Review: Crazy, Stupid, Love
Featuring a ridiculously loaded cast of top Hollywood talent, Crazy, Stupid, Love is easily the best romantic comedy of the year. The clever script delivers an abundance of laughs, cringes, touches of drama and some great surprises. While there may be a few contrivances along the way, the charm of the cast allows for quick forgiveness.
Crazy, Stupid, Love: And men everywhere weep
Within the opening minute, Cal Weaver’s (Steve Carell) life comes undone as wife of 25 years Emily (Julianne Moore) declares she wants a divorce. An awkward and painful car ride home leaves Cal devastated and soon seeking comfort at a local upscale bar. It is here that he meets barfly lothario Jacob (a wonderfully suave Ryan Gosling), who decides to take Cal under his wing in order to help him to regain his manhood. Meanwhile, Cal’s teenage son Robbie (Johan Bobo) is struggling to cope with his feelings for family babysitter, Jessica (Analeigh Tipton) while urging his father to fight to win Emily back.
Read More…
Review: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
After much anticipation, Tomas Alfredson’s take on Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy hits UK cinemas this Friday. Touting an all-star cast of British talent, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is a slow-burn drama brimming with masterfully understated performances. Alfredson’s film is beautifully atmospheric while presenting a pitch-perfect interpretation of early 70s Cold War life in London.
Tom Alfredson & Peter Straughan discuss Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy at the May Fair Hotel
Getting off to a quick, dramatic start, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy soon settles into a methodical pace as MI6 (“the Circus”) head Control (John Hurt) is forced out of the intelligence agency following a bungled operation in Budapest. Control’s departure also leads his right-hand man George Smiley (Gary Oldman) into early retirement. However, it’s not long before Smiley’s services are being called upon in order to seek out the truth behind the rumoured Russian mole at the top of the Circus.
Read More…
Review: I Don’t Know How She Does It
I Don’t Know How She Does It declares the title of Sarah Jessica Parker’s latest foray into cinemas. Oft repeated by various characters throughout the film, there are a few clear answers, such as; in the dullest way possible or with the aid of a nanny and a very patient, understanding husband. If I Don’t Know How She Does It was anything that it tries so desperately to be, this may have been entertaining enough. However, when Olivia Munn manages to get the only few real laughs (twice!) in 90 minutes time, there are serious problems afoot.
Sarah Jessica Parker in I Don't Know How She Does It having the same effect on Kelsey Grammer as the film will on audiences
The premise is simple: a professionally successful couple are confronted by the failings of their family life, as both Kate (Parker) and Richard (Greg Kinnear) are on the verge of big breaks in their respective careers. The focus is on Kate and her myriad of duties as mother of two and investment banker. The results are unfunny at best and tedious at worst. Beginning, for no explained reason, as a flashback to several months prior and introduced by a underutilised Christina Hendricks the film feels dreadfully familiar as the viewer is treated by a voiceover from Carrie, err Kate. That tactic is soon discarded, however, instead opting for cutaway between scenes to testimonials from the supporting characters, eerily similar to early “Sex and the City” episodes. These totally fall flat and, in the case of one “Momster” (Busy Philipps), are irritating to the point of frustration.
Read More…
Review: Warrior
Released 23 September in the UK, Warrioris a thrilling family drama played out in brilliant fashion within the octagonal cage of a fictitious mixed martial arts tournament. Starring Tom Hardy (Tommy) and Joel Edgerton (Brendan) as estranged brothers, the film is based around their personal struggles and fractured relationships with each other and their father- a brilliantly cast Nick Nolte, who shines in the role of recovering alcoholic Paddy.
Tom Hardy and Nick Nolte prepare to go to war in Warrior
Having fled 14 years earlier with his mother, Tommy returns to the family home to find his formerly abusive, alcoholic father off the drink and begging for forgiveness. Hardy is thoroughly convincing as the hardened Tommy, who is harbouring deep-seeded resentment and exudes an air of menace as his recent whereabouts remain shrouded in mystery. Edgerton’s Brendan, who opted to not go with his brother and mother, is now married to his high-school sweetheart and, earning a suspension from his teaching job, is faced with a possible foreclosure on his family’s house. Both brothers find themselves lined up for “the Super Bowl of MMA”, a vicious winner take all fighting tournament with a prize of $5 million.
Read More…
Review: A Lonely Place To Die
Currently showing at select cinemas and released across the UK on Friday, A Lonely Place to Die is a well shot thriller that is hampered by a script that attempts to pack too much into its 100 minute runtime. Starring Melissa George and directed/co-written by Julian Gilbey, A Lonely Place To Die is set in the Scottish Highlands, seeing a group of five friends set out on a mountaineering expedition. Little time is wasted in establishing the threat the group is under if any one member makes a mistake on the mountain side.
