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514,558 | 317,399 | 200,465 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : The Bank Job | If I remember it rightly , the very first time I saw Jason Statham star in a movie , it was in Guy Ritchie's Snatch , and since then he's had his fair share of crime capers ranging from the remake of The Italian Job where he starred as Handsome Rob , to mindless , high octane action movies like The Transporter series where he's the star vehicle ( pardon the pun ) . While these movies can't possible earn him any action awards , you can't deny the fact that this guy's pretty charismatic in his own right , and I've no qualms about watching him play characters on either side of the fence , taking on his opponents in Crank or War , holding his own opposite Jet Li . While we await for the next installment of The Transporter or Crank , or The Brazilian Job , his The Bank Job sure took longer than expected to make its way to our shores , where the DVD should be released later this week . But as always , I'd recommend to watch this bank caper on the big screen . Don't expect plenty of Statham's signature moves when he takes on his opponents here , as he relies pretty much on his wits in order to survive a web of tangled intrigued where a simple open and shut case of a bank heist , turned out to be much larger than his team could digest , involving , check this out - high ranking government officials , the royal family , the British secret service , local neighbourhood cops , local neighbourhood crooked cops , gangsters , brothel owners , a society rebel , and an old flame . Phew ! Based loosely on the Baker Street Llyods Bank robbery in 1971 , Statham stars as Terry Leather , a two-bit lowly crook who's given an opportunity by Martine Love ( Saffron Burrows ) to break into the said bank , given inside information about the bank's security systems , and unknown to Leather , having the heist unofficially sanctioned by people in the right places . The job is simple , to break into the bank vault where the safe deposit boxes are , and make away with everything inside . But of course the real value lies in some incriminating photographs found within the boxes , and I thought this played out like The Inside Job . Only that it doesn't primarily take place from within the bank most of the time . The Bank Job covers a much larger spectrum , of conspiracies and trust issues between the members of the heist , as well as between shady characters who each have their own agenda of self - preservation . With plenty of dirty little secrets hidden snugly inside those safe deposit boxes , their respective owners while having a sense of fear permeate through their bones upon hearing the news , more so want to uncover the culprits , and recover their assets . It tells of the unwanted trouble and attention brought towards the perpetrators , as they realize that their apparently simple job , turns out to be a Pandora's box . If this was enacted based exactly on case files , then you can't help but to chuckle at how sometimes Fate and just plain silly luck would shine upon the players of the game , and enable coincidental circumstances to happen in order to have everything work out in a certain favour . And in either half of the story , from the enactment to the untying of the knotty situation they're stuck in , The Bank Job fulfills in keeping things light , funny , and given the many shenanigans that politicians get themselves into , it just reminds you that some things don't change . Those looking for elaborate plans and probes in heist movies Ocean Eleven style will be disappointed , but if you're looking for something leaning toward spy versus spy stuff and one-upmanship , with a classic underdog story to boot , then The Bank Job should already be in your must-watch list this week ! |
515,307 | 317,399 | 378,475 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Bayside Shakedown 2 | I've watched Bayside Shakedown 1 a few years back , and enjoyed it thoroughly , so there isn't any reason not to catch the sequel when it's in town . For those who do not know , this show is set in a small Tokyo police precinct , where cops actually perform routine community policing without arms , and the sexy investigative stuff are always handled by the Metropolitan police . This devision of course gives rise to the exploration of politics within the police force , some of which are not subtly put across in the movie - which provokes thought . However , the movie doesn't come across as preachy or heavy , as it's always lightened by the ( sometimes one dimensioned ) characters , the light hearted moments , and camaraderie amongst them . As always , the movie starts off with its regular catchy theme song interspersed with footage of current going-ons . With murder being the main anchor of investigations , other sub-investigations include the biter , the family of pickpockets and a secret lover of the commander of the precinct . Naturally , all the loose ends will be tied neatly when they all come together at one point in the show . Amongst the politics discussed here is on women leadership , in the name of equal opportunity - could we be biased and blinded by policy to allow the inept to lead ? Even though in my opinion , this is a Japanese movie , and the culture at times may be chauvanistic , it does provide some thought provoking moments during the show , or did the producers / writers cop out at the end of it all ? For those who do not understand Japanese , no worries , there are good subtitles , and it doesn't matter if you have watched the first part , or the drama serial - the good looking cast ( male and female ) should be able to sustain you through this enjoyable flick . |
514,451 | 317,399 | 1,139,797 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Let The Right One In | The cinematic vampires I've seen to date in cinemas recently have usually been the ramped up sexy versions , where it's either black leather on lithe female frames , or dreamy hunks to whom teenage girls would sacrifice their necks to in order to live with their lover boy forever . While the release of Twilight had made a lot of noise in the commercial theatres last year and raking in an obscene amount of money sending fan-girls into a frenzy , one vampire movie has been making its rounds very successfully in the film festival circuit , and the accolades garnered thus far have been nothing less than stellar . Come next week , you too will know why , as Let The Right One In ( LTROI ) gets its deserved commercial release here . LTROI is pared down to the very basics , and that in itself is a refreshing take thanks to John Ajvide Lindqvist's story and Tomas Alfredson's assured direction , both confident that there's absolutely no need for artificial spices to spruce up the film . We have the need for plasma for survival , the human type and not cherry ade from animals and tomatoes . Sunlight kills immediately and fiercely , not to introduce some industrial light and magic moments to glitter with sparkle dust . And their condition forces them to be in isolation , because killing sprees bring unwanted attention , but weakness from dawn to dusk means a caretaker is never far . Find out too what the title means , as I believe it's probably a step boldly taken to define certain consequences . The emotions of their two leads were relied on heavily to bring the narrative forward in what essentially is a very quiet film until feasting time . Eli ( Lina Leandersson ) arrives in a small town with her minder Hakan ( Per Ragnar ) , who provides for a number moments filled with dark humour no thanks to the unfortunate situations he finds himself stuck in while preparing meals . Their neighbour is a timid boy Oskar ( Kare Hedebrant ) , who has school playground politics problems because of the constant taunting from schoolmates , thus coasting through his existence imagining himself fighting back for some respect , but afraid to translate his bravado for real with that knife he carries around . Children are such that , with a certain degree of confidence , putting two-two together , you're likely to see a friendship being struck with little or no prejudice . Coming from lonely backgrounds , both strike an almost immediate friendship , despite Eli being able to come out only at night , and some very obvious hints of her nocturnal prowess . To Oskar , Eli is his first real friend who through love , gives him the courage and encouragement to face up to his demons . It's a tender love story between the two even after Oskar's discovery of the true identity of his best friend . But like best friends , such are secrets between themselves , and nothing in the world is going to change that . It's kinda terrifying knowing that the Oskar in a way condones the killings that Eli commits , and the direction here to show that is unflinching . Given the atmospherically quiet moments , it magnifies every point when the hunter snacks on its prey , with the patches of warm blood staining the pale white face of a child , thanks also to some nifty make up , and special effects where it mattered . The noisy violence is in stark contrast to its more touching moments , especially if one thinks that Hakan's life is a suggestion to what Oskar's would eventually be if he so decides to follow down the same slippery slope . The toning down of pedophilia , as does Eli's sexual ambiguity , allows for this thought to fester . I hate to do a comparison here between a truly great genre film and one that aspired to reach its heights , but I guess since many would be familiar with Twilight , allow me to indulge then why LTROI makes Twilight eat sparkle dust . For starters , the latter is your typical Hollywood blockbuster treatment where everything has to be explicitly shown and in verbatim . LTROI leaves it to the greatest tool you possess - your imaginative mind , and that in itself accentuates the level of horror that goes unseen , and giving that all round creepy feeling to it too . Twilight had a teenage angst romance that was quite childish . LTROI shows how the innocence of love could be miles more mature , with its tender moments here making Bella Swan and Edward Cullen look like adults with bored sex lives . Gone too are ( what I deem now as ) nonsensical pop and rock tunes peppering the aural track , and the clever use of silence ( i . e . knowing when to shut up ) served only to highlight genuine tension and impending doom . Yes LTROI is less showy , but miles more effective in its storytelling craft and technique . For a genuinely satisfying vampire movie , Let The Right One In nails it and deserves being Highly Recommended . P . S . Hollywood now wants to remake this . Now that's a truly terrifying thought ! |
515,551 | 317,399 | 478,134 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : In the Valley of Elah | I'm not sure why many had loathed Paul Harris ' relatively recent meteoric rise . I had enjoyed most , if not all of his works that I have seen thus far , with his collaboration with Clint Eastwood nabbing Million Dollar Baby a best picture Oscar in 2005 , and his own Crash , which was my movie of the year 2005 , winning the same award in 2006 . I guess with such success , the naysayers will usually be out in full force to make their voices heard , and I thought it's quite sad to have what I deem as steeling work so oft put down because of green eyed monsters . Paul Harris continues his run with co-writing and producing In the Valley of Elah . The valley is said to be the spot where biblical boy David met Goliath and defeated him with a sling shot , where other warriors had fallen before . And we all know what happened to David thereafter , with his growing popularity , and assassination attempt on him as well . In some ways , the movie tells of something in parallel , and alongside the many movies on the Iraq War , with the likes of Lions for Lambs , The Kingdom and Rendition , each focusing on different aspects of the same pie . In Elah , it takes quite a different turn . While inspired by true events , that bit of it comes from the experience and standing orders that the soldiers receive in convoy driving within a warzone . The story itself is set in a time with its players back from their active tour of duty , and is an investigative drama rather than a ra-ra mouthpiece on the morality of war . Tommy Lee Jones and Charlize Theron , both award winning actors in their own right , play the lead roles , and did a great job fleshing out their characters . We haven't seen Tommy Lee Jones on the big screen here for a while , so his presence is a major plus point , catching the thespian in action . He plays Hank Deerfield , an ex-army sergeant who is as hard noses as he is meticulous and disciplined . I guess after years of service in a uniformed group , you can't deny that some of the habits , good and bad , stick to you after discharge . His Hank is one experienced ginger , whose son Michael was discovered AWOL and missing , and he takes it upon himself as any good , responsible parent would , in trying to find out what exactly transpired . In doing so , he would have to rely on his cunning and wit to outsmart the system , and soon realizes that this is no longer the army that he belonged to anymore , with honor and integrity already thrown out of the window . I suppose when one thinks of Charlize Theron , you can't help but remember her as a very blonde and very beautiful model . I won't be surprised that when she wants to be taken seriously in her roles , she either changes her hair style , color , or just tries to make herself fugly ( remember Monster ? ) , in order to fight against preconceived notions that she's just another beautiful face . Like her role in North Country , her Detective Emily Sanders also has to do battle with prejudice , discrimination and the glass ceiling , all these while being a single parent , and assisting Hank in cutting through layers of cover ups , and the determination of red herrings as the cop who requested to be assigned the case . The chemistry between the two , who start off quite coolly , begin to heat up when they realize that their strength combined would prove to be an asset . Moreover , Hank required somebody on the system to be working it , while the other slowly opened up to the fact that she is here to assist a parent in seeking answers . For many scenes , you can't help but to think through - how would a parent react , or what would parents feel , each time they get confronted with certain pain that has befallen their child , who in their eyes will always be small and vulnerable . Parents sometimes do not know what their kid is up to , especially if the latter so decides to keep it under tight wraps , though whatever the case , they are always angels to the eyes of their parents . A parent's love knows no bounds , and you can see how such genuine concern gets exuded from Tommy Lee Jones ' eyes . Partnering him in this aspect is Susan Sarandon in a supporting role as Hank's wife Joan , who has as powerful a scene she shared with Lee Jones in this regard , the stoic courage in the face of the inevitable . If you're one who's game for investigative army dramas like Courage Under Fire ( Denzel Washington and Meg Ryan ) , The General's Daughter ( John Travolta and Madeleine Stowe ) and even Basic ( John Travolta again , and Connie Nielsen ) as I am , then it is without a doubt you will add In the Valley of Elah into your list of mentionables . The slow unravelling of a whodunnit , following the investigator in their seeking of the truth , always bode well with me . And as such , while Haggis this time doesn't overwhelm with too many subplots and focused on the depth of the lead characters so wonderfully fleshed out by Lee Jones and Theron , this one's a winner . Can't wait for Tommy Lee Jones again in the Coen Brother's No Country for Old Men too ! |
515,187 | 317,399 | 217,505 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Gangs of New York | I guess the one thing on everyone's mind about the show , just what is so NC about the NC-16 rating that is slapped on this movie currently screening in local theatres Your search is over , here are the answers : 1 . The bloody opening gang fight , which one suspects has been snipped at some points ever so carefully by the censors 2 . There is a nightclub scene which has prostitutes baring their chests 3 . In that scene they smoke opium 4 . Sorry guys , you do not see Ms Diaz exposed ala Halle Berry in NC-16 Swordfish Synopsis OK , now to the movie proper , just 4 words : Daniel Day-Lewis Rocks . If you think that is 3 words , you're just being petty . The first 10 minutes of raw gang power's the best thing in the show , other than that . . . sad to say , there ain't no more of an all out gang war despite the rebuilding of The Dead Rabbits . The plot is choppy at times , probably because the show had to be cut down to a more butt-tolerable length of 169mins . The Good Leo Di Caprio's Amsterdam resurrects The Dead Rabbits . Hmm . . . that good ? : P The Bad Daniel " Bill The Butcher " Day-Lewis ' moustache is bad @ ss ! The Ugly Yup , lotsa ugly extras in the show : P What are you waiting for , move your butt and hit the theatres , now ! |
514,964 | 317,399 | 449,088 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : At World's End | First things first , you must stay until the end of credits for a scene which truly ends the movie proper , in a bittersweet manner , full of love and fulfilled promises , especially after you've experienced the double , triple , quadruple crossings in Pirates 2 which carried over onto this final chapter . I can't help but compare this trilogy to that of the Wachowski Brother's Matrix movies , only in the way the two sequels are presented in structure . Like Reloaded , Pirates Dead Man's Chest introduced new depth into the established mythos of the standalone original , which made some folks wonder why as they got confused with new characters , new motivations , and plenty of mumbo jumbo . Making things worse , it ended with a cliffhanger of supposed death ( you don't really think they'd kill him off do you ? ) leading directly into the events of the concluding part three . Like Revolutions , Pirates At World's End wastes no time and dives right into the rescue mission to save the ( audience's ) beloved Jack Sparrow ( come to think of it , the original Star Wars trilogy is like that too , but I digress ) , who is stuck in a similar limbo where nothing works . And there are plenty of scenes in this movie which played on Depp's character popularity , which made you wonder just what the point is , if not just to elicit some cheap laughs which sometimes don't work . And with the much touted , expensive sets of Singapore , you wonder what's the point too . During Pirates Dead Man's Chest , there was a teaser of sorts about Singapore being a locale in the Pirates mythos , after being mentioned a number of times in the franchise thus far . And the hype continued with news about the sets , and the casting coup of Chow Yun-Fat as a pirate from Singapore . OK , some historical liberties were taken , but when presented , it really was much ado about nothing . You get to see sets ( artificially done of course ) , not locales , and much of it is at night , so " Singapore " was relegated to what can be deemed like a bad backlot set with poor lighting . Lasting 20 minutes , and given you can't see much , made you yearn for the pirates to hit the high seas , pronto ! As much as Singapore the locale was wasted , Chow was wasted too , having being the last minute merovingian-like character added to the concluding trilogy whose value is only a map , some men , and a junk . But the lucky bastard got to snog Keira Knightley and I'm jealous . Anyway the shady wheelings and dealings continue , between characters , and with the switching of allegiances which you'll come close to losing , almost . It's like a movie version of Survivor , and the best way to survive this is to think through and focus , while you're watching , the individual character motivation and their objective , which brings on some working of the noodle fun . Where we last left our jolly crew , Jack Sparrow ( Johnny Depp ) is gone , and the relationship between Will Turner ( Orlando Bloom ) and Elizabeth Swann ( Keira Knightley ) is on the rocks because the latter was caught snogging Sparrow by the former , Barbossa ( Geoffrey Rush ) is brought back to life , while Davy Jones ( Bill Nighy ) is collaborating with the East India Company , much against his wishes , assisting them in making all pirates see the end of days . Holding the key to save Jack is Chow's Captain Sao Feng of Singapore , as new alliances , betrayals and businesses are formed . Fans of either Bloom or Depp will find their idols absent for significant portions during the movie's first half especially , while the spotlight is set on Knightley , and the introduction of new elements in the Pirate's lore , law and the theme of love . In particular , this movie contrasts quite clearly the love between Turner and Swann , and that of Davy Jones and his , though there are cringeworthy moments in the former's , especially during the climatic battle hinted at in the trailers . Fatherly love too was touched upon briefly for all our 3 main characters , with the highlight on Keith Richard's short appearance as Sparrow senior , which clearly felt like it's added and created just for him . The action bits were great , and though there are adequate fight scenes in between the calm scheming of the high seas , nothing beats the climatic fight at the end where everything comes together and issues get resolved with violence . There are times though that you wonder just how much damage the ships like the Black Pearl and The Flying Dutchman can sustain , with so much splinters and chunks of wood flying , before they sink . And like all climatic fights in ending trilogy chapters , At World's End fell back to formulaic rousing of the troops scene with cheesy dialogue , but perhaps for the better , forgotten about all the others in spite of the scale prepared . The CGI was undeniably effective in making the battle work , with fights on a number of fronts properly done to keep the adrenaline high . Pirates 3 is an intertwined sequel which I think you'll either love or hate depending on how you reacted to Pirates 2 . For me , I'm swashbuckling towards liking it . It's not without flaws , but definitely one of the better two-part movies around - I guess the scriptwriters must had racked their brains with so much going on in so little time , and pulling it off actually . A satisfying conclusion . |
514,957 | 317,399 | 360,717 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : King Kong | Peter Jackson nailed Kong ! ( Please pardon bad pun ) In his version based on the 1933 classic , Jackson delivered as promised , sticking close to the source material , yet adding his touches of epic grandeur . Doubling the original's length , clocking in at 3 hours , provided ample opportunity for character development for the major leads ( and even for Kong itself ) , and doesn't scrimp on elaborate action sequences . Kudos to the cast for their effort in what is mostly interaction within imaginary backgrounds and a digital Kong . The main leads of Naomi Watts as vaudeville actress Ann Darrow , Jack Black as movie director Carl Denham and Adrien Brody as screenwriter Jack Driscoll were almost perfect . Given loads of time to flesh out their characters , you'd come to appreciate and understand their motivations a lot more . Black , known more for his zany comedies , makes a wonderful Carl Denham , adding slight humor to his dramatic role . Watts , as usual , looked beautiful in her role as the damsel , who , in an update , brings a certain tough attitude to her fragile exterior . Brody completes the trinity as the lovelorn Jack Driscoll who has to battle Kong for the affections of Darrow . Production values were certainly top notch , and in the instant this movie opens , you'll fall in love with the accurate depiction of 30s Manhanttan . For those who already know of the story outline , we begin in New York where Denham seeks out a new aspiring actress for his new movie set in Singapore ( yes , we're mentioned , just like the 1976 remake ) . However , he's really leading the ship and crew to Skull Island to make his new movie , and there , they meet up with the island's unfriendly and hostile inhabitants , as well as its god , Kong . The movie takes about an hour to reach the island , and hence some might find it slow moving . But keep your eyes peeled on the beautiful cinematography , and listen closely to the dialog - plenty of references to the original Kong movie ( I so loved the line where they wanted to get Fay Wray involved in their production , but sadly she had an ongoing movie project with RKO . Classic ! ) And Skull Island proved to be an action sequence playground , with the much touted Kong versus the Rexes ( 3 of them actually , probably my favorite would be the finale where Kong dealt the killing blows ) being the highlight . In a parallel sequence consisting of Denham , Driscoll and various expendable crew , the dino-chase sequence probably put the Jurassic Park sequels to shame , although there are some portions where the digital rendering looked cheap . But minor nitpicking aside , it still made for some edge-of-your-seat moments . The hour on Skull Island provided much time for the Beast to fall for the Beauty , keeping her as its trophy companion , who performed vaudeville acts for its entertainment , while it served as her protector from mutant like creatures . Andy Serkis provided much of the facial movements and expressions for Kong , just like he did for Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy . And we do see the sensitive side of the much maligned ape - it seemed that all it wants is a little tranquility , watching beautiful sunsets / sunrises with its human playmate , who seemed to be able to take the roller coaster tossing from limb to limb and from vine to vine with nary a scratch to her beautiful legs and indestructible lingerie . Perhaps a departure from the other Kongs is that this digital one kept its primal instincts in check , and doesn't attempt to disrobe our heroine . Noble . But as Fate would have it , Kong gets captured in an intense sequence , which shows off its brutality . The movie makes no apologies for many bites , kicks , and slams between human and beast , or amongst beasts . It's violent , but that's the way it probably is . And in Manhatten , hailed as the Eighth Wonder of the World , Kong wrecks havoc to look for Darrow , and brings her atop the Empire State Building for the climatic showdown . In between , I thought the ice rink moment was a pretty nifty touch , but one which somehow jarred the pace until the intervention of the army . And that iconic final scene , what a beauty ! You'd know it's a lost cause , but yet it's a tragic spectacle to witness . To the sentimental ones , no , I know we'd have all fallen in love with Jackson's Kong by then , but we're sticking to the original , so don't expect anything else but the original ending . And speaking of which , I sure would have loved to hear Howard Shore's rendition of the soundtrack , but alas , his hasty departure due to creative differences with Jackson paved the way for James Newton Howard to pen the score . Not that it's bad , but I thought it lacked a certain oomph at times . In short , this Kong has all the ingredients of a mighty fine event movie . Given its length , it doesn't squander its opportunities for a more in depth take at one of the best known cinematic monsters created . Definite must-watch ! |
514,907 | 317,399 | 113,309 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : ( DVD ) Hiroshima ( 1995 ) | The closing stages of the Pacific Theatre of WWII are revisited recently by filmmaker Clint Eastwood , in his two movie compendium Flags of Our Fathers , and Letters from Iwo Jima , depicting the Battle of Iwo Jima from both perspectives of the Americans and the Japanese . Hiroshima , a made for TV movie in 1995 for Hallmark Entertainment , does so in one movie , clocking in at a massive 180 minutes . But the running length is fully deserved , as this is probably as detailed one could get without boring the audience . Directed by Roger Spottiswoode and Koreyoshi Kurahara , they each take on their respective country's angle , beginning from April 12th 1945 with Roosevelt's death . Spottiswoode focused on Truman's abrupt taking over the presidency , with a lot of catching up to do with regards to the war . As Vice President , he's kept largely out of the daily workings during Roosevelt's term , and suddenly is thrust into the hot seat with the passing of Roosevelt , making decisions that will affect countless of lives worldwide . Of note is the moral dilemma faced with the Manhattan Project , as well as looking into the inner circle's politicking of racing toward being the 1st nuclear power , and the demonstration of such a might with a public display of a detonation . You'll also see how the pilots train with mock bombs and mock targets during their countless drills just to get it right . On the other hand , Kurahara was focused on the Japanese's lack of understanding and therefore deliberation on surrender , and takes a long hard look at how the Imperial Army dealt with impending invasion by the Allied forces . What's to note here is the portrayal of Emperor Hirohito , as he surveys his land bombed incessantly by B29s . Politics and bickering between politicians and the military take the spotlight here . I'd bet most would find new nuggets of information from this informative dramatization of the events leading up to the detonation of the atomic bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki , like how Kyoto was deliberated over and spared , being the equivalent of a religious city , and a city with monuments worth preserving . I'd learn that the US actually had to call the bluffs , having only 3 bombs at the time , with Little Boy ( Hiroshima's ) made of uranium , and Fat Man ( Nagasaki's ) made of plutonium , and another plutonium one used as a test bomb , because the method of fission is slightly different from uranium's , and had to be tested first to ensure it works . If technical details aren't your cup of tea , then perhaps cultural differences between the two countries , and the bridging of this understanding , might be of interest to you . It's equivalent to today's lack of understanding , and the lack of a well thought out strategy , that we see wars fought and degenerated into the issues faced today . It was interesting to note that prior to WWII , Japan had never lost a war , and therefore , doesn't know what defeat , nor surrender is , and hence , absolutely had no idea going about doing it . It could also be attributed to the Asian " face " value , that death always be a better option compared to a humiliating defeat . Combined brilliantly with stock archive footage , documentary reels and interviews from veterans on both sides . Hiroshima is well worth the 3 hours spent watching it , unraveling itself like a history book . My only gripe was that the ending was abrupt , all over with the announcement of the Japanese surrender . All Region DVD comes with no extras . |
515,394 | 317,399 | 399,201 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : The Island | This review is brought to you courtesy of a movieXclusive . com preview session , without which I won't be able to write this so soon . The Island is the latest summer blockbuster offering from director Michael Bay , who brought to you other loud actioners like Bad Boys , The Rock , Armageddon , Con Air and Pearl Harbour . But what's different in The Island is his departure from long time collaborator Jerry Bruckheimer , and an attempt to explore a bit on human morality and ethics . While I won't say that this exploration is thorough , it does invoke some thought when you're watching the film . As you would've already known , this movie is about clones . What if science and technology allows you to live a little longer , replacing body parts which are failing you , a kidney , a lung , from none other than something which has the exact biological make-up as you . This insurance policy , the product , will definitely be clinically compatible , and at your beck and call anytime . Will you proceed with buying into this product , even though it'll mean the birth and subsequent death of some other " you " ? Lincoln Six Echo ( Ewan McGregor ) and Jordan Two Delta ( Scarlett Johansson ) live in a sterile environment , the Facility , where everything from your outfit to the food you consume are meticulously provided for . Survivors from a contaminated " outside world " are brought into the Facility , to live and work in until such time they win the Lottery and get themselves brought to the last paradise on Earth - The Island . Or so they thought . It's fun looking into the Facility , with its minimalistic Zen like decor , and the technology used to monitor and control its inhabitants look straight out out Spielberg's Minority Report . But when Lincoln learns the truth of the setup , he brings along his best pal Jordan in an escape from bounty hunters and the law ( ala The Fugitive ) , while at the same time trying to look up their owners in an urban futuristic looking landscape , to explain this truth . And here's where director Bay is at his element , with loud action , explosions , and a tad of explicit violence . At times , the action pieces brought some sense of deja-vu , from Matrix ( the building - windows - helicopter - smashing scene ) , to Star Wars ( the jet-bikes ) , to an amalgam of elements from his own Bad Boys 2 chase scene ( where they dump bodies at their pursuers ) fusing into mass mayhem similar to Matrix Reloaded's freeway chase . Signature quick-cuts and camera - panning - around - actors - upper - torso - in - slow - mo remind you that this is action done Bay-style . Of course at times , one must suspend your disbelief when loopholes and improbable luck inadvertently play a part in non-stop action . McGregor seemed to have a lot of fun in his role as Lincoln Six Echo ( no worries , the naming convention does get explained ) . You might have thought that his exhilaration at motorcycles was real ( yes , you might also know that he had travelled round the world on his BMW bike ) , and I felt his using of his native Irish accent and American accent to distinguish between his characters was a nice touch . Scarlett Johansson is a beauty to behold . Her Jordan Two Delta has tough as nails spunk , as well as a touch of femininity and vulnerability in her character . The development of her love for Lincoln looked right out of Blue Lagoon , given that the clones have an intelligence equivalent of a 15 year old ( or so the makers thought ) . The supporting characters like Steve Buscemi ( another veteran of Bay's movies , given some of the best hilarious lines in the film - listen out for his cow analogy ) , Djimon Hounsou ( who presented a meaner , leaner , younger version of Samuel L Jackson's mo-fo attitude ) , and main baddie Sean Bean all give commendable performances in an action movie . Don't expect too much character development , but they played their stereotypical role to a T . Product placement's a fun thing to spot , from Puma , to Microsoft's XBox ( I want one of those ! ) , MSN , Calvin Klein ( oh when will Johansson star in a real one ? ) and of course , Nokia ( I was wondering when this would appear ) . Somehow they didn't feel jarring from the scene they're featured in , as some helped facilitate the plot somewhat . While techonology and science may offer us a chance at the elixir of longer life , we must be careful with it and not attempt to play God , in deciding who lives , and who does not . While one may have noble intent , delivery and execution ( pardon the pun ) of that intent matters . Welcome to the Island . Good things do happen . |
515,007 | 317,399 | 449,059 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Little Miss Sunshine | This is today's GV Surprise Screening . For their debut feature length film , directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris probably couldn't ask for a better script - Little Miss Sunshine is a comedic drama which has plenty of heart , even though the characters are misfits put together in a dysfunctional family . But wait , before you roll your eyes at yet another story with quirky characters , this one probably proved itself to be relatively superior given its easy going delivery , never taking itself too seriously with the messages it tried to put across , and the cast is a joy to behold . Telling the story of the Hoover family's journey cross-country to bring their young daughter to the finals of the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant , it's an insane road trip movie as well in their yellow family mini-van . Abigail Breslin first made her debut in M Night Shyamalan's Signs as Mel Gibson's daughter , and here she's the wide-eyed adorable child who will just tug at your heartstrings - you'll probably be sympathizing with her character's ( mis ) fortune with a family like hers . But there's where the fun is , no ? The more recognizable actors here will be Steve Carrell ( The 40 Year Old Virgin ) , as her gay scholarly uncle , and Toni Collette ( In Her Shoes ) as her mom . Rounding up the cast are Greg Kinnear as motivational-inspirational speaker Dad , Paul Dano as her brother who had taken a vow of silence , and Alan Arkin as coke-sniffing , foul - mouthed grandfather who dotes on her . While the opening might take its time to set the scene , once the family gets together there's no holding back . The dialogues and interactions between characters are fast and snappy , and each character's given enough screen time to showcase their tribulations and respective resolution . Which I found to be deftly done both in script and direction . There was one major loophole spotted , but nothing to mar your enjoyment of the movie . What I totally liked about the movie , is by the end of it , there's this warm fuzzy feeling that you'll feel about the message brought across , that the strength of family lies in sticking together , and through that , any adversary can be defeated , any troubles overcome . Anything else doesn't matter so long as there's unity , and the movie shows this pretty nicely - the gem of self-discovery together , and the getting out of the rut with support from one another . The crowd favourite is definitely the finale , which will more than likely to blow you away as it comes rather unexpectedly , and raises a few eyebrows too . At the screening , almost everyone was clapping and cheering , and the last time I experienced that kind of joy , was in the finale of Kinky Boots , which on hindsight , is similar in the kind of feeling it evokes from you . Though I must add that it was kind of unnerving somewhat watching the young performers prance around with their fake plastic smiles , stiff hair and loads of makeup . In life there are winners and there are losers . Little Miss Sunshine , is definitely a winner . Go watch ! |
514,728 | 317,399 | 366,777 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Millions | Director Danny Boyle is known for his stylish films in Trainspotting and 28 Days Later . While the latter talks about the evil of drugs , Millions talks about the root of all evil - Money . Lots of it . To be exact , close to 300 British pounds . This film is about taking and using money that is not yours , the morality behind that issue , and the exploration if sudden wealth can change a person's attitude . It also looks at spending large amounts of money ( and the difficulty thereof ) in a short span of time , as this film is set against a backdrop of the British Pound no longer being legal tender after 7 days , given the British's decision to use the Eurodollar . Damian Cunningham is a young boy who's missing his mother , who just passed away , and whom we don't get to see until the end of the film ( in a very touching scene ) . He has been living in his own imaginary world since , reading about and dreaming about talking to Saints , asking them if they had met or known about his mom in heaven . Many times , we look at this world through the eyes of this innocent boy , especially when the huge sack of money literally fell onto him , and he thinks that it is a gift from God as compensation for taking his mom . And that's when the story picks up . His brother Anthony suggested they keep quiet about the finding - reason being the government will tax most of it away , and while Anthony decides to ham it up , using the money to buy friends and cronies , Damian developed a want to help the poor - from people in the street , to Mormons ( the punching bag for some major gags in the film , and the hypocrisy of it all ) , to Africans in need of food , water and shelter , and absolute strangers , which is of course , dangerous when the " real owner " of the bag of money come knocking at the door . Given the dilemma of spending , how do you want to do it ? Invest in real estate ? Foreign Exchange ? ( The savvy Anthony came up with those suggestions , and seeing it on screen is hilarious ) . Save it in a bank ? And given your want to help others , how do you do so without endangering yourself , which Damian However , when you realise that the money is not Godsent , but robbed while en route to the incinerator ( one of the many interesting scenes in this film is the heist ) , what do you do next ? Do you continue spending it ? Or give it up ? Do you spend the money as a form of compensation for your house getting ransacked by burglars looking for the loot ? Damian Cunningham is played by Alexander Etel , and you can't help think he's the British's answer to McCauley Culkin at his age . He brings forth pure innocence as Damian , and is absolutely hilarious in his dealings with his imaginary Saints ( complete with halos ) . And the saints go marching on - the highlight of which is St Peter . Listen carefully to the dialogue , as he makes subtle digs into parables and the truth behind a certain miracle - I cracked up at that one . This film isn't complete without the complementary baddie and the uptight community policeman , and also gives the term social engineering a whole new perspective ( even practised by the young ! ) . With Danny Boyle's stylistic editing and beautiful shots of transitions and imaginary situations to complement the social commentary , this could probably be in contention as one of the best films of 2005 . |
514,532 | 317,399 | 427,954 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Tom-Yum-Goong | After having watched Tony Jaa in Ong Bak about a week ago on TV , I was waiting for the day when Tom-Yum-Goog finally made its way here . There was a film in between these two , called The Bodyguard , which wasn't released in the theatres here , so I guess I gotta hit the shops to look for it . My friend has likened the introduction of Tom-Yum-Goong to watching National Geographic , and he's right . It's an idyllic Thai village scene where Kham ( Tony Jaa ) grows up and bonds together with herds of elephants , and it might even looked as if it came right out of Kipling's The Jungle Book . It's a picture of calm before the storm , and the first 10 minutes set the scene , as the elephants will play an important aspect in this movie as it gets elevated into mythical status ( check out the CGI scene , looks like Jackie Chan's The Myth , with its historical fights ) . You'll know right away that this is a Thai movie , with its excellent fusion of Thai elements into the storyline - the elephants , the rivers , the rituals , Buddhism , " Tom-Yum-Goong " , and of course , Muay Thai . With elephants , the natural baddies are first and foremost , the poachers , who kidnap our hero's pets ( wrong move ) . Of course these baddies belong to a larger crime family and syndicate operating out of Sydney , Australia , which deals with drugs , human and animal trafficking , prostitution , all with the blessings of corrupt cops , and led by a transvestite ( yes , you heard me right ) . Tom-Yum-Goong may refer to a shrimp dish in Thailand , but in this movie , it refers to a restaurant which serves as a front for illegal activities . Action fans need not wait too long for Tony Jaa action , as he plunges head on into fights with the Thai gangsters first , in their bungalow hideout . And that's just to whet your appetite for more mayhem ! Bridging the fights from Thailand to Australia is a short boat chase scene that looked right out from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade , but that's the only weak action sequence in Tom-Yum-Goong . There are plenty of fights in Sydney to keep all action fans happy - like the massive battle with the Aussie streetgangs ( on roller blades and bikes ) in an abandoned warehouse , which also showcased Jaa's agility and acrobatic ability . I thought that somehow the cinematography during this sequence let Jaa down at times , especially when he weaved in and out of the trains , the camera just couldn't keep up , and was positioned at a bad angle . But that aside , it made up for itself in a beautifully filmed , one-motion tracking shot of Jaa making his way through a four-storey restaurant , kicking major rear , without seemingly any cuts ( I said seemingly , as there was a part where water droplets stained the camera , but somehow disappeared abruptly ) . Doom has its gimmicky first-person shooter perspective , this one here has its classic third-person perspective , as if you're controlling Jaa in a coin-operated fight console , taking on the baddies with various swift moves . If you've known by now , I kinda likened Jaa's movies so far to Bruce Lee's ( some see shades of Matrix in this movie ) , and there was another action sequence in which Jaa was up against hordes of gangsters in an enclosed room ( think Lee in the Japanese dojo in Fists of Fury ) , and he floored them all with bone-crushing , limb-breaking kicks and punches . Move aside Steven Seagal , Jaa's doing it faster , and more lethal ! The fights with the huge wrestlers too was a highlight ( ala Lee in Game of Death with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ) , as was the final fight with the final " boss " . Perhaps my favourite in the movie is the scene at the temple . Water , Fire , and a looming Buddha , Jaa takes on three distinct exponents one-on-one - the hip hop breakdancer , the Chinese wushu sword expert , and the Western wrestler . While this movie has done away with Ong-Bak's repetitive sequences ( yes , we know what Jaa is capable of already ) , the slow-mo in this particular set is pure poetry in motion . It's different from Ong-Bak , in that Jaa , like Lee in Enter The Dragon , gets beaten up and injured . You can inflict pain and injure Jaa , but like Lee , he bounces back with a vengeance , sans shirt too . Jaa has let his action do the talking instead of his acting abilities ( no stunt double , no wire-work , no special effects ) , and I have no qualms with that , given after all , this is an out and out action movie . Petchtai Wongkamlao , who plays Inspector Mark , and has been featured in all of Jaa's movies , returns to add his comedic touch to the film as a Thai-immigrant policeman in Sydney , and fans of Ong Bak will also be pleased that this movie is helmed by the same director Prachya Pinkaew . While Hollywood struggles to find worthy successors to its 80s and 90s action heroes like Stallone , Van Damme , and Schwarzeneggar , Asia has already found one to takeover the mantle from Bruce Lee , Jackie Chan and Jet Li ( as the latter two seemed to have drifted and indicated a preference for dramas ) . He's Thai , and his name is Tony Jaa . You heard it here first , he's gonna be setting the bar for action movies to come . He can only get better , and I'm already a huge fan ! |
