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- DirectorSidney LumetStarsHenry FondaLee J. CobbMartin BalsamThe jury in a New York City murder trial is frustrated by a single member whose skeptical caution forces them to more carefully consider the evidence before jumping to a hasty verdict."11 men are enraged by questions about an accused killer." - #AccurateMovieSummaries
9/10
12 jurors must decide the fate of a boy on trial for murder and in doing so deal with their own demons.
"Ever since you walked into this room, you've been acting like a self-appointed public avenger! You want to see this boy die because you personally want it, not because of the facts! You're a sadist!" "I'll kill him! I'LL KILL HIM!" "You don't 'really' mean you'll kill me do you?"
OLD RATING - DirectorRon ClementsJohn MuskerStarsScott WeingerRobin WilliamsLinda LarkinA kind-hearted street urchin and a power-hungry Grand Vizier vie for a magic lamp that has the power to make their deepest wishes come true."Street rat uses oil lamp to impress father of spoilt, whinging rich girl." - #AccurateMovieSummaries
9/10
Classic Disney - brilliant characters (Robin Williams as Genie is excellent), solid morals and excellent music.
"You're a prisoner?"
"It's all part and parcel, the whole "genie gig"
[grows to a gigantic size]
"PHENOMENAL COSMIC POWERS!"
[shrinks down inside the lamp]
"Itty-bitty living space!"
[Nominated Oscar 1993 - Best Sound FX]
[Won Oscar 1993 - Best Original Score & Best Original Song]
OLD RATING - DirectorJean-Pierre JeunetStarsAudrey TautouMathieu KassovitzRufusDespite being caught in her imaginative world, Amelie, a young waitress, decides to help people find happiness. Her quest to spread joy leads her on a journey where she finds true love."Gnome travels the world while strange pixie chick searches for love." - #AccurateMovieSummaries
9/10
Life through the eyes of an eccentric young woman in France as she rights some wrongs and searches for love.
[Nominated Oscar 2002 -Screenplay, Foreign]
OLD RATING - DirectorBen AffleckStarsBen AffleckBryan CranstonJohn GoodmanActing under the cover of a Hollywood producer scouting a location for a science fiction film, a CIA agent launches a dangerous operation to rescue six Americans in Tehran during the U.S. hostage crisis in Iran in 1979."Bad sci-fi script approved as front for rescue operation." - #AccurateMovieSummaries
9/10
Taut and tense retelling of the rescue of hostages from Iran, by way of a plan so elaborate and crazy it just might work.- 2013
- DirectorJoss WhedonStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris EvansScarlett JohanssonEarth's mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team if they are going to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity."Frisbee, hammer, iron gloves and arrows combine to delay romance between angry giant and redhead." - #AccurateMovieSummaries
9/10
Perfectly captures the magic/ mayhem & wit of the Marvel Universe. Under Joss Whedon's direction this potentially disparate set of characters:
Iron Man (Rober Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson)
succeeds because he balances their cooperation with competitiveness and witty banter. Impressively this is maintained whether the heroes are in suit or plain clothes. Tom Hiddleston (Loki) is a well played villain but it's really the tensions between the group (and the subsequent in-fighting both verbal and physical) that holds the most interest.
"Enough! You are, all of you are beneath me! I am a god, you dull creature, and I will not be bullied by..."
[Hulk flattens Loki with repeated smashes into the floor]
"Puny god."
"Dr. Banner, your work is unparalleled. And I'm a huge fan of the way you lose control and turn into an enormous green rage monster. "
"Have a care how you speak! Loki is beyond reason, but he is of Asgard and he is my brother!"
"He killed eighty people in two days."
"He's adopted."
"Big man in a suit of armour. Take that off, what are you?"
"Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist." - DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris HemsworthMark RuffaloThe Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.9/10
2 major difficulties to making this film were balancing a very large cast of characters and making an interesting villain who wanted to destroy the universe. Both are achieved in a film filled with humor and pathos as well as well structured fight sequences. Epic in scale and story.
EDIT 191228: Sequel sucked - dragging this effort down bit.- 2018
- DirectorGuy FerlandStarsTom CavanaghBen FosterRandy HarrisonTrevor is a troubled high school student, thanks to the effects of bullying. This is the story of his fight to break free."Bullying leads to bullets." - #AccurateMovieSummaries
9/10
Not a feel good movie but a harrowing portrayal of the consequences of bullying left unchecked.
OLD RATING - DirectorJay OlivaStarsPeter WellerAriel WinterDavid SelbyBatman has not been seen for ten years. A new breed of criminal ravages Gotham City, forcing 55-year-old Bruce Wayne back into the cape and cowl. But, does he still have what it takes to fight crime in a new era?"Billionaire with a penchant for black returns from hiatus to knock heads." - #AccurateMovieSummaries
9/10
A very faithful adaptation of the first Frank Miller graphic novel. Brooding and menacing - both Gotham and the Bat. The fight sequences are brutal and the psychology of Bruce (as well as his villains) is well explored. Commissioner Gordon's role here is well crafted and puts the actions of Bruce/ Batman in proper context. The news report sequences are as successful here as in the book and the delivery of lines (particularly those related to surgery) are perfect. - 2014 - DirectorJay OlivaStarsPeter WellerAriel WinterMichael EmersonThe Batman has returned after a 10-year absence. The Gotham authorities want to arrest him. An old foe wants a reunion. The Feds want the Man of Tomorrow to put a stop to him.9/10
The continuation of the cartoon adaption of Frank Miller's two part graphic novel. Better even than the first. The casting of Superman as somewhere between weapon of mass destruction and American government mercenary is truly inspired. A character whom I always felt was too big to be interesting is central to this. Throw in the Joker and frequent allusions to other members of the DC Universe past their prime and this is both a homage to all the history that comes before and a sobering modern day view of vigilantism and heroism. Excellent - 2014 - DirectorBrandon ViettiStarsBruce GreenwoodJensen AcklesJohn DiMaggioThere's a mystery afoot in Gotham City, and Batman must go toe-to-toe with a mysterious vigilante, who goes by the name of Red Hood. Subsequently, old wounds reopen and old, once buried memories come into the light."Billionaire with rodent obsession is punished for a work-place accident." - #AccurateMovieSummaries
9/10
Perfectly captures the darker side of Batman. The story is gripping, the animation is crisp and the soundtrack is suitably tense. The Joker as ever is menacing and captures your attention but surprisingly the 'new' Red Hood is equally an interesting a character.
