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.

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.

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. 

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.

Nebraska!!!!

Nebraska.

The latest film from director Alexander Payne (The Descendants, About Schmidt) sees him cover the subject of an ageing man with onset dementia set on going to Lincoln, Nebraska to get his one million dollars. 

Woody (Bruce Dern) wanders the highways trying to walk to Nebraska but is always picked up by the Police, David (Will Forte) is Woody's son and receives countless phonecalls about his father being picked up at the side of the road. With his mother Kate (June Squibb) pretty much leaving him to it and saying "he never told me he wanted to be a millionaire" they have a ageing style marriage.

David soon decides to let his father have his way and he decides to drive him to Nebraska to show him that it is nothing but a scam. On their way there Woody has a fall and the pair detour to their old town in which they used to live, Hawthorne. While there they bump into and meet a whole bunch of people Woody knows, his old business partner, old friends, old flames of his past and of course his family who have stayed in Hawthorne. 

With the news of Woody winning a million dollars word gets around and soon enough they all start coming out of the woodwork asking for money. People saying that they're owed a certain ammount of money and then family members also asking for money in which they gave to Woody back when he was an alcoholic. 

Soon enough Kate arrives and becomes the wife she has always been, defending Woody and fighting his battles for him she confronts the family members and tells them where to go. Humiliated by the locals and his old friends and family David tries to convince his dad that it is a complete scam but he is having none of it. 

Arriving into Nebraska the pair finally learn if Woody has really won a million dollars and will he be able to drive back through Hawthorne with his head held high?.

The film for me is really impressive but also really funny in its own quirky way, the subject matter is simple yet allows for characters and situations to come through so easily. Situations with quick whip lines between family members and how family members interact after being apart for so long are covered in a funny way. Bruce Dern was made to play the role of Woody as he plays him with such ease, at times you feel like your watching a documentary of a real life situation and this film could really happen as well. June Squibb is perfect as the wife and mother Kate as she brings her own humour to the film but also is a perfect wife and mother defending her husband who you can see she puts up with all the time. 

The humour and comedy in the film is perfect, from long pauses and stupid glances at the dinner table to a scene where Woody and all his brothers are sat watching TV it's funny but so real and relevant today. The stupidity of family members who also get sucked into the scam has the "I told you so" moments for David. Shots of the vast landscape show how desolate and unpopulated the areas are in which they travel and also live and let you know the towns are small and everyone knows everyone. 

One theme I saw was acceptance, acceptance of each others situations and that at times you have to accept who your family is no matter what situation their in. Learning to see who your real family and friends are and realising what you had and what you have now as well. 

For me it's one of the best comedy's of the year and from a seasoned professional like Alexander Payne who we can say has made yet another great film that no doubt will be in many category's come award season.

10/10.

Drinking Buddies!!!!

Drinking Buddies.

Rom-com's, especially with big budgets tend to come across as too polished and always always have the happy ending that everyone goes "awwwww" at the end, Drinking Buddies turns this idea right on it's head and it works really well. 

The story takes place in a Chicago brewery where Kate (Olivia Wilde) and Luke (Jake Johnson) both work, flirting with each other constantly you are sucked into thinking their perfect for each other. But they are both surprisingly taken, Kate is with Chris (Ron Livingston) and Luke is with Jill (Anna Kendrick) and they are both happy in their relationships. 

The two couples finally meet at a party and decide to go on a break out to Chris's family's cabin in the woods. Kate and Luke do what they do best and drink and make a bonfire on the beach and stay up all night while Chris and Jill go on a hike and enjoy a picnic and a mistaken intimate moment where they both feel bad. 

Kate soon enough becomes a newly single woman and decides to do what she does best and that is to drink and party with her male co-workers, sleeping with Dave (Ti West) this angers Luke who is very protective of Kate. With Jill and Luke constantly talking about marriage it's only a matter of time for Jill's stupid actions on the trip away to come to the surface. Will Kate ever find happiness on her own or does she need to win Chris back.