515,025 | 317,399 | 427,944 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Thank You for Smoking | I was attracted to the movie because of its title - Thank You for Smoking . It's not politically correct - where's the " not " ? And the trailer looked like it was a whole lot of fun as well , with a tobacco evangelist spreading the good news about smoking and cigarettes . Coincidentally , this movie also turned out to be this week's GV Surprise Screening selection . I like movies with ensemble cast too , and this one consisted of Aaron Eckhart , Maria Bello , Sam Elliot , Rob Lowe , William H Macy , JK Simmons , Robert Duvall , Katie Holmes and Cameron Bright . Not the usual big names , but a stellar cast nonetheless , some of whom you would've come across in other big budgeted movies , like JK Simmons - the James Jonah Jameson in Sam Raimi's Spidey , or Cameron Bright - the most over-under utilized kid from Ultraviolet and X3 . The opening credits played to the song " Smoke , Smoke , Smoke that Cigarette ! " , consisting of colourful cigarette boxes , already got me hooked , and the protagonist of Nick Naylor ( Eckhart ) , the tobacco industry lobbyist , is one heck of an interesting character , and holds one heck of a dream job . He's not a lawyer , but can sure talk like one , and has the same uncanny ability to turn black into white with his wit and persuasion . There are plenty of witty lines and dialogue in this movie , played out with some cheese and infused with comedy at the right moments . My favourite moments are those in which Nick teaches his son Joey ( Bright ) how to win arguments , which he's the best at the business at . About the flawed but sounds-so-sexily correct logic which is employed to break down the arguments of another . He has few friends , since anti-smoking lobbyists are a dime a dozen , and counts amongst his circle of trust , the Mod Squad , consisting of fellow spin doctors from the Alcohol and Firearms industry ( Maria Bello and David Koechner respectively ) . Their chill out get together dinner sessions are a hoot to watch , as they go about sharing ideas , spinning techniques , and rant about their collective enemies . If there's a lesson to take away from this picture , it's not to sleep and tell , especially if the reporter has glorious tits , in the mould of Katie Holmes . Bent on exposing the slickest in the business , you thought that Nick would be beaten down with a scandal . But as they say , it's always tough to keep a good man down ! Besides the romantic entanglement , there's a little sub plot about office politics , like having a " leaning mountain " in the form of your boss's boss , and the trouble that will inevitably knock on your door when he's no longer around . Compelling stuff . In a movie which seemed to be pro-tobacco , you'd be surprised that NONE of the characters actually light up on screen ! The closest we got to was from a movie " Sands of Iwo Jima " shown on television , but he got shot when he was distributing ciggies to his mates . How's that for irony ? And I have no idea why the local rating is M18 for sexual references . Sure there was sex , but you can't see a thing , and it got truncated badly anyway . Why can't the censors get straight to the point that it's M18 - Pro-Cigarette movie , which would align with local laws that cigarettes cannot be sold to those under 18 years of age ? One wonders . Then again , as addressed in the movie , I liked the part where there was a commotion over the effectiveness of having horrible pictures of death printed on the cigarette boxes . You must watch and see if you agree with the arguments presented . But the bottom line is , it's all about choice . Everyone , unless you're extremely ignorant , should already be aware of the dangers . If you want to , go ahead . If not , that's fine too . Now where's my cigarette ? ( should I , too , stick an M18 warning or attach some grotesque pictures ? : P ) |
514,615 | 317,399 | 758,794 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : ( DVD ) We Are Marshall ( 2006 ) | It's not your usual movie where the hero / team are put together from a bunch of misfits , and learn about camaraderie and teamwork , before charting their successes from the first game to the championship , which they will inevitably take . That's formula , and easily what you'd come to expect . But here , while there are moments of cliché that are inevitable for movies of such nature , like the dealing with tragedy , and the sports elements , what makes this stand out , is how the events are portrayed with some degree of honoring those who had passed on . McG is not one of the most prolific directors of our time , and I know those who actually cringe at his more recognizable work like the Charlie Angels remake movies . But here , he surprises with very muted direction , without all the unnecessary flashes of flamboyance , and puts together a very effective movie that tells the tale , to the point , and without hints of exaggeration . Come to think of it , there's more exasperating moments here than whoops of jubilance , which seemed more like winning the battle , but not the war . With the tragedy , the board has to decide whether to drop the sport altogether from its sporting calendar , or soldier on . Even with the latter , the question is how to build such a team from scratch , and also to deal with the psychological blows the tragedy had inflicted on surviving members of the squad , which without a doubt , is a big demon to fight , given massive guilt which befall on some of them . Enter head coach Jack Lengyel ( Matthew McConaughey ) , who volunteers for this impossible task . Racing against time , he teams with Red Dawson ( Lost's Matthew Fox ) to recruit for a football team , fighting a recruiting war with other more prominent teams , and to entice those who are engaged in other sports to join them , based on specific qualities for vacant positions . Although we have a number of powerful character actors like David Strathairn and Ian McShane in the movie , McConaughey proved that he's not just another pretty face that should be boxed into romantic movies . His Jack Lengyel is physically crafted with that slightly hunched forward physique as if he's always on the go , and comes through as an effective never - say - die - until - the - final - whistle coach , who refuses to give up in the face of adversity , or to throw in the towel midway . Without pedigree credentials , he goes on to prove that he's the right man for the job , convincing everyone that it's not always about winning , which is blasphemy to any sports team out there . And if you take a step back and ponder , this movie junks that formulaic plot development , just like how Lengyel throws out conventional thought and wisdom out of the window . There's a first time for everything , and he's there to try and change the mindset and philosophy of the game and the townsfolk . I thought he nailed it right of what I thought sports is - which first and foremost is about sportsmanship , participation , and giving your best , no matter what the end result is . That seemed to be the spirit missing amongst those looking for instant success , and his fight is to instill this back again . Success will come to those who work hard and are hungry for it , but for a rookie team with makeshift tactics , the point is to show that they will not buckle , and to rise from the ash like a phoenix , finding strength and to pick up the pieces , providing hope and some measure of cheer to its supporters . His coach is to become counsellor as well , but not to a person or a team , but to an entire university town . We Are Marshall makes recommended viewing , and more so for the qualities it exudes . |
515,165 | 317,399 | 380,389 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Goal ! | G-G-GOAL ! ! ! I'm so pleased that there's finally a decent movie about soccer , a sport which for the longest time , doesn't seem to get movie producers excited to put out on screen . Having FIFA sanction this film means getting some realism injected , and lending to the authenticity of is the English Premier League club Newcastle United , together with a host of real life soccer superstars like Beckham , Zidane and Raul . While the settings and the game results are real , we follow the fictional story of an illegal Mexican immigrant to Los Angeles , Santiago Munez , street footballer extrodinaire . He gets his lucky break when an ex-Newcastle United player turned scout , Glen Foy , chances upon his games , and invites him over to England for trials . For a guy who's struggling to make ends meet , this presents the perfect opportunity to take a stab at his dream . But tension builds as his father disapproves and is skeptical at both the chance as well as his son's gift to make it big . So he leaves his real dad and family behind , to follow in the footsteps of Foy , his surrogate father in England . The highlight of the movie is not the real football games that the actors get seamlessly transplanted onto , but rather the many trials and tribulations that Munez goes through to earn his rightful place in the squad . His disastrous first appearance almost made him take the first plane home , and I'd bet many in the audience thought it would be a breeze actually for him to make it to first team . Thankfully , the focus was on his sheer determination to overcome the lack of niceties towards newcomer rookies like himself , and the difficulties and temptations which fill his 30 days trial that Foy literally begged for . What you read in the papers of the decadent lifestyle of footballers are all in here - the booze , the parties , the clubbing , the women , even video games ( taking a stab at David James maybe ? ) . Munez gets introduced to these by fellow teammate and cocky new German acquisition Gavin Harris , whose partying lifestyle takes a toll on his game , and becomes the Toon Army's boo-boy . It's fantastic how these two characters contrast each other , and help each other along the way . For non-fans of the beautiful game , fear not , you're not gonna be alienated in this movie , as it doesn't sink into technicalities like the dreaded offside rule . You'll enjoy the movie simply because of the strong human drama weaved into the story , as well as the familiarity of easily identifiable themes of hard work , right ethics , living your dreams and fulfilling your aspirations . Newcastle fans however , will rejoice , as the hallowed grounds of St James Park gets put on the silver screen . For fans without the opportunity of visiting their beloved club , they can gawk at the dressing room , the gym , the dugout , the pitch up close , the city neighbourhood , and " mingle " with fellow fanatical Geordies . Club captain Alan Shearer makes appearances too , as do the many other first team players . But the screen version of the club manager looks uncannily modelled after Arsenal's Arsene Wenger . Fans of Fulham , Chelsea and Liverpool can also see their heroes on screen as well . Santiago Munez is played by a relative newcomer , Mexican actor Kuno Becker , who was put on real soccer training to improve his skills and make him look credible and natural with the ball at his feet . At certain angles with his short crop , he looks like Michael Owen , who now is playing for Newcastle ( he wasn't when this movie was filmed ) . I so dig the soundtrack , especially the guitar piece which opened the movie , and track from the trailer which also made its way into the movie - Kasabian's Club Foot , and various pieces by Brit-band Oasis . A pity it's only out in the stores on October 16 ( based on Amazon ) , but I'll be there to pick it up when it hit the shelves . The ending , even though it wrapped up all the pieces nicely , is a bit abrupt , but I guess it would lead directly into the planned sequels of a trilogy , which involve Real Madrid and the World Cup . This is one movie which can spark someone's interest in soccer , and I'd recommend it to both fans and non-fans alike . Don't let this movie dribble past you ! |
514,978 | 317,399 | 268,995 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : The Majestic ( 2001 ) | It's a pity that this film did not make it to the local cinemas for public screening . I recall watching the trailer in a theatre , and was eagerly anticipating it , but it never came . The major reason was that after being convinced that Jim Carrey could do drama ( The Truman Show preceded this ) , I couldn't wait for The Majestic to open its doors . Good thing I managed to get hold of the DVD at library @ Esplanade . And I wasn't disappointed ! Carrey plays Peter Appleton , a Hollywood screenwriter in the 50s who works for HHS Studios . His story has been filmed and is screening at the theatres , the love of the life is an actress casted in the movie , he has one more work in the pipeline , so everything seemed to be going for him . Until he was accused of being a Communist by Congress , and his entire love and work life turns upside down . While on a drunken stupor , Peter meets with an accident , loses his memory and ends up in the small town of Lawson , California . While he can't remember who he was , the entire town seemed to know him , as Luke Trimble , a teen who had served and died for his country in WWII . And many of the young lads of Lawson did . Harry Trimble ( Martin Landau ) couldn't believe his eyes when he sees Peter , thinking of him as his son , and so did everyone else in Lawson . They throw a hero's welcome for Peter / Luke , and celebrate his bringing of new hope to the sleepy town . Skeptical at first was Luke's childhood sweetheart Adele Stanton ( Laurie Holden ) , but it's not before long she casts her doubts aside and falls for Peter / Luke all over again . The charm of a small town is heavily contrasted with that of Hollwood's , with everyone knowing everyone else in the former , to the coldness and business like manner of the latter . Everyone in Lawson experiences positive energy given Peter / Luke's presence , and Harry decides to refurbish and reopen The Majestic , the town's cinema , where he and Luke lives in the apartment above . Perhaps it is this sequence of restoration running in parallel with the rekindling romance between Peter / Luke and Adele that is my favourite in this movie . But like a fairy tale , all good things must come to an end , and Peter / Luke eventually rediscovered who he was when he chanced upon his own movie being screened at The Majestic . Soon enough , his old life catches up to him , and he's left to choose to fight the fight and stand up for what he believes in , or throw in the towel and his integrity along with it . It's kinda interesting to have real events , like WWII and the anti-communist movement in Hollywood frame the background of what essentially is a love story , and a story of discovering oneself . And to that , Carrey did no wrong . While Truman Show had shades of some comedy ( probably as a cushion to the transition ) , The Majestic is all serious drama and romance , and credit to Carrey for successfully pulling it off . While Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind had been my movie of the year 2004 , I seriously think that The Majestic could have been a contender of mine for 2001 . The number of cameo voices in this movie is astounding too , from Matt Damon to Garry Marshall , Sydney Pollack and Rob Reiner too . So do yourself a favour , especially if you're not a Carrey fan . Your impression of him might change after you've seen him in this movie . It's filled with many touching moments in this 2 hr movie , and brings back the splendour of a time where movies were a grand escape from the mundaneness of life . |
515,357 | 317,399 | 829,482 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Superbad | Superbad is Supergood ! Many have been lauding high accolades on this teen comedy to be the best thing since American Pie , and guess what , it's true ! Before you roll your eyes at yet another teenage and / or sex comedy , with desperate nerds hatching diabolical plans to get laid , Superbad comes across as a breath of fresh air really , given that it has a cast of unknowns , thus free of any expectations to deliver , which thankfully it does . What it doesn't have in raunchy sex scenes , it more than makes up for with its trash talking , especially from loud mouthed Seth ( Jonah Hill ) , who has possibly the best lines in the movie , though coming close to a scene stealer is Christopher Mintz-Plasse's Foggell aka McLovin with his uber-nerdish demeanour . Together with Evan ( Michael Cera ) , the trio play best friends who , being nerds , have only one another to hang out with , until they get themselves invited to a party only through providing the false hope that they can deliver the booze . And the trio branches off into two story arcs before converging for the finale , when Seth and Evan left Fogell to fend for himself when the latter goes for the jugular at a booze shop . It's difficult to judge which of the two arcs was funnier , though I'd go for Fogell / McLovin's as it had the inclusion of two zany beat cops played by Bill Hader and Seth Rogen ( from Knocked Up ) , and it has some of the most insane scenes with the antics that these two cops can conjure . Seth and Evan's storyline however centered more on the dramatic aspects of two friends facing the prospect of separation after graduation , and leaned extremely close to homo-eroticism at certain points . But I digress , it did have a definite hilarious scene in a party they gatecrash , which involves , what else , bodily fluids in the most unexpected of manners . But it's not as vulgar as you think it is , save for gratuitous pictures of the penis in all shapes , sizes , forms , with a limit only the imagination can put a finger ( heh ) to . It's akin to oral sex - that is , the extremely rapid fire use of the F-word - with attempts at actual horizontal action constantly doused with cold water . The gems are in the dialogue and in both Jonah Hill's and Christopher Mintz-Plasse's fleshing of their characters . To top it off , it actually had quite a coherent story , and an ending which you can read either way , and it'll still work . Fused with plenty of physical humour , crass dialogue and plenty of rude pictures ( stay while the credits roll ) , Superbad will definitely bring out the guffaws , one way or another . Oh , and watch out for that super-retro opening credits too ! |
515,476 | 317,399 | 424,095 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Flushed Away | Hugh Jackman is everywhere these days , from reprising his iconic Wolverine role in summer blockbuster X3 , to starring twice alongside Scarlett Johansson in Woody Allen's Scoop and Christopher Nolan's The Prestige , and now , just lending his voice to a lead character in the animated film Flushed Away , co-starring his summer blockbuster star Sir Ian McKellen . Soon to come will be Darren Aronofsky's The Fountain . Whew ! There seems to be no stopping this Hollywood flavour of the month ! Despite this animated movie being yet another one of many based on talking animals , Flushed Away doesn't try too hard to be funny by steamrolling pop culture into the story . It just is funny with its deft touches , be it dialogue , slapstick , or various sight gags . Although it's set primarily in the sewers , it's beautiful chaos , with loads of little details all over that you'll probably need to watch it twice over to appreciate all the effort put in to create the computerized graphical sets . At first glance , you might think you're watching a Wallace and Gromit animated show . Yes , this is produced by the same studio , Aardman Animations , in association with Dreamworks , and it is no wonder that the animation , although computer generated , maintained a very clay like look and feel , as well as character designs bearing similar resemblance in style to W & G . The story is simple enough , yet adequately satisfying by the time the end credits roll . As the trailer suggested , Aristocratic rat pet Roddy from Kensington ( Hugh Jackman ) thought he just had the whole classy apartment to himself , when an unexpected guest Sid ( Shane Richie ) from the sewers gatecrashes into his abode , and ejects him through the " jacuzzi " . All these in less than 10 minutes . So begins a mad journey in an unknown sewer world which replicated the modern London City above it with junk , where he has to figure out friend from foe , and find his way back to where he belongs . The themes of family and friends do not come on too strongly , instead the story preferred to let the character interactions bring forth the messages . Supporting or interfering in his quest are characters like Rita ( Kate Winslet ) , The Toad ( Ian McKellen ) , French Le Frog ( Jean Reno ) , and rat minions Whitey ( Bill Nighy ) and Spike ( Andy Serkis ) . It's quite commendable that in its less than 90 minutes runtime , it allowed for quite a bit of set action pieces to develop , along with almost laugh-a-minute lines of dialogue , a good mix of songs ( Hugh sings ! ) and ooh , a diabolical plot . But what perhaps is the show stealer , are the sewer slugs . Ever popping up and performing at the right time , I'm sure they are crowd favourites despite their less than pleasant looking exterior . I wonder if they do sell the soft toy version , as it should be quite hilarious . If too many animated flicks left this year has left you jaded with the genre , Flushed Away just flushes away the competition . Worth checking out on the big screen ! |
515,138 | 317,399 | 371,246 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Spanglish | I admire filmmakers who manage to explore powerful relationships and character development in a tight two hours , and Spanglish falls into this category perfectly . As the name goes , " Spanglish " is a combination of two words - Spanish and English , and is one of the major themes covered in this film , which is the clash of cultures , and the fear of dilution of cultural values . Paz Vega plays Mexican ( illegal ) immigrant housekeeper Flor , to an All American family , Mr and Mrs Clasky , played by Adam Sandler and Tea Leoni . They have 2 children Bernice and Georgie , and live with Tea's mother in a rich suburb . All seems well at first , but cracks start to appear as the story develops , as Paz discovers during the course of her work . The father is self deprecating as he is easy going , the mother is neurotic most times and imposes her wishes on the children ( especially the chubby daughter , whom she thinks must lose weight ) , the daughter upset with her mum for that expectation of her , a son who sings his grandmother's jazz oldies , and an alcoholic grandmother . A large part of the narrative takes place during the summer home , with major character development and relationships take over as the center-stage in this film . It is natural that the interactions between the characters develop from what it was in the beginning , to what it is at the end . Some turn for the better , while others just couldn't be . The importance of family and family values are explored . I will attempt to dissect the major relationships : John and Deborah Clasky : As husband and wife , it seems that their relationship isn't that good to begin with . With his easy going nature , John tends to give in to Deborah on a lot of things . Deborah expects her husband to not be the " good guy " to the kids , but to be in agreement with her on issues she deems as important and in her opinion , correct for the kids . Their relationship gets put to the test when one of the commits adultery , while the other is unwittingly being tempted into his own . John and Flor : As employer employee , they develop mutual respect for one another when they realize that they share similar values . To communicate with John , she takes up self-study English lessons , and their friendship progressed to mutual liking . They share the same parental anxiety and have frequent honest conversation expressing their thoughts . However , they develop feelings for each other , and find difficulty on where to draw the line between their ever increasing desire to be close . When the line is crossed , do you call it quits because it's the correct thing to do ? The last 30 minutes of the film is tinged with sweetness from this blossoming romance which couldn't develop further by virtue of principles . You are left wondering , what if ? Deborah and Cristina , Flor's daughter : When Deborah entices and unwittingly seduces Cristina into the all American lifestyle , so much so as even lying to her mum . Deborah is taken to Cristina because she is what her daughter could probably never be - smart , thin and beautiful . Cristina , on the other hand , enjoys Deboarh's company and attention because , hey , it's the American Dream , no ? Flor and Cristina : The movie is narrated by Cristina , from the time when she was little and her father walks out of the home , the hardships that mother and daughter endured through their journey to the USA , and her understanding of her mother's hardship with work to bring her up singlehandedly . Flor is understandably protective of her daughter's wellbeing , and especially in teacher her correct values and her heritage . She becomes jealous when Deborah , in her eyes , start to become more important to her daughter , and sometimes envious of the material wealth that Deborah showers on Cristina that Flor can never ever provide for . Flor fears that her child will be " hijacked " by Deborah . Deborah and her daughter Bernice : Her daughter at times resents the attention that her mum is giving Cristina , as she knows that she could never be thin as expected by mum . She has fears comparisons . Bernice and Flor : Flor starts off as work being strictly work , and no intervention into the family affairs . But she felt compelled to help when Bernice feels upset when Deborah subconsciously puts her down , most of the time subtle digs at her weight . Flor becomes Bernice's confidante in that sense , and John points out to her the hypocritical ways in which she disallows Deborah to treat her own daughter Cristina in similar ways . That scene between John , Flor and Cristina is comedic at times , but powerful nonetheless . Other relationships too long for this review to cover , and also they are quite minor , but at the end of the show , most relationships stay intact because blood runs thicker than water . The main casts excelled in their performance , but I like to single out Adam Sandler . He has demonstrated that he is capable and comfortable doing drama , instead of the madcap comedic characters we associate him with . I hope he does films of different genres to highlight his capability as a serious actor . Also catching my attention in a cameo is Sideways ' Thomas Haden Church . This is a touching drama with an ending that some might deem as heart-wrenching , but I highly recommend this film . |
514,950 | 317,399 | 230,591 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : ( DVD ) One Day in September ( 1999 ) | With the word and controversy out on Steven Spielberg's Munich , instead of settling for a Hollywood drama of the terrorist event that faithful day of the Olympics , you might want to learn more from this Oscar winning documentary . This documentary uses real footage throughout , with archived news reels , pictures , photos ( of the dead , shot , burnt , otherwise ) , and interviews with family members . But their real coup would be to have interviewed the one and only surviving terrorist who partook in the horror against the spirit of the Olympics . It also provides those born after 1972 , or too young to remember , a look at the events surrounding that day - from the Olympic organizers who are too arrogant to suspend the games , the indifference of the athletes in the Olympic Village , the lack of adequate security ( as compared to today ) , to the politics behind the entire affairs . Perhaps what will rile you are the West German's botched attempt to rescue the hostages . They were surprisingly ill-prepared , deploying untrained teams , lack of proper equipment , and had to recall countless of attempts , before the final embarrassment at the airport , which exposed their severe weakness at handling terrorist incidents . All the hostages were killed in the confrontation , when the terrorists threw hand grenades and emptied bullets into the helicopters they were in . It's only after this that the Germans formed their anti-terror squad , the GSG9 ( Counter-strike players will be familiar with this term ) . To make matters worse , there was a cover up and collusion between the Germans and the terrorists when the latter apparently hijacked a Lufthansa flight ( with only 12 passengers on board , and no women and children ) , and the former handed over the 3 surviving terrorists of the Munich incident in exchange for safe passage of the flight . Which is where Spielberg's movie comes in , following squads of Mossad agents hunting down and assassinating those 3 ( 1 managed to survive countless attempts on his life ) , together with others who are implicated or involved in the planning of the Munich operation . This documentary provides an excellent and compelling background , preparing you for the Munich movie coming soon . Watch this . Code 1 DVD features a relatively barebones version , containing the usual scene selections , subtitles and bonus trailers . But the documentary itself is worth it . |
514,609 | 317,399 | 388,795 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Brokeback Mountain | Here's my challenge : Watch Casanova and Jarhead ( both now showing in local theaters ) before watching Brokeback Mountain , to appreciate and to keep fresh in your mind , the acting range of both Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal . One plays a king of lovemaking , while the other plays an army grunt , in which both are alpha-males roles . Then when you watch Brokeback Mountain , you'll probably be wide-eyed at how these two have a go at each other . Based upon the 1997 short story by Edna Anne Proulx , you must have your head stuck in mud if you're not aware this movie is about two cowboy shepherds who share a relationship up in the mountains of Brokeback . Set in 1963 , we see Ennis Del Mar ( Ledger ) and Jack Twist ( Gyllenhaal ) team up in their job to shepherd sheep to graze , and having strict orders to be separate most times to take care of their flock . But being together alone in the mountains , sharing their lives with each other , brings them too close , and soon , they share a forbidden illicit relationship ( hey , they're supposed to be macho cowboys , and it's the 60s of free love and Vietnam looming ) that transcends the usual boundaries of male bonding . It's like a summer love , and after an hour into the film , we explore how this love affect them as they try to ease themselves back to normalcy . Except that things are never going to be normal anymore . While they establish families - Del Mar with his be-throed Alma ( Michelle Williams ) , and Twist with rich Lureen Newsome ( Anne Hathaway in another role which she shows off her assets ) , they cannot forget their throes of passion they had sparked back in summer of 63 . Before long , they get together again to reignite their passion for each other and continue over a period of 20 years . One thing's for sure , the story will still play out decently if you substitute gay love with heterosexual roles , like the countless of movies on cheating spouses , but there'll be a very distinct lack of punch . You'll notice that the male couples share similar trials and tribulations of any relationship - the love , passion , how much one party is willing to give the other , and how much the other will reciprocate , and unfulfilled dreams . What gives this movie the edge is how the characters are compelled to look for each other for solace , and the deceit and lies they have to go through in order to be together . It's a movie that's paced slowly , but gives opportunity for the audience to admire the postcard perfect ( CGI-enhanced ) landscape of the mountains and plains , to study the expressions of the characters , to listen and ponder upon the dialog . Lee Ang had made Chinese Wu-Xia movies sexy , and it's no wonder that he has also managed to add a touch of sensuality that permeates throughout Brokeback . The hauntingly beautiful soundtrack helps too in keeping the mood and emotions in check , serving to add to the narrative in periods of silenced dialog . Perhaps something which I thought was pretty neat , was the idea brought forward from Kinsey , that there is a degree of homosexuality in all of us , and it depends on how gay you are , or have the courage , to come out of the closet . What's interesting is when you think about whether the notion of gayness stems from nature , or nurture . If you'd seen the movie , you'll know what I'm talking about , and how passion can consume someone , that it takes over all sensibility , and about the propensity of risk you're willing to take . Heath Ledger had a pretty busy 2005 , with diverse roles in Brothers Grimm , Lords of Dogtown , Casanova and this . I've seen all of them , and while I disliked Grimm , I thought his roles in 2005 should be credited with an Oscar win for this . Jake Gyllenhaal too plays Twist with a touch of machoness , and yet is able to slip back into needy whining gentleness with a flick of a switch . Michelle Williams ' role , while small , is accentuated by the particular one scene in which she discover the truth . It is powerful - nothing much said , but everything said through the eyes . Perhaps the weakness link is Hathaway with her megawatt smile and bimbotic blonde looks , as the clueless wife of Twist caught in between some major family squabbles . Homophobes will probably give this movie a miss , but to generally brand this as a gay movie will be missing the point . I'd recommend it to everyone I know to watch this with an open mind . It's an out-and-out dramatic story on relationships , and it's classic storytelling at its best , with excellent acting and strong direction , cinematography , heck , this movie deserves its 8 Academy nominations , so let's see it take home some honors ( I'm not sticking my neck out just yet , until I watch all the other contenders ) . P . S . Yes , this movie is shown here uncut . If you're not celebrating this movie , at least celebrate the fact that we can get to watch it here as it is intended to be . |
514,573 | 317,399 | 969,269 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Mad Detective | Mad Detective had been touted as the long awaited re-team of Johnny To and Wai Ka Fai , who together have made Running on Karma back in 2003 . The return of Lau Ching Wan to a To-Wai movie ( since My Left Eye Sees Ghosts ) is also more than welcome , and Mad Detective to me lived up to its hype , despite having certain obvious recycled elements from To's earlier films . But this doesn't mean that the movie felt familiar . Sure , the iconic elements of a To movie were all there , including the saga of the missing police handgun , and the oh-so-stylish Mexican stand-offs ( that we've seen in recent To movies in Exiled and Triangle ) and the inevitable resolution , though how this one panned out , deserves the loudest of applause for its edge - of - your - seat - who - comes - out - unscathed revelation . And the end result is both satisfying , for a movie that had engaged through all its minutes , and yet frustrating , though the good thing was that there isn't any cop-out edits just to satisfy censors or sooth faux morals . Mad Detective tells the story of Bun ( Lau ) , who is termed as the title says because of his extremely unorthodox methods to solve crime - he re-enacts them at the very venues they are committed , getting into the minds of the criminals , and through this manner , able to identify who the perpetrator is . Needless to say his crime solving rate is high and he beocomes a legend , until a crazed moment saw him cut off his right ear to present to a departing boss , and with that , an early discharge letter from the Force . The story fast forwards 5 years later , with detective Ho ( Andy On ) investigating a case of a missing cop and his gun , which was found to be used in a series of armed robberies . While suspicion is strong on the partner Chi-wai ( Lam Ka Tung ) , there is absolutely no shred of evidence linking him to the crime . In his desperation , Ho turns to Bun , very much against protocol , and enlists his help in solving the case . That's basically it , as we see in more detail what Bun's abilities are in depth . He's part profiler , part sage , and to many , all insanity with his constant talking to himself , and banged up attire sans socks . What I thought made it a close to perfect thriller , was that it constantly kept you guessing whether Bun is indeed what the title is , if it had taken a leaf out of Oxide Pang's creation of the Detective with some supernatural moments , of if it was solely a disorder of the mind . If it shows you compelling evidence that you deem is a smoking gun , in no time are you presented with doubts that will cloud your judgement . You're given a glimpse of how the method in the madness works , and more often than not , find yourself second-guessing all the time , just like how Ho does . And to that effect , I would warrant a guess that some in the audience will be left perplexed and confused , but my advice is not to give up on it . There are many wonderful moments especially when Bun's ability is fleshed out for the audience to see , and as such provided plenty of cameo appearances like Lam Suet and Cheung Siu Fai , playing personalities that were personifications of an inner man's thoughts , desires and fears . A pity though that not all personalities shown were provided screen time to do something more . A cautionary tale too about not judging a book by its cover , as even uncanny abilities to read a person might not be able to sniff out something that's regressive and well concealed , the true intentions of anyone . Lau Ching Wan took a long hiatus before returning to the big screens here ( since The Shopaholics , and the lovely My Name is Fame only made it straight to disc ) , and this comeback is nothing short of majestic in having him in his element , doing almost a one - man show if you will . You laugh at his antics , cry at his predicament in being so dogged in his persistence , admire his unorthodox methods and philosophy approaching investigations ( to use emotions ) , yet cry along in pity when you suspect he's slowly degenerating into madness . Lau has charisma enough to make you empathize with his Bun , into a character you root for , despite his obvious difference . Andy On holds his own as the greenhorn investigator well enough in scenes opposite Lau , while Lam Ka Tung is just plain menacing as the accused , expressing his frustration in being the prime suspect , being both the cat and the mouse in the hunt for the truth . What I admire about the movie , is how a simple idea can be branched into something complex , but yet within grasp , so hats off to the writing-directing team of To and Wai Ka Fai . In essence , this is a story that is told with its cards close to its chest , providing great balance in letting the multiple cats out of the bag at the right time . Simply superb ! |
514,969 | 317,399 | 245,844 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : The Count of Monte Cristo | Alexandre Dumas is probably more famous for his The Three Muskateers , and in the last decade , that movie has been remade in its latest incantation starring Charlie Sheen , Oliver Platt and Kiefer Sutherland in the title roles , with Chris O'Donnell as D'artagnan . Hollywood followed that up with The Man in the Iron Mask , with strong character actors like Jeremy Irons , Gabriel Byrne , John Malkovich , Gerard Depardieu flanking Leonardo DiCaprio as King Louis XIV / Philippe . Adapting from yet another Dumas story , The Count of Monte Cristo continues the tradition of a strong cast in the likes of Jim Caviezel and Guy Pearce in lead roles , with Michael Wincott and Richard Harris in bit roles . Set in the era of Napoleon's exile from France , this movie tells the story of good friends Edmond Dantes ( Caviezel ) and Fernand Mondego ( Pearce ) . The former is an ordinary lad with no status and of simple mind , but has incredible luck shining upon him , while the latter is the son of a Count , and harbours a great envy for his friend . And the worst enemy would always be your best friend , so the saying goes , as Mondego plots with fellow collaborators and frames Dantes for treason , and gets him imprisoned on an island , and makes Dantes ' fiancé his wife . For 13 years , Dantes becomes disillusion while whipped on the anniversary of his imprisonment ( yes , even before his Passion of the Christ role ) , but chance would have that he befriends a fellow prisoner , a priest who teaches him how to read , write , fight , fence , and various subjects of the world , for the return favour of helping him dig a tunnel to escape . A miraculous escape opportunity presented itself , and the priest reveals to Dante the map of secret treasure on the island of Monte Cristo . Naturally , everything has changed since the last he stepped foot on Marseille , and Dantes plots revenge , to take away everything from his enemies , like what they did to him . Hence , the Count of Monte Cristo is born , and so begins the meticulous execution of his plan . Weaved into the plot is the love story between Dantes and Mercedes ( Dagmara Dominczyk ) , with a now familiar revelation that countless other movies and books have adapted from . If you've read Dumas ' classic , you would already know the details of the plot . But what delivers here is the excellent acting , and beautiful sets . Definitely a must watch . My only regret was not being able to watch it in the local theatres when it was released , because of its short run . A real pity . Code 1 DVD Extras : Audio commentary by the director , 4 deleted scenes , and plenty of making-of featurettes . |
514,419 | 317,399 | 432,348 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Saw II | I'm such a fan of the original - I like blood and gore , and Saw had one of the more intriguing and sick stories around , which saw the introduction of an original villain in recent memory , Jigsaw . What worked in the first film was the strange premise of 2 seemingly unrelated characters being put in a life and death situation , forced to compromise or die together . Also , the twist at the end was oh-so-nicely done , that it just begs for a sequel to be made . But I was initially skeptical at how a sequel could top the original Saw . Sure , Jigsaw returns , but are we expecting more of his sick games to beef up the sequel , leading it predictably to more of the same ? Surprisingly , it doesn't . Now , you have a group of 8 persons stuck in an unknown booby-trapped building in which they have to escape from . Needless to say , Jigsaw has the entire plan rigged right from the beginning , except that the audience and the players don't know how , or why . It's reasonable to say that you'll be expecting characters to die one-by-one , in bloody manner ( so promised the tagline ) befitting the original . While Jigsaw was mostly heard and not seen in the first movie , here , he's seen and heard in full glory . Donnie Wahlberg plays detective Eric Matthews , who leads his partner Kerry ( Dina Meyer ) and a group of SWAT to take down Jigsaw . Playing a psychological game with Eric , Jigsaw taunts him while explaining to the audience a little bit of his own background , which tied to elements from Saw . Fans of the original will squeal with delight when these tiebacks , settings and even a character make an appearance in the sequel . It links the two movies together very nicely , and I wonder why the local distributors didn't have a back to back screening this time , like what they did for Kill Bill . Alas , the version shown here , despite its NC-16 rating , is a watered down version . Obtaining a decent box office returns would have ruled out the M18 or R21 cut . However , don't let this minor nitty gritty spoil your fun . At times , this movie hums along and you find predictable elements ( at least I thought it was under threat of becoming a so-so mediocre sequel ) , but the last 10 minutes will leave you at the edge of your seat , and deliver when you least expected it , applying a signature that says " Yes , this is a Saw movie " . Another sequel , if there is any , will be in my list of must-watch . |
514,763 | 317,399 | 1,173,568 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Slam | I guess in movies with sports themes , it is never really much about the goal and the destination , but rather the journey the characters take in finding strengths amongst themselves , shore up weaknesses and collectively present and mount a challenge , that makes it compelling viewing . And it's little surprise that Slam fits into this mould and what resulted is a thoroughly enjoyable film on schoolyard pride , camaraderie and 3 on 3 basketball . It is almost a no brainer to want to compare Slam with the other recent basketball movie effort from Asia , Kung Fu Dunk . While the target audience might be different with the latter appealing more to fans of Jay Chou , Slam has a more universal appeal and easily identifiable themes that don't pretend to be anything more than they are . There are many aspects in Slam that makes it a far more superior basketball / sports themed movie , and I'd probably incur the wrath of many fans if I were to state that the music here by Machi Entertainment outscores Jay Chou's rap on tofu ( Swordsman Chou by the way ) from the 3 point line ( check out " Nothing is Impossible " to keep that adrenaline pumping , from the official website ) . The relationships between the characters here also felt more down to earth , probably without the " star appeal " factor to take the attention away from the collective , with the relatively new protagonists given almost equal opportunity in a sport that emphasizes on teamwork , rather than the sole fixation in executing a particular move in the various permutations possible . In that respect , the moves here were sans Kung Fu and wire work stunts , keeping it very much grounded to reality , and of course , believable , while at the same time , entertaining with nifty executions . However , those who cannot tolerate MTV-styled quick edits might find something to gripe about here , but I thought those hand-held shots employed fit the premise of the game , not the standard court games that you watch on television , but the quicker in pace 3 on 3 street game , giving it a feeling of raw energy somehow , especially coming from a team of youthful exuberance . At its core , Slam contains a simple losers versus bullies storyline , and one between the haves and the have-nots . Mouth ( Lin Xiao Fan ) is your typical introverted kid who's having major troubles with his non performance in his schoolwork , while nursing a high school crush on the prettiest ( and smartest too ) girl in school Xiao Xiao ( Zhao Wenqi ) . But his passion for the basketball game sees him train by walking around with weights attached to his legs , and shooting hoops with good friend Monkey ( Zhang Yi Shan ) , whose cousin Jason ( Andrew Chou aka Machi Di Di from the Taiwanese hip hop group Machi ) completes the trio . And as you may have it , the one-dimensional bullies , led by Li Wei ( Wang Wei ) of " The Hawks " , take every opportunity to stir trouble with our motley gang , inside and out of the basketball court . Sound quite familiar ? Yes it does , and in any self-respecting sports movie , there's a well made training montage to inspirational , beat-pumping music too . But what shines here are the earnest portrayals , and not for one minute I felt that the actors were trying too hard to act their roles , but were quite natural in fleshing out their respective characters , so much so that they endear and are likable enough for you to root for them all the way , and not only when the time came for it , like the big games . Needless to say with teenagers in the brew , parents too come into the picture , and there were some subtle reminders on developing the potential of a child , and that need not necessarily come from books alone . And furthermore , to do so by teaching them to combat self-doubt . Succinctly put , Slam is a simple to follow story with excellent delivery that worked remarkably . It took a while for the main action to come to the foreground , but when it did , for casual / non-basketball players like myself , you'll probably find yourself wide-eyed at the level of energy exuded , and wanting to shoot some hoops with friends too , replicating the moves being an optional . Should Goal be used as an epitome of a good football movie , then Slam will be in my list as one for a good street basketball film . Highly recommended ! |
