Exam (2009)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1258197/
Director: Stuart Hazeldine Script: Simon Garrity, Stuart Hazeldine
Runtime: 101min
Cast: Luke Mably, Colin Salmon, Nathalie Cox, Adar Beck Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Tagline: How far would you go to win the ultimate job?

Interested in an intriguing, mysterious and suspenseful psychological thriller? This one’s about an above ordinary competition for a job at a prestigious and powerful corporation shrouded in mystery. In eighty minutes, eight candidates have to find the correct answer for a seemingly inexistent question and prove their qualification for the job.

A single room provides the setting, where the exam takes place. The whole movie is like a game, a puzzle in need of solving; and there are few clues for the participants; everything is up to their cleverness to speculate. The details shown in the beginning, as the candidates are preparing for the exam, are not random images. The person of authority, called the Invigilator - impersonated by a tall black figure - is very convincing. Right in the beginning after he presents all the constraints and rules of the exam, you kind of get the idea that this is serious business. The words of the Invigilator are repeated in B&W flashbacks, whenever the case, which is a nice touch. But characters are faced with a problem, which is asked a lot during the movie: what is the question? They must decide whether to cooperate or confront each other. Do they work as a team, or is every man for himself? I also found it clever the fact that they did not reveal their names to each other; instead they devised names based on major racial divisions and other visual criteria. So, there is a lot of speculation and as a viewer you speculate together with the characters of the movie, which makes it a sort of brainstorming in trying to figure out what the cuss is actually required of them. Gradually, more and more facts and details are unveiled, but that doesn’t exactly simplify matters as you’d expect. Each candidate has a past, a secret agenda and a set of convictions. As they get to know more about each other, so does the viewer and so do matters get complicated and out of control. Out of the eight applicants, only one will prove fit for the job; all others will be disqualified. How and why? Watch and see.

The touch of science fiction at the end was clever and unlike I had expected they didn’t spoil the movie with some dull ending. Considering how low budget this film was, with unknown actors and all, I think it really managed to stand out. Want to sit on the edge of your seat and use your brain to solve a puzzle? Then this movie is what you are looking for; it maintains curiosity and suspense right up until the end.

Back to business

I've been away for exactly a year. But now I'm back, just as I've promised. There are too many movies to review... but I'm not giving up. I hope my readers will return, just as I have. And remember: feedback keeps me going! So..don't hesitate to express your opinion. Cheers!:)

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0396171/
Director: Tom Tykwer / Script: Andrew Birkin, Bernd Eichinger, Tom Tykwer
Runtime: 147min
Cast: Ben Whishaw, Dustin Hoffman, Rachel Hurd-Wood
Genre: Drama / Thriller / Crime
Tagline: Enter an intoxicating world of passion, obsession and murder

The tagline is truly appropriate. It introduces us to the ‘fleeting realm of scent’, to the colourful and ‘intoxicating world of passion, obsession and murder’. Sacrifices have to be made in order to achieve the finest perfume of the world. How far would you go? Can you imagine a perfume so powerful, that it provokes an utter feeling of happiness, love and lust? It doesn’t matter if you can’t; the film will still be a feast for your senses.

The movie is based on Patrick Suskind’s exquisite novel, which has such a rich language as few I have read, being a ‘delicatessen’ for the reader. As superb a language is displayed in the book, as visual imagery in the movie. It is set in 18th century France; the era’s aesthetic being faithfully captured, presenting a colourful world, setting all our senses into motion. We have a narrator, like in fairy tales, who provides the fluidity of the story; the story of Grenouille, some kind of a genius born with an extraordinary sense of smell. The visual is so powerful, that you will almost be able to feel the thousands of smells; the stench and the fragrances alternating on the screen through the images. The extraordinary sense of smell, is an original idea from Suskind, and obviously very useful to a perfumer, which Grenouille is to become. His ‘talent’ of higher sense, is pretty inconceivable to us; but it kept my eyes glued to the screen, as Grenouille took in all the possible smells in the world surrounding him, and found pleasure in it. So much pleasure, that he didn’t need anything else. Interestingly, beautiful and yet untouched girls emanated the finest and most irresistible scent, which Grenouille was mesmerized by and wanted to preserve it, so that he may never had to live without it. His character is weird, but somehow fascinating too; my feelings towards him remained neutral throughout the movie; I found it hard to decide whether he was sympathetic or repulsive (probably because Ben Whishaw wasn’t utterly unattractive). Rachel Hurd-Wood is an excellent choice for an unusually exquisite beauty; it is of no wonder that Grenouille wanted to preserve her scent above anyone else’s; it’s like she was the main ingredient, without which his work would have been incomplete. Did he get to her?

