No Good Deed

Plot synopsis:
In Tennessee, a prisoner Colin Evans (Idris Elba) is in a police van on the way to court with two policemen. It is revealed that Colin has been in prison for over 5 years for manslaughter. He pleas to the court to be granted parole, saying that he is a changed person. The court denies parole, claiming that he is not trustworthy enough. On the way back to prison, a frustrated Colin deceives the policemen in the car and murders both mercilessly, and escapes with the van.
At the same time, in Atlanta, Terri Granger (Taraji P. Henson) is home with her young children. Her best friend Meg (Leslie Bibb), a young, carefree woman suggests that Terri relax and not stress herself with her children and husband. Meg knows that Terri's relationship with her husband has taken a rough toll on her. Hence, Meg tells her not to worry and that she will visit her at night for a 'girls' night' to cheer Terri up. Terri's husband Jeffrey (Henry Simmons) arrives home just long enough to pack his things and visit his father, leaving her quite abruptly with their two children.
Colin stalks his ex-fiancée, Alexis (Kate del Castillo), and witnesses her intimacy with another man. He follows her home and they get into a violent argument, resulting in him murdering her in his fury. On the journey back, a terrible storm causes Colin to lose control of his car and it crashes into a tree. As he seeks help, he notices that there is only one house with the lights on, which happens to be Terri's. Later, Colin asks Terri for her help in getting a tow truck. She invites him inside after he uses her phone where he can take shelter from the storm as they wait for the tow truck.
Meg is shocked to see Colin. The three then talk and share glasses of wine. When Terri leaves momentarily to comfort her baby, Meg and Colin are left alone. Colin asks to be excused for a smoke break. Meg follows him into the garage and he offers her a cigarette, which she accepts. Meg asks him if he is having an affair with Terri. Colin shrugs, leading Meg to assume that he is. Later she criticizes him, saying that Terri would never do such a thing without telling her best friend. Her criticisms infuriate Colin and he strikes her dead with a shovel, leaving her dead body on the garage floor.
Terri returns to the hall after putting her baby to bed and is surprised to see that Meg is not there. Colin tells Terri that Meg left, but Terri is overcome by suspicion, especially when she sees Meg's umbrella in the stand. Terri realizes that Colin is not the nice person that he appeared to be. Alarmed, she rushes to the kitchen to call the police, only to find out that Colin has disconnected all the wires. Realizing that her and her children's lives are in danger, she rushes to Ryan's bedroom, only to find Colin playing with her. As they walk out of Ryan's bedroom, Terri hits him with a fire extinguisher. However, he manages to fight her back by aiming a gun at her. Terri is forced to obey him (including taking her clothes off in his presence). In a brief moment where she strikes him unconscious, she manages to flee to her bedroom and dial 911. Colin recovers and finds her in the bedroom. He yanks the phone out of her hand just as she finishes her call. She begs him to leave, but Colin forces her to take the children and get into her vehicle. He forces Terri to drive. While walking out of the garage, Terri sees Meg's dead body on the floor.
Tearfully, Terri asks him why he is doing this, to which Colin replies that she will see for herself soon. He refuses to tell her their destination. As they pass a police car on the road, Terri flashes her headlights when she thinks Colin is not looking, hoping to catch their attention. The police car forces them to pull over and a young policeman interrogates them. He requests that Terri step out of the vehicle, which she does. He asks her if she is all right, to which she is forced to reluctantly agree because Colin is alone with her children in the vehicle. The policeman senses her reluctance, but before he can do anything, Colin steps out of the car and shoots him dead. He shoves Terri back into the vehicle and they resume their journey.
