A Prophet

A Prophet is a French movie starring Tahir Rahim as Malik El Djebena, a nineteen year-old man whose been sentenced to six years in prison for assaulting a police officer. It's clear from the beginning of the movie that Malik has no family or friends in or out of prison. Once inside the prison, Malik is recruited by the Corisican boss, Cesar Luciani, to kill another prisoner that is scheduled to testify against the Corsican crime ring. Once Malik does Cesar's bidding, he is awarded Cesar's protection. The movie focuses on Malik and his relationships with the Corsicans and Arabs in the prison. In the end, Malik must decide with whom his loyalties lies.

This movie is on the top of my gangster movie list. Along the lines of Scarface, Goodfellas, The Godfather, and Casino this movie shows the inner workings of mob life. Even though the movie takes place in a prison, it is clear that the Corsicans run the prison because of their mob connections. They are allowed to attack anyone they want, eat better food, have better clothes, work desirable jobs, and enjoy privileges that the other inmates can only dream of.

The cast of the movie does a tremendous job. Tahir Rahim is a very talented actor who is able to portray the transformation of Malik right in front of the viewers' eyes. Niels Arestrop is also compelling as Luciani. The rest of the cast play their roles to perfection.

I would highly recommend this movie, especially for those of you who love gangster movies. I liked the fact that the movie was in French, I think it added to the movie's rawness. The story and the acting are all superb. A Prophet

OSCAR PICKS

Best Picture

'Avatar'
'The Blind Side'
'District 9'
'An Education'
'The Hurt Locker'
'Inglourious Basterds'
'Precious'
'A Serious Man'
'Up'
'Up in the Air'

*Who will win: Avatar
*Who should win: The Hurt Locker

Best Director

Kathryn Bigelow
'The Hurt Locker'

James Cameron
'Avatar'

Lee Daniels
'Precious'

Jason Reitman
'Up in the Air'

Quentin Tarantino
'Inglourious Basterds'

*Who will win: Avatar
*Who should win: Avatar

Best Actor

Jeff Bridges
'Crazy Heart'

George Clooney
'Up in the Air'

Colin Firth
'A Single Man'

Morgan Freeman
'Invictus'

Jeremy Renner
'The Hurt Locker'

*Who will win: Jeff Bridges
*Who should win: Jeff Bridges

Best Actress

Sandra Bullock
'The Blind Side'

Helen Mirren
'The Last Station'

Carey Mulligan
'An Education'

Gabourey Sidibe
'Precious'

Meryl Streep
'Julie & Julia'

*Who will win: Sandra Bullock
*Who should win: Gabourney Sidibe

Best Supporting Actor

Matt Damon
'Invictus'

Woody Harrelson
'The Messenger'

Christopher Plummer
'The Last Station'

Stanley Tucci
'The Lovely Bones'

Christoph Waltz
'Inglourious Basterds'

*Who will win: Christoph Waltz
*Who should win: Christoph Waltz

Best Supporting Actress

Penelope Cruz
'Nine'

Vera Farmiga
'Up in the Air'

Maggie Gyllenhaal
'Crazy Heart'

Anna Kendrick
'Up in the Air'

Mo'nique
'Precious'

*Who will win: Mo'nique
*Who should win: Mo'nique

Best Animated Feature Film

'Coraline'
'Fantastic Mr. Fox'
'The Princess and the Frog'
'The Secret of Kells'
'Up'

*Who will win: Up
*Who should win: Up

Best Original Screenplay

Mark Boal
'The Hurt Locker'

Quentin Tarantino
'Inglourious Basterds'

Alessandro Camon and Oren Moverman
'The Messenger'

Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
'A Serious Man'

Peter Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy
'Up'

*Who will win: The Hurt Locker
*Who should win: The Hurt Locker

Best Adapted Screenplay

District 9
An Education
In the Loop
Precious
Up in the Air

*Who will win: Up in the Air
*Who should win: Precious

Movie Review- Shutter Island

In Martin Scorsese's latest film, Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Teddy Daniels, a U.S. marshall sent to Shutter Island, a mental health facility for the criminally insane, to investigate the disappearance of a female patient. Once on the island, Teddy and his partner, Chuck Aule, (Mark Ruffalo) are met by guards and doctors, who are unwilling to cooperate with the marshalls' investigation. A tremendous storm forces Teddy to stay on the island and search for the missing woman and his wife's murderer, whom he believes is also housed on the island.

