Film Reviews
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Monday, 08 March 2010 |
Cinema
Directed by Joe Johnston
When I think of films like this my memory drums up black and white images, in what we used to call ‘BUG HUTCHES’ which were tiny cinemas only fit for fleas and bugs. Us post war lads in bombed site London would laugh and thrill to the antics of Bela Lugosi or Lon Chaney in these places.
So this latest revival of the genre, starring Benicio Del Toro as the hairy one howling at the moon is a little amusing. However, there are those of you out there who may think otherwise.
Beset with problems from the get go – one director left and another came in, Del Toro is a Victorian gent who comes to the eerie house which is close by to gypsy folk and low and behold he gets the curse and the dodgy hairstyle to match.
Detective Abberline (Hugo Weaving) and ‘Sigmund Freud’ (Antony Sher) have a hammy old time trying to catch the hairy one. Its ok, but not a classic like the 1941 movie it emulates.
2 stars |
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Monday, 08 March 2010 |
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Cinema
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Now and again, a film comes along that gives you hope. Not just because that’s part of its overall message – which it is – but also because someone has bothered to make it in the first place. That person is the one and only Clint Eastwood, who has produced and directed it.
Released to coincide with the anniversary of President Mandela’s release from prison on South Africa’s Robin Island, as a common terrorist to his becoming the country’s number one man. This movie for me is a triumph.
As Mandela (Morgan Freeman) copes with bringing the nation together both black and white. He decides to use the rugby team, long a symbol of the Afrikaans.
The Springboks stay together and keep their colours of green and gold much to the shock of his fellow Black South African’s. He encourages their captain François Pienaar (Matt Damon) to take the team out into the small townships to encourage support and fellowship leading up to a great win in the World Cup.
Freeman is magnificent and Damon superb.
4 stars |
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Monday, 08 March 2010 |
Cinema
Directed by Scott Cooper
I have to say in all sincerity that I, as both a country music fan and long time supporter of Jeff Bridges work, looked forward to seeing this. Bad boy (Jeff) is an old country star whose light has dimmed a little and the drink has taken its toll.
He’s encouraged to write new material by his agent and also old pal Robert Duvall. However, he seems content to wallow in small bars and bowling alleys in the desert.
Vocalising in true whisky sodden style until he gives an interview to Jean (Maggie Gyllenhaall) for whom he falls heavily.
He battles with the booze and opening shows for Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrell) but somehow comes through. Will he win the Oscar? Jeff I mean.
Well it would be nice – but at times I fear he phoned his performance in – there’s a lot of mumbling going on. So to be honest, I’ve seen him do better.
It’s okay, the music is good but Oscars…no not really.
2 stars |
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Monday, 08 March 2010 |
Cinema
Directed by Tom Ford
Colin Firth has already received the ‘Best Actor Award’ at the BAFTA’s for his role as a homosexual teacher in this film.
It’s the early sixties in California’s LA with a back draft of the cold war and Cuban crisis being evident.
Basically George (Firth) is coming to terms with the accidental death of his partner in a car crash.
Struggling to cope he mildly flirts with a student and spends a fun loving evening with his English buddy (Julianne Moore) who has long hoped for more in their relationship than he can give.
Frankly, their scene together was for me the only highlight in what is mainly a dull and lack-lustre film.
2 stars
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Monday, 08 March 2010 |
Cinema
Directed by Peter Jackson
Directed by the ‘Rings’ king Peter Jackson, this adaptation of Alice Sebolds chiller thriller is intriguing and treads a strange path.
Set in 1970s suburban Philadelphia, it reveals that Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan) vanishes whilst in the clutches of the eerie neighbour (Stanley Tucci), therefore she is murdered but only the audience know this.
An investigation follows with no conclusion, but we have the voice and spiritual presence of Susie who is in limbo guiding her desperate father (Mark Wahlberg) to unravel the truth.
Long before we get there we have the joys of Susan Sarandon as earthy grandma looking after the Salmon household badly. Plus the cat and mouse game between Susie’s sister Lindsey and the neighbour.
There are many strands to this absorbing tale and if you’re someone who loves thought-provoking material, then it’s for you. The detective (Michael Imperioli) of Sopranos fame involving a dolls house is one that will stick in my mind…Scary!
3 stars |
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Monday, 08 March 2010 |
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DVD
Director Pete Docter
I saw this wonderful Pixar/Disney animated film with a packed cinema of Saturday morning children. They loved it and so did I. I’d missed it previously – my mistake. Rent it – buy it or go to your local Saturday matinee with the kids.
Old Carl (Ed Asner) is being forced out of his picture book house by the ‘suits’ after upsetting the law, he agrees to go to a retirement home. Then he fools them all by floating off into the blue in his home supported by balloons. What he doesn’t know is that he has a passenger, a young wilderness scout called Russell (Jordan Nagai).
These two have more than a few adventurers as they journey to South America. Whatever you do try and see this film, it’s great.
4 Stars
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Saturday, 06 February 2010 |
Directed by Jason Reitman
Cinema
This George Clooney film has already garnered Golden Globe Awards. It’s a strange piece which finds our hero working for an independent firing company and so he is up in the air literally, flying from state to state sacking people. He’s good at it and is shocked to see that back home in Omaha a new young female, Alex (Vera Farmiga) has come up with the idea of downsizing on Facebook. George’s character Ryan Bingham is having none of it and takes her on a road trip to meet the fired people face to face.