Colin makes Terri drive to a house with the children. Unbeknown to Terri, this was actually the home of Colin's ex-fiancée, Alexis. She panics when she sees Alexis' dead body in the bedroom. As she tries to find the first-aid kit in the house, a tree knocked over by the storm outside hits Terri's car, causing the alarm to go off. Worried that the noise will attract attention, Colin binds her to the bed while he goes to check on the car. As Colin exits the house, Alexis' phone rings. Terri manages to free herself from being bound to answer Alexis' ringing phone, and the call turns out to be from Jeffrey, who is trying to meet Alexis. It is only then that Terri realizes that he was not out of town with his father after all and has been having an affair with Alexis. Terri also realizes that the encounter with Colin was not random, and that Colin wants revenge on Jeffrey because of his affair with Alexis. Terri tells her surprised husband the truth and has him call 911. She misleads Colin into thinking that they have escaped and hides her children. When Colin discovers her, she attacks Colin once more, this time grabbing his gun and shooting him until he falls out of a window, dead.
The police arrive, along with Jeffery, whom Terri punches in the face and does not forgive. Sometime later, leaves him. The movie ends with Terri moving into a new house with her children.

Tags: violence, neo noir, murder

Review:
No good deed based on a short story by Dashiell Hammett is kind of movies that have many elements and themes of a classic film no-ire but it is not exactly one of them.
This kind of story which has little physical action and is mainly based on suspenses needs good acting, that fortunately this movie does not lack it.
The plot: A cop doing a favor for a friend ends up unwillingly getting involved in a heist.No Good Deed is an interesting neo-noir/heist movie.
Still, it's fun to watch the requisite backstabbing, double-crosses, and con games as they play out.If you're looking for a slick, fast-paced thriller, you might end up being a bit bored or disappointed.
The tracks lead a house where he's abducted by a group of delinquents (Stellan Skarsgard, Milla Jovovich, Doug Hutchinson) about to pull off a bank robbery .
As Jack finds himself being held hostage while the nasty bandits decide what to do with him .The picture is developed on its first part on the sitting room when our protagonist stumbles upon a bizarre gang of criminals , for that reason is a little tiring ; a bit later on , there starts the action and when the movie is amusing and entertaining .
While a cop(Jackson in good form, and yes, he does get to do one cool speech in this) is out searching for a teenager that will never be anything other than a MacGuffin, he stumbles upon a band of quirky criminals looking to steal money from a bank.
The femme fatale Erin(a *stunning* Jovovich), Tyrone, the brains of the operation(Skarsgård, threatening without even needing to be armed), Hoop, the slow-witted thief, and the Quarre's, a racist WW2 veteran pilot and his home-maker wife.
The thing is, that while "No good deed" contains some of the elements required to become a good movie, it has another ones that make it stay behind.The film tries to hard with the plot twists and it's just a way to waste the time recycling until they can finally get to the ending.
What doesn't work is the sexual tension between the girl and (I forgot to mention it) the main guy; a cop, trying to make room for a love story, relating them both as the most important characters.Bob Rafelson manages to keep us interested with his quick movements in a slow paced film.
Some obvious revelations that are not even revelations are samples of the weakness the film has (you know what the password is when they're trying to figure it out); that together with the lame edition bring this movie down.This time they chose a very attractive young woman for the part of the girl.
In the list of the stereotyped characters, the stupid guy Hoop is played coldly by Doug Hutchison; that guy who I didn't even like in "The Green Mile" and seems to be related to Kevin Spacey because of the way he looks.
In a hero character away from clichés, Sam Jackson's Jack Friar brings the actor in top action form since his days in "The long kiss goodnight", "One eight seven" and most recently, "Shaft".
Two lovable Grace Zabriskie (Mrs. Quarre) and Joss Ackland (Mr. Quarre), and an underused Jonathan Higgins (David) complete the supporting cast.The movie succeeds, however, in the aspects we expect the least.
It explores personality aspects not many other films of this type explore, like the intense peace the main characters find in music; forgetting about everything elseWhen the movie begins, Jack is playing the cello; and we comprehend that's the only thing that eases him down.
