Casino (1995)

8/10 [highly recommend]

iconic cast and a story that takes you into the heart of casinos

Plot: Greed, deception, money, power, and murder occur between two mobster best friends and a trophy wife over a gambling empire.

Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci lead the way in this gangster themed movie about the beginnings of sin city. We are taken through their experience through Ace (De Niro) and Nicky's (Pesci) experience in the world of casinos and mob ties. The story is told from Ace and Nicky's point of view, as they switch in between each other in narrating the film. This narrating is very unique and feels almost like a diary entry, mobster style.

A great film that I would highly recommend!

Sophie Scholl: The Final Days (2005)

7/10 [highly recommended]

Powerful true story

Sophie Scholl: The Final Days is a dramatization of the final days of Sophie Scholl, one of the most famous members of the German World War II anti-Nazi resistance movement, The White Rose.

Someone had to stand up to the state, and that someone was Sophie Scholl and her brother. They saw the cruelty of the Nazi regime and decides to make a difference.

Great acting. Gripping true story.

La môme (2007)

8/10 [highly recommended]

Stunning film all around!

La môme is the life story of singer Édith Piaf.

Our attention are gripped not only by the story but we are carried away by amazing music, brilliant make up and one amazing French actress, Marion Cotillard.


Love Me If You Dare and Inception are the first films I saw starring Marion Cotillard. With those films I was already in love with her performance. After seeing La môme, Cotillard has become one of my favourite actresses. Her performance as Edith Piaf is so stunning that, at times during the film, I forget I am watching a portrayal. Capturing the singers walk, gestures, facial expression, quirky, tone of voice and stance. Cotillard won the Oscar for Best Actress for this film, and damn did she ever deserve it!

The story is told out of sequence in a mix of flashbacks, memories and 'present' day. We follow Piaf's life in a classic fairy tale of the ugly duckling transforming to a beautiful swan. However, what most fairy tale fails to do is tell you that transformation into the beautiful swan, is not the ending of the story. As we can see in Piaf's story, her shining transformation came with a price.

Towards the end of the film, we find out a vital event that occurred early in the singer's life, which seems to finally shine some light on Piaf's later statement mind that was depicted early on in the film. A mix of songs at different stages in Piaf's life is knitted together by a non-linear storyline of her life. Throughout the film, I found myself slowly starting to piece together the story. It is as if each minute that passes, we are receiving a piece of puzzle building up to a mystery image.

The music is beautiful. It didn't matter that I didn't understand what the songs were about because music and singing had a way to sweep you away.

The second Oscar that this film won was for make up. The detail and realism that was involved in making Cotillard to look like Piaf, succeeded. The make up department was able to capture the singer in the late stages of her life looking ill, weak but still with energy to sing. It is not too difficult to make someone look old, BUT it is mighty hard to make someone look not only 1) old 2) resemble a different person 3) realistic. What really was impressive is the fact that the make up team was able to make the singer look like she's wearing make up to cover her ill stricken skin.


I highly recommend La môme! It is a work of art. Pieced together by a talented/dedicated actress, a great make up team, unique storytelling and pure beautiful music.

The Bang Bang Club (2010)

8/10 [Highly Recommended]
An excellent film that looks at action vs observation

Bang Bang Club is based on the true-life experiences of four combat photographers capturing the final days of apartheid in South Africa. (imdb)

I heard about The Bang Bang Club last year at a International Film Festival and have wanted to watch it ever since but without luck finding it. Today I came across it and finally sat down with it. Bang Bang Club is an absolutely amazing film that looks at the internal conflicts of combat photographers who captures moments of war/pain/suffering. It really brings to life what we can only imagine when we see the photographs. It

The great cast, with one of my favourite up and coming actors Taylor Kitsch along with Ryan Phillipe and Malin Akerman, is able to really capture the emotions that is hidden behind the lens. I absolutely love Kitsch's portrayal of Kevin Carter because you can see it in his eyes the conflict he feels between being an observer and not an do-er.

Kevin Carter: "They're right. All those people who say it's our job to just sit and watch people die. They're right."

It is a story about a real group of photographers who, while doing their jobs, comes to realize what Kurt really meant when he said in the novel Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad "The horror!"

I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this film for all. Next time you look at a photo in the newspaper, think about the photographer and the situation that is outside of the frame...

Kill The Irishman (2011)

6.5/10

Gripping story and exciting story

Kill The Irish Man is about the true story of Danny Greene, a tough Irish thug working for mobsters in Cleveland during the 1970's. (imdb)

When I started this film I was gripped instantly with the third person prespective of story tell of Danny Greene's life. The story takes us through Greene's childhood all the way to through his adult life. We follow his highs and lows, being both involved in his life and seeing it from afar.

