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.

Inferno

Tom Hanks, Felicity Jones, Ben Foster, 

Omar Sy, Irrfan Khan, Sidse Babett Knudsen

"His greatest Challenge.
Humanity's last Hope."

I read Dan Brown's novel "Inferno" when it first came out and even though the details are a bit sketchy, I still remember the main premise. A Dante obsessed billionaire named Bertrand Zobrist overly concerned about the growing population plans a biological attack that is guaranteed to claim many casualties to achieve his insane quest to protect and save the planet's dwindling resources. 

I also remember that Robert Langdon wakes up with amnesia in a hospital in Florence then travels with a perfect stranger, a certain Dr. Sienna Brooks all over the world finding clues to prevent this horrific attack. The book was very details oriented with numerous colorful characters, symbolical/ historical references and set in exotic locales. I was curious if they could successfully translate this engrossing novel into a worthy film. 

Tom Hanks reprises his role as symbologist/professor Robert Langdon and as usual he can really do no wrong even if he was presented with a really lame script. The film suffered from editing problems as most, if not all of the vital materials from the book were turned into a confused mixture of short yet fast paced sequences which lost its coherence. 

It had Professor Langdon and Sienna Brooks (Felicity Jones) literally running all over the world looking for clues which no one could relate to. I also found Felicity Jones's thick British accent quite distracting, I don't know why it bothered me so much. 

Most of the supporting cast played one dimensional characters, not properly fleshed out, so you have a tendency to forget their names. The exotic locales all molded together like clay, barely giving you enough time to admire the beautiful scenery and its symbolic relevance in the grand scheme of the lunatic billionaire.

Tom Hanks had barely enough material to work on in "Sully" and still gave a heartfelt performance which really says a lot about his thespian skills. On the other hand, "Inferno" had an overload of materials to absorb that having amnesia would be a welcome relief.

I liked the novel but this Ron Howard directed movie adaptation was quite a disappointment! Perhaps it is time that Tom Hanks hang up Langdon's Mickey Mouse wristwatch for good. He should think twice before he revives the symbologist for Dan Brown's 4th novel The Lost Symbol or demand a much better and well crafted script, next time.

The Girl on The Train

Emily Blunt, Luke Evans,

Haley Bennett, Edgar Ramirez,

Justin Theroux, Rebecca Ferguson

"What you can See can Hurt you"

This film adaptation of Paula Hawkins' novel stars Emily Blunt as Rachel Watson, a divorced alcoholic whose shattered life makes her prone to daydreaming. During her daily commute, she likes to imagine about the lives of the people whose houses she passes by while sitting on her usual seat in a train. 

It doesn't really do her any good (it evokes painful memories) as she also happens to pass by her old house where her ex husband Tom (Justin Theroux) now lives with his wife Anna (Rebecca Ferguson) the woman with whom he had an affair during their marriage and their young child. 

Rachel has specifically developed a fixation on Megan (Haley Bennett) and Scott (Luke Evans), whose home is a few houses away from her former residence. They seem like a 'perfect couple' until Megan suddenly goes missing and Rachel may or may not be involved in her disappearance.

I read the novel in its e-book version so it was mostly absorbed during bed time on a laptop in a dimly lit bedroom as I didn't want to disturb the hubby's much needed sleep. The novel was divided into chapters with each one focused on the three very different female characters namely Rachel, Megan and Anna.

Their different perspectives as the story tackled on the testy subjects of abuse, alcoholism and the portrayal of women as weak and needy characters was interesting but truth be told, it was messy and the writing wasn't good, at all. Yet it also held enough weight to convey its point across to the readers.

Emily Blunt as Rachel was the glue that held the entire film together. Her characterization of Rachel was visceral and her nuanced  emotions were as varied as the numerous mood swings of Rachel. Sure the film had its share of tension filled moments and enough suspense to keep you focused on the story, yet at the same time it lacked substance and depth to make it a well crafted form of narrative. 

