First of all, you can’t really go wrong with a cast like this. Even if the movie was horrible you’d still have a cast that could save a movie like this. But, this movie is far from bad. Instead we get a look at the Shanghai streets just months before the incidents at Pearl Harbor. The movie centers around secret agent Paul Soames, played by John Cussack in an ‘auto-pilot’ kinda way. Soames makes his way to Shanghai because his friend and co-secret agent was killed. It’s up to Paul Soames to find the people responsible for it.

At 45 years of age Gong Li looks absolutely stunning

In a way this movie feels like it’s an hommage to the classic film-noir genre. The movie is basically a gangster/detective flick with that black and white feel of the 1940′s. I feel this movie properly includes the classic noirish themes of the 40′s – 50′s that gave the classic films the reputation they have now. Director Mikael Håfström does a great job to bring the pre-occupied Shanghai to life. With almost no CGI and plenty of ‘real’ sets and extra’s it’s a great change of pace from those movies that are filled with explosions every two seconds.

As said before. The actors do an exceptional job. Cussack kinda under the radar with this role of secret agent. He has this calmness and subtleness over him. The stunning Gong Li plays the role of ‘mysterious’ woman. She has that sultry, mysterious look in her eyes and you can’t take your eyes off of her. Can you imagine she’s 45 years old? Damn. She ages to gracefully and still looks like a babe to me. The two support actors are no slouches either. I even saw some glimpses of old John Woo movies when Chow Yun-Fat busted out the gun and layed some bodies down. And Ken Watanabe has that sinister vibe in him as the film’s main bad guy, though he adds a certain class to his villainous character.

Chow Yun-Fat showed some glimpses of 'Inspecter Tequila'

This is an enjoyable movie, and it captures that sense of mystery, mistrust, betrayal and fear that you experience during an espionage film. Though this isn’t essentially a war film in that it’s main focus is about blowing up people etc, it is about the struggle of invasion and the effects it has on the people. View this movie as a throwback to the classic film-noir genre with an outstanding cast and production value. People new to the film-noir genre: give this time capsule thriller a chance.

Rating: ★★★★★★★

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvpAdG54fZM

In case you want know get some more info. Read on…
Confessions starts with an impressive 30 minute intro, meticulously revealing the bottom line of the film. A young female teacher is quitting her job after finding out that her daughter’s death was no mere accident, but premeditated murder by two of her very own students. As the boys haven’t reached the age of 14 yet they are protected by the Japanese law and they cannot be punished, so she has to find more creative ways to get back at them. And believe me, she does.

Takako Matsu plays the chilling teacher Yuko Moriguchi

This is really all I can say about the plot without spoiling it. I have to give director Tetsuya Nakashima major props because he delivers a quality movie with exceptional social commentary. On the surface this movie looks kinda like a mainstream revenge flick. The main difference is that the revenge is geared towards children. You don’t get that sense of victory or positive feeling when Miss Moriguchi gets her revenge. Certainly not like when Oh-Dae Su kicks major ass in the revenge movie Oldboy. This movie is way, way to dark and depressing for that.

The soundtrack deserves major credit too. Very atmospheric music that is closely tailored to the editing within each scene. The intro is a superb example of audiovisual film making, with sounds dropping left and right, only to return after sharp cuts and change of perspectives. I wouldn’t have minded if the whole film had played in that single classroom, it was that dense and gripping.

You want revenge? Oh, you gonna get it with this movie

The acting is stellar, with Takako Matsu leading the pack. She portrays the teacher with an icy sense of anger that’s quite simply frightening. Also nothing but praise for the rest of the young cast. They play an important part in making the rather far-fetched story believable. Quite a feat for such a young group of actors.

I can wholeheartedly say that this is one of the best movies of 2010, maybe even THE best I’ve seen. And I’m sure this movie will be in my top 10 movies all time. Yeah, It’s that good!

