Monday, February 16, 2009

Scud at the Movies: Part VIII


The Reader. I dig sad and depressing movies. This film is one of them. It tells the story of fifteen-year-old Michael Berg and his ill-fated summer affair with a woman more than twice his age, Hanna Schmitz (Kate Winslet). Watch this, if not for the story, but for Winslet's performance.


The Wrestler. A moving film about an aging wrestler, played brilliantly by Mickey Rourke, and second chances. Marissa Tomei, again sheds her clothes off for the second year in a row after last year's Before The Devil Knows You'e Dead, plays an exotic dancer and love interest of Rourke's character. The theme song written and sung by Bruce Springsteen is great. Watch this!


Doubt. This is the film adaptation of John Patrick Shanley's stage play Doubt: A Parable. Meryl Streep stars as Sister Aloysius who (wrongly?) accuses Father Flynn of molesting a black student. Overall, I wasn't impressed with the movie nor with Streep's, Hoffman's, or Adams' performances. Viola Davis was a gem though. The extended scene between her and Streep was great. Too bad the movie wasn't half as good.


Australia. Bazz Luhrmann's epic tale set before World War II tells the story of Australia's lost generation and the love story between a recently widowed English aristocrat (Nicole Kidman) and a drover (Hugh Jackman). There is not much to praise about this film. The story was so-so. The cinematography was great but not awe-inspiring. I think this is Luhrmann's weakest film after Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge.


RockNRolla. Guy Ritchie's latest movie about a group of gangsters fucking another group of gangsters. I think this is the Brittish version of Hollywood's Ocean's 11, 12, and 13. The only difference is the Brits do it better. I still think though that RockNRolla fails in comparison to Ritchie's Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

6 comments:

gillboard said...

I've seen only The Reader... anyway, is that kid in the movie, the same as the one in Narnia? looks familiar kasi... hmmm...

Visual Velocity said...

Rocknrolla rocks! Love it, love it, love it!

Do you think a sequel is up in the works? Parang may hint just before the end credits started rolling...

The Scud said...

gillboard > hindi ata. i read somewhere that the reader is berg's first english-language movie. teka. you're talking about berg right?

andy > no idea. sadly i haven't been reading any movie news lately. too busy na. :-(

Raft3r said...

i was really looking forward to australia
kaso all the bad raps it got, mukhang ayoko na gumastos to see it
hehe
i really like luhrmann, though
teka tama ba spelling?

the reader, naku gusto ko ito mapanood
anything realted to kate winslet, panalo
she reminds me of jodie foster

The Scud said...

raft3r > double r, one n ata spelling. hehe. panoorin mo rev road and the reader. she's great in both. at naghubad na naman sya sa the reader. madaming beses. :-)

Visual Velocity said...

Ang hilig nga mag-hubad ni Kate Winslet. She's the female version of Ewan McGregor. Si McGregor din daming nudie scenes. Pero mas matapang si Ewan kasi frontal kaya niya; wala siyang paki-alam. Ehehe.