Greene, being a thug with fraud and murder in his resume, somehow is a likable character. Well read, humorous and has heart, it's hard not to like Greene.

This film has a low budget, but this did not stop them from delivering a close knit and well performed movie.

Ray Stevenson brought Danny Greene to life. Val Kilmer's character Joe Manditski towards the end of the film disappeared and became non-exisitant dispite his narratoring role throughout. Although this detail doesn't affect the overall storyline of the film, it does stand out a bit.

If you like Godfather or Spranos...this may be your movie. Entertaining and gripping. Watch it and decide for yourself.

The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler (2009)

9/10 [Highly Recommended]

Heartfelt story of a true hero with great acting.

The story of Irena Sendler, a social worker who was part of the Polish underground during World War II and was arrested by the Nazi's for saving the lives of nearly 2,500 Jewish children by smuggling them out of the Warsaw ghetto.(imdb)

The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler would fall on my list of being one of my favourite films about a hero trying to make a difference during the holocaust. Schindler's List and Uprising being my other favourites.Irena Sendler, risking her lifesaved 2,500 Jewish children. This film does a fantastic job of capturing her efforts and the emotional road her action takes.

The story is well knit supported by a fine cast. Anna Paquin's performance, especially, as Irena Sendler is absolutely amazing. All the actors/actresses does a very realistic performance without being over dramatic, capturing the pain and desire for hope of the situation.

Highly recommend this movie! True story of a true hero!

Invictus (2009)

7/10

Moving, inspirational and great performance

Invictus is about Nelson Mandela, in his first term as the South African President, initiates a unique venture to unite the apartheid-torn land: enlist the national rugby team on a mission to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

This film focuses mainly on the journey to the cup but the part of the film that makes this film so solid is the brilliant portrayal of Nelson Mandela by Morgan Freeman. Matt Damon's portrayal is good but not stunning or overly memorable.

Invictus also takes something as simple as a rugby game and makes it a nations strive and pride.

The soundtrack for Invictus is the most powerful as it creates the tone of the entire film. I absolutely recommend everyone to listen to the soundtrack on its own. It is such a powerful piece of work.

The cinematagraphy and direction comes together beautifully to support the atmosphere as well.

A definite watch for sports fans and those who want some encouraging and powerful.

The King's Speech (2010)

8.5/10
[highly recommended]

Marvelous film with fantastic acting and great writing.

I have been wanting to watch this movie for ages but never had the chance to until my flight.

The King's Speech is about the story of King George VI of Britain, his impromptu ascension to the throne and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch become worthy of it. (imdb)

The King's Speech is very inspirational as we see the struggles that King George VI, portrayed by Colin Firth, went through in becoming king. We all have experienced some sort of struggle during our lives, but we did not have the whole nation watching us when we went through our struggles.

Colin Firth did a astounding job as King George VI earning him a well deserved Best Actor Oscar. Firth is able to embody the character so well that I was inclined to stand up at the end of the movie and clap...despite the fact that i was on a plane. Geoffrey Rush beauti fully supported Firth's character.

The cinematography is worth noting as the film uses many alternating shots in one scene. Watch for the different framing techniques used in between characters.

Overall a brilliantly motivating film that MUST be watched! I loved it :D

The Fighter (2010)

8/10
(HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!)

"You never know what will happen right? Never give up" A fantastic film with superb acting, touching story and great writing.

The Fighter is a look at the early years of boxer "Irish" Micky Ward and his brother who helped train him before going pro in the mid 1980s.(imdb)

The Fighter is absolutely beautiful film based on a true story. The film has the idea of3 the ugly duckling transforming into the beautiful swan, however the way the film is presented makes it a absolute treasure. The performance by the talented is breath-taking and so convincing. The writing and editing emphasizes the beauty of this film.

The Fighter takes on an 80s look in the cinematography with a grayish desaturated overtone. The editing of the short-film within the movie creates a very unique atmosphere, as the characters within the film act also as audience. Also, the film is able to capture the live/replay aspect of watching sports on television. So we see the movie as audience members as well as through the eyes of the characters on screen. A well executed editing technique.

Christian Bale and Amy Adams received nominations for their performance in The Fighter and they both have my vote for the win. Christian Bale gave an amazing and awing performance as Dicky, the crack-head brother of Mickey (Mark Wahlberg). Bale captures Dicky Eklund's personality so well that no matter how hard I tried, I could not picture him as Batman/Bruce Wayne. Amy Adam is also spot-on with her performance as Mickey's girlfriend who has to juggle the responsibility of dealing with Mickey's complicated family as well as staying supportive of Mickey.

Highly Recommend The Fighter. An encouraging story, great editing and fabulous acting makes this film a MUST SEE!!