Like The Road but with more bite.
13 November 2011
18 September 2011
Drive (2011)
Drive feels like the kind of film Quentin Tarantino could have made 15 years ago. Gritty, stylish and further cementing Gosling as one of Hollywood's most intersting actors.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
Gary Oldman strives to get the wrong one out in Tomas Alfredson's masterful follow-up to one of my favourite films in recent years.
30 July 2011
Rango (2011)
3 stars
Unknown (2011)
3.5 stars
24 July 2011
Submarine (2010)
Decent Britflick from Richard Ayoade presents a coming-of-age tale with a genuine charm that cuts through the cloying schmaltz of the mass market machine. Funny, moving and nicely shot.
4 stars
23 July 2011
The Town (2010)
Decent, just can't help but we've seen it all before and better film was hidden in there somewhere.. still worth checking out though.
Janck 3.5 stars (Feb 2011)
Enjoyable enough crime thriller which although is solidly made, does not stick too long in the memory to make it a classic. Directed by Ben Affleck, the end result is very 'safe'.
Mitch 3.5 stars
17 July 2011
The Adjustment Bureau (2011)
"Bourne meets Inception" says the film poster, however, there is unashamedly a large dose of romance, and, dare I say it, 'chick flick' cunningly disguised here. Emily Blunt is irresitible and annoying in equal measure though (no doubt due to some Hollywood exec telling her 'Oooh Emily, we just LOVE your Britishness'). Big themes of love/life/fate/choices make for a very mixed bag indeed.
3 stars
16 July 2011
Battle: Los Angeles (2011)
Being a huge fan of the Alien Invasion genre, Battle: LA pulls no punches in basically just being Black Hawk Down with aliens. Battle, struggle, set-pieces, explosion, CGI, half-time and full-time results - it's all there. As is a, now obligatory, Michelle Rodriguez role as 'kick-ass female with a firearm'. Visual feast; paper thin and meaty at the same time.
2.5 stars
10 July 2011
Black Swan (2010)
Lesbianism, madness, Black Swan. The dark side are they.
Janck 4 stars (Jan 2011)
Aronofsky's use of symbolism and metaphor are sublime in this dark, psychological mystery. Lives up to the hype; recommended, raw, and cinematic.
Mitch 4.5 stars
Paranormal Activity (2007)
Shot on a shoestring budget, Paranormal Activity is proof that you don't need to be a megabucks blockbuster to be tedious and boring.
Film Jam 2 stars
Rotten Tomatoes 82%
Metacritic 68 out of 100
9 July 2011
El secreto de sus ojos (2009) aka "The Secret in Their Eyes"
Although my mind is still boggling at A Prophet not winning Best Foreign Language film at last years Oscars, this is still a very worthy and rewarding winner.
Janck 4 stars (Feb 2011)
Academy Award Winner. Well paced Argentinian thriller, with sub-plots, twists and turns, and a reassuring darkness at the core.
Mitch 4 stars
26 June 2011
Monsters (2010)
Surprisingly cerebral and pedestrian 'invasion' monster movie. Action is used sparingly, which makes for an unexpected drama here. Cinematography (outstanding), writing, visual effects, and direction all from promising Brit newcomer Gareth Edwards.
3.5 stars
Akmareul boatda (2010) aka "I Saw the Devil"
(Yet) Another uber-violent, stylish revenge thriller from the South Koreans.. but, they don't half know how to make them.
Film Jam 4 stars
Rotten Tomatoes 81%
Metacritic 67 out of 100
Easy A (2010)
Easy to watch and good fun, it's a-okay.
Film Jam 3.5 stars
Rotten Tomatoes 85%
Metacritic 72 out of 100
25 June 2011
Red (2010)
Aging stars turn up and take the paycheck here; they run around a fair bit and wise-crack even more, but the end result falls flat.
2.5 stars
19 June 2011
Paul (2011)
Littered with Star Wars references, and pays homage to many others, this film is an enjoyable enough no-brainer.
3 stars
18 June 2011
15 June 2011
The House of the Devil (2009)
Tidy old school horror, genuinely suspenseful until the ending just boils over.
