Thoughts of a SteelMonster

Film Review: THE LINCOLN LAWYER (2011)

2012-02-12T16:14:00.001Z

Director: Brad Furman
Writers: John Romano (Screenplay), Michael Connelly (Novel)
Running time: 112 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Crime/Drama/Thriller
UK Release date: 18^th March 2011

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 12^th February 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I remember when this film came out I was intrigued by it. I have always liked a decent courtroom drama and so this one had an extra appeal for me. Of course it was bypassed by my local cinema and so I waited patiently for a TV airing. Well my patience paid off and I was pleasantly surprised with this one; there were more elements to it than I first thought. I will tell you more after this brief summary.

When slick, street-wise defence attorney, Mick Haller picks up the case of rich-kid, Louis Roulet, he doesn’t quite know just what he’s getting into. Roulet is accused of attacking a prostitute, Reggie Campo, an accusation he vehemently denies. Haller’s ex-wife, Maggie McPherson, was initially to prosecute the case, but she gives it to her colleague, Ted Minton when she realises it’s Haller defending. As Haller and his investigator, Frank Levin, dig deeper into the case they find evidence that may change their estimation of Roulet. This evidence links to an old case of Haller’s, one he didn’t win. It’s also evidence that puts Haller and his family and friends in danger. I won’t say any more or the Spoiler Police (Crime Dramas Division) will have me banged up on trumped-up charges (again).

A well made crime drama is something I always enjoy, and that is what we have here. It may well only be up to ‘B’ movie standard in some people’s eyes but they can’t deny it’s very a well scripted and a well made ‘B’ movie. I thought all the performances were very good, particularly Matthew McConaughey as Mick Haller, he coped with the leading role very well (IMO). Marisa Tomei was also very good as Maggie McPherson, as were, Ryan Phillippe as Louis Roulet and William H. Macy as Frank Levin. Honourable mentions also go to; Josh Lucas as Ted Minton, John Leguizamo as Val Valenzuela, Michael Peña as Jesus Martinez, Bob Gunton as Cecil Dobbs, Frances Fisher as Mary Windsor and Bryan Cranston as Detective Lankford.

I enjoyed this film very much, it’s not quite up there with the best crime dramas, but it’s not that far off. I know that the writer of the novel on which it is based, Michael Connelly, is very popular and so I’m not surprised to find a well thought out plot with many twists and turns in it. The problem with many films of this type is that you can only really watch (and enjoy) them once but I feel I could enjoy this one if I watched it again even with knowing the eventual outcome. That’s testament to the writing, the acting and the whole production of it. You’ll not be surprised that I therefore deem it… Recommended.

My score: 6.7/10.

IMDb Score: 7.4/10 (based on 52,496 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1189340/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 84/100 (based on 159 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 82/100 (based on 56,525 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lincoln_lawyer/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Mick Haller: I checked the list of people I trust and your name ain't on it.

Earl: You know what? You would've done all right on the streets.
Mick Haller: Shit. Where do you think I am, Earl?

Mick Haller: Do you know the difference between a Maserati and a Range Rover?
Reggie Campo: One is small and one is big, I guess.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www.thelincolnlawyermovie.com/
Trailer:

Film Review: IF…. (1968)

2012-02-12T09:31:00.001Z

Director: Lindsay Anderson
Writer: David Sherwin (Screenplay & Original Script “Crusaders”) and John Howlett (Original Script “Crusaders”)
Running time: 111 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Drama
UK Release date: 19^th December 1968 (Premiere, London)

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 11^th February 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This film came up in an online conversation about the Japanese film ‘Battle Royalle’ as an example of an earlier film featuring violent schoolchildren. I really didn’t know what to expect when I started to watch it and it kept me guessing all the way through I’m afraid. It’s one of those 1960’s films that seems to be trying to be a little too intellectual for its own good. I will tell you more after this brief summary.

The plot surrounds the goings on at a boarding school in England, and in particular those goings on in College House. At the top of the tree are the faculty who rule the classrooms with and iron grip. Then there are the Whips, or as I prefer to see them, the Prefects; these guys rule the halls and the dormitories. Then there are the Senior Boys and finally the Juniors. Much of the film is taken up with the general life in the school, all the bickering, fights and general tension that goes on amongst a group of boys together. We then turn our attention to three seniors, Mick Travis, Johnny and Wallace. Travis is obsessed with war and this sparks the beginnings of a revolution at the school. I will stop there before I say too much, but I assure both you and the Spoiler Police that I have probably made it sound far more exciting than it is.

This is quite an odd film to watch; there are scenes in colour and then there are scenes in black and white. I tried to figure out the logic behind it but couldn’t see any… maybe they just ran out of colour film? All the performances were pretty good, in particular the older boys. And so I’ll give honourable mentions to; a very young looking Malcolm McDowell as Mick Travis, David Wood as Johnny, Richard Warwick as Wallace and Christine Noonan as The Girl. Also; Rupert Webster as Bobby Phillips, Robert Swann as Rountree, Hugh Thomas as Denson and Michael Cadman as Fortinbras.

Unfortunately, apart from a few scenes, including the crazy ending, I found this film quite dull. There seems to be no narrative that could be easily followed; you kind of pick up little pieces here and there. The cutting between colour and black and white also made no sense (to me). Over all, I found it quite disappointing but I feel it’s one of those you don’t ‘get’ until you’ve seen it a few times. Sadly I don’t feel inspired enough to give it another look right now. I guess it does have something to say, but I couldn’t see it… Not recommended.

My score: 5.6/10.

IMDb Score: 7.7/10 (based on 9,504 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0063850/

Rotten Tomatoes: NO LISTING

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Mick Travis: One man can change the world with a bullet in the right place.

[after lights-out]
Mick Travis: [whispering] Stephans. Whatever you're doing now... don't.

Mick Travis: There's only one thing you can do with a girl like this. Walk naked into the sea together as the sun sets. Make love once... Then die.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Trailer (unofficial):

Film Review: BATTLE LOS ANGELES (2011)

2012-02-11T20:28:00.001Z

Director: Jonathan Liebesman
Writer: Christopher Bertolini
Running time: 112 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12

Genre: Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi
UK Release date: 11^th March 2011

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 11^th February 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I remember seeing trailers for this and thinking it looked interesting; but then it got released and was slammed by the critics so I put it on the “Watch when it lands on TV” list. Well, it finally landed on TV and I have to say it was nothing like as bad as I was expecting it to be. It is far far batter than the other film of this ilk that came out around the same time “Skyline”, which I gave the lowest score I’ve ever given to by the way. I will tell you more about this one after this brief summary.

When strange meteors begin falling into earth’s oceans it seems a little odd at first that they weren’t detected. But when scientists realise that they are slowing down before they hit; they soon discover that the earth is under attack. Of course the film focuses on the battle for Los Angeles and in particular efforts of the platoon led by 2nd Lt. William Martinez who has the veteran Sgt. Michael Nantz as his stand-in second in command. They are tasked with reaching a police station in an occupied zone where it is believed several civilians are trapped. To add to the tension, an air strike is due to hit in less than three hours. After some fierce fighting with the alien invaders they finally reach their objective, only to find that a helicopter evacuation is impossible after the aliens bring in their own air support. These are controlled by a central hub that the marines make their next target. I will leave it there or the Spoiler Police (Alien Invasions Division) will have me probed (again).

A very well made film with some really excellent CGI and special effects. The aliens, in particular were very well thought out. As far as performances go, well I thought Aaron Eckhart did an excellent job as Sgt. Michael Nantz; as did Ramon Rodriguez as 2nd Lt. William Martinez, neither part was as cliché as they might have been. Also worthy of note were; Michelle Rodriguez as TSgt. Elena Santos, Will Rothhaar as Cpl. Lee Imlay, Cory Hardrict as Cpl. Jason Lockett, Jim Parrack as LCpl. Peter Kerns, Gino Anthony Pesi as Cpl. Nick Stavrou, Ne-Yo as Cpl. Kevin Harris, Bridget Moynahan as Michelle and Michael Peña as Joe Rincon.

The filmmakers begin with a section that, not only, sets the scene, but also introduces and gives a little back-story to some of the characters. I quite liked this because it gave the audience a little something extra that they might draw upon when these characters were in danger. And, believe me, there’s an awful lot of danger out there! The film does suffer a little from, what I call, ‘First Person Shooter Syndrome’ during some of the action sequences. That is, it’s kind of like watching someone else playing a First Person Shooter video game. The use of hand-held cameras during these sequences just adds to the effect I’m afraid. As a whole, though, I quite enjoyed this film; not entirely original, I could see many parallels with ‘Independence Day’ here, but then again, that’s not so bad. I could easily see myself watching this one again someday… Recommended.

My score: 6.8/10.

IMDb Score: 5.9/10 (based on 73,299 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1217613/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 35/100 (based on 193 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 49/100 (based on 81,598 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/battle-los-angeles/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Sgt. Major: At 14:46 Pacific Standard Time, 12 different locations around the world were breached, in what appears to be a coordinated attack by an unknown enemy. All breaches were along the coastline, in what is a campaign of rapid dominance. This is a textbook military invasion. There are massive casualties in New York, defensive lines are being setup in Boston, and at 13:15 Zulu Time we lost communications with San Francisco and San Diego, their status is unknown. What we do know is that we are the LAST offensive force on the west coast, we can NOT lose Los Angeles.

SSgt. Michael Nantz: Stavro, Harris, the lieutenant needs recon on a bus. If it runs, bring it back here... Either of you know how to hotwire a bus?
Cpl. Kevin Harris: Um, Stvrou can. He's from Jersey, sir.

Cpl. Lee Imlay: [looking at map] This map shows where all the units were deployed... what do all these red marks mean?
[map is covered with red X's]
SSgt. Michael Nantz: It means they're gone.
Cpl. Lee Imlay: You mean the units got moved...
SSgt. Michael Nantz: Wiped out.
Cpl. Lee Imlay: All of them?
SSgt. Michael Nantz: All of them.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/battlela/
Trailer:

Film Review: TREASURE PLANET (2002)

2012-02-11T20:26:00.001Z

Directors: Ron Clements, John Musker
Writers: Robert Louis Stevenson (Novel), Ron Clements, John Musker & Rob Edwards (Screenplay).
Running time: 95 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): U

Genre: Animation/Action/Adventure
UK Release date: 14^th February 2003

Watched on Sky+ Friday 10^th February 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is one of those films I watched because it was recommended to me by several people in the online community. Now usually such recommendations point me towards a lesser-known work, or an undiscovered gem, but this time it’s a big-budget Disney animation. It’s basically the plot of the book ‘Treasure Island’ by Robert Louis Stevenson set in space. It does all the things Disney does well and is entertaining enough, but it just didn’t quite hit the mark (for me). I’ll tell you more after this brief summary.

We are told the tale of the pirate, Captain Flint, and how he amassed a treasure and hid it on a planet whose whereabouts are a mystery. This story becomes a legend and many had tried and failed to find the planet. But when a mysterious stranger calls at the Inn run by Jim Hawkins mother, he leaves behind a map. This map, it transpires holds the key to the location of the fabled Treasure Planet. A family friend, Dr. Doppler, finances an expedition. He hires a ship, a captain and a crew and brings Jim along to share in the adventure. The skipper, Captain Amelia, has reservations about the crew, but they set sail post haste. Jim is sent to work in the galley with the ships cook, one John Silver, a cyborg. There is more to him than meets the eye, and as they near the planet Jim discovers his secret. I won’t say any more or the Spoiler Police will have me keel hauled (again).

Very well made with some really exciting sequences and some excellent animation. The look and feel of it are everything you’d expect from a modern-day Disney animation. As far as performances go, well everyone did a good job, so honourable mentions go to; Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Jim Hawkins, Brian Murray as John Silver, David Hyde Pierce as Doctor Doppler, Emma Thompson as Captain Amelia and Martin Short as B.E.N.

I am very familiar with the story and I found that so much of it was either changed or left out that I really didn’t enjoy this film as much as I thought I would. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for updating the classics and I think there have been some excellent modern adaptations of classic novels but this one didn’t hit the mark (for me) I’m afraid. There were bits I did like though, the humour for one; some very nice and subtle jokes in there. I also liked the way they portrayed the relationship between Jim and John Silver; I had never seen it that way before (sorry, no spoilers). Over all though, it didn’t quite have enough for me to recommend it, but I’m sure there are many out there who will love it nonetheless.

My score: 5.2/10.

IMDb Score: 6.7/10 (based on 20,835 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0133240/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 70/100 (based on 143 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 64/100 (based on 62,586 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/treasure_planet/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Doctor Doppler: It's...
Jim Hawkins: Treasure Planet!
Doctor Doppler: [in disbelief] No!
Jim Hawkins: That's Treasure Planet!
Doctor Doppler: Flints' Trove? The loot of a thousand worlds? Do you know what this means?
Jim Hawkins: It means that all that treasure is only a boat ride away!

B.E.N.: I'm starting to see my life pass in front of my eyes! At least, I think it's my life.
B.E.N.: [shouting] Was I ever dancing with an android named Lupé?

Doctor Doppler: Dang it, Jim. I'm an astronomer, not a doctor! I mean, I am a doctor, but I'm not that kind of doctor. I have a doctorate, it's not the same thing. You can't help people with a doctorate. You just sit there and you're useless!

Captain Amelia: I'm Captain Amelia. Late of a few run-ins with the Procyon Armada, nasty business, but I won't bore you with my scars; You've met my first officer, Mr. Arrow? Sterling, tough, dependable, honest, brave and true.
Mr. Arrow: Please, Captain...
Captain Amelia: Oh, shut up, Arrow. You know I don't mean a word of it.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Trailer:

Film Review: THE LION KING (1994)

2012-02-08T20:54:00.001Z

Directors: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
Writers: Too many to list (27)
Running time: 89 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): U

Genre: Animation/Adventure/Comedy
UK Release date: 7^th October 1994

Watched on Sky+ Tuesday 7^th February 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I have seen so much praise for this film over the years but never got around to watching it. Well, a rather cold Tuesday night and it’s on the hard drive of my Sky+ box. I took the plunge and was quite impressed with it over all; although I’m not really the target audience I did find it both entertaining and amusing. I will give you more of my thoughts after this very brief summary.

