[8.50/10] Invictus (2009)

Invictus (2009)

"Invictus", directed by Clint Eastwood, refuses to be your typical biopic, and that is where it is most charming. Rather than give you the typical play-by-play analysis of Mandella's life, like pretty much every single biopic ever made, they simply took a small slice of Mandella's long and illustrious career and put it to the big screen. Eastwood and screenwriter Anthony Peckham should be applauded for giving the audience a full summation of who Mandella is and what he's like, without doing this long and boring backstory, they just jump straight into the meat of the story and capture the audience from the very beginning. Though, this film isn't just a biopic, it's a sports film as well. Freeman absolutely disappears into his role as the iconic leader of post-Apartheid South Africa. This is an especially impressive feat for such a well known actor; it's not Morgan Freeman we're watching, it's Mandela. Damon does a good job as well. And while I'm no expert on accents, both sounded convincing to me. True this film is an inspirational one that's connected to athletics yet deep underneath it's more about the changing times of a nation lead by forgiveness and inner working of politics. The film moves along well as Eastwood paces the action field shots well as the rugby scenes are entertaining as you cheer for victory even though you know the Springboks are gonna be winners. "Invictus" is one of Clint Eastwood's best movies with an incredible performance by Morgan Freeman and a deep philosophy of life which should inspire all of us.

• My Rating: 8.50/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 77% (6.7/10)
• IMDb: 7.6/10

[4.00/10] Love Happens (2009)

Love Happens (2009)

It was pretty hard for me to enjoy movie "Love Happens", owing to its sad lack of wit, convincing pathos or engaging characters. In spite of the clear emotional resonance of the subject matter I found myself feeling utterly apathetic about any of the characters or the shallow, boring relationship formed between the two protagonists. Director Brandon Camp doesn't give the character of Eloise much substance, and seems content just to let Aniston do her usual work. He seems to have focus mainly on Burke. At first, it seems to work, but not for long. Unfortunately, the of the movie revolves around the relationship between Eckhart and Aniston's characters, that develops when Burke and Eloise bump into each others and begin to know each others. Their interest for each others is uninteresting and lacks credibility, in part because Eloise is so poorly sketched and also because, as we learn to know Burke's real issues, it just seems wrong. Martin Sheen is OK in a role which is deceitfully sold initially as one thing but turns out to be quite another. Judy Greer has a small, but entertaining role. All in all, Love does not Happen in this film. The whole movie is wrapped in a sort of romantic relationship that never happens, and played out with two actors who have little to no chemistry together.

• My Rating: 4.00/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 18% (3.8/10)
• IMDb: 5.4/10

[6.00/10] Mulan (2009)

Mulan (2009)

The story of Mulan whilst unbelievable was somehow made believable in the Disney movie, yet sadly very little attempt of believability is made for this live action movie., directed by Jingle Ma. In the space of around 20 minutes we are led to believe that Mulan was able to escape her father, enlist in the army, excel at training and win the respect of Wentai. The sequence of events is so rushed and badly framed that it truly damages the rest of the film. The battles were uninspiring and poorly-paced. Fast-motion fight scenes intended to conceal the fact that most of the actors were physical inadequate for their roles, coupled with too many slow-motion sequences of people getting impaled or killed, made for lousy, lousy battles. Thankfully the performances all round provided that lift to the film, and made it bearable. Zhao Wei is no rookie to period war dramas and her performance as Mulan is pretty decent. Chen Kun also held his own against the veteran actress, although one can feel that since this is a Mulan film then he's playing second fiddle. Unfortunately, there is no chemistry between Wei Zhao and Kun Chen to make us believe that they are truly star-struck lovers who would sacrifice life and limb for each other. Supporting roles range from Jaycee Chan to Hu Jun, who seem rather functional than to add any emotional depth to the film. Production design is top-notch and the acting is good. Otherwise, there is nothing special about "Mulan" that hasn't already been done before. Jingle Ma's version is a decent version... nothing less, nothing more.

