A Nutshell Review: The Night Listener
The Night Listener sees Williams taking on the more serious deadpan role again as gay night time radio show host Gabriel Noone, who's just about reeling from his latest relationship woes. As an outlet for his issues on both the personal and business fronts, he gets introduced to a fan of his talk show, Pete, a childhood-abused teenage boy suffering from terminal illness, now living with a foster parent. Over time, Gabriel has established a close relationship with the boy, and now wants to meet him. Problem is, given conspiracy theories, is Pete who he claims to be?
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2006/09/night-listener.html
A Nutshell Review: Rob-B-Hood
Here, his screen time is almost equally shared with co-lead Louis Koo, with the both of them playing unsavoury characters - thieves with vices, with Chan as Thongs, a hardcore gambler with family issues, and Koo as Octopus, a married womanizer and fast car lover. They turn to their current profession of thievery to sustain their lifestyle, and the brains behind the duo's brawn is Landlord, played by veteran Michael Hui, a man whose wife is devastated by the loss of their only child.
Full Review at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2006/09/rob-b-hood.html
A Nutshell Review: Lower City
Two childhood friends, Deco (Lazaro Ramos) and Naldinho (Wagner Moura) meet Karinna (Alice Braga), a stripper looking for a cheap ride to the city of Salvador, in exchange for sexual favours with the boys. Who could pass up a blonde like that, and in record time, we see the friends getting it on with her inside their steamship.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2006/09/lower-city-cidade-baixa.html
A Nutshell Review: Scoop
Scoop marks Woody Allen's second movie shown locally this year (the other being Match Point), both set in England and both starring his new muse Scarlett Johansson. In what is probably reel influenced by the real, Johansson was recently crowned sexiest woman alive by Esquire magazine, and you wouldn't have expected her to take on the nerdy look of Allen with those glasses and neurotic behaviour. But she did.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2006/09/scoop.html
A Nutshell Review: You, Me and Dupree
If the saying Two's a Company and Three's a Crowd is anything to go along with, then the third person in a sacrificial team up here, is unfortunately Kate Hudson. Sure, the movie is about how the newlywed Peterson couple, Carl and Molly (Matt Dillon and Hudson) invited trouble into their lives when Carl's best friend Randy Dupree (Owen Wilson) "temporarily" lives with them, it's precisely her role as the frustrated wife turned sympathizer who gets less screen time, less development of sorts, and as a comedy, less of the laughs.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2006/10/you-me-and-dupree.html
A Nutshell Review: Taladeega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
At one glance, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (what a mouthful) is surely the live-action version of this summer's Cars, with its setting in NASCAR racing, the drive (pardon the pun) to be number one on the race track, and its storyline in finding out what truly matters in life besides the race (oops, another pun) to the top.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2006/10/talladega-nights-ballad-of-ricky-bobby.html
A Nutshell Review: The Departed
The big question on the minds of those who have seen the original Hong Kong movie is whether this Hollywood remake is worth watching. I'd say hell yeah, down to your last dollar, weekend price or otherwise.
Find out why! http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2006/10/departed.html
A Nutshell Review: Silk
Two reasons why I watched this. First, I've been recommended this film by a friend. Secondly, it starred Barbie Hsu - with a name like that, why shouldn't I want to watch this? Ok, so I know she starred in the Taiwanese pop-drama television series Meteor Garden, and am just curious to see her in yet another horror movie. And since I'm in post-birthday celebrations, I also learnt she's a day older than me.
OK, so more about the movie here http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2006/10/silk-gui-si.html
A Nutshell Review: American Dreamz
At first glance, it truly looked like the big screen adapted version of the wildly popular reality tv series American Idol, with a similar "singing talent" competition featured throughout the movie, sharing the same title. Writer-Director Paul Weitz had actually weaved a cunning parody and satire about the modern day US politics, domestic and foreign affairs all rolled into one. The obsession with reality shows, the ignorance of the most powerful man in the world, the determination of those wanting to wreck havoc in truth, justice and the American way.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2006/10/american-dreamz.html
A Nutshell Review: Death Note
Absolute power corrupts absolutely, so goes the saying.
What happens if you have the power to bring about death to any individual with just the mighty stroke of the pen? How would you use your new found ability? Would you decide to inflict capital punishment and take away lives of criminals, convicted, suspected or otherwise? Would you be the grim reaper, transfixed in your own branding of right and wrong, backed by the power of mortality?
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2006/10/death-note-desu-nto.html
A Nutshell Review: The Guardian
There are many, many films out there about various uniformed folk. The police and fire department probably get represented a fair bit in movies, ranging from heroic stories, to tragedies, and some even featuring them in bad light. In my opinion, first movies should always be sort of a tribute story to the boys and girls in uniform, before adding some flavour in subsequent films with more sophisticated stories that can even venture into putting some characters in negative light. Think Backdraft, where you have the good and the bad apples from the fire department. Though on the other hand, first movies can also be hampered by this approach to the storyline, for its emphasis on the introduction of the profession's job scope, in keeping things stuck to a formula, and by having characters no less than heroic.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2006/10/guardian.html
A Nutshell Review: The Black Dahlia
There are a couple of reasons why I wanted to watch The Black Dahlia. First, the trailer was slick, and the strangely hypnotic song used in the trailer, Dirge - by Death in Vegas, actually had this enthralling sublime message which to me was "watch this". Next, it's a police noir set in the 40s Hollywood. Movies set during that era and at that location appeal to me too, as will Hollywoodland. And last but not least, it stars Scarlett Johansson, sexiest woman alive if Esquire Magazine is to be believed (and I actually agree).
