Sunday, December 30, 2012

A Mighty Heart (R) 8.0

A Mighty Heart (2007): Mariane Pearl embarks on a frantic search to locate her journalist husband, Daniel, when he goes missing in Pakistan. (6.6)

Director: Michael Winterbottom
Writers: John Orloff (screenplay), Mariane Pearl (book)
Stars: Angelina Jolie, Dan Futterman and Irrfan Khan

I distinctly remember all the (publicly available) details of this incident when it happened, so the end result of the search was never a question for me. Yet, the story of the fight for Danny's life, all the people who came together to conduct the search, the support Mariane received, all of them a collective a testament to the journalistic professionalism and friendships of Daniel and Mariane Pearl. The decision by the director to show scenes of Karachi and Islamabad almost like a documentary adds immensely to our understanding of the situation. Angelina Jolie gives a commanding performance but we almost forget that the supporting roles by Archie Panjabi and Irrfan Khan are just as good. Their effortless switch between languages, the typical South Asian mannerisms, etc play the perfect part. Keeping track of various names and aliases becomes complex at times, but at the end it is a love story between the two journalists; and when the news comes, though we know what it is, still quite shocking and emotional. If this movie doesn't talk to you, if you don't feel it in your heart, you have to check your pulse. My Rating: 8.0

Very Long Engagement (R) 7.5

A Very Long Engagement (2004) Un long dimanche de fiançailles (original title): Tells the story of a young woman's relentless search for her fiancé, who has disappeared from the trenches of the Somme during World War One. (7.7) 

Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Writers: Sébastien Japrisot (novel), Jean-Pierre Jeunet (story)
Stars: Audrey Tautou, Gaspard Ulliel and Jodie Foster
Language: French (w/ English subtitles)

In this movie, the young woman, Mathilde, almost superstitiously believes that her fiance is still alive, contrary to all the reports and evidence. The story is told with alternating sequences of what happened in the trenches during the war, her relentless pursuit of the truth, and the flashbacks to their romance before he was sent to the front lines. Beautifully done period pieces, costumes, sets, and specially the reenactments of the brutality of war. The cinematography is superb with great use of color to make different periods/segments contrast. The detective story by itself is sufficient to make a good movie, but you add the other parts and it becomes a great story. Good acting; and the subtle use of humor in the right places was great. But somehow, at least for me, the movie did not pull enough of heart-strings as it should/could have. Nevertheless, a great movie. My Rating: 7.5

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Love (NR) 5.0

Love (2011): After losing contact with Earth, Astronaut Lee Miller becomes stranded in orbit alone aboard the International Space Station. (5.6)

Director: William Eubank
Writer: William Eubank
Stars: Gunner Wright, Corey Richardson and Bradley Horne

Um, ... I guess, I'll begin at the end. The fact that the director needed a voice-over at the end of the narrative to tell us that what we felt watching the movie was its title says to me that he failed to convey it through the work itself. What I felt was that the writer/director lifted/copied/borrowed/stole a whole lot, and then-some, from the two classics 2001 and Solaris. What I felt was cheated. At least, those movies had some stories--mind you great original stories. Is this supposed to be the second half of 2001 with better lighting and today's special effects? Then again, the effort taken to show us that this is in space is to give some shots rotated in 90-degrees. Nothing, nothing what-so-ever has the zero-g effects. The cinematography was great, the music was nice, the movie had real potential; had there been a story, a real love story as the title suggests, this could have been a brilliant work. "Stream of consciousness" no worky specially when it reminds the audience of other people's original work. (Note to self: stop picking movies based on the number of awards mentioned on the poster.) My Rating: 5.0

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Dial M for Murder (PG) 7.0

Dial M for Murder (1954): An ex-tennis pro carries out a plot to murder his wife. When things go wrong, he improvises a brilliant plan B. (8.2)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Writers: Frederick Knott (screenplay/stage-play)
Stars: Ray Milland, Grace Kelly and Robert Cummings

I think, I should begin by noting that I don't much care for old time movies. This being a Hitchcock flick, I decided to give it a go. Why is it that older Hollywood movies didn't want to use foreigners to play foreign characters? If this was supposed to be London, why do they all talk with American accents? I get it, this must have been a wonderful stage play, perhaps with a bit of more humor and somewhat whimsical at how things don't go according to plan. But, as a movie, this isn't a thriller. The police can trace the usage of 1-pound notes but don't know to find out about phone calls? Then again, the title is misleading, the use of the phone isn't to plot the murder but to give himself an alibi. All that over the top cleaning of finger prints at the beginning for what purpose? The plot is weak. And, there's no real emotions; they are just going through the motions. And, the acting ... for me, that was just "meh." I just don't see why this is one of the all-time great movies. My Rating: 7.0

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Farewell (R) 7.5

Farewell (2009) L'affaire Farewell (original title): The French intelligence service alerts the U.S. about a Soviet spy operation during the height of the Cold War, which sets off an unfortunate chain of events. (6.9)

Director: Christian Carion
Writers: Christian Carion, Eric Raynaud, and Serguei Kostine (book)
Stars: Guillaume Canet, Emir Kusturica and Dina Korzun
Languages: French, English, Russian

Based on the real life KGP operative turned double-agent Vladimir Vetrov, this movie tells a wonderful (true) story. From the beginning you realize that the spy-work is pretty sloppy, for instance exchanging documents in pretty open places, but apparently that was how the actual guy worked too. If it wasn't real, I would not have believed that a high level KGB agent was willing to give away the store for his ideology alone. The side-story of the US and French Presidents' lack of trust for each other was interesting to watch. (Wonder if the conversations went that way in reality.) I was kind of surprised to see Reagan, Mitterrand and Gorbachev being played by actors rather than showing TV footage. Then again, that would have been difficult to pull off for inside conversations. The acting was spot-on by the entire cast (maybe Fred Ward was a bit off as Reagan). I liked how the whole story unfolded and also learned a bit of history, too. My Rating: 7.5

Friday, December 21, 2012

The Hunger Games (PG-13) 6.0

The Hunger Games (2012): Katniss Everdeen voluntarily takes her younger sister's place in the Hunger Games, a televised fight to the death in which two teenagers from each of the twelve Districts of Panem are chosen at random to compete. (7.3)

Director: Gary Ross
Writers: Gary Ross (screenplay), Suzanne Collins (screenplay/novel)
Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth

Ok, I'm not sure what all the hype was about regarding this movie, because there wasn't a whole lot to get excited. Perhaps it is because the hero in competition is a girl, so she is a good role-model? um? I haven't read the books (I may still, since I have them in the ebook format) so I learned the basic story from the movie. In the movie, there wasn't a whole lot of character development or how to the two societies relate to each other. Some of the sets and costumes were colorful, but I don't think it added anything to the plot. Action sequences were less than I expected from the hype. Acting was ok. My Rating: 6.0

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Still Walking (PG) 8.0

Still Walking (2008) 歩いても 歩いても Aruitemo aruitemo (original title): Still Walking is a family drama about grown children visiting their elderly parents, which unfolds over one summer day. The aging parents have lived in the family home for decades. Their son and daughter return for a rare family reunion, bringing their own families with them. 

Director: Hirokazu Koreeda
Writers: Hirokazu Koreeda (original story), Hirokazu Koreeda (screenplay)
Stars: Hiroshi Abe, Yui Natsukawa and You
Language: Japanese (w/ English subtitles)

A simple, yet poignant, story that exemplifies the dynamics of a family with in-laws. The crafting and the development of each of the characters, including that of the children, is perfect. This is story-telling at its best; the parts, even the details that really may not fit into a complete circle in this story, come at us in bits and pieces and they all add to the audience's understanding of whole narrative. If you take the three male characters or the three female characters, or for that matter the three children, each one is different and has his or her own story to tell. I specially appreciated the wayYui Natsukawa played the her character. There is so much in the mannerisms and how each one relate to others in this movie. The cinematic use of the backdrops, the scenes and tight spaces adds immensely to the experience. If you enjoy a good drama that has stories within the seemingly simple main story, I very highly recommend this movie. My Rating: 8.0

Monday, December 17, 2012

The Proposition (R) 7.5

The Proposition (1998): Father Michael McKinnon goes from the UK to Boston circa 1935. For unknown reasons, he avoids at all costs the most prominent parishioners, Arthur and Eleanor Barret. (6.1)

Director: Lesli Linka Glatter
Writer: Rick Ramage
Stars: Kenneth Branagh, Madeleine Stowe and William Hurt

A very interesting period movie that has quite a few twists in the storyline. A lot of the untold story is in between the lines of the script and conveyed through scenes and situations. In other words, it forces you to get into the heads of the characters; and what emerges is a fascinating tale of heart-breaks of many kinds. Yes, in today's perspective, the main theme is a bit far fetched, but quite possible (I suppose) in 1930s. The period scenes and costumes are done cleverly and elegantly. William Hurt's character should have been given a bit more in the final scenes, I think. Regardless, I like this movie a whole lot more than the average rating on the IMDB. My Rating: 7.5

Saturday, December 15, 2012

The Aura (R) 7.0

The Aura (2005): Part character study, part crime drama, The Aura follows reclusive and fastidious taxidermist Espinosa as he moves from dreaming about pulling off the perfect crime to actually planning and executing a real heist. (7.4)

Director: Fabián Bielinsky
Writer: Fabián Bielinsky
Stars: Ricardo Darín, Manuel Rodal and Dolores Fonzi
Language: Spanish (w/ English subtitles)

Moody and surreal how things just move from the mundane to the almost impossibly absurd real quickly. I guess, this is a story about the seemingly perfect crime that falls into the lap of someone who plans crimes as a day-dreaming exercise. The difference between and ordinary person who's caught up in such a situation and this guy is that he is willing to go along with the flow no matter what. Very interesting story and nice cinematography to go along with it. Acting is quite believable and to the point. My Rating: 7.0

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Nova: Becoming Human (G) 7.5

NOVA: Becoming Human (2009): Bringing our early ancestors to life through striking computer graphics based on new discoveries, this NOVA special examines how early hominids lived and how they evolved through the ages to eventually become modern humans.

