Reviews

Who do you turn to if you want to not tell a story at a snail pace? Anyone defending it through its 'meaning' need to realise you can have meaning and entertainment, they are not mutually exclusive. People who won't have a bad word said of their idol, why people idolise is another thing, need to understand that a good film is good for a reason, not because they want it to be. So reading into it what you wish doesn't wash. If it's turgid garbage then that's what it is. And this is so utterly mind numbingly bad, it's inexplicable how it got off the ground. Back behind his expensive pearly white gates before emerging with more pearls of wisdom for us fools.

A masterclass in acting from Brad Pitt. This film is nothing more than a vehicle for his incredibly emotional performance.

Elvis & Anabelle is a perfectly pitched indie film. The acting all round was superb. The chemistry between Blake and Max is as good as it gets. Yes it's a simple story, but the bitter sweet elements are blended beautifully. Blake Lively was mesmerising, I mean mesmerising. Made you appreciate quite how much you are missing out on life!

I'm sorry, but just because a film was once heralded in it's day, doesn't make it a classic. This nonsensical nauseating drab boring film is worthy of sitting on the same pedestal as 2001: A Space Odyssey. Seriously I can't begin to tell you how many issues there are with it. I need a video conference call with anyone who wants to dissect it. Post 80's Spielberg decided to make a whole heap of films that picked on popular public opinion in order to fill his trophy cabinet. However, what was startling was there were 2 black and 1 Asian actors in this, he wasn't quite as bothered back then in moving forward the public perception.

I watched a very average horror last night, Slender Man. It came out with a whoop and a fanfare, but no one rates it, and I join the club. No characterisation at all. The Slender Man was nothing more than a character out of say 'Miss Peregrines School for Peculiar Children', not scary at all. There were a few effective formulaic jumps and scares, not many. Looked slick in parts and poor in others. Just meh, never got going.

27 years on, this is as fresh as the day it came out.

While nowhere near a Richard Curtis Romcom, it is definitely in the next bracket. It is help massively by a strong cast who all pour their heart and soul into it. It's easy to see how Russell Brand broke the American market, for a short time anyway, with performances in well picked films like this. Along with Brand, I though Rudd and Kunis were excellent too. You will watch it, enjoy it, but probably never revisit.

Hard to be too hard on this version of Rebecca because the acting and set is very nice. In fact I though Scott Thomas and Hammer lead the line well, James was okay too, plus a strong supporting cast do a fine job. Locations are delicious. However, the pace is a little bit turgid and the direction is okay. I thought the script could have been handled better. There are times it dwells when it should move and then flies when it should dwell. Worth a watch though.

I watched this low budget horror on Netflix and to be fair it was well made and with very good acting. It borrows in a few ways from The Woman in Black, but I'd recommend it. You won't be frightened by it. There are scares and jumps, and not the quiet quiet BANG types, they do build up. The way the actors portrayed their inner demons was the highlight of the film. While not the greatest, it's atmospheric and draws you right in.

I enjoyed the film. I didn't enjoy fictionalising a real person. Having a pop at yesterday's moral's and how they still impinge on us today is something that could have been done without hijacking a real person. A real person who deserves her story telling properly. Even the BBC article I read said this film wasn't a gender issue film, it was a class issue film, with many men and women suffering what she suffered. If anything gender was a side issue. The gender issue would have been an issue within it's own class, not across classes. But they want to lose that because it doesn't fit the modern tick box exercise and all us working class thickies wouldn't be capable of putting two things together. In fact the same insult is levelled at us still!

Maybe I'm being a little harsh. That said, I really enjoyed it as a film. The pace reflected the situation, the acting was brilliant, Kate Winslet expression was a brick wall, but when she eventually succumbed to smile it was beautiful. The story was gorgeous.

My criticism lies with the writer/director for picking Mary Anning name to write fiction against. If you are writing a film about her, actually focus on her life, yes you can embellish, but embellish the truth, not that it would need that.

