1001 Grams

Cine Europa 2018

Shangri-la Cinemas

From Norway comes a quirky and delicate love story between Nordic Marie and French Pi. Marie is a scientist who specializes in measurements. Her daily routine is going to work, conversing with her father who is a colleague at work and having meals alone at home. 

Her father Ernst is the one who brings the national kilo of Norway to Paris, France for some annual gathering of other like minded individuals for a conference on weights. When her father succumbs to a fatal heart attack, Marie is the one assigned to attend the Paris symposium. 

Marie strikes as a lonely, taciturn woman whose whole world revolves on her work and her close relationship with her father. There are hints/scenes of a ex husband/boyfriend moving out of their apartment although they never exchange any pleasantries. So Paris provides a welcome break from her routine as well as her grief upon the sudden loss of her beloved dad.

She meets Pi, a French professor/scientist who also volunteers at the institute where the weights are measured. They hit it off as she speaks a fairly good amount of French and an unlikely romance between them. 

Pristine cinematography invades our senses with great Nordic scenery, French countryside where the seminar is held  as well as the quaint little streets of Paris.  Never in my wildest imagination did I think that there is a whole industry devoted to the actual weight of a kilo, fascinating science stuff indeed. Dialogue is in Norwegian, English and French with English subtitles. 

It is a delightful art movie that tackles disappointment, grief and love in an unusual place for two less lonely people in the world. 

P.S.

1001 grams refers to the weight of the cremated ashes of Marie's father. An eerie yet interesting thought. 

A Vizsga (The Exam)

Cine Europa 2018

Edsa Shangri-la Cineplex

"Don't trust Anyone. Don't trust Yourself"

This 2011 Hungarian movie is set in 1957, Budapest. A period of uncertainty as the loyalty of every National Security officer is tested. Andras Jung is a young ambitious cultural NS officer disguising as a teacher who teaches German. In all eventuality, he is a government spy who gathers information and forwards it to his immediate superior, Marko. The older spy is a war hero and famous in the espionage industry. 

Marko is tasked to test Jung's loyalty so he clandestinely monitors his 'pupil' from the opposite building. Hidden hearing devices are planted, cloak and dagger tactics are employed - anything to prove Jung is a faithful and reliable agent.

The film is in the Hungarian language so the words are totally foreign to me. The spy game plays out well in the movie but for all intents and purposes, the filming shows an amateur streak. The cast are believable in portraying spies. The narrative gets murky when you lose sight of who is actually spying on whom. 

Yet the film succeeds in exploring the travails of a communist country (Hungary) in the dark era of the Cold War. A very volatile period for the espionage sector as the leaders are paranoid and need absolute loyalty from the members of the national security community. The Cold War is a sad period in Europe's rich history, it was plagued with violations of human rights, extreme poverty, a strong totalitarian government and no equal opportunities for all.

Todos lo Saben Everybody Knows

Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem,

Ricardo Darin

"Who did iT??"

Iranian writer-director Asghar Farhadi (A Separation) presents a crime drama in the Spanish language with real life couple Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem in the lead roles. A tale of secrets and revelations + all the necessary ingredients of a whodunit saga.

Laura (Penelope Cruz) living in Buenos Aires returns to her hometown near Madrid with her two children  to attend the wedding of her sister, Ana. It is a typical small Spanish town where everybody knows of each other. A town rife with intriguing whispers and gossips which is a typical mentality among the local folks. On the night of the wedding, Irene the teenage daughter of Laura goes missing.

Frantic and panicking, Laura is distraught and seeks the help of the family's close friend, Paco (her former childhood sweetheart) who is now married to Bea, a teacher. She also contacts her husband, Alejandro (Ricardo Darin) in Argentina to inform him about the abduction. The entire family is drawn into this disturbing incident and try to come up with answers without causing a scene as Laura is told not to inform the police.

Mostly shot in dark tones with night scenes and dimly lit rooms, Everybody Knows runs like a typical Spanish telenovela, except this is a full length film. Multiple characters, most of them Laura's extended family make up the cast composed of top actors and actresses in the Spanish film industry. Headed by Penelope Cruz who gives Laura, much depth. She just gets better as she ages like fine wine. Javier Bardem as Paco is credible. He nails the characterization of a conflicted yet well meaning person with gusto. Ricardo Darin as Alejandro is more subdued as his character is dealing with her personal demons.

The revelation of closely guarded secrets, the intriguing nature of the disappearance all played out well in the narrative. But the quick 'resolution' of the main crisis in the plot seemed forced. It felt like Farhadi did not thoroughly think this part through so he snapped his fingers and decided it needed to end, just like that. Nope it has nothing to do with being lost in the translation, I have watched enough Spanish movies to be more or less familiar with the language. It is a watchable crime drama as the cast perform well but the strained plot change and the contrived ending are burdensome.

A Simple Favor

Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively,

Henry Golding

"We all have Secrets to Hide"

The film starts with Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) recording her parenting vlog where she also mentions that her best friend Emily (Blake Lively) has been missing for several days. Then it pans to how Stephanie and Emily became the best of friends.

Emily and Stephanie are contrasting figures yet they somehow click with their young sons as their common factor. Single parent Stephanie is a typical Suburban blogger mom, a know it all who lives off the life insurance of her dead husband, while Emily is a glamorous PR person for a designer and married to Sean Townsend (Henry Golding) a British who travels a lot.

The 'disappearance' of Emily is an integral part of the film. In trying to solve it, Stephanie unearthed betrayals, secrets, revelations, revenge and murder - all enough to spiral terribly out of control with the use of her vlog as a vital tool.

All these twists and turns come at a controllable pace, some easy to grasp while others need some figuring out, even as the complex characters need to come up for oxygen every now and then to maintain balance. The setting are suburban chic and modern bungalows, a quaint lake side town which all contribute to a stylish film noir atmosphere. 

The cast do well especially Anna Kendrick as the self effacing Stephanie who does have a secret or two buried in her own murky past. Blake Lively is fashionable as always and can hold her own against the very talented Anna Kendrick. As to Henry Golding, well he is still va va voom!

Overall, it was just an okay mix match of drama, thriller with light comedy. Nothing extraordinary yet not just ordinary either, if that makes sense.

