Monday, March 31, 2008

The Bourne Identity

Ratings : * Avoidable ** Average *** Good **** Must Watch

During a stormy night, a group of Italian fishermen find a man (Damon) floating in the Mediterranean Sea off Marseille, with two gunshot wounds in his back and a device with the number of a Swiss bank account embedded in his hip. Suffering from retrograde amnesia, he finds he is versed in several European languages and can perform basic tasks such as writing and tying knots, but he cannot remember anything about himself or how he got there. When the ship docks in Oneglia, he sets off for Zürich to investigate the bank account. At CIA headquarters in Langley, Deputy Director Ward Abbott finds out about a failed assassination attempt on deposed African dictator Nykwana Wombosi. Meanwhile, the mysterious man finds out he is very proficient in hand-to-hand combat and has a strong knowledge of firearms when he subdues two police officers effortlessly. At the bank in Zürich, the man opens his safe deposit box to find several passports with his picture, large amounts of money, and a gun. With still no idea what his name is, he assumes the one from the first US passport, Jason Bourne. When American and Swiss authorities attempt to capture him at the US consulate, he offers Marie Helena Kreutz $20,000 to take him to Paris, the city of the address on his Jason Bourne passport. In the meantime, Alexander Conklin, the head of the black ops group Operation Treadstone, assures Abbott that he will destroy any evidence connecting them to the field agent responsible for the operation. He activates three operatives to take down the agent: Castel, Manheim, and the Professor.

Damon as Bourne, scaling the wall of the US Consulate in Zürich.En route to Paris, Marie, who is nervous and rambling on, gets upset when Jason doesn't respond to her conversation. He then explains that he doesn't know who he is, nor does he know what to expect when they arrive in Paris. When Bourne arrives at the address on his passport, he is immediately recognized by the building superintendent, and based on the contents of his apartment, concludes he is in the shipping business. In search of more clu es, he hits redial on his phone and is connected to the Hotel Regina, who recognize one of his aliases, John Michael Kane. They tell him that Kane was a guest who died two weeks before in a car crash. A few moments later, Castel blasts through a window and engages Bourne in hand-to-hand combat. After Bourne subdues him he attempts to interrogate him, but Castel jumps out the window, preferring suicide. Marie finds wanted posters in Castel's bag with both her and Bourne's pictures on them.

Bourne continually advises Marie to leave him as he's trying to figure out who he is and why people are after him. He tells her to go to the police and explain everything to them; she chooses to remain with him and encourages him to figure it out. After eluding the Paris police and spending the night, they follow the trail to the Hotel Regina. There, Marie asks for John Michael Kane's hotel records. Meanwhile, Conklin plants a body in the Parisian morgue to fool Wombosi into thinking Kane is dead, but Wombosi knows that the body is not his assailant, and Conklin has Wombosi killed in his home by the Professor. Bourne investigates the incident, the previous assassination attempt, and John Michael Kane's contacts, and concludes that he is the failed killer. He and Marie escape the city into the country to stay at Marie's ex-lover's house, where Jason decides that he no longer wants to know about his past.

In the morning, the Professor comes for Jason. Jason realizes he is there when Eamon's children's dog does not show up for breakfast, and Eamon confirms the dog always is around for breakfast, Bourne deducing that someone killed the dog, and soon after he and Marie discover the phone is dead. Both assassins are in a field, and Bourne shoots the Professor twice with the shotgun, and interrogates him briefly, revealing their connection to Operation Treadstone. The Professor dies almost immediately from blood loss, saying, "Look at us. Look at what they make you give." Keeping $30,000, he sends Marie away with the rest of the money for her own safety. He uses the Professor's phone to arrange a meeting with Conklin on the Pont Neuf, which he uses as a distraction to plant a tracking device on Conklin's vehicle to discover the location of Operation Treadstone's safe house in Paris.

Bourne uses an electronic device to trigger the car alarms of all the cars parked on the street, and when the noise distracts the guards, he climbs into the operations safe house where Nicky Parsons and Conklin are.

