There's only one conclusion to every story

World Trade Center (2006)

2006-10-01T23:22:19Z

Directed by Oliver Stone
Written by Andrea Berloff
Cinematography by Seamus McGarvey
Edited by David Brenner, Julie Monroe
Running Time:

Main Cast:

Maria Bello .... Donna McLoughlin
Michael Pena .... Will Jimeno
Nicolas Cage .... John McLoughlin
Maggie Gyllenhaal .... Allison Jimeno
Michael Shannon .... Dave Karnes

Entertainment Value: 7/10
Potential for film-making analysis: 6/10
IMDB Vote: 7/10

Children of Men (2006)

2006-10-01T22:48:56Z

Directed by Alfonso Cuaron
Written by PD James, Alfonso Cuaron
Cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki
Edited by Alex Rodriguez
Running Time: 109mins

Main Cast:

Clive Owen .... Theodore Faron
Julianne Moore .... Julian Taylor
Michael Caine .... Jasper
Chiwetel Ejiofor .... Luke
Charlie Hunnam .... Patric
Claire-Hope Ashitey .... Kee
Pam Ferris .... Miriam
Danny Huston .... Nigel
Peter Mullan .... Syd

Imagining the reactions of the human race to its inevitable extinction as a result of a biological defect that ensures the demise is literally realised for a lifetime promotes visions of a particularly dystopian civilisation. Cuaron’s theatrical take on P.D. James’s novel catapults the viewer into exactly this world: the Britain of the future offering as little appeal as the world of the hopeless could be expected to. The sprawling concrete, the grubby, littered streets and the abused public transport are all pervasive signs of a society displaced, sitting only in contrast to the marginal improvements in technology that Children of Men presents while adding significant resonance to a graffiti artist’s sentiment that ‘The future’s a thing of the past’.

The year is 2027, and the human race is scarred with a 100% infertility rate. The youngest human, aged 18 years, has just died, and the world exists as a maelstrom of despondency and capitulation ruled by anarchists, as unprecedented feelings of meaninglessness infiltrate the collapsing species. Only Britain soldiers onwards, maintaining some regularity for its citizens and enforcing strict anti-immigration legislation for the mounting influx of refugees; yet this existence is a façade, an attempt by an increasingly totalitarian regime to control and manipulate the weary, who must daily face the inexorable truth. Miraculously, however, a woman has become pregnant and the survival of humankind depends on her safe delivery to a sanctuary at sea, known only as ‘The Human Project’. Recruited by his revolutionary ex-wife to aid in the safe transport of mother and foetus, Theo (Clive Owen), an ex-activist office worker becomes the reluctant hero as he is thrust into a mission fraught with jeopardy yet infused with sanguine expectations.

The concern with apocalyptic films such as Children of Men is that once the major premise has been mapped and the context has become apparent, the narrative can never be expected to conjure up any enthralling surprises. The aim becomes to present a story that merely serves to complicate inevitability since optimism is always forthcoming. Fortunately, Children of Men presses forward at an exuberant pace, operating in almost episodic fashion as our protagonist persists with a task that perpetually acts to reinitiate the romanticism that drove his activist self many years previous. It is this change in character that drives the film’s unshakeable message that even in times of global horror and bleak submission, when despair becomes a revealing characteristic of an ever fascistic society, a small token of possibility can spur on the affected and at least momentarily remind the pugnacious of more auspicious times.

Cuaron’s interpretation of a disillusionment of unparalleled quantity, complemented by captivating cinematography that showcases a series of cold, dark and portentous landscapes, is the backdrop for an entertaining thriller that stutters only slightly with a weak morality but presents adequate opportunity for individual contemplation. Faced with an existence that only has a conclusion the children of men become expendable and Children of Men is only too happy to oblige in presenting this harrowing circumstance.

