Traffic (2000)

(Note: This film is part of my "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die" project of film reviews).



"No one gets away clean."

- Traffic

Recently, I had the chance to see this film again. This is definitely a powerful movie with an important message.

The basic concept of the film is about the war on drugs, who is involved and what the government is doing about it. What is interesting about the movie is that it shows not just one side of the story but many sides of the story.

We see the viewpoint of those involved on different levels of the law - the highest levels and lawmaker side (such as the role Michael Douglas portrays) and those at the lower levels on the law enforcement side (such as the role Don Cheadle portrays).

Even further, we see the viewpoint from those involved on the other side - the drug business itself. From the highest levels (such as the role played by Catherine Zeta Jones) to the lowest levels of the business - we see from different perspectives.

And, this movie is really about just that - perspective. We say there is a war on drugs. But, who are we really waging this war against?

We think the enemy is a drug warlord who is infiltrating our country and our future. But, the real enemy may not fit that profile. Maybe the real enemy is ourselves - it starts at home.

One of the most powerful quotes in the film was when Michael Douglas said, "If there is a war on drugs, then many of our family members are the enemy. And I don't know how you wage war on your own family."

(Note: For those who have seen the film, you'll know what I'm talking about).

I think this movie had a very strong message. One of the main characters (portrayed by Michael Douglas) thought the way to win the war on drugs was to shut these drug operations down and find those responsible. As the film progresses, we see him trying time and time again to attempt to stop it through the legal process by meeting with other lawmakers and law enforcement agencies.

What he found was this war has and will continue. And, while he was trying to fight the war on drugs - there was another war happening right at home. And, this involved his daughter who ironically became a drug addict.

This really showed him that to win the war on drugs was not external but internal - it starts at home. And, the only way we can win the war is through education and by paying attention to those who matter the most - family.

I think what made this film unique was the way it showed the different perspectives. And, as an audience it was interesting to see multiple sides of the story.

The way the entire film was shot was very interesting. It felt like a documentary style type of movie. And, the whole look of the movie changed when we saw things on the "Mexico" side versus the "U.S." side - it's very interesting.

Overall, I really enjoyed the movie. It is a very serious film on a very serious topic. The way the movie portrays different perspectives to bring it all together really makes it a powerful and brilliant film. At times, I found myself surprised - there are some twists and turns, it is not a predictable movie.

If you're in the mood for a drama type of movie with a powerful message, I highly recommend this one.

Film Gurl's 15 Minute Rule: PASS

Happy movie watching!

p.s. Feel free to leave comments on any post either here and/or my Facebook Page. Comments are always welcome, thanks for reading!



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Indie Film Spoof - "Toy Story 3: Inception"

Since it's Indie Movie Monday (#IndieMM), I thought I'd share with you this indie film spoof based on the movie. Enjoy!

(p.s. If you have a project(s) you'd like me to check out (i.e. fan trailer, short, spoof, animation, etc), feel free to contact me here or through my Facebook Page. I'm always on the lookout for fresh stuff from emerging filmmakers!)



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Movie Preview: Salt

With summer in the air, there's going to be a lot of action type films coming out. I'm really looking forward to seeing this film.

According to Wikipedia:

"Salt is an upcoming American action thriller film directed by Phillip Noyce, written by Kurt Wimmer and Brian Helgeland, and starring Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Jolie plays Evelyn Salt, who is accused of being a KGB sleeper agent, and goes on the run to try to clear her name. The film will have a panel at the San Diego Comic-Con on July 22 and will be released in North America on July 23, 2010, and August 20, 2010, in the United Kingdom."


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Thought I'd share this upcoming film with you. Check it out!

p.s. If you've joined my Facebook Page already, I just wanted to say "thanks" for your support. If you know anyone else who may have an interest in film and movies, feel free to send them over. Thanks!



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Inception (2010)

"Your mind is the scene of the crime."

- Inception

I was so excited to see this film, I caught it on the first day during an early show. As many who read this blog know, I've been waiting to see this movie for months. I'm glad I did - it definitely was worth the wait.

