OSCAR 2012 BEST PICTURE NOMINEES: My Ranking

It's the Oscars on Monday, February 27th, Manila time, and with much relief, I have seen all nine Best Picture nominees before the awards. 

This year's line-up is interesting but unexciting. It's predictable (The Artist), incredibly shocking (Extremely Loud and Incredible Close), and deeply annoying (The Help). Nevertheless, some favorites came out of the selection, i.e. Moneyball and Midnight in Paris.

So here's my rank of the Best Picture nominees, based on the combination of entertainment and impact. To make it clear, my favorite, i.e., Moneyball, is different from which movie I think deserves to take home the Oscar gold  (for its uniqueness, creativity in filmmaking, storytelling, and strong impact), i.e., The Tree of Life...and of course different from my prediction of who will actually win-- which is the critics' favorite: The Artist.

So here's my rank based on my personal preference. 

By clicking the movie title, you'll be directed to my movie review.

1. Moneyball (COULD WIN)  

Perfect.

2. Midnight in Paris 

Magical and fun.

3. Tree of Life (DESERVES TO WIN/COULD WIN) 

Poetic and artistic, with a strong impact.

4. The Descendants 

Unique and funny.

5. The Artist (WILL WIN) 

Engaging but mediocre.

6. War Horse

Refreshing but boring.

7. Hugo 

Gorgeous visuals but messy storytelling.

8. The Help 

(SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NOMINATED AT ALL) 

Shallow and self-conscious.

9. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close 

( SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NOMINATED AT ALL )

"The kind of movie that you want to punch in the nose." 

~Tom Long

What's your list? If we have the exact same rank, then you must be my soulmate.

Moneyball (2011)

"The problem we're trying to solve is that there are rich teams and there are poor teams, then there's fifty feet of crap, and then there's us.'

Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) is the general manager of Oakland Athletics--or the A's--who's below fifty feet of crap, with only $38 million on their 2002 payroll (compared to the $126 million of the New York Yankees) and on a losing streak. If you say you hate sports or you don't care the least about baseball, then Moneyball, nominated Oscar Best Picture this year, will fascinate you.

Based on Michael Lewis's bestselling business book of the same title, we follow the true story of Billy Beane as he reinvents baseball, defying the rules of scouting for ballplayers-- relying on science and statistics to put together a championship team to compete against rich teams. Together with a 25-year-old Economics Yale graduate Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), a non-athlete follower of statistical guru Bill James, Beane drafts ballplayers based on algorithms, not on the usual criteria for picking out players. He picks the funny, the almost-lame, the almost-freaks, and the insecure for a bargain price, seeing their value based on sabermetrics. As a result, Beane earns the shock and ridicule of the baseball community; he is ostracized and mocked. But Beane stubbornly sticks to his unorthodox management. Will it work? Or will he validate the world's view of him as a cuckoo who diminishes the romance in baseball?

With a brilliant screenplay by Steve Zaillian (Schindler's List) and Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network), under the masterful direction of Bennett Miller (Capote), Moneyball is a triumphant film adaptation, a movie with a heart and soul despite the hard and cold numbers used to measure the value of a ballplayer. Brad Pitt, Oscar-nominated for Best Actor in this movie as the tobacco-chewing, chair-throwing Beane, is captivating and enigmatic, surprisingly effective-- and a delight to watch with Jonah Hill. And what is distinctly excellent about this movie is the way the characters' dialogues flow, complement, and clash together. Also, the baseball sentiments in the movie, the attitudes, the unpredictable tide of losing and winning, can be applied to life in general and will move you in many ways.

With cutting dialogue and sharp humor, elegant and beautiful cinematography (incorporated with real life footages), intelligent narrative, and a musical score that adds to the thrill of Beane revolutionizing the game, the movie is flawless. It's straightforward yet romantic, funny yet dramatic, deadpan yet thrilling, slick and savvy, and surprisingly touching. 

