Chi bi a.k.a. Red Cliff (2008)

This Chinese 3rd Century war epic allows John "Face Off" Woo to pack an action packed punch in tandem with sweeping scenic visuals and some serious cinematic grandstanding. Ambitious.


3.5 stars

Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (2001) aka "Amélie"

If you don't smile watching this then shame on you :)

Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

I wanted to love it but ended up just liking it a lot.

Janck 4 stars




I wanted to like it, but ended up not liking it at all ;(

Mitch 2 stars

Bolt (2008)

Disney (with no help from Pixar, surprisingly) deliver a thoroughly enjoyable dog adventure to entertain kids of all ages.


3.5 stars

Avatar (2009)

JANCK : Largely pedestrian, lets hope 3D doesn't replace a decent plot, acting and script hey?

The Reader (2008)

Solid post-war Germany drama directed by Steven Daldry (The Hours, Billy Elliot). In spite of mixed reviews, this more than holds its own, and to say this is another ''movie about the holocaust" would be misleading. Winslet won Oscar.


4 stars

Sunshine Cleaning (2008)

Nice indie drama which proves that crime does pay (well the crime scene clean-up anyway).


3.5 stars

Traitor (2008)

Another terrorism thriller, another review. Good acting and script, but does nothing to really distinguish itself from the war-on-terror zeitgeist. Good, but samey.


3.5 stars

State of Play (2009)

Satisfying thriller with no standout performances, but an ensemble cast delivers nonetheless. Will not blow you away, but avoids any cheap tricks to make this seem like a good book on film, rather than a sell-out screenplay. Directed by Kevin Macdonald (Touching the Void, The Last King of Scotland).


4 stars

La habitación de Fermat (2007) aka "Fermat's Room"

Saw with A levels.

(500) Days of Summer (2009)

Sad British pop music, a Han Solo moment and some exceedingly dapper ties from Joseph Gordon-Levitt.. what's not to like? Watch it with a special "friend".

4 stars

Far North (2007)

Kinda interesting, and a little bit different.. proving once and for all it is grim up North.

3.5 stars

Sugar (2008)

My love affair with baseball continues with this sweet gem from the team behind Half Nelson.

4 stars

I Love You, Man (2009)

I love mandates, man!

4 stars

Franklyn (2009)

A rather strange blend of dystopian future and modern day London in which narratives intertwine. You could see the intention here, although the end result is an understandable, yet over-complicted plot. Watchable.

3 stars

Låt den rätte komma in (2008) aka "Let the Right One In"

I could give this film full marks just because it's Swedish and takes it's title from a Morrissey song, but I'm doing so because it's so beautifully touching yet shockingly brutal, and will be a firm favourite for many years to come.

Janck 5 stars (Apr '09)


Amazing cinematography; the white Swedish snowscape lends a haunting beauty in this unconvetional love story. Recommended.

Mitch 4 stars

Valkyrie (2008)

Felt a bit like a particularly glossy BBC drama with added Tom Cruise. Manages to keep the tension bubbling along nicely despite the fact you know what happens (we've all seen Downfall).

3.5 stars (Janck Jul 09)


English speaking actors as German characters is nothing new, but this does work surprisingly well (unlike Tom Cruise's awkward side parting and eye-patch). Some nice touches throughout.

3.5 stars Mitch

Push (2009)

Superhuman powers battle it out in this seen-it-all-before action/adventure. The Hong Kong setting is pretty decent though. All filler; no killer.

3 stars

Junebug (2005)

Beautifully understated, and avoiding many caricature cliches of 'quirky indie' movies, this endearing North Carolina drama showcases independent cinema as it should be, and lingers surprisingly long in the memory. Great breakthrough performance from Amy Adams, who earned an Oscar nomination. Indie gem.


4 stars

The International (2009)

Clive Owen chases a bank more dodgy than RBS, watch it just for the Guggenheim scene.

Janck 3.5 stars (Jul '09)


Not content with trotting the globe already (Duplicty 2009), Clive Owen does it all over again, but what a difference a script makes. Better than expected financial thriller, with a tight screenplay.

Mitch 4 stars

Vals Im Bashir (2008) aka "Waltz with Bashir"

This Golden Globe and Oscar winner paints a vivid, sometimes entrancing, but ultimately harrowing picture of the 1982 Lebanon War. A very brave and original picture.

Janck 4.5 stars (Apr '09)



Very impressive animated feature; the documentary style works well alongside the horrors of war. Poignant.

Mitch 4 stars

Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008)

Whatever way you look at things the guy has had an extraordinary life.. and surely 30 years living in France is punishment enough for any crime?

The Burning Plain (2008)

Guillermo Arriaga writer (Amores Perros, 21 Grams, Babel) turns director in this slow-burning drama, where storylines intersect and secrets slowly reveal themselves. In the same style as his previous screenplays, Arriaga crafts a multi-layered human tale. However, this somehow misses an opportunity to pack an emotive punch; which could have made a very good film, brilliant. Check it out if you are a fan of his previous work; viewers with short attention spans need not apply.


4 stars

Doubt (2009)

Interesting play-to-screenplay adaptation, with themes of religion, morality, authority and proof. Granted, this is not the most action-packed film ever made, but with 4 Oscar nominations for acting alone, this is certainly worth checking out for fans of pure drama. Superb ensemble cast.


4 stars

I've Loved You So Long a.k.a. Il y a longtemps que je t'aime (2008)

Decent French drama in which family secrets are deftly unravelled. Well paced and plotted.

3.5 stars

Milk (2008)

Powerful biopic of the civil rights leader working to defeat Prop. 6 with a message of hope. Ironic that it "came out" not long after another groundbreaking leader was elected on the back of a message of hope, whilst Proposition 8 was passed into law.

