(1972)
Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Talia Shire, John Cazale, Diane Keaton
Celebrating his daughter's wedding, the aging mafia Don Vito Corleone (Brando) is a master of the old way of thinking. Everything comes down to respect and family. All of his children are involved in some way in the family mafia business apart from his beloved son Michael. Michael has just returned from war with his girlfriend Kay (Keaton) and shows no intention of joining his father. However, through a set of horrendous circumstances, Michael becomes far more embroiled than he would like to have been. A rival of Vito's wants to begin to sell drugs in New York and need's Vito's influence. Old world thinking and new world values will clash bringing a terrible price for all.
I absolutly loved the film. The music was fantastic and absolutly heartbreaking at some points. The performances are all fantastic....and it's cliche but Brando is just heartbreaking.....Pacino and Keaton have a great chemistry. and James Caan as the wayward Sonny is amazing to watch.
I recommend it to all :)
10/10
"WHAT WE DO IN LIFE ECHOES IN ETERNITY"
Wednesday 3 August 2011
Sunday 3 July 2011
Bridesmaids
2011
Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy
Annie (Wiig)'s life is unravelling fast. She has lost her business, her crazy flatmates are chucking her out and her best friend Lillian (Rudolph) is getting married and she feels she is losing her. She also has to contend with Lillian's oh so perfect new friend Helen (Byrne) who is hell bent on having Lillian all to herself. When Lillian chooses Annie as her maid of honour, what follows is chaos.................and Annie finds herself losing her sanity and her best friend.
I thought the film was absolutly hilarious and far better than i originally thought it would be. Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph make a great double act and Melissa McCarthy steals the show as the groom's crazy sister.
Guys and girls alike will enjoy this and the food poisining scene will have you doubled up in laughter.
10/10
Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy
Annie (Wiig)'s life is unravelling fast. She has lost her business, her crazy flatmates are chucking her out and her best friend Lillian (Rudolph) is getting married and she feels she is losing her. She also has to contend with Lillian's oh so perfect new friend Helen (Byrne) who is hell bent on having Lillian all to herself. When Lillian chooses Annie as her maid of honour, what follows is chaos.................and Annie finds herself losing her sanity and her best friend.
I thought the film was absolutly hilarious and far better than i originally thought it would be. Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph make a great double act and Melissa McCarthy steals the show as the groom's crazy sister.
Guys and girls alike will enjoy this and the food poisining scene will have you doubled up in laughter.
10/10
Thursday 31 March 2011
Priceless (Hors de Prix)
2006
Audrey Tautou, Gad Elmaleh
Irene (Tautou) is a young golddigger and is on the French Riveria with her elderly companion to celebrate her birthday. When he falls asleep on her, she heads down to the bar where she meets Jean (Elmaleh) and mistakes him for a young millionaire and seduces him. This soon turns into friends with benefits....monetary benefits for Irene as she squeezes all the designer clothes she can out of Jean. Until Jean...starts playing Irene at her own game.
It was fun, quirky, beautifully shot. Tautou is beautiful as usual and such a lovely actress. Gad Elmaleh is hilarious, stunning and one to watch out for He has a very expressive face.
10/10
Audrey Tautou, Gad Elmaleh
Irene (Tautou) is a young golddigger and is on the French Riveria with her elderly companion to celebrate her birthday. When he falls asleep on her, she heads down to the bar where she meets Jean (Elmaleh) and mistakes him for a young millionaire and seduces him. This soon turns into friends with benefits....monetary benefits for Irene as she squeezes all the designer clothes she can out of Jean. Until Jean...starts playing Irene at her own game.
It was fun, quirky, beautifully shot. Tautou is beautiful as usual and such a lovely actress. Gad Elmaleh is hilarious, stunning and one to watch out for He has a very expressive face.
10/10
Taken
2008
Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Holly Valance, Famke Jannsen
Bryan Mills (Neeson) is an ex government spy who now lives his life to win back the love and trust of his daughter, whom we learned he abandoned for his job. His relationship with his ex wife Lenore (Jannsen) is strained. When his daughter Kim (Grace) goes to Paris with a friend, they end up talking to a stranger at the airport. This leads to their kidnap and a game of cat and mouse ensues with Bryan doing anything he can to get his daughter back.
It was a good story and kept me gripped the whole time. It was slick, fast paced and the only gripe i had was the pitiful ending.......
Neeson is on top form and like Unknown, i like his new hard man stance. Although here, he appears to be less cheesy and staged as he occasionaly was in Unknown.
Janssen was good as the mother.....cold...i didn't like her much but that was the point.
If you like action movies....watch this. You will not be dissapointed.
8/10
Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Holly Valance, Famke Jannsen
Bryan Mills (Neeson) is an ex government spy who now lives his life to win back the love and trust of his daughter, whom we learned he abandoned for his job. His relationship with his ex wife Lenore (Jannsen) is strained. When his daughter Kim (Grace) goes to Paris with a friend, they end up talking to a stranger at the airport. This leads to their kidnap and a game of cat and mouse ensues with Bryan doing anything he can to get his daughter back.
It was a good story and kept me gripped the whole time. It was slick, fast paced and the only gripe i had was the pitiful ending.......
Neeson is on top form and like Unknown, i like his new hard man stance. Although here, he appears to be less cheesy and staged as he occasionaly was in Unknown.
Janssen was good as the mother.....cold...i didn't like her much but that was the point.
If you like action movies....watch this. You will not be dissapointed.
8/10
Monday 28 March 2011
Sin
2003
Gary Oldman, Ving Rhames, Kerry Washington, Alicia Coppola
First off, this is not half as bad as Gary Oldman would tell you it is............don't be so hard on yourself Gary.
Kassie(Washington) is a drug addicted prostitute who is under the thumb of sleazy drug lord Charlie Strom (Oldman). Charlie likes to video porn...but not just adult porn . Charlie is more than a little bit sick in the head. Eddie is Kassie's older brother and has been ousted from the police force where he sustained an injury which means he can't use his left arm. We find out that Charlie has some sort of backstory with Eddie and concucts a very evil plan (invlving a very graphic rape scene - not carried out by Oldman i might add) to try and get back at him. This sends Eddie and Charlie on a path of Sin that none are likely to recover from.
The editing is awful, i will give you that one. However, the music is great and the acting is great. There are some pretty graphic scenes and some pretty harrowing scenes and the ending is very powerful. Don't be put off by the bad reviews and Oldman's words.....i think he was just being over critical.....
