Blue Jasmine

Blue Jasmine is the Latest film by Woody Allen, starring Cate Blanchett if tells the Story of Jasmine, a New York Socialite, who has lost all her money when her Husband is prosecuted for fraud. At the start of the movie, we see Jasmine arriving in San Francisco to the home of her Sister Ginger, who she has had to move in with while she sorts herself out.

Initially I was a little put off by the films style, running two timelines, as Jasmine explains in the present the events of the past, the past events are revealed as they become relevant. However by the end of the movie this style grew on me.

I found this film very engaging, and was not bored once, what is undeniable in this film is that the Performance of Cate Blanchett is outstanding, Jasmine is an extremely complex character, who has suffered a nervous breakdown, and often talks to herself/anyone who will listen, drinks heavilly and relies on prescription drugs. Blanchett brings this Character to life with a remarkable acting performance, and must be heavy favorite for Best Actress awards at the end of the year.

Whether or not you enjoy this movie, it is an absolute must see for the performance of Blanchett 9/10

The Call

Starring Halle Berry, The Call focuses on a 911 operative, who gets a call from a girl who has been abducted and is in the boot of a car. She then sets about trying to rescue the girl.

This is largely a film in 3 acts, the opening act sets up the characters and is used to add tension during the second act, which is "The call" itself, however the film is let down by it's final act, and the way in which the film brings about its conclusion.

The first hour if this movie is superb, tense and gritty, well acted, and with well developed character and plot, however  the final half an hour or so of this film is very weak, and the half baked explanations for the abductors motives are a little bizarre. It is difficult to say to much without plot spoiling, but it's almost as if they got to the end of the call itself, without any real idea of how the drama was going to end. The final scenes feel a bit forced, in order to reach a conclusion, and takes a twist off the road of believability. Which is a shame as two thirds in this was shaping up to be a really good thriller.

New and refreshing, gritty, slightly unsettling and something different from a lot of the run of the mill cinema on offer, but massively let down by it's final act 6/10

Prisoners

Prisoners, out in the UK on Friday, is a domestic thriller based upon the abduction of 2 young girls of 5 & 6 years old. It stars Hugh Jackman as one of the girl's fathers, and Jake Gyllenhaal as the detective assigned to investigate.

It is an interesting character piece film, as it asks some very tough questions around the whole area of Child kidnap, and how far you would go if it were your child. However I did feel that the storyline is far to complex for it's own good. The film is nearly 2 and a half hours long, and has so many twists and turns, at times it is difficult to follow what's going on, perhaps deliberately so.

In the end though, when all the pieces are put together, there is a certain element of satisfaction, so although it is a bit of a trudge to sit through, it is ultimately rewarding.

The performances are decent, particularly from Jackman, who's character goes through an emotional rollercoaster.

A difficult watch, and perhaps a bit too long, but with some difficult questions, and ultimately rewarding 7.5/10

R.I.P.D

R.I.P.D (Rest in Peace Department) is a bit of a cross between Men in Black and Ghost, It centres on a Boston cop played by Ryan Reynolds, who is killed by his partner, and on his way to Judgement is drafted into the R.I.P.D a department that deals with dead souls that have escaped judgement.

This film has several issues, the chemistry between Reynolds and Jeff Bridges is lacking something, and a lot of the jokes in the film are just not funny, in fact I would say that the biggest laugh in the film is the closing joke just before the credits roll. The whole plot point of Jeff Bridges appearing to be a leggy/busty blonde is also unnecessarily annoying.

My other issue is not so much about the film itself, more its cast, when you go to the cinema as often as I do, the EE adverts with Kevin Bacon start to get tedious, as you see them so regularly as the last thing before the film. So discovering Kevin Bacon is in this movie immediately annoyed me.

It is difficult to find many positives, that's not to say its a bad film, there are certainly a lot worse films this year. The best word to sum up R.I.P.D is average 5/10

White House Down

White House Down does exactly what it says on the tin, it's a movie about terrorists taking over the White House. If you think that sounds remarkably similar to Olympus has Fallen then you'd be right, in the same way that Armageddon and Deep Impact were released together, this is the year of the White House being taken over.

White House down is a long film, particularly the opening setup before the terrorist take over, at one point I was just wishing they would get on with it, rather than keep pointing and laughing in "we know what's coming" references to Independence Day, and the British burning down the White House in 1812.