• My Rating: 6.00/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
• IMDb: 6.5/10

[5.25/10] Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

"Law Abiding Citizen" has an intriguing premise at first glance but it quickly fizzles out as we watch a once good father become a sociopathic killing machine whose intent is to teach a corrupt lawyer and a corrupt justice system some lessons. The most disappointing aspect about it to me is that you could see the good idea in there waiting to get out, but that good idea is muddled by poor writing and direction. While the deaths are staged as thrills or shocks, they are each so heavily foreshadowed or so clichéd that it lacks any genuine excitement. What works here is Gerard Butler. He looks like he is enjoying himself as he sits back and watches his plan unfold, teaching people 'lessons'. His twisted lecture series for Foxx is a hoot and captivating. Every time he is on screen, you can't wait for what he is going to do or say next. What doesn't work is Foxx, or at least the script of his character. We know that he has acting chops, he played so well in "Ray", but there's no way he convinces me as a D.A., simply because there are just too many things someone of his intelligence would never do. There is potential in the scenario of a suspect seemingly wreaking havoc from behind the prison walls, but the explanation, when revealed, is so preposterous, and the ending, just plain stupid. "Law Abiding Citizen" is a mixed-bag!

• My Rating: 5.25/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 24% (4.3/10)
• IMDb: 7.3/10

[7.00/10] Adventureland (2009)

Adventureland (2009)

"Adventureland" is not a film that is going to wow its audiences with big laughs or A-list talent. While the movie is slow and predictable, it manages to please on many levels. It's refreshing that Hollywood is willing to release films that provide more than just trite sentiment regarding youth relationships. The script, written by Motolla, is often sharp and funny, and the characters are believable, even though most are two-dimensional. For the majority of the film, it is runs from being funny to very funny, thanks to the antics of Bill Hader and Kristin Wiig, who partially steal the show. The rest of the "Adventureland" is serious and emotional. The tightrope between comedy and drama is a difficult one to walk and many of the dramatic scenes come off as forced. The director, Motolla manages to show the awkwardness of the main character to great effect. Unlike many teen comedies, the producers let the writer, who directed "Superbad", take the helm. Motolla doesn't simply turn the camera on, but knows how to mine for laughter, and how to direct actors into giving realistic performances. From the direction to the cinematography to the editing, the film is well-made. As with all films, it is the acting that ties the whole thing together. Kristen Stewart gives the best performance, balancing humor, sadness and anxiety well, and creating the deepest character in the film. Jesse Eisenberg gives a strong performance and is successful in making the audience forget that he is acting. The rest of the cast all gives good performances that make the film feel realistic. "Adventureland" pushes us in an altogether different direction, running us through the pain, laughter, and desperation of young-adulthood.

• My Rating: 7.00/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 88% (7.3/10)
• IMDb: 7.2/10

[7.75/10] (500) Days of Summer (2009)

(500) Days of Summer (2009)

Short review: "(500) Days of Summer" twists the stereotypical 'boy-meets-girl' rom-com love story formula on its head, in this case, boy meets girl who doesn't believe in love. What ensues is a far more realistic and totally un-Hollywood account of two fascinating characters unsure of what they've got themselves into. Instead of the film telling its story chronologically, the 500 days are shown non-linearly. We know right off the bat Tom and Summer's so-called friendship, since this isn't a love story, doesn't work out. Naturally, we go back to when they first met, when they became intimate, and so on. The two leads were quite charming, enthusiastic and had a wonderful chemistry. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, particularly, continues to amaze me, as he did in "Mysterious Skin". As for Zooey Deschanel as Summer, she has the cool girl next door appeal with something extra that makes her somewhat unattainable yet hard to resist or dislike. She's not bad, she's just honest and doesn't seem to believe in love. There are some interesting visual finds, but overall it's rather conventional in terms of camera work. The score and soundtrack also suit the film's quirky tone and sharp screenplay. For anyone who appreciates originality, and uniqueness, "(500) Days of Summer" is definitely a must-see.

