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Showing posts from 2015

Film Review: Mockingjay Part 2

As far as high quality, true to the book/source material film adaptations go, this one takes the stand as the best I've seen for a while now. Rereading sections of the book, I'm struck to see just how much is taken word for word, or moment for moment, from the page and transferred to the screen. It seems like for almost 90 odd percent, the screenwriters, Peter Craig, Danny Strong and Suzanne Collins (she's listed too), did a lot of cut, copy and paste. Not that I'm complaining, all of Ms Collin's books continue to draw us into the world she has created, complete with three dimensional characters that have been faithfully portrayed in the films by a truly brilliant cast. The director Francis Lawrence has given us some stunning direction of a collection of scenes that as varied as they are, don't lose their focus. James Newton Howard, almost the only one (aside from the principal cast) to stick around for all four films - has crafted a beautiful score to

TV Series review: Constantine

I think it only fair to warn first off (if you didn't already know) that this series has already been cancelled after its first season of thirteen episodes. Quite sad really. Of course there are those who say that they will bring the show back, especially after the main character made a cameo appearance of the most recent Arrow episode, but after hearing the same of Moonlight and others, I'll believe it when I see it. Very fitting really - a lot of weird stuff goes down in this show, anyone who remembers the Keanu Reeves movie back in 2005 will be well prepared for creepy and freaky demons coming out of the woodwork - sometimes literally - and some suspension of belief is called for, but not too much. John Constantine, here portrayed by Welsh actor Matt Ryan, is occult world weary and as the pilot opens, we see he has voluntarily retreated to a mental hospital for events past. Of course, there is no rest for the wicked and its not long before he's pulled back to do

Film Review: Bridge of Spies

In this world of big blockbuster franchises, small indies and the rest, it is a relief to find a great standalone film, that does what it says on the tin. In this case, "cold war thriller". Steven Spielberg is an old school director, who's mandate must be to put his quality stamp on every frame. It is clear that this film follows that same rule. Then there is the screenplay, written by the academy nominated and won Coen brothers and a relative newcomer Matt Charman - every word serves to draw you straight into the world in fear, America in 1957, to be exact. When a film, like this one, is based on a true story, there is always an extra layer of responsibility to not only accurately (as much as possible) portray what happened, but in such a way that can reach an audience and educate them. It is a true fact of life, those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it. The Coen brothers and Mr Charman have excelled in this area. A good thriller pushes you to

Film Review: Legend

Considering the roles that Tom Hardy has portrayed in the past and the high caliber of his work, when I heard he was going to portray the Kray brothers, real life London gangsters, I was thrilled. Then I heard that Brian Helgeland, he who wrote the screenplay for LA Confidential, Man on fire,  A Knight's Tale and also directed that last one as well, would be directing and wrote the screenplay for this latest venture. Its a dark tale, full of violence of one kind or another at multiple points. Its based on the book by John Pearson. Mr Helgeland does not shy away from these moments, but at that the same time, they do not dominate every moment, just overshadows them. It is a fine line, one that Mr Helgeland manages well and also drops in moments of humour, even when everything appears to be going to pot. And no doubt is about to. The good news continued with the rest of the cast and crew. Emily Browning, Christopher Eccleston - its been too long - Paul Anderson, Colin Morgan, Ta

TV Series Review: Daredevil

A lot of the superhero - and other genres - of tv series (as well as films) have been described as gritty, dark and realistic. That's the current trend of what is being made and remade and I've used those terms myself, I'll admit. What they (and I) really mean is that the black and white heroes/villains tropes and stereotypical plot lines have been chucked and replaced with many layered characters who are constantly breaking the usual boundaries of what is expected and stories that keep you guessing and surprising you at every turn. Daredevil is the next series in this ongoing trend (long may it continue) to hold your interest and time for more than one episode. And joy of joys, there are no voiceovers at the beginning, or the end of the episode. You know the ones, with the "this is the moral of the story" tone. Its refreshing and addictive, right now I am resisting the rising urge to watch another episode (have watched four so far) and my resolve is crumbl

TV Series Review: iZombie

The similarities between this and Veronica Mars should not put you off watching this new creation from Rob Thomas. What saves this from having only one season before being cancelled, is what saves a lot of other great shows. Excellent, witty - banter. It occurs between all the characters, good and bad, and has a lot of pop culture references dropped in throughout that keeps you on your toes. Procedural storyline, only fair as the main character - Liv Moore (Rose McIver) works in the police morgue and so a great deal of the bodies are there as a result of foul play. Her presence there goes both ways, as a newly formed zombie/med student, she gets food - brains of the recently deceased and a job. Her boss Ravi (Rahul Kohli) soon figures out her secret and is her confidant in a way and also helps provide much of the comic relief. And after digesting said brains, she also gets that person's memories, which also helps her new partner - Clive (Malcolm Goodwin), a detective in t

