35mmReviews

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.

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

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Synopsis: Real-life story of a newlywed New Mexico couple, Kim and Krickitt Carpenter, who were struck by tragedy shortly after their marriage. A car crash puts the wife in a coma, where she is cared for by her devoted husband. When she comes to, without any memory of her husband or their marriage, the husband must woo her and ultimately win her heart once again.

Starring: Channing Tatum, Rachel McAdams, Scott Speedman, Jessica McNamee, Sam Shepard, Jessica Lange
Directed by: Michael Sucsy
U.S. Rating: PG-13

I was really excited to see The Vow. I was hoping it would be really romantic and fun at the same time. It has been awhile we've had a good rom com. Well, this isn't it. I wanted to like it. I really did. I kept pulling for it and thinking that maybe it would get batter after this scene or that one. Nope. I think Channing Tatum is hot. Until he opens his mouth. He mumbles. Really bad. In every single movie he's made. OPEN YOUR MOUTH! Tatum and Adams gave a lack luster performance. The name of the movie even got me, The Vow. Meaning, through all the struggles, they had a Vow to keep. Well, they didn't. I don't want to give away anything, but I'm going to. They get divorced! The ending shows them a yr later getting coffee. What's romantic about that?! I heard the books--based of real life events--is amazing. I think the book would tell the true story and do it better than Tatum or Adams ever could. I so wanted to like this movie. I really wish I did, but I didn't. Bleh.

I would rate this movie with a 2/5

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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

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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

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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

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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

In case you haven't watched the original Swedish version, here's the official trailer:

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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

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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

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Synopsis: Nick Porter is a career salesman whose days of being on top are long gone. The same day Nick gets fired, for falling off the wagon one last time, he returns home to discover his wife has left him, changed the locks on their suburban home and dumped all his possessions out on the front yard. Faced with his life imploding, Nick puts it all on the line - or more properly, on the lawn - reluctantly holding a yard sale that becomes a unique strategy for survival.

Starring: Will Ferrell, Christopher Jordan Wallace, Rebecca Hall, Michael Pena, Rosalie Michaels
Directed by: Dan Rush
U.S. Rating: R

Will Ferrell is one of my favorite actors. One of the main reasons is just because he's a weird authentic guy. What I really enjoy from him is that he's able to deliver a great and believable performancenot just on his funniest comedy films, but on witty films like this one. I really enjoyed his role on Strager Than Fiction, since he was able to show his versatile talent on different roles and movie genders. His role in Everything Must Go just confirmed it was not a coincidence of his great talent to play the main roles on these adult and smart humor/drama films.

Everything Must Go is basically a sad comedy, and should I say a thoughtful drama. Supported by a really good cast, the film brings a cinematic portrait of a self-destructive personality with, perhaps, a hopeful glimmer of redemption at the end of the film.

If you want to know more about the plot:

The film opens with Nick Halsey losing his job, it is shortly revealed that this is due to him being an alcoholic, and his involvement in an unknown incident in Denver. When he returns home, he finds his wife is gone, and that his belongings have been thrown out all over his front lawn. The locks to his house have been changed, along with the alarm codes, effectively preventing Nick from entering his house. There is a note from his wife, telling Nick she has left him, making note about the Denver incident. Nick then leaves to buy beer, and finds his company car being taken back by the company. In addition to this, Nick's ATM card is blocked and he has to survive with the little money he has in his pocket.

On talking with the bank manager, he comes to know that he has a joint account with his wife and she has blocked the cards while his savings, US$45,000, is still in there. Nick's phone service also gets terminated, leaving him with no wife, house, car, money, phone. He gets help from Kenny to look after this things on the lawn while he goes shopping. Soon they become friends, and they decide to sell Nick's stuff together. Nick assures him he'll give Kenny money for the help, and also that he will teach him to play baseball.

