Not magical

Magic Magic (2013)

Written and directed by Sebastian Silva this film stars Juno Temple, Emily Browning, Michael Cera and Agustin Silva. An American travels to stay with her cousin in a remote part of South American and becomes increasingly paranoid.

I think the best way to sum up this film would be to say it is a missed opportunity filled with the wrong type of ambiguity. The story is just too subtle here and never really gets going so the protagonists decent into madness is never really creepy or gives the impression she may be right in her paranoia. Juno Temple gives a good performance in the main role but really the rest of the film is a complete let down.

2/5

Weightless

Gravity (2013)

Directed and co-written by Alfonso Cuaron this film stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. Two astronauts attempt to survive a disaster in space that leaves their shuttle destroyed and crew mates dead.

There is a lot to enjoy about this film which keeps you on the edge of your seat through out but at times it felt like the character arc was a bit of an afterthought that did not offer enough depth or resonance. Some of the thematic content was also a little too heavily rammed home and not especially new. What really stands out though are some of the stunning visuals and excellent photography of space.

4/5

Reality before entertainment

Our Children (2012)

Written and directed by Joachim Lafosse this film based on real events stars Emilie Dequenne, Niels Arestrup and Tahar Rahim. A young couple live with a doctor who supports them financially but become uncomfortable with an outsider in their lives.

While the film does a good job of showing the slow decent into depression and mental instability of the lead character it makes for a rather slow and drawn out watch. Despite showing you upfront the conclusion of the story I found large parts of the film a boring watch. Emilie Dequenne gives a really good performance but it was never enough to make the film riveting.

3/5

Childhood gone wrong

Dogtooth (2009)

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos this film stars Christos Stergioglou, Aggeliki Papoulia, Mary Tsoni, Christos Passalis and Michelle Valley. Parents keep their children isolated from the world and living under a bizarre set of rules well into their adulthood.

This is one of the unusual films you will ever see managing to be both dark and bizarre in such an understated manner it always unsettles but never moves into horror territory. The plot is often left ambiguous with no explanations as to why things are happening this way but works well as a satire for controlling and over protective parents who seek to keep children locked in childhood. Visually the film is interesting with shots often unusually framed to give the impression of family photos or videos that your relatives might force you to sit through.

5/5

Unclaimed for a good reason

Baggage Claim (2013)

Written and directed by David E. Talbert this film stars Paula Patton, Derek Luke Taye Diggs and Boris Kodjoe. After finding out her boyfriend is married an air hostess needs to find a date for her younger sister's wedding.

Nearly every genre cliché in the book is present in this romantic comedy as it staggers through the motions in a fairly unconvincing manner. There are times when the film is not to bad then it turns into a massive block of cheese towards the end and robs it's characters of any real hard decisions. I found the soundtrack hardest to take as it just adds on another layer of sentimental cheese so it gets to sickly levels.

2/5

Adventures in Indian railways

North West Frontier (1959)

Directed by J. Lee Thompson this film stars Kenneth More, Lauren Bacall, Herbet Lom and I. S. Johar. In 1905 a British Army Captain and an American governess seek to protect a six year old Hindu prince from a Muslim uprising.

The general plot of this film is fairly simplistic with a group of people trying to escape from rebels by using a steam train and there are some decent set pieces along the way. What really helps strengthen the film is the diversity of characters allowing the film to explore a good range of views on British imperialism and the situation in India. There are some nice landscape shots but there is never really enough action to really keep you on the edge of your seat.

4/5

The hound is abound

The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959)

Directed by Terence Fisher this film based on the novel of the same name stars Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Andre Morell and Marla Landi. Sherlock Holmes is hired to protect a country lord from a family curse.

Generally this film sticks roughly to the plot of the original story with a few changes which I am not sure add to the story but do not detract either. The plot itself is fairly average and fits in well with the other Hammer Horror films of the period. What is slightly disappointing is the direction never really has much of a horror edge to it and the dog in a mask is pretty obviously done on the cheap.

3/5

Remember the Torrin

In Which We Serve (1942)

Written, directed by as well as staring Noel Coward (with directorial assistance from David Lean) this film also features John Mills, Bernard Miles, Celia Johnson and Richard Attenborough. A newly commissioned destroyer in the British Navy and it's crew experience the beginning of WW2.