This is a very lonely tale about a very lonely man.
2 stars |
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Saturday, 06 February 2010 |
Directed by Jim Sheridan
Cinema
It’s always difficult to come up with something script wise that we haven’t seen before when it comes to films. In this case it’s familiar territory. Never the less it does make you think, which is due to the great performances from its three main stars especially Tobey Maguire as US Marine Captain Sam Cahill who finds himself on active service in Afghanistan.
His helicopter is shot down and he is presumed dead and indeed back in snowy New Mexico in the USA they have a funeral or perhaps one should say tribute as there is no body.
Tommy Cahill (Jake Gyllenhaal) Sam’s brother a no hoper turns his life around and gets closer to Grace (Natalie Portman) and the rest of the Cahill family.
Guess what, Sam returns having been traumatised as a prisoner of war. His getting back to normal and the affect it has on his family is the basis of the film. There is a classic dining scene where you could cut the atmosphere with a knife and Sam finally flips. My dominant thought was why are we still fighting wars in the 21st century?
3 stars
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Saturday, 06 February 2010 |
Directed by Jacques Audiard
Cinema
This French edge of your seat prison drama come highly recommended. What with winning the 2009 Grand Prix at Cannes and best film at the London Film Festival it should be good and it is.
Starting out with a nineteen year old Tahar Rahim (Malik El Djebena) receiving a six year stretch in the clink He finds himself alone and friendless as he learns the ropes of prison life. Which includes gang rule and coming under the influence of César the boss.
Life is tough to say the least. Gradually he is given various tasks to fulfil, which in turn opens his eyes to what he can achieve on his own. Being part Arab and Corsican he uses both gangs to his advantage but not before enduring beatings and humiliation at the hand of the other inmates. How he survives and comes out on top makes for a fascinating and absorbing watch. Be warned though it is violent, hard hitting and long.
4 stars
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Saturday, 06 February 2010 |
Directed by Martin Campbell
Cinema
After an absence of seven years from the screen as an actor, Mel Gibson is back with us playing a Boston police detective in this remake of the BBC television series of yesteryear. Devised by Troy Kennedy Martin to whom this film is dedicated.
Detective Tom is happy to receive a visit from his only daughter, who alas is sick. So much so Tom (Mel) decides to take her to the hospital. Unfortunately they get no further than the front door when father and daughter are blasted with gunfire and she dies. At first people think it is detective Tom who is in the frame but as he untangles the spider web of intrigue that surrounds his daughter’s life, a tapestry of conspiracy is gradually uncovered.
She was the intended victim and was also poisoned! Why? She was working for a government plant, whose work is a little suspect, working with irregular nuclear weapons for alien use in covert hands.
There are cover ups, twists and turns, shootouts and cascading cars. Oh it’s all there. It has a slight eighties feel about it and Ray Winstone as a Cockney hit man, which is odd but worth a look.
3 stars
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Saturday, 06 February 2010 |
Directed by Scott Hicks
Cinema
Set against a lush Australian wine growing backdrop, this tear jerker of a true story is good family fare, well certainly mums anyway.
Joe an English hack in Australia loses his second wife to cancer and is forced to look after his young son. He also receives a call from his first wife to say that his older son wants to join him down under for a while. So there he is juggling two sons, his sports journalism job and coping with his loss.
It will make you laugh and cry as all these people adjust to each other. It’s an amiable film and Clive Owen in the lead does all that he can to prove he is a leading man. However the film is almost stolen by the two lads George Mackay and Nicholas McAnulty and the Australian backdrop.
3 stars |
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Saturday, 06 February 2010 |
Directed by Nancy Meyers
Cinema
Well it’s not actually when you have two superb stars like Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin on the screen, giving us the audience full value for the price of a cinema seat.
Jane Adler (Meryl) is a divorced Californian restaurateur who gets together with her three grown up children for a family gathering, which also includes her ex husband (Alec).
Much fun and frolics are had, having consumed plenty of wine the ex’s rekindle their passion for each other, which lights up the room and gradually they get into an affair.
He is now hitched to a demanding trophy wife. Basically it’s a case of ‘will they or won’t they?’ The only possible fly in the ointment is an architect suitor of Jane, namely Steve Martin, who plays it very low key.
In lesser hands this could have sunk but with Meryl and Alec it’s a lesson in great screen acting. There is a lovely scene with Meryl and her friends, where she reveals all. She says “It turns out I’m a bit of a slut” and I thought, oh no your not! This RomCom in ex Doris Day and Rock Hudson land is a pure joy, you must see it.
Four stars |
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Did You Hear About the Morgans? |
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Saturday, 06 February 2010 |
Directed by Marc Lawrence
Cinema
The Morgans, namely Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker are a warring New York couple who continue their war in Wyoming where they are hiding out as part of a witness protection scheme. Why? Because this couple who would rather be apart have to stick together as they have witnessed a murder and the baddies are after them.
Naturally we have seen all this before and will again. It’s funny and Hugh does what he does, pulls certain faces and earns bundles doing it. Sarah Jessica Parker has a certain cheeky style that works and the whole thing is a pleasant watch.
3 stars
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