FROST/NIXON

MPAA Rating: R for some language.
Run time: 122 min

As boxing fan, this film remind me of Ali vs Frazier, Rumble in the Jungle where the participant exchanging verbal jabs, powered with extreme close ups.

Ron Howard's Frost/Nixon is a dramatized version of the famous 1977 interview where David Frost corner Richard Nixon, a thing not even any inquisitor could ever do at that time. Who is David Frost? He is not the 70s version of Dan Rather or Walter Cronkite, only a talk show host who interview celebrities.

But success in America is unlike success anywhere else. So David Frost (Michael Sheen) try his luck by offering Nixon (Frank Langella) $600,000 from his own pocket to conduct a "no holds barred" interview in California, years after Nixon resigned.

The beginning wasn't look nice for Frost, Nixon can return the jabs while Frost's team, an experienced TV newsman, Bob Zelnick (Oliver Platt) and a researcher, James Reston Jr. (Sam Rockwell) seem desperate to nail the only U.S. President ever resigned.

Sure, the cream of the 12 day interview is the Watergate case where Frost wanted to give Nixon the trial he never has or even push him to confess his crimes. As Frost throw his notepad, we all now that the gloves has come off and Nixon, like it or not, has to throw the towel. This is more than just a Nixon trial that should have happened had Ford didn't give him pardon, it is a cynical look on how TV could reduce anyone's career (or legacies) just by a simple close up.

The performances were compelling, Frank Langella is a serious competitor for Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino in the award season. The script and editing was well paced and what makes me still wonder, how Ron Howard can make a boring interview with heavy subjects very mesmerizing and rewarding to watch.

AMERICAN TEEN

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some strong language, sexual material, some drinking and brief smoking-all involving teens.
Run time: 95 min


What has changed in teenland over 30 years? This documentary shows that nothing has changed much, the same clique and stereotype still rule. This documentary encompass a year of four high school students in Warsaw, Indiana. The students who perfectly fits to the stereotype. There's Megan, the popular queen bee(tch) who has to face pressure from her father to enroll at Notre Dame, Colin Clemens, the popular jock (without annoying attitude), the basketball star who strive to get some scholarship.

Then there's the rebel, Hannah Bailey who looks like the innocent version of Julia Stiles and dreams to study film and Jake Tusing, the self-described nerd, loves video games and shows the lighter side of being a teen. During the whole movie all characters undergo some changes, breakups, success, tears and so on.

What really bothers me is that this film doesn't look like real at all, it looks like staged through careful and meticulous editing. Although the director stated that it was all real, it is hard to believe that this film is real. Not to mention the stereotypes, as if teen life could be easily simplified by these characters (or people in this matter). It doesn't even bother to do a cross stereotype, like a successful nerd or a shy popular kid. It felt like a simple version of any MTV reality show, which doesnt feel real at all. Too bad, the documentary that could be a viewing window for adults to know what does teenland looks now, doesn't differ much from media hyped cliches.

3 DOA 3 CINTA (PESANTREN)

Directed by: Nurman Hakin
Starring: Nicholas Saputra, Dian Sastrowardoyo, Yoga Bagus Satatagama, Yoga Pratama

Having heard that this film screened in Pusan International Film Festival makes me interested. Apparantly my expectations is a bit too high. This is a coming-of-age tale about three Indonesian schoolboys living in "Pesantren" (Islamic Religious School) with religious and social issues as the side dish.

Actually I am perplexed about the choice of Nicholas Saputra and Dian Sastrowardoyo, two leading Indonesian movie stars, as if both of them was chosen for the sake of marketing, as for Dian, her screentime wasn't that much and only appears in the middle. Had this film didn't chose prominent actors, it can still tell a believable story. I guess the filmmaker try to capitalize the fact that most teen will watch this film solely on the name of Nico without even questioning the content. I can see that from the numbers of teens watching this film, most of them commenting on how cute Nico is or how funny some scenes are. Which left me wondering whether those teens could really understand what the film was all about.

Living in a pesantren in central Java, longtime friends Huda (Nicholas Saputra), Syahid (Yoga Bagus Satatagama) and Rian (Yoga Pratama) are living a modest and nice life. There they are in the crossroad of two religious teacher, the one teaches peace, the one chose the other way (you know what I mean).

