Showing posts with label 2011. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2011. Show all posts
Synopsis: The mysterious murder of a US senator bearing the distinctive trademark of the legendary Soviet assassin "Cassius," forces Paul Shepherdson, a retired CIA operative, to team with rookie FBI agent, Ben Geary, to solve the crime. Having spent his career chasing Cassius, Shepherdson is convinced his nemesis is long dead, but is pushed to take on the case by his former supervisor, Tom Highland. Meanwhile, Agent Geary, who wrote his Master's thesis on Shepherdson's pursuit of the Soviet killer, is certain that Cassius has resurfaced. As Shepherdson and Geary work their way through crimes both past and present, they discover that Cassius may not be the person they always thought him to be, forcing both to re-examine everything and everyone around them.
Starring: Richard Gere, Topher Grace, Odette Annable, Stana Katic, Martin Sheen, Chris Marquette, Tamer Hassan
Directed by: Michael Brandt
U.S. Rating: PG-13
It's been a while since I watched a good film with Richard Gere, in fact, it's been a while since I watch A film with Richard Gere. The waiting was worth, since The Double showed why Richard Gere is one of the strong and most prestigious actors in Hollywood.
The Double is one of those weird films that you think you know what to expect, since the trailer shows you basically "everything". Paul Shepherdson (Richard Gere), a retired CIA operative works with a rookie FBI agent (Topher Grace) to solve a crime that has been commited by a legendary Soviet assassin. At least, that's what the CIA and the FBI think, but Paul believes they're incorrect, since he believes "Cassius", the legendary Soviet assassin is dead. The plot shows clearly that Richarg Gere is "Cassius" and he's been playing for both sides, as a "Double". Agent Geary has been studying "Cassius" throughout his all young career. He knows him, he knows everything about him, even though, not enough to notice that the person he's been obsessed, is his very own senior companion in this case. Paul (Cassius) feels some simpathy for Geary and tries to keep him away from the case and Cassius, since he knows that if he finds the real Cassius, he won't have any other option but killing him. While Geary gets closer to Cassius, he tries to end his personal mission, a mission that Geary will find with (ironically) Cassius' help. They will finally bring the whole Soviet assassins operation to the end, but everything will turn in a very unexpected way for Cassius and the audience
I think that more than the plot, the film was good because of the cast performace. Having Martin Sheen and Topher Grace working along with Richard Gere, made the film so worth and enjoyable to watch. It is definitely a must-watch thriller at home, a great film for an entertaining weekend at home.
I would rate this movie with a 3.5/5
Directed by: Michael Brandt
U.S. Rating: PG-13
It's been a while since I watched a good film with Richard Gere, in fact, it's been a while since I watch A film with Richard Gere. The waiting was worth, since The Double showed why Richard Gere is one of the strong and most prestigious actors in Hollywood.
The Double is one of those weird films that you think you know what to expect, since the trailer shows you basically "everything". Paul Shepherdson (Richard Gere), a retired CIA operative works with a rookie FBI agent (Topher Grace) to solve a crime that has been commited by a legendary Soviet assassin. At least, that's what the CIA and the FBI think, but Paul believes they're incorrect, since he believes "Cassius", the legendary Soviet assassin is dead. The plot shows clearly that Richarg Gere is "Cassius" and he's been playing for both sides, as a "Double". Agent Geary has been studying "Cassius" throughout his all young career. He knows him, he knows everything about him, even though, not enough to notice that the person he's been obsessed, is his very own senior companion in this case. Paul (Cassius) feels some simpathy for Geary and tries to keep him away from the case and Cassius, since he knows that if he finds the real Cassius, he won't have any other option but killing him. While Geary gets closer to Cassius, he tries to end his personal mission, a mission that Geary will find with (ironically) Cassius' help. They will finally bring the whole Soviet assassins operation to the end, but everything will turn in a very unexpected way for Cassius and the audience
I think that more than the plot, the film was good because of the cast performace. Having Martin Sheen and Topher Grace working along with Richard Gere, made the film so worth and enjoyable to watch. It is definitely a must-watch thriller at home, a great film for an entertaining weekend at home.
I would rate this movie with a 3.5/5
Have you watched the film? What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie? Share with us your thoughts!
Enjoy it!... Watch it!
Synopsis: Bucky is a small town grocery bagger, going nowhere in life -- until he discovers that his conservative parents were once adult film stars! Armed with the belief that he has found his destiny, Bucky packs up and heads out to LA, hoping to follow in his parents' footsteps.
Starring: Nick Swardson, Christina Ricci, Don Johnson, Stephen Dorff, Ido Mosseri, Kevin Nealon
Directed by: Tom Brady
U.S. Rating: R
There are bad films, and there's Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star. I must be honest, even though I knew it would be a lousy film, I thought it would be (at least) entertaining in some way. Well, I was right when I thought it would be a lousy film, but I didn't expect it to be that bad.
I kinda like Nick Swardson. This guy has always tried to make his best to make you laugh on his previous roles and films. I believe he's had some decent comedy roles in the past, for example, in Just Go With It and Don't Mess With The Zohan. Christina Ricci has also been a pretty decent actress, and I believe I don't need to mention Don Johnson's reputation. But, what really happened here? Honestly! It looks like everyone was just looking desperately an opportunity for being on a film, no matter how bad and disastrous it could be. I would have expected something better from Don Johnson and Christina Ricci, even though, I must recognize that Christina Ricci tried her best, maybe too hard for this film.
The biggest flaw on this film was actually, its plot. I think whoever wrote this script, should be banned from Hollywood. It had no sense, creativity, humor or connection with the audience.
I just hope that these kind of experiences and horrible film disasters teach these actors to choose a better script and opportunity and don't embarrace themselves.
In case you're wondering what's the film about, the story centers on a small-town child-like man, Bucky Larson, who stumbles upon a family secret: His quiet and reserved parents were famous porn stars in the 1970s. This motivates him to leave northern Iowa for Hollywood, hoping to follow in their footsteps and fulfill his destiny as the biggest adult-film star in the world. Unfortunately he lacks two things, any idea of how to become a porn star like his parents, and a decent sized penis. However his incredibly small penis ends up providing him with fame due to it making women appreciate the size of their own partner's penis more. Along the way he meets many odd characters, a local waitress who is very kindhearted, an overly selfish roommate, a failing porn director, and his own polar opposite and later antagonist, a porn star who goes by the nickname "Dick Shadow" due to his massive penis size.
I would rate this movie with a 0.5/5
Directed by: Tom Brady
U.S. Rating: R
There are bad films, and there's Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star. I must be honest, even though I knew it would be a lousy film, I thought it would be (at least) entertaining in some way. Well, I was right when I thought it would be a lousy film, but I didn't expect it to be that bad.
I kinda like Nick Swardson. This guy has always tried to make his best to make you laugh on his previous roles and films. I believe he's had some decent comedy roles in the past, for example, in Just Go With It and Don't Mess With The Zohan. Christina Ricci has also been a pretty decent actress, and I believe I don't need to mention Don Johnson's reputation. But, what really happened here? Honestly! It looks like everyone was just looking desperately an opportunity for being on a film, no matter how bad and disastrous it could be. I would have expected something better from Don Johnson and Christina Ricci, even though, I must recognize that Christina Ricci tried her best, maybe too hard for this film.
The biggest flaw on this film was actually, its plot. I think whoever wrote this script, should be banned from Hollywood. It had no sense, creativity, humor or connection with the audience.
I just hope that these kind of experiences and horrible film disasters teach these actors to choose a better script and opportunity and don't embarrace themselves.
In case you're wondering what's the film about, the story centers on a small-town child-like man, Bucky Larson, who stumbles upon a family secret: His quiet and reserved parents were famous porn stars in the 1970s. This motivates him to leave northern Iowa for Hollywood, hoping to follow in their footsteps and fulfill his destiny as the biggest adult-film star in the world. Unfortunately he lacks two things, any idea of how to become a porn star like his parents, and a decent sized penis. However his incredibly small penis ends up providing him with fame due to it making women appreciate the size of their own partner's penis more. Along the way he meets many odd characters, a local waitress who is very kindhearted, an overly selfish roommate, a failing porn director, and his own polar opposite and later antagonist, a porn star who goes by the nickname "Dick Shadow" due to his massive penis size.
I would rate this movie with a 0.5/5
Have you watched the film? What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie? Share with us your thoughts!
Enjoy it!... Watch it!
Synopsis: Three obsessive bird watchers go off on their "Big Year," duking it out to spot and record the highest number of species in 1998--the year El Nino brought an unprecedented number of species to North America. During the course of their wild, ultra competitive adventure, the guys learn that there just may be other things more important than winning.
Starring: Steve Martin, Jack Black, Owen Wilson, Brian Dennehy, Anjelica Huston, Rashida Jones
Directed by: David Frankel
U.S. Rating: PG
How could this film not get the attention it really deserved?! I must say it has been actually one of THE best films I've watched so far this year.
First of all, I'd like to explain what a "Big Year" is. According with Wikipedia, a Big Year is an informal competition among birders to see who can see or hear the largest number of species of birds within a single calendar year and within a specific geographical area. A Big Year may be done within a single US state, a Canadian province, within the lower 48 continental U.S. states, or within the American Birding Association area (i.e. the 49 continental U.S. states (including Alaska), Canada and the French islands St. Pierre and Miquelon, plus adjacent waters to a distance of 200 miles from land or half the distance to a neighboring country, whichever is less. Excluded by these boundaries are Bermuda, the Bahamas, Hawaii, and Greenland).
So, the film is about three different stories that are combined in this particular annual event. Kenny Bostick (Owen Wilson) is the best birder. He's won the most recent yearly competitions and even has set some important records. He's the man to beat. He's married to his BEAUTIFUL wife Jessica (Rosamund Pike), living in a great house, and they've been working on the plans to have their first baby, even though, no matter how great his life is, his real passion and love is "birding". Brad Harris (Jack Black) works on an office while he learns and memorizes every single bird sound. That's his passion, his goal and dream, to participate in the annual birding competition, and beat the best, Kenny Bostick. The only problem is that he doesn't have the money, time off at work and especially, his family support. His dad believes he's a loser for working on these dreams and doesn't waste an opportunity to express that. And finally, we have Stu Preissler (Steve Martin). A successful business man who wants to retire, leaving the direction of his empire to the company board, while he takes his time off to go and do what he's been dreaming and preparing for years, birding.
The film brings some really funny and entertaining moments, amazing landscape views, a fresh joyful story, but most, most important, such an amazing moral message at the end of the film, when every single one of these participants learn their most important lesson in life, good and bad ones.
I really, really enjoyed the film, every single minute of it, the moral message and the excellent and hilarious performance of this amazing cast.
I would rate this movie with a 5/5
Directed by: David Frankel
U.S. Rating: PG
How could this film not get the attention it really deserved?! I must say it has been actually one of THE best films I've watched so far this year.
First of all, I'd like to explain what a "Big Year" is. According with Wikipedia, a Big Year is an informal competition among birders to see who can see or hear the largest number of species of birds within a single calendar year and within a specific geographical area. A Big Year may be done within a single US state, a Canadian province, within the lower 48 continental U.S. states, or within the American Birding Association area (i.e. the 49 continental U.S. states (including Alaska), Canada and the French islands St. Pierre and Miquelon, plus adjacent waters to a distance of 200 miles from land or half the distance to a neighboring country, whichever is less. Excluded by these boundaries are Bermuda, the Bahamas, Hawaii, and Greenland).
So, the film is about three different stories that are combined in this particular annual event. Kenny Bostick (Owen Wilson) is the best birder. He's won the most recent yearly competitions and even has set some important records. He's the man to beat. He's married to his BEAUTIFUL wife Jessica (Rosamund Pike), living in a great house, and they've been working on the plans to have their first baby, even though, no matter how great his life is, his real passion and love is "birding". Brad Harris (Jack Black) works on an office while he learns and memorizes every single bird sound. That's his passion, his goal and dream, to participate in the annual birding competition, and beat the best, Kenny Bostick. The only problem is that he doesn't have the money, time off at work and especially, his family support. His dad believes he's a loser for working on these dreams and doesn't waste an opportunity to express that. And finally, we have Stu Preissler (Steve Martin). A successful business man who wants to retire, leaving the direction of his empire to the company board, while he takes his time off to go and do what he's been dreaming and preparing for years, birding.
