MARKED MOVIES

Zack And Miri Make A Porno * * 1/2

Posted in Comedy, Romance with tags 2008 on May 11, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Kevin Smith.
Screenplay: Kevin Smith.
Starring: Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Jason Mewes, Craig Robinson, Traci Lords Katie Morgan, Ricky Mabe, Jeff Anderson, Justin Long, Brandon Routh, Tom Savini.

Writer/director Kevin Smith used to be a bit of an indie god. His debut “Clerks” was made on a shoestring budget and his films have normally had a real freshness and originality. His last three films; “Red State” “Cop Out” and this, are starting to show that Smith is running out of ideas though.

Plutonic flatmates Zack (Seth Rogen) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) are cash strapped with mounting financial debts. They struggle to even pay basic household bills. When their electricity and water are cut off, they decide to embark on a money spinning idea; to make a homemade adult film. Eventually, the long-time friends will need to have sex with each other but will they be able to keep their emotions in check?

The film starts brightly and yes, you guessed it, Rogen gets to crack a few dick jokes. He’s good at it though but when it’s Kevin Smith at the helm, you expect a bit more. The writing is not as fresh as his earlier stuff and the film resorts to some cheap gags. It also strays off the path of indie comedy and treads onto the well worn one of romantic-comedy. This may be rom-com with an adult twist to it but, ultimately, it’s still part of the genre that I don’t really care for. It’s the performances that keep it tolerable. The two leads in Rogen and Banks are very endearing and they are surrounded by a great supporting cast – Jason Mewes is, as always, hilarious and there is a brilliant cameo from Justin Long as a gravelly voiced, profane, gay porn star. I found it to be a film of moments though. It has several that are very funny – including a good “Star Wars” porn scenario with Hung Solo and R2 T-Bag – but it’s just not consistent enough and then resorts to hammering the love angle. When this happens, you just know the film has ~~muffdived~~ nosedived and it’s very unlikely that it will recover. As expected, it doesn’t. If you’re looking for a good comedy that delivers the same premise then I suggest “The Moguls“. A little seen Jeff Bridges film released in 2005 that dealt with similar material in a more tasteful and frankly, funnier way.

Not one of Smith’s better efforts and has been the start of a three film decline for him. It does have some qualities but squanders them in favour of a formula.

Mark Walker

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The Son Of No One *

Posted in Crime, thriller with tags 2011 on May 10, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Dito Montiel.
Screenplay: Dito Montiel.
Starring: Channing Tatum, Al Pacino, Ray Liotta, Katie Holmes, Juliette Binoche, Tracy Morgan, James Ransone, Jake Cherry, Brian Gilbert, Ursula Parker.

Writer/director Dito Montiel made a great debut in 2006 with the autobiographical “A Guide To Recognising Your Saints“. He made good use of working class, New York locations and assembled an impressive cast. He does the same with this but the end result is far less satisfying.

Jonathan White (Channing Tatum) is a rookie cop who seemingly has the world on his shoulders. He is assigned to the same Precinct of his late father in the same district where he grew up as two unsolved murders from his childhood resurface. These murders may or may not involve him and/or retired Detective Charles Stanford (Al Pacino). Anonymous letters begin to appear from a person who claims to know the identity of the killer and Precinct Captain Marion Mathers (Ray Liotta) wants the case cleared up before it threatens the lives and careers of some possible corrupt cops.

Montiel approaches this with a real gritty realism and the film starts very positively. Name, after recognisable name, appear on the opening credits and the talented cast of excellent performers lead you to believe that this might be something quite special. This belief actually lasts for the first half hour or so, as Montiel builds the layers of his story and employs the use of flashbacks to do so. However, it reaches a point where you realise the film has no sense of urgency and that you’re none the wiser as to what the hell is going on. This is not because the story is complicated but because the actions and behaviour of most the characters are frankly, baffling. If Montiel had a coherent story to begin with, then he certainly doesn’t know how to tell it. It, quite simply, doesn’t make sense and the plot holes are insulting. I’d be revealing too much to go into detail but the denouement itself is absolutely ludicrous and you can’t help but feel sorry for the actors. Even they have a look of bewilderment. I often wonder what great actors see in a script and whether any of them even read this one? I can only assume that some of this film was lost on the cutting-room floor and that in script form it actually made sense because if it didn’t, I think everyone involved (including Pacino) should take a sabbatical.

90 mins of unintelligible, inarticulate pap. After this and stinkers like “88 Minutes” and “Righteous Kill” it would seem that Al is losing his touch in recognising a good crime thriller. In fairness though, this might just come down to a bad case of editorial yips.

Mark Walker

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Casino Jack * * * 1/2

Posted in Comedy, Drama with tags 2010 on May 10, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: George Hickenlooper.
Screenplay: Norman Snider.
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Barry Pepper, Kelly Preston, Jon Lovitz, Rachelle Lefevre, Maury Chaykin, Spencer Garrett, Eric Schweig, Graham Greene, Christian Campbell, Yannick Bisson.

Throughout his career, director George Hickenlooper would switch from documentaries to feature films. He is probably better known for “Hearts Of Darkness: A Filmmakers Apocalypse” where he brilliantly documented the trouble that Francis Ford Coppola had in making “Apocalypse Now“. His abilities in delving into true murky situations are also reflected in this account of a 2006 Washington D.C. political scandal.

Jack Abramoff (Kevin Spacey) is a self proclaimed family man, Republican and devout Jew. He also happens to be a lobbyist who wields a lot of influence with politicians and businessmen. Along with partner Michael Scanlon (Barry Pepper), he decides to lobby a casino for a Native American tribe, stealing millions from them in the process. He also sets up an illegal chain of offshore casinos that involve gangsters and eventual murder. Abramoff is highly ambitious and lacks morals and that’s exactly what leads to his conviction on charges of conspiracy and mail fraud and the downfall of many politicians who were happy to do business with him.

If you’ve ever seen Kevin Spacey get interviewed then you’ll know that he has an ability to do impressions. This is a role where he is given a bit of leeway to show a few of them; Al Pacino, Ronald Regan and Bill Clinton among others. It’s also a role that allows him to give a few of the cocksure Spacey rants that we have become accustomed to. It’s one of the better roles that he’s had over recent years and he makes the most of it. It’s him that keeps this film anchored as it attempts to cover more ground than it can handle. It can’t be easy covering true events and trying to be as honest about them as you possibly can, without losing sight of a few things. Hickenlooper has a good go and doesn’t shy away from naming names involved in the scandal. He doesn’t change anything; Abramoff and Michael Scanlon are put under the microscope and political big-hitters like President George W. Bush (of course) and Senator John McCain are also implicated. It’s a brave move and Hickenlooper and screenwriter Norman Snider deserve credit for their bravery. Speaking of which, Snider’s writing is fast-paced and snappy. He starts with a bang and never really let’s up. He drops names into the mix and moves from person to person in quick succession, showing the extent and depth of the corruption that political figures, so often, finds themselves in. However, this is also part of the film’s problem: there’s too much going on and it attempts to move into comedy territory that doesn’t suit the seriousness of the characters’ downfalls. The inclusion of the highly irritating comedic actor Jon Lovitz was a bad move entirely. He seems as if he’s walked on to the wrong set. As mentioned though, Spacey keeps the film interesting and despite an underwritten role, Barry Pepper lends some excellent support as his partner in crime. What I found most intriguing though, was the story itself. Maybe I’ve been leading a sheltered life but I don’t recall this corruption being broadcasted or reported, despite it being compared to the scale of the Watergate scandal of 1972. I’d never heard of Abramoff either, who has been a colourful and highly influential figure in recent American politics. Not to mention, a producer and writer of the Dolph Lundgren movie “Red Scorpion”. Truth does indeed have a funny way of being stranger than fiction.

