Reviews

"In The Loop" is an intelligent, incisive British political satire and one of my absolute favorite movies of 2009. I'm hoping that more people will find it because its really a doozy!. Masterfully directed by Armando Iannucci, the same writer and producer responsible for the highly successful BBC satirical sitcom, " The Thick of It". What I find truly remarkable about In The Loop is that it remains neutral throughout its duration. Choosing not to take sides, it mocks its own government as well as the American government. It also has a stellar cast of British and American actors.

The performances by the most unknown cast are uniformly excellent. Tom Holland is very effective as Simon Foster, a British bureaucrat with a serious foot-in-mouth disease. A gaffe master who doesn't think before he speaks, he has a tendency to make idiotic and highly embarrassing statements to the press. Even when he publicly backtracks after making an offhanded comment in a radio interview about an"unforeseeable" war, he sounds even more ridiculous and offensive. His ineptitude ends up infuriating the spin doctor for the the British government, played by an outstanding Peter Capaldi. Capaldi not only steals the show, he gives one of the greatest male performances of the year as the hilarious, caustic and excessively profane(he makes insults sound almost like poetry!) Malcolm Tucker. Its a travesty that this brilliant character actor failed to secure a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his performance. He really deserved it.

The always superb James Gandolfini shines as general George Miller, the pentagon attaché that locks horns with the cantankerous Malcolm Tucker. Mimi Kennedy scores as Karen Clark, the U.S. Assistant secretary for diplomacy. David Rasche is solid as Linton Barwick, the Washington hawk with whom Karen Clark and general Miller are always at loggerheads. It's a sheer delight seeing the doe-eyed former child star, Anna Chlumsky(of "My Girl" fame) make a comeback after disappearing from big screen for years. She's in fine form here as the witty state department aide, Liza Weld. Chris Addison delivers as the political damage control expert, Toby. Steve Coogan is hilarious in a cameo. Olivia Poulet, Enzo Cilenti, Paul Higgins, Alex MacQueen, etc, give good accounts of themselves.

You won't find a dull moment in this film. You'll be too busy laughing to take a look at your watch or at the clock. The brisk pace never lets up and not one of the cast is wasted. Every single character is memorable no matter the length of role. In The Loop is without a doubt the best political satire i've seen since Barry Levinson's Wag The Dog(1997). I highly recommend it!

'Trainspotting' is a bleak, powerful and harrowing indie film, which propelled then unknown British actor, Ewan McGregor, onto the world stage. Its a controversial examination of the exploits, simultaneously humorous and poignant, of a coterie of Scottish drug addicts. Amazingly enough, this is only the second directorial effort from Danny Boyle after his acclaimed debut, "Shallow Grave"(1994). Shot entirely on location in the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh, it revolves around six key characters--Mark, Francis, Sickboy, Spud, Tommy and Diane. The film is narrated by Ewan McGregor's central character, Mark "rent-boy" Renton, who decides to change his self-destructive lifestyle. His struggle to quell his heroin addiction subsequently effects his relationship with his family and drug-addled friends. Some will extol the film's unsettling and harsh depiction of a gang of drug junkies whereas others will rebuke the film for glorifying and advocating drug use.

'Trainspotting' is like modern-day "Clockwork Orange" in terms of temperament and setting, as it were. There are a few scenes that are somewhat reminiscent of 'Clockwork Orange' but aren't necessarily identical. In essence, its a film about youth culture as well as drugs. and its incredibly funny. Its not easy to watch, though. Its not for the squeamish, that's for sure. There are really disturbing images that will haunt the viewer days, if not weeks, after seeing the film. I've seen a lot of great drug-themed films(ex: 'The Man With The Golden Arm', 'Drugstore Cowboy', 'Down to The Bone' and 'Requiem for A Dream' immediately come to mind), "Trainspotting" joins the list. I don't know if its the best one out of the bunch, but I like it the most. Its a rather strange film in the sense that there's no concrete story. A great deal happens inside the character's head and some of it is quite disturbing. Only toward the end is there a semblance of a chronological narrative. Boyle deserves credit for eschewing social realism because the film isn't as depressing as a result. Instead of basking in the depravity of the characters, he has chosen to celebrate the prosperity of life, even in the hardships of these junkies.

