If John Woo and Michael Bay had a Russia baby

Stalingrad (2013)

Directed by Fedor Bondarchuk this Russian film stars Pytor Fyodorov, Dmitriy Lysenkov, Alexey Barabash and Maria Smolnikova. During the battle of Stalingrad in World War 2 a rag tag group of Soviet soldiers try to defend the apartment of a young woman.

This is not a historic film in the vein of The Longest Day (1962) but more of a fictional action film set within real events. The plot is fairly standard but at times events push towards the excess of action more in the style of John Woo and the plot favours a Michael Bay over the top melodrama at times. What the film does have going for it is some nice visuals and effects even if the plot and style are less than sensible at times.

3/5

Summer hatin' happened so fast

The Way Way Back (2013)

Written as well as directed by Nat Faxon & Jim Rash this film stars Liam James, Toni Collette, Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell and Allison Janney. A 14 year old introverted and socially awkward boy spends the summer with his mother and her bullying boyfriend.

This is a fairly standard coming of age film but it is one of the better examples of it's genre. Where the film is a big hit is that it really captures it's characters perfectly and has a tone of charm. There is a great supporting cast with plenty of depth and really good performances from Rockwell and Janney in particular.

4/5

Like a furnace

The Heat (2013)

Directed by Paul Feig this film stars Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthy and Marlon Wayans. An uptight, unpopular FBI agent has to worth with a foul mouthed, rebellious local police officer to bring down a drug lord.

Buddy cop films are something Hollywood can churn out in it's sleep and this is an effective but somewhat familiar genre effort. Having female lead characters is a nice change but this does not offer anything particularly remarkable. The film has funny moments but is too often going through a well trodden path in my opinion.

3/5

Marco, no Polo

Any Day Now (2012)

Directed by Travis Fine this film inspired by a true story stars Alan Cumming, Garret Dillahunt and Isaac Leyva. In 1979 a gay couple in California attempt to adopt a mentally disabled teenager that has been abandoned by his mother.

As an issues based film this is a fairly well crafted film that manages not to hit you over the head with it's agenda. The plot manages to showcase both the bigotry aimed at homosexuals as well as how children are let down by the state. Alan Cumming gives a good performance in the lead role that holds the film together but some of the other characters could have done with rounding out a bit.

4/5

Not a muppet maze

Labyrinth (1986)

Directed by Jim Henson this film stars David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly. A teenage girl wishes her baby step brother away and has to go into a fantasy world to get him back before he turns into a goblin.

Despite the fantasy setting this is a fairly average coming of age tale where the protagonist has to stop being so selfish and become aware of her responsibilities. The basic theme works well even if it is a little simplistic but the overall story is a bit hit and miss with the actual events not being that interesting. David Bowie is an odd choice for antagonist and at times the musical numbers seem like they have been forced into a film where they don't belong. There are some decent effects for the period and Henson's expertise in puppet creates clearly shows.

3/5

A Eve worth watching

Cold Comes the Night (2013)

Directed by Tze Chun this film stars Alice Eve, Bryan Craston and Logan Marshall-Green. A single mother that runs a motel is held hostage with her child by a Polish criminal as he attempts to retrieve a package from a cooked cop.

As things go this is a fairly average thriller with a pretty decent if unremarkable set up. There are some decent twists and turns along the way but nothing that really makes this film stand out from a number of similar genre entries. Where the film is at it's strongest is in the performance of Alice Eve, which is excellent, and the direction which helps focus on her character nicely.

3/5

The poorly explained games

The Hunger Games (2012)

Directed by Gary Ross this film based on the novel of the same name stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson and Elizabeth Banks. In the future a 16 year old girl volunteers to take her younger sisters place in a battle to the death between representatives of different districts.

This film comes with a lot of hype but it never convinced me of the world it was trying to create or properly explained the status quo. I also thought it was a little weak that the protagonist was rarely the driving force, often following the ideas of others and mostly had the hard moral choices removed from her. The direction of the fight sequences was a little annoying when it came to hand to hand combat but otherwise it was a well made film with some decent performances.

3/5

Don't mention the (impending) war

The Rules of the Game (1939)

Directed by it's star Jean Renoir this film also features Nora Gregor, Marcel Dalio, Roland Toutain and Paulette Dubost. Various upper class French people and servants head to stay at a châteaux in the country will conducting various affairs.

