A Nutshell Review: The Women
Written and directed by Diane English, which is based on both the stage play by Clare Boothe Luce and the 1930s movie of the same name, The Women is an update of sorts transplanting stories about the love lives of 4 women friends to modern day New York City, but wait a minute, isn't this Sex in the City?
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/01/women.html
A Nutshell Review: Passengers
Anne Hathaway stars in no less than three films being released this month alone in Singapore. There's Rachel Getting Married, the upcoming Bride Wars, and Passengers. Amongst the three, and I'm counting my chickens before they hatch, Rachel Getting Married is a must watch to see how Hathaway has nailed it as a credible actress, while Bride Wars from the trailer does suggest she has some comedic flair, and this one, well, is one of those attempts at her trying to diversify.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/01/passengers.html
A Nutshell Review: Red Cliff II
It's been a six month wait for the second and final half to John Woo's magnum opus Red Cliff, and for those familiar with the classic but have not watched the first installment, the director doesn't waste time in bringing you up to speed with an excellent summary, so much so that the transitional technique used was carried over to the main movie proper. And for those who complained about the pigeon soaring over the sky overseeing a football game at the Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi) camp, there're perfect explanations for those too.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/01/red-cliff-ii-chi-bi-xia-jue-zhan-tian.html
A Nutshell Review: Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour 3D
Alright, I have to confess that I have no clue as to who Hannah Montana is, except that she is some “it”girl with some links to Disney, and was spoofed in Superhero Movie. She's a character played by Miley Cyus, daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus, who has to don a long and silky blonde wig to play her alter ego, and perhaps the only time I've seen Miley perform, was lending her non singing voice in Bolt.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/01/hannah-montanamiley-cyrus-best-of-both.html
A Nutshell Review: Milk
Biopics work for me because I'm innately curious about that aspect of a person's life which makes it compelling enough for others to want to make a film out of it. This film by Gus Van Sant tells the story of California's first openly gay elected official Harrvey Milk over the span of the last 8 and definitely more fruitful years of his life where he discovers his calling ironically after confessing to a lover that he had so far not done anything constructive with his, and then with their subsequent move to San Franscisco.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/01/milk.html
A Nutshell Review: Punisher: War Zone
I will make no apologies in declaring this version and reboot of the Punisher the best amongst the lot so far. Yes it's unflinchingly violent, and for those who have issues with screen violence getting too gratuitous, then Punsiher: War Zone is not the movie for you, and you should steer light years clear of it. Being the first Marvel Studios film released under the Marvel Knights label, which is supposedly meant for mature audiences, this is probably the version that stays close to the mythos in terms of Frank Castle's modus operandus.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/01/punisher-war-zone.html
A Nutshell Review: All's Well End's Well 2009
It surprised me that this Hong Kong comedic franchise still had some legs to carry on with yet another installment, given that it's been some 12 years since the last film, which started off in 1992 starring Stephen Chow at his element, filled with plenty of "mo-lei-tau" jokes, and its fair share of obvious spoofs from well know movies. It's title ties in with none other than its release over the Lunar New Year period of the year, because it's believed that cinema goers automatically head for the comedies showing in the cinemas. Right, Jack Neo?
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/01/alls-well-ends-well-2009-ga-yau-hei-si.html
A Nutshell Review: Eden Lake
When outnumbered, move away. Split. Run.
That's the golden rule when confronted by a gang of hooligans, or in the first place, not to kick start any interaction for that matter. Not that one’s a coward, but the consequences and the hassle thereafter are never worth it. Swallow that pride and move away, because there’s absolutely no shame in doing so. But I guess should one decide to take some action, to never take them on as a group, because crazed peer pressure to belong gives some intense mental strength that clouts morals. Unity is strength, and taking them on individually presents a much better chance at survival.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/01/eden-lake.html
A Nutshell Review: The Haunting of Molly Hartley
I guess all teenage starlets have to go through their cinematic rites of passage by having some horror flick under their belt. So far I've seen every film on the big screen that Haley Bannett had starred in, from her breakthrough role as the uber-sexy Cora "Buddha's Delight" Corman in Music and Lyrics, to Kendall of College, and now, the titular character in this horror film. Save for her debut, everything else had been of dubious quality, and I'm afraid without another hit soon, she'll more than be forgotten and should concentrate on her singing career instead.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/01/haunting-of-molly-hartley.html
A Nutshell Review: Chandni Chowk to China
You can't deny the mystic appeal that Kung Fu films have on the masses. Not only has Hollywood managed to finally get the essence so succinctly and successfully infused it into the animated film Kung Fu Panda, and taking on one of China's icon as its own, India too has shown that it's no pushover now in combining its Bollywood "masala" formula with the martial arts genre, and does so too by snagging the iconic Gordon Liu as lead villain.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/01/chandni-chowk-to-china.html
A Nutshell Review: The Reader
After the recent Golden Globes, I'm sure many were scratching their heads why Kate Winslet was put up for a Supporting Actress award, because if she's not the lead actress in The Reader, then I don't know who is.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/01/reader.html
