The Fall
1920s, Los Angeles. A hospital.
Roy (Lee Pace) is a bed-bound patient, injured from a movie stunt. Alexandria is a little girl with a broken arm. When they meet, Roy starts telling her a story of epic proportions. Roy is a fine story-teller, Alexandria has a wonderful imagination and director Tarsem takes us through a wonderfully bizarre journey with amazing visuals. Bandits, Indians, Charles Darwin, a wicked governor and other colorful characters are all parts of this tale. Reality and fantasy are impressively inter-wined and they are both very good.
I dare not say more about the plot because each detail is so important, I just don’t want to take away from the movie.
This film is just magical. It does get a bit slow at some parts but the climax more than makes up for it. I found out it is based on a 1981 Bulgarian film called Yo ho ho. I was a little disappointed because I had thought the story was so original. But it doesn’t matter. It may not be original but it is damn good. The acting is lovely and it really grabs you.
You have to see it. 8.0 on imdb. 8.0 from me as well.
Note: Wordpress is giving me ?hell with pictures right now- I’ll be adding images as soon as I can.
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And the Oscar finally goes to…
They look so cute, don't they? When I traveled to LA, I bought two Oscar-shaped souvenirs. Where else would I get one? Jeff Bridges nearly waited for 4 decades to get one of these babies.
I used to make a fuss over the Oscars when I was in high school, especially in my earlier years when the internet didn’t exist or just wasn’t all the rage. I’d really be curious about who would win and would watch the entire show. And my friends would usually learn it first from me. I’ll even admit to fantasizing about winning one (hell, can’t say the fantasy is completely gone). And who won would really matter.
I am not saying it doesn’t matter now. But for me, now I care more about the hosts and the big night than really caring about the winners. I am extremely happy with this year’s winners but had they not won, it really would not be that big of a deal. I mean did we really need that award to know Jeff Bridges is a terrific actor? Of course not. I have been a big fan of Kathryn Bigelow ever since I watched Strange Days and Point Break. I am not saying those movies were Oscar-material (whatever the hell that means) but I am just pointing out to the fact that she is a great director.
Kathryn Bigelow wins! Couldn't be happier. Love her work.
Yep, I admit to being one of those movie nuts who question when her movies don’t get picked. But I can’t help it. I don’t get why one movie gets the oscar when another nominee doesn’t or why an actor is/isn’t nominated. I know about the votes. But what about the voters? What’s their demographics? What’s the racial/gender distribution among them for instance?
So please feel to list your movies/film-makers/actors, etc. that surprised you by not winning or by not being nominated. All categories are welcome. Here are some of mine:
The Shawshank Redemption, starring Tim Robbins
- Where is the oscar for The Shawshank Redemption? I get the fact that Forrest Gump was there for competition and I like that movie but if I need to compare the effects that it had on me, Shawshank Redemption wins by far. 7 nominations and no wins? And 6 wins by Forrest Gump. Once again, Forrest Gump is a really good film and Tom Hanks is terrific but you do get my point. And again, why was Tim Robbins not nominated for best actor in TSR? Yes, Morgan Freeman was nominated and he was as always good. But did you see how difficult Robbins’ role was? Does anyone think the movie would have been more impressive without him? Where is his nomination?
Mel Gibson won two oscars for Braveheart. The movie won a total of 5 and had been nominated for 10. But actor Mel wasn't nominated for best actor.
- Why wasn’t Mel Gibson nominated for best actor for Braveheart? He won best film and best director. But he wasn’t even nominated for best actor. So he excelled at directing everyone in that film and was better than the other nominee directors but he couldn’t direct himself all that well then?
Training Day with Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke. Cool movie. Great performance. Like Denzel never rocked in a role before...Please!
- Was Denzel Washington’s best performance in a leading role in Training Day? Like he never had an equally great (if not better) performance before 2001? And let’s not even go over the fact that the academy waited till 2001 to hand out to the leading actor oscar to an African- American.
- Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win a best director award. First female director to win in 2010???? In the 82nd year of the show??? Yes, she deserved to win. But no other woman did until this year? Of course I am going to question the award!