When this came out it didn't do that well, I've never know why. It is impeccably crafted. The script is water tight. In previous films, I've always felt Pegg always grabs more plaudits than anyone else, this time he does deserve them. This is head and shoulders his best acting performance, he steals the whole show. However, everyone around him works 100% to give him the opportunity. Arguably the best Trilogy out there.

I remember this film being absolutely panned, so I dodged it. When I did watch it a few years ago, i thought it was alright. Watched it again the other night and was surprised quite how good it was. A stellar cast, well written, directed and produced. I don't understand why it hasn't gone on to become a bit of a cult film. I would like to add that Daniel Craig's hat really annoyed me. Why would a Clint Eastwood style character where such an over-sized floppy rimmed hat, it made him look a bit goofy! If you liked the 'original' star wars, then you will like Harrison Ford, he plays the dark Hans Solo character, until George Lucas re-edited it and softened him into that fun loving guy.

This film is on weekly on ITV2 or 4, whichever. The clips are what falls into zany, which to me is awful. However, with nothing better to do I put it on and was surprised to find a genuinely funny film, well written and acted. As you would expect there are those moments that do there best to ruin it, but not too many. Even Jennifer Anniston with a somewhat checkered film history was good. I think if you watch it you will enjoy it. Low expectation reap great reward!

I doff my cap to all involved, but a little longer to Sam Rockwell, who manages to steal the show, even though it's a brilliant show. Says how good he is, doesn't it!

Another absolute classic that has passed me by. Watched by chance and so lucky to have done so. One of the best coming of age films I've seen.

From the writing to the direction to the acting it's bang on. The opening scene is a real eye opener to those who know what passive aggressive is like!

I can't praise this enough, just watch it. It is hope through despair, so watch it when you feel down, just as it drags you under the waves it pulls you out!

'The Ritual' had you hiding behind the sofa wondering what was coming to freak you out, but cleverly didn't let you in too soon so no suspense ruined. I turned the wall lights on in the end, I was getting too nervous in the dark. The script was brilliant, it was like Quentin T. had written the dialogue, it was real and the dark humour came through the situation they found themselves in. The start was a bit blunt, but really set the scene for their mental state.

This film popped up on Film 4 and I nearly didn't bother, but the cast made me give it a go. I'd never heard of it and by the ratings from others, it didn't go down that well. The rom-com was real Richard Curtis done by the American's, but that is not a slight, it was really good. It had a heart and soul. Yeah, fluffy nonsense, but lovely and refreshing. I have to say Reese Witherspoon always surprises me. She isn't a big box office draw, but always puts in an excellent performance. The supporting cast were all excellent and no one dimensional characters, all involved had a part to play and had been invested in by the writer. Well worth a watch if you want to smile.

Occasionally you get a film that is very different to the norm. Does that make it a masterpiece or is there a reason no one makes a film like it? That's up to you to decide. Like most films that slot into this category, you will either be absorbed or pushed away, that's personal choice. All the gory weird stuff was what the vikings used to do, no one can't say it was tough back then! I loved watching the backdrop, you will see why. However, it does leave you with a great question at the end, is this from her perspective or her boyfriends? It's possible to watch it from two totally different points of view.

How does he do it? When it comes to heaping praise upon a Producer and Director this is who you should be looking for.

And Sally Hawkins too! She eats up the screen.

Terminator and T2 were great films in there day, but having watched them recently on the big screen, they are quite dull. So, when we are told this is THE sequel to them, not the other dross, then it actually is. The problem is this is also stuck in the past when it comes to regurgitated plot. So it is fair to say it is a sequel to a 90's film. I know a few people who have seen it and they fall into two camps, they love Terminator and will accept anything, or it was boring. Look, I love Star Wars, I love the idea, but there is more rubbish than good stuff, loving the idea isn't enough.

...and it won't be the spoilt rich boy!

A really good film, but difficult to call enjoyable.