The dream sequences in the movie were a little over the top. It is clear that Scorsese wanted to use the dreams experienced by Teddy as a way to tell the backstory and a way to set up the ending of the movie, but the number and length of the dreams seemed excessive. In addition, the World War 2 dreams seemed to be unnecessarily violent.

Leonardo DiCaprio was superb as Teddy. He seemed to completely engross himself in the role, and the range of his acting ability was definitely on display. Teddy was an unforgettable character, and one that I wanted to succeed throughout the entire movie. Other than the Departed, it was definitely my favorite role that DiCaprio has played.

Overall, I would recommend this movie. DiCaprio's performance alone is worth the price of admission. However, be advised that the dream sequences took up too much of the movie, and contributed to the film's unnecessary lengthiness. Shutter Island

Movie Review- Avatar (3D)

Avatar stars Sam Worthington as Jake Sully, a former Marine who is paralyzed from the waist down. Sully is recruited to participate in a scientific program on the planet of Pandora where he is asked to take his deceased brothers’ place as an “Avatar”. Sully enters the world of Pandora as one of the Na’vi, a humanoid race with its own culture and language. While on Pandora, Sully meets Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), and falls in love with her, as well as with Pandora. Sully finds himself in a situation where he must decide where his loyalties lie.

Visually, the movie was amazing. The first time I didn’t watch it in 3D, but the second time I did. I would recommend seeing it in 3D. The second time around I saw things that I missed the first time. Also, the scenes in the forest as well as the battle scenes at the end of the movie were much more enhanced in 3D.

The story itself was very predictable. I knew within the first fifteen minutes how the movie would end. However, I was never bored during the 162 minutes of the movie. The story, though not very complex, was engaging. It reminded me of a modern day Dances with Wolves.

I highly recommend seeing this movie in 3D. So, unless you have a stash of 3D glasses at your house, I’d advise you to see this movie at the theatre.

Avatar

Movie Review- Princess and the Frog

The Princess and the Frog is the latest Disney fairy tale. It tells the story of Tiana (Anika Noni Rose), a hard working, lower class young woman who has dreams of starting her own restaurant. Tiana is motivated by the love of her father, who has passed away. Tiana's mother wants her to settle down and marry her "Prince", but Tiana doesn't have time for such nonsense. Tiana meets Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos), who has been turned into a frog by an evil voodoo magician, Dr. Facilier (Keith David). Prince Naveen kisses Tiana and she is also turned into frog. The story follows their adventures as they try to become human again.

The supporting cast, consisting of a firefly (Ray) and an alligator (Louis), are funny and entertaining. They carry the middle of the movie, where things could have become slow. The growing connection between Tiana and Prince Naveen is not inappropriate for children. Dr. Facilier is also excellent as the voodoo magician, but his interactions with the ghosts may be a little scary for some.

The musical scores were good, but not as good as other children movies such as Aladdin or Beauty and the Beast. Thinking back on the movie, none of the music particularly stands out.

I would recommend this movie, however, I would not advise young children to view it. A typical Disney movie, it is sure to entertain and deliver some important messages. It is a movie that both children and adults can enjoy. The Princess and the Frog

Movie Review- Crazy Heart

Crazy Heart stars Jeff Bridges as "Bad" Blake. Bad is a country singer well past his prime. He is an alcoholic and a chain smoker. He's been reduced to singing in bowling alleys to support himself. While in New Mexico, Bad meets Jean Craddock, played by Maggie Gyllenhaal. His life is forever changed after this meeting, and he must make important decisions that will affect the rest of his life.