7/10
Gary Oldman, Ving Rhames, Kerry Washington, Alicia Coppola
First off, this is not half as bad as Gary Oldman would tell you it is............don't be so hard on yourself Gary.
Kassie(Washington) is a drug addicted prostitute who is under the thumb of sleazy drug lord Charlie Strom (Oldman). Charlie likes to video porn...but not just adult porn . Charlie is more than a little bit sick in the head. Eddie is Kassie's older brother and has been ousted from the police force where he sustained an injury which means he can't use his left arm. We find out that Charlie has some sort of backstory with Eddie and concucts a very evil plan (invlving a very graphic rape scene - not carried out by Oldman i might add) to try and get back at him. This sends Eddie and Charlie on a path of Sin that none are likely to recover from.
The editing is awful, i will give you that one. However, the music is great and the acting is great. There are some pretty graphic scenes and some pretty harrowing scenes and the ending is very powerful. Don't be put off by the bad reviews and Oldman's words.....i think he was just being over critical.....
7/10
Wednesday 23 March 2011
Rango
2011
Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Ned Beatty, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy
*THIS IS NOT A KIDS FILM*
but it is a good film....Rango (Depp) is a lizard who is not really going places. His only friends are a decapitated barbie doll and a wind up toy goldfish. After a freak accident, Rango finds himself in a dusty old town occupied with misfits trying to survive with the lack of water. Befriending another lizard called Beans (Fisher), Rango tells a small lie, to try and save the townspeople but ends up becoming embroiled completely in his fantasy.
The animation is fantastic, there are some extremly funny sexual innuendos (one of may reasons why it isnt a kids film) and somepretty kooky characters. Rattlesnake Jake (Nighy) is one of the scariest cartoon villians ive seen in a long time. Music is fantastic and i recommend this one to everyone.
10/10
Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Ned Beatty, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy
*THIS IS NOT A KIDS FILM*
but it is a good film....Rango (Depp) is a lizard who is not really going places. His only friends are a decapitated barbie doll and a wind up toy goldfish. After a freak accident, Rango finds himself in a dusty old town occupied with misfits trying to survive with the lack of water. Befriending another lizard called Beans (Fisher), Rango tells a small lie, to try and save the townspeople but ends up becoming embroiled completely in his fantasy.
The animation is fantastic, there are some extremly funny sexual innuendos (one of may reasons why it isnt a kids film) and somepretty kooky characters. Rattlesnake Jake (Nighy) is one of the scariest cartoon villians ive seen in a long time. Music is fantastic and i recommend this one to everyone.
10/10
Unknown
2011
Liam Neeson, January Jones, Diane Kruger, Bruno Ganz, Sebastian Koch, Frank Langella
Dr Martin Harris (Neeson) and his wife Elizabeth Harris (Jones) both arrive in Berlin where Martin is to give a talk at a Biotech Conference. Upon reaching the hotel, Martin realises he has left his briefcase at the airport so dashes in to a waiting taxi before Elizabeth can see him, to retrieve it. The taxi is driven by a young woman, Gina (Kruger). Taking a short cut there is an accident which causes the taxi to career of a bridge into the river. 4 days later, Martin awakes from a coma and remembers very little. Upon returning to the hotel, he is bemused to find that his wife does not even know who he is and there is another man posing as him. With his identity in question, Martin sets out to find the truth and himself.
The shooting of the film is very beautiful and what we get to see of Berlin is visually stunning. Neeson is great (if a little wooden, and ive never said that about Liam Neeson before) as Martin Harris, January Jones is exceptionally pretty, i just wish she could act. The doe eyed bambi look does nothing for me, though apparently she is very good in the tv show Madmen (she does however, get THE best scene in the whole film, which shouldn't be funny but it really is). Diane Kruger i was very surprised at, as i had never actually seen her in any films before. She is pretty good and one i will watch out for in the future. I was very very pleased to see Bruno Ganz, as he is the star in what is possibly my faviourite film Downfall (Der Untergang). Frank Langella is always so charasmatic and the scene between him and Ganz should show the young uns how its done.
The storyline actually, i quite liked it. It was interesting and i was never bored. I was actually on the edge of my seat at one point. See it for what it is....yeah it has some pretty stupid plot holes but on the whole, its a decent action/psycological flick with a pretty great car chase.....sometimes one needs something that simple.
7/10
Liam Neeson, January Jones, Diane Kruger, Bruno Ganz, Sebastian Koch, Frank Langella
Dr Martin Harris (Neeson) and his wife Elizabeth Harris (Jones) both arrive in Berlin where Martin is to give a talk at a Biotech Conference. Upon reaching the hotel, Martin realises he has left his briefcase at the airport so dashes in to a waiting taxi before Elizabeth can see him, to retrieve it. The taxi is driven by a young woman, Gina (Kruger). Taking a short cut there is an accident which causes the taxi to career of a bridge into the river. 4 days later, Martin awakes from a coma and remembers very little. Upon returning to the hotel, he is bemused to find that his wife does not even know who he is and there is another man posing as him. With his identity in question, Martin sets out to find the truth and himself.
The shooting of the film is very beautiful and what we get to see of Berlin is visually stunning. Neeson is great (if a little wooden, and ive never said that about Liam Neeson before) as Martin Harris, January Jones is exceptionally pretty, i just wish she could act. The doe eyed bambi look does nothing for me, though apparently she is very good in the tv show Madmen (she does however, get THE best scene in the whole film, which shouldn't be funny but it really is). Diane Kruger i was very surprised at, as i had never actually seen her in any films before. She is pretty good and one i will watch out for in the future. I was very very pleased to see Bruno Ganz, as he is the star in what is possibly my faviourite film Downfall (Der Untergang). Frank Langella is always so charasmatic and the scene between him and Ganz should show the young uns how its done.
The storyline actually, i quite liked it. It was interesting and i was never bored. I was actually on the edge of my seat at one point. See it for what it is....yeah it has some pretty stupid plot holes but on the whole, its a decent action/psycological flick with a pretty great car chase.....sometimes one needs something that simple.
7/10
Tuesday 15 March 2011
No Strings Attatched
2011
Ashton Kutcher, Natalie Portman
Adam(Kutcher) does not have much luck with the ladies so when he has innocent sex with an old friend Emma (Portman) he seems to think his luck is changing....however, when he begins to fall in love with his friend with benefits, he finds it hard to stop lust from becoming so much more.
It's a rom com. It's totally not my type of film. However, Portman and Kutcher were a good couple and had decent chemistry. Kutcher is so typecast it is unbelivable, Natalie, im hoping was having a minor aneurysm when she accepted it and will now go back to making serious films that she is always so good in.
