2011 | MARKED MOVIES

Archive for 2011

The Artist * * * * *

Posted in Comedy, Drama, Romance with tags 2011 on February 8, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Michel Hazanavicius.
Screenplay: Michel Hazanavicius.
Starring: Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, John Goodman, James Cromwell, Penelope Ann Miller, Malcolm McDowell, Missi Pyle, Beth Grant, Ed Lauter, Ken Davitian, Joel Murray, Hal Landon Jr, Nina Siemazsko.

In our modern era of motion capture and CGI – controlling most of what we see on screen – it’s a bold decision for director Michel Hazanavicius to tackle the style of a silent film from the 1920’s. A bold move indeed, but it’s also a masterstroke. This is a true original.

In Hollywood, in 1927, silent movie star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is at the height of his career. He’s the toast of the town and loved by all. One day he, literally, bumps into Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo). He gives her a head start in the film business but films are changing, with the arrival of the ‘talkies’. Peppy decides to go with the change while George thinks that talking cinema is just a passing fad. Soon his career (and life) is in decline while Peppy becomes the new starlet that everyone loves to love.

Hazanavicius’ attention to detail is flawless. He has the look, the music, the feel, and overall, the actors to pull it off. He also throws in some of his own artistic flourishes along the way, which include a marvellous dream sequence where George can actually hear the cacophony of sounds around him, yet can’t hear his own voice; or the often used billboards and posters that mirror the very actions onscreen.
The performances are superb, particularly Dujardin with his big shit-kicking toothy grin and endless supply of charisma. The man gets away with the entire film by acting with his teeth an his eyebrows but he also conveys a real depth to his character, without uttering a word – not to mention an obvious allusion to classic film actor Douglas Fairbanks.
I deliberated on how I should have rated this film, considering all the hype I’d heard and read beforehand. I didn’t have to deliberate too long though. For the originality – and sheer audacity alone, in not only conceiving the idea of attempting to entertain in a fashion that’s over 100 years old but also in the execution of it – it’s hard not to give this film top marks.

Worthy of the plaudits and superlatives that’s been thrown it’s way. This is one of those films that even though you go into it looking to criticise, you find that… you just can’t.
An absolute delight.

Mark Walker

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Contagion * * * 1/2

Posted in Drama, thriller with tags 2011 on February 3, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Steven Soderbergh.
Screenplay: Scott Z. Burns.
Starring: Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, Jude Law, Laurence Fishburne, Gwyneth Paltrow, Bryan Cranston, John Hawkes, Elliott Gould, Jennifer Ehle, Larry Clarke.

Director Steven Soderbergh is no stranger to switching a theme or two. If you look through the films he has delivered over the years – “Sex, Lies and Videotape”, “Solaris”, “Erin Brockovich”, “Traffic”, “Out of Sight” and “Che” to name a few – you’ll find it difficult to pigeonhole him to any particular genre. This is yet another change of direction from him.

As an unknown and deadly virus spreads across the world, a man (Matt Damon) struggles to cope with it’s tragic impact on his family and the death of his wife (Gwyneth Paltrow), while a World Health Organisation doctor (Marion Cotillard) seeks to find its source and the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (Laurence Fishburne and Kate Winslet) fight to contain the epidemic and make a vaccine. Meanwhile, a blogger (Jude Law) claims he knows the true cure…

Surprisingly, there are very few of these types of films anymore. The premise is always a winner as it can genuinely strike fear into people but for one reason or another they never seem to reach the screen as much as they should. In 1995 director Wolfgang Petersen released the similarly themed “Outbreak” that dealt with an epidemic of deadly proportions. That film had a Gung-ho approach but the cruciality it had is exactly what this film lacks. Where Soderbergh falters is trying to squeeze in too much detail and not enough drama. His detail is impressively meticulous though which adds a frightening sense of realism but there’s also a feeling of distance from the characters. Despite this, it strangely still manages to hold your attention and even on occasion, your breath. There is some fine acting on show from a first class ensemble – particularly Damon – but with all that’s going on, the investment in the characters just isn’t there, leaving the impressive cast slightly wasted. The premise is a gripping one though and it’s horror in it’s most frightening and realistic form.

A bold attempt by Soderbergh and as a commentary on the fragility of our society it’s a winner, but as entertainment it’s lacks a sense of urgency.

Mark Walker

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The Adventures Of Tintin * * * *

Posted in Action, Adventure, Animation, Family with tags 2011 on February 3, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Steven Spielberg.
Screenplay: Edgar Wright, Steven Moffat, Joe Cornish.
Starring: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Toby Jones, Mackenzie Crook, Daniel Mays, Gad Elmaleh, Joe Starr, Kim Stengel, Sonja Fortag, Tony Curran.

Herge, the writer and creator of “Tintin” apparently once said that Steven Spielberg was the only director who could truly capture his creation on the big screen. Thankfully for him then that Spielberg has got himself involved, along with visionary support in Peter Jackson.

Uniting elements from Herge volumes ‘The Crab With The Golden Claws’, ‘The Secret Of The Unicorn’, and ‘Red Rackham’s Treasure’, valiant Belgian reporter Tintin (Jamie Bell), along with brainy mutt Snowy, is on the trail of a lost family fortune, involving future friend and rambunctious soak Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis).

