2011 Movies - Footloose

City kid Ren MacCormack moves to a small town where rock 'n' roll and dancing have been banned, and his rebellious spirit shakes up the populace.

What? Don't roll your eyes, sometimes, in order to appreciate intellectual films, one has to cleanse one's pallet with, shall we say, something that requires little to no thinking! The story is simple - a boy moves from Boston to a small hick town called Bomont. He's a gymnast (cool, right?), with a rebellious streak (like I'm sure they all have). He goes to this town, where some kids died because they were idiots who drank and drove to their own deaths - but because they had been dancing, the towns folk decided that ALL DANCING will lead to your death - so it's banned. Well, naturally. It's what I'd do. Don't ban the alcohol the kids somehow got hold off, ban the dance! 

Of course, this leads to kids (aided by some cooler adults) starting a kind of underground dance scene. Mostly they do sexy line-dancing, but some of them break out some stellar hip-hip moves. All in cowboy boots, mind. HIP! 

There's a girl who has a chip on her shoulder for no reason, and the boy who likes to rebel despite the fact that it's not really believable in his character and of course it's a love hate relationship. 

Oh, and there's this one boy... wait, you're gonna love this, there's this one boy who CAN'T dance. He just can't do it. God, how dare he not be able to dance. It's a secret though, and the rebellious little gymnast decides to teach him, and lo and behold -not to spoil - but, well, he's quite the natural in the end. Boy, can he dance! 

In between all of this fun, there's a love rivalry, an uprising of the kids who want to dance and are trying to overthrow the stupidest law you ever did hear in the wild west, and of course a big party at the end - which comes only after the brutal fight which normally would lead to people being hospitalised because of how over the top it actually is (yeah, hit me with the wing-mirror of the car, and that crowbar... I'll be fine, I swear!). What can I say? Entertaining it was - but also cringe-worthy. I had to look away at some parts because I was ashamed FOR them!

Final Verdict: 2.5 stars - it's watch-able, but it's no Step-Up!

2011 Movies - In Time

In a future where people stop aging at 25, but are engineered to live only one more year, having the means to buy your way out of the situation is a shot at immortal youth. Here, Will Salas finds himself accused of murder and on the run with a hostage - a connection that becomes an important part of the way against the system.

When this film first came out I was really excited to see it... then I missed it at the cinema. Bummer, major bummer... but I'm kind of glad. But only because I was glad to be able to pause it when I needed a bathroom break, or had to get a drink or something, because I feel if you missed even a second of this film you'd kind of be a little out of the loop.

It's really important to watch the first 20 minutes, because otherwise you'll be left out in the cold, with no time on your hands and no lifelines. Time really is important in this movie. Go figure.

So the general concept is as above - you get to live a normal life until you hit 25, and when you DO hit 25 you then have to work your ASS off to get time coded into your life clock so you don't time out and die. Justin Timberlake's character lives in the poorest 'time zone', which means he's basically living day to day, only ever having about an hour on his life at any given moment, and he strives to get more so he doesn't die... with me so far? It's a really cool concept, a great idea and sci-fi gold. But something was missing...

The story line was a little annoying - Amanda Seyfried's character was the 'bored rich girl', who didn't want to live on Daddy's time anymore because it wasn't really living. She only came up with this new lifestyle choice when she was faced with JT's rugged chops, getting all up in her bid'ness. Huh, pretty important decision to make, cutting yourself off from your dad and in the process becoming an outlaw, but, you know, when you have a chance to hit it up with the self-proclaimed Justified Body-rocker, you can't help but say Hasta la Vista, wealth and youth. Right? 

I'm being judgy. I did like the film, I thought it was good, despite a little bit of confusion with the story arcs - why were all those guys after them? Who was his real dad? Why were all the background actors so... awkward? 

It's a good watch if you like action/adventure sci-fi's with a semi romantic twist. And if you like Amanda Seyfriend in tight clothes, running in high heals with a wig on. And if you like Justin Timberlake... 

Final Verdict:

2012 Movies - Starwars Phantom Menace 3D

Two Jedi Knights uncover a wider conflict when they are sent as emissaries to the blockaded planet Naboo.

Yes, I went, I saw, I ate popcorn and drank a bucket of Diet Coke. I enjoyed it muchly. I have only seen this movie a handful of times since it first came out in 1999. I enjoyed it, but with me Star Wars is all about Harrison Ford and a cheap Wookie suit. Still, I do love these newer versions (even though I've only ever watching this one and half of the next one!). 

The thing I was most excited for was the pod race and the Darth Maul death match. It didn't disappoint, but the nice thing was, it didn't disappoint on any level, except I still don't understand what the film is really about... No, don't try to explain to me about the Federation, it's all politics!

