The Whistleblower

Kathryn Bolkovac (Rachel Weisz), a Nebraska police officer, finds herself far from home working as a peacekeeper for DynCorp International in post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina.  But her rose tinted glasses are shattered when an investigation into sex trafficking involving two young girls reveals a malice deep within the UN. A film that focuses on an issue that needs to be brought to the mainstream but fails to pack a punch as it panders to the hero worshipping syndrome that is so popular in the USA.

Rating: * *

Malèna

The boys stand on the boardwalk overlooking sea, that like many things took me back to the Malecon, waiting with bated breath. The receipt of their pants is the sultry Malèna (Monica Bellucci), walking from home into town. Of the boys, Renato's (Giuseppe Sulfaro) heart beats faster, and in his mind with more purity for her. When the World War claims her husband, she finds herself at the mercy of the town for the sin of being born beautiful. As the malicious rumors fly about her, only Reanto recogonizes the pain and pathos in her eyes. Ms. Bellucci is silent for most parts but there is a searing undertone of suffering reflected in her eyes that speaks volumes. To put it simply, it is a film about innocence and its end.

Rating: * * +

Brotherhood of the Wolf

18th century France and it's Gevaudan province is being terrorized by the Beast. The King dispatches his naturalist, Grégoire de Fronsac (Samuel Le Bihan) and his Indian valet Mani (Mark Dacascos) to investigate the situation. Fronsac finds finds a town ruled by myth and fear. As he entangles the web, Mani helps by slicing punching through the sticky bits in some well choreographed fights scenes. Adding some intrigue, romance and Monica Bellucci to the plot ensures that there is never a dull moment in this eerie period drama.

Rating: * * *