Movie Mouse

Easy A

2010-10-24T01:08:00.001-07:00

Starring Emma Stone , Superbad ,2007 , about an intelligent high school student who is prepared to ruin her reputation for popularity .
Being marketed as a "Sixteen Candles " for a new generation , I think this is probably a wish for the film makers . As much as I enjoyed it I don't think it has the longevity of the classic 80's teen movies !
Although having said this , it does has the best screen parents in the form of Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson , a refreshing turn on the usually stereotypical parents !
Thomas Haden Church seems wasted in this movie , an odd choice I thought ?
Sick of the stereotypical "christian" characters , surely we are past this now ?
An enjoyable wind down movie none the less ....

3 cheese wedges

The Social Network

2010-10-16T11:54:00.000-07:00

Based on the founder of Facebook , Mark Zuckerburg , the worlds youngest billionaire .
Loved the opening scene that sets up the nerdiness and complete lack of social graces that this guy has , but then we learn how brilliant a programmer he is .David Fincher was under contract to bring the film in at or around two-hours, so he had the actors speak the dialog faster (the opening scene for example, which is four minutes, is a nine-page scene as written).
I do believe that this is Andrew Garfield's film , the new Peter Parker , you do feel his characters portrayal and his accent is flawless .
This is essentially a film about greed and betrayal and I hope the regrets we witness from the leading character , Jesse Eisenberg , Zombieland , 2009 , are genuine and not a Hollywood ending !

4 cheese wedges

Mr.Nice

2010-10-16T11:28:00.000-07:00

Starring Rhys Ifans and based on the life of notorious drug smuggler Howard Marks , who served 7 years in prison for his crimes , was said to have controlled 10% of the world's Hashish trade .
This movie has a very slow pace and kind of lost me half way through to a little snooze . Marks was extremely bright and earned a scholarship to study at Oxford , which begs the question , How could someone so bright get caught up in such a crazy lifestyle ??

2 cheese wedges

Wall Street : Money never Sleeps

2010-10-16T11:04:00.000-07:00

Sequel to the 1987 film Wall Street and once again directed by Oliver Stone , his only sequel thus far .
Question ....Should Iconic characters be revisited ? Surely there is a reason for this status ?
For me this sequel just doesn't work , bit of a nothing story , were we aware of a daughter in the first movie ?
Is the main character , Shia Le Beouf , financially or morally invested in some fusion project or both? Does he want to get his girlfriend and her father back together for her or because he wants a new mentor? Is he a greedy Wall Street guy with great ideas or is he some Eco-warrior trying to change the world?
WHO CARES ?

1 cheese wedge

Buried

2010-10-03T10:43:00.001-07:00

I have been looking forward to seeing this film since January and I wasn't disappointed . With Ryan Reynolds you have the whole package , this guy can bring the funny and then switch to thrillers effortlessly . Hard to believe that 10 years ago he was making awful sitcoms on american TV , you have to admire his ambition .

If you thought Devil , 2010 , was claustrophobic Buried takes it to a whole other level .
An American contractor working in Iraq, wakes up in a coffin. His kidnappers have provided a cell phone and inform him that he will be released only if they are paid "5 million money". The character spends the rest of the film frantically trying to arrange for the ransom by contacting his family, his employer, the FBI and the State Department. I will say no more other than I found my breathing getting quick and shallow and my palms sweaty just watching the plight of this unfortunate man.

There is one particular scene with his employer that cuts very close to the bone , recording the phone call the company he works for asks him to confirm they have no responsibility for his situation or his family if he should not survive !

A great un hollywood ending , do not expect to leave the cinema on a high !

4 cheese wedges

The Town

2010-10-03T10:13:00.001-07:00

Set in Boston and directed by Ben Affleck , this is sold as a gritty crime thriller . The story didn't really stay with me and I wanted the layers of the movie to keep me thinking even after I had left the cinema .
The car chase sequence in the film is a very nice and tasteful throwback to The French Connection (1971). The action sequences are carried through with tough and gritty realism especially the shootouts , all very exciting .
For me Jeremy Renner , The Hurt Locker , 2008 , was the best thing about this movie and I came away wanting to see more of him .
All in all not a bad cinema experience .....

3 cheese wedges

Devil

2010-09-19T10:59:00.000-07:00

Directed by John Erick Dowdle , who also created great tension in Quarantine , 2008 . Story is written by M.Night Shyamalan , which , in this he is back on form , I think with most of his movies it is better to see it early before somebody ruins the experience by giving away the end !
I liked the intimate settings , the unknown cast and the simplicity of the story . Great tension and , for me , a genuine shock moment .

4 cheese wedges

Cyrus

2010-09-16T11:50:00.000-07:00

This is not a comedy,gravely mis-sold ! FAIL

0 cheese wedges

Tamara Drewe

2010-09-16T11:32:00.000-07:00

Directed by Stephen Frears , who over his career has made some amazing work . Dangerous Liasons , 1988 , The Grifters , 1990 and more recently The Queen , 2006 . This is based on a graphic novel of the same name , with lots of lovely quintessential english characters . Starring Gemma Arterton in the lead with a comedic performance by Dominic Cooper , love Arterton's face , she is easy on the eye , but the girls who stole the show where the teenage characters , brilliant .

3 cheese wedges

Resident Evil : Afterlife

2010-09-16T11:24:00.000-07:00

Forth film in the series , directed once again by Paul W.S Anderson ,who also happens to be married to the leading lady !
Can't put my finger on why I love these films so much ?
Maybe a combination of a strong leading lady ? The awesome fighting ? Her being super human ? The fact that she takes no prisoners ?
Don't know what it is but I love them , even though the story never changes , they are always visually entertaining !

3 cheese wedges

Jonah Hex

2010-09-04T11:43:00.000-07:00

Directed by Jimmy Hayward , Horton hears a who , 2008 , his first live action film . I knew of Jonah Hex in name only. It wasn't anything special but it moved a long fairly quickly and I wasn't bored for what that's worth.
Great casting in Josh Brolin and man of the moment Micheal Fassbender , John Malkovich seemed a tad underwhelming. I think he's a great actor so I trust he nailed the character though. Will Arnett stuck out like a sore thumb in the small number of scenes he was in. He's a goofy, funny guy I just don't really want to see him in a serious role.
Fun and fast ..

3 cheese wedges

The Last Exorcism

2010-09-04T11:34:00.001-07:00

Shot in the same style as The Blair Witch Project ,1999, hand held documentary style . With the added touch of no known faces it is easy to forget you are watching fiction . A nice premise, the Pastor who lost his faith only to be turned around in the 11th hour . Some great touches but maybe spoiled by an over dramatic ending ?

