Awards Season Review (Part 2)

As I write this second piece on films nominated for awards in 2017, we are only hours away from the Oscars. As such, I’ve got a round-up of 11 more film reviews from the awards selection for you to peruse at your leisure. Let’s just get straight to it.

I, DANIEL BLAKE

This film is testing. It’s not happy, it doesn’t have a happy ending, and its triumphs are small. It’s a very gritty film, but it is real; this film might as well be a documentary. It is well made, with perfect casting, and highlights a number of problems facing the UK’s poor such as job seekers allowance, appeals, the food bank, and a world that won’t listen. It even makes a point about how difficult it can be for women sometimes who can’t afford to buy sanitary products and other basic toiletries. It is a very honest and open film with a wonderful lead. It’s tough, but it’s good.

It’s not been Oscar nominated for obvious reasons, but it did win it’s BAFTA for Outstanding British Film of the Year and was nominated for a few others too. To top that off, it also claimed awards from BIFA and Cannes. Not too shabby really.

4 Stars

 

ZOOTOPIA

Man, I liked this film. Imagine a really good police drama with buddy cop vibes and a relationship you can really root for. Now imagine it’s an animation – hear me out – and the lead pair are a bunny and a fox. You heard me. This film is genuinely a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed it – it’s still got a great story and some lovely characters. It’s definitely not for kiddies either so it’s perfect for us grown ups. It’s an animation I’d be likely to recommend and watch over and over.

Unsurprisingly it’s been nominated for Best Animated Feature for the Oscars, Golden Globes, and BAFTAs. It didn’t win the BAFTA but won the Golden Globe so it’ll be a bit of a surprise tonight who wins. To be honest, I’d be happy for any of the animations I’ve seen so far to win.

4 Stars

 

13TH

13th is an immensely powerful documentary that genuinely holds your interest throughout. It’s excellently told and is clever with its uses of alternate viewpoints. It’s a phenomenal and thoroughly educating film that has actually moved me quite a bit. I would highly recommend this film to anyone interested in US politics, Black Lives Matter, or even just human rights or the state of America today. As a Netflix original documentary, 13th is actually available to watch immediately on Netflix, so give it a try!

It won the BAFTA for Best Documentary and is up for the Oscar tonight as well. I can’t be too confident it will win as I’ve not seen most of the contenders that have had insane reviews, so we’ll have to wait and see.

4 Stars

 

ARRIVAL

I didn’t want to see Arrival because I haven’t enjoyed most of the recent what-I-call ‘space films’ such as Gravity or Interstellar, plus I’m not a fan of Jeremy Renner. Yet I watched it and was pleasantly surprised. It’s smarter than an action film in space, and I just really strongly appreciate clever films. It got a little confusing near the end but was all cleared up, and took a more wondrous approach to space than the classic ‘bring out Idris Elba with guns’ which is nice. It’s got a beautiful score, and some great characters so it’s definitely worth spending some time on.

It’s been nominated for 8 Oscars including Best Picture, Sound, Editing, Cinematography and so on. However, it received the same number of nominations from BAFTA and only got away with a win for Sound (which it will probably receive again). The issue here is that Amy Adams isn’t nominated but Meryl Streep is. Now, kids, this is what we call a crime.

4 Stars

 

HIDDEN FIGURES

I was really looking forward to Hidden Figures for a while, and although I enjoyed it, it didn’t quite hit the mark I expected. Perhaps I wanted too much. The film was well cast and followed a greatly interesting story – a true story. I felt the film lacked punch, oomph, or maybe just a shift into a higher gear because the impact and the groundbreaking nature of the story only really hit home when the end comes, and the portraits of the real ‘Hidden Figures’ appear on-screen. My biggest issues lie in the unsupportive and uninteresting choice of music and soundtrack, the pace, and the focus.I genuinely adored the romantic subplot but felt that shouldn’t be what I wanted more of. Ultimately I wanted more Octavia Spencer.

