CinemaPat

Let me preface this by saying that I haven't yet read the books or seen the original Swedish films. I will have a full review of this version as it compares to the original films soon.

David Fincher (Fight Club, The Social Network) put together a tight and suspenseful film. I thought the acting was great, specifically from Rooney Mara who plays "the girl". She is phenomenal and one of the sexiest characters I've seen on screen this year. Daniel Craig was good, but didn't blow me away. He was still James Bond, but now with reading glasses. The pacing and script were wonderful, but I thought Fincher foreshadowed the ending and also felt that they should have re-arranged the conclusions a bit. There were a few story lines that came to a close at different times.....so when one ended you still had a couple more to get through. Unfortunately the first story line that comes to a close is the most intense one so the remaining time is kind of "meh" to the viewer since they invested so much emotion in the first storyline. Hope that makes sense. It was a great movie, but if you've seen the originals you may want to wait until this one goes to DVD/br. Full review to come.

In director Brad Bird's first live action film, "MI:GP" succeeds what it sets out to do. It is a tight action spy film with some great sequences and awesome gadgets. Brad Bird is the director of some truly excellent films; albeit they are animated, but great none the less. His films like "Ratatouille", "The Incredibles" and "The Iron Giant" were all wonderful animated films with a lot of heart and good direction. Bird has proved to this reviewer he has the skill for live action feature films.

"Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" brings us back to our hero Tom Cruise while he is locked up in a Russian prison. Of course the inevitable happens and he is broken out of jail in a really great opening sequence. Cruise and team assemble; their mission, prevent a nuclear launch. Unfortunately, their plans are curbed when the team is implicated in a massive bombing. The President decides to initiate "Ghost Protocol" which completely dismantles the "IMF" and paints Cruise and team as rogue agents. Their new mission, clear the IMF's name and save the world. Pretty basic stuff for a Mission Impossible movie.

Pretty basic, yes, but what a ride it is. First, I'd like to congratulate the scriptwriters on finally making a M.I. film with a tight and aggressive script. There was hardly a dull line in the entire movie. With the writers having primarily a television background they were able to get their points across quickly and effectively. Second, is of course the action sequences. Realistic, invigorating, suspenseful....just downright awesome. It is surely a fun ride and if you have a chance to see it in IMAX you will be blown away during the Dubai sequences. Location is another gem in this movie; Dubai, Russia, India are beautifully shot and give some very nice eye candy. But for me, the highlight were the gadgets and spy sequences, it wouldn't be a Mission Impossible film without great gadgets right!? Ghost Protocol doesn't disappoint. From gloves that stick to glass, visual projections and everything in between there is some really cool stuff in this film.

I can't go without commenting on Tom Cruise doing his own stunts. Regardless of what you think of him on a personal level, one has to admit him doing his own stunts was pretty incredible. There are some really hairy situations he gets into and I was very impressed he went the extra mile, I think it helped knowing he was actually doing the stunts while I was watching. I would say overall the acting was good, but not overly impressive. This isn't a drama film after all so I'm not taking any points away. Why would you go to a Mission Impossible movie for great acting? You go for the action, and if you keep that mindset, this film will be worth your time and money.

Australia has been a rising force in the international film market. Films such as "Wolf Creek" and "The Loved Ones" prove that Australia can churn out some gritty, violent and disturbing films. "Animal Kingdom" is no exception. This movie is a powerhouse of great film making with intense performances, impeccable direction and a brilliant script. You may find yourself thinking that you've seen this story before, but you've never seen it with the same intensity and emotion.

"Animal Kingdom" is at it's heart a coming of age story in a crime family. Joshua, played by James Frecheville, is a 17 year old recently orphaned kid who's family is a mixture of drug dealers and bank robbers. Joshua's mother dies in the beginning of the film from a drug overdose and the only option he has is to go live with his grandmother. Jackie Weaver stunningly plays Janine 'Smurf' Cody, the matriarchal grandmother running everything. As Joshua gets situated in his new home he begins to find he's in a very volatile situation. One that he has to decide whether to be a part of or not. A decision that will undoubtedly change his entire life.

This film is akin to Scorcese's masterpieces "Casino", "The Departed" and "Taxi Driver". Director, David Michôd emulated these films yet certainly made "Animal Kingdom" his own. As his first feature film, Michôd made it seem easy. The incredibly taut script left nothing to be desired. As in the Scorcese films I mentioned, the script was the key ingredient to make this film such a brilliant piece of work. Some crime drama's can get away with having a back story everyone knows, yet the script is sub par. "Animal Kingdom" is not only fresh but being from Australia it's impact is that much greater to American audiences.

Joel Edgerton made a lifelong fan for his performance here. He was chilling yet completely sensitive to the plight of his family and that of his sibling Joshua. Frecheville who plays Joshua, the scared orphan brother, is brilliant. His transformation is a wonder to behold, his delivery and expressions brought out real emotion in the character. The standout performance in this film has to be Jackie Weaver as Smurf the matriarch of the clan. Writer/Director Michôd wrote the part of Janine 'Smurf' Cody for Jackie Weaver in fact, thank God she accepted the role. She has mentioned in the radio program "Fresh Air" that her interpretation of the character provide that all the children were fathered by different men (criminals most likely). I think this allowed her to really dive into connecting to her kin in very different ways. She is by far the highlight of the film for me.

As a production the film succeeds. It's slow but detailed progression really allows the viewer to become attached to the characters and feel what they are feeling at any given moment. With a great soundtrack, gritty dark feel of the setting and brilliant acting, this one is an easy recommendation.