These Final Hours (2013)

With a familiar looks to the often seeing apocalyptic genre sci-fi movies that has less heart but more adrenaline, These Final Hours is a completely different emotional ride to the end of the world. It runs with enough juice to keep the viewer gazing but ends with a staggering amount of emotional drama that the viewer may not be ready for. The last half hour is totally powerful that most high budget apocalyptic movies will fall down in front of this small time Australian production.

You will witness beautiful performances here. Especially the little girl (Angourie Rice) who will make you weep a little along with the other actors including the lead Nathan Phillips.

For being a movie that heads for an obvious ending it does a marvelous job in all aspects. These final Hours will make you stop breathing for a while when it ends. This is superb!

Rating: Genre 4/5, Overall 3.5/5

Genre: Drama | Thriller

Director:  Zak Hilditch

The Missing Picture (2013) – 4.5/5

Powerfully narrated and excellently portrayed, The Missing Picture is a documentary that has the capacity to haunt the viewers at night. It tells a story of tragedy and brutality beyond human limits in the name of ideology that took place in Cambodia in the 70’s with the awakening of Pol Pot and his ruthless followers of Communist Party of Kampuchea vastly known as Khmer Rouge. Director Rithy Panh takes the viewer in to this dark era by telling his story as a captive by the Khemer Rouge where he was a small boy. This documentary movie is a mix of documentary and news footage from the period and the rest is dramatic portrayal of events using clay figures.

This documentary has a good start, solid middle part and a strong ending. It is not flawed nor over emphasizes on facts or hangs in a certain place for too long. Therefore, it has a good flaw though the content is not that easy to bare. But I must say that what strike me the most is the way director has used clay figures and the narration. Nearly half of the movie has no moving parts. The clay figures are in one place with wonderful details and only the camera moves around them. The creative job done at the sets is simply mind blowing and for a moment I forgot the tragedy and started to appreciate the beauty of creativity. But soon things started to become so dark that at one point the viewers will sympathize for those lifeless clay figures as much as they do for a human being. This is powerful story telling and it is one of the best I have seeing.

The Missing Picture will open your eyes to the bitter truths of a foregone era. No matter how many times you have come across this tragic tale there is no escape from the emotional bitterness.  It reminds us over and over that humans are what they believe they are for the good or bad. And any human suffering because of another human cannot be justified for any reason.

Genre: Documentary

Director: Rithy Panh

-Priyantha Bandara

Sons of Anarchy (2008-2014) – 5/5

After 7 years of blazing glory Sons of Anarchy has now come to a steady stop. This crime loving outlaw biker club drama is rarely one of the unique shows the TV history have ever seeing and unquestionably cannot be compared with another show due to it’s own terms. While it is nearly impossible to go in to every detail of this brilliant show created by Kurt Sutter loosely based on the characters of Hamlet in a short review such as this, I’m trying my best to give credit to all the uniqueness it made us witness.

Being said that I have no doubt that this is the most violently dramatic TV show the world has seeing that actually made homage to outlaws, brotherhood, friends, big American motorbikes, people of all colors and races, guns, gangsters, prison mayhem, school shootings, eye popping like a pro with spoons, retribution without a regret, all kinds of love including transsexuals, burying up dead bodies and digging them up again, porno, baby snatchers from Ireland, body parts in boxes, crooked cops, random acts of violence, dragging handicapped people on streets tied to cars, mothers in laws killing daughter in laws, sons killing step fathers, kids injuring them selves to frame grandmothers and the list goes on. Though all this sounds so vicious and gory Sons of Anarchy is mind splittingly perfect in its script and performances that it was never felt neither irrelevant nor excessive.  This obviously makes this show to shrink to a certain set of devoted viewers and becomes completely inappropriate for the masses. Which is the reason we didn’t see internet braking hype for Sons of Anarchy in any year nor fans aggressively fought over it existence over a different show. But the Sons of Anarchy fans held up their end of the bargain and the creators gave their best to fans in return and it was wonderful.

