Rope [1948]

“We killed for the sake of danger and for the sake of killing.”

Quite possibly one of Hitchcock’s best movies, telling the story of two young men who strangle their classmate, hide his body in their appartment, and throw a party for his friends and family in order to test the perfection of their crime. Despite the feeling of watching a stage play rather than a film, “Rope” is actually very entertaining and effective. It’s also one of Hitchcock’s most unusual work; it was shot in 10 takes, and was actually banned in a number of American cities because of the implied homosexuality of the two leads. But still, it’s undeniably great, which proves once again that Hitch might well be the best director of all time.

 

Rating: 3.5/4

The Damned United [2009]

Interesting piece of english football history tells the story of Brian Clough, the manager who led Derby County to glory in the 70’s, and how he failed to do the same with Leeds United a few years later. The story focuses on his 44 days of reign as Leeds manager, but cleverly takes us back in time aswell to his years at Derby. This well made movie is a great showcase for the talented Michael Sheen, who’s incredibly believable as the small time manager who believes in “fairytales”. It’s also a must see film for every football fan out there. And if you stick around till the end, you get to see some real footage of real life Clough and his assistant coach Peter Taylor (they both became champions with Nottingham Forest years after the Leeds disaster).

Fun fact: The scenes in the film set at the Derby County training ground were actually filmed in Leeds at a football pitch ironically overlooking the Leeds United stadium.

 

Rating: 3/4

Orphan [2009]

“I think people should always try to take the bad things that happen to them in their lives, and turn them into something good. Don’t you?”

Another horror movie in a time when scary movies aren’t that “scary” anymore. “Orphan” is the story of a family that decides to adopt a 9 year old girl who eventually turn out to be a twisted…wait for it…murderer. Oddly watchable, this isn’t as bad as some earlier horror flicks we’ve seen these past few years, but it isn’t that great either. Average crap I would say. Horror fans might find something here, while squeamish people will definitely skip it (and it’s probably for the best).

Fun fact: “Esther was originally written as having fair skin, delicate features, and platinum blonde hair. Isabelle Fuhrman doesn’t fit this description. However, the filmmakers were so impressed with her auditions that they cast her anyway.”

Rating: 2/4

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps [2010]

I always have my doubts when it comes to sequels, mainly because 90% of the time, they’re never as good as the original work. “Money Never Sleeps” is no exception: it’s a well directed movie, beautifully shot in Manhattan, but as far the story goes, it’s nothing great. Gordon Gekko is now out of jail, and he’s a mess; his daughter won’t speak to him, his son died of a drug overdose, and he’s out of Wall Street for good. Lets put it this way: he’s not really the “villain” anymore. Some bigger sharks have taken over Wall Street now, and all what Gekko wants is to repair his relationship with his daughter, and help her fiancee (played by Shia LaBeouf) get revenge on the man he blames for his mentor’s death. Michael Douglas reprises his role in style, and he is truly surrounded by a first rate cast, especially 95 years old Eli Wallach who’s still as amazing as always.

The movie goes on a bit too long, and even if it reaches a satisfying conclusion, I still think the story could have been more interesting. But it’s still entirely watchable, with great performances all around. Charlie Sheen makes a small appearance as Bud Fox (from “Wall Street 1”).

Rating: 2.5/4

Valkyrie [2008]

Interesting slice of German history about an army officer named Colonel Claus Van Stauffenberg (well played by Tom Cruise) who is convinced that Germany must rid itself of Adolphe Hitler after things got out of control during the events of world war 2. He is recruited by German officers and politicians to mastermind an assasination plan. If you know your history well, then you probably have an idea of what happens next. We all know how Hitler really died, and that the plot will eventually fail; that’s not really the point though. “Valkyrie” works more as a suspense movie;  it’s entertaining, with plenty of “edge of you seat” moments, even when you know there’s nowhere else it can go. What’s even more interesting is the striking resemblance between Cruise and real life Van Stauffenberg…Judge for yourself.

