David Brent: Life on the Road (Review)

David Brent: Life on the Road (Film Review) 2016

Directed by: Ricky Gervais
Starring: Ricky Gervais and Doc Brown
Genre: Mockumentary

Brent is back, the star of the British mockumentary TV show The Office.

The film is definitely funny. While some laughs are a little low quality, David Brent: Life on the Road definitely achieves the goal of being a good comedy. Ricky Gervais' wit shines through in this character.

A major issue with the film is its pacing. Once Brent begins his Reading gigs, the movie slows down and becomes repetitive. It feels as though the cast are really getting nowhere, the plot likewise. I really enjoyed the office scenes and lead-up to the band's playing.

Some of the on-camera interviews seemed quite forced, mainly the interviews with the other band-members. Unlike with Gervais and the office crew, the band's comments felt forced and unnecessary.

I really enjoyed the style of the film, with some interesting visual choices. The documentary spoof seems very natural, save a few mistimed interviews, almost convincing the audience that David Brent is an actual person.

Although the plot was relatively predictable, it's still a fun and witty film that I would recommend if a laugh is what you're after.

7/10.

Rated 16, runtime 85 minutes.

The Neon Demon (Review)

The Neon Demon (Film Review) 2016

Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn
Starring Elle Fanning, Jena Malone, Keanau Reeves
Psychological Thriller

The Neon Demon, visually, is a masterpiece. Every shot is like an individual painting, meticulously coloured and set. If I was to rate the film solely on its visuals I would have give it a 10/10, but a film is more than just visual.

I don't believe the plot and theme are as complex as some choose to claim. A slightly overdone message on the dangers of vanity and industries which obsess over beauty and youth. I don't believe its disturbing scenes are gratuitous, emphasising how far the idea of beauty can influence people. There are some very interesting visual metaphors throughout the film, also.

The performances in the film were solid, but not exactly extraordinary. Elle Fanning definitely has fun in her role, but her given dialogue was bland. The same goes for the remaining cast, no performances really shone through. It is possible that the simplistic dialogue adds to the theme of vanity.

The film has another 10/10 aspect, its score. Finishing with a powerful piece from Sia, the film is littered with haunting and modern pieces which stick with the viewer. The trailer clearly displays the film's mastery of music.

The Neon Demon is an art film. I am in no way surprised by negative or positive reviews, and it seems the negative to positive review ratio seems to be about 1:1. Its visually and musically amazing, but I personally found the theme to be slightly shallow with some less than stellar dialogue. Although, the visuals and score did effect me more than the latter.

8/10.

Rated 18, runtime 117 minutes.

Ghostbusters (Review)

Ghostbusters (Film Review) 2016

Directed by Paul Feig
Starring Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones, Kate McKinnon and Chris Hemsworth
Fantasy/Sci-Fi

Following the absolute hatred which I've seen displayed by die-hard Ghostbusters fans, I had very low expectations for this reboot. I was pleasantly surprised by an entertaining and funny fantasy film which understands what kind of movie it is. ''Ain't no bitches gonna hunt no ghosts'' is a great reference to this fan hatred.

The comedy aspect of the film definitely worked. I was laughing throughout, although there are some missed jokes present in the script. Some of the humour, namely that involving Chris Hemsworth and Leslie Jones, was overdone and reenforced stereotypes. I was surprised by the problematic loud-mouthiness displayed by Lesley Jones character, the only non-scientist ghostbuster, who also happens to be a black woman. This is especially for a film which prides itself on its inclusivity.

The plot has some shady logic, but clearly isn't going for anything other than fun. It is similar enough to the original to evoke nostalgia, but different enough to warrant a reboot.

The visual and special effects were very well-done, especially in the first two acts, although the CGI gets excessive and cheesy in parts of the end-battle. The film maintained being entertaining for the entire three acts, although I would have to say I preferred the beginning acts.

Overall, Ghostbusters is nothing like a ''bad film'' as many original fans claim. It is a decently-made, funny and entertaining reboot. I enjoyed watching, and so did most of the people at the cinema, to my knowledge. It doesn't pretend to be superior to the original, but is a fresh take on a fan favourite.

7/10.

Rated 12a, runtime 117 minutes.

Tale of Tales (Review)

Tale of Tales (Film Review) 2016

Directed by Matteo Garonne
Starring Salma Hayek, Toby Jones and Vincent Cassel

The film is split into three distinct plot lines, an infertile queen longing for a child, two old women longing for beauty, and a king and his flea. I found the ''Two Old Women'' plot line to be vastly superior to the other two. It was the most intriguing and never felt dragged out. The majority of the third act is dominated by the flea story, one which I felt ran overtime, but was the most humorous. The queen plot line also didn't intrigue me to the same extent, having some low-interest moments.

While the acting wasn't the aspect of the film which stuck with me, there are no complaints about any of the actors. Salma Hayek felt so natural in her role, along with Vincent Cassel.

