[7.00/10] Tomorrow, When the War Began (2010)

Tomorrow, When the War Began (2010)

Brief review: Based on the John Marsden's novel of the same name, this nicely-crafted Aussie flick provides us with a highly-adventurous experience, filled with plenty of action, likable characters and many surprises along the way. "Tomorrow, When the War Began" is basically a 'war' movie, but the war itself is presented in a very, very different fashion, and though fictional, the story is utterly disturbing, even shocking at times. Plus, it has this comic book feel about it, that makes it even more enjoyable to watch. The cast of largely unknown young Aussie actors does a very good job overall. Caitlin Stasey's character, Ellie, is the center of attention and she turns in a very genuine and convincing performance. Stasey does manage to successfully carry almost the entire movie on her shoulders, and she deserves a kudos for that. The other actors also give solid performances, though their characters are pretty underwritten. Action-wise, there's nothing overdone about this movie, as the action sequences themselves are brilliantly-staged, thoroughly realistic and quite exciting to watch. The film also impresses with competent direction, excellent editing and some really striking scenery, especially the one from the "Hell" valley.

Overall summary: Action-packed, thrilling and hugely entertaining, "Tomorrow, When the War Began" is one of the better Aussie flicks of 2010, and almost like nothing you've seen before.

[9.00/10] The Fighter (2010)

The Fighter (2010)

Brief review: "The Fighter" centers on the life of professional boxer "Irish" Micky Ward and his older half-brother - a former boxer who suffers from drug abuse. Taking a tired subject matter and making it as compelling as it possibly can is a hard thing to do, but director David O. Russell manages to achieve exactly that. His latest effort, "The Fighter" offers a wonderfully-crafted and thoroughly complex less-about-boxing-and-more-about-family story, filled with multi-layered characters with human flaws and frailties, which evolve vastly as the movie progresses. In fact, aside from the slightly cliched ending, "The Fighter" is pretty much the perfect boxing movie. "The Fighter" is also technically-brilliant, with its pitch-perfect editing, David O. Russell's diverse direction, and the intentionally rough, grainy and unpolished, yet stunning cinematography. However, the most impressive and notable thing about this film is the exceptional performances delivered by the best ensemble cast of the year. Mark Wahlberg plays the central character in the movie, and he delivers a very confident and solid performance. Christian Bale is sure to win an Oscar for his fantastic supporting performance as the troubled brother, Dicky. He just blows everyone else out of the water! Melisa Leo plays the tough, 'money-obsessed' mother and manager of Micky, and she delivers the second-best performance in "The Fighter". Amy Adams shines as well, as she gives a very convincing performance as Charlene.

Overall summary: With its enormously gripping story, utterly compelling characters and top-notch direction by David O. Russell, "The Fighter" is undoubtedly one of this year's very best films, and also a serious contender for next year's Oscars.

[6.50/10] Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)

Rare Exports:
A Christmas Tale (2010)

Brief review: Set in Finland, "Rare Exports" is about the discovery of the real Santa Claus, only that he is meaner and way more vicious than you could ever imagine. With its thoroughly unique premise, this dark parody succeeds hugely in terms of originality, but unfortunately, its not-fully-developed story and so-so execution make it seem half-baked. Nevertheless, from beginning to the end, "Rare Exports" is an entertaining, vastly enjoyable and often creepy story that explores the dark side of Christmas and Santa Claus. Sadly though, the film is lacking in real scares, as instead it offers plenty of dark humor and some ominous images. The whole cast of unknown Finnish actors give excellent performances. Special mention goes to Onni Tommila as the little Pietari, who portrays fear (in a little kid sort o way) very effectively, plus, his character demonstrates an exuberant imagination and enviable perspicacity. The lack of a sufficient budget has obviously affected the production quality of the movie, as technically, "Rare Exports" doesn't really dazzle with flashy visuals or first-rate special effects. Having said that, the film looks slick enough, as it has interesting direction, decent production values and rather cool cinematography.