Syahid buys "the other way" and transform himself throughout the film, Huda tries to seek his lost mother helped by Donna (Dian Sastrowardoyo), a dangdut singer with vague background and Rian wanted to be a filmmaker. As for characters, Syahid is the most three dimensional of all, while Rian only appears as a comic relief, even his conflict with his mother bear no result at all.

With humor and tackling some sensitive issues, this film manage to "explain" audience who knows nothing about Pesantren about the life and obstacles inside it. The editing is a bit choppy and you can notice that some of Huda's dialogue was poorly dubbed, especially when he speaks one or two sentence of Arabic language. Apart from that, the film could be trimmed few minutes and try tying some loose knots.

GRAN TORINO

Run time: 116 minutes
MPAA Rating: R for language throughout, and some violence

There's life in his grin, growl, wince and hiss, there's a lifetime of achievement spanning from the age where Kennedy was a U.S. President until Obama takes charge for the living American legend, Clint Eastwood.

One could be mistaken that Gran Torino is a 21st century Dirty Harry, but this is a complex story about sacrifice, love and redemption. One could also think this is as a metaphor for the dying American auto industry.

Walt Kowalski (Eastwood) is an unpleasant, loner, bigot Korean War vet with "racist" vocabulary, his wife just died and everything around him makes him irritated, his relationship with his sons isn't very good, the neighborhood he lives is no longer the picket fences white America, it is a melting pot for Asian, Blacks and Mexicans and gang disturbances.

After retiring from a 50 year old career in the auto industry, Walt lives alone with his dog, Walt lives in the 50s, and just like many vet, refuse to accept change.

Things doesn't get better as Thao (Bee Vang), a boy next door, attempts to steal Walt's precious 1972 Gran Torino as part of a gang initiation. He fails when Walt shows up with a shotgun. As the gang members try to "initiate" him for the second time, Walt Kowalski, the Dirty Harry version shows up with a shotgun and a piercing dialogue.

Then Walt become a reluctant hero of the neighborhood, a part he initially despise. His tough exterior is being defrosted by Thao's smart and spirited older sister, Sue (Ahney Her). And as a penance (or redemption as this film strongly emphasize), Thao works for Walt. As expected, cross generation budding starts and few laughs created, the Eastwoodian style. But problems doesn't end there, the gangs return with a bloody vengeance and Walt has to do things he believe is right.

This is film that feels utterly personal—a movie that might actually be as much about Clint Eastwood the man/myth/icon as it is, it is a strange but humble encore for his legendary career in the cinema, a reflection of his life and a notion that America is changing and last but not least, a revisit of his legendary image. This is 2008's finest film (sharing the top spot with The Dark Knight) and if Clint didn't nail Oscar nomination (or even the golden statue itself) then there is no justice at all.

I wish Clint keep making movies like this, to remind us, that watching film is not only an activity to kill time, but an activity to make you realize that life is worth living.

TROPA DE ELITE

MPAA Rating: R for strong violence, pervasive language and drug content.
Run time: 115 min

There's no doubt this film is well made. Police corruption and brutality, gangster shooting each other and two young Rio de Janeiro police officers fantasize implementing law and order in the city of gangsters.

The pope is visiting Rio de Janeiro and he needs a good night's sleep, so the local police commander sends Elite Squad to fix things up, including killing low life criminal.

Capt. Nascimento (Wagner Moura) is a captain of an Elite Squad with integrity and Kiefer Sutherland's 24 brutality, but the fact that his wife is pregnant driving him crazy. Nascimento wants someone to replace him, but who among the crowd of corrupt cops could replace him? Two rookies seem fit for the most stressing job, Neto (Caio Junqueira) and the idealist Matias (Andre Ramiro).

Those rookies start from the bottom, working at the police auto shop and witnessing on how cops steal car parts or go to law school and see the ignorance and delusional mind of rich students. As expected, both situation lead to dangerous consequence in the endless cycle of violence.

As these rookies undergo basic training for the elite squad, they realize that this squad is harder and more honest than most cops. After that, they have to invade the slum, and upheld the law, whatever that means.

Expect a vibrant camera work just like Cloverfield and GoodFellas style of violence and the drama of L.A. Confidential.

