Nerve Curve

Cemetery Junction on DVD now

2011-05-19T17:44:00.000+01:00

The directorial film debut of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant is the 1973 set Cemetery Junction, which is an average, vaguely dull suburb of Reading. The film is set around three friends, Freddie (pretty and also vaguely dull), Bruce (anger issues and attitude) and Snork (inappropriate language and chubby) as they all try to meet girls and escape from the Junction.

Freddie takes a job away from the factory where his father and friend works to wear a suit and tie, selling life insurance overseen by his boss Mr Kendrick (Fiennes) and his right hand man Mike (Goode). Whereas Bruce talks of escaping but seems stuck between the factory and the police lock up as he bounces from work to fights. Whereas Snork on the other hand just wants to (unsuccessfully) get laid. Freddies new job sets in motion a series of changes that move the lads lives on, Freddie himself meets his childhood friend, the bosses daughter Julie. Bruce gets to finally sort out his anger and Snork actually meets a girl who’s interested in him.

Its an ok film, the cast overall are great with Fiennes and Watson leading the star names although for me it all was a little too predictable and apart from the weight of Gervais’s name I doubt it would have been made. Pleasant while watching but ultimately forgettable.

Director: Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant

Cast

Christian Cooke – Freddie Taylor

Tom Hughes – Bruce Pearson

Felicity Jones – Julie Kendrick

Ralph Fiennes – Mr Kendrick

Matthew Goode – Mike Ramsay

Emily Watson – Mrs Kendrick

The Social Network on DVD now

2011-05-08T13:06:00.000+01:00

Based on the book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich The Social Network documents the development and rise of Facebook. The film centers on Mark Zuckerberg an extremely talented Harvard student who by a series of events decides to launch Facebook at college. Facebook spreads like wildfire and soon expands over the world to become the phenomenon that it is today, making Zuckerberg the world’s youngest millionaire as well as bringing out his enemies.

A potentially unusual choice of subject matter for a film, an awkward socially isolated geeky genius creating a computer database admittedly one that changes the way the world now communicates but The Social Network is an interesting, informative film which deals with genius, jealousy and power in a very modern context. Eisenberg is great as the rather unlike able driven Zuckerberg who is a socially distant student and therefore more easily able to detach himself from his only friend Eduardo played by the next Spiderman Andrew Garfield. Even Timberlake is good as the napster inventor Parker – I was pleasantly surprised by his acting.

This film succeeds largely because of the amazing script which would manage to hold your interest even if you dont partake in social networking. It’s a modern tale of power and betrayal admittedly with its central character a billionaire who doesn’t even seem to change his clothes!

Well work a watch.

Director: David Fincher
Cast:

Jessie Eisenberg – Mark Zuckerberg
Andrew Garfield – Eduardo Saverin
Justin Timberlake – Sean Parker

Burke and Hare on DVD Now

2011-04-02T10:39:00.000+01:00

Director John Landis, famed for such movies as American Werewolf in London, The Blues Brothers and Animal House, returns to the directors chair to tackle the story of Burke (Pegg) and Hare (Serkis) the infamous body snatchers on the 19th Century. Burke and Hare are skint but luckily (?) for them they are based at the centre of medical excellence so when there is a sudden death they decide to profit from it by selling it to the Dr Knox who is always on the look out for fresh bodies to dissect in front of medical students. Dr Knox cannot seem to get his hands on enough bodies and so Burke and Hare decide to profit from this lucrative trade although they too realise there are not enough fresh corpses – so they decide to take matters into their own hands.

I would firstly warn against thinking that this will be a in-depth expose or dramatisation into the dealings of the two real life body snatchers, instead we get a slapstick romp through 19th century Edinburgh cadaver business. Pegg and Serkis seem to be enjoying themselves as they take on the Irish born anti heroes who take to their new career as a duck takes to water, and in this task they are ably assisted by Lucky (Hynes) Hare’s missus who gets turned on by the money and her hubbies new career. There are also an amazing amount of famous cameos in this film – I dare you to watch it without spotting them and in some respects that takes the focus away from the main action of the film. Although this film is funny it should also be noted that the blood and guts come with an adult edge – which mirrors that of American Werewolf or Hot Fuzz, your laughing and then suddenly are brought short when face with something a bit too visceral.

The conclusion for me is that this film falls between two camps, its neither an outright comedy or even in drama – its more Carry On Burke and Hare.

Director: John Landis

Cast:
Simon Pegg – William Burke
Andy Serkis – William Hare
Jessica Hynes – Lucky
Isla Fisher – Ginny Hawkins
Tom Wilkinson – Doctor Robert Knox
Tim Curry – Doctor Monro

Buried out now on DVD

2011-03-22T19:19:00.000Z

Buried is a film in which Paul Conroy (Reynolds) a US citizen working as a truck driver in Iraq awakens to find himself trapped in a coffin, buried underground with only a mobile phone and a cigarette lighter. It’s a race against time for Conroy to contact help, for the help to find and locate him or the ransom demands to be met.

Buried is a good brave film and one for me in which Reynolds shines and the man trapped underground in what must be a situation any human would fear. In fact I couldn’t find anything really wrong with this movie, its paced really well, Conroy is both short tempered, impatient, pleading and repentant and you can feel the helplessness and claustrophobia of the situation. Reynolds as I said is great as the only character you really see in the whole movie for me shows that he can really act and is more than just eye candy. The only negative for this film is that it’s a hard sell – it’s the story of a man trapped underground, its harrowing and not exactly light viewing – its good, although you also do feel like you’ve put yourself through a bit of an ordeal watching it.

Director: Rodrigo Cortés

Cast:
Ryan Reynolds – Paul Conroy

Taken on DVD now

2011-03-19T12:23:00.001Z

I had previously steered clear of watching this movie after reading some not so glowing reviews but I found myself promising my 20 year old nephew I would watch it before casting judgement (which I was doing), which is why I’m writing this review.

Taken is the story of Bryan Mills (Neeson) who travels to France to find his daughter after Eastern European sex traffickers kidnap her. Mills isn’t just an ordinary Joe – oh no he’s a retired CIA agent and he has revenge and blood on his mind.

Hmmm I guess I don’t want to really lay into this film but I found so many things wrong with it I actually got to the point where I started laughing which I’m sure wasn’t the desired effect. Yes there’s fighting which is well done and if you want to watch Neeson strutting his stuff with a gravely voice then this film is probably the one for you, I would on the other hand rather watch a Bourne movie if I wanted close up combat – its better done in Bourne with a much better story holding it together. I suppose if this film handled itself like the Transporter – a little tongue in cheek it would be more fun but I get the feeling that this film takes itself a little to seriously (like Mills himself) and in that respect it for me fell flat.

The air of the whole film is one of paranoia – Mills is paranoid about his daughter travelling in Europe where all manner of dark and shady people lurk and of course his paranoia is fully justified when the ‘evil men’ are lurking to kidnap young women straight off the plane – those dastardly foreigners! The technology Mill’s uses is laughable – two words are recorded of the kidnapper and that’s enough to get a voice / person match and whole history, it is though handy (no pun intended) that the ‘evil foreigners’ have all decided to get a distinctive tattoo on all of their hands so they can be easily identified.

There is also the matter of all the ‘sex trafficked’ women. Why would any prospective kidnapper choose to take women who were not alone and friendless? – Hasn’t anyone else complained that this seems to be going on in Paris – its not exactly the third world is it and there are rather a lot of drugged women scattered throughout the city. The girls are drugged and chained to the bed, I don’t profess to know much about prostitution but I would have thought that a punter would at least want to have his girl looking ‘clean’ and not like she hasn’t had a bath in a month with needle marks all over her arms…. maybe its just me though, and that’s not me even getting started on the weird shipping tanker brothel (so classy) and the peep show auction. Of course this all boils down to the ‘Jabba the Hutt’ like nasty foreign geezer who wants pure western girls so he can pop their cherries. I guess as a European woman I didn’t realise thing were quite this lawless here, there again if you can kill 15 people in Paris and have no repercussions its probably quite handy Europe is a wild – a bit like the wild west was but with better architecture.

Give this one a miss and put on a Bourne or Casino Royale instead.

Director: Pierre Morel

Cast:

Liam Neeson – Bryan Mills

Maggie Grace – Kim

Easy A on DVD now

2011-03-11T17:59:00.000Z

Easy A charts the story of Olive, a likeable, smart, quick witted and intelligent American teenager, (yes you did read that correctly) who tells a lie about losing her virginity a lie that soon grows. Olive goes from being non-existent in high school to being the center of attention and she decides to use her newfound notoriety to help out a friend and for financial gain. Soon the rumours circulate and the lie grows and grows and Olive has to find a way to salvage her reputation and to silence the religious fever her ‘promiscuity’ has stirred up.

Emma Stone, soon to be seen in the Amazing Spiderman, is great as Olive – smart, funny and even more surprising she’s likeable and that’s not something I say about American teenage girls often. Her little lie throws her into a dilemma which is paralleled to the book she is studying – The Scarlet Letter, so Olive decides to take it to the extreme and then has difficulty containing the genie once it was out of the bottle. Stone is so important on this movie as most of it rests on her young shoulders –she succeeds in running away with the film and launching herself onto the A List. The script is great and all of the supporting characters are interesting and suitably skewed and distorted which keeps you interested. If you like Mean Girls or Clueless or even if you older Heathers, this would be perfect viewing.

Director: Will Glut

Cast:
Emma Stone          - Olive
Penn Badgley                    - Woodchuck Todd
Amanda Bynes                - Marianne
Dan Byrd                            - Brandon
Thomas Haden Church    - Mr Griffith

A Single Man on DVD now

2011-02-21T21:43:00.000Z

A Single Man that is based on the book of the same name by Michael Isherwood, is the story of a day in the life of a college professor George (Firth), a man struggling with grief after his partner Jim (Goode) has died in a car accident. Months after Jim’s death George is slowly unravelling and is looking for a reason to carry on.

Firstly this film is beautiful in a way that isn’t often seen, its almost a work or art, Ford the fashion designer turned director is in his element, not only do the characters look like they are straight off the catwalk there is also something ethereal, almost dreamy about the way in which the film was shot. There are some amazing shots that are almost in sepia until George takes a deep breath in and in doing so breathes life into the footage, it’s a simple technique but is done so wonderfully you don’t even realise what you have seen until it has passed.

The story is great, and also tragic, Firth is excellent as the outwardly controlled, repressed and yet deeply grieving George, the heart of the film. We follow him through a day in his life where we see him largely detached from his surroundings as if his grief has made him an observer in his own life. Georges situation is made all the more tragic as you realise that in the 60’s when the film was set George wasn’t allowed closure on his lovers death – not allowed to attend the funeral and apart from his friend, the beautiful gin soaked Charlie (Moore) he has to live in denial as to what has happened to him.

It’s a slow moving, dreamlike beautful movie both in look as well as sentiment and it is the unsaid lines in the film where it speaks its loudest.

Director: Tom Ford

Cast:

Colin Firth             George
Julianne Moore    Charlie
Nicholas Hoult      Kenny
Matthew Goode   Jim

Splice on DVD now

2011-02-08T21:59:00.000Z

Splice is the story of a couple Nicoli (Brody) and Kast (Polley), two young enthusiastic genetic engineers who have been working on groundbreaking experiments creating new species from a mixture of DNA from various animals. Their work has been to find new medical treatments but it is suddenly threatened with closure, this galvanises them to take the next step and splice the next hybrid with human DNA.

Where the basic premise of Splice is relevant, and is likely to become even more so in the future as man takes even more steps with work on DNA and cloning, ultimately the film, like the scientists, goes a step too far. Splice at first raises questions about what is right and wrong and where man morally stands on these issues. Even when Dren takes her first steps you are still interested into where the film might be going, it is though, soon after that you can see where the film is heading when Kast decides to humanise her by dressing her up and buying her dolls.

Dren herself is an interesting creation and lucky for her it seems that the human gene is the dominant one in the way she looks. She has birdlike movements and seems to have some unusual physical features that are only glimpsed.

It is though in the relationship of scientists and their lack of scientific discipline that the film really fails. It seems that Nicoli and Kast although they have been a couple for years haven’t actually told one another about themselves. They are also so pleased with dressing Dren up and playing at ‘parents’ that they are not bothered with her development or any of her genetic features or traits. What starts as an interesting premise ends in a rather sub standard horror tale – and it’s a shame it could have been a lot more.

Director: Vincenzo Natali

Cast:
Adrien Brody             Clive Nicoli
Sarah Polley              Elsa Kast
Delphine Chaneac    Dren

The Kings Speech – at cinemas now

2011-02-02T18:39:00.001Z

Tom Hoopers multi award winning Kings Speech, based on the true story of King George VI who upon his brothers abdication is required to take to the throne and rally the British Empire at the beginning of the second world war. The problem is ‘Bertie’ has a stammer and cannot even speak to his family without stammering – how is he going to conquer the wireless.

Its difficult to go into watch this film without the weight of expectation that the hype and publicity has brought it. Is it really that good? Is Colin Firth that good? How can a story based on not too distant history about the Royal Family evoke any sympathy in 2011? The answer to these questions is yes it can, due to an amazing performance from Firth supported by the best British cast (excluding Rush) this side of Harry Potter and a great, subtle script.

I suppose this is the type of filmmaking that the British excel at – a period piece with and ensemble task on a subject that on paper shouldn’t really work but in reality does. Im no fan of the Royals – no siree, but the film, using Logue as the voice of the common man slowly pokes fun out of the institution and even the King himself voices how restraining and confining being in the ‘firm’ can be. Its in Firths performance, though that you see the restraint, duty, pressure and weight of expectation of a man placed in a role that he feels wholly unprepared for. He deserves every award that he wins.

Hold on the cynicism it’s a must see.

Director: Tom Hooper

Cast:

Colin Firth                        King George VI 'Bertie'
Helena Bonham Carter Queen Elizabeth
Geoffrey Rush                  Lionel Logue
Jennifer Ehle                    Myrtle Logue
Derek Jacobi                   Archbishop Cosmo Lang

Catfish on DVD now

2011-02-02T18:18:00.000Z

Catfish is a documentary about Nev Schulman as captured by his brother, Ariel and their friend Henry Joost. What begins as a small interesting project soon becomes something much more intriguing. Catfish documents Nev as he begins an online relationship with Megan, a relationship where it soon becomes apparent that Megan is not all that she seems.

Nev’s a normal young guy and Megan seems to be and ideal match for him, he links with her and her family and friends through facebook. It’s a really well paced documentary in which you are as the viewer drawn into a facebook mystery of Nev’s relationship with Megan as he piece by piece puts together the evidence with his brother and friend that facebook sometimes lies.

What then follows although not all together surprising but it is quite scary especially the level to which the deception goes. Nev and friends expose the truth but you are left thinking how often does this happen in the virtual world to maybe more vulnerable people. Another remarkable element of this documentary is that you don’t hate the protagonist you are left feeling quite sympathetic to their situation despite the months of deception you know Nev has been exposed to.

Very telling for our times – in that respect it’s a must see.

Director: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman

Cast:
Ariel Schulman           Himself (as Rel Schulman)
Yaniv Schulman        Himself (as Nev Schulman)
Angela Wesselman   Herself

44 Inch Chest on DVD now

2011-01-18T20:05:00.000Z

44 Inch Chest follows Colin Diamond (Winston) trying to come to terms with his wife, Liz (Whalley) leaving him. Well that’s the film in its simplest version, in this film Colin’s quest for revenge and justice is aided by his gang of friends who kidnap the man Liz is having an affair with and let Colin decide his fate.

Ok, it’s a sterling cast, and on paper there isn’t a weak link amongst them, which is why I feel disappointed that the film didn’t deliver for me. Noyce has chosen to present the film as if it is a stage play, depending on the strengths of the actors alone, this would be ok but theres something not quite right about the script, it doesn’t flow smoothly its too ‘staged’ not like conversation – not even like movie conversations. The film is riddled with swearing – and believe me Im not a prude when it comes to bad language - I rate Goodfellas as one of my all time favourite movies, but hear it just doesn’t sound right. Its not like a lot of gangsters talking its more like a bunch of 10 year olds having a conversation where they fit in as much swearing as humanly possible – it just doesn’t flow.

I also thought that there was a lack tension in the film which is at odds with the films content. Surely the tension is supposed to be constantly cranked up as Colin builds up to his decision, egged on by his friends. I found myself not caring for any of the characters, except for maybe the unnamed ‘loverboy’ who does nothing except sit on a chair and look rather pathetic for most of the film. Overall it’s a weird film, for me it didn’t flow at all, although I did find the approach interesting but it reality it fell somewhat short of the mark.

Director: Phillip Noyce
Cast:
Ray Winstone           Colin Diamond
Ian McShane             Meredith
John Hurt                   Old Man Peanut
Tom Wilkinson        Archie
Stephen Dillane        Mal
Joanne Whalley        Liz Diamond

Salt on DVD now

2011-01-15T12:36:00.000Z

Evelyn Salt (Jolie) is a CIA agent whose life changes when one day a Russian defector Orlov (Olbrychski) walks into her CIA offices and apparently reveals that she is in fact a sleeper spy who’s mission is to kill the Russian President. Does her boss Ted (Schreiber) believe Orlov?, does Salt know that she is a sleeper agent or as she goes on the run is this because her cover is blown or is it just out of concern for her husbands fate?

So Jolie takes on another ‘action’ role with the underlying premise of is she or isn’t she a Russian spy trying to bring down the USA. Everything, excuse the pun, needs to be taken with a pinch of ……. as its somewhat light on story but heavy on action and if you can get over the fact that Jolie doesn’t look like she can jump down a kerbside without breaking her leg, let alone leap from bridges onto lorries etc I guess you are half way sold on the central idea of the film. Jolie has perfected her ‘hitting and kicking’ snarl which is on show through out the film but you overall get the feeling that this for all of the woefully underused talented cast is acting by numbers. A string of action sequences held together by flimsy script full of holes. I guess as popcorn movies go it isn’t terrible, its just also not that good.

