Margin Call

Set in the high-stakes world of the financial industry, Margin Call is an entangling thriller involving the key players at an investment firm during one perilous 24-hour period in the early stages of the 2008 financial crises. When an entry-level analyst unlocks information that could prove to be the downfall of the firm, a roller-coaster ride ensues as decisions, both financial and moral catapult the lives of all involved to the brink of disaster. Writer/director J.C. Chandor’s enthralling first feature is a stark and bravely authentic portrayal of the financial industry and its denizens as they confront the decisions that shape our global future.

Opens Friday, October 21st.

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Priest

PRIEST, a post-apocalyptic sci fi thriller, is set in an alternate world — one ravaged by centuries of war between man and vampires. The story revolves around a legendary Warrior Priest (Paul Bettany) from the last Vampire War who now lives in obscurity among the other downtrodden human inhabitants in walled-in dystopian cities ruled by the Church. When his niece (Lily Collins) is abducted by a murderous pack of vampires, Priest breaks his sacred vows to venture out on an obsessive quest to find her before they turn her into one of them. He is joined on his crusade by his niece’s boyfriend (Cam Gigandet), a trigger-fingered young wasteland sheriff, and a former Warrior Priestess (Maggie Q) who possesses otherworldly fighting skills.

Opens Friday May 13.

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Review – The Tourist

Opening today is the follow-up film from German director Florian Henckel von Donnersmark (the acclaimed The Lives of Others), The Tourist; a tongue-in-cheek romantic comedy reminiscent of the old Cary Grant films with co-stars Audrey Hepburn (Charade) and Grace Kelly (To Catch a Thief). Angelina Jolie plays the drop-dead gorgeous femme fatale in fabulous retro gowns and dresses who strings along a puppy dog American tourist (Johnny Depp) who is absolutely smitten with her. Who wouldn’t be smitten? Even I’d follow her, if only to get a chance at wearing one of those fabulous outfits.

From a café in Paris to romantic Venice, Elise (Jolie) plays a deadly cat and mouse game with a Russian gangster (Steven Berkoff) and his henchman and British and Italian Interpol who all want to trap her elusive boyfriend, Alexander Pearce. Alexander has stolen billions from the Russians and they naturally want their money back. Frank (Depp), a math teacher from Wisconsin, becomes bait for the trap when Elise picks him up on a train. Elise follows Alexander’s secret directives but ends up having to save Frank from misadventures.

The setting of Venice, its waterways and impressive architecture, is the perfect backdrop for this beautiful couple and their adventures. Funny, with a shot of dead seriousness here and there, the pace keeps you glued to the screen. Yet, I’m not sure if the storyline is more interesting than Angelina Jolie and her clothes. In various scenes, she manages to resurrect Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, and Sophia Loren. Johnny Depp, on the other hand, maintains Johnny Depp. He isn’t as suave and witty as Cary Grant was. For example he says, “Gracias” to the Italian hotel staff and replies “Bon Jovi” instead of “buongiorno”. But we forgive him all the same.

From the opening scene, there is no shortage of attractive men in The Tourist. Included in the international cast are Paul Bettany (Priest, 2011), Timothy Dalton (007, the casual version), Rufus Sewell (you know him), and hunky Italian Raoul Bova (Under the Tuscan Sun), who tries to put the moves on Angelina. There’s nothing like being under surveillance and being pursued by a host of good-looking gentlemen to make a girl feel desired. Frank has some serious competition. Or does he? Paul Bettany’s character Acheson says Elise apparently falls in love with anyone she has contact with for longer than a train ride and Frank currently has that enviable spot.

The end presents a twist that seems a bit absurd but the movie isn’t meant to be taken too seriously. There are moments between Johnny and Angelina that are timeless in the romantic sense: the dance, the kiss, the final destiny. I wondered, however, how the two could fall in love within such a short span of time; from a train ride to a platonic night shared in a hotel. Yet the end explains it all and you want to revisit the entire film with that new perception. All in all, the film is entertaining and visually enjoyable.

The Tourist

Johnny Depp stars as an American tourist whose playful dalliance with a stranger leads to a web of intrigue, romance and danger in The Tourist.

During an impromptu trip to Europe to mend a broken heart, Frank (Depp) unexpectedly finds himself in a flirtatious encounter with Elise (Angelina Jolie), an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path.

Against the breathtaking backdrop of Paris and Venice, their whirlwind romance quickly evolves as they find themselves unwittingly thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse.

Opens December 10th, 2010.

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Review – Legion

Hollywood is going back to Sunday school. First we had The Book of Eli, a film about the survival of religion in post-apocalyptic America. Now we have Legion, an end-of-days tale with wrathful angels starring Dennis Quaid and Paul Bettany. But does this make good entertainment and good box office? Movie goers will get an opportunity to decide that this weekend as Legion opens in North America.