Stars: Early humanoids

This series actually takes into account the recent discoveries and explains the time scales in easy to understand ways. I didn't know that as many as 20 different humanoid species may have existed at various times. The branches of the tree could have used some graphics on the screen rather than just talking about it with hand-waving and lines drawn on a beach. Overall, this is a quite interesting, at least to me it is, documentary series. My Rating: 7.5

Saturday, December 8, 2012

If You Are the One 2 (PG) 6.0

If You Are the One 2 (2010) 非诚勿扰 2 (original title): This sequel to Xiaogang Feng's romantic comedy 'If You Are the One' continues the courtship of wealthy Qin Fin and young and lovely Xiaoxiao. To test their bond, the pair steals off to a remote villa where they try on the mantel of wedded bliss. (6.1)

Director: Xiaogang Feng
Writers: Xiaogang Feng, Shuo Wang
Stars: Honglei Sun, Ge You, Shu Qi
Language: Mandarin (w/ English subtitles)

The original was funny; I got most of the jokes even through the translation. This was not all that funny and when it tried to have a serious conversation, I just couldn't sympathize with the characters. The lead guy (Qin Fen) turned into a rich jerk. I think, I understand the use of the ultra luxurious settings and super-rich lifestyles, but that makes the characters so distant from us regular Joes. I just can't relate to them. Shu Qi's character (and her acting) is beautiful in her simplicity, but then all that partying and drinking just takes away from the connection with the audience, IMHO. Even the other main story of a dying friend ... can't empathize with him, his ex wife, the daughter, ... none of them. Perhaps, the dialog is better in original Mandarin. Speaking of which, the poem (daughter to father) seems to be quite good, but again, the translation leaves something on the table. Yeah, good to see how the super rich live, but other than that, meh! My Rating: 6.0

Friday, December 7, 2012

Road to Guantanamo (R) 7.0

The Road to Guantanamo: Part drama, part documentary, The Road to Guantánamo focuses on the Tipton Three, a trio of British Muslims who were held in Guantanamo Bay for two years until they were released without charge. (7.5)

Directors: Mat Whitecross, Michael Winterbottom
Stars: Riz Ahmed, Farhad Harun and Waqar Siddiqui

While this movie feels like a documentary, we have to remember that it is only a story based on true events. From the accounts of various other people who have come forward (former CIA interrogators, etc) we know that the US military, the hired security consultants, the CIA operatives, and others have done quite questionable things in the name of the national security. At the same time, war is hell; and all who are involved in conflicts are first trying to not get killed themselves and are doing everything possible to make sure the those who get killed are the enemy. This movie doesn't answer the question what the trio were thinking going to Pakistan and then onto Afghanistan in the middle of an escalating war. (They keep repeating about a wedding, but what are you doing in Afghanistan then?) While the movie doesn't make them out to be angles, I get the feeling that some sinister thinking on their part is left out. Considering the subject matter, it is remarkable how the filming, the sets, locations, etc show pretty accurate details. For all the supposed journalists we have in that part of the world, this movie gives a better picture of daily life, to a certain extent. My Rating: 7.0

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Ocean's Eleven (PG-13) 7.5

Ocean's Eleven (2001): Danny Ocean and his eleven accomplices plan to rob three Las Vegas casinos simultaneously. (7.7)

Director: Steven Soderbergh
Writers: George Clayton Johnson / Jack Golden Russell (1960 story)
Stars: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia

This is a star-studded remake of the 1960 original. Plan for the heist seems kind of shaky, but then again, this isn't a "how to" video; it is just a fun movie. Good dialog and the chemistry between the actors is the key to the flow of the movie. That said, they could have given Matt Damon and Julia Roberts a bit more lines. Most of the story deals with the gathering of the eleven and the planning for the heist. I wasn't quite sure if all eleven were needed but that's ok. Why is Don Cheadle speaking in a silly British accent, I'm not sure. Enjoyable movie. My Rating: 7.5

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Aftershock (PG) 8.0

Aftershock (2010) 唐山大地震; Tángshān Dàdìzhèn: The epic story of a family separated as a result of the Great Tangshan Earthquake of 1976. (7.3)

Director: Xiaogang Feng
Writers: Wu Si (screenplay), Ling Zhang (novel)
Stars: Daoming Chen, Chen Li, Jingchu Zhang, Yi Lu
Language: Mandarin (w/ English subtitles)

We've heard the moral dilemma about five workers on a track with a speeding train and the single worker on a another track ... would you kill one to save the five? Yes, this movie asks such moral questions. Then what unfolds is the human drama with all the consequences of such a decision. The story uses the major events in China's recent past as backdrops to follow the trials of one family. A lot of effort has been put into making the 70's, 80's, 90's look realistic. Acting is powerful in that you really feel the emotions the characters go through. Difficult as it is to tell a story that spans multiple decades, this movie accomplishes the task quite well. As an added bonus, we the outsiders can get a glimpse into the transformation of the Chinese society into the modern times. The story takes you through an emotional roller-coaster. If you like human dramas, I highly recommend this movie. My Rating: 8.0

Thursday, November 29, 2012

The Place Promised (PG) 8.0

The Place Promised in Our Early Days (2004) 雲のむこう、約束の場所 Kumo no Mukō, Yakusoku no Basho: In an alternate postwar timeline, Japan is divided into the Union-controlled North and the US-controlled South. (7.3)


Director: Makoto Shinkai
Writers: Makoto Shinkai (story), Makoto Shinkai (screenplay), Steven Foster
Stars: Hidetaka Yoshioka, Masato Hagiwara and Yuka Nanri

This movie is full of wonderfully crafted anime and carefully drawn artwork. The character development is way better than in most live-action movies. The story is innovative and scenes are breathtaking. All in all, this is a fantastic movie. You will enjoy it even if you are not an anime fan. If you do like that style, this gives you so much more. The use of the varying color schemes and backgrounds and different viewing angles, etc to tell the story is very clever. I highly recommend this movie. My Rating: 8.0

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Sweet Land (PG) 6.5

Sweet Land (2005): Set in 1920, Inge travels from Germany to rural Minnesota meet the man destined to be her husband. Bureaucracy and social morality cause major complications. (7.1)

Director: Ali Selim
Writers: Will Weaver (short story), Ali Selim
Stars: Elizabeth Reaser, Lois Smith and Patrick Heusinger

Right after the WWI, I guess, the American public had strong feelings about the German nationals. This  story examines the plight of one young immigrant in that environment. The characters are developed nicely and the period costumes, sets, scenes, etc are done well. Though, the story itself lacks a certain punch. I guess, I am looking at it from the perspective of another immigrant in another era. Countless other immigrants, back then and even now, have gone through and are going through so much more hardships than just mere resentment of village folks. Looking at it as a period piece where two strangers gradually falling in love and becoming a part of the American dream ... yeah, it does have that certain charm. But, it could have told a bigger narrative also. My Rating: 6.5

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Charlie Wilson's War (R) 7.5

Charlie Wilson's War (2007): A drama based on a Texas congressman Charlie Wilson's covert dealings in Afghanistan, where his efforts to assist rebels in their war with the Soviets have some unforeseen and long-reaching effects. (7.1)

Director: Mike Nichols
Writers: Aaron Sorkin (screenplay), George Crile (book)
Stars: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman

It is interesting to learn the players behind the arming of the Mujahideen in the Soviet-Afghan war. How much of it is completely accurate, I don't know know but a substantial amount seems to be (the Reagan administration also played a major hand in supplying arms to the Mujahideen). The movie doesn't mention Bin Laden, and it is true that he came to the party quite late. But the fact remains, the US fought a proxy war in Central Asia and the power vacuum created by the defeat of Soviet occupation gave rise to the religious fundamentalism in Afghanistan. The movie is quite fast paced for a policy-wonk type story. The effort to actually shoot scenes that looked like Soviet helicopters, Afghan refugee camps, etc is a credit to the attention to detail. The three major actors (listed above), of course, give commanding performances. My Rating: 7.5

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Buddy (PG-13) 6.0

Buddy (2003): Kristoffer is a billboard hanger, 24 years old and carefree. When his girlfriend Elisabeth dumps him for the boss of her trend bureau, his life falls into pieces. (6.8)

Director: Morten Tyldum
Writers: Lars Gudmestad, Tom Gulbrandsen (script consultant)
Stars: Nicolai Cleve Broch, Aksel Hennie and Anders Baasmo Christiansen
Language: Norwegian (w/ English subtitles)

