Mamma Mia!

 Released Year: 2008

Directed by Phyllida Lyod

Casted by:

 Meryl Streep as Donna Sheridan

Amanda Seyfried as Sophie Sheridan

Pierce Brosnan as Sam Carmichael

Colin Firth as Harry Bright

Stellan Skarsgård as Bill Anderson

Dominic Cooper as Sky

Julie Walters as Rosie Mulligan

Christine Baranski as Tanya Chesham-Leigh

 Story: 

On a Greek island called Kalokairi, bride-to-be Sophie Sheridan posts three wedding invitations ("I Have a Dream") to different men.

Sophie's bridesmaids, Ali and Lisa, arrive. Sophie reveals that she found her mother's diary and has three possible fathers: Irish-American architect Sam Carmichael, Swedish adventurer and writer Bill Anderson, and British banker Harry Bright. As Sophie wants her father to give her away at the altar, she invited them without telling her mother, believing that after she spends time with them she will know who her father is ("Honey, Honey"). Villa owner Donna Sheridan, Sophie's mom, is ecstatic to reunite with her former Dynamos bandmates, wisecracking author Rosie Mulligan and wealthy multiple divorcée Tanya Chesham-Leigh, and reveals her bafflement at her daughter's desire to get married. Donna shows off the villa to Rosie and Tanya ("Money, Money, Money"). The three men arrive; Sophie smuggles them to their room and explains that she sent the invitations. She begs them to hide so Donna will have a surprise at the wedding: seeing the old friends of whom she "so often" favourably speaks. They overhear Donna working (humming "Fernando") and swear not to reveal her secret.

Donna spies them and is dumbfounded to find herself facing former lovers ("Mamma Mia"), and is adamant that they leave. She confides in Tanya and Rosie ("Chiquitita") that she is uncertain which of the men is Sophie's father. Tanya and Rosie rally her spirits by getting Donna to dance with the female staff and islanders ("Dancing Queen"). Sophie finds the men aboard Bill's yacht, and they sail around Kalokairi ("Our Last Summer") and tell stories of Donna as a carefree girl. Sophie plans to tell her fiancé Sky about her ploy, but loses her nerve. Sky and Sophie sing to each other ("Lay All Your Love on Me"), but Sky is snatched for his bachelor party.

At Sophie's bachelorette party, Donna, Tanya and Rosie perform as Donna and The Dynamos ("Super Trouper"). The festivities are interrupted by the arrival of Sam, Bill and Harry. Sophie decides to talk with each of her prospective dads alone. While her girlfriends dance with the men ("Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"), Sophie learns from Bill that Donna received the money to invest in her villa from his great aunt Sofia. Sophie guesses she must be Sofia's namesake and Bill is her father. She asks him to give her away and keep their secret from Donna until the wedding. Sophie's happiness is short-lived as Sam and Harry each tell her they must be her dad and will give her away ("Voulez-Vous"). Sophie cannot tell them the truth and, overwhelmed by the consequences of her actions, faints.

In the morning, Rosie and Tanya assure Donna they will take care of the men. Bill and Harry are about to confide in each other, but are interrupted by Rosie. Donna confronts Sophie, believing Sophie wants the wedding stopped. Sophie says that all she wants is to avoid her mother's mistakes. Donna is accosted by Sam, concerned about Sophie getting married so young. Donna confronts him and they realize they still have feelings for each other ("SOS"). Tanya and young Pepper continue their flirtations from the previous night ("Does Your Mother Know"). Sophie confesses to Sky and asks for his help. He reacts angrily to Sophie's deception and she turns to her mother for support. As Donna helps her daughter dress for the wedding, their rift is healed and Donna reminisces about Sophie's childhood and how quickly she has grown ("Slipping Through My Fingers"). Donna admits that her own mother disowned her when she learned that she was pregnant. Sophie asks Donna to give her away. As the bridal party walks to the chapel, Sam intercepts Donna. She reveals the pain she felt over losing him ("The Winner Takes It All").