Like I said this is a more realistic rom-com as everything that you expect to happen never takes place, Luke being asked to go skinny dipping with Kate doesn't happen. Expecting Luke to break up with Jill and run over to Kate's arms doesn't happen and the awkward moments are at times really awkward but true to real life situations.

The way in which this film works is that it is mainly un-scripted so the improvisation comes from the actors who have no doubt had awkward situations themselves. Johnson and Kendrick bring across a really cute couple who are secure enough with each other, Wilde and Livingston bring across a more stern couple who you can feel have different ideas of their relationship. 

A really basic, indie and quirky, funny comedy that is very much more of a realistic rom-com that every couple can really relate to.

8/10.

Le Week-end!!!!

Le Week-end.

What has been a flurry of teenage rom-coms featuring high profile stars it is getting abit saturated, the latest release of Enough Said has brought forward a love story of the older generation. Le-Weekend is a love story for the much older generation in every greatest respect.

Focusing on an ageing sixty year old couple, Nick (Jim Broadbent) and Meg Burrows (Lindsay Duncan) they are to celebrate what is their thirty year wedding anniversary in the very place they honeymooned, Paris.

With Nick booking what looks like the cheapest hotel in Paris Meg takes the initiative to book into something a little more comfier and cleaner to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Wandering around Paris the couple sit in bars drinking, go to expensive restaurants and try to enjoy each others company. 

On the surface the couple look happy but soon enough you see the little flaws and cracks in their long standing relationship. Meg says to Nick "once the kids have gone what will become of us" clearly showing that she has her doubts as to what their future will hold. Slight digs and laughter at each others misfortunes are what keep the couple happy, tring to rekindle their love they run from restaurants without paying, run in the road and generally go back to what they were thirty years ago .

Constantly questioning each other they bump into one of Nick's old students Morgan (Jeff Goldblum) who is always impressed by Nick and has the typical American attitude positive attitude about everything. With their relationship on the rocks and both of them having to deal with their potential future they have alot to think about. 

For what is another rom-com for the older generation it's refreshing and also enlightening to see what happens between a married couple of thirty years, the problems they go through and how they deal with life. What is shown on trailers is all happy is quite the opposite when you watch the whole film, at times dark themes run through some of the scenes. Broadbent and Duncan are great on screen together and at times show a more natural connection and relationship between each other showing their years of acting they have mastered how to become a character. 

A funny, interesting and enlightening film that shows perfectly what an older couple go through after the kids have up and left and they're left with just each others company.

7/10.

Enough Said!!!!

Enough Said.

Romantic comedy's tend to target the younger teenage age range to mid/ late twenty's but they never cover any other ages. Well, Enough Said switches things up and is a romantic comedy for the older generation, in particular here people who have had children, divorced and are not really looking for love.

Showing the lives of Eva (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) a divorcee masseuse who travels around to massage various clients she lives a normal life with her teenage daughter Chloe (Tavi Gevinson) with who she doesn't particularly get along with and isn't looking for love. Albert (James Gandolfini) is also a divorcee video archiver who lives on his own and has regular visits from his teenage daughter Ellen (Tracey Fairaway). 

Both of them aren't really looking for love and don't really see a reason to, as Eva attends a party with her close friend Sarah (Toni Collette) a chance meeting happens and she is introduced to Albert. As the two give each other a sly dig saying their is no-one around they find hot at the party the two leave the party and go their seperate ways. Soon enough the two start meeting up for dates and start to get along really well and they start a kind of unofficial relationship. 

Carrying on with her job Eva contacts a client she met a the party Marianne (Catherine Keener) who is a new age kind of person who earns her living writing poetry. As the two become friends and go out for meals Marianne can talk about nothing else but her ex husband with whom she had a daughter and explain in detail all his faults and misgivings. As Eva gets more close to Albert and strikes up a great friendship with Marianne she soon enough finds out that Albert is Mariannes ex husband, then she starts to see Albert differently but how differently?

