Killers of the Flower Moon

 Leo Di Caprio, Robert de Niro, Lily Gladstone
Jesse Plemons, Brendan Fraser, John Lithgow

2024 Oscar Awards

Best Picture Nominee
Lily Gladstone: Best Actress Nominee
Robert de Niro: Best Supporting Actor Nominee
Martin Scorsese: Best Director Nominee

Leo di Caprio and Robert de Niro are enough reason to watch any movie. Cue in the Martin Scorsese as its director and the refreshing presence of Lily Gladstone as Mollie the central character who holds everything and everyone together in this intriguing tale, one is guaranteed to be entertained.

Based on the non fiction novel (I haven't read because who has time to read, these days?) of the same title by David Grann, it took Scorsese several years to film due to the disruptive pandemic and he also had to convince the Osage nation to help him in the filming of this grand saga. Naturally, it is a delicate issue when it comes to dealing with the struggles that Native Americans endured in the glorious past.

Set in Oklahoma in the 1920s, the story revolves around the Osage Indian tribe's rise to success after discovering oil in their ancestral lands. Any success, be it earned or achieved is always riddled with long tedious murky struggles. In other words, everything comes at a price. 

Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo di Caprio) is a second World War veteran who returns home in Oklahoma to stay with his uncle Bill (Robert de Niro) and his brother Byron (Scott Shepard). Eager to make his mark after the gruelling war, he hits the jackpot when he meets Mollie (Lily Gladstone). She is a wealthy Osage lady with rights to oil profits from her land. Soon enough, Ernest and Mollie marry and start a family. Yet the question lingers, did he marry her for love or for her oil rights?

Volatile times abound as some Osage tribe members are murdered under mysterious circumstances and Mollie is determined to get to the bottom of these unsolved cases. Voilence, mayhem, power grabbing, and intrigues are the norm in Osage nation as affluence can corrupt the hearts of greedy, unscrupulous even God fearing men (and women).

Running at 3 hours and 26 minutes with several characters thrown into the mix, dialogue in English, some French and the Osage dialect and a vivid cinematography of the Oklahome landscape, in essence the film efficiently chronicled the trials and tribulations of the Osage nation. From a state of hopelessness to sudden boom with the discovery of oil. From being respected members of society to being taken advantage of and even murdered by selfish, greedy 'white people'. This film had all the tell-tale signs for a good caliber movie, too bad it took over 3 long hours to make its point.

The Irishman

Robert de Niro, Joe Pesci, Ray Romano,

Harvey Keitel, Al Pacino, Bobby Canavale,

Anna Paquin, Stephen Graham

"His story Changed history"

NETFLIX

Scorsese, De Niro, Pesci, Pacino - their surnames alone can draw in the crowds! But this mob thriller was released on Netflix, the streaming service. No need to head to the cinemas to see these film industry bigwigs acting flawlessly in a compelling film based on the nonfiction book "I Heard You Paint Houses" by Charles Brandt.  

The author interviewed Frank Sheeran, the Irish hitman for the Bufalino crime family who confessed in a series of interviews that he was the one who killed Jimmy Hoffa, the teamster and union leader who disappeared in 1975.

We are first introduced to Frank Sheeran (Robert de Niro) as a truck driver who delivers good quality meat to restaurants. Wanting to earn more money, he agrees to deliver his first grade steaks to Skinny Razor (Bobby Canavale), a mob boss who worked for Angelo Bruno (Harvey Keitel), the head of the Philadelphia crime family for two decades. Frank gets fired from his job and hires union lawyer Bill Bufalino (Ray Romano) to represent him. Sheeran is acquitted, then introduced to Bill's cousin Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci), an upper state Pennsylvania mobster, who hires him to 'paint houses'. So begins the WWII veteran, former truck driver's life of criminal activities, working for both Bruno and Bufalino.  

Sheeran claims "I heard you paint houses?" was the first thing Hoffa asked him when they first spoke over the phone. A mob term which means "I heard you kill people". Russell Bufalino, sort of "loaned" Sheeran to Hoffa so Frank could take care of matters for the head of the Teamsters, from being a bodyguard, a thug to a traveling companion, following Hoffa around the country as he held local meetings, fortifying the labor union.  

