Film Review: SUCKER PUNCH (2011)

Director: Zack Snyder
Writers: Zack Snyder (story/screenplay), Steve Shibuya (screenplay)
Running Time: 110 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12

Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy
UK Release Date: 1^st April 2011

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 15^th April 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Although I may not be the target audience for this film, I decided to give it a viewing because of the very mixed press it got at the time of release. I must say I did find it interesting, but ultimately it left me with far more questions than answers. I’m usually pretty good at following the most complicated of plots, but this one was all over the place and, what makes matters worse, never really resolved itself by the end. But more of my thoughts after this very brief summary… That’s if I can think of a way of putting it that makes any sense.

Having lost her mother and having been framed for the murder of her kid sister, Babydoll is put into a mental asylum by her evil stepfather. Here she finds her only escape is into a fantasy that she invents. In this fantasy all the inmates (all girls by the way) work in an upmarket bordello (whore house to those that aren’t familiar with the term). The girls are to put on shows for clients in a little theatre and they are supervised in this by Vera. The other girls are; Sweet Pea, Rocket, Blondie and Amber, and they all have their own reasons for wanting to leave (apart from the obvious – of course). In one of her flights of fancy, Babydoll is told by Wise Man that the High Roller is coming for her in five days and she must find five items in order to escape. These are; a map, fire, a knife, a key and a fifth object that he cannot (or will not) tell her. And so the girls begin their quest to retrieve these objects and each time one is being retrieved, Babydoll dances and another fantasy is played out. Will they get all the objects in time for Babydoll to make her escape? Well, I guess that would be a bit of a spoiler and so I’ll leave it there before the Spoiler Police catch on to my rouse.

There is some really spectacular CGI in this film and the fighting sequences are all very well done. It’s a shame the narrative couldn’t live up to the visuals though. As far as performances go, well everyone did a pretty good job without anyone really standing out. So honourable mentions must go to; Emily Browning as Babydoll, Abbie Cornish as Sweet Pea, Jena Malone as Rocket, Vanessa Hudgens as Blondie, Jamie Chung as Amber, Carla Gugino as Dr. Vera Gorski, Oscar Isaac as Blue Jones, Jon Hamm as High Roller/Doctor and Scott Glenn as Wise Man.

I finished watching this film with the feeling that I had just watched a bunch of music video’s patched together with a very flimsy storyline. Admittedly, they were very spectacular music videos with some spectacular effects, but I didn’t feel it made for a film. There was no way I could form any connection to any of the characters because there was no time. The action comes thick and fast and, although there’s a lot of talking in between, little of it serves to explain what’s happening or even why. Over all, great to look at, but with little substance… I guess those that get their kicks from watching scantily clad young women with big guns will like it, but it really didn’t do a great deal for me I’m afraid.

My Score: 5.7/10

IMDb Score: 6.1/10 (based on 99,643 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0978764/

MetaScore: 33/100: (Based on 29 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 23/100 (based on 196 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 47/100 (based on 83,935 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sucker-punch-2010/

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

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Sweet Pea: There are armed guards everywhere! And if Blue finds out, we're dead!
Rocket: We're already dead.

Wiseman: Don't ever write a check with your mouth you can't cash with your ass. Oh, and one more thing... don't wake the mother.

Dr. Vera Gorski: I want you to dance.
[Bjork's "Army of Me" playing over speakers]
Dr. Vera Gorski: ...
[Music stops]
Dr. Vera Gorski: If you do not dance you have no purpose. And we don't keep things here that have no purpose. You see, your fight for survival starts right now. You don't want to be judged? You won't be. You don't think you're strong enough? You are. You're afraid. Don't be. You have all the weapons you need. Now fight.

Sweet Pea: And finally. This question. The mystery of whose story it will be, of who draws the curtain. Who is it that chooses our steps in a dance? Who drives us mad, flashes us with whips, crowns us with victory when we survive the impossible? Who is it that tells all these things?

