Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Q: What’s the movie about?

A:  Based on a book by John Le Carre, this story chronicles the uncovering of whether or not there is a double agent at the highest levels of British Intelligence who is working for the Russians.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Toby Jones, Ciaran Hinds, John Hurt, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch, David Dencik, Stephen Graham, Kathy Burke, Svetlana Khodchenkova, Peter Kalloy Molnar, Konstantin Kahabenskiy

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A:  Proceed with Caution.  Bring your intellect, your patience, and try to have read the book 5 or 6 times already if you plan on understanding anything that goes on in this spy thriller.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Yes, but mostly at your own thoughts about how confused you are.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A:  Yes, because the above noted thoughts of confusion will probably lead you directly to thoughts about how dumb you must be.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A:  This definitely gets the award for Fastest Movie to Put Me Out.  I was snoozing before the opening credits came on, and leading up to this point, I had not had a very hard day.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: All of these top notch actors have very little to do that's challenging.  Sure one or two of them cries here and there, but mostly they all just stand around looking like tough-guys who can keep a secret or two.

Q: How is the Directing?

A:  It's a beautifully shot movie, but as it goes back and forth between the past (1950s) and the present (1970s), it's not always clear which one we're in.

Q: How is the story/script?

A:  Mostly incomprehensible.  Assuming that the book makes enough sense to have become a best-seller, which in turn would have attracted a film company who wants to capitalize on that by making it into a movie, I would venture to say that the screenwriter didn't dumb it down enough.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A:  I just realized that reading the Wikipedia page is a great help in understanding this story.  They explain all the "inside lingo" that you're supposed to understand without ever having it explained to you.  Perhaps  read that before you go see this. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy Wikipedia Page

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Trailer

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Salt

(Guest Review by Russ)

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A secret agent (Angelina Jolie) is accused of being a Russian spy working as a mole in the CIA and must go on the run to prove her innocence.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Daniel Olbrychski, August Diehl, Daniel Pearce, Hunt Block, Andre Braugher

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. Salt is serviceable summertime action fare that doesn't exceed expectations nor fall below them. You've probably seen most of it before, and it's pretty illogical, but it at least it zips along. And hey, it's a decent way to cool off for 100 minutes if the hot summer sun is wearing you down.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: If watching the heroine survive unbelievable stunt after unbelievable stunt with nary a scratch makes you guffaw, then you will be rolling in the aisles. Otherwise... no.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: If watching the heroine survive unbelievable stunt after unbelievable stunt with nary a scratch makes you cry, then your seat will be soaked from the waterworks. Otherwise... no.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Most Watching of a Heroine Surviving Unbelievable Stunt after Unbelievable Stunt, and Getting Out with Nary a Scratch. Do you get what this movie is about yet?

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Angelina Jolie gets credit for being one of the very few American actresses who can pull off this type of action-y ridiculousness and not come across as completely ridiculous. And she even has a few moments that will remind you of what a fine dramatic actress she is as she conveys her double-spy loyalties with a quiver of her lips and a watery eye. Makes you wish she was doing Wanted Part 2 instead of this though.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Phillip Noyce can bring it, but Salt is not his finest hour. The action sequences are disjointed and much of the editing makes it look as if the latter part of the stunt didn't really work so they just cut to the result creating a jarring effect that leaves the viewer confused.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: It doesn't make a lot of sense. But if you like watching Angelina Jolie run around, blow stuff up, and shoot people, then you probably won't care all that much. Doesn't seem like the screenwriter did.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/salt/37107/trailers

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Body of Lies

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A CIA operative in the Middle East (Leonardo DiCaprio) tries to take down the head of a terrorist cell, but his biggest challenge is figuring out which of his allies he can trust.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Mark Strong, Goldshifteh Farahani, Oscar Isaac, Ali Suliman, Alon Aboutboul, Simon McBurney, Kais Nashif

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. Nearly as difficult to follow as Syriana, and not necessarily as fresh or interesting. If you go to the movies to escape or check out, you won't be able to do that here, as you have to pay attention every moment, and think to follow-- or you can do what I did, and cat nap when your brain starts to hurt. Okay, so I didn't like it very much, but that doesn't mean you won't. I mean, I'd be hard pressed to find a woman who enjoys this. But if you're a guy, and you like to watch guns and blood and war and things blowing up and sand-- this is whatever the male equivalent of a "Chick Flick" would be called. "A Him Flim?" "A Guy High?" (Feel free to submit better suggestions, so we can finally have a derogatory term for movies that alienate women.)

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: I laughed really hard once at a poorly framed shot of a guy in a suit standing in front of a fountain with his legs open. Completely unintentionally, the water was spurting up and down between his legs, making him look like he's either peeing through his suit or standing over a bidet, washing his rear. That was my favorite part of the movie. I like to laugh.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: No, but it will give you a sense of hopelessness about the war on terror. Our plan to fight terror with terror doesn't work. For every terrorist you kill, at least 10 new vengeful ones sprout up like the water fountain between that guy's legs. We need a new strategy-- and how! So if you have any suggestions, please post them on Facebook.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: I liked the song that played over the closing credits... or maybe I was just happy the movie was over.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Russell Crowe plays a caricature of a bad guy. He's cold, he doesn't care about anyone, and we don't care about him. Leonardo DiCaprio's performance is fine, but his character is like an automaton: he does what he's told-- and he has integrity, too! Every character in the film feels like an object, only put there to accomplish a goal. None of them offer anything compelling for the audience to relate to, latch on to, or care about.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Ridley Scott sure does like to blow things up and shoot people dead. Hey, why shouldn't he? He's damn good at it!

Q: How is the story/script?

A: This story has no emotional through line. I don't know about you, but I remember things whether in conversation, in movies, or in life, by how a moment made me feel. Without feelings, you only have the words to remember things by. So in this movie I tried to pay attention to the words, and I tried to retain them so that I could recall them later when I would need them again... but I couldn't.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: If you want to see a great thriller about the clusterf**k we've gotten ourselves into in the Middle East, go see Traitor with Don Cheadle. It's smart, it's emotional, and it's a much clearer demonstration of the ambiguities between good guys and bad guys, when it comes to us and them. Here's a link to my review:
http://moviereviewfaqs.blogspot.com/2008/08/traitor.html

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