A regular, insipid hollywood take on how the Afghanistan issue was first brought to the attention of Washington DC in the early 80s; the genesis of the Pakistan - mujahideen connection resulting in the defeat of the Russians. Tom Hanks plays the congressman Charlie Wilson - completely predictable and efficient - but a tad difficult to accept him playing a playboy, cocaine sniffing maverick wheeler dealer of a politician. Philip Seymour Hoffman plays his bit of a disgruntled CIA operative rather well. Good movie to watch on a flight.
A family drama at its best, but unlike anything that one has probably seen before. Nicole Kidman plays Margot, a famous author, and is the central character of this story which has everyone concerned dealing with a ton of emotional baggage. There are a range of problems to be dealt with (involving Margot's sister Jennifer Jason Leigh, sister's fiancee played brilliantly by Jack Black, her husband & lover, her son, sister's neighbours and of course herself) which is quite baffling but portrayed very cleverly and with a lot of humour - the dark, perverse kind. Which I quite enjoyed. Can be a difficult watch for some or even irritating - but I liked the director's attempt to show that it isnt difficult for regular people to be horrible people.
A french super-thriller that confuses the shit out of the viewer. Eric Vincent (Guillaume Canet) gets a call from the blue informing that his long-lost father is dead and inviting him to come by to take the ashes. It sets off a series of events that takes Eric spiralling downwards. A good watch.
Based on a true story. Jean-Dominique Dauby wrote the book with the same title, after he suffered from a unique condition - locked-in syndrome. Where he can see and hear, but cannot speak, move or emote. It is a situation that one realises from the reaction from all concerned - family, dad, mistress, friends - that is difficult to come to terms with, especially since the high achiever that he was prior to all this. Dauby's only option is to overcome it and live life as he knows it. 
A let down given the cast and the promise of ore the thriller. Ewan McGregor is this loser fellow who befriends this hero guy played by Hugh Jackman - who hooks him up with this sexy NY night club which has specific rules to comply with. But theres more to it, obviously - and McGregor finds himself staring down a hole soon enough. Reasonable but easily forgettable. 
The legendary prof is back and running after this crystal skull along with the Russians. There is also his possible successor in tow - in the form of Shia LaBeouf. Found it a bit of an ask to enjoy the movie whole heartedly - action sequences were imaginative & fine, but it wasnt as funny as I remembered these movies to be. 
Al Pacino playss a forensic pyschiatrist + prof. He has put away some really bad people - including serial killers. One of them serial killers is suddenly back, though he is physically still in jail. To put further pressure on the prof, he is told he has only 88 minutes to live. Along with his lady assistants, friends and students, he gets cracking on the case. All the excitement goes in vain as far as the viewer is concerned, as fatigue sets in after 30 odd minutes.
There are 2 guys and 2 women - we go through all 2 guy-girl combinations between the 4 of them and eventually 2 outwit the other. Complete shite. 
The film transcribes the story of a silver prospector who strikes Oil and then embarks on a ruthless path to building a dynasty by tolerating no competition - be it the church, other Oil hunters or even his own child. As expected, Daniel Plainview is brilliantly played by Daniel Day-Lewis. But Paul Dano (the dumb pissed-off son from Little Miss..) really impresses as the Church man who plays Plainview's nemesis. Plays the right foil to the madness of Plainview and is a critical element of this story - culminating in blood. Long movie, but a fabulously filmed story about greed of the riches.
A well-made Cameron Crowe film - cant crow (sic!) about its brilliant script or intelligent camera work - but being an ex-rock journalist, you can be assured of some good music being swung into the script. For Orlando Bloom's character: its part self-discovery (loses millions of $ in a shoe fiasco and contemplates suicide), part family crisis (father dies, to cremate or not?), part romance (Kirsten Dunst saves him from death?). Bloom does a reasonable job making it a fairly good watch actually.Rating: * * +
A good old fashioned adventure story set in South Africa, as Michael Caine gets unknowingly involved in helping a black political activist (Sidney Poitier) who is running from the law & a racist Afrikaner cop. Based on a novel by Peter Driscoll, who I believe would be similar to Alistair Maclean, Desmond Bagley, Wilbur Smith and the likes. As one can expect, the movie is full of various types of chasing, some funny lines (Michael Caine to Sideny Poitier: You come to conclusions so quickly, because you aren't slowed down by thought!), betrayals and then more chasing. A good watch.