The film brings some really funny and entertaining moments, amazing landscape views, a fresh joyful story, but most, most important, such an amazing moral message at the end of the film, when every single one of these participants learn their most important lesson in life, good and bad ones.
I really, really enjoyed the film, every single minute of it, the moral message and the excellent and hilarious performance of this amazing cast.
I would rate this movie with a 5/5
Have you watched the film? What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie? Share with us your thoughts!
Enjoy it!... Watch it!
Synopsis: Queens native Josh Kovacs has managed one of the most luxurious and well-secured residences in New York City for more than a decade. Under his watchful eye, nothing goes undetected. In the swankiest unit atop Josh's building, Wall Street titan Arthur Shaw is under house arrest after being caught stealing two billion from his investors. The hardest hit among those he defrauded? The tower staffers whose pensions he was entrusted to manage.
With only days before Arthur gets away with the perfect crime, Josh's crew turns to petty crook Slide to plan the nearly impossible…to steal what they are sure is hidden in Arthur's guarded condo. Though amateurs, these rookie thieves know the building better than anyone. Turns out they've been casing the place for years, they just didn't know it.
With only days before Arthur gets away with the perfect crime, Josh's crew turns to petty crook Slide to plan the nearly impossible…to steal what they are sure is hidden in Arthur's guarded condo. Though amateurs, these rookie thieves know the building better than anyone. Turns out they've been casing the place for years, they just didn't know it.
Starring: Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Casey Affleck, Alan Alda, Matthew Broderick, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Téa Leoni, Michael Pena,
Directed by: Brett Ratner
U.S. Rating: PG-13
Tower Heist it's like a light, but extremely smart and funny version of Ocean's Eleven. With such a very unorthodox cast, a clever fresh plot and amazing acting performances, the film was ne of the best comedies in 2011.
I think there were at least, a couple of great comebacks on this film. The first and most important one: Eddie Murphy. His comeback couldn't be better, playing the hilarious role of a professional street hustler responsible of teaching the bad habits and techniques to the rest of the amateur team, with such a great and smart sense of humor in this adult comedy. Matthew Broderick had the other great comeback, playing a role of a very insecure man... a looser, but an extremely smart man in finances.
Ben Stiler played also a great and enjoyable role, this time as a smart and professional manager of "The Tower" the most prestigious, luxurious and well-secured residential buildings in New York City. It was good to see Ben Stiller playing a different role this time, as a self-confident professional man, and not the usual insecure and awkward man we've seen in other previous and recent roles.
Tower Heist is the bright and funny side of a smart heist performed by a bunch of amateurs who've never robbed anything in the past, just with the vision and goal of recovering their own money earned with years of honest hard work.
So, what's Tower Heist about? Ben Stiller is Josh Kovacs, the building manager of The Tower, a high-rise luxury apartment complex on Central Park West in New York City whose employees include concierge Charlie, his brother in law; Enrique, an elevator operator; Lester, the doorman nearing retirement; Odessa, a Jamaican maid; and Miss Iovenko, who furtively studies for her bar exam at work.
One morning Josh sees what appears to be a kidnapping of an important tenant, the wealthy businessman Arthur Shaw. When Josh tries to chase the van with the kidnapped tenant and almost catches the van, he is stopped by FBI agent Claire Denham. Denham explains him that Shaw wasn't being kidnapped, he was attempting to flee arrest, accused of running a Ponzi scheme.
Josh is in shock and has to face an important moment, telling the Tower staff about Shaw's arrest and explain them that he gave Shaw their pension fund to invest, and their money is gone. The staff feels the presure of loosing all their money and years o hard work, and even Lester attempted suicide after losing everything he had.
Josh meets FBI Detective Denham and she says Shaw must have had a cash safety net and suggests in jest that he find and steal it. Josh gathers Charlie, Enrique, and former Tower tenant Mr. Fitzhugh to draw up a plan to steal Shaw's money.
Charlie brings up the obvious drawback that they are not thieves, but that doesn't stop Josh. He decides to enlists his neighbor, a petty criminal named Slide. Slide trains the team and tries to get everything in order for the heist, trying to open the safe and steal the 20 million dollars from it.
During the Thanksgiving Parade, the team reaches Shaw's apartment, breaks down a false wall and finds Shaw's safe behind it; Odessa opens the safe but finds it empty. Now, they will have to find where the money is saved and make the important changes on their original plan on the move, to get their money and savings back.
It is actually a fresh and smart comedy with a great plot and a great chemistry among all the performers. The end just made me laugh really hard, since it was totally unexpected, and the way they had to split their part was... unique!
Totally recommended!
I would rate this movie with a 4/5
Directed by: Brett Ratner
U.S. Rating: PG-13
Tower Heist it's like a light, but extremely smart and funny version of Ocean's Eleven. With such a very unorthodox cast, a clever fresh plot and amazing acting performances, the film was ne of the best comedies in 2011.
I think there were at least, a couple of great comebacks on this film. The first and most important one: Eddie Murphy. His comeback couldn't be better, playing the hilarious role of a professional street hustler responsible of teaching the bad habits and techniques to the rest of the amateur team, with such a great and smart sense of humor in this adult comedy. Matthew Broderick had the other great comeback, playing a role of a very insecure man... a looser, but an extremely smart man in finances.
Ben Stiler played also a great and enjoyable role, this time as a smart and professional manager of "The Tower" the most prestigious, luxurious and well-secured residential buildings in New York City. It was good to see Ben Stiller playing a different role this time, as a self-confident professional man, and not the usual insecure and awkward man we've seen in other previous and recent roles.
Tower Heist is the bright and funny side of a smart heist performed by a bunch of amateurs who've never robbed anything in the past, just with the vision and goal of recovering their own money earned with years of honest hard work.
So, what's Tower Heist about? Ben Stiller is Josh Kovacs, the building manager of The Tower, a high-rise luxury apartment complex on Central Park West in New York City whose employees include concierge Charlie, his brother in law; Enrique, an elevator operator; Lester, the doorman nearing retirement; Odessa, a Jamaican maid; and Miss Iovenko, who furtively studies for her bar exam at work.
One morning Josh sees what appears to be a kidnapping of an important tenant, the wealthy businessman Arthur Shaw. When Josh tries to chase the van with the kidnapped tenant and almost catches the van, he is stopped by FBI agent Claire Denham. Denham explains him that Shaw wasn't being kidnapped, he was attempting to flee arrest, accused of running a Ponzi scheme.
Josh is in shock and has to face an important moment, telling the Tower staff about Shaw's arrest and explain them that he gave Shaw their pension fund to invest, and their money is gone. The staff feels the presure of loosing all their money and years o hard work, and even Lester attempted suicide after losing everything he had.
Josh meets FBI Detective Denham and she says Shaw must have had a cash safety net and suggests in jest that he find and steal it. Josh gathers Charlie, Enrique, and former Tower tenant Mr. Fitzhugh to draw up a plan to steal Shaw's money.
Charlie brings up the obvious drawback that they are not thieves, but that doesn't stop Josh. He decides to enlists his neighbor, a petty criminal named Slide. Slide trains the team and tries to get everything in order for the heist, trying to open the safe and steal the 20 million dollars from it.
During the Thanksgiving Parade, the team reaches Shaw's apartment, breaks down a false wall and finds Shaw's safe behind it; Odessa opens the safe but finds it empty. Now, they will have to find where the money is saved and make the important changes on their original plan on the move, to get their money and savings back.
It is actually a fresh and smart comedy with a great plot and a great chemistry among all the performers. The end just made me laugh really hard, since it was totally unexpected, and the way they had to split their part was... unique!
Totally recommended!
I would rate this movie with a 4/5
Have you watched the film? What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie? Share with us your thoughts!
Enjoy it!... Watch it!
Synopsis: A surprising and intimate portrait of Margaret Thatcher, the first and only female Prime Minister of The United Kingdom. One of the 20th century's most famous and influential women, Thatcher came from nowhere to smash through barriers of gender and class to be heard in a male dominated world.
Starring: Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Olivia Colman, Roger Allam, Nick Dunning, Nicholas Farrell
Directed by: Phyllida Lloyd
U.S. Rating: PG-13
Another superb, amazing, supreme performance by Meryl Streep. As said in my previous post about my top ten favorite Meryl Streep's films, I do consider her THE best actress in the world, no doubt about it. She totally demonstrated her talent... Once again... on this film.
I'd like to write this review from two different perspectives. First, about the film. Even though the film is a biopic based on the life of the UK Prime Minister, a pretty interesting and fascinating story of the first woman ever to become the UK Prime Minister, especially during a pretty intense and dangerous time in the world, facing some important and sensitive executive decisions. The only problem is that, for my personal taste, the film failed projecting those important events and her miningful role in UK (and the world) history. Director Phyllida Lloyd focused more on her personal life and dilemas, jumping constantly back and forth between past and present making it slow, boring and hard to follow at some times.
In the other hand, what made the film appealed to the viewers (especially for me) was Meryl Streep's spotless performance. Her appearance, her voice, her interpretation of Margaret Thatcher was simply amazing! She wasn't representing her on her role, she WAS Margaret Thatcher. It would a huge surprise for me if she doesn't get the Oscar for best actress after playing this amazing role.
If I had to rate the film for its all, I would say it didn't convince me at all, I'd give it a 2.5/5 but, If I'd rate it by Meryl Streep's performance and the great supporting cast working on the film, I'd give it 5/5.
So, at the end, I'd rate this movie with a 3/5
Directed by: Phyllida Lloyd
U.S. Rating: PG-13
Another superb, amazing, supreme performance by Meryl Streep. As said in my previous post about my top ten favorite Meryl Streep's films, I do consider her THE best actress in the world, no doubt about it. She totally demonstrated her talent... Once again... on this film.
I'd like to write this review from two different perspectives. First, about the film. Even though the film is a biopic based on the life of the UK Prime Minister, a pretty interesting and fascinating story of the first woman ever to become the UK Prime Minister, especially during a pretty intense and dangerous time in the world, facing some important and sensitive executive decisions. The only problem is that, for my personal taste, the film failed projecting those important events and her miningful role in UK (and the world) history. Director Phyllida Lloyd focused more on her personal life and dilemas, jumping constantly back and forth between past and present making it slow, boring and hard to follow at some times.
In the other hand, what made the film appealed to the viewers (especially for me) was Meryl Streep's spotless performance. Her appearance, her voice, her interpretation of Margaret Thatcher was simply amazing! She wasn't representing her on her role, she WAS Margaret Thatcher. It would a huge surprise for me if she doesn't get the Oscar for best actress after playing this amazing role.
If I had to rate the film for its all, I would say it didn't convince me at all, I'd give it a 2.5/5 but, If I'd rate it by Meryl Streep's performance and the great supporting cast working on the film, I'd give it 5/5.
So, at the end, I'd rate this movie with a 3/5
Have you watched the film? What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie? Share with us your thoughts!
Enjoy it!... Watch it!
Synopsis: Matt King is an indifferent husband and fatherof two girls, who is forced to re-examine his past and embrace his future when his wife suffers a boating accident off of Waikiki. The event leads to a rapprochement with his young daughters while Matt wrestles with a decision to sell the family's land handed down from Hawaiian royalty and missionaries.
Starring: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Mary Birdsong, Nick Krause, Judy Greer, Beau Bridges
Directed by: Alexander Payne
U.S. Rating: R
One of the best films I've watched so far this year 2012. George Clooney has demonstrated one more time why he's considered one of the best actors in Hollywood.
Director Alexander Payne (Sideways, About Schmidt, Paris I Love You, etc) brings one more time a great film focused on those dramas, dilemas and ethical or emotional miseries in life, projecting them with a fresh humor that makes it so, but so enjoyable to watch.Personally, I believe he's one of those great directors who deserve the big respect for his work, since every single film produced/directed has left a great visual experience for the audience.