This begs the question; why did it fail? I believe the novel itself was poorly written so the film didn't really have much to work on. But the movie remained loyal to the structure of the book. In that regard, the movie exceeded its expectations and it is just rather unfortunate it failed to be a riveting drama.

LA FRENCH(THE CONNECTION)

20th French Film Festival

Greenbelt 3 Cinemas

It is 1975 and the coastal town of Marseille in the south of France has become the hub of organized crime. Led by charismatic Gaetan "Tany" Zampa (Gilles Lellouche), the head of a gangster organization simply known as La French - it deals with drugs, prostitution, corrupt cops, illegal gambling, money laundering casinos and other crime related activities.  His main market is in the US where he exports high grade heroin. He ruled the drugs trade for several years. But he soon meets his match in the tenacious Pierre Michel (Jean Dujardin), a former juvenile court magistrate who is newly assigned to the anti-organized crime unit of the Marseille police force.

The film is loosely based on real events and the lead actors did their best to portray their real life characters with much conviction. Both of them are given much leeway to work with the wealth of information available for their roles. Both of them are shown as loving and supportive heads of their respective families. Both achieve notoriety within their circles. Both of them are ruthless and take their 'jobs' seriously. And the fact that they look almost identical made for interesting viewing. 

Judge Pierre Michel is very dedicated and passionate about stopping the menace of the drug trade. He is overzealous to a fault even taking risks which affect his family life. He is portrayed by Jean Dujardin, who achieved fame as the silent movie actor in the acclaimed black and white film "The Artist" which won all the major awards, the year it was released. I still see him as the actor with the goofy smile and the twinkle in his eyes so it can be distracting to witness him as a serious, never-say-die-attitude police judge. He is quite convincing, both physically (the long sideburns ruled) and artistically. 

Tany Zampa was quite a polarizing figure, back then. He was a larger than life crime boss who headed the huge 'empire' composed of Corsicans, Neapolitan Italians and thugs who cooked massive amounts of heroin for export to the United States. Gilles Lellouche was credible as the ruthless gangster who didn't hesitate to kill or have his henchmen kill anyone who stood in his nefarious ways. In fact, he registered more screen presence than Dujardin. But then perhaps it is because bad guys tend to be glamorized more in these types of films. 

The crime thriller was a bit exciting but did lose some steam midway after some of the action packed scenes laid low but then it picked up a notch towards the suspenseful ending. Clocking at over 2 hours, the story lacked focus here and there but it never felt overplayed. Its solid substance and gritty nature was compelling enough to hold one's attention even for 135 minutes.

GONE GIRL

Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike,

Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry,

Carrie Coon, Kim Dickens

"You don't know what 

you've got , 'til it's ..."

I was a bit ambivalent about this much hyped movie. Although I did not read the book by Gillian Flynn, I knew enough about the story line and it didn't strike me as being interesting. Another factor which added to my insouciance is Ben Affleck starring in the lead role. I've seen my share of his films and I've come to the conclusion that he is better suited behind the camera as a director than as the lead actor upon whose broad shoulders an entire movie would evolve around or dissolve for that matter.

In "Gone Girl", Affleck portrays what seemingly looks like an ordinary guy whose wife goes missing on the day of their 5th anniversary. Soon enough, it seems he isn't as ordinary as originally stated, Nick Dunne has secrets. I know from watching crime shows on TV that the first suspect in the disappearance of any spouse is their significant other.  True enough, the detectives zoom in on Nick Dunne as clues are unraveled and suspicions are confirmed.

The suspense factor in this cleverly directed film by David Fincher is palpable. He reveals just enough clues to the audience for them to be quite suspicious about Nick Dunne. Yet at the same time, he doesn't really outright make Nick Dunne guilty of a crime which gets murkier as the film progresses. We also learn that their marriage which looks good on paper wasn't as 'perfect' as expected. I guess no marriage is indeed perfect but the movie does project that married couples tend to showcase a different 'public' image than what really happens within the privacy of their marital union.

