Film Review: The Hurt Locker

Director: Katheryn Bigalow

With a screenplay written by a journalist (Mark Boal) who spent time with an EOD team in Iraq, you expect a realistic yet harrowing portrayal of probably one of the toughest jobs in the world. With The Hurt Locker this is more or less what you get, a very tense movie which actually lacks the action scenes you'd expect from this genre of movie.

The film opens with a quote: "The rush of battle is a potent and often lethal addiction, for war is a drug." We follow Sergeant First Class William James (Jeremy Renner) who is an experienced vet in charge of an EOD unit in Iraq. First hand we see the brave and tough job he has to do which is sometimes made all the worse by his slightly reckless behaviour.

William James (Jeremy Renner) in the protective suit

Jeremy Renner is an excellent lead, in the first few scenes he is quite tentative but then releases an intriguing charisma that helps carry the film. The constant disagreements with his team roots itself as a sub-plot throughout the entire film and certainly adds to the drama. Naturally the story pitches towards the friends and family that soldiers left behind but at no point is this overplayed for which I applaud the film-makers, it could have been easier to go overboard on this.

The film has realistic elements in most of the film, the filming was completed in Jordan near the Iraqi border for authenticity and the camera crews worked in stifling Middle-Eastern heat. Unfortunately some parts of the story were clearly unrealistic for how the army would handle a certain situation and this is something that has been echoed by Army veterans who were shown the movie. For the most part though this does not detract from what is a very good movie.

3/4 tense and thrilling but lacks the realism you expect

Film Preview: Hitchcock

At first Hitchcock's films took centre stage in the world of cinema, now it appears his life is also being moved on to the big screen. Alfred Hitchcock is rightly revered as one of the greatest directors of all-time with his finest works including Vertigo and North by Northwest. We see Alfred Hitchcock (Anthony Hopkins) and his relationship with his wife Alma Reville (Helen Mirren) revealed, all against the backdrop of the filming of Psycho.

The filming of Psycho was quite controversial as it tried to gain an age rating. There was an issue over whether the classification board could see a pair of nipples through a white shirt and the fact a toilet flush could be heard (which had been deemed in bad taste to show in cinemas). The possibly nudity was dodged as Hitchcock submitted the footage again unedited because he couldn't get the cast back together, this time the board members who had seen the offending footage now couldn't and those hadn't now could.

It also deals with the risky idea of killing off the main actress (Janet Leigh played by Scarlett Johansson) in the first half of the movie, the tensions in filming strain the relationship between Hitchcock and his wife which makes for drama and intrigue at every corner.

Hitchcock is released in the UK on the 8th February 2013 and the trailer is embedded below:

Film Review: Skyfall

Director: Sam Mendes

A big movie in the latest franchise of James Bond with Daniel Craig as the thoroughly British hero, Casino Royale was a runaway success which re-ignited the ailing hero but Quantum of Solace pulled everyone back to Earth with a bang. So the difficult third film in the series was key to keeping the public interested if Bond is to continue to be a must-see spectacle at the cinema. The production of the movie was fraught with difficulties after financial troubles at MGM stopped the movie being made for a time and meant screenwriter Peter Morgan left the project.

Bond (Daniel Craig) is called into defend MI6 after a villain with an intricate knowledge of how they work and uses it to try and get to M (Judi Dench). His mission takes him round the world trying to trace his enemy (Javier Bardem) with the help of new Q (Ben Whishaw).

Daniel Craig returns as James Bond

Javier Bardem is the most impressive character within the film and is slightly under-used especially in the early going, his humour and uncomfortable nature was a highlight. Craig is solid as ever whilst Judi Dench as M takes a front seat much to the detriment of the movie, there is only so many sarcastic and abrupt put downs you can give her in one film. It's clear at certain points that the production team from this movie has learnt a lot from Christopher Nolan's version of Batman. 

