BETTER LIVING THROUGH CHEMISTRY

http://bit.ly/ABetterLivingThroughChemistry_14Br

 REVIEWED

The movie title is weird but aptly explained whats in the film. Its about a Pharmacist having a dominating wife and a sexy flirting client.

The movie has many stars like Olivia Wilde, Michelle Monaghan, Kevin Howard, Ray Liota and cameo (I term as such) Jane Fonda. But Sam Rockwell starred as the Pharmacist. Other better actors could play his part and bring this film to a higher notch. Somebody who can play a deuces bag husband. Also Ben Swarch is a familiar face. 

This movie is about a family with crisis told in a comedic fashion way with adultery and "be a man" stuffs in the story line. Drug abuse, addiction and performance enhancing drugs is also included.

I did remember telling that OW is a British actually this is not the case as I saw her once in an interview. She's as yankee as she can be. Maybe her British accent when playing Brit was so good perhaps. BTW shes full blooded American in this one.

 

This film is with narration to keep it going. You could be surprise who the narrator is until it reveal right at the very end. Narration help a movie (especially this one) goes right to the story telling part and straight to the point. 

The morale of story - sometimes the appropriate solution cannot be the best one.

This film, I sensed, banked on Jane Fonda even Ray Liota. So short an appearance and you put them on the poster.

The film did not reach my expectation because nothing new on the plot bits and pieces from other movies. Not much surprises in the plot thou it nearly got there on the who had died part. Keep this film to see on a rainy day.

THE BAG MAN

http://bit.ly/TheBagMan_14Br

REVIEWED

The reviews I came across from the internet for this movie is not good. This movie made only $1/2 mill bucks ? OMG!  Others complaining that its another bummer for Cussack and De Niro. One says its better to go get a haircut than watching this. Talking about haters !

I dont say that this is a commendable movie either but not to the extent of belittling what you saw. There are worser movie out there. This one is OK you got what you sit for, thats my analogy.

The Bag Man is an adaptation from a play by the name of Motel. It has big name like De Niro and known actors like John Cussack, Crispin Glover and not forgetting Domenic Purcel. Dont believe I have seen Rebecca Cos Ta before, a tall 6 footer slim blonde (at least in this movie). Hispanic from the name but acted as Russian. So did R D Niro.

I am never a fan of Cussack but I think he did OK in this one. His acting does not show much emotion and just like Keanu Reeves in John Wick he got the part of a killer part time delivery boy for a bag which DeNiro wants without him ever looking whats in it.

As the movie is based on a play, the plot is actually interesting. You keep on wanting to know whats in the bag and whoever Jack (JC) met you tend to ask if they are bad people. There are killings of course and like me I kept on asking when are these killing going to stop or are there anyone more to be killed ?

Robert D Niro did his part well. Good acting as usual but you never felt that he is in this because the studio wants to bank on his name like JK Simmons in Dark Skies :) or a lot of other films that are stingy to pay established actors but put them in the ensemble to bank the movies. Better hair he donned in the film. White like "The intern" but more flushy.

The film didnt feel cheap. No question on the acting. Not that it require great acting because it didnt go there but since they are good actors it makes everything believable. The action is good and the interaction among the characters are also all right. My only complain was how come Jack's hand can be hang with handcuffs without any injury. Then the shooting of the handcuffs at close range, just cant buy it.  

Dont stop until the closing credit because there are a bit more than you think that everything is already over. It will make the movie smarter.

(spoiler) one part i like was when RDN's character bashed up an attractive girl's face who was a Forex Trader for clicking the Buy button instead of the Sell button and screwing his investment. That was good.  

See this if you want some (lots of it thou) bang bang.

DARK SKIES

http://bit.ly/DarkSkies_13Br

REVIEWED

Watched this for the change of watching dramas all this while. From what I know this will be a Scifi Alien kind of movie. Not expecting much as it is low budget with unknown actors except for Academy award winner JK Simmons. Karen Russell, have seen her before in some film.

This film is only 1 1/2hr long. Normally shorter movies would make less mistakes. It should not feel draggy and should be fast paced. There are many cliche that this movie took like Poltergeist and those Paranormal Activities films etc. But those are supernatural movies and this is a sci fi movie. So that was the confusion so to speak.

At the opening credits, there was a quote from Arthur C Clarke on alien visits, so audience are ready for it. But why did it take so long to get to it ? The build up of suspense was like for the family to finally meet ghosts of the underworld.