Political backhanders and downfalls are exposed in a fast-paced and comedic style. It’s doesn’t succeed on all accounts but remains an intriguing story.

Mark Walker

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Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy * * * *

Posted in Mystery, thriller with tags 2011 on May 8, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Tomas Alfredson.
Screenplay: Peter Straughan, Bridget O’Connor.
Starring: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Mark Strong, John Hurt, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ciaran Hinds, Toby Jones, David Dencik, Stephen Graham, Konstantin Khabensky, Svetlana Khodchenkova, Simon McBurney, Kathy Burke.

After the success of his Swedish horror film “Let the Right One In“, director Tomas Alfredson tackles the novel of John le Carre which first aired as a British TV miniseries in 1979 starring Alec Guinness. It’s a tough project to take on, when all eyes are on you but Alfredson’s abilities are perfectly suited to the material.

After a botched mission, the head of MI6, British Intelligence spymaster, known as Control (John Hurt) is sacked from the agency along with his number-one man, George Smiley (Gary Oldman). Soon after their sacking, information is revealed that a Soviet mole has infiltrated the Secret service and worked his way up to the highest echelon. Smiley is then approached to take on a new assignment: spy on the spies and find out who the mole could be.

The first thing to grab your attention about this film is its style. It captures London in the 1970’s to the minutest detail and cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema deserves every credit for his striking work here. To compliment the lush imagery is a perfectly pitched score by Alberto Iglesias and within minutes the game, that is espionage, is set. Alfredson is a director that obviously likes to work at a certain pace. That pace may be excruciatingly slow for some people but it can also be highly effective. In this case, it’s the latter. This film ruminates long and hard on it’s characters and their subtleties. However, it is so convoluted and dialogue driven that the slightest lapse in concentration will leave the film incomprehensible. I don’t profess to have understood it entirely but I kept up to speed enough to be left satisfied with the outcome. My review of this may be posted a little early though, as this is a film that definitely requires at least two sittings. For that reason, I have settled on my current rating but that will only ever get higher if I ever get around to that second viewing. A couple of criticisms I had was a lack of any real action. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t expecting Jason Bourne to make a appearance but it threatened a few exciting set-pieces and then didn’t deliver. The other was the identity of the double-agent; it became clear earlier than it should have which lessened the impact of the final revelation. These are small gripes though as the suspense and intrigue were engrossing and more than competently handled by the director and his eclectic cast of quality British actors – I happen to be an admirer of every one of them. It’s Oldman though, in the lead role, that is the real standout. He’s very reserved and it’s a performance that may disappoint fans of his intense roles like Drexl from “True Romance” or Stansfield from “Leon” but he holds a presence that hints of something darker to his character. At first, it was a performance that I didn’t really see what all the fuss – and Oscar nomination – was about. That was, until the film draws to close and you realise that Oldman has had you captivated for over two hours. The story itself is difficult to speak of as I’d be entering into spoiler territory, not to mention my review would be in danger of becoming very long-winded. Rest assured though, this is a thoroughly involving and accomplished mystery.

An enthralling and masterfully constructed spy thriller that is handled with such a deftness of skill that it doesn’t allow you to switch off for a second.

Mark Walker

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Shame * * * * *

Posted in Drama with tags 2011 on May 6, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Steve McQueen.
Screenplay: Steve McQueen, Abi Morgan.
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan, James Badge Dale, Nicole Beharie, Lucy Walters, Alex Manette, Hannah Ware, Elizabeth Masucci, Rachel Farrar, Mari-Ange Ramirez, Robert Montano.

In 2008, director Steve McQueen made his directorial debut with the devastating drama “Hunger” about the last six weeks in the life of Irish hunger striker Bobby Sands. Michael Fassbender was his lead in that unflinching portrayal. Three years later, they reunite for this equally powerful drama about sex-addiction.

Brandon Sullivan (Fassbender) is a successful New York businessman. He leads a comfortable lifestyle, including that of a bachelor, where he spends most of his evenings sleeping with different women. It all seems normal on the surface but the unexpected arrival of his sister Sissy (Carey Mulligan) upturns a deeper side to him. It appears that his sexual appetite may be more serious than he’s been willing to confront.

Michael Fassbender has been steadily building a reputation for himself since he came to attention in McQueen’s debut and followed it up with consistent turns in Andrea Arnold’s “Fish Tank” and Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglorious Basterds“. He’s an actor in very high demand at the moment and judging by this performance alone, you can see why. This is as good as any he has delivered. If not better. Sometimes actors go above and beyond the call of duty; Harvey Keitel in “Bad Lieutenant” and Charlotte Gainsbourg in “AntiChrist” are a notable couple. Fassbender can be, courageously, included amongst them. He exposes himself in every sense of the word and delivers the most fearless and vulnerable performance of 2011. His portrayal of Brandon is a deeply complex piece of work. He’s an enigmatic character that grooms and dresses immaculately. He takes pride in his appearance but not his actions. He cannot connect with people on an intimate level and as a result, develops a voracious appetite for sexual encounters and material. His lack of connection also extends to his emotionally fragile sister, who so obviously needs his help and it’s the very arrival of his sibling that brings his shame to the forefront. His use of pornography, prostitutes and masterbation can’t be hidden anymore. This is when he has to confront his own self-loathing and sexual addictions. His encounters are all meaningless and any that do show meaning, he can’t perform. This is a truly harrowing character study of the failure or inability to truly connect with people – especially in the times and congested environments we live in. Despite the numerous sexual encounters, there is nothing erotic about this film. It’s purely focused on the turmoil of one man’s spiralling journey of self-harm. Carey Mulligan cannot go unmentioned for her emotional performance here also. Her role is not as in depth as the protagonist and she has less to work with but she’s the catalyst for the unravelling of the film and brings a much needed heart into the mix.
McQueen’s direction is near flawless and meticulous in it’s detail. He takes a step back from his actors and captures moments in facial expressions and eye contact. Words don’t always need to be said and if anything, it’s all the better for it. He allows an intelligence from his audience and he’s aided by some stark and clinical cinematography by Sean Bobbitt, in capturing the emptiness in these damaged peoples lives.
I have now lost count of the amount of film’s and performances of 2011 that were, unforgivably, overlooked at the Oscars. This is most certainly one of them. The title of this film should be shouted continuously in the faces of the Academy voters. It’s a disgrace it was omitted.

