Date: Tuesday 12th March
Film: Welcome to the Punch (2013)
Director: Eran Creevy
Starring: James McAvoy, Mark Strong, Andrea Riseborough and David Morrissey
Running time: 01 hour, 39 minutes
Rating: 4/10
Another day, another Sky screening, another film that is all visuals and no trousers.
With a cast I admire, and Ridley Scott's name plastered all over the advertising, I had high hopes for Welcome to the Punch. Sadly, I felt incredibly let down.
This felt like all style over substance. London looked stunning but the plot was thin, bordering on the ridiculous and it started to feel like the actors were treading water.
Plus, it would be really nice if there wasn't a whole scene set in the front room of an old lady with a fondness for clown memorabilia. Those things are scary.
Challenge day: 168
Challenge time: 10 days, 12 hours, 46 minutes
Challenge film total: 130
Friday, 15 March 2013
sometimes you need to do something bad to stop you from doing something worse.
Date: Tuesday 12th March
Film: Stoker (2013)
Director: Chan-wook Park
Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman and Matthew Goode
Running time: 01 hour, 38 minutes
Rating: 9/10
I'll be honest, I had little desire to see this film - the trailer didn't appeal to me and the posters left me cold - but the reviews were so strong, so convincing that I felt like I had to give it a go, even if it was being described as horror, a genre I'm never that keen on.
Stoker is so much more than that, in fact, I would be hard pressed to call this horror. It is not a slasher film, it is not gratuitous with it's violence, it is not about ghost and ghouls, it is a slow burning thriller. A coming of age story of a young girl living in unusual circumstances.
Stoker is visually mesmerising, the film has an authentic gothic feel to it, if they didn't specify that it was set in modern day, you could almost believe it was a period piece. The cast are phenomenal, Mia Wasikowska especially, carrying the piece as she discovers exactly who India Stoker is, what she wants from life, how she's going to get these things. Matthew Goode plays sinister and creepy incredibly well.
I don't want to give away what this is all about, the publicity has been ambiguous, which I think is fitting with the film, but I will recommend checking it out. Don't be put off by the horror tag. Stoker isn't horror. It is wonderful.
Challenge day: 168
Challenge time: 10 days, 11 hours, 07 minutes
Challenge film total: 130
Film: Stoker (2013)
Director: Chan-wook Park
Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman and Matthew Goode
Running time: 01 hour, 38 minutes
Rating: 9/10
I'll be honest, I had little desire to see this film - the trailer didn't appeal to me and the posters left me cold - but the reviews were so strong, so convincing that I felt like I had to give it a go, even if it was being described as horror, a genre I'm never that keen on.
Stoker is so much more than that, in fact, I would be hard pressed to call this horror. It is not a slasher film, it is not gratuitous with it's violence, it is not about ghost and ghouls, it is a slow burning thriller. A coming of age story of a young girl living in unusual circumstances.
Stoker is visually mesmerising, the film has an authentic gothic feel to it, if they didn't specify that it was set in modern day, you could almost believe it was a period piece. The cast are phenomenal, Mia Wasikowska especially, carrying the piece as she discovers exactly who India Stoker is, what she wants from life, how she's going to get these things. Matthew Goode plays sinister and creepy incredibly well.
I don't want to give away what this is all about, the publicity has been ambiguous, which I think is fitting with the film, but I will recommend checking it out. Don't be put off by the horror tag. Stoker isn't horror. It is wonderful.
Challenge day: 168
Challenge time: 10 days, 11 hours, 07 minutes
Challenge film total: 130
Somebody's coming up. Somebody serious.
Sunday 10th March
Sunday night and time for a spot of Sunday Night Film Club. Up first, a film we had planned to watch once before...
Film: Wild Bill (2011)
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Starring: Charlie Creed-Miles, Will Poulter and Sammy Williams
Running Time: 01 hour, 38 minutes
Rating: 8/10
Honestly, I don't know why we put it off. Wild Bill is a great little British film, the storyline is strong, the acting is brilliant and the views of East London are stunning.
A story of loyalty, redemption and love. This is worth seeing if you get the chance.
Film: Leon Director's Cut (1994)
Director: Luc Besson
Starring: Jean Reno, Natalie Portman and Gary Oldman
Running Time: 02 hours, 16 minutes
Rating: 10/10
Up next, a movie we both adore. Considering it is close to 20 years old, this film doesn't seem to have aged - Natalie Portman definitely hasn't aged, She's just grown taller - Leon is a wonderful film about finding someone to care for in the most unusual circumstances, how far you will go for that person and how friendship can help you mould a future from an unpleasant upbringing.
