Locke!!!!

Locke.

A man, a car, a long stretch of motorway and a phone and you have pretty much the main items that make this film what it is. Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy) is a concrete expert and is driving home the day before one of Europe's biggest concrete jobs and it all rests on his shoulders to pull it off. 

Taking his work boots off and sitting in his car he locks the doors and from now on his journey home will define his future. On his journey home his whole life will change, his career, family, friends and job will all slowly slip away from him and when he arrives at his destination he will be a changed man.

The film itself for me is seriously impressive, having just one actor on screen for the whole hour and a half is a risk but Tom Hardy manages to pull it off with such ease. Hardy portrays Locke with such ease and impressively with a welsh accent to boot, you see his character go through the whole up and down emotions, he can be serene and calm one minute and bashing the steering wheel in a fit of rage the next. 

The one way in which the film stands out visually and impresses on first glances is it is set at night in total darkness with just the motorway street lights in the background. It really brings out just how lonely Ivan Locke is in the darkness, encapsulated in his own little chaotic world inside his car driving to somewhere he knows will change his life totally. With constant phone calls going back and forth between Ivan and his co-workers about the big job he has to explain to everyone his intentions and why he is doing what he is doing. Other actors make voice appearances Olivia Colman, Ruth Wilson and Tom Holland all voice different people in Ivan's life and all manage to work well and help bring out at times the best and worst of Ivan.

For a film with just one main actor on screen in the small space of a car it is seriously impressive and brings out some serious acting chops for Tom Hardy. Usually cast in big action budget films we finally get to see just the pure acting skill of Tom who again portrays Ivan with ease. The camera work is perfect for me as every angle is covered and the backdrop on a dark motorway at night just shows the reflections in the windows and how the outside world can just fly by. 

Anyone who loves nothing but a tense, at times emotional yet purely acted film then do check out Locke as it is by far Tom Hardy's greatest performance on screen to date. The film has you hooked from the start, you twist and turn and guess what happens next and when you get it wrong you think it's cleverly done which it really is. A no doubt in my mind seriously impressive film that no doubt will not get the big wide consumer audience it truly deserves.

10/10.

The Raid 2!!!!

The Raid 2.

Iko Uwais the star of the first The Raid film is back for what is the second round of fast paced martial arts impressive violence. Following on from the first film we at first see a corn field in which a shaking scared man is executed and thrown into a shallow dug grave by a mysterious man Bejo (Alex Abbad). As Rama (Iko Uwais) is taken to meet with Bunawar (Cok Simbara) the chief of Jakarta's anti-corruption task force, told that his brother has been killed by Bejo, Rama is persuaded to help bring down the corrupt police commissioner Reza (Roy Marten). 

To get inside and find out information he must infiltrate two rival gang familys, Bangun and Goto. Assaulting a son of a politician who opposed the Bangun gang he is thrown into prison. This is where the first fight sequence takes place, in the middle of a exercise courtyard that is a foot deep in thick mud a riot breaks out. Fighting off most of the prisoners he soon enough saves the life of the son of Bangun, Uco (Arfin Putra). Finally out of prison and in marched in front of Bangun (Tio Pakusadewo) he is taken in by the family and given a job to do whatever Bangun says. 

Being close to Uco he sees his frustration for the fact his father hasn't given him enough power in the family business and years for something bigger. Going behind his fathers back Uco meets with Bejo and they both work out a plan to start an all out gang war between Bangun and Goto so that Uco can prove himself to his father. 

With this war started the bloodshed comes quick and fast and really violent with assassins on both sides, Prakoso (Yayan Ruhian) works for Bangun and fights and kills to keep the city in order. Bejo has his own two assassins who we shall only name Baseball bat man and Hammer girl and you can guess what their choice of weapon is. 

The storyline of the film if you can keep up with the subtitles is quite basic but really effective and interesting at the same time. So one thing I haven't covered is the fight sequences and the violence of the film that really make it seriously impressive and exciting all the way through. Their are fights in cars, fights in a toilet cubicle, fights in a building, fights in a corridor, fights in a kitchen, fights in a massive mud filled courtyard and even a car chase to top it all off. It takes the fight sequences from the first Raid film and just triples, no quadruples it and makes it more fast and technical. 

Throw in the fact you have hammer girl and baseball bat guy and you can understand the sequences, you watch in awe but you flinch, grimmace and shout out "woahhhhh, that's insane" when you see what happens on screen. You can tell director Gareth Evans has really thought about these scenes and takes his time to get the scenes right and precise and perfect and he does it so well. 

For me this is already one of my films of the year, not many 18 films have entered the UK cinema and this one has really impressed me. The way in which the film is pieced together and how the fight scenes are brought in really bring the film together, with the right storyline of family loyalty and betrayal it works really well. For anyone who loved the first Raid film you will seriously love every minute of this film and you'll bask in its glory and smile, laugh, wince and flinch at every punch,kick, hit,shot and stab.

10/10.

Under The Skin!!!!

Under The Skin.

Hearing nothing but good reviews from a film, you kind of think to yourself that it can't be true but I have to admit that it did live up to the reviews. If not it surpassed my expectations as a film and will definitely go straight into my top films of all time as this film is incredible in its own rights. 

Starting with the most haunting of strings sounds you see the formation of what looks like a black pupil becoming a human eye but could be portrayed as an alien egg into birth. Watching a naked woman character (Scarlett Johansson) strip the clothes off the body off her dead doppelgänger and put them on just to confuse you. Dropped off in the countryside by a lone biker and left the keys to a white transit van the woman drives off into the unknown. 

Walking through busy shopping centres and looking around at the world you feel the character is learning how to adapt, language, mannerisms and how to act are all absorbed. Driving along the roads she stops and talks to men at the side of the road, asking for directions and giving them a lift to places she plays on their vulnerability. They are soon enticed by her as she takes them back to her house where she takes them for her own. Walking along and stripping off her clothes the men follow only to slowly walk into a thick black liquid never to be seen again.