The idea is very when Harry Met Sally, although nowhere near as good. I was quite drunk when i went to see it and was also drinking throughout it, which is maybe why i thought it was ok.
One for going to see with the girls....once....and thats it.
6/10
Ashton Kutcher, Natalie Portman
Adam(Kutcher) does not have much luck with the ladies so when he has innocent sex with an old friend Emma (Portman) he seems to think his luck is changing....however, when he begins to fall in love with his friend with benefits, he finds it hard to stop lust from becoming so much more.
It's a rom com. It's totally not my type of film. However, Portman and Kutcher were a good couple and had decent chemistry. Kutcher is so typecast it is unbelivable, Natalie, im hoping was having a minor aneurysm when she accepted it and will now go back to making serious films that she is always so good in.
The idea is very when Harry Met Sally, although nowhere near as good. I was quite drunk when i went to see it and was also drinking throughout it, which is maybe why i thought it was ok.
One for going to see with the girls....once....and thats it.
6/10
Sunday 27 February 2011
The Book of Eli
2010
Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis
In a post apocaliptic world, 30 years after a 'big flash'. Eli (Washington) is heading out West on a mission. On the way, he meets Carnegie (Oldman) who is the leader of a town in the middle of nowhere, desperate to get his hands on a certain book so that he can be more powerful. He also meets the wife of Carnegie and her daughter Solara (Kunis) and learns that Carnegie is not one to be messed with. We learn that Eli is carrying said book and Carnegie will do almost anything to get his hands on it.
Denzel is good as the lone wanderer Eli. Oldman does what he does best as the manic bad guy, Carnegie (he is certainly the most memorable character) Kunis, is well.....eye candy but a very bland actress for me.
Despite about 20 thousand plot holes, i like this film. The music is bleak, the lighting is bleak and the acting, on the whole is good and believable.
8/10
Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis
In a post apocaliptic world, 30 years after a 'big flash'. Eli (Washington) is heading out West on a mission. On the way, he meets Carnegie (Oldman) who is the leader of a town in the middle of nowhere, desperate to get his hands on a certain book so that he can be more powerful. He also meets the wife of Carnegie and her daughter Solara (Kunis) and learns that Carnegie is not one to be messed with. We learn that Eli is carrying said book and Carnegie will do almost anything to get his hands on it.
Denzel is good as the lone wanderer Eli. Oldman does what he does best as the manic bad guy, Carnegie (he is certainly the most memorable character) Kunis, is well.....eye candy but a very bland actress for me.
Despite about 20 thousand plot holes, i like this film. The music is bleak, the lighting is bleak and the acting, on the whole is good and believable.
8/10
Shutter Island
2010
Leonardo Di Caprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams.
Teddy Daniels(Di Caprio) is a US Marshall sent to investigate the disapearence of a woman from a mental institution on Shutter Island. Along with his partner, Chuck(Ruffalo). Teddy begins to see and hear things that are impossible to fathom...and begins to doubt his own sanity and the truthfulness of the staff and inmates. Haunted by visions of his own violent past, Teddy stumbles into a living nightmare. One that is almost impossible to escape from.
Di Caprio is fantastic as the tortured ex war veteran Teddy.It is almost painful to watch him relive his worst nightmares. Ruffalo is great as the sidekick Chuck....from the beginning it is very easy to spot that he may not be telling Teddy the truth. Ben Kingsley is great as the aging Psychiatrist, Cawley. Always nice but again, never quite sure how truthful he is actually being.
It is a complete mind f**k and im still not quite sure what my interpretation of the ending is....but thats what i love about it.
10/10
Leonardo Di Caprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams.
Teddy Daniels(Di Caprio) is a US Marshall sent to investigate the disapearence of a woman from a mental institution on Shutter Island. Along with his partner, Chuck(Ruffalo). Teddy begins to see and hear things that are impossible to fathom...and begins to doubt his own sanity and the truthfulness of the staff and inmates. Haunted by visions of his own violent past, Teddy stumbles into a living nightmare. One that is almost impossible to escape from.
Di Caprio is fantastic as the tortured ex war veteran Teddy.It is almost painful to watch him relive his worst nightmares. Ruffalo is great as the sidekick Chuck....from the beginning it is very easy to spot that he may not be telling Teddy the truth. Ben Kingsley is great as the aging Psychiatrist, Cawley. Always nice but again, never quite sure how truthful he is actually being.
It is a complete mind f**k and im still not quite sure what my interpretation of the ending is....but thats what i love about it.
10/10
Saturday 26 February 2011
Gang de qin - The Piano in a Factory
2010
Shin-Yeong Jang, Wang Qian-Yang, Hailu Qin
Was lucky enough to see the gem of a film yesterday after wandering into my local cineworld and, finding nothing else on..thought i would go and see this (if it looks utterly random i will probably go and see it over a big Hollywood blockbuster) . It was on as part of the Glasgow Film Festival - which was also something i didn't know was on BAD ME!!!! After being introduced to the film by one of the Film Festival workers (another nice touch which i liked) the film started straight away- no trailers is not a bad thing.
It is a Chinese film set in China in the early 90's when the steel workers were in uproar. It focuses on a young man Chen, who is divorcing his upmarket wife....desperate to keep the custody of his young daughter, who says the she will stay with whomever can give her a piano (nothing like emotional blackmail)...Chen can't afford a piano and tries all different tactics to help her play...he tries to sneak her into the local school with the help of a friend but gets caught and then tries to steal the school piano which doesn't work, not surprisengly. In desperation, Chen makes a piano keyboard out of wood, and even though it can't be played so a sound is made, he gets his daughter to use her imagination just so she is still getting the finger movements and the sound- there is a wonderful scene at this point where they play Beethoven together on a silent piano.
Realising that none of this is going to win back the daughter he do desperatly wants, Chen rounds up all his oddball friends and persuades them to help him make a piano from scratch at the local steel factory.......
The music was wonderful - i desperatly want to get my hands on a song which was used during alot of the factory scenes, some sort of russian hip hop or something.
The cinematography was wonderful, it really did feel bleak.
What i loved most though was the random songs that would burst out of nowhere when Chen and his girlfriend and their band needed to practice for gigs.....Spanish Flamenco style in the middle of a Chinese steel factory...why not!
I am not sure if this will ever get a proper uk release....so im very glad i had the chance...
