Star's Talk

Frost/Nixon

"400 million people were waiting for the truth."

Hollywood heavyweight Ron Howard adapts playwright Peter Morgan's West End hit for the silver screen with this feature focusing on the 1977 television interviews between journalist David Frost (Michael Sheen) and former president Richard Nixon (Frank Langella). At the time Nixon sat down with Frost to discuss the sordid details that ultimately derailed his presidency, it had been three years since the former commander in chief had been forced out of office. The Watergate scandal was still fresh in everyone's minds, and Nixon had remained notoriously tight-lipped until he agreed to sit down with Frost. Nixon was certain that he could hold his own opposite the up-and-coming British broadcaster, and even Frost's own people weren't quite sure their boss was ready for such a high-profile interview. When the interview ultimately got under way and each man eschewed the typical posturing in favor of the simple truth, fans and critics on both sides were stunned by what they witnessed. Instead of Nixon stonewalling the interviewer as expected, or Frost lobbing softballs as the truth-seekers feared, what emerged was an unguardedly honest exchange between a man who had lost everything and another with everything to gain.

Review
Now, I'm not the kind of guy who's into politically-charged dramas. Almost 70% of the time, I sleep through them. I think the reason why that is is because I hate politics. I truly, sincerely 100% hate politics. I pay my taxes and that's it, my only valid brush with politics. So when I find out that a politically-charged drama is in the runnings for the Oscar season, my first reaction was to skip it. But then, in the immortal words of Will Smith (or is it that Lawrence guy?), the shit just got real. It was turning into something. The critics gave it favorable reviews and the audience even. So with that in mind, I decided to give it a try. Ron Howard needed to come back out strong after a disappointing The Da Vinci Code. Its all or nothing for him.

Well, after all the hullaballu only one thing can be said after watching Frost/Nixon: a masterpiece. Simply astounding. Compelling and powerful. Langella gives the performance of a lifetime as President Nixon. There is no doubt in mind that he'll be nominated for Best Actor in every Award ceremonies out there, including the Oscars. Langella turned Nixon into a well thought out and complex character and he even adapted the President's deep blue voice. There's some steep competition this year in the Best Actor category with Sean Penn, Brad Pitt and Mickey Rourke also in the runnings. No one really knows who's coming out on top, they're all great, but one thing is for sure, its gonna be one hell of a race.

Michael Sheen on the other hand also did a magnificent job as David Frost, the fearless and ambitious journalist who defied all odds and pinned down a mighty giant. He was indeed a worthy adversary to Langella's Nixon and he is as intense as Langella in his own kind of way. Sam Rockwell and Oliver Platt plays Frost's top researchers and they were quite exceptional as well. Sam Rockwell in yet another character role supports the film with intensity and although his performance will be overlooked because of Langella and Sheen, he's still one of my favorites and his time will come soon. A talent like that, that's pretty hard to be missed. Kevin Bacon also, great showcase of talent as the right hand man to Nixon. Like Rockwell, he delivers a fine performance that cannot be missed. With a solid and gripping screenplay from Peter Morgan and a top notch directing from Howard and everybody else in between, Frost/Nixon is a film you can't afford to miss. One of 2008's finest.

The Spiderwick Chronicles

"Their World Is Closer Than You Think"

Mark S. Waters's adaptation of the popular fantasy novels The Spiderwick Chronicles tells the tale of the Graces, a family who must adapt to their new strange surroundings. As the story begins, twin brothers Jared and Simon, along with their sister Mallory and their mother, move away from the big city to a mansion owned by their uncle. When a series of strange happenings suggest that Jared may be causing a number of disturbances, the siblings band together to figure out what is going on. Soon they discover the magical history of the property.

