Reviews

Let me preface this by saying that I haven't yet read the books or seen the original Swedish films. I will have a full review of this version as it compares to the original films soon.

David Fincher (Fight Club, The Social Network) put together a tight and suspenseful film. I thought the acting was great, specifically from Rooney Mara who plays "the girl". She is phenomenal and one of the sexiest characters I've seen on screen this year. Daniel Craig was good, but didn't blow me away. He was still James Bond, but now with reading glasses. The pacing and script were wonderful, but I thought Fincher foreshadowed the ending and also felt that they should have re-arranged the conclusions a bit. There were a few story lines that came to a close at different times.....so when one ended you still had a couple more to get through. Unfortunately the first story line that comes to a close is the most intense one so the remaining time is kind of "meh" to the viewer since they invested so much emotion in the first storyline. Hope that makes sense. It was a great movie, but if you've seen the originals you may want to wait until this one goes to DVD/br. Full review to come.

In director Brad Bird's first live action film, "MI:GP" succeeds what it sets out to do. It is a tight action spy film with some great sequences and awesome gadgets. Brad Bird is the director of some truly excellent films; albeit they are animated, but great none the less. His films like "Ratatouille", "The Incredibles" and "The Iron Giant" were all wonderful animated films with a lot of heart and good direction. Bird has proved to this reviewer he has the skill for live action feature films.

"Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" brings us back to our hero Tom Cruise while he is locked up in a Russian prison. Of course the inevitable happens and he is broken out of jail in a really great opening sequence. Cruise and team assemble; their mission, prevent a nuclear launch. Unfortunately, their plans are curbed when the team is implicated in a massive bombing. The President decides to initiate "Ghost Protocol" which completely dismantles the "IMF" and paints Cruise and team as rogue agents. Their new mission, clear the IMF's name and save the world. Pretty basic stuff for a Mission Impossible movie.

Pretty basic, yes, but what a ride it is. First, I'd like to congratulate the scriptwriters on finally making a M.I. film with a tight and aggressive script. There was hardly a dull line in the entire movie. With the writers having primarily a television background they were able to get their points across quickly and effectively. Second, is of course the action sequences. Realistic, invigorating, suspenseful....just downright awesome. It is surely a fun ride and if you have a chance to see it in IMAX you will be blown away during the Dubai sequences. Location is another gem in this movie; Dubai, Russia, India are beautifully shot and give some very nice eye candy. But for me, the highlight were the gadgets and spy sequences, it wouldn't be a Mission Impossible film without great gadgets right!? Ghost Protocol doesn't disappoint. From gloves that stick to glass, visual projections and everything in between there is some really cool stuff in this film.

I can't go without commenting on Tom Cruise doing his own stunts. Regardless of what you think of him on a personal level, one has to admit him doing his own stunts was pretty incredible. There are some really hairy situations he gets into and I was very impressed he went the extra mile, I think it helped knowing he was actually doing the stunts while I was watching. I would say overall the acting was good, but not overly impressive. This isn't a drama film after all so I'm not taking any points away. Why would you go to a Mission Impossible movie for great acting? You go for the action, and if you keep that mindset, this film will be worth your time and money.

Australia has been a rising force in the international film market. Films such as "Wolf Creek" and "The Loved Ones" prove that Australia can churn out some gritty, violent and disturbing films. "Animal Kingdom" is no exception. This movie is a powerhouse of great film making with intense performances, impeccable direction and a brilliant script. You may find yourself thinking that you've seen this story before, but you've never seen it with the same intensity and emotion.

"Animal Kingdom" is at it's heart a coming of age story in a crime family. Joshua, played by James Frecheville, is a 17 year old recently orphaned kid who's family is a mixture of drug dealers and bank robbers. Joshua's mother dies in the beginning of the film from a drug overdose and the only option he has is to go live with his grandmother. Jackie Weaver stunningly plays Janine 'Smurf' Cody, the matriarchal grandmother running everything. As Joshua gets situated in his new home he begins to find he's in a very volatile situation. One that he has to decide whether to be a part of or not. A decision that will undoubtedly change his entire life.

This film is akin to Scorcese's masterpieces "Casino", "The Departed" and "Taxi Driver". Director, David Michôd emulated these films yet certainly made "Animal Kingdom" his own. As his first feature film, Michôd made it seem easy. The incredibly taut script left nothing to be desired. As in the Scorcese films I mentioned, the script was the key ingredient to make this film such a brilliant piece of work. Some crime drama's can get away with having a back story everyone knows, yet the script is sub par. "Animal Kingdom" is not only fresh but being from Australia it's impact is that much greater to American audiences.

Joel Edgerton made a lifelong fan for his performance here. He was chilling yet completely sensitive to the plight of his family and that of his sibling Joshua. Frecheville who plays Joshua, the scared orphan brother, is brilliant. His transformation is a wonder to behold, his delivery and expressions brought out real emotion in the character. The standout performance in this film has to be Jackie Weaver as Smurf the matriarch of the clan. Writer/Director Michôd wrote the part of Janine 'Smurf' Cody for Jackie Weaver in fact, thank God she accepted the role. She has mentioned in the radio program "Fresh Air" that her interpretation of the character provide that all the children were fathered by different men (criminals most likely). I think this allowed her to really dive into connecting to her kin in very different ways. She is by far the highlight of the film for me.

As a production the film succeeds. It's slow but detailed progression really allows the viewer to become attached to the characters and feel what they are feeling at any given moment. With a great soundtrack, gritty dark feel of the setting and brilliant acting, this one is an easy recommendation.

Luc Besson is what I would call a "fun" movie maker. His films like District B13, Transporter franchise, From Paris With Love were all mindless "fun". Great action, some impressive hand to hand combat and smart but cheesy stories.

Colombiana was NOT one of these films. He is listed as a writer and producer but his style was not present at all really. The film should be an embarrassment to French filmmakers. The script was awful, the action was lame, acting was terrible, editing was frantic and didn't flow. WORST FILM I'VE SEEN IN YEARS! Don't waist your time or money on this pile of crap.

"Life is like walking in the rain... you can hide and take cover or you can just get wet." Rarely in a film do I find a quote within it that perfectly describes the lessons it's trying to portray. In "Hesher", directed by Spencer Susser, this quote resonated with me. It was not until I heard that line that I fully understood what this movie was about. "Hesher" is a great film. One with a lot of heart and some brilliant writing. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays the outrageous Hesher perfectly and is by far (aside from "Mysterious Skin") his best work to date.

"Hesher" plays out like a weird dream. T.J., impressively played by Devin Brochu, is a young boy struggling with the loss of his mother. He lives with his father Paul and his grandmother. Paul, played by Rain Wilson, has fallen into a deep depression letting go all of his responsibility to his son and his own mother. It's a very tragic situation they are in. In a fit of rage T.J. vandalizes what he thinks is an unoccupied building and as a result is confronted by Hesher, terrifying T.J. in the process. Hesher decides to follow T.J. to his home and lets himself in. T.J. can't do anything about this random person entering the house, doing laundry and generally just making himself at home for fear that Hesher will harm his family. What follows is a plethora of black comedy and heartfelt change within both Hesher and this distraught family.