Sheeran and Hoffa were two peas in a pod, their families were close, a symbiotic relationship that lead to a life long friendship. In fact, Hoffa trusted Frank so much that even at that instant when he entered that house in Detriot for an alleged meeting with some mobsters, he had no idea it was his last day on earth. Fell by two bullets behind his head, shot by his friend, Frank. Hoffa's body was taken and burnt in some oven pit. Well, is this true? Did Sheeran really kill his friend as ordered by several mob bosses? We can never know for sure but an old Frank claims, he did it. 

This well directed, well crafted epic movie rolls for 3 hours and 30 minutes. Thankfully, it is shown on Netflix so I could pause it for toilet breaks and get some snacks. I was totally engrossed in the story, I barely noticed the time. Told through the eyes of a much older and cancer stricken Sheeran in a wheelchair, waiting out his final days in a hospice - the non linear flashbacks complete with de-aging technology (which works wonderfully), adds much gravitas to this realistic mob story. Based on true mobsters, Scorsese would add snippets beside the characters's faces - notes on how they met their untimely (or timely) death. Sure there are violent scenes but it won't be a credible crime story without some brutality, right? 

For the supporting cast, we had Ray Romano doing a good job as the sly attorney, a far cry from his comedic days. Too bad, Harvey Keitel is given very few lines, in few scenes. He barely scratched the surface of an intriguing character as Angelo Bruno. The indefatigable Al Pacino is excellent as Jimmy Hoffa. Pacino can overact sometimes but in this case, it was a plus as he essayed a larger than life, colorful character, whose disappearance still remains one of life's greatest mysteries, as enigmatic as the Loch Ness monster saga. 

Lastly, I want to thank Scorsese for (1) bringing De Niro and Pesci together in movie. I read that Pesci turned down Scorsese's offer several times, preferring to enjoy his showbiz retirement in peace. I grew up watching their tandem in such classics as "Goodfellas" and "Casino". Even though they are already much older, their rapport never missed a beat. Both of them giving spectacular performances in roles which they can act out in their sleep. (2) For proving that good film making is still very much alive! Relying on a credible plot, hiring an ensemble cast of great actors, peppering the story line with just the right blend of action, adventure and drama - a cinematic feast. So you can take as much time as you want to regale us with your master storytelling, Mr Scorsese!

El Reino (The Realm)

Pelikula 2019
Spanish Film Festival
Greenbelt 3 Cinemas

I only managed to catch one film at this year's Spanish Film Festival. A political thriller about money laundering, dubious land deals, conspiracy and corruption. The main character, Manuel is a local politician who has a luxurious lifestyle but this all comes crumbling down when he and his peers in a political party are accused of wide scale corruption.

The whole 2 hours and 12 minutes deals with Manuel trying to get support from his peers who have either made deals with the government or are tight lipped about their involvement in the corruption. The saying that 'you only know who your true friends are in times of trouble' fits perfectly here. Trust issues rear their ugly head as Manuel is running out of time to prove his innocence or at least lessen his complicity in the corrupt practices of his entire political party. So he decides to take revenge and in the process try to redeem himself.

Pacing is balanced with car chases as well as dialogue driven sequences. The ensemble cast are credible as they do seem like corrupt politicians from their demeanor to the manner they converse. But kudos goes to reliable actor Antonio de la Torre as Manuel - the stress of his character visibly painted on his face and his behavior as he turns from scapegoat to whistle blower in a span of a few minutes towards the last part of The Realm.

The narrative is universal as corruption is common among most politicians in any country where the system has failed people. Citizens are not protected, unemployment prevails, the divide between the haves and the have-nots widens, borders are not safeguarded, immigration issues. Basic services are not provided and other prevailing problems which plague a nation rocked with corruption. And this can come in the form of dishonest politicians as well as unscrupulous business owners who overcharge people for their services.

Alright so I got sidetracked! Look what any talk of corruption triggered in me. These were precisely the thoughts which entered my mind as I watched this movie. A well crafted film about a desperate man struggling to right the system which he contributed to. But is it too late for him? Is there any chance of reversal both for him and the system? Questions we are left pondering from the abrupt conclusion and dare I say the answers cannot be replied with a simple 'yes' or 'no'. So think about it!