I do hope that when (or if) Indiana Jones 5 arrives that Spielberg has a better story to work with. The story here by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish is familiar Indy fare for Spielberg but it doesn’t have enough in the tank to grab you, leaving him to stage one action set-piece after another to keep the excitement flowing. These set-pieces are undeniably exhilarating though and his handle on the animation side is entirely successful. Before him, director Robert Zemeckis tried (and failed) with similar motion-capture animated features “The Polar Express” and “Beowulf” but Spielberg and Peter Jackson have cracked it. The motion capture is flawless and every pixel of animation is refined to perfection. The problem that Zemeckis had was achieving believable and realistic eyes in his characters. That problem is now gone here. It’s so good that it’s hard to accept that real actors are responsible for the performances. Jamie Bell is impressive as the eponymous man-boy reporter and Daniel Craig is a delight as the villain Sakharine, but the real treat here is Andy Serkis as Captain Haddock the bumbling seaman, complete with Scottish brogue and drunken mishaps.

Classic boys-own adventure and the stuff that Spielberg has been churning out for years. Unfortunately, the script doesn’t hold up to the exquisite visuals and rollicking action but it’s still a treat nonetheless.

Mark Walker

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The Tree Of Life * * * * *

Posted in Drama with tags 2011 on February 3, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Terrence Malick.
Screenplay: Terrence Malick.
Starring: Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain, Fiona Shaw, Irene Bedard, Jessica Fuselier, Hunter McCracken, Laramie Eppler, Tye Sheridan.

Director Terrence Malick is an enigma all his own. He’s a closed book when it comes to his personal life and he never gives interviews. Very little is known about him but the one thing that is known, is that he was once a philosophy lecturer and this certainly shows in his visually poetic films.

On the anniversary of his brother’s death, troubled architect Jack O’Brien (Sean Penn) ponders his place in the universe, leading inevitably to powerful memories of his turbulent 1950’s childhood in Waco, Texas – in particular, his formative relationship with his loving mother (Jessica Chastain) and disciplinarian father (Brad Pitt).

The themes for this film will be discussed endlessly but essentially they come down to Birth, Life & Death. Ranging from astronomical to our very own existence. Our paths, be them intuitive, spiritual, empirical or material are also explored. Within this birth, life and death is the violence and cruelty. Most are essential parts of life, while others are unnecessary or learning curves in the journey itself and Malick ruminates on them all. This is quite unlike anything you’ll come across. The closest you’ll get will come from Malick himself, in his previous films. The man has a certain unmistakable style all his own. He’s slow, methodical, even ethereal and there is no other quite like him. I love his idiosyncracy and ability to magnify life and his wonder of it. “The Thin Red Line” still remains his masterpiece, but that took a while to grow on me much like I think this will. I loved this, but I have a sneaky feeling I’ve not taken it all in yet and it may grow to be something even more stupendous than it already is. This is a film that will require several viewings to fully appreciate and most certainly will not appeal to everyone. The beauty of Malick is his appreciation for nature in all it’s forms. Sometimes it can be like watching National Geographic but rightfully it plays a part in his creative process, as it plays a part in everything around us. There’s no escaping it and Malick is highly attuned to this, helped by Emmanuel Lubezki’s gorgeous cinematography. Not content with just some stunning shots of the flora and fauna from our planet, Malick branches out to show us the birth of the universe which is highly ambitious and nothing short of breathtaking. It may well split some peoples opinions of it’s relativity as a whole, but this is no simple family drama. The human element to this story is only the microcosm of the macrocosm. It may well have been possible to omit the cosmic section of the film but it’s inclusion is only a visual expansion of the point and themes that Malick is exploring.
Amongst all the visual splendour there are three fantastic performances. Hunter McCracken playing Jack as a young boy shows a great talent and as the vastly different parents Jessica Chastain is wondrously graceful, while Brad Pitt is astonishingly good at being stern and quixotic. Sean Penn however, is given very little to do and his talents are somewhat wasted.

Malick has achieved mainstream arthouse cinema with this transcendental contemplation of life. It’s an accomplished and ambitious film that’s highly spiritual and deeply philosophical. Simply put, it’s a majestic piece of visual poetry.

Mark Walker

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Melancholia * * * * *

Posted in Drama, Science Fiction with tags 2011 on February 3, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Lars Von Trier.
Screenplay: Lars Von Trier.
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, Alexander Skarsgard, John Hurt, Charlotte Rampling, Stellan Skarsgard, Brady Corbet, Cameron Spurr, Jesper Christensen, Udo Kier.

With his “Nazi sympathiser” outbursts at the Cannes film festival – getting him thrown out and declared ‘persona non grata’, you’d be forgiven for expecting this latest from director Lars Von Trier to be provocative and disturbing like his previous films. However, it’s far from it and probably the most restrained and technically accomplished film of his career so far.

At her own wedding reception, Justine (Kirsten Dunst) is overcome by depression and alienates everyone, including her new husband Michael (Alexander Skarsgard), her devoted sister Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and brother-in-law John (Keifer Sutherland). When a new planet, “Melancholia”, appears in the sky and is on a collision course with Earth, some believe it will fly-by, others are not so positive… Justine believes it to be the end.