Overall summary: Though half-baked and overly short, "Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale" delivers enough fun and thrills to the audience, thanks to its clever concept and hilariously-imaginative script.

[9.50/10] Black Swan (2010)

Black Swan (2010)

Brief review: After the phenomenal "Requiem for a Dream", and the visually-striking "The Fountain", Darren Aronofsky brings us yet another twistedly-genius masterpiece, this time revolving around a professional ballet dancer, Nina, who is dealing with the pressures of playing The Swan Queen in her companies production of Swan Lake. Though melodramatic "Black Swan" has a truly macabre nature, as it grows darker and darker as the story progresses, leading to a shocking and dramatic finale, that will have you thinking long after the credits roll. "Black Swan" is a haunting, surreal and mesmerizing experience that leaves audiences with many questions and debatable discussions, about what is real and what is imaginary. It fascinates with dazzling execution, specific visual style, flawless camera work, and a sharp and intentionally lurid cinematography that creates an additional sense of fear in the viewer. All this accompanied with a thoroughly striking classical music score by Tchaikovsky. With her haunting and beautifully-disturbing portrayal of Nina, a repressed and sexually-confused ballerina obsessed with perfection, Natalie Portman delivers not only the best female performance of 2010, but the performance of her career. She's intense, yet delicate. Determined, yet vulnerable. Innocent, yet lustful. A perfectionist, yet flawed. She's simply sensational! Mila Kunis also gives an outstanding and very complex performance as Nina's rival, Lily, and Vincent Cassel has incredible screen presence as the seductive manipulator and ballet director, Thomas. Winona Ryder is brilliant as the neurotic former ballet star, Beth, but it's Barbara Hershey that delivers the best supporting performance as the quietly frightening mother.

Overall summary: Remarkable in its terrifying brilliance and captivating in its ballet-like gracefulness, "Black Swan" is the most sophisticated and beautifully-schizophrenic horror film of the year, if not the decade.

[7.00/10] Secretariat (2010)

Secretariat (2010)

Brief review: Latest live-action Disney film, chronicles the life of Secretariat, the 1973 race horse winner of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. Though it doesn't shine with much originality or with very imaginative script, "Secretariat" is an inspirational and very uplifting story, that represents life with its ups and downs, highs and lows, alternating dramatic scenes with some stirring and hilarious ones, without any unnecessary exaggeration. Moreover, the film is consistently gripping, cleverly-written, and it features plenty of likable characters, excellently-performed by the talented cast involved. Diane Lane delivers an engaging and thoroughly charismatic performance as the bold and determined Penny Chenery, who is the key character in the movie. However, it's John Malkovich that steals the show as the temperamental horse trainer. Oh, and the 'red' stallion itself looks nothing short of glorious! "Secretariat" is nicely-shot, and it looks very fresh and appealing, visually, in an old-fashioned sort of way. The production design is excellent, and golden tint of the cinematography not only pleases the eye, but fits perfectly the uplifting mood of the movie, as well as the imagery of the 70's era.

Overall summary: Quite predictable, yet exciting, thoroughly entertaining and hugely enjoyable, "Secretariat" is a true crowd-pleaser, and probably the most feel-good movie of the year.

[5.00/10] Flipped (2010)

Flipped (2010)

Brief review: "Mysery" director, Rob Reiner brings this adaptation of Wendelin Van Draanen's novel of the same name, that while well-acted and pretty watchable, brings nothing new to the table in terms of storytelling, except for a dual-narrative from the two young protagonists, each of them telling the story from their own perspective. The plot drags on slowly throughout the majority of the film, and as a result, "Flipped" feels dull and lazy, and it often becomes tedious to watch. Another issue is Rob Reiner's direction, which is so apathetic, that instead drawing you more and more into the story, it somehow pushes you away. Acting-wise, "Flipped" delivers partially. Madeline Carroll is absolutely adorable as the smart, modest and helpful girl, Juli, and she truly shines on screen. Callan McAuliffe, on the other hand, is somewhat stiff and uncharismatic, therefore he doesn't seem like a worthy screen partner to Madeline. The supporting cast which includes Rebecca De Mornay, Anthony Edwards and Penelope Ann Miller and they all do a farily good job with the given material. Visually, "Flipped" looks quite sterile and unimpressive, as it features mostly 'colorless' and boring environments.