As an afterthought, I have to say, that after City of God, City of Men and Tropa de Elite, would these internationally acclaimed movies help Brazilian tourism?

ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO

Run time: 101 minutes.
MPAA Rating: R for strong crude sexual content including dialogue, graphic nudity and pervasive language.

Film makers try to put so many frames on romance, from sinking ship to war, but porn? That takes some serious effort and Kevin Smith (with interesting synergy with Judd Apatow) takes porn to a new level, especially the numbers of cursing and swearwords that match the casualties of Saving Private Ryan, the level of romance. Every dialogue contains the F, A, C, D and P word or its synonyms and said without remorse.

Zack (Seth Rogen) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) are roommates and they have lived together for years, enduring poverty and their own attractions to each other, establishing a platonic relationship. Facing eviction, they have to spin their brain to make cash. After an unfortunate accident that sent Miri’s “granny panties” to the internet, they had a crazy idea, making their own amateur porn movie. So they enlist many of their friends, a list of quirky characters with dumbness and funny accent.

But having sex and making love, turns out to be a big difference on Zack and Miri, will they keep making porn and hide their jealousy as each of them was “scripted” to “bleep” somebody else in their porn movie.

In terms of visual vulgarity, this wasn’t as graphic as American Pie, Basic Instinct or the Jackass series, although it might make some squeamish people wince as Zack arrange the F, A, C and D word in just one breath, don’t even mention the profanity jokes which knows no boundary at all. By the way, after seeing this film you wish you never know what “Dutch rudder” is.

BURN AFTER READING

MPAA Rating: R for pervasive language, some sexual content and violence.
Run time: 96 min

Having seen No Country for Old Men, most people, including me, have high expectation on the latest Coen flick. However, anyone seeks gore and shocking scenes will be disappointed but still, zany characters are abundant here. It is slightly below Fargo but not as good as Miller's Crossing or No Country.

As always this film is difficult to classify, is it crime? Drama? Thriller? Comedy? or amalgamation of any well defined genre? Greed is the major theme here, apart from alcoholism and bizarre coincidence.

C.I.A. agent Osborne Cox (John Malkovich), is being demoted for being an alcoholic and perhaps having a temper as hot as boiling pasta. His wife, the icy bitchy Katie (Tilda Swinton), doesn't like this at all. Meanwhile, her lover, ex-secret service agent/federal Marshall, Harry Pfarrer (George Clooney), is trying to decide whether to request a divorce from his wife to be with Katie while still browsing internet for blind dates. That's how Harry meets a gym worker named Linda Litzke (France McDormand), who thinks that inner beauty is only some bullshit therefore needs money for some cosmetic surgical procedures. With her accomplice, Chad (Brad Pitt), three steps away from having a naivety of Forrest Gump, has the leverage, a copy of Osborne Cox memoir he accidentally found on his gym.

Both had tried to blackmail Osborne to no success and then try to sell the secret to the Russian. Now if I have to tell the bizarre coincidence and the plot that goes round and round, it would be a very bizarre review.

The shock came after 60 minutes as one of the character "accidentally" died/killed (very difficult to determine which one really happens).

George Clooney and Frances McDormand has the most interesting chemistry as for John Malkovich, there's no explanation why he is so hot headed.

What really bothers me is the satellite image at the beginning and end of this film. What was that all about? This film is about bizarre and witty coincidences paired with quirky characters, incompetent agency, affairs and human greed, does it need some zoom out/in of a building from space? Shouldn't the money for that shot directed to pay another character in this movie to keep things stranger than ever? Like hiring Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan for instance?

MAMMA MIA!

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some sex-related comments.
Run time: 108 min

Who hates ABBA? Nobody, even those who used to listen to black metal/punk/underground music has been caught whistling Dancing Queen in their respective toilet, no matter how old they are. For millions of people, ABBA has been the synonym for guilty pleasure.

As a fan of Bollywood movies, the plot aren't as difficult as Matrix:Reloaded and occasionally, the characters cut from dialogue to dancing and singing, dangling from ladders, magically jumping on the roof and keep dancing until the music stops.

