Monthly Archives: December 2011

Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol

Posted on December 30, 2011 by filmstruck

The previous triumphs in Brad Bird’s resume include The Incredibles and Ratatouille, an unusual choice of director to put at the helm of the latest edition of the established Mission Impossible franchise. But in Ghost Protocol, Bird delivers what is … Continue reading →

Posted in 2011, action thriller, commercial, thriller | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Beginners

Posted on December 23, 2011 by filmstruck

Beginners is an odd, quirky sort of coming-of-age movie: its protagonist learns the art of finding and cherishing a lifelong love, through fond remembrances and a new-found understanding of his recently deceased father’s bravery and zest for life. His father … Continue reading →

Posted in 2011, Oscar contender, romantic comedy | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Help

Posted on December 22, 2011 by filmstruck

One expects a grim, cringe-inducing tale of suffering on hearing the theme of The Help. On watching it, one realizes that it is but a dumbed-down, fluffed-up retelling of the race relations that led to the American Civil War, with … Continue reading →

Posted in 2011, adaptation, Drama, Oscar contender | 3 Comments

Moneyball

Posted on December 12, 2011 by filmstruck

Sports movies are usually ignored at the Oscars, but ever so often, Hollywood churns out one, featuring a high-profile actor in their Oscar bid.  Remember Million Dollar Baby (2004), Cinderella Man (2005), Invictus and The Blind Side (both 2009), and … Continue reading →

Posted in 2011, adaptation, Drama, Oscar contender | 4 Comments

The Debt

Posted on December 11, 2011 by filmstruck

In spy thrillers, it isn’t always the performances that count, but the suspense in the story, the amount of “thrill” in the thriller. In The Debt, however, the performances far outweigh the strength of the story, which frankly unravels completely … Continue reading →

Posted in 2011, adaptation, Drama, thriller | 3 Comments

Melancholia

Posted on December 11, 2011 by filmstruck

With an opening sequence horrifyingly reminiscent of The Tree of Life, Melancholia is visually extravagant but more pretentious than profound. It attempts to analogize vegetative manic depression with impending disaster as the planet Melancholia draws near, and in a final … Continue reading →

Posted in 2011, Drama | 1 Comment