514,449 | 317,399 | 985,699 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Valkyrie | Since it's based on a true event , unless you have your head buried in the sand , you'll know the outcome , or at least the end result , of Operation Valkyrie , an ambitious plan put into the hands of Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg ( Tom Cruise ) together with his entourage of high ranking officers and political officials in a coup-de-tat to bring down the Fuhrer , disrupt his chain of command , and assume control of Berlin , thanks to quite a contingency strategy that Hitler had . If it had been successful , history would turn out rather different , but we are where we are now . So what makes it still a compelling story to sit through ? The pace at which Bryan Singer puts this film through that's what , at breakneck speed rarely slowing down to take a breather . And that's quite the winning formula actually , keeping things tight and moving with clockwork military precision . For those who may want to take this as a loose reference for research into unsuccessful attempts at Adolf Hitler's life ( this one being the last before the Allies came knocking ) , it compacted in two hours the entire recruitment to execution stage , where treason is the order of the day , not knowing who to trust , and to what degree . As explained , with any military operation , nothing goes according to plan . Recruiting is a dangerous exercise , because in a regime where everyone swears an oath of loyalty to one person , it perhaps provided the magical formula on defining loyalties , which is strangely curious yet effective . Decisions on who to believe and who to side , especially when facts become muddled and with the lack of information , it left many wondering and questioning their personal beliefs , whether to stick to the status quo , or jump on the bandwagon in the hopes of effecting change , while putting your neck on the chopping block . Providence too played a huge role in the film , with changing of key locations and the ease with which certain key elements of the plan get arranged and completed . However , any plans which involve large underground group members each having their own say , or if pass the point of no return they waiver and are not resolute in seeing things through , it puts everything up for grabs . Improvisation without hesitation in execution , especially without thorough , objective and robust planning devoid of emotion , becomes an Achilles heel , with wanting to strike fast an overbearing condition in the plan proving to add complexity for everyone . As with the adage of too many cooks spoiling the broth , plans that rely on inch perfect precision execution , given too many variables on the table , are formulas for disaster . And what's this about the accent you say ? Kate Winslet did a German-accented character to perfection in The Reader , and hence the awards she garnered for that . Bryan Singer may have opted for the cast to not need to put on a fake front ( given after all quite a method employed to transition from German to common English ) , and I felt that given the strong performances all round , it was whether to invest the time to instill that kind of discipline to speak with an accent , which may result in only marginal incremental in authenticity , or choose to forgo it since it's not going to drastically affect the narrative . So accent or not , it's a small issue really . The cast is a mouth watering one , which could also account for the appeal I suppose . Tom Cruise leads the ensemble cast , even if I found his physical defect of the lack of a hand and missing fingers somewhat distracting , because I always tend to stare at it , in wicked anticipation that the sleeve was cut too short , or if the CG guys left a tell-tale mark . And as mentioned , the cast is nothing but spectacular on paper - Bill Nighy , Tom Wilkinson , Terence Stamp ( who seems to be in almost every supporting role these days ) , Eddie Izzard , Jamie Parker who played excellently the loyal Lieutenant under Cruise's von Stauffenberg , and with what I deem as cameos by Kenneth Branagh , as well as the grossly underused Carice van Houten who was also in another WWII-set film in Paul Verhoeven's Black Book . I suppose fans of Downfall would probably be interested to take a look at a key even that took place within Hitler's chain of command , that likely had sowed additional seeds of suspicion to the dictator leading to the final days of WWII . Save for the initial one-sided battle at the African front in the first few minutes of the film , the rest became a battle of the minds and resolve of its participants in a fierce power struggle . Definitely recommended for WWII buffs . |
515,177 | 317,399 | 768,114 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : After This Our Exile | This film needs no introduction . The latest work from director-writer Patrick Tam , After This Our Exile took home honours from the recent 2006 Golden Horse Awards for Best Actor , Best Supporting Actor , and Best PIcture , and after watching it today , it's no surprise why it did . As mentioned in one of my recent reviews , the storyline of a movie is important , nevermind if the technicalities are great , because if the story doesn't engage , then it's a battle lost , in my opinion anyway . In After This Our Exile , the story is extremely simple , but it resonates deeply , and also because it deals with something very personal , very close , and perhaps , family ties always cut closer to home . After all , the Chinese title is Fu Zi , literally translated as Father-Son , which is quite unsophisticated if compared to the English title . If you raised an eyebrow in Aaron Kwok's win for his acting in Divergence and thought he probably didn't deserve it , then his role as Sheng will win you over and justify his back to back win at the Golden Horse Awards . I'm sold . Gone are those teeny-bopper bad hair days and repetitive dance moves . Now , with maturity , he adds a certain gravitas to his roles , and kudos too to his willingness to take on unsavoury characters , instead of playing hero all the time . His dad is the perennial terror , one who blows hot and cold in a whim , full of false bravado , and never hesitant to raise a hand against spouse and kid . Uneducated , loud , uncouth , and worse , a habitual gambler , life for his family is difficult , both in material and emotional wealth . Yes , Kwok pulled off this character with aplomb , with subtle nuances , gestures , mannerisms and attitude all spot on , bringing to life a character you'll so love to hate , yet sympathize with at the same time . And since the " Fu " played opposite the " Zi " , and having both of actors pull off their father son relationship so convincingly , with great on screen chemistry , it's no wonder too that 9 year old Gouw Ian Iskandar took home the Best Supporting Actor award as the Son . His childlike innocence will probably bowl you over with earnestness , as he holds his own opposite Kwok and screen mother played by Charlie Young . He doesn't come off as irritating , and is so much likable and vulnerable in character that you just want to give him a hug . Intuitive and smart , you'd come to love and pity his character very early in the story . Charlie Young only had half as much to do as the other two leads , and without makeup , she manages to bring out that average every day weary look of a tired mother and wife who had enough . And herein , the conflict begins , from the beginning of the film . Other supporting cast include Valen Hsu and Kelly Lin , are kept to a minimum , thereby keeping the focus squarely on the principal cast . As I mentioned earlier , After This Our Exile tells a simple tale with deep themes , and is able to draw out emotions from within you as it resonates . In what could be problems that households face when there's a gambler in the home , the movie sets to show these issues from the onset , with the breaking down of family ties and values , and the debt causing financial strain on the family . I guess opposition to our Integrated Resorts would see their arguments fleshed out here . In what could be an oversimplification of the issue , gamblers = debts = strain in family relations , it is this domestic disturbance that ring out vividly . Broadly it can be categorized into two acts ( no , I won't say anything more ) , but each act focuses on different aspects on the family relationship and dynamics . Toward the end , everything comes full circle , with the son experiencing exactly what the mom has gone through , and it makes the movie extremely poignant . It emphasizes the widely held notion that in domestic squabbles , it's always the children who suffer the fate of the consequences . Brilliant cinematography and awesome musical pieces complemented the movie well , with plenty of nice piano pieces punctuating emotional moments . The pacing , though slow , is well measured , and Ipoh never looked more beautiful , becoming a character in itself rather than just another locale to shoot the film in . Attention to details are not spared , and the production brings about Malaysian flavour to it too . Some though I predict , may not enjoy the open end that director Patrick Tam chose to finish it with , but it will allow for post viewing discussion , loads of it . My only gripe , as I just found out , is that the theatrical version now showing in theatres , is the watered down one . The director's cut , clocking in at almost 2 . 5 hours , get whittled down to 2 hours here , leaving certain scenes on the cutting room floor which were glimpsed at through a series of very quick flashback montage . I thought the film could have gone on and showed us more footage , especially on the father-son bonding ( hinted from production stills ) , which I thought would have added a better level of the understanding about the dynamics of the Fu-Zi relationship . The second movie this year which used the You Are My Sunshine song ( the other is the Korean movie ) , After This Our Exile makes its way easily into my shortlist of favourite movies of 2006 . You are my sunshine , making me happy when skies are grey . You never know how much I love you . |
515,428 | 317,399 | 796,368 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Talk to Me | Don Cheadle's star is probably burning a little bit brighter now since the blockbuster hit of this summer's Iron Man had announced that he will take over Terrence Howard's role as Jim Rhodes given the latter being unable to agree on contractual terms with the studios . While Cheadle might be more familiar to audiences here as one of Ocean's 11 to 13 , it was in Hotel Rwanda that made me sit up and take notice , playing a man caught in a genocide , having to protect his family , his friends , and his job all at once . In Talk To Me , Cheadle disappears into the role of real life Washington DC's finest on the radio , Petey Greene , who tells it like it is , without mincing his words , and in doing so , garners a huge following in the city , with this film directed by Kasi Lemmons spanning the 60s to the 80s . Cheadle gives a solid performance as the DJ , an ex-convict whose common man background strikes a chord with his listeners , and this film chronicles his rise to stardom and eventual fade out from the limelight . Sharing the limelight is Chiwetel Ejiofor as partner Dewey Hughes ( quite hard to imagine that Ejiofor was once Lola in Kinky Boots ) , credited for giving Petey his big break into radio outside of the prison walls because of his needing a fresh voice and perspective to be at the helm of his radio station's morning show , which is suffering from plummeting listenership . And as they say , the rest is history . The bulk of the film centers on the friendship between these two personalities , with Hughes at the mid point , in seeing the potential to be milked from Greene to ascend far beyond the airwaves , convincing Greene to allow him to manage his career , therefore bringing about new opportunities from stage to screen . Set against the tumultuous backdrop of that era's US history , the primary theme in the movie though , was on something that you'd probably be able to identify with yourself . It is important to do things that you enjoy doing , rather than be forced to do something that you're unwilling , or unhappy about , despite reaping the rewards gained , be it for fame or money . As the movie goes along and as Greene's fame gets more widespread , there is something in his eye and response that he's not all too comfortable in being put under the spotlight all the time , and Cheadle brings out this subtleness with great excellence . I think some of us from time to time might have experienced how while you're good at something and are comfortable to remain in your own turf , that others who recognize your talent , might want to push you out of your comfort zone . If you think of it positively , it's opportunity to be gained , especially when you swim . If you sink however , then your confidence might be taken a hit , and it depends on your strength in character to be able to bounce back from defeat . Fans of soul music will have plenty to cheer as the soundtrack is nothing short of amazing given that it's set in a radio station for the most part . Wonderful performances all round and having a compelling story to tell , Talk To Me certainly is one of the gems this year that shouldn't be missed . |
515,577 | 317,399 | 401,997 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Breach | Breach is directed by Billy Ray , who also wrote Flightplan and directed his only other movie , Shattered Glass , also based on real events . Based on the true story of the greatest security breach in US History , it traces the events leading to the arrest of decorated and respected FBI agent Robert Hanssen , who is one heck of a mole within the organization , committing treason of the highest order by betraying the country and selling secrets to the Soviet Union . FBI newbie Eric O'Neill ( Ryan Philippe ) gets assigned as an undercover within his own organization , in order to bring down what could possibly be the most difficult inside man to nab , because of his numerous years of field experience , and expertise . Robert Hanssen ( Chris Cooper ) on the surface appears to be stoic , no nonsense , and a God fearing man , but underneath the facade lies something more sinister , and Eric is assigned to obtain proof and evidence in order to charge Hanssen , rather than based on the evidence already gathered which would only garner him a few years imprisonment . It's spy versus spy , mole infiltration and family misunderstandings revisited again , as Eric has to deal with convincing his boss Hanssen that he is trustworthy , and to maintain that trustworthiness with his wife , who has absolutely no idea how sensitive her husband's involvement in the investigations is , and therefore a sore point conflicting with his mission . For those into spy thrillers , you'll need some patience as the movie takes its time to set up the kill . However , it's a pleasure just watching it develop every step of the way , despite knowing its outcome , and that there is no big bang exaggerated set action piece . It's an intellectual mindfield for Eric to tread , on one hand feeling extremely beholden and admiring Hanssen , yet on the other , having to snoop everything and report back to his bosses , for that hazy " for the good of everyone " mission objective . Chris Cooper gave a superb performance as the charismatic Robert Hanssen , while fielding deep dark undertones within his character . I liked the front bit where he mentors his " clerk " Eric , with full ego and cockiness of a veteran , explaining the bit about turf protection , office politics within the Bureau and inter-agency rivalry . Ryan Philippe managed to hold his own against Cooper , and was believable as the man tasked to bring down a veteran - you can feel his adrenaline rush when assigned the mission , yet sympathize with his apprehensions each step of the way . Laura Linney unfortunately played only a bit role as the direct supervisor for Eric's mission , and provided at times some light hearted moments as she exasperates over Eric's many decisions and pointed questions . There's a degree of added authenticity with the real Eric O'Neill serving as special consultant to the movie . So if spy thrillers are your cup of tea , then Breach will definitely not disappoint . Make time for this ! |
514,756 | 317,399 | 1,125,849 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : The Wrestler | All the world's a stage , and all the men and women merely players . For one who lived his known life on the stage , or in this case , the ring , providing mass sporting entertainment to thousands live and through video re-runs , being at the pinnacle of his sport , rigged and staged or perhaps otherwise , nothing would be a fate more worse off , than to be fading into obscurity . For one so used to attention , love and accolades showered , to be cheered and encouraged , to be handing out high-fives , autographs and pose for photographs , it takes a lot to readjust life back to normalcy , if at all . Such is the fickleness of fame . The Wrestler is deceptively simple , about one man's struggle to repair himself after every bout , who cannot connect back to the real world of disappointments . Being aged , injuries don't seem to shake off easily , and outside of the ring , Randy " The Ram " Robinson ( Mickey Rourke ) is a nobody . His real life is in shambles , and he's still bumming around trying to heal and mend his life outside the fading limelight . His body is broken , with countless of scars , a busted ear and a weakened heart . Relationships are non-existent , and has to rely on spending money to buy time with a stripper ( Marisa Tomei ) to whom he pours his heart out to , and has affection for . Not only has he to heal his physical self , but on the emotional front he tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter Stephanie ( Evan Rachel Wood ) . It's about age and how cruel time can be to everyone of us . Old stuff fade away , new guys enter the scene , and life just goes on , whether you like it or not . For those who think that they're watching WWE in The Wrestler , you cannot be more wrong on that count . It does though provide some glimpses on what goes on behind the scenes and flashing lightbulbs , song and spectacle , and for those not in the big leagues , the more independent circuit where fights are arranged and choreographed amongst the lower league players . The documentary-style cinematography adopted by Maryse Alberti also helped in pushing this aspect of the story telling , and at times blurred fact with fiction , thinking that Rourke was indeed and perhaps a real pro-wrestler whom we're tailing from behind . We do get to witness some interesting no-holds barred fights , as well as time being slowed down , and extreme closeups to reaffirm that these are professional entertainers ( surely you don't think it's real , do you ? ) who have to look out for personal safety too . But what Darren Aronofsky really packed it in , was some excellent dramatic moments for the characters . For starters , you sympathize and empathize with them . I was a wrestling fan in my teens . Was , because I outgrew it . For the curious , I belong to the Randy Savage to the Bret Hart era of WWF ( back then when it was known as ) , having to see champions come and go , and a chord was struck , wondering if my ex-heroes had suffered the same fate as The Ram , having to try and survive hawking wares of their former glories , and reduced to nothing but a pale shadow of their glorious self . Not to say that Aronofsky doesn't have anything for wrestling fans or to artificially craft a sob-story . But instead of the cursory yeah , this is something I've seen before , he strikes right to your heart and makes all of us question how our once heroes would have faded . Mickey Rourke owns this film , and has a better screen presence than his recent Marv role in Sin City , which was obscured by graphical bells and whistles . He chews up the scenery , and I can't think of any other actor who could pull this off more convincingly than Rourke . He plays The Ram with plenty of conviction and has pain , and fight , written all over his face . If Pulp Fiction was John Travolta's calling card to return to greatness , The Wrestler is Rourke's equivalent . Marisa Tomei also did an excellent job as Pam Cassidy the stripper whom Randy shares an emotional attachment to . Similarly , her character parallels how age has been unkind to their respective professions . She's constantly struggling to get customers with competition from younger and hotter colleagues , and even when she does , unlike Randy who still gets adulation from appreciative fans , all she has is to suffer derogatory remarks , in order to make a living . If anything , Aronofsky does make you feel compassionate to these walking wounded characters , except probably for Evan Rachel Wood's Stephanie , who given the extremely limited screen time , wasn't given enough room for expression and got crowded out by the two veterans . So now if you please , I'll go find out what had happened to my past heroes whom I had once spent my teenage years watching on the goggle box . The Wrestler opens 2009 here with a bang , and it's really highly recommended , especially for those unfamiliar with Darren Aronofsky's work . |
514,459 | 317,399 | 257,360 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : ( DVD ) About Schmidt | Retirement can be a scary thing . I suppose it's about 40 years before I hit retirement age ( given that it's a moving target on the increase ) , but I do confess at times I think about it , a time where I presumably have the opportunity to do whatever I please - travel , read , and of course watch more movies at discounted ticket prices , and so on , but whether or not I will have the strength and energy to do so will be a different story , and more importantly , whether my retirement funds will be sufficient to support a lifestyle I choose . Anyway I was surprised with About Schmidt . At first glance I thought it was going to be a mundane movie , but it had plenty of heart , and many moments of contemplation which actually made me ponder deeper about those sunset times . Jack Nicholson plays Warren Schmidt , a Vice President of an insurance company who retires at the start of the story . Naturally it takes much getting used to , and with time on his hands , he thinks about the legacy , or the lack thereof , in which he is leaving behind . From not being appreciated by the younger generation taking over his office , to trying to patch ties with his estranged daughter Jeannie ( Hope Davis ) who's about to get married to a blue collared " loser " Randall ( Dermot Mulroney , note that I put that word in quotations , because I thought I'd become fast friends with people like that , those who are genuinely earnest ) , much against his wishes , here's a portrait of an extremely sad , lonely man trying to take stock of his life , where little routine things suddenly become significant . The first half of the movie set the scene , before the second half takes us on a road trip of sorts , much like Broken Flowers or even Elizabethtown , during which Schmidt exhibits more of his insecurities and fear . Jack Nicholson did a superb job as usual fleshing out the character of Warren , with the cinematography being tip top in bringing out the detachment he experiences with his environment . You can feel his pain and wanting to belong , holding dear to treasures of his heart , especially his daughter . And to borrow these lines from his earlier movie , Jack's Warren Schmidt personifies " I'm only laughing on the outside , my smile is just skin deep . but if you look inside I'm really crying , you might join me for a weep ! " to a T . Based on a novel by Louis Begley and directed by Alexander Payne ( who brought us another road trip movie Sideways ) , one of the highlights of the movie is Warren's communication with an African child he adopted long distance . Through his letters , it becomes clear the issues he's grappling with , and some of the white lies he tells , which mirrors the way he lives his life . And I must say as much as movie endings are important , About Schmidt has one of the simplest , but most powerful message it brings out , and that is while we worry about the legacy we live behind in the world for generations to come , sometimes it's not necessary that it must be something monumental . The simplest gesture , straight from the heart , is all there is to make a difference , and stamp your mark . With an excellent waltz like theme for Warren Schmidt , and that shot of Encyclopedia Brown ( nostalgia ! I read that as a kid ! ) , I'd recommend About Schmidt anytime should anyone ask which recent Jack Nicolson movies one should watch . Be warned though , the Code 3 DVD is censored , especially those bits with Kathy Bates ( I suspect for , erm , nudity ) . |
515,124 | 317,399 | 417,148 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Snakes on a Plane | For the record , I hate snakes , and have this phobia of snakes . I can even freeze in my tracks at a bloody picture . And it goes without saying that the Snake House is never a place I'll visit in any zoo . What's my fear about ? I don't know , just that I attach this sense of evilness and danger to these slimy ( yes I know they're not ) slithery creatures that should be condemned to the depths of hell . Anyway I digress . What compelled me to watch this picture , besides the fact that I'm a sucker for punishment , is Samuel L Jackson . He's THE man ! With Sam , you'll always know he'll lift that scene or two , oozing street charisma and attitude like none other . This is a cheesy movie done in a cheesy way but with A list production values , tons of special effects , animal trainers , and yes , plenty of snakes of all shapes and sizes . From pythons to the cobras to the rattlers , I tell you these creatures will chill you at your seats . Thank goodness this ain't on no IMAX or 3D effect , otherwise I suspect many will be reeling their heads backwards , and backwards some more . The plot's none too cerebral to begin with , so don't bother but accept , go on board , and enjoy the fright , I mean flight . It isn't going all out to scare you , though watching characterless caricatures suffer and die under the most sickening conditions involving all conceivable snake-accessible orifices and sexual appendages , provides some sort of sick pleasure . The usual clichés of thrillers / horrors are milked here as well , like the well used one that those who have sex are usually the first to go . And there are plenty of victims from where that came from , given the movie's set on a red eye flight in a Boeing jet , offering a variety of passengers like the rap star and his posse , kids travelling alone for the first time , dumb blondes , the Asian Kung Fu master , and even the cabin crew , who are put in a better light as compared to another set-on-a-plane movie Flightplan . If there should be a gripe , then it's the length of the action sequences , most of which are just too short , or unexplained , especially those involving Jackson . I mean , the audience should see how he goes around killing those SOBs , but as mentioned , we don't get to see much . I suspect some scenes will probably end up in an extended DVD version , deleted scenes , or perhaps make their way into video games , fighting his way through with makeshift weapons . That aside , and if you're OK with the censored bit in this NC-16 movie where a couple joins the mile high club ( too bad it's forcibly shortened ) , Snakes on a Plane is a movie to catch on the big screen for the fun factor , and no , you'll definitely not get to watch this on any inflight entertainment system anytime soon . The Cobra Starship music video for the movie plays through the end credits . Not too bad a song , think it's becoming a ear worm for me . |
515,362 | 317,399 | 113,703 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : ( DVD ) Love Letter ( 1995 ) | Love Letter is an unconventional love story . For starters , there isn't an direct romantic interactions between the lead characters it wants to focus on . Most stories would have romantic scenes played out in chronological order , and the audience journeys together with the leads on their road to togetherness . Love Letter makes an audience work - it doesn't present the material outright , but rather in sporadic memory recollections . Neither does it have the formulaic boy - meets - girl - loses - girl - wins - girl sequence . In fact , we begin with a funeral anniversary , and the sense of loss made permanent . There are multiple story arcs in Love Letter , but the main one that engages the audience to find out more , is the one between Hiroko Watanabe ( Miho Nakayama ) and her fiancé Itsuki Fujii , whom we never meet , but meet only the teenage Itsuki ( Takashi Kashiwabara ) instead . Hiroko has lost her fiancé two years ago , but refuses to let go . Instead , at the spur of a moment , she copies down the address where he stayed at when he was young , and sent a letter to the address , knowing jolly well that redevelopment has caused the house to stand no more , and her letter will be akin to one sent to Heaven . To her surprise , she receives a reply from Itsuki Fujii , and unravelling the identity of the new Itsuki , discovers that she is someone who bears the same name as her fiancé , and even shared a moment in time together as classmates . The two girls never interact directly ( even thought they're played by the same actress ) , but through their correspondence , we learn more about the life of the boy in question , one which relied on Itsuki's memory to bring to life for Hiroko to dwell in . And there might be a hint why Itsuki the boy had come to choose Hiroko too , perchance also based on his memory with his namesake . Being a quiet guy , expressing his feelings never is easy , but he demonstrates his affections in some quirky manner instead . Thus a very interesting love triangle develops , though one which involves different timelines , and one which never is loud in expression , choosing instead to focus on the subtleties . You wonder when you move on , whether you'll seize the moment with someone who resembles an old flame , though that applies in looks alone , as character will definitely be different , and Miho Nakayama managed to bring differences to the two characters she played , even though it didn't include having massive makeup or wardrobe changes , but relied a lot on subtle movements and behaviour . Besides the main arc , there are also other arcs on love in the movie , specifically the new budding love between Hiroko and new flame Akiba Shigeru ( Etsushi Toyokawa ) , who tries his best to help Hiroko let go of the past , but yet standing by her when she struggles to do so , and that amongst the family of Itsuki ( the female ) , whose grandfather ( Katsuyuki Shinohaara ) had a pivotal role in a rather touching scene involving love and loss . The excellent soundtrack by Remedios also accentuates the many beautiful moments in the movie , its main theme is memorable and I believe already a recognizable classic . Die hard romantics will definitely see a difference in how a story like this gets told by writer - director Shunji Iwai , and therein likes its appeal . It goes against the grain and doesn't wrap everything up in saccharine sweet moments . However , in its digging up past memories , and controlling the flashbacks in a very measured way without serving to confuse , actively engages you to think and feel for the cha racters , and providing the space to do so . |
514,562 | 317,399 | 798,443 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : The Longest Night in Shanghai | I won't deny that the draw toward this movie was its star billing with Zhao Wei in the leading role , playing a blue collar taxi driver in the city of Shanghai . But of course again to my surprise in not reading the fine print , I had to muster my limited abilities to read the subtitles of the movie , because this Japanese-Chinese co-production , came only with Chinese subtitles for its Japanese dialogue . But still , I managed to enjoy every moment of this incredibly romantic movie , though from the onset it might not look like one to begin with . There were some shades of Lost in Translation I guess , except that there's a persistent language barrier between the couple but that added to the charm because they had to rely on non-verbal communication to get their message through . Motoki Masahiro plays Japanese stylist extraordinaire Mizushima who comes to Shanghai for an exposition , but is clearly unhappy and indifferent during the trip . As it turned out he's facing some serious love triangle issues , and is re-examining his current relationship with his assistant , before deciding to take off to the streets on his own , getting lost in the process . Zhao Wei's Lin Xi is quite the reckless driver who has seen all kinds of action that happen at her cab's backseat , and is deliberately reckless in order to report back to the workshop to have an opportunity to talk to her Dylan Kuo's Dong Dong , the mechanic she admires , who is extremely skilled in really fast repairs . And of course a fated moment where she accidentally knocks Mizushima down , began an unforgettable night for both as they begin to hang out , at first with her sharing the sights and sounds of Shanghai , before his lack of cash led to abandonment , and slowly the building of a night of friendship amongst two strangers who each have issues of the heart to face up to , and from each other finding a pillar of strength . Zhao Wei definitely gave one of her more memorable performances here as a girl who couldn't find courage to express her feelings , only for her to suffer in silence in what could possibly be the last day to do so , while juggling with her brother's insistence to sell their house to put her on the wrong emotion . You'll probably feel as gutted as she did when she learns of Dong Dong's marriage , and finds every opportunity to get a glimpse of him from afar . Playing opposite her , Motoki Masahiro had an uphill battle to climb because his role is typical of a foreigner left on strange soils , and spends most of the time being exasperated by Li Xin's antics at trying to shake him off initially . Between the two , I still felt Li Xin's story being the stronger one , although both share some fantastic chemistry despite not being able to understand each other directly . Supporting characters come in the form of a mixture of Japanese and Chinese casts , from Sam Lee as a translator to Naoto Takenaka of Waterboys / Swing Girls fame , and even a two scene cameo by Kitty Zhang ! If there's one thing I attest to in this film , is how Chinese words are still applicable in the Japanese context . While the pronunciation is different , some words retain similar meaning , and this would prove useful for the two to form some communication when sharing their love lives with each other . And with this spending of quality time at random with each other , filled with spontaneity , naturally becomes the catalyst for what could be , and you'll soon find yourself rooting for these two to realize that they could have something good going for them in this one long night they spend together . This was one of the more enjoyable festivals that I've attended this year , given that I've actually enjoyed every one of the selection , and that's something quite rare . For the romantics , this comes recommended for its premise , its dreamy eye candy cast , and especially its soundtrack and songs used in the film ( my favourite is Frally Hines ' Breathe ) . There are a number of iconic romantic moments which will probably move you , and it left you wanting more , especially with that last statement uttered at the end of the movie . I heart this one , really . |
514,753 | 317,399 | 886,539 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Luck By Chance | The opening sequence montage is beautifully designed , paying a quiet and dignified homage to the upline and downchain support functions of the entire film industry , like the guards protecting film studios and film sets , and cashiers at the box office , with the song Yeh Zindagi Bhi as a backdrop . But this serene and muted beginning is in stark contrast to everything else that is going to unfold , where humour is largely used to great effect in cushioning the unflattering commentary on the state of affairs . For example , much has been said about story lines and sets resembling some big budgeted Hollywood counterpart , and you have a director blatantly telling his scriptwriter to adopt everything from his favourite movie . A lot of satire get tossed around , and rewards the viewer paying close attention . There's even an avenue for sight gags , and one of my favourites is the poster entitled " For a Few Rupees More " . The strength of Luck By Chance is in its strong story , characterization and dialogue . It plays on everyone's stereotypes , but yet doesn't turn its main characters to caricatures . It shows the distinct worlds that aspiring wannabe actors have to face , versus those born with luck on their side , being the offspring of famous and established stars in the movie world . It examines the struggles of the dream chasers coming to Mumbai looking for their big break , where it is established that lead roles only go to newcomers when they are soundly rejected by the stars , and the insecurities and threats that established stars constantly face , with the dealing of pressure and success , and maintaining that public icon . For the bevy of star childs as they are known ( in my short foray into Indian films I have seen a number of up and coming ones ) , the mounting expectations that one has to deal from the public . Luck By Chance has a movie within the movie which the subplots are laid out against , and like all productions , funding is always key , as is the network that one has to find a foothold in because of the tacit understanding that it's about who you know and who you're related to , versus pure talent . Hence the title , where one has to be at the right place at the right time staring at the right opportunity in order to get noticed amongst thousands . Vikram Jaisingh ( the director's brother Farhan Akhtar ) is one such aspiring actor who moved from Delhi to Mumbai in search of stardom , and lives with 2 other friends and their neighbour Sona ( Konkona Sen Sharma ) who is the mistress of small time producer Chaudhary ( Alyy Khan ) of Pinky Productions , waiting for her big break to star in a big budgeted movie with a tailor made role . At the other end of the spectrum , we have the insecure mega-star Zaffar Khan ( Hrithik Roshan , whom I think is like a chameleon in being able to shape his physique at the drop of a hat ) starring in his new movie with star child Nikki Wallia ( Isha Sharvani ) , the offspring of screen legend Neena ( Dimple Kapadia ) . And adding plenty of colour to the events in and around this movie production , are the producer Romy Rolly ( Rishi Kapoor ) and his brother , the actor turned director Ranjit Rolly ( Sanjay Kapoor ) who share the spoils for most of the comedy . There are plenty of insider jokes spilt at every corner , making fun of commercial and art films , gossip rags and the sensationalizing of news . Upping the fun factor are a slew of cameo appearances with real stars playing themselves , and you can imagine the gasps when Aamir Khan appeared briefly in the beginning , and another Khan ( I'm not revealing who amongst the three Kings , your guess ) popping out to whistles from the audience for his simple role offering advice about dealing with stardom and what really matters . And to add to that if I may name drop a little , Abhishek Bachchan , John Abraham , Kareena Kapoor , Rani Mukherjee , amongst many others . We follow the making of the fictional movie from start to end , and even then , there is but only two prominent musical numbers which arise from that fictional movie alone , one of which we get to see Hrithik Roshan showcase his slick moves in a big top number . The second half of the film might have sagged a little as more attention was placed to the three way romance between Vikram , Nikki ( check out that seduction scene that seems to have taken a leaf out of Russian Dolls ) and Sona , and how success can get into one's head and the transformation from humbleness to jerk . Farhan Akhtar gives an excellent performance as the boy who innocently , then manipulative worked the system to his selfish advantage toward climbing the ladder of success , and the way it ended strongly in quite an unconventional way for a Bollywood movie , gives this film a certain gravitas in being unflinching in the messages it wants to make about the industry , where the tenacious succeed and there is not much room for sentimentalism . If you're looking for a jump point into what's on offer from Bollywood this year , then I would humbly suggest that Luck By Chance would be your best bet for an introduction to the wheelings , dealings and politicking behind the scenes by all players involved in getting the production complete , right down to generating buzz upon release , and how with luck , one's chances in life could be changed and transformed . Highly recommended . |
514,479 | 317,399 | 373,981 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Kontroll | Kontroll opened the Singapore Fantastic Film Festival last Thursday , and it is no surprise why . Its intriguing setting in an underground metro system is familiar everyday territory that probably everyone can relate to if you're commuting by train . Having been on some of Europe's metro systems ( London , Paris , Munich , Rome ) , this film offered me the chance to see and experience yet another country's train system . The film centers on Bulcsu , a Budapest Metro train ticket inspector , who , with his squad of 4 men , travel in its system to inspect " tickets or passes " . Its showcase of stereotypical passengers who refuse to pay is hilarious , as we encounter photo-happy Japanese tourists , the " sleeper " , the pimps , even dogs on board ( now we know why the MRT has a no-pets policy ) . What makes it all the more fun is that his squad consists of affable characters , ranging from a clueless newbie , to one who is prone to subconsciously go into comatose . Between squads , there also exists rivalry , and we're introduced to a dare called " railing " . While going about their thankless jobs , it makes you wonder the kind of abuse ( verbal or otherwise ) that these folks face as they go about their daily scope of work . Definitely not fun , nor one in which I would like to be in . We're also shown an extreme example of a " what-if " scenario - if the abuse being the last straw on the camel's back , exactly what could probably happen ( though I must say there could be some artistic license taken on weapons being brought along ) . However , added to its narrative layer is a small bit romance between Bulscu and a lady ( of course , she isn't a paying commuter ) who , for some reason , rides the metro in a bear suit . And we're also introduced from the very start , a mystery which runs through the entire show - that of commuters who apparently commit suicide by jumping onto the tracks . Or were they actually pushed ? I suppose this sub plot touches a bit closer to home , as our own mass rapid transit has of late experienced similar phenomenons . Similarly , CCTV cameras don't show anything peculiar , or the incident happened out of the scope of these cameras . However , the conclusion to this phenomenon is a discussion point , as it is very open to interpretation . The scene which I thoroughly enjoyed , I called it the " Bootsie Chase " . While the usual Hollywood fare features the all too common car chases , it's about time you can to enjoy the good old foot chase , and in this scene , set to pulsating electronica beats , is a joy to behold , as the characters involved weave through passengers , the station and its pillars . This is an enjoyable film with an excellent soundtrack ( in English ) , but I've watched it on its second and final run on the festival . You might want to check out the DVD release , as it certainly deserves to be labeled and be part of a Fantastic selection ! |
515,378 | 317,399 | 333,766 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Garden State | Garden State marks Zach Braff's feature film directorial debut , based upon a story written by him , and starring himself , Natalie Portman and Peter Sarsgaard . His later work The Last Kiss might have struck a chord in me with his characters looking at life entering the 30s , while this one's more about a younger man seeking some meaning and direction in his aimless life . Looking at it , Cameron Crowe's Elizabethtown might have some similarities , with the lead character leaving the city to return to the town he grew up in , when a death in the family occurs . Here , Braff's Andrew Largeman is a struggling actor in LA , going home upon hearing news of his mother's death . Back in town , and hooking up with old acquaintances like Mark ( Sarsgaard ) , he planned to stay for only 4 days , but found time hard to pass by especially when much of it involves drugs and booze , until he met the girl who would change his life forever - Samantha ( Portman ) . Portman really lights up the screen with her effervescent performance as a serial liar . Meeting Andrew in a psychiatric clinic , their banter in that scene is to die for ( complete with humping dog ) , as is their banter through the first half of the movie , bringing to mind the irrelevance of the conversational pieces ala Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise , but little of that sexual overtones . Like Kirsten Dunst's character in Elizabethtown , she provides reason and is the beacon of light at the end of the lead male character's fuzzy tunnel . Smart , sassy , everything a guy would want in a girl really . There are plenty of quirky moments in the movie that all but makes the movie seem like little short skits put together , but that's what makes the movie appealing , in that it doesn't stick to the usual narrative formula . It clearly stems from Braff's vision of translating most of his life's experiences into the movie . And the build up to the finale ( see , I still can't stop seeing those similarities ) involves a road trip of sorts , and though it doesn't cross state lines , they do make some visits , and have that feel good end to it all . I'll always like any movie so long as it has a scene which touches me , for reasons of my own , and here , Garden State has one which endeared itself to me . It's that scene which involves a hug and the notion of finding a safe-house , a home . I've been there and I know that feeling , and here , it gets translated perfectly . Coupled with an excellent soundtrack throughout the story , this is one heartwarming tale that doesn't deserve to be missed . Life's always complex , but it all boils down to how you want to deal with it . There are no clear answers , but lucky is the person if you have someone to walk those winding road ahead with . |
515,372 | 317,399 | 486,576 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Fantastic Four : Rise of the Silver Surfer | I've written almost two years ago that I adored the movie adaptation of Fantastic Four , despite many out there who hated it to the core . Back then , what I found was right about it was its spot on characterization and its capture of the spirit which was FF , the bickering amongst its members as well as its theme on unity and family . I'm surprised that I actually predicted the coming of Galactus , though some would be disappointed with his big screen appearance . Don't kid yourself if you say that you didn't see Galactus coming . As its herald , no Silver Surfer story is complete without the arrival of the master wanting to devour planets to keep itself alive ( kinda reminds me of the other Transformer animated movie with Unicron ) . However , purists would go up in arms at the depiction of possibly one of the largest being in the Marvel Universe , which I thought was a better alternative in the movie without making it look too stupid with its ridiculous purple tin helmet . And what is a Silver Surfer story without Victor Von Doom showing interest in its immense power ? While you might think that the movie might have too many villains , with Galactus , Doom and the Surfer ( well , for the most parts ) , and with 4 heroes in the fray , Rise of the Silver Surfer managed to maintain a breezy pace without getting too deep into its themes nor suffer from having to introduce in detail its characters . We've already established most of that in the first movie , and the details of the Surfer and its master was just enough to enlighten new fans , while keeping older fans happy enough with its accuracy . So it's much like the comic book again , with our family of four having to deal with first of all , the rock star like atmosphere of the marriage between Mr Fantastic and Invisible Girl , before the Silver Surfer's rude arrival causing major climate changes in cities around the world , and of course , trusting the USoA army to wanna play world police again . This movie is not without obvious flaws though in continuity and logic in its narrative . For one , while its big action scenes take place in busy parts of the world , the crowd usually gets dispersed in record time . I believe some parts of the action were chopped off to prevent it from being overly draggy , but therein some logic and crowd magically disappear . Some parts too will make you wonder why doesn't the Invisible Girl just knock everyone out with her invisible projectiles , or groan that the make up artist managed to make Jessica Alba look like a fashion disaster with her unnaturally dyed-blonde hair . She looks hot when it's all tied up , but when it's let down , I tell you it's time for some shampoo ad to do some major corporate sponsorship . But I still got a kick out of its humorous moments ( not that it was so funny , but they had charm ) , and I can't get enough of the banter between the Thing and the Human Torch . One thing's for certain , while the acting might not be first class , the cast of Ioan Gruffudd , Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis ( with the help of the suit ) sure looked their parts . And that in itself , is movie magic bringing comic book panels to life . Look out too for Stan Lee , whom I think for the first time in the recent slew of Marvel movie adaptations , actually play himself ! Fantastic Four : Rise of the Silver Surfer brings back the best elements in the first movie , and provides an avenue for more of such adventures with the familiar quartet . It's a popcorn movie , and one which entertains throughout its relatively short 90 minutes duration . And I'll stick my neck out and say it again , this is probably one of the better movie franchises that Marvel has put out so far . Given the way things are set up , if this movie still proves to be a box office success , may I now say that we can expect to see the Mole Man next ? |