The intellectual weight behind this one is not as heavy as you might expect from Von Trier. The heaviness comes in the form of watching very unhappy and angst ridden people for over 2 hours. Von Trier’s understanding and personal portrayal of mental illness may seem uneventful, but it’s captivating nonetheless. That’s by and large to his wonderfully artistic eye and strong performances from Dunst, Gainsbourg and Sutherland. The constant reminder of the descending planet adds an unbearable sense of foreboding, again, expressed through Justine and her everyday struggle with depression. The science fiction element to the story plays second fiddle to the human drama but it’s no less impressive. Much like Terrence Malick’s recent “The Tree of Life“, Von Trier is happy to use wondrous images of star forming galaxies. But where Malick explored the birth of Earth, Von Trier explores the destruction of it, making this an unofficially strange, yet apt companion piece. The baroque style that Von Trier employs is also highly effective. From the dominating architecture and artistic flourishes to the haunting classical score, culminating to an eerie and visually striking piece of cinema.

Provocateur Lars Von Trier is not so provocative this time around. Instead he delivers a personal understanding of mental illness, with highly artistic and meditative filmmaking.

Mark Walker

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Hanna * 1/2

Posted in Action, thriller with tags 2011 on February 3, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Joe Wright.
Screenplay: Seth Lochhead, David Farr.
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett, Tom Hollander, Olivia Williams, Jason Flemyng, Jessica Barden.

When “Atonement” was released in 2007, I was pleasantly surprised by how solid a film it was, considering it’s not normally something I’d be drawn to. After that, director Joe Wright went up in my estimation. As did a young Oscar nominated Saiorse Ronan from that film. Much to my delight, they both collaborated again on this espionage thriller. That being said, ‘thriller’ is not exactly the word I would choose for this and it’s certainly nowhere near the standard of their earlier production.

Hanna (Saiorse Ronan) is a young girl who, for most of her life, has been living in the wilderness away from society and being conditioned to be a crack assassin by her father (Eric Bana). When decided that she wants to leave her cloistered life, she finds herself on the run from the CIA in the stern form of Marissa (Cate Blanchett), the very person who knows who or what Hanna really is.

When I first saw the trailer and some of the critical praise this film was recieving I couldn’t wait to see it. That anticipation was maybe the reason I was so disappointed in the delivery though. Everything seemed distant, far-fetched and unreal and not quite what I think was intended – If it was intended, it didn’t work. It started to become a childs eye-view of the world and more specifically, a teenage girls eye-view. This was not what I was expecting at all. I was expecting action, thrills and suspense. I was expecting the film that we were told it would be. Not some dull coming-of-age tale masquerading as an espionage film. It has a couple of impressive action set-pieces but that’s it. The themes have been explored thousands of times before and this brings nothing new to the table. I also struggled to connect to the characters and their unnecessary accents. There were plot holes aplenty and some characters even left without an explanation as to what happened to them. The level of inconsistencies are lazy and quite frankly, insulting. On the plus side, ‘The Chemical Brothers’ soundtrack is fast paced and kinetic and has a vibrancy the film lacks. The performances were also good (despite the dodgy accents). Ronan and Bana are always reliable and Tom Hollander pitches in a creepy role. Blanchett is an actress I have always admired and here her acting is great, but there’s just one problem… It looks like she has stepped onto the wrong set. Her emotional responses are baffling and don’t seem to fit what’s happening onscreen. Very talented actors with wasted efforts. Three times it took me to finally finish watching this. Not because it was convoluted or demanded a level of attention but because it was tedious and uneventful. The only reason I attempted it three times is because I thought I must be missing something. Surely, it couldn’t be as bad as what I was witnessing. Sadly, it was. I’m astonished at the praise this has recieved. It’s an absolute turkey with the only redeeming qualities being a glimmer of originality and very commited performances.

Director Joe Wright still has a lot to learn. After the equally bad “The Soloist” and now this, it’s starting to look like the solid “Atonement” was a fluke. Dull as dishwater.

Mark Walker

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Submarine * * * * 1/2

Posted in Comedy, Drama with tags 2011 on February 3, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Richard Ayoade.
Screenplay: Richard Ayoade.
Starring: Craig Roberts, Sally Hawkins, Noah Taylor, Paddy Considine, Yasmin Paige, Darren Evans, Osian Cai Dulais, Lily McCann, Otis Lloyd, Ben Stiller.

Director Richard Ayoade is better known for his acting chops on the television comedy series “The IT Crowd”. Not a series I was particularly fond of though, as the humour seemed quite forced. However, that’s not what Ayoade brings to this. He brings a subtlety, a realism and a highly creative and visual approach.

Based on the novel by Joe Dunthorne it tells the story of precocious, 15 year old boy Oliver Tate (Craig Roberts) approaching manhood. A major rite-of-passage that he faces is that he’s besotted with Jordana (Yasmin Paige), a feisty girl in his class. Yet, as he embarks on his first relationship, he also frets over the relationship of his parents Jill (Sally Hawkins) and Lloyd (Noah Taylor), a situation exacerbated by his mum’s ex-boyfriend, Graham T. Purvis (Paddy Considine), a self help guru, who has moved in next door.

