Red (2008)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Tired of P

  
  Directed by Tryvge Allister Diesen, Billy Goat Pictures, 2008. Starring Brian Cox, Tom Sizemore, Kyle Ganner and Amanda Plummer. Genre: Drama, Thriller Question: Are you woken up by your four legged friend? Their face is right in your face sniffing, licking and begging you to… More
  Directed by Tryvge Allister Diesen, Billy Goat Pictures, 2008. Starring Brian Cox, Tom Sizemore, Kyle Ganner and Amanda Plummer. Genre: Drama, Thriller Question: Are you woken up by your four legged friend? Their face is right in your face sniffing, licking and begging you to get up. No matter how much of a morning person you are not, it gives you the biggest smile every time, right? That is exactly the opening scene in the movie Red (not to be confused with Red starring Bruce Willis). I was grinning from ear to ear because I have two dogs that wake me up that way. And let me tell you, I am NOT a morning person but smile every time this happens - even it is 6:00am. So you are an animal lover. I got that. Now what would you do if someone killed your beloved animal right in front of you? I can tell you exactly what I would do but the police might come and put me in jail just for thinking it (What? I've seen Minority Report). Anyway, that was the impetus for what happens over the next 90 minutes or so in Red. Now if you have followed my reviews for a while now, you know I have favorite actors that I hunt down and find what they are in. About six months ago I discovered Brian Cox in two independent movies (The Good Heart and The Escapist) and really enjoyed his performances in them. Last night when I went on Netflix the site suggested a movie with Tom Sizemore since I had just watched one of his a few nights ago (The Last Lullaby). It was Red and I noticed it starred Brian Cox. I hit play immediately! I started smiling at the sight of the dog and his owner, however, within a few minutes I was bawling like a baby. I really try to not spoil any story for you on any film, but this story is about what one man does when teenagers shoot and kill his dog for no reason. This all happens within the first few minutes of the story, hence why I was crying. With that said, I am not going to tell you any more details about the story. The rest of Red chronicles the path of the man and what he simply wants from the teenage boys. Unfortunately, it spirals completely out of control. I will admit this was not my favorite movie of Mr. Cox although he was fantastic in it. Plus, there was one scene, a monologue he gives, where you witness brilliance. It was obvious to me that he was a classically trained theatre actor but then again I studied theatre in college. However, in this particular scene you will be in awe. I was. See this movie for that performance alone. As for the rest of the film it was a bit slow but it kept my interest. Everyone else performed admirably, although I had a feeling Mr. Sizemore wasn't at his best, health-wise, while making this film. You will recognize a lot of the actors in this movie but Brian Cox is the one to watch. My favorite part: Well, that should be obvious. My least favorite: That should be obvious, as well. Rating: R Length: 93 minutes Rating: 5 out of 10