10/10
Shin-Yeong Jang, Wang Qian-Yang, Hailu Qin
Was lucky enough to see the gem of a film yesterday after wandering into my local cineworld and, finding nothing else on..thought i would go and see this (if it looks utterly random i will probably go and see it over a big Hollywood blockbuster) . It was on as part of the Glasgow Film Festival - which was also something i didn't know was on BAD ME!!!! After being introduced to the film by one of the Film Festival workers (another nice touch which i liked) the film started straight away- no trailers is not a bad thing.
It is a Chinese film set in China in the early 90's when the steel workers were in uproar. It focuses on a young man Chen, who is divorcing his upmarket wife....desperate to keep the custody of his young daughter, who says the she will stay with whomever can give her a piano (nothing like emotional blackmail)...Chen can't afford a piano and tries all different tactics to help her play...he tries to sneak her into the local school with the help of a friend but gets caught and then tries to steal the school piano which doesn't work, not surprisengly. In desperation, Chen makes a piano keyboard out of wood, and even though it can't be played so a sound is made, he gets his daughter to use her imagination just so she is still getting the finger movements and the sound- there is a wonderful scene at this point where they play Beethoven together on a silent piano.
Realising that none of this is going to win back the daughter he do desperatly wants, Chen rounds up all his oddball friends and persuades them to help him make a piano from scratch at the local steel factory.......
The music was wonderful - i desperatly want to get my hands on a song which was used during alot of the factory scenes, some sort of russian hip hop or something.
The cinematography was wonderful, it really did feel bleak.
What i loved most though was the random songs that would burst out of nowhere when Chen and his girlfriend and their band needed to practice for gigs.....Spanish Flamenco style in the middle of a Chinese steel factory...why not!
I am not sure if this will ever get a proper uk release....so im very glad i had the chance...
10/10
Saturday 19 February 2011
Requiem for a Dream
2000
Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Ellen Burstyn, Marlon Wayans
This film should pretty much put you off the idea of ever taking drugs....
A young couple, Harry (Leto) and Marion (Connelly) set up a drug dealing business and their friend (Wayans) and like most things in life, starts off pretty perfect and the money is rolling in. Meanwhile, Harry's mother Sara (Burstyn) has been left out in the cold with not much company apart from the television that she craves so much to be on one day. She recieves a call one day that she has been picked to be on a game show and this spurs her on to lose weight. She begins taking diet pills to help her....and they work....until they start to become an addiction. Harry and Marion's business takes a turn for the worse aswell and they have to resort to horrendous measures to get their next hit.
It is grim..it is to put it bluntly absolutly hellish but it is essential viewing. The camera angles are engulfing and on more than one occasion i felt sick and dizzy and my heart began to beat faster than normal.......only because of the film....it is quite an experience.
Leto and Connelly are a fantastic pair and i do wonder why they both don't get more work. They transform themselves into the roles and Leto especially is very very thin by the end and makes for uncomfortable viewing.
Burstyn is heartbreaking as the mother, Sara. On more than one occasion, i cried for her...
I don't personally get why people find it over rated.....it is gritty and it is raw and i think it was a film that needed to be made and should be seen by everyone.........it is not a positive film but you can take the positive fact away from it that you will be very unlikely to go near any drugs after watching it.
10/10
Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Ellen Burstyn, Marlon Wayans
This film should pretty much put you off the idea of ever taking drugs....
A young couple, Harry (Leto) and Marion (Connelly) set up a drug dealing business and their friend (Wayans) and like most things in life, starts off pretty perfect and the money is rolling in. Meanwhile, Harry's mother Sara (Burstyn) has been left out in the cold with not much company apart from the television that she craves so much to be on one day. She recieves a call one day that she has been picked to be on a game show and this spurs her on to lose weight. She begins taking diet pills to help her....and they work....until they start to become an addiction. Harry and Marion's business takes a turn for the worse aswell and they have to resort to horrendous measures to get their next hit.
It is grim..it is to put it bluntly absolutly hellish but it is essential viewing. The camera angles are engulfing and on more than one occasion i felt sick and dizzy and my heart began to beat faster than normal.......only because of the film....it is quite an experience.
Leto and Connelly are a fantastic pair and i do wonder why they both don't get more work. They transform themselves into the roles and Leto especially is very very thin by the end and makes for uncomfortable viewing.
Burstyn is heartbreaking as the mother, Sara. On more than one occasion, i cried for her...
I don't personally get why people find it over rated.....it is gritty and it is raw and i think it was a film that needed to be made and should be seen by everyone.........it is not a positive film but you can take the positive fact away from it that you will be very unlikely to go near any drugs after watching it.
10/10
The Machinist
2004
Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Aitana Sanchez-Gijon
Trevor Reznik (Bale) is a machine worker at a downtown factory. He has not slept in a year....after a stranger at work causes Reznik to accidentially saw off the arm of a fellow worker and strange post it notes begin appearing round his house causing him to doubt the truthfullness of his workmates and also his own sanity.
Bale is fantastic as the horrendously thin, Reznik. To say he put himself into the role puts it lightly...the man looks like a walking skeleton. It is very uncomfortable to watch sometimes. His weight seems to be the only thing he can control as he slowly loses his mind......to cleanse himself he washes his hands with bleach.....makes my hands tingle just to write that...
Jennifer Jason Leigh is good as the prostitute with a heart, Stevie. She is the only person in Trevor's life that he can trust.
The music is haunting.. and the lighting is dark, dingy, and grey.......almost like Trevor as a shadow of his former self. The lighting almost reminds me of The Book of Eli at some points.
Most definatly worth the watch....even if it is slightly predictable....
10/10
Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Aitana Sanchez-Gijon
Trevor Reznik (Bale) is a machine worker at a downtown factory. He has not slept in a year....after a stranger at work causes Reznik to accidentially saw off the arm of a fellow worker and strange post it notes begin appearing round his house causing him to doubt the truthfullness of his workmates and also his own sanity.
Bale is fantastic as the horrendously thin, Reznik. To say he put himself into the role puts it lightly...the man looks like a walking skeleton. It is very uncomfortable to watch sometimes. His weight seems to be the only thing he can control as he slowly loses his mind......to cleanse himself he washes his hands with bleach.....makes my hands tingle just to write that...
Jennifer Jason Leigh is good as the prostitute with a heart, Stevie. She is the only person in Trevor's life that he can trust.
The music is haunting.. and the lighting is dark, dingy, and grey.......almost like Trevor as a shadow of his former self. The lighting almost reminds me of The Book of Eli at some points.
Most definatly worth the watch....even if it is slightly predictable....
10/10
Thursday 10 February 2011
El laberinto del fauno (Pan's Labyrinth)
2006
Ivana Baquero, Sergi Lopez, Maribel Verdu, Doug Jones, Ariadna Gil,
A beautiful, beautiful movie.