This may prove to be a difficult or controversial film for some people. It’s certainly not for the prudish or sensitive of heart but I, for one, think it’s essential viewing. A powerful and provocative collaboration between Steve McQueen and Michael Fassbender has developed and I can only hope they continue to make more films in the future.

Mark Walker

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Crazy, Stupid, Love. * * * 1/2

Posted in Comedy, Drama, Romance with tags 2011 on May 5, 2012 by Mark Walker

Directors: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa.
Screenplay: Dan Fogelman.
Starring: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon, Analeigh Tipton, Jonah Bobo, Joey King, Liza Lapira, John Carroll Lynch, Beth Littleford, Josh Groban.

When the black-comedy “Bad Santa” was released in 2003, it brought some attention to it’s writers Glenn Ficarra and John Requa. They went on to make their co-directing debut in 2009 with “I Love You Phillip Morris” and showed that they are as good at direction as they are with words. This one, marks their second directing collaboration together and a different change of style.

Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) is a seemingly happy husband until one evening during dinner, Sally (Julianne Moore), his wife of 25 years, tells him she wants a divorce. Suddenly finding himself on his own and struggling, Cal meets lounge lizard Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling), a young man who decides to take him under his wing and teach him the ways of being single, and how to seduce any woman he wants.

This may be slightly new territory for the directing duo of Ficarra and Requa but as they have proven in the past with “Bad News Bears” they are able to tone down their lewd humour for a more accessible audience. As a result they lose some of the risqué humour that makes their writing so appealing but another new thing is, they didn’t write this film. However, the directors still know how to deliver the laughs, even if they are toned down. Put simply, this is a romantic comedy and I’m not a fan of the genre. However, this aims a little higher than usual for the formula and hits the mark on more than a few occasions. That’s thank in large to it not being your standard boy-meets-girl scenario. Of course, it has elements of this but it’s structured in such a teasingly elaborate way that it keeps it fresh and maintains your interest. It also has a good understanding of the pathos involved with relationships, giving the actors some dramatic material to counteract the comedy. It’s finely tuned with good characterisation and handled well by endearing performances from an impressively assembled cast. With the exception of an underused Kevin Bacon, everyone else gets their fare share of screen time. Gosling shows some good comedic talents despite being better known in dramatic roles and Carell can do the tragic everyman in his sleep. The real comedy highlight though, is a scorned and neurotic Marisa Tomei. She delivers regular laughs whenever on-screen. Overall it’s a collective piece of work though and a real surprise that I enjoyed it as much as I did. Be warned though, the first half-hour is standard rom-com territory but if persevered with, it picks up after that.

It lacks the provocative and outrageous humour “I Love You Phillip Morris” benefited from but still has plenty of genuinely funny scenes. One of the better romantic-comedies.

Mark Walker

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Rampart * * *

Posted in Drama with tags 2011 on May 5, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Oren Moverman.
Screenplay: James Ellroy, Oren Moverman.
Starring: Woody Harrelson, Robin Wright, Ned Beatty, Anne Heche, Cynthia Nixon, Sigourney Weaver, Ice Cube, Ben Foster, Steve Buscemi, Brie Larson, Audra McDonald, Robert Wisdom, Jon Bernthal, Jon Foster, Stella Schnabel.

“L.A. Confidential” was an exceptional adaptation of hard-boiled, crime writer James Ellroy’s novel. Most other adaptations tend to be flawed. “Dark Blue“, “The Black Dahlia” and “Street Kings” had decent material but didn’t grip as well as they should have. This is another that suffers from a similar problem.

In 1999, the Rampart division of the Los Angeles Police Force is rife with corruption. Amongst, the main culprits is ‘Date Rape’ Dave Brown (Woody Harrelson). He’s a cop that plays by his own rules and lives by an old-school code. His reputation precedes him and is heightened even further when he’s caught on video assaulting a driver who crashes into him. To try and thwart the attention of the media and ever increasing public frustration, his superiors suggest retirement. Dave refuses and attempts a legal case but it only draws him deeper into his murky past.

Three years previously, Woody Harrelson, Ben Foster and Steve Buscemi were all involved in Oren Moverman’s brilliant directorial debut “The Messenger“. They all assemble again for this but where Moverman showed a skilful subtlety in his debut, he decides to get a bit flashy with this one. That’s his first mistake. He teases a powerful performance from Harrelson – like he did before – but he doesn’t utilise Foster or Buscemi the way he should. That’s his second mistake. And as if that’s not enough, he has James Ellroy himself, co-writing the screenplay with him, yet the focus is on one character – rather than tapping into Ellroy’s abilities in convoluted narrative arcs. Three strikes and you’re out Oren. That being said though, the character of Dave Brown and Harrelson’s strong central performance provide enough powerful material to hold your interest. There’s a real intensity to the man and Harrelson delivers the perfect balance of a man teetering on the brink of the immorality. He received an Oscar nomination for “The Messenger” but I actually think this is a better performance. Moverman doesn’t do him any favours though. He employs a flamboyant handheld approach that’s so distracting that is verges on awful and it detracts from the drama. A good director shouldn’t be noticed before his performers. Speaking of which, the supporting cast is impressively assembled but few get any substantial screen time, leaving the descent of Dave Brown the film’s main focus, much in the same way as Harvey Keitel’s “Bad Lieutenant“. Where that film succeeded though was in having the courage of it’s convictions. This threatens to but draws to a less than satisfactory conclusion.

If it wasn’t for Harrelson, this film wouldn’t have worked as well as it does. Moverman rightly received plaudits for his debut but he has gotten a bit ahead of himself here. Hopefully he’ll learn his lesson for next time.

Mark Walker

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In Time * * 1/2

Posted in Action, Science Fiction with tags 2011 on May 5, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Andrew Niccol.
Screenplay: Andrew Niccol.
Starring: Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy, Vincent Kartheiser, Olivia Wilde, Johnny Galecki, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew Bomer, Yaya DaCosta, Ethan Peck, Toby Hemingway.

Writer/director Andrew Niccol is no stranger to scientific ideas. In 1997 he delivered the Orwellian genetic engineering “Gattaca“. In 2002 he tackled computer generated imagery in “S1mOne“. He also penned the predictory script to reality TV in 1998 with “The Truman Show“. Fantasy and Science Fiction seem to be genres that he’s comfortable with but this is not one of his better efforts.