Of course, it would help if I had read the novel and would know in advance of the twist. This is where I believe the film lost its focus. The part where we find out what really happened to "Amazing Amy" (Rosamund Pike) and how she orchestrated the whole 'disappearance' was for me revealed way too soon. Never mind that the film runs at over 2 hours, the twist could have been handled better than it was presented in the film.

I maintain that the film is well directed and had enough suspense that one would expect from a thriller. The investigation was interspersed with a realistic angle of how quickly it turned into a 'reality show' and a media circus. Daily updates as well as the invasion of the 'suspect's' privacy were spot on. It makes you aware that behind all the incessant footage on the couples lives as shown on talk shows, there are real people who are going through enough turmoil and upheaval that the constant barrage of the TV crews on their front lawns would certainly not help them find any peace of mind.

"Gone Girl" is a dark and complex story with deeply unsettling and flawed characters. The type of story that does take a lot of mental prowess to wrap your head around because it is essentially quite creepy and disturbingly twisted. So you've been duly warned!

NON-STOP

Liam Nesson, Julianne Moore,

Michelle Dockery,  Scoot McNairy

"The Hijacking was just the Beginning"

They say that "Non-Stop" is "Taken" on a plane. Given that it stars Liam Nesson whose career was 'revived' after he was cast in the above mentioned film and it propelled his new career path as an action star. Not that he needed any reviving since Liam Neeson has always been a talented and quite steady character actor. But I like his new action star persona and it suits him well.

In this film, he is Bill Marks, an Air Marshall who is taken to task on a flight from London to New York. Someone has hacked his 'secure network' pager and sends him threatening messages that warn one passenger will be killed within 20 minutes if his demands are not met. The person sending the texts is also quite familiar with Marks personal background and also appears to be on the plane since he mentions things that Marks is doing.

Soon enough, it turns into a whodunit suspense mystery as we try to guess who among the passengers is the 'mastermind' of this sick plot. The tables are also turned when Marks begins to realize that whoever is texting him evidently wants people on the plane to think that Marks is somehow also involved in the plot.

Since the whole film has only one setting - the transatlantic flight - it is easier to navigate through the story. The director also has a way of tricking the audience into thinking that certain characters are suspicious by dropping clues that eventually lead nowhere. It is a good ploy to keep the audience guessing and tuned to the ongoing hijacking but it also makes you lose the bigger picture. Eventually when the real culprit(s) are revealed and their motives are exposed, it does not really make any fair sense because it got too murky in all the action sequences and the plot twists that are thrown at you. 

Thankfully, the mere presence of Liam Nesson can do wonders and he is the true and only reason this averagely predictable film is worth watching. His advancing age does not hinder him. On the contrary it has only cemented his action star cinematic strength. It does not suggest a dwindling of power but rather an experienced weariness that makes his determination all the more dynamic.

NOW YOU SEE ME

Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson

Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Melanie Laurent
Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman

"4 Amazing Magicians. 3 Impossible Heists.
1 Billion Dollars. This is no Illusion."

The impressive cast can somewhat fool you into thinking this would be a good if not great film. But as illusion is the main theme, we tend to be gullible and therefore most likely be deceived by the spectacular magic tricks.

"The Four Horsemen" as the team is collectively known are a group of highly skilled illusionists. Their show is not merely limited to the simple pulling the rabbit out of the hat sort of tricks. Their daring performances consists of pulling off heists to rob from corrupt merchants and giving the money back to the victims of the scams.  Yes there is a Robin Hood angle right there, come to think about it.

The film relies heavily on computer generated images to dramatize the illusions and magic tricks.  The plot held a lot of promise in the beginning with a sense of suspended disbelief as to who the real mastermind is behind the 4 Horsemen.   Yet midway everything turns pretty blurry and ends with a conclusion that leaves you hankering for more than what unfolded.  I felt cheated by the flat ending considering that the whole movie was about giving back to the duped society their hard earned money.
 

The ensemble cast do their best to sustain the momentum of the film. Yet there is only so much one can do to grab the attention of the audience if the plot itself implodes and self destructs.  It tends to drag on far too long than it is humanly possible to endure.  Yet you keep your eyes glued to the screen the way little kids do when they watch cartoons or animation movies as they are now called because you are drawn into the special effects and the magic tricks.  You really want to know who and what is their motive behind the illusions.