- Why was Kate Winslet even nominated for best actress in 1997 for Titanic? How is that role oscar-worthy? If they really had a shortage, they should have done with 4 nominees. It is not like they can’t stretch rules. This year the best film category had 10 nominees.
My rants can go on but these are the two major ones that bother me. I was feeling bad that Edward Norton didn’t win with Primal Fear (best supporting actor) or American History X but after the ones I pointed out, that really shouldn’t surprise me.
photos from:
http://www.fusedfilm.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/oscar.jpeg
http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/mar2010/5/0/kathryn-bigelow-best-director-pic-getty-868188750.jpg
http://www.swotti.com/tmp/swotti/cacheDGHLIHNOYXDZAGFUAYB…
http://www.vanityfair.com/images/culture/archive/cusl01_oscars9603.jpg
http://tf.org/images/covers/TrainingDay.jpg
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Whose job is related to their education anyway?
Did you know that:
* Gerard Butler has a law degree?
* Edward Norton is a history graduate?
* Hugh Laurie studied anthropology?
* Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton studied medicine?
Gerard Butler studied law in Scotland. His grades were high too. But he always wanted to be an actor and he loved rocknroll and he loved to party. With characteristics like these, you don't survive in the office for long. He eventually got fired and decided to follow of his dreams.
It is not just about artists, of course. Most of us find a university degree useful. Let’s face it, even if we don’t like our degree, a BA at least gives us a minor degree of security and gets our parents off our backs. My dad would feel more comfortable if I worked for a corporation rather than for myself. But he can’t fight with my rationalization:
“Dad, I studied Advertising and Business, I have work experience and my CV is pretty OK for a 25-year-old. There is not a better time to follow my dreams (which are about earning a full-time income as a writer ((writing whatever I want)). It is not just my dad who is surprised at my chosen path of career. Even though everybody knew I wrote all the time, they believed I would write in my free time while I got a nice office gig. Well, the idea didn’t sound half-bad until I actually went out and got an office job. I hated it and none of my friends has yet to find a job they enjoyed. They find freelancing scary and most see my educational background irrelevant. Right! Like a background in marketing would never helped a writer.
I just finished writing a series of articles for an online publication. Subject? Business tips. Stuff I learned 5 years ago. But obviously, not everyone wants to or needs to use their major. So as far as relevance go, I am not doing badly. My friends mostly have other stories though:
- I have a friend who graduated from civil engineering and is working for a record company. He also works as a DJ in his part-time. He couldn’t be happier.
- Another friend graduated from biology and although she would rather work in a lab or as an assistant teacher, she is making a decent income, has over a year of experience in sales and she just got a company car. I can’t say her biology training never comes in handy. It is just not used in the way she imagined it.
- Another friend is working as a TA but she miserable with the professor who just prevents any sort of personal or professional progress for her.
- Another civil engineer is working as one and hates his hours and would rather work 9 to 5 for a bank as a consultant for buildings. Yeah, that’s not exactly what he had in mind in college….
Frankly, I could on forever. Why we feel we need to or want to take different paths is a different issue. Maybe it is the subject for another article. But after I met an MBA student with a BA in sociology, I decided it was time to write this article.
How about you? Your friends? Is their work-related to their education? Are they happy or dissatisfied with this? What about the people you’ve recently met?
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Death to Smoochy
Death to Smoochy with Edward Norton and Robin Williams. Everyone wants Smoochy out.
One of the times Edward Norton was on Conan O’Brien, they were talking about how intense his roles were. Edward just found it really amusing that people found him intimidating. Well, you might remember his complicated role in Fight Club and even more powerful role in American History X. But Edward points out his role in the pink suit in this film. That’s right. Edward spends a lot of time in his gigantic pink rhino suit in Death to Smoochy, as a host for a children TV show:
When Rainbow Randolph (Robin Williams) is caught during an unethical bribe thingy, his days as an adored kids show star days end. The channel is forced to find a host that’s squeaky clean and that’s when the producers unwillingly hire Sheldon (Norton) who happens to be ultra ethical and morally sound. He annoys the hell out of Nora, one of the network producers.