• J P

  
  This movie is about an old man who goes fishing with his 14 year old best friend, Red (who is a dog). While they are fishing, three teenage boys attempt to rob him and end up killing his dog when they see he has no money on him. When the old man tries to seek justice for the murder of… More
  This movie is about an old man who goes fishing with his 14 year old best friend, Red (who is a dog). While they are fishing, three teenage boys attempt to rob him and end up killing his dog when they see he has no money on him. When the old man tries to seek justice for the murder of his beloved pet, he is told nothing can be done due to lack of evidence. The rest of the movie is about how the old man tries to get justice for his dog. I thought the acting in this movie was really good, but I didn't like the movie at all. The pacing of the movie was painfully slow, and there was a lot of dialogue. In one scene, the old man goes on a long tangent about his dark family history. He tells a really long story, and it is really REALLY boring. I mean what he says is interesting I guess, but I would've rather seen a flashback. It's a movie not a book. I expect movies to show me things, not just tell me. The movie starts off pretty good, but then it just spirals into an unrealistic shoot out. The old man's goal is simple. He wants the kids, who shot his dog then joked about it, in jail. He just wants them to learn their lesson. This becomes very hard when the kids' parents are stubborn and borderline psychopaths. When the parents *SPOILERS* turned crazy and tried to kill the old man for being persistent about seeking justice for his dog, the movie totally lost me. It was so strange and bizarre. All the parents needed to do was punish their son, but they did not. The old man was kind of creepy though. I mean he showed up at the people's houses and interrogated them. It was weird. The boy that killed his dog was a sociopath, and everyone knew that- it wasn't a secret. If the old man wanted to take the kid to court, he probably could have. I mean we see in the movie multiple occasions where the kid proves he's a total dick. The old man could've just gotten some witnesses to testify. The old man even had the shell of the bullet that came from the kid's gun (the same gun that killed the dog). No one else at the woods they were in saw the 3 boys there and could testify? ALSO, *SPOILER* when the kid was about to attack the old man with a baseball bat, a police officer was watching the ENTIRE thing! Why didn't the police officer intervene and arrest the kid? What kind of town is this where sociopaths run rampantly through the streets and crazy old men stalk young boys? Okay...I digressed...a lot.... The main thing I hated about this movie was the overall dullness and anticlimactic events. It builds little to no suspense throughout the entire movie. Then at the very end everyone goes apeshit on each other's asses. It came out of nowhere and there was no motivation behind their actions. The movie acted like it wanted to be realistic, then it goes and does something like that. Totally unbelievable and really dumb. The acting was really convincing though for most of the characters. I just wish their was less dialogue. It was just SO incredibly boring. Hardly anything happened until the very last 20-30 minutes. It just seemed like the movie was finding any reason to avoid justice for the dog, you know? Just when they seem close, something happens that hinders their efforts. It seemed stupid because something could've been done, but the movie ignored that and made things overly complicated.

• Lanning :

  
  This is Brian Cox's other <i>Red</i>. Stumbled across this and I thought wow, this is the best acting Cox has ever done. For every act of cruelty against every animal ever, this is for the justice that needs to be done. Sometimes there is justice. <p> The… More
  This is Brian Cox's other <i>Red</i>. Stumbled across this and I thought wow, this is the best acting Cox has ever done. For every act of cruelty against every animal ever, this is for the justice that needs to be done. Sometimes there is justice. <p> The only real problem for me here was that I wondered how much back-story is too much. Would this movie have worked without all the time spent fleshing out the story of Cox's wife and children? I think so. And it would have made for a much tighter story. Still, I really think this is Cox at his best. I wonder what his next <i>Red</i> movie will be? : )

• Jani H

  
  "I learned one thing during the war: that you fight with whatever you've got, whatever you can lay your hands on... and you never stop. The minute you do, that's the minute the world rolls right over you." 'Red' is a small budget indie film. When I hear… More
  "I learned one thing during the war: that you fight with whatever you've got, whatever you can lay your hands on... and you never stop. The minute you do, that's the minute the world rolls right over you." 'Red' is a small budget indie film. When I hear these words, I instantly come to think of something tragic or otherwise something less funny. I was right. Brian Cox plays Avery Ludlow, a 60+ year old, ex-military guy who has lost his entire family in a very tragic way. All he has left is his beloved dog named Red, a present from his late wife when he turned 50. He spends his days fishing on a lake. One day, a bunch of teenagers come to him acting all... teenaged. You know what I mean. Cocky and all. Danny is the worst of the group and ends up shooting old Red in front of Avery. All this because he hadn't got more than 20 bucks in his wallet and probably because he just wanted to. Avery finds out who the kids are and goes to the McCormack's residence. There, Mr. McCormack believes his son more than Avery. But he is not a guy who can just leave a thing like this behind. He seeks to get some justice and is ready to go as far as possible to have it. First of all, Brian Cox gives a good performance as Avery Ludlow. The acting isn't the problem here, the rest of the main cast, especially the young actors Noel Fisher, Kyle Gallner and Shiloh Fernandez make themselves known. Tom Sizemore is a shadow of his glory days ('Saving Private Ryan') but what I've wanted to see more of was Robert Englund. He plays the part of the father to one of the boys. His role is very minimal but I enjoyed to see him act. He is more that Freddy Krueger in my opinion. Avery is a sympathetic character. A war veteran, a widower. But he just doesn't get it. There is a time when to stop, but I guess he had nothing to lose. The key ending scene tells it all. Earlier on, when Gallner's character, the one kid who wanted to beg for forgiveness, says something like: "You just don't get it.", Avery should've realized that the kids didn't have it easy in their lives either. Mr. McCormack is one hell of a bastard and Avery should've realized that problems with the kids parenting and at home have made them what they are. Dysfunctional. Kids make mistakes but still nothing justifies the thing they did. The climax of 'Red' was clear to me from the moment when Avery confronted the kids at their house. After this, when it's time for some remorse or self-reproach, there isn't any. The problem with 'Red' is that it just leaves you cold. A tragic thing happens, followed by other tragic events. And then it's over but it seems as if no one learned anything about it all. But Avery is the good guy and the audience is on his side, right? I read that 'Red' had some major difficulties in early development. The original director was fired and replaced. I don't know what effects this had on the film but it's never a good sign. But in overall, 'Red' is worth a look, but I really can't recommend this to just any movie buff. You really have to have heart for indie movies. If you do, you may find 'Red' as a keeper.