515,176 | 317,399 | 762,121 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : The Nativity Story | The Nativity Story is probably the most staged skit / play / musical in the month of December in most churches , and everyone who has been to Sunday School will definitely be all too familiar with the humble birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem . With Christmas becoming too much of a commercial farce ( in my opinion anyway ) , and with plenty of movies set during the Christmas holiday being a little lightweight , I thought this production is timely in remembering the origins of the festival . Not that it's 100 % accurate ( as in exactly as what's in the Bible ) , as it dramatizes certain events , but on the whole , the familiar plot elements are all there . While Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ was a controversial piece with big named stars , and probably blown out of proportion with the general focus on its graphic violence , The Nativity Story in contrast is a humble , beautiful film that celebrates life , making its way to become the first feature film to premiere at the Vatican , compared to Passion's fixation with painful death . Director Catherine Hardwicke , in her third movie after Thirteen and Lords of Dogtown , begins the movie with the premonition of the coming of John the Baptist , Jesus ' cousin . Which I thought was a nice touch , rather than zooming it straight into our star parents Mary and Joseph . And she deftly brings out believability in both Keira Castle-Hughes as Mary , and Oscar Isaac as Joseph . Their Mary and Joseph come through as God-fearing and obeying , yet , like all humans , have the tendency to doubt . Between the two , I thought Isaac's Joseph had the meatier role as the man being entrusted the responsibility to take care of his wife and unborn child in times of strife , though of course , with God on their side , you'd come to expect nothing bad to befall them . All's not gloomy and serious in this story though , as comic relief is provided via the Three Wise Men , though I'm not really sure if it'll go down well with audiences . What I thoroughly enjoyed was to see certain milestone scenes from my faulty memory about the story , being played out on screen - the discovery of the virgin pregnancy , the visit of Gabriel , the census , and of course , the awesome scene at the Bethlehem manger , where the shepherds and the Wise Men arrive to pay homage . It's a tale of love and sacrifices made by the central characters of Mary and Joseph , of their unwavering belief and faith , and in my opinion , that's what made this telling of the Christmas story compelling to watch . And I liked the bit where discrimination crept in as a minor plot point . The movie has excellent production values and no effort is spared in creating the telling of the arrival of the King of Kings , especially in the costumes and sets department , be they computer generated cities , or rock-walled villages . The musical score also evokes the mood accurately , and if you listen attentively , you can hear whispers of familiar Christmas hymns and songs incorporated into it . While biblical movies of old like The Ten Commandments has itself a place amongst cinematic greats , The Nativity Story , if I may add , certainly has earned its keeps amongst movies for this holiday season of goodwill , by putting up an excellent movie on the origins of the festival . |
515,562 | 317,399 | 855,852 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Kabei Our Mother | My introduction into Yoji Yamada's cinematic world is through his famed and recent Samurai Trilogy with The Twilight Samurai , The Hidden Blade and Love and Honor . I had enjoyed all three films , and looking at the prolific , veteran director's filmography , I think it'll take me a very long while to watch all his films , especially the Tora-san series . Needless to say when Kabei Our Mother has finally reached our shores , I jumped at the chance to watch what would be an ode to Mothers everywhere , celebrating their innate love for their children . Based on the autobiography of Teruyo Nogami , Kabei - Our Mother tells of a close knit family of four ? Mother Kayo " Kabei " ( Sayuri Yoshinaga ) , Father Shigeru " Tobei " ( Mitsugoro Bando ) , eldest daughter Hatsu ( Mirai Shida ) and youngest child Teru ( Miku Sato ) . From the get go their lives would be changed forever , when Shigeru gets arrested under the Peace Preservation Law for his morally controversial writings against the nation , set in the late 30s where Japan had begun their " crusade " in China , and thereafter their participation in WWII . So begins Kabei's struggle to hold down jobs to feed her family , and the frequent , difficult meetings with her husband behind bars . Help comes from relatives , especially on Shigeru's side , since Kabei's own dad had adopted an " I told you so " attitude with her choice of spouse . Shigeru's one time student Yama ( arthouse buffs should recognize Tadanobu Asano here ) provides laughter as a bumbling man who slowly becomes confidante and surrogate guardian to the children , and Kabei's sister in law Hisako ( Rei Dan ) from Hiroshima , which I believe would have sounded some hindsight alarm bells as to her unfortunate fate as the film progresses through its timeline . While the film centers primarily on how the kids are growing up under the presence of their mom , and in a distant relationship with their dad , what I enjoyed is how the microscopic family events unfold under the macroscopic worldwide events that have impacted on the common folk in Japan . It's against the historical backdrop of Japan's push to regional dominance , and there are characters here that don't mask those ambitions , even discussing what the country would eventually do should it be successful in holding onto conquered lands . This is something I rarely see in Japanese films , being that frank in their discussion of that era , and also to get a glimpse of how the common man have to struggle against domestic issues made all the more difficult with resources channeled toward the war effort . The actresses casted here are pitch perfect in their delivery and roles , be they the veterans or the child actors . Actress Sayuri Yoshinaga deserves special mention for her role as the motherly figure who has to dig deep and find that inner strength to carry the household through under trying circumstances , while Mirai Shida and Miku Sato are lovable as the understanding children who have to learn to make do and compromise . Each scene with the three of them together just makes it heart wrenching when the going gets tough , or fill your heart with Joy should they be celebrating . Before long you'll soon find yourself being attracted to want to be part of this family , thanks to the primary cast's powerful performances , with Yoji Yamada coaxing some really natural performances from the kids . Kabei - Our Mother boasts some stunningly beautiful art direction , and is classy in its delivery of both happy and sad moments without going over the top , or relying on cheap melodrama to cheapen the emotions it seeks from the audience . There are plenty of little things here done right which makes it pitch perfect , with every scene not being wasted , and with every nuance very meaningful in conveying its message across , be it compassion or love . Aside from the very abrupt ending ( I had hoped that it could have continued for a lot more , despite its more than 2 hours runtime ) , Kabei Our Mother comes highly recommended , and you'll find it difficult to be holding back either your tears , or that thought about your own mom and her sacrifices she makes for you on an everyday basis . Just what those sacrifices are should you need another reminder , then the scene during the end credits roll will remind you of the stuff that you'd probably have taken for granted . |
514,384 | 317,399 | 387,131 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : The Constant Gardener | Finally ! After such a long wait , this movie has finally made it to our shores ( I have been lamenting the same fate of other acclaimed movies recently ) . Directed by Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles ( who did City of God ) , The Constant Gardener finds itself sandwiched between two others movies released here in the same period , sharing with North Country an aspect about whistle-blowing , and with Syrianna on the corruption of conglomerates . While Syrianna takes on oil corporations , Gardener tells a tale of clandestine governments , and the morality issues faced by pharmaceutical companies . Adapted from the novel by John le Carré , Gardener explores and suggests what-if scenarios ( I say " what-if " as I humbly ask if what was suggested by the film could have been inspired by some form of real happenings ) , of having human guinea pigs in the testing of new medicine . In contention here is a new drug for the treatment of tuberculosis , though HIV was also briefly sharing the spotlight in the plight of the African nations . The stark question posed , which makes you wonder , is whether it is right to have dying Africans , or those who are already terminally ill , test new medicine , and presenting to them Hobson's choice . And Kenya was the choice location in the movie , with having both the hustle and bustle of the cities , and the lush desert plains both beautifully captured on film . While you feel the chaos in the cities and rural squatters in rusty brown hues , you'll also feel the peacefulness and emptiness of vast lands . You'll contrast the corruption of officials of the Haves in their cocktail parties , and the simple , poor lives of the Have Nots . Ralph Fiennes puts up an excellent performance as Justin Quayle , a British diplomat in Her Majesty's Service . It's indeed a surprise exclusion in the Academy for his portrayal of an easy going man with green fingers ( hence The Gardener ) . His mantra is to mind his own business and not get too involved with the locals , but as the movie evolves , we will see a change in this stand . However it calls to mind certain issues that again will set you thinking - if you want to help , how much and how far will you go ? And why a certain group , and not others in similar situations ? Resources will be your constraint , but what is the criteria in which you will base your decisions on ? Now that you're made aware , will you still continue to turn the blind eye ? His spouse Tessa Quayle is played by Rachel Weisz , whom I'm not sure why her performance , while solid , is nothing to warrant a shout for an Academy nomination . Nonetheless , she's the center of the entire scheme of things , and her story gets mainly told in flashbacks . A whistle-blower definitely ruffles feathers , and you know you're in a fix when you ruffle the feathers of the wrong bird . Extremely blunt and determined ( and also giving the filmmakers an opportunity to air their opinion on the Iraqi war ) , she discovers that there's more than meets the eye in the way medicine is dispensed to the African poor , and sets off on a crusade in which the means could justify the ends . But we slowly learn and unravel the mystery of what happened , and who's involved , as the Gardener takes us on his trail of investigation , digging through clues , and weeding out red herrings , piecing together the entire event . It is the film editing here which gets the thumbs up . Just as you accept something at face value , there is enough suggestion again to make you think otherwise . In case you're wondering if the meandering narrative or themes will put you off , you might be glad to know that central throughout the movie is the love between the couple . How so much unsaid , and circumstances not explain could lead to suspicion , or deliberately done so to protect the other . Although the leads spend considerable time apart , we could feel , especially from Justin , the strong emotional attachment he has for Tessa , right up until the ending , which is just about right in the way it should end . It's a wonderful film , one in which you'd have to stay attentive to truly appreciate , and one which prods at your conscience . Given it's insane release schedule together with Walk the Line , Jarhead , Syrianna , and with North Country and Match Point already screening , we're indeed spoilt for choice which to watch first . I'd say watch them all ! |
515,011 | 317,399 | 408,306 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Munich | The Munich 1972 Olympic games will forever go down in infamy for the killing of Israeli sportsmen by a terrorist group known as Black September . If you wish to know more about the motives and happenings on that fateful day , including the ineptness of the Germans to manage the entire situation , resulting in the deaths of almost all the perpetrator and the victims , do check out the documentary One Day In September . But not to say that Steven Spielberg's Munich fares any less . My recommendation is to watch the documentary first if you wish to understand more of what happened before , then to follow up with Spielberg's movie for the tale of what happened after when the Mossad went after the mastermind planners . So that you'll not be as irritating as the bimbo sitting behind me asking her equally clueless boyfriend " what happened ? Why like that ? " Spielberg's movie is as every bit , Spielberg . It grips you from the beginning and never lets go until the end . For those who did not heed my advice above , don't worry , there's a re-enactment of the terrible event from the point where they entered into the Olympic Village , and various scenes thereafter en route to the airport are edited in between the movie . As mentioned , the movie places focus on the Mossad's attempt to wipe out the terrorist masterminds , and we follow the journey of their appointed leader , Avner , played admirably by Eric Bana , who now probably has cornered roles for the tough yet sensitive guy , like Hector in Troy , or Bruce Banner in Hulk . And it's this spy-versus-spy game , that this movie excels in . We take the usual peek into government organizations sponsoring clandestine operations , and assembles Avner with a team that looked straight out of Mission : Impossible's IMF . We follow them through the missions so carefully planned ala Ocean's Eleven , aimed at sending signals to the Israeli oppositions that force will be met with force , and violence with violence . Indeed violence begets violence , and what goes around comes around , but at what cost ? Information brokers are all set to profit from violence , and in the world of secret agents , so long as the price is right , you get your information , regardless of what you want to do with it . But the movie also takes a more personal look into the life of Avner , who started off with gusto and with a deep sense of patriotism in their missions , before we slowly see the toil being taken on a family man who can't be with his family , or his home and country , and the degeneration of Avner into paranoia . When you're playing hunter for so long , and you find yourself one day being the prey , that's the effect it'll have on you , of over suspicion on the pretext of playing it safe . John Williams is at his element here in providing a soundtrack that is intense and fits the movie perfectly . During mission scenes , you'll feel just as tense as the characters planning and executing ( pardon the pun ) their hits . Avner's team comprises of folks who are not exactly field experts , but their camaraderie on screen is at its finest . I was paying attention to Daniel Craig's highly volatile character Steve , and I'd still think he doesn't have what it takes to become Blond , I mean , Bond . And besides Craig , the only other peculiarly minor letdown I have was the final bed scene between Avner and wife . I thought the editing was done in a very distasteful manner , though I understand what it was trying to get at with the inter-splicing of the Munich massacre . Somehow it could have been done better . It's a controversial film , but only for the controversy surrounding the subject matter , and of Spielberg's roots . It doesn't glorify either side , or try to make a statement which side is right . Two wrongs never made a right , and the movie's narrative plays it that way . On a normal year , this film would be a strong contender for Best Picture , given all the predictable ingredients required for a win . However , Brokeback Mountain would probably snag the trophy for its more intimate feel as compared to standard fare of a crowd pleasing film . But the message in Munich is nonetheless clear , as hinted so subtly at a small scene of tuning a radio . |
515,423 | 317,399 | 758,774 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Body of Lies | If you'd believe the angle the trailers adopted for this movie , I guess you're more than likely to deem it an adversarial duel between DiCaprio and Crowe , with the latter being some armchair smarty-pants willing to risk it all to " save civilization " by betraying the former . Well thankfully , the story is a lot more than that , and being a clash of ideals , personality and tactics , while still working on and for the same side , makes this a much more gripping thriller to sit through . We have Bourne , Bond and the occasional Spy Vs Spy type of movie , but Ridley Scott , in an adaptation of David Ignatius ' novel of the same name , puts a very realistic spin on this , perhaps even too close in its unflinching take on the topical events on Terrorism , as is its treatment of the intelligence warfare game that that part of the world could be engaged in right now , where the truth is an invaluable commodity that can be traded , and half truths often passing off as facts , with lies just clouding and muddling everything up . While it does make the CIA look inept in the portrayal here , and puts the Jordanian intelligence service in much more competent light , you'd start to realize that anti-terrorism efforts do boil down to basic level human to human trust , cooperation and competence . Russell Crowe stars as Ed Hoffman , the head honcho of a very high tech counter-terrorism department with plenty of fanciful monitors to view events unfold thousands of miles away , and with advanced weaponry to call upon at his disposal , with a penchant for running many simultaneous side operations privately . But of course being far away from the action , he very much relies on his best field agent Roger Ferris ( Leonardo DiCaprio ) , young , energetic , smart and with the linguistic ability of Arabic , to feed him much needed intelligence from which to formulate his strategies . So we have an experienced , cunning management strategist , and a go-getter operations guy in what would be a dream-team pairing , if not for their fairly constant arguments because they each subscribe to different philosophies and approaches to the same problem . Which is to nab one highly wanted fictional terrorist who has faded off everyone's radar , because of the low-tech way how these terrorists operate . Sitting through this well paced film , you do come to appreciate how different tactics work at different times , with the US style of blowing up everything without remorse or much deliberate thought , versus the Arab's way of measured sowing of seeds of infiltration . One you get instant results , but not much to follow up from , and the other the results come far later , but providing constant intelligence feed , and moles everywhere definitely helps . On one hand , we get Ed Hoffman who pretty much bulldozes everything in his path , while on the other as Ferris would have preferred , to have trust in their Arab counterparts for the convenient cultivation of allies , which Hoffman clearly frowns upon given his preference for dispatching staffers who are no longer useful . With a number of similar genre films as The Kingdom , Syriana , Rendition and the likes , think of Body of Lies as all their good bits rolled into one , where the terrorists are indeed one ingenious bunch who think of simple tactics to thwart technology which they lack . You'll be left guessing and second guessing the intent of everyone in the film , and this amounts to putting yourself in the character's shoes , and allows you to play along as you decide whom you'd like to trust . However , there is a romance subplot thrown in which while crucial , I thought it distracted us a little from the main storyline of mole against mole and the devising and execution of a radical strategy , and of course for a movie to wrap everything up just after two hours , the ending might just be a little tad too convenient , and perhaps wishful thinking of everyone in the real world of course , to have problems solved with that little effort . While Ridley Scott has collaborated with Russell Crowe for a number of films already ? Gladiator , A Good Year , American Gangsters and the upcoming Nottingham , here Crowe clearly takes a back seat , as hinted by the marquee on the poster which puts DiCaprio's name first . His character of Hoffman flits in and out of the film , being the unliked strategist pulling strings over satellite pictures from Langley . Most times we see him as a family man trying to set things " right " over the phone , while being an inept father . But when it comes down to walking the talk , he's definitely a force to be reckoned with , and his vast experience in great contrast to DiCaprio's young upstart character of Ferris . I thought DiCaprio is consciously moving away from his pretty boy romantic image by picking on more mature roles which require him to flex more of his acting chops , as seen with the likes of his roles in The Departed , The Aviator and even Blood Diamonds . He clearly carries the film here on his shoulders , being given some of the best lines about the current situation in the movie , and some fine balance with action sequences . If anyone's growing from strength to strength from movie to movie , my vote will go to DiCaprio , hands down . With an all round story which resonates viz-a-viz the real world , and commendable leads and supporting cast to pull this through , Ridley Scott delivers yet again a riveting tale that could rank high on my list as the top movies of the year . Highly recommended ! |
515,222 | 317,399 | 923,703 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Once in a Summer | My cinematic memory of South Korean actor Lee Byung-hun was in macho action movies like JSA and A Bittersweet Life , so Once in a Summer appeals because I am curious to know how he would do in an out and out soppy romance , released in time this month for Valentine's Day . And the verdict is yes , it will hit the right spots with the romantics out there , but even as I rolled my eyes at the formula employed for a romance , I was won over by its hard hitting ending , and moments as described in one of my favourite songs . Lee plays a rich man's son Suk-young , in times of great turmoil when university students , unhappy with the state of affairs in the country , are planning to go on a protest . He joins his friends on their travels to a remote village , in order to escape from his strict father , and needless to say , that summer he'll begin his romance with one of the village girls Jung-in , the village librarian . And thus begin the wonderful shots of beautiful landscapes which drapes the relationship between our lovebirds , and the usual events that lovers go through . It's not easy and smooth sailing though , as Jung-in comes with emotional baggage and proves to be hard to get . But you won't get too bored though with his frequent pursuit , as the narrative also takes a glimpse into the lives of the villagers , as they experience new technology like moving pictures , and electricity . Once in a Summer takes on a dual timeline running concurrently , and the flashbacks and forwards are quite nicely edited without any jarring moments . The soundtrack proved to be memorable as well , though these are techniques so familiar and now deemed necessary in making a romance movie . If the formula isn't broken , why fix it - and even right up until the ending , though I'd like to offer a different take . So what follows is a spoiler , which I thought is what made this movie a classic , and allows it to transcend its " same-old " label . SPOILER Love is a powerful emotion , but denial of your loved one is an big unforgivable sin . In denial , you would have destroyed every shred of credibility that you have . And I felt extremely down watching that scene , when it takes the other party to realize just what you've done , all down to the cause of self-preservation , but he / she knows and understands . It takes a lot to acknowledge the fact , and even more so to play along . Love is not what words are said , or things that are done , but more so as what is sincerely inside . If you really truly love someone , self-preservation would be the last thing on your mind , though some may argue that what was done was necessary to hope that all ends well . So when one party has decided to move on after the huge disappointment , it's heart wrenching for both parties , but perfectly justified . SPOILER ENDSAll in all , a highly recommended romance movie with all the necessary ingredients for that date , and filled with an ending that would probably linger on after the movie has well ended ( making it good for that after-movie discussion as well ) . |
515,408 | 317,399 | 374,036 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Campfire | Campfire ( Medurat Hasevet ) marks the last film for me during the Israel Film Festival , and personally , I thought this film was the most mature of the lot , being honest in exploring the lives and relationships in all members of a single parent family . Being all women in the house , recently widowed Rachel Gerlik ( Michaela Eshet ) takes great pains in order to protect her daughters Esti ( Maya Maron ) and Tami ( Hani Furstenberg ) from growing pains , and it is in the characters that we see an observation of romance in three forms . For Rachel , it is a second chance at real romance . She admits to her daughters that she has never been in love , not even with their father , and opportunity comes in the form of Yossi ( Moshe Ivgy ) the bus driver , who's attentive and sincere , and while having his own awkward moments at professing his love , you're likely to root for him to get his girl . Rachel though has her hands full , in juggling a fight to be accepted by her community in order to relocate to the new West Bank settlement to start life afresh , now made complicated by a potential love , and in trying to reconnect with her daughters . In elder daughter Esti , we see budding puppy love , as well as her very distinct opposition with her mom , stemming from Rachel's refusal to provide her with some privacy at home . I guess every parent will have to face their kids at this point in their teenage lives , and hopefully live to tell the tale of triumphant tolerance in the face of constant cynicism . And lastly , probably the saddest of the lot , with Tami and her brush with one ugly emotion of Lust . The English title at least , refers to a pivotal moment in the story which involves around the Bonfire incident , and you can't help but seethe with rage , where writer-director Joseph Cedar succeeds in eliciting anger with a sense of helplessness , and deep despair . What succeeded too is the performance of Hani Furstenberg in fleshing our her character , as we witness her credible spectrum of emotions ranging from the damsel in distress , and in being able to draw strength from within to deal with her terrible ordeal . Her chemistry with Michaela Eshet is quite amazing , and you will definitely be moved at how their characters interact with each other in the dealing with the fallout , even though it was just a short scene . I guess nobody should be made to suffer in that manner without clear repercussions or punishment , but reminds you in real life that sometimes there are situations where you can't expect everything to go in your favour , even though you're right and are seeking justice . Instead , we see how one can face up to adversary in whichever form they take , and through Rachel , we realize that the well intent of others , who subconsciously impose their will and thoughts onto yourself , becomes enslaving , and there comes a time where one must break free . Free from living a life dictated by the community , of the need to conform unnecessarily , and to learn to stand on your own two feet . Michaela Eshet encapsulates this development of her character , and you can't help but to cheer silently when she finally breaks free from a mindset bondage . It might be a small movie with a small principle cast , but its message and lesson couldn't be more than relevant , especially when it comes to the notion of blood being thicker than water , with a mother's love that knows no bounds . |
515,002 | 317,399 | 454,190 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : The Tin Mine | Set in 1950s after WWII , The Tin Mine is set in Southern Thailand , and chronicles the lives of tin miners as seen through the eyes of Arjin Panjapan ( Pijaya Vachajitpan ) , whose autobiographical short stories form the basis of this movie . It's no wonder , after watching this movie , that it's Thailand's official entry in the Best Foreign Language film category for this year's Academy Awards . Our protagonist , Arjin Panjapan , dropped out of the university and found himself looking for a job , any job , for survival . Leaving Bangkok , he makes it down south and hooks up with a group of tin miners , and because of his attitude of willing to do just about anything , he's hired on the spot , and there on learns that life is much more than just a piece of paper telling you about your educational qualification , but it's the ups and downs that one experiences , which will shape your life forever . What I particularly liked about this coming of age story , is actually how it's evenly mapped out into the 4 years of his life spent on the dredger and small mining town . From rookie to senior , the movie chronicles Arjin's life in short episodes , sometimes dwelling on certain memorable scenes , while others looked more into the characters he deals with everyday . In the tin mining town where everyone knows everyone else , and there are few gathering and entertainment spots , it's the characters that helped to bring out the flavours in the movie . Watching how life , no matter how hard and difficult it is , unfold on the dredger , makes you wonder if your own work environment has it that difficult . But it's always the camaraderie and team spirit , that helps make any environment , worth working in . Working hard and playing as hard should be the mantra , as we see how this is practiced throughout the ranks , never mind if one is the CEO , or the lowly servant . Infused with plenty of comedy and touching moments as well , the characters make this movie work . Like the scrooge like shopkeeper ( Jumpol Thongtan ) , the cock-sure supervisor who speaks a smattering mix of Thai and Behasa Melayu John ( Niran Sattar ) , and the burly yet child like assistant Kai ( Sonthaya Chitmanee ) . It's a pity that this movie only had a limited run in the theatres this year , and sadly I've actually missed it then . It's something worth watching in the cinemas , even though its narrative style sticks to the formula of coming of age films , this one had a certain heart and soul to it all . Watch it if you have any opportunity ! |
514,513 | 317,399 | 445,620 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Paradise Now | Paradise Now was the Palestinian film which won the Golden Globes this year for best foreign language film , and it's no wonder to see why it did . Touching on very real , contemporary and the sensitive issue about the relations between the Israelis and the Palestinians , it takes on the much talked about and feared weapon of terrorists / freedom fighters , that of the suicide bomber . And for that , I applaud the movie's take and narrative , which treads the very fine line and provides the audience aspects from both ends of the spectrum . The introduction is nicely set up , that the Israelis view the Palestinians with suspicious eyes , while it is the case of contempt the other way around . It doesn't set out to glamorize dastardly deeds , but presents a more intimate look into the making of a martyr , the motivations behind those who have willed themselves to political suicide , as well as presenting arguments for a more peaceful resolution through negotiations . Said ( Kais Nashef ) and Khaled ( Ali Suliman ) are childhood friends living in the city of Nablus . They're essentially the working class , and on the surface , your average Joe with non extremist views , living in a city where explosions are common everyday events . But before you know it , it's revealed that they are freedom fighters living a life of normalcy , and beneath the happy-go-lucky facade , they're ever ready to die for their cause . This movie humanizes the anonymous faces we often see in the news , thereby drawing flak from certain circles . A chance presents itself , and the two of them are assigned to an unnamed group's latest and largest operation in 2 years , a bombing in Tel Aviv . Here's where things are interesting , as rituals are presented as the duo prepare themselves for their appointment with Paradise . And this movie doesn't hold back in making fun of precisely this sacred promise of going to Heaven after the violent act of murder is committed . Watching it being presented through dialog by their chief operative , makes you wonder how gullible and easily manipulated would-be martyrs can be . But just as you're ready to generalize the simplistic behavior of suicide bombers , the movie's third act will arrest you with a twist that deeply explores the agendas , personal vendettas and the likes , which transcend all reasons and logic , providing more than enough fuel for motivation . Worry not though that the movie will be heavy in theme . There are adequate light hearted moments to break the seriousness , and interesting visual details like the handless bomb - maker , puts things into certain perspective . Or that tongue-in-cheek reference to The Last Supper as well . The ending was superb . My guess is many weaned on Hollywood will not come to appreciate it as it yanks the carpet from under your feet . Those who are accustomed to big , loud explosions might find it puzzling . But I thought it was a brilliant way to end it , a silent purposeful statement that continues throughout the end credits , stripping away any glamor of violence , whatever the cause , reason or rationale used to justify it . Paradise Now is a film rooted in realism despite its fictional storyline . It is without the usual glitz associated with recent films touching on the subject ( Syrianna comes to mind ) and makes perfect use of its smaller scale to tell a more intimate , but no less powerful , story . |
515,432 | 317,399 | 480,773 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Gabai Granny | Gabai Granny is based on the bestseller Saga No Gabai Baachan ( Gabai Granny from Saga ) , which is penned by comedian Shimada Yoshichi as he recounts his childhood memories of growing up under the care of his grandmother . And without a doubt , this is possibly one of the crowd favourites given the high turnout of Japanese folks who have come for this screening . Starring the evergreen Yoshiyuki Kazuko in the title role , it tells the story of a young boy Akihiro , who was sent against his wishes and to his surprise , to the countryside to brought up by his grandmother . In all four movies screened today , it seemed that it's common for parents who are struggling to cope with life , to either sell their children , or to send them away in the hopes that someone else can assist in taking care of them . In Akihiro's case , it is no different , as his mother ( played by Kudoh Youki ) struggles as a bar-hostess . To a young boy , journeying to a faraway place , and living in conditions alien to him , definitely makes him miss home . Worse , he is not familiar with his grandmother and her ways too . But this is Gabai Granny we're talking about , and within minutes of her introduction , you'll fall for her warmth ways . We slowly discover , together with Akihiro in his growing pains , just how resourceful Granny is , and she's possibly the first eco-friendly person too , with values of recycling and reusing greatly entrenched within her personal values . The merits of the story , and the lessons learnt from Granny , is both touching and by no means forceful in having them shoved down your throat . And kudos to Yashiyuki's earnest and heartwarming portrayal of a Granny who truly cares , and loves unconditionally . There is much to be learnt from her philosophy on thrift , though when it comes to spending , she goes for nothing but the best . But possibly the best lesson that can be learnt from her , is to always look at the positive side of adversary , to never be beaten down . She imparts excellent values , positive thinking and reasoning peppered with comedy , you can't help but feel endeared to her . Love , friendship , good advice , and plenty of everything else makes Gabai Granny a delight to watch . However , I felt that the ending was a little too abrupt for my liking , as it probably didn't provide me an ending that seemed satisfactory , not that it's clichéd though , far from it . Fans of Ken Ogata ( who has featured himself quite a bit in this Festival with Vengeance is Mine and Ballad of Narayama ) will probably sit up and notice his Tofu seller role here . |
514,440 | 317,399 | 344,854 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Arthur and the Minimoys | Director Luc Besson is probably synonymous with movies laden with violence , like Nikita , Leon the Professional , and the science fiction fantasy The Fifth Element . The Taxi franchise too is associated with the French director , as are the other diverse variety of movies written by him , ranging from Danny the Dog to 13th District . And finally , an animation which doesn't feature talking animals . Talk about a deserved break from animation of those sorts . Besson has weaved a magical fantasy adventure , combining live action and delightful 3D animation which is absolutely stunning , and not forgetting a memorable , simple yet strong story to carry the movie through , rather than rehashed juvenile tales that put you to sleep . No doubt that you might think there are bits which makes it look like a distant cousin of Honey I Shrunk the Kids , or Ants / A Bug's Life , Arthur and the Minimoys has its own saccharine sweet backstory developed , leading to an inevitable ending of which it isn't pessimistic about . In fact , it ends on hope , and love , and there's always something special with movies that dare to end wit that . The hybrid technique used in itself is special too , as there are too few movies which do so , one of which that comes to mind is Who Framed Roger Rabbit . Here , Arthur is played by Freddie Highmore , last seen in A Good Year , and I thought he's slowly adding to his resume with credible performances all round in the various movies he's in . Lending star power to the movie are the voice talents of ( in the English version ) , check this out - Madonna , Robert De Niro , Jimmy Falon , Harvey Keitel , Snoop Dogg , and David Bowie , who seems to be on a slowburner to making movies these days . Arthur and the Minimoys is full of love - between Arthur and Selenia the Minimoy Princess ( all animated movies must have lovebirds , you know ? ) , and more importantly , between family members . The message on nature and loving nature becomes secondary somewhat , but nonetheless still rings through . Highly recommended animated feature , a refreshing change from the usual style offered . |
514,762 | 317,399 | 923,811 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Evangelion : 1 . 0 You are ( Not ) Alone | While I knew a little about the Japanese anime Neon Genesis Evangelion through the reading of various fan sites dedicated to it , I've never actually sat down and watched an episode of the series . So when opportunity came by to experience the Rebuild of Evangelion , why not start the slate clean ? Rebuild of Evangelion is actually a tetralogy based on the original anime series by the same creative team , but it's not exactly a shot-by-shot rehash in that it does include some extra scenes , and I guess the objective is to allow the tetralogy to encapsulate what worked in the original , while at the same time to perhaps make it the more definitive telling of the story . Kind of like how comic books like to do the various reboots and tweaking of origins to suit the times . We're introduced to Shinji Ikari , the teenage kid whose father Gendo is commander of an organization called NERV , which developed the Evangelion mechas to fight against alien Angels who invade Earth . To a layman like me , it's something like Ultraman battling monsters , except that are certain constraints here that make Evangelions interesting . Firstly , they are dependent on launch pads and are wired to NERV control , and what more , piloting these sophisticated mechas involves some bio-fusion between children , and the bots . Imagine having the fate of the world resting on the shoulders of a child , and what more , a rookie one in Shinji , who has to learn the ropes on the job . To complicate matters , he's the reluctant hero who whines a lot , is indecisive , and seems like he could lose it all anytime . But that's exactly what makes Evangelion a joy to watch . The flawed heroes , compounded by the fact that with every increasingly powerful Angel to battle , the Evangelions seem to be more patched and repaired after each encounter , you'd wonder how long it could hold up before actually crumbling . The battle sequences here are nothing less than spectacular to watch , as we discover along with the heroes , just how best to defeat the vastly different Angels . Animation wise there's nothing to specially shout out about , as it's quite standard 2D fair with the usual attention to details . Being the introductory movie , this film begins quite unconventionally in the thick of the action to grip your attention and never let up . As it moves along , it does drop hints of previous incidents , while introducing us to new characters along the way , expanding its mythos and universe . And in all intents , it does leave many doors opened for questioning , and it's almost definite that these would ( hopefully ) be answered in the subsequent films . Oh , and for action junkies , I give the thumbs up for the final battle in this movie - the creative team really do know how to make everything look really bleak ! For those who are new to the series , I quite sure this will serve as an excellent starting platform into the Evangelion universe . For those who have already been in the loop ( and probably hated the series ending ) , this could be interesting for you to see what changes were made , and whether you will prefer the tetralogy instead . |
515,414 | 317,399 | 312,318 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : ( DVD ) ( 2002 ) | It's true that you always remember what you were doing at a point when disaster or tragedy strikes . And none more so that September 11 , 2001 , a date which changed the entire global landscape in its fight against terrorism . No , this documentary didn't set out to be dwelling on the events leading to . Rather , the filmmakers , brothers Gédéon and Jules Naudet , set out to do a documentary on the trials and tribulations of a rookie New York firefighter . They had gone to the academy and done some shoots of training , and had handpicked their " proby " ( probation firefighter ) to join them in an NY firehouse , home to Ladder 1 and Engine 7 . But their production was to develop and contain at that time , believed to be the only shot of the first plane slamming into the World Trace Center . I was traveling back with a friend on the train from a night of LAN gaming , and received a call at about 850pm local time from my Dad , who informed me of the above . Few minutes later , he told me there was another , and that the WTC was under attack . By the time I arrived home , the upper floors of the twin towers were ablaze and in smoke , and to my horror , they collapsed , under an hour . The filmmakers had two cameras running that day , one who had followed a team out on a routine call , and which immediately raced to the WTC upon hearing and seeing the plane crash into it . We follow what is possible the only filmed sequence of events in the lobby of WTC1 where the first responders of firefighters , paramedics , and police had to make sense of what happened , and to quickly develop a plan of action . The other camera , held by the other brother , was making his way to WTC to look for his sibling , and along the journey , captured the many expressions of New Yorkers , as well as the sense of chaos in and around Manhatten . Peppered throughout the documentary are numerous interviews with the men from Ladder 1 and Engine 7 , which miraculously , did not suffer any casualty . But being survivors also brought about its own set of psychological turmoil , as they struggle to come to terms with the event . Through the events that unfold , we learn of the strong camaraderie amongst these men who risk live and limb each day on their jobs , to save lives . We began with what the documentary was supposed to be , before events of the day totally swung in and became the focus , right up to the rescue phase where hopes of finding survivors under the rubble were kept alive by the men who work round the clock in making sense of the collapsed steel structures . It's not a film that is fabricated , and what you see here cannot be recreated in any other documentary ( and heavens , not sound stages for Hollywood blockbusters ) . It's as close as you can get to that day , witnessing the event up close , from safety . Code 1 DVD contains a separate extra hour of 4 sets of interviews with the men of Ladder 1 and Engine 7 . |
514,891 | 317,399 | 1,060,277 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Cloverfield | OMIGAWD ! OMIGAWD ! RUN ! OMIGAWD ! HELP ! GET THE HELL OUT ! OMIGAWD ! You'd be expecting to hear a lot of that , but not to fret , the rest of this review is spoiler free , guaranteed ! So we've weathered a six month wait since the teaser trailer premiered with Michael Bay's Transformers ( and draws some parallels , more on that later ) , and set the net buzzing with its many viral marketing sites appearing online , some red herrings , some dangling treats for those who can't wait to guess just what the movie will be titled ( well , just Cloverfield ) , and speculate on how the creature , if it was one , would look like . In recent history , Hollywood had tried this stunt before . Remember the Godzilla of 1998 ? Audiences were teased with a tail here , a roar there , and the filmmakers pretty much had the monster kept under tight wraps . Until it opened , and because it failed to live up to its hype , and didn't meet everyone's expectations of how the good old Japanese lizard would look like and behave , it tanked at the box office . Now , Cloverfield adopted similar strategies in having us hear a roar , and to witness its destructive powers , without a visual clue of what it looked like . Did it deliver ? Strangely enough , in my opinion , yes . Don't get me wrong , as I was leaning toward , and close to committing the cardinal sin of loathing a movie prior to experiencing it for myself first hand . I was apprehensive about watching something that perpetually couldn't keep still , and yet its technique adopted in presenting the movie worked perfectly . Like Blair Witch Project , we witness a series of events as unfolded through the lens of a hand-held consumer camera . In doing so , we forgo watching the movie from a third person perspective , and get plunged head on to first person instead . In this age of reality television , exclusive news scoops , youtube voyeurism , this shakycam technique works in putting us there where the action is , watching things unfold , raw . Imagine , just if , a big unknown were to happen . You push and probe , and frankly , get scared , wondering what to do next , worry about your loved ones , and probably would just follow the masses . Cloverfield took a simple , tried and tested story about a monster invasion in the scale of Godzilla's , and played with us - what if we were caught in the same situation with the monster pounding everything in sight - what would we do ? We take pictures for our blogs . Then run . I would put my neck out even to say that there is no grounds of comparison between Cloverfield , and one of my recent monster movie favourite The Host , simply because it's like comparing apples and oranges . The latter decided to show all very early in the movie , and had a strong focus and emphasis on the family of characters . Here , we don't feel much for the yuppies , we somehow become one of them , the videocam being our eyes and ears . And the creature , while we don't see it in full glory clearly , makes it all the more menacing . It plays on actual fear - we catch a glimpse , then quickly run away - and I thought it made the 1998 Godzilla look like a pussy with so much unexplained , that this uncertainty breeds and grows within you . But of course there will be some quick to dismiss this along the lines similar to those who dislike Transformers on the grounds that there isn't enough screen time for what mattered to them - " we're here to see robots / monsters , so give us the robots / monsters ! " As mentioned , there are nice moments where we sneak a peek at the rampaging creature , but there will be those whose appetite remain insatiate . Bear in mind though the point here is to experience what it would be like if you're stuck in a similar situation yourself ( wonder why this wasn't available in IMAX format ) , rather than watching in God mode , the narrative unfold in extended Starship Troopers style . And similar to Transformers , Odette Yustman is your new Megan Fox , except that she goes back to being the classic damsel . Cloverfield , if it makes enough money at the box office , leaves plenty of room with multiple doors wide open to possibilities of spin offs , prequels , sequels , and probably even a television series , animated or live action , or through any other visual medium . You can essentially repeat the same premise , but from different points of view - trust me , there are enough - and can probably build an entire community of creative work just around this one simple flint to sustain a campfire . OMIGAWD ! |
