drags him-selves to the camp and gives information about the Japanese arsenal. He also informs the others about the brave deeds of Lawson and walks back to claim back his body.
This movie is a little slow paced, but is heavily loaded with emotions which brings the viewer to realize the worth of soldiers who die for others.