Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (PG-13) 7.5

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011): British retirees travel to India to take up residence in what they believe is a newly restored hotel. Less luxurious than its advertisements, the Marigold Hotel nevertheless slowly begins to charm in unexpected ways. (7.3)

Director: John Madden
Writers: Ol Parker (screenplay), Deborah Moggach (novel)
Stars: Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith

Any movie that has a few scenes of street cricket can't be all that bad. Seriously though, this is a brilliant movie with humor, drama, romance, social issues and a touch of sadness. British retirees in India by itself makes for funny situations, but the humor in this script comes from within the characters. The story also takes humorous stabs at outdated sensibilities of yesteryear's society (okay, perhaps not so humorous in the case of the untouchables). As expected, the acting by the heavy hitters is great and that of the supporting cast is not bad either. My Rating: 7.5

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Chronicle (PG-13) 6.0

Chronicle (2012): Whilst attending a party, three high school friends gain superpowers after making an incredible discovery underground. Soon, though, they find their lives spinning out of control and their bond tested as they embrace their darker sides. (7.1)

Director: Josh Trank
Writers: Max Landis (screenplay), Max Landis (story)
Stars: Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, Michael B. Jordan

The movie starts with a typical teenager having trouble in his high school and being anti-social. Then they find something that isn't explained or mentioned again, and they start to develop their new-found tricks. After some fun and games, everything spirals out of control. If you take out the inexplicable super powers, I'm not sure if this story has anything other than a typical teenage story and a pouting kid who can't deal with it. A lot of others are impressed with it but I'm not one of them. I guess, I went into it looking for a strong sci-fi angle, but there isn't any; it is just super-natural or fantasy. I think, the moral of the story is be careful with your super-powers. My Rating: 6.0

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Of Mice and Men (PG-13) 7.5

Of Mice and Men (1992): Two drifters, one a gentle but slow giant, try to make money working the fields during the Depression so they can fulfill their dreams. (7.6)

Director: Gary Sinise
Writers: John Steinbeck (novel), Horton Foote (screenplay)
Stars: John Malkovich, Gary Sinise, Ray Walston

The main story is about two characters who have to go from place to place looking for work in a very tough time. But the real story is about people, the connections, human character, and how they relate to each other. We encounter all sorts in this movie and each one makes his or her presence known, for good or ill, on the screen and in the hearts of the audience. While the timeline is from a bygone era, the characters fit nicely into today's society. The acting is superb; even by those who play the minor supporting roles. Who knew that a simple story about a couple of farm hands could invoke this many emotions! This really is great storytelling. My Rating: 7.5

Monday, August 12, 2013

Secret (PG) 7.0

Secret (2007) (不能说的秘密): Ye Xiang Lun, a talented piano player is a new student at the prestigious Tamkang School. On his first day, he meets Lu Xiao Yu, a pretty girl playing a mysterious piece of music. (7.7)

Director: Jay Chou
Writers: Jay Chou (story), Chi-long To
Stars: Jay Chou, Gwei Lun-Mei, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang
Language: Mandarin (w/ English subtitles)

This story of a young romance with a mysterious twist in the middle is quite heartwarming and captivating. Those who recognize classical piano tunes will have a smile seeing some of the scenes. Apparently Jay Chou has a huge fan following (for his more contemporary music and acting) and he has not disappointed them the first film as the director. A tiny bit of the story is, apparently, from his own experience in the same school as in the movie. Good acting, nice music and good cinematography. My Rating: 7.0

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Zero Dark Thirty (R) 7.5

Zero Dark Thirty (2012): A chronicle of the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after the September 2001 attacks, and his death at the hands of the Navy S.E.A.L. Team 6 in May 2011. (7.5)

Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Writer: Mark Boal
Stars: Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Chris Pratt

Most people know the basic story of the killing of UBL. This movie depicts the events leading up to that, and forces the audience to witness the ugly side of the battle. The extreme torture, the hotel bombings, the suicide attacks, etc. are shown pretty accurately and leaves it up to the audience to make up its own mind. Since this is a feature film rather than a documentary, there probably is some stretching of the truth for the effect, but the major events are said to be pretty accurate. We are familiar with the still photos of the final sequence of events, so the movie had to get that right. I think, it does a good job of it. There is some controversy over how UBL was killed, rightly, this doesn't try to answer that. Acting is quite good. We all know how the movie is going to end, yet the storytelling is brilliant enough to keep us on the edge of the seat. My Rating: 7.5

Friday, August 9, 2013

Garbo: The Spy (NR) 7.0

Garbo: The Spy (2009): A compelling account of Juan Pujol, an extraordinary Spanish double agent during WWII who helped change the course of history. (7.2)

Director: Edmon Roch
Writers: Maria Hervera, Isaki Lacuesta
Stars: Rupert Allason, José Antonio Escoriza, Aline Griffith

Admittedly, I don't know everything about WWII, but seriously, how could I have not heard about this double agent who played a major role? This is a very engaging documentary. Since there are no actual footage about the spy who worked like a ghost, the director has used various footage and movie clips alongside the interviews. And, that works. Though we get all the information from the interviewees, we are not left looking at talking heads. If the story wasn't real, it would make a hilarious comedy that most people would think unrealistic. The end scenes where the most decorated WWII soldiers clamor around to shake hands with Garbo is touching. "He is the only man awarded by both sides" says everything. My Rating: 7.0

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

The Informant! (R) 7.0

The Informant! (2009): The U.S. government decides to go after an agro-business giant with a price-fixing accusation, based on the evidence submitted by their star witness, vice president-turned-informant Mark Whitacre. (6.5)

Director: Steven Soderbergh
Writers: Scott Z. Burns (screenplay), Kurt Eichenwald (book)
Stars: Matt Damon, Tony Hale, Patton Oswalt

The movie is based on a book which is the narrative of the real events involving ADM, the agro-business giant. Though the movie seems somewhat comical and funny at times, the allegations presented are very serious and real. The storyline in the movie has two struggles, that of the agro-business giant's illegal activities and the main character's personality and trust issues. Matt Damon's portrayal of the troubled man is spot-on. As the story winds down, it is hard to fathom that a man so innocent looking, acting whimsically, could have double-crossed pretty much everyone. What is missing from the story is the hook that the audience can understand and get behind on a worthy cause. While the lysine price fixing may have cost farmers money (ultimately higher prices for everyone), that doesn't resonate with the average audience member. It is not the "poison in the water" scandal; but a great movie, nevertheless. My Rating: 7.0

Monday, July 29, 2013

Clue (PG) 7.0

Clue (1985): Six guests are invited to a strange house and must cooperate with the staff to solve a murder mystery. (7.4)

Director: Jonathan Lynn
Writers: John Landis, Jonathan Lynn
Stars: Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn (1985)

In this black comedy, the setting and the actors are as you'd expect from the game and other similar movies. At times it has a very fast pace, slapstick comedy routines, and tricky dialog that keep you on your toes all the time. Even after following the story very closely, you still need a cheat-sheet to figure out what just happened and who's who. All the actors play their parts to perfection. The characters are over the top imitations of what they are supposed to be and that is part of the fun. They are not supposed to be genuine; they are not supposed to act in movie style but like in a play. If you don't get into the mood, you may not enjoy it; but then why are you watching it, otherwise? My Rating: 7.0