In the not too distant future, people stop ageing when they reach 25. If they are wealthy though, they can buy time. The rest, have to work for it. Lifespan has replaced money in this dystopian world. One of the workers, Will Salas (Justin Timberlake), is gifted time from a suicidal friend, which allows him to escape his poor background and experience the life of the rich. But there are state police, known as “Time keepers” who are out to thwart his new life.

The premise to this is quite an intriguing one and the dystopian futuristic setting is wonderfully captured by the Coen brothers’ regular cinematographer Roger Deakins. It’s just a shame that with such a strong base to work from, it becomes nothing more than a chase thriller and abandons any attempt to delve into some possible existential theories. Even as a chase thriller, it lacks any form of excitement. It has it’s moments but ultimately the film takes too long in getting to it’s destination. Time is of the essence for it’s characters and ironically, it also gets taken from us, having to slog through this. I’m not Justin Trousersnake’s biggest fan, but he delivers a decent performance. However, the progression of his character as a future ‘Clyde’ to Seyfried’s ‘Bonnie’ is uneasy and a little hard to take. Cillian Murphy’s ‘Time keeper’ police officer is quite an intriguing one but he has little, to no, backstory. When we are given a glimpse into his character it’s too little too late. It’s this overwhelming feeling of emptiness that, as a whole, the film suffers from.

I didn’t go into this film expecting a masterpiece or anything but I still expected more than I got. Despite looking good on the surface, it’s ultimately hollow. Fans of the likes of “The Adjustment Bureau” may find more to savour though.

Mark Walker

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This Must Be The Place * * * *

Posted in Drama with tags 2012 on April 27, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Paolo Sorrentino.
Screenplay: Paolo Sorrentino, Umberto Contarello.
Starring: Sean Penn, Frances McDormand, Judd Hirsch, Shea Wigham, Kerry Condon, Eve Hewson, Joyce Van Patten, Olwen Fouere, Liron Livo, Grant Goodman, Simon Delaney, David Byrne, Harry Dean Stanton.

The joy in watching American road-movies tends to be the unexpected and vast array of colourful characters. This English language debut by Italian director Paolo Sorrentino is no exception. It has all the hallmarks of the sub-genre and also benefits from a commanding and touching performance from it’s lead.

Cheyenne (Sean Penn) was once a 80’s glam rocker whose life and career came to a halt when two fans committed suicide after listening to his lyrics. He feels a deep sense of responsibility and guilt for the boys’ deaths and struggles to get on with his own life. Years after the event, he hides away in Dublin with his understanding wife (Frances McDormand) but when news comes that his father has recently died, he heads back to America. It’s here he finds a purpose and reawakening in himself, in hunting down an old Nazi war criminal that his late father had committed his life to finding.

You just need to take one look at Sean Penn – with his straggly black wig and eye make-up – and you’d be forgiven for expecting this film for being some form of a comedy or parody of Glam Rock. It’s not. What it is, is an off-kilter little that drama that possesses some real moments of beauty. It probably comes under the umbrella of an art-house road-movie and despite Penn’s appearance, he delivers a heartfelt portrayal of a distant, childlike man, suffering from boredom and an unrelieved depression. It’s, once again, a reminder of the unique abilities that Penn has as an actor and ranks as one of his best and bravest performances. It’s also the catalyst for a lot of this film’s believability. Although his character very rarely cracks a smile, this still elicits some genuine laughs with odd behaviour from an eclectic collection of very off-beat characters. As well as “Talking Heads” frontman David Byrne providing the songs and receiving a welcome and effective cameo appearance into the bargain. Harry Dean Stanton popping in late on, doesn’t hamper it in any way either. Essentially, the film is about the journey though. Not just the physical, but the psychological and emotional ones as well and cinematographer Luca Bigazzi adds several welcome scenes of surreal beauty on the travels. However, it takes a sharp right-turn with the Nazi sub-plot that doesn’t entirely convince and threatens to undo the whole film. It feels a bit disjointed with what came before but as this film plays with conventions, it still seems strangely acceptable.

A poignant and odd little drama about self discovery. It will not appeal to everyone but if you open your mind and your heart, it might just surprise you.

Mark Walker

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Heat * * * * *

Posted in Crime, Drama, thriller with tags 1995 on April 26, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Michael Mann.
Screenplay: Michael Mann.
Starring: Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Tom Sizemore, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, Kevin Gage, Diane Venora, Amy Brenneman, Ashley Judd, Mykelti Williamson, Wes Studi, Ted Levine, Danny Trejo, Dennis Haysbert, William Fichtner, Natalie Portman, Tom Noonan, Hank Azaria, Henry Rollins, Tone Loc, Jeremy Piven, Xander Berkeley, Martin Ferrero, Bud Cort.

When this was released in 1995, most people believed it to be an original idea. It wasn’t. It was actually a more fleshed out and elborate version of Michael Mann’s 80’s TV movie “L.A. Takedown“. He obviously didn’t have the budget or the actors, to realise his vision at this time, so with a second chance, Mann grabs it with both hands and both of the best actors in the business.

Professional and precise thief Neil McCauley (Robert DeNiro) lives by a strict code and doesn’t take chances. He has a tight-knit crew that takedown big jobs for big money but he ends up drawing the attention of determined and obsessive robbery/homicide cop Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino). The two of them have more in common than one might think and as their worlds draw closer, they are led to an inevitable confrontation.

At it’s core, “Heat” can be viewed as an old fashioned cops-and-robbers tale but it’s done with such vastness and great attention to detail that it rises above most, if not all, of the genre. It not only focuses on the the lives of the two main characters – at opposite ends of the moral scale – but it pays attention to the city and environment in which they operate. What almost overshadowed the storyline, was the anticipation of seeing DeNiro and Pacino share the screen for the first time (They were both in “The Godfather part II” but never had any scenes together). Comparisons between their acting styles will obviously be made and without focusing too much on their different approaches, I found DeNiro’s more subtle, calculating delivery far more convincing than Pacino’s tendency to overact with random, explosive outbursts, bellowing at everyone he meets. There, I said it. However, the film is far more than just these two great actors. It’s a multi-layered character study and the supporting roles, particularly Sizemore and Kilmer (in a role originally intended for Keanu Reeves) are given a substantial amount of work and the female parts of Venora, Brenneman and Judd play a massive part in shaping the leads also. We are given a glimpse into their home lives and the struggle they all face in maintaining a ‘normal’ life – when it goes against their nature. The actors are all given roles to work with, allowing us to identify and care about them. It’s because of this, that when the action is delivered, it’s edge of your seat stuff. There are three great ‘Getaway’ scenes from movies that I found particularly powerful; Kathryn Bigelow’s “Point Break” had Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze (on foot) running through suburban houses and backyards; The opening of Nicolas Winding Refn’s “Drive” had Ryan Gosling (in a car) careening and speeding through a darkened urban jungle and this… the major characters (with weapons) shooting it out through a busy congested Los Angeles street. As much as this isn’t just about the two leads, it’s not just about the action either. It’s more about the city itself and it’s inhabitants. The refined dialogue allows these inhabitants to come alive and Mann’s meticulous, hypnotic direction and ethereal choice of music breathes life into the city as well.

