Safe House (2012)

Tobin Frost is a legendary ex-CIA agent who has access to certain files that can criminally implicate many intelligence officials all over the world including CIA, MI6 etc. There is an attempt on his life in Cape Town due to this. He goes and surrenders at the US Consulate in Cape Town. He is arranged to be deported to a safe house under the charge of Matt Weston. Matt is a young agent who is eager to prove himself. The safe house is attacked as soon as Tobin is brought in & Matt flees the place with Tobin.

Tobin escapes while Matt is hot in pursuit of Tobin as he feels responsible. Finally, Matt gets to Tobin and there is a suspense behind the identity of the people who want Tobin's life. It's not a very shocking twist by any means and in the end all corrupt parties are implicated thanks to Tobin's file that was given to Matt. Matt smartly doesn't become a mere pawn at the hands of the CIA and exposes the whole racket.

Review

• The action is quite pulsating and the camera work by Oliver Wood is energetic, chaotic and captures all the action very well. The aerial shots are breathtaking too. 
• Ryan Reynolds maintains the brooding, action hero image throughout. Denzel Washington as Tobin makes it light hearted at times with his wisecracks at Matt. 
• Brendan Glesson and Vera Farmiga have played exactly their respective roles in previous films too. 
• The bureaucracy and hierarchy evident at the CIA headquarters is again oft repeated. Seen in films like the Bourne series before. 

VERDICT

Not very novel but, worth a watch for the intense action. 

Van Wilder (2002)

Van Wilder hangs around in Coolidge College for 7 yrs and he is afraid to graduate despite being brilliant. He is a do-gooder and a big champion among the other students in college. He helps people in need and throws the best parties. He has an assistant and a truckload of friends.

Gwen Pearson is a journalism student. She is asked to cover Van's story and she falls for him as she gets to know more about his attitude. Van also is mad about her. Gwen's boyfriend is jealous about Van and wants to see him down. All his efforts go in vain and Van comes up trumps every time and in the end he graduates and also gets Gwen. The movie ends with the graduation party of Van.

Hits

• Genuinely funny moments all through the movie though they are sexually oriented and are quite crude. Countless such fun moments. Super fun
• Ryan Reynolds, the dude is perfect for this role with his attitude. Tara Reid is cutesy. Kal Penn as Taj is another genuinely funny guy with his Indian accent and desperation in getting laid. The bonding between Van, Taj and their other buddies is very good. 
• The movie is sort of a precursor to 'Munnabhai MBBS' in the way, the hero is a very popular do-gooder with a chilled out attitude at college. 

VERDICT

Van Wilder really makes you feel happy about life. Full throttled fun that makes you forget your worries

Smokin' Aces (2007)

What's it about

Buddy 'Aces' Israel, a part of the mob, wannabe gangster and a showman, decides to turn police informant and give vital information about Primo Sparazza and the rest of the La Costra Nasa gang. Word spreads around about this and a whole lot of hit men are out to kill Buddy and get his heart for Primo. The FBI is also hot on heels to keep Buddy safe in protective custody at a hotel in Lake Tahoe.

Slowly things start turning out really violent at the hotel and there is a whole lot of bloodshed. One of the FBI agents Carruthers is also killed. Things go according to the FBI Deputy Director Locke’s plan and all the hit men who are out to get Buddy are left humbled.

Finally it becomes clear to Carruther’s dejected partner Agent Messner that it is all a part of the FBI’s plan to get Agent Heller one of their old time agents, who actually is Primo Sparazza. He had gone undercover many many years back and Buddy is actually his son. They need Buddy’s heart due to the blood compatibility, for a transplant to save Sparazza aka Heller. The FBI would get all the information about the mob that they need from Sparazza himself, after this operation

The FBI had used many ppl including their 2 agents as mere pawns in this operation. Messner is totally blown out hearing this huge setup by the FBI, from Locke and he pulls out the life support of both Buddy and Sparazza in one go, in the end. He feels that this FBI created monster Sparazza is a man who has killed so many FBI agents and that he doesn't deserve to live, along with the other wannabe Buddy Israel. 

                 

Hits

• The screenplay is chaotic and very fast. Lots of characters and complexities. Full attention needed. 
• Very stylish making by Joe Carnahan. 
• Good BG score by Clint Mansell
• The characterization of Buddy Israel is very impressive. Always hyperactive and lively with a pack of cards in hand. Jeremy Piven rocks. 
• Ryan Reynolds as the rugged FBI agent is apt too. All the other characters in this huge cast also play their parts well. 
• The final twist in the tale about the identity and mystery surrounding Sparazza is quite shocking and makes us sit up. 

Misses

• The final scene at the hospital room where Messner pulls the plug, is quite cinematic. 
• Ben Affleck's role proceeds so stylishly until he is killed off suddenly. A big dampener that was. 

VERDICT

A chaotic ride that is engaging and the final twist in the tale is sharp too. Worth watching.