Saw a few on the plane to & from Europe...
NIGHT TRAIN TO LISBON
The story follows Raimund Gregorius, a Swiss Professor (Jeremy Irons) who, having saved a Portuguese woman from leaping to her death, stumbles upon a mesmerizing book by a Portuguese author. He feels compelled him to suddenly abandon the boring life he has led for years and to embark on an enthralling adventure. In search of the author, Gregorius acts as detective, pulling together pieces of a puzzle that involves political and emotional intrigue. Interesting movie set during the Salzar dictatorship. I enjoyed this the most. I recommend this.
THE EAST
“Sarah -- A former FBI agent is starting a new career at Hiller Brood, an elite private intelligence firm that ruthlessly protects the interests of its A-list corporate clientele. She goes deep undercover to infiltrate The East, an elusive anarchist collective seeking revenge against major corporations guilty of covering up criminal activity. Determined, highly-trained and resourceful, Sarah soon ingratiates herself with the group, overcoming their initial suspicions and joining them on their next action or "jam." But living closely with the intensely committed members of The East, Sarah finds herself torn between her two worlds as she starts to connect with anarchist Benji and the rest of the collective, and awakens to the moral contradictions of her personal life”. Interesting collision between mainstream and alternative views.
LONE RANGER
Forget a synopsis… Thinking man’s movie? No. Light enough to pass time on a plane? Yes. Light-hearted comedic film? Yes. Glad I didn’t pay for the movies but good enough to hire.
DRUG WAR – Chinese with subtitles
A drug cartel boss is arrested in a raid & coerced into betraying his former accomplices as part of an undercover operation. But the police are forced to compress months of police work into just 72 hours 7 are quickly stretched past their limits. Things spin out of control, the line between duty and recklessness is blurred, and it becomes unclear whether the cop or the criminal has the upper hand. I like foreign films and don’t mind a “cop movie”. Interesting look at the Chinese drug trade.
MIDSUMMER EQUATION – Japanese with subtitles
“A man is found dead on the rocks below a concrete embankment. Was it an accident, or murder? As more complicated connections gradually begin to unravel, Dr Yukawa, a physicist staying at a local inn, is drawn into the case. Yukawa gradually begins to uncover secrets of the past that have long remained dormant, leading to a heartbreaking truth...”.
It’s a small-town murder mystery. Interesting mix of characters. I liked the interaction between Yukawa and a small boy about science.
THE WINGS OF THE KIRIN – Japanese with subtitles
Midsummer reminded me of this Japanese movie. A man's body is found under the statue of a winged kirin in Tokyo. A suspect has a car accident and falls unconscious while he is attempting to run away. His lover tells detectives that he is absolutely not a criminal. Meanwhile, the Detective investigates and uncovers a point of contact between the dead body and the suspect. A hidden fact of the victim is revealed which even his children did not know about.
MOSS - Korean with subtitles
Which reminds me of this. It's about 2h 30 from memory. A mysterious person calls a young man and informs him that his estranged father has died in a remote country village. The village is ruled over by its chief, a former police detective, and his bunch of reformed criminals. It becomes clear that his presence is not wanted and that the locals others are hiding something terrible. His life becomes threatened as he delves into the situation.