Unbroken

We have seen our fair share of WW II war movies, but Prisoner-Of-War movies are very far and very few between them.. 

This is an incredible true story of how a rebellious boy became an Olympian athlete who joined WW II as a bomber crew and survived a plane wreck out in the pacific ocean only to be picked up by the enemy and finally, ended up as a POW. 

This film is about true resilience. Resilience of the body, of the mind. The resilience of the human spirit never to give up even when all is lost and the odds are turned against you.

I only found out writing this that the film was directed by Angelina Jolie and as her second film as director, she absolutely aced it.
This film is beautifully shot and its execution was simply perfect.
It is so her to use literally unknown actors to deliver her story-telling because this movie definitely made them shine especially the English lead Jack O'Connell who started as a fit and muscular athlete to a skinny and empty POW.

I was lucky to have caught it on the big screen just as it was coming off because "Unbroken" belongs up there with POW classics like "Bridge on the River Kwai" and "Empire of the Sun" although I am a little disappointed it did not make the nomination for Best Picture Award.

Louis "Louie" Zamperini

1917 ~ 2014

Whiplash

This movie did not interest me at all initially but after chancing upon the trailer on YouTube, I made it a point to catch it and boy, am I glad I did!

Films we know little or nothing of sometimes turns out to be much better than we think. 
This film totally aced that category of films for me.

The story is linear and a little boring to be honest. It talks about a drum student who would do anything to make a name for himself and in order to do that he auditioned for the best conductor in his school.

Getting in was the easy part...

The film wasted no time and started to shine right after the first lesson where it was no longer about music.
Its tackles the believe that the path to greatness lies in constantly pushing one's limits by any means necessary and how much such extreme methods change a person on the receiving end.
At one point, it felt like watching Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket all over again!
The film ended on a totally unexpected high note which is the absolute climax of the show.

This movie definitely put Miles Teller on the map if he was not as noticeable before. It is also quite rare that actors plays the subject instrument so well.
Perhaps that was the basis why he got picked for the role in the first place.

J.K. Simmons is an on-screen veteran most remembered for his role in the Spiderman franchise and Juno (and a million other shows actually).
His role in this film got him a Best Supporting nomination. 'Nuff said.

If the foul-mouthed drill instructor from Full Metal Jacket, R.Lee Ermey had an evil twin, it has got to be J.K. Simmons...

Gone Girl (on Blu-Ray)

My Wife is not a movie person but when she says she wish to see one, I hold indefinitely for her. That is the rule.
Still we missed it on the big screen and had to turn to the next best thing...

Every now and then, a seemingly unknown film jumps out and surprise us. We hope and pray for such experiences every time we buy a ticket but very few are able to match that kinda of expectations. With David Finch at the helm, this one did more than that.

I am really on thin ice here trying to relay the calibre of the story without betraying its plot. I have to try...

The film starts out slow, building the characters and their relationship with one another.
However, no time is wasted after that is established and one thing soon turns into something absolutely sinister as the plot unfolds and more details of the case come to light.
Halfway into the story, we are already hooked and cannot wait to get to the bottom of this can of worms.
Just when you do not think the story could not possibly get any better (or worse). The film drops you yet again.
Ben Affleck is well, Ben Affleck. But his counter-part Rosamund Pike is such an unforgettable face who has been starring in very forgettable roles... 
Not anymore.  

This film questions how much we truly know our spouse and when pushed, the unimaginable things they are capable of.

My Wife is not a movie person but she is a scary pick on films...

American Sniper

Titles like these grip me and fluff me full of expectations. 

Even though this film was directed by one of my heroes who casted a very versatile actor who has deservingly been nominated consecutively for the last three years.

I held back still... Just a little...

This one is not nearly as good or as intense as Black Hawk Down or Lone Survivor, all of which are based on true stories by the way. 

It is MORE intense as it also involves a sad, lonely and screaming wife and two crying babies (the second one is a doll).

Even so, I cannot remember watching a better made war movie that dissected a Warrior's psyche on and off the field of his craft.

The difference about this portrayal when he was back Home other than dealing with the battle-stress, was not about how he dealt with the lives of the enemy he took during his tour but rather the American lives he should be still saving if he was still over there.

It is very inspirational.

The at Home scenes are short and very concise. Expect lots of fire-fights and body-counts but the attempt to hunt down a very elusive and apt enemy sniper, was the cherry on top of this cake.

Although I stay as far away from reviews and critics as I can, word has it there are much controversial surrounding this movie base on his book...

I do not know if what he did was right or wrong but this quote from another movie (I forgot which one) pretty much sums it up:"Anyone can be pick up a gun and be a soldier but it takes a real Warrior to do the things they do..."

American Sniper is definitely my pick for Best Picture and could we please give Bradley Cooper an Oscar already (sorry Benedict Cumberbatch...)!

The Imitation Game

Movies that receive Oscar nominations (8 actually...) may not always win them all but I am quite sure this one will at least bag the Best Actor Award for Benedict Cumberbatch's (last heard as the voice of Smaug) amazing portrayal of the mathematical genuis, Alan Turing.

This is the movie I thought Beautiful Mind was going to be which involves a mathematical genuis breaking a set of unbreakable German codes thereby winning the War. Turns out that mathematician genius was crazy...

This movie, based on a true story is very well-paced and brings you back and forth in time purposefully dissecting the circumstances of Alan Turing's awkward Life.
It also tactfully dealt with the fact that he was homosexual but only by mention and retained the dignity of his character by his accomplishments rather than his sexuality.

It gets a little slow at the end but the 114 mins did not feel at all lengthy which in my experience is a big plus.

Although I have never been a fan of Keira Knightly but that really has nothing to do with her excellent acting skills which surprises me time and time again.

Fourth time Norwegian director Morten Tyldum (1st Hollywood Production) nails it with this one proving that even geniuses needs Friends...

Let Me In

Having caught its Swedish predecessor but not exactly remembering the finer details almost made watching this Hollywood version feels like a new experience.

However, the lack of pace and slow moving story-telling shadows the beauty and dreaminess of the story.

While sitting through the film I was reminded of the original version and it seems that the Hollywood version is an exact xerox copy of it.

The only plus about this version are perhaps the performances of the two child leads. How the nocturnally Evil are being seen through the eyes of innocence and naivety. The potrayal of loneliness for someone trapped in the body of a 12 year-old but has lived through many ages.

And most distinctly, the timelessness of Love...

Confessions (告白)

Of all the abstract Japanese films that I have seen to date. This is by far the most alluring one.

Most part of the show is shot in monochrome colours with slow frames aplenty which gives its dark story an even darker tint.

Good Japanese cult films are notorious for their violent nature and warped innuendos.

But non has been quite as beautifully shot as this one. The camera angles, the monochronic colours, the cinematography and the soundtracks makes you feel as though you are watching a well paced 107 minutes long commercial about exacting revenge with an unlikely composure and more.

The best thing about this film is that the story actually makes sense and ties up in the end.

I have always associated the multi-talented Matsu Takako with cheerful words but her acting prowess in this film totally convinced me otherwise...

Brace yourself for a ride on the wild side from this calm psychotic thriller bursting with juvenile adolesence.