Some inventive humour is induced to the movie which lurches wildly from surprisingly funny to incredibly flat and predictable, it's difficult to pitch humour in action movies without it being forced and cliché but Skyfall manages it for the most part. The suspense is well kept throughout the film although the ending does slightly drag on extending the run time of the film to an unnecessary length. But it's no doubt an improvement over Quantum of Solace and that was key here.

2.5/4 solid action movie and an improvement on its predecessor.

This week's releases

Skyfall: Daniel Craig returns as James Bond for a third time in the long running franchise.

Full Preview here

Fun Size: Teen comedy starring Victoria Justice, Chelsea Handler and Jackass' Jonny Knoxville, Wren (Justice) is tasked with looking after her odd brother Albert but decides to ditch him to join her friends at a Halloween party. There are a lot more tricks than treats!

Room 237: A documentary about the numerous theories and myths surrounding the Stanley Kubrick film The Shining. To this day the film still creates debate and speculation as about its deeper meanings as well as why certain events occur in the way that they do. Almost guaranteed to make you want to watch the film again.

Film Review: The Girl who kicked the Hornet's Nest

Director: Daniel Alfredson

Alfredson remains in the director's chair for the third and final film in the Millenium series by the late author Steig Larsson. It continues the story from The Girl who played with Fire which finds Lisbeth Salander charged with murder despite the belief that she has been framed and works from a distance with Blomqvist in trying to reveal major corruption surrounding a man called Zalachenko and the Swedish Security Service.

Having been shot twice by Zalachenko out in the forest, Lisbeth is saved by Blomqvist who comes to the remote cottage to rescue her. She wakes up in hospital with Zalachenko just two rooms down after she hit him twice with a shovel and she has to prepare for her court case for murder as well as attempted murder of Zalachenko. Whilst this is going on Blomqvist is trying to find the major corruption in the SSS that might save Lisbeth and stop them from silencing all the parties involved.

Lisbeth walking to court under armed guard

The third film has a lot of ground to cover and races along at a quick pace which could easily leave the viewer left behind. Once again I found the tension of the books missing with the whole thing leaving me a little cold until the end. The opportunity for a fantastic finale to the trilogy on the big screen is wasted and one of the only lasting memories from the film will be Noomi Rapace who has gone on to a career in Hollywood when the film as a whole could have been so much more.

The scenes in court help you derive some satisfaction but the story leading up to this is lacking punch and anxiety which means that when the finale you want suddenly appears you aren't as excited as you should be, you don't feel yourself rooting for Lisbeth as much as you should. The other mistake in the movie is that there is little doubt of Lisbeth's guilt, in the books there is always a hint that Lisbeth could be capable of killing these people but that is omitted from the film. It leaves us with a slightly more predictable premise than the books deserve.

2/4 underwhelming and uneven conclusion to the superb trilogy.

Film Review: The Girl who played with Fire

Director: Daniel Alfredson

The second book of the millenium series by the late Steig Larsson sees Lisbeth's past come back to haunt her whilst Blomqvist investigates an illegal sex-trafficking ring that brings him back close to Lisbeth. After a spate of killings involving key people in the sex slave industry, the killings are seemed to have been committed by Lisbeth as her fingerprints are on the gun owned by her guardian, the creepy Nils Bjurman who is also killed. She hides out trying to find out who is behind it all whilst Blomqvist does the same from the offices at Millenium.

Lisbeth Salander fighting her way out of yet more trouble

The film has a new scriptwriter and director but retains much of the same feel as the first, mainly down to the performances of Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyqvist. The film isn't as surprising and shocking as the first as you are lot more familiar with the characters and their behaviour. The acting is once again reasonably impressive especially from the new characters involved in the second movie.

Having read the books around six months ago I had a decent knowledge of how the plot goes but even I had moments where I was unsure. This film seems exclusively for people that have read the books so know what is happening as I think it would be baffling otherwise. Unfortunately the nerve-wracking tension of the book doesn't translate onto the screen as well either, the slightly claustrophobic tension of everyone spying on each other and the corruption inside the government and Swedish Security Service.

2.5/4 slow starting but tense build-up to the final part of the trilogy.