Overall summary: Nicely-acted and interestingly-narrated, yet overly-familiar and rather bland, "Flipped" is a so-so nostalgic coming-of-age drama, that is neither as sweet, nor as touching as it thinks it is.

[3.50/10] Little Fockers (2010)

Little Fockers (2010)

Brief review: While the first two installments were mildly watchable at best, this unnecessary sequel is just a stupid, lazy and hardly enjoyable piece-of-crap comedy, that relies on its supposed-to-be-funny script and an A-list cast, but it falls flat on its face. The plot is nonexistent , and gags are either cheap, or awkward, and lacking in any sort of originality. Although the main focus is on Stiller and DeNiro, their characters are such an idiotic losers, it's hard to find them funny or likable. Streisand and Hoffman as the over-the-top crazy parents are as hilarious as they were in the previous installment, but it's Jessica Alba that surprises with some good physical comedy skills, though her character is often annoying and dumb as a rock. The little Fockers themselves are adorable, but unfortunately, they barely appear on screen. Teri Polo as Mrs. Focker is, well, just there. Owen Wilson's aim is to increase the 'fun level' of the movie, but he's just not amusing at all. "Little Fockers" is a pretty standard fare, technically, as Paul Weitz's direction is nothing-to-write-home-about, and both the production design and the cinematography are too plain and uninteresting.

Overall summary: Lame, stupid and painfully unfunny, "Little Fockers" is a completely pointless sequel, that fails to deliver genuine laughs or anything else. It's just "fockin" stupid.

[6.75/10] For Colored Girls (2010)

For Colored Girls (2010)

Brief review: Tyler Perry won me over with his latest tear-jerker, "For Colored Girls" - a sad and thoroughly emotional multi-layered story about the messed-up lives of various black people, adapted from Shange's 1975 stage play. While the first half of the movie is quite brilliant and consistently gripping, the second half of the film becomes way over-dramatic, and it features a couple of tediously overlong monologues, but as a whole, the film works on many levels, mainly due to it's beautifully-written script and the absolutely fantastic performances from the incredibly talented all-black cast. Kimberly, Janet, Loretta, Thandie, Anika and Phylicia all deliver an award-worthy performances, as they portray their characters' feelings and emotions to perfection. The supporting performances from Kerry Washington, Tessa Thompson, Whoopi Goldberg are quite solid as well, plus there's a great cameo by the popular soul singer, Macy Gray. Technically, "For Colored Girls" succeeds as well. Perry's direction is skillful and accomplished this time around, the editing is pitch-perfect, the pacing is smooth, and the plot, though structurally complicated, never sags or drags.

Overall summary: With its dramatically-realistic story, flawless plot structure, and powerhouse performances from the entire cast , "For Colored Girls" is Tyler Perry at his best.

[5.25/10] Haunted Changi (2010)

Haunted Changi (2010)

Brief review: "Haunted Changi" is yet another 'found footage' horror flick, this time coming from Singapore, done in the same fashion as "The Blair Witch Project", and although it has quite an intriguing premise, this moc-doc is lacking a bit in execution, and is way less scary and effective than most movies of this genre. While nothing particularly interesting happens in the first half, as it mostly consists of random shots of Changi and fake black and white documentary sequences, the second half and especially the finale are much more tense, thrilling and entertaining to watch. The 'secret tunnel' scene deserves a special mention, as it's utterly claustrophobic and quite chilling. The hand-held camera produces jerky and unsteady images that create a sense of authenticity, but this technique is rather necessary for this type of film, and it could be already considered as clichéd. On a positive note, "Haunted Changi" is quite atmospheric, visually. The grim and filthy setting of the abandoned Changi hospital is creepy as hell, but it barely increases the scare factor of the story. Furthermore, the film offers some passable performances from the cast involved, but none of the characters is particularly memorable or at least likable.

