Taken, starring Liam Neeson (coming soon).

Eye Of The Beholder

What does "Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith", "Pulp Fiction" and Nick Nolte have in common? "A Beautiful Country", the Vietnam-related drama set in 1990. Actually, Temuera "Janga Fett" Morrison, Tim "Ringo" Roth and Nolte only put in supporting roles.

What make this masterpiece truly unique is the in depth look at perspectives other than those of soldiers. Timid yet highly potent actor Damien Nguyen plays the son of a Vietnamese women and a U.S. soldier but the relationships and brilliant shot selections give life to an amazing story of survival, redemption, and a disgraceful time in human history. Definitely worth a late night viewing if you don't mind partial subtitling and artistic filmmaking.

Positive Affirmation

One word, "yes" but in this case "Yes Man", a Peyton Reed film.

I am a fan of Jim Carrey's more insanely silly slapstick comedies like "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" but I am keeping a close eye on his progress with romantic comedies and dramas. Michel Gondry's "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" is a trip worth taking and "Yes Man" again taps Carrey's growing dramatic appeal. When Tom Hanks and Robin Williams starting turning in serious noteworthy performances, they generated some of film's most riveting moments. My favorites include Robin's heart-wrenching, suspenseful, and damn near explosive therapy sessions with Matt Damon in "Good Will Hunting". As for Hanks, his work in "Philadelphia" is without rival but personally, I relate to his role as school teacher turned captain during wartime set out to save one man for the sake of the soldier's mother.

Give Carrey a chance. Yes, "Yes Man" is more than a spoof movie. It asks you to say "yes" to life and live it to the fullest. Something we all should be thinking about.

Accordance

I am not of Jewish decent and do not claim to understand the deep pain suffered during the Holocaust but their was something about the new Edward Zwick film, "Defiance" that simply destroyed me. It was the first film of its kind that spoke to me with words I felt akin. "Schindler's List" was a bit too clean, too neat. Powerful but I couldn't relate to its storytelling techniques. Sorry, Stephen.

Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, and the entire cast and crew delivered a modern rendering of a true story that made me feel I was in the trenches with them. My family being persecuted. My friends betraying me.

If you appreciate historical films and find yourself enjoying films most of your 30 to 50-something friends enjoy, spend the money and catch "Defiance" on the big screen. Even if you don't like crying in public.

Director's Choices

Directors express their ideas and/or translate their visions of those ideas and ideas of others. Here are some favorites you may find entertaining: Bernardo Bertolucci, Frank Capra, David Fincher, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Woody Allen, Stanley Kubrick, Sofia Coppola, Wes Anderson, Stephen Spielberg, Robert Rodriquez.

From Tait To Coppola

From Charles Tait to Orson Welles to Sofia Coppola movies have brought us tears of joy, horror, and reflection. These are reviews, polls, and lists designed by those willing to share opinions for the benefit of other Cinemaphiles.

"Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die." - Isaiah 22:13
"Snack, slurp, and be entertained, for tomorrow prices go up." - Crispi 2009