Director: Phillip Noyce

Cast:
Angelina Jolie - Evelyn Salt

Live Schreiber Ted Winter

Chiwetel Ejiofor Peabody

Daniel Olbrychski Orlov

A Prophet on DVD now

2011-01-09T13:46:00.000Z

A Prophet begins when 19-year-old Malik (Rahim) enters an adult prison for the first time to serve a six-year sentence. The prison that Malik enters is divided into two groups - Corsicans and Muslims with the Corsicans in charge, they are a ruthless group headed by crime boss Cesar (Arestrup), who have the guards in their pocket. Malik unrealistically wants to keep his head down and out of trouble but because of his dual heritage (French / Arab) he is soon singled out by the Corsicans to undertake a deadly task. Malik has no choice but to cooperate but this marks the beginning of his determination to turn things around for himself both inside and outside of the prison.

A Prophet unfolds slowly, much like Malik’s character, when we are first introduced to him he is shy and awkward but soon, as he slowly turns his position around his intelligence and patience become apparent. It is testimony to the way that the character is written and portrayed in that you find yourself warming to him and willing him to succeed even if he is inflicting violent acts. This is though not a one man act although undoubtedly Rahim shines as Malik, he though would be nothing without having to deal with the prejudices of Cesar and his crew or the support and mentorship he receives from Ryad (Bencherif).

A great film, and one in which you cant predict what is going to happen until it unfolds. You find yourself supporting the underdog, from the first time he is forced to commit an act for the Corsicans to his slow and clever rise in power – unmissable.

Director: Jacques Audiard

Cast:

Tahar Rahim        Malik El Djebena
Niels Arestrup      Cesar Luciani
Adel Bencherif     Ryad
Hichem Yacoubi Reyeb
Reda Kateb         Jordi

Lebanon on DVD now

2011-01-06T20:42:00.000Z

Writer and director Maoz’ semi autobiographical story of a Lebanon tank crew is set in the first Lebanon war – June 1982, The film follows Shmulik who joins the tank crew on a mission to a nearby town. The situation goes from uncomfortable to perilous quickly, with the tanks instruments failing and the crew falling apart no-one seems to really know who to trust and what is really going on.

The film is entirely set within the restricted confines of the tank itself daylight is only glimpsed through the hatch or crosshairs or when their senior officer drops in to give orders, The film vividly portrays a feeling of chaos and claustrophobia in the cramped conditions. The viewer is brought in as close as possible to the conditions that crew are working under – Im pleased that smells are not conveyed by films!

The film portrays the futility of war, it shows the terrible conditions, tension, chaos, confusion and the feeling of the blind leading the blind. A good film – although a heavy watch too.

Director: Samuel Maoz

Cast:

Yoav Donat Shmulik

Itay Tiran Assi

Oshri Cohen Hertzel

Michael Moshonov Yigal

Advetureland on DVD now

2010-12-18T14:54:00.000Z

A coming of age comedy set in 1987, Advetureland follows James Brennan (Eisenberg) who instead of spending his graduation holiday travelling around Europe, has to take a job in ‘Adventureland’ when his dad loses his job. In Adventureland Brennan is placed working on the fixed ‘games’ rather than the cooler ‘rides’ area of this fun down, fixed theme park. Here he meets Em (Stewart) a fellow employee, can their relationship get to first base let alone blossom in the boiling pot of teenage hormones and skewed relationships that surround them.

Directed by Greg Mottola who also directed Superbad another teenage comedy, Adventureland again focuses on teenage dreams and the angst of growing up. Eisenberg, more recently seen in The Social Network, is great in the geeky / intelligent role, where he more than matches Michael Cera in a niche he thought he had cornered and Stewart as the object of his affections clearly starts to map out her post Twilight career admirably.

It’s a good film, although not one necessarily I would recommend someone goes out of their way to watch, if it was on the television I would suggest it but I wouldn’t want to recommend it as cinema viewing. Its funny, although not laugh out loud funny, its twisted, although only slightly and never to the highs and lows reached by Superbad. Having said that there are some obscure, weird and great back characters who shine when they are on screen and the main characters are suitably angst and troubled although the film gets a little bit predicable the more it continues.

Don't miss it but wait until it gets to TV – this low key film deserves to be seen, sometime.

Director: Greg Mottola

Cast:
Jesse Eisenberg - James Brennan
Kristen Stewart - Em Lewin
Bill Hader - Bobby
Kristen Wiig - Paulette
Ryan Renoylds - Mike Connell

and a half

Invictus on DVD now

2010-07-20T16:38:00.004+01:00

Invitus is centered around the South African based 1995 Rugby World Cup, where a new apartheid free South Africa take their first step on the world stage. The central figure in the story is Nelson Mandela, in a role that Morgan Freeman was born to play, and the film follows his struggle to unite the nation under the new flag – overcoming generations of prejudice and distrust.

Joining Mandela as a uniting force in South Africa is Francois Pienaar (an excellent Damon) the Rugby captain who Mandela asks to spearhead his campaign. The problem is that the Springboks are seen as the ‘white’ side of South Africa and bringing people together under the new flag is going to be a difficult job. Can Mandela use sport to unite a fractured nation?

Well rugby fans will know the history of this match – and for anyone else who doesn’t I'm not going to spoil the outcome of the final match with the Springboks and the All Blacks. As for the film itself it takes an interesting slant on South Africa's recent past and looks at the early hangover from apartheid and Mandelas recent release from prison. Eastwood directs well the film looks great and the two leads have morphed seamlessly into their respective characters – for that alone this film is worth viewing.

Mandela in life is the closest person to a living saint – and these are credentials that are not questioned in this film. Every speech he makes takes him closer to being a deity – is the man never angry / frustrated or even sharp with people? Maybe this is the sort of film that is looking but not digging into South Africa’s recent past and subsequently although its good there’s something slightly lacking.

Director: Clint Eastwood

Cast:
Morgan Freeman – Nelson Mandela
Matt Damon – Francois Pienaar

For the official website click here

Bunny and the Bull - On DVD now

2010-07-14T19:12:00.002+01:00

Stephen (Hogg) is a man trapped by routine and lists; he hasn’t been out of his flat in a year lives alone, has relationship problems and definitely has some major issues. One day he begins to recall a trip around Europe he undertook over a year ago with his friend Bunny (Farnaby) when they meet Spanish free spirit Eloisa (Echegui).

Stephen and Bunny’s eventful trip brings both good an bad memories, visits to some of Europe’s more obscure museums (cutlery museum anyone?) and some weird and unusual characters all of this punctuated by Bunny’s compulsive gambling and visits to Captain Crab restaurants.

This was billed as a comedy from the makers of the Mighty Boosh but personally although some of the characters were strange and unusual I didn’t laugh out loud once. To me the film was more of a bittersweet story in which Stephen finds a way to step out of his front door. I suppose I didn’t really relate to any of the major characters and in some respects I found them a bit superficial and ‘nice’ rather than feeling real.

The film looks great the sets are produced in a very innovative way and add a magical playful edge to Stephen’s reminiscing. For me though, this was not enough to sustain my interest and engage with the film. Overall visually great but its not good when the characters appear to be made of cardboard rather than the sets.

Director: Paul King

Cast:
Edward Hogg – Stephen
Simon Farnaby – Bunny
Veronica Echegui - Eloisa

For the official website click here

Harry Brown on DVD now

2010-07-05T17:57:00.003+01:00

Harry Brown (Caine) is a retired ex marine living in a sprawling inner city estate. His wife is terminally ill and his best friend Leonard (Bradley) is being harassed by a notorious gang on the estate. Browns life changes when his wife dies and Leonard is beaten to death by the gang. Harry is visited by the police and he realises the gang will claim they acted in self-defence and that there would be no justice for Leonard so he decides to take matters in his own hands.

Think Alfie as an OAP, think Grand Torino set in a London inner city, don’t think of a big surprise or a plot full of revelation and twists. Caine is great, as usual, but I have to say this character isn’t stretching his acting abilities – its Alfie with a freedom bus pass.

The film is ok although not ground breaking – it’s a story that has been done before and Harry Brown doesn’t bring anything new. Harry is a man on a revenge mission, a man with nothing to live for and nothing to loose. The rest of the film is populated with stereotypical hoodies, thugs and junkies – which is a little bit disappointment. There are also a rather dated looking ‘riot’ – which looks like it was pulled from the 80’s not 2009.

It’s a good film, watch it if you’re a Caine fan but don’t expect an intriguing plot as you can pretty much decipher what is going to happen before the opening credits.

Director: Daniel

Cast:
Michael Caine – Harry Brown
Emily Mortimer – D.I. Alice Frampton
Charlie Creed-Miles – D.S. Terry Hicock
David Bradley – Leonard Attwell

For the official website click here

Where the Wild Things Are - On DVD Now

2010-06-22T19:37:00.002+01:00

Where the Wild Things Are is the film based on everyone’s favourite childhood book written by Maurice Sendak’s classic book of the same name, in this version it is director Spike Jonze who brings the short but charming children's story to life. The story revolves around a boy called Max (Records – a real future find) a lonely, stubborn boy with a bug imagination.

One day after a game he is playing goes wrong he runs away – in his imagination as well as physically, he sails over the sea and lands on an island – where the Wild Things live. Max joins in the Wild Things wild rumpus and is declared King.

Where the Wild Things Are is a strangely haunting and atmospheric, this is not a children's film despite its source material. The film has no flashy effects – yes the effects are there in nearly every scene but on screen but they are so subtle you actually believe the Wild Things exist. As for the Wild Things they are beautifully realised – everything you can remember from the book but here in Jonze’s world they are given personalities, neurosis and worries. Actually Max gives them these parts of his personality, it is more than strange though watching a huge monster talk about insecurities rather than roaring and just fighting. As Max is verging on adolescence he and the Wild Things cling onto what they know.

Its not for kids, and its not for people who want high action and fast paced films, it is though visually beautiful, touching and thought provoking – and I never thought I would write that about a film that contains a giant goat!

Director: Spike Jonze

Cast:

Max Records – Max
James Gandolfini – Carol (voice only)
Paul Dano – Alexander (voice only)
Catherine O’Hara – Judith (voice only)
Forrest Whitaker – Ira (voice)

For the official website click here

Coming Next - Harry Brown starring Michael Caine

A Perfect Getaway on DVD now

2010-06-10T17:36:00.004+01:00

An apparently naive American couple, Steve (Anderson) and Cydney (Jovovich) are honeymooning in one of the more remote islands on Hawaii decide to follow a remote walking trail with the hope of camping out at an idyllic paradise beach. Along the way they encounter Nick (Olyphant) and Gina (Sanchez) who are much more experienced travelers. All is going well until reports are overheard of the slaughter nearby of honeymooners and soon begin to suspect that their fellow travelers seem to fit the description of the suspects. All this leads to suspicion and distrust in an isolated place where the couples are forced to rely on each other.

Normally I would not have rented this film, its basic premise didn’t really appeal to me but I had read good things about it and thought that I would step outside my usual choices and to be honest I wasn’t that impressed. At the beginning of the film I cringed at the stereotypically xenophobic attitudes displayed by the central couple maybe its because I have traveled that I don’t approach everyone and everything with suspicion and fear (and if its that bad why put yourself through it!).

Later though as the film develops it does become more interesting and there is a twist, which is unexpected although it ultimately makes the film itself less believable. The problem with the twist was that even in private moments the antagonists seemed to be unaware of their actual role in the movie. Maybe it might have been better if I didn’t analyse and think back to earlier scenes in the films but I couldn’t help myself so glaring where the script inaccuracies.

Nicely shot, adequately acted – that’s about all I can say for it.

Director: David Twohy

Cast:

Steve Zahn – Cliff Anderson
Timoth Olyphant – Nick
Milla Jovovich – Cydney Anderson
Kiele Sanchez – Gina

For the official website click here

Sherlock Holmes on DVD now

2010-06-03T18:57:00.004+01:00

Arthur Conan Doyles Victorian super detective gets a reboot for 2010 courtesy of Guy Richie, Robert Downey Jnr, Jude Law and in no small way the script writers Michael Robert Johnson and Anthony Peckham – and its done with some style. The film hits the ground running and apart from a few pauses barely draws breath for its whole duration. It reminded me of the James Bond Casino Royale (2007) reboot – once you have seen it theres no comparison to the previous films.

Holmes and Watson foil serial killer Lord Blackwood who is executed for his crimes, mysteriously though Blackwood rises from the dead and resumes killing. What follows is a twisting and enjoyable romp through Victorian London with Holmes picking up clues and deducting as he goes.

Downey Jnr, is charismatic, troubled and charming and is such a stunning actor he easily carries the film and the personality of the maverick, unpredictable and impulsive version on Holmes without a deerstalker in sight. Law, for me, was a total surprise, easily fitting into the supporting role and providing a steady partner to the volatile Holmes, for the first time ever I can honestly say I enjoyed his acting, he seemed to be a character rather than himself in different costumes.
Richie redeems himself as a director and his vision of Victorian London is amazingly realised, as a Londoner myself it was as if I was given a glimpse of what London was like in the middle of the industrial age – fantastic.

Strong also is excellent as another great Hollywood villain (hes had back to back movie villains in Kick Ass, Sherlock Holmes and Robin Hood) hes suitably sinister and hiss worthy as Lord Blackwood determined to bring down Holmes and gain power in the process. McAdams as Adler is sufficient, shes a good leading lady never to distracting from the movie but also never really gives enough spark to stand out – which is a good thing in this movie as she doesn’t detract from the clever twists and turns of the plot line.

Really enjoyable, really fun – I hope it’s the first of a franchise!

Director: Guy Ritchie

Cast:

Robert Downey Jnr – Shelock Holmes
Jude Law – Dr John Watson
Rachel McAdams – Irene Adler
Mark Strong – Lord Blackwood
Eddie Marsan – Inspector Lestrade

For the official website click here

The Box on DVD now

2010-06-02T16:49:00.003+01:00

Norma (Diaz) and Arthur (Marsden) Lewis are a happily married couple whose lives change in one day – Norma is facing redundancy and Arthur misses out on his dream job and finds himself questioning his future when a box with a red button lands on their doorstep followed by the sinister Arlington Stewart – the excellent Langella. Stewart explains that if the couple press the button on the box they will receive one million dollars but also that someone, somewhere will die. They have 24 hours to decide what course of action they want to take.

This 70’s set movie is very much like an expanded episode of the Twlight Zone, which isn’t a bad thing. The couple have to face up to consequences of their spur of the moment action which plays out like a morality tale. Langella is brilliant as the sinister Stewart and the CGI effects are excellently executed.

It’s a good movie – it wont shatter the box office but try and catch it at some point.

Director: Richard Kelly

Cast:
Cameron Diaz – Norma Lewis
James Marsden – Arthur Lewis
Frank Langella – Arlington Stewart

For the official website click here

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Paranormal Activity on DVD Now

2010-05-18T18:42:00.003+01:00

A horror film in the same vein as The Blair Witch Project or Rec (the original Spanish version) which sees a young couple Katie and Micha after they buy a video camera to record the strange noises and bumps that seem to be happening in the night. Everything is unexplained until Katie confesses this isn’t the first time this type of activity has happened around her they seek advice and try to get help while the locked off camera in the bedroom records all of the nocturnal bumps and activity.

It is a simple premise – a young couple setting up a camera to get a record of what is happening in the night. The camera is all POV or from a set tripod in the bedroom and because of its simplicity and uncomplicated set up you as the viewer gets dragged straight into their dilemma. You find yourself watching for any changing shadows or unaccounted noises as the camera records the night scene and as the strange incidents add up your nerves become more frayed.

It worked for me, I have read criticism that Micha is insensitive or jarring and he is oblivious to his girlfriends dilemma but I can honestly say that didn’t occur to me as I watched it. Its simple but clever, there have been similar films (good examples mentioned above) but its still surprising that an apparently obvious premise still manages to get your nerves on edge.

Its not flawless but it is still very good and worth a view.

Director: Oren Peil

Cast:
Katie Featherston – Katie
Micha Sloat – Micha

For the official website click here

Surrogates on DVD now

2010-05-12T17:38:00.004+01:00

The latest film from Mostow – the director of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines is set in the near future when human beings stay indoors while their surrogates (or avatars – if another film hadn’t stolen the title!), live their live for them. The surrogate has the humans consciousness (signature), are nearly always perfect looking and are replaceable – unlike the fragile human live they imitate. This leads to a near crime and trouble free world.

One day a surrogate is destroyed with a weapon that also destroyed the human controlling it – this leads to FBI agents Tom Greer (Willis) and Peters (Mitchell) uncovering a conspiracy that goes further than expected.

This is a return to action for Bruce Willis which I was eager to see but unfortunately for me ultimately disappointed. I liked the idea of the perfectness of the surrogates – its would be like living in the world of the airbrushed (or second life for that matter), where everyone is slim, perfect skin, perfect teeth, perfect hair and beautiful. Everyone that is apart from Willis whose surrogate has a most disturbing hairstyle that made me snigger when I saw it – hes also notably older than the other surrogates but as its Willis you forgive him.

It’s the story though for me that disappoints, the premise is interesting and I feel so much more could have been done with the ideas that were out there rather than just a run of the mill thriller with a human twist.

Could have been so much more.

Director: Jonathan Mostow

Cast:
Bruce Willis – Tom Greer
Radha Mitchell – Peters
Roasmund Pike – Maggie
Boris Kodjoe – Pike
Ving Rhames – The Prophet

For the official website click here

New Moon on DVD now

2010-04-07T20:09:00.004+01:00

New Moon is the second of the vampire franchise phenomenon that is Stephanie Myers famous / infamous ‘Twlight Saga’ to hit the screens. If you haven’t heard of the films and books – where have you been? Surely even the most cynical and sceptical person must have seen the rising stars of Robert Pattinson (cant walk anywhere without being followed by hordes of teenage girls) and Kirsten Stewart the recent recipient of the BAFA rising star award.