As she learns about the world she starts to slip up and is soon enough rescued by a random stranger, having sex and being shocked at the realisation she has a vagina she is still learning more and more. The film for me is able to show two different sides to our woman character at the start and at the end. She starts off confident knowing what she has to do and becomes the predator but soon enough by the end is insecure about herself and becomes the prey.

The way in which the film is made is not only clever but it makes you feel uncomfortable and also amazed at times. The use of hidden cameras is what gives it that edge and gives her character a feel of loneliness in such a busy environment. Showing hidden camera footage of her picking up men in her transit van Scarlett is able to be confident and get the right information out of the men, using her charm and looks she portrays her perfectly. 

Another aspect that really has you on the edge and affects your viewing is the music, never has a film needed the right soundtrack and this has an incredible score. Whining and scratchy violin sounds bring the tense moments in well, if it wasn't for the music some of the scenes would be seen as throwaway but add the creepy music and it changes the mood of the scene.

Scarlett Johansson is perfect in this film, you feel it has that double alien feel to the film in which Scarlett is an alien in an unknown Glasgow and her character is also an alien in a new world. This has to be one of the strongest performances from her and will go down as one of her greatest films of her career so far. But it will obviously be overshadowed by other bigger named films which is a shame really. 

For any fans of intense, gripping, weird and at times uncomfortable films then PLEASE I urge you to go and watch this film. One thing you will do after seeing this film is you will leave the cinema and still be thinking about it hours after, an incredible, mesmerising, unsettling yet intense film.

10/10.

Starred Up!!!!

Starred Up.

Violence, corruption, drugs and survival are some aspects to prison life and you certainly do need to survive while in prison. I honesty can't remember the last time I saw a film set in a prison, Bronson I think was the last film that touched upon this subject in a gritty way.

The basic plotline is Eric Love (Jack O'Connell) is a fresh faced young man given an early transfer from the Young Offender Institution to an adult prison. Being the loud mouthed, confrontational and confident person he is he doesn't quite fit in with the inmates. 

Over the course of the film he gets into trouble, fighting prison guards, attacking other inmates and basically fighting for his own survival. One man stands out from the rest Neville (Ben Mendelsohn) who sympathises with the young man and gives him some stark firm but fair advice on surviving. As situations escalate and people end up dead or injured Eric must learn to comply with the system or he will go down fast and end up dead himself.

Going to group therapy sessions he opens up abit more and talks about his father, who turns up and walks into the room. Neville is his father and the group soon learns why Eric has stayed alive for doing so many things wrong so quickly. Finally stepping in as a father both of them need to learn, to either open up and have a father/son relationship or just learn to survive and move on.

As I say this is the first prison film I've seen in a good while and it makes a difference and certainly lets the acting come across really well in confined spaces. The storyline of son meeting father in prison is clever and shows an angle to prisons that you wouldn't ever usually think about could happen. O'Connell plays Eric with such ease and confidence but then his character could be seen as a more grown up Cook from Skins. Mendelsohn portrays the broken father with hope with ease as well, learning to adapt to his surroundings he survives knowing the inner circles of the prison and gets by by any means necessary. 

I have to mention the violence which not only is impressive but in this film is necessary and something that is a need to an end to lengthen Eric's survival. Making make shift shanks out of a melted toothbrush and a razor blade shows he can be creative and still survive. The storyline of father and son is what makes it so interesting, if it was lone man trying to survive it would be too contrived and bland. Throw in a small confined place with father and son who haven't seen each other in years and its a perfect setting. 

For a small budget film set in a prison it is seriously impressive and a film that deserves so much attention. Using actors who can show and bring out that genuine quality to prison life and still make the film exciting and engaging is impressive. For anyone who likes to watch gritty, violent films showing the realistic side to life in prison then seriously watch this film.

10/10.

The LEGO Movie!!!!

The LEGO Movie.

If their is one toy from my childhood I became obsessed over again this year it would be LEGO and this movie is the main reason for that. I grew up on LEGO, many a time when  I was younger me and a friend would build our own creations and make weird spaceships and odd shaped buildings.

When I first heard they were making a LEGO movie I thought to myself "this could not work, this must be a joke and no doubt it'll turn out to be total rubbish". BUT I have to say I was proved completely wrong as I really enjoyed this film and at times transported back to my younger self being a massive LEGO fan. 

The main storyline to the film is of course where a normal builder Emmet (Chris Pratt) falls into a world that he never even knew existed. A world of master builders who are going up against the two faced Lord Business (Will Ferrell), he controls the people and makes the feel safe yet he wants to glue the world together to stop people building weird non-conformist creations.

Emmet is of course hailed as the saviour and must find the Kragle to stop Lord Business from going through with his plan and save the world that they live in. All different situations take place, meeting Wyldstyle a master builder she helps Emmet find that inner master builder inside him and hopes to save the world. Building their way through and out of situations like the wild west and a huge car chase you see what the master builders can do building all different machines. 

The storyline may be basic but it is able to show off all the clever aspects of the film, cameos and voice-overs by some top actors like Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Alison Brie, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman and the list goes on really gives it that extra serious push. I loved the way the film worked and the LEGO worked on screen as well it was flawless and definitely kept my attention glued to the screen the whole time. 

Their is only one reason I decided to give the film a 9/10 and not a perfect 10 and that is because for me I wanted SO much more. The LEGO universe has become so huge that hopefully a second film will go into other franchises like Star Wars or Lord Of The Rings or Marvel even which would be awesome to see. I loved the film SO much I becamse addicted to the minifgures and currently have only half (8) proudly on one of my shelves. 