Film Jam 3.5 stars
Rotten Tomatoes 86%
Metacritic 73 out of 100
12 June 2011
11 June 2011
Crank (2006)
It's dumb.. really dumb.. but did make me smile.
Janck 3 stars (March 2011)
Review to follow...
Mitch 1 star
5 June 2011
True Grit (2010)
Nominated for ten Oscars but didn't win any, which seems about right.
Janck 3.5 stars (Feb 2011)
Review to follow....
Mitch 3.5 stars
4 June 2011
The Fighter (2010)
Like a powerful jab to the emotions, The Fighter is a true winner.
Janck 4 stars (Feb 2011)
Review to follow....
Mitch 4.5 stars
30 May 2011
The King's Speech (2010)
As we enter awards season I'd imagine Colin Firth et al. are all mastering speeches of their own.
Janck 4.5 stars (Jan 2011)
Review to follow....
Mitch 4 stars
The Green Hornet (2011)
Disappointing superhero movie which doesn't really click for Seth Rogen or the creative vision of Michel Gondry. A bit silly, and not much originality.
2.5 stars
26 May 2011
The Hangover Part II (2011)
If you loved the first one, you'll like this.. but if you disliked part one then you'll hate it.
22 May 2011
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls Of Ga'Hoole (2010)
Some of the best CGI in animation you'll be likely to see, this fantasy tale has a certain charm and a touch of 'Lord of the Rings' to it.
3 stars
GasLand (2010)
Gas Panic! in small communities across the United States, all adversely effected by fracking gas companies.
15 May 2011
The Social Network (2010)
Janck 4.5 stars (Oct 2010)
I am indifferent about Facebook and it's daily usage, but I do appreciate a talented young cast and an Oscar winning screenplay. Extremely well made, Fincher combines all the elements well to tell a fascinating story.
Mitch 4.5 stars
14 May 2011
Skyline (2010)
One dimensional storyline as a bunch of model-slash-actors battle against alien invasion. How thoroughly entertained I was though ;) If you hate excessive CGI, you will hate this.
3 stars
30 April 2011
London Boulevard (2010)
Average crime thriller with a cast of familiar faces, however this isn't as clever or killer as you're left hoping it should be.
3 stars
29 April 2011
27 April 2011
26 April 2011
24 April 2011
Let Me In (2010)
Not quite as subtle nor considered.. everything you'd expect from a Hollywood remake.
Janck 3.5 stars (Oct 2010)
Well made in its own right, but there's really not much need to check this out if you've already seen the original. Faithful remake.
Mitch 3.5 stars
23 April 2011
Tropa de Elite (2007) aka "Elite Squad"
Uncompromising police voilence dished out in the favelas of Rio, but any comparisons to City of God are way off the mark.
Janck 3.5 stars (May '09)
Raw, but not groundbreaking. Puts the viewer in the frame with great effect, at the expense of a more solid storyline.
Mitch 3.5 stars
18 April 2011
American: The Bill Hicks Story (2009)
I dare not even attempt a glib quip here, and will just say if you're interested in finding out more about one of America's most groundbreaking comedians then look no further.. otherwise "you suck".
Never Let Me Go (2010)
A haunting and downbeat affair, which is probably why Never Let Me Go was laregly shunned by audiences and awards alike.
17 April 2011
16 April 2011
The Girl Who Played with Fire (2009)
Part II plays with fire, but doesn't quite turn up the heat from the previous installment. Good thriller in its own right though.
3.5 stars
10 April 2011
Megamind (2010)
Enjoyable enough Dreamworks fodder, with some slick set pieces for world domination enthusiasts of all ages.
3.5 stars
9 April 2011
3 April 2011
2 April 2011
Source Code (2011)
Very satisfying follow up to Moon, which, and whisper it quietly, is on a par with Inception.
Janck 4 stars
There's very much a 'something borrowed' feel to this, and though this manages to create a solid cerebral mystery, it's the more light-hearted Groundhog Day moments that raise smiles, intentionally or otherwise. The heavy thematic plotlines and characters coupled with a cloying schmaltz do make this feel like a very safe studio release, however. The individual parts are nothing new, but the sum of them is still a very engaging sci-fi thriller.
Mitch 3.5 stars