Movie Review - Nyad

Director: Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 121 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Annette Bening, Jodie Foster, Rhys Ifans
 
Description: The remarkable true story of athlete Diana Nyad (Annette Bening) who, at age 60 and with the help of her best friend and coach (Jodie Foster), commits to achieving her life-long dream: a 110-mile open sea swim from Cuba to Florida.

Review: Diana Nyad is a woman who at sixty-four overcame her greatest challenge: swimming from Cuba to Florida (over one hundred and sixty kilometers). She failed at this attempt when she was 28. It’s more than a two day swim, with a lot of obstacles on her way: staying awake constantly, trying to eat, sharks, jelly fish, the cold, the weather.

Annette Bening plays the role of Diana Nyad convincingly. At her side is Jodie Foster, who plays her best friend and coach Bonnie. Also wonderful Both characters are easy to empathize with, even though Diana can be unsufferable at times.

The film is nicely shot, with sometimes adding images from the actual events with the real Diana. And there is room for Diana’s early life as well, which gives her challenge some extra weight on an emotional level.

It is admirable how determined Diana is and how she never gives up. Because she tried many times before actually succeeding. Most people would have already give up. Diana truly is an inspiration.

Rating: 4/ 5

20s Movie Review - The Mauritanian

Director: Kevin Macdonald
Genre: Drama/ Crime/ Thriller
Runtime: 124 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: Jodie Foster, Benedict Cumberbacth, Shailene Woodley, Tahar Rahim

Description: Mohamedou Ould Slahi (Tahar Rahim) fights for freedom after being detained and imprisoned without charge by the U.S. Government for years.

Review: “The Mauritanian” tells the story of Mahamedou Ould Slahi, who was imprisoned for may years, without every being charged with anything. Nancy Hollander is a tough, old school lawyer, specialized in civil rights law. She doesn’t care if Slahi did it or not, all she knows is that even he deserves legal defense. On the other end of the spectrum is military prosecutor Stuart Couch, who los someone to 9/ 11 himself. He has a personal grudge against the defendant and will do anything to give him the punishment he deserves.  
The way Slahi’s story is shaped is based on the writings that the real Slahi had published as “Guantánamo Diary”. Even during his imprisonment. He is candid and suspicious, help-seeking and strong. And Tahar Rahim does an excellent job portraying this role. Jodie Foster is solid as ever.
Even though this true story is eternally relevant, it did come out a bit too late I believe. Not only is Bush long gone. It’s message is not loud enough to draw the right attention. I would have drawn more attention a few years back. But even with that being said, “The Mauritanian” is a movie worth watching.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

90s Movie Review - The Silence of the Lambs

Director: Jonathan Demme
Genre: Crime/ Thriller/ Horror
Runtime: 118 minutes
Year: 1991
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster, Scott Glenn, Anthony Heald, Ted Levine, Brooke Smith, Paul Laxar, Frankie Faison, Kasi Lemmons, Dan Butler, Lawrence T. Wrents, Don Brockett, Frank Seals Jr., Stuart Rudin, Masha Skorobogatov

Description: A young F.B.I. cadet (Jodie Foster) must confide in an incarcerated and manipulative killer (Anthony Hopkins) to receive his help on catching another serial killer (Ted Levine) who skins his victims.

Review: One of the most terrifying serial killers in movie history is Dr. Hannibal Lecter (although Buffalo Bill always scared me more). According to Entertainment Weekly Hannibal the Cannibal is the most popular movie creep, even more then Freddy Krueger, Darth Vader, Norman Bates and Jaws. The performance by Anthony Hopkins is sublime. Besides being dangerous and scary, Hopkins manages to be charming and stylish which makes it somehow hard to hate him.
“The Silence of the Lambs” was a huge success and won five Academy Awards. Jodi Foster also does a fantastic job as the brave yet innocent Clarice. And the dialogues between Lecter and Clarice are so brilliant and memorable. It’s a cat and mouse game and both characters get so much depth because of it. And there is mutual fascination. Clarice does her best to get information from Lecter about serial killer Buffalo Bill, but at the same time she has to expose herself. Even though Lecter isn’t in the movie that much, for us viewers he is always there. Both Foster and Hopkins are magnificent, but it’s Hopkins that leaves an unforgettable impression.
“The Silence of the Lambs” is a fantastic film, a movie that gives me the chills every single time, a classic.

Rating: 5/ 5

00s Movie Review - Inside Man

Director: Spike Lee
Genre: Thriller/ Crime/ Drama
Runtime: 129 minutes
Year: 2006
Starring: Denzel Washington, Jodie Foster, Clive Owen, Willem Dafoe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Christopher Plummer

Description: A police detective (Denzel Washington), a bank robber (Clive Owen), and a high-power broker (Jodie Foster) enter high-stakes negotiations after the criminal’s brilliant heist spirals into a hostage situation.  