Rating: ★★★★★★★★★

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnws8ZymxME

Every two years, one of the most important triad of Hong-Kong has to elect his boss, through a democratic way, where the older decides who can run and win the election. The movie deals with one of this election, which soon becomes a death fight between the two main candidates. The calm and cold-hearted Lok (magistraly interpreted by Simon Yam) and the crazy and dangerous Big D (Tony Leung Ka Fai). Everything that could help to win the election is now permitted. From corruption to torture, and nothing will be spared.

Don't expect a full blown Triad action movie

So the film is quite enjoyable, for it’s always nice to see a classical and well done HK triad movie. It really looks like a mid-nighties HK polar, from its atmosphere (and particularly the photography and the direction, with a camera always moving) to its actors. The main influences are still Melville and Coppola, with maybe a new touch of Kitano here (for the character of Big D.) 1997 finally didn’t affect too much the way Hong-Kong makes movies, and although we knew it for some time now, it’s always a pleasure to have a confirmation.

But the problem is that Election really lacks of originality, where Tsui Hark brought some crazy experimental elements and “Infernal Affairs” a more realist tone, Election didn’t really bring anything new. And if the movie is realist and even didactic. It also lacks of action and tension. Of course, there is one big fight scene it is quite short and rather confused. And there almost no dramatic tension in it: a long scene shows a sort of relay to catch a scepter, which will decided the winner of the election, and as no real suspense in it.

Expect a more serious and inside look

Election is severely interesting on the basis of it being a pure triad film. Obviously my knowledge of the organisation is severely limited, but from what I can ascertain this is as “realistic” as you will get, next to standing in the room itself, as the rituals and ceremonies have all been meticulously planned, structured and filmed. In this sense, Election manages to bring out the very best in Eastern cinema, the rich culture (despite the notorious background of the Triad) steeped in tradition holding important virtues and values such as honour, which have all too often have been left behind in the Middle Ages. Election provides what can only be described as a rare insight, and chances are you will not find another film which will be as true and as accurate as this. Other plus points include the strength of the cinematography, typically shot in clean contrast with vivid colours and engaging compositions, while the acting is convincing with some slick performances from Tony Leung and Simon Yam.

If you’re familiar with To’s style, then you should know what to expect. The pacing is relatively slow and deliberate. The cinematography is great, slick and dark in equal measures, utilizing dark hues (brown, dark green and orange) while the smooth tracking shots add a vibrant quality to it. In the end, Election occupies a peculiar place. It’s not exactly a character study and it’s not an action-oriented gangster film. It explores a situation (the election and its aftermath), but does so in style, and is both realistic and romanticized. I see Election as the ‘oriental Godfather’.

Rating: ★★★★★★

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quMLN0SHTfM

Electric Shadows tells a story about a girl named Ling Ling and her friend Mao Dabing against the backdrop of the Cultural Revolution in China. The film starts with Dabing (Xia Yu), a teenager who loves movies, accidentally falling into a brick wall with his bicycle. The walls collapses, a girl picks up a brick and smashes Dabing on the head. Then the girl, who seems unable to speak, asks Dabing to feed her fish while she has to stay with the police. He agrees and in the girl’s apartment he finds her diary, learning that she is indeed his old friend Ling Ling (Qi Zhongyang).

Love for cinema brings them all together

While he is reading her story we see the images, starting with Ling Ling’s mother, how she always wanted to be a famous actress or singer, how Ling Ling was born as an unwanted child, how her mother wanted to end her own life but due circumstances changes her mind. Ling Ling’s mother becomes a caring mother who wants nothing but the best for her daughter. Dabing enters the story, at first a bully for Ling Ling but after a while they become best friends. In the meanwhile Ling Ling’s mother spends a lot of time with Uncle Pan, the town’s movie operator. This is of course where the kids find their love for the movies, and Ling Ling’s mother finds the love for a new man.