For anyone who made stupid, weird LEGO figures and made up machines and flying spaceships when you were younger then WATCH THIS FILM. You will be transported back to your youth and will no doubt fall in love again with a childhood toy that up until this film was not cool to play with as an adult but now you can be AWESOME again. 

To finish on a pun "everything IS AWESOME" with this film.

9/10.

Robocop!!!!

Robocop.

When a "classic" film is re-hashed and put together and re-booted fans will of course always wade into the argument of what should and shouldn't be covered. For this version of Robocop we see the usual storyline of how Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman) a successful police officer suffers a personal tragedy and is blown half to pieces when his car is sabotaged. Fighting for his life and on the verge of death his wife Clare Murphy (Abbie Cornish) makes the decision with the help of Dr Dennett Norton (Gary Oldman) the OmniCorp chief scientist to save her husband. With every part of his body destroyed, the only parts his own being one of his hands, his heart, his lungs and his brain he is every bit a walking talking machine. 

Robocop is born and his main purpose is to make OmniCorp look good, with robots serving the US military overseas OmniCorp wants to put the same robots on the streets but because of the Dreyfus Act they can't. To gain the public's trust Robocop is deployed onto the streets, shown to be a robot with human conscientiousness he is there to gain their trust and help OmniCorp to get rid of the Act. 

As Robocop starts to become a success people start to turn on the Dreyfus Act but being stopped of seeing his family his wife soon has to fight to get her husband back. With Alex's head filled with every crime that has taken place in the city he soon starts to reflect on his own crime and start's to feel for his son and his wife. 

With the Dreyfus Act still in place and Alex fighting to control his own emotions soon enough something will happen, will Robocop stay or will he be pulled off of the streets. 

I have to say for a film about a Robocop I felt their was too much backstory and not enough action, seeing Alex's backstory and how he came to be was all well and good but it took up too much time. With a little bit more action and being able to see him in action it would have made a far better and interesting film. Kinnaman as Robocop was at times convincing but then again he just has to act as a robot for most of the time. Gary Oldman for me raises the film and really brings across a scientist who is torn to his allegiances and also what is the best course of action morally and professionally. 

Now that we have dealt with the origins I'd like to see if a second film was to surface and maybe this time around we could see him in some proper action scenes. See what Robocop is LITERALLY made of.

6/10.

Inside Llewyn Davis!!!!

Inside Llewyn Davis.

When it comes to directors who make new films no matter what style, type or genre of film they decide to make it I will always go and see it. Two directors, brothers at that Joel and Ethan Coen have been making films for years and they have covered many different genres, comedy which is their strongest suit definitely comes through in this film for sure.

Set in the early 60's you see a man sat playing an acoustic guitar on a dark small lit stage, Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac) is a down and out musician. Having recently lost his music partner who committed suicide he has gone it alone with his own solo record 'Inside Llewyn Davis', couch surfing and playing the local cafe/bar he isn't the most successful of musicians. With the news that his friend Jean (Carey Mulligan) married to Jim (Justin Timberlake) is pregnant and the baby might be his his life isn't going in the right direction. 

With disaster after disaster Llewyn doesn't catch a break, settling for just $200 for a song instead of royalties, losing his seamen's licence, visiting his dying father and being told he's no good as a solo artist everything is not going well. With the addition of a ginger cat he accidentlly has to look after you really do feel for Llewyn but has he just brought it all onto himself?.

During the film you question yourself and work out what he truly is, a creative genious yet to be given his big break or just a down and out musician with no talent and going nowhere. Using his friends when he only really needs them to then pay for Jean's abortion and asking how she is he shows different parts of his personality. 

Inside Llewyn Davis shares many features from the Coen's past films, the musicality from 'O Brother Where Art Thou' and the comedy from 'Burn After Reading' and 'Fargo'. This is a more sombre affair of a film, it doesn't have the violence or crazy off the wall comedy from past films and feels like new territory for the brothers. One aspect in which I really loved in this film is the music used, Oscar Issac has a really impressive voice and most of his own performances are used. Casting Justin Timberlake was an obvious reason as he sings on two stand out songs, the trio song 'Five Hundred Miles' and the tongue in cheek space advert 'Please Mr Kennedy'. 

For a film that has been shunned by the Oscar's and BAFTA's it makes no sense as this a pure Coen brothers film: comedy, sincerity and a story of life with some added great music make it stand out. Also to mention an impressive performance by Oscar Isaac not only from his acting but his on point vocals make this film so great and worth seeing.

9/10.

Dallas Buyers Club!!!!

Dallas Buyers Club.

When a film takes over twenty years to make, being declined by so many film company's you have to think that the film obviously has problems script wise or something. But I have to say I honestly don't know why it took so long as what has been made here is something truly incredible and brings out some career defining performances from the films leads.

Set in the 1980's you first see a rodeo bull rider having sex with a woman in one of the closed off bull pens, that man is Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey). A man who is a proud womaniser and hard working, beer drinking texan that is until her gets back to his trailer and collapses, waking up in hospital this is where his life turns upside down. Diagnosed with AIDS he is given only a mere thirty days to live with which he reply's hardly against this diagnosis and says he will prove them wrong. 

Called a homosexual, thrown out of his home, shunned by his close friends and sacked from his job the prejudice is shown all around him. Deciding to take the trial drug AZT he meets a HIV-positive trans man Rayon (Jared Leto) with whom he at first doesn't like for his sexual orientation. Hospitalised and realising the drug isn't working he seeks out other drugs to help him stay alive for as long as possible.

Realising that their are so many other people in the same situation he sets up the "Dallas Buyers Club", $400 membership each month and you get the drugs you will need to stay alive. Advised by his doctor Dr Eve Saks (Jennifer Garner) to not take away her trial patients she is torn with what to do but also shocked to see Ron still alive. Also constantly raided by the FDA and having his drugs taken off of him Ron has alot to fight for now, not just for his own life but for the many other peoples lives part of the Buyers Club as well. 