515,356 | 317,399 | 805,564 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Lars and the Real Girl | I'd bet almost everyone during their childhood years would have interacted with their toys somehow , be it outwardly verbal , or playing it all in the mind . Conversations with dolls , teddy bears , or even with G . I . Joe himself beating up Cobra Commander , these are stuff of what a rich imagination would be made of , breathing a form of consciousness onto inanimate objects . Some kids don't grow up of course , retaining their childlike mannerisms within a grown up body . Ryan Gosling's Lars is a gentle , soft-spoken man , extremely shy but ever ready with a warm smile that can melt the sternest of hearts , and when nervous or anxious , blinks hard . Living in the garage ( by choice ) of a house occupied by brother Gus ( Paul Schneider ) and his wife Karin ( Emily Mortimer ) , we learn that Lars has a condition of being delusional , and his extreme introversion causes him to absolutely abhor signs of affection . It's been a while since I remembered a movie having a central character spending much time interacting with an object , the most memorable of course would be Tom Hanks ' Chuck Noland being castaway on an island and finding companionship with Wilson the volleyball . Here , Lars finds a new security blanket in his mail order sex doll he christians Bianca , which is highly customizable , anatomically correct , and quite attractive to boot . Furthermore , it's not just one character that gets all emotional with it , in fact , the entire small midwestern town does , where everybody indulges Lars and his new friend , at first to curious stares , but slowly warming up to even Bianca as well , as their tender reactions now turn into immense efforts bringing Lars out of the shell . And would you believe that the director for Mr . Woodcock helmed this movie ? I suppose one would have imagined that with a plot device like a sex doll , it will be extremely easy to traverse down the path of comedy . However , Lars and the Real Girl avoided that with a ten foot pole , being contemplative , and for the most parts , surprisingly quiet . It's a sublimely warmhearted movie about community , love , and relationships forged under trying circumstances . It's unconventional in its approach to conventional themes , and therein lies its wonderful charm with a pinch of quirkiness . Those who have enjoyed Ryan Gosling's performance in Half Nelson will find that he's again in fine form , and personally I felt he did much better here . He brings out the innocence of Lars succinctly , and his performance will without a doubt touch many with his earnestness in being a Boo Radley without ill-intentions to people around him , and wanting to be left alone doing his own thing . It might seem like a one man show again , but the supporting casts are given ample opportunity to shine and complement Gosling , with Emily Mortimer being the ever supportive pillar of strength in the household , juggling all the weirdness with her pregnancy , and Paul Schneider the opposite , a skeptic who feels responsible and remorseful for Lars ' condition . Patricia Clarkson and Kelli Garner play the other women in Lars ' life , the former the psychologist treating his condition , and the latter a co-worker who's equally shy in expressing her true feelings for this man-child . The power of the mind and imagination , to say that it's powerful would be a gross understatement , and to witness how honest emotions get to conquer mental conditions , is indeed a joy to behold . Lars and the Real Girl succeeds in being mature about the treatment , and having a great cast deliver the goods superbly , is already a major plus . Should you not want to sit through another teenage sex-romp comedy like Superbad , then let not the notion of having a sex-doll on screen turn you away , as you'll be pleasantly surprised by the end results . Recommended ! P . S . Like Knocked Up which featured a real site in Mr Skin , those smitten with Bianca will be happy to know the site featured in the movie is real too , though a standard real doll will set you back by about US$7K no less . As I know I have readers in their teens , I will not be adding actual links to the websites mentioned here . |
515,038 | 317,399 | 460,989 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : The Wind That Shakes the Barley | The preview for this movie played to a full house at Picturehouse , no doubt with almost half those in attendance being Caucasians , and I'd bet almost everyone is curious to the pedigree of Ken Loach's latest film that snagged that Palme d'Or at last year's Cannes Film Festival . The Wind That Shakes the Barley is a mouthful , and it plays like a thinking man's Braveheart . While Mel Gibson's Academy Award winner was set in the 13th Century with the Scots battling the English for independence , Wind tackles similar subject matter about oppression , the rallying to arms and the battle for independence , set in early 20th Century in Ireland , sandwiched between the two World Wars . As such , there are many parallels between the movies in terms of the politics behind the scenes , the arguments for and against their rationale of armed resistance and struggle , though Wind doesn't have the large scaled set action pieces for war , and it doesn't need to . It takes a very intimate look at the historical background of the Irish Republican Army , as seen through the eyes of two brothers Damien ( Cillian Murphy ) and Teddy ( Padraic Delaney ) . The movie doesn't waste time in establishing a rather biased fact , that the English troops are despised for their arrogance and the crimes that they commit among commonfolk , much like the Robin Hood days . It doesn't take two ticks for Damien to enlist with the IRA for their armed struggle against oppression witnessed by many , and soon enough they discover that their political ideals differ . Yes , it's as much a talkie movie as it is one with action . Even without background of the politics of the time , you'll still be able to follow through much of the debate given passionate performances , and fiery speeches made from the heart , given the universal subject themes . As always the case , differing ideals become the crux of the issue , and that adage that power corrupts ring through , especially amongst those at the top echelons , the politicians versus the man on the street . What I thought was intriguing , was how freedom was negotiated , as a compromise rather that complete , yet with plans in the backburner on going against such agreements when one becomes more powerful - the classical giving an inch and taking a yard , when the time is correct , with a powerful base to work from . Cillian Murphy gives yet another commendable performance as Damien , a freedom fighter ( or terrorist , depending on how you see it ) fighting for the injustice he experiences and observes . Padraic Delaney too holds his own as Teddy the brother , and the two cannot be more different , especially when they stand for the same ideals , disagreeing on execution . One's an idealist , while the other doesn't mind compromise , but both share extreme pain in doing what they deem morally right . Despite Spider-man's much awaited sequel making its debut worldwide this week , Wind is one movie that I'll recommend if summer blockbuster's aren't your cup of tea . Highly recommended . |
514,547 | 317,399 | 105,654 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : The Tune | This is a story about a song writer called Del ( voiced by Daniel Nieden ) , who's working on the latest hit for his boss , Mr Mega ( Marty Nelson ) . However he's suffering from creator's block , and couldn't find the inspiration to finish the tune . At the same time , his relationship with Mr Mega's secretary , Didi ( Maureen McElheron ) , may start to fall apart should he not be able to complete the tune , and this just adds to the pressure . What follows is something like an adventure in Alice's Wonderland , as Del , en route to submitting his incomplete work to Mr Mega , finds himself on the wrong end of a highway , and gets transported to the extremely weird world of Flooby Nooby , where it seems like everyone is able to hold their own tune . The secret of course is to write from the heart , and he embarks on this quest within Flooby Nooby to learn just how to do that . There are more than 10 songs featured in the movie , which just gets better and better with each song being played , ranging from pop to folk and even the blues . The songs are naturally the highlight of an animated film hinging on them , and Maureen McElheron certainly created the tunes that combined perfectly with Bill Plympton's visuals . Del encounters different folks with different strokes , and I'm still in awe at the immense creativity that Bill Plympton has featured in the characters of this movie . Infusing great humour , there are plenty of mini episodes which could stand alone as comedic animated shorts , like the two violent men , the sad story of a taxi driver , and of course my personal favourite , probably the precursor to The Matrix Reloaded's Architect in the Wiseone ( Chris Hoffman ) . What's amazing too is the different animation styles adopted by Plympton within the film , and truly , this is great stuff . You have animators who , after discovering a style they're comfortable with , sticks to it and you can see the style replicated in their drawings . Plympton's so diverse , you can hardly classify his works as they are extremely wide-ranged . The shorts who have provided this hint , but I didn't expect him to combine the styles into one coherent feature length movie so seamlessly . Before the screening began , Bill Plympton shared with the audience that The Tune costed around US$150-175K in those days , and it took him about two and a half years to make the film . You see , rarely does the creator animate his own stuff , but Bill probably is the first who did it , for a feature length animation . Though he prefers to admit that he's not too diligent and likes to spend time travelling , which of course , adds to the production schedule . He's been able to recoup the cost of production only recently , thanks to the advent of technology like the Internet and DVD sales . He also shared that his stuff is wildly popular in Korea , that it is a huge market for him . And for budding animators , his advice would be to own their own creations . When asked a question about opportunity cost between working independently , and for a studio / production house , he highlighted his preference for having the creative freedom to do what he wants , instead of having someone else provide the directions and nagging if something is too politically incorrect or too violent . |
515,231 | 317,399 | 389,860 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Click | With comedies , I half expected the best bits to make it to the trailers . They always do these days , and leave the actual movie much to be desired in the laughs department . Click however , was a totally different ball game altogether , not that it was lacking in laughs , but never did I expect the 2nd half of the movie to go where it went . It might be formulaic , but the message it has for the audience , rings through so effectively through Adam Sandler's performance . Sandler plays Michael Newman , an extremely busy architect trying to find his way to the next big promotion , to be the business partner of his company alongside his boss Ammer ( hammed up by David Hasselhoff ) . To Michael , he is working his butt off in order to provide for his family , and places work priority always as number 1 , at the expense of family and quality time . He's uber mean , and vents his frustrations at the neighbour's kid ( not that he's any way likable to begin with ) . In an effort to get a remote control to universally control all the electrical appliances at home , he chances upon a quirky salesman Morty ( Christopher Walken ) who gives him for free , one such device . Not before long , Michael learns of the power of the " universal remote " , and his entire life becomes a DVD menu - where he can playback , fast forward , and even watch certain milestones in his life with a James Earl Jones ' voiced commentary . And it is here that the movie constantly churned out comedic situations after comedic situations , with all kinds of humour flying around at every turn . But in the second half , the movie takes on dramatic proportions as in Sandler's earlier movie Spanglish , which I also enjoyed . Beneath the laughter , comes a serious reminder about our priorities , and it made me think , hard . Sure we all strive to excel at what we do , in order to eke out a living . It's always easier said than done , but it served as a good reminder , to those with families and kids , not to neglect them . The importance of putting family first , and achieving some form of work-life balance , sometimes get overlooked as we run the rat race . Time never looks back , and once you miss the boat , that's it , and there's no practical way to rewind to key moments in life , like a movie can . In living life , there are always bounds and bounds of challenges . After all , aren't those challenges supposed to make life interesting ? Instead of sidestepping issues and sweeping them under the carpet , we must learn to face them with gusto instead of looking for the easy way out . At times , choosing the easy way out will mean the missing out on the experience , which to me is a whole lot more costly . But no worries , perhaps I'm just looking too deeply into the message in the movie , but you get my drift . And the cast is picture perfect , with Michael's parents ( Henry Winkler and Julie Kavner - she voices Marge Simpson ) providing an extended family feel to Michael's wife ( the beautiful Kate Beckinsale ) and two kids ( Joseph Castanon and Tatum McCann ) . Sean Astin has a bit role here as a swimming coach , and there are plenty of " vase " babes in this movie , like Sophie Monk ( Date Movie ) Fans of The Cranberries will also be pleased when a beautiful ballad from the band is played , and Dolores O'Riordan actually made an appearance too performing Linger . And by the time that happens , some in the audience would already be standing by , or using tissues already . Click managed to keep its entire second , more serious act under wraps in the trailers , but when revealed in the movie , provided a more layered , adult theme in this comedy which makes one wonder , have you told your family you love them today ? |
515,068 | 317,399 | 800,080 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : The Incredible Hulk | The crowded streets and cluttered housing on the streets of Rio De Janeiro provided some reminiscence of Jackie Chan's Police Story , where you could be sure of a chase scene zig - zagging the streets to take advantage of the wonderful opportunities presented for an exhilarating chase . And Leterrier doesn't try not to provide action junkies plenty of action - smashing moments as we root for Bruce Banner to hulk up , unfortunately of course , to satisfy our lust for some unadulterated action where everything in the way of the Hulk , gets smashed . However those expecting action from the get go will be disappointed , as there were only a small handful of action sequences , though of course they include the classic moments that comic fans had been baying for since 4 years ago . So I guess most will be left happy as we see some nifty moves by the Hulkster , which will leave a smile on your face , despite being used in limited doses . But I note though that the story cum action , looked a little bit like Superman II with the seeking of a cure and the deliberate loss of power to be with the lady love , and the duking out between super-beings on equal footing ( here being gamma-powered ) , with a tinge of Cloverfield like moments too . While there will be those who will gripe about the transformation mainly done in the dark and in shadows , it does prove to be effective in building some anticipation and heigntened tension as to when he will finally appear in full glory . The mainly military attacks on the big guy again brought out some back to basics adversary with Thunderbolt Ross trying to capture the Hulk , and in fact I'd appreciate that this movie didn't divert too much away from this primary objective , although it might be more of the same from the first movie . But while the Hulk has an aura of invulnerability , somehow The Incredible Hulk provided me at least , an emotional pang when he gets hurt bad , as we remember that this is a guy who just plainly wants to be left alone . And the angrier the Hulk gets , the bigger and more powerful he becomes too . And it's not all serious here too , with well meaning humour peppered in the right places , making numerous references to the television series and characters from the Marvel universe . You'd often wonder how his pants stay on before-during-and-after transformation , well , it gets addressed here with humour . Memorable ines such as " don't - make - me - angry - you - wouldn't - like - me - when - I'm - angry " gets punned away , even the late Bill Bixby got a cameo , together with Lou Ferrigno who reprises his security guard role , and Stan Lee who's possibly in the most unmemorable cameo appearance ever . The much touted Tony Stark appearance will bring whoops of joy from newly converted fans of Robert Downey Jr , while I suspect in line with the rumoured Avengers movie , the universe now seemed more streamlined again with the references to SHIELD , and stupid me thinking that Mr Fantastic would somewhat be featured in this too . A WWII super soldier project and serum was referenced and formed the basis for Tim Roth's Emil Blonsky turned Abomination , but Captain America ? I'll leave that to you to find out . But what I really liked about The Incredible Hulk is not the action sequences , nor the references mentioned made . It was the central love story between Bruce Banner and Betty Ross . In Lee Ang's version , we don't see much of the romance between Bana and Connelly because the story didn't really call for it , save for a rescue scene , and at an in-juncture where the Hulk was stopped in his tracks by his lady love . And that was precisely the winner for me . The Hulk , for all his power and unstoppable rage , could be brought under control by his lady love , and that was used to great effect here . Beneath the green invulnerability lies the heart of a mild-mannered man who yearns to be with the love of his life , but unfortunately cannot due to the curse that Fate had brought upon him . Both Norton and Tyler managed to bring out this chemistry of lovers torned apart , one who can only admire the other from afar , and the other finally never wanting to let go of someone who had disappeared from her life for her own protection . And this version of Betty does sport a bit of a temper and feisty too , and is not really your classic damsel in distress . Granted that most supporting characters were rather one-dimensional , The Incredible Hulk somehow managed to straddle between its intense whack-all-destroy-all moments , and tender ones when the lovers are left alone to their own devices . As with the Marvel movies to date , the doors are left wide opened for follow ups and team-ups , and here there are no less than three avenues where the next story could develop further from , and sowed the seed for other movie franchises to be developed too . It drained a little bit from the cerebral department in order to amplify the romance , and let the action go into overdrive . HUlk Smash indeed , this time likely to make a huge dent at the box office , for fans and non-fans alike to be won over , just like how Iron Man did . |
514,942 | 317,399 | 421,073 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Street Kings | So I continue my foray into the theatrical releases this week as a break from the Festival proceedings , and choosing Street Kings is a no brainer . It was in Speed that Keanu Reeves donned a Kevlar vest and a devil may care attitude to save a speeding bus from annihilation , and after that he's gone on to other blockbusters such as the Matrix trilogy and countless of other romance movies . Here , he revisits that action genre as a cop with questionable morals , and while some may gripe over his acting ability , I thought that he was given a role totally within his range - that of a clueless gunslinger who's caught up in a web of intrigue far greater than he can fathom . Based on a story James Ellroy , who gave us L . A . Confidential and Black Dahlia , we continue the tale about corrupt cop culture , and with director David Ayer at the helm , who delivered Harsh Times and wrote Training Day , there's some amount of credibility and expectation with these two powerhouses collaborating , and from my previous enjoyment of their earlier movies , thankfully , Street Kings delivered spot on , with hard hitting , uncompromising action coupled with violence without remorse , and a deep undercurrent brewing on the political angle within the police department as well . We get introduced to Reeves ' Detective Tom Ludlow of the LAPD , who in the first 10 minutes , we witness a classic Dirty Harry styled cop who lets his guns do the talking , and employs questionable tactics in getting the job done . And he gets off the hook easy because of his sterling reputation , and no doubt being given special treatment and protection from his direct boss Captain Jack Wander ( Forest Whitaker ) . Naturally it gets slowly revealed that the entire police team has plenty of skeletons in the closet , and while Wander may be the patriarch of the force , politicking his way to more power , he has his enforcer , Ludlow , at his side to straighten things up . And with corrupt cops come the probe by Internal Affairs , and here's where things start to get interesting , with potential moles , and doubtful loyalties being thrown around , and in the midst of it all is severe corruption , that it's nearly impossible to try and trust anyone around , more so when Chris Evan's Detective Paul Diskant gets thrown into the fray to investigate a case against Ludlow . For those who enjoy cop dramas , you'll be in for a real treat with the twists and turns , betrayals and double crossings , and when it comes down to the crunch , out comes the guns . But more importantly , it allows us to question just how much are we willing to sacrifice our moral ground , especially when revealing the truth will put us in bad light , or get us into trouble , and we're talking about trouble with a capital T , where innate self-preservation instincts will take over if we do not consciously make a conscientious decision to come clean . We can cover up , get people to cover up , or better yet , have someone in power to cover it up for you , but that only means you get sucked into a system , and it will continue to breed within you , for the worse . Street Kings is excellent stuff that blew me away ( caution : Fan Boy mode is on ) , and the ending sure is one of a kind , with the usual soliloquy , but one that really made you think on both sides of the equation - what one would do and say in order to save oneself , and how one can lie straight into the eye of another . It's classic black eat black , showing how deep the rot has permeated , and the ending just demonstrates that sometimes unorthodox methods work , but with a caution that there are always more powerful people out there who play others like pawns on a chessboard . Besides , it was nice to see Forest Whitaker getting into the rough and tumble of things after a rather docile role in Vantage Point . |
514,450 | 317,399 | 1,230,448 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Billu | Billu Barber had already courted some controversy because some hairstylists protested that the term " Barber " was offensive . I don't understand it , but this meant the word has been dropped , and it's now known simply as " Billu " , still after its titular character . A remake of the Malayalam film " Katha Parayumpol " , Billu is one of those films that work because of its spot-on capturing of the ugliness and greed of man . It opens quite matter of factly with Billu , played by Irrfan Khan , a poor barber in s small village , being down to his last rupee , seeking help from an official knowing that he has to offer a bribe for a loan . Naturally he gets thrown out because of his frankness , and we slowly learn of Billu's immediate challenges - his barber business is down because the state of his shop is run-down , there's a trendier salon opened opposite his , electricity to his small house got cut because of his inability to pay , and the school principal is threatening to throw his kids out of school because the school fees are not forthcoming . And little does he know that his problems will multiply with the coming of a Bollywood film crew for a shoot in their village , turning his entire world as he knows topsy turvy just because he is a friend of India's mega-star , Sahir Khan ( incidentally , like the credits say , played by Shah Rukh Khan ) . This premise puts an interesting dilemma on Billu , because while he is a nobody and a would-be bankrupt , suddenly the village folk start to pay homage to him , from neighbours to rivals to the town's rich miser , because their degree of separation to Sahir Khan is now 2 , provided they think , that they had better try and " bribe " Billu by doing favours and giving charity to him , from provision of food , to an overhaul of his shop , so that they can get an opportunity to meet the mega-star up close and personal . To make things worse , Billu's motor-mouth kids and a wife who thought she could now impress the neighbours , start to craft stories of their association , and as we all know , word always get around in a misconstrued manner , thus something innocently said , becomes blown out of proportion . While sometimes the intent is based on perceived noble terms , like accepting the school's bursary in exchange for the star's presence in an anniversary celebration , making false promises puts a question mark on integrity , and worse , the effects are felt by Billu himself , for something that he did not boast about , or craft . My growing list of character actors I admire had included Irrfan Khan ever since I watched his role in The Namesake , and I felt he always had this regal presence , even for short roles such as that in The Darjeeling Limited and Slumdog Millionaire . Here , he brought out the down-to-earthness portrayal of a small village barber trying his best to etch a living and provide for his family , and feeling very out of place with all the unwanted attention showered upon him . We feel his dilemma instantly , as his worries come from it being a very long time since he and Sahir had met , and the unassuming man that he is , believes that he shouldn't impose himself on a friend from the past , in fear of having his friend think that he's clinging onto the coattails of his fame , or worse , to want to ask for favours , which many in the village expect him to do . Much of the film plays around the dilemma , of how people often impose their wishes onto you just because you have the facility to possibly grant their wishes , and rebuttals are often unheeded because people only want to hear what they want to hear , and worse , when assumptions are made . Suddenly you find enemies and casual acquaintances proclaiming themselves to be your new best friends , because of the benefit they can gain from such lip service . And nothing could be worse if these impositions turn out to be from family members - the kids want to meet their idol , and so does the wife ( played by Lara Dutta ) . How can one turn these requests down , when one takes on the role as provider ? Shah Rukh Khan looked like he had a field day playing a parody of himself , the film star who happened to share the exact same filmography as himself at that too . Although in a support role , his Sahir comes across as direct and no-nonsense , and having hordes of security and minders around him , makes one wonder who Billu , a man amongst thousands in a crowd , could somehow get him to notice , if it's true he is a friend in the first place ! But the role here offers the inevitable opportunity for some staple song-and-dance , and the filmmakers don't let up the chance to pair up SRK some of his more memorable co-stars such as Kareena Kapoor , Priyanka Chopra , and Deepika Padukone , with whom he bursts onto the scene in a futuristic setting for the song Love Mera Hit Hit , the start of Sahir's new movie which ironically is based on an alien's search for his long lost brother in a village . Billu turns out to be a superb balance between fun and an examination of a key negative human condition . I was pretty much entertained throughout , and thanks to the all round fine performances from the cast , Billu is very much enjoyable , and puts itself into the shortlist of one of the fine movies of the year thus far . |
514,422 | 317,399 | 472,043 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : Apocalypto | The passion of the predator braveheart blair witch fugitive gladiator who dances with wolves in the temple of doom . That in essence , is the summarized version of Mel Gibson's Apocalypto , written , produced and directed by the man himself ( see if you can spot the references above during various points in the movie ) . Following relative successes with Braveheart and Passion of the Christ , one of the first thing that strikes you is that Apocalypto brought over the violence and gore from those movies , and itself also a period piece , this time set in the Mayan civilization at its decline . It contains two different views , of the peaceful fun loving nature of simple villagers , versus the decadence of a race of people drunk on mindless religious fervour culminating in needless sacrifices , pitting one lifestyle against the other , turning a race against their own . For those who might not enjoy the movie , my guess is they were expecting Mayan Culture 101 . Sorry , wrong movie folks , even though the trailer might have suggested some deep profound thoughts and focus on a civilization now long gone . This is a movie about family and survival . Pure and simple . Jaguar Paw ( Rudy Youngblood ) is the William Wallace of the story , a man who finds himself against odds , struggling to survive in order to get back to the family he had to abandon , during the protection of the honour of his village against the Holcane Warriors , as we see how his life journeyed and paralleled that of an animal hunt featured in the very first scene . While the movie takes its time to establish characters , and despite the audience only getting glimpses of their names in the subtitles , somehow you'll still be able to identify and identify with them , maybe because the key cast are memorable . As soon as the action starts , it doesn't take its foot off the pedal , moving along at fanatical pace , and most times leaving you at the edge of your seat , despite being able to predict the outcome and certain details how it would have played out . It's all in the execution , and familiarity aside , they delivered . But it's not all just mindless action . Action with a powerful motif behind the violence , blood and gore , somewhat makes you root for Jaguar Paw as he claws his way out of the doldrums . One thing's for sure , never anger a family man , as even the Heavens smile and provide much needed luck . The movie is also sprinkled with themes about fear , and the power that it wields , and a subtle environmental message , which I thought mirrored Frank Herbert's Dune . James Horner's score added much mood to a movie which had little dialogue when the going gets rough , and relied on subtitles to translate the Mayan language on screen . But it goes to show that a movie doesn't require powerful dialogues in order to engage , so long as the score is able to evoke the right mood at the right moments , which Horner does wonderfully . The movie seldom betrays the fact that it's being shot in digital format , until those blair - witch up close facial expression shots hints at the crispness and lack of a distinct film look . Most of the actors here are rookies , but the ensemble together worked wonders . They make you believe , the heroes make you cheer , and the villains will make you hiss and spit . Given his charisma , we might see Rudy Youngblood in more roles , and I thought that he would make an engaging action hero , which the Hollywood of today is in woefully need of . I'd say Mel Gibson hasn't disappointed with the films he directed , and I don't see how Apocalypto wouldn't be enjoyed by the masses here . But I'd predict its chances at the Oscars would have been diminished by Gibson's drunken rant . A pity , for a film like this . |
514,652 | 317,399 | 428,803 | 9 | A Nutshell Review : March of the Emperor | This film is a celebration of life , love , danger and death , as seen through the eyes of Emperor Penguins in the Antarctica . Most people will come to know of this documentary from its quiet successful ascension on the American Box Office . For those who do not want to know the story , you may skip this part SPOILERS START We follow the penguins in their annual ritual in making life , beginning with long marches on ice to their mating ground . There , there look for their partners , and begin their " one night stand " . The eggs are laid , and the moms go off to gather food their future chicks , while the dads stay behind to look after the eggs and shield them from the cold . When the chicks hatch , the moms will have returned , and begin their feeding , while it's dads turn to go fish . It's like an interchanging of roles between mom and dad in taking care of the little one , until such time when they've grown and can hit the ocean waters to begin their own life . SPOILERS END 3 different narrators tell the story from different perspectives - the father , mother and child , Peppered throughout and assisting the narrative are the English songs ( in a French movie , which seemed a bit odd ) , and the stunning cinematography will leave many speechless . You will ponder at the wonders of nature and life itself , with these penguins undergoing their rituals and knowing exactly what to do during certain times . Instinct ? Probably . The theme of Danger and Death lurks at every corner , ever ready to pounce . As in the movie , you'll never know when to expect when Death strikes , though most of the violence happen off screen , and probably not as violent as what you can view on the Discovery Channel . It's a refreshing change to watch a documentary during this busy August and fall in love with the penguin chicks . I know many in the audience did . |
514,734 | 317,399 | 444,778 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : Citizen Dog | Oh my , I love this movie so much , and I'm wondering where should my gushing start from . Director Wisit Sasanatieng has weaved yet another beautiful film in terms of visuals in this romance-fantasy story , and it's not difficult to see the progression and retention of the plus points made from his earlier feature Tears of the Black Tiger . Perhaps first the storyline . It's quirky and bizarre , fit for a fairy tale like structure in terms of narrative style . Yet at the same time it's uplifting , inspirational and provides plenty of hope . Key to the plot is the aged old saying that when you're always looking for something , you'll never find it , but once you stopped searching , it'll appear right in front of you . This will be the central theme throughout the movie , at times made up of seemingly separate segments touching on the different lives that our hero Pod ( Mahasamut Boonyaruk ) encounters . Many of the bizarreness of the city are seen through the innocent eyes of Pod , a country bumpkin who left his country home to journey to Bangkok in search for a better life . And it's a pretty pastel coloured world , adding a surreal sense to all the happenings in Pod's life , throughout his work as a packer in a sardine factory , a security guard , and a taxi driver . In a number of decisions that he makes , he does it for his love , Jin ( Saengthong Gate - Uthong ) , who works as a maid in the same company . Jin , an obsessive compulsive with cleanliness , however , is the pragmatist , and doesn't think that their current financial status would allow them to lead a comfortable life together . Hence it's a constant pursuit for Pod , as Jin gets very sidetracked with her aims in life - as an environmental activist as well as to find out the true meaning of her mysterious white book . Narrated by fellow Thai filmmaker Pen-Ek Ratanaruang , the opening credits played to an addictive song , signals that it's one heck of a ride . There are plenty of endearing , funny , and kooky characters that populate the city . from a young girl who smokes and swears , a licker , a taxi-motorcyclist , and even Pod's Grandmother all make this dream-like Bangkok , something worth highlighting . There are loads of wonderful songs included to help move the narrative along , since dialogue by the leads , especially in the beginning , is kept to a minimum . There are plenty of special effects and techniques used to complement the beautiful , colourful cinematography , and even animation and stop motion puppetry were used to bring some characters to life . The art direction too is top notch , and the sets are always a sight to behold . The jokes come fast and furious , and mostly through the playing out of the innocence and dreams of Pod , literal as well as figural , as he tries to make sense of this new world he lives in . This is a highly recommended movie , and I think I'll try to look for its DVD . Wisit Sasanatieng is currently at the helm of a ( locally funded ? ) production called Armful , and going by his track record , I sure would be interested to see his spin on a martial arts movie . |
514,377 | 317,399 | 427,327 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : Hairspray | Teenager Tracy Turnblad ( Nikki Blonsky ) has a dream , and that is to join a group of hip teenagers in a dance programme on television called the Corny Collins ( James Marsden ) Show , especially when she has a crush on the show's heartthrob Link ( Zac Efron ) . But as you know , despite being pleasant , blessed with a good voice and groove , possessing a wonderful never-say-die attitude and positive demeanour , television's all about glamour , and being plump means she's out of place , especially for TV producer Velma Von Tussle ( Michelle Pfeiffer ) who sees her as a constant thorn undermining her and her engineered-for-success daughter Amber ( Brittany Snow ) . Given the loads of song , dance , music that you can shake your booty too , Hairspray is right up my alley . I can't seem to recall having seen the original 1988 movie ( though the songs do ring familiar ) , nor watched the musical , but I guess it doesn't matter unless you want to be picky and start comparing . On its own , Hairspray has all the ingredients that continues the now-tapering tradition of Hollywood made musicals , with a surprisingly star studded cast who seem to get ample time to showcase both their dancing feet and vocal prowess . And to sum it up , it's almost perfect as an entertaining musical . But what worked into this breezy light hearted film , are serious themes on race relations and society's obsession with being thin . Hairspray's set in the 60s , where segregation in American society still reared its ugly head , where in a television programme , white folks don't mix with " coloured folks " , and in a seemingly progressive move , a " Negro Day " is set aside in the programme schedule for non-Whites to perform in . Tracy Tumbald , as a character , seeks in her earnestness to break down those barriers , of course with tacit support from Corny Collins ( who though may seem is doing it for the ratings ? ) . Being sentenced to detention class also made it quite clear that Tracy's one of the rare white folk who gets sent , though her interactions with the RnB hip hoppers , proved to be fruitful . And weight obsession provided for some cheap laughs in the beginning , slowly made way to acceptance , and hey , girl power , whatever size they may be . Much has been said about John Travolta's comeback to the musical genre after his ever successful 1978 musical Grease , as Danny Zuko . Here , Travolta dons a fat suit and gets casted in the opposite sex as Tracy's mom Edna , and I think he did a great job , still showing he has the moves and the singing voice , despite it being almost 30 years coming back to the genre . While the novelty of donning the fat suit isn't new , it's still Travolta , and there are moments when you'll cringe , especially when husband Wilbur Turnblad ( Christopher Walken ) gets all lovey-dovey with her . Walken is fantastic as well , despite the relatively short screen time , singing and dancing ( he did the music video for Fatboy Slim's Weapon of Choice ) opposite Travolta and Grease ( 2 actually , and Batman Returns ) alumni Michelle Pfeiffer . It's been a while since we last saw Pfeiffer on screen , and this year we see her taking on two roles ( including this one ) where she plays the antagonist ( the other movie being Stardust ) . She still looks great though , despite her age , and wearing that red slinky dress , brings back memories of her heating up the screen with her sultry moves and singing voice way back in the Fabulous Baker Boys . Screen daughter Brittany Snow ( John Tucker Must Die ) does a complete evil-Barbie role here , while Amanda Bynes was a hoot as the wide eyed and naive in the cute and ditzy dumb role of Tracy's best friend Penny Pingleton , who actually goes against the grain ( of the times ) with her inter-racial romance . Rounding up the cast of notables include Queen Latifah and Elijah Kelly , but in a real act of reel emulating real , or real emulating reel , the discovery and coup casting will be newcomer Nikki Blonsky . Somehow she exudes this lovable charisma that you can't help but fall in love with her and her character . She bursts into the movie full of energy , just like her character did , and Hairspray provided the perfect platform for her to showcase her singing and dance talent . To sum up in two simple words , " she rocks " , and her chemistry with Travolta as daughter-err-mother , was simply irresistible . Hairspray's full of wacky fun despite its tackling of serious themes , has memorable songs and great chemistry amongst the cast , who look like they all had a good time making this musical . And it's a very enjoyable movie where you feel plenty of positivity exuding when the end credits start to roll . Highly recommended , one of the best musicals to have come out of Hollywood in recent years ! |
515,441 | 317,399 | 372,784 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : Batman Begins | No disrespect to Tim Burton , but Batman Begins blows away ALL the previous films , even Burton's . This is THE Batman film to date , and though Christopher Nolan did take some creative liberties on certain issues ( i . e . deviate from canon ) , he managed to distill the essence of the character ( make that all the characters ) and put it into one 140min film . Excellent ! Some liberties stem from the flashback scenes of the Wayne murders . The Wayne family didn't actually watch an opera , it was a trip to the movies - " The Mask of Zorro " , and Joe Chill , while accurately portrayed as the killer , and was after the pearl necklace ( I shuddered when Thomas Wayne showed Bruce that item ) , Chill was never caught , and neither was he killed when leaving the courtroom . I suppose this was the major liberty taken , but I was felt OK with it . But what Nolan did to hit the head on the nail was to explore to some depth the history of the Wayne Family's involvement in Gotham City , from the railway track beneath the Cave , to the philantrophy of the family to their city . Good research done ! The film runs in three acts , with the first being his training with the League of Shadows and flashbacks of his childhood days . It is during this training that sets Bruce / Batman's principle of never taking a life . And he doesn't . Therefore kudos to Chris Nolan . The Batman just doesn't kill , and neither does he use guns . The next act is where the fun begins , as Bruce sets out his journey to rid Gotham of its criminal underworld . Classic scenes include the lone bat appearing in Bruce's room ( thus his decision to dress as one ) , and the " exploration " of Wayne Enterprises with Lucius Fox to obtain his gear ( hence the advance technology ) . Nolan teases the audience for an hour with all the preparation , before the Batman appears . It is dark , mysterious , and the action is fast . Some may complain that you " cannot see anything " , but I would like to point out that's how Batman operates - swiftly and stealthily . He doesn't stand around ! The anticipation of the baddies for his appearance all the more bumps up expectations , and it succeeds , to the pulsating score by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard . In particular , I liked the way Batman interrogated his victims - exactly like the comic books ! You never saw this in any of the earlier films ! I was like , hell yeah , that's exactly how it's done ! And the last act is where everything comes together - the action and the finale battle . Again , classic scenes were featured , like Gordon's collaboration with Batman , and Bat's trust in him , the very Year One scene of Bats against the SWAT team , and activating a signal to bring his backup of bats to assist in escape ( though the scene in the film has changed to Arkham Asylum ) , and a Year One ending , which sets up a teaser for the sequel ( I hope it happens ! ) Fear is the running theme throughout - Bruce Wayne's fear of bats after accidentally discovering the Batcave beneath Wayne Manor , Gothamites ' fear of the criminal underworld , Dr Jonathan Crane / Scarecrow's use of Fear as a weapon . The effects of the latter is fascinating to watch because of the effective use of CGI , as we see the victim's fear come alive . Fans of the comics will get kicks from seeing serial killer Victor Zsas , and though it was somewhat a cameo appearance , he was given respect , unlike Bane's treatment under the hands of Joel Schumacher . We also got a glimpse of Gordon's wife Barbara and kid James Jr , and a mention of Ra's wife , and his reminiscence of her . Although the Lazarus Pit was never mentioned , we'd probably know it could have been , given what progressed in the movie . Many " bat-toys " in this film are born out of necessity rather than to sell more merchandise , which I though was excellent story telling . From his harness to his suit to the utility belt ( finally , a working model ! ) , to the cape ( which doubles up as a glider ) and of course to The Tumbler which would be the bat mobile . And judge not a book by its cover . While the first appearance of this vehicle caused many fans to shake their heads in disbelief , watch this film and you see it being used in full glory - it ROCKS ! There's also a running joke on how the vehicle was described - from " it's a . . . a . . . tank ! " to " it's black . . . you'll know it when you see it " Incidentally or otherwise , I felt this film also paid homage to Burton's films , ( spoiler : with the rescue-the-girl-in-bat mobile - race - to - cave - give - her - cure - send - her - home scene , and the discovery of Bat's identity though re-using dialogue that only the lovers know ) I give the thumbs up to casting Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne / Batman . He brought out the reluctance of living the double life ( as the playboy , though he really hammed it up ! ) , his need to getting used to late nights and morning alibis , and the tenacity and menace as the Dark Knight . Michael Caine IS Alfred Pennyworth - the never failing butler and surrogate father who never gave up hope on Bruce while delivery witty sarcasms , and his belief in the Wayne Family , Gary Oldman brought James Gordon into life and gave him the depth we are accustomed to in the comics ( unlike earlier Pat Hingle versions ) . In summary , the casting was excellent , and everyone ( except for Ken Watanabe ) were given ample screen time to flesh their characters . I'll be ready for a sequel , and I hope that the box office numbers will bring it on soon enough ! My wish list will be ( apart from the obvious villain ) to feature Harvey Dent , as they will definitely need a new District Attorney . If the sequel features this " trinity " of Gordon-Bats-Dent ( and the prospect of Dent becoming Two-Face ) , I'll be in Bat Cloud Number Nine ! |