Solid ending and excellent character development. - 2014 - DirectorEdward ZwickStarsLeonardo DiCaprioDjimon HounsouJennifer ConnellyA fisherman, a smuggler, and a syndicate of businessmen match wits over the possession of a priceless diamond."Carbon and a man find the pressure of Africa difficult." - #AccurateMovieSummaries
9/10
A compelling insight into the cost to Africa for the 'shiny rocks' of the west.
T.I.A - This Is Africa
OLD RATING - DirectorRian JohnsonStarsJoseph Gordon-LevittLukas HaasEmilie de RavinA teenage loner pushes his way into the underworld of a high school crime ring to investigate the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend.9/10
There's a thesaurus in the library. Yeah is under "Y". Go ahead, I'll wait.
OLD RATING - DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsChris EvansRobert Downey Jr.Scarlett JohanssonPolitical involvement in the Avengers' affairs causes a rift between Captain America and Iron Man."Masked men and women fight over whether to unmask or not." - #AccurateMovieSummaries
9/10
Even minus Hulk and Thor, this film ticks the boxes Avengers 2 didn't. Every hero gets screen time that matters both for demonstrating with action their motivations as well as furthering their characters. Vision and Wanda's budding relationship is well handled. Stark gets to play mentor to Spidey and Widow and Hawkeye's similarities and differences are explored a little. Black Panther moves from a man eschewing tradition and seeking vengeance to a king eager to see peace.
Even so the Russo brother's keep the story wonderfully clear. At heart the tale of two men, both doing what they believe is right, forced into conflict because of Cap's connection to Bucky. Zemo does just enough as villain to work as the man pulling strings without overshadowing the main conflict.
-2016 - DirectorMichael CurtizStarsHumphrey BogartIngrid BergmanPaul HenreidA cynical expatriate American cafe owner struggles to decide whether or not to help his former lover and her fugitive husband escape the Nazis in French Morocco."A suave pilot meets the love of his life and decides instead to fight Nazis." - #AccurateMovieSummaries
9/10
A uniquely ballsy and dry commentary of the war then raging, tied to the tight interplay between a man, his lover and her husband.
"Carl, see that Major Strasser gets a good table, one close to the ladies." "I have already given him the best table, knowing he was German and would take it anyway. - DirectorMartin CampbellStarsDaniel CraigEva GreenJudi DenchAfter earning 00 status and a licence to kill, secret agent James Bond sets out on his first mission as 007. Bond must defeat a private banker funding terrorists in a high-stakes game of poker at Casino Royale, Montenegro.9/10
OLD RATING - DirectorRob SitchStarsMichael CatonAnne TenneyStephen CurryA working-class family from Melbourne, Australia fights city hall after being told they must vacate their beloved family home to allow for infrastructural expansion.9/10
The best Australian movie and one of the best comedies ever made. A man's home is his castle.- watched again 2015
- DirectorPaul HaggisStarsDon CheadleSandra BullockThandiwe NewtonLos Angeles citizens with vastly separate lives collide in interweaving stories of race, loss and redemption.9/10
Why are they afraid of us! We're in a white neighbourhood. Because we've got guns.
OLD RATING - DirectorChristopher NolanStarsChristian BaleHeath LedgerAaron EckhartWhen the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, Batman must accept one of the greatest psychological and physical tests of his ability to fight injustice.9/10
"You crossed the line first, sir. You hammered them. And in their desperation they turned to a man they didn't fully understand. Some men aren't looking for anything logical. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn." - DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsJamie FoxxChristoph WaltzLeonardo DiCaprioWith the help of a German bounty-hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal plantation owner in Mississippi.9/10
Christoph Waltz is excellent as the former dentist turned bounty hunter; menacingly funny. As is DiCaprio as the plantation owner. Coupled with Jamie Foxx's stirring turn as the slave turned gun slinger, Django Unchained is an excellent homage to the spaghetti western with a blaxploitation twist. A refreshingly linear piece of storytelling from Tarantino. - 2013 - DirectorDoug LimanStarsTom CruiseEmily BluntBill PaxtonA soldier fighting aliens gets to relive the same day over and over again, the day restarting every time he dies.9/10
The concept of this film falls somewhere between Source Code & Ground Hog Day with a good deal of Japanese Anime style robots and aliens. Leading man Tom Cruise is in unusually good form in this and paired well with Emily Blunt (refreshingly rough around the edges). The result is a funny, visually arresting sci fi action flick with a tightly woven plot and excellent side character acting throughout. - 2014 - DirectorJoel SchumacherStarsMichael DouglasRobert DuvallBarbara HersheyAn ordinary man frustrated with the various flaws he sees in society begins to psychotically and violently lash out against them.9/10
I'm going home.
OLD RATING - DirectorNorman JewisonStarsTopolNorma CraneLeonard FreyIn pre-revolutionary Russia, a Jewish peasant with traditional values contends with marrying off three of his daughters with modern romantic ideals while growing anti-Semitic sentiment threatens his village.9/10
Great music (courtesy of Jerry Brock & John Williams), acting (especially Topol) camera-work and scripting combine for a brilliant musical. The dialogue is wonderful and Topol's monologues are very memorable.
"[to God] As the Good Book says, ev...
[chuckles]
Why should I tell You what the Good Book says?"
"[to God] - I know, I know. We are Your chosen people. But, once in a while, can't You choose someone else?"
