Screensucked

Movie Review: The Dictator (2012)

noreply@blogger.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:50:00 +0000

The Dictator is politically incorrect and doesn't pull punches in the racial comedy department-- and those are the two positive things I can say about the movie.

Its irreverence and satire of the Arabic dictator puts the film and Sacha Baron Cohen well beyond being watchable and funnier than most Hollywood comedies. While it doesn't have the edge of Borat and faux-documentary appeal of Brüno, Baron Cohen still manages to create a very divisive, yet effective character in Admiral General Aladeen. (But I'm sure a lot of Arab folks are not happy with Baron Cohen's characterization)

The story works because it has a solid "fish-out-of-water" arc and personal transformation angle, but there's still enough offensive material to go around. And this won't be a Sacha Baron Cohen movie without the requisite genitalia exposure.

The Dictator is a funny film, but don't take it too seriously-- treat it like those silly parody movies (like Scary Movie).

Rating: 3.5/5

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Movie Review: Marvel's The Avengers (2012)

noreply@blogger.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Thu, 10 May 2012 02:41:00 +0000

Director Joss Whedon has done the impossible: Make The Avengers cool.

A bit of a background: I've been an X-Men guy since I was 12 and I've always found The Avengers a bit too campy (well, any superhero team with Captain America and Thor on it is bound to suffer that fate). The X-Men film franchise delivered the goods, but the Marvel's mutants has always been cool. This Avengers film has lifted the stock of Cap, Thor, Hawk Eye, and Black Widow to a whole new level.

From a pure comic geek perspective, this film is gold. Previous movies build up nicely and Whedon masterfully weaves something geeks and casual fans would enjoy. There's some confusing bits at the start of the film (What the heck is the Tesseract?) and once that's out of the way, things get exponentially better. Robert Downey, Jr. as Iron Man steals the show with his witty zingers and keeps the humor level good.

And one more thing: This is the only film where I found watching The Hulk actually fun.

Marvel's The Avengers is one massive effort and is bound to shatter records and any pre-conceived notion against Marvel's almost-forgotten superhero group. A definite must-see in movie theaters.

Rating: 4/5

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Movie Review: The Five-Year Engagement

noreply@blogger.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 22:25:00 +0000

Weddings have given Hollywood excellent source material in the last few years and I was expecting The Five-Year Engagement to be a breakthrough film. But I thought it was a letdown.

On paper, the film seems to be perfect: It's produced by rom-com auteur Judd Apatow, it features terrific lead actors in Jason Segel and Emily Blunt (who were paired together in Gulliver's Travels), and my list of favorite comic side kicks (Chris Platt, Alison Brie, Kevin Hart, Rhys Ifans, Mindy Kaling). So what the heck happened?

I felt the film took its premise to heart too seriously (i.e., a prolonged engagement) and it manifested in a protracted story that feels too stretched out. Worse, it seemed like the creative folks were trying to stuff the five years with too many fillers.

The Five-Year Engagement should have been many great things, but in the end, it became a marginally enjoyable film to be shelved underneath the photo albums in your basement.

Rating: 2.5/5

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Movie Review: American Reunion (2012)

noreply@blogger.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 02:40:00 +0000

Times have changed and for the American Pie gang, there's no better way to smack that in their faces than to have an American Reunion.

The last time we saw them, it was nine years ago when Jim (Jason Biggs) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) married. But things have gone a little too domesticated for the couple and the timely fix comes in the form of their 13th year high school reunion. Jim joins his boys Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas), Oz (Chris Klein), Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas), and Stifler (Seann William Scott) for one more raunchy ride, but they find themselves coming to grips how things have become different from how things were in high school.

Fans of the franchise are going to be happy with this film-- there are timely references to past movies, and it closes the loop on several loose ends (e.g. folks who weren't in the third film). But for the rest of the film viewers, this is going to be an above average comedy that won't beat the likes of Superbad or Bridesmaids.

American Reunion is a good sampling to remind everyone that it re-ignited the sexually-comedy genre in the the late 1990's.