Rating: 3/4

Che [2008]

Never expect too much from a movie, otherwise you might end up disappointed, or in my case, frustrated. From the moment I heard that Benicio Del Toro was playing the role of Ernesto Che Guevara, I knew it was going to be big. Boy was I wrong. Now don’t get me wrong, I loved Del Toro’s performance. But what really bothered me was the weak storytelling. Some scenes didn’t make sense at all, while others were simply boring. I really wanted to like this movie, and I was even surprised that it didn’t get much attention from the oscar jury. But after watching it, I totally agree with the jury: “Che” isn’t oscar material, not even close actually…

 

Rating: 2/4

Transformers 2: Revenge Of The Fallen [2009]

One of the biggest flops of 2009: a big budget movie with nothing to offer at all (even Megan Fox looks rather bored). This lousy sequel to the 2007 movie made me want to puke. Confession: I enjoyed the first one a lot so  basically I had high expectations for “Revenge Of The Fallen”. But get this: the plot is so dumb and confusing that you’ll end up wondering what the hell is going on. The fight scenes? mindblowing (not in a good way though); I seriously had a problem following all the action with only 2 eyes (people with 4 eyes: this one’s for you apparently). Hell I could talk all day about how bad this sequel was, but I won’t, simply because I decided to forget about this mess and move on with my life. But I’ll say this anyway: Transformers 2 is long, loud and boring. A huge disappointment…

 

Rating: 1.5/4

Extraordinary Measures [2010]

I’m well aware that this movie was dismissed by many critics, so basically I had an idea of what to expect from it, yet I found it to be emotionally moving and not bad at all actually. It’s the story of a married couple who tries to find a researcher who might have a cure for their children’s rare genetic disorder. Of course it’s no easy task but the father (played by Brandon Fraser) is not ready to quit anytime soon. Harrison Ford plays the doctor who’s on the verge of a scientific breakthrough and who might be able to help. “Extraordinary Measures” might not be a great film, but it’s still worth checking out; It’s a feel good movie that actually makes you feel good. What more can you ask for?

Fun fact: “This is his first film since Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) where Harrison Ford has not had his name first in the credits.”

Rating: 2.5/4

The Killer Inside Me [2010]

Lou Ford (played by Casey Affleck) is a charming, successful deputy sheriff in a small Texas town. Problem is: he’s also a psychotic killer who enjoys beating women in order to satisfy his sexual needs. When a woman and her man are brutally murdered, he becomes a suspect, but the dude has other plans (more killing plans to be specific). Affleck’s character is so damn annoying that it’s hard to derive any pleasure from it, and it’s probably the reason why this movie is a complete waste of time in my opinion. The beating scenes are especially violent and hard to stomach (some might even find it offensive). Kate Hudson gives it her best, but mostly, it’s a mess. Ugh!

 

Rating: 1.5/4

What Dreams May Come [1998]

I  really wanted to write a positive review about “What Dreams May Come”, but truth be told, I couldn’t. It may be visually impressive (the special effects won an oscar), but the story is so damn confusing and awfully boring that I couldn’t care less about the characters. Robin Williams is Chris Neilson, a guy who dies and goes to heaven (which is an amazing place). But suddenly he misses his wife. Then the wife commits suicide and goes to hell, so Chris decides to find her. And it’s all downhill from here. Overlong and pointless (unless you dig the idea of reincarnation). I wonder why Williams got himself mixed up with this in the first place.

Rating: 1.5/4

My Sister's Keeper [2009]

“Most babies are accidents. Not me. I was engineered. Born to save my sister’s life. ”

Good, solid drama about a family who decide to conceive a genetically engineered child for the purpose of using her stem cells to save their eldest daugher from cancer. Daring subject, difficult to swallow at times, but also very well told and emotionally moving. People who usually cry during a movie need to prepare themselves before they watch this one (there will be tears). Abigail breslin (who was nominated for an oscar at the age of 10 in “Little Miss Sunshine”) gives another great performance here. And it’s hard to dismiss any movie starring Alec Baldwin (I love that actor).

Fun fact: “Elle Fanning and Dakota Fanning were originally set to play Anna and Kate Fitzgerald, but bowed out after Dakota reportedly refused to shave her head, as required for the part.”

Rating: 3/4

My Sister’s Keeper [2009]

“Most babies are accidents. Not me. I was engineered. Born to save my sister’s life. ”

Good, solid drama about a family who decide to conceive a genetically engineered child for the purpose of using her stem cells to save their eldest daugher from cancer. Daring subject, difficult to swallow at times, but also very well told and emotionally moving. People who usually cry during a movie need to prepare themselves before they watch this one (there will be tears). Abigail breslin (who was nominated for an oscar at the age of 10 in “Little Miss Sunshine”) gives another great performance here. And it’s hard to dismiss any movie starring Alec Baldwin (I love that actor).