The film tells the story of Simba, a lion cub who is destined to be king. That is if his uncle, Scar, doesn’t get his way first. Simba enjoys life as a cub, playing with his friend Nala and learning life lessons from his father, Mufasa. But then Scar decides to take a hand in his destiny and Simba finds himself out in the wilderness alone. Here he is befriended by a Warthog, Pumbaa, and a Meerkat, Timon. They persuade Simba to put his troubles aside and just enjoy life and so this unlikely trio live quite happily in another part of the jungle. Before we know it Simba has grown up and a chance meeting with Nala brings back memories he had buried deep inside him. But what will he do about it? Well, just in case there’s one or two out there who haven’t seen it yet, I’ll leave it there or the Spoiler Police (Jungle Division) will be taking me for a visit with the hyenas (again).

Excellent animation and some really good songs are what struck me most about this film. To be honest, I had heard most of the main songs before, but it was nice to put them into context. Performance-wise, well everyone did a good job, particularly Jeremy Irons who voiced the evil Scar really well. Also worthy of note were the voice talents of; Jonathan Taylor Thomas as Young Simba, Matthew Broderick as Adult Simba, James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Nathan Lane as Timon, Ernie Sabella as Pumbaa, Rowan Atkinson as Zazu and Whoopi Goldberg as Shenzi.

Although it was good, and great for younger viewers, I guess I was expecting something a little more epic. Not that I was particularly disappointed, I suppose all those rave reviews I read maybe upped my expectations a tad. At the end of the day it does what it says on the tin and you really cannot ask for more. It does stand out as one of the better Disney animated films its era, that’s a given, but I must say I have seen later films that are equally as good, or even better. Even so, it will still delight, amuse and entertain and I cannot knock it for that… Recommended.

My score: 8.2/10.

IMDb Score: 8.3/10 (based on 220,746 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0110357/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 89/100 (based on 92 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 89/100 (based on 1,177,009 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_lion_king/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Mufasa: Look, Simba. Everything the light touches is our kingdom.
Young Simba: Wow.
Mufasa: A king's time as ruler rises and falls like the sun. One day, Simba, the sun will set on my time here, and will rise with you as the new king.
Young Simba: And this'll all be mine?
Mufasa: Everything.
Young Simba: Everything the light touches...

Zazu: [about Scar] There's one in every family sire. Two in mine, actually. And they always manage to ruin special occasions.
Mufasa: What am I going to do with him?
Zazu: He'd make a very handsome throw rug.
Mufasa: [Surprised] Zazu!
Zazu: And just think, Whenever he gets dirty you can take him out and beat him.

Timon: Geez! It's a lion! Run, Pumbaa! Move it!
Pumbaa: Hey, Timon, it's just a *little* lion. Look at him. He's so cute and all alone! Can we keep him?
Timon: Pumbaa, are you nuts? We're talking about a lion; Lions eat guys like us!
Pumbaa: But he's so little.
Timon: He's gonna get bigger.
Pumbaa: Maybe he'll be on our side.
Timon: A - huh! That's the stupidest thing I ever heard. Maybe he'll b-... Hey, I got it! What if he's on our side? You know, having a lion around might not be such a bad idea.

Timon: What do you want me to do, dress in drag and do the hula?

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Trailer:

Film Review: TAXI DRIVER (1976)

2012-02-05T22:14:00.001Z

Director: Martin Scorsese
Writer: Paul Schrader
Running time: 113 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 18

Genre: Drama/Thriller
USA Release date: 8^th February 1976

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 5^th February 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Believe it or not but this is the first time I’ve ever seen this film. It’s one that has always been on my radar but I never got around to it until now. What’s galling about it is that the film is so very good and I feel bad that I hadn’t watched it sooner. But there’s no use worrying about it now, it’s a great film and no mistaking, Scorsese was really on form back in the ‘70’s and it really shows in this one! More of my thoughts after this brief summary.

Travis Bickle is an ex-marine who has trouble sleeping and in order to relieve the tedium he takes a job as a taxi driver. He works all hours and doesn’t mind which parts of New York City he visits. He sees a girl he likes, Betsy, who works in the campaign office of Charles Palantine, who is going for the nomination to be President. They go out a few times but things don’t quite go according to plan. Bickle begins to get worse and focuses his attention on a young prostitute, Iris, who he decides to save from the life she’s found herself in. He gets himself a gun and deals with the situation in the only way he feels he can. I will leave it there or the Spoiler Police will be impounding my cab (again).

A really well made film with all the hard edges you’d expect from a gritty 1970’s drama. I love the look and feel of it and it’s all nicely knitted together with a hauntingly melodic musical score by Bernard Herrmann. On the performance front, well, Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle was breathtaking. I can see why many say this was his finest moment on film! Jodie Foster also did a great job as Iris, as did Cybill Shepherd as Betsy. Honourable mentions must go to; Peter Boyle as Wizard and Harvey Keitel as Sport.

This is a film that many have given high praise to and I can see why. It has everything you would want from a drama; not only is a story that sucks you in, but the performances are so good they make you believe in the characters. It does seem a little flat here and there, but you never really know just what’s going to happen next and I loved every minute of it!... This one comes HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

My score: 9.2/10.

IMDb Score: 8.5/10 (based on 217,939 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0075314/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 98/100 (based on 60 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 93/100 (based on 207,339 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/taxi_driver/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE:
Personnel Officer: Wanna work uptown at nights? South Bronx? Harlem?
Travis Bickle: I'll work anytime, anywhere.
Personnel Officer: Will you work on Jewish holidays?
Travis Bickle: Anytime, anywhere.

Iris: God, you're square.
Travis Bickle: Hey, I'm not square, you're the one that's square. You're full of shit, man. What are you talking about? You walk out with those fuckin' creeps and low-lifes and degenerates out on the streets and you sell your little pussy for peanuts? For some low-life pimp who stands in the hall? And I'm square? You're the one that's square, man. I don't go screwing fuck with a bunch of killers and junkies like you do. You call that bein' hip? What world are you from?

Sport: See ya later, copper!
Travis Bickle: I'm no cop, man.
Sport: Well, if you are, then it's entrapment already.

Travis Bickle: All the animals come out at night - whores, skunk pussies, buggers, queens, fairies, dopers, junkies, sick, venal. Someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets. I go all over. I take people to the Bronx, Brooklyn, I take 'em to Harlem. I don't care. Don't make no difference to me. It does to some. Some won't even take spooks. Don't make no difference to me.

Travis Bickle: [Travis is trying his guns on the mirror] Huh? Huh?
[Draws]
Travis Bickle: Faster than you, fucking son of a... Saw you coming you fucking... shitheel.
[Reholsters]
Travis Bickle: I'm standing here; you make the move. You make the move. It's your move...
[Draws]
Travis Bickle: Don't try it you fuck.
[Reholsters]
Travis Bickle: You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? Then who the hell else are you talking... you talking to me? Well I'm the only one here. Who the fuck do you think you're talking to? Oh yeah? OK.
[Draws]

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Trailer:

Film Review: PRIEST (2011)

2012-02-05T14:12:00.001Z

Director: Scott Charles Stewart
Writers: Cory Goodman, Min-Woo Hyung (graphic novel series “Priest”)
Running time: 84 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12

Genre: Action/Horror/Sci-Fi
UK Release date: 6^th May 2011

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 5^th February 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is one of those films that got slammed by the critics and didn’t do all that well at the box office. I did still want to see it though. Having never read the graphic novels I was totally open to what the film had to offer; I knew there was a sci-fi element to it (very obvious from the trailer) and I guess it is that which attracted me. Anyhow, having watched, and enjoyed, it I’m very happy to add it to my growing list of ‘guilty pleasures’. I will tell you more after this brief summary.

Set in a future where the world had been overrun by vampires and the only weapon humanity had was ‘The Priests’, a group of people with super-human abilities that match and surpass those of the vampires. When the war was won and the vampires locked away the church disbanded the Priests and took away their status. After his niece, Lucy, is kidnapped by a renegade band of vampires one of these priests disobeys his superiors and goes out into the wastelands to find her. He meets a law man, Hicks, who knows his niece and wants to come along to find her. The priest agrees and they are soon on the trail. They discover the vampires have been busy in the wastelands and they are more of a threat than they ever were. They have a new leader, a former Priest, Black Hat, who is something very different and very special. A priestess is sent out to find our priest and bring him back, but she ends up joining their fight. Will they find Lucy before it’s too late? Well, you probably guessed I can’t answer that one here or the Spoiler Police (Priest Division) will be setting their sights on me (again).

A well made film with some very nice CGI and gadgetry, a lot of care obviously went into this aspect. Performance-wise, well everyone was pretty good actually; Paul Bettany was as good as ever as Priest, Karl Urban was mean, moody and menacing as Black Hat, Cam Gigandet did a decent job as Hicks and Maggie Q was also good as the Priestess. Honourable mentions go to; Lily Collins as Lucy Pace and Christopher Plummer as Monsignor Orelas.

There is a very good animated sequence at the beginning of the film that nicely sets up the history behind the storyline. I thought it was very well done and saved a lot of time in the narrative of the film itself. Talking of time, I thought the length of the film was just right; at just under 90 minutes there’s not enough time to get bored as the action does move along at a decent pace. One thing it did suffer from though was its 12 (or 12A in cinemas) certificate, I don’t see how you can make a half-decent action movie and keep the violence down to that level. For me it tamed it down a little too much and I would have liked to have seen at least a 15 certificate version. I watched it in 2D, 3D is lost on me… I don’t see the point of it I’m afraid. I have no religious affiliations and so was not offended by references made to the church. I know some might be, so please bear this in mind if you feel inclined to watch it. Over all, despite a few niggles; I quite enjoyed this film and would happily watch it again at some point. For me, it’s recommended, but I know there are many out there who may disagree.

My score: 6.8/10.

IMDb Score: 5.7/10 (based on 39,510 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0822847/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 17/100 (based on 90 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 37/100 (based on 48,431 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10009274-priest/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Black Hat: [With an evil smirk] After all, if you're not committing sin... you're not having fun.

Priest: [Hicks has finally grown a pair and saves Priest's life] You would have made a good priest.
Hicks: Thanks!
Priest: [Small pause] Don't let it go to your head!

Hicks: [Priest is carving crosses into bullets] What's with all the bullets? I thought priests didn't use firearms.
Priest: We don't. They're for you.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/priest/
Official Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/PriestMovie
Official Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PriestMovie?sk=app_107916972622270
Trailer:

Film Review: MAN ON THE MOON (1999)

2012-02-04T14:54:00.001Z

Director: Milos Forman
Writers: Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski
Running time: 118 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Biography/Drama/Comedy
UK Release date: 5^th May 2000

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 4^th February 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is a film I have seen three times now and I must admit I love it! Apart from his portrayal of Ladka (hope I spelt that right) on the TV show ‘Taxi’, I knew very little about Andy Kaufman. Of course much of his work was focused on the US and so we didn’t really hear much about it here in the UK. He was quite a character who had a very controversial career, some of it worked and was brilliant and some of it was a bit too wide of the mark for many. Either way, I found it a very interesting and entertaining film with a stand-out performance from Jim Carrey. I will tell you more after this brief summary.

We begin with a very young Andy Kaufman putting on shows for his kid sister. Moving on, he’s doing stand-up in a club when an agent, George Shapiro, sees him and offers to represent him. This leads to him landing the role of Ladka in ‘Taxi’, a role which, we are lead to believe, he didn’t really want to do. Another character, Tony Clifton, puts in an appearance at this point. He is a cabaret singer and a very good friend of Andy’s; in fact, Andy would only agree to play the part of Ladka if Tony could also appear in the show. Moving on, Andy and his writing partner, Bob Zmuda, turn their attention to wrestling and Andy begins to play the bad guy, wrestling women. One of the top wrestlers in the country, Jerry Lawler, doesn’t like it and challenges Kaufman to a fight! It all comes to a head when they come to blows live on the David Letterman chat show. Little did people realise, but it was all staged and Kaufman and Lawler were really good friends. Andy eventually meets Lynne Marguiles who becomes his partner and they move in together. Sadly, it’s not long after that he is diagnosed with cancer. Whilst fighting it he fulfils his lifetime ambition and puts on a show at Carnegie Hall in New York. I will leave it there or the Spoiler Police (Biopics Division) will be making my biopic a little shorter.

A well made film with many people playing themselves which is either a testament to Andy Kaufman… or they needed the work (that’s a joke by the way). For me, the stand-out performance came from Jim Carrey as Andy Kaufman; his best performance to date (IMO)! Danny DeVito did a great job as George Shapiro, as did Courtney Love as Lynne Marguiles and Paul Giamatti as Bob Zmuda. But, for me, a film that can bring together the likes of; Marilu Henner from ‘Taxi’, Judd Hirsch from ‘Taxi’, Carol Kane from ‘Taxi’, David Letterman and Christopher Lloyd from ‘Taxi’ has to have something special.

I think the reason I like Jim Carrey in this so much is that it gives him the opportunity to play the crazy zany stuff he’s famous for while at the same time giving him the chance to show the audience what a fine dramatic actor he is as well. The title comes from the REM song about Andy of the same name, refrains of which can be heard throughout the film, which I thought was a nice touch. As I said at the beginning this is the third time I’ve watched this film and it’s the third time it’s touched me emotionally. Not many films do that these days and so I have no problem in giving it a higher score than many and also deeming it ‘highly recommended’.

My score: 8.6/10

IMDb Score: 7.4/10 (based on 59,843 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0125664/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 62/100 (based on 117 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 74/100 (based on 89,423 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1093579-man_on_the_moon/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
George Shapiro: You're insane, but you might also be brilliant.

Andy Kaufman: I am from Caspiar, an Island in the Caspian Sea. It sunk.

Tony Clifton: Can I use the bathroom? I may have shit my pants.
Security Guard: Not on the lot.
Tony Clifton: Drink of water?
Security Guard: [shakes head]
Tony Clifton: Aspirin?
Security Guard: [shakes head]
Tony Clifton: Moist Towelette?
Security Guard: [shakes head]
Tony Clifton: Well, in that case, a good day.

George Shapiro: Andy, you have to look inside and ask this question: who are you trying to entertain - the audience or yourself?

Andy Kaufman: Since you've all been such good boys and girls, I would like to take everybody in this entire audience out for milk and cookies. There are buses outside. Everybody follow me.

Tony Clifton: So... ya wanna see Andy? Anybody gotta flashlight and a couple of shovels?