Rating: 3/5

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Movie Review: The Cabin in the Woods (2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 03:00:00 +0000

For a film that has good pedigree, I felt The Cabin in the Woods was a lost opportunity.

Helmed by Drew Goddard (Cloverfield) and penned by Joss Whedon (the upcoming Avengers movie), the movie is high on concept, but utterly low on scares and suspense. I'd describe the film as smart and an attempt to deconstruct the horror film genre, but it got caught up with the meta and references to other films.

Horror fans will find the film endearing as it one big hat tip, but casual film fans will find it frustrating. I felt that there was a point that the movie took too much time to tie the loose ends in the story.

The Cabin in the Woods is a smart and solid addition to the horror film canon, but it's several notches below Drag Me to Hell and the Scream franchise.

Rating: 3/5

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Movie Review: Jeff, Who Lives at Home (2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 02:40:00 +0000

Jeff, Who Lives at Home is a movie that draws a lot from M. Night Shyamalan's Signs. But despite the derivation, it's a pretty unique film in its own right.

Jeff Thompkin (Jason Segel) is thirty-year old pothead stuck in a rut. He lives with his mother (Susan Sarandon), doesn't have a job, and has a fatalistic mindset about his own life. Is is his sense of destiny (which is inspired by the movie Signs) that kicks off a series of events that lead to him finding a clearer direction of what he will be.

While heart-warming towards the end, the film is very light on comedy, despite the presence of Segel and Ed Helms as Jeff's brother. The film's scale is pretty small (it's set in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) and the economy of characters give it a more intimate feel. But it's too bad that the movie stalls and meanders a bit before the finale.

Jeff, Who Lives at Home is film that, as Jeff describes Signs, gets better the next time you watch it again. I'm not so sure though is people will give it that chance.

Rating: 3/5

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Movie Review: 21 Jump Street (2012)

noreply@blogger.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 01:10:00 +0000

21 Jump Street is crass, foul-mouthed, and irreverent. Plus, it's a %$@&! funny movie.

Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill star in this remake (or re-invention?) of the 1980's teen cop show that pulls no comic punches. The duo could arguably be this generation's version of odd couple with badges-- similar to what Mel Gibson and Danny Glover pulled of in Lethal Weapon and Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in Bad Boys.

The film is hyper-kintetic and in-your-face that it wallops you into laughter in the first thirty minutes. But it eventually backs down and closes the story arc in middling fashion (you know, the point where the best friends have a personal conflict they try to patch up while completing their big mission). But I forgive the film since it does deliver the laughs.

Despite its flaws, I left the theater happy and looking forward to the next chapter of 21 Jump Street-- Yep, this bad boy of a film is already a well-deserved franchise.

Rating: 4/5

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Movie Review: The Hunger Games (2012)

noreply@blogger.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 01:00:00 +0000

If The Hunger Games franchise is the new teen movie franchise du jour, good news for everyone: It's more Harry Potter than Twilight.

This edgy film has a wide-arcing story touches on a variety of topics like politics, mass entertainment, and social divide and features a very strong acting turn by Jennifer Lawrence. The film is unforgiving with a two and a half hour running time, but it's justified. It takes its time in setting up the film's premise, building up to the pageantry of the Hunger Games, and then to the winner-take-all showdown among a group of teens.

I felt that director Gary Ross (Big, Seabiscuit) didn't take the easy way of making sure everyone in the film's motivations are clear and created characters that people will cheer for. Jennifer Lawrence fits the female action movie mold and turned out to be a very good choice to play Katniss Everdeen.

The Hunger Games is a very good start to the franchise and my wife (who has read the book) says that it's as good as the book could get in a film adaptation. This film is a winner.

Rating: 4/5

Note: The film has scenes depicting teens killing each other, political unrest, and poverty. I recommend parents watching this film with young children, given the hype surrounding The Hunger Games

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Movie Review: Goon (2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 15:17:00 +0000

Goon is a hockey comedy with Canada written all over it.