At it's heart, "Hesher" is a film about not being able to see the things that are right in front of us until an outsider smacks us in the face with reality. This isn't apparent in the beginning of the film, but as Hesher gets to know the family and the situation they are in he goes from "house squatting" to being part of the family. In doing so the family is able to climb out of the rut they are in and fill the void left by the passing of the mother with the idea that life goes on. The film takes a lot of time to get to this realization, but the time spent getting there is great fun to watch.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt impresses me more every time I see him. His portrayal of the careless, fowl mouthed, violent, heavy metal loving outsider that we have all known at some point in our lives is spot on. Levitt seemed to really engulf himself into this role, almost to the point where he wasn't acting and just being himself. Rain Wilson also impressed me. His feature films have generally been him re-hashing his role from "The Office" in various outrageous situations. This time he was genuine and proved to this reviewer that his range goes beyond the weird goofball we are used to seeing. Natalie Portman plays the small role of T.J.'s older love interest. She was good, but her role seemed more like filler than anything else. There is nothing wrong with that, her character just wasn't an important role to the story it seemed.

One of the best aspects of this film was the relationship between Hesher and the grandmother, Madeleine, played by Piper Laurie. Hesher sees how Madeleine is just wandering aimlessly while Paul and T.J. deal with their problems completely ignoring her needs. Hesher, I think finds something that reminds him of his own mother in Madeleine and shares some sweet moments with her. Fortunately for Hesher, the grandmother's age has left her with the ability to completely ignore the fact that Hesher is just a stranger intruding into their lives and ends up treating him like one of her own. This, I think is the turning point for Hesher and we see the change within him.

This film goes much deeper than what is on the surface. Director and writer Spencer Susser did an amazing job with keeping the underlying meanings hidden until the right time for them to come to fruition. Not once was I bored with what was going on and I couldn't wait to see what the next scene had to offer. With this being Susser's first feature film, I am excited to see what he has next in the pipeline. Make no mistake, there is some vial language in this film so it's not for those that will not be able to get past the offensiveness of it all. But as I said, underneath the chain-smoking jerk that is Hesher you will find a kind soul that needed the Forney family just as much as they needed him.

Disaster movies are a dime a dozen now a days. We have seen an influx of Alien takeovers recently and it is getting a bit stale I must admit. Don't get me wrong, I love films about ET's taking over, but Hollywood has beaten that horse to death. "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" is a welcome change to this trend pitting us measly humans against our closest ancestors, Great Apes. Directed by Rupert Wyatt ("The Escapist") and supported by the unbelievable WETA Digital ("King Kong", "Lord of the Rings", "Avatar") for special effects. "Apes" is a wonder of motion capture, an intelligent heart felt script with great direction. Unfortunately, the human actors left a lot to be desired. But this film isn't about the humans, it's all about the Simians.

As plots go, this is pretty basic. James Franco plays Will Rodman, a brilliant scientist with a breakthrough drug that just may cure Alzheimer's. Rodman and his team are using chimpanzee's to test this new drug and in the process find out that it increases intelligence as well as repair cells in the brain. One of the test subjects gets loose in an intense sequence and ultimately put down. It turns out that she had just given birth to a beautiful baby chimp who inherited this new "altered" gene. Rodman decides the only moral thing to do is to take the baby home while a co-worker tries to find a sanctuary but once Rodman finds out that this little ball of fur has the intelligence of a human child twice it's age he decides to keep and raise the chimp as a child. It's only a matter of time that our chimp Caesar figures out he is not like the other children in the neighborhood. Rodman is forced to give up Caesar to an "Ape Sanctuary" and there begins some of the most exhilarating revolutionary action I've ever seen.

Technically, this film is massive. The work WETA Digital did with motion capture (mo-cap) is truly a wonder to behold. Visual Effects Supervisor with WETA Digital Joe Letteri stated that they built on the technology used in "Avatar" to produce the most realistic and accurate portrayal of the actors suited to play the Simians. Andy Serkis (Gollum from "Lord of the Rings" and Kong from "King Kong") plays chimp Caesar. Serkis manages to fool all of us into believing he is a real animal with super intelligence. His facial emotions and mannerisms should most certainly nominate him for an Oscar. There is a real connection that the audience feels with Caesar and it is all thanks to Serkis' work. Without such an experienced mo-cap actor, this film would not have been such a success.

Not only is the technology used to create the revolution amazing, the action is top notch as well. Many times I found myself with my jaw on the floor from the intense sequences put to screen. Everything from a simple terrifying look from an angry ape to the full out battle on the Golden Gate Bridge was pulled off without a hitch. Many points to the pacing of the films action as it could have been the crutch that killed this beast of a film. One of the most amazing scenes in my opinion is when a group of apes are fleeing over top a suburban neighborhood through the trees. While this is going on we see some people on the street while leaves upon leaves are falling to the ground. This level of detail is apparent in every shot, brilliant work by the production team.

My only problems with this film is the acting from Franco and Freida Pinto, who plays the love interest. They both seemed to "phone it in" as it were. They were not overly impressive and just seemed stale. Maybe the director wanted them to tone it down so that Serkis would have more of an impact acting as a voiceless chimp. Either way, as I said in the beginning, this film wasn't about the humans. It's about compassion, freedom and understanding and on those levels the film is a grand success.

"(Rhythm) is there in the cycles of the seasons, in the migrations of the birds and animals, in the fruiting and withering of plants, and in the birth, maturation and death of ourselves," -Mickey Hart (Grateful Dead)

What is it about music that resonates so much with people? Is it chemical? A part of the brain that responds to the frequencies and rhythm of certain sounds played in a progression? Or, is it just the fact that it makes one "feel" something? Music, like any other form of art brings out a "feeling" in the one experiencing it. Those feelings will be different for everyone and some will be permanently effected by them. Music can do many things. It can heal, damage, make you dance, give you a headache and even make you "high". According to many music therapists, it can also help recall memories. "The Music Never Stopped" explores this phenomenon beautifully and is a testament to our souls connection with our music. Set in the 80's with flashbacks to the 60's and 70's "The Music Never Stopped" has some of the best music from the bands of that era. The film runs the gamete of emotions and has some powerful performances from the actors and classic bands such as The Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, and The Beatles.