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www.universalpictures.com/manonthemoon/
Trailer:

Film Review: I’M A CYBORG, BUT THAT’S OK (2006)

2012-01-31T21:42:00.001Z

Original Title: Ssaibogeujiman gwaenchanha

Director: Chan-wook Park
Writers: Chan-wook Park, Seo-Gyeong Jeong
Running time: 105 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Comedy/Drama/Romance
UK Release date: 4^th April 2008

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 31^st January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I had never heard of this South Korean film before and I was pleasantly surprised by it. I found it very charming with some great subtle use of CGI to illustrate the inner thoughts of the main characters. I know there are a few out there that fear the subtitle and for those I’m afraid your worst fears may be realised… It does have subtitles. For me, not usually a problem, but I did struggle to follow the plot at the beginning, it soon settled down though and easy reading from then on. I’ll give you my thoughts after this brief summary.

Young woman, Cha Young-goon has been sent to a mental institution. Her grandmother had been sent into care sometime earlier and, it seems, this had tipped her over the edge. She keeps it a secret, but she believes she is a Cyborg and she has to rescue her grandmother. In order to do that though, she must relieve herself of all thoughtfulness, sympathy…etc. She is befriended by Park Il-sun, another patient who has a habit of stealing things. The staff becomes worried about Young-goon when she refuses to eat. They lock her away but Il-sun has fallen in love with her and may be able to help her. I will leave it there or the Spoiler Police will be fitting cybernetic implants to me (again).

I love the subtle use of CGI in this film, you can tell a lot of hard work and imagination has been applied to make it look so good. It’s a film full of interesting characters and great performances, but the two that stood out were Su-jeong Lim as Cha Young-goon and Rain as Park Il-sun. Both were really excellent, particularly Su-jeong Lim, her performance was quite stunning.

This is a very engaging and charming film with lots of subtle plot twists that keep the audience guessing. It is essentially a love story, but one with a difference and one that (I hope) others will enjoy as much as I did. Great acting, great direction and great production, although it’s not altogether perfect; I’ve already mentioned the slightly confusing beginning; I still enjoyed it very much though. It’s another of a growing number of South Korean films I am discovering and long may it continue… Recommended.

My score: 7.7/10

IMDb Score: 7.0/10 (based on 8,808 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0497137/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 90/100 (based on 10 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 80/100 (based on 11,824 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/im_a_cyborg_but_thats_ok/#

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Park Il-sun: Psycho.
Cha Young-goon: I'm not a psy-cho. I'm a cy-borg.

Cha Young-goon: Mom, I think I'm a cyborg.
Young-goon's mother: ...What is that?
Cha Young-goon: I think it's kind of... like a robot?
Young-goon's mother: ...Have you missed your period? Because you're a 'sy-bor'?

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Trailer:

Film Review: ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (2004)

2012-01-31T21:33:00.001Z

Director: Michel Gondry
Writers: Charlie Kaufman (Story/Screenplay), Michel Gondry (Story) & Pierre Bismuth (Story)
Running time: 108 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Drama/Romance/Sci-Fi
UK Release date: 30^th April 2004

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 31^st January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is a film I saw several years ago and immediately fell in love with. I thought it would be interesting to give it another viewing just to see how well it’s stood up in the intervening years. Well I’m pleased to report, it does pretty well; if anything, I like it slightly more after this most recent viewing. I will tell you more after this brief summary.

We begin with a couple meeting on a train for the first time. They are Joel Barish and Clementine Kruczynski. Everything seems to be going very well and then the mood suddenly changes. Joel is in his car banging his head against the steering wheel; very upset, almost inconsolable. He eventually finds out that Clementine has undergone a procedure to erase him from her memory. Unable to live with that, he decides to do the same. It is through this process that we see their entire relationship from the end to the beginning. Will it be successful, or is Joel doomed to live with his grief? Well obviously I can’t tell you that or the Spoiler Police will be erasing my memory (some say they already have!).

Beautifully made with some outstanding (& very subtle) CGI; I really love the way small things are erased as a scene progresses, or they go out of focus so you get the impression of memories being lost. The performances are all excellent too; especially Jim Carrey as Joel Barish (I really wish he would take more parts like this, he’s very good at it) and Kate Winslet who played Clementine Kruczynski perfectly; in fact she got an Oscar for it! Honourable mentions go to; Elijah Wood as Patrick, Mark Ruffalo as Stan, Kirsten Dunst as Mary and Tom Wilkinson as Dr. Mierzwiak.

[Spoiler Alert]
There are several sub-plots that I have not included in the main summary that serve to show the imperfections in the process Joel and Clementine have undergone. This takes the film to a higher lever for me, it illustrates that no matter what, there may be a person you are supposed to be with. I don’t know whether that’s true or not, but it’s a concept that (I know) many cling to. But back to the film… It’s really well made with some excellent performances; very well written (another Oscar for that), one that’s quirky and quite bizarre in places, but also quite unique and one I have no problem in deeming ‘Highly Recommended’.

My score: 9.1/10

IMDb Score: 8.5/10 (based on 297,486 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0338013/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 93/100 (based on 218 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 93/100 (based on 503,889 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/eternal_sunshine_of_the_spotless_mind/#

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
[first lines]
Joel: [voice over] random thoughts for Valentine's day, 2004. Today is a holiday invented by greeting card companies to make people feel like crap.

Joel: [narration as Clementine acknowledges him by raising her coffee mug] Why do I fall in love with every woman I see who shows me the least bit of attention?

Clementine: Hi!
Joel: Excuse me?
Clementine: I just said hi.
Joel: Oh! Hi, hello.
Clementine: I'm Clementine... No jokes about my name.
Joel: I don't know any jokes about your name.
Clementine: Huckleberry Hound.
Joel: I don't know what that is.
Clementine: Huckleberry Hound!
[singing]
Clementine: Oh my darling, oh my darling, oh my darling Clementine.
Joel: I don't know what that means.
Clementine: Are you NUTS?
Joel: It's been suggested.

[Mary reads to Dr. Mierzwiak out of "Bartlett's Familiar Quotations"; the lines are from Alexander Pope's poem "Eloisa to Abelard"]
Mary: How happy is the blameless vestal's lot! / The world forgetting, by the world forgot / Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! / Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www.universalstudiosentertainment.com/eternal-sunshine-of-the-spotless-mind/
Trailer:

Film Review: IRONCLAD (2011)

2012-01-29T20:29:00.001Z

Writer (Story)/Director: Jonathan English
Writers (Screenplay): Jonathan English, Erick Kastel & Stephen McDool (1^st Screenplay)
Running time: 116 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Action/Adventure
UK Release date: 4^th March 2011

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 29^th January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I remember hearing about this film before it came out and I have to admit I was intrigued. Of course it never showed at my local cinema and so I had the long wait until it appeared on TV, which, as you can probably guess, occurred recently. It’s an interesting film, based on fact, that is, at times, brutally violent but still kept me interested all the way through. I will give you my thoughts after this brief summary.

It’s Thirteenth Century England and King John has been forced by the nobility to sign the Magna Carta. This is a document that limits the power of the king and gives rights to the common people. According to the filmmakers, what he did next was to get the pope to give him the right to get back his power. To this end he hires an army from Denmark and goes about the land taking his revenge on those who had opposed him. Enter Albany, a man who believes in the rebellion and who wants to see that John is stopped. He gathers a small band of men, one of which is a Knights Templar, Marshal. They ride to Rochester Castle where they make their stand against John’s army. Archbishop Langton has sent word to the French and Albany hopes they will arrive before the castle falls. I will leave it there or the Spoiler Police (Historically Inaccurate Films Division) will have me hung, drawn and quartered at dawn.

A film that didn’t have a big budget, but I believe they did a good job with what they had. There are some terrific fight scenes and an awful lot of gore (definitely not one for the squeamish). As far as performance go, well James Purefoy did a decent job as the moody, brooding Marshal, Brian Cox was great (as ever) as Albany and Paul Giamatti seemed to have a great time chewing the scenery as King John. Honourable mentions must go to; Kate Mara as Isabel, Derek Jacobi as Cornhill, Charles Dance as Archbishop Langton, Jason Flemyng as Becket and Jamie Foreman as Coteral.

I liked this film a bit more than most, but there are things about it I wasn’t all that pleased with. The love story between Marshal and Isabel I found pointless and even so, it was dragged out far too long. Talking of length, the film is about 20 minutes too long IMO (and I saw a shorter version cut for TV). Other than that I thought it was a decent piece of work. Admittedly a little too gory in places for some, but it was entertaining enough and one I have no problem in recommending… Although I feel some will disagree.

My score: 6.9/10

IMDb Score: 6.2/10 (based on 11,518 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1233301/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 44/100 (based on 55 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 39/100 (based on 8,288 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ironclad/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Albany: [Calls down to King John] You are no more a king than the boil on my arse!
[Turns to his friend]
Albany: What a tedious little man.

Marshall: Have you ever killed a man, squire? It is not a noble thing. Not even when it is for God!

Albany: We claim this castle in the name of the rebellion!

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ironclad.film?ref=ts
Trailer:

Film Review: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES (2011)

2012-01-29T14:27:00.001Z

Director: Rob Marshall
Writers (Screenplay): Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio
Running time: 132 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12

Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy
UK Release date: 18^th May 2011

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 29^th January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Having seen all the previous films in the series and despite being woefully disappointed by the third instalment, I decided to give this one a go anyway. The critics tell me it’s better than “At Worlds End” and I am prepared (on this occasion) to believe them. Fortunately (for them), they were indeed correct and while not as good as the first two, it is an improvement. I will give you more of my thoughts after this brief summary.

This time Jack Sparrow is on the trail of the Fountain of Youth. Teaming up with an old flame, Angelica, who turns out to be the daughter of the notorious pirate Blackbeard, Jack finds himself aboard Blackbeard’s ship and on route to the island where the Fountain can be found. Also on their trail there is Barbossa who, having lost his leg to Blackbeard is out for revenge. Throw in the might of the Spanish fleet and there’s more than enough competition for the prize. Certain items have to be collected before the Fountain can be used, not least of which is the tear of a mermaid and this proves very difficult to obtain. I don’t want to say too much, but needless to say a perilous journey is about to culminate in the mother of all showdowns! I had better not say any more of the Spoiler Police (Pirates Division) will have me clapped in irons and keel-hauled.

Very well made with some excellent CGI and stunt work; these are the hallmarks of these films. Performance wise; Johnny Depp did his usual comic turn as Jack Sparrow, Penélope Cruz did a decent job as Angelica Teach, Geoffrey Rush was good (as ever) as Barbossa and Ian McShane I felt did a decent job as Blackbeard. Honourable mentions must also go to; Kevin McNally as Joshamee Gibbs, Sam Claflin as Philip, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey as Syrina, Stephen Graham as Scrum, Keith Richards as Captain Teague and Richard Griffiths as King George.

Although I did find it entertaining to a point, I did feel it got a little tedious and predictable towards the end. The trouble is, with three previous films, we have seen it all before and it does all get a little repetitive. I also felt it was way too long! I guess the films are still making large amounts of cash for the Disney machine and so they will continue to make them (sadly). I think, if you haven’t seen a ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ film before then I can recommend it to you; if you have, then be prepared for more of the same.

My score: 6.3/10

IMDb Score: 6.6/10 (based on 111,001 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1298650/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 33/100 (based on 245 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 61/100 (based on 145,528 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pirates_of_the_caribbean_on_stranger_tides/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
[Standing on a cliff edge]
Jack Sparrow: You know that feeling you get when you're standing in a high place... sudden urge to jump?... I don't have it.

Blackbeard: [points the gun at Jack's head] I need those chalices.
Jack Sparrow: Shoot. Save me the bother of the fall.
Blackbeard: You will go and you will return. Or I will kill her.
[points the gun at Angelica]
Jack Sparrow: [surprised] You won't kill your own daughter.
Blackbeard: [hands the gun to the zombie quartermaster] Quartermaster, give me six more pistols, remove the shot from all but two and do not tell me which two.
[walks to where the six pistols are at]
Blackbeard: You get to choose, Mr.Sparrow.

Jack Sparrow: The fountain of youth, what does it require?
Angelica: A Mermaid, Jack.

Blackbeard: Bring the mermaid!
Philip: You're killing her.
Blackbeard: I'm a bad man.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www.disney.co.uk/pirates-of-the-caribbean/index.jsp
Trailer:

Film Review: 44 INCH CHEST (2009)

2012-01-29T09:14:00.001Z

Director: Malcolm Venville
Writers: Louis Mellis, David Scinto
Running time: 95 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 18

Genre: Drama/Crime
UK Release date: 15^th January 2010

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 28^th January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is one of those films I have wanted to see for some time now. From the writers of ‘Sexy Beast’ (a film I very much enjoyed) I was really looking forward to more of the same. I can see where they were going with it, but it didn’t quite have the same impact as their previous effort. I think the idea was solid enough, but what they did with it really didn’t quite work out (for me). I will tell you more after this brief summary.

When Colin Diamond’s wife, Liz, tells him she’s leaving him for another, he is devastated. He gets her to give him the name of the other man and he, and some friends, take him to a room for a talk. It is here where the majority of the action takes place. Even before the man is brought out of the cupboard they have him stashed in we have some quite explicit dialogue and flashbacks of what had transpired in the previous 24 hours. Colin’s ‘colleagues’, Meredith, Old Man Peanut, Archie and Mal have already softened ‘Loverboy’ up for him, but now it’s up to him to decide what’s to be done. Asking the others to leave the room, he talks through the various options open to him. I will leave it there or the Spoiler Police will be looking into the disappearance of that waiter a few months back.

A very well made film with some very colourful characters and some great dialogue, but it does have the look and feel of a stage play. I guess this is because the majority of the action takes place in one room. One thing I cannot fault is the performances; everyone was superb! And so special mentions go to; Ray Winstone as Colin Diamond, Ian McShane as Meredith, John Hurt as Old Man Peanut, Tom Wilkinson as Archie and Stephen Dillane as Mal.

There is an awful lot of dialogue in this film and much of it contains extreme swearing, but much of it I found was quite philosophical. I think the trouble is, there’s far too much of it and, at times, it doesn’t help the story move along very smoothly. I found the ‘hallucination’ scenes very confusing and they got more bizarre the longer they went on! It ended up being quite a strange film in the end that left me kind of flat. I can’t really recommend it for that reason, but if anyone out there feels like giving it a look I’d be interested to hear what you made of it.

My score: 5.7/10

IMDb Score: 5.8/10 (based on 3,175 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0914837/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 40/100 (based on 77 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 36/100 (based on 13,005 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/44_inch_chest/#

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Warning: Strong Language.
Archie: Are you hearing this? What you've done? What you're responsible for? Are you proud of yourself? Was it worth it? All this pain.
Mal: Fucked his wife. Fucked his fucking wife. You fucking wife-fucker, you. You fucked his fucking wife, you wife-fucking cunt. Another man's wife. Are you stupid, are you fucking thick, you cunt? Fuck another man's wife? You don't do that. It ends in this. This. This is where it ends. You listening, you hearing me? Shitter? Little shitter?
Archie: You should have got your own fucking wife to fuck!
Mal: You're in deep shit mate. You're in the worst possible place a man could find himself.

