It was a good week to be a Movie Minx: 2 fantastic films opened this past weekend & I was able to catch both of them at advance screenings. (sorry to take a break from my Easter Egg theme, but these flicks trump any eggs I could've dug up for this week anyway)

First up, what I think is my favorite movie so far this year: Inside Man.



Holy crap is all I can say about this one. I want to see it again. It's one of those heist movies that has enough twists and turns so that even when you think you know how they're doing what you're doing you're never sure until the end- and what an ending it is! The movie feeds you just enough information to keep you from being totally confused, but keeps the suspense high and the anticipation builds from the first scene to the last.

A fantastic cast. Yummy Clive Owen who's unfortunately hidden through most of the film by his bank-robbers disguise...



But his voice is the main part of his appeal anyway. Have you seen the series of BMW shorts (called The Hire) that were around online a few years ago: 6 "commercials" done by big name directors, all starring Clive? Great stuff. Check 'em out if you can ever find them. Anyway, his career has been building, and if you thought he was good in Sin City- wait til you see him in Inside Man.

Playing against Clive Owen's bank-robbing mastermind are Denzel Washington and Jodie Foster. Denzel shines- it's hard for him not to be cool in almost any role that's thrown at him. He does not disappoint. I know a few people who are not Jodie Foster fans, but I think that her role in this was perfect for her.



She plays a sophisticated bitch who seems to be a professional "consultant" to the rich and powerful- a troubleshooter who takes care of their problems for a very high price. It's an interesting job, and interesting role, and she plays it extremely well. There's a strength and coolness to her that we haven't seen in her acting probably since Silence of the Lambs.

Willem Dafoe and Christopher Plummer also pop up with big roles in this. Don't think that just because they're not listed at the top of the poster that they're any less impressive in this film than the rest of the cast. It's a great ensemble overall.

One of the other reasons Inside Man kicks so much ass is probably due to its director: none other than Spike Lee. Now, this isn't an official "Spike Lee Joint", which could explain why it really stands out from his other releases. I haven't had a reason to rave about cinematography for a while, and you usually don't find it in good action movies, but Inside man is full of brilliant shots that I thought were beautifully composed. I was just blown away by the whole thing. I'm telling everyone I know: go see Inside Man. I'm sure it's gonna be a great DVD, but this is one that deserves to be seen in the magnitude of the big screen.

Now, if you're like me and into movie hopping, here's second flick to make it a great double feature day: Thankyou for Smoking.



This one started gaining buzz when it was screened at over 100 film festivals in the past year, including Toronto and Sundance. It's director Jason Reitman's feature film debut and is without doubt launching his career on a path that is likely to be as successful as his father Ivan's (who's responsible for Ghostbusters, Meatballs, Dave, and Stripes, among others). But it took more than a good family name to make Thankyou for Smoking into a clever, cocky satire that entertains as much as this does.

Starring Aaron Eckhart, it's cast also boasts Maria Bello, William H. Macy, Robert Duvall, Rob Lowe, and Katie Holmes (whom we do not get to see topless as I had been previously told).



The movie focuses on a guy (played by Eckhard, shown right) who acts as a spin doctor/spokesman for a huge tobacco conglomerate. He meets weekly with his friends who head up agencies that promote alcohol and guns and they call their little group the MOD squad (Merchants of Death). One-upping each other with their stories makes for just some of the highlights of the movie. Rob Lowe, is AWESOME with his Hollywood agent cameo (one that bears striking resemblance to his role in Wayne's World, only better).

The whole cast is well played, the script is well done, the gags are great, and the point is taken. Some parts are pretty touchy-feely but they balance well with the comedic bits. Thankyou for Smoking is worth the price of admission.

I just gotta add one more thing. Both screenings I went to last week were jam packed. At Thankyou for Smoking, I almost didn't get seats. One usher went above and beyond his normal duty and I truly admired the way he managed to get patrons who left single empty seats within their rows to move down and fill the space up. People, when you're at a movie that's likely sold out, do NOT be a jackass and take up seats with your coat, or leave a buffer seat cuz you don't like others in your personal space. It's not like you paid for your ticket at an advance screening anyway. Move to the centre, and make room for others. So, hats off to Mark the usher. He rocks the Silvercity world at Yonge and Eg.

Cheers, Minx.