Yes, it is about a hit-man, a young girl, corrupt cops, drugs, and violence but, most importantly, it's about love.
Challenge day: 166
Challenge time: 10 days, 09 hours, 29 minutes
Challenge film total: 129
Sunday night and time for a spot of Sunday Night Film Club. Up first, a film we had planned to watch once before...
Film: Wild Bill (2011)
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Starring: Charlie Creed-Miles, Will Poulter and Sammy Williams
Running Time: 01 hour, 38 minutes
Rating: 8/10
Honestly, I don't know why we put it off. Wild Bill is a great little British film, the storyline is strong, the acting is brilliant and the views of East London are stunning.
A story of loyalty, redemption and love. This is worth seeing if you get the chance.
Film: Leon Director's Cut (1994)
Director: Luc Besson
Starring: Jean Reno, Natalie Portman and Gary Oldman
Running Time: 02 hours, 16 minutes
Rating: 10/10
Up next, a movie we both adore. Considering it is close to 20 years old, this film doesn't seem to have aged - Natalie Portman definitely hasn't aged, She's just grown taller - Leon is a wonderful film about finding someone to care for in the most unusual circumstances, how far you will go for that person and how friendship can help you mould a future from an unpleasant upbringing.
Yes, it is about a hit-man, a young girl, corrupt cops, drugs, and violence but, most importantly, it's about love.
Challenge day: 166
Challenge time: 10 days, 09 hours, 29 minutes
Challenge film total: 129
He don't like strangers peeing on him.
Date: Sunday 10th March
Film: The Paperboy (2013)
Director: Lee Daniels
Starring: Zac Efron, Matthew McConaughey, Nicole Kidman and John Cusack
Running Time: 01 hour, 47 minutes
Rating: 5/10
Sunday morning, up and out for an advance screening of a film we had been trying to see for a while. I'd read mixed reviews, but the cast was strong and the trailer was enticing, plus the screening was free. Who would turn that down?
When the film finished, I turned to HM and very eloquently asked 'what the hell have we just watched?'. I still don't know the answer to the question.
The Paperboy is not a bad film, the acting is first class, Nicole Kidman exudes sex, Zac Efron is putting his all into the wide-eyed innocent act and John Cusack managed to creep me out within two minutes of being on screen. It is a visually stunning film, every scene seems to have a haziness upon it, reflective of the extreme heat that is often referred to. There was just something I couldn't quite connect with.
I think the only word I can use to describe The Paperboy is odd. I don't know why, I can't put my finger on it, but the characters seemed too extreme, the storyline seemed to waver into the bizarre and there was just something that unsettled me.
Incredibly well acted, just not my cup of tea.
Challenge day: 166
Challenge time: 10 days, 05 hours, 35 minutes
Challenge film total: 127
Film: The Paperboy (2013)
Director: Lee Daniels
Starring: Zac Efron, Matthew McConaughey, Nicole Kidman and John Cusack
Running Time: 01 hour, 47 minutes
Rating: 5/10
Sunday morning, up and out for an advance screening of a film we had been trying to see for a while. I'd read mixed reviews, but the cast was strong and the trailer was enticing, plus the screening was free. Who would turn that down?
When the film finished, I turned to HM and very eloquently asked 'what the hell have we just watched?'. I still don't know the answer to the question.
The Paperboy is not a bad film, the acting is first class, Nicole Kidman exudes sex, Zac Efron is putting his all into the wide-eyed innocent act and John Cusack managed to creep me out within two minutes of being on screen. It is a visually stunning film, every scene seems to have a haziness upon it, reflective of the extreme heat that is often referred to. There was just something I couldn't quite connect with.
I think the only word I can use to describe The Paperboy is odd. I don't know why, I can't put my finger on it, but the characters seemed too extreme, the storyline seemed to waver into the bizarre and there was just something that unsettled me.
Incredibly well acted, just not my cup of tea.
Challenge day: 166
Challenge time: 10 days, 05 hours, 35 minutes
Challenge film total: 127
Much better than hanging around here with you dorks.
Date: Saturday 9th March
Saturday night, Wales is visiting, the BFF is in town and, for the first time in a long time, I am spending quality time with both the best friends. Whilst London is a big old place, and there are plenty of things we could be doing with our Saturday evening, we know what we like, and it's been a while since we had a chance to do this.