Colin Diamond: I want you dead. I think you owe me that. I do. Because that's what you've done to me. You've fucking killed me.

Colin Diamond: I bet she's never farted in front of you, has she? Has she? No- I thought not. I mean, that's not romantic, is it? You just want the perfume clouds, the romance, the magicalness of it all- the false crap. Well, I've got news for you, Sonny Jim- that's not love. Love's hard work, hard graft. Love can be murder. Love is watching what she wants to watch on the telly, taking her the papers and a cup of tea on a Sunday morning in bed and inquiring to how she might be feeling, "You all right, Liz?" whilst plumping up her pillows. And she might get irritated by that, but you gotta take it on the chin and broad shoulders, because she's the queen, and you're the bee- the Dad. And so what if you cook the dinner and you get no thanks for it? Don't do it if you expect thanks. That's not why you do it. And yes, you forgot the dripping tap for ten years, and then one day- for whatever reason, fuck knows why- you get off your fat ass and you find yourself under the sink with a spanner in your hand and you're smiling like fuck- because you know it's gonna please her. And if she don't notice it, she don't notice it- it don't matter. It's fixed. It's plumbed. It's the maintenance of a marriage, the nuts and bolts, the nitty gritty, the reality- that's life, that's love, it ain't easy- nobody ever said it was gonna be easy. It's fucking hard work. But, you know, love can be... lovely. One day, you'll be in the bathroom, having a shave in front of the mirror, all soap on your face, and you feel her approaching you. She's hung a pair of tights, hanging on the radiator. And as she leaves, she pats you on the bum and gives you a tiny smile- almost not a smile- but a smile nevertheless. And it will mean the world to you- the whole. incredible world- the fucking universe.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www.44inchchestfilm.com/
Trailer:

Film Review: THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU (2011) - REVISITED

2012-01-23T21:24:00.001Z

Writer (Screenplay)/Director: George Nolfi
Running time: 102 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12

Genre: Drama/Romance/Sci-Fi
UK Release date: 4^th March 2011

Watched on Sky+ Monday 23^rd January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is the second time I’ve seen this one; it didn’t really stick in the memory that well first time around so I thought I’d give it another look. What follows is an ‘adjusted’ version of my original review from last year.

Based on a short story called ‘The Adjustment Team’ by Philip K. Dick, the ideas behind this film intrigued me from the moment I first heard about it. Imagine a world where your fates are determined for you and if you stray from your prescribed path, an adjustment is made to put you back on it. The ‘people’ responsible for making the adjustments are, of course, ‘The Adjustment Bureau’. Now you know that, I can write a brief summary and I’ll tell you what I thought about the film afterwards.

David Norris is a young ambitious politician; he is running for the Senate, representing New York, when his campaign is de-railed by a scandal from his past. Resigned to defeat, he retires to the men’s washroom to practice his speech. There he meets dancer Elise Sellas who he instantly falls in love with. She gives him the confidence to give a brilliant speech that galvanises the public enough to call for him to stand for election at a later date… but that’s in the future. He is so enamoured with Elise that, when he meets her again the very next day, he asks for her number, which she gives him. Now, the path that has been prescribed for David Norris does not include a relationship with Elise Sellas. In steps the Adjustment Bureau in the guise of a group of agents led by a character known as Richardson. They do all they can to keep the couple apart and even reveal themselves to David in an effort to make him see sense. Unfortunately for them, he is determined to be with her and eventually the case is sent up to the next level and Thompson takes charge. He gives David a choice, either continue on this path and ruin both of their lives, or take the path prescribed for him. It’s a tough decision, but David has an ally in Harry Mitchell, who has been following him for a long time. And it’s here I’ll have to leave my summary or the ‘Adjustment’ Police will be altering my prescribed future (again).

This is a very well made film with some great special effects, but it is the story that drives the action and not the other way around. It is very much a love story, but a love story with a rather cunning twist and one that I quite enjoyed (with a few reservations). All of the leading cast were excellent; Matt Damon as David Norris, Emily Blunt as Elise Sellas, John Slattery as Richardson, Michael Kelly as Charlie Traynor, Anthony Mackie as Harry Mitchell and Terence Stamp as Thompson.

I love the premise of this film but I felt the execution lacked energy; it’s not until the final scenes that the pace it picked up sufficiently to make the audience prick up their ears and take notice. Maybe it’s just me, but I never really felt there was enough chemistry between the two lovers to warrant the effort put in by the David Norris character. I also found it quite hard to identify with either of them. In the end though, it’s a perfectly watchable entertaining film, without being particularly mind-bending or spectacular. I’ve given it a very slightly higher score than last time because I felt that, on a second viewing, the plot made better sense. Over all: better than average and recommended.

My score: 7.3/10

IMDb Score: 7.1/10 (based on 81,341 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1385826/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 72/100 (based on 240 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 67/100 (based on 88,725 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/adjustment_bureau/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Elise Sellas: Were you just looking at my legs while I slept?
David Norris: I was helpless against the dress.
Elise Sellas: It's a skirt.
David Norris: It's a belt!

Harry Mitchell: [talks to David] You're going to look for her, aren't you? You won't find her. They'll make sure of it. Even if they weren't trying to stop you, there are nine million people in this city. You'll never find her. Forget about her. Move on with your life.

Richardson: Very few humans have seen what you've seen today. And we're determined to keep it that way. So, if you *ever* reveal our existence, we'll erase your brain. The intervention team will be sent, your emotions, your memories, your entire personality, will be expunged. Your friends and family will think you've gone crazy. You, well, you won't think anything...

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www.theadjustmentbureau.com/index.php
Trailer:

Film Review: TRUE GRIT (2010)

2012-01-22T18:01:00.001Z

Co-Writers (Screenplay)/Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Writer (Novel): Charles Portis
Running time: 106 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Adventure/Drama/Western
UK Release date: 11^th February 2011

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 22^nd January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Having seen, and loved, the original 1969 version of this story starring John Wayne I was intrigued to see the Coen Brothers’ take on it. As is usually the case with these things, it didn’t show at my local cinema and so I waited patiently for it to appear on TV. As you can probably guess, it put in an appearance this week and I’m very pleased to report its well worth a look. I will tell you why after this brief summary.

Fourteen year old Mattie Ross has been sent to claim the body of her dead father, shot by a man employed by him called Tom Chaney. Now Chaney had run for the ‘Indian Territory’ after the event which makes him the responsibility of the U.S. Marshall’s service. To this end, Mattie engages U.S. Marshall Rooster Cogburn to bring Chaney to justice. A Texas Ranger, LaBoeuf, is also interested in finding Chaney as he had shot a Senator while down there. Cogburn and LaBoeuf plan to find Chaney on their own and bring him to justice in Texas, but they hadn’t bargained for the tenacity of the young Mattie Ross. We follow them into the ‘Indian Territory’ in their pursuit of the fugitive who they believe to be running with one Lucky Ned Pepper. I will leave it there or the Spoiler Police (Western’s Division) will be sending Cogburn after me (again).

Nicely shot, but with a much ‘starker’ feel to it than the original; it also lacks the majesty of the surroundings that the original had. Having said that, this doesn’t detract too much from the story which is very well written and performed. And on that subject, we have to give praise to Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn who, despite a rather mumbled performance, does really well! Also worthy of note were both Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross and Matt Damon as LaBoeuf who both put in great performances also. Honourable mentions must also go to Josh Brolin as Tom Chaney and Barry Pepper as Lucky Ned Pepper.

Much has been made of the dialogue and how it more closely matches the original novel. Well, yes it does, but then again the 1969 version wasn’t a million miles away from it either. There are, however, some interesting, and welcome, additions and alterations to the narrative that weren’t included in the original. I really liked these and they gave the film a little extra that I wasn’t expecting. Now I have to talk about the performance of Hailee Steinfeld; while quite different to Kim Darby’s 1969 performance, I found the character grew on me as it went on. I believe Kim Darby was quite a bit older when she made the film and I think is shows in her slightly more polished performance. That’s not to take anything away from Hailee Steinfeld, she’s a fine actress and I hope this performance brings her much success in the future. Over all, I like both films but the Coen’s version slightly has the edge (at the moment). Worth a watch… Hell yes!... Recommended.

My score: 8.2/10.

IMDb Score: 7.8/10 (based on 106,408 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1403865/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 96/100 (based on 248 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 86/100 (based on 108,965 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/true-grit-2010/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
[first lines]
40-Year-Old Mattie: People do not give it credence that a young girl could leave home and go off in the wintertime to avenge her father's blood. But it did happen. I was just 14 years of age when a coward by the name of Tom Chaney shot my father down and robbed him of his life and his horse and two California gold pieces that he carried in his trouser band. Chaney was a hired man and Papa had taken him up to Fort Smith to help lead back a string of Mustang ponies he'd bought. In town, Chaney had fallen to drink and cards and lost all his money. He got it into his head he was being cheated and went back to the boarding house for his Henry rifle. When Papa tried to intervene, Chaney shot him. Chaney fled. He could have walked his horse, for not a soul in that city could be bothered to give chase. No doubt Chaney fancied himself scot-free. But he was wrong. You must pay for everything in this world, one way and another. There is nothing free, except the grace of God.

Mattie Ross: Who's the best marshal?
Sheriff: Hmm, I'd have to think on that. Bill Waters is the best tracker. He's part Comanche; it is a pure joy to watch him cut for sign. The meanest is Rooster Cogburn; a pitiless man, double tough. Fear don't enter into his thinking. I'd have to say the fairest is L.T. Quinn; he always brings in his prisoners alive. Now, he might let one slip by evry now and then, but...
Mattie Ross: Where would I find this Rooster?

Lucky Ned Pepper: What is your intention Rooster? You think one on four is a dogfall?
Rooster Cogburn: I mean to kill you in one minute, Ned. Or see you hanged in Fort Smith at Judge Parker's convenience. Which will you have?
Lucky Ned Pepper: I call that bold talk for a one-eyed fat man!
Rooster Cogburn: Fill your hand you son-of-a-bitch!

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www.truegritmovie.com/
Trailer:

Film Review: CATCH-22 (1970)

2012-01-22T14:18:00.001Z

Director: Mike Nichols
Writers: Joseph Heller (Novel), Buck Henry (Screenplay)
Running time: 122 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Comedy/War
USA Release date: 24^th June 1970

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 21^st January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is a film I saw many years ago… I didn’t really understand it then and so I thought I’d give it another look (having matured a bit in the meantime). I must say it’s very weird, anarchic at times and has a lot to say politically… it’s also quite compelling. Based on Joseph Heller’s famous novel which, I have to confess, I’ve never read so you’ll be getting my opinion of the film as a stand-alone piece. But enough of my prattling; let’s have a crack at a synopsis before I give you my thoughts.

Whilst flying missions in Italy during World War II, Capt. John Yossarian decides he wants out and tries to get himself certified insane… But there’s a catch… Catch-22 to be precise. I won’t tell you exactly how it works here; but needless to say, it’s a pretty cunning way of keeping the boys flying. We also meet all of his crew and the locals they associate with when not on duty. There are also those who are out for themselves; Col. Cathcart, Maj. Danby and 1st Lt. Milo Minderbinder to name but a few. All this is interspersed with flashbacks to Yossarian’s efforts to help a young airman who is injured on a mission. I really don’t want to say too much, it’s one of those you have to see for yourself to get a grasp of. Also, the Spoiler Police will be selling off all my stuff.

This is an interesting film that has a lot to say about many things; not least war and capitalism. I won’t go into the political questions it raises, but needless to say the point is put across quite forcibly. Decent performances all round, particularly from Alan Arkin as Capt. John Yossarian; he did a first rate job here! Honourable mentions go to; Martin Balsam as Col. Cathcart, Richard Benjamin as Maj. Danby, Art Garfunkel as Capt. Nately, Jack Gilford as Dr. 'Doc' Daneeka, Buck Henry as Lt. Col. Korn, Bob Newhart as Maj. Major Major, Anthony Perkins as Chaplain Capt. A.T. Tappman, Paula Prentiss as Nurse Duckett, Martin Sheen as 1st Lt. Dobbs and Jon Voight as 1st Lt. Milo Minderbinder. Finally a special mention for Orson Welles who played a brilliant cameo as Brig. Gen. Dreedle.

Although I found this film entertaining, I did find it did drag on a bit towards the end. About 20 minutes shorter and it would have been ideal (for me). It’s all very well shot, but I’m afraid it suffers from having the feel of some ‘Frat-house’ comedy which didn’t really endear it to me too much. That aside, I did find parts of it were quite compelling although I did struggle to have much empathy with any of the characters… even the lead. For its day though I thought it was quite groundbreaking and quite an eye-opener (in more ways than one). At the end of the day an interesting adaptation… I’ll have to read the book sometime.

My score: 6.9/10.

IMDb Score: 7.1/10 (based on 10,995 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0065528/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 87/100 (based on 23 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 62/100 (based on 9,365 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/catch22/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Yossarian: Let me see if I've got this straight: in order to be grounded, I've got to be crazy and I must be crazy to keep flying. But if I ask to be grounded, that means I'm not crazy any more and I have to keep flying.

Yossarian: Is Orr crazy?
Dr. 'Doc' Daneeka: Of course he is. He has to be crazy to keep flying after all his close calls he's had.
Yossarian: Why can't you ground him?
Dr. 'Doc' Daneeka: I can, but first he has to ask me.
Yossarian: That's all he's gotta do to be grounded?
Dr. 'Doc' Daneeka: That's all.
Yossarian: Then you can ground him?
Dr. 'Doc' Daneeka: No. Then I cannot ground him.
Yossarian: Aah!
Dr. 'Doc' Daneeka: There's a CATCH?
Yossarian: A catch?
Dr. 'Doc' Daneeka: Sure. Catch-22. Anyone who wants to get out of combat isn't really crazy, so I can't ground him.
Yossarian: Ok, let me see if I've got this straight. In order to be grounded, I've got to be crazy. And I must be crazy to keep flying. But if I ask to be grounded, that means I'm not crazy anymore, and I have to keep flying.
Dr. 'Doc' Daneeka: You got it, that's Catch-22.
Yossarian: Whoo... That's some catch, that Catch-22.
Dr. 'Doc' Daneeka: It's the best there is.