Overall summary: More creepy rather than scary, "Haunted Changi" offers some dark, ominous settings, and a couple of tense moments, but it does pretty much nothing else to distinguish itself from every other POV / Found Footage horror film.

[8.25/10] Never Let Me Go (2010)

Never Let Me Go (2010)

Brief review: "One Hour Photo" director, Mark Romanek, brings this beautifully-shot adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro' novel of the same name, that grabs the viewer with its heartbreakingly-sad, yet touching story, engaging characters and breathtaking visuals. "Never Let Me Go" is a quietly-terrifying story of fate, hope and true love, and although dystopian, it feels somewhat believable and thoroughly realistic. "Never Let Me Go" is rather slow-moving, yet elegant and smoothly-paced, and it features strong performances by Carey Mulligan and Keira Knightley as the two key characters, Ruth and Kathy, a solid supporting performance by Charlotte Rampling, and wonderful cameo by the incredibly-talented Sally Hawkins. "Never Let Me Go" also impresses with its absolutely stunning cinematography with muted, yet saturated color palette, gorgeous scenery of the English countryside, and the masterful direction of Mark Romanek's, who provides countless brilliant shots, slick camera angles, and incredibly well-staged scenes. All this accompanied by Rachel Portman's mesmerizing music score, that perfectly fits the haunting and thoroughly disturbing subject matter of the film.

Overall summary: As profoundly-beautiful as it's shockingly disturbing, "Never Let Me Go" ranks as one of the most moving, emotionally resonant and gorgeously-photographed films of 2010.

Editor's Note: So Many Movies, So Little Time

Dear readers and blog buddies,

I'm watching so many movies these days, that it has become physically impossible for me to write long and detailed reviews for all the films I want to criticize. Therefore, I've decided that from now on, I will provide only short, simple and to-the-point reviews. No deep analysis! No wasteful thoughts! No superfluous details! It's not that I'm lazy or anything, but writing so many detailed movie reviews, takes so much of my time and energy, that I began to feel drained and exhausted (not physically). So, in 2011 expect many, many brief reviews from me. I hope you will enjoy my tiny reviews as much as you enjoy reading my long ones.

Have a marvellous New Year's Eve, dear bloggers! See you in 2011! :)

[4.00/10] Dinner for Schmucks (2010)

Dinner for Schmucks (2010)

"Dinner for Schmucks" tells the story of Tim, a rising executive, who works for a boss who hosts a monthly event in which the guest who brings the biggest buffoon gets a career-boost. Though he declines the invitation at first, Tim changes his mind when he meets Barry, a man who builds dioramas using stuffed mice. The scheme backfires when Barry's blundering good intentions send Tim's life into a downward spiral, threatening a major business deal and possibly scuttling Tim's engagement to his fiancee. Jay Roach, the director of "Meet the Parents" and its sequel, brings yet another unbelievably lame and painfully unfunny comedy, that fails to deliver any genuine laughs. Unsurprisingly, "Dinner for Schmucks"'s main problem lies within its script, as it offers nothing but silly jokes, idiotic characters, and a formulaic story that becomes predictable rather quickly. This remake completely lacks wit and clever humor, as instead it uses practical jokes and tired gimmicks, to turn itself into an agonizing journey that is, at times, physically painful. Jay Roach's stupid comedy also suffers from uneven pacing and poor editing, and with its 114 minute running time, "Dinner for Schmucks" is just a little too overlong and pretty tedious. Steve Carrell could have been this film's saving grace, but unfortunately he's just plain bad. As a whole, Carrell is a decent comedian, but he plays an unbelievably dumb character in this film. There's just nothing interesting or amusing about him, except for the dioramas he makes - those are absolutely incredible, and nothing like I've seen before in my life. The scenes that the mice and the dioramas are thoroughly compelling and truly fascinating to watch, and unfortunately the only highlight of "Dinner for Schmucks". Paul Rudd is physically sympathetic, but his character is neither interesting, nor funny. Also, sadly, Carell and Rudd share very little screen chemistry, which makes this film an even more unpleasant experience. The supporting performances are mediocre at best. Zach Galifianakis is annoying as usual, Lucy Punch is typically over-the-top, and Stephanie Szostak, while very good-looking, is rather boring. Painfully unfunny, thoroughly predictable and outrageously lame, "Dinner for Schmucks" is a film made for schmucks.