The performances are simply exceptional through and through. As the flawed yet redeemable Mark Renton, Ewan McGregor turns in an outstanding performance, probably the finest of his entire career. He reportedly went to extremes, like Christian Bale did for "The Machinist", to make his character look more believable as far as physical appearance was concerned. Bravo!. The great Robert Carlyle, however, owns the film as the alcoholic, violent, mercurial psychotic, Francis Begbie. He exudes a sense of danger and ominousness whenever he appears on screen. Its a shame that this brilliant, chameleon-like actor has never received an Oscar nomination. Its been long overdue after so many great performances in his career. Johnny Lee Miller, despite the brevity of his role, gives an excellent performance as the James Bond-loving heroin addict, "Sickboy". There are other performances well worth mentioning as well. Ewen Bremner is quite superb as the funny nitwit, "Spud". Kevin McKidd really shines as Tommy, a drug-free but curious athlete. Kelly MacDonald makes a stellar acting debut as the lovable "Diane", the voice of reason for Mark Renton. James Cosmo and Eileen Nicholas are effective as Mark Renton's parents.

Technically, the film is really top-notch. Besides the uniformly great performances, the film has a great script, solid screenplay by John Hodge(received Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay), clever editing, arresting cinematography, sharp and witty dialogs. The narration by Ewan McGregor is excellent and helps propel the story. The direction by Danny Boyle is truly superb. The soundtrack and innovative techniques really add to the film's drug-soaked atmosphere as well. "Trainspotting" is a film that will age well. After 11 years, its still as powerful and influential as ever. One of the classic chronicles of addiction. Make seeing this film a priority.

'Babel' is a fascinating study of communication barriers, universal politics, cultural diversity and existential loneliness. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu has made two complex and thought-provoking films("21 grams" and Amores Perros") but his latest masterpiece, 'Babel', is probably the most heartbreaking and haunting yet. Of course, the credit also goes to screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga and cinematographer, Rodrigo Prieto(a frequent collaborator of Inarritu's) for their clarity of vision and creativity. You either get this film or you miss the boat on it entirely, there's no in-between. I can tell you one thing though, its one of the very best Hollywood films of last year. A truly powerful and brilliant film that stays with you long after it has concluded. The film is set in four countries: Morocco, United states, Mexico and Japan. And its really amazing how Inarritu masterfully leaps from one story to another building up to a powerful climax.

There are basically four intersecting story lines in the film, and they're connected but not precisely in a synchronized fashion. It feels like you're going back and forth through chapters of a book. Brad Pitt (in his best performance in years) and Cate Blanchett(outstanding, as usual) play Richard and Susan, respectively. Richard and Susan are grief-stricken American couple from San Diego, California, who decide to take a trip to Morocco to find some piece of mind after tragically losing their youngest child. They leave their older children(played by Ellen Fanning and Nathan Gamble)in the care of their Mexican maid, Amelia(a brilliant Adriana Barraza).

Unbeknownst to them, Amelia takes the children, without permission, to her native Mexico to attend her only son's wedding. The driver happens to be Amelia's alcoholic, abrasive illegal immigrant nephew, Santiago(played by Gael Garcia Bernal). On their re-entry into the United States, they're stopped by a border patrol officer(the criminally underrated Clifton Collins, Jr). Seeing two White kids at the backseat, the patrol officer grows increasingly suspicious and orders them out of the car. Santiago panics, takes off and it results in a terrifying car chase into the night.

One of the key segments features a Moroccan goat herder who lives on the hillside with his two wayward young sons. When the Moroccan goat herder carelessly hands a rifle to his young sons(the intent was to keep jackals away from the livestock), the kids use an approaching tourist bus as target practice instead. As they test their rifle by firing at the tourist bus, a stray bullet accidentally hits Richard's wife on the shoulder. The incident triggers a ripple effect that transcends the African nation. The U.S. government mistake it as an act of terrorism. The Moroccan authorities start investigation; eventually, they learn that the goat herding family residing on the hillside are the culprits. They also learn who sold the goat herder the rifle used in the shooting, a Japanese businessman(Koji Yakusho).

The story jumps to Tokyo, Japan. The businessman has a deaf-mute teenager daughter named Cheiko(Rinko Kikuchi, in a stunning, show-stealing performance). Its very obvious that this is a girl in great deal of emotional pain. Her mother committed suicide and the father is emotionally distant, so she rebels against him by being promiscuous with strange boys, throwing herself at a detective, boozing and partying hard at nightclubs. All she wants is to feel close to someone, anyone, even if that means compromising her dignity in the process. Her loneliness is very palpable. you can't help but feel heartbreak as soon as she walks inside a nightclub brimming with life. The director takes you into her lonely world but frequently muting the loud noise from the nightclub. I feel tremendous sympathy for deaf-mutes. How do they manage to live a life of complete silence? I can't imagine not hearing voices, sounds of nature, music, etc. When words fail, what are the ramifications?. Watch 'Babel' to find out. Excellent film!