Nick spends all his remaining money on beer and food. When Nick experiences anxiety due to withdrawal from alcohol, his new neighbor Samantha gives him a Valium. Nick reads Samantha's problems and repays her harshly when she says that he must return to normal. The next morning Nick awakes to find Kenny has arranged his belongings on the lawn and has put price tags on them. All the things get sold by that evening. During dinner he encounters his supervisor who explains that the incident in Denver probably did not happen since the female employee he got drunk with tried blackmailing other employees. After having dinner with Kenny along with Samantha, he goes to meet his detective friend Frank Garcia. Nick’s wife calls Frank's cell phone, which Nick picks up and finds out that she has been staying with Frank ever since she left him. Frank explains to Nick that she deserves a better life and needs to agree to a divorce. He also gives him some money, a house key, and divorce papers for him to sign. The next day he gives his most valued possessions which he didn’t want to sell to his neighbor and Kenny. He also makes up with Samantha and they hug.

A pretty good option for a quiet/relaxing weekend afternoon.

I would rate this movie with a 3/5

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Synopsis: Driver is a Los Angeles wheelman for hire, stunt driving for movie productions by day and steering getaway vehicles for armed heists by night. Though a loner by nature, Driver can't help falling in love with his beautiful neighbor Irene, a vulnerable young mother dragged into a dangerous underworld by the return of her ex-convict husband Standard. After a heist intended to pay off Standard's protection money spins unpredictably out of control, Driver finds himself driving defense for the girl he loves, tailgated by a syndicate of deadly serious criminals. But when he realizes that the gangsters are after more than the bag of cash in his trunk - that they're coming straight for Irene and her son - Driver is forced to shift gears and go on offense.

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Albert Brooks, Bryan Cranston, Ron Perlman
Directed by: Nicholas Winding Refn
U.S. Rating: R

Contrary to most of the amazingly positive reviews and comments I read about Drive, I must say that I was expecting something different from this film.

Director Nicholas Winding Refn brings to the big screen another intense violence crime novel written by author James Sallis, about a yound guys working as a driving stuntman during the day, and as an expert getaway driver by night. Driver, as any other expert getaway driver, is a methodical quiet and private person who doesn't talk much and tries to keep that balance and silent perfection in his work, day and night. Driver meets his neighbor, Irene, and her little son, Benicio. Soon they will get into his life and he'll be breaking his own strict privacy and methodical way of work. While he's getting more into Irene's life, he meets the father of her son, Gabriel, who was released from prison. Things go bad when Driver finds Gabriel beaten up by some strong-armed mobsters and he's forced to do some dirty work and collect some money for the leader of these mobsters. When Driver tries to help Gabriel to get this dirty job done, get clean of his debt with these mobsters, things go wrong, Gabriel is killed and soon he'll find that no one is safe, especially Irene and her son. Driver will take the problem in his hands, forced to unleash his dark and most dangerous side.

My review is based on my own personal impression of this film, and that's why it might vary from so many other opinions. First of all, I felt the film was extremely slow. The lack of dialogue made it really hard to follow. There were some moments when I got anxious to know what was going on, since everything on this film was running like in slow mode. Director Nicholas Winding Refn, just like in his previous films, tries to display some strong violence, making it in some moments hard to diggest. It was actually like watching a Tarantino film in slow mode. Extreme violence, a very slow plot, but must admit that in the other hand, worked with such an amazing and talented cast. Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan made it worth to watch. I personally believe it's been a pretty good year for Ryan Gosling and we should be prepared to see more of his talent in the near future.

There's a particular characteristic on this film. Director Nicholas Winding Refn always like to work with open ends. He believes is part of the art expressed on this entertainment world, working on stories that will allow viewers to think and get different opinions about all different possible situations. That's something I enjoyed, since we could think different things from the end of this film about what really happened with Driver.