After a quick adventure out of the house to get some food, we were back on the sofa and in our pyjamas for a night of trashy movies. Up first, one of our favourites...
Saturday night, Wales is visiting, the BFF is in town and, for the first time in a long time, I am spending quality time with both the best friends. Whilst London is a big old place, and there are plenty of things we could be doing with our Saturday evening, we know what we like, and it's been a while since we had a chance to do this.
After a quick adventure out of the house to get some food, we were back on the sofa and in our pyjamas for a night of trashy movies. Up first, one of our favourites...
Film Empire Records Remix! Special Fan Edition (1995)
Director: Allan Moyle
Starring: Rory Cochrane, Liv Tyler and Renee Zellweger
Running Time: 1 hour 47 minutes
Rating 10/10
I've written about this film before, and anyone who knows me, knows how much I adore this. I've seen it more times than is ever necessary and always enjoy it. This was no exception.
As we were watching the DVD, it had all the extra bits I love (and, I'll be honest, miss a little bit when they don't show up in theatrical screenings) and watching it with the one person that probably has seen it as often I have was a real treat. We may have spent the majority of the evening quoting the upcoming scenes.
As always, this is a film that never lets me down.
Film: Grease (1978)
Director: Randal Kleiser
Starring: John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John and Stockard Channing
Running Time: 01 hour, 50 minutes
Rating: 8/10
Another classic film of our youth and one I hadn't seen in a while. If you don't know Grease, you've been living under a rock.
We might have sung, we didn't dance, none of us under went a dramatic make over (although we did all paint our nails).
All in all, a near perfect way to spend an evening with my favourite people.
Challenge day: 165
Challenge Time: 10 days, 03 hours, 48 minutes
Challenge film total: 126
Director: Allan Moyle
Starring: Rory Cochrane, Liv Tyler and Renee Zellweger
Running Time: 1 hour 47 minutes
Rating 10/10
I've written about this film before, and anyone who knows me, knows how much I adore this. I've seen it more times than is ever necessary and always enjoy it. This was no exception.
As we were watching the DVD, it had all the extra bits I love (and, I'll be honest, miss a little bit when they don't show up in theatrical screenings) and watching it with the one person that probably has seen it as often I have was a real treat. We may have spent the majority of the evening quoting the upcoming scenes.
As always, this is a film that never lets me down.
Film: Grease (1978)
Director: Randal Kleiser
Starring: John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John and Stockard Channing
Running Time: 01 hour, 50 minutes
Rating: 8/10
Another classic film of our youth and one I hadn't seen in a while. If you don't know Grease, you've been living under a rock.
We might have sung, we didn't dance, none of us under went a dramatic make over (although we did all paint our nails).
All in all, a near perfect way to spend an evening with my favourite people.
Challenge day: 165
Challenge Time: 10 days, 03 hours, 48 minutes
Challenge film total: 126
Wednesday, 6 March 2013
That was not the easy way
Date: Tuesday 5th March
Film: Identity Thief (2013)
Director: Seth Gordon
Starring: Jason Bateman, Melissa McCarthy and Eric Stonestreet
Running Time: 01 hour, 51 minutes
Rating: 3/10
Another day, another Sky preview. This time, Identity Thief. A film that, having seen the trailers, I wasn't all that fussed about seeing. It looked awful, but I believe that occasionally Jason Bateman can make the right choice and excel in film (we all know he can be fabulous on TV). I then found out that this was directed by the man who bought us Horrible Bosses - one of the times Bateman is great in a movie - I'll admit, my hopes raised slightly.
Alas, Identity Thief is every bit as terrible as the trailer. There were occasional sniggers, and one dead pan line that did make me giggle to the point of hysteria (although, this trick was repeated later when I saw a shop called 'Hot Nuts', I think that says a lot about my incredibly juvenile sense of humour), but this is not a funny film.
There seemed to be a mean streak running through it; there were unnecessary characters that added little to the film, bar the big third act revelation, the humour was obvious and, as great as Melissa McCarthy can be, I did feel like she was hamming up for the cameras.
I just did not enjoy this. I tried, but it just didn't click.