A sharp, observational coming-of-age tale with a precise insight into the awkwardness of adolescence, not to mention, disillusioned, mundane adulthood. It’s a very impressive directorial debut from Richard Ayoade, who’s artistic and quirky style perfectly matches the eccentricities of the characters onscreen. Despite a few visual florishes here and there, this is not a flashy film by any means. Everything is very understated. So much so, that a lot of the humour may go right over your head. But this understatement is to Ayoade’s credit as well as his exceptional cast. The wonderful Sally Hawkins delivers another strong character to her resume as the neurotic, repressed mother. The very underrated Noah Taylor is marvellous as the depressed father and Paddy Considine never ceases to amaze me with his brilliant portrayal of the self-help ‘mystic ninja’. The real star though, is Craig Roberts as our young eccentric protaganist. An avid reader of the dictionary, who’s keeps surveillance on his parents. All nervous energy, shifty eyes and desperation. He’s a real find and handles every scene he’s in with aplomb. To stand out in the company of the aforementioned supporting actors is talent indeed. Alex Turner from the Arctic Monkey’s also deserves a mention for providing a touching soundtrack of melancholic songs throughout this heartfelt and unconventional story of teenage angst. Comparisons with director Hal Ashby’s “Harold and Maude” and director Wes Anderson’s style are there for a reason. As that film and Anderson’s stuff are favourites of mine, I enjoyed this immensely.

An absolute gem of film with a lot of style and a lot of heart. Pragmatic, low-key and one of the year’s genuine treats.

Mark Walker

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Horrible Bosses * * 1/2

Posted in Comedy with tags 2011 on February 3, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Seth Gordon.
Screenplay: Michael Markowitz, John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein.
Starring: Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Julie Bowen, Donald Sutherland, Lindsay Sloane.

The last time Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx were in a film together they were cool, charismatic crime fighters in “Miami Vice“. This sees them playing roles that couldn’t be further from that brooding intensity but unfortunately, despite their best comic intentions and through no fault of their own, this is just as flat as their previous film.

Three disgruntled employees Nick (Jason Bateman), Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) and Dale (Charlie Day) decide to murder their bosses Dave Harken (Kevin Spacey), Bobby Pellitt (Colin Farrell) and Dr. Julia Harris (Jennifer Aniston) respectively. But their plans, assisted by dodgy ‘professional’ Dean “Motherfucker” Jones (Jamie Foxx), don’t quite go to plan.

The “Horrible Bosses” in question are the ones that make this comedy (almost) work. Spacey, Farrell and particularly Aniston are an absolute delight to watch. Spacey has done this all before of course with “Swimming With Sharks”. Farrell, complete with comb-over, ditches his usual tough, cool guy approach and Aniston shouldn’t have to try much harder than this to lose her cookie “Friends” persona. Here she’s a foul mouthed sexual deviant and the highlight of the film. Despite all these wonderful comedic performances though, the script really let’s them down. This had the potential to one of the finest comedies for quite some time but ends up being no more than just an entertaining time-passer. There are very few laugh out loud moments and the ‘Horrible Bosses’ are simply not in it enough. These are roles that all three of Spacey, Farrell and Aniston seem to revel in but are denied the chance of any substantial screen time. If the film had them at it’s heart it would have been a different and far more fulfilling story.

Concentrating more on the employees rather than the deliciously nasty bosses, is the films first fault. A dull script and flat direction don’t help either, leaving this somewhat of a misfire and a wasted opportunity.

Mark Walker

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Red State * 1/2

Posted in Action, Horror, thriller with tags 2011 on February 2, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Kevin Smith.
Screenplay: Kevin Smith.
Starring: Michael Parks, Melissa Leo, John Goodman, Kevin Pollak, Michael Angarano, Nicholas Braun, Ronnie Connell, Kaylee DeFer, Stephen Root, James Parks, Kyle Gallner, Gary Sievers, Damien Young.

After the critical panning of his Bruce Willis starring “Cop Out“, writer/director Kevin Smith had to prove that he still had something to offer. On this evidence he doesn’t and maybe this film would be better with the title “Cop Out” instead.

Pastor Abin Cooper (Michael Parks) is a fundamentalist preacher who kidnaps and executes “sexual deviants” and three teenage boys find themselves lured to him in search of group sex from a woman on the Internet. Things go a bit too far though, which attracts the attention of veteran ATF agent Joe Kennan (John Goodman) who lays a siege on Cooper’s heavily armed church.