It is 1944. Spain is in the throes of Facism and the rebels are fighting against authority. In the midst of this chaos, we meet Ofelia (Baquero) and her mother Carmen (Gil). They are heading to the home of Carmen's new husband Capitian Vidal (Lopez). Carmen is pregnant with Vidal's son and is very very ill. Vidal pays little attention to his new stepdaughter and dotes on his unborn child. Lonely, Ofelia stumbles across an old labryinth in the grounds of her new home. There she meets a faun who tells her she must complete magical and dangerous tasks to become who she was born to be.....
Captain Vidal is possibly one of the most sadistic villians i have ever seen on film......the man is incapable of any empathy (although it would be nice to know why this is the case). The scene with the glass bottle is the one of only two scenes in any films where i have had to look away........
Ofelia is a beautiful little girl and it is lovely to see the world from her point of view.......Baquero is a wonderful young actress and has lots ahead of her.
The cinematography and music are just wonderful and even now i can hear the lullaby in my head and it makes me tearful. I physically sob by the end of this film....no matter how many times i watch it.
Never mind in your face spiders and trolls, this film has one of THE (in my opinion) scariest creatures ever...............The Pale Man will haunt your dreams forever.
10/10
Ivana Baquero, Sergi Lopez, Maribel Verdu, Doug Jones, Ariadna Gil,
A beautiful, beautiful movie.
It is 1944. Spain is in the throes of Facism and the rebels are fighting against authority. In the midst of this chaos, we meet Ofelia (Baquero) and her mother Carmen (Gil). They are heading to the home of Carmen's new husband Capitian Vidal (Lopez). Carmen is pregnant with Vidal's son and is very very ill. Vidal pays little attention to his new stepdaughter and dotes on his unborn child. Lonely, Ofelia stumbles across an old labryinth in the grounds of her new home. There she meets a faun who tells her she must complete magical and dangerous tasks to become who she was born to be.....
Captain Vidal is possibly one of the most sadistic villians i have ever seen on film......the man is incapable of any empathy (although it would be nice to know why this is the case). The scene with the glass bottle is the one of only two scenes in any films where i have had to look away........
Ofelia is a beautiful little girl and it is lovely to see the world from her point of view.......Baquero is a wonderful young actress and has lots ahead of her.
The cinematography and music are just wonderful and even now i can hear the lullaby in my head and it makes me tearful. I physically sob by the end of this film....no matter how many times i watch it.
Never mind in your face spiders and trolls, this film has one of THE (in my opinion) scariest creatures ever...............The Pale Man will haunt your dreams forever.
10/10
Mamma Mia
2008
Amanda Seyfried, Stellan Skarsgard, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Julie Walters, Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, Dominic Cooper
Mamma Mia is the blockbuster, big screen adaptation of the ABBA musical of the same name. It focuses on Sophie(Seyfried), who lives on an island in Greece with her mother Donna (Streep). She is about to get married to her fiance Sky(Cooper)but feels something is missing and has been missing her whole life. Her father to walk her down the aisle. She stumbles across her mothers diary that Donna kept the year she was pregnant with Sophie and finds out that she has three possible fathers..........and invites them all! Hilarity ensues.
Such a feel good film. Pretty much all the cast do a great job, apart from Dominic Cooper, who in my opinion, couldn't act his way out of a paper bag. Pierce Brosnon can't sing for toffee but it doesn't matter, he is a likeable character. Meryl Streep defies her age and runs about like a woman of 30! Christine Baranski and Julie Walters are a great double act and "Chiquitita" is absolutly hilarious. Amanda Seyfried can come across as very annoying and childish but i guess that is the point of the story (if you have seen the end you know what i mean) Colin Firth, well i can't say much without giving away a little of his character but seeing him play something else apart from the noble englishman is a breath of fresh air.....Stellan Skarsgard, i had never seen before this film but he is really good. Gruff and rough round the edges.......
The music is of course fabulous (if you like ABBA) and you will be up dancing and singing in no time. The scenery is beautiful and works so well with the story.
Only bad point for me is Dominic Cooper....sorry mate but you can't act....nice body tho!
9/10
Amanda Seyfried, Stellan Skarsgard, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Julie Walters, Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, Dominic Cooper
Mamma Mia is the blockbuster, big screen adaptation of the ABBA musical of the same name. It focuses on Sophie(Seyfried), who lives on an island in Greece with her mother Donna (Streep). She is about to get married to her fiance Sky(Cooper)but feels something is missing and has been missing her whole life. Her father to walk her down the aisle. She stumbles across her mothers diary that Donna kept the year she was pregnant with Sophie and finds out that she has three possible fathers..........and invites them all! Hilarity ensues.
Such a feel good film. Pretty much all the cast do a great job, apart from Dominic Cooper, who in my opinion, couldn't act his way out of a paper bag. Pierce Brosnon can't sing for toffee but it doesn't matter, he is a likeable character. Meryl Streep defies her age and runs about like a woman of 30! Christine Baranski and Julie Walters are a great double act and "Chiquitita" is absolutly hilarious. Amanda Seyfried can come across as very annoying and childish but i guess that is the point of the story (if you have seen the end you know what i mean) Colin Firth, well i can't say much without giving away a little of his character but seeing him play something else apart from the noble englishman is a breath of fresh air.....Stellan Skarsgard, i had never seen before this film but he is really good. Gruff and rough round the edges.......
The music is of course fabulous (if you like ABBA) and you will be up dancing and singing in no time. The scenery is beautiful and works so well with the story.
Only bad point for me is Dominic Cooper....sorry mate but you can't act....nice body tho!
9/10
Sunday 30 January 2011
8 Mile
2002
Eminem, Brittany Murphy, Mekhi Phifer, Kim Basinger
B- Rabbit (Eminem) is down and out. He lives in a trailer park in Detroit with his mum (Basinger) and his daughter Lily. On top of all that, he has just choked at the local rap battle and is slowly losing any credibility as the white boy in a black neighbourhood. He needs his friends around him but some are causing him grief behind his back.......he needs to man up for his own sanity.
Eminem actually does a really decent job here. If you didn't know that he was a multi- million doller recording artist, you would think he was just an unknown actor. He is very convincing.
Brittany Murphy is good in the role as the love interest although she looks like she is stoned through most of it.
Kim Basinger's is probably the best performance. She portrays the role of a desperate single mother very well.
Mekhi Phifer is fantastic as the best friend. Always trying to do the best for Rabbit, even when he doesn't show his apprecation.