I would rate this movie with a 2/5

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Synopsis: The time is 1973. The Cold War of the mid-20th Century continues to damage international relations. Britain's Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), a.k.a. MI6 and code-named the Circus, is striving to keep pace with other countries' espionage efforts and to keep the U.K. secure. The head of the Circus, known as Control, personally sends dedicated operative Jim Prideaux into Hungary. But Jim's mission goes bloodily awry, and Control is forced out of the Circus - as is his top lieutenant, George Smiley, a career spy with razor-sharp senses.

Estranged from his absent wife Ann, Smiley is soon called in to see undersecretary Oliver Lacon; he is to be rehired in secret at the government's behest, as there is a gnawing fear that the Circus has long been compromised by a double agent, or mole, working for the Soviets and jeopardizing England. Supported by younger agent Peter Guillam, Smiley parses Circus activities past and present. In trying to track and identify the mole, Smiley is haunted by his decades-earlier interaction with the shadowy Russian spy master Karla.

The mole's trail remains cold until maverick field agent Ricki Tarr unexpectedly contacts Lacon. While undercover in Turkey, Ricki has fallen for a betrayed married woman, Irina, who claims to possess crucial intelligence. Separately, Smiley learns that Control narrowed down the list of mole suspects to five men. They are the ambitious Percy Alleline, whom he had code-named Tinker; suavely confident Bill Haydon, dubbed Tailor; stalwart Roy Bland, called Soldier; officious Toby Esterhase, dubbed Poor Man; and - Smiley himself.

Even before the startling truth is revealed, the emotional and physical tolls on the players enmeshed in the deadly international spy game will escalate...

Starring: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Toby Jones
Directed by: Tomas Alfredson
U.S. Rating: R

Yes, we should start mentioning that Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy could be considered a spy film master piece. The film is based on the 1974 novel Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré. It is not a surprise the film could get such a great critic and reviews. In 1979, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy was adapted to television as a seven-part series for the BBC, being one of the best TV series of its kind and time.

The film clearly showed that you actually can produce a film to the masses that is just not an and intelligent and very thought provoking film, but a film that basically didn't need explosions, gun fights, to keep you entertained and absorbed. Played by such an amazing cast, the film is well directed, and perfectly adapted to its time.

If you want to know more about the plot:

British intelligence officer George Smiley comes out of retirement to uncover a Russian double agent. Agent Ricki Tarr had been sent to Istanbul to investigate a Soviet agent, Boris. He is about to return to London, when he sees Boris beating up his wife, Irina, and he starts an affair with her. Irina is also a Soviet agent and tells him of the existence of a mole (a penetration agent) run by Soviet spymaster Karla, within the "Circus", the headquarters of British intelligence. Tarr takes his suspicions to Oliver Lacon, the senior civil servant in charge of intelligence.

Smiley's former boss, Control, had suspected the existence of the mole and sends agent Jim Prideaux to Budapest, Hungary to meet a Hungarian general who wishes to provide information. The operation is blown and Prideaux is shot in the back and captured by Soviet intelligence. As a result Control and Smiley retire from the Circus and Percy Alleline becomes Chief, with Bill Haydon as his deputy. Their ability to deliver apparently high grade Soviet intelligence material, code named "Witchcraft", establishes their status.

Smiley's investigations, authorised by Lacon and aided by Peter Guillam and retired researcher Connie Sachs, follow Control's chain of thought, investigating suspects code named "Tinker" (Alleline), "Tailor" (Haydon), "Soldier" (Roy Bland) and "Poorman" (Toby Esterhase). Prideaux, who has been repatriated, is interviewed at the prep school where he has taken a position as a teacher. With the aid of Tarr, Smiley lays a trap and captures the mole, who is revealed to be Haydon, at a safe-house, along with Polyakov, a Soviet intelligence officer, to whom the mole had been passing secrets, under the guise of receiving Witchcraft material. Jim Prideaux tracks his former friend Haydon down to the "Nursery" at Sarratt, the agent training and interrogation centre for the Circus, and shoots him dead. Smiley is elevated to take control of the Circus.

Totally recommended!