Film Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Swedish Version)

Director: Niels Arden Oplev

Steig Larsson's phenomenal trilogy originally got converted to the big screen in it's native Swedish and it's success has meant that the whole trilogy has now been filmed and released. Much of the success of this film was believed to be the reason that the American remake was unsuccessful, with many fans refusing to see it saying it was needless with the Swedish version being available. It certainly looks like the American franchise of the books is dead in the water now.

The story is obviously similar to the books but obviously certain aspects were included into this that weren't in the American version. This film feels a lot darker and is filmed in a less pristine manner giving it a slightly murky quality which matches the tone. Some of the scenes feel more chilling when watched and leave you with a cold feeling.

Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander

The directing is superb throughout by Niels Arden Oplev, he creates tense set-pieces that leave you fascinated whilst still maintaining the ability to thrill you when the action happens. The acting was something that received the most praise in the film, Noomi Rapace certainly looks better in the Lisbeth Salander role but I honestly think Rooney Mara was the better actress whilst for Mikael Blomqvist it was vice versa, Daniel Craig looked more like the Blomqvist I had in my head but Michael Nyqvist is certainly more convincing.

Fans of the millenium trilogy would do well to see the film as well as the American remake and draw your own conclusions, they both have their positives and negatives when they are compared. I'm intrigued to see how they have filmed some portions of the second and third book.

3/4 darker take on the books but wasn't blown away by the acting

This week's releases

Beasts of the Southern Wild: The story of a six year old girl growing up in the Deep South with a surreal twist.

Full Preview here

Ginger & Rosa: Set in the early 1960's, two friends realise there is more to their lives than domestic boredom in London. They set off to change their lives but find the imminent threat of a nuclear war during the cold war a threat to their plans. Starring Christina Hendricks and Elle Fanning.

Barbara: A story set during the cold-war, it follows the story of Barbara (Nina Hoss) who is punished for trying to escape West out of Russia. During her punishment she meets her new boss Andre whom she forms a bond with.

Film Review: Network

Director: Sidney Lumet

Sidney Lumet has proven himself to be a genius over the years by directing great movies such as 12 Angry Men and Dog Day Afternoon to name just two. The film posters for the movie told you to prepare for a "perfectly outrageous motion picture" and they were right. Peter Finch became the first actor ever to win a posthumous Academy Award for Best Actor with only Heath Ledger receiving it since, Finch died in 1977 before the awards.

Howard Beale (Peter Finch) mid-rant

Howard Beale (excellently cynical Peter Finch) is the longtime anchor of UBS Evening News which has slowly slipped down the ratings. He is told that he has just two weeks left on the air before he is replaced so he announces that he will commit suicide live on air next week but is sacked after the incident. He is given a chance to apologise on air so he can go out with dignity but decides to launch into a tirade about life is ''bullshit" which improves the ratings and he is kept on. He then becomes famous after persuading viewers to open their windows and shout "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!". But his fame and freedom to say anything he likes on air isn't liked by everyone.

A distorted but deeply satirical look behind TV and the hunt for ratings between different stations which is more prevalent in America than anyone else in the world. The film mocks many things from the 1970's and not just the world of TV, the beauty of the film though is it's relevance today in a world full of talentless celebrities and reality shows. It is genuinely deserving of it's mentions amongst the greatest films of all-time.

The production team watch Beale on air with worry

The rant's produced by Howard Beale are fantastic but some of the shouting is over the top at times by other characters. It's like all the main characters get a shot at playing Beale during the film by having a big rant about something. Watching this film you can certainly see the similarities that were captured for Anchorman that was released in 2001, but this is at the other end of the scale in terms of being witty and intelligent to Anchorman's random anarchic humour.

3.5/4 wildly satirical look at fame in the TV industry

Film Review: Phonebooth

Director: Joel Schumacher

A tense psychological thriller from Joel Schumacher who was behind one of the earlier Batman franchises. The film's release was delayed due to the Beltway Sniper attacks in 2002 round the Washington D.C and Virginia area of America.

