Cherrybomb (2009)

Two guys. 
One girl. 
Game on.

Malachy (Rupert Grint) is a straight A student with a part time job and a good family. Luke (Robert Sheehan) lives with his good-for-nothing father in a place rented to them by his brother, all of them dealing drugs. Playing off eachother, the guys stick together as best friends, until Michelle (Kimberley Nixon) moves back into town... A tease and a troublemaker, she is trying to make a life living with her father, but unfortunately the three are ticking off just the wrong reactions in eachother.

I really liked this movie! It is intense, fast-paced and smart, portraying British teenagers and their struggles with love, life and experimentation. Visually I particulartly liked the text messages, displayed very 'in-your-face' on the screen, giving a good idea of how we are sometimes miles away from our surroundings when texting. It is also a bit too indie at times, with lots of close-ups and cross-cutting, but all in all a great film.

Grint and Sheehan are both guilty pleasures; too young, too hot! And it's in Irish - lovely stuff! Though a teen flick, Cherrybomb is well made, well played, good entertainment.  A must-see for fans of British indie.

Runtime: 86 mins
Starring: Rupert Grint, Robert Sheehan, Kimberley Nixon

The Science of Sleep (2006)

Dreamy, multilingual, funny and completely wacked! Stéphane Miroux (Gael García Bernal) moves back to his mothers apartment in Paris after his father dies in Mexico. Completely absorbed in his own fantasy world, Stéphane has serious difficulties adapting to the real world and fit in with his new job.

The love story between Stéphane and Stéphanie (Charlotte Gainsbourg), the two next door neighbours, is a journey through both fantasy and reality. As he can't figure out how to be close to Stéphanie in reality, he creates a relationship in his dreamworld, leaving Stéphanie confused and frustrated.

The childish innocence of this movie fascinated me, filling the movie with a warm humour, but still with a sharp undertone. As it gets more and more difficult to separate his dreams from reality, you really feel for both of the main characters. It's a well made, sweet movie with great actors, though a bit on the odd side.

Runtime: 105 mins
Starring: Gael García Bernal, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alain Chabat, Miou-Miou

Superbad (2007)

I love Michael Cera, and together with Christopher Mintz-Plasse he really does this movie. Unfortunately I can't say the same about Jonah Hill. This is going to be a very short an imprecise review, as the movie didn't do much for me.

Three high-school nerds trying to be cool, trying to get booze for their final graduation party, and most importantly trying to get laid. With a fake ID with the brilliant name McLovin, Fogell attempts to buy booze for the coolest party in town, and ends up in the middle of a robbery. Will they get the booze to the party in time to hook up with the girls??

I guess I'm just not the target group.

Runtime: 113 mins
Starring: Michael Cera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Emma Stone

Roman Holiday (1953)

High time for a classic! I adore Audrey Hepburn, and this one was no exception.

Set in Rome right after WW2, Hepburn plays the young princess Ann on a tour of Europe who suddenly stumbles over an adventure of her own. Running away from her bedroom one night she meets Joe Bradley (Peck); an American journalist. Both pretending to be someone else, they spend the most wonderful day together in Rome.

The only problem is, Joe happens to be a journalist, and Ann happens to be a princess, and the story of her 'wild day' in Rome could be worth a lot of money...

I did like her better as the less serious Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's, but as their day progresses her, pixie-like charm is irresistable also in this one. Plus I like her opponent too. Peck is the personification of the ideal man in the 50s; older, tall, dark, generous and charming. And honest, if only at the very end...

Runtime: 118 min
Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, Eddie Albert

Hey, Mr. Producer! (1998)

Months and months of musical drought has finally come to an end - and what a spectacular show! 2,5 hours of constant goosebumps, this brings tears to the eyes of a devoted musical lover.

I bow my head in respect of Cameron Mackintosh, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stephen Sondheim and every single performer on that stage. In two acts this film is a tribute to Cameron Macintosh, a series of magnificent musical performences by the best musical actors and actresses in the world.

Okay, so if you're not really into musicals, this won't do much for you. But if you can appreciate 30 years of increadible stage production, world class performers and grandiose, magnificent music put together in one, then this it's definitely worth a shot. Thanks for reminding me how much I love musicals!

Runtime: 164 min

Starring: Julie Andrews, Judi Dench, Colm Wilkinson, Lea Salonga, Hugh Jackman, Michael Ball, Jonathan Pryce

The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

Feelgood indie comedy from Wes Anderson, characteristically bizarre. Three brothers set out on a spiritual journey through India to reconnect with eachother and find their slightly excentric mother. Francis (Wilson) arranges everything, organized in little laminated itineraries, but there's a lot of issues to be worked out before the brothers can start trusting eachother.