This is a comedy of manners and while the emphasis is not entirely on the comedy element it does a good job of showing balanced characters in what becomes a farcical situation. What the film does best is never mention the impending war but hint at it with the seemingly barbaric hunting massacre scene. For fans of Gosford Park (2001) this is somewhat in a similar vein and well worth watching.

4/5

More ropey than robe

Demetruis and the Gladiators (1954)

Directed by Delmer Daves this sequel to The Robe (1953) stars Victor Mature, Susan Hayward Jay Robinson and Debra Paget. Following the events of the previous film Demetrius is working as a potter when he becomes sentenced to be a gladiator for failing to give up the robe to Caligula.

Compared to The Robe this film lacks the quality plot of the original and has a suspect crisis of faith story line that is an excuse for a gladiator film. Using your brain too much is probably not a good idea as the actions of the protagonist are not exactly logical. The direction is not bad but again is not up to the scope and scale of this film's predecessor.

2/5

No hate

La Haine (1995)

Written and directed by Mathieu Kassovitz this film stars Vincent Cassel, Hubert Kounde and Said Taghmaoui. Three friends living in a poor area of Paris spend the day after a riot together.

This film does a really good job of looking at the clash between poor immigrants and French authority. While there might not be a lot that is revolutionary about this story it frames the social problem well and takes a balanced view. Some of the direction is slick and there is a decent sound track as well.

4/5

Being married to the job

The Parson's Widow (1920)

Directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer this film stars Einar Rod, Hildur Carlberg and Greta Almroth. To marry his sweetheart a young man must get a job as a parson but to get the job he must marry his predecessor's widow.

The set up for the story here is not bad but the plot ends up being fairly simplistic and does not have a huge amount of depth. It is nice that the story ends up being fairly circular in nature, as is life, but I am not sure that the run time is long enough for the character arcs to work properly. Dreyer only made one film before this and in this film had not yet established the style that make some of his other film so celebrated.

3/5

Imaginary rabbit problems

Harvey (1950)

Directed by Henry Koster this film based on the play of the same name stars James Stewart, Josephine Hull, Peggy Dow and Charles Drake. A woman tries to have her middle aged brother committed because she has had enough of his best friend, an imaginary six foot tall rabbit.

There is a lot to like about this light hearted film and it mainly relies on the charm of James Stewart as while it is funny in places you would not call this an out and out comedy. The events of the film are farcical but never really offer an explanation for the existence of Harvey one way or the other. About the biggest surprise here is that this is not a collaboration between Stewart and Frank Capra as it would fit in easily with their previous collaborations.

4/5

Ra-ra-ra-America!

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

Directed by Frank Capra this film based on the story “The Gentleman from Montana” stars Jean Arthur and James Stewart. An honest and idealistic young man is sent to Washington to replace a recently deceased Senator as a stooge for corrupt businessmen.

The story here is a classic example of American political idealism and celebration of the individual which may come off as a little naïve to those of us outsiders. At times the film itself is a little simplistic for my tastes but does make a decent poke at the eye of the corrupt political machine that still rumbles on today. What the film does do a good job of is show chasing how the Senate works and while at times it is more of a civics less than anything else is still fairly entertaining.

4/5

Fight in the old lion yet

The Lion in Winter (1968)

Directed by Anthony Harvey this film based on the play of the same name stars Peter O'Toole, Katherine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins and Jane Merrow. Henry II of England brings his rebellious wife and sons to spend Christmas with him so he can name an heir.

While this film uses historical characters the events are fictional which is a little bit of a shame but about the only thing that takes the gloss off this film. The story is full of plotting, scheming and backstabbing which makes it a highly enjoyable watch, certainly this is something along the line of Game of Thrones. I really enjoyed the performances and the cast also includes a young Timothy Dalton as the king of France.

4/5

Fooking no prawns

Elysium (2013)

Directed by Neill Blomkamp this film stars Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley and Alice Braga. In the future Earth is a ghetto where the poor live while the rich live in luxury on a space station in orbit.

While this may not be the direct sequel to District 9 (2009) that many wanted this is a spiritual sequel as it again uses sci-fi to comment on the modern relationships between poor and rich but this time mainly in the US and Mexico. The story is a metaphor for immigration and healthcare but is not really the most nuanced take on the matter. I found the editing of a lot of the action sequences to be highly annoying and fully of unnecessary, pointless flash cutting.