Despite the lovely SAG win for Outstanding Cast, it fell short at the BAFTAs with only one nomination for Screenplay that it didn’t win. Tonight, it’s up for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Picture and Supporting Actress in Octavia Spencer. I’m not sure it’s up to the level of the other Picture contenders but I can see Octavia Spencer getting a win.

3 Stars

 

TROLLS

I can’t believe I’m saying this but Trolls was alright. I enjoyed Trolls. I laughed out loud at Trolls. I’m glad I got that off my chest. Obviously, Trolls is no groundbreaking documentary, or heartbreaking drama, or even a great animation. It’s only nominated for that Justin Timberlake song there’s no way you missed, but as a film, it wasn’t bad. It was a bit of fun, and the sarcastic Troll manages to balance out all the other glitter-farting, sunshine-loving Trolls with their singing and dancing. It’s never too annoying and is meta enough to keep it all at a safe level. It’s just something to cheer you up a touch.

The BAFTAs paid no attention whatsoever to Trolls, and it failed to grab the Golden Globe either. I’m not hopeful this will win at the Oscars, but hey it wasn’t bad.

3 Stars

DOCTOR STRANGE

If anyone’s interested in why I’ve fallen out of love with Marvel, Doctor Strange sums it up. It’s cliched, it’s overly cheesy, and dumbed down, and it just seems to take excellent actors and make them appear actually quite bad. I wasn’t a massive fan of Benedict anyway, but the boy can’t do an American accent, and frankly, he’s better than this (plus his character is a massive dick, but somehow his life is great). There’s a lot of gaps, and they totally wasted Rachel McAdams. It sounds all very negative I know, but if I want to sit down and watch a clever film about neuroscience and magic, I don’t want to find the sassy cape the best part. Probably best for kids.

It’s nominated for Visual Effects tonight – which I’m not sure it will get – and lost out on it’s three BAFTA noms in Visual Effects, Production Design, Makeup and Hair. 

2 Stars

 

NOCTURNAL ANIMALS

Well. This was dark. Then again, it was also bloody good. One criticism is that there isn’t enough Armie Hammer (but then there never is), but after that, there isn’t much to critique aside from a few unimportant scenes that could have been omitted. It was an all-star cast that performed brilliantly and managed to somehow keep three timelines relatively unconfused. It’s a very interesting film and a thoroughly well laid out story. Also A+ for Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Shannon.

Surprisingly, it’s only been nominated for one Oscar (well done Michael Shannon), despite being nominated for nine BAFTAs. Interestingly Aaron Taylor-Johnson won the Golden Globe for Supporting Actor. I don’t expect it to win tonight, but I’ll at least tell you to watch it. 

4 Stars

 

MOONLIGHT

Moonlight is a very good film, but a very hyped up film. To be fair it is right to be raved about in terms of its story, acting, and choice of soundtrack. Yet again we have a story that should’ve been told years ago, and a story that should be normal. In regard to the film itself, the acting is genuinely top notch, as is the music, and the relationship that blossoms across three chapters. There were a few things here and there that I didn’t like, the ending being one of them, but ultimately it was a very good film that I hope lays a path for more of its kind.

It’s received eight Oscar nominations including Best Picture, and I’ll be amazed if it walks away with nothing – as it did at the BAFTAs with just four nominations. I’d love to see Naomie Harris win but Michelle Williams is also up there in my favourites.

3 Stars

 

THE LOBSTER

The Lobster (or as I like to call it ‘Colin Farrell is unlucky in love’) is a strange film. Anyone will tell you that. It’s futuristic and interesting. Its story is a social commentary on our societal values of relationships above other things. The cast is an unlikely collective of some greatly underrated actors who work together seamlessly. It’s dark and full of sex, swearing, and death. Nevertheless, I actually really liked it. I liked it less toward the end (especially with a cliffhanger ending) but found it fascinating.

The film came out in October 2015 for us Brits so it’s already on Netflix despite being up for a Screenplay Oscar this evening. It didn’t win at the BAFTAs or the Golden Globes, and it probably won’t win here either, but it sure is an interesting idea to put to page.