What does it make The Descendants be such a great film? As mentioned before, it had such an amazing direction, thanks to Alexander Payne's work, the script is such a strong story that offers a little bit of everything you expect: Strong drama, fresh and sarcastic humor, a moral message and a great story line that will keep you focused on the screen through all the film. The cast is superb! And the key element, George Clooney's performance, simply amazing! I haven't watched 'The Artist' by the time I wrote this review, but must say that if he doesn't get the Oscars as best actor for his role in this film, it's because Jean Dujardin's acting performance in The Artist was simply spotless. George Clooney deserves an Oscar for his role in The Descendants.
If you haven't watched it yet and want to know about it, here's part of the plot (I won't post the end!):
Matt King is a Honolulu-based lawyer and the sole trustee of a family trust that controls 25,000 acres of pristine land on the island of Kaua'i. The trust will expire in seven years because of the rule against perpetuities, so the King family has decided to sell the land to Kaua'i native Don Holitzer for development. Just before family members are ready to formally endorse the deal, which Matt favors, a boating accident near Waikīkī renders Matt's wife, Elizabeth, comatose.
Matt and Elizabeth have two daughters, 10-year-old Scottie and 17-year-old Alex. Matt is not very close to his daughters and refers to himself as the "back-up parent." With Elizabeth in a coma at Queen's Hospital, he is forced to confront Scottie's inappropriate behavior with other children and Alex's destructive behaviors.
Matt learns that Elizabeth will never awaken from her coma, which means that under the terms of her living will she must be disconnected shortly from life support. He tells Alex, but not Scottie, that Elizabeth will not recover and must be allowed to die. Alex tells her father that Elizabeth was having an affair at the time of the accident. Matt confronts two family friends, Kai and Mark, and learns that Elizabeth's lover is Brian Speer.
...
The story continues, Matt tries to meet this guy that was having an affair with his wife, confront him and invite him to go and visit her at the hospital before she dies. During this search and confrontation, a series of events will help Matt to be closer to his daughters and with life, taking important decisions that will affect his and his family lives.
1000% recommended!
I would rate this movie with a 5/5
Directed by: Alexander Payne
U.S. Rating: R
One of the best films I've watched so far this year 2012. George Clooney has demonstrated one more time why he's considered one of the best actors in Hollywood.
Director Alexander Payne (Sideways, About Schmidt, Paris I Love You, etc) brings one more time a great film focused on those dramas, dilemas and ethical or emotional miseries in life, projecting them with a fresh humor that makes it so, but so enjoyable to watch.Personally, I believe he's one of those great directors who deserve the big respect for his work, since every single film produced/directed has left a great visual experience for the audience.
What does it make The Descendants be such a great film? As mentioned before, it had such an amazing direction, thanks to Alexander Payne's work, the script is such a strong story that offers a little bit of everything you expect: Strong drama, fresh and sarcastic humor, a moral message and a great story line that will keep you focused on the screen through all the film. The cast is superb! And the key element, George Clooney's performance, simply amazing! I haven't watched 'The Artist' by the time I wrote this review, but must say that if he doesn't get the Oscars as best actor for his role in this film, it's because Jean Dujardin's acting performance in The Artist was simply spotless. George Clooney deserves an Oscar for his role in The Descendants.
If you haven't watched it yet and want to know about it, here's part of the plot (I won't post the end!):
Matt King is a Honolulu-based lawyer and the sole trustee of a family trust that controls 25,000 acres of pristine land on the island of Kaua'i. The trust will expire in seven years because of the rule against perpetuities, so the King family has decided to sell the land to Kaua'i native Don Holitzer for development. Just before family members are ready to formally endorse the deal, which Matt favors, a boating accident near Waikīkī renders Matt's wife, Elizabeth, comatose.
Matt and Elizabeth have two daughters, 10-year-old Scottie and 17-year-old Alex. Matt is not very close to his daughters and refers to himself as the "back-up parent." With Elizabeth in a coma at Queen's Hospital, he is forced to confront Scottie's inappropriate behavior with other children and Alex's destructive behaviors.
Matt learns that Elizabeth will never awaken from her coma, which means that under the terms of her living will she must be disconnected shortly from life support. He tells Alex, but not Scottie, that Elizabeth will not recover and must be allowed to die. Alex tells her father that Elizabeth was having an affair at the time of the accident. Matt confronts two family friends, Kai and Mark, and learns that Elizabeth's lover is Brian Speer.
...
The story continues, Matt tries to meet this guy that was having an affair with his wife, confront him and invite him to go and visit her at the hospital before she dies. During this search and confrontation, a series of events will help Matt to be closer to his daughters and with life, taking important decisions that will affect his and his family lives.
1000% recommended!
I would rate this movie with a 5/5
Have you watched the film? What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie? Share with us your thoughts!
Enjoy it!... Watch it!
Synopsis: Mavis Gary, a writer of teen literature, returns to her small hometown to relive her glory days and attempt to reclaim her happily married high school sweetheart. When returning home proves more difficult than she thought, Mavis forms an unusual bond with a former classmate who hasn't quite gotten over high school either.
Starring: Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, Patrick Wilson
Directed by: Jason Reitman
U.S. Rating: R
Director Jason Reitman brings to the big screen yet another dark comedy written by Diablo Cody, the same writer/producer who wrote Juno and Jennifer's Body. I remember a while ago watching Juno... Loved, loved that film. Great cast and a pretty smart, dry adult humor. Young Adult, is a lighter and more adult version of Juno, even though, not even close as good as Juno was. Charlize Theron, well, what can we expect from her? Exactly what she did in this film, playing an outstanding performance as a very unhappy, drunk and miserable young adult who lost all sense of reality, and once again, has to face her past when she visits her old town and tries to get her old love back, even though, that love is married, with a baby boy.
Young Adult brings a dark, disturbing and dry humored comedy, even though, it wasn't exactly what I was expecting from it. I was expecting a more sarcastic, fun comedy about Marvis' sad and lost life. What I saw, and probably many people would be against my opinion, was a slow, cruel and uncomfortable comedy, boring at times (maybe I was tired, don't know) and extremely predictable.
Charlize and Patton performances were outstanding, the best of the film and probably, what really made it worth to watch.
I would rate this movie with a 2/5
Directed by: Jason Reitman
U.S. Rating: R
Director Jason Reitman brings to the big screen yet another dark comedy written by Diablo Cody, the same writer/producer who wrote Juno and Jennifer's Body. I remember a while ago watching Juno... Loved, loved that film. Great cast and a pretty smart, dry adult humor. Young Adult, is a lighter and more adult version of Juno, even though, not even close as good as Juno was. Charlize Theron, well, what can we expect from her? Exactly what she did in this film, playing an outstanding performance as a very unhappy, drunk and miserable young adult who lost all sense of reality, and once again, has to face her past when she visits her old town and tries to get her old love back, even though, that love is married, with a baby boy.
Young Adult brings a dark, disturbing and dry humored comedy, even though, it wasn't exactly what I was expecting from it. I was expecting a more sarcastic, fun comedy about Marvis' sad and lost life. What I saw, and probably many people would be against my opinion, was a slow, cruel and uncomfortable comedy, boring at times (maybe I was tired, don't know) and extremely predictable.
Charlize and Patton performances were outstanding, the best of the film and probably, what really made it worth to watch.
I would rate this movie with a 2/5
Have you watched the film? What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie? Share with us your thoughts!
Enjoy it!... Watch it!
Synopsis: Los Angeles S.W.A.T. officer, Lt. Paul Cutler, is sent to train the Detroit S.W.A.T. team on new anti-terrorism and homeland security techniques. Cutler has a hard time settling into his assignment as he locks horns with his new captain and encounters resistance from the team he must lead. Cutler begins to adjust to his new assignment, starting a budding romance with police psychologist Kim Byers along the way. Unexpectedly, a routine hostage call turns deadly, and a relentless ex-government agent named Walter Hatch vows revenge on Cutler and the entire S.W.A.T. team for killing the woman he loves. Cutler must use his considerable S.W.A.T. training and knowledge to save his teammates and defeat a trained killer.
Starring: Gabriel Macht, Kristanna Loken, Carly Pope, Robert Patrick, Giancarlo Esposito
Directed by: Benny Boom
U.S. Rating: R
So... What did happen here? S.W.A.T.: Firefight has been the movie trailer most watched in 35mmReviews, but I never wrote a review for the film! I never thought everyone would be so interested on this second film that never made it to the big screen, since it was released straight to DVD in early 2011.
Anyway, if you're a big fan of the original S.W.A.T. film with Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Ferrell, and you were expecting it to be kind of a sequel, you're simply wrong. This film has nothing to do with the original one from 2003. I really enjoyed S.W.A.T. with Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Ferrell (even though, I think he's a lousy actor). It was a pretty good action-packed film with a really entertaining plot and an amazing cast. In the case of the new S.W.A.T.: Firefight, I must say I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was, actually. After knowing it would be released straight to DVD, I thought it wouldn't be a film worth to watch, but after seeing the stats going up, and up, and up every week for the trailer posted on this blog, I was intrigued about the film. I took the step forward and had the chance to watch the film and I must say I was pleased and entertained with the film. I think the script had a huge potencial to be a pretty amazing action film, but the director/producer didn't take the opportunity to exploit the plot. The film catches your attention from the very first scene, even though, it gets a little bit boring after the first half, and that's when I think they didn't exploit the best of the plot. Having a dangerous criminal looking for personal revenge and he's able to steal the personal tactics and training operations book from one of the S.W.A.T. team members, I would have expected that this criminal could use that knowledge against the team and team leader, but they lack of good material at the end of the film, not taking advantage of this particular scene on the film. No matter the final turn on the film, as said before, S.W.A.T.: Firefight was surprisingly entertaining, with some good action scenes, a pretty strong acting performance, especially from the lead role, Gabriel Macht.
It is definitely a good film option for a good weekend at home.
I would rate this movie with a 3/5
Directed by: Benny Boom
U.S. Rating: R
So... What did happen here? S.W.A.T.: Firefight has been the movie trailer most watched in 35mmReviews, but I never wrote a review for the film! I never thought everyone would be so interested on this second film that never made it to the big screen, since it was released straight to DVD in early 2011.
Anyway, if you're a big fan of the original S.W.A.T. film with Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Ferrell, and you were expecting it to be kind of a sequel, you're simply wrong. This film has nothing to do with the original one from 2003. I really enjoyed S.W.A.T. with Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Ferrell (even though, I think he's a lousy actor). It was a pretty good action-packed film with a really entertaining plot and an amazing cast. In the case of the new S.W.A.T.: Firefight, I must say I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was, actually. After knowing it would be released straight to DVD, I thought it wouldn't be a film worth to watch, but after seeing the stats going up, and up, and up every week for the trailer posted on this blog, I was intrigued about the film. I took the step forward and had the chance to watch the film and I must say I was pleased and entertained with the film. I think the script had a huge potencial to be a pretty amazing action film, but the director/producer didn't take the opportunity to exploit the plot. The film catches your attention from the very first scene, even though, it gets a little bit boring after the first half, and that's when I think they didn't exploit the best of the plot. Having a dangerous criminal looking for personal revenge and he's able to steal the personal tactics and training operations book from one of the S.W.A.T. team members, I would have expected that this criminal could use that knowledge against the team and team leader, but they lack of good material at the end of the film, not taking advantage of this particular scene on the film. No matter the final turn on the film, as said before, S.W.A.T.: Firefight was surprisingly entertaining, with some good action scenes, a pretty strong acting performance, especially from the lead role, Gabriel Macht.
It is definitely a good film option for a good weekend at home.
I would rate this movie with a 3/5
Have you watched the film? What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie? Share with us your thoughts!
Enjoy it!... Watch it!
Synopsis: Noah is a suspended college student, living at home with his single mom. When he is talked into babysitting the three, young, misfit kids next door, he decides to take them along on an attempted sexual rendezvous, and the night takes a wild and dangerous turn for the worse for which he is totally unprepared.