Gabriel, a 30 something man with a brain tumor is unable to form new memories. He can remember his life growing up, playing music and following his favorite bands around the country, but he can't remember what his nurse just said to him 5 minutes ago. Lou Tayler Pucci plays the down to earth "hippie" Gabriel graciously and I was very impressed with his performance. He was subtle but beautifully represented those of us obsessed with music and it's meanings. I felt a real connection with Gabriel and his relationship with his father Henry, played impeccably by J.K. Simmons. They have such an interesting and ever-changing dynamic, it was a pleasure to watch it all unfold. Henry is devastated by the diagnosis Gabriel has received and feels helpless. That is until he see's Gabriel's eyes light up at the sound of a familiar piece of music. He realizes that through music he can connect once again with his son and hopefully repair their broken relationship.

Based on the case study "The Last Hippie" by Dr. Oliver Sacks, "The Music Never Stopped" is a wonderful story and I highly recommend it. It pulls on the heart strings of young and old alike bringing them together with the power of great music. With a PG rating, "The Music Never Stopped" doesn't feel like an after school special on father and son relationships. It's obvious that the lesson goes much deeper than that. The film is about connecting to each other through music and taking the time to understand each other through that medium. The father/son dynamic is the ideal setting to get this point across and there are some very dramatic scenes that may bring a tear to your eye. It sure did for me.

Remember the days when grindhouse was king? Well, I don't, but I'm only 30 so my earliest memories of horror are from the 80's. However, thanks to Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez and to an extent Eli Roth the grindhouse genre is coming back to us in full force. With the release of the double feature "Grindhouse" in 2007 audiences were given a chance to experience the style of film-making that made movie going in the 70's such a rush. These grainy, low brow, violent exploitation films are the type of love it or hate it fare that we haven't seen in a long time. "Grindhouse" was a double feature ("Planet Terror" and "Death Proof") which included faux film trailers during the break between the feature films. Two of those fake trailers have now become full feature films, "Machete" and "Hobo With A Shotgun".

"Hobo With A Shotgun" starring Rutger Hauer and directed by Jason Eisener is the latest entry to the "new grindhouse" category of films. Backpacking off of the mildly successful "Machete", director Jason Eisener pulled off a whirlwind of gore, excellent one liners and brutal action. Rutger Hauer was excellent as the Hobo with a heart of gold, quick wit and balls of steel. Hobo, since the character is nameless in the film, arrives via train to this desolate town looking for a fresh start. He wanders the city contemplating his next move when he witnesses a few thugs murder a man in the middle of the street during the day. Confused about the lawlessness he eventually fights back against one of the villains and takes him to jail, however, the response from the police is not what he expected. Eventually, Hobo decides to take the law into his own hands, along with a Shotgun.

"Hobo With A Shotgun" doesn't pretend to be anything it is not and that is what is so appealing to people. We know that this type of movie is meant to entertain, not frighten. This isn't a John Carpenter or Wes Craven type film. The mix of violent, over the top situations along with an intensely satisfying soundtrack and corny jokes are just what horror fans need right now. Finally, an original script on a classic genre has made movie going interesting again. "Hobo" is certainly a welcome change from the "torture" genre that has been so prevalent recently. This isn't some re-hash of a classic horror or stolen from across the pond, this is pure exploitation entertainment that a new generation will get to experience. I'm excited that this trend is coming back. Maybe we will get to see some new blaxploitation films soon since the grindhouse and blaxploitation films were often billed together in the 70's.

What do you get when you put together an orderly during WWII, a professional eater, and a taxidermist? Well, I'll tell you. You get a concoction of grotesque imagery, hilarious situations and a strong need for a shower. This is a story about a very strange Hungarian family over the course of three generations. A disturbing film with a lot of dark comedy "Taxidermia" also provides an intelligent commentary on the lengths humans take with their obsessions of the body.

"Taxidermia" is director György Pálfi second feature film following the highly unique "Hukkle". Pálfi takes a more discomforting turn in this outing but keeps the dark humor he showcased in his first feature. This film has it's "WTF" moments, but in the end it is a well made film with some unforgettable scenes and a successfully artsy ending.

"Taxidermia" is film about three generations of Hungarians. First, an orderly during WWII who is abused and mistreated. During a night of insanity he fathers an illegitimate son who ends up being raised by the orderly's Lieutenant. The son grows to be a champion in the sport of speed eating, a sport that is on the brink of epicness it seems. Finally the speed eater marries and produces a skinny pale son who grows to be a skilled taxidermist. We witness the psychosis of the orderly, the gluttony of speed eating and finally the beauty of the taxidermist. Be prepared to laugh, puke, laugh and puke a little more.

Visually the film is remarkable. Cinematographer Gergely Pohárnok returns from "Hukkle" providing excellent camera transitions and some unique "crane" shots. Veronika Merlin's art direction is also wonderful, the set pieces and costumes were very impressive and lent to the films gloomy yet comedic undertones. Along with the photography the music was phenomenal. Scored primarily by electronic artist Amon Tobin, I would say the music was the highlight for me.

Make no mistake about it, "Taxidermia" is a difficult watch. Most probably won't even get through the first sequence. But with an open mind and an understanding of where this film is coming from it can be a very enjoyable experience. The mixture of troubling visuals, intelligent inner commentary and family relationship lessons makes this an easy recommendation for me.

I look forward to more from director György Pálfi. I've enjoyed his first two films and know that his uniqueness will bring forth even more depraved yet intelligent films in the future.

One fateful day in the canyons of Utah a lone climber fell into the worst predicament he could have imagined. In April of 2003 Aron Ralston found out what he was made of, literally and figuratively. While Aron was trekking the rocky terrain of "Blue John Canyon" his luck ran out and fell due to a loose boulder which crushed and trapped his arm against the rock wall. His story is one of hope, triumph, terror and sheer determination. The perfect setting for an intensely satisfying movie experience. Thankfully, director Danny Boyle delivered this in spades.

"127 Hours" is a full feature film about this tragic but conquering incident. Aron Ralston, an avid climber and hiker, played by the talented James Franco, made the near fatal mistake of not telling anyone where he was going. Ralston sets out to his "home away from home" and meets a couple of less experienced hikers looking for some adventure. He takes them to a beautiful spot where they enjoy a brief swim, though this section is not factual to the real experience. Afterward, Ralston continues his trek and ends up, as the real Aron Ralston named his book, stuck "Between a Rock and a Hard Place". What follows is his incredible journey to free himself, rappel a 65 foot rock wall and hike over 8 miles to finally be rescued in one of the most emotional endings in a film to date.

There were a lot of challenges in developing a feature length film based on Ralston's amazing story. Many wondered how director Danny Boyle would keep the audience engaged since the setting is a single place with a single character. Not to mention the fact that we all know how the story ends up. Nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Actor and Best Picture it's obvious they overcame these challenges. For one thing, the pacing is perfect as was the accompanying music. Boyle seamlessly transitioned slow dismal scenes with those of courage and optimism. This worked largely due to the variety of music used in the film. From the outstanding original score from A.R. Rahmin to the uplifting "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers and the surreal finale from Sigur Rós. To me it seemed like the music was an auditory way of showing his inner thoughts during the whole experience, the soundtrack was a character all it's own.