Ed Speleers, Melissa George and Julian Gilbey attend the premiere at the Leicester Square Empire
It’s not long into their trek before the group make a startling discovery. A breathing tube protruding from the ground leads them to a young Serbian girl who has been buried in a makeshift chamber, having been given only water for her survival. The focus then shifts to the struggle faced by the group to make their way back to civilisation in order to bring the young girl to safety and flee from whoever it may have been that placed her there. Tragedy strikes soon after and desperation sets in, as it becomes clear that the group are now in grave danger.
Read More…
Review: You Instead
You Instead takes a novel approach to film-making. Using 2010′s T in the Park festival in Scotland for the setting, this British rom-com sees big-time US electro-rocker, Adam (Luke Treadaway) ending up hand-cuffed to small-time Brit musician Morello (Natalia Tena) following a very public row on the festival grounds. The too-predictable story could have been written on a napkin, but the film is not without charm as it captures a definite festival glow and the music provides a boost as events unfold.
Luke Treadaway and Natalia Tena at odds in You Instead
It’s difficult to watch You Instead without thinking that it’s an advert for T in the Park. However, this shouldn’t be held against the film because many movies are little more than commercials to begin with. The original Transformers cartoon and feature film were essentially produced to push the toys. Films are constantly selling their audience products without the viewer batting a lash, so the fact that it’s noticeable here speaks of the different approach that was taken in filming You Instead. It feels partially like a behind-the-scenes documentary and if it is an advert for T in the Park, it’s a pretty good one. Many acts, including Paloma Faith and Biffy Clyro are caught performing on-stage and the characters are effectively blended into the real world setting.
Read More…
Review: Friends With Benefits
In cinemas across the UK this Friday, Friends With Benefits is the best rom-com released so far this year. Granted, the competition hasn’t been stiff and that title will only remain until Crazy, Stupid Love is released, but neither point takes away from how surprisingly enjoyable and well-written Friends With Benefitsis. This Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake vehicle is dialogue driven, opting for clever banter between characters over silly situations and boasts terrific support and cameos- most notably of which, sees Emma Stone providing a fantastically foul-mouthed opening scene that strikes an early high-note.
Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis star in Friends With Benefits
Justin Timberlake is Dylan, head of a small but successful web-blogged who is recruited by Mila Kunis’ head-hunter Jamie for a top position at GQ. Leaving his father and sister behind in Los Angeles Dylan makes the move to New York City and the close, buddy relationship with Jamie is established. The office-based scenes are bolstered by Woody Harrelson’s proudly gay sports editor, Tommy who delivers some wickedly fun exchanges.
Read More…
Discussion: What Really Happens in Kill List? *SPOILERS*
Ben Wheatley’s Kill List, released this past Friday is a baffling cinematic experience. If one believes the critics, it’s one of the best films of the year. On a film forum I frequent, of those who attended the preview screening at the Prince Charles Cinema last week, everyone hated it, without exception. Even the film’s biggest supporters talk up the film without delving too deeply into why. Instead, many review appear to have been drawn from a template which includes “kitchen sink drama” and “It’s best to know as little as possible before viewing it”. Others claim it to be a brilliant film… well, except for that third act.
Neil Maskell and director Ben Wheatley at the Prince Charles Cinema
Personally, I appear to be one of the few whom falls somewhere in between. Upon my first viewing of it at the UK premiere at FrightFest, I was totally confused. From a technical standpoint, for everything that Wheatley does well, there are silly mistakes such as the dialogue between Gal and Jay often being indecipherable. The background noise was too loud and the Maskell and Smiley just did not deliver their lines clearly enough. The editing is interesting. Or is it just bad. I wasn’t sure.
Read More…
Review: Colombiana
Zoe Saldana stars as Cataleya in Luc Besson’s (writer/producer) latest project, Colombiana. Directed by Olivier Megaton (Transporter 3), Colombiana is a straight-forward, too often silly affair. Opening in 1992 Colombia, Cataleya is introduced as the daughter of a man on the wrong side of a drug cartel he attempts to make a clean break from. Seeing her parents gunned down in front of her, young Cataleya swears vengeance and makes a daring escape. Finding refuge at Colombia’s American embassy, upon presentation of a mysterious computer chip (resembling a modern-day SIM card) to officials, Cataleya is whisked off to a new life in the United States. Settling in Chicago with her uncle Emilio, Cataleya begins her education, both at school and at home, learning from Emilio how to become a killer.
Read More…
Review: Kill List
Kill List has become a critical darling amongst British reviewers this year, but unfortunately for second-time director Ben Wheatley, the average cinema-goer is no film critic and word-of-mouth just may be at the opposite end of the opinion spectrum. In a way, that would be fitting as Kill List is in many ways a bipolar film. It seemingly begins in one genre and ends up in quite another. The film is, at times very funny, at others extremely brutal and sometimes both. The lead couple of Jay (Neil Maskell) and Shel (MyAnna Buring) have a passionately manic relationship, which teeters from seething to tender over the course of one evening. The end result is ripe for mixed reactions, but may leave the ordinary viewer cold.
Director Ben Wheatley and the cast of Kill List at the UK premiere at FrightFest 2011