Out of all the nine Oscar Best Picture nominees, it was Moneyball that gave me goosebumps.

5 out of 5 stars




Hits theaters on March 7, 2012

The Artist (2011)

And now we know why Jean Dujardin was Oscar-nominated for Best Actor this year in The Artist. He lights up the entire screen, his eyes have soul and they speak volumes in this silent movie.

Bagging a plethora of awards, and also nominated Best Picture in this year's Oscars, The Artist is Michel Hazanavicius's novelty movie that critics are raving about. If you think you'd be bored watching a black and white silent movie, still take a shot at The Artist. It's actually engaging-- thanks to a fairly absorbing screenplay, Dujardin's emotion-filled eyes and dazzling smile lighting up the screen and mesmerizing you, and the musical score that translates the actors's emotions and speaks for them.

In the movie, it's 1927 and George Valentin (Dujardin) is a famous silent movie actor. Then he meets and becomes enchanted with a movie extra/dancer Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo) who is trying to make a break in Hollywood. Then, the advent of the talkies soon arrives, and George refuses to join the trend-- whereas Peppy embraces the New Cinema and is skyrocketed into stardom.

The Artist will sustain your attention until the ending and engage you in its cute story, which is a triumph, of course. Bejo as Peppy Miller complements Dujardin, yes, but there's something a bit modern about her look and performance, which feels a bit unsettling. And I wish she looked prettier, too. Valentin's dog (he could be the same talented dog in The Beginners) is charming and a delight to watch, adding more entertainment value to the silent movie.

But no matter how absorbing The Artist is, and how brilliant Dujardin is, the movie is still overrated. Nice but not excellent. Entertaining enough but not impressive. The film treatment clever and unique in this day and age, but the story so-so. The tribute to the history and evolution of cinema is a good basis for a story, but not thrillingly fun to watch in this movie. 

The Artist, which I predict would win Oscar Best Picture, hooked me until the end credits, and is actually a pretty good film that should still be watched in the line up of Oscar nominees. However, it did not make me stand up and applaud along with the 97% of film critics over at rottentomatoes.com. 

It's Dujardin that I applaud.

2.75 out of 5 stars

The Vow (2012)

The movie is absolutely heartbreaking. Not the story-- but the fact that when Valentine's Day rolled in, poor gooey-eyed females eager for some silver-screen romance trekked to the cinemas and paid for this movie only to have received a pseudo-story. 

Based on true events, The Vow's premise is a tragically beautiful love story; but, unfortunately, the story was translated into a movie tragically.

Paige (Rachel McAdams), in one snowy evening, removed her seatbelt and leaned over to kiss her husband, Leo (Channing Tatum). Out of the blue, a truck perfectly rearended their car, sending her through the windshield and into a coma. When Paige wakes up, five years' worth of memory--which includes her entire married life and relationship with Leo--are lost. Her amnesia reverts her back to her juvenile law school days, like a spoiled sorority girl, and back to the arms of her snobby parents (Sam Neill and Jessica Lange) and her old yuppy boyfriend Jeremy (Scott Speedman).  Leo is devastated and helplessly tries to win her back by showing his pectoral muscles-- because Paige not only looks at him like a stranger but her brains also seem to have eliminated her manners and sense of consideration for other people, most especially to the sad-eyed stranger telling her that he's her legal husband.

Come on, Paige, notice my pectoral muscles!

The Vow, directed by Michael Sucsy, fails to elicit the appropriate emotions from a supposedly tragic love story. The couple has zero percent chemistry, and Tatum looks utterly dull and sounds even more dull, which brings back to mind Moose of the Archie comic series-- except Tatum is brunette and is all bohemian with his straw hat.  Rachel McAdams is effective as an irritating beatch, but she makes too much cutesy faces and beautiful eyes,which would have been actually cute if it weren't for her glop of bad hair.

