Timecrimes (R) 7.0

Timecrimes (2007) Los cronocrímenes (original title): A man accidentally gets into a time machine and travels back in time nearly an hour. Finding himself will be the first of a series of disasters of unforeseeable consequences. (7.2)

Director: Nacho Vigalondo
Writer: Nacho Vigalondo
Stars: Karra Elejalde, Candela Fernández and Bárbara Goenaga
Language: Spanish (w/ English subtitles)

This movie is one of those little gems you find unexpectedly when flipping channels.  The story is simple, but surprisingly intelligent; and it all makes sense at the end.  The consequences of time travel is exploited without the hype and hoopla but everything is accounted for.  The story uses ordinary folks and so they look and act quite ordinary.  That adds to the charm of the whole thing.  It is funny, clever and thrilling at the same time.  My Rating: 7.0

Prayer to a Vengeful God (R) 5.5

Prayer to a Vengeful God (2010): The story of a man caught in a whirlpool of grief and rage over the murder of his wife, Prayer to a Vengeful God is contemporary revenge drama, presented in an austere visual style, completely without dialogue. (6.1)

Director: Dan Eberle
Writer: Dan Eberle
Stars: Dan Eberle, Paul James Vasquez and Jennifer Farrugia

The lack of a dialogue is a gimmick; you can see the characters are talking and it is just that the story is too simplistic so we can see where it is going w/o hearing the conversation.  And, the title is misleading; there is no vengeful god.  Only the main character is on a misdirected vengeance trip towards a group of drug dealers when they are just suppliers.  Seriously ... if the wife doesn't have serious lapses in judgement, multiple times, then I can empathize with the revenge idea, but this story is without any form or purpose or anything, really.  Mindless violence plus a couple of gimmicks does not make a good movie.  A movie is a medium for telling a story.  When that story falls flat pretty quick, it doesn't matter if the acting is great; it is just not good storytelling. My Rating: 5.5

Lock, Stock and ... (R) 8.0

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998): Four London working class stiffs pool their money to put one in a high stakes card game, but things go wrong and they end up owing half a million pounds and having one week to come up with the cash. (8.2)

Director: Guy Ritchie
Writer: Guy Ritchie
Stars: Jason Flemyng, Dexter Fletcher and Nick Moran

I believe this is Guy Ritchie's first feature-length film and that's not a bad way to start.  I'd seen Snatch earlier, so I kind of knew what sort of movie to expect.  As a darn good dark comedy, it did not disappoint.  Some people call this "essential viewing" for those who like that type of movies.  The plot is so crazy, but the acting and dialog holds your attention the whole time and carries it though quite well.  There's not a whole lot I can say about it that hasn't been said elsewhere.  I highly recommend this movie to those who like this genre.  My Rating: 8.0

Sliding Doors (PG-13) 6.5

Sliding Doors (1998): A London woman's love life and career both hinge, unknown to her, on whether or not she catches a train. We see it both ways, in parallel. (6.7)

Director: Peter Howitt
Writer: Peter Howitt
Stars: Gwyneth Paltrow, John Hannah and John Lynch

A quirky romantic comedy that looks at two possible courses of events, simultaneously.  The hint of sci-fi part ends right there and we see the possibilities, and life complications, in parallel.  Ms Paltrow starts off with a quite a strong British accent, but that tapers off towards the end of the movie.  (IIRC, she lives there now, so she ought to be able to pull that off.)  The humorous and funny parts come off effortlessly and that adds to the charm of the movie.  We also see the differences when it comes to best friends of men and women and that is on the point and hilarious at times.  Helps to know a few British slang words, but heck, the audience might even learn a word or two. Acting is quite good.  The use of landmarks around London is done without it being too much.  Emotional connections, ... not so much, but good enough for the screen.  My Rating: 6.5

The Lovely Bones (PG-13) 7.0

The Lovely Bones (2009): Centers on a young girl who has been murdered and watches over her family - and her killer - from heaven. She must weigh her desire for vengeance against her desire for her family to heal. (6.6)

Director: Peter Jackson
Writers: Alice Sebold (novel), Fran Walsh / Philippa Boyens (screenplay)
Stars: Rachel Weisz, Mark Wahlberg and Saoirse Ronan

The story is a look at a crime and its consequences from a different perspective.  It requires a bit of a suspension in belief for the premise to take effect, but that's not much of a stretch.  The performance by Saoirse Ronan as the 14-year-old main character is remarkable.  Refreshing to see a movie that acknowledges the existence of South Asians and Asians in the US society.  The story is quite dark.  Yet, it manages to bring in quite bright moments of the human character to light and I quite liked the unexpected (in a way, at least, for me) ending.  The cinematography is innovative. My Rating: 7.0

Girl, Interrupted (R) 7.5

Girl, Interrupted (1999): Based on writer Susanna Kaysen's account of her 18-month stay at a mental hospital in the 1960s. (7.1)

Director: James Mangold
Writers: Susanna Kaysen (book)
Stars: Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie and Whoopi Goldberg

