Category Archives: FilmReview

2011, Based on true facts, Historical Fiction, Melodrama, Military, Redemption, Religious Theme, Violent, War

There Be Dragons (2011)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Roland Joffé directs this epic tale of love and betrayal set during the Spanish Civil War. When a present-day journalist (Dougray Scott) investigates Opus Dei founder Josemaría Escrivá (Charlie Cox), he uncovers a surprising link to his own father, Manolo (Wes Bentley). Manolo and Josemaría were childhood friends who followed different paths when the war broke out. Josemaría pursued his faith, while Manolo joined the rebels to fight Franco.

Centering around Josemaría Escrivá, the founder of Opus Dei, this Catholic melodrama (give it a B+) has as its background the Spanish Civil War.

Opus Dei (for those of you who are not familiar) is an ultra-conservative Catholic organization that is much maligned in fiction such as “The Da Vinci Code”. Whether or not Opus Dei is beyond the fringe really does not matter in the film. But just remember that Franco was supported by an ultra-conservative Catholic hierarchy. Indeed the film does not take sides, but suggests that there were enough abuses and neglect by that Catholic hierarchy to spark rebellion. Scenes in which Josemaría is seen flogging himself only suggest not untypical Spanish extremism. Spaniards seem genetically unable to see the color grey.

As melodramas go, someone spent a lot of money putting this epic together. Could be worse.

2010, Arabic, Complicated, Could Be Hard To Watch, French, Grim, Plot Twist, Prison, Rape, Redemption, Slow, Violent, War

Incendies (2010)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

When their mother’s will implores them to deliver letters to the father they thought was dead and a brother they never knew about, twins Jeanne (Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin) and Simon (Maxim Gaudette) journey to the Middle East and attempt to reconstruct their family’s hidden history. Adapted from a Wajdi Mouawad play, director Denis Villeneuve’s Oscar-nominated drama flashes back to intense scenes set during the Lebanese civil war in the 1970s.

Yet another film that is hard to watch, “Incendies” dramatically is better than The Whistleblower (2010). Just be aware that the pace of the film is very slow.

In a certain sense the film involves solving a mystery in which two twins after the death of their mother are asked in her will to find their father and a brother that they had never heard of up to the mother’s death.

Languages are French and Arabic with (subtitles) because the action takes place during the incredibly confusing 1970 Lebanon civil war. If you are confused by the end of the film, try reading the Wikipedia summary which for me explained things I had missed (especially towards the end of the film). You may be surprised by the final piece in the puzzle.

Although this is a brutal film, it is not as explicit as The Whistleblower (2010).

For me watching this film was well worth the patience required.

2010, Based on true facts, Could Be Hard To Watch, Cynical, Disturbing Image, Grim, Nudity, Police Story, Rape, Suspense, Violent

The Whistleblower (2010)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Sent to Bosnia to train cops in the aftermath of that country’s brutal civil war, American policewoman Kathryn Bolkovac (Rachel Weisz) uncovers evidence that U.N. peacekeepers are complicit in a flourishing sex-trafficking trade. But when she brings her allegations to light, she discovers that her foes are more powerful than the law. Based on a true story, this thriller from director Larysa Kondracki co-stars Monica Bellucci and David Strathairn.

Probably one of the harshest films I have watched recently, I was tempted to stop watching several times. But the cynical engagement in sex trafficking sponsored by UN peace keepers was so unnerving that I had to see some resolution at least in the case of Kathryn Bolkovac. Although Bolkovac got some satisfaction for her heroic efforts, no one would ever hire her again and the practice of sex trafficking still flourishes (and probably always will).

Be prepared for some brutal treatment by the peacekeepers of these women (rape, murder, etc).

As an artistic endeavor the film is so-so. But the events are riveting.

2008, Acceptable for children, Drama, Frenetic, Love Story, Mediocre

Life in Flight (2008)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

With a beautiful wife (Amy Smart), an adoring son (Kevin Rosseljong) and an accomplished career, New York-based architect Will (Patrick Wilson) thinks he has it all — until a new friendship with dynamic young designer Kate (Lynn Collins) reveals the cracks in his too-perfect life. With long-repressed doubts now in the open, Will must reconsider the direction of his life from the bottom up. Tracey Hecht directs this existential drama.

Because currently we are in an economic recession where jobs are scarce Patrick Wilson’s choice of his future seems not so black and white. Who would not jump at the opportunity that is offered to his character Will ? On the other hand, he finds himself not giving much attention to his young son and finds little time for family, sitting, talking, in other words for the rest of his life. For me I could not really sense a huge amount of stress in his life, that is to say the type of stress where you feel “when will it ever end ?” His wife was portrayed as a woman who was ambitious and not much else. It was as if she was saying “You want me ? Then you must advance professionally.”

Once again I was busy doing something else while watching this mediocre film, so at least I did not waste all the time solely on the film.

1999, Corny, Cowboy, Fantasy, Gangs, Mediocre, Religious Theme, Supernatural

Purgatory (1999)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Big guns Eric Roberts, Sam Shepard, Donnie Wahlberg and Randy Quaid star in this offbeat Western, in which a band of rowdy outlaws ride into the town of Refuge, a settlement where no one carries a gun, there’s no jail, and swearing is not allowed. The desperadoes hatch a plan to take over the nonviolent town, only to discover they’re up against the legendary — and long since dead — Wild Bill Hickok, Jesse James and Doc Holliday.

Aw shucks, just give it a B and watch the shoot-out. It may take you just a short while to figure out just what the town of Refuge is really about (Hint: consider the film title).

Sam Shepard is Wild Bill Hickock. Eric Roberts is a really nasty Blackjack Britten. Randy Quaid is Doc Holiday. Donnie Wahlberg (who plays a detective in many of the “Saw I-II-III-IV” films [and no, I have never seen a Saw film]) is Billy the Kid.