It’s redneck country and Smith doesn’t fuck about. He delves straight into the extreme religious mindset (probably the same religious fanatics who criticised his film “Dogma“) and he chooses to address it in the torture porn fashion. Gone are his eccentric characters, sharp snappy dialogue and obvious ability for comedy. In their place are detestable characters, mundane monologues and brutal violence. All done with shaky handheld camerawork. It’s not smart and it’s not clever. I have to admit it left a very bad taste very quickly and I couldn’t quite work out the point. Was it to prove his naysayers wrong by changing genres? Or was it a personal attack on his critics? Who knows? Who cares? I’m really not into this disasteful type of filmmaking. Yes, it may be an attack on his critics but Smith is far more intelligent than having to resort to this type of material. I’m a longtime admirer of John Goodman, Michael Parks and Melissa Leo but what the fuck? Did anyone think to inform them of the script before they commited themselves to this? Every one of the characters meant absolutely nothing me but I think I was supposed to care. This is raw, visceral, self ejucalatory nonsense. I hate the very small mindset of the people Smith depicts, but that doesn’t mean I want to spend an hour an a half watching that trash, regardless of them getting their heads blown off or not. And to top it all, just when you think it might all make sense, you get a “single note trumpet blast through an iPod” as an explanation for a major plot development? Give me a break! If it sounds ridiculous that’s because it is.

The very last words uttered at the end of this movie are… “Shut the fuck up!”. I wish those had been the words heeded by the director before embarking on this major shit heap.

Mark Walker

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The Troll Hunter * * * 1/2

Posted in Documentary, Fantasy, Horror with tags 2011 on February 2, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Andre Ovredal.
Screenplay: Andre Ovredal.
Starring: Otto Jesperson, Glenn Erland Tosterud, Johanna Morch, Tomas Alf Larsen.

First person shakey camera films have become an ideal way for budding filmmakers to make a name for themselves. To name a couple, “The Blair Witch Project” became a horror phenomenon in 1999 and “Paranormal Activity” has now become a horror franchise with consistantly reliant numbers at the box office. This time the Norwegians have a go with a competently handled mythological take on the sub-genre.

Student filmmakers Thomas (Glenn Erland Tosterud) and Johanna (Johanna Morch) set out to shoot a documentary about bear-hunting in Norway and trail mysterious, well-armed woodsman Hans (Otto Jesperson), whom they assume is a poacher. However, Hans turns out to be a government-sanctioned operative protecting the country from the ravages of giant trolls. Tired of secret heroism, the Troll Hunter lets the crew film his battles with monsters at great risk to themselves.

For budgetary reasons, films of this type keep the main attraction to a minimum. However, where the aforementioned movies relied predominantly on the human drama and reactions, this also happens to deliver the special effects when it matters. The trolls are impressively done. The effects provide more than enough to leave you happy with the technical achievements but also maintain a sense of wonder. The performances are also solid and natural which help in suspending disbelief. But like most films of this type, there is too much talking and not enough action. When the action is delivered though, the confrontations with the creatures are filmed with impressive tension and excitement. The mythological angle is also a refreshing one and it’s encouraging to see the Scandanavians reclaim their folklore.

Yet another foreign language film that’s due for an American remake and you can see why. The budget may be low but the film is still of a high standard.

Mark Walker

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The Beaver * * * *

Posted in Drama with tags 2011 on February 2, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Jodie Foster.
Screenplay: Kyle Killen.
Starring: Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, Anton Yelchin, Jennifer Lawrence, Cherry Jones, Riley Thomas Stewart.

By now everyone will have heard of Mel Gibson’s real life troubles involving drunken rants and abusive behaviour. Some would even have thought that it could have led to his career being finished. Despite these personal problems though, he has bounced back with the perfect acting vehicle.

Walter Black (Gibson) was once a successful businessman with a happy family who now finds himself clinically depressed and ready to end it all. One night he finds a discarded puppet beaver which when it ends up on his hand, takes over his life and begins to turn his fortunes around.

First off, it’s hard to forget about Gibson’s personal antics and in a lot of ways, it has a major bearing on the film itself. That being said though, his performance is mesmerising and the best he has delivered in his career so far. It’s an award calibre show but will no doubt be scorned by the Academy. This is a film that has emotional and dramatic weight but suffers slightly in the strange feeling that there should be humour. For some reason, when a puppet is involved you expect hilarity but this is not that type of film and credit must go to Gibson for his restraint. There’s no mistaking the serious depth this film carry’s or his commited performance. It’s a sensitive exploration of mental health with a premise that, at first, sounds ridiculous and laughable but is actually heartfelt and delicately handled by director Jodie Foster. The sub-plot involving Anton Yelchin’s intellectual speech writer and Jennifer Lawrence’s cheerleading graffiti artist is a little strained and hard to accept and Foster’s bland struggling wife is very underwritten also, but when focused on Gibson’s clinical depression it’s a marvellous film. Considering this was originally planned as a Steve Carell or Jim Carrey show, you can easily see how this could have been. I’m glad they didn’t go down that road and even more pleased that they serendipitously picked the perfect actor, at the perfect time, in a perfect role and Foster deserves most of that credit for banking on her troubled co-star.

An odd but thoroughly engaging little film that’s affected by the leading actor’s personal problems and ability to transcend them and face the role of a lifetime. Gibson’s demons certainly overshadow the film and I suppose we’ll never know for sure, whether it would have been better with, or without them. I sway towards them being a benefit.

Mark Walker

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Midnight In Paris * * * 1/2

Posted in Comedy, Fantasy, Romance with tags 2011 on February 2, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Woody Allen.
Screenplay: Woody Allen.
Starring: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Michael Sheen, Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody, Mimi Kennedy, Kurt Fuller, Alison Pill, Tom Hiddleston, Lea Seydoux, Corey Stoll, Carla Bruni, Gad Elmaleh.