Avengers: Endgame

Robert Downey Jr,  Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo,

Scarlett Johansson, Tom Holland, Chris Hemsworth,

Jeremy Renner, Benedict Cumberbatch, Don Cheadle,
Chadwick Boseman, Brie Larson, Paul Rudd,
Josh Brolin, Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana

"Avenge the Fallen"

Cinema 4, The Red Carpet @ Shang

My sister is in town so we normally watch movies at the theater. It has to be said that we are not die hard fans of superheroes films yet we are certainly aware of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's characters. I just got home, still all hyped up so I better compose a post when everything is still fresh in my giddy mind. This film being over 3 hours, we decided to have dinner first so our tummies won't grumble while watching this much anticipated finale.

Avenger: Endgame is the last installment in the Infinity saga. We knew which characters did not make it in the previous Avengers: Infinity War. With a single snap of Thanos' (Josh Brolin) fingers, most of them disintegrated into tiny dust particles.

This film takes place in 2023 where the surviving superheroes have gone on with their lives. Taking them into different directions, all of them trying their best to forget (although it is very difficult) the devastation which occurred. An event which affected the whole planet, their loved ones and themselves.

Not wiling to quit, they devised a complex plan to yet again defeat Thanos and for the 'lost' ones to return. It is comprehensive, very tricky and involves time travel but certainly can work, if it is successful. This plan take our remaining superheroes back in time. For them to gather all the stones, right before Thanos got all of them and snapped his fingers.

All of these thrilling time travel adventures comprise about 85% of the entire movie. The rest is focused on the final battle - between Thanos' army and all of the MCU superheroes. A fight scene of all fight scenes - a visual smorgasbord of protagonists versus villains. Each of them using their superpowers to defeat the enemies. Unfortunately, some don't survive while others are bruised and battered.

The final minutes of the movie calms down as goodbyes are expressed and we bid farewell to certain characters. But with the promise of seeing some of these characters yet again in their own stand alone movies for us to better understand how they evolved into the superhero realm.

Even if it is a three hour movie, there is enough drama, comedy, anxiety and excitement to keep us tuned in till the very last minute. A very lovely and enjoyable epic end to a much beloved saga which has entertained us for many years. We also look forward to more superhero movies to amuse us in the coming years.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout

Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, 

Rebecca Ferguson, Alec Baldwin,

Simon Pegg, Vhing Rhames

"Some Missions are Not a Choice"

It doesn't hurt to add in an action filled feature to maintain a balanced viewing habit. The Mission: Impossible franchise is always a good choice when it comes to fast paced action stunts, car chases, panoramic locales + a complex plot to keep it all together.

Fallout is the 6th film in the franchise and it continues 2 years after the capture of Solomon Lane. His organization known as the Syndicate have regrouped and now call themselves the Apostles headed by a mysterious arms dealer named John Lark. Their nefarious plan is to use three plutonium cores to simultaneously attack holy sites like the Vatican, Jerusalem and Mecca in Saudi Arabia. 

Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his team were first assigned to recover the plutonium cores yet fail in their mission. They are joined by August Walker (Henry Cavill) a CIA trained operative as they travel all over the world to recover the cores and prevent those disastrous attacks. What seemed like a simple recovery operation turns into time consuming hunt for the dangerous terrorists who are always a step ahead of the team. 

I read numerous articles on Tom Cruise (who does most, if not all of his own stunts) suffering a serious leg injury while filming a scene in Paris. There were indeed many well choreographed stunts in this film from running on roof tops, flying a helicopter through the snow capped mountain ranges to BMW car chases in the streets of Paris, France.

M:I- Fallout has all the right ingredients of a good film - action packed sequences, good directing, a clever and credible story line, great cinematography, neat editing and an ensemble cast who by now can play their multi-dimensional characters with their eyes closed. 

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.

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.

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!

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

The Foreigner

Jackie Chan, Pierce Brosnan

"Never push a Good man too far"

Cinema 3, Shang Cineplex

It's my birthday and I'll watch a film if I want to ... so I did. Having said that, I am not a big Jackie Chan fan but among the films showing today, it held the most potential to satisfy my movie craving.

