A FILM noir tale about a sheriff, Jerry Black (Jack Nicholson), who promises the mother of a murdered girl that he will find her killer. That sets the spiral of his ruin.
Black thinks the murder is the work of a serial killer. Retirement be hanged: Black works on a stakeout that takes years. He buys a gas station to observe a suspect who gives toy porcupines as gifts, and calls himself the wizard.
Black forms a friendship with a divorcee (Robin Wright) with a daughter who fits the victims’ profile. Is it a calculated move or love? Does he solve the crime?
Oscar-winning Nicholson turns in a performance that reminds me of — nuanced in his tormented role.
The ending is tragic. The film’s locale reminds me of Fargo — so bleak, and suited for cold murder.
This 2001 film has been nominated for many awards — including the 2001 Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or for director-actor Sean Penn.
Subtitles are in Mandarin, Bahasa Malaysia and English
An excellent film that can be revisited.
TITANIC II
Directed by Shane Van Dyke
Cast: Shane Van Dyke, Marie Westbrook and Bruce Davison
Running Time: 90 minutes
PG
THE story is about a modern liner, Titanic 2, which embarks on a similar voyage on the 100th anniversary of its namesake. Bruce Davison is the winning point in this non-sequel to any of the earlier Titanic stories. A hardworking actor of stage, television and film, he brings fine skills to this terrible celluloid 2010 offering that went straight to video.
In Titanic II, a tsunami breaks the ice and icebergs head into the ship’s path. The rest seems so reminiscent of the James Cameron’s film that you feel, ‘hey, I’ve already seen this’. Don’t bother watching this. And, there are no subtitles.
IN TIME
Directed by Andrew Niccol
Cast: Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried and Cillian Murphy
Running Time: 109 minutes
PG 13
THIS 2011 film stars Justin Timberlake as Will Salas who lives in a world where you stop ageing at 25, but you can buy your way out of that timeframe.
It’s an interesting consumerist, and dystopian world premise from director-writer Andrew Niccol, who gave us the Ethan Hawke-starrer Gattaca in 1997.
Unfortunately, Niccol doesn’t do as well here. However, the science-fiction concept of time mixed with the idea of a dystopian world fascinates me.
Cillian Murphy as the bulldog cop brings depth to his role unlike Timberlake, who somehow still holds a pretty boy persona, in comparison.
In this movie, the rich get to live at 25 years for very long — like metaphorical vampires! The unwashed masses have to steal, kill, or borrow just enough hours to make it through the day.
So Salas, from the trash side of the town, accidentally gets some time, and wanders into the posh side.
He falls for a rich girl (played by Amanda Seyfried), and her daddy (played by Mad Men’s Vincent Kartheiser) is not pleased. It sounds much like a melodrama from Bollywood.
Whether Salas and his love survive is irrelevant, but the world concept that’s the opposite of utopia (that’s been well explored in my all-time favourite, the Planet Of The Apes franchise) is fresh as ever.
Special features include extended scenes.
MOSTLY MARTHA
Directed by Sandra Nettelbeck
Cast: Martina Gedeck, Maxime Foerste and Sergio Castellitto
Running Time: 109 minutes
PG 13
IF you like food, then this 2001 fun and romantic film is a must-watch. The additional scene selection offers direct access to an interactive menu offering cast and crew interviews, among others.
Single-minded chef Martha (Martina Gedeck) suddenly has to take care of her niece after a tragic accident. Martha is truly happy when she is cooking, but her perfectionist streak sees her seeking release in the ice room of the restaurant where she is the top chef.
Her niece prefers comfort food to fine cuisine. So, the arrival of an Italian male chef is the emotional catalyst in the lives of both aunt and niece.
Gedeck won accolades in Europe for her performance, as did director-screenplay writer Sandra Nettelbeck, in this sweet drama billed as a coming-of-age film for the older woman.
Subtitles are in English, Chinese, Malay and Thai.



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