Film Review: AWAY WE GO (2009)

Director: Sam Mendes
Running time: 96 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

USA release date: 18th September 2009

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 31st October 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Sam Mendes has directed some of my favourite films including ‘American Beauty’ and ‘Road to Perdition’, and so I was interested to see his latest offering. I found an interesting, sometimes funny and sometimes very sad, but always a very engaging tale with great visuals and great characters. But more of that later, here’s a short summary first (synopsis haters please ignore the next paragraph).

Burt Farlander and Verona De Tessant are going to have a baby. Verona is six months’ pregnant when Burt’s parents announce they are going to move to Belgium for two years. This leaves the couple in a bit of a quandary, they have no other family in the area and so decide to go on a road-trip to visit various friends and family living in different parts of North America. The trip takes them to Arizona, Madison Wisconsin, Montreal Canada, Florida and finally the place they decide to call home (I’m not giving that away). On their journey they meet all different kinds of families, all of which, for one reason or another, are broken. They look into themselves and find the place they want their child to grow up.

There are some really great visuals in this film, it’s just a shame there weren’t more. I did find that the story did wander slightly in places, but Sam Mendes has a great ability to bring it back on track, which he does really well. Great characters used throughout, all of which I found quite believable. Very decent performances from all of the major cast, particularly John Krasinski as Burt and Maya Rudolph as Verona. Honourable mentions should also go to Catherine O'Hara as Gloria Farlander, Jeff Daniels as Jerry Farlander, Allison Janney as Lily, Jim Gaffigan as Lowell and Maggie Gyllenhaal as LN Fisher-Herrin.

Although it has quite a slow pace, I found it has an engaging plot and some characters I actually care about. Some great visuals also add to a pretty enjoyable film which, although not perfect, is still recommended viewing.

My score: 7.3/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1176740/
Official Site: http://focusfeatures.com/focusfeatures/film/away_we_go/
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/imdb/vi3933405977/

Film Review: PRETTY IN PINK (1986)

Director: Howard Deutch
Writer: John Hughes
Running time: 92 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

USA release date: 28th February 1986

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 30th October 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Back in my youth I was into all kinds of music and, I guess, because I grew up with it, punk has always been very close to my heart. Now, one of the bands that were spewed out as a result of the punk phenomenon (pardon the pun) was The Psychedelic Furs. They happened to release a record called ‘Pretty In Pink’, their only hit, which also features quite strongly in this film (surprise, surprise!). I really love the song, but will the film match up? Let’s see. (As usual, summary haters please omit the next paragraph…).

Andie Walsh lives with her father Jack; they have been alone since her mother left three years previously. She attends the local school where her friend since childhood, the larger than life, Duckie (real name, Phil Dale) vies for her affections. Unfortunately for him he is firmly in the “friend zone” and she is interested in another boy, Blane McDonnagh. The problem is that Blane is one of the rich kids at school and they don’t mix well with the likes of Andie. Blane’s friend, Steff, tried to dissuade him from pursuing her, but he does anyway. Andie works part-time at a record store with her (older) friend, Iona. She is a kind of substitute mother figure, as well as being a friend. Prom night is coming up and Blane has asked Andie if she would like to go. Duckie is upset and steps out of the picture for a while. Will Blane stand up to his rich friends and take Andie anyway, will Andie realise just how much she’s hurt Duckie, or will the hall catch fire and kill everyone inside? (Nah, that’s not going to happen… just seeing if you’re paying attention…).

Although it looks very dated these days, I still kind of like this film. It’s pretty well made with some really good performances, especially from Molly Ringwald as Andie and Harry Dean Stanton as Jack Walsh. I also very much liked the performance of Jon Cryer as Duckie. Honourable mentions must also go to Annie Potts as Iona, James Spader as Steff and Andrew McCarthy as Blane.

I guess I would have liked this film more if it wasn’t for the fact that I didn’t believe the relationship between Andie and Blane. Yes, they are from opposite sides of the tracks and, yes, I have seen these things work many times before in movies, but this one just didn’t fly for me. It seems to me that she has much more in common with Duckie, who, by the way is the hero of the film in my opinion. But then, hey, what do I know? At the end of the day, although I found it a little far-fetched in places, and the ending a bit of a let down, still, recommended if just for Molly Ringwald's excellent performance.