[Won 1972 Oscar Cinematography, Sound & Music]
[Nom 1972 Oscar Best Picture, Actor, Supporting Actor, Director]- Re-watched 2014
- DirectorTerry GeorgeStarsDon CheadleSophie OkonedoJoaquin PhoenixPaul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager, houses over a thousand Tutsi refugees during their struggle against the Hutu militia in Rwanda, Africa.9/10
OLD RATING - DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsAsa ButterfieldChloë Grace MoretzChristopher LeeIn 1931 Paris, an orphan living in the walls of a train station gets wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton.9/10
A visual feast, this tale of a boy searching for a place to belong warms the heart without straying into cheesy territory. Sacha Baron Cohen and Ben Kingsley are both excellent as are both child leads. The direction and pacing of the film results in a satisfying ending neatly tying together all the plot threads. - 2013 - DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsHarrison FordSean ConneryAlison DoodyIn 1938, after his father goes missing while pursuing the Holy Grail, Indiana Jones finds himself up against the Nazis again to stop them from obtaining its powers.9/10
OLD RATING - DirectorAndrew LauAlan MakStarsAndy LauTony Leung Chiu-waiAnthony Chau-Sang WongA story between a mole in the police department and an undercover cop. Their objectives are the same: to find out who is the mole, and who is the cop.9/10
Superbly crafted, suspenseful thriller. Rather than filling the screen with bloodshed and the dialogue with expletives (as in later remake, The Departed), this film builds tensely throughout. - DirectorSpike LeeStarsDenzel WashingtonClive OwenJodie FosterA police detective, a bank robber, and a high-power broker enter high-stakes negotiations after the criminal's brilliant heist spirals into a hostage situation.9/10
- DirectorPete DocterRonnie Del CarmenStarsAmy PoehlerBill HaderLewis BlackAfter young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions - Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness - conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house, and school.9 /10
Pixar's most abstract framework for a movie to date and one of it's finest efforts. Gentle and poignant, there's still plenty of laughs. Even more so than Toy Story 3, I'm not sure this is one for the kids - the humour and observations are more from the adult side of the fence looking back on time gone past. Good moral, not preachy and somehow very interesting without relying on any villain.- 2015
- DirectorTaika WaititiStarsRoman Griffin DavisThomasin McKenzieScarlett JohanssonA young German boy in the Hitler Youth whose hero and imaginary friend is the country's dictator is shocked to discover that his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their home.9/10
Unofficial companion piece to La Vita Bella. Incredibly funny and thought provoking. A devastating critique of Hitler's Germany through the eyes of a would-be conscript Jojo.
The kids acting is very impressive (especially Roman Griffin Davis & Thomasin McKenzie). Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson & Taika Wattiti (Hitler & also director) give their best performances.
-2020 - DirectorNeil JordanStarsBrad PittTom CruiseAntonio BanderasA vampire tells his epic life story: love, betrayal, loneliness, and hunger.9/10
A little child she was, but also a fierce killer, now capable of the ruthless pursuit of blood with all a child's demanding.
OLD RATING - DirectorJake KasdanStarsDwayne JohnsonJack BlackKevin HartIn Jumanji: The Next Level, the gang is back but the game has changed. As they return to rescue one of their own, the players will have to brave parts unknown from arid deserts to snowy mountains, to escape the world's most dangerous game.9/10
Very, very fun. All acting (except some of the kids) excellent. Very fast paced, fun plot. Great humour and great special FX.- 2019
- DirectorOlivier NakacheÉric ToledanoStarsFrançois CluzetOmar SyAnne Le NyAfter he becomes a quadriplegic from a paragliding accident, an aristocrat hires a young man from the projects to be his caregiver.9/10
A truly great film. Sometimes the rich are still down on their luck and sometimes they don't need pity but the chance to tell it as it is. - 2013 - DirectorClayton JacobsonStarsShane JacobsonTravis GollandChris DavisThis hilarious mockumentary film follows the numerous misadventures of a porta-john worker through both his personal and professional life, including an oddly glamorous excursion to the Pumper and Cleaner Expo in Nashville, TN.9/10
- DirectorPhil LordChristopher MillerStarsChris PrattWill FerrellElizabeth BanksAn ordinary LEGO construction worker, thought to be the prophesied as "special", is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil tyrant from gluing the LEGO universe into eternal stasis.9/10
Captures all the joy that playing with Lego did when I was a kid. It was exciting enough to see the play-sets I had spent so much time with come to life on the big screen and even better that the rest of what makes a film was so well handled.
The voicing talent and script are pitch perfect - capturing the joy of play as a child as well as the cynical outlook when we grow up. Lots and lots of laughs. The visual humour/ action is well handled - feeling polished but also close enough to playing with the bricks. Memorable - 2014. - DirectorTerry JonesStarsGraham ChapmanJohn CleeseMichael PalinBorn on the original Christmas in the stable next door to Jesus Christ, Brian of Nazareth spends his life being mistaken for a messiah.9/10
Possibly the best comedy ever - DirectorAng LeeStarsSuraj SharmaIrrfan KhanAdil HussainA young man who survives a disaster at sea is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery. While cast away, he forms an unexpected connection with another survivor: a fearsome Bengal tiger.9/10
Great adaptation of a brilliant book about a boy trapped on a life boat with a zebra, hyena, orangatang and a bengal tiger. A story to make you believe in god.
"We will sail like Columbus." "But Columbus was looking for India. - DirectorFlorian Henckel von DonnersmarckStarsUlrich MüheMartina GedeckSebastian KochIn 1984 East Berlin, an agent of the secret police conducting surveillance on a writer and his lover finds himself becoming increasingly absorbed by their lives.9/10
"The state office for statistics on Hans-Beimler street counts everything; knows everything: how many pairs of shoes I buy a year: 2.3, how many books I read a year: 3.2 and how many students graduate with perfect marks: 6,347. But there's one statistic that isn't collected there, perhaps because such numbers cause even paper-pushers pain: and that is the suicide rate.
