Cast: Clive Owen (Louis Salinger), Naomi Watts (Eleanor Whitman), Armin Mueller-Stahl (Wilhelm Wexler)
For complete info, see IMDb's The International page.
From the one preview I'd seen for The International, I had high expectations. I'm glad I saw how everyone was reviewing the movie before I got around to renting it. Had I expected it to be as good as it looked in the preview, I would have been a lot more disappointed. As it was, I still thought the characters were way too stupid at times. Considering how much they figured out, there were a few basic things that always seemed to shock them.
It was also a bit sad that the best part of the preview was the best part o the movie, so it wasn't as interesting as it would have been if you were seeing it for the first time as part of the movie. On top of that, The International just ends. I suppose part of the point of the movie is that nothing they do can change the way things work, but I was still a bit surprised by the end of the movie. I just looked at the screen and said, "That's it?"
Worth renting, but I'm not sorry I missed seeing The International in a theatre. It wouldn't have been worth rushing out to see immediately.
Grade: B-
Labels: 2009, Clive Owen, crime, drama, movie, Naomi Watts, suspense, thriller
Reviewed by Kat at the 11:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Julia Roberts (Claire Stenwick), Clive Owen (Ray Koval), Tom Wilkinson (Howard Tully), Paul Giamatti (Richard Garsik)
For complete info, see IMDb's Duplicity page.
Duplicity was a very entertaining movie and I'm glad I saw it in a theatre. They did a good job of tying all the times and places together well to make everything line up perfectly, without it being one of those annoying situations where you just don't buy that the same people could possibly keep meeting up, etc.
The ending (which I won't give away) was perfectly executed and I enjoyed the movie until the end. It was predictable at times, but for the most part it kept the plot jumping around enough to keep you guessing about which characters were loyal to whom.
If you didn't see Duplicity yet, I definitely recommend it. It's a great cast and a very well done story with some nice location shots.
Grade: B+
Labels: 2009, Clive Owen, Denis O'Hare, Julia Roberts, movie, Paul Giamatti, Tom Wilkinson
Reviewed by Kat at the 10:30 AM show | 0 screams
Cast: Clive Owen (Theo Faron), Julianne Moore (Julian Taylor), Michael Caine (Jasper Palmer), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Luke), Claire-Hope Ashitey (Kee)
For complete info, see IMDb's Children of Men page.
This movie was interesting, but seemed to leave gaps in the story a bit too much. The acting is wonderful, the costumes and sets are great, but at times the story meanders along with no clear purpose.
Children of Men takes place in 2027 in a world where humans can no longer reproduce. Most of the movie centers around the one pregnant woman trying to get to the "Human Project," which many think is only a myth. The concept was definitely interesting, though the opinions of those trying to stop Kee's plans to get to the "Human Project" weren't thoroughly explained.
This dark movie is hardly a thriller (which is where Netflix classified it), but it is an interesting drama set in a dark not-so-distant future. It's definitely worth renting if you missed it in a theatre.
Grade: B+
Labels: 2006, adventure, Clive Owen, drama, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, movie, sci-fi
Reviewed by Kat at the 8:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Vincent Cassel (LaRoche), Clive Owen (Charles Schine), Jennifer Aniston (Lucinda Harris), Addison Timlin (Amy Schine), Melissa George (Deanna Schine)
For complete info, see IMDb's Derailed page.
This movie about adultery and dealing with a blackmailer is very clever. I can't say too much about it without ruining the plot, but I highly recommend renting Derailed if you missed it in the theatre. The movie kept me interested until the very end. It's very well written, acted, & directed. The music sets the mood well. It's a lot like Match Point in many ways. A movie that's not simple seems rare at times. Derailed was definitely a lot more complex.
Grade: A-
Labels: 2005, Clive Owen, drama, Jennifer Aniston, movie, thriller
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:40 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Denzel Washington (Detective Keith Frazier), Clive Owen (Dalton Russell), Jodie Foster (Madeline White), Christopher Plummer (Arthur Case), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Detective Bill Mitchell)
For complete info on this amazing cast and crew, see IMDb's Inside Man page.
Rent Inside Man now if you missed it in theatres. I wish it had stayed around long enough for us to see it in a theatre. Inside Man kept my interest through the entire movie with many twists and turns. The fact that it took place right by the apartment my dad moved out of last week made it more interesting, too.
Spike Lee does a wonderful job with an amazing cast. I should have known (from what Jodi Foster has said about being super selective with her movie choices) that this would be a great movie, but I don't think her last few have been this good.
As a huge Christopher Plummer fan (dating back to when I first saw The Sound of Music) it was really interesting to see him in this role. Definitely a huge departure from Captain Von Trapp. In fact, it'd be hard to find a character who is less like the Captain than Arthur Case.
Inside Man kept me guessing about aspects of the plot from beginning to end and the final scene of the movie was absolutely perfect. I definitely recommend renting Inside Man! It's a wonderful story that's well assembled to make a very exciting movie.
Grade: A
Labels: 2006, Clive Owen, crime, Denzel Washington, drama, Jodie Foster, movie, thriller
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:20 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Natalie Portman (Alice), Jude Law (Dan), Julia Roberts (Anna), Clive Owen (Larry)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's Closer page.
I never saw the play, but I was very impressed with the movie version of Closer. Although Clive Owen did a good job, I thought Jude Law did better and I don't think the fact that he's playing a different character than he played in the live play should be a factor, but I'm sure it will be. Many people on stage play different characters in one play or musical and no one thinks it's that amazing. All of a sudden, he does it for the movie version of a play and it's a great feat. I've played different parts in the same musical and I would think it would be much more difficult to do it in the same run of a play or musical than it is to do a different part in a totally new version of the same work.
Natalie Portman was particularly wonderful Closer and I think she deserves the buzz she's been receiving because of it. Julia Roberts was also great. I'll definitely see Closer as a live play if I ever get the chance, since the story is very interesting and it would be nice to see what was changed for the screen.
Grade: B+
Labels: 2004, Clive Owen, drama, Jude Law, Julia Roberts, movie, Natalie Portman, romance
Reviewed by Kat at the 12:40 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Clive Owen (Arthur), Ioan Gruffudd (Lancelot), Hugh Dancy (Galahad), Keira Knightley (Guinevere)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's King Arthur page.
I've always liked the story of King Arthur, so the latest version of the story interested me. The cast was amazing, as were the costumes and the music (I love Hans Zimmer). This King Arthur movie demystified the legend. It took out all the "magic" and concentrated on nature and relationships.
I enjoyed this version of the King Arthur legend, though I think that it could have been better done. Definitely worth renting.
Grade: B
Labels: 2004, action, adventure, Clive Owen, drama, Hugh Dancy, Keira Knightley, movie, war
Reviewed by Kat at the 8:00 PM show | 0 screams