A most wanted man - The last great act...

Upfront those expecting Jason Bourne will need to steer clear of this film. While if you are a fan of realistic espionage cat and mouse game of John Le Carre, you're in for a treat. For the first time I felt this is one of the more accessible adaptation of Le Carre spy thrillers. A lot of the previous attempt hinges on the fan service treatment and slow build-up,it's not relying on making a stylized spyworld but rather dramas of navigating bureaucracy and mind games between rivalries.It's either you're in it or not. His material also has been a talent magnet for character actors at the promise of a meaty role as Gary Oldman, Ralph Fiennes, and even Sean Connery headlining such adaptation before. Surprisingly the film moves at a rather brisk pace with well defined characters, given the Le Carre factor. It's really sad to see the swan song performance of Phillip Seymour Hoffman as he disappeared himself into Gunther with his believable accent and nuanced portrayal of a thriving intelligence chief. When the expected betrayal happens, Gunther potrayal is as good as it gonna gets.Fair bit of reputable actors rounds up the cast of a mesmerizing film coming from the third effort of Anton Corbijn, who does know a thing or two about making films and not just photographing rock stars.

Boyhood

Simply put, this is one of the best movie of this decade, certainly deserves the unanimous praise from both the critics and movie fanatics alike.

10/10

The Mule - A smartly written movie

Australia did fleshed out some significant indies this year.Rover,Predestination,Babadook and now this. Beside Hugo Weaving and John Noble being the recognizable faces, the unfamiliar actors in the movie did a pretty much bang up job to make this satisfying movie.An unassuming nobody getting coerced into swallowing heroin pellets in Thailand by his friend.As the title of the movie suggested,he was detained at the airport. So he exploits a loophole in the law by refusing to hit the sh!t can as a battle of wits from the police and drug pusher to retrieve what inside his body.It may not sound much,the writing did some clever plot development that have you second guessing how all this gonna end for everyone. Not everyone is what he seems to be.Notable performance from Hugo Weaving as the greasy cop who literally gives a dimension to stereotypical bad cop and Angus Sampson with his deadpan delivery of the not so lucky drug mule.It starts a bit slow but when he is put in the hotel room,things gets interesting quickly and accumulate to a satisfying ending.

When Animals Dream - Not a Ginger Snaps rip-off

A well made atmospheric horror drama in the vein of Let the right one in. Instead of vampire, it's werewolf this time around. Marie found out for the first time she's a Lycan and the town allows her family to stay on the condition to suppress the threat by keeping her mother in comatose state with drugs. The family endures discriminatory treatments from the common folks until killings started again in the small town. Marie embraces the beast in her to escape a repeating fate of her mother. Marie portrayal is rather terrific for a first timer, Sonia Suhl makes you sympathetic toward her motivation. While Lars Mikkelsen (elder brother of Mads Mikkelsen) plays the role of the human father in protecting the mother and daughter.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014)

Timing, it is all about the timing...

Am currently in a funk and went to watch this movie.

Not the best decision I had made...

This movie is... bleak.

Katniss the badass in the previous movies is Katniss I feel so sorry for my self...

Really really hard to watch.

Where most of the movies were action oriented, this is more drama.

Don't get me wrong it is good to get all the great background information for this world, and have to add, I had chosen to watch this movie at a bad time...

Am looking forward to the last episode.

The best I can describe this is Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows Part 1.

Same Vibe

My Two Sen

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) (HFR 3D Signature Cinema The Gardens)

Okay, for the parties who are interested to know if the HFR 3D is worth the money, I have watched all three episodes in 48 frames 3D and the answer is YES!

You will not believe the details you get from the start if the movie, namely

As for the rest of the movie, by Jove Peter, do you really need the money??

This seriously, is a two parter, at most!!! A three parter!?! Come on!!

A VERY self indulgent project.

Now, I really REALLY wish Guillermo had stuck on to direct it!!

Don't get me wrong, production quality is through the roof, unfortunately, there just isn't that much of a story....

I kinda remember the story (I;ve read the book). I remember how it ended
If you have watched the first and second, how can you possibly missed this!!