Sophie and Donna walk down the aisle as the band plays "Knowing Me, Knowing You". Donna tells Sophie that her father could be any of the three men. Sam reveals that while he left to get married, he did not go through with it, and returned to find Donna with another man. Harry confesses that Donna was the first and last woman he loved and he has begun a relationship with a waiter from the taverna. The men agree that they would be happy to be one-third of a father for Sophie. She tells Sky they should postpone their wedding and travel the world as they have wanted. Sam proposes to Donna ("I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do"). She accepts and they are married. At the reception, Sam sings to Donna ("When All Is Said and Done"), which prompts Rosie to make a play for Bill ("Take a Chance on Me"). All the couples present proclaim their love ("Mamma Mia" reprise). Sophie and Sky sail away ("I Have a Dream" reprise).

During the principal credits, Donna, Tanya and Rosie reprise "Dancing Queen", followed by "Waterloo" with the rest of the cast. Amanda Seyfried sings "Thank You for the Music" over the end credits, followed by an instrumental of "Does Your Mother Know".

 L² Scored: 10/10

L² Comment:

One of my favorite musical movie acted by multiple super stars. The movie was shot in Greece & it is mainly based on all the famous pop music from ABBA. Benny Anderson, the member of ABBA & music composer also appeared as a guest performer as a piano player.

The whole movie is cheerful and lightly. I was really surprise to know that Meryl Streep can sing that well, Pierce Brosnan's singing a bit so so lol~ Anyway, the storyline was great and all the casts are perfect on their role. This is a movie that no matter how many times I watch, I will still get attracted into it and sing along with all those famous songs :)

The Iron Lady

 Released Year: 2012

Directed by Phyllida Llyod

Casted by:

Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher
Jim Broadbent as Denis Thatcher
Alexandra Roach as young Margaret Thatcher
Harry Lloyd as young Denis Thatcher

 Story:

 The film begins sometime in 2008 (opening against the backdrop of news of the Islamabad Marriott Hotel bombing) with an elderly Lady Thatcher buying milk unrecognized by other customers and walking back from the shop alone. Over the course of three days we see her struggle with dementia and with the lack of power that comes with old age, while looking back on defining moments of her personal and professional life, on which she reminisces with her (now dead) husband, Denis Thatcher. She is shown as having difficulty distinguishing between the past and present. A theme throughout the film is the personal price which Thatcher has paid for power. Denis is portrayed as somewhat ambivalent about his wife's rise to power, her son Mark lives in South Africa and is shown as having little contact with his mother, and it is implied that Thatcher's relationship with her daughter Carol is at times strained.

In flashback we are shown Thatcher's youth, working in the family grocery store in Grantham, listening to the political speeches of her father, whom she idolised - it is hinted that she had a poor relationship with her mother - and announcing that she has won a place at the University of Oxford. She remembers her struggle, as a young lower-middle class woman, to break into a snobbish male-dominated Tory party and find a seat in the House of Commons, along with businessman Denis Thatcher's marriage proposal to her. Her struggles to fit in as a "Lady Member" of the House, and as Education Secretary in Edward Heath's cabinet are also shown, as are her friendship with Airey Neave (later assassinated by the Irish National Liberation Army), her decision to stand for Leader of the Conservative Party, and her voice coaching and image change.

Further flashbacks examine historical events during her time as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom including the rising unemployment related to her monetarist policies and the tight 1981 budget (over the misgivings of "wet" members of her Cabinet – Ian Gilmour, Francis Pym, Michael Heseltine and Jim Prior), the Brixton Riots of 1981, the miners' strike of 1984–5, and the bombing of the Grand Hotel during the 1984 Conservative Party Conference, when she and Denis were almost killed. We also see (slightly out of chronological sequence) her decision to retake the Falkland Islands following the islands' invasion by Argentina in 1982, the sinking of the ARA General Belgrano and Britain's subsequent victory in the Falklands War, her friendship with Ronald Reagan and emergence as a world figure, and the economic boom of the late 1980s.

