Film: The Kite Runner (2007)

The Kite Runner is based on the 2003 novel by Khaled Hosseini.
It reminded me of Persepolis (Iran Revolution) and The Lemon Trees (Jews vs Palestinians)

I cried my eyes out!

Powerful stuff!

Film: Hancock (2008)

Hancock is a 2008 American action-comedy film directed by Peter Berg and starring Will Smith, Jason Bateman, and Charlize Theron. The story was originally written by Vincent Ngo in 1996.

The film tells the story of a vigilante superhero, John Hancock (Smith) from Los Angeles whose reckless actions routinely cost the city millions of dollars. Eventually one person he saves, Ray Embrey (Bateman), makes it his mission to change Hancock's public image for the better.

An excellent film! Good job Will Smith!

Film: In Bruges (2008)

An excellent Colin Farrell & Brendan Gleeson film. The only spoiler for me was Ralph Fiennes who, I felt, over-acted. He doesn't do low-class characters very well. Ray Winstone would have been too obvious but it needed someone other than Fiennes.

Film: Swimming with Sharks (1994)

Reminiscent of 'The Player' with Tim Robbins.

'Swimming with Sharks' is an excellent film except for the ending. I do not believe that Guy would have killed Dawn and spared the Kevin Spacey character.

Film: The Reader (2008)

The Reader (Der Vorleser) is a novel by German law professor and judge Bernhard Schlink. It was published in Germany in 1995 and translated into English by Carol Brown Janeway in 1997. Schlink's book became the basis of a 2008 film adaptation directed by Stephen Daldry with Kate Winslet as Hanna Schmitz.

It was an excellent film, more concerned with the ironies of life, than with the holocaust.

The terrible irony is that if Hannah had learned to read she'd never have been lonely enough to have an affair with the 15 year old Michael. If Hannah had learned to read she'd never have been ashamed enough to leave her job with the bus depot, which resulted in her taking up a post with the Nazi SS. Her shame of illiteracy led her to accept the blame for the actions of the team of six guards, of which she was a part. The other five women, out of shame of their actions, put the blame on to her. But, perhaps, her hidden illiteracy, had made her seem autocratic and overbearing?

The young actor who played Michael (David Kross (b. 1990) was very impressive. He had such a range to convey and did it splendidly.

Film: Deliverance (1972)

Deliverance is a 1972 American thriller film produced and directed by John Boorman. Principal cast include Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ronny Cox, and Ned Beatty. The film is based on a 1970 novel of the same name by American author James Dickey, who has a small role in the film as a sheriff.

I can't have watched it before as I didn't recall a thing. But it's not the film I thought it was.

The film I'm looking for ends with the protagonists being surrounded by some kind of faction who set fire to an enclosing circle, just as the protagonists thought they had escaped. I thought the Burt Reynolds featured in it, but perhaps it was David Carradine?

Film: The Mexican (2001)

Stayed up way past bedtime to watch this film on TV.
I didn't have high expectations - esp. of Brad Pitt - but it was a good film. Pitt was the weakest link - as usual - but Julia Roberts and everyone else more than made up for him.

Highly recommended, quirky film.