4 stars Janck (Jan '09)



San Francisco, gays and activism.


4 stars Mitch

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)

A real heart-breaker, the missus sobbed throughout.. watch it if you get the chance.

4 stars

The Wrestler (2008)

A real suplex to the emotions.

Janck 4.5 stars (Jun '09)



Wonderfully acted, this past it wrestler role Mickey Rourke absolutely nails. Plus how hot is Marisa Tomei...

Mitch 4 stars

Der Baader Meinhof Komplex (2008) aka "The Baader Meinhof Complex"

An interesting period of history, this entertaining film shows plenty of the "what" and "how" but not enough of the "why".

Janck 3.5 stars (July '09)



A touch long, but still engaging. This re-telling of actual events makes for a surprisingly good screenplay. Solid German export.

Mitch 4 stars

Bronson (2009)

Kubrick inspired take on the notorious prisoner Charles Bronson, who comes across as flamboyant and scary in equal measures.

4 stars

Los cronocrímenes (2007) aka "Timecrimes"

Time travel thriller, which by any L O S T fan standards is pretty straightforward, though still entertaining.

3.5 stars

The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

A bit invasion, a bit disaster movie, a bit silly (much like Jennifer Connelly's fringe). I haven't seen the original, but this is definitely Hollywood selling out with style over substance. Hollow blockbuster.


2.5 stars

Revolutionary Road (2009)

Sam Mendes revisits troubled American suburbia, although any American Beauty parallels would be wide of the mark. This time he directs the missus and DiCaprio, who both pull off powerhouse performances with ease; tempers flair and patience runs thin. Very solid human drama.


4 stars

Gran Torino (2008)

Clint pulls off a triumph in his rumoured last ever acting role in which he plays an embittered old man (was this really an acting stretch, Clint?). It's a slow-burner, but does eventually live up to the hype.


4.5 stars

Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008)

Never mind Zack and Miri, this is all about the Justin Long cameo. Not as much nudity as one would hope expect from an 18-certificate (the profanity more than makes up for that). Nice hangover movie.


3.5 stars

Sun taam (2007) aka "Mad Detective"

Intense and insane.. all pretty much to be expected from a HK action flick, not seen much Asian cinema recently so this was relativley refreshing if not a classic.

3.5 stars

I.O.U.S.A. (2008)

Documentary about the US national debt, paints a pretty grim picture especially as it was made before the recent economic bailouts..

3.5 stars

Man on Wire (2008)

Heist movie with a twist.. It's a documentary about a circus act.

Janck 4 stars (Apr 09)



Nice doco; you cannot help but feel Philippe Petit's infectious enthusiasm. Lots of great archive footage, just a shame they didn't pack a video camera for the crossing day.

Mitch 3.5 stars

Changeling (2008)

Solid and sinister true story adaptation from Clint; he does know how to make a good drama. Lots of use of the word 'son', son.

4 stars

Lakeview Terrace (2008)

Samuel L. Jackson vs liberal guilt.

3.5 stars

The Grudge 2 (2006)

After a woefully trite introduction (3 schoolgirls creep into the haunted house....yes....seriously....), The Grudge sequel manages to pack in enough death-scares and creepy visuals to equal its first installment. Combined with an impressive and nerve-shredding 5.1 surround soundtrack, creepiness has never sounded so good. Horror nonsense which surprisingly delivers.

3.5 stars

Le temps du loup (2003) (a.k.a. Time of the Wolf)

Rural France suffers an unexplained disaster setting up a post-apocalyptic dystopia. Grim and bleak cinematography capture this well with lonesome wide shots, although Haneke fails to convey the visceral human struggle in the way he so obviously intended.


3 stars

Defiance (2008)

Jewish brothers set up camp in the forests of Nazi controlled territory - we shall not be moved. Amazing tale of brotherhood and camaraderie, though this does not translate to a particularly exciting screenplay. OK, but not essential viewing.


3 stars

Quantum of Solace (2008)

Mitch : Actually quite enjoyed this; the re-invention of Bond continues. Very much action packed; (Quantum of Bourne, perhaps?) at times it's pace is unrelenting. I liked it, but maybe I'm easy to please.
4 stars

Janck : If Casino Royale was the James Bond franchise being shaken, this is more of a decent stir.
3.5 stars

Tyson (2008)

Interesting documentary, but would like to have seen director Toback put up more of a fight over Iron Mike's controversial past.

3 stars

Ôdishon (1999) aka "Audition"

There is nothing like a spot of Japanese "torture porn" for a Wednesday evening.

Janck 3.5 stars (March 2008)



This takes an age to get 'interesting' before the inevitable grisly denouement. Staple Japanese horror, though did feel dated and decidedly average.

Mitch 3 stars

Frost/Nixon (2008)

Could do with losing about 20 minutes, but this retelling of the infamous Nixon interviews, is generally solid, with Sheen particularly impressing once again.

Janck 3.5 stars (May 2009)


Good acting from the two leads make this a solid, but not standout picture. A touch long at two hours, still worth viewing though.

Mitch 3.5 stars

Event Horizon (1997)

Sci-fi cult classic gets a blu-ray re-release, and it's fair to say this deep space epic has lost none of its shock and awe. Ahead of its time and reassuringly cinematic.


4 stars

Role Models (2008)

Mentor program set-up with some snappy dialogue and geeky charm. Popcorn comedy with some decent laughs, and never takes itself too seriously.

3.5 stars

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

There are many ways the critics seem to be describing Danny Boyle's new piece.. breathless, heart warming, magical.. all very hard to argue with, in what is sure to become a 21st century classic. I wonder if Boyle has anything booked for the 22nd February..?

Janck 4 stars (Dec 2008)




Nice idea for a film and pretty decent (although not sure about 8 Oscars decent).

Mitch 4 stars