OLDBOY

15 Years of Imprisonment... 5 Days of Vengeance.

Director: Chan-wook Park

Actors: Min-sik Choi, Ji-tae Yu, Hye-jeong Kang and others

Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Duration: 120 minutes

Plot: after being kidnapped and imprisoned for 15 years, Oh Dae-Su is released only to find out that he must locate his unknown captor in 5 days.

Analysis: Oldboy is an absolutely unusual film from what you are used to, no matter the prism under which you shall try to analyse it. From the quite unforeseen beggining till the totally mad finale, this movie will make you keep staring with bulging eyes at the screen of your television, wondering if what you are watching is actually real. I honestly believe that the scriptwriter had some serious issues. And thang God for those issues which gifted us a genuine masterpiece such as Oldboy. To be more precise, i may say that the main hero, Min-sik Choi, is outstanding, as he manages to literally transform not only the appearance but also the aura, the attitude and even the psychology of his character with such an ease that persuades even the most strict critics. Furthermore, the fighting scenes radiate such an intensity, brutality and and raw power that will unavoidably capture your attention, leaving you with your mouth wide open.

     However, the real star of this movie is its cenario. This sick, similar to an ancient greek tragedy scenario, which may startle you, disturb you or even repel you, but sure as hell will remain engrave in your mind for a good while.

     P.S. Do not make the fatal mistake to watch the american version of this movie!

Things to notice:

• the spectacular scenario,  
• the realistic fighting scenes and
• the unbelievable, greek tragedy alike, finale.

Oscar awards (2004): -

Personal Evaluation: 8.6/10 

Should be watched tonight if: and only if you are ready for something like this. How could you possibly know, you wonder? Well, watch it and you will learn.

Trailer

CHEF

Starting from scratch never tasted so good.

Director: Jon Favreau

Actors: Jon Favreau, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Dustin Hoffman, Sofía Vergara, John Leguizamo and others

Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama

Duration: 114 minutes

Plot: a chef who loses his restaurant job starts up a a food truck in an effort to reclaim his creative promise, while piecing back together his estranged family.

Analysis: Chef is –as you may have already understood from the title– a movie dedicated to food. Even though the cast consists of glowing and well known hollywood stars (such as Dustin Hoffman, Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlet Johansson) the indisputable protagonist is without doubt the food in its every form. Fried, roasted, boiled, appetizers, main dishes, desserts... everything is crafted and pictured on screen with such an elegance, detail and power that resembles a work of art, making your eyes goggle and your stomach grumble with anticipation as you can almost smell these delicacies. 
      Apart from that, Favreau's livable direction (after all he has offered us a taste of his talent sitting behing the cameras on iron-man) succeeds in creating a plethora of extremely colorful and pleasant scenes by pairing the beautifully looking plates with not only amusing and inspirational jazz and latin music but also clever and funny dialogues. All in all Chef is an entertaining road trip into food and tastes which will fulfill your appetite while satisfying your soul and brain as well.

Things to notice:

• the colorful street scenes,  
• the livable and cheerful spirit of the movie and
• the food plates. All of them.

Oscar awards (2015): -

Personal Evaluation: 7.7/10 

Should be watched tonight if: you want to be inspired for tommorow's dinner.

Trailer

HER

She is not just a computer.

Director: Spike Jonze

Actors: Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Chris Pratt, Olivia Wilde and others

Genre: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi

Duration: 126 minutes

Plot: a lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with his newly purchased operating system that's designed to meet his every need.

Analysis: Her is a romantic movie. But not an ordinary one, since it brings the futuristic technology into the love equation. However, it does that with an elegant, smooth and completely realistic way, tricking us into believing that a relationship with a computer could, indeed, be quite normal and gerenally accepted. Should we consider our everyday reality and the hours we spend in front of a computer's screen, this doesn't seem to be far away from the truth. Apart from its mind troubling sociological extensions and its clever indirect messages, the film has to present an exceptional direction, capable of revealing each and any of the heroes' feelings and passions, alongside with a solid and innovative scenario. But what really captures the eye in this movie is the main duet. Phoenix is simply breathtaking in his role, almost making us feel and share the agony and pain of his wounded heart, while Johansson... well what more to say for someone who was considered for an oscar nomination without even appearing in front of the camera! Her voice is a manifestation of feelings, a vast sea of sentiments –and, believe me, she is not even one of my favorites actresses. 

       All in all, Her is the moving story of a broken heart which attempts to find shelter in the dreamy world of technology, ignoring the imperfect yet real things that surround us. The things that make us what we are: humans.

Things to notice:

• Phoenix's and Johansson's stellar perfomances. Two of the best actors of their generation,  
• the combination of the great scenario and the sentimental direction and
• the sex scene (and this is all the spoilers i am gonna offer you in that you horny devils).

Oscar awards (2014): 

• one (1) oscar win for: Best Writing, Original Screenplay.

• four (4) oscar nominations for:

a) Best Motion Picture of the Year,
b) Best Achievement in Original Score,
c) Best Achievement in Original Song and 
d) Best Achievement in Production Desing.

Personal Evaluation: 8.7/10 

Should be watched tonight if: you are curious to find out what human relationships may look like in the near future.

Trailer