An unexpectedly whimsical time-travel fable from Woody Allen. He’s not been his usual self lately, what with his ventures into London crime drama’s. But after “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” and now this, we are starting to see a glimmer of the Allen of old.

Gil (Owen Wilson) is a struggling writer who takes a romantic trip to Paris with his fiancee Inez (Rachel McAdams). However, Inez finds herself drawn to academic Paul (Michael Sheen) while Gil falls in love with the city itself and is inspired by the legendary writers and artists who once inhabited it during the 1920’s. Then magically, Gil gets the chance to meet them face-to-face as he is transported back to their time in history.

Owen Wilson is not exactly a favourite of mine but he equipts himself well here, channeling a Woody Allen surrogate. The rest of the cast also put in fine shows, particularly the pompous psuedo-intellectual Michael Sheen and the excellent, but all too brief, Adrien Brody as Salvador Dali. Not exactly what I was expecting when I went into this but it was a pleasant little film and a reminder of how rare intellectual humour is these days. Allen is one of the craftsmen of it’s kind and although this pales in comparison to his earlier stuff, his idiosyncratic style has been missing from films for far too long and its a pleasure to revisit his neurotic world.

Slightly diluted Woody Allen, but still a charming little film that will please old fans and maybe even make some new ones. Delightful.

Mark Walker

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Source Code * * * *

Posted in Mystery, Science Fiction, thriller with tags 2011 on February 2, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Duncan Jones.
Screenplay: Ben Ripley.
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga, Jeffrey Wright, Brent Skagford, Cas Anvar, Michael Arden, Craig Thomas, Russell Peters.
Voice of: Scott Bakula.

Director Duncan Jones’ debut “Moon” has been one of the best science fiction films of recent times, causing obvious excitement and anticipation for his next project. Well… this is that project, and although it doesn’t quite match the quality of “Moon“, it cements Jones’ position as a great new talent.

US military helicopter pilot Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) is drafted as a test subject for a scientific process which can project his consciousness into the past (and another person’s body) for a limited time. Suspicious of his handler Captain Goodwin (Vera Farmiga) and the programme’s director (Jeffrey Wright), Stevens repeatedly lives through the last eight minutes of the life of a passenger on a commuter train which has just been destroyed by a terrorist bomb until he can find the person responsible.

There’s nothing quite like getting down to business and that’s exactly what Duncan Jones does here. Within minutes we are thrust into the action and spiralling plot and admirers of the television series “Quantum Leap” will no doubt realise that they are on familiar ground. In keeping with similiar themes from his previous film, Jones explores the isolation of Gyllenhaal’s character, which results in paranoia and distrust for those around him. Questions are also posed as to his identity and mortality, much in the same way of Sam Rockwell’s character in “Moon“. Two very different films sharing common themes. Jones is the type to include a few in-jokes in his films also. There’s a Chesney Hawkes ringtone being a reminder of Rockwell’s alarm clock in “Moon” and the voice of Gyllenhaal’s father provided by a certain Scott Bakula from “Quantum Leap”. Not to mention an uncanny likeness to (Jones’ father) David Bowie’s 1969 song “Space Oddity”. It’s a story that shares similarities with many before it… “12 Monkeys” and “Groundhog Day” being a notable couple. However, Jones makes his own impression on this common premise and is helped with great performances by his actors. The only problem was the questionable ending. It had it all wrapped up at one point before deciding on a crowd pleasing Hollywood number that let’s down an otherwise excellent film.

Intriguing and thought provoking. Keeping you hooked and interested from the get go. Science Fiction has a great future if Duncan Jones stays involved.

Mark Walker

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Super 8 * * * *

Posted in Mystery, Science Fiction with tags 2011 on February 2, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: J.J. Abrams.
Screenplay: J.J. Abrams.
Starring: Kyle Chandler, Elle Fanning, Joel Courtney, Gabriel Basso, Noah Emmerich, Ron Eldard, Riley Griffiths, Ryan Lee, Zach Mills, Dan Castellaneta, Glynn Turman, Michael Hitchcock, A. J. Michalka, Jessica Tuck.
Voice of: Bruce Greenwood.

Steven Spielberg serves as producer on this latest film from director J.J. Abrams, and if you hadn’t seen the credits or been told beforehand, you might well think he’d done more than produce. This is Abrams unashamedly emulating the great master.

Sneaking out at night with their Super-8 camera, to shoot a pivotal scene in their homemade zombie film, Joe (Joel Courteney) and his pals witness a dramatic train crash. After the mililtary move in to clean things up and some people begin to go missing, the boys realise that some form of creature escaped from the wreckage.