Review
Despite a couple of setbacks, Spiderwick Chronicles comes out strong mixing a good amount of family fun and delicious CG effects. For every big hit success like The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter there's always the not-so-big and barely unnoticed The Seeker: The Dark is Rising (bet you haven't heard of it) and Bridge to Terabithia. Personally, I think Spiderwick Chronicles belongs with Harry Potter and LotR. It was a commercial success and most critics loved it. They incorporated all key elements in all five books and made it compact and neat in such a short amount of time. Whereas Harry Potter's saga is still on-going, Spiderwick Chronicles got the job done in a 90+ minute motion picture. The storyline is well done, the acting is quite good. From Freddie Highmore's dual roles to Sarah Bolger and Mary-Louise Parker, they gave very convincing acts. Nick Nolte is a bad guy, Martin Short is a rat (I think) and Seth Rogen is a bird eating hog. All is well in Spiderwick land and I had a good time watching it. If you need your daily dose of some fantasy treat, this movie is highly recommended.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

This is so funny.if you seen the first
you got to see this one.

Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing

Wasn't planning on watching this, as I'm not a country music fan. Although towards the finale they'd actually written more soft rock music. Glad I watched! It really opened my eyes even more about the hypocrisy in this nation. Kudos to them for standing up for what they said. I still can't believe that Natalie's life was actually threatened. America? Land of the free?

Equilibrium

"In a future where freedom is outlawed outlaws will become heroes."

A man who dares to feel finds his life in danger in this cautionary science fiction drama. In the future, after a Third World War has decimated much of the Earth's population, a new nation known as Libria rises up under the unquestioned leadership of Dupont (Angus MacFadyen). Believing human emotions and their expression were to blame for the failings of past societies, The Father has decreed that all citizens must take a daily dose of Prozia II, a drug which levels out the emotional landscape, and that all forms of creative expression are against the law; violating either regulation can be punished by death. John Preston (Christian Bale) is a Grammaton, an elite law enforcement officer who tracks down and punishes "sense offenders." One day, Preston accidentally fails to take his Prozia II, and for the first time begins experiencing emotions himself. Preston becomes aware of an underground of rebels who refuse to take their medication and have embraced art and literature, and he finds himself becoming infatuated with one of their number, Mary O'Brian (Emily Watson)

Review
Great concept, unique storyline, excellent acting and perfect execution, Equilibrium gives the Matrix trilogy a run for its money. The movie is excellent in several regards, from the interesting and unique story, mind blowing action choreography and breathtaking cinematography, one can only wonder why this movie didn't get the recognition and applause it deserves. Another factor that piqued my interest is the display of an innovative form of martial arts called Gun-Kata. Never have I seen a gun put into creative use with a slight mix of hand to hand fighting skills and close range gun battles. Very impressive indeed.

Christian Bale, the man of the hour, gives yet another perfect performance as Cleric enforcer John Preston. Support cast Sean Bean, Angus McFadyen, Taye Diggs and Emily Watson gives off some good support acting too which makes it a powerhouse cast and excellent showcase of acting. If you fancy movies like The Matrix, A Clockwork Orange and Logan's Run, then this movie is right up your alley. Highly recommended.

Sling Blade

"Sometimes a hero comes from the most unlikely place."

Karl Childers, now a grown man, is released from a psychiatric hospital where he has been hospitalized since the age of 12 for the murder of his mother and her lover. He returns to his childhood town and although being mentally handicapped, gets a job fixing small motors at a local repair shop. Karl befriends a young boy, Frank, and is soon invited by Frank's mother, Linda, to move into the family's garage. As a strong relationship develops between Karl and Frank, a confrontation builds with Linda's abusive and sometimes violent boyfriend Doyle.

Review
The film that made Billy Bob Thornton. Sling Blade brought out the best in him and this is Billy Bob sans Mr. Woodcock sans School for Scoundrels and whatever low class comedy he's made. He took a challenging dramatic role and he nails it in the coffin. I must admit, I wasn't expecting him to be this superb, I guess I underestimated the guy. Billy Bob just came out of nowhere with his explosive performance as reformed criminal/mentally challenged Karl Childers. One can only wonder how he ended up in tasteless movies and tedious comedies. Not only did he act but he also directed and wrote the film. Nothing more can be said other than, he really was passionate about this project and it shows when you see the movie. Great script, great cast and great performances all around.