This is the main portion of the story. We see two kids growing up during China’s cultural revolution. Electric Shadows seems to capture the social and cultural climate the right way. The two kids having a real eventfull life while using their love for cinema to eventually move closer to eachother. On the surface this movie could be seen as a ‘Chinese melodrama’. From the missing father to the lives these characters lead: where they live and work, what they have to eat and how they get around .It’s much more richer in content. Director Xiao Jiang tries to show how hard it was for a single woman living her life in a rural town. We see how mother and child persevere, with dignity, through a hostile community.

The child actors steal the show

Thanks to a style that is warm, honest, rich and gentle, a story full of quite awful happenings is told in such a way that whatever happens, including some pretty heavy coincidence, we gratefully accept because all of it works beautifully toward her goal of celebrating film, family and friendship. You can see that this movie was made by and for people who love cinema. All cinema lovers, go watch this.

Rating: ★★★★★★★★

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KID_-UkzAnI

As the story goes, a group of assassins called Dark Stone, led by Wheel King (Wang Xueqi) has come into possession of half those remains, but Kelly Lin’s Drizzle took flight with that and plenty of gold to become a fugitive of her own group – Leon Dai as The Magician, Shawn Yue as Lei Bin and new rookie Zhang Qing (Barbie Tsu) who had joined the team. In a Face/Off turn, she has surgery and now has the face of Michelle Yeoh, living in disguise in the city, flying below the radar and effectively living the simple, ordinary life she yearns for, with absolutely no need for picking up the sword, though always kept handy at home just in case trouble comes knocking.

Their true identity will soon be revealed

The first thing you notice is the A-grade cast led by Michelle Yeoh. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a female swordsman play the leading role. No Zhang Ziyi to steal the limelight Yeoh does a marvelous job at portraing the sort of anti-heroine Zeng Jing. The korean actor Woo-sung Jung takes on the role of the husband, Jiang A-sheng. Both actors are dubbed wich is a shame really but understandable as one can not expect to see Jiang Woo-Sung fluently speak Mandarin.

Where this movie really shines is the fact that it somewhat avoids the cliché’s we see in these Wuxia movies. Don’t expect a movie full with action packed ‘wire-fu’ type scenes. While plenty of those, I feel the movie does an excellent job at focusing on the intertwined dialogue and motives of the large cast. It avoids most of the pitfalls such as horrible CGI use, heavy slow motion fights and glamour shots of ‘shimmering hair shining through the moonlight’. Instead we see almost all charachters having a backstory where it’s not just black and white, or good and bad in this case. That’s the main reason I feel this movie is more than ‘just another wuxia film’

Michelle Yeoh can still kick some ass

At its core Reign of Assassins is a romantic tale steeped in tragic irony, with martial arts film fans likely to lap up an out and out fantastical wuxia film. Almost all the characters have a past they want to cease remembering, and are harbouring plans for a new life sans violence. Love of course plays a part in the determination of this second chance, but this calls for sacrifice that we see once enemies now lovers have got to embrace as they decide to come clean with their feelings, alongside twists that get revealed especially in the final act. The movie may not seem as epic nor groundbreaking in terms of offering something new to an audience, but it is essentially its sublime essence in knowing what’s critical in a wuxia film and doing that well, at times giving you that feeling of having watched a classic martial arts film of old now remade with a stellar cast and knowing how best to appeal to a modern audience. Highly recommended and it powers its way into my shortlist at the end of the year as well.

Rating: ★★★★★★★

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1XuZXxmwyA

Denzel right now, is one of the biggest names in Hollywood. I feel he’s on auto-pilot with his last few movies but it’s not a shock that he grabbed an oscar for his role in Training Day as detective Alonzo Harris. It’s a rather simple story. Alonzo is a veteran detective at the LAPD. Has a great record and is respected by both sides of the law. He gets a new partner in rookie, wet-behind-the-ears Jake Hoyt. Played by Ethan Hawke. At first, Hoyt is rather impressed at Harris. He comes of as a sort of a badass, streetwise, macho type cop. Hoyt’s respect for Harris quickly dissapears as the movie goes on. It becomes clear that Harris isn’t such a ‘good cop’ after all.

