Michael's Talk

Slumdog Millionaire

Finally I get to see it! I love watching this type of film, way after all the hype settles down.

Despite everyone ranting and raving about this film (which can sometimes lead to disappointment) I was blissfully unaware of how the storyline would unfold and really enjoyed that aspect of the film.

Dev Patel is a very natural Actor and gave a very enjoyable performance.

Whilst from a British point of view, this seemed to give us some sort of insight of the people on the poverty line in India, I was still able to watch with my Flixster Friend?s (Prith) comment about this not necessarily being portrayed correctly, in mind.

Either way this was fascinating, entertaining and dispite the hype ? nothing like I?d thought it be, in fact better.

Maria Full of Grace

An impressive film which shows a realistic story based around drug muelling. Great performances all around, but particularly from Catalina Sandino Moreno who played the lead character.

A Drama which really pulls you in and see the circumstances from different viewpoints.

Definitely a recommendation ? an instant favourite for me.

Buffalo 66

Quite slow moving at times, but a very unique and original storyline with a lot of character. I am very impressed with the performance from Vincent Gallo in this film, who incidentally Directed and wrote this too. Christina Ricci was also great in this film.

A progressive tale, which draws you in and constantly challenges your view on the situation throughout.

Intriguing and enjoyable, a great Indie Flick.

Persepolis

Totally unique, a film portraying a message that would benenfit many people to watch. Animated in sillouette style, this very serious subject matter is tackled controversially, yet in an educational way.

This film isn?t just about Culture, Religion, Polictics, battle of the sexes or Coming of age ? it?s a combination of all.

Refreshingly unique

Persepolis

Totally unique, a film portraying a message that would benenfit many people to watch. Animated in sillouette style, this very serious subject matter is tackled controversially, yet in an educational way.

This film isn?t just about Culture, Religion, Polictics, battle of the sexes or Coming of age ? it?s a combination of all.

Refreshingly unique

Persepolis

Totally unique, a film portraying a message that would benenfit many people to watch. Animated in sillouette style, this very serious subject matter is tackled controversially, yet in an educational way.

This film isn?t just about Culture, Religion, Polictics, battle of the sexes or Coming of age ? it?s a combination of all.

Refreshingly unique

In the Name of the Father

The tragic and touching tale of the wrongly imprisioned Guilford Four, plus others, is brought to life by Director Jim Sheridan, with a first class cast, led strongly by Daniel Day-Lewis and Pete Postlewaite.

This true story is a harrowing watch of corruption and cover ups and delivers a strong, powerful storyline.

Eastern Promises

A gangster movie with a difference, it?s subtle, non-flashy, yet it includes all the vital ingredients and perfection of a top-notch Organised Crime film.

Viggo Mortensen was brilliant in this role, the super-cool Russian ?driver? for the son of a crime family, is slick, smart and undeniably cold. I?ve never really been blown away by Mortensen?s talents, but this role for me, showed that he can deliver an impressive performance. Cassel as always was great (and a little trivia here) took just a few weeks to learn conversational Russian for this role.

The storyline is fairly simplistic and not too ambitious as far as films in this genre usually go, yet the result is a new angle with a big impact.

This is my second viewing of this film and I was just as impressed second time around.

Changeling

Another impressive film from Clint Eastwood. A fascinating storyline based remarkably upon a true story. It?s good to see Angelina in a non-Action/non-love interest role and the era of the 20?s seemed to be accurately portrayed. A strong woman for her time, this film reveals much more than first imagined.

Quite a lengthly film, but with the interesting storyline you?ll find it easy to follow.

Mystic River

Directed by Clint Eastwood and boasting an all star cast of some of Hollywood?s most talented Actors. This is Hollywood minus the Hollywood glint, it?s down to earth, believable, with some impressive performances all around, in particular, Tim Robins, Sean Penn and Marcia Gay Harden.

This Murder mystery, turned vigilante storyline is tough, raw and deeply personal.

The brilliance of the film is that it doesn?t just build to a climatic ending, there are some pretty big things that happen throughout the film that make a huge impact.

