Popcorn 'n' Candy

HAPPY GILMORE (1996) - Film Review

2011-09-06T06:13:00.000-07:00

HAPPY GILMORE; I can hardly think of this film without smiling. This is comedy in every sense of the word. Adam Sandler is at his wise-cracking, slap-stick best. If you are looking for light-hearted, quick-witted entertainment; for some pointless, farcical fun. Sit down, turn of your brain and laugh your way through this charming and hilarious film.

Adam Sandler plays Happy Gilmore; an angry and frustrated hockey player who accidentally discovers a talent for golf. In a bid to win back his Grandmother’s home, he takes on the best at their
own game – with hysterical results! Excellent timing and great one-liners make Happy Gilmore an instant hit. With one of the best come-backs of all time; When Happy’s rival Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald) snarls “I eat pieces of S**t like you for breakfast” his reply, complete with look of distain is simply “You eat pieces of S**t for breakfast?” Kids and adults alike can’t help but fall for the charm of this outlandish character.

The acting is superb; every character no matter how small comes to life. A special mention must go to Ben Stiller for his uncredited role as the evil dictator in charge of the nursing home. With so many random characters and such witty screenwriting the sedate sport of golf may never be the same again. This raucous chapter in Happy Gilmore’s life is pure entertainment.

One of the things I love about Happy Gilmore is the male element; it is so refreshing to see a comedy which can be enjoyed equally by males and females alike. The humour spans the generations with both young and old appreciating the comedy. Adam Sandler with his long list of achievements would have to try very hard to beat Happy Gilmore, which is in my opinion, comedy gold.

HAPPY GILMORE (1996). Director: Dennis Dugan. Writers: Tim Herlihy, Adam Sandler. Cast: Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, Christopher McDonald.

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MADELEINE ZABEL - (2011 ) Film Review

2011-06-17T04:47:00.000-07:00

Writer/Director Chris Shimojima’s 2011 short, MADELEINE ZABEL is an interesting and compelling watch. At a mere 17 minutes long, and with a cast of only three, it tells an intriguing tale of scandal, sibling rivalry, lies, and jealousy. It even manages to include a twist! MADELEINE ZABEL plays on our curiosity to keep us watching, and as the story unfolds it manages to keep our interest throughout.

After a tantrum involving the press, and a leaked sex tape, heiress/socialite, Madeleine Zabel (Jenna D’Angelo) is desperate to clean up her image. Her publicist Janet Laverty (Kelly Walters) sets up a phone interview with freelance reporter Elliot Snow (Chris Henry Coffey).

We have the pleasure of enjoying the telephone interview from both points of view, we see two people communicate without the luxury of being face to face. What I find so interesting about Madeleine Zabel is the facial expressions and distractions that we witness, but the other characters are oblivious to. We see opinions change over the course of a fifteen minute conversation, as these changes are shown without the use of dialogue, only the viewer is aware of them.

The acting is superb, and I applaud Thomas Vanoosting for his minimal but effective music score. The balance of light, shadows, and sounds is spot on and although not action-packed or thrilling, Madeleine Zabel is an interesting way to spend 17 minutes.

Funds are being raise to help get Madeleine Zabel seen, and you can donate by clicking here, where you can also watch the film for yourself.

CHANGE (2011) - Flim Review

2011-05-13T11:42:00.000-07:00

A real mix of emotions, Jeff McCucheon and Melissa Osborne’s 2011 short film CHANGE is the story of a day in the life of Jamie; a young black, gay, American kid. This isn’t just any day, this is the day of President Obama’s election, and also the day Proposition 8 - the voter initiative to eliminate same-sex marriage – is passed. CHANGE is a thought provoking and captivating film, which although only 24 minutes long, will keep you thinking long after the end credits roll.

Jamie (Sean McClam) is excitedly awaiting the election results. As thousands of black Americans await confirmation of America’s first black president, a dark cloud is hanging over his head; This is also the day when he will find out if proposition 8 is passed. Sure that it could never happen in California, he focuses on the election. As the celebrations are in full swing, the news finds him that proposition 8 has indeed been passed. From joy to disbelief
in a heartbeat, we share Jamie’s emotions as he tries to come to terms with the day’s events. We see the consequences of being different and how acceptance can turn to violence in the blink of an eye.

Wonderfully acted and powerfully written, Change is definitely worth a watch. Dramas aren’t usually my cup of tea, but at a mere 24 minutes, it didn’t overstay its welcome and it gave me something to think about for the rest of the day. With Change getting such a great reception on the festival circuit, I wait with great anticipation to see what comes next from Provocative Film.

CHANGE (2011) Directors: Jeff McCutcheon, Melissa Osborne. Writer: Melissa Osborne. Cast: Sean McClam, Preston Douglass, Jesse James.

Copycat (1995) - Film Review

2011-05-09T09:26:00.000-07:00

Jon Amiel’s 1995 psychological thriller COPYCAT is both captivating and intelligent. With a dark sense of foreboding throughout, COPYCAT never allows us to be one step ahead. It makes a nice change to be in-step with the characters as they try to outwit the killer in this stylish and tense film, which never quite permits us to exhale.

Criminal psychologist Dr. Helen Hudson (Sigourney Weaver) has a narrow escape from a serial killer, and as a result becomes a paranoid recluse who suffers from agoraphobia. With only the
internet, newspaper, and police scanners to keep her abreast of the outside world, Helen is strangely content in the apartment she shares with her gay house-mate. The sanctuary that she’s created however soon becomes endangered when Helen is forced to deal with a new breed of serial killer, one which doesn’t follow her well-researched trends; one which threatens her very existence.

Helen reluctantly finds herself helping the police investigation. The cop with attitude comes in the form of M.J. Monahan (Holly hunter) who, along with her womanising partner Reuben Goetz (Dermot Mulroney) persuades Helen to help build a profile of the killer from the security of her apartment. When that security is violated Helen must face her fears. It is here that we see the true depth of Sigourney Weaver’s talents. We already know from the Alien films that she can play a kick-ass hero, but here we see an insecure, frightened but determined woman dealing with complex issues and real terror. The real scene stealer though is Holly hunter who lights up each of her scenes and plays the feisty detective with great heart. These two very different but likeable characters bring Copycat to life and will have you on the edge of your seats for the duration.

What’s really refreshing about Copycat is its intelligence, there’s no whodunit, no pondering on which one of the good guys may actually be the perpetrator. It’s a straight forward film, with an air of menace which takes you from the comfort of your living room to the frighteningly disorientating world of an agoraphobic forced to dive back into a world she hoped she had left for good. The normally squeaky clean Harry Connick Jr. Plays grimy southern serial killer Daryll Lee Callum almost too convincingly, and succeeds in making our flesh crawl as we recoil from this hideous character.

The cinematography is more than adequate, but what pulls Copycat above the norm is its intelligence and pace. Nothing is over explained, the audience is treated to a gripping 123 minutes of entertainment. And when I press play, that’s what I’m looking for.

COPYCAT 1995 Writer/Director: Jon Amiel. Cast: Sigourney Weaver, holly hunter, Dermot Mulroney, William McNamara, Harry Connick Jr.

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Justin Bieber: Never Say Never 3D (2011) - Film Review

2011-02-27T09:21:00.000-08:00

I cringed as I entered the cinema with my 10 year old daughter and her best mate. This was it: the moment I’d been dreading for the whole of half term, but a promise is a promise and I intended to fulfil mine. I’d put it off until the last showing, hoping to avoid the hordes of screaming girls that I knew JUSTIN BIEBER: NEVER SAY NEVER would attract. So I sat in a surprisingly empty room, donned my 3D glasses and prepared to take 40 winks. After all, how entertaining could this documentary about a fresh-faced, manufactured teen idol actually be? I was stunned: not only was this glossy, self-promoting film the highlight of the week for two 10 year olds, but I learned something new: Justin Bieber is an incredibly talented young man. His face, voice and hairstyle are not all he has in his arsenal. This kid can play the drums, guitar, keyboard, and trumpet too. From a normal background to a sell-out concert at Madison Square Gardens there is no denying: this kid has something.

As most of us know, unless you’re a 10 year old girl, it’s just not cool to like Justin Bieber. This is my only explanation for all the rough reviews Justin Bieber: Never Say Never is getting. I had no interest in this young man, his life, or his music. However I do love the underdog, and was surprised to learn about Bieber’s
normal background, about how he was discovered, how hard he works, and about his weaponry of amazing talents. Never Say Never is obviously designed for self-promotion and sadly it will not win over a legion of Bieber haters, will it however, appeal to his audience of giddy little girls and possibly surprise a few of the reluctant parents along for the ride.

Although the concert footage is not fantastically filmed or well edited, it does give you a little of the buzz of a live concert. When the ticker tape fluttered down, I looked across at my daughter and her friend, saw the glee in their faces, and was taken right back to my first gig. Fair enough Bieber may be short lived as a teen sensation, but when the dust clears I assure you, not only will he deserve his place in music history but I guarantee he will be in the music industry for a long, long time. This kid was not manufactured as I originally thought, yeah, he may have been styled and polished for the audience of young girls to appreciate. But he was born with a lust for music and an amazing natural talent. Although musically, not my cup of tea, he certainly has more to him than meets the eye.

Anyway, I digress; I am reviewing the film, not the singer. As a film, Never Say Never isn’t. There isn’t a plot and there are no actors, Never Say Never is the story of Justin Bieber simple as that. Go if you’re a fan, but if you’re a Bieber hater, steer clear ‘cos you’ll hate seeing this talented, good-looking young man being shot to stardom and living his dream. You’ll want to slap his smooth little face more than ever before ‘cos it might just make you see that he’s not just a pretty face and a feminine haircut. I am not, and never will be, a Justin Bieber fan, but can my opinions on people change...well, never say never!!!

JUSTIN BIEBER: NEVER SAY NEVER (2011) Director: Jon Chu. Cast: Justin Bieber, Boys II Men, Miley Cyrus.

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Disturbia (2007) - Film Review

2011-02-26T06:51:00.000-08:00

Imagine being under house arrest, bored out of your mind and with nothing to do but spy on the other residents in the quiet suburban street on which you reside. Now imagine having an over-active imagination, seeing one of your neighbours acting in a bizarre fashion, and all the while hearing on the news about a missing woman. Of course!! He did it; he’s a mass murderer stacking up bodies in his basement!! This is the conclusion jumped to by stir-crazy Kale Brecht (Shia LaBeouf) in D.J Caruso’s 2007 thriller DISTURBIA. Only ever being shown enough to keep us guessing; we are right with him in his quest for the truth. Question is, is he simply a bored teenager with cabin-fever and a hyper-active imagination. Or is there something sinister afoot in suburbia?

After his father is killed in a car accident, likable Kale is finding life tough; he assaults his Spanish teacher and ends up under house arrest, lonely, bored and frustrated. Spending his days building his ‘Twinkie tower’ and peeping in on his neighbours lives, he soon
becomes fixated with two things; his new neighbour, the gorgeous Ashley (Sarah Roemer), and his other neighbour the elusive Mr Turner (David Morse). With the help of his reluctant cohorts, the beautiful Ashley and his bumbling best friend Ronnie (Aaron Yoo), Kale is on a mission to prove that quiet and unassuming Mr Turner is actually a cold and calculating killer. Being confined within the boundaries of his garden, this proves to be a tough task.

With definite similarities to Hitchcock’s Rear Window and the 1989 film The Burbs, Disturbia’s storyline isn’t the most original idea. But the intoxicating mix of tension, humour and fear make it feel fresh and exciting. Perfectly cast and with a music score designed to build pressure, Disturbia is a nervy and often heart-pounding film. Not the most memorable, certainly no great award winner, and definitely not ground-breaking; Disturbia is simple well-told entertainment.

There's no need to concentrate too hard, it’s not complicated or tough going. Disturbia is just good fun. Grab the popcorn and candy, take a seat and enjoy....But be warned, the curtain twitchers among you might start to see the quiet bloke down the street in a whole new light.

DISTURBIA (2007) Director: D. J Caruso. Writers: Christopher B. Landon, Carl Ellsworth (screenplay), Christopher B Landon (story). Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Sarah Roemer, Carrie-Anne Moss, David Morse, Aaron Yoo, Jose Pablo Cantillo.

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BURIED (2010) - Film Review

2011-02-19T11:43:00.000-08:00

90 minutes filmed entirely inside a coffin sized box, a risky concept and one which I was very sceptical about. Surely Rodrigo Cortés would cheat, using the odd flash back to escape the box occasionally? Absolutely not!!! Not for one moment of his 2010 film BURIED does he leave the confines of that wooden box. Certainly then, it must become tiresome to watch? Not at all. Don’t get me wrong, the clueless idiot inside the box will drive you nuts with his stupid decisions. But you will be compelled to watch, if only to see if this likeable fool can make it out alive!

Tense and claustrophobic from the start, Buried tells the story of Paul Conroy (Ryan Reynolds) an American truck driver contracted to work in Iraq. When he wakes in pitch darkness, it doesn’t take him long to realise his predicament and for panic to set in. Buried in a roughly made coffin under the Iraqi desert with
only a few random items including an old Zippo lighter and a mobile phone, Paul’s options are limited. With phone battery and oxygen running out, you’d have to be a complete Looney to start burning your remaining oxygen with your Zippo, and making small-talk with anyone who’ll listen. Anyway, I digress. Regardless of how his character behaves, Ryan Reynolds, gives a sterling performance and carries the film single-handedly for its duration.

The lighting and direction are both genius, remember its pitch black in there...thank god he was flippant with that Zippo or we’d have been in big trouble. There are moments of absolute darkness and these add to the tension. All in all the cinematography is spot on. Buried urges us to keep watching, wondering, and praying for a favourable outcome. If you can get over a few small irritations, then Buried is one to watch. As strange as it sounds, even inside that small box, due to clever direction and great camera work it was never too claustrophobic to deal with. Sadly for me that spoilt it a little ‘cos I really wanted to feel like I was trapped in there with him, and to come out of Buried gasping for air. I’m sure for the majority though; this was a bonus. Because watching Paul’s predicament was uncomfortable enough. So does Paul make it out alive or does he die inside that makeshift box in the desert...Why not click the link below, buy Buried from Amazon, and see for yourself?

BURIED (2010). Director: Rodrigo Cortés. Writer: Chris Sparling. Cast: Ryan Reynolds

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The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010) - Film Review

2011-02-06T10:18:00.000-08:00

After reading a few reviews about Jon Turteltaub’s 2010 fantasy adventure, THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE, I soon realised that most had been written by middle aged men. So as I sat down with my Mam and my Daughter, I figured the target audience should be the judge. As THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE is a family film, three generations of my family would review it. So, what was the verdict? My 10 year old Daughter declared it to be ‘Cool’, My Mam thought it was an 'exciting family film', and me?? Well, never have I been so charmed by a scruffy bloke wearing ‘old man shoes’.

In the year 740 A. D. Balthazar Black (Nicolas Cage) battles evil, the end result is that the evil Morgana (Alice Krige) merged with Balthazar’s ally and close friend, Veronica (Monica Bellucci) end up trapped in a layer of a Russian doll, a vessel to hold the evil captive for all time. Fast forward to modern day Manhattan,
Balthazar, after centuries of searching finally finds the Prime Merlian; the only sorcerer capable of destroying the heinous Margana for good. His reluctant protégé comes in the form of geeky student Dave (Jay Baruchel). Here the magic really begins, as Balthazar and Dave team up to fight the villainous Maxim Horrath (Alfred Molina). An epic battle commences as life as we know it is threatened by untold evil. Add into the mix Dave’s love interest Becky (Theresa Palmer) and we have all of the ingredients needed for a fun-filled and adventurous hour and three quarters.

Let’s get this straight, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is full of clichés, it bares little resemblance to the original Mickey Mouse tale, except for one obvious scene, and the ending is as predictable as....well , it’s as predictable as a Disney ending!! On the plus side, the cleverly crafted script, exceptional special effects and the incomparable Nicolas Cage kept the three generations of my family fully absorbed for the duration. The Sorcerer’s apprentice is an exciting kid’s film that doesn’t cause too much pain for the accompanying adults. If Disney wanted to create yet another magical adventure, where the geek becomes the hero, then job done!

As for me - Nicolas Cage, with his straggly hair, unkempt appearance, and charismatic charm was always gonna be a winner!

THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE (2010) Director: Jon Turteltaub, Writers: Lawrence Konner, Mark Rosenthal, Matt Lopez (Story), Matt Lopez, Doug Miro, Carlo Bernard (Screenplay)

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Dym (2007) Aka Smoke - Short Film Review

2011-02-02T13:07:00.000-08:00

Grzegorz Cisiecki’s 2007 short film DYM is a surreal, ambiguous 7 minutes of experimental and ambitious cinematography. Interpret as you will, with no dialogue to help us along, it is left to our own imagination to decipher. Flitting from one beautiful scene to the next, there is no doubt huge talent behind DYM. With a startling musical score and superb lighting, this short is a masterpiece of creativity.

Although impressed by the obvious capabilities of the film
makers, I cannot help but think that this is just an impressive film reel to show off the aptitude of those involved. Many will love this short, just because of it captivating beauty, others will declare it arty-farty nonsense. If you have a spare 7 minutes you can watch Dym below and decide for yourself:

DYM (2007) Writer/Director: Grzegorz Cisiecki. Cast: Katarzyna Dalek, Grzegorz Golaszewski, Hubert Jarczak.

Green Street (2005) aka Hooligan (Original Title) - Film Review

2011-02-01T12:12:00.000-08:00

Watching Lexi Alexander’s 2005 film GREEN STREET was never going to be a comfortable experience. Gritty and brutal: it is a tale of boozy camaraderie, loyalty, and respect. ’The GSE’ (the Green Street Elite) are a ‘firm’ of West Ham supporters whose favourite tipple is a few pints prior to a match, and post match their favourite snack: a knuckle sandwich. It will forever be compared to Alan Clarke’s 1988 flick THE FIRM but I prefer to look at it as a stand-alone offering and was suitably impressed. If you can handle the realism of the brutality, GREEN STREET is one to watch.

When Matt Buckner (Elijah Wood), a post-grad journalism student is wrongly expelled from Harvard, he comes to England to visit his sister, Shannon (Claire Forlani). Her Husband Steve (Marc Warren), in a bid to get rid of Matt, pays his thuggish younger brother, Pete (Charlie Hunnam) to take him to watch a football
match. Matt quickly gets drawn into Pete’s life as a member of a ‘firm’ of West Ham football hooligans called the GSE. There are two things the firm hate: ‘Yanks and Journos (journalists)’ Matt being an American is not immediately befriended by Pete’s right hand man, Bower (Leo Gregory); and as the dynamic of the firm changes, Matt is drawn deeper and deeper into its clutches. The violence that once repelled him is now an accepted part of his life. He quickly learns the rules; ’think of someone you hate’, & ’stand your ground and fight’.

The screenwriting is genius, the language, although explicit, is real, and Green Street is believable because of it. Elijah Wood makes the leap from hobbit to hooligan seamlessly and I loved the fact that his character was so far removed from the others; it made his fight for respect more credible. The acting throughout was more than adequate. I admit, there are a couple of slightly dodgy Cockney accents but they don’t detract too much. The casting of ‘real people’ among the cast works well and the cinematography is spot on. The music score sits perfectly and all in all, this film works. My one gripe is the last scene, although needed for closure; it seems a bit out of place and has more Hollywood gloss than the rest of the film.

Green Street demonstrates perfectly how the match day hooligan is a weekday father or teacher; in fact he’s your average Joe. But be warned this film is not pleasant, or nice, or even enjoyable to watch. It is merciless, nasty, and hard-core but I guarantee: if you watch it today, you’ll be thinking about it tomorrow.

GREEN STREET (2005) Director: Lexi Alexander, Writers: Lexi Alexander, Dougie Brimson (Story) Dougie Brimson, Josh Shelov, Lexi Alexander (Screenplay), Cast: Elijah Woods, Charlie Hunnam, Geoff Bell, Claire Forlani, Marc Warren, Leo Gregory.

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Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang (2010) - Film Review

2011-02-01T11:49:00.000-08:00

Five years since the mole-ridden Nanny McPhee first graced our screens, and she’s back. Question is, now that we’ve seen it all before would it all seem stale and boring? Thankfully not! There is no doubt that there is repetition here, but it’s a sequel and that’s to be expected. The surprise element is gone, however it is replaced by solid performances and a charming, captivating story which will appeal to the very young and the young at heart.

Somewhat less radiant than the likes of Mary Poppins, in walks Nanny McPhee; a long-toothed, crooked, mole infested, mono-browed, old hag. Set about 60 years after the original, this time
Nanny McPhee (Emma Thomson) finds herself at the rural home of a rather harassed Mrs Green (Maggie Gyllenhaal). Struggling alone, with her husband away at war, she is juggling her three raucous children, running the farm, and her job. The arrival of her rather stuck-up niece and nephew who have been sent as wartime evacuees triggers the usual childhood fights and tantrums….Enter Nanny McPhee!

True to form the children have five lessons to learn. As each is learned our disfigured nanny loses one of her deformities and slowly becomes beautiful. This is good old-fashioned children’s entertainment and is ideal even for the very young.

There are cute animals, jokes about poo and plenty of magic! We also have a bad guy, in the form of Uncle Phil (Rhys Ifans), who is trying to sell the farm to pay off his gambling debts. Although Nanny McPhee is central to the story, she seems almost secondary to the children. The child actors play their parts admirably, of course there are times when you want to slap them, but that is intentional and entirely down to their acting abilities!!. Maggie Smith almost steals the show with her small part as the rather befuddled Mrs Docherty. There are plenty of cameos to look out for too, including Ralph Fiennes. Maggie Gyllenhaal, whose English accent is near perfect, is wonderful as Mrs Green.

Most of the CGI is done well: the younger kids will love the synchronised swimming pigs! Although its ending is as predictable as night following day, the story has just the right balance of morals, humour and sentiment.

It could never have been as good as the original; after all, that element of surprise has been lost. What the Big Bang does have to offer is a delightful story which children will love. Its humour is mild and gentle, its story bewitching, and it is wholly unobjectionable. The kids will love it and it isn’t torture for the grownups either!

Nanny Mcphee and the Big Bang (2010) Director: Susanna White, Writers: Christianna Brand (books) Emma Thompson (screenplay), Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Maggie Smith, Ewan McGregor, Maggie Gyllenhall, Emma Thompson, Rhys Ifans, Asa Butterfield, Lil Woods, Oscar Steer, Rosie Taylor, Eros Vlahos.

