Two Line Reviews - #433

Movie: Erin Brokovich (2000)

Plot: A divorced mother of three small kids tries to get some job to make ends meet. After a stunning revelation, she chases down a huge firm responsible for bringing down an entire town in terms of its people's health. When the race intensifies, she has to make some personal sacrifices to cross the finishing line.

What Works?

• For a film based on a true story, the presentation is quite entertaining thanks to Soderbergh's simplistic & old-school narrative.
• Julai Roberts understands she is the bone and flesh of the film and comes up trumps in her role as the determined legal assistant.
• Her scenes with her boss, played neatly by veteran Albert Finney, where she ends up screaming in temper are winners!
• The angle that describes her parenting and the sacrifices she had to make is an inspiring story in itself.

Story of a determined sacrifice that is inspiring too!

Two Line Reviews - #386

Movie: Everyone says I Love You (1996)

Plot: An American girl narrates the romantic associations of the members in her family and in the process explains how she tried to tie her divorced father up for a relationship with a lady who meets a known shrink!

What Works?

• This one, probably, is Woody Allen's tribute to musicals and he has chosen an apt story for that! Some of the musical portions make this a refreshing watch!
• The Woody Allen-Julia Roberts portions are as eccentric as they come in WA films!
• Drew Barrymore's terrace scene with the murder convict is a hilarious piece as well; Edward Norton has a minimal role to play but the tap dance at the ring shop is memorable.

Good in parts,this musical is.

Two Line Reviews - #244

Movie: Charlie Wilson's War (2007)

Plot: USSR is bludgeoning its way through Afghanistan and is literally raping the country apart. A US congressman makes his country react to this unfair attack after making personal visit to refugee camps in Pakistan. He, and 2 others, make it possible for Afghans to fight back and make the mighty Soviet army retreat...but the USA doesn't end it the way the congressman wants it to...leading to we-know-what.

Highlights:

• The film's story and screenplay are its strong points and credits for the men behind that. It was pretty much like reading a novel on the subject.
• Tom Hanks is spontaneous and charming as the congressman Charlie and Philipp Seymour Hoffman is a riot on screen; he's brilliant.
• The helicopter attack shots looked great and so were the ways showing the entire Afghan war and the sarcasm in showing how very few knew the whereabouts of east asian countries

A good film.Worth a watch.