By 1990 Thatcher is shown as an imperious but aging figure, ranting aggressively at her Cabinet, refusing to accept that the Community Charge (the "Poll Tax") is regarded as unjust, and fiercely opposed to European Integration. Her deputy Geoffrey Howe resigns after being humiliated by her in a Cabinet meeting, Michael Heseltine challenges her for the party leadership and her loss of support from her Cabinet colleagues leaves her little choice but to resign as Prime Minister, about which she is shown as still angry and bitter twenty years later.

Eventually, Margaret is shown packing up her late husband's belongings, and telling him it's time for him to go. Denis's ghost leaves her – in spite of her cries that she is not yet ready to lose him – fully dressed but without his shoes, and she is left alone washing up a teacup.

L² Scored: 6/10

L² Comment:

I'm not really fond of this movie as i think Mdm Thatcher's life is a bit boring as she spent almost all her life on politics, which i will not ever do it in my life. However, I'm impress with Meryl Streep once again. She never failed to impress me in all her film, she's totally in the character :) And of course, her excellent acting in this movie has won her a multiples awards' Best Actress, bravo :)

Lions For Lambs

Released Year: 2007
Directed by Robert Redford

Casted by:
Robert Redford as Professor Stephen Malley
Meryl Streep as Janine Roth
Tom Cruise as Senator Jasper Irving
Andrew Garfield as Todd Hayes
Michael Peña as Ernest Rodriguez
Derek Luke as Arian Finch
Peter Berg as Lt. Col. Falco
Story:

Two determined students at a West Coast university, Arian and Ernest, at the urging of their idealistic professor, Dr. Malley, attempt to do something important with their lives. They make the bold decision to commission in the army to fight in Afghanistan after graduating from college.

Dr. Malley also attempts to reach talented and privileged, but disaffected, student Todd Hayes who is not at all like Arian and Ernest. He is naturally bright, comes from a privileged background, but has apparently slipped into apathy upon being disillusioned at the present state of affairs. Now he devotes most of his time to extra-curricular activities like his role as president of his fraternity. Malley tests him by offering a choice between a respectable grade of 'B' in the class with no additional work required, or a final opportunity to re-engage with the material of the class and "do something."

Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., a charismatic Republican presidential hopeful, Senator Jasper Irving, has invited liberal TV journalist Janine Roth to his office to announce a new war strategy in Afghanistan: the use of small units to seize strategic positions in the mountains ("forward operating points") before the Taliban can occupy them. The senator hopes that Roth's positive coverage will help convince the public that the plan is sound.

Roth has her doubts and fears she is being asked to become an instrument of government propaganda. Near the end of the film, she informs her commercially-minded boss of her plans to call out the Senator's new strategy for what she feels is a ploy, but is shot down. Ultimately, Irving's version of the story is run without the critical interaction. It is not clear whether Roth gave in and toed the company line or if she quit her job.

In Afghanistan, a helicopter carrying Arian and Ernest is hit by Taliban soldiers. Ernest falls out and Arian jumps after him. Ernest's leg is badly wounded and he suffers a compound fracture, rendering him immobile as the Taliban arrive. After a drawn-out gunfight, the U.S. soldiers run out of ammunition. Rather than getting captured, Arian helps Ernest stand up, facing the enemies and turning their empty weapons against them, an action which prompts the Taliban to kill them. The unit commanders attempt a rescue of the downed soldiers, sending A-10 Warthogs, but the weather, time and distance interfere.

Hayes is then seen watching television with a friend. A reporter is discussing a singer's private life, while below runs a strip announcing Senator Irving's new military plan for Afghanistan. He suddenly falls quiet, contemplating the choices with which his professor had left him.