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Frozen (2010) - Film Review

2011-02-01T11:22:00.000-08:00

Imagine the horror of being trapped in freezing conditions, on a chairlift, high in the mountains and with no chance of rescue for 5 days. This is the scenario being faced by three friends in Adam Green’s 2010 thriller FROZEN. A simple idea and one with which the viewer easily relates. The scene is set for a tense and thrilling 90 mins of fear and desperation. Well made and well acted, FROZEN is an easy watch. Not a thinking man’s film by any stretch of the imagination but a fair watch. It could have been a great watch, but the horror of being up there with them was missing. At no time did I leave the warmth and comfort of my sofa for the icy cold metal of that chairlift. Had that been achieved then FROZEN would indeed have given a real chill. Sadly the temperature never really left luke warm.

When snowboarding buddies Joe (Shawn Ashmore) and Dan (Kevin Zegers) have their snowboarding weekend crashed by Dan’s girlfriend Parker (Emma Bell), tension between the three
is obvious with either Parker or Joe feeling like a spare part and vying for Dan’s attention. With the promise of one last trip down the mountain, they put their feelings to one side and persuade the chairlift operator to allow them to board. With bad weather coming in, and Mount Holliston about to shut for the week, the trio will be lucky if they live to regret their decision.

The rest of Frozen is filmed on location about 50 feet up in the air, this certainly adds to the believability of the characters, but there are two many close-up shots and I never felt the height or the danger with them. The casting was great, using three relatively unknown actors; it was easy to believe in these three college grads and their relationships. There are lulls in Frozen with lots of mindless dialogue, although needed to build the characters; there are definite times of inaction which become a little staid and boring.

There is a scene where hope of rescue comes in the form of Kane Hodder playing the snow plough guy. It was here when I realised the severity of the situation, things sure are bleak if you are counting on Jason Voorhees for salvation!! Little niggles and minor irritations are present in most movies but the fact that they are freezing to death and the thought of putting his hood up never occurs to Joe really bothered me.

All in all Frozen is a well made, adequately acted and believable film. It has moments of tension too and is a cut above many single location films, The claustrophobic nature of the setting could have lent itself to real fear, sadly I always felt like they were up there and I was down here. If only I could have been up there with them, that would have been one hell of a ride!

Frozen (2010) Writer/Director: Adam Green, Cast: Shawn Ashmore, Emma Bell, Kevin Zegers.

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Worm (2010) - Short Film Review

2011-02-01T10:35:00.000-08:00

The talent of writer/director, Richard Powell cannot be denied. Superb cinematography and wonderful screenwriting ensure that his 2010 Short film, WORM is one to look out for. With a staggering performance by Robert Nolan as the misanthropic high school teacher, Geoffrey Oswald Dodd, WORM is worth 20 minutes of anyone’s time. Showing the unspoken, hidden evil which lies beneath the veneer of normalcy. Frighteningly real and with a huge sense of impending doom, WORM will keep you guessing until the very end.

It’s a normal day at school for teacher Geoffrey Dodd and his students. To the outside world Mr Dodd is an unassuming guy, boring even, pleasant to be around and a calm mentor to his students. With the help of an inner monologue however, we can hear the inner voice of Mr Dodd and peel back the facade to reveal a dark and sordid interior. Suddenly Mr Average isn’t so average!!

Although the insidious nastiness of Mr Dodd’s inner self may be a million miles from our own feelings, anyone who has ever smiled through a boring, tedious conversation will relate with a smirk to his eye rolling agitation when exchanging pleasantries as he goes through a regular day at school. Throughout the day we see Dodd coming ever closer to snapping, that sense of something horrible on the horizon, the uncomfortable emotions of a man on the brink of cracking are what makes Worm a compelling watch. Subtle yet scary, the battle between the inner demons and the outer guise of an average man urges us to watch.

Interesting camera work and an original music score keep the pace and add further quality. Robert Nolan is a marvel, often showing two emotions with one facial expression!

I know what you all want to know ...did he crack....well, did he? Or did he simply come to the end of that boring, average day ready to start over again tomorrow? Well, if you come across Worm and have a free 20 minutes, I recommend you see for yourself.

Worm (2010) Director/Writer: Richard Powell. Cast: Robert Nolan, Melissa Burke, Kimberley Curran, Dustin Foxman.

Father of the Bride (1991) - Film Review

2011-01-31T12:56:00.000-08:00

Charles Shyer’s 1991 remake of the Spencer Tracy classic FATHER OF THE BRIDE is a wonderful cocktail of comedy and romance. It is gentle, sentimental, and sweet but with bursts of comedy genius provided by the incomparable Steve Martin. FATHER OF THE BRIDE is a charmingly funny observation of everyday life; most of us will watch with true empathy as we imagine the heartbreak of a father watching his most wonderful creation; his daughter, move on, and feel the fear as he is no longer considered to be the main man in his little girl’s life.

George Banks (Steve Martin) loves his idyllic life, his house with its white picket fence, his job running his trainer firm and, most of all, his family; daughter, Annie (Kimberly Williams-Paisley), wife, Nina (Diane Keaton) and his young son, Matty (Kieran Culkin).
When George learns than Annie is planning to marry, he is terrified of losing his precious daughter to the clutches of fiancé Bryan Mackenzie (George Newbern) whom he convinces himself is a con-man. Sure that he is the only man his daughter needs in her life; George is at the start of a huge learning curve and a comical roller-coaster of emotions. Thanks to the wonderful talent of Steve Martin we feel each of these emotions with him as he loses control of his once stable life.

George’s much more level-headed wife, Nina sees things very differently. She can’t wait to enlist the help of wedding planners to see that Annie gets the wedding of her dreams. Here, Martin Short steals the show as the flamboyant wedding co-ordinator Franck Eggelhoffer who along with his assistant Howard (B.D. Wong) plans to give Annie her magnificent wedding on a ’small’ budget. Franck’s idea of small however, differs enormously from George’s and it’s hilarious to watch. As George sees the situation and the budget spiral way out of his control, Steve Martin is at his finest. His talent for physical comedy is not lost on Father of the Bride and I found myself revelling in his bewilderment. Franck views George with great sympathy as he sweeps his opinions to one side. It is obvious that he has seen so many times the inevitable happen, as the Father of the Bride gets swept along by a raging torrent of wedding favours, tulip borders and co-ordinating swans.

Father of the Bride observes cleverly, not only a father’s unparalleled love for his only daughter, but also that when a man thinks of ‘getting married’ - a woman thinks of ‘a wedding’ which, as we find out, are two totally different things. There is a chaotic meeting with the in-laws which is magic to watch and full of cringe-worthy moments, which range from minor embarrassment to utter humiliation.

Father of the Bride not only looks beautiful, it is beautiful. It is an honest story, superbly acted and flawlessly written. It makes you laugh out loud and touches your heart. Very seldom does a remake work this well, but thanks to Steve Martin and Martin Short; Father of the Bride has enough comedy to balance out the sickly sweet element perfectly. Definitely one for a girls’ night in, popcorn, candy, and tissues at the ready……

FATHER OF THE BRIDE (1991) Director: Charles Shyer, Writers: Francis Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Nancy Meyers, Charles Shyer, Cast: Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Kieran Culkin, George Newbern, Martin short, B.D. Wong, Peter Michael Goetz, Kate McGregor-Stewart.

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Always (1989) - Film Review

2010-06-19T07:43:00.000-07:00

Very rarely does a film touch the very soul. Steven Spielberg’s 1989 Film ALWAYS is one of the few. It seizes the heart and won’t let go -- it compels the viewer to think about those they love. True, we have forever to let these people know how we really feel, but as ALWAYS shows us, sometimes a lifetime is not enough.

Pete Sandich (Richard Dreyfuss) is a daredevil pilot with a passion for his job as a fire-fighting pilot. Beautiful Dorinda (Holly Hunter) is the woman he loves, who waits nervously for his return. Both she and Pete’s best friend, Al (John Goodman) know that Pete cannot keep on taking such huge risks forever. When the
inevitable happens and Pete gives his life to save Al, Dorinda is broken. Pete finds himself in a very unsettling place, it is now his job to help Dorinda move on and find peace. With the help of angel guidance from the stunning Hap (Audrey Hepburn), he must let the love of his life go and help her rebuild a life without him. He becomes the unseen inspiration for a rookie pilot named Ted Baker (Brad Johnson) and must realise that selfish thoughts have no place once you’re deceased.

The Cinematography is breathtaking and the aerial choreography simply stunning; Always is a beautiful film with wonderful sentiment. Dreyfuss and Hunter are perfectly cast, and we feel their love for one another instantly. The wonderful and often underrated John Goodman, not only plays his role with his usual humour but also with great tenderness and heart. Always makes the perfect swansong for the elegant Audrey Hepburn, who as always shines. The score by John Williams is simply divine and I cannot listen to ‘Smoke Gets in Your Eyes’ without thinking of Always.

Always is often compared with Ghost which came out the following year, in Ghost we saw Swayze walk through walls and move objects, much was made of the special effects. Here, Spielberg holds back from using too many effects and it works, he lets the screenplay and the acting do the talking and they tell the story perfectly.

Always was a remake of an earlier film and although made in the 80’s, the amber tones and the whole feel nods back to a more romantic time. The years have been kind to Always, each time I watch it I am awestruck by the simplicity of the story and how strong its grasp. Anyone who has ever felt true love will relate to Pete and Dorinda and how painful it must be when fate deals such a bitter blow. I guarantee, after watching Always that you will hold on that little bit longer next time you say goodbye. Grab a box of tissues, press play and prepare to have your heart lifted and broken simultaneously, but be warned -- this film hurts!!

ALWAYS (1989) Director: Steven Spielberg. Writer: Jerry Belson, Dalton Trumbo. Cast: Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter, John Goodman, Broad Johnson.

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Nick of Time (1995) - Film Review

2010-06-19T07:36:00.000-07:00

Filmed in ‘real time’, John Badham’s 1995 thriller NICK OF TIME holds the viewers’ attention incredibly well. Without the luxury of jumping ahead to a more interesting point, filming in real time is always a risk. NICK OF TIME however, keeps the pace and intensity for the full 90 minutes. Great screenwriting and remarkable cinematography ensure that not one moment of boredom is captured on film. It is a treat of emotions, and we feel them all; Empathy, panic, fear, anger, danger, and desperation. NICK OF TIME is a 90 minute adrenaline rush with which we can all relate.

Imagine if you will, having your six year old daughter snatched, a gun thrust into your hand and an order to kill a woman you have never met. If you don’t, your daughter will die. This is the awful predicament that recently widowed Gene Watson (Johnny Depp) finds himself in.

When he arrives in L.A. he is approached by Mr Smith (Christopher Walken) and Ms Jones (Roma Maffia), two unsavoury individuals, who have picked him out in the crowd because of his obvious love for his daughter, Lynn (Courtney Chase). With a quick flash of their fake badges, they bundle the unsuspecting Gene and his daughter into their van where he is given his orders to kill Governor Eleanor Grant (Marsha Mason). With less than a 90 minute window, his daughter’s life in the balance, and the clock already ticking Gene has no time to lose.

What I love most about Nick of Time is that Gene doesn’t immediately turn into a gun toting superman and save the day. No, he panics and bumbles around trying to alert anyone who will listen to his daughter’s plight. This is an ordinary man, caught up in an extraordinary situation which is out of his control. With menacing Mr Smith watching his every move and blocking his every attempt to get help. It soon becomes apparent that he has no-where to run and no-where to hide. Nick of Time is a gripping thriller and although the story does lose some credibility due to the complexity of the whole murder plot, by this time we are so absorbed that we don’t care. The idea of this kind of murder is an interesting premise and each viewer will be asking themselves the same question. I couldn’t -- could I?

Depp is superlative in this unusually ordinary role and although we know very little about his character we are immediately on side. Walken is wonderful as the divinely villainous Mr Smith whom we loathe instantly. Charles S. Dutton also deserves a mention for his role as Huey, the likeable shoe shine guy. Nick of Time is filmed almost entirely within the Bonaventure Hotel which gives a real claustrophobic feel that only enhances this gripping thriller.

If the edge of your seat is a comfortable place to be for 90 minutes, then Nick of Time is definitely one to watch.

NICK OF TIME (1995) Director: John Badham. Writer: Patrick Sheane Duncan. Cast: Johnny Depp, Courtney Chase, Charles S. Dutton, Christopher Walken, Roma Maffia, Marsha Mason, Peter Strauss.

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Calamity Jane (1953) - Film Review

2010-06-13T06:12:00.000-07:00

There are only two genres of films that I tend to steer clear of; Westerns and Musicals. Not a huge fan of either genre, you can imagine that watching David Butler’s 1953 musical extravaganza CALAMITY JANE would be a real chore! Guess again, I LOVE it! I have no idea why I find this oh-so-sickly-sweet, high-spirited film so infectious. I guess it stems from my childhood, when I would watch it over and over and dream of wearing a buckskin suit, shooting ‘injuns‘, and falling in love. Even as an adult, its charm remains, and my own daughter loves it too. A captivating and whimsical look at the life of Martha Jane Canary (please don’t expect any historical accuracy!) CALAMITY JANE is an energetic and fun family film.

Calamity Jane (Doris Day) has a sunny and contagious personality; she has a penchant for embroidering the truth and a secret love for dashing Lieutenant, Danny Gilmartin (Philip Carey). When trouble brews at The Golden Garter saloon Calamity
makes a promise to go to ‘Chicagi’ and bring back famous actress Adelaid Adams (Gale Robbins). The sarsaparilla swigging heroine gets caught up in a case of mistaken identity and from here on we are treated to a tale of friendship, love, and betrayal. We see that there is more to Calamity than just riding and shooting. In fact we see a whole lot of ‘female thinking’ goin’ on.

When Calamity returns to Deadwood with the wrong actress no-one is more pleased than her long suffering friend and more often foe, Wild Bill Hickok (Howard Keel) and his love rival Danny Gilmartin, who instantly fall for Adelaid look-alike, Katie Brown (Allyn Ann McLerie).

The wonderful Doris Day was perfectly cast as hot-headed Calamity; she injects such life into the role and takes us through some of the most memorable high-stepping dances and hum-able tunes of any musical. We meet many more unforgettable characters along the way and are kept smiling by the invigorating spirit of the actors and the beauty of the cinematography.

Calamity Jane is awash with delightful and lively songs including the Oscar winning ‘secret love’ and my personal favourite ‘Whip-Crack-Away’. This is a place where people fall in and out of love in the blink of an eye, where friendships are made, broken, and remade. This is a place where good triumphs over evil and happily ever after does exist. This is the movies!! So suspend reality for a while and enjoy the ride as this rootin’ tootin’ tomboy takes you on a journey you’ll never forget.

CALAMITY JANE (1953) Director: David Butler. Writer: James O’Hanlon. Cast: Doris Day, Howard Keel, Allyn Ann McLerie, Philip Carey, Dick Wesson, Paul Harvey, Chubby Johnson, Gale Robbins.

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Did You Hear About The Morgans? (2009) - Film Review

2010-06-13T06:06:00.000-07:00

Marc Lawrence’s 2009 film DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS? begs one question. How the hell does such an ordinary film ever get made?! It’s a boring, non-funny attempt at romance. With little or no chemistry between the two main actors, if the screenplay hadn’t already killed it, then it was doomed to failure as soon as the casting was done. Not romantic or sweet enough to be called a ‘chick flick’, I am left wondering who the target audience is. Described on the DVD cover as a ‘Delightful Comedy’ DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS? neither filled me with delight nor made me laugh. But when I tell you that Sam Elliot is in it, you’ll know what kept me watching.

City Slickers Paul and Meryl Morgan (Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker) are husband and wife estranged due to infidelity. After witnessing a brutal murder they are put into witness protection and hidden in small-town Wyoming. Together they
have to overcome their differences as they try to cope without the hustle and bustle of their normal lives. They are placed in the home of the local law enforcement, Marshall Clay Wheeler and his deputy wife Emma Wheeler, superbly played by the unsurpassed Sam Elliot and the ever-wonderful Mary Steenburgen. We are supposed to be humoured as they fumble their way through country life and realise their love for each other. But so mediocre was the screenplay and so poor the rapport between Grant and Parker, that it is neither believable nor funny.

So, so predictable is this film that it pained me to watch. Two stiffs from the city, what do ya reckon? Does a big grizzly bear turn up and scare them half to death? (how rip-roaringly funny would that be – ‘cos that‘s never been done before, right?!) And they are in hiding, so do you think they get found by a bad guy who‘s a really, really bad shot? Does their dying love re-kindle within no time? And there’s also a fertility problem going on, I’ll let you guess how that one ends! I have no need to tell you, it really is that predictable.

The fine acting and obvious chemistry between Elliot and Steenburgen is a joy and only exaggerates the lack of spark between Grant and Parker. Watching the two of them kept me from that eject button and because of them, I really am glad I saw it through.

Did You Hear About The Morgans? Is not a great film, there is little magic in this movie; it doesn’t engage the viewer and we don’t feel the emotion of the main characters. Because of this and the boring screenplay that simply isn’t funny, it would normally get the thumbs down from me. But because of the best efforts of the legendary Sam Elliot and delightful Mary Steenburgen Did You Hear About The Morgans? is watchable. But even with their amazing talents, Did You Hear About The Morgans? is proof indeed that you cannot make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS? (2009). Director/Writer: Paul Morgan. Cast: Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sam Elliot, Mary Steenburgen.

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Message in a Bottle (1999) - Film Review

2010-06-13T06:01:00.000-07:00

Luis Mandoki’s 1999 film MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE is a romantic tale set amongst peaceful settings with breathtaking coastal photography. It creeps along at a leisurely pace and allows you to relax and be fully absorbed. Not blessed with excitement or action, MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE is a quiet and weepy melodrama, ideal for relaxing into on a Sunday afternoon. Its slow pace will be painful to some viewers, however, I enjoyed watching the love story slowly unfold with tentative steps and the stunning cinematography ensured a certain charm.

Recently divorced, single mum Theresa Osborne (Robin Wright) finds a message in a bottle whilst jogging on the beach. So intrigued is she by the romantic nature of the note that it soon becomes the talk of the newspaper office where she works. Her
boss (Robbie Coltrane) decides to print an article about the message in an effort to learn more about its sender. After a flurry of letters in response to the write-up, it becomes apparent that there is more than one of these beautifully romantic messages, each thrown into the ocean by a man desperate to contact his lost love.

After tracing the notes to a remote costal town, Theresa sets off to investigate. It is here that she meets lonely widower Garret Blake (Kevin Costner) and his crotchety old father Dodge, superbly played by the incomparable Paul Newman. There is no doubt that love beyond the grave exists as we see how Garret’s love for his dead wife Catherine has remained as strong as ever. The pain of moving on is almost unbearable and for his new love, the feeling of inadequacy is ever present. Message in a Bottle is both heart-warming and heart-breaking. The course of true love never runs smooth and this is no exception.

The moving soundtrack fits the pace perfectly and with such idyllic scenery, it is hard not to be captured and swept along with the two lead characters as their love tries to find a way.

The only downside to this film is that at over two hours long, and with such a deliberate and ponderous tempo, many will lose interest and declare it boring. Be prepared for its relaxed pace though, and this cautious and timid tale could capture your attention and steal your heart.

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE (1999). Director: Luis Mandoki. Writers: Nicholas Sparks (Novel), Gerald Di Pego (Screenplay). Cast: Kevin Costner, Robin Wright, Paul Newman, John Savage, Illeana Douglas, Robbie Coltrane, Jesse James.

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The Rock (1996) - Film Review

2010-06-13T05:56:00.000-07:00

Thousands of lives are at stake in Michael Bay’s 1996 Action film THE ROCK. When a group of renegade seals take over Alcatraz complete with 81 civilian hostages and threaten San Francisco Bay with biological weapons, it is up to two men to save the day. Alcatraz -- Impenetrable and isolated; only one man has ever broken out and now he must break back in. Fasten your seatbelts ladies and gentlemen -- you’re in for one hell of a ride!

John Mason (Sean Connery), an innocent man imprisoned for over 30 years without trial is the only man ever to have escaped Alcatraz. He, along with nerdy bio-chemist Dr Stanley Goodspeed
(Nicolas Cage) is given the daunting task of taking down Brigadier General Francis Hummel (Ed Harris) and his rebel soldiers from within Alcatraz. Mason is more than reluctant to help but has the skills needed, and the promise of being a free man is too tempting to resist. Dr Goodspeed, on the other hand, taken along to disarm the rockets, is full of enthusiasm but is way out of his comfort zone. Here is a man who spends his days shooting the breeze with the guys in his lab and his evenings listening to The Beatles. Can he really roll up his sleeves and take on the big boys?

The Rock isn’t unique, it has snippets borrowed from other films, including Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs, what is unique though is the way it pulls us along, these aren’t just actors, hell no!! There’s a chemical attack about to happen and we get to go along with the heroes and watch them save the day -- a bit different to merely watching a film methinks!

The Rock has everything needed to keep you on the edge of your seat for over two hours. It is a nail-biting journey into the unknown. What is so refreshing about The Rock is that it doesn’t rely totally on special effects to lure its audience. No, the chemistry between all three lead characters is amazing. The humour and banter between Mason and Goodspeed is compelling and we know that the immediate irritation that they feel for each other is sooner or later gonna give way to macho camaraderie. Connery and Cage are perfectly cast and their talent lifts The Rock above the ordinary action flick. Ed Harris is superb as the rebellious Brigadier General for whom we feel some empathy. The supporting cast are also well equipped with the necessary skills for their individual roles and it is this wonderful acting throughout that makes us care, and boy do we care! You might feel a bit silly when the end credits roll and you realise that you let an action film drag you in and totally absorb you. But this is the magic of the movies; just when you least expect it, along comes a belter like The Rock.

THE ROCK (1996). Director: Michael Bay. Writers: David Weisberg, Douglas Cook (Story) David Weisberg, Douglas Cook, Mark Rosner (Screenplay). Cast: Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, Ed Harris, John Spencer, David Morse.

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Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) - Film Review

2010-05-16T09:38:00.000-07:00

25 years after its release Susan Seidelman’s 1985 film DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN is a wonderful nostalgic look back to the 1980’s. Although modern at the time, it now looks charmingly dated and the wonderful vintage feel only adds to its magic. A funny tale of mistaken identity in the vibrant setting of New York, DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN is as entertaining today as it was 25 years ago.

For bored New Jersey housewife Roberta Glass (Rosanna Arquette), the only escape from her mundane world is to follow the ongoing romance of two strangers who meet up via the personal ads. Her own boring life seems a million miles away from that of Susan and Jim (Madonna & Robert Joy), whose lives seem so exciting and carefree.