Sons of Anarchy was brilliant in its story telling. While some may call some seasons silly and relatively uninteresting compared to a different season the flame never went out. Sons of Anarchy is not a show that evolves over the seasons in its drama. True it does up to a certain limit with it’s characters as they evolve but each season was full of equal drama and tension that every time one season ended it was almost like some great movie came to a holt giving the promise of a sequel. For me I was hooked to Sons from day one to the finale episode and boy it was a joy. Seeing all those gritty mind blowing performances by the cast and how the whole plot elevated from episode to episode was truly a wonderful experience. And the thing with Sons of Anarchy was that it was full of energy and full of surprises and at one point I decided that I will not guess what’s coming up but rather let the story take over me.

Sons of Anarchy has won many awards including the Golden Globe for best performance by an Actress in a Television Series (Katey Segal) which proves the quality of acting it was equipped with. The cast was brilliant and though most of them saw the other end of the barrel of a gun or the sharp side of a blade and went out in a split second (most in completely unexpected ways in unexpected moments) the body count didn’t mean that they were forgotten. We saw amazing performances up to the last episode and some of them were the best the recent TV has to offer. If the fans were haunted by the faces of the actors and dropped a tear at their despair it was nothing to be amused of.

And Sons of Anarchy will be largely memorable for it’s choice of music. Episode after episode and at right times the sound tracks were mixed in a way that they were completely aligned with the mood and story of the show. When I look back at the set of beautiful music throughout these 7 years I have no doubt that Sons of Anarchy delivered it so powerfully in par with the shows emotional chemistry. For me I cannot think of Sons of Anarchy without its sound tracks and I’m sure for many it will be equally memorable.

All in all with fantastic writing and direction of Kurt Sutter as the creator of the show Sons of Anarchy was one hell of a ride. These characters and the ideology they represent will always be remembered though how cruel and violent they were just because of the fact that this show made them all looked so great. But the final message Kurt Sutter sends out so loud is that there is no crime that goes unpunished and no lie that will not be revealed for it’s truth. And if you believe in it Sons of Anarchy is a modern day tale of Karma disguised in leather jackets. I will miss this show dearly and salute the creators for making such amazing TV time.

Genre: Crime | Drama | Thriller

Creator : Kurt Sutter

The Maze Runner (2014) – Ratings Genre: 4/5, Overall 3/5

It is ok for me to admit that The Maze Runner delivered more than what I expected. After a brief glance over the plot I set my self to witness another Hunger Games movie but what I got was something more thrilling, gripping and a suspenseful experience. Being said that The Maze Runner is not a fresh approach to a plot or Sci Fi nature. And it is based on James Dashner's 2009 novel of the same name.

There has being many mind boggling cinema on certain mazes (or traps true or imagery) and escaping from it including Cube (1997), Inception (2010) and Pans Labyrinth (2006) to name a few and each delivered a very powerful cinema experience. Standing against great movies like what I have mentioned earlier The Maze Runner is still has a long way to go being this is the first of a sequel of movies we are about to see in the coming years. But talking of this one alone it had done a pretty decent job.

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Thomas our 16-year-old hero wakes up in a strange place without having any memory of his earlier life. He and another group of people who experienced the same are trapped in a glade surrounded by a giant concrete maze. Though finding the way out of the maze and getting back home sounds a good idea the maze comes with many lethal surprises. But it seems like Thomas has some answers and soon the gang realizes that he is different.

For a dystopian sci fi thriller The Maze Runner has some gripping ground to start off with. And the movie steadily evolves within the first hour from nowhere to somewhere and the viewers get to feel the strange and mysterious presence of the maze. There is no scene that I can call as dragging or irrelevant thought they seems slow or not filled with enough action and suspense. But the movie quickly hit a phase of action and adventure and from there the game plan completely changes.  What I really like about The Maze Runner is it’s overall mood. As the viewer just like the people who are trapped in the maze are kept in dark so the same mysteries boggle in every ones minds. It’s as if the viewers also has to find answers to the mysteries and we are left with no options but to try. And at times we are left to make tough choices.

Equipped with strong acting and brilliant CG The Maze Runner is a movie that will keep the viewer engaged every second. And when it finished it opens up a whole lot of new questions while answering only few of the burning ones that was laid out at the start. I guess we have to wait another year to find out what happens next.

