MovieChat Forums > Triple 9 (2016) Discussion > Really Good Film!!

Really Good Film!!

posted 8 years ago by TheAnimalMother
48 replies | jump to latest

Most people seem to be missing the boat in my view. This is not a character piece, it's an ensemble piece. The story here is more important, and more the star than any one character. The back story is also told in a way that is perhaps too complex for some viewers, especially those with ADD or similar issues. The story is somewhat complex and the film moves very fast. Go check this out and don't forget to put on your seat belt. It's quite a good film, I really enjoyed it. So did my girlfriend. She said it wasn't super great, but it was good and that she was entertained all the way through. Better than most movies we go and see in fact is another comment she made about it. Too bad people are not going to see this film more, because most crime action film lovers will likely enjoy it.

If you liked Street Kings, Eastern Promises and End of Watch, and even Sicario from last year, check this out for sure. I don't think that this film is better than any of those films exactly, but it's a similar sort of film in ways to those.

My body's a cage, it's been used and abused...and I...LIKE IT!!

[–] Rlproper 8 years ago

Just saw it today. I *beep* loved it

[–] HarryBeavers 8 years ago

I agree the film is pretty awesome. Not sure why idiots are whining about this one. Go watch another ultra predictable super hero film you tits. This flick was gritty and real feeling, it's too much harsh reality for some I suppose.

If you like fun wholesome films, check out The Hateful Eight

[–] Eddie_Fingers 8 years ago

Not sure why idiots are whining about this one. Go watch another ultra predictable super hero film you tits.

That's funny because Triple 9 is actually right up the alley of superhero/comic book movie fans. Anyone who likes shallow, plot-driven films like The Avengers and Transformers would likely very much enjoy Triple 9. For those of us who enjoy character-driven films and depth in our films, Triple 9 is one you'll want to skip.

"This life's hard, man, but it's harder if you're stupid!"

[–] HarryBeavers 8 years ago

B.S. fingers, there is very little Triple 9 has in common with that kind of *beep*

If you like fun wholesome films, check out The Hateful Eight

[–] Eddie_Fingers 8 years ago

B.S. fingers

No BS here. My statement is correct.

there is very little Triple 9 has in common with that kind of *beep*

Incorrect. Triple 9 is precisely the same kind of shallow, lowbrow, popcorn entertainment as the plot-driven comic book movies and blockbusters people with low IQs love. Sorry to burst your bubble, kiddo.

"This life's hard, man, but it's harder if you're stupid!"

[–] Icecutter 8 years ago

Triple 9 was more like a David Ayer film

[–] HarryBeavers 8 years ago

All you do is talk out your ass Fingers. Aren't you embarrassed by your own words? You should be. There's a good bit more to this film than your average super hero flick. The fact that you don't see that just shows that you really are a full blown retard at times as Mother has previously pointed out. And if anyone acts like kids on this board, that would be you and that qgrLp moron.

If you like fun wholesome films, check out The Hateful Eight

[–] Eddie_Fingers 8 years ago

Aren't you embarrassed by your own words?

Why would I be? Are you embarrassed by the fact that you keep replying to every message that I write on this board? Because it's pretty pathetic. You are way too obsessed with me and my opinions.

There's a good bit more to this film than your average super hero flick.

 It's so adorable that you think that, kiddo. Go watch Batman v Superman again, douchebag.

"This life's hard, man, but it's harder if you're stupid!"

[–] reflectionsofeternity 8 years ago

So I guess to you 2001: A Space Odyssey is also for low IQ people who like comic book movies? Just because a film is more interested in the plot, than any one character, does not make the story lowbrow. I'm not even sure how you come to that conclusion, it certainly wasn't through the use of logic, that much is for certain. I've seen some really dumb people on this site, but you may take the cake Eddie_Fingers.

[–] Eddie_Fingers 8 years ago

So I guess to you 2001: A Space Odyssey is also for low IQ people who like comic book movies?

2001 is an art film. Triple 9 is a crime/heist film. You do understand the difference, don't you?

"This life's hard, man, but it's harder if you're stupid!"

[–] reflectionsofeternity 8 years ago

You have no REAL argument do you?

[–] Eddie_Fingers 8 years ago

You have no REAL argument do you?