My Two Sen

71 - A strong directorial debut

A very well paced movie that trims out the fats.Brisk characterization and straight to the gist of the plot.An abandoned soldier left to fend off IRA goons during the height of civil unrest in Belfast. He has no idea who is there to offer aid or just want to see him dead. There are a few twists and turns to keep you invested on the unlucky soldier.The lead Jack O'Connel does a pretty convincing portrayal of the inexperienced soldier, but his features a bit difficult to tell apart from your average good looking squared jaw dude. The film director on the other hand, does have a good sense of pacing and make the most out of the limited budget to film. An efficient action thriller with reasonably fine performances minus the Hollywood cheese.

This post has been edited by 6so: Dec 21 2014, 12:45 PM

Starred Up - A familiar tale but different perspectives.

The premise is pretty cliched for a prison movie, but they took from the angle the inmates are just lost cause to the establishment and fundamentally they are social outcast who just incapable of connecting with another human. The only language they seem to talk with each other is with violence,threat and contempt.Jack O'Connell (Eric) again the lead plays a teenage inmate graduated to the adult jail cells that also housed his father.He is a bit of a savage time bomb who just can't stop himself from getting into trouble.Let's say there is a painful scene involving Eric biting a guard's manhood.Kinda like Tom Hardy in Bronson.While the excellent Ben Mendelsohn (Nelville) plays the father who wanted to connect with his son but clueless about it.The thing is Nelville is as much a violent time bomb as his son.So there comes the expected point in the ending where they do see each other eye to eye but at a great cost. Undeniably, this is a meatier role for Jack O'Connell to chew on and he does have the range to pull it off but Mendelsohn's performance is at a different level altogether. A solid watch.

This post has been edited by 6so: Dec 21 2014, 12:43 PM

The Drop - Polar opposite of John Wick

There are some serious talents behind this adaptation of a Dennis Lehane's short story.Michael R.Roskam the director of the sublime "Bullhead" with Michael Schoenearts the intimidating figure from the same movie as the antagonist to Tom Hardy.The final performance of James Gandolfini,lovely Noomi Rapace and the always superb John Ortis rounding up the respectable cast members. The drawback is not quite the full scope of what all these powerhouse talents capable of.The story is rather small in scope and missing the fuller experience.Having said that,it's still a very well made crime thriller and the slow burn does pay-off when comes to WTF just happen ending.Fundamentally it's a story of an unassuming mystery man with questionable past and a dog. Tom Hardy portrayal of the repressive barkeeper is something to behold and James Gandolfini presence is to savour and tragically missed in the pantheon of character actors.

Sorry for double post.

This post has been edited by 6so: Dec 28 2014, 11:46 AM

Well, I didn't enjoy The Drop, as it seems like it is the worst effort from Dennis Lehane for me.

To each their own. There are much more lacking movies or short stories out there in the wild.
Like I said before, this is an adaptation of a short story and not the full Dennis Lehane experience book.
Not every single creation needs to be masterpiece just as long as they keep on trying. How many authors/artists that have flawless records in their career? What goes up will come down eventually, maybe the next Roskam movie will match the same brilliance of his debut or it will never ever be.

Exodus.. Good but could've been more accurate.. yet definitely watchable 7.5/10

The Tale of Princess Kaguya - The other half of Studio Ghibli

While Hayao Misaki commands the bulk of adoration and accolades,Isao Takahata is the equally masterful film director reside within Studio Ghibli.He is responsible for the epic tearjerker Grave of Fireflies that initially puts Studio Ghibli name in the wild.
Foregoing the classic Ghibli animation style,Takahata uses a surreal palate of charcoal and watercolor to breathe life to an ancient Japanese folklore tale.It goes without saying with any fairy tale, it starts innocently enough to grab your emotional chord until a tragedy struck at your highly likable protagonist.What Princess Kaguya manage to do differently is attention to small details and the delightful watercolor animation style. The way how it portrays the humanity of Princess Kaguya in the midst of pursuing her freewill and conforming to expectations of what her surrogate father imposes on her. It's safe to say this is one of the crown achievement in the Studio Ghibli catalogue. It come across more of an earnest effort and not the manipulative attempt to chalk up ticket sales. Glad to watch this over any Disney junks and can't emphasize enough, this could potentially the best Ghibli film to date IMO.

This post has been edited by 6so: Jan 3 2015, 12:08 PM

Horns - If you don't mind out of the box horror fantasy.