Fun fact: “Elle Fanning and Dakota Fanning were originally set to play Anna and Kate Fitzgerald, but bowed out after Dakota reportedly refused to shave her head, as required for the part.”

Rating: 3/4

Wall Street [1987]

A young stockbroker eager to get on top becomes the apprentice (so to speak) of a greedy and ruthless broker in this powerful movie directed by Oliver Stone. Michael Douglas gives a fine performance in his oscar winning role as Gorkon Gekko, the man who believes that “greed is good” (he’s also quite persuasive when it comes to money and power). This perfectly acted movie is a must see for any capitalist pig out there; it was a huge success back in 1987, mainly because of the real live insider trading scandal that occured a year earlier. But it still rings true today (maybe even more), and that’s probably the reason why Stone decided to follow it with a sequel in 2010. And remember: it’s all about bucks. The rest is conversation.

Fun fact: “The movie’s line “Greed… is good.” was voted as the #70 of “The 100 Greatest Movie Lines” by Premiere in 2007.”

Rating: 3/4

Dinner For Shmucks [2010]

” These people  invited us here to make fun of us; this is a contest for the biggest idiot-which I nailed!”

If you’re familiar with the french movie “Le Diner De Cons”, then you probably have an idea of what to expect here. But even so, the american version differs greatly from the original one. And that’s not necessarily a good thing. In fact, “Dinner For Shmucks” is far from being as fresh and funny as “Le Diner De Cons”, and even with a cast that includes Steve Carell and Paul Rudd, I never felt like I was watching something great. With that aside, I still enjoyed the movie; it had some funny moments and the dinner part is hilarious (Carell did a fine job on that one). Also, check out Jeff Dunham (the famous ventriloquist) in a very funny bit (though I thought it was Dennis Quaid at first!). May the best shmuck win!

Rating: 2.5/4

The Other Guys [2010]

“You have the right to remain silent… but I want to hear you scream! “

And I thought Will Ferell has lost his touch after last year’s mediocre flick “Land Of The Lost”. But he’s still here, doing what he does best. This time around, he teams up with Mark Walhberg (who’s surprisingly funny) as 2 mismatched police officers who desperately want to save the day. Call it “Starsky And Hutch” for dummies. The formula actually works at first, and the cast is game, but it wears off after a while, and never reaches a satisfying conclusion. Still, “The Other Guys” deliver enough jokes to satisfy fans of the genre, so it’s not a total loss. Also, I hear a second installment has already been planned, but whatever happened to that “Anchorman” sequel we’ve been promised?

Fun fact: “In the movie poster Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell have the same badge number of 10712.”

Rating: 2.5/4

Charlie St.Cloud [2010]

Good to see Zac Efron putting his High School Musical days behind. But there’s still something missing. In Charlie St Clouds, he takes on a much more serious role: the role of a young man who just lost his brother in a terrible car accident. He must now struggle to move on, but it’s no easy task, especially when he develops the ability to see dead people. After a promising start, the movie becomes way too unrealsitic and quite laughable actually. And what’s more, there’s zero chemistry between the two leads (Efron and Amanda Crew who is totally miscast here). But still, there are some emotional moments, and im pretty sure that Efron fans will have no problem enjoying this one (they did enjoy him in High School Musical afterall no?).

 

Rating: 2/4

The Expendables [2010]

Epic failure. You’d think that with a cast like that, nothing could go wrong. Think again. Let me tell you what went wrong here: there’s not enough action scenes, the story is mediocre at best, and I’ve never seen a dialogue as cheesy as this one (What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger? really?). But lets face it: fans of the genre will probably enjoy it. But hey even the fans deserve something better than this. Sylvester Stallone missed a huge opportunity in my opinion (this could have easily been the action movie of the decade). The cast is badass I admit, but even with a cast like that you’d expect to see something huge. Too bad. Oh and does the name Lee Christmas sound tough to you? Didn’t think so.

Rating: 2/4

Hachiko: A Dog's Story [2010]

” Have a long life, Hachi”.

A college professor finds an abandoned puppy at the train station one night and takes it home with him. When nobody claims the dog, his family decides to keep it. Everyday, the pooch would accompany his master to the train station in the morning, and eagerly awaits his return in the afternoon. This simple story of loyalty and friendship has already touched the hearts of millions of viewers, and I’m sure it would do the same to you once you watch it. It’s deeply moving, with an ending that might leave some in tears (better be prepared for this one). Richard Gere has never been better as Hachi’s master. Also known as “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale”.

