Redacted

First Hit: Wow, this film will stun you like no other film in 2007.

I sat through the credits stunned and shocked at what I had just seen.

The story is based on a true event that happened in Iraq when some American soldiers raped and killed a 15 year old girl and her family. Brian DePalma shot this film like a documentary, which it is not, and used multiple and interesting camera techniques to give the audience the sense and feel of this war and the soldiers who serve there.

The story is horrific and to make the point of how brutal our presence in Iraq is, Brian includes actual photos of dead Iraqis at the end of the film.

I was moved by one scene where a young lady is commenting on a video blog about the brutality of war and dares Hollywood to make an accurate depiction of the Mai Lai massacre from the Vietnam war.

Overall: This is a brutal and outstanding film and I commend the use of this brutality to wake audiences up to the atrocities that happen in every war. As this film’s tagline states: “Truth is the first casualty of war”.

Lions for Lambs

First Hit: Although I really liked the point of the film and agree with the politics of it, it felt as though it left the film genre and became a political message commercial.

Three stories going on at the same time all taking place within an hour’s time span.

The interview of Senator Jasper Irving (Tom Cruise) by the reporter Janine Roth (Meryl Streep) was very engaging and was, for me, the best part of the film.

Cruise plays an excellent Senator ready to move up to the presidency with the quick smile and with the kind of BS that reflects our current government. Streep, is a reporter that is tired but realizes, once again, that she has become part of the problem by “reporting” what the government say is the truth.

While this hour long interview is going on there is another conversation going on at a university. Redford directing himself as Professor Malley is attempting to convince a bright student that if this kid doesn’t start paying attention to the decisions he is making now, he will end up being part of the apathetic problem that has gotten this country into the mess it is currently in.

Lastly, and the most touching part of the film is the story of two young men who were once students of Professor Malley who chose to go into the Army to use the money they will receive when they get out to make a difference in the world.

During the same hour as the interviews these two young men are put in harms way in Afghanistan. The audience is treated to flashbacks of their friendship and their relationship to Professor Malley. Some of the very best scenes in this film are when these two are on camera together (in class, having dinner with the Professor and on the ground in Afghanistan).

I also liked the scene in which Streep leaves her office, deciding to change how she report the news and drives through Washington looking at scenes including the White House and a cemetery where many soldiers are buried.

Overall: The film was good and its biggest drawback was the overt feeling I was being preached a political message versus being shown the message through the film.

Martian Child

First Hit: I liked some aspects of this film and others just seemed false and formulated.

I generally like John Cusack films so I was curious to see this film.

The film begins with John mourning the loss of his wife. To fill this hole in his life he thinks about adopting a child because this is what he and his departed wife had planned to do.

There isn’t much depth leading to this decision nor is there much in the way of counseling here to give John’s character a deeper background on his wanting to adopt or his pain. He ends up choosing a young boy who believes he came from Mars.

Over time you get some background on the child (Bobby Coleman) but not enough to make it work for me.

The formula is that John takes this child on, goes through ups and downs with this kid, only to build his resolve to love and be there for this kid no matter what.

The kid tests him and the ultimate test is he runs away and puts himself in a dangerous position. John saves the day.

What did I like about the film? There was a sweetness to some of the scenes and I loved the plate throwing scene; how it started seemed real and how it ended was perfect.

Also some of the scenes with the gardener (Amanda Peet) were endearing and you knew that she would become involved with John and Bobby at the end.

Overall: At best this is probably a DVD film to rent.

Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead

First Hit: Despite an awkward title this is an excellent film with some wonderful acting.

This is about watching lives get worse and worse as they try to “fix” the problem without being or living in the truth of things. It is about people who get in trouble and look for an easy way out.

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei, and Albert Finney all did an excellent job of portraying the important pieces of this film.

It took me a while to ease into the flash forward and flash backs the director used to craft this film but as the film moved along my skepticism ended.

When some people get in trouble, like the characters in the film, they often come up with inane ways to get themselves out of trouble.

In this film Andy (Hoffman) hatches a plan to have his younger brother Hank (Hawke) rob their parent’s jewelry store. Hank is, for the most part, weak minded and gutless and because of this he finds someone else to do the dirty work which causes immense complications.

Charles (Finney) loses his wife in the gaffe and from there the film, family and story plays out.

Overall: This is an excellent film from a great story and executed with wonderful acting.

American Gangster

First Hit: Despite an erratic start this film grew on me and 2 ½ hours went by very quickly and in the end I was satisfied.

Two very different actors Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe playing opposite of each other and they don’t meet until the very end of the film. I really liked how Ridley Scott did this story. It felt congruent with the way this true story might have evolved. I am a Denzel fan because he holds a strong screen presence. This film lets him be grandiose, kind, decisive, and violent. This is a story about a man with the intent to live his life on his terms. It isn’t until the end of the film do you get a small picture as to why he flaunts the law and has little respect for the police. The saddest part of the film was watching the careless disregard Denzel’s character towards the people who are dying for his product.

On the other hand Russell Crowe is a nose to the grindstone kind of guy who works his job with honor but the rest of his life is a mess. Crowe does a very good job of slowly bringing out his character and only in the end to you does all this come together. Meaning he starts learning how to manage and lead an investigative team while learning he passes the bar exam. And although his wife leaves him, the film ends with you having the feeling his life will continue to get better both personally and professionally.

Overall: This was a really good film although hard to watch all the needles going into dying spirits.