The film kicks off with an act of terrorism, a bombing at a local bank which cost the lives of 12 people. Among the fatalities is Fan, a teenager who was at an adjacent dress store picking out her gown for a prom. Her father Quan (Jackie Chan) is heartbroken and naturally distraught. He keeps hounding the local police for more details about the perpetrators of this horrific crime. When weeks past and Quan is still seeking answers as well as justice for his daughter, his next focus for constant harassment is a local politician named Liam Hennessy (Pierce Brosnan) whose past affiliations may hold the key to the identities of the suspects. 

An older Jackie Chan and dare I say much wiser as lately his roles are more mature and he is not just a 'ninja' who karate chops all the villains. Quan is a multi-dimensional character whose troubled past add much depth and further cements our understanding of why he would go to great lengths to 'capture' the terrorists responsible for his daughter's untimely demise. Naturally there are still some nicely choreographed action scenes courtesy of Chan who we all know does his own stunts in all his films. 

But beyond all the necessary stunts, the plot revolves around a believable political thriller. The IRA and British government 'negotiations' and the behind the scenes concessions and demands from both sides to aim for a lasting and peaceful solution - provides a good backdrop - so it goes beyond just another predictable father.seeking.justice.and.revenge.for.his.slain.daughter premise. Pierce Brosnan is as Irish as one can get so his role was appropriate for his age, his stature and his craft.

A good blend of action and political thriller with a few twists thrown into the mix makes "The Foreigner" an entertainingly good film!

The Accountant

Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, 

J.K Simmons

"Calculate your Choices"

Ben Affleck stars as Christian Wolff, a freelance accountant with a complex past but it is his present affiliations with certain shady companies whose books he was hired to audit which will make his life much more complicated than ever.

During his childhood, Christian had autism in a period when the disease was still in its early stages of diagnosis so his parents didn't really know to deal with him. The adult Christian is a loner but seems to have done good for himself and manages to keep his illness pretty much under control (thanks to his strict training by his military dad) although there are certain circumstances which trigger his 'outbursts'.

The film is an action thriller with a smart narrative which tends to lose its way once certain side plots overlap. Yet at the same time, it is these side plots which add an emotional element both to its central character as well as to the movie ... so I guess it is not a bad thing as far as "The Accountant" is concerned.  The story unfolds in present day with certain flashback scenes intertwined to give the audience more backgrounder on how Christian evolved throughout the years. 

The supporting cast led by J.K Simmons (as a relentless Treasury Department agent) and Anna Kendrick (in a short yet significant role) among other equally talented actors deliver credible performances.  

But it is truly a Ben Affleck movie as he is in almost every single frame and he does well in this meaty role of a complex character who barely speaks yet his action speaks louder than words. They say that Ben Affleck is a far better director than an actor and I agree but I like to add that he just lacks range and is not necessarily a bad actor, per se.  There I said it. On that note, I believe he does fairly well in "The Accountant". 

Spectre

Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz,

Lea Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes,

Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris

"The Dead are Alive"

I've always been an avid fan of the 007 Bond movies. My fascination began when Roger Moore portrayed the debonair spy with a fine combination of charm, wit and humor in the 1980s.

I still believe the Bond films are relevant and quite current even with stiff competition from other franchises like the Bourne series and the action-packed Mission: Impossible features that crop out every now and then.

This time Bond (Daniel Craig) has gone rogue after an encrypted message from the departed M (Dame Judi Dench) leads him to pursue a huge criminal syndicate named Spectre headed by his arch nemesis Ernst Stravo Blofield (Christoph Waltz) who it turns out has a deep connection with Bond.

I'd say that Spectre's nefarious aim which is to control all the information data available worldwide and use surveillance to propagate mayhem and destruction is a bit feeble. Yet it is current as we live in an information age and certainly technology has advanced since the first Bond movie was released.

The signature action scenes are abundant with car chases, helicopter crashes and spectacular hand to hand combat stunts filmed in exotic locales - those are the moments worth watching out for.

Daniel Craig, craggy faced but extremely fit both physically and mentally as James Bond still exudes the traditional suave and charming wit of the character and at the same time he still manages to remain as elusive and secretive as ever by adding more layers of mystery to his intriguing persona. 

It is also good to note that since he took over the role, he has been surrounded by strong willed Bond girls who are no longer the damsels in distress types of previous years. 