When Roberta decides to finally see the couple meet at one of their rendezvous, things take an unexpected twist. After a bump on the head, suffering from amnesia, Roberta is thrust into the life of Susan and she soon discovers that being Susan is much more complicated than she could have ever imagined! Now classed as a missing person and with the mob after her, Roberta has no idea of her previous life and we sit back and watch the fun as her life is turned upside down and inside out.

Madonna plays the role of wild and free-spirited Susan surprisingly well, not known for her acting talents she pulls this part off more than adequately, mainly I suspect because she is simply playing herself. The acting all round is above par, a pre-Rosanne Laurie Metcalfe shines as Roberta’s Sister-in-law Leslie. And the wonderful Aidan Quinn stands out as Dez, a friend of Jim’s who is sent to meet Susan, and unwittingly ends up with Roberta. It’s all good clean fun and very entertaining to watch.

The cinematography is excellent and a film that should look stale and horribly dated by now actually looks wonderfully fresh but with a quirky vintage feel. Madonna’s unique style which was copied by an army of teenage fans still looks great, and the 1980‘s soundtrack fits perfectly.

Although Desperately Seeking Susan isn’t laugh-out-loud funny, it does raise a smile or two and makes just as good viewing today as it did a quarter of a decade ago.

DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN (1985) Director: Susan Seidelman. Writers: Leora Barish (written by), Floyd Byars (unaccredited). Cast: Rosanna Arquette, Madonna, Aidan Quinn, Mark Blum, Laurie Metcalf, Robert Joy.

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Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) - Film Review

2010-05-16T09:32:00.000-07:00

I have yet to meet anyone who doesn’t love John Hughes’ 1987 comedy PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES. It is arguably the best comedy of the 1980’s and in my opinion, one of the best comedies ever!! This film isn’t just funny, it’s got heart and a depth to both of the main characters that you identify with immediately. Steve Martin and John Candy are not simply acting, they are totally absorbed by their characters, and we in turn are absorbed by the film. PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES makes you feel frustration, anger, and despair and at the same time it will make you snort with laughter.

Neal Page (Steve Martin) is an advertising executive desperate to get home for thanksgiving. When flights are grounded due to bad weather, somehow Neal ends up blessed with the company of blabbermouth shower-ring salesman Del Griffiths (John Candy).
As they desperately try to get Neal home in time for his thanksgiving turkey, they make the worst of every bad situation. Neal is a sensible, somewhat boring character while Del is a talkative but loveable drifter who wears his heart on his sleeve. As tensions rise between the two, we share both in Neal’s frustration as Del grates on his nerves and also in Del’s desperation to be accepted. There is a scene in The Bravewood Inn which is both hilarious and incredibly touching. To make a comedy with such heart and tenderness whilst still keeping the laughter flowing is true genius.

This is my favourite John Hughes film. Martin and Candy are both on top form and with the exception of one scene, this film is comedy perfection. The scene in question is a car rental scene and although Neal’s angry tirade only lasts 60 seconds, the F word is used 18 times. This was totally unnecessary and although it didn’t bother me, it means that I cannot watch it with my young daughter which is a shame. Otherwise, Planes, Trains and Automobiles is perfect family entertainment. The humour crosses generations and can be related to by all ages. We have all felt frustrated and annoyed by someone’s company, and we all know the crushing feeling of loneliness. Because of this we relate to these two complete opposites as they bumble their way from one mess to another. For once, a real laugh out loud comedy, enjoy!!

PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES (1987) Director: John Hughes. Writer: John Hughes. Cast: John Candy, Steve Martin, Laila Robins.

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Uncle Buck (1989) - Film Review

2010-05-16T09:26:00.000-07:00

The always delightful John Candy plays the title role in John Hughes 1989 film UNCLE BUCK. He is not your average Uncle, an unemployed loser drafted in during a family crisis to watch his brother’s kids. Uncle Buck is a jolly, eccentric type, the kind of Uncle everyone wants….unless he’s theirs!! UNCLE BUCK is a feast of family entertainment but there is something about Buck, something that makes this loud, embarrassing, care-free character very likeable indeed and before you know it you’ll be wishing that you too had an Uncle like Buck!!

When clueless Buck Russell is reluctantly given the overwhelming task of looking after his Brother’s three children, it isn’t long
before things get on top of him. Whilst the youngest kids Maizy and Miles (Gaby Hoffmann and Macaulay Culkin) soon warm to their good-natured Uncle and his amazing cooking, rebellious teenager Tia (Jean Louisa Kelly) is not so impressed. Buck interferes in her relationship with her boyfriend Bug (Jay Underwood), and Tia takes her revenge by messing in Buck’s already shaky love life. When Buck finally gets even with Bug for messing Tia around, we revel in his victory and realise that although unorthodox in his methods, Uncle Buck, like most of us will do whatever it takes to protect his loved ones. Throw into the mix Laurie Metcalf who once again shows off her wonderful comedy skills as sex-starved neighbour Marcie, and you’ve got everything you need to be entertained for an hour and a half.

Buck is a wonderful character, warm, funny, and big hearted. He also has a quirky way of doing the washing! And his hilarious meeting with the school principle is a classic. I love John Hughes and he doesn’t disappoint with Uncle Buck, however I have to say that with anyone else but John Candy, this film could have been a very average and predictable offering. But John Candy IS Uncle Buck, you never once feel like he’s acting. This is testament to his great and often under-rated talent. His timing, facial expressions and even the way he looks make him perfect for roles like this. He can make you laugh without opening his mouth and that’s priceless.

If you’re looking for good wholesome family entertainment, choose Uncle Buck. As you giggle, cringe, and smile your way through his incompetence and exasperation you may find yourself looking around your own family members hoping to see a jolly loser with laughing eyes and a big heart…John Candy I salute you!

UNCLE BUCK (1989) Director: John Hughes. Writer: John Hughes. Cast: John Candy, Jean Louisa Kelly, Gaby Hoffmann, Macaulay Culkin, Amy Madigan, Laurie Metcalf, Jay Underwood.

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2012 (2009) - Film Review

2010-04-19T06:31:00.000-07:00

Roland Emmerich ran away with special effects in his 2009 film ‘2012’. Unfortunately you have to dig through an inordinate amount of CGI to uncover any actors or even a plot. This film is almost smothered by its own effects which range from breathtaking to silly. If you wanna sit through over two and a half hours of special effects and action with very little substance then 2012 is definitely one to watch.

2012 offers a pretty standard end-of-the-world scenario with earthquakes, tidal waves and ground-shifting mayhem. We also have a ludicrous amount of ‘only just’ moments. You know the ones; they ‘only just’ take off before the runway collapses, they ‘only just’ avoid the explosion, the car ‘only just’ makes it over the crevice in the road…

Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) has an estranged wife, Kate (Amanda Peet), who is predictably dating an incredibly boring guy who has been taking flying lessons (I’ll leave you to anticipate his role in the film!!). They, along with Jackson and Kate’s two children, scramble their way through scene after scene of special effects. There is no great depth to any of the characters, which doesn’t matter too much if you’re only interested in seeing buildings collapse and scenes of mass destruction. But remember, two hours and forty minutes is a long time to fill without an engaging script and forceful characters. The wonderful John Cusack does an accomplished job with what he’s been given, but isn’t utilised fully, and sadly, his huge talent is never stretched.

What 2012 is lacking are some captivating characters that we care deeply about, we would have been on the edge of our seats and willing them to survive. With the exception of Cusack’s character, this was never really achieved. What we got was a huge budget spent almost entirely on special effects and although entertaining to watch, it only proves that the magic of the movies lies in more than just big budgets and CGI.

2012 is often predictable and has very few surprises. What it does, is showcase the latest in CGI and tell a familiar story in a fairly entertaining way. It should have been an hour shorter which would have eliminated the repetitive feel of all those ‘only just’ moments and given it more bite.

Watch this film by all means, don’t take it too seriously and you’ll be reasonably well entertained. It‘s a special effects extravaganza which although shallow in places, keeps the pace and holds the audiences’ attention. 2012 is mindless fun at its budget-blowing finest.

2012 (2009). Director: Roland Emmerich. Writers: Roland Emmerich, Harold Kloser. Cast: John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Liam James, Morgan Lily, Oliver Platt, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Danny Glover, Woody Harrelson.

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Death Sentence (2007) - Film Review

2010-04-19T06:26:00.000-07:00

Most of us know the feeling of longing for revenge, someone scratches our car, and we wanna see them pay.... Now imagine someone murders your son in cold blood in front of you - well, that’s where mild mannered executive Nick Hume (Kevin Bacon) finds himself in James Wan’s 2007 film DEATH SENTENCE. This film perfectly illustrates how being grief-stricken and traumatised can change our very being, how the need for justice can drive a man to any lengths, and how our primal urge to protect our family can become all consuming. Moving away from the horror genre James Wan (SAW) proves his worth. I have to disagree with the critics on this one. DEATH SENTENCE is a gripping tale of revenge that anyone of us with kids can relate to, and I for one, loved it!

As with most action films, Death Sentence isn’t blessed with believability, but Kevin Bacon is at his most convincing as Nick, the gentle natured office worker who finds himself waging war on the street gang who murdered his teenage son at a gas station.

When it becomes apparent that courtroom justice is not going to happen, Nick opts for street justice and takes the law into his own hands with sickening results. We feel with him, all of his emotions; Pride, grief, horror, and anger to name but a few. The ride was as real for me as it was for him and I was knackered when the end credits rolled! James Wan excelled with expert direction and the music score was perfect, the acting throughout was believable and the casting spot on.

Death Sentence is an edge-of-the seat, heart wrenching journey into the mind of a bereft father hell-bent on revenge. Often brutal, sometimes shocking but always absorbing it takes us from the comfort of our seat and into the nightmare of Nick’s life, as he tries to protect what is left of his family and digs deeper into the unknown.

Death Sentence is one to watch but be warned - you’ll still be thinking about it tomorrow!

DEATH SENTENCE (2007). Director: James Wan. Writers: Ian Jeffers (screenplay), Brian Garfield (novel). Cast: Kevin Bacon, Kelly Preston, Jordan Garret, Stuart Lafferty, Garret Hedlund, Aisha Tyler, John Goodman, Matthew O’Leary.

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My Sister's Keeper (2009) - Film Review

2010-04-19T06:19:00.000-07:00

Firstly a warning, if you’re a fan of the Judi Picoult novel of the same name, please steer well away from Nick Cassavetes 2009 adaptation of MY SISTER’S KEEPER. There are characters missing or changed and that oh so ironic ending? Gone! Swapped for a much more predictable one I’m afraid. Fans of the book will be left bewildered by all the changes. However, it is still a touching film that will appeal to the average movie goer.

My Sister’s Keeper centres on cancer victim Kate Fitzgerald (Sofia Vassilieva) and her little sister Anna (Abigail Breslin). Anna was made in a test-tube for the purpose of saving her dying sister’s life. The story revolves around Anna’s fight to take control
of her own body. The girl’s Mother Sara (Cameron Diaz) is horrified at the thought of Anna refusing to donate her organs and of losing her precious Kate. We see the desperate fight as Anna’s free will threatens to tear the family apart.

My Sister’s Keeper has a tendency to flit through time and back again far too often and frequently feels disjointed because of it. Nick Cassavetes (The Notebook) has once again made a picturesque and charming film. We are offered both heart-warming and heart-breaking moments and are told with great sensitivity a very difficult story. We see how a family can be not only challenged by illness but also united, and how love and devotion can lead us down the hardest of roads.

Cameron Diaz exceeded my expectations and played her role with great heart, it was refreshing to see her play something other than a dizzy blonde and she did so admirably. Both of the actresses playing her daughters were superb, as was Alec Baldwin as Anna’s lawyer. In fact, the acting throughout was more than adequate.

Not as memorable as the novel, if only they had left the ending alone! My Sister’s keeper is still a reasonable offering and a fair way to fill a couple of hours.

MY SISTER’S KEEPER (2009). Director: Nick Cassavetes. Writer: Jeremy Leven, Nick Cassavetes (screenplay) Judi Picoult (Novel). Cast: Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Sofia Vassilieva, Jason Patric, Evan Ellingson, Alec Baldwin, Thomas Dekker.

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Executive Decision (1996) - Film Review

2010-04-19T06:12:00.000-07:00

If you can suspend your disbelief whilst watching Stuart Baird’s 1996 film EXECUTIVE DECISION, it will take you on one hell of a ride. With more tension than the local bingo hall on a Saturday night and enough suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat until the end credits roll, EXECUTIVE DECISION is a must for any action fan.

When International terrorists take over a transatlantic flight from Athens to Washington DC, a team of Special Forces commandos led by Lt Colonel Austin Travis (Steven Segal) are given the mission to sneak on board and intercept the terrorists before the plane reaches U.S airspace. With the early departure of Segal, it is intelligence analyst Dr David Grant (Kurt Russell) who finds himself in the middle of the action, with the aid of helpful air
stewardess Jean (Halle Berry) and the rest of the team he is on a race-against-time mission to re-take the 747 and save the lives of not only those on board but also those on the ground. This is real adrenalin fuelled, high speed, thrilling action which relies just as heavily on tension and suspense as it does on fire-powered action sequences.

With a solid cast and accomplished direction, Executive Decision takes the viewer on a nail-biting, roller-coaster of a ride and doesn’t let go until the very end. The addition of Dennis Cahill, a likable but unlikely hero, superbly portrayed by Oliver Platt, Executive Decision has all of the ingredients to keep an audience satisfied. Kurt Russell and Halle Berry are outstanding - big kudos to the casting department, every character is perfectly cast. David Suchet plays the villain incredibly well and put me in mind of Alan Rickman in Die Hard, charming yet very sinister - just what we want from a bad guy!

Executive Decision comes highly recommended, but remember; like most action flicks, the suspension of disbelief is a must from the start….Enjoy!

EXECUTIVE DECISION (1996). Director: Stuart Baird. Writers: Jim Thomas, John Thomas. Cast: Kurt Russell, Steven Seagal, Halle Berry, David Suchet, John Leguizamo, Oliver Platt, Joe Marton, B.D Wang, Whip Hubley.

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Forrest Gump (1994) - Film Review

2010-04-19T05:57:00.000-07:00

Robert Zemeckis’ 1994 film FORREST GUMP tells the heart-warming tale of a young man from Alabama. Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) tells his life story to strangers as he sits at a small town bus stop. We relive with him his astonishing tale, and what an absolute pleasure it is to watch simple-minded Forrest Gump bumble his way through life from one extraordinary situation to the next.

Forrest’s life story starts with him as a young boy with callipers on his legs and requiring special education to meet his needs. His protective mother (Sally field) ensures that he is educated within a mainstream school, where he is bullied by everyone except for free spirited Jenny (Robin Wright Penn). Forrest wears his heart on his sleeve, his love for Jenny being his only motivation in life.

Discovering a hidden talent for running, he manages to muddle his way through college, winds up meeting presidents, accidentally becomes a war hero and witnesses many significant moments in American history. He seems oblivious to all of this as he floats, like a feather on the wind, through his life. He treats people as he would wish to be treated and is rewarded with a wonderful, colourful life.

Forrest forms a few close friendships on his journey including ‘Bubba’ (Mykelti Williamson) a shrimp fisherman with big dreams. But always, his heart belongs to his beloved Jenny. Forrest Gump often borders on silly, but it raises a smile and keeps us utterly absorbed in this kind-hearted character and his amazing passage through life.

Beautifully directed, Forrest Gump uses some mind-blowing effects and we see Forrest in some real-life scenes alongside many famous Americans. The technology used when Forrest’s friend Lieutenant Dan (Gary Sinise) loses his legs is still as awe-inspiring today as it was then. The winner of 6 Oscars including best picture (no mean feat considering it was up against the wonderful Shawshank Redemption), Forrest Gump is worthy of all its praise and is already proving to be utterly timeless.

After watching it, I remembered how I’d doubted the tagline, but now I know it to be true; ‘The world will never be the same once you've seen it through the eyes of Forrest Gump’.

FORREST GUMP (1994). Director: Robert Zemeckis. Writers: Winston Groom (novel), Eric Roth (screenplay). Cast: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright Penn, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, Sally Field.

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Christmas With The Kranks (2004) - Film Review

2010-04-19T04:38:00.000-07:00

Once again, I implore you to ignore the critics! Joe Roth’s 2004 seasonal delight, CHRISMAS WITH THE KRANKS is already a festive favourite in my house. Yes it’s corny, yes it’s predictable and yes it’s oh so cheesy. Now we’ve got that out of the way, let me tell you, this is good old-fashioned family entertainment with lashings of holiday cheer; it’s farcical, fun, and over-the-top. What more can you want from a Christmas film? Turn on those Fairy lights, grab a mince pie and pour the eggnog, if it’s December then it’s time for CHRISTMAS WITH THE KRANKS.

When their only Daughter Blair (Julie Gonzalo) leaves home, Luther and Nora Krank (Tim Allen & Jamie Lee Curtis) make the decision to skip Christmas and go on a cruise. Their failure to comply with holiday tradition causes uproar in the neighbourhood, and the Kranks find themselves in the middle of a Christmas showdown with most of their neighbours. When Blair
calls on Christmas Eve to announce that she and her new boyfriend will be home for the holidays after all, it’s up to Luther and Nora to perform their own Christmas miracle. They have just twelve hours to get their disgruntled neighbours on side and re-arrange Christmas ready for the oblivious Blair’s impending return.

There are moments of laugh-out-loud humour and real panic as the Kranks put into action their plans for the most ambitious Christmas party ever. Jamie Lee Curtis takes the opportunity to ham up her role, and as it’s in keeping with the spirit of the film she pulls it off perfectly. Tim Allen is wonderful as always, and supporting roles by Dan Aykroyd and M. Emmet Walsh as two of the Krank’s neighbours are superb.

Christmas with the Kranks is well paced festive fun, not to be taken seriously. It leaves the viewer with a Christmassy glow and a happy heart. There’s no award winning material here, but who cares?! It sits tucked away on my DVD shelf along with Home Alone and is dusted off with nostalgia every year, for me Christmas with the Kranks is already a Holiday classic.

CHRISTMAS WITH THE KRANKS (2004). Director: Joe Roth. Writers: John Grisham (novel) Chris Columbus (screenplay). Cast: Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Aykroyd, Julie Gonzalo, Rene Lavan, Austin Pendleton, Erik Per Sullivan, M. Emmet Walsh, Elizabeth Franz.

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Cast Away (2000) - Film Review

2010-03-30T04:30:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, when Robert Zemeckis created CAST AWAY in 2000, he decided, as is usual for Zemeckis, that the whole plot should be divulged in the trailer. I much prefer to see a film without prior knowledge of how it will end. Although I still found this tale of survival utterly mesmerising, I cannot help but wonder how it would have felt to watch it unfold oblivious to the outcome. Tom Hanks playing the part of our cast away, (Chuck Noland) carries almost the entire film; he is a likable everyman with no clue about building fires and catching fish. This is the beauty of CAST AWAY, every one of us can imagine his desperation, that feeling of insignificance and impending doom as we realise that what little common sense we were blessed with is our only tool for survival.

Cast Away is split into three acts; the first and third are very average, but needed to build the character of Chuck Noland and his girlfriend Kelly Frears (Helen hunt), and also to give the audience an outcome to the story they witness in the middle.

Once we have been introduced to Chuck, we see straight away that he is a man ruled by the clock, working as an efficiency expert for FedEx, he is often too busy to see what is truly important in life. When he waves a hasty goodbye to his girlfriend over the holiday season to attend to business he declares ‘I’ll be right back’ and we immediately know he’s heading for disaster.

This is where Cast Away picks up and becomes a masterpiece of cinematography, the plane crash is the most realistic I have ever seen, and the panic as Chuck is submerged in the twisted wreckage is as real for us, as it is for him. When an exhausted Chuck comes round on a beautiful deserted island with turquoise water and white sands, we are instantly struck by its beauty. What we witness from here on is how fierce and wild such a beautiful place can be, how the simple task of getting into a coconut can become all consuming when you are dehydrated and starving. We share the ups and downs; the high of managing to light a fire and the intense loneliness of feeling like the only man on earth. We are cleverly introduced to ‘Wilson’ a much needed comrade for Chuck. He is an inanimate object but does give some companionship to the isolated cast away and also gives the viewer the luxury of dialogue.

As Chuck continues to survive with only the contents of a few washed-up FedEx packages and his own inventiveness, we warm further to this ordinary man with childlike qualities. Any of us who have ever found comfort and companionship in a cuddly bear or a favourite toy will appreciate his love for Wilson and feel real understanding of his hopeless situation. The irony of his only possession being a broken pocket watch with an ever-fading picture of his girlfriend isn’t lost either.

Tom Hanks is superb as Chuck and showed his commitment to the role when filming was paused for a year so that he could lose 50lb in weight. The beauty of Cast Away for me was its realism during act two; there is little music, we are treated to the sounds of disaster; the rushing water and twisting metal, and then the painful tones of loneliness; the howling wind and crashing waves that serve as Chuck’s only soundtrack and intensify the feeling of pure desolation.

If you are lucky enough, not to have seen either the film or its trailer then Cast Away will be an enthralling watch, the beginning and end can be forgiven because of the wonderful Tom Hanks who carries Chuck straight into our hearts and makes us appreciate, for that brief moment in time, the things and people that we take for granted every day of our lives.

CAST AWAY (2000). Director: Robert Zemeckis. Writer: William Broyles Jr. Cast, Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt.

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This is England (2006) - Film Review

2010-03-29T04:41:00.000-07:00

Made on a low budget and using mainly non-professional actors, THIS IS ENGLAND is a gritty, unsentimental, and honest film. It tells a tale of Skinhead camaraderie, racism, and the need to belong. Set against a backdrop of 1980’s Northern life, it is never dewy-eyed or pretentious. What we see is not nostalgia, but a real glimpse of working class life, growing up in 1983. This semi-autobiographical film by Shane Meadows tells how it really was, warts and all.

We meet Shaun (Thomas Turgoose) as a fatherless and bullied 12 year old, with no real friends and a longing to fit in. When the leader of a local skinhead gang, Woody (Joseph Gilgun) takes Shaun under his wing, he revels in the feeling of solidarity and
sense of belonging. Although the gang take out their angst destroying empty properties, it is quite apparent that Woody and his friends aren’t racist fascists as the skinhead reputation would suggest. They are skinheads with a love for ska music, oxblood Dr Marten’s, Ben Sherman shirts, and braces. They wreak their own kind of havoc, they rebel against society but without any real violence. When Woody’s friend Combo (Stephen Graham) returns from a stretch inside, the gang is split in two. Soft-hearted Woody goes against angry, racist Combo and we see Shaun pulled further into unknown territory in his search for acceptance, and the Father figure he so desperately needs.

