Downfall (R) 8.0

Downfall (2004) Der Untergang (original title): Traudl Junge, the final secretary for Adolf Hitler, tells of the Nazi dictator's final days in his Berlin bunker at the end of WWII. (8.3)

Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel
Writers: Bernd Eichinger (screenplay), Joachim Fest (book), Traudl Junge / Melissa Müller (book)
Stars: Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara and Ulrich Matthes

Acting is quite good in that you think you are watching the real events. Bruno Ganz must have studied his role quite well; he gets Hitler's part spot-on. The movie shows how various inner-circle people behaved at the end. It begins and ends with the footage of the real-life Traudl Junge speaking. She claims that she didn't know the true evil nature of the Nazis. How could she have not known? As the secretary, she was privy to the information in the inner circle and typed letters for the man himself. I think she has decided to shut that out and she gets no sympathy what-so-ever from me. As a depiction of the evilness of the Third Reich this movie does its job very well. My Rating: 8.0

Always (PG) 6.5

Always (1989): A romantic adventure about a legendary pilot's passion for dare-devil firefighting and his girl. (6.2)

Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter and Brad Johnson

A sentimental movie with a supernatural idea thrown in. It was good seeing the three main actors and they are good. But the story is a tad bit too mushy and devoid of reality. Yes, you feel for Holly Hunter's character, but the heroics at the end of the movie are not necessary for the feel-good ending they were going for. Spielberg's signature is there, and that's both good and bad, I think. My Rating: 6.5

The Descendants (R) 7.5

The Descendants (2011): A land baron tries to re-connect with his two daughters after his wife is seriously injured in a boating accident. (7.5)

Director: Alexander Payne
Writers: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash (screenplay), Kaui Hart Hemmings (novel)
Stars: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley and Amara Miller

This movie starts out with the common silliness of a comedy, but surprisingly, it becomes better at connecting with the audience. It tackles several issues that are seemingly at odds with each other, such as the end of life complications, dealing with relatives, and infidelity. Yes, some emotional reactions have been sacrificed for the humor, but overall it captures the better nature of a family pulling together at a difficult time. The acting is quite good, and we expect that from Clooney. In that respect, the two younger actresses, Woodley and Miller are superb. And, what do you know, Hawaii is not a bad place to shoot a movie. My Rating: 7.5

Kids Are All Right (R) 5.5

The Kids Are All Right (2010): Two children conceived by artificial insemination bring their birth father into their family life. (7.2)

Director: Lisa Cholodenko
Writers: Lisa Cholodenko, Stuart Blumberg
Stars: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo

Ok, points for picking some timely issues to tackle, but writer/director decided to go for the cheap laughs and make it a superficial movie with nothing under the surface.  Ugh.  And, what's with those almost soft-porn-like sex scenes ... for the shock appeal?  When you try to mix comedy with serious subjects, neither comes off right.  So, the sub-title for the movie is "... but, the parents are not.  And, neither is this movie!"  My Rating: 5.5

A Dangerous Method (R) 6.5

A Dangerous Method (2011): A look at how the intense relationship between Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud gives birth to psychoanalysis. (6.6)

Director: David Cronenberg
Writers: Christopher Hampton (screenplay), John Kerr (book), Christopher Hampton (play "The Talking Cure") 
Stars: Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightley and Viggo Mortensen


The problem with a movie with historical figures is that it is compared against the (perceived) real history. In this case, the story is about Freud and his close associate Jung. Since I haven't studied/followed the real life characters all that much, I kept wanting to know more theory of the psychiatry and psychoanalysis. I should have remembered that this is a movie and followed the story.  The acting is great.  Keira Knightley reminded me of Angelina Jolie in "Girl, Interrupted". I think, Freud's character has been dumbed down a bit by the whimsical inference of "everything boils down to sexuality."  Intriguing ... a bit.  My Rating: 6.5

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (R) 8.0

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011): In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley is forced from semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6. (7.2)

Director: Tomas Alfredson
Writers: Bridget O'Connor / Peter Straughan (screenplay), John le Carré (novel)
Stars: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt

Espionage the old fashioned way is nicely depicted in this well-crafted movie. The attention to detail to get the period look of 1970's right is splendid. The acting by the entire cast is right on the money. The story itself is a bit complex but that makes you pay more attention to who's who and what their relationships to each other and the Circus are. A good use of camera angles and sets/locations. While this is not a Bond-style spy thriller, I enjoyed this every bit as much, and perhaps more.  My Rating: 8.0