Stu Shepard (Colin Farrell) is a cocky publicist from New York City who is married to Kelly (Radha Mitchell) but is secretly starting to see Pam (Katie Holmes) behind her back. He makes a call to Pam from a payphone booth and is interrupted by a pizza man attempting to make a delivery to him, he rudely dismisses the man. After he completes his call to Pam he receives a call from a man who threatens to shoot him with a sniper rifle if he leaves the booth, the caller wants Stu to do things for him if his life is to be spared.

Colin Farrell as Stu Shepard

The film is full of suspense for good portions of the movie, Farrell is capable as the cocky city slicker whilst Forrest Whittaker is the most impressive as the troubled Police Captain. The setting for the film being only on block on New York all revolving round Farrell in and around a phonebooth works in terms of creating claustrophobic tension as Farrell's character has nowhere to escape to.

There are limits to how entertaining a film like this can be, the dialogue does go back around in circles at times as the film goes on. It does become tiresome but succeeds in giving you a much needed jolt back into action when the plot loses your interest. After a while it becomes apparant that they weren't sure how to end the movie, it disappoints after your initial interest.

2.5/4 tense slick thriller but lacks killer punch

Film Review: The Other Guys

Director: Adam McKay

Directed and co-written Adam McKay who was behind Anchorman and the less funny Talladega Nights. Apart from starring Ferrell and Wahlberg it also features Samuel L. Jackson, Eva Mendes, Michael Keaton and Steve Coogan in the cast.

Detective Allan Gamble (Will Ferrell with his best performance in a long time) is a forensic accountant who is happy pushing paper in the New York Police Department and is the butt of many jokes from his co-workers. Detective Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg) is his partner due to a mistake when he shot Derek Jeter during the World Series thinking he was trespassing onto the field at Yankee stadium. Hoitz tries to convince Gamble to go out and solve real crimes so they can impress their boss and win back credibility with the force which seems them go up against billionaire David Ershon (Steve Coogan) and many criminals from around the world.

Detective Allan Gamble (Will Ferrell) and Detective Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg)

First thing you notice is how much Will Ferrell has been reigned in during this movie for the most part, he is much more subdued and not completely over-the-top in his acting like many other movies. This makes him much funnier as an actor and works better with Wahlberg who is also impressive in a comedic role (surely lead to him getting the lead in Ted). Some of the running jokes throughout the film are quite random but really work especially the on-going gag about Captain Gene Mauch (Michael Keaton) quoting TLC song's apparently without realising it.

The plot doesn't always work but that is secondary to the humour mostly which works, Wahlberg's character does become a bit tiresome with his constant complaining whilst the characters of Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson could have been used to greater effect but were impressive when they were around.

3/4 well-pitched random humour lifts this above many of its kind

Film Preview: The Impossible

It was only a matter of time before somebody took the tragic events of the tsunami that swept Asia in 2004 from the Indian Ocean. It happened on Boxing Day of that year and was a devastating event that was covered endlessly by the new media at the time with millions of people donating to charity to help the cause. The film stars Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts as a couple caught up in the disaster, this is their second collaboration after the 2005 movie Stay. The film was released at the Toronto Film Festival in September of this year.

Movie Poster

The movie is based around one family's true story of survival during and after the tsunami that hits most of Asia in 2004. The couple end up split up and unknowing of each others fates so search through the wreckage that is left to find each other and reunite as a family.

The Impossible is released in the UK on 2nd January 2013 and the trailer is embedded below:

Film Review: Gomorrah

Director: Matteo Garrone

Based on the book of the same name by Robert Saviano, who actually worked for the Camorra crime syndicate unloading illegal deliveries at the dockyard as part of his research. The book isn't an easy book to read through but the stories of corruption through wide spread business in Naples is truly shocking. The film is as bleak as the book with the added feel of authenticity with Italian being the spoken language.