This statement only shows that you have no argument, otherwise you would have presented a relevant one to the very clear argument I presented in the previous post, that argument being that only an idiot would compare Triple 9 and superhero movies to 2001. Just admit you can't argue against me and you're full of sh!t. Or just shut the hell up. Either one works for me.

"This life's hard, man, but it's harder if you're stupid!"

[–] reflectionsofeternity 8 years ago

The only thing shown here is that you're a socially and intellectually challenged angry child of some sort.

[–] Eddie_Fingers 8 years ago

So, again, you, in fact, have no argument?

"This life's hard, man, but it's harder if you're stupid!"

[–] reflectionsofeternity 8 years ago

That's what I said you pathetic troll child. You can't even come up with your own argument.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] emokillss 8 years ago

Not sure why idiots are whining about this one. Go watch another ultra predictable super hero film you tits.

this has the actually predictable clich ending

[–] TrumpFiredHerLMAO 8 years ago

No it wasn't are you 12? Lmao lost to Risen

[–] TheAnimalMother 8 years ago

Box office means little to nothing. You lost to common sense.

My body's a cage, it's been used and abused...and I...LIKE IT!!

[–] mjack421 8 years ago

I didn't love it, but liked it. Would totally buy on Blu Ray and I hope there are some good features.

moviemanjackson.com

[–] TheAnimalMother 8 years ago

I didn't love it either, but I definitely enjoyed it. It was good, even really good, but not great.

My body's a cage, it's been used and abused...and I...LIKE IT!!

[–] umme4uke 8 years ago

Umm, what if you really liked End of Watch but thought the others you compare this to were just average?

I was expecting Street Kings, Sicario and Eastern Promises to be so much better than they were, none made me emote for the cast/characters as much as End of Watch.

I suspect, reading some reviews, that Triple 9 has this problem. The trailer made it look oh so good - but the characters are not fully fleshed out in a way that allows the viewer to totally empathize with them and therefore the narrative of the film loses a certain connection with it's audience.

Still interested to see it but it has been shuffled from cinema to rent/download for me now.

[–] TheAnimalMother 8 years ago

I liked Triple 9 but it's definitely not as good as End Of Watch. In my view, the film has little to do with character empathy. Though it's hard I'd say not to empathize with these cops to some degree who are dealing with these kinds of brutal criminals. I'm not sure what kind of human being wouldn't have some empathy for them. It didn't lose connection with me because I felt the story was gritty and somewhat realistic. I did like the character played by Woody the most, his character was decent. A few characters were interesting, but more true to life I'd say than the overdone Hollywood norm we are use to. Character development is not bad, but it's not the main focus either. The impossibility of dealing with these kinds of ruthlessly brutal and unforgiving criminals I feel is the main focus. In that way it actually reminded me of End Of Watch.

My body's a cage, it's been used and abused...and I...LIKE IT!!

[–] Scorpio_Sewer_Moon 8 years ago

it's a piece alright, a piece of crap.

I couldn't imagine a better fate than a long and lustrous winter! 

[–] resmat-1 8 years ago

A bunch of characters even you yourself imply we're not meant to care much about, all participate in a scheme whose most dramatic story element (the killing of a cop) never comes to pass, before each dying in a way that seems all too predicable by the time their deaths approach. And finally, to top all this off, the story doesn't explore any specific interesting ideas or themes -- it remains nothing but a superficial journey through a corrupt world.

As for one of your points, I'm not sure what you mean when you say that, while the film isn't about the characters, there's complexity to be found in the rushed-over bits of backstory we get on them. Could you elaborate on this complexity?

[–] TheAnimalMother 8 years ago

No, I didn't really imply that exactly. To me you just saw the film from such a different perspective than I did. I don't even agree on what you felt was suppose to be the most dramatic element. Not everyone is going to enjoy the same things. I said "somewhat complex", it's not a David Lynch film. The main reason I even say that is because many people on here these days seem to miss very obvious things in films. It's complex for some as I alluded to fairly clearly, but no, it's not overall a very complex film in my view. However there are a lot of elements here in this film and the story moves fast, too fast for some.

My body's a cage, it's been used and abused...and I...LIKE IT!!

[–] resmat-1 8 years ago

I don't even agree on what you felt was suppose to be the most dramatic element.

Just to clarify, I think the killing of a cop had the potential to be the film's most dramatic element. It would've made the criminals' downfalls more satisfying and it may also have forced to film to explore, in some way, the topical issue of violence against law enforcement.