The acting is quite wooden, particularly from Jamie Foxx as the president who is about as believable as David Cameron when it comes to convincing people that your strategy for the middle east is the right one.

The other issue with this movie is that the eventual twist/reveal at the end is so obvious that If you didn't see it coming you clearly were not paying attention. I had it worked out before the White House was ever in danger, and I'm not usually the most observant.

It's difficult not to compare the two films and on balance, despite it's faults, I think I preferred Olympus, Gerrard Butler (AKA Shut up Buttwatt) makes a better secret agent than Channing Tatum, and the action sequences regarding the take over are so much crazy and over the top, that you kinda go with it much more than in WHD.

If you leave your brain at the door then perhaps WHD is worth a watch, it's certainly not as bad as some films currently showing in the cinema, but if you are heading to your local multiplex and want a recommendation, go and see Rush 5/10

Boycotting Movies

When I Started this blog, I stated that it was my intention to Watch every film that was shown at my Local Cineworld, Whilst I have mostly done that over the past 15 months of holding an unlimited card, Just lately I have found myself refusing to see several movies for various reasons of principle.

It started with Grown Ups 2 which I refused to watch on the basis of not wanting to encourage Adam Sandler to keep producing crap movies. I then refused to see the One Direction Movie on the basis that I can't stand one direction, and didn't want to go to a cinema full of screaming teenage girls.

I had intended to Watch Pain & Gain, but having read several reviews and spoken to a couple of friends who have seen it, the general consensus is that it is morally bankrupt.

I am also going to take a Moral stance on the Diana Movie, as I feel it is far to early to make that film.

Added to my moral arguments, the fact that I am a bit of a coward and don't like being scared, so don't generally do Horror movies, I find myself with several films that I have nit seen currently showing in the Cinema, yet I have nothing to watch this weekend.

Never Mind, there are several movies out in the next few weeks that I will be watching and (hopefully) enjoying.

Riddick

Riddick is the latest Sci Fi movie in a summer of Sci Fi flops, and unfortunately it does little to change the tone.

It is difficult to know where to begin with the faults in this film, It assumes that you understand the back story, which I didn't, so very quickly I had no idea what was going on. Because of this assumption. The Characters are extremely shallow, with no back history or explanation of who they are and why they are there.

The opening 20/25 Minutes consists of Riddick, on his own, being attacked by various different creatures one after another, and aside from some narration has very little in the way of script. Vin Diesel is not an actor who can carry this off effectively.

The plot, if you can call it that, is completely devoid of any sense of purpose and goes nowhere fast. An early Flashback that is intended to set the scene only confuses timescales, so all of a sudden I was unsure if the action I was watching was before or after the opening sequence.

This is also yet another example of the BBFC failing to do its job, The title card warns of Bloody Violence and strong Language, but completely fails to mention the Nudity.

Oh, and just for good measure, as if the film was not bad enough, we then get a very crude "ride it like you stole it" reference to The Fast and the Furious.

This is probably the most bored I have been in a cinema for some time, at several points I considered walking out, but just about managed to make it to the end. 1/10

Rush

Out on Friday 13th I was fortunate enough to see an advanced preview of Rush. This is a Biopic focusing on the relationship between Niki Lauda and James Hunt and the battle for the 1976 Formula one world championship.

Although this is largely about Formula one, there is plenty here for Non Motor Sport fans, and this is chiefly a human story with very well drawn characters, Hunt the genius playboy vs Lauda and his efficient Austrian hardworking attitude. With superb performances from the two lead actors, this movie speeds through as fast as a formula one car, never reducing speed and although over two hours long it holds the interest throughout.

A brief word of warning, the hospital scene is a difficult watch, but certainly adds something to the Lauda arc of the story.

Total Film magazine are suggesting that had this been released nearer Christmas it might be considered for Oscars, and certainly in the Lead actor category I have not, thus far this year, seen anything this polished. However it is very early to start handing out awards in September, and this will undoubtedly be overlooked as Award season films start to be released in the coming months.

Definitely worth a watch, even if your not an F1 fan 9.5/10

Pain & Gain

I am a firm believer in judging films for myself, and despite listening to/reading reviews, generally I ignore them and make my own mind up. However in the case of Pain & Gain, having been told, by several sources, that it is Badly Judged, grotesquely offensive and vile, I am going to take some advice and not see this Movie 0/10