The movie, narrated dully by a monotonous Tatum, has a screenplay with painfully shallow and banal lines that feel like that they were written by high school-- lazy high school students for a school project. Did I miss the old Paige and felt Leo's yearning for her? No. Did I feel that they were head over heels in love before the accident? No. Did my heart melt when Leo tried to win her back? No. Did I find it butterflies-in-the-stomach romantic when they were having a marvelous time on their post-amnesia date, intoxicated with happiness while popping various flavors of chocolates in their mouth (could be rigged with weed), or when they skinny dipped just so Leo could seduce her with his pectoral muscles? No! Did I find myself caring for the characters? Hell no! Did I become annoyed with Rachel McAdam's old personality? Check!

The Vow, with  poorly written conflicts and shallow lines, wasted such a good idea for a drama love story. Did it urge me to research about the real couple whose story inspired this movie? Nope! After watching the movie, I just felt like exercising and toning my stomach to eliminate my muffin tops.

1 out of 5 stars

This Means War (2012)

This movie is proof that you can never rely on trailers.

I had zero intention of watching This Means War when I saw the preview, but circumstances have pushed me a little to watch it and review it for you, dear movie buffs. And, boy, was I pleasantly surprised! I never expected  that I'd be doubling over with laughter. Can't remember the last time when I cracked up terribly inside the movie house, along with the audience, and waking up the following day still remembering some of the hilarious scenes.

Best friends FDR (Chris Pine) and Tuck (Tom Hardy) are top CIA agents whose bromance is ruined when they realized that they are both infatuated with the same girl-- the feisty and lovelorn product evaluator Lauren Scott (Reese Witherspoon). What began as a gentlemanly agreement between the two to fight fair in the name of love, ends in a heated and hysterical competition filled with absurd spy tactics that will elicit a lot of LOLs. Adding to the equation Lauren's best friend Trish, played by comedienne "Girl Behaving Badly" Chelsea Handler, as a bored mother wanting to live vicariously through Lauren's life, the movie becomes even more thigh-slapping hilarious.

Directed by McG (Terminator: Salvation), This Means War is a fast-paced popcorn flick brimming with witty lines, with great chemistry between the main cast. What actually makes it a riot of a comedy is the well-written screenplay; the characters firing off intelligent humor with such speed and precision that is perfectly streamlined with the high-level of testosterone in the movie's crazy spy game.

Only one complaint: Although Handler delivers her lines perfectly, oozing with the usual deadpan and sarcastic humor you see in her talk show Chelsea Lately, her eyes are creepily empty. Zero acting in the eyes, which is actually bothersome. But because the script is great and she has the gift of gab, you'd still find yourself bursting with laughter whenever she shoots off her colorful and playful commentaries

This Means War is a crazy, fun, action-packed romantic comedy that will de-stress you, and make you momentarily forget how unexciting and depressing the line-up of Best Picture Oscar nominees is for this year.

I'd see this movie again.

4 out of 5 stars

This Means War hits Philippine theaters on February 22, 2012

Vampires and Werewolves at Trinoma and My Breaking Dawn DVD

Looks like the real thing?

Last February 17th and 18th, C-Interactive, Astroplus and Ayala TriNoma Mall threw a Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 DVD Release Party for Twihards at the Level 4 of the mall.

I was invited to the party by the good people of C-Interactive, my favorite DVD distributor (as they have quality DVDs and Blue-Rays with superb audio), to attend the party and review the DVD.

I arrived at the party a bit early.The small and intimate event, cordoned off from the busy mall, was a dream come true for Twilight fans. There were cardboard standees of Bella, Edward, and Jacob for souvenir photos, including a standee of Bella and Edward from the wedding scene, standing underneath a canopy of flowers, at the end of a wedding aisle lined with lovely pure white flowers and soft tiny lights.

The grand entrance to the venue.

There was a huge LCD monitor inside screening the 6-part making-of documentary of the film, several cocktail tables, with matching centerpieces, and in one corner, T.G.I. FRiDAY'S serving boxes of nachos and chicken strips for the guests.

