Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) (8/10)

A rather beautiful movie documenting strife as well as achievement, shades of kindness as well as depths of deceit while handling a very non-standard topic. True to the memoir in its name the story does not stray and does justice to the few characters portrayed. Powerful dialogues, often in the form of a few remarks, augment the visual beauty appreciably. The whole thing turns out to be a rather complex affair, but oh well.

Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) (8/10)

Om Shanti Om (2007) (7/10)

Despite being a Shahrush movie, its fun. He has overacted, especially in the first part, but that can be pardoned because he wants to be a movie star. And of course what better person to imitate than himself. In fact, one endearing thing about this movie is that it stars many big gums often in guest roles with most imitating themselves. Its healthy to see that people can laugh at themselves. It has many interesting self-refs, stories inside stories. Not quiet Mandelbrot set, but fairly close to one of ACT dialogue in GEB. In a way.

Om Shanti Om (2007) (7/10)

Mystic River (2003) (6/10)

Very well acted movie. One moment you feel you know who did it and the next you are convinced it can not be that person. It does not matter in the end. It starts with three children playing together and sort of follows their life with a big jump in between. Three different types. The reason it goes down a bit for me is because it is rather like life. The ending, the people and all that. But if you like that kind of thing, you will like this.

Mystic River (2003) (6/10)

Syriana (2005) (5/10)

In the first half the movie jumps to too many locations. The action is chunky and the things that need to be filled in are too logical (though selfish). Though curtly acted out, the movie does not make that much of an impression because much of the stuff can be inferred if one keeps ones eyes open and looks around (in the real world). Perhaps for those who are not aware of the oily politics may find it worth watching.

Syriana (2005) (5/10)

Limited Manuski (1995) (4/10)

Horrible dialogue delivery (perhaps trying to imitate common people who are not trying to deliver dialogues) and sorry theme that neither goes anywhere nor takes you anywhere. At some point it seems they may be tackling socially relevant issues. But that seems to be only a guise in the end. Not even laughable.

Limited Manuski (1995) (4/10)

Inside Man (2006) (6/10)

A sleekly executed intelligent movie touching upon wolves in the folds of sheep, high level corruption and how to execute bank robberies (among other things) but not people. Some rather buggy (and hence) dumb parts are part of the game. Unnecessarily muddied by mixing post-episode interviews during the main execution. It makes you think, tense, but for not good reason.

Inside Man (2006) (6/10)