OLD RATING - DirectorAndrew NiccolStarsNicolas CageEthan HawkeJared LetoAn arms dealer confronts the morality of his work as he is being chased by an INTERPOL Agent.9/10
OLD RATING - DirectorChristopher NolanStarsGuy PearceCarrie-Anne MossJoe PantolianoA man with short-term memory loss attempts to track down his wife's murderer.9/10
OLD RATING - DirectorCharles ChaplinStarsCharles ChaplinPaulette GoddardHenry BergmanThe Tramp struggles to live in modern industrial society with the help of a young homeless woman.9/10
OLD RATING - DirectorPete DocterDavid SilvermanLee UnkrichStarsBilly CrystalJohn GoodmanMary GibbsIn order to power the city, monsters have to scare children so that they scream. However, the children are toxic to the monsters, and after a child gets through, two monsters realize things may not be what they think.9/10
Pixar's best and most original.
"There's nothing more toxic or deadly than a human child. A single touch could kill you. Leave a door open, and one can walk right into this factory; right into the monster world."
[Nominated Oscar 2002 - Best Animated Feature, Best Original Score, Best Sound FX]
[Won Oscar 2002 - Best Original Song]
OLD RATING - DirectorJoss WhedonStarsAlexis DenisofAmy AckerFran KranzA modern retelling of Shakespeare's classic comedy about two pairs of lovers with different takes on romance and a way with words.9/10
Shakespeare's dialogue crackles with wit and humour in the hands of the many friends of Whedon. The leads (Ackerman, Denisoff) are suitably cynical as the verbal sparring requires and show great chemistry as their characters love for each other builds. Fillion plays an excellent bumbling police officer. Whedon's use of his own home and black and white photography works well. The apparent joy at working of all the actors is great to watch.
Watched this at Joondalup Film Festival with Elisa. - 2013 - DirectorSteven SoderberghStarsGeorge ClooneyBrad PittJulia RobertsDanny Ocean and his ten accomplices plan to rob three Las Vegas casinos simultaneously.9/10
Besides the title, this remake, shares very little with the original film. This a good thing as the average song and dance routines, exceedingly long run time and minimal focus on heist trickery is replaced with slick cool and a confidence plot of many twists and turns. - 2013 - DirectorMark RomanekStarsRobin WilliamsConnie NielsenMichael VartanA mentally unstable photo developer targets an upper middle-class family after his obsession with them becomes more sick and disturbing than any of them could imagine.9/10
OLD RATING - DirectorEric DarnellSimon J. SmithStarsTom McGrathChris MillerChristopher KnightsSkipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private join forces with undercover organization The North Wind to stop the villainous Dr. Octavius Brine from destroying the world as we know it.9/10
Along with The Lego Movie it's crazy that this film was not nominated for best animated feature in the Oscar's category.
Much crazier, funnier and more original than the Madagascar franchise that spawned the film, this is a laugh a minute joyride. With the penguins as mouth pieces Dreamworks gets away with scripting dialogue that in other hands would have seemed cruel but here is bitingly clever. John Malkovich voices a wonderful villainous octopus but all the voice-overs and animation are excellent.- 2015
- DirectorJoel SchumacherStarsColin FarrellKiefer SutherlandForest WhitakerPublicist Stuart Shepard finds himself trapped in a phone booth, pinned down by an extortionist's sniper rifle. Unable to leave or receive outside help, Stuart's negotiation with the caller leads to a jaw-dropping climax.9/10
OLD RATING - DirectorGore VerbinskiStarsJohnny DeppGeoffrey RushOrlando BloomBlacksmith Will Turner teams up with eccentric pirate "Captain" Jack Sparrow to save his love, the governor's daughter, from Jack's former pirate allies, who are now undead.9/10
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsChristian BaleHugh JackmanScarlett JohanssonAfter a tragic accident, two stage magicians in 1890s London engage in a battle to create the ultimate illusion while sacrificing everything they have to outwit each other.9/10
- DirectorRob ReinerStarsCary ElwesMandy PatinkinRobin WrightA bedridden boy's grandfather reads him the story of a farmboy-turned-pirate who encounters numerous obstacles, enemies and allies in his quest to be reunited with his true love.9/10
Watched a handful of times - great every time.- 2014
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsJohn TravoltaUma ThurmanSamuel L. JacksonThe lives of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster and his wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.9/10
Though certain sequences could have been dropped (being unnecessarily blue or grotesque) this is a groundbreaking flick:
Eschewing a major character for a host of memorable characters (played by a stellar cast: Samuel L. Jackson, John Travolta, Bruce Willis and Uma Thurman). Multiple intertwining plots. Crackling dialogue that breaks film convention focusing on seemingly irrelevant discussions (as far as progression of plot dictates) of philosophy, sex and fast food.
"There's a passage I got memorized. Ezekiel 25:17. "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy My brothers. And you will know I am the Lord when I lay My vengeance upon you." Now... I been sayin' that *beep* for years. And if you ever heard it, that meant your ass. You'd be dead right now. I never gave much thought to what it meant. I just thought it was a cold-blooded thing to say to a *beep* before I popped a cap in his ass. But I saw some *beep* this mornin' made me think twice. See, now I'm thinking: maybe it means you're the evil man. And I'm the righteous man. And Mr. 9mm here... he's the shepherd protecting my righteous ass in the valley of darkness. Or it could mean you're the righteous man and I'm the shepherd and it's the world that's evil and selfish. And I'd like that. But that *beep* ain't the truth. The truth is you're the weak. And I'm the tyranny of evil men. But I'm tryin', Ringo. I'm tryin' real hard to be the shepherd.