[6.25/10] Loose Cannons a.k.a. Mine Vaganti (2010)

Loose Cannons

a.k.a.
  Mine Vaganti (2010)

"Loose Cannons" or "Mine Vaganti", as it is called in Italy, unfolds around Tommaso has a comfortable life in Rome as an aspiring writer and a steady relationship with his boyfriend Marco - a life he has kept secret from his family. So when he's called back to his hometown of Lecce in Italy's deep south to help run the family pasta business, he decides to finally reveal his homosexuality to his conservative family and hopefully get out of his business obligations in the process. But when his plans are thwarted by his brother, Tommaso gets stuck on the path that he was desperately trying to avoid. Although this film may seem a bit dated for some, due to its tired subject matter, "Mine Vaganti" is a smart, uplifting and thoroughly hilarious social gay-themed comedy, that never takes itself too seriously, but at the same time never fails to engage the viewer with its fascinating visuals, likable characters and humorous script. The Turkish-born Italian director Ferman Ozpetek may not be as creative and original filmmaker as his German fella, Fatih Akin, but he certainly knows how to tells a good story, and to create a believable, yet engaging characters with an enviable affection. You won't get bored for a second, as "Mine Vaganti" is full of funny situations, witty dialogues, and unexpected twists. Moreover, the film features some truly great performances. The handsome Riccardo Scamarcio is truly sympathetic as the main protagonist, Tommaso, and he portrays a gay man quite confidently and credibly, without being over-the-top. Ilaria Occhini delivers the best performance as Tommaso's grandmother, a strong and powerful, yet sensible, sober-minded and good-looking old lady, that steals the show every time she appears on screen. The stunningly beautiful Nicole Grimaudo is almost as good as the paranoid and sensitive Alba, and the sassy gay friends of Tommaso, deliver most of the laughs, though they become a bit annoying at some point. Alessandro Preziosi also gives an above average performance as Antonio, who is, ironically, gay like his brother. Visually, "Mine Vaganti" also impresses, as the scenery of the Southern Italian countryside is typically gorgeous, as is the family's lavish mansion, and the color-saturated cinematography is beautifully preserved. Though "Mine Vaganti" is pretty old-fashioned and quite ordinary, director Ferman Ozpetek succeeds in blending all the right ingredients to create a bitter-sweet dramedy, that is as entertaining, touching, and enjoyable, as it's visually-captivating.

[5.25/10] The Tourist (2010)

The Tourist (2010)