However Nora’s monetary concerns and her contempt towards him are the least of his problems: Randolph is furious and obsessed with getting rid of Sheldon to get his old gig back. A shady organization wants him out and there is an Irish mob gang with some special demands. Now, how the hell will Sheldon remain true to himself with all these people around?
First, let’s state that this is an absurd, dark comedy with some edgy and over-the-top characters. In fact, all of the characters are over the top and this gives the movie some hilarious and amusing moments. Sure, there are some slow moments but overall, it is very entertaining. Lots of fun in an exaggerated world. Be warned. This movie is not for everyone. Especially if you don’t want Norton in such a comedy. Directed by Danny DeVito, who also plays yet another character with questionable motives.
OTHER NORTON FILMS:
Kingdom of Heaven
http://pinartarhan.com/blog/kingdom-of-heaven/
Down in the Valley
http://pinartarhan.com/blog/down-in-the-valley/
The Incredible Hulk
http://pinartarhan.com/blog/the-incredible-hulk/
Pride and Glory:
http://pinartarhan.com/blog/pride-and-glory-with-edward-norton-and-colin-farrell/
25th Hour:
http://pinartarhan.com/blog/25th-hour-with-edward-norton/
The Illusionist:
http://pinartarhan.com/blog/the-illusionist-with-edward-norton-and-jessica-biel/
The Painted Veil:
http://pinartarhan.com/blog/the-painted-veil-with-naomi-watts-and-edward-norton/
Fight Club:
http://cinemaroll.com/cinemarolling/fight-club-overrated-really-good-but-not-perfect/
photo: http://www.impawards.com/2002/posters/death_to_smoochy.jpg
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Possession
Possession, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Lee Pace. And you think your brother-in-law is problematic?
Jess (Sarah Michelle Gellar) adores her loving and extremely romantic husband Ryan (Michael Landes). Her only problem is his brother Roman (Lee Pace), who couldn’t have been more opposite. He has been arrested for assault, he has violent tendencies and he is just creepy enough to make Jesse cringe. Moreover, he stays with the otherwise blissfully happy couple.
Jess’s life comes crashing down when a horrible accident ends both brothers in a coma. She can’t get used to life without Ryan but then something happens to make things even weirder. Roman wakes up, believing he is Ryan. He acts just like his brother. Jesse is more than disturbed by this but what the hell is she going to do when Roman is saying and doing things only Ryan could know?
Don’t let the genres -listed -on IMDB- for this movie fool you. Completely ignore the “horror”, and rather than expecting a thriller, concentrate on the mystery, drama and romance part. If you do that, you have a nice film. It is a really disturbing situation Jess is in and you really feel her confusion and pain. She can’t understand if something paranormal is at work- can her husband’s soul somehow be in his brother’s body now? The love she has for Ryan and her regrets cloud her judgment and from then on things take some interesting turns.
Now, of course you see the twists and turns coming. The explanation is pretty much in front of you. But put yourself in Jess’ position and then the movie becomes an uncomfortably entertaining experience. I liked the performances; especially Lee Pace can very convincingly switch from psycho to sweetheart. Very good romantic drama. Average thriller. No horror. Decide what you are in the mood for, and set your expectations accordingly. Based on a Korean film, so if you are allergic to remakes, do stay away.
Previous posts on Sarah Michelle Gellar:
Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Love stories with a real twist:
Part 1: http://pinartarhan.com/blog/why-i-like-the-love-stories-with-a-real-twist/
Photo: http://www.iwatchstuff.com/2008/01/22/possession-poster-gellar.jpg
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City Island
City Island with Andy Garcia. And you thought your family was weird and problematic? Wonderfully written and directed by Raymond De Felitta. Produced by De Felitta and Garcia.
Vince Rizzo (Andy Garcia) is a correctional officer at a prison. He is a proud City Islander (Le Bronx, New York) and the family man of a hilariously problematic family, though he is not aware of half the problems.
His teenage son is into fat chicks (very much into feeding them) and intrigued by their extremely fat neighbor. He also cuts most of his classes.
Vince and his wife Joyce (Julianna Margulies) are happy that at least one member of the family- their daughter- is getting proper education. Of course what they don’t know is- she is not in college, but working as a stripper.