3 Stars

 

HELL OR HIGH WATER

I really enjoyed Hell or High Water and was also just really pleased for Chris Pine because he has a lot of crappy titles to his name despite being a great (and immensely attractive) actor so it was nice. His onscreen relationship with his brother was also excellent; there was real familial chemistry there and it worked well. Jeff Bridges was obviously amazing and added even further comedy to this Texan based fast-paced crime drama. The film isn’t just a long series of bank robberies, it has heart, and is laced with emotion throughout. It’s a great film that keeps its pace and is great for immersing yourself into if you feel like getting lost for a little while.

Oscar-wise, it’s up for Editing, Picture, Screenplay and Supporting Role (Jeff Bridges). I’d say it has a good chance, but as always it’s tough competition. So far it’s failed to pick up any Golden Globes or BAFTAs, but it’s good to know that everyone agrees we should applaud Jeff Bridges if nothing else.

4 Stars

 

2015 v. 2016: The Review

If you know me in real life, or follow me for some unknown reason, you might have noticed I haven’t posted in a while. I didn’t post my usual top ten films of the year, but that’s not to say I didn’t make the list. I won’t lie, I had a bad year for cinema and didn’t see nearly as many releases as I should have. I wasn’t that heartbroken to not post my top ten list for 2015 as truthfully, it wasn’t that great a list. So instead, I present to you a list of my top five films of 2015, among other highlights of the year in film (that I managed to watch). I imagine it will be a short piece, so I then intend to look into 2016 for film and what I’m looking forward to. Let it begin…

Top 5 Films of 2015

#5: Whiplash (dir. Damien Chazelle)
Starring: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Paul Reiser, Melissa Benoist
Runtime: 1h 47min

This film was released in the US late 2014, but only arrived here in the UK in January 2015. So it’s been a while since I saw it, but without checking my review I can still tell you that it was tense, stressful and it made my hands kind of sweaty. I’m also afraid of J.K. Simmons now for life, he was that good. To be honest, I’ve yet to meet someone who didn’t like this film. It really was good, and an incredible story. The narrative, editing, music and build up of tensity made this film the five star sensation it has become over the year.

 

#4: Inside Out (dir. Pete Docter, Ronnie Del Carmen)

Starring: Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Phyllis Smith, Richard Kind, Bill Hader, Kaitlyn Dias
Runtime: 1h 35min

BAFTA and Oscar nominated, Inside Out has done incredibly well for itself in 2015, and has been called one of Pixar’s best. This is probably accurate. Inside Out made me cry like the sheer baby I am. This film is undeniably important as the first chance for children and young people alike to understand their mind and their emotions. Much like Toy Story 3, this film really hit home with the majority of its massive audience. The smallest moments of film can relate so well to so many people, making it a wonderful, yet hellishly emotional release.

 

#3: Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (dir. J.J. Abrams)
Starring: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Lupita Nyong’o
Runtime: 2h 15min

I want to say that of the ten of you reading, at least 7 of you will have seen this. Hell, I’ve seen it twice. Of course this film is good; I mean really good. The cast is utterly sublime, and you know what’s kind of the best bit? The lead of one of the biggest franchises in the whole world, not to mention in the sci-fi genre, is this badass chick called Rey who will whoop your ass, and also make time for some romance, some family issues and an adorable little droid called BB-8 (both pictured for the three of you that haven’t seen it). It’s not a film that can really be measured in its own right, it belongs to the franchise and is a part of something much bigger. Regardless the film delivers, and will do extraordinarily well for years to come.