Capt. Nately: Don't you have any principles?
Old man in whorehouse: Of course not!
Capt. Nately: No morality?
Old man in whorehouse: I'm a very moral man, and Italy is a very moral country. That's why we will certainly come out on top again if we succeed in being defeated.
Capt. Nately: You talk like a madman.
Old man in whorehouse: But I live like a sane one. I was a fascist when Mussolini was on top. Now that he has been deposed, I am anti-fascist. When the Germans were here, I was fanatically pro-German. Now I'm fanatically pro-American. You'll find no more loyal partisan in all of Italy than myself.
Capt. Nately: You're a shameful opportunist! What you don't understand is that it's better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.
Old man in whorehouse: You have it backwards. It's better to live on your feet than to die on your knees. I know.
Capt. Nately: How do you know?
Old man in whorehouse: Because I am 107-years-old. How old are you?
Capt. Nately: I'll be 20 in January.
Old man in whorehouse: If you live.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Trailer (Not the official one):

Film Review: WAR HORSE (2011)

2012-01-18T21:27:00.001Z

Director: Steven Spielberg
Writers (Screenplay): Lee Hall & Richard Curtis
Writer (Novel): Michael Morpurgo
Running time: 146 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12A

Genre: Drama/History/War
UK Release date: 13^th January 2012

Watched at the cinema Tuesday 17^th January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Ever since I first saw ‘Jaws’, ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ and E.T.’ I have been a fan of the work of Steven Spielberg. He is an excellent storyteller and I love the look and feel of his films, particularly those made for a broader audience. After the disappointment I felt after seeing ‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’ (I hadn’t seen ‘The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn’ at the time of writing so couldn’t comment on that one), it was with a little trepidation that I entered the cinema to see his latest offering. I shouldn’t have worried; the critics had given it a warm reception and I have to say they were right. With ‘War Horse’ Spielberg hits all the right notes! I will give you my thoughts on it after this brief summary.

We start before the outbreak of World War I, young Albert lives with his parents Ted and Rose on a small farm on Dartmoor (that’s in Devon, England for those that don’t know). Ted has always been a drinker and one day he comes back from the local horse auction with a thoroughbred colt. Rose is not best pleased but Albert promises to break him and that he will even get him to plough their field. This he does, but as war breaks out Ted has to sell the horse, called Joey by the way, to the army. Albert is heartbroken not only because he is losing his beloved horse, but also because he’s too young to volunteer so he can be with him. He vows that they will be together again as they part company. We now follow Joey and his trials and tribulations in the war. He ends up seeing things from both the British and German side and even spends some time in the care of some French civilians. I will not say any more here because I really don’t want to give the game away… or have the Spoiler Police riding after me again.

Beautifully shot with some quite stunning scenes; I really love the cinematography on this one. This is all backed up with a really great score by John Williams, he has collaborated with Spielberg for many years and I think this is one of his finest pieces of work to date. As for performances, well nobody put a foot wrong; Jeremy Irvine did a great job as Albert Narracott, as did Peter Mullan as Ted and Emily Watson as Rose. Also worthy of note were Niels Arestrup as Grandfather, David Thewlis as Lyons, Tom Hiddleston as Captain Nicholls, Benedict Cumberbatch as Maj. Jamie Stewart and Celine Buckens as Emilie. Finally, of course, I cannot end this section without a mention for the horses that portrayed Joey in the movie; they all did a tremendous job, as did their trainers.

Before seeing this film I had talked to several people about it; many of which stated that they couldn’t watch a film like that in the cinema, it would be too upsetting. I admit, yes, there are some upsetting moments in the film, but I didn’t find it all that bad. I may have reacted differently watching it at home alone, but I don’t think that would have affected my enjoyment of it in any way. There are many plusses in this film that outweigh the few minuses; yes, it’s a bit on the sentimental side, but it’s still a beautifully made sprawling epic and well worth a look (IMO)… Recommended.

My score: 8.6/10.

IMDb Score: 7.4/10 (based on 9,616 votes when this review was written).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1568911/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 78/100 (based on 188 reviews counted at the time of going to press).
Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 76/100 (based on 23,610 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/war_horse/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Albert Narracott: We will be together again.

Major Jamie Stewart: Gentlemen, it is an honor to ride beside you. Make the Kaiser rue the day he crossed swords with us. Let every man do himself, his King, his country, and his fallen comrades proud. Be brave.

Grandfather: Can you imagine flying over a war and you know you can never look down? You have to look forward, or you'll never get home. What could be braver than that?

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www.warhorsemovie.com/
Trailer:

Film Review: NEVER LET ME GO (2010)

2012-01-15T20:20:00.001Z

Director: Mark Romanek
Writers: Kazuo Ishiguro (Novel), Alex Garland (Screenplay)
Running time: 100 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12

Genre: Drama/Romance/Sci-Fi
UK Release date: 11^th February 2011

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 15^th January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I remember hearing about this film when it came out; I was slightly intrigued by it at first, but then I heard it was a bit of a love story and shelved it for a bit. Well, it resurfaced this week and, despite my reservations I decided to give it a look. You’ll be pleased to know I was pleasantly surprised. Some really great performances are the highlight of this heartbreaking tale set in an alternate reality. I will tell you more after this brief summary.

At an idyllic school called Hailsham in the countryside, three children; Kathy, Tommy and Ruth become friends. From the beginning you can tell there is something odd about this school it is not until one of the teachers, Miss Lucy, tells the students of their purpose that the audience, along with the children, begins to understand. [I will not say here what it is as I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t seen the film.] The story is told through the eyes of Kathy and you can tell that she is attracted to Tommy, but Ruth gets to him first. At the age of eighteen they are allowed to leave and go to live in a place called ‘The Cottages’ with teenagers from other schools. By now Tommy and Ruth have become a couple and they begin to explore the world around them. They hear about something called a ‘deferral’ for couples that are in love [don’t worry, that will make sense when you see the film] and Kathy can’t bare it any longer and leaves to become a carer. She later hears that Tommy and Ruth had broken up. Little does she know but their paths are due to cross again and it is this meeting that will decide their fate. I will not say any more or the Spoiler Police (Alternate Reality Division) will be removing my organs (again).

This film is beautifully made with a great musical score by Rachel Portman, it really captures the mood of the piece. Great cinematography combines with the great British countryside to give the plot the room it needs to breathe. The thing that stands out most though is the performances of the three main characters; Carey Mulligan as Kathy, Andrew Garfield as Tommy and Keira Knightley as Ruth all put in really great performances. I must also give a mention to their young counterparts; Izzy Meikle-Small as Young Kathy, Charlie Rowe as Young Tommy and Ella Purnell as Young Ruth were all excellent also. Honourable mentions go to; Charlotte Rampling as Miss Emily and Sally Hawkins as Miss Lucy.

This is a bit of a heartbreaker of a film, filled with a lot of emotion because the audience are allowed to get to know these characters and become invested in their fate. I have to admit to feeling very sad by the end. It’s beautifully made with great care and so hats off to the filmmakers for making it as enjoyable to watch as it was. As I’ve already said, it’s quite heartbreaking at the end but still well worth a look… Recommended.

My score: 8.3/10.

IMDb Score: 7.2/10 (based on 35,146 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1334260/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 70/100 (based on 162 reviews counted at the time of going to press).
Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 70/100 (based on 29,621 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/never_let_me_go_2010/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
[first lines]
Kathy: My name is Kathy H. I'm 28 years old. I've been a carer for nine years. And I'm good at my job. My patients always do better than expected, and are hardly ever classified as agitated, even if they're about to make a donation. I'm not trying to boast, but I feel a great sense of pride in what we do. Carers and donors have achieved so much. That said, we aren't machines. In the end it wears you down. I suppose that's why I now spend most of my time not looking forwards, but looking back, to The Cottages and Hailsham, and what happened to us there.

Kathy: It had never occurred to me that our lives, so closely interwoven, could unravel with such speed. If I'd known, maybe I'd have kept tighter hold of them.

[last lines]
Kathy: I come here and imagine that this is the spot where everything I've lost since my childhood is washed out. I tell myself, if that were true, and I waited long enough then a tiny figure would appear on the horizon across the field and gradually get larger until I'd see it was Tommy. He'd wave. And maybe call. I don't know if the fantasy go beyond that, I can't let it. I remind myself I was lucky to have had any time with him at all. What I'm not sure about, is if our lives have been so different from the lives of the people we save. We all complete. Maybe none of us really understand what we've lived through, or feel we've had enough time.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/neverletmego/
Trailer:

Film Review: LIMITLESS (2011)

2012-01-15T15:15:00.001Z

Director: Neil Burger
Writers: Leslie Dixon (screenplay), Alan Glynn (novel)
Running time: 105 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Thriller/Sci-Fi/Mystery
UK Release date: 23^rd March 2011

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 15^th January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

When I read about the concept behind this film I must say I was quite intrigued; a pill that could allow access to the parts of the brain we don’t use? Who could resist? Well it didn’t play at my local cinema and so after quite a long wait it finally appeared in the TV listings this week. It had received a bit of a mixed response from the critics but I thought I’d take the plunge anyway. I’ll give you my thoughts after this brief summary.

Eddie Morra is a struggling writer; he has a contract to write a book but is struggling to find inspiration and motivation. By chance he meets his ex-wife’s brother, Vernon, a former drug dealer; he gives him a pill that changes his life. It’s called NZT and it enables him to think faster than ever; he finishes his book in double quick time. When the effects wear off he decides he has to get more. He goes to see Vernon who he finds dead. Searching his apartment he discovers his stash and steals it. Now he can take it every day he soon realises that writing isn’t for him; stocks and shares are the future. Having had some meteoric success in the stock market, he is now in the spotlight of the big boys. Enter Carl Van Loon, a very successful businessman who takes Eddie under his wing. As a side note, Eddie at this point also gets his girlfriend, Lindy, back. About to broker a major deal; Eddie discovers a disturbing side-effect of the drug… I will leave it there or the Spoiler Police (Illegal Drugs Division) will have me banged up for possession.

A very well made film with some neat CGI and camera work which is used to try and illustrate the effect of the drug on Eddie. I also liked the narration; it gave an insight into his thought processes as events unfolded around him. Decent performances all round; Bradley Cooper did a good job as Eddie Morra, Robert De Niro was great (as ever), although never really stretched as Carl Van Loon and Abbie Cornish was decent, if underused, as Lindy. Andrew Howard did a good job as the Russian moneylender Gennady and there was a nice little part for Anna Friel as Eddie’s ex-wife Melissa.

Quite a slick production with some nice touches; not all of them worked, but it’s still a perfectly watchable Sci-Fi/Thriller. As I’ve already said, I did enjoy some of the camera trickery used to illustrate the effect of the drug, in particular the tunnel-like pan straight into the screen, which worked particularly well. There were a few aspects of the plot that didn’t quite work for me, but over all it’s still pretty enjoyable… Recommended.

My score: 7.4/10.

IMDb Score: 7.3/10 (based on 103,342 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1219289/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 69/100 (based on 180 reviews counted at the time of going to press).
Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 73/100 (based on 84,511 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/limitless/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
[first lines]
Eddie Morra: Obviously I miscalculated a few things.
Man: [banging door] Eddie! I know you're in there.
Eddie Morra: Why is it that the moment your life exceeds your wildest dreams, the knife appears at your back? Well, I'll tell you one thing... I will never let them touch me.

Eddie Morra: You see that guy? That was me not so long ago. What kind of guy without a drug or alcohol problem looks this way? Only a writer.

Vernon: You know how they say we can only access 20% of our brain?
[Vernon points out the NZT pill on the table]
Vernon: This lets you access all of it.

Carl Van Loon: So, Eddie Morra... And you do know you're a freak? What's your secret?
Eddie Morra: Medication.

Eddie Morra: [parting ways with Carl] You should really be glad about this, because you know, me working for you, you'd end up being my bitch.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www.iamrogue.com/limitless/fullsite/index.html
Trailer:

Film Review: RESERVOIR DOGS (1992)

2012-01-14T18:32:00.001Z

Co-Writer/Director: Quentin Tarantino
Writers: Quentin Tarantino & Roger Avary (Background radio dialogue)
Running time: 99 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 18

Genre: Crime/Thriller/Mystery
UK Release date: 15^th January 1993

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 14^th January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Lauded by many, despised by a few, it’s been a long time since I saw ‘Reservoir Dogs’ and I have to come clean… I didn’t really rate it first time around. So I thought it was time I gave it another shot since it aired on TV (again) recently. How did it fair this time around? Well I’ll tell you after this brief summary.

A jewellery heist has gone wrong and the perpetrators make their way back to a pre-arranged rendezvous, a warehouse. The cops knew about the robbery and they have a traitor in their midst. To keep themselves anonymous, Joe, the organiser of the heist had given them all names of colours. Mr Brown and Mr Blue were both killed during the heist and Mr Orange is injured. He and Mr White are the first to arrive, soon followed by Mr Pink. Later Mr Blonde turns up with a surprise in the trunk of his car… a cop. They start beating up on the cop trying to find out if he knows who betrayed them, but he knows nothing. Nice Guy Eddie, Joe’s son, turns up next and tells them to move the cars; leaving the psychotic Mr Blonde with the injured Mr Orange and the cop. At this point I’ll leave it or the Spoiler Police (Tarantino Division) will have me making films with scenes stolen from just about every film I’ve ever seen (again).

I must admit I do like the rough style with which this film is made, there seems to be a lot of ad-libbing from the actors and, for the most part, it works pretty well. There are flashbacks telling us how some of the major players got involved in the job and these (to me) are more interesting than some of the stuff going on in the warehouse. As far as performances go, well Harvey Keitel as Mr. White - Larry Dimmick, Tim Roth as Mr. Orange - Freddy Newandyke, Michael Madsen as Mr. Blonde - Vic Vega and Steve Buscemi as Mr. Pink all did an excellent job. Honourable mentions also go to; Chris Penn as Nice Guy Eddie Cabot and Lawrence Tierney as Joe Cabot.

As with many of Tarantino’s works there is an awful lot of dialogue (just see my ‘Favourite Quotes’ section below for a taster). This, I find can be both confusing and distracting if not properly choreographed with what the audience is watching. Two talking heads in a room can get pretty uninteresting after a while and this is what you get in some scenes. There is no incidental music, the only music we here is from the radio that always plays hits from the ‘70’s. For me second time around?... Well I can see some good things in there, but not enough for me to rave about it. I will deem it ‘Recommended’ but only for these good points (about three quarters of the way through… the back-story of Mr. Orange… definitely NOT the torture scene).