It was an open and shut case when the world of Myra Hindley was discovered - charged along with her boyfriend for killing many young girls in the moors. Lord Longford was a Labour minister, a human rights campaigner & prison reform, who believed that that Ms. Hindley was innocent and that she was coerced into these acts by her boyfriend. He risks his reputation by taking on public opinion believing that she was innocent and campaigning for her release. But it was a doomed initiative, as years later Ms. Hindley admitted that she was in it from the beginning. The picture demonstrates the ignominy that Lord Longford had to live with right through and after this campaign. Samantha Morton does a good job as Ms. Hindley - but where is she these days?Rating: * * +
Another eulogy on one of his favourite bands that Martin Scorsese films for posterity. Shot at the Beacon Theatre, NYC in 2006 during their A Bigger Bang Tour - is not an attempt to understand the Stones. Its a concert film - puts on the big screen the act that they are - old Jagger's energetic strutting, the mad staid presence of Charlie Watts, guitaring ability of Ron Wood's and ofcourse, the enigma that is Keith Richards. The focus on Keith Richards makes one realise that what a farce the hollywoodisation of the man was. Rating: * * *
A gripping thriller about a surveillance expert who goes further than he is supposed to. Gene Hackman plays this 'best-of-class' professional eavesdropper, who has mastered his trade over 20 years - and believes his ability to remain impersonal, distant from his subjects is what makes him good. However, one learns that things aren't that easy and eventually time runs out for everybody - and we slowly get to learn more about Harry Caul. A particular case, unusually for him, draws him in and to the inevitable. 
This one is all about Owen Wilson. Couple of things actually - the first bit I came across before watching the movie: an open letter from Steely Dan to Luke Wilson complaining about his brother & the title of this movie. The second: one realises during this movie, as to why Owen tried committing suicide almost a year later i.e the unexpected presence of the great cyclist - who stole Owen's girl-friend a few months after this movie. And yes, don't bother watching this movie, if you like comedy.
A directorial debut that began with ambitions of creating something as stylish as Memento. So he gets the actor - and, predictably, the similarity ends there. Guy Pearce is this ruthless salesman, who runs into a fortune teller who predicts imminent death. And then the waiting begins, paranoia builds and the ruthless salesman is left to tremble expecting the end. Its the script that ultimately fails, as there is very little Pearce's intensity and fine camera work can achieve on its own. Rating: * +
That woman deserves her revenge and we deserve to die.
Think its the first animated movie that I have watched on the big screen. Was impressed with the all conquering panda - funny and Jack Black does a good job.
Opens with the shocking scene of a massacre in an Aussie suburban commuter train which has a lone survivor. Its Christmas, the killer is out there and the people in the suburb are quite obviously shaken. In the midst of all of this, a cop suffers from tinnitus and finds him facing the wrath of his superiors. Resulting self-doubt, confusion wracks the young man. Strangely enough he finds himself in the eye of the investigation - but dealing with his own condition which threatens to bring him down all together. Fantastically shot movie, with its deliberate story line - which conveys brilliantly personal as well as group fear - and outstanding performances completes a highly watchable film. Another feather in the cap for Aussie films.
An old world spy thriller, that takes an ordinary man, who loves running & admires Abebe Bikila, from his PhD classroom straight into an unfolding international spy saga. 7 years after making this historical movie, director John Schlesinger combines with Dustin Hoffman once again. Shot from the perspective of Dustin Hoffman's character, the story builds up tightly - divulging surprises along the way and a fairly simple, yet mysterious plot. Has all the right ingredients for a gripping watch.Rating: * * *
Had heard a lot about this Sidney Lumet directed thriller starring Michael Caine - half expecting it to be as good as Sleuth. It wasnt, but keeps you going till the end as the plot takes a series of unexpected turns. Besides the presence of Michael Caine, the use of just one room for the entire movie will naturally draw comparisons with Sleuth. Caine plays a once famous playwright struggling to come up with something original - and then comes with up a wicked scheme to kickstart his career again, and enlists his wife's reluctant services. Christopher Reeves makes his appearance as an innocent stranger and the catalyst for the action to follow. I suppose for viewers who have not watched Sleuth, this should make a thrilling watch. Rating: * * +