My score: 7.2/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0091790/
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcSMDqXT52s

Film Review: A SERIOUS MAN (2009)

Co-Writers/Co-Directors: Ethan Coen & Joel Coen
Running time: 102 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

UK release date: 20th November 2009

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 24th October 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I’ll admit to being a bit of a fan of the Coen brothers’ work, particularly their early works. This one… well, I’m not too sure about. I know it has been critically acclaimed and deservedly so; it’s a very well written script and a very well made movie. But more of my thoughts later, here’s a short summary first (summary haters please omit the next paragraph).

The setting is Bloomington Minnesota 1967 where Prof. Lawrence ‘Larry’ Gopnik is a mathematics professor. He has a wife, Judith, and two teenage children, Danny and Sarah. Also staying with them, temporarily, is his brother, Uncle Arthur. Larry goes about his boring daily routine, Danny’s bar-mitzvah is coming up and he is also up for tenure at the university. One day Judith comes to him and tells him she wants a divorce. Things are not going well between them and she has become close to another man, Sy Ableman. On top of that a South Korean student is not happy about his mid-term grade and is trying to bribe him to give a pass. Judith and Sy force him out of the house had he has to take Arthur and live in a Motel. Everything seems to be going wrong for Larry. Maybe the Rabbi’s have an answer, but getting to see the right one is proving more than difficult.

There is a very slow and deliberate pace to this movie. This allows the audience to absorb the dialogue and subtleties woven into the plot. Great performances all round, particularly from Michael Stuhlbarg as Prof. Lawrence ‘Larry’ Gopnik, Richard Kind as Uncle Arthur and Fred Melamed as Sy Ableman. Honourable mentions go to; Sari Lennick as Judith, Aaron Wolff as Danny and Jessica McManus as Sarah.

There was a lot in the movie I didn’t understand. Lots of references to things that a follower of the Jewish faith might understand, but not your average person, or ‘goy’. This, I found a bit distracting. Also, I felt there was no resolution at the end of the film, a habit the Coens have got into recently. The combination of these two factors made the film slightly disappointing for me, but still, recommended.

My score: 7.4/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1019452/
Official Site: http://filminfocus.com/focusfeatures/film/a_serious_man/
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/imdb/vi1681064473/

Film Review: PLANET 51 (2009)

Director: Jorge Blanco
Co-Directors: Javier Abad & Marcos Martínez
Running time: 91 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): U

UK release date: 4th December 2009

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 24th October 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

As you may or may not know, I’m a bit of a sucker for an animated feature and, having seen the trailer for Planet 51 a while back I was keen to see how it turned out. I must admit I was shocked how poorly it has been received. What I found was a funny, engaging film with a whole load of gags referring to just about every mainstream sci-fi/alien film. I admit it’s not perfect, but I think it deserves another chance. But more of that later, first, here’s a very brief summary (miss the next paragraph if you hate summaries).

Planet 51 is supposed to be lifeless, well, that’s what the data said anyway. Unfortunately for astronaut Captain Charles T. Baker, it isn’t. Alien life forms with green skin inhabit this little planet and they have advanced as far as the 1950’s, that’s USA 1950’s, just in case there’s any doubt. A teenager, Lem, befriends Baker and, with the help of his friends, Skiff and Eckle, hides him from the army and their leader, General Grawl and the crazy scientist, Professor Kipple. He is in love with Eckle’s sister, Neera, but struggles with getting the right words out. Back with the mission, help is at hand in the form of R.O.V.E.R., an advance scout robot who was sent ahead of the mission. Time is running out for Baker, his command craft, in orbit, leaves in 72 hours. Can Lem and his friends get him back to his Lander in time? Will Baker help Lem with Neera? Is there any end to these crazy questions? Guess you’ll have to wait and see.

As I said at the beginning, there are plenty of gags incorporated into the script and there’s also a lot of slapstick. My favourite character is the ‘Alien’ dog; you’ll know what I mean when/if you see it. The dialogue was adequately delivered, but then nobody was really stretched. Honourable mentions go to the voice talents of; Dwayne Johnson as Captain Charles T. Baker, Jessica Biel as Neera, Justin Long as Lem, Gary Oldman as General Grawl, Seann William Scott as Skiff and John Cleese as Professor Kipple.

