Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

The sixth installment of J. K. Rowling's world of wizards wafts its way on to the screen with Harry entering his sixth year at Hogwarts. He stumbles in to the potions class and comes across a book that belongs to the mysterious Half Blood Prince. Dumbledore meanwhile is up to his old tricks in his usual benign fashion while the shadow of Voldemort lurks. The film tries desperately to be dark and moody but what shines through is teenage angst. 

Rating: * *

The Girl Who Played with Fire

The film loosely picks up from where Girl with the Dragon Tattoo left off. Lisbeth Salander is seen vacationing off of her pickings from the Wennerstorm fortune. She has disappeared from the lives of her Swedish friends especially that of Mikael Blomkovist. He is busy setting up his next expose of a sex trafficking ring with help from a young journalist and his girlfriend. When the couple is found murdered and Salander is accused of the killings, Blomkovist is again in the eye of the storm.

Director Daniel Alfredson has liberally cut out swathes from Steig Larson's book. His handling of a certain fight scene which is amazing portrayed in the book lacks any sort of punch. But yet the film makes for a complete and thrilling experience. 

Rating: * * *

Kapurush

A car breakdown in the hillside finds Amithaba taking refuge at a tea estate manager's bungalow. Bimal is portly and jovial with a stunner of a wife who turns out to be Amithaba's old flame. Soon there are the required flashbacks and the aches of what could have been. The story goes only skin deep and maybe a lot was lost in translation.

Rating: * +

Intimacy

Jay and Claire meet every Wednesday for a roll in the haystack. The encounters seem casual, devoid of emotion and sexually intense. However as it is the wont in the such situations feelings creep in and the couple careen towards an unfriendly place...

Rating: * *

Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!

The future of Hindi cinema seems safe in the hands of Abhay Deol, who dons the mantle of the notorious con man Lucky Singh who terrorized the affluent all over India. The audacity of some of his heists had me wondering if this was indeed based on a true story or if Dibaker da had toked on one too many. However a quick google search proved me wrong and led me to this article at one of my favorite film websites, Passion for Cinema. Lucky was apparently more than notorious and his panache is effortlessly brought to life by Mr. Deol. Neetu Chandra plays his love interest and is not only easy on the eyes but also does a decent job of the limited role she is given. However the man who takes the cake is Paresh Rawal as he seamlessly shifts gears between a father, don and businessman. All in all this turns out to be one of the best Indian heist movies made to date.

Rating: * * *

Taking Father Home

A young boy from a far flung Sechuan village sets out to the city of Zigong looking for his father who abandoned his family six years ago. His sole companions are two ducks that he plans to use in stead of money. And on his journey he runs in to goons, cops who in their own ways nudge him towards his destination. The film heralds the arrival of Liang Ying in to the film industry and is shot with a cheap hand held camera with a cast and crew made up of Ying's friends and relatives. A film that I desperately wanted to like however it totally failed to engage. 

Rating: *

The Fountain

Past, present and future collide in this film as each time stream's protagonist searches for eternal life to save his love. The doctor races against time to find a cure for brain tumors so that his wife can be saved. A warrior trudges through the jungles of Peru to find the tree of eternal  life to save his country. An astronaut flies through space in an encapsulated bubble with  an aged tree in hope that a dying star can save it. A film that explores man's thirst for eternal life but yet doesn't examine the meaning of having it.

Rating: * * +

Well Done Abba!

Armaan Ali (Boman Irani) takes a month's leave from his chauffeuring and shows up for work three months later. His boss's exasperation sees no end but Armaan convinces him to hear out his story. Armaan Ali then takes on a ride that starts with him returning to his village to find a husband for his daughter. The yarn runs in to corrupt government officials and politicians when Armaan decides to dig a well using a government scheme. Throw in a little love story and you have a packed film in your hands. However, Shyam Benegal has used this light hearted comedy to poke some serious fun at the pitiful state of Indian government and its official. A decent watch but the film could have been made shorter.