Friday, July 26, 2013

Dead Again (R) 6.5

Dead Again (1991): Mike Church is a Los Angeles private detective who specializes in finding missing persons. He takes on the case of a mystery woman who he calls Grace. She is suffering from amnesia and has no memories of her own. (7.0)

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Writer: Scott Frank
Stars: Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Andy Garcia

Those who like this sort of stories seem to love this move. I grew up seeing this kind of, ahem, "coming back" stories in the newspapers more than once a year, so the idea is not all that novel to me. Having said that, this particular story contains quite a few twists; the acting is superb; the film noir style suites it very much. What is lacking is what should have been the front and center of the two storylines; strong romance between the leading characters. One critic points out that at the time this movie was made, Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson were married to each other, so perhaps they didn't want to bring the personal side to the screen also. But by suppressing that a bit, the movie has lost that strong emotional ties with the audience. My Rating: 6.5

Saturday, July 13, 2013

The Edge of Heaven (NR) 6.5

The Edge of Heaven (2007) "Auf der anderen Seite": A Turkish man travels to Istanbul to find the daughter of his father's former girlfriend. (7.8)

Director: Fatih Akin
Writer: Fatih Akin
Stars: Baki Davrak, Gürsoy Gemec, Gengiz Daner

The movie has clearly marked segments (for what reason are they delineated like that, I'm not sure) but the various characters are all connected in complicated and convoluted ways. The section headings give away too much of the story to follow, therefore, loses elements for discovery and surprise. In my view, the story tries to fight too many social norms. I'm sure someone could remake this story as a black comedy since the coincidences and chance-connections are that many. I kept waiting for a connection to the title of the movie, The Edge of Heaven, but I don't think I saw it, leaving me with the feeling "yeah, okay, so everyone has trials and tribulations and some people have it tough what with the fundamentalist Islam's militancy on the rise, but ... meh, whatever." For me, none of the stories touched the heart like it could have had it been a single story about the struggle of one or two characters. My Rating: 6.5

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Blood Simple (R) 7.0

Blood Simple (1984): A rich but jealous man hires a private investigator to kill his cheating wife and her new man. But, when blood is involved, nothing is simple. (7.7)

Directors: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen (uncredited)
Writers: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Stars: John Getz, Frances McDormand, Dan Hedaya

A couple of years ago, I saw this movie's remake by the Chinese director Yimou Zhang, titled A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop.  So, coming into this movie I knew a bit about what the plot might be and what sort of a black comedy it is supposed to be. Even though it was in Mandarin (therefore, I know I probably missed quite a few jokes) I found Zhang's remake funnier, and cinematographic-wise better. Still, as the original this one is quite nice; yet I found the situations a bit more perplexing initially and only to later realize the hilarity in it. Perhaps, there is a moral in the story, but it is just too absurd. :-)  Just checked to see that this is the first movie of the prolific duo Joel and Ethan Coen. My Rating: 7.0

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

The Lookout (R) 7.5

The Lookout (2007): Chris is a once promising high school athlete whose life is turned upside down following a tragic accident. As he tries to maintain a normal life, he takes a job as a janitor at a bank, where he ultimately finds himself caught up in a planned heist. (7.1)

Director: Scott Frank
Writer: Scott Frank
Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jeff Daniels, Matthew Goode

From the opening scenes, you'd think that you know what is going to happen and it is just another silly teenage soap opera. However, the real story begins after those initial sequences. It is about the trials, tribulations and frustrations of a young man with physical limitations. Throw in Jeff Daniels' character and you've got another one with different circumstances. Various members of the society at large treat them at different levels; and some decide to use these guys for their advantage. The two lead characters play their roles brilliantly and that makes for a very good storytelling. While the thrill of a bank heist is there, and that is very good also, this is more of a character drama with the supporting cast also giving a very good performance. My Rating: 7.5

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Hwang Jin Yi (PG-13) 7.5

Hwang Jin Yi 황진이 (2007): The life of the famous gisaeng (female entertainer), Hwang Jin Yi, who lived in 16th century Korea. (6.7) 

Director: Youn-hyun Chang
Writer: Hyeon-jeong Kim
Stars: Young-doo Oh, Ryu Seung-Ryong, Hye-kyo Song
Language: Korean (w/ English subtitles)

I watched this movie without knowing the historical back-story or the Korean folk tales. As a period movie, the production is excellent. I liked the way the movie introduced the two main characters to the audience. Hye-Kyo Song playing Hwang Jin Yi is absolutely beautiful and mesmerizing. The period costumes and sets are quite stunning. The historical Hwang Jin Yi is said to be very good at dancing and singing, two things the movie could have made more use of. Yet, the movie did portray her as an intellectual, a poet and an equal of period aristocratic men; and an independent strong woman in a male dominated society. The love story between the two main characters could have been a bit stronger. As it is, her agonizing over her original love after having chosen the life of a gisaeng is somewhat perplexing. Nevertheless, a very good storytelling; a nicely done period drama. My Rating: 7.5

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

The Intouchables (R) 7.5

The Intouchables (2011): After he becomes a quadriplegic from a paragliding accident, an aristocrat hires a young man from the projects to be his caretaker. (8.5)

Directors: Olivier Nakache, Eric Toledano
Writers: Olivier Nakache, Eric Toledano
Stars: François Cluzet, Omar Sy, Anne Le Ny
Language: French

The skeptical or the pessimistic version of the story is that a rich old white man gets a poor young black kid as a nurse; each one magically sees the other's point of view and they all live happily ever after. Yeah, ok, there's some of truth to it. But this movie has more than that. I think the dialog is the most powerful part of it. They each say things anyone else wouldn't be able to, and gets away with it, and that actually removes their apparent labels and shows us the real human sides. The story touches on many things in the contemporary French society, for instance, the projects with high unemployment, the drugs, the rich aristocratic society, the abuse of welfare system, etc. but it doesn't claim to find solutions or lay blame on anyone. Instead it shows them for what they are, complex issues with real people's lives in them. The jokes are quite funny, even through the English subtitles. The acting by the two leads is superb, and that's what makes this worth watching. My Rating: 7.5

Monday, July 1, 2013

Unknown (NR) 7.0

Unknown (2006): Five men wake up in a locked-down warehouse with no memory of who they are. They are forced to figure out who is good and who is bad to stay alive. (6.5)

Director: Simon Brand
Writer: Matthew Waynee
Stars: Jim Caviezel, Greg Kinnear, Bridget Moynahan

The initial premise of the plot takes a bit of getting used to, but it could happen, it could happen; so let's go with it. The genius of the story is not letting that one major premise die in the first five minutes after it has been revealed to the audience. Then it becomes a good storytelling sequence. Various characters had clearly defined roles to play and they all did that quite nicely. The plot could have probed a bit deeper into the human psyche to find who each person really was now that there were five blank slates, so to speak; but this is an action thriller, not a psychological drama so much. Then again, it did find the inner good/bad guys. The twists at the end are quite nice and I didn't expect them at all. While there are few other movies with similar themes, this one holds the audience in suspense right to the end. My Rating: 7.0