Starring Seann William Scott as Doug Glatt, the film is about the improbable journey of a bouncer from a directionless buffoon to a man with a purpose. Doug "The Thug" has a knack of beating people up while withstanding a great deal of beating himself and his friend (played by Jay Baruchel) thinks there is one place where that kind of talent is valued: Canadian semi-pro hockey.

The film's humor comes from jokes about hockey, Canadian stereotypes, and Doug's half-wittedness. So you can just sit down, set your brain to cruise mode, and enjoy the show. There won't be anything much for folks who don't dig sports, violence, and trash-talking.

As a film, Goon is like a kid trying to learn how to skate-- earnest and tries, but manages to fall on its behind most of the time.

Rating: 2.5/5

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Movie Review: Friends with Kids (2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 03:08:00 +0000

Look at the actors in Friends with Kids: John Hamm; Maya Rudolph; Kirsten Wiig; Chris O'Dowd; Adam Scott; and Jennifer Westfeldt.

The list is very impressive, especially with two-thirds of them just came off Bridesmaids success. But the final cut was a tipped towards the wrong pair of characters. (Hint: they were the actors that weren't in Bridesmaids.)

Don't get me wrong-- the story is very timely and the dialogue is snappy and sincere, but after a good start and a trajectory that pointed towards something original, it went to a very familiar place where rom-coms tread.

Friends with Kids would have been much, much better if the leads characters outside Adam Scott and Jennifer Westfeldt were utilized better. But if you're a thirty-something looking for a comedy you can relate to, this film deserves to be in your to-do list.

Rating: 3/5

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Movie Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:31:00 +0000

I know I'm going to get slammed for this, but by expectations were quite low for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

I watched (or more accurately, partially watched) the original Swedish version and it was a huge snooze-fest. So you could just imagine why it took me three months after the Hollywood version's release to watch it in the theater, for fear of being lulled to a nice nap.

But after watching this version, I was practically knocking my head for not watching the movie sooner.

David Fincher's version is definitely much more watchable, despite the two and a half hour running time. The director (of The Fight Club and The Social Network fame), gave the somber Swedish setting a great deal of well-paced energy and intrigue to make me root for Lisbeth Salander (played by Oscar-nominated Rooney Mara) and curious where the franchise will go in the next two movies.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a very intriguing film that's not for the young-- it's edgy, sexy, and and it has a good mystery to boot. I really feel stupid for underestimating this film initially.

Rating: 4/5

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Movie Review: My Week with Marilyn (2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:55:00 +0000

Marilyn Monroe was a cultural phenomenon that was larger than life in the 1960's but if we're going to take the portrait My Week with Marilyn paints, she was a fragile woman that wanted a lot of affirmation and recognition for her talents.

The story is an account of Colin Clark (played by Eddie Redmayne), a production staff member that got close to the Marilyn Monroe (played by Michelle Williams) for a week (hence the title, duh!). Marilyn struggled mightily as she worked with distinguished thespian Sir Laurence Olivier (played by Kenneth Branagh) but eventually pulled through with their film "The Prince and The Showgirl."

If you ask me, the film's story was pretty flat and had little drama-- it's primarily an acting vehicle for Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh (who incidentally got critical nods in the Golden Globes and Oscars). Apart from that, most folks will probably root for Marilyn The Acting Underdog and loathe Olivier The Iron-fisted Director.

I'm not a fan of Marilyn Monroe but My Week with Marilyn gives a generation a peek of what she was all about behind the spotlight.

Rating: 3/5

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Movie Review: The Grey (2012)

noreply@blogger.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:18:00 +0000

There are a very films that make me go saying "Ugh" over and over after watching and The Grey is one of them.

The Joe Carnahan-helmed survival action movie is visceral and gripping, relying on a pack of wolves and the harsh cold to create tension in the story. Liam Neeson is bad-ass and stoic as he plays a wolf sniper (yep, a wolf sniper) that leads a group of oil drillers get out of the frigid Alaskan wilderness alive. Once the story goes past the plane crash, it becomes a grueling ordeal to watch. I have to give brownie points to one character in the movie that made a reference to "Alive" (the 1993 survival film).