An exciting and methodical piece of work from a highly accomplished cast and director. A near masterpiece of modern cinema.

Mark Walker

28 Comments »

We Bought A Zoo * 1/2

Posted in Drama, Family with tags 2011 on April 26, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Cameron Crowe.
Screenplay: Cameron Crowe, Aline Brosh McKenna.
Starring: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Angus MacFadyen, Patrick Fugit, Colin Ford, Elle Fanning, Maggie Elizabeth Jones, John Michael Higgins, Peter Riegert, Stephanie Szostak, J.B. Smoove.

Director Cameron Crowe is certainly no stranger to maudlin sentimentality. I have found a few of his films rather good though. I enjoyed “Singles” and “Almost Famous” and despite some critical panning, I found “Vanilla Sky” to be a bit of a darker delicacy from him. Even “Jerry Maguire” was decent. However, the abysmal “Elizabethtown” didn’t sit too well at all and I thought Crowe couldn’t crank up the excessive mushiness any further after that. I was wrong.

Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) is a widowed father, bringing up his two children by himself after losing his wife to cancer. Things aren’t going well though as his son gets expelled from school and he feels the need to quit his job on an L.A. newspaper. He decides that a fresh start is needed for them all and takes his two kids off to live in a run-down country house with a run- down zoo attached. It seems like lunacy at first but Benjamin decides to refurbish the place and bring the zoo back to life.

There is a question that’s asked between two characters at the end of this film… “If you had to choose between people and animals. Who would you pick?” On this evidence, I’d chose the animals. The cheese factor is so high on the people that they may as well be walking chunks of four week old camembert. I swear I could see the mould on them. The performances aren’t bad per se but Cameron’s direction is so high on the schmaltz that I was crying out for a Travis Bickle to come and wash this scum out of the park. Someone to just take this zoo and just… just flush it down the fuckin’ toilet. Damon puts in his usual, likeable, everyman job and shows good emotive moments. The rest of the cast are also quite appealing and even Johansson’s pout is kept to a minimum. The only glimmer of anything natural here though, is the animals. Everything else is completely manufactured tosh. As mentioned, the problem lies in Crowe’s direction. He doesn’t let the characters breathe and develop on their own. He forces you to feel for them. He feeds you more shit than it’s possible to shovel at a zoo and my emotional state felt violated at his insistence. Subtle, this film is not. Stereotypical and predictable, it is. There’s an integral, recurrent, piece of fatherly advice that runs throughout…”You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.” Maybe Crowe shouldn’t have actually applied this advice to himself. He may have taken that twenty seconds of insane courage but something ‘great’, certainly, DID NOT come of it. There is one word that’s correct about that quote though… ‘Embarrassing’. Crowe must be in the midst of mid-life crisis or something. It’s the only way you can explain such nauseating cloyingness. Is he compensating for something, or did mommy and daddy not pay him enough attention when he was a child?

If you have a sweet tooth, then this will be a real treat but otherwise, stick to something with a bit more zest and sharpness.

Mark Walker

15 Comments »

The Last Detail * * * * 1/2

Posted in Comedy, Drama with tags 1973 on April 23, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Hal Ashby.
Screenplay: Robert Towne.
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Otis Young, Randy Quaid, Clifton James, Carol Kane, Michael Moriarty, Nancy Allen, Gilda Radner.

The 1970’s is arguably the best decade for classic American films. It produced such quality as “The Godfather parts I & II“, “Dog Day Afternoon“, “Serpico“, “Mean Streets“, “Jaws” and “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest“, to name a few. It heralded the reputation of the likes of Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino and this film’s star Jack Nicholson. This is another, that could be included amongst the greats of that decade.

Two career Navy men, “Bad-Ass” Buddusky (Jack Nicholson) and “Mule” Mulhall (Otis Young) are commissioned to escort young kleptomaniac Meadows (Randy Quaid) to the brig for petty theft. En-route, the two lifers realise that young Meadows is actually quite a naive and innocent young man, who hasn’t experienced much of life. Before they deliver him to an eight year sentence in prison, they decide to show him a good time and teach him a little of life’s pleasures.

“…I knew a whore once in Wilmington. She had a glass eye… used to take it out and wink people off for a dollar.” Where else can you get a quote like that, delivered in such dead-pan style from the great Jack Nicholson? In fact, for that matter, most of Nicholson’s performances deliver at least one choice quote. His career is full of them and few can deliver a line like he can. If you appreciate such moments, then this film delivers plenty of them. It’s mainly dialogue driven and character based, providing another classic Nicholson performance. As well as, fine support in Otis Young and a young Randy Quaid. All three of them are an absolute joy to spend time with. The dialogue is razor-sharp from screenwriter Robert Towne (a year before another 70’s classic “Chinatown“) and director Hal Ashby skilfully combines the comedy and the drama to near perfection. Ashby was a director that consistently delivered superb human drama’s throughout his career (“Harold And Maude” and “Coming Home” are a couple of notable ones) but he didn’t quite get the plaudits or reputation that his peers received. However, with films of this calibre, his abilities still stand the test of time.

Humour and pathos can be a marvellous combination when done right and Ashby certainly does that… he gets it spot on.
It may be their ‘Last Detail’ but I for one, wish it was their first.

Mark Walker

12 Comments »

Cashback * * * *

Posted in Comedy, Drama, Fantasy with tags 2006 on April 22, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Sean Ellis.
Screenplay: Sean Ellis.
Starring: Sean Biggerstaff, Emilia Fox, Michelle Ryan, Michael Dixon, Michael Lambourne, Stuart Goodwin, Shaun Evans, Marc Pickering, Nick Hancock, Keeley Hazell.

Director Sean Ellis made an 18 minute short film in 2004 that won a plethora of International awards and received an Oscar nomination. Because of this, he decided to expand it to feature length and delivers a delightful little independent film.

Young artist Ben Willis (Sean Biggerstaff) breaks up with girlfriend Suzy (Michelle Ryan) which leads to him developing insomnia. As sleep is hard to come by, he takes on a night-shift at the local supermarket where he develops ways to alter time and indulge in his artistic imagination.

