Tyrannosaur (2011)

Director: Paddy Considine
Writer:    Paddy Considine
Cast:      Peter Mullan, Olivia Colman, Eddie Marsan
Joseph, a man plunged by violence and a rage that is driving him to self-destruction, earns a chance of redemption that appears in the form of Hannah, a christian charity shop worker.

Film is set in North of England and was shot mainly in Leeds. Its a very bleak picture and the most pleasant scene in the film is a funeral sequence. Great performances from all concerned and a great directorial debut for Considine.

Rating: 5/5

Shame (2011)

Director: Steve McQueen
Writers:  Abi Morgan, Steve McQueen
Cast:      Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan, James Badge Dale
In New York city, Brandon's carefully cultivated private life-which allows him to indulge his sexual addiction-is disrupted when his sister Sissy arrives unannounced for an indefinite stay.

The film is very original with many of the story told expertly by the stares and expressions rather than dialog. There are several excellent long takes and the cinematography and editing are standout. Its a subtle character study but may not be to everyone's taste.

Rating: 4.5/5

Haywire (2011)

Director: Steven Soderbergh
Writer:    Lem Dobbs
Cast:      Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Michael Douglas
A black ops super soldier seeks payback after she is betrayed and set up during a mission.

Nice cinematography and good fights that are done realistically. Plot very weak and cliched and there is not enough going on to keep you interested.

Rating: 2.5/5

Wild at Heart (1990)

Director: David Lynch
Writers:  Barry Gilford, David Lynch
Cast:      Nicolas Cage, Laura Dern, Diane Ladd, Willem Dafoe
Young lovers Sailor and Lula run from the variety of weirdos that Lula's mum has hired to kill Sailor.

Its essentially a comedy film. There isn't much complexity to the plot like is usual in a Lynch film. Very enjoyable watch.

Rating: 4/5

The Insider (1999)

Director: Michael Mann
Writers:  Marie Brenner (article), Eric Roth, Michael Mann
Cast:      Al Pacino, Russell Crowe, Christopher Plummer
A research chemist comes under personal and professional attack when he decides to appear in a '60 Minutes' expose on Big Tobacco.

Exceptional performances, great camera work and soundtrack and all in all Michael Mann's best film. He manages to make a thriller out of what would have been a normal documentary material. Shame that the film didn't do well. Crowe should have got his oscar for this film.

Rating: 5/5

Mulholland Dr. (2001)

Director: David Lynch
Writer:    David Lynch
Cast:      Naomi Watts, Laura Herring, Justin Theroux
After a car wreck on the winding Mulholland drive renders a woman amnesic, she and a perky Hollywood-hopeful search for clues and answers across Los Angelesin a twisting venture beyond dreams and reality.

If you consider Lynch's 'Lost Highway', 'Inland Empire' and "Mulholland Drive', the latter is the most accessible and there is a coherent plot that the audience can interpret. In that sense this is the most satisfying experience you would get from Lynch if you are particularly keen on to have a coherent plot. The first part of the film was filmed as a pilot for ABC which they rejected. After getting further funding to turn it into a film, Lynch proceeded to shoot the remaining part. Film draws inspiration from Bergman's film 'Persona'.

Rating: 5/5

Carancho (2010)

Director:   Pablo Trapero
Writers:    Pablo Trapero, Alejandro Fadel, Martin Mauregui
Language: Spanish
In Argentina over 8,000 people die in traffic accidents every year. Behind each of these tragedies is a flourishing industry founded on insurance payouts and legal loopholes. In the backdrop this Argentine film tells the story of the relationship that develops between an ambulance chasing vulture (Ricardo Darin) and a drug addicted doctor (Martina Gusman).

Films manages to capture the environment in a brutal and realistic manner. The film is essentially a cliched in the sense that it has the typical love smitten corrupt character doing his last job before coming clean but things go awry. Still its a good film that manages to capture the corrupt system in celluloid.

Rating: 3.5/5