Vince and Joyce can’t seem to talk without fighting and Joyce is pretty sure that Vince’s so-called, frequent poker games are in fact a cover for seeing his mistress.
They are a cover, but Vince isn’t cheating. He is taking acting classes, but he is just too ashamed to tell his wife. He also has a bigger secret- he has a son from a girlfriend way before his wife. But now he has found the son- an inmate, Tony (Steven Strait). Since Tony has no family to be released to, Vince decides to bring him home. Without asking Joyce first.
No one knows about who Tony really is, apart from Tony’s acting partner (Emily Mortimer), who just has some secrets of her own…
If you think you have seen it all when it comes to comedies about dysfunctional families, wait till you see this one. It is refreshingly original and downright hilarious. So, it is not a laugh-out-loud every moment like Hangover.. But when it tends to get a little emotional, it more than makes up for it by hilarious moments or moments that are just entertaining and are simply helping build a very fun climax. Loved every minute of it.
All actors are good, but of course- if I have to pick one, it is Andy Garcia. He is perfect at comedy. It is interesting to see him in this because let’s face it- we are more used to him being the romantic and/or the serious lead. Remember When a Man Loves a Woman? 10 Things to Do in Denver When You Are dead? He can get pretty psycho when he wants like The Air That I Breathe (an emotional movie with an ensemble cast, and this movie features a fun reference to it)…But the whole cast was just good to watch.
7.5/10 on IMDB. Sounds fair. Wouldn’t even mind if it was higher. Recommended, for everyone.
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Whatever You Think, Think The Opposite by Paul Arden
Paul Arden- Whatever You Think Think The Opposite
About the Author:
Paul Arden. Don't let the suit fool you. He is as nuts as I am.
How are you with motivation? How good are you at challenging and encouraging yourself? Most importantly, how good are you at taking advice? I am usually awful. I stand my ground and I don’t really pay attention to anyone whose advice doesn’t fit in with the way I think. And I don’t necessarily think this is a bad thing. Because you can only be serious about really listening to someone who you respect, who practices what he/she preaches and preaches what she practices. And looking for a mentor like that I finally found mine last year: A wonderfully smart, quirky and successful man in advertising. Paul Arden
While I was studying advertising, I came across some great names like David Ogilvy and Bill Bernbach. And of course while I studied lots of other men in advertising and some really cool, I quite hadn’t found the right person whose teachings would entertain as well as inform and that would be applicable in every aspect of life, and not just in the world of advertising.
Yep, Paul had worked as a creative director for the famous Saatchi and Saatchi advertising agency but I fell in love with his ideas when I stumbled upon a book of his: Whatever You Think, Think The Opposite. Just my kind of book, because I do have a way of thinking differently than almost anyone I know in most areas. And this book was basically telling me to keep it up. It rocks to hear you are on the right track from a very successful man. I got addicted to Paul’s style and bough his other books: It is not how good you are, it is how good you want to be” and God Explained in a Taxi Ride. I would buy whatever else he wrote, but unfortunately Paul Arden passed away in 2008…
About the book:
The book tells the fun success stories about people and firms who challenged the norms and by applying the opposite, ended up a major success.
Examples include: photographers, Olympic athletes, bookstores, Kodak, Paul Arden himself, fashion designers, rockers and many more.
This is a book that you can eat up in a couple of hours. It has big fonts, funny and/or interesting pictures and colorful page design. But soon after you finish it, you will want to come back again and again to remind yourself it is a good thing to challenge and even change status quo by being innovative, different, opposite. I love every page and every word of it.
“You can’t afford the house of your dreams. That’s why it is the house of your dreams. You
either find a way of getting it (you’ll find the means) or be satisfied with dissatisfaction.”