By the entrance to the party is a display of the DVDs for sale, where fans can choose between a two-disc DVD, the Wedding Album Edition, Bella's Wedding Gown Edition, and the Blu-Ray Edition. Buying any of the DVD sets can immediately get a fan two tickets to the party and win movie memorabilia.

 Two-disc DVD

Wedding Album Edition

Bella's Wedding Gown Edition

Blu-Ray Edition

At the party, they raffled off movie memorabilia, like key chains, bag clips, calendars, bracelets, and a replica of Bella's engagement ring! Also, for fans to win more exciting prizes, they hosted games like "vampires and werewolves," and the longest-stare game for couples.

Vampires and Werewolves game.

I just had a hunch that I'd win something!

My friend Aby, with a limited edition poster, and a Team Edward  keychain

For more pictures of the party, CLICK HERE


Anyway, what I got is Bella's Wedding Gown Edition, and let me share you the "unboxing," so you fans can see me opening the box on video to take a look at what's inside:

So, what are you waiting for? Visit C-Interactive's official website for more information.

If you haven't seen the movie yet, here's my spoiler-free movie review: Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 

Review of the DVD's Bonus Features soon to follow.

____________________________________________________________________________

I would like to thank Mr. Sonny Lara and the entire C-Interactive Digital Entertainment for the invite, the DVD, and the kind accommodation.

Hugo (2011)

Martin Scorsese's Hugo is a cross between The Artist and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (all three are Oscar-nominated for Best Picture this year).

It's Paris in 1930s, and Hugo Cabret (Asa Butterfiled; The Boy in the Sriped Pyjamas), is an orphaned boy living behind the clock-face in Gare Montparnasse railway station. His everyday routine is to wind the station's clocks (in place of his missing uncle, the station's clock-winder), and try to evade the railway inspector (Sacha Baron Cohen; Bruno), lest he wants to be thrown into an orphanage. And from time to time, Hugo also tries to steal mechanical parts from an old toy owner (Ben Kingsley) to fix his Automaton-- a creepy mechanical man left behind by his late father (Jude Law), in the hopes that once the Automaton works, he'll receive some sort of a message from his father so that he wouldn't feel so alone anymore. Like Oskar Schell in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Hugo is seeking closure for the abrupt and unexpected death of his father. However, no matter how unbearably irritating Oskar Schell was, he's got more personality and depth than the dry and blank-faced Hugo, whose strikingly blue eyes are the only interesting thing about him. 

Visually striking as it is, the movie (based on Brian Selznick's bestselling novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret) offers zero emotional involvement.  Paris in 1930s is charming and magical, yes, but the story is hollow. The narrative is messy, going in awkward directions, and swinging from one subplot to another. The characters are bland. Sacha Baron Cohen brings a little life and laughter in the movie, yes, but the mysterious George Méliès, the toy owner played Ben Kingsley, is the only engaging character-- you can see through the broken man.

Sacha Baron Cohen as the Squeaky Inspector

Hugo's discovery and the secret behind George Méliès is the obvious reason why the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominated Hugo for Best Picture. I'm not going to give spoilers, so you have to watch the movie or read spoiler-riddled movie reviews. Yes, the revelation of George's secret had woken me up from my stupor, momentarily delighting me, as I am passionate about the subject. But because of the messy storytelling, the entire movie is still underwhelming. Like I said, it's a weird merging of The Artist and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, not weaved smoothly together, scattered and a bit confused.

Kingsley as the mysterious toy owner with a colorful past.

The movie's visuals are gorgeous and brilliant, and the story of George Méliès is tragic and beautiful. But Hugo, at its core, is supposed to be a magical and adventure story-- and sadly, it failed to touch and sweep me off my feet, made even worse by the unnecessary 3D. Plainly speaking, the movie is boring and off. Without the abrupt twist to George Méliès' story, the movie would be soulless and irritating.