I would rate this movie with a 4/5

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Synopsis: Jacob Jankowski is about to take his final exams in veterinary medicine at Cornell when his parents are killed in a car accident. He drops out and joins Benzini Brothers, a second-rate traveling circus trying to survive during the Depression.

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, Christoph Waltz, Paul Schneider, Jim Norton
Directed by: Francis Lawrence
U.S. Rating: PG-13

I actually had no idea what this movie was about prior to seeing it. I hadn't read the book, and I actually hadn't even seen the full trailer. I knew who was in it and that it looked like a period film. I'd heard great things about the book so I knew I wanted to see this.

I loved it. The costumes were beautiful, the storyline was intriguing and the ending was perfect. I'd always thought Robert Pattison was somewhat of a cheesy actor, but he was actually good. He narrated the movie, and well...he just looked so good! Reese Witherspoon is a class act. She was perfect for the role. I was mesmerized during her acts in the circus. She did very well!

There was some animal cruelty shown that had me wincing, but that was the only thing I didn't like. I think this would make a perfect gift for a woman in your life! It was fantastic!

Plot:

Through the eyes of two versions of Jacob Jankowski—one in his nineties and another in his twenties—readers witness what it was like to fall in love, both with circus animals and with a strong woman. When he is a couple days short of gaining his degree in veterinary science from Cornell University, Jacob learns that his mother and father have been killed in an automobile accident. With this stroke of bad luck, Jacob has his planned future suddenly snatched away. As he stumbles through the next weeks in a daze, numbed not only by the cold winter but also by no longer having any family or home, he sees a train chug by in the night. On a sudden impulse, Jacob jumps aboard. The train is moving toward some unknown destination, and Jacob needs a change. What he is soon to discover is that he has climbed aboard a circus train. But this is no Ringling Brothers or Barnum and Bailey. This is the “Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth,” a misnomer if ever there was one.

The circus world that Jacob has just entered is filled with beguiling characters, not all of them attractive in the same way. First, there is Alan J. Bunkel, referred to as Uncle Al, the owner of the circus. Uncle Al makes no bones about it; his main focus in life is money and power. He wants his rag-tag circus to be as spectacular as the Ringling Brothers, but he is going at it in all the wrong ways. Uncle Al surrounds himself with thugs who will do anything he asks, including murder. And then there is August, the animal trainer, who becomes Jacob’s immediate boss. August has a split personality. On one hand, August takes Jacob under his wing, like a father, because he appreciates Jacob’s veterinary skills. On the other hand, August is a monster. He beats his animals and later beats his wife, Marlena, a circus performer, with whom Jacob falls in love.

These are the main characters, except for Rosie. Rosie is the one elephant in the circus, a wise old beast that only understands Polish. She is smart enough to pull up the stake that holds her in place, stick her trunk into the big container of lemonade when no one is looking, then return with her stake and pound it back into the ground. But she is not smart enough to avoid August, who beats her mercilessly, though she does, in the end, gain her revenge.

At the heart of the novel is a love story: that of a young man and a young, ill-married woman, as well as that of the two young people and the animals that surround them. In the course of telling Jacob and Marlena’s story, Gruen also exposes the relationships between the circus people, the performers and the workers, who are tied together by their need to survive during the economic hardships of the Great Depression. Most of them put up with Uncle Al’s cruelties because they have nowhere else to go. They sleep in boxcars while the train transports them across the States. They enjoy some good meals under the circus tent, but they seldom receive their promised wages; and they all know that if they come up lame or ill, they are likely to be “red-lighted”—thrown off the train in the middle of the night and left for dead.

There are many times when Jacob’s life is threatened, but readers know he survives because it is the ninety-year-old Jacob who is telling the story. Jacob in his old age provides comic relief as he grumpily moves through his nursing home, wishing he could once again taste fresh fruit or a hamburger as well as a bit of his old circus life.