Genre: Sci Fi | Thriller | Action | Mystery

Director: Wes Ball

-Priyantha Bandara

Predestination (2014) – Ratings: Genre 4.5/5, Overall 3.5/5

Reviewing this movie is really tricky. Because this movie is not the type that start from the start and end in the end (What am I even saying?). In fact Predestination has no start or an end but though at a glance it does not make any sense it makes a lot of sense once it’s done. Predestination could be one of the best science fiction movies based on time travel and predestination paradox theory and it is truly mind boggling shocking piece. To be honest white it feels like Inception (2010) for a while it is standing inch shorter with Primer (2004). And nothing comes close to the feeling this leave you with once your struck by some completely unexpected ending.

There is no easy way to explain the plot of Predestination. But let me try. An agent who works for a top secret time travelling agency has the challenge to stop a serial bomber who made devastating damage back in 1970s. In one of his crucial visits to the 70s he meets a man who has a very shocking yet interesting story to tell. While this story makes no sense to one person it makes perfect sense to the other.

Obviously the time travelling related theories are pretty complex. And movie makers have come up with lot simpler versions themselves in the name of entertainment. Whatever it is most time travel based movies are quite interesting to watch but hard to explain as such. Predestination is one of those hard to explain type and it is ok to say that it’s different to the usual bunch. Based on a short story “All You Zombies” back in 1958 the Spierig Brothers who directed Predestination has done a fascinating job at it. The sheer style of storytelling makes this movie somewhat unique for a sci fi and takes more of a dramatic approach for a good deal of time. Though more action could have being awesome I’m glad it doesn’t go gun happy like Looper (2012) which again is one of the successful mind bending time travel based sci fi action flick. But the sheer amount of suspense and twists in Predestination make you forget any action for that matter and takes you in a more serious journey through time.

My only worry is the lengthy scenes that take place in a bar that at times feel unfit to be in a sci fi viewing it as a fan of sci fi. But taking the movie as a whole if you managed to get through that phase you will realize that it has a crucial part in making the whole plot up so steady though some of it can be reduced to shorted sizes. It seems like directors were keeping the best for later so patience maybe a good idea.

Finally keeping a note about performances and cinematography both are very well made. Ethan Hawk who plays the time travelling agent does a fine job at it but the real talent is with Sarah Snook who plays the other character. You will not be impressed of both performances instantly but once the show goes knee deep things will looks different. All in all Predestination is a must watch for Sci Fi fans and certain psychological thriller hungry fans.

Genre: Sci Fi | Thriller

Directors: The Spierig Brothers

-Priyantha Bandara

Lucy (2014): Ratings – Genre 3.5/5, Overall 3/5

Based on one of the most commonly believed yet scientifically bogus myth, Lucy builds a truly mind shattering experience which at one point science and mythology becomes one and entertainment emerges. The steady build up of the plot along with the interesting narrative explanation of facts (most of the time is not true but feels like real) and the mix of well executed action sequences makes Lucy a sci fi action hybrid flick that can either go north or south for the fans.

Lucy a carefree students life instantly change when she forcefully turned to a drug mule to a ruthless drug organization. But when the new drug mixes with her system by accident her brain utilization reaches a record high. With her newly discovered mind-body capacity Lucy sets to make things right while she can.

Lucy is not the first movie that worked on the theory of the small percentage of common brain usage. Limitless (2011) did a wonderful job with it and the plot somewhat similar to Lucy when it comes to drug boosting brain activity. However Lucy takes a unique approach at it’s story telling and combined with the appearance of Scarlett Johansson it become more interesting. I don’t think there is a movie fan who don’t like to see Johansson in tight skirts holding two guns and with a heavy does of drugs in her system!

While Lucy is entertaining and provides lot of theories, insights and visually delighting scenes back to back there are many places it doesn’t stand out that well. The most obvious one is the lack of science though Lucy profoundly places it self as a science fiction. What the director Luc Besson has done is picking up a myth and converting it to scientific terms but not scientifically proving a fact. All of the rest is assumptions and eye candy. But the viewers are effortlessly made to overlook the facts and believe in the movie (Just like “Gravity” did so well in 2013) and get involved in the twisted reality. In terms of doing that Lucy is a success. But if it was based more on science based theories than mythology it would have being great. And Lucy is a reminder that not all movies can be like Matrix.