The only lingering part of the movie for me are the following lines from the blank-faced Hugo:

"If you lose your purpose, it's like you're broken."

"I'd imagine the whole world was one big machine. Machines never come with any extra parts, you know. They always come with the exact amount they need. So I figured if the entire world was one big machine, I couldn't be an extra part. I had to be here for some reason. And that means you have to be here for some reason too."

1.5 out of 5 stars

In Philippine cinemas on February 15, 2012.

Toro Restaurant & Bar: Japanese and Mexican Fusion

Enter two different worlds.

Once upon a time, there were three brothers with great passion for exotic and exciting flavors, always scouring the entire Pacific in search of a culturally diverse gastronomical experience. The adventures of the food-loving brothers have inspired them to share their experiences to the world, and what better way to do that but to put up a restaurant?

However, each brother has his own favorite cuisine: the other loved Mexican, the other loved Japanese. And thus the birth of Toro Restaurant & Bar, to serve us a fusion of Japanese and Tex-Mex, a collision of East and West. "From Okinawa to Tijuana," says their website. Even “Toro” is a combination of two cultures: Toro is the Spanish word for "fighting bull"—but it is also a Japanese word representing a specific cut of the tuna belly. Clever.

And last night, I had the pleasure of visiting the result of the brothers’ bold and creative inspiration in the year-old Toro Restaurant & Bar, in the heart of Bonifacio Global City.

THE FOOD

If you love Japanese or Mexican—or a fusion of both—Toro Restaurant & Bar is a commendable option if you want to dine out and experience a blend of the East and West. If the combination sounds a bit odd, then you'd be delightfully surprised that indulging in the creative dishes infused with flavors from two different cultures actually complement each other. Tacos and maki? Cajun and katsudon? It's delectable— and fun at the same time. 

We were eight in the group and were served an 11-course meal—each one a bestseller in the house: beginning with the East West Salad, a crunchy, rich superb starter of organic greens, candied walnuts, cherry tomatoes and apples, drizzled with sesame dressing; and then finished off with the fantastic dessert of Butterfinger Shot: Irish cream, butterscotch schnapps, and milk.

Our dinner indeed was a funky, rich, fun, and satisfying combination of tacos, spicy maki, finger chili, jalapeno, katsudon, and tuna, among others. Who says Tex-Mex and Japanese do not go hand in hand?

Toro is recommended for group dining; ordering a variety of cuisine to share among the group will provide you with the full East-West experience. "A party in the mouth," chuckled one of the owners, Vinesh, who sat briefly with us. Also, the restaurant is friendly to all types of diners as they have a wide selection of wine, and a variety of dishes for the vegetarian, the health-conscious, with cuisines that are good for the heart.

East West Salad PHP270

Organic greens, candied walnuts, cherry tomatoes and apples, drizzled with sesame dressing

Spicy Ahi Tuna Maki PHP310/6 pieces
Ahi tuna with generous portions of spices and herbs

Mini Tacos Served Two Ways PHP340

Bacon bits, vegetables, guacamole, cheese, sour cream, pork, and chicken

Dessert: Butterfinger Shot PHP160

Irish cream, butterscotch schnapps, milk

THE AMBIANCE

Cozy, dimly lit, the soft glow from the chandelier, Japanese lantern-inspired light fixtures, the prominent color being red (symbolizing blood from Spanish bull fights)...the ambiance is aesthetically pleasing and relaxing— not to mention artistically clever, infusing Japanese and Mexican art and symbols in a very subtle way. The interior is not too minimal, but not overly decorated either. Perfectly balanced. The only striking decor is a mural of a blue-eyed Japanese geisha covering one entire wall, merging symbols from the two different cultures.

The cozy high backed chairs and the rectangular dining tables are set not too far apart, so that the not-so-big restaurant feels more intimate and serene.