I would rate this movie with a 4/5

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Synopsis: At forty-something, straight-laced Cal Weaver is living the dream--good job, nice house, great kids and marriage to his high school sweetheart. But when Cal learns that his wife, Emily, has cheated on him and wants a divorce, his "perfect" life quickly unravels. Worse, in today's single world, Cal, who hasn't dated in decades, stands out as the epitome of un-smooth. Now spending his free evenings sulking alone at a local bar, the hapless Cal is taken on as wingman and protege to handsome, thirty-something player Jacob Palmer. In an effort to help Cal get over his wife and start living his life, Jacob opens Cal's eyes to the many options before him: flirty women, manly drinks and a sense of style that can't be found at Supercuts or The Gap. Cal and Emily aren't the only ones looking for love in what might be all the wrong places: Cal's 13-year-old son, Robbie, is crazy about his 17-year-old babysitter, Jessica, who harbors a crush on Cal. And despite Cal's makeover and his many new conquests, the one thing that can't be made over is his heart, which seems to keep leading him back to where he began.

Starring: Steve Carrell,
Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Julianne Moore, Kevin Bacon, Crystal Reed, Marisa Tomei and Joey King
Directed by: Glenn Ficarra and John Requa
U.S. Rating: PG-13

I should start mentioning that having such an amazing cast, you couldn't expect anything less than a pretty entertaining and funny film.

Crazy Stupid Love is a fresh and light comedy about a forty-something man called Cal with a pretty standard and boring life. He finds his wife Emily has been cheating him with her co-worker, David. Knowing this situation affected his personal and marital life, his wife can't handle it anymore and asks him for a divorce. After moving into his own apartment, Cal begins frequenting a bar night after night, talking loudly about his divorce. There, he meets a young handsome guy called Jacob, that is a successful womanizer. Jacob noticed Cal talking about his divorce and rapidly offers him some help to get over the situation and be successful with women. He teaches him how to dress, how to talk and how to act towards women. Cal starts learning the lessons and become a different man, having more interaction and encounters with other women.

In the meantime, Jacob meets Hannah, a cute girl that refuses his flattering invitations. Later, they meet again and Jacob falls in love with Hannah.

Cal and Emily have a 13 year-old son, Robbie, who is deeply and crazy in love with his babysitter, Jessica. Jessica is a 17 year-old girl, daugther of Cal and Emily's best friends. Jessica, at the same time, is secretly in love with Cal. Cal will always encourage Robbie to go and fight, never stop chasing his dream and find his love, but Jessica always rejects him, because... She's in love with Robbie's father.

All these love situations will converge in just one single and hilarious situation that will make the whole film worth to watch and have a really good entertaining time and some hysterical laughs.

A simple but fresh plot, played by an amazing cast. A film worth to watch and enjoy on the big screen and some more times after coming on DVD. Totally recommended!

I would rate this movie with a 3.5/5

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Synopsis: Cataleya is a young woman who has grown up to be an assassin after witnessing the murder of her parents as a child. Turning herself into a professional killer and working for her uncle, she remains focused on her ultimate goal: to hunt down and get revenge on the mobster responsible for her parents' deaths.

Starring: Zoe Saldana, Jordi Molla, Lennie James, Michael Vartan and Cliff Curtis
Directed by: Oliver Megaton
U.S. Rating: PG-13

Colombiana is a thrilled action film that wastes no time on opening with an action sequence involving Cataleya (Zoe Saldana) a nine-year-old little girl who faces the killing of her parents by the hands of some dangerous Colombian gangsters. Her dad has instructed her what to do in case of this innevitable situation, delivering a micro SD memory with information related with these gangsters and their operations to the American Embassy and in exchage, get the opportunity to flight to the US. As soon as she arrives on American soil, she flees from the authorities that were in charge of her protection and travels to Chicago, to find her uncle, who is a contract killer. Once there, she asks her uncle to teach her to be a professional killer, with her only goal in mind... Revenge the death of her parents.

The rest of the film is all about Cataleya hunting every single one of the Colombian gangsters organization, chasing and hunting them in a very quiet and professional way. The only trace she leaves behind, is the drawing of a Cataleya flower in the chest of her victims.

