Argo

Title: Argo
Playtime: 120 min
Genre: Drama History Thriller
Year: 2012

Sorry for taking so long on the update of this particular film. It has been "movie of today for 4 days in a row now. I'll try to find something special for tonight.

Argo tells the true story, (which of course makes it more exciting), of a secret covert operation in the 80's. The inhabitants of Iran are revolting and happens to take out its' anger upon the US government since they're providing sanctuary to Irans former dictator.
But what can a bunch of angry iranians do to USA without leaving their own lands?
Well.. for starters, they storm the US embassy in Iran and violently takes the ones working there as hostages to bargain for their former dictator with. Their whole objective is to get vengeance upon the old dictator by brutally murdering him publically. Basically, it's blood for blood.
Six americans working on the embassy manage to escape through a back-door, and seeks refuge at the canadian embassy. While they're safe for the moment, the Iranians are destined to find out that they're gone, and when they do that, it's only a matter of time before they'll get found.
Meanwhile, in the USA, people within the CIA are trying to figure out a way to get to the hostages and get them out. After denying all sorts of crazy plans, they eventually come up with one that's less crazier than the others. Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) is the man with the plan and he's destined to rescue these hostages in Iran, even if they themselves has doubts about the plan.
So will he successfully rescue all six americans hiding on Iran soil, or will the plan backfire?

Ben Affleck plays the role of Tony Mendez, the man in charge of the rescue-operation. He's a serious and cool character and does well with delivering a feeling of "realness" into the story. By "realness" I mean that it's much plausible that's how the real Tony Mendez acted back in the 80's.

It's a very thrilling and incredible story that one finds hard to believe, even though it's all based on true events.
I find these movies to be a very entertaining way to learn about history you won't read about in school.

I rate this film 7 out of 10.

Lawless

Title: Lawless
Playtime: 116 min
Genre: Crime Drama
Year: 2012

My friend watched this movie a few days ago and told me that it was worth watching. Since I hadn't found any other movie to see, I caved in to the suggestion. Naturally, I was also drawn to watch the film because of the many great actors starring in it.

The story revolves around the three Bondurant brothers, a family working in the illegal moonshining-business. Even though they make a living as criminals, the law in the small town they live in don't really bother. They sell their moonshine even to the cops thinking it's a win-win deal. But unfortunately for them, life doesn't stay peaceful for long when an out-of-towner Special Deputy arrives in town. Charles Rakes is looking for a way to gain profit from the Bondurant brothers business. He intends to do this by frightening the eldest brother in charge of it, Forrest Bondurant. Naturally, he doesn't respond to threats and challenges the deputy in the style of: "If you want to bring us down, come get it".
While there are three brothers, the movie focuses its' story around the youngest one, Jack Bondurant. Jack wants to prove himself worthy of contributing to more important tasks than just sweeping the floor at the station and wishes he could run the business on his own. At the same time he's a part-time criminal, he seeks the attention of the timid girl Bertha, whom is constantly under the watch of her christian father.
So the film constantly shifts between the happy sides of their business to the dark side of it. The most special thing about the story is that it's actually told from the criminals' perspective in a way that makes you sympathize them rather than feeling for Deputy Rakes who's on the "right" side of the law.
So whilst trying to monopolize their moonshine in town, they have to fight a war versus the corrupt deputy, whom is forcing the local officers to take his side, even though they rather wouldn't.
The lawless brothers or the corrupt law, whom will come out on top, and how high will the price be for victory?

Shia Labeouf is the youngest, most impulsive brother Jack and it's a role that suits him well. Just like in the Transformers films, he's close to powerless when it comes to action, but it's just as his older brother tells him:
"It is not the violence that sets men apart, alright, it is the distance that he is prepared to go. "
Another true thing about Shia Labeouf is that he's not "quite a hunk, not quite a nerd" as quoted by Homer Simpsons. Hollywood needs more of those actors.

Tom Hardy is the eldest brother Forrest, whom uses grunts and low but dark tunes when talking. It's amusing to see how well he's brought his character to life, especially when thinking that this movie is based on true events. Sadly, there were times when I heard the Bane-voice slipping out, but maybe that was just me.

Guy Pearce portrays the corrupt law-enforcer Charles Rakes and does a tremendous job in getting the audience to hate his guts. He's an annoying bastard who thinks he's above everyone and abuses his power to get what he wants. Well played Pearce, well played.