OLD RATING - DirectorFrank OzStarsRobert De NiroEdward NortonMarlon BrandoAn aging thief hopes to retire and live off his ill-gotten wealth with his lover when a young kid convinces him into doing one last heist that comes with a large payout.9/10
OLD RATING - DirectorDavid KoeppStarsJohnny DeppMaria BelloJohn TurturroA successful writer in the midst of a painful divorce is stalked at his remote lake house by a would-be scribe who accuses him of plagiarism.9/10
I know I can do it," Todd Downey said, helping himself to another ear of corn from the steaming bowl. "I'm sure that in time, every bit of her will be gone and her death will be a mystery... even to me.
OLD RATING - DirectorBilly RayStarsHayden ChristensenChloë SevignySteve ZahnThe story of a young journalist who fell from grace when it was discovered he fabricated over half of his articles from the publication The New Republic magazine.9/10
Don't you have any idea how much *beep* we're about to eat? Every competitor we ever took a shot at, they're going to pounce. And they should. Because we blew it, Caitlin. He handed us fiction after fiction and we printed them all as fact. Just because... we found him "entertaining." It's indefensible. Don't you know that?
OLD RATING - DirectorFrank DarabontStarsTim RobbinsMorgan FreemanBob GuntonOver the course of several years, two convicts form a friendship, seeking consolation and, eventually, redemption through basic compassion.9/10
[Andy has returned after solitary for the record playing stunt] Couldn't play somethin' good, huh? Hank Williams? " "They broke the door down before I could take requests.
OLD RATING - DirectorDanny BoyleLoveleen TandanStarsDev PatelFreida PintoSaurabh ShuklaA teenager from the slums of Mumbai becomes a contestant on the show 'Kaun Banega Crorepati?' When interrogated under suspicion of cheating, he revisits his past, revealing how he had all the answers.9/10
"When somebody asks me a question. I tell them the answer."
OLD RATING - DirectorDuncan JonesStarsJake GyllenhaalMichelle MonaghanVera FarmigaA soldier wakes up in someone else's body and discovers he's part of an experimental government program to find the bomber of a commuter train within 8 minutes.9/10
A great thinking man's sci-fi, part Groundhog Day, part Avalon, all class. Gyllenhaal is excellent in his role, the special effects are unusually subtle for Hollywood fare and the plot-lines and characters are well developed. - 2014 - DirectorJon WattsStarsTom HollandMichael KeatonRobert Downey Jr.Peter Parker balances his life as an ordinary high school student in Queens with his superhero alter-ego Spider-Man, and finds himself on the trail of a new menace prowling the skies of New York City.9/10
In the numerous attempts to craft a Spider-man movie none have nailed the balance of the dual identities of Peter Parker and Spider-man as well as Tom Holland. Add a villain in the form of working class battler Vulture (Michael Keaton). A smaller scale story (like Antman) with more personal stakes that plays off of previous movie cliches. Tightly constructed cameo's from Iron Man and Captain America. And a funny, supporting cast with plenty of heart. Particularly Jacob Batalon as Peter's friend Ned and a surprising M.J.- 2017
- DirectorGeorge Roy HillStarsPaul NewmanRobert RedfordRobert ShawTwo grifters team up to pull off the ultimate con.9/10
"Sit down and shut up, will ya? Try not to live up to all my expectations."- 2012ish (2nd or 3rd time)
- DirectorMarc ForsterStarsWill FerrellEmma ThompsonDustin HoffmanI.R.S. auditor Harold Crick suddenly finds his mundane Chicago life to be the subject of narration only he can hear: narration that begins to affect his entire existence, from his work to his love life to his death.9/10
"Because it's a book about a man who doesn't know he's about to die. And then dies. But if a man does know he's about to die and dies anyway. Dies- dies willingly, knowing that he could stop it, then- I mean, isn't that the type of man who you want to keep alive?"
OLD RATING - DirectorAnthony MinghellaStarsMatt DamonGwyneth PaltrowJude LawIn late 1950s New York, a young underachiever named Tom Ripley is sent to Italy to retrieve Dickie Greenleaf, a rich and spoiled millionaire playboy. But when the errand fails, Ripley takes extreme measures.9/10
"Good things about Mr. Ripley? Could take some time. Tom is talented. Tom is tender... Tom is beautiful... Tom is a mystery. Tom is not a nobody. Tom has secrets he doesn't want to tell me, and I wish he would. Tom has nightmares. That's not a good thing. Tom has someone to love him. That is a good thing. Tom is crushing me. Tom is crushing me... Tom, you're crushing me!"
OLD RATING - DirectorJames CameronStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerLinda HamiltonEdward FurlongA cyborg, identical to the one who failed to kill Sarah Connor, must now protect her ten year old son John from an even more advanced and powerful cyborg.9/10
OLD RATING - DirectorJason ReitmanStarsAaron EckhartCameron BrightMaria BelloSatirical comedy follows the machinations of Big Tobacco's chief spokesman, Nick Naylor, who spins on behalf of cigarettes while trying to remain a role model for his 12-year old son.9/10
Comedic and deep, dealing with the price we pay for PR on the stuff that kills us. Aaron Eckhart is perfectly cast in this, playing a really lovable anti-hero. Some great plot twists.
"We don't sell Tic Tacs, we sell cigarettes. And they're cool, available, and *addictive*. The job is almost done for us."
OLD RATING - DirectorEnzo BarboniStarsTerence HillBud SpencerSteffen ZachariasA lazy, unorthodox gunfighter and his portly, horse-thieving brother defend a Mormon settlement from a land-grabbing Major, a Mexican bandit, and their henchmen.9/10
Well, I'm not lookin' for trouble." "You don't know how to do anything else.
OLD RATING - Multiple Viewings - DirectorPierre-Paul RendersStarsBenoît VerhaertAylin YayMagali PinglautIn the near future, a man confined to his apartment for eight years by agoraphobia and fear of human contact is prescribed remote sex therapy.9/10
A film about agrophobia it is shot such that the main characters face is never seen. SBS
"Thomas, I want you to go outside."