Paul Arden, from Whatever You Think, Think The Opposite
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Kingdom of Heaven
Kingdom of Heaven- Orlando Bloom
1184. Blacksmith Balian (Orlando Bloom) is not a happy man. He has recently lost his kid, and his wife has committed suicide, not being able to bear the death of their child. Moreover he has to listen to the town’s priest (Michael Sheen), who goes on and on about how his wife is in hell. But his life completely changes when he meets his father for the first time. The absent father is Lord of Ibelin (Liam Neeson), and he is there to take Balian with him. At first Balian is unwilling but circumstances force him to go. From then on, he learns a lot from his father. He will also need to prepare himself to take his father’s place. He now doesn’t even have the time to grieve- he has to be a knight, a worthy lord, deal with Prince Guy (Marton Csokas)
who absolutely despises him, travel to Jerusalem…
Kingdom of Heaven. As glorious as an epic should be. Written by William Monahan. Directed by Ridley Scott.
Balian’s journey is exciting and never dull for a second. In Jerusalem, he easily makes friends with the Marshall Tiberias (Jeremy Irons) and earns the trust of King Baldwin (Edward Norton). He also intrigues and attracts, Sibylla (Eva Green)- The King’s sister- who also happens to be Guy’s wife. Not to mention, Guy is thirsty for blood and is dying to fight the Muslims- much against the will of the King.
I love a good old battle scene. Well, what did you expect? My favorite movie ever is an epic war flick, Braveheart.
This movie is a really good example on how an epic should be. It has all the complications and the amazing battle scenes. It has the peace-loving villager-turned lord-who doesn’t let go of his virtues, even though it might cost him dearly. Orlando Bloom fits Balian perfectly and the. rest of the cast is simply brilliant.
Fun Stuff:
Liam Neeson only appears in the first 25 minutes or so.
Orlando Bloom and Liam Neeson in Kingdom of Heaven. Father and son bonding moment. Cool for Bloom. Those sword-fighting lessons from Pirates of The Caribbean must have come in handy.
King Baldwin has leprosy. So you never see Edward Norton’s face. But it is fun to have him nevertheless.
Edward Norton in Kingdom of Heaven. Yep, this is how Edward Norton looks throughout all his scenes. For all we know, he could have recorded his voice. Just kidding. It is always nice to have him in a movie. Even when you don't see him.
The (only) leading female is Sibylla, played by the gorgeous Eva Green.
Trust me, this picture doesn't do her justice at all. She is simply radiantly beautiful in this cool epic from 2005.
There is also Dr. Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) from Grey’s Anatomy, plays one of Liam Neeson’s soldiers.
Yes, I admit I went back to watching Grey's Anatomy after Kevin's Owen livened up the show. I was pissed off that they had gotten rid of Jeffrey Dean Morgan's character for the second time. But finally there is another passionate and fun guy.
Brendan Gleeson plays exactly looks like his character in Braveheart- where he played Hamish, Wallace’s best mate. Although here, he is pretty much the bad guy.
This is Brendan in Braveheart. One of the good guys.
Brendan Gleeson in Kingdom of Heaven. Apart from 10 year gap between the films, he is instantly recognizable and reminded me of Hamish. Here, he does a great job as a mean bastard.
Reasons to see:
- You mean apart from Liam Neeson, Jeremy Irons, Edward Norton, Orlando Bloom and Eva Green?
- Director is Ridley Scott- who also directed Gladiator, Body of Lies, American Gangster, White Squall and Thelma and Luis.
- Good script, good acting, wonderful direction and pretty cool battle scenes.
- If you are not convinced yet, I am giving up.
Cons:
- I didn’t see any, but you might be bothered by the stuff that is not historically accurate.
- Why have Edward Norton play a character with leprosy in the first place? But being the cool and interesting guy that he is, it was Edward who specifically requested that role. Let’s keep fingers crossed that he does star in an epic one day, with his face showing…
- If you do hate Orlando Bloom and think he can’t act, obviously you will get annoyed watching him for 144 minutes. Or for 190 minuted in Director’s Cut.
Yep, a lot of Orlando Bloom. He is pretty good, though. He carries his role with grace and innonce.
My biases: Love the whole cast and I am a big fan of Ridley Scott. White Squall (starring Jeffrey Bridges) is one of my favorite movies ever and I am yet to dislike anything Ridley worked on.