Im not the biggest fan of Hip Hop ever, but the rap battles are amazing. It really does take a great talent, which i couldn't ever emulate and Eminem's music fits perfectly throughout.
8/10 - Only because of the wholly uneccesary sex scene.
Eminem, Brittany Murphy, Mekhi Phifer, Kim Basinger
B- Rabbit (Eminem) is down and out. He lives in a trailer park in Detroit with his mum (Basinger) and his daughter Lily. On top of all that, he has just choked at the local rap battle and is slowly losing any credibility as the white boy in a black neighbourhood. He needs his friends around him but some are causing him grief behind his back.......he needs to man up for his own sanity.
Eminem actually does a really decent job here. If you didn't know that he was a multi- million doller recording artist, you would think he was just an unknown actor. He is very convincing.
Brittany Murphy is good in the role as the love interest although she looks like she is stoned through most of it.
Kim Basinger's is probably the best performance. She portrays the role of a desperate single mother very well.
Mekhi Phifer is fantastic as the best friend. Always trying to do the best for Rabbit, even when he doesn't show his apprecation.
Im not the biggest fan of Hip Hop ever, but the rap battles are amazing. It really does take a great talent, which i couldn't ever emulate and Eminem's music fits perfectly throughout.
8/10 - Only because of the wholly uneccesary sex scene.
Wednesday 26 January 2011
Leon 'The Professional'
1994
Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Jean Reno
One of my all time fave films. It is so very french....
Leon (Reno) is a loner hitman who likes nothing more then drinking milk and caring for his plant. When he meets the 12 year old Mathilda (Portman), he seems intreagued by her but thinks nothing of it...When Mathilda's family is killed in a midday raid orchestrated by the enigmatic, corrupt DEA agent Norman Stansfield (Oldman) , Leon finds himself playing dad.....Mathilda wants revenge and only Leon can teach her how to carry it out...
Natalie Portman's first big screen role. She is fantastic as Mathilda......and for her age at the time, is a fantastic actress.
Reno is so wonderful as the adopted father Leon. However, at the back of your mind, he is and always will be a killer.
Hats off to Oldman once again though, because if you remember anything about this film, it is the rantings of Stansfield. He loves to listen to Beethoven while shooting people and likes to take pills before hand to liven up the action.....people say he overacts but how else would you play such an over the top character. This is another role which should have got him an Oscar nod.
Fantastic scenery, realtionships between the characters and the music is so very Luc Besson.
10/10
Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Jean Reno
One of my all time fave films. It is so very french....
Leon (Reno) is a loner hitman who likes nothing more then drinking milk and caring for his plant. When he meets the 12 year old Mathilda (Portman), he seems intreagued by her but thinks nothing of it...When Mathilda's family is killed in a midday raid orchestrated by the enigmatic, corrupt DEA agent Norman Stansfield (Oldman) , Leon finds himself playing dad.....Mathilda wants revenge and only Leon can teach her how to carry it out...
Natalie Portman's first big screen role. She is fantastic as Mathilda......and for her age at the time, is a fantastic actress.
Reno is so wonderful as the adopted father Leon. However, at the back of your mind, he is and always will be a killer.
Hats off to Oldman once again though, because if you remember anything about this film, it is the rantings of Stansfield. He loves to listen to Beethoven while shooting people and likes to take pills before hand to liven up the action.....people say he overacts but how else would you play such an over the top character. This is another role which should have got him an Oscar nod.
Fantastic scenery, realtionships between the characters and the music is so very Luc Besson.
10/10
State of Grace
1990
Gary Oldman, Robin Wright, Sean Penn, Ed Harris
By far, my fave performance by Gary Oldman....the oscar should have gone to him for this..the fact this is his fave performance speaks millions.
This movie should have got more coverage but when up against the might of Goodfellas it never really stood a chance...which is a shame, because i think this is better.
Terry Noonan (Sean Penn) returns to Hell's Kitchen and hooks up with his best friend Jackie Flannery (Oldman), his brother Frankie Flannery (Ed Harris), and his first love, Kathleen (Robin Wright).
The neighbourhood Terry grew up in has changed alot and the Irish are no longer the big mob that they once were. Terry soon gets embroiled in Jackie and Frankie's business, which gets out of control....but Terry is hiding a big big secret.
The acting from the 3 male leads is top notch. Ed Harris is cold and scary, Sean Penn is good as the man who might be found out but hats off to Oldman....Jackie Flannery always makes me smile......Oldman is the master of flying off the handle at a moments notice type acting. Jackie is a nutter but you love him anyway.
My only gripe is Robin Wright...she is a very weak actress for me.....and the love story with her and Penn could have easily not have been included and the movie would have still worked.
Fast paced and gritty......10/10
Gary Oldman, Robin Wright, Sean Penn, Ed Harris
By far, my fave performance by Gary Oldman....the oscar should have gone to him for this..the fact this is his fave performance speaks millions.
This movie should have got more coverage but when up against the might of Goodfellas it never really stood a chance...which is a shame, because i think this is better.
Terry Noonan (Sean Penn) returns to Hell's Kitchen and hooks up with his best friend Jackie Flannery (Oldman), his brother Frankie Flannery (Ed Harris), and his first love, Kathleen (Robin Wright).
The neighbourhood Terry grew up in has changed alot and the Irish are no longer the big mob that they once were. Terry soon gets embroiled in Jackie and Frankie's business, which gets out of control....but Terry is hiding a big big secret.
The acting from the 3 male leads is top notch. Ed Harris is cold and scary, Sean Penn is good as the man who might be found out but hats off to Oldman....Jackie Flannery always makes me smile......Oldman is the master of flying off the handle at a moments notice type acting. Jackie is a nutter but you love him anyway.
My only gripe is Robin Wright...she is a very weak actress for me.....and the love story with her and Penn could have easily not have been included and the movie would have still worked.
Fast paced and gritty......10/10
Tuesday 25 January 2011
Shaun of The Dead
2004
Simon Pegg, Kate Ashfield, Nick Frost, Lucy Davis, Dylan Moran, Peter Serafinowicz, Bill Nighy
A British rom-com with zombies.....pretty much sums it up
Taking the mick out of every zombie movie ever created, Evil Dead, Dawn of the Dead etc...Shaun of the Dead manages to roll every emotion into one movie, instead of just gore.
Shaun has no life. He works as a sales assistant and hates it. He lives with his manky unemployed bum of a best friend Ed (Frost) whose claim to fame is impersonating an ape and their longsuffering flatmate Pete (Serafinowicz) who just wants them both to get a life and grow up.