Over all I found it a very entertaining movie with quite a few laughs. I guess it’s down to taste and I’m aware that we are all different, especially when it comes to comedy, but I urge you to give this one a chance. Although it’s not perfect, I’ve seen much, much worse… Recommended.

My score: 6.4/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0762125/
Official Site: http://www.sonypictures.com/sonywonder/planet51/
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/imdb/vi1592656409/

Film Review: SUNSHINE CLEANING (2008)

Director: Christine Jeffs
Running time: 88 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

UK release date: 26th June 2009

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 23rd October 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

The title of this movie gives very little away. We know it’s about a cleaning company, but that’s about it. Well, the company specialises in crime scene clean-ups. That’s all the mess that’s left after the body has been removed and the police have finished their investigation. This engaging independent film tells how two sisters in New Mexico got into the business and what happened as a consequence.

The sisters in question are Rose and Norah Lorkowski. Rose has a son, Oscar and Norah still lives with their father, Joe. Oscar gets expelled from school and Rose has to make more money to get him into another one. She is having an affair with a cop, Mac, who suggests she goes into the lucrative crime scene clean-up business. Having looked into it she ropes Norah in and they start cleaning up after all kinds of deaths, quite badly at first. Then they meet Winston who runs a store that sells cleaning supplies. He takes pity on them and helps them with paperwork and the like. During this tale we learn a lot about the girls and their lives and some of the reasons they turned out the way they did.

This is a pretty well made film which has quite a slow pace. It does tend to wander off on a tangent now and then, but I didn’t find that too distracting. Excellent performances all round, particularly from Amy Adams as Rose, Emily Blunt as Norah and Alan Arkin as Joe. Honourable mentions should also go to; Jason Spevack as Oscar, Steve Zahn as Mac and Clifton Collins Jr. as Winston.

Over all I found the gentle pace of this film quite refreshing. It allows the audience to absorb what’s going on rather than have it thrust at you like some crazy 3D piranha. The film is very much about feelings, sorry, no blood and guts here, unless it’s already on a wall, of course. I guess it will be enjoyed more but female viewers, but still, as a male in touch with his feminine side (she made me say that), recommended.

My score: 7.1/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0862846/
Official Site: http://www.sunshinecleaning-themovie.com/#/home
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/screenplay/vi144572953/

Film Review: TUBE TALES (1999)

Directors (in alphabetical order):
Gaby Dellal (segment “Rosebud”)
Stephen Hopkins (segment “Horny”)
Bob Hoskins (segment “My Father the Liar”)
Menhaj Huda (segment “Grasshopper”)
Armando Iannucci (segment “Mouth”)
Amy Jenkins (segment “Mr. Cool”)
Jude Law (segment “A Bird in the Hand”)
Charles McDougall (segment “Steal Away”)
Ewan McGregor (Segment “Bone”)

Running time: 85 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

UK release date: 19th November 1999

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 23rd October 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is a collection of nine short stories centred in and around the London Underground, known by the locals as ‘The Tube’. Each story has a different director which makes for quite an interesting feel to the film. It was originally made for TV but I don’t think that detracts too much from the quality of the piece.

There are some well known actors involved in the project, both from film and (UK) TV. These include, Jason Flemyng, Dexter Fletcher, Simon Pegg, Sean Pertwee, Liz Smith, Denise Van Outen, Don Warrington, Rachel Weisz and Ray Winstone. I particularly liked the performances of Denise Van Outen in ‘Horny’, Don Warrington in ‘Steal Away’ and Ray Winstone in ‘My Father the Liar’. Although all the performances were pretty good.

Over all I found this a bit hit and miss. Some stories were great whereas others just failed to hit the mark. It’s still a very watchable piece, but, I suspect, one you’ll only watch once. I should warn you that there are a few pretty gross things that go on down there, so I advise not watching during a meal. My two favourite segments were ‘Rosebud’ and ‘Steal Away’: Recommended, especially for these two.

My score: 6.2/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0176250/
Official Site: http://www.tubetales.co.uk/flashindex.htm

Film Review: AVPR: ALIENS Vs PREDATOR - REQUIEM (2007)

Directors: Colin Strause & Greg Strause
Running time: 96 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

UK release date: 18th January 2008

Watched on DVD Sunday 17th October 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I can’t say I wasn’t warned about this one, several of my friends have told me it was pretty bad. Of course, curiosity got the better of me and I put the disc in the machine and watched it. I have to say my friends, on this occasion, were correct. It sucks pretty much all the way through. I won’t bother with a plot synopsis, but if you’ve seen the Alien movies, the Predator movies and any slasher movie, you’ve seen this.