Starring: Jonah Hill, Max Records, Ari Graynor, J.B. Smoove, Sam Rockwell
Directed by: David Gordon Green
U.S. Rating: R
I must recognize that The Sitter has been one of the most expected comedy films on my personal list since the fist time I watched the first official trailer almost 5 months ago.All the random and crazy scenes on every single trailer released, sold the film.
Sadly, I must recognize that if we'd compile all the green and red band trailers released in one big clip, we'd get the best of the film and save the money and time of going to the theater to watch the film. I mean, I enjoyed the film, but if I had to recommend it to someone over any other film on theaters, I would place it as a plan B.
The plot was vague and boring at some moments, but at least, they tried to keep it funny adding some random crazy scenes and situations that at least, pulled some good laughs out. I must recognize that I totally enjoyed "Rodrigo's" role. I believe he's my alter ego. I saw myself represented on his role, especially during my youth :) There were some really funny lines and situations, gathered a pretty decent cast that made the big part on keeping the lousy plot alive.
If you'd want to know a little bit more about the plot, The Sitter is about Noah, a college student who has been suspended and now lives with his mom. After having a disagreement with his mother, he's lured into taking a babysitting job caring for the kids of Mrs. Pedulla: the stern and studious Slater, no-nonsense wild child Blithe and the pyromaniac exchange student Rodrigo.
Soon Noah is invited to a party to have sex with his supposed girlfriend who uses him only to get oral sex, she agrees to have sex with him if he brings her drugs to the party. Noah tempted by the offer steals Mrs. Pedulla's car and takes the kids to the city, where he meets Karl in his body building shop. Karl likes to hide his cocaine in expensive baby dinosaur eggs and loves to make new friends. After getting drugs, he realizes that Rodrigo has stolen a egg from Karl, after a struggle the egg burst open wasting all the drugs.
After Karl finds out the drugs are missing and calls Noah finding his number on facebook he tells Noah that he has to come up with $10,000 or he will kill him. Noah in a frantic decides to take the kids back to their parents but thinks against it feeling he has to fix his own problems, he then takes the kids to a bar mitzvah that Slater was invited to,there Slater sees his friend who lied to him earlier saying that he couldn't hang out with him cause he had a spider bite, Slater's friend admits he lied because he was sick of hanging out with him at his house and not going anywhere. Noah finds out the valet service have lost his van which was actually stolen. Noah leaves going to his father house to see if he will give him the money.
When his dad berates him and refuses to give him money, Noah steals his fathers car and breaks into his father's jewelry store taking diamonds.Rodrigo fascinated with bombs puts a cherry bomb in the bathroom blowing up the store, Noah frustrated with Rodrigo's antics yells at him and forces him to admit why he is so bad, Rodrigo frustrated throws all of Slater's medicine out the window believing that noone likes him in the family. Slater has a panic attack in which Noah calms him down and acknowledges that he knows about Slater's homosexuality. Noah notices his stolen van and follows the thiefs to a club where he run across Jacolby and his girlfriend who hates him because years ago Noah threw up in her grandmother's urn. Noah allows her to hit him as a apology and which she does then makes amends. Noah runs into Suzy a girl he knew before he dropped out of college and realizes she likes him, still on the run from Karl, Noah goes to the party to save Marissa who is drunk and belligerent.
When Karl shows up Noah, Marissa and the kids make a run from him crashing into a park. With Noah about to die, all of a sudden Jacolby and his crew come and save him beating Karl up while Noah runs and can take the kids back home. Marissa realizes that she was a terrible girlfriend and that she got Noah in all this mess, Noah agrees letting her know that he is done risking everything for her when she dosent really like him. Finally Noah gets the kids home before there parents come back, cleaning up their mess.The kids all get extremely close to Noah and start to listen to him. Noah finally leaves after threatening Mr. Pedulla acknowledging that he knows he is sleeping with his secretary. Suzy meets him at the house , and they leave together walking home hand in hand.
Source: Wikipedia
As mentioned before, it was a decent silly adult comedy, but if I had to recommend it over another great movie on theaters, I'd leave The Sitter as a second option, or even better, to a great movie night at home when the film comes to DVD.
I would rate this movie with a 2/5
Directed by: David Gordon Green
U.S. Rating: R
I must recognize that The Sitter has been one of the most expected comedy films on my personal list since the fist time I watched the first official trailer almost 5 months ago.All the random and crazy scenes on every single trailer released, sold the film.
Sadly, I must recognize that if we'd compile all the green and red band trailers released in one big clip, we'd get the best of the film and save the money and time of going to the theater to watch the film. I mean, I enjoyed the film, but if I had to recommend it to someone over any other film on theaters, I would place it as a plan B.
The plot was vague and boring at some moments, but at least, they tried to keep it funny adding some random crazy scenes and situations that at least, pulled some good laughs out. I must recognize that I totally enjoyed "Rodrigo's" role. I believe he's my alter ego. I saw myself represented on his role, especially during my youth :) There were some really funny lines and situations, gathered a pretty decent cast that made the big part on keeping the lousy plot alive.
If you'd want to know a little bit more about the plot, The Sitter is about Noah, a college student who has been suspended and now lives with his mom. After having a disagreement with his mother, he's lured into taking a babysitting job caring for the kids of Mrs. Pedulla: the stern and studious Slater, no-nonsense wild child Blithe and the pyromaniac exchange student Rodrigo.
Soon Noah is invited to a party to have sex with his supposed girlfriend who uses him only to get oral sex, she agrees to have sex with him if he brings her drugs to the party. Noah tempted by the offer steals Mrs. Pedulla's car and takes the kids to the city, where he meets Karl in his body building shop. Karl likes to hide his cocaine in expensive baby dinosaur eggs and loves to make new friends. After getting drugs, he realizes that Rodrigo has stolen a egg from Karl, after a struggle the egg burst open wasting all the drugs.
After Karl finds out the drugs are missing and calls Noah finding his number on facebook he tells Noah that he has to come up with $10,000 or he will kill him. Noah in a frantic decides to take the kids back to their parents but thinks against it feeling he has to fix his own problems, he then takes the kids to a bar mitzvah that Slater was invited to,there Slater sees his friend who lied to him earlier saying that he couldn't hang out with him cause he had a spider bite, Slater's friend admits he lied because he was sick of hanging out with him at his house and not going anywhere. Noah finds out the valet service have lost his van which was actually stolen. Noah leaves going to his father house to see if he will give him the money.
When his dad berates him and refuses to give him money, Noah steals his fathers car and breaks into his father's jewelry store taking diamonds.Rodrigo fascinated with bombs puts a cherry bomb in the bathroom blowing up the store, Noah frustrated with Rodrigo's antics yells at him and forces him to admit why he is so bad, Rodrigo frustrated throws all of Slater's medicine out the window believing that noone likes him in the family. Slater has a panic attack in which Noah calms him down and acknowledges that he knows about Slater's homosexuality. Noah notices his stolen van and follows the thiefs to a club where he run across Jacolby and his girlfriend who hates him because years ago Noah threw up in her grandmother's urn. Noah allows her to hit him as a apology and which she does then makes amends. Noah runs into Suzy a girl he knew before he dropped out of college and realizes she likes him, still on the run from Karl, Noah goes to the party to save Marissa who is drunk and belligerent.
When Karl shows up Noah, Marissa and the kids make a run from him crashing into a park. With Noah about to die, all of a sudden Jacolby and his crew come and save him beating Karl up while Noah runs and can take the kids back home. Marissa realizes that she was a terrible girlfriend and that she got Noah in all this mess, Noah agrees letting her know that he is done risking everything for her when she dosent really like him. Finally Noah gets the kids home before there parents come back, cleaning up their mess.The kids all get extremely close to Noah and start to listen to him. Noah finally leaves after threatening Mr. Pedulla acknowledging that he knows he is sleeping with his secretary. Suzy meets him at the house , and they leave together walking home hand in hand.
Source: Wikipedia
As mentioned before, it was a decent silly adult comedy, but if I had to recommend it over another great movie on theaters, I'd leave The Sitter as a second option, or even better, to a great movie night at home when the film comes to DVD.
I would rate this movie with a 2/5
Have you watched the film? What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie? Share with us your thoughts!
Enjoy it!... Watch it!
Synopsis: Dylan and Jamie think it's going to be easy to add the simple act of sex to their friendship, despite what Hollywood romantic comedies would have them believe. They soon discover however that getting physical really does always lead to complications.
Starring: Justin Timberlake, Mila Kunis, Patricia Clarkson, Jenna Elfman, Bryan Greenberg, Richard Jenkins, Woody Harrelson, Andy Samberg
Directed by: Will Gluck
U.S. Rating: R
Excited to start my new Movie Monday feature in 35mmReviews! I've decided to start this week with a short review for one of my favorite romantic comedies in 2011: Friends With Benefits.
I love chick flicks. I really do. I don't care what anybody else thinks. I've been interested in seeing what Justin Timberlake has been spending his time on instead of making us another dang album. Can't he just get back to singing already?! He's not stood out to be anything great in acting so far, so why would this be any different? Well, let me tell you my fellow movie fans, he just stepped it up! I totally bought the role he was playing. He was excellent! There are moments that I thought, "he couldn't possibly be acting! That looks so natural!" If you're sceptical about JT, don't be. He was fantastic along side Mila Kunis.
Friends with Benefits is about... well, you know what it's about by the title now don't you? The film is hilarious. I laughed the whole way through! I want to watch it over and over again. There hasn't been a good chick flick out in ages! It is re-freshing that someone got it right! Finally!! If you are looking for some laughs and a good flick to watch with your significant other, this is it!! Enjoy!
I would rate this movie with a 5/5
Directed by: Will Gluck
U.S. Rating: R
Excited to start my new Movie Monday feature in 35mmReviews! I've decided to start this week with a short review for one of my favorite romantic comedies in 2011: Friends With Benefits.
I love chick flicks. I really do. I don't care what anybody else thinks. I've been interested in seeing what Justin Timberlake has been spending his time on instead of making us another dang album. Can't he just get back to singing already?! He's not stood out to be anything great in acting so far, so why would this be any different? Well, let me tell you my fellow movie fans, he just stepped it up! I totally bought the role he was playing. He was excellent! There are moments that I thought, "he couldn't possibly be acting! That looks so natural!" If you're sceptical about JT, don't be. He was fantastic along side Mila Kunis.
Friends with Benefits is about... well, you know what it's about by the title now don't you? The film is hilarious. I laughed the whole way through! I want to watch it over and over again. There hasn't been a good chick flick out in ages! It is re-freshing that someone got it right! Finally!! If you are looking for some laughs and a good flick to watch with your significant other, this is it!! Enjoy!
I would rate this movie with a 5/5
Have you watched the film? What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie? Share with us your thoughts!
Enjoy it!... Watch it!
Mary
Synopsis: Mikael Blomkvist is a financial reporter determined to restore his honor after being convicted of libel. Engaged by one of Sweden's wealthiest industrialists, Henrik Vanger, to get to the bottom of the long-ago disappearance of his beloved niece, Harriet -- murdered, Vanger believes, by a member of his large family -- the journalist heads to a remote island on the frozen Swedish coast, unaware of what awaits him.
At the same time, Lisbeth Salander, an unusual but ingenious investigator with Milton Security, is hired to do a background check on Blomkvist, a job that ultimately leads to her joining Mikael in his investigation of who killed Harriet Vanger. Though Lisbeth shields herself from a world that has repeatedly betrayed her, her hacking skills and single-minded focus become invaluable. While Mikael goes face-to-face with the tight-lipped Vangers, Lisbeth plies the wired shadows. They begin to trace a chain of homicides from the past into the present, forging a fragile strand of trust even as they are pulled into the most savage currents of modern crime.
Starring: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgård, Elodie Yung
Directed by: David Fincher
U.S. Rating: R
There's no doubt that David Fincher is one of my TOP favorite directors in Hollywood. Some of my all-time favorite films (Seven, Fight Club, Panic Room, The Social Network) has been directed by this talented director, whom shows he likes to get deep into those books and scripts he decides to bring to the big screen, get the bare essencial content from them, cut, adapt and edit them until he gets such amazing films from this hard work. Most of his films turned into classics and, I'm sure that his most recent one, his personal remake from Swedish international success "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" will also be added to this classics list in the future.