With Disney type of plot, even telling the whole story would be a spoiler. Donna (Meryl Streep) has a tourist villa in a remote island in Greece. She has a daughter, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) who will be married to Sky (Dominic Cooper), kinda weird name to invent huh? Sophie doesn't know who her father is. From his mother diary, Sophie had a clue and invited three men who used to be Donna's love interest, Sam (Pierce Brosnan), Bill (Stellan Skarsgard) and Harry (Colin Firth). From there, you can follow the cheerfull story easily and enjoy the tops songs of ABBA weaved into the storyline. This is, by far the best antithesis for The Dark Knight.

Now put your intellectual mind to a holiday in this beautiful Greek island and try not get caught by your peers whistling Fernando in the public toilet while having a Gothic make-up or secretly digging your parent's basement to find ABBA cassettes or LP.

QUANTUM OF SOLACE

Run time: 106 min

After the credits rolled I read the caption "James Bond will return". Well, he surely has to return since after the hard action and fast pacing chase I was left with the most nagging question I ever pose for any Bond franchise ever: "What is Quantum organization anyway? What do they want, and, what happened to Mr. White after he escape?"

The plot is okay, the action scenes are superb. I can understand the twist and subtle sarcasm at imperialism and hypocrisy aided by powerful countries, the double standard of the U.S. and A, the transformation of Bond from a darker spy to a...well....more darker than ever as he finally shut his emotion. After all of that, still, the audience was left dumbfounded trying to figure out why does there is no explanation on Quantum organization.

Am I dreaming, or this Bond franchise has transform itself too hard until there's no Bond element left at all and only leave us with Bond himself (and he didn't even say his famous catchphrase at all, in case you waited for that magic moment). No Q, no fancy gadgets, no vodka and martini, plus he didn't sleep with Camille (shocking eh?). Don't even mention the end, it was an anti climax.

However compared to Babylon A.D. High School Musical trilogy or Hannah Montana concert videos and tons of Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan interpretation of 007, this one stand above all and manage to inject some dry and bleak humor between M and Bond plus a certain degree of realism by fast pacing edit which remind us of Jason Bourne (Coincidence? Not really, the producer use the same person who choreographed Bourne in this film), although not above Casino Royale.

Hint to audience, better watch Casino Royale first to understand what is going on here. I already watch Casino twice on the DVD but still doesn't feel satisfied with Quantum. Are they planning for another sequel?

What about the theme song? Gosh that was awful, it felt as if Alicia Keys is shouting to a wall and Jack White tries so hard to pound the wall. Definitely unmemorable.

Gosh, even the melancholic Casino Royale has an open climax ending. Perhaps years from now, people will like Quantum more and they should make another sequel to this, the first Bond trilogy!

TROPIC THUNDER

Run time: 107 min
MPAA: R for pervasive language including sexual references, violent content and drug material

The movie they think they're making... isn't a movie anymore.

Gosh, has Hollywood has run out of idea so the only way they can draw a laugh is to mock themselves to the limit? However it really works, for those movie buffs and Access Hollywood viewers this film is an amalgamation of Russel Crowe's antics, A-List star with an ego the size of Texas, Belgium and California, Rapper with explicit lyrics, another version of Eddie Murphy and a Shia LaBeouf lookalike. Somehow it felt like an overly glitter version of The-A-Team with Tom Cruise adding the fun mocking studio executive.

The actors are, Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson) a rapper with "explicit" hit song, "I Love Tha' Pussy". Geeze they surely push stereotypes too hard for this character, then there's the A-list action star, Tugg Speedman's (Ben Stiller) and funnyman Jeff "Fatty" Portnoy (Jack Black), who had a very valuable talent, farting in a movie. Then there's Russel Crowe incarnation, Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.), five time Oscar winner who takes acting too seriously.

These Hollywood bunch were thrown in Vietnam making a war movie and a expected the shoot went into a mess, they even has to encounter a real drug smuggler cartel somewhere in Laos in an unbelievable act reminds us of The Great Escape.

Forget logic, every aspect of this movie seems to drag people out of their senses, it seems, even in the most chaotic scene, that even bullets doesn't want to hit them at all since any death will ruin the humor of this film.

With lots of cameos, even Lance Bass make a parody of you-know-what-but-I-shall-not-make-spoiler and John Voight desiring an Oscar is a breeze of nice chuckle for me. It even spoof Apocalypse Now and war movies. Overall, if you want a non stop humor that will tickle your belly, this is the right movie for you. The more you know Hollywood, the more you will be amused by this flick.