Film Review: Son of a gun

Quentin Tarantino's films, always seem to have a few scenes, where everything is tense and every moment hinges on whatever is said or done. Very much, edge of your seat viewing. For this film, Julius Avery's writing and directing feature debut, that same level of intensity and sharpness is maintained for the full hour and forty eight minutes. For those viewing who's hometown is the city of Perth, (where the film is set and filmed) it is even more of a strong film that draws you in and makes it so hard to come down from. JR, portrayed by Brenton Thwaites, is in jail for a minor offence. Mr Thwaites is a fine actor, I would go as so far to say, a Heath Ledger in waiting. While inside, he meets Ewan McGregor's and Matt Nable's characters, Brendan Lynch and Sterlo respectively. Both are great actors and in this they prove their depth and skill. Its Brendan who is the more charismatic out of the two, but as the film unfolds, the other parts of his deeply layere

Film Review: Woman in Gold

A lot of reviews gave the impression that this film had a very 'paint by numbers' vibe, one even had that as the title. What they meant by this, was that this was a simplified version of the true story and that you knew exactly which way it would all end up going. Another reviewer said the direction and the score was very heavy handed. Clearly the reviewer was watching another film entirely. I have just returned from seeing Woman in Gold and it gives me great pleasure to be able to full refute such claims and say what an absolute stunner the film is. The 'based on a true story' route automatically gives the people working on such a film, all of them, from director to floor runner, huge responsibility to not only tell the story well and make a good film, but to really bring the people and period to life that gives the audience a look at what the history was truly like. After all, those that do not know their history are doomed to repeat it. Anyway, Simon Curtis

Mini Series Review: The Game

Like with any truly excellent thriller, this one pulls you in from the get go and keeps you thoroughly intrigued by the goings on of undercover work in the 1970's, in London. Which is when the world was very much afraid of what Soviet Russia was up to. The mood of the times and the subsequent actions of the main characters are faithfully recreated, as are the period cars, costume and every piece of essential paraphernalia, including the typewriter. Brian Cox steadies the raft of (relative) unknown cast members, Joe Hughes (as Joe Lamb, the protagonist), Jonathan Aris, Victoria Hamilton, Shaun Dooley, Paul Ritter, Chloe Pirrie and Marcel Iures. All give their roles their all, something that sets this series from others, is that every character has many layers for us (and the other characters) to unravel. Just when you think you have them pegged, they reveal yet another layer and its something else for you to think about, after first considering the various happenings of the ep

Mini Series Review: Wolf Hall

Based on the books by Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall details Henry VIII's desire to divorce his first wife and all that that entails, from the point of view of a lawyer - Thomas Cromwell. Here he is portrayed by Mark Rylance. Cromwell starts (in the pilot) as lawyer to the slowly fading (in power and later health) Cardinal Wolsey, here portrayed by Jonathan Pryce. Both men are quick witted with the other powerful men that they come into contact with, Henry VIII (here portrayed by Damian Lewis), Sir Thomas More (here portrayed by Anton Lesser), among others.  A more than just essential quality, knowing when and what to say and in what manner often meant the difference in whether your fortunes would rise or fall or - if you were going to get a little more than usual taken off the top. Hats off to the writers for keeping the pace swift and the barbed and veiled comments coming from all directions - yet you still follow the story with little to no difficulty. The rest of the (major) c

Film Review: What we did on our Holiday

The plan is for the family to celebrate the grandfather's 75th birthday up in Scotland, but like a lot of best laid plans, the whole thing rapidly goes to pot, in a perfectly off kilter way. The film has been marketed and trailered as a family comedy, but here is the disclaimer - its not completely that. Fair warning: there are some teary moments, and its a pity the MTV Movie Awards' "Best WTF Moment" nominees have been announced, because there are several in this film that would probably wipe the board on that one. Doug (David Tennant) and Abi (Rosamund Pike) and their three young kids (who steal the show) Jess, Lottie and Mickey (Harriet Turnbull, Emilia Jones and Bobby Smalldridge respectively) travel up to Scotland to Doug's brother Gavin's (Ben Miller) and his wife Margaret (Amelia Bullmore) house. Their son Kenneth, is portrayed by Lewis The grandfather, Gordie - portrayed by Billy Connolly - really, who else could do that role, is the perfect foil

Mini Series Review: Sons of Liberty

Whenever a new historical drama (or sometimes comedy) comes along, there are always those who nitpick and say its not historically accurate. And there are those that enjoy a good drama, historical or otherwise and appreciate the storytelling for what it is - a story. To the former, I would say, find a documentary and watch that, and to the latter, I would say - watch Sons of Liberty because it is the best historical drama I have watched in a while. The story starts in 1765, a full eleven years before the words 'declaration' and 'independence' were used in the same sentence to mean something significant - so already we're looking at an old story in a new way. That's something that will never get old - no matter which historical event (or person) you look at, there are at least three or more different sides you can take and probably more ways of using them in a story to make it fluid enough to make some sense. With this one, the familiar names are all here