"No good Deed", as the DVD is entitled, tells of an off duty cop who stumbles on a house full of bad guys while looking for a lost girl and becomes their prisoner while the messy plot unfolds.
Jackson plays a diabetic cop and the cello while Jovovich plays a femme fatale and the piano and their tenuous relationship becomes the only worthy thing developed by the film.
Bob Rafelson's heyday may had been the 1970s but he can still direct actors who want to perform in a film rather than make movie.In this modern take on a Dashiell Hammett story shot like low budget pulpish crime noir.
It stars Samuel L Jackson as an off duty cop looking for a lost girl as a favour and he stumbles into a house full of strange people planning a robbery and is held captive.Stellan Skarsgard is the suave leader of this motley group, whilst Milla Jovovich is the femme fatale who is playing people off one another but also acting against her will as she longs to escape from Skarsgard.Jackson who is diabetic and likes playing the cello bonds with Jovovich who gives him insulin and she is also a talented piano player.However the aftermath of the robbery does not go according to plan and there are double crosses aplenty whilst Jackson needs to escape his captors.This is a film with a disparate group of characters who are caricatures, such as a dumb hothead, an elderly couple.
It has good plotting, there is also a lot of character development helped by strong acting.This is not a fast paced thriller but can be a rewarding film..
Having said what I think mattered (and just so I leave out any chance of misinterpretation: the film is BAD), I would recommend it to those who really want to see lame stories and maybe learn something out of them.
I'm going to highlight just a couple of them - one was, to me, a huge problem with the story; the second was just something that bugged me personally because it was just so absolutely stupid on the part of whoever came up with it.The major issue for me was that this particular gang of thieves didn't strike me as having the intellectual wattage to successfully steal $100 from a convenience store; never mind $10 million from a major bank.
Then there's the leader himself, Tyrone (Stellan Skarsgaard) who's the bright light of the group I guess but who still is quite willing to leave his lady friend Erin (Milla Jovovich) (whom he met when she was an aspiring musician in Russia) alone with Jack the cop (Samuel L.
Now for the personal irritant.As the movie comes to an end, Tyrone, Erin and Jack approach the Canadian border.
Good acting, crappy plot, sexy Milla Jovovich.
Jackson, Milla Jovovich and the rest display fairly good acting throughout the entirety of the movie, but it seems almost as if the story was written on the fly.
On a positive note (at least for us guys) Milla Jovovich is particularly sexy in this movie in her wardrobe and brief Stockholm-syndrome-fling with Jackson.
The best part of this movie, is Milla's backside.The movie starts with a premise that Samuel's character is out looking for a runaway girl.
Jackson is the protagonist, but he's tied to a chair for 2/3's of the movie!Then there's the absurd robbery by an apparently blind man (in clear glasses, so you can see his eyes move and react), and his cohort, and evil little blonde-haired troll, who's NEVER accosted, not once, while walking directly into the power room of the bank.
Mr. officer, I think, might have had a trick up his sleeve to elude her and get out of the house at that point.Bad movie, bad plot, bad characters, the kind of movie that's 97 minutes long and you'd swear you've been watching it for 4 hours.
As in most film noir movies, like the "Big Sleep",  there are story holes occasionally, but the acting, tension, dark humor and fast pace, keep you interested  always.
If you like dark movies with tough minded actors, this will not disapoint you.This movie reminds you of so many good films that Bogart and Bacall made.
The idea of the kind policeman, Jack Friar, trying to investigate something for a neighbor, brings him into a situation that will ensnare him, as he discovers the people in the house are planning a caper and take him prisoner.The acting is interesting in general.
His scene with Erin, played with gusto by Milla Jovovich, brings a sensuality to the screen that adds another dimension to the story.
The plot, with a small number of characters, could as well have come from a play as a Hammett story.
Milla is beautiful and looks great and she does her best as does Sam Jackson but I don't think anything can save this snooze fest.
