Category: Movie

Lord of War tells the story of Yuri Orlov, a Ukrainian immigrant who is in the arms dealings business, and dealing with war lords in the most dangerous territories of the world.

Initially the movie doesn’t seem anything special and feels like another rise to power story that we’ve seen several times, but gradually the deeper message behind the film is revealed. The film’s director Andrew Niccol (known for writing the Truman Show) usually has political or social themes involved in his stories. In Lord of War, Yuri’s morality is questioned. As his clients murder hundreds of innocent people, he takes pleasure in making large amounts of money he’s gotten from it, and this makes him come off as a pathetic and unlikeable person.

The film has strong cinematography and editing that keep the audience engaged with the variety of situations that occur, and therefore the film never feels boring. Nicolas Cage’s lead role as Yuri is one of the actor’s better performances. Throughout the movie his character narrates parts of the story, and the narrations is fine for the most part, but in some instances it feels overdone and using visual elements and dialogue in more creative ways would’ve been a better decision. Although this is a minor issue and the film is intriguing and well-made in nearly every aspect.

Lord of War cleverly portrays human being’s desire for violence, and that in the end, war-seeking governments and warlords are the real winners. It doesn’t matter if Yuri Orlov keeps doing his business, and as he says himself: “Evil Prevails.”

Cameron Crowe’s critically acclaimed “Almost Famous” is set in 1973, where a 15 year-old boy named William writes articles about that era’s rock bands. After an offer from Rolling Stone Magazine, he goes on a tour with a band named Stillwater in order to write an article about them.

The film has a powerful plot, and part of it is based on Cameron Crowe’s real-life experiences. The characters are interesting and multi-dimensional, and throughout the story their relationships and conflicts with each other make for entertaining sequences.

The movie has a cast of talented actors such as Frances McDormand, Billy Crudup and Phillip Seymour Hoffman; though unfortunately Patrick Fugit, who plays the main character, doesn’t shine nearly as much as the other cast members and doesn’t leave a memorable impression of his character.

The movie examines the era of classic rock, and while paying homage to it, it also criticizes the phony glitz and glamour and marketing techniques of the rock and roll industry, though it doesn’t completely have a negative view towards lifestyle of rock stars. We also see the joy and pleasure they get from what they do, and a certain carefree attitude that is in opposition with the main character, and something that maybe few people can understand.

There is also a comedic aspect to this film, and for the most part, it succeeds at creating humorous scenes. The film’s soundtrack has also been praised, which includes many 60s and 70s rock songs in addition to songs performed by Stillwater that were written for the film itself.

If you have no interest in the music and culture of this era, then Almost Famous might not be for you. But for fans of the classic rock genre this film can be an enjoyable experience.

A true story about four college students from Kentucky who decide to steal a series of million-dollar worth paintings. The film contains a different and creative way of storytelling, that consists of both actors and their real-life counterparts. The main story of the heist that takes place in 2004 is told through filmmaking, where the actors play their parts as the four college friends, and the rest of the film is an interview with the four people themselves, where they talk about this event and how it affected their lives. These two different types of scenes are shown in parallel and side-by-side throughout the film, which makes it a completely unique experience.

There are many movies which involve grand heists and robberies, and in the majority of them the heist plays out in an exaggerated and unrealistic fashion. But American Animals completely avoids the clichés of this genre and tells a true story with real people, people with genuine thoughts and emotions.

The editing, use of music and performances of American Animals all create an exciting and impactful film, which is never dull or uninteresting, and proves that a heist film doesn’t need a formulaic and generic Hollywood plot to be appealing.

American Animals is one of the better movies of 2018, and also one that isn’t well-known. I highly recommend it to everyone.

Stanley Kurbrick’s The Shining is an Adaptation of a novel by Stephen King. In winter, Jack Torrance and his family travel far from town to the Overlook hotel, to remain there as caretakers for a few months. While Jack is trying to write his novel, cabin fever wins him over and gradually leads him to insanity, which causes chaos and terrible events that affect his family.