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2006/10/black-dahlia.html
A Nutshell Review: The Prestige
I've said it before, but I'll say it again. Christopher Nolan can do no wrong.
Teaming up again with his Batman Begins cast of Christian Bale and Michael Caine, and joined with the Scoop team consisting of X-Men's Wolverinie Hugh Jackman and Scarlett Johansson, the stellar (eye candy) cast already set tongues wagging as to whether they'll be able to live up to the hype of Nolan's long awaited movie directly challenging the other picture about Victorian magicians, The Illusionist.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2006/10/prestige.html
A Nutshell Review: Exiled
Johnny To has returned with yet another HK gangland movie following his Election movies, and with the casting of the usual suspects in lead roles, it might, to some, become quite tiresome after a while. Not that the actors are bad in their roles, but perhaps with too much familiarity too soon, it may become difficult to tell one apart from the other, or at least character wise.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2006/10/exiled-fong-juk.html
A Nutshell Review: My Summer of Love
My Summer of Love, as the title implies, is about a romance during the summer holidays. Perhaps one of the draws of this movie in release now in Singapore, is indirectly from the popularity of The Devil Wears Prada, with Emily Blunt playing the role of an uncooperative, bullying colleague to Anne Hathaway's Andrea. Yet another GLBT movie to hit our shores (somehow I think lesbian love films make it here more frequently than gay ones?), this movie, based on a novel written by Helen Cross, and directed by Pawel Pawlikowski, has won the BAFTA award for Best British Film, amongst other movie awards.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2006/10/my-summer-of-love.html
A Nutshell Review: Operation Undercover
"Wo Hu" literally translates to "Crouching Tiger" (yeah yeah, one half of that famous Chinese proverb/movie of the same title), which refers to hidden talents, agendas and the likes. In yet another Hong Kong triad movie produced by the infamous Wong Jing, Operation Undercover (the less stylish English title) tells the story of how Hong Kong's police sent a rumoured thousand undercover cops to infiltrate the triads at all levels, leading to numerous high profiled arrests of triad members.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2006/10/operation-undercover-wo-hu.html
A Nutshell Review: An Inconvenient Truth
Now if there's a story that's terrifying, An Inconvenient Truth is more horrifying that the recent slew of horror and disaster films out there, because, if you buy the message, this is true, and what's happening right here right now. We can't escape the consequences if we continue doing what we do to harm Nature, but yet we still have the power and ability to make a difference.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2006/10/inconvenient-truth.html
A Nutshell Review: The Covenant
Don't think too much when watching this movie. That's my advice, but it worked as an excellent therapy right after surviving the horrendous local film Return to Pontianak. The Covenant is guilty pleasure, of watching something full of effects, zero storyline to think about, great looking cast and the usual fast cars and quick action.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2006/11/covenant.html
A Nutshell Review: Flushed Away
Hugh Jackman is everywhere these days, from reprising his iconic Wolverine role in summer blockbuster X3, to starring twice alongside Scarlett Johansson in Woody Allen's Scoop and Christopher Nolan's The Prestige, and now, just lending his voice to a lead character in the animated film Flushed Away, co-starring his summer blockbuster star Sir Ian McKellen. Soon to come will be Darren Aronofsky's The Fountain. Whew! There seems to be no stopping this Hollywood flavour of the month!
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2006/11/flushed-away.html
A Nutshell Review: Crank
Just so you know, I'm a fan of Jason Statham, but before you jump to conclusions that I'm gonna give a positive spin on Crank because I'm a fan boy, do note that if you cannot stand mindless action movies, if you're not a Statham fan, flowery vulgarities are not your cup of tea, and MTV styled quick cuts give you headaches, then forget it, Crank is not for you.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2006/11/crank.html
A Nutshell Review: The Tiger and the Snow
The Tiger and the Snow is a beautiful romantic movie, and it opened quite perfectly with an awesome ballad "You Can Never Hold Back Spring", performed by Tom Waits himself. Written and directed by Italian Roberto Benigni (famed for the wonderful LIfe is Beautiful), he also stars as the lead Attilio de Giovanni, a lovestruck poet who falls for a woman in his recurring dreams.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2006/11/tiger-and-snow-la-tigre-e-la-neve.html
A Nutshell Review: A Good Year
The first time director Ridley Scott and actor Russell Crowe paired together, they made the award winning Gladiator, and perhaps surprised folks that a mainstream action movie could snag the best picture Oscar. Here, they come together again for a pretty feel good movie, but I don't expect that this would win any major honours. Not that it's a bad film, but it's quite vanilla plain, that you could guess every other step of how the narrative and plot will unfold.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2006/11/good-year.html
A Nutshell Review: DOA: Dead or Alive
When my friend and I saw the poster for this, we simultaneously said we were going to watch it when it gets released. It actually took me this long to get down to it, given schedules and the likes. Five beautiful babes on screen, and it took me more than a week to view it? Something must not be right you say?
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2006/11/doa-dead-or-alive.html
A Nutshell Review: Step Up
I think I'm fast becoming a fan of the dance genre. The moves and the music just gets to me, be it Mad Hot Ballroom styled documentaries, or street hip hop, or a fusion of both, like in the recent Take The Lead. Step Up is one such movie, full of youthful energy that makes you want to stand up and do a jig or two.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2006/11/step-up.html
A Nutshell Review: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
It takes a lot to make me wince, given the numerous gore movies that hit our shores like Hostel, Severance and the likes, and surprisingly, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, surpassed the rest in actually making my hair stand on ends.
Continues at http://anutshellreview.blogspot.com/2006/11/texas-chainsaw-massacre-beginning.html