Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

Before I became a committed actionfilck-junkie, I was a closet-armchair espionage junkie. To me, the Brits corners the spy game better than any other race on the planet. Possibly because they're sneaker mothers, and primarily because they kinda ruled the world for a bit (before it ruled them back haha). Top of the game in the spy genre was and still is of course, John Le Carre, real name David Cornwall. And this little gem of a story is the epitome of genuine tradecraft written by a true master. After all, Le Carre did clock in his time ...

The Skinny: George Smiley has been kicked out of the British spy institution aka the Circus, only to be called in surreptitiously to uncover a mole. Unaided, working on the outside, the seemingly slow and innocuous ex-spy master returns in top form to not only uncover the truth, but to also exact a personal vendetta.

The Helmer: Tomas Alfredson - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), Sissela Kyle - Dina Dagar ar raknade (video - 2011), Let the Right One In (2008), Her tanker hon (video 2008), En decemberdrom (TV series) (2005), Dear Mr. Barroso (TV) (2005), Pappas lillas tjockis (TV movie) (2005), Min sista vilja (TV movie) (2005), En dalig ide (TV movie) (2005), Landins (TV movie) (2005), Four Shades of Brown (2004), Kontorstid (2004), Sperhaharen (video) (2002), Soldiers by Moonlight (TV series) (2000), En liten film (1999), Offer och garningsman (TV series) (1999), Screwed in Tallinn (TV movie) (1999), Irma och gerd (TV series) (1997), Bert - Den Siste Oskulden (1995), Bert (TV series (1994), Ikas TV-Kalas (TV series)(1990). 

The Scripter: John Le Carre

The Players: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Toby Jones, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch, Claran Hinds, David Denchik.

Release Date: 9th December 2011 (US)

The Prediction: This movie is like the who's who of British megastars - headed by the very liquid Gary Oldman reprising the role of Smiley previously held in the BBC TV Series by Sir Alec Guiness, supported by Colin Firth, John Hurt, Tom Hardy and the very capable all-rounder Mark Strong. What packs the punch is of course the Swedish wunderkind Tomas Alfredson who soiled the pants of many film critics with his sad/horrific child vampire tale "Let the Right One In". And somehow it all makes sense. In the latter age of instant information, special effects and multi-layered ploting, this aged timepiece set in London 70s proves that its all in the captivating storytelling which makes all the difference. How will the film fare? Pretty well. From where I sit, it has NOTHING to mitigate an almost perfect film. 

Official Trailer

Official Site

Outrage (Autoreiji) (2010) - Japan

This is on limited release, if you're lucky you will get a copy of this, somewhere, somehow. And if you want it bad enough and you should, mind you, you will obtain it. I love gangster movies, I love gangster movies even more when it comes from Japan, and it involves Japan's answer to Clint Eastwood / Charles Bronson - actor / director / scripter "Beat" Takeshi Kitano. The rock-faced enforcer who only cracks a smile when delivering a joke or a painful kick to the groin.

The Skinny: A Japanese mob head delegates the job of keeping a rogue band of drug dealers in line, but as expected trouble erupts ... 

The Helmer / Scripter: Takeshi Kitano - Outrage 2 (2011), Outrage (2010), Archilles & the Tortoise (2008), Glory to the Filmmaker! (2007), To Each his Own (segment) (2007), Takeshi's (2005), The Blind Swordsman: Zaitochi (2003), Dolls (2002), Brother (2000), Kikujiro (1999), Fireworks (1997), Kids Return (1996), Getting Any? (1994), Sonatine (1993), A Scene at the Sea (1991), Boiling Point (1990), Violent Cop (1989). 

The Players: Takeshi Kitano, Kippel Shiina, Ryo Kase, Tomokazu Miura, Jun Kunimura, Tetta Sugimotto, Takashi Tsukamoto, Yuka Itaya, Hideo Nakano, Renji Ishibashi, Fumiyo Kohinata, Soichiro Kitamura

The Prediction: Two words: This Rocks. Prediction? You don't no prediction hombre. 

Trailer

The Descendents (2011)

I like dramas. No seriously, I may come off as a man who likes gobsmacking action flicks with rapid kicks to the face and groin, I do know how to appreciate a good drama when one comes along. All the more better when the drama showcases my favorite actor, directed by a brilliant, almost-genius director, based on a book thats pretty much spot on the aging male psyche. I'm of course, mumbling about Alexander Payne and his very promising looking drama with the incomparable King of Cool, George Clooney. 

The Skinny: Married man, father and worried husband Matt King, a land baron from Hawaii discovers much to his horror that his comatose wife Elizabeth was having an affair during her waking days before she fell under. Filled with grief and needing to know the truth he embarks on a personal journey with his two daughters to discover who the man was. 

The Helmer / Scripter: Alexander Payne -  Fork in the Road (2012), Nebraska (2012), The Descendents (2011), Hung (TV - 2009), Cinema16: American Short Films (2006), Paris, Je'taime (segment - 2006), Sideways (2004), About Schmidt (2002), Election (1999), Citizen Ruth (1996), Inside Out III (video - 1992), The Passion of Martin (1991), Inside Out (video - 1991), Carmen (short - 1985). 

The Players: George Clooney, Shallene Woodley, Amara Miller, Nick Krause, Patricia Hastie, Grace A. Cruz, Kim Gennaula, Beau Bridges, Stanton Johnston, Matt Corboy, Michael Ontkean, Carmen Kaichi, Karen Kuioka Hironaga

Release Date: Singapore 26 Jan 2012

The Prediction: Have you seen the trailer? Its a good trailer - the sound track (the clapping sounds rythmic to the running footfalls of King as he runs down the road), with the surprising grey backdrop of beautiful Hawaii coupled with the unprettiness of real life (compared to cinematic life) lends it an overall deep rooted, albeit pleasant approach to understanding the aging male mind as he faces emotional meltdown; something which he seems ill-equipped to handle. How do I rate it based on all this? Pretty high. I'm looking forward to this. Especially with the mesmerizing and thoroughly engaging Sideways , which bowled us over back in 2004. Payne has that touch and hopefully it will be seen again here. I believe it will resonate with Clooney on board. 

Official Site

Official Trailer