I like the twist at the end of the film that could be seen as an allegory to man's quest to go through life but the ending was just unsatisfying. After making me root for the plane crash survivors, I expected a little bit more.

Despite the ending, The Grey is one heck of a survival story.

Rating: 3/5

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Movie Review: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:28:00 +0000

The moment I sat at the theater to watch Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, I felt I was transported to the 1970's. Apart from the grainy, oft-discolored quality of the film, the production design (as well as Benedict Cumberbatch's shaggy hair) gave the authentic old-school feel.

The movie is an adaptation of the 1970's spy novel that was low on tech, but high on suspense and this film version stays true to that. There are no gadgets nor high powered weapons, but it relies on the tension the cast creates. Gary Oldman got an Oscar nod for is role as George Smiley and it's well-deserved.

If you're used to the James Bond and Jason Bourne-type of spy movie, you'll be utterly disappointed. But you'll probably be happy that Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, and the aforementioned Benedict Cumberbatch all deliver great performances.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy may come from material forty years ago, but the final product is still very watchable today.

Rating: 4/5

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Movie Review: Shame (2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:58:00 +0000

Shame is a provocative film by Steve McQueen about a man and his sex addiction. And as you may expect, it's very, very graphic.(It received an NC-17 rating in the US, and 18A in Canada).

Micheal Fassbender plays Brandon, an executive living in downtown New York with a dirty secret. He indulges himself in a variety of sex acts, ranging from self-gratification with pornography to paying escorts for intimate relations. But once his troubled sister Sissy (played by Carey Mulligan), drops by for a surprise visit, Brandon is triggered to spiral further deep into his addiction.

This film has two things going for it: Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan. The two have irresistible performances as flawed siblings make the film watchable despite the slower than normal pace and drawn-out sequences. I know this may sound weird, but despite the sexual underpinnings of the film, Shame goes down to being what family is all about.

To appreciate Shame is to go beyond the graphic scenes and the amount of skin shown.

Rating: 3.5/5

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Movie Review: Chronicle (2012)

noreply@blogger.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:42:00 +0000

Chronicle is probably the superhero sic-fi movie of 2012 because it has the sensibilities and angst of the YouTube video-sharing youth.

Set in Seattle, this film uses the "lost video tape" technique to show how the events unfolded when three teenagers mysteriously gain telekinetic powers and deal with their new found abilities. We all know Spider-man's "With great power comes great responsibility" schtick, but this film makes it more fleshed-out.

What I like about Chronicle is that it got the best of the "superhero with problems" genre and not making it look like "Smallville." What makes it more amazing is that this is director Josh Trank's Hollywood debut. I can just imagine if he did something with the more established superheroes like Spider-Man.

Some will relegate Chronicle as a gimmicky film and a Blair Witch Project clone, but I think it was able to do something fresh that I would't mind sharing to friends.

Rating: 4.5/5

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Movie Review: War Horse (2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:40:00 +0000

War is a theme that director Steven Spielberg that has touched in the past (Empire of the Sun, Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan), and War Horse is the first one that features a non-human as the lead character. But film is powerful, nonetheless.

War Horse follows the journey of a thoroughbred named Joey that becomes the involved in the lives of people in World War-torn Europe. From becoming an unlikely workhorse to a battle-tested war horse, Joey rises above the challenges .

The film deftly shows how war is complete chaos and what makes this a feel good story is how one thing still stands amidst the craziness and violence. But with a running time of two and a half hours, it's quite far from being a derby.

War Horse is a great story that wrenches folks' guts before closing in an uplift way. It may not be the best film of the year, but it jumps over most of the films of 2011.

Rating: 4/5

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Movie Review: Haywire (2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:10:00 +0000

"Oh, look! A bad-ass female mixed-martial arts fighter beating the crap out of A-list Hollywood actors!"

That's Haywire in one sentence.

But since I'm not satisfied with just a one-sentence review, here are three thoughts I'd like to share about the film:

Gina Carano is watchable, but she's no Angelina Jolie. This film lacks the femme fatale feel of Salt or Wanted, but is full of hard-hitting punches and kicks.
The story is quite generic. There's little twists and turns and you'll find yourself waiting when Carano is going to sucker-punch the main baddie of the film.
The roster of supporting actors in the film looks like the cast of New Year's Eve or Valentine's Day. Antonio Banderas, Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor, and Channing Tatum do great as punch fodder.