Genre: Sci Fi | Action

Director : Luc Besson

-Priyantha Bandara

Thanha Rathi Ranga (2014) – Rating 4/5

For Sri Lankan movie fans it takes a while for a true artistic movie to dawn. In a country where art has many limitations creativity comes with a cost, where as in other regions of the world its limits are far wider and fruitful. And most of the instances the creators were neglected or banished than being commended for their work.  Making a movie that people speaks about in an atmosphere like this is indeed a tricky task and I believe Nilendra Deshapriya has managed to jump through the hoops and squeeze in between the slippery slopes to bring this beautiful movie to light. And movies like Thanha Rathi Ranga is seldom seeing here therefore can be called as a rare gem.

The movie speaks of a rather commonly experienced theme in recent years, the post war Sri Lanka yet manages to pull off a unique plot based on a solid start. 3 friends from the Colombo low income urban community area sets off on a trip of sight seeing to North and East of the country after the end of war. The plot thickens from a fun filled road trip to a suspense ride when they discover something unexpectedly that creates turmoil and showing signs in scattering walls of friendship. And the turn of events after their return to home sets them on a dark and uncertain path of misery.

What catches the viewer at the beginning is the brilliance in cinematography. The movie swiftly shifts from narrative news footage and live street action more than once bringing in perfect harmony between the turn of events on the victory day. And the director skillfully create base for certain events quickly yet effectively within the first 15 minutes of the movie and then gradually moves down a road which is more entertaining than dramatic for a while. But the viewers having the situation in Colombo and the events in back of their minds eagerly waits till the show returns home and it takes a while to do that. But the fluctuation between these layers is smoothly made and the movie flawlessly moves from phase to phase. And each of these phases has a mood of their own and by the time the movie reaches it’s peak the moment of enlightenment is reached with a strike of pain. The concerned viewer will lament in the things that unfolds yet realizes that the damages were caused by things which could have being easily avoided.

Thanha Rathi Ranga has a strong script. It speaks few words yet convey deeper messages along the way. And certain scenes are made excessively powerful with small details and careful attention was given creating them. Scenes such as the handicapped solder crossing the road while the people rejoice in the name of victory is merely a true justification to the bitter truth of war and it horrific claims. Use of signs is prominent throughout the movie and these signs can be seeing in the forms of lifeless statues or living animals but they equally makes enough sense and ads depth to the story. And the last five minutes of the movie is kind of a psychological tease that solely dependent on the viewers comprehension towards the whole story and it can be interpreted in many different ways based on the individual perception. These small yet beautiful mix of little elements pumps life to Thana Rathi Ranga so well that there is lot for the viewer to ponder upon after the ending titles roll. 

Finally it is a must to commend the brilliance in performances or else this write up will be somewhat flawed. Thanha Rathi Ranga has some of the most powerful yet natural of performances that recent local cinema has seeing. These characters instantly manage to grab the viewer and transform them selves in to prominent places of viewers’ minds and even the minor rolls were given equal attention to details. The beauty of these performances mixed with the script unravels a fresh experience on the screen and Sinhala cinema is nourished with one more wholesome movie to its credit.

Genre : Drama

Director :Nilendra Deshapriya

Country : Sri Lanka

Language : Sinhala

- Priyantha Bandara

Chunking Express (1994): Rating 4.5/5

Maybe the most bewildering thing about Kar Wai Wong movies is that, they seem too normal while you watch it but once done they start to haunt you. And they are overly narrative and sometimes overly expressive in minor elements of the plot yet not so detailed and mysterious about some of the far deep and seem to be important areas. And it seems like the director intentionally hide certain things from the viewers and viewers are left to go through a journey of discovery them selves if they want more answers than the ones are obvious. Yes strikingly more answers we find more things left to ponder. Chunking Express is such mysteriously touching piece of artistic cinema that boils down to a very simple yet very complicated story about everyday people.