Rating: * * +

Ek Chalis Ki Last Local

The film initially reminded me of this wonderful Kishore Kumar song. Nilesh (Abhay Deol) is a young whippersnapper who runs in to the hot Madhu (Neha Dhupia) at the time of night in Bombay when the trains disappear. It also helps that the two want to head to the same destination. The night meanders in to one that involves a bit of gambling, the cops and the underworld. Along the way a couple of pages are taken out of Pulp Fiction and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. But yet, the film calls for enjoyable viewing. It also confirms that Abhay "I want to have nothing to do with Sunny Deol" Deol is indeed the man of Hindi cinema these days and Neha Dhupia is just a bimbo with a figure.

Rating: * *

Gandhi my father

Had heard about this movie when it was released couple of years ago. Finally watched it and can quite understand some of the rave reviews that had I read at the time. Much like its Bollywood counterparts, its a long movie - at 2 hours + and also has its fair share of melodrama. But it manages to brilliantly capture the story of a fallen son and a father on his way to sainthood with the Indian freedom struggle as its backdrop.

Akshaye Khanna plays Harilal Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi's eldest son) impressively - as Harilal progresses from being a loyal son to a disgruntled husband to an unscrupulous rebellious son and finally, running out of second chances, ending up on the streets. The jacket of the DVD says "Mahatma Gandhi could transform the soul of a nation but could not save the soul of his own son". The irony of the situation, as the tagline suggests, is clearly the central theme of this story - but the writer does well in bringing out the values of Gandhi as it was and not demonise him.

Darshan Jariwala also does a good job of playing Gandhi - but doesn't quite look like Gandhi as I know him and which is Ben Kingsley's fault. WTF moment - the film's produced by Anil Kapoor.


Rating: ***

Paraiso Travel

Reina (Angelica Blandon) allures Marlon (Aldemar Correa) like a temptress moon and he has no choice but to follow. He leaves his humdrum life in Madellin, Colombia for love and the harsh streets of New York City. In a brief flash he finds himself separated from Reina and on his own. But luckily for him a better life follows including the bewitching Milagroz (Ana de la Reguera) who inexplicably falls for him. However, Marlon dreams of Reina in spite of the angel who opens her legs arms to him. A film that couches the perils of illegally crossing in to the US within a forlorn love story, leaves you feeling empty of sympathy for the characters. In spite of their dire situation one feels that they got what they deserved!

Rating: * *

In the Loop

A benign quote "War is unforeseeable" from a British minister, sets off a slew of events that sees the US and the UK careen towards a war against a middle eastern country. A political satire that jet sets between London and Washington DC leaves you wondering in spite of its absurdity if this is the way governments function.

Rating: * *

Road, Movie

Vishnu is a young nothing from Jaisalmer, staring at a life of selling hair oil, his dad's business, and is not pleased. Fortunately for him, he stumbles upon an old neighbourhood uncle who is planning to drive his old Chevrolet truck (cinema theater on wheels) to a town by the sea and donate the damn thing to a museum. Vishnu volunteers to drive and envisages a long drive full of "foul smelling farts" - its not to be as he encounters 3 strangers on the way, who pull him away from life as he knows it.

Written & directed by Dev Benegal, 'Road, Movie' belongs to the burgeoning class of alternate / independent / not-fucked-up-Bollywood cinema. Whilst the plot seems familiar, the truck, the landscape and the sparseness of it all, makes it wurf-it. Abhay Deol does a good job as a young nothing - he is definitely an actor to monitor - got an eye for cool roles. I don't think the plot does justice w.r.t developing some of the other characters - the little boy and the fat man (Satish Kaushik). Last word: Mr. Benegal is, arguably, as pompous as his Bollywood director friends.

Rating: * * +

Villon's Wife

After reading Osamu Dazai's masterpiece last year, it was a pleasant surprise to watch an adaption of his earlier novel on the big screen. It does appear that all his works were an attempt to understand the darkness that engulfed him. Unlike 'No longer human', this story is narrated from the point of view of Otani's long-suffering wife - besides capturing all the sacrifices she makes to keep him, one, through Sachi's eyes, comes face to face with the devil that Otani is.