The film itself is poignant and one that shows with determination and heart you can do anything you want, Ron is one of those people who initially sets out to make money but realises he is doing ALOT more than just that. Ron's character changes over the course of the film, from womanising homophobic cowboy to heart felt, broken and caring man fighting for his life and many others lives. 

McConaughey and Leto fit into both the roles so easily and I couldn't see any other actor out their at the minute portray the characters, both put everything into the characters including losing weight for the film. For a film that was filmed in a total of twenty five days with a single camera on half the original budget it is a brilliant film. Certainly a film that will be mentioned and talked about in years to come and one hopefully to inform people of not only the prejudice of HIV and AIDS but to show that the disease can effect anyone in life and to stay strong if you do have either.

10/10.

12 Years A Slave!!!!

12 Years A Slave.

When it comes to true life stories their is one film this year that will really hit hard and leave a big impression on many people. That film is of course '12 Years A Slave', the true life story of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) a free man and father abducted and forced into slavery.

From the very start of when he is taken you are shocked by the intense violence that is forced upon him, a wooden panel is struck multiple times on his back causing immense pain and only stops when it shatters into pieces. From then on in the film is pretty much none stop and shows every single dark harsh corner and bright white lights that darken and illuminates the slaves lives.

Northup of course moves from plantation to plantation, first in the care of William Ford (Benedict Cumberbatch) he becomes close to him and Ford eventually gives him a violin for him to play. Scuffling with John Tibeats (Paul Dano) and attempted to be hung he is moved into the care of Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender) a man stating that scripture allows him to abuse his slaves. While in his care he meets a young woman Patsey (Lupita Nyong'o) who is Epp's favourite as she picks the most cotton from his cotton field crops. 

Struggling to get through to any of his masters Northup tries to tell his story and state that he is a free man and it is a big mistake but to no avail. He never gives up and carries on with life in the knowledge that one day he will be a free man again and be reunited with his wife and children. All of the slaves endure constant abuse, fights break out and in some harrowing scenes they are whipped until their back is blood red and cut right open. 

For a film that is of such dark and at times harrowing to watch on screen you can also see the hope, the light and the determination of Solomon Northup. Every aspect of his life is shown, his family life, his life on the plantation and how he remains hardy and never loses heart to his final release. You really do go through the motions with Solomon, you cringe and wince at his abuse, you root for him during his own motivational speeches and you smile and nearly cry at his final freedom and meeting of his family after nearly over a decade of being a slave. 

It is a truly impressive and emotional film that is a film to certainly stand the test of time, people will talk of this film in years to come and state it as a true story of slavery and adversity. It truly does deserve to gain such high accolades, Ejiofor and Nyong'o stand out and really do bring out their characters with such ease.

9/10.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit!!!!

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit.

When it comes to the all out action films their are certain "go to" franchises, James Bond and The Bourne films are two franchises that people love to watch. But this time round the Tom Clanct based character gets re-boot after a few years off and with a new leading man in the form of Star Trek's Captain James T Kirk, Chris Pine.

Set in present day we see a student Jack Ryan (Chris Pine) at the London School of Economics, deciding to join Marine's he is posted in Afghanistan. Injured by a helicopter crash he is told he won't be able to go back, meeting Cathy Muller (Keira Knightley) during rehab he strikes up a relationship with her. He also meets and speaks with William Harper (Kevin Costner) who is never revealed as a CIA agent but he recruits Ryan. Fast forward ten years and Ryan is working as an undercover CIA agent on Wall Street investigating dodgy transactions of company's. 

Soon coming across Viktor Cherevin (Kenneth Branagh) who's company has come up in his investigation, turning up for an audit of the company Ryan is soon put in danger having to kill a man for the first time. Meeting up with Harper he is told he is now operational and is handed a gun to protect and defend himself. Working out what Cherevin is up to it is a race against time to stop something disastrous taking place back home in the United States but will he save the citizens of the US and stop Cherevin?

For a new launch to the Jack Ryan world it is a pretty good start, learning about where he came from and what he has been through you can tell they're expecting to get a good few films out of it. Chris Pine as Ryan was a good choice he is memorable from his Star Trek films and a fresh new young face to throw into the world of action movies as well. Branagh can definitely do an impressive Russian accent, Knightley brings in another dynamic of Ryan having a wife and brings out a more softer side of his personality.

The storyline itself at times can get complicated and if you were to miss even fifteen minutes you'll feel a little bit lost. For a story set about the Russian situation and how a business owner can threaten to cause mass chaos in the US it can be seen as little far fetched and spirals a little too quickly.

Obviously the script and the actors are utilised well but it can not really stand up to the Bourne or Bond films, with a few little tweaks here and there and a much stronger script it could really set itself apart from the rest.

7/10.

Lone Survivor!!!!

Lone Survivor.

Before I even watched this film I kind of knew what would happen, hence the title of the film gives away what the final outcome will be. With this aside I went into the film with interest after seeing Kathryn Bigelow's intense yet seriously impressive Zero Dark Thirty I was expecting something on the same scale. 

Real footage of Navy Seal recruits going through the gruelling training to become a Seal is shown on screen, from laying in cold water side by side to running through mud it is all shown. With the ringing of a bell and a helmet placed on the floor the list of people deciding to leave the training is piled up as finally only a few men make it through to the end and become full fledge Navy Seal's.

Fast track to the present and you see the various characters getting up and going about their usual duties at the camp in Afghanistan. Being part of Seal Team 10's quick reaction force they are all on call, a new mission is set by Lieutenant Commander Erik S. Kristensen (Eric Bana) to track the Taliban leader Ahmad Shah who is responsible for the death of many marines. The four man team sent in consists of medical corpsman and sniper Marcus Luttrell (Mark Wahlberg), on ground leader Lieutenant Michael P. "Murph" Murphy (Taylor Kitsch), communications Danny Dietz (Emile Hirsch) and sonar technician and sniper Matthew "Axe" Axelson (Ben Foster).