In this remake of the French thriller "Anthony Zimmer", Frank unexpectedly finds himself in a flirtatious encounter with Elise, an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path, during an impromptu trip to Europe to mend his broken heart. Against the breathtaking backdrop of Paris and Venice, their whirlwind romance quickly evolves as they find themselves unwittingly thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse. Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck first full-length film, "The Lives of Others", was well received by both critics and audience, but same can't be said for his latest espionage thriller "The Tourist", as it fails to deliver both, high entertainment value and money at the box office. "The Tourist" suffers from preposterous plot, inadequate direction and uneven pacing, and although it offers a passable entertainment, the film never lives up to its full potential. Moreover, the twist in the end is pretty ridiculous and almost ruins this otherwise passable cinematic experience. "The Tourist" relies mainly on its two leads and beautiful stars, Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp, and its stunning scenery, and these are the areas where the film succeeds mostly. Angelina Jolie is definitely the best thing about this movie. She not only looks breathtakingly exquisite as always, but she's absolutely seductive and thoroughly captivating as Elise - an unpredictable and mysterious woman, that looks tough on the outside, but is very sensitive on the inside. Well, her British accent is pretty terrible, but other than that she does a pretty good job. Johnny Depp, on the other hand, is quite disappointing. He gives a surprisingly flat and stiff performance as Frank, as he hardly conveys any real emotion, which is kinda shocking, since Depp is one of the most gifted actors in history of cinema. Throughout the whole time, he looks really bored, and like he doesn't want to be there, which affects his performance. The chemistry between Jolie and Depp is almost lacking, probably due to the fact that Johnny Depp had issues with his long-time girlfriend Vanessa Paradis, who wanted him to quit this film, because she didn't want him to shoot a steamy sex scenes with Jolie. Although that obviously didn't happen, Depp looks quite uncomfortable and wooden during the love scenes with Angelina. Paul Bettany typically good as Inspector Acheson, and he does his best with the material he's given, and Steven Berkoff beyond convincing as the intimidating gang boss, Reginald Shaw. Visually though, "The Tourist" never fails to fascinate the audience with its incredibly beautiful Italian scenery. Oscar-winning director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck captures beautifully the essence of Venice, providing us with some truly mesmerizing shots and splendid images. The action scenes, while few and far between, as well-shot and entertaining to watch. The boat chase deserves a special mention, as it's probably the most exciting part in the entire movie. Although it offers some gorgeous settings and a few moderately thrilling action sequences, "The Tourist" disappoints with a lackluster performance by Johnny Depp, incoherent pacing, and ludicrous ending.

[6.75/10] All Good Things (2010)

All Good Things (2010)

Inspired by the real-life case of Robert Durst, who was suspected of murdering his wife, after she vanished without a trace in 1982, "All Good Things" is a love story and murder mystery set against the backdrop of a New York real estate dynasty in the 1980s. Warned by his father, that the common girl he loves will never be accepted into high society, the young scion, David Marks, throws caution to the wind and marries her regardless. Later, when the girl disappears and politics enter the picture, a suspicious series of deaths leave a haunted cop convinced that the truth is closer than anyone realizes. "All Good Things" is a dark and often depressing love story, surrounded by mystery, and although it lacks a strong emotional impact, the film is nicely-shot, brilliantly-acted and quite gripping. "All Good Things" is all about the two main characters and their odd, yet credible romance. The first part of the movie, where we witness the beautiful and charming relationship that developes between the two protagonists, is definitely the best part of the entire movie, as it's filled with passion, emotions and buckets of love. Unfortunately, after Katies' disappearance later on, the story becomes less intriguing and too muddled to hold viewer's attention. The acting is definitely the film's highlight, as both Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst deliver an award worthy performances as the cursed lovers, who despite having mixed feelings, are desperately in love with each other. Considering the fact that Ryan Gosling isn't given an easy material to work with, he's absolutely fantastic and downright disturbing as the confused and quietly demented David, traumatized by the loss of his mother. However, it's Kirsten Dunst that makes the biggest impression. I've never considered her a good actress, but with this performance, she proved me completely wrong. Dunst demonstrates a wide range of emotions including fragility, sensibility, anger and sadness, and she's absolutely incredible in protraying all these emotions. Without any doubts, Kirsten Dunst delivers the performance of her career. Furthermore, the chemistry between them two is charming and very believable, though when things get out of control, their love turns destructive and quite nightmarish. The supporting performances are quite good as well, with special mention goes to Philip Baker and Hall Frank Langella. "All Good Things" is also quite appealing, visually, as it has a beautifully authentic production design and appropriate pale-colored cinematography, that represent the 80s era quite well. Peculiar and often depressing, yet hugely engrossing and beautifully-acted, "All Good Things" is probably one of the saddest and most mysterious love stories ever put on film.