"I can't."
"I want to see you here with me."
"I can't."
"I want to touch you."
"No"
OLD RATING - DirectorPaul VerhoevenStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerSharon StoneMichael IronsideWhen a man goes in to have virtual vacation memories of the planet Mars implanted in his mind, an unexpected and harrowing series of events forces him to go to the planet for real - or is he?9/10
Arnold Schwarznegger is excellent in this mind-bending sci-fi romp where nothing is as it seems. Great visuals, excellent plot twists and very memorable characters.
"Howdy, stranger! This is Hauser. If things have gone wrong, I'm talking to myself and you have a wet towel around your head. Now, whatever your name is, get ready for the big surprise. You are not you, you're me."
OLD RATING - multiple viewings - DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsBruce WillisSamuel L. JacksonRobin WrightA man learns something extraordinary about himself after a devastating accident.9/10
This is a superhero film where the hero has every-person problems and the villain's weakness is his strength. Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson play against type as reluctant, somewhat weak characters. The film is so much better as a result.
"Do you see any Teletubbies in here? Do you see a slender plastic tag clipped to my shirt with my name printed on it? Do you see a little Asian child with a blank expression on his face sitting outside on a mechanical helicopter that shakes when you put quarters in it? No? Well, that's what you see at a toy store. And you must think you're in a toy store, because you're here shopping for an infant named Jeb."
OLD RATING - DirectorBryan SingerStarsKevin SpaceyGabriel ByrneChazz PalminteriThe sole survivor of a pier shoot-out tells the story of how a notorious criminal influenced the events that began with five criminals meeting in a seemingly random police lineup.9/10
Kevin Spacey is amazing in this film featuring a con so good even when the reveal comes you can't quite believe it.
"I can put you in Queens on the night of the hijacking." "Really? I live in Queens, did you put that together yourself, Einstein? Got a team of monkeys working around the clock on this?"
[Won Oscar 2005 - Best Supporting Actor & Best Screenplay]
OLD RATING - DirectorJames McTeigueStarsHugo WeavingNatalie PortmanRupert GravesIn a future British dystopian society, a shadowy freedom fighter, known only by the alias of "V", plots to overthrow the tyrannical government - with the help of a young woman.9/10
The best realised and most adult translation of a graphic novel to movie screen. Hugo Weaving is suitably menacing as V but it is Natalie Portman's gutwrenching portrayal of the woman betrayed that is most memorable.
"Who are you?"
"Who? Who is but the form following the function of what and what I am is a man in a mask".
"Well I can see that."
"Of course you can. I'm not questioning your powers of observation; I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is."
OLD RATING - DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsSigourney WeaverWilliam HurtJoaquin PhoenixA series of events tests the beliefs of a small isolated countryside village.9/10
Before Shyamalan forgot how to make good movies he made this pearler. What starts out as a horror flick turns out to be a lot more complicated. Scary in the right way and an interesting commentary on human evils and the dangers of cults.
"They put their backs to the woods and see how long they can wait before getting scared. It's so exciting. I understand you hold the record? It will never be broken they say.
OLD RATING - DirectorSam MendesStarsKevin SpaceyAnnette BeningThora BirchA sexually frustrated suburban father has a mid-life crisis after becoming infatuated with his daughter's best friend.8/10
Dissatisfied with his loveless marriage, a man (Kevin Spacey) seeks out the experiences of his youth in drugs, low responsibility jobs and a growing infatuation for a friend of his daughter.
"My dad thinks I paid for all this with catering jobs. Never underestimate the power of denial."
[Oscar 2000 - Best Picture]
OLD RATING - CreatorLana WachowskiLilly WachowskiStarsJames Arnold TaylorJulia FletcherDwight SchultzA collection of nine short films featuring stories related to The Matrix (1999).8/10
"In the beginning, there was man. And for a time, it was good. But humanity's so-called civil societies soon fell victim to vanity and corruption. Then man made the machine in his own likeness. Thus did man become the architect of his own demise."
OLD RATING - DirectorPeyton ReedStarsPaul RuddMichael DouglasCorey StollArmed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, cat burglar Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, pull off a plan that will save the world."8/10"
An unusual Marvel movie that benefits from a lesser scale (pun intended). Rather than the world in peril, a man fights to save his daughter and his reputation. The casting is good but it's the combination of excellent visual effects, funny dialogue and a solid plot that make this movie.- 2015
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsMartin SheenMarlon BrandoRobert DuvallA U.S. Army officer serving in Vietnam is tasked with assassinating a renegade Special Forces Colonel who sees himself as a god.8/10
Based on the novel by Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness. Real cow slaughtered. Early appearances by Laurence Fishburne and Harrison Ford
OLD RATING - DirectorTerry ZwigoffStarsMax MinghellaSophia MylesJohn MalkovichStarting from childhood attempts at illustration, the protagonist pursues his true obsession to art school. But as he learns how the art world really works, he finds that he must adapt his vision to the reality that confronts him.8/10
OLD RATING - DirectorAndrew DominikStarsBrad PittCasey AffleckSam ShepardRobert Ford, who has idolized Jesse James since childhood, tries hard to join the resurgent gang of the Missouri outlaw, but gradually becomes resentful of the bandit leader.8/10
"He was ashamed of his persiflage, his boasting, his pretensions of courage and ruthlessness; he was sorry about his cold-bloodedness, his dispassion, his inability to express what he now believed was the case- that he truly regretted killing Jesse, that he missed the man as much as anybody and wished his murder hadn't been necessary." - DirectorPaul VerhoevenStarsMichael DouglasSharon StoneGeorge DzundzaA violent police detective investigates a brutal murder that might involve a manipulative and seductive novelist.8/10
"It looks like some civic-minded, very respectable cocaine to me, Gus."
