All reviews - Movies (266) - TV Shows (17) - DVDs (21) - Books (221) - Music (9)

5 Days of War review

Posted : 2 months ago on 27 November 2011 01:42 (A review of 5 Days of War)

One of 2011's finest movies.
While not particularly beautiful photographically, the story is well developed and makes sense. It's not just about "5 days of war" in Georgia; it's also about despair and survival for a man (Thomas Anders) and a woman (Tatia).
The actors are excellent and were well cast. Andy Garcia's "Georgian" accent is perfect!
I highly recommend watching this movie.

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Mais quelle histoire... et quelle fin !

Posted : 7 months, 1 week ago on 21 June 2011 01:04 (A review of Hors de moi)

Bien écrit, ce livre, que j'ai lu en 2 jours, m'a gardé éveillée, intéressée, sidérée bien que son histoire soit si simple... et pourtant...
L'auteur a choisi de raconter cette (més)aventure du Dr. Martin Harris avec un style différent, passant du passé au présent et vice versa, avec une aisance précise, sans pour autant confondre le lecteur.
Le dénouement de l'histoire et de son personnage principal est stupéfiant, et ce jusqu'à la toute, toute fin.
Un formidable suspense à découvrir.

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Excellent

Posted : 7 months, 1 week ago on 20 June 2011 10:29 (A review of Unknown)

Here's a refreshing adaptation of a book*. I've watched this 3 times in 2 days and love it more each time.

First, the adaptation is one of a kind. The book takes place in Paris, while the movie is set in Berlin; there are other differences, mainly HOW the story is told; however the main idea is there: Martin Harris, after waking up from a coma, discovers that another man has taken not only his wife but his identity. He has only his memory left. How will Martin Harris prove it and is he the real Martin Harris...
Second, the way Jaume Collet-Serra directed the film, kept me wondering where it was going (and I kept hoping that it was not predictable like other movies had been before this one), it certainly was an unpredictable ending and not boring at all. Quite an original adaptation to the screen.
Third, the actors. All excellent. (Except January Jones. She is just not credible.) Liam Neeson as Martin Harris is simply fabulous; Aidan Quinn as "the other" Martin Harris is stunning! Bruno Ganz has a small role, but what a performance!! and Sebastian Koch, well he's just amazing. Diane Kruger, also excellent with her accent, plays a taxi driver.
Lastly, one of the best car chases in film history is in this film.
All in all, despite the horrible performance by Jones, it's one of the best suspense/thriller I've seen.

I can't say any more without spoiling it, so what are you waiting for? Rent it, buy it, I don't care which, but good heavens, go watch it! You won't regret it.

*For those interested, the book is "Hors de moi" by Didier van Cauwelaert.

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The Way Back review

Posted : 8 months, 2 weeks ago on 14 May 2011 10:18 (A review of The Way Back)

Adventure/dramatic story chronicling the escape of prisoners from a Siberian gulag. Their journey will take them across the desert, snow, trying to reach a non-hostile country; they will fight for food, search for water and of course see companions fight for survival.
Surprisingly a very good movie. Excellent performances. Great make-up and scenery. Kudos to Peter Weir for an admirable direction!

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Love Crime review

Posted : 8 months, 2 weeks ago on 14 May 2011 10:28 (A review of Love Crime)

A very interesting development takes place in this movie. The power of manipulation is strong, and clearly obvious. Excellent performances.
Speed a little slow for my taste, but at least the director doesn't view the audience as stupid; explanations don't go on forever...
Recommended movie for those who enjoy thrillers.

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Nine Queens review

Posted : 8 months, 3 weeks ago on 11 May 2011 05:41 (A review of Nine Queens)

This is my favorite of all times - amongst the foreign pictures :)

This Argentinian film tells the story of two swindlers who meet by pure luck, or is it really? and they set up together a scam surrounding the Nine Queens stamps.

Director Fabian Bielinsky has a passion for Wilder and Mankiewicz's films, and more precisely for their elaborate double-crossing deceits, as is obvious in this film.

The movie is a true gem that is most unfortunately forgotten because of all the blockbusters; it should definitely be on everyone's list to watch as the ending is quite surprising.


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Fair Game review

Posted : 10 months ago on 29 March 2011 01:06 (A review of Fair Game)

Now here's an excellent movie!
Based on a real-life event - remember the Ambassador and his CIA-agent wife, who was named in a newspaper article? this is a movie about them - indeed, Sean Penn and Naomi Watts are at their best, portraying the afore-mentioned couple.
Very efficient spy thriller. Worth watching. Doug Liman's best directing job so far.

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Black Swan review

Posted : 10 months ago on 29 March 2011 12:58 (A review of Black Swan)

***SPOILER ALERT. SPOILER ALERT. SPOILER ALERT.***

WHAT?!?!?! ANOTHER PIECE OF CRAP?!?! I honestly fail to see what the hype is around this movie.
The viewer can easily figure out what's wrong with her back (the swan's feathers will grow out eventually), yes Nina is pretty psycho, but there is nothing really interesting going on.
And if the hype is around the sexual/masturbation scene... that scene is nothing but useless. It might have caused some 'talk', but neither that scene nor the entire movie for that matter, is worth giving Natalie Portman an oscar. She's had better roles. Nothing special in her performance here.

If there could be a 0 star, I'd give it. I figured after PI and REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, *maybe* this new Aronofsky picture would be better, but turns out I didn't enjoy Black Swan either, so for me, that's it for this director. Three chances is more than enough.


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Play Dead review

Posted : 10 months ago on 29 March 2011 12:44 (A review of Play Dead)

Honestly, I couldn't put this book down, after starting it last Friday. I finished it Sunday morning and cried my heart out. Such a beautiful ending. YES, it is somewhat predictable, but what IS NOT, is the _major_ twist. WOW! is all I can say, without spoiling it.

For a first novel, this is rather excellent. I've read other Coben novels, but this, so far, is my favorite.

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The Tourist review

Posted : 10 months, 1 week ago on 21 March 2011 05:36 (A review of The Tourist)

WHAT A PIECE OF CRAP!!! I've NEVER in my life felt so strongly about such a crappy piece of garbage. I tolerate just about anything in movies, but that was just bad beyond belief. Don't bother with that one.
If there could be a 0 star, I'd give it.
I wasn't even sure whether it was a comedy or not, but in any case, there wasn't even anything funny about it. That's 100 minutes of my life I want back but can't.

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Sam Neill, Kiefer Sutherland, Natalie Portman, Jerry O'Connell, Julia Stiles, Rick Schroder, Lena Olin, Victor Garber, Matt Damon, Vincent Lindon, Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan, Gil Bellows, Will Patton, Katharine Hepburn, Bradley Cooper, Chris O'Donnell, George Clooney, Robert Redford, Brad Garrett, Richard Burgi, Teri Hatcher, Judi Dench, Terry O'Quinn, Sophie Marceau, Jeff Bridges, Charlize Theron, Dennis Quaid, Jeff Goldblum, Michael Madsen, Minnie Driver, Julie LeBreton, Julie Deslauriers, Pierre Gendron, Lauren Graham, Jennifer Connelly, James Brolin, Renée Zellweger, Didier Van Cauwelaert

Umberto Eco, Italo Calvino, Noam Chomsky, Michael Connelly, Harlan Coben, Laurent Gaude

U2, Bon Jovi, Depeche Mode, Phil Collins, Smashing Pumpkins, Genesis, Duran Duran, Alannah Myles, Lara Fabian, Nek, Laura Pausini, Marc Lavoine, Pascal Obispo, Nicolas Peyrac