Sunday, June 30, 2013

6 Souls / Shelter (R) 6.0

6 Souls (2010): A female forensic psychiatrist discovers that all of one of her patient's multiple personalities are murder victims. She will have to find out what's happening before her time is finished. (6.0)

Directors: Måns Mårlind, Björn Stein
Writer: Michael Cooney
Stars: Julianne Moore, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Jeffrey DeMunn

(I believe this movie was shown in the theaters as Shelter, but was released in DVD as 6 Souls.) I fell for the description of this movie written as a psychological thriller. It even started out as such with what looked to be a lot of promise; then it degenerated into some of a religious and/or cult (is there a difference?) supernatural crap. Look, if I want such fantasy and horror movies, I will seek out and watch them. But when it is mislabeled as something else, it really is irritating. In the first half, the lead characters did quite a good job acting-wise. When the story turns to silliness, I lost the interest in the plot and the acting, so excuse me if I didn't pay that much attention in the latter part. The locations, camera angles, lighting etc were quite good. It is the storytelling (the most important part in a movie, at least for me) that is lacking. My Rating: 6.0

Saturday, June 29, 2013

The Scapegoat (R) 7.0

The Scapegoat (2012): Set in 1952, as England prepares for the coronation, The Scapegoat tells the story of two very different men who have one thing in common - a face. (7.0)

Director: Charles Sturridge
Writers: Daphne Du Maurier (story), Charles Sturridge
Stars: Matthew Rhys, Eileen Atkins, Anton Lesser

The premise of the movie, which is given at the very beginning so this is not a spoiler, that two people are so much alike that most people can't tell the difference, is quite far fetched. But the good part of the story lies at the back end as it requires quite a bit of set-up. Granted that the story is about a strict aristocratic British family but just go with it and the end, I think, justifies the initial pain of gritting through that silliness. It is a human story (whatever that means to you) but does contain a few thrilling sequences. Acting, specially by Matthew Rhys is pretty good. Perhaps, it spends too much time getting to the point, but that much is required to set everyone up as there are quite a few characters tied to the lead. Period costumes and props are done quite nicely. My Rating: 7.0

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Thomas Jefferson (TV) 7.5

Thomas Jefferson (1997): A biographical film about The United States' influential and profoundly enigmatic Founding Father. (7.1)

Director: Ken Burns
Writer: Geoffrey C. Ward
Stars: Blythe Danner, Ossie Davis, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sam Waterston


Ken Burns, in his unique style, portrays the life and the legacy of one of the founding fathers of the United States. In the process, he talks to many historians, and presents facts, figures, theories, fables from various corners. At he age of 33, Thomas Jefferson was the youngest to member of the Continental Congress yet he wrote the major articles that have shaped this country. This documentary looks at the complexities of the man on the outside--he was a farmer, a writer, an architect, a scientist, a musician and a reluctant politician. But more importantly, it also looks at the inherent contradictions of his actions with this written words--he chose not to free the slaves he inherited from his wife's father while many other landowners in Virginia at the time were freeing theirs; yet wrote the now immortal words "All men are created equal." This depiction of the former President doesn't shy away from the Sally Hemmings controversy either. Yet what is lacking is a non-American perspective. Jefferson was a diplomat and spent a considerable time in Europe. There are current European historians who may have other views of the man. We here nothing from non-American historians. My Rating: 7.5

Monday, June 24, 2013

Lincoln (PG-13) 8.5

Lincoln (2012): As the Civil War continues to rage, America's president struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield and as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on the decision to emancipate the slaves. (7.5)

Director: Steven Spielberg
Writers: Tony Kushner (screenplay), Doris Kearns Goodwin (book)
Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn

There is so much written about President Lincoln and the civil war. Perhaps this movie, which takes very narrow slice of his life, will be looked at as the definitive portrayal of the Lincoln Presidency. I am told that Daniel Day-Lewis is somewhere in this movie, but I failed to notice him; all I saw was Abe Lincoln. The conversations, some of which sound not too far from today's usage, is spot-on and we the audience feel like a fly on the wall in a decisive moment of history. "With malice towards none..." is an often quoted segment from Lincoln's second inaugural address. This story (or real-life account) shows that quote reflected on himself. He was fighting his own inner demons, his own cabinet, and making use of the loopholes in the laws, all in order to do the right thing as he saw fit. In today's political climate, most people are fighting for favors for themselves and their own corporations. In stark contrast, Lincoln corralled the members of the Congress, delayed others, and did what's necessary in order to do right by all of the people. And, all that from an imperfect, complex man. I love this movie. My Rating: 8.5

Sunday, June 23, 2013

The Dead Zone (R) 7.5

The Dead Zone (1983): A man awakens from a coma to discover he has a psychic detective ability. (7.2)

Director: David Cronenberg
Writers: Jeffrey Boam (screenplay), Stephen King (novel)
Stars: Christopher Walken, Brooke Adams, Tom Skerritt

At the heart of the movie is the simple question (and probably in some song lyrics too) if you could see into the future would you take any drastic action to change it? But this story is a lot more than that. The circumstances surrounding it are poignant and heartbreaking. The depiction of the young man who falls into the coma and wakes up with the unusual ability makes the audience think about what you'd do under the same situations. Walken and Adams are superb in the leading roles. Kind of funny in the evolution of character portrayal that Martin Sheen plays the Senator who wants to be the President here and ends up playing the good-hearted President in the West Wing later on. As any good story, this movie stays in your mind afterwards. My Rating: 7.5

Saturday, June 22, 2013

John Hodgman: Ragnarok (TV) 6.0

John Hodgman: Ragnarok (2013): The deranged millionaire John Hodgman plays his last Ragnarok stand-up comedy show on the last day of human history: December 21, 2012. (6.3)

Director: Lance Bangs
Writer: John Hodgman
Stars: Scott Adsit, John Hodgman, Cynthia J. Hopkins

Ok, having seen his acts and deranged rants on the Daily Show my expectations were a bit high for this special, given that it is for the "end of the world."  It is quite humorous, and funny at times but not a barrel full of monkeys. They did a few things about the world ending and all that, but nothing memorable for me to remember a few weeks later. A good way to kill some time, and not a complete waste of time either (what with the world not ending, I did have all that time to kill anyway). My Rating: 6.0

Friday, June 21, 2013

Waking the Dead (R) 7.0

Waking the Dead (2000): A congressional candidate questions his sanity after seeing the love of his life, presumed dead, suddenly emerge. (6.5)

Director: Keith Gordon
Writers: Scott Spencer (novel), Robert Dillon (screenplay)
Stars: Billy Crudup, Jennifer Connelly, Paul Hipp