I have to say I found this film very heart warming as it touches upon the more older spectrum of 50+ single divorcees and what they go through with relationships. Gandolfini and Julia Louis-Dreyfus are great as Albert and Eva as they both portray two totally different people but who are going through the same situations. The little in jokes really make you feel they know each other well, Albert's dodgy nasal whistle and how he can't whisper and Eva's compulsion to knit all the time. It shows that these are things older viewers can relate to and it makes you warm towards the characters. Bringing in their children also adds another dimension and how older parents tackle the "sex" talk and the kids going off to college it's current.

Throughout the film they never say that they're boyfriend and girlfriend, they are mature adults and never need to use that social tag. Introduced as "my good friend...." it keeps it current again as they are older adults and don't need that social tag. A truly heart warming, funny, life affirming film that has you smiling throughout.

9/10.

Blue Jasmine!!!!

Blue Jasmine.

Now I'll admit I'm not a massive Woody Allen film fan, in fact this would be my first Allen film I have seen and it's on a big screen. With this in mind I will review the film as I see it as a stand alone film with no bells and whistles reverting back to Allen's past films as I have no knowledge on that at all. 

Landing in San Fransisco we first see Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) get off her plane from New York to go and live with her less fortunate sister Ginger (Sally Hawkins) in her cramped flat. Learning about how Jasmine has gone from riches to rags in a matter of months you see how her husband Hal (Alec Baldwin) had done some dodgy business deals and had taken alot of peoples money.

Now for Jasmine life is hard as she tries to work out what she can do in life, interior design is one idea and she decides to go back to school to learn how to use a computer. With flashbacks to her previous life with Hal you see Jasmine is a more materialistic person who has everything she could ever ask for, jewellery, clothes, expensive cars, grand dinners and lots of money. 

With the tension rising between the two sisters they argue about how different their lives were and how similar there lives are now. For Jasmine it is hard as she has to adjust to a different way of living from now on and has to learn to compromise and take what is necessary to survive even if be it working reception at a dentist office. Both sisters go through the motions with finding love and happiness and always seem to be the ones who lose everything.

The comedy comes through in little one liners, from Jasmine "can you not shout my prozac hasn't kicked in yet" just little quips that make you chuckle. Jasmine's sheer stupidity as well is interesting to see as she had everything but did nothing but now she has nothing and has to do everything for herself again. 

For me it is a great short funny comedy which showcases what can happen in life when you have it all it can all be taken away in a heartbeat. I have to say this has to be Blanchett's career defining performance as she plays Jasmine perfectly, she laughs, she worries and she cries and you feel every single emotion with her. Considering this was my first ever full Allen film and at the cinema it was really enjoyable and no doubt I will no go educate myself and watch Annie Hall and Manhattan to see what the hypes about. 

But do believe the hype of this film as it is a great situation comedy with some really strong performances especially from Blanchett. For any Woody Allen film fans you will absolutely love this film as I know I did.

8/10.

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.

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.

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.

The Way Way Back!!!!

The Way Way Back.

What has to be one of the years best summertime movies; emotion, teenage angst, growing up, being accepted and a dysfunctional family all feature in this film and come together to make something special. Starting off in a car journey Duncan (Liam James) is talking to his mums boyrfriend Trent (Steve Carell) about what Duncan would rate himself on scale of one to ten, Duncan says he's a six but Trent says he is a three and says its because he doesn't go out or put himself "out there". 

As the family, Duncan's mum Pam (Toni Collette), Trent's daughter Steph (Zoe Levin) pull up to Trent's holiday home it is evident that Duncan doesn't want to be there and isn't going to enjoy it. Soon enough the neighbours turn up, mum Betty (Allison Janney), daughter Susanna (AnnaSophia Robb) and her son Peter (River Alexander) all welcome the family with open arms.

