The Woman in Black (2012)

Director: James Watkins
Lead Actors: Daniel Radcliffe, Ciarán Hinds, Janet McTeer, Sophie Stuckey, and Liz White
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Suspense

Synopsis:

After the death of a young lawyer’s wife, Arthur Kipps was still on the stage of grief for years. He was left with responsibility of taking good care of his son, Joseph. The life being in misery, he needs to save his job due poor performance on his work. Taking the second chance given by his boss, he took off to settle the documents needed in the house located in rural area. Upon his arrival in the village, the local residents wanted to let him leave the place. The young lawyer refused and continues to do his task in the house, not long after he realized that the house is haunted by a black lady.

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Review:

          In the early phase of the film story, the scene of feeling a mixed emotions portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe (Arthur Klipps), the death of his wife during the delivering her baby. The grief was so intense upon cuddling the baby. Through the years of being in grief, it is not normal in terms of recovering from his lost.

In every episodes of death by the children in the remote place, it gives a chill in the spine to view the thrilling way of ending their lives. The film directed the scene with suspense and a spooky execution of the actors’ roles.

          The tales of the mystery of the Eel Marsh House remain untold, the people showed unwelcome to Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe). Along the way to place, he met Samuel Daily (Ciarán Hinds) in the train and acquainted with his wife Elisabeth Daily (Janet McTeer). In the film, I find it weird that Arthur’s associate named Jerome didn’t entertain him on regards to his primary task in the place. Arthur never tried to ask the reason behind, assuming that it is a part of the suspense scene for the viewers to be puzzled.

          The director showed the inner strength of persona to Daniel Radcliffe as he refused to go back to London. He showed the will to go the house, staying in the house made the feeling of awkwardness from him. The random unexplainable stumping of foot and strange noises in Manor made him curious and inspect the rooms. Finally, he witnessed the image of a lady wearing black dress.

         Along the outdoor activity, Arthur tempted to visit a police station. I am not sure if the incident is coincidence, since two boys are hurriedly bring their sister to the area and died. The question is, “Did he ever get any essential information there?”

         The most chilling moment is when Arthur is planning to go back to London with his son Joseph in the train station. The boy suddenly moved to the tracks of the train, thinking what happen of his nanny not looking after the child. While Radcliffe (Arthur) and Daily are talking to each other. The same scenario had happened with the other children died upon seeing the black lady. The place turned into darkness and Arthur saw a woman in white dress, realizing it was his wife and they walked through the train tracks.

Rating: 7/10

Tenderness (2009)

Director: John Polson
Lead Actors: Russel Crowe, Jon Foster and Sophie Traub
Genre: Thriller

Synopsis: 
The film depicts the novel story authored by Robert Cormier. A psychopath thriller, it is finding real truth behind the death of Eric's family in the film. Detective Cristofuoro tried to solve the case, determining the twisted mind in Eric's real story.

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Review:
The first part of the movie, the kissing scene made me feel awkward. But the film regains its quality upon playing instrumental sounds while the narrator (Russel Crowe) started to tell the story.

The director showed the possible scenario of teenager is violated with crime, as Sophie Traub portrayed in the grocery store as a sales clerk. . Teenage lives in a dysfunctional family in the suburban area.

It is a very touching moment for Russel Crowe to take good care of his wife laid on the bed in a comatose state. While Jon Foster (Eric Poole) portrayed juvenile teenager imprison for a violent crime.

The film shown twisted situation, as Lori (Sophie Traub) run away from the house and get acquainted to Eric after he was released from prison. The young actor shown typical psychopath behaviour, fulfilling the fantasy he had from the past. There are some episodes of twisted attempts to Lori, along the road trip with him.

The entrapment scene was a foul for the ex-convict. In my opinion, if they really think that Eric is not capable to live in the community. They just need to run a test if he is really a psychopath, if there is indication he can detained in mental asylum.

At the end of the story, it is a win-lose situation, Eric was imprison for the death of Lori, who commit suicide in the lake and Detective Cristofuoro finally got what he wanted. The story ended with the death mystery of a woman killed by Eric and Lori was the eye-witness. The truth remains untold in the film.

Rank: 8/10

The Bourne Identity (2002)

Director: Doug Liman
Written By: Tony Gilroy, W. Blake Herron & Robert Ludlum
Lead Actors: Matt Damon, Franka Potente & Chris Cooper
Genre: Action, Suspense

Synopsis:

           A man was found at the Mediterranean Sea 60 miles South of Marseille. He is experiencing retrograde amnesia, trying to find his real identity. Along the course of looking the real truth, Jason Bourne ( Matt Damon) acquainted with Marie Helena Kreutz. Eventually, both went to Zurich to retrieve what is in silver box deposited in the bank. The mystery started and the life became complicated, since the Treadstone under the umbrella of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was looking for to them. They aim to terminate Jason Bourne to conceal the anomaly of the Treadstone operation.