"127 Hours" is a powerful movie and story. One in which could not have been so successful had it not been for the astounding direction and cinematography. Boyle's team brought the experience of trekking the Utah canyons to life with fluid camera work. A closeup shot of Franco's hand sliding against the rock wall while navigating through the canyon is just one of many examples. Personally, I thought this film should have been not only nominated for Best Cinematography in the Academy Awards but also won. Boyle is a master of his craft and this film further propels him to the top of the list of best directors working today.

I won't get into the "meat" of the amputation scene, but I will say that it was one of the most intense things I've witnessed in film. That is saying a lot considering the types of movies I watch and review here. Disturbingly accurate this scene was filmed in one take using multiple camera's and only one prosthetic arm. Yet another testimony to Franco's superb acting. Following the amputation scene we see more outstanding direction and cinematography as Ralston makes the final journey to his rescue. The best part about this final sequence is that we know what happens but while watching we are at the edge of our seat. We put aside what we already know and just go along for the ride. The direction causes us to be unsure if he will make it or not. That is the brilliance of "127 Hours" and Boyle's production team.

I highly recommend this film as it is one of the best stories and film of at least the last few years. Boyle said it best and I'll end this review with his quote: "This is a film about how precious life is. And it's only precious because of other people. It's not precious in itself, which is what we sometimes think - we think the will to survive is an individualistic thing. ... But it's actually connected to other people. And that's what the life essence is really about - it's always about other people, even in the loneliest places." - Danny Boyle

http://cinemapat.blogspot.com/2011/03/127-hours-danny-boyle-2010.html

Where oh where to begin? "Buried" has been widely praised by critics and moviegoers alike. I have no idea why. Were they brainwashed during the 94 minute hell hole that is "Buried"? Did Ryan Reynolds personally go to each critics house and do their laundry? This film was poorly written, acted and the third act was not put together well at all. It's a shame too because the beginning of the film had promise. I had high hopes for the star Ryan Reynolds based on his impressive performance in "The Amityville Horror" remake, unfortunately he didn't deliver in this outing. This film is the definition of the phrase "style over substance".

"Buried" is the story of an American contractor working in Iraq as a driver. His group is ambushed by supposed terrorists who kill some and kidnap others. Paul played by Reynolds does not fair so well as he is buried alive in the vast Iraq desert. The film begins as a black screen with hardly any sound, we start to hear breathing as tension and fear begins to build. Paul realizes that he's been buried underground with a cell phone, Zippo lighter, knife, flask of alcohol, flashlight and glow-sticks. His battle begins to find a way out of the grave danger he's in when the kidnappers call demanding a ransom.

First, the good things; though they are few. The decision to film entirely inside the coffin was smart. It added an extra layer of realism to an already terrifying concept. "Buried" was very well shot and produced as seen in the first act. It had excellent sound and camera work as well so the tension was genuine. Director of Photography Eduard Grau gave just enough space between the camera and Reynolds to not overdue the claustrophobic feeling. The cinematography scored very high points for me. The idea of being buried for ransom was new and I appreciated Iraq being the setting. The first act was intense and fearful as the plot began to come around, but it was ruined with the second and third acts.

I mentioned the concept was fresh and new, which I appreciated, but the way in which the plot unfolded was just ridiculous. There were so many instances that I thought were just completely implausible and unnecessary. Once Paul finally gets in contact with the State Department, the representative quietly and secretively tells him to contact a group specifically set up in the middle east to deal with kidnap situations. Why on earth would this information had to have been whispered to Paul? Why couldn't the State Department just contact them for Paul? A very unrealistic moment.

One of the things left in the coffin for Paul to find was a "Zippo" lighter. He had that thing lit for more than half of the film. In a low oxygen environment that isn't the best idea. Not to mention it seemed to have a constant abundance of butane. Also, when using the cell phone he continued to use the Zippo to light the space in front of him. Sure this works for the camera lighting but is this realistic? No.

Speaking of the cell phone, it was obvious (and told to Paul), that since he was getting a signal he was not that far beneath the surface. At one point someone says to him that he must not be more than three feet down. If I were Paul I would have found a way to break through the wood and dig upwards three feet to safety. So again, unrealistic.

Those are just a few examples of why this movie fails. At one point later in the film I literally felt insulted by the writing. It is such a shame too because this had high potential to be a unique, intense movie experience. I can't fault Reynolds completely because I know he has the chops to pull of intense drama but he just was not directed well. "Buried" was made by inexperienced filmmakers and it showed. It boggles my mind that this is getting such good reviews, specifically from the likes of Roger Ebert.

I only need to direct you to the "100 Things we learned from Buried" thread on IMDb's message board to see the kind of terrible writing showcased in this film. See it and form your own opinion. Drop me a line if you agree or disagree.

http://cinemapat.blogspot.com/2011/02/buried-2010-rodrigo-cortes.html

One of my favorite directors of all time and one of my favorite movies. "Irreversible" is an experience unlike any other. Gaspar Noe uses reverse-chronological story telling to give us one of the most visceral and frightening encounters you are ever likely to have in the Cinema. The film is beautifully shot and intensely acted. "Irreversible" is Noe's first use of the floating camera technique that he also used in the 2009 film "Enter The Void", another roller-coaster of a film. Not surprisingly, this film is not for everyone. It is widely known as one of the most difficult movies to watch due to the graphic violence and long rape scene so be warned. But it is not just a shock film, it has an important message about relationships and how the decisions we make ultimately decide our fate.

The story involves a couple played by Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel who after a heated argument split ways for the evening. Alex, played by Bellucci, gets fed up with her boyfriend Marcus (Cassel) and leaves the safety of her friends to go home. A decision we eventually find out is a near fatal one. Marcus finds out that his love has been brutally raped and beaten on her way home. This sends him into a rage of revenge and he will not stop until he finds the one responsible. Along the way Marcus' best friend and Alex's former lover tries to convince him to leave it be so he won't do something he will regret. As you can imagine, he is unsuccessful.

"Irreversible" starts at the end of the story and ends at the beginning, much like the movie "Memento" by Christopher Nolan. A decision that could have gone either way. Most people like the reverse story telling, I think it could have gone either way. Gaspar Noe is known to push the limits and make his audience as uncomfortable as he can by graphically presenting topics that are hard to witness and think about. In this outing he decides to hit you with the heaviest scenes in the beginning and middle of the movie then ending with the character development. Thankfully, the third act was designed to slowly bring the audience back from the horror they have just seen. By the end you have (slightly) come to terms with the earlier terror and you are left with an array of emotions.

