August 2, 2005

"Downfall"
This German-language drama chronicles the final days of Hitler, so it takes place mostly in a Berlin bunker. Among those with Hitler in his claustrophobic quarters are his mistress Eva Braun, Joseph and Magda Goebbels and their six children, and a secretary named Traudl Junge. Bruno Ganz ("Wings of Desire") plays Der Führer, and Hitler is somewhat more humanized than we are accustomed to seeing, although to many that makes him all the more horrifying.

August 9, 2005

"Kung Fu Hustle"
Stephen Chow co-wrote, directed, and stars in this Chinese-language martial arts comedy, which is set in a Chinese city in the late 1940s. The story centers around an apartment complex called Pig Sty Alley. Sing (Chow) is a lowlife who tries to set up a shakedown racket in the complex, but runs into stiff resistance from the residents. The resulting commotion brings in the feared Axe Gang. But this is all just an excuse to stage a series of comic action sequences.

"Look at Me"
"Look at Me" ("Comme une image") is a French drama that has found favor with the overwhelming majority of critics. The central relationship is between a chubby young singer (Marilou Berry) and her father (Jean-Pierre Bacri), a famous novelist and powerful publisher. Other key characters are the singer's voice teacher (Agnès Jaoui), the teacher's not-so-famous novelist husband, and the publisher's trophy wife. The film is a closely observed study of flawed people in a fascinating milieu.

August 16, 2005

"Sin City"
This pulpy, noirish movie is adapted from Frank Miller's graphic novels and tells three interconnected tales, all unfolding in a metropolis steeped in corruption. Bruce Willis plays a cop who goes after a pedophile. Mickey Rourke sets out to avenge the murder of a hooker. And Clive Owen and Benicio Del Toro find themselves caught up in a situation involving prostitution. The film's cast includes Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson, Elijah Wood, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Brittany Murphy.

August 23, 2005

"Layer Cake"
This entertaining, stylish British gangster drama stars Daniel Craig as its unnamed protagonist who narrates his own story. He's a savvy mid-level cocaine dealer who works well in his hazardous environment and has finally reached a point where retirement is in sight. But when he's forced to try to salvage an Ecstasy deal gone bad and track down a powerful evildoer's missing daughter, he must navigate treacherous waters inhabited by brutal thugs and Serbian killers.

August 30, 2005

"Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior"
This Thai-language martial arts movie stars Tony Jaa, and the filmmakers claim no wires or computer-generated images were used. Ting (Tony Jaa) is a martial arts expert who lives in a remote village. When the severed head of a sacred Buddha statue is taken to Bangkok, Ting goes after it. In the big city, Ting tangles with bad guys, and he also battles opponents at an illegal martial arts club where huge sums are wagered. But the movie is really about the choreography of the fight and chase sequences.