Haywire could be quite enjoyable if MMA actions is your thing. But over-all, it's a pretty low-key action movie.

Rating: 3/5

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Movie Review: The Artist (2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:27:00 +0000

For a film that's silent, The Artist is making a whole lot of noise in public and critics' circles alike.

I recently caught the much-acclaimed film and I can say that it's real deal. And when I say real deal, the film that has a very good chance of winning Best Picture at the Oscars.

Director Michel Hazanavicius' film is really a throwback to Hollywood of old-- heck, even the Hollywood sign says "Hollywoodland." At its core, the film is about how people are caught up in an era transition. The Artist shows how silent film star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) deals with the emergence of "talkies," or films with sound.

Speaking of sound, it's a constantly recurring theme throughout the film. Apart from being an important plot element, sound represents acceptance of the new era, both for Valentin and 1920's Hollywood. Pulling something off like this is just great cinema in my books.

The Artist is a unique film in an industry where 3D and CGI are all the rage. What sets this apart is the satisfying story-telling and terrific performances by the actors despite the lack of sound and color. It's an absolute must see.

Rating: 5/5

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Movie Review: The Descendants (2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 04:59:00 +0000

Despite the mild buzz generated by the film, The Descendants is a simple story of a man coping with what he had lost and what he's about to lose.

There's nothing fancy about this film by Alexander Payne (Sideways)-- the plot is neither complex nor clever, but it's glued together by George Clooney. Playing Matt King, a wealthy man who is in the middle of nuclear and extended family turning points, Clooney comes up with a moving performance. Could this be his ticket to the Academy Awards? I'm still over the fence, but it's his best shot since Up In The Air.

The film does have a few unexpected moments, but it its intensity level never really reaches the high registers. But it does wrap up nicely, in a way that it will make the audience feeling good enough.

The Descendants is an acting vehicle primarily and a showcase of Clooney's acting talents. Folks looking for a steady watch can sit back and enjoy this film.

Rating: 3/5

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Movie Review: Take Shelter (2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:04:00 +0000

Take Shelter is a drama about an impending threat, although it is unclear if that threat is real or not.

Michael Shannon plays Curtis, an Ohio man who does his best Noah impression by building a storm shelter after he had visions of a violent tempest sweeping his town. His family and neighbors cope with his seemingly irrational behavior and Curtis himself becomes a threat to his town.

I can't say that this film is a psychological drama because there's not much delving into Curtis' psyche but it's how he deals with his visions of doom and his paranoia that grips the audience. Michael Shannon makes the film his own and that can be a good and bad thing-- he's at his best when he goes ballistic but pretty unremarkable everywhere else.

Take Shelter may be too slow a burn for casual film fans but if you'd like to see an acclaimed performance by an actor, this film is not run away from.

Rating: 3/5

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Movie Review: The Adventures of Tintin (2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 15:04:00 +0000

I was curious what Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson would do with the classic Tintin. After watching the film on the big screen, I say my reaction to The Adventures of Tintin is mixed.

In what could be the first of a string of Tintin movies, the first one sets up the coming together of Tintin (Jamie Bell), his dog Snowy, and Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis) and solving the mystery of The Unicorn, a sunken ship that had loads of treasure. Daniel Craig voices Sakharine, the story's baddie.

The best thing about the film is the animation. Done by Weta Digital (The Lord of the Rings, Avatar), the computer-generated is superb. Executing life-like animation in films is one of the hardest things to accomplish these days and this film nails it.

On the downside, I felt the story could have been much better. I'm not saying the story is terrible, but I felt I was short-changed as I walked out of the theater. Maybe it was the anticlimactic ending that did it, or maybe the pretty uneventful quest. Whatever it is, this film gave a sense that it was just a teaser of things to come, the tip of the iceberg so to speak.