As for the villain, I felt that Christoph Waltz as the head of Spectre wasn't as menacing enough, well not only physically but as a megalomaniac as well. Granted that he and Bond share a well hidden history together, his character was underdeveloped and too one dimensional.

"Spectre is officially the 24th James Bond film and by mixing an old school Bond with modern day elements that keeps his character relevantly fresh, it still hasn't lost its touch and delivers on every point of a standard Bond flick. 

The Martian

Matt Damon,  Jessica Chastain,

Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels,

Sean Bean, Chiwetel Ejiofor

"Bring Him Home"

After a fierce storm on the planet Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is missing and presumed dead by his crew mates. They hastily have to leave the planet for their own safety. Their mission cut short, they are heading back to Earth which would take several years.

But as luck or bad luck would have it, Mark is still alive albeit a bit bruised from being tossed around during the storm. Finding himself alone on a strange planet with help being miles away, he has to learn to survive on very meager supplies as well as rely on battered communication lines to relay to Earth that he is still alive.

I'd say that 90% or perhaps more like 85% of the film is focused on Matt Damon as the unfortunate and 'abandoned' astronaut. He has the task of making sure that the audience doesn't get bored with watching him survive on Mars. He delivers his lines with a dash of humor, still being his charming self even though he has to act without any interaction with other actors. It is also interesting to note how much weight he, himself lost in the course of the filming just to make his characterization more realistic.

The film is well made through the able direction of Ridley Scott who thrives in these types of movies. Films that offer the correct blend of action, drama and humor through a good narrative about the triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversity. 

The support cast composed of well established stars do their part but the success of "The Martian" is hinged firmly on the shoulders of Matt Damon. And no surprise there ... he delivers and doesn't disappoint at all.

47 RONIN

Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki Sanada,
Ko Shibasaki, Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa,
Rinko Kikuchi

"Seize Eternity"

After my sister had surgery, she couldn't move much so we had movie marathons. Perfect time to catch up on my long list of accumulated movies to watch.

First off is this fictional tale about a 18th century historical event in Japan in which a group of "ronin" (master-less samurai) avenged the honor of their dead Lord/Master. It is strictly forbidden for a ronin to seek revenge. But this group believed that their master was set up after he was accused of assaulting a court official. They planned and waited for one year before they set off to kill the one they hold accountable for the 'injustice'.

The event itself is still widely revered in modern day Japan as annually on the 14th of December, people hold a festival at the Sengakuji temple to commemorate it.

"47 Ronin" is clearly a fictional tale as it has a Caucasian dude named Kai (Keanu Reeves) known as the 'half-breed' who joins the 47 leaderless samurai. There is also a witchcraft element to the film which sets a fantasy tone amidst the beautiful backdrop of a small mountainous district. All of the characters, except of course for Reeves are portrayed by Japanese actors who all just happen to speak English, fluently. 

Yet it is also a vividly graphic reenactment of the events that led to the revenge. Good sword play skills are displayed in the cleverly choreographed fight scenes. The costume design from the wardrobe of the samurais to the kimono worn as well as the manner of styling their hair are all authentic and reminiscent of a long gone era in Japan's rich cultural history.

Hiroyuki Sanada as Oishi, the leader of the Ronin was spot on. He has this certain quality to him which makes him perfect to be cast as a samurai. Although I have seen him in other movies in 'normal' roles and he excels in every performance. 

I, for one liked the film despite the fantasy element and the general cliches, such as having one white dude ostracized by an entire group in the beginning of the movie; then eventually proving himself to be a much welcomed part of the group. I know this concept is quite predictable in these sort of films. Hint: Tom Cruise in "The Last Samurai".

Yet I believe the triumph of good vs evil and the strong need for revenge against an injustice always make good plot lines to bank on. Never mind that the 'act of vengeance' is highly prohibited in the bushido (samurai code of honor), the 47 Ronin knew the ultimate consequence for their behavior would be to commit ritual suicide which is known as seppuku. They accepted their fate with pride, honor and dignity.

So regardless of the historical inaccuracy, "47 Ronin" was one entertainingly good Samurai movie, imho!