(Note: Before I go any further, I'd like to say that I'm going to be as abstract with this review as possible. For those who read my reviews, you know I do not like to go into too much detail as I don't want to ruin the film for you - I tend to focus more on the concepts and ideas rather than the description of the movie itself. As a moviegoer, I believe there should be somewhat of an element of mystery when going to view and watch movies).

I must say, Christopher Nolan (who directed the film) brilliantly portrayed this piece as a real mystery. Though, it was more than your typical mystery because the mystery had a twist. And, the twist was brilliantly hidden in pieces inside the mind.

What's even more astounding is the take in the film on the mind and our perceptions. We each perceive things in a different way, remember things we want to remember yet block out those things we don't want to remember. And, then that which we do remember becomes our reality - a reality with a twist.

Though this reality is simply an illusion, one which we want to remember and only causes us to see one side of the story. Yet, we know there are always two sides of the story. The side we want to see. And, the truth.

And, this brings us to the main character - Dominic Cobb (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), a man who chooses to remember what he wants to remember. And, in turn blocks out the things he does not want to remember. In essence, his reality becomes that which he chooses to remember - that which he chooses to see. And, that is what I refer to as "reality with a twist."

Without going into too much detail into the plot (as I feel telling the plot may ruin it for you), I will say this film is very much like this one - it deals with the same concept, the mind.

And, it goes on to show the power of the mind and it's ability to manipulate reality and in turn, manipulate the truth. The reality of what one believes then becomes the truth to that individual simply by believing.

So, the core of this movie really boils down to belief. And, it shows how powerful belief can be - it can hurt us and it can also set us free.

Depending on what our beliefs are, there is an element of reality that causes us to believe the things we believe. But, do our beliefs only exist in our mind? Or, is there a separate reality apart from us? What is real? And, what is in our mind?

Sometimes we can take what is in our mind too far. This movie depicts how the lines of fantasy and reality can start to cross and blur the distinction - it causes our fantasies to become our reality. And, when this happens - it can be dangerous and lead to destruction.

(Note: For those of you who saw the film, you'll know what I'm talking about here. It's very interesting how the lines of fantasy and reality were depicted in the movie. At times, it was almost as if the fantasy was the reality. But, we were only led to believe and see the fantasy, not the reality as we were not exposed to all sides of the story at times).

Since I'm a big fan of psychological thrillers and enjoy films that have to do with the mind and the perception of the mind, I can honestly say this movie was definitely worth it. I really liked how the story was told in pieces, we were given only bits of the puzzle as the movie progressed. And, at the end - all the pieces fit together. Or, so it seems. And, the ending is what makes this film so brilliant.

Overall, I really enjoyed this movie. This is one film that I'm going to see again. And, maybe a few more times. It's definitely a movie that intrigues me - one that I can watch over again for years to come.

If you're in the mood for a psychological thriller type film, I highly recommend this one.

Film Gurl's 15 Minute Rule: PASS

Happy movie watching!

(Note: For those of you who saw the film, I really liked how it ended. It really gave the audience a reason to think about the movie afterwards. I can honestly say, the way the movie ended definitely made me want to watch it over again - it was that powerful).

p.s. Feel free to leave comments on any post either here and/or my Facebook Page. Comments are always welcome, thanks for reading!



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Indie Film Trailer - The Land of Milk and Honey

Since it's Indie Movie Monday (#IndieMM), I thought I'd post up this indie film trailer, "The Land of Milk and Honey." Check it out!

"A teaser for the documentary: The Land of Milk and Honey (currently in the making)."

Note: For more info on the film, check out the website. Thanks for reading!

(p.s. If you have a project(s) you'd like me to check out (i.e. fan trailer, short, spoof, animation, etc), feel free to contact me here or through my Facebook Page. I'm always on the lookout for fresh stuff from emerging filmmakers!)



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Predators (2010)

"Fear is reborn."

- Predators

I've been really looking forward to this film based on the original movie series.

Since it was produced by Robert Rodriquez and his production company "Troublemaker Studios," I knew this movie would have a lot of action - it definitely did. And, it was worth it.

From the very first scene, it was action all the way. The first scene was pretty crazy. I don't want to ruin it for you, but let's just say it felt like a roller coaster ride.