Going into this, I thought this was going to be more of a lighthearted look at shenanigans in a mental institution. It certainly wasn't. It tackles a couple of serious subjects and one of them speaks to me loudly and clearly. The characters played by Ms Ryder and Ms Jolie are polar opposites, yet they both give commanding performances. Winona Ryder's character is quite low-key and playing it as such and yet giving off emotions of a patient trapped in that situation is quite difficult. Angelina Jolie is brilliant, then again, that's the character with the spot-light on; so in that light the primary character (Ryder)'s performance is realistic and on-the-mark. Melancholy, but not a downer if you want to see the reality (after all it is based on the writer's own experiences) depicted as is. My Rating: 7.5

Sarah's Key (PG-13) 8.0

Sarah's Key (2010) Elle s'appelait Sarah (original title): In modern-day Paris, a journalist finds her life becoming entwined with a young girl whose family was torn apart during the notorious Vel' d'Hiv Roundup in 1942. (7.3)

Director: Gilles Paquet-Brenner
Writers: Gilles Paquet-Brenner / Serge Joncour (screenplay), Tatiana De Rosnay (novel)
Stars: Kristin Scott Thomas, Mélusine Mayance and Niels Arestrup
Languages: English & French (w/ Eng subtitles)

This is a story about looking back at what the French (people + state) did to its own Jewish French citizens during the WWII.  No, it isn't just a historical story.  It has ripple effects to modern day.  The inter-twined stories were so compelling and interesting; and questions that "civil" part of what we like to call this "civilization."  Kristin Thomas is superb in acting and so fluid in going back and forth between English and French.  A great movie.  My Rating: 8.0

Frost/Nixon (R) 7.5

Frost/Nixon (2008): A dramatic retelling of the post-Watergate television interviews between British talk-show host David Frost and former president Richard Nixon. (7.8)

Director: Ron Howard
Writers: Peter Morgan (screenplay), Peter Morgan (play)
Stars: Frank Langella, Michael Sheen and Kevin Bacon

I was in elementary school half-way around the world when Nixon resigned so I don't remember the real events.  But from the TV footage I've seen of Nixon and Frost, looks like Frank Langella and Michael Sheen have done terrific work to become the characters.  Seeing the back-story on the interview is quite something.  I didn't know that Diane Sawyer was involved in the Nixon admin and then after his resignation too.  The acting, the set-up, scenery etc. are so good that sometimes you think you are watching a documentary.  I highly recommend this movie.  My Rating: 7.5

The Hours (PG-13) 7.5

The Hours (2002): The story of how the novel "Mrs. Dalloway" affects three generations of women, all of whom, in one way or another, have had to deal with suicide in their lives. (7.5)

Director: Stephen Daldry
Writers: Michael Cunningham (novel), David Hare (screenplay)
Stars: Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore

The three stars listed above give command performances.  An interesting juxtaposition of three stories that deal with the same subject matter.  However, I feel that it isn't discussed deeply enough.  Then again, this is not a documentary about suicides or about Virginia Woolf; it is just an interesting take on the effects of the novel.  Having set the three stories in different time periods in different locations, the challenge for the folks behind the camera must have been tripled, but the work they've done is superb.  For my own reasons, I thought this movie would affect me a lot emotionally, but it didn't.  I was just fascinated by the stories.  My Rating: 7.5

The Secret (R) 5.5

The Secret (2007) Si j'étais toi (original title): A wife and mother passes away, and spirit returns in her daughter's body. (6.2)

Director: Vincent Perez
Writers: Ann Cherkis (screenplay), Hiroshi Saitô (1999 screenplay Himitsu)
Stars: David Duchovny, Lili Taylor and Olivia Thirlby

There's something weird and irksome about the story.  At times, you just want to shout "uh, no, don't," and no, it is not a plot that makes you think, or asks you tough questions.  Some reviews say that it is a good movie for parents with teenage kids; but I don't think so.  This is just stereotypes on steroids and caffeine.  The acting is okay, I suppose, but when the story gets under your skin, everything else just falls by the wayside.  My Rating: 5.5

Incendies (R) 8.0

Incendies (2010): A mother's last wishes send twins Jeanne and Simon on a journey to the Middle East in search of their tangled roots. Adapted from Wajdi Mouawad's acclaimed play, Incendies tells the powerful and moving tale of two young adults' voyage to the core of deep-rooted hatred, never-ending wars and enduring love. (8.1)

Director: Denis Villeneuve
Writers: Denis Villeneuve, Wajdi Mouawad (play)
Stars: Lubna Azabal, Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin and Maxim Gaudette
Language: French (w/ English subtitles)

This movie portrays the realities and injustices of the Middle East cultures on various levels.  While the story tackles many subjects, I never felt that it was trying to bite more than it could chew.  It depicts the brutality in family units, among the religious sects, within village societal and cultural norms, and inside warring gangs.  (Yes, I'm not saying much about the story because less you know it, more powerful the blows are when you see the twists.) Superb acting, beautiful scenery, gut-wrenching story.  I highly recommend this movie if you are up for a powerful story that questions everything.  My Rating: 8.0