As several, if not all, of critics will have mentioned, this is reminicent of Spielberg’s earlier works. It has the same small town setting and wonder of “E.T.”, the same sci-fi influence of “Close Encounters…” and the same camaraderie of his earlier production of “The Goonies”. It’s 1970’s America is before the days of video games, were the kids still went out on their bikes and a ‘Walkman’ was a prized possession. Everything is captured in true Spielbergian style and Abrams’ attention to detail is flawless. So much so, that a young audience today may not identify with it, due to it’s old fashioned nature. I however, found it to be very refreshing indeed. They just don’t make films with as much heart as this anymore. It’s slow in the build up, with Abrams in no rush to reveal. He gives his cast of young talented unknowns a lot of room to manouevre and the familiarity between them is entirely believable. There’s so much going on with the strong characters that having the creature absent for most of the film and lurking in the background is entirely acceptable. It’s an old fashioned monster story (complete with miltary cover-up) that relies on the ability of it’s cast and doesn’t feel the need to go over the top with CGI. When it does reveal what’s lurking around the town, that’s actually when the film falters. Having it unknown for most of the film was part of the appeal but this is a small gripe in what’s a fresh contemporary movie.

Abrams has been a director that has given a much needed adrenaline shot to recent film franchises “Star Trek” and “Mission: Impossible III”, and this ability to inject some vitality into an old format doesn’t look like subsiding any time soon, if this latest delivery is anything to go by.

Mark Walker

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Rango * * 1/2

Posted in Adventure, Animation, Comedy with tags 2011 on February 2, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Gore Verbinski.
Screenplay: John Logan.
Voices: Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Ned Beatty, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy, Stephen Root, Harry Dean Stanton, Timothy Olyphant, Ray Winstone.

When director Gore Verbinski and star Johnny Depp collaborated before they brought new life into the swashbuckling genre with “Pirates of the Caribbean”. This time they bring a different take on animation, with very mixed results.

A pet lizard (Johnny Depp) falls out of a car in the desert, and earns himself a heroic reputation in the makeshift animal town of ‘Dirt’ as gunslinger “Rango”. Dirt’s water-supply is controlled by a turtle mayor (Ned Beatty) and his gang, but Rango rallies the decent folks when it seems the community will be destroyed.

Partly the problem I had with “Rango” was it’s stunningly good opening. For the first 10mins or so it looked like it was going to be something very special indeed but as it progressed it fell somewhat flat and ended up as dry and barren as the landscape in which it was set. The voice cast were impressive, particularly Depp. He has a good range and if you didn’t know beforehand, you probably wouldn’t know it was him. The animation was also very well done but the desert creature characters were so realistic that they were also a bit freaky, leaving them less endearing than they should be, which has you wondering why Verbinski chose the style he did. Choosing the great cinematographer Roger Deakins as visual consultant was a good move though, as the landscapes and western style were brilliantly achieved.

A valiant effort to produce something different but the characters were just a bit too far gone and the story seriously ran out of ideas early on.

Mark Walker

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Blitz * 1/2

Posted in thriller with tags 2011 on February 2, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Elliot Lester.
Screenplay: Nathan Parker.
Starring: Jason Statham, Paddy Considine, Aidan Gillen, David Morrissey, Luke Evans, Zawe Ashton, Ned Dennehy, Mark Rylance, Nicky Heston.

Jason Statham, or ‘The Stath’ (as he’s now known in the action world) kicks some arse in his hometown ‘Landan’ and to use a parlance from our Cockney friends, he’s not “‘avin’ a fackin’ bubble” either. He’s deadly serious and intent on dishing out some rough justice.

Detective Sergeant Tom Brant (Statham) is a no nonsense cop, under investigation for alleged police corruption. Still, when a serial cop killer (Aidan Gillen) starts kicking around ‘daan the Old Kent Road’ bumping off the ‘bobby’s on the beat’, Brant is the only guy hard enough to track him down.

Statham has went down a treat in America and has become a new action hero for them, but personally, I’m not into all that. Let’s face it, his films are aimed more at teenage boys. As usual, he does his thang of looking tough, talking tough and staying as far away from a razor as possible. Paddy Considine gets a brief moment where his class shines through but it’s hard not to feel sorry for him when he’s reduced to such material. Why hasn’t Considine been snapped up by the American market? He’s one of the finest British actors around at present and the biggest surprise for me, is why he’s even involved. It manages a marginal interest in seeing what is essentially “Dirty Harry” playing out in London. Nice use of locations also and a gritty urban feel, but sadly that’s about all.
Statham’s hard man routine is wearing a bit thin these days. Considering he used to be an Olympic diver and a model he talks a bit too big for his britches. He carry’s it well though and his films are what they are really. Let’s put it this way, you hardly need your noodle when watching one of them.

Watch the aforementioned Clint Eastwood/Don Siegel classic instead. It’s much more rewarding.

Mark Walker

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Paul * * *

Posted in Comedy, Science Fiction with tags 2011 on February 1, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Greg Mottola.
Screenplay: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost.
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kristen Wiig, John Carroll Lynch, Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor, Jane Lynch Sigourney Weaver, Bill Hader, Joe Lo Truglio, David Koechner, Blythe Danner.
Voice of: Seth Rogen.

After the British success of “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz”, messers Simon Pegg and Nick Frost go American with this latest collaboration. Gone is director Edgar Wright from the aforementioned films and replaced by “Superbad” director Greg Mottola with mixed results.

