Illness of the minds vs sickness of the soul

Oculus (2013)

Directed by Mike Flanagan this film stars Karen Gillan, Brenton Thwaites, Rory Cochrane and Katee Sackhoff. Ten years after the events we wonder if a haunted mirror or human evil were the reason for the destruction of a family as two children now grown up revisit the murder/suicide of their parents.

There is a lot to like about this film which is filled with the psychological over the gory or cheap shocks and does an amazing job of mixing two time periods without ever being confusing. Where the film is a little weaker is relying on the usual cliché of blurring the line between mental illness and the super natural. The direction is excellent and this is a really creepy film.

4/5

Revenge is a dish best served elsewhere

The Other Woman (2014)

Directed by Nick Cassavetes this film stars Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Kate Upton. Three women find out they are involved with the same man and seek revenge on him.

There is a really good premise for a film here and the film even hints at exploring some interesting ideas of womanhood but it never gets there. It takes too long for the plot to get started and the “revenge” portion which is the main draw is a disappointing after thought. Leslie Mann is the funniest even if she has little to work with but Nikolaj Coster-Waldau seems an ill fit for a comedy and Kate Upton essentially has a character that was an after thought to the film makers.

2/5

Human pets

Fantastic Planet (1973)

Directed by Rene Laloux this animated film based the novel “Oms en serie” has voice acting from Eric Baugin and Jennifer Drake. In the future advanced aliens on a another planet keep humans as pets.

This film does a good job at looking at the way we treat animals asking some real questions about our assumed superiority and the darker side of our relationship with our pets. While this is a fairly simple plot with a short run time it is an interesting watch. There are some totally bizarre images that really capture a fantastic planet.

4/5

Shockingly there are killers in the woods

Treehouse (2014)

Directed by Michael Bartlett this film stars J. Michael Trautmann, Dana Melanie and Daniel Fredrick. Two teenage brothers head into the woods one night and find a 17 year old girl that has escaped kidnappers hiding in a tree house, one brother goes for help.

This is a pretty decent set up for a horror film but the plot ends up not really going anywhere interesting. While there is some tension the characters seem to be a paper thin after thought that are weak and the ending voyages into the land of the silly. For what it is the film is executed decently and Dana Melanie gives a pretty good performance.

2/5

What a waste

Tammy (2014)

Directed by Ben Falcone this film stars Melissa McCarthy, Susan Sarandon, Allison Janney and Gary Cole. A young woman gets fired from her fast food job, leaves her husband and goes on a road trip with her alcoholic grandmother.

The plot of this film breaks little if any new ground, having a female slacker protagonist might be slightly unusual but that is about the stretch of it. There is not much in the way of humour or anything insightful as you are just waiting for the film to make it's token attempt at passing through all the expected beats. What is most disappointing about this film is the amazing supporting cast is completely underused in every case.

2/5

Burning beneath the surface

Silent Hill (2006)

Directed by Christophe Gans this film based on the computer game of the same name stars Radha Mitchell, Laurie Holden, Jodelle Ferland and Sean Bean. A woman with an adopted daughter that sleep walks and has repeated nightmares about the same ghost town takes the child to the town in question.

There is a lot to enjoy about the imagery of this film but the plot is nothing special really including a lot of the usual genre fare. I could have done with a longer introduction to convince me that the mother had a good reason for taking the girl to the town but otherwise the film holds together well enough. Some of the CGI is on the edge of looking dated, I would also say the film is more gory than truly scary.

3/5

A window into darkness

Night and Fog (1955)

Directed by Alain Resnais this documentary is narrated by Michel Bouquet with a script from Jean Cayrol. Alternating between historic footage and stock footage shot 10 years later we explore the Holocaust.

Despite it's short run time this is a clear and methodical exploration of the Holocaust. It is impressive how much detail is fitting into such a short film and how compelling it is. No punches are pulled, footage used is often haunting and leaves the viewer with only questions about how something like this could occur.

5/5

Caution where caution was not needed

Anzio (1968)

Directed by Edward Dmytryk this film based on a book of the same name stars Robert Mitchum, Peter Falk and Robert Ryan. During WW2 Allied forces land at Anzio in an attempt to bypass the tough German defensive line and cease Rome.

