A brilliant movie in a sci-fi/thriller blend discussing the future of intelligence gathering and terrorism.

Takes place in 2012 after the US economy has collapsed…and both Laura and I go: “Wait, they’re four years off!” 😉 A very enjoyable exposition of a societal return to gladiatorial games. Yay Jason Statham! Written and directed by Paul Anderson (Resident Evil, Mortal Kombat), the movie is fundamentally based on the 1975 film Death Race 2000 and presents a grim and violent future not too unimaginable from our present day. The music was composed by Shoot ‘Em Up’s Paul Haslinger! Yay! Very fun music! Hot girls, fast cars, violence…what more can you ask for in a high-octance action flick! Joan Allen is fantastic as the Warden/villain. I would like more information (a fleshed out universe structure) of the future presented in this movie. How does the economic collapse affect…well everything! Nice to see the corporations running the private institutions actively employ sadists as guards.

Yay Ricky Gervais! Yay Greg Kinear! Yay Tea Leoni! Wait…I know this plot! It happened to Robert Downey Jr. and Elizabeth Shue in the 90’s (Heart and Souls)! Written and directed by David Koepp (Secret Window, the video renter eaten in Lost World), some reviews accuse him of handling Gervais (a genius in his own right) with kid gloves. But I think Koepp handles him perfectly for this movie and what it accomplishes. I enjoyed this movie very much for it’s comedy (obviously) and it’s heart. Exciting Trailers Robert Downey Jr and Jamie Foxx do Finding Nemo Marlin/Dory subplot on land (Foxx has a mental disorder and when Downey Jr pays a modicum of attention to him, he endures life a little better). Sam Mendes does the what-if-Jack-and-Rose-survived-the-Titanic. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet fight to break the 60’s-women-are-homemakers mold. Doubt stars Meryll Streep, Amy Adams and Phillip Seymour Hoffmann.

Astoundingly a remake (by writer/directors The Pang Brothers) of their 1999 Hong Kong film of the same title. Looking at the IMDB summation, it’s clear that only a few core story details were altered, toss in a major movie star and you have….a very confusing movie. Well not confusing per se. It’s clear what the story is all about. But it’s a movie that doesn’t actually make a lot of sense…in my opinion is does not define why it should exist as a movie. But there’s explosions and violences and car/boat/motorcycle chases. So it’s exhilirating….it’s just…weird…

Yay Coen Brothers! Except for a slightly unsatisfying ending (what happened to that character?), it was very enjoyable. Again a film that I didn’t expect to be rated R, but is all the better, particularly for John Malkovich’s character. “You’re Mormon! Next to you we all have a drinking problem!” Yay J.K. Simmons! While Brad Pitt’s funniest moments aren’t all in the trailer, there isn’t more depth to the character. And yet you laugh at Brad Pitt continuously.