 

#2: The Martian (dir. Ridley Scott)

Starring: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels, Sean Bean, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Peña, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan, Aksel Hennie
Runtime: 2h 24min

A contender for one of Matt Damon’s best ever performances (albeit Good Will Hunting), The Martian is a really excellent film, and a killer for casting. When I first wrote about the film, I said that “The Martian takes on a beautiful philosophy and succeeds at ticking all the boxes for a magnificent four stars” and I still believe this. Essentially, forget about Gravity or Interstellar or any of the ‘space films’ from the past few years, and pay all your attention to the funny, heartbreaking, ABBA blasting thrill-ride that is The Martian. Trust me when I say it deserves your attention.

 

#1: Mad Max: Fury Road (dir. George Miller)

Starring: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Zoë Kravitz, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Riley Keough, Abbey Lee, Courtney Eaton
Runtime: 2h

I spent a few days debating whether The Martian or Mad Max deserved first place, but ultimately, Mad Max: Fury Road was a masterpiece, and borderline (though not entirely) flawless. This was stunning to watch, I mean really beautiful. I’m the kind of person to criticize Fifty Shades of Grey for it’s bad and inconsistent lighting at the same level as its complete lack of story and general quality. So watching something so incredible and so ambitious with its colours and landscapes was a fantastic experience. The cast were superb, and the fact that Miller managed to make a 2h car chase as fun and exciting and drama-packed as he did, is bloody impressive. Hence, Mad Max: Fury Road takes the title for 2015.   

 

The TMTM Awards

Next up are a bunch of made up awards for films I saw that I want to tell you about or highlight from the past year. Feel free to fast forward to the 2016 section complete with non-made up things. (In no particular order…)

#1: Cinderella (dir. Kenneth Branagh)
Starring: Lily James, Richard Madden, Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter
Runtime: 1h 45min

“When her father unexpectedly passes away, young Ella finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and her scheming step-sisters. Never one to give up hope, Ella’s fortunes begin to change after meeting a dashing stranger” (Courtesy of IMDb)

Actual awards: 1 Oscar nom, 1 BAFTA nom (total: 6W, 21N)

Made-up awards: ‘Hellishly Heartwarming’, ‘The Most Beautiful Dress Ever Made’, and ‘Prettiest Male Lead’. With special mention for the wonderful Cate Blanchett reminding us just how great she is, while simultaneously playing the baddest stepmother ever.

 

#2: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (dir. Alfonso Gomez-Rejon)
Starring: Thomas Mann, RJ Cyler, Olivia Cooke
Runtime: 1h 45min

“High schooler Greg, who spends most of his time making parodies of classic movies with his co-worker Earl, finds his outlook forever altered after befriending a classmate who has just been diagnosed with cancer” (Courtesy of IMDb)

Actual awards: 2 Sundance wins, 1 Independent Spirit nom (total: 15W, 32N)

Made-up awards: ‘Surprise of the Year’, ‘Actually a Good Teen Movie’, ‘Most Beautiful Yet Simultaneously Soul-Crushing’ and ‘Sweetest Film of the Year’.

 

#3: Big Hero 6 (dir. Don Hall, Chris Williams)
Starring: Scott Adsit, Ryan Potter, Daniel Henney
Runtime: 1h 42min

“The special bond that develops between plus-sized inflatable robot Baymax, and prodigy Hiro Hamada, who team up with a group of friends to form a band of high-tech heroes” (Courtesy of IMDb)

Actual awards: 1 Oscar win, 1 BAFTA nom, 1 Golden Globe nom (total: 13W, 45N)

Made-up awards: ‘A Grown Man Judged Me for Crying at This’, ‘Best Song for Immortals by Fall Out Boy’, ‘I Gave In and Bought a Plush Baymax’, ‘Generally Incredibly Sad and Beautfiul’.

