Prisoners

Be prepared, that was the best advice Keller Dover received from his father. A hurricane, a flood can happen, or any misfortune that makes people lose control. However, no precaution is good enough  when the worst nightmare a parent can face, the kidnapping of your own daughter, actually happens. In this unfortunate situation the question posed by the viewer is obvious: how far would a father be willing to go to save her? Keller has it very clear. Without too much trust in the police, rabid and driven by the basic need to save his little girl, his determination will make him cross the line.

Argo

Most successful spy films usually develop around impossible missions, conducted with the most spectacular resources ever seen and with glamorous fighters capable of defeating a small army with their own hands as main characters. The actual espionage, I believe, cannot be like that.

A History of Violence

David Cronenberg is not really a sociologist. With films like "Scanners" and "The Fly", this Canadian filmmaker often moves between science fiction and horror. Its greatest virtue is his ability to create disturbing situations that test the balance of his characters.

Chloe

"Chloe" is hired by Dr. Catherine Stewart to seduce her husband David, who has no interest in her anymore and even seems to be having an affair with a student. Her strategy is to confirm that her spouse cheating on her.

The Lovely Bones

Susie Salmon is 14 and with a lifetime ahead, but one day she is brutally murdered. From her heaven, Susie will observe how the pain gradually destroys little by little her family, while the murderer goes unpunished and ready to act again. Susie must choose between her thirst for revenge and the recovering of her family.

American Psycho

From the opening scenes, the director Mary Harron presents the world of this New York yuppie from the 80's. A pretentious man who likes attending expensive restaurants to be seen in and that he can show off, with the obsession of his appearance that makes everyone surrounding Bateman look identical to each other.

Shutter Island

In a remote psychiatric facility on an island, two police officers must find the whereabouts of Rachel Solando, a violent inmate who has disappeared from her cell. The atmosphere in the hostile prison and a storm outside underlines the sense of confinement. The double whistle of a ferry is the only communication with the outside world.

Unknown

Dr. Martin Harris arrives to Berlin accompanied by his wife to give a lecture on biotechnology. When registering at the hotel, he says he has forgotten one of his bags at the airport, so he takes a cab to go get it.

At the height of Oberbaumbrücke, however, he suffers an accident in which he gets close to death after falling into the icy waters of the river Spree. After a few days in a coma and after regaining his memory, he realizes that neither his wife nor anyone else is looking for him, and even worse, that another man has taken his place next to his wife and colleagues, while his disappearance did not call their attention at all. The only thing that seems out of place is himself, who nonetheless is living an incomprehensible nightmare.

Inland Empire

On the eve of getting her first major starring role in several years, the veteran actress Nikki Grace receives in her Beverly Hills mansion the visit of a ghost. The ghost is the somewhat sinister, ugly and old neighbour from the house at the end of the street: it is actually a Polish actress of the 40’s, who died at the end of shooting a film in Warsaw that never got out.

Lady Vengeance (Chinjeolhan geumjassi)

Be methodical. It makes no sense to improvise, because then the instinct prevails, perverting the act, in-humanizing it.

Methodical, I repeat. One step at a time. High heels. Shadows on the eyes. Every gesture, every movement, linked to a particular purpose. Everything has a reason. The plan for everything. The plan as the beginning and the end. The plan contrasted to the plan. First I decide it and then it governs me. I look at the map, keep on walking.

Buffalo 66

"Buffalo 66" tells the story of a revenge that gradually transforms into a truncated love story. Billy gets out of jail, prepared to end the life of a football player who made him lose all his money with a fixed game.

Layla comes out of nowhere; she is a friendly ghost with big shiny eyes that stands between Billy and his bitter gazer, uncontrollable incomprehensible anger, his frustration and urgent search for a bathroom to urinate. The meeting will be providential. Layla will provide Billy with what he just needs after years of being ignored and despised: a little attention, a smile, a hug in bed before sleeping. Billy will escape terrified from her sweetness in search of his beloved vengeance, promising her to return.

The Constant Gardener

The Constant Gardener tells the story of Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes), a British diplomat in love with nature, especially plants. Justin is a man somewhat introverted but complacent, who, despite believing in his ideals, does almost nothing to rebel against his  monotonous and hypocritical working life.

Take Shelter

"Take Shelter" is a film of a bizarre beauty. One of the most touching recent dramas, one of the most shocking thrillers, and if you can appreciate it, a bottomless pit of references, metaphors, subtleties.

Because "Take Shelter" is one of those films that creates fascination, whose final scenes connect with the first ones, scenes that can generate in the viewer vivid dreams and visions on an endless loop. It is also a “world movie”, with an impeccable visual consistency, capable of building a powerful imaginarium.

The Grey

"The Grey" tells us the story of a group of workers at an oil company in Alaska. When the plane that was transporting them crashes in the snow, they try to survive the inhospitable cold and particularly a pack of wolves.

The premise of this film does not sound very exciting. But the dialogues, performances and especially the technical execution make it one of the best films I've seen so far this year.

Man on a Ledge

A man called Walter enters the Roosevelt Hotel, located in the center of the city of New York. After settling himself in the room, he decides to go out through the window and stand on the ledge of the building with the intention of committing suicide. As you can imagine, there is more behind this simple maneuver and somehow worth exploring for the rapid pace at which events are unmasked.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

When was the last time that you eat? Because David Fincher has prepared something that might not be for sensitive stomachs. Let’s talk about the awesome thriller that Niels Arden Oplev manufactured for the movie screens based on the novel by Stieg Larsson and let’s recall the unpleasant sensations that led Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) to collaborate with the journalist in disgrace Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig). She, an abused woman, beaten and taken to the limits, knew she had the power, intelligence and strength to counter attack situations like the ones that had happened to her. The film states Lisabeth’s strenghts clearly through the manipulation of the action; but also we see that the feature more than just them.