So why the massive score I hear you ask. Well, credit where it’s due, the special effects weren’t too bad and I did like the way the 5.1 surround sound was done. Apart from that, an awful script, that was so predictable it wasn’t true, some adequate acting, but no better than you’ll see in your average slasher flick and lots of darkness to cover up the guys in the rubber suits (that’s the Aliens & the Predators for those that can’t work that out) all added up to one big let down I’m afraid.

So, if you love the Alien movies, as I do, love the Predator movies (even the rather bad AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004)), as I do, then I beg you; please give this one a miss. It’s not worth it… really… Don’t let curiosity get the better of you like I did! Please! I think you can guess the next bit… NOT recommended.

My score: 3.2/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0758730/
Official Site: http://www.avp-r.com/
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/imdb/vi682754329/

Film Review: LOOKING FOR ERIC (2009)

Director: Ken Loach
Running time: 116 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

UK release date: 12th June 2009

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 16th October 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Ken Loach is an acclaimed British director who is well known for his gritty ‘kitchen sink’ dramas. This is a bit of a departure in that it’s a comedy, well, more like a drama with some comedy included. First of all, for my American readers, when I refer to football, I’m talking about what you guys call soccer, hope that’s clear. So, Eric Bishop is a postman who is down on his luck. He has been a fan of Manchester United all of his life and his favourite player was Frenchman Eric Cantona.

When Eric Bishop has a breakdown he is taken to hospital. His friend, Meatballs, picks him up the following day and takes him home. There he finds his two stepsons, Ryan and Jess, both lazing about and up to no good as usual. After a meeting with some friends where they talk about self awareness he begins to believe he sees his footballing hero, Eric Cantona. As time goes on, this apparition teaches him how to make his life better, and even how he might win back his first wife Lily, who he is still in love with. Through looking after his granddaughter, baby Molly, Eric discovers he can actually talk to Lily. He tells her about how he was feeling when they split up and they begin to grow a bit closer. Things seem to be going well when Ryan falls in with the wrong crowd and ends up hiding a very hot firearm. Eric tries to plead with the bad guys but they’ll have none of it. What can he do?... Cantona may have the answer.

I should point out that yes, I am a football fan, but no I’m not a fan of Manchester United, or Eric Cantona. I admired him as a player but he always came over as a bit too arrogant for me. Having said that, I really enjoyed this film! I could relate to the troubles Eric Bishop was having and I thought the ending was great! Any film that leaves me with a smile on my face can’t be too bad! Great performances all round, especially from Steve Evets as Eric Bishop, he really nailed the part! I also thought that Stephanie Bishop as Lily and Gerard Kearns as Ryan were both very good. Honourable mentions must go to Stefan Gumbs as Jess, Lucy-Jo Hudson as Sam, John Henshaw as Meatballs, Justin Moorhouse as Spleen and of course, Eric Cantona as himself.

Although it lost a bit of momentum in the middle, I felt it was a pretty well made film with a lot of realism in both the dialogue and the visuals. I have been to Manchester and parts of it really are like that! I found some of Eric Cantona’s dialogue was a little indistinct, which did detract from my enjoyment slightly, but they made up for it with some great footage of his goals. Over all, I found it a very enjoyable film with some great comic moments but also some gritty realism. Recommended.

My score: 8.3/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1242545/
Official Site: http://www.iconmovies.co.uk/lookingforeric/
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/imdb/vi3450275609/

Film Review: PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE (2009)

Director: Lee Daniels
Running time: 106 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

UK release date: 29th January 2010

Watched on DVD Sunday 10th October 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This film was highly praised at both the Oscars and the BAFTAs earlier this year, so I thought I’d take a look. It tells the story of a 450 pound girl and how a move to a special school turned her life around. Here’s a brief summary.