My score: 7.8/10.

IMDb Score: 8.4/10 (based on 277,019 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0105236/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 96/100 (based on 48 reviews counted at the time of going to press).
Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 93/100 (based on 381,822 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/reservoir_dogs/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES: (WARNING: Strong Language)
Nice Guy Eddie: Did you see that, daddy?
Joe: What?
Nice Guy Eddie: That guy got me on the ground and he tried to fuck me.
Mr. Blonde: You wish.
Nice Guy Eddie: Listen, Vic. Whatever you wanna do in the privacy of your own home, go do it. But don't try to fuck me in my father's office - I don't think of you that way. I like you a lot man, but I don't think of you that way.
Mr. Blonde: Eddie, if I was a butt cowboy, I wouldn't even throw you to the posse.
Nice Guy Eddie: Of course not, you'd keep me for yourself, you sick bastard. Four years of fuckin' punks up the ass you'd appreciate a piece of prime rib when you see one.

Mr. Orange: What happens if the manager won't give you the diamonds?
Mr. White: When you're dealing with a store like this, they're insured up the ass. They're not supposed to give you any resistance whatsoever. If you get a customer, or an employee, who thinks he's Charles Bronson, take the butt of your gun and smash their nose in. Everybody jumps. He falls down screaming, blood squirts out of his nose, nobody says fucking shit after that. You might get some bitch talk shit to you, but give her a look like you're gonna smash her in the face next, watch her shut the fuck up. Now if it's a manager, that's a different story. Managers know better than to fuck around, so if you get one that's giving you static, he probably thinks he's a real cowboy, so you gotta break that son of a bitch in two. If you wanna know something and he won't tell you, cut off one of his fingers. The little one. Then tell him his thumb's next. After that he'll tell you if he wears ladies underwear. I'm hungry. Let's get a taco.

Mr. Pink: Hey, why am I Mr. Pink?
Joe: Because you're a faggot.
Mr. Pink: Why can't we pick our own colors?
Joe: No way, no way. Tried it once, doesn't work. You got four guys all fighting over who's gonna be Mr. Black, but they don't know each other, so nobody wants to back down. No way. I pick. You're Mr. Pink. Be thankful you're not Mr. Yellow.
Mr. Brown: Yeah, but Mr. Brown is a little too close to Mr. Shit.
Mr. Pink: Mr. Pink sounds like Mr. Pussy. How 'bout if I'm Mr. Purple? That sounds good to me. I'll be Mr. Purple.
Joe: You're not Mr. Purple. Some guy on some other job is Mr. Purple. Your Mr. PINK.
Mr. White: Who cares what your name is?
Mr. Pink: Yeah, that's easy for your to say, you're Mr. White. You have a cool-sounding name. Alright look, if it's no big deal to be Mr. Pink, you wanna trade?
Joe: Hey! NOBODY'S trading with ANYBODY. This ain't a goddamn, fucking city council meeting, you know. Now listen up, Mr. Pink. There's two ways you can go on this job: my way or the highway. Now what's it gonna be, Mr. Pink?
Mr. Pink: Jesus Christ, Joe, fucking forget about it. It's beneath me. I'm Mr. Pink. Let's move on.
Joe: I'll move on when I feel like it... All you guys got the goddamn message?... I'm so goddamn mad, hollering at you guys I can hardly talk. Pssh. Let's go to work.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Trailer:

Film Review: JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS (1963)

2012-01-14T13:50:00.001Z

Director: Don Chaffey
Writers (Screenplay): Jan Read & Beverley Cross
Writer (poem “The Argonautica”): Apollonios Rhodios
Running time: 104 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): U

Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy
UK Release date: 15^th August 1963

Watched on Sky+ Friday 13^th January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is a film I remember well from my childhood; it seemed whenever there was a wet Sunday afternoon this was on… And as I child I absolutely loved it! Since it was airing again on TV recently I thought I would give it another look now that I’m all growed up. Well, I have to say that, as a film, it hasn’t faired all that well, but the excellent stop-motion effects by Ray Harryhausen are still the best thing about it. I will give you more of my thoughts after this very brief summary.

The Gods of Greece are always meddling in the affairs of man and having wagers with each other about the outcome. Zeus and his wife Hera have one such arrangement concerning a young man called Jason. He has been tasked with travelling to the ends of the Earth in order to retrieve a golden fleece, a prize of the Gods. He commissions a ship, the Argo, and holds games to select the bravest and strongest men in all Greece to join him on this epic adventure. As they set sail Jason knows that Hera will protect them, but he can only call on her a certain number of times… Many adventures bring them to their goal, but a protective king will not give up the fleece without a fight! I will leave it there or the Spoiler Police (Greek Gods Division) will have me fighting Titans (again).

I have to admit I do have a bit of a soft spot for this film; as a child I loved all the action sequences and me and my brother would re-enact them afterwards. Today though, it doesn’t quite hold together as well as it did when I was young. I guess I’ve seen too many films that are better made (effects aside). As far as performances go, well nobody really stood out and so honourable mentions go to; Todd Armstrong as Jason, Nancy Kovack as Medea, Gary Raymond as Acastus, Laurence Naismith as Argos, Niall MacGinnis as Zeus, Michael Gwynn as Hermes, Honor Blackman as Hera and Patrick Troughton as Phineas.

I’ll cut to the chase here, the effects were brilliant in their day, brilliant when I was a kid and they have stood the test of time well… I still think they’re great! The problem I have is with the narrative, far too much is taken as read and I think the writers found it far too easy to us the ‘gods’ to get them out of a situation. For me, there are islands if brilliance in a sea of mediocrity I’m afraid. It seems to drag on and that is never a good sign. I have given it a half decent score, but that’s mainly for the groundbreaking effects, for which I’ll deem it recommended.

My score: 6.8/10.

IMDb Score: 7.3/10 (based on 9,262 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0057197/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 96/100 (based on 26 reviews counted at the time of going to press).
Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 71/100 (based on 20,999 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1010939-jason_and_the_argonauts/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Zeus: If I had to punish *every* blasphemy, I would have *no followers*!

Phineas: Zeus, I was a sinner. I've never tried to deny it. But I didn't sin every day. Why then do you punish me *every day*?

Argos: Pray to the gods, Jason!
Jason: The gods of Greece are cruel! In time, all men shall learn to live without them.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Trailer:

Film Review: A MAN APART (2003)

2012-01-12T20:28:00.001Z

Director: F. Gary Gray
Writers: Christian Gudegast & Paul Scheuring
Running time: 109 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 18

Genre: Action/Adventure/Drama
UK Release date: 4^th April 2003

Watched on Sky+ Wednesday 11^th January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is maybe not one of the films I would have chosen; however, on recommendation (you know who you are) I decided to give it a chance. There’s nothing earth shattering about it I’m afraid, just another run of the mill Action/Adventure with plenty of plot twists and an enormous body count. The Mexican drug cartels are the bad guys this time and a rough-tough DEA agent and his partner are the good guys. I’ll tell you what I thought after this brief summary.

A group of DEA agents have been allowed into Mexico to participate in the arrest of one of the drug cartel’s top men, Memo Lucero. Amongst the agents are Sean Vetter and his partner, Demetrius Hicks. The take down goes well and Lucero ends up in a US jail. At this point a character named ‘Diablo’ makes himself known; taking over parts of Lucero’s operation and killing his people. Eventually the ‘Diablo’ cartel turns their attention to Sean; attacks his house and kills his wife. Seeking revenge, Sean visits Lucero in jail; he cannot initially help him, but when his own wife is killed, things change. Can Sean and Demetrius track down who is behind ‘Diablo’? To do so they will have to sometimes stray outside the law! I won’t say any more or the Spoiler Police (DEA division) will have my badge (again).

Quite well made though I did find the action scenes a little confusing at times. Decent performances all round, although I felt nobody was really stretched; and so honourable mentions go to; Vin Diesel as Sean Vetter, Larenz Tate as Demetrius Hicks, Timothy Olyphant, woefully underused, as Hollywood Jack and Geno Silva as Memo Lucero.

Many films have been made on this subject before and there have been many films of this genre. The hard thing to do is to make a film of this type that doesn’t fall into cliché. Unfortunately this one does, and it suffers for it. A much better film of this type (IMO) would be Tony Scott’s ‘Man on Fire’ (2004). I guess I can sum it up by saying ‘it does what it says on the tin’, this film is what it is and, although a little too cliché for my liking, is still worth a look if this is your kind of thing.

My score: 5.9/10.

IMDb Score: 5.8/10 (based on 19,342 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0266465/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 11/100 (based on 130 reviews counted at the time of going to press).
Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 40/100 (based on 82,184 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/man_apart/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Sean: They call us down here. They take away our weapons? They expect us to go into a building full of drunken cartel gunmen unarmed? I mean, that isn't fun.
Ty Frost: You're not gettin' paid to have fun. Good luck, gentlemen.

Sean: I like this car.
Hollywood Jack: Hey, nice truck.
Sean: Thanks.
Hollywood Jack: In fact, I was thinking about trading this one in for, like, seven of those.

Sean: Ah... Let me get your license and registration, please.
Hollywood Jack: May I um... ask what I did?
Sean: Yeah, your mud flaps. You got no mud flaps on this.
Hollywood Jack: It's a fuckin' Porsche.
Sean: Well you won't have to worry about it when you trade it in for the truck.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www.newline.com/properties/manaparta.html
Trailer:

Film Review: THE WARD (2010)

2012-01-09T21:35:00.001Z

Director: John Carpenter
Writers: Michael Rasmussen & Shawn Rasmussen
Running time: 88 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Horror/Thriller
UK Release date: 21^st January 2011

Watched on Sky+ Monday 9^th January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

John Carpenter has made some of my favourite films, however, his more recent efforts have been a little wide of the mark. So it was with much trepidation that I hit the play button for this one; the reports I’d read had not been encouraging. Sorry to say the reports were right to some extent, although I don’t think it deserved some of the vitriolic bile aimed at it. I’ll tell you what I mean by that after this brief summary.

When the young Kristen is sent to a psychiatric ward in 1966, she finds herself with a group of young women who all have different problems. On her first night someone steals her blanket and yet she is locked alone in her room. The others, Emily, Sarah, Zoey and Iris are all adamant that there is no way out, but Kristen wants to leave. Things come to a head when she is attacked in the shower; not by one of the other girls, but by a ghost! Investigating, she finds the name, Alice Hudson and, as her fellow inmates begin to disappear one by one she gets more desperate to escape! But there’s a problem and her physician, Dr. Stringer, holds the key. I won’t say any more or the Spoiler Police will be locking me up (again).

It’s all quite well shot, but (to me) it has the feel of quite a low-budget picture. I felt some of the acting was quite forced, if not poor, in places (particularly at the beginning). Since nobody really stood out I will give honourable mentions to; Amber Heard as Kristen, Mamie Gummer as Emily, Danielle Panabaker as Sarah, Laura-Leigh as Zoey, Lyndsy Fonseca as Iris and Jared Harris as Dr. Stringer.

Some of the reviews I’ve read about this film have been really venomous in their criticism of it. To some extent I agree, John Carpenter is capable of making much better films than this. But on the other hand; what he has produced, if not entirely original, is still quite watchable (after a while) and there are some genuinely frightening moments in it. In conclusion I guess what I’m trying to say is yes, it’s not all that good, but at the same time it’s not all that bad either. There are some good ideas here but the execution didn’t quite work this time… As far as recommendation goes, I’ll leave that entirely up to you.

My score: 4.9/10.

IMDb Score: 5.6/10 (based on 10,186 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1369706/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 32/100 (based on 65 reviews counted at the time of going to press).
Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 27/100 (based on 9,057 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_ward/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Sarah: If I were you I'd watch out, new girl.

Dr. Stringer: What's the first thing you remember?
Kristen: Fire

Kristen: Look at me!
Sarah: Sorry, I don't converse with loonies.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://theward.theofficialjohncarpenter.com/
Trailer:

Film Review: RANGO (2011)

2012-01-08T17:43:00.001Z

Director: Gore Verbinski
Writer (Screenplay): John Logan
Writers (Story): John Logan, Gore Verbinski & James Ward Byrkit
Running time: 103 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): PG

Genre: Animation/Action/Adventure
UK Release date: 4^th March 2011

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 8^th January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is a film I’ve wanted to see for some time, although I didn’t know all that much about it. Recommendations did the trick, but it never made it to my local cinema and so I waited for a TV airing. As you can probably guess, it aired this week and I’m pleased to say the recommendations were correct! Although not quite up there with the best of the Pixar films, it’s still very entertaining and beautifully animated. I will give you my thoughts after this brief summary.

When a pet chameleon is involved in an accident that leaves him on a desert road, he looks for help. It first comes in the form of an old armadillo called Roadkill; he sets the chameleon off in the direction of the nearest town, Dirt. On the way he is picked up by Beans who is going to town for supplies for her ranch. Once there the chameleon enters the saloon where he makes himself out to be a bit of a hero… a hero called Rango! The townsfolk immediately make him the sheriff; but there’s a problem. The town is running out of water, there’s very little left in the bank and the mayor is behaving strangely. When the remaining water is stolen from the bank it’s up to Rango, and a posse, to go and bring it back. Also, can they solve the mystery of the disappearing water supply? Well, I’ll leave it there or the Spoiler Police will be confiscating my glass of nice cool refreshing water by my side here… (thirsty?).

As I’ve already said, it’s beautifully animated and well worth seeing just for that alone! As for performances, well everyone was very good, particularly Johnny Depp as Rango/Lars, he surprised me with this performance; very reminiscent, at times, of his character, Raoul Duke, in ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’. Isla Fisher as Beans and Abigail Breslin as Pricilla both put in great performances, as did Ned Beatty as the Mayor. Honourable mentions must also go to; Alfred Molina as Roadkill, Bill Nighy as Rattlesnake Jake, Stephen Root as Doc/Merrimack/Mr. Snuggles, Harry Dean Stanton as Balthazar, Timothy Olyphant as Spirit of the West and Ray Winstone as Bad Bill.

I must say I did like the offbeat style of this film, very reminiscent of an old Western but with a modern twist. Lots of slapstick comedy moments and some great sight gags add to the fun. A nice score by Hans Zimmer is interspersed by a nice collection of songs, principally performed by ‘Los Lobos’. Over all, I found this film very entertaining with some great animation; one I will definitely re-watch sometime… Recommended.

My score: 7.9/10.

