Tag Archives: angelina jolie

Tomb Raider (2018)

Tomb Raider Review

written by Anu Gopinath

Tomb Raider: Rome was not built in a day and no superhero paid heed to their true calling without going through the tests of life and making the ultimate sacrifice!

My Ratings: 2.5/5

The movie franchise that sky rocketed Angelina Jolie to her stardom reboots with Alicia Vikander playing the title character! In all Tomb-Raiderfairness the movies with Jolie in the lead had her already established as the well known adventurer and told the story of one of her many adventures. But director Roar Uthaug has delved too deep into the storyline for this reboot which concentrates on the early life of Lara Croft and tells the story of making of the legendary adventurer. And that’s where the movie scores!

Vying for throne left vacant by Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix Trilogy) and Angelina Jolie – it is no less than a herculian task but Alicia Vikander shoulders the responsibility with an amazing ease and panache that screams volumes of her talent.

And her claims to the throne is truly justified as she backs it up with the stunning portrayal of a woman who is in the cusp of being elevated into the greatness, yet riddled with insecurities and self doubts. Her punches are misplaced, her arrows miss the targets and her bouts, tapped out!

She absolutely delivers the goods by portraying the vulnerability of a lost child, the strength of a daughter whose father makes the Tomb-Raiderultimate sacrifice and inevitably, the acceptance of her true calling!

This time the film Tomb Rider goes deep into the earlier life of Lara Croft and examines her relationship with her father, played brilliantly by Dominic West, thus establishing the reasons and sacrifices that made Lara Croft who she is and whom eventually the world have come to know.

But though the movie starts on a promising note, it soon loose its way due to lack of a strong storyline or for that matter, a strong villain character! And this ultimately becomes the movie’s undoing!

The visual effects is at par with the best in business but lack of action or the scarcity of it and a weak supporting cast drags Tomb-Raiderthe movie down like dead weight. The world is yet to see the talent that Walton Goggins is and though an accomplished actor, he by no means could shoulder the responsibilities that comes with playing the negative character of a Tomb Raider franchise. And that’s where Angelina Jolie movies score higher!

With Wonder Woman laying the foundations and ultimately setting a bench mark for how an origin movie should be told, Tomb Rider falls desperately short of expectations though there are a few highs that the audience can take home with!

Is Tomb Rider a good origin-movie? Yes! Is it a good movie? Debatable! It’s a question only time and a great sequel will answer!

Poster courtesy: www.imdb.com

Unbroken (2015)

My Ratings: 2.5/5.

Here comes the first review of 2015; a war drama, an epic tale of survival, a journey of a man through tremendous hardship and adversities and yet his soul remains unbroken!

Yes, the film Unbroken desperately tries to portray Louis “Louie” Zamperini‘s extraordinary life, especially focused on his adventures or rather misadventures while he was serving his country in the WWII. 

Escaping death in a plane crash Louis Zamperini manages to stay alive in the middle of the sea for 47 days on a raft (without proper food and water) along with two of his fellow army men until finally the Japanese army rescues them. He was taken in captivity as a war prisoner, tortured and tormented till the war ended.

Based on Laura Hillenbrand‘s brilliantly written book Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption the film also highlights Louis Zamperini’s fame and success as an athlete who represented USA in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany.

Directed by Angelina Jolie (her second feature as a director), and though the screenplay credit boasts of names like the Coen Brothers (Joel Coen and Ethan Coen), the film still falls short of my expectation. 

First of all it’s a tad too stretched and then again the dramatic moments are not dramatic enough (if that makes any sense).

Good camera work by Roger Deakins though but the music doesn’t have much impact.

And also according to me the character graph of Zamperini doesn’t properly gets revealed in the end. He evidently suffers a lot but does anything change in him because of such intense struggle for survival? How does he cope with his normal life when it’s all over?

While watching Unbroken you can’t help but compare it with legendary films like The Bridge on the River Kwai and Life of Pi which again doesn’t particularly help the film.

But one thing that definitely needs to be appreciated is Jack O’Connell‘s excellent performance. He as the lead character is the body and soul of the film, and probably the only reason to watch Unbroken.

Hope 2015 gets better than this.

Most anticipated world films of 2014 (Part 2)

And here comes the Part 2 of the most anticipated world films of 2014 yet to release. The trailers are convincing enough to make us impatient but all in good time.

For Most anticipated world films of 2014 (Part 1) click the link below:http://www.cinemaforensic.com/most-anticipated-world-films-of-2014/

Here follows a list of another Ten films that promises awesome entertainment. Do enjoy the trailers for now and make sure you don’t miss any of these on the big screen.

Let the fun begin.

A walk among the Tombstones (releasing on 19th Sept)

Film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HDQ_PEVgwI

a walk among the tombstones

A private investigator is engaged in a dangerous hunt to find a drug lord’s wife who has been kidnapped and killed.

Scott Frank‘s direction – by the look of the trailer the film looks like a perfect thriller in every sense.

And according to me in such suspense-action films Liam Neeson simply can’t go wrong. Let’s wait and watch.

Interstellar (releasing on 7th Nov)

Film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WzHXI5HizQ

interstellar

This year Christopher Nolan comes up with a Sci-Fi thriller that looks superb (as the trailer goes till now).

With talented actors like Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain i bet the film will make enough waves all around the globe.  

A newly discovered wormhole! And a voyage in the space! An interstellar Voyage!! – Bring it on.

The hundred-foot journey (releasing on 8th Aug)

Film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6H8pAKKkgQ

the-hundred-foot-journey

Lasse Hallström is the director who has given amazing films like ‘Chocolat‘ and ‘What’s eating Gilbert Grape‘. 

And on top of that this film has such an Indian connection.