Precious is an illiterate sixteen year old schoolgirl who is pregnant with her second child. The child’s father is her own dad, who raped her. She has an abusive mother, Mary, who puts her down both verbally and physically at every opportunity. It seems nobody cares for Precious until the principle at her school signs her up for the ‘Each One, Teach One’ project. Precious goes to the class and meets Ms. Rain, the teacher who will change her life. She is put in a class with other kids who, for one reason or another, haven’t done as well at school as they might. One day, after more abuse and pressure from her mother, Precious goes to sign up for welfare. She is interviewed by Mrs. Weiss who gets her to tell her all about her life at home. A short time later she has her baby, a boy, and is befriended by a male nurse at the hospital called John. When Precious takes her baby home there is a fight and she has to flee. Not knowing where to go she ends up at the school where Ms. Rain ends up taking care of her. From here on, life gets better for Precious, but there will be a couple more bumps in the road yet.

This is a really well made film with some really great performances. I love the way that when Precious is being abused, she goes off into this fantasy world where she’s famous and glamorous, it really fitted in neatly. Great work from all the leading cast, especially Gabourey Sidibe as Precious and Mo'Nique as Mary. Both put in stellar performances. I should also give honourable mentions to Paula Patton as Ms. Rain, Mariah Carey as Mrs. Weiss, Sherri Shepherd as Cornrows and Lenny Kravitz as Nurse John.

A very gritty tale told with a lot of affection. I found it quite engrossing to watch and it was very easy to identify with the characters. Over all, a very good film, but with some very strong themes. Well worth a viewing. Recommended.

My score: 7.8/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0929632/
Official Site: http://www.weareallprecious.com/
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/imdb/vi1522402585/

Film Review: DEFIANCE (2008)

Co-Writer/Director: Edward Zwick
Running time: 131 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

UK release date: 9th January 2009

Watched on DVD Sunday 10th October 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This film has been lurking in my DVD collection for quite a while now, and so I thought it was a bit overdue a viewing. Finding myself at a loose end on a Sunday afternoon afforded the ideal opportunity. At two hours eleven minutes it’s a pretty long film, which probably explains why it has remained unwatched for so long. But enough of this, you want to hear about the film. The setting is Belarus in the early 1940’s. The German army has invaded and is beginning it’s persecution of the Jews in the region… oh, and by the way, it’s based on a true story.

After their parents are killed, three brothers, Tuvia, Zus and Asael Bielski, seek refuge in the forests near their home. They are soon joined by other survivors and it’s soon apparent that, as the oldest, Tuvia must take charge. The brothers are not the most law-abiding citizens and find their skills at smuggling are soon to be very useful. After finding out who was responsible for his parents’ murder, Tuvia exacts revenge on a local policeman and his family. As more and more survivors join the group tension mounts between Tuvia and Zus as they differ on how they should proceed. This culminates in a fight and Zus leaving to join the local brigade of the Red Army. Eventually the camp is discovered by the police and they are forced to move and, as winter approaches, life becomes very tough for the survivors. They now number in the hundreds and Asael meets a girl and marries her. They survive the winter only to discover that the Germans intend to sweep through the forest and take, or kill anyone they find. Zus is ordered by the Russian commander to retreat, leaving the Jews at the mercy of the approaching Nazis. And on that knife-edge, I’ll leave my short synopsis.

This is a pretty well made film with some nice action sequences interspersing the drama. Decent performances all round particularly from Daniel Craig as Tuvia, Liev Schreiber as Zus and Jamie Bell as Asael. All three stood out and put in really good performances. I should also give honourable mentions to Alexa Davalos as Lilka Ticktin, Allan Corduner as Shimon Haretz, Mark Feuerstein as Isaac Malbin and Tomas Arana as Ben Zion Gulkowitz.

As I mentioned at the beginning, it’s a pretty long film, and, despite this, I felt the filmmakers were still trying to fit too much in. It is a fascinating and awe inspiring story that deserves to be told, but I just felt it could have been done better. So, over all, it’s a pretty good film that doesn’t quite reach the standard set by the likes of Schindler’s List, but still a worthy effort. Recommended if you can spare the 2 hours, 11 minutes.

My score: 7.3/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1034303/
Official Site: http://www.defiancemovie.com/
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/imdb/vi2692481049/

Film Review: BURIED (2010)

Director: Rodrigo Cortés
Running time: 95 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

UK Release date: 29th September 2010

Watched at the cinema Saturday 9th October 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I first became aware of this film when it played at the Sundance festival. It was flagged by the critics as one of the standout films of that event. Since then I have been intrigued to see what all the fuss was about. I wasn’t disappointed; it is a very innovative and daring film with a great performance from Ryan Reynolds. But more of my thoughts later, first, here’s a very short synopsis.