• My Rating: 7.75/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 87% (7.5/10)
• IMDb: 8.1/10

[3.75/10] Whiteout (2009)

Whiteout (2009)

Short review: "Whiteout" begins with a clever setup and even more interesting location: the bottom of the world! However, after the arresting opening aboard a Russian transport plane in 1957, the story reveals itself to be a rather clichéd exercise in futility. A lot happens in the story, but it's all artificial, uninteresting or unbelievable. The acting throughout is competent, but the cast have little to work with. Dialogue is functional, existing to further the plot and providing essentially no characterisation, much less character development, for anyone but the lead. Kate Beckinsale's character backstory is dealt with through an increasingly repetitive sequence of CSI-ish flashbacks that mercifully end around the half-way mark and which predictably explain the heroine's icy response to her partner. This iciness ends abruptly about a scene later. "Whiteout" is a mess. The whodunnit plot is bolted, crudely, to a setting which is largely irrelevant, and is simply not told well. There are a few moments of visual splendour, but not enough to elevate the movie from the mediocrity it provides.

• My Rating: 3.75/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 06% (3.4/10)
• IMDb: 5.3/10

[7.00/10] The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)

The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)

Short review: "The Time Traveler's Wife"'s warm-hearted with some shades of drama and bits of recurring comedy. It's paced well and is more interested in what the time-traveling can or will do to love rather than the phenomenon itself. Here's where it gains it's strengths from - the fact that underneath all the explanations, antics, and gimmicks, it's still interested in examining feelings and emotions. That helps ground the movie and keeps it more poignant. The gorgeous Rachel McAdams, who seems to always devote herself to every character, played her role very passionately, on her part, the feelings and the romance were completely believable. Eric Bana was fine as Henry but he lacked a little something at times. Both leads are likable, and they have enough screen chemistry to be convincing as a couple. The supporting characters who are let in on the time traveler's secret are adeptly played, too. In addition to the wonderful performances of the leads, the vibrant cinematography and visual style of the film enhance the themes of life, death and eternal love.

• My Rating: 7.00/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 38% (5.1/10)
• IMDb: 7.2/10

[6.75/10] The Proposal (2009)

The Proposal (2009)

Romantic comedy is nowdays so popular genre that finding a flick that is both funny and throughout entertaining is actually really hard. Luckily, "The Proposal" is both. Every once in awhile, you must be willing to forgive a romantic comedy of its clichéd-filled plot because it's executed so well. "The Proposal" is one of those movies. Yes, mostly everything is done strictly by the numbers and yes, we can see the ending coming even before the movie begins but you feel so happy and warm and fuzzy inside that you want the conventional to happen. What works for the film particularly well is casting director Amanda Mackey Johnson knew what she was doing. The film is wonderfully cast with each actor giving it everything they could. We've come to expect exceptional performances from screen veterans like Reynolds, Bullock and Steenburgen but the real pleasure comes from Golden Girl Betty White was makes for a hysterical treat as she goes from the bizarre to the downright dangerous. "The Proposal" is not a marriage made in heaven by any means, but the eventual charm of the leads and a gag-packed second half manage to salvage the movie from inauspicious beginnings. Ultimately, there is something refreshing about "The Proposal"'s undemanding humour and unabashed feel-good factor. A pedigree cast, fun premise and punchy dialogue make Bullock's return to romantic comedy look a great catch, and Reynolds is sharper than a diamond solitaire.

• My Rating: 6.75/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 43% (5.3/10)
• IMDb: 6.8/10

[4.75/10] Vertige a.k.a. High Lane (2009)

Vertige

a.k.a.

High Lane (2009)

Short review: French filmmakers are officially running out of fresh and original ideas! "Vertige" is an utter "Descent"/"Wrong Turn" ripoff and despite I love both films, I found this film to be almost terrible. At first, you get some pretty impressive climbing sequences with lines snapping and nice action mixed with beautiful landscape shots and some good camera-work. As soon as the movie turns to be a survival horror with some mountain hillbilly maniac who hunts climbers it goes overboard. There is no resolution of the obscure guy hunting the climbers and the flashback sequences about some mishappenings in the life of the female lead who seems to be a doctor are pretty meaningless and cheap. There are no scares, no thrills, there is some gore if you are into that sort of thing, but most of the time the "Vertige" is nearly unwatchable, mostly because of paper-thin characters, horrible dialogue and lack of intensity.

