Genre: Crime, Drama

Year: 2011

Country: Belgium

Rating:

Starring: Matthias Schoenaerts, Jeroen Perceval, Jeanne Dandoy, Barbara Sarafian, Tibo Vandenborre

Director: Michael R. Roskam

My Review: A Dutch movie, that takes place primarily in Belgium. The main characters are rural farmers, auto mechanics and veterinarians. An odd mix of characters that are all involved in illegal drugs - Hormones and steroids. Drugs the inject into cattle in order to fatten them up faster and bigger, so they can make more money on the livestock market. An odd but realistic glimpse of the drug trade. Not the glamorous side we always see in American movies. The characters are very well developed and the cinematography was outstanding. The acting by the lead actor - Matthias Schoenaerts (playing Jacky Vanmarsenille (aka Bullhead)) was extraordinary. Very believable and natural. As the movie starts out your indifferent, if somewhat negative in your feelings toward this violent man who'd shooting up frequently. As the movie progresses, and the past revealed, you can't help but feel sorry for the character and the life he lives. Intense, original, powerful, believable and beautiful. I give it a 4 out of 5.

Summary: The young Limburg cattle farmer Jacky Vanmarsenille is approached by an unscrupulous veterinarian to make a shady deal with a notorious West-Flemish beef trader. But the assassination of a federal policeman, and an unexpected confrontation with a mysterious secret from Jacky's past, set in motion a chain of events with farreaching consequences. BULLHEAD is an exciting tragedy about fate, lost innocence and friendship, about crime and punishment, but also about conflicting desires and the irreversibility of a man's destiny.

Genre: Sci-Fi

Year: 1997

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Winona Ryder, Dominique Pinon, Ron Perlman, Gary Dourdan

Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet

My Review: The final movie in the Alien saga. Starring Sigourney Weaver, Winona Ryder, Dominique Pinon, Ron Perlman, Gary Dourdan, Michael Wincott and others. Directed by one of my favorites - Jean-Pierre Jeunet (see Delicatessen, The City of Lost Children, Amélie, A Very Long Engagement), this movie was an excellent visual treat. The writing was somewhat limited. Simply a bug hunt on board a giant space ship. The plot is rather straight forward - As Ripley puts it "You're all gonna die". This movie focuses on entertainment in a rather hollywood style. With plenty of witty one-liners, explosions, leather clad characters, chest bursting gross out scenes, and adrenalin based pacing. The plot: Military scientists clone Ripley and surgically remove an alien. Then they start growing them - always a bad mistake... At this point, you should get the picture. I really liked the character interactions and the visual style. The Ripley character in this movie is excellent. An excellent twist on the character. You can tell that Sigourney was enjoying herself immensely while playing the Lt. Ellen Ripley clone - aka Number 8. Her performance in this movie (as with the others in the franchise) moves this movie up one notch. Without Sigourney, this movie wouldn't hold much merit, as you've already seen all the other parts (if you've seen the other movies in the series). Dan Hedaya as General Perez was a mistake. His over the top performance detracts from the movie. Winona Ryder as Annalee Call was an interesting casting choice. Matching little Winona alongside the giantess Sigourney made for some interesting dynamics, but Ryder didn't do much more than add some eye candy to the movie. I give this movie a 4 out of 5.

Summary: 200 years after her death, Ellen Ripley is revived as a powerful human/Alien hybrid clone who must continue her war against the Aliens.

Genre: Documentary

Year: 1999

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Nick Allder, Bolaji Badejo, Mia Bonzanigo, Bob Burns, Veronica Cartwright

Director: Michael Matessino

My Review: Here's a documentary included with the 4-DVD boxed set (Alien Legacy). Running 68 minutes, and filmed twenty years after the original Alien, it's an excellent behind the scenes documentary starring Ridley Scott (Director), H.R. Giger (Artist/Alien Design), Dan O'Bannon (Screenwriter) and Ronald Shusett (Executive Producer) and others. The documentary features insight and discussions on the making of the original movie, outtakes, interviews, original artwork and story board sketches. If you're a fan of the genre/series you must watch this movie. The background, production notes, character details and challenges that the staff faced in making this ground-breaking movie are gripping. A retrospective that dives deep into the movie that spawned a whole new genre - Sci-Fi, Horror like we've never seen before. I give it a 5 out of 5. (Not available on Netflix)

