The Contender

The Contender; Actors aplenty excelling at what they do in a political game that tackles enduring issues of optics and impressions and the double standards across party and gender lines. Bridges, Allen and Oldman are perfect in their roles and the script and supporting cast deliver on top of it; B+
 

Batman Begins

Batman Begins; An origin that leans heavily into the comics & the psychological aspects of the Batman mythos. Plays characters and world as if it were real, grounding it in what would most logically replicate the fiction in reality. Cleverly uses two rogues new to the films to serve Wayne’s story; A

Oppenheimer

Oppenheimer; What happens when you gather the greatest talents in the industry & they make something so technically marvellous on every level, one wonders why they chose to make this, of all things. Compelling, but like most Nolan work, more cerebral than emotionally moving; A-
 

The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises; Thank you, Mr. Nolan, for truly getting ALL the characters of the Gotham universe & for a trilogy w/o a weak film; A-

The Fifth Element

Directed by:  Luc Besson
Starring:  Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm, Chris Tucker
Running Time:  2h 06min

Oldman is his chamelean self again, totally immersing himself in his role, his costume, and the scenery.  It's hard not to, what with the totally out-of-this-world approach to the future.  Things are recognizable only in structure as the director's vision is completely original.  This is a future where you can't question its basis; everything is totally new.  They don't have to stop and explain what it is the characters are doing, seeing, or engaging in; you wouldn't understand it, it's the future.  This creates an exciting viewer-film relationship, with the only thing grounding the viewer is the fact that the story hasn't changed.  Willis is still the reluctant hero (who better to play the role?) and in the end love conquers all.  Enjoy!

Grade: B-