Graeme (Pegg) and Clive (Frost) are two British geeks on a road trip of the US. Along the way, they pick up an unexpected hitchhiker – a small, foul-mouthed alien called Paul (Seth Rogen), who enlists the duo to help him get him home. But the Government has other ideas, dispatching agents to pursue the trio.

Fans of Pegg and Frost will no doubt lap this up and some may even be happy about the arrival of Mottola. I however, find the comic duo a bit hit-and-miss and I find Mottola even less appealing. The highlight of this film is the voice and humour of Seth Rogen. In a film littered with unnecessary bad language the only one who can actually pull it off is Rogen. The rest of the cast attempt to, but it just comes across as desperate attempts at jokes that turn out to be completely lacking in hilarity, when they should really be splitting your sides. There is still entertainment to be had though, with enough in the tank to keep you amused but it’s far from hilarious. The sci-fi in-joke involving Steven Speilberg and his creation of “E.T.” is cleverly dropped in, as well as a few nods to “Close Encounters…”, “Star Wars” and “Aliens”. With a story that has enough strength to provide an abundance of jokes, it’s a shame they never seem to come, leaving all the good gags to Rogen, who effortlessly steals the film from everyone.

Another reasonably decent effort from Pegg and Frost but I think had Edgar Wright been involved, he could have complimented their brand of humour rather than Mottola’s profane punchlines that don’t always work. Fun, but a bit disappointing.

Mark Walker

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The Adjustment Bureau * * * 1/2

Posted in Romance, Science Fiction, thriller with tags 2011 on January 29, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: George Nolfi.
Screenplay: George Nolfi.
Starring: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Terence Stamp, Anthony Mackie, John Slattery, Jennifer Ehle, Jon Stewart.

Philip K. Dick was one of the best science fiction writers around with his strong themes of paranoia in plausible and bleak futuristic settings. Unfortunately, very few of his books translate well to the screen. “Blade Runner” and “A Scanner Darkly” are exceptions to this and although this latest may not quite be as good as those, it’s still a decent effort.

On election night, ambitious and driven politician David Norris (Matt Damon) has a chance meeting with dancer Elise (Emily Blunt). Falling in love at first sight, it inspires him to make the speech of his life. Months later, he encounters her again, but mysterious buttoned down businessmen in hats seem determined to keep them apart.

Science Fiction is one of the better genres for exploring popular existential themes; our perception of reality; pre-determination and freewill; our purpose in life, etc. These themes have been laboured over for generations; throughout our art, our storytelling and our philosophizing. Philip K. Dick himself was more of a philosopher who found science fiction as the genre that best suited his ideas and as a result you regularly find these themes coursing through his books. For the most part, first time director George Nolfi handles this material very well. He keeps a steady pace throughout and throws in enough intelligence to force you to constantly use your noodle. The premise is convincing, as is the chemistry between Damon and Blunt, leading the romantic relationship to become the driving force for the story. Everything is in place and the continual chase for answers makes for exciting viewing. However, when it comes to the big reveal, it falters. Despite the highly dramatic buildup, it fizzles out with no more than a few unsatisfying words to explain it’s convoluted plot.

An elaborate and gripping, romantic Sci-fi thriller that boasts fine performances, a quick tempo, style and assured direction. It’s just a shame that the finale is underwhelming.

Mark Walker

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Limitless * * 1/2

Posted in Science Fiction, thriller with tags 2011 on January 28, 2012 by Mark Walker

Director: Neil Burger.
Screenplay: Leslie Dixon.
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Robert DeNiro, Abbie Cornish, Anna Friel, Andrew Howard, Johnny Whitworth, Robert John Burke.

I greatly enjoyed director Neil Burger’s 2006 dark magician film “The Illusionist” and was interested in seeing him tackle this modern sci-fi/thriller. However, he could have been doing with a little more magic this time round as this doesn’t entirely satisfy.

Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) is a struggling writer desperately trying to get a book published. When a chance meeting with his ex-brother in law occurs he is offered a pill to cure all his ills. It’s NZT, a drug that let’s you access 100% of your brain instead of the usual 20%. Within seconds Eddie doesn’t “have delusions of granduer, he has a recipe for it” and his life takes off in ways he never imagined. The higher Eddie gets though, the harder he falls as the drug supply starts to dry up and things begin to turn nasty.

I enjoy a good science fiction yarn but despite the very interesting premise in this one, there’s just too many plot holes for it all to really click. It’s a half-decent little film, with a difference, but it struggles to work out what genre it wants to belong to and despite it’s promising, kinetic introduction, the fast pace then slows and it stumbles over the finishing line. It’s also shot in a way to try and capture the experience of the drug that Eddie is on which is effective at first but soon grows tiresome and starts to look like Tony Scott has got his hands on this one with his brand of in-your-face directing. Cooper does a fine job in his first major leading role but DeNiro is completely wasted. He seems to be have the same casting agent as Nicolas Cage these days. His film choices are questionable at best and I wonder if he has a hefty tax bill to pay off. This type of quality from DeNiro will just not do, it’s about time he got back in league with Scorsese.

Marginally entertaining and stylishly done but it could have been a little tighter and much like the after effects of drug taking, it feels a bit sloppy.

Mark Walker