Frost/Nixon - Released 26 December 2009

Feature films centred on political themes are usually interesting for those interested in intellectual thoughts, however, no films of such genre has ever been entertaining enough for the average thinkers. You could be forgiven for having no knowledge of the interviews between David Frost and Richard Nixon prior to the release of this movie. Director Ron Howard and screenwriter Peter Morgan wanted all of us to think that it was a point of importance to the world in terms of politics and journalism combined. No true story can be told 100% truthful to the audience using film, but Howard and Morgan manages to stay loyal to the true events that served as inspiration.

Being an average political viewer, and not so much of a political film fan, the Frost/Nixon interviews are quite fascinating to me. Maybe not all of the questions or answers, particularly when Nixon rambles on trying to avoid questions by offering anecdotes in place of answers. Regardless, they are still an invaluable source of history. Viewing the movie allows us the opportunity of seeing a key politician as a normal human being.

The movie was presented in a funny yet intelligent way, very well-paced, Morgan’s expert in structuring the entire movie perfectly and a hint of cleverness. Frost/Nixon was well directed and this is the sort of writing we do not see enough of nowadays.

The cast was certainly good enough for this flickt. Frank Langella and Michael Sheen were superb. They both managed to accurately portray their characters while still adding their own personalities. I would bet that Langella will probably take the Oscars at the end of the month. However, it is Michael Sheen who quietly steals the film away from Langella. Sheen brought the much needed grief to a film. If it was not for him, the movie could have just been a movie about two guys talking head to head. Oliver Platt, Kevin Bacon, Rebecca Hall and Toby Jones needs to be acknowledge here as they were giving out solid performances doing a lot with so little. However, I have to give an ovation to Sam Rockwell as he was the one that really stood out among the supporting cast members. Rockwell to me is not known for giving a solid performance, but in this one, he manages to sink into the role rather effortlessly. The only other movie that I have seen him acting at his best was in Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind.

There are just so much production values in this movie that I don’t even think I can cover in this review. In summary, you will not find those political messages, rather it is just a fun movie with a very clever script. The great cast was just an added bonus and I think after Apollo 13 Ron Howard has delivered his other best work in this one. A film I greatly recommend anyone to watch.

4/5 Stars for this great piece of work...

FROST/NIXON TRAILER

Underworld: RIse of the Lycans - Released 23rd January 2009

At last, 2009 has come and the movie world just gets better and better. 2009 is the year of sequels and origin storylines. Rise of the Lycans is not a sequel and very much , and I really mean it, very much an origins flick. Other origin type of movies includes X-Men: Wolverine and Star Trek. Hmmm...2009 year or origins...sounds nice..Anyways, this movie is about the origins of how the Lycans started to fight back against the Vampires. It sets during the time of medieval and focuses on Viktor (one of the vampires' elder played by Bill Nighy) and Lucian (Lycans' leader played by Michael Sheen). It potrays the love story between a Lycan and a Vamp, the hatred between Vamps and Wolves as well as the quest to stand up against the Vamps by the Lycans.

The first movie was excellent and the second just wasn't the same without Nighy and Sheen. Lucian is the character you love to sympathize for whereas Viktor is the character you love to hate. This movie was seriously brilliant. Everything made sense which is a must for a perfect movie. I had watched the previous two so it kinda hit my intellectual mind softly with all the information potrayed in this one. Didn't really had to think hard on each scene. This time, it was really packed with action scenes and I just love the 80s style blood splat after a blade slash.

The movie stayed the same and resembled the previous two movies and although Beckinsale and her husband Les Wiseman, who directed the first two did not played any part in this movie, Patrick Tatopoulos did a perfect job in handling this one. Did I mention that Rise of the Lycans was his was feature film as a director? Well its true. He's a special effects professional prior to taking on this job. Boy, the guy can direct. Just by looking at the wolves, he was destined to take on this huge role.