The set design and makeup design was remarkable, completely transforming the film into an authentic middle-age tale. Mixed with the cinematography, Tale of Tales was visually amazing.

Tale of Tales is an eccentric and visually beautiful film, although it drops in intrigue in its finishing act.

7.5/10.

Rated 15a, runtime 134 minutes.

Suburra (Review)

Suburra (Film Review) 2016

Directed by Stefano Rulli
Starring Pierfrancesco Favino and Elio Germano

Suburra is an Italian neo-noir mafia film. The film is set in 2011 in Rome, when a major mob were bribing and threatening politicians to pass a law to convert a traditionally Italian town into a gambling and partying, mafia run, location, focusing on the mafia's control of Italian politics and the Vatican. It also focuses on the rivalries between gangs. ''Everyone can be bought.''

The rain-filled cinematography definitely tells the story's tone. Hyper-violence, political and Vatican corruption, and traditional mafia activity, the film isn't easy to watch. But the film's visuals, even including the violence, are done masterfully. The graphic violence adds the gritty sense that this film required.

I admire that the film went with an intelligent plot, rather than a solely action-filled one. The hard-hitting violence is only justified by the plot. An intriguing plot, at that.

The entire soundtrack was curated by the French band M83, and the music works unbelievably well with the visuals, as made obvious by the trailer. The tracks all sounds very modern, matching what the mafia wish to transform a traditional town into.

I don't have any major complaints, other than that it could have swayed further from the Italian mafia-film stereotype, and feel the film is gritty but visually beautiful.

9/10.

Rated 18, runtime 135 minutes.

The Stanford Prison Experiment (Review)

The Stanford Prison Experiment (Film Review) 2015

Directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez
Starring Ezra Miller and Billy Crudup

The Stanford Prison Experiement is an independent drama which follows the notorious 1971 psychological experiment carried out by Dr. Philip Zambardo. 15 applicants are randomly assigned the roles of prisoners or guards to participate in a simulated jail setting over the period of two weeks. The experiment, and the film, act as an exploration of the transformation of human nature under negative circumstances.

The film's introduction is a beautifully filmed process of printing the advertisements for the experiment, completely devoid of any human features, already highlighting the deindividuation faced by both the ''prisoners'' and the ''guards'' involved in the experiment.

The cast mainly consists of young men, already established in the acting world. Ezra Miller (We Need To Talk About Kevin, The Perks of Being a Wallflower) stands out as a very strong actor, along with Tye Sheridan (Mud, X-Men) and Johnny Simmons (The Perks of Being a Wallflower). The acting adds a level of needed realism, to drive home the fact that this experiment did actually occur, and that this is definitely human nature.

The film did have a minor downfall with pacing. Some scenes, although many of these were intentional, were very repetitive, and not very interesting to watch. While other scenes, such as the sequence involving ''parole'' should have been prolonged. I personally did not feel 100% interested throughout.

The Stanford Prison Experiment is an intriguing psychological study with stellar acting, but not a consistently engaging film. Although I doubt all viewers will feel the same way, I consider it a negative trait. The film is enjoyable, but disturbing, and I recommend it to those interested in psychology and human behaviour.

7.5/10.

Rated 15a, runtime 122 minutes.

The Nice Guys (Review)

The Nice Guys (Film Review) 2016

Directed by Shane Black

Starring Ryan Gosling and Russel Crowe

The Nice Guys is a 2016 buddy-cop, action-comedy. Action-comedy, a genre I always must be cautious of. The Nice Guys falls short of my approval.

Neither of the genre's points work or flow. The action/thriller aspect of the film failed, due to the fact that the film is simply not thrilling. The characters cannot be described as engaging, and I therefore felt no empathy towards them, or their fate. The ''comedy'' was generally slapstick humour, mostly consisting of feminine shrieks from Ryan Gosling.

Russell Crowe's performance was wooden and constricted by his masculine character. The child actress (Angourie Rice) was unimpressive, and at times, irritating. Though, overall, I found the performances to be quite weak, there were some above-average performances from some side-characters.

The plot wasn't entirely flawed, although the movie did not benefit from withholding the amount of information that it did until the finale. It's introductory scene did utilise withholding of information well, infusing the film with mystery. I felt that the film took a dip following the first act or so.

Overall, The Nice Guys is a buddy-cop film littered with flaws and unimpressive performances. 

5.5/10.

Rated 15a, runtime 116 minutes.

Nola and The Clones (Review)

Nola and The Clones (Film Review)

Directed by Graham Jones

Starring Caoimhe Cassidy

Nola and The Clones is a 2016 Irish indie film, released entirely on YouTube as part of gthe cinematic movement ''Nuascannan''. The film follows a homeless woman fleeing the societal pressures put on women. She begins to meet a series of men ''appearing strikingly similar to each other''.