Entertainment Value: 7/10
Potential for film-making analysis: 6/10
IMDB Vote: 7/10

Ordinary People (1980)

2006-09-29T20:04:27Z

Directed by Robert Redford
Written by Judith Guest, Alvin Sargent
Cinematography by John Bailey
Edited by Jeff Kanew
Running Time: 124mins

Main Cast:

Donald Sutherland .... Calvin Jarrett
Mary Tyler Moore .... Beth Jarrett
Judd Hirsch .... Dr. Tyrone C. Berger
Timothy Hutton .... Conrad Jarrett
M. Emmet Walsh .... Coach Salan
Elizabeth McGovern .... Jeannine Pratt
Dinah Manoff .... Karen

Synopsis:

The accidental death of the older son of an affluent family deeply strains the relationships among the bitter mother, the good-natured father, and the guilt-ridden younger son.

Entertainment Value: 7/10
Potential for film-making analysis: 6/10
IMDB Vote: 7/10

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

2006-09-29T20:00:24Z

Directed by Peter Jackson
Written by J.R.R. Tolkien, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson
Cinematography by Andrew Lesnie
Edited by Jamie Selkirk
Running Time: 240mins

Main Cast:

Sean Astin .... Sam
Sean Bean .... Boromir
Cate Blanchett .... Galadriel
Orlando Bloom .... Legolas
Billy Boyd .... Pippin
Bernard Hill .... Theoden
Ian Holm .... Bilbo Baggins
Ian McKellen .... Gandalf the White
Dominic Monaghan .... Merry
Viggo Mortensen .... Aragorn
Paul Norell .... King of the Dead
Miranda Otto .... Eowyn
John Rhys-Davies .... Gimli
Andy Serkis .... Gollum
Liv Tyler .... Arwen
Karl Urban .... Eomer
Hugo Weaving .... Elrond
David Wenham .... Faramir
Elijah Wood .... Frodo
Brad Dourif .... Grima Wormtongue
Christopher Lee .... Saruman

Entertainment Value: 10/10
Potential for film-making analysis: 8/10
IMDB Vote: 10/10

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

2006-09-29T19:56:32Z

Directed by Peter Jackson
Written by J.R.R. Tolkien, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson
Cinematography by Andrew Lesnie
Edited by Michael Horton, Jabez Olssen
Running Time: 214mins

Main Cast:

Sean Astin .... Sam
Cate Blanchett .... Galadriel
Orlando Bloom .... Legolas Greenleaf
Billy Boyd .... Peregrin 'Pippin' Took
Brad Dourif .... Grima Wormtongue
Bernard Hill .... Theoden
Christopher Lee .... Saruman
Ian McKellen .... Gandalf the White
Dominic Monaghan .... Merry
Viggo Mortensen .... Aragorn
Miranda Otto .... Eowyn
John Rhys-Davies .... Gimli/Voice of Treebeard
Andy Serkis .... Gollum
Liv Tyler .... Arwen
Karl Urban .... Eomer
Hugo Weaving .... Elrond
David Wenham .... Faramir
Elijah Wood .... Frodo Baggins
Sean Bean .... Boromir

Entertainment Value: 9/10
Potential for film-making analysis: 8/10
IMDB Vote: 9/10

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

2006-09-29T19:52:44Z

Directed by Peter Jackson
Written by J.R.R. Tolkien, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson
Cinematography by Andrew Lesnie
Edited by John Gilbert
Running Time: 200mins

Main Cast:

Sean Astin .... Sam Gamgee
Sala Baker .... Sauron
Sean Bean .... Boromir
Cate Blanchett .... Galadriel
Orlando Bloom .... Legolas Greenleaf
Billy Boyd .... Peregrin 'Pippin' Took
Ian Holm .... Bilbo Baggins
Christopher Lee .... Saruman
Ian McKellen .... Gandalf the Grey
Dominic Monaghan .... Merry
Viggo Mortensen .... Aragorn
John Rhys-Davies .... Gimli
Andy Serkis .... Gollum
Liv Tyler .... Arwen
Hugo Weaving .... Elrond
Elijah Wood .... Frodo Baggins

Entertainment Value: 9/10
Potential for film-making analysis: 8/10
IMDB Vote: 9/10

