This riveting documentary depicts former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger as a warmonger responsible for military cover-ups in Vietnam, Cambodia and East Timor, as well as the assassination of a Chilean leader in 1970. Based on a book by journalist Christopher Hitchens, the film includes interviews with historians, political analysts and such journalists as New York Times writer William Safire, a former Nixon speechwriter.

As a person who has watched way too much Star Trek, two things from watching this documentary stand out. Absolute power corrupts absolutely and the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one. I am fascinated with both Richard M. Nixon and Henry Kissinger as their admirers and haters agree on one thing, brilliant political minds. In this movie you do hear both sides and it is up to the viewer to decide if he is a war criminal.

I normally don’t do this but I am going to share my opinion on the subject. I do believe he can be considered a war criminal. I think he is a monster created by another monster (escaping Nazi Germany at an early age) and it is such a depressing tragedy.

This is a good movie but I have to caution that I found myself extremely sad after watching it. I am giving it 3.5 stars.

I am going to watch Airplane! (1980) now which always cheers me up. “Surely you can’t be serious. I am serious… and don’t call me Shirley.”

Click here for the Netflix link in case you would like to add it to your queue.

All the best,

Alan
Alan Zibluk
The Internet Guy
Cell: (203) 500-3834
E-mail: al@alzibluk.com

Partners in crime Paulie (Ethan Hawke) and Brian (Mark Ruffalo) find themselves at odds after years of pulling dangerous jobs, surviving turf wars and evading a determined detective (Donnie Wahlberg) in this gritty crime drama set in South Boston. The childhood buddies have gone through the wringer together, but when Brian’s relationship with his wife (Amanda Peet) begins to fall apart, their loyal friendship is tested.

This is based on a true story of Brian Goodman who plays the part of Pat Kelly. Mark Ruffalo plays him here. This film has a great setup and really good ending which I was satisfied with. I wasn’t too crazy about how the middle played out. I felt the movie spent too much time on Brian’s downfall and not enough time on his redemption. I liked the friendship of the Paulie and Brian characters. I was moved. I am giving this one 3 stars.

I like actor Mark Ruffalo. I thought he was good in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Zodiac and Collateral. I am glad his career survived In the Cut (the movie Megan Ryan went topless in).

Click here for the Netflix link in case you would like to add it to your queue.

All the best,

Alan
Alan Zibluk
The Internet Guy
Cell: (203) 500-3834
E-mail: al@alzibluk.com

Journalist Rachel Armstrong (Kate Beckinsale) turns Washington on its ear when she outs a casual acquaintance (Vera Farmiga) as a CIA agent. The government’s formidable prosecutor (Matt Dillon) sends Rachel to jail for contempt, where she discovers the true impact of her decision. David Schwimmer and Alan Alda co-star in this drama from Rod Lurie, the politically savvy filmmaker behind The Contender and “Commander in Chief.”

The only good thing I have to say about this movie is that I learned about The Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982. It felt more like a Lifetime original movie than a political thriller. It is a sad story, I did not like the characters and the dialogue was uneven. I should have taken a better look at who was in this film before I added this to my Netflix queue as I try to avoid anything with David Schwimmer (grudgingly I will admit he was okay in Curb Your Enthusiasm). I am giving this one 2.2 stars. I did not like this movie however I did like the song at end Nothing but the truth by Coby Brown.

Although I did not like this film, you can click here for the Netflix link to add it to your queue.

Alan
Alan Zibluk
The Internet Guy
Cell: (203) 500-3834
E-mail: al@alzibluk.com

Your Internet Celebrity Movie Review — The Informant! (2009)

While gathering evidence against his institutional employer to help the FBI build a price-fixing conspiracy case, affable agribusiness executive Mark Whitacre (Matt Damon) begins to piece together a fantasy world of his own. Scott Bakula, Joel McHale and Melanie Lynskey co-star in Steven Soderbergh’s dark comedy, which is based on Kurt Eichenwald’s acclaimed nonfiction book about the true-life Corporate America whistle-blower.

This movie is based on a true story. The events were so bizarre it is treated as a dark comedy. There were times it felt like a public service message about bipolar disorder. Some moments were so absurd I could not help myself from laughing. I think most people would not like this movie but I am giving this one 3 stars. Matt Damon did an impressive job.

Alan
Alan Zibluk
The Film Movie Critic
http://www.filmmoviecritic.com
Home: (203) 393-9630
Cell: (203) 500-3834

Your Internet Celebrity Movie Review — Avatar (2009)

Disabled Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) travels to planet Pandora to become an avatar, ingratiate himself with the natives and help Americans mine lucrative unobtainium. But he finds himself in an interstellar conflict after falling for Na’vi warrior Neytiri (Zoe Saldana). James Cameron writes and directs this Golden Globe-winning CGI odyssey that has broken box office records. Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang co-star.