"Now You See Me" is fun to watch especially the high octane performances of the Four Horsemen but as most illusions go don't expect too much or else you would be disappointed once you learn the truth behind these magic tricks.

WORLD WAR Z

Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos

A few days before Halloween I thought it would be fitting to watch a scary film.  As I checked my arsenal folder of films, I noticed I didn't have any horror films (mainly because I am not a fan of this genre). 

Then I saw World War Z - zombie invasion would surely qualify as scary in my opinion.  So I settled down to watch.  At first, surely the very thought of a group of people getting infected with some sort of virus which turns them into zombies is quite frightening for me.  

But as the movie progressed and I saw the extreme lengths Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) went through to find a 'cure', the idea became less scary and more of a joke. The kind of joke that is passed around several times, it becomes stale relatively faster than you can reach the punchline.

I mean really the fact that the scientist who will extract the vaccine dies (rather carelessly as hitting his head when he slips) within several minutes of the film should tell you it can't be taken seriously.  It seems like Brad Pitt took on this project so he could (a) be the sole hero to the rescue and (b) make a film that will certainly earn him huge brownie points with his young kids.  But then it is Brad Pitt after all and I may be wrong but I don't think that award winning performance would be an apt description as far as his acting skills go.  

Probably that he is too good looking to be taken seriously but judging from his array of films so far, none really scream Oscar worthy acting, right?  So after I got over my initial fear of zombies wreaking mayhem over the universe, I simply settled back and enjoyed this popcorn popping type of mindless entertainment (sans the popcorn, of course).

The film itself is well edited with violent and disturbing images of zombies on the attack in almost every frame.  Even though he goes all over the world (Israel, Scotland) to find the 'solution', the flow of the film is still intact and balanced.  The computer generated images naturally helped in bringing the dramatic intensity factor into play.  

Then just as you expected more 'action', the film ends on an open ended sequence.  This uncertainty cues in a sequel is in the works in the distant or near future.  It would be interesting to see the different premises that will be played before a final closure is brought about.  But until then, life goes on ... preferably without any zombie attacks!

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.

ARGO

Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin
John Goodman, Victor Garber

"The movie was fake.

The mission was real."

Cinema 2, Shang Cineplex

"Argo" is Ben Affleck's third venture as a director, and I learned 3 things from this film.

(1) I was just a kid when the US Embassy in Teheran was stormed and its employees were taken hostage.  But I remember my parents were tuned in daily for updates on the hostage crisis because after all my diplomat father also worked at an embassy.

Through the years, I read bits and pieces of this event. But it is only through this film, I learned that 6 consular staff from the Embassy were able to 'escape' from the chaotic US embassy and sought refuge in the Canadian Ambassador's residence. 

The rest of the film focuses on how one CIA agent Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) who disguises himself as a Canadian film producer scouting for exotic locales in Teheran was able to rescue them and bring them home safely.

(2) The US government through its various departments and agencies would do anything within their power and jurisdiction to secure its citizens working and living overseas. During a brainstorming session, the top honchos  deliberate on various scenarios for a daring rescue.  Most of them if not all were bordering on the absurd.

Their final 'operation' sounds like a ridiculous idea on paper yet they managed to pull it off.  They decide to sponsor a fake movie complete with storyboard drawings, full cast and crew, producers and big studio backing, full media coverage (publicity shots) to serve as a front for the rescue.   And although it is a good thing, the operation was a success, "Argo" also exposes just how manipulative the US government can be in its quest to maintain its interests under the guise of protecting its citizens. Creepy, really.

(3) Ben Affleck  is much better at directing films than acting in them.  His technique to use a grainy cinematography reminiscent of the late 1970s is quite clever.  Not to mention his keen eye to details like the authentic wardrobe of the cast, the props (an old noisy typewriter and a clip from "The Battle for the Planet of the Apes " shown on a box type TV set) and a witty almost acerbic dialogue.