3 cheese wedges

Dinner for Schmucks

2010-08-30T11:31:00.000-07:00

Movie for Schmucks ........ go see Inception again !!

0 cheese wedges

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

2010-08-30T11:17:00.000-07:00

Directed by Edgar Wright , Shaun of the Dead , 2004 . I think if you know this graphic novel then you will love the movie . LOVE Michael Cera , Superbad , 2007 and he is awesome at playing the unassuming geeky guy , but this falls flat for me . MEH ......

2 cheese wedges

The Expendables

2010-08-22T10:03:00.001-07:00

Directed by Sylvester Stallone and starring the who's who of the action genre .
Go in with no expectations and you will have a fun time ! No story , no characters , only action !

2 cheese wedges

Salt

2010-08-22T09:52:00.000-07:00

Starring Angelina Jolie , this was originally written for Tom Cruise , who subsequently dropped out , then re written for a female lead . Directed by Phillip Noyce , Dead Calm , 1989 , he is no stranger to spy thrillers having directed Patriot Games , 1992 .
Lots of twists and turns combined with lots of action by Jolie . Nice to see a female lead in this kind of genre .

3 cheese wedges

Piranha 3D

2010-08-22T09:44:00.001-07:00

From the director of The Hills Have Eyes , 2006 , and Mirrors , 2008 . This is a fun , not to be taken too seriously horror type movie . With lots of bad taste and comedy it is a real throw back to the 1970's . Great cameo by Richard Dreyfuss ..

2 cheese wedges

Splice

2010-07-24T11:21:00.000-07:00

Starring Adrien Brody , basically it's the old scientist messes with nature story , the components are well known and not too original by themselves .
Directed by Vincenzo Natali , who from what I can gather has more of a background in TV but did make the documentary , Getting Gilliam , 2005 , which followed Terry Gilliam while he made Tideland .
This certainly is entertaining and Brody is always interesting to watch , but I'm not sure this totally pulls it off ?
Predictable, comedic and bizarre !

2 cheese wedges

Knight and Day

2010-07-24T11:00:00.000-07:00

Starring Tom Cruise and directed by James Mangold , 3.10 to Yuma , 2007 , I had high hopes for this action comedy ! It look set to reintroduce us to the Tom Cruise we loved in Jerry Maguire , 1996 , his comic timing and likable character has not yet been matched .
The first hour was a dream with Cruise combining his action credentials and charisma , Diaz gave him a lot to bounce off and they seemed to be great together . Awesome stunts and chases , but cut to the second hour and it loses steam , combined with a weak ending this ended up to be a disappointment !
Come on Tom you can do better than this !

2 cheese wedges

Predators

2010-07-18T04:43:00.000-07:00

Directed by Nimrod Antal , Vacancy , 2007 , this is the 4Th film in the Predator series . We are introduced to the main character, Adrien Brody , very dramatically and plunged right into the action from the get go !
Chosen for their ability to kill , a group of killers, some trained and some who are not, must endeavour the alien race of predators that have set out to target them as prey.
The main premise of the film is the chosen characters finding and discovering where they are and exactly what is hunting them .
Excellent action throughout and after a while you even forgive Brody for his crazy whisper type voice !

4 cheese wedges

Inception

2010-07-17T10:19:00.001-07:00

This is going to be difficult not to gush about ........ Amazingly original , clever thought out script from Christopher Nolan, Memento , 2000 . Although having said that I do believe there was unnecessary dialogue , I'm sure Nolan wanted to make sure the audience understood the entire process, so by having the characters constantly explaining the different worlds they were invading, made it easier for the audience to follow the narrative’s logic.
This can sometimes seem clumsy and patronizing and I'm sure this was not the Directors ideal , very similar to the narrative in Blade Runner , 1982 .
Great action sequences , beautifully shot , but we still had time to understand the main character played by DiCaprio .
A rather touching end with an awesome final cut !!

5 cheese wedges

Whatever Works

2010-07-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

The latest project from Woody Allen , missing the magic of his early work , this follows native new yorker Boris Yellnikoff as he rants his way through the city to anyone who will listen , including the audience through direct camera .
Larry David plays the 'Woody Allen' role but is basically Larry David and all his random-ness throughout .
Great to see LD on the silver screen , but I'm not sure this is a classic Allen movie ?

2 cheese wedges

L'arnacoeur

2010-07-07T13:20:00.001-07:00

A simple easy going predictable french movie . Nice to see Vanessa Paradis in a movie , I can't remember the last movie I saw her in . Beautiful locations in the form of Monaco , nice way to spend a rainy afternoon .

2 cheese wedges

The Twilight saga : Eclipse

2010-07-07T13:10:00.001-07:00

From director David Slade , 30 Days of Night , 2007 , which I think is an awesome , terrifying Vampire film . My expectations for this movie were high , it was a darker book , more sexual tension and amazing conflict .
Again everything seemed to be rushed , the New Born's , Victoria , The Volturi , I wanted more ! It needed more drama and definitely needed to go to a darker place , with David Slade on board I thought for sure this would happen !
How I would do it differently , I don't know ? It already ran over 2 hours and that was rushing the story along !

2 cheese wedges

The Collector

2010-07-07T13:05:00.000-07:00

Directed by the screenwriter of the last few SAW movies , you can imagine the horror and suspense in this movie .
I'm always fascinated by the new ideas of torture , not so happy when it includes family pets , is that just me ?
If you love the SAW movies then this is right up your street , a not too shabby horror .

2 cheese wedges

Get Him to the Greek

2010-07-07T12:58:00.000-07:00

Russell Brand reprises his Forgetting Sarah Marshall , 2008 , character . The story of a record company intern given the job of his life , to accompany out-of-control British rock star to The Greek Theatre in LA . The movie follows the adventures along the way , this is far funnier in the trailer , disappointed by Jonah Hill in this , he usually has more fun I always love his nerdy awkward-ness !
Diddy is the best thing in this , pay the price of the ticket just for him .

2 cheese wedges

Wild Target

2010-06-19T13:18:00.000-07:00

Directed by Brit Jonathan Lynn , whose past work includes , The Whole Nine Yards , 2000 and my Cousin Vinny , 1992 . Great characters including Emily Blunt playing the care free , flaky, shallow thief Rose and the brilliant Bill Nighy as the deadly assassin on the brink of retirement .
Round this off with the ever popular Rupert Grint , The Harry Potter series , and we have ourselves a nice refreshing British cast , doing great comedy . Very much in the vein of A Fish Called Wanda , 1988 , an all round entertaining , light hearted movie .