Don Ciro with the enemy in the Scampia Feud

The film follows five different storylines of people involved with the mafia in very different ways that are all linked by the on-going feud between DiLauro crime syndicate and the scissionisti or separatists. There is Don Ciro, a timid man who distributes money to families of imprisoned clan members, who is caught in the middle of the war as he is threatened. Totó who is a 13 year old grocery delivery boy who joins the scissionisti after he returns some guns and a bag of drugs after they are ditched by clan member being chased down by the police. Roberto who is a waste management graduate who ends up working for Franco who makes money by illegally dumping toxic waste in abandoned quarries with dangerous results. Pasquale who is haute couture tailor who works for the Camorra but also has a night job working with a rival Chinese garment factory and finally Marco and Ciro, nicknamed Sweet Pea, two out of control wannabe gangsters who steal mafia guns to play with and rob places with but end up on the wrong side of infamous Camorra.

Marco and Sweet Pea fire off the guns they stole

With many mafia films out of America showing the world as glamorous and full of men in fine suits, this is the ground level in Naples. Even the men with money don't wear anything flashy to avoid drawing attention to themselves in a city with big money to be made with the biggest shipping port in Europe and pushes the highest amount of drugs out of any city in the world. The whole film has a dingy and bleak feel to it, even out in the countryside around the city still feels tainted and ugly based on what you have seen. It leaves you in doubt that every facet of the economy in the city has the mob involved and not just at a local level.

The film cuts out a lot of the tit for tat killings of the turf war as well as much of the torture and shocking deaths that are described in the book, being shot in the back of the head when you weren't expecting it is a sign of respect that your death was purely down to business and nothing personal. If you had disrespected someone personally then you could expect a much more prolonged and painful death. The characters all feel trapped in some way, as if life outside Naples is not worth living which means it feels claustrophobic around the tenements.

3/4 Depressing look at the far reaches of the mafia in Naples

Film Preview: Promised Land

Gus van Sant reunites with Matt Damon, who also co-wrote the film with fellow actor John Krasinski, many years after the success of Good Will Hunting in 1998. It was filmed around the metropolitan area of Pittsburgh whilst the small Pennsylvanian town of Apollo served as the town for the film. The residents of the town of Apollo protested against the film's anti-drilling stance towards oil as the producers had apparently promied a balanced view throughout the film.

Movie Poster

The film tells the story of Steve Butler (Matt Damon) who works as a salesman for an oil company that looks to buy drilling rights for distressed communities across America. Residents are usually happy to sign at reduced rates due to the funds involved without a thought for the reduction in their quality of life caused by the drilling. In one town he comes up against Dustin Noble (John Krasinksi) who refuse to sell and looks to change his opinion.

Promised Land doesn't have an official release date in the UK yet but is expected to be released in early 2013. The trailer is embedded below:

Film Review: Arbitrage

Director: Nicholas Jarecki

Financial turmoil is a hot topic in the world at the moment as the big economies try to drag themselves out of recession and the movie industry has suddenly sprung a number of films based around financial meltdowns including Margin Call and Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. In the case of Arbitrage it's slightly different as the meltdown of Robert Miller's (Richard Gere) hedge fund takes a back-seat for large parts of the movie as he deals with the fact he left the scene of an accident where his mistress (Laetitia Casta) was killed when he fell asleep at the wheel.

For years Miller cooked the books at his hedge fund to escape a $400 million loss due to a failed investment so his hoping to sell his company to recoup the losses and avoid being arrested for fraud whilst avoiding the rap for involuntary manslaughter as he is pursued vigorously by Detective Bryer (Tim Roth, star performer). The manslaughter story doesn't add a whole lot to the film, it's just a side show that takes over the core story of the film to pad out time.

Robert Miller (Gere) with his daughter Brooke (Brit Marling) who also works for him

The manslaughter story doesn't add a whole lot to the film, it's just a side show that takes over the core story of the film to pad out time. It felt like this story was given much more time to develop to avoid delving too deeply into the financial crisis that is developing at the hedge fund meaning that the more interesting story was ignored. I understand they probably didn't want to make the storyline too complicated but much of the story is just settled in one sentence as to how things happened meaning important parts were rushed whilst less important events dragged on.