Charlie (“Friday Night Lights” Adrianne Palicki) is an unwed pregnant waitress in the middle of nowhere Paradise Falls. A few days before Christmas an un-named disaster and unspeakable horror maroon a handful of strangers at the restaurant, leaving owner Bob (Dennis Quaid) with no answers. The wind blows in the mysterious Michael, (Paul Bettany) whom seems to know what’s going on but offers very little in the way of hope of survival. He reveals that he is a fallen angel and his mission is to save the child Charlie is bearing, that that child is the last chance for all humanity and that the hosts of angels in heaven are coming to destroy the baby and the world. Drawing on faith none of them knew they had the band of refugees struggle against insurmountable odds and their own weaknesses to survive.

Legion is part supernatural thriller, part action film. It’s The Terminator meets The Prophecy meets The Seventh Sign. With the cast this film has: Quaid, Bettany, Charles S. Dutton, Tyrese and TV’s Kate Walsh I was hoping there was something to the story. Sadly, the talky scenes of character development are clunky and uninteresting. There are some nice interactions, like a bit between Dutton and Tyrese when the older man is urging the younger, troubled man to take stock of his life but ultimately they’re all clichéd characters in an all-too familiar story.

I’ll admit I don’t normally think of Paul Bettany as a gun-wielding bad ass. He has that charisma that Chow Yun-Fat has, an unexpected action hero. In the quieter moments you are reminded that Bettany is still a respected actor. Paul bulked up a bit for this to give Michael presence which he needs when going toe to toe with the angel Gabriel (Kevin Durand). As a female member of the audience I was most appreciative of that.

A movie like Legion, it all comes down to special effects and action since at the end of the day, that’s what we’re coming to see. The angels are impressive, the fights choreographed well. Audiences shouldn’t be disappointed in that respect. There were cheers and claps of appreciation at the screening I was at. If you don’t over think the story you may just find yourself enjoying the ride.

Legion

Scott Stewart’s supernatural thriller Legion, scripted by Peter Schink, concerns a group of strangers in an out-of-the-way eatery who become the first line of defense when God, believing the human race is no longer worthy of Him, decides to end their existence. This motley crew’s only spiritual ally is the archangel Michael, played by Paul Bettany. Dennis Quaid, Tyrese Gibson, Charles S. Dutton, and Lucas Black co-star in the Screen Gems production.

Open North American January 22nd.

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Young Victoria

From the official site: 1837, Victoria,17, (Emily Blunt) is the object of a royal power struggle. Her uncle, King William (Jim Broadbent), is dying and Victoria is in line for the throne. Everyone is vying to win her favor. However, Victoria is kept from court by her overbearing mother the Duchess of Kent (Miranda Richardson) , and her ambitious advisor Conroy (Mark Strong). Victoria hates them both. Her only friend is her doting governess, Lehzen (Jeanette Hain), but she is smothering and over-protective.

Victoria’s hansome cousin Albert (Rupert Friend) is invited to visit by her mother. He is also the nephew of her uncle King Leopold of Belguim (Thomas Kretschmann). It’s obvious that Albert has been coached to win her hand. At first she’s annoyed as she has no intention of being married. She never wants to be controlled again. However Albert is also tired of being manipulated by his relatives. Victoria and Albert talk opening and sincerely and become friends. When he returns home she grants him permission to write to her. King Leopold is delighted and pushes Albert to woo her. Albert refuses because he knows she’s not ready and he won’t return to London until she invites him. Leopold reluctantly waits.

Meanwhile King William dies and Victoria is crowned Queen of England. Victoria’s first decree is to banish her mother and Conroy to a remote palace apartment. She embraces Lord Melbourne (Paul Bettany), the charming Prime Minister, as her sole advisor. They become inseperable and although his motives are slightly self-serving, he truly cares for her and wants her to succeed. Prince Albert returns to London to witness the coronation and the friendship between Victoria and Albert deepens. They spend happy hours together but it’s obvious Victoria is under Melbourne’s spell and he eventually returns to Germany.

The public loves their new Queen. She’s cheered as she rides through the streets but this honeymoon with the public comes to a sudden end. Melbourne’s party is defeated in the elections and his rival, Peel (Michael Maloney), demands that Victoria replace her ladies in waiting, who are all supporters of Lord Melbourne, with the wives of his own allies.  Victoria refuses. Peel resigns and the backlash is furious. The newspapers declare that Victoria is opposing the public’s will. They are outraged.

It is only now that Victoria understands how much she needs Albert’s support. Against Melbourne’s wishes, she summounds the young prince back to England.This time Albert is determined not to be kept waiting in the wings any longer. Seeing his new resolution and struck by how handsome and sincere he is, Victoria invites him to marry her.

Opens North America December 18th.

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