 

#4: Ricki and the Flash (dir. Jonathan Demme)
Starring: Meryl Streep, Rick Springfield, Mamie Gummer
Runtime: 1h 41 min

“A musician who gave up everything for her dream of rock-and-roll stardom returns home, looking to make things right with her family” (Courtesy of IMDb)

Actual awards: 2 noms (total: 0W, 2N)

Made-up awards: ‘Most Underestimated and Under-Viewed of the Year’, ‘Up and Comer Award for Mamie Gummer’, ‘A Pretty Great Soundtrack but Not the Best of the Year’

 

#5: The Intern (dir. Nancy Meyers)
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Robert DeNiro, Rene Russo, Adam Devine, Zack Pearlman)
Runtime: 2h 1min

“70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker has discovered that retirement isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Seizing an opportunity to get back in the game, he becomes a senior intern at an online fashion site, founded and run by Jules Ostin” (Courtesy of IMDb)

Actual awards: 4 noms (total: 0W, 4N)

Made-up awards: ‘This Was Actually Quite Good’, ‘Surprisingly Feminist Movie of the Season’, ‘Hooray for Adam Devine’, ‘This Film Made Me Feel Nice’

 

#6: Feast (dir. Patrick Osborne)
Starring: Tommy Snider, Katie Lowes
Runtime: 6m

“The love life of a man as told through the meals he gives his adopted dog, Winston” (Courtesy of IMDb)

Actual awards: 1 Oscar win (total: 1W, 3N)

Made-up awards: ‘I Cried’

 

Here’s to 2016

Basically, there’s a big ole’ number of franchise pieces out this year, and about 12 video game adaptations, and a bunch of other reboots and boring action films all set for a 2016 release (apparently it’s going to be a ‘bumper year’). I’m not looking forward to a huge number of them, like Suicide Squad, Batman v. Superman, even Captain America: Civil War – I guess I might just be a little bored. I’ve already seen a few of the new films, but will be reviewing them shortly after I post this beauty. So here are a few films coming out that I’m actually looking forward to, or am at least curious…

 

The BFG (dir. Steven Spielberg)
Starring: Ruby Barnhill, Rebecca Hall, Mark Rylance, Bill Hader, Jemaine Clement
UK Release: 22 July 2016 

“A girl named Sophie encounters the Big Friendly Giant who, despite his intimidating appearance, turns out to be a kindhearted soul who is considered an outcast by the other giants because unlike his peers refuses to eat boys and girls” (IMDb)

Why:
Because it’s the BFG, and if you’re not excited then I don’t want to talk to you. It’s Roald Dahl goddamn it. Much like Matilda, this film probably deserves to be shown in museums across the country all year round. (I really hope it’s good).

 

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (dir. David Yates)
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, Colin Farrell
UK Release: 18 November 2016 

“The adventures of writer Newt Scamander in New York’s secret community of witches and wizards seventy years before Harry Potter reads his book in school” (IMDb)

Why:
Again, how can you not be interested in this. This looks to be pretty good with an ace cast, and trustworthy director in Yates (director of 4 Harry Potter movies) – not to mention J.K. Rowling wrote this too. It’ll probably be good.

 

Moana (dir.  Ron Clements & John Musker)
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Alan Tudyk, Auli’i Cravalho
UK Release: 2 December 2016

“A young woman uses her navigational talents to set sail for a fabled island. Joining her on the adventure is her hero, the legendary demi-god Maui” (IMDb)

Why:
I’m sorry, does this not look cool to you? The Rock is in it, what more do you want. (We don’t actually know that much about it at all, but it’s all myths and demi-gods, and Disney, and apparently musical…I eagerly await a trailer).

 

Kubo and the Two Strings (dir. Travis Knight)
Starring: Rooney Mara, Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, Art Parkinson
UK Release: 9 September 2016

“Kubo lives a quiet, normal life in a small shoreside village until a spirit from the past turns his life upside down by re-igniting an age-old vendetta” (IMDb)

Why:
I have a lot of faith in Laika (Corpse Bride, Coraline, ParaNorman, The BoxTrolls,  etc.), so I just get excited whenever they announce a new feature now. This one looks particularly promising, and has an exceptional cast for an animation. I love the dark, yet wonderful stories that come from the studio, and am just as excited for Kubo. The trailer is available now, and I suggest you take a look here.