The plot of this film inserts a fictional story into historical events, real characters have their names changed (no doubt for legal reasons) and the the story never really hits the heights of some of it's contemporaries. Along the way there are at least some attempts to explore the nature of war even if they never have any real depth while the mixing of fiction and non-fiction leaves the film being neither one thing or the other. Unfortunately there are times where you can see this film has been made somewhat on the cheap but for the most part it is not a bad watch for all it's failings.

3/5

Ape starts war

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

Directed by Matt Reeves this film stars Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Keri Russell, Gary Oldman and Toby Kebbell. Ten years after Simian Flu has decimated the population of humans contact is made between the survivors of humanity and Ceasar's apes living in the forest.

From start to finish this is a really touching film that is fully of the tragedy of failure to trust between different communities. Emotionally and thematically this film is excellent and I think it's a step up from the previous film in the series, something you rarely find. The special effects are amazing and the ape performances constantly steal the show with the level of emotion and realism they manage to achieve.

5/5

Flaming failure?

Flaming Creatures (1963)

Directed by Jack Smith this experimental film stars Piero Heliczer, Frances Francine, Cheila Bick and Joel Markman. Nudity, sex and orgies are the focus of this short film.

If you are looking for a narrative or plot you came to the wrong place, this film has plenty of repeated ideas or themes but nothing in the way of story. To me this film seemed to be more about shock value than anything else and I found little to really enjoy or make sense of here. The version I watched had pretty dire image quality too.

2/5

Highway to the boring zone

High Flight (1957)

Directed by John Gilling this film stars Ray Milland, Kenneth Haigh, Anthony Newley and Bernard Lee. In peace time a group of cadets begins trying to fly jets in the RAF.

This is a light weight Top Gun (1986) with out the action or interesting characters. Essentially this is an RAF recruiting exercise that just about manages to go through the motions based on a weak script. There are a few nice flying moments but not enough by far and the film stock that was used does not give the greatest image quality either.

2/5

Journey into darkness

Cold in July (2014)

Directed by Jim Mickle this film based on the novel of the same name stars Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard and Don Johnson. Texas 1988, a man accidentally shoots a burglar and finds himself drawn into a strange world of crime.

While this film may seem like a very familiar genre piece to start with if you stick with it you will be rewarded as it wanders off all over the place. I am not sure the plot ever is completely explained or makes sense but this is still a fascinating watch from start to finish. The film is moody and surprising through out with a great pulsating electronic soundtrack.

4/5

Beckham, Butt, Giggs, Neville, Neville and Scholes

The Class of '92 (2013)

Directed by Ben & Gabe Turner this documentary features contributes from footballers and non-footballers. We follow six players who came through the youth system at Manchester United at the same time and rose all the way to become champions of Europe together.

Mostly this documentary focuses on friendship and the bond between players who experienced something so unique together which does work fairly well but does come across as a pretty gentle narrative. Even as a United fan I found this a bit too celebratory and I really wanted more on the story of these players coming through the youth ranks as well as the players that did not make it. I could have done with out some of the non-football contributions such as Tony Blair trying to build some greater narrative about Britain of the time but this is still an enjoyable watch.

3/5

Bikes and music

Scorpio Rising (1963)

Directed by Kenneth Anger this short film stars Bruce Byron, a rock and roll sound track and no dialogue. A biker works on his bike and prepares for a night out.

Plot and story are something only hinted at in this film which is like a 30 minute music video that meanders through various iconography. While it might not be for everyone this is a fascinating watch that captures a sub culture without ever putting words to anything. If you are in the mood for something different this is certainly a short film worth watching.

4/5

Proto Indiana

Secret of the Incas (1954)

Directed by Jerry Hopper this film stars Charlton Heston, Nicole Maurey and Thomas Mitchell. An American living in Peru by taking advantage of tourists seeks to make his fortune by finding a lost Inca treasure.

Undeniably this film is one of the key influences on Indiana Jones films but is a pale version of the later films it inspired. The plot rattles along nicely but is not what you would call action filled or with particularly deep characters, the protagonist is a bit more Han Solo than Indiana Jones really. Using the real location of Machu Picchu is nice but it is not photographed to really capture it's breath taking look.

3/5

The fault in our adaptation?

The Fault in Our Stars (2014)

Directed by Josh Boone this film based on the novel of the same name stars Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort and Nat Wolff. A 16 year old girl suffering from cancer is obsessed with a book by a reclusive author and falls in love with another cancer sufferer.