3/5

If you go down to the woods today

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez this film stars Heather Donahue, Michael Williams and Joshua Leonard. Three young film makers head into the woods to investigate the legend of a local witch.

This low budget, independent film kick started the found footage genre and made a massive return on investment for it's makers. The plot is nothing really unusual but presenting as found footage is refreshing and has a certain level of charm as it captures the experience of young people messing about in the woods well. What the film does best is embrace it's limitations and show as little as possible to allow the viewers imagination to run wild and fill in the off screen threats.

4/5

Not monumental

The Monuments Men (2014)

Directed by star George Clooney this film also features Matt Damon, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett and John Goodman. A team of art specialists is brought together to protect great works of art during the Allied invasion of Europe in World War 2.

This film is very loosely based on real events and is the usual Hollywood over emphasis of American involvement, British and French characters only being included so there is someone to kill off. There is a certain amount of charm to this story but at times the “message” is a little heavy handed. With all the talent involved I expected a little more and in the end this was a rather pedestrian effort.

2/5

Writers, writers everywhere

The Big Sleep (1946)

Directed by Howard Hawks this film based on the novel of the same name stars Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. A private detective is hired by a wealthy old man to deal with the gambling debts of his youngest daughter.

With so much writing talent involved on this project (Raymond Chandler, William Faulkner and Leigh Brackett) it is no surprise that there is some delicious dialogue here filled with clever word play and double meanings. The plot of this film is convoluted to say the least and cracks a long at such a pace it can be hard to keep up at times. Generally the film is well made but seems to have a larger reputation than maybe it deserves, while it may one of the most famous genre pieces the direction is not as strong as some of it's peers.

4/5

A bland application

Admission (2013)

Directed by Paul Weitz this film based on the novel of the same name stars Tina Fey, Paul Rudd, Nat Wolff and Lilly Tomlin. An admission officer at Princeton has her life turned upside down when her boyfriend leaves her and she meets a boy that may be the child she gave up for adoption 18 years ago.

The set up for this film has a lot going for it but never delves beyond the superficial which is a shame as there is plenty of scope for real drama and issues here. There are some funny moments but for the talent involved this is also a bit of a disappointment. In the end this is more a film of what could have been rather than it being a bad film and it does get by on the charm of Fey.

3/5

An ill wind blows in Anatolia tonight

Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (2011)

Directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan this film stars Muhammet Uzuner, Yilmaz Erdogan, Taner Birsel and Ahmet Mumtaz Taylan. On a dark night in rural Turkey the police drive round the countryside with a murder suspect looking for a buried body.

This is a slow moving and moody film where both the story and direction keep the audience at arms length. As a viewer we may never really understand what happened in the events depicted but the film explores a number of interesting and relevant themes through the conversations of it's characters. I really liked the cinematography and there are some great shots of the Turkish countryside but the slow moving and ambiguous nature of this film may not be for everyone.

5/5

Another lost in Austen

Austenland (2013)

Directed by Jerusha Hess this film based on the novel of the same name stars Keri Russell, JJ Feild, Jennifer Collidge and Jane Seymour. A single American woman in her 30s travels to England to live out her Jane Austen obsession on a themed holiday.

This film has some personality and a few nice Austen inspired touches but at times it takes the simplistic route too often. Looking at the difference between fantasy and reality provides a decent theme but I am not sure that the film ever really gets to the heart of the matter. There are some nice performances but Jane Seymour seems a little under used and Jennifer Coolidge a bit type cast.

3/5

At sea for life

The Legend of 1900 (1998)

Written and directed by Giuseppe Tornatore this film stars Tim Roth, Pruitt Taylor Vince and Melanie Thierry. An orphan with an unusual musical talent grows up on a passenger liner that travels between Europe and the United States.

On a thematic level this film works really well, exploring the idea of immigrant dreams and fears of reality. At times some of the dialogue is a little over the top for my taste but generally the story works well. Some of the CGI is a little dated but otherwise this is a well made film with a nice score from Ennio Morricone.

4/5

The honest thief

How to Steal a Million (1966)

Directed by William Wyler this film stars Audrey Hepburn, Peter O'Toole, Eli Wallach and Hugh Griffith. The daughter of an art forger seeks to steal back one of his forgeries with the help of a cat burglar.