Richard Gere is generally someone I despise which made him ideal for playing billionaire hedge fund manager Robert Miller who is rather stereotypically a man only out for himself, at no point does he really consider anyone else. The film's central theme is corruption which is at the heart of everyone's motives out of the key characters, everyone is willing to bend the rules for their own benefit.

2/4 Often distracted plot interlinks two stories that don't successfully meet.

This week's releases

Ruby Sparks: From the directors of Little Miss Sunshine (meaning I will definitely hate it), a comedy romance which tells the story of a novelist whose stories come to life to make up for writers block. Calvin (Paul Dano) creates Ruby Sparks who comes to life and he realises that he's falling in love with her.

Pusher: Based on the novel by Nicholas Winding Refn (Director of Drive), Pusher charts a week in the life of drug pusher in London. We see run-ins with the law and enemy gang members all inside a climactic 7 days. Starring Richard Coyle and Bronson Webb.

On the Road: Garrett Hedlund stars as Dean and Sam Riley as his travelling buddy Sal in this road movie through post-war America. They find true liberation and re-define an entire generation all over the course of one journey.

Hotel Transylvania: Adam Sandler just can't be kept away from the big screen, this time lending his voice to this children's animated comedy about Dracula. Also pitching in for the cause are Andy Samberg, Kevin James and Steve Buscemi.

Taken 3?

After the huge success on opening weekend for Taken 2 starring Liam Neeson, it appears FOX are requesting another film to be made to keep the franchise alive. Their motives are clearly financial as they stated that they ''looked at the numbers'' and thought another sequel would be a good idea. Neeson already stated over the weekend that he didn't think a third would happen and that this was the first and only sequel to the cult hero that was the first movie.

Neeson to return as Bryan Mills for a third time?

The issue with looking at the numbers for the second film is that people will always give it a chance after the first film became so popular, I'm not sure that is the case after the second movie that has opened to pretty poor reviews. I certainly won't feel compelled to go and see a third movie after the second was so laughably bad. The screenwriters said that a third movie would see a completely different format from the first two as that plot has gone as far as it possibly can, to be honest the whole franchise has gone as far as it can. The second film seemed like a cynical film only made to plump up the bank accounts of everyone involved.

Film Review: Taken 2

Director: Olivier Megaton

After the huge sleeper success of the first film, it came as no surprise when a sequel was swiftly announced. The main question being how much the plot would differ in the second one and how could they match the slick action of the first film. Regardless of reviews it's clear that this film will be a huge commercial success compared to it's budget of $45 million with early estimates from opening weekend already topping the $100 million mark.

Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) dispatches another villain

Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) is forced back into action as a trip to Istanbul with his family forces him to face the families of the Albanian gang that he killed in Paris in the first movie. They want revenge for their deaths by taking Mills back to Albania to be tortured in killed in front of the community so they look to kidnap his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) and his ex-wife Lenora (Famke Janssen). The formula isn't exactly the same as the first but the overall idea is.

The acting is capable from all involved but the plot is what really lets the film down, on many occasions it is downright laughable including Bryan working out where he is by counting in seconds how far he has gone in a truck when kidnapped and by relying on sights and sounds that wouldn't necessarily be there hours later. After the movie we discussed the obvious plot holes for a good 10mins and could have gone on for a lot longer but Kim running round Istanbul throwing grenades with reckless abandon is an obvious highlight.

Kim Mills (Maggie Grace)

Some of the dialogue especially when Neeson comes to take on the baddies has ended up being a bit cliché and hammy. The original film was actually quite violent which fitted the slick action that ran through the film but to appeal to a wider audience they cut out the more violent scenes to reach a 12A rating which leaves it looking very tame. The plot actually dawdles through the opening third with little to keep your interest as you know what is going to come and the only saving grace is that some of the dialogue and plot is so bad that it ends up being unintentionally hilarious at times.