The characters were engaging. Rhona Mitra who plays Sonja, didn't have to do much apart from reading her lines perfectly, showing her looks and figure and acted like the great actor she really is. She manages to show the audience how she is still a much more sympathetic character than Selene ever was. She really played the tough but tender role brilliantly. I didn't even miss Beckinsale for a minute.

Nighy and Sheen held this movie together so strongly and they are both so gifted. Watching the movie, your eyes will be glued so much to these two actors turning away the generic plot and the continuous darkness in the movie. The chemistry was just great and I wouldn't change a thing in them. Ok, maybe the contact lenses which was one of the only two issues I have with the whole movie. The other being that the wholel movie length was just too short. I needed more stunts and plots...but that's asking for too much.

4.5/5 Excellent movie!

Paul Blart: Mall Cop - Released 16th January 2009

I had not heard anything about Paul Blart: Mall Cop until I saw it climb on the US Box Office charts last week. The movie is about Paul Blart, a diabetic, whose aim was to become a state trooper in New Jersey but fails to do so (due to his blood sugar level problems - he often blackout) and has to stick to his old job as a security guard (Blart considers himself as a Security Officer) in a mall. On top of that, he lives with his daughter and mother, who often encourages him to socialise and meet women.

Starring Kevin James as the mall cop, I can say it was averagely an acceptable movie. If you liked Date Movie and Epic Movie, then Mall Cop is for you. Often quality-less, semi-humour, loads of cliches and messy within the script. Mall Cop was written up quite badly, but put in Kevin James, everything is pretty much balanced. Owh, did I tell you that James co-wrote the script? Well he did. The movie paid homage to Die Hard and Rambo II, which made the humour ridiculously great. There was nothing laugh out loud funny. The bits from Die Hard was somewhat interesting though. They did the unexpected good cop shooting the bad guy at the end and the how the bad guy finds out that Paul Blart's daughter is one of his hostages. The Rambo II scene duplicacy was also amusing. Blart hides in a New Jersey Devils hockey set up and then opens his eyes just like the mud wall scene in Rambo II produced a pretty funny set, but only if you kknow your Rambo movies.

The movie also brings back the Segway, which was initially introduced to the public in 2001 and was intended to completely redefine the way we travel within cities. Obviously that was a failed project and 8 years later, the Segway remains outrageously over-priced and not surprisingly absent from the general public. Lame I would say. I wonder how much money did Segway gave the production house.

Mall Cop definitely isn't bad, but I wouldn't put it up there as a top comedy either. Genuine funny moments can be seen from the movie, however, there weren't that many. Even so, the movie is highly tolerable, and doesn't overstay it's welcome, ending at a good time. It will have you laughing all the way through. If you're looking for a feel-good comedy to watch, then this is the one for you. Plus, you will get to see Kevin James, who not only rock in King of Queens but also in comedic big screen as always.

2/5 stars just because Kevin James is in it...

Bride Wars - Released 09/012009

Here we go again..Another chick flick movie. Before watching this one, these were my predictions. A cheesy, overly-cliched but an acceptably funny movie. I was right. Not only was it very cliched, it was extremely predictable. Who wrote this? And why did Kate Hudson accepted the role? She could have done something far better.

Talking about funny - not much really. I didn't really laughed rather giggled a lot. That just shows how comedic the whole film was. Okay..so the movie is about 2 girls (BFFs for that matter) ending up fighting over their wedding date, which was at the same date. Now I probably can understand the frustration and point of argument in that. However, the script was just awefull. It was pretty much Kate Hudson (Liv) and Anna Hathaway (Emma) all the way. Overdeveloped I would say and would that suggest everyone else was pretty much under-developed? YEAPS!... They were marrying to their man of their life right? So where were those 2 guys? Around - yes, Around, thats it? - yes again. Weak character development. They had 120 minutes to fit in everything Hollywood's formula can fit in, but they chose not to. Gimme a break.