OLD RATING - DirectorTim BurtonStarsMichael KeatonJack NicholsonKim BasingerThe Dark Knight of Gotham City begins his war on crime with his first major enemy being Jack Napier, a criminal who becomes the clownishly homicidal Joker.8/10
OLD RATING - DirectorTim BurtonStarsMichael KeatonDanny DeVitoMichelle PfeifferWhile Batman deals with a deformed man calling himself the Penguin wreaking havoc across Gotham with the help of a cruel businessman, a female employee of the latter becomes the Catwoman with her own vendetta.8/10
OLD RATING - DirectorRussell ThomasStarsBill BaileyBBC Concert OrchestraKeith DoverComedian and musician Bill Bailey takes the audience on an amusing and enlightening introduction to the parts of an orchestra.8/10
Bailey is in his element here (making a lot of very little), and is ably supported by the full orchestra at his beck and call. A really wonderful live show performance.- 2014
Who stole the leg of time? Was it the keeper of the key to the door of reality hidden under the mat of insignificance? - DirectorRyan CooglerStarsChadwick BosemanMichael B. JordanLupita Nyong'oT'Challa, heir to the hidden but advanced kingdom of Wakanda, must step forward to lead his people into a new future and must confront a challenger from his country's past.8/10
A surprisingly sophisticated and nuanced Marvel movie. Excellent performances, especially by the male leads (Boseman and Jordan). Well written dialogue. The exchange over refugees is particularly well handled. And a well-built world mixing technology and ancient African myth. And 2 solid villains. 2 more than most Marvel movies.- 2018
- DirectorVincenzo NataliStarsJeremy NorthamLucy LiuNigel BennettAn unsuspecting, disenchanted man finds himself working as a spy in the dangerous, high-stakes world of corporate espionage. Quickly getting way over-his-head, he teams up with a mysterious femme fatale.8/10
Fascinating Sci Fi about a man caught between two sides of corporate espionage. - 2013 - DirectorJon GunnStarsMike VogelErika ChristensenFaye DunawayAn investigative journalist and self-proclaimed atheist sets out to disprove the existence of God after his wife becomes a Christian.Well acted and with very good dialogue. Someone was reading over the script (perhaps a skeptic) to keep it from reverting to preaching. Tackles the major points of Strobel's Legal Journalist investigation (from the book) and weaves them with a news story and a relational reconciliation.
"You want your wife back. And they want ice water in hell, we can't always get what we want. Stop blaming me, God and the church for your problems. Do your job and go where the facts lead."- 2017
- DirectorMark AchbarJennifer AbbottStarsMikela JayRob BeckwermertChristopher GoraDocumentary that looks at the concept of the corporation throughout recent history up to its present-day dominance.8/10
Blood money all of it. This inside look at the biggest and most successful corporations though rather long is often fascinating. - 2013 - DirectorScott DerricksonStarsBenedict CumberbatchChiwetel EjioforRachel McAdamsWhile on a journey of physical and spiritual healing, a brilliant neurosurgeon is drawn into the world of the mystic arts."Magic cloak protects surgeon with broken hands from a new-age death cult before necklace solves space-time problem." - #AccurateMovieSummaries
8/10
Beautiful and unnerving visuals complement solid acting and a tight script. Magical powers are foreshadowed and tightly defined, rather than being used to escape tight situations resulting from poor writing. Strange (Cumberbatch) might be the most complex character brought to the MCU. Moving from materialist skeptic and self congratulatory doctor to wielder of ancient arts and protector of earth.
"Yeah, you know, you really should have stolen the whole book because the warnings... The warnings come *after* the spells." - Strange- 2017
- DirectorPatrick ArchibaldJay OlivaDick SebastStarsBryce JohnsonPaul NakauchiKevin Michael RichardsonA crippled and embittered doctor travels to a hidden community in Tibet where he learns of his true destiny as the Sorcerer Supreme of his world.8/10
Very well crafted animated telemovie from Marvel/ Liongate. The animation and look and feel is very different to the more espionage/ sci-fi world typically explored as the Marvel universe. The character development of Strange is the emotional anchor for the viewer while exploring what could otherwise be a disorientating world of magic. In particular the opening section leading up until the point where Dr. Strange hits rock bottom is excellent. - 2014 - DirectorShawn LevyStarsRyan ReynoldsJodie ComerTaika WaititiWhen Guy, a bank teller, learns that he is a non-player character in a bloodthirsty, open-world video game, he goes on to become the hero of the story and takes the responsibility of saving the world.8/10
A well produced celebration and critique of gamer (particularly GTA) culture. The AI characters steal the show - with great performances by Guy (Ryan Reynolds) and Buddy (Lil Rel Howery). Millie (Jodie Comer) is the best of the player characters. Taika Waititi is surprisingly one-dimensional in his portrayal of the gaming boss. The philosophy of AI/ real/ unreal/ meaning all get a little exploration but it's the visuals and dialogue that drive this fun flick.- 2021
- StarsNeil Patrick HarrisNathan FillionFelicia DayAn aspiring supervillain must balance his career and his pursuit of a beautiful do-gooder.8/10
Quirky, off-beat and quite short. The Whedon's (Joss and Jed) craft a lovely little musical. Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion and Felicia Day all do a fine job of bringing the words and songs to life. - 2013 Second Viewing - DirectorAntoine FuquaStarsDenzel WashingtonMarton CsokasChloë Grace MoretzA man who believes he has put his mysterious past behind him cannot stand idly by when he meets a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters.8/10
A well thought out action/ thriller. The casting and acting are great across the board. Especially (no surprise) Denzel Washington but the tension and menace in the film is the work of Marton Csokas. A villain of menace... and calm. It's refreshing to see a villain who isn't shouting and thrashing around but fully and disturbingly in control. When he does take action, it's breathtakingly violent. The camera-work is also excellent.- 2014
- DirectorJimmy ChinElizabeth Chai VasarhelyiStarsAlex HonnoldTommy CaldwellJimmy ChinAlex Honnold faces the biggest challenge of his career, climbing El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. He pursues it Free Solo, which means climbing without a rope and alone.8/10
Alex Honnold's ridiculous pursuit captured beautifully.
