The Da Vinci Code (2006)

☆ ☆ ½

The Da Vinci Code (2006) -- R. Howard

Lots of looks of consternation (or constipation) from Tom Hanks but in actuality not an awful time-waster, even if I did have to have the French and Latin translated for me from the Japanese subtitles. But I didn't read the book... (2009 review).

The Dark Knight (2008)

☆ ☆ ☆ ½

The Dark Knight (2008) -- C. Nolan

Comic book style thin plot with admittedly strong acting. A little too long I think -- and wouldn't violent anarchy really be scarier? (2009 review)

The Long Memory (1953)

☆ ☆ ☆ ½

The Long Memory (1953) – R. Hamer

John Mills is convicted of murder and locked away for 12 years, based on perjurious testimony by his girlfriend of the time, her father, and an ex-boxer hoodlum.  They testified that he killed a man aboard a ship that caught on fire when in fact the dead body found was of another man, wanted by the law and fleeing with the (paid) assistance of the girl and her father.  Upon his release from prison, Mills seeks revenge.  The movie tells the story of his attempt to find and exact his revenge on the three who wronged him.  Mills is grim and not dissuaded by others who counsel him that revenge is not good for the soul (including a Norwegian immigrant girl who falls in love with him and moves into his shack by the sea).  In an interesting turn of events, the police inspector (John McCallum) charged with investigating Mills’ actions is now married to the girl who lied (Elizabeth Sellars) leading to some serious conflicts of interest and bouts of conscience.  There are a few twists and turns that make this a gripping tale and director Robert Hamer even includes cross-cutting at the finale.  He’s best known for his Ealing comedy, Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) but this is definitely in a different vein.  Here, the gritty streets of London, the lonely slum by the sea, and the desperate local pub sit side-by-side with the suburban home of the inspector and his wife. Yet, just as with Mills before, their comfortable lives prove to be precariously jeopardized by a lie.  Worth a look for Brit noir fans.   

The Counterfeiters (2007)

☆ ☆ ☆ ½

The Counterfeiters (2007) -- S. Ruzowitzky 

Accidentally rented this a second time and found it just as enjoyable as the first time (four years ago), despite the fact that it takes place in a Nazi concentration camp (and all the grimness that implies). Telling the story of a group of Jewish prisoners hand-selected for their printing skills in order to counterfeit the pound and the dollar, the film moves briskly with fine character turns and just enough suspense. The special features on the DVD reveal this to be based on a true story, from a book by Adolf Burger, one of the prisoners who subverted the Nazi plans, a book written to counter the holocaust deniers of recent times. Shame on them. (2009 review)

7 Up! (1964)

☆ ☆ ☆ ½

7 Up! (1964) -- P. Almond

Freedom versus discipline is suggested as one of the potential predictors of future differences in these 7 year olds from different backgrounds. We shall see... (2009 review)

The Illusionist (2006)

☆ ☆ ☆

The Illusionist (2006) -- N. Burger

Atmospherically spot on and traversing a fabled era...but somewhere things fell apart. The final flourish was far too swift and unfulfilling perhaps. More haunting than The Prestige (which also botches its ending) but that other film is narratively more interesting, methinks. (2008 review)

Spellbound (2002)

☆ ☆ ☆

Spellbound (2002) -- J. Blitz

Enjoyable doco...but I wanted more sociological inquiry and insights. A few choice looks at parental influence on kids but a chance to really use the spelling bee to explore diversity in the USA was squandered. (2008 review)