Rookie cop Ethan Hawke wants to do the right thing

A strong point of this movie is that director Antoine Fuqua creates this tension throughout the whole movie. There’s a constant awkward feeling between the two partners. Alonzo forcing his young protégé to smoke PCP at gunpoint is just the start and from there on the pulse pounding never stops. Not soon after rookie Hoyt is finding himself in hot water and is on the brink of becomming a crooked cop himself.

For an action movie, the action is quite scarce. Most of the tense scenes are through the unsettling of Jake’s inner conscious. The real story isn’t about Jake’s fight for what’s right, but just the inner emotions that are screaming at Jake every moment he goes to work or training. You want thrill-seeking shooters rent “Lethal Weapon”. The violent scenes are not for the squeamish and the gore is very believable.

To protect the sheep you gotta catch the wolf, and it takes a wolf to catch a wolf

While we can say that this is a really entertaining movie. You can look at it like that. But this movie can be looked at as some firm critisism at not just the police force but the whole legal system in Los Angeles. However you wanna look at it. You can’t look past the superb acting of Washington. Hawke and Washington make for a phenomenal double act and the pace only occasionally lets up to allow the characters time to breathe and establish the depth that makes you care for them more. I can easily say that this is a must-see. Detective Alonzo Harris is one of the best characters of the twenty-first century. To me, it’s Denzel Washington’s finest hour.

Rating: ★★★★★★★★★

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKTVQPOH8ZA

Having seen a fair share coming-of-age movies. Most of them from the US and South-Korea. I didn’t really know what to expect with the 2009 flick My Rainy Days. Being from Japan, I thought the movies might lack impact or emotional bonding so to speak. To me Japanese movies are more introvert and calm. They show allot less emotion. And that emotion is often a main and important subject with coming-of-age movies. I must say. I was pleasantly suprised by this movie.

You ever seen a stalker this cute?

17 year old high school student Rio (Nozomi Sasaki) is always the center of attention due to her beauty. Yet, Rio has never cared about anyone but herself due to her traumatic past. Her friends and boyfriends exist only so she can use them for her gains. Rio is only interested in money. Then one day she meets 35 year college professor Kouki (Shosuke Tanihara) and falls in love for the first time. Rio feels confused by her emotional change and expresses her love to Kouki honestly. Although Kouki becomes interested in Rio, there is a reason he can’t pursue the relationship.

Stemming from the ever-so popular cell phone novels that have taking Japan by storm in recent years, My Rainy Days is yet the latest film to deliver a story dealing with both love and loss. The movie starts of excellent with a strong opening act. The first halve of the movie gives an insightfull look in the Japanese sex industry. Where schoolgirls go on (sex)dates with older men (and even women) to be able to pay for their luxurious lifestyle. While the first halve of the movie is excellent, the second one reminds me of a standard romantic comedy we’ve all seen way too many of.

Ah yes, the mandatory 'together in the rain scene'

And that’s where this movie fails in some aspects. The movie had some interesting subjects For one, the taboo subject of student-teacher relationships is explored. The before mentioned teenage sex industry. But they never really touch those subjects in a way you might simpathize with Rio or her friends. It all becomes clear at the end but I feel it’s too late to create compassion of sympathy for Rio. And then movie goes for a cop out ending. I won’t spoil it but you’d expect this ending from a Hollywood tearjerker. But to have this kind of ending when the movie starts of so promising. It’s a let down. The substories hardly add anything to the main story of the character development. When a support charachter is called upon to make a big decision two thirds into the movie I couldn’t care less. She just wan’t interesting enough or had enough screentime.

Let’s put it this way. Nozomi Sasaki, a Japanese Gravure Idol is very photogenic. Every frame of her in this movie felt like it had been carefully planned and beautifully captured. There’s hardly an ugly shot of her in this movie. My Rainy Days is undoubtedly a show reel for the photogenic Nozomi Sasaki. The blinding power of love told as in depth as a lingerie commercial. That’s how I would summarize this movie in one sentence.