Jeff Bridges is tremendous in his role as Blake. His acting should win him an Academy Award. The way in which he makes such a horrible condition (alcoholism) seem somewhat comedic shows his versatility as an actor. Gyllenhall does a great job making a relationship between a younger woman and an older man seem acceptable. Robert Duvall and Colin Farrell are excellent in their supporting roles.

The songs in the movie are all very enjoyable, even for a person who doesn't like country music. The movie doesn't focus on the music, as much as the relationships between the characters. The mix of music and character interactions is just right.

I would definitely recommend this movie. The acting and the music are both on point. One of my favorites of the year. Crazy Heart

Movie Review- Police, Adjective

Police, Adjective is the story of a police officer, Cristi (Drago Bucur), who is in charge of an investigation of a high school student that is suspected of selling drugs. The movie focuses on Cristi’s surveillance of the student and his two friends. At the end, Cristi must decide whether to pursue the case or follow his moral instinct.

Parts of this movie were almost unbearable. The long periods of silence throughout the film seemed unnecessary. I understand that the director was attempting to portray the tediousness of the investigation, but it was a little much to sit through.

The exchange between Cristi and his police captain near the end of the movie was very entertaining. The captain did an excellent job of portraying a pompous, arrogant boss, and lord knows we can all relate to that. I wish more there were more scenes like this in the movie.

I would recommend that you watch this movie at home, as I did. I’m not sure that I would have been able to sit through the whole movie if I watched it at the theatre.

Police, Adjective

Movie Review- A Single Man

A Single Man follows a day in the life of George, played by Colin Firth. George’s partner, Jim, played by Matthew Goode, was killed in a car accident eight months prior to the first scene of the movie. The movie focuses on George, with flashbacks of his relationship with Jim interspersed throughout the movie. The day in which we observe Jim’s life, is the day in which he decides to commit suicide. Throughout the day, George encounters several characters who cause him to rethink his decision.

Colin Firth delivers one of the best performances of the year. His portrayal of a gay man, who is still in the closet, is amazing. You can literally feel George’s pain throughout the movie, especially when Jim’s cousin calls George to tell him that Jim has been killed in a car accident.

The use of color in the movie is also worth mentioning. It seemed as though during the sad times in the movie, the characters and the scenery appear dull and boring. But when George experiences a good, happy time, the scenes became brighter and more colorful. I thought this was an excellent addition to the movie.

I would definitely recommend A Single Man. Although there is not a lot of action in the movie, Firth’s acting and the beautiful cinematography make the film worth watching. A Single Man

Movie Review- Skin

Skin tells the true story of Sandra Laing (Sophie Okonedo), a brown-skinned girl born to white parents in South Africa during the apartheid-era. Sandra's father, Abraham, played by Sam Neill, is racist and does everything in his power to make sure that Sandra is classified as a white citizen. His attempts are in vain as she decides to leave her family with with her black boyfriend. The movie follows Sandra's life from the time she is a young child through her adult years.

The acting in the movie definitely could have been better. Sandra Lainge as a teenager (played by Okonedo) is not believable. Okonedo is clearly at least thirty years old, and this takes away from the audience's ability to relate to Sandra as a teenager. Sam Neill does an excellent job of playing a racist South African who can't separate his political beliefs from his own family.

Sandra's story itself is compelling, and one that I had never heard about. It shows how horribly black people were treated in South Africa even near the end of the 20th century. For this reason alone, I think that this movie needed to be made.

I would not discourage you from seeing this movie because I think the story is a very important one. However, I would warn you not to expect too much from the acting. Skin

Movie Review- The Messenger

The Messenger stars Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson. The movie focuses on Will (Foster) who has three months left in the Army. For the last three months of his enlistment, Will is assigned to work in the death notification unit under Tony (Harrelson) Tony is in charge of training Will in his new position. The story focuses on the emotional rollercoaster that the two officers endure as part of their job, as well as a complicated relationship Will develops with Kelly (Jena Malone), the wife of a fallen soldier.

