The Impossible is a thriller film by Juan Antonio Bayona based on the true story of María Belón and her family’s experience of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
Maria Bennett (Naomi Watts), her husband Henry (Ewan McGregor) and their three sons Lucas (Tom Holland), Tomas and Simon are enjoying their Christmas holiday at a resort in Khao Lak, Thailand. During their time at the pool, the devastating 2004 tsunami occurs and they are swept up in the flood separating Maria and Lucas from the others.
Maria’s leg is badly wounded while Lucas suffers minor scratches. They are found and rescued by the locals and taken to a nearby hospital. Elsewhere Henry, Thomas and Simon are safe but it takes Henry a lot of relentless effort to finally reunite with Maria and Lucas.
Naomi Watts gives an incredible performance in the film, with not even a single emotions of her seems fake or unreal while McGregor and Holland also gives the best performance of their lives. Watts and Holland are nominated for a number of awards.
Overall, The Impossible is possibly the best disaster thriller of the year.
8 out of 10
Incredible acting and realistic special effects, but you would never watch this film twice
The Impossible is based on a true story of a family’s survival of the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean, with tens of thousands of strangers, in the mayhem of one of the worst natural catastrophes of our time. Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona and starring Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland, The Impossible opens on January 4, 2013.
End of Watch is an exceptional cop thriller directed by David Ayer. The film is set in south central Los Angeles and stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña as L.A. cops and best of friends Taylor and Zavala.
Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña in "End of Watch"
The pair frequently makes pranks at their other colleagues and at times tries to annoy each other. Occasionally, they stumble upon some big arrests. Somehow, during one of their high profile busts, their names become known publicly which makes them the target of the country’s most dangerous drug cartel.
Together with the thrilling pace and gruesome violence, Ayer maintains a great balance in the film by letting us to take a sneak peek into the personal lives of Taylor and Zavala (which Taylor fondly refers him as "Z"). Taylor finds new romance with girlfriend Janet (Anna Kendrick) whilst Zavala’s wife Gabby (Natalie Martinez) is expecting the first baby.
Director David Ayer, not only successfully portrayed how real-life cops do their neighborhood watch but he did it so fashionably that you can almost feel how mundane their lives would be at times (the hand-held camera shots added the extra energy to every action). The incredible acting by Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña makes the movie fun to watch. The pair has great chemistry together, coupled it with their realistic and often funny banter. Although, I’m pretty sure the real-life Mexicans drug cartel doesn’t overuse the F word even if they live in L.A.
Overall, End of Watch is fun and enjoyable to watch, highly entertaining with superb acting. It’s a must-watch!
8 out of 10
End of Watch is a brilliantly played cop thriller which is thrilling, moving and hilarious.
Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters is a dark spin on the fairy tale where siblings Hansel and Gretel (Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton) are a formidable team of bounty hunters who track and kill witches all over the world. Directed by Tommy Wirkola and starring Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Famke Janssen, Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters opens on January 25, 2013.
Pain & Gain is an action comedy film by Michael Bay about a trio of bodybuilders in Florida who get caught up in an extortion ring and a kidnapping scheme that goes terribly wrong. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson and Rebel Wilson, Pain & Gain opens on April 26, 2013.
