Lawyer Michael Clayton (George Clooney), is a ‘fixer’ who clears up complex or dirty cases on behalf of corporate clients. He was called in after the behaviour of an old friend and colleague, Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson), who has been working on an important case on behalf of a large client for eight years, is causing concern among the partners of the law firm and the client.

While Michael was dealing with his own personal problems, Arthur died under suspcious circumstances and as Michael investigated more into the case, he discovered facts about the case which would put his life in danger. In the process Michael has to make a choice between defending corporate interests of his client, or to face down the dark forces which will stop at nothing to prevent the truth from seeing the day of light.

In my personal opinion, this is a movie that would win awards but would never be a box office hit. I am more convinced by the fact that this is so because it wasn’t on the big screen for too long and when I went to watch it with a friend, it was screen in a hall that has at most 150 people. It is definitely a good movie (I believed is even better than I am Legend ) If you have missed it on the big screen, try and catch it on DVD.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age is the story about Queen Elizabeth I (Reprised by Cate Blanchett) facing familial betrayal and danger for her throne and country. In the changing religious and political tides of late 16th century Europe, Queen Elizabeth finds her rule challenged by her cousin Mary Stuart, and the Spanish King Philip II (Jordi Molla), who is building a sea-dominating armada to ferry his powerful army to England and restore the country to Catholicism.

While I didn’t watch the first Elizabeth movie made by the same director, there is really nothing to complain about the cast. That’s not forgetting that the previous movie had seven Academy Award nominations and part of the cast were reprising their roles in this. I suspect that the movie wouldn’t be box office hit either and I find it a bit lengthly for a movie, even though it is definitely long enough to be more satisfying than National Treasure: Book of Secrets. Unfortunately, I was starting to fall sick on that day itself, I wasn’t really in the mood for a long movie nor to think more about what I have watched.

Anyway, like all Hollywood productions, this is not entirely correct historically. (For a more detailed, and possibly more accurate historical account of Queen Elizabeth I, this article, on Wikipedia maybe a better source.)

My friends and I went over to Eng Wah at Suntec to catch Dan In Real Life after having coffee at Marina on a Sunday, because we decided it was too early for dinner. I personally wasn’t expecting much, but it turns out to be quite an enjoyable movie since I hardly ever bothered about the supposed artistic value of a movie. (In which case, I just couldn’t figure how horror movies can be artistic, though I am not asking anyone to agree with me on that.)

The movie tells the story of Dan Burns (Steve Carell), a local newspaper advice columnist, and a widower with three daughters. He brought the family to his parent’s house for a family get-together and met a woman, Marie (Juliette Binoche) whom he fell in love with.

The movie revolves around how he deals with his feelings for Marie, and subsequently how he come to terms with the fact that two of two of his elder daughters are no longer little girls. It is a typical family-value themed moviies and there are lighter moments which brings out lots of laughter.

I would say it’s a good DVD to pick up for the weekend or the holidays but just don’t expect a breath taking blockbuster.