Challenge day: 161
Challenge time: 10 days, 00 hours, 11 minutes
Challenge film total: 124
Film: Identity Thief (2013)
Director: Seth Gordon
Starring: Jason Bateman, Melissa McCarthy and Eric Stonestreet
Running Time: 01 hour, 51 minutes
Rating: 3/10
Another day, another Sky preview. This time, Identity Thief. A film that, having seen the trailers, I wasn't all that fussed about seeing. It looked awful, but I believe that occasionally Jason Bateman can make the right choice and excel in film (we all know he can be fabulous on TV). I then found out that this was directed by the man who bought us Horrible Bosses - one of the times Bateman is great in a movie - I'll admit, my hopes raised slightly.
Alas, Identity Thief is every bit as terrible as the trailer. There were occasional sniggers, and one dead pan line that did make me giggle to the point of hysteria (although, this trick was repeated later when I saw a shop called 'Hot Nuts', I think that says a lot about my incredibly juvenile sense of humour), but this is not a funny film.
There seemed to be a mean streak running through it; there were unnecessary characters that added little to the film, bar the big third act revelation, the humour was obvious and, as great as Melissa McCarthy can be, I did feel like she was hamming up for the cameras.
I just did not enjoy this. I tried, but it just didn't click.
Challenge day: 161
Challenge time: 10 days, 00 hours, 11 minutes
Challenge film total: 124
This is very, very difficult. But sometimes children are bad people, too.
Date: Monday 4th March
Film: Hanna (2011)
Director: Joe Wright
Starring: Saorise Ronan, Cate Blanchett and Eric Bana
Running time: 01 hour, 51 minutes
Rating: 7/10
I've had this movie from LoveFilm for a while and have been waiting for the mood to strike to watch it. Monday night, an early dinner with the girls and I was home and ready for bed by 9pm (rock and roll). There wasn't much on the telly, I couldn't be bothered to venture into the living room for a movie, my internet was being a little rubbish so streaming was out the window. Hanna it was.
I think it's safe to say my watching of this film wasn't borne from a desire to see it, more an overwhelming sense of laziness. I wanted to see it, I had been the one to add it to my LoveFilm list, at a high priority. I just wasn't 100% convinced it was what I wanted to watch at that moment.
For me, Hanna was a revelation. I wasn't aware this was a Joe Wright film, I'm not sure how that information passed me by, I adore the look of Joe Wright films, Atonement will always be stunning, and Hanna is no exception. Every scene is framed beautifully.
As far as I am aware, Wright has not directed anything like Hanna before, an action film, a thriller film, a chase film. Hanna is 16, she has lived in isolation with her father all her life, training as an assassin, learning her identity. The film tells of the mission he sends her on, across Europe, trailed by the CIA.
Saorise Ronan is fabulous, as always, playing the lead. A girl that has had limited interaction with the world, discovering things for the first time. Eric Bana and Cate Blanchett head up a strong supporting cast but, in every scene she is in, your eyes are on Ronan.
Overall, Hanna is a really great film. One worth checking out.
Challenge day: 160
Challenge time: 09 days, 22 hours, 20 minutes
Challenge film total: 123
Film: Hanna (2011)
Director: Joe Wright
Starring: Saorise Ronan, Cate Blanchett and Eric Bana
Running time: 01 hour, 51 minutes
Rating: 7/10
I've had this movie from LoveFilm for a while and have been waiting for the mood to strike to watch it. Monday night, an early dinner with the girls and I was home and ready for bed by 9pm (rock and roll). There wasn't much on the telly, I couldn't be bothered to venture into the living room for a movie, my internet was being a little rubbish so streaming was out the window. Hanna it was.
I think it's safe to say my watching of this film wasn't borne from a desire to see it, more an overwhelming sense of laziness. I wanted to see it, I had been the one to add it to my LoveFilm list, at a high priority. I just wasn't 100% convinced it was what I wanted to watch at that moment.
For me, Hanna was a revelation. I wasn't aware this was a Joe Wright film, I'm not sure how that information passed me by, I adore the look of Joe Wright films, Atonement will always be stunning, and Hanna is no exception. Every scene is framed beautifully.
As far as I am aware, Wright has not directed anything like Hanna before, an action film, a thriller film, a chase film. Hanna is 16, she has lived in isolation with her father all her life, training as an assassin, learning her identity. The film tells of the mission he sends her on, across Europe, trailed by the CIA.
Saorise Ronan is fabulous, as always, playing the lead. A girl that has had limited interaction with the world, discovering things for the first time. Eric Bana and Cate Blanchett head up a strong supporting cast but, in every scene she is in, your eyes are on Ronan.
Overall, Hanna is a really great film. One worth checking out.