I said "somewhat complex", it's not a David Lynch film.

I was referring to the part where you said: "The back story is also told in a way that is perhaps too complex for some viewers". But anyway, I don't think that the film needed to aspire to the depth of a Lynch film. It's just that some depth, any depth, would've been welcome.

You say the film has some complexity, so I have to ask: what, in your opinion, is it all about? Another poster said that it's about how "absolute power corrupts absolutely" but, from what I can remember, the film -- to the extent that it explores that theme at all -- only does so in a vague and uninteresting way.

[–] TheAnimalMother 8 years ago

I'm not sure why you're looking for more when there is already a solid story and decent characters here. Personally I don't want a story where I root for the good guys and cheer the downfall of the bad guys as you say. I'm not that brainwashed and I've seen that film fifty million times already. That is such a trained way of thinking and looking at things anyway, and most importantly it's so far from reality.

There is plenty of depth in this film, enough to chew on anyway. To me the film shows more than anything how easy it really is to extort people in high authority/powerful positions, and that combating extremely ruthless criminals that are willing to go the distance is basically impossible. In this world, good doesn't often win over evil. Bottom line, we can not trust the powers that be in the world. It's true to, too true for most people to even face or admit. Extortion is actually estimated by the C.I.A. to be by far the most profitable crime in the world, and according to them it ranks as such practically every single year. Even more than drugs, guns or sex.

Personally I think this film deserves a rating somewhere around 7.2/10 or somewhere around there. It's very entertaining and interesting if you just sit back and watch it. Unfortunately many modern people overthink while they watch films or go in with preconceived expectations that take away from their experience.

You mention the downfall of the criminals in this film, but really in the end the biggest criminal,(The mob boss.) is still half way out of jail. From what we know about him, he still certainly seems to have the means to do what he is setting out to do. He still has money and goons and his wife's hot sister and son and who knows what else all under his thumb.

My body's a cage, it's been used and abused...and I...LIKE IT!!

[–] resmat-1 8 years ago

I'm not sure why you're looking for more when there is already a solid story and decent characters here.

I assumed it was obvious that I don't agree with you about there being that solid of a story.

Personally I don't want a story where I root for the good guys and cheer the downfall of the bad guys as you say.

All I said is that one possible way to make this film -- which already seems to me like a piece of pulp entertainment -- more satisfying would have been to have the criminals go through with the cop killing and thus make us more eager to see them caught or killed. My argument isn't that a film needs to make you "root for the good guys and cheer the downfall of the bad guys" or even vice versa. My argument is that it's problematic when -- as Triple 9 did for me -- a film leaves you feeling apathetic.

If Triple 9 isn't going to give me anyone to root for, it needs style or thematic depth to compensate. As far as style is concerned, though, Triple 9 goes all in on its flat 'gritty' look, it has no exceptional set-pieces, and its script is humourless. The most -- maybe even only -- part I found suspenseful was the raid where Chris saves Marcus' life, and that's because I started to wonder whether the Triple 9 was about to happen early.

To me the film shows more than anything how easy it really is to extort people in high authority/powerful positions, and that combating extremely ruthless criminals that are willing to go the distance is basically impossible.

I know you'll argue that it was showing how easy it is to corrupt people but I just found the criminals' motivations -- money, freedom, Michael's son -- were either brushed over or shoehorned in. Similarly, all the characters either face no moral dilemma (Michael, Rodriguez) or are written in such a way that the outcome of their struggle is predictable (Gabe) or isn't given as much focus as it could've been (Marcus). Unlike you, I just can't take the absence of a well-rounded exploration of what's motivating these people and see it as somehow being an exploration of the ease with which people are extorted.

Unfortunately many modern people overthink while they watch films or go in with preconceived expectations that take away from their experience.

I will admit that I was guilty of expecting more from a John Hillcoat film.

[–] TheAnimalMother 8 years ago

I'm the one that said I don't agree with your perspective of the film from the very start, so why now state this back to me in reverse? I maintain that your focus was not fully on the actual film, and rather focused too much on what you were expecting or wanting. I recommend you check out this film once more sometime in the future, but watch it without thinking, think about the film after it's over. As the Buddha once said, "Think less, observe more.".