The story is woven around two Hong Kong cops. At a glance they both share certain similarities as characters and circumstantially and losing their girl friends is one of the prominent ones. Chunking Express deals with their emotional despair and hope as they struggle to overcome the uncertainty and the loneliness they feel in their post relationship recovery period. The beauty of the script is that these two characters have no intention to overlap yet but only to connect deep down in the observance of the viewer.

Chunking Express expresses it self-using narratives. And these narratives in the form of thoughts of the characters who speaks to them selves are very powerful and strangely unique. When you listen to them closely it opens up a variety of emotions filled pathways in to the characters life. The viewers get to explore these characters who at times are bold but most of the time mysterious in their own ways. And the director builds these characters and their behaviors in to a certain point where they become strangely familiar after sometime but the viewers deep down knows that they are not. But follow their lead in their journey of sorrowful uncertainness.

The director very effectively uses cinematographic elements such at colors, camera movements and angles along with strong symbolism to build the plot. And just like his later work In the Mood for Love (2000) he uses music that is very character centric over and over again until it becomes a habit. Here he uses the classic California Dreaming by The Mamas & The Papas and blend it so well with the story by the time movie the ends it is so prominent as characters them selves. Maybe the most binding component the viewers unknowingly fall for is the ever-natural performances and the chaotic style of story telling. Though how simple the character or the events look at a glance it is not so uncommon for the viewer to struggle moment to moment to realize the depth they represent.

Chunking Express is a well-written and skillfully directed cinema by the renowned moviemaker Kar Wai Wong. His signature style is all over it and for anyone who is brave enough to experience it will discover the world in a unique way. Perhaps one of the most beautiful things about this movie is that you hardly notice that it touched you until you are left alone to ponder about it. And this moment of realization can happen anytime without an early warning. The trick is not to rush it.

Original title: Chung Hing sam lam

Language: Cantonese

Country: Hong Kong

Genre: Drama | Romance

Director: Kar Wai Wong

-Priyantha Bandara

The Purge Anarchy (2014): Ratings – Genre 3.5/5, Overall 2/5

For being a movie based on an utterly dismissible theory it’s something to ponder upon how this is actually pulled off. To be honest thought how dum it sounds I was hanging on to it and wanted to witness it till the end and even at the end it made some sense and it’s crazy. Maybe I should be purged!! And I must say that I have not seeing the predecessor of The Purge Anarchy there for I have no way of comparing it with this one. But strangely bit familiar in the same lines of The Hunger Games, this one does a decent job being more realistic and close to home.

In not so distant future the US government has found a mechanism to keep its population and crime rate in control. The annual purge that last a 12 hour period let the civilians to let out their rage and cleans themselves. And in this period all crimes including murder is accepted by low. The story of a former low enforcement agent looking for revenge from previous years purge and few civilians who he happen to tag alone and their combined effort of surviving through the purge night is what The Purge Anarchy is all about.

Like I mentioned at the start the whole plot seems absurd. Yet the whole time we are left to believe it so strongly and confidently after sometime it will sink right in. And from that point the viewer will go through the horrific journey of survival along with the characters and corner to corner there is some new experience wait. And unexpectedly The Purge Anarchy does not cross its limits with being too gory or violent. It operates within a certain discipline and this makes the journey somewhat pleasant than road paved with flesh and blood. And the good twists that comes out of nowhere does a decent job and spicing things up.

While The Purge Anarchy is a horrific thriller from the surface it does have an underlying message that is well put together. A certain hope of humanity is emerging from the brutal actions of the rulers and the story manages to shine it to give some hope for the god forbidden future.

Director: James DeMonaco

Genre: Horror | Crime | Thriller

-Priyantha Bandara

Two Faces of January (2014): Ratings – Genre 3/5, Overall 2.5/5

Though this movie has a promising plot and really good cinematography and twists built along, the uninteresting climax and the flat ending makes this a mediocre romantic thriller once over. However, due to the fact that it’s interesting point to point the fans will expect bigger things to come and hang on till the end. But the problem is most of those big things does not happen and it kind of leave you with a disappointment than satisfaction.