Rating: ★★★★★

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVzWSyAqj0E

I simply bought this movies because it features three legendary actresses. When one sees Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Cheung and Vivian Wu on the cover you might be tempted to pick this movie up, no matter what the story. While there IS plenty of eye candy with these actresses there is allot more to this movie than I first thought.

Modern Chinese History forms the backdrop for this sweeping portrait of the Soong Sisters, three siblings who married powerful men and used their positions to influence the politics of early 20th Century China. The film spans the period from the formation of the Chinese Republic in 1911 to the take-over by the Communists in 1949. The details of history take a back seat to the real focus of this movie, however, which delves into the intricate and intimate relationships these women have with their husbands, their parents, and each other.

Lushly photographed and superbly acted, the movie showcases the talents of three veteran actors of Asian Cinema. Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Cheung and Vivian Wu play sisters Ai-ling, Ching-ling, and May-ling Soong. All three seem well-cast and bring the full weight of their skill and experience to their roles. The move sizzles with electricity when these three beauties appear on screen together, as they do in several scenes. This is definitely a case where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Wen Jian gives an outstanding performance as father Charlie Soong, despite dying off half-way through the story. The death-bed scene, where he passes away in the presence of his wife and three daughters, is especially moving. Winston Chao and Hsing-Kuo Wu take sold turns as Sun Yat-Sen and Chiang Kai-Shek.

One loves money, one loves power and one loves the country

The story explores a number of themes in both a personal and social/historical context. Conflicts between father/daughter, old values/new values, old China/new China, and East/West all figure prominently in the plot. A shoe metaphor runs through-out the film, depicting the step-by-step movement of Chinese history, bringing to mind the old Chinese proverb, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” This saying also reflects the increased role of women in Chinese social and political life, as they are liberated from the foot-binding that hobbled previous generations.

I must give my compliments to the soundtrack because I may be one of the best soundtracks I’ve heard. Wonderfull slow and silent piano melodies give each scene that little extra. Came to find out that Randy Miller and Kitaro where responsible for it. It’s no wonder with these two composers that the soundtrack is of such quality.

Maggie Cheung delivers a stunning performance

The movie is slow-moving at times, with some abrupt plot transitions. Director Mabel Cheung occasionally hits us over the head with that shoe to get her point across, and the script seems to contain some hints of political propaganda. Nevertheless, I found this to be a well-made and highly entertaining piece of Asian Cinema. Sadly, this movie is not likely to reach a wide Western audience because it’s in Mandarin with English sub-titles. That’s too bad, because it is just as accomplished as anything coming out of Hollywood these days, and well worth seeing.

Rating: ★★★★★★★★

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkUYJdJ88fY

Installation is quick and easy. Just download it from the PSN and create a quick account and you’ll have an extensive movie library at your fingertips. Ofcourse you have the option to share movies, actors and directors using al kinds of social media goodies. You can also link your MUBI-PSN account to the official MUBI website. That way you’ll have a synched profile whether your on the PSN or online using a browser.

Now right from the start you’ll have access to a couple of movies. Free of charge. Most of them are made by independent film makers or the movies are waaaaaaaay old. If you want the more ‘popular’ movies you’ll have to pay to watch them. Rent films for 7 days for € 3.59, or you can purchase an all-you-can-eat 30 day subscription for € 12.99. Now this might seem like a good deal. Except for a major problem.

All the movies are region based!

This makes the whole service useless to me. What’s the point of having over 4000 movies in the library and only 100 are available in The Netherlands. This is absolutely worthless. Want to watch ‘Cassablanca‘ or ‘The Godfather‘? Sure, you’ll see them listed all right but you can’t watch them. And I know you can use a filter that only shows movies that are available in your country but that’s only a tiny fraction of the collection.

I know it’s not Sony’s or MUBI’s fault. But rather the company’s that hold the rights to all these movies. Nonetheless I can’t rate this MUBI service too high. While it’s intentions are good, there simply isn’t enough content right now.