Challenge day: 160
Challenge time: 09 days, 22 hours, 20 minutes
Challenge film total: 123
Monday, 4 March 2013
It's like no place I've ever seen.
Date: Saturday 2nd March
Film: Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)
Director: Sam Raimi
Starring: James Franco, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz and Mila Kunis
Running Time: 02 hours, 10 minutes
Rating: 9/10
The second this film started, I was entranced. Oz the Great and Powerful has the best opening credits I've seen in a very long time. They might just be the best I've ever seen. Playing on the traditions of Oz stories, the opening is a small black and white world.
The second Oz travels into Oz the screen widens, the colours burst off the screen and you are bombarded with beauty upon beauty.
I don't want to spoil this film for anyone, it is released on March 8 and I think everyone should go and see it, if only to see how stunning a film can really be. This is escapism in it's purest form.
This is one of the times 3D works and works well.
The only thing stopping this from being a straight up 10/10 is the action of the film. I felt Franco was out-acted by the entire cast. I felt the witch reveal was a little ridiculous. I felt the ending was all a bit too much. However, that doesn't stop this being over 2 hours of stunning imagery.
I didn't think it was possible to make an Oz that people would appreciate. I didn't think you could follow the original cinematic Oz. I was wrong. Raimi's Oz is mesmerising.
I think I might be a little in love with the Emerald City. And Michelle Williams (but that's nothing new, that woman is nothing short of phenomenal).
Challenge day: 158
Challenge time: 09 days, 20 hours, 29 minutes
Challenge film total: 122
Film: Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)
Director: Sam Raimi
Starring: James Franco, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz and Mila Kunis
Running Time: 02 hours, 10 minutes
Rating: 9/10
The second this film started, I was entranced. Oz the Great and Powerful has the best opening credits I've seen in a very long time. They might just be the best I've ever seen. Playing on the traditions of Oz stories, the opening is a small black and white world.
The second Oz travels into Oz the screen widens, the colours burst off the screen and you are bombarded with beauty upon beauty.
I don't want to spoil this film for anyone, it is released on March 8 and I think everyone should go and see it, if only to see how stunning a film can really be. This is escapism in it's purest form.
This is one of the times 3D works and works well.
The only thing stopping this from being a straight up 10/10 is the action of the film. I felt Franco was out-acted by the entire cast. I felt the witch reveal was a little ridiculous. I felt the ending was all a bit too much. However, that doesn't stop this being over 2 hours of stunning imagery.
I didn't think it was possible to make an Oz that people would appreciate. I didn't think you could follow the original cinematic Oz. I was wrong. Raimi's Oz is mesmerising.
I think I might be a little in love with the Emerald City. And Michelle Williams (but that's nothing new, that woman is nothing short of phenomenal).
Challenge day: 158
Challenge time: 09 days, 20 hours, 29 minutes
Challenge film total: 122
Some people will say that not all witches are evil, that their powers could be used for good. I say burn them all!
Date: Thursday 28th February
Film: Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013)
Director: Tommy Wirkola
Running time: 01 hour, 28 minutes
Rating: 4/10
As much as I wanted to like this, even though the trailer held little appeal to me, I almost knew that I was going to be disappointed as soon as I sat down.
I want to blame it all on the 3D. I'm not a fan of 3D, I try to avoid it as much as possible. With a few notable exceptions (Dredd, things showing on the BFI IMAX screen), I struggle to see the benefit. Like films I've seen previously, there were strange bits dangling off the edge of the screen, seemingly unattached to what we were seeing, that caused no end of distraction. There were things flying toward your face - I've said it before, I'm a jumpy person. I know there's nothing flying toward me, doesn't mean I won't startle myself. There was something amiss about the visuals of the whole film. However, I don't think the 3D was the issue with Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters.
The problem was the absurdity of the whole thing. Was it a comedy, was it gore, was it fantasy? It never appeared to pick a genre and stick with it. It could have mashed up the genres but it didn't even do that well. Each scene seemed to be straight from a different movie.
I couldn't relate to the characters in any way, the storyline was tedious, the 3D was terrible. Overall, not the best film I've seen recently. Not one I would recommend.
As much as I wanted to like this, even though the trailer held little appeal to me, I almost knew that I was going to be disappointed as soon as I sat down.