This is England is 101 minutes of entertainment. The gritty and real nature of the cinematography and dialogue, along with the great 80’s soundtrack and the wonderful 1980’s fashion is never wistful. It is a glance back at an era without rose-coloured spectacles. At times funny, sometimes shocking, but always honest, This is England looks and sounds authentic and gives us a glimpse of the ups and downs of being a kid in 1980‘s Thatcher Britain. In the shadow of the Falklands war and with the working class feeling more desperate than ever, this was a time when childhood was free and simple, the feeling of belonging was all you needed and you’d go to the ends of the earth to find it. Every kid who was ever bullied will sympathise with Shaun and his yearning for true friendship.

This Is England is further proof, if any is needed, that a great film does not need big stars and even bigger budgets, it simply needs a good story, well told and passionately acted.

THIS IS ENGLAND (2006). Director/Writer: Shane Meadows. Cast: Thomas Turgoose, Stephen Graham, Jo Hardy, Andrew Shim, Vicky McClure, Joseph Gilgun, Rosamund Hanson, Andrew Ellis.

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Dragonquest (2009) AKA Dragon Quest - Film Review

2010-03-15T16:20:00.000-07:00

DRAGON QUEST is the new release from low budget production company The Asylum. Just how low the budget was I’m not sure, but after watching the movie I’m guessing that if my teenage son and his mates clubbed their week’s pocket money together they could make the sequel! A boring film with ludicrous special effects and ham acting, DRAGON QUEST is a pointless waste of time. I’d bet even the makers themselves are wishing they’d kept the money and bought a new kettle for the staff room instead!!

When Dark night Krill (Brian Thompson) summons the fire dragon and decides to rule the world, handsome young man Arkadi (Daniel Bonjour) is chosen to be ‘The Keeper’, he must find and win the missing stones of an ancient amulet which will allow
him to summon his own dragon and defeat Krill. I was quite excited to see that Marc Singer, famous for his role in BeastMaster was playing the part of Maxim but even he managed to make a mockery of it. His facial expressions and manor of speech seemed to have been stolen from a pirate!! Had he said ‘ Aye Jim Lad’ at any point it would not have seemed at all out of character. Jason Connery also stars, yeah right! Less than two minutes of screen time in total (I would call that a cameo appearance rather than a starring role!).

The best laughs though came from the ridiculous, and I mean ridiculous special effects, the cut and paste CGI was so bad it was almost good!! Even my 9 year old daughter was laughing at it! The male viewers may be kept interested by Katya (Jennifer Dorogi) who assists our hero in his quest by swinging a plastic sword while wearing hot pants and being pretty. The fight scenes are a joke, I’m pretty sure my granddad who is 91 and virtually bedridden, could outwit and out fight Krill’s whole army (which consists of about five blokes!). The challenges Arkadi must win to get the stones are just plain bizarre and boring, at one point I’m pretty sure that Arkadi won a stone for simply doing nothing!!
Dragon Quest is a painful attempt at fantasy adventure which is neither fantastic nor adventurous; it is quite simply a boring, futile attempt at filmmaking which should be avoided at all costs.

DRAGON QUEST (2009). Director: Mark Atkins. Writers: Brian Brinkman, Micho Rutare. Cast: Marc singer, Brian Thompson, Jason Connery, Daniel Bonjour Jennifer Dorogi, Russ Reynolds.

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Gran Torino (2008) - Film Review

2010-03-15T16:14:00.000-07:00

GRAN TORINO perfectly showcases Clint Eastwood’s immense talent both in front and behind the camera. His character, snarling xenophobe Walt Kowalski owns the screen, there is no denying the charisma of Clint Eastwood and his amazing acting prowess. Here we see Clint the actor and Clint the director working in perfect harmony. Imagine Dirty Harry, only older, scarier and even cooler - you just imagined GRAN TORINO!

It would be easy to see recently widowed Korean war Veteran Walt Kowalski as a bitter racist who snarls and scowls at everyone around him. Look a little deeper though and what you also see is a proud man, a man who has worked hard for what he owns and believes everyone else should do the same. He takes pride in his property, not least his 1972 Gran Torino which he help build on the ford assembly line and has kept in mint condition ever since,

he whiles away his days making home repairs and sitting on his front porch snarling at anyone who so much as puts a toe on his lawn. He has a hatred of change and seeing the neighbourhood evolve and a mix of races and colours move alongside him brings to the fore his incredible racist tendencies which he bought back with him from Korea. When a Hmong family move in next door Walt is more determined than ever that they mind their own business and leave him and his property alone.

After a sudden turn of events Walt finds his life strangely entwined with his Hmong neighbours, not least the youngsters of the family; unassuming and insecure Thao Vang (Bee Vang) and his more tenacious sister Sue Lor (Ahney Her). We see Clint at his absolute menacing best. Gran Torino is a powerful story of gangs, racism, aging, loneliness and friendship. How the most unlikely of allies can be formed more by accident than design and how the very people you loathe can come to mean more to you than your own family, and woe betide anyone who tries to hurt them.

Gran Torino is an incredible watch, and Clint who was 78 at the time, continues to prove that age is just a number, he is cooler than ice, has more charisma than any one man has a right to, and has great charm, even when being obnoxious and rude!! With spot on direction and such an engaging performance, Gran Torino proves Eastwood to be a movie making virtuoso.

GRAN TORINO (2008). Director: Clint Eastwood. Writers: Nick Schenk (screenplay and story), Dave Johannson (story). Cast: Clint Eastwood, Christopher Carley, Bee Vang, Ahney Her, Brian Haley, Geraldine Hughes, Dreama Walker, Brian Howe, John Carroll Lynch, William Hill, Brook Chia Thao.

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Taken (2008) A.K.A. 96 Hours - Film Review

2010-03-15T16:10:00.000-07:00

Always a big fan of the superb Liam Neeson, I was eager to see Pierre Moral’s 2008 action TAKEN. Bryan Mills (Neeson) is a former secret agent who makes use of his special skills when his teenage daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) is kidnapped in Paris. Neeson makes the likes of James Bond look as threatening as a five year old girl. Make no mistake, when Neeson tells the kidnappers “I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you” you know he means it.

As action films go, it doesn’t get much better than Taken. Neeson is one of the few actors who can be tender one minute and scary the next. His acting makes this film. Perfectly cast for the role, he does everything required of him and more besides.

When Bryan’s estranged daughter Kim and her friend Amanda (Katie Cassidy) go off on their own to Paris, overprotective Bryan is more than a little concerned, as a former secret agent he knows too well the dangers. He gives his daughter strict instructions to call every night. When the first call doesn’t come, a worried Bryan phones Kim and hears the horror as she and Amanda are taken. He is told that she has been kidnapped by Albanian Traffickers and there is a mere 96 hour window before Kim is sold on and lost for good. I will not divulge the story any further, suffice to say Bryan calls on his special skills as we witness his brutal determination to find his daughter.

The game of cat and mouse is on, and what a game! With high octane action, breathtaking stunts and the unflinching Neeson, we are pulled along at break-neck speed on Bryan’s quest. What I love about his character is that he has no desire to save the world, or help any of the other women being held prisoner. He is concerned only with his daughter. This makes the film believable, we all know that we would fight to the death to save our children and wouldn’t be swayed from our goal. As Bryan starts to pull Paris apart piece by piece, we see that he is relentless and unstoppable, he doesn‘t let his emotions stand in his way. The only question is; can he reach his objective in time?!

With accomplished directing and solid performances throughout, Taken is right up there with the best of the action movies. I’ve read only a few scathing reviews by those who say that it is too far-fetched, I’ve gotta ask; what kind of film did they think they were going to see?! This is pure, heart-pounding, adrenaline fuelled action, and better than most because of the remarkable Neeson who delivers an outstanding performance'

TAKEN (2008). Director: Pierre Morel. Writers: Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen. Cast: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Leland Orser, Jon Gries, David Warshofsky, holly Valance, Katie Cassidy, Xandre Berkley, Olivier Rabourdin, Gérard Walkins.

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Alice in Wonderland (2010) - Film Review

2010-03-06T11:26:00.000-08:00

Tim Burton’s 2010 reinvention of the Lewis Carroll classic ALICE IN WONDERLAND is exactly what one would expect from an artist such as Burton, beautiful, strange, and whimsical. On her second trip to Wonderland, Alice encounters a world much the same as she’d remembered it from her childhood. Burton has remained faithful to the story, and his reimagining of the characters is undoubtedly more similar to what Lewis Carroll had in mind than those from the 1951 Disney animation.

Alice has grown into a beautiful [if hauntingly pale] young woman, a woman whose mind is always on the peculiar, she resists the normalcy of life and prefers to ponder the impossible – a trait she learnt from her father. Her mother wants her to marry a freakish, stuck-up, but wealthy young man, and it is as he is proposing to her one sunny afternoon in the gazebo with all his friends looking on that she spots the white rabbit, once again runs after it and tumbles into familiar territory down the rabbit hole.

Surprised to find she is in, what she had always assumed had been her childhood dream, she sets of to explore. Here we meet Burton’s take on the characters, characters which only serve to confuse and disorientate anyone they meet. Insane, whimsical, and sometimes sinister, the characters are played perfectly by the cast who include Helena Bonham Carter as The Red Queen, Anne Hathaway as The White Queen, Matt Lucas as both the Tweedles, Alan Rickman as The Blue Caterpillar – and I absolutely must make a special mention of the stunning Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter. Johnny Depp throws himself into whatever odd-ball character he is given [Edward Scissorhands, Willy Wonka, Captain Jack Sparrow, Sweeney Todd] and he makes all of these unbelievable characters utterly believable. My words cannot sufficiently describe how fantastically maniacal, how thoroughly bewitching Depp is as The Mad Hatter. Sadly though, Alice [Mia Wasikowska] is not so amazing, there is something missing in her character, and she fell flat for me, although she looked great, I’d have liked to have seen her awe-struck or scared, or bewildered in some way, but she seems to take everything in her stride and that, for me was the most unbelievable thing about Alice in Wonderland. Tim Burton had me absolutely convinced that there is a Wonderland, and that it contains a Mad Hatter, a March Hare, a talking Caterpillar and so much more – but not for one moment did I believe in Alice!

The final scenes were needless, I know the Hollywood formula now insists on a final showdown, a battle of good vs evil, but in Alice in Wonderland I’m sure they could have relied on a fantastically strange story, with wonderful characters, which is a work of art. The ending didn’t ruin it, but it certainly did nothing to enhance it.

There’s nothing so wrong with this film that you should avoid watching it, and there are ever so many things right with it, not least Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Depp.

ALIVE IN WONDERLAND (2010) Director: Tim Burton. Writer: Lewis Carroll, Linda Woolverton. Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Alan Rickman.

UP (2009) - Film Review

2010-03-06T10:43:00.000-08:00

Pixar’s UP is one of the finest animated films I’ve ever seen. Not only is it beautiful to look at but it is a story with real heart – a story that from time to time almost broke my heart! If you find yourself with an hour and a half to spare, I suggest you snuggle down with a box of tissues and allow UP to make you laugh and make you cry as it takes you on a wonderful journey of friendship and adventure.

The first fifteen minutes of this film is a montage which sets the characters, and shows you a lifelong back story for the main character, 78 year old Carl Fredrickson, and I put it to you that if you do not cry by the time this montage is through, you have never been truly in love, and have never had a dream you thought you may never realise.

The story follows our aged hero Carl as he sets off on an incredible adventure to fulfil a promise he made to the woman he loves. Carl inadvertently takes 8 year old Russell, an excitable wilderness explorer along for the ride, and together the pair struggle to keep Carl’s dream alive. Up against wild animals, a formidable enemy, and Carl’s old age – the pair have their work cut out. Although the story does get rather silly midway through, by this time I was so emotionally invested in the characters that this silliness was easy to ignore.

To tell more of this story would spoil the plot, suffice it to say that Up will capture your heart within the first few minutes and you won’t stop caring until the very, very end. This is very difficult to do pull off with live actors, but for an animated feature, this is one hell of an achievement. Way to go Pixar!

UP (2009). Director/Writer: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson. Cast: Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Bob Peterson.

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The Shawshank Redemption (1994) - Film Review

2010-03-06T10:30:00.000-08:00

Frank Darabont’s 1994 film THE SHAWSHANK REDEMTION is a moving tale of Friendship and dreams, hope and hardship. It is a simple but unforgettable tale which touches your soul, lifts your heart and reminds you of the true value of friendship.

When innocent banker Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) receives two life sentences for the murder of this wife and her lover, he is sent to Shawshank Prison. Here he meets and mingles with the worst kind of criminal. It is amongst these criminals that he meets ’Red’ (Morgan Freeman) and an unlikely friendship develops. As Red narrates the story, the years fly by and we watch in wonder, the trials and tribulations Andy must face as he learns to survive his time inside.

Not prepared to give up on his hopes of freedom and his dreams, Andy tries to convince institutionalised ‘Red’ that there is a life waiting for them beyond the prison walls. The more experienced ‘Red’ declares that “Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane”. Andy learns how to work the system to his and his friends’ advantage from time to time and we see glimmers of real joy during these moments. The very first time I saw The Shawshank Redemption, the story took me by surprise. I hope that anyone who hasn’t seen it before, can watch it with those same fresh eyes, with no preconceived ideas about the story and feel the same emotion that I felt as the movie worked its magic.

Everything about The Shawshank Redemption proves that Frank Darabont is a master at his craft. This wonderful piece of cinematography is built upon an amazing screenplay with so many memorable lines and intricate characters. The gentle piano chords of the music score compliment the film exquisitely, every character is thoughtfully cast and each of the actors breathes life into their part. There are no special effects and everything about The Shawshank Redemption is believable. Even the gentle narrative by Morgan Freeman as ‘Red’ is done with amazing heart. Tim Robbins is unsurpassed as the innocent Andy and we feel every emotion with him throughout the film. No role is too small or insignificant and even the minor parts are played perfectly. We see how, with the exception of a few real low-lives, even convicted murderers can feel the same emotions, dream the same dreams, and have the same human traits as the rest of us.

This is a story of true friendship, admiration, and courage. It will take you away for 142 minutes and when you return, you will be changed forever. This is how the magic of the movies should be measured, not by big budgets or amazing special effects, because we all know the most special effect a movie can have, is to lift our hearts and touch our soul.

THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994). Director: Frank Darabont. Writer: Stephen King (short story; Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption). Cast: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, William Sadler, Clancy Brown, Gil Bellows.

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Three Miles North of Molkom (2008) - Film Review

2010-03-06T10:05:00.000-08:00

Robert Cannan and Corinna McFarlane’s 2008 documentary THREE MILES NORTH OF MOLKOM has to be one of the most disappointing films of all time - I should have known, I blame myself. The moment I put a disc about some new age hippy types into my DVD player I was asking for trouble. It was gonna go one of two ways, either I’d find their antics so bizarre and amusing that I would be entertained for the full 107 minutes, or I’d be bored out of my skull wondering why I bothered, I’m afraid it was the latter.

I only continued watching this film so that I could warn you readers to save the 107 minutes of your life for something more worthwhile. I’d read the reviews, the quotes on the DVD cover, come on! It HAD to be good ‘side-splittingly funny’ it said,
‘Hilarious…Heart-warming’ it said. I ejected the disc; yes it was the right film. So what went wrong? I have two theories, one; this film was indeed side-splittingly funny, and I had lost my sense of humour - not possible, I looked around the room, not a smile on any face, my husband wrinkled his nose and begged that we turn it off, my teenage son sat rolling his eyes for a while and then fell into a half comatose state of boredom. So it HAD to be the second theory; the film was utter rot, total nonsense, middle-class hippy dross with no place on my DVD shelf.

We follow a diverse group of people as they enjoy two weeks at the ‘No Mind Festival’ in Ängbacka (three miles North of Molkom in Sweden). We watch as they have sharing groups and trips to the ‘sweat lodge’. There is one moment which raises a smile, the only one of the whole film, and that’s when the crazy lady with no saliva gets winded because her energy wasn’t sufficient to shield her from the oncoming idiot who runs through her like a freight train!! I guess the fact that myself and my family were only humoured by someone else’s misfortune gives a clue that the New Age, tree hugging way of life is not for us.

There was a glimmer of hope when we met the Australian rugby Coach who didn’t get it either, but I’m sorry to say by the end of the film, he was a mad as the rest of them and any hope of some entertaining controversy was lost.

Three Miles North of Molkom is categorically the most dull, boring film I’ve ever sat through, There is no action, no drama, no excitement and absolutely no laughs. If several hippies hugging trees and sweating naked is your cup of tea then maybe you will agree with the many favourable reviews. If not, I’d steer well clear because, like me you may feel very robbed when the end credits roll and you think of all the awesome films you could have been watching.

THREE MILES NORTH OF MOLKOM (2008). Directors: Robert Cannan, Corinna McFarlane.

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Malice in Wonderland (2009) - Film Review

2010-03-04T14:43:00.000-08:00

The 2009 film MALICE IN WONDERLAND, written by Jayson Rothwell and directed by Simon Fellows takes us on a maniacal spin down the rabbit hole into the underbelly of London. There are many nods and winks towards Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice in Wonderland but don’t let that fool you. Here stealing the tarts means nicking an eighteen wheeler full of prostitutes!! The film is very strange but also a little infectious; it has a madness about it which borders on annoying. A modern take on a classic tale where unfortunately the fantasy and enchantment was lost in translation, and what replaces it is freakishly bizarre. I’m sure that this was the intention and some viewers will love it. For me though, I felt like I was a nasty hallucinogenic trip and it left a bad taste in my mouth.

Alice (Maggie Grace) is knocked down by Whitey (Danny Dyer), a London cabbie and suffers amnesia as a result. In her quest for answers she pill-pops her way from one weird scenario to
another. The characters are the same as in Alice, but with a twist! (Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee are now doormen and the white rabbit is a cabbie). Everything about Malice in Wonderland is strange, but something compels us to keep watching, maybe it is the unspoken promise that it’s gonna be worth it eventually!? The acting was more than adequate and I did find myself caring what happened to Alice and Whitey and this helped keep my finger off the eject button.

Malice in Wonderland is a fast-paced, bizarre and disorienting trip. Along the way we meet gangsters, prostitutes, and criminals, the worst that society has to offer. The direction works superbly with the story and the musical score and together they give a feeling of confusion and dizziness that you will either love or hate.

Although this film was not for me, I did appreciate it as a very interesting piece of cinematography - but as for sitting down to a good movie? I’m afraid that unspoken promise of things to come never quite paid off. Despite the fact that I am glad I’ve seen it, I certainly won’t be recommending it to anyone unless I know they have a taste for the quirky and strange. In the end, it was all just a little too peculiar.

MALICE IN WONDERLAND (2009). Director: Simon Fellows. Writer: Jayson Rothwell. Cast: Maggie Dyer, Danny Dyer, Matt King, Nathaniel Parker, Bronagh Gallagher, Anthony Higgins, Steve Haze, Dave Lynn, Gary Beadle, Amanda Boxer.

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Overboard (1987) - Film Review

2010-03-04T14:40:00.000-08:00

Garry Marshall’s 1987 film OVERBOARD is a wonderful, funny, wholesome family film. It is not in the least offensive and can be enjoyed by your children and your granny. It’s never gonna win any movie awards but it’s always a hit in my household. The wonderful combination of Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell guarantees good chemistry and lots of laughs. If you are looking for good old fashioned family entertainment then you could do a lot worse than OVERBOARD.

When Rich bitch socialite Joanna Stayton (Goldie Hawn) employs rough and ready carpenter Dean Proffitt (Kurt Russell) to do some work on her yacht, the two have a disagreement over payment.
Dean gets his chance for revenge when Joanna falls overboard and suffers from amnesia. Imagine her horror when ‘nothing is ever good enough’ Joanna is told that not only is she Dean’s wife but also the Mother of his four unruly Children!!

With great humour and many comic moments we watch as Joanna struggles with motherhood and learns to cope with her demanding ‘Husband’. Overboard is superbly acted throughout, even the child actors are impressive. It’s well-made, good quirky fun. Throw into the mix Joanna’s husband (Edward Herrmann) and this is entertainment the way it used to be, and I love it! There is talk of a pointless remake, this film is perfect just the way it is and no-one could ever emulate the relationship between Hawn and Russell. If you fancy a bit of silliness in your life then why not click the link below…go on, go Overboard!!

OVERBOARD (1987). Director: Garry MarshallWriter: Leslie DixonCast: Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, Edward Herrmann, Roddy McDowall.

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Surrogates (2009) - Film Review

2010-02-20T05:07:00.000-08:00

I was expecting great things from Jonathon Mostow’s 2009 film SURROGATES, I’d enjoyed Mostow’s BREAKDOWN and TERMINATOR 3 so I felt optimistic that with Bruce Willis on board and a great concept, SURROGATES would be a thrilling and entertaining way to spend an hour and a half. After watching it, I can’t help thinking it should have been a two hour film, and perhaps someone has been a bit heavy handed in the editing room. There’s something about this film that feels rushed, there is no question that it’s action packed, but it isn’t the slick film it should have been.

Bruce Willis stars as Tom Greer, a cop who seldom has much work to do in a world where almost the entire population conduct their lives using avatar bodies known as Surrogates.The film chooses to
ignore the social implications of such a world. I wondered why is there little or no crime? Surely people still need to eat, still need money? How would the poor afford these surrogate bodies without resorting to crime? People’s surrogate bodies are, for the most part a younger, slimmer, more attractive version of themselves so as people live their lives this way how would any relationship work? Eventually they’d have to reveal themselves to one another, sure they can have sex ‘virtually’ but if they wanted to have children, they’re surely going to have to make physical contact eventually, and then you find out the stunning blonde you’ve fallen for is actually a short, fat bloke! Then of course there’s the muscular atrophy which would be a very real problem in a world where people remain hooked up to a chair for such extended periods - socially the problems caused would be huge.

Still, this is an action movie, so who cares? We don't want realism, we want action and adventure - so on to the story - when the son of the man who invented Surrogates is murdered using a special weapon which fries the brain of the person hooked up to the Surrogate, Greer has the first murder case in years on his hands. Predictably he finds himself working outside his scary looking, smooth-skinned, blonde-haired, Surrogate and running around as the bald, middle-aged [and I have to say, more attractive] man he really is.

There is plenty of action, but because it feels like it's packed in back to back, with no substance holding it together it works to the film’s detriment, I feel certain that the film was more ‘fleshed out’ before it was edited. The things that should have been character building, like the death of Greer’s son, are swept over so quickly that the impact on the characters is lost.