Tadanobu Asano as Otani shows yet again why he is one of the finest actors in the world today. Takaka Matsu plays Sachi with the kind of honesty and loyalty that would have made the Villon's wife proud. With brilliant performances, a plot that completely draws one in and fine directing by Kichitaro Negishi, Villon's wife slots into the top draw quite comfortably.

Rating: * * * +

PS: I really hope nobody attempts to adapt 'No longer human', as it would take away all the attention that the novel deserves. Update: wikipedia says the movie is on its way. Fuck it.

The Pool

Venkatesh (Venkatesh Chavan) sits on a tree branch and gazes forlornly at a pool bordering a deserted bungalow in Panjim, Goa. The tree is his intermediate resting spot during the laundry run for the hotel he works in. When the mansion sees new residents, Venky's life shines a tad brighter as he grows close to the father (Nana Patekar) and daughter (Ayesha Mohan) living there. A simple film with a simple screen play and story. But it is this very simplicity that allows it to show the complex layers of Indian society so succinctly.  For example the fact that Venkatesh is seen in only two outfits through the film while Ayesha changes her tops for every scene. That small nuance speaks volumes about the different strata of society the two occupy. The acting in the film is very understated and raw making the whole scenario more documentary like. Mr. Patekar shows that he can still be the man if he chooses to. Ms. Mohan is dusky and sexy while having more acting skill in her little pinky when compared to a certain Ms. Pinto. The movie should have been required viewing for Danny Boyle before he embarked on the disaster known as Slumdog Millionaire!

Rating: * * * +

Ip Man

The semi-autobiographical take on the legendary master of Bruce Lee, sees Donnie Yen don the role of Ip Man. The film attempts to show the Wing Chung master's life in China prior to his move to Hong Kong during / after WWII and his "resistance" against the invading Japanese culture. That portrayal seems a tad too melodramatic for it to have been real. However it calls for some very enjoyable ass kicking and if the popularity of Wing Chung was on the wane, this film should have brought it back on to the martial art radar.

Rating: * * +

The Hurt Locker

The camera follows an US army bomb squad through the treacherous streets of Iraq. You are given the eerie feeling that every object could be a bomb and anyone could be the detonator. But the feelings gets old very quickly and you want a few more layers to the film which is sadly lacking. With the hype surrounding the film, it seemed destined to be placed alongside Platoon and Apocalypse Now. That will not be the case in my book. 

Rating: * *

The American

Take a John Le Carre book add some violence to it, strip away the extensive background and storyline, make it in to a film and you will have The American floating across the screen. Jack (George Clooney) is taciturn assassin on the run from the Swedes. Who and why they are after him is deemed inconsequential by the director. However the lush cinematography and the voluptuous Violante Placido make for it. In spite of the all nagging questions that arise in your mind, you find yourself sucked in to Jack's solitary and fraught existence. A live in the moment film... 

Rating: * * +

O' Horton

Odd Horton (Baard Owe) is retiring from his life long job of an engine driver, I mean train engineer and he is an odd one at that. The film on the whole is odd in a boring kind of a way. A poor follow on to Factotum by Bent Hamer.

Rating: +

99

A gambler, the don, his gundas and supposed damsels in distress on the backdrop of match fixing makes up the key points of this film. With a cunning script and right treatment, this make up could conceptually turn in to a brilliant film. Alas just a concept it remains as we are dragged through 2 hours of drudgery which seemed like a life time. Boman Irani  the gambler, like Sachin Tendulkar in the 90s toils away in isolation trying to keep you hooked to the happenings. Kunal Khemu and Cyrus Broacha play the gundas and after a while Khemu trying to be a certain Amir Khan tires you out. Soha Ali Khan and Simone Singh roles are dubious and makes you wonder why they are in the movie till you remember the need for eye candy. Now to make things worse space has been wasted on the cloud for this piece of toilet paper used by the devil. Hopefully it will at least stand as a warning to others...