I want to blame it all on the 3D. I'm not a fan of 3D, I try to avoid it as much as possible. With a few notable exceptions (Dredd, things showing on the BFI IMAX screen), I struggle to see the benefit. Like films I've seen previously, there were strange bits dangling off the edge of the screen, seemingly unattached to what we were seeing, that caused no end of distraction. There were things flying toward your face - I've said it before, I'm a jumpy person. I know there's nothing flying toward me, doesn't mean I won't startle myself. There was something amiss about the visuals of the whole film. However, I don't think the 3D was the issue with Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters.
The problem was the absurdity of the whole thing. Was it a comedy, was it gore, was it fantasy? It never appeared to pick a genre and stick with it. It could have mashed up the genres but it didn't even do that well. Each scene seemed to be straight from a different movie.
I couldn't relate to the characters in any way, the storyline was tedious, the 3D was terrible. Overall, not the best film I've seen recently. Not one I would recommend.
Challenge day: 156
Challenge time: 09 days, 18 hours, 19 minutes
Challenge film total: 121
There's some wars you fight, and some wars you walk away from.
Date: Monday 25th February
Film: Broken City (2013)
Director: Allen Hughes
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe and Catherine Zeta-Jones
Running Time: 01 hour, 49 minutes
Rating: 6/10
Monday night, post Oscar party. The CW and I are exhausted, but it's a free screening and we have nothing better to do (apart from catching up on sleep, perhaps) so off to The O2 we schlep for Broken City.
We'd watched the trailer but, at this point, hadn't seen any reviews or comments on the film - other than that Graham Norton Show appearance - so we were going in a little blind. We knew the basics of the plot - Mark Wahlberg plays a private investigator hired by Russell Crowe's mayor to look into his wife's (Catherine Zeta-Jones) affair and things don't go all that smoothly.
But, that synopsis isn't really what Broken City is about. Yes, that is the basic storyline but within 5 minutes of watching it becomes clear that this film wants to show more than that. It wants to show corruption of politicians, officials, and public figures. It wants to investigate the humanity of those living and working alongside these figures. It wants to be a slick psychological thriller.
The problem with Broken City is that, as hard as they try to create a back story you don't really get a feel for any of the characters. I don't think I particularly liked any of them. There are scenes that make no sense to the film, at times they don't seem to fit with what you are seeing. As if they were exposition scenes for plot lines that were cut away in editing.
Mark Wahlberg plays his part very well, providing his role is to play Mark Wahlberg. There doesn't appear to be much of a distance from other thriller/action films he has made before.
It was watchable but, like Contraband it just didn't engage. It tried to hard to be slick and meaningful, and lost something along the way.
Challenge day: 153
Challenge time: 09 days, 16 hours, 51 minutes
Challenge film total: 120
Film: Broken City (2013)
Director: Allen Hughes
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe and Catherine Zeta-Jones
Running Time: 01 hour, 49 minutes
Rating: 6/10
Monday night, post Oscar party. The CW and I are exhausted, but it's a free screening and we have nothing better to do (apart from catching up on sleep, perhaps) so off to The O2 we schlep for Broken City.
We'd watched the trailer but, at this point, hadn't seen any reviews or comments on the film - other than that Graham Norton Show appearance - so we were going in a little blind. We knew the basics of the plot - Mark Wahlberg plays a private investigator hired by Russell Crowe's mayor to look into his wife's (Catherine Zeta-Jones) affair and things don't go all that smoothly.
But, that synopsis isn't really what Broken City is about. Yes, that is the basic storyline but within 5 minutes of watching it becomes clear that this film wants to show more than that. It wants to show corruption of politicians, officials, and public figures. It wants to investigate the humanity of those living and working alongside these figures. It wants to be a slick psychological thriller.
The problem with Broken City is that, as hard as they try to create a back story you don't really get a feel for any of the characters. I don't think I particularly liked any of them. There are scenes that make no sense to the film, at times they don't seem to fit with what you are seeing. As if they were exposition scenes for plot lines that were cut away in editing.
Mark Wahlberg plays his part very well, providing his role is to play Mark Wahlberg. There doesn't appear to be much of a distance from other thriller/action films he has made before.
It was watchable but, like Contraband it just didn't engage. It tried to hard to be slick and meaningful, and lost something along the way.
Challenge day: 153
Challenge time: 09 days, 16 hours, 51 minutes
Challenge film total: 120
Friday, 1 March 2013
I don't sit in while you're running it down. I don't carry a gun. I drive.