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2021 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 12: A CRIME THRILLER

Review: A poetic talk by the bank robber, followed by simple yet atmospheric images of New York and a wonderful opening song, make for a good first impression. And director Spike Lee managed to maintain that, leaving the audience with a satisfied feeling at the end. and the plot is not entirely unoriginal, although it deals with a much used subject in Hollywood: a bank robbery.
These bank robbers dress all the hostages in the same clothes they have on: a painter’s overall with hood and a white cloth over the mouth. As a result, detective Keith Frazier has difficulty distinguishing friend from foe. But this is not the only thig. He also has to deal with Madeleine White, who has been hired by the owner of the bank to retrieve something sensitive out of the building. But the reason why the robbers are doing this are not as obvious as they think.
With a great and strong cast like this, it’s easier to make a good movie. Especially Denzel Washington and Clive Owen are really good. Willem Dafoe sadly only has a small role, but makes the best of it.
“Inside Man” is a well-executed film and there is really nothing to complain about.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

00s Movie Review - Panic Room

Director: David Fincher
Genre: Thriller/ Crime/ Drama
Runtime: 112 minutes
Year: 2002
Starring: Jodie Foster, Kristen Stewart, Forest Whitaker, Jared Leto, Dwight Yoakam

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2020 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 41: A MOVIE MADE BY DAVID FINCHER

Description: A divorced woman (Jodie Foster) and her diabetic daughter (Kristen Stewart) take refuge in their newly-purchased house’s panic room, when three men break-in, searching for a missing fortune.

Review: Meg Altman, recently divorced from the rich Stephen, moves into a new house with her daughter Sarah. It is a beautiful building; three floors, hardwood floors, an elevator and… a very special room. The previous owner was a paranoid rich guy who had a shelter build, a so-called panic room. This room has concrete walls with thick steel plates, its own telephone circuit, an intercom system with security cameras and enough supplies to survive a small war. On their first night in the house, Meg and Sarah go to sleep quietly while a big thunderstorm rages outside. They don’t realize that three burglars are accessing their house. The intruders didn’t expect anyone to have inhabited the house, so they are just as surprised. Just in the nick of time Meg and Sarah manage to escape into the panic room, closing themselves in. Meg did forget to connect the separate phone line, which means they are safe from the burglars, but also trapped like rats. Because what the men are looking for, is in that room.  
“Panic Room” is a very exciting thriller. Most outstanding is the flawless camerawork, which looks amazing. But also the editing and directing, combined with an atmospheric soundtrack. From the smoot and beautiful computer-enhanced camera movement through the house, to the oppressive dark cinematography, everything has been done to maximize the tension.
Jodie Foster shows what and excellent actress she is. And so does a very young Kristen Stewart. Forest Whitaker shines as the sympathetic bad guy.
What makes the film so exciting is the interaction between the two ‘camps’ of Meg and Sarah versus the burglars. They keep outsmarting each other and that creates an unprecedented tension. Unfortunately, director David Fincher has not received the praise he deserves with this film. And although movies like “Se7en” and “Fight Club” are of course better and are now modern classics, “Panic Room” is an exciting thriller and an underestimated work of a director in his element.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Reviews - Hotel Artemis

Director: Drew Pearce
Genre: Action/ Crime
Runtime: 93 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Jodie Foster, Sterling K. Brown, Sofia Boutella, Jeff Goldblum, Zachary Quinto, Charlie Day, Dave Bautista, Jenny Slate, Brian Tyree Henry

Description: Set in riot-torn, near-future Los Angeles, 'Hotel Artemis' follows the Nurse (Jodie Foster), who runs a secret, members-only emergency room for criminals.

Review: In future Los Angeles, a civil war is happening. Water is a luxury and when the watersupplies are shut off, riots start. People fighting in the streets, helicopters crashing into buildings and police shooting everything that seems suspicious. For The Nurse, owner of Hotel Artemis, it’s the most normal thing in the world. It’s a place for wounded criminals and according to her the world is in constant war. A place you will never be safe. For her, Hotel Artemis is the only place.
Jodie Foster plays The Nurse, a grumpy and stubborn woman that works with strict rules. Clients get codenames, weapons are forbidden and the most important rule: don’t kill other patients. Off course, all kinds of characters enter her hotel: hitmen, asshole criminals, wounded robbers and frantic sons of mob bosses. Charlie Day plays a fun role and Dave Baustista adds some humor to the film. Foster really does a good job as the charismatic and bossy nurse.
All the flamboyant characters make sure that the well organized life of The Nurse fall apart, bit by bit. And she gets closer to the outside world. The film has a good storyline and manages to add some depth too.
“Hotel Artemis” has a strong cast and it’s a pretty good film.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Battle: District 9 Vs. Elysium

Today I’m comparing two movie by director Neill Blomkamp. He hasn’t directed many movies, but these are his two most well-known and successful ones: District 9 Vs. Elysium.