Two people who have opposite leanings in their political thinking fall for each other. But the important parts of the story are told as flashbacks. Perhaps that is a mistake in the storytelling. We get interrupted quite frequently just when emotions of the flashback scenes build up. Maybe the intention was to create a doubt about the death, but that takes away the flow of the movie. Connelly and Crudup are perfect for the roles and they do have a nice chemistry. The low budget nature of the film shows in some scenes when the main actors are almost alone and there are no extras in the background. The story is good. The audience should have been allowed more time to make connections with the characters. My Rating: 7.0

Thursday, June 20, 2013

The English Patient (R) 8.0

The English Patient (1996): At the close of WWII, a young nurse tends to a badly-burned plane crash victim. His past is shown in flashbacks, revealing an involvement in a fateful love affair. (7.3)

Director: Anthony Minghella
Writers: Michael Ondaatje (novel), Anthony Minghella (screenplay)
Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe, Kristin Scott Thomas, Naveen Andrews

This epic scale movie contains a couple of complex stories of love, lust, trust, betrayal, fear and caring. Set in the backdrop of a major historical event, the story (or, I should say stories, as there are two major relationship dramas unfolding, one in real time and one in flashbacks) depicts the human side of wants, desires and consequences. The storytelling is slow at times, but that gives the viewer the necessary space to understand the complexities and appreciate the acting. Speaking of acting, all of the major players and even the supporting cast members are just superb. The cinematography alone is worth the price of admission. But at the end, it is the emotions portrayed by the characters that tug at your heart strings. This is one of those movies you'd want to watch over and over because it is that good. My Rating: 8.0

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Jesus Henry Christ (PG-13) 6.5

Jesus Henry Christ (2012): At the age of ten, Henry James Hermin, a boy who was conceived in a petri-dish and raised by his feminist mother, follows a string of Post-It notes in hopes of finding his biological father. (6.1)

Director: Dennis Lee
Writers: Dennis Lee
Stars: Jason Spevack, Toni Collette, Michael Sheen

If you come to this movie with a preconceived notion about a "that kind of story" you will hate it. It is a flowing story with many tangents and way too many quirky cutting remarks and jabs. Most of them are probably not laugh out loud jokes but quite amusing. Besides, there's a story to be told and a mystery to be solved. All the major characters have various flaws and that's the great thing about this story. The ending seems to be a bit too sweet and sappy, but hey, it could have gone totally dark and given that I prefer this side. Just have to enjoy the moments and silliness of them. The acting by the two young kids is brilliant, given that they had to portray two quirky characters. My Rating: 6.5

Monday, June 17, 2013

Sound of Noise (R) 7.0

Sound of Noise (2010): A tone-deaf cop works to track down a group of guerilla percussionists whose anarchic public performances are terrorizing the city. (7.1)

Directors: Ola Simonsson, Johannes Stjärne Nilsson
Writers: Jim Birmant (story), Ola Simonsson (screenplay)
Stars: Bengt Nilsson, Sanna Persson, Magnus Börjeson
Language: Swedish

I'm not quite sure if this is a comedy of errors or a comedy of the music. Whatever it is, the movie starts out as a normal story, gets a bit silly, and then goes from crazy to ridiculous. But the music itself and the various back-stories keep the viewer fully interested. The plot is nicely laid out in that the "crime" here is making music, so you end up pulling for both the cops and the musicians at the same time. I fully enjoyed this somewhat weird storyline; but there's not much you remember afterwards. My Rating: 7.0

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Last Life in the Universe (R) 6.5

Last Life in the Universe (2003): A suicidal, obsessively compulsive Japanese librarian is forced to lie low in Thailand with a pot-smoking woman coping with the recent loss of her sister. (7.5)

Director: Pen-Ek Ratanaruang
Writers: Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, Prabda Yoon
Stars: Tadanobu Asano, Sinitta Boonyasak, Takashi Miike

Um, okay so it starts out quite strong like it actually has some story. That was my first mistake; thinking that this movie has a story. Well, it sort of does have two strands of stories but that's about it. I'm not quite sure what the hell it is; and after watching you are feeling like 'well that was some good two hours spent looking for something and found nothing.' I guess, if I'm high like one of the characters, this might-just might-make some sense. Some of the jokes were funny, but they were few and far in between. My Rating: 6.5

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Reservoir Dogs (R) 8.0

Reservoir Dogs (1992): After a simple jewelery heist goes terribly wrong, the surviving criminals begin to suspect that one of them is a police informant. (8.4)

Director: Quentin Tarantino
Writers: Quentin Tarantino, Roger Avary
Stars: Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen

I finally got around to watching this one. It is one of those movies that defines the genre. The total disregard to human life by pretty much everyone at various situations is perfectly displayed. Yeah, Tarantino and violence go hand in hand, but I think it is used for a purpose in this case. The casting is perfect. Every actor fits nicely to the role and the character. I can't add much to what's already been said about this cult-classic. My Rating: 8.0

Sunday, June 9, 2013

A Royal Affair (R) 7.5

A Royal Affair (2012): A young queen, who is married to an insane king, falls secretly in love with her physician - and together they start a revolution that changes a nation forever. (7.5)

Director: Nikolaj Arcel
Writers: Bodil Steensen-Leth (novel), Rasmus Heisterberg (screenplay)
Stars: Alicia Vikander, Mads Mikkelsen, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard

I have a slight aversion to watching pompous and arrogant European royalties on screen. However, this
movie is not that. It tells the story of a king trapped within himself, a queen trapped in the system, a love affair despite themselves, and how they were able to do a tiny bit of good despite the circumstances. The casting, the acting, the period costumes and sets, all are brilliant. The acting is so good that sometimes you are not sure if this is a movie or a filmed live documentary. The way the story is told, from the perspective of the queen's hindsight, is the correct way. It actually humanizes, just by a tiny bit, the whole bloody nonsense of idea of the European monarchy. If you like period dramas, just watch it. My Rating: 7.5

Saturday, June 8, 2013

The Man from Earth (PG) 8.0

The Man from Earth (2007): An impromptu goodbye party for Professor John Oldman becomes a mysterious interrogation after the retiring scholar reveals to his colleagues he never ages and has walked the earth for 14,000 years. (7.9)

Director: Richard Schenkman
Writer: Jerome Bixby
Stars: David Lee Smith, Tony Todd, John Billingsley

My fourth time seeing it--I keep watching this movie because it is so good. It is listed as a Sci-Fi, but has no special effects, no aliens, no creepy horror scenes, etc. Once you buy into the premise, it becomes a very intriguing thought experiment. The story keeps forcing you to think about the implications of the historical narrative--specially the one that is largely accepted as true in the Western religious circles. It asks you to set aside your own belief systems and try an equally compelling story. Remember to bring an open mind. You also need to pay attention to various facts, theories and hypotheses that come at you really fast. (Perhaps you can find the script elsewhere on the net after watching the movie.) The casting is pretty good; but there are a couple places where the acting becomes a bit stiff. The story is powerful enough to smooth it over, though. My Rating: 8.0

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Empire of the Air

Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio (1991): Jason Robards narrates this journey to pre-television days where viewers meet the titans of the airwaves: David Sarnoff, Lee de Forest and Edwin Howard Armstrong. See how radio served as the medium that informed and entertained Americans during much of the 20th century. (7.4)