This is Billy Bob's shining moment and is undoubtedly the highest point of his career and credits is where credits due but you just can't help but also notice the support cast which includes Dwight Yoakam as the fiend of a step dad to a very young Lucas Black's character Frank. Black and Billy Bob glued perfectly on screen and you'll just love hating Yoakam's menacing performance. All in all, a brilliant film with powerful performances and quite possibly the best film of 1996.

Scent of a Woman

"Col. Frank Slade has a very special plan for the weekend. It involves travel, women, good food, fine wine, the tango, chauffeured limousines and a loaded forty-five. And he's bringing Charlie along for the ride."

Driven by an extravagant, tour-de-force performance by Al Pacino, Scent of a Woman is the story of Frank Slade (Pacino), a blind, retired army colonel who hires Charlie Simms (Chris O'Donnell), a poor college student on the verge of expulsion, to take care of him over Thanksgiving weekend. At the beginning of the weekend, Frank takes Charlie to New York, where he reveals to the student that he intends to visit his family, have a few terrific meals, sleep with a beautiful woman and, finally, commit suicide. The film follows the mismatched pair over the course of the weekend, as they learn about life through their series of adventures.

Review
Scent of a Woman tackles life important issues like values, principles and integrity and is done in such a way that it brings power and sensitivity at the same time. Director Martin Brest didn't rely on "tried and tested" Hollywood tearjerker formula but instead takes it deep from the heart and just overwhelms you with great emotions. If this film haven't touched you at the very least, then I don't know what will. What tops off this mesmerizing film is the intensity that the actors brought to the table most especially Al Pacino in one of his career defining roles as Lt. Col. Frank Slade.

In what is possibly one of the finest showcase of acting I have ever seen, Al Pacino disappears completely and minute by minute a new sentient being emerges, that of a blind man whose sarcastic wit and rip roaring voice demands attention and believe you me, you cannot help but get carried away by Pacino's superb performance. One shining moment is most definitely the speech that his character gave at the end. It is undoubtedly one of the finest monologues I have ever seen in the history of cinema. Great delivery by Pacino. Nothing more can be said, it is powerful, deep, grand, heart-wrenching and majestic. It is a testament as to why Al Pacino can almost be compared to a god, a living, breathing god. Chris O' Donnell, not to say he underperformed but he delivers as well playing school boy Charlie Simms. One might say he was completely overshadowed by an acting god which is not entirely true. He had some defining moments throughout the film and is overall fantastic.

Scent of a Woman is a must-see.

Rogue (Rogue Crocodile)

"Welcome to the Terrortory"

An idyllic wildlife cruise disintegrates into terror when a party of tourists are stalked by a massive man-eating crocodile. Pete McKell, a cynical American travel writer, joins a disparate group of holiday-makers on a river cruise through the waters of Kakadu National Park. Initially Pete clashes with their tour captain, Kate, a feisty young woman who assumes he is just another 'city-slicker' in search of a quick thrill. After an uneventful day cruising the river, Kate is reluctantly persuaded to steer their boat into unexplored territory. They discover a secluded lake but terror strikes when their craft receives a powerful blow from beneath the murky depths and begins to sink. With little choice, she beaches the vessel on the closest dry land -a tiny mud island. With a rising tide and only half an hour of daylight left, fear grips the group as they realize they are trapped in the lair of a 'rogue' crocodile, governed only by its need to hunt and kill. Begrudgingly, Pete and Kate join forces to keep hysteria at bay and in the process start to see beyond their initial impressions. Their first attempt to escape fails, but then Pete has an idea - they must trap the crocodile to enable the group to flee to the other side of the island whilst Kate swims for help. Pete volunteers to stand guard, but without warning, the beast breaks free and targets Kate who fails to resurface. As darkness descends and the muddy waters rise, a terrifying struggle ensues with only one probable outcome death.