The city of Dublin is depicted beautifully visually. It was surreal to recognise landmarks and buildings, but presented in such a cinematic quality.

Caoimhe Cassidy's performance is impressive. The feminist statement of her character is definitely intriguing and though-provoking, although marginally exaggerated. Cassidy is a convincing and natural actress.

The film is quite slow-burning, and very stereotypical of an indie. A minimalist plot, and old-fashioned dialogue and camera-work. The music compliments the visuals very nicely.

Although it may not interest everyone, Nola and The Clones is an Indie worth watching for those more inclined, with an interesting political message and metaphorical resonance. It's definitely worth a watch on Youtube. The entire film is available below.

7.510.

Wendy and Lucy (Review)

Wendy and Lucy (Film Review) 2008

Directed by Kelly Reichardt

Starring Michelle Williams

Wendy and Lucy follows the journey of Wendy (Michelle Williams), and her canine companion Lucy to reach utopian Alaska, where labour is supposedly in need. Kelly Reichardt brings another slow-burning introspective film, with a minimalistic plot and stellar acting.

Wendy and Lucy acts as a frighteningly honest portrayal of capitalist America. ''You can't get an address without an address. You can't get a job without a job.'' This piece brings a new perspective to homelessness and poverty. Wendy is not a run-of-the-mill impoverished drug addict, she is a person with real emotions and issues, a character beautifully performed by Michelle Williams. She could simply be summarised as an unlucky person, being completely cheated by the cruelty of the American economy. It's also ironic that the addition of the dog brings more humanity to the story. There isn't much emotional release throughout the film, the constant negativity builds up in the viewer, and the character. Along with a minimalist plot, Williams' acting can be described with that exact word.

The film manages to capture the mundane landscape of the area, and create beautiful colouring and shots. Reichardt's mixture of close-ups (such as the one displayed above) and long-shots works brilliantly throughout the film. Some shots linger, and some shots are cut quickly. Overall, the film is quite slow, but I feel that this is a positive aspect to this particular film. I found the pacing to be quite strange, much like how I felt with Night Moves, but, again, this wasn't a negative. The film definitely holds back in all aspects. From the drama, plot, and the short runtime of 80 minutes.

Wendy and Lucy focuses on the reality of life. As stated, the situation which Wendy finds herself in is a realistic portrayal of the United States. Wendy's struggle stems from unluckiness, and a lack of monetary support from family. The film also highlights the realism of financial problems, and the sacrifices people must endure due to them. In this system, money is always prioritised.

In conclusion, Wendy and Lucy is a brilliant indie drama portraying the difficulties of capitalist America. Michelle Williams portrayed her intriguing character in her sleep, holding back on emotion for a final heartbreaking release.

9/10.

Rated 15, runtime 80 minutes.

We Need to Talk About Kevin (Review)

We Need to Talk About Kevin (Film Review) 2011

We Need to Talk About Kevin is a 2011 drama film directed by Lynne Ramsay, and starring Tilda Swinton, John. C Reilley, and Ezra Miller.

Eva (Tilda Swinton) lives in social seclusion following her son, Kevin's (Ezra Miller) monstrous crime. This crime against humanity is revealed near the end of the film. This puts emphasis on the aftermath of crime, rather than the crime itself, focusing solely on the psychological impact it had on Eva, and the events leading up to it. The narrative is mixed with a reverse-linear series of flashbacks leading up to the reveal, Kevin, from infancy to mid-teenage years.

The cinematography is extraordinary. The colours red and blue dictate the mood of every scene. Many colour cues are present all throughout the film, leading to very interesting analysis. The introduction scene is entirely red, a very interesting visual choice, but one that beautifully introduces the film. 

An outstanding performance from Tilda Swinton. Her character seems so genuine, and so genuinely psychologically disturbed. Likewise with Ezra Miller and Kevin. The child-actors for the flashback narrative are also great, very rare for serious films such as these. They all even look and act similar. I had no issues with John. C Reilly or any of the other cast.

The plot is skillfully constructed, along with being overall very intriguing and captivating. The film has a definite focus on psychology, exploring the reasons why Kevin committed such acts, along with the psychological damage of Eva. The question nature vs. nurture is explored throughout. Was Kevin born a psychopath, or socially excluded?

In conclusion, We Need to Talk About Kevin is a technically and visually superb film. Its exploration of psychology should intrigue those interested. The film is perfected by the performances of Tilda Swinton and Ezra Miller. Overall, an excellent film.

I give We Need to Talk About Kevin 10/10.

Rated 15, runtime 112 minutes.

The Conjuring 2 (Review)

The Conjuring 2 (Film Review) 2016

The Conjuring 2 is a 2016 horror film directed by James Wan, the director of its predecessor, along with Saw and Insidious. The film stars Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, and Frances O'Connor.