The movie is beautifully disorganized and odd, every brother with their strange quirks. All traumatized by their father's death, all stoned on Indian pharmaceuticals. And Brody of course is beautiful :)

To be honest I'm not very good with Wes Anderson. Much of his stuff go right over my head and I'm sure there's a lot of symbolism and hidden meanings that I didn't get in this one as well, but I still liked it. I liked the 'train of life' that their father (Bill Murray) missed at the beginning, the not-so-fictional characters of Jack's short stories, the family and parental issues...

Most of all I think I liked the cliché part where they run to catch the train of life, dropping their material belongings (alternatively the baggage their father left them) as they go. It's not important to bring the past with you, it'll just weigh you down. What's important is the present, and the people you love.

Runtime: 91 min

Starring: Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman

An Education (2009)

Where to begin... I'm thinking more about the heavy rain outside my window than the film I just saw...

An Education is about a hard working girl (Mulligan) in England in the 60s (or so), studying to be accepted into Oxford. She is both smart and pretty, straight A's, plays the cello... Pretty much got her whole life planned out. Until one day she meets David (Skarsgaard).

It's the classic 'girl meets boy - boy's no good'. But it's also about living, enjoying and appreciating life. The pictures are beautiful, and if you can get over the slightly pedophile relationship, it's actually a really cute movie. Because sometimes an education isn't by the book.

Runtime: 100 min
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Emma Thompson

Death Race (2008)

Finally a great action movie!

I've seen this movie twice now, and there's just something wonderfully primeval and pure about it, kicking ass with real stunts (no computer cheating) from the very beginning.

The story takes place in some near future where crime has gotten out of control, and private companies now run prisons for profit. Prisoners are offered a chance of freedom by joining a "death race", where they race eachother live in front of millions of online viewers. Win your freedom, or die trying. But when there's money in crime, and the viewers want blood, how far will some go to get their way...?

Jason Statham is a natural badass, and hugely beefed up for this film. In fact he's so big he can't stand up straight! Joan Allen is perfect as the merciless prison director, and pretty much all roles are well cast. Add to this some good driving, explosions, fight scenes, a smokin' hot lady, and this movie is one of my favorites in a long time.

Runtime: 98 min
Starring: Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Tyrese Gibson, Ian McShane

9 (2009)

Only a year after Wall-E, the dystopian post-apocalyptic animation "9" hit the screens with none other than Tim Burton among the producers. As a big fan of course I'm excited!

9 is (obviously) the nineth creation of a scientist, predicting that man would eventually lose the war against machine. Giving them not only life, but actual souls, these puppet-like creatures are the last hope to fight the robots and save the world.

To make action out of animation must be difficult, especially when trying to maintain the 'cute' mask. My guess is that these creatures somehow represent children, supporting the constant double meaning that "children are our future" (the tagline on the cover is 'When our world ended, their mission began'). It is cute, but I get a bit genre-confused. On the other hand - amazing animation! The creativity on evil robots is never ending.

Yeah, we got it, robots are bad. The references to both communism and nazism are also very obvious, with warnings that great wars can have even greater consequences. I'm missing the cool score from the trailer, and some of the action is a bit obvious (there's more scares and jumps than actual action), but all in all I really liked it. Didn't even check the time once.

Runtime: 79 min
Starring: Elijah Wood, John C. Reilly, Christopher Plummer, Jennifer Connelly

The Visitor (2007)

There are many big words to describe this movie: Important. Sad. Real. Inspiring.

Walter (Jenkins) is a widowed university professor who has lived the same routines every day for 20 years, pretending. He lives in solitude, avoiding the world around him. Unwillingly sent to present a paper in New York, Walter finds a young couple living in his spare apartment, oblivious that it belongs to him.

Meeting Tarek and Zainab changes Walter's life, revitalizing it and opening it up to new impulses. Unfortunately, however good citizens, the two are illegal immigrants, and suddenly Tarek is taken in by the immigration department. Working to get Tarek out, and also getting to know his mother Mouna, Walter finds new meaning to his own existence.

It is slow paced and stout, but also deep. It's sad to think how many people might actually be in Walter's situation, stuck in the routines of their own lives. It is also sad how laws of immigration deport good, innocent people every day. This movie makes you think about your own life, and its connection, rhythm, balance, whatever you prefer... Am I really living my life?