So the movie's called Bride Wars right? So how was the War ask you? Predictable, again cliched, come on writers, where's the originality? Ok so you've got the spray tan incident, the hair dye incident, the swap her video montage trick, what else? Nada! That was pretty much how the so called wars were.

Hang on, we're not done yet. (SPOILER ALERT!) So Emma (Hathaway) ended up not marrying her fiance. It was partially because of her guy's attitude and hers. But wait, there's another reason to it. She's in love with Liv's brother. What the! The director didn't really developed that part of the story in the movie, but me being a film maker myself, spotted that possible third person snippet. Under-developed my friends.

Despite the weak storyline, I do have to agree on 2 things. 1) Hathaway is an excellent actress and 2) Kate Hudson is an excellent actress. Both played their role very well and I guess, with those 2 in the movie, the negative factors was compensated with their awesome acting.

My advice, if you haven't gone to the movies to watch this, best wait for the DVD to come out and watch it with your friends, trust me, save your money. Overall, watchable, but its nothing like Princess Diaries or How to lose a guy in 10 days.

2/5 stars - 1 star for Hathaway and 1 star for Hudson. Nothing for the script.

Changeling - Released 24/10/2008

A suspense filled thriller that will make you cry, clap, and close your eyes to depict the moment. A beautifully crafted Clint Eastwood film-making production, written by J. Michael Straczynski, with a whopping $55 million budget production movie blockbuster starring an Oscar-assured contender, Angelina Jolie.

An emotionally powerful and brilliant gripping true story-inspired drama that begins small with the disappearance of a young boy, only to gradually fan out to become a comprehensive critique of the entire power structure of Los Angeles, circa 1928. Changeling opens our hearts to the excruciating anguish of a loving mother in perseverance pursuit of her lost son who fought against a fraudulent system to do what is right while continue being mistreated by men in positions of power and authority. It explores the disempowerment of women, corruption in political hierarchies and violent acts.

We can read the pain in her eyes, the determination and drive, and the disturbing reality of real-life psychopathic criminal injustice. I suppose being a recently new mother herself, she manages to add that motherly instinct and passion towards her character’s real fear and feeling of losing a child. Jolie, flawlessly and successfully anchored a powerful performance with the rest of an amazing cast that brings to life emotions such as madness, anger, pain, sorrow, and the disbelief of such capable terrible actions by human. The situation her character goes through is so surreal and the film captures it perfectly. John Malkovich as always impressive performed a more serious, suspenseful and intensified level that carried a heightened sense of depth.

Stunning cinematography, wonderful Eastwood-esque self composed jazz and bebop influenced musical tones, a masterpiece performance that will keep you emotionally drawn into the story.

The overall experience is more exhilarating than saddening. There were some inconsistencies at times when the movie seemed to be all over place. Sometimes it was a crime mystery, sometimes a drama, and sometimes it tried too hard to be both. Despite that, Eastwood somehow keeps Changeling from dramatically falling apart.

A heart-felt moving and inspiring movie which lacks complexity that will be appreciated by mainstream viewers and Oscar voters. National Board of Review of Motion pictures named Changeling as one of the ten best films in 2008 topping worldwide gross standing at $66.7 million.

A 4/5 star rating for the first-class storyline and acting.

Ghost Town - Released 12 September 2008

This one is simply enjoyable to watch. If you've watched 'Death Becomes Her and Death Becomes Her' years back, you'll love Ghost Town. It has a similar feel to it, only thing is that this one is more up to date, so to speak. Daring, hilarious and elegant. This film is set in a more familiar setting,distinguishable from many different aspects and angles. It tells a story of a Dentist who died for seven minutes while having a minor surgery. He comes back to life regardless and starts seeing ghosts. Don't be scared, it's not a horror, it's comedy people!

