Prisoners!!!!

Prisoners.

A film that took me by surprise this year is Prisoners mainly for the fact it was certainly under the radar and not particularly hyped up by any film or online websites. It certainly is a film that has everything you want from the style of abduction and search film that this is and it has everything and more to keep you hooked. 

Set in the state of Pennsylvania the film sets the scene in a quiet suburbia where two family's are enjoying each others company with two little girls running around outside with their siblings. As the two girls decide to go back home to look for a whistle they set off on their own and soon enough you don't see them again. 

As the film moves along you see the two fathers Keller (Hugh Jackman) and Franklin (Terrence Howard) frantically search for their daughters. A young mentally challenged drifter Alex (Paul Dano) is arrested in his mobile home which was spotted on the street the girls were playing on, searched and forensically checked his mobile home comes out clean and he is released with no charge. Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) is soon put on the case, a detective that has solved every single case that he's been given. Soon enough Keller see's that Loki isn't doing enough and decides to take actions into his own hands. 

With a storyline that twists and turns it keeps you hooked all the way through the film which I was surprised at. Covering all the characters back story's we see the very American Keller who is a hard working joiner and hunter who stockpiles food for emergency's he's a true hearted American. Franklin is a more reserved straight down the line family man who rarely strays from the path of good. Alex is a loner, mentally challenged young man who is just in the wrong place at the wrong time, he is a victim of circumstance. 

Jackman is intense and at times really scary as he comes across as a desperate man who will do anything to get his little girl back. He is a strange character as you side with him at first then you turn on him and then you side with him again it's very back and forth with him. Dano plays the vulnerable Alex well even though he doesn't have many lines he physically shows the lost character.

For a film that I wasn't too sure of to start with I have to say I was hooked and drawn in, I sided with characters throughout the film, I wished things to happen to characters and I still didn't figure out the ending. It takes a good strong twisting and turning story for me to not work out the ending of the film but it got me I couldn't work it out. A really impressive film that is really dark at times and shows the lengths people will go to to find their kidnapped loved ones. 

9/10.

Rush!!!!

Rush.

It has to be said when you see the name Ron Howard attached to a film as it's director you know that your going to be onto a great film. A Beautiful Mind, Frost/Nixon, Apollo 13 and The Da vinci Code are just the main film successes that Howard has had over his career in movies. He always manages to bring a true life story to the screen in a respectful yet thrilling and informative way and get you truly hooked at the same time. 

Rush sees the true life story of rivalry between Britain's James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Austria's Nicki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl) during the 1976 Forumula One season. Starting off with the backstory of both drivers we see Hunt rise up through the ranks of formula three, two and then gain sponsorship into formula one. Lauda on the other hand starts in formula three and then eventually uses his money to buy himself into the BRM formula one team driving alongside Clay Regazzoni (Pierfrancesco Favino). 

Showing the backwards and forwards rivalry between the two drivers is shown on screen, Hunt being the wild party going guy who had everything to prove. Then Lauda who kept everything serious, was very guarded and worked hard and had nothing to prove to no-one. Then on one fateful day everything was to change, for Lauda especially. At the famous German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring Lauda was to try and reason with the other drivers about the bad weather conditions but Hunt convinced the drivers to drive stating Lauda was doing it to win points and the championship.

What was to happen next was to shock everyone, with the changing of tires on the second lap Lauda's suspension arm was to break causing the car to crash into the barrier and burst into flames before being hit by other cars. Lauda was airlifted to hospital and was to be treated for third degree burns to his face and toxic fumes in his lungs. As Lauda lay in bed in agony and has his lungs pumped of the toxic chemicals he watches a TV and sees James Hunt win race after race and is determined to get back into the car and finish the season. 

The film is seriously impressive as you see the rivalry between the two rise and rise it keeps you hooked as to what happens next. Obviously what happened to Lauda was awful and truly shocking but to get back up and have that courage and strength shows that the human body and spirit can endure and be strong again. Touching upon not only professional but personal relationships of the drivers is a nice little touch as well and gives the film that human soft love element you wouldn't see on the track from the men. 

