Knight and Day

Movie name: Knight and Day
Year of release: 2010
Director: James Mangold
Stars: Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard, Jordi Molla, Paul Dano, Viola Davis, Marc Blucas, Maggie Grace, Falk Hentschel, Dale Dye, Celia Weston
Genre: Adventure, Comedy
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:"Knight and Day" follows the story of June Havens, a young woman on her way to Boston, to attend her sister's wedding preparations. She accidentally bumps into Roy Miller, a dashing man who turns out to be a secret agent, being chased by an agency, all because of a small invention that will revolutionize the concept of modern energy. Roy and June start a whirlwind chase around the world, trying to keep the invention and the young inventor safe, all the while falling in love.
James Mangold's new film, following "3:10 to Yuma" and "Walk the Line" is close in tone to one of his previous films, "Kate and Leopold" as far as the romance part is concerned. The film however also inserts a whole dimension of action - 007/Mission Impossible equal parts. James Mangold is clearly a talented and inteligent director and knows that the film has to rely more on the cleverness of the screenplay and the way the interaction between the main characters unfolds. The film doesn't set out to be a reinvention of the action picture: it's a romantic and action film, in the tradition of Robert Zemeckis' "Romancing the Stone". The main actors are very much at ease in what they're doing. Tom Cruise is back to his more frantic and loose self from "Jerry Maguire" and Cameron Diaz is basically playing her usual part. "Knight and Day" is ultimately an unpretentious and entertaining film (it's industrial entertainment executed by a very talented film-maker).

Splice

Movie name: Splice
Year of release: 2009
Director: Vincenzo Natali
Stars: Adrien Brody, Sarah Polley, Delphine Chaneac, Brandon McGibbon, Simona Maicanescu, David Hewlett, Abigail Chu
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:"Splice" follows the story of a young couple of scientists, Clive and Elsa, who are on the verge of reaching a breakthrough in their research. When their research is jeopardized, Elsa decides to risk something and mixes human DNA (her own) with that of what they've been researching, creating a creature they name Dren. The creature slowly learns human behavior, but as the events surrounding their work and their personal relationship start to unravel, Clive and Elsa learn that some experiences come at a high cost.
Vincenzo Natali's new film "Splice", comes after the promise he showed with "Cube" and "Cypher", both of which garnered praise and a cult following. So much that "Splice" comes with the name of Guillermo Del Toro attached. The film definitely owes much of it's unsettling feeling to David Cronenberg, who always installs in his films a barrier between the human and the creature that is always easily shattered (Sarah Polley coincidentally was in "eXistenZ"). The creature that Clive and Elsa nurture is the child they both want, but as she grows she's also part of the woman Elsa is. The events that follow show that the human pulsing and that of the creature are almost identical (where does the difference lie). The film has a faint resemblance to David Cronenberg's "The Fly", however where Seth Brundle ultimately embraced his condition as a new creature (and a new being), Dren is always shown as an outcast and an experiment. The fear that comes at the closure of the film, is simultaneously bitter and dark for a future where the uncertainty of humanity walks in hand with the greed of corporate interests. A good film worth checking out.

I Love You Philip Morris

Movie name: I Love You Philip Morris
Year of release: 2009
Director: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Stars: Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Leslie Mann, Rodrigo Santoro, Tommy Davis, Clay Chamberlin
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:Glenn Ficarra and John Requa's debut film, "I Love you Philip Morris" comes tangled up in a whole mess of problems in the US about it's premiere, even though the film has big stars such as Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor and Leslie Mann as selling points. The film made a splash at Sundance in 2009 and went to Cannes film festival of 2009 where it garnered strong praisal and good reviews. Somehow all this strong critical backdrop was of no substance for a film that features a strong gay relationship at it's core.
The film introduces us to Steven Russell, a man who is a devout father and a good husband. Steven we find out, was given to adoption when he was nothing but a baby and as an adult he has embraced his career as a police officer in order to discover his birth mother. Upon discovering his mother, Steven again gets rejected - this forces him to change his life and we are also presented with another side of his life - his homosexuality. Divorcing his wife, Steven embraces his new life full steam, however the high costs of his lifestyle force him to become a full time con artist. Steven is arrested and sent to prison, where he meets Philip Morris, a shy and quiet gay man with whom he falls in love. What follows are Steven's attempts to always be close to his partner and chosen life mate, through an array of plots and schemes.
"I Love you Philip Morris" turns out to be a great film and a great showcase for Jim Carrey, that anchors Steven with his energy and also heartfelt feeling. He creates a character that is lost, but who struggles to find his soul. The film is by turns hilarious and also dramatic, expanding on it's characters, making them more than just cartoons or simple cliches. Ewan McGregor also shines as the wallflower, who realizes that love comes in different ways. The most amazing thing about the film is that the directors and screenwriters managed to turn a "true story" into a truly almost surreal story about a con man who always wanted to belong. A great film.