Not only does the Shining including one of the most enthralling performances in movie history, performed by Jack Nicholson, but also due to Kubrick’s innovative techniques and directing style, it’s considered one of the greatest movies in history. In the tracking shots we experience the enormous and bewildering appearance of the hotel, which allows us to easily put ourselves in the characters’ shoes.

Danny Lloyd, who plays the son of the family, possibly gives one of the best child performances out there. His tricycle riding scenes in the hotel’s long hallways are some of the most iconic and memorable parts of the movie, with immaculate cinematography and sound design that only someone with Kubrick’s attention to detail can pull off.

The overall meaning of the film might be ambiguous and indirect, like most of Kubrick’s works are, and anyone can interpret it how they want, but with each repeated viewing, the film gives you more enjoyment as well as small details you might have missed on your first viewing. The Shining is among those movies that everybody knows, and it’s been parodied and imitated countless times in pop culture, which has caused it to slightly lose its elements of fear and surprise for a first-time viewer. Nonetheless, the film is still a masterpiece, and everyone should experience it at least once.

Cure is a Japanese horror thriller film from 1997. It tells the story of an unusual case regarding several murders. The only thing that connects the victims is an X that has been carved into their neck. In each respective murder, the killer is found close-by shortly after locating the dead victim. None of the killers can provide an explanation to their action, and their motives are unclear. The protagonist of the story, Detective Takabe, is trying to find a connection between the murders, but in the meantime, has to deal with his personal life and his mentally ill wife. Once he discovers more about the case, the movie goes to unexpected territory and becomes severely more frightening.

Kiyoshi Kurosawa was able to make a very dark and bitter atmosphere, which makes the audience simultaneously engaged and uneasy. The cinematography, lighting, and sound design go well with the horrific story and tone of the film.

Cure was made in the same era as Japanese horror films such as Ringu and The Grudge, and despite not having the same recognition, is undoubtedly among the same class of movies. The fear that is projected from the film isn’t what we’d generally expect from a horror film, and it mostly focuses on the psychological and social ascpects of this genre, and it creates many questions around the human mind, and society in general.

At first Cure starts off like any other murder mystery crime tale, but it gradually turns into a psychological horror, and it’s engaging and fascinating for fans of either of these genres, and shows Kurosawa’s undeniable talent in this medium.

Don’t Look Now is a British horror thriller film from 1973 directed by Nicolas Roeg. It is the story of a couple who lose their young daughter after a devastating accident. Now in Venice, a while after the tragedy, they are warned about something by a woman who claims to be psychic.

Don’t Look Now has had a great impact on many filmmakers, and it’s cited as one of the most important works in the horror genre. The film’s editing is done in a way to trick the audience, in which time and the order of the events that take place seems different than what it actually is. The town of Venice plays an important role in the story. Most of the time this town is portrayed as a nice and peaceful landscape, but in Don’t Look Now, its rivers and structures create a dark, unsettling atmosphere.

Although some techniques in the filmmaking are outdated, (like the exaggerated zooms) Don’t Look Now is on the whole an excellently made movie with purposeful cinematography and use of color, and Nicolas Roeg was able to showcase grief and psychological trauma in a new and creative way.

Don’t Look Now is filled with foreshadowing, and on a second watch, the importance of certain scenes and moments becomes clearer, and we can tell what each scene sets up for the ending. This film might not be what we usually label as a “horror” film, but it certainly makes the audience feel anxious and uneasy. Films like Kubrick’s “The Shining” and Polanski’s “Rosemary’s Baby” are good comparisons with Don’t Look Now, since they’re all psychological horrors, and are all among the best of the horror genre. Don’t Look Now is less commonly known compared to the other two, but this certainly doesn’t affect its quality in any way, and I believe it’s a film that any movie fan needs to watch.