-2019 - DirectorJohn Michael McDonaghStarsBrendan GleesonDon CheadleMark StrongAn unorthodox Irish policeman with a confrontational personality is partnered with an uptight F.B.I. agent to investigate an international drug-smuggling ring.8/10
Brendan Gleeson is a massively racist cop who pockets guns and drugs, hires hookers and drinks on the job. He might just be the only straight cop left on the Irish force. Gleeson's portrayal is manic, at times humorous, edgy and emotionally relatable. Don Cheedle playing the straight shooting FBI agent (Gleeson's unlikely partner) is an excellent foil. The criminals are suitably deranged and humorous in a darkly comedic british sort of way. Enjoyable, off-beat flick. - DirectorSacha GervasiStarsAnthony HopkinsHelen MirrenScarlett JohanssonThe relationship between Alfred Hitchcock and his wife Alma Reville during the filming of Psycho (1960) in 1959 is explored.8/10
Anthony Hopkins is excellent as the maverick director. The handling of camera angles, direction and screen writing is both arty and fitting for the subject matter. Discussions of morality, sanity and love make for a very enjoyable romance flick. - 2013 - DirectorTaika WaititiStarsSam NeillJulian DennisonRima Te WiataA national manhunt is ordered for a rebellious kid and his foster uncle who go missing in the wild New Zealand bush.8/10
Sam Neil (grumpy wilderness man Hec) leads a lesser known but well cast group in this New Zealand flick that compares well with the Australian classic, The Castle. Both rely on finding humor in people who are just being what they consider normal and both have many memorable lines and great characters. Wilderpeople prefers a more absurd scenario and falls a little short when a young girl character seems to be trying for laughs rather than being themselves.
Julian Dennison (Ricky) is the misunderstood foster kid, Rima Te Wiata (Bella) is the odd mother figure who succeeds in winning his affection only to be torn away by circumstance and authorities. Supporting cast generally give great performances, a militant female child protection worker, a typical Maori bru and conspiracy nutter Psycho Sam. As well a surprisingly funny and deep performance by a priest during a funeral service.- 2016
- DirectorRingo LamStarsJean-Claude Van DammeLawrence TaylorLloyd BattistaA man must survive a prison where hardened criminals battle to the death for the wardens' entertainment.8/10
This incredibly gritty and brutal flick pulls no punches. Life in the prison system of Russia is excruciating. Van Damme is uncharacteristically excellent both during the violent prison brawls and even when not fighting. Supporting cast are very capable and the ending is very good.
"You talk too much." - 2013 - DirectorAndrew NiccolStarsJustin TimberlakeAmanda SeyfriedCillian MurphyIn a future where people stop aging at 25, but are engineered to live only one more year, having the means to buy your way out of the situation is a shot at immortal youth. Will Salas is accused of murder and on the run with a hostage.8/10
Excellent concept, well acted (JT does a fine job in lead), well written and well executed. A really interesting sci fi. - 2013 - DirectorAndrew StantonStarsTaylor KitschLynn CollinsWillem DafoeTransported to Barsoom, a Civil War vet discovers a barren planet seemingly inhabited by 12-foot tall barbarians. Finding himself prisoner of these creatures, he escapes, only to encounter Woola and a princess in desperate need of a savior.8/10
CGI combines with decent acting in this Sci Fi/ Fantasy romp. It manages to feel both familiar (think Star Wars) and yet different. The final plot twist is both consistent and unexpected. - 2013 - DirectorHarald ZwartStarsJackie ChanJaden SmithTaraji P. HensonWork causes a single mother to move to China with her young son; in his new home, the boy embraces kung fu, taught to him by a master.8/10
As far as child acting goes this is well above par. The scenery is epic, Jackie Chan is excellent and the fight scenes are brutal. - 2013 - DirectorMatthew VaughnStarsColin FirthTaron EgertonSamuel L. JacksonA spy organisation recruits a promising street kid into the agency's training program, while a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius.8/10
Excellent dialogue, great characters, acting and writing make this somewhat spoof of James Bond impressive. Colin Firth and newcomer Taron Egerton are excellent as Kingsman and Samuel Jackson provides one of his better performances as the businessman not keen on violence. Contains pretty frequent coarse language and heavy stylised violence.- 2015
- DirectorRoberto BenigniStarsRoberto BenigniNicoletta BraschiGiorgio CantariniWhen an open-minded Jewish waiter and his son become victims of the Holocaust, he uses a perfect mixture of will, humor and imagination to protect his son from the dangers around their camp.8/10
A very strange and moving film. Breezy, romantic farce provides the tools to get a child through an Italian Nazi concentration camp. As unscathed as possible.
-2019 - DirectorRobert StrombergStarsAngelina JolieElle FanningSharlto CopleyA vengeful fairy is driven to curse an infant princess, only to discover that the child could be the one person who can restore peace to their troubled land.8/10
Without Angelina Jolie's performance as the title character this would be a film with a lot of old-time Disney charm but little development. But with her performance... the film is a fresh re-imagining of the Sleeping Beauty (Disney legend) told from the perspective of the villain. The Evil Maleficent. We join Maleficent as a young fresh faced lover, who suffers loss that drives her to become horribly cruel.
But the skill with which Jolie acts out these moments, portrays so clearly her drive and motivations that the viewer just wants her to overcome all challenges. A beautiful character piece. - 2014 - DirectorGuy RitchieStarsHenry CavillArmie HammerAlicia VikanderIn the early 1960s, CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin participate in a joint mission against a mysterious criminal organization, which is working to proliferate nuclear weapons.8/10
Classic Bond-style spy caper that isn't made much anymore. Witty dialogue, interesting characters (both male and female leads) and above average plot. Thoroughly enjoyed.- 2016