Summary: Journey back to the beginning of the ALIEN phenomenon with this fascinating retrospective of the most terrifying sci-fi saga of our time. Director Ridley Scott talks about recognizing his 'alien' immediately upon seeing the sketches of H.R. Giger, the famous artist behind the nightmarish alien creature that has haunted our dreams for over twenty years. Dan O'Bannon and executive producer Ronald Shusett reveal the many challenges involved with bringing this chilling masterpiece to the screen. From film production and character development, to the elaborate costumes and the building of the alien planet and the spaceship Nostromo, this exclusive look back includes behind-the-scenes footage, outtakes and a glimpse at some of Ridley Scott's original storyboard sketches.

Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi

Year: 1967

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: John Agar, Carol Gilley, Ralph Baker Jr., Dorothy Davis, Bill Thurman

Director: James A. Sullivan

My Review: A Sci-Fi, Horror B-Movie from the 60's. The music is overwrought, the lighting abysmal, the special effects horrid, the acting amateur (at best), the writing unimaginative, the camera work bad, the sound work barely passable, the production terrible. This movie has it all - Man in gorilla suit (with horns and a vaguely Klingon-like ridge on the forehead) stands in as fiend from space. The alien creatures goal? Arrgghh, blub, glub, ook, arrghh, rogg! to walk towards the humans in a menacing manner. The lead character - Sheriff Clint Crawford (played by John Agar) does his best to protect the towns coeds from the serial killer creature from outer space. The best part of this movie is the girls wearing mini-skirts, gyrating gladly for the camera. That and the preposterously cliched scientist - Prof. Alan Clayton (played by Roger Ready!); who smokes a pipe while pontificating on the possible origins of this seemingly primitive space traveler. Despite it's charm, it doesn't quite fall into the "So bad it's good" category - I give it a 1 out of 5. Thankfully it was 1 of 15 on a compilation of horror movies that I bought from the Wal-Mart bargain bin.

Summary: A government space experiment into the effects of cosmic rays on animal life goes horribly wrong, creating a mutant monster that terrorizes a rural community.

Genre: Drama

Year: 1989

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Michelle Pfeiffer, Beau Bridges, Ellie Raab, Xander Berkeley

Director: Steven Kloves

My Review: An Academy award nominee - But it didn't take the prize. The cast was great; Beau Bridges (playing Frank Baker), Jeff Bridges (playing Jack Baker), Michelle Pfeiffer (playing Susie Diamond). Jeff and Beau play a Jazz piano duo who specialize in small clubs. Discontent with their inability to move up a notch in their business, they seek out a certain type of singer. A sexy songbird who'll draw a bigger audience, a better pay-check, better booking prospects. They find that certain commodity in Susie Diamond. Susie joins the team and immediately improves the standing of their lounge act. The problems begin when Suzie and Jack decide to Jazz it up in the bedroom. The two get along fine, but tensions start to build between Jack and Frank. The brothers are forced to re-evaluate their relationship and the impact of this new twist on their arrangement. A pretty good drama, with some good music (towards the end). The music gets better and better throughout the movie, but the story doesn't hold much originality or staying power. I give it a 3 out of 5.

Summary: Frank and Jack Baker are professional musicians who play small clubs. They play schmaltzy music and have never needed a day job. Times are changing and dates are becoming more difficult to get so they interview female singers. They finally decide on Susie Diamond, a former 'escort' who needs some refinement, but the act begins to take off again. While the act is now successful, both Frank and Jack have problems with their life on the road. Susie becomes the agent that makes them re-evaluate where they are going, and how honest they have been with each other.