Sent into the mountains they observe and track Ahmad Shah but realise that he is not alone and has a potential small army at his disposal. As some goat herders accidentally stumble upon the four Navy Seal's they have to decide what to do next, leave them tied up, kill them or set them free and say the mission is compromised. 

As they decide to set them free and head up the hillside to be picked up they are soon in the sights of the Taliban and under some serious fire. Using their skills and what they do best they shoot their way out but get into some difficulties causing them to make some dangerous decisions. Shot up and wounded they jump off of cliff ledges and franticly try to survive the attack while trying to call for backup but with no luck.

As each man tumbles down the cliff face and hills hitting every rock and tree on the way down you can do nothing but feel all of them as you hear the cracks. With each gunshot wound you see them suffer and limp around trying to stay alive while still hitting every target. It has to be said the gun fights in the film are impressive and we have not seen footage this intense and on point since Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down.

The film itself does give away the ending just by reading the title of the film but what happens in between is what will get you hooked. You feel every cut, scrape and gunshot wound and you really do root for them and hope that they come out alive but obviously you know that is not the case. With no real backstory of the four men it leaves you floating and not knowing how you truly feel about the people you see on screen. 

One let down for me is the footage of Navy Seal training as it felt like the start of a Navy Seal recruitment video that a young wannabe recruit would have to watch. The whole film felt like a massive advertisement for what to except when you join up and also what to expect when it comes to fighting within the field itself. A nice and respective sombre moment obviously comes at the end with a four to five minute rememberance slideshow of the men who were lost as part of the four man operation. 

An all round impressive film that shows a true story taking place but for me just felt a little bit too distant at times and too propaganderish at the same time.

7/10.

August: Osage County!!!!

August: Osage County.

What started out as a play by Tracy Letts has been transferred and made for the big screen with what is this years biggest high profile cast for a film. The original storyline is that a family is brought back together to the family home after a tragedy takes place, together they all reveal their own problems and thoughts of each other. 

The film itself takes place in the family home in Pawhuska, Oklahoma where husband and father Beverly Weston (Sam Shepard) an alcoholic poet is interviewing a young native american woman Johnna (Misty Upham) to be a stay at home cook and carer to his wife Violet (Meryl Streep) . A drug addict and woman who speaks first then thinks afterwards is certainly a handful and who has been diagnosed with mouth cancer. 

As disaster strikes the family Violet rallies round the family members to return to the family home. First is her sister Mattie Fae (Margo Martindale) and her husband Charles (Chris Cooper), next is the youngest daughter Ivy (Julianne Nicholson) the quiet single one. Barbara (Julia Roberts) the oldest arrives with her husband Bill (Ewan McGregor) and her teenage daughter Jean (Abigail Breslin). Finally middle daughter Karen (Juliette Lewis) arrives with her new fiancée Steve (Dermot Mulroney). 

Finally all assembled at the family home they all soon enough start tearing into each other, Violet lets her family know what she really thinks of everyone and lets her bitter tongue do it's work. With Barbara and Bill's seperation revealed to the whole family she is in the firing line of Violet's vicious words. As a late running Little Charles (Benedict Cumberbatch) arrives revelations are soon revealed as to who he is seeing and also the shock of his real father. The sisters sit down together at last and talk and the truth finally comes out as they open up for the first time and what they think of each other.

The family itself all turn on each other, reminiscing of old times and how each sister is so closed and apart you see the fraught situations life can throw at you. The family you see on screen is how not to be as a family in real life, people cope with life in many different ways and this family on screen does everything the wrong way. 

It has to be said Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts are seriously impressive as they are both stripped right back to just dialogue filled scenes. Streep as Violet the bitter and opinionated mother matriarch is on top form and plays the drugged up mother perfectly. Of course the scenes where we see Streep and Roberts together are just perfect as they both bounce off each other certainly are able to bring out their characters with ease. 

A film that doesn't have all the big budget effects or seat gripping thrills but what it does have is dialogue filled to the point drama and with such a big named cast they pull it off. If anything this for me has to be one of Streep's best films since The Iron Lady and is Roberts best film in years as she is taken back to basics of just acting and dialogue. For anyone who enjoys a good dialogue filled drama with top performances from top actors showing off their raw acting talent then go watch it as you'll thoroughly enjoy it. 

8/10.

The Wolf Of Wall Street!!!!

The Wolf Of Wall Street.

All people needed to say to me was Scorsese and Leo and I was hooked and bought into whatever film they were making as to me their partnership is incredible and they work so well together. This being their fifth partnership it was to be of a rather over indulgent and at times shocking storyline about the life of Jordan Belfort.

Starting out life with high ambitions, Belfort (DiCaprio) arrives on Wall Street to start his life as a Stockbroker and make his fortune and become a successful millionaire. Finally landing a job he meets Mark Hanna (Matthew McConaughey) a man who's been on Wall Street for years and teaches him his ways and how to survive with a few added tricks. Deciding to go work for a small company headed up by Dwayne (Spike Jonze) he starts selling penny stocks to high rise rich fat cats and soon enough sets up his own company Stratton Oakmont. 

With his new found friend and business partner in the form of Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill) the pair soon enough became a massive success, an article calling Belfort the "wolf of wall street" circulates and young financiers are soon wanting to work for him. With lavish partys, orgies on business planes, cocaine being snorted, drugs being taken and all round debauchery they live a high lifestyle. Jordan soon enough divorces his first wife Teresa (Cristin Miloti) and meets a beautiful blonde in the form of Naomi Lapaglia (Margot Robbie) with whom he soon enough marries.