The Wife

Glenn Close, Jonathan Pryce

Christian Slater, Harry Lloyd, Annie Starke

"Secrets lie behind the Lines"

I desperately needed another movie to activate my brain cells to get over Keanu Reeves' irritating gurgling sounds in Destination Wedding. Boy, did my brain cells work on overtime from seeing Glenn Close in The Wife. 

Joan Castleman (Glenn Close) is the the faithful wife of Joseph Castleman (Jonathan Pryce) a writer who was just informed,  he won the coveted Nobel Prize for Literature. Stockholm then becomes the locale where their seemingly perfect marriage reveal some cracks which start to fizzle their stable bond. 

Joan is the obedient wife, always anticipating her husband's needs from making sure he takes his pills on time to signaling him when he has something on his beard. They are a good tandem as Joe revels from all the attention while Joan stays in the background. The film establishes right away that the Castlemans are a solid couple. Joseph is egotistical almost to the point of being righteously critical while Joan passively and diligently does her duties as expected of her.

The movie also interjects flashbacks - how they first met, his flirty behavior towards members of the opposite sex to their struggles as his writing career slowly succeeds. These scenes reveal a lot about the personality of the characters, how their past molded them to be the people we see now in Stockholm. The dramatic flares intensify midway, where a somewhat predictable revelation implodes then leads to the climatic conclusion. 

Glenn Close is a true artist. In a pivotal scene where Joan reaches her boiling point - her facial expressions, her body language, her range and her bravura - was flawless. A very good defining moment for the long suffering, neglected wife. Jonathan Pryce was equally a good sparing partner, so to speak. His contemptuous and complex character was not entirely beyond reproach, he did have a few redeeming qualities so it wasn't a total lost of a human being. 

The film offers good insights about married life, infidelity, moral values and humanity. Over and above the film's shortcomings, I recommend it for Glenn Close's stellar performance as Joan Castleman, The Wife.

Destination Wedding (2018)

Winona Ryder, Keanu Reeves

"Check your Baggage"

Frank (Keanu Reeves) and Lindsay (Winona Ryder), two strangers on their way to a destination wedding collide with each other through constant bickering over anything and everything. 

Frank is the brother of the groom, while Lindsay was the ex-gf of the groom even though they both don't seem to be close to either of the marrying couple. It is never explained why Frank and Lindsay were invited, at all. Always bitter and highly egotistical, these two strangers have a lot more in common than they care to admit to themselves and to each other. 

"Before Sunrise" - it is definitely NOT even though it seems to copy the Richard Linklater masterpiece. This is the most dialogue I have seen Keanu Reeves deliver in his entire career. Heh. While Winona Ryder has aged well and tries her best to keep up with the pacing of both the dialogue of Keanu as well as the slow progress of the story line. She gets an A+ for her effort. I can only cringe at the thought of poor Winona putting up with Keanu's character irritating  and really disgusting gurgling sounds. Oy!

The setting of the film in wine county is lovely and certainly didn't add any of its charm to this highly disappointing reunion of Ryder and Reeves. Perhaps in some distant future, they can get together in an action film instead of a trying hard 'intellectual' romantic comedy. 

La Cordillera (The Summit)

Pelicula 2018

Spanish Film Festival

Greenbelt 3 Cinemas

A mountain resort in the picturesque Andes mountains in Chile is the setting for a summit of Latin American leaders. The main topic is the establishment of an OPEC like organization consisting of Latin American nations. 

The central character is Hernan Blanco, (Ricardo Darin) the newly elected president of Argentina who is attending his first summit meeting. Blanco, a former mayor of a small town is hailed as the leader of the common man. His low profile at the summit is being questioned by a critic in a radio show commentary who belittles Blanco's capability as a leader. 

A few minutes before they board the presidential plane, his staff receives news of problems on the personal front. His daughter Marina is distraught and insists she had no idea about the expose from her ex husband, who plans to reveal Blanco's previous corrupt practices. The president decides Marina should join him at the summit so he can keep an eye on her already frayed nerves. 

Ricardo Darin (Truman) is very credible as the plagued Blanco. As president, he maintains a calm almost stoic demeanor in the wheeling and dealing of diplomacy. There is a specific scene with Christian Slater as a high level State Department official in a clandestine meeting with President Blanco. In this shot, Blanco listens as usual, the imperialistic U.S. wants to act as 'consultant' to the proposed organization. Towards the end of the meeting, Blanco negotiates for what he believes will be beneficial to Argentina. Whether this is good or not is beside the point, I think this establishes Blanco as a certified negotiator/leader.

As a father, he is concerned, strong and decisive for his troubled daughter. He even agrees to a series of hypnotherapy sessions for Marina which reveals certain ambiguities. Whether those past events are true or merely a figment of Marina's complex imagination - are never fully explored. A side plot which could perhaps better explain why Marina is really messed up. 

So except for those intriguing hypnosis revelations which were left unanswered, the film does a good job in presenting international relations among world leaders. The breathtaking Andes mountain range providing an icy background to an engaging political drama.

El Autor (The Motive)

Pelicula 2018

Spanish Film Festival

Greenbelt 3 Cinemas

Alvaro is a notary in a law firm, a really monotonously boring job. His real passion though is to write a novel, something he calls 'real literature' as opposed to best selling book written by his wife, Amanda. In fact, he is very serious, Alvaro has even taken up writing lessons in a class taught by an over critical instructor.

Alvaro's life goes from sad to pathetic. He leaves his wife after she is caught cheating with a co-worker + he is put on forced leave after his work suffers from his erratic behavior. He moves into a new apartment, and now has a lot of time to concentrate on his novel.

His main problem is he doesn't have a fertile imagination so upon the advice of his teacher to roll up his sleeves and search for stories in the real world - he decides to eavesdrop on the lives of his neighbors in his new apartment block. He makes them the subject of his novella, going as far as manipulating and orchestrating their lives to make them more interesting characters for his book.

It is set in Seville, Spain with shots mostly within the confines of Alvaro's spartan and sparsely decorated apartment in bright almost blinding scenes. This is perhaps in contrast to the sudden influx of ideas that flood Alvaro's mind.