The film opens with a sequence following the well-known Amityville case, which the stars of the film, the Warrens, acted as exorcists to. The sequence is interesting stylised, but lacks major creativity, repeating well-known cliches and cheap sound effects. Following this, the movie portrays a working class British family being terrorised by a ghost of a 72-year-old man.

I really enjoyed The Conjuring, The Conjuring 2, likewise, but not to the exact same extent in some ways. The number of jump-scares was upped, increasing the audience's flow of adrenaline when compared the The Conjuring, but the amount of actual scares remained constant. The film displays James Wan's ability to terrify an audience, though, at times, through the use of slightly cheap means. A specific sequence involving a ''crooked-man'' comes to mind, a poorly animated and ridiculous villain. I found the sequence involving the portrait to be very creative and well-done. James Wan can clearly influence an audience. The film has a very dark and stylised look, which I really enjoyed. The feeling of anxiety is built from the beginning sequences.

The addition of romance to the film felt forced and unnecessary. I also felt that the amount of religious references (although I acknowledge how the film is very religiously based) was excessive. At times, it was reminiscent of a God's Not Dead film.

There were impressive performances from both Vera Farmiga (Lorraine Warren) and Madison Wolfe (Janet). The two son characters were extremely similar, and I actually forgot that they were two different people. Their defining features were boy-who-stutters and boy-who-does-not-stutter. The characters of the children other than Janet were very under-developed, seemingly acting solely as people to scream when the audience is supposed to replicate. I felt that the more minor characters in the original were more developed.

In conclusion, The Conjuring 2 is an enjoyable and terrifying horror film, although it can be ridiculous at times. Overall, I believe it's quite a strong sequel to the original.

I rate the film 7.5/10.

Rated 15a, runtime 135 minutes.

Warcraft (Review)

Warcraft: The Beginning (Film Review) 2016

Warcraft: The Beginning is a 2016 fantasy film directed by Duncan Jones (Moon, Source Code).

Warcraft follows an ongoing battle between the human Alliance and the orc army Horde. The Horde create a magical portal to the human realm to conquer their world.

I received free tickets to the preview of Warcraft in the Savoy, and have to say I wouldn't have gone otherwise.

Warcraft is a mindless fantasy film designed solely for fans of action or the Warcraft franchise. I don't feel the film has the ability to stand on its own due to its low quality. I found the title, ''Warcraft: The Beginning'' to be over-confident, assuming box office success and therefore a sequel. I feel that the film is too weak to perform well a second time.

The plot was underdeveloped and was got convoluted easily. At some points during the film, I dropped my concentration and missed some plot points, and I have to say that I really didn't care. The film was so unengaging that I forgot most of the characters' names and felt hardly anything towards them.

The film wasn't complete trash. While I am not a fan of the fantasy or sci-fi genre, the CGI and visual effects were quite good. I felt that some of the visual effects, such as the spells used by some characters, were very impressive. Some of the characters also had interesting CGI designs. Although, the CGI was extremely excessive at some points.

Warcraft can be described simply as fun and mindless. The former only applying if you're a massive fan of this sort of film.

I give Warcraft: The Beginning 4/10.

Runtime 123 minutes (feels twice as long), rated 12a.

Black Mirror (Review)

Black Mirror is a British anthology series by Charlie Brooker.                                                                                                                          
Each 40 minute episode follows different characters in different situations. The episodes generally follow a theme of the effect of technology on society, especially in the future. The show is constantly compared to the Twilight Zone.

Black Mirror is going to be renewed as a 12 episode Netflix show this year which I'm really looking forward to.   

Each episode is very high quality. This includes the acting, soundtrack and especially the story-lines. The stories are all very unique and interesting, and usually contain a twist. The premier follows a politician being threatened on live television, the second follows a virtual reality concept. The episodes jump from idea-to-idea very quickly, but the messages for all the episodes are still very similar. The episodes never really drop in quality, although I definitely preferred the first season. 

I would give Black Mirror 8.5/10, and would definitely recommend it.

Rated 15, runtime 42 minutes.

Drive (Review)

Drive (Film Review) 2011

Drive is a 2011 crime thriller directed by Nicolas Winding Refn and starring Ryan Gosling.

Drive follows a stunt driver (Ryan Gosling) who also works as a criminal getaway driver.

Drive is an extremely stylised film, both the cinematography and soundtrack are very unique and give the feeling of the 80s. There's definitely a great amount of attention to detail.

I found Ryan Gosling' character's cold attitude overdone and repetitive. Although his acting was good, the character brief was dull.

The plot was engaging and didn't drop in consistency. It was filled with interesting twists and dialogue.

Overall, Drive is an excellent movie. It's very entertaining and stylistic, with a good quality cast and soundtrack.

I give Drive 8/10.

Rated 18, runtime 100 minutes

Eye in the Sky (Film Review) 2016

Eye in the Sky (Film Review)

Eye in the Sky is a 2016 political thriller starring Helen Mirren, Aaron Paul and Alan Rickman.

