Babel

EVERY so often a film comes along that shakes you to the core, transcending its cinematic format to say something brutally honest about the human condition.
The third instalment in a vague trilogy by director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarittu, Babel is the first movie in quite some time to come within a cat's whisker of such a feat.
Babel is the far-flung story of a poor Moroccan man who buys a rifle to protect his goats.
Entrusting the weapon to his sons, tragedy soon strikes when the reckless boys start taking pot shots at a passing coach.
Unaware of the danger, an American tourist is in the unintentional firing line and is hit by a stray bullet.
This accident has consequences throughout the globe and propels a group of people into a sequence of tragic events, which also gives the audience a unique insight into each of their lives.

The troubled American couple must take refuge in a dangerous Moroccan village and suffer the selfish whims of the other tourists who want to get back to their hotel.
Meanwhile, a nanny is crushed between her obligations to look after the couple's children for one more day as well as attending her son's wedding in Mexico.
On the other side of the globe, a Japanese man struggling to connect with his deaf-mute daughter is quizzed about his link with the gun used in Morocco.
This arc of the story has been criticised for only holding a tenuous link with the core plot and perhaps this holds some weight.
But this becomes irrelevant when the film is able to portray so excellently the frustrations, loneliness and isolation a deaf person could feel.
This is a hard-hitting film that will stay with you long after you leave the cinema and the last scene is absolutely haunting.

Smokin' Aces

IT'S 15 years since Tarantino burst onto the silver screen yet his indelible mark on modern cinema is still making its impact today.
Smokin' Aces is just one in a long series of copycat films that try to replicate the Tarantino formula but fall down flat.
The movie is about a Las Vegas performer-turned-snitch called Buddy Israel (Jeremy Piven) who decides to testify against the mob.
It then becomes a race against time as FBI agents try to protect their key witness while various assassins attempt to kill the snitch for a hefty sum.
Expect a gang of neo nazis, a pair of black hit-women and a master of disguise among many others who all face off against each other to get to the hit and the ensuing carnage is definitely the film's highlight.

Come the final half hour, the movie builds into its inevitable crescendo and, as the bullets start to fly, the death count starts to rise in some scenes, which are a little reminiscent of True Romance's epic and classic shootout.
In fact, it is fair to say that Smokin' Aces has some nice touches but it quickly becomes apparent that stylisation, clever editing, sharp dialogue and a star-studded cast have all taken precedence over a clear and coherent plot.
Put simply, writer-director Joe Carnahan was trying too hard and was not quite ready to graduate from the school of Tarantino.
Better luck next time.

Rocky Balboa

PAYING good money to watch a 60-year-old get pummelled by a man half his age just doesn't seem right does it?
It's all too easy to have this misconception of Rocky's final bout on the silver screen and admittedly those were my feelings when a friend dragged me along to the cinema.
Because, however unlikely it sounds, boxing plays second fiddle to the characterization in this sixth instalment of the Rocky opus.
Much time has passed since Rocky last left the ring and the retired champion now runs a popular restaurant.
However, Rocky's mind still lingers in the past and accompanied by his brother-in-law Paulie he drives around all the hotspots that used to mean so much to him.
Following the death of his wife, his dwindled boxing career and his troubled relationship with his son, the ex-champion feels washed out and some scenes have a convincing air of gloom to them.

When Rocky sees his opportunity to have another shot at the big time he is initially reluctant but eventually views it as something he has to do to redeem himself in his own eyes.
What's great about this film is that it works well when, by rights, it really shouldn't. Sequels like this are often little more than commercial venture to cash in on a popular franchise.
But in this case, Stallone has never been on better acting form and lends Rocky an effortless grace.
And, although perhaps predictable, the ending is a satisfying finale to a slice of Hollywood history.

Night at the Museum

LIGHTWEIGHT family comedies might not be the first cinematic choice for many people but this film sets the right tone for just after the festivities.
Night At The Museum tells the story of everyman Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) who must get some work fast in order to stop himself getting evicted and prevent disappointing his son for the umpteenth time.
Running out of options, Larry begrudgingly accepts a job as night watchman at the museum of natural history and soon realises that all is not as it seems.
It is a necessary but dull plot that sets the events into motion but is a bit frustrating when you're just itching for the action to start.
But when it does kick in it's an absolute feast for the eyes with everything in the museum, great and small, coming to life in a computer-generated spectacle.
Expect a skeleton tyrannosaurus, Attila the Hun, a tiny Roman Empire, Teddy Roosevelt and a miscreant monkey all running amok as Larry struggles to survive and do his job.
It is almost reminiscent of 1995's Jumanji but with more quirky humorous charm thanks to an outstanding, eclectic cast. Most noteworthy is Diagnosis Murder legend Dick Van Dyke as retiring night watchman as well as a sterling performance by Steve Coogan as Roman Emperor.
Ricky Gervais also makes an appearance as museum manager but his role is fleeting and a little disappointing.
Overall, Night At The Museum is too formulaic and fizzles out towards the end but younger viewers will really enjoy it.