Apocalypse Now (R) 8.0

Apocalypse Now (1979): During the on-going Vietnam War, Captain Willard is sent on a dangerous mission into Cambodia to assassinate a renegade Green Beret who has set himself up as a god among a local tribe. (8.6)

Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Writers: John Milius, Francis Ford Coppola, Michael Herr (novel)
Stars: Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando and Robert Duvall

This is my first time seeing this movie in its entirety. Yeah, war is hell; and this movie captures it in full. A lot has been said about this movie. Yes, it is a great masterpiece. The acting, directing, sets, locations. etc are great. It is almost like a documentary; so close to reality. One thing kept bugging me through out is that the locals are depicted as one dimensional. Anyone who already has a distaste for the war as a conflict resolution mechanism may not find this movie all that shocking; there's nothing new. Yet, some people who think this is a great movie don't take the time to think that the real war is as stupid as the story portrays. My Rating: 8.0

Taxi Driver (R) 7.5

Taxi Driver (1976): A mentally unstable Vietnam war veteran works as a nighttime taxi driver in New York City where the perceived decadence and sleaze feeds his urge to violently lash out, attempting to save a teenage prostitute in the process. (8.5)

Director: Martin Scorsese
Writer: Paul Schrader
Stars: Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster and Cybill Shepherd

Boy, everybody looks so young. :-)  Okay, I'm of two minds about this movie. On one hand, it is a look at the 70's New York City through the eyes of a returning Vietnam vet who only sees what he wants to see and who only feels the loneliness in the middle of the most populous city. On the other hand, I feel like this may have been a great movie back in the 70s but it isn't breakthrough movie-making for today. The realistic portrayal of the dark side of a city isn't all that magic any more. Some scenes, like the political rallies, aren't all that realistic anyway. Yes, if I keep in mind that this was made in '76 and at that time the techniques and this type of storytelling is refreshing and progressive, yeah, I'll buy that this is a great movie. I guess, in a way, like the character in the movie, I'm also very much conflicted and confused ... and, not just about this movie; not just in one way. Then again, who isn't ... watching how every man for himself in this dog eat dog society we live in?  My Rating: 7.5

Under the Bombs (R) 7.5

Under the Bombs (2007) Sous les bombes (original title): In the wake of Israel's 2006 bombardment of Lebanon, a determined woman finds her way into the country convincing a taxi cab driver to take a risky journey around the scarred region in search of her sister and her son. (7.1)

Director: Philippe Aractingi
Writers: Michel Léviant, Philippe Aractingi
Stars: Nada Abou Farhat, Georges Khabbaz and Rawia Elchab
Language: Arabic (w/ English subtitles)

I kept putting off watching this movie because I thought it is going to be yet another war movie. Well, it is a war movie. It clearly depicts what happens when civilian neighborhoods are turned into war zones. But, more importantly, it is a human story about how normal the people are; and how normal they desperately want to be. The main message is that most people who are caught up in the politics of war (and wars of politics) are just regular people like you and me. Filmed in picturesque parts of Lebanon, this movie is part documentary, part war movie, part road trip, but above all--a simple yet complicated--human story that touches your heart. I highly recommend this movie.  My Rating: 7.5

Peggy Sue Got Married (PG-13) 5.0

Peggy Sue Got Married (1986): Peggy Sue faints at a Highschool reunion. When she wakes up she finds herself in her own past, just before she finished school. (6.3)

Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Writers: Jerry Leichtling, Arlene Sarner
Stars: Kathleen Turner, Nicolas Cage and Barry Miller

WTF?  Hey director/writers, if you want to write a story about going back in time, at least get the basics right.  Things you do after going back affect the future events. Then there are past events you need to worry about. If you are not smart enough to understand those, just make a period movie about the 50s with cars with fins, screaming girls with fancy dresses and do-wup bands and call it a day. This story is effing dumb, stupid and useless. And, throw-up quality soapy to boot. The only thing the main character achieves by going back seems to be to cheat on her committed boyfriend. Yeah, real inspiring; thanks for that. What's with the casting? A 32-year-older playing both a teenage high school girl and a 45-year-old woman with pretty much the same dress and make-up is ... uh, did I mention that this movie is dumb and stupid? And, why does Netflix list this trash under sci-fi??  My Rating: 5.0