[3.50/10] Somewhere (2010)

Somewhere (2010)

Sofia Coppola's fourth full-length feature film revolves around Roguish Hollywood star Johnny Marco, who finds his debauched life of excess unexpectedly interrupted when his 11-year-old daughter shows up at the Chateau Marmont Hotel for an unscheduled visit. Later, as father and daughter reconnect, Johnny begins to reassess his sordid lifestyle. With "Somewhere", Sofia Coppola has proven to the general public yet again, that she's one of the most boring and unimaginative filmmakers working today. She could be easily described as, well, overrated. As many of you know, her second film and so-called masterpiece, "Lost in Translation", was very well-acclaimed by the critics, but truth to be told, it was a pretty mediocre effort, with no heart and soul, and crafted with zero imagination. Unfortunately, very few had the courage to admit it publicly. Believe it or not, Coppola's latest film is even worse. This dreadful bore-fest should have been called "Nothing" instead of "Somewhere", as this film is neither dramatic, nor humorous, nor interesting, nor touching, nor intriguing, nor gripping... nor anything. It's just a big nothing. Watching "Somewhere" is as exhausting and frustrating, as watching a paint dry, since absolutely nothing happens throughout the entire film. To comment on the story is rather impossible, too, as the film feels like a bunch of random scenes thrown together with very little to no plot. Technically, "Somewhere" is also a lackluster. Sofia Coppola's direction is so weak, and uninspired, it borders on amateurish. She uses a lot of long and static camera shots and unnecessarily prolonged scenes, just to artificially extend the running time of this film, and as a result "Somewhere" becomes even more tiresome and ineffective. There is some nice, mostly indoor scenery that pictures well the luxury lifestyle of a celeb, but that's about it.The performances should have been the film's main strength, but sadly, those are hardly satisfying. Stephen Dorff is an okay actor, but he's neither talented, nor charismatic enough to carry a movie. His performance as the lonely and asocial Hollywood celebrity is flat, lifeless and unengaging, just like the movie itself. Dorff's character is so dumb and narrow-minded, he never fully realizes what a boring, selfish and monotonous life he lives. However, Elle Fanning truly shines as Johnny Marco's young daughter, Cleo. Fanning is so sweet and likable, and she acts so naturally in front of the camera, it's fascinating. She plays the only genuinely likable character in the entire movie, and you can't help but wanting to see her on screen more often. The supporting performances are pretty mediocre, without any real standouts. All in all, there's almost nothing to like about Sofia Coppola's "Somewhere". I dare to say, it's the most pointless, tedious, pretentious and uninteresting film of the year. And I've seen "The Killer Inside Me".

[6.50/10] The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader [3D] (2010)

The Chronicles of Narnia:
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader [3D] (2010)

Well, first things first, Merry Christmas everyone! My special Christmas review is dedicated to "Narnia" and its third installment, "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader", where Edmund and Lucy Pevensie, along with their pesky cousin Eustace Scrubb find themselves swallowed into a painting and on to a fantastic Narnian ship, The Dawn Treader, headed for the very edges of the world. Joining forces once again with their royal friend Prince Caspian and the warrior mouse Reepicheep, they are whisked away on a mysterious mission to the Lone Islands, and beyond. On this bewitching voyage that tests their hearts and spirits, the trio faces magical Dufflepuds, sinister slave traders, roaring dragons and enchanted merfolk. Only an entirely uncharted journey to Aslan’s Country can save Narnia, and all the astonishing creatures in it, from an unfathomable fate. Sadly, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" offers a far less impressive and gripping story than it two predecessors, as the voyage itself is a rather unexciting experience for most part. This installment is also lacking a good villain, which lows the entertainment value vastly, and therefore the story becomes less thrilling and intriguing. On a positive note, the third film in the franchise compensates with fantastic visuals and top-notch special effects that never fail to impress. The CGI are flawlessly-done and thoroughly realistic, with special mention goes to the dragon and its extremely detailed design. The scenes including the invisible Dufflepuds are just as impressive, as the fairy scenery is stunningly gorgeous and the Dufflepuds themselves are uniquely-crafted. Let's not forget about Aslan, who is breathtakingly glorious as always! The 3D effects range from mindblowing to just okay, and fortunately they never feel perfunctory or unnecessary. The action sequences are not as spectacular as those from the previous two films, but well-staged and quite entertaining nonetheless. "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" also relies on its charming young cast, and although they all do a good job in portraying their well-known and likable characters, the audience might miss Peter and Susan Pevensie, since they appear for only a couple of minutes on screen. Georgie Henley is once again incredible as the adorable and charismatic Lucy, and despite her young age, she's capable of carrying almost the entire movie on her shoulders. Having said that, the entire cast (including her) is completely outshined by Will Poulter as Eustace, who steals the show every time he appears on screen. Yes, Eustace is pretty annoying at first, but as the story progresses, his wicked character transforms into the most likable and engaging character of them all. Kudos for him, since this is a very hard thing to do. Ben Barnes as Prince Caspian is million times better, than he was in the previous installment, which was, ironically, dedicated to his character. Why ironically? Because he was dreadfully stiff back then. As for Skandar Keynes, well, he's almost invisible this time around. "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" may have lost some of the magic and the adventurousness of the popular franchise, but it's still a fairly gripping and visually-fascinating experience that will satisfy both "Narnia" fans and fantasy admirers.