As an adaptation this film reflects the book it is based on fairly well but at times it feels like a highlights version rather than having all the depth of the novel when it comes to the exploration of mortality. There are times when things get a bit cheesy and I'm not sure things that work on the page work on the screen but overall the story is well handled. I enjoyed the performance from Woodley but I'm not sure that the film ever goes far enough into the characters illness and physical suffering to be a truly realistic peace.

4/5

Iranian Lepers

The House Is Black (1962)

Directed by Forough Farrokhzad this documentary looks at like in an Iranian leper colony. Film of lepers living their day to day life is combined with narration from religious texts and poetry.

One has to wonder if this film could be made in a modern Iran because to me the juxtaposition of the terrible lives of those in the film and the religious text implies an uncaring god at best. However you interpret the film it is certainly an interesting insight into a way of life we would rather not think about and really more should have been done to prevent. Certainly unique and at times challenging to watch this is one of the more interesting short films I have seen.

4/5

In Soviet Russia Love Triangle Less Important than Patriotic Duty

By the Bluest of Seas (1936)

Directed by Boris Barnet this film stars Yelena Kuzmina, Nikolai Kryuchkov and Lev Sverdlin. Two men are sent to work on a small island in the Caspian sea and both fall in love with the head of the collective.

You could say that this film is pretty rudimentary at times with a very basic plot that is pretty much Soviet propaganda in parts. Given the short run time it is no surprise the story is so simple but there was still time for a bit more depth. There are some nice shots of the sea but other times the image quality is not great and you can see the film maker still getting to grips with the transition between silent and sound films.

2/5

History and cliche

Belle (2013)

Directed by Amma Asante this film stars Gug Mbatha-Raw, Tom Wilkinson, Miranada Richardson and Emily Watson. The mixed race daughter of an aristocrat is raised in England by the Lord Chief Justice and his wife during the last 1700s.

Taking a true historical story this film explores ideas of racism and sexism of the period it is set in and while the basis is a truly fascinating story the usual genre clichés jammed in all over the place. Despite being a decent watch it is some what disappointing that historical accuracy has been sidelined in such a unique story for what we so often get anyway from films set in this period. The film is well made and a good period effort but falls short of what it could have been.

3/5

36 > 8

The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter (1983)

Directed by Lau Kar-leung this film stars Gordon Liu, Alexander Fu, Kara Hui and Ko Fei. One son of a general survives the death of his fathers and brothers and the hands of treacherous fighters.

This film shares the same director with 36^th Chamber of Shaolin (1978) and unsurprisingly the basic plot is largely the same. I found this to be a weaker version of the earlier film but still an enjoyable watch even if there is not a lot of originality here. Some of the special effects are a step further from with more crazy magic on show here but the story lacks some heart in my opinion.

3/5

Deliver us from unoriginality

Deliver Us from Evil (2014)

Directed by Scott Derrickson this film allegedly inspired by real events stars Eric Bana, Edgar Ramirez and Olivia Munn. A veteran New York police officer with a radar for trouble finds himself investigating what looks like demonic possession.

There is nothing new here and while the film skirts round the ideas of the route of evil it never goes anywhere with them. At some points the characters are really annoying, refusing to talk to each other for no good reason other than to drag out the story. The direction is pretty good but the content is so generic this ends up being just another horror film in a sea of many.

3/5

An idea is not enough

Sex Tape (2014)

Directed by Jake Kasdan this film stars Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Rob Corddry and Ellie Kemper. Seeking to spice up their sex life a married couple with kids make a sex tape only for it to get out into the wild.

It takes a while for this film to get to it's premise and once it does it never really goes anywhere with the idea. There is a kernel of a good idea for a comedy here but the film makers seem to think that is enough to carry the film and it really is not. Jack Black provides a few laughs in his cameo but otherwise there is not really enough humour in this film.

2/5

Nudity, art and no money

Hold Me While I'm Naked (1966)

Directed by George Kuchar this short film stars Donna Kerness, Stella Kuchar and the film's director. An independent film maker struggles to make his art which involves various sex scenes.

The aesthetic of this film is described as “low-fi” which means cheap and highly rough which will put some people off. As a parody of independent film making and those with an inflated opinion of themselves this is not bad but the short run time does not allow for a huge amount of depth. If you can look past some of the flaws of the film this is not too bad of a watch.

2/5

The little island that could

Next Goal Wins (2014)

Directed by Mike Brett and Steve Jamison this documentary follows the American Samoan national football team. American Samoa are the worst ranked nation in world football having never won a competitive match and holding the record for the largest defeat.