Rating: *

Karthik Calling Karthik

Take Fightclub, replace Tyler Durden with a telephone, Ed Norton and Helena Bonham Carter with a couple of whiny annoying wimps and you have this piece of trash that should never have graced celluloid.

Rating: *

The Girlfriend Experience

Steven Soderbergh has always been a hit or a miss in my book. This film about a high class Manhattan call girl is a magnificent curve ball with no batter in sight. He hopes to give the film a quasi documentary feel by casting a real honest to goodness porn star in the lead. But all Sasha Grey's non-existent acting skill and pallid screen presence does is to exposes the empty script and lifeless story.

Rating: *

Pi

The famous Darren Aronofsky thriller about mathematics and a man's obsession with numbers to unlock an universal code in nature. Shot in grainy black and white film maybe to lend some authenticity to the film, it left me feeling underwhelmed. Maybe the build up of the hype over the years lead to bloated expectations.

Rating: * +

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Mikael Blomkovist (Michael Nyqvist) is a respected financial reporter whose name has been dragged in to the mud when he is convicted of slander. Facing time in prison, he takes up a 40 year old case of a missing girl to primarily keep him away from the spotlight. He is soon joined by Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace), a socially awkward but brilliant researcher. The film takes advantage of the beautiful Swedish countryside as you are treated to some lush landscapes. However, that beauty won't save you from the grittiness and depths of human psychopathy embedded in the movies.

Based on Steig Larrson best selling novel, the two words that best describes this film is intrigue and violence. From the start to finish you are leaning forward as plot layers are revealed, while bracing yourself at the graphic violence splashed on the screen. Reading the book before the movie is a boon and a curse. It gives you the much needed background to the characters but takes away from the suspense. Either way, you will be left wanting to watch the next installment.

 

Rating: * * *

The Brothers Bloom

There are con men and then there are these brothers, Bloom (Adrien Brody) and Stephen (Mark Ruffalo). Honing their skill since early childhood, the two crooks have taken the art of the con to the next level. Add the silent Bang Bang (Rinko Kikuchi), mistress of all things boom, they are unstoppable. Bloom though has hit the end of his tether and wants some reality in his life. Like always there is that last con before retirement and they set their sites on an beautiful and eccentric millionairess (Rachel Weisz). By now I am sure you can guess what is to follow...

Rating: * *

Inception

It must have been the IPAs that I got through earlier in the evening that had me collapsing spontaneously into this latest Chris Nolan movie about dreams and dreams within dreams. It was a big struggle staying in the moment as I was being pulled deeper into the cold warmth of the theatre. With waves of the beery subconscious running through me, the plot helmed by the capable Di Caprio was taking form - the kind that a Chris Nolan can attempt to build and not many others. Dreams are as elusive a subject as any and here it was being manfully deconstructed & subsequently constructed by an A-Team with the sole focus of understanding and influencing life. Brilliant premise. However, through my brief phases of consciousness, I felt that the linkages, those that are critical to any strong plot, were destined to play second fiddle to the brilliance of the premise. It doesn't really matter, there are no alibis in dreams.

Rating: * *                                           

PS: Michael Caine is in the movie for all of 2 scenes. Ellen Page is irritating.

                                

The A-Team

Yawn! The fact that I could no longer enjoy this rehash of the infamous TV series of the same name must mean that I have grown up. Or maybe it was just a shit movie.

Rating: *

Predators

Robert Rodriguez's involvement and the presence of Alice Braga lured me to the latest offering from the Predator franchise. Couple of soldiers, a mercenary, a serial killer, a cartel enforcer, a yakuza and a doctor find themselves free falling on to a mysterious planet. There they are predictably stalked by... surprise, surprise, Predators! To make things worse the film has stolen large chunks from original. Definitely something Mr. Rodriguez should distance himself from.