There are two different perspectives to review this film. We can review it from the perspective of those ones who have watched Flincher's remake "after" watching the original Swedish version or, we can also review it from the perspective of those ones who have watched Flincher's remake "before" watching the original Swedish version. I include myself in this second group: Those ones who have watched it before watching the original Swedish one, and that's the perspective I'll take.
Before I start writing my personal point of view and impressions of this film, I must say that I really wanted to go through other reviews from some of the most important Movie Blogs on the net. There were some who shared my personal point of view and thoughts about it, while there were some others critizing Fincher's work and the lead cast's performance. From my personal point of view, I should start saying that I prefer Flincher's film over Oplev's. Note that I'm not saying that Oplev's original version was bad... far from it! It was an amazing and remarkable film! But we can clearly notice the huge directorial differences and styles. In this order of ideas, I must say I definitely liked Flincher's work and film style.
I was wowed with Flincher's version for "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo". The cast gathered for this film was fantastic. There wasn't a better actor to perform the lead role (Mikael Blomkvist) than Daniel Craig. He delivered such a unique performance, even though, it couldn't be considered better than actor Michael Nyqvist's performace in the Swedish version, since Nyqvist was incredibly good too. Now, I have found some controversies on some reviews about Noomi Rapace and Rooney Mara's performances as Lisbeth Salander, a disturbing gothic, anti-social punk investigator/hacker type who lives paycheck to paycheck at the mercy of her weirdo state guardian. Some important reviewers and blogs believe that Rapace's performance was much better than Mara's. I DO not believe that, no matter how incredibly good was Noomi Rapace's performance, Rooney Mara's performace blew me away. Her physical gothic/punk anti-social appearance and look was so, but so much believable than Rapace. Both acting performaces were superb, but Rooney Mara did top her performance on those specific moments when she had to show her punk & anti-social behavior and fictional personality.
While Oplev's original Swedish version was extremely detailed and led by the book, Flincher gave the film a more "theatrical" appeal, printing his personal style and experienced touch. We can easily notice some differences, even though, Flincher kept intact the story and focused just on some important and crucial details, as well as timing perfectly well some relevant events, even when he omitts some not so important events and situations shown on the Swedish version that could be taken as relevant. Flincher's version is 10 minutes longer than the original film, taking it to 2 hours and 40 minutes.
In case you haven't read the book or watched the Swedish film, here's the (short) plot of the film:
Mikael Blomkvist, the co-owner and writer of Millennium magazine, has just lost a libel case against crooked businessman Hans-Erik Wennerström, for which he must pay 600,000 Swedish kronor (approximately 87,000 USD) in damages. Meanwhile, Lisbeth Salander, a researcher for Milton Security and a computer hacker, has compiled a very extensive background check on Blomkvist for Henrik Vanger, retired CEO of Vanger Industries, for a job that Henrik wants him to perform. Despite the recent scandal, Salander passes Blomkvist as "clean."
Blomkvist receives a phone call from Henrik's lawyer, Dirch Frode, who offers him two jobs: to write a Vanger family history, and, using the information provided by Henrik for the memoir, to solve the murder of his niece Harriet Vanger, who disappeared almost 40 years previously; Henrik is convinced that someone in the family killed her.
Blomkvist gets to work right away, staying in a cottage that Henrik provides. He immediately starts investigating the case, collecting some more relevant information about the misterious disappearance of Harriet. He will meet with some members of the Vanger family. Blomkvist finds Harriet's notebook, containing the names of five women with a 5-digit number next to each of their names, secret codes related with some biblical passages showing the killing method used to murder a number of young women over 35 years ago.
Blomkvist begins looking for a researcher to help him find out more about the Bible verses. Frode recommends Salander, whom Blomkvist learns did the background check on him. Upon seeing the incredibly detailed report, he discovers Salander hacked into his computer. He then visits her apartment, making her an offer to help him find Harriet's murderer, to which she agrees.
Soon they will start working together tying all those loosed knots regarding Harriet's disappearance, until they will discover something extremely sordid that might be directly related with Harriet's event.
Definitely, one of the best (if not the best!) thriller films of 2011. The direction was brilliant, the acting performance by ALL cast involved in this film was simply superb. TOTALLY recommended.
I would rate this movie with a huge massive 5/5
Directed by: David Fincher
U.S. Rating: R
There's no doubt that David Fincher is one of my TOP favorite directors in Hollywood. Some of my all-time favorite films (Seven, Fight Club, Panic Room, The Social Network) has been directed by this talented director, whom shows he likes to get deep into those books and scripts he decides to bring to the big screen, get the bare essencial content from them, cut, adapt and edit them until he gets such amazing films from this hard work. Most of his films turned into classics and, I'm sure that his most recent one, his personal remake from Swedish international success "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" will also be added to this classics list in the future.
There are two different perspectives to review this film. We can review it from the perspective of those ones who have watched Flincher's remake "after" watching the original Swedish version or, we can also review it from the perspective of those ones who have watched Flincher's remake "before" watching the original Swedish version. I include myself in this second group: Those ones who have watched it before watching the original Swedish one, and that's the perspective I'll take.
Before I start writing my personal point of view and impressions of this film, I must say that I really wanted to go through other reviews from some of the most important Movie Blogs on the net. There were some who shared my personal point of view and thoughts about it, while there were some others critizing Fincher's work and the lead cast's performance. From my personal point of view, I should start saying that I prefer Flincher's film over Oplev's. Note that I'm not saying that Oplev's original version was bad... far from it! It was an amazing and remarkable film! But we can clearly notice the huge directorial differences and styles. In this order of ideas, I must say I definitely liked Flincher's work and film style.
I was wowed with Flincher's version for "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo". The cast gathered for this film was fantastic. There wasn't a better actor to perform the lead role (Mikael Blomkvist) than Daniel Craig. He delivered such a unique performance, even though, it couldn't be considered better than actor Michael Nyqvist's performace in the Swedish version, since Nyqvist was incredibly good too. Now, I have found some controversies on some reviews about Noomi Rapace and Rooney Mara's performances as Lisbeth Salander, a disturbing gothic, anti-social punk investigator/hacker type who lives paycheck to paycheck at the mercy of her weirdo state guardian. Some important reviewers and blogs believe that Rapace's performance was much better than Mara's. I DO not believe that, no matter how incredibly good was Noomi Rapace's performance, Rooney Mara's performace blew me away. Her physical gothic/punk anti-social appearance and look was so, but so much believable than Rapace. Both acting performaces were superb, but Rooney Mara did top her performance on those specific moments when she had to show her punk & anti-social behavior and fictional personality.
While Oplev's original Swedish version was extremely detailed and led by the book, Flincher gave the film a more "theatrical" appeal, printing his personal style and experienced touch. We can easily notice some differences, even though, Flincher kept intact the story and focused just on some important and crucial details, as well as timing perfectly well some relevant events, even when he omitts some not so important events and situations shown on the Swedish version that could be taken as relevant. Flincher's version is 10 minutes longer than the original film, taking it to 2 hours and 40 minutes.
In case you haven't read the book or watched the Swedish film, here's the (short) plot of the film:
Mikael Blomkvist, the co-owner and writer of Millennium magazine, has just lost a libel case against crooked businessman Hans-Erik Wennerström, for which he must pay 600,000 Swedish kronor (approximately 87,000 USD) in damages. Meanwhile, Lisbeth Salander, a researcher for Milton Security and a computer hacker, has compiled a very extensive background check on Blomkvist for Henrik Vanger, retired CEO of Vanger Industries, for a job that Henrik wants him to perform. Despite the recent scandal, Salander passes Blomkvist as "clean."
Blomkvist receives a phone call from Henrik's lawyer, Dirch Frode, who offers him two jobs: to write a Vanger family history, and, using the information provided by Henrik for the memoir, to solve the murder of his niece Harriet Vanger, who disappeared almost 40 years previously; Henrik is convinced that someone in the family killed her.
Blomkvist gets to work right away, staying in a cottage that Henrik provides. He immediately starts investigating the case, collecting some more relevant information about the misterious disappearance of Harriet. He will meet with some members of the Vanger family. Blomkvist finds Harriet's notebook, containing the names of five women with a 5-digit number next to each of their names, secret codes related with some biblical passages showing the killing method used to murder a number of young women over 35 years ago.
Blomkvist begins looking for a researcher to help him find out more about the Bible verses. Frode recommends Salander, whom Blomkvist learns did the background check on him. Upon seeing the incredibly detailed report, he discovers Salander hacked into his computer. He then visits her apartment, making her an offer to help him find Harriet's murderer, to which she agrees.
Soon they will start working together tying all those loosed knots regarding Harriet's disappearance, until they will discover something extremely sordid that might be directly related with Harriet's event.
Definitely, one of the best (if not the best!) thriller films of 2011. The direction was brilliant, the acting performance by ALL cast involved in this film was simply superb. TOTALLY recommended.
I would rate this movie with a huge massive 5/5
In case you haven't watched the original Swedish version, here's the official trailer:
Have you watched the film? What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie? Share with us your thoughts!
Enjoy it!... Watch it!
Synopsis: In the near-future, where the sport of boxing has gone hi-tech, Charlie Kenton is a washed-up fighter who lost his chance at a title when 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots took over the ring. Now nothing but a small-time promoter, Charlie earns just enough money piecing together low-end bots from scrap metal to get from one underground boxing venue to the next. When Charlie hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max to build and train a championship contender. As the stakes in the brutal, no-holds-barred arena are raised, Charlie and Max, against all odds, get one last shot at a comeback.
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Dakota Goyo, Kevin Durand, Anthony Mackie, Evangeline Lilly
Directed by: Shawn Levy
U.S. Rating: PG-13
One of the great films released in 2011 was Real Steel. Probably it wasn't one of the most remarkable ones, but it was actually pretty good and entertaining. The interesting thing about this film is that it brings such a unique plot, but the main story is not about the whole boxing robots, far from it, but the special relationship between a dad and his little son.
It is not a surprise that Hugh Jackman delivered such a great performance, but this film was definitely all about Dakota Goyo, the little boy playing Hugh's on in this film. The charisma shown by this little guy made the whole film deserved to watch.
Real Steel is focused in year 2020. Humans have been replaced by robots in boxing. Charlie Kenton is a former boxer who owns such a robot, Ambush, competing in unsanctioned matches and in exhibitions with it. At a rural fair, Ambush is destroyed by Black Thunder, a bull belonging to promoter Ricky. Having made a bet that Ambush would win, Charlie now owes Ricky $20,000, which he doesn't pay before leaving.
Charlie is informed his ex-girlfriend has died, and that he must attend a hearing to decide the fate of his preteen son Max. Max's wealthy aunt Debra and uncle Marvin want full custody, which Charlie gives them in exchange for $100,000, half in advance, on the condition that Charlie take care of Max for three months while the couple are away on a second honeymoon.
Charlie and Max meet with Charlie's childhood friend Bailey Tallet, who runs the boxing gym of her deceased father, Charlie's old coach. There, Charlie buys a secondhand World Robot Boxing league (WRB) robot, the once-famous Noisy Boy, and arranges for it to fight the illegal circuit's champion, Midas, at a venue belonging to his friend Finn. Partly due to both his inexperience with Noisy Boy's combinations and his overconfidence, Charlie ends up losing control of Noisy Boy and Midas destroys it.
Charlie breaks into a junkyard with Max to steal scraps that he can use to put a new robot together. There, Max falls over a ledge, where he is saved from doom by getting snagged on the arm of a buried robot. After Charlie pulls Max back up, Max digs out the entire robot, called Atom. On Max's insistence, Charlie takes it back to Bailey's gym, where they discover Atom is an obsolete Generation-2 sparring bot built in 2014. Atom has been designed to sustain massive damage, but is unable to deal much damage itself. Partly due to both Max's insistence and Charlie needing money, the duo takes Atom to fight an unsanctioned outdoor match against a robot called Metro, and Atom wins, earning back some of Charlie's money.
