The Bag Man

Everyone in America is so used to the ordinary that every times something stands out it is considered taboo. There's nothing wrong with this movie. Maybe it has its particular audience, but the film is competent and succeeds to entertain. I just saw it a couple of hours ago and am still under the influence. There's a specific atmosphere in this movie, so dark and interesting, the characters are weird, well-developed, there's a constant feeling of suspense, I liked it a lot. The production design and art direction are extraordinary. If you enjoy the visuals, you must see this film. I don't know how to explain, but there's something original in this film. It grabs you and takes you to another place, it's almost tangible. I don't see why some people are so harsh on it. It's not an adopted screenplay or a movie that claims to be based on true events - why would anyone judge it so much? It's an adventure story, it may or may not be believable - who cares? If you want a film that gives you food for thought you probably shouldn't be looking for it in the action thriller section... For an action thriller it is a fantastic piece of entertainment. I would recommend. You may disagree.

I usually watch movies based on their high IMDb scores, but movies like "The Bag Man" are why I sometimes dip down into the 5's and 6's. At first I was surprised to see so many reviewers call it "boring", "bad" and "nonsensical", but then I realized that this film just isn't for everybody, but for some--like me--it's riveting. Almost the entire movie takes place during one night at a roadside hotel, where our protagonist, a contract killer (Cusack), is meant to go with a package and wait for pickup. Only everything and everyone around him seem to be set against him. The characters he meets and adventures he has there are fascinating, quirky, and surreal. The best way I can describe it is as a mix between "Identity", "Mulholland Dr.", and The Book of Genesis. I think this movie has gotten so many bad reviews because it doesn't fit the mold. It defies expectations, and some people won't like that. But if you're looking for something different, something that can surprise you, watch "The Bag Man". And try to vanquish your expectations. Special props to Crispin Glover for portraying the hilariously strange Ned. My favorite character!

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source: The Bag Man

I usually watch movies based on their high IMDb scores, but movies like "The Bag Man" are why I sometimes dip down into the 5's and 6's. At first I was surprised to see so many reviewers call it "boring", "bad" and "nonsensical", but then I realized that this film just isn't for everybody, but for some--like me--it's riveting. Almost the entire movie takes place during one night at a roadside hotel, where our protagonist, a contract killer (Cusack), is meant to go with a package and wait for pickup. Only everything and everyone around him seem to be set against him. The characters he meets and adventures he has there are fascinating, quirky, and surreal. The best way I can describe it is as a mix between "Identity", "Mulholland Dr.", and The Book of Genesis. I think this movie has gotten so many bad reviews because it doesn't fit the mold. It defies expectations, and some people won't like that. But if you're looking for something different, something that can surprise you, watch "The Bag Man". And try to vanquish your expectations. Special props to Crispin Glover for portraying the hilariously strange Ned. My favorite character!

Okay, you already know if you read the storyline that this movie revolves around a hit man, and a mystery bag he is sent to fetch. He is told not to look in the bag...he doesn't know what's in there, and neither do we, the audience. There's a whole lot of bad people that want that bag, and the mystery and suspense builds as we meet more and more of them. What's in that damn bag???!!! The acting was good, and kept you in the movie. I thought that John Cusack and Rebecca Da Costa did wonderful jobs in their roles--gritty and believable. Robert De Niro is Robert De Niro in every movie he plays in to me, and although he's a fine actor, well...he's Robert De Niro! His character has diarrhea of the mouth and is a little annoying, however no one else could have done him better. This movie is full of action, suspense, and is worth the watch to find out if you'll ever know what's in that bag!

I was really attracted to this movie due to the cast. I love Crispin Glover, and his role and acting were great. I felt the script was really weak at times, which left the other two stars, Jon Cusack and Robert DeNiro looking pretty pathetic. The chick was smoking hot, but again the acting seemed like acting. No Oscars here. I also felt the director was building a few moments to crescendo and reveal a shocking truth or twist, but the film was so predictable, all the efforts fell short. The movie dragged on and in the end, predictable. I did like the location of the motel, a really creepy atmosphere. Good job, location scout. This movie is watchable, but not something you'll be telling friends about.

The Bag Man is a modern day film noir crime story which is a great showcase for John Cusack as "Jack" the bagman, assigned to look after a mysterious leather satchel while hiding out at a seedy motel. Robert De Niro plays his crime boss and looks interesting with a silver pompadour, a la Paulie from the Sopranos. The movie is definitely more sophisticated than a generic crime thriller with De Niro's character quoting Herman Hesse and Sun Tzu. The motel Cusack hides out in is also filled with odd characters like the desk clerk played by Crispin Glover, a Serbian dwarf and a pimp with an eye patch. The tension of not knowing what's in the bag works very well and there's also lots of good action. All in all, The Bag Man was a pretty enjoyable ride and had an offbeat sensibility that reminded me of the Coen brothers.