When he meets Conklin, he begins to remember his last mission. He had backed out of the Wombosi assassination after seeing Wombosi's children (realizing that if he killed Wombosi he would have to kill all the children as well to make sure there were no witnesses, since Wombosi's murder was supposed to look like members of his own cartel had killed him), and was shot while attempting to escape the boat, left floating in the water. He tells Conklin that he is leaving Treadstone and to not try to find him. He then realizes Conklin silently triggered an alarm and has backup on the way. Bourne leaves Nicky unharmed, and has a shootout with several CIA agents, and escapes into the night. Abbott decides that Treadstone should be closed down, and has the last operative murder Conklin. He goes before an Oversight Committee and explains that Treadstone's purpose was simply to serve as an assassin-training program then immediately shifts the focus of the hearing to an idea for a new project codenamed "Blackbriar." Some time later, Jason finds Marie in Mykonos, renting out scooters to tourists, and the two reunite.

My Rating : ****
Genre : Action/Thriller
Director : Doug Liman
Cast : Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Chris Cooper, Brian Cox, Julia Stiles, Clive Owen, Anthony Green.

GOAL II - Living The Dream

Ratings : * Avoidable ** Average *** Good **** Must Watch

The first Goal movie brought plenty of cheers to football fans, who celebrated the coming of a decent movie about the beloved Beautiful Game. And Goal 2 didn't disappoint.

The story of Santiago continues in this UK-Spain-Germany production, with the stage moving from England to Spain. With the first movie centered on the domestic football league following Newcastle's season, the sequel brings us to the Spanish La Liga, and firmly the spotlight of matches put on Europe's Champions League games.

In a player swap deal with Michael Owen, we see Munez head to Real Madrid, in probably almost every footballer's dream to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world. And of course with hard nosed coach Rudi Van Der Merwe (Rutger Hauer) at the helm, our new recruit has to prove his worth before being handed some first team duties. But good friend and ex-Newcastle player Gavin Harris (Alessandro Nivola) is on hand at the club (reference the first movie shall we) to provide Munez some action, especially when Harris is running afoul with Rudi for his lost form.

Munez lives the dream in material wealth, although this starts to get into his head and takes a toil with his relationships, especially with girlfriend Roz (Anna Friel). What I thought slowed the movie down further, was the injection of Munez's typical stepbrother brat from hell, and mother, who were conspicuously absent in the first movie, then reintroduced here just to amplify the moments that try to touch the heart (like in the first movie with the dad and grandmother), but one without which I feel would not make much of a difference. Couple this family reunion-reconciliation of sorts, together with his struggles with injury and attempts to shake off the "super-sub" tag, Munez has his hands full.

And for Arsenal fans, while it's a blast to see the team featured in this movie, and the likes of Jose Antonio Reyes (who incidentally played for Real Madrid few weeks ago and created then scored 2 crucial goals in their final league game to hand them the La Liga title), Robert Pires and a fictional TJ featured alongside Captain Thierry Henry, the result is blasphemous.

So the scoreline at the end, well, it's actually living in the dream. 3-2 Real Madrid clinching the UEFA Champions League. Lets hope the third of the trilogy brings us more happiness.

My Rating : **
Genre : Drama/Sport
Director : Juame Collete-Serra
Cast : Kuno Becker, Alessandro Novola, Anna Friel, Rutger Hauer, Stephen Dillane

GOAL - The Dream Begins

Ratings : * Avoidable ** Average *** Good **** Must Watch

The film follows Santiago Munez (Kuno Becker) as he starts from the barrio of Los Angeles as an illegal immigrant from Mexico. Munez struggles against is overly proud father (Tony Plana) and near poverty.
One day while playing a pickup game, Munez is noticed by Glen Foy (Stephan Dillane) who sees a magic in the young man. Munez isn’t sure of his talent but begins to believe Foy’s vision.

Foy phones in a favor with the prestigious soccer club Newcastle United in England and promises Munez that if he can get to England he will get a shot at making the team.

Munez struggles to make his dream come true much to the disappointment of his father. Leaving his life behind, Munez boards a plane and heads to England.

The trials and tribulations that Munez faces as he tries to achieve his dream will test every fiber of his being. “Goal!” is basically like every other sports film before it as a young hero does all he can to make it in the big league. What is different about the film is that it’s about soccer and also the film is tailor-made for soccer fans.