IRON MAN 3

Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow,

Don Cheadle. Jon Favreau, Rebecca Hall, 

Guy Pearce, Ben Kingsley

"Unleash the power behind the armor"

Cinema 10, SM Megamall

I find it strange that the 3rd installment in the Iron Man franchise is shown a week ahead in international cinemas than in the land where it was conceptualized and filmed. But that didn't stop me from seeing it, nonetheless.  So this means that viewers in the US will be bombarded with spoilers from anyone and everyone who reviews it. Best avoid reading them if you want to see the film when it opens.

When I headed to the cinema, I noticed a long queue so I was disappointed because I thought I had plenty to time to enjoy the trailers before the actual film commences.  But it turns out it was the line to another theater where Iron Man 3 was showing in 3D. Phew.

I'm not a big fan of 3D.  For one, I'm too cheap to pay extra just to wear some ill fitting eyeglasses so I can see the facial pores of the cast, up close and personal.  2nd, I know for a fact that it would just give me a headache to see computer generated images up close so why subject myself to such agony?

Now on to Iron Man 3. The film takes off after The Avengers where the Marvel superheroes battled machine like aliens who were hellbent on taking over planet Earth.  This incident has deeply affected Tony Stark aka Iron Man. He's been traumatized from the weary battle and now suffers from insomnia.  But this hardly makes him idle as he mostly spends his nights tinkering with his armored suit, enhancing its features as well as developing several prototypes of his Iron Man 'costume'. 

A blast from his past, (specifically 1999) comes back to haunt him. They are in the form of a rejected ex girlfriend, botanist Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall) and a nerdy scientist with grandiose ideas named Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) who was equally ignored by Tony Stark.  There is also a megalomaniac villain simply known as The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), sporting a Bin Laden like beard who terrorizes the homeland. 

As far as villains go, the 3 above mentioned characters play their roles with much gusto. Wreaking havoc on America with state of the art technology to their full advantage as well as manipulating the media networks to propagate their cunningly evil ways.

Naturally all of these threats are nothing that Iron Man can handle. Even though his plush mansion is pulverized to the ground or in this case into the deep abyss of the sea. Even though his partner/love interest Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) has been kidnapped. Even though his faithful driver/ally Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) lies in a comatose state after he encounters a robot alien like being disguised as human.

Nothing fazes him although we are also shown a vulnerable side to the normally arrogant and egotistical Tony Stark.   A man scarred by a traumatic experience, bereft of his residence/lab and his inspiration.  He is totally down but surely the only way to redeem yourself is to fight against all odds.

There is the customary loud explosions and the high octane action filled scenes. Notably the sequence where helicopters basically fire away all their loaded ammunition towards the luxurious Stark residence which sits precariously on top of a hill overlooking the ocean.  Another note worthy scene is the finale at the shipyard where all the Iron Man armored suits battle it out with genetically altered human bombs. 

More than the caricature villains and the edge of your seat action scenes, the real heart and soul of the movie is without a doubt Robert Downey, Jr.  As Tony Stark/Iron Man this is a role he was born to play and he certainly lords it up with his fine acting skills.  

Aided by a witty and often funny dialogue, Tony Stark in this 3rd installment has certainly mellowed quite a bit.  But that is in a good way, he is no longer arrogant, so full of himself and egotistical. He shows his caring side especially when it comes to Pepper Potts.   Yet at the same time, he hasn't lost his extravagant flair and is still his ever playful, sarcastic self. Nice combination, if you ask me!   Robert Downey, Jr is my only reason to see Iron Man 3 and gladly he never fails to deliver a fine performance.   

P.S.

Be patient enough to stick around until the end of the credits (very long as there are a 1000 people involved in the making of the film) to watch the short clip.  It was cute!

FLIGHT

Denzel Washington, Bruce Greenwood,

Don Cheadle, John Goodman, Kelly Reilly

Cinema 1, Shang Cineplex

Denzel Washington shines in his role as Capt. Whip Whitaker, a washed out pilot who is battling alcoholism in "Flight". This is one of his most complex, least sympathetic character to date and he gives a towering performance by dominating the film as he struggles to confront his life, his conscience and his various responsibilities. 

The first part where the horrifying plane crash occurs is gripping, edge of your seat action.  I mean after seeing that scene, I was just thankful I wasn't a passenger on that fateful flight. 