The story for those who don’t know is a teenage vampire saga, (the one that has now launch nearly all of the others hitting our screens) Edward (Pattinson) is a vampire who falls for Bella (Stewart). Apart from the small fact of him being undead they have to overcome numerous trials in the quest for true love. In this film Edward decides to protect Bella by separating from her – which devastates her. Bella eventually though she seeks out her best friend Jacob (Lautner) to help fill her days – but Jacobs obviously smitten with her and is himself hiding a supernatural secret.

Largely a review for any Twlight film is going to be irrelevant – you will either be into the films or you wont – its kinda like Marmite. So if you are into the franchise you will love it, its got more action than the first film and although Edward is absent for a large part of the movie Weitz has cleverly inserted his image to be a guide / warning to Bella. Theres also a lot more abs on show and a lot of werewolf action that works very well.

Theres not much else to be said except I'm into the films – hence the star rating - if your not into it this might not be the best one of the franchise to start on – begin at Twilight, and as for me roll on Eclipse due in cinemas in June 2010.

Director: Chris Weitz

Cast:

Kristen Stewart – Bella Swan
Taylor Lautner – Jacob Black
Robert Pattinson – Edward Cullen
Billy Burke – Charlie Swan
Ashley Green – Alice Cullen
Anna Kendrick – Jessica

For the official website click here

Doghouse – On DVD now

2010-04-04T12:46:00.002+01:00

This British horror comedy twists the classic ‘battle of the sexes’ scenario to the extreme. We begin with Vince, soon to be divorced whose friends decide that what he needs to cheer him up is a lad’s weekend – booze and birds and testosterone. The group of friends take themselves off to the isolated village of Moodley where they hear that there are 3 women for every man – what could go wrong?

Unfortunately the village isn’t all that they expected as the female population has been affected by a classified military experiment that has turned them into flesh eating zombies – feeding off the men and guess who are now on the menu.

I came to this film with not many expectations, the only thing I knew about it was that Noel Clark and Danny Dyer are in it and it’s a British zombie film. I suppose that should have meant that I had nothing to loose by watching it which I guess is just as well as this film disappointed on many levels.

The male vs. female premise was flimsy and crude to say the least, for me I cannot understand why you would feel sympathy for a bunch of misogynists, admittedly some of the characters are not – token gay guy for instance but they are few in number and largely underdeveloped. As for the portrayal of women from the outset – even before the group hit Moodly they are portrayed as screaming harpies only good enough to be called ‘slag’ or ‘Candy’ and when in the village there are so many more stereotypes it just gets really boring.

The script to largely borrows from the superior Shaun of the Dead, or numerous other zombie films but falls short of being funny. You are much better watching Shaun or Zombieland – at least they deliver the undead and humour. Noel Clarke is also wasted in this movie - he deserves so much more.

All you are left with is a lot of gory effects and the loosest possible storyline – if that’s your thing by all means watch this film.

Director: Jake West

Cast:
Danny Dyer – Neil
Stephen Graham – Vince
Noel Clarke – Mikey
Terry Stone – Sgt Gavin Wright
Christina Cole – Candy

For the official website click here

Kick Ass - at cinemas now

2010-04-01T13:56:00.003+01:00

Matthew Vaughan brings the outrageous comic Kick Ass to the big screen. The hero of the story is Dave Lizewski (Johnson) an average slightly geeky teenager and comic book fan. He decides that he will dress as a superhero and do good deeds around the city – and so Kick Ass a hero without any special powers is born.

While Lizewski dresses in a adapted wet suit and go through various levels of pain there are two real superheroes – Big Daddy (Cage) and the excellent Hit Girl (Moretz) who easily put Kick Ass’s efforts in the shade. Big Daddy and Hit Girl are determined to bring down crime lord Frank D’Amico (Strong) by whatever means possible.

This film is great, its fast, its funny, its gory, its over the top, it plays at 100 miles an hour. Its like being on a film roller coaster – exhilarating and exciting and you don’t want the ride to stop. Its also a film that’s so over the top and the graphic violence and swearing Im sure will offend middle England (all the more reason to see it!).

The cast is perfect, from the slightly geeky but also handsome Johnson (recently seen as a young John Lennon in Nowhere Boy), hes going to be one actor to watch in the future. Cage begins to return to a form he was at many many years ago, Strong is excellent and Mintz-Plasse (Mclovin from Superbad) is great as the hero with all of the gadgets Red Mist. It is Moretz who effortlessly steals the show though, from the first time she appears on screen to the stunning Matrix-esque fight scenes – shes gotta be around for a long time. The mixture of deadly killer and schoolgirl is not something that can be easily studied but boy she sure pulls it off!

If your not easily offended and want some fun catch Kick Ass

Director: Matthew Vaughan

Cast:

Aaron Johnson – Dave Lizewski / Kick Ass
Mark Strong – Frank D’Amico
Chloe Moretz – Mindy Macready / Hit Girl
Nicholas Cage – Damon Macready / Big Daddy
Christopher Mintz-Plasse – Chris D;Amico /Red Mist

For the official website click here

The Informant – On DVD now

2010-04-01T05:17:00.003+01:00

Steven Soderberg works again with Matt Damon to bring to the screen the true story of Mark Whitacre based on Kurt Eichenwald’s book. Whitacre is an executive in the US firm ADM who turned whistle blower in the early 1990’s. Hes intelligent, wealthy and in a position of trust when he becomes a spy for the FBI, recording hours of tapes over years to expose the company that he works for. Unfortunately Whitacre begins to thrive on being a ‘spy’ and who, if anyone, is telling the truth.

Once you get over the shock of seeing Matt Damon look portly and sporting a comedy tash you find, underneath, an enjoyable amusing movie. Its not a comedy as such, I found myself smiling rather than laughing out loud as you follow Whitacres increasingly erratic behaviour. The audience is, for a large part of the film, left out of the truth in the story and you are left not quite believing your ears – which partially mirrors FBI officer Shepards (Bakula) reaction.

Damon is great as always making you feel sympathy for a difficult to understand and confusing character. He appears on one hand to be a an intelligent, family man, upper management concerned about price fixing whereas he also appears to be a fantasist, who leaps from one lie to another while revelling in his ‘spy’ status.

I liked this film but didn’t love it, I feel that it falls between genres – people who go to this movie wanting a comedy will be disappointed, people who go wanting a drama, will also be disappointed. There is a serious side to Whitacre’s behaviour but when this is revealed it feels rushed over. I also feel that the story remains the same there is no dramatic punch to the film which is a shame as this film could have been so much more.

Directed by Steven Soderberg

Cast:

Matt Damon – Mark Whitacre
Scott Bakula – Brian Shepard
Melanie Lynskey – Ginger Whitacre

For the official website click here

Angels and Demons – On DVD now

2010-03-29T04:18:00.003+01:00

Here Ron Howard directs the second of Dan Brown’s ‘conspiracy’ books, although this film is released after the Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons was actually published before Browns more famous book.

In this film we again are joined by Langdon (Hanks) (thankfully minus his mullet) and he is is racing through a series of clues to halt the destruction of the Vatican City. In his adventure he is aided by Vetra (Zurer) a CERN scientist who is drawn into the drama when the secret antimatter she has been developing is stolen. Throw into this mix a dead pope, a flock of cardinals, clues that are centred on the four elements and a secret society called the Illuminati – typical Dan Brown ingredients really.

So is it any good? Well after the stuttering Da Vinci Code, this is better, it flows more and Howard has done his best to make it more of an action movie rather than a series of monologues lifted from the original book. Still though for me this is a flawed film. Fans of the book will miss the logic behind the leaps of deduction that Langdon makes to solve the clues that are left for him – why is it that bad guys always leave clues? The film therefore also seems very rushed – its like a whistle stop tour of Rome but without being able to look or see anything of the city.

Hanks plays the part sufficiently as Zurer as his accomplice does well in a rather flimsy role – she seems to be more window dressing than being given a real character or personality. For me though is was McGregor who stuck out like a sore thumb, I was confused as to where he was supposed to have come from, his name suggests Irish – and there sometimes was a hint of that in his accent but the rest of the time he slipped into US southern – like his turn in Tim Burtons Big Fish, maybe it was that he was as confused as the rest of us!

More like a made for TV movie with a bigger budget.

Directed by Ron Howard

Cast:

Tom Hanks – Robert Langdon
Ewan McGregor – Camerlengo Patrick McKenna
Avelet Zurer – Vittoria Vetra
Stellan Skarsgard – Commander Richter

For the official website click here

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Män som hatar kvinnor) – In selected cinemas now!

2010-03-24T17:43:00.004Z

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo brings author Stieg Larsson first novel to the big screen and with the unique and intriguing character Lisbeth Salander (Rapace) as fans of the trilogy of books will know.

The story begins with reporter Blomkvist (Nyqvist) who is found guilty of libel who while waiting to service his sentence is employed by a reclusive retired businessman Henrick Vanger – who is also the head of the rambling and dysfunctional family. Henrick asks Blomkvist to investigate the disappearance of his niece, Harriet, 40 years ago.

Blomkvist finds help in the investigation from the feisty Salander – a many tattooed and pierced investigator who specialises in illegally hacking computers to get the information that is needed. Between them they unravel a series of murders in the hope it will lead them to solve the mystery of Harriet’s disappearance.

The book is very well realised on the screen, in particular Noomi Rapace takes the role of Lisbeth brilliantly, conveying the uncompromising, defensive but intelligent character. She’s a little bigger than I expected – don’t get me wrong the Rapace is tiny but in the book Lisbeth is described as almost childlike in build but that’s the only negative I have about her performance – I cant wait to see her in the next two films. For me the weak character in the film is Blomkvist – hes not the most exciting of characters and in the book hes described as easily handsome who is attractive to women and Nyqvist, for me, doesn’t really fit the bill. He looks distractingly pasty and is sadly quite bland – not the charismatic man I expected. I wonder if he would have come over better if I hadn’t read the book – but I will never know.

As for the film – its great, its full of twists and turns and also for fans of the book doesn’t compromise on Lisbeths problems with her guardian – although I do concede that the scenes might be a bit strong for some people to handle. The sweeping landscapes are also brilliantly shot and although I feel that the story may jump into happy coincidence too easily if you haven’t read the book its more than worth a view.
Roll on the next two films and go and watch it now!

Directed by Niels Arden Oplev

Cast:

Michael Nyqvist – Mikael Blomkvist
Noomi Rapace – Lisbeth Salander
Lena Endre – Erika Berger
Peter Haber – Marting Vnager
Sven-Bertil Taube – Henrik Vanger
Peter Andersson – Nils Bjurman

For the official site of the author and creator Stig Larsson

Zombieland – on DVD now

2010-03-21T17:23:00.003Z

Take four mismatched survivors of a Zombie invasion in the US, add lots of guns, lots of blood (and guts) and above all lots of humour and there you have the main ingredients in Zombieland! Firstly you have Columbus (Eisenberg) an awkward shy loner with phobias, who is overly cautious he teams up with Tallahassee a gun totting wise cracking zombie slayer on a mission to get the last Twinkie on earth. The two are joined by Wichita and Little Rock and the foursome head off to LA.

What is it about Zombies that makes them the prime ingredient for horror / comedy movies, first there was Shaun of the Dead and now Zombieland. Its gory, touching, silly and laugh out loud funny. I love the references to Columbus’s guide to survival and although it occasionally gets cheesy the rest of the film more than makes up for it – including the ‘surprise’ celebrity cameo that everyone has heard about.

Harrelson is great as Tallahassee – hes like a young Dennis Hopper with a southern accent and very big guns and he plays the complete opposite to Eisenberg – who plays the sensitive geeky guy perfectly. The film has a great script and if you can stomach the gory Zombies and cartoonish violence it’s a film well worth a look.

Directed by Ruben Fleischer

Cast:

Woody Harrelson – Tallahassee
Jesse Eisenberg – Columbus
Emma Stone – Wichita
Abigail Breslin – Little Rock

For the official website click here

Star Trek - on DVD now

2010-03-14T21:42:00.003Z

J J Abrams reboot of the Star Trek franchise sees the familiar characters of the original Star Trek as they are starting out. It’s a film that has attempted to open up star trek to a new generation and also to make the cast a lot more youthful.

The story centers around James Kirk a maverick who is reluctantly recruited into Starfleet to follow in his deceased fathers footsteps. Here he meets familiar characters that are given a new lease of life – Spock, Bones, Uhura and Scotty as they begin their careers on the Starship Enterprise.

This was billed as a Star Trek film when the viewer doesn’t need to be a Star Trek fan (and Im not) so it was with interest that I watched this film. To be honest there were so many nods to the existing Star Trek I felt left out of the fun, like being invited to the party but no one talks to you when you get there. Without being a Trek fan I feel that there is a lot of story missing in this film. It looks good – the effects are good, the cast have been chosen and fulfil their roles very well but I found the story flimsy and I found that for me it fell well short of a good si-fi film.

Directed by J J Abrams

Cast:

Chris Pine – James T Kirk
Zachary Quinto – Spock
Leonard Nimoy – Spock Prime
Eric Bana – Nero
Bruce Greenwood – Christopher Pike
Karl Urban – ‘Bones’ McCoy
Zoe Saldana – Nyota Uhura
Simon Pegg - Scotty

For the official website click here

Alice in Wonderland at cinemas now

2010-03-10T18:27:00.002Z

Alice in Wonderland at cinemas now

Tim Burton teams with long term collaborators – Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter to give us a unique twist on Lewis Carroll’s surreal world of Alice in Wonderland. In this version over imaginative Alice (newcomer Wasikowska) is 19 years old and is struggling to fit into a repressive Victorian society, when she spies a white rabbit which she follows to a rather large rabbit hole….

Theres no surprises for guessing what happens to Alice at the rabbit hole – its after she has fallen in the hole that the fun really begins. She falls into a world inhabited with strange and surreal creatures, fantastical characters, evil queens, talking animals, a Jabberwocky and possibly the best tea party ever.

There are not many people who don’t know at least some of the story of Alice but in this version Tim Burton exaggerates and twists his characters – in looks as well as personality to put his own unique stamp on this classic tale. Wasikowska does well in her debut as Alice but the real stars of the show are Depp and Bonham Carter who excel at bringing out the heart and grotesque (respectively) in their characters. The supporting (CGI but with familiar British voices) are great too from the familiar the Dormouse (Barbara Windsor), March Hare (Paul Whitehouse) and Cheshire Cat (Stephen Fry) to the lesser known Baynard (Timothy Spall), and it is these characters that bring the most humour and provides a new angle on an old tale.

I wonder though quite where this will find its audience, it seems a little too twisted and wordy for children and a little too young for adults – but currently its No 1 in the film charts so what do I know! Great fun – a must for all Burton / Depp fans.

Directed by Tim Burton

Cast

Mia Wasikowska – Alice
Johnny Depp – Mad Hatter
Helena Bonham Carter – Red Queen
Anne Hathaway – White Queen
Crispin Glover – Knave of Hearts

For the official website click here

Frozen River - Out on DVD now

2010-03-06T12:55:00.002Z

Set at the bleak border of the USA and Canada two women become unlikely accomplices sharing a common goal – that of keeping their families together in the face of poverty and hopelessness. The frozen river of the title refers to a vast lake in a Mohawk reserve that spans the US & Canadian border. Ray (Leo) unwittingly becomes involved in smuggling illegal immigrants into the US by Lila (Upham) a Mohawk.

Central to this film is an examination of the lengths the two female central characters will go to provide for their families. Faced with scratching an existence in minimum wage jobs in a remote isolated town both women are thrown into an uneasy partnership to provide for their families. The two lead actors – Leo and Upham, play their parts in a controlled and understated way, they both know they need each other but they don’t trust each other. They do what is necessary to survive.

There is a simplicity to the film the bleak landscapes, the deadly, dangerous expanse that is the frozen lake the miserable lives lead by these women which adds to the desperate need to provide their children with a better future. McDermott also needs a special mention as he plays a 15 year old with far too many burdens and worries.

It’s a really good film, I guess its also a film that would be difficult to ‘sell’ to a wider audience I'm really pleased I watched it and would definitely recommend it – its not as oppressive as it may seem and ends up being strangely uplifting.

Directed by Courtney Hunt

Cast

Melissa Leo – Ray Eddy
Misty Upham - Lila Littlewolf
Charlie McDermott – Troy J ‘TJ’ Eddy
Michael O’Keefe – Trooper Finnerty

For the official website click here

Tyson on DVD now

2010-02-28T10:48:00.002Z

Mike Tyson retells the highs and lows of his career in this documentary. It begins with his tough Brooklyn upbringing, his discovery by his mentor Cus D’Amato. The film then documents his years at the top, his years of excess and his many falls from grace and his loss of boxing prowess – where he blatantly admits he was boxing ‘for the money’.

The film has some good archive footage, of the early Tyson and more importantly footage of his fights – so rarely seen due to copyright issues serve to remind the viewer of how menacing and unbeatable he was in his prime, which is made all the more poignant when looking at his later career.

Toback does have an annoying habit of splitting the screen up – as if to be an obvious analogy with Tyson’s own split persona. Tyson himself comes across as a man who has two distinct sides to his personality, physically hes one of the scariest (to me anyway) people on the planet and yet he has one of the softest girlie voices – not that I would tell him! He either views women as whores or something to be protected and kept safe, having said that I found the section when he is talking about what he wants from a woman quite disturbing – if I’m being honest he scares the hell out of me.