Ving Rhames stars as a man known as ‘The Prophet’, the leader of a small community of people who choose to live in their own skin rather than use the Surrogates, and although I usually like Rhames, his ham-acting in Surrogates is nothing short of irritating.

As an entertaining action film, Surrogates is still worth a watch, but please be wary of raising your expectations as high as I did. I love Bruce Willis, I love action films and I was expecting Surrogates to be a dream come true! Surrogates falls short of my ludicrously high expectations, but is still a fair action film.

SURROGATES (2009). Director: Jonathan Mostow. Writer: Michael Ferris & John D. Brancato. Cast: Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike, Ving Rhames.

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Dragon Quest DVD - Competition: CLOSED, WINNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED

2010-02-10T04:58:00.000-08:00

Released this month on DVD, DRAGON QUEST is an exciting fantasy adventure starring Jason Connery and Brian Johnson. Enter our competition to win one of three copies. For your chance to win send an email with the subject title ‘DRAGON’ with your name and address to popcorncandygirl@aol.com. Deadline: 18th February. The winner will be selected at random and notified by the 28th February.

Popcorn 'n' Candy promise not to use your details for anything else nor disclose them to any third parties.

It was a time of sword and sorcery; of dungeons and dragon hunting. It was a time of heroes. The dark knight Krill has summoned the Fire Dragon in a bid to become supreme ruler of this ancient world. As armies maraud through his town, young Arkadi is handed a mythical amulet by his grandfather who helps him escape the chaos and murder to the mountains bordering their country and the darkness beyond. Arkadi's quest is to discover a legendary knight, Maxim, prophesised as humanity's final hope to stop the diabolical Krill. With his king dead and the Earth of his beloved world scorched and destroyed, Arkadi discovers his destiny is to join with Maxim and become 'The Keeper'. Extra features: Trailer; 'Into The Darkness - The Making if Dragon Hunter'.

DVD Release date: 1st Feb 2010
Running time: 85 minutes
DVD RRP: £12.99
Cert: 12

Watch out for our review coming soon......

Three (AKA Survival Island) (2005) - Film Review

2010-02-10T04:45:00.000-08:00

THREE is an interesting film, on one hand it has so many flaws that it is frustrating to watch, and on the other it’s a very clever and observant study of human nature. If you can ignore all the ’Oh come on!’ moments and get past a few obvious continuity errors, then it is actually an entertaining watch.

Rich Texas businessman Jack (Billy Zane) and his Trophy wife Jennifer (Kelly Brook) set off with a couple of friends for a luxury getaway on a boat. After a fire onboard Jennifer finds herself washed up on a desert island with handsome boat-hand Manuel (Juan Pablo Di Pace). After a couple of days, the sexual tension
between the two is quickly building and the discovery of husband Jack washed up on shore is a major inconvenience for Manuel. Jack is understandably unhappy to see his wife already playing happy families with the lowly servant, and this is where the story becomes very interesting. As the two men antagonise each other and compete for the affections of the beautiful Jennifer, things get incredibly tense. We witness all the loathsome traits we humans have to offer and things quickly escalate from arguing about fish and hurt pride to an incredibly nasty climax.

There were aspects of the film which I loved; the wide-eyed and often under-rated Billy Zane, who played his part superbly, the wonderful observation of the three characters and the different ways in which they cope with an increasingly bad situation. Unfortunately there were also lots of minor problems that I just couldn’t ignore; the lighter, unaffected by seawater and never needing a refill, the ridiculous home-made goggles that are miraculously airtight, a naked Jennifer suddenly wearing pants, a re-appearing t-shirt……… and so many ‘ Yeah right!!’ moments.

Three could have been believable, but because of these flaws (any many others too), the reality was lost. There was a strange voodoo element too which was totally unnecessary and only assisted in the destruction of realism. Kelly Brook for the best part looked like she was posing for a calendar, with her ample breasts and the stunning back-drop of the gorgeous island; there is no doubt that the male viewers will be kept happy.

There are a few twists to keep us entertained and Three is by no means a bad film, but it could have been great. One thing is for sure, after seeing Billy Zane in Dead Calm, Titanic, and now Three I’d have to think twice before climbing on-board with him!!

THREE (2005). Writer/Director: Stewart Raffill. Cast: Billy Zane, Kelly Brook, Juan Pablo Di Pace.

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The Ugly Truth (2009) - Film Review

2010-01-31T06:36:00.000-08:00

THE UGLY TRUTH is a romantic comedy with the emphasis on the comedy, which makes a nice change. Sometimes a little risqué the comedy is brash enough for the film to appeal to men, whilst there’s still enough predictable romance to appeal to the average rom-com loving female, finally a rom-com with something for everyone.

Katherine Heigl stars as Abby Richter a control freak TV show producer who takes her controlling behaviour from workplace and into her relationships, with devastating effect. She believes
the man of her dreams is out there, but the chances are she’ll scare him away with her domineering personality.

Mike Chadway (Gerard Butler) has his own cable show called ‘The Ugly Truth’. In his own shocking, macho, uncouth style, he tells his viewers exactly how it is. Believing that modern day man still has all the attributes of the cave-man and is ruled by his sexual urges rather than his brain, that romance doesn’t exist, and all the women waiting for it to happen are delusional.

When the ratings on Abby’s Sacramento morning TV show, start to flag, her boss enlists Mike to give her show a little oomph. Abby is outraged that such an oaf has been given a spot on her precious show, but the viewers love him!

Abby is lusting after her neighbour and is worried that she’ll scare him away like the others; Mike claims that if she follows his instructions she’ll have him eating out of her hand. Sceptical, but desperate, Abby agrees.

The hatred between these two characters can only mean one thing; true love is in the air, but will they ever admit it to each other? It’s not hard to guess how The Ugly Truth will end, but it is a lot of fun getting there, and the chemistry between the two actors is great. I have always found Gerard Butler a strange choice, because he isn’t a great looking man and he only talks out of one side of his mouth, he appears an unlikely choice for any leading role. However, he’s perfect in The Ugly Truth, and the more films I see him in, the more I appreciate his acting skills. Yes, I’m surprised to find that Gerard Butler has grown on me!

THE UGLY TRUTH (2009). Director: Robert Luketic. Writers: Nicole Eastman, Karen McCullah Lutz. Cast: Katherine Heigl, Gerard Butler, Bree Turner, Eric Winter.

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Youth in Revolt (2009) - Film Review

2010-01-25T14:18:00.000-08:00

Miguel Arteta’s new romantic comedy YOUTH IN REVOLT is certainly more of a comedy than a romance, and in spite of reading some rather unfavourable reviews I found myself surprisingly entertained.

Michael Cera plays Nick Twisp an awkward yet precocious teenage boy. Much to Nick’s dismay he is still a virgin, whilst everyone around him, including his parents (Steve Buscemi and Jean Smart) who are separated, have very active sex lives. In fact the only person he knows who is more of a loser than himself is his tragic mate ‘Lefty’.

After visiting a trailer park for a week, he meets and falls in lust with Sheeni Saunders (Portia Doubleday) the daughter of very conservative and religious parents. Sheeni and Nick have the same pretentious interests and both yearn for a more exciting, devil-may-care life. When the week is up and Nick has to head home, but he promises he’ll find a way to come back to her.

Once at home, Nick is worried that Sheeni’s ex-boyfriend, a taller, more handsome, and more experienced boy, will steal her away. Enter François Dillinger, Nick’s rebellious alter-ego. Who is like the devil on his shoulder, only life size! The plan? To rebel so much that his mother chucks him out to live with his father - who just happens to live near Sheeni.

With his alter ego on board it isn’t long before poor, awkward, Nick is raising hell; he’s wanted by the police, and Sheeni’s parents have sent her miles away to boarding school for her own protection!

Youth in Revolt is funny because Micheal Cera is funny, and although he always plays the same kind of troubled, thoroughly nice, but somewhat misguided teenage virgin, he does play it very well. What makes Youth in Revolt even more entertaining is his take on the suavely rebellious François! A vision of gayness in his light blue and white, with a wispy moustache and moccasin shoes, James Dean he ain’t – but in Nick’s head, this is the perfect bad-ass, and that alone is hilarious!

Undoubtedly some of the big names were there to boost the credits, because Steve Buscemi, Ray Liotta and Justin Long all had very small roles, but the roles they had were well played, I just wish the film had been longer so I could have seen more of them! I don’t recommend Youth in Revolt to anyone hoping for a heart-warming romance, but if you want light-hearted entertainment which is well acted and extremely well scripted, then you could do much worse.

YOUTH IN REVOLT (2009). Director: Miguel Arteta. Writer: Gustin Nash (Screenplay) C.D. Payne (Novel). Cast: Michael Cera, Portia Doubleday, Steve Buscemi, Ray Liotta, Justin Long.

Three Miles North of Molkom - Competition: CLOSED, WINNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED

2010-01-24T10:34:00.000-08:00

Enter our competition to win one of two copies of THREE MILES NORTH OF MOLKOM on DVD, which is released on 25th January. For your chance to win send an email with the subject title ‘MOLKOM’ with your name and address to popcorncandygirl@aol.com. Deadline: 31st January. The winner will be selected at random and notified by the 5th February.

Popcorn 'n' Candy promise not to use your details for anything else nor disclose them to any third parties.

Hidden deep in the lakeside forests of Sweden, lies Angsbacka; a 21st Century playground for adults. Once a year, their gates open to a thousand international participants, placed in 'Sharing Groups' at random. A Swedish celebrity, a Californian hippy, a Finnish grandmother and a back-packing Australian rugby coach, who stumbled on the wrong party, are amongst the group that take us on an unforgettably quirky, two-week emotional roller-coaster. Fire walking, Shamanism, Tantric Sex and myriad other physical, psychological and esoteric experiences, guide our unlikely heroes towards enlightenment, love, loathing and themselves. Will they ever be the same again?

DVD Special Features Include:

• Angsbacka – Meet the commune featurette
• The Blogger’s guide to New Age
• The No Mind Festival at Angsbacka – what’s it all about?
• An Angsbacka Virgin – First impressions of the No Mind Festival
• Theatrical Trailer

DVD Release date: 25th January 2010
Running time: 107 minutes
DVD RRP: £15.99
Cert: 15

Blood and Bone (2009) - Film Review (DVD)

2010-01-24T09:30:00.000-08:00

Every now and then an action film comes along that surprises me. BLOOD AND BONE is one of those films. This is a hard-hitting, ass-kicking, bone-breaking film with some fight scenes so good they had me hitting the rewind button. Whilst it lacks in certain areas, no fan of cage fighting, UFC or any other martial arts films should let this one pass them by.

The film starts with Isaiah Bone (Michael Jai White) in a prison bathroom about to get shanked by a gang of bad-asses. Bone has other ideas, in a swift, action-packed fight sequence; he quickly lays them all out flat and this sets the tone for the rest of the film.

On his release from prison, Bone rents a room from a lady called Tamara (Nona Gaye) and begins to work his way from the bottom rung of the underground street fighting ladder to the top, with the encouragement of his manager Pinball (Dante Basco). For much of the film there seems to be little motive for what appears on the surface to be a pretty nice guy, getting involved in these street brawls, but of course, as in all good action films, there is a motive, and we learn that later.

Michael Jai White is very believable as the seemingly invincible Bone. The fight scenes are slick and brutal and perfectly choreographed - this is a film filled with testosterone, and old school action fans will love it! Whilst the direction and acting are as good as anyone could expect for a film of this type, the screenplay does let it down slightly – Bone could have been so much cooler for the want of a couple of good one-liners. He’s built like he’s been forged from pure steel, he fears no one, he can box and do martial arts, he’s a master swordsman, yet there is still something missing, and for me it’s the quick-wit, the amazing come-backs – there’s usually at least one line in an action film that makes you think ‘I wish I could be that cool’, but not in Blood and Bone, and that did leave me wanting.

Fans of Jean-Claude Van Damme, Chuck Norris, and Steven Seagal, could do much worse than Blood and Bone. The fight scenes are as good as any you’ll see, and Michael Jai White is every inch the action hero, I’d love to see what he could do with a really well-written script, because even without that, Blood and Bone kicks ass!

BLOOD AND BONE (2009). Director: Ben Ramsey. Writer: Michael Andrews. Cast: Michael Jai White, Dante Basco, Nona Gaye, Eammon Walker.

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Terminator Salvation (2009) - Film Review

2010-01-24T05:53:00.000-08:00

The fourth in the Terminator series had big shoes to fill – James Cameron’s THE TERMINATOR, and TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY were fantastically tense, action packed films with real heart. TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES seldom gets the credit it deserves, whilst not being as good as its predecessors; it is a valiant attempt. As a huge Arnold Schwarzenegger fan, I felt certain that this film was pointless - without Arnie, you got nothing. In reality though, TERMINATOR SALVATION is a kick ass, very impressive action film.

Terminator Salvation is set in 2018, therefore there’s no need for any more time travelling characters, John Connor is now an adult and member of ‘the resistance’, his father Kyle Reese is still only a teenager, and has not yet been sent back to save Sarah Connor (yes, we all know the whole story is impossible – but let’s suspend our disbelief and just enjoy the film).

The film opens with Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), a man on death row for crimes he clearly regrets, being given a second chance at life by donating his organs to medical research. He signs his body away to Skynet.

2018 and most of humanity has been destroyed by Skynet, most buildings have been levelled and the earth is a wasteland with only a few survivors. John Connor (Christian Bale), on a mission with ‘the resistance’, inadvertently frees Marcus, who is definitely no longer a dead man! The two must fight together to find Kyle Reese, and destroy Skynet, before it destroys them all. Blair Williams (Moon Bloodgood) is caught up in the excitement and finds herself falling for Marcus - who is not quite the man she thinks he is.

There are machines everywhere, in the sky, on the land, and even under water, so there’s action at every turn, and in true Terminator style, this is big, over-the-top action with explosions, chases, and good old hand to hand combat. There are no shape-changing Terminators like in the second and third film; the ones here are very much solid machines – the superior, later models yet to be invented.

There is so much I could say about the story, but I would give away too much, no doubt if you’ve read other reviews, it’s already too late, but I’d rather give my views on a film without spoiling the reader’s viewing pleasure. The fourth does salute the others though, the same Guns & Roses song in the bike scene, the odd punch in the face we recognise, even a familiar looking Terminator, and the line ‘I’ll be back’ which belongs to the first film, and should stay there!

If there is a problem with this film it is that it breaks the Terminator mould and the result is a bit of a misfit. I have always considered the previous films to be a sci-fi version of a ‘stalk ‘n’ slash’ film. There are one or two individuals being hunted down and killed, and anyone who gets in the way becomes a casualty. This is my favourite type of film, the tension as the enemy closes in, the horror when he finally catches up and that moment when all appears to be lost. Sadly, this is lacking in Terminator Salvation and that was no doubt a deliberate decision, and possibly a wise decision, Arnold played both the hunter and the defender perfectly and those shoes are without doubt, impossible to fill. The chemistry between the actors in the first two films gave them real heart and it was too hard an act to follow.

What Terminator Salvation does deliver though is a film which is beautifully directed with a great understated performance from Worthington, and a solid performance from Bale, Terminator Salvation is an entertaining chunk of action, which stands alone as a great film.

Terminator Salvation (2009). Director: McG. Writer: John D. Brancato, Michael Ferris. Cast: Sam Worthington, Christian Bale, Moon Bloodgood, Helena Bonham Carter.

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The Prince and The Pauper (2007) - Film Review

2010-01-24T05:30:00.000-08:00

My nine year old Daughter stumbled across THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER on Disney Movies this week. Being a huge fan of Disney’s A SUITE LIFE OF ZAC & CODY, she was excited to find it. We watched it together, and though I found it to be a predictable and uninspired offering, my daughter (who is after all, part of the pre-teen target audience for this movie) absolutely loved it. It was certainly a good way to keep my normally chatty daughter quiet for a while. And if for that reason alone, I highly recommend it.

James Quattrochi’s 2007 straight-to-DVD film The Prince and The Pauper is a modern take on a classic Mark Twain story. Starring twins Cole and Dylan Sprouse (From Disney’s The Suite Life of Zac & Cody) as two boys from totally different
backgrounds; one, a disillusioned film star, and the other an orphaned schoolboy with big Hollywood aspirations who lives with his Grandpa. They stumble across each other and a switch takes place. As they both realise that the grass is not always greener on the other side, they struggle to regain their own lives and convince those around them that they are not who they seem to be. The moral to all viewers - be grateful for what you have.

The Prince and the Pauper is filled with childish humour and although I could see the ending coming from several miles away on a foggy day, it still seemed to hit the spot with its target audience. The fact that the twins are not so identical didn’t help; I could tell the difference, never mind their own family!! If you can get past it though, The Prince and the Pauper will to appeal to any Zac and Cody fans and pretty much all pre-teen girls. I found the twins’ acting to be mediocre at best, and have seen the old ‘swap’ thing done much better by the Olsen twins (It Takes Two. 1995). That being said, The Prince and the Pauper is an enjoyable watch, like many other Disney channel offerings, it’s inoffensive and sickly-sweet - but it’s always great to see a movie made for kids, that isn’t too painful for the parents to sit through. My nine year old daughter gave it a big thumbs-up and a ten out of ten and I gave it the time of day.

A MODERN TWAIN STORY: THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER (2007). Director: James Quattrochi. Writer: Amanda Moresco. Cast: Cole Sprouse, Dylan Sprouse, Kay Panabaker, Vincent Spano, De Dee Pfeiffer, Ed Lauter, Sally Kellerman.

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Public Enemies (2009) - Film Review

2010-01-24T04:58:00.000-08:00

Michael Mann’s recent box office success PUBLIC ENEMIES looked so full of promise. This true story of bank robberies and jail breaks, starring Johnny Depp as the notorious John Dillinger, and Christian Bale as his cocksure antagonist, FBI agent Melvin Purvis, should have it all. At two and a half hours, this should be an epic action adventure that will have you on the edge of your seat. You will note that I use the word ‘should’. It ‘should’ be a lot of things, but sadly it isn’t.

Although both actors work well with the material they are given, that material is lacking in so many areas that I hardly know where to start. Purvis is an unflappable, arrogant, determined, and stoic character played competently by Bale. But what the writer has failed to capture, is the frustration Purvis would have felt each
time Dillinger slipped through his fingers. Purvis would have been furious! This agent, praised in the press for his ability to ‘get his man’ is being publicly humiliated by his squad’s incompetence at every turn, and yet he remains unrealistically calm.

The fact is Purvis’ squad could not be more incompetent; at one point Dillinger actually walks right into the FBI Dillinger Squad’s office and waves himself under their noses! This was one of the few moments that I really enjoyed as it showed us something of Dillinger’s character.

To some, Dillinger was a ‘Robin Hood’ character, to others a heinous criminal, I was left undecided, which can only be a reflection of how vague the storytelling is. There are many characters that come and go so quickly, I was left confused as to why they’d been introduced at all. Why should these people matter to us if we don’t even know who they are? I’m sure that back in their day these characters with the colourful names were living legends, but I wasn’t around back in the day and was left wondering about these characters. They should have been explored in more depth, or left out altogether.

I was not convinced by the love story between Dillinger and his girl ‘Billie’ [Marion Cotillard]. The chemistry between the two actors could have been better, and I wondered just how much of this great romance should be believed, after all, later in the movie he is at the cinema with a prostitute! Am I to believe they are ‘just good friends’? My reaction to the movie was hugely dependant on my acceptance of the depth of feeling between these two characters, believing in this relationship was a crucial factor, and unfortunately, as I was sceptical about their romance, it was impossible for me to care enough about it.

On a positive note, the movie looks good. No question [apart from the race track scene where there’s an over-abundance of beiges and creams!], these guys look cool. The shoot-out scenes are brilliant, but like the robbery scenes they are over all too soon. The cars are cool, the guns are cool, and for the most part the direction is cool. Why, this movie could have been as cool as ice and I’m pretty cheesed off that it was wasted. These great-looking scenes are cut between sprawling scenes of ‘not much doing’. The movie spends too much time building the unbelievable romance in an obvious attempt to show us Dillinger’s softer side. It should focus more on the other facets of his character. It would have been nice to leave the cinema feeling I knew a little more about him.

I came out knowing he was a jail-breaking, bank robber, but I knew that when I went in.

I knew he’d been a clever man, he must have been to pull off the robberies and jail breaks. These must have taken a huge amount of planning, but the movie fails to show us any of that planning, showing us only a few seconds of the action and I was left wanting.

There are lines that show us what type of man he was and I appreciated them. Such as when he is talking about how the faces of dying men ‘keep you awake at night’ he is asked ‘what keeps you awake at night?’ His response? One word: ‘Coffee’. Brilliant! That one word tells you more about Dillinger than the whole rest of the movie. I wanted this guy to be that cool all the way through. At their coolest both Dillinger and the movie are brilliant, but the brilliance is drowned in a sea of glossy mediocrity and that’s a crying shame.

Public Enemies spends too much time telling us that this is a cat and mouse story and not enough time showing us the action of the chase. We’ve all heard the saying ‘the chase is better than the catch’ but in this instance neither one are exciting enough.

It has all the ingredients, and at times looks so slick and glamorous that I really want to like it, and I have no doubt that some people, trying to be sophisticated, will declare this as a ‘brilliant, epic movie’, and others will jump on their band wagon, scared to death that they’ll be rumbled for not being discerning enough to appreciate such a classy film.

I’m glad I watched it, because those cool scenes, albeit short, are so sweet, and for those few moments of glory Public Enemies is worth a watch.

PUBLIC ENEMIES (2009). Director: Michael Mann, Writer: Ronan Bennett, Michael Mann. Cast: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cottilard, Stephen Dorff.

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Vantage Point (2008) - Film Review

2010-01-24T04:48:00.000-08:00

If mind-blowing disaster shots, awesome car chases, huge explosions, and fast-paced, exhilarating action are your cup of tea, then you could do a lot worse than Pete Travis’s 2008 Action thriller VANTAGE POINT. With a quirky way of telling the story, this film is a little different to most, but as I was pulled along at break-neck speed, I found myself enjoying the ride!

When the president of the U.S (William Hurt) is shot and a huge explosion occurs during a peace summit in Spain, all hell breaks loose. Amongst the debris are several survivors all with a different viewpoint. This is where the film gets interesting;
we rewind and see the previous 23 minutes of time played out several times from various perspectives, each one leaving us with a mini cliff-hanger. Although the stop, rewind, play idea is unusual, it gets very close to becoming repetitive and annoying. Fortunately is doesn’t continue for the duration of the movie and it is a clever way of allowing us to piece together the events. The speed with which the film moves, quickly drags us past any minor discrepancies before we have time to process them. Vantage Point is a high-speed action thriller, intelligently written and competently acted. The stunt team deserve the highest praise for one of the most amazing car chases I have ever seen!