From the cinematography of Anthony Dod Mantle of wheels spinning in slow motion to Hans Zimmer's amazing soundtrack to keep that tension high everyone involved has produced a great film. A film that is intense and thrilling yet is so respectful of the subject matter at hand. Hemsworth and Bruhl play Hunt and Lauda perfectly and you can really feel the intensity on screen.

The last scene for me showing up to date footage of Lauda looking onto a racetrack speaking about how Hunt was one of a few men he truly respected and felt sad when he heard of Hunt's death at the young age of 45. To me this shows Howard had that respect and heart to finish the film perfectly and maybe for people inside and outside the Formula One world hear what Lauda truly thought of Hunt.

Yet another massive hit for Ron Howard and a film to stand the test of time that no doubt people will talk about for years after and in my eyes a film set to take all the awards come Oscar and BAFTA weekends.

10/10.

White House Down!!!!

White House Down.

Before you start thinking "wait I've already seen a white house siege film this year" and you would be right. Gerard Butler's film 'Olympus Has Fallen' was released this year and had a slightly same running theme as this film but they are different in certain ways. 

I could go through the whole storyline of the film but from what the trailers have shown you have already seen what the main storyline theme of the film is. As John Cale (Channing Tatum) is a U.S Capitol Police Officer he works constantly and never gets the chance to have some quality time with his teenage daughter Emily (Joey King). As John gets two tickets for a tour of the white house for his politics mad daughter he combines the visit for a Secret Service job interview with an old college acquittance Carol Finnerty (Maggie Gyllenhaal).

With father and daughter seperated and the White House under attack from the inside the safety of the President James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx). As John is caught up in all the drama he decides to take matters into his own hands, vows to save his daughter, save the president and stop the terrorists who have taken over the White House. 

The storyline doesn't particularly deviate too much from this plot line, the odd few generic twist and turns that you could easily work out take place. Seeing a scene at the start showing head of the Presidential detail Martin Walker (James Woods) taking off his US flag pin badge from his lapel on his jacket clearly gives away straight away who is going to be behind the attack. Some scenes do escalate and at times you think "really oh so it's getting that ridiculous".

Tatum as the hulking hero fits into the film perfectly as he jumps, fights and shoots his way through the White House and looking unscathed at times. Foxx plays a more stupid, naive yet verbally articulate and at times geeky president which can come off as a homage to Barack Obama. 

A film with plenty of action yet the storyline is to be desired at times, if your after non stop action with clichéd plot twists that you could easily work out and don't need to think much about it then you'll enjoy this. An entertaining yet predictable film that brings the action, explosions and interesting storyline. 

5/10.

In A World!!!!

In A World...

When it comes to actors in the business today they sometimes don't take up the role of just an actor they also decide to dip their hands into other roles. Actor Lake Bell not only stars in the film but she also produces, directs and has written the script for In A World... as well.

When legendary voice over legend Don LaFontaine passed away in 2008 the voice-over world was hit hard and ever since we have fewer adverts for movies with voice over's and instead celebrity's voices are used alot more. With this in mind Lake Bell has made a witty, very funny comedy film about this very subject and positioned it from the female prospective. 

Carol Solomon (Lake Bell) is the daughter of a voice-over legend Sam Soto (Fred Melamed) who is about to receive his lifetime achievement award for hos voice-over work. Carol is a struggling vocal coach and is soon enough being kicked out of her dads house and decides to go and live with her sister Dani (Michaela Watkins) and her husband Moe (Rob Corddry). 

As Carol starts to get more voiceover work her father Sam's protege Gustav Warner (Ken Marino) contracts laryngitis and Carol is asked to do a temporary voice-over for the new film franchise The Amazon Games. With the executive producer of the film impressed by Carol's version of the infamous "In a world..." line she is offered the job straight away.

As Carol soon enough gets sucked into the world of voice-overs and ends up at the right party's with all the other top voice-over actors she's living the high life. Her father takes no notice of her achievements and soon enough vows to find out who the woman is who took Gustav's work. 

The film has a very indie style film not boasting any big name actors but bringing out the best in lesser known actors and I have to say Fred Melamed has a perfect voice for voice-over work. And of course a highlight seeing Eva Longoria as herself giving her best cockney accent trying to say "is that wot you fink you stupid slappah" it is a hilarious moment. 

