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BODY OF LIES

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Golshifteh Farahani and Mark Strong

Directed By: Ridley Scott

R for strong violence including some torture, and for language throughout

By John Delia

Body of Lies starts with a bang and keeps the excitement going to the very end. Think James Bond fighting terrorism in the Middle East. For those who like their action mixed with a good storyline and a reasonably good ending, this film should be on your list to see on the big screen.
The movie follows Roger Ferris (DiCaprio) the best man U.S. Intelligence has on the ground, in places where human life is worth no more than the information it can get you. In operations that take him around the globe, Ferris' next breath often depends on the voice at the other end of a secure phone line, CIA veteran Ed Hoffman (Crowe). Strategizing from a laptop in the suburbs, Hoffman is on the trail of an emerging terrorist leader who has orchestrated a campaign of bombings while eluding the most sophisticated intelligence network in the world. To lure the terrorist out into the open, Ferris will have to penetrate his murky world, but the closer Ferris gets to the target, the more he discovers that trust is both a dangerous commodity and the only one that will get him out alive. When he starts an affair with Aisha (Farahani) however, mixing business with pleasure takes on a whole new meaning.
I liked DiCaprio in the role of the CIA agent being dangled as bait at times while his boss (Crowe) oversees the operation thousands of miles from the danger. Still the consummate actor, DiCaprio here reminds me of his performance in Blood Diamond, which turned out to be one of his best performances. With Body of Lies he commands the screen and makes his character a standout.
As for Crowe, however, I believe his talent was wasted in the film. Pictured as a frumpy, overweight CIA chief with little to do than pressure DiCaprio’s character from most times miles away, Crowe’s Hoffman could have been played by any B list actor who probably would have put a lot more vigor into the role.
Scott’s direction continues to be great with total command of each scene making the film a winner. Although I did not agree with the ending, the energy Scott puts into the film keeps the film entertaining.
Body of Lies contains some harsh language and horrifying scenes of terrorist bombings and should be considered when deciding whether to take youngsters to see the film.

FINAL ALALYSIS: With Body of Lies, Scott brings an explosive film to the screen. (3 ½ of 5 stars) 


CITY OF EMBER

Starring: Tim Robbins, Bill Murray, Toby Jones, Martin Landau, Saoirse Ronan,
Harry Treadaway, Mary Kay Place and Liz Smith

Directed By: Gil Kenan

PG for mild peril and some thematic elements

By John Delia

City of Ember is a very good family film with a lot of challenging situations, enjoyable characters and a lot of excitement. The film is based on a series of novels for young people called “The Books of Ember” by Jeanne DuPrau with “The City of Ember” being the first of four. In the crowded PG-13 to R rated movie market, City of Ember is a welcome breath of fresh air for the adults that have youngsters.
It is very hard to put the story into a synopsis without giving away too much, but what follows should protect you from any spoilers of the surprises and adventure in the film. Humanity has built an underground city called Ember due to a prophecy that the earth was doomed. Over 200 years have passed and deep down in the earth the descendents of the people are now running out of food and resources to sustain their lives. But life goes on as usual even though a missing secret box that contains a map to the surface should have been opened during their 200th year.
Teenage friends Doon (Treadaway) and Lina (Ronan) have just graduated from school and are now old enough to have appointed jobs in the tiny city where everyone works for the common good. Doon gets a job as plumbing worker while Lina on the other hand gets just what she wanted, to be able to use her fleetness as a messenger girl. Little do they know that their chosen professions would help them uncover answers to a mystery kept secret for over 200 years? We follow Doon and Lina as they start a race against the clock, following clues and avoiding danger, trying to solve the unknown and save humanity.
The film kept me totally engrossed in the storyline much like National Treasure did with their map of clues that lead them to a different kind of riches. Ronan (the young girl who plays Briony in Atonement) is marvelous as Lina the feisty young girl who stirs up trouble in the underground world of Ember. Her wistful manner and effervescent personality make the young girl among director Kenan’s brilliant players. Treadway adds his fine talent that’s needed to make Doon the instrument that allows Lina to complete her adventure. Robbins, Murray and Landau are cunningly inserted into film completing the excellent cast of unusual characters.
Directing, cinematography and sets are all amazing in the film. I loved the old city and the monstrous generator that flickers and groans from age. I’m hoping that City of Ember does well at the box-office so there will be depictions of book two through the final chapter in book four.
The PG rated film does contain mild peril and some thematic elements such as a huge mole that may be a little scary for the very young.

