Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Ratings: 7.5/10

Film Class: A

Genre: Thriller

I shan't pretend to be atas or intellectual by saying that this movie was awesome just because of the seemingly intellectual plot (or subtle) it has. However, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is indeed a classy old school espionage film. The film begins in media res (meaning the story begins either in mid-point and end-point and relating the story backwards) and is about uncovering a mole in the highest echelon of the Secret Intelligence Service, the Circus. There's this high class, intellectual, vintage film noir feel to the story, cinematography and casting. 

There's Gary Oldman, Mark Strong, Colin Firth, John Hurt and other outstanding casts which made Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (man I'll never get sick of saying the title) more classy than it already is. However, I really thought the movie was going somewhere, until the middle portion where they kinda lost me. It was then an uphill battle for me to try to decipher what in the tinker tailor were they talking about? After wiki-ing it, ahh, the plot wasn't that hard to understand afterall. However, the way the movie was filmed, it was too "subtle" for me to grasp.  

It's not those kinda movies that gives you the story right smack in your face. There's a lot of thinking, but somehow the movie doesn't seem to put me on the right track of thinking. Before I knew it, the "facts" (the identity of the traitor) was laid out in front of me and I was clueless how they even came to such a conclusion. 

Tinker Tailor Solder Spy is not an artsy thought-provoking movie but you're sure to get a hardhitting mind f*** (pardon the language, don't think there's a more appropriate way to put it) experience if you decide to give this movie a viewing. Either that, leave your brains shut down, watch the movie, and go "huh"? when the credits roll.  I believe that will be a happier option for most. 

PS.: This movie deserves to be A class purely for the cinematography, style, soundtrack and cast. Don't expect drooling special effects because there are close to none. Don't expect any action because there are close to none. And don't expect any humor because the words "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" are as funny as it'll ever get in this serious movie. 

Chronicle

Ratings: 7.4/10

Film Class: C+

Genre: Sci-Fi Drama

Chronicle spans around 3 guys, the lead actor (for simplicity's sake, only their first name is mentioned), Andrew, his cousin, Matt and their high school friend Steve. The gist of the film revolves around the life of the main lead Andrew, about how he just brought a new video camera (which explains why he's filming the movie with it) and  how he's being bullied by his peers in school as well as his abusive father. Alas, his mother is suffering from an incurable disease and is soon dying... the only person keeping Andrew in check. 

I don't believe I've given too much of the story away, since from the trailers, one would already know where this would lead to... The 3 guys gaining superpowers, gradually abusing it and finally going over to the "dark" side. The entire movie is shot from different angles of amateur video cameras, unlike most other "realistic" shaky cam movies which is mostly seen from 1 handheld cam. As long as there's a source of videography, eg. store's security cam, a girl who's also filming for her blog, the reporter's cameras, etc, that's how you'll be viewing the progression of the movie. An interesting take if you ask me. 

However unpromising of a story plot this movie might seem to you from the trailers, it's not. As a matter of fact, it's one of the better plot movies of such genre/movie style. *major spoilers ahead* Find out the reason behind Andrew's "evil nature" (opps, I've already disclosed it above), about what made him that way and think that way (latter not disclosed), and the movie makes you think what you would do if you had superpowers? Also, don't let the trailers fool you, not everyone is bad in this movie. And the movie doesn't development in reverse chronological order, it follows the normal timeline. I thought the crew was well chosen, and everyone was C+ Class exceptional in this movie. 

While most movies of such movie style would get a C for shaky hand held camera works, there's a + for the efforts in the special effects (though a little fake, great work on that). The flying scenes were a little too much for me to take, kinda felt too exaggerated but I shouldn't fault it since if one to have superpowers, then anything is possible isn't it? 

Some loopholes I found were how physically vulnerable they were even though they were able to prevent a fork from piercing into their hands and how the other 2 guys' powers seemed to be "controlled" by the lead actor's. Andrew doesn't get nose bleeds from the other 2 overusing the powers but the opposite is true for his mates. And yes, don't expect the part about how they managed to get superpowers to be explained. 

Overall, apart from the not so pleasant movie experience (inconsiderate couple - uncle with china lady [not intended to be a racist comment] who were talking non-stop for the entire, yes ENTIRE 84 mins the movie was run) the movie turned out better than expected. Good story progression and a fitting ending for this dark film. 

Safe House

Ratings: 7.4/10
Film Class: B
Genre: Action Thriller

Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds), a CIA agent working as a safe house keeper for 10 years is hoping to be transferred so that he can lead a more "normal" life with his girlfriend from Paris. Nothing big seems to have happened yet, not until legendary rogue agent Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington) turns himself in and is sent to Weston's safe house... Things start to spiral out of hand as the safe house is compromised and Agent Weston must do everything he can to "protect his guest".

There's a dull-grainy-type feel throughout the movie, made the movie feel like a C grade movie, but thanks to big stars like Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington, it doesn't make the movie that "cheapskate". The colors are similar to "Push" and "Unstoppable", both of which I wasn't fond of. *Major spoilers ahead* However, it would seem that this style of filming was intentional, because after the whole ordeal was over, the colors and lighting were brighter, and the quality even feels sharper (less grainy). I'm not sure if it's just my imagination but it sure felt that way towards the last 5 minutes of the movie.

Heard reviews from my cuzzie and imdb that the movie was a senseless roller coaster ride. So I sought their advice, left my brains at home and checked out Safe House with my dear. I was more than satisfied with the movie. It wasn't brainless, story wasn't totally predictable and sure enough, there was harda** adrenaline pumping action scenes which would keep you at the edge of your seats. Though there were several scenes which had an easier "solution" to and would have you question "Why didn't they/he just ....".

But overall, a great weekend movie (at a horrible cinema @ Bugis Junction, because 1. Popcorn was bad with huge sugar bits 2. Cinema was pitch black, even after the credits rolled, 3. The cleaners didn't bother clearing up leftover tidbits so I knocked over a half filled coke while groping my way in pitch darkness which soaked both my feet) that would be worth $10 per pax at a decent cinema.