One of my favourite films that I have watched over and over.

The Beach

Yet another watch for this beautiful film, a backpackers paradise and a journey of discovery not only geographically, but also from within.

The Beach takes everything you would desire about a paradise island and flips it on it's head.

This will interest anyone who has travelled/backpacked or has the desire to.



I want to see more movies like this ? If anyone has any more recommendations do please let me know.

Cruising

Highly controversial in it?s time, both in subject matter and portraying the Gay scene and Leather scene in a bad light. It?s very much a film way ahead of it?s time.

Partially based on true events and a real-life undercover cop situation, the film is of interst on many levels. What the film lacks (to it?s credit) is lack of explanation, justification and a particular view point ? leaving viewers to make their own views on the film itself.

I think this film is of interest more as a controversial piece than perhaps just it?s storyline, but one that was an interesting watch, suggestion and subliminal messaging are key behind it?s non graphic impact.

Moments of confusion from the story can be easily cleared up by the Special Features, which are worth taking a look at.

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

An extremely surprising find with possibly Ethan Hawke?s best performance to date, plus great performances from both Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Albert Finney. The flashbacks are a tad tiresome at times, but the editing of them are very clever in the storytelling. A unique angle for the ?robbery? theme films and one that just got better and better as it went on.

Annie Hall

A totally unique take on a love story, with very enjoyable performances by both Woody Allen and Diane Keaton. A great character who is filled with anxious energy and conspiracy theories, who babbles his way through educated quotes and half serious jokes, an enjoyable comedy which devles into the depths of the over thinker.

I.D. (Undercover)

Actor Phil Davis takes a Directional role in perhaps one of the best films within the football hooligan theme. Set in the 1980?s, amidst the height of the much publicised football violence in Britain, I.D. is perhaps, not perfect in it?s acting, but an interesting undercover story and one that is definitely worth watching.

Into the Wild

A film that has completely blown me away on many levels.

A true story of a journey of self-discovery and search for identity, living a simplistic lifestyle, travelling a Nomadic adventure. A film of rebellion and anti-conformity.

This film is beautifully made in every sense of the word. The views of nature were captured in great detail, the acting was of high standard and very natural, the relationships between people and their relationships with the material world were completely in depth.

Excellent work here by Emile Hirsch who jusifyably portrayed this true life character's journey and of course Kudos to Sean Penn for the Screen play and Direction in this film and for choosing a project with such human insight.

Although a short role, it has to be said that the older guy in this film (whose name I can't seem to get at the moment) played a blinding role and a totally believable performance.

Inspirational, breathtaking, liberating and one hell of a life experience. The best film I have watched for a long time and this has instantly become one of my favourite films of all time. I shall now be buying the book..

UPDATE:

Second viewing already plus reading the book. I have fallen in love with the philosophy behind the story and have found a deep fascination and admiration into the character Alexander Supertramp.

Irreversible

Told in the tradition of that in "Memento" i.e the storyline is played backwards, the film opens with a very visually dark scene accompanied by a pretty bizarre sound (that's still running through my head!! ha ha), along with some very dizzy filming, the viewer isn't particularly aware of what is going on straight away, but within the first couple of scenes the storyline developes and of course you are intrigued to know, how it all began.

The married couple, Cassel and Bellucci are great together on screen in this unique, bizarre and very entertaining film. One scene in particular is very daring and controversial.

Another great performance from Cassel who seems to manage to express every emotion possible throughout the process of the film.

Full Metal Jacket

Stanley Kubrick?s ?Full Metal Jacket? is one of the best war films made in my opinion. It?s very much a film of two parts, which I feel is the secret of the films' success. In the first part we see the training of the recruits, in the second we see them go to war, I've not seen any films from this genre that show both.

Admittedly I preferred the training part to the war part, but enjoyable throughout regardless. I felt Matthew Modine who played Joker was a great character in the film.

Many of the action shots of injury etc were very well done and apart from the colour of the blood were fairly realistic.

Glad I finally got around to watching this film, had many reviews for it and everyone else seems to have already watched it.