A very funny comedy that finally puts a female character at the forefront of a film and what is shown on screen as a very male dominant industry that voice-over work is. Lake Bell is able to bring out the comedy on a subject that has not ever been touched and also make it feel respectful towards the legendary legacy of Don LaFontaine. Being able to bring out some emotional moments as well especially seeing a heartbreaking true to life scene involving Dani and Moe shows Bell can write a great script. 

8/10.

Ain't Them Bodies Saints!!!!

Ain't Them Bodies Saints.

When you watch a film and all of you senses are heightened be it visually, from the sounds and the whole image and feel of the storyline you know your onto something special. This latest film from writer director David Lowery really is something to admire, sit back in awe and get fully transported back to the mid south of America. 

A story of love as Ruth Guthrie (Rooney Mara) and Bob Muldoon (Casey Affleck) rob a local shop their soon on the run from the police and end up in a Bonnie and Clyde style gun fight cornered in an abandon house. As Ruth shoots and injures local cop Patrick Wheeler (Ben Foster) Bob decides to give himself up and take the blame for shooting the cop, thrown into prison he's forced away from his love and un-born child. 

With Ruth spared jail, sent back home and setup in her own house by Skerritt (Keith Carradine) she lives a simple lifestyle with her new born daughter. As news arrives to her that Bob has escaped from jail she is soon questioned by Patrick about his whereabouts and whether she has hears from him at all. Soon enough gangsters and the police are looking for Bob and he is forced to go on the run, fend for himself and also try to contact Ruth and see his daughter for the first time as well.

Bob is determined to win back Ruth and stick to his promise that he would find her and they could live happily ever after. Obviously he has alot going against him with Skerritt telling him to leave Ruth alone and leave town and not come back he has more enemies then friends. Ruth of course strikes up a friendship with Patrick and has some soul searching to do, does she start a new life with Patrick or does she stick with her promise to Bob. 

The film visually is stunning, some Malickesque images are their to be seen but don't linger on screen for too long and cut away quite quickly. I have to mention Bradford Young's cinematography as it is spectacular, using old style cameras it has that grainy dark feel to it which gives that gloom type of feel that is needed for this at times dark style film. Sound is used to not just bring in music but also sound effects with the sound of crickets and bugs heightened it transports you into the heart of the mid south. 

All actors have their time on screen and are allowed to shine and let their characters grow and flourish on screen. Mara plays Ruth with a melancholic and confused demeanour and at times you do feel for her, Affleck plays a quiet yet confident character who deep down knows he's a weak and beaten man. Foster is a nice addition as Patrick as he brings in a more confident and solid male figure into Ruth's life which she really needs. 

A really impressive film that takes you back to the 70's style western era with some strong visual images that really pop out on the screen. With the combination of background sound, a great soundtrack and some impressive performances it is a impressive film and no doubt a stepping stone for greater things for writer/director David Lowery.

9/10.

We're The Millers!!!!

We're The Millers.

Yet another funny laugh out loud comedy comes to our screens and I have to say for once I fully enjoyed myself. Given the stupidly at times ridiculous earlier years release of This Is The End I found this film alot more grounded and an all round funny film.

As we see a drug dealer David (Jason Sudeikis) selling his usual marijuana to his clients he soon enough is robbed of his stash and has to go speak to his boss Brad (Ed Helms). The only way to wipe out his debts is to go into Mexico and pick up some drugs for Brad and bring them back into the US, simple right, no. 

Thinking about how to get the drugs back into the country he comes up with a genius idea, pretend to be part of a travelling family as they always get past the police and are un-noticed. Recruiting the geeky kid Kenny (Will Poulter) from his building as his son, a runaway homeless girl Casey (Emma Roberts) as his daughter and a stripper Rose (Jennifer Anniston) from his local strip club he is soon on his way to Mexico.

As the pretend family pick up the drugs they soon enough encounter a whole array of situations, from breaking down and meeting a swinging couple to Kenny being bitten by a tarantula the fake family goes through everything a normal family would. As a mixup of identity's the family is soon on the run and it's a race against time to get the RV and drugs back to Brad in time for David to get his cut of the money. 

The laughs are funny and the gags are something you wouldn't have seen before. How the four of them get along is just like what a normal holidaying family would go through as they protect Casey from pressuring boys David and Rose step in to the role as her real parents. As Kenny learns how to kiss for the first time Casey and Rose are on hand to give him advice and some practice as well which obviously ends in an awkward situation. 

I can't give too much away but if your after a bit of a laugh and a film to just not think about and go with the flow then check it out. The storyline is basic and it does have a nice ending to it about how they change as people and are brought together for an extra period of time. Anniston is on form as Rose and really excels as the stripper, with some impressive dance moves which have been sexed up to pull viewers in she is impressive. Sudeikis plays the obnoxious, lazy, self centered father figure well who only looks out for himself. Poulter and Roberts are great kids and really bring some laughs on screen especially Kenny singing along to the radio. 

This film is what it is, it's a funny comedy film with a basic storyline but that's what it was made for to be a funny comedy film. You don't have to think about it just watch it and enjoy the laughs along the way.

7/10.

What Maisie Knew!!!!

What Maisie Knew.

A film that really impressed me and also hit me emotionally is 'What Maisie Knew', set in New York we first see Maisie's (Onata Aprile) parents arguing over who has custody over their daughter. As Susanna (Jullieanne Moore) and Beale (Steve Coogan) argue over their daughter Maisie just gets on with things, answering the door to the pizza man and paying him you can tell she's become an independent girl. 

As Susanna hangs out with her rock band friends and records new music in the studio Maisie is left again to her own devices and soon enough a nanny arrives, Margo (Joanna Vanderham) is blonde and beautiful and the perfect companion for Maisie. Being picked up and carted backwards and forwards to her mum and dad's houses Maisie just takes it all in and acts like a child. As the two parents still fight over their daughter they soon enough get married to help stabilise their appeal for full custody of Maisie. 

With Susanna now married to Lincoln (Alexander Skarsgard) and Beale married to nanny Margo the two couples have everything they could want. With Susanna going away on tour and Beale flying back and forth between New York and London both parents never truly connect with their daughter who they fought so much for. Soon enough Maisie and Lincoln strike up a relationship and the pair start to enjoy themselves despite the drama happening between his new wife and Maisie's father. 

As she soon enough is let down by both her parents and both their marriages have broken down Maisie is left stranded and it is the parents ex partners who have to pick her back up. As Margo takes her off to a remote destination she finally has the stability that she has always needed, Lincoln soon arrives and starts up a relationship with Margo. As the three come together to form a little family it shows at how happy Maisie can be when she has that loving, caring, stable life. 

The film has a great narrative that runs through it, from the chopping and changing of her parents love lives it's surprising that true happiness comes from two non paternal adults. Little scenes that show how much both parents don't know their daughter are also shown, Beale getting Margo to decorate Maisie's room shows he doesn't know his own daughter. Susanna walking in on Margo helping Maisie pick out what clothes to wear and just saying "put that on come on we have to go" shows she spends no time with her daughter or even care. 

Harsh scene's where Susanna says to her own daughter "I married Lincoln for you" shows she will do anything to gain custody of her daughter which includes marrying someone Maisie has never met or knows. At times it is heart breaking to see Maisie go through so much in her life because of her parents, it makes you think that some children will go through this in their life which is quite sad.

For a film I thought I would not like I really was sucked into the film and felt every little thing that Maisie went through, Onata Aprile has to be the cutest little girl I've seen on screen in recent years, I really hope she carries on with acting and becomes the next Drew Barrymore as she plays Maisie flawlessly and really brings joy, sadness and laughter to the screen with ease. A great emotional film for a topic that has become so common nowadays.

9/10.

You're Next!!!!

You're Next.

When it comes to horror films I tend to stay away mainly because the "horror" films put out in cinemas tend to be more of the jumpy kind and tend to be less blood filled. I haven't seen any blood filled horror films this year at the cinema until now, You're Next has plenty of blood and gore.

As the story starts we see a young couple enjoying their down time together, as the guy showers and walks back into the main room he see's a massive "You're Next" scrawled on the wall and see's his partner dead on the floor in a pool of blood.

