The Grey (2012)

Old people kicking-ass, and to be precise, old people kicking vicious animal ass. Is that a buy-in from you? Hell yeah, if its Liam "kick-em where it hurts" Neeson!

The Skinny: A team of oil-drillers crash lands in Alaska, right smack in the middle of wolf-territory, where the local animals see them as intruders and decides to eliminate them. What they didn't expect was Liam "kick em where it hurts" Neeson is among the group of humans. Animal ass-kicking ensues. 

The Helmer: Joe Carnahan - The Grey (2012), A Team (2010), Smokin Aces (2006), Faceless (TV movie) (2006), Ticker (Short) (2002), Narc (2002), Blood, Guts, Bullets and Octane (1998).

The Scribe: Joe Carnahan

The Players: Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney, James Badge Dale, Frank Grillo, Joe Anderson, Nonso Anozie, Dallas Roberts, Larissa Stadnichuk, Ben Bray, James Bitonti, Johnathan Bitonti. 

Release Date: US - 27th Jan 2012

The Prediction: I kinda like the works of helmer Joe Carnahan, especially his early work on Narc, a tense, dark and brooding thriller with Jason Patric about the life and death of a narcotics officer with a narc habit. And then he went on ahead shortly after to helm the very underrated "Smokin Aces" with its plus pointer of having the sweet Alicia Keys in the role of a bisexual Assassin with a big gun. And most recently he did a fun, but fatal revival of "The A Team". Carnahan delivers and this time with Liam Neeson I don't anything else but delivery of a very interesting movie. My prediction? This is Taken, but in reverse, and with wolves instead of human traffickers. No, I jest, it looks good. And I'm looking forward to seeing it next year. 

Official Trailer

Official Site 

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

 

Final Destination 5 (2011)

Honestly? For real? Number 5? Really? Gee, I guess theres a lot of people out there who'd want to see the same kind of movie 5 TIMES, with a KNOWN ENDING. I guess us humans really do have short attention span. 

The Skinny: Place - suspension bridge / Event - lotsa people die when it collapses / Hero created - dude and pals escape inevitable death due to future sequence in the mind's eye, also known as "premonition" / Outcome - death comes after them, in a big way. The only difference: movie poster. Yaaaaawwwwwwnnnnnnn ... *stretches arms and falls back to sleep* But WAIT! Wake up!! Its in THREE DEE!! Hoowee! (erm, like the previous one as well ...)

The Helmer: Steven Quale - Final Destination 5 (2011), Aliens of the Deep (documentary) (2005), Superfire (TV movie) (2002), Darkness (short) (1998). 

The Casts: Tony Todd, Nicholas D'Agosto, Emma Bell, P.J. Byrne, David Koechner, Courtney B. Vance, Ellen Wroe, Miles Fisher, Time Fellingham

Tagline: Death Has Never Been Closer 

Release Date: 25th August 2011 (Malaysia)

The Prediction: Could it just be me but I don't quite like sequels when it goes beyond number three and reaching midway before it touches 2 digits. Why? Because it tells me two things: 1: the big studio boys are too lazy to get creative and grow some stones in looking for, and bankrolling a NEW decent horror movie, and 2: its all very convenient; slap together a bunch of screaming kids, find new ways to kill them, make some buckaroos, prepare for part 6. It smells too much of lazy sunday afternoon hangover decision being put together in a desperate attempt to make surefire money. What do I PREDICT? If you like the franchise, and you're cool about watching it for the 5th time, then go for it. Otherwise, go watch Little House on the Prairie, all 28 seasons. Or maybe read a book. What? That thing made of paper and opens up page by page ... no, it doesn't come with a switch, or a button at the bottom centre of it.

Official Trailer

Official Movie Site

KL Gangster (Malaysia) (2011)

A flashy, fast-paced, violent gangster movie with all the right moves. Almost. 


The Skinny: Ex-convict Malek chooses the life of honest living upon release from a 5 year prison stint, only to be drawn back into the violent life of gangster-living. To complicate matters, his younger brother is keen to draw him into an epic showdown between two rival gangs in their bid to control the city of KL. 


The Helmer: Syamsul Yusof -  KL Gangster (2011), Khurafat: Perjanjian Syaitan (2011), Evolusi: KL Drift 2 (2010), Bohsia: Jangan Pilih Jalan Hitam (2009), Evolusi: KL Drift (2008). 


The Casts: Aaron Aziz, Syamsul Yusof, Azizan, Ridzuan Hashim, Adyputra


The Review: The short but impressive directing / writing history of the young Syamsul Yusof is something to marvel at, having gone beyond the range of his father's melodrama to jump both feet forward into cracking good actioneers. His choice to dabble into all things KL, be it illegal racers, gangsters or young women with loose morals is a smart move as it does appeal to the urban Malays, something which does not happen on a daily basis. This movie displays pretty decent fight scenes and quite awesome stunts. All very nice and satisfying for those in dire need of local eye-candy. Okay, now the bad news: its all flash and bang with poor scripting and ineffective acting. Why must the players be shouting ALL the time? Continuity is pretty hodge-podge with an ending that hangs conveniently on a narrated outcome. If only there was more depth to the story and a bit more human development of the key characters. However, it is an improvement from his previous films, and for him to improve further his scripts MUST be polished further. What begins as a great opening scene, kinda deteriorates into a series of set-pieces designed to get flashy bite-sized action scenes. What gets me is the posing done by all except for Aaron Aziz; each character is two-dimensionally simple with no second degree depth. Which is a pity as the storyline, although pretty much done to death (ex-con wanna go straight but is pulled back into a life of crime), is still very much compelling. 


Trailer

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011)

And so the empire-sized meglodon-like, licence-to-print-cold-hard-cash epic of JK Rowlings Harry Potter series comes to a close ...  


The Skinny: Harry Potter and pals fights to the death with the eviiiiiiiil Lord V in an epic battle the likes of which wizard-story-reading-fans have never, ever, ever seen in their entire wizard-story-reading-fans reading life! Bring it on Lord V!


The Helmer: David Yates - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2011), Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (2009), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), The Girl in the Cafe (TV movie) (2005), Sex Traffic (TV movie) (2004), State of Play (TV series) (2003), Rank (short) (2002), The Way We Live Now (TV series) (2001), The Sins (TV series) (2000), The Tichborne Claimant (1998), Punch (short) (1996), The Bill (TV series) (1994 - 1995), Moving Pictures (TV documentary series) (1994), Good Looks (short) (1992), Oranges and Lemons (short) (1991), The Weaver's Wife (short) (1991), When I Was a Girl (short) (1991). 


The Casts: Daniel Radcliffe, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Emma Watts, Alan Rickman, Rupert Grint, John Hurt, Helena Bonham Carter 


The Tagline: It All Ends 


The Prediction: This looks really good actually; epic scale with no-going-back demolition of huge, cultural architectural structures, with deaths of loved characters. This is the big one - where Harry faces off with his enemy Lord Voldemort, to the death! 


Trailer
Official Website
Harry Potter Books
JK Rowling's Official Site