THE HURT LOCKER

ACADEMY AWARD WINNER FOR BEST FILM AND FIRST TIME

BEST (FEMALE) DIRECTOR

THE HURT LOCKER: WAR IS HELL

"The rush of battle is often a potent and lethal addiction, for war is a drug." It bothers me when I hear to someone refer to the war in Iraq as a "conflict" or "situation". That's wrong. It is a war and in this film we are shown the front lines up close and personal and indeed, this war is hell.

This film is about a team of men in charge of disarming bombs. The loose cannon (pun intended) is an unpredictable soldier, SSgt William James (Jeremy Renner) whose actions come off as too loose and even dangerous to his team. He mainlines testosterone for breakfast. Renner does an incredible job of portraying this incredibly cocky and also incredibly skilled soldier. The movie is shot documentary style and his presence is more than acting, it's being. He is strong and filled with adrenaline but at the same time, has his moments of reflection and frustration. No doubt, Renner carries the film and is hypnotically easy on the eyes. He makes sweat look good. The film has little in the way of plot or story, but more like a situation and the people involved in it, mainly Renner.

INGLORIOUS BASTERDS

INGLORIUS BASTERDS: WAR DOESN'T HAVE TO BE HELL

"Once upon a time in Nazi occupied France..." At least Tarrantino doesn't bite off more than he can chew. His movies are getting to be like McDonald's franchises; you pretty much get the same food no matter which McDonald's you go to, but it's usually also always pretty good. Our story, which is quite clever in concept and creatively quirked just right to add a blend of sick humor and righteous indignation, begins in the small farmhouse of a French man who is hiding a Jewish family. Unfortunately the man who comes to call on that day is Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) from the SS, better known as the "Jew Hunter".

TRAITOR

TRAITOR NOT ON MY GOOD SIDE
Don Cheadle is one of my most favorite actors. I guess actors need to pay the bills, so someone shook him awake, propped him up and made this film. While I am glad he has the money to go buy groceries, I am upset with the lack of pulse this film offered. Think The Departed and then think bigger than that and you've got the story. Who do you trust? Who are the bad guys and are all of them bad? Not a significant original approach by ways of plot, action, characters and so on. Guy Pearce is also in the film. Even just writing this review I feel tired and would rather rearrange my sock drawer. The film wasn't engaging or interesting and it was very hard to follow. Trust me, don't wast the time or money.
This BITES: Tired worn out plot meets tired in need of cash actors. Total dud!

TROPIC THUNDER

A MOVIE ABOUT SOME DUDES, PLAYING SOME OTHER DUDES WHO ARE DISGUISED AS SOME OTHER DUDES

This is Robert Downey Jr.'s movie hands down (deliberate pun for Nolte.)

Kirk Lazarus: Man, I don't drop character 'till I done

the DVD commentary.

And true to his word, he didn't. I listed to the film after watching it and RDJ stayed in character until the credits began to role and then he slipped into an Aussie Kirk Lazarus before finally speaking in his own voice. I can call this as 'his' movie because although Ben Stiller pulled through solid performance, he was directing too, so I imagine his thoughts were elsewhere. As well, not to let Jack Black fade into the background (not possible) and also lesser credited Brandon T. Jackson as rapper/actor Alpa Chino. That name in itself and the introduction to the other actor's previous work is pure genius and so close to home (Hollywood that is). It was an all-star cast and an entertaining look at Hollywood; specifically their power in and out of Hollywood. There are so many and yet so few things I can say about Tom Cruise playing a bloated, immoral agent who likes to dance. He mouth spewing expletives and full of spit sounded was too convincing. He looked different, but barely sounded different and that steely gaze of his eyes reminded you that this was just a silly romp of a role for him. If you don't laugh he will come to your house and mess you up... if he can reach that high. If he was going to do something it was going to be his way or no way. At least that's the impression I received from the commentary.

RDJ can do better than this, but I think he jumped in to have fun and his acting reflects that. It was a bit crude and sophomoric, and the comedic bits are scattered amongst the few pieces of "real" drama. Great bits from other stars and celebrities is the cherry on the napalm. Be sure to check out the "Viral Video" Ben, Robert and Jack made for the MTV Movie Awards. THAT was hilarious!

PICK: Silly and laughable, a much needed comedic vacation... that isn't a vacation at all, but a movie...but a good movie, that you should rent, unless you don't need a pretend vacation.

LUST, CAUTION

LUST, CAUTION IS FEARLESSLY BOTH After directing one of the most groundbreaking films to date (Brokeback Mountain), Ang Lee has done it again. This is a breathtakingly brilliant film about everything: politics, betrayal, spies, love, adultery, romance, torrid sex, and struggle. As the Japanese move in and occupy China, many renegade forces form to fight the war on a smaller scale. A naive college girl Wong Chia Chi (Tang Wei) gets caught up with a group to produce politically forward, patriotic China plays with her classmates. Little does she know that she will use her acting skills in efforts to bring down the powerful Japanese "informant" Mr. Yee (Tony Leung). She enters the world of espionage, starting with a harmless game of maj jong with Mrs. Lee (Joan Chen) and her friends. To get access to his world, she and her fellow actors turned activists take on new character. She becomes Chia Chi, young and coy, but seductive and has to play a sneaky game of cat and mouse with Mr. Yee, forcing him to fall in love with her, against his own desire, and she in turn, also must choose to complete her mission or follow her desires. This is a bold and graphic movie where scenes of war and sex cross back and forth between each other. Sometimes there is love in their love making and sometimes there is hate and aggression. This is a story of war and the choices we make under duress and the consequences those choices bring. This was an intense and mesmerizing movie from the acting to the plot. Thank you Ang Lee for introducing us to worlds we would have never found on our own.

BIG PICK: Beautifully shot, well acted and a compelling story. Exquisite!

THE KINGDOM

THE KINGDOM RULES

I didn't know the real meaning of the word 'wow' until this movie. No pun intended, but this movie will blow you away. Four FBI agents enter Saudi Arabia in hopes of investigating a terrorist bombing. Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman all deliver stellar performances as the agents. The majority of the Saudi army do not want this help with the exception of one General who is shown that the agents sincerely offer their aid in peace. I usually don't care for "war" movies, but this was more than that. This was a movie about people, both good and bad. How those who seem to be the enemy to us can also be real people with families who want to avoid conflict as much as we do. The movie is engaging with it's action and suspense. The situations so powerful and intense that there were times that I forgot to breathe. Working in tandem, the powerful cast makes you emotionally involved. We like these people. We get to know them and laugh at their ability to have a sense of humor in the midst of such chaos. (Don't let the humor slip past too quickly). We don't want these people hurt. We want a happy ending. We get an ending, but the answer is not happy, nor is it unhappy; it is true. The cycle will continue as long as there are two separate sides that continue to think their way is the only and righteous way. I can't single out any one of those actors; each had a part to play, did it well and made the pretend team of agents into a real team of actors which produced a fine finished product.

Rating: Exceptional work from writing, acting and directing. A powerful and gripping film.