FINAL ANALYSIS: City of Ember is a terrific film for the whole family. (4 of 5 stars)

THE EXPRESS

Starring: Denis Quaid, Rob Brown, Kris Wolff, and Darrin Dewitt Henson

Directed By: Gary Fleder

PG for thematic content, violence and language involving racism, and for brief sensuality

By John Delia

One of the most inspirational movies to come out of Hollywood, The Express delivers a strong message of determination in the face of racism. Outstanding acting on the parts of Rob Brown and Denis Quaid make this strong willed movie a winner. And, you don’t have to like football to enjoy this absorbing motion picture.
The movie is a docudrama on the life of African-American college football player Ernie Davis (Brown) who captured America’s heart in the early 60’s while leading his team to a national championship. Davis was the first black man to win college football’s highest award, the Heisman Trophy. But it wasn’t a smooth road for Davis as his life coincided with the era of racial prejudice and segregation that kept most black men who could have been great athletes out of most all Colleges, especially in the South.
Playing for northern Syracuse University, Davis followed in the shadow of the great Jim Brown (Henson) who became one of the NFL’s greatest players. Although Brown helped pave the way into pro football, in college when northern teams played southern colleges, the racial tension ran high. Faced with this race factor when he was recruited by Syracuse, Davis never gave up on his way to helping his team. When a major illness stood in his way of profession greatness however, his fight was even greater.
It’s true stories like The Express that make filmmaking worthwhile as it goes beyond entertainment and provides lessons and inspiration for others. Much like Glory Road, The Rookie, The Greatest Game, Miracle, Remember the Titans, The Final Season, and other great true sports films, the fight and determination against all odds is what makes America great.
Outstanding direction by Fleder provides a seamless account getting the best performances out of his players while he drives the story home. Quaid hits the target as the great Ben Schwartzwalder a college coach determined to bring home a national football championship to Syracuse University. Nothing stood in his way, not even racial prejudice.
But the standout performance comes from Rob Brown as Davis. Determined, agile, focused and without fear, Brown provides these elements in the creation of his character. Ernie Davis was a man who would not back down even in the face of possible racial violence on and off the field, and Brown connects.
The film contains football violence and language involving racism, and for brief sensuality.

FINAL ANALYSIS: The Express is a true winner and an inspiration for everyone. (4 of 5 stars)

CITY OF EMBER (Running Time: 95 min; Rated: PG)
Reviewed by Denise Castillón

DOWNER “CITY OF EMBER” FAILS TO SPARKLE

The downfall of this film adaptation of “City of Ember”, from the teen fiction series, “The Book of Ember”, is that presuming the books’ built-in young adult fan base, the filmmakers ineffectively attempt to attract the “grown-up” audience.

As a “Di Vinci Code” for teens, this best-selling book engrossed its readers with its dynamic characters and compelling plot as well as clues and messages to decipher. With the films lesser emphasis on inquisitive mystery and breathtaking action-adventure, what is left to rise to the surface is the plot’s gloomy science fiction theme.

While our current gloomy economic environment deadens adult’s taste for dark cinematic styling, appealing to the “kid” inside all of us, with optimistic hopefulness, never goes out of favor.

The Builders created the underground city, Ember, and then, populated the metropolis with babies who “must grow up with no knowledge of the outside, so that they would feel no sorrow for what they have lost”. The Builders left behind secret instructions encased in a special lock box set to open in 200 years. Their plan was for the box to be passed down the city’s succession of mayors, until the time in which its contents could be revealed to its replenished population.

Centuries have passed for the inhabitants of Ember. The precious box has been long lost and forgotten. The aging generator providing the city’s electrical lighting and power has frequent breakdowns causing wide-spread blackouts. The once abundant storerooms that supply all the food and necessities are becoming bare. The citizen’s of Ember are growing increasingly anxious.

Young Lina (SAOIRSE RONAN), a fast-footed messenger, finds the unlocked container and its “instructions”, but, with missing words making its message impossible to read. She enlists the help of her friend, Doon (HARRY TREADAWAY), a pipe worker dedicated to saving the city’s ailing generator. Together, they reconstruct the instructions, which lead them on an exciting journey of discovery.

Starring, along with Saoirse Ronan (“Atonement”) and Harry Treadaway (“Control”), are
Bill Murray, Marianne Jean-Bapiste (“Secrets & Lies”), Toby Jones (“Infamous”) as well as Tim Robbins and Martin Landau.


The screenplay was based on “City of Ember”, the first novel from “The Books of Ember” Teen Fiction Series by Jeanne DuPrau, and was written by Caroline Thompson. Directed by Oscar-nominee Gil Kenan (“Monster House”), produced by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, (Playtone Productions). Released by Fox/Walden.