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Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy 2011
Top cast looking suspiciously at each other for 2 hours. Almost every scene raises more questions than it answers. Each clue about each character gives enough to slowly put things together but not in the first sitting. Super subtle movements of eyes, facial twitches, gestures and vocal tones make it a master of film making even though it's not really a film. It's more like a documentary on how to use actors properly in a strong story.
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The Tree of Life 2011
A sequel to 2001?
Any film that follows a woman asking the sky "why" then follows with a 20 minute documentary on the origins of the planet through to evolution of higher species then cuts back to affluent humans living out their tragedian and asymmetric utopias is a cut above the rest. Perhaps overly ambitious but masterfully executed, addresses religiosity, inequality and underlying Machiavellian mandates and explores human characters with subtlety and sensitivity. Closeups, shaky-cam and a meandering soundtrack might… -
Moneyball 2011
Well crafted sports film indeed about money, focussing more on sit downs, negotiations and poker faces. Underdog team uses numbers to augur success rather than status quo selection methods. Soundtrack good, solid acting. Definitely one of Pitt's best performances as an obsessive compulsive. The film also seems to be saying goodbye to the pop-icon 'Brad Pitt' we know before he enters old age. The long shots show him as the Pitt we know. The close ups show that he is…
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Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows 2011
High functioning autistic with blackbelt leaves the backstreet opium dens of London for the big league. Attempts to delay world war and save civilisation from itself.
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Source Code 2011
Epic fail. A good enough premise but overly confected and poorly cast. The ending is satisfying enough but too little too late.
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The Watch 2012
3.5 as a film. 4 as a comedy. So many negative reviews here! This is human dramedy at its best - 3 real characters, exaggerated, but identifiably human. Then there's the unmissable Dr Manhattan. The Ben Stiller canon has established itself as hit and miss cringe-fest but this is fresher than most award winning tv dramas. Guys being guys but with actual tears when negotiating their friendships. Dick jokes mingling with the harsh realities of infertility. Salty dialogue, good writers…
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The Rum Diary 2011
Not a bad film detailing the making of Hunter S Thompson as we know him but not great, either. Depp expectedly gives the best performance with his usual facial twitches, but looks more like an Abercrombie and Fitch model than the hangover zombie he should resemble. Kudos to a 47 year old passing for a 22 yo. Every other character is boring, even Eckhart's. Ribisi's closet nazi 400% proof rum drinker as a future ghost of an exaggerated HST is…