Still asking why should you watch it? Because it is intriguing, mysterious, perverse and like nothing you’ve ever seen. As of 2006, you will be watching the most expensive German movie ever made. And let’s face it, there aren’t many movies featuring serial killers placed in the 18th century. And well, there should be more like this.

Awake (2007)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211933/
Written & directed by: Joby Harold
Runtime: 84min
Cast: Hayden Christensen, Jessica Alba, Terrence Howard, Lena Olin
Genre: Thriller
Tagline: Every year, one in 700 people wake up during surgery. They never thought he'd be the one.

You’re about to watch an exciting medical thriller if you choose “Awake”. The focus of the movie is laid upon a condition called “anesthetic awareness” which is a dangerous condition in which patients before surgery and under anesthesia remain paralyzed but still aware of their present situation. Clay Beresford finds himself aware and awake during his heart surgery and he’s about to face some terrifying truths about two persons who deceived him.

In the beginning of the movie a beautiful relationship unfolds between Clay and Sam; it’s amazing how Sam is taking care of him and she really seems to love him sincerely. Also she is absolutely gorgeous (as gorgeous as only Jessica Alba can be). Clay has an overbearing mother, whose love proves to be useful, even if we don’t sympathize with her in the beginning because she disapproves of Clay’s relationship with Sam. Clay needs a heart transplant. Now there’s the question, would you let your friend operate on you, or the most experienced surgeon in the domain? Who would you trust yourself to? Clay chooses his friend, Jack. I had a hard time believing that being conscious during an operation is possible. Clay finds refugee in the memories of Sam to distract himself from the pain of the surgery. The medical things all look so real. Things get complicated and sooner or later shocking; some things aren’t what they seemed to be in the beginning. Clay also has an out of body experience, which seemed a bit too much, but was essential for the movie, essential for Clay to learn the truth.

The movie kept me awake and anxious about the outcome. The story of Clay’s out of the ordinary surgery was touching. I also found the idea an original one; an interesting approach to a medical condition of which I wasn’t even aware it existed. It made me think.

Notes On A Scandal (2006)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465551/
Director: Richard Eyre / Script: Patrick Marber, Zoe Heller
Runtime: 92min
Cast: Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett, Bill Nighy, Andrew Simpson
Genre: Drama
Tagline: One woman's mistake is another's opportunity.

A complex, versatile drama presenting events leading up to a scandal. Barbara Covett is a bitter, old and lonely spinster, a strict teacher, who befriends with Sheba, the new and young art teacher. When Sheba’s affair with one of her teenage students becomes known to Barbara, she uses the information to manipulate Sheba, who becomes indebted to her and Barbara can at any time divulge the life shattering secret.

Barbara’s character makes an impression from the beginning; with the help of her diary she analyzes every aspect of Sheba’s life and her cynical comments are sometimes pretty sharp. Even if Barbara is nothing like Sheba - young, fragile, naïve and lovable – they become friends. Sheba comes to confide in Barbara, who is hungry for her friendship. Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett’s performances are admirable and passionate; though we tend to not like Barbara’s character, we have to admit that her acting is great. Sheba has an affair with an attractive teenage boy, who she’s pursued by; even though she knows it is immoral she eventually gives in to temptation. It is pretty exciting; I liked the idea of the adultery with a teenage boy; the potential lust between a student and his teacher. Too bad the affair is threatened by Barbara who after witnessing their compromising relationship insists that Sheba should end the affair. At first we think she wants that only because of moral principles, but later on we find out of her other reasons too. Barbara’s attitude towards Sheba is ambiguous throughout the movie, though we are given several subtle hints, the movie still manages to surprise us with Barbara’s emerging secret. Loneliness, obsession and sexuality are key themes illustrated by this movie.

The twists, the natural sounding dialogues and the movie’s intense, provocative script presenting moral and sexual dilemmas make this movie a real treat. The psychological struggle is intense, which comes along with deviant sexual desires. It is a complex movie with a fluid storyline, recommendable for anyone who would like an original representation of a controversial subject.

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (2008)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/
Director: David Fincher / Script: Eric Roth, Robin Swicord
Runtime: 166min
Cast: Cate Blanchett, Brad Pitt, Julia Ormond, Tilda Swinton, Jason Flemyng, Taraji Henson
Genre: Drama / Fantasy / Romance / Mystery
Tagline: Life isn't measured in minutes, but in moments.

