Salvador (1986)

An early Olive Stone film. James Woods, grittier than ever, plays a drunken journalist covering the mayhem in El Salvador around the Reagan era. Oliver puts his personal political agenda all over the film, as usual, but don't be surprised if you end up siding with him when it's over.

It's a very aggressive film, not holding back on anything. The violence is in your face, the gore factor is high. Mass open grave sites, bullets to the head, nuns being raped, torture, and mutilation. Not the kind of flick you want to show at a party. (at least not one I want to be invited to) If you can deal with all that, there's a good movie underneath it all.

Rating: C+

The Ghost Writer (2010)

The controversy surrounding Roman Polanski would make for a far more intriguing film than this. I'm sure one day it will. Ghost Writer is well shot, but what's the point? The story is mostly blah and the ending leaves a lot to be desired. Expected more from the exiled auteur.

Rating: C-