#136 - House of Games

Directed by David Mamet
1987 Psychological Thriller
Rated R

****

#135 - Tirez sur le pianiste

Directed by Francois Truffaut
1960 Romantic Comedy/Drama
Not Rated

**** 1/2

This is somehow the first Truffaut film I have seen, so I can't judge based on previous works, but if the others are even remotely as good as this I know I have a lot to look forward to.

#134 - 27 Dresses

Directed by Anne Fletcher
2008 Romantic Comedy
Rated PG-13

***

Despite the fact that I would need several hands to count all the different romantic comedies this film lifts plot points from, I actually found it to be surprisingly entertaining. Plot-wise, as I said, the script is all rehash; but joke-wise, it's actually moderately sharp (although this may be due more to the cast than anything else). Worth a watch. James Marsden and Judy Greer are the highlights.

#133 - Gycklarnas afton

Directed by Ingmar Bergman
1953 Drama
Not Rated

****

#132 - Gycklarnas afton

Directed by David Mamet
2008 Drama
Rated R

*** 1/2

Despite the fact that, in the finale, the film veers near b-movie territory ridiculousness, everything preceding this makes this a film worthy of being discussed with upper-tier Mamet. Chiwetel Ejiofor is brilliant as a jujitsu master who fights against the corruption in professional mixed martial arts. Tim Allen and Emily Mortimer are very good as well in small roles, as are Mamet regulars Ricky Jay, Joe Mantegna, and David Paymer. As I said earlier, yes, the ending is ridiculous; but the strength of Mamet's script is enough to make this well worth checking out.

#131 - Efter brylluppet

Directed by Susanne Bier
2006 Drama
Rated R

**** 1/2

Susanne Bier's fascinating 2006 Oscar nominee for best Foreign Language feature introduces several shattering twists in the first act, and then leaves the rest of the film to pick up the pieces, which it does beautifully. The performances of Rolf Lassgard (Oscar-worthy) and Sidse Babett Knudsen play off each other perfectly; she beautifully understated, and him beautifully overstated. And the final fifteen minutes are absolutely devastating. A near-masterpiece.