The best way to describe this film lies in a direct quote from the protagonist himself; “Within this frozen world I’m able to walk freely and unnoticed. Nobody would even know that time has stopped. And when it started back up again, the invisible join would be seamless except for a slight shudder. Not unlike the feeling of somebody walking over your grave”. And so begins, the journey of insomniac Ben Willis who stops time and undresses women to paint and sketch their female form. This is an imaginative and thoroughly rewarding little film from a promising new director. The New York Post compared Sean Ellis to “Clerks” director Kevin Smith, if he had “… a background in poetry and painting instead of comic-books and bestiality jokes“. It’s a good comparison as this film is as fresh and engaging as Smith’s earlier work. However, it’s also a prime example of how films can be almost completely buried if they don’t receive the right marketing campaign. Such a shame, that this hasn’t gained a wider audience. It’s a cleverly constructed and stylish debut with sharp dialogue and genuinely touching and hilarious moments. Ellis is a director that has now caught my attention and he draws excellent performances from a relatively unknown cast. The only apparent problem is over-length. To go from an 18min short to a 100min feature is a bit of a stretch and as a result, the film meanders toward it’s conclusion. However, this is a small gripe in what is otherwise an inventive and sophisticated little drama.

Skilfully handled by everyone involved and the kind of film that warrants more attention. A vastly underrated little gem.

Mark Walker

6 Comments »

Young Adult * * *

Posted in Drama with tags 2011 on April 21, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Jason Reitman.
Screenplay: Diablo Cody.
Starring: Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, Patrick Wilson, Elizabeth Reaser, Mary Beth Hurt, Collette Wolfe, Jill Eikenberry, Richard Bekins, Emily Meade, Brady Smith, Louisa Krause, Jenny Dare Paulin, John Forest, J.K. Simmons.

Following the success of their previous collaboration “Juno“, director Jason Reitman and writer Diablo Cody reunite to bring us another slice of small-town American life. Whether or not is as good as their last outing, depends on your expectations.

Mavis Gary (Charlize Theron) is a pathological, self-absorbed bitch. She’s already divorced, and dependent on alcohol as she tries to maintain her job as a ghost-writer for a failing series of adolescent books. Having received an e-mail, one day, of news of her ex-boyfriend Buddy (Patrick Wilson) becoming a new father, she heads for her home town determined to reclaim him back from his wife Beth (Elizabeth Reaser) and newborn baby. Mavis will stop at nothing but ultimately, it’s herself that she’s harming most.

Since her Oscar winning role in “Monster” in 2003, Charlize Theron has had a couple of notable roles but nothing she could really sink her teeth into. This, however, is the best role she’s had since then. It’s a character she grabs with the scruff of the neck and delivers an excellent and potent performance. Other than her though, I didn’t find much else to write home about. Maybe this was because my expectations were too high.? I really enjoyed “Juno” for it’s likeable characters and quirky sense of humour and I expected much of the same here but there’s very little humour involved. It’s actually more of a down-beat character study, dealing with failed aspirations, depression and a path of self destruction. It doesn’t make for happy viewing and also doesn’t shed much of a positive light on the choices the characters have made in life. To achieve happiness in life is a matter of relevance. At least, that’s what I think the message was supposed to be but it could have at least had a character that embodied this. Sure, Buddy and Beth seem like a happy couple on the surface but there’s a bit of ambiguity involved. Patton Oswalt delivers some light comic relief as Mavis’ new friend and drinking buddy Matt but despite some lighthearted moments from him, he’s also quite a tragic character. What chance have you got, when your comic-relief is even struggling in life? As I mentioned, maybe if I was prepared for the down-beat approach beforehand, I’d have settled more into this. It’s not a bad film, by any means, but it is a bit sluggish and disheartening.

I’ve heard this described as a ‘tragi-comedy’. It’s a good description but I think the emphasis is on the former rather than the latter.Theron is on excellent form and the real highlight here but the material is a little tough to swallow. It has moments of brilliance but too few to fully satisfy.

Mark Walker

18 Comments »

7 x 7 Link Award.

Posted in Uncategorized on April 20, 2012 by Mark Walker

Normally, my blog consists of just film reviews, with the occasional page branching off to notable actors and performances that I like. This is a one off post though as I must reciprocate a favour that has been done for me.

As my blog only started on January 2012, you can imagine my delight that only 3 months later, I was awarded the ‘7×7 Link Award’ for my film reviews by my helpful friend Adam at http://3guys1movie.com/

It’s always nice to have people recognise your stuff and being awarded this allows more people to come across it aswell, which brings me to the rules of receiving the award.

Rule #1: Tell everyone something that no one else knows about you.

Rule #2: Link to one of the posts that I personally think best fits the following categories:
Most Beautiful Piece,
Most Helpful Piece,
Most Popular Piece,
Most Controversial Piece,
Most Surprisingly Successful Piece,
Most Underrated Piece,
and
Most Pride-Worthy Piece.

Rule #3: Pass this award on to seven other bloggers.

So, here goes…

#1 Something that no-one knows about me.
This is always a hard question to answer and I’m unsure if it even has to be related to film but my daughter was in the same class at school as the son of Scottish actor Robert Carlyle. I met him on several occasions, picking up the kids and had a few brief chats. He’s such a humble and respectful person, as well as, one of Scotland’s finest actors, that often gets overlooked. For those not familiar, his film credits include “Trainspotting”, “The Full Monty”, “28 Weeks Later” and he even played the Bond villain in “The World Is Not Enough”. His television credits include “24”, “Stargate Universe” and the most recent “Once Upon A Time”. Despite these credits, he deserves more work and it was my pleasure to have met him.

#2 Most Beautiful Piece
I wouldn’t call any of my reviews beautiful but I found The Tree Of Life to be a beautiful film and one that had my head sparking. Here’s the first link https://mrmarakai.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/the-tree-of-life/

Most helpful piece.
I suppose when anyone tries to relay their opinions, they do it in some way that might be helpful to others. I often wonder if I have helped but here’s the second link which I hoped done the job, in getting people to avoid the film 88 minutes. https://mrmarakai.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/88-minutes-x/

Most Popular piece.
My most popular review is also my most controversial – which is Titanic – so I’ll pick the popular piece that has had a lot of views. That happens to be My Top Ten page. https://mrmarakai.wordpress.com/my-top-ten/

Most controversial piece
As I mentioned above, a lot of people didn’t seem to like my opinion of Titanic. The comments section reflect this. Here’s the link https://mrmarakai.wordpress.com/2012/04/09/titanic-12/

Most surprisingly successful piece
I didn’t expect the amount of views that my Perfect Sense review got but I’m happy, as I was hoping more people would see this film. https://mrmarakai.wordpress.com/2012/02/29/perfect-sense/

Most underrated piece
Not so much an underrated review but Mr. Nobody is an underrated movie that my review didn’t get much traffic for. My hope was to bring this film to more peoples attention but they didn’t listen. https://mrmarakai.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/mr-nobody/

Most pride worthy piece
I see flaws in all of my reviews and there are quite a lot that I should amend but I rather liked my review of The King’s Speech. https://mrmarakai.wordpress.com/2012/01/29/the-kings-speech/

And now to the seven blogs that I think should get a little of your attention…
(in no particular order)