Photo Credit: http://www.umn.edu/

Review:

          A stormy weather in Mediterranean Sea near Marseille, the fishermen on a board in the sailing boat rescue a man afloat in the strong waves of the body of water. The man (Matt Damon) sustained a gunshot wound at the upper back area, particularly at the left lateral scapula and at the right medial border of the scapula. One of the Italian fishermen aided him by removing the bullets. Further ocular inspection of the body, the fisherman noticed a scar at the hip area, he incised and found approximately 3 inches length of penlight-size laser; it shows the bank account number in Zurich. The man awakens that seems disoriented, concluding that he is manifesting amnesia episode. Moreover, he speaks fluently in different languages. I appreciate the multilinguistic skills, it shows how good the lead actor Matt Damon in uttering the proper enunciating the languages. In my mind, why does it need to incise a healed scar. The bottom line, the film story will be ended if the fisherman didn't recovered the details from that object. After a few days staying on the boat, Jason Bourne decided to take off in the pier to search further.    

          Assuming that he is empty-handed traveling through riding on a train. He decided to sleep on a bench in the park, and then the policemen approached and asked the identification documents from him. The confrontation escalated that he executes his ability to defend himself. The night after the incidence, he went straight to the bank. At first, he thought that his identity will be found from the silver box. But then, he got confused for having numerous passports with different names and nationalities, currencies from different states and a gun. Then he rushed to pack his things in a red bag and leaves the gun.  I feel strange that a gun can be deposited for safety keeping in a bank. 

          When Jason Bourne sensed that the police are looking for him, he goes straight into the US embassy. In the embassy, an officer tried to stop him but Bourne outwits them. In my opinion, they had seen Bourne in the building but the policemen didn't give order to the others to encircle the vicinity.

          After going down from the edges of the building, Bourne persuade a woman (Marie Helena Kreutz) with car parked at the back of the building. Jason offered her to an initial payment of $10, 000 to bring to Paris and be paid another $10, 000. Marie was hesitant to help him, since the police car passed-by and suspecting was the one they are looking for. She needs the money agreed to go along with Bourne's travel plan, ignoring the fact that it would be a danger idea. The portrayal by Franka Potente is very convincing as she had the conversation with a stranger.

          A strong personality of Alexander Conklin (Chris Cooper), the leader of Treadstone showed his power to deploy three assassins to chase and eliminate Jason Bourne. Since Jason failed to kill Wombosi (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), the Treadstone need to conceal the truth behind that mission. The film shows a well-organized networking to activate the invisible assassins. 

          As Bourne and Marie arrived in Paris, they proceed to his apartment. Marie has the chance to leave him having $20, 000 is enough, but she decided to go along with Bourne. Since the Treadstone identified her as a gypsy. Getting into his apartment, he started to investigate any clues for his identity. Then he redialled his phone, checking any traces of having last call. Then he found out that he has reservation in Regina Hotel with the name of Michael Kane. At the end of the line, Kane died in a vehicular accident. Then suddenly one of the assassins (Castel) tried to kill him, Bourne successfully pinned down the man and asked any information that may lead them to something, but the man run through and jumps out from the building. While Marie was in hysterical for knowing that Castel's bag contains pictures and description of them. Then shocked of what she had witnessed. Both escape from the scene, while assisting Marie moving out from the building.

          The Treadstone manages to bluff Wombosi by putting a false dead body in the morgue. Wombosi went to the morgue, he strongly believe that the body is not the one who attempted to assassinate him. Both Bourne and Kreutz followed after in the morgue, but the dead body was moved out. Prior to that, they made a tactic to get essential informations in Regina Hotel. I find it entertaining; Marie had a simple conversation by obtaining information in the Hotel. On the middle of the street, the newspaper headline that Wombosi died and Bourne figured out that he is an assassin. The next thing happen, Jason and Marie decided to hide in France. The place belongs to Marie's stepbrother (Eamon) lives.

          The night staying the house, Bourne decided to have a new life with Marie. In the following day, the Eamon's dog is nowhere to be found. Then Bourne asked Marie, Eamon and children to hide in the basement. Bourne with Eamon's shotgun exiting from door's entrance, he shot the explosive tank to distract Professor (Clive Owen). In the field, Bourne got the chance to shoot Professor and opened-up about the background the Treadstone. Eventually the assassin died, Bourne persuaded Marie to move away for safety. It is very inspiring moment saying good bye and losing hope not to see each other again. 

          Finally, Bourne makes a call to Conklin to meet with him, that's one of his strategies to track down the Treadstone Headquarters. There is no second thought, Bourne confronted Conklin and the Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles) pointing the gun to them, he started to remember the lost memory of his real identity and the mission for not killing Wombosi. The reason, Bourne can not do his task because Wombosi's children are in the yacht. Wombosi awaken and shot Bourne twice at the back before jumping off to the open sea.  Afterwhich, Bourne wanted to be free from the shadow of Treadstone as requested to Conklin. Jason Bourne noticed that the conversations was tap in the radio, he managed to flee by killing two people. The last assassin named as Manheim shot to death Conklin, then Abbott shutdown the Treadstone. Then he presented the end of the project operation and proposed Blackbriar as the next operation. The ending showed that Marie had her own scooter's venture in Greece, as Bourne suddenly showed up. It was really a happy ending for the couple.

          The flow of the film directed was very entertaining in terms of the stunts acted by Matt Damon. The music blended during the fight scene, it adds interest to the viewers.

Rating: 9/10
Running Time: 1 hour and 56 minutes