Interesting true story about the early 20th century in a small town somewhere in USA. Definately worth your time if you enjoy a good drama with an interesting story.

It gets the rating 7 out of 10.

Big Fish

Title: Big Fish
Playtime: 125 min
Genre: Adventure Drama Fantasy
Year: 2003

During my search for a new movie, I happened to stumble upon the title "Big Fish". I had never heard of this film before, and I did not know whether it would be great or incredibly bad. I knew nothing about it. After watching a trailer, I was intrigued since it seemed to be something more than your average drama. Before I knew it, I was caught by this heartwarming and funny story.

Big Fish is basically the story of many other stories, told by one man with a great imagination. This man, Ed Bloom has a son, which is told all kinds of amazing stories about his fathers adventures as a young man. All these stories seem wonderful and exciting to the son when he's a kid, but he grows bored of them over the years. His father tells them any chance he gets, but his son, Will Bloom is sick and tired of them, since he figures it's only fictional stories.
-So... what's so special about the stories?
Excellent question, I'll get to that. The story jumps back and fourth between Ed Blooms adventures as a youth, and "real life" where his son is destined to find out how his father really lived. The amusing part of the film, the tall tales, is filled with fantasy-contents such as giants, werewolves, witches and other supernatural things.
It's truly an inspirational and wonderful life-story in the style of "Forrest Gump", only it's tainted with imagination. But the only man who's not amused by these stories, Will Blooms, confronts his father about the storytelling. He wants to know what his father really did, instead of hearing some unbelievable tall tales. So he searches for the "truth" about his fathers life and gradually learns more about his dad and his stories.
Will Bloom soon learns that the line between facts and fiction is hard to identify and we ask ourselves the question: How much of the story is fabricated?

Ewan McGregor played the role as the Ed Bloom as he was displayed in the stories, and he certainly had the charm to portray that warm-hearted and naive adventurer. It wasn't until after the movie I realized that he played Obi-Wan Kenobi in the "new" Star Wars films. A great actor indeed.

Among the smaller roles, we saw Danny Devito and Steve Buscemi, both being great actors and they both had amusing roles in this movie. Devito as the greedy, but kind Circus-manager and Buscemi as a lost poet "trapped" in the town Spectre.

This movie was much better than I thought it would be and surprised me in many ways. The creative metaphores and cleverly built up "finale" at the end made it much more than just a funny drama. If I ever could cry while watching movies, I think I'd do it during this one.

I definately recommend that you watch this film if you like dramas, and even moreso if you enjoyed Forrest Gump.

I rate this movie 8/10

A fresh start

It's been quite some time since last time I wrote, even though I thought it would be my "grand return" to blogging about movies. So I came up with something new, fresher and funnier to spice up the blog a bit.
For the last couple of weeks, a friend of mine and I started to watch one film a day on a regular basis. We search for an interesting title and watch it simultaneously, and comment about it at Skype. It's just like watching a movie with your friend, except that we do it over the internet.
This "new and fresh" idea that I came up with isn't anything revolutionairy, but rather something that will make it easy for me to update, and at the same time make it easier for you, my readers to determine whether you'd like to watch the film or not.

I will add new tabs to the blog, containing "Todays movie" which will contain information about the film and why we're interested in watching it. If the movie is to your liking, you're much welcome to watch it "with" us.
Then afterwards, feel free to add a comment about your opinion of the film. It will help others finding a movie they'd enjoy.

So what about those longer reviews? Should I stop writing them?
Not necessarily. But I will save them for "honorable mentions", movies that are exellent or special somehow.

I'll really manage this time... I hope.

The Dark Knight Rises

Title: The Dark Knight Rises
Playtime: 164 min.
Genre: Action Drama Thriller
Release Date: 20 July 2012

As soon as TDKR-tickets were released for sale, I asked my friends in skype: "Who's up for some Batman?!" Most of them said yes. In a total we were eight mates taking up half of the 3rd row. Some may say that it's too close to the screen, but we fancy it's perfect. There's always a seat (since none picks them first) and you're several rows away from annoying little runts talking loudly during the film.
This is the sum of the feelings I had while watching TDKR, enjoy.