 

Ghostbusters (dir. Paul Feig)
Starring: Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones, Kate McKinnon
UK Release: 15 July 2016

I’m not telling you the plot of Ghostbusters. Even if you haven’t seen it, the clue is in the name. I will just say that it’s a female team instead. (Source: Me).

Why:
I’m not a big fan of reboots, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t offended that someone wanted to remake something as flat-out iconic as the original Ghostbusters. I’d also be lying if  I said I wasn’t just a little bit curious. The cast is good, and there are rumours of a Bill Murray appearance as well as the IMDb suggesting appearances from Sigourney Weaver, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Annie Potts, all from the 1984 cast. Truthfully, I just want to know if it’s any good, or if it’s just sad and disheartening but we’ll have to wait (until July) and see.

 

Hail, Caesar! (dir. Ethan Coen & Joel Coen)
Starring: Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Alden Ehrenreich, Ralph Fiennes, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand, Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill
UK Release: 4 March 2016

“A Hollywood fixer in the 1950s works to keep the studio’s stars in line” (Ambiguous, but thanks IMDb regardless).

Why:
This looks really good, and has a fantastic cast. It’s the Coen Brothers, it’s the 50s, it’s Hollywood studios, it’s George Clooney and Channing Tatum in the same film. It’s just so promising. I will eat my hat if this turns out to be awful (and I only own one hat, so I’m very serious). Again, I implore you to watch the trailer here.

 

Star Trek Beyond (dir. Justin Lin)
Starring: Idris Elba, Chris Pine, Zoe Saldana, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg
UK Release: 22 July 2016

(The plot is still somewhat unknown to us, but it’s the third Star Trek film, which is really all you need to know right now).

Why:
The strong cast of the first two movies returns, and it’s basically the only filmd franchise I’m happy to see a third movie from this year (aside from Kung Fu Panda 3 which I forgot to write about but let it be known that I’m excited). You can view the trailer here, but know that Simon Pegg thinks the trailer sucks – which implies that the film is going to be better than the trailer suggests.

 

So there you have it, 5 of the best films of 2015 (in my opinion), 6 more films of 2015 that deserve your attention, and an exciting 7 films to look forward to in 2016. Happy (Very Late) New Year Everyone. 

 

 

Winter Roundup Reviews 2014/15

So I’m still not sure what I’m doing with this site and whether anyone is interested in what I’m writing. But I’ve gotten back into the swing of cinema trips again and I’ve seen a couple of great films and a couple of questionable films too. I’ve also read a lot of great reviews from various sites and I just felt like posting again. So here’s a short round up of four films I’ve watched in the last few months. 

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1

Jennifer Lawrence and Julianne Moore in Mockingjay

Director: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Donald Sutherland, Woody Harrelson
Runtime: 123 minutes

Plot: “With the Games destroyed, Katniss Everdeen, along with Gale, Finnick and Beetee, end up in the so thought ‘destroyed’ District 13. Under the leadership of President Coin and the advice of her friends, Katniss becomes the Mockingjay, the symbol of rebellion for the districts of Panem” (cred: floraxie01/IMDb)

Verdict: I was very impressed with this half of the adaptation. It’s tough to make two-parters, despite the fashion since Deathly Hallows, but this was executed well. It was very clean cut and tidy. The acting was on point as usual and the difference between Lawrence’s Hunger Games and Gary Ross’ Hunger Games is immeasurable. The quality is miles better, the visuals are wonderful and the effects are as believable as they should be. Particularly amazed at the Hanging Tree segment of this film. The sound mixing was absolutely stellar. It was an interesting point to leave it but on reflection, a place that makes sense given how much is yet to happen. So I wait with moderate excitement and interest for the final part.