Queen to Play (PG-13) 7.0

Queen to Play (2009) Joueuse (original title): Middle-aged chambermaid Hélène's newfound obsession with the game of chess leads her to seek the tutelage of a reclusive American expat, transforming both of their ho-hum lives in the process. (6.5)

Director: Caroline Bottaro
Writers: Caroline Bottaro, Bertina Henrichs (novel)
Stars: Sandrine Bonnaire, Kevin Kline and Valérie Lagrange
Language: French (w/ English subtitles)

A simple story without much pretense but Sandrine Bonnaire does an excellent job of guiding us through the character's dilemmas just through the facial expressions.  The cinematography is great (hey, an island south of France; how bad can the visuals be!).  One of those self-discovery, feel-good movies, if you are in the mood for one.  "Charming and uplifting" says one review.  Yeah, that; at the same time, don't expect much more than that, for instance, there are no major twists and turns in the storyline.  My Rating: 7.0

Mistress of Spices (PG-13) 4.5

The Mistress of Spices (2005): Tilo has the ability of foreseeing the future. She becomes the Mistress of Spices and is sent to the Spice Bazaar in San Francisco, with the mission of helping others, but she must adhere to three rules. (5.3)

Director: Paul Mayeda Berges
Writers: Gurinder Chadha, Paul Mayeda Berges
Stars: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Dylan McDermott and Nitin Ganatra

Very interesting storyline, but they squander the opportunities it offers by adding the three silly rules and limiting themselves.  There is no real character development.  The acting is pretty lousy, yes, including that of Ms. Rai.  (Though I'd heard of her, this is the first time I've seen the famous actress on any screen and I'm disappointed.) IMDB says this had been filmed in various locations in northern California, but they haven't taken the full use of the picturesque sites. The colors of spices were nice, but everything else in most of the scenes were unnaturally sanitized.  Sorry, the basic lack of good acting stopped me from getting into the movie.  My Rating: 4.5

P.S. I Love You (PG-13) 6.0

P.S. I Love You (2007): A young widow discovers that her late husband has left her 10 messages intended to help ease her pain and start a new life. (6.9)

Director: Richard LaGravenese
Writers: Richard LaGravenese / Steven Rogers (screenplay), Cecelia Ahern (novel)
Stars: Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler and Harry Connick Jr.

The movie starts out with a lot of promise.  The story has a good premise to bring out the true romance and the grief of losing your spouse.  However, the screen writers had decided to add a bit too much humor and comedy into and try to make it a romantic comedy ... thereby losing both.  No, comedy definitely should not have been a part of this particular story.  Another item that kind of falls flat ... the whole movie is dependent on the letters.  To grip the audience with the emotions of the situation, they'd better be good.  Sorry to say, they were too short, not romantic, not compelling.  Another "could have been a whole lot better" movie.  My Rating: 6.0

A Single Man (R) 7.5

A Single Man (2009): A story that centers on an English professor who, one year after the sudden death of his partner, is unable to cope with his typical days in 1960s Los Angeles. (7.5)

Director: Tom Ford Writers:
Christopher Isherwood (novel), Tom Ford / David Scearce (screenplay)
Stars: Colin Firth, Julianne Moore and Matthew Goode

I'm not sure how much of one significant aspect of the professor's relationship I should reveal here, probably none.  This is a very emotional movie that looks at how one copes with a major loss.  Yet, I felt like an outsider looking in ... that says more about me than the movie.  The emotional connections started to form towards the end.  The use of color fading in-and-out to depict the state of mind or the focus of of the main character is quite nice.  I liked the artsy cinematography.  My Rating: 7.5

The Ides of March (R) 7.5

The Ides of March (2011): An idealistic staffer for a new presidential candidate gets a crash course on dirty politics during his stint on the campaign trail. (7.3)

Director: George Clooney
Writers: George Clooney / Grant Heslov (screenplay), Beau Willimon (play "Farragut North")
Stars: Paul Giamatti, George Clooney and Philip Seymour Hoffman

A sort of a behind the scenes look at how the politics become a dirty business.  (I don't know if the portrayal of the characters is close to reality; but it fits well to the perception and can't be far off from today's reality.)  The acting is superb by the all-star cast.  The story is somewhat predictable, but that's expected (ie: you tend to expect a major twist or two in a story like this), but how things get handled in the back-rooms is what's interesting.  Some of the (idealistic) lines are quite good.  My Rating: 7.5

Leon: The Professional (R) 8.0

Leon: The Professional (1994): Professional assassin Leon reluctantly takes care of 12-year-old Mathilda, a neighbor whose parents are killed, and teaches her his trade. (8.6)

Director: Luc Besson
Writer: Luc Besson
Stars: Jean Reno, Gary Oldman and Natalie Portman

A very, very dark comedy, extremely well orchestrated by all the people involved in the movie.  The story is quite fascinating.  The acting is superb, including that of Portman at an early stage of her career.  It requires special abilities from the main actors to reflect the absurdities in the situation, without an excess of dialog, and they do deliver remarkably well.  If you like this type of movies, you'd love it, as I did.  My Rating: 8.0