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Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Movie name: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Year of release: 2010
Director: Mike Newell
Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina, Steve Toussaint, Toby Kebbell, Richard Coyle, Ronald Pickup, Gísli Örn Garðarsson
Genre: Action, Adventure
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5

Synopsis:Mike Newell's new film, following the disappointing "Love in the Time of Cholera", takes him back to the domains of the adventure film, something that he explored in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" with great success. "Prince of Persia" is the adaptation of a video game, much like "Super Mario Bros." and "Silent Hill" were. The film follows the story of Dastan a young orphan who gets picked up in the streets by the king, due to his fearless nature and kindness. Dastan grows up to be a valiant soldier, always willing to embark in fearless adventures. When a protected city is invaded and the king murdered, Dastan is blamed for all the misfortune, upon which he must escape, with the princess of the invaded city. He soon finds out that the invasion was all a decoy to obtain a dagger that controls the flow of time. It's up to him and the princess to restore the balance to everything and to prevent their enemies of destroying all that exists.
Mike Newell's film tries to capture the feeling of the old classic adventure films, in the tradition of what Steven Spielberg did with his Indiana Jones films (the first three films that is). The film takes place in an old time, where magical events occur and dashing princes and spunky princesses cross paths and sparks fly. Even the usual comical supporting characters appear, this one embodied by the always excellent Alfred Molina. The main problem with "Prince of Persia" is that even though it's full of good intentions, everything feels done and seen before. There's nothing new in the screenplay - it's a rehash of cliches. The wonderful actors are also wasted, namely the always great Ben Kingsley and Alfred Molina, but also Jake Gyllenhaal, who ends up being more of an acrobat than a proper character. Enjoyable but passable.

Iron Man 2

Movie name: Iron Man 2
Year of release: 2010
Director: Jon Favreau
Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke, Samuel L. Jackson, Clark Gregg, John Slattery, Jon Favreau, Kate Mara, Leslie Bibb, Garry Shandling
Genre: Action, Adventure
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 4

Synopsis:After the huge hit that was "Iron Man", the sequel was inevitable for the Marvel Studios, who have a whole plethora of characters and films planned for release in the next few years. "Iron Man 2" is escalating for the reunion film that will be "The Avengers" (which is mentioned in the film). The film picks up immediately after where the first one left off. Tony Stark has revealed to everyone that he is Iron Man and the threats start looming once again from a variety of different sources. On one hand he has political adversaries who want to seize his armor, he has a Russian physicist (more the likes of a punk rocker) bent on vengeance and a rival arms dealer, all of them trying to control his technology. Thanks to his allies, namely love interest Pepper Pots, his new assistant Natalie, his driver Happy and Nick Fury, Stark manages to navigate through these obstacles and vanquish his foes in the end.
Whereas the first film was an introductory one that showcased the characters and introduced plot lines, Iron Man 2, follows directly to what appears to be a vengeance story. However, there's no solid background to sustain the story and the character's motivations feel underwhelming. Mickey Rourke's character has no depth and falls very short of what Jeff Bridges did in the first film. The only interesting characters to survive this messy screenplay are the underused Scarlett Johansson and Robert Downey Jr. who is the sole reason why the film is watchable. He infuses the character with a spark and life that come from his undeniable charisma. A missed opportunity.

