Drama > Blu-ray Drama > Oscar

A training day to remember

Advantages: Terrific acting, great plot, dark, compelling but intelligent
Disadvantages: Cop films might not suit all

Training Day was a film that instantly stood out to me as a must watch film due through the fact that Denzel Washington had been nominated for an Oscar for his performance in the film. Having always admired Denzel's talent as an actor, I was greatly anticipating this film. The central plot of the film is a young, slightly naive, wet behind the ears Ethan Hawke has joined the narcotics department he wants to make a difference and climb the ladder. ...
...indeed going to be Ethan's training day, but this is no ordinary training day and while first perceiving his officer's tactics as being unorthodox, he begins to realise that there is a much darker side to him. Jake's philosophies of a world in which justice is served within the system are in stark contrast to Alonso who sees it as a dog eat dog world in which rules are no boundary for his goals. This is where the table is set for the feast of action ...

grandchamp 20.10.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Training Day (DVD)

"And like that... he's gone,"

Advantages: Intelligent plot, especially the ending
Disadvantages: One bad casting decision, Slow paced at times

...blown away. To sum the plot up without giving too much away, a group of assorted criminals (and one ex-criminal) are herded up in connection with a robbery and end up grouping together to do some jobs. The key to this film is perspective and how brilliantly the director manages to manipulate it to create a compelling thriller. The plot is exciting and filled with twists - truly gripping stuff. The final sequence is where the film really reaches it's ...
...deep enough to be believable. The way they react with each other feels natural and they make it all the more enjoyable to watch. After it had finished, I immediately wanted to watch it again. Not because the plot was so complicated that I didn't understand the first time but because it was almost as though the world I had glimpsed the first time had not been enough and I was coming back for more. I also wanted to try and spot the clues which I could ...

SmilingBuddha 19.10.2009 · Read full review
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Review of The Usual Suspects (DVD)

Modern Masterpiece

Advantages: Cinematography, acting and many more
Disadvantages: Can't think of any

...and more. An absolute masterpiece. There Will Be Blood contains some interesting ideologies about suburban America. Most notably an incredibly isolated one. But two that come to mind are this Anti-Religious theme and Ant-capitalism. We see the character of Plaintiff, who feels uncomfortable around Eli Sunday in relation to his evangelical preaching. Daniel Day-Lewis' character is one of a seriously repressed man, who wants no more than to own every ...
...looking for oil. From there we can see he is a violent, selfish man, who is determined to get what h wants. From there on, when he takes the son of another man and poses him as his own-also symbolises this. There are loads more but I didn’t want to give too much away as it's just blown me away! Talking of "blowing me away" the cinematography. WOW oh Wow! Again I didn't think I would see should sensational cinematography since I watched Atonement ...

Sarah_UK88 12.06.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of There Will Be Blood (DVD)

Greed Is A Bitch

Advantages: Mostly well-acted, manages to depict protagonist's moral struggle well.
Disadvantages: It gets dull sometimes, as the trading scenes and conversations drag on.

...Gekko, a legendary figure on Wall Street whom he idolises. In his attempts to get his attention and convince him to give him a chance, Fox tells him some confidential information that he has learned from his father, an airline worker and union representative, that provides Gekko with the opportunity to make a significant profit. This has the desired effect, and Gekko agrees to become his mentor. But Gekko only plays for high stakes and not by the ...
...and co-written by Oliver Stone, WALL STREET was a timely account of 1980s excess and greed. Stone wanted to create a story in the mould of John Bunyan's THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS, a tale of personal corruption and attempt at redemption. He enlisted his film school friend Stanley Weiser to develop the script, and after considerable ground research, the expert input of several real-life Wall Street players and many re-writes, the final script was completed. ...

babycougar 29.07.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Wall Street (DVD)

Lewd and Lurid in Barcelona

Advantages: Fab cinematography, great performances from Cruz, Bardam and Rebecca Hall
Disadvantages: All a bit lewd and lurid

...very seductive indeed. Vicky (Rebecca Hall), is a sensible young girl, engaged to Doug (Chris Messina), who has an air of practicality about him but at the same time is hazardous. Vicky is a student studying Catalan culture so when she gets an invite to visit Barcelona from her rich friend Judy (Patricia Clarkson) and her spouse, Mark (Kevin Dunn) she jumps at the opportunity as she thinks the visit will help with her M A thesis. Vicky takes along ...
...art, gastronomy and sex. Prudent Vicky rebukes him but Cristina mocks her for her beliefs and accepts. And so the main questions in the film are : Is it better to behave like Vicky, loving one man and believing in marriage or like Cristina who is lustful and just out for excitement and adventure? In Woody Allen's film, both these female characters are doomed. Allen seems to portray women as easy targets, negative, fickle and capable of making mistakes ...

Praski 08.11.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Vicky Cristina Barcelona (DVD)