Lucy

Lucy is forced in to becoming a drug mule that sees her turning in to something way nastier. The drug pouch that is shoved in to her intestines leaks in to her blood stream and makes her neurons fire between pathways undiscovered in the human brain. In the background you have a professor lecturing about the untapped power of the human brain while Lucy starts to kick ass. Unfortunately, neither Mr. Freeman's voice or Ms. Johansson's pyrotechnics saves this film from the shit pile. 

Rating: * +

Poster licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia.

Wanted

Wes Gibson (James McAvoy) is deeply embedded in a dead end life, snacking on anti-panic medication and living with a cheating partner. All this changes when a mysterious woman, Fox (Angelina Jolie), arrives and tells him his father was an assassin and his murderer is out to get Wes now. Wes ends up joining the Fraternity, a secret society of assassins and Timur Bekmambetov then takes you on a rollercoaster ride that Mark Millar detailed in the graphic novel of the same name. Enjoy the fun and believe in bullets that curve.

Rating: * * *

PS: It should be noted that one Ms. Sophiya Haque makes a brief cameo in the film.

The Dark Knight Rises

Gotham finds itself fairly free of crime in the aftermath of the Harvey Dent's death and the Dent act. Batman seems to have disappeared in to the twilight and Bruce Wayne has turned hermit. With a sinking Wayne Enterprise and a guilt filled Commissioner Gordon, Gotham seems ripe for the picking again. Enter the mysterious Bane. But then there is always Batman. There are hints of Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns in the makeup of the film, however the majority of the plot seems to be from Knightfall. Christopher Nolan has also thrown in some hits against Occupy Wall Street though that could be a matter of interpretation. In spite of that the movie turns to be an excellent final piece in Nolan's Batman trilogy.

Rating: * * *

Gone Baby Gone

When Meara suggested that I should watch this film, I was leery thanks to it being directed by one Mr. Affleck. But after this film I am convinced that he should spend more time behind the lens instead of in front of it.

A young girl goes missing in the tough Dorchester neighborhood of Boston and a couple of private detectives are asked to assist with the case. Patrick (Casey Affleck) and Angie (Michelle Monaghan), colleagues and lovers, soon find themselves reluctantly immersed in what initially looks like a simple abduction. As they meander through the investigation, they find themselves conflicted personally and professionally and nothing is as it seems...

Rating: * * *

The Shawshank Redemption

Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins)  finds himself serving two life sentences for a crime of passion at the Shawshank prison. With nothing left but all the time in the world to think about it, Andy finds himself bonding with a fellow jail-mate, Red (Morgan Freeman), as he meanders his way around prison life. Corny as it sounds it is movie a movie about hope with just the right amount of melodrama. And with Mr. Freeman playing the narrator you will be left haunted forever by some of the dialog. 

The film which is based on a short story by Stephen King, is like fine wine. It seems to age very well and just keeps getting better with time.

Rating: * * * *

The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight continues the fine tradition started by Batman Begins. Akin to how Frank Miller made Batman relevant again in the graphic novel arena, Christopher Nolan has given the brooding hero a breath of fresh intense air on the big screen. In print sometimes a certain character takes over the whole book and somehow enthralls the reader holding him in a vice like grip. Heath Ledger does exactly that in his role of the Joker. The film heralds the arrival of the laughing madman in the life of Batman and shows us the tip of the titanic struggle that will enshroud the rest of their existence. But with the passing of Ledger, one wonders who can replicate his panache and screen presence as the Joker...

Rating: * * *

10 Items or less

Morgan Freeman being out of the acting limelight, finds himself looking into a sleeper role of a store manager to get things back on track. The "production" company drops him off / abandons him at a seedy joint at the edge of town. Here he runs into Scarlet (Paz Vega), a feisty grocery store worker, who takes pity on him and agrees to give him a ride. Freeman find himself drawn towards the cashier who is also trying to get her life back on track. A strange friendship ensues and most of the film is about the easy bond that forms between the two.

Freeman has taken a page out of Taste of Cherry. His character is curious almost to the point of annoyance. But the no BS presence of Paz Vega cancels things out leaving the viewer in a better frame of mind to appreciate the film.

Rating: * *
PS: Paz Vega is HOT!!!

Lucky Number Slevin

Seeing this movie is akin to watching a jigsaw puzzle being solved. A very cool and edgy flick with the director trying very hard to be Quentin Tarantino. Reminded me again of the reason I like Mr. Freeman. His voice. Though thats just me. Bruce Willis plays the cool headed world famous assassin with aplomb.

When the movie ended I thought that it indeed was a tight flick but after thinking about it for a while I realized that it reminded me of Being Cyrus and I give higher points to that film for shock value.

Rating: * *