4/5

Into the Woods (2014)

Emily Blunt and James Corden in Into The Woods

Director: Rob Marshall
Starring: Meryl Streep, Anna Kendrick, James Corden, Emily Blunt, Chris Pine, Billy Magnussen, Johnny Depp
Runtime: 125 minutes

Plot: “A modern twist on the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales in a musical format that follows the classic tales of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel-all tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife, their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the witch who has put a curse on them” (cred: IMDb)

Verdict: It wasn’t what I was expecting. I couldn’t help thinking it was probably a very good Broadway musical (which is is) rather than a film. It was very strange, quite long and a bit boring at times. It seemed to go on a bit and it seemed to rely, like so many other films with a massive cast, on its stars. To be fair to it, one of the reasons I liked this film was for the Queen herself, Meryl Streep. When she turns young she looks bloody fabulous, also classic example of quality acting. Equally I really enjoyed all scenes with the beauty that is Chris Pine. For me, the real film saver was the scene/song ‘Agony’. It is a perfect mock of classic fairy-tale princes that love themselves, are vain and wonder why all the princesses don’t love them – enter Chris Pine and Billy Magnussen thrashing about in a waterfall trying to outdo one another as head attractive prince (like so). On a last note this film was actually slightly gruesome for children, red riding hood annoyed me and, why was Johnny Depp in this film?

3/5

Whiplash (2015)

Miles Teller in Whiplash

Director: Damien Chazelle
Starring: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Paul Reiser, Melissa Benoist
Runtime: 107 minutes

Plot: “A promising young drummer enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student’s potential.” (cred: IMDb)

Verdict: You may have heard that this film is ’emotionally tense’ or ‘stressful’…let’s put it this way, I was sweating. I also didn’t realize but my head and neck were stuck in a position leaning toward the screen which I couldn’t get out of until the credits rolled. The music is ridiculous and just pretty perfect. It stays in your head for days. The acting. Don’t get me started on the acting. Miles Teller is superb and you almost feel his pain as he drums faster and faster, or his confusion and fear from Simmons slapping him yelling “Are you rushing or dragging?”. You want the punishments or shouting to end yet you can’t look away. In terms of Simmons, he is in fact so good I am now afraid of J.K. Simmons as a person. If I had to present him with an award (which he is likely to win for this) I would throw it at him and run before he shouted or hit me. He is too good. His remarks and abuse are pure gold; “Its not your boyfriend’s dick, don’t come too early” he tells one musician. It’s actually so tense at one point I gasped and at another I thought the film would end in a murder. This is marvellous. Chazelle has a very bright future.

5/5

 

Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015)

Colin Firth and Taron Egerton in Kingsman: The Secret Service

Director: Matthew Vaughn 
Starring: Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Mark Strong, Michael Caine, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Hamill
Runtime: 129 minutes

Plot: “Based upon the acclaimed comic book and directed by Matthew Vaughn, Kingsman: The Secret Service tells the story of a super-secret spy organization that recruits an unrefined but promising street kid into the agency’s ultra-competitive training program just as a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius” (cred: 20th Century Fox/IMDb)

Verdict: This is a very odd film and the trailer hides a lot. This film is like your regular James Bond, Brit spy film (or at least that’s what the trailer might suggest) – it’s actually a Brit spy film mocking a Brit spy film which occasionally leads to confusion. I enjoyed it and parts were funny and parts were clever. Parts, however were unnecessary and/or extreme (a wee bit OTT at times). I like Colin Firth as much as the next person, and did enjoy Mr Darcy losing his shit at a gang of street blokes. However, this film was utterly saved by Taron Egerton and his character ‘Eggsy’. His adventures with a hopeless little pug, his humour, his smart wit and general attitude is a winning combination that boosts the film up to a three star flick. I didn’t want to see this film originally because of how much I absolutely hate the poster (it’s quite possibly the worst poster yet). Yet I, like most of the audience, came out slightly surprised. I don’t think its actual production was top quality (and I really hated the title sequence-this may be my year making a title sequence for A-level talking). It’s strong points were Egerton, the mockery of British schoolboy culture and its complete eccentricity. Once you accept its completely jokey nature, you can enjoy it – or at least consider it a guilty pleasure purchase. (On a final note, Taron Egerton looks pretty smashing in a suit).

3/5