Samuel L Jackson makes this film.He shows, me anyway, that he is an accomplished and versatile actor, and Stellan Skarsgard again proves that he is the most under rated actor in Hollywood.This is a gem of a film, made by the actors.The plot, was in truth a bit on the thin side, but the quality of the actors shone through, and made it what it is.I have been a fan of Jackson for years, and this film has proved to me that he is an actor of rare quality, and it shows through here big-time.Skarsgard was good, as always, as was Milla Jovovich, and Joss Ackland was also excellent.A very good film, a bit of a twist in the tale, though not a big a twist as 'No Way Out' for example, But it keeps you guessing.Well worth seeing, and I highly recommend it.A solid 8/10,.
Jackson to play Bogart and Milla Jojovich to play Bacall, and you've got one heck of an entertaining little movie.
I think Milla Jovovich is a better actress than she gets credit for.Locked up in a house he accidentally went to by mistake, Samuel Jackson's character hit the very bad lottery and his run in with this group of people almost costs him his life.Another heist movie, no huge surprises.However, the action is decent, the acting is good and the story is fun.
It was filmed well and the script was good.I wouldn't say rush out and rent this movie but if you are bored on a rainy day, go for it..
Fans of the hard-boiled crime thriller are sorely under-served these days, but here we have a Hammett story adapted for the screen and directed by the always trustworthy Bob Rafelson.
& Mrs Quarre; a sadistic deranged guy, Hoop (Doug Hutchison); and the gorgeous manipulative Russian piano player girlfriend of Tyrone, Erin (Milla Jovovich).
'The House on Turk Street' is almost a good film-noir: it has beautiful atmosphere, with a stylistic but weak direction.
This film is based on a Dashiell Hammett short story "The House On Turk Street".
I usually moan of not enough characterisation in a film but here, most of the cast has a distinctive character to portray.You have Samuel L Jackson portraying policeman Jack Friar who plays the cello to relax.
Jackson gives a decent performance of a man in trouble, he's scared as well as curious, trying to figure out what is happening.Milla Jovovich is the proverbial gangster's moll, Erin, who is used to being used and abused by the gangs boss, Tyrone.
Ackland does a great Grumpy Old Man and Zabriskie portrays a mother-like quality in concern to the gang.With these six characters in close proximity for most of the film, their actions and counteractions are just too much for the runtime, 1 hour 43 minutes, of the movie, to the point where it appears messy and rushed; even more so, when more twists to the tale start to be revealed.
On the whole, director Bob Rafelson does a decent job, there are quite a few nice shots, I particularly like the scene where Jack and Erin play the piano and the cello.
So if you want to see a Dashiell Hammett story in film; if you like bank heist movies; or anybody in the cast; then this film is worth at least one viewing...
The acting was crappy the only thing this movie had going for it is that Samuel Jackson was in it thats it.
Milla Jovovich is nice to look at and does a good job with her portrayal of the complex Erin.
i will begin commenting this picture by pointing out that i m a big fan of S.L.Jackson!but to my disappointment this film was not what i expected...the plot begins with great interest but it loses it across the movie.Samuel and Mila(Jovovic)are quite pathetic i could say and especially Samuel is not the performer we all know and admire!!the whole idea of the film is tricky but they didn't handle it the best way they could....frankly,even though someone with this plot should had some anticipation about the next scene,i have to admit i was not anxious at all what so whatever.nevertheless,the picture has an element at the end that satisfied me but of course you will have to see it to understand what i mean :) in conclusion,did not regret watching this,but certainly disappointed and expected more from the narrators,directors,and performers(especially Sam!).but then again the actors maybe couldn't perform better because of the script.i mean maybe they couldn't do any better because the role itself didn't leave them plenty of leeway...so my vote is 5 i'm afraid...that's all folks!!.
Jackson it's the only good acting on this movie.
Talented cast, director, screenwriter update good 1920s Hammett short story into full-length film.
Boasting a stellar cast including Samuel L Jackson, Stellan Skasgaard and Milla Jovovich it is highly suspenseful with a cracking script.