Kick Ass

Movie name: Kick Ass
Year of release: 2010
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Stars: Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong, Chloe Moretz, Nicolas Cage, Lindsy Fonseca, Clark Duke, Garrett M. Brown, Yancy Butler, Jason Flemyng, Michael Rispoli
Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:Following his fantasy themed film "Stardust", Matthew Vaughn comes back to the screens with a comic book adaptation. "Kick Ass" follows the story of Dave Lizewski, a shy high schooler who decides to become a super hero and help others. Since Dave has no real powers, his first foray into the activity lands him in the hospital with serious injuries. His second attempt works far better and upon taking the name "Kick Ass", it brings Dave a lot of attention. While trying to impress a girl, Dave finds himself in a risky situation, from which he is saved by two other masked avengers, namely "Hit Girl" and "Big Daddy". We come to find out Big Daddy's story and how he came to be at odds with the city's biggest villain, Frank D'Amico. All their stories come together when Frank D'Amico decides to wipe out all the avengers/heroes from the city.
Matthew Vaughn is a smart director who decided to finance this film by himself, since he wanted the adaptation of the comic book to be free from the hands of studios who would interfere and tone down the violent and hilarious look and feel of the film. His choice paid off since "Kick Ass" ends up being a great balance of humor and violence, highlighting the surreal side of a young man trying to be a super hero, with the more violent and deadly consequences of his chosen activities. The duo "Hit Girl" and "Big Daddy" is particularly well captured, since they both live in a universe of their own, one where violence and guns are a part of everyday life. The film is by turns, harsh and light in tone, which in the end balances it out - it's a comic book adaptation after all. The actors are uniformly good, with Nicolas Cage toning down his sometimes over the top performances. Chloe Moretz does a good job playing Hit Girl as does Mark Strong, apparently everyone's favorite villain as of late. A good film worth checking out.

Fish Tank

Movie name: Fish Tank
Year of release: 2009
Director: Andrea Arnold
Stars: Katie Jarvis, Michael Fassbender, Kierston Wareing, Harry Treadaway
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:Director Andrea Arnold's second feature film following "Red Road" is another look at the reality of suburbia in England, focusing this time in a young woman's life. "Fish Tank" follows Mia, a 15 year old girl who pours her whole energy into dancing hip-hop. She is at odds with everyone, including her mom and younger sister. Her mother is also more occupied trying to get boyfriends and parties going and Mia is desperately trying to find some meaning to her life. When her mom brings home a new boyfriend Mia is intrigued by his behavior and how much attention he pays her. He supports her in her efforts to go on a dance audition and that attention evolves into something else that ends up having troublesome results. Andrea Arnold captures in this film the reality of growing up without many perspectives and of feeling lost and unloved. Her young heroine is trying to find a place in the world, some reference and guidance, something her mother can't provide, since she's lost in her own world and references. Much like the central character of "Red Road", Mia is looking for meaningful connections, for patches of something, in all the wrong places and with all the wrong partners. Katie Jarvis is perfect in the role: she conveys the aggressiveness and simultaneously tenderness and fragility that the young Mia has. Michael Fassbender does a good job as the troubled Connor, but Katie Jarvis holds the film in her grip. A film worth watching.

Hot Tub Time Machine

Movie name: Hot Tub Time Machine
Year of release: 2010
Director: Steve Pink
Stars: John Cusack, Clark Duke, Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry, Sebastian Stan, Crispin Glover, Chevy Chase, Lizzy Caplan, Collette Wolfe
Genre: Comedy
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 3

Synopsis:Director Steve Pink is a long time collaborator of John Cusack, having worked with the actor in his more personal films such as "Grosse Pointe Blank" and "High Fidelity". His previous directing effort was the comedy "Accepted" that starred Justin Long and Jonah Hill (and that's the most remarkable thing of that film). "Hot Tub..." follows the story of 3 friends who have known each other since teenagers (in the 80s), but who have lost touch with each other in the meantime. When one of them has an accident, they decide to get together and relive some of their joys in the mountain where they used to ski as teenagers. With them goes one of their nephews, who does not know who his father is. Upon reaching their bungalow and trying the hot tub, they accidentally get sent back through time 20 years. For them is a chance to remedy their pasts and make up for their future. Steve Pink's film tries to follow the path that "The Hangover" opened: the R-rated comedy that goes for the gross effect, still retaining the light touch. However where "The Hangover" had a smart screenplay and a premise that slowly unwrapped itself, "Hot Tub" plays more on the gross effect of the situations and the cliches of the 80s. It's a bit hit or miss and where some situations are definitely funny, others for the most part just don't work. John Cusack does his usual routine, but the highlight goes to Rob Corddry, just for the sheer energy that his character has. A weak effort.