 
Sadly, the rest of the film loses momentum as it follows Whip's self-destructive alcoholism as he is caught up in an investigation into the cause of the plane crash. An addiction which he openly denies as well meaning friends try to help him and are spurned. Eventually he alienates his friends and family and seeks comfort through a stranger named Nicole (Kelly Reilly).

This is where the film runs into further problems. It wastes far too much screen time developing Nicole's character, only to drop her midway just when she developed some relevance.  Her character isn't all that interesting to begin with, and the same can be said for most of the rest of the characters.

The only redeeming factor would be Washington's fine performance as the embattled Capt. Whip, a truly flawed character who painfully seeks to extricate himself from the many demons haunting his life.

SKYFALL

Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, 

Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, 

Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw

Cinema 1, Shang Cineplex

The James Bond franchise turned 50, this year.  I'm 44 years old so yes I grew up watching most of the films featuring this slick British agent provocateur who fought against outlandish villains, bedded beautiful women, likes his martini 'shaken not stirred' - all done under Her Majesty's secret service. 

Growing up, I always associated James Bond movies with fancy gadgets, exotic locales, Bond girls, the familiar James Bond theme music (which is now currently playing in my mind!).

It also came with amazing soundtrack composed of songs made famous by artists like Matt Monro ("From Russia with Love"), Shirley Bassey ("Diamonds are Forever"), Sheena Easton ("For Your Eyes Only") and Duran Duran ("A View to a Kill") to name a few.

So there is no way I would have missed  Daniel Craig as 007 in the 23rd offering of the longest running film franchise of all time.  It has to be said that I absolutely adore Daniel Craig in all of his films so seeing him as James Bond is quite an intensely thrilling experience!

In the first few minutes of "Skyfall", Bond is in hot pursuit of an operative who might have the list of all the secret agents of MI6 scattered all over the world in vital covert operations.  Fighting on top of a moving train, he is shot and presumed dead.  Then cue in the title soundtrack sang by Adele accompanied by dazzling graphics and you know you are in for a treat.

Director Sam Mendes then takes Bond to Istanbul, Shanghai, Macau as well as London with the able guidance of M (Judi Dench) who is shown in an entirely different light. She came across as more maternal than the usual no holds barred, no nonsense tough as nails head of MI6.

Bond is given only the bare essentials instead of the fancy gadgets.  He is provided a finger print enabled gun and a 'radio' tracking device which was developed by the new Quartermaster or simply known as Agent Q (Ben Whishaw) who quips "what did you expect, an exploding pen?" when 007 was skeptical.

It is 2012 so the villains are now known as "the Shadows". Not menacing despotic terrorists who wants world domination.  These villains operate using the latest technology to their full advantage to wreak havoc.  Javier Bardem as Raoul Silva was brilliant, as always. I believe he was a bit too over the top but still quite effective.  Although, his whole I was betrayed by my employers so I would throw a tantrum and bring down the entire agency premise was a tad flimsy, if you ask me.    

Yet it is during the pursuit where most of the beautiful cinematography comes into place. The gripping chase on the rooftops of Istanbul, Turkey. The well choreographed fight scenes shot in silhouette, the London scenes of the new HQ of Mi6 and the final 'battle' scenes in breathtaking yet bleak Scotland.   Several wide angle night shots with only the lights from the skyscrapers of Shanghai and the scenes in Macau - were all well conceptualized and projected very well on the screen.

But beyond the exotic locales, the acerbic and witty dialogue, the action filled sequences and the villains lies the true heart of the film - James Bond himself.  Daniel Craig settles in quite nicely in his 3rd offering as 007.  We are shown a less detached James who is more in tune with himself and also he comes to terms with his past.  For once, he isn't just a spy killing machine but more humane, less stoic.  Quite vulnerable as he is mostly hit with indecision.  Yet at the same time he is angrier thus exhibiting a raw hunger coupled with enough chutzpah to skillfully perform his duties.  

Lastly in an interview Daniel Craig was asked:

Q: There’s been a lot of talk about how this has personal stakes for Bond.  What does that require from you in your performance that maybe makes it more personal than the previous things we’ve seen?

Craig: I don’t think personally, it’s about the character and how he lives the experience.  Again, just harkening back to the script, through a lot of hard work I think we’ve kind of got together a script that has a really strong bed rock of a story and something for all the characters—of which there are a lot in this movie—to sort of experience.  There are very personal stories in it and hopefully the audience will get affected by them and moved by them.  It’s just a good acting job to do.