When I read the Netflix blurb about the movie, it sounded promising. The initial premise of the goofy video-blog ending up on the national TV was good, but the writers quickly got away from that format. They should have used a hell of a lot more video-blog parts and a lot less of the corny stuff. Sorry, having the main character come off (probably not intentionally) as a douche-bag who is not straight with his friends doesn't garner my empathy. And, the story is just too stupid, unrealistic and corny. The cinematography is great, but when the storytelling falls flat, good pictures alone can't carry it (at least, for me). My Rating: 6.0

Amores Perros (R) 8.0

Amores Perros (2000): A horrific car accident connects three stories, each involving characters dealing with loss, regret, and life's harsh realities, all in the name of love. (8.1)

Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Writer: Guillermo Arriaga
Stars: Emilio Echevarría, Gael García Bernal and Goya Toledo
Language: Spanish (w/ English subtitles)

Sometimes known as the Mexican Pulp Fiction, this movie shows the brutal realities of life and love. Some of the scenes are not for the squeamish. Yes, love, betrayal, loss, regret ... all are seen through multiple perspectives in this set of inter-twining stories. There are no clear-cut heroes and villains; the good and the bad are on all sides; like it is in Real Life. As a single movie, it is a bit long, but since there are many storylines, it needed to be that long. The acting is superb, specially in the first story. The props, the location, the camera-work, etc. are all great. While the movie is quite violent, it gives you a good dose of harsh realities of what we do to each other. So, I very highly recommend this movie, if you can stand the graphic scenes--it is worth it. (It is said that no dogs were harmed in making this movie.) My Rating: 8.0

Thursday, November 22, 2012

The Sky Crawlers (PG-13) 8.0

The Sky Crawlers (2008) スカイ·クロラ Sukai Kurora: On an alternate future Earth, there is no longer any war between nations. Peace reigns over the entire planet. However, it's been found that people need the tension and excitement of war -- even experienced vicariously -- to truly feel alive. (6.7)

Director: Mamoru Oshii
Writers: Hiroshi Mori (story), Chihiro Itô (adaptation)
Stars: Rinko Kikuchi, Ryo Kase and Shôsuke Tanihara
Languages: English and (mostly) Japanese (w/ English subtitles)

If you like anime but want stories with substance and drama, then this movie is for you. It is a very well thought-out story (apparently spans five books by Mori) that makes you question this alternate reality and makes you hunger for the explanations. The anime and the CGI are wonderful. The attention to detail is superb. The story lends itself to incredible scenes and the animation work doesn't disappoint. The movie takes its deliberate time with the storytelling and that adds to the drama and the tension of it all. Again, if you like anime, I very highly recommend this movie. My Rating: 8.0

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Religulous (R) 7.0

Religulous (2008): Bill Maher's take on the current state of world religion. (7.7)

Director: Larry Charles
Stars: Bill Maher

So, this is a critical and humorous look at the religion and its place in today's society. Interestingly, it doesn't look at two major eastern religions Hinduism and Buddhism. Well, fair enough, today's western society is mostly concerned with Christianity (with all its permutations), Judaism and Islam. My problem with movies like this is that they all try to find the contradictions within the religious texts and teachings, and try to disprove certain things. No, that's the wrong tactic. Take a giant step away from the faith and religion as a concept. Look at how absolutely bloody stupid the whole thing is and point that out. Actually, this move does do that to a certain degree and that's why I am giving it a notch higher rating that I would have otherwise. Yes, at some point in the past, there was a place for faith systems. But today, those fantasy systems do more harm than good. It will take another thousand years before the whole concept goes out of fashion, but movies like this will help. My Rating: 7.0

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Nobody Else But You (R) 7.0

Nobody Else But You (2011) Poupoupidou (original title): A bestselling crime novelist who is desperately looking for a new story hones his focus on the apparent suicide of a small-town woman, an aspiring model who thought she was the reincarnation of Marilyn Monroe. (6.5)

Director: Gérald Hustache-Mathieu
Writers: Gérald Hustache-Mathieu, Juliette Sales (contributing writer)
Stars: Jean-Paul Rouve, Sophie Quinton and Guillaume Gouix
Language: French (w/ English subtitles)

This turned out to be a surprisingly good story. It starts out kind of slow; the guy who's tasked with piecing the story together is sort of bumbling about it a bit. In the end, that's a very good storytelling technique. I watched it without knowing the Monroe parallel in the story, and I think, discovering those along with the main character was intriguing. The comedy bits were spot on and not too corny. Acting is pretty good. Beautiful scenes and good camera work. My Rating: 7.0

Thursday, November 15, 2012

The Double Hour (R) 7.5

The Double Hour (2009) La doppia ora (original title): A chambermaid and an ex-cop meet at a speed dating event and a romance develops. But during a romantic getaway things suddenly take a dark turn. (6.7)

Director: Giuseppe Capotondi
Writers: Alessandro Fabbri, Ludovica Rampoldi
Stars: Ksenia Rappoport, Filippo Timi and Antonia Truppo
Language: Italian (w/ English subtitles)

There are quite a few twists in the storyline and I can't talk about them without spoiling the whole experience for others. The intrigue lies in how the story changes so swiftly, and the audience trying to expect what comes next knowing what just transpired. It is very good story. The acting is nice; doesn't feel forced or artificial. Given the location in the screenplay, the filming could have used nicer backdrops and made the scenery a part of the story as well. Yeah, as one of the characters alludes to, "once a cheater is always a cheater." (Heh, words to live by.) My Rating: 7.5

Monday, November 12, 2012

Enigma (R) 6.0

Enigma (2001): A young genius frantically races against time to crack an enemy code and solve the mystery surrounding the woman he loves. (6.4)

Director: Michael Apted
Writers: Robert Harris (novel), Tom Stoppard (screenplay)
Stars: Dougray Scott, Kate Winslet and Saffron Burrows

Okay, so the title of the movie is a play on words; Enigma here is not just the German code machine, but the woman, too. I wanted to watch this movie because I thought it was a historical fiction (ie: more history, less fiction) about the code-breaking accounts and the machine. Instead, the story is mostly fiction and I am kind of pissed that the main character has been drastically changed from the history. Clearly, he is based on Alan Turing but this word-play story could not have happened with Turing at all. A controversy also exists about the fact that a Polish man providing the enemy with secrets, but in reality it was an English man who did that. The movie itself is very good. Acting is superb, specially that of Kate Winslet. (Not until after the movie I thought to myself that that was Winslet--meaning her portrayal of the character was that absorbing.) My Rating: 6.0

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Paprika (R) 7.0

Paprika (2006): When a machine that allows therapists to enter their patient's dreams is stolen, all hell breaks loose. Only a young female therapist can stop it: Paprika. (7.7)

Director: Satoshi Kon
Writers: Yasutaka Tsutsui (novel), Seishi Minakami (screenplay)
Stars: Megumi Hayashibara, Toru Emori and Katsunosuke Hori

The story is super cool; sort of like the Inception a bit, but different. The animation uses the fact that dreams have no limits. The objects coming to life is pretty neatly done. However, I think, I'm a bit spoiled by the Miyazaki movies, some of the anime sequences felt a bit lacking. Still, a great movie for those who like Japanese anime. My Rating: 7.0

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Paul (R) 7.0

Paul (2011): Two British comic-book geeks traveling across the U.S. encounter an alien outside Area 51. (7.0)

Director: Greg Mottola
Writers: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost
Stars: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogen, Jason Bateman

This is a comedy--a spoof with movies such as the ET, the Third Kind, and the Alien in mind--and not a Sci-Fi per se. The set-ups for the humorous bits, while the story is still rolling, is pretty good. But you have to be a sci-fi/comic type to understand some of the humorous moments. The genius is in the seamless use of some of the lines of other movies and delivering them straight-face. After watching it, I noticed that the two guys who wrote the script took on the main roles and that's pretty brave; they do give pretty convincing performances. Even some of the scenes are spoofed perfectly, so I do give a notch higher in my rating than I would have otherwise. My Rating: 7.0

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Blame it on Fidel (UR) 7.5

Blame it on Fidel (2006) La faute à Fidel! (original title): A 9-year-old girl weathers big changes in her household as her parents become radical political activists in 1970-71 Paris. (7.3)

Director: Julie Gavras
Writers: Julie Gavras, Arnaud Cathrine, Domitilla Calamai (novel)
Stars: Nina Kervel-Bey, Julie Depardieu and Stefano Accorsi
Language: French (w/ English subtitles)

This movie has a great storyline that looks at really big questions through the eyes of a 9-year old girl, who is used to upper-class French lifestyle. It takes you through the points of view of those who label themselves as communists and liberals in the French society. The questions such as what is solidarity, what is the women's lib, the place of politics of Spain and Chile in Franc are asked in the 1970's perspective. Great performances, even by the the kids; I should say, specially by the kids. My Rating: 7.5

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Dakota Skye (R) 6.5

Dakota Skye (2008): For as long as she could remember, Dakota Skye has been cursed with a super power. She has the ability to see the truth in any lie she hears. (6.4)

Director: John Humber
Writer: Chad J. Shonk
Stars: Scott F. Anderson, Matt Baker and Eileen Boylan

Truth, lies and teenage love ... heh, we've all seen it many times in movies. Yet, this one has a unique blend of those ingredients. Still, at times, I couldn't help but notice the overplaying of the 'typical full of themselves pot-heads' and the 'bored to death teenagers' in many scenes. The main character's 'special' ability to see through the lies could have been toned down a bit to keep it more in the realistic realm. At the end though, it is a good story. Acting is good, but the cinematography could have been better ... come on, couldn't find a nice setting sun, or brilliant night sky, wide open expanses, etc in Arizona? My Rating: 6.5