#1. Andy Watches Movies
Andy has a lot of similar tastes to myself and his reviews are informative and easy reading. I enjoy his blog and he is always interacting on others’.
http://andywatchesmovies.wordpress.com/

#2. Southern Vision
This is a great blog from Tyler, If your interested in independent and world cinema. In a short time of following this, I’ve been put onto films I would probably have struggled to come across.
http://magnoliaforever.wordpress.com/

#3. 5 Word Movie Reviews
Ryan’s reviews are always in depth and well written. It looks like he puts a lot of thought and time into them. That in itself, is worthy of attention.
http://5wordmoviereviews.wordpress.com/

#4. Claratsi Movie Blog.
Kevin is another blogger, whom I tend to agree with. His posts and interaction are regular and his reviews informative. Another that I enjoy reading.
http://claratsi.wordpress.com/

#5. The FilmFellas.
The Film Fellas consist of four guys who discuss, in depth, all things film. Ive enjoyed there posts and discussions and have always been welcome to get involved.
http://thefilmfellas.wordpress.com/

#6. The Cinemaniac.
The Cinemaniac knows his stuff when it comes to blogging. He’s just finished his own script and managed to design an app for his site. He was helpful to me when I just started and always gives his opinion on your posts.
http://themoviefreakblog.wordpress.com/

#7. FernandoRafael.
Fernando is great for interacting with and his reviews are short and sweet. He’s good to have in your corner for having the occasional discussion.
http://fernandorafael.wordpress.com/

Well… That’s it. Apologies to anyone I left out, I enjoy all the people I’m following but some guys thoroughly deserve mention and others could be doing with the traffic. That’s what my decisions were based on.

Blog on bloggers!

29 Comments »

Tyrannosaur * * * * 1/2

Posted in Drama with tags 2011 on April 17, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Paddy Considine.
Screenplay: Paddy Considine.
Starring: Peter Mullan, Olivia Colman, Eddie Marsan, Paul Popplewell, Ned Dennehy, Samuel Bottomley, Sally Carman, Sian Breckin.

Paddy Considine made a name for himself with dynamic performances in director Shane Meadows’ British, working-class drama’s “A Room For Romeo Brass” and “Dead Man’s Shoes“. Those were two great films that benefited from his intense input. Now, as a director himself, he makes his debut behind the camera and adds another fine addition to the realism and style he’s accustomed to acting in.

Joseph (Peter Mullan) is a widower living on a housing estate and prone to fits of uncontrollable rage. One day, in a charity shop, he meets devout Christian, Hannah (Olivia Colman), who offers to pray for him. Hannah has her own problems at home though, as she is being physically and emotionally abused by her husband James (Eddie Marsan). Joseph offers to help her, in return for her kindness, and allows her to take refuge with him but the consequences of violence still linger despite the chance of redemption.

When British cinema is afforded the best of it’s talents, it can deliver some very hard-hitting drama’s. This can be included amongst the finest of recent years, or any year for that matter. It’s raw, emotional storytelling, anchored by excellent central performances; Peter Mullan has rarely been better as a damaged and brutal man, full of inner rage and Eddie Marsan is perfect as an abusive and cowardly creep. It’s Olivia Colman – who’s better known from the Simon Pegg/Nick Frost TV comedy show “Spaced” – that’s the real revelation though. She is absolutely superb. Going on this evidence, Colman thoroughly deserves more dramatic roles in future. It’s quite simply, one of the finest female performances from 2011. Speaking of which, could somebody please explain why this was, yet another, quality drama with searing performances, that was omitted when the Academy awards were being dished out? Proof, yet again, that films of this type are so often overlooked across the pond. Thankfully though, Considine and Colman recieved Bafta’s for their outstanding work. Having already proved his writing potential with “Dead Man Shoe’s” this is another powerful drama that augers very well for Considine’s writing and directing future. If he continues to deliver work like this, he can consider himself amongst the great UK auteurs like Ken Loach and Mike Leigh.

A stark and depressingly ferocious film that also has heart and a real sense of hope. Like most films of this type, it can be difficult viewing but also worth it. British, working-class “Kitchen-sink” drama’s have rarely been better.

Mark Walker

14 Comments »

Haywire * * * 1/2

Posted in Action, thriller with tags 2011 on April 17, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Steven Soderbergh.
Screenplay: Lem Dobbs.
Starring: Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Channing Tatum, Bill Paxton, Antonio Banderas, Michael Douglas, Mathieu Kassovitz, Michael Angarano, Anthony Brandon Wong.

With a first-rate cast at his disposal, director Steven Soderbergh, decides to have them play second-fiddle to his unknown lead, Gina Carano – a real, mixed martial arts fighter – who has never acted before. Soderbergh himself is also on new ground with his first foray in the action genre. And the results, I hear you say? The results, happen to be rather impressive. Soderbergh’s gamble pays off.

Mallory Kane (Gina Carano) is a no-nonsense, highly trained, black ops soldier who gets double-crossed during a government security mission. Assassins from across the globe target her every move and are out for the kill but Mallory turns the tables, in her bid for the truth and her survival.

Double-dealing’s, back-stabbing and espionage across international locations have been done many times before – most recently in the Bourne series. This may leave you feeling that your time is being wasted but it’s to Soderbergh’s credit that he still finds some mileage in it. That’s thanks in large, to his independent approach. The film is well shot throughout, with a minimal music score and excellently choreographed action set-pieces. The fisticuffs themselves are even delivered with the sound toned down, making them all the more realistic and Carano’s fighting abilities are very apparent and impressive. Her acting chops may leave a little to be desired but at the end of the day, she’s there to throw her weight around and that’s exactly what she does. The very fine supporting cast also pitch in and Soderbergh manages to get them sharing scenes with one another. It’s always a pet-hate of mine to see an excellently assembled cast that don’t share any screen time. This fulfils on that front. He also knows not to overstay his welcome and with a running time of approx 90mins, this doesn’t waste any time in getting down to the nitty-gritty.

The story is old-hat and the film has come into some mixed reviews but with an eclectic supporting cast of first-rate actors and a heroine (without the use of CGI) that can genuinely bust a few heads, what more do you want from an action film that pretends to be nothing other than just that. Good quick fun.

Mark Walker

13 Comments »

Catfish * * * 1/2

Posted in Documentary with tags 2007 on April 17, 2012 by Mark Walker

Directors: Rel Schulman, Henry Joost.
Featuring: Nev Schulman, Angela Wesselman, Melody C. Roscher, Rel Schulman.

The social networking zeitgeist is certainly upon us. It has shaped a generation in their reliance on smartphones and the internet and contributed to a new global means of communication. It has brought us closer but sometimes a bit too close. It has opened up new dangers and has shaped us into voyeurs. This documentary is proof enough in showing this. It also shows how easily people can be manipulated.