'No Good Deed' as the DVD of the film was titled here is an average adaptation of a short story of the 'noire' classic Dashiel Hammet.
He is held hostage, and gets to know Erin (Milla Jovovich) who happens to be a former virtuoso pianist from Russia (she really is from Russia, I wonder if she really plays?).Stellan Skarsgård as Tyrone is the boss and mastermind.
Jackson) is a police detective who gets held hostage, the criminals who have him hostage are in the process of going to rob a bank, while they're out - one of the members of the group "Erin" (Milla Jovovich) is told to watch "Jack".The majority of this movie is about the chemistry between "Jack" and "Erin", the overall film is slow-paced and doesn't go anywhere, when it does seem to have more to the story line the movie ends.The main focus is on who "Erin" really is as a person, she acts like she is into "Jack", but "Jack" (being a police detective, who can suss people out) isn't sure whether "Erin" is really into him or if she's just trying to manipulate him, she knows that they'll have to let him go eventually and she needs to make sure that she doesn't get arrested.The last part of the movie from when they eventually leave the house and get in the car is the most interesting, the very end scene is actually a clever part of the film, it is a kind of plot twist, you genuinely don't expect it to play out like it does.If you're looking for something to watch that doesn't require much thinking or if you're looking for something to just be on in the background while you're taking a nap, then you should check this movie out..
I didn't think much of this cheap, B-movie thriller which takes a story by famed pulp writer Dashiell Hammett as its inspiration.
We get Joss Ackland and Stellan Skarsgard slumming it as the old timers, Doug Hutchison reprising his psycho schtick from THE GREEN MILE, and Milla Jovovich going through the motions as the supposed alluring femme fatale.
His hostage film THE NEGOTIATOR was ten times better.The most criminal thing about NO GOOD DEED isn't the robberies carried out by the protagonists but the fact that it's boring.
The cast looked good, particularly Samuel L Jackson, Milla Jovovich, Stellan Skarsgard, Doug Hutchison and Joss Ackland.
Samuel L Jackson plays a cello loving police detective named Jack Friar who is also a diabetic.
When the investigation leads to a house which the missing daughter may be residing, Friar is kidnapped and taken hostage by a group of bandits led by Tyrone (Stellan Skarsgard), his lover Erin (Milla Jovovich), the psychotic but dim-witted Hoop (Doug Hutchison) and an elderly man named Thomas (Joss Ackland) who is the owner of the house along with his wife.Bob Rafelson, who was once a promising director with Five Easy Pieces (1970) and The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981), is responsible for this abysmal effort.
thumbs up does not equal a good movie, and vice-versa.The story is worth a remake.I don,t know what was missing, maybe she finds the picture and conceals it.
Jackson (character Jack Friar) is believable, though not one of his better movies.
Jackson would let his good name be associated with such a poor quality movie..
I'm willing to accept that the original short story might be impossible to film, or might make only a 40-minute movie.
And the ending isn't nearly as cliche as I would expect from that era.Samuel L Jackson delivers a worthy performance as Jack, adding his signature personality to the role while still maintaining the spirit of the character.Milla is good looking as usual, and like all her other movies, gets naked for a minute.
But in the end it never really comes to a boil.Milla Jovovich as Erin does a good job of playing a femme fatale.
It's not that he'sreally good at giving a layered performance, but as his character resorts to some pretty sadistic acts of violence, he makes up for the blandness of Jackson and Hutchison's dumb psycho.
Jackson, Stellan Starsgard, Doug Hutchinson and Milla Jovovich...
Being a hopeless romantic, I really enjoyed the scene that I describe below.Possibly A SpoilerWhen Milla Jovovich's character goes to Sam Jackson's apartment and finds his cello, and brings it back, then plays piano to his cello...and then, on his word, him playing the cello, while she followed his hands, well, that was worth the rest of the movie for me.