A military colonel orders a drone strike on a terrorist group in Kenya, but the ethics board worries about the morality of killing innocent civilians.

Eye in the Sky is very tense, and the great cast's acting also adds to the intensity. The feeling of limited time is portrayed very well.

I can't deduce whether its accusations of propaganda are true. I felt that both sides of the drone strike were portrayed as mixed morally.

The movie didn't have any major flaws, but wasn't ridiculously impressive. Some characters should have been developed more to add to the film's engagement. It was a very enjoyable and tense movie.

I would give Eye in the Sky 8/10.

Rated 12a, runtime 103 minutes

The Gift (Review)

The Gift (Film Review) 2015

The Gift is a 2015 thriller film directed by Joel Edgerton, and starring Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall and Joel Edgerton.

Simon, now married, meets an old classmate, ''Gordo'', in a department store near their newly bought, perfect house. ''Gordo'' begins injecting himself into Robyn and Simon's life, becoming too close for their comfort. 

The Gift is a very beautifully filmed, but slightly unoriginal film. The shots of the very window-heavy home which the couple resides in highlights their lack of privacy, and adds a bright and modern look to the film. There are no complaints about the acting or editing, but the music can be repetitive and basic, with no original-sounding tracks. 

While the plot is engaging and interesting, loopholes were not absent. And again, I felt it wasn't a creative masterpiece, though it was a very high quality thriller, which almost everyone should find enjoyable. The very familiar home-invasion cliché is highly used throughout.

I would recommend The Gift to everyone as a really interesting and fun movie, but it definitely doesn't break any creative boundaries.

I give The Gift 6.5/10.

Rated 15, runtme 108 minutes.

Currently streaming on Netflix.

Scream 1-4 (Reviews)

Scream 1-4 (Film Reviews)

''Scream'', 1994, begins the Scream film franchise. It introduces the characters of Sidney and Gale, two characters present through the four films. It is, along with the other three, directed by Wes Craven (The Hills Have Eyes, The Last House on the Left, Nightmare on Elm Street), its stars include Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox and David Arquette.

For those unfamiliar with the Scream film series, the character of Sidney is consistently attacked by a ''ghost-face'', wearing the iconic Scream mask. Friends and colleagues die along the way, leading to an exiting, funny, and satirical group of films.

This film begun the ''What's your favourite movie?'' prank call. The intro is probably one of the best in the history of horror, so I won't go into detail. Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) is living through the 1 year anniversary of her mother's murder. She begins to receive phone calls from someone who claims to be the perpetrator of her mother's murder. 

The film has some genuine scares, along with over-dramatic gore and ironic jump-scares. Scream can simply be described as very fun, and satirical. Satirical of the horror genre. 

Scream has an interesting plot, great special effects, funny dialogue and over-the-top gore. I have no complaints about the acting, and the editing and music is great, and purposefully over-dramatic. Scream really nails the atmosphere and film they were trying to create.

I give Scream 9/10.

Scream 2

Scream 2's introduction scene.

Scream 2, 1997. 

Following books having been written by the character of Gale on the events of the first film, Scream 2 follows the in-movie parallel to Scream, ''Stab''. Even characters in the film complain and joke about the over-the-top gore and dramatic acting, proving that the franchise really understands the kind of film it is.

The introduction to Scream 2 is of a screening to ''Stab''. While I didn't feel the introduction was as clever as that of Scream, it really nailed the ironic/satirical aspect of the series. 

Sydney Prescott is again tracked by a new ghost-face who is announced in the film's finale. Scream 2 follows a very similar formula to its predecessor, introduction-ghost-face contact-stalking-bloody finale and twist. I felt that Scream 2 does an even better job of spoofing slasher films and their endless sequels, ''sequels are always worse'', but slightly lacks in its originality. Its third act was my favourite sequence in the entire series, with a believable twist and exiting visuals.

I also give Scream 2 8.5/10.

Scream 3

Scream 3, 2000, further spoofs the slasher genre, actually taking place on the film set of the Scream parallel ''Stab''.

I do have to say that I enjoyed Scream 3, but I am attempting to look at these movies as individual films. Scream 3 definitely drops in quality to its predecessors.

The irony of jump-scares and gore feels slightly worn in this sequel. It feels slightly less like a fun

and satirical spoof, and more of an attempt at a serious horror film, although some of those aspects still remain. I did find myself less engaged with this Scream, some of the sequences bored me.

The finale simply wasn't as good as the previous two films, and the introduction was definitely not the film's highlight.

While I wouldn't necessarily say I was disappointed, as I still really enjoyed this entry, but it definitely dropped slightly in film quality, while the enjoyment factor does remain.

I give Scream 3 6.5/10.

