Secrets & Lies (1996)

Director: Mike Leigh
Writer:    Mike Leigh
Cast:      Timothy Spall, Brenda Blethyn, Phyllis Logan
A successful black woman traces her birth mother to a lower-class white woman, who at first denies it; emotions run high as everyone's secrets are exposed.

Its another masterpiece from Mike Leigh. Much of the dialog is improvised by the actors who pull off tremendous performances. Even the minor characters are excellent.

Rating: 4.5/5

X-Men: First Class (2011)

Director: Matthew Vaughn
Writers:  AShley Miller, Zack Stentz
Cast:      Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Kevin Bacon
In 1962, the United States government enlists the help of Mutants with superhuman abilities to stop a malicious dictator who is determined to start world war 3.

Its another origins story in the line of 'Batman Begins' and 'The Rise of the Planet of Apes'. Its not as good as those films and the saving grace is the performances from the actors. The plot is silly and the effects didn't feel that special.

Rating: 2.5/5

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

Director: Rupert Wyatt
Writers:  Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Pierre Boulle (Book)
Cast:      James Franco, Andy Serkis, Frieda Pinto
During experiments to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease, a genetically enhanced chimpanzee uses its greater intelligence to lead other apes to freedom.

The apes and their story are handled with good emotions. The CGI and performance of Andy Serkis is great as Ceaser. The human characters lack depth and the initial experiment scenes are laughable. The last 30 minutes of the film is excellent. Overall its good but not nearly as good as its sequel 'Contagion', if you know what I mean:-)

Rating: 3/5

Z (1969)

Director:   Costa-Gavras
Writers:    Jorge Semprun, Costa-Gavras
Language: French
In Greece, following the murder of a prominent leftist leader, an investigator tries to uncover the truth while the government officials attempt to cover up their roles.

The film hasn't aged well. It lacks subtlety in terms of the agenda its projecting.

Rating: 2/5

Drive (2011)

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Writers:  Hossein Amini, James Sallis (Book)
Cast:      Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston
A Hollywood stunt performer moonlights as a wheelman discovers that a contract has been put on him after a heist gone wrong.

The film has a very simple story but it stands out by the way of its characters and their moods. Performances are great and the soundtrack is magnificent.

Rating: 3.5/5

Missing (1982)

Director: Costa-Gavras
Writers:  Costa-Gavras, Thomas Hauser (Book), Donald Stewart, John Nichols
Cast:      Jack Lemmon, Sissy Spacek, Melanie Mayron
When an idealistic writer disappears during the Right Wing military coup in 1973 Chile, his wife and American businessman father try to find him.

Film is supposedly based on a true story and doesn't degenerates into usual cliches. Performances are excellent.

Rating: 4/5

The Fortune Cookie (1966)

Director: Billy Wilder
Writer:    Billy Wilder
Cast:      Jack Lemmon, Walter Mathau, Judi West
A crooked lawyer persuades his brother-in-law to feign a serious injury to extract money from the insurance company.

This was the first on-screen collaboration between Lemmon and Mathau. Its a very good comedy film without a hollywood ending. The dialogues are witty and delivered in an old school way.

Rating: 4/5