The book is one entertaining pulpy read that will make a very good comic book material.As what Joe Hill did in his excellent Locke and Key. I do have huge reservation how well it will play out in movie form and left alone starring Daniel Ratcliffe. First off the premise is banana crazy, but it does have its merit as far as storyline goes. Cartoonish at times, but interesting development will keep you going. To my surprise Harry Porter is no slouch on his part to carry the supposingly devil character. It's certainly not a good movie to some, but highly captivating in my eyes or just a fanboy geeking out the book. A good antidote to the tiring cheap scare horror crap. Stop nitpicking story logic, just go with flow of narration.

Wolf Children - Aftermath of a fairy tale

Had the blu-ray for a long time and just didn't get around to watching it. To those with children,we often refer to them as having a monster in the household. The monster part not just extend to their unpredictable behavior, but the helpless sensation at times when comes to their well being. Here a highly original story literally uses that as the premise to tell a very touching story of parenting.
Girl meets boy. They are blessed with two offspring and the boy met with a tragic death. The expertly crafted story begins with the passing of the boy and how the girl left alone to face the harsh reality of raising 2 extraordinary children. Instead of focussing the heartbreaking outlook it bravely tackles how the girl overcoming obstacle to raise her two adorable children. While it may look like manipulative emotional scenes of one after another, you can't help but realized how true it is in reality. It touches a variety of themes like providing the best condition for nurturing the children and having zero idea how to do it. It's one of those thing in life where you won't know until you experience it yourself.
While many compare this to what Studio Ghibli might have done, personally I believe Mamoru Hosada is the more contemporary film maker than Hayao Miyasaki. There's a degree of originality to how he tackled his story. The girl who leapt through time was charming, Summer Wars was fun and Wolf Children is where he fully establish himself. I regard him as the heir to fill the vacant void left by the late Satoshi Kon.

This post has been edited by 6so: Jan 8 2015, 04:23 PM

As Above, So Below (2014)

I think the horror genre is tap out at this point in time.

Admittedly, apart from the decent Deliver Us From Evil (2014) and also Babadok (2014) I am not sure there is any good horror in 2014.

I watched the above today and it is just decent.

Points are scored for "showing" the French Catacomb. Why would any living person visited the said place is beyond me (same goes for the English version)!!

Who would have thought that Nicolas Flamel (a 14th Century's scribe and manuscript-seller) (of Harry Potter fame??!) is really.

Supposedly, there is a rumor after his death, during the 17th century that he had discovered The Philosopher's Stone and the said stone has the ability to grant immortality.

In this movie, archaeologist, Scarlett, takes father her father and is chasing after The Philosopher's Stone and at any cost...

Apparently, Nicolas Flamel grave holds the the secret, and the catacombs runs underneath his tomb...

Let the terror begin???

It is a mildly entertaining horror movie.

For a horror movie, there really isn't much that is really scary or shocking... Even with the French Catacomb as the back drop...

My Two Sen

Whiplash


Pure entertainment, roller coaster ride from start to finish.
This is without a doubt the most fun and exciting film of 2014, really deserving the high praises and reviews it got.

Pls go see this movie

Screener season has arrived!
American Sniper - Ermmm...errr...arrrr...have I watched this before?

The deadliest sniper in American history. I did read his memoir, which is a point to point retelling of his experience in Iraq and how he earned a hefty bounty on his own head. The movie tells more of his slow descent to PTSD that greatly affects his family life while he is conflicted to do the right thing by his personal code. Then 'Hurt Locker' and 'Jarhead' already did a much better job at telling this type of story. Just felt indifferent about the movie on a whole. For the status of having a Clint Eastwood name, the middle and ending action sequences felt so rudimentary Hollywood cheese. Was expecting the gritty realism like what Kathryn Bigelow or Paul Greengrass would have done. The biggest nitpick of all is you simply do not get a foot long muzzle flash from a heavily suppressed M4. Felt so video game for a suppose serious movie.

This Is 40 (2012) - comedy drama, but many bad words for kids...

The Man from Earth (2007) - too slow, boring, not my kind of movie... time wasting..

About Time (2013) - Wow, that is very good, totally charming.

This post has been edited by Mickey C: Jan 11 2015, 04:01 PM