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Green Zone

Movie name: Green Zone
Year of release: 2008/2010
Director: Paul Greengrass
Stars: Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear, Brendan Gleeson, Amy Ryan, Jason Isaacs, Jerry Della Salla, Khalid Abdalla
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:"Green Zone" is Paul Greengrass's new film following the hugely successful diptych "The Bourne Supremacy" and "The Bourne Ultimatum". The film follows US chief officer Roy Miller as he is stationed in Iraq in the aftermath of the War and his attempts to find Weapons of Mass Destruction. The officer keeps noticing that all the locations his teams get sent to always have nothing to report or are simply empty. Upon further investigation, Roy Miller comes across Martin Brown, a veteran CIA agent who can provide further information, as well as Clark Poundstone a somewhat shady agent who knows a lot more of what's going on than he cares to show. What follows is Roy Miller's attempt to bring light upon a situation that is making the war explode in all directions. Paul Greengrass is obviously a very talented film-maker, who brings a kinetic energy to every project he touches. His documentary style adds a layer of tension to each story he chooses to display and "Green Zone" fits perfectly to that style. It's a film that lives from the war atmosphere that it creates and the energy that fills every frame is palpable. Where the film lacks some pertinent resonance is the way it portrays Roy Miller as a hero that brings the truth about war to the masses. The lone wolf that exposes the corruption of truth doesn't really fit the story and glossies up something that should have been grittier - much like Kathryn Bigelow's film "The Hurt Locker". Matt Damon again does a good job playing a resilient and stoic soldier as does Greg Kinnear as the corrupt politician and Amy Ryan as the resourceful journalist. A solid action film.

Ghost Writer

Movie name: Ghost Writer
Year of release: 2010
Director: Roman Polanski
Stars: Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Kim Catrall, Olivia Williams, Tom Wilkinson, Timothy Hutton, Eli Wallach, Jon Bernthal, Robert Pugh, John Belushi
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:After his last directing effort, "Oliver Twist" director Roman Polanski returns to the genre that always gave him great accolades and fame, the suspense thriller (that he did so fantastically well with titles as "Chinatown" and "Rosemary's Baby" to name but a few). "Ghost Writer" follows the story of a young writer who is hired as a ghost writer for a former English prime minister, Adam Lang, who is writing his memoirs and whose assistant just recently passed away. Since there's a lot of money invested in the book the publishing house presses for a revision of what has been written and a substantial money offer is made upon which the young and talented writer embarks on the assignment. He soon finds out upon arriving at the house, that the manuscript needs a lot of work and he can't take it out without a tight security hold. As the young writer further investigates the life of the prime minister, he slowly starts to unfold a lot more than he expected, not only about the politician, but also about his wife and the death of his predecessor, who as it turns out may not have been a suicide. "Ghost Writer" is obviously an analogy for some very well known politicians of our days, but what is so smartly developed by Roman Polanski, is how the story slowly unfolds, revealing layers upon layers of deceit. The Ghost Writer slowly understands that the story is far more complex than he ever imagined and the clues left behind are almost too cryptic to decipher, but not totally. The film is very well directed and benefits from a great cast, with particular highlights going to Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan and Olivia Williams. A great film from a talented film-maker.