Although Affleck is the main character in this film, his subtle acting ensures he doesn't upstage the fine supporting cast led by John Goodman, Alan Arkin and Bryan Cranston to mention a few.

In the end, this 'hidden' chapter in the Teheran US embassy hostage crisis would never have been told if it remained classified.  Although certain parts were highlighted to give the film a gritty and dramatic vibe, this story pays homage to the heroic efforts of one relentless CIA agent who risked his life for the daring clandestine mission.  I'm sure those 6 foreign service employees are eternally grateful for his efforts.

THE IDES OF MARCH

George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti
Evan Rachel Wood, Marisa Tomei, Jeffrey Wright

"Ambition seduces. Power corrupts."

This political thriller stars George Clooney as Governor Mike Morris, a Democrat presidential hopeful. Most of the suspense unfolds during the Ohio presidential primary. His team is headed by his campaign manager, Paul Zara (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and his spokesman, Stephen Myers (Ryan Gosling), an idealist who is dragged into the dirty game of politics but his loyalty to the charismatic Governor Morris prevails at all cost.

As the writer and director, Clooney decided to present a simpler story about a man's character and the way he changes throughout the course of a single primary campaign.
The film is a comprehensive character study of Stephen Myers portrayed by the effectively talented Ryan Gosling. His Stephen is experienced enough at his age to presume that he knows better and young enough to still display the critical amount of conviction which gets the ball rolling.

It is fascinating to see the different sides to the Stephen character. He slowly becomes everything he loathed in politics and in a politician. Morris, his idol, full of values and ideologies that Steve believed in, betrayed them. His respect for Morris has gone. Towards the end, Myers learns to manipulate these flaws for the advancement of his career as well as boost the winning factor capacity of his candidate.

The storytelling is precise, the cinematography slick, the cast is highly credible. Even though there are a few glaring pitfalls in the side plots, the film still pulls the punches. Its criticism of the inner trappings of politics is apt yet it also provides the audience the opportunity to form their own conclusions from the ambiguous ending.

THE HUNGER GAMES

Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Wes Bentley
Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Donald Sutherland, Stanley Tucci

"May the odds be ever in your favor"

Cinema 10, SM Megamall

Books that cater to the young adults market make millions for their authors. As if they aren't wealthy enough, these books are then adapted for the big screen. So everyone profits. The authors, the movie production companies, the cinema theaters, the concessionaire stalls at the movie houses.

First you had the Harry Potter series, followed by the Twilight franchise. Now comes "The Hunger Games", the first in the trilogy penned by Suzanne Collins. Admittedly, I never read a single book of any of these authors. I am too old to be swooned by a fictional world of blossoming young romance where wizardry, vampires and werewolves reign supreme.

Curious creature that I am, I wanted to see if all this fuss about Hunger Games was worth it. I reckon it was really worth every centavo, I was blown away by its visceral tale of the haves versus the have-nots set in a futuristic society. The film pans into District 12 of Panem. A bleak coal mining village where our heroine, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) lives with her little sister and her mother.

Every year a boy and a girl ages 12 to 18 are chosen from each Panem district to compete in some survivalist battle known as the Hunger Games. Katniss, a feisty, tough and resourceful hunter who can ably provide for her family, volunteers when her young sister Primrose was chosen as a tribute to represent District 12.

The game has 24 competitors who kill each other until only one emerges as the victor. It is televised to all the districts like a reality show where rules can be easily manipulated through a computerized command center. Days before the actual games, the competitors go through rigorous training. They are interviewed by an over the top talk show host named Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci) and have to 'beg' for sponsors. It's all a grand showbiz style production number with reality show overtones to the max.

The film takes on a thrilling suspenseful tone once the tributes are transported to the outdoor arena where, with wits and weapons, they battle each other and assorted perils generated by the organizers, who dole out death via computer touch screen. Much of Katniss's competitors are killed in a rapidly cut massacre filmed at such a frantic, blurry pace. Then it settles down a bit as one focuses entirely on watching if Katniss would survive the vicious attacks.