 

Rating: 3/4

Hachiko: A Dog’s Story [2010]

” Have a long life, Hachi”.

A college professor finds an abandoned puppy at the train station one night and takes it home with him. When nobody claims the dog, his family decides to keep it. Everyday, the pooch would accompany his master to the train station in the morning, and eagerly awaits his return in the afternoon. This simple story of loyalty and friendship has already touched the hearts of millions of viewers, and I’m sure it would do the same to you once you watch it. It’s deeply moving, with an ending that might leave some in tears (better be prepared for this one). Richard Gere has never been better as Hachi’s master. Also known as “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale”.

 

Rating: 3/4

Piranha [2010]

“Piranha” is the most enjoyable piece of crap I’ve seen in a long time. It’s not meant to be good, and I definitely wasn’t expecting it to be in the first place. It’s strictly a B movie, nothing fancy or anything, but if you know exactly what to expect here, then you might aswell enjoy the ride. Fans of the genre will surely get a kick at some of the gory scenes here (some are way too violent though). And it’s hard to dismiss any movie starring Christopher Lloyd as a crazy scientist! Richard Dreyfus (who played Matt Hooper in “Jaws”) has a small role here and incidentally, his character is also named Matt (might be a tribute to a classic movie). And remember: Whatever you do, do not go into the water!

Fun fact:” Richard Dreyfuss was paid $50,000 for his cameo in the film. He donated all of the money to charity”.

Rating: 2.5/4

Jennifer's Body [2009]

 

The folks who made this movie didn’t care whether you end up loving it or hating it. They just wanted to make a decent profit. So all they had to do was cast Megan Fox as a possessed chearleader, throw in a couple of lesbian scenes, and voila. Adolescent boys won’t have a problem enjoying this “horror” movie, while others (the smart ones) will probably avoid it. My only question remains: why did Diablo Cody follow her beloved “Juno” with this?

 

Rating: 2/4

Jennifer’s Body [2009]

 

The folks who made this movie didn’t care whether you end up loving it or hating it. They just wanted to make a decent profit. So all they had to do was cast Megan Fox as a possessed chearleader, throw in a couple of lesbian scenes, and voila. Adolescent boys won’t have a problem enjoying this “horror” movie, while others (the smart ones) will probably avoid it. My only question remains: why did Diablo Cody follow her beloved “Juno” with this?

 

Rating: 2/4

House On Haunted Hill [1959]

“Only the ghosts in this house are glad we’re here.”

Call me old fashioned, but this 1959 version of “House On Haunted Hill” is much scarier and much more enjoyable than the dreadful remake. Vincent Price is a lot of fun to watch as the man who invites 5 strangers to a party and offers each of them $10 000 if they can spend the night in a haunted house. Great plot, chilling atmosphere and an edge of your seat finale. A perfect movie to watch on a rainy night.

Fun fact: “The large grosses for this film were noticed by Alfred Hitchcock. This led him to create his own low-budget horror film – Psycho”.

 Rating: 3/4

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind [2004]

“Why do I fall in love with every woman I see who shows me the least bit of attention?”

Absolutely fantastic movie finds Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet on top of their game as a couple who, after their relationship went down the drain, undergo a procedure to erase each other from their memories. But it’s halfway through the process that they realise what they had in the first place. A heartwarming piece of work, extremely well acted and brilliantly done (the dream sequences are unforgettable). Jim Carrey has never been more tender and believable on screen (this might well be the best performance of his career so far).

Fun fact: “The title is quoted from the poem “Eloisa to Abelard” by Alexander Pope. This poem was used in Charlie Kaufman s earlier project” Being John  Malkovich”.
 

Rating: 3.5/4

Fargo [1996]

“You’re a smooth smoothie, you know?”

Excellent Coen brothers movie about a car salesman who hire two thugs to kidnap his wife, in order to collect the ransom money from her wealthy father. And that’s just the beginning! To reveal more about the story would be unthinkable. But again, and like most of the Coen’s movies, it’s not for every taste. There’s a mix of humour and suspense (Hitchcock style), and if you’re into that, then you’ll definitely enjoy this one aswell. It’s one of the Coen’s finest movies (if not the best).

Fun fact: William H. Macy stated in an interview that, despite evidence to the contrary, he did hardly any ad-libbing at all. Most of his character’s stuttering mannerisms were written in the script exactly the way he does them in the film

 Rating: 3.5/4