IMDB verdict: 7.1
My verdict: 7.8- 8.0
Photos:
http://lightscamerahistory.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/kingdomheavenposter.jpg
http://images.allmoviephoto.com/2005_Kingdom_of_Heaven/2005_kingdom_of_heaven_wallpaper_006.jpg
http://film.com.tr/resim/filmler/kingdomofheaven/resim003.jpg
http://nighthawknews.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/orlando-bloom-kingdom-of-heaven-400a050107.jpg
http://www.wallpaperbase.com/wallpapers/movie/kingdomofheaven/kingdom_of_heaven_3.jpg
http://www.wallpaperbase.com/wallpapers/movie/kingdomofheaven/kingdom_of_heaven_2.jpg
http://www.cinecultist.com/archives/koh.jpg
http://www.atoww.com/wallpapers/2005/kingdom-of-heaven/awp_0_800.jpg
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Johnny Depp A Kind of Illusion
Johnny Depp is one of the most intriguing personalities to ever exist in the movie industry. I thought I knew a lot about him by know, but it turned out- I didn't nearly know enough.
It feels weird to have so many resources on anyone, especially when it comes to our favorite actors and musicians. Did I sound ancient? Well I did grow up in the 90s where we had to hunt down magazines for posters and collect every bit of info we could collect on people through whose work we expressed ourselves. Now it is easy and fun to find everything on the web.
But the web still can’t beat the feel of a color magazine with quality paper. And a book is even better, because you can squeeze so much more info into it. One such vast information source on one of my favorite actors, Johnny Depp, is the book written by Denis Meikle. The book is called: Johnny Depp, A Kind of Illusion. I couldn’t have thought of a better title…
Now, this book is a tremendous source for any Depp fan. It has detailed info on Johnny’s background, how he got to be in all his projects, his relationships, photos both from his films and real life. It has excerpts from some of his characters’ or other characters’ lines from movies, appropriately chosen. There are some excerpts from scripts and lots and lots of quotes from Johnny himself.
It is also a priceless information haven for any movie nut, with backstage notes and more.
I can’t say I read all of the pages- the edition I have has 374 pages, excluding the appendixes. But I find myself lost in the interesting world of Depp whenever I pick it up and learn something new. Wanna know everything about Johnny, without getting the feel of a tabloid?
Then this is the book.
On Johnny:
Johnny Depp: Top Eight Movies
Photo:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/1905287909/sr=1-1/qid=1267627693/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books&qid=1267627693&sr=1-1&tag=associatizer-20
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The Fourth Protocol with Micheal Caine and Pierce Brosnan
The Fourth Protocol with Michael Caine and Pierce Brosnan. Good, old spy thriller from the 80s. Perfect for nostalgia.
Fun, fun, fun. I had a lot of fun watching this movie. It is an old-fashioned, realistic spy-thriller. It is from 1987 so it is perfect if you like getting nostalgic at least once in a while. It is also fun to find a younger Caine and a much younger Brosnan.
Michael Caine plays John Preston. Preston is from British Intelligence, a smart guy who pisses the hell out if his superior and finds himself reassigned to a boring department: Ports. But he soon realizes that this assignment won’t be tedious at all- someone is smuggling various bomb parts into the country and it is not just any bomb…
Pierce Brosnan plays Valerie Petrofsky, a valuable KGB asset assigned to a very dangerous mission.
As the movie progresses, we realize that Valerie is not shy when it comes to following orders, even when it means killing people – Russian or not.
Preston will have to contact with his superior’s superiors and try to solve the catch Petrofsky as fast as he can. After all, the bomb being assembled is an atomic bomb…
Good political thriller. The only thing that bugged me about the movie is that sometimes the exaggerated music gets in the way. The music is loud and what is presumably supposed to be ominous ends up being irritated. Maybe it is an 80s thing – where everything was big and exaggerated. But it kind of kills the buzz when every possible twist and turn is announced so loudly. Still, it is a good time, watching Caine and Brosnan. It was even more entertaining to see the previous James Bond play a bad guy. His character is cool, cold-blooded and mysterious. He is more into action than talking and this sets the mood just right.
Strongly recommend for:
- Pierce and Caine fans (I am fans of both)
- Fans of political/spy thrillers
- Ones who do like to get retro when it comes to movies
Favorite Scene:
- Love how Michael Caine catches up with the train.
Photo: http://img.movieberry.com/static/photos/20419/poster.jpg
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