Date: Sunday 24th February
Film: Drive (2011)
Director: Nicholas Winding Refn
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan and Bryan Cranston
Running Time: 01 hour, 40 minutes
Rating: 10/10
Brutal violence, underground crime organisations, fast cars, Ryan Gosling and Christina Hendricks. Drive is a list of things I love in cinema. The exquisitely told story of a mysterious man (we never learn his name), who is hired to drive, the one thing he does well, and after a liaison with his neighbour, and an interaction with her ex-con husband, ends up mixed up with a criminal gang and things go downhill from there.
Drive is intense. From beginning to end. In the doomed love affair, in the violence, in the car scenes. It's this intensity that, in my eyes, makes it such a great film.
One of, in my opinion, the best films to come out in the last few of years. I have so much love for Drive.
Challenge day: 153
Challenge time: 09 days, 15 hours, 02 minutes
Challenge film total: 119
Film: Drive (2011)
Director: Nicholas Winding Refn
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan and Bryan Cranston
Running Time: 01 hour, 40 minutes
Rating: 10/10
Brutal violence, underground crime organisations, fast cars, Ryan Gosling and Christina Hendricks. Drive is a list of things I love in cinema. The exquisitely told story of a mysterious man (we never learn his name), who is hired to drive, the one thing he does well, and after a liaison with his neighbour, and an interaction with her ex-con husband, ends up mixed up with a criminal gang and things go downhill from there.
Drive is intense. From beginning to end. In the doomed love affair, in the violence, in the car scenes. It's this intensity that, in my eyes, makes it such a great film.
One of, in my opinion, the best films to come out in the last few of years. I have so much love for Drive.
Challenge day: 153
Challenge time: 09 days, 15 hours, 02 minutes
Challenge film total: 119
How do you explain something that you can't even understand yourself?
Date: Saturday 23rd February
Saturday night, I'm back at home and visiting the oldest friend for an evening of good wine, junk food and trashy movies. First up
Film: What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012)
Director: Kirk Jones
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Anna Kendrick and Matthew Morrison
Running Time: 01 hour, 50 minutes
Rating: 4/10
A film I hadn't seen before. Mainly because I despair of multi-thread ensemble films. With the exception of Love Actually, I've yet to see one that works well.
What to Expect... is another one that falls short of the mark. I don't remember laughing, I didn't like the majority of the characters. This could have been truly horrendous, if it wasn't for two saving graces;
Film: The Lucky One (2012)
Director: Scott Hicks
Starring: Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling and Blythe Danner
Running Time: 01 hour, 41 minutes
Rating: 5/10
Now, I have no excuse on this one. I've seen it before. I knew I didn't enjoy it. I still chose for us to watch it. Mainly because sometimes I can be incredibly shallow, and I just want to watch Zac Efron run around with dogs.
This is not a good film. It is, like most Nicholas Sparks adaptations, predictable, a little cheesy and a repeat of tried and tested characters.
This is a trash film. Something you know you shouldn't watch. Something you feel guilty about afterwards. Something that, at the time, seems to work.
Challenge day: 151
Challenge time: 09 days, 13 hours, 22 minutes
Challenge film total: 118
Saturday night, I'm back at home and visiting the oldest friend for an evening of good wine, junk food and trashy movies. First up
Film: What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012)
Director: Kirk Jones
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Anna Kendrick and Matthew Morrison
Running Time: 01 hour, 50 minutes
Rating: 4/10
A film I hadn't seen before. Mainly because I despair of multi-thread ensemble films. With the exception of Love Actually, I've yet to see one that works well.
What to Expect... is another one that falls short of the mark. I don't remember laughing, I didn't like the majority of the characters. This could have been truly horrendous, if it wasn't for two saving graces;
1) The always awesome Anna Kendrick
2) Joe Manganiello. Shirtless. Doing one armed pull ups.
I don't think I'll be rushing out to see this again. Still, it was better than Valentine's Day. Just.
Film: The Lucky One (2012)
Director: Scott Hicks
Starring: Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling and Blythe Danner
Running Time: 01 hour, 41 minutes
Rating: 5/10
Now, I have no excuse on this one. I've seen it before. I knew I didn't enjoy it. I still chose for us to watch it. Mainly because sometimes I can be incredibly shallow, and I just want to watch Zac Efron run around with dogs.
This is not a good film. It is, like most Nicholas Sparks adaptations, predictable, a little cheesy and a repeat of tried and tested characters.
This is a trash film. Something you know you shouldn't watch. Something you feel guilty about afterwards. Something that, at the time, seems to work.
Challenge day: 151
Challenge time: 09 days, 13 hours, 22 minutes
Challenge film total: 118
Listen, why don't you relax. Why don't you take a pill, bake a cake, go read the encyclopedia.
