Flash of Genius
Based on a true story, director Marc Abraham’s movie is a modern day David and Goliath fable. Back in the 1960’s, an inventor, superbly played by Greg Kinnear, has his invention stolen by a powerful motor car corporation. Greg will not let the matter drop, and he is determined to seek retribution in court. The motor car corporation tries every sneaky trick in the book to stop the litigation, but, justice, naturally enough, triumphs in the end. The movie is skillfully directed, and it is so much more than just a courtroom drama.
12
This movie is another ‘courtroom’ drama which far exceeds expectations. In 1957 director Sidney Lumet, and actor Henry Fonda, made an instant cinema classic in the form of the film ‘12 Angry Men’. The movie was about a lone juror holding out for a not-guilty verdict, while the remaining eleven jurors were ready to convict. Russian director Nikita Mikhalkov takes the premise of this film and adapts it to his own needs. As the jurors debate the fate of a young man, accused of murder, ample opportunity is given to explore racial and class distinctions in the ‘New Russia’. Restricted to one claustrophobic set, Nikita Mikhalkov finds many ways to keep the movie both visually and intellectually stimulating. He succeeds in presenting a fascinating glimpse into contemporary Russian society, and, although the film can be classed as a ‘remake’, it really can stand on its own as something completely original.
Wild Blood
This fabulous Italian movie is directed by Marco Tullio Giordana. It is set in Fascist Italy from 1936 to 1945, and it concerns a beautiful Italian movie star who is drawn between her director and her leading man. However, as the politics start to heat-up in Italy, and the Italian movie industry comes under more and more government supervision, everyone has to decide on which side of the political fence they sit. With devastating consequences. The movie stars the incredibly luscious Monica Bellucci, with Alessio Boni and Luca Zingaretti. Like all good Italian cinema, the movie is very slow, but, this gives you plenty of time to enjoy the extravagant production values!
Lullaby
Recent Oscar Nominee Melissa Leo appears currently to be cornering the market in ‘destitute’ and ‘desperate’ leading female roles. In her latest movie, ‘Lullaby’, Melissa Leo plays a destitute middle-aged waitress, who has to gather together what life savings she has, and desperately fly to South Africa to rescue her drug addicted son. He is being held for ransom by a nasty drug dealer. The movie is really just a ‘run of the mill’ thriller, but, it is the depiction of life in present urbanized Johannesburg, by South African director Darrell James Roodt, which is the real eye-opener of the film. His sinister vision of a festering and decaying Johannesburg is truly terrifying.
Thick as Thieves
Morgan Freeman and Antonio Banderas make an unusual pair of thieves in this fairly predictable ‘crime caper’. Directed by Mimi Leder, the movie is about a jewel heist involving some priceless Faberge Eggs, held in an impenetrable vault guarded by an elaborate laser beam security system. An almost impossible challenge, but, Morgan and Antonio are up for the job! The movie has plenty of thrills and chills, but it really only ‘works’ through the rapport of Freeman and Banderas. Both seem to be enjoying themselves.
Choose Connor
A fifteen year old student graduates top of his middle-school class, and he is given a summer job as a youth spokesman for a US Congressman, campaigning in the upcoming Senate primaries. The job is intended to introduce the student to the ‘system’, and educate him in the world of politics. However, the student soon discovers that there is some pretty strange stuff going on in the private life of the Congressman. Screenwriter and director Luke Eberl doesn’t present any great revelations into the world of politics. I am pretty sure we all know by now how the American ‘system’ works. However, it is Luke Eberl’s underlying theme of predatory homosexuality which makes the film most compelling. Steven Weber is terrific as the ‘Clean Cut’ All-American politician, while Alex D. Linz is suitably confused as the naïve and innocent student. Soon to be corrupted.
The Lucky Ones
Neil Burger directs, while Tim Robbins, Michael Pena and Rachel McAdams star in this reasonably likable movie. Three soldiers, returning from a tour-of-duty in Iraq, are stranded at the JFK airport when New York suffers a power blackout. The soldiers hire a car and drive across America to Las Vegas. It is a ‘road trip’ movie, and all the things you expect to happen in a ‘road trip’ movie, happen! Neil Burger presents various ‘slices-of-life’ from all aspects of American society, however, given the characters in the movie, a lot of the incidents depicted concentrate on Middle-America’s reaction to the ongoing war in Iraq. If you like ‘road trip’ movies, you will probably like this one. The movie is ‘soft’ non-offensive social commentary.
New York City Serenade
Renowned Independent director Frank Whaley makes an extremely banal movie. Freddie Prinze Jr. is an aspiring film-maker and Chris Klein is a drummer in a Rock and Roll band. They are two New Yorkers who totally muck-up their personal relationships. Then, they go to a two-bit film festival in Kansas and make another muck-up. The movie is awfully dull and boring.