• Lady D

  
  Another great and natural performance by the very talented Brian Cox. You don?t have to ba an animal lover to feel for this film, with the phase of so many vigilante films and the separate phase of violent youth, this one combines the two and brings us a man on a mission. A past… More
  Another great and natural performance by the very talented Brian Cox. You don?t have to ba an animal lover to feel for this film, with the phase of so many vigilante films and the separate phase of violent youth, this one combines the two and brings us a man on a mission. A past story emerges to prove this man has nothing to lose and a lesson to teach.

• familiar s

  
  I was tempted to watch "Red" after being influenced by several commendable reviews from known critics. Now, having watched it, the tag-line of the movie keeps popping up time & again in my head: THEY SHOULD HAVE TOLD THE TRUTH.

• Curtis L

  
  What's better than Brian Cox? How about a movie starring Brian Cox where he plays a goodly old man just trying to get a little justice? Mix in some kid shootings and a lengthy monolog about children burning and you've got a winner!

• A.D. V

  
  A pretty standard revenge drama although Brian Cox's genuinely sympathetic character as well as his outstanding performance set this one apart.

• Roy G

  
  Cox's performance is more than enough to make the film worthwhile.

• Bruce B

  
  This is about as good as it gets for actor Brian Cox, no one could have played this part any better. If you ever owned a dog for more then a year you need to see this movie. It also show's what?s wrong with society today, where parents do not discipline there children or teens… More
  This is about as good as it gets for actor Brian Cox, no one could have played this part any better. If you ever owned a dog for more then a year you need to see this movie. It also show's what?s wrong with society today, where parents do not discipline there children or teens but defend them no matter what they have done. Oh its worth the 5 stars and its in the collection. See it Today.

• Drew S

  
  Decent, underplayed revenge drama with some surprisingly quiet themes, but really nothing too outstanding. That whole "monstrous indulged child/permissive parent" device is nothing new, but this at least superimposes it with an interesting protagonist and unfamiliar setting.… More
  Decent, underplayed revenge drama with some surprisingly quiet themes, but really nothing too outstanding. That whole "monstrous indulged child/permissive parent" device is nothing new, but this at least superimposes it with an interesting protagonist and unfamiliar setting. I've never read the novel, but from what I gather, Jack Ketchum is just kind of a schlocky horror writer. This movie tries to claw above that precipice from time to time, but the lurid and warped ending sells it out. It's not that Red is really subtle, but Lucky McKee has at least made it quiet, which can fool some people into assuming subtlety. Most of the morality/ideology of the film is signposted pretty blatantly by noble ol' Avery, the haunted old hero bereft of dog. If there's one thing worth watching Red for, it's Brian Cox's beyond the call performance, one where he aptly sells a broken down soul who lost his only friend. He gets a little amusingly wild-eyed in the end, but then again, so does the rest of the film; I don't hold him to that. The highlight of Red is a long, aching monologue done in one take, where a stunning amount of balance is struck between what the man is saying and how he is saying it. Brian Cox really deserves more visibility.

