FilmFlashes.com Blog

Matt Damon adds credibility to this Iraq war film as an Army officer who must figure out a way to combat the constant stream of bad intelligence.

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Katherine Bigelow’s precision direction brings home the tension and energy of Bravo Company, the elite bomb diffusing unit in Iraq.   With the focus on the adrenaline driven staff seargeant (Jeremy Renner) and his explosive techies (Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty) viewers are given a gritty glimpse of the personal and mechanical dynamics of war in [...]

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Israeli writer/director, Ari Folman explores the psychological impact of Israeli participation in the first Lebanese war through original, repetitive animated drawings.

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Liev Schreiber and Daniel Craig are a dynamic duo, playing the oldest Bielski brothers, Zus and Tuvia , who despite their philosophical differences worked together to save close to 1200 Jews from extermination by providing save harbor in the forest outside of Poland. Director, co-writer Edward Zwick presents power packed realism, interspersed [...]

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Advanced analytical skills are a prerequisite to understanding this Mideast political espionage thriller dominated by a hefty Russell Crowe and sleekly stealth Leonardo DiCaprio.
Please share your opinion regarding Film Flashes movie review of Body of Lies.

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Ben Stiller’s over the top Vietnam War spoof utilizes the comedic talents of himself (Stiller) as the Ramboesque hero whose sequels are past their prime, Robert Downey Jr. as an Australian actor who goes deep into his African American character, Brandon T. Jackson as Alpa Chino, rapper/promoter for an energy drink called “Booty [...]

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Russian filmmaker, Sergei Bodrov utilizes authentic locations, and a healthy smattering of Mongolian actors in this epic film of Genghis Khan’s rise to power. Young Temudjin (Odnyam Odsuren) and his (adult) first lady Borte (Khulan Chuluun) stand out in their authenticity as well as Japanese leading man Tadanobu Asano as adult Temudjin and Chinese [...]

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Writer/director, Stefan Ruzouwitzky masterfully crafts Adolf Burger’s book for the big screen in the Austrian Oscar winner. Ruzouwitzky avoids stereotypes in his portrayal of a group of Jews assigned to an elite division in Sachsenhausen to produce bankable English pound notes to finance the failing German war effort. Karl Markovics, [...]

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While the poetic style of Khaled Hosseini’s novel doesn’t translate to the screenplay, we are truly touched by the two young Afghan boys (Zekeria Ebrahimi and Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada) whose relationship is the basis of this bio/drama.
Please share your opinion regarding Film Flashes movie review of The Kite Runner .

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Tom Hanks credibly steps out of character to play the womanizing Texas congressman who influenced US policy in Afghanistan in the 80’s. The cast chemistry keeps an otherwise modest story line in sync, with Philip Seymour Hoffman as the brash CIA agent, Gust Avrakotos, Julia Roberts as Joanne Herring, [...]

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A shy young Chinese girl (Wei Tang) transforms herself into a sophisticated insider during the World War II Japanese occupation of Shanghai. Ang Lee’s lengthy political piece, also featuring Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Joan Chen lightens up on the heavy drama only occasionally to showcase explicit sex scenes that leave nothing to the [...]

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A jealous young girl (Saoirse Ronan) ruins her sister’s (Keira Knightley) happiness when she accuses a suitor (James McAvoy) of a crime he did not commit. Flash backs, set during WWII envelope audiences in confusing scenarios and while there is a moving interview/explanation delivered by Vanessa Redgrave, it comes too late to rescue viewers [...]

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Separate scenarios connected by a military maneuver in Afghanistan expolore the decisions that are made by civilians, soldiers, and politicians. Robert Redford, as a college professor, Meryl Streep, as a reporter interviewing a self-assured senator (Tom Cruise) play the talking heads that bring up relevant issues in sterile settings.

Please share your opinion regarding Film [...]

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