Short reviews of the three films I saw most recently: ''12 Angry Men'', ''Anna Karenina'', and ''Carnage''

 12 Angry Men (1957 movie)

 


Directed by: Sidney Lumet
Released: 1957
Country: United States

Genres: Drama

Main cast: Martin Balsam, John Fiedler, Leo J. Cobb, E. G. Marshall, Jack Klugman, Edward Binns, Jack Warden, Henry Fonda, Joseph Sweeney, Ed Begley, George Voskovec, Robert Webber

Rating: 5 out of 5

Short review

''12 Angry Men'' is considered one of the greatest courtroom dramas ever. It rightly deserves this attention. It is a wonderful film with an excellent depth and arguments over a case, and proves to be a must-watch. The film is about a murder case. An 18-year-old slum boy has been accused of murdering his father by stabbing. Several witnesses and evidences are against him. The jury consisting of twelve jurors now have to decide whether the boy is guilty or not. The twelve jurors sit on a room, and then have a vote about who thinks the boy is guilty and who thinks he is not. Eleven of them think that he is guilty, but Juror 8 (Henry Fonda) thinks that he is not. He says that a person cannot be sent to electric chair without thinking of the case in depth. Then the jurors discuss the case, and Juror 8 explains the illogical matters in the evidences. What happens then? ''12 Angry Men'' has great performances, and those who deserve special praise include Henry Fonda (as Juror 8), Joseph Sweeney (as Juror 9) and and Leo J. Cobb (as Juror 3). The screenplay is excellent and the dialogues are wonderful. The characters are all interesting. Juror 8, Juror 1, Juror 3 (a very stubborn person, somewhat antagonistic), Juror 9 (an elderly man who is the 2nd person to agree with Juror 8), and all others, are simply wonderful. Camera movements are brilliant. The score, which is rarely heard in this film, is wonderful as well. A brilliant and great film, 12 Angry Men it is!






Anna Karenina (2012 movie)

Directed by: Joe Wright
Released: 2012
Country: United Kingdom

Genres: Drama

Main cast: Keira Knightley, Jude Law, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Kelly Macdonald, Matthew Macfadyen, Domhnall Gleeson, Ruth Wilson, Matthew Macfadyen, Alicia Vikander, Olivia Williams, Emily Watson, Holliday Grainger, Shirley Henderson

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Short review

Imperial Russia, 1874. Anna Karenina (Keira Knightley) is the charming wife of the aristocratic Alexi Karenin (Jude Law). On a trip to Moscow, she falls in love with Count Alexi Vronsky (Aaron Taylor Johnson, known for his roles in films like ''Kick-Ass'', ''Nowhere Boy'' and ''Chatroom''). Vronsky is also attracted to Anna. As Anna goes back to St Petersburg, Vronsky also follows her there. Soon, people begin to notice the mutual attraction between Anna and Vronsky. Little does Anna know that this affair will change her life, her affair with Vronsky would take away everything from her: her dignity, her popularity, even her son.  There is also a subplot involving Konstantin Dimitrivich Levin (Domhnall Gleeson), a friend of Anna's brother Stiva (Matthew Macfadyen). Konstantin's love for Kitty, Stiva's sister-in-law, is a subplot in the story.

After his masterpiece movies like ''Pride & Prejudice'' and ''Atonement'', wonderful film director Joe Wright gives us ''Anna Karenina''. ''Anna Karenina'' is a wonderful, excellently-made film. The production design is amazing, the score is beautiful, and the cinematography is so very beautiful. This is Keira Knightley's third collaboration with Wright, after ''Pride & Prejudice'' and ''Atonement'', and she gives a wonderful performance as Anna, bringing to life Anna's charm and sufferings. The screenplay, adapted for Leo Tolstoy's famous novel, is amazing. 

All these are very well, all right. But what I didn't like about this film is that at many parts, it seemed like it was a stage. Let me make it clear, many locations were like a theater or auditorium. At first, I enjoyed this unique thing, but later it felt a bit irritating. But keep it aside, ''Anna Karenina'' is a wonderful film by Joe Wright. Wonderfully made and acted!

(Uh-oh, this isn't quite a short review, is it!)



Carnage (2011 movie)
  

 
Directed by: Roman Polanski
Released: 2011
Country: France, Germany, Spain, Poland 

Main cast: Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Cristoph Waltz, John C. Reilly, Eliot Berger, Elvis Polanski

Genres: Dark comedy 

Rating: 3 out of 5

Review

In Roman Polanski's ''Carnage'', after two boys fight and one of them injures the other with a stick, their parents meet to settle and discuss the matter. The polite discussion soon turns into violent arguments and quarrels, and they start quarreling with each other, using offensive words, hurtful sentences, etc. I enjoyed this dark comedy, but sadly, it is a VERY forgettable film. Nevertheless, quite enjoyable!



 

   
  

In Bruges (2008 film)

Directed by: Martin McDonagh
Released: 2008
Country: United Kingdom

Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller, Dark comedy

Main cast: Colin Farrel, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes, Clémence Poésy, Thekla Reuten, Jordan Prentice, Jérémie Renier

Rating: 4 out of 5

Review 

Dark, funny, thrilling, ''In Bruges'', the first feature film by Martin McDonagh, is a black comedy-drama crime film. The film is written and directed by Martin McDonagh. The film tells the story of a hit man who kills an innocent little boy and the consequences that come after.

Hit men Ray and Ken are sent to Bruges, Belgium, by their boss Harry, and they have to wait for Harry's next orders. While the middle-aged Ken enjoys the place, Ray doesn't like the place much. Ray meets the production assistant of a film, Chloe Villette, and they become close, and it is revealed that she herself is engaged in crime: she is a drug dealer and robber. 

Ken gets a phone from Harry, who gives him an order hearing which he is shocked.

Ray regrets very much about killing a little boy. He is very much remorseful, and though he enjoys himself much in Bruges, he is never able to take that incident out of his mind. He is shocked because of what he did and cannot forget it.

Harry, their boss, believes that killing a child is a terrible sin, and orders Ken to murder Ray. But will Ken forget their friendship? Will he kill his friend, or save him? And what happens after all?

Often using witty and light dialogues (and often crude language), the film is easily a dark comedy film, but there is emotional content aplenty. It is easily visible. Ray's remorse for what he did, Ken's feeling for friendship- all these make the film emotional as well. 

The film starts simply as a comedy regarding two hit men, and we don't have any idea of what is going to happen next. But then everything changes. The film turns out to be dramatic, often thrilling, with bits of action and bits of humor. And it is effective. It makes us laugh, feel emotional, and get thrilled. Such an effective and well-made film it is.

Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson play Ray and Ken respectively, two hit-men and friends to each other. Their performances are remarkable. As the antagonist, Ralph Fiennes gives a praiseworthy performance.

There are several subplots. For example, Ray's affair with drug dealer and robber (and production assistant of a film about a dwarf) Chloe ( Clémence Poésy). Ray shoots Chloe's partner in crimes, Eirik, making him blind at one eye, and Eirik turns to be a secondary antagonist. Another subplot is about a dwarf, Jimmy, played by Jordan Prentice.

In a small supporting role, Thekla Reuten plays Marie, co-owner and operator of the hotel where Ken and Ray stay.  Elizabeth Berrington (who played Jane in Mike Leigh's ''Secrets & Lies'') is present in a tiny role as Harry's wife.

While there is so much humor making you laugh out, there are also many moments when you feel thrilled and emotional. Very good movie, well-made, praises to it!

4 out of 5