Review
Rogue all in all, is a solid effort. Wolf Creek director Greg McLean manages to build up the tension only showing glimpses of the horrible monster that lies beneath the swamp for the first half of the movie. These little glimpses alone will definitely scare the bejesus out of you as it doesn't rely on "scare-you-with-a-black-cat" from somewhere like the current trend today in the horror genre. Like I said, he builds and builds the tension, slowly scaring you to death as it all leads up to one mind-blowing, heart pounding finale.

Another factor is the beast itself, the killer Saltwater crocodile. It came off as pretty convincing, the way they rendered the texture, the skin, the whole shebang. The movement of the killer croc was spot-on too. And unlike Lake Placid where the crocodile is as big as the HMS Titanic, this one stayed real giving the killer croc a believable size. All in all, if you crave for some spooky thrills and killer beasts, I suggest you go see this one you won't be disappointed.

Taken

"They took his daughter. He'll take their lives."

An ex-soldier (Liam Neeson) traveling through Europe embarks on a frantic quest to rescue his daughter (Maggie Grace) after the young girl is abducted by slave traders in District B13 director Pierre Morel's contemporary thriller Taken. Robert Mark Kamen joins the screenwriting team, which also includes Morel and longtime collaborator Luc Besson, who produces as well.

Review
Taken delivers all the chills and the thrills with a perfect sense of pacing, the right amount of action and a lot of necks breaking. Bad ass impresario Liam Neeson is taking names as a retired spy who is forced back into action when his daughter is kidnapped by slave traders while on a leisure vacation in Paris. He basically just kills everyone he sees that isn't her daughter and hell hath no fury like a roaring rampage of revenge. The sleek action scenes were just downright gritty. There's no wires involved, no gratuitous back flips or slow-mo flying kicks. Its all bare knuckles, street fighting brawl. Great choreography I must say and as it may slightly resemble the Bourne movies, Taken stands on its own feet as a high octane action thriller.

Frenchman extraordinaire Luc Besson co-wrote the screenplay and his right hand man Pierre Morel directs. All in all, Taken is a must-see for all you action junkies out there.

Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others)

"Before the Fall of the Berlin Wall, East Germany's Secret Police Listened to Your Secrets"

A man who has devoted his life to ferreting out "dangerous" characters is thrown into a quandary when he investigates a man who poses no threat in this drama, the first feature from German filmmaker Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. It's 1984, and Capt. Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Mühe) is an agent of the Stasi, the East German Secret Police. Weisler carefully and dispassionately investigates people who might be deemed some sort of threat to the state. Shortly after Weisler's former classmate, Lt. Col. Grubitz (Ulrich Tukur), invites him to a theatrical piece by celebrated East German playwright Georg Dreyman (Sebastian Koch), Minister Bruno Hempf (Thomas Thieme) informs Weisler that he suspects Dreyman of political dissidence, and wonders if this renowned patriot is all that he seems to be. As it turns out, Hempf has something of an ulterior motive for trying to pin something on Dreyman: a deep-seated infatuation with Christa-Maria Sieland (Martina Gedeck), Dreyman's girlfriend. Nevertheless, Grubitz, who is anxious to further his career, appoints Weisler to spy on the gentleman with his help. Weisler plants listening devices in Dreyman's apartment and begins shadowing the writer. As Weisler monitors Dreyman's daily life, however (from a secret surveillance station in the gentleman's attic), he discovers the writer is one of the few East Germans who genuinely believes in his leaders. This changes over time, however, as Dreyman discovers that Christa-Maria is being blackmailed into a sexual relationship with Hempf, and one of Dreyman's friends, stage director Albert Jerska (Volkmar Kleinert), is driven to suicide after himself being blackballed by the government. Dreyman's loyalty thus shifts away from the East German government, and he anonymously posts an anti-establishment piece in a major newspaper which rouses the fury of government officials. Meanwhile, Weisler becomes deeply emotionally drawn into the lives of Dreyman and Sieland, and becomes something of an anti-establishment figure himself, embracing freedom of thought and expression. A major box-office success in Germany, Das Leben der Anderen (aka The Lives of Others) received its North American premiere at the 2006 Toronto Film Festival.