This is one of the greatest films I've ever seen, in any language, I might add. A haunting, unforgettable classic from the directorial genius, Akira Kurosawa. Its truly unlike any movie you've ever seen before. It examines and questions the very essence of truth. Its incredible that it was made in 1950, even today, its still a staggering and enduring influence on cinema throughout the world.

'Rashomon' is truly an unconventional and existential film with a non-linear narrative. It is such a profound film that even if you see it numerous times, you'll still be picking out things you didn't notice previously. Its punctuated with poetic metaphors and symbolisms throughout. Now I know where great American directors like Robert Altman, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, etc, all get their inspiration from. I love Kurosawa's expressionistic approach to film-making. His use of camera angles, lighting, etc, is a treat to behold.

This film basically tells the story of a priest, a woodcutter, a thief and an ordinary man who all take turns narrating, through flashbacks, the same series of events while waiting out a heavy rainstorm. They all discuss the brutal murder of a Samurai and the rape of his wife they claim they witnessed in the jungle. You, the viewer, like the characters in the film, are never sure what is real and what isn't. It is never explained, you're forced to draw your own conclusions. What you hear is four completely different stories of the crimes committed in the woods. Every storyteller is untrustworthy, especially the woodcutter's, who was the first to see evidence of the crimes.

This film has a very powerful and spiritual ending where the woodcutter get a shot a redemption. I can see why this film is still very influential and important since its release 54 years ago. An unqualified masterpiece!

In a nutshell, the film is about the lives of the men featured in the iconic portrait of a group of brave soldiers hoisting up an American flag at Iwo Jima during World War 2. Eastwood brings the characters alive like only he can. Its a meditative, elegiac, hard-hitting and viscerally moving film about the true definition of a hero, how heroes are judged and treated by society, how they view themselves and what they go through mentally and emotionally. This is a bit different from the war films you're usually accustomed to in a sense that the film is not set entirely on the war front. Most of the story takes place post-Iwo Jima but the soldiers relive the horrors of the war via flashbacks. Like 'Saving Private Ryan' this film also features thousands of soldiers landing on the beach and engaging in a full-throttle enemy assault, but the similarities end there.

The film focuses principally on the three returning Iwo Jima war veterans--John "Doc" Bradley, Rene Gagnon, and Ira Hayes(played by Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford and Adam Beach, respectively). On the home front, the US government take interest in the three Iwo-Jima flag-raisers in the picture and exploit them to raise money for war bonds. On their goodwill tour across the states, they're heralded by reporters, photographers and the American public. While Bradley and Gagnon seem very comfortable being the center of attention, Hayes wrestles with insurmountable demons. Disillusioned that his own country doesn't laud or appreciate him despite laying his life on the line on the battlefield. He's disgusted with the thought of being labeled a "hero" because he's suffering from survivor's guilt. Scoffed at for being "American Indian", he's discriminated against at a restaurant which enrages him. He subsequently gets into a brawl before being dragged away by Bradley and Gagnon.

The performances in this film is very a strong with Ryan Phillippe and Jesse Bradford turning in the best performances of their careers, but if anyone truly deserved an Oscar nomination for acting, it had to be Adam Beach for his nuanced, heartbreaking performance as the emotionally damaged, disenchanted ex-soldier. I hardly know this actor(I think he also was in John Woo's "Windtalkers") but he's prodigiously talented. Paul Walker, Neal McDonough, Robert Patrick, Barry Pepper, Jamie Bell, and John Benjamin Hickey are impressive in their brief roles.

Clint Eastwood brought so much depth and creativity to this film. Steven Spielberg steps in as producer. One of the Eastwood's biggest strengths is his painstaking attention to detail--how people dress, the ambiance, the kind of music being played on the radio, etc. He captures the zeitgeist of 40's quite vividly. He also takes the story beyond the generation of the characters. One of the soldier's adult son (played by Tom McCarthy) interviews his father's old comrades in order to find out more about what happened to his father during the war.

Technically, 'Flags of Our Fathers' is as good as it gets. What can I say about the war scenes!. Its one of the most realistic ones I've ever seen. It rivals those seen in Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan". You just have to see it to believe it. I'm convinced there is no genre the great Eastwood is incapable of tackling, and he just made a great war film here, even better is his follow-up, "Letters from Iwo Jima". This film some may find a bit slow and introspective, but that's how Eastwood intended it. One key message this film really drives home is that the real war heroes aren't the ones who made it out of the battlefield, but the ones who died there. This is one of the best Hollywood films of its year. Take a bow, Mr. Eastwood.