Throughout the movie, it's almost as if you have to be alert at all times. There are many scenes that really jilted and surprised me as if I were in the scene itself. You never know if something is going to come out of nowhere or not. Watching the film was definitely an experience.

Regarding the film itself, I liked how it played true to the original movie. From the music to the overall look of the film, it really brought me back to the original "Predator."

Like the original, this film was set in a jungle like atmosphere. Though, there's a slight twist regarding the setting of the film. I don't want to ruin it for you, but let's just say it's not what you expect.

Speaking of expectations, this film really had a lot of twists and turns. There were a few scenes where I expected something to happen or not happen, and the movie really went in another direction. At times, I was surprised though pleased with the outcome of some of the scenes - it really did feel like a roller coaster ride.

I think Adrien Brody (who played one of the main characters) gave a really good performance. His character was another one that had a bit of a surprise - I thought I had him figured out. Though, there was a point in the film where his actions really surprised me. The same goes for a few of the other characters (I won't ruin it for you).

(Note: I'm not going to go into too much detail on the plot and the storyline as I don't want to ruin the film for you. Usually, I try to be as less concrete as possible in my reviews and focus more on concepts (as opposed to overall plot and description) to give you a general idea of my thoughts and opinions without giving away too much. As a movie goer, I feel that a bt of mystery is all part of the movie watching experience).

Overall, I enjoyed the film. It was a mix of sci-fi with a lot of action. And, it played true to the original. The twists and turns really did throw me for a loop - I was entertained throughout. This movie did not disappoint.

If you're in the mood for a sci-fi type of film with a lot of action, I definitely recommend this one.

Film Gurl's 15 Minute Rule: PASS

Happy movie watching!

p.s. If you've joined my Facebook Page already, I just wanted to say "thanks" for your support. If you know anyone else who may have an interest in film and movies, feel free to send them over. Thanks!



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Indie Film Short - The Last Airbender

Since it's Indie Movie Monday (#IndieMM), I thought I'd share with you this indie film short based on the movie. Enjoy!

(Note: If you missed it, feel free to check out my review on the film. Thanks for reading!)

(p.s. If you have a project(s) you'd like me to check out (i.e. fan trailer, short, spoof, animation, etc), feel free to contact me here or through my Facebook Page. I'm always on the lookout for fresh stuff from emerging filmmakers!)



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Movie Preview: The Sorcerer's Apprentice

With summer in the air, there's going to be a lot of action type films coming out. I'm really looking forward to seeing this movie - rarely do Disney films disappoint me. And, I usually enjoy Jerry Bruckheimer produced films.

According to Wikipedia:

"The Sorcerer's Apprentice is an upcoming 2010 fantasy adventure film produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, directed by Jon Turteltaub, stars Nicolas Cage, and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, the team behind the National Treasure franchise. The story, although totally different, is said to have been loosely based on the Sorcerer's Apprentice segment in Disney's Fantasia, which in turn is based on the late 1890s symphonic poem by Paul Dukas and 1797 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ballad. The film was originally set to be released on July 16, 2010, but will now be released two days earlier on July 14, 2010."

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Thought I'd share this upcoming film with you, check it out!

p.s. Feel free to leave comments on any post either here and/or my Facebook Page. Comments are always welcome, thanks for reading!



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Falling Down (1993)

"I am not a vigilante. I am just trying to get home to my little girl's birthday party and if everyone will just stay out of my way, nobody will get hurt."

- Falling Down

I had the opportunity to see this film recently. All I can say is, wow! This film is amazing in the way it tells a story - it's really a story about perspective and how we view things.

In the movie, we have a normal all around guy William Foster (played by Michael Douglas) who followed all the rules in life yet for some reason still ended up with the short end of the stick.

First his family, then his job - it all took a downturn spiral. Factor in having a really bad day (we've all had them!) where nothing seems to go his way and people try to push him around - it just gets worse from there. And, by worse - I mean ballistic.

It's like just being pushed over the edge, to the point where you are so down in life that you have nothing to lose yet everything to gain. Very interesting concept.

I think what's more interesting about the movie is the different perspectives - each character he interacts with seems to see him in a different way, a bad way. And, it's rather comical yet brilliant to see and hear the dialogue from different points of view.