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama

Year: 2011

Country: France, Belgium

Rating:

Starring: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman, James Cromwell, Penelope Ann Miller

Director: Michel Hazanavicius

My Review: An amazing movie. Black & White, Silent, a movie where the emotions are closer to the viewer, the acting more sincere, the story more engrossing. I did myself a great dis-service when I watched this movie. I had the sound turned way down (Trying not to disturb my wife as I ran on the treadmill at O'Too early in the morning). It wasn't until 3/4 through the movie that I turned up the volume and heard the music. It's a story about two people in love with the audience, in love with each other, in love with the thrill of entertainment. The story tells the tale of two actors. One on the decline as the silent-screen begins to grow dim in the shadow of a bright new up-and-comer. The other is a fresh new face, a new discovery, an aspiring actress on the rise as the talkies propel her towards the top. The direction (by Michel Hazanvicius - OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies; OSS 117: Lost in Rio) was superb, the acting (Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, John Goodman) outstanding. The set work and costumes were terrific, authentic, absolutely perfect. The film is so authentic that I felt transported back in time to the early 30's. A wonderful homage to the silent film era. A great love story. A beautiful film. I must watch this again. Added to my must own list. Just in case you didn't know - This movie won FIVE Academy Awards in 2012. Best Costume Design, Best Direction, Best Original Score, Best Actor (Jean Dujardin), Best Movie! 5 out of 5.

Summary: Outside a movie premiere, enthusiastic fan Peppy Miller literally bumps into the swashbuckling hero of the silent film, George Valentin. The star reacts graciously and Peppy plants a kiss on his cheek as they are surrounded by photographers. The headlines demand: "Who's That Girl?" and Peppy is inspired to audition for a dancing bit-part at the studio. However as Peppy slowly rises through the industry, the introduction of talking-pictures turns Valentin's world upside-down.

Genre: Drama

Year: 1979

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Jane Alexander, Justin Henry, Howard Duff

Director: Robert Benton

My Review: A late 70s drama about something that was tearing the American family apart. Divorce was on the rise and child custody battles were no longer a seldom seen issue. The movie won five Oscars in 1980. Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Picture, Best Writing/Screenplay. Unfortunately, the movie hasn't aged well. The subject matter has become mundane and dated. The story - Ted (played by Dustin Hoffman) is a career man, doing his best to provide for his family. Joanna, his wife (played by Meryl Streep) aspires to do more with her life, and can't seem to get out from the shadow of her career man. Between them is little Billy (played by Justin Henry). When Joanna has had enough she leaves Ted and their 6 year old son. Ted struggles in his new relationship with Billy. He learns what it means to be a father. Billy learns who his father is. They grow to love each other. Later Joanna returns and demands to see Billy. Eventually she sues Ted for custody of Billy. It's a tragic tale of love lost, divorce, the legal system, and the impact of adult decisions on children. The direction (by Robert Benton) was o.k. Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep made this movie. Their acting felt real, genuine and affected. Dustin Hoffman was in the middle of a bitter divorce while filming the movie, and Meryl Streep was recovering from the death of John Cazale (her lover at the time). The pacing was a little bit off, and I'm not sure if it was editing or direction that accounted for some of the poor timing. I give it a 4 out of 5.

Summary: A just divorced man must learn to care for his son on his own, and then must fight in court to keep custody of him.

Genre: Documentary

Year: 2011

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: John Allison, Clifford Asness, Rajia Baroudi, Mike Berliner, Andrew Bernstein

Director: Chris Mortensen

My Review: A documentary about Ayn Rand (Born Alisa Zinov'yevna Rosenbaum to a bourgeois non-practicing Jewish family. She changed her name to Ayn Rand when she began writing (still in Russia). She traveled to the U.S. in 1926 and never returned to communist Russia). This documentary is all about Ayn Rand's philosophy of objectivism and American politics. Her book 'Atlas Shrugged' was a literary illustration of her philosophies on life and their effects upon the characters of her novels. The documentary tracks the publication, initial reaction and rising popularity of a book that seemingly predicted the rise of corporatism and an ever growing government bureaucracy. The feature length documentary did a very good job of explaining the influences that the book has had/is having on American culture, but it doesn't do a very good job illustrating how Ayn's life has had an effect on her philosophy. The book she wrote is an excellent treatise on Altruism vs Self-Interest. As a documentary I give it a 3 out of 5. It has instilled in me a desire to learn more about the ideals expressed in her novels.

Summary: Ayn Rand & the Prophecy of Atlas Shrugged is a feature length documentary film that examines the resurging...