Tyson speaking about his old mentor is genuinely touching, hes realises the debt he has to Cus D’Amato who saved him from the street but didn’t live long enough to see his rise and fall in the world of boxing. Would Tyson’s story be any different if he had been there to steer his path?

Its an interesting documentary, Tyson comes across as a mass of contradictions and it also made me realise that boxing is now a corporate sport on pay per view, not seen on terrestrial television for the masses, which even though I don’t like the sport, is a shame for future generations.

Directed by James Toback

Cast

Mike Tyson – himself
The rest of the cast are seen in archive footage.

For the official website click here

Avatar 3D in cinemas now

2010-02-23T21:06:00.002Z

Famously ten years in the making, follow up to Titan James Cameron’s baby Avatar in 3D the film he designed a whole new technology for.

Jake (Worthington) is brought in at the last minute to replace his brother in the Avatar programme. The programme is based on a planet called Pandora and its native inhabitants the Na'vi, a ten foot high humanoid race living in the forest of Pandora. Jake uses his Na’vi avatar to ingratiate himself in the culture which is fine until man and Na’vi clash.

So is it any good?

Well visually its great, its beautiful and the 3D isn’t too obvious or imposing (although I did feel a little queasy until I got used to it). The Na’vi look good, you can see the actors faces in the blue race, and their emotions are there – without the previous problem of dead eyes. Cameron has created his own world although to me a lot of it seems to be taken from his other passion – under the sea, some of the plants look like sea anemones or coral but visually was as far as this film worked for me.

The plot is so obvious you would have to be a small child not to see whats happening – why, like Titanic, has Cameron done this. Visually I would give it four stars – maybe even five for the technology but this is a film that is severely hampered by a cliché ridden script. Ferngully anyone?

Directed James Cameron

Cast

Sam Worthington – Jake Sully
Zoe Saldana – Neytiri
Sigourney Weaver – Dr Grace Augustine
Stephen Lang – Col Miles Quaritch

For the official website click here

The Hurt Locker - on DVD now

2010-02-22T21:59:00.002Z

Set in post invasion Iraqi The Hurt Locker follows the bomb disposal squad as they are joined by SSG James (Renner) following the death of a previous squad member. James turns out to be an adrenaline junkie seemingly willing to ignore orders and endanger lives. James is cocky and confident and he relishes his work which is more than a little unsettling for the rest of his team.

Bigelow has created a great movie, a movie that like the soldiers in the bomb squads, doesn’t ask questions about what is right and wrong, it just does what it does. And what it does is put you in the centre of the action, and gives you the closest sense of the unknown and confusion that reigns in conflict areas available. You get the idea of how tough it must be for troops living on adrenaline, making snap decisions that can cause tragedy in a second.

This is one of the must see movies of the past twelve months and for a good reason, its tight, crisp and so well acted your swallowed up in events before the first 2 minutes have gone by. If there is any justice Bigelow will walk away with the Oscar for best director.

One of the best films I have seen in a long while – don’t miss it.

Directed Kathryn Bigelow

Cast

Jeremy Renner – SSG William James
Anthony Mackie – Sgt JT Sanborn
Brian Geraghty – Spc Owen Eldridge

For the official website click here

Where the Buffalo Roam on DVD

2010-02-22T21:38:00.002Z

Bill Murray plays the madcap journalist Hunter S Thompson in this semi biographical tale of drugs, alcohol, attorneys and the occasional mention of journalism. Murray is instantly recognisable in ‘Hunter’ garb although he doesn’t go in for the full bald head unlike Johnny Depp in Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas. That though is probably the main difference in these two Hunter based movies.

Hunter crashes a convertible, Hunter consumes lots of drugs, Hunter consumes lots of alcohol, Hunter is accompanied by his Attorney, Hunter trashes a hotel room, Hunter tries and fails to cover a major sporting event – theres even a weird hitchhiker and flying bats. Excuse me if you have heard this before but if you have seen Fear & Loathing you have also seen it before. I know its unfair of me – Where the Buffalo Roam was made in 1980 but I have only just seen it, although I feel that I have already seen it – watch one, either one but not both, its way too repetitive.

Directed by Art Linson

Bill Murray – Hunter S Thompson
Peter Boyle – Lazlo

Moon - On DVD now

2010-02-01T19:28:00.003Z

Sam Rockwell plays Sam Bell a Luna Industries employee coming to the end of a three year contract as the lone employee mining on the moon. His only companion in his lonely existence is the computer GERTY (voiced by Spacey), and sporadic messages from earth as there is no direct communication link available.

One day Sam is involved in an accident whilst mining and awakes after a few days to find GERTY caring for him. This leads to a discovery that will change Sam’s life and affect the chances of him returning to his wife and child on earth.

What starts as a low key si-fi movie with the base visually echoing the Nostromo from Alien, and with a sole occupant talking to his plants and looking forward to returning home turns into something completely else entirely. Rockwell is great as Sam, the man desperate to finish his contract and fulfill his duties. His performance is low key but powerful and more than holds the film together. What starts as a study of loneliness twists and turns to an unexpected conclusion. The disembodied computer voice has parallels with HAL from 2001, but that is where the comparison ends – you expect GERTY to become the sinister protagonist but there is something a lot more ominous threatening Sam’s existence.

Its very good film and well worth a look, there is a really slow build up and then after the accident you, as the audience, are left largely bewildered until the larger picture is revealed. It also keeps you thinking long after the end titles have rolled.

Director – Duncan Jones

Cast:
Sam Rockwell – Sam Bell
Kevin Spacey (voice only) - Gerty

For the official website click here

Not Quite Hollywood - – On DVD now

2010-01-11T20:06:00.002Z

The story of the rise of Ozploitation an era in which Australian cinema exploded with low budget films, which centred around sex, violence, horror and road movies. The film covers mainly the 70’s to the mid 80’s and details the rise of the low budget filmmakers whos film making paralleled that of US and European cinema at the time.

Firstly don’t watch this documentary if your of a sensitive disposition, there’s far too many tits, arse, blood, gore, splatter and car crashes in this film which Im sure would offend some, whereas if you’re a fan of the cheap low budget 70’s movies and want to see a best of compilation from the land of Oz – then this film is your bag!

Taken with the spirit in which the film was made it’s funny and also an interesting in how the Ozzie filmmakers went for the maximum shock for the minimum budget. Its fascinating to have a snapshot of films before health and safety took over, a look at how the actors and stunt men took life and limb into the maverick directors hands – its amazing people lived to tell the tale.

It’s a good picture of the time, funny at times, amusing but not necessarily very enlightening although it celebrates a lost genre of filmmaking.

Director – Mark Hartley

Cast:

Phillip Adams – Himself
Glory Annen – Herself
Briony Behets – Herself
Steve Bisley – Himself
Jamie Blanks – Himself

Click here for official website

The Hangover – On DVD now

2010-01-03T16:36:00.002Z

Three guys wake up in a Las Vegas hotel suite with a tiger and a baby, none of them can remember the stag do the night before and none of them can remember where the groom is so begins a frantic search through Vegas for clues to their wild night on the town and to find the missing groom.

This film is a rare and precious thing it has a cast of relative unknowns and a stag do in Vegas with bad consequences is not a new idea but it is really funny and it works really well. The three stag do survivors are also great characters each quite individual and yes the story does involve a wedding chapel, gangsters, gambling and a precious convertible car but the script is so tight it doesn’t become a cliché. In fact I found myself laughing out loud as the nights antics are uncovered piece by piece.

Very highly recommended, one of the funniest films I have seen for some time.

Director – Todd Phillips

Cast:

Bradley Cooper – Phil Wenneck
Ed Helms – Stu Price
Zach Galifianakis – Alan Garner
Justin Bartha – Doug Billings

Click here for official website

Terminator Salvation - out on DVD now

2009-12-28T17:00:00.003Z

Following on from the three previous Terminator films, Salvation finds us in 2018 amidst the ‘battle of the machines’ that was predicted in the first film. We are with John Conner (Bale) as he leads a group of human resistance fighters against the HK’s (Hunter Killers) and Terminators.

In this version of the Terminator Connor is joined by the mysterious Marcus Wright (Worthington) a man who has no memory of the Terminators and Kyle Reese (Yelchin) the man Connor must send back to 1984 to become his father (are you still following?).

Visually the film looks great, there are new and old versions of Terminators and enough machines to at times make the film look like a Transformers movie, I did think though that the humans although relatively scruffy still looked too clean and kept especially the character of Kate Conner – Johns wife, who looks like she has just stepped from a beauty salon (even when performing surgery in the field!).

Overall though the Terminators look good although I was a little disappointed that there were no new robots and the film stuck to the traditional ‘Arnie’ T800 shape.
So much for the look of the film what is really important, especially as this film will be judged against the classic T1 & T2 is the script and this for me was where the film really was at its weakest. I found the film confusing. There were gaping holes in the script and it was also so full of lucky coincidences it verged on the comical, which is a real shame. Some areas in the film were rushed and others seemed to be included for no apparent reason and you could see the plot coming from a mile off.

The most interesting thing for me was seeing the next big action hero Sam Worthington who is now starring in Avatar and next year he will be in the lead role in the remake of Clash of the Titans. He played his role adequately – well as much as the cheesy script allowed, and someone please give Christian Bale throat lozenge’s!

Overall disappointing – the film franchise definitely has taken a downward turn.

Director – McG

Cast:

Christian Bale – John Connor
Sam Worthington – Marcus Wright
Moon Bloodgood – Blair Williams
Helena Bonham Carter – Dr Serena Kogan
Anton Yelchin – Kyle Reese

Click here for official website

Religulous – On DVD now

2009-11-21T17:16:00.003Z

Religulous is American comedian Bill Maher’s documentary about his search for the reasons for faith. Maher interviews Muslims, Jews and Christians Mormons, scientists and even a Vatican astrologer to try to understand why people have faith. He visits a Creationist museum, which shows dinosaurs and humans living together, and even the Holy Land theme park in Florida where they enact recreations of Jesus being crucified on an hourly basis!

I hadn’t come across Mahar before but had heard that this documentary was good and it was. Mahar seems to hold no questions back in his search for the reason why so many people believe in improbable stories with such devotion they steer their lives accordingly and some even are willing to die for their faith.

I think your enjoyment of this documentary will depend on your view on religion, if you are a believer then I would suggest that this film isn’t for you (even though it wouldn’t be a bad thing to watch it), but if your like me a non believer then Mahers totally inappropriate questions and the facts that he presents prove to be really enjoyable.

Faith is a really strange subject, particularly if you haven’t got it, you don’t understand it and cannot understand why people are so fanatical about it. Maher counters the quotes from the Bible he receives from his interviewees with other less well known biblical facts that turn arguments around. He meets a man who claims to be the second coming, a man who claims his homosexuality was ‘cured’ by religion, scientists and even American truckers who attend a roadside church. It makes for interesting viewing, not more so for the people who have become very very wealthy from other peoples faith. Interestingly one of the most down to earth interviewees is an ex Vatican astrologer.

Its an interesting and funny film, Maher also just about pulls off the tricky task of questioning peoples deep faith and exposing the frailties in their beliefs while maintaining a easy manner and a good sense of humour – watch it if your not going to be insulted!

Director – Larry Charles

Cast:

Bill Mahar – Himself

Click here for official website

Cronos - On DVD

2009-11-12T22:31:00.005Z

A film from the archives of the new ‘King’ of spinning of adult twisted fairy tales Del Toro’s early film Cronos doesn’t disappoint, and shows all of the imagination, thought and psyche that brought us Pan’s Labyrinth and the soon to be (but not soon enough) The Hobbit.

A short introduction shows us an alchemist in the 1500’s who invents the key to eternal life; the Cronos device. The story then switches to modern times when Jesus Gris (Luppi) a dealer in antiques accidentally uncovers the Cronos deivce. Gris lives with his younger wife and devoted granddaughter Aurora (Shanath). Gris accidentally activates the Cronos, which changes the course of his life forever, not least because the wealthy De la Guardia (Brook) and his psychotic hench-man and nephew Angel (Perlman) are after the Cronos, and its secrets, as well.

I saw Mark Kermode recently blog about vampire movies, due to the recent Twilight, True Blood and Halloween spate of films. books and television programmes about our blood-sucking friends. He recommended two films, one of which I had seen – Let The Right One In (which is reviewed here) and the other was Cronos, which although I love Del Toros work I had never seen. A fact, of course, you can see I have rectified.

The film is moody and atmospheric; the story is simple, and yet not so simple; there is a rich, powerful, sickly, man who desires eternal life he’s read the secrets he knows what he needs to do but he cannot find the Cronos that he needs. On the other hand there is the innocent that stumbles onto the Cronos and accidentally unleashes its power.

Del Toro yet again puts a spin on a familiar story – that of the vampire. Its not sexy, its not desire lead it’s a quest for deep thirst done in a controlled and restrained way, and that makes it different from a lot of other genre blood sucking films. Guis is a family man, devoted and loved, confused and yet still in control of himself despite the changes he undertakes. More strikingly for me was the silent brooding and scary Aurora, a girl who accepts, colludes and bares mute witness to all of the horror that surrounds her. She is devoted to her grandfather no matter what – it’s a great twist to an accepted story line.

Although defined as low budget, this film doesn’t look like it, it is sometimes sparse but it’s in keeping with the feel and mood of the movie. Its well worth watching, it gives a different spin on the vampire mythology and although I love the traditional stuff there’s always room for something else, especially something of this quality.

Director – Guillermo Del Toro

Cast:

Federico Luppi – Jesus Gris
Ron Perlman – Angel de la Guardia
Claudio Brook – De la Guardia
Maragarita Isabel – Mercedes
Tamara Shanath – Aurora

Year One - Out on DVD Now

2009-11-08T09:36:00.003Z

The director of the classic Ground Hog Day has joined together with Jack Black to bring to film a comedy inhabited with biblical characters.

Zed (Black) and his friend Oh (Cera) are banished from their Stone Age village, after Zed eats fruit from the forbidden tree and this leads to a series of adventures in which they encounter biblical characters like Cain & Abel and Abraham and they travel to Sodom. In Sodom they try to free the love of their lives that have been enslaved where they are hampered by a priest and Cain.

I like Jack Black, I like most of his previous films, I like him when he’s at his crazy best this, though, is a film where his humour falls flat. Partly I feel he’s not allowed free rein other times he is hampered by a plodding and flat script. I didn’t laugh out loud once; I might have managed a smile at a couple of points but for a film that’s supposed to be a comedy that’s not a shinning endorsement.

Black plays a ‘zany’ tubby caveman whereas Cera plays an intellectual, sensitive caveman, so why when both actors should be very comfortable with their characters does this film not work. Firstly for me the film doesn’t flow its more of a series of sketches in which Zed & Oh walk through, its like someone said ‘lets get a scene with Abraham, how can we write him in and who can we get to play him’, without any consideration as to how this will fit in with a script. Also am I really supposed to find biblical characters funny?

There is also a emphasis on gross out humour in this movie, there are lots of poo jokes, puke jokes, willy jokes etc etc its not that I’m offended by them its just that they are used over and over again and not to good effect. Year One is like a carry on movie although not as good.

Very disappointing.

Director – Harold Ramis

Cast:

Jack Black – Zed
Michael Cera – Oh
Oliver Platt – High Priest
David Cross – Cain
Christopher Mintz-Plasse – Isaac

Click here for official website

Drag Me to Hell - Out on DVD Now

2009-10-31T18:24:00.007Z

Drag Me to Hell seems Sam Rami return to the horror genre after directing the Spiderman franchise. Written ten years ago with his brother Ivan Drag Me to Hell centres on easy-going bank employee Christine (Lohman) who tries to impress her boss by refusing a loan extension to Mrs Ganush (Raver). Later that day when Christine returns to her car Ganush attacks her and places a curse on her. Christine then has three days to lift the curse before she is dragged to hell.

Rami has the skill and vision as a storyteller to lift a basic horror ‘curse’ story into something strangely enjoyable. Mrs Ganush is a suitably horrible, weird eye, claw like nails and false teeth whereas Christine is suitably put on as she suffers from ordeal after ordeal. Christine’s one flaw was to try to impress her boss but this triggers a series of horrible events that she is unable to escape from.

Lohman is great in the lead role, shes naive, insecure and definitely got my sympathies, I hope to see her in more roles in the future and Raver presents us with a suitably memorable horror villian. I didn’t find the movie scary but I did jump and cringe at some of the scenes, notably being when Christine’s habit of leaving her mouth open when horrible objects and liquids get poured in made my stomach turn.

It’s a good horror film, makes you jump, makes you cringe and keeps you guessing. Well worth checking out.

Director – Sam Raimi

Cast:

Alison Lohman – Christine Brown
Justin Long – Clay Dalton
Lorna Raver – Mrs Ganush

For the official website click here

Drag Me to Hell - Trailer

Looking For Eric - Out on DVD now

2009-10-25T12:40:00.003Z

Looking for Eric is Ken Loach’s latest film where he introduces us to Eric Bishop (Evets) a middle-aged postman who has managed to mess up his life. The film begins with Eric in a state of despair and depression he’s alone, he has two disrespectful stepsons, and he is finding it difficult to cope and cannot see a future. Enter into this Eric Cantona, Eric’s football hero who helps him get his life on track.

The film sometimes slides into a slightly predictable gritty drama as Eric’s life increasingly spirals out of control when one of his stepsons gets involved with the local gangster. Overall though this is a hopeful, funny and ultimately uplifting film. Eric is a man who has bottled up the past and tried to hide it away but because of a change of circumstances and using the confidence of Cantona he confronts it and tries to make amends as he comes to terms with the ghosts of his past. Eric is also a man who doesn’t realise what he has – amazing friends, a gang of posties who will stand by and help their friend with whatever is needed.

This film made me laugh, which is not something I would usually say about a Ken Loach film, it’s a film that was uplifting and warm hearted, the second chance that can pass people by and how to find the strength to change your life. Personally I wouldn’t have chosen Cantona but if it works for Eric then that’s more than fine by me.