I must first say that the opening credits are really well done. I love the, almost, sixties vibe, it made me feel like I was just about to watch an old Hitchcock movie. We open with darkness and breathing as Paul Conroy wakes up to find himself in a box. He fumbles around and finds a Zippo lighter. He lights it and the audience gets the first glimpse of the claustrophobic environment in which he is trapped. He is a truck driver working for a company delivering medical supplies in Iraq in 2005 whose convoy was ambushed by insurgents. Finding a mobile phone (or cell phone for my American friends) he makes a series of phone calls in an attempt to find someone who can help him. He tries to contact his wife, his mother, the FBI, the State Department and his employer, amongst others. Eventually he is put in contact with Dan Brenner who is part of a team set up to help find kidnap victims. He is also contacted by his kidnappers who make demands, threaten his family and generally add to the tension of what is a desperate situation for Paul. Will he be found in time? Is there a way out of this seemingly impossible situation? Well, as you’ve probably guessed, I’m not going to tell you. I’m sure you wouldn’t thank me if I did.

The entire film is set inside the box, or coffin, as it is referred to in the dialogue. This makes for a very claustrophobic experience so I definitely wouldn’t recommend this film for those who are uncomfortable in enclosed spaces. It does have a very dramatic effect on the audience though, you are slowly drawn into the events on screen and there is no escape. I found it a very enthralling film and one that will stay in my memory for some time to come. As I said at the beginning, it is a really great performance from Ryan Reynolds; he takes us through a whole range of emotions, and does it very well! I should also give honourable mentions to the voice talents of; José Luis García Pérez as Jabir, Robert Paterson as Dan Brenner, Stephen Tobolowsky as Alan Davenport and Samantha Mathis as Linda Conroy.

When I saw this film there were not very many people in the theatre but I could tell all of them were enthralled by it. The teenage daughter of a family to my right was clearly moved by the events on screen. Over all, I found it a very innovative and thought-provoking film with a great performance from Ryan Reynolds, who has gone up in my estimation. Also great direction from Rodrigo Cortés who kept the audience gripped throughout. So, for those who don’t suffer too badly from claustrophobia, very much recommended, otherwise, I’d probably steer clear.

My score: 7.9/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1462758/
Official Site: http://experienceburied.com/index.html
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/imdb/vi2845247769/

Film Review: THE TIME TRAVELLER’S WIFE (2009)

Director: Robert Schwentke
Running time: 103 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12

UK release date: 14th August 2009

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 3rd October 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

First of all, I’m not sure I am the right gender to be watching this film. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against romantic films by any stretch of the imagination, but this one really goes for it, all guns blazing! One thing in its favour though is the time travel element. Film makers always find interesting ways to portray time travel and the effects it has on those involved. Here’s a short summary.

Henry DeTamble is a librarian in Chicago and he’s also a time traveller. One day a young lady, Clare Abshire, walks into the library and asks him to dinner. She tells Henry she has known him almost all of her life and that she is in love with him. She also knows all about his time travelling. He meets her two best friends Gomez and Charisse and the couple settle down together. Throughout this period we are told part of the story of how Henry first met Clare when she was just six years old. Eventually they wed and at first things seem to be going well. Unfortunately Henry has no control over when he will travel and this, at times can be awkward, especially since he always leaves his clothes behind and arrives at his destination naked. However, when Clare falls pregnant things begin to get quite serious. After she miscarries Henry seeks the help of Dr. David Kendrick, a geneticist, and from here events take a dramatic turn, especially for Henry! I won’t say any more, I don’t want to give too much away.

As with most time travel films there are a few plot holes, which I won’t bore you with the details of here, you’ll have more fun finding them for yourselves. I thought the special effect used when Henry time travelled was pretty effective. Decent performances all round, so honourable mentions go to; Eric Bana as Henry DeTamble, Rachel McAdams as Clare Abshire, Ron Livingston as Gomez, Jane McLean as Charisse and Stephen Tobolowsky as Dr. David Kendrick.

As I said at the beginning, I believe the female audience will enjoy this a lot more than the males. The film tells a lot more about feelings than about the narrative, not that that is entirely a bad thing. I did find it quite hard to engage with any of the characters and I did find it a little too drawn out at the end. So, if you’re in touch with your feelings then this is the film for you, otherwise, maybe give it a miss.

