4 Razors

The Ambassador

/ / Home Video
  • Title: The Ambassador
  • IMDb: link

the-ambassador-dvd

A funny film about blood diamonds? As odd as that sounds, it’s exactly what The Ambassador delivers. For his latest work Danish journalist and filmmaker Mads Brügger undertook the challenge to expose the corruption of diplomatic titles sold on the black market and the African conflict diamond trade in the Central African Republic by purchasing a diplomatic title and becoming the newest ambassador for Liberia.

Through the use of hidden cameras Brügger is able to document the alarming amount of corruption, bribes, and backroom dealing for those with enough money the grease the wheels of the corrupt government of the CAR.

Despite good intentions, Brügger is no white knight. The filmmaker never takes a moral stand on the situation, and his involvement only increases the wealth of the corrupt officials he exposes while giving false hope to citizens who believed the man’s cover story of opening a match factory in the region which would have employed hundreds, if not thousands, of workers.

…

The AmbassadorRead More »

The Ambassador Read More »

Lincoln

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Lincoln
  • IMDb: link

lincoln-poster

Director Steven Spielberg‘s follow-up to last year’s disappointing War Horse is a far more personal character study of a single man during one of the most tumultuous times in America’s history. Adapted from Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, rather than give us a Hollywood version of “This is Your Life,” Lincoln chooses to focus on the final four months of Abraham Lincoln‘s presidency and the end of both the Civil War and slavery.

Daniel Day-Lewis carries the movie with yet another strong performance as our title character, and Sally Field is surprisingly terrific in the role of Mary Todd Lincoln. Although there is more going on, much like Paul Thomas Anderson‘s The Master, Spielberg’s movie can really be boiled down to two performances that elevate the story around them.

Tony Kushner‘s script focuses on the law, backdoor politics, and Lincoln’s struggle to reunite the Union and abolish slavery rather than the Civil War, which is only used as a backdrop to the events occurring in Washington D.C.

…

LincolnRead More »

Lincoln Read More »

Covert Affairs – Quicksand

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Covert Affairs – Quicksand
  • tv.com: link

covert-affaris-quicksand

With Auggie deploying to Iraq to be a “battle buddy” for a soldier (Jocko Sims) suffering from post-traumatic stress Annie (Piper Perabo) has to rely on the help of Barber (Dylan Taylor) and Eyal (Oded Fehr) when she is set up in Luxembourg attempting to retreive to possible intelligence from a murder victim she believes to be her former asset (Michelle Nolden). After avoiding capture and making to Zürich alone, Annie reconnects with Eyal, but rather than take a safe trip home the hunted becomes the hunter as the two spies agree to go after Khalid (Haaz Sleiman) together.

…

Covert Affairs – QuicksandRead More »

Covert Affairs – Quicksand Read More »

Hawaii Five-0 – I Ka Wa Mamua

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Hawaii Five-0 – I Ka Wa Mamua
  • tv.com: link

hawaii-five-0-i-ka-wa-mamua

An accidental house explosion leaving the charred, and scattered, remains of a terrorist lead Five-0 to believe other members of his cell are on the island and preparing another bomb. McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin) calls on Catherine (Michelle Borth) to use her connections to find out as much as possible about their dead terrorist as Kono (Grace Park) and Cho (Daniel Dae Kim) investigate the bomb and crime scene leading them another terrorist, bomb making equipment, and several potential targets including the airport, a power plant, a retirement ceremony for a three-star general (John Colton), and schools across the island.

…

Hawaii Five-0 – I Ka Wa MamuaRead More »

Hawaii Five-0 – I Ka Wa Mamua Read More »

Castle – Swan Song

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Castle – Swan Song
  • tv.com: link

castle-swan-song

Beckett (Stana Katic) and Castle (Nathan Fillion) must deal with the intrusion of a documentary crew who decide to make the pair their new stars when the NYPD is called in to investigate the murder of the lead guitarist (Hunter Jackson) of the band they were covering. As Esposito (Jon Huertas) and Castle nearly trip over themselves to play to the camera, Beckett worries what else the crew might get wind of the longer they cover the case.

…

Castle – Swan SongRead More »

Castle – Swan Song Read More »