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Vidocq (R) 7.0

Dark Portals (2001) Vidocq (Original title): Paris. 1830. In the heart of the town, Vidocq, a famous detective, disappeared as he fights the Alchemist, an assassin that he has been pursuing for a few months. (6.4)

Director: Pitof
Writers: François-Eugène Vidocq (memoirs), Pitof / Jean-Christophe Grangé (screenplay)
Stars: Gérard Depardieu, Guillaume Canet and Inés Sastre
Language: French (w/ English subtitles)

Vidocq is said to be a criminal who turned to good and became the father of modern criminology. This move is a fiction/fantasy that revolves around him. The cinematography is brilliant. The action, the sets, the special effects, etc are all nicely done. My only qualm is that they selected a supernatural story to depict the life of the first scientific crime detective. Heh, irony is a pretty ironical thing, I suppose. The period costumes, the scenes, etc are great and the story moves along as a suspenseful thriller. I was kind of disappointed with the ending twist, but YMMV. My Rating: 7.0

Monday, October 29, 2012

Five Minutes of Heaven (R) 6.5

Five Minutes of Heaven (2009): The story of former UVF member Alistair Little. Twenty-five years after Little killed Joe Griffen's brother, the media arrange an auspicious meeting between the two. (6.7)

Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel
Writer: Guy Hibbert (screenplay)
Stars: Liam Neeson, James Nesbitt and Anamaria Marinca

The story is about how this one killing (out of many) changed the lives of two people. It gets an A for effort, but the simple fact that the storytelling jumps 25 years after the killing and skips the real part where the two agonize for 25 years, somehow leaves a large hole. Yes, they talk about it, but it isn't shown. Yes, we do see both of them fighting in their heads about the consequences, but I felt something is missing, just a tad. That said, it does show quite a bit of the inner demons they are confronting. The locations/sets are great and the two periods are well presented. (Yeah, I needed the subtitles to understand the Irish accent.) My Rating: 6.5

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Flowers for Algernon (PG) 7.5

Flowers for Algernon (2000): Charlie Gordon is mentally handicapped and all he wants in life is to be a genius. When he gets picked for experimental surgery it looks like his dream may finally come true. (6.7)

Director: Jeff Bleckner
Writers: Daniel Keyes (novel), John Pielmeier (teleplay)
Stars: Matthew Modine, Kelli Williams and Richard Chevolleau

I waited until I finished the book before watching this movie. Of course, the book is a lot more complex and it follows the "progress reports," which the movie decided not to do. This is a made for TV movie and the colors have faded quite a bit in the version I saw (kind of surprised at that in this day and age of various digital preservation methods). Matthew Modine is excellent portraying Charlie in all his complexities. Yeah, heartbreaking. I highly recommend the book (first) and the movie. My Rating: 7.5

Friday, October 26, 2012

Idiots and Angels (R) 6.0

Idiots and Angels (2008): Angel is a selfish, abusive, morally bankrupt man who hangs out as his local bar, berating the other patrons. One day, Angel mysteriously wakes up with a pair of wings on his back. (6.8)

Director: Bill Plympton
Writer: Bill Plympton

No dialog; and, the animation style isn't my favorite; so, it is my own fault for picking this movie without much research. Those who have liked this enjoy that style. Okay, so the story is about an asshole getting angel wings and other assholes either trying to steal them or use him to make money; and the original guy trying to steal barman's wife and ... yeah ... so the whole thing leaves a sour taste in my mouth because it isn't exactly a (completely) black humor movie either. The music kept lulling me to sleep. If you like this sort of thing, you'll like it. But for me, meh. My Rating: 6.0

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (PG-13) 8.0

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011): A nine-year-old amateur inventor, Francophile, and pacifist searches New York City for the lock that matches a mysterious key left behind by his father, who died in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. (6.8)

Director: Stephen Daldry
Writers: Eric Roth (screenplay), Jonathan Safran Foer (novel)
Stars: Thomas Horn, Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock

Yes, it is a 9/11 movie. But the story is not all about 9/11. It is about a special kid dealing with the consequences as best as he can. It is also a story about just a kid. I can certainly put myself in his shoes, perhaps, because I can identify with his condition, and that creates the empathy for the characters in order to feel their emotions. Ultimately, that's what a good story should be able to do--make the words and pictures come alive. The two big stars, Hanks and Bullock, certainly take a back seat to the superb performance by Thomas Horn. Cinematography is great ... the colors, the locations, the sets ... all add to the storytelling. My Rating: 8.0

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Don't Look Back (R) 7.5

Don't Look Back (2009) Ne te retourne pas (original title): After Jeanne -- a married mother of two -- starts to notice strange changes in her body, she finds a photograph that leads her on a journey to Italy. There, the rapidly transforming woman begins to learn more about her true identity. (5.9)

Director: Marina de Van
Writers: Marina de Van
Stars: Sophie Marceau, Monica Bellucci and Andrea Di Stefano
Language: French and Italian (w/ English subtitles)

This movies has a simple story idea turned into a psychological thriller, and it is presented in an intriguing way to keep the audience guessing at every turn. Great acting by both leading actresses, portraying a woman losing her mind, without being melodramatic. Perhaps it is worth viewing the movie a second time to understand the intricate use of props to tell part of the story. I liked the use of visual ques given as changes in appearance for the changing psychological state. Watching it without knowing much about the storyline is best as it forces you to think and pay attention to every detail. My Rating: 7.5

Saturday, October 20, 2012

What's Eating Gilbert Grape (PG-13) 7.5

What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993): Gilbert has to care for his brother Arnie and his obese mother, which gets in the way when love walks into his life. (7.7)

Director: Lasse Hallström
Writers: Peter Hedges (novel), Peter Hedges (screenplay)
Stars: Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio and Juliette Lewis

A wonderful story about a family in a sleepy town. While nothing big happens in the town itself, the everyday trials and tribulations of the people are quite interesting. Gilbert tries to do right by all the people he is responsible for but can't make sense of it all. He takes the audience through his journey of discovery. The acting is superb, specially that of Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio. Good casting; even the minor roles are well thought-out. An all-around great movie that asks you to put yourself in the characters roles. My Rating: 7.5

Friday, October 19, 2012

Headhunters (R) 6.5

Headhunters (2011): An accomplished headhunter risks everything to obtain a valuable painting owned by a former mercenary. (7.5)

Director: Morten Tyldum
Writers: Lars Gudmestad, Ulf Ryberg
Stars: Aksel Hennie, Synnøve Macody Lund and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Language: Norwegian (w/ English subtitles)

This is an action thriller with sex, violence, chases and a couple of art heists mixed in. Wait a minute ... that's pretty much the story. Sure, since it is European, some parts look refreshingly different from the standard Hollywood fair, but at the end of the day, the story has way too many weak points, the plot is unconvincing and the blood looks fake. Acting is fine, it is the story that I have a problem with, since you really can't relate to or empathize with the main character. People who like action thrillers without regard to much substance in the plot will love this. My Rating: 6.5

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

The Princess Bride (PG) 8.5

The Princess Bride (1987): A classic fairy tale, with swordplay, giants, an evil prince, a beautiful princess, and yes, some kissing (as read by a kindly grandfather). (8.1)

Director: Rob Reiner
Writers: William Goldman (book), William Goldman (screenplay)
Stars: Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin and Robin Wright

This is the movie that I've seen a million times and I'll never get tired of it. For the 25th anniversary (Yeah, 25! I know, right?!) NPR had an interview with Mandy Patinkin which in itself was fabulous (a must hear story for any fan of the movie; you'll never see Billy Crystal's MLT scene the same way again). By now, for me, the whole movie is one quotable line after another. Words to live by: "Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something." My Rating: 8.5

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Johnny Got His Gun (PG) 7.0

Johnny Got His Gun (1971): Joe, a young American soldier, is hit by a mortar shell on the last day of World War I. He lies in a hospital bed in a fate worse than death --- a quadruple amputee who has lost his arms, legs, eyes, ears, mouth and nose. (7.8)

Director: Dalton Trumbo
Writers: Dalton Trumbo (novel), Dalton Trumbo (screenplay)
Stars: Timothy Bottoms, Kathy Fields and Marsha Hunt

Interesting timing for this anti-war book and movie in that the book had been written at the beginning of the WWII and the movie had been made during the Vietnam war. Most other such movies look at the "war is hell" in the larger context. They show how lots of people are killed, crippled, maimed, etc. This one looks at the same thing but from a single soldier's perspective and imagines the worst fate possible. Interesting thought experiment ... to be trapped inside ones own mind without any sensory input at all. I liked the use of color vs black-and-white, the non-linear flashback sequences, the conversations with his father, etc. Jesus as a carpenter making what appear to be white crosses ... ha, nice touch. As for the larger message of the movie, I dunno, documentaries such as Why we fight has made me question the need for war in a supposedly civilized society more than anti-war soldier stories. My Rating: 7.0

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Girl Who Leapt Through Time (PG) 7.0

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006) 時をかける少女: A teenage girl finds that she has the ability to leap through time. With her newfound power, she tries to use it to her advantage, but soon finds that tampering with time can lead to some rather discomforting results. (7.8)

Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Writers: Yasutaka Tsutsui (novel), Satoko Okudera (screenplay)
Stars: Riisa Naka, Takuya Ishida and Mitsutaka Itakura

Some anime sequences are beautifully done; others (such as those of people walking) not so much. I guess, I'm expecting all anime to be of Miyazaki quality. Very interesting story, considering that it centers around budding teenage romances, it does have a good emotional context. (Trying not to make this a spoiler ...) The reason for Chiaki to be there is quite weak for a time-travel story. A few loose-ends (w/ the painting, and the auntie) could have been closed giving it a more emotional second/back story. Someone who's heavily into anime would find this a superb movie. [English subtitles and dubbed dialog don't exactly match. Subtitles seem to be direct translations of Japanese.] My Rating: 7.0

Thursday, October 11, 2012

In Love We Trust (R) 7.0

In Love We Trust (2007) 左右: A divorced couple learns that the way to possibly save daughter, who is suffering from blood cancer, is to have another child. Problem is: They're both already remarried. (6.7)

Director: Xiaoshuai Wang
Writer: Xiaoshuai Wang
Stars: Weiwei Liu, Jia-yi Zhang and Nan Yu
Language: Mandarin (w/ English subtitles)

While the movie contains a somewhat improbable (not impossible) story, it asks you to put yourself in each of the four main character's place. What would you do if you were in his or her shoes? What wrenching emotions are you willing to endure? The story is not about the daughter's sickness; and, at least to me, the hero in the story is the stepfather. I really liked the fact that the director wasn't afraid to use the normal contemporary scenes to give it a sense of authenticity. Good casting in picking four main actors with contrasting mannerisms well-suited for the roles. This is a movie you will think about long after you've seen it. My Rating: 7.0

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

From Time to Time (PG) 6.5

From Time to Time (2009): When 13-year-old Tolly returns to his family's ancestral home to spend Christmas with his grandmother, he becomes so entranced by the history of the mansion and its inhabitants that he manages to travel through time to uncover their secrets. (6.3)

Director: Julian Fellowes
Writers: Lucy M. Boston (novel: The Chimneys of Green Knowe), Julian Fellowes (adaptation)
Stars: Alex Etel, Timothy Spall and Maggie Smith

I haven't read the Green Knowe series so this story is completely new to me. Sure, it is a children's book series, and so the storyline is heartwarming and feel-good, etc.; introducing a runaway slave kid from the West Indies almost as a member of the aristocratic family by the captain, all the while having household servants at a different class and all that ... Yeah, okay, whatever. The movie covers two distinct periods, the 1940s and almost two centuries prior to that. The decision to show one of them in warm summer colors and the other in winter blues is quite appropriate. Maggie Smith gives a commanding performance. I expected a bit more sci-fi-esque time-travel antics, but this isn't that kind of a story. My Rating: 6.5

Monday, October 8, 2012

Waking Madison (R) 6.5

Waking Madison (2010): A woman suffering from multiple personality disorder tries to piece back together her life. (5.6)

Director: Katherine Brooks
Writer: Katherine Brooks
Stars: Elisabeth Shue, Imogen Poots and Sarah Roemer

There are those movies that you 'feel' are great even before you finish the first half. This isn't one of them. This is, however, a movie with an excellent story you think about afterwards; after everything has been said and done. That's the problem. This one strings you along way too long, seemingly jumping back and forth between time periods. The key to the puzzle only comes way closer to the end. Acting is good by the whole cast. The dialog, at certain places, could have used some help. Too bad that I tend to compare Angelina Jolie's acting in 'Girl Interrupted' whenever I see a strong female mental patient character. The set design is psychedelic and haunting at times. Maybe I might give this a second look, now knowing the storyline twists. My Rating: 6.5

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Map of the Sounds of Tokyo (R) 7.5

Map of the Sounds of Tokyo (2009): A dramatic thriller that centers on a fish-market employee who doubles as a contract killer. (5.9)

Director: Isabel Coixet
Writer: Isabel Coixet
Stars: Rinko Kikuchi, Sergi López and Min Tanaka
Languages: English and Japanese (w/ English subtitles)

I think, this is a story about quite a few people--almost all the main characters--being alone or, having just one other social connection in the middle of one of the most populous cities in the world. The two main characters are flawed; there is no back-story about how they've ended up where they are. And, because of that, I can't empathize with either one. Yet, they show the need for emotional connections, above all else. (How a dorky looking guy ends up with a beautiful girl is another mystery but that not part of the storyline. :-)) Interesting title and I'm not exactly sure what the "map" is. And, how the audio (sounds) from one conversation ends up feeding someone else is not straightforward either. The modern-day Tokyo provides the backdrop and the selection of locations are quite nice. Acting is good. Rinko Kikuchi is superb. My Rating: 7.5

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Code 46 (R) 8.0

Code 46 (2003): A futuristic 'Brief Encounter', a love story in which the romance is doomed by genetic incompatibility. (6.2)

Director: Michael Winterbottom
Writer: Frank Cottrell Boyce
Stars: Tim Robbins, Samantha Morton and Om Puri

Do not be deceived by the brief description, and the low score, on IMDB above; this is a fantastic movie. There is the main storyline; then there is the story told by the brilliant pictures and scenes. The attention to detail of how a futuristic world would look like, specially one that has an "inside" and an "outside," is superb. The use of the phrases from various languages, the mixing of ethnic looks of people regardless of the location of the city, etc. are in keeping with the theme of the story and a wonderful foresight. The movie reminds me a lot of Gattaca, but this takes it to the next level. The integration of live action and computer generated scenes are so good, they are seamless. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who likes futuristic sci-fi stories. My Rating: 8.0

Friday, October 5, 2012

Take Me Home (PG-13) 6.5

Take Me Home (2011): Soon after Thom starts operating as an illegal taxi driver in New York City, Claire hires him to drive her to California after her estranged father suffers a heart attack. (6.5)

Director: Sam Jaeger
Writer: Sam Jaeger
Stars: Sam Jaeger, Amber Jaeger and Victor Garber

Two strangers on a road trip across America!  Okay, so the circumstances of their meeting and the mode of transportation are a bit weird. The humor is quirky and the acting is fine; it grows on you. Cinematography is quite nice, specially the scenes of the western states. Simple and hopeful story, but the Real Life <tm> isn't like that. The personal stories of the two characters didn't quite pull the correct emotional strings, at least, for me. My Rating: 6.5

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Slaughterhouse-Five (R) 7.0

Slaughterhouse-Five (1972): A man tells his story of how he became unstuck in time and abducted by aliens. (7.0)

Director: George Roy Hill
Writers: Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (novel), Stephen Geller (screenplay)
Stars: Michael Sacks, Ron Leibman and Eugene Roche

I just finished reading the book, so decided to watch the movie soon afterwards while the story is fresh in my head. The screenplay is surprisingly close to the book. Movie is actually funnier than the book. (But for someone who hasn't read the book, the storyline may be confusing.) The WWII scenes are very well done. The concept of time as a series of present moments is something that struck to me as bold idea to have come out from a sci-fi that far back in the day, and it is something the modern physicist find a lot closer to the truth. The story is a strange mix of science fiction and humor. My Rating: 7.0

Sunday, September 30, 2012

The Girl (PG-13) 7.5

The Girl (I) (2012): A young Texan mother who loses her child to foster care begins smuggling Mexicans across the border. 

Director: David Riker
Writer: David Riker
Stars: Abbie Cornish, Will Patton and Santiago Maritza
Languages: English and Spanish (w/ English subtitles)

The movie reminds us that the immigration "problem" (note the quotes) at the southern border of the US has consequences to real human lives. While the story centers around an American single mother, the plight of the immigrants is also viewed through a different (than the usual "illegal") angle. The conversation between the father and the daughter about "bringing in a couple of teenagers who want to work" could have been a bit stronger and longer to make a point for why the immigrants try to cross the border, sometimes risking their lives. Then again, this movie uses pictures rather than words to drive home that point. As an Australian, Abbie Cornish does a great job portraying a Texan who can also speak some Spanish. Good acting by Cornish and the rest of the cast. The authentic view of rural Mexico is refreshing. My Rating: 7.5

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Perfect Sense (R) 7.5

Perfect Sense (2011): After sparks fly between a newly single epidemiologist and a charming chef, a puzzling patient -- a truck driver who's lost his ability to smell -- drastically alters the couple's budding relationship. (7.0)

Director: David Mackenzie
Writer: Kim Fupz Aakeson
Stars: Ewan McGregor, Eva Green and Lauren Tempany

Watch this movie without knowing anything about it. I thought it was a simple romance story and I found rest of the, um, "developments" quite intriguing.  (So, if you haven't seen it; and want to watch it; stop reading this review now.) While this movie is a sci-fi look at, sort of, post-apocalyptic world, it is also a reflection of today's society.  Think of things that happen, in the movie, to the world before the sensory perceptions deteriorate ... they are happening today, without our senses going out. More often than not, we in today's society experience extreme emotional states. This is a thinking-man's sci-fi thriller. My Rating: 7.5

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Between Strangers (R) 3.5

Between Strangers (2002): Three women confront their pasts which changes their futures. (6.2)

Director: Edoardo Ponti
Writer: Edoardo Ponti
Stars: Sophia Loren, Mira Sorvino and Deborah Kara Unger