The creepy tone of the lead character, with his obsessive, stalker like tendencies as well as the dramatic phasing of the plot add some intensity to an otherwise predictable narrative. With a good premise and the exemplary acting of Javier Gutierrez as Alvaro, The Motive is a well made dark comedy.

Sicario: Day of the Soldado

Josh Brolin, Benicio del Toro,

Isabela Moner, Jeffrey Donovan, Catherine Keener

"No Rules this Time"

The sequel to this crime thriller once again tackles the drugs war on the U.S - Mexico border. Fed agent Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) and 'consultant' Alejandro (Benicio del Toro) are back to continue the fight against the Mexican cartels.  Drug lords who not only peddle drugs but also resort to human trafficking and acts of terrorism on both sides of the border. The task force devise a plan to mess up the cartels but when it backfires, all hell breaks loose. Each of them basically on their own to sort out their own mess.

Sicario which was released in 2015 got a lot of raves for the way it was filmed. Emily Blunt was very credible as the small town FBI agent who was recruited by the task force. In this sequel though, she is not part of the team, no mention whatsoever about her character. This is fine as the Brolin - del Toro tandem still work well together without the distracting presence of a lead female character.

I liked Sicario (2015) and this sequel although with a few dragging parts was equally good in my book. We all know about the cartels running the show vis a vis the peddling of drugs through shows like Narcos on Netflix. But Sicario: Day of the Soldado offers a different perspective, as shown through the eyes of this special task force. An operation so covert, the U.S government denies of its existence, as usual. 

The film still retains its gritty, suspenseful tone with enough action sequences to keep you on the edge of your seat. I believe there was more depth in this narrative, as seen through the eyes of the young Isabel Reyes. An unfortunate pawn in this dangerously ugly and menacing drugs war.

The ending hints at a third Sicario in the making but it should remain true to form and present an alternative perspective (one that is not redundant and repetitive), then maybe, just maybe it would be worth waiting for. If not, perhaps it would be a good time to let agent Matt Graver and Alejandro rest from their stressful job.

Crazy Rich Asians

Henry Golding, Constance Wu, 

Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan

"The only Thing crazier than Love is Family"

I had no idea nor was I aware this movie was based on a popular novel by Kevin Kwan, a Singaporean author now based in the US. Everyone (by everyone I meant the critics and the mainstream media) was raving about it being a first since it was a Hollywood made film with an all Asian cast. 

Well, naturally the roles would be enacted by Asian actors, right? Long gone are the days when white actors would color their faces with black shoe polish to portray African Americans or white actresses would have their eyes made up to look Asian. 

The premise of poor girl meets rich boy and live happily ever after has been done various times in movies and plays all over the world. Nothing new really. So in Crazy Rich Asians, you have all the cliches - rich future mother-in-law disapproving of poor girlfriend, society (mis)judging the stature of the girlfriend of the most eligible bachelor in town, poor girl feels out of place etc etc etc.

Yet one thing stands out imho - that is the rich bachelor Nick Young remains humble and does not boast about his wealth. He may have not told Rachel (Constance Wu)  about his background but this goes to show, it did not define him. He was living in the US, had no interest in maintaining the family business, he just happen to be in town for the wedding of his best friend. In short, he is a cool dude and it doesn't hurt that he is portrayed by Henry Golding (not an Asian name, at all) who is va va voom handsome, dear Lord! 

I like the feisty spirit of Rachel. She remains true to herself and won't let her lack of stature defeat her. Sure she will be sad and feel betrayed but she is a brilliant scientist and an economics professor - that is more than just 'good enough'. 

The rest of the cast do good. They are tailor fit for their roles especially Michelle Yeoh as Eleanor Young, the mother of va va voom. Her conceited gaze, her regal bearing, calm yet menacing demeanor was spot on. This former Bond girl is aging really well, I'd say.

The author meant this film to be an expose (I may be wrong) on how the rich treat the 'poor' members of society as being less worthy. But for me that whole rich vs poor premise is pretty lame. Of course, the rich will look down on the poor, it happens anywhere and every time in any part of the world. 

It shouldn't be an issue let alone be the whole theme for a movie which took itself too seriously. Yes it is a Hollywood movie with an Asian narrative and cast but it should not restrict itself from being a good film. And gratefully, it was a well made fun, dramatic, romcom which should be proud and stand on its own merits.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

Amanda Seyfried, Lily James, Dominic Cooper,

Julie Waters, Christine Baranski, Hugh Skinner,

Josh Dylan, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Cher

Jeremy Irvine, Andy Garcia, Stellan Skarsgard

10 years later, the sequel to the popular musical movie Mamma Mia is back. This time, the story takes off 5 years later, when Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is preparing for the grand reopening of the Hotel Bella Donna. The small B&B on the Greek isle first opened by her mother Donna (Meryl Street). 

We find out Donna is no longer in the picture but no details or any mention of how she passed away is revealed. Through seamless flashbacks, a young Donna (Lily James) who just graduated from Oxford, discovers herself on the small Greek isle. Her aspirations, her romantic life dating three guys (one of whom is Sophie's biological father), her pregnancy then her decision to start a bed and breakfast to support herself. All of these situations are naturally filled with Abba songs.

The same cast (but some of them older) is present in full force, singing their hearts out, belting Abba tunes - some of them familiar songs while others are songs I've never heard before. The story shifts effortlessly between the young Donna and the present day with Sophie trying her best to keep the memory of her mother alive through the Hotel Bella Donna.

The plot is believable and works well with the songs they chose to represent each situation. Lily James is a refreshing presence as the young Donna, she does well to carry the entire movie on her shoulders and dare I mention, she sings way better than Meryl Street. 10 years is a long time difference for a sequel to come out, but the plot is simple enough, you can easily piece together the story. 

A couple of flaws - the casting of the younger men in Donna's life. They all look alike and I couldn't tell them apart and who they grow up to be. Maybe I wasn't paying too much attention in the first film so I didn't know the names of the characters Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard were portraying. I got a bit confused in the sequel. 

Now, Cher as Sophie's grandmother, What? Not credible at all, I don't how and where it is possible for Cher to be Meryl Streep's mother. Then Ruby (Cher) whole connection with the Andy Garcia character is just plain stupid. Probably just a silly excuse for Cher to sing "Fernando".  