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

Film Review: THE TOWN (2010)

Director: Ben Affleck
Writers (Screenplay): Peter Craig, Ben Affleck & Aaron Stockard
Writer (Novel ‘Prince of Thieves’): Chuck Hogan
Running time: 120 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Crime/Drama/Thriller
UK Release date: 24^th September 2010

Watched on DVD Sunday 18^th March 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is one of those movies that have been kicking around in my collection for some time now. It was looking a bit neglected and so I thought I’d give it a viewing today. I had heard some good things about it when it was released and so I was hopeful of a good experience. I wasn’t disappointed, the film delivered on several fronts and I think Mr. Affleck is developing into a pretty good director. I will tell you more after this brief summary.

After a daring bank robbery in which the manager, Claire Keesey, is terrorised; the gang, lead by Doug MacRay discover she lives near another gang member, James Coughlin. They had all been wearing disguises and left no DNA at the scene, but they couldn’t be sure she wouldn’t recognise them. MacRay decides to see if he can discover just what (if anything) she knows. In doing this he becomes involved with her and they begin a relationship. Meanwhile the FBI are on the trail of the robbers and also they are commissioned for another job by a character known as ‘The Florist’, Fergus ‘Fergie’ Colm. As things progress with Claire, MacRay feels the urge to get out of Charlestown and make a fresh start with her. The FBI, however, and ‘The Florist’ may have other ideas about that. I will leave it there or the Spoiler Police (Heist Movies Division) will be locking me up on trumped-up charges (again).

Made in a very realistic style which, as with his directorial debut, ‘Gone Baby Gone’ (2007), matches the mood of the piece really well. All the performances were excellent, but I particularly liked Rebecca Hall as Claire Keesey, Jeremy Renner as James Coughlin and Blake Lively as his sister, Krista Coughlin; all three put in sterling performances. Of course, Ben Affleck proved once again what a fine actor he is as Doug MacRay. Also worthy of note were; Jon Hamm as FBI S.A. Adam Frawley, Slaine as Albert ‘Gloansy’ Magloan, Owen Burke as Desmond Elden, Titus Welliver as Dino Ciampa and finally a mention for Pete Postlethwaite as ‘The Florist’, Fergus ‘Fergie’ Colm in one of his last roles.

A complicated plot that’s quite heavy on dialogue in places, but there are some very nicely put together action scenes in there too. There are several threads to the story that all tie up in the end, although the poignant ending does leave the audience guessing to some extent. I must say I did enjoy this film with its multi-layered plot and, at times, edgy style. It’s certainly one I would give another viewing to at some point in the future… Recommended.

My score: 8.3/10.

IMDb Score: 7.6/10 (based on 118,712 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0840361/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 94/100 (based on 210 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 83/100 (based on 110,251 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_town/

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

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
WARNING: SOME STRONG LANGUAGE
Doug MacRay: [narrating] Driver's name is Arthur Shea. Former Metro Police officer, fifty-seven years old. Soon as his partner leaves with the coal bag, Artie cracks a Herald, and he don't look up 'til the guy gets back. Marty Maguire. Cummins Armored courier. Five-ten, two-twenty, fifty-two years old. Picks up every Wednesday and Friday at exactly 8:12, makes a hundred and ten dollars a day, carries a Sig nine. And he's about to get robbed.
[cuts to Doug and Jem briefing their comrades, Gloansy and Dez, in a dark room]
Doug MacRay: We're fucked if we see a helicopter; we're fucked if we see SWAT. We see a cruiser, stop, take out the engine blocks, keep movin'. No one needs to get hurt.
James Coughlin: Yeah, these guards like to test you, though. They wanna get hurt for ten dollars an hour, don't get in the way.

Claire Keesey: So what do you do for work?
Doug MacRay: Boston Sanding Gravel, I break rocks. Punch the ticket at the end of the day, slide down the back of a brontosaurus like Fred Flintstone, call it a night.

FBI S.A. Adam Frawley: Now, we're a long way away from a grand jury here... and we'll never get 24 hour surveillance unless one of these idiots converts to Islam. So, we build the case. Alright, let's get to work.

[last lines]
Doug MacRay: No matter how much you change, you still have to pay the price for the things you've done. So I got a long road. But I know I'll see you again - this side or the other.

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