One single mistake helps the FBI to identify her but she uses this mistake to get to the top of the organization and kill the responsibles for the murder of her parents.

Colombiana is actually a light entertaining action film if you're not looking for a brilliant plot, just some random action led by a beautiful woman. I personally believe that Zoe Saldana played a much better, stronger and interesting role in the action film, The Losers. The plot is not strong and convincing, it shows lots of gaps and nonsense situations. While I watching the film, I tried to find the answers to some key questions, but the more I looked for those answers, the more questions I found.

I personally enjoyed Director Olivier Megaton's work. He was able to deliver some really good action scenes, work with a great cast and help to balance these flaws and gaps on the poor script with the good direction and talents involved.

I would rate this movie with a 2.5/5

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Synopsis: After a run of bad luck, John, a compulsive gambler, runs away from Las Vegas and toward a normal job and life. Taking a nondescript position in an auto insurance company in Albuquerque, he tries to get ahead in the straight world, amid the ever-present temptations of scratch-off lotto tickets. When his boss, Mr. Townsend, asks John to accompany his top fraud debunker, Virgil on an investigation of a dubious car "accident" near Vegas, John sees an opportunity to get a promotion , though he's concerned about returning to the gambling game. Before leaving he becomes involved with his eccentric co-worker Jill, a dalliance that has the potential to become a real relationship. Soon John is on the road with Virgil, where they encounter a series of offbeat characters, including a wheelchair-bound stripper, a nude militant, a park Ranger, and a carnival human torch. While Virgil is the supposed leader of the investigation, it's John who begins to finally assert himself, pushing the case closer to a conclusion. Through the journey, John's confidence builds, and he realizes that he can't escape his gambling addiction by running away from it--it will follow him wherever he goes. It's only when he returns to Vegas and his experiences there finally send him on the path to breaking free.

Starring: Steve Buscemi, Romany Malco, Tim Blake Nelson, John Cho, Emmanuelle Chriqui
Directed by: Hue Rhodes
U.S. Rating: R

I personally believe Steve Buscemi is a very talented actor. He'son of those actors that hasn't found the perfect script and role to let him show the world his real talent. I've followed him for a very long time and watched some of the movies he's played in, and I always get really entertained with his roles and performance. In fact, he's having such a great moment with his role in the TV Series from HBO: Boardwalk Empire. I've been waiting for a while for it to come to the UK and enjoy watching it.

Anyway, Saint John of Las Vegas wasn't the script we were waiting for him to show his best. With this  inicial comment I don't want to say that it was a bad script, I'm just saying that it wasn't the best one. I personally enjoyed the movie, no matter how bad the reviews, comments and criticisms were with the film.

Saint John of Las Vegas brings the story of a compulsive gambler who attempts to cure his addiction by moving from Las Vegas to Albuquerque. He tries to get a normal life living in a nice, peaceful neighborhood and working at an auto insurance company. The only problem is that far from being away from his old temptations, this job made it worse. He finds his old temptations cropping up once again when he's sent out to investigate a dubious car accident just outside of Sin City.

John works for Mr. Townsend, who pairs him with the company's top fraud debunker, Virgil, and sends them out on an investigation together. While John is eager to get a promotion, he's reluctant to go anywhere near Las Vegas just to avoid temptation, and before he leaves he strikes up a tenuous romance with his eccentric co-worker, Jill.

On the road, Virgil and John encounter a series of offbeat characters including Ned, a nude militant, Tasty D Lite, a wheelchair-using stripper, and a carnival human torch. But while Virgil is the one with the experience, John gradually begins to assert himself and soon his efforts begin to pay off as the case moves closer to conclusion. As John's confidence grows, he becomes increasingly aware of the fact that running away from his gambling problem is not the solution, and that he'll only be able to move forward by returning to Las Vegas to face his demons head on.