Max later upgrades it to take vocal commands using spare parts from Noisy Boy and Ambush and successfully convinces Charlie to train the robot. Atom's string of subsequent wins and high-speed maneuvers, which were rarely seen from a robot, attracts the attention of a promoter from WRB, who offers Atom a professional fight against a robot called Twin Cities. Charlie accepts, and Atom wins again, thanks to Charlie's boxing experience allowing him to locate and take advantage of a small tell in Twin Cities' punch. Revelling in their subsequent novelty attention, Max challenges WRB champion Zeus, designed by genius Tak Mashido (Karl Yune) and sponsored by wealthy Farra Lemcova (Olga Fonda), who before the match tried to buy the upstart Atom.
As Max and Charlie leave after the Twin Cities fight, Ricky and his men attack them, and steal their winnings. Feeling guilty, Charlie returns Max to his aunt and uncle, feeling Max will be safer with them, but Bailey convinces him that he can be a better father. Debra allows Charlie to take Max out for one last night, to the Zeus-Atom match. Zeus severely damages Atom while also getting injured, a first for Zeus. Ricky, who had bet Finn $100,000 that Atom would not last the first round, tries to slip away, but is cornered by Finn and his colleagues. In the fourth round of the five-round match, Atom's vocal receptors are damaged, and Atom must fight the last round in shadow-boxing mode, copying Charlie's moves from the aisle. Zeus, now controlled manually by a furious Mashido, expends energy on trashing the defensive Atom, running low on power and turning sluggish as a result. Atom then begins to pummel Zeus, even knocking the seemingly invincible champion down once, but not winning before the round ends. The judges declare Zeus the winner on points, but that robot's reputation is tarnished, and Atom has become famous as the "People's Champion".
I would rate this movie with a 3.5/5
Directed by: Shawn Levy
U.S. Rating: PG-13
One of the great films released in 2011 was Real Steel. Probably it wasn't one of the most remarkable ones, but it was actually pretty good and entertaining. The interesting thing about this film is that it brings such a unique plot, but the main story is not about the whole boxing robots, far from it, but the special relationship between a dad and his little son.
It is not a surprise that Hugh Jackman delivered such a great performance, but this film was definitely all about Dakota Goyo, the little boy playing Hugh's on in this film. The charisma shown by this little guy made the whole film deserved to watch.
Real Steel is focused in year 2020. Humans have been replaced by robots in boxing. Charlie Kenton is a former boxer who owns such a robot, Ambush, competing in unsanctioned matches and in exhibitions with it. At a rural fair, Ambush is destroyed by Black Thunder, a bull belonging to promoter Ricky. Having made a bet that Ambush would win, Charlie now owes Ricky $20,000, which he doesn't pay before leaving.
Charlie is informed his ex-girlfriend has died, and that he must attend a hearing to decide the fate of his preteen son Max. Max's wealthy aunt Debra and uncle Marvin want full custody, which Charlie gives them in exchange for $100,000, half in advance, on the condition that Charlie take care of Max for three months while the couple are away on a second honeymoon.
Charlie and Max meet with Charlie's childhood friend Bailey Tallet, who runs the boxing gym of her deceased father, Charlie's old coach. There, Charlie buys a secondhand World Robot Boxing league (WRB) robot, the once-famous Noisy Boy, and arranges for it to fight the illegal circuit's champion, Midas, at a venue belonging to his friend Finn. Partly due to both his inexperience with Noisy Boy's combinations and his overconfidence, Charlie ends up losing control of Noisy Boy and Midas destroys it.
Charlie breaks into a junkyard with Max to steal scraps that he can use to put a new robot together. There, Max falls over a ledge, where he is saved from doom by getting snagged on the arm of a buried robot. After Charlie pulls Max back up, Max digs out the entire robot, called Atom. On Max's insistence, Charlie takes it back to Bailey's gym, where they discover Atom is an obsolete Generation-2 sparring bot built in 2014. Atom has been designed to sustain massive damage, but is unable to deal much damage itself. Partly due to both Max's insistence and Charlie needing money, the duo takes Atom to fight an unsanctioned outdoor match against a robot called Metro, and Atom wins, earning back some of Charlie's money.
Max later upgrades it to take vocal commands using spare parts from Noisy Boy and Ambush and successfully convinces Charlie to train the robot. Atom's string of subsequent wins and high-speed maneuvers, which were rarely seen from a robot, attracts the attention of a promoter from WRB, who offers Atom a professional fight against a robot called Twin Cities. Charlie accepts, and Atom wins again, thanks to Charlie's boxing experience allowing him to locate and take advantage of a small tell in Twin Cities' punch. Revelling in their subsequent novelty attention, Max challenges WRB champion Zeus, designed by genius Tak Mashido (Karl Yune) and sponsored by wealthy Farra Lemcova (Olga Fonda), who before the match tried to buy the upstart Atom.
As Max and Charlie leave after the Twin Cities fight, Ricky and his men attack them, and steal their winnings. Feeling guilty, Charlie returns Max to his aunt and uncle, feeling Max will be safer with them, but Bailey convinces him that he can be a better father. Debra allows Charlie to take Max out for one last night, to the Zeus-Atom match. Zeus severely damages Atom while also getting injured, a first for Zeus. Ricky, who had bet Finn $100,000 that Atom would not last the first round, tries to slip away, but is cornered by Finn and his colleagues. In the fourth round of the five-round match, Atom's vocal receptors are damaged, and Atom must fight the last round in shadow-boxing mode, copying Charlie's moves from the aisle. Zeus, now controlled manually by a furious Mashido, expends energy on trashing the defensive Atom, running low on power and turning sluggish as a result. Atom then begins to pummel Zeus, even knocking the seemingly invincible champion down once, but not winning before the round ends. The judges declare Zeus the winner on points, but that robot's reputation is tarnished, and Atom has become famous as the "People's Champion".
Source: Wikipedia
I would rate this movie with a 3.5/5
Have you watched the film? What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie? Share with us your thoughts!
Enjoy it!... Watch it!
Synopsis: Blamed for the terrorist bombing of the Kremlin, IMF operative Ethan Hunt is disavowed along with the rest of the agency when the President initiates "Ghost Protocol". Left without any resources or backup, Ethan must find a way to clear his agency's name and prevent another attack. To complicate matters further, Ethan is forced to embark on this mission with a team of fellow IMF fugitives whose personal motives he does not fully know.
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton, Michael Nyqvist, Vladimir Mashkov, Josh Holloway, Anil Kapoor, Léa Seydoux, Tom Wilkinson
Directed by: Brad Bird
U.S. Rating: PG-13
It's clear that the "nuclear war game" is always profitable for good Hollywood action films, and Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol was not an exception. Brad Bird brought one more time the IMF team, led by Ethan Hunt, to save the world from the bad guys and prevent an imminent war between the U.S. and Russia.
It's clear that every single director has shown their own personal style on each of the four Mission Impossible films, starting with Brian De Palma nearly fifteen years ago. He tried to keep the film so close to the original TV series. John Woo and J.J. Abrams tried to give a more relevant approach to Ethan Hunt's character and mixing it with his personal life. What I liked from Brad Bird's job was the exceptional work he did trying to focus the attention to Ethan Hunt's character over any other character on the film. I honestly could say that it looked like a light version of a James Bond film, with the only difference that in this particular case, Ethan Hunt supported his mission on a team that worked synchronized under his leading plan.
Obviously, it's not a surprise that Tom Cruise excelled his acting performance. The plot of the film might not be new, but we certainly can believe that it was extremely enjoyable for the amazing cast gathered for the film, and especially, for Tom Cruise's unique performace. He clearly matched director Brad Bird's vision and personal style.
Director Brad Bird had the unique style to mix the human side of each one of the main characters involved in the team, with some thrilling action scenes, AMAZING stunts (especially the ones performed by Tom Cruise himself!) and some drama.
In Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol, a secret agent is working on an assigment in Budapest trying to get some top secret documents related with nuclear bombs activities. This secret agent is killed by a professional assassin working for another team of extremists. Ethan Hunt is in a Russian prision and he's extracted by a IMF special team. Soon, he'll get his first assignment: To get some secret information attached to the documents lost by the agent killed in Budapest. They will have to get to the secret vault in the Kremlin. Ethan Hunt and his team are framed, accused of terrorism, and the IMF is shut down. Ethan Hunt and his team will have to obtain these secret codes and information before they get to the wrong hands, but they won't count with all the logistics, assistance and protection of their agency. They will have to perform this dangerous secret mission using all they have... Their knowledge, skills and few weapons.
The end of the film shows clearly what we already knew, that we'll enjoy sometime soon a Mission Impossible 5.
I would rate this movie with a 4.5/5
Directed by: Brad Bird
U.S. Rating: PG-13
It's clear that the "nuclear war game" is always profitable for good Hollywood action films, and Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol was not an exception. Brad Bird brought one more time the IMF team, led by Ethan Hunt, to save the world from the bad guys and prevent an imminent war between the U.S. and Russia.
It's clear that every single director has shown their own personal style on each of the four Mission Impossible films, starting with Brian De Palma nearly fifteen years ago. He tried to keep the film so close to the original TV series. John Woo and J.J. Abrams tried to give a more relevant approach to Ethan Hunt's character and mixing it with his personal life. What I liked from Brad Bird's job was the exceptional work he did trying to focus the attention to Ethan Hunt's character over any other character on the film. I honestly could say that it looked like a light version of a James Bond film, with the only difference that in this particular case, Ethan Hunt supported his mission on a team that worked synchronized under his leading plan.
Obviously, it's not a surprise that Tom Cruise excelled his acting performance. The plot of the film might not be new, but we certainly can believe that it was extremely enjoyable for the amazing cast gathered for the film, and especially, for Tom Cruise's unique performace. He clearly matched director Brad Bird's vision and personal style.
Director Brad Bird had the unique style to mix the human side of each one of the main characters involved in the team, with some thrilling action scenes, AMAZING stunts (especially the ones performed by Tom Cruise himself!) and some drama.
In Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol, a secret agent is working on an assigment in Budapest trying to get some top secret documents related with nuclear bombs activities. This secret agent is killed by a professional assassin working for another team of extremists. Ethan Hunt is in a Russian prision and he's extracted by a IMF special team. Soon, he'll get his first assignment: To get some secret information attached to the documents lost by the agent killed in Budapest. They will have to get to the secret vault in the Kremlin. Ethan Hunt and his team are framed, accused of terrorism, and the IMF is shut down. Ethan Hunt and his team will have to obtain these secret codes and information before they get to the wrong hands, but they won't count with all the logistics, assistance and protection of their agency. They will have to perform this dangerous secret mission using all they have... Their knowledge, skills and few weapons.
The end of the film shows clearly what we already knew, that we'll enjoy sometime soon a Mission Impossible 5.
I would rate this movie with a 4.5/5
Have you watched the film? What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie? Share with us your thoughts!
Enjoy it!... Watch it!
Synopsis: Four socially troubled 18-year-olds from the south of England go on holiday to Malia. The boys, Will, Simon, Jay and Neil have finished their exams and left school. Their accommodation is awful but meeting four girls in an empty bar during their first night out makes up for it. The film ends with all the boys having girlfriends, a great time and then flying back home to begin the next chapter of their lives.
Starring: Blake Harrison, Simon Bird, James Buckley, Joe Thomas, Laura Haddock, Emily Head, Tamla Kari, Jessica Knappet, Lydia Rose Bewley
Directed by: Damon Beesley, Iain Morris
U.S. Rating: R
Considered the British "American Pie", The Inbetweeners was one of the most expected British comedy films of this Summer 2011. Based on the British TV series The Inbetweeners, directors Damon Beesley and Iain Morris bring the gang to the big screen, this time, to enjoy the Summer holidays in a trip to remember... A crazy week at the hot and gorgeous beaches, crazy party nights and friendly people in Malia, Crete.
On this film, Will, Simon, Jay and Neil have finished their A-levels. Facing crazy individual situations, the boys decide to go on holiday together on a trip to Malia, Crete.
On their first night, the boys meet four girls - Alison, Lucy, Lisa and Jane - in an empty bar during their first night out. Their initial meeting goes horrible, even though, they all discuss the event of the Summer: Going to a boat party later in the week, which is already sold out.
