A Most Wanted Man

Intricate, deliberate and a plot that takes its time - all the hallmarks of a Le Carre adapted film. Inevitably, Philip Seymour Hoffman takes centre stage. Everything about Gunther Bachmann - a heavyset, heavy drinking, heavy smoking, heavy betrayed German intelligence officer who runs an underground intelligence team in Hamburg - yearns for PSH.  The film, as it is with Le Carre's recent novels, is more about personalities than a scintilating plot. 'A most wanted man' finishes off with a scene that is eerily close to reality. Gunther parks the car, gets out, shuts the door, walks off the screen, we see cars driving by and as one expectingly waits, the credits roll.

Rating: * * +

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Wes Anderson is back with the symmetry of his frames, still camera and arrestingly strange characters. In his latest masterpiece, the story is centered around an old hotel that lingers on in the cloud of its prestigious past or I should say around that of its concierge. The movie starts off as a simple retelling of the legendary concierge's past that soon becomes part murder mystery, part prison break, part thriller and full on fun ride. Manifested with big name actors and actresses playing their bit and lead roles that they only would for Mr. Anderson, you are left marveling at this genius who makes complexity so simple. Or is it the other way around... 

Rating: * * *

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

Tres brilliant = Bill Murray as an eccentric Steve Zissou, as only Bill Murray can do it. A very stylish comedy about a oceangographer who goes in search for the mythical killer Jaguar Shark that killed his closest buddy. His team consists of various characters that one would expect Steve Zissou put together: a likely illegitimate son, a preganant reporter, a Sardar cameraman, a nutcase German right-hand man, a part ex-wife, a guitar strumming brazilian henchman and ofcourse, weed smoking Steve Zissou amongst others. Enjoyed it, but as I figured not necessarily everyone's cup of tea. So Beware. Good soundtrack as well.

Rating: * * *

Boondock Saints

You have to see this film for Willem Dafoe's portrayal of an openly gay FBI officer on the trail of the twin angels. Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus are the avenging angels of Boston. They take on mafia, professional killers and other scumbags of similar nature but with God on their side. Violently entertaining...

Rating: * *