It is Written

It's 2009, in case you hadn't noticed, and I've started the new year with a slew of films (13 so far). The films: Slumdog Millionaire, City of God, Turning Gate, Dreams may come, and Valkyrie.

Slumdog Millionaire
Directed by Danny Boyle, starring Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Madhur Mittal, Anil Kapoor, and Irrfan Khan.

Jamal (Patel), has gotten to the final questions on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?". Being a poorly educated young man who works as an assistant at a telemarketing company, Jamal is thought to be cheating, and is wisked away by the police. What follows is a police questioning interspersed with flashbacks to Jamal's life, showing how he came to know the answers, and how he came to be himself.

Slumdog Millionaire is a great film. Director Danny Boyle brings style and energy to the proceedings that gel with the story. Dev Patel is excellent as Jamal, and the rest of the cast put forth good performances. With a good story, good direction, good acting, and a really great soundtrack, Slumdog Millionaire is definitely a film worth watching.

City of God
Directed by Fernando Meirelles, starring Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Phellipe Haagensen, Matheus Nachtergaele, and Seu Jorge.

Based on a true story, City of God chronicles the lives of a group of people living in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, as told through the eyes of one of their own.

Excellent direction, acting, music, locations, and story. I feel remiss that I hadn't seen City of God years earlier, but I am glad that I finally saw it. To say that City of God is a great film is wholly appropriate. I would go as far as to say that I think City of God is one of the finest films ever made.

Turning Gate
Directed by Hong Sang-soo, starring Kim Sang-Kyung, Chu Sang-Mi, Ye Ji-Won, and Kim Hak-Sun.

A man, Kim Kyung-Soo, takes time to look back at his life.

Turning Gate is a great film about self relfection, with strong performances, and assured direction. Most definitely worth seeing.

Dreams may come
Directed by Xu Jinglei, starring Xu Jinglei and Han Tongsheng.

Director, Writer, Actress, Xu Jinglei's third film, Dreams may come is an existentialist piece of cinema. All but a few seconds play out between just two characters, a director (Han) and an actress (Xu), who trade comments about each other, the film industry, and life as they infuriate and inspire one another through their friendship and loneliness. With an intimate and honest feel to it, Dreams may come is an excellent film from an excellent director.

Valkyrie
Directed by Brian Singer, starring Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Carice van Houten, Thomas Kretschmann, Terence Stamp and Eddie Izzard.

Based on the true story of a German resistance to Hitler's regime. Singer's latest since Superman Returns, Valkyrie features a sleek look, and a good plot, both of which one would expect from the talented director, as well suprisingly good acting from Tom Cruise. The other actors all perform well, but Cruise really steals the show as Col. Stauffenberg.

The only comlpaint I have is the variety of accents among the German military and government, as most of the actors seem to speak exactly as they would in real life. However, it is merely an annoyance, and one that hardly detracts from the film. Valykrie is a good, solid thriller, and one of the best American films I've seen in a very long time.

Coming up this week:
Peony Pavilion
Run Papa Run
Wo Hu
The Moss
Bangkok Dangerous
Spacked Out
The Contract Lover
Gran Torino