It was dim when we were sat down by the service crew; we were only illuminated by the soft yellow light of the restaurant and by the tiny lighted candles inside small cups set on our table. When food was served, an overhead light was switched quietly—not blinding, but just enough to take in the colors of the food.

The red-blood bar, with cascading water behind the wine shelves

Japanese-Mexican mural by artist Alfredo Galvez

Intimate and serene

THE SERVICE

The service crew, in plain all-black casual wear, were friendly and competent. When Vinesh was giving us an overview and history of the bar and restaurant, he mentioned that they take customer service seriously—and it was evident indeed; the service was quick and efficient. While dining, a single waiter stood in a respectable distance from us but would magically appear from time to time to refill glasses and clear plates, discreetly and quietly.

With well-trained and respectable crew, the service was very good, making the dining experience even more pleasant.

The friendly waiter took a group shot of us.

OVERALL VERDICT: 4 out of 5 stars
Rather pricey, of course, and this is the type of restaurant for special gatherings and intimate dinner dates. With our group of eight, with an 11-course meal, the bill reached a little bit over PHP 8,000, therefore a single diner should have at least PHP 1,000 to dine in Toro.


With a nice ambiance, excellent customer service, and bold and daring cuisine, Toro Restaurant & Bar is a notable and memorable dining experience.


For more photos of the food (including a description, price, and rating) and interior, CLICK HERE.




Toro Restaurant & Bar
Unit 6, Ground Floor One McKinley Place,
4th Avenue between 25th and 26th street
(Located behind Mini Cooper showroom)
Bonifacio Global City
Taguig City, Metro Manila
Philippines


Contact Details: Make a Reservation
Phone: (02) 846-9681
Mobile: 0917-555-TORO (8676)
Email: info@dinetoro.com


Operating Hours:

7 Days a Week: 11:30am-3pm, 6pm-12am

___________________________________________________________________
I would like to thank OpenRice.com, Asia-Pacific's Premier Dining Guide, for the invitation; and Toro Restaurant & Bar for offering a fantastic dining experience.

TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN 1 DVD Release Party

Twi-hards, do you want to experience a night of magic?

C-Interactive, Astroplus and Ayala TriNoma Mall are cordially inviting Twi-hards to the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 DVD Release Party on February 17 & 18, 2011 (Friday & Saturday), 6:00 p.m. onwards at the Trinoma Park Level 4.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AT THE PARTY?
Meet and greet with fellow Twi-hards. Free snack. Get a chance to win Twilight movie memorabilia. Take a picture with the wedding garland scene, with Bella, Edward, and Jacob, and the Wolf scene. And watch a never-before-seen footage including the 6-part making-of documentary!

HOW TO GET ACCESS TO THE PARTY?
Just buy or pre-order your much-awaited DVD of Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 Special Edition Blu-ray( includes Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 Blu-ray Disc and Edward & Bella's Wedding Invitation Replica And Music Videos (Bruno Mars' "It Will Rain", Christina Perri's "A Thousand Years" and many more...) Price : P1,395.00 SRP (Pre-Order P1,295.00)

Here are the complete details to get a TICKET to the BIG PARTY:

So, Team Edward, Team Jacob, would you miss this chance?

For inquiries, visit the Facebook page of  C-Interactive Digital Entertainment

If you haven't seen the movie yet, here's my spoiler-free movie review: Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1.

Movie Trailer

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011)

While watching Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, I was feeling extremely restless and incredibly annoyed.

Based on the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, and nominated for this year's Oscar Best Picture, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is about a 9-year-old  autistic boy, Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn), who lost his father (Tom Hanks) in the 9/11 attacks and has difficulty moving on. One year later, and still unable to come to terms with his father's death, he accidentally finds a strange key in his father's closet and this inspires him to search for the matching lock and find closure. And we follow Oskar as he goes on a "Reconnaissance Expedition" in New York, meeting various people along the way.