[7.75/10] This Man a.k.a. The Man from Nowhere (2010)

This Man

a.k.a.
The Man from Nowhere (2010)

An ex-special agent CHA Tae-shik’s only connection to the rest of the world is a little girl, So-mi, who lives nearby. Her mother, Hyo-jeong smuggles drugs from a drug trafficking organization and entrusts Tae-shik with the product, without letting him know. The traffickers find out about her smuggling and kidnap both Hyo-jeong and So-mi. The gang promises to release them if Tae-shik makes a delivery for them, however it actually is a larger plot to eliminate a rival drug ring leader. When Hyo-jeon’s disemboweled body is discovered, Tae-shik realizes that So-mi’s life may also be in danger. Tae-shik becomes enraged at the prospect that So-mi may already be dead and prepares for a battle, putting his own life at risk. Jeong-beom Lee's fantastic action thriller had 10 nominations at this year's Korea Film Awards, and although it took 7 awards, most of which in technical categories, "The Man from Nowhere" remains as one of the best Korean films of 2010, along with the fantastically disturbing "I Saw the Devil". "This Man" is not without its flaws, as the first half of the movie suffers from messy story, incoherent pacing and choppy editing, but all these problems are cleared up in its middle part, where "The Man from Nowhere" turns into a thoroughly gripping and highly intense crime thriller, that will leave you gasping for air. Probably the best thing about "This Man" is that there's nothing exaggerated about it, as it delivers a truly believable, yet thrilling story, and sympathetic, credible central characters, beautifully-acted by Bin Won and Sae-Ron Kim. Bin Won is great as the reticent ex-agent, Cha, and although he barely speaks most of the time, he's absolutely captivates the audience with his expressive eyes and enigmatic, yet provocative behavior. The minute you see him, you know he hides something, and you can't help yourself but wanting to uncover the mystery behind him. He's that compelling. However, it's Sae-Ron Kim who truly shines in this film. She acts so naturally and so believably, you'll never guess that this is her first time in front of the camera. Moreover, the relationship between the two protagonists is so sincere, heartfelt and plausible, it makes you forget that you're watching a movie. Besides Cha and Jeong 's enchanting relationship "This Man" has even more to offer. The backstory about Cha not only reveals his intriguing past, but it's also very dramatic, emotional and beautifully-told, and certainly on of the film's highlights. The action sequences are incredibly well-staged, tense and violently brutal, accompanied with impressive visual and sound effects. "This Man"'s overall harshness is compensated with an absolutely touching finale, that is sure to bring tears to your eyes. Despite some editing issues, "This Man" is very slick, technically. The stunningly beautiful bluish cinematography and appropriate low-key lighting are to be admired, as is Jeong-beom Lee's competent direction. This is only his second movie, but it's obvious that he has put a lot of effort and creativity into his work. Disturbing and uncompromisingly violent, yet moving and consistently enthralling, "The Man from Nowhere" ranks as one of the best action thrillers South Korea has ever delivered.