home • film hq --> 5 Star Films

Comments: As far as hand-held camera things go, I really enjoyed this one. The supernatural aspects of the film were on a different level than the gritty realism of the rest of the movie, and there are a couple ridiculous scenes thrown in for story, but all in all a fun ride.

I watched this second time and I think it still holds up. If you can tolerate the hand-held camera thing, ala Blair Witch/Cloverfield, etc, lots of hysterical screaming, a little gore (but given the filming technique it's hard to focus on it) once this gets going it keeps up a pretty good pace for a short 70 minutes. I thought the hostess we follow around was kinda quirky cute and her 'behind the scenes' moments amusing. The ending seals the deal. It's fresh and different.

Summary: [Rec] revolves around a television reporter, Ángela, and her cameraman, Pablo, who cover the night shift in one of Barcelona's local fire stations. The firehouse receives a call from an old lady trapped in her house. When they arrive, and the firemen and the police break down the door, the old lady suddenly attacks and bites one of the policemen, and it is revealed that an unknown but virulent disease is infecting people, causing them to turn in to infected cannibals. The police and military quarantines the building and the camera crew is trapped inside, constantly recording the mayhem that ensues.[

Details [+/-]       Back to top

Comments: Naomi Watts's performance of a lifetime ... great wins. Watch "Babel" and then "Love's a Bitch (Amores Perros)". Keep an eye on this director. He's mastered a narrative style that other writers and directors constantly try to execute.

Summary: This is the story of three gentle persons: Paul Rivers (Penn) an ailing mathematician lovelessly married to an English emigré (Gainsbourg), Christina Peck, an upper-middle-class suburban housewife, happily married and mother of two little girls, and Jack Jordan (Del Toro), an ex-convict who has found in his Christian faith the strength to raise a family. They will be brought together by a terrible accident that will change their lives. By the final frame, none of them will be the same as they will learn harsh truths about love, faith, courage, desire and guilt, and how chance can change our worlds irretrievably, forever.

Details [+/-]       Back to top

Comments: Somehow Steve makes locker room humor palatable. It took me a couple years to see this film because I was sure I would hate it. It's the kind of film I hate. I've watched it a dozen times now. It's funny and very sweet and every film with Katherine Keener has Katherine Keener in it. She's wonderful.

Summary: Andy at the age of 40 still hasn't had sex. He lets his secret slip at a poker game with his buds from work. After the revealing all his friends are on a mission to help get him laid. Along the way Andy meets a nice mom: Trish who fall head over heels for each other.

Details [+/-]       Back to top