Wow! Normally I don’t like long movies but in this case it was necessary for story development. This belongs on the shelf with other long classic movies like Gone with the Wind, The Godfather 1 and 2 (not part 3) and The Deer Hunter. I really liked the Sigourney Weaver character. It was a cross from Ripley in Alien to Dian Fossey in Gorillas in the Mist. I am easily giving this one 5 stars. I would give it more if I could.

Alan
Alan Zibluk
The Film Movie Critic
http://www.filmmoviecritic.com
Home: (203) 393-9630
Cell: (203) 500-3834

Your Internet Celebrity Movie Review — Up in the Air (2009)

Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) racks up miles flying around the country firing employees on behalf of companies. But he faces losing the job he savors to recent college grad Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) — and losing the ability to escape emotional ties to anything. A connection he builds with Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga), however, might change his outlook on the future. Golden Globe winner Jason Reitman’s smart comedy also stars Jason Bateman.

I really liked this movie. There were some funny lines where I did laugh like when George Clooney was stereotyping people at the airport. It was also sad seeing people losing their jobs. It was a good mix. This was a good fit for me as I have done quite a few trips where I did live out of a suitcase. I am curious about the underlying message in this. Is it better to be attached or detached from other people in our lives? I am giving this one 4 stars.

Alan
Alan Zibluk
The Film Movie Critic
http://www.filmmoviecritic.com
Home: (203) 393-9630
Cell: (203) 500-3834

Your Internet Celebrity Movie Review — Aberdeen (2000)

Kaisa (Lena Headey), a beautiful and feisty Scottish woman, finally has her life together — at least until her mother (Charlotte Rampling) asks an enormous favor: to bring back to her Kaisa’s estranged, larger-than-life father (Stellan Skarsgard). The two of them, father and daughter together, set out on a wild, brutally funny yet heartbreaking journey, which takes them through their emotional past before reaching their ultimate destination.

This is wonderfully written and acted but depressing road trip movie. As a favor to her dying mother, a young successful lawyer must find her alcoholic father who abandoned them when she was a child. As they travel together, they face both the past and present. This is not a Hollywood feel good reunion movie. This is more harsh and messy. I think every alcoholic should see this movie.

Your Internet Celebrity is giving this one 4 stars.

Alan
Alan Zibluk
The Film Movie Critic
http://www.filmmoviecritic.com
Home: (203) 393-9630
Cell: (203) 500-3834

Exiled to a branch office for six weeks, two white-collar middle managers (Matt Malloy and Aaron Eckhart, in his breakout role) come up with a way to kill time: Find an insecure woman, independently romance her and then simultaneously dump her to squelch her self-esteem. Writer-director Neil LaBute’s powerful, amoral look at office politics and sexual gamesmanship is guaranteed to push buttons with its searing, cruel candor.

I do not classify this movie as a comedy as it is one of the darkest, cruelest things I have ever seen. It is downright nasty but that is the intent. This movie made Aaron Eckhart’s career and he is perfect as Chad who can be both despicable and charismatic at the same time. The only complaint most people have about this film is the cinematography. It was low budget. I am giving it 3 stars.

Alan
Alan Zibluk
The Film Movie Critic
http://www.filmmoviecritic.com
Home: (203) 393-9630
Cell: (203) 500-3834

Julia Roberts and Clive Owen co-star in this curveball-throwing thriller as a pair of romantically involved corporate operatives who are entangled in a bitter rivalry between two mammoth pharmaceutical companies. Paul Giamatti and Tom Wilkinson convincingly round out the heavyweight cast as warring big pharma CEOs in this intriguing espionage effort from writer-director Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton).

This is not a bad movie. I enjoyed the whole corporate espionage story and thought Paul Giamatti was a hoot. There is plenty of betrayal, backstabbing and paranoia. It comes down to who is playing who and I was satisfied with the end. I am giving this one 3 stars.

Alan
Alan Zibluk
The Film Movie Critic
http://www.filmmoviecritic.com
Home: (203) 393-9630
Cell: (203) 500-3834

After coming within one question of winning it all on the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?,” 18-year-old Mumbai “slumdog” Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) is arrested on suspicion that he cheated his way to the top. While in custody, he regales a jaded inspector (Irfan Khan) with remarkable tales of his life on the streets and the story of the woman (Freida Pinto) he loved and lost. Danny Boyle directs this Oscar-winning Best Picture.

This is a very good suspenseful movie. It was upsetting at times. The game show was a brilliant plot device. If you enjoy this movie I would also recommend Cidade de Deus (aka City of God). Cidade de Deus is in subtitles but in my opinion a little better than this. I am giving Slumdog Millionaire 4.4 stars. Cidade de Deus is one of the few movies I gave 5 stars. The balcony is now closed.

Alan
Alan Zibluk
The Film Movie Critic
http://www.filmmoviecritic.com
Home: (203) 393-9630
Cell: (203) 500-3834