CAST

District 9: There is only one actor in this movie worth mentioning, Sharlto Copley. Untill then an unknown South African actor. Copley’s performance is solid and believable.

Elysium: Matt Damon is the star and as always he does a great job. Since the Bourne-trilogy he’s a respectable action hero as well as the solid actor he already was. Jodie Foster is a convincing bitch, but her accent is a bit weird. I don’t know what it is, but it sound like something she made up herself. But again, like in “District 9”, Sharlto Copley steals the show. What a badass he is in this movie.

STORY

District 9: It’s a very original story, also written by Neill Blomkamp. I think it’s one of the better realistically looking sci-fi movies of the decade.

Elysium: Again a pretty original plot. Off course there are other versions of this, the poor world versus the rich world, but they way it was executed was very well done.

EFFECTS

District 9: The prawns look very realistic, though the effects are very subtle. I think that’s what’s so great about “District 9”, it’s never over the top.
Elysium: Bigger material used here, a lot of special effects, but it still has that gritty look. Blomkamp used the ‘shaky cam’ which is always a nice thing in action movies. It feels more real, like you’re really there. Again, it never looks like too much.

WINNER

They are both great, but I choose “District 9”. I think it’s the more original one of the two and this is a movie I could watch more than once.

Quotables: "Taxi Driver"

One of the best movies ever made. Recently rewatched it, after way too long. But because it's such an intense movie, you can't just watch it at any time. You really have to pick the right moment to watch "Taxi Driver". And I would love to share some of the great quotes from this film with you.



Travis Bickle: The idea had been growing in my brain for some time: TRUE force. All the king's men cannot put it back together again.

Travis Bickle: I think someone should just take this city and just... just flush it down the fuckin' toilet.

Travis Bickle: The days go on and on... they don't end. All my life needed was a sense of someplace to go. I don't believe that one should devote his life to morbid self-attention, I believe that one should become a person like other people.

Travis Bickle: Loneliness has followed me my whole life. Everywhere. In bars, in cars, sidewalks, stores, everywhere. There's no escape. I'm God's lonely man... June 8th. My life has taken another turn again. The days can go on with regularity over and over, one day indistinguishable from the next. A long continuous chain. Then suddenly, there is a change.

Travis Bickle: Now I see this clearly. My whole life is pointed in one direction. There never has been a choice for me.

Betsy: Taking me to a place like this is about as exciting as saying to me "Let's fuck."

Travis Bickle: I realize now how much she's just like the others, cold and distant, and many people are like that, women for sure, they're like a union.

Travis Bickle: You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? Then who the hell else are you talking... you talking to me? Well I'm the only one here. Who the fuck do you think you're talking to? Oh yeah? OK.

Best of... Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster is ready for every role. She started acting when she was very young and now she has an incredible list of great movies. Here are her best so far.

"Taxi Driver"
Her big break. She played a young prostitute who befriended De Niro's character Travis Bickle. "Taxi Driver" is one of the best movies ever made.

"Freaky Friday"
The original version from 1976 off course, forget the remake with Lilo. Not that this one is such a brilliant film, but way more fun than the second try.

"The Accused"
Although you don't sympathize her character from the beginning, what happens to her is heart-ripping. So cruel, chilling and wrong. Jodie won an Oscar for her role and that's well deserved.

"The Silence of the Lambs"
Her best movie and I don't think she can ever top that. Based on a novel by Thomas Harris and such a great movie. The scene between Clarice Starling and Hannibal Lecter are most memorable. And how creepy is Buffalo Bill? Again an Oscar for Jodie.

"Nell"
Another fantastic performance by Jodie Foster. I haven't seen this movie in a while but I always loved it. It's just amazing how Jodie van get lost in her role so well. By the way, my mom can immitate Nell.

"Contact"
About a woman who is trying to intercept an alien message. The movie has its flaws, but overall it's pretty good. One of the flaws: Matthew McConaughey...

"Panic Room"
What appealed to me the most is the way this movie was filmed. Great cinematography. And with that the film is very exciting, I can watch it over and over again and still feel the same tension.

"Flightplan"
The movie reminded me a bit of "Panic Room". She loses her daughter on a plane and than people tell her the girl was never on board. It's basically Jodie who does the work here.

"The Brave One"
Oh how I loved this movie. Her character is super strong and I really admired her bravery. Jodie is fabulous as Erica Bain. Great movie, great performance.

"Nim's Island"
I always like childrens adventure stories. They open up a whole new world for us adults. Jodie was so over-the-top funny, I really liked seeing this other side of her. And Abigail Breslin and Gerard Butler are amazing too.

I haven't seen "The Beaver" (and probably won't, because it looks ridiculous) and I'm really looking forward to seeing "Carnage".