Soon enough we see the Davison family one by one arrive at their holiday home out in the remote Missouri woods. As the family sit down to their first meal things go from bad to worse as metal crossbow arrows come flying through the windows and one hits a member of the family. As the family realise they are under attack they all become hysterical and try and work out what to do next as an unlikely person steps up. Erin (Sharni Vinson) steps up to take charge and soon enough directs the family as to what to do to survive.

As the three masked gang, Tiger, Fox and Lamb masks take on Erin they all are surprised by what they're up against as Erin fights back. As traps are set and Erin picks up whatever she can and uses it as a weapon as the death toll soon rises and Erin is fighting for only her own survival. As the true nature of the invaders is revealed it will side swipe you and is not anything you would think would happen which is always good.

I can't give too much away as the film has a basic storyline to it but it's the action and really black humour that sets it apart from other horror films. With a twist of the girly girl being the person who can fight back it fits and works well, giving her a good back story as to why she's a trained survivor it's not absurd. 

The way in which the deaths take place are enough especially for myself to sit there and laugh and enjoy them as they are full of blood and at times ridiculous. As you get brought into the film you soon enough take sides and get involved shouting and wanting to see people get killed. At times it can be predictable as well with working out and guessing exactly what will happen next but it's all part of the black comedy.

THE horror film of the year in my opinion, taking horror films back to how they should and used to be, full of blood, plenty of deaths, at times funny and has a nice little storyline to it. 

8/10.

Pain & Gain!!!!

Pain & Gain.

Straight from the mind of the Transformers and Bad Boys film franchise Michael Bay comes his low budget film Pain & Gain. Set in the US it sees a young Daniel Lugo (Mark Wahlberg) working as a gym trainer in a local gym, "my name is Daniel Lugo and I believe in fitness....." is his motto  as he thinks fat people are "unpatriotic". 

As Daniel wants to have alot more in his life he goes to a self help seminar presented by Johnny Wu (Ken Jeong) and soon enough adopts the new motto of "Don't be a dont'er, do be a do'er". Soon enough after training with one of his rich clients Victor Kershaw (Tony Shalhoub) he decides to put his new life plan into action. As Victor says to him "you know who invented salad, poor people" he finally gets that kick to become a doer. Roping in his fellow gym buddy Adrian Doorbal (Anthony Mackie) and new gym employee Paul Doyle (Dwayne Johnson) they hatch a plan to kidnap Victor and steal everything from his life then dispose of Victor and live the rest of their lives rich and wealthy men. 

As the men steal everything from Victor they soon start to live the high life they'd been dreaming of, Lugo gains the house and lives a life of luxury. Doyle turns back to his old drug taking ways and soon party's and snorts his life away with his stripper girlfriend in tow. Doorbal meets Robin Peck (Rebel Wilson) his nurse treating him for impotency and they soon marry and move into a house together. Of course the money doesn't last too long for the boys and they soon enough hatch another plan to rob and steal from a sex phone business owner Frank Griga (Micheal Rispoli). 

What happens next for the trio is not what they expected, failing to kill Victor Kershaw, a slip up in handling Frank Griga, an old investigator Ed DuBois (Ed Harris) hot on their tail as well, something bad will happen soon enough.

The film in itself is something you feel as you watch is something that could not have really happened but it did. At the start of the film and certainly near the end when Doyle BBQ's cut off human hands your reminded that the film is in fact real which is shocking. The characters are well portrayed and Wahlberg plays Lugo with a sense of idiocy yet dertermination, Johnson plays Doyle perfectly the spiritual yet psychopathic man lost in a world of drugs. Mackie as Doorbal is a great addition as he brings in another idiot character who is strung along by Lugo and told of his potential fortune. 

Bay's camera angles are great from views down a gun, the front of a car and a distorted image of Lugo's muscle bound body in a swimming pool it's great. The sheer ludicrous scenes you see on screen just add to what is in my eyes a black comedy, real life portrayed film which shouldn't really work but it does. I can see it has a mixture of this years other releases, the sun kissed beautiful people heist from Spring Breakers and the true story of doing your own thing in life from The Bling Ring. And yet Bay has managed to bring these two elements together and make it feel like a comedy which is impressive. When Bay works on a small budget he can still bring the story and action and at times has shown he can certainly bring the black humour.

8/10.