Director – Ken Loach

Cast:
Steve Evets – Eric Bishop
Eric Cantona – himself
Stephanie Bishop – Lily
Gerard Kearns – Ryan
Stefan Gumbs – Jess

For the offical website click here

Slumdog Millionaire – Out on DVD now

2009-10-18T19:42:00.002+01:00

Danny Boyle’s multi Oscar winning Slumdog Millionaire centres on Jamal Malik (Patel) an orphan from the slums of Mumbai. Jamal is appearing on the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire and is one question away from the 20 million-rupee question when the programme finishes filming for the night. Off air Jamal is arrested accused of cheating and is forced to explain how he knows each answer. The answers form a sequence of events in Jamals adventure filled life.

Slumdog won 8 Oscars at the ceremony earlier this year and because of that viewing it comes with a weight of expectation of great things. The story is colourful and vibrant the audience is invited along for the story of Jamal, his brother, Salim, and the love of his life Latika and their struggles to rise above the slum they were born into to find a better life for themselves. Each answer on Millionaire, Jamal gives directly corresponds to a chapter in his life – a life that is already multi layered and is both tragic and amusing.

I liked the film but I didn’t love it, the film itself looks great the cinematography is amazing, Jamal seems to spend most of his life running from one situation to another and we are treated to dizzying views of the Mumbai slums and the surrounding increasingly industrialised city. There are beautiful shots and amazing colours as well as children in abject poverty picking their way over rubbish heaps, children being prayed on by adults willing to exploit them, lazy policemen, corrupt gangsters, slick game show hosts and in the centre is Jamal searching for the love of his life. I think for me the story was a little too predictable and it felt too contrived.

The cast are good, Patel conveys the idealistic, slightly innocent dreamer Jamal well whereas Freda Pinto is the breathtakingly beautiful object of his affections. For me though the heart of the film are the children who portray the three central characters as they grow up – they manage to be touching without being cheesy, funny, and most of all they are believable as they steer the way through their perilous existence. For me the story of the children is better than the story of the adults.

I loved the look of the film but for all of the hype I found the story predictable and therefore a little disappointing.

Director - Danny Boyle

Cast:

Dev Patel – Jamal K Malik
Freida Pinto - Latika
Anil Kapoor – Prem
Madhur Mittal – Older Salim
Ayush Mahesh Khedekar & Tanay Chheda - as Jamal growing up
Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail & Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala - as Salim growing up
Rubina Ali & Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar- as Latika growing up

Click here for the official website

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Coraline - Out on DVD now

2009-10-15T20:42:00.004+01:00

Based on Neil Gaiman’s book of the same name Henry Selick (the man behind The Nightmare Before Christmas), Coraline tells the story of young Coraline Jones (Fanning) an inquisitive bored girl, who’s parents have just moved into an apartment which forms one of many in a rambling run down house. The house is home to many strange inhabitants from two faded actresses, a circus performer and even a talking cat. The strangest inhabitants of them all though is Coraline’s other mother and other father – nearly the same as her real parents but they don’t ignore here, they cook their favourite food …. but what secrets are they hiding behind their button eyes.

Coraline is a film that shares a lot of similarities in style with Selick’s earlier Nightmare Before Christmas; weird characters, Kaleidoscopic Technicolor scenes with strange twists and a storyline that rivals one of Grimm’s fairy tales. The animation is great and stylish and the characterisation is good which is such a vital component of an animated film. Its gives the younger audience the scare factor as well as the wow factor a key that makes the best fairy tales stand out from the rest.
As an adult I really enjoyed it, it might not be everyone’s choice but if you liked Selick’s predecessor then you shouldn’t overlook this.

Director – Henry Selick

Cast:

Dakota Fanning – Coraline Jones (Voice)
Teri Hatcher – Mel Jones / Other Mother / Beldam (Voice)
Jennifer Saunders – Miss April Spink / Other Spink (Voice)
Dawn French – Miss Miriam Forcible / Other Forcible (Voice)
Keith David – The Cat (Voice)
John Hodgman – Charlie Jones / Other Father (Voice)

Click here for the official website

Dead Snow – Out on DVD now

2009-10-10T10:01:00.008+01:00

A group of medical students go on holiday to an isolated log cabin in the mountains. While at the cabin they discover a box under the floorboards full of World War II Nazi gold. A battalion of Nazi zombie soldiers who are using the mountain as their base aren’t happy with the students taking their gold so they decide to hunt them and eat their intestines!

Excuse me if you have heard this before…there’s a group of young students isolated in a cabin when they start getting picked off one by one they decide to split up to try and get help for the others and in doing so surprise surprise they come to a nasty end.

Ok, so this is a B Movie, it is low budget and more of a disappointment is that it does nothing original at all. Its like a tick list of stalk and slash horror movies, group of medical students - check, one of the student doesn’t like blood – check, there’s a weird local man who drops in to fill everyone in on the spooky local history – check, have only one of the students knowing the way out – check, have a couple of the students die nasty deaths after having sex – check and so it goes on.

It’s not all bad though; the deaths are suitably gory and the blood runs all over the student group. The Nazi’s themselves were a complete disappointment though, the make up is 2nd class, they sporadically act like zombies – one moment they are stumbling like traditional zombies and the next moment they are sprinting across the snow. I found myself laughing at the zombies from time to time as they just looked like a bunch of bouncers, covered in talcum powder, hanging around waiting for a nod from the chief bouncer dressed in a weird uniform

There’s nothing original about this movie although it’s also not all bad, just don’t expect too much!

Directed by Tommy Wirkola

Cast

Vegar Hoel – Martin
Stig Fride Henriksen – Roy
Charlotte Frogner – Hanna
Lasse Valdal – Vegard

Click here for the website

Outlander – Out on DVD now

2009-10-03T14:29:00.002+01:00

Set in 709BC in the Iron Age in Norway a space ship crash lands carrying Kainan (Caviezel) and an unwelcome hitchhiker, a deadly alien creature called a Moorwen. The creature begins to attack and kill people from Viking settlements. As Kainan is the only person who knows how to fight and kill the Moorwen he fights alongside the Vikings to free them from the terror he brought into their world.

It was a premise that had promise alien creatures against Vikings but sadly the promise fell a lot short of what the film actually delivers. The script s very predictable and the majority of the film appears to be a collection of borrowed ideas – it brings nothing new to the table.

The fight scenes have been seen before, primarily in Gladiator (when the Romans attack the Germanic tribes) or Braveheart – swords flash, mud and blood splatters in that slightly speeded up and then slowed down effect. The creature itself is the offspring of the trolls from Lord of the Rings and Ridley Scott’s Alien with neon lighting. It’s menacing to the Vikings but not to the audience.

The Vikings, although lead by the normally brilliant John Hurt are a stereotypical poorly portrayed bunch, there’s the feisty wench, drunken strong bloke and even orphaned ‘cute’ child… and many other types that have been seen many times before. There is also a jarring mixture of accents; whereas in Gladiator the cast spoke with all the same ‘classical English’ here we have a mixture of English – cockney and plumy, Irish and American accents, all of which mixed in together sound very wrong.

Its not the worst film I’ve seen – not by a long shot, but I found it predictable, pedestrian and also quite dull, maybe it was the sensation that I had seen it all before.

Director: Howard McCain

Cast:

James Caviezel – Kainan
Sophia Miles – Freya
Jack Huston – Wulfric
John Hurt – Rothgar

For the trailer click here

District 9 – Out in Cinemas Now

2009-10-01T10:56:00.003+01:00

Set in Johannesburg, South Africa, twenty years after an alien ship arrived to hover over the city District 9 is a shanty town that has grown up to accommodate the displaced and unwanted alien population.

The film centres around Wikus Van De Merwe (Copley) a company man, married to the bosses’ daughter who is given a promotion and asked to take a team into the lawless District 9 to serve eviction notices on the alien ‘prawn’ population, a population the whole world views with distain.

After a series of events and Wikus becomes the only man capable of using the much superior alien weapons technology and therefore a huge price is placed on his head. He forms an alliance with one of the ‘prawns’ Christopher Johnson (Cope) and begins to work with him to clear his name while Johnson seeks to free his people and get help from home.

District 9 is based on a short film (Alive in Joborg) by South African born first time director Blomkamp and is produced by Peter Jackson (of Lord of the Rings Fame). It is no surprise from a director who grew up in a segregated county that District 9 gives the audience a new perspective on the film concept of aliens. The aliens are segregated, hated, vilified and condemned to live the life of scavengers hunting for everything they can. They are not wanted – a displaced race, refugees, and the government just wants to move them away from the city to a new camp which to me resembled a prisoner of war camp or even a death camp, away from the city out from under the general population’s nose. After doing some research I found out this is a parallel to an actual incident in South African history when in the 1970’s over 60,000 inhabitants of an area known as District Six (in Cape Town) were forcibly removed because of the colour of their skin.

It’s a great film, there is great splatter effects when the alien weapons get fired up, cringe worthy scenes when Wikus begins to loose his nails (ouch) and also a strong (but not forced on you) story of how the ‘civilised’ population deals with displaced populations, along with good effects and believable ‘prawns’. Copley is the centre of the film, the rather cowardly Wikus unwillingly forced to take a stance and help a population he previously treated with contempt and It is surprisingly a ‘prawn’ Johnson who provides the humanity and moral compass for the film.

It’s a great debut, I can't wait to see future offerings, I hope they are as clever and treated in a similarly unique way.

Director Neill Blomkamp

Cast

Sharlto Copley – Wikus Van De Merwe
Jason Cope – Christopher Johnson (and others)
Robert Hobbs – Ross Piennar
Vanessa Haywood – Tania Van De Merwe

For the official website click here

State of Play – Out on DVD now

2009-09-27T12:03:00.005+01:00

State of Play is the film adaptation of the 2003 BBC TV series of the same name, condensed into film length with the location moved to Washington DC. Crowe plays McAffrey an old school journalist who is old college friends with slick Congressman Collins (Affleck).

A man is shot on the street and Collins’s assistant falls in front of subway train on her way to an important hearing – two seemingly unrelated incidents that are in fact linked. A link emerges so McAffrey decides to uncover the full story with the help new journalist and blogger Frye (McAdams). McAffrey begins to untangle the story while trying to keep some distance with Collins and his wife – both of whom share history with him.

I never saw the original BBC programme so I came to this film with no particular expectations and really enjoyed it. I found it interesting, thought provoking and it kept me guessing. There are mercenaries for hire, corrupt businesses, sex scandals and assassins in this film as well as a good intelligent storyline.

At the films heart is the scruffy, unkempt McAffrey, Crowe plays the part very well, his appearance is in stark contrast to the slick, polished politician, which is why the friendship doesn’t entirely ring true sometimes. Maybe though that is the point - Crowe looks like an everyman whereas Affleck has the refinement of a career politician on the way up.

The rest of the cast are good, McAdams plays the eager web savvy new reporter – looking for her first big break with the hardened old pro. Mirren is great as the tough talking editor, she reminded me of a fouler mouthed M (Judy Dench) from the new Bond movies.

Theres great acting and a great story need I say anything else.

Director: Kevin Macdonald

Russell Crowe – Cal McAffrey
Ben Affleck – Rep Stephen Collins
Rachel McAdams – Della Frye
Helen Mirren – Cameron Lynne
Robin Wright Penn – Anne Collins

For the official website click here

The Damned United – Out on DVD now

2009-09-20T09:50:00.002+01:00

The movie adapted from the David Peace’s book of the same name, detailing Brian Clough’s disastrous 44-day reign as the manager of Leeds United in 1974.

Leeds United, where at the time, the top team in the country, their manager Don Revie (Meaney) had just left them to take on the job of being England manager. Clough (Sheen) who was undoubtedly one of the best managers in football openly speaks out against Leeds – their style of playing, their ‘cheating’ and their manager but he decides to take on the job there when it becomes vacant. It’s a clash of super ego against a 1970’s super club.

Sheen is amazing, he has the chameleon like ability to transform himself into the most extreme characters and his Brian Clough is great. The look and sound and the presence of the man seems to be brought back to life.

The recreation of 60’s and 70’s football will make anyone who follows the game laugh out loud. The players smoke on the training field, the pitch is a muddy swamp that not even a Sunday league team today would play on, the back room team consists of 3 men, no physio’s or medical team. It’s a great snap shot of the game as it was at the time.

This is though, not a film solely about football, Clough was the first superstar manager of the game, a man whose ego seems to have no limits. This film does look at the frailty of the man, his first failure in managerial terms, and the need for his right hand man – Taylor (Spall), who doesn’t follow him to Leeds for the first time in their careers.

I have read the David Pearce book, and I loved it, this isn’t as good as the book (films rarely are) it is actually a more sanitised version. It is good though, good fun with great acting although I wonder if anyone who isn’t a football fan will watch it or not. They should but I doubt they will.

Director: Tom Hooper

Cast:

Michael Sheen – Brian Clough
Timothy Spall – Peter Taylor
Colm Meaney – Don Revie

For the official website click here

The Women out on DVD now

2009-09-18T11:03:00.002+01:00

Take four well off society women in New York who find out that Mary’s (Ryan) husband is having an affair with a foxy shop girl Crystal (Mendes). They all rally to support their friend while she looses her husband but finds herself - no this isn’t Sex in the City this the The Women

Firstly, I would like to point out that I didn’t choose to watch this film, the title of which would be enough to repel me from picking it up but this didn’t stop a friend of mine renting it and I visited and this is how I came to watch it. I suppose that disclaimer would be enough to tell you the direction that this review is going to take.

I could sum up this film in a sentence really – a poor girls Sex and the City.

How are they friends – they are all so different, they didn’t even seem to have fashion or shoes in common – and of course I found myself thinking that all four main characters were poor shadows of their S & C counterparts. It is like the main characteristics of Carrie and friends were mixed together and then separated into four other actors. Unfortunately for this film none of the characters are bitchy, fun, witty or interesting enough to rival their S & C originals.

Bening is cast in the Samantha role – but without the sex, its like looking at Samantha in 10 years time – let’s hope though that she doesn’t become a one dimensional harpy like Fowler is. I felt no sympathy for Mary and also hated that her wandering husband was never seen or heard or had a chance to explain why he fell into the stunning Mendes arms (she really needs a better role than this).

I think it’s a terrible shame that female actors of such calibre are so short of good parts that this is the result – they are falling over each other to be in this film – there are cameos from Carrie Fisher and Bet Midler for instance, it’s a shame this flimsy predictable shambles is the result. Come on writers older women are still people – write something good, please.

Director: Diane English

Cast:

Meg Ryan – Mary Haines
Annette Bening – Sylvia Fowler
Eva Mendes – Crystal Allen
Debra Messing – Edie Cohen
Jada Pinkett Smith – Alex Fisher

For the website click here

The International – Out on DVD now

2009-09-13T13:33:00.002+01:00

Louis Salinger (Owen) is an Interpol agent working with Whitman (Watts) a Manhattan DA investigating the IBBC – a corrupt international bank that wants to control the illegal two hundred million dollar business of weapons trading. Salinger has his own personal agenda for bringing the bank to justice and the bank will stop at nothing to ensure that the deal goes through.

This seems is a slightly overlooked movie, which to me, is strange as the idea of an evil corrupt bank pulling strings all over the world seems very relevant in the light of the current economic climate. I found it intriguing of how this polished, smooth, seemingly respectable business was actually more concerned with dealing with death and will stop at nothing including murder to achieve its aims, its not a new idea but maybe for me it seems to be possibly close to actual fact.

Salinger is a man with a mission, he is haggard, haunted and totally focused on the task of bringing down the corrupt bankers he’s like a dog that wont let go of a bone. Which maybe is why I felt that Whitman was less believable and less motivated – these are really bad people, ones you wouldn’t mess with if you had something to loose, like family for instance, Salinger doesn’t Whitman does. I also found it strange that the ‘baddies’ didn’t exploit this – if they really are as corrupt as they appear to be.

Overall the movies good although it is flawed – Owen tears through cities openly waving a gun and no one reacts, even in New York the security and police seem to react sp slowly. There is a great scene set in the Guggenheim Museum which is on par with Bourne or Bond but apart from that scene the action is slower and more pedestrian which means that the movie doesn’t quite live up to its action thriller billing.

Its worth looking at, although don’t expect too much action packed thrills; this film is a little more cerebral than that.

Director: Tom Tykwer

Cast:
Clive Owen – Louis Salinger
Naomi Watts – Eleanor Whitman
Armin Mueller-Stahl – Wilhelm Wexler
Ulrich Thomsen – Jonas Skarssen

To view the trailer click here

Che Part 2 – Out on DVD now

2009-09-06T16:30:00.003+01:00

This is the second part of Steven Soderbergh’s Che Guevara story, which begins in 1965 when Che (Del Toro) resigns from the Cuban government to lead the revolution in Bolivia.

Che tries to stir the local population into action with his small, underfed, under resourced and largely unsupported guerrilla movement. The Bolivian army decides to squash the revolution before it has even really taken off. Che begins to suffer from bad health brought on by the harsh conditions him and his troops are living in. Slowly the odds of victory for the rebels lengthen as their numbers are whittled down until Che himself faces the Bolivian army.

I feel that I’m going to repeat myself from my review of Che Part 1, yet again I was largely disappointed by the story of the semi mythical Guevara. Again there is a lot of talking in jungles, walking in jungles and plotting in jungles and the action only really steps up a pace at the end of the film but by then you feel like you have been dragged through too many episodes of Ray Mears survival programme although with fierce looking bearded rebels rather than Mr Mears.