1/4 laughable plot is clumsy and far fetched

Film Review: Killing Them Softly

Director: Andrew Dominik

The common understanding in Hollywood is that hit men and assassins are cold-blooded murderers with absolutely no remorse for anyone, they will kill anyone as long as they get paid. Finally Killing Them Softly shows that this isn't always true as the character of Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt) likes to only kill people he doesn't know and from a distance so he doesn't have to be involved with any pleading or crying. He refers to this as killing them softly which means that mentally he's not troubled by the event of murder.

Cogan is called in because a mob protected poker game is the subject of a heist by outsiders who believe the blame will fall on Markie (Ray Liotta) due to him robbing his own game in the past. Cogan must dispose of numerous people so calls in his old friend Mickey (James Gandolfini) but finds he isn't the efficient killer he once was. The whole film is set against the back-drop of recession in America with numerous speeches by George W. Bush and Barack Obama filling the background, even recession hits the underworld.

Jackie Cogan, hitman (Brad Pitt)

One of the death's is probably the most beautifully orchestrated piece in terms of music and slow motion action that it could almost be considered artistic, Pitt is excellent as the real man who kills for business but is still a conscientious soul. Gandolfini is also impressive as the over-the-hill assassin who is more of hindrance upon arrival, whilst the rest of the movie does feel like a gangster film reunion with some of the other actors. There are slighty comparisons to Pulp Fiction due to the banal conversation throughout the film.

The outlook throughout the movie is gloomy, the city we see is under an almost constant barrage of rain and the places that they frequent are usually working class dive bars. Cogan's line sums up the movie's thoughts perfectly "He (Obama) thinks America is one community, it's not it's a business now give me my fucking money!"

3/4 satirical and sometimes darkly funny but just lacks that killer punch

Film Review: Blades of Glory

Director: Will Speck and Josh Gordon

A film about the curious world of ice skating, this was Ferrell's first film after Talladega Nights which had so much expectation after the success he had playing Ron Burgundy. Here he teams up with Jon Heder who made his name in the excellent Napoleon Dynamite, looking quite different here.

Chazz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell) and Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder) are rival ice skaters who compete in the singles who end up tied for Gold at the World Winter Sports Games. They end up fighting on the podium which leads to the Games mascot being set on fire and are then stripped of their medals and banned from the sport for life. An obsessive fan of Jimmy spots a loophole three years later that means that he can compete in the doubles but then realises his best chance for a partner is rival Chazz.

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The film satisfies its run-time with enough jokes, Ferrell is comfortable in this sort of character and it wouldn't surprise me if he ad-libbed some of the jokes himself. Jon Heder seems less comfortable in a more obvious comedic role to his previous roles but takes to playing the effeminate Jimmy quite well. The plot itself is quite formulaic but this doesn't detract from the jokes themselves which are normally at the character's expense rather than poking fun at the world of ice skating which I'm sure is a very serious intense sport.

An easy film to watch if you happen to come across the DVD, Ferrell has made better films and has certainly made worse.

2/4 some genuinely hilarious moments but they are few and far between

Film Review: Untouchable

Director: Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano

A French language film, it was released back in 2011 at the Tokyo Film Festival where it won the top honour whilst lead actors Francois Cluzet and Omar Sy jointly won the Best Actor prize. From there it impressed critics and the public alike in France so much so that Omar Sy won the Cesar Award for Best Actor ahead of Jean Dujardin for The Artist in February 2012. The love for this film meant it has been released around the world and is expected to do well during awards season at the start of 2013.

Phillippe (Francois Cluzet) and Driss (Omar Sy)

Phillippe (Francois Cluzet) is a wealthy quadriplegic who can only move his head so needs to be cared for and fed, on finding a replacement he interviews Driss (Omar Sy) who only turns up so he can get a signature for his benefit claim to say he applied for job but didn't get it. Driss' jokes about classic music impress Phillippe so he hires him. Driss is an African immigrant who has had a few run-ins with the police whilst Phillippe is a highly intelligent and charismatic millionaire. Over the course of the film an unlikely bond is built between the characters despite their incredibly different backgrounds.