The Omen (2006)

2006-09-26T22:06:41Z

Directed by John Moore
Written by David Seltzer
Cinematography by Jonathan Sela
Edited by Dan Zimmerman
Running Time: 110mins

Main Cast:

Liev Schreiber .... Robert Thorn
Julia Stiles .... Katherine Thorn
Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick .... Damien
Amy Huck .... Nanny
David Thewlis .... Keith Jennings
Pete Postlethwaite .... Father Brennan
Mia Farrow .... Mrs. Baylock

Entertainment Value: 6/10
Potential for film-making analysis: 6/10
IMDB Vote: 6/10

Slither (2006)

2006-09-25T22:16:54Z

Directed by James Gunn
Written by James Gunn
Cinematography by Tyler Bates
Edited by Gregory Middleton
Running Time: 95mins

Main Cast:

Nathan Fillion .... Bill Pardy
Elizabeth Banks .... Starla Grant
Gregg Henry .... Jack MacReady
Michael Rooker .... Grant Grant
Tania Saulnier .... Kylie Strutemyer

Entertainment Value: 6/10
Potential for film-making analysis: 6/10
IMDB Vote: 6/10

Dead Man's Shoes (2004)

2006-09-24T18:19:09Z

Directed by Shane Meadows
Written by Paddy Considine, Paul Fraser, Shaun Meadows
Cinematography by Danny Cohen
Edited by Celia Haining, Lucas Roche, Chris Wyatt
Running Time: 90mins

Main Cast:

Paddy Considine .... Richard
Gary Stretch .... Sonny
Toby Kebbell .... Anthony

Synopsis:

A disaffected soldier returns to his hometown to get even with the thugs who brutalized his mentally-challenged brother years ago.

Entertainment Value: 8/10
Potential for film-making analysis: 6/10
IMDB Vote: 8/10

The Night Listener (2006)

2006-09-24T18:16:14Z

Directed by Patrick Stettner
Written by Armistead Maupin (Screenplay & Novel), Terry Anderson (Screenplay), Patrick Stettner (Screenplay)
Cinematography by Lisa Rinzler
Edited by Andy Keir
Running Time: 82mins

Main Cast:

Toni Collette .... Donna D. Logand
Robin Williams .... Gabriel Noone

Entertainment Value: 5/10
Potential for film-making analysis: 6/10
IMDB Vote: 5/10

Metal: A Headbanger's Journey (2005)

2006-09-24T18:12:31Z

Directed by Sam Dunn, Scot MacFadyen, Jessica Joy Wise
Written by Sam Dunn, Scot MacFadyen, Jessica Joy Wise
Cinematography by Brendan Steacy
Edited by Mike Munn
Running Time: 96mins

Main Cast:

Tom Araya .... Himself
Alice Cooper .... Himself
Bruce Dickinson .... Himself
Ronnie James Dio .... Himself
Tony Iommi .... Himself
Lemmy .... Himself
Rob Zombie .... Himself

Synopsis:

Documentary investigating the culture of heavy metal, in an attempt to discover why this genre of music has been consistently stereotyped, dismissed and condemned and yet is loved so passionately by its millions of fans.

Entertainment Value: 7/10
Potential for film-making analysis: 6/10
IMDB Vote: 7/10

The Black Dahlia (2006)

2006-09-16T15:40:54Z

Directed by Brian DePalma
Written by Josh Friedman, James Ellroy
Cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond
Edited by Bill Pankow
Running Time: 121mins

Main Cast:

Josh Hartnett .... Ofcr. Dwight "Bucky" Bleichert
Scarlett Johansson .... Kay Lake
Aaron Eckhart .... Sgt. Leland "Lee" Blanchard
Hilary Swank .... Madeleine Linscott
Mia Kirshner .... Elizabeth Short

Entertainment Value: 5/10
Potential for film-making analysis: 7/10
IMDB Vote: 5/10