Date: Tuesday 19th February
Film: Moon (2009)
Director: Duncan Jones
Starring: Sam Rockwell and Kevin Spacey
Running Time: 01 hour 37 minutes
Rating: 10/10
So many people have told me I will adore this film. It's set in space, it stars Sam Rockwell, it's basically right up my street. I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to get round to watching it. I missed out on watching Moon's BBC preview at the end of last year, but I knew that the first time I watched this, I wanted to look back over some of the director and production team's tweets I caught that night. A quick query in the twittersphere and I was helpfully pointed to a Storify of all the fun stuff.
Pillows plumped up, laptop in hand and I was ready to go.
Within five minutes I was so involved in the film I forget that the tweets were there. It says an awful lot for Sam Rockwell's talent that he can command your attention throughout a film where his main interactions are with a computer (voiced by Kevin Spacey) and himself.
It's hard to describe Moon, not without giving things away. If you haven't seen it, seek it out. This is a wonderful piece of film-making.
Challenge day: 147
Challenge time: 09 days, 09 hours, 51 minutes
Challenge film total: 116
Film: Moon (2009)
Director: Duncan Jones
Starring: Sam Rockwell and Kevin Spacey
Running Time: 01 hour 37 minutes
Rating: 10/10
So many people have told me I will adore this film. It's set in space, it stars Sam Rockwell, it's basically right up my street. I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to get round to watching it. I missed out on watching Moon's BBC preview at the end of last year, but I knew that the first time I watched this, I wanted to look back over some of the director and production team's tweets I caught that night. A quick query in the twittersphere and I was helpfully pointed to a Storify of all the fun stuff.
Pillows plumped up, laptop in hand and I was ready to go.
Within five minutes I was so involved in the film I forget that the tweets were there. It says an awful lot for Sam Rockwell's talent that he can command your attention throughout a film where his main interactions are with a computer (voiced by Kevin Spacey) and himself.
It's hard to describe Moon, not without giving things away. If you haven't seen it, seek it out. This is a wonderful piece of film-making.
Challenge day: 147
Challenge time: 09 days, 09 hours, 51 minutes
Challenge film total: 116
This girl's dead. That guy's dead... That guy in the corner is definitely dead.
Date: Monday 18th February
Film: Warm Bodies (2013)
Director: Jonathan Levine
Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Theresa Palmer, John Malkovich and Dave Franco
Running time: 01 hour, 38 minutes
Rating: 7/10
It's really hard to assess this film without going off on a rant about the modern cinema audience (sit down and shut up please) and select major chain staff (whispers would be nice, thanks), all I know is that I was 100% engaged in this film, and I think it may be because of all the distractions, for what I saw of the film was delightful.
Yes, this is another 'cash in on the Twilight audience with a teen paranormal rom-com', and the storyline is glaringly obvious, however Warm Bodies seems to present it all with a fresh new twist. Perhaps it's because we don't often see teen zombie films or maybe because these zombies aren't stereotypical Hollywood zombies, either way it works for me.
Not every joke was a success, not every aspect seemed to fit. Warm Bodies may be flawed, however it doesn't aim to be anything more than an entertaining film. As paranormal teen romances go I've seen a lot worse.
Challenge day: 146
Challenge time: 09 days, 08 hours, 14 minutes
Challenge film total: 115
Film: Warm Bodies (2013)
Director: Jonathan Levine
Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Theresa Palmer, John Malkovich and Dave Franco
Running time: 01 hour, 38 minutes
Rating: 7/10
It's really hard to assess this film without going off on a rant about the modern cinema audience (sit down and shut up please) and select major chain staff (whispers would be nice, thanks), all I know is that I was 100% engaged in this film, and I think it may be because of all the distractions, for what I saw of the film was delightful.
Yes, this is another 'cash in on the Twilight audience with a teen paranormal rom-com', and the storyline is glaringly obvious, however Warm Bodies seems to present it all with a fresh new twist. Perhaps it's because we don't often see teen zombie films or maybe because these zombies aren't stereotypical Hollywood zombies, either way it works for me.
Not every joke was a success, not every aspect seemed to fit. Warm Bodies may be flawed, however it doesn't aim to be anything more than an entertaining film. As paranormal teen romances go I've seen a lot worse.
Challenge day: 146
Challenge time: 09 days, 08 hours, 14 minutes
Challenge film total: 115
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