SCRE4M

Scream 4 acts as a revival to the series, being made 11 years after Scream 3 (2011). The time-jump is in real-time, and the film really does take place 11 years into the future. 

Along with the original director Wes Craven and the same Sydney Prescott, Emma Roberts also joins the cast to act as the new generation of Scream. ''New Decade. New Rules.''

The film opens with a very amusing introduction. It plays off the ''film within a film'' aspect of the parallel ''Stab'' films, and is ,overall, disturbing.

I felt that Scream 4 captured the new age of horror cinema quite well, along with just being a good general adaption to a new decade.

Consistent with the other films in the franchise, Scream 4 has a mixture of genuine scares, and excessive gore, a spoof of modern horror. 

Similar to Scream 3, it also is not up to the level of Scream 1 or 2 in terms of quality. The enjoyment factor is still present, but the depth of the humour isn't as developed. 

I would also give Scream 4 7/10.

Overall, Scream is probably my favourite horror film franchise. I feel the movies have an extremely high enjoyment factor, along with humour, and the spoofing of the modern horror genre.

Rated 15-18.

Hush (Film Review) 2016

Hush (Film Review)

Hush is a 2016 home-invasion horror film directed by Mike Flanagan and starring Kate Siegel.

Hush follows a very well-known home-invasion formula, but with one major difference, the homeowner is deaf.

I felt that the difference, while impressive, isn't as impressive and risky as some viewers claim. The formula of the film is very, very identical to almost all other films of the genre. I think the film could have taken more of a risk, possibly by muting or muffling sound effects, which the film did not do. I feel that the film did add some elements to the plot which separate it from other home-invasion movies, but not enough in my opinion.

There are no complaints about the acting or scariness aspect, only the basic plot and the sometimes questionable or unrealistic aspects to the actions of the characters.

I have to comment that I definitely enjoyed watching Hush. It is definitely an entertaining movie for anyone to watch in groups around Halloween, or alone. I do admire the deafness aspect of the film, and is probably the first strong deaf character I've ever seen in a film, which is a positive.

I would give Hush 6.5/10.

Rated 15, runtime 87 minutes

Currently streaming on Netflix.

10 Cloverfield Lane (Film Review) 2016

10 Cloverfield Lane (Film Review)

10 Cloverfield Lane is a psychological thriller directed by Dan Trachtenberg (début) starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Goodman.

The film begins with Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) waking up in the bunker of Howard (John Goodman), along with Emmett (John Gallagher). She is told that the outside world has been ravaged by nuclear war and that she must stay inside, but this is the word of a man she has never met before.

The film relies on psychological tension, rather than gore and jump-scares. 10 Cloverfield Lane is probably one of the most tense movies I've seen, I constantly felt on edge.

John Goodman plays a character very different from his tradition comedy roles. Mary Elizabeth Winstead portrays her confusion and conflicting thoughts very well with minimal dialogue which is impressive.

Without spoiling, I was extremely disappointed with the ending sequence. I felt that the writers could have gone with a much more intelligent ending, but I could understand how some viewers could like it.

I give 10 Cloverfield Lane 8/10. 

Rated 15, 106 minutes

The Witch (Film Review) 2016

The VVitch (Film Review)

The Witch (A New-England Folktale) is a 2016 horror film directed by Robert Eggers (debut) and starring Anya-Taylor Joy.

The film's opening scene follows a Puritan family being exiled from their church due to the father's ''pride''. They attempt to form a normal living on their own accord.

One of the film's highlights is its realism. Impressively, the child actors in the film were on-par with the older actors. The dialogue is entirely in old-English, which I found irritating at the beginning, but I realise it definitely added to the realism of the rest of the movie. The film is shot without black borders to allow full viewing of the forest trees. The cinematography is clearly impressive if they were willing to alter the aspect ratio.

The horror in this film, while minimal, is very haunting. Child and animal possession, along with very disturbing imagery is common. The animal trainer should be congratulated for their work with the goats and rabbit. I felt the hold-back on the horror added impact to the very disturbing scenes.

Possibly a commentary on religious and marital pressures put on women, The Witch is a film which will keep you thinking well after the film's conclusion.

I give The Witch 8/10.

Rated 15, runtime 93 minutes

The Lobster (Film Review) 2015

The Lobster (Film Review)

The Lobster is a 2015 comedy-drama directed by Yorgos Lanthimos (Dogtooth), and starring Colin Farell and Rachel Weisz.

The film's concept: all adults who have recently lost a partner through death or divorce are sent to a hotel, where if they do not fall in love within 45 days, they are surgically transformed into an animal of their choosing. ''A lobster's an excellent choice''.

I try not to explain the film's plot when somebody asks. Maybe this ridiculous concept is in reference to how ridiculous forcing someone to fall in love due to common interests is, or even just forcing someone to eventually get married. A comment on the societal pressures put on single adults. There are constant references and reminders to how even numbers are perfect, a couple. There is a further commentary on applying limiting labels and boxes to people, no half-sized shoes, etc.

