The Peacemaker, 1997

The Peacemaker, 1997
Director: Mimi Leder
Cast: Nicole Kidman, George Clooney, Marcel Iures



The Peacemaker in short:Two trains crash somewhere in Russia, one carrying a nuclear payload. A nuclear explosion follows the crash and the world is on alert... However, White House nuclear expert Dr. Julia Kelly doesn't think it was an accident... Special Operations Intelligence Officer Colonel Thomas Devoe doesn't think so either... Together they must unravel a conspiracy that goes from Europe to New York, to stop a terrorist who has no demands..


Stage: Home theatre, Sunday night selection on TV


Preps: Hm, I think I saw this one at the movies and I didn't like it. But memory is a sad story, so let's see if I am right.


Reality: Hm.. I am right. Only the scenery won't do. The war in ex Yugoslavia, Russian disputes, eastern Countries disputes.. is a sad story and has been depicted in many movies. This one is an american attempt of making it more yummy than it is. In other words, it collides many stories, however only one, and that is the pain of the nation, is relevant. No other stories should take place in this one. The quarrel between the nations and the big price they were paying for years has no place for romance, some chase on the US streets. There can be no good collision of US scenes and scenes that depict Russian wars, eastern nations wars, Ex Yugoslavia war. I mean, you cannot film a movie for most of the time in muslim mosque or on streets of war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, or on a russian railroad and then just switch to the US land. It's not probable, it shouldn't be done.
Clooney and Kidman have the saint role in the movie, however as much as US tries, they cannot be perceived as Peacemakers. It is known that they were perceived as Smurfs, because of the helmets. There were many really sad and true pieces filmed about the wars on these regions and the casualties, victims and sadness, depression, the war created. This is definitely not one of them. We are not on this place to celebrate the fact that US sticks their nose wherever they find it interesting (I am not speaking about appropriate). It is (was) not their war as I am sure that they are doing their chores on many places in the same exact way.
Movies like these make people think that US soldiers, Peacemakers, nurses, etc, play a huge role in nation's desputes around the world. Guess what, they usually make it worse, not better. Despite the fact that this movie is trying to persuade you differently, be sure you are watching a fairy tale. With some smart inserts of Višnjevič and some russian, serbian jargon.


My personal rate: 5,0 (I wouldn't recommend it. It is better to watch movies that local people/directors made on the topic. More realistic, better equipped with real information).



The Peacemaker on IMDB

The American, 2010

The American, 2010
Director: Anton Corbijn
Cast: George Clooney, Irina Björklund, Paolo Bonacelli


The American in short: Alone among assassins, Jack is a master craftsman. When a job in Sweden ends more harshly than expected for this American abroad, he vows to his contact Pavel that his next assignment will be his last. Jack reports to the Italian countryside, where he holes up in a small town and relishes being away from death for a spell. The assignment, as specified by a Belgian woman, Mathilde, is in the offing as a weapon is constructed. Surprising himself, Jack seeks out the friendship of local priest Father Benedetto and pursues romance with local woman Clara. But by stepping out of the shadows, Jack may be tempting fate.


Stage: home theatre, a fresh copy
Preps: MMMMM, George Clooney in his latest artwork. How dare I say no? :)


Reality: To be quite honest, the starting enthusiasm is after 20 minutes gone. Besides a neat image of a sexy George Clooney, nothing really to see. The scenery could be more carefully chosen, as Italy is filled with cute romantic spots, even the town he lives in, is famous by its beauty - unfortunately this is spared to the viewer and the focus is given on the construction of a weapon that has never been seen. The other focus (and we know that the viewers are waiting on this ) is of course on women and interactions that Clooney has with them. I must admit he was much better in his Up in the air role (quite similar in the relationship towards women).

The movie can be compared with some "unbelievable's" - like MI2 or some James Bond scenes. Of course you have the tools to construct a weapon like he has in the middle of nowhere. And you can escape the bullets as if they never appeared behind your head. I am bored quite quickly and try to find something else to do - eat, drink.. this is the last point where I can confess that the movie isn't something worth remembering. Therefore, a strong dislike and consequently,.. it is erased forever. The American is famous only for its cast, not the content.


My personal rating: 2,0 (for the sake of Clooney, I might add. If you aren't a great Bond fan, nothing here really to see)


The American's page on IMDB
American Home page

The men who stare at goats, 2009

The men who stare at goats, 2009
Director: Grant Heslov
Cast:George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges



Men and goats in short: A reporter in Iraq might just have the story of a lifetime when he meets Lyn Cassady, a guy who claims to be a former member of the U.S. Army's New Earth Army, a unit that employs paranormal powers in their missions.