When an Athens based American tour guide gets to know a travelling couple from his home country he didn’t realize that they are fleeing from sins made back at home. To make things worse his interest towards the wife fuels his desire to help them in their needs and ultimately make him a part of a vicious crime.

The first half of the movie is quite interesting. The viewer is left to ponder often and the events gradually build with good confidence. The face of a thriller is quite well built and amidst of that signs of a romantic tale emerges. However when the movie passes half way it becomes little stagnant and the thrill take different directions. At one point it is hard to determine where the story goes with the romance as there is not enough prominence for it. And with some unexpected turn of events the romantic story is fully blown away and soon after it moves quickly to another zone. However all this is not entirely working against the taste of Two Faces of January, but it certainly ads some bitterness. 

I don’t think there is room for any actor to become exceptionally good here. All of them have a role to play but that role is limited in their scopes and nothing not seeing before. This movie will leave the viewer with certain emptiness.  While some of it is due to the mood the movie express and majority of it is because it let down a classy ending.

Director: Hossein Amini

Genre: Drama | Thriller

-Priyantha Bandara

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014): Ratings – Genre 5/5, Overall 4/5

Matt Reeves’es vision of science fiction is different to many. His movies take emotions in to count than the pure side of the movies scientific nature. This is well proven with his earlier movies like Cloverfield (2008) and Let Me In (2010). And now he teams up with the writers of Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) and brings this much improved and very successful sequel, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and it is magnificent. Right from the very beginning to the last scene this movie will take you through an emotional journey of man and ape alike and puts you in a tight spot as a human to determine the fate of things to come and decide write and wrong.

Ten years after the pandemic decease humans are at the brink of extinction. The apes who have survived lives in the woods formed up massive crowds and a form of civilized living. But when the humans bring war to the Apes door step and Apes leadership is questioned, the battle rages.

The very first thing that will blow the minds of the viewer is how insanely good looking this movie is. Thanks to the astounding works of the computer graphics and set creation the green rainy forest and the abandoned dying city both look absolutely realistic. And when the thought provoking plot is mixed up with ultra-realistic expressions of the apes this movie can sink right down in to you. And speaking of the plot it’s carefully written to give the viewer a very good perception of things occurring and the flow is very good.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes as a story is completely far-fetched and it is amazing how it works this well. But if you’re expecting more and more battles of large scale and less talk (or sigh language) then it might disappoint you a bit. But never forget that battles are never justifiable without the correct amount of emotions. And here the wait for the final battle is worth every bit of drama and once you realize that the world will never be the same again for Apes and Humans both there is slight hope left for both. And amazingly you might wish that apes will find their peace once again. Make your own judgment of who’s to be blamed, us or our ancestors.

Genre: Action | Drama | Sci fi

Director: Matt Reeves

-Priyantha Bandara

Begin Again (2014) – Ratings: Genre 4.5/5, Overall 4/5

John Carney the director who bought us the beautiful musical “Once” back in 2006 has offered a true piece of romantic movie again that touches the senses. And it’s filled with breathtakingly mesmerizing music one after the other and the charmingly graceful performances by Keira Knightley and Mark Rufalo. And when all of those combined with a lovely storyline that sinks right in to fans heart how can a movie like this ever go wrong. And by far this is one of the best musical filled comedy dramas I can recall.

When Dan (Mark) a talented yet beaten up by life music agent desperately looking for new talent to get his life a jump start, accidently meets Gretta (Keira) a beautiful girl with a voice he was looking for. But convincing her to sign up to do an album was challenging enough for Dan as Gretta is about to leave town with a broken heart.

No doubt that pinnacle of Begin Again is its music. Five minutes down the movie it throws out a wonderful track that instantly grabs the viewer. And this moment becomes the central point of Dan meeting Gretta where it is visited couple of times via different storylines making its presence stronger. Starting from this song and the opening sequence the movie quickly yet steadily evolves in to something serenely beautiful and so does its music. The two key roles has their own independent storylines running alongside which fuels the main plot and the director has managed to beautifully blend everything together.

However Begin Again is bit far from reality though it covers its faults with a dramatic cloak and its charming performances and music. But to enjoy this movie the absolute reality factor is not something that’s really required. And honestly compared with often seeing cheesy romantic dramas that pops up like mushrooms these days Begin Again is a modern wonder.