Rating: * +

Still Walking

A family gathers to commemorate the death anniversary of the eldest son. The parents, a crabby couple, have lived in their family home for decades. Descending on them are their remaining son and daughter along with their family. As the day flows, the layers of family are slowly peeled away, revealing the complexities of an outwardly simple family. Hirokazu Koreeda has yet again expanded his range by attacking and conquering an Yasujiro Ozu like family drama.

Rating:  * * * +

California Dreamin'

Doiaru (Razvan Vasilescu) is a corrupt chief at a small Romania town's train station.  He refuses to let a NATO train, containing US soldiers and top secret cargo, through due to lack of "paper work". The villagers view the stranded soldiers as an opportunity and go all out to entertain them. The movie is based on true events that occurred during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. Director Cristian Nemescu died soon after he made this film and it is a fitting requiem for a talent whose loss will be lamented.

Rating: * * *
PS: It has one of the best sex scenes I have ever seen in a movie.

Backseat

Two buddies head out on a road trip to Montreal to meet Donald Sutherland. Ben (Robert Bogue) is pulling his hair out dealing with his nympho girl friend while Colton (Josh Alexander) is trying to kick start his acting career. The trip turns out to be an internal soul search for the two friends as they unwittingly end up facing their idiosyncrasies, fears and the loneliness that you sometimes encounter in your 30s. A movie that is a comedy at heart but has a streak of honesty and reality running through it.

Rating: * * 

Tokyo Sonata

A family that is slowly splintering is the epicenter of the film. With his job being outsourced to China, Ryuhei Sasaki (Teruyuki Kagawa) goes from being Director of Administration to a man stands in line at the free food stall. Furtively hiding his layoff from his wife, he wanders the streets in a Murakami-esqe daze. Megumi (Kyôko Koizumi) is gracefully stoic as she puts up with her distant husband. Her teenage children meander while she clutches at the seams that hold her family together. The film is almost like reading a Murakami novel until a point. There Kiyoshi Kurosawa loses his grip on the viewer and you wait placidly for the end.

Rating: * * +

Loins of Punjab Presents

A spoof on American Idol and other singing competitions, featuring five Indian immigrants and one "I have a desi girl friend" firang, all vying for the prize of being the Desi Idol and supposed fame in a seedy Edison, NJ venue. The loaded cast and slightly nifty script almost delivers but flounders at the finish line and in some places on the way. However it is good for a few snickers here and there.

Rating: * *

The Karate Kid

A remake of the 84' classic film of the same name that sees Jackie Chan reappraising the role played by Pat Morita. Being set in China, the land of kung-fu, only makes the film more plausible. Young Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) is forced in to unfamiliar China when his mother moves there along with her job. He promptly eyes the local teenage bombshell much to the chagrin of the local kung-fu prodigy. Much Dre Parker ass kicking follows which brings Mr. Chan in to the scene, who plays an uncommonly serious role with no histrionics. The age old king-fu master-disciple story is retold in a modern Chinese setting and strangely enough the film is enjoyable in spite of the expected melodrama.

Rating: * +

La France

Camille (Sylvie Testud) snaps out of her idyllic existence in the north east of France during World War I, when she receives a letter from her husband saying that he is leaving her. Do not look for me he states very clearly. Nevertheless she sets out to look for him. She masquerades as a young boy and and falls in with a band of French soldiers. They walk, meander and talk with some mysterious purpose. The ending could not have come sooner, expect I don't remember much of it nor do I want to.

Rating: *

Devils on the Doorstep

Jiang Wen writes, directs and stars in this satirical tragic comedy set during World War II at the time of the Japanese occupation of China. A couple's lustful romp is rudely interrupt by the arrival of two prisoners in gunny sacks led by a gun toting mystery man. The command under gunpoint is to safeguard and interrogate them before he returns. One is a macho Japanese soldier bent on dying and the other a Chinese working as a translator for the Japanese. Set in a small country village in China, the film centers around the plight of the villagers and their attempt to deal with this bizarre situation. Grave as the scenario is, Wen figures out a way to bring the pun out in the situations. However when there are Japanese involved during tricky times one always must brace for the dark side.