Stage: home cinema

Preps: It's currently running in cinema. I don't have a clue whatsoever about the movie. But the title is intriguing. I am curious what is behind men and what's the deal with the goats.

Reality: The movie is a parody - it is an antidose to currently popular the hurt locker. In my opinion it makes fun of war, soldiers and the system itself. The main actors are a part of the elite squad that are supposed to scare the enemy away with staring at them, seeding love and piece instead of guns and violence. They have long hair, look of a hippy from seventies and overall represent pure fun to the spectator.
The movie has some brilliant dialogues, however in my opinion, gets a bit boring somewhere in the middle. The idea of killing someone staring at him is somehow hillarious. The leaders of this year's oscars in fact stared at George Clooney at the show for about two minutes like he did to the goats at the movie- to make a point right out of the movie (or they wanted him dead? :)

The story about a journalist to come to Iraq just to prove to his wife (who already divorced him) is not only on the verge of believable, but also very pathetic. I don't really buy it. And it has also a non-existing (or very transparent) ending.

You will enjoy it if you like ironic views of some war movies you have seen (imagine Hot Shots and you will know what I am talking about). For me, decent fun, mostly in the aspect of mocking the system, but nothing more.


My personal rating: 5,5 (see it on a rainy day to make you smile a bit. And you will love the goats :)



The men and the goats on IMDB
Official site

Up in the Air, 2009

Up in the Air, 2009
Director: Jason Reitman
Cast:George Clooney (Ryan), Vera Farmiga (Alex)



Stage: Home theatre



Short Synopsis: With a job that has him traveling around the country firing people, Ryan Bingham leads an empty life out of a suitcase, until his company does the unexpected: ground him.


Preps/expectations: I am one of those wackos, watching a piece just because one of the actors I admire is inside (ok, or is cute enough for me not to worry about the content too much). There are some interesting actors in this special club, including Sean Connery, Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt and also George Clooney. However, the last guy is always attached to the ER period he had and will always be a sexy ER doctor in my head. And god forbid taking me this imaginative image. The "tube him", "give him a CT" and "55 mg of something" while him being a doctor there always sounded sexy coming from this guy's mouth.

Anyhow, I am seeing this as one of potential oscar holders and because I believe Clooney made some interesting movie pieces ever since ER and has grown significantly (take Ocean's 11, 12 for example -ok, 13 is an exaggeration anyway). So I am excited to see it, even though in home theatre.



Reality check: The idea of having a company coming around to fire your employees is superb. Takes off the guilty moral aspect from a boss that doesn't dare to let you go or has another reasons not to look you in the face. And he pays for people coming in and telling you this, giving you the goodies pack and telling you how your life is now one big opportunity. So sarcastic it's really cool. When Clooney does it, you actually have the feeling that he cares. Mistake. Those kind of companies don't care. It goes so far they don't even care for the atmosphere in their own ranks. Seeing a younger, perspective-filled woman, coming in the company and revitalizing all working process without the management even discussing it with their own employees, gives me the sad feeling that they don't even perform in their own house what they sell to the outsiders.

Another story is occuring here - the one, where someone is so caught up in his career and shows and conferences etc, that he doesn't have a life of his own. No serious romances, no home, no family. And for half of the movie I am totally convinced it suits him this way. He neglects all so called family virtues, but everyone around him is married, on the way of getting married, he just seems so calm and satisfied with the way his life is. As a spectator, you don't get the backgrounds for this, just the pure image that he chose this way and he's happy.



The complication begins with a nice lady he has a romance with. Alex is this strong woman he runs into on one of his trips, where they have a hot evening and even a sexier night. And he likes her. He likes her in such a way that at the end he wants to create what he tried to deny existed in him. He actually wants to be with her, romantically, spiritually, maybe even a family? We never see that. It turns out that she's already having a family, kids and he is suddenly a puppet he always thought women were for him. Fortunately, the drama moments are spared until the end of the movie, because it's really depressing seeing someone, being "grown up" and alone. And the moral of this.. I don't actually get it. Maybe, don't be alone? He says it in the movie (one of more inventive quotes: We all die alone, make no mistake about that).



However, I like more this one, that she (his unexpected goddess), tells to his junior colleague: Life is more fun if you can share it with someone.


My personal rating: 7,5 (you will like it, if not for Clooney, then for the message. A more chick movie really, but inspiring in a way that you can even change your deepest values you nurtured for the whole life). I don't suppose it will get the oscar, but it's more than decent fun.




p.s.: IMDB peak: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1193138/

See also this, really cool movie site: http://www.theupintheairmovie.com/
Now, something for the ladies -collection of Clooney footage: http://images.google.com/images?q=george+clooney&rls=com.microsoft:sl:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7SKPB&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=H3dcS6SdONWM_AbA3KigBQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CB0QsAQwAA