Review
The Lives of Others can only be described in one word: Hervorragende , which is 'outstanding' in German, I think. Set five years before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Stasi (or Secret Police) listened to all your secrets, no one is spared. But when a Stasi officer is put to the test, he must decide if whether he must put his job on the line to do what really is right or be lost in the corruption in a poisoned society forever.

The authenticity of the film was top notch which I found very satisfying and top to that a very engaging script and a grim mood & atmosphere. The impressive acting sealed the deal for me with stellar performances from veteran German actors Ulrich Mühe, Martina Gedeck and Sebastian Koch. Ulrich Mühe, who looks a lot like Kevin Spacey, captivates the audience with his ice steel character and commanding presence. If you're into films from around the world and such, then this is a must-see.

Son of Rambow

"Make Believe. Not War."

As the summer sun shines down on England in the early 1980s, two boys who couldn't be more different are brought together by a mutual love of cinema and a desire to emulate their favorite action movie icon. Will Proudfoot (Bill Milner) is a well-mannered schoolboy being raised in an ultra-religious community that deplores such corruptive distractions as television and seeks to maintain its purity by severely limiting contact with the outside world. In order to exorcise his creative inner demons, Will has taken to sketching imaginative drawings and complex illustrations. Lee Carter (Will Poulter) is the school terror, a rampaging hellion whose overaggressive behavior has made him an endless source of frustration to the faculty, and a source of fear to his fellow classmates. As fate would have it, Will is in the school hallway avoiding exposure to the classroom television when a fed-up teacher ejects Lee from the classroom. Though at first it appears as if Lee is about to torment timid Will just as he does the rest of the student body, the two form a tight bond after Will convinces Lee to view a bootleg copy of Rambo: First Blood. When Lee informs Will that he wants to shoot a homebrewed version of the violent action film for an upcoming amateur filmmaking contest, a sudden streak of rebellion prompts his sheltered classmate to readily agree. As the summer wears on the two boys set out to create the ultimate no-budget action movie, but their grand vision hits an unexpected hitch when a busload of French exchange students arrive at the school and the leader of the pack attempts to hijack the production.

Review
Son of Rambow is yet another example of what film-making should be really like. You don't need big budgeted, commercialized movies to be entertained, all you need is a promising script and a director who has an eye for storytelling and you're good to go. Sometimes you need to take a break from the vile spew that Hollywood have been giving us recently and just look somewhere where Hollywood never laid its beady little eyes upon. Trust me you'll find something. I know I did when I watched 'Son of Rambow'. Its a heart-warming story about friendship, faith and the weird business of growing up.

The film offers almost everything to everyone. There's a decent amount of laughter, a couple of cutesy heart warming scenes that will make you go "Awwwww.." and just enough nostalgia to people who grew up in the 80's where the video camera business were just starting to boom. Another factor that worked towards the film's advantage is the charming chemistry between the two lead child actors and the characters they portray, Lee Carter and Will Proudfoot. The cutesy acting alone is worth all your hard-earned money. So, if you're tired of all the High School Musical & Beverly Hills Chihuahua madness that's taking Hollywood by storm, go see Son of Rambow instead. You will not be disappointed.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

This is good

American History X

"His father taught him to hate. His friends taught him rage. His enemies gave him hope."