514,688 | 317,399 | 47,821 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : Le Amiche | Lorenzo Codelli introduced this film as the only real literary adaptation by Michelangelo Antonioni , based on a short novel written by Cesare Pavese , whose short life but impressive career had a largely influential impact on Antonioni's works . It's a film about women ( the literal translation of the title of the story " Tra Donne Sole " means " Between Women Only " ) , in today's context known as the career girls , and it's also interesting to note that the co-writers of the screenplay were both female , each on opposite ends of the literary spectrum , one a " low-brow " pulp novelist , the other a " high-brow " writer . And I guess this pairing provided a very complete and enjoyable story which in today's contemporary context would classify if as a chick flick , only that this had plenty of intelligence and a lot of heart , and doesn't come across as a dumbed down condescending story with many cardboard characters thrown in just because . Opening with a sprightly tune , and set in Turn , La Amiche has plenty of insights into the female psyche , and I am quite surprised that it had stood the test of time ( more than 50 years ! ) to be as relevant today just as it was back in the mid-50s . The story follows Clelia ( Eleonara Rossi Drago ) from Rome , sent to Turin to supervise the setting up of a fashion boutique branch , and in her temporary stay at the city , befriends a group of high-society and debatable successful ladies through the attempted suicide of one of their clique members Rosetta ( Madeleine Fischer ) , who was found in her adjoining hotel room . From there we examine all their love lives , their work attitudes , their relationships with one another , the entire spectrum which while presenting themselves as little gossipy episodes that women might be prone to ( I'm readying myself to be pelted with rotten tomatoes with that statement ) , it always felt that each individual piece was a perfect contribution to the entirety of the movie , with nary a wasted scene , nor unnecessary subplots provided just to bloat the story . Antonioni has proved his deftness at handling an ensemble of characters ( much unlike his earlier movies , or his famed Trilogy where only a handful of characters get explored ) like the de-facto leader of the group Momina De Stefani ( Yvonne Fumeaux ) whose rich husband being always away on business provides her with an avenue for affairs and the need for constant emotional connection , or what I thought was the more interesting of the lot , was between successful ceramics artist Nene ( Valentina Cortese ) and her less successful painter fiancé Lorenzo ( Gabriele Ferzetti ) , who becomes romantically linked to Rosetta after painting her portrait , or rather , it was Rosetta who throws herself at him . Completing the group is Mariella ( Anna Maria Pancani ) , a flighty flirty woman with a devil-may-care attitude . For some reason I was concentrating on the Lorenzo-Nene-Rosetta story , because it was quite compelling to see how it played out and developed , having one of them throw the first salvo at attempted suicide . It also provided a platform to examine how relationships can be strained possibly through emotions like jealousy and one being envious of the other's success , and maybe taking it out on the person through other means , such as the breaking of hearts . Again like Story of a Love Affair ( I have no idea why I keep going back to this ) it was a similar situation presented , though more explicitly presented rather than leaving it to second guesses . The confrontational scene between Nene and Rosetta was the best in the movie in my opinion , and one of the best I have seen in movies where rival lovers have to confront each other on the truth of the situation , and you can hear the unbelievable groans of an audience upon its resolution , which was quite pathetic and awkwardly delivered , by today's standards . Which is what was intriguing , as it highlighted the perceived role of a woman back then , that the career first mindset was still a novelty , and standing behind your man was possibly the only acceptable societal norm . And it is this forward-thinking presentation and exploration of modern day themes even by today's standards , that make La Amiche a winner , being still relevant and all . Having 5 girls presented allowed for some comparisons over how some choose love over career despite expected setbacks which come part and parcel with it , and how some choose career over love , where one can excel in without the distractions of disappointment from the heart . Included as well is work ethics , when one doesn't have money as a prime motivator , one would wonder how the other non-tangible benefits would appeal to workers who have to turn up at work everyday , versus coming and going as they please , which I have experienced for myself ( as on the receiving end of having to manage the non-attendance of others ) . Other moments in the film that were equally enjoyable , include the fashion runway type shows in the old days , without the runway of course , where models have to present the clothes up close and personal in a closed door , intimate setting within the fashion boutique . And what was probably a precursor to the beach scene in L'Avventura get played out here , though it was a location for the rich folks to just stand around and flirt , with no real plan for a weekend getaway . It's still amazing how this particular little setting seem to squeeze so much into it , providing a catalyst for future incidents to burst out from . Le Amiche will go down in my books as a story starring women , about women and for women that is still highly relevant in today's society . It has withstood the test of time perfectly , and its exploration of women , their relationships , their attitudes that differ depending on either their single or married status , is an amalgamation of keen observations that make this an enjoyable a must-watch , peppered with good punctuations of humour throughout . |
514,432 | 317,399 | 893,356 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : Nanking | If I am going to recommend a documentary , then Nanking will be it . The Rape of Nanking just prior to World War II is examined in this film , which contains real stock footage of clips smuggled out of China during the time of Japanese occupation . Interviews with surviving Chinese victims , and a number of Japanese Imperial Army soldiers who took part in the campaign , are conducted by the filmmakers , and it is always chilling to learn from them first hand , on their respective perspective of those horrible years of the Japanese invasion of China . You will definitely squirm at the tearful , vivid recollection of atrocities from rapes , shootings , knifing from bayonets , and even burning , while the archive clips bring to screen scenes and pictures of such barbaric acts . Tales of plundering , looting , the forceful taking away of young men to be shot and young girls or boys , children even , for brutal rape , are told with an unflinching eye . In fact , nothing is re-enacted in this film , opting instead for actors ( such as Woody Harrelson , Mariel Hemmingway and Michelle Krusiec ) to portray real historical characters and only as narrators of their personal diaries and memoirs of their stay in Nanking during the invasion and subsequent occupation . While the rest of the world stood by and did nothing , a handful of foreigners who opted to stay in the city , did what they could by organizing themselves and setting up a Safety Zone for the Chinese refugees , using all the power that they could ( which was very little , save for the fact that they are foreigners ) to protect their charges from the looting , plundering , killing and rape that takes place on a regular basis outside their zone . And it is indeed this Zone which had saved thousands of lives , that this documentary paid a sort of tribute to . If this is an anti-war picture , then I'd say it would have done a very good job , highlighting the immense amount of evil that man is capable of inflicting on fellow man . Even up until today , the Massacre of Nanjing is still hotly debated , especially on the number of unfortunate casualties and victims , and the enshrinement of war criminals which have irked the Chinese . |
514,511 | 317,399 | 439,884 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : ( DVD ) A World Without Thieves ( 2004 ) | A world without thieves is close to impossible , at least not in our modern world where there are those who covert what others have , and given no means of obtaining those items legitimately , seek the easier way out and give in to temptation . But there are those who naively think that such an utopia is possible , perhaps given their simple background , and their trusting nature to not see the evils of man . Sha Gen the Dumbo ( Wang Baoqiang ) is one such person , who declares and openly challenges , on a crowded passenger platform to would-be ( and to himself , non existent ) thieves , that he has RMB60K on him . Andy Lau and Rene Liu play Wang Bo and Wang Li respectively , a Bonnie and Clyde styled couple whose profession is to profit from conning and thievery . They're skilled pickpockets , and in a scene set in a temple , we see what Wang Bo is capable of with his deft hands armed only with a thin razor . Things don't go down well for the couple as Wang Li decides to forgo the partnership and go legit , for fear of karmic retribution . As such , she takes it on herself to look after the kind hearted Dumbo , and what could Wang Bo do except to go along , even though he's secretly harbouring thoughts on that 60K cash package . But like the adage of washing your hands in the golden basin , their will and skills are put to the test when Uncle Li ( Ge You ) and his band of merry thieves which include Lam Ka Tung as Four Eyes and Li Bingbing as Leaf , board the same train , and constantly poke and probe for opportunities to succeed in fleecing Dumbo like a helpless sheep when his guardian wolves are less than alert . It's a classic cat and mouse game , with each side displaying their fangs as they encircle their prey , with the prey none the wiser to the drawing of territorial lines . It's not very often in recent times that you have a movie set for the most parts on board a train , and good ones at that , unless you pass the likes of Steven Seagal's Under Siege 2 . The first Mission : Impossible movie had a great action sequence , Bollywood's Dil Se featured an awesome dance on the roof of a moving train , and The Darjeeling Limited and Before Sunrise had great conversations , but I'd dare say Feng Xiaogang bested them all with this movie . It's not difficult then to say that I've enjoyed this movie , having seen his Banquet and Assembly , both of which I had liked , and I guess his works are now on my watchlist . But it's not all claustrophobic in having everything set on a train . There were ample opportunities for lush cinematography to accentuate the beautiful vast lands that China has , although at some points to allow for action sequences , some of them had to be superimposed instead . Don't let that mar your enjoyment though , as the effects were pretty much nicely done , on par with what you'd come to expect with movies made in Hollywood . But the characterization here takes priority as well in moving the story forward , especially with Andy Lau's character caught in the crossroads of listening to his heart , as well as figuring out the intentions behind the admiration from a grandmaster thief . And Ge You , if you'd think his portrayal in the Banquet was one-dimensional , you should see him in action here , with his various disguises , and his silent charisma shining through , chewing up almost every scene he comes in . It's little wonder that he's a frequent feature in the films of Feng Xiaogang , and I look forward to his next with the director , starring opposite yet another Chinese thespian in Jiang Wen . Rene Liu had great chemistry with Andy Lau and thus made their couple character quite believable in their love for each other , as well as the conflict of ideals that they face which put a strain in their relationship . The only gripe I have will be that some of the fleecing scenes were shot in too close up a manner , but it sort of emphasizes on the blink and you miss sensibilities that these crooks have to capitalize on in order to practice their trade . And that of course presents itself as a perfect opportunity to rewatch this wonderful movie again . Highly recommended ! |
514,495 | 317,399 | 388,473 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : ( DVD ) Tokyo Godfathers ( 2003 ) | I've never been a really huge fan of Japanese animation , but Satoshi Kon's Paprika , shown here in last year's Animation Nation festival , is a different story , and opened up my eyes altogether . It was richly animated with plenty of striking details , an eclectic soundtrack , and a story which cuts at many levels . It's adult , not filled with cutesy pictures for the sake of luring kids in , but yet filled with a childlike appeal in its entire work . And I've taken the first step into watching more of his works . Tokyo Godfathers retains much of the very sharp , detailed animation , and certainly some scenes looked photo quality . While Paprika was rooted with more science-fictional elements and dream sequences , Tokyo Godfathers has a relatively more down to earth premise , taking a hard look at the lives of the homeless in shiny Tokyo . Set in the Christmas period , it's full of dark elements in the holiday season , yet filled with plenty of hope and goodwill as we see the characters develop and the plot unfold . The story centers around three homeless folks - Gin ( Toru Emori ) the middle aged drunk gambler bum , Hana ( Yoshiaki Umegaki ) the transvestite , and Miyuki ( Aya Okamoto ) , the youngest of the lot , a girl who ran away from home . One day during their usual bickering , they discovered an abandoned female infant , whom they named Kiyoko , in a garbage dump . Reluctantly , they endeavoour to track down the infant's parents to return the baby , as well as to give them a stern reprimand for doing their dastardly deed over the season of goodwill . And thus their road trip in and around Tokyo begins . What holds your attention , is the way our trio encounters mini episodes of adventure in their quest , ranging from meeting up with a real Godfather , to slowly unravelling their back stories , which I find both touching and believable , and more so for an animated picture . The craft in the narrative is superb , which you can enjoy at face value , or if you bother , to dig below the surface and discover such joys in its detailed story . It doesn't have to explain everything , and allows you to draw your own conclusions at certain points . And I can't stress enough at the attention to details . Be it conversational dialogue , an object , a supporting character , or the backgrounds , you can't imagine at how they all blend together effortlessly to elicit such joy when you realize that you've uncovered something of some significance , or was put there just for laughs . With such care put into the movie , I can't help but to recommend this , and for myself to continue my own quest in tracking down and watching the rest of Satoshi Kon's animated movies . Code 1 DVD contains minimal extras . There are plenty of preview trailers though , for movies such as Astro Boy , Cowboy Bebop The Movie , Cyborg 009 , Memories , Metropolis , Returner , Steamboy , and even one for Tokyo Godfathers itself . The only other extra is a 22 minute making of featurette , which included shots from its New York premiere , as well as interviews with Satoshi Kon , and the principle cast sharing their experience in lending their voices to an animated movie . Subtitles are available in English , Spanish and Portuguese for the movie and the making of featurette , but the French subtitles are available for the movie only . |
514,668 | 317,399 | 1,233,329 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : My Magic | There's plenty of buzz overseas surrounding Eric Khoo's latest movie My Magic , which has recently been selected as Singapore's official entry to the 2009 Oscars in the foreign language film category , hence the rush to have it screened this month to qualify . While his previous effort Be With Me was disqualified on a technicality in the same category ( they really timed the amount of English or lack thereof in the film ! ) , this time round Eric has crafted a movie in Tamil as the story tells of the love-hate relationship between an Indian father and son . I don't recall any recent Tamil feature films being made in Singapore , save perhaps for the segment in Wee Li Lin's Gone Shopping , and in the upcoming Salawati , so this marks a first that race and language didn't become barriers , but celebrated that a filmmaker can transcend these issues or capitalize on what is uniquely Singapore given that universal themes apply anywhere . For a father-son story , the last which I enjoyed was Patrick Tam's After This Our Exile , but of course this is a different story and setting altogether . In the spirit of magic , the film sets up The Pledge , where a down and out man Francis ( Bosco Francis ) opens the film with repetitive drinking , without any money to pay and picks up a fight at a bar . He wanders around in his drunken state and stumbles home each night , expecting his young son ( Jathisweran ) to pick up after him . The son naturally resents his noisy father , whom he thinks is good for nothing , having to fend for himself in school , touting his services completing homework for peers for a fee . This kid has got plenty of growing up to do , and despite his young age , you can feel and sense his maturity despite his small , mild-mannered frame . The Turn comes when Francis realizes that should he continue his wayward behaviour , he would be losing his son , and in order to step up his role as a father and sole caregiver , he has to find meaningful work within his abilities , and here it becomes a showcase for Francis to demonstrate some of the much touted Bizarre Magic , where he sells his act to a paying club owner . We get to see the more gentle tricks like the renowned " Flaming Wallet " and simple ones like disappearing acts , before we go into dangerous ones like fire eating , and the slight dalliance into torture porn territory like Hostel , when demands get higher and riskier for bigger economic returns , selling his soul for the physical pleasures of man , exemplified by the Chinese bosses of the club . For the Prestige , you must be nuts to think I were to reveal it . Suffice to say that the movie is not about magic tricks per se , or being too bizarre that it alienates its audience or make you go into deep ponder . Mee Pok Man has such moments , as does 12 Storeys with the incessant chatter of the old lady , but as Eric Khoo professed , this is a simple story , and I'd like to think of it as that too , so much so that a potential subplot that could have developed deeply with Francis showing kindness to a stranger ( Grace Kalaiselvi ) didn't go beyond my understanding that a fresh friendship has been struck . Much of the magic here , came from the performance and chemistry between Bosco Francis and Jathisweran as father and son . Francis is not always uncaring or drunken , and the story does provide room to show a rare sober state that the son would probably have enjoyed such presence a lot more . Their home is sparse yet cluttered in pockets around , in parallel to the seemingly empty interactions the characters engage in , but yet having insurmountable complexities in the relationship between them . And I suppose it's typical of Asian fathers to be somewhat reserved in their expression of love and care to their children , as per Francis ' hard and punishing work away from the view of his son , understanding his need to provide and never one proud to exclaim his efforts when he coughs out wads of dough . There are some nice cameos and supporting appearances here , some of whom are Eric Khoo movie regulars . Seet Keng Yew , who played a shy security guard in Be With Me admiring his unattainable love from afar , plays Big Boss , silent almost throughout the movie , but hiding some intense masochistic tendencies . Blink and you'll miss him , Lim Poh Huat who starred opposite Seet , cameos here as a cleaner in a club . But the one supporting role that caught my attention , was Sunny Pang . While he has starred in previous local independent productions like Perth and Lucky 7 with speaking lines , here he silences himself , and lets his hands do the talking . That one-hand-wooden-rod-twirl probably affirmed my belief that his film-in-production Knife , would be one heck of a movie to keep tabs on , and I hope that it does get made soon . Making its rounds in the overseas festival circuit , the largest of all being Cannes where it becomes Singapore's first competitive entry for the Palme d'Or , the film will also makes its debut at the Tokyo International Film Festival next month . With a little bit of luck I may just bump into lead actor and real life magician Bosco Francis as he's scheduled to make an appearance there , and bring you some of the lowdown on how the screening went over at the land of the rising sun . If you're still curious about Eric Khoo films but are apprehensive about the art house essence , My Magic will surprise you at how simple and accessible it is , yet retaining its quality to resonate and move . You don't need big action or big drama , all you need is plenty of heart , and this film has loads of it . Recommended stuff ! |
515,280 | 317,399 | 795,368 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : Death at a Funeral | Funerals are serious business , where the mood is usually grim and sombre , and friends and family come together to commemorate the passing of their loved one . The proceeding is usually prim and proper , with some protocols to adhere to , for fitting tributes given in a dignified manner . Death at a Funeral however , is a delightfully wicked black comedy of everything that can go wrong in a funeral . Daniel ( Matthew Macfadyen ) is preparing for the funeral of his dad , but my , there are so many things on his plate , such as bring trusted to provide the eulogy rather than his brother Robert ( Rupert Graves ) , who is a best selling author , and having his wife constantly remind him about their deposit for their new home . With the gathering of family and friends , expect the bizarre to happen , and it involves around , and this is not exhaustive , meeting the new prospective father-in-law when you're high on hallucinogens ( Alan Tudyk in a scene stealing role here ) , a perpetually missing bottle of " Valium " , a pastor who's in a hurry , an old senile uncle with a foul mouth , and a 4 foot tall stranger who seems to have a very shocking secret to reveal should he not get his way . There are multiple plot elements here all perfectly linked together like a well oiled stage play , and resolved in very satisfying outcome . As a comedy , there are the big moments that are played out just for laughs , but what is commendable , is how it managed to sustain that laughter throughout the movie . It's not just laugh out loud moments , but little chuckles sprinkled along the way that had brought out smiles . And as you would already come to expect from a British production , the movie contains superb individual spoken lines that you would have to listen attentively to ( and deserves repeat watching ) , but at the same time doesn't give you an inkling of a feeling that it's only for the linguistically-skilled , because hey , it does enjoy that occasionally toilet humour as well ! If you're in need for a good laugh , then Death at a Funeral is a crystal clear choice this week ! |
514,883 | 317,399 | 462,538 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : The Simpsons Movie | I'm a big , big fan of the Simpsons , and word that the movie version of the hit TV series would be made had been out for the longest time possible . Toying between trying to cast actors in a life-action movie ( rumoured at one point to have Bruce Willis playing Homer because of the err , balding pate ) , and sticking to its 2D version of yellow skin and four fingers on each hand , I'm glad that the movie was done in the latter version , simply because casting will be a nightmare to flesh out the inhabitants of Springfield , and 2D allows for many insane jokes and situations to be played out without reliance on CGI and the likes . And it paid off big time , and well worth the extremely long wait . While the movie version of the Simpsons might seem like an extended version of a typical animated episode on TV , this is everything you'd come to expect , and more ! I won't spoil the movie's plot in my review , but suffice to say our favourite family is back for more madcap adventures , and being in a feature length movie allowed for the characters emote more than what we see on TV . There's some room here for some serious character development , especially Marge , Bart and even Lisa entering a new phase of her life , while Homer is , well , being just Homer . With plenty of sight gags , inside jokes , not too subtle jabs at the big summer movies this year like Spider-man and Harry Potter , it's incredibly hard not to laugh every few seconds for the keen eyed viewer , or guffaw at the dialogue or classic Simpsons styled comedy we've come to enjoy from the series . The fast and furious nature the laughs get delivered is bound to keep fans delighted , and win over those who are watching the family and the Springfield folks for the very first time . You just can't get enough of the voice talents of Dan Castellaneta , Julie Kavner , Nancy Cartwright , Yeardley Smith , Harry Shearer and Hank Azaria , as well as a whole host of cameo voices as they embark on 90 minutes of pure entertainment . If you've just survived a hard day's work , The Simpsons Movie is almost guaranteed to chase those blues away . Stay throughout the end credits , where you'll be entertained by more clips near the beginning , the middle , and right at the end of the credits roll , played to the tune of some of the most insane songs ever written . This is the best Simpsons movie . . . so far ! Bring on a sequel already , D'oh ! |
514,785 | 317,399 | 482,088 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : Priceless | Transportation S$3 . 00 Movie Ticket S$9 . 00 Fried Chicken S$3 . 80 A Good Movie That Entertains ? Priceless . Directed by Pierre Salvadori , Pricess is one heck of a delightful gem . It is playful , cheeky , and boasts excellent chemistry between its leads , which is crucial to pull off a romantic comedy so dependent on their banter and interaction . Audrey Tautou plays Irene , a high maintenance gold digging prostitute who flits from one elderly man to another , in the hopes of seducing and convincing them into marriage , while in the meantime milking all she could from their company . It's haute fashion label dropping , living the high life in expensive hotel suites , for free . In an uncontrollable one night stand , she hooks up with waiter Jean ( Gad Elmaleh ) , who while is totally out of her league , falls hard for her , and becomes a constant thorn in her side as she goes about her mission in life . Not your usual romance movie where the bickering couple are expected to kiss , make up , and bicker some more , Priceless does two things in its narrative . One , in its reminder to the male suckers out there to be wary of high maintenance women - if you don't have what it takes ( and that simply means a really fat bankroll ) , forget about it , as she'll drain your finances as simply as it takes to gulp down a glass of water . Two , perhaps it really does pay for those who are kept men and women , if they don't mind trading their bodies for material pleasures that a rich life can offer . And from adversaries to partners in crime , Priceless sprinkles its narrative with scenes like from The Guru , where tips and tricks of the trade are shared , and played for laughs . And this is especially so with Jean's natural charms mixed with Mr Bean like demeanor . Kudos actually to actor Gad Elmaleh , who throws this constant innocent blank look , when he's hamming it up pretending to be loaded , or practising turning on his charms ( consciously or otherwise ) . He brings to Jean a sense of helplessness in falling for the woman of his dreams much against his finances , and gives Jean that chivalrous character that will surely win many over . Fans of Audrey Tautou will reminisce her portrayal as Irene to be similar to the quirky Amelie , only that this time round , she's the complete slut whom you pity for having such a materialistic nature . Her plunging necklines all the way down to the navel will no doubt raise temperatures , and while noticeably older , has brought about a sense of maturity from giggling girl to all woman . Peppered with an excellent soundtrack , the best songs were kept for a party scene , and for as many party scenes featured in various movies , I'd rate this one as one of the most interesting , thanks to the key music , characters , and the scene that plays out just right . With so many elements working in its favour , I'd rate this as a contender for the top movies of this year . Don't let this movie slip pass you in this crowded blockbuster summer ! |
515,085 | 317,399 | 416,212 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : The Secret Life of Bees | It's been two years since we last saw Dakota Fanning on the big screen here , in a film which was a adaptation of the literary classic Charlotte's Web . And what a career it had been for this child actress , now an adolescent , to have grown from scream queen ( no thanks to her stint under Spielberg's War of the Worlds ) to one controversial role in Hounddogs , which I doubt would make it to our shores here . Based on a novel by Sue Monk Kidd and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood , The Secret Life of Bees is one powerful drama above love and the looking for love , as well as running along the theme of forgiveness and reconciliation . It's easy to dismiss this as a chick flick because of its predominantly female cast , but that would be a mistake to make in making it an excuse to miss this film altogether . For all its worth , it's chock full of extremely well delivered performances from veterans such as Fanning herself , together with Queen Latifah , Jennifer Hudson ( proving that she's no flash in the pan ) , Sophie Okonedo , Paul Bettany and even Alicia Keys ! Set in the time of Summer in 1964 Southern USA where the Civil Rights Act was just signed and in effect , the sentiments amongst the racist bigots still run high in a charged environment still hanging onto their old segregated ways . Fanning's Lily Owens carries the weight of her guilt buried deep in her subconscious from a tragic event that happened when she was four , and ten years later , after receiving the last straw of punishment from her abusive dad ( Bettany ) , runs away with her caretaker Rosaleen ( Hudson ) . As if led by an invisible hand , they soon find themselves under the extreme goodwill of the Boatwright sisters , who earn a living through the cultivation of bees for honey , and a series of incidents that bring about some tying of loose ends , and the discovery that these strangers do tie back to Lily's own quest to finding out the truth about her mom , to debunk the lies as told by her father . And of course this allows opportunity for some serious girl power bonding between the characters as they find that they have a lot more in common , as well as the sharing and spreading of love through their ranks . The trump card that this movie has , is the excellent performances by the ensemble cast . Fanning leads the pack and gives a wonderful moving performance as the gangling Lily , who thinks that she's quite a jinx with plenty of bad karma to go around , bringing about unfortunate happenings to her hosts which provide the dramatic twists and turns to what would otherwise be a flat movie . Jennifer Hudson had much to do in the first act , though her character got quite muted by the time the trio of the Boatwright sisters August ( Latifah ) , June ( Keys ) and Okonedo ( May ) come along . Queen Latifah brings about some serious gravitas in her role as the eldest with the largest heart , and you cannot deny her chemistry with Fanning . Keys on the other hand plays the sister the exact opposite of August , being aloof and starting off with intense suspicion as to the intent of their guests . And Okonedo's role could probably be the most unorthodox of the lot , a fragile soul who has her own wailing wall to deal with the harsh realities of life . The Secret Life of Bees is well worth the admission ticket , and you'll be hard pressed not to be touched by the film , or moved by the themes it explores , especially when the third act comes by leading to quite a number of powerful revelations and a solid conclusion . Set against its intended backdrop , it's a reminder of tolerance , which the world lacks these days , and of course it's not always hammering in such heavy themes as it has its fair share of romance as well , and for what it's worth , Fanning has her first on-screen romance in this movie , and if I'm right , has her first on-screen kiss as well . You might be surprised when I say this , but this film has won me over enough for it to be considered as a contender when I shortlist my list of ten top films of the year . Definitely recommended ! |
515,509 | 317,399 | 493,459 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : This Film Is Not Yet Rated | The Motion Pictures Association of America's ratings system comes under scrutiny in this documentary . The judgement that movies are given G , PG-13 , R or NC17 are taken a look into , as its deemed quite biased and with great mystery that films are rated based on some arbitrary criteria , from a group of chosen anonymous few in highly non-transparent means . It's quite fun as director Kirby Dick digs into the system to try and look for answer , with hilarious results , especially when dealing with the bureaucracy . In particular , the main gripe here is how films are given the NC17 rating . Films are compared with each other , and it seemed that the board is more tolerant towards violence than sex , or in particular , female pleasure . Filmmakers like Darren Aronofsky , Kimberly Peirce , Atom Egoyan are interviewed for their views on the system , and reveal their puzzlement at the situation too . I thought This Film Is Not Yet Rated brought out the hypocrisy of the entire system , that " absolute power corrupts absolutely " , that if Kirby Dick is to believed , then there are rules and regulations set which have been breached , especially on transparency , and the primary concern that the raters should be independent and not influenced by filmmakers , studios and the likes . I also enjoyed the entire investigations and social engineering techniques , including things like dumpster diving and impersonation , and exploiting the innate nature of man to want to help out strangers in distress , even though they are anonymous over the phone , and are " nice " . You've got to salute their perseverance , all to get to the results of unravelling the mystery being those secret raters of movies , and those on the Appeals board that filmmakers can go to for redress . The bits of animation in the movie , combined with the sharp no-holds barred revelation and hypothesis and snippets of movies which suffered the NC17 rating , made this a very enjoyable , smart and fun documentary to sit through , especially when it delivers sucker punch after sucker punch at establishment , and makes a mockery of the powers that be . |
514,545 | 317,399 | 851,578 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : Paprika | Adapted from a science fiction novel by Yatsutaka Tsutsui , Paprika is probably my favourite film from this year's Animation Nation . The closing film ( technically , since it's the last film to be screened tomorrow ) , it is one heck of a thrill ride , and will definitely engage an audience at different levels . In contrast to the dark doom and gloom hanging over Paris 2054 in Renaissance , Paprika at first glance is surprisingly light hearted and colourful , though it has its fare share of gloom and probably has darker themes which unfold as the story progresses . It's central plot revolves around a futuristic method of psychotherapy with the aid of a newly created invention known as the " DC Mini " , which is a device that probes into the annals of your brainwaves , and allows the doctor to analyze and diagnose problems which surface in your subconscious . Until the device is stolen that is , and it's up to our key project team members to try and contain the situation , prevent the device from falling into the wrong hands and get abused , and in essence , investigate the loss , with the help of fellow patient detective Kogawa Toshimi . In some ways , the movie's storyline resembles a bit like the Matrix movies ( which of course , borrows from Japanese anime ) , in having the hero the champion of both worlds - the real one , and inside the artificially created one . surviving in both with the adoption of different personas . Here , our heroine is Dr Chiba Atsuko , who in her alter ego as Paprika , is able to traverse through the dreamworld with great ease . There are plenty of stuff happening in almost every scene , and some might deem it a little " noisy " with so much to see , but so little time on screen . However , never for a moment does it feel very cluttered , and I am still pleasantly pleased at how so much story can be compacted into a nifty 90 minutes , without compromising on quality . Despite the dark themes in the movie , there are a number of light hearted moments which seem to punctuate the movie at the right places , no doubt most coming from the characters of Tokita the DC Mini creator , and Detective Kogawa in his ( in ) ability and slow enlightenment to the entire scheme of things , nevermind a dark subplot solely focused on his character alone . At another level , it explores much about our dreams , and how within them , we can be who we want to be , but yet all comes to naught once we wake up from it . What if we're given the ability to merge both the real world and the dream world . Then what would become of life as we know ? Will it be utter chaos when dreams and desire start to run amok ? Full of vibrant colours and energy , Paprika is just about everything that you would expect from an excellent piece of animation . A story that makes your brain work at figuring out what's happening on screen , yet doesn't allow such mysteries presented to stifle your concentration on what's going on next . A hauntingly mesmerizing soundtrack . Beautiful art pieces from background sets to character design so detailed . And with so much on screen at any one time , it definitely seeks a second viewing to truly appreciate and take in everything . Director Satoshi Kon has made a fan out of me with this movie , and I think , if time and money permits , I'll be hunting down some of the earlier works , if this is any indication whether I'll enjoy them to bits . Paprika will be shown tomorrow during the Animation Nation festival's closing , but I hear that tickets are already sold out ( I bought mine on the first day when the tickets were out on sale ) . I do think there should be a general release , so keep your fingers crossed ! |
515,090 | 317,399 | 1,330,607 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : If You Are The One | I'm a keen admirer of versatile Chinese director Feng Xiaogang and am a fan of his films , which covers quite a vast range from War ( The Assembly ) , Period martial arts ( The Banquet ) , and a good old thriller in World Without Thieves , amongst others in his filmography . I've yet to watch something that had disappointed , and his latest romantic drama If You Are The One starring long time collaborator Ge You and Shu Qi , proves to be yet another understated film that deserves a larger audience , if not for the limited number of screens ( two only ) in Singapore . Ge You plays Qin Fen , whom we are introduced as a one-time inventor of a product called the Conflict Resolution Tool , which got sold to a venture capitalist for millions . With his new found wealth , he decided to focus on settling down , and follows the recent trend of finding a suitable companion over the internet . Here's where the humour comes in , not in slapstick fashion , but through the earnest ways he presents himself with honesty , starting from his online profile which lists a number of his ordinary points quite upfront . Ge You is again at his element here , and he continues to surprise how he internalizes his roles , be it the grandeur of an emperor , or a straight-talking neighbour next door . Needless to say the best bits were in the first half , where like the 40 Year Old Virgin he goes on a schedule of blind dates after more blind dates , meeting countless of women with plenty of side agendas except settling down . His surprise comes in the form of Shu Qi's Xiaoxiao , because nobody would seriously expect a babe to hook up with someone through online means , given no lack of suitors already queuing up in the real world . I can trust a story written by Feng Xiaogang in that he crafts his characters with believability , and here he captures perfectly the essence of the dilemma of a middle aged man looking for a love partner . Knowing a below average joe would never be able to hold onto a relationship with a princess , given lack of funds , looks and power , Qin Fen passes up the chance quite honestly , but forms a firm friendship with Xiaoxiao . I guess Shu Qi's almost automatic first choice for a female lead role in a romantic film , having been seen very recently opposite Andy Lau in Look For A Star . While that role is a little more vivacious , her character here is a little more subdued , though no less glamorous as a stewardess with Hainan Air . Again she convinces with a credible performance of a woman who has this tremendous emotional baggage of being in love with a married man , who for obvious reasons cannot commit to her , nor wanting to let her go . She epitomizes Selfishness to the maximum , especially when deciding to trade and negotiate a relationship while knowingly still having a place in her heart for someone else , although credit given that she's upfront about it . What I particularly enjoyed about the film is its examination into seeking love through online means , where one has got to go through arduous ego-inflating profiles trying to seek out somebody for a blind date , which can turn out to be a tad disappointing when real life doesn't meet expectations set , no matter how small that is . The story excels , and is one of the key strengths of the film is in highlighting this disappointment . One can be magnanimous and make the best of the situation , or try to pull the plug as early as you can so as not to lead the other person on , or to waste everyone's time . It's all about having a little chance and taking risk at every possible opportunity presenting itself , and disappointments being just part and parcel of the process , especially when you have little brought to the table . Blessed with rich cinematography thanks to great locales in both China and in Hokkaido , Japan , look out too for plenty of cameos especially the blind dates that Qin Feng meets , the best ( to me ) was the short appearance of Vivian Hsu , who highlights once again some of the prejudices that any male would probably subscribe to as well . If there was a gripe , that will be the last scene which was quite unnecessary and too tacky , even though it was trying to make a not too subtle reference and statement to the real world financial crisis now , and the confidence to have in the Chinese financial system . I would only say to try not to miss this film despite the limited screens and timings , because this is certainly one movie that is worth its weight in gold . For those who cannot make it to the cinemas , the DVD is already out now , so you might just want to own it instead . Highly recommended , and goes into my shortlist of contenders for that end of year top movies list ! |
515,483 | 317,399 | 337,978 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : Die Hard 4 . 0 | John McClane , USA's supercop , returns to the big screens . being at the wrong place at the wrong time yet again , kicking some major terrorists ass since the original Die Hard way back in 1988 . It has been almost 12 years since Bruce Willis last starred in the definitive cop role , which some would arguably state that Die Hard had kick started the action movie blockbusters in the late 80s to 90s . I was just a 12 year old kid when I watched the original Die Hard , with a bruised and battered McClane surviving on gut instinct and an incredible amount of sly wit to turn the tables on the bad guys despite being heavily outnumbered . And with a building not big enough as his playground , Die Hard 2 saw him move up a level to weave in and out of an airport . Samuel L Jackson tag teams Willis in Die Hard with a Vengeance , where they run around NY City playing Simon Says , and now , McClane has to take on a group of multi-nationality mercenary geeks who threaten the entire USofA . The playground keeps getting bigger , but that's only befitting a supercop , ain't it . both in threat level and geography . Mark Bomback's story in Live Free or Die Hard continues to paint a picture of woe for McClane . You'd expect a supercop like himself to be highly decorated , rewarded , commended etc , but as it turns out , he's painfully divorced , has almost nothing except for the shirt on his back , his daughter Lucy , played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead , ( Death Proof , Final Destination 3 ) refuses to acknowledge him , and nothing could be worst than an escorting mission right out of 16 Blocks , right ? And that's where he gets into the wrong place at the wrong time , getting back to the formula . In fetching an easily impressed geek hacker Matt Farrell ( Justin Long ) , he finds himself in the thick of the plot to bring down the national infrastructure in a coordinated takeover using a Fire Sale methodology which Farrell unwittingly contributed , and it's up to the duo to save USA , especially when the old school cop obviously had his inadequacy and disdain for technology show , sometimes leading to comedy . While most of the action sequences have been shown in the trailers , and while they might look like your usual car chases , explosions and gun battles , somehow there is still a " die hard " feel to them all . Perhaps this can be attributed to formula again , and some familiarity of " have we seen this before " ( aka the lift shaft sequence ) , only to have them being updated for today , and of course , being a little faster , a little more furious , than our aging hero could handle . There's a scene which might make some scream " True Lies ! " , and Maggie Q unfortunately is a tad overrated , relegated into a typical role that if it's Asian , then there must be some kung-fu involved . And speaking of the bad guys , the Die Hard franchise have always featured foreign subversive elements , like Euro terrorist Hans Gruber ( Alan Rickman ) in Die Hard , and his brother Simon Gruber ( Jeremy Irons ) wanting to avenge Hans in Die Hard With a Vengeance , while some General in a fictional country made McClane Die Harder . The trend continues here , especially with the employment of Frenchmen who can do Parkour . The motivation , save for Die Harder , has always been the same - Money . The bad guys of course never learn from history , and repeat the same mistakes . In this one , while they seem a little smug with themselves , actually work with less loyalty than those in the other movies . Timothy Olyphant's Thomas Gabriel comes from within , out to prove a point as a disgruntled ex-government employee , Obviously Thomas has no respect for history , and although he has access to records , is quite oblivious to know who he's messing with , and repeating the same mistake as Hans Gruber did in taking a family member hostage . Despite some similarities in plot development in the hopes of stalling McClane , the formula too extended to things like McClane making contact with the bad guys without actually seeing each other in the flesh . That bit though contributed to a kink in the production , with a somewhat major error in having the walkie talkie seem like a working telephone , and bad editing made mouth movement out of sync . There are other loopholes , or some would deem ridiculous , preposterous or impossible sequences ( just like how I say Die Hard With a Vengeance had this scene where Willis and Jackson slam onto containers , and yet survive ) , but hey , so long as McClane gets to kick some arse in a satisfactory manner , without mercy and almost always with a quip , I'm not complaining . Die Hard 4 . 0 is indeed another hurrah for John McClane . Willis has played other cop roles like in Hostage , Sin City , Mercury Rising , 16 Blocks and the likes , but none of them are as memorable nor as definitive as McClane . Of late there is a return of old school heroes like Rambo and Rocky teaching their contemporary peers just how to stamp their mark in action flicks , and there absolutely is no doubt on McClane's successful return . Yippee-Ki-Yay indeed ! |