As their thirst for money intensifies they secure the IPO and selling of stocks of the footwear company Steve Madden and make millions from this. With the FBI soon on their tail and investigating Stratton Oakmont for their dodgy supposed dealings Jordan is soon spiralling out of control and needs to make a drastic change. Finally being arrested and having to work in co-operation with the FBI it's the realisation and outcome he was certainly not expecting.

I have to say the film for me at times was abit too overly excessive, the constant drug taking, sex, lavish party's and money dealings didn't feel too real and overly comedic. With lines like "you do work for me you have my money strapped to your boobs" it just didn't resonate to me and felt it was trying to be overly funny. I have to say this is one of if the funniest black comedy films that Scorsese has done in the career and it is a territory he may step into again, who knows. 

DiCaprio and especially Hill are for me really impressive in their roles as Belfort and Azoff, the friendship and relationship they have works well on screen. Robbie who plays Naomi is a great addition and it clearly shows that she has a long and successful career in films as she plays her with such ease and confidence. Their are of course alot of other actors who make the cast what it is and really bring the story perfectly to life. 

A film in my eyes that although at times overly funny and comedis does indeed easily stand alongside Scorsese's other great films Raging Bull and Taxi Driver and it shows DiCaprio's relationship with the director is going from strength to strength. For any fans who want to see a cross between American Psycho and The Great Gatsby with a massive huge serving of black comedy then definitely go see it oh and get comfortable as it's three hours long but you'll love every minute.

8/10.

Delivery Man!!!!

Delivery Man.

I have to admit this was an odd choice of film for me mainly because I don't tend to see comedy films at the cinema not unless I've heard great reviews. But going into this film I went in with open eyes and didn't have a single expectation or prior knowledge about the film with only what I had heard from other people who enjoyed it.

Delivery Man sees the main character David Wozniak (Vince Vaughn) living his life day to day as a meat truck delivery man for his fathers butcher shop. Soon enough his past comes back to haunt him as a lawyer turns up from a sperm bank saying a mixup at the clinic states he is the biological father to 533 children and 142 of them want him named.

With a lawsuit on his hands in which he would be named as the father he enlists his out of practice friend Brett (Chris Pratt) to help him with his case. Given a folder of photos of some of his kids he sets out to see them but instead ends up helping each of them with a random act of kindness. Slowly seeing them over time and learning about their lives and also learning to love them as his own kids he has a moral dilemma and needs to work out what to do next.

Vaughn is of course his usual self and what you expect from him is what you get, funny quips about fatherhood and his usual style of humour are all here to see. The storyline is a nice one as it flows along quite well being a straight forward feel of a film with no added frills or tricks. It is at times a very funny film as simple things like falling off a diving board gets alot of laughs, Vaughn is of course in his own comfort zone and he does it well. 

Obviously the film is too generic for me it has the usual themes we have seen a thousand times before, funny it may be it didn't interest me too much. But it did entertain me, this being the key thing it is clearly a film to just sit and have on in the background and even if you miss a part you know what the ending will be.

For fans of any of Vaughn's previous films will love this and for anyone who likes a comedy that has a heart and something to entertain you as well.

6/10.

All Is Lost!!!!

All Is Lost.

One un-named older gentleman (Robert Redford) on screen on a boat and going through bad situation after bad situation. Not being able to catch a break it's constant disaster and his fight for survival is intensified, fighting the natural elements of the sea you see him go through the motions. 

Their is not alot else I can say to explain what the movie is about because that is just about it as to the premise of the film, eight lines of dialogue throughout the whole film it's at times intense. After crashing into a shipping container left in the sea a massive hole is made into the side of his sailing boat. Patching the whole up he carries on as usual and carries on with his journey, storms soon rage and he is fighting the weather. 

It is a fight for survival and you really do fight for him, wanting him to survive and holding your breath as he's dragged under water your with him the whole time. You have to admit that what he goes through on screen he must just have the worst luck in the entire world and their is no let up at all.

The one thing that makes this film so impressive is how basic it is but how well acted it is, Redford is on top form and he is the perfect aged man for this film. It's his expressions and his movement that really show off his acting ability and his ability to play the character with such ease. With no knowledge about his past or anything you make up your own mind about him, I went for divorced man wanting to get away from the normal world and escape on his own for a while. Nothing phases him as he takes everything on with determination and adapts to his situation with ease.

For me this film is up their with Gravity and in alot of ways is like Gravity as well, it is at times intense and a film that effects your senses and makes you feel for the character. The scenes of storms and the boat being capsized are real and you see as the film goes on that he starts to look tired and worn out, screams for help are raspy as the dehydration effects his throat. 

Every detail with this film has been thought about, with a career defining performance from Redford it lets him utilise and shine using his own physical acting on screen. With sound and visuals of storms and throwing pretty much everything at him you see and hear what he's going through. An impressive film that will be a standout film for Redford and also the film world as well.

10/10.

Top Ten Movies of 2013!!!!

Top 10 Movies of 2013!!!!

So let me back track just a little bit to New Years Eve 2012 where I said I'd see as many films as possible in 2013 and review them all as well. Well I have kind of succeeded in this task, I have seen in total as of last year 66 films at the cinema. I have reviewed around 62 of those films with just four more reviews to finish off. 

It has been a great year for film and I know I could list so many other films I wanted to see but either couldn't find a cinema close enough to see or just didn't have time. I've seen massive epic special effect films like Gravity, Thor: The Dark World, Pacific Rim, The Wolverine and I have seen quirky impressive independent films like Short Term 12, Drinking Buddies, Ain't Them Bodies Saint's, You're Next and many many more. 

So out of the 66 films I have seen this year which ones have made my top ten. Well I have decided to just list the films and not put them in 1-10 order as they're all impressive films in their own way. 