The holiday is of course more for the adults as it is for the kids, as the family meets up with old friends of Trent's Kipp (Rob Corddry) and Joan (Amanda Peet) they regress back to their teenage years by staying up late drinking, smoking pot and going skinny dipping in the sea. But for Duncan this is just not his thing as he is left to fend for himself and entertain himself while his parents have their "spring break". Deciding to take a pink bike out for a ride he finds a local water park and meets the owner Owen (Sam Rockwell) who strike up a funny relationship. 

Soon enough Duncan is offered a job at the water park which will change his life like he never thought would be possible. Gaining people experience and finally enjoying the time away from his family he starts to come out of his shell more and makes some great friends in the process. Plucking up the courage to talk to Susanna a great friendship is made as Duncan shows her around the water park and is able to be himself for the first time around her. 

As the little quips, in jokes and sarcasm come thick and fast on screen it makes for a really enjoyable film and really does make you smile from scene to scene. As you see Duncan come to life at the water park you get to see his personal development and the relationship he has with his mother and her very stern authoritarian boyfriend Trent. As he finally gets his courage he has to soon enough leave the water park as summer is coming to an end and say goodbye to his new found friends. 

It's rare for a film with so many characters with a small runtime to really let the characters come across but they do. Smaller characters like Lewis (Jim Rash) and Caitlin (Maya Rudolph) get the chance to shine and show their back story and bring in some great one liners and comedy moments as well. The storyline is one that is sweet and can be awkward to watch on screen especially between Duncan and Trent it's a situation family members all go through at some point. 

On a holiday that he didn't want to be a part of Duncan learns more about life, friendships and his own future than he would have ever thought. And along the way he also meets some great friends, has some great fun at a water park and has some great laughs. What more could you want in life.

9/10.

The Worlds End!!!!

The Worlds End.

The final film in what is being described as the "three flavours cornetto trilogy", first their was Shaun of the Dead (Strawberry) then Hot Fuzz (Classico) and now we have The World's End (Mint). Obviously I have to admit I LOVED Strawberry and Vanilla, I mean Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz so I had high expectations going into this film and it didn't disappoint. 

Starting off back in time twenty or so years we see the group of lads all looking youthful and ready to take on the world but they must first try and do the Golden Mile of pubs. Basically to visit 12 pubs and drink 12 pints in their hometown of Newton Haven and live to tell the tale. As the boys try to do the Golden Mile they unfortunately fail and all eventually leave their hometown to start their own lives away from Newton Haven. 

Soon enough the cool one of the group Gary King (Simon Pegg) decides to reunite the gang, return to Newton Haven and try and complete the Golden Mile. But he has some work to do as most of the group have moved on, Oliver "O-Man" (Martin Freeman) is an estate agent, Steven (Paddy Considine) is a construction business owner, Peter (Eddie Marsan) is a father of two and Andrew (Nick Frost) is a high flying lawyer. But with some wise words and encouragement the group agree to go on the pub crawl and all end up back in their hometown in Gary's old classic car just like years earlier.

As the boys make their way around the pubs they soon realise that things aren't what they used to be. As Gary gets in a fight with a teen in the toilets in soon turns into a 5 V 5 fight in which they end up with blue ink on their hands. As Oliver's sister Sam (Rosamund Pike) turns up she soon joins in the boys fun and the conspiracy theories soon fly around trying to work out what was going on and what has changed in Newton Haven. 

As the alien robots are soon after the group of lads the boys try to survive Gary is determined to make it to the World's End and finally finish something in his life.

This film has everything that we loved from the first two films, it has laughs, action, great characters and a great storyline. The used of extras is great as well as we see some of the UK's best sitcom actors are in the film and also extras from the previous films which is good to see. Considering the film has a low budget in turns of films out at the moment the CGI effects are really impressive and bring the action during the film. The friendship between the friends is sweet and they reminisce to bring the characters that bit more depth which was needed.