Eventually, after some crazy week, bizarre and funny situations, the boys are able to obtain tickets for the boat party. Simon almost drown jumping off the boat trying to get to the shore and meet Lucy, which has been treated like crap by him and he realizes how nice and important is in his life. After the boat party is over, the other boys and girls visit Simon in hospital, and once he recovers they all spend the rest of their holiday together as couples. Eventually, the four boys head home to the UK, looking forward to the next stage of their lives. As they meet their families at the airport, their girlfriends exit the same terminal and introduce themselves to the boys' parents as the film ends.
With some strong British humor, this comedy could be easily considered for a good lazy relazing afternoon at home.
I would rate this movie with a 2.5/5
Directed by: Damon Beesley, Iain Morris
U.S. Rating: R
Considered the British "American Pie", The Inbetweeners was one of the most expected British comedy films of this Summer 2011. Based on the British TV series The Inbetweeners, directors Damon Beesley and Iain Morris bring the gang to the big screen, this time, to enjoy the Summer holidays in a trip to remember... A crazy week at the hot and gorgeous beaches, crazy party nights and friendly people in Malia, Crete.
On this film, Will, Simon, Jay and Neil have finished their A-levels. Facing crazy individual situations, the boys decide to go on holiday together on a trip to Malia, Crete.
On their first night, the boys meet four girls - Alison, Lucy, Lisa and Jane - in an empty bar during their first night out. Their initial meeting goes horrible, even though, they all discuss the event of the Summer: Going to a boat party later in the week, which is already sold out.
Eventually, after some crazy week, bizarre and funny situations, the boys are able to obtain tickets for the boat party. Simon almost drown jumping off the boat trying to get to the shore and meet Lucy, which has been treated like crap by him and he realizes how nice and important is in his life. After the boat party is over, the other boys and girls visit Simon in hospital, and once he recovers they all spend the rest of their holiday together as couples. Eventually, the four boys head home to the UK, looking forward to the next stage of their lives. As they meet their families at the airport, their girlfriends exit the same terminal and introduce themselves to the boys' parents as the film ends.
With some strong British humor, this comedy could be easily considered for a good lazy relazing afternoon at home.
I would rate this movie with a 2.5/5
Have you watched the film? What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie? Share with us your thoughts!
Enjoy it!... Watch it!
Synopsis: Inspired by actual events, Kathy is an American police officer who takes a job working as a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia. Her expectations of helping to rebuild a devastated country are dashed when she uncovers a dangerous reality of corruption, cover-up and intrigue amid a world of private contractors and multinational diplomatic doubletalk.
Starring: Rachel Weisz, Vanessa Redgrave, David Strathairn, Monica Bellucci, Nikolaj Lie Kaas
Directed by: Larissa Kondracki
U.S. Rating: R
British actress Rachel Weisz plays yet another amazing role on this thriller based on a true story. Supported by such an amazing cast, the interesting thing is that the film was all about Rachel's role and great performance.
The Whistleblower brings the true story of U.S. policewoman Kathryn Bolkovac, who receives a promising job offer that will pay her a large amount of money in just a short period of time. She becomes a U.N. peacekeeper and moves to Bosnia with the intent to protect the innocent civilians of Sarajevo. While she starts working on some cases, she soon stumbles across a human trafficking ring involving young women and teenagers and realizes that not only are the local police involved but so are many of her colleagues at the United Nations, who all have diplomatic immunity, making this serious and difficult situation, extremely difficult and dangerous to take all this corrupted political system down and bring the responsibles to justice.
The film had all the key elements to be one of the greatest thrillers of the year: A terific cast, a pretty strong and interesting story, but director Larysa Kondracki failed trying to deliver and show the drama and thriller needed to make it a memorable film. The film leaves so many things out of scene that could have helped the viewers to understand more about the events and ending.
I'll personally give it a high rate for Rachel's amazing performance and the interesting story.
I would rate this movie with a 4/5
Directed by: Larissa Kondracki
U.S. Rating: R
British actress Rachel Weisz plays yet another amazing role on this thriller based on a true story. Supported by such an amazing cast, the interesting thing is that the film was all about Rachel's role and great performance.
The Whistleblower brings the true story of U.S. policewoman Kathryn Bolkovac, who receives a promising job offer that will pay her a large amount of money in just a short period of time. She becomes a U.N. peacekeeper and moves to Bosnia with the intent to protect the innocent civilians of Sarajevo. While she starts working on some cases, she soon stumbles across a human trafficking ring involving young women and teenagers and realizes that not only are the local police involved but so are many of her colleagues at the United Nations, who all have diplomatic immunity, making this serious and difficult situation, extremely difficult and dangerous to take all this corrupted political system down and bring the responsibles to justice.
The film had all the key elements to be one of the greatest thrillers of the year: A terific cast, a pretty strong and interesting story, but director Larysa Kondracki failed trying to deliver and show the drama and thriller needed to make it a memorable film. The film leaves so many things out of scene that could have helped the viewers to understand more about the events and ending.
I'll personally give it a high rate for Rachel's amazing performance and the interesting story.
I would rate this movie with a 4/5
Have you watched the film? What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie? Share with us your thoughts!
Enjoy it!... Watch it!
Synopsis: In a private, wealthy community, priority is placed on security and no exception is made for the Miller family's estate. Behind their pristine walls and manicured gardens, Kyle, a fast-talking businessman, has entrusted the mansion's renovation to his stunning wife, Sarah. But between making those big decisions and keeping tabs on their defiant teenage daughter, Sarah often finds herself distracted by a young, handsome worker at their home. Nothing is what it seems, and it will take a group of cold-blooded criminals led by Elias, who have been planning a vicious home invasion for months, to bring the Miller family together. When they storm the manor, everyone is tangled up in betrayal, deception, temptation and scheming. Kyle, Sarah and Avery will take the ultimate risk to make it out with their lives -- and their family -- intact.
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Nicole Kidman, Ben Mendelsohn, Cam Gigandet, Liana Liberato
Directed by: Joel Schumacher
U.S. Rating: R
One of my top favorite movies is Hostage, with Bruce Willis. I really enjoy that film because it brought a great cast and direction, a pretty strong plot and such an explosive acting performance.
Even though it is not the case with Trespass, I must say the plots are kind of related. In Trespass, a wealthy family is being kept as hostage by a band of low-level criminals who wants to get some diamonds and money kept in the home safe. Kyle, the owner of the house and father of the family is a successful businessman who deals with diamonds. He's been watched by these criminals while they keep a record of all of his moves and business deals. The things go wrong for the band of criminals when Kyle manipulates them and create a series of events that will keep these criminals away from their objective. At the end, Kyle, his wife Sarah and his daughter have to take action and fight for their lives in this terrifying situation.
I wouldn't say Trespass is a Hostage "wanna-be". I must say that both films are performed by an excellent cast. In this particular case, Trespass brings Nicolas Cage, Nicole Kidman, Cam Gigandet and Ben Mendelsohn. The script is pretty intense, with some really smart and funny lines and dialogues, keeping the curiosity about what we think really happens. It is the kind of film that opens different situations and let your mind run as fast as it can, projecting all the possible events that will make you think you're right, when you're wrong. I would say the end is the only "expected" event on this film.
I really enjoyed it, it was good enough to keep my attention, keep my mind busy and entertained, even though, there were moments when I got a bit lost, with some gaps related with the band of criminals, their past, their relationship and plans.
No matter how low rating this film could have received in all previous reviews I read, I must say I totally enjoyed and would certainly recommend it.
I would rate this movie with a 3.5/5
Directed by: Joel Schumacher
U.S. Rating: R
One of my top favorite movies is Hostage, with Bruce Willis. I really enjoy that film because it brought a great cast and direction, a pretty strong plot and such an explosive acting performance.
Even though it is not the case with Trespass, I must say the plots are kind of related. In Trespass, a wealthy family is being kept as hostage by a band of low-level criminals who wants to get some diamonds and money kept in the home safe. Kyle, the owner of the house and father of the family is a successful businessman who deals with diamonds. He's been watched by these criminals while they keep a record of all of his moves and business deals. The things go wrong for the band of criminals when Kyle manipulates them and create a series of events that will keep these criminals away from their objective. At the end, Kyle, his wife Sarah and his daughter have to take action and fight for their lives in this terrifying situation.
I wouldn't say Trespass is a Hostage "wanna-be". I must say that both films are performed by an excellent cast. In this particular case, Trespass brings Nicolas Cage, Nicole Kidman, Cam Gigandet and Ben Mendelsohn. The script is pretty intense, with some really smart and funny lines and dialogues, keeping the curiosity about what we think really happens. It is the kind of film that opens different situations and let your mind run as fast as it can, projecting all the possible events that will make you think you're right, when you're wrong. I would say the end is the only "expected" event on this film.
I really enjoyed it, it was good enough to keep my attention, keep my mind busy and entertained, even though, there were moments when I got a bit lost, with some gaps related with the band of criminals, their past, their relationship and plans.
No matter how low rating this film could have received in all previous reviews I read, I must say I totally enjoyed and would certainly recommend it.
I would rate this movie with a 3.5/5
Have you watched the film? What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie? Share with us your thoughts!
Enjoy it!... Watch it!
Synopsis: When Steve Coogan is asked by The Observer to tour the country's finest restaurants, he envisions it as the perfect getaway with his beautiful girlfriend. But, when she backs out on him, he has no one to accompany him but his best friend and source of eternal aggravation, Rob Brydon. As the brilliant comic duo, freestyling with flair, drive each other mad with constant competition and showdowns of competing impressions (including dueling Michael Caines, Sean Connerys and Al Pacinos), the ultimate odd couple realize in the end a rich amount about not only good food, but the nature of fame, relationships and their own lives.
Starring: Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, Claire Keelan, Margo Stilley, Paul Popplewell
Directed by: Michael Winterbottom
U.S. Rating: Not Rated
The Trip is one of those films that you never know what to expect from it. It was actually what happened from my personal perspective. I really enjoyed the trailer and synopsis from the very first time I watched it, but I was expecting something different, even though, the film was really entertaining.
The Trip is performed by two of the best British actors and comedians, Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon. It is a film with some good British humor, filmed in some really beautiful scenery based on the northern area from England. It is a fun journey enjoying the crazy conversations, impersonations and adventures of these two friends, going on a trip, visiting and eating in ten different restaurants across the country.
The film can be a bit slow and boring some times, loaded with some smart and mature humor, something that I really enjoyed. These two guys know how to play their roles like they're really living those lives and help us to enjoy more than those moments and short conversations, but get into the real trip, enjoying all the photography, the gorgeous scenery and all the places they visit.
It is actually a good and entertaining film for a lazy and quiet evening at home. A low pace British humor film that will not just entertain you, but will let you love all those "extra" things that will actually make you enjoy the film the way we did.
I would rate this movie with a 2/5
Directed by: Michael Winterbottom
U.S. Rating: Not Rated
The Trip is one of those films that you never know what to expect from it. It was actually what happened from my personal perspective. I really enjoyed the trailer and synopsis from the very first time I watched it, but I was expecting something different, even though, the film was really entertaining.
The Trip is performed by two of the best British actors and comedians, Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon. It is a film with some good British humor, filmed in some really beautiful scenery based on the northern area from England. It is a fun journey enjoying the crazy conversations, impersonations and adventures of these two friends, going on a trip, visiting and eating in ten different restaurants across the country.
The film can be a bit slow and boring some times, loaded with some smart and mature humor, something that I really enjoyed. These two guys know how to play their roles like they're really living those lives and help us to enjoy more than those moments and short conversations, but get into the real trip, enjoying all the photography, the gorgeous scenery and all the places they visit.
It is actually a good and entertaining film for a lazy and quiet evening at home. A low pace British humor film that will not just entertain you, but will let you love all those "extra" things that will actually make you enjoy the film the way we did.
I would rate this movie with a 2/5
Have you watched the film? What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie? Share with us your thoughts!
Enjoy it!... Watch it!