He was right. I was truly affected by the personal stories and declare that "Skyfall" is one of the best James Bond movies I've seen.   Excellent acting job, indeed!!!

DRIVE

Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan,

Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks

"There are No Clean Getaways"

Ryan Gosling stars as a Hollywood stuntman who also moonlights as a driver for getaway cars used in heists.  A man of few words with little facial expressions, he is only addressed as "the Driver".  A loner who doesn't have much going on in his life but it is quite evident he comes from a murky past which we aren't privy to. 

It is only when he makes the acquaintance of his neighbor, Irene (Carey Mulligan) and her son, Benicio that he seems to break out of his shell. But those rare moments are short lived as he finds himself in deep trouble after he gets involved in a botched heist c/o of Standard (Oscar Isaac).   The ex convict husband of Irene who owes some debt to his 'sponsor' in the penitentiary.

Soon enough, the driver becomes the target of a very ruthless gangster (Albert Brooks) and his henchmen.  Suddenly, the story turns dark and violent with a very suspenseful tone that keeps you on the edge of your seat.  I was thinking it was about time, the film heated up.   But boy, did I get my wish. 

It develops into a chaotic thriller with visceral and very brutal scenes.  Yet at the same time, the expression of the Driver remains stoic as ever.   The film is quite minimalist in nature yet very effective in projecting a character that knows how to dominate every situation he finds himself in.

Most if not all of the credits goes to Ryan Gosling. His screen presence is quite powerful even without much dialogue.  He is a simmering intense character that knows how to think quickly and he is fully capable of defending himself in precarious incidents.

I contend that "Drive" might not appeal to most female viewers for its brutal scenes yet I do recommend it for one reason only -  Ryan Gosling in an iconic role he was born to portray.

TAKEN 2

Liam Nesson, Famke Janssen,
Maggie Grace, Rade Serbedzija

"First they took his daughter.
Now they're coming for him"

Cinema 2, Shang Cineplex

We have this running joke in our family that if our dad had seen the movie TAKEN, he might not have permitted me and my sister to go gallivanting around Europe. But the movie was shown in 2008 and our European sojourn was way back in the early 2001 so I figure we were relatively safe(r).  Obviously, our dad is no Liam Nesson but I'm certain given the circumstances any father for that matter would go to great lengths to protect his daughter(s).

So given that premise albeit far fetched, the original film sort of made sense.  A former intelligence agent with all the right connections at his disposal could certainly pull off a miracle.  Therefore I was curious how they would further stretch that storyline into another full length film. 

In the opening shots of  "Taken 2", we are shown a village in Albania where all the bad guys that Bryan Mills (Liam Nesson) killed in Paris are being buried and mourned by their loved ones.   At the funeral, Murad Krasniqi (Rade Serbedzija), the father of  Marko, one of the men Bryan took out while saving his kidnapped daughter vows to avenge the death of his son.   

So he rounds up some more goons to capture not just Bryan, but his ex-wife Lenore (Famke Janssen) and daughter Kim (Maggie Grace).   The Mills family are vacationing in Istanbul, Turkey so the whole abduction premise takes off in yet another exotic locale.  The myriad of tiny cobblestone streets, the rooftops of the crowded houses serve as excellent backdrop for Byran's spy skills to come into effect as he tries his best to once again save his loved ones from harm and in the process add up the body count substantially. 

Certain action scenes were shot with the shaky camera effect so it gave me quite a headache. While other moments had Liam Neeson's lanky frame do skillful hand combat with the villains.  Even at his age, Liam Neeson can make the fight scenes look so natural.  They are well choreographed and very realistically executed on screen.  

I kept thinking just how unfortunate it is for the Mills family to constantly find themselves in such precarious situations even when they are on holiday.  But the gorgeous locale with its chaotic and exquisitely exotic charm more than made up for the predictability factor of the flimsy plot.  

Hopefully, there won't be a Taken part 3 because honestly even though I love Liam Neeson and I've been a loyal fan of his movies even before his action hero phase, I believe it's time for the Mills family to live in their peaceful suburban environment without any Albanians or any other races bothering them.