Dennis Quaid plays the part of Thomas Barnes, a secret service agent recently returned to duty from medical leave. He plays the role convincingly, and although not one of my favourite actors, I warmed to his character. Sigourney Weaver seems almost wasted as Rex Brooks, the lady in charge of the news control room, and the first vantage point from which we witness the disaster. Although her acting was solid enough, the part was a little boring and seemed a waste of great talent. Forest Whitaker takes on the role of Howard Lewis, a bumbling but very likeable tourist who manages to have the whole thing on camcorder - yet another vantage point! All in all the acting was more than adequate but what made the film was the action shots, seen from many different perspectives and impressively done. I also liked the fact that the bad guys were intelligent too; this always helps and stands films like Die Hard apart from many others.

There are flaws in the story and I’m sure if you analysed it, you could find some minor indiscretion with the timeline, but the film moves at such an accelerated pace, with so many twists and turns that you simply don’t have time to question it. You do need to get past the initial annoyance and repetitive feel of the re-run idea. This is Vantage Point’s major flaw, but is forgivable if only because of those sweet action shots and that high-octane car chase, which really is the highlight of the film.

VANTAGE POINT (2008). Director: Pete Travis. Writer: Barry Levy. Cast: Dennis Quaid, Matthew fox, Forest whitaker, Bruse McGill, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, Edgar Ramirez.

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The Secret Life of Bees (2008) - Film Review

2010-01-23T02:41:00.000-08:00

THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES is a strange mix of racial hatred, sisterly love, child abuse, and forbidden romance. A pretty film with a few moments of high drama, THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES is a little too sickly-sweet to really get to grips with some of the more gritty storylines. It does however show a couple of nasty scenes of racial violence which touch on what the film could have been. But this is more a sub-plot within what is really a tale of a teenage girl’s journey to find the truth.

With a 1964 backdrop of racial tension and the early civil rights movement, The Secret Life of Bees is an adaptation of Sue monk Kid’s novel. Written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, it tells the story of Lilly Owens (Dakota Fanning). Racked with guilt over a horrific event 10 years ago, and upset over a vicious
race attack on her housekeeper Rosaleen (superbly acted by Jennifer Hudson), Lily runs away from her bullying father (Paul Bettany) taking Rosaleen with her. The two find themselves on the doorstep of a bright pink house in South Carolina occupied by three very different sisters August, June, and May Boatwright (Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okenedo). The sisters, have different personalities but are all strong-minded, independent women who make their living keeping bees and selling their honey. Lily and Rosaleen have never met such formidable black women before and soon settle into a blissful family environment of bee-keeping and domesticity that they never imagined existed.

The Secret Life of Bees does have a few dramatic moments which prevent it from falling flat, the race issues raise their head a couple of times and this makes for pretty powerful stuff. This is simply a backdrop though, the story mainly centres on Lily as she struggles to find the truth about her Mother and find the reason behind her Father’s behaviour. All of the main characters are played with true heart and each feature as strongly as the other. Queen Latifah’s performance stands out as August, whose gentle and wise nature is incredibly charming. There are a couple of romances running through the story too, and the whole film is incredibly beautiful to look at. There are times when it is in danger of becoming too sugary sweet but it just about gets away with it.

Set in a time when colour was a real issue, The Secret Life of Bees could have centred around this a little more than it did and been a more gripping watch. However, that being said it is a stunning film, featuring fantastic characters which were wonderfully portrayed. I normally like my films a little more gritty and in the end it was all a little too honeyed for my taste. In parts it captures the horrible reality of being black and living in the Deep South in 1964. On the other hand, it shows the more idealistic life, where three Black women live an independent life in a bright pink house and somehow the two don’t sit well together. The Secret Life of Bees is a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours but isn’t going to be etched into your memory and will soon be forgotten.

THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES (2008). Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood. Writers: Gina Prince-Bythewood (screenplay), Sue Monk Kid (novel). Cast: Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okenedo, Paul Bettany, Hilarie Burton, Tristan Wilds, Nate Parker, Shondrella Avery.

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Avatar (2009) - Film Review

2010-01-23T02:23:00.000-08:00

It comes as no surprise to me that James Cameron’s 2009 film AVATAR has been nominated for eight BAFTAs, I saw this in 3D and came away feeling that I had not only watched AVATAR, but I had experienced it. Hypnotically beautiful, imaginative, and perfectly executed, AVATAR is more than an action movie; this is cinema magic at its very, very best.

2154 and humans are on the moon Pandora, their intention to rid the moon of its inhabitants; blue skinned, giants with golden eyes called the Na’vi, and mine their precious minerals. The Na’vi
pose no threat to humans, being a gentle race of peace loving people who are at one with nature, and respect all living things, living their lives somewhat like the Native Americans. Humans on the other hand show no regard for the Na’vi or their environment, ex-military men led by Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) are sent in by the greedy Parker Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi) to conquer them using any force necessary.

In the meantime Dr Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) is more interested in learning from these wonderful creatures than killing them. Her team of scientists have created Avatar bodies which look exactly like the Na’vi, using a formula which includes human DNA. The idea is that the DNA holder can go into a kind of ‘cybersleep’ and inhabit their matched Avatar body to infiltrate the Na’vi and learn from them. Paraplegic ex-marine Jake Sully is brought in to replace his twin brother who has recently died. With no training or real knowledge of the world of Pandora he agrees to inhabit the Avatar and go in his brother’s stead. Behind Grace’s back, big bad Colonel Miles Quaritch gives Jake (Sam Worthington) orders to bring back information which will help him find the Na’vi’s weakness and defeat them.

Once Jake has control over the Avatar he can walk again, he can run again, and he feels liberated. On a dangerous and action-packed visit to Pandora his life is saved by Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and over time a relationship is formed with her, her people and the land of Pandora. Sully finds his loyalties divided and he has to choose between obeying orders, and protecting the people and the land he has grown to love.

Sounds a bit soppy doesn’t it? Don’t let that fool you, Avatar has plenty of amazing action, and if I tell you about it here I’ll spoil the plot, which is not what I’m about, but trust me Cameron does not disappoint, he delivers some spectacular fighting scenes, some devastating scenes of terror and by the time we reach act three, it seems like all hope is lost – but that’s what Hollywood blockbusters are all about!

The 3D is every bit as ground-breaking as was promised. It doesn’t jump out from the screen so much as have great depth, turning the cinema screen into a window to Pandora. It looks so amazing that I could imagine myself stepping through that window and into the breathtaking world of Pandora, and what a world that is! The imagination that conjured up some of the animals and plants from that world is incredible, from the largest dragons to the tiniest plant seed the beauty in every detail is magical, sometimes majestic, and this is not something that can be over-hyped and leave you wanting, no, I promise you, if you see this in the cinema in 3D you will be in awe.

The way reality blends with special effects is seamless, the acting amazing all round, and I loved the echoes of the Alien films that I saw from time to time, seeing Sigourney Weaver come out of cybersleep some 30 years after Alien was a real blast from the past! This time though everything is turned on its head, it is humans who are the alien, cold-hearted invaders from another world, and at no point did I want the humans to win!

With heart stopping action, breath taking visuals, and state of the art special effects, Avatar is a film that will etch itself onto your brain and be remembered forever. If there really is magic in the movies, then James Cameron is the greatest magician that ever lived.

AVATAR (2009). Director/Writer: James Cameron. Cast: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana, Steven Lang, Giavanni Ribisi.

* Many thanks to David at The Odeon Harrogate

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How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008) - Film Review

2010-01-22T14:37:00.000-08:00

Based on Toby Young’s memoirs of the five years he spent working for Vanity Fair, HOW TO LOSE FRIENDS & ALIENATE PEOPLE is a strange romantic comedy. It isn’t anywhere near romantic enough to appeal to Rom Com fans and although it has comic moments that almost make this film fly; these are often spoiled by the romantic sub-plot. In fact HOW TO LOSE FRIENDS actually becomes the butt of its own joke by passing over its comic possibilities to create wider audience appeal. What could have been a vicious and wickedly funny comedy actually seems to fall into a crack between genres, and most of the funny content is lost in the mix-up.

Sidney Young (Simon Pegg) is a British journalist writing for a radical left-wing mag. After gate-crashing a celebrity party with a pig, he gains enough publicity to become interesting and is offered a job by Clayton Harding (Jeff Bridges). Harding runs
Sharps magazine, one of the top sellers from the U.S and Young feels his feet are firmly on the rung of a great career ladder. Young soon realises however, that his hatred of the celebs he’s hired to write about could pose him huge problems. He is loathed by all but one of his workmates and his British eccentricities are not often appreciated. His immediate boss, Laurence Maddox (Danny Huston) takes an instant dislike to him and Young soon realises that the only way he’s going to make it, not only in his career, but also to fulfil his lust for an up and coming actress, is to sell out completely, become a turn-coat and start some serious ass-kissing.

Harding, at the same time as being angered by Young’s silly antics and strange behaviour is also humoured by them and it is obvious these two guys see a little of themselves in each other. The moments between these two characters are amongst the best, but sadly these are few and far between. There are some really funny moments, and I feel that if the romance had been left out, the comedy would have flourished. I never felt that the romantic pairing was quite right, there are no sparks between the two characters and it will do little to quell the audience’s desire for true love.

Although the film is nicely made and well acted, I feel the decision to sacrifice a side-splittingly funny movie to create a mixed-up disjointed offering such as this, was a bad one, and sadly How to Lose Friends & Alienate People doesn’t recover from it.There are some hilarious lines and great chemistry between Bridges and Pegg and this makes it worth a watch. It isn’t what it could have been though, and that’s a real shame.

HOW TO LOSE FRIENDS & ALIENATE PEOPLE (2008). Director: Robert B. Weide. Writer: Peter Straughan, Tobey Young. Cast: Simon Pegg, Jeff Bridges, Danny Huston.

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All About Steve (2009) - Film Review

2010-01-22T14:29:00.000-08:00

Phil Traill’s new romantic comedy ALL ABOUT STEVE has had some dreadful reviews, and I can only imagine that this is why I found myself all alone in the cinema. Literally! There I was like the world’s biggest loser, Johnny no mates, all alone in what was actually a huge theatre – it was brilliant! No rattling bags, no whispers, no mobile phones lighting up [‘off’ means ‘off’ people, not ‘vibrate!’]. Yes - sometimes alone is good! So back to the film - is it really that bad? To be honest it’s annoying and entertaining in equal measure!

Mary Horowitz (Sandra Bullock) is a woman whose brain is bursting with trivia, she is the crossword constructor for her local newspaper and she seems to know everything about everything - this is one smart lady. However, as well as being smart, Mary
is also somewhat annoying, she’s hyperactive, over-cheerful, and she insists on sharing her wealth of knowledge with everyone she meets, she can’t resist it, it’s like a running commentary of facts and figures, and this can be more than a little irritating. Wearing bright red disco boots wherever she goes adds to her eccentricity, and it seems her only friend is her hamster called Carol, with whom she has very meaningful conversations! As intelligent as she is, Mary is oblivious to her potential to irritate almost everyone she meets.

Temporarily living at home with her parents and with no boyfriend, she is constantly being asked why she can’t be more ‘normal’. The usually happy Mary begins to feel the need to ‘fit in’. In spite of her better judgement she goes on a blind date with Steve (Bradley Cooper) a news camera man. To her surprise he is not remotely gay [she deduces this from the plethora of sporting equipment he has in his van!] and he’s rather dishy. Before the van has even pulled away from her parents’ drive she has dragged him into the back and is tearing his clothes off like a woman possessed! Unfortunately Mary, ever the oddball, decides to start a running commentary on the whole thing, and Steve realises this girl may be hot, but she’s way too talkative! Right on cue, he gets a call from work about a breaking news story, and hurriedly ejects Mary from his vehicle. He drives away, letting out a huge sigh of relief.

Mary however, apparently numb to other people’s signals, doesn’t sense his relief and obsessed with her new man is fired the next day for publishing a crossword all about Steve. With no job to tie her down she decides to find Steve and join him on the road. By following the breaking news, she finds out where he’s likely to be, and sets off in her bright red disco boots to surprise him. Mary follows [stalks!] him and anchor man Hartman Hughes (Thomas Haden Church) wherever they go. If there’s breaking news Steve’s there – and so is Mary!

Steve is trying desperately to shake her off, but encouraged by Hartman, who is enjoying Steve’s predicament way too much, she stays on his tail. En route she annoys almost everyone she meets with her incessant jabbering. Though Norm the truck driver, and Howard the apple sculptor are among a few who warm to her bubbly personality.

The acting overall is fine, though Sandra Bullock could possibly win an award for over-acting and this does make All About Steve less enjoyable. In fact the first half of All About Steve is totally irritating! I know Mary is supposed to be annoying, but Sandra Bullock takes this to a whole new level, and I was beginning to wish I’d never gone to see the film at all! What surprised me was that I did eventually warm to her slightly, not enough to want to befriend her or anything, but I stopped wanting to throttle her! All About Steve is worth watching for the cheesy feel good ending, I’m not going to tell you what happens, but it’s a great end to Mary’s journey and along the way she learns that no matter how different you are, there’s always someone who thinks you’re special......

ALL ABOUT STEVE (2009). Director: Phil Traill. Writer: Kim Barker. Cast: Sandra Bullock, Bradley Cooper, Thomas Haden Church, Ken Jeong.

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17 Again (2009) - Film Review

2010-01-22T14:19:00.000-08:00

I stood in the queue at the cinema, a good 20 years older than the average viewer, surrounded by giggling, teenage girls whipping each other into a mild frenzy. After all, this was the new Zac Efron movie! I sat in my seat surrounded by dizzy schoolgirls and when Zac threw on his leather jacket and turned to camera, the whole cinema gave out a huge sigh. It was then that I realised, mediocre cinematography and a weak story were going to pose no problem to Burr Steers’ 17 AGAIN, It didn’t need to be the best looking film in the world; after all it had Zac Efron. Its mission was accomplished. It was going to be a hit, and as I sat and watched, I actually found myself enjoying it.

Mike O’Donnell (Mathew Perry) is a 37 year old guy, dissatisfied with his life and hankering after the good old days when he was the star of the basketball team and the world was his oyster. Feeling cheated of the last 20 years of his life; Mike wishes that he could be 17 again. Enter Zac Efron! After falling into some kind of
weird vortex, Mike emerges as a 17 year old hunk with his whole adult life to live again. Of course, he’s got a lesson to learn, as in all age-swap movies (Big, 13 Going on 30, Freaky Friday etc), but he has to find that out for himself.

17 Again is a minefield of inappropriate flirtations, as an adult, I cringed to see a 37 year old woman lusting after a 17 year old boy and there were plenty of times when I thought certain scenes were stomach churning. But remember, this film is aimed not at the adult market but at young teenage girls. These girls loved it, they didn’t look as deeply as I, and they merely saw the humour of the situation. Thomas Lennon played the role of Mike’s child-like nerd of a best friend Ned, and did a wonderful job; the dialogue between the two, and the attractive school principle (Melora Hardin) was childishly witty and had the audience giggling throughout. Although 17 Again will never win any movie making awards, it did do what it set out to do. It entertained teenage girls and wasn’t so bad that their parents couldn’t enjoy it along with them. I was surprised that a movie with such a simple tale to tell could actually manage to entertain me for over an hour and a half.

The writers made it very easy for themselves, Mike simply got younger. There was no time-travel involved, no bumping into his former self to worry about, so it didn’t require the genius of films like Back To The Future. However, I did question the casting. Zac Efron? Yes! I get it, he’s handsome and cool and VERY popular, but Matthew Perry? He doesn’t even resemble Efron in any way. I didn’t realise that your head can change shape with age!! That being said as I shuffled through the foyer surrounded by swooning girls all planning to meet again next week and hand over another weeks pocket money, I realised, none of this matters. 17 again had enough humour to entertain and with Zac Efron on board it was always going to be a winner.

17 AGAIN (2009). Director: Burr Steers. Writer: Jason Filardi. Cast: Zac Efron, Mathew Perry, Leslie Mann, Thomas Lennon, Tyler Steelman, Sterling Knight, Michelle Trachtenberg, Melora Hardin, Adam Gregory, Mario Cassem, Hunter Parrish.

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The Hangover (2009) - Film Review

2010-01-19T14:13:00.000-08:00

Although billed as a comedy, THE HANGOVER also has enough mystery to keep most folk interested whether humoured or not. Though it didn’t have me laughing, it kept me filled with mirth and smiling throughout. We can all imagine the blind panic of waking up and realising that we had misplaced the wedding rings - well imagine misplacing the groom!!

Best friends Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms), and Doug (Justin Bartha) head out to Vegas to celebrate Doug’s stag night in
style. Tagging along is Alan (Zach Galifianakis), the Brother of the Bride Tracy (Sasha Barrese). The four guys rent a swish villa in Caesar’s Palace and set out on a hedonistic night of drunken debauchery and misadventure. Waking in the morning there are several things in the villa that shouldn’t be there, a tiger in the bathroom, a baby in the closet and evidence of a wild and interesting night. There are also a few things missing - most obviously, the groom!

Remembering absolutely nothing, the guys set out to retrace their steps and piece together their movements from the night before. They have less than 48 hours ‘til the wedding and are on a race against time mission to find Doug before having to confess all to Tracy. The mix of four totally different characters works amazingly well and some great one-liners keep the humour throughout. Phil is a school teacher and a Dad; he is arrogant and obviously resents how boring his life has become. Stu is a dentist and spends most of the film in a state of wild panic about what his overbearing, control freak of a girlfriend will say if she finds out. Doug is your average guy and doesn’t feature too much due to the fact that he’s lost! Alan (or ’fat Jesus’) stole the show for me; he had some great lines and was definitely the main comedy element. There was a clever nod towards Rain Man in the casino that raised a smile too.

The Hangover is an entertaining bad-lad comedy, which is crude, rude and not politically correct. Your mum probably wouldn’t like it! The direction by Todd Phillips (Road Trip) is great, with stunning views of the Vegas skyline and more than adequate cinematography. The music score fits the bill and the acting is above par for this type of film. Women don’t feature too strongly in The Hangover, and this works. The fact that we too, are left piecing together the events of a night we didn’t witness make it a very interesting watch and although the humour is in seeing the guys deal with the aftermath, the intrigue about the night itself keeps you watching. In fact this is one of the only films where it was a joy to watch the credits roll, for it is only then that we see with the help of a photo montage the hilarious images of the night in question. I’ll let you watch it for yourself to see if Doug is found in time to get back to L.A and his waiting bride.

THE HANGOVER (2009). Director: Todd Phillips. Writers: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore. Cast: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Mike Tyson, Heather Graham, Sasha Barrese, Jeffrey Tambor, Ken Jeong, Rachel Harris.

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Twilight: New Moon (2009) - Film Review

2010-01-19T13:33:00.000-08:00

TWILIGHT: NEW MOON has to be the most anticipated film of the year, amongst teenage girls at least. I’ve read the books, and thought they told a great story. The first film however, left me disappointed, I felt the film was not gritty enough and the actors were not capable of expressing the deep emotions of the characters. The result was a nice, charming film, which could have been so much more. As a mother of a teenage daughter, there was no way New Moon was going to pass me by, and in any case, I’d hoped it’d be an improvement on the first. Sadly New Moon didn’t even have the charm of the first film, but that doesn’t mean it was all bad.

I should start by saying that I believe Pattinson is the most bizarre choice imaginable to play Edward! This is supposed
to be the most gorgeous man imaginable, too beautiful to be human, and they chose an actor who looks fine from the front but whose profile is stomach-churningly weird! (I have a feeling I’ll be getting hate mail for this!)

As a horror fan, I would have rather these films had a real element of danger in them; they could have, and should have been at least a little bit scary. Instead though, the filmmakers choose to focus almost entirely on the relationship between Bella and Edward, with the ‘vampire thing’ being the modern day version of dating a boy from the wrong side of the tracks. So what we have here is the second in a series of romances.

Edward is scared for Bella’s safety, knowing that so much as a paper cut has a certain member of his family licking their lips. So, with his usual pained expression tells Bella ‘This is the last time you’ll ever see me’, and whilst we know this promise can’t possibly be true, there is a long period of this film where I almost began to miss that weird looking vampire!

Initially Bella is distraught and spends months crying in her room (this kind of obsession is unhealthy - and teenage girls need to know this!), she has nightmares every night, and ignores her friends. Her father is worried, and threatens to send her home to her mother. Bella can’t allow this as she needs to be in Forks should Edward have a change of heart. Although why Edward is so attracted to this clumsy, awkward girl, with no personality is a mystery!

In any case to appease her father she makes an effort to hang out with her mates and in particular her old friend Jacob. Realising that when she puts herself in danger she sees crystal clear images of Edward acting like her guardian angel and warning her to be careful, Bella begins to put herself at risk, pulling increasingly dangerous stunts. Edward, thinking one of these stunts has led to the demise of his beautiful Bella, insane with sorrow, rushes off on a suicide mission to Italy to reveal himself. The Volturi – the Godfathers of the vampire world will kill him if he reveals himself for what he is. Bella and Alice are hot on his heels, but can they reach him in time?

Bella’s life has been further complicated by Jacob, he clearly adores Bella and she definitely has feelings for him, while Edward is absent, she is tempted by Jacob (though I found their relationship to be unconvincing) and I’m not surprised, he’s beautiful, honest and reliable. Of course Jacob is no ordinary teenager, and it’s not just that he has a body hot enough to make the entire audience gasp the minute they see him - no, he’s a werewolf! Sworn to protect his turf from vampires, but torn because of his love for Bella and her love for Edward!

Man this is complicated stuff, but unfortunately it is written for the teenage audience and therefore is simplified beyond belief. The film moves so abruptly through time that I am grateful I’ve read the books, because had I not, I’m sure I’d have enjoyed the film even less.

Of course, there is no question that New Moon does exactly what was intended: it has teenage girls everywhere arguing about whether they are on Team Edward or Team Jacob! So what is it that makes Twilight so appealing in spite of the fact that it’s poorly acted and nothing near as good as it could be? Well, who doesn’t love the idea of invincible, beautiful vampires living amongst us? What could be sweeter than the thought that one of these divine creatures could fall for us, and maybe even take us with them into their world? What about werewolves who would die to protect us? It’s a nice idea, and certainly for girls, this idea coupled with the eye-candy is enough to keep us on tenterhooks for the next in the series – and once you’ve accepted that the Twilight series is not going to be the dark and sinister gritty tale it could have been, but rather a sweet, teenage romance with a twist, you might actually find yourself enjoying it!