Of course not every film is perfect as I felt the whole story of how Gary became obsessed with doing  the Golden Mile was not truly addressed, seeing his bandaged arms wasn't enough for me I needed to know why. The ending was something a little weak as the Alien race argues with Gary, Andrew and Steven the Aliens decide to just leave Earth without a hesitation which was a bit of a WTF moment. 

And of course the mint flavoured cornetto makes an appearance close to the end, so do we know of a fourth cornetto flavour and if so will we see it feature in another Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost film?!.

9/10.

This Is The End!!!!

This Is The End.

When american comdys come to our screens we expect them to either be funny or just downright stupid and pointless to the point it's funny because it's so awful. But luckily for This Is The End it turns out that this is a comedy that at times balances itself rather nicely between the two. 

A parody of the Hollywood actors lifestyle we at first see Seth Rogen playing himself waiting at the airport for his friend Jay Baruchel who has flown in to spend some time with him playing video games, smoking drugs, drinking and having a good time. With Rogen suggesting they go to James Franco's new house for a party the guys head off for the celebrity filled party to party all night and have a good time. Arriving at the party the other main characters of the film arrive, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson and a late riser Danny McBride all join the group. 

With other celebs thrown into the mix, a rather coked up Michael Cera who slaps Rihanna's arse, Jason Segel, Paul Rudd, Christoph Mintz-Plasse, Mindy Kaling and the British beauty Emma Watson. It is a massive mix of other comedy style actors who if only to be on screen for a few minutes to be killed off is a nice addition. 

As a massive earthquake takes place and beams of light strike the ground and take people up to the clouds above the group try to work out what has happened. Theories of a zombie apocalypse, the apocalypse and the four horseman, an alien invasion and the end of the world all ideas are thrown out there. Trying to survive on the little food they have they venture outside James Francos house to find other people, food and water to survive but soon enough they have to leave and see what really has happened to the world. 

As the group venture outside all manner of stupid things happen to the group as one by one they all find their way to escape the destruction of Earth. As giant monsters with massive dicks are shown on screen, demon possession, to the end credits of the group dancing with a well known US boy band the film has everything, laughs, WTF moments and utterly stupid moments as well. 

A great comedy film that looks at what celebrity's in Hollywood would do if faced with the end of the world and the comedic things they would get up to. With plenty of comedic actors making their appearance in the film it utilises them all and I have to say Michael Cera even if he's not a main character is just hilarious and has some stand out scenes at the start of the film. Directed by Seth Rogen you can see he had some major input into the film and definitely brought out the best in all the actors involved. 

For anyone who liked Pineapple Express, Superbad, Hot Tub Time Machine, Knocked Up or any major comedy release film starring any of the actors mentioned then you will truly love this film.

6/10.

The Hangover part III!!!!

The Hangover part III.

Third and no doubt final instalment of The Hangover comedy franchise and it sees the original group come back together to help out their buddy Alan (Zach Galifianakis) deal with the death of his father. As Alan starts to act out of the ordinary (beheading a giraffe on a motorway) his friends come together to take him to rehab but are diverted and that's when things get out of hand and out of their hands as well.

As the four guys are on their way across the country they are kidnapped and bundled into a van and taken to the drug lord Marshall (John Goodman). As Doug (Justin Bartha) is taken as a bargaining chip the three remaining friends have to go and find the recently escaped crazed Mr Chow (Ken Jeong) and retrieve Marshalls gold bars or Doug dies. 

As the trio Alan, Stu (Ed Helms) and Phil (Bradley Cooper) travel back to where it all started Vegas they try to track down and capture the crazed Mr Chow. Soon enough they catch up with him and all chaos ensues from breaking into a house, letting out some crazed cocaine fuelled fighting chickens and hanging of the edge of the tallest hotel in Las Vegas the guys get up to everything.