3 cheese wedges

Brooklyn's Finest

2010-06-16T11:39:00.000-07:00

Directed by Training Day , 2001, auteur , Antoine Fuqua . Even with a great cast including Ethan Hawke and Richard Gere , this doesn't hold the same tension as the brilliant Training Day . I like the way the stories intertwine throughout , but never acting together , the three leads all have strong plot lines . Found it hard to get into right at the start , difficult to get involved with the three main characters , but past the first 30 mins you start to understand the conflict within them .
A good thriller , just not up to the standard of Denzel Washington's performance in Training Day .

3 cheese wedges

Black Death

2010-06-16T11:17:00.001-07:00

Starring Sean Bean , returning to his sword skills of yesteryear , The Fellowship of The Ring , 2001 . This film was not what I was expecting , the title is misleading and only acts as a sub plot .
Set in medieval England during the time of the first outbreak of bubonic plague , a group of mercenaries acting on behalf of The Bishop search down a necromancer .
This movie follows their quest and the horror that awaits , heavy on faith , heaven and hell . This tests the human spirit and grief , nicely shot although maybe a bit too much hand held camera work for me !
Sean Bean is consistent , as always , nice introduction to a young actor called Eddie Redmayne , The Other Boleyn Girl , 2008 .

3 cheese wedges

Greenberg

2010-06-13T15:34:00.000-07:00

Directed by the quirky talent of Noah Baumbach , The Squid and the Whale , 2005 .
Basically, the film is a series of randomly linked incidents, events and encounters that reveal character. Like Greenberg's life, there's no plot, just a series of meals, parties, arguments and accidents. Some of these are extremely funny, like his railing against the waiters' serenading him with "Happy Birthday" .
Funny moments , if you have ever spent time in southern California you will find it funnier than most !

4 cheese wedges

The Killer Inside Me

2010-06-13T15:14:00.001-07:00

Firstly it has to be said this is not as violent or graphic as the media will have you believe !
Yes it is brutal in parts , but I wonder if it would have caused such outraged if it hadn't have been a pretty young girl being beaten to a pulp ?
We do not get time to know the female characters , so I found it hard to feel any pain for them ? Casey Affleck is well cast , an angelic face , softly spoken , deputy sheriff , who's character slowly reveals psychopathic tendencies .
I wanted to keep on watching to try and understand why such action was necessary . Was he a misogynist ?
Would have liked to have seen the story told from the view point of the prostitute who lived on the outskirts of the 50's American town .

4 cheese wedges

The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans

2010-05-23T13:04:00.000-07:00

From director Werner Herzog , who brought us the intriguing documentary , Grizzly Man , 2005 . Starring Nicholas Cage , who is on form in this quirky odd ball of a movie . Set post Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans , following a back injury Cage's character becomes addicted to narcotics and like any addict will stop at nothing for a hit .
If you love Cage in Vampire's Kiss , 1988 , as I do , then you have to see this movie .
Cage is always great to watch when he is being an odd ball !

3 cheese wedges

A Nightmare on Elm Street

2010-05-15T04:22:00.001-07:00

A remake of the 1984 horror classic , this is testament enough that you shouldn't mess with a classic . Maybe I am numb to the horror or I just have fond memories of the original , but this reincarnation falls flat . The Krueger character seems comical compared to the brilliant performance Robert Englund did in the original , odd choices with all of the casting in fact !
How can you ever recast a role made famous by Johnny Depp , come to think of it how can you remake a movie that introduced the world to Johnny Depp ?

1 cheese wedge

Hot Tub Time Machine

2010-05-09T04:31:00.000-07:00

You have to see this film,just for the title alone it is worth the price of the ticket !!
Starring John Cusack and directed by Steve Pink , who also has a lot of history with the films star . They starred together in The Sure Thing , 1985 , he wrote the screenplay for Grosse Point Blank , 1997 , he was the music supervisor on High Fidelity , 2000 as well as adapting the screenplay !
So I guess there is a lot of mutual admiration between the two .
If you loved The Hangover , 2009 and 80's teen flicks , then this is the movie for you . Great to see John Cusack going back to his comedy roots , brilliant fun .

4 cheese wedges

The Joneses

2010-05-03T05:40:00.001-07:00

Starring David Duchovny and Demi Moore , this is a social commentary on our consumerist society. What starts off as a movie about a 'perfect family' that moves into an upper middle class suburb of America , turns into a dark and well observed story about how we want to emulate a lifestyle of the rich and famous and the trappings that come with it .
A pleasant surprise .

3 cheese wedges

The Disappearence of Alice Creed

2010-05-01T10:22:00.000-07:00

Starring Gemma Arterton as a kidnap victim caught up in twist after twist after predictable twist . Having said that I liked the introduction as you are straight into the brutality of it all , hardly any dialogue and a brave performance by Arterton .
Great to watch a film solely depending on the strength of its actors , not effects and nice to see Arterton doing something interesting after her awful turns in Titans and The Prince of Persia .
A good British , gripping thriller .

3 cheese wedges

Iron Man 2

2010-04-30T11:25:00.001-07:00

Sequel to the fantastic Iron Man , directed again by Jon Faveau . This , unfortunately , doesn't have the humour and quick wit of the first film .
Starring Robert Downey Jr , again taking the lead and supported by the brilliant Sam Rockwell !
I did get the impression this was rushed through the process to make as much money as possible .
Disappointing .

1 cheese wedge

Date Night

2010-04-25T09:30:00.001-07:00

If you have seen the trailer for this movie,then you have already seen the film.
Expected more from the king and queen of comedy !

1 cheese wedge

Centurion

2010-04-24T10:08:00.001-07:00

Starring man of the moment Michael Fassbender , Hunger ,2008 and directed by Neil Marshall , The Descent ,2005 . This is a relentless action packed movie about roman soldiers stuck deep behind enemy lines and their battle to get home .
Expect lots of sword fights , blood and guts , not heavy on the characterisation , but if you love high paced action this is the movie for you .

3 cheese wedges

Extract

2010-04-24T10:01:00.001-07:00

Directed by Beavis and Butt-head creator Mike Judge , I was hoping for a classic comedy like his , Office Space , 1999 . Unfortunately this , somehow , doesn't hit the mark ? With a fantastic cast , Jason Bateman and Kristen Wiig , I wonder how this could have gone so wrong ?
Some funny highs , but few and far between .

