'A Prophet' Review

Tahar Rahim and Niels Arestrup in A Prophet. Watch the preview: http://www.sonyclassics.com/aprophet/

OK OK I saw another foreign film. I love foreign films and it's my blog sooooo..... No this one isn't a religious film; the title is explained during it. A Prophet has won many awards and rave reviews, and you should not miss it. This acclaimed French prison saga is gritty, brutal, and will keep you glued to your seat: The Mrs. was reluctant to see it but later admitted it was very good. Besides that she speaks French fluently and appreciated it more than me.

>>Malik (Tahar Rahim), a young man of Arab descent, is sentenced to six years in prison. He wants to survive by following the rules but he soon quickly learns that's not the case when Cesar Luciani, the Corsican crime boss, takes an interest in him. The 'godfather' makes him an offer he can't refuse: It's 'kill or be killed.' If Malik doesn't kill an sequestered informer about to testify in a trial, Malik will be disposed of by Cesar's henchmen who protect their boss. Although Cesar is a fellow prisoner, he also controls guards and lawyers outside of prison who fear his all reaching power. Niels Arestrup gives a frightening performance as Cesar who takes a 'fatherly' interest in Malik by fostering his criminal education but he can change instantly into a vicious monster when he feels disobeyed or threatened.

>>Malik is a quick learner who caters to Cesar's whims but has an agenda of his own. He wants to be his own boss and make the evil system work for himself. When Cesar arranges for Malik to run errands when he's allowed one day a week out of prison to work, Malik uses the time to run his own drug deals. He's playing a dangerous game by pretending to show his jailers he's obeying their rules and to make Cesar think he's working exclusively for him. Can he ever break free of Cesar's stranglehold? How long can he keep up this deadly game is what propels the story.

>>Fans of the Corleones, Scarface, and other gangsters will be won over by this powerful film if they get over reading subtitles.There's lots of violence and murders but the camera never dwells on it, only enough to get its point and jolt you. Actually the story has a happy ending. A Prophet is about two & a half hours and you won't want to miss a minute of it. See for yourself...

'Alice In Wonderland' Review

Johnny Depp, Mia Kasikowska, and Anne Hathaway in Tim Burton's Alice. Watch the preview:
http://www.moviefone.com/movie/alice-in-wonderland/33073/main

There's been several film & TV versions of the Lewis Carroll classic. I don't have a favorite one and I doubt this version will be it. This is not to say Tim Burton's adaptation is bad. Actually it's pretty good if you're not expecting it to be faithful to the book. It's also pretty good as a movie on its own and a treat for the eyes. Alice was originally shot in 2-D and converted to 3-D. Not filming it in 3-D like Avatar was probably a good idea because the special effects here are minimal and don't distract from the glorious costumes and sets. There's enough depth of vision in most scenes to satisfy anyone's craving for 3-D. If you remember owning a Viewmaster as a kid and were amazed by its optical effect, the visuals here will bring back pleasant memories.

>>Since Johnny Depp is the star with above the title billing, his character is built up to give equal time to Alice played by Mia Wasikowska who reminds me of a younger Uma Thurman. In this version she's older but that's explained later and the plot also works in the Jabberwocky from another Carroll work. As one reviewer explained, if children are going to use the movie as the basis for a book report instead of reading it, they should expect a failing grade. The story has a feminist slant but that shouldn't bother the guys.
>>Depp is as good as usual and the rest of the actors follow his lead in keeping with the story book/fairy tale quality of the film. Helena Bonham Carter as the evil Red Queen is marvelous too. Her every explosive gesture and expression is just right as the counterpoint to Anne Hathaway's cool White Queen. Danny Elfman, Burton's usual composer, offers the proper music for this kind of movie. You'll marvel at the floating antics of the Cheshire Cat voiced by Stephen Fry and you'll easily recognize Alan Rickman from the Harry Potter films as the Caterpillar.

>>This delightful movie is a monster hit that exceeded the filmmakers' expectations. No matter your age and even if you don't care for this kind of movie, you will be soon won over by its charm, sense of wonder, and humor.

'The Ghost Writer' Review

Ewan McGregor in The Ghost Writer, directed by Roman Polanski. Watch the preview: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-ghost-writer/32030/main

Roman Polanski is still in the news with his ongoing legal troubles. We forget that he is a gifted film-maker. Chinatown and Rosemary's Baby are classics of their genre and still worth repeated viewings. Since his flight to Europe in 1977 to escape sentencing from morals charges, his output has been erratic. Without the American studio system that fostered these two films, he's been forced to work with lesser support although actors like Harrison Ford and Johnny Depp crossed the Atlantic to work with him with mixed results in Frantic (Ford) and The Ninth Gate (Depp). His version of Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles (shortened to Tess since most people have trouble pronouncing or spelling the novel's title), which I haven't seen since its release in 1979, is a good costume pic filmed in France substituting for England. Memories from his childhood escape from the Nazis helped with directing 2002's Holocaust drama, The Pianist, and earned him a Best Director Oscar. Like Woody Allen whose questionable morals made him scorned by many for falling in love with Mia Farrow's (his live-in lover) adopted daughter, Hollywood does forgive or ignore biography and recognizes talent with awards.

>>Polanski's new film is a political thriller that's been getting good reviews. Ewan MacGregor plays a writer coerced into helping a former prime minister (Pierce Brosnan) finish writing his memoirs after his ghost writer's body is found washed up on a beach. When certain facts about his subject's college days contradict those in a secret file hidden by his predecessor are found in his room sparks his curiosity, he begins to question the circumstances of his predeceasor's death. Besides dealing with his arrogant subject who's also facing war crimes charges and his shrewish, controlling wife (Olivia Williams), our writer begins on a dangerous path to seek the truth which might be hidden in the uncompleted manuscript. He's also not discreet as he blabs too much to Brosnan's enemies who feed his hunger for more evidence. He's way in over his head but too naive to know it.

>>This film is slow moving as builds up in suspense. You need to pay attention to the details that finally make sense at the conclusion. Good performances by all.

'Shutter Island' Review

Mark Ruffalo and Leonardo DiCaprio in Shutter Island, directed by Martin Scorsese. Watch the preview: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/shutter-island/31787/main

This is the fourth collaboration between Scorsese and DiCaprio. The preview says it all and to say more about the plot will be a spoiler. All I'll say is that I preferred a different ending but this one was dictated by the logic of the story. The movie is well done but was a downer for me. See for yourself.
>>DiCaprio is becoming a fine actor who chooses his projects well and works with good directors and never draws attention to himself by overshadowing his fellow actors. He's very good here stretching himself in this difficult role. Ben Kingsley and Max von Sydow add the right sense of menace to the eerie doings while the other actors are more than capable rounding out the story.
>>Scorsese again proves why he's one of our best directors although here he's a bit hampered by the plot but compensates by using every possible trick to round out this intricate detective thriller. Good music and sound effects heighten the suspense and atmosphere. Pay close attention to the last fifteen minutes where everything is explained and if the conclusion satisfies you.