The thing that appealed the most to me was the casting of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen. Her flawless beauty is like a magnet, it draws you in. There was something luminous, slightly otherworldly about her. Her gravity and her steady gaze make her a fine heroine. Her love for her family was the fuel that triggered her desire to not only survive but to ultimately win the Hunger Games.

The film ran for 142 long minutes. Certain scenes were shot at full speed with shaky camera angles which were too jarring and quite blurry, you could hardly make out what was unfolding on screen. It was combined with a crisp, vivid cinematography of colorful costumes/wardrobe worn by the people living in the Capitol area. There were also impressive computer generated shots of the dystopian society. The ensemble cast (Woody Harrelson was excellent!) gave credible performances. Their characterization of those strange somewhat absurd personas were spot on.

Unlike my aversion to the Harry Potter and Twilight series, I'm hooked to this franchise. I'm looking forward to the next adventures of Katniss Everdeen. But no, I'm still not going to read the books, I'll just wait for the movies.

THE DEBT

Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson, Ciaran Hinds
Jessica Chastain, Sam Worthington, Marton Csokas
Jesper Christensen

"Every Secret comes with a Price"

I've always had an affinity with spy thrillers more so than with romantic comedies/chick flicks. But I do indulge in a few predictable rom-com, every now and then. The intriguing plot of "The Debt" truly piqued my interest. And I'm glad to say, I wasn't disappointed.

The story unfolds in 1997, at a launch party for journalist Sarah Gold’s book about the exploits of a trio of Israeli Mossad agents. In 1966, they infiltrated East Berlin to abduct a certain Dieter Vogel (Jesper Christensen), a gynecologist. But during World War II, he was notoriously known as the "Surgeon of Birkenau", a doctor who experimented on Jewish children in the concentration camps. Two of the Mossad agents were Rachel Singer and Stephan Gold, the author's parents. The esteemed pair (now divorced) are widely acclaimed in Israel for their "successful" mission in the 60s.

Flitting between present Israel and East Berlin in the 60s, the narrative is told through flashbacks with younger actors portraying the 3 Mossad agents. We witness what truly unfolded during their dangerous mission through well coordinated action filled scenes with tension brewing at every turn. As well as the consequent toll it took on their lives when the secret they swore to uphold threatens to ruin not only their reputation but also shake the very core of the spy agency they belong(ed) to.

This remake of the 2007 Israeli film of the same title is directed by British director John Madden with an excellent cast of talented actors who draw out the calculated nuances of their characters with much precision.

Jessica Chastain turns in a searing performance as young Rachel, infusing her with aching vulnerability. Csokas brings a visceral life to Stephan's burning ambition, while Worthington embodies the tightly wound repression that fuels David.

Special mention goes to the chilling performance by Jesper Christensen as Vogel. What makes him so fearsome is the way he tries to "seduce" the young Mossad agents — for them to recognize him as being as much a human as they are, to see the very flaws they despise in him reflected in themselves. He was really very creepy.

Unfortunately, Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson and Ciaran Hinds, as the older agents came across as being too British, in my opinion. But they still acted quite well, no doubt about that!

In conclusion, I'd say a series of tightly coiled and excellently choreographed action sequences provided much depth to this highly suspenseful espionage thriller with a commendable cast. It's worth watching.

TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON

Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Josh Duhamel
Patrick Dempsey, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand
John Turturro

Cinema 3, Shang Cineplex

Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) is back. This time he has a college degree and a new girlfriend. Soon enough, he starts working in a low level position (mail station) in a company ran by some Richard Branson type (John Malkovich) with a bad tan.

Meanwhile in some parallel universe, the Autobots are now familiar fixtures and working for the government in some covert capacity. Until the Decepticons decide ONCE again to wreak havoc on the human race and earth in general. And this time their battleground unfolds in the windy city, Chicago.