Collin Farrell and Rachel Weisz, along with the many minor characters, all add to the film greatly. There are no weak actors which I could point out. The screen writing can be fast and witty at times, but I felt the ''quirkiness'' was definitely overdone. The robotic and monotonous speech pattern was generally funny but also overdone.

I have spoken to many people who do not enjoy this film, and I can definitely respect and understand their opinion. The Lobster is not for everyone, with it's strange plot, writing and imagery. It's script is similar to that of a Wes Anderson film, but still remains very dark, and at times disturbing. It is definitely a slow film which is heavily reliant on dialogue (which many people won't even find funny). A very strange film.

I give The Lobster 7.5/10

Rated 15, runtime 120 minutes

The Revenant (Film Review) 2016

The Revenant (Film Review)

The Revenant is a 2016 historical action adventure drama directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Domhnall Gleeson and Tom Hardy. The Revenant has been nominated for 12 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Lead Actor, and Director. 

The story follows Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his survival in the wilderness following a bear attack. He has been abandoned by his team, and must survive with life-threatening injuries on his own.

The Revenant is primarily a survival film. I found that the amount of filler in the film was huge. While the cinematography was great, there was only so much of Leonardo DiCaprio crawling through a forest that I could be interested in. The performances from both Tom Hardy and Leonardo DiCaprio were very strong. The acting and cinematography of The Revenant was definitely its strong suits. The choreography of various fight scenes was also impressive, along with the special effects and make-up used.

The story was not very strong, in my opinion. I could see most of the cinema checking their phones or speaking to each other throughout. While the way in which it was filmed, and how the film looks is of very high quality (most likely to win Best Cinematography, etc.), I found the film to be very slow overall.

I give The Revenant 7/10. 

Rated 16, runtime 156 minutes.

Room (Film Review) 2016

Room (Film Review)

Room is a 2016 drama directed by Lenny Abrahamson, and starring Brie Larson. Both Abrahamson and Larson have been nominated for Academy Awards for this film. 

                                                                                               

The story follows Joy (Brie Larson) and Jack (Jacob Tremblay) who are captives of a man whom they call ''Old Nick'', in a garden shed. Joy had been in captivity for 2 years, and then she had Jack. Jack is 5 years old when the story begins, and ''Room'' is all he knows. 

The plot is very well developed and executed perfectly. It is adapted from the novel of the same name by Emma Donoghue, and is very likely to win the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. The claustrophobia of ''Room'' is portrayed very well, through cinematography, and the very natural acting of both Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay. Brie Larson definitely never over-acts, and I definitely expect her to win the Academy Award for Best Lead Actress. The characters all felt completely real.

The story is so well developed and interesting that there is not a single moment when anyone could feel bored. 

Overall, I have no major criticisms. The film is very moving, and it is so dark that many people may find it disturbing. But this reflects the subject matter.      

I give Room 9/10. 

Room was nominated for Best Director (Lenny Abrahamson), Best Lead Actress (Brie Larson), Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture. It was nominated for 3 Golden Globes and 2 BAFTAs.

Rated 15, runtime 118 minutes.

TRAILER CONTAINS SPOILERS

                                   

Making a Murderer: Season 1 (Review)

Making a Murderer: Season 1 (Review)

''Making a Murderer'' is a 10-episode non-fiction documentary currently streaming on Netflix.The show aired in December but has recently gained popularity. The story was filmed over 10 years, and follows the release of Steven Avery from an 18-year-long false imprisonment (exonerated due to DNA proof), and his re-conviction for a separate crime two years later.

The documentary has caused a surge in support for Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey, some even urging their release. The petition ''Free Steven Avery'' on change.org currently has over 450,000 signatures. While it is not clear whether Steven Avery is guilty, it's clear that a retrial is necessary. The show brought many contradictions and ignored articles of to light, many accusing the state police of planting evidence against Steven Avery out of embarrassment for incorrectly placing him in jail for 18 years. 

Regardless of general opinion, the documentary is still well filmed, well structured and entertaining overall. The documentary is definitely free of filler, and will be very interesting to most. While the level of how interesting and engaging each episode was is not entirely consistent, this would be expected due to the fact that it is following an actual law case. I would definitely recommend it, but it can be upsetting and difficult to watch.

I would give the series 9/10.

Currently streaming on Netflix.

A Serious Man (Film Review) 2009

A Serious Man (Film Review)

A Serious Man is a 2009 dark comedy directed by the Coen Brothers. Starring Michael Stuhlbarg, Sari Lennick, Richard Kind and Fred Melamed.

The story follows Lawrence Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg), a Jewish Minnesotan Physics teacher facing a divorce. This came as a complete surprise to him, and destroys him emotionally. He is even being doubted by his workplace as a complaint comes in after he didn't accept a bribe from one of his failing students.  He begins to doubt his faith heavily. 

