DEATH OF TRADITIONAL CINEMA

How to make a vampire love story without cheese and fluff indeed? Easy. You do it the Jim Jarmusch way. Jarmusch, who is a skilled agent of deconstruction has done this time for the vampire genre what he has achieved for the samurai film in GHOST DOG. At all times, ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE is lyrical, hypnotic, and also sincere. Its main characters, despite being vampires surprisingly have a big heart. It's a reflection on existence really, as Adam (Tom Hiddleston) grows weary of the futility of living. In fact, he goes as far as to order a very special bullet made of strong wood, telling his human acquaintance Ian (Anton Yelchin) that it's for a "special project".   Adam hides from the world in his gothic Detroit abode, where antique memorabilia abound, from his guitars to his television set. As someone who has lived for centuries, he has influenced countless musicians and scientists, yet he refuses to be recognized for his work, which is more of a ...

Boy meets girl. Boy and girl make beautiful music together. Boy is a famous recording artist, while girl is the designated musician girlfriend. Boy and girl break up. Girl takes revenge. If that sounded like a plot straight out of a Kate Hudson or Katherine Heigl movie, then I do apologize.  BEGIN AGAIN begins at the end of a relationship between Dave Kohl (Adam Levine), the boy and Gretta (Keira Knightley), the girl. Girl sings her heart out, albeit reluctantly at a New York nightclub, capturing the ears of ex-record producer Dan Mulligan (Mark Ruffalo). Ex, as in he just got fired from his job by his business partner Saul (Mos Def) that morning. So with Dan's persuasion, Gretta exacts the ultimate revenge plot, although it wasn't entirely her plan in the first place. But hey, we do what we can to cope with heartbreak. Along with some of Dan's friends, including the now wealthy Troublegum (CeeLo Green), whose success as a recording artist is credited to him, Gre...

You know there's something seriously wrong with a horror film, if a flashback scene without any elements of the supernatural proves to be the film's spine-tingling moment. And such was my disappointment at Scott Derickson, who has made two of the most atmospheric and narrative rich horror films in recent memory, in the forms of THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE and SINISTER. His latest feature, DELIVER US FROM EVIL is based on true accounts by NYPD sergeant Ralph Sarchie, played onscreen by Eric Bana. The concept itself brings tons of potential, but sadly Derrickson focuses on cheap thrills instead of mood setting and story development, qualities that made his previously mentioned films work.  The film's pacing moves like a usual mainstream production would- there is an insatiable need to cram up everything within two hours, and before we know it, Eric Bana has assumed the role of Jack Bauer, and DELIVER US FROM EVIL has become 24.  Also, the film isn't q...

  Few films that incorporate food in its core have achieved visual recall in history, like when Lumi Cavazos was baking that cake filled with her tears in LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE,  or when Remy the rat makes magic in the kitchen in RATATOUILLE. To add to that list is the new film by Jon Favreau that makes a bold statement on how to follow your dream, and when to actually do it.  "CHEF" maybe filled with too much passion for the culinary craft for its own good, and Favreau can sometimes border on being a tad preachy, but expect a frame-by-frame sumptuous distraction from start to finish. Sure, the film wants you to tell everybody who never supported your artistry and individuality to go F--- themselves, but it also reminds us when to say enough is enough.  Oh, and the film also tells us about the responsible use of Twitter, which Favreau's character Carl Casper learns the hard way. The images of food sizzle onscreen. A garlic-filled pasta ends...

THIRD PERSON, the new film from writer-director Paul Haggis although not as grand a scale as his previous film CRASH which won him an Oscar, demands our attention. Gianfilippo Corticelli's dreamlike cinematography and Dario Marianelli's seductive musical score invite us into the story.  Michael (Liam Neeson), a writer is in Paris trying to finish his new book. His gorgeous inamorata Anna (Olivia Wilde) visits her, and an emotional S&M follows. Meanwhile, Michael's wife Elaine (Kim Basinger) calls to check up on him, and appears to have awareness of his indiscretions.  In Rome, Sean (Adrien Brody) is on a business trip ripping off expensive designer suits so he can mass produce them in sweatshops.  He meets a mysterious woman, Monika (Moran Atias) whose daughter is held captive by ruthless human smugglers. In New York, failed soap opera actress Julia's (Mila Kunis) life is crumbling by the minute. She is losing a custody battle for her son, and the b...