The 3rd installment of the Batman-trillogy begins 8 years after Batman defeated the Joker and thereby set Gotham free from organized crime. Bruce Wayne lives as an injured hermit in his great mansion, and batman is merely a legend of the past. Albert is concerned about him and asks him to take contact with the outside world again, not as Batman, but as Bruce Wayne.
When a new mastermind criminal enters Gotham and spreads his terror, Batman is forced to return. Bane spreads terror throughout the city and sets a plan in motion that would change Gotham forever. In addition to that, Batman faces a new masked vigilante, resembling catwoman (never referred to as in the film). In order to destroy Banes' plans, he must overcome his physical boundries and take help from a few old, aswell as new friends. The Batman-films have never been darker than this, and there are several parallels to draw from the film and real-life. After doing some research on the characters from the comic, I'd say that TDKR really gives the fanboys what they want. It's an interesting mix of new characters and old, portrayed by many great actors.
- So.. will The Joker reappear?
Unfortunately not. Christopher Nolan wants to honor Heath Ledgers memory by leaving The Joker where he belongs; In the 2nd movie.
There were a few complaints I had in mind though.. I really missed Batmans gadgets while fighting. Instead we got a boxing-match vs Bane. Good anyway, but not really Batman.

Christian Bale is the best Batman so far in my opinion, and he always delivers when it comes to an actionmovie. Nolan digs deeper than ever into Batmans' personality, and Bale does a great job portraying that. I love how they kept his dark voice and let him scream ferociously with it, in the fashion of "Where are the drugs going!?"

Tom Hardy as Bane.. I never knew while watching the film. He did a great job acting as a cool-headed criminal-boss that barely shows his face. It's amazing what the body language does to a character. Bane was an awesome villain, and I was pleasantly surprised. But.. the voice was.. comical.. and kinda disturbing.

The rest were also amazing as their characters; Morgan Freeman as Fox, Gary Oldman as Gordon, Joseph-Gordon Lewitt as Blake, Anne Hathaway as Selina (Truly surprised how well that went) and of course, let's not forget Michael Caine as Albert. Everybody loves Albert, and especially in this film.

This was truly a worthy ending of the Batman saga, and even though the end left a few hints of more to come, I'm satisfied even if that's the end of it. None can successfully remake this film during this century.
Anyone who has seen the Batman Begins and TDK should definately go see TDKR.

I rate this movie 9 out of 10.

God bless america

Title: God Bless America

Playtime: 105 min.
Genre: Comedy Crime.
Release Date: 6 April 2012

I know I've said it before, but here I go again. Another triumphant return to my blog lies before me as I've been asked to continue writing. I thought about it for a while, and then I decided it would fun to do something productive for once. When I started working, I made a pact with myself to start nourish my interest in films/movies (not sure which I prefer). Once a day, after working ever so hard, I downlo.. *cough* acquire a seemingly interesting movie. Today I'll be reviewing "God Bless America".

Frank is a middle-aged man who has yet to find his place in society. Everything in his life seems to be going to hell without him being able to fix it. He's divorced, his daughter resents him, and he hates his job. Frank spends most of his time in front of his television, channelsurfing in hope to find a program suitable for him. But he cannot find anything in his taste since it's American television, and Frank's an intelligent man who doesn't find joy in the humiliation of the "weaker".
- Then... why is he watching?

Oh, I forgot to tell you that one. Franks' neighbours recently got a baby that won't stop crying and the walls separating their homes are paper thin. This makes Frank unable to sleep at night, which, in turn, makes him watch the TV. Not only do the neighbours disturb his sleep, they are also very unfriendly.

So? let's get to the story!

Fair enough. Frank is informed by his doctor that he's terminally ill and has but weeks to live. Frank takes this very hard, and decides to take his own life. But the second before he shoots himself, he sees an ingrateful teenager yelling at her parents for not getting the right car on her "sweet sixteen". In the heat of the moment, Frank pulls away the gun and decides he will murder the young girl before killing himself.

After executing the girl, Frank is confronted by Roxy, a young girl who admires his doings. She persuades him to continue this killing-spree of people who are "unworthy" of living in this world - That is, they kill those annoying bastards we all hate! Just remember, it's with a comical touch, and we shouldn't get inspired by this movie, only amused.

Joel Murray is very convincing in his role as Frank. Even though he's a completely newcomer for me (Haven't seen him before), he really made an impression on me. Good ol' cranky man.

The movie was amusing, but not brilliant. It will make you laugh and think about the world we live in today, or perhaps you will just enjoy people being shot because they suck. I really don't have much more to add in this review, so it's up to you to decide whether it seems worthy of your time or not.

The rating for "God Bless America" is 6/10.