That is pretty much the premise of this 3rd installment of this hugely successful franchise. Back with more or less the same cast (LaBeouf, Duhamel, Turturro) with new additions like (Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Patrick Dempsey) they all give credible performances in this action filled, edge of your seat popcorn entertainment.

Excellent computer generated scenes, special effects along with well choreographed action sequences, a somewhat plausible sci-fi storyline and a funny dialogue - they all contribute to a hugely entertaining movie.

After 157 minutes, I was just thankful that the movie theater had a good sound system and I didn't go deaf from all that extremely loud mayhem and destruction that unfolded on the screen.

SOURCE CODE

Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan
Vera Farmiga, Jeffrey Wright

"Make every second count"

Cinema 8, SM Megamall

8 minutes. That is the very limited time that Air Force Captain Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) is given to find out the identity of the bomber of a Chicago bound train. In order to achieve that purpose, he is 'inserted' into the mind of a teacher named Sean Fentress who was a passenger who died on the train. He can only stay for eight minutes at a time, but he can keep returning as often as he needs to find the bomber. This is achieved through a project known as the Source Code, a device developed by the military to analyze terrorist attacks.

While his mind travels to the past, his body is locked in a mysterious pod. He communicates with the other members of the Source Code project through video. During every mission, he is briefed by Colleen Goodwin (Vera Farmiga) a woman in military uniform. But most of the communication is practically one-way, as the leader of the project, a certain Dr. Rutledge (Jeffrey Wright), rarely answers his questions and insists on updates. To make things even more complicated, Capt. Stevens begins to fall for Christina Warren (Michelle Monaghan) a fellow passenger on that ill fated train.

"The Source Code" is a sci-fi thriller that was constantly moving, constantly generating questions which kept the movie quite interesting. One of the most enjoyable aspects of this movie is the variety of traits the main character shows in the movie who has a strong sense of justice, duty, honor, and love. Another positive quality of this movie, is how each visit in the source code continues to build up to the climax of the movie. The relentless search for new pieces of evidence is also intertwined with constant character development of the protagonist allowing you to get a better attachment to the character.

The editing was seamless even though they had to keeping showing the last 8 minutes before the bomb explodes over and over again. The fast pacing of the movie didn't jar your senses as there were scenes of reflective moments intertwined within for adjustments. The different characters were well developed and you kept discovering new things about them as the story progressed.

The ending though was a bit puzzling and I still can't seem to wrap my head around it until now. But that's only because I refuse to embrace the concept that an alternate parallel universe can exist concurrently with reality. The sci-fi elements notwithstanding, the film did good by being an edge of your seat form of suspenseful entertainment that will capture your attention for 93 minutes.

UNSTOPPABLE

Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson

"1 million tons of steel. 100,000 people at risk.
100 minutes to impact."

This suspenseful drama is based on true events. A runaway train carrying inflammable substance is hurling towards a string of Pennsylvania towns. It threatens to derail as it reaches a dangerous curve. The authorities have tried every attempt possible to stop the train but their efforts are not successful. Until Frank Barnes (Denzel Washington) a veteran train engineer and his rookie conductor Wil Colson (Chris Pine) decide to pursue the train and stop it from behind.

As the chase intensifies, the two guys start to bond. The younger Colson confides about his marital problems while Barnes, a widower talks about his daughters. Two perfect strangers who just happen to work together soon find themselves the center of attention as local news networks broadcast their heroic efforts, live.

Since the remake of "The Taking of Pelham 123" (which also starred Denzel Washington), director Tony Scott must have developed a passion for trains and he knows how to maximize every aspect of shooting them. The runaway train is the film's ominous main character and Scott's direction has the utmost impact with large scale cinematography from all angles. The bright, bold color palette, and the thin layer of grain that Scott decided to go with, no doubt to give it a gritty feel. Plus an over the top soundtrack to heighten the dramatic effects.

Chris Pine and Denzel Washington work well together. But surely you can always rely on the forceful yet steady performance of Denzel Washington as a reluctant hero to save the day, any time any where danger lurks.

An entertaining popcorn film that delivers all the right punches sans any distracting side plots. It is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seats.