This is one of the classic British propaganda films made during WW2 which focuses on unity and survival rather than being triumphalist boasting like you get in some propaganda films. The plot balances action sequences with the crew's home front personal drama to give a well rounded story that looks at both the reasons for fighting and the costs of doing so. Most of the action sequences were directed by David Lean and work well given that the film was made during a time of scarce resources.

4/5

No secrets

The Last Keepers (2013)

Directed by Maggie Greenwald this film stars Zosia Mamet, Virginia Madsen, Aidan Quinn, Olympia Dukakis and Sam Underwood. The teenage daughter of a family of artists with unusual beliefs falls in love and finds she has special powers.

This is the latest in a long line of films trying to win big in the teen market and this one fails pretty badly. The plot is weak, derivative and has too many unearned moments, it also lacks and kind of real antagonist. Some of the acting is a little wobbly but the soundtrack is one of the cheapest half attempts I have heard in a long time.

1/5

A nation on trial

Judgement at Nuremberg (1961)

Directed by Stanley Kramer this film stars Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Richard Widmark and Maximilian Schell. Four German law makers go on trial for their part in the Nazi regime in the lead up to and during WW2.

While this is not a true story it takes it's cue from the trial of real judges at Nuremberg and does a good job of staying realistic as well as show casing some of horrid attitudes of the period. The story manages to take this specific trial and frame the discussion as to how it reflects on German society as a whole for that period. There are good performances from the cast and a good supporting cast including Judy Garland and a young William Shatner.

4/5

Blue Caprice

The Washington Snipers (2013)

Directed by Alexandre Moors this film based on real events stars Isaiah Washington, Tequean Richmond, Joey Lauren Adams and Tim Blake Nelson. An abandoned teenager falls under the sway of a controlling father figure.

It seems that this film strays from events and at times left me frustrated as it failed to show major events. If this was a fictional film I think the ambiguity would work better but when we are dealing with real events the viewer has a greater sense of wanting to know why things happened. In general I think this is a superficially interesting film that never really gets to grips with it's subject matter.

2/5

Often said

Enough Said (2013)

Written and directed by Nicole Holofcener this film stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener and Toni Collette. A single mother starts dating a divorced man while befriending his ex-wife without either of them knowing that she knows their ex.

Essentially this film follows the standard formula for a romantic comedy and offers little in the way of surprises. What is nice about the film is that it focuses on middle aged characters looking for a second chance at love and has some personality but never really rises above being a standard genre film. There is a really great cast but I am not sure that the film ever really gets the best out of them.

3/5

A dog, cats, cows and the last woman alive

The Wall (2012)

Directed by Julian Polsler this film based on the novel of the same name stars Martina Gedeck. A woman finds herself alone and trapped by an invisible wall in a mountain valley in Austria.

This film might not be for everyone but the story does a great job of exploring the ideas of survival, loneliness and looking at what difference if any there is between human and animal. At times the story moves slowly shifting between seasons but it gives you a real feeling of a way of life that most of us have left behind. I really loved the great landscape shots and the cinematopraghy is pretty much stunning through out.

5/5

Vampire, witch, why not both?

Black Sunday (1960)

Directed by Mario Bava this film stars Barbara Steele, John Richardson, Ivo Garrani and Arturo Dominici. In 1630 a woman is put to death by her brother for Satanic crimes and two hundred years later she rises again to curse her brother's descendent.

This film has been hugely influential on the horror genre and it brings a level of gore not really seen up to the point it was made but the story itself is not that different from many efforts in the genre. The plot ticks along nicely and does what it is designed to do but is not what you would call tension filled. Most of the acting is passable if unremarkable and similarly I would not say the direction stands out either.

3/5

Air compressor problems

Nebraska (2013)

Directed by Alexander Payne this film stars Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb and Bob Odenkirk. A man takes his alcoholic and slightly senile father on road trip to see if he has won $1 million.

Like many of Payne's other films this film has plenty of personality and charm to it despite a fairly slow moving nature. The plot does a good job of showing the different experiences of two generations and how life is changing in small town America. About the only complaint I have about this film is that shooting in black and white seems like a big mistake given that there are so many great landscape shots but the performances are really good.

4/5

Disney on Disney

Saving Mr Banks (2013)

Directed by John Lee Hancock this film based on a true story stars Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Paul Giamatti and Colin Farrell. Walt Disney attempts to get the rights to adapt Mary Poppins to the screen from prickly author P. L. Travers.