If you think the film lacks depth, I can't help you, please, help yourself. Realisim is the style, and that in itself is extremely rare these days and is greatly appreciated in a film by yours truly. Hillcoat has said that he just wanted to give a very realistic and gritty view of our current day streets with this film, and he seems to be very happy with it if you watch or read his interviews. I feel it did just that as well. Honestly, I think this is Hillcoat's best film yet by quite a large margin, mainly because it feels so real. It doesn't feel like a movie in many places, it feels real. Have you ever been to Atlanta? This film feels REAL! That is a major artistic feat!!

According to Hillcoat's own words, he loved the script. In fact this was a much sought after script in Hollywood for some time from what I've read. In my view the moral dilemmas and motivations of each character becomes extremely obvious and is totally authentic feeling, although this is definitely not overly dwelled upon, (And thankfully so, because I don't want an overly melodramatic crime thriller, nor do I need obvious things overly explained to me.).

As I said in my first post to you, I really don't understand your perspective. The tension of the film is grand. It's amazing how many people are overly focused on what the film didn't do, but then there are so many others on this board that claim this is a tension filled edge of your seat film from start to finish,(Like myself.).
I really think it just has to do with people's expectations going in, that can rob someone of getting into the obvious tension if you're looking for something too specific. The mind will focus on what is in the mind, that is why all films should be watched with a clear mind. Magicians have tricked human beings for eons using this exact kind of knowledge, and scientists have now well explained how easily the focus of the mind can obstruct the absolutely obvious,(Look it up!). Of course Kurosawa's Rashomon even explored this topic decades and decades ago. Whenever I have expectations for a film, which is sometimes inevitable, I always make sure to clear my mind of them all before watching something. This allows us to see the film for what it really is, rather than what we think we'd like to see. Okay, now stop posting to me because we obviously saw totally different films, even though it was the same film, lol. Sorry, but I really don't have time for huge conversations with strangers of topics that are of such little importance, such as an action film. Or if you must reply, let's at least keep things brief. Thank you!

My body's a cage, it's been used and abused...and I...LIKE IT!!

[–] resmat-1 8 years ago

I honestly believe that I did have a proper experience of the film. I wasn't really a victim of my own anticipation, I didn't think too much while watching it, and I'm giving it thought now afterwards.

I will, however, re-watch the film at some point since one of my favourite critics, Jeffrey M. Anderson, has just given it a very positive review and seems to think many of the same things as you.

http://www.combustiblecelluloid.com/2016/triple_nine.shtml

In my view the moral dilemmas and motivations of each character becomes extremely obvious and is totally authentic feeling, although this is definitely not overly dwelled upon

I think none of the characters had sufficiently interesting dramatic arcs. Since you've not named any you thought were good and since you want to wrap things up, I'll just leave it at that.

(And thankfully so, because I don't want an overly melodramatic crime thriller, nor do I need obvious things overly explained to me.)

You keep implying that because I don't exactly want what Triple 9 offers, I must instead want it to offer the most extreme form of something else. To clarify again, I'm not saying that the only way Triple 9 would be better is if it was a melodrama.

I really don't have time for huge conversations with strangers of topics that are of such little importance, such as an action film.

It's interesting that you'd call Triple 9 an action film.

[–] Eddie_Fingers 8 years ago

The story here is more important, and more the star than any one character.

Yup, and that is exactly the problem with Triple 9. It uses the characters merely as a tool through which to explore the plot instead of using the plot as a tool through which to explore the characters. This will always lead to a shallow, dull film because it's plot-driven, not character-driven. Plot-driven movies are more for the superhero movie/comic book movie lovers and the ADD crowd, so I wouldn't be surprised if most of the people who liked Triple 9 were fans of films like The Avengers and Transformers.

The back story is also told in a way that is perhaps too complex for some viewers

Lol, what backstory? About how Michael got hooked up with the Russian mob? That was complex to you?

The story is somewhat complex

Complex how? It seemed very easy to follow for me. There was plenty of poorly-written/placed exposition to keep viewers in the loop.

"This life's hard, man, but it's harder if you're stupid!"

[–] HarryBeavers 8 years ago

@Eddie_Fingers

Honestly, from reading a bunch of your posts on IMDb, it seems to me that you must be one of the most one dimensional and shallow people I've seen on here. An over trained baboon I take it?

If you like fun wholesome films, check out The Hateful Eight