514,790 | 317,399 | 169,102 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : Lagaan | Having won multiple awards and gotten itself nominated in the 2002 Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category , my interest in Lagaan was actually in wanting to discover more of writer-director Ashutosh Gowariker's works , having seen his latest movie Jodha Akbar , and having bought Swades : We , the People starring Shah Rukh Khan , still unwatched . I've never been a fan of cricket and have never understood the rules , but I suppose after the time you're through with Lagaan , you'll learn at least the basics enough to enjoy the game . No doubt my interest in this sport has been piqued , and non-fans shouldn't steer away from the movie , because knowledge of the sport is not a pre-requisite for you to enjoy this wonderful gem of a sports movie running close to a whopping 3 . 5 hours ( and I heard in the collector's edition , it runs to 4 ? ) Set in British India , we learn that Lagaan is a form of taxation that the villagers have to pay to their Rajas , who in turn pay the British for protection against , erm , invading forces and rivals from other Rajas . In fact , the British were double crossing everyone during their occupation of the country , and bad weather makes the lives of the villagers even more hard pressed since they have zero crops to sell . Every village needs a folk hero , and herein lies Bhuvan ( Aamir Khan ) who decides to step into the shoes of one , not because of bravado , but because of the atrocities dished out by the British against his fellow countrymen , especially when taxes for the year have been doubled . So the stakes are raised in a game of cricket . Defeat the British , led by Captain Andrew Russell ( Paul Blackthorne ) and have a tax waver of 3 years for the entire province , or if they lose , then their Lagaan will be tripled . And you don't need a rocket scientist to tell you that when the impoverished have their backs against the corner , they have little choice but to fight back . However , after years of being oppressed and cowering in the face of hardship , you'll need that bright spark or two to shake things up and bring everyone to their senses that Hope is something they have which they can turn into reality if they work at it . The storyline might seem cliché as per the usual sports movies , where our hero Bhuvan has to assemble a team of good men each with their own special farming background which can be incorporated into the game , and recruitment always is a challenge when nobody believes you , and thinks you're the troublemaker who started it all . There are leaders , and there are followers , and some good time is invested to develop this challenge , as well as to explore the plight of the villagers in more detail . The villains of the movie , those pompous Brits personified by Captain Russell with his nose perpetually in the air all the time , are put in very bad light with their looking down of the natives as slaves . But even amongst themselves , the Indians too have their infamous caste system , and this was touched upon when Bhuvan chooses to adopt the more meritocratic route in player selection , and this message undoubtedly stands out . I can't comment much on these themes that Gowariker touch upon in his films , such as that of religious tolerance in Jodha Akbar , but it seems likely that he had incorporated these knowing that his films do appeal to the masses , and therefore serve as a reminder to everyone . While the last 1 . 5 hours get devoted to the game , where two proud man go head to head against each other with their team , and team members having their own personal vendettas worked out during the matches , it never for a minute played out in a boring manner . In fact , it was entertaining to watch them go through the paces of the game in 101 terms , and from there , those unfamiliar with cricket will likely be able to pick up the basics . Even if the sport is not your cup of tea , its delivery will still appeal to you , as do the usual Bollywood staple of dance and song , as composed by renowned A . R . Rahman - I particularly liked the segment where any self-respective sports movie will have - the training montage , and with a love triangle of sorts fused between Bhuvan , his childhood sweetheart Gauri ( Gracy Singh ) and Englishwoman Elizabeth Russell ( Rachel Shelley ) , sister of the villagers ' enemy but one who decides to teach them the game so that they can get on equal terms with her countrymen . Despite its clichés , Lagaan is wonderful entertainment , and you will not realize the movie's running length , as you'll be engrossed in what transpires , and will find yourself rooting for the clear underdogs as they go about trying to battle oppression in unfamiliar terms . Colourful songs and charismatic folk characters , Lagaan unquestionably reinforces my love for Bollywood ! |
514,493 | 317,399 | 441,909 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : Volver | I met Penelope Cruz when she was in Singapore way back in 2001 , for the local premiere of Cameron Crowe's Vanilla Sky , but too bad for me I don't speak any Spanish , so I can't communicate anything beyond a smile and a request for an autograph from the beauty , amid hordes of folks who paid no attention to her and Crowe , just waiting for Tom Cruise to make his way down the red carpet and bask in his megawatt smile . I can't say I've been following much of her movies since Vanilla Sky , save for that action flick Sahara . But she reunites with Spanish writer-director Pedro Almodovar in Volver , and surely , this is one movie that shouldn't be missed , for the simple reason that it has a superior story to tell , stemmed from Mother's love . In a tale spanning three generations of a family , at first glance this is a pro-woman movie , where most of the men portrayed are cads . However , in its relative simplicity , this movie is extremely well crafted , with a great storyline to boot . You may find yourself wondering how mundane scenes are linked together in an interesting narrative that doesn't seem to want to end , and with so many subplots thrown in along the way , you're waiting for it to collapse on its own weight , which in lesser hands , it just might . But it doesn't . Instead , it lifts itself through wonderful performances , as well as many a quick wit inserted every now and then to liven things up , in spite of its dark humour and dark themes , like spirits who return because they have unfinished business , or a killing that seems to want to expose itself at any time , or that deep dark mystery and skeleton in the closet which spanned more than a generation , seeking answers . It's about communication , or the lack thereof , that we examine in the three generations , giving us results in the difference in parenting styles . It's true that a parent would want their offspring not to have to experience the negativeness of their growing up , and in the movie , while being teased by the red herrings , you'd come to understand , and perhaps even pre - empt if you're keen , at its revelation , touching on the sins of our , in this case , mothers ( strange , isn't it ? ) . I can break the story down for you , but no , you have to experience it for yourself . For the price of a ticket , you'll get to hear Penelope Cruz sing , and the movie really did milk at lengths , plenty of cleavage shots for one reason or another . Highly recommended ( for the story but of course ! ) , and it's almost a guarantee you'll leave the theatre with a bittersweet feeling , with a tinge of positivity . But do hurry , as a slew of lesser movies releasing over the next week will see this film disappear from the local screens soon enough . Contender for my movie of the year ! |
514,968 | 317,399 | 398,808 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : Bridge to Terabithia | Based on a children's fantasy story written by Katherine Paterson , and produced by the same company that did the latest Chronicles of Narnia , I thought that the movie would probably be mediocre given my lukewarm response to films of similar genre like Pan's Labyrinth and The Last Mimzy . And how wrong was I . Bridges of Tarabithia trumps over all the movies mentioned , basically because it had a good story to tell , and stuck to telling that story instead of being distracted by the bells and whistles of special effects . It tells the story of a budding friendship struck between two kids , both lonely souls who found each other by virtue of being in the same class , and neighbours . Jesse Aarons ( Josh Hutcherson , last seen in RV ) is the lone boy in a family of girls , and finds that his simply living in a world of his own , getting no attention from his parents or siblings . He finds solace in his drawings , while being target practice for the bullies in school . Newcomer to the neighbourhood Leslie Burke ( AnnaSophia Robb , last seen in The Reaping ) shares the same loneliness , being new to town , and neglected by her parents when they go into their creative writing zone . Tarabithia becomes the fantasy world the friends find themselves in , a forested area off their residence . There , they become who they want to be , and through their imaginative world , become fast playmates , and firm friends . And with new found confidence and strength , they become more nimble in navigating through the school's playground politics . Needless to say , despite their age , you'll be wondering if like Mukhsin , the friendship between the two will develop into something deeper , with all the feel good moments around . What I liked about it is its positivity in the themes explored , despite a dark moment . It's about hope , love , the power of imagination when you open your mind and make believe . It has adult themes , and somewhat gives a feel like Pan's Labyrinth , minus the dark moody overtones . I can't help but guffaw at the discussion of religion too . For the most parts it has a breezy pace , until it sledgehammers certain emotions that will definitely bring on a tear or two from those who are soft hearted . The leads too do a commendable job , and their chemistry just perfect . They fed off each other's enthusiasm well , and made Terabithia believable . The special effects didn't go over the top , or turned on unnecessarily , as they are quite small scale compared to the arsenal employed for other fantasy movies , therefore not stealing the thunder , or distract the audience from the story . Reigned in properly , the effects are just effects , and not the main deal . The last act indeed takes the cake , and you'll more often than not feel for the characters , and wonder about selfishness . Unless you don't have a heart , you'll definitely feel sorry , and understand the blame inflicted . With supporting casts like Robert Patrick and Zooey Deschanel ( Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe ) who also lent her voice as the singing schoolteacher , don't miss Bridge to Terabithia ! Oh , and bring a date along too ! |
514,505 | 317,399 | 808,417 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : Persepolis | It is not difficult to understand the growing number of accolades that are being bestowed upon Persepolis , directed by Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi , which is based upon the graphic novel of the same title by Marjane , as it recounts in autobiographical terms , the growing pains of the author in a world that had undergone tremendous change in the last few decades . Yes , not many films take on the political and social context of Iran head on , and what more doing so in very acute , straightforward , no holds barred terms . But it doesn't just seek to pass callous judgement or sought the easy way out to slam everything about the restrictive standard of living . Rather , it's a long hard look at the oppression and changes for the relative worse , and summarizes quite succinctly the turmoil that its ordinary citizenry had to endure in their day to day lives , but yet , always have that glimmer of hope to cling onto , and the joys of taking pleasure in the simple things in life . The story is told through the perspective of author Marjane Satrapi from the time she's a young child , and life as she knew back then forms the baseline where changes are measured against . For the first act , we're treated to a summary of the historical events that took place in the late 70s revolution , and the euphoric sentiments that came with it , before reality set in , and religious fervour take centerstage . We follow Marjane as she grows up and we partake in the later acts where her life abroad is filled with the expected cultural shocks , and becomes a tale about the remembering of one's roots . Strangely enough and here's where the kudos go to , is that Persepolis never , at any moment , felt like it was preaching from a soap box , nor is heavy handed in its treatment of politics and religion . Its allowance for comedy was extremely generous , with cheeky lines thrown in and thank goodness too for her Grandma who's a constant chicken soup for the soul , her bawdy sense of humour and subtle sarcasm never far away , and to whom the references of the Jasmine flower belongs to . But it's not all lighthearted laughter , as when the time calls for tension , you'll feel just as panicky as the Iranians when the morality police come aknocking at one's door , in their obsessive attempts to weed out decadent western influences , which often defies simple social logic to the likes of you and me . As my friend put it , it's blatant hypocrisy on display . And for it to be nominated for Best Animated Film in the upcoming Oscar awards does give Persepolis a vote of confidence in its art department , but naturally without a doubt for its strong , engaging storyline as well . The movie is almost devoid of colours as it's spent recollecting the past , and despite it being just in black and white , it's still simply gorgeous to look at . The lighting and shadow play worked wonders , and the slick editing and transitions make Persepolis deserving of a second viewing . I thought that for its subject matter , animation would probably be the way to go because there will be expected problems to shooting scenes in country , especially for authenticity purposes . But with animation done right , one can probably get away with stylistic license taken . Highly recommended , and not to be missed especially if you're an animation fan , or are yearning for an excellent piece of storytelling . |
515,101 | 317,399 | 118,694 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : ( DVD ) In the Mood for Love ( 2000 ) | It's beautifully depressing . How someone you come to love , in a relationship that's forbidden and socially frowned upon from the onset , has decidedly moved on , while you cling onto and yet distract yourself from it , until the day you finally choose to call it quits , by trying hard to forget the bittersweet memories . That basically summed up the storyline in Wong Kar-wai's movie , with the title from a song of the same name , it's all about the mood . And key to bringing this mood to life , is the excellent production sets , art direction and costumes . Accurate to the littlest detail of how a 60s Shanghainese community in Hong Kong lived , I couldn't help but smile at the presence of an " amah " , because I grew up as a toddler with one , kind of . And the language adds that bit of authenticity too . This movie did wonders for the cheong-sam , having Maggie Cheung appearing in different ones in most scenes to highlight time progression . And what is mood without the necessary music to punctuate the visually beautiful shots , by long time cinematographer and collaborator Christopher Doyle , and Lee Pin Bing ? It's half the battle won in my opinion , that the musical pieces fill the gaps which lack dialogue and compliments the slow cinematic shots , and I'm addicted to the waltz of the main love theme . But it's one thing to have excellent music , and another when the music , effects and ambient noise are able to carry the entire movie on its own ( you can select this audio track option from the Criterion Collection DVD ) . Now that the obvious statements about music , sets , costumes are out of the way , all these come to naught without a story . I'm glad that most of the scenes which were cut off , were done so , as they were quite cheesy , though humorous , and what remained from the 15 months production , tells a very mature , measured story on forbidden love in society's eyes , friendship and then more . There are plenty of material here which 2046 , another movie which I enjoyed , had referenced , adapted and complimented , such as the hotel room , the writer in Chow Mo-wan ( Tony Leung ) , and his attitude in the sequel . One of my earlier Wong Kar-wai movies which I watched as a teen in the cinemas is Days of Being WIld , starring an ensemble cast which included Maggie Cheung , here as Mrs Chan , though I'd like to think of her movie's character here , as an extension of Su Li-zhen in Days ( actually Wong provided her that character as a reference point when Maggie was asking incessantly questions about her character ) . And Tony's character in Days , a last moment cameo like appearance supposedly about a gambler in a never-made sequel , I'd liken it to Chow here , so in my own way , these movies form a loose trilogy . For those who have already watched the Korean movie April Snow , you would already realize that it borrows from the same theme of two characters , chancing upon each other by Fate , and learning that their respective spouses were having an affair with each other . While April Snow went for the common jugular in having the cheated upon spouses go head on with each other , In the Mood tackles it way too differently , providing loads of tension , and subtle teases , negating your want of the leads to develop their friendship into something more . And therein lies the strength of the movie . How Chow and Mrs Chan develop an unlikely friendship , which hints strongly at how it all could have been , under a 60s conservative environment , where they have to restrain their feelings for each other under society's judging eyes . Living in a communal environment too doesn't help their cause , even though it is pure to begin with - 2 lonely people , betrayed , and at times , tempted to take that leap of faith to challenge societal norms about love . Thankfully , potentially confusing ideas were not fully developed or made the final cut . There were thoughts to have the respective cheating spouses played by the same actors , but that would truly add to the confusion , The idea was developed separately into the " what could have been " and played out as various " rehearsals " as Chow and Mrs Chan try in their earlier quest to find out the whys and the hows their spouses could have gotten together , known each other , and started off the affair , but themselves vowing that they will never go down the same path . So in this vow already laid the foundations of how their friendship would be , and set a line in which their friendship could not cross nor develop into something more . And it's sometimes ironic too , that Mrs Chan , in her job , assists her boss in covering up his affairs . Kinda like a what-goes-around-comes-around . There are plenty of imagery throughout the movie that one could look into and try and interpret . I'd take forever in trying to list down all of mine , perhaps I'll do so one day when I own the DVD ( saving to get my copy ! ) , but I particularly liked the one at the restaurant where they finally learnt about their spouse's affair , and that long walk back home , where they walk , from out of step , into tandem . It's a becoming of 2 to 1 , where lonely persons find solace in each other's company , especially in the scenes after . Anyway , all said , I love the movie , and it ranks up there with my all time favourites . If you were to watch it , make it none other than the Criterion Collection . ( I'm not advertising for them , but I feel that this edition would help the viewer to appreciate the many rich layers more ) . |
514,396 | 317,399 | 790,799 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : $9 . 99 | Personally I dig stop-motion animation , for the simple conscious fact that there's a lot of blood and sweat going on behind the scenes just to get an object to move . You can imagine what it takes to get a character to move an arm , and you extrapolate that effort into a feature length film with a lot more things happening concurrently on screen , and you're likely to appreciate this artform a lot more , with new found respect for it . $9 . 99 is an amazing piece of stop-motion animation coupled with a tremendously engaging story made up of multiple narrative threads , and a myriad of characters attempting to tackle their respective problems in life . It begins with a bang literally , where a homeless man ( Geoffrey Rush ) with a gun in hand , asks Jim Peck ( Anthony LaPaglia ) for a cigarette and a light , before launching into some really clever moments about manipulation . It's an excellent start to jolt you into realizing that this film isn't just another walk in the park , and as it plays on , you'd discover its brilliance in its commentary about life , as seen from the experiences of the residents in an apartment block . We have a family of three , with Jim who might just need his karma checked for encountering really antagonizing moments involving death , and his two sons Dave ( Samuel Johnson ) and Lenny ( Ben Mendelsohn ) , the former being unemployed and is found to be central to the narrative , and the latter being a Repo-man finding himself falling , and obsessing over the love by new neighbour and supermodel Tanita ( Leeanna Walsman ) , who has a fetish for a hairless body . Then there's a lonely old man who finds the world contents passing him by with nobody interested in hearing him talk a bit ( well , because he's long-winded as well ) , finding a companion in an angel , whom he asks incessantly about Heaven . Then there's a boy who has a friend in his piggy bank , and a couple on the verge of being married having to fall out because one of them refuses to grow up . The " $9 . 99 " comes from the price of a catalog of books , one of which touts to hold The Meaning of Life which Dave buys . Unfortunately , the characters here seem to be caught up in living their own lives and falling victim to respective challenges life presents itself , and so every effort that Dave wants to share gets spurned , and we the audience , unfortunately , don't get to hear if there are any insights to that . But of course we all know that there's no silver bullet , and the characters here , though the course of this emotionally moving film , learn of that meaning as it applies in their own , with the old man determined to take a more proactive approach , to a connection between a father and a son , to love found and running parallel to that , a love broken because of sacrifices that one has to make , or the lack thereof , and the maturing of a young child . I guess nobody scoffs at animation , especially one that targets the mature audience ? check out that Dr Manhatten moment . I've new found respect for stop-motion animation , and for the filmmakers involved in producing this fine piece of work . The attention to detail is incredible , never at any moment hinting that they had cut some corners and compromised quality . Definitely highly recommended , and easily one of the few films I thoroughly enjoyed in the festival lineup . |
515,437 | 317,399 | 991,183 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : How to Become Myself | Based on a story by Kaori Mado , How to Become Myself touches base with what it means to understand oneself , and being very comfortable with it . To be honest , everyone plays different roles in different situations with different people encountered . I can be a brother , friend , soldier , employee , reviewer , son , and the list goes on , putting on different masks , being different persons , adopting various personae . With the advent of the Internet and anonymous profiles , what you can be , is limited only by your imagination . ( And of course you've got perverts being totally something else altogether ) . And in the many roles we play , how often do we stop and take stock - just who the heck am I ? Who's the real me , and what's the " me " that I'm portraying for others to see and interact with ? Bottomline is , are you being true to yourself and being honest about yourself with others ? Or are you superficially role playing with nary an emotional attachment to the part ? What I thought was neat was that the movie doesn't shove this thought down your throat , but rather played it out through the interaction between the leads . Subtlety is by far Ichikawa's strongest point in his movies ( based on the 4 I've seen ) , and his pace of the movies allows you room enough to ponder as scenes transition and the narrative develops on screen . Juri ( Niko Narumi , you'll be amazed that she's only so young , but yet has the capability to take on a character that so layered and yet so subtle in her delivery ) plays an ideal girl at home and in school , but this facade is quickly stripped away early in the movie , as we see her loathe her parent's bickering at home , while putting up a false front of a happy , supportive family to the outside world . In the movie , the spotlight is also shared by fellow classmate Hinako ( Atsuko Maeda ) , a popular girl who in a twist of fate , becomes the victim of classroom politics and bullying . Mere acquaintances , they share a poignant conversation just after junior school graduation , before going their separate ways . The story then fast forwards 2 years later , and Juri , out of curiosity , looks up and emails Hanako , who apparently doesn't seem to remember her , or their conversation . And thus begins a reintroduction and attempts to build a friendship between the two in what is probably one of the most layered stories I've experienced in recent times . It's almost like kueh-lapis , where each layer can be peeled apart and reveals another understanding at a different level . It tells of the story in three ways , through exchanges of email ( more on this later ) , as the catalyst and fuel for creative writing , and of course , in the character's real lives . Juri and Hinako wear different masks to play different roles , consciously and subconsciously , and with each being a projection of their articifically created self , there's no denying just who's playing what role , and questions of whether they're relishing these roles are posed , and when do you know to stop and become yourself , truly ? Watching the narrative unfold was part of the fun , as techniques such as panel in panel , and split screens , are used to simultaneously present to the audience the different character's action / reaction at the same point in time . Not to mention that the shots are beautifully rendered , with text messages from mobile phones bringing to mind Eric Khoo's Be With Me . In true Ichikawa style , the pacing is deliberately slow , and the wonderful soundtrack comprises of eclectic pop tunes as well as quiet contempla tive pieces , all of which I thought complimented the movie very well . But what I really enjoyed when watching the movie , and how it connected with me , was the way it seemed like a dispenser of tips on love and the living of life . And this brings to mind the song Everybody's Free ( To Wear Sunscreen ) , which itself was based on an article written in the Chicago Tribune on 1st June 1997 by Mary Schmich titled " Advice , like youth , probably wasted on the young " . I got the same feeling when reading the column ( and re-reading it again ) back in those days , listening to the song version of it , and now watching a series of events unfold on screen as one character projects her self onto another , as well as the aptly included commencement sequence . Sometimes things just click , and connects on a different level which appealed to me at least . And now about that email exchange , I think it's prudent to bear in mind that the Japanese wireless telecommunications network is different from the GSM one that we're so used to . I've heard some puzzled expressions and comments about how it's possible to not know who is calling based on the Caller-ID , but I suppose that the Japanese network is already more highly advanced and developed than the GSM one , and sending an email through a phone is a piece of cake . So let's not confuse that with the sending of SMS , which obviously then this story , or how it panned out , wouldn't apply to places like ours . And yeah , I like their phones too , even though it's the girly model - there's something about the simplicity and minimalist look and feel about it ( in the design , not features ) that I'm impressed with . How to Become Myself easily ranks amongst my favourite of Ichikawa Jun's movies to date , in addition to Tokyo Marigold . Highly recommended as it's a really good film all round ! |
515,261 | 317,399 | 120,363 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : ( DVD ) Toy Story 2 ( 1999 ) | There are few sequels that can equal or even surpass its original , and for an animated feature , perhaps Toy Story 2 is the first of its kind that didn't end up going direct to video . I'm unsure why I hadn't caught this in the theatres , given that I've thoroughly enjoyed the first Toy Story . I've taken 7 years to finally watch this gem , and of course , to include myself into the legions of Pixar fans out there who have watched every single animated feature they produced . Toy Story 2 remains the only sequel that Pixar put out , though I'm rooting for The Incredibles to make another appearance on the silver screen . Bringing back its stellar voice cast like Tom Hanks and Tim Allen , and favourite characters that have endeared themselves to us , I'm thrilled that there is so much more story that can be told of our favourite toys in Andy's room . What worked , at least for me , is that the story and characters appealed to the child inside . I own quite a number of toys as a kid , and yes , I outgrew them , although most of them are still stored in boxes somewhere around the house . Perhaps some of them are small collector's item in their own right , and as a child I did wonder if the toys do come alive to wreck havoc around the room before they retire in time and clean up before I wake up . Of course toys do not come to life ( or do they ? ) but here in this sequel , the exploration of the friendship theme takes on a different dimension when Woody finds himself with other toys from the same collection as he is - a cowgirl Jessie , his trusty steed Bullseye , and a prospecting character known as Stinky Pete . The dilemma he faces is whether to cast aside his constant fear of Andy abandoning him for good , and opt for life with his new found family in some museum somewhere , where he'll be appreciated for many moons to come , or to return with Buzz and his friends for the life he has grown so accustomed to . The adaptation to change , loyalty , abandonment , friendship - a lot of themes for a children's movie , but that again is the appeal of Toy Story , that it can be viewed at different levels , for a child who can enjoy the animation and the story at one level , and for adults to reminisce and enjoy it on another . By deftly handling the different themes , and appealing to different segments of audiences with the same movie , Pixar exhibited exactly why they're top dogs in this field . As always , the music and animation are excellent , and given that I'm watching this now and found it enjoyable , I think they have a film that can stand the test of time . I hear of rumours of a third Toy Story movie , and if that were true , I'd say bring it on ! |
515,089 | 317,399 | 914,798 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : The Boy in Striped Pyjamas | At the risk of sounding stupid , while I knew that this was based on a book by John Boyne , not having read it meant I had initially thought that it would be one of those childhood based film on fantasy . And I guess so did many parents in bringing their little tykes in what they thought would be a weekend filler in between activities . Little did I and they know of course that it packed such a powerful emotional punch in not wanting to be just another movie set in WWII Germany and the Holocaust , showcasing the horror of that era seen through the eyes of a little boy who couldn't understand the gravity of the dire situation he's plunged into , making it all the more painful to bear witness to . I was glad that director Mark Herman didn't dumb it down for the audience in masking the horror of the atrocities committed , as are the cover ups and the matter of fact manner in which the Nazis went about conducting their persecution of the Jews in concentration camps . Asa Butterfield stars as Bruno , an eight year old boy from whose eyes we witness the chain of events unfold . Having the family uprooted from Berlin to the countryside in order to follow the father ( played by David Thewlis ) , an officer in Hitler's army , we soon realize the true nature of this assignment , and that's to oversee the activity of building horrendous gas chambers and managing a concentration camp that's just a stone's throw away from their family mansion . To Bruno , being in a new environment means a severe lack of friends his age , and from his room he spies a farm where farmers mill around in their pyjamas . We see the world through the eyes of an impressionable , innocent boy who has yet to be exposed to the evil of the world , and this presents itself a number of avenues for the corruption of his mind , starting with the family home tutor indoctrinating Bruno and his sister Gretel ( Amber Beattie ) in lies against humanity . However , Bruno's sense for exploration and adventure sees him sneak out of his house and toward the " farm " , where he finds a boy his age Shmeul ( Jack Scanlon ) across the other side of the fence whom he befriends . This sets up some major conflict within Bruno especially when what he's being taught , told and observed within the household , being in direct conflict with his first hand experience with Scmuel , and becomes totally confused , though still afraid of speaking up for obvious reasons . This theme of standing up for what's right ( or the lack thereof ) and betrayal of the highest order has been explored in similar vein in films such as The Kite Runner and The Reader , but it doesn't mean that this film had its thunder well taken away from it . It still resonates thanks to the excellent portrayals by the kids in roles where their innocence has no place in their world gone mad , having rationale folks like the Mother ( Vera Farmiga ) shouted down and out . James Horner gives this film a wonderful score , and became a character on its own highlighting the various dangers lurking beneath the seemingly happier notes . Such as a scene where a screening of what goes on inside the camps was made , but totally for propaganda purposes , in stark contrast to what we know would and had happened , but here fabricated for the mass public . To Bruno , it seemed like his dad is a national hero , though there's this sense of karmic retribution permeating and waiting on the wings to pounce . We also see how double standards can be applied within family , and a general culture of fear being bred no thanks to the Oath that each officer had to undertake . Despite the dark content , the film is beautifully lensed , and I haven't read any qualm about the actors here all having to adopt an English accent ( in contrast with the stark complaints with Valkyrie , which is much ado about nothing ) . The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is an extremely moving piece and I had to admit I was quite affected by it , especially when the final reel came rolling . The last time I was this affected and moved by a " children's " movie was The Bridge to Terabithia . This film firmly joins it in that list of surprises , and a natural contender in my shortlist for the top movies of the year . Highly recommended ! |
514,694 | 317,399 | 418,689 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : Flags of Our Fathers | I nodded in agreement when it was mentioned a single photo taken during combat has the power to make or break a war . At a time when the war chest is drained and the battle seemed to be drawn out longer than expected , you need public support to cough out funds and make donations to the manufacturing of arms . In the dying days of WWII , that photo you see above , gave reason to galvanize the American public into making donations for that final push . Now think Abu Graib . Nuff said , on its adverse impact to the war machinery . For WWII movies , the Pacific theatre has arguably fewer number of films made by the West , especially those whose focus is on the ground troops , as compared to the European theatre , and possibly could be due to the availability of locales , as well as budget and ( non ) permission to film at the actual place . The Iwo Jima here is a substitute backdrop , not the real Iwo Jima with black beaches that you can see right after the end credits roll , as if in silent meditation of the soldiers on both sides who had given up their lives fighting for their cause . And the Battle of Iwo Jima had its historical significance given it's the first landing of Allied troops on Japanese soil , and one of the bloodiest yet with high casualties on both sides . It also opened up the American eyes to the tenacity of the Japanese troops and their relentless defence of the homeland from invasion , in a Digital Domain CGI-created massive naval beach landing . Those looking for recreated battle scenes will probably not be disappointed with the level of detail shown in Flags , like the weapons , and the infamous use of flamethrowers to smoke out hidden troops in bunkers . But this movie is not an all out action film . It's not a macro look at how the Allies secured their first foothold in Japanese soil . Rather , it takes a very personal look at the surviving men who hoisted the American flag over a prominent knoll in Iwo Jima . While there are countless of versions of the circumstances surrounding this lifting of a symbol , be it for morale boosting purpose , or politics , or for abstract ideals like hope , the definitive version as recounted in this story is actually quite ordinary , fueled by a mix of human desire for something monumental , as well as the listening to orders to a T . Told in a non linear fashion with flashbacks and voiceovers , it is extremely difficult that you'll be bored by the movie , unless your expectations have been set the wrong way . There is plenty of material and themes that the movie touched upon , although it can be argued that each doesn't necessarily have enough focus , issues like racism and prejudice . What makes this film compelling is the story of the survivors , being whisked back to the States to be part of propaganda to raise funds . Accuracy and accountability take the backseat against the hail of heroism , and it evolves very quickly into a media circus . Flags examines the lives of those in the photo who survived the battle , their reluctance to be called heroes , the demons that they faced while on the battlefield , the constant reminder to kill or be killed , the lies they have to tell to sell , and their sense of morality sacrificed for the lesser of two evils . Being soldiers , they have to do listen to orders , even if at the moment , it sounds absurd ( I believe those who have been through service in the armed forces will agree on this ) . It is the conflict , and the need to lie through their teeth , which makes it all the more a sorrowful struggle , especially when you have to deny a fellow brother his moment of recognition , and denying his family the need for closure . And of course , we all know how fickle the press can be . On one hand they can praise you , on the other , someone's always looking at ways to demean and cast doubts . Flavours of the moment , potshots of controversy like whether the picture was staged , ring to mind that icons can never escape from the cynical eye . Politicians , rich businessmen and the military brass too are cast in none too positive light , as they get portrayed as men who like association with power , fame , and glory . Clint Eastwood again never ceases to amaze me . Here's the star of spaghetti westerns , Dirty Harry himself , who has aged but still showing no signs of slowing down . Like fine wine , he has started to show his talents in the films he makes , and award winning critically acclaimed ones too . But what I'm really pleasantly and thoroughly enjoyed , is the score that he wrote for Flags . It's restrained , yet powerful , kept simple in instrument , yet never lacking in grandeur . Being a filmmaker is one thing , but having contribute to a highly effective score complimenting the movie , is another . Not many can do that . Flags of Our Fathers is a must watch , and I'm already eagerly anticipating the companion movie , with viewpoints from the Japanese , fighting the same war , in Letters From Iwo Jima , and it should be equally powerful . |
514,447 | 317,399 | 1,010,048 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : Slumdog Millionaire | Deep down inside , I personally believe some game shows are rigged to a certain degree . After all , organizers do try to profile you through a questionnaire which also contain clauses such as telling - nothing - but - the - truth - or - you - risk - forfeiting - any - prizes - won . So you're presenting yourself on a silver platter for opportunities to exploit both your strengths , if they choose to make you a hero , or your weaknesses , should you so be deemed as being there for entertainment value . This of course does not apply to some situations where obvious hints are provided so that you're given an idiot-proof situation to make away with some cash , should the sponsors be generous . Game shows are mathematical and probability at its best , and of course one that can be programmed such that the house can win all , or choose to let you go for a little bit of laughter at the side . You can be asked questions that you know or to do something that you're comfortable with , from the profile you built , or when the stakes are too high and the house's appetite for risk is somehow subdued , in comes the real challenge to see if you'd buckle under pressure , or can overcome your fears . For Jamal , ( Dev Patel ) , he's one question away in India's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire , hosted by Prem Kumar ( played by Anil Kapoor , and in real life hosted by Amitabh Bachchan who gets some mention here ) , to winning 20 , 000 , 000 ( count the zeroes , man ) rupees , given that he's answered seemingly random questions correctly , but on the show's logical break , get arrested on suspicion of fraud and tortured during interrogation to spill the beans . Based on the novel " Q & A " by Vikas Swarup , this Danny Boyle-Loveleen Tandan co-directed film brings us on a spiraling journey through the chapters in Jamal's life , where each episode of his tremendously rich tale of survival had Destiny place every nugget of required information toward those million dollar rupees . Hailing from the slums of Mumbai , we see how Jamal and his brother Salim carve a living out of exploiting their street smarts , even at one point being little artful dodgers themselves in a Charles Dickens tale . It boggles everyone that someone without a formal education could nab those random questions correctly , a tea boy working in a call centre , beating participants like lawyers and doctors . He captured the imagination of the entire nation , that sometimes the wildest of dreams can come true . You'll find yourself rooting for Jamal , because here's a character crafted so earnestly by the storytellers that it's hard not to root for the underdog . And his story as told to the police inspector ( played by Irrfan Khan ) , especially in his early life , set the stage thanks to the two adorable boys playing Jamal ( Ayush Mahesh Khedekar ) and Salim ( Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail ) who arrest your attention in a solid tale of two brothers growing up who eventually set foot on very different paths - one unassuming , while the other ambitious . And nothing better to drive the wedge between them than a girl Latika ( Rubiana Ali ) they knew by chance , and grew up with . One of my favourite films of Danny Boyle's was Millions , where a cute little boy with tremendous imagination , held court when a bag full of cash come literally crashing down on his play house . Boyle seems to hold court again with a tale of the little ones overcoming impossible odds of survival through the honing of their street-smarts and instincts , and again shows his eclecticism in direction with some dizzying cinematography by Anthony Dod Mantle . And providing the score and music to punctuate the movie is none other than the Mozart of Mumbai A . R . Rahman , whom I hope gets his due recognition with non-Indian film fans , and even though I felt that his work here might not have been the best I've heard , it's still a great introductory platform to everyone caught up in the buzz for this movie . For a story with events firmly written in the stars , and had plenty of coincidence and luck playing a part , it never for one moment felt forced nor contrived . Everything seemed possible , which makes it magical with Destiny having a big say , but one primary fact here is that Jamal had entered the gameshow not to win money beyond his wildest dreams , but to try and reconnect and search for a love that is lost , through a media platform . It's not that far fetched an idea , because I do know from personal experience that this type of scenarios do happen , with differing success results of course . Slumdog Millionaire is up against very strong contenders for the Best Picture Oscar , but it firmly has my support as one of the best this year so far , and I'm rooting for it to take home the statuette . It's a magical film with Destiny playing a huge part in changing the lives of underdogs , where hope and belief are made chic themes again . |
514,686 | 317,399 | 472,160 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : Penelope | Face it , I think we're attracted to beautiful things and are repulsed by almost anything that does not look appealing at first sight . For a girl , I suppose having a face of a pig is a living nightmare , and what more when you can do absolutely no cosmetic surgery to remove the snout ? That's basically the premise of this quirky but charming fairy tale of a story in Penelope , where a descendant of a high society family gets cursed as payment for the sins of her ancestors , being the first born female of the lineage and made to suffer from prominent physical defects , with only the love of one of her kind to break the spell and set her free . The story took me by surprise because it was full of nice little nuggets of comedy which genuinely tickles your funny bone , without trying too hard or by being dumb at all . It plays out rather intelligently , and have very lovable characters , well at least for the " good guys " , and nasty characters were just plain rotten on the inside . It served to play on the cliché reminder that beauty is only skin deep , and what matters really is the principles and values that one possess and practise . And to think that it's a simple story is missing the point , as it comes filled with enough carefully plotted twists and turns of a Brit comedy , complete with dry wit , that makes Penelope irresistibly charming . I've grown up watching Christina Ricci on the big screen since her Wednesday days with the Addams Family movies , and from then on , her roles have been nothing but eclectic , from duds like The Gathering , to the more recent temptress type roles like her stint in Black Snake Moan . She returns to her girly charming ways with the titular character , who's living the curse on her lithe shoulders . While on one hand she openly laments her frustration and loathes all the matchmaking attempts that Mom ( Catherine O'Hara ) arranges for her , Ricci also brought across the pain of rejection that Penelope feels each time guys leap out windows to confront their initial shock and fear . A continuous string of rejections will sap away all optimism anyone has , and will likely make anyone swear off trying to do more . Then came James McAvoy's Max , a blue-blood who didn't bolt but held his ground , for some time . He's quite the nerd turned perfect assassin in Wanted , but here he ditches all the machismo crap but dumbed it down a little as a romantic leading man with a shaggy dog look , except that this leading man's an obsessive gambler with great charm to get under Penelope's skin . There's nothing to shout about regarding his role here , except that in my opinion , he's there to personify the widely held belief of letting someone go in order for them to seek their true happiness , while being the contrast to the utterly revolting and whiny Edward Vanderman ( Simon Woods ) who despises our leading lady , only to try and satisfy strategic reasons for an alliance in matrimony . The supporting characters are a joy to watch too , and Catherine O'Hara's Jessica Wilhem has some of the best scenes in the movie hamming it up as the uber-concerned mother doing her very best to shield her unlucky child from unwanted attention . Peter Dinklage as the dogged reporter out for a scoop also deserves a shout-out , and he's in my radar too as one of the character actors to watch , after enjoyable turns in Death at a Funeral , and as Trumpkin in Prince Caspian . Fans of Hot Fuzz's Nick Frost must also keep your eyes peeled for his very small role , and Resse Whitherspoon who also serves as producer of the movie , has no more than a combined total of about 10 minutes in the film . What I credit the movie for is its telling of the story through rather non-conventional means , which would have otherwise really sapped all the charm , and presented itself as a rather plain movie to sit through . But without big sets or sequences ( just a very huge and aesthetically done makeup prop ) , this small movie didn't waste its potential , and makes for a very perfect film to sit through with friends , or loved ones ( meaning it's a perfect date movie lah ! ) It's been some time since I had an enjoyable time at the movies with fairy tales , and Penelope put that faith back in me . And you know what the surprise is ? That it makes it through as a contender for one of my top movies of the year , because it won me over with its sheer magical simplicity . |
