The toils of women

Movie Review: Irreversible (2002)
Some time ago I commented about movies that were really good but I couldn't watch more than once. Irreversible is another movie like that. It's a French film that plays in reverse, somewhat like the film 'Memento'. However, the characters in Irreversible don't suffer from amnesia and the more we watch the more we learn their motivations for their earlier/later actions. The film opens with a pounding techno beat and an almost sickening, spinning camera. This leads into the first scene very well as we follow two very angry young men as they go deeper and deeper into a sick and twisted gay, S&M club/dungeon. The camera follows them for a long time which enhances the obsessiveness of their search. Eventually they find the man they think they are looking for and a fight ensues. Once again, the camera never stops as the brutal ending of the scrap drags on and on and on. It's very tough to watch. It isn't until at least the halfway point of the film, as it moves backwards chronologically, that we learn what prompted their desire for revenge. A woman they care for is raped and beaten in a downtown underpass. As with the earlier violence, the camera once again shows every agonizing second of this assault. It goes on for a very long time and we can't escape the brutality anymore than the poor woman can. Thankfully, the remainder of the film shows the characters involved in scenes of love and friendship. Many of the things they say and do are glaringly prophetic/ironic considering what happens to them all. It's a very powerful movie that was brilliantly put together. Watch at your own risk though. This is certainly not a date movie. 8.5/10

Movie Review: Monster (2003)
It's no wonder that Charlize Theron won the Oscar for Best Actress for this movie. What a performance, I would never have guessed it was her in the lead role. Kudos to her for not just allowing herself to appear this way, but really becoming the character. This movie is based on the true story of Aileen Wuornos, a Daytona Beach prostitute who became a serial killer and was eventually executed. It's the sad tale of a woman who is abused throughout her life and ends up killing her Johns. Christina Ricci is also very good as the lesbian lover who ultimately betrays Aileen to the police. 8/10

Movie Review: Girl With a Pearl Earring (2003)
Based on the fictional book of the same name by Tracy Chevalier. A friend had lent me this book a few years ago to read. The movie is very much in sync with the book. It gives a fictional account of a young woman working as a servant for the painter Johannes Vermeer and how she becomes the model in his famous painting called 'Girl with a Pearl Earring.' Despite her low position in society she really 'connects' with her artist employer. This connection is not romantic at all but she also has an artistic soul. Just like the book, this movie is very well done with good acting, good costumes and great sets. It is an interesting human drama that seems very realistic. 7/10

TV Review: 24 Season 5 (2006)
I've watched all the previous seasons of 24 and this one is probably one of the best. However, the same old formula is really starting to wear thin on me. The 'shock ending' from last season really didn't have much of an impact here. Here are some of the things you can expect in season 5, that have happened in nearly every other season:

1) there will be a mole in CTU
2) CTU security will be compromised
3) Kim Bauer will show up for no reason (other than to be put in harm's way briefly)
4) Jack will demonstrate his mastery over all fields & specialties
5) CTU leadership will change hands several times
6) Clowie will be able to hack into anything, anywhere, at any time
7) Jack will always find 1, and only 1, important clue at each encounter with a suspect
8) someone will be wrongfully tortured at CTU