Rating: * * *

Next Day Air

Donald Faison from the Scrubs makes a rare movie appearance as a pot smoking delivery man. He sets off a string of events by delivering some angel dust to the wrong address. At this point director Benny Boom throws in some out of luck hustlers, Latino drug lords, a bootlicious babe, sprinkles a whole lot of corny jokes and prays he has the second coming of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,!  All he really did was piss some brothers off!

Rating: *

The Window

An old man (Antonio Larreta) recovering from a heart attack, stares lustily out of his windows earning for the outdoors. The only thing he has to look forward to is a visit from his estranged son of twenty years. Not wanting to let his son see him bedridden, he steals out in to the open. As you find yourself mesmerized by the Patagonian countryside, you begin to wonder what the old man was hoping for; rejuvenation or one last stroll.

Rating: * * +

Adoration

Lying that his dead father is a terrorist is the thought exercise Sabine (Arsinée Khanjian) gives her student, Simon (Devon Bostick) as part of a drama course. A fabrication that is presented to the class slowly spins out of control as it seeps in to the internet. The situation seems absurd and completely unrealistic which seemed out of sync with Atom Egoyan's usual style. But as the film proceeds in its non linear fashion a more complete view of the situation is blasted at you.

Rating: * * +

Three Monkeys

A man hides as he observes from a distance the body of the woman he just ran over. Chillingly he pays his driver to take the rap and and go to prison. A move that splits him from his wife and son. A path unfold for them from which there is no turning back. Was the money worth it is the question that presses on your mind through the movie. A story that traverses social boundaries and one that could be set in any culture, this might be the most complete Nuri Bilge Ceylan film yet.

Rating: * * +

Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa

Pitbull of "I know you want me" fame is coming to town and strangely enough Gautham Menon's latest film seemed like a preview to the show. It starts with a tamil boy falling in love with his neighbour who happens to be a christian mallu girl - he knows he wants her and makes it clear that he knows she wants him. She knows she wants him, but cannot have him. The boy cannot understand such complications. Phew, used "4x" fwd button judiciously and got rid of Pitbull.

Rating: *

                              

Iron Man 2

Take Iron Man down a few notches... well lets make that a dozen notches... and you have its follow on. The gist of the film is Whiplash (a wasted Mickey Rourke) coming for Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) when the reactor in his chest is acting up. The plot is thin and the jokes are forced. To make up for that couple of star characters from the Marvel universe, Nick Fury and the Black Widow have been thrown in. Except that Scarlett Johansson looks out of place as the Widow even with her 6 inch heels. Technically Samuel L. Jackson is a perfect fit for the Ultimate version of Nick Fury but it feels like Jules from Pulp Fiction was transported here. Plus if you have read the Marvel Civil War saga, Iron Man can never be in your virtual good books.

Rating: *

Away we go

"Sometimes I wonder if we are fuckups"

Sparked by the impending birth of their child and sudden emigration of Burt's parents to Belgium, the mid-30s something couple decide that they need to get out of their student hut type existence in the wilderness and move to a larger city. And organise their adult lives. 

Burt and Veron embark on a road-trip visiting friends / relatives in different cities hoping to find the ideal model of adulthood to adopt. But they come across alternate philosophies & every day problems of everyday relationships that seem to intimidate them - which enables the couple to meander towards their eventual destination. 

The plot does appear unrealistic, a bit smug, a bit too sweet - but its what I would call a humorous fantasy movie. That said, it was funny, youthfully entertaining and with a lot that one could related to, fuckups that we are.

Rating: * * *

The Runaways

Movies made around rock music generally fall into 3 categories i.e. where : i) there is a real story to tell like the one on Johnny Cash (Walk the line) ii) its all about the music and everything else is swung around it (Almost Famous) and iii) its more like a tribute by a fan to a band and most films of this genre end up in this category. The Runaways definitely belongs to the final group but with the difference that its produced by Joan Jett herself. A few of the band's hits are prominently featured and the story follows the classic rock-band cycle of sex, drugs and rock n roll. And says very little of any note, unless you are a fan of Joan Jett / The Runaways.

