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Cinema Voyage - Akito Hirata, Filmhunter

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Cinema Voyage - December 2009

The Lovely Bones

December 29th 2009 17:36

I have been anticipating the release of Lovely Bones (based on Alice Sebold's novel of the same name) for quite a while now. It seems an odd movie choice for Peter Jackson of The Lord of the Rings trilogy although he has previously shown he has a sensitive side with 1994's Heavenly Creatures.

Lovely Bones stars Saoirse Ronan as the main character Susie Salmon. who meets with an early death thanks to her killer at large George Harvey (Stanley Tucci). The movie is told from her perspective after her death from heaven and also stars Rachel Weisz and Mark Wahlberg as the mourning parents. Susan Sarandon features as Grandma Lynn.

The release dates vary from country to country although should open for the most part by the end of January at a cinema near you.

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Posted By: Michelle Sweeney - Category: Movie Chatter

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Review - Inglourious Basterds

December 19th 2009 21:09

Well I am not exactly sure what I was expecting from Inglourious Basterds - but what I saw wasn't what I was expecting in the least. In fact it was so much better than I had anticipated. Quentin Tarantino is an imaginative and quirky film maker and while this film will not appeal to everyone, it certainly appealed to my warped sense of humour. And who else has the audacity to rewrite history focussing on Hitler and his downfall and create their very own revenge fantasy film?

The movie is set in Nazi-occupied France and focusses on Col Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) who is responsible for sniffing out hidden Jews and killing them wherever they lie. His reputation precedes him and few ever survive if they come into close contact with Landa. One such survivor is Shosanna (Melanie Laurent) who manages to escape his clutches, although unfortunately for the rest of her family they met with a cruel and unnecessary death.

The title of the film itself refers to the "Basterds" a set of American guerilla soldiers led by gung-ho Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) who sets out on their own mission which is basically to "be cruel to the Germans". As he himself says", You probably heard we ain't in the prisoner-takin' business; we in the killin' Nazi business. And cousin, Business is a-boomin'."

As the story progresses, the fate of the Basterds, Landa and Shosanna all meet up during an inaugural film opening at Shosanna's cinema. All the high powered Nazis including Hitler are due to congregate to honour the movie starring war hero Pvt Fredrick Zoller (Daniel Brühl) who also happens to be the star of the film. The Basterds have their own agenda to bring the cinema down and destroy the Germans, as does Shoshanna who is planning to seek revenge for the annihilation of her family. Diane Kruger appears in the movie as Bridget von Hammersmark, an actress and spy who is a key player to the Basterds ruthless plot.

Well by all accounts nothing goes according to plan and the plot leaves way for a multitude of possibilities and eventualities. Despite the unapologetic violence, there is humour in abundance and well as a beautiful cinematic quality to many of the scenes. A great way to while away a couple of hours.

"Monsieur LaPadite, to both your family and your cows I say: Bravo."

Voyage Review: 4/5

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Posted By: Michelle Sweeney - Category: Comedy

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Review - Traitor

December 14th 2009 09:33

Terrorist bombings, FBI agents - not a story you would expect to come from the pen of Steve Martin. But ever since I saw his play Picasso at the Lapin Agile and read Shopgirl, it is clear that he is a man who refuses to be pigeonholed.

Traitor opens in Sudan 1978 and then cuts to Yemen in present day, where we are introduced to Samir Horn (Don Cheadle) and subsequently taken on a journey across the globe to locations including England, Spain, Canada and France. Supported by an excellent cast including Guy Pearce, Said Taghmaoui and Jeff Daniels, the script by writer/director Jeffrey Nachmanoff is in competent hands.

Samir Horn is caught selling explosive devices in Yemen to known terrorists and finds himself hauled off to a desert prison. Enter FBI Agent Roy Clayton (Guy Pearce) and Max Archer (Neal McDonough) - typical good cop/bad cop - who are heading up an international terrorist investigation and offer Samir a deal, which he subsequently refuses to take. He is a devout Muslim and states early on that "life and death is for God to decide" making it clear that religion is his life and his motivation.

In prison he is taken under the wing of Omar and is advised of a plan to break out of prison. He is given a choice - he can go his own way or join Omar and his team of fundamentalists who are undertaking a mission of their own. He chooses to follow Omar and join their fight with agents Clayton and Archer continuously trying to hunt him down.

Seemingly realistic in plot and location, the film manages to capture the complexities of religion and terrorists. I especially liked the scenes involving the young fundamentalists and the portrayal of their unerring belief.

This film won't appeal to everyone and there are quite a few holes in the plot that are left uncovered. Don Cheadle carries the lead well in a riveting performance and the tagline of the film "the truth is complicated" captures the essence of the film well.

Voyage Review: 3/5

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Posted By: Michelle Sweeney - Category: Drama

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Review - Away We Go

December 3rd 2009 21:28

Verona De Tessant (Maya Rudolph) and Burt Farlander (John Krasinski) are two thirty-somethings adjusting to an unexpected pregnancy. In terms of their lifestyle, they have not quite matured from the casual lifestyle of their student days. Now with the impending birth of their baby in a couple of months they realise that it is now time to make the leap from just surviving in a house to truly making a home for themselves and their family. Knowing that raising a child is a big responsibility they venture out on a road trip in search of a perfect place to raise their child.

Not wanting to be isolated from their family or friends, they logically seek out locations in order that they can be near to them so their family will have an opportunity to bond with someone that they already know

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