• My Rating: 4.75/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
• IMDb: 5.8/10

[3.00/10] Mutants (2009)

Mutants (2009)

Quickrating: French horror "Mutants" is dull, cheap and horribly-acted zombie flick, and director David Morlet's lack of imagination and originality are painfully obvious! One of the worst French movies in the past few years.

• My Rating: 3.00/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 50% (5.5/10)
• IMDb: 6.0/10

CineMarvellous!: 2010 Most Anticipated Asian Movies

________________________

Nebular's

2010

Most Anticipated Asian Movies
________________________

1. True Legend

Director: Yuen Woo Ping
________________________

2. A Simple Noodle Story

Director: Zhang Yimou
________________________

3. Confucius

Director: Mei Hu
________________________

4. 14 Blades

Director: Daniel Lee
________________________

5. The Grand Master

Director: Wong Kar Wai
________________________

6. Tai Chi Tiger

Director(s): Tiger Chen Hu,
Yuen Cheung-Yan, Ning Ying
________________________

7. Rain of Swords

Director(s): John Woo, Terence Chang
________________________

8. The Treasure Hunter

Director: Chu Yen-Ping
________________________

9. Storm Warrioirs

Directors: The Pang Brothers
________________________

10. Little Big Soldier

Director: Ding Sheng
________________________

[4.25/10] The Accidental Husband (2009)

The Accidental Husband (2009)

Short review: Even forgetting the complete lack of plausibility, "The Accidental Husband" is a tiresome slog through every rom-com stereotype you can think of. Its absence of imagination, chemistry and genuine humour kill it from the off, meaning that this movie was never destined to be an absolute classic. Uma Thurman can be a pretty good actress, but she can also over-play things very easily, and this is a perfect example. However, how well she played the part is essentially irrelevant, as the best actress would not have been able to save this mess. Firth is underused and Morgan hardly ideal qualities for a romantic leading man. "The Accidental Husband" is an utter drivel and not worth seeing. Accidentally or otherwise.

• My Rating: 4.25/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 00% (2.6/10)
• IMDb: 5.4/10

[8.00/10] Taking Woodstock (2009)

Taking Woodstock (2009)

Ang Lee is not only one of the best directors working today but also one of the most diverse, and his latest movie is yet another sparkling addition to his respectable body of work! "Taking Woodstock" is a personal story about a young man finding himself at a time when his generation was trying to do that throughout the world. Elliot's struggles and evolution through this unique event are another of Ang Lee's wonderfully textured allegories. That this fellow raised in China can so pointedly create the full emotional spectrum of the 'youth movement' of that time is a testament to his artistry. The film recreates the 60's with tremendous fidelity. The colors, the gadgets, the pace, and, above all, the silence combined to create a pleasant and innocent atmosphere. The music and times of the festival is told from a different perspective in this movie, one which richly blends the two genres of comedy and drama into a rich film in itself. Demetri Martin, as Eliot Teber, was adorable. Liev Schreiber whose drag was not only believable, but also compelling. Henry Goodman, as Eliot's beleaguered father, was also finely developed, but Imelda Stauntan played his mother as a shrewish fishwife with virtually no redeeming character qualities. Ang Lee's "Taking Woodstock" is a hilarious film, beautifully-photographed and filled with performances that capture the idealism of the '60s.

• My Rating: 8.00/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 48% (5.4/10)
• IMDb: 6.9/10

[6.25/10] Moon (2009)

Moon (2009)

What a great opportunity to utilize an under-appreciated actor like Sam Rockwell to create a thought provoking look at the subject of cloning. Unfortunately, a great individual performance goes by the boards in a less than original sci-fi treatment of this controversial subject. Space has often been used as the playground for artists hoping 'suspend the disbelief' of their audiences allowing them to consider the nature of a film's focus. "Moon" fails to capitalize on the psychological turmoil caused by isolation not to mention the ethical and moral dilemmas cloning poses. With one character and a setting confined almost exclusively to space station, the director just couldn't bring himself to peel back the skin and bore into the human psyche. In technical aspect ,"Moon" is a fine visual environment that when seen on the big screen has its impressive moments that any half-decent sci-fi movie can throw at you, a moderate set-piece and the wide shots of the lunar surface and that of the far distant earth does not miss the mark. "Moon" is almost entirely saved by the rich performance of Sam Rockwell. It is a shame that the rest of the film does not live up to the quality of this performance though. With its many unanswered questions and plot holes, as well as its lack of clarity for the direction of the story, it becomes too murky and obscure for it to be truly satisfying.