If you want to see some really ugly villains, this is the film for you. However in the final analysis this film does not merit your full attention.

2011, Based on true facts, Conspiracy, Drama, Drugs, Love Story, Sex Scenes

The Rum Diary (2011)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Eager to flee his humdrum life in 1950s New York, booze-loving journalist Paul (Johnny Depp) moves to Puerto Rico and begins writing for a local rag, but his life becomes unhinged when he falls for a gorgeous woman (Amber Heard) and clashes with her shifty fiancé (Aaron Eckhart). Written and directed by Bruce Robinson, this adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson’s early novel also stars Richard Jenkins as Paul’s editor.

Nice black and white good versus evil where the good guy wins is always easy to watch. Sorry, not this time! Pessimism is the dominant theme here as we watch Johnny Depp drink, try drugs, fall in love with a crook’s girl friend, and start to get involved with the crook’s shady dealings.

You get a sense of how beautiful Puerto Rico is and how vulnerable it is to exploitation by American businessmen whose anti-communist rants are just too outlandish to even begin to take seriously. In fact, the script is not uniformly good and in fact sometimes just too preachy. Moreover, the delivery of those not so wonderful lines by the actors is just plain wooden at times.

Giovanni Ribisi plays a somewhat unbalanced drug addled nutcase, although it is not clear what he adds to the film.

All in all the film for me was only OK, which seems to be the critics’ conclusions in the Wikipedia article.

Read the final screen lines for a historical reference.

2011, Acceptable for children, Black and White Film, Corny, Dancing, Feel Good For All, Love Story, Silent film, Slow

The Artist (2011)

Leave a comment

NetFlix:

This modern-day silent film artfully recounts the poignant end of the silent-movie era in the late 1920s. The story contrasts the declining fortunes of a silent-screen superstar with his lover’s rise to popularity as a darling of the “talkies.”

Making a black and white and silent film these days is an unusual idea. But it works because the photography is good, the period costumes fun to see, the dog is cute, Jean Dujardin is a handsome ham, and Bérénice Bejo really is peppy (her name in the film). And the best news is that I only napped through part of the film (which might seem a tad slow in places). What is really amazing is to watch the two stars tap dance!

You may remember Jean Dujardin from “OSS 117: Lost in Rio” which is a spoof on James Bond films. On the other hand, Bérénice Bejo was in “OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies”.

Possibly not everyone’s cup of tea.

2008, Bullying, Drama, Sex Scenes

Fireflies in the Garden (2008)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

In the wake of an unexpected family tragedy, novelist Michael Taylor (Ryan Reynolds) is forced to confront his fractured relationship with his father (Willem Dafoe) while dealing with painful memories of his mother (Julia Roberts), a woman who moved mountains to protect him. Emily Watson, Hayden Panettiere, Ioan Gruffudd and Carrie-Anne Moss also star in this semiautobiographical tale of rage and redemption from writer-director Dennis Lee.

FINALLY I got to see Ryan Reynolds deliver a worthwhile performance in a worthwhile film. Why has his agent been so inconsistent ? Oddly enough this film predates such forgettable wonders as “The Green Lantern” and “The Change-Up”. Why revert to juvenile roles when you can do so much better ?

Willem Dafoe is perfect as the father you love to hate.

Hats off to Cayden Boyd who captured perfectly Michael Taylor as a boy imprisoned in his home with his monster of a father.

For me the ending was hard to accept. Your opinions would be welcome.

2011, Acceptable Science, Grim

Contagion (2011)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Steven Soderbergh steers big stars through this big-screen disaster-thriller about a global team of doctors tasked with tamping down a deadly outbreak of infectious disease before it annihilates mankind.

For this film I have created yet another category “Acceptable Science” because this film is not really science fiction. Instead this is a “what if” story about an all too possible global epidemic that uses as its tools real science (possibly you cannot watch a video of a virus taking over the body). What is also painfully real is the conjecture about how people would react: fear, panic, violent self-preservation, profiteering, etc. But the film also hopes and portrays some people acting nobly for the sake of others. No telling what I would do in such a situation (run naked through Harvard Square, what difference would it make ?).

No point in mentioning the large cast of known actors. However, Matt Damon looked a bit worse for wear.

There are some touching moments, especially the “prom” scene. This is, despite the horrors, an optimistic film that says that humans use their intelligence to rise to the occasion.

“Contagion” could have been boring, but for me it was interesting.

2011, Car Chase, Crime, Grim, Love Story, Occasional gore, Revenge, Suspense, Violent

Drive (2011)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

A Hollywood stuntman who moonlights as a getaway driver is lured from his isolated life by a lovely neighbor and her young son. His newfound peace is shattered, however, when her violent husband is released from prison.

Perhaps they should rename this film to “Ryan Gosling Drives” because the entire film really belongs to Gosling. Sometimes I criticize actors who capitalize on the silent type. How much acting talent does it take to just say nothing? In this case it works, Gosling mostly stares and it fits his character. Unfortunately his character is also one of those omnipotent tough guys who wins every physical fight and easily shoots his way out of every jam. Just suspend disbelief and watch the violence, because the violence is constant, extreme, and graphic.

Somehow I cannot buy the last scene where our “hero” survives (or does he?). You might want to read the Wikipedia article which praises the film but still does not make the ending any more believable.

Carey Mulligan, who played Kathy in “Never Let Me Go”, is just plain cute. This is one film in which oddly enough the two sad star crossed lovers never really get together because our “hero” is an omnipotent (albeit crooked and violent) man of honor.

Forget the cynical remarks because, in fact, I was glued to my seat throughout.