12 Years a Slave

When an actor confronts the character of 'Solomon Northup', I suppose it is like facing a juicy half-volley. With an Oscar waiting for you once you have cleared long-on. From being brutally kidnapped, the tragedy of not seeing your family for 12 years, repeatedly being tortured & humiliated, travelling alternatively between hope & despair and finally being free - its all there. But one could easily overthink and hit the ball down the ground to mid-on for no runs. That's what Chiwetel Ejifor manages to achieve - a very safe and unexciting performance. And surrenders the mission to capture the viewer's soul to Steve Mcqueen and the others (Paul Giamatti, Paul Dano, Lupita Nyong'o & Michael Fassbender). You never know, Chiwetel Ejifor might still get an Oscar for a well crafted film. 

Rating: * * +

The Nanny Diaries

Annie (Scarlett Johansson) graduates and runs to a job interview at Goldman Sachs. But sadly the job she lands is that of a nanny in Manhattan. Through Nanny the viewer is given a slice of life in the East Side. Alicia Keys plays Annie's friend who is a poor NYU student but strangely walks around in designer wear. Even if 20% of this film is true then God help the East Side. It has the most virulent form of the human virus breeding there. A well taken film but a tad hollow to hold any interest.

Rating: * +

The Illusionist

Again, a waste of time and quality actors. If you want to watch a movie with magic thrown in, watch this.

Rating: *

Lady in the Water

Go watch it. With no sixth sense, unbreakable hangovers.

However, M N Shyamlan seems to have the same problem as his Tamil brudder, Kamal Hasan - over self-indulgence as the years go by.

And the Idiots are featured in the movie. Chris Doyle in charge of Cinematography.

Rating: * *