Overall I thought bringing it to 3D was a nice touch and I really enjoyed watching it again. It really felt like the first time (Oh, shucks, I bet people say that to you all the time!). I sat on the front row though, and would advise to sit at least 3 rows back as the camera can get a little swishy, and you loose focus. The 3D brought it back to life for me, and took me back to a time where movies were just there for fun, not just there to try to nab an Oscar for best British Accent. It was enjoyable, funny, fun, scary and left me wanting to see the next one in 3D! Yes, I know... I sold out... but you would too if you heard this booming out at you from front row level...

Final verdict:

2012 Movies - Man on a Ledge

As a police psychologist works to talk down an ex-con who is threatening to jump from a Manhattan hotel rooftop, the biggest diamond heist ever committed is in motion...

Ah, what to say? I actually LOVED this film. Ignore the slight plot holes and annoyances of the characters and their wandering accents (Oh Mr. Worthington, just use your national accent, forget American, it's not becoming or believable).

The story is gripping, or at least I thought, and I instantly liked the characters and was drawn into the whole 'did he do it' storyline. I sat on the front row (which I NEVER DO) and I can confirm my fingertips were sweating. I actually thought I was on the roof at one stage. It was a rollercoaster and it was so well paced, I never got bored, although I did wonder if people really do cheer people on to jump from a ledge, I mean... that's kind of like assisted suicide, no?

The faults were probably just the fact that the 'masterminds' of the film seemed to not mind leaving really obvious clues lying around, but other than that I enjoyed the whole upheaval of everyones day and I loved the triumphant ending. (Won't say for who, I don't want to spoil it).

It was kind of like one of those old 1990's films you watch on a Sunday night on TV - really entertaining and you didn't feel like you had to totally pay attention. It was fun and furious and fast paced and Sam Worthington is kind of nice to look at. What? Who said that? It wasn't me....

Final verdict:

2012 Movies: Young Adult

Soon after her divorce, a fiction writer returns to her home in small-town Minnesota, looking to rekindle a romance with her ex-boyfriend, who is now happily married and has a newborn daughter.

This film wasn't anything I expected. I was kind of put off by the Diablo Cody tag. She wrote Juno... everyone raved. I raised an eyebrow. Didn't like Juno one bit. This film I did like, but it was advertised in a really weird way.

When I saw the trailer I thought it was going to be a comedy - laugh a minute sort of thing. It wasn't really. If anything I found it kind of depressing, and insulting. I don't know why I found it insulting... I just thought it was a sad portrayal of the life of a YA author. I know, it's all fiction, but it was kind of like a low blow.

The protagonist was an unlikeable character, and it seemed the writer went out of her way to make her so. I didn't really see any redeeming qualities to her at all. The story would have been a lot better had Charlize Theron's character been slightly likeable. I tended to find myself laughing at how awful she was... but I don't know if that was the point.

I didn't really get it, and though I liked the idea of the story it wasn't my cup of tea. Charlize was really good in it though. It was really well acted, if nothing else. I feel bad that I am giving this film such a hard time, but when I have seen so many good films so far in just this year alone I can't help but be honest and say this one has let the side (of 2012) down!

Final rating:

2012 Movies: Timer

If a clock could count down to the moment you meet your soul mate, would you want to know?

So, this movie came out in 2009, but I've only just found it/ seen it and I'd like to believe it was serendipitous. You see, I was flicking through this months addition of Empire and saw this little gem in the Dungeon Breakout section. I love Emma Caufield so I made a mental note to try to track the film down. The next day I went to my friends house. We didn't know what movie to watch so we decided to flick through Virgin's 'On Demand' titles to see if anything struck our fancy. I saw this and told my friend about it and after a few seconds we decided we had to see it.

The plot (which is badly described in the blurb above, thanks IMDB) is about a woman who, like many other people in the (fictional) world, decides to get a Timer implanted into her wrist. 

These Timers count down to the moment you are going to meet your soul mate - so ignoring the many questions about science and cosmic entanglements - Emma's character, however, is stuck with a bad situation. Her Timer is blank. This is because her soul mate hasn't been implanted yet, and so ensues the story of her dating men and taking them to be implanted in hopes that she has found her great love, impatiently waiting for her countdown to begin so she can 'zero-out' and find inner tranquillity. 

On the other side of the coin is her sister, who HAS a count down, but states she won't meet The One until she's about 46. I think she is 29 in the film, so she has a while to wait. Whilst Emma's character just can't cope with having a blank timer, and frets about finding a man, her sister sees her predicament as a chance to have one night stands and slag about a bit. Both of them, however, are lusting for love, they just don't know if and when they are going to find it.