• Luke B

  
  This isn't the revenge story it's portrayed to be. It's soooooooooo much more. Brian Cox doesn't go completely bad arse murderous after his dog is killed. He is calm and simply looks for an apology. It escalates as he pursues all avenues to obtain justice only to… More
  This isn't the revenge story it's portrayed to be. It's soooooooooo much more. Brian Cox doesn't go completely bad arse murderous after his dog is killed. He is calm and simply looks for an apology. It escalates as he pursues all avenues to obtain justice only to find that there is none for the murder of an animal. Had it just been Cox torturing those responsible then we would not have the sympathy that we we do in this film. All Cox has is his dog and he plays the part of a simple but content man with such understated brilliance that it pretty much makes the film. The film begins to enrage and it's clear to understand where Cox is coming from, something even he regrets. The supporting cast are just as excellent with Sizemore Slimey but understandably protective over his sons, Fisher as a cowardly bastard with anger management issues and Gallner as the good son who lacks confidence. The direction takes some excellent choices, with Cox confessing his families own dark past played out as a very slow zoom in on his face and the real battle being in conversations between the leads. It's a spectacular film from Trygve Allister Diesen and Lucky McKee who with this and May has shown a real emotional and expert eye when it comes to dealing with familiar genres.

• Brian D

  
  Wow what a great movie.Brian Cox is just amazing and proves he is a very underated star.He brings life and sorrow to his role and is every bit convining.It's got to be one of my best movies this year.

• Walter M

  
  In "Red," Avery Ludlow(Brian Cox), a widower, veteran and owner of a general store in a small town, has planned on a quiet day of fishing with his dog Red. He is rudely interrupted by a trio of youths, Danny(Noel Fisher), Harold(Kyle Gallner) and Pete(Shiloh Fernandez). To… More
  In "Red," Avery Ludlow(Brian Cox), a widower, veteran and owner of a general store in a small town, has planned on a quiet day of fishing with his dog Red. He is rudely interrupted by a trio of youths, Danny(Noel Fisher), Harold(Kyle Gallner) and Pete(Shiloh Fernandez). To make matters worse, Danny tries to shake down Avery amd then shoots Red, anyway. In response, Avery tells everything to Danny and Harold's father(Tom Sizemore), a local magnate, but the boys deny everything and no action results. Avery has no better luck on the other side of the tracks with Pete's parents(Robert Englund &amp; Amanda Plummer). With the help of a lawyer friend(Richard Riehle), he tries to formally press charges but the case is dismissed. Things are finally looking up when a friendly reporter(Kim Dickens) shows up. In the surprisingly low-key "Red," Brian Cox manages to give a tremendously lived-in performance as a man who eschews the path of violent revenge, instead seeking justice. Along these same lines, the movie advocates respect for one's elders, especially veterans, which only properly happens when parents do a good job of raising their children which connects back to Avery's past.

• Stephen E

  
  Red doesn't start off too promising, but slowly gains in intensity until its haunting finale. Trust me; this film is well worth the wait. Brian Cox does a great job. He plays the character of Ludlow with such subtlety. It's such a wonder to watch as the loss of his dog… More
  Red doesn't start off too promising, but slowly gains in intensity until its haunting finale. Trust me; this film is well worth the wait. Brian Cox does a great job. He plays the character of Ludlow with such subtlety. It's such a wonder to watch as the loss of his dog transforms him into a different character, and all he wants is the truth. But there are some people out there that are so stubborn that they're willing to risk much more than it would cost if they would just give in and admit their wrongdoings. See, the thing about Red is that the real message isn't in the character's actions; it's in the things that they say or the things that they stand for. It does sort of lose plausibility towards the end, but I guess I just liked it. I like the way independent films feel. Not indie films that are sappy and pathetic, but indie films like The Station Agent or Leaves of Grass. One scene that I immensely enjoyed was the scene where Cox confesses to Kim Dickens about his past. The way the camera slowly zooms in on his face in that darkly-lit room---- It was just mesmerizing. Don't let the plot synopsis fool you. This film is about much more than it seems.

• Stephen E

  
  "Red" is both an endearing drama and an intense thriller; and what it lacks in elegance, it makes up for with pure and genuine heart.

• Barry L

  
  Cant beleive I said I didnt want to see this. Brian Cox stars as the old soldier wanting to live out the rest of his life in peace until some redneck upstart kills Red, his faithful pooch...you ncan guess what happens next. Great film, great revenge movie and still sentimental enough… More
  Cant beleive I said I didnt want to see this. Brian Cox stars as the old soldier wanting to live out the rest of his life in peace until some redneck upstart kills Red, his faithful pooch...you ncan guess what happens next. Great film, great revenge movie and still sentimental enough to bring a tear.