36 Quai Des Orfevres (2004)

2006-09-16T15:38:35Z

Directed by Olivier Marchal
Written by Olivier Marchal, Frank Mancuso, Julien Rappeneau
Cinematography by Denis Rouden
Edited by Hugues Darmois
Running Time: 110mins

Main Cast:

Daniel Auteuil .... Léo Vrinks
Gérard Depardieu .... Denis Klein
André Dussollier .... Robert Mancini
Roschdy Zem .... Hugo Silien
Valeria Golino .... Camille Vrinks
Daniel Duval .... Eddy Valence
Francis Renaud .... Titi Brasseur
Catherine Marchal .... Ève Verhagen
Alain Figlarz .... Francis Horn

Entertainment Value: 8/10
Potential for film-making analysis: 6/10
IMDB Vote: 8/10

It Came From Outer Space (1953)

2006-09-16T15:34:06Z

Directed by Jack Arnold
Written by Ray Bradbury, Harry Essex
Cinematography by Clifford Stine
Edited by Paul Weatherwax
Running Time: 81mins

Main Cast:

Richard Carlson .... John Putnam
Barbara Rush .... Ellen Fields
Charles Drake .... Sheriff Matt Warren
Joe Sawyer .... Frank Daylon
Russell Johnson .... George
Kathleen Hughes .... Jane

Entertainment Value: 5/10
Potential for film-making analysis: 5/10
IMDB Vote: 5/10

The Sentinel (2006)

2006-09-14T21:49:03Z

Directed by Clark Johnson
Written by George Nolfi, Gerald Petievich
Cinematography by Gabriel Beristain
Edited by Cindy Mollo
Running Time: 108mins

Main Cast:

Michael Douglas .... Pete Garrison
Kiefer Sutherland .... David Breckinridge
Eva Longoria .... Jill Marin
Kim Basinger .... 1st Lady Sarah Ballentine

Entertainment Value: 5/10
Potential for film-making analysis: 5/10
IMDB Vote: 5/10

Yeogo Goedam/ Whispering Corridors (1998)

2006-09-14T21:41:49Z

Directed by Ki-Hyung Park
Written by Ki-Hyung Park, Jung-Ok In
Edited by Sung-Won Ham
Running Time: 105mins

Main Cast:

Kang-hie Choi .... Youn Jae-yi
Gyu-ri Kim .... Lim Ji-oh
Mi-yeon Lee .... Hur Eun-young
Jin-hie Park .... Park So-young
Ji-hye Yun .... Kim Jung-sook

Entertainment Value: 4/10
Potential for film-making analysis: 5/10
IMDB Vote: 4/10

Dead End (1937)

2006-09-04T22:46:22Z

Directed by William Wyler
Written by Sidney Kingsley, Lillian Hellman
Cinematography by Gregg Toland
Edited by Daniel Mandell
Running Time: 93mins

Main Cast:

Sylvia Sidney .... Drina Gordon
Joel McCrea .... Dave Connell
Humphrey Bogart .... Hugh 'Baby Face'/'Marty' Martin
Wendy Barrie .... Kay Burton
Claire Trevor .... Francey
Allen Jenkins .... Hunk
Marjorie Main .... Mrs. Martin
Billy Halop .... Tommy Gordon

Entertainment Value: 5/10
Potential for film-making analysis: 6/10
IMDB Vote: 5/10

Gattaca (1997)

2006-09-04T16:21:23Z

Directed by Andrew Niccol
Written by Andrew Niccol
Cinematography by Slawomir Idziak
Edited by Lisa Zeno Churgin
Running Time: 101mins

Main Cast:

Ethan Hawke .... Vincent Freeman
Uma Thurman .... Irene Cassini
Jude Law .... Jerome Eugene Morrow

Entertainment Value: 5/10
Potential for film-making analysis: 6/10
IMDB Vote: 5/10

The Wicker Man (2006)

2006-09-04T16:19:09Z

Directed by Neil LaBute
Written by Neil LaBute, Anthony Shaffer
Cinematography by Paul Sarossy
Edited by Joel Plotch
Running Time: 97mins

Main Cast:

Nicolas Cage .... Edward Malus
Ellen Burstyn .... Sister Summersisle
Kate Beahan .... Sister Willow

Synopsis:

Police Officer Edward Malus pays a visit to a small, private island to investigate the disappearance of a young girl and becomes embroiled in the matriarchal communities sectarian activities, which he believes will culminate in the sacrificial burning of the child he has come in search of.