I don't have an issue with characters bursting into song while acting. Clearly everyone knows this is a musical. I love most of the Abba songs and it was a good walk down memory lane hearing songs I grew up listening to during my childhood. It was also a good introduction to their songs which didn't fare well at the music charts.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Daniella Pineda, 

Justice Smith, James Cromwell, Rafe Spall

"Life finds a Way"

This film continues three years after the closure of the theme park on Isla Nublar, located somewhere in Costa Rica. Naturally since the lab-developed dinosaurs ran amok and ate a lot of visitors which was elaborately explored in the remake of Jurassic Park trilogy named Jurassic World 2015.

Present day, Owen (Chris Pratt) and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) are 'reunited' and back on the abandoned island which is now threatened by the fury of an exploding volcano. They want to save and rescue as many dinosaurs as humanly and humanely possible. A deed made possible through the generosity of the Lockwood Estate which created a sanctuary where these animals can roam around freely without cages, with no tourists and no distractions. Even though the government itself decided it is best to leave them on the island - for the very reason that they should never have been 'created' in the first place.

But evil and green surfaces in the form of Ellis Mills (Rafe Spall) an underling working for the now aging and frail Benjamin Lockwood (James Cromwell). Mills thinks it is a great idea to auction off these dinosaurs to the highest bidders, who can use them for industrial, agricultural purposes but mainly turn them as 'weapons' of mass destruction. These species are transported to the Lockwood estate where representatives of several nations congregate for the auction. Both Owen and Claire were tricked into believing the dinosaurs will be airlifted to a safe haven. 

The main attraction at the auction is this humongous dinosaur that was bred using the DNA of  several really fierce dinosaurs so you can be utterly sure, the Indoraptor is as deadly as it comes. But surely, anywhere and anytime these massive creatures are present you can be sure, the situation will turn really ugly as they escape from their supposedly iron clad enclosures and eat any one that moves. Heh!

This really flimsy premise basically runs wild in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Another dangerous mission for Owen and Claire - they being the good guys trying their best to contain the situation which has gone awry in the very worst possible way. Plus some entirely crazy and silly subplot involving Lockwood's 'granddaughter, thrown in to just add confusion to an already murky plot.

The cinematography though is quite vibrant - the scene with numerous dinosaurs running, rushing down the jungle and trumping their way towards the sea as hot molten lava pour down from the imposing volcano is excellently shot. The pressure to escape quite palpable as you can almost feel the ground shaking from the massive exodus. One, if not the only memorable scene in this film.

The second half grinds down to a slower pace during the auction part, then picks up a bit with chaotic scenes of people trying to flee from the escaping dinosaurs, which were being sold off to bidders. And rightly so, the conclusion does leave us with a sense that the third installment will entail dinosaurs in the city streets. Something we have to wait for it until 2021!

So while the film could use some depth to the story line, there is a valid message it wants to impart - there was a rational reason dinosaurs were extinct and wiped out eons ago - these are very dangerous creatures and tend to eat people.

Ocean's Eight

Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett,

Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter,

Mindy Kaling, Rhianna, Sarah Paulson

"Every con has its Pros"

So in this very PC environment, the age of the #MeToo movement, gender equality and feminism, the big studio honchos decided a remake of the Ocean's 11 franchise, but this time with an all female cast would be a good idea. 

You know, that heist movie with an ensemble cast led by George Clooney, which was itself a remake of the 1960 film with the same title which starred Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr among others. Back then, they were popularly known as the Rat Pack.

It (Clooney's 11) worked NOT because it had an all male cast but mostly due to the interesting story line, sleek cinematography, numerous twists and turns. Plus the premise that a bunch of misfits can pull off a heist in a Las Vegas casino and get away with it was an added bonus. 

Now back to Ocean's 8 - the ensemble cast composed of talented actresses in their own right failed to capture our attention as much as the original film did. The plot lacked a certain something for us to be fully invested in a group of women who decide to pull off a jewelry heist during the famous Met Ball. That annual fundraising fashion event held for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume institute in New York City. 

The heist is led by Debbie (Sandra Bullock), the estranged sister of Danny Ocean who just came out of prison after serving her 5 years. It seems that jail did not reform the ex convict as she gathers a bunch of eccentrics to plan the stealing of a 150 Million US$ necklace. A piece of jewelry to be worn at the Met Gala by an floozy actress named Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway). 

The twists and turns were not riveting enough and also the motley crew characters were not engrossing personas. Too bad the great cast couldn't salvage this average heist movie. Perhaps next time, they should think twice, even thrice before they venture into a spin-off of an already well loved franchise. Such a pity to waste such talented actresses, really.

Memoirs of a Murderer

Eiga Sai 2018

Japanese Film Festival

Greenbelt 1, Cinema 2

So after I saw this film, I read online that it was based on a Korean movie with the same title. While watching this crime thriller, I had no idea about the original movie, so I went with fresh eyes, sitting in the dark theater, sometimes cringing from the violence on screen. Other times trying to wrap my mind over the manifestation of evil which can come in any form. 

The premise - it is 2017, a killer known as the Tokyo Strangler resurfaces in the public eye with a controversial memoir recounting his heinous crimes. The catch - these five murders occurred 22 years ago and the 15-year statute of limitations to apprehend any criminal has already lapsed. 

In this age of instant gratification, the curious public turn the memoir into a huge bestseller. Some of the younger generation even treat the killer as the newest social media star, which to me is sickening but it can and does happen in real life. Suddenly he and his book is constantly on the news cycle, TV media outlets milking him for their ratings. It turns into a big circus, flaunting the failure of the police force and one of its detectives (who has a personal connection) to capture him, 22 years ago.

The main questions - is he really the killer who committed those gruesome murders in 1995? Why is there someone else with a video showing a brutal strangulation claiming himself as the real killer? I am not providing any answers nor any spoilers.

The scenes jump from 1995 to present time, through seamless flashbacks with only the hair style of the lead detective indicating the period for the scenes. Yes there are violent scenes of the murders, so you have been warned. There are also several twists and turns, certain subplots which all add to the dramatic effect it was aiming for. 