This documentary does an amazing job of exploring a group that play football for the love of the game in an era when it is so commercialised. I would like to have seen a little more of the players day to day lives but the film does a great job of exploring so many varied themes you can forgive it for leaving out a little. There is some really great cinematography and the film never gives into sentimentality.

4/5

Eco-warriors laid bare

Night Moves (2013)

Directed by Kelly Reichardt this film stars Jesse Eisenberg, Dakota Fanning and Peter Sarsgaard. Three environmentalists plan and carry out an act of eco-terrorism by blowing up a dam.

If you are expecting an action packed film look elsewhere but otherwise this is a great slow burning film that really drills in on the psychological side of things. The story is a low key and grounded, really putting you in the events it follows and shows the warts and all consequences of the characters actions. I thought this film was excellently made, it is tense through out and the direction always has you on the edge of your seat without ever being flashy.

5/5

10 cent film

Million Dollar Arm (2014)

Directed by Craig Gillespie this film based on a true story stars Jon Hamm, Suraj Sharma, Madhur Mittal, Lake Bell and Bill Paxton. A sports agent that is struggling to run his own agency plans a last ditch effort to make some money by finding an Indian that can play professional baseball.

Traipsing through the usual clichés of the genre there is little of originality in this “learn people are more important than money” story. While the film does fairly well not becoming overly sentimental it does come with a huge slice of cheese and trades heavily on stereotypes. There is some annoying shaky camera work and disappointingly the big name supporting cast in Paxton and Arkin are underused.

2/5

An incomplete visit

A Day in the Country (1936)

Written and directed by Jean Renoir this film stars Sylvia Bataille, Georges D'Arnoux, Jane Marken and Andre Gabriello. In 1860 a family of Parisians travel to spend the day lunching in the countryside where two local men eye up the lady folk.

This is a short film that is not complete as Renoir imagined it but the narrative does hold together at least. I found the story to be a little simple and not with much depth but that could well be due to the incomplete nature of the film. The does look pretty good but not remarkably so in my opinion.

3/5

Luke warm in Arabia

Escape from Zahrain (1962)

Directed by Ronald Neame this film based on the novel “Appointment in Zahrain” stars Yul Brynner, Jack Warden and Madlyn Rhue. Following a break out an Arab revolutionary, an American embezzler and other criminals seek to escape across the desert.

While this film makes some pretence to explore imperialism in the Arab peninsula it never goes very deep into the matter but at least it offers a surprisingly liberal out look for the time it was made. Disappointingly a lot of the plot is a second rate knock off of Ice Cold in Alex (1958) but offers little of the tension of the earlier film. At times some of the camera tricks and special effects are a little too obvious but if this is the type of film you are into it is not a bad watch.

3/5

Days of past not enough future

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

Directed by Bryan Singer this film stars Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart. In the future Mutants are kept in camps and hunted by killer robots, the only option left is to send someone back in time to prevent the future ever happening.

Having to put the X-Men franchise back together after the disaster of X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) was a major effort but this film provides an elegant reboot using one of the iconic story lines from the comics. Unfortunately the plot of the film focuses too much on the 1973 portion of the story which lacks the huge scale and darkness of the future portions which I would love to have seen more of as in the comics. The plot does a decent job on a character level, expanding the characters from the First Class (2011) but is not as good as some of the other films in the franchise. There is plenty of enjoy and the action sequences are decent but I am not sure this is the best version of Days of Future Past we could have had.

4/5

Too many heroes don't quite spoil the broth

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Written and directed by Joss Whedon this film has a large cast including Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johnasson and Mark Ruffalo. After recovering Loki's sceptre Tony Stark can't help but use it to try and create an AI which ends up back firing.

This is the epitome of a fast food movie, the plot moves along at a breakneck pace with relentless action and humour but is only ever fun not something with a real soul. Maybe the film suffers from having a crowded cast but so many ideas go undeveloped that it would have been better if this had been a three hour film. There are the trappings of familiar sci-fi ideas here but the fast pace of the film means that Ultron never really gets explored with any depth.

As someone who has stayed clear of nearly all the pre-release material there were plenty of surprises and things for me to enjoy along the way. There are a at least a couple of great moments and some interesting attempts to do different things with the characters but the film also redundantly repeats some of the “learning to be a team” elements of the first film. I think the first Avengers film was a much cleaner effort and while this film is enjoyable it offers little for the grey matter.

4/5