Entertainment Value: 3/10
Potential for film-making analysis: 5/10
IMDB Vote: 3/10

An American Haunting (2005)

2006-09-04T16:10:25Z

Directed by Courtney Solomon
Written by Courtney Solomon, Brent Monahan
Cinematography by Adrian Biddle
Edited by Richard Comeau
Running Time: 91mins

Main Cast:

Donald Sutherland .... John Bell
Sissy Spacek .... Lucy Bell
James D'Arcy .... Richard Powell
Rachel Hurd-Wood .... Betsy Bell

Entertainment Value: 3/10
Potential for film-making analysis: 5/10
IMDB Vote: 3/10

Adrift (2006)

2006-09-01T19:27:31Z

Directed by Hans Horn
Written by Adam Kreutner, Collin McMahon, David Mitchell, Richard Speight Jr.
Cinematography by Bernhard Jasper
Edited by Christian Lonk
Running Time: 95mins

Main Cast:

Susan May Pratt .... Amy
Richard Speight Jr. .... James
Niklaus Lange .... Zach
Ali Hillis .... Lauren
Cameron Richardson .... Michelle
Eric Dane .... Dan

Synopsis:

A group of old high school friends head off for a weekend cruise on a luxurious yacht, but when they forget to release the ladder before jumping into the ocean for a swim they find themselves trapped in the water as the side of the yacht proves impossible to climb.

Entertainment Value: 5/10
Potential for film-making analysis: 5/10
IMDB Vote: 5/10

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

2006-08-28T22:14:21Z

Directed by Don Siegel
Written by Jack Finney, Daniel Mainwaring
Cinematography by Ellsworth Fredericks
Edited by Robert S. Eisen
Running Time: 81mins

Main Cast:

Kevin McCarthy .... Dr. Miles J. Bennell
Dana Wynter .... Becky Driscoll
Larry Gates .... Dr. Dan 'Danny' Kauffman
King Donovan .... Jack Belicec

Entertainment Value: 6/10
Potential for film-making analysis: 8/10
IMDB Vote: 6/10

On the Waterfront (1954)

2006-08-27T23:28:16Z

Directed by Elia Kazan
Written by Malcolm Johnson, Budd Schulberg
Cinematography by Boris Kaufman
Edited by Gene Milford
Running Time: 108mins

Main Cast:

Marlon Brando .... Terry Malloy
Karl Malden .... Father Barry
Lee J. Cobb .... Johnny Friendly
Rod Steiger .... Charley 'the Gent' Malloy
Eva Marie Saint .... Edie Doyle

Entertainment Value: 7/10
Potential for film-making analysis: 7/10
IMDB Vote: 7/10

Unknown White Male (2005)

2006-08-27T23:26:04Z

Directed by Rupert Murray
Cinematography by Lance Bangs, Orlando Stuart
Edited by Rupert Murray
Running Time: 88mins

Main Cast:

Doug Bruce .... Himself
Rupert Murray .... Narrator (voice)

Entertainment Value: 5/10
Potential for film-making analysis: 5/10
IMDB Vote: 5/10

Severance (2006)

2006-08-27T23:23:06Z

Directed by Christopher Smith
Written by James Moran, Christopher Smith
Cinematography by Ed Wild
Edited by Stuart Gazzard
Running Time: 95mins

Main Cast:

Danny Dyer .... Steve
Laura Harris .... Maggie
Tim McInnerny .... Richard
Toby Stephens .... Harris
Claudie Blakley .... Jill
Andy Nyman .... Gordon
Babou Ceesay .... Billy

Entertainment Value: 8/10
Potential for film-making analysis: 6/10
IMDB Vote: 8/10