Alice in Wonderland

Movie name: Alice in Wonderland
Year of release: 2010
Director: Tim Burton
Stars: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Mia Wasikowska, Anne Hathaway, Matt Lucas, Crispin Glover, Tim Piggot-Smith, Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry, Barbara Windsor, Michael Sheen
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:Tim Burton's new directorial effort, after the fantastic "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" is an adaptation of two classic books by Lewis Carroll, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass". The adaptation by screenwriter Linda Woolverton presents a young adult Alice whose life is about to change, since she is about to become engaged to a rather inept young man controlled by his mother. Alice when confronted with her decision, decides to put a halt on the proceedings and follows a white rabbit, who leads her down a whole and into Wonderland. Things have however changed since Alice was last there and the Red Queen now dominates the kingdom, having banished her sister. The Red Queen believes in a prophecy where a young warrior will come forth and challenge her champion and defeat her - Alice fits every part of that prophecy. It's up to Alice and the colorful characters she meets to define each of their own lives and fates.
Tim Burton is as always a very talented filmmaker. Even the most contrived and disjointed screenplays he works with, have a touch of his own universe and sensibility. That is the case of "Planet of the Apes", which even though is a failed film, still retains a lot of his elements and characteristics. "Alice in Wonderland" has a lot of promise, since it again it's focus is a character who is at odds with the universe she finds herself in, much like all of Tim Burton's heroes (or anti-heroes). The main issue why the film doesn't soar where it it should is due to a screenplay that doesn't emphasize the magical component that the film should have. The sense of awe and adventure simply isn't there - the screenplay focuses instead on the feminist side of a young woman coming to terms with herself. Tim Burton feels more at ease where the irreverent and fantastic characters really let loose, particularly the Red Queen as played by Helena Bonham Carter, who walks away with the film. The Red Queen is completely engulfed in her own power, but is also deliciously over the top and totally in love with herself and her partner in crime, Stayne (played by Crispin Glover). Johnny Depp creates another quirky character in his Mad Hatter, but ultimately doesn't have much to do. A good film that deserved a better screenplay.

The White Ribbon

Movie name: Das weisse Band - Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte
Year of release: 2009
Director: Michael Haneke
Stars: Christian Friedel, Leonie Benesch, Ulrich Tukur, Ursina Lardi, Burghart Klaußner
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 9

Synopsis:German film-maker Michael Haneke is back after "Funny Games US", his own remake of the same film that he directed in 1997. Haneke is one of the most interesting film-makers currently working, having directed "La Pianiste" and "Cache" to name but a few. "The White Ribbon" takes place in a small rural community off the North of Germany, where strange events start occurring. They all lead back to the children of the community, since they are all so repressed by orders and morality. We follow the story of the young teacher of the community as he describes the events that occur and how they slowly escalate and take over the destiny of the small town, as the first World War looms.
This film is one of those cases where everything comes together to form a perfectly tight cinematic experience. The screenplay and direction of Michael Haneke, trace a progression of tension and perfectly capture the look and feel of the small community in the early 20th century. The heavy burden of morality that is thrust upon the children and their subsequent rebellion are a perfect metaphor for the ideologies that came about in the subsequent years in Germany (namely the Nazi ideology). The cinematography is absolutely stunning and gives the film a setting that is simultaneously classic, austere, but also very modern. The acting is uniformly good. A great film to see and cherish.

Crazy Heart

Movie name: Crazy Heart
Year of release: 2009
Director: Scott Cooper
Stars: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall, Colin Farrell, Tom Bower, Beth Grant, Rick Dial, Paul Herman
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:Scott Cooper's directorial debut adapts the novel of Thomas Cobb about a 57 year old, down on his luck country singer named Bad Blake. Blake goes around the country singing in Bowling Alleys, small clubs, all the while desperately trying to gain the momentum he once had. Blake is also a chronic alcoholic and leads a lifestyle that is driving him to an early death. On one of his concerts, Blake meets Jean a young reporter, trying to make a name for herself in the music business. They both start a relationship that forces Blake to re-evaluate his life.
"Crazy Heart" is a film that has been seen and done before. Where it's strength lie is in the performances that it captures. Jeff Bridges has always been a fantastic actor and he really invests his enormous talent in this character. Bad Blake is a man haunted by failed relationships and by the fear of being alone. He has a son he has not seen in years and Jean and her son represent the restart of a life he almost had. Jean herself is a young woman trying to provide a steady life for her young son, desperately trying to make the right choices. Her fears towards Blake force him to take hold of his life. The film also allows for Colin Farrell and Robert Duvall to shine in small roles. Though not a fantastically accomplished film, it allows for it's actors to showcase their talent and artistry. Worth checking.