Obviously I can't give too much away but all I can say is that it's nothing we haven't already seen before. It feels to me that the film studio was pressured by fans of the films to make a third film to finish the franchise off perfectly. Deciding to follow a different storyline and run with Alan having problems in which the friends take a road trip is a nice change from the constant try to recollect what happened the night before feel of a film. 

The characters are up to their usual tricks and all the actors portray and slip back into the characters quite well. Alan and Mr Chow are of course the most outrageous and funny characters in the film but the laughs are not laugh out loud belly laughing their barely just little titters of laughs which is a shame. To me the one seriously funny moment that had the cinema laughing properly was after the credits when you see what happened after Alan gets married, does this mean another film in the franchise.......who knows.

Overall a good film but something that feels rushed and put out onto screens just to please the fans which in my mind is not the right reason to make a film but hey the fans love it so why not put it out. 

4/10.

The Croods!!!!

The Croods.

The second animated film of the year for me and it's Dreamworks newest outing in The Croods featuring an array of of well known voice actors. This time round Dreamworks have decided to touch upon the story of a stoneage family who go through "the end" and the journey they take to survive and the family problems they encounter along the way as well.

So onto the film itself, as I described above it is about a family (The Croods) who as they put it are the last remaining human beings alive. Father of the family Grug (Nicolas Cage) is an overprotective dad who tells the family anything new is BAD and will kill them all if they do anything new at all. Mother of the family Ugga (Catherine Keener) is a typical mother who fusses over her family and makes sure they're all ok and keeps Grug in-line at times as well. Son Thunk (Clark Duke) is a typical teenager, he has hardly any sense at all and runs around without any thought in the world and is easily amused. Smallest child Sandy (Randy Thom) is an animalistic little kid who runs around and awesome speeds and is generally a childish character. The older member of the family and the mother in-law Gran (Cloris Leachman) is an old wise woman who always has the line "I'm still alive". And finally we have Eep (Emma Stone) who is an inquisitive girl who wants to do nothing more than to venture out of the cave and explore new things.

As the scene is set you see how frightened the family is of the outside world and how much the father figure states that new things are bad for them. As you see the family go on a hunt for a dinosaur egg to feed the family you see how each member works within the family.

But soon enough Eep sees a bright light pass the cave and decides to follow it and leaves the comfort of the cave and her family. soon enough she gets into trouble and that's when a saviour comes to her aide, Guy (Ryan Reynolds) saves her from being eaten and thrusts fire into the air saving her. As she talks to him she soon realises that her family is not alone in the world and that their are other people out there. As she narrowly just makes it back to the cave to her family with the help from her father Grug she tries to tell family members about who she has met.

As the family cave is destroyed and the threat of being eaten again they finally call upon the help of Guy who comes running in to save the day again. He shows the family members some new inventions like fire and shoes. As each family member learns new things about the world and their eyes are opened their is one person who is not buying this new lifestyle, Grug. 

As the family carries on trying to find shelter before "THE END" takes place the family must learn to trust new things, trust Guy and last of all to accept new things as their not all bad. What happens next I will leave for you to watch, will the family survive "THE END" or will they all stand by Grug and stick to the old ways?

Overall the film is entertaining......for little kids, for adults they will find the film a little bit flat and at times a little bit ridiculous. The voice acting is ok but in my opinion Nicholas Cage just doesn't have that animated film style voice he sounds out of place and just too dull a voice for a kids film. The storyline is to be desired, a simple yet quirky storyline it's fun at times but for most of the time it's just tedious. 

Visually the colours are great, the coloured landscapes and animals featured all show off the animators skills and the 3D for the film just adds more depth to the on screen animation. But don't expect anything deep, thoughtful and emotional like a Pixar movie because you're not going to get it from this film. What you do get is a fun, bright coloured, kids film that all children will truly enjoy and adults wish would be alot shorter.

5/10.