It's two of Ridley Scott's recent ones for me... ;)
Matchstick Men (2003), Ridley Scott decided on a quick change of scene with this slick and stylish comedy-drama. It has Roy Waller (Nicolas Cage), an obsessive compulsive con-man, who works with his protege Frank (Sam Rockwell), in pulling off scams all over Los Angeles, some big and some small. However, they're on the verge of pulling off the biggest cons of their careers, when Roy's 14-year-old daughter Angela (Alison Lohman) turns up. Fearing she could be a hinderance to the whole con, Roy decides she can be of use after all. But nothing is what it seems. ;) It's a very offbeat, if quite uneven caper film, but it does have it's moments. Especially when one BIG revelation is revealed, and it rivals the big twists of all other con films!! But, Scott has fun with this film, and gets the best out of his actors, and has fun with the visuals... 4/5
A Good Year (2006), after Gladiator, Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott teamed up again for this gentle comedy-drama, based upon Peter Mayle's 2004 novel. It has London Investment Banker Max Skinner (Crowe, playing another Max ;)), who is told of the death of his beloved Uncle Henry (Albert Finney), Max is also told that he has been left his uncle's big estate including his big vineyard. Max is at first, not interested in it, but upon visiting their, he remembers the childhood he used to spend there with his uncle, and he begins to have second thoughts about selling the place. There's an overall sense of smugness about this whole film, and while it does look good visually, you can't help but feel that Crowe and Scott set out to make this for themselves, alot of the comedy seems forced, and it would have suited a Sunday teatime TV slot rather than the big screen, though it does have it's moments, but they're few and far between. :| 2/5
Oh, and Cuch, you were right about A Good Year. :P
The Poet (1st view) – During WWII, disillusioned German soldier Oskar is part of a small group infiltrating the resistance. He meets and falls in love with a Jewish girl, Rachel, and she becomes pregnant. They soon become separated and she marries another man, Bernard but fate will eventually bring all three together. It’s obvious the film was made on a tiny budget and the only stars names to appear, Darryl Hannah and Roy Scheider, take one very small and forgettable roles. Still, it’s a reasonable film and one not without some fine moments – 3/5
The Counterfeiters/Die Fälscher (1st view) – Winner of the Best Foreign Language Oscar earlier this year, this Austrian/German film tells the story of Operation Bernhard, an attempt by the Nazis to flood the UK with fake currency. The forgers of the title are all Jewish prisoners held in a concentration, and in return for their co-operation they are awarded luxuries not afforded to others. Self-preservation gradually makes way for fear and doubt and their awareness of the role they are playing in overall war. It’s uniformly well acted, particularly by the lead Karl Markovics. The subject matter alone makes holocaust films depressing, and this is no exception but it’s a fascinating, moving and thought-provoking story – 4/5
Re-Animator (2nd view) – Jeffery Combs stars as Herbert West, a medical student who has discovered a way to bring the dead back to life, but disasterous consequences ensue. Exceptionally gory with a whole host of make-up effects (some look superb, others laughable, but they all suit the film) this is a great, and often very funny, horror film.
It's on a par with the other two in the series but one of its main problems is Maria Bello who isn't a patch on Rachel Weisz and uses one of the most irriating English accent i've seen in film. Also Brendan Frasier son in the movie looks more like his younger brother. Overall a decent popcorn movie that is cheesy and loaded with plotholes. Turn brain off and enjoy
6/10