Genre: Drama | Comedy | Romance

Director: John Carney

-Priyantha Bandara 

Boyhood (2014) | Ratings: Genre 5/5, Overall 5/5

If you ask me if I have seeing a movie like Boyhood before I would definitely answer yes. But if you ask me what does Boyhood has in common with all those other similar movies, I would say very little. Because Boyhood is a magnificent creation as life itself than being just another movie.  Boyhood surpasses all movies in same genre and reaches a pinnacle of realism that as viewers we get astonishingly surprised of. It seems as if our own lives has being put on to a movie and some way or the other you feel that this movie is connected to you so deeply and you get so attached to it. The simple reason why it is so is because Boyhood is a project that spans 12 years in the making and us the viewers get to witness the same set of cast age a decade and it is nothing we have ever seeing before in a movie. We have seeing stories span across long time periods but non what so ever was this natural and emotional.

The lead of Boyhood is a 5 year old boy Mason (Ellar Coltrane) who lives with his mother and sister. His father who is separated come to visit occasionally and this routine visits and the phases of Masons’ life as growing up to become a teenager with his mother in control of the household is the story of Boyhood. As a story Boyhood has no heavy surprises or shocking moments just like most dramas of this sort has. It’s very simple yet gradually moving and clearly shows how Masons’ perceptions and attitude towards life evolves as he grows up. Boyhood is nearly three hours long in duration but for me it is still too short. These three hours packs 13 years of a boys’ life and it is so refreshing to witness how his life go through different phases and each of these phase has its own tragedies and beauties.

The other 3 main casts Patricia Arquette (Mom), Lorelei Linklater (Samantha the sister) and Ethan Hawk (Dad) simultaneously adds in to the changing time and their own struggle of survival within this 13 year spanning story which is also very well constructed. In that sense this movie can be easily centered upon any of these 3 characters as well and still will be very much appealing. But still the viewers can follow the story from several angles while engaging with the main story line of Mason and that I think is one of the many strengths of Boyhood over other coming of age movies. Yes, Boyhood is not aggressively centered upon a single storyline.

Boyhood is not cheesy or over dramatic or forces the viewer to get involved with it. But it somehow manages to keep the viewer engaged and when it’s over you wish there were more. Life goes on.

Genre: Drama

Director: Richard Linklater

-Priyantha Bandara

22 Jump Street (2014) Ratings: Genre 4/5, Overall 3/5

I honestly don’t think that this movie requires any introduction to any of you who are fans of Hollywood comedies. This is the second installment of one of the most successful and talked about comedy 21 Jump Street back in 2012. And this is clearly an improvement to the sequel and seldom have we got to witness a comedy that evolves for better. While the story is almost the same to the previous one just as the movie want it to be the clear new addition is the emotional bond that hilarious lead duo fantastically portray.

Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) is back with a new assignment to bust some emerging new drug by going undercover in college. But when Jenko accidently joins the college football team and meets up new guys to hang out with Schmidt finds himself left out. To make things worse his new found college girlfriend’s family becomes hostile.

22 Jump Street is filled with belly tickling humor. And they come in most strange place with most strange disguises and sometimes it takes a while to stop laughing. But for any who have seeing the previous movie this is no surprise and it’s exactly what they would require. This time the movie goes a bit further and brings in some action comedy to fit the bill along with extended college comedy. Clearly the undercover investigation is bigger and the bad guys too that bring in a grand showdown at the end. Jonah and Tatum are just perfect in their roles and it’s quite a surprise how such chemistry exist in between these completely opposite actors.

It is a must that I keep a note of the ending credits as this could be the most creative and clearly the toughest to make ending credits I can recall. It last for some time and will blow the fans away with makeup, CG and surprising guest starring.

Genre: Comedy

Director:  Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

- Priyantha Bandara

Million Dollar Arm (2014): Ratings – Genre 3/5, Overall 2.5/5

Sports movies come in all ages, speeds, throws and color. And most of them are very entertaining and satisfying and more than anything they are emotionally inspirational. Every year at least there is one sports movie that makes big news and I don’t know if Million Dollar Arm is that movie so far. However this movie makes a real mark as it has a different mood and a flavor than any of the previously famous sports themed movies. The reality show and south Asian flavor combo is indeed something beautiful to see on the screen.