Francois Cluzet and Omar Sy are both absolutely superb in this movie, the bond that grows between them seems truly real and they seemed very at ease in each other's company. Sy produces much of the films funny moments and is a natural showman whilst Cluzet manages to catch you off-guard with a few slightly more subtle jokes of his own. They should both be highly considered for awards in January.

In the mountains watching the paragliders

The main idea of the film is that Driss helps Phillippe in a physical way as his carer whilst Phillippe helps Driss in a socio-economic way. They quickly learn from each other in many different ways, one of the main ones that stick out in my mind is Phillippe's birthday where he introduces Driss to classical music.

Naturally a foreign film with this kind of success doesn't go un-noticed in America so a remake has been planned by the Weinstein Company with Colin Firth set to take up the role of Phillippe, I'd be shocked if the remake even comes close in comparison to this film. This film only recently came out so I implore you to go out and see it, you won't be disappointed.

4/4 funny yet moving film with two superb acting performances

This week's releases

Taken 2: Liam Neeson returns in this sequel after the surprise success of the first that garnered a cult following of fans. A full preview can be found here: Taken 2 Full Preview

Sinister: The team behind Paranormal Activity are a busy bunch, number 4 in the series is being trotted out in the next few weeks and they also bring bring you this movie starring Ethan Hawke. Hawke plays a crime detective who moves into a new house where he finds a box of movies after realising the previous occupants were brutally murdered and that supernatural forces might be at work.

The Perks of being a Wallflower: Based on the best selling novel, this is a coming of age comedy that follows a naive fresher as he moves to college in America and is taken under the wing of two seniors who teach him about college life.

Film Preview: Silver Linings Playbook

Premiered at the Toronto Film Festival earlier this month and won the TIFF's People Choice Award after rave reviews from critics at the event. Jennifer Lawrence, fresh from kicking ass in The Hunger Games, stars alongside Bradley Cooper who has a glut of films coming out in which he is starring. There are also appearances from the likes of Robert DeNiro, Chris Tucker and Julia Stiles (The Bourne Supremacy). The director and writer for the movie is David O. Russell who was behind the popular 2010 movie The Fighter.

Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper stars as Pat Solitano who spends four years in a mental insitution who moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife but things become complicated with the appearance of Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence). She agrees to help him re-unite with his wife but only for something in return but she also brings along a lot of problems of her own.

The film is set to be released in the UK on Wednesday 21st November 2012 and the trailer is embedded below:

Film Review: The Departed

Director: Martin Scorcese

Any Scorcese film in the last few years is awaited with baited breath by movie fans and critics alike, after successes with Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and Goodfellas to name just three it's fair to say there is a lot of expectation. In 2006, The Departed was released with an ensemble cast and Scorcese in the directing chair meant that expectations were sky high but they still managed to pull off a great film. The film is based on 2002 Hong Kong film Internal Affairs and won 4 Oscars.

Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson) and Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon)

The film is based around the Irish mob in South Boston where Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson, character loosely based on Whitey Bulger) is the top man. Whilst in the police force there is Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) who is made to go undercover within Costello's mob due to his Irish background whilst Frank Costello has already placed Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) has his insider within the police force. There is then a lot of double crossing and near misses as both sides realise there is a rat inside their organisations and they battle to find out who it is.

Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) with Frank

There are some excellent performances which mainly come from the supporting cast, especially Vera Farmiga and Alec Baldwin, whilst Ray Winstone plays an Irish hoodlum with his usual cockney accent in the background (I'm sure he'll be more at home in The Sweeney). The main actors all perform aptly without any of them really impressing, maybe because I was expecting more effort and work into Irish-American accents.
There are some incredibly tense moments that are superbly played out as the mob and the police get closer to finding out who the informers are on each side. It asks some interesting questions of identity and what exactly is right and wrong as neither Sullivan or Costigan are completely guilty or innocent in the acts they take as part of their roles spying inside the police force and mob respectively. The ending is excellent as the whole story unravels but the film is too long for the premise at times as they try to combine three Internal Affairs movies into one long epic.

3/4 thrilling and tense mob flick but doesn't have the weight for lengthy run time