Any film featuring Hepburn and O'Toole will have a certain level of charm to it but the script here is fairly bland and does not really over whelm you with charm. The plot is pretty average, lacking enough comedy to get by and the heist itself while having a few nice touches is not overly impressive either. Despite being set in France there is a distinct lack of French accents on show but otherwise there is not a lot to complain about from the execution of the film.

3/5

Less ass kicked

Kick-Ass 2 (2013)

Directed by Jeff Wadlow this sequel based on the comic of the same name stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloe Grace Moretz and Jim Carrey. Following the events of the first film some of the characters try to adjust to a normal teen life while one becomes a super villain.

Compared to the first film in this series this is certainly a weaker effort as it is not as funny as the original and seems to get a bit lost thematically at times. There are some changes between comic and film script but this is not the worst adaptation you will ever see. I think the big miss here is the loss of director Matthew Vaughn as this film does just not have the style of the original.

3/5

Shadow cash in

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)

Directed by Kenneth Branagh this film stars Chris Pine, Kevin Costner, Keira Knightly and it's director. After breaking his back while serving as a US Marine in Afghanistan a young man is recruited into the CIA.

Essentially this reboot is a cash in on the popular Tom Clancy character rather than an adaptation of any of the novels although it does contain the odd piece here and there. While the first third to half of the film is fairly sensible and realistic the rest of the film throws realism out of the window in favour of standard action film silliness. The film is pretty well made as you would expect from a director like Branagh but the uneven tone of the script leaves a lot to be desired.

2/5

Low stock

The Nebraskan (1953)

Directed by Fred F. Sears this film stars Philip Care, Roberta Hayes, Wallace Ford and Lee Van Cleef. Two prisoners escape from a Cavalry outpost, one of which is wanted for the murder of a local Indian chief.

This is a fairly average B-movie western that fits in most of the usual story elements leaving no real surprises. Slightly unusually the Indians are treated fairly well here, they have a legitimate motivation and get actual characters. Where the film really falls down is in the cheap use of stock footage that looks low quality and nothing like Nebraska where the story is set.

2/5

No flashes of entertainment

The Hot Flashes (2013)

Directed by Susan Seidelman this film stars Brooke Shields, Daryl Hannah, Virginia Madsen, Wanda Sykes and Camryn Manheim. Middle aged women get together a basketball team to play the current girls State high school team for charity.

There will be few surprises in this film as it follows the basic plot of many a sports film and really has little to offer in terms of originality in any area. The writing is fairly weak, there is little character progression and the story is far too pedestrian to explore any themes at all. No doubt there is plenty to be said about the experience of middle age from a female perspective but this film is not the one to do it.

2/5

Undoing the Hitch

Last Passenger (2013)

Directed by Omid Nooshin this film stars Dougary Scott, Kara Tointon, Iddo Goldberg and David Schofield. Passengers become trapped on a late night train home from London which the driver seems intent on crashing at the end of the line.

This is a good set up for a thriller with touches of Hitchcock about it but it never really takes the story anywhere on a character level. I found the ending to a little silly considering how down to earth the rest of the film was but it was not excessively over the top. There are some decent performances from the cast but the script is rather Spartan so they do not have a lot to work with at times.

3/5

Baby like

Bringing Up Baby (1938)

Directed by Howard Hawks this film based on a short story of the same name stars Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn and May Robson. A mild-mannered palaeontologist crosses paths with a free-spirited, clumsy woman.

At the time of release this film was something of a failure but has gone on to be considered one of the best of all time. While the film is filled with what you might call slapstick antics I found both the humour and the plot fairly simplistic. For a film with such a big reputation this was a real let down but maybe it did just not fit my taste in comedy.

3/5  

detectives, dames and decisions

Out of the Past (1947)

Directed by Jacques Tourner this film based on the novel “Build My Gallows High” stars Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, Kirk Douglas and Rhonda Fleming. The past catches up with a man trying to start over in a small town with a new girlfriend.

The plot of this film is your classic film noir set up with private detectives, femme fatales, crime and plenty of double crossing. At times the dialogue has some serious crack to it but I do not think that the story offers anything beyond being a genre piece. I found the cinematography a little bit of a let down here, it is passable but not evocative of German expressionism like the big names of the noir genre.

3/5