There are a lot of sequences where the film could be compared to “Rocky” and those memories only make the film all the more memorable. Well soccer fans like me will truly enjoy this movie and what more ? there's a sequel coming in 2007. I will definitely wait for all the sequel with great expectation.

My Rating : ***
Genre : Drama/Sport
Director : Danny Cannon
Cast : Kuno Becker, Alessandro Novola, Anna Friel, Stephen Dillane

About a Boy

Ratings : * Avoidable ** Average *** Good **** Must Watch

"About a Boy" is an adorable romantic comedy complete with the requisite adorable kid, though thankfully he's not annoyingly cute. This film delivers on all of its promises and then goes that extra mile to totally captivate and amuse both female and male moviegoers.

" With "About a Boy," Grant delivers another memorable performance, adding to his already impressive collection of characters audiences have a love/hate relationship with. Hugh Grant plays Will, a single, do-nothing, rich, self-absorbed cad. His inherited wealth allows him to plan his day in increments of 30 minutes, with no 30 minute period spent doing anything more exhausting than paying an exorbitant amount to get his hair skillfully tousled or changing channels on the remote. He is an island onto himself and loves it that way, damn it - or so he often proclaims. He doesn't work, has no desire to actually be in a relationship, and the mere mention of kids propels him into panic mode.

Will's life catapults into uncharted territory when he discovers a brand new world of women waiting to be conquered - the world of single mothers. Compared to their ex's, Will is a champion amongst men. After a few unsuccessful attempts at meeting women with children in grocery stores, he gets the brilliant idea of meeting them at S.P.A.T. (Single Parents, Alone Together). Inventing a 2 year-old named Ned and swapping sob stories with the other single parents, Will makes a connection with the beauty of the group, Suzie. Will flashes that dazzling smile and the next thing you know, Will and Suzie have got a day at the park planned. Their first date is intruded upon when they are joined at the last minute by Marcus, the 12 year-old son of Suzie's good friend and fellow S.P.A.T. member, Fiona (Toni Collette). Fiona's a basket case who spends her days crying ab out everything and nothing, which causes Marcus to need to escape to the relative normalcy of a day at the park - even if it is with a total stranger and his mom's best friend.

Marcus bonds with Will after an unfortunate accident with a duck and starts making daily trips to his house after school. Will becomes a sounding board for Marcus, though Will has absolutely no idea what he has to offer the boy in the way of friendship or fatherly advice. As Marcus continues his visits without any prompting from Will, Will discovers through Marcus that his own privileged-but-vacant life could possibly have meaning. Throw in a romantic connection with the beautiful, intelligent, and interesting single mom, Rachel (Rachel Weisz), and Will's life quickly transforms into everything he actively fought tooth and nail from it ever becoming.

My Rating : ***
Genre : Comedy/Drama
Director : Paul & Chris Weitz
Cast : Hugh Grant, Nicholas Hoult, Rachel Weisz, Sharon Small, Toni Collete, Victoria Smurfit

Fantastic 4

Ratings : * Avoidable ** Average *** Good **** Must Watch

The movie directed by Tim Story is based on marvel comics which has published more than 500 editions of this worldwide. The plot starts with Dr. Reeds(Ioan Gruffudd) who is a scientist and doesn't have the financial backing to conduct is research on human DNA, presents his project to business tycoon Victor Van Doom(Julian McMohan) who himself is an scientist.

Dr.Reeds with his friend Ben(Michael Chiklis) try to convince Dr.Doom to fund their project in outer space. Dr.Doom accepts appreciate their work and makes a deal with them. Dr.Doom is assisted by Dr.Reeds ex-girlfriend Sue Storm(Jessica Alba). She now works with Dr.Doom and they plan to get married in future.
Dr.Doom heads this project and prepares for the space trip. Johnny(Chris Evans) brother of Sue Storm is also chosen for this mission. Everything goes well according to the plan. But unfortunately they are hit by a cosmic storm and all of them are exposed to the storm, which causes altercations in their DNA compositions. Initially they are nit aware of the effects. But slowly the reaction starts to take its effect.