Director: Ken Burns
Writers: Ken Burns (additional), Tom Lewis (book)
Stars: Jason Robards, Red Barber, Erik Barnouw

It is quite interesting to learn about the radio pioneers in the Americas and their ideological and personal feuds. As his style, Ken Burns has done quite a lot of research, has talked to many people who know the subject and then relies on historians on camera to tell the story. At the same time, he seems to forget the fact that he is talking about a technical matter and not just history. Where is the engineering background? Where is Tesla? Also, a problem Ken Burns has with most of his documentaries is that he seems to forget that there is a world outside of the United States. He only makes passing references to non-Americans who did major work in the radio world. Still, a good documentary for those who like that sort of stuff (myself included). My Rating: 7.0

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

American Psycho (R) 7.5

American Psycho: A wealthy New York investment banking executive hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends as he escalates deeper into his illogical, gratuitous fantasies. (7.7)

Director: Mary Harron
Writers: Bret Easton Ellis (novel), Mary Harron (screenplay)
Stars: Christian Bale, Justin Theroux, Josh Lucas

If you are going to watch this movie, don't read about it; just watch it. Then make up your own mind. It is just brilliant. If you are still reading this, then I guess, you've seen it. Yes, there are lots of posts all over the net about the ending of this movie. It is left open, so you are invited to think about it and make up your own mind. I tend to be on the camp that thinks that it was all in his head. I loved the way they used the 80's music as punch lines throughout movie. It is dark humor at its best--looking at the materialistic world and laughing at it. This is exactly what's wrong with our culture today. No matter how dark and psychotic people are on the inside, as long as they are prim and sugar-coated on the outside, we take them to be the good guys. My Rating: 7.5

Monday, June 3, 2013

Rapt (R) 7.0

Rapt (2009): A rich industrialist is brutally kidnapped. While he physically and mentally degenerates in imprisonment, the kidnappers, police and the board of the company of which he is director negotiate about the ransom of 50 million euro. (6.7)

Director: Lucas Belvaux
Writer: Lucas Belvaux
Stars: Yvan Attal, Anne Consigny, André Marcon
Language: French (w/ English subtitles)

Yes, this is a kidnap-and-ransom movie but there are quite a lot of lives, back-stories, interests, and perspectives involved in the telling of the tale. What captures you right from the start is the nice camera/editing work, specially used to quickly establish our aristocratic power broker's baseline life. The bigger story, and the message, is how various people look at this life of the "innocent" guy who got kidnapped, after all the stories of his excesses come out. You almost feel sorry for him and start to empathize but then the at the end we truly see who he really is and always was. A nicely delivered thriller. My Rating: 7.0

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Get Low (PG-13) 6.5

Get Low (2009): A movie spun out of equal parts folk tale, fable and real-life legend about the mysterious, 1930s Tennessee hermit who famously threw his own rollicking funeral party... while he was still alive. (7.0)

Director: Aaron Schneider
Writers: Chris Provenzano, C. Gaby Mitchell
Stars: Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Bill Murray

The story is funny and folksy at the same time, keeps you interested by hinting at a nugget of hidden gold somewhere. The performance by the established trio of actors is superb. A lot of effort has been put into the production of the sets, the locations, etc. The name of the movie, and frankly the trailers and such give the wrong impression of what the story is really about, and that sets the wrong expectation in the viewer. I wanted to hear a story about an old-timer who has a good time hearing good and bad, funny and sad stories from people ... things they'd have said after his death. That is precisely what I didn't get in this story. Instead, it is a story about an old hermit, and why he is that way. For me, I'm not sure the reason revealed at the end justifies the whole round-about journey to get there. After the movie, I felt like I'd just peeled and onion; there's nothing in it. That isn't to say there isn't something. There certainly is, but the failure is in the storytelling. My Rating: 6.5

Saturday, June 1, 2013

The Ledge (R) 8.0

The Ledge (2011): A police officer looks to talk down a young man lured by his lover's husband to 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, Liv Tyler

I decided to watch this movie again. Looking back at what I wrote the first time, I don't think  I can improve on it. So, here is that same review:  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 means 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

The Sessions (R) 8.0

The Sessions (2012): A man in an iron lung who wishes to lose his virginity contacts a professional sex surrogate with the help of his therapist and priest. (7.2)

Director: Ben Lewin
Writers: Ben Lewin (written for the screen by), Mark O'Brien (article)
Stars: John Hawkes, Helen Hunt, William H. Macy

This is a serious and grown-up movie for people who like intellectually challenging and sensitive subject matter. The story is about what happens to a person who has a sound and critically thinking mind but whose body is less than ideal. If you let it, this movie will talk to you; it will force you to think about what you'd do in a situation like Mark O'Brien is in; it will make you re-think about what is right and who among us should decide what that is. At the same time, it will make you laugh at times too. The three stars listed above give outstanding performances. Each of them has a role that is quite different from what I've seen them in previously, and each one is quite absorbed in his or her role. Remembering that this movie is based on a real life story, what would you have done in each of the leading roles? Yes, this is a thinking man's movie. My Rating: 8.0

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

For My Father (PG) 7.0

For My Father (2008): A suicide bomber becomes dependent on the kindness of strangers when his explosives won't detonate, giving him time to meet some of the people he's targeting. (7.0)

Director: Dror Zahavi
Writers: Ido Dror, Jonatan Dror
Stars: Shredi Jabarin, Hili Yalon, Shlomo Vishinsky

The take home message is that there is more than meets the eye, and there is much in common between the two cultures. However, that seems to be a bit too feel-good and hopeful. There has been too much blood spilled in the name of each religion and there is so much animosity between the groups, I can't see this kind of ready trust being established in real life. The selected location of a run-down part of Israel is quite good for in terms of the story as well as for the cinematography to work. Acting is quite good. A couple of things that I couldn't get past while watching: the everyone Tarek comes into contact readily accepts his refusal to take off the jacket even when sleeping; his father's downfall in the eyes of the terrorists isn't fully explained. Yeah, makes you thinki about the story and its implications. But if the RL worked this way, there wouldn't be that conflict going on for this long, right? My Rating: 7.0

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Looper (R) 7.5

Looper (2012): In 2074, when the mob wants to get rid of someone, the target is sent 30 years into the past, where a hired gun awaits. Someone like Joe, who one day learns the mob wants to 'close the loop' by transporting back Joe's future self. (7.6)

Director: Rian Johnson
Writer: Rian Johnson
Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt

You think, you can find flaws in any time-travel movie script, specially when the story has people meeting their former/future selves. In this one, you just have to suspend your own beliefs about what you think you know about time travel and enjoy the story for what it is. The audience is given a small, yet overriding, explanation that it is all fuzzy until things happen; sort of like many probabilities. Quite a unique story and unlike many modern science fiction, this movie's storyline is the kicker. Yes, there are guns, explosions, etc but that's not why the storytelling is good, it is the plot and how it is presented. Acting is quite good and  Joseph Gordon-Levitt does a decent job of presenting a young Bruce Willis. The camera-work is superb. This shows that you can have artsy shots in a sci-fi flick. My Rating: 7.5