• Eduardo C

  
  Co-directed by Lucky McKee and Trygve Diesen (which is slang for McKee got fired for reasons unknown and shooting was completed by someone else....good god will this guy EVER catch a break?) , "Red" couldn't be any more different from the "Death Wish" clone it… More
  Co-directed by Lucky McKee and Trygve Diesen (which is slang for McKee got fired for reasons unknown and shooting was completed by someone else....good god will this guy EVER catch a break?) , "Red" couldn't be any more different from the "Death Wish" clone it has been unfairly advertised as being. To my surprise, the catalyzing event happens very early on in the film. We never get to spend much time with Red, nor do we get much insight into his relationship with his caregiver. Instead, the film very quickly becomes the story of an old man's pursuit for moral justice. He has no desire whatsoever to hurt anyone, he simply wants the perpetrators to apologize and make amends. He isn't even particularly angry so much as he is wounded, hurt. He tries to do the right thing each step of the way, opting to talk to the boys' parents first and foremost, but as each of his attempts is met with ridicule and scorn he is left with precious few courses of action to choose from. Beaten, demoralized and with nowhere to turn he eventually stakes everything on one final, desperate nonviolent plea which he hopes will shock the boys into seeing the error of their ways. The way this scene plays out and everything that follows, for the next 20 minutes, however, are probably the film's biggest weaknesses. The screenplay is decidedly uneven, combining some strong writing with lazy resources (relying heavily on monologues, including one by Brian Cox that, however well delivered, brings the film to a screeching standstill, giving useless characters like the reporter much bigger roles than they deserve, falling back on genre clichés on occasion to appeal to a target audience) and never more so than during the last 20 minutes. The scenes of violence, however minimalist, are completely out of sorts with the rest of the movie. The epilogue, despite one small, revealing exchange, is far too neat and circular, seeking to provide artificial and unnecessary closure. Brian Cox delivers a nuanced, understated performance, easily one of his best. There is a sadness in his eyes, and he never fully allows himself to grieve or even express just how much Red meant to him. A single flash of rage, perfectly timed and chosen by Cox at a specific point in the film, allows us a glimpse into the depths of his pain. The fact it is the only such glimpse we get reveals multitudes about the character. It is unquestionably his film and he carries it beautifully. The rest of the cast is a mixed bag. Tom Sizemore was well cast, but the fact his character, who has an extremely interesting background that is only mentioned in passing, is never developed might be the film's biggest missed opportunity. Everyone else is strong at best and serviceable at worst. While this isn't 100% Lucky McKee (what percentage he is responsible for I have no idea), he is 3 for 3 thus far. Each of his features have been notable and, most importantly, completely different from one another. Despite his affinity and talent for the genre (and the fact it would very likely get him more contracts), McKee has yet to repeat himself. His position as perhaps the most interesting up and coming genre director only solidifies with each new endeavor and I wish studios would just get out of his way once and for all and let the man work. *note* The film is peppered with staple actors from both horror and independent cinema, many of them favorites of mine. I gleefully counted Robert Englund, Amanda Plummer, Kim Dickens, Kyle Gallner (who was so good in Veronica Mars), and an unrecognizable Ashley Lawrence, but no Angela Bettis :( .

• ken j

  
  When a reclusive man wants nothing more then to be left alone and enjoy his remaining years by himself with all but the companionship of his dog things dont always go as planned cause one day as this man is relaxing by the river three troublesome teens stumble upon him and his dog… More
  When a reclusive man wants nothing more then to be left alone and enjoy his remaining years by himself with all but the companionship of his dog things dont always go as planned cause one day as this man is relaxing by the river three troublesome teens stumble upon him and his dog from there things go from bad to worse as they end up killing his dog for no other reason then they could and now with the law unwilling to help and the boy's father just as bad as the son is the man decides to take the law into his own hands and make these kids confess to what they have done. The man in question is played by Brian Cox who gives just the perfect subtle performance here there isnt much i can say about this movie except that i liked it alot and can easily recommend it to others who enjoy movies like this.

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