My score: 6.5/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0452694/
Official Site: http://www.thetimetravelerswifemovie.com/dvd/index.html
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/screenplay/vi2566717977/

Film Review: SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO (2007)

Co-Writer/Director: Takashi Miike
Running time: 95 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Japan release date: 15th September 2007

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 2nd October 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is director Takashi Miike’s homage to the spaghetti western. I did find it kind of odd watching a western with Asian actors in an Asian setting, but at the end of the day it was pretty well done and there was a neat little cameo from a certain Quentin Tarantino. But more of that later, here’s a short summary first.

Two clans, the Reds and the Whites are fighting over a treasure believed to be buried in or around a small village. Most of the villagers have left, leaving the mayor and a few others in between the clans. Into this situation comes a lone gunman who immediately proves his worth. Both clans vie for his services but an old woman tells him to think it over first, which he does. She tells him of a woman, of the white clan, who fell in love with and had a child with a man of the red clan. They lived in the village until the young man was killed by the red clan leader. She then went to the white clan for sanctuary but was just abused and kept as a concubine by their leader. Their son will no longer speak and lives with the old woman. The gunman goes the whites and tries to buy the freedom of the young woman but is ultimately unsuccessful. So he sets up an ambush that results in the Reds and the Whites almost annihilating each other. Surprisingly, the old woman turns out to be a great ally in this adventure. I really don’t want to say any more, I think that’s more than enough to whet your appetite.

This is a very well made film, as I said at the beginning, the setting is Asia and all of the actors, apart from Tarantino are Asian. This unfortunately has the side-effect that the accents make quite a lot of the dialogue quite hard (for me) to undrestand clearly. Having said that, the cinematography is really well done, also the stunts are superb.

The plot seems to have been heavily based on the 1964 Sergio Leone film, A Fistful of Dollars which kind of makes it a bit easier to follow. There are, of course, plenty of twists and turns in it that deviate from the original which does keep the audience interested. Over all, it’s a pretty entertaining film although it can be a bit gory for those of a nervous disposition and there's the language problem I mentioned earlier. But I pretty much enjoyed it, so it’s recommended.

My score: 6.4/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0906665/
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/screenplay/vi975372313/

Film Review: CLERKS (1994)

Writer/Director: Kevin Smith
Running time: 87 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

UK release date: 5th May 1995

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 2nd October 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I have heard a lot about this film, most of it has been very positive, so I was quite keen to see what all the fuss was about. What I found was a very interesting low budget black and white film that talks a lot about relationships, human nature and all kinds of crazy stuff. I guess the film is most notable for introducing to the world the characters Jay and Silent Bob, and if you don’t know who those guys are then you’re probably reading the wrong review! But more of that later, here’s a short plot summary before I tell you want I really think.

Dante works in a convenience store. It is his day off but his boss has called him in to cover for him. The day starts normally enough, but he can’t open the main shutters because someone has put gum in the locks. His girlfriend, Veronica, comes in to see him on her way to college. She thinks he could do better and tries to persuade him to join her at college. Dante is stuck in his ways and is happy to stay at the store for the time being. After she leaves, Randal arrives to open the video rental store next door. He spends most of the day closing the video store so he can go and hang out with Dante. It transpires that Dante is still holding a torch for his ex-girlfriend, Caitlin and has recently been in touch with her. When the pair, Dante and Randal that is, discover that Caitlin is engaged to be married, things get really interesting. Throw in a hockey game on the roof, a funeral, a death and the lamest fight scene I’ve ever seen and that about covers it.

I will admit I did find the character of Randal pretty annoying although he did talk a lot of sense in the end. The performances were pretty good although not as polished as I’m used to. So honourable mentions go to; Brian O'Halloran as Dante, Jeff Anderson as Randal, Marilyn Ghigliotti as Veronica, Lisa Spoonhauer as Caitlin, Jason Mewes as Jay and Kevin Smith as Silent Bob.

Although it’s not the best comedy I’ve seen for a while, I can see the appeal of it. There are a lot of crazy characters and some pretty good one-liners that raised a laugh or two. Over all I pretty much liked this film… I can’t say exactly why, maybe it was Silent Bob’s words of wisdom, but over all, it’s recommended.

My score: 6.7/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0109445/
Official Site: http://www.viewaskew.com/clerks/