A Nutshell Review: Love Matters
The trailers may have fooled audiences into believing, like the rest of his films, this is a laugh-fest. The funniest bit in the theatrical trailer is nowhere to be found in the film, as are other scenes too. One wonders if they were trimmed for run time reasons (this clocks in very close to 2 hours), but the decisions to have kept whatever made it to the theatrical cut, were strange indeed because they were very tired jokes, recycling some from Jack's past films, and most turned out to be terribly expected, cliche and rancid.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/01/love-matters-xing-fu-wan-sui.html
A Nutshell Review: Inkheart
It's an interesting premise to begin with, having the power to bring to life characters and events to the real world by just reading relevant passages. I can figure it out already, where to get fame and fortune from the right literature to read out loud. But with great power comes realization and responsibility, and because there's no such thing as a free lunch, there's always payback in the most unexpected forms.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/01/inkheart.html
A Nutshell Review: The Wedding Game
This was a movie waiting to be made. Celebrity couples don't get any bigger than this pairing in Singapore, so exploiting the real for the reel was something quite expected, given after all the timing, with Christopher Lee and Fann Wong tying the knot sometime later this year. If audiences want a glimpse of what their big day would look like, the many costume changes in bridal gowns and suits here would provide for some teaser anticipation.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/01/wedding-game-da-xi-shi.html
A Nutshell Review: Bride Wars
Anne Hathaway rules the screens this month in Singapore, with three movies hitting the screens - Rachel Getting Married, Passengers, and now teaming up with Kate Hudson for my second wedding theme movie of the day, Bride Wars. Alas this film by director Gary Winick had the trailer to thank for in letting every cat out of the bag that there's little surprise left when the girls have a go at each other.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/01/bride-wars.html
A Nutshell Review: The Wrestler
All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. For one who lived his known life on the stage, or in this case, the ring, providing mass sporting entertainment to thousands live and through video re-runs, being at the pinnacle of his sport, rigged and staged or perhaps otherwise, nothing would be a fate more worse off, than to be fading into obscurity. For one so used to attention, love and accolades showered, to be cheered and encouraged, to be handing out high-fives, autographs and pose for photographs, it takes a lot to readjust life back to normalcy, if at all. Such is the fickleness of fame.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/01/wrestler.html
A Nutshell Review: Victory
Unfortunately I'm not much of a cricket fan, and whatever knowledge I have of the game, how it's played, the rules and regulations and such, is thanks to Ashutosh Gowariker's Lagaan starring Aamir Khan, a movie which had the game explained in layman terms to a group of villagers assembling a rag-tag team to challenge their oppressive British occupiers with tax breaks on the line. Victory however is a sports theme movie through and through, adopting the very standard formula (which was also applied to Fashion) where it's focused on the protagonist's meteoric rise to stardom, an equally hard downfall, and ultimate redemption.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/01/victory.html
A Nutshell Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
When I was born my mom said I looked like an old man. Like everyone else, I turned out to be pretty normal, unlike The Curious Case of Benjamin Button where he's physically developing in the opposite, suffering from common aged ailments like cataracts, hearing, and arthritis first, but mentally developing in proper chronology. One can imagine the challenges of everyone thinking you'll die soon enough, before a miracle actually happens and you're like having drunk some elixir of life, probably a little too much too.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/02/curious-case-of-benjamin-button.html
A Nutshell Review: Look for a Star
You know Valentine's Day is just around the corner when the screens begin to fill with movies designed specifically to commemorate the day. You got to salute the filmmakers of Look For A Star for keeping faith with a formula that doesn't seem to tire, and I guess it has legs to travel especially when you have the charismatic and still youthful looking Andy Lau (he doesn't look like he's pushing 50) romancing Shu Qi in a rather fantasy like premise, and still keep it rather appealing because love is in the air.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/02/look-for-star-yau-lung-hei-fung.html
A Nutshell Review: Luck By Chance
It's nothing new for a movie to be a critique of the affairs and matters of the industry it belongs to, but the manner whether it is harsh, direct, honest or just plain tongue-in-cheek, would set the agenda. Like in Farah Khan's Om Shanti Om, it's played out in my opinion more light-heartedly, and who can forget that job at sequels, stars and that memorable 9 minute Deewangi Deewangi. Luck By Chance by yet another female director Zoya Akhtar happened to be a more mature examination, with views coming from the bottom up, covers just about almost every angle, and contains a tight 360 degree view in what would be a sharp observation from the inside.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/02/luck-by-chance.html
A Nutshell Review: Defiance
My first thoughts about the film, was of Ken Loach's The Wind That Shakes The Barley, the Palme d'Or winner in 2006. Similarly, Defiance has brothers leading a rag-tag group of Jewish refugees in guerrilla warfare and a quest for survival, where being alive everyday means a middle finger to the Third Reich during WWII, and organizing themselves to become a tightly knitted community where, like their Russian neighbours, everyone has an equal role to play to get rewarded with equal food. And with two lion-hearted brothers at the helm, sooner or later the sibling rivalry will rear its ugly head, and differing political ideals will see them part ways.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2009/02/defiance.html