One of my favorite quotes was during the beginning of the film in the convenient store. All Foster wanted to do was get some change for the pay phone.

Though, it ended up being quite a battle with the shop keeper even to do that. And, what I found interesting about this scene was the two different viewpoints portrayed. I don't want to ruin it for those who have not seen the film, but let's just say it was a pretty powerful yet comical scene with some very good points.

(Note: One of my favorite quotes in this scene was when Foster said, "You think I'm a thief? Oh, you see, I'm not the thief. I'm not the one charging 85 cents for a *stinking* soda! You're the thief. I'm just standing up for my rights as a consumer.")

And, it just wasn't this scene - it was scene after scene with the same message. Again, it was all a matter of perspective - we have different viewpoints on how we see things based on our past and present experiences in life. There were definitely some very brilliant moments in the film.

This movie may not dazzle everyone. It's one of those films that you really have to read into - it has a message, a very powerful message that may not get across to everyone. But, if you listen carefully to the words and pay to attention to the actions taken you just might catch them.

Overall, I enjoyed the film. It's one of those movies that really does make you think about how we view the world - people see the world through different eyes. One person may see things in a different way than someone else. And, in the end - it's all a matter of perspective.

If you're in the mood for an action type of movie that makes you think, I definitely recommend this one.

Film Gurl's 15 Minute Rule: PASS

(Note: For all the fans of the film, feel free to check out this fan trailer based on the movie. Enjoy!)

Happy movie watching!

p.s. If you've joined my Facebook Page already, I just wanted to say "thanks" for your support. If you know anyone else who may have an interest in film and movies, feel free to send them over. Thanks!



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The Last Airbender (2010)

Since I'm a fan of M. Night Shyamalan , I was really excited to see this film based on the animated television series.

To be honest, it's been awhile since I've seen a good M. Night Shyamalan film - his past few films have not been all that great in my opinion. So, going into this one - I was really hoping to be dazzled. Though, I wasn't - it was a bit disappointing.

The movie is more of a fantasy adventure type of film. In a way, it kind of reminded me of this movie.

Basically, it's about a boy who is supposed to be a kind of "protector" of the people (aka The Avatar). Though, when faced with the responsibility and the duties of his role he is reluctant to pursue it - being a hero is a lot of responsibility which involves having a life of solitude without having any ties such as family and friends. And, to the boy this life of solitude is just not the kind of life he wants to live.

So, the movie is really about a hero who doesen't want to be a hero. Though, with the current situation of the war in the story he is faced with the dilemma of being a hero and protecting the people. Otherwise, there will be no protector for the people.

In a way, some of the themes of this film is a bit similar the themes of other films such as "The Matrix" - there's a prophecy that someone is going to protect the people. The theme in this film is no different.

There are some battle type scenes in the movie as the hero (aka The Avatar) and his army (consisting of another boy and a girl - brother and sister) work together to gather up villages of people to fight the existing regime.

(Note: The battle scenes are a bit corny looking. I don't want to ruin it for you, but let's just say it reminds me of watching kung-fu in slow motion - it's a bit weird looking).

I think this movie is for a certain type of person - one who enjoys these kinds of films. And, maybe for those who enjoyed watching the series.

Though, this film really didn't do it for me - it just didn't feel like it came together. The storyline wasn't really well executed and a lot of the scenes were not really played out well especially the battle scenes - I just didn't find myself entertained.

Now, it could just be me. Maybe some who enjoy this genre may have differing opinions. Though, I do enjoy fantasy adventure type of movies from time to time such as this one.

Overall, I can't really recommend this film - I just didn't find myself entertained. The storyline was not very well executed and the scenes just didn't play out well for me. I was really hoping this movie would be good, though it was rather disappointing.

If you're contemplating seeing this movie, I'd say it's best to pass on it.

Film Gurl's 15 Minute Rule: FAIL

(Note: For all the fans of the film, these are just my thoughts - it just didn't do it for me).

Happy movie watching!

p.s. Feel free to leave comments on any post either here and/or my Facebook Page. Comments are always welcome, thanks for reading!



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