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Genre: Horror

Year: 1966

Country: UK, Italy

Rating:

Starring: Barbara Steele, John Karlsen, Ian Ogilvy, Mel Welles, Joe 'Flash' Riley

Director: Michael Reeves

My Review: An amazingly bad horror movie filmed in Italy and the UK. Story - The movie starts out 200 years in the past when the villagers hunt down a 'witch' to blame for some hideous murders (of course she didn't actually do it, but a little thing like evidence or proof doesn't deter the villagers). The witch is nailed to a chair and dunked repeatedly in the 'purifying' waters of the nearby lake. Before she dies she spits out a curse on the descendants of all the villagers. Vowing that she "Will be back". When she finally drowns, her body sinks to the depths of the lake and it's never recovered. Flash forward 200 years. Phillip (played by Ian Ogilvy) and Veronica (played by Barbara Steele) are on vacation in Transylvania (Communist Romania). The stop for the night at a roadside Inn where they meet the Count Van Helsing (played by John Karlsen) - Yes the ancestor of the Van Helsing who slew Vampires. After a brief conversation about the curse upon the people of this village, the couple retires for the night. They engage in some 'husband' and 'wife' activities, spot the innkeeper spying on them and Phillip nearly kills the innkeeper. In the morning Phillip beats up the inn keeper again, gets his car keys back and they split. While driving past a lake Phillip loses control of the car and it plummets into a lake. Phillip is pulled free and passes out. When he comes to, there's no sign of his wife, but the villagers have fished the decomposing remains of an ancient witch from the icy waters of the lake. From that point on the movie jumps into the realm of screaming witch attacks all the villagers. Nothing intelligent ever escapes the witch's lips, and the other characters are occupied with one of three motivations. Kill the witch, die at the witch's hands or capture the witch in order to perform an exorcism. The story started out pretty good, but it quickly went off the rails. The video transfer, direction, acting, sound, dubbing, makeup, lighting, color and framing (you could tell that much was missing from the way shots were cropped) were all horrible. Especially ridiculous was the fast-forward car chase at the end of the movie. Utterly forgettable. I give it a 2 out of 5.

Summary: A young woman is driving alongside a lake. She has an accident and the car plunges into the water. Her body is then possessed by the spirit of an 18th-century witch who was killed by local villagers, and is bent on avenging herself on them.

Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller

Year: 2011

Country: USA, United Arab Emirates

Rating:

Starring: Tom Cruise, Paula Patton, Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner, Michael Nyqvist

Director: Brad Bird

My Review: The fourth installment of Mission Impossible, starring Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt. The cast included Tom Cruise (super sexy), Paula Patton (smoking' hot), Simon Pegg (uber geek agent), Jeremy Renner (the next action star?) and many others. Directed by Brad Bird (The Iron Giant, The Incredibles, Ratatouille). A summer block-buster, high-octane, action-flick. The movie starts out with Ethan Hunt locked way in a Russian prison. His team mates break him out of prison to help in another 'Impossible' mission. The IMF team must stop a mad scientist from acquiring the keys to the Russian nuclear arsenal. Complicating matters are the fact that the entire IMF has been disavowed (The Ghost Protocol has been initiated) after they're implicated in the destruction of the Kremlin! The movie quickly picks up pace and it never stops for one second. The action is breathtaking, the plot a tired re-run that's been done, re-done, over-done and done again. Tom Cruise and crew are sexy, smart, and a little funny (thank you Simon Pegg). Jet setting around the world, from Budapest to Russia to Dubai and Mumbai the scenery and costumes were excellent. Unfortunately, the acting was simple, lacking due to the pace of the action and there was very little character development. As a matter of fact, the only time the movie slowed down at all was to focus on some small piece of character background. Whenever it slowed down, I found myself examining some of the plot holes - Now that won't do… Let's get another action scene in there! I give it a 3 out of 5.

Summary: In the fourth installment of the Mission Impossible series, Ethan Hunt and a new team race against time to track down Hendricks, a dangerous terrorist who has gained access to Russian nuclear launch codes and is planning a strike on the United States. An attempt by the team to stop him at the Kremlin ends in a disaster, with an explosion causing severe damage to the Kremlin and the IMF being implicated in the bombing, forcing the President to invoke Ghost Protocol, under which the IMF is disavowed, and will be offered no help or backup in any form. Undaunted, Ethan and his team chase Hendricks to Dubai, and from there to Mumbai, but several spectacular action sequences later, they might still be too late to stop a disaster.