Passion

 My Rating:

IMDb Users:

(2012)

Genre: Drama/Thriller

Director: Brian De Palma

Writers: Brian De Palma, Natalie Carter, Alain Corneau

Producers: Sylvie Barthet, Saïd Ben Saïd, Sarah Borch-Jacobsen, Kevin Chneiweiss, Alfred Hürmer

Synopsis: From screenwriter/director Brian De Palma (The Black Dahlia, The Untouchables, Scarface), PASSION stars leading-actress Rachel McAdams and the talented Noomi Rapace. Based on the 2010 French thriller Love Crime, PASSION tells the enthralling story of a deadly power struggle between two women in the dog-eat-dog world of international business. -- (Written by Entertainment One)

Cast:

• Noomi Rapace
• Rachel McAdams

IMDb - Passion

Babycall

 My Rating:

IMDb Users:

(2011)

Language: Norwegian/Swedish

Genre: Thriller

Director: Pål Sletaune

Writer: Pål Sletaune

Producers: Karl Baumgartner, Anna Croneman, Turid Øversveen

Synopsis: After escaping an abusive husband Anna and her 8 year old son move to a secret location in a giant apartment building. Terrified that her ex-husband will find them she buys a baby monitor to keep in her son's room at all times. But strange noises echo in the baby monitor from elsewhere in the building. As she witnesses the sounds of what she believes is another child being murdered she fears it is her own. Reliving the nightmare she recently escaped Anna will need to figure out what's real and what isn't before she loses her sanity and her child. -- (Written by IMDb Editors)

Cast:

• Noomi Rapace
• Kristoffer Joner
• Vetle Qvenild Werring

IMDb - Babycall

Prometheus (jhunterfilmreview)

 My Rating:

 IMDb Users:

(2012)

Genre: Sci-Fi/Thriller/Adventure

Director: Ridley Scott

Writers: Jon Spaihts, Damon Lindelof

Producers: Michael Costigan, Michael Ellenberg, David Giler, Walter Hill, Mark Huffam, Teresa Kelly, Nikolas Korda, Damon Lindelof, Ridley Scott, Tony Scott

 

Nominee

Synopsis: Ridley Scott, director of Alien and Blade Runner, returns to the genre he helped define. With Prometheus, he creates a groundbreaking mythology, in which a team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a thrilling journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race. -- (Written by 20th Century Fox)

Cast:

• Noomi Rapace
• Michael Fassbender
• Charlize Theron
• Guy Pearce
• Idris Elba
• Logan Marshall-Green

IMDB - Prometheus

jhunterfilmreview: Upon hearing that a new Ridley Scott sci-fi film was imminent, I immediately found it difficult to control my excitement. I am a huge fan of the Alien saga - particularly Alien, Aliens and Alien: Resurrection. Then I saw the cast, and I instantly knew this would be one of, if not the most anticipated film for me this year. After conducting a little research on this exciting new motion picture, I discovered that Prometheus was to be a sci-fi/thriller and a sort of 'quasi-prequel' to the Alien saga. Furthermore, the film was to boast an amazing cast including two of my favourite female actors; Noomi Rapace (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Babycall), and Charlize Theron (Monster, Æon Flux, Young Adult). 

The film is set in the year 2089, where the protagonist Dr. Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and a team of scientists discover ancient cave paintings which match other artefacts from several unconnected ancient cultures. They interpret the pattern as a map and sort of invitation from humanity's forerunners, the 'Engineers'. Peter Weyland's (Guy Pearce - Memento, L.A. Confidential, The Hurt Locker) Weyland corporation funds the creation of the scientific vessel 'Prometheus', and the expedition to follow the map to distant moon LV-223. While the ship's crew travels in stasis, an android named David (Michael Fassbender - Shame, A Dangerous Method, Inglourious Basterds) monitors their voyage. Arriving in 2093, the crew are informed of their mission - to find the Engineers, but to avoid making contact without the permission of mission directer, Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron).

Prometheus is an extremely ambitious project which I feel may have suffered from the pulling of (and often relying on) the strings of anticipation a bit too much. Not only this, but the film's main weakness is its screenplay. Written by John Spaihts and David Lindelof, it somewhat fails to develop some key characters and aspects of the narrative, leaving a lot of its big questions unanswered.

Ok so the film is not perfect…but there are SO many amazing and jaw-dropping aspects which make it a thoroughly entertaining sci-fi flick. For one, the production design and visual effects are beyond stunning. Production designer Arthur Max led the film's design crew. His team were tasked with deconstructing the art direction and visuals of Alien, and reverse-designing them for the chronologically earlier setting of Prometheus. The film was shot using 3D cameras throughout, almost entirely on practical sets, and on location in England, Iceland, Spain and Scotland. The out-of-this-world (pun intended) 1,300 digital visual effects shots are the works of a combination of different effects studios, including Moving Picture Company and Weta Digital. Prometheus also features a number of compelling performances from its cast. Particularly Michael Fassbender as the scrupulous Weyland android, David.

If I had to pick my favourite scene, it would be without a doubt the intense surgery scene featuring Rapace. The emotional intensity that she brought to what is intentionally an absurd sci-fi scenario, felt real, gritty, grounded and horrifying. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this highly ambitious and visually stunning film. Due to its occasional scripting hiccup however, I recommend it only to those who aren't opposed to a little 'Why?' in their sci-fi.

I give this film 8 stars.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

 My Rating:

 IMDb Users:

(2011)

Genre: Action/Adventure

Director: Guy Ritchie

Writers: Michele Mulroney, Kieran Mulroney, Arthur Conan Doyle

Producers: Bruce Berman, Steve Clark-Hall, Susan Downey, Ethan Erwin, Peter Eskelsen, Dan Lin, Lauren Meek, Joel Silver, Lionel Wigram

Synopsis: Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) has always been the smartest man in the room...until now. There is a new criminal mastermind at large-Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris)-and not only is he Holmes' intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil, coupled with a complete lack of conscience, may actually give him an advantage over the renowned detective. When the Crown Prince of Austria is found dead, the evidence, as construed by Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan), points to suicide. But Sherlock Holmes deduces that the prince has been the victim of murder-a murder that is only one piece of a larger and much more portentous puzzle, designed by Professor Moriarty. The cunning Moriarty is always one step ahead of Holmes as he spins a web of death and destruction-all part of a greater plan that, if he succeeds, will change the course of history. -- (Written by Warner Bros.)

Cast:

• Robert Downey Jr.
• Jude Law
• Noomi Rapace
• Rachel McAdams
• Jared Harris
• Stephen Fry

IMDb - Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

 My Score:

 IMDb Users:

(2009)

Language: Swedish

Genre: Drama/Thriller

Director: Daniel Alfredson

Writer: Ulf Ryberg, Stieg Larsson

Synopsis: After taking a bullet to the head, Salander is under close supervision in a hospital and is set to face trial for attempted murder on her eventual release. With the help of journalist Mikael Blomkvist and his researchers at Millennium magazine, Salander must prove her innocence. In doing this she plays against powerful enemies and her own past. (Written by Anonymous)  

Cast:

• Noomi Rapace
• Michael Nyqvist
• Lena Endre

 

IMDb - The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest