Film Review: NOW IS GOOD (2012)

Director: Ol Parker
Writers: Jenny Downham (novel ‘Before I Die’), Ol Parker (screenplay)
Running time: 100 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12

Genre: Drama/Romance
UK Release date: 10^th September 2012

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 7^th July 2013.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE UNINTENTIONAL SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Now I know this isn’t my usual fayre but I thought I’d take myself a little out of my comfort zone for a change. I opted for this one partly because I was intrigued by it and partly because it has such a good cast. What could go wrong I hear you say (okay, maybe not), but I have been stung before and so it was with fingers crossed that I hit ‘Play’. Well I survived and I’m happy to report it’s definitely not a dud and I’ll tell you why after this very brief summary.

The film tells the story of the last few months of the life of Tessa Scott (Dakota Fanning). You see, she has terminal cancer and has decided to come off chemotherapy so she has a chance to tick a few things off her ‘list’. She is aided by her best friend, Zoey (Kaya Scodelario), but things don’t quite go according to plan. Tessa lives with her father (Paddy Considine) and her little brother, Cal (Edgar Canham). Her mother (Olivia Williams) has separated and lives elsewhere. Her father is always hopeful of finding a cure whereas her mother cannot cope and is almost in denial. Tessa meets and eventually falls for the neighbour’s son, Adam (Jeremy Irvine), but as you can guess, it’s a doomed romance. I really don’t want to say any more, it’s one of those you are best watching for yourself.

At the start of the film I was relieved to see that one of the production companies involved was BBC Films. To me that’s always a mark of quality and I have to say I wasn’t disappointed. At the centre of it is a quite brilliant performance from Dakota Fanning; she just gets better each time I see her on screen. She even got her English accent spot on! Also worthy of note were Paddy Considine and Jeremy Irvine, they both had challenging roles that they pulled of quite excellently. Yes, it’s all emotional but that only works if you care about the characters and that’s just why I found this one worked so well. All the characters were well rounded and you knew exactly how they fitted. A very well written script brings it all together. Add to that some great performances and you’re definitely on the right track. It may not be to everyone’s taste, but I for one have to say I really enjoyed this one despite the inevitable sad ending.

SteelMonster’s verdict: RECOMMENDED

My score: 7.6/10.

IMDb Score: 6.8/10 (based on 7,801 votes when this review was written).
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1937264/

MetaScore: No Data: (Based on 0 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 56/100 (based on 25 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 64/100 (based on 1,774 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/now_is_good_2012/

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

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://wwws.warnerbros.co.uk/nowisgood/index.html
Trailer:

Film Review: HANNA (2011)

Director: Joe Wright
Writers: Seth Lochhead (Story/Screenplay), David Farr (Screenplay)
Running time: 111 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12

Genre: Action/Adventure/Thriller
UK Release date: 6^th May 2011

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 4^th March 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is one of those films that I have waited a long time to see. I remember when it came out I was slightly more than intrigued by its premise. Of course it didn’t make it to my local cinema and so I waited patiently for it to turn up on TV; a slightly muted response from the critics precluded a DVD purchase. Well, as you can probably guess, my long wait ended today and a viewing was arranged for this morning. I will give you my thoughts after this very brief summary.

Hanna has been brought up by her father, Erik, in northern Finland ever since she was very young. Home schooled with the help of an Encyclopaedia and trained in all forms of combat, he has been preparing her for what will inevitably come; but he will let her decide when the time is right. Eventually the time comes and he must leave her to fend for herself as agents move in. She is taken to a secret base where a certain CIA agent, Marissa, is very interested in her case. Hanna is not one for lying down though and she makes her escape. It’s now a chase and Hanna has to get to her father, who is now making his way to a pre-arranged rendezvous. She also has find out just what is so special about herself. I will leave it there or the Spoiler Police (Thrillers Division) will be tapping my phone (again).

Really well made with some excellent fight scenes and action sequences; hats off to the stunt guys (& gals). I thought all the performances were very good, although I do have to single out Cate Blanchett as Marissa; she played the cold-hearted baddy very well indeed. Also worthy of note were; Saoirse Ronan who did an excellent job as Hanna; Eric Bana who was very good as Erik; Jessica Barden who did a good job as Sophie; Aldo Maland as her little brother Miles; Olivia Williams as Rachel, Jason Flemyng as Sebastian and Tom Hollander as Isaacs.

Although I quite enjoyed this film I felt it suffered, as many do these days, from the target audience it was aimed at and hence it’s certification. To tell this story with any conviction, I believe, a much tougher edge needed to be given to it. However, it did what it said on the tin and I cannot knock it for that. One thing I did like, amongst others, was the fact that the narrative did not fall into the trap of being so predictable that it became a chore to watch. Over all, quite enjoyable without being great… Even so… Recommended.

My score: 6.8/10.

IMDb Score: 6.9/10 (based on 68,330 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0993842/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 71/100 (based on 203 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 66/100 (based on 60,901 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hanna/

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

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
[first lines]
Hanna: I just missed your heart.

Hanna: Adapt or die.
Erik: Think on your feet.
Hanna: Even when I'm sleeping.

Hanna: Can we still be friends?
Sophie: I don't know. I mean, I don't really know who you are, do I?
Hanna: That's just it. Neither do I.

Marissa: Why now, Erik?
Erik: Kids grow up.

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

Film Review: SEX & DRUGS & ROCK & ROLL (2010)

Directors: Mat Whitecross
Running time: 101 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

UK release date: 8th January 2010

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 16th January 2011.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Back in 1977 while punk was just getting going, a band called Ian Dury and the Blockheads released an album called ‘New Boots and Panties’. A few years later, feeling a bit nostalgic, I bought said album really cheap. I still have it today; in fact I’m listening to it as I type this review. Now, onto the film, it’s a biopic all about Ian Dury, his fight against disability and his rise to fame. Here’s a brief summary before I tell you my thoughts (summary haters please mingle with the audience while I write the next paragraph).

Ian Dury was an entertainer, or that’s what he always said he was interviewed. He had been struck down with polio when he was young and this left him withered down his left side. When we first see him, he is with another band who are rehearsing downstairs while his wife, Betty, gives birth upstairs. Later, after their last gig, he meets Denise Roudette, with whom he has an affair. They move in together and a while later, his son, Baxter, comes to stay with them. As Ian puts a new band together, including musician and songwriter Chaz Jankel, Baxter struggles to come to terms with the chaotic lifestyle he has been thrown into. The film plots his rise to fame and the effect it has on Ian and those around him. It also tells of his early life in flashback, his relationship with his father, Bill, and his unhappy childhood in an institution. I won’t say any more as I don’t want to give too much away.

Made in a very theatrical style, this film cuts from live action to animation, to live musical performances and back again. It all sounds a bit chaotic, but, for me at least, it works. At the centre is a really great performance from Andy Serkis as Ian Dury, although he doesn’t particularly look like him, he has all his mannerisms down to a tee. I also thought Bill Milner played the part of Baxter Dury very well, it can’t have been an easy part for a young actor and I thought he coped with it pretty well. Similarly, Wesley Nelson played the part of Young Ian Dury very well. I should also give honourable mentions to Olivia Williams as Ian’s wife, Naomie Harris as Denise Roudette, Tom Hughes as Chaz Jankel, and nice cameos from both Ray Winstone as Bill Dury (Ian’s dad) and Noel Clarke as Desmond.

Although Ian Dury wasn’t the easiest person to get along with (for those that don't know, he passed away in 2000) and consequently not the nicest man in the world, I found this quite an enjoyable film to watch. I can’t say I’m a huge fan of Ian Dury and the Blockheads, but I do recognise that Ian was a very talented chap and I always respected him as an artiste. Later in his career he appeared in quite a few films, not a bad actor. Over all, it’s quite an interesting film, very touching at times but also quite bold in its approach. I know it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but still… recommended.

My score: 7.1/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1393020/
Official Site: http://www.sex-drugs-rock-roll-thefilm.com/news/16/
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/imdb/vi1506083865/