As is often the case it seems that what really happens tends to have been of less interest to the film makers here than telling a great story. While what we end up with is a really moving story it is somewhat of a disappointing white wash that makes Disney look much better than reality. There is a great cast which has impressive strength in depth and Emma Thompson really carries the film with an excellent performance.

4/5

The curse of Ananka

The Mummy (1959)

Directed by Terence Fisher this film stars Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Yvonne Furneaux and George Pastell. 1895, in Egypt a team of British archaeologists uncover the tomb of a lost princess but are warned against disturbing it due to an ancient curse.

Being fairly well made this is another average monster horror from the Hammer Horror studio and you can see it's influence on the more recent 1999 film of the same name. Where the film falls down slightly is that there are long flash back exposition sequences that could probably have been handled better. Generally the film is well made for it's low budget and does a good job of capturing the Egyptian locations.

3/5

Flush

Plush (2013)

Directed and co-written by Catherine Hardwicke this film stars Emily Browning, Cam Gigandet, Xavier Samuel and Dawn Olivieri. Following the death of her bother and band mate a singer cheats on her husband with the new band member.

This film never misses an opportunity to do the predictable and every element of the story is flagged up well in advance. It is hard to find much positive to say about the story when it is something you have seen so many times before. Beyond Emily Browning the cast does not pack much punch and Frances Fisher is really wasted in a small role.

2/5

Stalking Seattle

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

Directed by Nora Ephron this film stars Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Bill Pullman and Ross Malinger. A woman hears a man talking on the radio about how he struggles to overcome the death of his wife and she becomes obsessed with him.

At the time of release this film was a smash hit but when you break it down the film is not really romantic instead promoting bad ideas of romanticising people you do not know and essentially stalking them. If there was a much darker take on this plot then it might have been an interesting watch but this is disappointing Hollywood tripe. Given that Nora Ephron is one of the top female directors in Hollywood this film is a real let down.

2/5

Survival of who?

Animal Kingdom (2010)

Written and directed by David Michod this film stars James Frecheville, Ben Mendelsohn, Guy Pearce and Jacki Weaver. Following the death of his mother to an overdose a 17 year old goes to live with the criminal side of his family.

This is a great brooding drama which shows a family of criminals slowly cracking under police pressure. While the plot may not be that different to anything you have seen before it is handled expertly with great characters and never stretches events beyond believability. The direction is spot on with a great use of music and slow tempo that really keeps you on the edge of your seat.

5/5

Not experimental

The Quatermass Xperiment (1955)

Directed by Val Guest this film based on the television serial of the same name stars Brian Donlevy, Jack Warner and Richard Wordsworth. After having been out of contact an experimental space craft crashes to Earth with two of the three crew members missing.

This is what you might consider fairly simple B-movie fare that is more inclined to horror than sci-fi. You could see this as a predecessor to some of the genre greats that have followed but the really basic nature of the plot makes this a pretty empty watch. Some of the special effects are not bad given this film was made on the cheap but really it is hard to find a lot to praise here.

3/5

Buzzwords and fast moves

Syrup (2013)

Directed by Aram Rappaport this film based on the novel of the same name stars Shiloh Fernandez, Amber Heard, Kellan Lutz and Brittany Snow. A young graduate who loves marketing pitches a new drink to a major soft drinks company.

There is plenty of interesting stuff to explore in the ideas this film looks at but sadly it is neither as slick or as clever as it thinks it is. Much like marketing itself this film often seems to employ fast talking rather than substance and I the themes never connect with the characters on an emotional level. Amber Heard is the stand out performer but the script is all over the place never really giving the film a chance.

2/5

Fantasy land

The Butler (2013)

Directed by Lee Daniels this film inspired by real events stars Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo and Cuba Gooding, Jr. Change in the racial attitudes of people in the United States is seen through the eyes of a black butler working at the White House.

Some real life stories do not need sexing up to make them more interesting and I think this is a clear case of Hollywood needlessly ignoring reality in favour of fantasy. What we get left with ends up being a whole lot less interesting because the truth would be so much more insightful. Some of the casting seems a little strange when it comes to the cameos picked to play the Presidents but the main roles are well acted.