Flushed Away

WITH Christmas looming, anything that can divert your energies away from thoughts of presents is a welcome distraction and Flushed Away is just the ticket.
Animation is becoming the fashionable thing in this digital era and, once again, a children's film has been created that will entertain the whole family.
After all, the movie is by the brilliant Aardman Animations who brought us Wallace and Gromit, so immediately you know you are in safe hands.
Flushed Away is the story of an upmarket pet rat called Roddy living in Kensington who ends up getting flushed down the toilet.
In the sewers, Roddy must learn a new way of life. He meets a love interest called Rita and gets tangled up with some rather nasty gangster rats and frogs.

In a whirlpool 90 minutes, Roddy gets the girl and saves the sewer from destruction at the hands of arch nemesis The Toad (reminiscent of Danger Mouse's Baron Greenback) and learns a valuable, if predictable lesson about true happiness.
What's strong about the film is that it has a distinctly British charm thanks to its production values and storyline. Add to that the usual Hollywood glaze and it has the best of both worlds.
It is also complemented with a well-balanced cast with stars like Hugh Jackman and Kate Winslet, Hollywood heavyweights like Sir Ian McKellen and Bill Nighy, and smaller British talent like Shane Richie and Kathy Burke.
What's disappointing, however, is that Flushed Away has little in the way of adult references to raise a wry smile on the faces of the older audience but, with a fairly compelling core plot, this can be forgiven.

Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny

IN a world of hard-edged Hollywood hits, it's good to know there are still a few movies out there that don't take themselves too seriously.
And The Pick of Destiny is a prime example of throwing out the rulebook in favour of a more hare-brained approach.
Taking the form of a musical, the story follows the path of a young Jack Black who leaves his repressive family to form a band in Hollywood.
There he meets Kyle Gass who initiates him into the world of rock and, before you know it, they are on a quest to find a magical guitar pick crafted from the Devil's tooth. After all, the Devil is the god of heavy metal!
Admittedly, the storyline is absolutely absurd but this is excusable when it sets the film up for some hilarious scenes.
It is also quite refreshing that the movie never pretends to be something it's not.
The producers know this is lowbrow and celebrate this.
However, what's best about this film is the brilliant Tenacious D music integrated seamlessly into the story.
What's more Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl plays the Devil and performs a rock-off' against Tenacious D in what becomes a sly nod to the musical prowess of Grohl, who is arguably the prince of rock himself.
Add to that cameos by Meatloaf, Ben Stiller and Tim Robbins and you're all set for a film, which is far from perfect but great fun nonetheless.
And with Tenacious D fans expected to flock to the cinema, we may have another sleeper hit well on the way.

Borat! Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

FOLLOWING in the footsteps of the infamous Ali G, Kazakhstan's greatest export, Borat Sagdiyev, has finally made his long-awaited debut to British cinema.
And although the spoof eastern journalist has caused controversy for his outrageous depictions of Kazakhstani life, the humour was of a satirical quality that rose way above its detractors.
Created by Cambridge graduate Sacha Baron Cohen, Borat was originally a peripheral character in Cohen's Ali G Show who rose to instant popularity among the fans.
Learning his lesson from the appalling Ali G film, Cohen's new movie sticks to the tried and true formula of the TV show and expands the principal for the silver screen.

On a quest to enrich the culture of Kazakhstan, the Government sends roving reporter Borat to visit America. Taking a largely unrehearsed documentary feel, director Larry Charles (of Seinfeld fame) follows the fearless Cohen around as he throws himself among the blissfully unaware American public. Kazakhstan may not be happy about Borat but it is America that is the real victim here, exposing an ugly xenophobic side to its culture.
For example, there is a shocking Rodeo scene when Borat exclaims that George Bush should "drink the blood of every man, woman and child in Iraq," to rapturous applause from the audience.
Unfortunately, the movie occasionally falters into the farcical such as the awful naked wrestling scene and the film also wanes towards the end. However, if you fancy a dig at America under the subtle veneer of a brilliant comedy, then this is for you.