Why not watch The Man From U.N.C.L.E. with your uncle?

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. is a modern adaptation of a legendary 1964 black & while TV series. Set in a cold war scenery - it is a story of 2 agents from opposite sides of the nuclear conflict and their feisty girlfriend Gaby. Traditionally enemies - they unite in order to confront a new player on a scene of radioactive power who becomes a threat to the order.

Napoleon Solo is a former thief, turned CIA agent with a perfect British accent, spotless manners and a fantastic suit. Illya Kuryakin is a Russian spy in a leather jacket and a flat hat who can run as fast as the bad robot in Terminator 2 and damage a car with his bare hands. Solo is smooth. Illya is rough. When Illya goes around fighting, destroying motorboats and almost dying - Solo listens to romantic music, eats grapes and makes love to beautiful women in white lace underpants. Naturally challenging and hating one another to start with - they need to work together. But how will it be even possible?

With references to fashion, a subtle gey theme (or rather a bromance), fantastic scenery of car races, glamorous parties attented by the rich and famous and the city of Rome as a picturesque background - it is the most enjoyable film to watch.

Legend: Gangster Twins of London

"Legend" is a new film by Brian Helgeland starring Tom Hardy as both Reggie and Ronnie Kray - the gangster twins who ruled London in the 1950s and 1960s.

Reggie meets Frances - a red-haired girl from East End. He is gorgeousely good looking and romantic - she is shy and sweet. He tells her he is not a gangster but a businessman who might have done a few things on the boarder of the law but from now on would like to live an honest life and have a family. Problems start when he tries to focus on his marriage but gets into trouble protecting his mentally ill twin Ronnie.

Surrounded by toy boys Ronnie gets into sexual contacts with some male politicians which leads into a scandal. Essentially sweet and volnurable - he turns into a dangerous man because of his illness and can't cope on his own. He needs his brother to take care of him. But how is that going to work if Reggie has a new wife and wants more "me" time to enjoy other aspects of life than harrassement, fraud, beating people up and killing them if necessary?

The film is a masterpiece within its own rights. Tom Hardy does such a great job playing two different characters that it is hard to believe it is really the same guy. There are also plenty of scenes where both Reggie and Ronnie are together in. Technology and effects involved in that are remarkable. The film lacks some historical accuracy though. "Legend" sells the London equvalent of Al Capone to the American  and gey audience perfectly well but it falls into a bit of a cliche in the way of describing their lives.

Ronnie and Reggie Kray were gangsters who managed to cross over from the world of crime to the world of celebrities. They started as professional boxers and used their skills when providing "protection" for London businesses in their early career. Although cruel and ruthless - they were also quite likeable. They mixed with aristocrats and artists. Their lives have been photographed by David Bailey. Ronnie - pictured as gey in the film - was essentially bisexual. Although he had  sexual relationships with men - he also got married twice in his life and had some very strong feelings for women. Reggie's first wife - Frances - presented as a victim in the film - was actually a glamorous young lady who outshone Barbara Windsor and some other female stars Reggie had been seeing back in the days. 

DJANGO - Entertaining History Of Slavery

After just having seen 'Django Unchained' this evening I am back from the picture house, on my sofa, with the dog at my feet. I have only had as little as a tuna sandwich since I have came back home. Having saved myself from starvation, with hands on my laptop, I am about to answer the question which you are all surely asking: 'Was it a good film at all?'.

It was a brilliant film indeed. Brutal and violent at times, it depicts a story of Django - a black slave (Jamie Foxx, famous for his leading role in Oscar nominated 'Ray') who helps a very charismatic and eccentric Dr. Schultz (Christoph Waltz, previousely in 'Inglourious Basterds') catch criminals and collect bounty for them. Dr. Schultz trains Django and offers him a job as a killer.

Like in all Tarantino's films we have a clash of music styles, witty conversations, gun fights, blood and dark humor. It is a bit of an irony that it is up to this particular director to reconnect us to the difficult chapters of human history in a way that is somewhat entertaining.

'Django Unchained' is a remake of 1966 film. Original 'Django' earned a reputation as being one of the most violent movies ever made up to that point and was subsequently refused a certificate in Britain until 1993.

Difficult Love

Two Lovers' DVD cover looks typical. But one shouldn't judge a book by the cover or a DVD by the front image. What I thought would be a predictable romance came out to be a stunning masterpiece where a troubled young man (talented Joaquin Phoenix) with a passion for photography has got to choose between an arranged marriage (Vinessa Shaw) and a beautiful but difficult lover he naturally feels connceted to (Gwyneth Paltrow).

Two Lovers takes its inspiration from Fyodor Dostoyevsky's short story White Nights and, like old Russian dramas, trows us into a middle of an emotional conflict where the choice between passion and convienience is not easy. It kept me masmerised and unsure about what was going to happed untill the very last last second of the film. And even after it finished I remained under the spell of this intimate story.

Directed by James Gray, released in 2008, also stars Isabella Rossellini, Moni Moshonow and Elias Kotenas.