So here goes:

Stoker: What was to be Park Chan-Wook's (director of Oldboy) first English spoken film in my eyes is a cinematic masterclass. The story of a family torn apart by the death of a father and the arrival of a mysterious uncle who has an interest in the daughter. Subtle hints of a different underlying theme was clever and made the film one to really think and talk about. Scenes that blend together so fluidly and of course the strong yet at times weird performances from Nicole Kidman, Mia Wasikowska and Matthew Goode make it an impressive film.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brjtL-2kE9A

Zero Dark Thirty: A film that touched upon one of the many hailed triumphs for the United States of America, the hunting down and killing of Osama Bin Laden the then most wanted terrorist in the world. Set in Pakistan it shows the story of agent Maya who works tirelessly for years to track him down. Fast paced scenes of chases and information coming in it shows the meticulous intelligence work that the agents go through day by day. Bomb attacks and random shootings show how dangerous Pakistan can be and what can happen when the agents get deeper and deeper into the terrorists world. Juxtaposing for the last quarter the film it slows right down, a single night vision view is shown as your right in the thick of the siege on the compound. In my eyes it is one of 2013's biggest successes and a well deserved Oscar/BAFTA Nomination for Jessica Chastain's portrayal of Maya.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxC_JNz5Vbg

Short Term 12: This has to be one film this year that really took me by surprise and really did hit me emotionally as it is an exquisite film. The story of a foster home called Short Term 12 it shows a place for troubled teens looked after by Grace (Brie Larson) and her boyfriend Mason. Focusing on two particular teens Jayden a self harmer who respects no-one and Marcus who is just  turning 18 and ready to leave the foster home. Three scenes in particular with Marcus and Jayden will hit you right in the stomach and in an instant raise your spirits right back up. Strong performances by Brie Larson, Keith Stanfield and Kaitlyn Dever make it an impressive film and bring out characters you really feel for and go along with on their individual emotional journeys.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8QxAYxNRgs

Gravity: Visually stunning, amazing, incredible, their are so many words to describe this film, four and a half years in the making Alfonso Cuaron and his son Juan have made an unforgetable film. As the Hubble Telescope is hit by flying debris Ryan (Sandra Bullock) and Matt (George Clooney) are hurtled into outerspace and are thrown into the darkness. Both of them try to survive and make it back to Earth but at what cost?. The film is in my eyes amazing, it disorientates, makes you breath fast and at times causes motion sickness which is something you don't get from other films. I have to mention the special effects as when you watch it you think it's real documentary footage but it's not, an incredible film everyone should go and see and in 3D.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiTiKOy59o4

  

Nebraska: The latest film from director Alexander Payne and it sees the most simplest and yet endearing stories to hit the screen this year. An ageing man with onset dementia Woddy Grant (Bruce Dern) receives a scam letter in the post saying he has won a million dollars and needs to go to Lincoln, Nebraska to receiver his winnings. Constantly picked up by the police who spot him walking along the main roads his son David (Will Forte) soon enough caves in and decides to drive him to Nebraska. Diverting to their hometown of Hawthorne you see how his close family including his brothers and his old friends treat him when they learn he has a million dollars. It's the warm sentiment, little quips and reactions of the characters that make you laugh so much. Another great film from Payne it will no doubt see Bruce Dern, June Squibb and Payne nominated for multiple awards come awards season.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT5tqPojMtg

The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty: A late entry to the list and still in cinemas this film really made me smile and just sucked me right into the film. Directed and starring Ben Stiller I wasn't too keen at first but this is a more serious role for Stiller and he really impressed me. Walter Mitty is a man who lives a normal life but zones out and imagines things that could happen inside his head. Threatened with losing his job and having to find photographer Sean O'Connell (Sean Penn) for the photo for the last copy of LIFE magazine Walter goes off on an adventure. Walter soon learns to live his life to the full and stop living inside his head, doing things he would never usually do he gains the confidence he has always wanted. Stiller is perfect as a more serious actor and certainly impresses behind the camera as a director. A warm, life affirming and entertaining film for all the daydreamers of the world.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1Xk-yTuFEU

You're Next: Now some people will be confused as to why I have put this into my top ten and my reasons are quite valid. Advertised as a horror, home invasion film it shows a family being picked off one by one by masked invaders. But the film has a brilliant little twist to it which surprised me and definitely made the film alot more interesting. As a lone girl fights back she turns out to be the saving grace for the family and their only way to survive. To be honest I found the film to be a really black comedy film as the way in which people are killed had me in pieces with laughter and I'm not saying I have a twisted sense of humour. For anyone who likes the home invasion, threat style film with a lone blonde girl fighting back and want a big laugh then check it out.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufUQWpEkbf0

Pacific Rim: I have to admit I am biased at times when it comes to films and for me this is in my top ten because I am a massive Guillermo Del Toro fan. His first directorial film in almost five years it has him return in fine form with a giant robot VS Kaiju monster film. With earth under threat the jaeger program is formed to defend the world against the giant monster invaders. Raleigh and Mako drift to pilot Gypsy Danger and fight back for one last time to rid the world of the Kaiju monsters. I followed this film through production photos leading up to its release and to see GDT back on fine form with this style of film made me smile immensely. Looking at the making of book with the artwork and the meticulous design that went into the film really made the film stand out for me. A giant monster VS giant robot film directed by a giant director and artist in the fantasy film genre.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5guMumPFBag