The production team Noe surrounds himself with are some of the best in the business. "Irreversible" is a marvel of film making using dreary soundtracks and showcasing the seedy underbelly of France. As mentioned before the use of the floating camera is outstanding; a major challenge since it was filmed using cables suspended in the air. It's as if you are on a ride, one that you want to get off but can't; the ultimate "fly on the wall" experience.

"Irreversible" was filmed with a loose script and literally no dialogue. In fact, the infamous rape scene was essentially free-form by Bellucci and La Tenia, the antagonist played by Jo Prestia. Gaspar used one long take from a fixed camera to film this scene which made a huge impact. It caused the viewer to believe they are witnessing an actual rape on camera. It truly is the most difficult scene I have ever witnessed. Many people walked out due to this scene during the premier, cursing the director. Noe, however, loves to get these reactions as it shows his goal to push the boundaries was successful. Cassel and Bellucci have amazing chemistry (it helps they are actually married). Bellucci is as beautiful as ever and Cassel presents an intensity rarely seen from actors. I think having his wife presented with such a horrific experience pushed him further. Pretty much all of the other characters were cast with unknowns or people that haven't acted at all which pushed the realism.

It has been over a year since my first viewing of this film and I still think about it. "Irreversible" is not a film that can easily be watched over and over and probably shouldn't be. Afterward you feel drained, angry, sad and confused. Confused because you aren't sure whether you just watched one of the worst or best films ever made. If you are up for the challenge, I highly recommend giving this a shot, but be warned it's not for the faint of heart.

Another fantasy horror for adults from writer M. Night Shyamalan. Unfortunately, this movie falls into the same traps as most of his other films. There was promise with this film, I was hoping for something different, something tense and scary with an unexpected twist. This is not what I got. I was a fan of "Signs", "Unbreakable", "The Sixth Sense" and even "Lady In The Water". These films had great actors and scripts along with good production values. "Devil" had some good actors, some not, the script was laughable and the story had gigantic plot holes. M. Night can think up some great themes but ultimately fails to portray them on screen. Granted, he wasn't the director in this outing, so I can't fault him completely. Director John Erick Dowdle did not impress me and I suspect M. Night was probably breathing down his neck during production.

The premise is that a group of characters with their own dark secrets all get trapped in an elevator while the Devil torments them and begins killing them off. While all of this mayhem is taking place in the elevator, a detective and religious security guard watch from the control room trying to figure out who in the lift is killing everyone.

What worked? Well, there were only a few things. The score was great. Composer Fernando Velazquez created a haunting atmosphere and was probably the highlight of the film for me. I generally dislike a lot of music in horror movies, but this proves that if well done it can be very effective. The tension was also there, though, it was broken up too often by switching to the control room during some of the most tense moments. Lastly, the cinematography was pretty good. Keeping the action to a confined space was a huge part of the story obviously and Tak Fujimoto did a really good job with the lighting and camera angles.

My biggest problem with this film are the holes in the story. I won't point them out here, but you will ultimately find them. It is really disappointing because this topic/story had potential. M. Night needs to have more people reviewing his work prior to production pointing out the holes. I can't help but think this film would have been a huge success had it been in the hands of a different director and script writer. Michael Haneke for instance would have been a perfect fit for this. "Devil" also tried too hard to foreshadow without giving away the mystery. We are told numerous times throughout the film how the Devil works, such as taking human form, killing those who get in his way, etc. These hints made the ending much less effective. I also was really upset at the title/credit sequences. I realize these are not that big of a deal, but in "Devil" these scenes were meant to be symbolic. Unfortunately they were one of the most cheesy I've seen in a long time.

I could really go on and on about the things that went wrong in this film but who wants to read all of that? Just know that if you want an interesting concept you will find it here. If you want an enjoyable and well made film, you may want to go elsewhere.

A dark surreal horror comedy mockumentary. Yep, that about sums it up! "Man Bites Dog" takes the black comedy genre and hits it with the gore stick. Shot in black and white, this movie (as with most I review) is not for everyone. Some may say this is not a black comedy but a truly disgusting horror film. I would say they are half right. MBD doesn't hold back on what it shows, including a nasty gang rape scene. However; underneath the gruesome images and complete lack of moral fiber from the main character, "Ben" played by Benoît Poelvoorde, this movie has some really hilarious parts. For me this is a black comedy with some genuine horror mixed in.

"Ben", our star, is a charismatic serial killer who has agreed to a documentary film that showcases his motives, desires and actual killings. He explains how going after elderly people is best because they put up less of a fight and that Postmen are his favorite targets. Ben discusses classical music, architecture and philosophy all while murdering random people. After a while, Ben brings the film crew further into his world than they had ever wanted to go. Along the way learning about his interests and witnessing the random killings, even becoming part of the "action" so to speak.

Director, Rémy Belvaux did a great job and I think it was smart to film in B&W. If it were filmed in color, I think this would have been an entirely different movie experience. Make no mistake, Belvaux has made one of the most violent and disturbing movies I have ever seen. Luckily for us, the gore isn't as impactful due to the black and white. Thankfully, this adheres to the "A Killer Comedy" tag-line and further pushes the comedy aspect.

What makes "Man Bites Dog" so powerful is this roller coaster of emotions. One minute you are laughing your ass off and the next you are legitimately terrified and disturbed. It causes you to question what you were laughing at to begin with. It sort of takes away a bit of your humanity. You are almost ashamed to have laughed at all. After the two main brutal scenes the film reverts back to it's black comedy base. At the end I felt like I had been through a very stressful experience yet I loved every minute of it.

The film is wonderfully acted and the script is great. There were many times that I was questioning whether this was "real" or not. A testament to all involved. "Man Bites Dog" is a brilliant film, you have NEVER seen anything like it.

Gaspar Noé has created his most ambitious journey with the latest addition to his already stellar filmography. Noé's new film "Enter The Void" explores what happens when you die and attempts to bring the audience into the "psychedelic" and near/post death experience. While this is his most technologically impressive and aspiring film it is not his best. In fact, it is the worst of his catalog but that isn't to say it is bad, it's just not as incredible as his other films. Noé has stated this film was inspired by psychedelic experiences and the "Tibetan Book of The Dead" which discusses the death experience including re-birth. He even traveled to the Amazon to experience one of the most powerful psychedelics known, "Ayahuasca". Noé laughingly stated this was for "professional research".

Newcomer Nathanial Brown plays "Oscar", an American 20 something living in Tokyo trying to make ends meet by selling drugs. Him and his sister "Linda" played by a sultry Paz De la Huerta are orphans from a horrific car crash when they were children. Oscar has a slight obsession with breasts, psychedelic drugs, and inappropriate relationships; including one with his sister. The story is told in three parts, first showing Oscar's point of view as he takes DMT and deals drugs. Second, we are in the POV of Oscar's soul after being shot, re-living the events leading up to his demise. In this section, we learn that he has managed to move his sister out to Tokyo where she has becomes a stripper. We witness the car crash that took their parents and learn about his "awkward" relationship with Linda. Third, we see Oscar's soul traveling the city watching over his sister as he promised her that he will "never leave her". The ending is ambiguous, but most of his films are; though for the first time that I know of, he revealed in a few interviews big hints as to what really happens. So be careful if you are reading interviews prior to watching the film.

As with most of Noé's films, ETV attempts to alter the viewer's perception through the use of sound and visuals. "I Stand Alone" and "Irreversible" were both filmed in this way and both managed to completely engross me into the characters psyche. In "Enter The Void", Noé attempts this right off the bat in the opening credit sequence. He uses an industrial trance song from the England techno group "LFO". Partnered with pulsating lights and text, he essential brings the audience into a psychedelic "trip". Some will be immediately turned off by this beginning sequence as it is almost seizure inducing but those who stick it out are in for a treat. The soundtrack was an integral part as well. There was music, but mostly it was background noise and what I think was Binaural Tones. Binaural Tones or Beats are low frequency sounds meant to alter the brain waves in an effort to change perception. If there is any truth to this phenomenon, I think the audience experiences it first hand while watching.

Noe uses the same technique as he did in "Irreversible" having the camera float above and transition through solid objects. This was one of the few things I didn't like about the movie. I felt like I had seen it before and that he wasn't presenting anything new. The floating aside, he did managed to show me something I have never seen before. The POV technique. I couldn't believe what I was watching when Oscar was standing in the mirror washing his face. The camera blacked out perfectly in sync with when Oscar puts his hands over his eyes. It was fascinating to watch, in fact there are many camera shots in the film that left my jaw dropped.

The script was great but some of the performances were not. I was surprised by this since all of his previous films were incredibly acted. Noé stated in an interview that there was a lot of improvisation on set in regards to the script. I can't help but think maybe this had something to do with the poor acting. I suppose the improvisation helped the film seem more real, but it just felt forced. One standout for me was the actress who plays the younger version of Linda. Emily Alyn Lind sent chills down my spine with her portrayal of a child witnessing her parents horrific death.

Another surprising, but welcome change is that this movie wasn't very violent. Pretty much all of Noé's previous feature films scared the hell out of me. This trip was different, though he still featured graphic sex as he tends to do in all of his films. But this movie isn't about sex and violence. At it's heart it is about the unknown (death) and shows the collective experience of many people over many centuries (psychedelics). Early in the film Oscars friend "Alex", played by Cyril Roy, mentions that the chemical in with DMT and Ayahuasca is in the human body already. He says that when you die the DMT is released essentially giving you the "hardest trip" you can get. My theory is that Noe wanted to show the effect of taking DMT recreationally (Oscar's first person view of a DMT trip early in the film) and the effect of DMT naturally occurring at the moment of death. A brilliant concept that he pulled off flawlessly.

As with most of his films, this is not for everyone. You have to be able to appreciate the craft of movie making to really understand the technical accomplishment this film was. Some critics have said this is "style over substance", but I disagree. The film has its faults, yes, but it is enjoyable and captivating. I've never seen anything like it and honestly probably never will. Gaspar Noé is one of the best directors in the world today, I can't wait to see what he thinks up next.

A day in the life of a Hungarian town told by incredible cinematography and acute sound. At the age of 28 in 2002 György Pálfi has put together one of the most unique movie experiences out there. This dark yet funny film at first glance seems to be just a series of random events linked together by smooth camera transitions. But, there is an underlying story here, a caper if you will. "Hukkle" is an onomatopoeia that is supposed to imitate the sound of a hiccup. The opening scene of the film features an old man who cannot stop hiccuping, I believe the director was relating the pace of the film to a hiccup hence the name.

During the opening credits the first name featured was that of the sound engineer Tamás Zányi. A fitting honor since there is no dialog in this film, the story is told entirely through sound. Everything from a growing leaf of grass to a F-16 Fighter jet is represented in precise detail. It truly is amazing to watch and listen to a movie like this. It grabs a hold of you and even though the events are seemingly random, you just can't wait to see what will happen next. It's like watching a Hungarian reality show.

Once you realize that there is a story underneath all of this, it makes it even better. I won't ruin it by explaining the plot, just know by the end you should understand it. If not, there is a nice song at the end with the only subtitles in the film to help explain everything. Although, one would benefit from a second viewing to pick it all out.

Visually, this film is wonderful. Cinematographer Gergely Pohárnok was brilliant. Moving smoothly from one scene to the next going through doors, windows and even bodies. He used CGI or computer generated imaging for some of the scenes which seemed out of place for me. I think it was to showcase more of the sound as in the growing leaf, but I thought it was unnecessary. There were only a few quick cuts thankfully, although, one in particular might make you a little uncomfortable or comfortable if your into that sort of thing.

This film is not for everyone. Some may feel bored with this as the plot is barely there. But, if you view this on its technical merits you will be highly impressed.

"Mother" is the most recent film from Korean director Joon-Ho Bong ("The Host", "Memories of Murder"). Hye-ja Kim plays Mother, the lead character in this brilliantly composed film about the lengths someone will go to protect their children. Yoon Do-joon is a simple, kind boy who for reasons unknown has intermittent amnesia. One day as he is going home he notices a pretty girl walking the same direction. After a few attempts to have a conversation Do-joon moves on and heads home. The next day, we see that the girl has been murdered and witnesses put Do-joon at the scene. Mother, however, knows her son is innocent and will stop at nothing to prove it.

What an incredible film! It gives a little, takes a little then gives a little more. As soon as you think you've figured it out, it hits you that you truly haven't. Unlike Hollywood the twists in this movie are perfectly timed and minimal yet they have a big impact. Also, the twists are believable which was a nice surprise.

There are a few holes in this movie though. Luckily, they are open to interpretation and is one of the talking points after viewing. Many people feel that the holes are revealed in the story and some feel that they are not, so I'll leave it up to you to decide. Even if there are some loose ends, the other aspects of the film is what makes it so successful.

The acting is great as is the script. Hye-ja Kim (Mother) did an incredible job showing range and intensity. There is a scene where she confronts the grieving family of the murdered girl in an effort to convince them of her sons innocence. That scene really showcases the raw talent she has. Another stand out performance was the one from Bin Won (Yoon Do-joon). He did superb bringing a mentally challenge boy to the big screen. It was a great mix of clarity and confusion.

As far as sight and sound, this film scores an A+. The musical score is minimal but powerful as in the opening and ending scenes. The cinematography was also great. "Mother" takes place in a small town and there are not a lot of flashy colors here. It is more dulled out and dreary but this worked well with the subject matter. Cinematographer Kyung-Pyo Hong's camera work was outstanding. Many scenes had the viewer peering in from behind a wall or through a window watching the action unfold. It added to the uncertainty of the film. The final scene was one to remember as Hong beautifully used reflection (both figuratively and literally) to pack an emotional punch.