2/5

Monster monster

The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)

Directed by Terence Fisher this film based on the classic novel Frankenstein stars Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Hazel Court and Robert Urquhart. A man in prison awaiting execution tells the story of his life to a priest.

While this is not a perfect adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel it does a fairly decent job of telling the story while being distinct from the famous Universal adaptation. Some of the deeper themes of the novel maybe lost but this is still a good watch even with it's short run time. What stands out most is what director Terence Fisher managed to get out of the low budget the film was made on, so much so that it practically began the Hammer Horror empire.

3/5

Roses and stiff upper lip

Mrs. Miniver (1942)

Directed by William Wyler this film based on the novel of the same name stars Geer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Teresa Wright and Reginald Owen. Family life in a village outside London is disrupted by the start of the Second World War.

Despite being set in England this film is very much an American made film that was co-opted as a propaganda piece as the US entered the war. The plot is a fairly standard slice of home front drama from a middle class point of view that does not really show the true hardships faced by some. At times it does show that the film was made in the US but not egregiously so.

3/5

What?

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Directed by Jim Sharman this film based on the musical of a similar name stars Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick. A newly engaged couple have car trouble one night and seek help at a castle populated by aliens.

If nothing else this film is completely unique in it's blend of science fiction, horror film, 50s rock music and bizarre, unquantifiable qualities. It is hard to know what to make of this film that never really goes anywhere or seems to have much reason to it's madness but it is certainly not the usual fare. Tim Curry is the stand out performance here and there are some nice visual references to classic films.

4/5

Blackmail and injustice

Victim (1961)

Directed by Basil Dearden this film stars Dirk Bogarde, Dennis Price, Sylvia Syms and Peter McEnery. A married barrister with a confused sexuality is caught up in the blackmail of homosexuals.

At the time of release this film was massively controversial but does a good job of showing the plight of homosexual men at a time when homosexual acts were still criminalised. Despite being a social issues film and having a clear agenda the film is never preachy, instead treating the subject matter with subtlety and tact. There are good performances from the cast but there is at least one night time scene that does not show up very well on the black and white film stock.

4/5

Hammer and steak

Dracula (1958)

Directed by Terence Fisher this film based on the novel of the same name stars Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Michael Gough and Melissa Stribling. 1885, Jonathan Harker travels to the castle of Count Dracula, a place where the locals fear to go.

This is not one of the most faithful adaptations you will ever come across but does a fairly good job of keeping the general feel of the book. What the film does well is hint at the sexual undertones of the story without going to excess. While this may not be the most famous or celebrated adaptation it is well made for the budget.

3/5

Secret trial often rials

Closed Circuit (2013)

Directed by John Crowley this film stars Eric Bana, Rebecca Hall, Ciaran Hinds and Jim Broadbent. Two barristers defending a terrorist in a secret trial uncover a conspiracy.

In general this is a pretty slickly made thriller that works fairly well with a good amount of tension and paranoia. Where the film falls down is that it does not really have much interesting to say about the controversial subject of secret trials instead preferring some unrealistic violence instead. I really enjoyed the performances of Rebecca Hall and Eric Bana but the script does not give them a huge amount to work with.

3/5

Ghostbusters in black

R.I.P.D (2013)

Directed by Robert Schwentke this film based on the comic of the same name stars Jeff Bridges, Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Bacon and Mary-Louise Parker. A Boston police officer recently killed by his own partner goes back to Earth as part of the afterlife police hunting dead that do not want to go to hell.

This film has it's moments but most of the time it seems to be a weak rip off of better films. Nothing ever really gets explained fully and we never know enough about the protagonist before he dies to connect with him. Despite a decent cast Mary-Louise Parker is the only real highlight and Jeff Bridges seems to have gone too far over the top with his performance.

2/5

Something to make noise about

The Great Silence (1968)

Directed by Sergio Corbucci this film stars Jean-Louis Trintignant, Klaus Kinski, Vonetta McGee and Fran Wolff. A mute gunfighter with a grudge against bounty hunters helps protect outlawed Mormons in Utah.

This is a rare film willing to really examine one of the staples of it's genre, in this case killing for money and it does a great job. The plot brings out the ideas of state, money and revenge leaving you unsure if anyone in the film is morally right. Having snowscapes as a back drop provides a nice change and the ending of this film impressively underlines the themes of the film in a way you will rarely see.

5/5