Dr.Reeds is now able to plasticize is body to the core. Sue is able to create some violent force and can become invisible. Sue's brother Johnny can turn into flame. and their colleague Ben transforms him into aforementioned hulking, gruff voiced thing.

And Dr.Doom finds that he is completely made of titanium and has to compete with Dr.Reeds for Sue's attraction. The story revolves much around Ben who's frustrated with what has happened to him and is dejected when his horrified wife leaves him. Now this scene where Ben saves a suicidal man from the busy traffic makes him and his friends Dr.Reeds, Sue and Johnny as a public figure. they become famous and the press gives them the name'FANTASTIC4'. Public figures them as their saviors.
Each one gets the name Dr.Reeds as the Mr.Fantastic , Johnny as the Human Torch, Ben as the Thing and Sue as Invisible Girl.

On the other hand Dr.Reeds works hard to simulate the same situation as they faced in space, so as to get rid of their so called mutational disease.

There's a small twist to the story where Ben is cured of the mutational disease, see the movie to reveal the last minute fight with Dr.Doom (Silver Surfer).
Director could have worked on the screenplay a little more to give effect to the storyline. The action scenes are
well worked and the graphics work is awesome.

My Rating : **
Genre : Action/Fantasy
Director : Tim Story
Cast : Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMohan.

The Departed

Ratings : * Avoidable ** Average *** Good **** Must Watch

Director Martin Scorsese returns to full force with all the vulgar and sick world portrayed in a critically acclaimed mob drama. The Departed is an amazing piece of work and will surely win the hearts of Martin Scorsese fans.

The story revolves around the south Boston gangsters and the Massachusetts state police. Frank Costello(Jack Nicholson) is an Irish who moves to Boston and becomes the head of the local mob. He and his first man named French takes care of all the drug deals. Billy Costigen(Leonardo di caprio) is a rookie cop who is recruited straight out of the police academy and is selected for the job of undercover operation to join Costello's gang and collect enough evidence to make a strong warrant against him. Collin Sullivan(Matt Damon) is an overachieved cop who helps Costello being in state police and gives inside information on necessary patches. He was practically raised by Costello from his childhood and he even calls him 'DAD' on many occasions.

Billy Costigen tries to impress Costelllo by trashing everyone brutally who comes in his way. Costello believes him and joins him in his gang. But later he comes to know that there is a undercover rat in his gang. He gives this mission of finding that rat to Sullivan. In mean time Billy Costigen al so finds out that there's someone on state police helping out Costello. He informs his superior Queenan(Martin Sheen) who is senior police officer and heads this operation. His deputy Dignan(Mark Walhberg) is also a part of this operation.

Now the movie is in a whirlwind situation where Sullivan and Costigen are playing the game of cat and mouse to find each other. Costigen gets frustrated and informs Queenan that he is in danger and anytime Costello will find out who's the rat. Queenan says he will soon get him out of this operation and asks him to meet him secretly. Sullivan get to know about this and sends his team behind Queenan. Sullivan informs Costello about this and tells him the place where they are going to meet. Costello sends his men and they kill Queenan. But Costigen somehow escapes them and nobody knows about the informer. Dignan is furious with Sullivan, Alec Baldwin who is the superior of Sullivan handles the case to Sullivan. Seeing this Dignan resigns from the job.

Now nobody other than Dignan knows that Costigen is an undercover shooter. There's no evidence that Costigen is a cop. There's a huge twist to the movie in the later stages. See the movie to find out what happens next wether Costello is able to f ind who is the rat in his gang or will Costigen escape from the situation. Will state police find that Sullivan works for Costello.. Find out...

Anyways the movie is amazing and a class apart. Costello, Billy and Sullivan the three main characters play their part to perfection. Jack Nicholson comes up with yet another masterful performance. Leonardo Di Caprio who has never played such a mature role has done justice to his role in a professional way. Full marks to Martin Scorsese for giving such a role to Matt Damon. This might be his best performance so far in his acting career. Even Mark Walhberg's performance is awesome and Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin have played their part very well.

My Rating : ****
Genre : Action
Director : Martin Scorsese
Cast : Jack Nicholson, Leonardo Di Caprio, Matt Damon, Alec Baldwin, Martin Sheen, Mark Walhberg