A movie which delights its viewers with exceptional quality pictures and an original, magical and interesting story. The exceptional life-story of Benjamin Button is presented to us with the help of his diary which is being read by Caroline, the daughter, in the hospital where the old Daisy lies on her deathbed. Benjamin’s case is indeed curious: he starts aging backwards; born as old he keeps getting younger.

Early development of the movie began in 1994 (!).There are two narrators in the movie, the primary narrator being Benjamin Button himself, who is introduced by the old Daisy’s very authentic voice. The storyline is captivating and provides us with various characters. Romance, adventure, mystery mingle in the film. It deals with concepts such as mortality, the passing and the value of time, fate, loss and love. The idea of aging backwards is very original and is flawlessly executed. Benjamin Button’s experiences make his life exceptional. He meets Daisy, the love of his life, when she’s just a little girl and he’s an old man. But as they age in reverse and their lives continue to intersect, they actually meet halfway when they are compatible in age and they get from the initial affection to love. But the older Daisy gets, the younger is Benjamin, which leads to some complications. The art direction is stunning, also the make-up and the visual effects; no wonder the movie won Oscars for them. I was utterly surprised by how realistically were the war-action scenes filmed. It is as if you are there, the bullets coming towards you, water flowing overboard. The visuals and the make-up made miracles: I could hardly believe that the old Daisy, lying on her deathbed, was still embodied by Cate Blanchett. I was amazed by a scene presenting a strain of events which led to a meaningful event. Seemingly insignificant details show how all things are interconnected, and if only one thing happened differently, that event wouldn’t have occurred. But “Life being what it is, a series of intersecting lives and incidents out of anyone’s control”; people are in no position to interfere in their fate. And “Our lives are defined by opportunities, even the ones we miss.” Just a few memorable lines. A source of fun was the case of the man struck seven times by lightning. The actors gave their best in the film. Cate Blanchett’s one-of-a-kind beauty shined in the role of the complex Daisy. Even Brad Pitt’s daughter appears in the movie.

I’m glad I waited all along for this movie to watch it in the cinema; it was just as I expected: a grand experience. The almost three hours passed without getting me bored. It’s an expressive, thought-provoking tale with some real magic. Still I wouldn’t qualify it as bizarre; the story was fluid enough and presented so credible. I will end my review with a quote, to prove the movie’s thought-provoking nature (if I haven’t already): “We’re meant to lose the people we love. How else would we know how important they are to us?”

Shopgirl (2005)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338427/
Director: Anand Tucker / Script: Steve Martin
Runtime: 106min
Cast: Steve Martin, Claire Danes, Jason Schwarzman
Genre: Drama/ Romance
Tagline: Relationships don't always fit like a glove.

On the one hand an immature, messy and penniless guy, who is young. On the other hand a wealthy and charming gentleman, who could be your dad. Who would you choose? I didn’t know that Steve Martin actually writes screenplays or novels. This film adaptation of his novel was actually interesting and even if not particularly outstanding it made me want to write about it. The movie presents a love triangle consisting of Mirabelle – a bored salesgirl, Jeremy – an aimless young fellow, and Ray – a wealthy but aging man.

I liked that the story was very close to becoming reality any time. Love triangles, affairs, rich men being involved with young women; such things happen in life. The movie is about a particular one. The way the two men are presented, as Mirabelle encounters them, make the viewers want to choose Ray; he is so stylish, charming and gentlemanly. Jeremy, in contrast to Ray, seems just a moron; immature, weird and terribly messy. No wonder Mirabelle falls in love with Ray. They have a beautiful affair; the problem is only that Ray doesn’t want anything more than just an affair. I found it hard to understand why he couldn’t take the responsibility of loving someone. He has the privilege of going out with a pretty and young woman, and he doesn’t appreciate it. But I already said too much. The cast is fine, Claire Danes is illuminating as Mirabelle; for the role of Ray I read that Tom Hanks was considered, but eventually Steve Martin got to play it, because he figured he was more suitable being so familiar with the script. I must say, I don’t know who wanted Mirabelle to wear such old-fashioned dresses; from the many she wore during the movie, I think I liked only two. But it was fine, she wasn’t the femme fatale type of character; she was rather modest and still beautiful. And fortunately, Jeremy changed a bit by the end of the movie; he became more normal an emotionally more mature.

The movie made me understand why some women prefer wealthy and aging men; helped me see the advantages of such a relationship. But also provided me with a different perspective: wealthy and aging men aren’t always doing anything to keep the attention of a young woman. It truly is an intelligent and sophisticated movie.