It is definitely the film for some good laughs, even though, it is a forgettable film. Steve Buscemi  and Sarah Silverman make the film worth to watch at home on a lazy weekend afternoon or evening.

I would rate this movie with a high 2/5

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Synopsis: Fresh out of prison, Mitchell lands a legitimate job as a handyman for a rich actress who's eager to reward him with cash, cars and sex. But Mitchell can never truly escape his violent past or the dangerous world of loan sharks, druggies and other bottomfeeders.

Starring: Keira Knightley, Colin Farrell, David Thewlis, Anna Friel, Ray Winstone
Directed by: William Monahan
U.S. Rating: R

Well, I must say that it is either because I'm not totally used to British films or because the plot was too slow or confusing for me. The thing is that it was extremely difficult for me to follow London Boulevard. I remember the first time I watched the trailer, it was right before the film was released in theaters, I thought it looked pretty interesting and entertaining. I never went to watch it to the theater since I preferred to watch other films before. Now that I had the chance to watch the film at home, I thought it was me, but after asking my wife, I noticed that both of us had the same problem: We couldn't follow what was happening!

London Boulevard is the story of a man newly released from prison who falls in love with a reclusive young movie star who recruits him as her bodyguard and finds himself in a duel with a vicious gangster.

The film brings a top quality cast but as I said before, I couldn't follow the story. I can't really say the reason, but the truth is that it didn't deliver what was sold on its trailer.

I would rate this movie with a 1/5

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Synopsis: When decorated soldier Captain Colter Stevens wakes up in the body of an unknown man, he discovers he's part of a mission to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train. In an assignment unlike any he's ever known, he learns he's part of a government experiment called the "Source Code," a program that enables him to cross over into another man's identity in the last 8 minutes of his life. With a second, much larger target threatening to kill millions in downtown Chicago, Colter re-lives the incident over and over again, gathering clues each time, until he can solve the mystery of who is behind the bombs and prevent the next attack.

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga, Jeffrey Wright, Michael Arden
Directed by: Duncan Jones
U.S. Rating: PG-13

Source Code was one of the first expected Sci-Fi films of the year in my "must-see" list. To honor the film, I must say it was entertaining, the plot was different (well, sort of) and the cast was magnific.

What is the film about? Well, Captain Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a decorated army helicopter pilot who finds himself in a mission to locate the author of a bomb which exploded and destroyed a train headed into Chicago. Stevens is isolated inside a chamber, where Air Force officer Capt. Colleen Goodwin (Vera Farmiga) explains to Stevens through a computer screen that he is inside the Source Code, a program that allows him to take over someone's body in his or her last eight minutes of life.

Stevens' mission is to locate the bomb, discover who built it, and report back to Goodwin before the bomber can detonate a second larger bomb, a dirty nuclear device, in downtown Chicago, which could cause the deaths of millions of people. Stevens can perform different actions each time and learn from those actions. Goodwin and the Source Code's creator, Dr. Rutledge (Jeffrey Wright), tell him that the Source Code is not a simulation, but a visit into the past in the form of an alternative reality. He's told that he cannot truly alter the past in the same reality to save Christina or any of the other passengers, but that he must gather intel that can be used to alter the future and prevent a future attack.

Every time he is sent into the train he awakens as Sean Fentress, a teacher, sitting across a woman named Christina Warren (Michelle Monaghan). A series of events repeat each time with slight variations while he goes on searching for the terrorist and deepening his relationship with Christina, until the bomb that destroys the train goes off and Stevens (as Fentress) dies, sending him back to the chamber.

Stevens has no memory of how he arrived to the mission; his last memory is of flying in a recent mission in Afghanistan while taking on enemy gunfire. Confused and frustrated, Stevens wonders how he got assigned to this project. Using a cellphone, he eventually discovers that he supposedly died in the war two months ago and that his severely injured body was apparently appropriated by the Air Force and used by Rutledge to enter the Source Code.

