Maxim's Movie Reviews and Opinions Blog

Taken (2008)

This action thriller is directed by Pierre Morel, who is mostly known for his work as cinematographer (War (2007), Love and other disasters (2006), The Transporter (2002)). Of course, a French director could not make an action movie without the best French [...]

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Frost/Nixon (2008)

A great movie by Oscar-winning director and producer Ron Howard (Changeling (2008), The Da Vinci Code (2006), Cindirella Man (2005), A Beautiful Mind (2001), How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)) starring Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Sam Rockwell and Kevin Bacon based on the [...]

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Transsiberian (2008)

The plot: An American couple, Roy (Woody Harrelson) and Jessie (Emily Mortimer) take a 7-day train ride from China, where they completed  a church humanitarian mission, to Moscow on Trans-Siberian railroad. On the train they meet another young couple, a Spaniard Carlos (Eduardo [...]

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RocknRolla (2008)

This is the first installment of director Guy Ritchie’s trilogy, also written by him.
The plot: When Russian mobster sets up a real-estate scam in London, all the underworld characters appear to get their share of the multi-million euro deal up for [...]

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Pineapple Express (2008)

After Seth Rogen and his buddy Evan Goldberg wrote the script for Superbad when they were 15 years old, they also were itching to write a script for an action movie, but with a twist. Nobody has done this before: if an [...]

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Enemy of the State (1998) DVD

Ridley Scott’s brother Tony directed this action flick starring Will Smith, Jon Voight, Gene Hackman, Lisa Bonet, Jack Black, Gabriel Byrne, and . He’s also known for producing series Numb3rs and The Company and films like Assassination of [...]

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The Bank Job (2008)

This is an excellent heist movie based on real events. Directed by Roger Donaldson (The World’s Fastest Indian, The Recruit, Thirteen Days, Dante’s Peak, Species etc.). Written by Dick Clement (Across the Universe, Flushed Away) and Ian La Frenais (also [...]

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I live in LA, and I remember a recent “episode” that was all over local news when a security camera noticed the ambulance pull over in Skid Row and dump a lady with head trauma with almost no clothes on the street. The [...]

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Beowulf (2007)

Just came out of the theatre. Saw it in both regular and 3D. This movie should only be seen in 3D! Completely different experience.
The plot is based on the only known surviving Anglo-Saxon poetry manuscript about a warrior Beowulf, hero of Geats [...]

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This new classic in the gangster genre was directed by legendary director and producer Ridley Scott. Denzel Washington plays Manhattan drug-king-pin-turned-informer Frank Lucas, who was a driver, bodyguard and confidant for one of the Harlem’s crime bosses, and replaced him after boss died in the late 60s. Frank Lucas came up with a novel way to import and distribute heroin. Russel Crowe plays a NYPD officer Richie Roberts. Both men have something in common: each one are religeously following their ethical code, but on opposite sides of the law.
All performances were really strong, from main characters to every last supporting actor. Very entertaining film despite 2 hours 40 minutes run time. Soundtrack was awesome.

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Pretty good movie, with a lof of similarities to Mystic River – a novel also written by Denis Lehane. I recommend to see it. It could be the “Crash” of 2007.

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Anyone can use archive footage and narate it with dramatic voice and music, but this documentary feels like a college-grad’s essay. Worth watching but don’t expect much.

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Shoot ‘Em Up (2007)

Saw it just 30 minutes ago.
The plot: Mr. Smith (Clive Owen) is sitting at the bus stop, minding his business and chewing on his carrot (well, everybody has a habit, and this guy loves carrots, which he grows in his [...]

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