Before Sunrise (1995)

Director: Richard Linklater
Writers:  Richard Linklater, Kim Krizan
Cast:      Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy
A young man and woman meet on a train in Europe, and wind up spending one romantic evening together in Vienna. Unfortunately both know that this will probably be their only night together.

Its a great film and is based on a similar event that happened to the director Richard Linklater. The film was followed up 9 years later by 'Before Sunset' and another one is due out next year called 'Before Midnight'.

Rating: 4/5

The Rum Diary (2011)

Director: Bruce Robinson
Writers:  Bruce Robinson, Hunter S.Thompson
Cast:      Johnny Depp, Aaron Eckhart, Giovanni Ribisi
American journalist Paul Kemp takes on a freelance job in Puerto Rico for a local newspaper during the 1960s and struggles to find a balance between island culture and the expatriates who live there.

The film is based on the novel of same name by Hunter. Its directed by Bruce Robinson who came back after a long hiatus. Its a decent film and decent watch.

Rating: 3/5

The Shining (1980)

Director: Stanley Kubrick
Writers:  Stephen King, Stanley Kubrick
Cast:      Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd
A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where an evil and spiritual presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from the past and of the future.

Excellent performances from all the main cast with a standout performance from Jack Nicholson. I am not a fan of horror films but this is one of my favorite films.

Rating: 5/5

Funny Games (1997)

Director:    Michael Haneke
Writer:      Michael Haneke
Cast:         Susanne Lothar, Ulrich Muhe, Arno Frisch
Language: German
Two psychotic young men take a mother, father and son hostage in their vacation cabin and force them to play sadistic games with one another for their own amusement.

Its a spoof on horror films in the sense that what you expect from an horror film does not happen in this films and the conventions are broken. Brilliant film from Haneke.

Rating: 5/5

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

Director: Stanley Kubrick
Writers:  Terry Southern, Stanley Kubrick, Peter George
Cast:      Peter Sellers, George C.Scott, Sterling Hayden
An insane general starts a process to nuclear holocaust that a war room of politicians and generals frantically try to stop.

One of the best comedies of all time.

Rating: 5/5

Rogue Trader (1999)

Director: James Dearden
Writers:  James Dearden, Nick Leeson
Cast:      Ewan McGregor, Anna Friel, Yves Beneyton
One man's ambition causes one of the greatest financial disasters in history. 

Script is quite poor but Ewan McGregor is very good in his role as Nick Leeson whose trades led to the collapse of Barings Bank. Its a watchable film for those who are interested in his story.

Rating: 2.5/5

30 Minutes or Less (2011)

Director: Ruben Fleischer
Writer:   Michael Diliberti
Cast:      Jason Eissenberg, Danny McBride, Nick Swardson
Two fledgling criminals kidnap a pizza delivery guy, strap a bomb into his chest, and inform that he has mere hours to rob a bank or else...

Its from the director of 'Zombieland' and by its standard its a major disappointment. Merely watchable.

Rating: 2/5