Categories
Action & Thriller Movie Reviews

Red – It Is A Fun Watch, And There Are Malkovich, Willis, And More

The movie preview took place at Bugis Shaw.  And it has been a while since we hang out in that area.  Cynthia bumped onto her colleague while I to mine.  Small world it is indeed.

The story of “Red” evolves around a team of ex-CIA agents who are now being targeted by the CIA.  The first half of the movie develops the why and the second half focuses on the resolution.  I prefer the part on plot development because that got me thinking on the overall motive.  This movie is filled with lighthearted and fun moments.  Classy I must say, a bit to the crazy end.  I would not have in a million years imagined Helen Mirren wearing a long evening gown firing big machine guns at people.  Then we have John Malkovich who in his unique twisted and quirky way doing the things that you probably would expect but not imagine doing.  Bruce Willis is now 55 and he still looks great on screen, in his usual cool.  He must be one of the most acted hero in recent film history.  And there is Morgan Freeman whom I wish he has more air time.  Oh, it is fun to watch Mary-Louise Parker on screen too.  She plays the role of a pension fund customer service agent and has nothing to do with the CIA.  Somehow, she gets swept into the plot and the amazing thing is, she games for it (and the more amazing is, I am buying it).  Whenever she drops out from the plot, the plot seems to get a little bit dimmer.  Perhaps it is also because she is the only younger one – in relative term of course – in the team.  There is also a fair bit of romance in “Red”, which makes it different from other films of similar genre.

“Red” will be released in Singapore on Nov 11, 2010.  Check it out if you are into a fun movie, especially if you are a fan of the leading actors and actresses.

Categories
Drama Movie Reviews

Starstruck by Burn After Reading – How Much You Can Tolerate Idiocy?

If there is a center theme to “Burn After Reading”, to me, that would be idiocy.  There is no hero, only idiots.  And that is exactly what the award winning director-writer duo Joel and Ethan Coen wanted it to be, I reckon.

Knowing that I will be heading for an overseas business trip in Malaysia, I spent the last few days trying to do as much as I can in Singapore.  I can’t live without Singapore, I really can’t.  Not entirely the country as per se, but all these dependencies I have built over the years.  Gosh, I will even miss my über computer where I spend much time blogging with.  And so, before I head north, I caught up with my Movie Review Squad.

There are so many big stars in “Burn After Reading”.  I am such a big fan of John Malkovich.  I especially enjoy his acting in “Being John Malkovich (1999)”.  But he looks quite old in this film.  OK, he is old.  54, he is.  I really wish to see him taking home an Oscar one day.

Then there is the old partners George Clooney and Tilda Swinton.  They didn’t get along in “Michael Clayton (2007)”, they didn’t get along in “Burn After Reading” either.  Both are such talented actors.  While George Clooney is not exactly the guy I used to love watching in this film – a bit too jittering to my liking – I bet you have not seen this side of a Brad Pitt at all.  Who is this Brad Pitt?!  Borderline childish, borderline uncool, and totally an idiot.

I can relate 100% on how the filmmakers depict a typical working environment, and that is not even funny.  Gosh, when was the last time I witness something outrageously intelligent at work?  Hmmm.  If I may pick a few favorite scenes from “Burn After Reading”, I simply love to watch the conversations between an official played by David Rasche and his director (J. K. Simmons) inside the the CIA’s headquarters.  The director’s comments are so random in situations of life and death.  J. K. Simmons’s acting makes me laugh out loud, and I want more.  He gives me ideas to reply to a common asked question in the corporate world: what is our lesson learnt?

Not necessarily the most entertaining film of the year.  But if you do like to watch dark comedy and in love with watching some of the stars on big screen, “Burn After Reading” is a good option.