Like always they could not convince the authorities that they have Alien problem. Then they have to meet the expert played in 1 scene by JK Simmons. Then its the family vs Aliens which we never see upfront just some shadowy figures. So that was really disappointing. Not that I expect more effects or props, but just stingy I guess.

Its not that bad in the acting and it dont feel like a B grade sci fi movie, but it could have been much much better.

The theory of Alien invasion or abduction is explained in this one with a alternative perspective than other Sci Fi movie I might seen in the past. So if you are sick, check if you are alien potential.

See if you want some thrill from your daily routine drama movies.

THE DRESSMAKER

http://bit.ly/TheDressMaker_15Br

REVIEWED 

Hard to classified this movie as it has comedy, not the usual one but dark comedy and some drama.. Its an Australian production but stars Brit babe Kate Winslet in the lead. Other known Aussie actors are Hugo Weaving (Matrix) and Liam Wentsworth (not Thor but the brother). Its backdrop is an Australian rural town way back in the 50's. Based from a Novel of the same name.

Its about revenge where Molly? (played by KW) came back to be with her mother as she was sent away when she was very young for something she did and the townsfolk cant forgive but want to forget. She had been round the world and become a very capable dress maker bringing the latest fashion from around the world especially Paris.

The story is well woven where it was told bits by bits what went wrong about 20 years ago in the form of creative flashbacks. Even Molly could not remember so did her mother. But tragedies strucked her and made her to decide her future with the town.

Comedy wise, it had its moments but you had to be an Aussie to understand or take some of the issues as jokes. Of course some of em are simply over the top when you asked if that could happen but it occur anyway in the film.

As mentioned above, KW is a babe. Even at this age she can still captivate audiences like when she was in Titanic. Liam is too young for her in this film but they were supposed to be childhood friends. 

On the technical side, for a limited budget film, you can always notice (if you be observant enough) that most indoor scenes are well lighted just like in a studio. Maybe this movie does not care or have the manpower to make the indoor lighthing more like real. No dark spots interior. Anyway if that is achieved it make the works more authentic. 

Don't think Kate Winslet was nominated anything for her work here as it did not require much of her deliverance.

Rate the movie as So So. Yes there is a plot as it was based from a novel. See it if you like the 50's, Aussies and Kate.

CAKE

REVIEWED ONLY
First question will be what did the title meant ? You'll find this out right at the end of the movie. But while watching it thinking that it could be because Claire (played by Jenifer Aniston) was addicted to pain killers due to a severe accident which she went through about a year before. Then what was it that she inclined herself every time being a passenger in her SUV driven by her servant, Savana. Nahh not because of her pain thou that was only part of the reason. End of the movie when she fought these you understand why.

This film seem to be rather straight forward but its not. So much hidden message that sometimes you think that its bringing you no where that it is directionless. We dont know what happened to her until towards the end. It needs a bit of thinking and concentration although the plot seems simple enough.

Other familiar faces are Sam worthington (Avatar), Anna Kendrics (Up in the Air), William H Macey (Rudderelss) and his real life wife Felicity Huffman (Desperate housewives). Seem that WHMacey must act with this wife like Rudderless except for Room. The boss of Newsroom is also in here thou briefly.

The movie has good acting from JA and her maid too but its draggy. Reason to stay on watching is to know what really happened to her and whats going to happen. She is suicidal BTW. On reaching the end we have to make our own conclusion.

Like in real life you must have closure to everything if not it will eat you up and you never seem to find the solution. It will torture you in and out. It will not want you to move on except to grieve and regret and mop. This was what happened to Claire. Fortunately she tried to find her answer with the help of a Ghost.

Good acting from JA which had won her award.

This film needs concentration and tolerance to the Claire character. If you are absorb with the movie you would keep on telling to yourself - WTF, move on Claire !

Powerful women in Movies Week

      TIB cinema will be watching movies of powerful women mainly this week. Not that they have super powers but their strength and presence brings inspiration or simply due to their superb acting worthy of an oscar. Here they are

Seen as at entry of post
Room - Brie Larson
Still Alice - Julliane Moore

Danish Girl - Alicia Vikander
Cake - Jenifer Aniston

Yet to see

Carol - Cate Blanchette
The Dressmaker - Kate Winslet
Brooklyn - Soria So.. (whats her name?)

STILL ALICE

REVIEWED ONLY
This is a heartbreaking story of a woman by the name of Alice who at the age of 40 has a rare kind of genetic Alzheimer. It was passed from her father and could possibly effect her children and generations after that. Based from a book, I wonder if this is a true story or not

Julianne Moore who played Alice won awards for her believable portrayal. Other known actors involved were Alec Baldwin as her husband, Kristen Stewart and Kate Bosworth as her daughters.