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Life of Pi (PG) 7.5

Life of Pi (2012): A young man who survives a disaster at sea is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery. While cast away, he forms an unexpected connection with another survivor: a fearsome Bengal tiger. (8.1)

Director: Ang Lee
Writers: Yann Martel (novel), David Magee (screenplay)
Stars: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Adil Hussain

To me, this movie symbolizes how far the Hollywood movies have come. From early flicks like Laurence of Arabia where there were no women and everyone, including the Arabs, spoke in flawless American accent to a movie made by a Taiwanese director with a largely an Indian cast and a CGI tiger. I guess, we (whoever is meant by that 'we' for each of us) are no longer afraid of foreign accents. Fantastic story; and that's why we watch movies, to see and hear the story come alive right before our eyes. Great seamless use of live and CGI characters to tell the tale and make it alive. Nice acting, even by those who had minor parts (I even noticed the Indian head-wobble a couple of times). I do enjoy Irrfan Khan's subtle style of delivering the lines and emotions without over-acting the part. Nice ending; yeah, we like to believe what want to believe. My Rating: 7.5

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (PG) 7.0

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009): When Sid's attempt to adopt three dinosaur eggs gets him abducted by their real mother to an underground lost world, his friends attempt to rescue him. (7.0)

Directors: Carlos Saldanha, Mike Thurmeier
Writers: Peter Ackerman, Jason Carter Eaton
Stars: Ray Romano, Queen Latifah, Denis Leary

Look, it is the second sequel to a silly animated misadventure, and so, it is full of spoofs, laughs at its own expense, etc. You can see the jokes and punch lines coming a mile away, but they are still funny. And, I'm sure I missed quite a few spoofs of other movies, even other animations in the first watching. It is a nice movie if you are in the mood for such silliness, and who isn't once in a while. The animations are quite good and they kept the original cast, including Scrat, which is good. Enjoyed it. Will probably watch it again. My Rating: 7.0

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

John Dies at the End (R) 6.5

John Dies at the End (2012): A new street drug that sends its users across time and dimensions has one drawback: some people return as no longer human. Can two college dropouts save humankind from this silent, otherworldly invasion? (6.4)

Director: Don Coscarelli
Writers: Don Coscarelli (screenplay), David Wong (story)
Stars: Chase Williamson, Rob Mayes, Paul Giamatti

A goofy, insanely weird thriller/horror movie for those who like that sort of things. You have to suspend normal movie watching attitudes and just go with the flow to enjoy this movie. To top it off, the story is not sequential and jumps all over the place as well. Still it is hilarious and boring at various places and just plain weird at others. There is no reason trying to explain it or analyze it further. One of those movies for killing time; or just to say that you've seen something like that. My Rating: 6.5

Monday, May 20, 2013

Going Postal (PG) 7.0

Going Postal (TV 2010): Based on Terry Pratchett's 33rd Discworld novel involves a skillful con artist Moist Von Lipwig who finds the tables turned and it's he himself who conned into becoming the Ankh-Morpork Postmaster General. A position that has not been filled in years. (7.6)

Director: Jon Jones
Writers: Richard Kurti / Bev Doyle (screenplay), Terry Pratchett (novel)
Stars: Richard Coyle, David Suchet, Claire Foy

I haven't read the Disk World novels so my impression of this made for tv movie is purely on its own. The story is quite hilarious at times and there are lots of parallels to our world. The sets, the costumes, etc are quite brilliant and they seem to have invested a lot of effort into making those clack towers. The acting is spot-on with each one sticking to his/her part. The villain could be a bit more menacing but he is after-all a parallel of a high-tech CEO. My Rating: 7.0

Friday, May 17, 2013

Little Chinese Seamstress (PG-13) 6.5

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress (2002): Two youths sent for a Maoist "re-education" in the mountains fall in love with the village tailor's granddaughter. (7.1)

Director: Sijie Dai
Writers: Sijie Dai (novel), Sijie Dai (screenplay)
Stars: Xun Zhou, Ye Liu, Kun Chen

An "artsy" look at the cultural revolution and a glimpse of one re-education camp during Mao's time. It could perhaps be a nostalgic look back at the rural village life for those who have experienced or learned about it. The story is simple, yet heartwarming. The scenery is breathtaking and they've done nice work recreating the old village lifestyle. Yes, it does try to portray the value of classical literature and music over the communist re-education, but that is secondary to the simple love story involving the three teenagers. The humorous scenes seem to be bit silly at first, then again, these are about the simple folks in rural parts of the country. My Rating: 6.5

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Bride Flight (R) 7.5

Bride Flight (2008): A romantic drama that charts the lives of three women from different backgrounds, forever changed when they emigrate to New Zealand as war brides. (6.9)

Director: Ben Sombogaart
Writer: Marieke van der Pol (screenplay)
Stars: Karina Smulders, Pleuni Touw, Anna Drijver

I didn't like Netflix's description of the movie; and I took the "other" meaning of the "flight" in the title. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I finally watched it. The movie, for me at least, is the look back from a funeral. (I can't help but wonder who will even turn up at my funeral; not many.) The way we the audience uncover various parts of the story is the best aspect, and the brilliance, of the storytelling. It really is how much people do care for one another and no matter how they turn out at the end, we are reminded that the memories are forever. The chemistry between the actors is superb and the three leading ladies play their parts exquisitely. The period scenes and clothing etc add to the drama. The hesitations, the second thoughts, etc are projected into the audience quite nicely. My Rating: 7.5

Monday, May 13, 2013

Hugo (PG-13) 7.5

Hugo (2011): Set in 1930s Paris, an orphan who lives in the walls of a train station is wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton. (7.6)

Director: Martin Scorsese
Writers: John Logan (screenplay), Brian Selznick (book)
Stars: Ben Kingsley, Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz

Even if I didn't see this movie in 3D, I still find it very beautiful. This is, as many have said elsewhere, a tribute to the early years of movie making and specifically to Georges Méliès. The way in which the history is brought back to life is the wonderful aspect of the movie; letting the viewer discover the story along with the main character. Acting by the two young actors, alongside the veteran Ben Kingsley, is superb. The cinematography and the sound are what carries it onto the next level. It is also good to hear that Scorsese enjoyed working in the 3D medium. My Rating: 7.5

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Perks of Being a Wallflower (PG-13) 7.5

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012): An introvert freshman is taken under the wings of two seniors who welcome him to the real world. (8.1)

Director: Stephen Chbosky
Writers: Stephen Chbosky (screenplay), Stephen Chbosky (book)
Stars: Logan Lerman, Ezra Miller, Emma Watson, Paul Rudd

Perhaps, a little too much glorification of the partying and clique-ish atmosphere in the high schools, but the story walks through quite a lot of, shall we say, sensitive issues for teenagers. Among them are homosexuality, mental illness, coping with suicides, sexual abuse, etc. The book is probably better than the movie as we are left to understand some of the things on our own with bits and pieces pictures/clips, so it is easy to miss some complexities of the storyline in the movie. While the larger message of the story is that those who are different aren't alone, and it gets better, I can see how some people, specially those who are in that age range, walking away thinking "hell, I'm not doing even 10% of the seemingly 'fun stuff' those kids are doing." The acting is quite good. Emma Watson, as she does in the Harry Potter movies, goes on the bit of over-acting roll, but that's okay, after all she's playing the part of a teen. My Rating: 7.5