Gosh, between bad acting, worse script, lousy dialog, weak story, ... hmm ... let me see; I don't think this is a good movie. Loren, Sorvino ... these people can act, so it must be the director and the writers ... oh wait, it's the same guy. Wasted so much of my time watching it, I'm not wasting any more of it writing more about it. My Rating: 3.5

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Neverwas (PG-13) 7.0

Neverwas (2005): A well-educated psychiatrist leaves an academic career to work at an institution where his father, a novelist, lived before writing a renowned children's book. (6.6)

Director: Joshua Michael Stern
Writer: Joshua Michael Stern
Stars: Aaron Eckhart, Ian McKellen and Brittany Murphy

This is a story in which you are never quite sure where the real life ends and the fantasy begins; or if the fantasy begins at all. A nice twisty tale and a picturesque little town they've selected to film it in. Brittany Murphy gives the spunk it needs. At the same time, it also looks at the darker sides of sometimes difficult lives. Best not to know too much about the story before seeing it. My Rating: 7.0

Saturday, September 22, 2012

The Sunset Limited (R) 6.5

The Sunset Limited (2011): Two men in an apartment with their opposing beliefs. (7.3)

Director: Tommy Lee Jones
Writers: Cormac McCarthy, Cormac McCarthy (play)
Stars: Samuel L. Jackson and Tommy Lee Jones

This movie gets an A for good intentions, but misses the whole point of why someone wants to commit suicide. The opposite of taking your own life is not "finding god." The opposite of wanting to kill yourself is wanting to live; loving life; enjoying the every day; etc. etc. etc. It has nothing what-so-ever to do with a belief or non-belief of a fantasy god. The constant bible-thumping god-references at the beginning were so off-putting, I almost stopped watching it. The end of the movie was quite good in that the Jones' character explains what it is that he is so sick of about the life, the living and the society and I can certainly relate/empathize. Given that (IMHO) flawed script, the acting was superb. The conversation, the dialog, the mannerisms, everything was right on the money. (Mind you, the whole movie is just the two characters sitting, mostly, in a room and talking, so I have to rate the movie on the substance of that conversation, mostly.) My Rating: 6.5

Thursday, September 20, 2012

District 9 (R) 8.0

District 9 (2009): An extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth suddenly finds a kindred spirit in a government agent who is exposed to their biotechnology. (8.1)

Director: Neill Blomkamp
Writers: Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell
Stars: Sharlto Copley, David James and Jason Cope

Yes, this is an aliens vs. humans movie, but the plot/story has a lot more than that. When they adopted the original short film to be a feature-length movie produced by Peter Jackson, they decided to stick with South Africa and the sub-themes in the plot. The use of the word "prawn," slum conditions, the Nigerian gangs, the "no aliens" signs, etc ... they all play major roles in the subtext. The mocumentary style works well for the movie. Yeah, the hero vs. villain fight scenes at the end are all too familiar Hollywood-type, but the rest of the movie, the story, the concept are so good, I'll endure the dragged out action scenes. This is a thinking-man's action sci-fi. I highly recommend this movie. My Rating: 8.0

Sunday, September 16, 2012

The Lawnmower Man (R) 6.5

The Lawnmower Man (1992): A simple man is turned into a genius through the application of computer science. (5.2)

Director: Brett Leonard
Writers: Brett Leonard / Gimel Everett (screenplay)
Stars: Jeff Fahey, Pierce Brosnan and Jenny Wright

Other than the title and perhaps a name or two, the screenplay has no relation to Stephen King's short story. Having read the Flowers for Algernon recently, I think, this movie borrows a lot from that story. Some have mentioned that the director's cut had a lot more character development. The people from the military/shop/funding agencies seem a bit too monolithic. Yeah, 20 years later, the computer graphics look primitive, but aside from that, the movie is quite good. The acting by the supporting cast could have been a bit better. My Rating: 6.5

Friday, September 14, 2012

The Departed (R) 7.5

The Departed (2006): Two men from opposite sides of the law are undercover within the Massachusetts State Police and the Irish mafia, but violence and bloodshed boil when discoveries are made, and the moles are dispatched to find out their enemy's identities. (8.5)

Director: Martin Scorsese
Writers: William Monahan, Alan Mak / Felix Chong (2002 Mou gaan dou)
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson

In this remake of the critically acclaimed Hong Kong movie Infernal Affairs, the storyline holds close to the original. Each character's internal conflicts and divided loyalties are less emphasized in this move than in Infernal Affairs. I don't know if the heavy use of profanities add much to make it look real, but it gets old pretty quick. Having seen the original, I knew the direction of the story; but that didn't diminish the suspense or my enjoyment of it. Sure, it is a great movie; but still, it is a re-make. Go watch the original. My Rating: 7.5

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

A Moment to Remember (PG) 8.0

A Moment to Remember (2004) 내 머리 속의 지우개: A romance blossoms between a clothing designer and a cautious young man, but because the two have both been hurt in the past, it develops slowly. One is recovering from an affair with a married man. The other has lived his life alienated and alone. (8.2)

Director: John H. Lee
Writers: John H. Lee, Yeong-ha Kim
Stars: Woo-sung Jung, Ye-jin Son and Jong-hak Baek
Language: Korean (w/ English subtitles)

A beautiful romance developing from a chance encounter and coming out of life's realities. The story is heartbreaking, although a wonderful movie. It is better to watch this movie without knowing much about it. The IMDB snippet (which I didn't use for this post) gives away too much of the storyline. The movie also gives you a glimpse of the contemporary Korean city-life, which is an added bonus. The cinematography, which is easy to miss in such an absorbing story, is superb with the nice use of lighting, camera angles and color contrasts. From the Netflix image, I didn't think the main characters were eye-candy, but they were, and specially Ye-jin Son is stunning in her simplicity. The use of some Spanish music added another dimension. Another great movie from the director of Sayonara Itsuka. I highly recommend this movie. My Rating: 8.0

Monday, September 10, 2012

Smoke Signals (PG-13) 6.5

Smoke Signals (1998): Young Indian man Thomas is a nerd in his reservation, wearing oversize glasses and telling everyone stories no-one wants to hear. His parents died in a fire in 1976, and Thomas was saved by Arnold. (7.0)

Director: Chris Eyre
Writers: Sherman Alexie (book/screenplay)
Stars: Adam Beach, Evan Adams and Irene Bedard

Notables about this movie include that this is the first major picture to be written, directed and produced by Native Americans; and, Irene Bedard was the physical model for Pocahontas in the Disney movie. The story shows a little bit about the poverty and desperation in Indian reservations, but the story itself is about human characters in the larger society. I think, too much nerdy-ness in Thomas' character took away an opportunity to build a better friendship between the two leading characters. The journey is the story here but it is lacking just a tad. My Rating: 6.5

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Beginners (R) 8.0

Beginners (2010): A young man is rocked by two announcements from his elderly father: that he has terminal cancer, and that he has a young male lover. (7.2)

Director: Mike Mills
Writer: Mike Mills
Stars: Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer and Mélanie Laurent

The elderly father coming out in his 70s is the headline-grabber in here; but the story is actually the young man's attempts at maintaining relationships--all kinds, being friends, girlfriends, father-son, and so-on. The movie uses the flashbacks and the dog-who first belonged to the father-quite effectively. The dialog is quite funny at times and very poignant at other times. I can relate very well to his tendency for pushing away all the people around him. The story has quite a lot of relationship points, some just in passing but they all matter; a whole lot. The casting is perfect. The acting--that of three main characters--is to the point without being overly emotional. I didn't expect this movie to matter all that much in the thinking department but it turned out to be a wonderful surprise. My Rating: 8.0

Saturday, September 8, 2012

MST3K: The Movie (PG-13) 7.0

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (1996): Mike Nelson and his robot companions watch and give their comments about "This Island Earth". (7.3)

Director: Jim Mallon
Writers: Joel Hodgson, Michael J. Nelson
Stars: Trace Beaulieu, Michael J. Nelson and Jim Mallon

Ha, they picked a good movie in "This Island Earth" for their quirky MST3K-style comments. The timing of the comments was excellent. I could have done without the crazy evil scientist segment, but hey, this is the movie version. I must say that I hate it when people make even small noises in theaters, but knowing that I am watching something explicitly for the smart-alec comments, I enjoy the MST3K style; mostly because the comments are witty, short and to the point. My Rating: 7.0

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Changeling (R) 7.5

Changeling (2008): A grief-stricken mother takes on the LAPD to her own detriment when it stubbornly tries to pass off an obvious impostor as her missing child, while also refusing to give up hope that she will find him one day. (7.8)

Director: Clint Eastwood
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Stars: Angelina Jolie, Colm Feore and Amy Ryan

I watched this without knowing the back-story behind the initial spat between the mother and the LAPD, so finding the depth of the larger story gives you that sense of enormity. The acting by the stubborn and authoritative males is so convincing that you just want to reach out and slap them. The period depiction with not just the clothing but also the street scenes is superb. The movie is a bit long; they could have gotten to the larger story a lot quicker; some can question the need for certain sequences. Original music by Eastwood?  Who knew! My Rating: 7.5

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along (NR) 7.5

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008): An aspiring supervillain must balance his career and his pursuit of a beautiful do-gooder. (8.8)

Director: Joss Whedon
Stars: Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion and Felicia Day

The ultimate in silliness and the fusion of musicals with bad super-villain characters. Good for a nice laugh, but 8.8 on IMDB, really? It is good, but ... anyway, short (40mins) and sweet and silly. My Rating: 7.5

Book and the Rose (PG) 6.0

The Book and the Rose (2001): A hunky young math teacher comes across a first edition of Anna Karenina and falls in love with the previous owner based on her extensive scribblings in the margin. (7.2)

Director: Jeff Bemiss
Writers: Jeff Bemiss, Max Lucado (short story)
Stars: Chris Kennedy, Patrick Tuttle and Carey Lessard

A very short (28 mins) movie; so there really isn't a whole lot of time to develop characters or anything, but to present the story.  Yet, the problem I have with it is the story itself. If I say anything at all about the story, it will be a spoiler (28 mins, remember?).  The story isn't altogether symmetrical as it may originally appear. Yes, the period costumes and trains and things are ok, but the acting isn't all that grand to write home about. I've seen/read (short) stories like this and they are always a "test" for for the main character; and, people seem to accept passing that test as a noble deed. The test is only for one party and I don't think it is fair. My beef is with the other person giving the test. If you pass the (unfair) test, you end up with the, uh, "loot," but if you fail you are the villain. Where is the test for the other party? Yes, since the story is so short, I'm laying the fault of the story on the presentation of the movie itself. My Rating: 6.0

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Smoke (R) 6.0

Smoke (1995): A Brooklyn smoke shop is the center of neighborhood activity, and the stories of its customers. (7.4)

Director: Wayne Wang and Paul Auster
Writer: Paul Auster
Stars: Harvey Keitel, William Hurt and Giancarlo Esposito

Uh, if this was supposed to be funny, it wasn't even all that humorous. If it is supposed to depict the inner good of people ... this is just politically correctness gone too far and trying to show everything is honky dory and everybody is just getting along. Really? In Brooklyn, NY? Yeah, right. Tell me another one. I've been in various places in NYC enough times to know that people are not at all like that and this movie is just wishful thinking high on a shot of stupid. Even the actors are sometimes smirking at the absurdity of the dialog. I guess, most people see this as a new kind of a Christmas tale or something, but for me it is just lousy storytelling. My Rating: 6.0

Monday, September 3, 2012

Chunhyang (R) 7.0

Chunhyang (2000) 춘향뎐: Mongryong marries the beautiful Chunhyang without telling his father, the Governor of Namwon. When his father is transferred to Seoul, Mongryong has to leave Chunhyang and finish his exams. (7.1) 

Director: Kwon-taek Im
Stars: Hyo-jeong Lee, Seung-woo Cho and Sung-nyu Kim
Language: Korean (w/ English subtitles)

The movie is presented as an 18th century period story plus the narration given by a modern-day stage actor/storyteller. The 18th century tale, seen through today's eyes, examines the disparity between those who are born into the power and wealth and the peasant-folks. The abuse of power and the traditional hierarchical value systems are examined along with the powerful love story. The period costumes, sets, locations and the cinematography are quite stunning. The parallel, documentary-style, story is the depiction of one man on a stage with a lone drummer bringing the old legend to life in front of an audience. (I think, a lot of eastern cultures have that tradition.) My Rating: 7.0

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Adjustment Bureau (PG-13) 7.5

The Adjustment Bureau (2011): The love-affair between a politician and a ballerina is affected by mysterious forces keeping the lovers apart. (7.1)

Director: George Nolfi
Writers: George Nolfi (screenplay), Philip K. Dick (short story "Adjustment Team")
Stars: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt and Michael Kelly

Do you believe in fate, that your path in life is set no matter what you do? In particle-physics-sense I do believe that the "free will" is over-rated. [Aside: We are--and everything else is--made of blobs of matter that's made of simple particles. There are rules for interactions between any two particles and therefore between any two or more blobs. So, in a larger sense, given a set of particles and a set of initial conditions, what happens next is ... given!] But the atheist in me says that there is no "controlling legal authority" (or a controlling super-being) that's winding the clockwork for the universe. So either way, the premise of this story is very intriguing to me. The movie is a sci-fi without all that movie special effects getting in the way of a good storytelling. I loved it. And, in today's political climate, that opening sequence is brilliant. The casting is super. My Rating: 7.5

Saturday, September 1, 2012

The Butterfly (PG) 7.0

The Butterfly (2002) Le papillon (original title): All Julien (Michel Serrault) wants to do in his old age is collect and preserve butterflies. But when a woman (Nade Dieu) and her 8-year-old daughter Elsa (Claire Bouanich) take residence in his building, his world opens up for good. (7.1)

Director: Philippe Muyl
Writer: Philippe Muyl
Stars: Michel Serrault, Claire Bouanich and Nade Dieu
Language: French (w/ English subtitles)

A feel-good movie about an inter-generational connection between an old man a young child. The story is quite simple, but the way it is presented holds the drama. There is a hint of a back-story to the characters, but not much is explained. The cinematography and the selection of locations is quite nice. As the young child Bouanich gives a very good performance without being overly sweet. My Rating: 7.0

Friday, August 31, 2012

The Thin Red Line (R) 7.0

The Thin Red Line (1998): In World War II, the outcome of the battle of Guadalcanal will strongly influence the Japanese advance into the Pacific theater. A group of young soldiers is brought in as a relief for the battle-weary Marines. (7.5)

Director: Terrence Malick
Writers: James Jones (novel), Terrence Malick (screenplay)
Stars: Jim Caviezel, Sean Penn and Nick Nolte

To me, this story is about the horrors of war presented as a free-flow stream of fragments about various characters in the group. I was mostly fascinated by the deaths all around and various people's reactions to facing death. The lack of a strong coherent storyline kept me fading in and out my own ideas of tactics of war and why I would embrace the death in each and every scenario. Having seen Malick's other free-form movie "A Tree of Life" I can say that I'm not a big fan of that style. If he really wanted to present the "war is hell" idea in that perspective, he could have, should have, used both sides of the conflict for the purpose. In this movie, however, the Japanese soldiers are still the enemy. Are they not soldiers like the friendlies, with the same hopes and dreams and fears? Yeah, I can see why this is a different kind of a war movie, but I'm not overly impressed by the storytelling (or lack-thereof). My Rating: 7.0

Monday, August 27, 2012

The Penitent Man (PG-13) 7.0

The Penitent Man (2010): The Penitent Man tells the story of psychologist Dr. Jason Pyatt, a man devoted to his work - a man torn from his family. With his struggling marriage and mounting bills, Jason is at a crossroads with the life he has chosen and the life he could have. (4.3)

Director: Nicholas Gyeney
Writers: Nicholas Gyeney (screenplay/story), Trevor Tillman
Stars: Lance Henriksen, Lathrop Walker and Andrew Keegan

This is a thinking-man's Sci-Fi movie. It doesn't have great special effects or sci-fi-esque good vs evil battle sequences. What it does have is a well-thought-out story without gaping holes. It makes you think about the consequences of time travel at two different end-points. The low score on IMDB means that most reviewers there are too dumb to understand the complexities of a movie like this, or they are just too lazy to think for themselves. I liked the fact that the movie is a sci-fi and it makes sense (ie: doesn't insult the audience's intelligence). Yes, some jokes are a bit corny, but hey, you can't have everything. My Rating: 7.0

Sunday, August 26, 2012

The Meaning of Life (R) 7.5

Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983): The comedy team takes a look at life in all its stages in their own uniquely silly way. (7.5)

Director: Terry Jones
Stars: John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Michael Palin

Well, you have to like this type of wacky humor to appreciate this movie. And, you have to watch it several times, and maybe with the subtitles on, so you understand all the lines, find new angles, etc. It is great satire. For a silly comedy with no redeeming value (or so you'd think) the final scene and the Galaxy song truly and honestly tell you the Meaning of Life. Yes, if you check your faith-based belief systems at the door, those two actually do make a lot of sense. My Rating: 7.5

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Frida (R) 7.5

Frida (2002): A biography of artist Frida Kahlo, who channeled the pain of a crippling injury and her tempestuous marriage into her work. (7.3)

Director: Julie Taymor
Writers: Hayden Herrera (book)
Stars: Salma Hayek, Alfred Molina and Geoffrey Rush
Wikipedia: Frida

The surrealist painter Frida Kahlo's life is beautifully (and painfully) portrayed in this moving and artistic movie. Salma Hayek is absolutely brilliant in bringing to life the controversial character of the artist. Kudos to the director and the cinematographer for using some of the paintings and bringing them to life in the movie. The storyline is quite true to the colorful real lives of artists Kahlo and Diego Rivera (yes, I had to look them up; isn't it good to learn a thing or two from a movie about real life figures!) If the movie didn't use some of the art, it would have been a tragedy. The way they used the paintings is superb; I loved it. This is a movie I will watch again. (The next time, I will watch it with Spanish dialog and English subtitles on.) My Rating: 7.5

Thursday, August 23, 2012

The Ledge (R) 8.0

The Ledge (2011): A police officer looks to talk down a young man at the ledge of a high rise, where he has one hour to contemplate a fateful decision. (6.4)

Director: Matthew Chapman
Writer: Matthew Chapman
Stars: Charlie Hunnam, Terrence Howard, Patrick Wilson, Liv Tyler