Kristen Stewart plays Joan Jett with just one expression and lots of leather pants. It does seem that she is on her way to becoming one of those Hollywood icons; the kind that will always be wanted by producers/directors even though its all about just one expression. However, Dakota Fanning as Cherrie Currie (the lead singer) was a revelation and demonstrating enough substance to become the real deal.

Rating: * *

                          

Manorama Six Feet Under

When a sultry older woman (Sarika) approaches a man to spy on her husband, he can seldom say no. In spite of the husband being the Irrigation minister, Satyaveer Randhawa (Abhay Deol) being suspended from his dead end municipal job,  finds the decision to be a no brainer much to the chagrin of his a nagging wife Nimmi (Gul Panag). Overnight Satyaveer finds himself sucked in to the dirty world of politics filled with hot women and cut throat goondas. 

A modern day Indian film noir that grabs you and never lets go. Much of it is thanks to Mr. Deol who should change his last name ASAP.  I guess it also helped that Satyaveer felt like a character straight out of Murakami novel and direction was akin to his writing. Sarika is back though age is telling on her. Vinay Pathak is brilliant as always as the local cop and Satyaveer's brother-in-law. And of course little needs to be said about Ms. Panag who looks sexy even when being paraded as a boring house wife. Inspired by Chinatown, the film in my opinion holds it own and in many ways more satisfying that its inspiration.

Rating: * * * +

Rudo y Cursi

Toto (Gael García Bernal) dreams of making it big as a singer while picking bananas. His brother Beto (Diego Luna) struts around being the dead end supervisor of the banana ranch. The only thing they are half way good at is kicking a football around. Enter Batuta (Guillermo Francella) the scout master of football talent in Mexican countryside and the two soon find themselves under bright spotlights in Mexico City. Sex, lies and angel dust follows as you are treated to a taunt take on the microcosm of the poor becoming rich overnight.

Rating: * * *

Merry Gentleman

There is nothing merry about the gentleman (Michael Keaton), that Kate (Kelly Macdonald) runs in to on the door step of her apartment. Frank is a glum boring professional killer and she is on the run from an abusive husband. Then there is the overweight detective on the heels of Frank and who has a giant crush on Kate. Predictably the unlikeliest of people bond and unpredictably Keaton's directorial debut keeps you involved even though in the end you wonder if it all was the worth the effort.

Rating: * *

Revanche

Tamara (Irina Potapenko) wanders the screen scantily clothed for most of her part. Her nakedness is comforting for the viewer and her lover, Alex (Johannes Krisch) both of whom are connected to a seedy brothel in Vienna. So when she abruptly disappears from the script, it is a jolt to both. The movie slowly drifts to a beautiful Austrian countryside where Alex's dad lives in run down cabin. Life might be simpler there but Alex's existence gets complicated after interactions with a local cop and his wife. The tangential interactions between the characters is what fuels the movie forward in this stunning study of human nature.

Rating: * * * +

Frontier of Dawn

A film about love and passion between a photographer and two different women. Francios (Louis Garrel) is smitten by Carole (Laura Smet) during a photo shoot and they become fast lovers. As she fades away from his life Eve (Clémentine Poidatz) takes her place. As things progress between the two, the ghost of Carole's love returns to haunt Francios. A very watchable film but at the end of it you are left wondering if it was worth effort of staying in your couch to take it in.

Rating: * *

Ong Bak 2: The Beginning

Tony Jaa stars and directs in this martial flick that takes you to 15th century  Thailand and the beginning of only God know what. The story is built around Tien (Tony Jaa), a prince who is brought up by outlaws under dubious circumstances who then proceeds to kick a lot of ass after years of outlaw martial art tutelage. But unlike Ong Bak, Jaa goes out of the way to create a plot to fit his mind boggling stunts. The results is  a storyline that is shoe horned in that slides off like mud on a sweaty fighter. Jaa should focus on the ass kicking and leave the rest to someone else.

Rating: *