I highly recommend this movie. Yes, there are some things that didn't work all that well, and yes, there are some plot holes but with a second viewing these could be filled. This is a great film and shows that Korea is an up and coming force in cinema.

When I first saw this DVD box and saw that Ridley Scott was the producer, I thought...."no, that can't be". But to my surprise this is definitely a Ridley Scott production. There aren't any big battles or extravagant costumes. This is plain and simple romance, further enhanced by the beautiful scenery. A genre I wasn't expecting from Scott, but he did a great job. The cinematography was great as were the actors and script.

The second thing that caught my eye was the fact it stared Russell Crow. The bad boy of the outback playing a "know-it-all" stock broker from London who gets wooed into the wine maker lifestyle. Crow did a wonderful job and I was pleasantly surprised by his range here. His portrayal of snobby money maker turned humbled wine maker was fun to watch. It seemed like he was having fun with the role and that showed in his performance.

Musically, this movie was a home run. The soundtrack is phenomenal including tracks from Josephine Baker, Franz Ferdinand and The Everly Brothers. Sadly, the official soundtrack CD is missing some of the best songs from the movie. I thoroughly enjoyed the french music as well and they were all partnered perfectly with the situations playing on screen.

"A Good Year", as I said before, is simple. There is no complexity to the story, it is straight forward and doesn't pretend to be anything it is not. For me, I like films with more depth, but for what it was I enjoyed this movie. My wife seemed to really like it as well if that says anything for it.

"Red Road" is an emotionally taut drama centered around a CCTV operator in Glasgow. Jackie, played by Kate Dickie lives a simple life monitoring the CCTV's and coordinating with local police. One day, she notices someone that she recognizes on one of the screens. Tony Curran plays Clyde whom is the star of Jackie's new obsession. What follows is nearly an hour and a half of her following this man growing more and more close to him. It is not until over an hour that we learn bits and pieces of why she has engaged in this cat and mouse game. The way the film was shot begs us to be patient as the answers unfold, which is a great aspect of this movie though the final outcome is a let down.

As I said before the movie takes place in Glasgow. Now, I am normally pretty good at understanding British and Irish dialects; however, I was having a terrible time understanding most of what was said in this movie. The Scottish accent is impossible to understand at times. I wish it would have been subtitled as maybe I could have gotten more involved in the dialog. For a film reliant so heavily on the script, it was a difficult watch and took a lot away from the impact of the actions on screen.

The plot was an interesting one, but it inevitably fails. I suppose it was a piece more on forgiveness than redemption but the style in which they filmed it was not conducive to learning the lesson they were trying to portray. This film has a really gritty feel to it and was shot beautifully. Cinematographer Robbie Ryan did an amazing job building a very tense atmosphere. His use of shadows and colors really draws the audience into the set pieces. I found myself on pins and needles expecting something incredibly moving or emotional. Sadly, I never quite got there.

"Red Road" has gotten a lot of great reviews on IMDb (6.8/10) and Rotten Tomatoes (88%). I think the reason for this was the cinematography and the acting. Both were outstanding. Katie Dickie and Tony Curran have great chemistry on screen and both seemed to give their all to this project. It's a shame that the film ended the way it did because these two actors could have really pushed the envelope had their been a different avenue to go in.

I really only found one thing that stood out as far as direction goes. That is the way Arnold builds the tension. She only allows small bits of information to come through progressing the story at any given moment. A decision that worked well with the films photography. I was reminded of Michael Haneke who is one of my most favorite directors. This was Andrea Arnold's first full length feature film, had it not been for the actors and cinematography I don't think this movie would have been such a success.

So, is this a thriller? A drama? Or, a mixture of both? For me, the only thing that could put this in the "thriller" genre is the slow pace and the tension. Other than that, this is a drama. Many reviews say as a thriller this works, but for me it just falls flat. I feel like the director should have stuck to one genre. In my opinion the movie would have been much more powerful had it kept the plot and was shot as a drama or changed the plot and shot as a thriller. But opinions are like assholes, we all have one, watch it for yourself and let me know what you think!

I love gritty drama films. Especially those that include a coming of age story. This poignant film by director Ramin Bahrani and writer Bahareh Azimi showcases the struggle of a Latino street orphan to make life better for himself and his sister. Ale, played wonderfully by Alejandro Polanco in his first staring role, finds a job working for a local mechanic doing odd jobs. He finds out that his sister is doing some things on the side for money that aren't, well, "respectable". His portrayal was very realistic and at times it seemed like I was watching a documentary.

There isn't much of a plot here, but you can't help but to appreciate the performances. The two leads, Polanco and Isamar Gonzales (Ale's Sister) were found at a local school with no prior acting experience or study. Finding that out post viewing made me appreciate their "chops" even more so. Also, most of the extra's were just people milling around their normal lives in Queens. This is why this type of film is labeled as "neo-realism" and why it was such a successful production.

The setting of the film by itself is a character of the movie. Shot in Willets Point, Queens in New York, this IS the real deal. Bahrani mentions in an interview with Alt Film Guide that "...I am making films about how the majority of people in this world live, and we must also accept that this majority is utterly ignored by Hollywood and Independent film..." So true he is. The gritty real background of Chop Shop pulls the audience even more into the performances of the actors. Allowing the director to "...direct without directing." as he mentions in the same interview.

Being that there is not much of a plot in this movie, one has to ask why? Was there a reason the writers chose to concentrate on a "section" of time in this boys life? Yes, it was to show that in real life things happen, secrets are revealed and life goes on. I appreciated the fact that this was just a snippet of what Ale's existence is really like. We don't know if he gets out of the slums or if his sister succeeds in a more productive endeavor. What we do know is that life is hard, and sometimes you have to do what you have to do to survive. The situations presented in this film were shown without a filter so to speak. Ramin Bahrani did a wonderful job giving us a glimpse into the street life so many children are part of today.

Cinematographer Michael Simmons, who also worked on "Man Push Cart" the directors first film, was outstanding. He moved the camera a lot, but it was to the benefit of the viewer in my opinion. We weren't concentrated on one central character, we were distracted by the goings on around the dialog on screen, much like it would be in real life. The production team filmed using the High Definition Sony F900 then blew up the final product to 35mm. It was a good decision and gave the film that gritty, documentary feel the director was going for.

I really enjoyed this little slice of life from Queens. It was something I haven't really seen before so that was refreshing. I've bumped this up to a 4/5 due to the striking performances of the actors. Initially I would have given a 3/5 due to the fact that with all of the films positive points, it was still a little boring. If you are looking for a stylized extravagant production with a happy ending, you may want to look elsewhere. For those looking for an experience unlike many out there, this one is for you.