515,546 | 317,399 | 1,182,937 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi | Surinder Sahni is your typical routine joe who works for Punjab Power , meek and gentle , and a nerd to most . His love life is practically zilch , but on a visit to his old school teacher's home , he gets captivated by the beauty and vivaciousness of his teacher's daughter Taani ( Anushka Sharma ) , who has heard about him because of the frequent comparisons her father makes . But that day turns out to be a tragedy instead , with her fiancé and in-laws meeting with a fatal accident , and her father coincidentally suffering a stroke . A decision was made then , for her to be betrothed and married to Surinder , someone whom her father trusts , but this shotgun , arranged marriage turns out to be a loveless one for Surinder . There's this albatross hung around his neck , because his arrival heralded the darkest period in Taani's life , and thus was told upfront that while she can be a good wife to him , but she will never love him . Naturally this breaks Surinder's heart because there's nothing in this world he wouldn't do in order to bring her happiness that was originally hers , if he had in the first place not been associated with pain when he entered her life . While he has some little itsy-bitsy happiness stemmed from Taani's taking care of him , he still feels shattered knowing that whatever sincerity , care and concern he'll be showering on her , will have zero effect in trying to win her over . Opportunity presents itself of course , when Taani , bored with being a housewife , signs up for a dance class with Surinder's sponsorship . With the help of his good friend Bobby ( Vinay Pathak ) , he transforms himself to the suave romantic hero with an alter ego Raj , crafted according to the male leading men in films that his wife appreciates , and decides to take ownership on his love life by wooing Taani from scratch with this new , outgoing persona . But alas as we all know , such a plan becomes a recipe for disaster , because while Taani would not change her heart for Surinder , he has now taken the extreme into becoming someone totally different , and thus struggles with the pain of living a lie , especially when his plan becomes successful and leaves him pondering over whether to live a lie forever , just to be with her . Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi thus becomes embroiled with plenty of situational comedy involving different identities , but at its core is still a very strong romance story dealing with the notion of unconditional love without expecting anything in return , which Taani fails to fathom why anyone would go to such lengths in order to bring happiness to her life . Written and directed by Aditya Chopra , this story is strictly for the romantics at heart , otherwise you'll naturally balk at the thought that nobody could recognize Shah Rukh Khan whether or not he's the ordinary man Surinder , or the styled up Raj , especially when his wife Taani is the one who is blind-sided . But of course you can live with it if you buy into the whole Clark Kent - Superman secret identity where a pair of spectacles does wonders . The literal translation of the title means " a couple made by god " and as you know the man up there has a sense of humour sometimes , preferring to allow the couple to go through a number of painful periods in order to strengthen their resolve for each other . However , the story still steered very clear from the darker themes such as adultery , although Surinder and Raj are essentially the same person , Taani's falling for the latter does come after a long period of courtship , and curiously , she doesn't reveal her marital status till late . So while that theme might rear its ugly head once in a while when you pause from the incessant bonding between Raj and Taani , it doesn't get broached beyond that . Being a Bollywood movie would also mean plenty of song and dance , and being set against the backdrop of a dance competition , it brings about opportunities for the characters to hit the dance floor their moves . Shah Rukh Khan gets to showcase both extremes in character , one being the nerd with two left foot , while the other being at the opposite with plenty of smooth moves to show off . If anyone's in doubt of his acting ability , I guess this one movie will show what he's capable of . In fact , between his portrayal of Raj and Surinder , I prefer the latter more , because he had fused some wonderful nuances into his Surinder , that makes him an instantly likable character , while at appropriate moments , his portrayal shows you that tender side of him as well as the internal emotional struggles he has to go through as he woos his wife . Newcomer Anushka Sharma holds her own against the veteran as the young wife Taani , who's at constant odds with her marital obligations , and on the other knowingly falling in love with someone whom she becomes dangerously attracted to . Of course what she fails to realize is that they're the same person after all , and her best performance comes from the finale where you can see how she reacts to her make believe world come crashing down under the weight of realization . I guess loving someone unconditionally is that constant challenge , if it's at all possible extending otherwise from that of a mother toward her child . This film is an ode to that kind of loving emotion , and to a certain extent it puts the other person on a higher pedestal than oneself . I would prefer to overlook the flaws in the movie if any , and highly recommend his one to all the die-hard romantics out there , given the excellent performances , story as well as the beautiful songs that puts romance back into the air . An average joe can have an extraordinary romance , and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi captures that wonderfully . |
515,391 | 317,399 | 367,594 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Roald Dahl wrote countless of books , many of which I grew up reading in secondary school . There are many of his works adapted for the screen as well ( The Witches , Matilda ) , but none so far given the Tim Burton treatment . The opening credits / scene has Burton's fingerprints all over - the imaginative sequence , the Gothic soundtrack ( done by long time Burton collaborator Danny Elfman ) , mammoth weird looking architecture and snow filled landscapes . In the beginning , we are brought to the small world of Charlie Bucket , whose family find difficulty in making ends meet . As Wonka announces the 5 Golden Tickets ( for a special visit to his factory ) hidden in his chocolate bars , we are introduced to the backgrounds of the other children's family and stereotypical character , like the German glutton , the English brat , the American go-getter , and the Television ( Wonka accused of mumbling ) boy . And no doubt , the audience will definitely root for the time when Charlie actually gets his ticket and join the rest . Willy Wonka is the number one Chocolateer , but he certainly has issues relating to people , and I guess nobody can blame him after having his " Secret Recipe " hijacked by corporate espionage . We are told of Wonka's background in a series of flashbacks throughout the plot , and one of my favourites is when he journeyed and stumbled upon the Oopma Loompas . As the narrative gets predictable , it actually turned it into its advantage , as the audience expects to see some innovative room in its spectacular imaginative splendour , the set pieces in which the children get themselves into , and the performance of the little Oompa Loompa people , whose hilarious spontaneous song and dance routine will definitely leave you laughing out loud . Towards the end , after the side-splitting zaniness of the factory excursion , the theme of Family is highlighted , and nicely wraps up the movie , both for Wonka and Charlie . Johnny Depp is class , but really though , I thought his Willy Wonka actually adapted Michael Jackson's look and nuances . He managed to highlight Wonka's freakiness and child like nature to a T , and Depp has shown he has done no wrong with diverse roles in Tim Burton's visionary movies . Also remarkable is his recommendation of Freddie Highmore into the role of Charlie . If you'd remember , they worked together before in Finding Neverland , and their on screen chemistry was brought into this film as well . Many touching moments featuring Highmore will tug at your heartstrings , and I suppose besides Dakota Fanning , he's one of my favourite child actors of today . I can't rave enough of the sets created for this film , with its wonderful use of colours . And besides scoring the film's soundtrack , Danny Elfman also provided the unique sounding voice of the Oompa Loompas , and purist of the book will be glad that the lyrics for most of their performances were from Dahl himself . Although adapted from a children's book , this is one movie I'd recommend to adults as well . I guess Roald Dahl would have been proud of this effort ! Bring out the Wonka bars ! |
514,990 | 317,399 | 382,932 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : Ratatouille | The Pixar juggernaut continues ! I've always been enthralled by the movies that Pixar puts out ever since Toy Story , and through the years , Pixar has built a brand of trust amongst movie goers , with quality storytelling using animation as a tool to tell them , not because it's cool to do things through the medium , but that it adds a certain powerful , believable dimension , with stories rooted to universal themes , yet jazzed up by the structure in which it's told . The Incredibles ranked amongst my favourite so far , but writer-director Brad Bird has topped that with Ratatouille , a story about a rat , and probably the most mature of the Pixar stories to date . One of the rare successful rats in the animated genre is Mickey , but Remy here ( voiced by Patton Oswalt ) has more character , and with that photo realistic quality to him , will give Mickey a run for his money . It's a class act story about a rat who dreams of being somebody , of wanting to follow that dream in becoming a chef in Paris , and is undeterred by his size , and well , form , even though in any kitchen , the last thing you want is a rat in it . And to realize his dream , he forms a symbiotic friendship with bumbling Linguini ( Lou Romano ) , a garbage boy who just joined the restaurant which Remy's idol , the late renowned chef Gusteau ( Brad Garrett ) , founded . It's a story about the tussle between friendship and family , with the latter providing an added emphasis , and you'll happen to just about find a familiar chord to it . Remember the time when your folks frown upon the friends you keep , and how sometimes , through their good intentions , unwittingly stifle your hopes and desires ? Or how family becomes that obstructing stone on the pathway to success , or being taken for granted to provide for greedy , unabashed family and so-called friends ? Ratatouille explores these and more , though they're kept veiled and subtle for the narrative to move on , and never provided a dull moment for kids and adults alike . Pixar's animation continues to astound , and provide inspiration to the many 3D animators out there - they have always set new benchmarks for others to follow , and I think they're on top of their game with the excellent animated portrayal of Paris , the kitchen , and of course , the rats , with that touch of photo realistic quality to it all , which does wonders to the food presented . Amongst the food , I like the crusty breads best - you can almost feel the texture , and the rustling sound is just to die for . And the cheese , you can just feel it melt in your mouth . Mmm mmm ! The story's adversaries might be familiar - a mean boss Skinner ( Ian Holm ) and a mightier - than-though food critic Anton Ego ( Peter O'Toole ) , but it's the latter , despite his shorter screen time , that does its best to chill , and it was such an obvious jab with making him English . The comedy's here top notch , not necessarily relying solely on slapstick to bring on the laughs , but possessing many sly moments throughout as you root for little Remy and his escapades , less so for Linguini though , who comes off as that perfect loser in life . Ratatouille is a perfectly delicious offering worthy of that Pixar stamp , and definitely gonna be a crowd pleaser . I'm not sure why the delay in getting it released here , and having to suffer watching poor quality animation along the way . But the wait is well worth it , and I bet everyone will be pleasantly surprised indeed , with all the ingredients coming together for that wonderful presentation , that tastes and looks ju st wonderful . Despite the overkill of trailers , pre-screening warnings to turn off your mobile phones , etc , continue to put your trust in that little rat Remy , and savour what Ratatouille has to offer . No regrets - highly recommended , and another contender for my top movie of the year listing . Ratatouille is preceded by the trailer for the next Pixar movie Wall-E , and a short Pixar featurette titled Lifted , about two aliens and one of their attempts in passing the Alien Abduction course . Stay throughout the animated end credits for a little coda at the end . |
514,575 | 317,399 | 841,044 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : 2 Days in Paris | I actually did spend two days in Paris , back in August 2004 , and did all the touristy things one could do in those short 48 hours , like visit the unmissable landmarks such as Le Tour Eiffel , visited babes Mona Lisa and Venus at the Louvre , tried to look for the hunchback at Notre Dame , paid my respects at Napoleon's casket , and ended the night partying after a dinner watching a French revue . But no , I didn't have a Julie Delpy to romance , or to hang out with . Written and directed ( and edited ! ) by Julie Delpy , comparisons to the Richard Linklater twin combo Before Sunrise and Before Sunset are inevitable , because firstly , they star Delpy , and secondly , the characters hit off into interesting chatter that grabs our attention , albeit this one takes place over a longer period of reel time over 48 hours versus the combined 24 hours that the Before movies offered . But before you shout " rip off " and discredit Delpy's effort as another Linklater clone , I can safely say there are distinct differences between the movies , and that while Linklater's had a kind of dreamy romanticism to his , Delphy's 2 Days in Parissomehow had a more realistic , grittier , down to earth look and feel ( no offense to Linklater , whose movies I mentioned I just adore too ) , tackling a key issue in relationship , and that's honesty . In fact , you'd wonder if honesty ( 100 % no holds barred revelations ) can offer you less headache , particularly when your partner has to discover some parts of you that you want hidden away , either for reasons of being ashamed , or just because you want to protect him / her from possible hurt when they find out the truth . Truth usually has a funny way of getting back at you , in presenting themselves usually at the less than ideal situations , open to being misconstrued , and misunderstood . Kind of having a negative vibe to it all , doesn't it ? Adam Goldberg plays Jack , who's into a two year relationship with Delpy's Marion . While enjoying a whirlwind holiday in Europe , they decided to make a pit stop in Paris to visit Mario's folks Anna and Jeannot ( Marie Pillet and Albert Delpy , Julie Delpy's real life parents playing her reel ones in the movie ) , before flying back home to New York . That's the basic premise , with Jack being brought around Paris by Marion , as well as to catch up ( or rather providing the opportunity ) with Marion's friends , which inevitably involves ex-boyfriends . While at first being quite magnanimous , Jack will confront his fears and ego-busting situations when he starts to realize in his own warped perception that Marion may well be the village bicycle , having ridden with / on / by every male they come into contact with . I never thought I'd laugh my way through the movie , as from the get go , 2 Days in Paris contains extremely witty dialogue in rapid fire , and almost every character gets into the act , either intentionally ( like Jack and his constant sarcasm ) , or through various situations the couple get into . Cab rides aren't like Linklater's Before Sunset where the lovebirds take the time to understand each other , gaze and whisper sweet nothings . Cab rides here means opportunity for insane dialogue , insults , and even being hit upon ! It was so much fun that I'd actually wanted the couple to take more cab rides . Bringing on the laughs too was Marion's / Delpy's dad , a Frenchman who cannot speak English , which provides cross-cultural / language barrier comedy with Goldberg's Jack , and being the old man that he is , peppers his conversations and actions with so much sexual innuendo it'll probably make you blush . That scene in the art gallery is just to die for , if you pay close attention to the art pieces . Dad definitely stole the show each time he appeared on screen . But fun and laughter aside , this movie as it turns out , is a very keen , and introspective look at modern day love and relationships . That voice-over by Delpy towards the end , somehow struck a bell within me , and I'd think most of us who have been hurt in the same way , may share the same thoughts too . And for that bit of sincerity and recognition of a probable perennial issue of the cycle of love-lost-found-is-he / she-the-one-pondering , this Julie Deply movie is a definite winner . Kudos too to Adam Goldberg for being a likable unlikeable fella providing ample , believable repartee to carry the movie through . Highly recommended , don't miss this movie ! And book your tickets early too , as it has been playing to full houses ! |
515,036 | 317,399 | 213,985 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : Parition | Purists who were up in arms about Chinese actresses playing Japanese characters like in Memoirs of the Geisha will probably flip again at the portrayals of Indians by non-Indian actors , and could cite again similar examples whether the country of origin lacked capable actors to pull the roles off ( Of course not , this is Bollywood we're talking about , certainly no lack of actors ) . But hey , this is a Canadian production , and those detractors were likely to have some axe to grind with Hollywood-ized versions of such movies , leaving this movie alone . Or maybe the subject matter explored here outweighed such negative , meaningless , counterproductive thoughts and arguments . Journeying back to the time of the British withdrawal from India , one of the policies introduced during the independence , is this little handiwork done by the British , which had the population at the time segregate themselves into Hindu India , and Muslim Pakistan . This led to migration of scores of people to either side of the partitioning , and with it came religious tensions , and mindless massacres from both sides . This movie through its narrative was no holds barred on this criticism , even though it too boiled down to misunderstandings and intolerance from both groups of people . Partition is a movie that I recommend , even though it's draped with heavy melodrama . Perhaps it's because it's a Romeo and Juliet type of story , with our protagonists not from feuding families , but from different religions . Gian Singh ( Jimi Mistry ) is an ex-soldier serving in the British army , and in his retirement from war , he returns to his village to seek a certain peace from within , after making a decision during the war which he has yet come to terms with . One day , he rescues Naseem Khan ( Kristin Kreuk ) from a massacre by the Sikhs on the Muslims who were en route to Pakistan , and shields her from his fellow men when they bayed for her blood . As you might have guessed , the two will fall in love amid the background of violence , and their love will transcend religion , culture , and intolerance . Or will it ? There are two acts in this movie , which I thought the second was somewhat hastened , given the idyllic pace which the first had dwelled in , sharing its rich cinematography by writer-director Vic Sarin . The story's development too moved into its fastest gear , especially in the finale which was what one would expect , and yes there were sniffles amongst the audience . What I thought was treaded quite superficially ( and I suppose it was perhaps on purpose ) was the dealing of religion , that it can be flipped flopped so easily . Perhaps herein laid a message that love will transcend that as well , given that after all , God is also about love ? Like how The Namesake made me sit up and take notice of Kal Penn , Partition had the same effect for Jimi Mistry . Best known for his comedic The Guru role in which he plays a " sexpert " , he's almost unrecognizable under that thick beard , and gave a very strong performance as a man haunted by his past , and finding a future with a loved one , willing to make extreme sacrifices for his family . Kristin Kreuk , in her second movie outing after her bimbotic role in Eurotrip , brings a more Smallville's Lana Lang-ish appeal to her character here , as she pines for the loves of her life , and lets those tears roll . No , she doesn't look a bit like your typical Pakistani girl , but yes , her beauty helps illuminate the screen . It's strange though to see her try her best to put on a believable accent , and mannerisms right down to head movements , but she looks good in those saris ! I was surprised to see Irfan Khan in a bit role here , having enjoyed his performance also in The Namesake , and Neve Campbell and John Light rounded up the supporting roles , with Neve's Margaret Stilwell a character whom I thought was a tragic one , no doubt if you interpreted as her still holding onto the candle for Gian , without him realizing , probably consciously aware that their status and skin colour are too different to have resulted in anything fruitful . With a one track beautiful theme song , lush sceneries , and wonderful performances , Partition is a surprise of the week , and over here , it's two screen release doesn't do it much justice . Should you want to watch a love story set against a historical background which still has repercussions until this very day , then make it a point not to miss this . |
514,474 | 317,399 | 442,268 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : Be With You | Death has taken away Mio from Takumi and 6 year old son Yuji , and it is no doubt that they miss their wife / mother dearly . They learn to encourage each other as they fend for themselves - Takumi suffering from a sort of psycho-motor illness which forces him to refrain from overexertion . Before she departed , Mio had given her son Yuji a storybook , which pens at the end , that come the next rainy season , she'll be back from the Archive Star . It is this hope that Yuji clings onto , with Takumi going along with , even though he knows it's a tad impossible . However , during a trip to an abandoned shed in the woods , where Yuji was searching for his and his mom's secretly buried time capsule , rainy season started , and to the surprise of both father and son , Mio reappeared , somewhat dazed . While the figure looked like her , she had arrived with no recollection of her past , unknown to her that she was married to Takumi , and had a child Yuji . Father and son do not know what to make of it , but decide against telling anyone that Mio had returned ( how would relatives and friends react , when they already had been to her funeral ? ) . Also , they make it a point to keep it from Mio that she had already passed away , and are determined to make the best of her return into their lives , which definitely needed a woman's touch around the house . Is this selfish ? I do not think so . To lose a loved one so early , and given a second chance to live what should have been , what would you do ? And with Mio back into their lives , everyone around Taku and Yuji could see tremendous positiveness in their outlooks . Since Mio couldn't remember much about the past , she asked Taku to go through from the beginning , how they fell in love and got married . His retelling of the story from his point of view , made up about a third of the movie , as we journey back in time to their schooldays , one date , forty seven letters and a breakup , and husband and wife relive the days of sweet romance . Will their happy days end ? Since Mio explained before she initially left that she's only back for the rainy season , Taku and Yuji had made it an open secret in celebrating each rainy day , wishing that the 6 weeks rainy season will not go , and last forever . You know that it will end someday , and father and son have to go through the pain once again of losing Mio all over . If you know what the ending will be , will you still go through with it , despite the pain and disappointment at the end ? This is the thought that runs through your mind as you watch their happy moments together unravel , while secretly crossing your fingers that the ending will change for the better . But Mio chanced upon her diary , amongst the 47 letters buried in the time capsule Yuji eventually found , and learns of the inevitable . And from here , she takes charge of the situation , knowing that she couldn't be around longer than she wished to take care of her husband ( and child ) , she teaches Yuji to cook and wash , and presumably other household chores as well , so that he could take care of his father . The strength of her love will make you ponder the efforts one would go to ensure that your loved ones are taken good care of once you're no longer around . It is no spoiler to know that Mio did leave after 6 weeks ( she's already dead , remember ? ) , but the film doesn't end there . Taku found Mio's diary , and reading it brings about explanations of their early courtship days from her own point of view , which really is Kleenex time as Taku comes to understand the truth behind certain events . The twist at the end explains the phenomenon of her appearance in the rainy season , and the running theme of living a life knowing its ending , makes a comeback . I haven't been disappointed with Japanese romances thus far , and it seems to me that every scene , every subplot , every trinket has a point , and are not for the sake of being there . Going full circle to realization seems a style they have mastered , which simply is amazing , in telling a simple tale a different , poignant way . The beautiful soundtrack adds depth and evokes the right emotions amongst audiences , and the main leads Yuko Takeuchi ( Mio ) and Shido Nakamura ( Takumi ) exudes commanding on-screen chemistry . The kid Yuji , played by child actor Akashi Takei , at times seem like a character mix between the kid from Millions and Jerry Maguire , you know , the cute boy who makes you go " awww . . . " with each of his antics and love for his mom . And Yuji will make you feel no less with each expression of love and longing , and really tug your heartstrings at his calling his " Mama " in helpless efforts of bringing and wanting her back . Based on a romance novel which I can't read during to my language inability , I am so going to own this DVD when it's out . Highly recommended movie to be watched in a theatre with a loved one , do not miss this ! |
514,719 | 317,399 | 363,163 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : Downfall ( Der Untergang ) | I watched this film to learn more about the final days during the Battle of Berlin , and to know more about Adolf Hitler and the twilight of his Third Reich at the end of WWII . A good movie can be made based on this premise alone , and true enough , I was blown away , as this film offered a lot more . Told through the eyes of many historical characters - the various war generals , a defiant Hitler Nazi Youth , Eva Braun , Hitler's stenographer Traudl Junge , and of course , Hitler himself . However , this film never exhibited a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth , as each perspective focused on different aspects during the fall of Berlin . There are those who talk about surrendering , some who want to fight to the end , holding onto the Fuhrer's belief that their troops outside Berlin will come to their rescue . You get a good sense of what's happening in the bunkers as Hitler's slowing losing it all . But this film is not all about talk and no action . Those expecting blood and gore from a war movie , will get just that . The filmmakers did a wonderful job re-creating war torn Berlin , and the bunkers in which Hitler and his generals spent their last days in . We don't get to see the Russians much , but we jolly well hear each and every Made-In-Russia artillery shell that's raining down - the entire movie really makes you feel like you were there in a war zone - every arty raid , every bullet fired . You'll get to see grizzly mock hospitals , where doctors amputate limbs . Suicides are common too , and you see blood and brain matter splatter on screen . The many characters are well-acted and brought to life effectively , but I'd like to put the spotlight on Bruno Ganz's portrayal of Hitler . It really brings the chills , and we can see the many hours of research bringing in results of every nuance the Fuhrer had , right down to Parkinson's . This film , while it humanizes Hitler and his generals , doesn't suggest that they are innocent of their war crimes . It puts into perspective the " other side " , giving the audience a chance to perhaps understand the happenings in the fall of a regime . Though it's 2 hours long , for someone interested in WWII and the Fall of the Third Reich , you'll never notice its length , and will clamour for more . Highly recommended . Postscript This film is a Cathay Cineleisure exclusive showcase , and today's sneaks happened to be in the smallest hall # 6 , which is a pity . Tickets are few , and sold out early . Hope those interested will be able to get tickets on the day you wanna watch . |
515,576 | 317,399 | 433,416 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : The Namesake | Books allow you to travel without leaving , and on the same note , movies too opens up a visual world that one can immerse into , going to places the filmmakers bring you , and experiencing and feeling the emotions that they try to evoke from you . There are few movies which leave me speechless at the end of it . Not because it's bad , but rather , on the contrary , The Namesake is a superb movie . I was in awe with so much that director Mira Nair managed to pack into its 2 hours , and the intricate layers that make up the movie . The movie begins with Ashoke and ( Irfan Khan ) and Ashima ( Tabu ) Ganguli , newlyweds and Indian immigrants to the USofA . The first third of the movie follows their struggles in their new adopted country , as they begin a new life amongst themselves in a foreign land , and starting a family there in order to provide boundless opportunities for their offspring in the land of the free . Things become more interesting and the family dynamics a joy to watch , once their kids come into play in the latter half of the movie , centered only their firstborn son Gogol Ganguli ( Kal Penn ) . It's a look into family ties , the clash of cultures and values , especially with their Americanized children's western thinking versus their parents more traditional , conservative views . It's not all bickering if you'd come to expect , but rather , a very meditated story , full of understanding and tolerance , and the realization of change , as epitomized by dad Ashoke . Watching this movie , despite the racial / cultural differences , still made me think a lot about my own state of family affairs , as the story touches on universal themes - family love , parents , the constant desire to be living life in the way you want , and one point that stuck to me throughout , was that about Gogol's struggle with his name , something which I can most definitely identify with . His disdain for his name Gogol ( after Nicola Gogol ) almost plays central to the movie . And fleshing out his character perfectly is Kal Penn . Who would've expected one half of Harold and Kumar being able to pull off such a complex role with aplomb ? Here , his Gogol / Nikhil on one hand knows what he should be doing about not forgetting his culture and roots , but on the other , with his Caucasian girlfriend ( played by Jacinta Barrett ) , he looks more comfortable in the American way of live he's so familiar with . It's the internal conflicts that we see him go up against , and how culture and myopia seem to influence his choices in the wrong ways . The rest of the cast are brilliant too , and I'm singling out Irfan Khan and Tabu as nothing short of bringing out excellent performances . They bring forth certain tenderness in their relationship , and plenty of love for their son . You can feel their awkwardness in having to deal with a new culture head on , and yet knowing that it's for the better , for their family , for opportunities . They can do a lot with so little - a touch of the hand , a twinkle of the eye , that you can't help but be welcomed into their world . The Namesake is filled with beautiful music , from both contemporary tracks as well as classical Indian music , as it parallels the struggles of the family straddling between two different cultures . And there are moments in the film that will even cause those with strong hearts , struggle to hold back a tear or two . This movie brought me to India , a country I have yet to visit , Kolkatta and the fabled monument of love , the Taj Mahal . With authentic locales , excellent acting and a layered storyline , The Namesake is firmly set in shortlist of my favourite movies of this year . Hurry and watch this in the cinemas before its run is up . |
515,258 | 317,399 | 841,150 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : Protégé | The Hong Kong crime movie genre has another worthy addition to its collection , hot off the heels of the Infernal Affairs creative team's Confession of Pain . While movies of the genre of late are almost always gearing toward sophistication , Protégé plays out its story in surprisingly straight forward fashion , although the characters are draped in shades of grey . What makes the movie compelling , are the relationships formed between the principle characters . If any synopsis suggests anything complex in the cops-and-robbers treatment of its key characters , it sure didn't play out that way . Daniel Wu is Nick , an undercover cop spending the last 7 years working for Andy Lau's " Banker " , one of the top drug lords in HK . Ill health has forced Banker to look for a successor , and as all crime lords without natural heirs go , it sure is difficult to trust an outsider to takeover the business without stabbing you in the back . In fact , instead of Asian superstar Andy Lau , Protégé as the name implies , is actually a Daniel Wu vehicle , as we see events unfold through his eyes , and in two concurrent threads . The first being his contacts with the suppliers , and the second , his personal relations from someone who is part of the demand pool . If you were to add an additional dimension , his allegiance with the law enforcers serves as a minor subplot . No wonder Nick is one confused chap ! In contrast to the slick production look of its peers , Protégé turned out rather grimy , in deliberate fashion , as much of the time we're stuck in the doldrums of society , the ready market of those willing to abuse drugs for that quick fix in escaping their woes . And it is in this part of society that we spend much of our time in . Nick befriends a single mom played by Chinese actress Zhang Jingchu , who is a drug junkie , unable to break out of her habit , try as she might . They form a reluctant friendship , more because of the fact that Nick takes pity on Jing-jing the little girl , the innocent sufferer of her mom's ineptness to break out of addiction . Written and directed by Derek Yee , Protégé covers the whole spectrum of the heroin supply chain , from the farmers right down to the individual junkie , and examines the concerns of each layer . It's basically a roadmap 101 to drug production , with loads of cash to be made , especially for those willing to take big risks in dealing , trafficking and producing . It's a showcase on the drug operations , with its low tech , high manpower operations in the extensive network of runners , and its compartmentalization of roles and responsibilities . You can't but be impressed by how things are run , akin to any large organization , only clandestine , led by businessmen in it for the money , with warped morals and a sense of being the bridge for sellers to satisfy demand . Despite top billing for Anita Yuen and Louis Koo , they actually have only bit parts in the movie , the former as the pregnant wife of Banker , and the latter as yet another junkie , husband to Zhang Jingchu's Jane . Somehow , with the audience I'm with , Louis Koo seems to be the one drawing in the laughter , perhaps for his general wardrobe and make up in the movie . Zhang Jinchu's performance managed to highlight the plight that junkies go through , in either trying to resist their urges , or succumbing to temptation , and the natural willingness to lie their way , even sell their souls , just for that quick fix . It's one thing to show compassion and trying to help , but totally a different ball game altogether as professional and sustained rehabilitation seems the only way to go . Hers and Louis ' roles are probably to send out strong anti-drug messages . On the other hand , Andy Lau's role , although muted in some ways , seem to want to endear him to audiences , with his character's penchant for candy , and all round nice family man . Never one who spends extravagantly on home turf , you'll probably not even suspect he's the head honcho of a multi-million dollar syndicate . And it is this harmless facade , that complicates Nick's relationship with his mentor , should he embark on following through with his mission . The mentor unreservedly showing you the ropes , making you a rich man in the process , and that his family takes a liking for you as well , but as the undercover , how could you draw the line , especially when its dealing with human emotions , of deep friendship , trust , and betrayal ? Daniel Wu played his role really well , and I'm surprised that he's super charismatic here , holding his own against Lau by playing the many facades of Nick excellently . His role too offers a comparison between members from both sides of the law , of trust and loyalties amongst in the force , albeit from another division , who spare no hesitation in using him for personal glory , and contrasted against the unwritten law of brotherhood , anonymity and trust of those in the illicit business . One of the biggest movies hitting screens in Asia during this Chinese New Year period , it won't be difficult for Protégé to make a killing at the box office , given its powerful , engaging storyline which doesn't complicate , and the star-studded cast . As Raintree Pictures had a hand in co-producing the movie , expect to see one scene shot here , which reiterates our long no-nonsense approach to drug traffickers . P . S . While I'm quite surprised at the many cinematically detailed instruction of drug production and drug use that remained intact in the version shown here , what was snipped instead was a sexy scene ( damn ! ) . What gives ? Yes , so besides having to watch this movie dubbed in Mandarin , it's an edited version to boot . |
514,473 | 317,399 | 120,667 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : Fantastic Four | OK , I admit I've always been a closet Fantastic Four fan . Before Stan Lee created the better known Spider-man , Hulk , X-Men , he created Fantastic Four , touted as the World's Greatest Comics Magazine , back in the 60s . Reed Richards is Mr Fantastic , Sue Storm / Richards is The Invisible Girl , her brother Johnny Storm is The Human Torch , and Richard's best friend / one time Sue's ex is Ben Grimm , aka The Thing . This is not the first time that the origin has been recreated in film ( the first one being a desperate attempt to secure movie rights , and is a tacky B-production ) , but this is the version that's done so right . And I dare say this is the BEST Marvel comic book adaptation ever , staying very true to its characterization just as Stan Lee envisioned it to be . Classic touches include the bickering amongst the characters and of course the very cliché ( perhaps FF popularized it ? ) basic plot of cooperation and teaming is stronger than the individual . The spot-on rivalry between Johnny and Ben , the use of their powers on one another ( always liked it when Richards overpower Ben ) , and the costumes themselves serve a purpose , highlighting the Invisible Girl's curves . . . oops , I mean the suits being exposed to the same radiation and adapting the same properties as its wearer , and Ben's fedora and brown trench-coat looked so in place . I could go on , like Richard's vow to Ben to help his tragic friend ( and themselves ) reverse the effects on their DNA , his overworking in their penthouse headquarters of the Baxter Building , the rejection of The Thing's appearance by the public , Johnny's impulsiveness and crave for popularity , and Sue's peacemaker role amongst the boys . What I also liked is that this film takes its time to develop their arch-nemesis Victor Von Doom , as his transformation takes place throughout the movie until the finale . Compared to Spider-man , there isn't a sappy romance to slow things down ( and Mary J Watson was never Peter Parker's first ! ) , nor are there too many heroes and villains like X-Men such that each character has limited screen time because of the focus on its most popular character Wolverine . In this film , each character has their own adequate share of the limelight , though I must mention that the Human Torch outshone the rest in set action pieces , while The Thing stole the show with humour . The film doesn't seem too long ( about the same duration as the original X-Men ) , but it manages to pack all the action , emotion , backstory nicely as one summer flick . Kudos to the casting team in bringing together actors who look the role too . Although stars are more goggle box actors ( Alba , McMahon , Chilklis ) , they sure looked comfortable in their outing on the big screen . If two's a company , and three's a crowd , then Four's just FANtastic ! Looking at box office numbers , I don't think it'll outdo Spider-man , but I'm still game for a sequel - they can bring on Galactus for all I care ! Look out for the cameo appearance of Stan Lee , whom you always expect in a Marvel adaptation that meets expectations ! |
515,061 | 317,399 | 68,375 | 10 | A Nutshell Review : Cina | It was very strange indeed when the Chinese government of the time banned this film and called it anti-Chinese propaganda . Surely , the communist government then had watched Zabriskie Point and perhaps agreed that its ending of blowing up consumerism literally in your face , warranted the commissioning of Michelangelo Antonioni to shoot a documentary about China , and probably expected some beholden , pro-communist doctrine look at the state of things in the country , where the positives exalted and the negatives swept under the carpet . Alas Cina in my opinion stayed quite objective , and doesn't offer any judgmental criticism through its eye in the camera lenses , either for or against policies that unfolded in front of them . For the period of time that Antonioni and his crew were the host of the Communist Part in the middle of the Cultural Revolution , what we got instead was an extremely fascinating look at the facets of live within the iron curtain , from major sights and recognizable attractions , to the lesser seen mundane activities of the everyday lives of the average joe . A magnum of a movie unfolding itself in 3 parts , we begin this rare look of a journey into China during its Revolution , and if pictures can tell a thousand words , what more moving images ? Starting off at a defining location in Tiananmen Square , there are some subtle differences at the Square then , and now . The theme song for the documentary happened to be " I Love Tiananmen Square " which schoolchildren sing with gusto , and we see later how the little tykes get indoctrinated quite innocently through propaganda infused into song and dance that they participate enthusiastically . Besides this recognizable landmark , it became like a journey through time as we also get to look at The Forbidden City , as well as The Great Wall in its pre-restored state of today , sans millions of tourists too , and witness broken , unmended sections that riddled the monument which was referred to as not one built by an Emperor , but one built by slaves . It's a rare treat indeed because the filmmakers dare to push the boundaries of permission granted to them , where on occasions even after explicitly being told " No " to filming a particular moment or location , the camera still rolls anyway , and we're told and get to see just exactly what was forbidden , which I think in today's context , is nothing to get riled up with . We get an observation of a slice of everyday life , where the camera lingers on to provide strange yet intriguing images such as a typical work day in a factory , women with bound feet , and amazing sights and sounds such as a man riding a bicycle and practicing Qigong simultaneously ! We also get explained certain policies of the communists at the time , which seem quite unbelievable that home rentals are capped at 5 % of whatever your monthly salary is , or how workers work with a general lack of anxiety and urgency . In true Antonioni fashion , we get to see luxurious shots of vast landscapes in the country as they make way to the rural areas , such as the Honan Province and the Yellow River , in a balance with city landscape shots in Shanghai and Suzhou . It's this fine balance of the rural and the urban , of Chinese people living and working in both contexts in the country , that I thought makes this documentary quite a winner . But what was truly fascinating , were the carefully prepared episodes that pepper the documentary . One unforgettable episode that you must see for yourself , is something of a celebration of Chinese traditional medicine vis-a-vis modern Western medicine . I just cannot imagine how acupuncture is used as an anesthesia for a Cesarean section , as we see incredibly long needles poked into a woman to numb her womb and nerves , as doctors both work on getting her newborn out , while talking , and feeding ( ! ) her at the same time ! It's so unsettling at I was tempted to look away when the scalpel cuts through flesh , yet on the other hand , just refused to blink with wide-eyed amazement at how this feat was performed , and wondered if it's still being performed until this day ! Something else I found peculiar , was how the last act rattled on like an acrobatics variety show . Granted that for an audience of the time , they might have found it to be an experience watching it , but somehow , I thought it was a sense of deja vu , whether or not having to watch that particular segment on some other variety show on television ( could be this one , I'm not too sure ) , but the stunts performed were found to be quite familiar . I believe some would have made their way as a standard export items for travelling Chinese acrobats to arm themselves with in their travels overseas , and I'm fairly certain some I've seen in Chinatown some years back . But anyway , it's still quite something Cina as a documentary film was one which was draped with fascination for both filmmakers as well as an audience , rather than championing anti-whatever sentiments from either side of the world . Not having seen many movies , either features , shorts or documentaries made during the Cultural Revolution era or about that era in question ( propaganda included ) , I think this Antonioni film has more than made its mark as a definitive documentary that anyone curious about the life of the time , would find it a gem to sit through . |
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