Shaun can't do anything right and when he screws things up with his girlfriend Liz(Ashfield) he decides the best thing to do is to go out and get pissed with Ed...after all "It's not the end of the world" Waking up, he decides to get his life in order......there is only one problem....just a minor one.....zombies have taken over the UK.
Its funny, it's crude, its sad and involves a very funny scene with pool cues and Don't Stop Me Now by Queen. I could watch it over and over and not be bored.
In fact, ive watched it so much, i know it off by heart.
Its very British humour, brought to you by the same bunch who made the cult tv show Spaced (also one i would recommend you watch).
Pegg is very cute as the misguided Shaun, you do feel very sorry for him. He does try his best.
Frost is hilarious as the oaf Ed....again, complete waste of space, but you want him to succeed.
Highly recommended, watch with a group of friends. It does not dissapoint....
10/10
Simon Pegg, Kate Ashfield, Nick Frost, Lucy Davis, Dylan Moran, Peter Serafinowicz, Bill Nighy
A British rom-com with zombies.....pretty much sums it up
Taking the mick out of every zombie movie ever created, Evil Dead, Dawn of the Dead etc...Shaun of the Dead manages to roll every emotion into one movie, instead of just gore.
Shaun has no life. He works as a sales assistant and hates it. He lives with his manky unemployed bum of a best friend Ed (Frost) whose claim to fame is impersonating an ape and their longsuffering flatmate Pete (Serafinowicz) who just wants them both to get a life and grow up.
Shaun can't do anything right and when he screws things up with his girlfriend Liz(Ashfield) he decides the best thing to do is to go out and get pissed with Ed...after all "It's not the end of the world" Waking up, he decides to get his life in order......there is only one problem....just a minor one.....zombies have taken over the UK.
Its funny, it's crude, its sad and involves a very funny scene with pool cues and Don't Stop Me Now by Queen. I could watch it over and over and not be bored.
In fact, ive watched it so much, i know it off by heart.
Its very British humour, brought to you by the same bunch who made the cult tv show Spaced (also one i would recommend you watch).
Pegg is very cute as the misguided Shaun, you do feel very sorry for him. He does try his best.
Frost is hilarious as the oaf Ed....again, complete waste of space, but you want him to succeed.
Highly recommended, watch with a group of friends. It does not dissapoint....
10/10
Hide and Seek
2005
Robert De Niro, Dakota Fanning
One of my 'Oh this looks good, i will buy this' moments when i was in HMV...
I am very glad i did. I have watched this many many times and even though i know the outcome i still enjoy it.
David Callaway (De Niro) is a widowed Psychologist, who, after the suicide of his wife, decides to take his traumatised daughter Emily (Fanning) to live in the country to try and get her to forget her past. She has no friends, so when she starts taking an interest in the imaginary 'Charlie', David is initially happy to acknowledge him. Soon, David realises that Charlie is not all he seems and things take a sinister turn.
I always find psychological thrillers scarier than slasher movies so this ticks all the boxes for me...the music and lighting create quite a spooky atmosphere. Noone i have watched this with has twigged what is going to happen in the end which amuses me.
De Niro is brilliant in this, i like him best when he is a man on the edge. Fanning, well i think this is her best film to date.....I don't want to shut her up, which i have done in every other one (think War of the Worlds - argh she is so annoying). Her acting is mature and has depth and she really is the best actress of her age.
9/10 - Just because there are some annoying plot holes, that's my only gripe
Robert De Niro, Dakota Fanning
One of my 'Oh this looks good, i will buy this' moments when i was in HMV...
I am very glad i did. I have watched this many many times and even though i know the outcome i still enjoy it.
David Callaway (De Niro) is a widowed Psychologist, who, after the suicide of his wife, decides to take his traumatised daughter Emily (Fanning) to live in the country to try and get her to forget her past. She has no friends, so when she starts taking an interest in the imaginary 'Charlie', David is initially happy to acknowledge him. Soon, David realises that Charlie is not all he seems and things take a sinister turn.
I always find psychological thrillers scarier than slasher movies so this ticks all the boxes for me...the music and lighting create quite a spooky atmosphere. Noone i have watched this with has twigged what is going to happen in the end which amuses me.
De Niro is brilliant in this, i like him best when he is a man on the edge. Fanning, well i think this is her best film to date.....I don't want to shut her up, which i have done in every other one (think War of the Worlds - argh she is so annoying). Her acting is mature and has depth and she really is the best actress of her age.
9/10 - Just because there are some annoying plot holes, that's my only gripe
Tuesday 18 January 2011
The Diving Bell and The Butterfly
2007
Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner
Jean-Do has a perfect life. He is the editor of top fashion magazine Elle.Has 3 beautiful children and can get any woman he wants. However, his perfect life comes crashing down when he wakes up to find that he can't move his body. He has suffered a major stroke and is now the victim of 'locked in' syndrome, where the mind is functioning perfectly but the rest of the body can't function at all.Through the discovery that he can blink his left eye, he communicates his every need to the outside world.
This is the heartbreaking but uplifting true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby who overcame everything to prove everyone wrong. It is truely fascinating to see Jean-Do blink outa single sentence, never mind an entire book. His humour always shines through and it gives the watcher an insight into what it is like for a grown man to be washed by nurses (very interesting for the fundamentals of care to a student nurse in training :) )
It is not easy to watch but i beg you to give it a chance. It is thought provoking and yes, i did cry ( i seem to be doing that alot lately)
10/10
Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner
Jean-Do has a perfect life. He is the editor of top fashion magazine Elle.Has 3 beautiful children and can get any woman he wants. However, his perfect life comes crashing down when he wakes up to find that he can't move his body. He has suffered a major stroke and is now the victim of 'locked in' syndrome, where the mind is functioning perfectly but the rest of the body can't function at all.Through the discovery that he can blink his left eye, he communicates his every need to the outside world.
This is the heartbreaking but uplifting true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby who overcame everything to prove everyone wrong. It is truely fascinating to see Jean-Do blink outa single sentence, never mind an entire book. His humour always shines through and it gives the watcher an insight into what it is like for a grown man to be washed by nurses (very interesting for the fundamentals of care to a student nurse in training :) )
It is not easy to watch but i beg you to give it a chance. It is thought provoking and yes, i did cry ( i seem to be doing that alot lately)
10/10
Sunday 9 January 2011
The Shawshank Redemption
1994
Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton
This is one of those films that i could watch over and over again and not be bored.