There is enough intrigue to draw our short attention span in, masking several flaws in the presentation of the story. So for that, and only that, I am not giving this film, high marks. Just saying if you are into intrigue, mystery and criminals glorifying their dastardly acts in public, then give it a go. Otherwise, just carry on with rose-tinted glasses to shield you from the evil horrors of this world. Peace!

Survival Family

Eiga Sai 2018

Japanese Film Festival

Greenbelt 1, Cinema 2

A family of 4 - a couple + their teenage children embark on a journey of survival as Japan and later it seems the entire world experience a power outage, which also affected computerized and battery enabled products. 

In a highly industrial country like the land of the Rising Sun, power plays a major part in everything which affects the citizens' daily life. From cars, trains, airplanes to water supply, elevators in high rise buildings even the biometric machine to enter office buildings. Nothing is operational, turning lives upside down as they come to grips with a reality mired in darkness and chaos.

What started as a power interruption soon extends for days even months, thus the Suzuki family decide to travel to the countryside (to the hometown of the mother) on their bicycles with very bare essentials to tie them over. Hordes of people walking on expressways, most of them biking to distant places, anywhere but Tokyo which has been transformed into a ghost town. 

Yet I have to say, it is only in Japan that you will see people being so calm and accepting of such a bleak situation. No looting, no erupted violence - well it wasn't shown in this film, anyway.

The Suzuki family with an office worker dad, a housewife mom, a bratty daughter and an aloof son  - soon enough bond together during their 'road trip'. In a society where everyone have their noses down and busy with their smartphones, it was refreshing to see a family actually talking and doing activities together without any distractions.

It is mostly a light comedy which aims not to take the serious occurrence too seriously. The Suzuki family encounters well meaning strangers on the road, fleeting moments as they eventually part ways. They eventually settle in this gorgeous coastal town sans electricity but plenty of activities like weaving, gardening and actual conversations with each other to occupy their time.

 A good film that shows us how we tend to be too dependent on technology and its effects on modern society. Aloofness, lack of bonding moments, lost of face to face communication taking a toll on our lives. It could have been set in any country and we would all be able to relate to our dependence on technology, nowadays.

P.S.

The global power outage lasted for two and a half years and it was blamed on solar flares or an approaching comet. 

Black Panther

Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, 

Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Andy Serkis,

Angela Bassett, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke

"Hero.  Legend.  King"

I would probably be the last person to stand in line to watch a superhero movie. Although I do catch glimpses of these type of movies on cable TV, when I am cooking or having breakfast/lunch/dinner. There was a lot of hype about "Black Panther", so I got curious. By now, I am sure everybody + his uncle have seen the movie so I won't get into the nitty gritty of the narrative. 

The cinematography was sleek and conveyed the spectacular nature of Wakanda. The costume design of the Black Panther, the Killmonger, the Dora Milaje, even the colorful garbs of the elders - was all very vibrant and projected well on the big screen. The set design - from the rustic backdrop of Wakanda with  its luscious forested area with amazing waterfalls, to the modern and technologically advanced gadgets used by the Black Panther - all contributed towards a visually stunning viewing experience.

Except for Martin Freeman as a rather 'weak' CIA agent (well I mean his physical appearance and demeanor isn't the usual mold of an American spy, right?) and Andy Serkis in a short lived role as Ulysses Klaue, the villain who stole Vibranium, the entire cast is composed of African Americans in well developed and multi-dimensional characters. 

Chadwick Boseman as the Black Panther was believable with his subtle portrayal. Not too flashy as I thought he should be, but he gave T'challa much depth. On the other hand, Michael B. Brown as his long lost American cousin Erik aka Killmonger was flamboyant and filled with rage and angst. I do like the contentious vibe and friction between them. Their fight scene during the 'claiming of the throne' part was skillfully choreographed and one of the best scenes in the film, I believe.

I also salute the presence of strong female characters in the form of Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and even Shuri (Letitia Wright). Gone are the days of helpless damsels in distress, women are now also capable of being powerful, strong and can really kick ass! Woot, woot! 

I knew nothing about Wakanda, its rulers, its army guards, its location, its strengths and weakness and its '"enemies". Thankfully, "Black Panther" did a good job in giving viewers a hugely entertaining story line with a good cast,  credible dialogue (even invented their own language), enough action filled scenes together with poignant moments.  Good one!

Red Sparrow

Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton,

Jeremy Irons, Matthias Schoenarts, 

Charlotte Rampling, Joely Richardson

"The Road to forgiveness begins with Betrayal"

Dominika Egorova (Jennifer Lawrence) is a prima ballerina with the famous Bolshoi Ballet. But her career ends when she suffers a major injury during a performance. Her uncle Vanya (Matthias Schoenarts), an intelligence officer forces her to be a recruit at the Sparrow School, a secret Russian intelligence service where the art of manipulation is ingrained. At first, she was reluctant but due to the special needs of her invalid mother, Dominika agrees. 

The school is run by a fierce matron (Charlotte Rampling) who pushes the recruits to their limits. Manipulated and coerced into unpleasant situations where they use their bodies as instruments of seduction, the training is quite brutal and pays a heavy toll on some of the recruits. But Dominika is a strong-willed person, her background in ballet is a plus, she strives and is soon assigned to her first 'assignment'. 

Things though get complicated when her next task involves luring a CIA agent, Nate Nash (Joel Edgerton) to trust her with his knowledge about the intelligence and state security of both countries. This part gets complicated as there is a thin line on who is recruiting whom, is Dominika a double agent, who exactly is orchestrating the entire operation etcera etcera etcera. You know, spying and counter espionage tactics which can be quite murky for us, commoners.

Now here is the thing. Jennifer Lawrence with her 'fake' Russian accent is quite convincing in her role as the feisty Dominika. She portrays her character with the fortitude of a woman who has been through a lot but continues to strive amidst the adversities she encounters. The rest of the cast all do good in their respective roles. Special mention goes to Charlotte Rampling as the tough, no-nonsense trainer at the Sparrow School, she could melt ice with her piercing gaze. The setting is appropriate with the meanderings of a spy thriller, cold bleak weather adding to the whole espionage vibe.