TWILIGHT: NEW MOON (2009). Director: Chris Weitz. Writer: Melissa Rosenburg, Stephanie Meyer. Cast: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Billy Burke.

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Con Air (1997) - Film Review

2010-01-19T13:30:00.000-08:00

Simon West’s feature Debut CON AIR has everything you could want in an action flick and a whole lot more besides! Perfectly cast, intelligently written, with a quick witted and explosive dialogue this film cannot fail to please. Frowned upon by some for being unbelievable CON AIR takes us to a place of likeable heroes and vile convicts, a place of non-stop, pulse-pounding action where anything is possible. I don’t wanna see a believable action film, I wanna see Nicolas Cage do what he says he gonna do when he looks the U.S. Marshall in the eye and says “What do you think I’m gonna do? I’m gonna save the f*ck*n’ day”.

From the start of Con Air we can see that Cameron Poe (Nicolas Cage) is a likeable character, a former U.S ranger who is sent to prison for accidentally killing a thug whilst defending his pregnant
wife. After 8 years in prison, recently paroled Poe boards a plane to freedom, his wife, and the daughter he has yet to meet. The bad news is that with the exception of his diabetic friend, Baby-0 (Mykelti Williamson), the plane is carrying some of the most notorious criminals of all time. Poe finds himself in the middle of a mid-air take-over masterminded by Cyrus ’the virus’ Grissom (John Malkovich). With Sally Bishop (Rachel Ticotin), a female prison guard on board and a rapist aptly named Johnny-23 (after the amount of women he’s raped), Poe has to think on his feet. Johnny-23 (Danny Trejo) wastes no time in boasting that “they’d call me Johnny-600 if they knew the truth” and Poe knows that Bishop is in danger.

There are so many awesome characters in Con Air. Steve Buscemi plays a blinder as the disturbingly mild-mannered mass-murderer Garland Greene and John Cusack as maverick U.S Marshall Vince Larkin, Poe’s only on-the-ground ally, is superb. There is nothing that I dislike about Con Air. There are so many memorable lines and come-backs; the chemistry between all of the exceptional actors is unsurpassed. Simon West’s directing is mind-blowing; it came as no surprise to me to find that prior to Con Air he made his name making music videos. Many scenes from Con Air are reminiscent of great rock videos, with slowed-down scenes and over dramatic explosions; it’s the coolest looking film ever!! Nicolas Cage is one of my favourite actors and doesn’t disappoint, John Malkovich owns the character of Cyrus and the two together are as cool a combination as one could ever wish to see.

I’m pretty sure that every woman who sees Con Air will fall helplessly in love with Cameron Poe and every guy who ever ran from a fight will be changed forever, ’Cos next time, they’ll stare you straight in the eye, puff out their chest and proceed to ‘save the f*ck*n’ day’!!!

CON AIR (1997). Director: Simon West. Writer: Scott Rosenberg. Cast: Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, John Malkovich, Ving Rhames, Nick Chinlund, Steve Buscemi, Colm Meaney, Rachel Ticotin, Dave Chappelle, Mykelti Williamson, Danny Trejo, M.C Gainey, Steve Eastin, Renoly Santiago, Monica Potter.

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For all Mankind (2009) - Film Review

2010-01-18T15:23:00.000-08:00

Twenty years after its original release, Al Reinert’s awe inspiring film FOR ALL MANKIND is released once again on 16th November 2009; this time with a Dolby 5.1 soundtrack and a new, restored, high definition Picture. This spell-binding DVD is special because it is not science fiction, but science fact. This is real footage shot by the heroes themselves as they left Earth, and ventured to the Moon.

During the Apollo lunar missions between 1968 and 1972 all of those on board were given 16mm cameras and asked to film everything they saw, in space and on the surface of the moon.
20 years later Al Reinert went through the NASA vaults and created this magical 80 minute film following their journey. The film plays out like one team’s trip to the Moon and back, and is nothing short of mesmerising.

Of course, this footage is not always crystal clear, and the film is far from action packed, there are no aliens, crashes, disasters, or anything particularly eventful. Apart, that is, from Neil Armstrong’s first step onto the surface of the Moon, which of course, we’ve all seen before.

What For all Mankind does have though, is humanity. It shows us that the spacemen were not just official, sensible men running the missions like a military operation, but rather, everyday, ordinary people, who just happened to be given a fantastic opportunity and had the courage to take the risk and grab that opportunity with both hands. Whilst they were obviously focused on the task in hand, the way the film shows their excitement and awe as they encounter zero gravity, and their total wonder at the image of the Earth in the distance, is very heart-warming.

There’s a fantastically funny few minutes when the astronauts skip and bunny-hop on the surface of the Moon, humming and singing as they go, falling and frolicking around with seemingly no regard for the fact that if they tear their suits they’re in a world of trouble!

This is a gentle, slow paced journey where the viewer can witness the weird and wonderful surroundings that these brave explorers witnessed. Narrated by the astronauts themselves who tell us how they felt at being so far away from home, and what the mission meant to them.

If you are not looking for an action packed adventure, but would rather see a sometimes tense, always magical, hypnotic journey to the Moon and back, you could do much worse than For all Mankind.

FOR ALL MANKIND (1989). Director: Al Reinert, Cast: Themselves.

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Miss Potter (2006) - Film Review

2010-01-18T15:22:00.000-08:00

Chris Noonan’s 2006 film MISS POTTER is a charming and whimsical tale, telling the true story of Beatrix Potter. Famous for her delightful children’s books, including THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT, this film tells the enchanting story of Beatrix’s love affair with her publisher Norman Warne. MISS POTTER merely scratches the surface of Beatrix’s life and actually tells us very little about this strong-minded woman with a cast-iron will who succeeded despite being held back by her over-bearing parents.

We meet Beatrix (Reneé Zellweger) at the age of 32. Much to the distain of her parents, strong willed Beatrix has turned down many suitors, opting instead to stay unmarried. Now, 30-
something unmarried ladies were quite a rare breed in Victorian England, especially those who were pushy in business. Beatrix is determined to get her children’s books published and when Warne Brothers publishers take her on she is delighted. However it soon becomes apparent that they are merely appeasing the youngest Warne brother as he tries his hand at the family business. By giving him ‘the bunny book’ to deal with, they have nothing to lose. After all, how much is such a silly little book ever likely to make?!

Beatrix is now in unfamiliar territory, someone other than herself is now equally passionate about her books and she and Norman Warne (Ewan McGregor) become very close friends. As this friendship blossoms to romance, Beatrix also becomes firm friends with Norman’s sister, Millie (Emily Watson), a feisty, like-minded single lady, and one of my favourite characters. It is a miracle that romance ever bloomed at all, as all the while poor Beatrix and Norman are closely chaperoned by the prim and deadpan Miss Wiggin (Matyelok Gibbs). It has been said that Reneé held back too much and didn’t play the part with enough spirit; I feel this to be totally untrue. Victorian England was itself very held back and I thought Reneé played the part with incredible spirit whilst still being true to the era.

When Beatrix’s parents object to Beatrix and Norman’s secret engagement becoming public, things look bleak for the loving couple. Social standing was very important in Victorian times and to marry below one’s station was frowned upon. Here the story takes a sad turn and still keeps a slow pace. Miss Potter is not going to set your pulse racing or make you angry or excited. It is merely going to tell a Victorian love story in a very nice and simple way.

Miss Potter is a beautiful film with panoramic views of the Lake District and picture postcard shots, it is however very twee and oh so English. It is a sugary sweet offering which will cause no offence, even to your great Aunt! It is no doubt enchanting, very gentle, and good natured. Sadly, I feel it didn’t really do Miss Potter any justice as the story was structured mainly around her romance, and her life was so much more interesting than that! The animated touches where Beatrix’s illustrations become almost real to her, do show a little of how a lady who spent her childhood isolated from other children saw her drawings as her only friends. Sadly though, this was never truly explained in the film. Ewan McGregor had the job of acting charming and this he did perfectly. My favourite though has to be Emily Watson as the spirited Millie Warne; she injected much needed humour into her part and made me smile throughout.

Basically Miss Potter is ‘nice’, it looks ‘nice’ it tells a ‘nice’ story about ‘nice’ people and when the film was over I thought ‘well, that was…nice’.

MISS POTTER (2006) Director: Chris Noonan. Writer: Richard Maltby Jr. Cast: Reneé Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, Emily Watson, Barbara Flynn, Bill Paterson, Matyelok Gibbs.

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The Stepford Wives (1975) - Film Review

2010-01-18T15:21:00.000-08:00

Bryan Forbes’ 1975 film THE STEPFORD WIVES was always seen as ‘the forbidden fruit’ throughout my childhood. I was never allowed to watch it you see, because apparently “it’s a horror movie”. I’d heard the story of course, but it is only now at the grand age of 38 that I felt flippant enough to experience it firsthand. So, was it worth the wait? With 30 years of anticipation welling up inside, I pressed the play button. Ha! Are my parents insane!? This film is no more horrifying than Scooby Doo. If you too are under the childhood illusion that this film will be in any way scary then I urge you to read on….

Joanna Eberhart (Katherine Ross) reluctantly moves from New York City to the quite suburban community of Stepford
along with her husband Walter (Peter Masterson) and two children, one of whom is played by Peter’s real life daughter, a very young Mary Stewart Masterson, in her movie debut. Joanna quickly makes a new friend, Bobbie (Paula Prentiss), who is also a newcomer to Stepford, and the pair soon realise that the women of Stepford are far too content with their lives of tedious housework, cleaning, and cooking. The question is, are these women simply the most boring group of females ever to walk the earth or is there something more ominous going on?

The male population are all part of a secret club and even the most unattractive have their womenfolk eating out of their hands. When normal work-shy ladies are swept away for the weekend and return as dutiful apron-wearing homemakers it all seems a bit suspicious. For those few who haven’t seen it before, I won’t spoil the plot but trust me, there is nothing in this film that will make you jump, or frighten you, or disturb you in anyway (well, apart from some very disturbing scenes of domestic bliss!). The one flaw in the story is that we are supposed to believe that the men have somehow created their perfect women, and then we see them all trolling around the supermarket in long floral dresses and big white floppy hats…every man’s fantasy? I very much doubt it! Even in 1975 I’m sure there would have been the odd leather cat-suit thrown in.

The Stepford Wives is not a badly made or inadequately acted film, although the music score is either non-existent or over-dramatic and annoying. It is just so painfully slow. I kid you not, not a thing happens for an hour and a half and what happens thereafter is enough to bore any modern day thrill-seeker to death. If the thought of perfect housewives in spotless houses saying “I’ll just die if I don’t get this recipe” makes your blood run cold then I reckon you need to get out more. This is by no means the worst film that I’ve ever seen but as horror films go….well, it just isn’t!

THE STEPFORD WIVES (1975). Writer: Ira Levin (novel), William Goldman (screenplay). Director: Bryan Forbes. Cast: Katherine Ross, Paula Prentiss, Peter Masterson, Nanette Newman, Tina Louise, Carol, Eve Rossen, William Prince, Toni Reid, Judith Baldwin, Barbara Rucker, George Coe, Franklin Cover, Robert Fields, Michael Higgins.

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Panic Room (2002) - Film Review

2010-01-18T15:16:00.000-08:00

It’s been seven years since I first watched PANIC ROOM and I remember loving it the first time round. Question was, would it still play as well after seven years on my DVD shelf, or would it seem stale and tired? Would it pale against the more modern and technically advanced films I have seen since? Absolutely not!! This film is a masterpiece of arse-clenching tension. David Fincher is a film-making virtuoso and nothing proves this better than PANIC ROOM.

The story, in a nutshell: Recently divorced Meg Altman (Jodie Foster) and her 12 year old Daughter Sarah (Kristen Stewart) move into an impressive 4-story house on West 94th Street in Manhattan. On their first night in the house, Meg, who has consumed a little too much red wine is having a restless night.
She discovers that the house has been invaded by 3 intruders, wakes her Daughter and flees to the sanctuary of the panic room (a four inch thick steel room hidden within the house, designed for just such an event!).

The intruders come in the shape of Junior (Jared Leto), the Grandson of the reclusive Millionaire who used to reside in the house - the guy with the plan. Burnham (Forest Whitaker), a security genius, who helps design such rooms - the guy with the brains (and the conscience), and Raul (Dwight Yoakam) a bus driver brought in by Junior to help out - the guy with the attitude and the gun.

Upon discovering that the house is not empty as expected, the intruders decide to continue with their plan. The only problem is, what they want is in with Meg and Sarah. There is no way in for the intruders and no way out for the Meg and Sarah! Add into the mix that Sarah has type 1 diabetes and Meg is slightly claustrophobic and there are all the ingredients for real nail-biting stuff.

The refreshing thing about this film is that it has no ‘Oh come on…’ moments and Meg doesn’t turn into some kind of superhero, she deals with the situation like a normal woman, scared and unsure. She has no plan, and all of the advice that I would normally have been shouting at the screen, she is either already doing, or kicking herself for not thinking of it. Her daughter begins to suffer from hypoglycaemia and it is then that we see Meg ready to scratch and claw her way out of the horrifying situation they are both in.

She has the advantage of being able to watch the intruders on the security screens but Burnham has the advantage of knowing more about their safe room than they do. I won’t spoil it for you, but the game of cat and mouse is a thrill to watch and Meg’s resourcefulness makes things very interesting. The balance of power tips from one side to the other in the blink of an eye and it held me captivated to the very end.

Filmed with few characters and such a small set, this film could have died on its arse, the fact that it didn’t pays credit to intelligent screenwriting by David Koepp and awesome direction by Fulcher (the slow motion scene had me on the edge of my seat and holding my breath!). The understated score fits the film perfectly and adds to the mood. The lighting is not so dark and dingy that we can’t see what’s happening but is not so glossy and bright that it spoils the atmosphere, the hues of blues and greys used whilst inside the panic room make a perfect ambience.

Jodie Foster, despite being 4 months pregnant at the time, took over the part of Meg from Nicole Kidman who had to pull out due to a knee injury early on. I have no idea if Nicole Kidman could have played this part as good as Foster, but one thing is for sure, she’d be hard pressed to play it better!

If you are looking for a nail-biting, butt-clenching, edge-of-your-seat thriller, Panic Room has it all.

PANIC ROOM (2002). Director: David Fincher. Writer: David Koepp. Cast: Jodie Foster, Kristen Stewart, Jared Leto, Forest Whitaker, Dwight Yoakam, Patrick Bauchau.

Dorian Gray (2009) - Film Review

2010-01-18T14:37:00.000-08:00

Oliver Parker’s 2009 DORIAN GRAY, adapted from Oscar Wilde’s 1890 classic THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY has no scheduled U.S. release date, so are film fans in the U.S. missing a treat, or is this a blessing in disguise? Starring Ben Barnes as Dorian and Colin Firth as his friend and cohort Henry Wotton, the film tells the story of a young man, who inadvertently makes a pact with the devil. No matter what the devilishly handsome Dorian does, or what kind of life he leads, he will never age. Instead his portrait [which the hides in the attic] will show the true state of Dorian’s soul. I was not expecting much from this film, but curiosity got me to the cinema, and actually, I’m glad it did.

The story starts with Dorian inheriting the family mansion and being thrust into high society life. His friend Henry fancies himself as a real rebel, someone who drinks heavily from the cup of life
without any regard for the consequences. Henry encourages Dorian to flout the rules and do as he pleases. Dorian is already balancing on the edge of temptation, when the pact is made and he realises that nothing can age him,at this point it all gets way out of hand.

He lets himself be swept into a life of debauchery, and while his outward appearance shows no signs of his secret, disgraceful life, the painting in the attic begins to decay.....

Dorian Gray is well directed, reminding me a little of the old Hammer Horror films [I should not have to tell you that this is a good thing]. The old sets and streets look really good, even though in places you can see the use of trompe l’oeil, I actually found this rather charming. The orchestral score is excellent and really helps to give the film that high gloss, quality feel.

The acting is surprisingly good, Barnes is excellent as Dorian, but the star of this film for me is Firth, he plays his character with such gusto and humour and I found him riveting.

However, the film is not without its flaws. The main problem is that it fails to show the contrast between the good, kind man Dorian was and the selfish, arrogant, and violent man he becomes. Showing us a charity piano recital at the beginning is not really enough! Because of this lack of contrast, it makes Dorian’s mental anguish at losing the man he once was, less meaningful and made me care much less about it.

The scenes where he is spiralling into his demise, sleeping with countless women and taking an overabundance of drugs are well shot, but too plentiful. Whilst some of the audience no doubt enjoyed seeing bare breasts every two minutes, it was unnecessary, and it did come across as a little gratuitous after a while.

If you are expecting a pure horror film, this is not the film for you, it’s dark yes, but never scary. Though I did appreciate the fact that in the most violent scene there is no sound at all, not even music, reminding me of The Shining.

I’ve never read the book and this probably helped, because almost always films cannot live up to the books they came from. To summarise; glossy, entertaining, and well acted, worth a watch, but certainly not perfect.

DORIAN GRAY (2009) Director: Oliver Parker. Writer: Toby Finlay (Screenplay), Oscar Wilde (Novel). Cast: Ben Barnes, Colin Firth, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Rebecca Hall, Emelia Fox, Caroline Goodall.

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The Notebook (2004) - Film Review

2010-01-18T14:23:00.000-08:00

Tissues at the ready!! What a heart-warming, heartbreaking, romantic treat. I was mesmerised by this tender love story. I felt that I had been taken on an emotional rollercoaster along with the characters and felt every high and low along with them. My heart was spared nothing; I truly felt their joy and pain as I followed the wonderful tale held within Nick Cassavetes’ THE NOTEBOOK.

This magnificent journey all begins as we see an elderly gentleman (James Garner) reading a timeless love story to his aging
companion (Gena Rowlands) in a nursing home. As we follow the story with them, we travel back to the 1940’s and the love story of a couple named Noah and Allie (beautifully portrayed by Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams). An unlikely couple from different backgrounds, we follow their passionate tale, until Allie’s upper-class parents put a stop to their love. Disapproving of their Southern Belle dating a lowly sawmill worker, they move and take her away.

As the years roll on we see how both Noah and Allie cope with their heartbreak and we are praying that somehow, someway they will find each other once more. We see also the effect this wonderful story has on the old lady in the nursing home and as we flit from 1940’s to present day our interest deepens in both couples. The idyllic look of the 1940’s scenes make them a joy to watch and everything from the musical score to the superb acting by the whole cast, lifts this film from the more ordinary soap-opera style offerings which are common for this type of film.

I loved the characters of Noah and Allie and was praying that somehow their love would find away, I highly recommend The Notebook to anyone with a heart, but be warned it may feel a little battered and bruised by the time the end credits roll.

THE NOTEBOOK (2004). Director: Nick Cassavetes. Writers: Jeremy Leven (screenplay), Nicholas Sparks (novel), Jan Sardi (adaptation). Cast: Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, James Garner, Gena Rowlands, James Marshall, Sam Shepard, Joan Allen.

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The Sniper (2005) - Short Film Review

2010-01-18T13:34:00.000-08:00

Daniel Carrison’s gritty Second World War short THE SNIPER is only a few minutes long, but sometimes great things come in small packages. Whilst the film is by no means perfect, it showcases Carrison’s talent and is an admirable effort – and it’s left me wondering what Carrison could do with a feature.

1942 and the German assault on Stalingrad has halted. The hunters have become the hunted.

The Sniper follows a day in the life of a Russian sniper, who survives only because he’s a skilled and heartless killer. There is no spoken dialogue in the film, it’s narrated by the soldier, and I liked this touch. What I don’t like is that the Russian soldier has an English accent, worse than that, it is a slightly localised English accent, and this did detract slightly from the film. However, this is forgivable in a short as they are almost always done on a shoestring budget, and people have to make the best of what they have.

The acting was fine, though for a sniper he's a rather ungraceful fellow who has his head and shoulders on display most of the time, he’s a sitting duck, and in the real world, he’d be toast!

So given that the Russian isn’t Russian, and the sniper is a clumsy oaf, does this little short have anything at all going for it? Yes it does - it looks beautiful. The grainy black and white is perfect for this stark, depressing film. The sound in places is sweet too; the water sloshing sounds as a woman carries a bucket are very effective. In other places I’d have liked more intense sound, but overall it was well done.

What stands out the most about The Sniper for me is the camera direction, the angles are not always predictable and those angles work to bring a little tension to the film. Granted not a great deal happens, it is a short after all, and as an enjoyable film for the viewer, The Sniper is a little pointless – but as a showcase for an up and coming director, well, I think Carrison can be very proud.

THE SNIPER (2005). Director: Daniel Carrison. Writer: Nigel ‘O Brien. Cast: Jonathan Holland (voice).
** Picture shown is not taken from THE SNIPER

Dead Calm (1989) - Film Review

2010-01-17T19:39:00.000-08:00

High tension is the order of the day with 1989 thriller DEAD CALM. The film relies almost entirely on a cast of three, amazingly these three astounding actors keep the viewers in suspense and riveted to their seats for the full 93 minutes.

When John Ingram (Sam Neill) returns home from the Australian Navy, he is met with the crushing news of his young son’s death. His wife, Rae (Nicole Kidman) is left injured and mentally scarred from the accident in which they lost their son. In a bid to get away from it all and regain their strength, the couple set sail on their yacht ‘The Saracen’.

After a month on calm waters they happen across a sinking Schooner ‘The Orpheus’ and paddling towards them is a disturbed young man, Hughie Warriner (Billy Zane). He climbs onboard and tells the couple how is the lone survivor on the stricken schooner after an outbreak of food poisoning. Suspicious John leaves his wife and the sleeping Hughie (who he has locked in a bedroom) and rows out to The Orpheus to investigate.

Once onboard John realises that his instinct about Hughie was valid. The realisation that he has left his wife onboard with only a hitch-hiking serial killer and her pet dog for company sees him making an expeditious u-turn back to the Saracen. Meanwhile, Hughie awakes, breaks out of the bedroom and aggressively takes control. As John sees The Saracen disappear towards the horizon, he has no choice but to return to the devastated Schooner.

Here we see the film split in two. On one hand we see John, an able sea man with 25 years of experience trying to breathe life back into a sinking ship in a bid to save his wife from the clutches of a madman. And on the other hand we have Rae, trying everything in her power to stay alive and return to rescue her husband before his boat sinks. In the middle of the ocean, all alone and with no hope of rescue, these two people endure hell in a bid to survive and save one another.