There are times when you'll feel like you've seen this one before and yes while you might be right, one thing sets a different tone to the movie. It's Ricky Gervais' dry humour and acting that manages to salvage an average movie and turned it into a masterpiece. I can safely say with great pride that his film stands out to other similar comedy flicks. If you like The Office, UK version, then you will enjoy this one. Gervais acts quite similarly in this one but with more added expressiveness. With the character being a 'not a people person' type of guy, Gervais excels in delivering the goods.

Tea Leonie has changed much since her days from Bad Boys. She really looks like an aged mother in this movie. However, it did not change the way she acted. If you know Tea Leonie, you would understand and know the way she acts. Its those typical actresses with distinctive characteristics that gives that much needed bomb to entice the audiences to keep wanting to watch the movie. Ghost Town is certainly casted well.

In the end I was pleasantly surprised by the time the cinema lights came out. It's not just the fact that I felt really genuinely fulfilled by a straight forward comedy about ghosts, but that I was quite literally feeling to want to see what's going to happen in the following scene. There also exist that feeling you get when you watch the movie 'Serendipity', obviously I'm talking about the love interest between Gervais' and Leonie's character. Definitely a must watch flick.
4/5 mostly goes to Ricky Gervais!! Awesome Film

Cadillac Records - Released 05/12/2008

Some real life stories are just meant to be shown on the big screen whether or not they are completely and entirely true, or even only have a 1% truthfulness within its presentation. Whether Elvis Presley made a pact with the devil and used it to rise to fame as he did during his music artist journey or he simply did not need any help entertaining music lovers because he was born gifted, heck, no one really cares. It's the music that counts the most and for that reason alone, how these famous artists got there is simply an add-on bonus for us all to enjoy.

Cadillac Records is one example of such path in life for Etta James, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf and Bo Diddley. These great musicians of all time individually have their own stories to tell, from how they got up there to stardom, the in-between stumble and falls and also what it is that made them.

The movie may not have been entirely true, or were they, nobody ever really knows. But how Director Darnell Martin depicted each individuals were simply amazing and . The movie had me wanting for more, despite it being 109 minutes long. Maybe they should have gone for 2 hours. Regardless, plot-wise, it was well thought of. There may be few holes in it, like when Little Walter (played by Columbus Short) came out looking far aged compared to Muddy Waters (played by Jeffrey Wright) after Walter was thrown out by Leonard Chess (played by Adrien Brody) from Chess Records. Apart from that everything else really made sense despite the correctness in information.

The music in this flick was really inspiring. With a cover of 'At Last' - Etta James' hit single, by Beyonce Knowles, an old hit song was revamped into perfectness. Every single song in the movie was re-produced by the actors. You have Mos Def, Jeffrey Wright, Columbus Short, and Eamonn Walker recording their own versions which really got through to the younger generation of today. This was a great move I feel, because no one really wants to hear those same old songs by the originals in a musical movie biopic.

I was waiting for each scene anticipatingly. That's how good the camera works was. The acting actually did help that out a lot. Matt Dillon was initially called up for Chess' role. As good as Dillon would have been. I would not change the casting of Academy Award winner Adrien Brody. He was born to take on that character. I'm not sure if Chess was actually a calm, cool and sleek person, but if he was, Brody did brilliantly. In the context of history, Chess Records was actually managed by Leonard and Phil Chess. However, I feel that Martin took a great risk of discarding Phil in the movie and it did the film the greatest favour ever. It would have probably mess things up for Brody if he would to have shared the limelight with someone else.

What can I say about Beyonce. She was the BOMB, singing gracefully as always and turning her multi talents into another singing movie. The fact that she really put on weight for the movie was just the tall tale of the production itself. Jeffrey Wright has to share the same credits as Beyonce, and to turn up 5 notch in performance level after those 2 James Bond movies, this was the first time that I've seen the actor giving out so much in one single movie.

Overall, despite cinema seats only went on to US$7 Million in sales after a US$12 Million budget, this one is for those who loves sitting in front of the HBO channel. Wait for the DVD and get one. You'll love it.
4/5 stars mainly for great acting.