Yet again I was left feeling like I missed the real motivation for why Che would choose to leave his wife and five children to live in the jungle…. I know it’s based on his story but I still felt that the bones of the Che story were lacking. I’m actually going to cut and paste something from my previous review as its still relevant:
‘The film looks great, and is well acted, (Del Toro totally dominates the screen as Che, and looks amazingly cool) but also it doesn’t really do anything, or go anywhere. I watched Che walk through the jungle, shooting, rebelling, deal with injustice treat people fairly and treat people medically.’ Its a real shame as it was obviously a labour of love for Del Toro.

I’m yet again, I'm sorry to say I'm disappointed.

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Cast:
Benicio Del Toro – Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara
Carlos Bardem – Moises Guevara
Demian Bichir – Fidel Castro
Joaquim de Almeida – President Rene Barrientos

To view the trailer click here

In the Loop – Out on DVD now

2009-08-30T11:20:00.007+01:00

In the Loop is a spin off from the BBC series The Thick of It is Aramando Iannucci’s UK/US political satire about the spin, wheeling and dealing in the corridors of power in the lead up to war.

The film begins when the British Secretary of State for International Development Simon Foster (Hollander), accidentally backs the movement towards war, which brings him to the attention of the powers in Washington and the Prime Ministers chief spin-doctor Malcolm Tucker (Capaldi). Foster is then asked to Washington where Tucker follows him in an attempt to smooth out diplomatic relations.

It’s a very funny film, the script is quick and sharp and witty. There is so much duplicity and trickery going on in the halls of power where one wrongly uttered word can change the fate of a politician or even end their career. It’s not a difficult leap of imagination to out the fictional events into real life – maybe it’s a subject that’s very close to home in today’s world. Watching the political power plays, back stabbing, back tracking and spin is funny and dizzying.

In the centre of it all is the cobra like venom spitting Malcolm Tucker (Capaldi) a character who is so foul mouthed, vicious and powerful its jaw dropping to watch. His tantrums and rages (which he constantly seems to be on the edge of) punctuate the film as he spins and lurches from one PR disaster to the next salvaging positives out of the mistakes of the somewhat naive ministers. Tucker is such a great character you wait for him to appear – he totally dominates the movie, which isn’t a bad thing.

It’s quick, funny, witty, sharp, clever and funny – well worth a watch.

Director: Armando Iannucci

Cast:

Peter Capaldi – Malcolm Tucker
Tom Hollander – Simon Foster
Gina McKee – Judy
James Gandolfini – Lt Gen George Miller

For the website click here

Inglourious Basterds in cinema now Certificate 18

2009-08-26T20:57:00.007+01:00

Set in World War II in Nazi occupied France Quentin Tarantino introduces us to his Basterds – a team of Jewish soldiers lead by American Lt Aldo Raine (Pitt). Tarantino gives us his spin on World War II. The Basterds are a team of Nazi hunters striking fear in the Third Reich as they hunt the German army planning intent on getting Raine his 100 Nazi scalps.

The film also concerns Shosanna (Laurent) a woman who survived the massacre of her family and ends up in Nazi occupied Paris running a cinema. Her life is changed when her cinema is chosen to host the Nazi’s latest propaganda film, which provides her with the opportunity to exact revenge on the Nazi officer who killed her family.

To say this is just a war movie is far to simple, Tarantino again produces a clever multi layered story full of colourful characters, quick dialogue (and wonderful accents), great set pieces, violence combined with a great sense of humour. It also a mixture of a Sergio Leoni western and the Dirty Dozen. I expect the flashes of violence and the clever and quick dialogue this was the first Tarantino film where I laughed throughout.

The characters, even the ones where we only see them in snapshot, are all fully formed, there is also such a great comic (and sinister) used of accents it adds to the many twists and turns of the film itself. There is also a real build of tension in scenes, whether you are anticipating the specialist skills of the ‘Bear Jew’ or the outcome of the Nazi premier.

It’s a very good movie, I really enjoyed it – although I didn’t find it as smooth of stylish as my favourite Tarantinos like Pulp Fiction. Its quick multi layered and clever and it will keep you on your toes to the final scene. One word of warning is that when the violence happens it really happens – its worth watching though if you can stomach it.

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Cast:

Brad Pitt – Lt Aldo Raine
Melanie Laurent – Shosanna Dreyfus
Christoph Waltz - Col Hans Landa
Eli Roth – Sgt Donny Donowitz
Michael Fassbender – Lt Archie Hicox
Diane Kruger – Bridget von Hammersmark
Daniel Bruhl – Fredrick Zoller
Til Schweiger – Sgt Hugo Stiglitz
Gedeon Burkhard – Col Wilhelm Wicki
Jacky Ido – Marcel

Click here for the trailer

To go futher click here

Mega Shark Vs Giant Octopus on DVD now

2009-08-23T11:08:00.004+01:00

As the title says a huge shark and a huge octopus fight after getting defrosted when an ice shelf breaks off – they were locked in combat before the freezing and they are determined to continue their battle. Some humans in submarines are also involved.

Well I wasn’t expecting a masterpiece and I was expecting comedy and I did laugh – lots, but what I did find amazing was that this film was actually made at all. I might have understood it if it was made in the 50’s or even 70’s but now – really what’s the reasoning? This film is pure B movie – from the script, to the ‘acting’ to the effects… its really quite astonishing that this ever go green lit and made its was onto DVD.

Its been quite a while since I have seen such bad acting and terrible lines – you will find yourself laughing although not for the right reasons. Nearly every scene in the film is awful, I began to pick holes in the movie but then gave up and decided to treat it like a comedy, which was on reflection the best thing to do. I can’t begin to describe how cheesy the science scenes are – were they making chemical solutions or were they mixing paint? Everything seemed so colour coded even without the bad acting and script.

Well I suppose the ‘big’ draw in the movie is the monsters who seem to pull off some stunning attacks octopus v oil rig, shark v flying plane, shark v Golden Gate bridge before they actually get stuck into each other. Did no one who was making the film realise that showing the same footage over and over again of a shark swimming would get a little tedious and that today maybe the audience expects a little more. The shark on the Universal Studios ride looked more realistic.

It was bad very bad but it was also so funny at the same time. I’m not going to grade it as I think for a film itself it would scrape a one star but for being one of the funniest worst movies I have ever seen it might qualify for 4 stars.

Director: Jack Perez

Cast:

Lorenzo Lamas – Allan Baxter
Deborah Gibson – Emma MacNeil
Vic Chao – Dr Seiji Shimada
Sean Lawlor – Lamar Sanders

Click here for the trailer

Duplicity on DVD now

2009-08-20T21:53:00.005+01:00

Two ex spies Koval (Owen) and Stenwick (Roberts), who have a history, team up against two corporate enemies Tully (Wilkinson) and Garsik (Giamatti) to outwit the big corporations and come out on top. The ex spies team together to outwit the enemies in the search for the patent on the ultimate product.

Duplicity is marketed as similar to Out of Sight or The Thomas Crown Affair (with Pierce Brosnan), in which two untrusting adults play cat and mouse with each other when they meet their match while also trying out outfox the system. In this film you have Roberts and Owen as the attractive ex spies working for or against each other as they globe trot plotting the ultimate corporate coup. In the other (equally sparring) corner you have Wilkinson V’s Giamatti who begin the film with one of the funniest and unexpected opening titles I have seen for some time – think of Celebrity Death Match without the plasticine and the blood but dressed in smart suits!

Its not a bad film its also just not a great one either, its clever – but maybe not too clever, its interesting – but not too interesting, and the leads are attractive but without any real sexual tension. I don’t know if more inventive camera angles and cut aways might have helped. They might have highlighted more tension between the leads, theres something about the cat and mouse between a lead couple that can add a great deal to the sexual tension in a film when shot well – unfortunately this film is lacking in this respect. The leads are good but lack a certain spark.

Everyone plays their part well and the script is funny and clever but I felt this was a film lead more by the stars rather than the director – it could have been better, more inventively shot and definitely sexier – which Im sure was what it was trying to be.

Director: Tony Gilroy

Cast:
Clive Owen – Ray Koval
Julia Roberts – Claire Stenwick
Tom Wilkinson – Howard Tully
Paul – Giamatti – Richard Garsik

Click here for the official website

Hunger on DVD now

2009-08-15T17:18:00.003+01:00

A film based on the Maze prison hunger strikes of 1981 was never going to be light viewing but what the English director Steve McQueen has created is something that’s compelling as much as it is shocking.

Hunger is centred on republican army member Bobby Sands (Fassbender) as he leads the Maze prisoners on the ‘dirty’ protests and then hunger strike as the prisoners fight for political status. Davey (Milligan) arrives at the Maze and refuses to cooperate with the authorities he becomes the roommate of Gerry (Campbell) a protestor who has smeared faeces from floor to ceiling in his cell. The films focus then switches to Sands and his fight for justice.

It’s a very powerful and highly emotive film, its devoid of embellishments and additions the story is very much left to speak for itself, who needs words when the condition of a prison cell is testament to the strength of belief of its inhabitants.
Fassbender is powerful and controlled as Sands – a man so focused that starving himself to death is seen as acceptable. The visual image of Sands during his hunger strike will stay with me for some time.

The scene with Sands and the priest (Cunningham) is one of the most powerful and compelling I have seen in some time. There is nothing on the screen apart from two amazing actors and great dialogue.

McQueen has created a film that neither judges, condones or condemns the actions of the Maze prisoners in 1981, he just presents the story and leaves the audience to discuss and decide. This film will divide opinion over recent events in history but it also serves as reminders of how bad the troubles actually were and how we are in a much better place today.

Director – Steve McQueen

Cast:

Michael Fassbender – Bobby Sands
Stuart Graham – Ray Lohan
Liam Cunningham – Father Dominic Moran
Brian Milligan – Davey Gillen
Liam McMahon – Gerry Campbell

For the official website click here

Ravenous available on DVD certificate 18 - although not widely available!

2009-08-08T12:53:00.004+01:00

Cowardly Capt Boyd (Pearce) receives a promotion after a battle in the Mexican American war in the 1840’s – a promotion won despite his total cowardliness. He is posted to Fort Spencer, which is a remote and isolated place in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

It is here with the seven other inhabitants that a stranger Colqhoun (Carlyle) arrives with wild tales of cannibalism after loosing his wagon train. It is only when the majority of Fort Spencer’s inhabitants go off to investigate that Boyd realises the truth about Colqhoun and his taste for human flesh.

This for me was a film that had got away from me – I had heard about it, missed it on release and haven’t managed to get a copy on DVD – until now. I’m pleased to say it was worth the wait. It’s like a western with a macabre twist and it’s a lot more psychological than an average horror film with the eerie and dangerous Colqhoun wonderfully portrayed by Carlyle. It is Pearce though and the cowardly and haunted Boyd that provides the film with a human side as he himself needs to find his backbone and prove to himself that he isn’t a the coward people think he is.

I was left wondering why its never been re-released or isn’t more widely available which is a shame as viewers are missing out - it deserves to be seen to a wider audience.

Watch it – if you can find a copy.

Director – Antonio Bird

Cast:

Guy Pearce – Capt. John Boyd
Robert Carlyle – Col. Ives / F W Colqhoun
David Arquette – Pvt. Cleaves
Jeremy Davies – Pvt. Toffler
Jeffrey Jones – Col. Hart

For the official website click here

Persepolis out on DVD now

2009-08-02T17:38:00.003+01:00

Persepolis is the Oscar nominated biography of Marjane Satrapi which begins when she is a girl who growing up in Iran in the 1970’s revolution. She lives with an idealistic family who send her away to Austria so she can live without the restrictions of the new regime. In Austria she learns to be free but she is ultimately unhappy so when she returns home she realises the changes that have befallen Iran and the increasing restrictions on women.

The film is animated, stark black with clean white and its very, very effective. I had worried that the stripped down animation would be unable to convey emotions or feelings but I was wrong. There is something in the basic colours that mean you have to focus on Marjane without any distractions. It does not only good looking it’s a good story too, the encroaching restrictions of the regime are dealt with without sensation and that gives it all the more weight. You also feel the intensity of Marjane’s character she is constantly a fish out of water – her quest to fit in and be accepted is a constant theme in the film, as is her dry humour which is no small feat for a few black lines.

A good film, a moving story based in recent history it also has a great strong look to match the strength of the characters in the film.

Directed by Vincent Paronnaud & Marjane Satrapi

Cast (voice only)

Chiara Mastroianni – Marjane ‘Marji’ Satrapi
Cathering Deneuve – Mrs Satrapi (Marjane’s mother)
Danielle Darrieux – Marjane’s grandmother
Simon Abkarian – Mr Satrapi (Marjane’s father)

Click here for the official website

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince – In cinemas now

2009-07-29T17:55:00.003+01:00

As the next part of the Harry Potter saga hits our screens after its time again for the teenage wizard to get back to Hogwarts, get back to battling bad guys and get back to controlling his hormones.

In this instalment of the saga Harry ponders over who is the Half Blood Prince, how he can get into Professor Slugthorns good books and how he can get into Ginny Weasley’s embrace. Meanwhile Ron tries out for Quidditch, gets a girlfriend and nearly dies while Hermione wants Ron, wants to help Harry and wants to read more books. On the bad side the usual suspects minus Voldermort and Draco Malfoy all line up to overthrow Hogwarts and Professor Dumbledore in the ongoing battle of good V’s evil.

It is always a difficult task the penultimate book (although now the last movie is going to be split into two we will have another penultimate film), it always seems like your waiting for the big finale which you know isn’t going to happen in this film, but never before have I watched a movie in this genre that has so little action and is not a stand alone film. It needs the other films to bracket it and subsequently it seemed to me like an intermission.

I also found it very disjointed (and Ithis has happened before in this film series), one line mentioned quickly is a pivotal point in the movie – if you blink you miss it. I have read the books and so I realised that my knowledge of the film also takes this into account whereas I wonder how much I would have been able to grasp if I had just watched the films alone.

It’s a funny movie – more of a Harry Potter and the raging hormones than the entitled Half Blood Prince, which is a shame. Also it seemed terribly wasteful to have some of the best actors in the UK reduced to mere cardboard cameos. Having said that I liked it, I like the rest of the series but I also tend to think the story (and directing) needs a bit of a different angle to save the next film from the same ‘intermission’ fate.

Watch it if you’re a fan – if your not you are going to be terribly confused.

Directed by David Yates

Daniel Radcliffe – Harry Potter
Rupert Grint – Ron Weasley
Emma Watson – Hermione Granger
Michael Gambon – Professor Albus Dumbledore
Alan Rickman – Professor Severus Snape

Click here for the official website

Twilight out on DVD now

2009-07-27T21:29:00.006+01:00

Based on the first of Stephanie Meyer’s best-selling series of books Twilight tells the story of Bella Swan who moves from Phoenix Arizona to Forks the rainiest place in America, to live with her father. While at school she falls for Edward Cullen, a mysterious boy who actually isn’t human, he’s a vampire, and he’s trying to resist the lure of the biggest blood temptation he’s ever known in all of his life – Bella. Unfortunately while keeping Bella safe and close he alerts another hunter vampire to her presence and the chase is then on.

I should first confess that I have read the book and am a fan (although not a fanatic) of the story. There is something about the story that is impossibly romantic and it’s easy to see what appeals to the hordes of female fans of the series. Robert Pattinson looks great as Edward the brooding, forever-young man drawn to Bella while trying to resist his vampire nature. He does look at times like he is carved from marble while he plays against the well cast Stewart as Bella.

The film is shot is a dreamlike fashion although at times the effects look strange, like when Edward is running for instance. I also think that the drama of Edward and Bella and their situation could have been played out a little more – you had no sense of time passing and the slow cautious way Edward allows her closer and closer, unlike the book. There are of course some deviations from the book – it would be impossible to film everything but there are also additions to the story, which will upset purists.

It’s good and enjoyable if you’re already a fan then this will be old news, I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone but for a bit of escapism and romance its worth a view. I’m going to give it four starts because I’m already a convert and can’t wait for the next episode in the saga.

Director: Catherine Hardwicke

Cast:

Kirsten Stewart – Bella Swan
Robert Pattinson – Edward Cullen
Billy Burke – Charlie Swan
Ashley Green – Alice Cullen

For the official website click here

For more information on Stephanie Meyer and the Twilight books click here

Ghost Town out on DVD now

2009-07-26T12:28:00.003+01:00

Ghost Town is Ricky Gervais’s first lead role in a Hollywood movie after minor roles in Night at the Museum and Stardust. Ghost Town is the story of Bertram Pincus (Gervais) a dentist who goes to great lengths to avoid all contact with people, which is just as well because he completely lacks any social skills. This all changes when an accident leaves him with the ability to see and talk to ghosts and they seem to have a lot to say especially Frank (Kinnear) a man recently deceased. Frank wants Pincus to get a message to his widow Gwen (Leoni) which means that Pincus needs to fast track his social skills and stop avoiding people.

This film has a good cast and should on paper have worked but the plot was obvious and unsurprising and the film rolls on without offending but also without really pleasing either. Gervais plays Pincus well, his hatred of the human race is amusing as are his attempt to avoid people but I feel in this movie Gervais never really bares his comedy teeth. Kinnear is there to provide the human side to Pincus so it is strange then that that his character is misguided and not actually likeable.

Theres nothing much actually wrong with the movie but there also isn’t actually anything really successful in the film either. You watch the film but know you have seen similar movies done better.

Director: David Koepp

Cast:

Ricky Gervais – Bertram Pincus
Greg Kinnear - Frank Herlihy
Tea Leoni – Gwen

Click here for the offical website

Orlando (1992) – Available on DVD Certificate 15

2009-07-23T11:14:00.004+01:00

Orlando (Swinton) is an Elizabethan nobleman living a privileged life when Queen Elizabeth I (Crisp) commands him to stay forever young, which he does. This film follows Orlando from 1600 to the present day when he searches for truth, beauty and love. This book is based on the Virgina Woolf book of the same name the story is also updated to reflect modern life.