Nicole Kidman is awesome as Rae and makes the transition from dependent wife to resourceful woman very convincingly. Billy Zane is almost too good as the unhinged Psychotic Hughie and is incredibly unnerving; between them both they keep the watcher enthralled as the tension onboard reaches fever pitch. Sam Neill is very believable as the able John Ingram, I was so impressed by how one actor could keep me in such a high state of suspense, as I watched his character trying to keep head above water in his desperate struggle for survival. Between the three of them and the wonderful screenwriting, captivating music score, and capable directing, Dead Calm still manages to hold its own after more than 20 years.

DEAD CALM (1989). Director: Phillip Noyce Writer: Charles Williams (novel), Terry Hayes(Screenplay). Cast: Sam Neill, Nicole Kidman, Billy Zane.

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The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009) - Film Review

2010-01-17T15:18:00.000-08:00

In contrast to Joseph Sargent’s 1974 original, Tony Scott’s THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123 is loud, fast, and action packed from start to finish. Right from the opening credits which roll to Jay-Zs ’99 Problems’, we know we are in for a hell of a ride. From the outset Scott treats us to his usual style of hyperactive, restless cinematography, cutting from close ups of John Travolta [Ryder] with his tattooed neck and handlebar moustache, to sped up and slowed down shots of New York from every angle imaginable, suddenly grinding almost to a halt when we see Denzel Washington [Walter Garber] for the first time, in his boring office setting where he works as a disgraced dispatcher accused of taking bribes.

Only two minutes in, and I already knew I was in for a treat.

I know a lot of people have said this is a pointless remake, of what is considered to be a classic cult movie, but to me this was a remake dying to happen. Joseph Sargent’s version, no doubt a brilliant film at the time, now plays very dated. It has good performances from Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw, but this version lacks excitement and character.

Tony Scott’s 2009 version however, is full of character! John Travolta is brilliant as the uncompromising, unhinged, maniacal lunatic, Ryder, calm one minute, insane the next. Prone to bouts if severe profanity, he plays the character with humour and yet doesn’t lose that sinister edginess [which we also saw him display in Broken Arrow and Face-Off]. In contrast Denzel plays an average family man, Garber, who is fighting corruption charges. Denzel is believable as this ‘average Joe’ character, and the banter between these two characters is entertaining from beginning to end.

There is no waiting around for the story to kick in; within minutes Ryder and his men have taken control of the subway train and its eighteen passengers. If Garber does not get $10 million to him within one hour, a hostage will be killed for every minute thereafter. We know he’s serious when he shoots someone because the hostage negotiator refuses to let him speak with Garber. From this point Scott makes us well aware of that ticking clock.

The only problem with this film is the hostages themselves, they are in a claustrophobic subway carriage amongst mad men with machine guns, who have killed someone right in front of them, and yet they stay incredibly calm. They are almost cardboard cut-outs in a film that is otherwise very well acted. It doesn’t matter too much though, as Scott’s main focus is the two leads, and they are more than capable of carrying the film. Strangely, I ended up caring about how it ended for both characters in equal measure.

The shots of the police cars and bikes whipping through New York traffic are amazing. Here Scott abandons his schizophrenic, dizzying, camera angles and goes for clean wide shots. The sound of the speeding traffic is deafening and one more reason to see this in the cinema where you’ll get the full impact.

The Taking of Pelham 123 is no high brow film, nor does it pretend to be, it is a high energy, high entertainment, blockbuster and if that’s the kind of film you’re into, you won’t be disappointed.

THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123 (2009). Director: Tony Scott. Writer: Brian Helgeland, John Gody. Cast: John Travolta, Denzel Washington, James Gandolfini.

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Cape Fear (1991) - Film Review

2010-01-17T14:03:00.000-08:00

Martin Scorsese’s 1991 remake of the 1962 film CAPE FEAR was not only Scorsese’s first remake but also his first thriller and his first really high budget offering. With films like Raging Bull, Goodfellas and Taxi Driver already under his belt and with the incomparable Robert De Niro on board, expectations were bound to be high. The problem with high expectations is that things so very often fall short - but not this time!

When Max Cady (Robert De Niro) is released from prison after serving 14 years for rape and battery, he has only one thing on his mind - revenge! During his time in prison, when not being
sodomized by the other inmates, the once ignorant Max Cady spent his time reading and learning all aspects of the law. He also learned that his defence lawyer Sam Bowden (Nick Nolte) had ignored evidence that the victim in the case was promiscuous, and as such didn’t defend him to the best of his ability. Not only is this illegal, but Cady is sure that it cost him time in prison. Cady begins to taunt Bowden but manages at all times to keep within the law, goading Bowden to make the first illegal move.

When things do go beyond the law, we see the true horror of Max Cady and when he starts to charm Bowden’s naive 15 year old Daughter Danielle (superbly played by Juliette Lewis) we see just how despicable this man really is. I won’t give the story away but the climax of the film will have you on the edge of your seat. Cape Fear is a rollercoaster from start to finish. We see how fast things can grow out of control and how flawed the law is when pitted against someone as intelligent as Cady.

The main difference between the remake and the 1962 original is the character of Bowden (played by Gregory Pack in the original). Peck’s character was a wholesome family man who was beyond reproach. Nolte on the other hand was not only guilty of withholding evidence but is also an adulterous husband who is seemingly on the brink of yet another affair. This makes the film so much more interesting. The villain has most certainly been wronged and the hero is by no means perfect.

The screenplay is intelligent and the directing pure genius (although I’m sure many die hard Scorsese fans would think it a little too slick). The acting is superb throughout and it was a nice touch to include two actors from the original (Gregory Peck now plays a lawyer and Robert Mitchum who played Cady in the original comes back as a lieutenant). Jessica Lange is believable as the wronged Mrs Bowden and Illeana Douglas is exceptional as Bowden’s love interest Lori Davis. I loved Juliette Lewis as Danielle, she deserved her Oscar nomination for the role as did Robert De Niro for his, but be warned ladies! Never has such a vile human being been portrayed as well as Max Cady is by De Niro, and you’ll hate yourself for being charmed by him! There was no doubt in my mind that Max Cady was a depraved, despicable, evil man, so why did I find him so attractive?!

I thoroughly enjoyed Cape Fear and feel that the family dynamics being out of kilter made it all the more believable. This is real edge of the seat stuff. Very rarely do you get the chance to see such cinematography. When everything from the music score, lighting, screenplay, acting, story and directing is spot on you know you’ve found a winner. And this film has it all in spades.

CAPE FEAR (1991). Director: Martin Scorsese. Writers: John D. MacDonald (novel ‘the executioner’), James R. Webb (earlier screenplay), Wesley Strick (screenplay). Cast: Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, Juliette Lewis, Illeana Douglas, Robert Mitchum, Gregory Peck.

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The Dragon Chronicles: Fire & Ice (2009) - Film Review

2010-01-17T10:56:00.000-08:00

Released on Monday 7th September 2009 on DVD in the U.K. THE DRAGON CHRONICLES were made by MediaPro Pictures and The Sci-fi Channel, and directed by Catwoman director Pitof. Anyone expecting a fantastical spectacle of fantasy and adventure, with amazing mythical dragons and state of the art special effects is going to be sorely disappointed.

I don’t know what they were thinking when they created the dragons, the clue is in the title ‘The Dragon Chronicles’, it's all about the dragons. Someone, somewhere must have misunderstood, because what we’re presented with is ‘chronic dragons’, and I mean diabolical. They look more like stingrays
than dragons! The first dragon appeared within a few minutes of the film starting, and at that point I was tempted to switch off. How I wish I’d gone with my gut and flicked that switch.

The film is not bad enough to be declared rubbish, but it could have been so much better, the whole look of it is way too glossy and clean, I know this is a family film, but even children know if you stab someone you get blood on your sword! Where’s the grit? It has all the ingredients for a good, if unoriginal, action adventure; A good King, a bad King, a corrupt advisor, a wilful princess, and a brave knight, not to mention two battling dragons, not a bad concoction at all. Unfortunately added to this potentially great mix are bad acting, average CGI, and those god damned stingray dragons! That’s not to mention the missing ingredients of a handsome and believable hero, good, gritty action sequences and an exciting final showdown with the dragon.

When their kingdom falls under attack from a Fire Dragon, they have two choices, surrender to the evil King, who has the means to protect them, or look for the valiant knight who saved them during their last dragon attack. The good king is reticent to ask for help, and would rather bury his head in the sand than actually make a decision! Fortunately, after eavesdropping, his wilful, tomboy of a daughter, Princess Luisa sets off in search of their saviour. Sadly, he’s no longer with us, so his son, Gabriel reluctantly takes his place. His father taught him everything he knew, so the kingdom should be in safe hands. The first thing Gabriel does is summon the Ice Dragon; known to be more powerful than the Fire Dragon, he is confident it will rid the kingdom of their fiery enemy. Great plan, except for now they’re stuck with the wrath of the mighty Ice Dragon! Duh!

I could talk for England about all the problems with The Dragon Chronicles, but suffice it say that it could have been brilliant, but instead is flat, bland and boring, I don’t know how a knight fighting a dragon can be boring, but they managed to pull it off somehow! The action scenes are a total let-down. Their press release compares The Dragon Chronicles to The Lord of the Rings and Stardust, I’d compare it to a cheesy made for T.V. fantasy film which only eight year old children will love – because that’s what it is!

THE DRAGON CHRONICLES: FIRE & ICE (2009). Director: Pitof. Writer: Michael Konyves, Angela Mancuso. Cast: Amy Acker, Tom Wisdom, John Rhys-Davies, Arnold Vosloo.

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Pathfinder (2007) - Film Review

2010-01-17T10:25:00.000-08:00

Marcus Nispel’s 2007 action adventure, PATHFINDER is the story of a tribe of Native American Indians who are under threat from Viking marauders hell-bent on ‘cleansing’ the land of Indians before they settle.

The opening montage show the brutal slaying of a tribe of Indians who literally throw themselves at the mercy of their annihilators, sadly for them, they have no mercy. Cut to a beautiful scene of a Native American Indian woman, walking peacefully through the snow. Already the contrast between good and evil is apparent. During her outing the woman stumbles upon an old wreckage of a ship,
in this wreckage she finds many horrors; here bodies are thrown towards us quick and fast in an effort to give us some good jump-scares. Amongst all this horror she finds a young boy, who we later discover is a Viking, abandoned by his father for refusing to kill a young Indian boy. She takes the child home, and in spite of some concern from some of the members of the tribe who think this strange and pale looking boy must be evil, the woman and her husband raise him as their own. He is named Ghost on account of his pale features.

Jet forward 15 years and Ghost has grown in to a strapping and supposedly handsome young man played by Karl Urban [Doom, The Bourne Supremacy]. One day whilst he is out hunting, his tribe are savagely attacked and destroyed. Orphaned for the second time, a distraught and angry Ghost seeks revenge. Whilst seeking this revenge he inadvertently leads the Vikings to a neighbouring tribe, who include a highly respected man known as The Pathfinder, and his beautiful daughter Starfire [Moon Bloodgood]. Lucky for this tribe, Ghost never stopped practising his sword skills he learnt as a child. Up against the huge Vikings with their superior weapons, and their heavy armour, the tribe don’t seem to have a chance. Ghost tells them to flee, he decides to go it alone and kill as many as he can, when asked “and what after?” he replies “there will be no after.”

From here on in, we are treated to a whole load of action, and whilst Nispel chooses to shoot some of the fight scenes at such close range and with such low lighting, that at times it’s hard to see what is happening, generally, these fight scenes are pretty entertaining. There are some great moments; like the exciting chase scene down a snowy hillside with Ghost using his shield as a sledge, very James Bond! The treacherous crossing of the frozen river is another highlight. If you just want to see a good, entertaining action film, Pathfinder, is well worth watching, don’t hold your breath for any brilliant dialogue though, there hardly is any dialogue, and what little there is couldn’t be more bland. The acting isn’t great either, and the characters are flat and uninteresting. Don’t expect too much, Pathfinder is a mind-numbing, knife-wielding action film; it’s brutal, savage, and a good bit of fun, but I have seen better.

PATHFINDER (2007). Director: Marcus Nispel. Writer: Laeta Kalogridis, Nils Gaup. Cast: Carl Urban, Moon Bloodgood, Russell Means, Clancy Brown.

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The Time Traveler's Wife (2009) - Film Review

2010-01-17T10:07:00.000-08:00

Adapted from Audrey Niffenegger’s bestselling novel of 2003, Robert Schwentke’s THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE, asks us to suspend our disbelief, and if we are to enjoy this film at all, that is exactly what we must do. Starring Eric Bana as the agonised looking Henry, and Rachel McAdams as Clare, THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE demands that we ask no questions, for if we stop for even a brief moment to ponder, we will realise what utter nonsense it is.

The film begins just moments before Henry’s mother’s death in an auto accident. Henry in the back seat, suddenly disappears; he turns up naked at the roadside, where an older Henry has come back in time to tell him not to worry.
Right away it is established that Henry can choose where and when he will ‘travel’ to. Why then, the rest of the film tries to convince us that he has no control over it, is beyond me and I was instantly annoyed that I was being played for a fool.

We never see Henry fighting the dinosaurs, or having dinner with Henry the Eighth; instead he keeps going to the same meadow to visit his wife when she was a child. Remember now, this man is naked when he ‘travels’, and on their first meeting his wife is a six year old girl. I found this a little uncomfortable. This six year old Clare is instantly infatuated with Henry and knows that he is the man of her dreams, and one day when she grows up, he will be hers. It’s a little disturbing, to see this grown man constantly visiting this little girl.

There are obvious benefits to Henry’s ‘condition’, such as being able to escape the law, and the knowledge of this week’s lottery numbers, in some ways, this isn’t a curse at all. For Clare and Henry though, constantly being separated when they least expect it, it does become a problem. The ‘travelling’ problem becomes particularly apparent when Clare keeps miscarrying because her unborn baby, ‘travels’ from the womb. Henry thinks he has a solution to this problem, in having a vasectomy, but a younger, pre-vasectomy Henry, soon put a spanner in the works!

There are mildly amusing moments, there are touching moments, but most of all this film left me irritated. I know that most time travel films have holes in the plot that leave you sitting and trying to figure out ‘how does that work then?’ and ‘could that be possible?’, but films like the Back to the Future series , are so ingenious and well orchestrated that you can’t help but love them. In comparison The Time Traveler’s Wife is clumsy and dull, it is clear from the get go that it is total gibberish.

Bana had a permanent look of discomfort on his face which was not particularly appealing and neither of the two leads ‘played a blinder’. Their daughter Alba at different ages was played by Tatum and Hailey McCann, who looked so ghoulish they would not have been out of place in The Shining! Ron Livingston played the best part as Clare and Henry’s friend Gomez, he brought a little energy to an otherwise flat and unexciting film.

The Time Traveler’s Wife is an average film, with average acting, and a feeble story, it is an easy way to pass the time, but will certainly not leave a lasting impression.

THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE (2009). Director: Robert Schwentke, Writer: Bruce Joel Ruben. Cast: Eric Bana, Rachel McAdams.

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Mesrine Part 2: Public Enemy No 1 - Film Review

2010-01-17T09:46:00.000-08:00

The first part of Jean-Francois Richet’s Mesrine double bill ‘Killer Instinct’, though disjointed in places, had left me curious to know how the story would unfold. I’m happy to report that MESRINE PART 2: PUBLIC ENEMY NO 1 does not disappoint. In fact the first instalment is totally eclipsed by the second. Part 1 - Killer Instinct is a good film, which adequately sets up the characters and begins Mesrine’s story, but it cannot stand alone, it needs part 2. Public Enemy however, is a kick-ass action movie which will keep die-hard action fans on the edge of their seats whether or not they’ve seen the first.

Without Vincent Cassel [Mesrine], who had me mesmerised from the moment he came into view, this film might still be a good action film, well directed, and nicely written. Because of Cassel however, this film becomes something so much more;
he is simply dazzling in this role. I cannot imagine any actor pulling it off with the same style and finesse. Shot concurrently over 33 weeks, the double bill required that Cassel gain 40 pounds in weight to transform from the young Mesrine to the middle aged Mesrine. Mesrine is an intense, diverse and somewhat contradictory character, known as ‘the man of a thousand faces’ because of his constant image changes, which according to director Richet “are each like a facet of his own personality”, a lesser actor could have killed this story, but Cassel easily captures the charisma of this rebellious dreamer.

In part two, whilst Mesrine is in prison we see him writing his memoirs [which were used as the basis for these films], “People like pace and action, you have to give them what they want” he says. If we hadn’t already guessed we now know to take the story with a huge pinch of salt.

Cassel takes us with him on the journey through Mesrine’s life as told by the man himself, right through to his inevitable demise, and this is one hell of a ride! Mesrine is cool, unflappable, dangerous, cocky, and charming, and his life is a whirlwind of bank robberies, kidnapping, jail breaks and violence. Somehow though, he pulls this off with such style and charm that I couldn’t bring myself to dislike him. He certainly doesn’t see himself as a criminal; robbing banks, according to Mesrine, is stealing from thieves, and therefore perfectly just. He thinks of himself as an honourable man, and God help anyone who suggests otherwise, a journalist who disputes this ends up on the receiving end of Mesrine’s outrage, and it is brutal.

The police are by now, becoming more and more desperate, exasperated at being foiled so many times, Mesrine either slips through their net and isn’t caught, or once caught, escapes, and not once do we see him being furtive or secretive about it, he announces that he’ll escape and escape he does.

As the cops close in on Mesrine time and time again the tension is palpable and as he slips away to freedom, we are only given seconds to gasp for air before we are on a knife edge again. The car chases are brilliantly staged, and of course look even cooler because of the old seventies cars. With these chases, shoot-outs and escapes, not to mention the brutal scenes of violence, there isn’t much an action fan could hope for that isn’t in this film.

Regarding himself as a revolutionary rather than a criminal or gangster, Mesrine measured his success not in cash but in air-time and column inches, he craved notoriety and revelled in being ‘public enemy number one’. I can only imagine that Mesrine, clearly a man impressed with himself beyond measure, would be delighted to see what Richet had created from his memoirs; this is the kind of publicity he yearned for. Given the way he lived his life, I cannot believe that this man is not better known; it’s quite astonishing to think that I’d never heard of him until very recently.

There are obvious comparisons to be made between Mesrine and Public Enemies [the recent film starring Johnny Depp as the notorious gangster Dillinger] but frankly it’s like comparing champagne with vinegar, Mesrine ticks all the boxes.

MESRINE: PUBLIC ENEMY NO 1 (2009). Director: Jean-François Richet. Writer: Jaques Mesrine, Abdel Raouf Dafri. Cast: Vincent Cassel, Gerard Depardau, Cécile de France, Elena Anaya, Florence Thomassin, Ludivine Sagnier.

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Mesrine: Killer Instinct (2009) - Film Review

2010-01-17T09:39:00.000-08:00

Opening with the line ‘No film can accurately describe the complexities of human life – Each to his own point of view’ the first part of Jean-François Richet’s Mesrine double bill, MESRINE: KILLER INSTINCT, stole its title from Mesrine’s own memoirs which he wrote during one of his stints in prison. The opening scene shows us 1979, the final showdown, where the police open fire on middle aged Mesrine [Vincent Cassel] and his woman Sylvia. We are then immediately taken back a couple of decades to see Mesrine being educated in the brutal torture, interrogation and killing of the Arab prisoners, whilst he is serving as a corporal in Algeria. Message received and understood, there is a reason for his ‘killer instinct’.

After his service, Mesrine returns home, and ignoring his mother’s pleas to ‘make on honest living,’ he turns to a life of crime. Local ‘boss’ Guido [Gérard Depardieu] quickly takes a shine to him and from here on in, the movie moves through the
next decade with such speed that if you blink, you could miss a major event. One minute Mesrine agrees to do a bank job, and the next time we see him, he’s in prison. Obviously the bank job didn’t go according to plan, but we never find out what went wrong. The film continues like this, skimming across time, showing us the important bits, whilst never standing still for long enough to get its bearings. It’s as though Richet went through Mesrine’s memoirs, bookmarked the most compelling pages, and transferred those onto the big screen. I constantly felt like I’d missed a few pages. Of course there had to be some time compression, otherwise this would be a triple bill instead of a double bill, but it could have been done with a little more finesse rather than suddenly launching us forward and leaving us bewildered the way it does.

Because of the disjointed way the story moves from one event to the next, the momentum is often broken, and as a result Mesrine is a film with so much going on, but which still comes across as slightly sluggish at times. There are, however, some excellent scenes, early on there’s a burglary scene. Mesrine is caught red handed, but remains cool, pretending to be a policeman who has just discovered the crime. It’s brilliant, and shows us just how suave and unflappable the man was. Mesrine’s prison break and subsequent return to free the other inmates displays his arrogance and recklessness [as well as being a kick-ass action sequence], the treatment he endures in prison, where he is put in solitary confinement and whipped and hosed, shows he had great strength of character. However, what we have to remember is that this was taken from his own memoirs, and he’s hardly likely to write ‘I cowered in the corner and cried like a newborn’ this is Mesrine’s version of events, and this could explain why the film seems to be so impressed with him. We should take what we see with a pinch of salt.

Vincent Cassel plays a blinder though; he is perfect as the charismatic, seductive, and cold-hearted Mesrine. He portrays a man who is selfish, arrogant, and whose depth of feeling for those around him is very shallow. He is utterly believable and carries the film beautifully. It was his performance more than anything, which kept me watching. Gérard Depardieu of course, is excellent as the cool, unflappable, Guido and I would expect nothing less from him. Cécile de France, Elena Anaya, Florence Thomassin and Ludivine Sagnier are all great as Mesrine’s love interests. In fact the film is well cast all round.

Richet’s direction is great, it’s dated, but it’s supposed to be. Shot somewhat like a 1960’s serialised crime drama, Mesrine feels like it was actually shot in the 60’s and that’s a great accomplishment. There’s some pretty groovy looking split screen stuff in there too, which sits in very nicely with the whole vibe of the film.

I’m looking forward to part two Mesrine: Public Enemy No 1 in spite of my criticisms of the first, because it did keep me interested enough to want to go full circle and finish up where I started, at the final showdown.
MESRINE: KILLER INSTINCT (2009). Director: Jean-François Richet. Writer: Jaques Mesrine, Abdel Raouf Dafri. Cast: Vincent Cassel, Gerard Depardau, Cécile de France, Elena Anaya, Florence Thomassin, Ludivine Sagnier.

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2010-01-15T10:05:00.000-08:00

Head over to our dedicated site at www.stalknslash.com but be warned - it may steal your very soul....