Stoker (2013) - ★★★★

Director: Park Chan-Wook
Writer: Wentworth Miller
Stars: Mia Wasikowska, Matthew Goode, Nicole Kidman, Jackie Weaver, Dermot Mulroney, Phyllis Somerville

Have you ever seen Alfred Hitchcock's classic, 'Shadow of a Doubt?' Well, Stoker is like that, except our female protagonist is just as crazy as Uncle Charlie. It's a beautifully made, disturbing, and extremely intriguing film. There are plenty of masterful elements to Stoker, especially in the cinematography. I found all of the performances to be really effective, particularly Mia Wasikowska as India. While it may not be perfect, it's one of the most fiendishly entertaining films of 2013.

The Paperboy (2012) - ★★★½

Director: Lee Daniels
Writers: Peter Dexter (Novel and Screenplay), Lee Daniels (Screenplay)
Stars: Zac Efron, Matthew McConaughey, Nicole Kidman, John Cusack, Macy Gray, David Oyelowo

It's gritty, it's nasty, but most of all it's entertaining. The Paperboy pushes every single actor involved to perform roles you'd never imagine them to play. Though it didn't always keep my attention, the performances alone were enough to make this a very interesting movie. That's also the problem; a movie can't be that good when the performances are by far the best component.

Moulin Rouge! (2001) - ★★★★

Director: Baz Luhrmann
Writers: Baz Luhrmann, Craig Pearson
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, John Leguizamo, Jim Broadbent, Richard Roxburgh


What can I say about Moulin Rouge? The movie has beautiful music, outstanding costumes, amazing use of visual effects and pretty good acting. Somehow this movie managed to pull at my heart-strings, and that's why I love it.

The story of Moulin Rouge begins by spoiling the ending for you, which does nothing but leave a constant cloud of depression over the viewer's head, knowing that the love is doomed. It's like making a movie about Romeo and Juliet but telling us how it ends before it has even started. That was the one thing that annoyed me about this movie.

Now to the good parts. The beautiful Nicole Kidman is casted perfectly as 'The Sparkling Diamond', Satine; a courtisan of rich men. Ewan Mcgregor and his puppy dog eyes played Christian, a poor writer that falls in love with Satine through a big misunderstanding of identities; which leads Satine to fall for him after a beautiful rendition of Elton John's 'Your Song.' The best thing about these two is that they had great chemistry. They were funny and heart-shattering at the same time. Jim Broadbent was also spectacular as Harold Zidler, the owner of the Moulin Rouge. Personally, he was the highlight of the movie for me.

I cannot write a review about the Moulin Rouge without complimenting the brilliant costumes, the great song selections and remarkable hand built sets. This movie aimed to be seen as a classic among other musicals. While I do not agree that it is one of the greatest musicals of all time, I do agree that it is one of the best in the last 20 years. Moulin Rouge will be a delight for any fan of musicals, romance and drama.