L² Scored: 2/10

L² Comment:

Robert Redford + Meryl Streep + Tom Cruise = Good Movie. How true is it? I should say not at all. I don't know how Matthew Michael Carnahan wrote this story, its so disappointing compare to the beginning of this film. When you thought, hmmm~ 3 different situations happened at different places, how interesting. But yawn yawn yawn as the movie going on.

A film is good to make you sleep.

Doubt

Released Year: 2008
Directed by John Patrick Shanley

Casted by:
Meryl Streep as Sister Aloysius
Philip Seymour Hoffman as Father Brendan Flynn
Amy Adams as Sister James
Viola Davis as Mrs Miller
Joseph Foster as Donald Miller

Story:

In one Catholic church of Bronx, New York of 1964, the principal of the church, Sister Aloysius doubt that Father Flynn has been having an abnormal affair with an altar boy Donald Miller. Being the one and only african american student, both Sister Aloysius and Sister James found that Father Flynn has been giving too much attention and care for Donald.

Sister James is a young and naive teacher, she did not suspect anything when Father Flynn call Donald to meet him in the rectory. But when Donald came back, she notices the smell of an alcoholic drink from Donald's breath. Later on, she also discover that Father Flynn place a white shirt in Miller's locker. On guard of all these unusual behavior, Sister James reveals her suspicious to Sister Aloysius.

Being the democratic old lady, Sister Aloysius has confront this to Father Flynn with Sister James. Avoid answering to this, Father Flynn fought all the way out from these 2 sister. But Sister Aloysius never gave up, she confronted this problem with Mrs Miller. And the truth was reveal. Mrs Miller already knew that Donald is a homosexual boy but she has to leave it to that way until Donald graduate from school because they can't afford to send him away for study.

By using tricks, Sister Aloysius claimed that she has call Father Flynn's previous church and found that he has been having abnormal affair with previous altar boy. Feeling shameful for his behavior, Father Flynn finally decided to leave the church.

L² Scored: 7/10

L² Comment:

Overall this film has help the casting to won a lot of awards or being nominated. Such as Meryl Streep wining the Best Actress in Critics' Choice Awards, Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards & Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards; Viola Davis winning the best supporting actress for Dalla-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards, Houston Film Critics Society Awards, National Board of Review Awards and St Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Awards. You can't see any nudity scene at all although this is a GLBT film. And the expression of Meryl and Philip Seymour will totally swept your breath away.

The Devil Wears Prada

Released Year: 2006
Directed by David Frankel

Casted by:
Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly
Anne Hathaway as Andrea Sachs
Emily Blunt as Emily Charlton
Adrian Grenier as Nate Cooper
Story:

Andrea, also known as Andy is highly passionate on writing her journal. Staying with her boyfriend Nate in a small cozy place and dressing casually is what she used to do. But getting into the US 1st top fashion magazine "Runway" is her stepping stone for achieving her target as a journalist. "Runway" editor-in-chief is Miranda, who's an icy-cold woman with excellent job presenter and fussy on everything for being the perfectionist.

Andrea has to suit herself in the high-end and vogue world in "Runway" while assisting Emily as the 2nd assistant for Miranda. After being insult, Andrea learns her lesson and try to be as vogue as other girls in the magazine with the help of Nigel. Andrea starts to have fight with Nate, her friends and even abandoned her dad during dinner due to her heavy job load.

By giving a good performance, she replaced Emily to attend the fashion show in Paris together with Miranda. She also has affair with Christian who's has certain power in this industry. But after seeing the failure of Miranda's marriage, Andrea realized this is not the life that she wants. Giving up on her job, she went for the New York News and get back with her boyfriend.

Of coz, the wonderful Miranda managed to keep her own job and power in the industry and wish all the best to Andrea in the end.

L² Scored: 8.5/10

L² Comment:

My favourite show among the year in 2006. Talks about all those high end fashion and company politics. I watched this movie twice in the cinema. Simply excellent. Nothing to criticized but just 2 thumbs up :)