Emma meets this guy, this cute, insanely adorable guy, who she starts dating. But he has a timer and it only has 4 months left on the clock, so he should be off limits, but they hit it off and it gets pretty heavy. Her sister meets a widower who doesn't have a timer and they hit it off, but... like the other side, it gets pretty heavy. I don't want to spoil ANYTHING on this one, because the not knowing is the best part. 

All in all I was pulled into this. It's funny, adorable, mind bending, question raising, and entertaining. I real corker and I'm going to buy it in the near future to add to my collection. 

Final verdict:

2012 Movies: Carnage

Two pairs of parents hold a cordial meeting after their sons are involved in a fight, though as their time together progresses, increasingly childish behavior throws the evening into chaos.

So, I loved this movie. I have to say - it was inspired. I know it was based on a play, and I can totally appreciate that when watching, as the way it's all set out is, basically, one set - so you really get a feel for the claustrophobic elements of the story.

The couples all interacted with each other SO well - I didn't think this would be a laugh out loud kind of film, I figured it would be more of a 'laugh in your head' deal. I was wrong. I laughed out loud so many times, and sure, many of these times weren't when other people laughed, but that was what was so good.

Jodie Foster just unravels mentally throughout the scenes and ends in this glorious drunk wreckage of womanhood. Kate Winslet is just her usual well-played self (though slightly going through the motions on the acting scale...), her character was equally amusing as she starts what will be the disastrous spiral into personal hell. Christoph Waltz is brilliant because he is so snippy and sarcastic and at first you kind of think he's the best of the bunch. He walks and talks and shmoozes and then you see HE starts to fall apart, but he acts as a kind of on-spurer of the whole charade. The icing on the cake for this film though, has to be John C Reilly. His facial expressions alone made me laugh but when he bursts out with his shouts and rants and utter bad-father antics he is at his best.

Each time the couple of Kate and Chris try to leave the apartment of John and Jodie they get pulled back in by some circumstance or another and each time you kind of gasp to yourself that they almost made it out. As the film escalates it really pulls you in.

All in all this film really had me in stitches. I came out really appreciating the way it was made and I'd definitely watch it again, which is always a good sign.

Final verdict:

 

2011 Movies - Another Earth

Another Earth

On the night of the discovery of a duplicate planet in the solar system, an ambitious young student and an accomplished composer cross paths in a tragic accident.

I'm blasting back to December 2011 today, because I thought I should really comment on this movie. It was a sci-fi drama... kind of. It's hard to categorise, but I can honestly say no film got to me as much as this one did last year. It was the last original film I saw in 2011 and even now I can't stop thinking about how I want to watch it again.

Basically, it tells the story of a young girl. She's smart and set on going to some great school in America, she has her whole life ahead of her, until she accidentally fucks everything up. She drink drives. She's listening to a radio station break some news on another planet visible in the night sky that has signs of life - so, like you would, she looks up to see if she can see it. But, it's not the best idea, drunk or otherwise, and she accidentally ploughs into a family in a car, killing the woman and child but leaving the husband in a coma.

Off she goes to jail, and when she comes out 5 or so years later she's a changed person. No longer being able to start a fantastic life she becomes somewhat of a hermit. All in this time people are investigating this new world that is getting continuously closer to Earth.

The guy who was in a coma is now awake and he, too, has become a shell of his former self - the story centres on her attempt to apologise for wrecking his life, but she can't go through with it and so accidentally becomes a cleaner in his house. They befriend each other - he, because he needs someone to talk to, and she because she wants to help him, but can't. They cling to each other and the relationship starts to take on an unexpected life of it's own.

In the meantime people are trying to contact this other planet, which is an exact duplicate of Earth - when they do make contact they decide to send some people over there, and hold a competition for civilians to go, because, well, why the hell not?

The girl enters and wins, and then decides to tell this man who she really is. And then all hell breaks loose for  everyone involved.

I've tried to write this with as little spoiler-ness as possible, so to describe the end all I can say is, this, much like Shame, is one that leaves you wanting more. You don't really know what the ending could mean, as there are many ways to interpret the events.

With a stunning soundtrack and a haunting storyline this film could be one of the greatest sci-fi dramas I have ever seen. 

Final Verdict:

2012 Movies - The Artist

The Artist

Hollywood, 1927: As silent movie star George Valentin wonders if the arrival of talking pictures will cause him to fade into oblivion, he sparks with Peppy Miller, a young dancer set for a big break.

