Reviews

From the start Last Passenger feels like the kind of suspense film you don't see any more. There is character development. And relationships I care about between the people on the train. I was really interested in how these strangers are getting along when along comes the threat. I still had The Birds on my mind and have always loved how the you get on the edge of your seat simply on the love interest alone, well before the birds start to attack. Versus something like Hostel where they rush to the danger, don't set up the characters, you don't care what happens to them, and you'd just like them to hurry up and live or die so you can go home. Last Passenger gets back to the Hitchcockian "build". I really liked Dougray Scott. I had only seen him in smaller roles but he totally owns this film. I also really like Kara Tointon who I hadn't seen before and I not sure why. She's great. Even the little boy is fantastic. He actually reminded me of the kid that played Danny in The Shining. Just a little less creepy. Anyway... good acting, cool story and a fun idea.

I was surprised that my wife was keen to see this, having no interest in gore nor action films. She left the cinema saying of Tarantino "He's an absolute genius".

That this can be accomplished given the copious gore, ample guns and a steady supply of explosive (and expletive come to that), is testament to Tarantino's mastery. Most of the film is spent in casual dialogue, effortlessly delivered amidst knife edge tension. The racism is up front and centre, breaking new ground where Blazing Saddles feared to tread. Jamie Foxx is more lovable the nastier he gets, Cristophe Waltz is moving beyond legend status into something else entirely. While he was familiar to me, I didn't even click it was him until the movie was finished. Now of course his performance seems amplified in it's magnificence when you stand it alongside Inglorious Basterds.

I read that this is the first film that DiCaprio has been in where he was not given top billing. This surprised me (Gilbert Grape anyone?) but in many ways I feel that this was one where he would have deserved it. This comes of as a career defining performance. He totally breaks his own mould. It seems Tarantino has helped him to keep his trademark enthusiasm menacingly in check until given the all clear to explode. When he does, it's sickening, chilling even. DiCaprio unchained with a scene that leaves even Waltz lost for words. For a moment at least. And what a moment!

Django Unchained is Tarantino at his best and devilish worst. My wife is right. The man is a genius, and he has given me leave to order a Quentin Box Set for a month or two of great Sunday viewing with the missus. Quality time.

I watched The Impossible with a clear intention to remain a little emotionally detached. I knew from the trailer that a disaster was imminent from the word go, so I braced myself for impact and kept my fingers crossed that Ewan Mcgregor was going to give more than the lack luster performance that i feel like I've been growing accustomed to. Okay, so i was crying from about 10 minutes into the film. While McGregor is credible, although still not a return to form, the real performance here is from Naomi Watts. She is gripping to watch, and lends credibility to the rest of the cast as she watches the world fall apart around her. I winced, squirmed and spent many minutes forgetting to breathe. An emotional roller-coaster which, while somewhat lacking in depth in storyline, more than makes up for it with a strong edit. Great job with an average script.