I get the first part, the whole vicious training at the Sparrow school. I mean, from watching the gripping TV series, “The Americans”, I know these Russian spies are very well trained and can easily adapt to any situation which may arise. 

But the latter part where the two main leads interact with each other in a game of deceit, lies and manipulation, the plot becomes very complicated and not in a good way! Perhaps the writers wanted it that way, to add an aura of mystery or may be I was slow in comprehending this thriller. Either way, I have read other reviews where most of them agree that the plot was sorely lacking in more ways than one.

Having Jennifer Lawrence as its lead and she did well as Dominika was not enough. I conclude by saying, Red Sparrow had all the potential of being a good spy thriller, yet it failed to manipulate us into this web.

Murder on the Orient Express

Johnny Depp, Kenneth Branagh, Michelle Pfeiffer,

Daisy Ridley, Derek Jacobi, Penelope Cruz,

Dame Judi Dench, Willem Dafoe, Josh Gad

"Everyone is a Suspect"

This latest remake of the Agatha Christie's novel is directed by Kenneth Branagh who I grew up watching in several films with his ex wife Emma Thompson. In this tale, he portrays the famous Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot. A role which I normally associate with the actors Peter Ustinov (in his late years) and David Suchet whom I remember as being really good characterization of Poirot. 

Murder on the Orient Express is one, if not the most famous Agatha Christie novel. The book, set in the late 1930s is a crime story with numerous characters who all become suspects in the murder that occurs on board this famous train ride. A journey that was interrupted by an avalanche which blocks the rail tracks. Poirot who happens to be a passenger on the train takes it upon himself to probe the murder, given that he is under immense pressure to solve 'the crime' lest the killer strikes again and before they reach their destination.

Kenneth Branagh takes on the gargantuan task of directing as well as essaying the main role which entails sporting the famous moustache, his witty analysis of every circumstance with his natural probing attitude. Although Branagh tends to overact with his soliloquies, his Poirot was spot on.  

The rest of the cast headed by the enigmatic Johnny Depp all blend in well together. Each of them performing their best in a sea of characters who all want to stand out. Yet they do well with the complicated dialogue which is reminiscent of the manner, English was spoken during that era.

Costume wise, they are all garbed befitting the late 1930s. The plot with its numerous twists and flashbacks can be a bit murky, trudging and clocking in 114 minutes. Certain scenes were dragging on unnecessarily while a few vital sequences passed by too quickly.  Overall, the film is buoyed by its great cast who did their best to keep us invested in the whodunit till the very end, with its big reveal folding up nicely towards the somewhat, dare I say forced conclusion.  

I remember watching the 1974 version of this film with Albert Finney as Poirot, but my short attention span memory completely blocked out who the killer was and how it all ended. Therefore I was gripped with suspense and wanted to learn who committed the crime in this version, even though Kenneth Branagh with Poirot's moustache engaging in a soliloquy ever so often can be quite distracting, I'd say!

Last Flag Flying

Laurence Fishburne, Steve Carell, Bryan Cranston

"Their last Mission wasn't
on the Battlefield"

Yet another movie that deals with grief (yes I know, I like watching films with a lot of drama). Not too hysterical, subtle yet fraught with emotion-filled performances from its three lead stars, this Richard Linklater (Before Sunrise trilogy, Boyhood) movie explores grief and friendship.

2003, three ex-Marines reunite after 30 years to help one of them bury his son who was killed in the Iraq war. Despite never keeping in touch nor being updated on each others lives, the bond between them resumes during the long journey (road trip, train ride) to bring the remains to his hometown.

Veteran actors Bryan Cranston, Laurence Fishburne and Steve Carell portray their well developed characters, brilliantly. Each of them contributing their artistic skills to flesh out characters who are basically strangers to each other but their being Marines prevail and together they help each other out, reunited by a common denominator named grief. The three of them reminisce about their 'experiences' during the Vietnam war, painful and traumatic memories. Even as another war (the Iraq war) claims another fatality, Larry's (Steve Carell) son. 

This isn't a anti-war film nor does it justify the act of war, even though there is one specific scene which clearly show the lack of transparency vis a vis the cause of death of a soldier. This scene comes to mind as we see each of the three characters handling the said situation, differently. This is not to say which reaction was correct or who overreacted yet the way each of the characters essayed out this scene says a lot about the range of their acting talents. 

Therefore it is scenes like these, which is reminiscent of a Linklater narrative and makes for great viewing. Never mind if the film didn't do well in the box office or it isn't headed by a known actor, the story is poignant and sometimes in the grand scheme of things, it is enough.

Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri

Frances McDormand, Sam Rockwell,

Woody Harrelson, Zeljko Ivanek

Another film that tackles grief yet in a completely different manner. Taking matters into her own hands, Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) rents three billboards on the outskirts of a small town. She posts three provoking messages on them, all related to the unsolved murder case of her daughter and addressed to William Willoughby (Woody Harrelson) the chief of police. A full year has past and they are nowhere near to arresting let alone finding any suspect in the brutal rape/slay case.

The whole town is aghast and everyone has a valid opinion on the controversial messages on the billboards. Meanwhile Mildred goes on with her usual routine yet a different side of her surfaces. An attitude prone to violent streaks yet understandably as it comes from sentiments of deep frustration,  certain feelings of guilt and self blame for what happened to her daughter.

This soulful movie is peppered with a believable cast led by the indefatigable Frances McDormand, the reliable Woody Harrelson and the solid delivery by Sam Rockwell was quite revealing. They all essay their roles with nuanced performances that hit you to the core. Their subtle acting style lead to their sympathetic characterization. They may be characters in a small town but their larger than life characters create quite an impact in this dark comedy. 

A movie that handles tragedy with a cleverly written script, a sharp dialogue and well acted by a formidable cast that just keeps on giving even though their characters are all deeply flawed. 

But it is these very flaws which make them genuinely human and this is where this film draws its strength. Truly award winning performances and 2 thumbs up for a job well done.