The Adventures of Tintin is a pretty good effort to introduce Tintin, Captain Haddock, and Snowy to a new generation and remind folks that Tintin has good adventures to share.

Rating: 3/5

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Screensucked.com's Top 10 Movies of 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

2011 is the year Ryan Gosling dominated the Screensucked Top 10 Movies list. Top-billing three of the top films of the year, Mr. Gosling has solidified his stature as an actor that knows what projects to get involved with.

But the top film goes to Black Swan, on of my favorite psychological thrillers of all time. Natalie Portman won an Oscar for her performance and it a very well-deserved win.

Technically speaking, Black Swan was released in 2010, but I caught it this year. But for films released this year only, Drive takes the top spot.

This is also the first year that a non-Hollywood film cracked the Top 10. Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (The Lady in the Septic Tank) may not be popular outside of the Philippines, but it's movie serious film fans should consider.

Here's Screensucked.com's Top 10 Movies of 2011:

1. Black Swan (5/5)

Black Swan earns all its praise from Portman's brilliant performance and Aronofsky's deft directing, as the two made ballet intensely watchable from where I sat in the theater. This movie is a definite "must watch" for serious film fans.

2. Drive (4.5/5)

Gritty and polished, this film is one of the best car films to date. Go watch Drive now.

3. 127 Hours (4.5/5)

James Franco is just terrific in the film and Danny Boyle continues his string of great movies. Regardless of the Oscar outcome, 127 Hours is a winner.

4. The Ides of March (4.5/5)

The Ides of March is one of the best political dramas of the year and it doesn't hurt that fan faves George Clooney and Ryan Gosling are there.

5. Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (4.5/5)

Ang Babae sa Septic Tank is a smart and very likeable indie film that folks should catch at Cinemalaya Film Festival; I highly recommend it.

6. X-Men: First Class (4.5/5)

X-Men: First Class is well-executed and will make people look forward to the next X-Men films; a definite must-see!

7. Super 8 (4.5/5)

Super 8 is a must-watch in my books and I'm sure a lot of folks will find out that while it's not a superhero movie, it's really super in its own right.

8. Source Code (4.5/5)

I hope Source Code is a sign that Hollywood is making a trend of making smart action-thrillers that are high on concept. Source Code is a "can't miss" film that delivers.

9. Crazy, Stupid, Love (4/5)

None the less, I think there should be more rom-coms like Crazy, Stupid, Love.

10. Contagion (4/5)

Contagion is a film worth watching, and I wouldn't be surprised if you buy hand sanitizers after watching.

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Movie Review: Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:15:00 +0000

I've followed the Mission: Impossible franchise since 1996 and I say that Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol is the best film of the series.

It has been five years since Tom Cruise played Ethan Hunt, the Impossible Missions Force agent. This time, the IMF as an organization has been disavowed and it is up to Hunt and his accidental team (played by Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, and Paula Patton) to clear the IMF's name and save the world from nuclear destruction.

Like most I:M films, the core of the story is the schemes the team design to achieve their mission. Director Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Ratatouille) manages to reduce the complexity and make the seemingly complicated scheme understandable. The gadgets and the exotic locations (Moscow, Dubai, Mumbai) help make this popcorn flick extra interesting.

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol has already hinted that there's a strong possibility of a sequel and I think this film is a very good sign of the things to come.

Rating: 4/5

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Movie Review: Margin Call (2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Regnard Raquedan) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:08:00 +0000

A lot of people lost money in the US financial meltdown in 2008. Margin Call is a drama is based on what triggered that market collapse.

Wonderfully acted and strongly casted, the ensemble of Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Zachary Quinto, Jeremy Irons, and Demi Moore makes the seemingly boring topic (finance and investment banking) a tight story that would keep people glued to the big screen.

The story shows how people and corporations go from greedy to survival mode in an instant and do everything not to be left "holding the bag when the music stops." The film can be likened to Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, but a lot smarter. While the movie does its best to simplify the subprime crisis and its dire effects, some people might get confused with the premise of the film.

Margin Call is a smart thriller that offers interesting points on ethics, greed, and how money makes the world go round.

Rating: 4/5

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