Movie #343 - King Arthur

King Arthur
2004 - Rated PG-13 - 2 hr 6 min
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Clive Owen, Ioan Gruffudd, Mads Mikkelsen, Hugh Dancy, Joel Edgerton, Ray Winstone, Keira Knightley, Stephen Dillane, Stellan Skarsgard

I think they should've put blue-faced Keira Knightly on the poster, but maybe that's just me.

In a Roman Empire-era retelling of the classic King Arthur, Clive Owen brings stately poise to a role played by many greats before him... including Sean Connery.  A strong ensemble cast makes this a solid attempt, and it's nice to see real horses instead of coconuts (Monty Python...) and a quest that's not for the grail.  The knights are on one last mission before they earn their freedom, possibly the most dangerous mission they've ever faced.  Some will live, some won't.  But everyone fights like mad... including Keira.

It's a nice reboot since it breaks away from the dressed-up versions of this story to reveal a grittier, dirtier, humbler iteration.  I like it for its originality and also for the its lead role's effortless handsomeness. What can I say? Clive Owen is pretty rad.

Movie #313 - Inside Man

Inside Man
2006 - Rated R - 2 hr 9 min
Director: Spike Lee
Starring: Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Christopher Plummer, Willem Dafoe

A bank robbery where the money stays in the vault? Something's up.  The premise behind this movie is heavy on the intrigue.  Denzel vs Clive is an interesting battle to watch, with Jodie Foster interfering at all the wrong (or right?) moments.

This one's nothing extraordinary, but it's always nice to a see a movie with a predictable premise (i.e. a bank robbery with hostages) take a different route.  That said, I don't think anyone here gives a standout performance nor is this a must-see.  It's entertaining and intriguing, but a lot of the middle just drags.  It could be great but to me it seems a bit unbalanced.  Overall though, a good one to watch for something a little different.

Movie #281 - Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Elizabeth: The Golden Age
2007 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 54 min
Director: Shekhar Kapur
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Clive Owen, Geoffrey Rush, Samantha Morton, Abbie Cornish, Rhys Ifans

Yay! We added the sequel to the wall (finally) after I watched the first and regretted its absence. Of course, it's one more movie to watch. But I guess as long as it's good, it's fine.

In this movie, Cate Blanchett reunites with director Shekhar Kapur to reprise the role she was born to play: England's Queen Elizabeth I.  Honestly, she's just phenomenal.  More gushing, just like the review of the first. I can't help myself.

Here, she battles a whole new cast of enemies, deals with more court intrigue, and continues to grow as the greatest ruler England has ever known.  She's more fierce, more devoted, more powerful.  And all of this growth is evident in Blanchett's flawless performance. 

I'm so glad to have this one up on that wall!

Movie #175 - Duplicity

Duplicity
2009 - Rated PG-13 - 2 hr 5 min
Director: Tony Gilroy
Starring: Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Tom Wilkinson, Paul Giamatti

We saw this one in the theatre and, if I remember correctly, the critics weren't big fans of the caper.  Seeing it now, I have to admit that it was a bit weird, but not because of the movie itself.  It was weird to see Roberts/Owen in another movie together after I just saw Closer last month.  I wonder if it was weird for them too, gettin' it on again on screen.  Huh.

Anyway, I like the movie and it was nice to see it again after all some time, since I'd forgotten all the twists and turns of the plot.  Rediscovering the con within a con within a loooooooong con was fun, like seeing it for the first time again. 

It's hard to talk about this one without giving it away, so I'll stop here.  The movie's full of intrigue, vagueries, and definitely makes you pay attention.  It's a great thinking movie, but it will probably still surprise you in the end.  I don't know why the critics didn't like it. I think it's original and fun, and this pair is great once again.

Movie #116 - Closer

Closer
Sony Pictures
2004 - Rated R - 1 hr 44 min
Director: Mike Nichols
Starring: Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Clive Owen, Natalie Portman

Want to watch Natalie Portman do a very raunchy strip tease? Borrow this DVD.

But seriously, this adapted-from-the-play movie is fantastic.  I'm not usually a big fan of movies that celebrate adultery (call me old-fashioned) but this script handles the taboo topic really well.  These four are so entwined in one another's lives that you get sucked right into their tangled mess and the only way out is to watch the whole movie to the end.  Who gets who? Why do you care? Do any of them deserve each other?

Actually, yeah. The only one who gets out of this mess is probably the best of all of them. 

I won't give anything away, but I'll say that this fantastic cast does more than justice to this film.  As virtually the only people in the movie, they can't phone it in either.  If you watch for the strip show, fine.... but pay attention to the message.  It's real, in your face, not afraid to get a little rude.  And best of all, the movie is true to the stage play (which is also amazing, if you've never seen it) so it's like seeing the original right in your own living room.  Enjoy, just promise me you'll give this hot, lustful mess some thought when it's over.

Movie #106 - Children of Men

Children of Men
Universal Pictures
2006 - Rated R - 1 hr 49 min
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Starring: Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine

Here's a bleak futuristic movie for you... yikes.  Although I admit upfront that this one is disturbing and tough to imagine (but probably not that unlikely), it's still one that I really do enjoy.  No babies at all, not for 18 years.  Wow.

And then a chick gets pregnant, has no idea what that's all about, and all hell breaks loose.  Lots of people die for this little baby too... it really puts the fragility of the human race into perspective, you know?  It's dark, it's sad, but it's just soooo good.  And don't even get me started on Clive Owen, who is seven flavors of awesome in this movie.

Just watch it, seriously.  This one will make you think.

Movie #89: The Bourne Identity

The Bourne Identity
Universal Pictures
2002 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 59 min
Director: Doug Liman
Starring: Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Chris Cooper, Clive Owen, Brian Cox, Julia Stiles

Ah, the movie that made Matt Damon into an action hero.  Nice.

Nothing is as sexy as an amnesia patient who can kick ass and isn't quite sure why he knows how.  Damon is on the run, looking for his identity, and finding a budding romance along the way (cuz you know, love happens, ok?)

This movie is just lots of fun to watch.  There's running and car chases and shooting and intrigue.  Matt Damon is actually pretty awesome too, and when you get to the end of this movie, you definitely want to see more.  Fortunately, there are two more Bourne movies on the way...