Filmmakers Rel Schulman and Henry Joost find themselves in the midst of a film project, tracing an online romance between Rel’s brother Nev and a female artist on Facebook. Everything doesn’t add up though as the women’s real identity becomes in question and her stories don’t seem to make sense. Is she really who she says she is?…

After a slow beginning, we are soon informed of where this documented drama is heading and the path it takes becomes dark and intriguing. Prime candidate for mockery, Nev Schulman, is a good sport. He very rarely shy’s away from what is ultimately a major piss take of his trust in people. But what it also does, is remind ourselves (or those who use social networking sites) that everything is not as it seems when interacting with faceless names. For those who haven’t seen it, I won’t give too much away, but it shows the frailties in Internet use, as well as, the frailties in ourselves. The revelation of the strange events is quite awakening but is everything we told even true in itself? Some people took this documentary quite literally. I, however, had to wonder whether it was a double cross. I believed it to a point but there were so many chance happenings that were caught conveniently on camera that it couldn’t all have been purely documented.

Questions remain as too how authentic the film actually is but as a social commentary it’s message still stands. Despite some inconstancies it remains cleverly constructed.

Mark Walker

7 Comments »

Titanic * 1/2

Posted in Drama, Romance with tags 1997 on April 9, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: James Cameron.
Screenplay: James Cameron.
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Frances Fisher, Kathy Bates, David Warner, Danny Nucci, Victor Garber, Gloria Stuart, Bernard Hill, Bernard Fox, Jonathan Hyde, Suzy Amis, Bill Paxton.

Woohoo! “Titanic“, the 1997 romantic epic that won 11 Academy Awards, has been re-released on an even grander scale. We are, once again, treated to over three hours of the most wearisome and banal piece of cinema to ever grace our screens. But wait… it’s in 3D. I’m so happy, I could shit myself.

An old woman, Rose DeWitt Bukater (Gloria Stuart) recounts her past to April, 1912 when she boarded the most advanced liner ever built – the Royal Mail Ship Titanic. It departed from Southampton with over 2,000 passengers aboard and we are taken back to when she was a younger woman (Kate Winslet), due to be married to aristocrat Cal Hockley (Billy Zane). On board though, she meets young, adventurous artist Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) who she falls in love with. But there is trouble ahead, in the shape of a giant iceberg that forces the ship and it’s passengers into desperate survival.

This, for me, stands as the most ridiculous and overrated of films. Amongst the (unwarranted) awards it received, there is only one that it could truly justify: Best Visual Effects. How the triteness of this film could overshadow the superb and labyrinthine “L.A. Confidential” during awards season, is beyond me. Anyone familiar with British pulp romantic novels, will known what I mean when I say, this is just “Mills & Boon” on a boat – the chivalrous Jack pursuing the chastised damsel Rose. The only thing that’s missing, is the gardener with a rippling torso. DiCaprio and Winslet are fine actors and two that I admire greatly but they totally ham it up in this absolute peace of trash. It’s very stereotypical in everything it does; the impoverished Irish, dance a jig below deck; the band plays on when everyone else is panicking; the steamed-up car, were Jack and Rose consummate their relationship; even Jack’s little Italian friend get’s to shout the obligatory “Bastardo”, as the shit is about to hit the propellers. The characterisation is frankly insulting and for the most part, the film is uneventful. That is, until the long-awaited Iceberg makes a welcome appearance. When it does, Cameron’s use of visual effects really kick-in and they’re undeniably impressive but by this point, I couldn’t care less. If anything, it was quite enjoyable watching the irritating and underwritten characters plummet and drown to a slow and painful death. Shame the footage of this film couldn’t have went down with the ship also.

Originally released in 1997, James Cameron then followed it up in 2003 with documentary “Ghosts Of The Abyss” and now we get it again in 3D. Really James, let it go man… let it go.

Woefully Bad. Even the film’s caption “Nothing on earth could come between them” is misleading. For a start, a massive Iceberg didn’t find it too difficult, not to mention a makeshift raft that wasn’t big enough to hold them both. A * 1/2 star rating for the visuals and a solid supporting performance from the large glacial deposit. But being dazzled with special effects and technical achievements, ultimately doesn’t change anything. You still can’t polish a turd.

Mark Walker

40 Comments »

The Hunger Games * * * 1/2

Posted in Action, Adventure, Science Fiction with tags 2012 on April 9, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Gary Ross.
Screenplay: Gary Ross, Suzanne Collins, Billy Ray.
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Wes Bentley, Lenny Kravitz, Toby Jones, Amandla Stenberg, Alexander Ludwig, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jacqueline Emerson, Paula Malcomson, Dayo Okeniyi, Jack Quaid, Leven Rambin, Willow Shields.

Gary Ross has been involved in films for quite some time now. He received an Oscar nomination for his screenwriting duties on the Tom Hanks movie “Big” in 1988 but this is only the third time he has directed a film, following “Seabiscuit” and his very impressive debut “Pleasantville“.

“Capitol” is a wealthy city in a post-apocalyptic North America (now called “Panem”). It rules over the rest of the impoverished nation. In order to be perceived as generous, they hold an annual gladiatorial tournament called “The Hunger Games“, where the country’s youngest inhabitants are randomly selected to fight to the death. Only one can remain alive and receive their riches. After her young sister is selected to compete, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), a defiant and accomplished survivor volunteer’s to take her place.

If you’ve seen the Japanese film “Battle Royale” or the Sci-Fi/Actioner “The Running Man” then you’ll be on familiar ground with this one. It’s basically the same premise. Considering the subject matter, director Gary Ross does well to tone down the violence on this one though, making the story more accessible to a relatively younger audience. After all, it was based on a best selling teen-novel by Suzanne Collins – who also co-writes the screenplay here. It’s starts very strongly in it’s introduction to a bleak futuristic America. The wealthy are all greed infused with bad tastes and flamboyant styles while the poor have to feed off the land and strive for whatever scraps they can (No change there then). Ross captures the divide admirably though and takes his time in building up The Hunger Games’ rules. It’s all about the entertainment for the well-off and it’s broadcast across the nation as an immersive reality TV show, meaning sponsors, trainers and promotors are all involved. Amongst the highlights of these are a shaggy Woody Harrelson as Haymitch Abernathy, mentor to the contestants and a ruthless Wes Bentley as Seneca Crane, the gamemaker who oversees the action – sometimes manipulating it – by order of Donald Sutherland’s dubious paterfamilias President Snow. The real anchor though, is Jennifer Lawrence. Yes, there may be similarities with her Oscar nominated performance from “Winter’s Bone” but that’s no bad thing. The film relies heavily on her and she’s more than able to carry it. It does, however, go on too long and becomes a tad formulaic in it’s finale. The obvious set-up for part two doesn’t appeal either but other than that, this is a decent film.

Don’t let the fact that Suzanne Collins’ books were aimed at teenagers, put you off. This film manages to work on a level that will appeal to many.

Mark Walker