Savage Grace
From the late 1940s through to the early 1970s the wife of a prominent New York ‘establishment’ figure is obsessed with her social position. This puts an immense strain on her crumbling marriage, and she turns to her son for extra emotional affection. Julianne Moore is fantastic as the temperamental and unbalanced socialite, while Stephen Dillane gives good understated support as the disillusioned husband. Newcomer Eddie Redmayne, who is sort of reminiscent of a young Michael York, is also terrific as the sexually ambiguous son. Directed by Tom Kalin, and based on the notorious ‘faction’ novel by Natalie Robins and Steven M. L. Aronson, the story touches on some rather taboo subjects, and the movie is Very Strictly for Adults Only.
Cloverfield
Shrewdly, director Matt Reeves casts a batch of fresh new faces in his scary thriller. Consequently, well known actors and their personas do not get in the way of the action in this great movie, concerning an attack on New York from a bizarre adversary. The movie contains an unusual visual effect that is in danger of becoming boring, but, Reeves brings the movie in at 1 hour and 15 minutes, before the effect becomes too tedious. The movie says what it has to say quite succinctly, and quite enjoyably, in its short running time.
The Orphanage
Guillermo Del Toro is a master director of the macabre. He is the man who brought us the amazing ‘magical-realism’ movie ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’, which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2007. His latest movie comes as a disappointment. It is a rather dull ghost story set in an abandoned orphanage, which has been turned into a family home. Strange and alarming things start to occur in the house. The film contains none of the visual flair so evident in Del Toro’s previous work, and it is best not to scrutinize the plot too closely. Much of it doesn’t make much sense. The only thing to look for is a cameo appearance from Geraldine Chaplin as a rather weird and high-tech medium.
The Other Boleyn Girl
Audiences who like their British History served up with stacks of lavish sets, sumptuous costumes, and a glamorous international cast, will probably get a huge kick out of this lightweight drama. It appears that Anne Boleyn (King Henry the Eight’s second wife, and we all know what happened to her don’t we?) had a sister called Mary. She too had a fling with that lusty monarch. This came as news to me, but I am sure there are many moments in history that are overshadowed by more momentous events. Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson are, in turn, sexy and sweet as the ambitious Boleyn Girls, and Eric Bana makes a rather good randy Henry. The plot rattles along at an alarming pace, and some crucial incidents that changed the course of British History are rapidly dispensed with. Actually, most of the movie plays like supposition, but when has ‘fact’ ever interfered with a good screenplay?
Dragon Wars
An investigative reporter discovers he is the reincarnation of a ‘Hero’, and his destiny is to destroy an evil gigantic serpent before it can transform into an immortal dragon, possessing limitless supernatural powers. Based on a Korean folktale, this movie features some spectacular special-effects. The sight of Los Angeles being taken over by the serpent’s army is amazing, and the serpent itself inflicts some astonishing destruction on the city’s skyline. This is the kind of movie which will keep your adolescent sons engrossed for a couple of hours, while you take a much needed break in the Jacuzzi.
Southland Tales
In this fusion of comedy, drama, science fiction and music, a nuclear attack has wiped out part of Texas, and America is now virtually a police state with the government taking control of every aspect of people’s lives. I must admit that I am totally bamboozled by writer and director Richard Kelly’s peculiar movie. I cannot decide whether it is classy social satire, or if it is just stupid and senseless trash. The movie continually veers between the two extremes. However, when things get too confounding or just downright banal, there are some extremely good musical numbers to maintain any diminishing interest.
The Nines
If you want to be pleasurably bamboozled by the cinema, then check out this Los Angeles based, low budget, Independent movie. Writer and director John August presents a ‘surreal’ and ‘absurd’ comedy, which investigates parallel universes, aspects of reality, and metaphysical existence through three interconnected stories set in the Hollywood Television Industry. The movie is offbeat, unpredictable and often mysterious, but, it continually presents challenging questions which attempt to answer the meaning of life.
P.S. I Love You
Hilary Swank is an actress about whom I am greatly concerned. The winner of two Best Actress Academy Awards, currently Hilary seems to be trapped in a never-ending round of appalling movies. If something doesn’t happen for her fast, Hilary can kiss her reputation and her career goodbye. In her latest movie Hilary has a go at ‘romantic-comedy’. She, and the movie, are terrible. Hilary plays a grieving widow who continues to receive letters from her husband long after he has died. The movie is way too sentimental, and so sweet and sugary that it should come with a health warning for all diabetics.
Mr. Robet’s Best Buys
Vantage Point
An unusual political thriller, in which the action never lets up for a second.
Savage Grace
A searing drama, concerning taboo subjects, that is Strictly for Adults Only.
Cloverfield
This amazing movie is often very scary, and features a curious visual effect.
The Other Boleyn Girl
A jolly good romp with King Henry the Eighth, and Anne and Mary Boleyn.
Shoot ‘Em Up
A movie that is totally devoid of plot, but is absolutely fascinating to watch.
Sleuth
Michael Caine and Jude Law have a great time in this adapted theatre piece.
The Darjeeling Limited
A wacky comedy about three brothers journeying through India on a train.
The Mist
This horror movie is guaranteed to scare the living daylights out of anybody.
Dragon Wars
A great action packed special-effects movie that will keep the kids amused.
Dan In Real Life
A gentle family comedy, starring comedian Steve Carell as a romantic lead.
The Nines
A surreal and cerebral low budget comedy that questions the meaning of life.
Sweeny Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Tim Burton and Johnny Depp create a creepy and marvelous horror musical.
Ice Age 2, The Meltdown
The whole family will enjoy this terrific computer animated cartoon sequel.
Southland Tales
This movie is so idiosyncratic and bizarre that it simply demands to be seen.
