My Best Enemy

I really like WWII movies, especially those involving the human side of war. This film centers on two individuals, a Jewish heir to an art gallery and the son of his family's servant. The two are good friends until the servant's son joins the Nazis. The rest of the story is about a Michelangelo sketch which the family owns and was supposedly stolen from the Vatican.  It keeps you guessing right until the end.  The star, Moritz Bleibtreu does a truly outstanding job!
4.5 out of 5 stars

"The Score"

I have to admit, I'm a sucker for a good heist movie, and this one turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The plot is pretty straight forward. Robert De Niro plays a jazz club owner who just happens to rob an occasional bank. He decides to retire, however he's offered one last job he simply can't turn down. Marlon Brando plays the mumbling fat slob who sets him up with a young hotshot, played by Edward Norton. The smarmy Norton has cased out the Montreal Customs House, where the government has seized a priceless 16th century jewell-encrusted scepter. Obviously, I'm not going to reveal what happens, but this movie had me captivated right up the the AHA! ending. Both De Niro and Norton give outstanding performances.
4 stars out of 5

"Equilibrium"

The movie is set in the distant future when everyone takes a drug to suppress emotions to create a peaceful society. When anyone is caught having feelings, they are put to death. Christian Bale is an enforcer who skips a few doses of the drug and begins to revolt. The movie is well done, nothing out of the ordinary in terms of special effects. But the fight scenes are way over the top--part kung foo, part pure action film. They so outrageous they're almost comical. Overall, an entertaining sic-fi, action flick.
4 stars out of 5.

"Along Came a Spider"

Has Morgan Freeman ever made a bad movie? Because if he has, I've never seen it. He sure knows how to choose his parts. This intense thriller had me hooked right from the beginning. Freeman is a damaged retired cop, who had seen his partner killed in action. When a senator's daughter is abducted, the kidnapper taps Freeman to handle the case. He picks a female security agent who was in charge of the young girl at her school to help solve the case. The story takes a number of twists and turns, and I was flummoxed right until the last couple of minutes. The storyline and acting were both superb. Highly recommended.

4 stars out of 5

"Agnes Browne"

Just a wonderful movie. It took me by surprise. I'm not a big fan of Angelica Houston, but I thought she did a terrific job in this movie. It's about a widow in Dublin who has to raise her six children on her own. But the movie focuses on her relationship with her best friend. There are plenty of touching moments, but there are also a lot of laughs. I won't give away the plot, but the scene where they go for a driving lesson, is almost pee-in-your-pants funny. It's almost a chick-floc--but guys will find it funny too. My only negative comment is that the accents are a bit thick at times, and it can be hard to understand. So I missed some of the jokes. I couldn't find an official trailer, but I did find this clip of Agnes in a pub. It'll give you a feel of the film.

4.5 stars out of 5

"Breakaway"

Bollywood meets Hockey Night in Canada. This movie took me by surprise. It was funny, romantic, well acted, and charming. The plot was pretty predictable. A young Sikh is devoted to hockey and plays on an all Sikh team. His father want him to go into the family's trucking business, which he's not overly enthused about. So he secretly enters his team into a hockey tournament while falling for the coach's sister. You know where this is going. In spite of its predictable plot, it's worth a watch. And the Bollywood dancing scenes add to the fun.
4 stars out of 5.

"The Whistleblower"

This is one powerful movie based on actual events. Rachel Weisz plays an American policewoman who is sent to Bosnia, where she uncovers a huge sex trafficking operation. She gives a riveting performance as she fights the powers that be within the U.N. peacekeeping force. As you'd expect, there are some disturbing scenes. But ofttimes, the truth is not very pretty. Well worth watching.
4 stars out of 5