Colombiana

This 2011’s Action/Crime/Thriller carried a lot of bunch. From fight-scenes, to things blowing up, it was more action and less talking. Written  and based on ‘The Professional’ by French Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen and directed by Olivier Megaton, this film brought in 5 nominations and 2 wins that year. Spanish Jordi Molla (Blow, Riddick) played the excellent villain to this story. Zoe Saldana who stars as ‘Cataleya’ displays wonderful acting chops; not to mention she does all her own stunts (no puns intended). Lennie James plays the Special Agent and helps audience understand the story and Amandla Stenberg who plays a young ‘Cataleya’ shows us her strength with just a stare. 

Not really my cup of tea; nevertheless filmmakers try to explain the senseless killings by explaining that Cataleya played by Saldana has become an assassin to seek revenge of her parents. I can’t say I agree either with the tagline ‘Revenge is Beautiful’ - but I feel that the violence, and intense action could be slightly ignored because it was great to see a woman of colour, and a woman overall as a lead in this European movie. Kudos to Saldana.  

With an estimated budget of $40 million USD this film grossed pretty much all back by the end of that year. It’s a film with gritty action that men will salivate to and women will feel a bit empowered.

Lucy

So there’ve been 101 reviews and rumors about French Luc Besson’s new film ‘Lucy’ starring brilliant American bomb-shell Scarlett Johansson. Many of which seem harsh, and some of which is certainly true. Tis' true also that there have been similar concepts already expressed in film - like 'Limitless' and 'Inception' but what if a story delves a bit deeper. Here’s my two-cents on this 2014 fantasy-action-sci-fi film.

Written and directed by the infamous scuba-diver instructor turned writer/director Luc Besson (Fifth Element, Colombiana, The Big Blue) and one of my favourite French directors brings to us his newest piece of work ‘Lucy’ - with an estimated budget of $40 million USD in just one month he grossed a whopping $117 million USD and the film is still in theaters worldwide. With a run-time of 89 minutes this modern-day story takes place in a number of places including France and Taiwan. Expertly executed and backed by loads of research (it took Besson 10 years of it) the audience goes on a thrilling ride into the minds of the human-being and what indeed it is capable of. 

There was talk of Angelina-Jolie to play the lead in this film, whom I admire and think would execute believably also - I do believe Scarlett did a great job at bringing this ‘Lucy’ character to life. In fact I enjoyed watching her transition from a dopey, simple party-girl into an alluring and mysterious entity. Morgan Freeman joined in on the action as well as international superstar of Asia Min-sik Choi who plays our film’s villain ‘Mr. Jang’. I felt that this idea was a wonderful one and viewers not only were able to enjoy the ride but had their brains tickled as well - asking that fine question - “Who are you and why are you here?”

Wonderful cinematography, CGI, pacing, and soundtrack with few disturbances in regards to better execution of this wonderful idea. That is, the one line, “I know who everybody is”, line, having co-stars unable to see what ‘Lucy’ sees as she’s more advanced than they are, as well as making Scarlett a more believable character if she would perhaps fluently speak some of different languages in the places she visited. 

All in all - a wonderfully wicked addition on Besson’s part! Enjoy the ride & Open your minds! 

The Family

One of my favourite directors French Luc Besson (Le Grand Bleu, The Fifth Element, Angel-A) and some house-worthy and notable actors, Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer, but sadly not a very gripping story. Based on a book by Tonino Benacquista and adapted into screenplay by Besson and Michael Caleo I felt that this film’s message wasn’t one of great substance or driving message. If you want a light, entertaining and violent film, then this will be the one for you!

This 2013 comedy-crime-thriller was quite reminiscent of 2009’s ‘The Joneses’ which viewers got a taste into the daily life of a ‘strong’ family and the immense secret they all shared. ‘The Family’ however was Rated R for violence, language and brief sexuality, the exploding gruesome content familiar to Tarantino-type films; but violence and sex sells and with an approximate budget of $30 million USD they made back a cool $36 million USD at the box-office.

With a run-time of 111 minutes and a lot of big bangs from the mafia life, this film delivers mostly jokes if anything. Don’t expect to be mesmerized or have your brain left tingling with questions from beyond.

Le Grand Bleu

'The Big Blue' 1988 dramatic classic was wonderfully written and directed by French Luc Besson and it was a fascinating and riveting story about two friends who shared the same love of the sea, one with skill and finesse and the other with a dangerously keen relationship with dolphins. This simple but special story was moving, symbolic and successfully shot as it was one of the most financially successful French films during the 1980’s.

Our leading lady was the adorable American blonde Rosanna Arquette who spoke both English and French in this film, German Jean-Marc Barr known for ‘Dogville’ and ‘Breaking the Waves’ and Morrocan actor Jean Reno whom you may remember from multiple films ranging from comedy to action some of which include: ‘The Professional’, ‘Godzilla’, ‘The Da Vinci Code’ and ‘Couples Retreat’. All three displayed a wonderful range of acting and it was easy for viewers to identify and feel for them on their journey.

Sometimes it seems easier to bond with animals when humans’ behaviours’ tend to disappoint over and over again. Although a challenge, it is better to be active in the present than obsess over the past and what’s already lost. Sometimes things have to end in life before something new can be born.