Sling Blade

Director - Billy Bob Thornton

Genre - Drama

As dirt cheap financed independent movies go, this is as good as it gets. Billy Bob Thornton's turn in the director's chair is a stroke of quiet genius, bidding its time with a story which on the surface looks like nothing but is in fact packed full of multi-layered themes. Thornton plays a well meaning simpleton with a heavy past. When he befriends a kid who sees him only as the sweet and kind man he tries so hard to be, a bond of trust and reliance form between the two. Unable to forgive or turn a blind eye to the injustices in society, the calm and peace he sought in life gives way to a darker force, lunging him ever closer to the same grave mistake he made a long time ago. Thornton's acting here is nothing short of remarkable for his 360° transformation as well as his dedication which was put into, come up with such a one of a kind character. What Tarantino did with 'Reservoir Dogs', Thornton matched that with his passion for acting and of finding the truth in human weaknesses. Whilst Tarantino tantalized us with his spitfire dialogue, Thornton did it with eliciting strong performances from his actors and in particular himself. Without any aid of prosthetic, his carefully constructed morphing into this unrecognizable character will put to shame actors who scrape by with their SAG cards. It may not have cemented Thornton as a turn of the century auteur like what 'Citizen Kane' did for Orson Welles, yet in its own small way, this movie will outlive the sum of its modest parts.

5 STARS!

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M

Director - Fritz Lang

Genre - Film-Noir/Thriller

'M' is one of those films which gets under your skin. Not in a creepy or unusual way but rather it is so memorable you can't think about anything else except this film for days and days. Fritz Lang made this classy masterpiece about a serial killer who got the whole city up in arms including the mob with such care towards detail and originality it is hard to top. For anything made at that time and recent times as well. The ending will make you sit up and wonder, "What? This was made so far back?". Daring and groundbreaking for its era, this classic is an ageless and important viewing experience for lovers of cinema. Don't wait. Put that crap ('Green Lantern' is it?) away and get 'M' for Masterpiece.

5 STARS!

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My Magic

Director - Eric Khoo

Genre - Drama

As indie films go, this here doesn't disappoint. What we didn't really like though is the too sentimental feel which crops up often in the movie. Arguably, Eric Khoo has always had this problem, but in this one, it is somehow more pronounced. If it had gone darker, a more original work would have taken shape. When a downtrodden magician with a demanding beer belly takes on a dangerous job to support his son, events begin to unfold which may bring them both closer than ever before or separate them for eternity. We like the natural acting and real magic (the lead is a magician in real life), but as we've mentioned, it could do with less 'aaawww.....'. Still, the sum of good far outweighs the bad.

3 STARS!

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3

Director - Tom Tykwer

Genre - Comedy/Drama/Romance

Directed by 'Run Lola Run's Tom Tykwer, this movie lets you in on the lives of three adults who don't adhere to the rules of a conventional relationship. There are repercussions when you don't have a set of values or principles when in love. Anything goes is for the animals. The characters in this engaging story extoll the fun of being open to sexual awakenings regardless of the consequences. For those of you who lead safe and straight lives, it may come as a jolt to your sensibilities. For us, we liked the humor in the unlikeliest of places, the dramatics of love taken out of context so much so it became comical and not at all romantic. In short, it became primal, base and repugnant. So those of you who are still holding hands and locking lips with saccharine affection, stay far away.

4 STARS!

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Oasis

Director - Lee Chang-Dong

Genre - Drama/Romance

A unique and unusual experience awaits anyone who stumbles upon this picture. The unlikeliest of romance occurs when an ex-convict falls for a special needs girl. Frowned on by society, we witness how their enclosed world is so much more purer and untainted by hypocrisy compared to the outside world. Moon So-Ri the lead actress was so spot on in her portrayal we thought at first that she was indeed a special needs person in real life. This performance is just phenomenal. Not many actresses would be as courageous and as unselfconscious about their looks as her. We declare her one of the best actresses we've ever encountered based on this emotionally draining and physically taxing performance. It is the kind of acting which doesn't just move you, it shakes you to your inner core and takes you out of your comfort zone. This is our first introduction to director Lee Chang-Dong. We're confident this master of filmmaking has a lot more to offer and we're sure this student-teacher relationship will continue to bloom beautifully. The memory of this movie has ingrained itself deep in the corners of our minds marked arthouse masterclass.

5 STARS!

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All Good Things

Director - Andrew Jarecki

Genre - Crime/Drama/Mystery

Based on a true story, this movie stars Ryan Gosling (as the son of a very wealthy man) who may or may not have a hand in the disappearance of his wife, played by Kirsten Dunst. While it is always compelling to watch Gosling, this just didn't do anything for us. The direction was unimaginative and almost put us to sleep if not for Gosling's turn as a man with a hidden mental condition. Playing the wife who takes the brunt of this winning personality, Dunst doesn't surprise us much with her role. Heck, Jennifer Lopez could've played the part. The battered wife isn't a character most of us come up with when we're bantering about commendable female characters. Anyway, the cliches run deep in this made for TV-like film and we're not shocked at all why it is largely ignored by the critics and public.

2.5 STARS!

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Blue Valentine

Director - Derek Cianfrance

Genre - Drama/Romance

A marriage implodes from within and it's not a pretty sight. No, we're not talking about Mel Gibson's marriage. This here is the complete opposite of a date movie and those plunging into relationships should back the hell away. Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams play a married couple who fight with each other constantly, caught in a heartbreaking reality of their once happy union turning excruciatingly sour. Will they be able to save the matrimony for their sake and their daughter's? Flashbacks of when they were blissfully romantic and unaware of the storm coming fills the movie with a bittersweet nature. Those who think it's easy being in a relationship will think twice when they watch this. It's hard to pinpoint what exactly happened to cause the disintegration of their love. Gosling and Williams hit it out of the ballpark with their truth-seeking, controlled acting. Basically, what you have here is a horror story for fresh couples or those who are thinking of partaking in relationships. It doesn't take much to start falling out of love. Not much at all.

3.5 STARS!

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