Russian Ark (2002)

You only get one shot

A 19th century French diplomat finds himself in Russia's State Hermitage Museum speaking perfect Russian and not knowing how he got there.  The rest is very interesting, pure cinema at its best.  This groundbreaking film 'one ups' Alfred Hitchcock's Rope by being filmed in one 90 minute take, uninterrupted by edits. 

Filmed in real time with a Steadicam, Russian Ark is nothing short of extraordinary.  Apart from the obvious technical brilliance and skill behind making the film, the things that happen in front of the camera are very impressive as well.  The acting is top notch, the costumes are amazing, and the setting is gorgeous.  This unique film, which could have just been a gimmicky film is truly great.

Russian Ark gets 5 out of 5 stars!

Director: Aleksandr Sokurov
Writer: Boris Khaimsky
Starring: Sergey Dreyden, Mariya Kuznetsova, Leonid Mozgovoy
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
Metacritic: 86%

Exam (2009)

Time's up, pencils down

Eight candidates competing for the same job are seated in a room for an exam. Each is given a piece of paper, a pencil, and very little instruction. Told that the first candidate to answer their question is the winner, they are given 80 minutes and the instructor leaves the room.  Each candidate turns his or her page over to find it blank. And the next two hours are pretty wild. Exam explores the limitations, possibilities, and dangers that one room can hold. I put this film right alongside Hitchcock's Rope or Rodrigo Cortés' Buried. Minimalistic and intense, this film is a great thriller which had me hooked from the opening credits.

Exam passes the test with 4 out of 5 Poblanos!

Director: Stuart Hazeldine (Exam is his feature film directorial debut. He has written screenplays for Knowing with Nicholas Cage, Scott Derrickson's remake of The Day The Earth Stood Still, and the upcoming screen adaptation of Milton's Paradise Lost.)

Writer: Stuart Hazeldine, Simon Garrity

Starring: Luke Mably,  Adar Beck, Chukwudi Iwuji, Jimi Mistry, and Nathalie Cox

Rotten Tomatoes: 63%

Metacritic: not reviewed

Buried (2010)

Will no one help Ryan Reynolds?
A civilian truck driver delivering supplies in Iraq is kidnapped and Buried alive.  Disoriented, Paul Conroy (Ryan Reynolds) uses every tool at his disposal to free himself from impending doom while his captors try to milk him for ransom money.  I love the idea of imposing limitations on film making as Hitchcock did in Rope.  Spanish Director Rodrigo Cortés limits himself to a coffin and the result is stunning.  It is emotional, funny, thrilling, and just plain good.  I was hanging on every frame of this one.  Bottom line - he might be alone in a box, but Ryan Renolds needs no help.  He puts on an amazing one man show.

5 out of 5 Poblanos!

Director:  Rodrigo Cortés
Writer:  Chris Sparling
Starring: Ryan Reynolds
Rotten Tomatoes -  86%
Metacritic - 65 out of 100