Stevens is sent back several more times. The second time he locates the bomb in the ventilation shaft above the bathroom. Each time he learns more, both about the terrorist attack and his real life personal situation, even though Rutledge and Goodwin constantly direct him to focus on finding the bomber. Stevens resolves to complete his mission, now with the added personal goal of saving Christina and the people on the train if at all possible.

He eventually discovers that the bomber is an American extremist named Derek Frost (Michael Arden). Stevens pursues Frost to a white van where the radioactive bomb is hidden. Stevens is eventually shot dead in the confrontation, but still able to gather enough information about Frost to inform Rutledge and Goodwin after he awakes from the source-code. Authorities are able to apprehend Frost and save Chicago before the second bomb is detonated.

With the mission accomplished, Rutledge orders Stevens' memory wiped/erased and stored for reuse in further missions. But Stevens persuades Goodwin to send him in one more time and give him one last chance to avert the train disaster. Goodwin agrees that he deserves to be allowed to die in peace afterwards instead of being held alive as a military artifact.

With the information he has uncovered from previous sorties, Stevens is able to defuse the bomb and capture Frost before he can destroy the train. Frost is arrested by the police and the people on the train are saved. Stevens and Christina kiss in the last seconds before the plug is to be pulled at the eight-minute mark. In that instant, Goodwin turns off his life support per his request, but to his surprise, his mind remains in Sean Fentress' body, being able to safely leave the train with Christina and the rest of the passengers. (Source: Wikipedia)

When I started watching the film, I found some similarities with other previous films, for example, Deja Vú (with Denzel Washington). An army project that is able to move in time to control and change important events and find the responsibles of those events. The plot was really simple but played by an amazing cast who made it worth to watch. I wouldn't say the film ends with a twisted scene or situation, but I didn't expect it.

I would rate this movie with a 3.5/5

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Synopsis: After 10 years in prison, Driver has a singular focus - to avenge the murder of his brother during the botched bank robbery that led to his imprisonment. Now a free man with a deadly to-do list in hand, he's finally on his mission... but with two men on his trail - a veteran cop just days from retirement, and a young egocentric hitman with a flair for the art of killing and a newfound worthy opponent. The hunter is also the hunted. It's a do or die race to the list's finish as they myster surrounding his brother's murder deepens, and new details emerge along the way hinting that Driver's list may be incomplete.

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Billy Bob Thornton, Maggie Grace, Oliver Jackson Cohen, Moon Bloodgood
Directed by: George Tillman Jr
U.S. Rating: R

Being such a huge fan of Dwane "The Rock" Johnson's films, I couldn't let this one go away, even more, because he's back to the action films.

Driver (Dwayne) has spent the last 10 years in prison waiting to come out and avenge the murder of his brother during a bank robbery. Driver and his brother were hit by another gang, taking the money they stole from the bank and killing every single one of them. The only problem is that Driver, being shot in the head, didn't die. They thought he was killed, but he recovered and was put in jail for this robbery.

After 10 years, he's got some help from an outsider, providing him with the list of every single person involved in that gang that killed his brother and shot him in the head. Without hesitation, he drives straight to every single target, killing them with no remorse. The only problem is that he's been put in a killing list, along with the same people he's been hunting down.

In the meantime, Cop (Billy Bob Thornton) and Cicero (Carla Gugino), both detectives from the local PD, try to follow Driver's steps and stop him.

At the end, Driver has avenged gis brother's death, killing every single one of the involved in this event, in addition to the leader of the team.

Dwayne Johnson performed such a great and entertaining role in this action film. It was a pretty good film, if... There weren't some other roles and situations that shouldn't be part of the plot. For example, I never understood the need of a narcissist hitman and his girlfriend to kill those people for just $1. I found these two roles and their scenes, totally unnecessary.

I'm so glad "The Rock" is back in business. He needs to be more involved in these kind of tdrama, thriller and ough action films, the ones that have given him the fame and reputation in Hollywood. If you're a huge fan of Dwayne Johnson's film, you will enjoy the film.

I would rate this movie with a 3/5

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