A brutal film that depicts the violence of the drug lords ruling the slums of Rio de Janeiro and the corruption of the people who are supposed to stop them, Elite Squad (Tropa de Elite) sees Oscar nominated writer Bráulio Mantovani (City of God) team up with director José Padilha to adapt former police captain Rodrigo Pimentel’s book Elite da Tropa.
Post Tagged with: "foreign"
Review: “Infernal Affairs” is a Thrill Ride
One of the most widely acclaimed Hong Kong movies of last decade, Infernal Affairs is a gritty crime thriller that became a “box office miracle” in its native land and stars Tony Leung and Andy Lau. The film also notoriously spawned the Oscar-winning Hollywood remake The Departed, directed by Martin Scorsese.
Review: “Departures” is a Touching Drama
Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2009, Yôjirô Takita’s Departures was an unexpected box office hit in Japan, all the more surprising given the fact that the subject is strongly taboo in the country. After all, it is an absorbing drama about life and loss with a minimalistic feel…
Movie Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)
Critically lauded over the past year, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a thrilling mystery tale that touches base on themes of darkness and despair, but at the same time manages to create characters intriguing enough to keep you glued to what’s happening, even if you don’t always want to look.
Movie Review: Sin Nombre (2009)
A vivid and stunning feature from first-timer Cary Fukunaga, Sin Nombre is a beautifully told drama that puts faces and motivations on the struggle of thousands of Central Americans immigrants trying to make their way to America. Despite the obvious ground for potential controversy [...]
Movie Review: Un Prophète (2009)
A Prophet (FR: Un Prophète) is a French crime thriller which was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film by the Academy Awards. Despite running over two hours and a half, this movie is a compelling character study of a young man who progressively get an education in the confines of a prison
Movie Review: Tokyo Sonata (2008)
Tokyo Sonata, directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa (no relation to the master), is a timely social drama about the disintegration of a family after the main breadwinner loses his job. This movie would probably hit home for the many people who have lost a job during the current economic turmoil and is an insightful commentary on Japanese society.
Movie Review: The White Ribbon (2009)
Directed by Michael Haneke, The White Ribbon is a mystery-drama that is based in a small village in Germany just before the outbreak of World War I. Like many other reviewers have, I would somewhat advise to see this movie without knowing too much about it. All you need to know is that this is probably an instant classic in my book, and knowing too much about the story would deprive you of the full effect the first viewing should have on the viewer.
Movie Review: Cache (2005)
Cache (US: Hidden) is a critically acclaimed mystery thriller directed by Austrian director Michael Haneke and starring French actors Daniel Auteuil and Juliette Binoche. Georges Laurent (Auteuil) is a successful TV host of a book-club type show while his wife Anne (Binoche) works for a book publisher. They have a 12-yr old son and seemingly happily live in a cozy book-lined upscale apartment.
