The Debt

A remake of the 2007 Israeli film directed by Assaf Bernstein. This movie is filmed with many flashback sequences that retell the story of three Mossad Intelligence agents sent into Germany to kidnap a surgeon who performed horrible experiments on Jews during WWII. The plan is to smuggle him out of Germany and into Isreal so he can finally be put on trial for his heinous crimes, but somewhere between timing and human emotion, the plan goes awry. Although this is a political film, the three character development is a huge part of the film. It was quite disappointing when the three agents lost their captive, but the biggest disappointment of the film was the horrible damage caused to all three of the agents' lives due to their actions. It's one of those films that makes you want to rewind it back to the beginning and on watching it a second time, hope that the characters make the decisions that they should have all along, but they never do. The attraction and emotions between Jessica Chastain's character and Sam Worthington's were more than believable, which made this movie mildly depressing to watch. I really enjoyed this film for several different reasons, but mostly because of its emphasis on the past and the inability to go back in time to change events that we wish we could.

Flipped

The newest movie directed by Rob Reiner is based on the novel "Flipped" by Wendelin Van Draanen. The point of view constantly switches from Bryce to Julie; two children living in a suburban neighborhood in the 1950's. The switching POV illustrates two perspectives of the same events. As the story unfolds, the two characters relationship develops and the two fall in love even though there are periods when the two think negatively of each other. There aren't a lot of films shot like this, but I very much enjoyed getting both sides of the story in every instance. A good watch for the family

The Romantics

I just watched the Romantics, starring Katie Holmes Josh Duhamel, Anna Paquin, Malin Akerman, Elijah Wood, Candice Bergen, and Adam Brody. It was written/directed by Galt Neiderhoffer and based on a novel she wrote. It's categorized as a Romantic Comedy, but it's really more of a drama. It was good to see Katie Holmes out from under Tom Cruise's thumb for once. She was actually very good in the role and the most likable character in the film. So the basic gist of the movie is seven people who were best friends in college reunite for the wedding of two of those friends. The two getting married are Josh Duhamel and Anna Paquin. However, Josh Duhamel's character still has feelings for Katie Holmes' character whom he had a four year relationship with and who happens to be the Maid of Honor at his wedding. It is revealed that this group of friends gained the name, "The Romantics" in college for dating each other repeatedly. And it seems that even after growing up and leaving college they still can't get enough of each other. The mention of John Keats' poetry also adds to the meaning of the title. For a movie with so many notable actors, it was lacking plot and any sort of resolution. Its portrayal of human desire and selfishness is slightly depressing as well. I probably wouldn't watch it a second time, but it definitely had its moments.