Collateral Beauty

Will Smith, Edward Norton, Kate Winslet,

Helen Mirren, Keira Knightley, 

Michael Pena,  Naomie Harris

"Connect to the Beauty of Life"

The film opens with Howard (Will Smith), the charismatic co-founder of a successful ad agency giving a pep talk to his team. He asks them "What is your why"? He replies "Time, Love and Death.  They connect with every person in this universe. We long for love. We wish we had more time.  And we fear death". Good points to ponder on.  

Three years later, we again see Howard but this time he has been reduced to an empty shell, a melancholic person wallowing in misery. Yet he has a good reason, he lost his 6 year old daughter to cancer. He still goes to the office but he doesn't talk to anyone, he just spends his days building mazes of dominoes which he eventually 'demolishes' and starts building them again. He hardly sleeps, goes out on his bike being reckless biking on the wrong side of the road. 

His 3 co-partners are worried about him, about the fate of the ad agency which isn't doing well so they resort to hiring actors at a local theater to 'stalk' Howard. This is brought about by 3 letters which Howard wrote to Time, Love and Death. His missives are mostly guilty stricken, longing for answers and deeply emotional letters. 

So Claire (Kate Winslet), Simon (Michael Pena) and Whit (Edward Norton) think the best way to salvage the agency is to prove that Howard is mentally unstable so they can sell the company to another media outfit.

The film is focused on Howard talking with these 3 actors named Rafi, Amy and Brigitte who have been assigned to tackle the persona of Time, Love and Death. 

Time (Jacob Latimore) is paired with Claire, a workaholic who may have wasted time by focusing too much on her career instead of starting a family. Love (Keira Knightley) is paired with Whit, a single dad who is trying to win back his daughter's love. While Death  (Helen Mirren) is handled by Simon, who hides his terminal illness from his family and friends.  In their encounters with Howard and their respective handlers, we see how their interaction slowly make an impact on their dispositions, and their overall attitude towards life.  

Howard also seeks the help of a counselling group whose goal is to help their members cope with grief after losing a child. The group is headed by Madeleine (Naomie Harris) a divorced mother whose daughter succumbed  to a rare form of cancer. At first, Howard is hesitant to join them but slowly inches his way into the group during his frequent 'run-ins' with Time, Love and Death.

Surprisingly, this movie flopped at the box office and the critics lambasted it. The presence of the strong cast could not salvage it but I liked the movie. It deals with profound grief which isn't an easy subject to tackle. Certainly, the plot had some loopholes like that unexpected twist towards the end but I think the cast more than made up for it  with their heartfelt delivery and strong performances.

Now allow me to venture a guess as to why this melancholic film didn't rate high with the critics. I believe it is because it was given the "Hollywood" treatment. Well this isn't necessarily a bad thing, mind you. Yet in certain movies, it can completely ruin the story by veering too far off from the main message by throwing in too many distractions like unnecessary side plots. They tend to confuse complex with complicated and this doesn't bode well for any narrative, no matter how good the cast are. 

I reiterate though that I liked this emotional movie and was deeply touched by its essence.

Victoria and Abdul

Dame Judi Dench,  Ali Fazal,

Eddie Izzard

"An untold True Story of

a Queen and her best Friend"

The film begins with a disclaimer "based on true events ... mostly" so this should all put us at ease. The fact that the aging Queen Victoria, a cantankerous being in her old age suddenly regains her joie de vivre from her friendship with an Indian servant named Abdul Karim is really preposterous, come to think about it.

How in that day and age can a lowly servant develop a deep friendship with the ruler of many colonies? Even to this current time, the British monarchy is still bound with many protocols to merit a comfortable liaison with them. Even though the younger members of the monarchy seem to be more approachable, I believe they are still restricted and controlled by certain age old norms and traditions.

So anyway back to the film. We see an aged Queen Victoria (Judi Dench) who simply goes through her ceremonial tasks being terribly bored that she literally falls asleep.  Enter Abdul, a lowly prison clerk who is sent to the UK to present a ceremonial coin at the Golden Jubilee banquet for Queen Victoria, mostly because of his tall height. He was not to speak unless spoken to yet he manages to charm himself in the good graces of the Queen.  

Their interaction involves him teaching her to speak and write Urdu. He also becomes her confidante and  cheers her up with inspirational quotes when she is melancholic. It is a good, healthy platonic relationship yet naturally the staff and her family all disapprove and come up with sorts of scenarios to keep them apart.

Dame Judi Dench is a great thespian and her portrayal of Queen Victoria is spot on. Her acting is perfection.  Ali Fazal is a revelation and his role as the doe-eyed, optimistic "Munshi" (teacher) is heartwarming. Their platonic chemistry is palpable and they earn my praises for their believable and poignant performances. 

The cinematography is authentic with vast scenes of castles and the verdant English countryside. The costumes are befitting the era buoyed by a stunning set design. The plot veers towards racism and discrimination against a different culture, it was true to point as it was quite prevalent in that era. When imperialistic monarchs mastered the art of colonization.

Overall, it is an entertaining movie about an unusual friendship yet unfortunately it lacks a certain something. So much so that I suddenly miss all those wonderful  yet forlorn Ivory-Merchant movies of days gone by.

Wonder Woman (2017)

Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, 

Robin Wright, Connie Nielsen, 

Danny Huston, David Thewlis

"Power. Grace. Wisdom. Wonder."

I grew up watching Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman in the 1980s. A tough woman fighting crime and just doing good for mankind. I never knew about her back story, the who, the how and the why she was a superhero. Well considering that this was back in the days when google didn't exist so information wasn't readily available in one click. So I was really invested in this film because it explores her background and how she became a superhero. 

At a young age, Diana (Gal Gadot) was already quite fierce. The daughter of Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen) an Amazon warrior and Zeus himself, she was of privilege stock. But this didn't keep her from watching other Amazon warriors practicing their warrior skills, led by her aunt Antiope (Robin Wright). Their little paradise like world called Themyscira filled with only women is suddenly 'invaded' by German troops who were chasing an American pilot named Steve Trevor (Chris Pine). He just happens to be a spy and somehow thinks he can stop the German army from winning the war.

Having grown in an all female environment, Diana is both curious and intrigued with the pilot. But once he mentions about a war, she becomes more interested as she was raised to believe that Ares, an evil demigod is out to destroy the world so she decides to accompany Steve to find so called villain to stop his evil intentions.