He falls in love and is betrayed, he falls into a seven day sleep and awakens anew and travels to the Middle East as the UK ambassador where he discards the pomp and pageantry of the British courts. It is when he is here he witnesses a battle and he becomes disgusted with men and so falls into a deep sleep again and this time awakens a woman.

When she returns to England, essentially the same person but now a woman it is here that Orlando realises the restrictions, limitations and constraints on women in the 1750’s. Through Orlando the audience sees the gradual changes in the perceptions and rights of women right up until the present day.

The film is told in chapters and always with an ironic sense of fun and humour. Orlando moves through the chapters and through the ages, learning, loving and finally becoming whole. In some ways he / she seems like a witness to their own destiny rather than a real participant. In fact it is only when she meets Shelmerdine (Zane) that you have the feeling that she then begins to live properly.

It’s a beautiful film, the costumes are amazing, the sets are almost too beautiful – from the ice covered Thames to Orlandos house which even under dust sheets it looks a magical place. I began to wish I had seen this in the cinema as the visuals would have been so powerful and stunning. Swinton is amazing and mesmerising as Orlando, it is impossible to think of another actor who could have played the androgynous dreamlike character.

It is also an unfamiliar experience to see the changes in the perceptions of women over centuries through one character, and as a female it made me glad I live in an age when there are so few constraints in real terms. It is only in this age also that Orlando has found peace and happiness with herself.

This film won’t be popular with everyone, even the concept of a character changing sex part way through the film will be enough to put some people off. I though am glad I have seen it, the haunting visuals and the humour and subtle strength of Orlando’s character made the film for me well worth it.

Director: Sally Potter

Cast:

Tilda Swinton – Orlando

Billy Zane – Shelmerdine

Charlotte Valandrey – Princess Sasha

Lothaire Bluteau – The Khan

Quentin Crisp – Queen Elizabeth I

To view the trailer please click here

Step Brothers out on DVD now

2009-07-18T15:58:00.003+01:00

After the marriage of Nancy Huff to Dr Robert Doback their respective sons, Brennan (Ferrell) and Dale (Reilly), have to learn how to live together. They fight, they sulk, they threaten each other and they hate each other. The problem is Brennan and Dale are two 40 year olds who are acting like 9 year olds.

Neither Brennan or Dale have worked a day in their lives they are both given an ultimatum – get a job or get out, which leads to them becoming friends although that still doesn’t lead to a peaceful household.

Will Ferrell has always been a bit hit or miss, for every Anchorman there is a Bewitched or Talladega Nights but Step Brothers is worth watching if you don’t expect too much. Its funny, silly and yes childish watching Ferrell and Reilly acting like spoilt kids. The films not perfect there are parts when the plot slows down also some of the story seems quite formulaic and this makes the plot predictable but for those minor problems its still fun. It won’t change the world but it should at least make you laugh.

Director: Adam McKay

Cast:

Will Ferrell – Brennan Huff
John C Reilly – Dale Doback
Mary Steenburgen – Nancy Huff
Richard Jenkins – Dr Robert Doback
Adam Scott – Derek Huff
Kathryn Hahn – Alice Huff

For the offical website click here

Gran Torino out on DVD now

2009-07-11T14:09:00.004+01:00

Recently widowed Korean War veteran Walt Kowalski (Eastwood) is isolated from his family, stuck in his ways cantankerous and grumpy. He saves his neighbour Thao (Vany), who is of Hmong descent, from a local gang an incident that begins a chain of events that will affect Kowalski and his neighbours forever.

Think Harry Callahan from the film Dirty Harry (1971), imagine him retired living in Michigan, surrounded by immigrant families, clinging to his old ways, hating his family, hating his neighbourhood and hating change, in fact the only thing he loves is his mint Gran Torino.

Eastwood is great, as always, as Walt, a man who relishes hating life so much he’s forgotten how to live. Its great to see this character dragged back into life, made to care despite himself. It’s a film of two halves, the first being funny as Walt sneers at everything and anything, treating everything with contempt, and the second dealing with much deeper more serious issues.

Watch it, you wont be disappointed.

Director: Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood – Walt Kowalski
Christopher Carley – Father Janovich
Bee Vany – Thao Vang Lor
Ahney Her – Sue Lor

For the offical website click here

Che Part One out on DVD now

2009-07-06T04:33:00.004+01:00

Detailing the start of the Cuban revolution in the 1950’s when the Cuban dictator Batista was overthrown by Fidel Castro (Bichir) and Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara (Del Toro).

I was hoping that it would fill in some gaps in my knowledge of history from that time, as I have to confess I’m of the era when Che is more of an iconic poster image rather than knowing the details of what he actually did in history. Yes I’ve seen (and read) the Motor Cycle Diaries (2004), which documents Che’s early travels in South America I was hoping this film would add even more flesh to the bones, but sadly it didn’t.

The film looks great, and is well acted, (Del Toro totally dominates the screen as Che, and looks amazingly cool) but also it doesn’t really do anything, or go anywhere. I watched Che walk through the jungle, shooting, rebelling, deal with injustice treat people fairly and treat people medically. I saw Che in New York I saw Che in a jungle and that’s about it for me. For a film about a person who was so charismatic it seemed strange that there was no climax or focal point and also, and probably more disappointing for me, was I learnt nothing new about the man himself or even the real reasons behind the rebellion.

I’m hoping that Part Two delivers.

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Cast:
Benicio Del Toro – Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara
Demian Bichir – Fidel Castro

For the trailer click here

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button out on DVD now

2009-06-20T11:55:00.005+01:00

Based on the 1921 short story by F Scott Fitzgerald The Curious Case of Benjamin Button opens with Daisy (Blanchette) dying in New Orleans as hurricane Katrina comes to town. She asks her daughter to read from Benjamin’s diary, and so the begins the tale of his unusual and incredible life.

Born an old man, abandoned by his family but found by Queenie a carer at a home for the elderly Benjamin (Pitt) grows younger daily while the residents arrive age and die around him. Daisy comes to visit her grandmother and so begins a lifelong friendship and love.

It was a real pleasure to watch this film, I had thought that it was either just a vehicle for Pitt or was going to be too romantic and soppy but it wasn’t it was great. Firstly I wondered at the amazing subtle effects and sight of a child sized old man protected and accepted in the home for the elderly Its fascinating to watch the years drop off, while the love of his life, Daisy ages. The film draws you in with a mixture of humour and curiosity and before you know it your hooked!

The film is funny amusing, and also very moving. By presenting a life in reverse the audience is made to think about love, loss and the happiness that can be found in life. Watch it, I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Director: David Fincher

Cast:
Benjamin Button – Brad Pitt
Cate Blanchette – Daisy
Julia Ormond – Caroline
Taraji P. Henson – Queenie

Click here for the offical website

Get Smart out on DVD now

2009-06-14T07:41:00.005+01:00

Based on the 1960’s television series of the same name, Get Smart follows newly promoted Agent 86 (Carell) and his partner Agent 99 (Hathaway) as they attempt to foil KAOS and their plans to assassinate the US President.

I’ve not seen any of the original television series and maybe if I had I wouldn’t have been left feeling that I watched the wrong film. I expected the film to be on par with Austin Powers or even Inspector Clouseau with Peter Sellers (I haven’t seen the Steve Martin remakes) where a clumsy misguided agent wins through in spite of himself but this film wasn’t like this at all. Carrells Agent 86 is intelligent but inexperienced which although this is a different angle it is one that, for me, didn’t really work. He is teamed with Hathaways Agent 99, who is reluctant to work with the rookie – it’s a formula that has been overused in films and nothing new is added to it here.

I know comedy is subjective but I didn’t laugh enough, and I also didn’t care enough either. Its well acted, it looks good but it just didn’t do anything for me, I think I will forget I ever watched it very quickly.

Director: Peter Segal

Cast:
Steve Carell – Maxwell Smart / Agent 86
Anne Hathaway – Agent 99
Dwayne Johnson – Agent 23
Alan Arkin – The Chief
Terrance Stamp – Siegfried
Terry Crews – Agent 91

For the official website click here

The Wrestler out on DVD now

2009-06-06T06:18:00.006+01:00

The story of an ageing, once successful wrestler Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson (Rourke), a man trapped by his headlining past trying to come to terms with a very uncertain future.

When you only know how to do one thing what happens when you can no longer do it? A tale of one mans attempt to rebuild and change his life when a heart attack means he can no longer continue in the ‘sport’ where he was once great.

BAFTA winner Rourke is totally fantastic, it’s impossible to contemplate anyone else in the role of the battered, broken Randy. A man trying to forge a relationship with his estranged daughter and a blossoming romance with a stripper (Tomei) while trying to deal with physical trauma and ill health. He only knows the ring, the crowd, the lights, and the fans – what is his alternative? Its almost heart breaking watching this guys attempts to work in a grocery store when ill health forces him into retirement.

Aronofsky directs this tale brilliantly, in one particular scene Randy is going to work in the supermarket and it is filmed like he is entering the wrestling ring it’s superbly done. It’s a film that made me think again about a profession that I had thought was almost a joke. What these men put themselves through in the ring while preparing themselves like models for the small crowd they draw is really something to consider. What do they do when the spotlight moves on and they haven’t ever reached the heights of being truly successful? Do they end up like Randy, trapped in an old image of themselves, living on dreams?

It’s a great film, moving, powerful, sad and thought provoking – something I never thought I would ever say about wrestling!

Director: Daren Aronofsky

Cast:

Mickey Rourke – Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson
Marisa Tomei – Cassidy / Pam
Evan Rachel Wood – Stephanie

Click here for the official website

The Day The Earth Stood Still out on DVD now

2009-05-31T15:34:00.012+01:00

This is the remake of the 1951 Si-Fi movie in which an alien sphere lands in Central Park New York and from this emerges Klaatu (Keanu Reeves), an alien with a message about the human race. A group of scientists are assembled one of which is Dr Helen Benson (Connelly) a widow with a step child (Smith).

Klaatu aided by an enormous robot brings a message that the human race is destroying the earth and this can not be allowed to continue, he is in fact the herald sent to reclaim the earth back from destructive mankind. Dr Benson becomes convinced the only way of saving the human race is to free Klaatu so he can deliver his message.

It’s a very good looking movie; great effects and the actors are well cast. Reeves is great as the distant emotionless Klaatu, it’s a part that is similar in many ways to Neo from the Matrix, blank and detached.

Unfortunately though, like Klaatu I felt detached and distant from the whole film. The world wide phenomenon of spheres appearing is only seen through TV screens – it’s a story very based in the USA, their reaction to Klaatu’s arrival and the decisions that are made about attacking the invaders are solely from a US view – as if the rest of the world doesn’t exist. I wasn’t convinced that humans had learnt their lesson and also ultimately why Klaatu makes the final decision he does – I’m not sure on the evidence of the film that I would.

Director Scott Derrickson

Cast:
Keanu Reeves – Klaatu
Jennifer Connelly – Dr Helen Benson
Kathy Bates – SecDef Regina Jackson
Jaden Smith – Jacob Benson

For the official web site click here

Ive also included the original 1951 poster for you to see - as I think its a classic!

Frost / Nixon out on DVD now

2009-05-25T16:05:00.008+01:00

The film based on the play of the epic 1977 interview between the disgraced ex president Richard Nixon and the young celebrity interviewer David Frost. Both parties are sure the interview will work in their favour and that they will easily be able to gain the upper hand in this televised battle of wits and intellect.

In the blue corner you have Richard Nixon, three years after he resigned from the Presidency in disgrace over the Watergate affair. He is seen pedalling himself around the after dinner speech circuit, bored and in need of money, desperate to clear his name and move on from the whole incident that saw him removed from the Whitehouse.

In the red corner David Frost the young British arrogant and cocky talk show host trying to get the scoop of the century by securing a no holds barred set of interviews with Nixon. So sure is he of the success of this endeavour he bankrolls the project himself at a time when no one wanted to even speak to Nixon.

It’s a great film providing a snapshot of a landmark event in television history. The lead actors (who originally played their parts on the stage) are incredible, Langella transforms into Nixon and the chameleon like Sheen yet again ‘becomes’ the real person he is portraying. I found it fascinating to see the work and preparation behind these long gone head to head epic interviews – I wish the format was still used today.

The film is presented in an almost flat style; the subject matter doesn’t need any embellishments and Ron Howard is confident that his actors can easily hold the subject matter, which they do - from the leads to the supporting cast.
It’s a great subject matter and a fascinating film – well worth watching.

Director Ron Howard

Cast:
Frank Langella – Richard Nixon
Michael Sheen – David Frost
Sam Rockwell – James Reston Jr
Kevin Bacon – Jack Brennan
Matthew Macfadyen – John Birt
Oliver Platt – Bob Zelnick

Click here to go to the website

Role Models – Out on DVD now

2009-05-17T15:18:00.003+01:00

Think of two guys (Rudd and Scott) pedalling ‘have energy drinks instead of drugs’ messages around schools. Think of these guys having a particularly bad day when they end up having to undertake 150 hours of community service rather than go to jail. Think of these two guys who can barely look after themselves being put in a position of responsibility of mentoring kids. So begins the predictable but enjoyable film Role Models.

The film will be very familiar to people who have watched the latest wave of comedies like 40 Year Old Virgin, Superbad, Knocked Up etc, it’s humour is crass, unsubtle and slightly juvenile. If you can deal with adults acting really inappropriately in front of kids then this film is fine, although if your likely to be offended then I would suggest you stay away from this film.

The kids who are being mentored are great – there is Mintz-Plasse who stood out as Mclovin in Superbad and the new scene stealing Thompson, who’s rude and shocking remarks may offend some viewers but I personally found him both shocking and funny.
This film made me laugh and although it is crass at times taken in the right way its light-hearted fun. If you liked the movies I have listed above then add this to your viewing list. It may not be as good as Superbad but its still fun.

Directed by David Wain

Starring:

Seann William Scott – Wheeler
Paul Rudd – Danny Donahue
Christopher Mintz-Plasse – Augie Farks
Bobb’e J Thompson – Ronnie Shields
Elizabeth Banks – Beth
For the official website click here

The Road trailer now on line

2009-05-15T17:46:00.002+01:00

Release date in the US is listed as October 2009.

For some time now (since I read the book) I have been talking about the upcoming movie The Road, based on the Cormac McCarthy movie of the same name starring Viggo Mortensen.

Today a first trailer has been released and although its wetted my appetite a bit more I’m confused as it seems to have taken every piece of action in the film and placed it in the trailer. If the film stays true to the book the simplicity and stillness is what makes it so powerful. I am also a little confused at the amount of screen time in the trailer Charlize Theron’s character is given as I feel it will be disproportionate to what is actually in the film. Maybe I just feel that this is being somewhat miss-sold although I still can’t wait for its release.

Click here for the trailer

Mega Shark V’s Giant Octopus trailer

2009-05-14T17:12:00.004+01:00

I came across this trailer today for what could possibly be the most bizarre movie to be released this year – its pure B movie stuff a giant shark (that can jump into the sky) fighting a giant octopus (I’m not sure if it can jump but its tentacles reach very very far!), and its all going to be released in glorious 3D!

The film also stars Debbie (now known as Deborah) Gibson, the 1980’s singer and a guy who does appearances in the Bold & the Beautiful!

I guess it could be great and maybe I am just being cynical the trailers worth a look though – it made me laugh out loud!

Click here for the trailer

X Men Origins – Wolverine in UK cinemas now certificate 12A

2009-05-12T20:56:00.005+01:00

X-Men Origins: Wolverine is the latest comic superhero movie to hit our screens.

There has been a relentless queue of comic book titles vying for our hard earned pennies since the release of Spiderman in 2002 revamped this neglected genre of films. For every successful film like Spiderman, Dark Knight or Iron Man there is always an unsuccessful one – Catwoman, Daredevil or the Punisher anyone? So as Wolverine the most popular stand out X-Men character takes his turn to unsheathe his claws will he deliver a fastball special or will he sink?

The film is centred on Wolverines’ pre X-Men days, where he comes from and what drove him to volunteer to become part of the weapon X programme at the hands of Stryker. It tells a story of friendship with Creed and how this changed and also how Wolverine became a ‘man with no past’.

The film delivers everything you could ask of this genre of movies. Jackman again fills Wolverines boots well and the supporting characters are good especially Liev Schreiber as the animalistic Sabretooth, and and Taylor Kitsch as the flamboyant Gambit.

This movie has a lot of supporting mutant characters and comic book fans will no doubt enjoying spotting them in the supporting cast – Cyclops and Deadpool for instance although there are also many others who we get tantalising glimpses at before they are moved on never to be seen again.

There are fights, special effects, brutality, love, revenge and Hugh Jackman naked (well I am female), and so in that respect this film ticks all of the boxes. This film is not a perfect superhero movie though; some of the mutant characters powers seem to be the same as others and as often happens some of the special effects look a little unfinished. I found one of the major villains of the piece very disappointing, it’s a new character thought up with very little imagination and almost verges on the ridiculous, this though didn't ruin the film for me. This film is also a 12A certificate film so all of the violence (which is a fundamental part of Wolverines character) is suggested and occurs off-screen which, for me, dilutes the overall effect of the film.

Its good popcorn movie, its not going to change the world but it is a lot of fun.

Directed by Gavin Hood

Hugh Jackman – Logan / Wolverine
Liev Schreiber – Victor Creed / Sabretooth
Danny Huston – William Stryker
Will I Am – John Wraith
Lynn Collins – Kayla Silverfox
Kevin Durand – Frederick J Dukes / The Blob
Dominic Monaghan – Chris Bradley/ The Bolt
Taylor Kitsch – Remmy LeBeau / Gambit

For the official website click here

Gonzo: The Life and Times of Hunter S Thompson - out on DVD now

2009-05-09T13:39:00.005+01:00

Dr Hunter S Thompson was a writer, reporter, sports journalist, NRA member, hippy, protester and walking symbol of excess until he committed suicide in 2005. This film focuses on Dr Hunter’s life from 1965 – 1975 and includes vintage footage of Hunter and his friends and family.