1 cheese wedge

Cemetery Junction

2010-04-21T12:37:00.000-07:00

Written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant . This is a coming of age drama , set in Reading in the 1970's,lots of attention to detail make this a lovely little movie .
Its has the sharp dialogue and humour we would expect from Merchant and Gervais , but it also has great observations that are subtle enough to add some drama .
With a brilliant , young , fresh cast this could certainly hold its own against any American coming of age drama,which they do so well .
Al in all a great Sunday afternoon movie.

3 cheese wedges

The Ghost Writer

2010-04-18T10:20:00.000-07:00

Directed by Roman Polanski , who apparently had to finish the final edit while still incarcerated in Switzerland . Starring a personal favourite of mine ,Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan , this is a proper modern day thriller . Its the story of a writer brought in to ghost write the ex Prime Minister's memoirs , apparently based on Tony Blair but never confirmed . McGregor ,who is in almost every scene , is brilliant as the writer plunged into a world of double cross and deceit , Brosnan is interesting casting but refreshing as the Naive ex Prime Minister and Kim Catrall makes a nice turn as the PM's PA .
Say what you like about Polanski and his trouble past , whether he is guilty or not the man knows how to make an intense thriller !

4 cheese wedges

Repo Men

2010-04-18T10:06:00.000-07:00

When I first saw this movie being marketed I thought it was a remake of the 1984 Repo Man with Emilio Estevez . Although based on the same subject , repossession , this is set in the future and its not cars being repossessed but artificial human organs.
With odd casting,Jude Law as an action hero ? This whole movie feels very mixed up and extremely bizarre , especially a semi erotic scene in which Law's character retrieves organs from his lover .
All very strange but entertaining .

2 cheese wedges

Whip It

2010-04-11T08:36:00.000-07:00

Having done a project with the Derby Dolls in LA , with whom our lead , Ellen Page, trained with , roller derby's are something I am very familiar with . Directorial debut by Drew Barrymore , this is a fast paced coming of age drama . It has been compared to Bend it like Beckham , 2002 , balancing family life and her secret passion and ending up converting her parents to her new craze. I found Whip It to be far superior and exciting , maybe be this has a lot to do with the fact that I don't care for football ?
Nice new take on the love scene and great casting !

3 cheese wedges

Shelter

2010-04-11T08:27:00.000-07:00

Written by the Michael Cooney , who also wrote Identity , 2003 , starring Julianne Moore . This starts out as your average thriller , but as the story evolves it all gets very complicated , some intrigue , but something falls flat and I can't put my finger on it ?

1 cheese wedge

Remember Me

2010-04-04T02:20:00.001-07:00

Directed by Allen Coulter , who previously directed Hollywoodland , 2006 , which is a fantastic , nostalgic piece of old Hollywood . This in comparison is a huge disappointment .
A tragic tale centred around two lovers and set in the run up to 9/11 , the story tells of how the human heart can over come adversity and heal .
Starring man of the moment Robert Pattinson , with a fantastic supporting cast including Pierce Brosnan and Chris Cooper , this had success written all over it .
Sadly the pace is extremely slow and even Pattinson's charm and charisma can't save this one !

2 cheese wedges

Clash of the Titans

2010-04-04T02:09:00.000-07:00

Being a fan of the original 1981 version , this was always going to be a tough sell . Although entertaining and action packed , it doesn't hold the charm or romance of the original movie . Its as though they have tried to rework it to make more contemporary , case in point adding Gemma Arterton as a strong female character , and not even including important elements of the Greek myth !!
If you love the original give this a miss .

2 cheese wedges

The Blind Side

2010-03-27T12:35:00.001-07:00

Sandra Bullock won The Academy Award for best actress for this role .Based on the true story of Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy who take in a homeless teenage African-American, Michael "Big Mike" Oher, When he expresses an interest in football, she goes all out to help him . I thought this was going to be a cheese fest and that it would have been Hollywood-ized .Big surprise as it lived up to its tag line of ' the feel good movie of the year' . Bit of a tear jerker , you think you have got through it fine and then the end credits hit you with a bang and the tears will flow !!

4 cheese wedges

Kick-Ass

2010-03-27T12:22:00.001-07:00

Now , I have had to leave writing this review for a couple of days as I feared I would just gush about how much I loved it ! AWESOME , you have to see this , it is all you favourite super hero movies rolled into one . Strong female character at the centre of the story , which I love and there should be more in modern cinema .
Nicholas Cage is back on form , love him in this , his comic timing knocks this out of the park ! Matthew Vaughn has really got my vote on this one .

5 cheese wedges

Green Zone

2010-03-21T05:05:00.000-07:00

Collaborating once again with his Bourne Supremacy director , Paul Greengrass , Matt Damon is the star of this high action thriller .
Releasing right after a fellow Iraq-war flick, who just won Best Picture at the Academy Awards, may seem like a good move , but the high tension of The Hurt Locker is far superior to this movie . Although extremely thought provoking, raising interesting points , you do start to wonder what has been added for entertainment value !
Damon is great , as always,and Greengrass really knows how to make the audience feel like they are in the action .
A great thriller.

3 cheese wedges

I Love You Phillip Morris

2010-03-19T12:06:00.001-07:00

Based on a true story , directed by the guys who wrote Bad Santa , 2003 , which I really enjoyed , both dark , comedic and touching . So this movie is very much along the same lines , starring Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor. If you love Jim Carrey , then this is the movie for you , I have never been a huge fan and I do find it hard to take him seriously !
There are funny moments and as always Carrey is larger than life ! I did find it a little slow and got a bit lost with the cons . McGregor is watchable enough , a very different direction for him .
Quite remarkable that this actually happened !

2 cheese wedges

Shutter Island

2010-03-12T13:40:00.000-08:00

Reminded me of old school suspense thrillers from the 50's . Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio , based on the novel written by Dennis Lehane , whose previous works include Mystic River and Gone Baby Gone . Think I am finally accepting DiCaprio as a serious leading man , I loved him in The Departed , 2006 , and look forward to his next project .
Very dramatic throughout , Scorsese creates great tension , not only through the actors but with a clever score . If you love black and white movies of yesteryear then this is a must see .

3 cheese wedges

Case 39

2010-03-07T11:58:00.001-08:00

From director of Pandorum , 2009 , Christian Alvart , shelved for two years by the studio . A lot of similarities to the movie Orphan , 2009 , which is far superior .
A social worker , Zellweger, who saves an abused 10-year-old girl from her parents only to discover that the girl is not as innocent as she thinks.
Not to sure about this one , there are a few jumps and surprises along the way , but pretty predictable from the start .
Disappointing .

1 cheese wedge

Alice in Wonderland

2010-03-07T11:46:00.000-08:00

Directed by Tim Burton starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter . This movie was stolen by Bonham Carter's performance and it is disappointing we didn't see more of her ! Great sets and costumes , as you would expect from a Tim Burton movie . Found the Alice character a little wishy washy and I wonder how much control Burton had over the final cut as it didn't meet his usual standards ! All in all a great kids movie and you can't ask much more than that from Disney !

2 cheese wedges

Chloe

2010-03-06T10:45:00.001-08:00

Starring Liam Nesson , Julianne Moore and Amanda Seyfried , a talented cast for a story that was probably very original on paper ! A twist on the run of the mill femme fatal story,but predictable from the get go.Could have been great , but the drama fell flat .
Tragically it was during the filming of this movie that Liam Nesson lost his wife Natasha Richardson .

1 cheese wedge

Legion

2010-03-06T01:51:00.001-08:00

Starring Paul Bettany,with his native accent which makes a refreshing change ! This is a dark apocalyptic film about human kind and losing faith in them . I know this movie has had some harsh reviews , but I have to say it didn't offend me and I always enjoy watching Bettany .
I thought it was nicely shot, stylish lighting , great little details , like the bullet proof wings . Shot in the desert , which gives you fantastic landscapes and the opportunity to have moody sky lines . Basically a modern day nativity with a twist .

2 cheese wedges

Leap Year

2010-02-28T12:32:00.001-08:00

Still perplexed by the timing of this movie as 2010 is not a leap year ? Wouldn't it be great marketing to release it in a leap year?
Directed by Anand Tucker , who did Shop Girl , 2005 , which I loved and starring the usually irritating Matthew Goode , Matchpoint , 2005 . Amy Adams could play this role in her sleep and I would really love to see her do something meaty for a change !
Predictable but fun , a great way to pass the time on a rainy Sunday afternoon .

2 cheese wedges

The Crazies

2010-02-28T12:20:00.001-08:00

Remake of the 1973 movie of the same name by Zombie expert George A. Romero . This version is directed by Breck Eisner , who has been lined up to direct the new Flash Gordon remake and whose archive includes Sahara , 2005 . I was surprised that this was more than just your average zombie movie , with great leads in the form of Timothy Olyphant , Hitman , 2007 and Radha Mitchell , Pitch Black , 2000 .
Lots of gore , lots of blood , lots of jumps , fab scary movie !

3 cheese wedges

Solomon Kane

2010-02-24T11:23:00.001-08:00

Character created by the pulp-era writer
Robert E. Howard and directed by Michael J Bassett, Deathwatch , 2002 . Certainly action packed, lots of swordsmanship, as its set in the 17th century . Entertaining, but as the character is from Cornwall, I found the accent comical and distracted from the drama !

2 cheese wedges

The Last Station

2010-02-23T11:55:00.001-08:00

Helen Mirren has been nominated for an Oscar for this performance . The story of Russian writer Leo Tolstoy , War and Peace , signing a new will that leaves his work and property to the Russian people and the battle for his wife to keep it in the family. This started out well , the introduction of some great characters , with brilliant little quirks , but past the first 30 minutes it loses steam and completely lost my attention .

1 cheese wedge

The Lovely Bones

2010-02-20T10:29:00.000-08:00

Based on the novel by Alice Sebold, which I haven't read, but hear is fantastic! This film fell flat on so many levels for me, a mish mash of characters and obviously too much information to fit into its run time of over two hours . Too many holes in the story, lots of unanswered questions and not enough time to care about the characters.I expected much more from Peter Jackson .

2 cheese wedges

A Single Man

2010-02-19T13:09:00.000-08:00

Having worked with a few of the cast members in this movie, I have to say I walked in wanting to like this film. Starring Colin Firth, this is a tragic story, based on the novel of the same name by Christopher Isherwood. The lead character loses his lover of 16 years suddenly and tries to come to terms with life without him.
This is an extremely stylish film, you would expect nothing less from its director Tom Ford, set in 1960's Los Angeles it oozes the fashion of the time, not only in the clothing but also the architecture and cars.
The music lends its self perfectly and the whole movie is full of solitude and sadness.
A slow paced decadent visual feast, with an excellent turn from its lead, which has been recognized by the Academies on both sides of the pond.

4 cheese wedges

Valentines's Day

2010-02-13T10:11:00.000-08:00

Think Richard Curtis without the humour or profanities and you pretty much have this movie .

1 cheese wedge

The Wolfman

2010-02-10T10:27:00.000-08:00

Now I have nothing but respect for Sir Anthony Hopkins , he is a lovely guy , but imagine a hairy camp Hannibal Lector and you pretty much have this film ! Tis a shame as the effects are top notch and so is the photography . Strangely cast as if they were all in separate movies , period drama , comedy and one lost actor !!
Strangely set up for a sequel , Universal must have had high hopes for this one ?

1 cheese wedge

Youth in Revolt

2010-02-06T13:14:00.000-08:00

Firstly I should say I am a huge Michael Cera fan and he totally stole the show for me in Superbad , 2007 . This movie is based on a series of novels of the same name and directed by Miguel Arteta , whose last feature was The Good Girl , 2002 , which I loved the quirkiness of !
As in previous posts I have complained about the marketing or the trailer being far superior than the actual feature , I am afraid to repeat myself , but the same is true here . Cera is great with what he has to work with , his alter ego , Francois Dillinger , is far more interesting than the lead character and I wish we had seen more of this! Highlight was Fred Willard lay on the floor , high on magic mushrooms.
Disappointing , missed opportunity .......

2 cheese wedges

44 Inch Chest

2010-02-02T11:40:00.001-08:00

From first time director and photographer Malcolm Venville , in my humble opinion I think photographers make fantastic film makers . Cinema is meant to be a visual stimulant and photographers understand the power of an exciting image , it should be a match made in heaven . This is definitely true for this movie , the opening 5 minutes set us up with beautifully composed static images . The story takes place in a confined space , in the history of film, confinement has created masterpieces like Twelve Angry Men ,1957, Rear Window ,1954 . I felt this read out more like a play and is definitely character led , starring the creme de la creme of British cinema , Ray Winstone , John Hurt and Tom wilkinson .
Be prepared for a slow pace , but savour the well thought out images and fantastic acting !

3 cheese wedges

Edge of Darkness

2010-01-30T10:58:00.001-08:00

Directed by Martin Campbell , GoldenEye , 1995 and Casino Royale , 2006 . Based on the 80's mini series of the same name , which Campbell directed a few of the episodes . This stars Mel Gibson , his first big acting role since Signs , 2002 and Ray Winstone , Sexy Beast , 2000 , who could have played this role in his sleep .
If you are a fan of the TV series I would give this movie a miss , cramming all of the information into two hours was always going to be a challenge . Gibson still has great screen presence and is likable , I think I have missed him . Some great tension and a reminder of Gibson as the emotionally charged action leading man makes this an OK experience .

2 cheese wedges

Brothers

2010-01-27T11:32:00.001-08:00

Starring three incredibly talented young actors , Natalie Portman , Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal . This is such a tragic story and it has taken me a few days to sit down and process the whole experience . Directed by Jim Sheridan , My Left Foot , 1989 and my personal favourite In America , 2002 . It is a tale of a young father sent to war only to lose his life in a helicopter crash , we follow his wife and children back at home trying to come to terms with his death . This is very much a character led movie and brilliantly acted by its young cast , there are a few heart stopping moments and I know I felt the trauma and heart ache of the lead character and what the human spirit will go through to get home . It is certainly a very topical film and shows a side to war that we are happy to ignore !
Prepare to be moved and touched by this story .

3 cheese wedges

All About Steve

2010-01-17T09:00:00.000-08:00

Starring Sandra Bullock and Bradley Cooper , The Hangover , 2008 . Disappointing comedy from first time director Phil Traill , some funny moments but nothing to warrant a feature .
Sandra Bullock is pleasant to watch but wasted in this dull romantic comedy . Bradley Cooper and Thomas Haden Church , Sideways , 2004 , you are better than this !

1 cheese wedge

The Book of Eli

2010-01-16T08:59:00.001-08:00

Starring Denzel Washington and directed by the Hughes Brothers , From Hell , 2001 . The last film I saw Washington in was American Gangster , 2007 , which I have to say was disappointing . This film puts him back on form and back to the kind of characters I love watching him play . The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world , where the lead character has one mission , to save and protect the only copy of the Bible left in the world . OK so this sounds a little dull , but with a fantastic performance by Denzel and a cracking twist , this cinema experience is far from boring !

2 cheese wedges

Up in the Air

2010-01-15T08:21:00.000-08:00

Directed by Jason Reitman , whose past works include , Thank you for Smoking , 2005 and the Oscar winning Juno , 2007 . Reitman is the son of director Ivan Reitman who is best known as the creator of Ghostbusters , 1984 . This film still has the independent feel of Juno and stars one of the most under rated actress's working in film today , Vera Farmiga , The Departed , 2006 . George Clooney stars as a man whose job it is to fly around the country to fire people for companies who don't want to deal with the drama !
This is a quirky film , if you are a frequent traveller you will appreciate the attention to detail . A well timed film that shows a different/ lighter side to the down turn of global economy .

3 cheese wedges

Its Complicated

2010-01-15T08:07:00.000-08:00

Fluffy rom com from writer / director Nancy Meyers , whose past credits include , The Holiday , 2006 and What Women Want , 2000 . Her films always have idyllic locations , amazing houses , wealthy , perfect families , this film is no exception . Meryl Streep's character owns the perfect bakery , has the perfect house and perfect children . I was curious to see this as I have become a born again Alec Baldwin fan , he is amazing in 30 Rock !
It starts off well and there are funny moments , but the story line loses steam after the first 30 minutes .

2 cheese wedges

Daybreakers

2010-01-10T10:10:00.000-08:00

Starring Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe , directed by the relatively unknown Spierig Brothers , Undead , 2003 . This is a fabulous twist on the vampire story and a highly original one ! The whole world is now full of vampires and blood supplies are running low , farmed humans are almost extinct , there needs to be a solution . This is nicely shot , very moody and dark , Willem Dafoe is great , as always , so too is Ethan Hawke . Some scenes are shocking and over the top , almost comical , if you don't like blood and guts this isn't the film for you . Being a big fan of the vampire genre I very much enjoyed it and hope there are more to come !

3 cheese wedges

The Road

2010-01-09T07:30:00.000-08:00

Directed by John Hillcoat , The Proposition , 2005 and starring Viggo Mortensen , based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy who also wrote No Country for Old Men , 2007 . This is a film about trust and survival , not only between the father and son of the story but between the human race and how we behave in extreme circumstances .
You definitely have to be in the right frame of mind to see this , a very dark and tragic story , its slow pace takes a bit of getting use to , but once you get into it you feel the cold like the main characters do . This film keeps on giving and I have kept going over and over it in my head since I saw it . Sensitively shot , the tenderness of the father son relationship is very touching , the bonus of flash backs add a great deal of depth to the characters and make the story even more tragic . Leave with an uplifting ending and this is a great movie , subtly amazing in every way !

5 cheese wedges

Spread

2010-01-01T09:12:00.001-08:00

Directed by Scotsman David Mackenzie , whose previous films include Young Adam , 2003 and the brilliant Asylum, 2005 .
Its lead comes in the form of Ashton Kutcher , other than Dude where's my car , 2000, I have never really taken much notice of Kutcher's career . I think nowadays he is better known as Mr Demi Moore . The story evolves around a young man sleeping his way into the privilege life of the Hollywood Hills .
I think this film probably had more of an impact on me as it is set in my old neighbourhood , which is filled with fond memories . Having said this I really liked Kutcher as a leading man and thought he held the film together well . A well written story line , obviously the screen writer has experienced this all first hand , the people and the places were all very real .
All in all a really nice surprise and Mackenzie always manages to shock , I look forward to his next project , The Last Word , 2010 , collaborating again with Ewan McGregor .

4 cheese wedges

Nowhere Boy

2009-12-27T10:48:00.000-08:00

Directed by 'artiste' Sam Taylor-Wood , now I have to admit I went into this movie not wanting to like it . I was expecting it to be pretentious and pointless so you can imagine my surprise when I sat through a very conventional film , it is at times like this when I am grateful for my cinema pass as I see movies I would never normally see !
The screenplay was written by Matthew Greenhalgh, who wrote the screenplay for Control, I think the characters really do come to life and I was happy to see glimpses of Lennon's dry humor which I always loved from The Beatles own films . This is more a coming of age film than a biopic and I'm not sure if you are more saddened by the story as you know the ending or because it is well written and directed ?
Overall I think it was greatly miscast , which , for me distracted a little from the story as no one , apart from David Morrissey , was authentic scouse !

2 cheese wedges

Sherlock Holmes

2009-12-26T09:40:00.001-08:00

Directed by Guy Ritchie , this I was very much looking forward to ! Robert Downey Jr , where can you go wrong ? Or so I thought !
This film is far too long and I got bored mid way through , the promise of a more gritty , real Holmes was lost somewhere , I think that the only thing they changed was his outfit !!
The snippets we saw of the Watson / Holmes relationship were amusing but few and far between and I hope that if they do a sequel , the ending left it open , we see more of their relationship .
The bulldog stole the show for me , disappointing ....

3 cheese wedges

The Edge , 1997 - Movie Memory

2009-12-23T09:08:00.001-08:00

Directed by Lee Tamahori who's archive includes Mulholland Falls , 1996 and Die another Day , 2002 .
Written by acclaimed playwright David Mamet . This film holds great memories for me , I saw a screening of it at The Chinese Mann Theatre on Hollywood Blvd , this is now my 2nd favourite cinema in the world after The Arclight on Sunset !
A story of survival with some comedy moments , great performances from its leads with lots of quote-able lines , a must see !

4 cheese wedges

Me and Orson Welles

2009-12-20T05:37:00.001-08:00

From director Richard Linklater , who's last film was A Scanner Darkly , 2006 and who's archive includes Before Sunrise , 1995 . This subject matter is very different compared to his past work , which mostly dealt with teenage angst , notably Dazed and Confused , 1993 and Slacker , 1991 .
Based on the novel of the same name we follow a week in the life of a young ambitious teenager who's dream is to be an actor on Broadway . His accidental meeting with a young Orson Welles changes his life forever . The format of the story makes it more suitable for the stage and I could see it as a play more easily than a film . Character heavy with funny moments , if you love the theatre then this is the movie for you !

2 cheese wedges

Avatar

2009-12-18T05:28:00.001-08:00

James Cameron's first movie since Titanic , 1997 . This is going to be a tricky one to review , hard not to get caught up in the hype and have a personal opinion !
Visually you cannot deny this is truly a spectacular achievement and I think it will change the way we will watch movies in the future . This is one of the first films made that has executed motion capture animation throughout its main characters , to date we had Gollum in The Lord of the Rings , 2001 and the title character in King Kong , 2005 .
The process involves the actors being filmed in skin tight suits on green screen which transposes their physical movements and facial expressions to digital characters .
Back to the story though , it is definitely not an original one and reminded me of Dances with Wolves , 1990 and The New World , 2005 , one of forbidden love and confusion of personal priorities . Combine the two though and I think the story can be forgiven for its lack of originality .

3 cheese wedges

Omega Man 1971 - Movie memory

2009-12-12T10:12:00.000-08:00

Starring Charlton Heston , based on the 1954 novel "I am Legend" by Richard Matheson. There is a fantastic opening scene of Heston's character driving a classic red mustang around the empty streets of LA . A powerful image that I would have loved to have witnessed in the cinema in 1971 !
Looking very dated nowadays and recently remade with Will Smith in the lead role , I still think this is a classic movie and Charlton Heston was the 70's answer to Bruce Willis .

3 cheese wedges

Carriers

2009-12-12T09:57:00.001-08:00

Starring Chris Pine of Star Trek fame and a rather strange follow up to his break out role .
More of a moralistic story than the superficial zombie film the trailer makes out . Not sure that this works as we don't have enough time to care about the characters , where they have come from or even why there is a virus killing everyone !
Surviving by their own rules this results in harsh decisions , which is meant to be the basis of the story .
Although nicely shot in the fantastic desert light it is let down by poorly written characters .

1 cheese wedge

The Stepfather

2009-12-12T09:53:00.000-08:00

Remake of the 1987 film of the same name .
Wait for it to be on TV .......

0 cheese wedge

Blue Velvet 1986 - Movie Memory

2009-12-09T13:43:00.000-08:00

Another awesome movie from my favourite movie decade . This was my first David Lynch film and I was fascinated by his originality in story and cinematic approach . Starring Dennis hopper and Isabella Rossellini , both I did not know at the time , how I was not aware of these amazing actors is puzzling to me , but I guess when all your friends are interested in Duran Duran and Wham these things pass you by !
So I am thankful to my geeky-ness and appreciation of fine cinema , without which I would have been at the cinema watching Top Gun , released the same year !
My fascination with Rossellini and Lynch , who were dating at the time , is still with me today , as is the 6 ft poster I had of Isabella on my wall as a teenager . A real gem of cinema history and an amazing psychotic performance from Hopper that still haunts me to this day , if you are a fan of cinema you have to watch this movie !

4 cheese wedges

Law Abiding Citizen

2009-12-06T11:23:00.000-08:00

Written by the director of Equilibrium 2002 , this had all the ingredients for a fast action thriller . It is a shame they concentrated so much on the action that you had no time to invest in the main character who had an important message about the US legal system . The final shot is awesome and I give them great credit for it , shame this can't be said for the rest of the movie .
I have to be completely honest and say it was totally lost on me but I did managed to catch up on a much needed snooze !

1 cheese wedge

The Box

2009-12-06T03:16:00.001-08:00

From director Richard Kelly , Donnie Darko 2001 , you know this is not going to be a straight forward watch .
Starring Cameron Diaz , James Marsden and Frank Langella , set in the 1970's and based on a short story . From the marketing campaign you think this is a story of morals and you hope that by the end of the movie you will have an answer ? Annoyingly it turns out to be very much a story of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden as the woman is resposible for the out come .
Having sat through the whole movie with a confused look on my face , I left with a head ache and no closure !

1 cheese wedge

The Descent: Part 2

2009-12-04T12:56:00.000-08:00

After absolutely loving the first film , this was always going to be a tough act to follow . This picks up exactly where the first finishes , Sarah the main character , is picked up by a local man and rushed to hospital . Here she has no memory of the last two days , in order to figure out what has happened to her she is forced to re trace her steps !
There are lot of scenes that are identical to the first film , which is a shame as part 2 was obviously just a money maker ! Disappointing .

1 cheese wedge

Paranormal Activity

2009-12-02T13:00:00.001-08:00

Actually made two years ago with a budget of $15,000.00 . This film just goes to show that you don't need millions of dollars to make a fantastic thriller !
This is a story of a young couple who live in a normal house in the burbs . The girl of the story has memories of being haunted as a child by a 'spirit ' , she believes this spirit has followed her to the new house . This is where the story really begins as they start filming their bedroom at night to try and figure out the noises they hear .
The only footage ,we the audience see , is the results of this .The camera work is a lot less annoying than say The Blair Witch Project , as it is mostly static in the room . Tension builds slowly with an explosive ending , if you love a scare this is the film for you .

3 cheese wedges

The Informant!

2009-11-23T10:31:00.001-08:00

Amazingly this is based on an actual person and true story !
Starring Matt Damon , who packed on 30lbs for the role , his character unwillingly pressured into working as an informant against the illegal price-fixing activities of his company, Whitacre gradually adopts the idea that he's a true secret agent.
Damon is great in this character , who obviously suffers from a mental illness , at first you don't realize what is happening and can't believe the lies he is coming up with . It actually becomes uncomfortable to watch as he digs a deeper and deeper hole for himself .
Bit of a black comedy , Damon is brilliant and well worth the watch !

4 cheese wedges

New Moon

2009-11-20T10:04:00.001-08:00

The second book in the Twilight series , New Moon was my least favourite of the four books . This meant the film was going to have to be very special for me to like it !
I have to say the pace of the film was very slow and it lacked the excitement and romance of the first film . I felt as though everything was rushed as so much information had to be given , especially concerning the birth of the werewolf story line .
Having read the book I was disappointed with this and as with the book any screen time without the vampires is extremely dull ! I hope this isn't what we can expect from the last two movies . We need more screen time for the fighting and bring back the passion !!
Great use of slow motion though .

2 cheese wedges

Amelia

2009-11-15T11:06:00.000-08:00

A look at the life of legendary American pilot Amelia Earhart, who disappeared while flying over the Pacific Ocean in 1937 in an attempt to make a flight around the world.
This was not the epic I was expecting , all the hype has built it up as an Oscar contender !
I felt the actors weren't pushed to their limit and although played well I think Hilary Swank could have done this role in her sleep . It seemed like such a waste of talent all round really , especially Ewan McGregor who is totally wasted in the role of what can only be described as ' the mistress ' !
I'm sure Amelia Earhart was a lot more complicated in character than this film suggests , it seems we only touched the surface and I'm sure her struggle to become a pilot was a lot more difficult !

2 cheese wedges

2012

2009-11-15T11:02:00.001-08:00

From the director of The Day After Tomorrow , there isn't a lot I can say about this ? It is what it is , broken home , hero down on his luck , kids idolizing the new husband , you get the picture !
Why is the hero never on the list ?

2 cheese wedges

Jennifer's Body

2009-11-09T10:45:00.001-08:00

Starring Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried , story of a high school cheerleader who becomes possessed by a demon , She soon develops the taste for human blood .
Written by Diablo Cody , who can write great quips for teenagers and we can see it here with some great one liners .
This is a great film for teenagers and wouldn't be out of place at an all girl slumber party ! Alot more interesting than I thought it was going to be !

2 cheese wedges

The men who stare at Goats

2009-11-08T09:51:00.001-08:00

Based on the book written by Jon Ronson with the whos who of the male hollywood talent tree including George Clooney , Ewan McGregor and the amazing Jeff Bridges .
George Clooney always plays a great idiot , as any of the Coen Brothers movies will testify too , this is a comedy about a journalist who tries to lose himself in the romance of war after his wife leaves him .
So nice to see McGregor back on form after so many years , this is a no brainer of a movie that shows the talent of the actors without them trying to out shine one another !
Great fun .......

4 cheese wedges

The Fourth Kind

2009-11-07T12:58:00.000-08:00

Starring Milla Jovovich and based on true cases from a small town in Alaska in the 1970's . The title is in reference to alien abduction and when you read about the true events it is a very intriguing story ! For some reason it doesn't translate to the big screen , an hour documentary would probably have been more suitable .

Another case of the trailer being awesome and the main event being disappointing .

1 cheese wedge

Cirque du Freak

2009-11-01T12:13:00.000-08:00

The trailer for this movie makes it look awesome ! Stella cast including John C Reilly , Salma Hayek and Willem Dafoe . Now I know this is a kiddie film but I thought it would hold my attention , sadly not .
Story of two bored school boys who stumble upon a strange circus of " freaks " and the adventures that follow .
Having not read the book I feel this film is probably wasted on me as the end of the film set up for a second installment . Great for Kids not for me !

One cheese wedge

An Education

2009-10-31T12:11:00.000-07:00

Starring the relative unknown Carey Mulligan and the brilliant Peter Sarsgaard . A coming of age drama about a young girl trying to get to oxford by attending a prep school , only to be distracted by a local playboy with a glamorous lifestyle . Mix in a brilliant cast and a well written screenplay and this makes for a great quirky film .
I thought I might get distracted by Sarsgaard's accent , but it was pretty spot on and I completely forgot he was American ! The greatest thing for me about this movie was Rosamund Pike , who completely steals the show , this talented actress has great comedic timing !

2 cheese wedges

Pretty In Pink 1986 - Movie Memory

2009-10-25T14:37:00.001-07:00

Written by the king of 80's teen movies , the late John Hughes and starring Molly Ringwald , Jon Cryer and Andrew McCarthy .
This film sums up the 80's for me , even though I was younger than the characters when I first saw this movie , I still related to it .
Having watched it again recently it has made me sentimental for the decade and Molly Ringwald .
Awesome teen movie with a kiss ass soundtrack ,that every teenage girl should watch , far superior to any teen flick hollywood is producing nowadays !

4 cheese wedges

The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard

2009-10-24T10:34:00.001-07:00

Same kind of format as Stepbrothers , 2008 , Anchorman , 2004 and Talladega Nights , 2006 , all of which has passed me by or gone over my head . I really want to find them funny as they are popular and the masses love them !
I fell asleep , enough said .

1 cheese wedge .

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

2009-10-24T10:26:00.000-07:00

Directed by Terry Gilliam , but unfortunately over shadowed by the death of Heath Ledger, who stars . I love Gilliam's vision and imagination and you cannot deny he is original and always goes against the grain . This is a director who doesn't conform and you have to admire his determination to get things done his way .
There are lots of great touches in this film , especially the traveling stage and caravan , set against the backdrop of a dreary , wet London . I think this definitely needs a second look to be appreciated .

3 cheese wedges