Directed by Stephen Daldry (The Hours, Billy Elliot), the movie is clearly intended to break your heart and move you. However, because the Oskar character is supremely obnoxious and insufferable, you are unable to sympathize with him. You feel indifferent to his search, and you wish he'd find the lock already so he can finally shut up. Beyond the boy's annoying motormouth and emotional outbursts, behind the mask of his awful personality, you don't see a pure child that you'd want to hold in your arms and comfort. His character is flat. Flat, one-dimensional, and obnoxious. And because the storyline is thin and bland and self-conscious, sadly, there's nothing to rely on for a rich experience in this movie but him. Not even the film's musical score managed to tug at your heartstrings.

Sandra Bullock plays Oskar's emotionally detached mother, and although Bullock is persuasive and transparently heartbroken, she's rarely in the scene because it's all about the boy and his POV. A mysterious old man who eventually joins Oskar in the last leg of his search, brilliantly played by Max von Sydow (Oscar-nominated for Actor in a Supporting Role), gives the movie a tad of color and warmth, but alas, even he couldn't save this pretentious movie.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close rings true to its title: the boy is so annoying that the whole time, you feel that his voice is extremely loud and incredibly close to your ears-- an absolute endurance test for you to finish it just to understand why the hell it was nominated for an Oscar. And I absolutely don't know why.

1 out of 5 stars

Safe House (2012)

So far it's the best action flick that came out in the cinema since the beginning of the year.

The dynamic Denzel Washington resurrected in Hollywood, in the spy thriller Safe House. This movie is his rebirth; elevated him once again as the compelling anti-hero, a force to be reckoned with.

Partnered with the fresh-faced Ryan Reynolds in this almost obscure, off-the-radar espionage thriller, Washington plays Tobin Frost, a legendary CIA renegade, who after trading national secrets with enemies for nine years, surprisingly turns himself in at the U.S. Consulate, and is immediately transported to the CIA Safe House. Young housekeeper, low-level agent Matt Weston (Reynolds), after a year of being bored on duty, suddenly finds himself with the dangerous Tobin Frost, right under his watch. Will he allow Frost to get inside his head?

Set in the pulsating streets and colorful slums of Cape Town, South Africa, Safe House is an intelligent and delicious spy thriller that provides a lot of startles and sophisticated action sequences. With superb editing, extreme close-up and camera-shaky shots, as well as gorgeous saturated colors, it gives off a nitty-gritty realistic feel to the movie, magnifying each brute force, every explosive punch, and ear-shattering gun shot, and you sense all the blood, the sweat, and the tears. Denzel Washington is brilliant once again, his comeback a huge relief; and Reynolds is fairly persuasive, credible in his wide-eyed fear, innocence, and youthful determination. They complement each other in the movie, their relationship a tad reminiscent of Training Day.

Directed by a Swedish Hollywood newcomer who takes us by surprise, Daniel Espinosa gives us a spy thriller just the way we want it: humorless (except for Vera Farmiga's laughable hairdo and clownish make-up), serious, and intense. It contains no fairy-tale frills-- just pure and point-blank aggressiveness and cold-blooded, no-holds-barred spy mission. What makes this film even more deliciously compelling is that the protagonists are not ridiculously invincible; they get seriously hurt; each fall, shot, and hit result in realistic injuries. The violence is raw and aggressive but it is essential to the heart-stopping fight scenes-- sensible and not done out of sick pleasure.

Do not expect elaborate and complex plot twists because this is not a mystery-spy movie meant to challenge your guessing-game skills, but it's pure action film meant to jump-start your senses and jack up your adrenaline as you follow a rogue CIA agent and an ambitious novice in a maddening and electrifying cat-and-mouse chase in the vibrant streets of South Africa.

The film is a vivid and raw beauty, with amazing shots, and a thrilling musical score that heightens suspenseful and emotionally charged scenes. And along with notable acting performances by the entire cast, Safe House has all the right ingredients that spy-thriller movie enthusiasts crave for.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Opens in theaters on February 10th, 2012.

The trailer:

My PEx post