The story is set in the 60s, and the set designers definitely succeeded in doing this. The colours of the clothing, set, and props is very vivid. The acting from all characters is also very sincere, with lots of witty dialogue. The film definitely relies on dialogue, so the dialogue is very strong. 

Like most Coen Brother films, the film is not overly exciting, but is of very high quality, notably very high quality dialogue.

I give this film 9/10.

A Serious Man was nominated for two Academy Awards - Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. It was also nominated for a BAFTA and Golden Globe.

Rated 15, runtime 106 minutes.

Night Moves (Film Review) 2014

Night Moves (Film Review)

Night Moves is a 2014 film directed by Kelly Reichardt, and starring Jesse Eisenberg, Dakota Fanning, and Peter Sarsgaard.

The story follows a group of radical environmentalists. Dakota Fanning (Dena) plays the less experienced radical of the group, while Peter Sarsgaard (Harmon) plays the group leader. Jesse Eisenberg (Josh) has just introduced Dena to the group, and has gone into detail of Josh and Harmon's plans to blow up a city dam, as he believes people's need for electricity shouldn't be prioritized over the lives of animals and their habitats. Harmon doubts Dena's sincerity, but Josh convinces him to allow her entrance into their group.

The majority of the film focuses on the journey to destroying the dam. Suspense is built through the use of subtle music and tight shots. All of the actors in the film are very sincere and there is no over-dramatisation. The cinematography is great, the shots, especially around the lake at night-time look brilliant. All of the actors' performances are great, especially Oscar Nominee Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network). 

It's downfall is pacing. It is not free of filler, and the pacing seems slightly uneven. Many sequences are quite monotonous, although these add great realism and grit to the film. I wouldn't say the movie is exciting throughout, but it is definitely filled with some very tense scenes and beautiful cinematography.

I give this film 7.5/10.

Night Moves won a Black Pearl Award and Grand Special Prize.

Rated 15, runtime 112 minutes.

2016 Oscar Predictions

Academy Award Predictions

The Oscar Nominations were announced last week. There were many Irish nominations announced, including Saoirse Ronan for ''Brooklyn'' and a Best Picture and Best Director nomination for Lenny Abrahamson's ''Room''. Here is a list of the nominations and my personal predictions.

Best Picture: Nominees

The Big Short

Bridge of Spies

Brooklyn

Mad Mad: Fury Road

The Martian

The Revenant

Room

Spotlight

Prediction: Spotlight CORRECT

The film follows "Spotlight" team of the Boston Globes, the oldest continuously operating newspaper investigative unit in the United States and its investigation into the widespread child sexual abuse cases in the Catholic church of Boston.

Biographics tend to be favoured by The Academy, although in 2015 ''The Imitation Game'' lost out to ''Birdman''. Spotlight is definitely a top contender for the Best Picture award.

Best Actor: Nominees

Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant

Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl

Matt Damon, The Martian

Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs

Bryan Cranston, Trumbo

Prediction: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant CORRECT

Leonardo DiCaprio stars in Revenant. While he has an awful track record for actually winning the many Oscars which he gets nominated for (6) such as The Wolf of Wall Street, and also missing out on Oscar nominations from movies such as Django Unchained, Leonardo DiCaprio won a Golden Globe for the Revenant. This makes him much more likely to be the winner of the Best Actor Oscar of 2016.

Best Actress: Nominees

Brie Larson, Room

Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn

Jennifer Lawrence, Joy

Cate Blanchett, Carol

Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years

Prediction: Brie Larson, Room CORRECT

Brie Larson stars in ''Room'', directed by the Irish Lenny Abrahamson. Larson has faired very well in most film awards, winning the Golden Globe award for best actress, among many others. Brie Larson's acting level was the most emphasised appraisal from critics.

Best Director: Nominees

Adam McKay, The Big Short

Tom McCarthy, Spotlight

Lenny Abrahamson, Room

George Miller: Fury Road

Alejandro G. Iñárritu, The Revenant

Prediction: Tom McCarthy, Spotlight HALF INCORRECT

Tom McCarthy is the director of the Best Picture nominated film ''Spotlight''. I also predicted that ''Spotlight'' will receive the Best Picture award. McCarthy's directing has been well praised, and he is right next to Alejandro G. Iñárritu in terms of likelihood of winning. (HALF CORRECT)

Other Predictions:

Best Supporting Actor: Mike Rylance, Bridge of Spies CORRECT

Best Supporting Actress: Rooney Mara, Carol INCORRECT

Best Original Screenplay: Straight Outta Compton INCORRECT

Best Adapted Screenplay: Room INCORRECT

Best Animated Feature Film: Inside Out CORRECT

Best Cinematography: The Revenant CORRECT

Best Film Editing: Mad Max: Fury Road CORRECT