Synopsis: Nick is a small town pizza delivery guy whose mundane life collides with the big plans of two wanna-be criminal masterminds. The volatile duo kidnaps Nick and forces him to rob a bank. With mere hours to pull off the impossible task, Nick enlists the help of his ex-best friend, Chet. As the clock ticks, the two must deal with the police, hired assassins, flamethrowers, and their own tumultuous relationship.
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Danny McBride, Aziz Ansari, Nick Swardson, Dilshad Vadsaria
Directed by: Ruben Fleischer
U.S. Rating: R
Considered by many movie bloggers out there as one of the best (if not the best) Summer comedy films for the year. I must be honest that I was sold when I saw the trailer for the first time, even though, I knew it could have its risks. Comedy films like this one always tent to move to the improvised and distracting scenes that will finally get the whole film down the hill.
The story is pretty simple, not a brain-breaker script and as we know, the cast made the big effort and difference on this comedy. Jesse Eisenberg breaks one more time into the comedy genre, doing pretty good, Danny McBride and Nick Swardson worked in their comfort zone, playing the kind of role we always see them playing and Aziz Ansari, one of those new generation comedy actors that I believe has been playing low-level roles in actually, pretty good and hilarious movies! I hope he gets more attention and bigger opportunities in the near future, since he looks hilarious!
What's 30 Minutes or Less about? Here's the plot:
Nick is a slacking pizza delivery driver who has trouble completing the "30 Minutes or Less" policy that his employers issue, leading to a reprimand from his boss. Nick's friend Chet, a school teacher, discovers that Nick has slept with, and still has feelings for, Chet's twin sister Katie. It is also revealed that Chet was the reason Nick's parents divorced. After a heated argument, the two end their friendship.
Meanwhile, two delinquents, Dwayne and Travis are miserable living under the shadow of Dwayne's domineering father. Dwayne confides in a stripper, Juici, about his contempt for his dad, who is squandering the money that he won playing the lottery. Juici says she can hire an assassin to kill Dwayne's dad for $100,000 so Dwayne can collect the inheritance. Dwayne plots that they kidnap a complete stranger and force him to rob a bank for the hit money by strapping a bomb to his chest. After seeing an advertisement for the pizzeria that Nick works at, they order a pizza and wait for the driver to come to their hideout. When Nick arrives, Dwayne and Travis assault him and knock him unconscious.
When Nick wakes up, he finds a vest rigged with explosives strapped and buckled onto his torso. Dwayne and Travis, wearing masks, tell him his situation: if he does not rob a bank in ten hours, they will detonate the bomb. Going to the police will also result in them detonating the bomb, as they will be monitoring him most of the time. Nick, in his panic, goes to a school where Chet is working and desperately pleads with him to help. After plans to deactivate or remove the bomb are dashed, Chet says he has no choice but to rob the bank. Still uneasy, Nick asks Chet to assist him. Chet reluctantly agrees.
After purchasing supplies for the robbery, Nick suggests stealing Chet's family friend's car so that the police will be unable to track the license plate number of Nick's own car. Nick then stops by his workplace to tell off his boss and to go see Katie and say some final words to her. Nick and Chet later arrive at the bank, hold it up, and obtain the money. However, an employee pulls the alarm, forcing Nick and Chet to flee. After a car chase that ends up with Nick and Chet crashing their car, the two successfully evade capture by sneaking onto a bus. Nick calls Dwayne and tells him he has the money. Dwayne says he and Travis will meet him at an abandoned railyard to make the exchange. Dwayne and Travis go to a restaurant instead. When Dwayne asks Travis to possibly be the one to detonate the bomb if the time comes, Travis starts to become unsettled.
After getting his old car, Nick waits for Dwayne and Travis at the railyard while Chet hides somewhere to avoid a confrontation about his involvement in the scheme. Instead of Dwayne or Travis, however, Juici and the assassin, Chongo, are the ones who arrive to pick up the money. Nick hands Chongo the money and expects Chongo to give him the code which will deactivate the bomb. Chongo claims he doesn't know what the code is. When Nick keeps asking him for the code, Chongo gets aggravated and holds Nick at gunpoint. Chet runs in and beats Chongo while Nick incapacitates Juici. The two grab the money and escape.
Dwayne ends up getting two phone calls: one from Chongo calling to let Dwayne know that because of Chet's ambush, he will be killing Dwayne also. The second is from Nick, who berates Dwayne for not giving Chongo the code to the bomb and dares him to detonate the bomb with the money at his side. Overly frustrated by these turn of events, Dwayne activates the speed dial number on his phone for the bomb to explode, but finds that Travis altered the numbers while Dwayne wasn't looking because he was getting nervous about Dwayne's gradually violent attitude. The two head back to Katie's apartment and kidnap her. Dwayne calls Nick to let him know that he has Katie and if he doesn't meet at the scrapyard to give him the money, he'll kill her. Meanwhile, Chongo breaks into Dwayne's dad's house to find information regarding Dwayne's location and finds a hand drawn map to the scrapyard. While there, Dwayne's father attacks him and is shot after a struggle.
Nick arrives at the scrapyard and exchanges the money for Katie. Dwayne also gives Nick the code to deactivate and unbuckle the bomb with minutes to spare. Dwayne then tells Nick to walk away, but Nick deduces that as soon as Nick and Katie turn around, they will just kill them both. Dwayne confirms this by pointing a gun at them while Travis comes out wielding a flamethrower. Nick says he hired a sniper in case this were to happen. This is proved to be fake as it is only Chet who's using a laser pointer, but it's enough to fool Dwayne and Travis into lowering their weapons. Chongo arrives shortly after to kill Dwayne. Travis responds by torching Chongo with the flamethrower. Although burning to death, Chongo manages to shoot Dwayne and shoot the fuel tank for the flamethrower, causing it to explode on Travis's back. In the confusion, Nick grabs the money and drives away with Chet and Katie. Dwayne, still alive, reconciles with Travis then catches up to the others with his van, but he hears a beeping sound in the back, and the van explodes. Nick reveals that as he grabbed the money, he reactivated the bomb and threw it in the back of the van. Now free with the money in their possession, the three drive off discussing what to do with their newly acquired windfall, but discover that the money has been rigged with blue dye, rendering it useless.
After the credits showed that Dwayne and his father had survived and Dwayne had started his tanning salon business.
(Plot source: Wikipedia)
I would rate this movie with a 2.5/5
Directed by: Ruben Fleischer
U.S. Rating: R
Considered by many movie bloggers out there as one of the best (if not the best) Summer comedy films for the year. I must be honest that I was sold when I saw the trailer for the first time, even though, I knew it could have its risks. Comedy films like this one always tent to move to the improvised and distracting scenes that will finally get the whole film down the hill.
The story is pretty simple, not a brain-breaker script and as we know, the cast made the big effort and difference on this comedy. Jesse Eisenberg breaks one more time into the comedy genre, doing pretty good, Danny McBride and Nick Swardson worked in their comfort zone, playing the kind of role we always see them playing and Aziz Ansari, one of those new generation comedy actors that I believe has been playing low-level roles in actually, pretty good and hilarious movies! I hope he gets more attention and bigger opportunities in the near future, since he looks hilarious!
What's 30 Minutes or Less about? Here's the plot:
Nick is a slacking pizza delivery driver who has trouble completing the "30 Minutes or Less" policy that his employers issue, leading to a reprimand from his boss. Nick's friend Chet, a school teacher, discovers that Nick has slept with, and still has feelings for, Chet's twin sister Katie. It is also revealed that Chet was the reason Nick's parents divorced. After a heated argument, the two end their friendship.
Meanwhile, two delinquents, Dwayne and Travis are miserable living under the shadow of Dwayne's domineering father. Dwayne confides in a stripper, Juici, about his contempt for his dad, who is squandering the money that he won playing the lottery. Juici says she can hire an assassin to kill Dwayne's dad for $100,000 so Dwayne can collect the inheritance. Dwayne plots that they kidnap a complete stranger and force him to rob a bank for the hit money by strapping a bomb to his chest. After seeing an advertisement for the pizzeria that Nick works at, they order a pizza and wait for the driver to come to their hideout. When Nick arrives, Dwayne and Travis assault him and knock him unconscious.
When Nick wakes up, he finds a vest rigged with explosives strapped and buckled onto his torso. Dwayne and Travis, wearing masks, tell him his situation: if he does not rob a bank in ten hours, they will detonate the bomb. Going to the police will also result in them detonating the bomb, as they will be monitoring him most of the time. Nick, in his panic, goes to a school where Chet is working and desperately pleads with him to help. After plans to deactivate or remove the bomb are dashed, Chet says he has no choice but to rob the bank. Still uneasy, Nick asks Chet to assist him. Chet reluctantly agrees.
After purchasing supplies for the robbery, Nick suggests stealing Chet's family friend's car so that the police will be unable to track the license plate number of Nick's own car. Nick then stops by his workplace to tell off his boss and to go see Katie and say some final words to her. Nick and Chet later arrive at the bank, hold it up, and obtain the money. However, an employee pulls the alarm, forcing Nick and Chet to flee. After a car chase that ends up with Nick and Chet crashing their car, the two successfully evade capture by sneaking onto a bus. Nick calls Dwayne and tells him he has the money. Dwayne says he and Travis will meet him at an abandoned railyard to make the exchange. Dwayne and Travis go to a restaurant instead. When Dwayne asks Travis to possibly be the one to detonate the bomb if the time comes, Travis starts to become unsettled.
After getting his old car, Nick waits for Dwayne and Travis at the railyard while Chet hides somewhere to avoid a confrontation about his involvement in the scheme. Instead of Dwayne or Travis, however, Juici and the assassin, Chongo, are the ones who arrive to pick up the money. Nick hands Chongo the money and expects Chongo to give him the code which will deactivate the bomb. Chongo claims he doesn't know what the code is. When Nick keeps asking him for the code, Chongo gets aggravated and holds Nick at gunpoint. Chet runs in and beats Chongo while Nick incapacitates Juici. The two grab the money and escape.
Dwayne ends up getting two phone calls: one from Chongo calling to let Dwayne know that because of Chet's ambush, he will be killing Dwayne also. The second is from Nick, who berates Dwayne for not giving Chongo the code to the bomb and dares him to detonate the bomb with the money at his side. Overly frustrated by these turn of events, Dwayne activates the speed dial number on his phone for the bomb to explode, but finds that Travis altered the numbers while Dwayne wasn't looking because he was getting nervous about Dwayne's gradually violent attitude. The two head back to Katie's apartment and kidnap her. Dwayne calls Nick to let him know that he has Katie and if he doesn't meet at the scrapyard to give him the money, he'll kill her. Meanwhile, Chongo breaks into Dwayne's dad's house to find information regarding Dwayne's location and finds a hand drawn map to the scrapyard. While there, Dwayne's father attacks him and is shot after a struggle.
Nick arrives at the scrapyard and exchanges the money for Katie. Dwayne also gives Nick the code to deactivate and unbuckle the bomb with minutes to spare. Dwayne then tells Nick to walk away, but Nick deduces that as soon as Nick and Katie turn around, they will just kill them both. Dwayne confirms this by pointing a gun at them while Travis comes out wielding a flamethrower. Nick says he hired a sniper in case this were to happen. This is proved to be fake as it is only Chet who's using a laser pointer, but it's enough to fool Dwayne and Travis into lowering their weapons. Chongo arrives shortly after to kill Dwayne. Travis responds by torching Chongo with the flamethrower. Although burning to death, Chongo manages to shoot Dwayne and shoot the fuel tank for the flamethrower, causing it to explode on Travis's back. In the confusion, Nick grabs the money and drives away with Chet and Katie. Dwayne, still alive, reconciles with Travis then catches up to the others with his van, but he hears a beeping sound in the back, and the van explodes. Nick reveals that as he grabbed the money, he reactivated the bomb and threw it in the back of the van. Now free with the money in their possession, the three drive off discussing what to do with their newly acquired windfall, but discover that the money has been rigged with blue dye, rendering it useless.
After the credits showed that Dwayne and his father had survived and Dwayne had started his tanning salon business.
(Plot source: Wikipedia)
I would rate this movie with a 2.5/5
Have you watched the film? What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie? Share with us your thoughts!
Enjoy it!... Watch it!
