Invictus
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
With: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon
79 year old Clint Eastwood delivers yet another critics’ beloved film, this time he tries his hand at rugby, hitting for gold with one of the most inspired stories in recent sports history. Struggling to make headway with mending a divided country, President Mandela (Morgan Freeman) fixes upon the idea of South Africa winning the 1995 Rugby World Cup to unite white and black. So he gives their captain, Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon), a call. This is the premise of the film. And with two A-listers in his cast, Eastwood is sure of success. I found it however stiff and disappointing, performances by the book but no heart in them. The whole production suffers from too much professionalism and too little touch.
Showing at: Movieplex Cinema Plaza, The Light Cinema, Hollywood Multiplex, Starplex, Cinema City Cotroceni
Triage (Ireland 2009)
Directed by: Danis Tanovich
With: Colin Farrell, Christopher Lee, Paz Vega
Written and directed by: Danis Tanovich who scored Oscar with his debut feature “No Man’s Land”, Triage follows war photographer Mark Walsh (Farrell) as he arrives home following a near-death experience in Kurdistan, with the bulk of the proceedings subsequently detailing his efforts at moving on with his life. With its crisscrossing time-shifting narrative, Oscar-winning directorial pedigree and the dramatic weight loss of a leading man, “Triage” seems, on the surface, like more than it actually is, ultimately being far too familiar and slight in its implications to resonate. It’s a smart film, boasting impressive performances but lacking something I cannot quite put my finger on. Maybe more visceral feel.
Showing at: Movieplex Cinema Plaza, Hollywood Multiplex, Cinema City Cotroceni
Leap Year
Directed by: Anand Tucker
With: Amy Adams, Mathew Goode
Once there was a classical movie called “It Happened One Night” and from there on, Hollywood has fallen in the same trap at least twice a year. And this is how a little jewel was turned into boring, silly, no-brain entertainment for sheep. The only thing one might have to say about “Leap Year” is that a wonderful actress in it: Amy Adams. She does try hard but Leap Year shows talent can’t redeem a truly uninspired script.
Showing at: Movieplex, Hollywood Multiplex, Cinema City Cotroceni