The Way Way Back: This was a hard film to choose as I wanted a comedy that really stood out and I have seen many comedys this year that have impressed. None more so than this one, Duncan a young boy dragged along to his mothers boyfriends holiday retreat he is out of place and has no friends at all. Finding by accident the local water park he gets himself a job and soon enough he starts to have fun and enjoy himself. Having to contend with the ups and downs of his mothers relationship and also having to learn to grow himself he learns alot about life and what to get out of it. The film is written, directed and also stars Nat Faxon and Jim Rash who bring out the funniest parts of the characters but also leave the charm in their to see as well. A really funny film that has a big massive heart in the middle of it and lets people know that life is what you make it and to not let anyone drag you down. Out on DVD now and in shops to buy for anyone who likes The Descendants, Juno, Little Miss Sunshine then check this film out NOW.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwNo1i3jkCo

Ain't Them Bodies Saints: A Bonnie and Clydeesque film that for me brought in the styles and workings of many other impressive directors. Set in southern USA you follow the story of a outlaw couple who survive by stealing and hiding out in an abandoned house. As they both give themselves up in a shoot out at the house he goes to jail and she ends up alone in a house and has to bring up their unborn first child. As he breaks out of jail and goes on the run the film turns its attentions to her relationship with the local police officer who takes a liking to her but will this happiness last?. The film for me is a triumph as the cinematography and visual imagery in the scenes is very Terrence Malick it has that use of light and beauty that is brought out on screen and makes it staggering to watch. Also the use of sound be it the long silence or the sound of crickets in the background it just transports you right into the heart of Texas. A visual treat that has strong performances from Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck and yet has the substance script wise to bring a lost souls style sentiment.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga0c0v-stK0

So this is my top ten list of films for 2013 and I hope anyone who reads this has either seen a few of them or at least goes out and watches them at some point. I wanted to create a list that is diverse and doesn't have the obvious films you would expect. 2014 is turning out to be yet another big year in film and with awards season starting up quite soon it will be interesting to see who takes what award this year. So for you all I hope you had a great film filled 2013 and have an awesome time this year in 2014 for yet more great films to come. 

American Hustle!!!!

American Hustle.

The latest film from successful director David O. Russell and we are transported to the heart of a 1978 FBI ABSCAM operation. The first thing you see on screen is Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) arranging his hair, glueing his wig and folding over his comb over awaiting a meeting with a mayor in order to pay him off. Backtrack and we see the whole story of how Irving meets his partner in crime Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams), the attraction between the two, the eventual scam they concoct and the people in which they con are all shown.

Eventually seeing Irving's other woman in his life, his wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) and his son Danny you see that he not only cons people out of their money he also cons his loved ones. Finally caught by the FBI's Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) they both decide to work with the FBI to get a reduced prison sentence in return for bringing in four more people. 

As Richie, Irving and Sydney get more and more determined the scams starts to get more and more rediculous and complicated. Deciding to bring down Mayor Carmine (Jeremy Renner) Irving uses his charm and wit to warm the mayor round to investing a fake Sheikh's money into improving New Jersey. With mob bosses getting involved (played by a well known mob actor) things spiral out of control and Richie becomes more manic in bringing senators to judges down by filming them being bribed by money on hidden camera.

With Rosalyn becoming more reckless with who she speaks to and Irving not being able to control her his world suddenly becomes alot bleaker and darker and he has to find a way out and fast. 

For a film that has an all star cast it is impressive, O. Russell taking Amy Adams and Christian Bale from his previous film The Fighter and Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence from Silver Linings Playbook he plays it safe with who he chooses for his cast. Of course the performances are great, Lawrence again on fine form as an out of control, crazy cooped up housewife. Bale and Adams I feel are just too heartless and show not alot on screen for me to warm to them, Cooper is intelligent on screen and brings a more comedic flashes to the film. 

I have to of course talk about the style and look of the film as well, set pieces are seriously impressive as your transported right to the heart of the late 70's. Music of course plays a key factor and scenes in clubs and bars just brings that element of nostalgia to the screen that will have older audiences laughing and smiling. 

This for me was a surprising choice for director David O. Russell as his previous films have had a human beating heart in the middle of it, Th Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook have that emotional connection with audiences this I felt didn't. 

For anyone wanting a information packed 70-80's throwback film with some strong performances then check this film out.

8/10.

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.

I have to admit I wasn't one of the people who at first got the whole appeal when it came to the first Anchorman film, I didn't and I'm not the biggest Will Ferrell fan either. But I did find the first film really funny when I did get round to watching it and so I was interested to see where the characters were now and what they could get up to. 

Following on from the first film we see Ron Burgundy presenting with his wife Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate), fired because of incompetence and stupidity Ron  is soon enough a down and out. Struggling to make a living, being fired from Sea World and with the original news team now split up they all have their own lives. Ron (Will Ferrell) is jobless, Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd) is the top cat photographer, Champ Kind (David Koechner) owns a chicken restaraunt and Brick Tamland (Steve Carell) is dead but not really dead. 

Recruited by a new 24 hour news channel GNN (Global News Network) the newsteam start off at the bottom again doing the midnight shift. Deciding to show people what they want to watch instead of what they need to watch the news team are a massive success and are soon enough back on top. 

The film in my eyes takes a stupid turn and it goes off into ridiculous territory, going blind, nursing a shark called Doby and finally a celebrity packed final showdown of various other news anchors it becomes stupid. I have to say to me it felt more of a Brick film, the best and most funniest scenes are the ones where he is on screen and especially his relationship with Chani (Kristen Wiig). Both of them bring forward the at times strange, demented yet funny characters that steal the whole film and would have been better with just those two. 

The storyline for me was just too flaky and it wasn't linear enough, a feeling that their must have been ALOT of footage filmed for the movie and only the best was kept and alot of fat was trimmed off. Ferrell is of course great as Burgundy but lines like "by the beard of Zeus" and many others we have seen before from the first film and feels stale. For any devout Anchorman fans they will love seeing their fave characters back on screen but for me it just felt all too seen it before and not enough original material. No doubt we'll see an Anchorman 3 and maybe a 4th but lets hope some new material is brought in.

5/10.