Andy Dufresne (Robbins) has been wrongly convicted of murdering his wife and her lover and is has been handed 2 life sentances at Shawshank prison for his troubles. Upon arrival, Warden Norton (Gunton) informs the new inmates that they will recieve the bible and discipline at Shawshank and throughout the film we see the warden, and the guards use their power and the lords name to intimedate and threaten the inmates. Dufresne befriends Red (Freeman), who is the man who knows how to get things but has given up on hope. Through their friendship, they learn that hope is really a good thing and help to make life better at Shawshank.
The music is beautiful...Thomas Newman pulls another one off here.(listening to the end song as i write this and YES it makes me cry)
The lighting in the prison is used very well and almost makes you feel closed in and unable to escape, just like the inmates.
Tim Robbins plays the part of wrongly convicted man, just beautifully...you feel for him in so many ways.
Morgan Freeman was just made for this part...the man who can get you whatever you want on the inside but on the outside he is just a man.
Bob Gunton is quite quite evil in this role. Using his power and religion to manipulate the minds of the inmates...you truely do hate him.
I always feel happy after watching this film...although my face is usually soaking because i have been crying so much.
Definatly not overrated..see it
10/10
Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton
This is one of those films that i could watch over and over again and not be bored.
Andy Dufresne (Robbins) has been wrongly convicted of murdering his wife and her lover and is has been handed 2 life sentances at Shawshank prison for his troubles. Upon arrival, Warden Norton (Gunton) informs the new inmates that they will recieve the bible and discipline at Shawshank and throughout the film we see the warden, and the guards use their power and the lords name to intimedate and threaten the inmates. Dufresne befriends Red (Freeman), who is the man who knows how to get things but has given up on hope. Through their friendship, they learn that hope is really a good thing and help to make life better at Shawshank.
The music is beautiful...Thomas Newman pulls another one off here.(listening to the end song as i write this and YES it makes me cry)
The lighting in the prison is used very well and almost makes you feel closed in and unable to escape, just like the inmates.
Tim Robbins plays the part of wrongly convicted man, just beautifully...you feel for him in so many ways.
Morgan Freeman was just made for this part...the man who can get you whatever you want on the inside but on the outside he is just a man.
Bob Gunton is quite quite evil in this role. Using his power and religion to manipulate the minds of the inmates...you truely do hate him.
I always feel happy after watching this film...although my face is usually soaking because i have been crying so much.
Definatly not overrated..see it
10/10
Saturday 8 January 2011
The Truman Show
1998
Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, Ed Harris
Ever feel that you are going round in circles? Truman Burbank (Carrey) is increasingly feeling this day by day. He lives in the sleepy town of Seahaven in a perfect house, has a perfect wife and a perfect job. Almost to perfect in fact. When things start happening that are out of the oridinary, we see Truman spiralling into depression and questioning his own existence. Who is he? What is he?
Well, what he is in fact is the star of a huge television show based entirely on his life. The show is the brainchild of Christof (Harris). The Truman show is watched and obbsessed over by millions of people and Christof knows exactly how to manipulate the audience with beautiful music and lighting. Every person in Truman's life is an actor, he is the only real person in Seahaven. He needs to get out...but that proves harder than it sounds.
Carrey is amazing as Truman and proves how good an actor he really is. His acting at the end is heartbreaking.
Ed Harris is great as the passionate but cold producer and Laura Linney is fabulous as Truman's 'wife' who thinks nothing of doing an advert for cocoa in the middle of a serious conversation.
Philip Glass's music, as always, is beautiful and the artifical 50's look of Seahaven is very interesting.
Big Brother is watching.........
10/10
Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, Ed Harris
Ever feel that you are going round in circles? Truman Burbank (Carrey) is increasingly feeling this day by day. He lives in the sleepy town of Seahaven in a perfect house, has a perfect wife and a perfect job. Almost to perfect in fact. When things start happening that are out of the oridinary, we see Truman spiralling into depression and questioning his own existence. Who is he? What is he?
Well, what he is in fact is the star of a huge television show based entirely on his life. The show is the brainchild of Christof (Harris). The Truman show is watched and obbsessed over by millions of people and Christof knows exactly how to manipulate the audience with beautiful music and lighting. Every person in Truman's life is an actor, he is the only real person in Seahaven. He needs to get out...but that proves harder than it sounds.
Carrey is amazing as Truman and proves how good an actor he really is. His acting at the end is heartbreaking.
Ed Harris is great as the passionate but cold producer and Laura Linney is fabulous as Truman's 'wife' who thinks nothing of doing an advert for cocoa in the middle of a serious conversation.
Philip Glass's music, as always, is beautiful and the artifical 50's look of Seahaven is very interesting.
Big Brother is watching.........
10/10
Saturday 1 January 2011
Wall-E
Disney Pixar - 2008
Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, John Ratzenberger
Quite possibly the cutest Disney Pixar film in my opinion. It is far far into the future and the earth has been abandoned due to the Buy n Large company using up every viable resource. Wall-E is a little robot (who resembles Johnny 5 from Short Circuit) who spends every day crushing all the junk lying about into little cubes and listening to old musicals on his makeshift television set. One day he finds a little plant growing in a fridge and decides to give it a new home. No sooner has he taken it back to his house then an alien spaceship lands and drops off a girl robot whose directive is to find sustainable life on earth. Wall-E attempts to win her affections by showing her his new plant but unintentionally sends the pair on a whirlwind adventure full of mishaps and space travel.......
Visually very beautiful to watch, and is one I should have really seen in the cinema to fully appreciate the colours used.
There is not much talking, which might not catch the attention of a young child. This one, i think, is more for the adults...but have your kids sitting next to you, just so you have an excuse :)
10/10
Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, John Ratzenberger
Quite possibly the cutest Disney Pixar film in my opinion. It is far far into the future and the earth has been abandoned due to the Buy n Large company using up every viable resource. Wall-E is a little robot (who resembles Johnny 5 from Short Circuit) who spends every day crushing all the junk lying about into little cubes and listening to old musicals on his makeshift television set. One day he finds a little plant growing in a fridge and decides to give it a new home. No sooner has he taken it back to his house then an alien spaceship lands and drops off a girl robot whose directive is to find sustainable life on earth. Wall-E attempts to win her affections by showing her his new plant but unintentionally sends the pair on a whirlwind adventure full of mishaps and space travel.......
Visually very beautiful to watch, and is one I should have really seen in the cinema to fully appreciate the colours used.
There is not much talking, which might not catch the attention of a young child. This one, i think, is more for the adults...but have your kids sitting next to you, just so you have an excuse :)
10/10
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