What can I say? The Artist... after so much hype... I enjoyed it. Quite a bit, actually. The film truly is silent - so don't do as the ill-informed and ask for your money back because you "didn't know". It's black and white, and instead of dialogue it's title cards with the lines on. But this isn't every time the characters speak.

Let's start from the top. The story is, luckily, easy to follow. A silent film star, who is quite cocky and famous for what he does is all of a sudden out of favour when the production company want to start making 'talkies' instead. This isn't his niche, and unwilling to change he stands by his genre but with terrible consequences on his life. Simultaneously, a woman launches her career and surpasses his fame, eventually making the films he refuses to make himself. 

Their relationship is what carries the film, because they, at first, flirt and it's apparent they have feelings for one another, but as he career explodes and his fizzles out it all goes quite wrong for them, in many ways.

Like I say, the story is good because you can keep up, the dog, who belongs to the main protagonist, steals the show every shot he's in. You've probably seen or heard of him already though because everyone seems to have fallen in love with him - the new 'eddy' (oh, come on, Fraiser reference... anybody). 

When the characters talk you feel quite clever being able to figure out what they are saying without the use of title cards (which are used sparingly), but I couldn't help but feel confused in parts - as though maybe I should have been able to tell what was being said, but I didn't... was that just me?

Overall, I actually really enjoyed it, yet it did drag a bit, but the ending more than made up for it. I loved the ending. 

Final verdict:

2012 Movies - Shame

Shame

In New York City, Brandon's carefully cultivated private life -- which allows him to indulge his sexual addiction -- is disrupted when his sister Sissy arrives unannounced for an indefinite stay.

Hmm, the synopsis of this one doesn't really reveal too much about it, mind you, there isn't much to reveal. This was one of those 'glimpses' into the world of one man and his sexual appetite. And it is a big appetite... in more ways than one.

If you don't like full frontals from either men or women, I'd look away for 30% of the film. It's one of those ones where you look, but you're very aware you're in a room with 30 strangers, and as I sit on the back row I tend to look around to see how other people are reacting (guilty pleasure!), well, I had to make sure there weren't any perverts enjoying it too much!

I didn't like this film when I was watching it. The shots are too long, it seems. As though the camera has just been left 'on' and you're sat watching someone's dull life. But it kind of works at the same time. After all the sex and violence, and watching a man destroy himself with his own obsessions, I actually came out of the cinema with a lot of appreciation for it. 

I liked that it wasn't a full story, it really was a look into the life of a sex-aholic. It ended with so many unanswered questions about why he was the way he was, what was with his relationship with his sister, what the hell was he going to do about it all, that I couldn't stop thinking about it. I still can't to be honest. 

All in all I like films that leave me with something to think about. I read it today in one of my uni books, it was a quote from a story and it went:

"...nothing is so distasteful to me as when, in a story or a novel, the stage on which the imaginary world has been in action is swept so clean by the historic broom that not the smallest grain or particle of dust is left on it; when you go home so completely sated and satisfied that you have not the faintest desire left to have another peep behind the curtain..."

It's very apt, of many films, but especially this one. 

Final rating:

2012 Movies - War Horse

So this year I'm going to keep better track of the movies I'm watching. I go to the cinema a lot and if I'm not at the cinema I'm watching DVD's so I need to start writing more about them, though I won't be writing long posts, just short snippets about thoughts etc. This is the first post for 2012!

WAR HORSE:

Young Albert enlists to service in WWI after his beloved horse, Joey, is sold to the cavalry. Albert's hopeful journey takes him out of England and across Europe as the war rages on.

So, this synopsis basically sums it up quite well. I was a little wary, going into this film, because I don't like soppy, emotional family films. This is definitely one of those, though I wouldn't truly class it as 'family', as I, for one, think war films aren't kid friendly. I certainly don't like them... mind you, you get what it says on the tin so I suppose if you know before hand that you're going to be seeing scenes of war I guess it's ok?

Basic thoughts on the film were that it was heart wrenching. I love horses and anything with horses makes me want to weep like a pathetic woman. I hide my tears though, I will not be made to look weak! hah.
The story was ok, if not a LOT predictable. The war was horrible but there were some saving graces in it - a German and an Englishman helping each other out was bitter-sweet. But overall it was long. It felt like a long film. And my overall feeling was kind of:

"That horse was a user."

We had to fill in questionnaire's for the production company afterwards and I will tell them what I tell you... or vice versa - Wouldn't watch it again, wouldn't buy the DVD. It was ok for a one off viewing but not my cup of tea.

Watch this if you like: animals, stories about animals and their human friends, war, 'epic' drama's minus the 'epic', big blockbuster movies.

My rating: