DIRECTOR: Mike Nichols
CAST: Tom Hanks, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Julia Roberts, Amy Adams
THE PLOT: A drama based on Texas congressman Charlie Wilson's covert dealings in Afghanistan as he attempted to assist rebels in their war with the Soviets.
BEN'S VIEWS: Back in the late 1980's one man saved an entire country from destruction. The man was Texas congressman Charlie Wilson and the country was Afghanistan. This is the true story that Charlie Wilson's war tells and it is very watchable for a political film. Director Mike Nichols picks a very relevant time to tell Charlie's story. We all know what the recent relationship between the United States and Afghanistan is like. But the cold hard fact is that we saved their asses from the Russians in the 1980's. And how do we get repaid? With two planes into two of our countries greatest buildings. See our aid to the Afgani's was a covert operation so not many know about it until now. The films biggest strength is its story. A close second are the performances. Tom Hanks stars as Wilson and is his usual likable self. This doesn't rank with his best performances but he is certainly able to make us see why Charlie was such a lovable guy. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is the standout in a film again (he also stole the show in 2007's Before the Devil Knows Your Dead), this time in a supporting role. What's great about his work here is that he really disappears into his character and we don't see Hoffman, but instead his character Gust. Listen carefully to his story about a Xen master at the films close. It is the key to the film. Charlie Wilson's War isn't extraordinary but it is an intelligent film, solidly told and acted. You can't be too disappointed with that.
DIRECTOR: Gabor Csupo
CAST: Annasophia Robb, Josh Hutcherson, Zooey Deschanel
THE PLOT: A young boy's life is changed forever after befriending the new girl at school.
BEN'S VIEWS: Live action children's films have hit a bit of a slump lately. They really don't make many quality movies for kids anymore unless they are animated. So for the kids Bridge to Terabithia will be a breath of fresh air. Disney Studios did a nice job of adapting the book of the same name. The film has few faults, but acting is the most noticeable. Josh Hutcherson, who plays the lead, has no acting range at all. He has one critical scene where he hits a home run (figuratively, not literally), but other than that he is stiff as a board. A better actor could have made this a better film. But the kids won't notice. The nice thing about Bridge to Terabithia is that it underplays most emotions. Some family films practically have a blinking sign like in those live televison studios telling you to 'laugh now' or cry here'. This film doesn't wallop you over the head with its obviousness and tell you when your supposed to laugh or shed a tear. This isn't a landmark film or anything. It's just nice solid entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.
DIRECTOR: Joe Wright
CAST: Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai, Vanessa Redgrave
THE PLOT: 13 year old Briony Tallis irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sisters lover of a terrible crime.
BEN'S VIEWS: Let me say one thing first. Atonement is a good film. But it's not a great one. It's not the masterpiece that many are hailing it as. Well Atonement is based on a novel and a pretty thick one at that. It's always a challenge for a filmmaker to squeeze hundreds and hundreds of pages of events and emotions into one two-hour movie. Many times something gets lost in translation and I believe that is what happens here. The success of Atonement rests on the audiences connection to the films central romance. I just didn't feel a strong enough connection to get the fully intended effect. These characters are supposedly in love with each other. But all we're shown is their lust, not their love. This softens the emotional blow that the movie is attempting to throw at us. The fact that I would still recommend you to see this film is a testament to how well made it us. The lush cinematography of the film is some of the years best. The film is very strongly acted. Saoirse Ronan breaks out as an extremely talented young actress. Keira Knightly and especially James McAvoy give performances with a lot of depth. So it's not really the actors fault that the romance doesn't entirely work. Scenes are missing that should build the feelings between the two early in the film. But the film is still a very strong account of the decisions we make affecting us for the rest of our lives.