Alice was creative in her preparation for the inevitable, why not as she was a professor. She even planned things ahead before her Alzheimer got worsen and that she would not be remembering anything

Watching this made us understand the survival of Alzheimer patients better. As Alice had put it, she does not suffer rather than try to survive her problem. How they forgot dates, names, places etc? How they lost their way even couldnt find the toilet in her own house.

Good portrayal of a sufferer and deserving winning her recognition for her works here. The movie did felt fast paced as it tried to develop other characters rather than hers alone, her family members in particular. Kristen Stewart was good as her youngest daughter, the one that she misunderstood but the one who would be there for her mother.

Good and touching movie to the heart contributed by powerful acting.

BLACK OR WHITE

http://bit.ly/BlackOrWhite_14Br

 REVIEWED 

This movie is inspired by true events starring notable actors like Kevin Costner, Octavia Spencer and hardworking Falcon A Mackie. About 2 hours long its about grandfather Eliot (KC) fighting to have custody of his mixed blooded granddaughter from her father Reggie and his side of the family after his wife was killed in an auto accident. Its pretty ok for a family movie but could have been better. Since its based on true events, would not recommend how the story should have gone or what else can be in the film.

First glance of the movie, I could not have imagined how forgiving and tolerant was Eliot to her granddaughter's father Reggie or the other side of the family. Here you have a black guy of 23 (at that time) impregnating his daughter, not of love but of abuse, of 17 and then died during giving birth. For me, you can't question Eliot's attitude towards racism because he is as good as anybody can get. Despite all that happened to his daughter, he did not despise blacks (especially the father) and raise and loving the child (lucky Eloise) as thou nothing bad had happened. And yet in the court room the opponents lawyer racing the issue of racism (initiated by their lawyer who happened to be a relative) ! I couldn't agree with Eliot more when he brought up that it has got nothing to do with racism rather than his granddaughter's father attitude and character. Typical blackish character of the Reggie and yes when that is being questioned one would say that you are being racist.

Read that Kevin Costner financed the film partly (it was on a $9 million budget only) to play the part because he wanted to prove his point in real life by being Eliot in the film. 

The ending was rather tame and nothing much of a ummph kindda of stuff. But it did fine.

Elouise remind me of Tristan of current American Idol. In fact if there is a film about her, she could play her younger self :)

The judge being too lenient who allowed Eliot to give that long speech (thou good) from the stand. Real Judge would have stopped it and instructed the witness to answer Yes or No. Well that's why you call it a movie.

Octavia Spencer is rather young to play a grandmother but good acting make up for that. She even won award for this film. So did Eliot's wife also looks young. I thought she was his daughter when first seeing his first hallucination in the kitchen. Anyway, Eliot could be a younger grand dad and KC could be playing a younger character as his daughter give birth when she was merely 17.

Good family movie on the theme of racism or you thought this is about racism kindda of thing.

FORSAKEN

http://bit.ly/Forsaken_15HDr

 REVIEWED 

The movie is actually Canadian. Seem to be nominated with many awards in Canada but nothing in the USA. Not that i dont agree as nothing with this movie is a breakthrough or out of the ordinary. Crowd puller are of course father and son Donald and Keifer Sutherland plus Demi Moore. There are one or two have seen actors in the movie, who cares who.

The movie started kindda slow with John Henry Clayton (KS) returning to his hometown  not welcome by his father. Shot rather straight forward with no flashback (except for the intro) we got to understand what and why.There are many movies with this kind of plot especially western movies. So if you wanted a cliche then get right into it.

The cowboy life seems realistic enough. Also you can see horse shit on the ground in the town which is what should be shown in cowboy movies anyway. The shootings and gunfights also looks real as nobody can shoot bulls eye all the time. Even the good guys missed too.

Read that they used the cowboy town backdrop after it was built for a documentary which had completed shooting. Shooting was in Canada. In the movie John Henry was in the war which could be the US civil war ? But maybe its a Canadian war and the town was in Canada and they are all Canadian ? That was not made clear.

The gunfights are thrilling enough where the blood splatter and wounded face looked closed to the real thing.

My complain is why the head of the bad guy Frank can be so out of control and his employer cant even given a reprimand. Even the gunslinger the boss hire didnt seem to be able to control the boys. I guess if the boss did that he can get killed too.

See this if you miss watching cowboy movies or Jack Bauer. Not bad as it is quite short at 1 1/2hr.

BROOKLYN

http://bit.ly/Brooklyn_15Br