JB (Jon Hamm) is a sports contractor who is desperately looking for a talent to sign up as his company is reaching no fruitful businesses for some time. After failing in a raw he comes up with a brilliant idea of seeking for talent in far India. Pushed for unrealistic deadlines from his investors, JB launch his Million Dollar Arm reality show campaign in India seeking for the fastest pitcher for Baseball in a country which Baseball has no  significant value.

The first quarter of the movie looks and feels familiar. A failed agent looking for a strong comeback is not the freshest of ideas out there. But as the story evolves it reaches untested territories and after sometime it reaches a solid peak that holds the movie on a steady state. There is a cool down period somewhere in the middle which builds the stage for the emotionally strong events to take place afterwards. Being a movie which is based on true events the director has put some good effort to keep the fans entertained throughout. I can’t say I was bored at any stage of the movie though there are phases where it falls in to average.

Jon Hamm who is seldom seeing in movies but holds the title for one the most powerful TV characters of all time in Mad Men brings in energy to JB’s character. The movie evolves around JB but the rest of the characters even how important and strong they are is not given enough attention as I feel. This is a bit of a letdown as some characters especially the Indian boys could have being more prominent if they were introduced from the start of the movie which could have bought in more dramatic approach to the whole plot. But Million Dollar Arm is a very entertaining movie which of course the entertainment side is stronger than the sports side at times. So I will not call this as the best sports movie I have seeing but it’s a movies I enjoyed from the start to end. 

Genre: Drama | Sports
Director : Craig Gillespie

- Priyantha Bandara

Let’s be Cops (2014): Ratings – Genre 3/5, Overall 2/5

This common above averagely funny comedy movie is definitely uncommon when it comes to the theme it has chosen. Two 30 year old men who has got nowhere with life accidently realizes that impersonating as cops can gain them the recognition they so desperately required in their life. Though how crazy and fat fetched this idea sound the movie pulls off some crazy stunts keeping aside some obvious plot holes side. But as it is a comedy and all we want is to laugh no idea is a bad idea.

Let’s be Cops is not boring. It starts a little slower than most comedy movies but gradually develop to be crazy funny sometimes. But most of the time it remains normal other than some occasional lines which can make you laugh a bit more than the rest. The reason why I kept going was because I was curious to know where the story will lead and how well the movie can pull off the predictable scenes. And I found them to be quite entertaining but not exceptional.

Regarding the performances they are ok but none of them can really spark the humor as such. Maybe I was expecting 21 Jump Street out of this but the chemistry between those two does not exist here. Maybe it’s a weakness of the script too. But as a comedy for light minded viewing let’s be Cops is not bad at all.

Genre: Comedy

Director: Luke Greenfield

-Priyantha Bandara

Frontera (2014) : Ratings – Genre 3.5/5 , Overall 4/5

Frontera brings a story that more or less equally affects both sides of the US-Mexican border. Loss, lies, betrayal and pain has no borders and it does not favor a single color or a race. When illegal immigrants have reasons of their own to justify their actions the other sides justifies their actions too. This is a conflict and I believe that the movie has done fair for both ends. But the important message that Frontera brings is that humanity is at question and who will take responsibility to correct its path. 

The story evolve around two men one from Mexico who is illegally immigrating to America and the other who owns the land he trespasses through. When certain events take place where the Americans wife is collateral they both cross paths and lives change.  

Ed Harris who play the key role (Roy) in the American side and Michael Pena who is the Mexican end (Miguel) both brings in strong balance to the performances. Along with the acting and the fine cinematography and the flow Frontera brings in a different experience to different borders.

Beautifully acted and wonderfully directed Frontera by all means is a fine thriller with a taste of a drama. It strongly speaks of two sides of a same story and brings in a powerful conclusion yet still not biased. The director seems to have worked hard on the details and the flow as from start to end the movie is well gripping.

Genre: Drama | Thriller

Director: Michael Berry

-Priyantha Bandara