The movie is shot as somewhat of a documentary, with what appear to be handheld cameras in some parts of the movie. This effect works well and gives the movie a real life quality. The portrayal of the deceased officers' families is also very believable and the emotions portayed are raw and realistic.

Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster are excellent as the leading and supporting cast roles. Foster plays a very likeable character, and you begin to feel sorry for him from the first scene of the movie, when he has sex with his is ex-girlfriend. Harrelson is not as likeable as Foster, but he portrays recovering alcoholic who has become a hardened officer that doesn't have any friends or family. The bond they develop is understandable given the emotional nature of their job.

I would definitely recommend this movie. It is emotional and heart wrenching and shows the ramifications of war from a new and fresh perspective. The Messenger

Top 10 Movie Theaters in the Boston Area

1. Kendall Theatre, Cambridge
Kendall is definitely number one on my list. The popcorn here is always freshly popped and they always have great independent films.

2. Brattle Theatre, Cambridge
The Brattle is a great place to watch classic movies. They have double features, great popcorn, and beer. What more can a movie-goer ask for?

3. Showcase Cinema Revere, Revere
They recently remodeled the interior of this cinema. There's a full bar and restaurant inside. In addition, the seats are extremely comfortable and they now have Director's Halls.

4. Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline
You can always count on this theatre to show great movies. Almost every time I watch a movie here there is at least one award winning movie playing.

5. Somerville Theatre, Somerville
A great theatre, although it's a little small. The popcorn is decent and you can have a beer with your movie.

6. Chunky's Cinema Pub, Haverhill
They use old car seats instead of the normal movie seats, and you sit at a table. You can also order food and beer with your movie.

7. AMC Harvard Square, Cambridge
Another small theatre, but the location is awesome. A great place to go for a date since there are plenty of food options in the area before or after the movie.

8. West Newton Cinema, West Newton
A good place to watch independent movies. The popcorn is great as well.

9. Showcase Cinema Randolph, Randolph
A decent theatre showing current movies. The seating is great and the auditoriums are roomy.

10. Loews Boston Common, Downtown Boston
This place is always a zoo, but I do enjoy watching movies here. There's something about watching movies in Downtown Boston that makes me happy.

Movie Review- Food Inc.

I'm guilty of the "ignorance is bliss" mentality when it comes to the origin of the food I eat. This movie forces you to think about where your food comes from and what decisions you can make to be a more conscience eater. It makes me wish there were farmer's markets on every street corner. It's unbelievable how political the food business really is from fast food chains to the grocery stores. I highly recommend watching this movie, it is very eye opening. Food Inc.

Movie Review- District 9

I enjoyed the first half of this movie, although I'll admit that I thought it was a comedy. The second half, however, turned out to be part drama, part action, part political message. I enjoyed the movie, but feel that it could have been a little more cohesive. Without giving away the end of the movie, I'll just say that a sequel would be interesting. District 9

Movie Review- Broken Embraces

If you haven't seen a movie by Pedro Almodovar, then you are missing out. All of his movies are in Spanish, so be prepared to read subtitles. He is known for a number of movies, including my favorite, Volver. Many of Almodovar's movies star Penelope Cruz, as does his current film Broken Embraces. Cruz is a wonderful actress, and it is always a pleasure watching her on the screen. I enjoyed the way that Almodovar switched scenes between the past and the present throughout the movie. The story itself was interesting and engaging. I actually didn't know it was a love story before watching the movie, and I am definitely a sucker for a love story. Overall, it was a great movie and worth seeing. Broken Embraces

Movie Review- Sherlock Holmes

I'm sure I didn't make the experience any better by going to see this movie at 9:30 p.m. after several hours of manual labor. It's not that it was a bad movie, I enjoyed the scenery and Robert Downey Jr. is a great actor. I think the problem was that there were too many slow parts to this movie and it didn't keep me engaged the way it should have. I wouldn't discourage you from seeing the movie, it just wasn't one of my favorites of the year. Sherlock Holmes

