Intimate Strangers

This is an extraordinary film, especially in the age of instant gratification seems to be norm, or so it seems at least on the screen. Throughout the film, we, just like the tax lawyer himself who is initially mistaken as a psychiatrist, are only allowed limited access to the two protagonists. We could only see what he sees inside his office, and the whole story is like a myth yet to be decoded with the motivation of the two protagonists never made clear to us, not even until the last moment. Although we could perhaps indeed put a label such as the attractiveness of the opposite to the story. The soundtrack is brilliant in giving the story almost a hint of thriller, like that in a Hitchcock film, in particular his Vertigo.

(500) Days of summer

I have first seen Zooey Deschanel in an offbeat Winter Passing, in which she plays a confused and lost girl but is eventually able to pick up the pieces through a belated visit to her hermit novelist father. Though the DVD jumped at a number of scenes, I love this (500) Days of Summer almost instantly for its unusual storytelling. And I believe that part of its charm also lies in the enigmatic charisma of Zooey and the understated chemistry between her and her screen romantic lead.

Dangerous Liaisons

This is one of those films that I wasn't sure if I had watched it or not and then once the film started I quickly recalled quite a lot of it.

I am not sure I knew of its significance when I first viewed it. I have to admit that I didn't expected much when I put this on but was gripped by it for the strength of the script and the strong performance across the ensemble.

Waterboys

This is a funny and heartwarming film about five high school boys who take on an unlikely activity, synchronised swimming, and surprise everybody, including themselves in the process. I knew it should be good when it says it is from the same producer of Shall We Dance? but didn't realise it could be so good and hilariously funny until I reached the final moment.

The girl from Monaco

This is the sort of film that doesn't tell you anything new and yet you are nevertheless gripped by the storytelling and the magnetic performance given by its stars. In this instance, it is the dilemma suffered by the ageing attorney and the performance by enigmatic Roschdy Zem and sexy Louise Bourgoin that has made the whole experience so thrilling.

Eternal summer

It was a long while since I watched such a captivating Taiwanese film with a tight script and natural and convincing performance from the ensemble. I had seen it on the shelf many times and yet due to my allergy with Taiwanese media products as a whole, I had not been keen to watch it. This made me wonder what I have missed in the process.

Welcome to Dongmakgol

I tend to find 'blockbusters' dull and too eager to please but this one is a breath of fresh air.

People from different backgrounds and with conflicting ideologies had to stay together before going their separate ways. Gradually though under the influence of the pacific villagers, they found their inner desire for peace and learnt to appreciate each other as just human beings.

There are many clever use of minor characters or proms for character depiction purpose. The role of a 'crazy girl', the boar are just two of the most distinguishing ones that showcase how humour and humanity can be intertwined into a film about, on first appearance, conflict and war.