The 50 Word Review

A simple, honest and graceful movie. While some may complain that this movie is sickly sentimental, I thought it beautifully reflects India’s culture and traditions in a touching manner. Maybe women would enjoy this more than men as it’s a regular family drama! Neha Kumar

Player is Altman’s attempt to satirize and mock Hollywood. He’s exorcised virtually all Hollywood and what it represents in this very funny and watchable movie. If there were ever one master of parody in American cinema, it was certainly Robert Altman. Omid Nikfarjam

Starring Steve Carell as an ‘Agony Uncle’ - who dishes out tales of caution and morality - as a single parent. He falls for his brother’s girlfriend, falls foul of his siblings, and children, and realizes that he is not the perfect person, or parent that he always wrote about in his column. There’s a moral in there somewhere. Brian Murray

Given the weekend with a little time to read, Atlantic Monthly profiles the creator of HBO series The Wire (now in its final season). It is one of the most critically acclaimed shows ever to make it to television - it’s gritty, cynical, clever, vicious, myopic and compelling. Creator and former hack David Simon is more or less the same. Well worth reading.

MBN seems like it was built around a Starbucks’ album; an excuse to make a movie. Norah Jones stars as Elizabeth, meant to be introspective and sensitive but really just naïve. With a cast of overrated actors, Wong’s script was laughable and his direction was disjointed and distracting.

William Hildrebrandt

Set in Australia - apparently about true events. Two English female friends and an Aussie bloke set out on a road trip with the usual aims of seeing the outback, getting drunk, and having sex; all seem to get accomplished. That is until they meet this strange but friendly Aussie who offers to fix their car for free. Is it too good to be true? I don’t know… you tell me. Brian Murray

AOTKT could be the original movie spoof. All about tomatoes coming to earth and trying to take over the world. Hilarious parody of American politics and the portrayal or America in the media. Worth a watch. Brian Murray

It is an understatement to say Kevin Spacey is talented. Many modern actors are, but few can match Spacey’s range, from Saturday Night Live to American Beauty. Need more intrigue? Consider this line from TUS: “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist.”

William Hilderbrandt

Okay, so I know it’s on the early side of Christmas to be buy, buy, buying - but order these ingenious/essential gifts now and you’ll get a complimentary ‘hands free umbrella‘. Bravo Japanese inventors (Chindōgu (珍道具)

Images via: picdit

This is the map that all London estate agents give to their employees the first day on their job. (It started with Foxtons which endows all male employees with those little Mini Coopers to compensate for, well…) I’m pretty sure that red dot area is my back garden.

Map via From Memory: Flickr
JJ