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Trainspotting (R) 7.5

Trainspotting (1996): Renton, deeply immersed in the Edinburgh drug scene, tries to clean up and get out, despite the allure of the drugs and influence of friends. (8.2)

Director: Danny Boyle
Writers: Irvine Welsh (novel), John Hodge (screenplay)
Stars: Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller

I'm not sure if I'm supposed to laugh with them, laugh at them or be sad along with them about the lives of the characters in this cult-classic movie. In one sense, you think that it hypes up the drug use, but in a deeper level it shows how the heroin culture has pulled the user into the dark abyss. The dialog is, to use an English term, spot-on. If I remember correctly, Ewan McGregor got himself a pretty good boost after this movie came out. The most hilarious scene for me was when they define how rotten it is to be Scottish. My Rating: 7.5

Thursday, May 9, 2013

12 Angry Men (PG) 7.0

12 Angry Men (1957): A dissenting juror in a murder trial slowly manages to convince the others that the case is not as obviously clear as it seemed in court. (8.9)

Director: Sidney Lumet
Writer: Reginald Rose (story)
Stars: Martin Balsam, John Fiedler, Lee J. Cobb

The problem I have with this movie is the same one I have with most of the old movies--I can't put myself in the situation. I am to believe that the actors do act like how period folks behaved; to me that seems so pretentious and phony. They look so alien to me. The story itself is about 12 white guys collectively, and eventually, saving "one of those people" who also happened to be another (poor) white guy, when we know in that same time period, a much larger explosive situation was taking place in the society. Yeah, so I'm not so impressed with this movie like most other people seem to be. Yes, the acting is good and the camera-work, given that it is in a single narrow room, is superb. Perhaps, I expected too much. My Rating: 7.0

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

In a Better World (R) 7.0

In a Better World (2010) "Hævnen" (The Revenge): The lives of two Danish families cross each other, and an extraordinary but risky friendship comes into bud. But loneliness, frailty and sorrow lie in wait. (7.6)

Director: Susanne Bier
Writers: Anders Thomas Jensen, Susanne Bier
Stars: Mikael Persbrandt, Trine Dyrholm, Ulrich Thomsen
Language: Danish (w/ English subtitles)

The English title is a misnomer; better if they had kept the literal translation from Danish: "The Revenge." The movie contains multiple stories, inter-twined with each other, that have varying degrees of one person doing bad things to another and their consequences. How the person who suffers, mostly mental trauma and hurt, reacts is the key to the unraveling of the events. I must admit that after learning its original title, I'm looking at it with a different perspective. To me, "In a Better World" is preachy and carries a different connotation. The story is complex and has many lines, but the sequential presentation makes it easy to follow. The acting is very good, specially by the young actors. Liked the wide-angle shots of various scenes. Good drama, for a thinking person. My Rating: 7.0

Monday, May 6, 2013

Under the Salt (R) 7.5

Under the Salt (2008) "Bajo la sal" (original title): When he arrives at a village near a remote salt mine to solve a string of grim murders, Detective Comandante Trujillo turns his investigation toward a troubled youth who works in a funeral parlor. (6.7)

Director: Mario Muñoz
Writers: Angel Pulido, Mario Muñoz
Stars: Humberto Zurita, Plutarco Haza, Emilio Guerrero
Language: Spanish (w/ English subtitles)

A murder mystery with more than a few twists. Yes, movies from Mexico seem to show move blood and gore than your average Hollywood equivalents, but it is quite appropriate here. The selection of the location, the sets, the use of lighting and the good camera angels all add up to a fabulous cinematography work. The story within is the stop-motion animation that the young man is doing, and that is also done with great care and skill. Even the effort put into the credits show that this indeed is not just a movie, but a labor of love. The acting is quite good; some of them look a bit stiff, but they are supposed to be like that for the part. And, the story itself is quite interesting and keeps you guessing all the way through. I'd say worth a look. My Rating: 7.5

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Beasts of the Southern Wild (PG-13) 8.0

Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012): Faced with both her hot-tempered father's fading health and melting ice-caps that flood her ramshackle bayou community and unleash ancient aurochs, six-year-old Hushpuppy must learn the ways of courage and love. (7.3)

Director: Benh Zeitlin
Writers: Lucy Alibar / Benh Zeitlin (screenplay), Lucy Alibar (stage play "Juicy and Delicious")
Stars: Quvenzhané Wallis, Dwight Henry, Levy Easterly

The movie is a mix a small part fantasy about prehistoric beasts and a documentary style story about the Louisiana bayou living. The poor folks who live somewhat off-grid life in the flood prone area are the people of the earth and their story comes out with all the joy and all the faults in-tact in this wonderful story-telling. The standout actor, obviously, is Wallis with the portrayal of Hushpuppy. She is so good in that role, you'd think this is a documentary. We watch movies for the great stories and to be wowed by them. And, this is one of those movies that you'd not only enjoy while watching it, but also remember sometime later and take pleasure in the memory of it. My Rating: 8.0

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Wallander (TV) 7.5

Wallander (2008): In a picturesque and once-peaceful province of southern Sweden, disillusioned police inspector Kurt Wallander probes a shocking spate of baffling murders. (7.5)

Director: Philip Martin, Niall MacCormick
Writers: Henning Mankell (Novels), Richard Cottan (Screenplays)
Stars: Kenneth Branagh, Sarah Smart, Richard McCabe

I watched the first season (three movie-length disjointed episodes) of the British series. It is set in Sweden, apparently as the novels intended, and the names, signs, newspapers, are are in Swedish, but the dialog is in English. Each of the three stories probably requires a separate post, but I'm too lazy. Maybe I'll do separate posts for each season as I watch them. The three that I watched are all well written screenplays (Sidetracked, Firewall, One Step Behind). Good storylines and well developed characters. Yes, the main characters are portrayed as having lives outside of detective work (some people may find that extraneous and not part of the plot) that adds to the richness of the story-telling. My Rating: 7.5

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Welcome to the Rileys (R) 6.5

Welcome to the Rileys: On a business trip to New Orleans, a damaged man seeks salvation by caring for a wayward young woman. (6.9)

Director: Jake Scott
Writer: Ken Hixon
Stars: James Gandolfini, Kristen Stewart, Melissa Leo

I guess, "nobody's perfect" is the take home message from the story, but it takes forever to deliver that. An original thought by the writer in juxtaposing a mid-western family with a New Orleans stripper. But in my opinion, it needed a bit more meat in the story. With New Orleans as the backdrop I feel that they should have had a few more outside shots giving justice to the city. Acting by the big names is quite good, considering that the audience is required to fill in the gaps, specially those that are left open inside the actors heads. Sure, it is a thinking person's movie, but a tiny bit was missing, IMHO. My Rating: 6.5