IMDb Score: 7.4/10 (based on 57,195 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1192628/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 88/100 (based on 205 reviews counted at the time of going to press).
Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 69/100 (based on 94,672 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rango/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Rango: [after some kids throw rocks at him] Hey! What was that for?
Priscilla: You're funny-looking.
Rango: Well? You're funny-looking too.
Priscilla: That's a funny-looking shirt.
Rango: That's a funny-looking dress.
Priscilla: You got funny-looking eyes.
Rango: You got a funny-looking face!
Priscilla: [small pause] You're a stranger. Strangers don't last long here.
[walks away]

Rango: Reptiles gotta stick together, brother.
Buford: I'm an amphibian.
Rango: Ain't no shame in that.

Rango: [an arrow is sticking through Turley's head, entering in his right eye and coming out the left-rear side of his head; Rango looks disgusted] You've, uh... got something in your eye.
Sergeant Turley: [indicates his left eye, seemingly oblivious] Oh, that? That's conjunctivitis. It's hereditary.

Rango: Is this Heaven?
Spirit of the West: If it were, we'd be eating strawberry Pop-Tarts with Kim Novak.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www.rangomovie.com/
Trailer:

Film Review: THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (2011)

2012-01-08T11:29:00.001Z

Director: David Fincher
Writers: Steven Zaillian (Screenplay) & Stieg Larsson (Novel)
Running time: 158 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 18

Genre: Crime/Drama/Mystery
UK Release date: 26^th December 2011

Watched at the cinema Saturday 7^th January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Having seen the 2009 Swedish version of this film I thought it might be interesting to see how Hollywood treated it. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. The location and key elements of the story were kept the same, but obviously a bigger budget allowed for a more cinematic experience. I will give you my thoughts after this brief summary.

When journalist and Editor Mikael Blomkvist is sued by a businessman he had written a story about, he finds himself with no savings and a reputation in tatters. Fortunately, an industrialist, Henrik Vanger, wants him to investigate the disappearance of his niece, Harriet, over forty years ago. Before engaging him, Vanger had Blomkvist investigated by a security firm who had used the pierced, tattooed, punk computer hacker Lisbeth Salander as the investigator. We follow Blomkvist’s investigation along with events in Lisbeth’s life (which are sometimes quite hard to watch). Eventually Blomkvist reaches a point where he needs an assistant and Lisbeth is recommended to him. This is where things start to get really interesting… and also the point I will stop my little summary. I don’t want the Spoiler Police on my doorstep as 3AM (again).

Beautifully shot and very well produced; David Fincher has a well deserved reputation as a filmmaker and it shows. Great performances all round; Daniel Craig did a great job as Mikael Blomkvist, as did Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander, she had a very tough act to follow in Noomi Rapace but I thought she acquitted herself well. Also worth of note were; Christopher Plummer as Henrik Vanger, Stellan Skarsgård as Martin Vanger, Steven Berkoff as Frode, Robin Wright as Erika Berger and Yorick van Wageningen as Bjurman.

Having seen the original I cannot but fail to make comparisons and I must say this version is just as good. I say that because I found this one a lot easier to follow, the storyline has been streamlined somewhat. Also, the production is far more elaborate; it obviously had a much bigger budget. As far as performances go though I think the original has the edge; to me Noomi Rapace played the part of Lisbeth Salander so well that anyone else playing that part was going to struggle to top it. Don’t get me wrong, Rooney Mara did a fine job and if I hadn’t seen Noomi Rapace in the role I may well have been singing her praises. I have given this version the same score as the original and I’m very happy to give it my seal of approval: Recommended.

My score: 8.2/10.

IMDb Score: 8.2/10 (based on 20,621 votes when this review was written).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1568346/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 86/100 (based on 190 reviews counted at the time of going to press).
Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 90/100 (based on 45,575 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_girl_with_the_dragon_tattoo/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Henrik Vanger: Soon you'll know us all too well, with my apologies.

Mikael Blomkvist: Who knows about this?
Henrik Vanger: Just me, the police, the killer, and now you.

Lisbeth Salander: He's had a long standing sexual relationship with his co-editor of the magazine. Sometimes he performs cunnilingus on her. Not often enough in my opinion.

Mikael Blomkvist: I can't find any record of her and I'm pretty good at that kind of thing.
Armansky: She's had a rough life. Can we please not make it any rougher?

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www.dragontattoo.net/
Trailer:

Film Review: HEREAFTER (2010)

2012-01-07T17:11:00.001Z

Director: Clint Eastwood
Writer: Peter Morgan
Running time: 123 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Drama/Fantasy
UK Release date: 28^th January 2011

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 7^th January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This film wasn’t very well received by the critics and hence suffered a little at the box office. That’s quite sad because I found it quite touching and heart-warming and I believe it deserved better. Yes, I know I’m a fan of Clint Eastwood’s work, but even so, I must admit to quite liking this one. It’s a little disjointed at times and I can see how some might struggle with certain sections of the film having subtitles, but over all I found it not as bad as everyone has made out. More of my thoughts after this brief summary.

The stories of three people are brought together in London (England), but we begin far from there. A French TV reporter, Marie Lelay, is on holiday when she is caught up in a tsunami. She is dragged under the water and it is here that she undergoes what would be described as a ‘near-death experience’. This has a dramatic effect on her life and she feels compelled to write a book about it. Meanwhile in San Francisco a former psychic, George Lonegan, does a reading for a client of his brothers’ as a favour. He really does not want to do it because he feels that this ‘gift’ doesn’t allow him to have a normal life. Later, after a burgeoning romance doesn’t work out because of it he decides to take a trip. In London twin brothers Marcus and Jason are separated when one of them is killed in an accident. The remaining one, missing his brother, tries all sorts to contact him, but there’s only one man in the world who might be able to help him. George’s trip takes him to London and Marie’s publisher wants her there for a book show. All three are going to meet, but what will happen when they do? I’ve probably already said too much and the Spoiler Police will be haunting me(again).

Very well made with some excellent CGI in the opening sequence. Eastwood has a very deliberate style and I really like the way his films look and feel. Great performances all round, particularly from Matt Damon as George Lonegan, a tough part that he played really well. Cécile De France also did a great job as Marie Lelay; most of her part was in French so it was a little difficulty to judge, but she was convincing enough. The twins; Frankie McLaren and George McLaren who played both Marcus and Jason did a fine job; as child actors I thought they coped really well. Honourable mentions must also go to; Jay Mohr as Billy, Thierry Neuvic as Didier, Lyndsey Marshal as Jackie, Bryce Dallas Howard as Melanie and Richard Kind as Christos.

As you can see from my synopsis it’s quite a complicated plot with several threads that have to be pulled together. As I said at the beginning, one of these threads is predominantly spoken in French which I could see putting may off. Even so, I’ve seen enough foreign language films to be able to cope pretty well with that. Many may have also been put off by Eastwood’s slow, deliberate pacing, but I thought it was fine; it give the audience time to adsorb what’s going on. The subject matter is also quite contentious, but, again, no problem for me, I just saw it as a story about a man struggling with his ‘gift’. Over all, I feel this film has been poorly treated by the critics and is woefully underrated… for me, Recommended.

My score: 7.5/10

IMDb Score: 6.6/10 (based on 38,966 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1212419/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 46/100 (based on 211 reviews counted at the time of going to press).
Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 40/100 (based on 62,077 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hereafter/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Dr. Rousseau: You know, as a scientist and atheist my mind was closed to such things. Oh, absolutely. Afterlife, near-death experiences Like everyone else, I thought people saw bright lights, Eden-like gardens and so forth because they were culturally conditioned to do so. But after 25 years in a hospice working with people, many of whom were pronounced dead but then miraculously survived. The account of what they actually experienced were so strikingly similar it couldn't just be coincidence. And add to that the fact that when they had these experiences they were almost all unconscious, a state in which my enemies agree the brain cannot create fresh images.
Marie Lelay: So you think I really did experience something?
Dr. Rousseau: Oh, yes. I think you experienced death.

Billy: [about George] He said, "A life that's all about death is no life at all."

George Lonegan: Sometimes, I mean you know, knowing everything about someone, it seems nice, but really, maybe it's better to hold stuff back.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://hereafter.warnerbros.com/dvd/
Trailer:

Film Review: A LIFE LESS ORDINARY (1997)

2012-01-05T21:14:00.001Z

Director: Danny Boyle
Writer: John Hodge
Running time: 103 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Comedy/Romance/Drama
UK Release date: 24^th October 1997

Watched on Sky+ Thursday 5^th January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I have to admit that for some time now I have been a bit of a fan of the work of Danny Boyle. As such, I’m made it a bit of a mission to take a look at as much of his back catalogue as I can whenever they are shown on TV. So this is how I came to watch this one. I have to say it’s not the best film I’ve seen associated with his name, but it’s passable. More of my thoughts after this very brief summary.

We start in heaven (where else), where two angels, O'Reilly and Jackson, are given their last chance to, let’s say, facilitate a couple falling in love. It’s a tough case; two people from very different backgrounds. First there’s Robert Lewis who’s a cleaner (& a writer in his spare time) who has just lost his job and been dumped by his girlfriend. Then there’s Celine Naville a rich socialite whose father wants her to go to work for him. They are thrown together when Robert goes to see Celine’s father to demand his job back and things go slightly wrong. He ends up kidnapping Celine and taking her to a cabin in the wilderness. He really doesn’t have a clue and Celine ends up taking the lead; deciding she may as well try to get some money out of her father. Meanwhile, O’Reilly and Jackson are hired by Celine’s father to find them. As you can see, it’s getting a bit complicated already and we’re only part-way through! I’ll leave it there though or the Spoiler Police (confusing plots division) will have me kidnapped in amusing circumstances (again).

A well made film that has the beginnings many of the hallmarks of Boyle’s latter works. Some interesting ideas thrown in, some that worked and some that didn’t, but then I see it as a bit of a stepping stone for Boyle. Nice performances all round; Ewan McGregor did a decent job as Robert Lewis, although his haircut is pretty bizarre! Cameron Diaz did a great job as Celine; it’s the kind of role she’s pretty comfortable in. I thought both Holly Hunter as O’Reilly and Delroy Lindo as Jackson were excellent. Honourable mentions must also go to; Ian McNeice as Mayhew, Frank Kanig as Ted, Stanley Tucci as Elliot Zweikel, Tony Shalhoub as Al and Ian Holm as Naville (Celine’s father).

Although I’m a fan of Danny Boyle’s work, I’m afraid this one failed to hit the mark (for me). I found the plot far too over-complicated, almost like they were trying to fit far too many ideas in all at once. To me it would have been much more interesting to see the story from the point of view of O’Reilly and Jackson, but then I guess I’m not a screenwriter (yet). Yes, there were some nice touches, for instance, I loved the song and dance routine in the bar; very funny. Over all though, it’s one I’ll have to sit on the fence as far as recommendation goes; it’s kind of in the middle there somewhere.

My score: 5.7/10

IMDb Score: 6.3/10 (based on 20,915 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0119535/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 39/100 (based on 36 reviews counted at the time of going to press).
Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 56/100 (based on 52,726 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/life_less_ordinary/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Celine: Remember what they didn't teach you at Harvard Business School.
Robert: I didn't go to Harvard Business School!
Celine: That's a figure of speech, Robert.

Celine: If word got around that I had been liberated for half a million dollars, I could never show my face in polite society again. Diamonds have no value except that which is placed upon them.

Tod: Do you think that I'd talk to a dog? Do you think I'd ask a dog whether you're good or evil? What do you think I am? Some kind of crazy backwoods lunatic with a barn full of human skulls and a scythe that I sharpen every day in readiness for Armageddon?
Robert: No, no, not at all, I'm sure you're just a regular kind of guy.
Tod: Right, I'm regular, I am a regular man. I want... but that's not the point! The point is, who are YOU? WHO ARE YOU?

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Trailer:

Film Review: POINT BREAK (1991)

2012-01-04T22:05:00.001Z

Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Writers: Rick King (Story) & W. Peter Iliff (Story/Screenplay)
Running time: 120 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Action/Crime/Thriller
UK Release date: 22^nd November 1991

Watched on Sky+ Wednesday 4^th January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Another film I’ve seen a few times before but one that never really stuck in the memory banks. Time for a refresher? You betcha! Another one shown on TV and so it was a case of set the recorder and await a suitable window for a viewing. As you can probably guess, that window opened up this evening (despite the best efforts of the weather and the gods of sod’s law to prevent it!). I must say, for the most part I enjoyed it, although I did find it tended to drag a bit towards the end. More of my thoughts after this brief summary.

Rookie FBI agent Johnny Utah gets assigned to investigate bank robberies in California with veteran, Pappas. Their boss, Ben Harp, is less than impressed with the pair but assigns them to the ‘Ex-Presidents’ case. A series of robberies where the perpetrators all wear rubber masks with the faces of ex-Presidents of the United States. Pappas has a theory that the men behind it are surfers and so Utah goes undercover in an effort to find them. He first meets Tyler, a girl, who teaches him to surf and eventually becomes his girlfriend. She introduces him to the surfing culture and a group of her friends led by the charismatic adrenaline junkie, Bodhi. Utah comes to respect Bodhi while constantly on the look-out for the ex-presidents. When one line of enquiry fails to pay off he begins to come to a realisation… I will leave it there or the Spoiler Police (Surfing Division) will confiscate my board (again).

The cinematography in this film is great! Not just the surfing scenes; there’s skydiving and a great chase sequence around the back yards of some houses that I really enjoyed. The performances were all good, although I did still see Keanu Reeves, who plays Johnny Utah, as his character in the ‘Bill and Ted’ films from his younger days. If he had been a couple of years older then I think he may have been a little more believable. Patrick Swayze, on the other hand, as Bodhi, was perfect for the part (IMO). Honourable mentions must also go to; Gary Busey, larger than life (as ever) as Pappas, Lori Petty as Tyler and John C. McGinley as Ben Harp.

I like the plot of this film, but it does take a little time to get going at the beginning and, as I’ve already mentioned, it does seem to drag a bit at the end. I do like the way all the main characters are well rounded and we get to know a little about their back stories. This does help when we are supposed to care about them. Over all, I pretty much enjoyed this one and I’m quite happy to deem it recommended.

My score: 7.4/10

IMDb Score: 6.9/10 (based on 48,620 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0102685/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 67/100 (based on 52 reviews counted at the time of going to press).
Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 47/100 (based on 114,764 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/point_break/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Pappas: 22 years. Man, L.A. has changed a lot during that time. The air got dirty and the sex got clean.

