Movies

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

The story of Robert Ford leading up to and after his assassination of legendary Outlaw Jesse James.

Affleck here plays a star making turn, as the originally obsessive yet intelligent neophyte criminal who ultimately kills his childhood hero. Pitt is on form here as Jesse who as well as becoming more physically unwell is becoming paranoid and unpredictable as treachery is afoot around him, a brilliantly human portrayal of the legend. Sam Rockwell is also very good as Robert's brother, Charlie ,who is torn between trust of his friend and the survival of himself and his kin.

The story is well told and the characters are well done, yet the middle section drags and overall the running time could have been trimmed. That said it is an interesting look into obsessive and the fleeting and fickle nature of fame.

While a little strained in the telling, a interesting and well played movie

The Darjeeling Limited

The Whitman Brothers make a trip through India to reconnect with each other and find their estranged mother. The trip effects them in ways neither of them would have expected.

Long time Anderson collaborator Wilson is wonderful as the oldest brother, Francis, trying to keep his family together while at times still addled from a near fatal motorbike crash. Brody plays the emotional middle brother, showing a lot of withheld anguish over their fathers death. Co-writer Schwartzman plays quiet independence, just trying to figure everything out. Huston as always gives a solid performance but you can't help but wish Bill Murray was used more.

This can only be described as a Wes Anderson Movie, the same kind of quirky intelligent tale he has become known for with Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbuams and The Life Aquatic. Written by Anderson, Schwartzman and Roman Coppola this is probably the most serious and poignant of his movies. The movie is beautiful shot and is full of great performances yet (as with most of his movies) it won't appeal to those who aren't fans of Anderson's work. The movie begins with the short Hotel Chevalier giving the backstory of brother Jack's love problems his ex played by Natalie Portman. It is a nice little insight into the nature of Schwartzman's character but adds little to the main film.

A wonderfully quirky little tale of a broken family learning to let go, yet most likely for Wes Anderson fans only.

Rescue Dawn

Based on the true life events of Deiter Dangler, A US Navy Pilot is held prisoner during The Vietnam War in a Laos camp after crashing during a bomb raid. He decides that he and the other POW's must escape and survive long enough to be rescued.

Christian Bale here shows why he is one of the acting elite yet never steals focus from the plot or the other cast. Steve Zahn shows a lot versatility here playing desperate prisoner Duane and Jeremy Davies plays his role (who some would say is probably the most honest portrayal of the bunch) to a tee.

Written and Directed by movie / documentary maker Werner Herzog, this is a dramatization of the story told in his earlier documentary Little Deiter Needs to Fly. The movie is wonderfully shot and for just over 2 hours, paced perfectly.

A well told (if a little one-sided) and interesting portrayal of one man's survival against the odds, well worth a look.

Planet Terror

In small-town Texas a mysterious infection is turning people into flesh eating monsters and only a complicated Go-Go Dancer and a Tow Truck Driver with a mysterious past can discover its origin and get the survivors to safety.

Rose McGowan does a great job with her characters story arc and Freddy Rodríguez makes a great action hero despite his diminutive statue (even on a child's mini-bike). Supporting players Michael Biehn and Jeff Fahy once again make you wonder why there not in every movie. Keep an eye out in the future for Josh Brolin (The Goonies, American Gangster), also welcome is Stuntman / Actor / Practical Effects Whiz Tom Savini (from Dusk Till Dawn, the original Dawn of the Dead).

As Rodriguez Grindhouse tribute to Zombie B-Movies, Does its job and excels at it. Full of over-the-top big ideas and wonderfully corny yet funny dialogue and laughs.

A fun, incredibly silly thrillride of a picture.

The Lookout

Chris Platt was the hero of the high school hockey team when a serious car accident left two of his friends dead and him with Brain Damage. Now despite his personal advancement he still has trouble with his memory and his sequencing, often patronised by family and friends, having to settle for a meager night cleaning job at the local bank. All this could change when a stranger comes into his life with a proposition.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is easily one of his generations finest actors, with his performances in Brick and Mysterious Skin hopefully this movie will bring properly into the attention of the viewing public. Jeff Daniels as Chris' blind friend and flatmate, is professional and enjoyable as ever. Matthew Goode is also very good at interchanging between charming and intense.

First time Director Scott Frank (also the writer for this movie as well as the screenplays for Minority Report and Out of Sight) makes the first two acts very tense and building which unfortunately makes the ending a little predictable by comparison. This said it is still enjoyable and the characters in particular are very well drawn.

A well written, well paced, something out of the ordinary. Well worth a look.