The story here is not what it seems on the surface. (My initial interest in this movie was because that "being on the ledge" is one of my 14 selected {ahem} "methods," but this movie isn't a suicidal rant.) It brings out quite a few very intelligent conversations about what it means to be evangelical, atheist, gay, straight, addict, faithful, loyal, family, etc. Each character brings out very complex situations and evokes varying emotions. The acting is a bit weak at some places, but I can get past that because the themes are very strong. Yes, I know, lots of "god-fearing Americans" (whatever that may mean to you) may not like the story. But, this movie will question what your faith really is. This is a thinking-man's movie. I highly recommend it, but be sure to bring your open mind. My Rating: 8.0

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Photographing Fairies (R) 6.5

Photographing Fairies (1997): Photographer Charles Castle is numbed with grief following the death of his beautiful bride. He goes off to war, working in the trenches as a photographer. Following the war and still in grief Charles is given some photographs purporting to be of fairies. (6.8)

Director: Nick Willing
Writers: Chris Harrald, Nick Willing and Steve Szilagyi (book)
Stars: Toby Stephens, Emily Woof and Ben Kingsley

I am fascinated by the main character's fascination of the fairies as the afterlife. The story shows that one man's grief with the death of his beloved wife has no boundaries. I liked the period costumes and the uniqueness of the storyline. What I like the most are the end scenes. Yet throughout the movie, I failed to put myself in the main character's frame of mind until that "end." It is that detachment and the typical British mumble-speak (at times) that makes me lower my score. My Rating: 6.5

Saturday, August 18, 2012

The Good Shepherd (R) 8.0

The Good Shepherd (2006): The tumultuous early history of the Central Intelligence Agency is viewed through the prism of one man's life. (6.8)

Director: Robert De Niro
Writer: Eric Roth
Stars: Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie and Robert De Niro

The story is loosely based on several real-life characters and the early stages of the CIA. The impact of the events depicted here in the Bay of Pigs incident is disputed but the declassified documents perhaps show that it was a major snafu by the CIA. Matt Damon is superb in his role as the humor-less agent dedicated to the cause to an ultimate fault. The story is very complex and at times hard to follow, even with the subtitles on. The Wikipedia article about the movie can help but don't read it before watching the movie. While this is not a car-chase, gun-battle spy thriller, it is actually a lot more engrossing, educational, and yes, thrilling. The 1940s and 1960s scenes have been filmed to a perfection with attention to detail. My Rating: 8.0

Friday, August 17, 2012

Before the Rain (PG-13) 7.5

Before the Rain (1994): The circularity of violence seen in a story that circles on itself. In Macedonia, during war in Bosnia, Christians hunt an ethnic Albanian girl who may have murdered one of their own. A young monk who's taken a vow of silence offers her protection... (7.9)

Director: Milcho Manchevski
Writer: Milcho Manchevski
Stars: Katrin Cartlidge, Rade Serbedzija and Grégoire Colin
Languages: Macedonian, English, Albanian

Yes, "The Circle is not Round" and some events are not quite as they seem. It is a tussle between love and hate even though the opposite of love is indifference. Interesting choice of events for the "cycle of violence" (I don't want to give away the plot here; but note who commits the violence on whom). A very good story. Picturesque settings for the first segment; but at the same time the acting is bit weak in that one. Since I took the 10 minutes to do a bit more background research about the movie after watching it, I understand it a lot better. I wish I could have gotten the same understanding from the movie itself ... My Rating: 7.5

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Love Actually (R) 7.0

Love Actually (2003): Follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely and interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England. (7.8)

Director: Richard Curtis
Writer: Richard Curtis
Stars: Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon and Liam Neeson

Corny yet surprisingly effective set of stories make up this movie with an over the top dose of love.  Yes, as the beginning of the movie tells us, love is actually all around us; supposedly. It depicts complicated situations, and for most folks in the movie it works out at the end, ... sort of. (Then again, love is a four-letter word. Sour grapes? Nah.)  A feel-good movie, probably best viewed during the Christmas time to get into the spirit of it all. I suppose, most people like this movie because there's at least one character that speaks directly to his/her heart. My Rating: 7.0

Monday, August 13, 2012

The Burmese Harp (PG) 6.5

The Burmese Harp (1956) Biruma no tategoto (original title): In the War's closing days, when a conscience-driven Japanese soldier fails to get his countrymen to surrender to overwhelming force, he adopts the lifestyle of a Buddhist monk. (8.1)

Director: Kon Ichikawa
Writers: Michio Takeyama (novel), Natto Wada
Stars: Rentarô Mikuni, Shôji Yasui and Tatsuya Mihashi
Language: Japanese (w/ English subtitles)

Maybe I missed something big here. Yes, I know that one message here is "war is hell." And, I have been able to see the inner messages of movies like Rashomon. But this one I find to be a bit too simplistic. These soldiers are trained to kill and sent into the battlefield to kill the enemy. Songs, really? A soldier hadn't seen the horrors of war until the last days? Even then, only the Japanese soldiers' deaths matter? Wearing a monk's robe, a stolen one at that, does not make him a monk. The story, as presented in the movie, is too simple-minded. The acting is melodramatic. Yeah, it has good intentions, but definitely missing the reality. My Rating: 6.5

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Immortal Beloved (R) 7.0

Immortal Beloved (1994): The life and death of the legendary Ludwig van Beethoven. Beside all the work he is known for, the composer once wrote a famous love letter to a nameless beloved and the movie tries to find out who this beloved was. (7.2)

Director: Bernard Rose
Writer: Bernard Rose
Stars: Gary Oldman, Jeroen Krabbé and Isabella Rossellini

While the writer/director claims to have solved the mystery, the scholars don't agree as to the identity of the woman addressed as "Immortal Beloved."  The movie, taken as speculation, is quite intriguing.  Gary Oldman gives a wonderful performance as Beethoven, where the actor is quite easily forgotten for the character he plays; that's as powerful as it gets. We see a (quite plausible) version of Beethoven's life with his declining hearing. In the end, this is a movie about the letter and a missed opportunity. My Rating: 7.0

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (PG) 8.0

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) (風の谷のナウシカ Kaze no Tani no Naushika): Warrior/pacifist Princess Nausicaä desperately struggles to prevent two warring nations from destroying themselves and their dying planet. (8.1)

Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Writers: Hayao Miyazaki (comic), Hayao Miyazaki (screenplay)
Stars: Sumi Shimamoto, Mahito Tsujimura and Hisako Kyôda
Stars: Alison Lohman, Shia LaBeouf, Patrick Stewart

This is the wonderful and defining anime masterpiece that gave rise to the famous Studio Ghibli. The story, the animation, the presentation, the attention to details, etc. are perfect. This was my third or fourth time watching it, and I still find something new. My Rating: 8.0

Friday, August 10, 2012

The Iron Lady (PG-13) 6.5

The Iron Lady (2011): An elderly Margaret Thatcher talks to the imagined presence of her recently deceased husband as she struggles to come to terms with his death while scenes from her past life, from girlhood to British prime minister, intervene. (6.4)

Director: Phyllida Lloyd
Writer: Abi Morgan (screenplay)
Stars: Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent and Richard E. Grant

Meryl Streep is wonderful in transforming herself into Margaret Thatcher. That is a commanding performance. The movie dwells too much in elderly and ailing MT and not enough in the "Iron Lady" mode. The actual footage used had the wrong screen proportions (stretched; annoyed me) and probably needed better explanations. I dunno, the story is a bit weak for such a strong and controversial political figure. It needed (more of) supporters' and detractors' views. My Rating: 6.5

Monday, August 6, 2012

Martha Marcy May Marlene (R) 7.0

Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011): Haunted by painful memories and increasing paranoia, a damaged woman struggles to re-assimilate with her family after fleeing an abusive cult. (7.1)

Director: Sean Durkin
Writer: Sean Durkin
Stars: Elizabeth Olsen, Sarah Paulson and John Hawkes

The story is about two sisters trying to rebuild their relationship after the younger sister has had a traumatic cult experience. We find out the information in bit and pieces. Initially, the commune life seems quite normal. Then we see quite disturbing events and understand why she feels not safe even outside. Then the movie ends quite abruptly. There is a lot that is not said; the story is incomplete; the back-story is not told. I think, we are to fill in the blanks. The acting is quite good, but I can do without seeing yet another Brit as the wealthy husband (what's with that fascination of American movies, anyway?). My Rating: 7.0

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Wit (TV PG-13) 8.5

Wit (2001): A renowned professor is forced to reassess her life when she is diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer. (8.0)

Director: Mike Nichols
Writers: Margaret Edson (play), Emma Thompson / Mike Nichols (teleplay)
Stars: Emma Thompson, Christopher Lloyd, Eileen Atkins, Audra McDonald, Jonathan M. Woodward

A wonderful and poignant movie about death and the process of dying. Adapted from a play, they have decided to have the main character speak directly to the camera instead of using voice-over or a narrator. That works powerfully well by including the audience in the journey. The use of the current character in the current form in the past scenes, and vice versa, add to the storytelling. The topic of death is looked at in various forms and in different points of view. The use of John Donne's sonnet Death, be not proud as the central theme makes you wonder if the movie is really about the sonnet. This is also an eye opening look at the health care industrial complex in this country. Great performances by all the main actors, especially so by Emma Thompson. I very highly recommend this one. (I watched it twice in the same day because it is so witty, funny, sad, thoughtful, ... all at the same time.) My Rating: 8.5