Ben Harp: Special agent Utah! This is not some job, flipping burgers at the local drive-in! Yes! - your surf board bothers me! Yes! - your approach to this whole damn case bothers me! And yes! - YOU BOTHER ME! And Pappas! Oh, for the love of Christ. How the hell did I even let you talk me into this whole bone-headed idea to begin with.
Pappas: Harp! We are working under-cover. It takes time. We've produced a few...
Ben Harp: NO! No no no no no no NO! Let me tell you what you've produced... Over the last two weeks, you two have produced exactly squat! SQUAT! During which time the ex-presidents have robbed two more banks. Now for Christ's sake, does either one of you have anything even remotely interesting to tell me?
[brief pause]
Johnny Utah: I caught my first tube today... Sir.

Pappas: ...last time you had a feeling I had to kill a guy, and I hate that... It looks bad on my report.

Nathanial: Lawyers don't surf.
Bodhi: This one does.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Trailer:

Film Review: CASABLANCA (1942)

2012-01-03T22:25:00.001Z

Director: Michael Curtiz
Writers (Screenplay): Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein & Howard Koch
Writers (play “Everybody Comes to Rick’s”): Murray Burnett & Joan Alison
Running time: 102 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): U

Genre: Drama/Romance/War
USA Release date: 23^rd January 1943

Watched on Sky+ Tuesday 3^rd January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is a film I’ve seen many times before but this is the first time I’ve actually sat down and ‘watched’ it. I must say I was surprised at just how good it was. Before, there had always been distractions, but today I watched it right through and I must say I was very impressed. It’s the kind of film my parents would watch and so it never featured very high on my radar. But when I got into watching films more seriously this was always one of those that had a lot of critical acclaim and so I added it to ‘The List’. It finally lands on TV and I had a chance to see it tonight… Truly excellent! I will explain what I mean by that after this very brief summary.

At the beginning of World War II many people tried to get out of Europe and one of the preferred routes was via Casablanca to Lisbon and then on to America. Consequently there were many refugees stranded in Casablanca falling prey to corrupt officials and other less savoury characters. Bar owner Rick Blaine wants nothing to do with all this business, in fact he doesn’t even like people talking politics in his place. But when certain travel documents fall into his possession he finds it hard to remain neutral. Particularly when an ex-lover, Ilsa Lund, appears on the scene with her husband Victor Laszlo. Throw in a corrupt, but charismatic, French Police official, Captain Louis Renault, a German, Major Heinrich Strasser who is bent on arresting Victor Laszlo and, of course, Rick’s piano player, Sam, and you’ve got the makings of a really great film. I won’t say any more or the Spoiler Police (Classics Division) will have me in a concentration camp (again).

You would have thought a film made in black and white and shot in a 4:3 aspect ratio would be really hard to watch. I’m here to tell you it’s one of the easiest films to watch I’ve seen it quite a while. All the action is concentrated in the middle of the screen; every shot is set up that way. I guess it helps that it is based on a stage play in that respect. Performance wise, well I cannot fault anyone, but I must give special praise to both Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine and Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa Lund, both were truly excellent! Honourable mentions must also go to; Paul Henreid as Victor Laszlo, Claude Rains as Captain Louis Renault, Conrad Veidt as Major Heinrich Strasser, Sydney Greenstreet as Signor Ferrari and Peter Lorre as Ugarte.

I’m not usually all the big on love stories but in this case I will make an exception. I think it’s the quality of the performances that really makes this work as well as it does. There is a lot of political intrigue in there too. If you remember that at the time it was being made America had not joined the war in Europe and so what it says politically is pretty important too. But getting away from the politics of the thing, I found this film totally engaging all the way through with characters you could believe in and a great script. I said it at the beginning and I’ll say it again… Truly excellent and VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

My score: 9.7/10

IMDb Score: 8.7/10 (based on 204,219 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0034583/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 97/100 (based on 59 reviews counted at the time of going to press).
Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 94/100 (based on 319,465 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1003707-casablanca/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Rick: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine.

Rick: You know what I want to hear.
Sam: [lying] No, I don't.
Rick: You played it for her, you can play it for me!
Sam: [lying] Well, I don't think I can remember...
Rick: If she can stand it, I can! Play it!

*** [SPOILER ALERT!] ***
Rick: Last night we said a great many things. You said I was to do the thinking for both of us. Well, I've done a lot of it since then, and it all adds up to one thing: you're getting on that plane with Victor where you belong.
Ilsa: But, Richard, no, I... I...
Rick: Now, you've got to listen to me! You have any idea what you'd have to look forward to if you stayed here? Nine chances out of ten, we'd both wind up in a concentration camp. Isn't that true, Louie?
Captain Renault: I'm afraid Major Strasser would insist.
Ilsa: You're saying this only to make me go.
Rick: I'm saying it because it's true. Inside of us, we both know you belong with Victor. You're part of his work, the thing that keeps him going. If that plane leaves the ground and you're not with him, you'll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.
Ilsa: But what about us?
Rick: We'll always have Paris. We didn't have, we, we lost it until you came to Casablanca. We got it back last night.
Ilsa: When I said I would never leave you.
Rick: And you never will. But I've got a job to do, too. Where I'm going, you can't follow. What I've got to do, you can't be any part of. Ilsa, I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Someday you'll understand that.
[Ilsa lowers her head and begins to cry]
Rick: Now, now...
[Rick gently places his hand under her chin and raises it so their eyes meet]
Rick: Here's looking at you kid.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Trailer:

Film Review: CONVICTION (2010)

2012-01-02T15:32:00.001Z

Director: Tony Goldwyn
Writer: Pamela Gray
Running time: 107 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Biography/Drama
UK Release date: 14^th January 2011

Watched on Sky+ Monday 2^nd January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I knew very little about this film before seeing it, in fact I almost gave it a pass as I knew nothing of the case it’s about either. No surprise there really, I don’t think it even featured in news bulletins here in the UK. Needless to say, it’s based on a true story; a powerful drama about a sister who refuses to believe her brother is guilty of murder. I’ll give you my thoughts after this brief summary.

When Kenny Waters is charged with the brutal murder of a woman in 1982 the evidence, plus testimonies from the police and two of his former lovers, are enough to convict him. His sister, Betty Anne Waters, refuses to believe his guilt and sacrifices her marriage and a big chunk of her life to go to law school so she can prove it. There she is befriended by fellow student, Abra Rice, who supports her in her crusade. She eventually passes the bar exam and, as a qualified lawyer, is free to find the evidence that might clear her brother. By now many years have passed and DNA evidence is now permissible in court, but how to locate the original evidence and also get the witnesses to tell the truth? Well, I’ll leave you with that burning question or the Spoiler Police will be fabricating evidence against me (again).

Quite well made with some flashback sequences that (for me) didn’t really work. They seemed to be thrown in at random and only served to break up the flow of the storyline rather than enhance it I’m afraid. Very powerful performances from both Hilary Swank as Betty Anne Waters and Sam Rockwell as Kenny Waters. Honourable mentions must also go to; Minnie Driver as Abra Rice, Melissa Leo as Nancy Taylor, Juliette Lewis as Roseanna Perry and Peter Gallagher as Barry Scheck.

Although it’s quite an inspirational story I’m afraid I found it hard to warm to any of the characters, particularly that of Kenny Waters. I agree that he did not deserve to go to jail, but I didn’t find much sympathy for him; particularly when he’s shown beating a guy up for suggesting that a bar is maybe not the best place to bring his baby daughter. Of course it’s alright in the end because he offers to buy the guy a drink! There is obviously a very strong bond between brother and sister forged from them being brought up in foster homes. I know some will draw great inspiration from this film, but for me, sadly, I didn’t enjoy it all that much. I will still deem it recommend though, but mainly for the performances.

My score: 6.6/10

IMDb Score: 7.1/10 (based on 14,849 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1244754/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 68/100 (based on 174 reviews counted at the time of going to press).
Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 71/100 (based on 30,138 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/conviction_2010/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Kenny Waters: [after seeing the media people and the police surrounding him] What the fuck?
Nancy Taylor: Kenneth Waters? You're under arrest for the murder of Katharina Brow.
Kenny Waters: Are you out of your fucking mind? You let me off two years ago!
Nancy Taylor: We've got you now.

Betty Anne Waters: I don't deserve a friend like you.
Abra Rice: You damn right, you don't!

Nancy Taylor: I'm sorry you wasted your life on this. Your brother killed that woman.

Betty Anne Waters: You are innocent!
Kenny Waters: Are you sure about that?
Betty Anne Waters: [crying] How can you ask me that? How can you ask me that?

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press).
Official Site: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/conviction/
Trailer:

Film Review: MONSTERS (2010)

2012-01-01T19:56:00.001Z

Writer/Director: Gareth Edwards
Running time: 90 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12A

Genre: Drama/Sci-fi/Thriller
UK Release date: 3^rd December 2010

Watched on DVD Sunday 1^st January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Before I begin I want to get one thing straight… This film is NOT an action blockbuster that’s all guns and special effects, it’s a very low budget movie about people… and there might be the occasional extra terrestrial in there too. If you’ve got to here and you’re still reading then I guess you’re still interested. It’s basically the story of a journey through an area in Mexico known as the ‘Infected Zone’ as it is inhabited by creatures from outer space. I will give you my thoughts after this brief summary.

Set in the not too distant future where alien life has been discovered, in fact the filmmakers tell it better than I could:

Title Card: Six years ago... NASA discovered the possibility of alien life within our solar system. A space probe was launched to collect samples but broke up during re-entry over Mexico. Soon after new life forms began to appear and half of the country was quarantined as an INFECTED ZONE. Today... The Mexican & US military still struggle to contain 'the creatures'...

When photographer, Andrew Kaulder, is on assignment in Mexico he is called up by his editor and told to get the boss’s daughter, Samantha Wynden to safety. They catch a train to the coast and, after a bit of a fragmented journey they arrive to find the port about to close. Kaulder manages to have their passports stolen leaving them with only one option, to travel overland across the Infected Zone. This is a very dangerous journey and one that will change their lives. They are escorted by various locals who know the terrain and the creatures well, but even they can fall prey to them occasionally. When they finally reach the border, a massive wall, they don’t quite get the reception they were expecting. I will leave it there or the Spoiler Police (Monsters Division) will be leaving me in the jungle again.

Although it had a very small budget, the film is very well made with some great special effects. Because of the budget, the effects are used sparingly, but with excellent results. The film relies heavily on the two leading characters, and both Scoot McNairy as Andrew Kaulder and Whitney Able as Samantha Wynden did an excellent job.

Although it has quite a slow, deliberate, pace I quite enjoyed this film. The storyline is more about the two main characters and the effect this journey has on them than anything else, but even so, I did find it interesting. There are enough glimpses and hints of the monsters to hold the attention. The effects did remind me slightly of the 2007 film, The Mist, which also featured glimpses of creatures hidden in a mysterious mist. At 90 minutes I found it to be just the right length; any longer and I might have got bored. Over all though I did enjoy this film, there was enough to hold the attention, great effects on a tight budget and the right length… Recommended (for those that don’t expect an action blockbuster).

My Score: 7.1/10.

IMDb Score: 6.4/10 (based on 31,290 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1470827/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 71/100 (based on 141 reviews counted at the time of going to press).
Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 49/100 (based on 34,072 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/monsters-2010/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Samantha Wynden: Doesn't that kind of bother you, that you need something bad to happen to profit from it?
Andrew Kaulder: You mean, like a doctor?

Andrew Kaulder: I'm going to be a meteorologist, because it's the only job where I can be wrong every day, and not get fired.

[last lines]
Samantha Wynden: I don't want to go home.

LINKS:
Official Site (UK): http://www.monstersthemovie.com/
Official Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/monstersthefilm
Trailer:

Film Review: SANCTUM (2011)

2012-01-01T14:52:00.001Z

Co-Writer/Director: Alister Grierson
Writers: Andrew Wight (Story/Screenplay) & John Garvin (Screenplay)
Running time: 108 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Action/Adventure/Drama
UK Release date: 4^th February 2011

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 1^st January 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Having been produced by James Cameron and being the first release with his name attached after Avatar (2009), this film gained a lot of notoriety on release. Not least, I suspect, because it hit the screens in 3D. It wasn’t all that well received as I recall, but I thought I’d give it a viewing anyway… in the proper number of dimensions (2D) by the way. I’m sorry to say the critics were right; like many films of its type, it relies far too much on sensationalism and big effects to have any emotional impact on the audience. I will give you more of my thoughts after this brief summary.

A group of cavers led by veteran Frank are exploring an extensive cave system when they are trapped by a storm. Frank’s son, Josh, the expedition’s financer, Carl, his girlfriend, Victoria and a character known as Crazy George find their only way out is to follow the river to the sea. This unexplored route will involve a lot of cave diving, one of the most dangerous sports in the world, but they have no option. The caves are filling up with water from the storm fast and they must find a way out quickly. Can they make it to safety, or will they succumb to the caves? Well, I can’t tell you here or the Spoiler Police will be cutting the rope that’s holding be above the abyss below.

Very well made with some excellent action sequences; I particularly liked the underwater photography. The music, by David Hirschfelder, was also pretty good. As far as performances go, well, everybody did a competent enough job despite a pretty dire script (IMO). So honourable mentions must go to; Richard Roxburgh as Frank, Ioan Gruffudd as Carl, Rhys Wakefield as Josh, Alice Parkinson as Victoria and Dan Wyllie as Crazy George.

Whilst watching this film I was put very much in mind of the 2000 release, Vertical Limit, another one that just failed to hit the mark (IMO). I think the problem is that none of the characters had any emotional depth and as such I found it quite hard to care much about them at all. Consequently, when they are in peril, which happens quite a lot as you can imagine, it loses a lot of the impact it might have had otherwise. Don’t get me wrong, the mechanics are all there and it’s all expertly filmed, but I still didn’t have the emotional connection I thought I should have. And so in conclusion, it’s technically excellent but lacking the depth a story like this should have… Sadly; not recommended.

My score: 6.0/10

IMDb Score: 5.7/10 (based on 20,361 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0881320/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 30/100 (based on 157 reviews counted at the time of going to press).
Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 39/100 (based on 34,513 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sanctum/

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FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Dex: [about Victoria's skills in mocking Russian accent] She's strong like bull, smart like tractor.

Dex: Josh is his own man. He doesn't take after his dad much.
Josh: What, you mean I'm not an emotional shutdown Nazi asshole?

Carl: [Talking about Frank] His ass is so tight that only dogs can hear him when he farts.

Victoria: [rejecting ill-fitting diving suit] I'd rather be cold and alive than warm and dead.

LINKS:
Official Site: http://www.sanctummovie.com/
Trailer: