The Hunger Games [M]

Many years ago, twelve districts rose up and revolted against their nation. Though the revolution was crushed, the districts are still paying penance to this day: every district must offer one female and one male to compete in a game of survival. Out of 24 tributes, there can only be one victor and it is known as the Hunger Games. When her younger sister is selected to compete, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to compete in her place and even though she is a very skilled hunter, all she can to reassure her family is promise that she will try to win. 

Based on the book by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games was a GREAT movie, one that I could easily watch over and over for many reasons. It’s a wonderful and wholly original story about determination, courage, smarts, and what happens when primal human instinct takes over reason. It was both twisted and captivating at the same time and I was really impressed by the cinematic styles used and what they made the film convey and explore. I really did love this movie! 

Many years ago, twelve districts rose up and revolted against their nation. Though the revolution was crushed, the districts are still paying penance to this day: every year, each district must offer one male and one female to compete in a brutal game of survival in which, out of 24 tributes, there can only be one victor. It is called the Hunger Games. When her younger sister Primrose is selected to compete, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to compete in her place and, even though she is a skilled hunter, all she can to reassure her family is promise to try and win. 

Everything about this film was perfect! The balance of action, drama, suspense, romance, and comedy, the deliciously demented but somehow powerfully emotive story, the freakishly fantastic hair, makeup and costume design (congrats everyone who worked on that, that was absolutely amazing), the subtle and haunting soundtrack, the memorable performances, and the interesting way in which it was filmed. 

Director Gary Ross did this film really well: half of it was filmed as a regular film, standstill filming and such, but then the other half, the more violent and action-y half, was filmed almost as a documentary with the camera right in there in the middle of the action. I particularly liked this technique as it gave the film its more sinister and dramatic air, quite clearly conveying the harshness and chaos that happens when primal human fear and instincts take over from reason. It gave the movie a raw edge and I found that just brilliant. 

Special applause must go to the wonderful performance from Jennifer Lawrence who starred as Katniss Everdeen. Jennifer delivered a performance that was brave, stoic, lethal, loving, and glamorous when needed to be. She was a real heroine, a woman that other women would love to be, and her performance really had the audience rooting for her as though we were watching from the Capitol. 

Starring Willow Shields, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Wes Bentley, Woody Harrelson, Josh Hutcherson, Tony Jones, Lenny Kravitz, Donald Sutherland, and Stanley Tucci, The Hunger Games was a fantastic film that will definitely be making it into my collection when it’s released on DVD. I’ll have to go out right now and grab a copy of the book, it’s such a fantastic story!

May the odds be ever in your favour

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen [M]

As a masked villain known only as The Fantom threatens to spark a world war, a group of people with extraordinary talents known as the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen forms to stop his plan from succeeding. Consisting of a hunter, a scientist, a vampire, an invisible man, and a beast, the League, though fighting their own personal demons, as well as each other, join forces to save the world. 

Loosely based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore, I don’t know why I like this film, I just really do. I find it to be good brain candy because it’s filled with action, comedy, and the slightest bit of romance. But I think what I love best about it is the combination of all these wonderful heroes of 19^th century literature. 

As a masked villain known only as The Fantom threatens to spark a world war whilst simultaneously profit from the arms race, a group of people with extraordinary talents known as the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen forms to stop his plan from succeeding. Consisting of a hunter, a scientist, a vampire, an invisible man, and an immortal, the League though fighting with their own personal demons, as well as each other, joins forces to save the world. 

As I mentioned before, what I love most about this movie is the combination of these giants of 19^th century literature. The League consists of Allan Quatermain from Haggard’s King Solomon’s Mines, Captain Nemo from Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the invisible man from Wells’ The Invisible Man, Mina Harker from Stoker’s Dracula, Tom Sawyer from Twain’s Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde from Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Dorian Gray from Wilde’s The Portrait of Dorian Gray. A few more familiar names creep into the mix including Melville’s “call me Ishmael” and James Moriarty (I don’t know what work he’s from, I only know him from the recent Sherlock Holmes movies). 

Essentially, aside from that great combination of characters, the film doesn’t really have all that much going for it. The script was off the mark, as were the some of the sets and special effects, I felt. There were no outstanding performances to speak of, merely a gaggle of names and familiar, good-looking faces. But for some reason, I still find this film really entertaining. 

Starring Sean Connery, Shane West, Naseeruddin Shah, Peta Wilson, Tony Curran, Stewart Townsend, Jason Flemying, and Richard Roxburgh, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is a mindless, but fun movie filled with action, adventure, a great combination of memorable characters, drama, comedy, and even romance. It’s not a major cinematic achievement by any means, but it’s still a film that I thoroughly enjoy and am proud to have in my collection. 

Misery [M]

To the disappointment of dozens of fans, Misery Chastain has died. In his final book in the Misery series, Paul Sheldon has killed her. To Paul, Misery’s death is an opportunity for him to do some real writing, but for Annie Wilkes, Paul’s Number One Fan, it’s a travesty: murder. And then there’s a car accident. Annie pulls the unconscious Paul out of the wreck, splints his mangled legs, and nurses him back to health. When Annie discovers what Paul has done to Misery, she doesn’t like it… not one bit. Paul used to write for a living, now, in the remote mountain home of Annie Wilkes, he’s writing to stay alive. 

Having literally just finished reading the book this morning, I simply could not wait to grab a copy of the film and see how Rob Reiner would put it on screen. Straight off, I have to admit that, in comparison to the book, Misery is actually rather tame: thrilling and sinfully gory to be sure, but still tame. I suppose they really had to do some serious tweaking in order to make the film M rated. I still really liked it though. 

To the disappointment of dozens of fans, Misery Chastain has died. In his final book in the Misery series, writer Paul Sheldon has killed her. To Paul, Misery’s death is an opportunity for him to do some real writing, but to Annie Wilkes, Paul’s violently psychotic Number One Fan, it’s a travesty: murder. And then there’s a car accident. Annie pulls the unconscious Paul out of the wreck, splints his broken and mangled legs, and nurses him back to health. And when Annie discovers what Paul has done to Misery, she doesn’t like it… not one bit. Paul used to write for a living, now, in the remote mountain home of Annie Wilkes, he’s writing to stay alive. 

I have always said that it’s a better idea to read the book before watching the film, mainly for the reason that the written word can be interpreted how you the reader want. When seeing a book made into a film, the audience sees the interpretation of the director and screenwriters and sometimes (we have to keep in mind that directors also have limitations that usually come in the form of ratings) the interpretation depicted on the screen does not match the one that the reader has imagined. I think Reiner did a very good job, considering the film had to be brought to an M rating. 

The violence and gore that enriched the book was tamed and toned down, which was good because the book gave me nightmares so you can imagine what the film would have done. 

The darkness and thrilling part of the story is still kept alive through the stunning performance of Kathy Bates, who plays Annie. Sugary sweet and maternal for some of the film, despairingly gloomy and macabre for another part of the film, and then finally blindingly aggressive and violent and murderous for the remainder of the film, Kathy delivered a stunning performance that blew me away. I have to admit that, reading the book, it felt that Stephen King had Kathy in mind when her created the character of Annie. 

Starring James Caan, Richard Farnsworth, Frances Sternhagen, and Lauren Bacall, Misery is a great thriller that was filled with novels, violence, comedy, drama, suspense, murder, and madness. Not as thrilling generally genius as the book, but it’s still a film that I could not look away from. 

The Swan Princess [G]

When he was banished from the realm for attempting to steal the throne by use of his dark magic, the evil sorcerer Rothbart vowed to someday get his revenge: that day has come. After years of forced persuasion, Prince Derek and Princess Odette have fallen in love, and Rothbart takes his revenge by kidnapping Odette and keeping her prisoner, under a spell that turns her into a swan by day and human by night. Odette will never give Rothbart her kingdom and Prince Derek will never stop searching for his true love: Odette. 

An animated and almost Disney-fied version of the ballet Swan Lake, The Swan Princess is a film that I grew up with as a child, have loved for most of my life, and was ecstatic when I found it on DVD. Needless to say I had to add it to my collection and tonight, in a somewhat drunken fit of nostalgia cravings, I sat down and watched it again. Oh my goodness, l love this movie! It’s in an animated league all of its own and fair play to it. Normally there is either Disney or Don Bluth animated classics, The Swan Princess proved us wrong. 

When he was banished from the realm for attempting to steal the throne by use of his dark magic, the evil sorcerer Rothbart vowed to take revenge: that day has come. After years of forceful persuasion, Prince Derek and Princess Odette have fallen in love with one another and Rothbart takes his revenge by kidnapping Odette and keeping her prisoner, under a spell that turns her into a swan by day and a human by night. Odette will never give Rothbart her kingdom, just as Prince Derek will never stop searching for his true love: Odette. Well, the story is already there! 

What made The Swan Princess memorable for me, as a child, was the music, the animation, and the memorable characters and voice work. Most of those elements make it a memorable film for me as an adult too. I will admit that, watching it now, the animation is a little off-the-mark and almost Snow White-ish, but ultimately the combination of the cheesy songs, the hammed-up script, and the overly dramatic voices make it just as entertaining and memorable for me now as when I was a child. I CANNOT HELP BUT LOVE THIS MOVIE! 

Featuring the voice talents of Michelle Nicastro, Howard McGillin, Steve Vinovich, Sandy Duncan, Dakin Matthews, Steven Wright, Jack Palance, and John Cleese, and featuring the singing talents of Liz Callaway, Adam Wylie, Lex de Azevedo, David Zippel, Jonathan Hadary, and David Gaines, The Swan Princess is a wonderful animated classic that’s filled with action, magic, adventure, romance, drama, musical numbers, and comedy. It’s great for both kids and adults: kids, for the memorable characters, animation, and comedy, and adults for the sheer cheesiness of the whole thing. Oh I absolutely love it! 

Far longer than forever

Maid in Manhattan [PG]

Marissa Ventura is a maid, and a good one at that; she’s polite, diligent, loyal, and above all, very good at being invisible. But her world is turned upside down when Chris Marshall, a candidate for Senator, comes to stay at the hotel where she works. Whilst trying on a guest’s clothes, Marissa and Chris’s paths cross and they fall for one another. But the romance is threatened as the two come from completely different worlds and, as such, have different behaviours expected of them. 

Oh, this is a very nice film. It’s warm, has drama, inspires both romance and equality, and is filled with memorable characters and messages about acceptance and societal judgement. Although it’s your average, mediocre, light, fluffy, bit of romantic brain candy, it’s still a film that I have a soft spot for and am glad to have in my collection. 

Marissa Ventura is a maid, and a very good one at that; she’s polite, diligent, loyal, and above all, very good at being invisible. But her world is turned upside down when Chris Marshall, a rich candidate running for Senator, comes to stay at the hotel where she works. Whilst trying on a guest’s clothes, Marissa and Chris’ paths cross and they fall in love with one another. But the romance is threatened as the two come from completely different words and, as such, have different behaviours expected of them. 

Little, feely, romantic comedies such as these are really nice because they are light, with simple plots to follow, memorable characters, and balanced between drama and comedy. 

Maid in Manhattan is a particularly nice little movie that depicts a lot of the stereotypes, both societal and racial, that can still be seen today. On the surface, it’s a classic romance story, but underneath we see all these other themes that are political, societal, racial, and familial. When you really look at it, there is more going on in this movie than initially meets the eye, making it a nice one to come to now and gain because each time you see it, you see something that you may not have noticed before. 

Jennifer Lopez stars as Marissa and she did very well. I’m not really a fan of Jennifer’s, but watching her in this film was great because she gave a performance that was warm, funny, biting, and really genuine. She was an everywoman, a character that sometimes proves to be the harder one to play. 

Starring Ralph Fiennes, Natasha Richardson, Tyler Garcia Posey, Marissa Matrone, Stanley Tucci, and Bob Hoskins, Maid in Manhattan is a lovely little film that’s filled with romance, comedy, drama, stereotypes, memorable characters, and heart. It may not be the most romantic tale to grace our screens, but it’s nice and light with warmth and heart. It’s very lovely.   

Chocolat [M]

In the small French village of Lansquenet, the villagers are God-fearing and their town has been rooted in tradition for over a century. But one day, a clever north wind sweeps through the town, bringing with it free-spirited wandered Vianne Rocher and her daughter Anouk, who come to set up a chocolaterie. At first, Vianne’s presence and her treats are frowned upon by most of the God-fearing villagers, but to others they are a Godsend with the power to not only tantalise the tastebuds, but cure lost hopes, awaken unexpected desires, and fulfil unspoken passions. 

Oh, I absolutely adore this film! It’s an English student’s dream because you can look at it in practically any light and it has some wonderfully strong themes and messages about change, journeys, and acceptance. It’s a beautiful, rich, decadent film that one can never tire of and romantics, comics, dramatics, and chocoholics alike will absolutely melt. 

In the small French village of Lansquenet, the villagers are God-fearing and their town has been rooted in tradition for over a century. But one day, a clever north wind sweeps through the town, bringing with it free-spirited wanderer Vianne Rocher and her daughter Anouk, who come to Lansquenet to set up a chocolaterie during the Lenten period of abstinence. Vianne’s arrival and her treats are at first frowned upon by most of the villagers, but to others her chocolates are a Godsend that have the power to not only tantalise the tastebuds, but redeem lost hopes, awaken unexpected desires, and fulfil unspoken passions. 

Based on the novel by Joanne Harris, Chocolat is a wonderfully decadent movie that creates a really marvellous feeling of warmth and richness; the feeling that one experiences whilst indulging in good chocolate. The rich mixture of the memorable characters, the appealing story, the mesmerising soundtrack, the biting dramas, and the refreshing comedy, makes Chocolat a truly wondrous film that holds a new surprise for every time it is watched, making it a film that you can never get tired of. 

Without a doubt, my favourite thing about this movie, aside from Johnny Depp of course, is the contradictory mixture of characters and their transformations from who they’ve been judge to be into who they really are. The most notable of these is the character of Josephine, played just beautifully by Lena Olin. Josephine begins the film as a sad and frumpy character, but through her unwavering friendship with Vianne, she grows into this really beautiful and strong woman, surprising absolutely everyone, characters and audience, in the process. And Lena’s performance was absolutely enchanting! 

Starring Juliette Binoch, Lena Olin, Alfred Molina, Judi Dench, Carrie-Anne Moss, Peter Stormare, Victoire Thivisol, and Johnny Depp, Chocolat is a truly beautiful film that is filled with comedy, drama, outsiders, acceptance, conflicts, change, journeys, beautiful music, memorable characters, and chocolate, of course. Seriously, watching Vianne make her chocolates is the most hypnotising thing in the world and as the credits begin to roll, you have an overwhelming craving for chocolate. This movie is perfect for any audience at any time of day and can never be tired of. If you have not already seen it, I would highly recommend it! 

The Rum Diary [M]

Puerto Rico, 1960. Paul Kemp, journalist and slight alcoholic, has come to write for a small and striving newspaper. The job begins small and unassuming but soon, with the help of a little rum, it escalates into a journey filled with crooks, injustice, and self-discovery. 

In loving memory of Hunter S Thompson. 

Admittedly, after seeing and completely loving Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, I expected The Rum Diary to be another mind-screwing trip, absolutely rum-soaked and swimming. This was not the case, but the film was still a very good one; autobiographical, and a good story of ambition and self-discovery, this movie made me laugh and think. 

Puerto Rico, 1960. Paul Kemp, journalist and slight alcoholic, has come to write for a small and striving newspaper run by a genuine bastard that completely contradicts Paul’s journalistic ideas and ambitions. The job begins small and unassuming with Paul making friends and developing a taste for rum in the process, but that changes when Paul is plucked from the inner workings of the paper to write for some crooks who are looking to buy and exploit the land. As Paul sees one life of luxury and money and then another of poverty and injustice, he develops, with the help of a little rum, a strong hatred of his greedy employers and an ambition to write the truth and snap back at them. It could even be said that sometimes ink is stronger than rum. 

Based on Hunter S. Thompson’s book, The Rum Diary is a film that took me a while to get into. As with Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, this movie does project a very reflective vibe towards the audience, one that lulls and then snaps into action at the slightest touch, much like the effect of having continuous drinks. 

I felt that is also had more of a solid story than Fear and Loathing, one that was actually rather interesting as it very subtly puts forward the idea that some of life’s meanings and purposes are understood and fuelled through alcohol. I can honestly say that I come up with my best story ideas when I’ve had a few drinks and I know that Steven Tyler, lead singer of Aerosmith wrote some of the most amazing songs and lyrics when he was high. 

Johnny Depp stars as Paul and he was wonderful, just as Johnny can be. It was really interesting to see him play this character that begins the film as being sort of uncertain and taking life one moment at a time and then develops into this angry and ambitious journalist who then goes on to have an illustrious career. As Johnny Depp and Hunter S. Thompson were friends, it is only fitting that the character of Paul be played by Depp. I actually have a feeling that Johnny was the one who fired Thompson’s ashes out of a cannon at his funeral. 

Starring Johnny Depp, Michael Rispoli, Richard Jenkins, Amber Heard, Giovanni Ribisi, and Aaron Eckhart, The Rum Diary is a very good film filled with action, crime, injustice, romance, comedy, and of course, rum. Another classic that Depp can add to his already outstanding repertoire, I really enjoyed this film. 

A Few Best Men [MA]

Whilst on holiday, David meets a lovely Australian girl and it’s love at first sight. So he proposes and, soon after returning to England to pick up his mates, David finds himself flying to the Land Down Under for his wedding. If David had nerves about meeting his fiancé’s parents, it’s nothing compared to the nerves he feels on his wedding day when he awakes to discover a sheep dressed in drag, a bag full of cocaine, a gun, and only a few hours to get rid of it all. 

From the director of Priscilla Queen of the Desert and the writer of Death at a Funeral, A Few Best Men is a film that is not without its occasional charm and moments of comedic entertainment, but ultimately a movie that I just didn’t find as amusing as it’s been cracked up as being. To be honest, I found this film to be confused. Just confused. It knew what it wanted to be and the effect on the audience that it wanted to achieve, but it just didn’t know how to get there. It seems shallow to compare it to The Hangover, but that sort of monumental-wedding-fuck-up type film has become almost a genre in itself, and I felt that A Few Best Men tried to be like one of those films, but just did not know how to get to the same heights. It’s practically blasphemous, as this is an Aussie movie, but the mainstream, American, groom-comedy, in the end was the better film (and believe me, it’s hard for me to admit this, being so pro-Aussie-comedy and everything). 

Whilst on holiday, David meets a lovely Australian girl and it’s love at first sight. So he proposes and, soon after returning to England to pick up his mates, David finds himself flying to the Land Down Under for his wedding. If David had nerves about meeting his fiancé’s parents, they are nothing compared to the nerves he feels on his wedding day when he awakes to find a sheep dressed in drag, a bag full of cocaine, a gun, and only a few hours to get rid of it all. 

At the end of the day, I felt that this movie fell down because it was confused. I felt that it was trying to be The Hangover but not quite, thereby keeping the subtle Aussie comedy, most of which I did not understand. There was a fair amount of crudity and racism flying throughout this film and, although I usually praise the Aussies for their ability to take the piss out of ourselves, that comedy felt out of place in a story like this. 

The basic story had potential, there were some very nice messages about the institution of family and the forms that it can take, sticking by your mates, and that sort of thing, and there were some very funny moments of comedy, awkwardness, crudeness, and schadenfreude. 

Ultimately, I feel that it was the editing that let the movie down. Everything from the sudden changes in locations to the gags of the script felt thrown in: really jagged and haphazardly. Everything that was funny or important was just thrown in there. And that robbed the film of any smoothness, which might have been handy in the predicaments of the groom and best men, and flowing momentum. It gave the film a stunted feeling, which I don’t much fancy in movies because it’s too close to a block, which then leads to a moment of awkwardness as we work out what to do next. 

Starring Xavier Samuel, Kris Marshall, Rebel Wilson, Laura Brent, Kevin Bishop, Tim Draxl, Jonathan Biggins, and Olivia Newton-John, A Few Best Men is a film that had its moments, but ultimately was very confused and lost. Filled with practically everything from drugs and guns to cross-dressing sheep, it’s a ride, I’ll give it that, though not one that I would go on again straight away. 

Sympathy For Delicious [MA]

Delicious Dean is a paralysed DJ struggling to survive on the harsh streets of LA. Cynical, stubborn, and foul-mouthed by nature, Dean is a very hard person to get along with, which makes it all the more remarkable when he discovers that he has the gift to heal the sick, though not himself. Sick and jealous of charitably healing the sick homeless in the shelter he lives near, Dean cashes in on his gift in exchange for his rock and roll dreams. 

I honestly don’t know what to make of this film. It left me completely at a loss as to what to think, a little like Sleeping Beauty did. It’s a very opaque film in which you know where it’s going and what it’s trying to do, but you’re not seeing it. 

Delicious Dean is a paralysed DJ struggling to survive on the harsh streets of LA. Cynical, stubborn, aggressive, and foul-mouthed by nature, Dean is a very hard person to get along with; always pushing away people and snapping when they offer him help or sympathy, which makes it all the more remarkable when he discovers that he has the gift to heal the sick, though not himself. Sick and jealous of charitably healing the sick and homeless inhabitants of the shelter, Dean cashes in on his gift in exchange for his dreams of being a rock star. 

Essentially this is a story about jealousy, religious belief, self-pity, and cause and effect. Driven by the central protagonist, Sympathy For Delicious shows the audience an original, biting, and somewhat Faustian tale of belief and morals. A good example of the dichotomy of what is personally right and what is morally right. This man, self-pitying, cynical, aggressive, and just all around not very nice, is given this God-like gift of healing. That alone is an intriguing contradiction. We then see him use this gift charitably, all the while knowing that he means nothing of what he says or does. We then see him selfishly exploit his gift for his chance to be a famous rock star. We see his actions turn over onto themselves and bring his station down to one lower than as when he started. And then we see forgiveness and a second chance. 

I think what it all boils down to is a film about the mysterious workings of “the Lord”, the trials and tribulations that humans go through to make themselves better in the eyes of God and their fellow man. All up, I found this movie to be grim, gritty, and very hard to digest. It puts forward some great ideas about life and the different paths and ways in which we choose to live it, but it is a really hard film to get, not dissimilar to Sleeping Beauty. 

Starring Christopher Thornton, Mark Ruffalo, Juliette Lewis, Laura Linney, Noah Emmerich, James Karen, John Carroll Lynch, and Orlando Bloom who was very rock star and not at all how we usually see him, Sympathy For Delicious was an interesting film with some interesting ideas, but ultimately it’s an acquired taste that I just don’t have. Filled with cynicism, healing, religion, miracles, rock stars, drama, jealousy, and a shitload of swearing, it’s a film that I can appreciate, but not admire, and I don’t think it’s one that I would watch again. 

Beginners [M]

Oliver is thirty-something, single, and still bears the scars of broken past relationships of all kinds, not just romantically, but familial as well. Just months after losing his father, who after the death of his wife of 45 years, had come out and led a full, gay life, Oliver falls in love with the cheeky and strikingly different, Anna, and his feelings for her reawaken memories and feelings from his past, which make for a very confusing and awkward courtship. 

This is a lovely little film that depicts life, loss, and love in all its glorious messiness and uncertainty. The story is simple, but it was the performances from the cast that gave the film its reflective quality, causing the audience to be unsure and tentative about what to feel towards it. By extension, it’s a wonderful example of audience participation as the watchers gathered around the screen are in the exact same emotional frame of mind as the characters, thereby really being able to understand, empathise, and relate to them. It’s a very clever and lovely little movie that saw Christopher Plummer, at the age of 82, win his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. 

Oliver is thirty-something, single, and still bears the scars of broken past relationships of all kinds, not just romantically, but familial as well. Just months after losing his father who, after the death of his wife of 45 years had come out and led a full, gay life, Oliver meets and falls in love with the cheeky and strikingly different, Anna, and his feelings for her reawaken memories and feelings from his past, in particular his childhood, which make for a very confusing and awkward courtship. 

Essentially, what made this film so captivating and genuinely intriguing was the performances from the cast. The simple story about emotional confusion, coping, and people putting on faces; brave, happy, what have you, naturally called for a subtle and real melancholy, which posed a fair challenge for the cast I would imagine; I believe that it would be incredibly hard to act being confused, and make it believable and not dramatic, and this film’s natural vibe of melancholy and tentativeness is strong and infectious. 

Ewan McGregor stars as Oliver in one his best performances. I love, just love Ewan and watching him in this film was completely and unutterably captivating. He delivered a beautiful performance that was grief-stricken, unstable, confused, tentative, trying, and a little trapped. He was a deliciously melancholy character and one that was completely natural that the audience could relate. I love you Ewan! 

Christopher Plummer’s Academy Award winning performance was another that was wholeheartedly genuine. The risk with playing a supporting role that is gay and, rather stereotypically, demanding, would be a good challenge because you have to tread a fine line between what is memorable and what is demanding. Christopher balanced that tightrope with sophisticated flare and subtlety and delivered a performance that was proud, content, and real. I cried. 

Starring Melanie Laurent, who is just beautiful, Goran Visnjic, Kai Lennox, and Mary Page Keller, Beginners is a wonderful drama that has delightful moments of comedy and warmth interspersed throughout. Filled with grief, loss, memories, romance, drama, flashbacks, comedy, and emotional treks, it really is a beautiful little film that I would highly recommend. 

Anonymous [M]

In the sensitive, anticipatory, political snake-pit of Elizabethan England, there was one place and one power that could rally the masses and bring about controversy, grief, and revolution: the theatre and the words of the play. In a particularly sensitive political climate, where civil war threatens to rear its head, one popular playwright affected the masses so strongly and turned the heads in the Royal Court: William Shakespeare. But, as the tales of nobility and power seem so understanding of the English Nobility’s inner workings, a question must be asked: who was the real author behind the works credited to Shakespeare’s name? 

Admittedly, I was never a Shakespeare fan. I appreciate and admire the words and works that he has written, but they never completely drew me in. I guess you’re either inclined the Shakespearean way or you are not. As it is, I was very intrigued by this film. It seemed like a fantastic tale of conspiracy, betrayal, revolt, fiery passion and dark defiance. This just proves that you cannot tell what a film is about by the trailers, or inflect what type of movie it is by the cover. I don’t want to say that it was a disappointment, because it wasn’t, but there was just something wanting in this movie. For all the great actors that make up the cast, the eye-catching black and white cover, and the enticing by-line: was Shakespeare a fraud?, I ultimately felt that this movie failed to hold my attention; for a dramatic, historical thriller, it was not gripping in the slightest. 

In the sensitive, anticipatory, political snake-pit of Elizabethan England, there was one place and one power that could rally the masses and bring about controversy, grief, and revolution: the theatre and the words of the play. In a particularly sensitive political climate where civil war threatens to rear its head at any moment, one popular playwright affected the masses so strongly and turned the heads of the Royal Court: William Shakespeare. But, as the tales of nobility and power seem so understanding of the English Nobility’s inner workings, a question must be asked: who was the real author behind the works credited to Shakespeare’s name? 

To begin, I found that the whole was-Shakespeare-a-fraud? theme of the film was nothing more than a by-line; a small and meaningless story to grab the attention of the passerby. What I think caused the film to lose its gripping and historical thriller potential was the amount of stories that made up the entire thing. We have the Shakespeare story, which is a debate that has resurfaced time and time again over the years; how he was merely a name that gained the glory of the works written by a nobleman. Then we have the political story of civil war, the aging of Queen Elizabeth, and the struggle and desire to seize power. That is where the conspiracy element of the thriller comes into play. Underneath that we have another story about jealousy and betrayal from the man who was set to gain the glory instead of Shakespeare. And then, finally, we have an abundance of flashbacks and histories that hold a great importance in the present story. What I found with this movie was that all the stories, just tended to pile upon one another, vying for centre stage as it were, and you’re so busy trying to remember who the characters are and what roles they play in what scandals and dramas, and it all becomes too overwhelming and you just lose the energy with which to watch and enjoy the movie. It was more like watching a historical film and taking notes, knowing there’s a test at the end, rather than just a good, gripping, historical thriller. 

The performances from all the cast were exceptional, the script was very lovely and good; lengthy and wordy, a play in itself, and I did like the way the movie began as a stage production and then went into the period piece. 

Starring Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave, Joely Richardson, Jaime Campbell Bower, Sebastian Armesto, Rafe Spall, Edward Hogg, and David Thewlis, Anonymous was a fine film with fine cinematic and theatrical elements, but ultimately I felt that there was too much in it for it to really grip the audience. Filled with masterpieces, history, politics, conspiracy, incest, betrayal, murder, jealousy, romance, and power, it’s a film that I am glad I have seen, but not one that I add to the collection. 

Hugo [PG]

Once upon a time, in a crowded train station in Paris, lived a small boy named Hugo. An orphan with a knack for fixing things, Hugo spends his time tending the clocks of the station and pilfering gears from a toymaker in order to fix an abandoned metal man that his father once brought home from a museum. But when the toymaker catches Hugo, an adventure is set into motion as the toymaker’s reaction to Hugo’s notebook with pictures of the metal man makes Hugo wonder if there is some special secret that is trying to resurface. 

STUNNING, ABSOLUTELY STUNNING! Earning six Academy Awards including Best Achievement in Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound Editing, Visual Effects, and Sound Mixing, Hugo is a wonderfully mesmerising film that is filled with wonderful inflections of nostalgia, purpose, belonging, imagination, and the magic of cinema. It’s a wondrous, wondrous cinematic achievement, one that will definitely be going into the collection when it’s released on DVD. 

Once upon a time, in a crowded train station in Paris, there lived a small boy named Hugo. AN orphan with a knack for fixing things, Hugo spends his time tending the clocks in the station and pilfering gears and clockwork mechanisms from a toymaker in order to fix an abandoned metal man that his father once brought home from a museum. But one day the toymaker catches Hugo and a memorable adventure is set into motion, as the toymaker’s reaction to Hugo’s notebook, which contains instructions and pictures of the metal man, causes Hugo to wonder if the toymaker has some special secret that is trying to resurface. With the help of his new friend Isabelle, Hugo embarks upon a remarkable adventure to find truth, purpose, and a place where he belongs. 

Oh, this is such a lovely film! Visually, it’s a work of unearthly genius; the marriage of the visual effects and the sound effects was a winning matrimony, with particularly wonderful usage of the tinker tinkering sound of clockwork. It did more than just fill the silence of the more dramatic or tense moments, it set the pace of the film and it did so with such precision and articulate staccato; such that would cause your heartbeat and pulse to tick along in time with it. I was irrevocably hooked from the very first tick. 

To play against the astounding visual and 3D effects (for this is one of the rare films that is heightened by 3D), Hugo is founded on a very heart warming and breathtaking story about belonging and happiness. Scorsese has brought a wonderful sense of nostalgia to the story, based on the book by Brian Selznick, and, I think has successfully reawakened the magic of cinema. In this bustling and modern age, the appreciation of the art and magic of the movies has been lost, but with Hugo it has been found and brought back to centre stage. Wonderful feelings of reminiscence are felt when watching this film, not dissimilar to the effect that Cinema Paradiso had on its audience, just with more special effects and cinematic achievements. 

I also thought it was particularly wonderful that real history was brought into the mix. We see the first use of the movie camera and then are shown the magic of director Georges Melies’ Le Voyage Dans La Lune (A Trip to the Moon), an outstanding achievement in cinema (you must keep in mind that this dates back to 1902). It’s just wondrous to look back and see what magic has been created through the movies and it’s magnificent to feel that warm wave of nostalgia. At the end of the day, it’s good to know that humans have done something right. 

Featuring dazzling performances from Asa Butterfield, Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Chloe Grace Moretz, Ray Winstone, Christopher Lee, Helen McCory, Frances de la Tour, Richard Griffiths, Emily Mortimer, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Jude Law, Hugo is a dazzlingly beautiful film that’s filled with adventure, drama, imagination, purpose, comedy, stunning visual effects, amazing achievements in sound, and practically everything else in between. I absolutely adored this movie; I laughed, I swooned, I cried, and it was just enchanting and wonderful to watch a film that relishes in the modern effects but also takes us back in time to marvel at how far the movies have come. It’s just staggering, really. And this is an amazing, AMAZING film!

Midnight In Paris [PG]

Gil and his fiancé Inez are engaged to be married and on holidays in Paris with her parents. For Gil, as a writer, the city of Paris holds more beauty and wonder than it does for his modern, overbearing, and unromantic fiancé. Gil would love to live in the Golden Age: Paris in the 1920s, and one night, as the clock strikes twelve, he discovers a way to do just that. 

What a film! WHAT A FILM! This was a wonderful story, a story after my own heart actually. Woody Allen and I should have lunch! I was hooked, literally within 3 minutes. The entire film is dripping with romance, passion, and freedom of the imagination. Nominated for a handful of Academy Awards including Best Picture, Achievement in Art Direction, Achievement in Directing, and winning the award for Best Original Screenplay, Midnight In Paris is a wonderfully original film that will just make you fall in love… it doesn’t even matter what with, you’ll just fall, head over heels, and all that jazz. 

Gil and his fiancé Inez are engaged to be married and on holidays in Paris with her parents. For Gil, as a writer, the city of Paris holds more beauty and wonder than it does for his modern, overbearing, and unromantic fiancé. Gil would love to live in his personal Golden age: Paris in the 1920s, preferably in the rain. And one night, as the clock strikes midnight, he discovers a way to do just that. 

The major appeal of this movie, for me, is that it’s a writer’s movie. The protagonist is a writer and Woody Allen is a wonderful man who has really wonderful ideas. They may not always work on film, but they always have potent potential! And being a writer (of sorts) myself, this movie was just dripping, practically swimming with literary romanticism. We meet artists, real artists like Scott Fitzgerald, Cole Porter, Earnest Hemingway, Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Gertrude Stein, and I have to say that everyone played their parts so well. SO WELL! I mean, this movie was something right out of my own fictional inner sanctuary, it was a dream come true for me and I literally spent the entire duration of this film with a swooning, romantic, contented smile plastered on my face. 

The cinematography is just lovely, “really lovely” and the characters, the music, the performances, everything was just so real and dazzling and delightful and oh how I crave to be in Paris right now. This movie really captures the romance, the ambiance, the famous allure that Paris holds. It’s absolutely wonderful! 

Featuring wonderful performances from Owen Wilson, a writer after my own heart, Rachel McAdams, who played the (for lack of a better word) bitch really well, Cathy Bates, Adrien Brody, Carla Bruni, Marion Cotillard, who is just beautiful and an actress that I would go to a film to see, Kurt Fuller, Mimi Kennedy, Nina Arianda, Alison Pill, Corey Stoll, Tom Hiddleston, Gad Elmaleh, and Michael Sheen, Midnight In Paris is a remarkable story and film that is filled with romance, splendour, enchanting scenery, conflicts, artists, geniuses, oh it just has a little bit of everything. It’s wonderful! IT REALLY IS WONDERUL! An absolute delight, a treat, a splendour, oh c’est magnifique!

Believe: The Eddie Izzard Story [MA]

Internationally acclaimed comedian, actor, and general rock star darling, Eddie Izzard. This is his story. 

It is well known and circulated news that I am a mad fan for Eddie Izzard. I’ve got the shows, I’ve seen him act, I’ve seen him live, I’ve heard his ringtones, and I have a Cake or Death T-shirt and matching bag. I now have his documentary and it has made me love him all the more. From humble, trying beginnings to “international credit card”, Eddie’s story is a truly inspiring one, with a singular, powerful message: believe. 

Internationally acclaimed comedian, actor, and general rock star darling, Eddie Izzard. This is his story. He is born, goes to boarding school where he decides what he wants his life to be. From there the path is paved with trials, tribulations, struggles, and disappointment. But through it all, the hero remains ever determined and focused, and through his ever-present belief in his self, Eddie has made it to the spotlight and earned the love of the world, which he very much deserves. 

By nature, I am not a documentary-liking person. As lame and childish as it is to admit this, I much prefer to shelter myself in the world of fiction, fantasy, special effects, movies, and books. It’s a wonder that I make sense half the time really. Reality is a place that I’ve been too and would prefer not to revisit, therefore docos have never really appealed to me. Ignorance is bliss is the motto that I (loosely) live life by. But Eddie Izzard is a person that I really love and admire, and so it would not be right if I did not own his documentary and know his story. 

Believe is a good doco as docos go. At the end of the day there really isn’t much to say about the film because the sole appeal is the story; the inspiring story, the story about someone you love, the true story. Eddie’s story is one that inspires the audience from its very core and his persistence and determination alone will make you a fan if you’re not already one. Divided into chapters of his life, Believe is a vibrant and eclectic collection of show snippets, interviews, and on-location guide and narration. We not only speak to people who know and have worked with Eddie, but his adoring (and sometimes not so adoring) audiences, which brings a stronger sense of realism to the piece. 

Featuring interviews with friends, family, teachers, co-workers, co-actors, and of course Eddie himself, Believe: the Eddie Izzard Story is a very good documentary filled with struggles, determination, courage, clout, comedy, and love. A film about a truly beautiful man and spirit. I LOVE YOU EDDIE!