• My Rating: 6.25/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 89% (7.3/10)
• IMDb: 8.0/10

[5.00/10] Thirst (2009)

Bakjwi

a.k.a

Thirst (2009)

Short review: Despite tons of positive reviews, I found "Thirst" to be a huge disappointment. First, the film is completely unfocused. The film runs 133 minutes and a lot of that time is spent on nothing really. Second, and this is what bothered me the most, is thet "Thirst" is a walking vampire cliché. The film focus on the relationship between Sang-Hyun the priest turned vampire and Tae-joo - a girl who's sick and tired of how she's treated by her own family. Their romance is ridiculous and absurd. The acting is kind of peculiar and the characters bizarre and odd and not in a good way. The directorial choices also seemed really odd and personally didn't sit right with me at all. The director seems to have deliberately chosen to downplay what should have been dramatic scenes, robbing them of their potential power. All in all, Chan-wook Park's new film is not awful, but not great either. "Thirst" is overlong, often boring and pretentious and it's definitely overrated.

• My Rating: 5.00/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 82% (6.8/10)
• IMDb: 7.4/10

[6.50/10] The Ugly Truth (2009)

The Ugly Truth (2009)

Short review: Though predictability and believability are "The Ugly Truth"'s biggest flaws, the chemistry and wit between Katherine Heigel and her co-star Gerard Butler keep it from being another run-of-the -mill romantic comedy. There were many hysterical moments I found myself laughing at from slightly crude but inventive gags to scene stealing comedy by Butler himself. His perceptions on what men and women want manage to keep you on a laugh riot but are also shockingly true and honest. Heigel on the other hand plays the same role in most of her movies, but can still manage to keep a likable balance of comedy and drama between her as well. The supporting cast also sharing the spotlight. "The Ugly Truth" turns out to not be that ugly. It treats the characters and the theme about how honesty and commitment are required for a real connection with respect and loving care. There are no real villains, the conflict is all about the fall of cynical preconceptions. And I enjoyed that aspect of the movie as much as anything. All in all, despite it's clichéd and predictable plot Heigel and Butler turn "The Ugly Truth" into a refreshing, entertaining and welcoming romantic comedy.

• My Rating: 6.50/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 14% (3.8/10)
• IMDb: 6.5/10

[5.50/10] The Box (2009)

The Box (2009)

Short review: "The Box" is a remake of "Button, Button", a 1986 episode of "The Twilight Zone", based on a Richard Matheson short story. Kelly's "The Box" puts a modern day spin on a classic story and while it isn't entirely satisfying, it does have its high points. As the puzzle the film is wrapped in unravels, its first few reveals are interesting, but it was like they tried to cram in as many twists and turns as possible as the film went on. While Richard Kelly has at least one great film under his belt, it seems like he still hasn't found a specific stride to being a great director. That doesn't mean he's not capable of doing so and he certainly has his trademarks that seem to bleed through in his films, but that he hasn't been able to channel a similar formula to what made "Donnie Darko" such a standout film. That, in itself, is disappointing. The acting was uneven. Cameron Diaz's Southern accent might be unnecessary, but it is surprisingly Langella who is the most disappointing in the film, with a very unsubtly written role, as the mysterious scarred man, who seems to be hiding a military base that would make Dr. Evil proud. It really is just a shadow of his towering performance in "Frost/Nixon". There is not a lot for many of the other actors in the film to do, and the CG also seemed to look a bit low budget during the three gateways scene. Sometimes entertaining and engaging, sometimes silly and ridiculous, "The Box" is a mixed bag!

• My Rating: 5.50/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 44% (5.0/10)
• IMDb: 6.2/10