Hunter was a truly unique individual who rose to fame as a journalist in the 1960’s. Hunter had a talent that reached way beyond the sports articles that he was supposed to be covering; he became a satirical commentator as well as a participant of the psychedelic peace movement. His books have been made into films and he has been depicted on screen by Bill Murray in ‘Where the Buffalo Roam’ (1980) and more recently Johnny Depp in ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’ (1998), Depp is currently filming another of Hunters books ‘The Rum Diary’ which is due for release in 2010.

I really enjoyed this film, but I can’t work out if it’s because I got to spend time in the madcap company of Hunter or if the actual film itself was informative. I was already a fan of Dr Thompson, I have read his books and watched the films but I didn’t actually know much about his personal life except his love for drugs, excess and his premature death. This film helped flesh out the man and his motivations as a journalist when he started out to his death. It also explains how the artist – Ralph Steadman, developed his instantly recognisable style. This film is also a cautionary tale, as Hunter became a victim of his own success, trapped by his own fame, unable to escape from the Gonzo lifestyle that his admirers expected.

Overall it’s a good view, either for fans of Dr Thompson, or for the curious it also leaves you feeling that the world is a sadder place for not having a personality like Hunter in it.

Director: Alex Gibney

The trailer can be viewed here.

For more information about the life and works of Hunter S Thompson click here.

For more information on the Gonzo art work click here.

The Idiots Certificate 18

2009-05-04T16:11:00.004+01:00

The Idiots is the second in Lars Von Trier’s Dogma films, which was originally released in 1999. Dogma was an expression used to describe a spontaneous type of film making where hand held shaky cameras are used with a homemade documentary feel to the footage. When The Idiots was first released it came out in a blaze of controversy, bad press and was heavily censored – although 10 years after release this film is no longer current, a quick ‘google’ search confirms that the debate about this film still continues.

This is my first viewing of the film, for various reasons I missed it when it was first released and because of the content of the film its only once been shown on UK TV (in its uncut version), so I was lucky to come across a copy of the DVD.

The basic premise of the film is that a group of educated middle class people decide that they want to ‘spazz out’ when in public. They pretend to be mentally handicapped, with no real explanation. At the films start, an ordinary member of the public Karen helps out one of the ‘carers’ and its only when she is in a car with them driving away does she realise it was all a hoax, she then joins the group who live in a sprawling mansion in the countryside. The group then go through a series of trips and visits where they act out their ‘inner idiot’ in public. The films main controversy surrounds the birthday party of Stoffer, which degenerates into an orgy, but there is so much more to the film than just this scene.

When real life intrudes on the group the audience gets possible glimpses into why they have chosen to live in this way. In the group they are happy, supportive and provide protection and love to each other without question. There are a series of pieces to camera, from some group members, which appear to be given retrospectively, in these the group is always spoken with affection and almost longing. The group decide to ‘spazz’ in front of family or loved ones – people who they really care about, to prove that they are happy with their ‘inner idiot’, this culminates in Karen’s very shocking personal reasons for joining – a very shocking hard scene which will be with me for a long time.

I am very glad I have seen this film, even though it was uncomfortable, disturbing and unsettling. It left me with many questions and thoughts about disability, middle class ideals, perception and society. This film is not an easy view and its not entertainment but that’s the beauty of cinema – as well as to entertain it also can be used to inform and question.

I have only been able to find this poor quality trailer for the film at the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com).
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2358116633/

Directed by Lars Von Trier

Cast:
Bodil Jørgensen – Karen
Jens Albinus – Stoffer
Anne Louise Hassing – Susanne
Troels Lyby – Henrik
Nikolaj Lie Kaas – Jeppe
Louise Mieritz – Josephine

The Mist – Out on DVD now

2009-05-03T09:14:00.001+01:00

This is another Stephen King story directed by Frank Darabont (who also directed the classic Shawshank Redemption). David Drayton and his son travel into town with a neighbour the day after a heavy storm. Whilst in a supermarket a dense mist descends around the town, a near hysterical guy then runs into the shop shouting about something being in the mist and to lock the doors. This event begins starts off a series of incidents; both supernatural and also very human.

This was a really strange film for me; on one level it was incredibly cheesy and naff with B movie monsters that reminded me of smaller versions of the ones in The Host. Essentially it was just people fighting and ultimately getting killed by the killer albino bugs in a variety of ways. Also characters were shooting off predictable lines all over the film I actually expected someone to say they were going out and may be gone for some time before they headed into the whiteness.

Jane’s acting wasn’t great especially when he was required to produce anything resembling emotion, but the presence of Marcia gay Harden and Toby Jones added significant weight to the cast for me. The psychology of a totally mixed bunch of people under stress in extraordinary circumstances proved to be very interesting and raised this film up a level. Hardens religious zealot actually made me wish I could shut her up and made me question how I would deal with such a person in such circumstances (probably not very well). This film also explores how close the human race is from being savages and from turning into a mob, although maybe this issue was already raised in my consciousness by reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy, which is being made into a (hopefully) better film.

Its not a terrible film, its just not great either though and as for the ‘shock ending’ its ok, its different from what you would normally expect but I wouldn’t just watch the film for it.

http://www.themist-movie.com/

Directed by Frank Darabont

Cast:

Thomas Jane – David Drayton
Marcia Gay Harden – Mrs Carmody
Laurie Holden – Amanda Dumfries
Andre Braugher – Brent Norton
Toby Jones – Ollie Weeks

Lakeview Terrace – out now on DVD

2009-05-03T08:11:00.001+01:00

A young mixed race couple (he’s white, she’s black) move into their first home. Unfortunately for them their neighbour is a racist cop (Jackson) who does his best to make their lives hell.

This film for me was just ok, it is a bog standard thriller done by numbers. The couple are alright, not great but ok, Jackson is the person you don’t want to move next door to - he’s a neighbour from hell; he hides behind his badge abusing his power. He begins by making things awkward for the couple, they then argue (although it would seem they were already having some problems before), he tries and succeeds in winding them up etc etc.

The actors play their parts ok and the film just moves along, there are also hints at deeper issues: the base for Jacksons racism and also Wilsons character also, it appears is having problems with being in an interracial relationship but these are glossed over and merely hinted at. If your going to watch it wait until it comes to TV – which wont be long.

Website: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/lakeviewterrace

Directed by Neil LaBute

Starring:

Samuel L. Jackson – Abel Turner
Patrick Wilson – Chris Mattson
Kerry Washington – Lisa Mattson

The Kite Runner – DVD out now

2009-04-28T16:19:00.002+01:00

The Kite Runner is based on successful the book of the same name by Khaled Hosseini. The film is centred on two friends growing up in Afghanistan in the 1970’s. One boy Amir is a wealthy Pushtun and his friend the eternally loyal Hassan is the son of his Hazara servant. The boys’ great friendship changes when one day Hassan is attacked and Amir, while witnessing it, doesn’t go to help. Amir is overcome with guilt over his cowardliness but can only deal with this by distancing and ultimately causing Hassan and his father, Ali to be driven out of the home. Then in 1979 the Russian’s invade Afghanistan when Amir and his father flee to America. Years later when Amir is happily married he finds the childhood friendship and the debt to Hassan pulls him back to a much changed, dangerous and Taliban controlled Afghanistan.

This was always going to be a difficult film to make, the book it is based on is rich and detailed, and also much loved. I was moved by the book but felt overall strangely unmoved by the film. The child actors are great although I felt that there was not enough exploration of Amir’s guilt over the attack on Hassan. Also I felt that the film overall seemed to focus more on life in the USA rather than the original friendship, and the ultimate journey of redemption that Amir makes. There was also lots of stereotypes in particular on the return journey. For me as well the ending felt rushed and almost feels wrapped up like a made for TV film. Not a patch on the book, which is a shame.

From the book The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini ISBN 978-0747566533

http://www.kiterunnermovie.com/

Directed by Marc Forster

Starring:

Khalid Abdalla – Amir
Atossa Leoni – Soraya
Shaun Toub – Rahim Khan
Sayed Jafar Masihullah Gharibzada – Omar
Zekeria Ebrahimi – young Amir
Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada – young Hassan

The Road – Due to be released later this year.

2009-04-26T10:24:00.001+01:00

Heres another picture from The Road the film that is based on the Cormac McCarthy book of the same name.

The film is due for release later this year and will star Viggo Mortensen.

A web site has just been launched and can be found at:

http://www.theroad-movie.com/

The Happening – Out on DVD Now

2009-04-25T17:16:00.000+01:00

The Happening is the latest movie by the writer / director M. Night Shyamlan who has made films like The Sixth Sense, Signs and more recently The Lady in the Water. This movie opens in New York when for seemingly no reason there seems to be a collective desire by people to commit suicide. The story then shifts to Elliot Moore (Wahlberg) and his wife who flee the city with their friends’ child. They ultimately join with other displaced people and start unravelling the mystery of the happening – Moores idea is that it appears that nature is fighting back he cant be right or is he?

I’m finding it hard to begin commenting on this film, I suppose I wanted reviews I had read on the films release to be wrong and that there was something redeeming about this film – unfortunately the reviews were right. The story is clumsy the plot so glaringly obvious its hard not to equate it with watching a 50’s B movie, rather than one of the more promising directors to emerge in the past few years. There is no subtly about this film, which may work when watching a horror or action movie but a film that is trying to explore natures ability to bite back it seems totally out of place. The script painfully points out the obvious and Elliot Moores analysis of the situation and leaps of knowledge are quite frankly laughable: (whats doing this? Is it the grass? The grass is speaking to each other? etc) I was left wondering with his uncanny ability to analyse any situation why he wasn’t running NASA or up for the Nobel Prize rather than teaching in a high school.

Another problem is the acting: Wahlberg is so awkward and unable to handle the material (and its not rocket science) he fails to make anything look realistic, and likewise Deschanel also gives a clunky performance that generally only requires two facial expressions from her – frowning and mild surprise. There is also no chemistry between the couple, who are supposed to be married but have no interaction spark or any vague understanding – its almost painful to watch.

The overall idea is not a bad one, I just feel it was handled badly; it almost made me wish that the happening were happening to me!

Director & writer: M. Night Shyamlan

Mark Wahlberg – Elliot Moore
Zooey Deschanel – Alma Moore

http://www.thehappeningmovie.com

Quantum of Solace – James Bond 007 – out on DVD now

2009-04-20T20:33:00.001+01:00

This is the latest in the Bond movies and the second in the newly rebooted post Bourne Bond.

Quantum of Solace picks starts just after Casino Royale finishes with James Bond out for revenge for the death of his love, Vesper. Bond’s quest takes him across the globe finally ending in Bolivia where he uncovers a plot that involves a corrupt environmental company run by a Dominic Greene (Amalric) seemingly intent on owning a barren area of land. In the process Bond makes a companion out of the beautiful Camille – who is also after revenge. In the meantime M tries rather unsuccessfully to keep Bond in line and she begins to questions everyone’s loyalty as a traitor is found in the ranks.

I loved the rebooted Casino Royale; it was exciting and took Bond into new territory with Daniel Craig looking like a man who could kill with his bare hands (and crack a walnut with his thighs!). Casino Royale also gave us a thoughtful Bond with a tender side that hadn’t been previously seen, a really interesting beginning to what was previously, for me, a largely one-dimensional character so there was a lot to maintain and improve on in the next Bond film. Unfortunately for me Quantum of Solace didn’t live up to expectations. The film feels hurried and just like an add on. I can swallow the concept of the timeline occurring straight after the previous movie but this film bounces from one action scene to the next with little story. Craig is as good as he can be in a role that largely just requires him to act like action man and nothing else. Judi Dench is the only character with amusing lines and personality, and maybe that for me is the main disappointment from such a good start with the rebooted franchise the clever scripting has already disappeared. Even the special effects occasionally looked hurried and unfinished – which for me was pretty much the overall effect of the movie.

Director: Marc Forster

Starring:

Daniel Craig - James Bond
Olga Kurylenko - Camille
Mathieu Amalric - Dominic Greene
Judi Dench - M
Giancarlo Giannini - Rene Mathis

http://www.007.com/

First Look at Russell Crowe in the Ridley Scott directed Robin Hood

2009-04-20T17:41:00.001+01:00

Heres the first picture of the new Ridley Scott film Robin Hood which reportedly stars Russell Crowe as both Robin Hood and the Sherriff of Nottingham (apparently!).

The film is due for release on 14 May 2010.

This picture was released on USA Today

Let the Right One In (Låt den rätte komma in) in Cinemas Now.

2009-04-19T16:45:00.001+01:00

I’ve been looking forward to seeing this film for ages, it has consistently had amazing reviews and something different was promised than the usual vampire movie I’m pleased to report that I wasn’t disappointed.

This film centres around a lonely 12 year old by Oskar who begins a friendship with newly moved in neighbour, Eli a girl who looks 12 but is in fact a much older vampire.

This film is so much more than the very short synopsis that I have written. It is a film that deals with many deep issues; isolation, love, romance, bullying, fear, hate, murder, theft and even grooming (this occurs in a completely unexpected way). In fact all of the themes in this film are given a twist and presented in a way that makes you look at the issues in a totally different light.

The friendship and budding romance between Oskar and Eli is handled sensitively and with tenderness, in this film a brush of a hand speaks volumes in the silent snow covered backdrop. Oskar’s has an innocent unquestioning acceptance of Eli’s strange behaviour; she insists that she’s not a girl she’s ‘something else’ and she appears at windows that are several floors up and then states ‘I flew’ and he doesn’t even ask ‘how?’ This relationship is vital to the film as these fragile and damaged characters slowly bond and begin to need each other (the young actors are amazing).

This is a film that visually is isolated and stark, the setting is a snow covered Swedish housing complex in the 1980’s, grim, drab, rundown, ugly and neutral. The snow visually creates a blank canvas in which the two central characters exist. This is also a film that is shot through with visceral red and the pain of Oskar’s struggle to be accepted at school, images that will stay with me for some time.

Go and see it before Hollywood remakes it.

Director: Tomas Alfredson
Oskar - Kåre Hedebrant
Eli - Lina Leandersson

Adapted from the book – Let the Right One In by John-Aivide Lindqvist
ISBN-13: 978-1847241696

http://www.lettherightoneinmovie.com/

Terminator: Salvation

2009-04-14T21:30:00.001+01:00

New Terminator: Salvation concept art work has just come on line.

theres some amazingly detailed images that provides us with a taster for the film which is to be released on June 3rd :

Click here for Terminator Salvation Concept Art

and heres the link to the offical website:

http://terminatorsalvation.warnerbros.com/

New Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Trailer

2009-04-13T14:45:00.000+01:00

A new international trailer for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince has been released and can be viewed here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9memLopBGBM

The film is going to be released on the 17th July 2009

Offical Website:

http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/harrypotterandthehalf-bloodprince/

Eden Lake out on DVD now

2009-04-13T14:30:00.001+01:00

This is a British ‘horror’ movie from the same team that made The Descent in 2005 it is directed by first timer James Watkins. Eden Lake concerns a couple (Jenny as Steve) getting away from it all with a romantic weekend at a rural beauty spot. Their idyllic weekend is spoilt by a gang of local kids hanging around the lake, Steve makes the mistake of confronting the gang and a struggle ensues, a gang member pulls a knife which ends in a pet dog being stabbed – the gang then decide to exact a revenge. This begins at petty thievery, they go onto steal the couple’s car and this then quickly spirals into extreme violence in which involve the couple being chased cat and mouse through the woods.

This film does have a lot of good points not just in the way it is shot; the couple loosing control of the situation as it slowly gets out of hand and the situation becomes more extreme, adults becoming belittled and over powered by a group of kids. I also liked the idea of a gang mentality – the dominant ringleader urging others onto more and more brutality – all recorded for prosperity (and blackmail) on a mobile phone.

I found the overall story though quite predictable and even the ending (which I
won’t describe) which has a surprise twist didn’t really work for me and although a premise for any film is needed the UK (overall) doesn’t have the wide expanse of woods or land to make this all together plausible – one thing about the UK is that more often than not you are close to a road, house village etc. This is not a land where you can run for days and not come across civilisation – although maybe I’m just being picky on this account.

I think that the major flaw in this film comes from the clunky and cartoonish stereotyping – the yuppies; lovely sweet, articulate, affluent (they even take scuba gear to a camping trip by the lake) and then the chavs; inarticulate, brutal, violent, knife wielding and rude (although they have the right mobile phones). It is a shame that all working class people in this movie are depicted as brutal, stupid and without humour or compassion. I can understand it being hard to stand up to a group when you are a child but the behaviour of the adult ‘chavs’ in the movie though does its best to go for the easiest shock tactics and I’m sure that ever Daily Mail will be very scared.

It isn’t a bad film; it’s just not a great one either which is a shame as it is well shot and acted but what a waste of the excellent rising star Thomas Turgoose – shame on you.

www.edenlakemovie.co.uk

Director James Watkins

Starring
Kelly Reilly as Jenny
Michael Fassbender as Steve

The Road – a Novel by Cormac McCarthy

2009-04-13T12:30:00.001+01:00

I’ve just finished reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy a very simple but very powerful book. It provided me with a lot of food for thought and I would recommend it totally.

A movie of the book is currently in production and should be about this year – no date has yet to be fixed on this. I’m hoping that the film lives up to the power of the book. I’m excited that Viggo Mortensen is in the film as he’s a great actor. I’ve managed to find a photograph of the production and will be following developments over the coming months.

The Road – The movie:
Starring Viggo Mortensen as the Man
Kodi Smit-McPhee as the boy
Guy Pearce
Robert Duvall

For further information on the book:
http://www.cormacmccarthy.com/
ISBN 978-0-330-44754-6