Two Line Reviews - #448

Movie: Lincoln (2012)

Plot: The movie is a record of Lincoln's resolve in getting the Bill on 13th amendment related to the abolition of Slavery passed in the cabinet.

What Works?

• Steven Spielberg shall spit and I might end up liking watching it! This one's no spit by the way. The film narrates a historically significant event in American Politics and gives the attention to detail the event deserves.
• Daniel Day-Lewis as Lincoln amazes one with his realistic portrayal and voice modulation! Bad that he hasn't done as many films as one would feel someone of his calibre should have done. He showcases Lincoln stubbornness and persuasive skills quite effortlessly.
• In a cameo is Tommy Lee Jones and his portion is typically enjoyable Spielberg stuff!
• The core technical team of Spielberg never changes and this film is one more reason as to why the longevity of the combination makes sense.
• The voting scene at the cabinet is that one scene anyone would love watching.

What Doesn't?

• More than Lincoln, the focus is on the Amendment and a lot of minute details are difficult to understand for anyone ignorant(like me) of the politics surrounding it.
• Same is the case with the details shown on his wife and sons; It sends a message but it seems irrelevant.

A neat and carefully researched and executed record of a historical event!

Two Line Reviews - #254

Movie: No Country for Old Men (2007)

Plot: A psychotic masaccre man is on a killing spree in the US-Mexican desert border to get his hands on a huge sum of money involved in a drugs transaction. A desert resident chances upon the bag of money and when he knows about the killer who's chasing it, gets cautious but no amount of caution prevents a meeting with the lunatic killer. A sheriff who hunts for the killer laments on how times have changed, how unsuited older men are to work on wrongdoings of the kind witnessed.

Highlights:

• The film has an ordinary killer storyline but the treatment is special. Very few characters and they too don't talk much; Still chilling scenes are aplenty.
• Coen Brothers deserve praise for pulling this one off as an interesting piece with literally no background music.
• The actor who plays the killer is a maniac! His unique look, gigantic figure & voice are all apt for the character he plays; Tommy Lee Jones as the sheriff and the desert resident come up with nice works too.
• Dialogues are scintillating in some of the bigger exchanges.

Slow-paced; Still evokes a lot of interest!

Two Line Reviews - #245

Movie: In the Valley of Elah (2007)

Plot: A US soldier returned from Iraq goes missing in his camp and when his father goes in search of his son, he finds that his son had been butchered and burnt. With a detective's help, the resilient father - an ex army man - goes on the hunt for the killer(s) and ends up finding too.

Highlights:

• Tommy Lee Jones as the patriotic, intelligent and caring father does a splendid underplay and to give him nice company as the detective is Charlize Theron
• With a simple plot, the side-story of the ill effects of having to fight in a useless war on the army men is shown wonderfully
• The detective act , tracking through clues is shown nicely

Delivers soundly, a nice little message.