An Indian family opens an eatery in France right across a French restaurant. Helen Mirren, Om Puri,  Rohan ChandCharlotte Le Bon – all look just perfect for the film.

Good people (releasing on 26th Sept)

Film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC17twr50WU

good-people

A couple in the time of financial crisis discovers a bag full of money. And they decide to keep it.

Soon enough they find themselves trapped and become the target of both the police as well as some deadly thief who knows all about it.

Starring James Franco and Kate Hudson, even good people make mistakes in the time of crisis and has to pay their price.

St.Vincent (releasing on 24th Oct)

Film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5BVn-eyAxA

st.vincent

The main attraction of this film is none other than Bill Murray.

Of course it’s a comedy and according to the trailer it looks like a good one.

It’s about a little boy’s friendship with an unlikely old man who is completely wrong as a mentor to the child. Melissa McCarthy and Naomi Watts are also starring in the film. 

The Equalizer (releasing on 26th Sept)

Film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt0GkVZK8zA

the equalizer

An innocent girl as a victim, Denzel Washington, an ex commando is the savior and a lot of Russian gangsters.

What more can you possibly need for an action packed entertainer.

Antoine Fuqua‘s direction and the trailer looks damn cool.

I am sure this film will clench the thirst of all the action film lovers.

Unbroken (releasing on 25th Dec)

Film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebHji2c_ciU

unbrokenDirected by Angelina Jolie and written by the Cohen brothers.

The film is about an Olympic runner  by the name of Louis Zamperini who was taken prisoner by the Japanese army during WW2 but he never give up his hope to come back. 

The trailer undoubtedly looks interesting and inspirational. All the best Angelina.

Jessabelle (releasing on 29th Aug)

Film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoBCEdt_BC8

jessabelleA horror flick that looks decent enough to make you sit in the edge of your seat. 

Returning to her home a girl finds some tapes and eventually comes in contact with a spirit that was waiting especially for her.

I wish the film turns out to be at least half as good as the trailer. I like horror films but unfortunately they never seem to scare me. Sad.

Before i go to sleep (releasing on 8th Aug)

Film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9QNAJm8E5g

before-i-go-to-sleep

Nicole KidmanColin FirthMark Strong – all look stunning in this mysterious trailer. 

A woman wakes up everyday without any memory of her past – it’s a matter of who she can trust.

The concept sounds familiar but hopefully the treatment will be different and better.

Dumb and Dumber To (releasing on 14th Nov)

Film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMxwcRck9TI

dumb-and-dumber 2

After 20 years they are back and probably more dumb than ever (if that’s humanly possible).

Our all time favorite Jim Carrey and the hilarious Jeff Daniels team up again to make us laugh even harder at their brainless comedy.

This time they are going in an adventure trip to find one of their long lost children with the motive of gaining a kidney.

For Most anticipated world films of 2014 (Part 1) click the link below: http://www.cinemaforensic.com/most-anticipated-world-films-of-2014/

List of Legendary Actors who also directed films

Did you know that so many of our favorite actors are directors as well? May be all are not as glorious and successful as Charlie Chaplin or Clint Eastwood but some of these Hollywood actors who also directed films deserves a pat on their shoulders.

Let’s see how many of these movies have you seen which are directed by these legendary actors.

Actor turned Director                Popular films directed

(Note: many of the actors have directed more films than mentioned here but i have listed only the popular ones)

Kirk Douglas                                  Scalawag (1973), Posse (1975)

Richard Burton                            Doctor Faustus (1967)

Diane Keaton                                Unstrung heroes (1995)

Billy Bob Thornton                    Sling Blade (1996)

Danny DeVito                              Throw Momma from the train (1987)

John Wayne                         The Alamo (1960), The Green Berets (1968)

Liv Ullmann                                     Sofie (1992), Faithless (2000)

Barbra Streisand                         Yentl (1983), The prince of tides (1991) 

Paul Newman                                 The glass Menagerie (1987)

Bill Murray                                       Quick Change (1990)

Alec Baldwin                                      Shortcut to Happiness (2003)

Ed Harris                         Pollock (2000), Appaloosa (2008)

Denzel Washington                      The great Debaters (2007)

Ethan Hawke               Chelsea Walls (2001), The Hottest state (2006)

Forest Whitaker         Waiting to Exhale (1995), Hope Floats (1998)

Sylvester Stallone                     Rambo (2008),The expendables (2010)

Jodie Foster                              Little man Tate (1991),The beaver (2011)

Ben Stiller                                   The Cable guy (1996), Zoolander (2001)

Ralph Fiennes               Coriolanus (2011), The invisible woman (2013)

Jack Nicholson                        Goin’ South (1978), The Two Jakes (1990)

Morgan Freeman                       Bopha! (1993)

Drew Barrymore                       Whip It (2009)

Antonio Banderas        Crazy in Alabama (1999), Summer Rain (2006)

Nicolas Cage                                  Sonny (2002)

Angelina Jolie                               In the land of blood and honey (2011)

Anthony Hopkins                      Dylan Thomas: Return Journey (1990)

Dustin Hoffman                          Quartet (2012)

Keanu Reeves                              Man of tai Chi (2013)

Tom Hanks                                     That thing you do! (1996)

Johnny Depp                                 The Brave (1997)

Robert De Nero      A Bronx Tale (1993), The Good Shepherd (2006)

Al Pacino                                             Chinese coffee (2000), Salomé (2013)

Kevin Costner          Dances with wolves (1990), The postman (1997)

Mel Gibson                                        Braveheart (1995), Apocalypto (2006)

Sean Penn                                          The pledge (2001), Into the wild (2007)

George Clooney                            The ides of March (2011) 

Ben Affleck                                        Argo (2012), Gone baby gone (2007)