She soon joins Steve in his fight to stop the Germans in developing an vital tool that will annihilate the entire opposing forces. For a woman and an Amazon warrior, she is quite fearless yet at the same time she displays a certain vulnerability that makes her quite an endearing character to root for. 

Gal Gadot is a mesmerizing figure to watch as Wonder Woman. She is quite beautiful and has this twinkle in her eyes that adds to her charismatic superhero image. The innocence as well as the bravery of Diana is well manifested by Gadot in her first leading role. Her chemistry with Chris Pine is believable enough for a romantic interest without resorting to silly love scenes which can sometimes just ruin the entire love story angle. She carries the entire film on her worthy shoulders and although there are certain flaws in her acting, we are all willing to let it slide as she is the Wonder Woman, after all.

The setting is the first World War so there are enough fight scenes befitting a conflict. Action sequences are also a plenty and they are all executed well. The plot develops at a good pace with the usual theme of good vs evil  prevalent in superhero movies with an unexpected twist that leads towards an exciting, action filled conclusion. 

An entertaining movie with just enough relevance and gravitas to elevate it above the other superheroes movies, that simply rely on bombastic computer generated effects to draw a  crowd.

Kingsman: The Golden Circle

Taron Egerton, Mark Strong, Colin Firth,
Julianne Moore, Halle Berry, Channing Tatum,

Edward Holcroft, Hanna Alstrom

"Reports of my Death have been
greatly Exaggerated"

Through some elaborate hacking scheme, the Kingsman headquarters is blown up along with the residences of some of its agents. Only Eggsy (Taron Egerton)) and Merlin (Mark Strong) are left to pick up the pieces.  This leads them to Kentucky where they discover Statesman, their American counterpart hidden inside a whiskey distillery. 

Much to their surprise, they also discover that Harry Hart (Colin Firth), who was Eggsy's mentor is still alive but suffers from severe amnesia due to the procedure that saved his life and was performed by agents of Statesman.

Both agencies combine to fight a common enemy, an organization known as The Golden Circle headed by  Poppy Adams (Julianne Moore). A megalomaniac out to control the illegal drugs trade. Her base is deep in the jungles of Cambodia and guarded by armed men and two vicious mechanical dog robots. The design of the place pays tribute to the 1950s with a big diner that reminds us of one of the venues at the Universal Studios amusement parks.

The first installment concentrated on the training of the new recruits of secret spy agency. It was an action filled, slick parody of the Bond movies. It was fast paced, peppered with multi-dimensional characters and the plot was interesting enough to grab your attention.

The sequel features an actual operation which involves many side plots, set in various locations like the stunning sequence in the Italian Alps. Big name stars like Halle Berry, Jeff Bridges and Channing Tatum are not used for their full potential. 

While villains like Poppy Adams and Agent Whiskey (Pedro Pascal) are reduced to caricatures which is a pity. Don't get me started on Elton John starring as himself in quite a ridiculous role, that was just plain silly and quite stupid. Eggsy is still charmingly portrayed by Taron Egerton but giving him a love interest in the persona of a Swedish princess with whom he has no chemistry at all is a major  flaw. 

It is still a good popcorn movie despite its glaring flaws. I do like the soundtrack as it features John Denver's songs so I can totally relate with Merlin! Hehe

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, 

Dave Bautista, Michael Rooker, 

Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel,  Kurt Russell

"Anyone can Save the Galaxy once"

Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) and his 'gang' are back. Now they are officially the guardians of the galaxy battling all sorts of monsters and alien creatures to ensure the safety of the universe.

They are assigned to fight some creatures/beings on behalf of The Sovereign and after their job was accomplished, Rocket (voice of Bradley Cooper) steals some really important batteries so they again find themselves in trouble. 

In their escape though, they run into Ego (Kurt Russell) who turns out to be Peter's long lost father. Whoa!  Ego is a celestial being or a god but with a small 'g', has his own planet which looks like heaven. Yet something is a bit amiss with this dreamlike scenario and soon enough we find out what it is. 

There was a lot of hype about this sequel in terms of Peter finding his father. So most of the film is about Peter reconnecting with his father. It is like a long flashback until the true intentions of Ego is revealed. That turning point is when the film really regains its former glory. An intergalactic battle with much needed action sequences that thankfully wakes us up from our stupor.

But it has to be said that the case of the stolen batteries as the main plot is quite flimsy. A thin segue to the father - son reunion which didn't turn out to be a good one. I, for one didn't see it coming but perhaps it is because I was heavily medicated.

Nevertheless, the second installment is still fun to watch. Merry bunch of characters all acting true to form especially the cute lil twig, Groot. Irreverent dialogue and sarcastic jokes abound plus a good soundtrack of 70's songs works to add on the charm!

A Monster Calls

Lewis MacDougall, Sigourney Weaver,

Felicity Jones,

"Stories are wild Creatures"

The other day, we returned from our Yuletide holidays and are all sick with the flu. So I'm staying in bed, fully medicated and to chill I decided to watch movies from the comfort of my sick laden bed.

For easy viewing, I picked this film thinking it was a simple coming of age flick but boy was I wrong! Not only is this visually stunning movie filled with significantly powerful messages, it deals with sensitive topics like illness, bullying, grief and death. Not what you'd expect from a children's book. But then aren't most stories from this genre really dark tales?

Young Connor has too much on his plate. An artistic loner, he is constantly bullied in school and when he comes home he has to watch his mother battle terminal cancer. He finds solace in the form of a giant yew tree which comes alive at a specific time and regales him with stories filed with wisdom that tackle some issues currently plaguing Connor's life.

I believe it is these stories which encourage Connor to face his so called demons even though he is too young to be stressed with these burdens. It is also necessary for him as he turns into a young adult and must be armed with enough (painful) experiences to face life.

I like the vivid animated scenes that are incorporated within the film. It adds a childlike wonder and it helps cushion against the dark elements of the stories. The cast performs very well, the dialogue is brilliant especially the haunting voiceover of Liam Nesson as the giant yew tree. It is a good combination of fantasy and realism that is both provocative and poignant. Highly recommended!