Accident (R) 6.5

Accident (2009) Yi ngoi 意外: A troubled assassin, who works by orchestrating "accidents", suspects that an accident that happens to his team is not an accident at all. (6.7)

Director: Pou-Soi Cheang
Writers: Kam-Yuen Szeto (screenplay), Lik-Kei Tang (screenplay)
Stars: Louis Koo, Richie Ren and Shui-Fan Fung
Language: Cantonese (w/ English subtitles)

Nice plot and storyline about a group of hit-men.  I liked the cinematography and the way it has been filmed to show the ordinary life in Hong Kong.  It is just that the killing methods seem to be weak and those scenes are bit too artificial.  That shouldn't have colored my perspective about the whole movie, but it did.  When you start thinking about a technicality, "oh, that can't happen" (ie: a 30-second full solar eclipse) then your spell is broken and the story falls apart.  As I said in the beginning, good idea for a plot but the execution (pun intended) needed more realism.  My Rating: 6.5

Restless (PG-13) 7.5

Restless (2011): The story of a terminally ill teenage girl who falls for a boy who likes to attend funerals and their encounters with the ghost of a Japanese kamikaze pilot from WWII. (6.5)

Director: Gus Van Sant
Writer: Jason Lew 
Stars: Mia Wasikowska, Henry Hopper and Ryo Kase


I liked this movie because it deals with death and dying. But the story is anything but melancholy. There are some quirky jokes and humor in the subject matter. It certainly deals with a few heavy themes and does a fairly good job of conveying the emotions to the viewer. Okay, so you think that the kamikaze pilot ghost is a bit of a stretch towards the end, but it turns out, that also stands in for some thing/one else. Yeah, there's more to this movie than what appears on the surface. My Rating: 7.5

The Conspirator (PG-13) 7.5

The Conspirator (2010): Mary Surratt is the lone female charged as a co-conspirator in the assassination trial of Abraham Lincoln. As the whole nation turns against her, she is forced to rely on her reluctant lawyer to uncover the truth and save her life. (6.9)

Director: Robert Redford
Writers: James D. Solomon, Gregory Bernstein
Stars: Robin Wright, James McAvoy and Tom Wilkinson

As a historical movie, this is quite a remarkable work.  I'm no Civil War buff, but I think, they got most of the story right. You get a sense that this is pretty close to a documentary. However, knowing the characters involved, and knowing that there certainly is doubt about how much Mary Surratt was entangled in the plot to assassinate the man who saved the Union, I couldn't sympathize with her plight. But the movie does present her as more than a one dimensional figure. The period costumes and scenes are nicely done. Acting is superb. The dialog may be a tad bit modern in a few places, but that's not a big deal. My Rating: 7.5

Jar City (R) 7.5

Jar City (2006) Mýrin (original title): A murder opens up a bleak trail of long buried secrets and small town corruption for a worn out police detective and his squad. (6.9)

Director: Baltasar Kormákur
Writers: Baltasar Kormákur (screenplay), Arnaldur Indriðason (novel)
Stars: Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson, Ágústa Eva Erlendsdóttir and Björn Hlynur Haraldsson
Language: Icelandic

Yes, it is a police detective story about a murder, but the back-story is oh-so great and different that it draws you in.  This is not a thriller/chaser type cop story.  It is a thinking man's detective drama that unravels slowly and methodically.  The acting and casting is superb.  I haven't seen too many Icelandic movies, so being able to see some of the scenery shots was truly wonderful.  When the story-telling suddenly shifts time, you are caught off-guard, but that makes perfect sense and done at the correct place in the narrative.  Good movie.  My Rating: 7.5

Secret Life of Words (R) 7.5

The Secret Life of Words (2005): A hearing impaired factory worker gives up her first holiday in years and instead travels out to an oil rig, where she cares for a man suffering from severe burns. (7.4)

Director: Isabel Coixet
Writer: Isabel Coixet
Stars: Sarah Polley, Tim Robbins and Sverre Anker Ousdal

Slow to get going at first, but you know there's something under the surface in this story.  At the end, it is a combination of several human stories about why people behave in certain ways.  There's always lots of reasons behind why someone stops using too many words.  A captivating story that grips you a little bit at a time until the whole thing shakes you to the core.  My Rating: 7.5