Movie Review- Drag Me to Hell

I had heard various things about this movie, most of them were good. Even the clerk at the video store recommended it. Are all these people crazy? I spent half of the movie trying to decide whether it was supposed to be a comedy or a horror movie. I'll admit, I did laugh once or twice, but only because the scene was completely ridiculous. I was also scared, once, when the old lady appeared in the bed. I thought about stopping the movie several times, but I stuck it out until the end. I'm not sure why... Drag Me to Hell

Top Movies of 2009

Here is my first post. I tried to create a top ten list but there were too many movies that I enjoyed in 2009, so I narrowed it to 15. Here they are:


1. The Hurt Locker
I thoroughly enjoyed watching this movie. I almost forgot about it because I watched it so long ago. The scenes were extremely intense, I really could sense the stress that the characters were experiencing. I am not a "war" movie person, necessarily, but this was definitely my favorite of 2009. The Hurt Locker

2. Precious
I can't count how many times I covered my eyes in this movie. Monique's performance was simply amazing. I wanted to reach through the screen and punch her in her face. I can't remember the last time a character had that affect on me. Although this is a disturbing movie, it is a must see. Precious

3. Up in the Air
This movie could have easily had a fairytale ending. Without ruining it for you, I will just say that it wasn't the ending I expected. It was a realistic movie with believable characters. It wasn't an action-packed, drama filled movie, but it entertained me nonetheless. Up in the Air

4. Avatar
I went into this movie without very high expectations. Actually, I almost didn't see it because of all of the hype. However, I thought the movie lived up to all the talk. Visually, it was amazing, but the story was also interesting. Granted, I knew the ending within the first fifteen minutes of the movie, but the ride was fun. It kind of reminded me of a modern day Dances with Wolves. Avatar

5. Invictus
I had never heard of the South African rugby team before watching this movie, so I didn't really know what to expect. The acting by Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon was excellent. It was definitely a feel good movie, but I enjoyed it because it was based on a true story. Invictus

6. Up
I am a sucker for cartoons. I watched this movie in 3D, which I highly recommend. The message of the movie definitely hit home without being too commercial. I walked out of the theater with a huge smile on my face. Up

7. Inglourious Basterds
Although this was a very violent movie, I did enjoy it. I'll admit that I did cover my eyes a few times. The unexpected twists in the movie definitely kept me engaged. Christopher Waltz is amazing as the Nazi Colonel. Inglourious Basterds

8. An Education
This movie is exactly what it's title says "An Education". If I had a daughter, after I watched this movie I would have locked her in her bedroom until she turned 18. An Education

9. 500 Days of Summer
I am a sucker for romantic comedies. The reason I liked this movie so much is because it didn't have a cookie cutter ending like most romantic comedies. It was a real life movie with an "almost" real life ending. 500 Days of Summer

10. Star Trek
I was never a fan of the Star Trek TV series and I don't think I've seen the original move. But, I loved this movie. It was action packed without being too "in your face". I'm looking forward to seeing the sequel. Star Trek

11. I Love You Man
I love comedies! I actually watched this movie on my birthday. Paul Rudd was awesome. He was so awkward that I couldn't help but laugh at him. Definitely my favorite comedy movie of 2009. I Love You Man

12. Sugar
I actually watched this movie at the Kendall Theatre in Cambridge. I was interested in seeing the movie because it involved baseball, which I love. The best thing about going Kendall was that the main character, Algenis Perez Soto, spoke to the audience after the movie. Sugar

13. Man on Wire
The only documentary on my list. This movie kept me glued to my seat the entire time. I had never heard anything about this story, so I wasn't sure if he would make it or not. A definite must see! Man on Wire

14. The Hangover
The one liners in this movie are hilarious. Mike Tyson was also an added bonus. The best part of the movies are the pictures at the end when you see what really happened. The Hangover

15. The Road
A very depressing, serious movie. I wouldn't recommend seeing this movie if you are already in a bad mood. You're liable to slit your wrists at the end. After saying that, it was a great story with an ending as sad as the rest of the movie. The Road