Woman in Gold (2015)

Directed by Simon Curtis
Written by Alexi Kaye Campbell based on the life story of E. Randol Shoenberg and Maria Altmann
Starring Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds, Danil Brühl and Tatiana Maslany

Based on the true story of Maria Altmann, an octogenarian Jewish refugee, takes on the Austrian government to recover artwork she believes rightfully belongs to her family.

The inspiring true story of the emotional impact that the holocaust still has fifty years after the fact and the attempt to regain what was stolen from her family by the Nazis, this is a story you don't often hear regarding World War II. 

The vast scale of work that is art restitution was lightly touched by the 2014 film "The Monuments Men", but didn't have the emotional impact that this film had. "Woman in Gold" captures what inanimate objects can mean to humans simply based on the history with the people we love. It also captures how infuriatingly tedious and unjust the so-called "justice" system can be.

What seems like an open and shut case can be drawn out and be pushed onward ever so slowly simply because of the stubbornness of a few people, who, other than monetary gain, have no connection to the object whatsoever.

Using flashbacks of Nazi-occupied Vienna, this movie does a great job of breaking down the case at hand, and showing the audience what happened to the Bloch family as well as countless other Jewish families during World War II. To see not only the lives destroyed, but also the objects with intimate memories of their loved ones stolen by a hateful government and claimed to be owned by the state is heartbreaking.

This is truly an inspiring and heartwarming piece that shows almost equally the evil and the good that man can do. Sprinkled with light hearted humor and very charming characters, "Woman in Gold" is a film that I feel can touch the lives of everyone.

My Rating: 7.5/10

Primal Fear (1996)

Directed by Gregory Hoblit
Written by Steve Shagan and Ann Biderman, based on the novel by William Diehl
Starring Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Edward Norton and John Mahoney

A controversial defense attorney takes on the case of a murder of an Archbishop allegedly committed by an alter boy, pro bono. After days of cross examination, new information comes forward that could hurt his case and causes him to question everything he believes about his morals, his career and the altar boy's story.

Overflowing with great performances, including the Oscar nominated role of Edward Norton, this film is a blood pumping thriller with many twists and turns. So many, in fact, that even though I had already knew how this film ended (from years of hearing about it from people who don't know the meaning of the word spoiler), I was still second guessing what I thought I already knew.

Edward Norton is remarkable in this movie. And unfortunately, there isn't much more I can say about it without giving key information away. Just take my word for it. It is an intense courtroom drama that will keep you at the edge of your seat.

Where other legal thrillers become slow and convoluted, this when excels at keeping it's pace and presenting the evidence of both sides in way that you're able to understand. As if you are the juror, every single bit of evidence makes sense. It feels like a real trial, making it that much more interesting.

My Rating: 7/10