Runtime: 104 min
Starring: Richard Jenkins, Haaz Sleiman, Hiam Abbass

Nine (2009)

From the director of Chicago comes another fiery crossing between drama and musical, nominated to 5 Oscars.

Set in Rome, Italy in the 1960s, the movie portrays the famous movie director Guido Contini (Day-Lewis) who struggles to finish his newest screenplay. Massively distracted by beautiful women throwing themselves at him everywhere, not to mention delusional and out-of-control narcissism, Contini is heading towards breakdown.

I love musicals. I love musical adaptations to film as well, and I absolutely loved Chicago. This however... With a crew this impressive and a story about a passionate Italian surrounded by beautiful women, it's almost hard to understand how it all became so dull... All the time I was holding out for a great musical act, one that I would watch again and again on YouTube (like Cell Block Tango), but no such luck.

There are a few points of light; Judi Dench is fantastic. Costumes and sets are most of the time really good. Marion Cotillard, beautiful as ever, is good as Contini's wife, but unfortunately she can't dance or sing... Nicole Kidman is well cast, but her character is just too small to matter. Well... Mostly its just chaotic and disconnected. You really gotta love movie musicals to swallow this one.

Runtime: 118 mins
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Fergie, Sophia Lauren

Where The Wild Things Are (2009)

What a truly wonderful and inspiring movie! For one who has never even heard of the book, it was impossible not to be moved by this imaginative and warm story about family and loneliness. And it's made in such an playful way, it takes you right back to childhood!

Max is maybe 8, and struggles to accept that his mother and older sister don't have time to play with him anymore. He reacts with hurt and anger, and runs away from home in a rage. On a journey through his imagination, Max meets wild creatures struggling with sorrow and loneliness, and through trying to help them deal with their problems, he begins to understand his own feelings towards his family.

Everything about the movie is beautiful. It is innocent, simple and slow, just like a childs mind, and the images are great. From the impressive acting skills of young Max Records and brilliant voice of James Gandolfini, to the Arcade Fire soundtrack, this is a complete movie experience. Go ahead and find the kid in you!

Inside all of us there is HOPE.
Inside all of us there is FEAR.
Inside all of us there is ADVENTURE.
Inside all of us there is...
A WILD THING.

Runtime: 101 min
Starring: Max Records, James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener, Lauren Ambrose, Catherine O'Hara

Repo Men (2010)

Sci-fi action from a near future, where artificial organs have become big business. It's creepy to think how real this prospect might be... People in desperate situations signing ridiculously expencive contracts for artificial organs, then later being hunted down by so-called "reposession men" because they're unable to pay. Remy (Jude Law) is the best of all the repo men. He does his job effectively and skillfully - cause it's just another job, right? Until he gets a metal heart himself.

The movie wants you to think about what you're doing with your life; that what you do is what makes who you are in the end. This message is almost too clear. Some parts make less sense, like the girl he picks up and falls in love with half way through, and there's a middle section that makes you look at the time a lot. The music is really good though, and a lot of cool action scenes, there's blood everywhere for those who like that... All in all it's a good movie that manages to pick up the slack at the end.

Runtime: 111 min

Starring: Jude Law, Forest Whitaker, Alice Braga, Liev Schreiber

Fish Tank (2009)

This British indie film is stripped of glamour and anything superfluous, and it hits hard. The repressed anger creates a tension that kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through, flipping from frustration, to worry, to empathy. It's a good movie, very real, and it left me with a great sense of sadness...

So, Mia is a 15 year old English girl with serious anger issues, and with good reason. She lives with her mother and younger sister, a family with too much yelling and booze, and too little care and boundaries. All her life keeping the world out, she has become introverted and temperamental. Now, with a serious crush on her mothers "latest catch", a possible break for her dancing and a nice guy with a car, life is suddenly breaking down her defences.

Runtime: 123 mins
Starring: Katie Jarvis, Michael Fassbender

Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

I was looking forward to this one, expecting great action, but this turned out to be some seriously disturbed stuff... It's not that the movie wasn't good - it was - but it was just a bit too much horror film and torture for my taste. Gerard Butler is great of course, one of the reasons I wanted to see it in the first place. And the story is clever! But they seemed to be more interested in grossing people out than using the clever story to its full potential...

Basically, it's about the family man Clyde Shelton (Butler) watching his wife and daughter being raped and brutally murdered by some asshole criminals, and then the worst one of them gets only 3 years for being cooperative. Left completely alone, Shelton plots vengance on both the lawyers who made the deal and the whole corrupt justice system. And apparently, they did not know who they were fucking with...

Runtime: 108 min

Starring: Gerard Butler, Jamie Foxx