Noah Baumbach known for the film "The Squid and The Whale" wrote and directed this character study on a 40 something down on his luck, emotionally deprived man who travels to California to house sit for his brother. Ben Stiller plays "Roger Greenberg" in one of his best acting jobs to date. Greenberg has recently gotten out of a Psychiatric Hospital, but we don't know why he was there. He decides that a change in scenery would help him so he agrees to move to California. While there he meets a few people and reconnects with some old band mates. Sorry to say, that's it. There isn't much story here, it's just 107 minutes of Ben Stiller as Roger Greenberg being a general jerk to everyone. There is some humor and some drama, but I felt like this was a waist of time.

Character studies are a unique genre in that they are essentially hit or miss most of the time. We are able to see Greenberg at his most raw and vulnerable self. He is condescending, aloof and sarcastic, a role Ben Stiller was born to play it seems. Stiller truly "wowed" me with this movie. It was unlike anything I've ever seen him do before and he played it brilliantly. The problem, however, was that I just didn't care about him. Sure it was nice to see Stiller play a different role than he is used to, but what was the point? Why was this film written and made? I almost feel as if this was just a gift to Stiller so he could prove is versatility.

The director Noah Baumbach usually does movies I absolutely love, such as: "The Squid and The Whale" and "The Life Aquatic, with Steve Zissou". At least those movies had a story and likable characters. The only characters I liked in "Greenberg" was the brothers dog.

As the movie drags on we meet "Florance" Stiller's first love interest played by Greta Gerwig. Although, it doesn't get much further than an awkward romp on a couch. She does a good job acting but like Greenberg, there is nothing really interesting about her. Greenberg meets up with some old band mates and an ex girlfriend. All of whom, while spectacularly acted, were just "blah" characters. There was no connection to any of them or to the story for that matter. Considering there wasn't a story, this shouldn't be surprising.

This film has gotten mostly positive reviews from film critics; however, I just couldn't see it. Most say that if you didn't like this movie then you "didn't get it". Well, I'm pretty sure I "got it" though it wasn't what I was looking for. It is a film to watch if you would like to see Stiller do something completely out of his comfort zone and succeed with flying colors.

"A kid? I smoke, I snort. I've killed and robbed. I'm a man."

Sometimes a movie comes along that is so unexpected and fresh that it takes a little while after viewing to realize what you've just watched. "City of God" is one of those movies. It will leave you with a feeling of utter satisfaction.

Based on a true story, "City of God" takes a look at the life of Buscapé aka Rocket, a kid from the slums as he attempts to survive. The journey covers two decades and depicts the true way of life in the ghettos of Rio de Janeiro including drugs, violence, politics and sex. Buscapé's ticket out of this hell is his undeniable skill as a photographer. He decides to begin snapping shots of the local gang activity which has uncertain repercussions. The local paper gets their hands on his photo's and so begins the second act of this film. Rocket works to get the "next big shot" all the while staying out of the gang leader's radar.

This is a violent movie but it is not overly so. It works with the atmosphere of the film and I found it a necessary aspect. Scriptwriter Bràulio Mantovani did a great job interpreting the book by Paulo Lins bringing a haunting reality to the characters. We not only hated some of the characters but also felt a very strong connection to them. A task not easily accomplished. Rocket, wonderfully played by Alexandre Rodriguez fights to keep out of the draw of drugs and crime. In fact, all of the actors did a great job. I was amazed how well they portrayed the inner battle between good and evil.

One of the best aspects of the film is in the photography. Cinematographer César Charlone and Director Fernando Meirelles used lots of dull browns, reds, blues and grays to pull the viewer into the setting of the slums. It worked magnificently contrasted with the vibrant soundtrack and the frantic editing. "City of God" goes full circle in the life of the gangsters, a feature I really enjoyed. I wasn't left with questions, something not found in a lot of current cinema.

All in all this is a masterpiece of film making. The characters, storyline, script, editing, direction and acting are all superb. It is yet another shining example of how foreign movies are some of the best in the business.

"Does knowing your wife's murderer is behind bars make life any more bearable?"

"7 Days" is a powerful and brutal film about a happily married surgeon who as a result of the rape and murder of his daughter falls into a dark obsession with revenge. WARNING: this movie is VERY graphic and not for the easily offended or people with a weak stomach. "7 Days" deals with a very difficult subject matter and does not hold back.

Claude Legault (Bruno) and Rémy Girard (Hervé) did an incredible job with the acting. Fanny Mallette (Sylvia) also did wonderfully, though I would have liked to have seen more of her throughout the movie. I found myself wondering why the director did not feature more of the mother's struggle. There is one scene in particular that showcases the raw talent Legault and Mallette have. It was a tour de force of brilliant acting.

However, the movie is not without it's faults. One of the more interesting decisions made by the director was to not include a musical soundtrack. This worked I think in favor of the atmosphere but there could have been some fill in music at times. It seemed like the director was trying to fill holes in the story a bit too hard. There were a couple of things that didn't make much sense to do and the ending left a little to be desired.

"7 Days" may not be the cream of the crop of revenge flicks, but it does succeed where others fail. It is such a harrowing subject matter and is shot in such a realistic way that you are forced to have an emotional response, whether you like it or not. There are some powerful visuals that will stay with you for days, possibly months after.

Bram Stoker would be shaking in his coffin if he were to see how vampires are being portrayed today on TV and in Movies. Movies like "Twilight" and TV shows like "Vampire Diaries" are bringing Vampires out in the daytime, having them in intimate relationships dealing with "high school" drama. Thankfully directors such as Neil Jordan ("Interview with The Vampire") and Tomas Alfredson stayed true to the legend of the Vampire.

"Let The Right One In", starring Kåre Hedebrant as "Oskar" and Lina Leandersson as "Eli" brings the classic vampire tale back with a unique twist. The film is based on the book by the same name from Swedish author John Ajvide Lindqvist. "Let The Right One In" begins with a man out in the woods collecting blood from a recently killed person. Little do we know this collection is for a 12 year old vampire who has been living for hundreds of years. It is a fresh take on the classic vampire dilemma: finding food and staying out of site and sun.

One of the many things this film got right was the atmosphere. This is a Swedish film and was shot entirely in Sweden. This was the perfect setting for a film like this. The constant snow fall and dreary look of the town really added to the realism of the movie. Unlike "Interview with The Vampire", I could relate more to this modern setting. The director chose exactly the right times for the music score to come in. He didn't saturate every moment like a lot of horror directors tend to do.

This story is a lot more than just a vampire girl trying to survive. It is also a story of love and redemption. Oskar is constantly being bullied by the local kids and he is always so retreated and alone. Eli brings a sense of wonder to his life. He finds in her an oddness that brings him out of his shell. He builds a relationship with her carefully and slowly. She teaches him how to stand up for himself and gives him confidence. It is an interesting back and forth between the two as their relationship builds. A testament to the director and the actors.

This is a wonderful film that has single-handedly brought a genre out of the "sparkly" hole vampire films have been in for the last few years.