Tony Kaye made his feature directorial debut with this dramatic exploration into the roots of race hatred in America. In a shocking opening scene, teen Danny Vinyard (Edward Furlong) races to tell his older brother, neo-Nazi Derek (Edward Norton), about the young blacks breaking into his car in front of the house, whereupon Derek gets his gun and with no forethought shoots the youths in their tracks. Tried and convicted, Derek is sent away for three years in prison, where he acquires a different outlook as he contrasts white-power prisoners with black Lamont (Guy Torry), his prison laundry co-worker and eventual pal. Meanwhile, Danny, with a shaved head and a rebellious attitude, seems destined to follow in his big brother's footsteps. After Danny writes a favorable review of Hitler's Mein Kampf, black high-school principal Sweeney (Avery Brooks) puts Danny in his private "American History X" course and assigns him to do a paper about his older brother, who was a former student of Sweeney's. This serves to introduce flashbacks, with the film backtracking to illustrate Danny's account of Derek's life prior to the night of the shooting. Monochrome sequences of Derek leading a Venice, California gang are intercut with color footage of the mature Derek ending his past neo-Nazi associations and attempting to detour Danny away from the group led by white supremacist, Cameron (Stacy Keach), who once influenced Derek. Director Tony Kaye, with a background in TV commercials and music videos, filmed in L.A. beach communities. Rated R "for graphic brutal violence including rape, pervasive language, strong sexuality and nudity."

Review
American History X is a powerful statement to modern society. Racism have always been a sensitive subject to tackle and not since Schindler's List have we seen this powerful of a film be presented with such potency. Edward Norton shines in his role as Neo-Nazi white supremacist skin-head Derek Vinyard. He was able to adapt to his character both physically and emotionally. Playing as his brother Danny, Edward Furlong sizes up to Norton's intensity and was able to spar acting wits with him.

The touch of black & white was a nice addition as well. Director Tony Kaye gave the film a grim look and his eye for visual style was impressive as well. The ending is cringe-worthy. Believe me, you will not laugh or smirk as the film reaches its tragic conclusion.

American History X is a must-see. You will not be disappointed.

The Visitor

"Connection is everything"

A lonesome widower and college economics professor finds his mundane existence suddenly shaken up when he befriends a pair of illegal immigrants, one of whom has recently been threatened with deportation by U.S. immigration authorities, in the sophomore feature from The Station Agent director Tom McCarthy. Years after losing his wife, 62-year-old Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins) has also lost his passion for writing and teaching. In an effort to fill the empty void that his life has become, Walter makes a half-hearted attempt to learn to play classical piano. Later, when Walter's college sends him to a conference in Manhattan, he is surprised to discover that a young couple has moved into his seldom-used apartment in the city. Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and his Senegalese girlfriend Zainab (Danai Gurira) have fallen victims to an elaborate real-estate scam, and as a result they no longer have a place to call home. When Walter reluctantly allows the couple to remain in his apartment, talented musician Tarek insists on repaying his host's kindness by teaching him to play the African drum. Over the course of Walter's lessons, the ageing academic finds his spirits revitalized while gaining a newfound appreciation for New York jazz clubs and Central Park drum circles. Later, Tarek is arrested in the subway and threatened with deportation after police learn that he is an undocumented citizen. Suddenly, in his attempt to help his new friend, Walter's passion for life is unexpectedly awakened. When Tarek's radiant mother Mouna (Hiam Abbass) arrives in the city in search of her son, that passion turns to romance -- something that Walter had previously thought he would never experience again.

Review
The Visitor is a powerful little film about friendship, racial prejudice and re-igniting that 'spark' you thought you'd lost. Director Thomas McCarthy's sophomore film offering (the first being the equally genius 'Station Agent') captures the hearts of the movie-going audience by tackling sensitive issues and yet it is told in a thoughtful and endearing kind of way. The Visitor is a heart-wrenching look at the state of the world we are in today and it is told in a subtle way that will eventually creep up on you. The star of the show is undoubtedly Richard Jenkins as a widowed college professor Walter Vale. In what is quite possibly the best role he's ever done critically, he perfectly embodies the character and minute by minute, the actor slowly disappears as the character he's portraying takes over completely. Other cast members were quite impressive as well most notably the immigrant couple Jenkins' character took under his wing.

The Visitor is another fine example why we don't really need mainstream and commercial cinema to fulfill our movie-going needs. So instead of watching High School Musical or Beverly Hills Chihuahua, why don't you spare an hour and a half of your time to watch this cinematic gem. Highly recommended.