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Rounders

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  • Title: Rounders
  • IMDB: link

“We can’t run from who we are.  Our destiny chooses us.”

Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) is a struggling law student; he’s also a world class poker player, who, in the film’s opening scene, loses all his money in a high stakes game.

Nine-months later Mike has renounced gambling and made up with his girlfriend (Gretchen Mol).  He works a part time delivery job and works towards a law degree.  Life is hard, but good, though he still misses the game and the thrill of playing.

When Mike’s best friend Worm (Edward Norton) is released from prison with a substantial mark to be paid off Mike finds himself pulled back to the tables.

The story is presented from Mike’s perspective with commentary, which comes and goes, giving us a glimpse into the world of professional gambling and his own views on life.  The story feels authentic and real; at no time does the film cop-out with huge twists or unlikely hands.

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August Rush on DVD

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  • Title: August Rush
  • IMDB: link

“Not everyone can hear it.”

August Rush is the story of an orphan named Evan (Freddie Highmore), a child of two musicians (Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and a musical prodigy, who escapes to New York to search for them.

As Evan, now renamed August Rush, falls in with a band of young street musicians lorded over by a not too stable Robin Williams in a cowboy hat, Lyla (Russell) begins to search for her son as Louis (Meyers) searches for her.  They are brought together in the film’s final moments through the power of music.  For more on the plot of the film read my original review.

For those who missed the film in theaters here’s a nice family friendly rent you all can enjoy.  If you’ve already seen it there’s nothing extra here to make you go back, unless you’d just like to see the film again (and maybe, like me, you’ll like it a better the second time).  Although I’m still bothered by some of the writing of the film, the actors bring these characters to life and raise the bar and make this one worth watching.

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InuYasha the Movie: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass

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  • Title: Inuyasha 2
  • IMDb: link

Inuyasha is still one of my favorite series.  When I mentioned it to a fellow anime-buff, they told me I must watch the subbed versions, not the Adult Swim version.  Way better in his opinion, so I must take that advice and re-watch the entire series.

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Sleuth (Redux)

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“I heard a rumor you wanted to marry my wife.”

In 1972 Michael Caine starred as Milo Tindle, a young man forced into a deadly game of wits when he meets his lover’s husband (Laurence Olivier).  Sleuth remains a favorite of many fans of Caine, and ranks among IMDb’s top 250 films.  This remake does not.

Last year director Kenneth Branagh decided to remake the film enlisting Caine to play the older role this time and casting Jude Law as the new Milo.  The result is a curiosity and although it may be of interest to film students or as a comparison to the original, there’s little to recommend this version on its own merits.

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Akira

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Now here is a classic anime, Akira.  This one is a little older than I like to review, but I figured it was a good time to throw it out there.  If you haven’t heard, they are coming out with a new live action Akira, hopefully they will improve a few things.

This is post World War III, 30 years later to be exact, in Tokyo.  Tokyo was destroyed in the war and Neo-Tokyo was built on the remnants of the old city.  Don’t start thinking this is a paradise, no way, the city is riddled with gangs, crime and shady political characters in office [what’s new about that?].

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