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...