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Waltz with Bashir (R) 8.0

Waltz with Bashir (2008) "Vals Im Bashir" (original title): An Israeli film director interviews fellow veterans of the 1982 invasion of Lebanon to reconstruct his own memories of his term of service in that conflict. (7.9)

Director: Ari Folman
Writer: Ari Folman
Stars: Ari Folman, Ori Sivan, Ronny Dayag

I started watching the movie not knowing much about it, other than seeing "animation for grown-ups" in one of the descriptions. I didn't know that it was a documentary of an actual event until quite a bit into the movie. Not having followed the endless conflict in middle east that closely, I didn't realize they were talking about the Sabra and Shatila massacre that had actually happened in real life. That blissful ignorance for the first half of the movie actually made me realize that a lot of wars are like that, and that war is hell even when it is depicted in animation. The movie itself is a documentary about the self discovery of repressed memories. The animation is quite unique and very well done. I think, the technique of using animation to tell the story very well suites the purpose of this documentary. The music also plays a major role in the message. Yes, this is an anti-war documentary in the form of animation from a former soldier who is (believed to be) partially responsible for the brutality. And, in my view, it takes guts to do a project like this. My Rating: 8.0

Monday, April 22, 2013

Shuffle (PG-13) 7.0

Shuffle (2011): Lovell Milo suddenly begins to experience his life out of chronological sequence. (6.2)

Director: Kurt Kuenne
Writer: Kurt Kuenne
Stars: T.J. Thyne, Paula Rhodes, Chris Stone

While the original description reminded me of the Time Traveler's Wife, the movie itself is not like that movie (or the book). Instead, this one had an original take on the whole out-of-sequence experiences. Yes, I'm a sucker for movies like this (time travel; time displacement; etc.) so I know that I will be giving this one more credit than most people. Still, it used the camera tricks, still photos, the repeating sequences/words, etc to tell a compelling story. This is not a science fiction, so the viewer shouldn't think too much about the "time displacement" aspect of the story; instead the events will keep you glued to the screen. The take-away for me was not what the director intended, that you can have a second chance at life; but that's just me. Yet, I liked the heartbreaking and uplifting story. My Rating: 7.0

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Name of the Rose (R) 7.5

The Name of the Rose (1986): An intellectually nonconformist monk investigates a series of mysterious deaths in an isolated abbey. (7.7)

Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud
Writers: Umberto Eco (novel), Andrew Birkin (screenplay)
Stars: Sean Connery, Christian Slater, Helmut Qualtinger

A murder mystery set in a monastery in the middle ages gives a very intriguing storyline. As a back-story there is the debate between factions of the church itself. We can see quite clearly how the movie conveys the relationship between the church and the general populace without saying it in words. Looking from outside, it is interesting to see that even the man with a rudimentary deductive skills can make a mockery of the church's inquisition. Connery is the perfect actor to play the lead role of William of Baskerville. Young Christian Slater performs the role of the apprentice quite well. The sets and the costumes are very well done. An all around nice movie that perhaps hasn't gained much popular acclaim. My Rating: 7.5

Friday, April 12, 2013

Time Traveller (PG-13) 6.5

Time Traveller: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2010) Toki o Kakeru Shōjo (時をかける少女): When her scientist mother is injured in a car accident, exuberant teenager Akira hopes to wake her from her coma by time-traveling from 2010 to 1972 to seek help from a mysterious man, but her inadvertent landing in 1974 complicates her quest. (6.0)

Director: Masaaki Taniguchi
Writers: Yasutaka Tsutsui (based on the novel by), Tomoe Kanno (screenplay)
Stars: Riisa Naka, Akiyoshi Nakao, Munetaka Aoki

I watched the anime version of "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" earlier, but this movie takes a different direction. In this story, the girl who travels through time is actually the daughter and the heart wrenching romance is kind of skipped along the way (okay, replaced by a different one, but it isn't the same). While watching this movie, I didn't think that it had much to do with the anime version. I did like this one's attempt at looking at the story from the different angle. Regardless of the title, this really isn't a hard science fiction. When the viewer sets the expectations of it as a non-scifi, the story becomes interesting. My Rating: 6.5

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Surviving Progress (NR) 8.0

Surviving Progress (2011): Humanity's ascent is often measured by the speed of progress. But what if progress is actually spiraling us downwards, towards collapse? Ronald Wright, whose best-seller, A Short History Of Progress inspired SURVIVING PROGRESS, shows how past civilizations were destroyed by "progress traps" - alluring technologies and belief systems that serve immediate needs, but ransom the future. (7.1)

Directors: Harold Crooks, Mathieu Roy
Writers: Harold Crooks, Mathieu Roy
Stars: Ronald Wright, Mark Levine, Robert Wright


Yes, yes, yes ... this documentary shows how I often feel about a lot of things in our highly complex society. So many people like industrialists, energy executives, investment bankers, stock brokers, etc have the mentality that "there's a lot more of this stuff where it came from; and, we need to make use of it to make big profits before the other guys do." The libertarian idea of letting the marketplace alone take care of everything doesn't work since we--individually and collectively as families, groups, corporations, and nations--only think about how to make something "work" for us at the expense of others. The idea of making a buck in however ways and whatever means will have very detrimental consequences for the collective civilization. If we are a self sustaining small group of people floating in a tiny spaceship, we would think about the "right thing" to do before ruining the entire colony for everyone. Well, the earth is kind of a spaceship with 7 billion fellow travelers. The need for preserving that spaceship for the future generations to come is what this documentary tries to tell us. But I think, we are too late already. My Rating 8.0

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Ruby Sparks (R) 7.0

Ruby Sparks (2012): A novelist struggling with writer's block finds romance in a most unusual way: by creating a female character he thinks will love him, then willing her into existence. (7.1)

Directors: Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris
Writer: Zoe Kazan
Stars: Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Annette Bening

Okay so you have to buy into the silly premise of the storyline, but then that brings out quite a lot of humorous situations that keep the movie flowing. Sometimes you think that they are over-doing the "create your own girlfriend" part, but if you take a step back, it is only the trials and tribulations in various relationships. The visit to mom's "house" is brilliant. Without actually candy-coating the young romance, the story actually looks at deeper meaning and that's why the movie works. My Rating: 7.0

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Crash (R) 8.0

Crash (2004): Los Angeles citizens with vastly separate lives collide in interweaving stories of race, loss and redemption. (7.9)

Director: Paul Haggis
Writers: Paul Haggis, Bobby Moresco
Stars: Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Jennifer Esposito, Matt Dillon

Heh!  This is the "conversation about race" that the media is missing ... or more accurately, can't really conduct in its full explosive language and conduct. Sometimes the art really is the perfect medium for a reality check. A lifetime ago, I used to live in that same Los Angeles. Perhaps, back then I was oblivious to the racism just beneath the surface, or perhaps people have become a lot more edgy in the last twenty years, but I think this movie captures today's prejudices just waiting for the right moment to boil over. I loved the way how the story challenges the audiences' perceptions and then throws in a twist to mix things up just when you think you've figured it all out. Very good acting by the all-star cast. My Rating: 8.0