50/50 (2011)

Director: Jonathan Levine
Lead actors: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard and Anjelica Huston
Genre: Comedy, Drama

Synopsis: A young man was diagnosed to have a rare carcinoma that turn his life upside down, a radio planner. Adam was not prepared to face the reality at first, though the people continued to support him. He came to know the realization about knowing what is really important in his life.

http://www.cuindependent.com

Review:

           The film had shown the typical condition of a person who suffers from terminal cancer. Though I found it so simple and the viewers may lose their interest to watch. The comedy punch line is not appealing for me, it is not funny. Joseph Gordon Levitt (Adam) portrayed a cancer patient, but the acting was not that convincing either in comedy or drama scene. On the other hand, Kyle (Seth Rogen) portrayed as his close friend can pull out the act, but it doesn't jive along the course of the story.

        The love interest seems so stereotyped for leaving Adam by his girlfriend Rachel (Bryce Dallas Howard), cheating on him was the possible outcome that will be anticipated. For having therapist takes the role for having psycho treatment was so awkward, in terms of being fresh in her profession. It is not most likely happen in real life to be neither stuttering nor uncomfortable for having a session with the patient.

            At the end of the story, the false hope can never be guaranteed after the surgical procedures. Though the stages of grief had shown in the story, the manner of being in denial to realization is portrayed. The intentions could be light in portraying the roles, but the process of combating the disease with full of hope and courage to face the situation were laid in the plot of the film.

Rating: 5 out of 10 

The Lady (2011)

Director: Luc Besson
Lead actors: Michelle Yeoh and David Thewlis
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance

Synopsis:  The heroic story that touched the heart of every part of the world, the love withstands all the trials to find an answer for freedom. The fight for a new reform government system, takes part of knowing the worth of sacrifice for nationalism and the love that binds the family of Aung San Suu Kyi. She was known The Lady from Rangoon Burma, the extraordinary way of fighting her advocacy to democracy for her people.

http://www.betweenonline.com

Review:

          The film is a resemblance of any people showed good deeds to their people, the life Ghandi in India. Aung San Suu Kyi (Michelle Yeoh) still remains with her own will to have change in the local governance in Burma. The story started with her life at the age of 2, when his father (Aung San) was assassinated by the military. Despite the fact that it was not included in the film of how she had ended studying in London, the points of view of knowing the challenges came after going back to her country.

          Michelle Yeoh gave justice in portraying the role of the woman who had known as the Steel Orchid, taking the credit of good performance of David Thewlis (Michael Aris) as the lovingly husband that stand at her side without feeling regrets in his life. It is remarkably a love story that is not always being seen in the modern days.

          There is no doubt that she had given the Nobel Prize in 1991, Aung San Suu Kyi is the symbol of hope and change for people. The good deeds she had shown to the world gave an inspiring act that even a good leader can’t imagine. The democracy is the starting point for her to seek reformation of their government system that it has been in decades ruling the people without hope for development. It was in 1988 that brings the unexpected overturn of her life, when her mother got stroke and she is needed to look after her. The Burmese people had seen the courage that she can lead their country, and then the rest was a history.

           She had witnessed the violence escalated when the military spray bullets to the young rally’s students on the streets. Eventually, the generally proclaims an open elections to control the situation. An opportunity for Suu Kyi to take the risk in behalf of her countrymen, it is the courageous that made her a good leader. 

The technical pat of this film had some flaws to consider, but the manner of being aware what is going on across the country is worth to be foretold. The resistance for possible transition of the local governance to freedom for democracy is portrayed realistic. The martial law, the propaganda, violence and humanity were flashed similarly with the other nations.

          The film is out in the market, not to gain profit out of its story. But to awaken the people to know what is right for them. The heroic deeds from within will serve as the inspiration to seek justice, peace and the life of having freedom to their own homeland. 

Rating: 9 out of 10

Conviction (2010)

Director: Tony Goldwyn
Lead actors: Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Minnie Driver, Juliette Lewis, Melissa Leo  and Peter Gallagher 
Genre: Drama, Bibliography

Synopsis: A mother of two kids, Betty Anne Waters wanted to prove that his brother is innocent, as he accused of murder with robbery and convicted last 1983 in Ayer, Massachusetts. Without a lawyer to defend him, Betty Anne decided to go to law school after having a track record of drop out from high school. From time on, she had the strong determination to let her brother out from the jail.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

 Review:

           The story focus more on the real love of Betty Anne Waters (Hilary Swank) to her brother Kenny Waters (Sam Rockwell), believing that he is innocent. The flow of the film was catchy to the eyes of the viewers, a drama that will make you inspired to do something and be proud of. The strong will of Betty Anne to finish the law school, with all hardships she obtained the degree in 1995. Without a doubt she managed not to waste time of letting Kenny to be free out of his innocence. 

             Every scene will touch your heart and feel the sentiments of each character in the film. The ups and down of life turned you to a teary eye while pondering the highlights of the story. The life of Betty Anne is like a whirlwind with obstacles: losing her husband, the loyalty of friendship with Abra Rice (Minnie Driver) and to earn a degree in law school. Finally, she had passed the bar and there is no turning back to save his brother in prison.     

             Right from the start of the story, a perfect crime was focusing to Kenneth Waters by Nancy Taylor (Melissa Leo). The evidences seem not possible to overturn, since there are other witnesses that add the conviction of the suspect for the murder of Kathrina Brow.

           The performance of the lead actors in the film had shown their best, the drama act done by Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell are tremendously convincing to the public viewers. The sacrifices and the hope prevailed at the end of the story. Kenny Waters walk a free man as proven innocent after having the DNA test and the witnesses prove that they were threatening beyond its circumstances.

Rating: 8 out of 10

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)

Director: Justin Lin
Lead actors: Lucas Black, Sung Kang, Bow Wow, Brian Tee, Nathalie Kelley
Genre:Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller

Synopsis: A young, easy-go-lucky man Sean Boswell has the passion of drag racing in the neighborhood. He was send to Tokyo by her mom, since she got tired moving from one place to another due to his being troublemaker. Once arrived to Tokyo, he managed to continue his interest in car racing and things turned into a more complicated situation.

http://www.byhero.com

Review:
The film had showed the indifference of having the car races; the plot circulated more in Tokyo. It is quite unrealistic for some part of the scene that they can have races within the area of Tokyo, a very busy country. Although the proper cues delivered in actions, the actors race within the territory of Japan.

It depicts the real scenario of being foreign in an Asian country that includes the culture and language practiced in Tokyo. As Sean Boswell (Lukas Black) portrayed, the language barrier in the school. Though I find it strange, some international school can communicate in English language.

Living with his biological dad (Brian Goodman), Sean Boswell (Lucas Black) had to make an adjustment period. The last option made by her mother (Linda Boyd). Meeting new friend in school: Twinkie (Bow Wow), love interest Neela (Nathalie Kelly), drifter coach Han (Sung Kan) and an opponent named DK (Brian Tee).

I am not sure if the scenes are just to promote the beautiful places of the country or rather focus more on car races over opponents. The moviegoers would be delighted to watch the movie as it showcased the flexibility of genre. There is fast phase of the story; it might be confusing for some viewers. Although the director directed the movie scenes with style, the plots showed the action stunts.

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.

http://www.movieposterdb.com

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