Affleck as Batman – another view
Yes I am jumping on the bandwagon by discussing what could be this year’s biggest bit of casting news. Ben Affleck has been cast as an “older and wiser” Bruce Wayne in the Superman/Batman film.
My issue is not with Affleck’s casting (true Daredevil was awful but Affleck has come a long way and is one of the greatest directors working today). I take issue with the idea that Superman and Batman can work together in a film. Although they work well together in comic book form, audiences have taken to the realistic element of superheroes like fish to water. By having these two heavy weights in the same film it just doesn’t gel for me. The Avengers worked because Marvel has always been lighter than DC and they also had Whedon at the helm who is in my mind the Master of Ensemble casting.
The Dark Knight Rises was only released last year and to already have this in the pipeline seems as if this critically and commercially lauded franchise is just being put out to pasture. Man of Steel was for me an extremely disappointing film. It was too dark and lacked any form of charisma and charm which is what Superman needs.
If Affleck’s Batman is to be as similarly dark as Bale’s or Cavill’s Superman then it’s going to be one long torturous film with not a smile in the house.
Ben Affleck isn’t the world’s greatest actor but he is charismatic and can hold his own. Part of me wishes they’d given him directing duties instead of casting him as Bruce Wayne. Alternatively they should have had him cast as another Batman instead of Bruce Wayne. What are your thoughts on this casting news?
Halfway Through the Movie Year
My radio silence should hopefully be over movie fans with my crazy brain starting to improve.
We’re nearing the end of July and it got me thinking about my “Films to look forward to in 2013” article back in the New Year. From reading through it some of them have been fantastic, whereas others have been disappointment. Let’s recap and see if my predictions were right or wrong.
The Impossible:
This was the first film of the New Year that I saw and I’m glad to say my prediction was right. The Impossible was a truly phenomenal film and a masterclass in storytelling. True the politics were everywhere but as a film it was engrossing, horrifying, and exceptionally moving. Naomi Watts gave a powerhouse performance and Ewan McGregor reminded us all as to why he is one of the greatest British acting exports of all time.
Man of Steel:
Never have I been more disappointed than when I watched Man of Steel. Whilst I was hoping for a replacement for the Dark Knight trilogy, instead I got a mishmash of “dark” material, a screaming Zod and saw enough smashed up buildings to last a life time. I was really looking forward to Man of Steel but it left me extremely cold and disappointed. It started well but there was no lightness to the film and it was almost a chore to get through it. Fingers crossed the sequel will be far superior and engaging. Although with today’s announcement about a Superman/Batman crossover I’m not holding my breath.
The Great Gatsby:
This film was a truly pleasant surprise to behold. There was far too much razzle dazzle on display and the updated soundtrack didn’t entirely work, but the adaptation itself was phenomenal. Leonardo DiCaprio was on fine form (he rarely disappoints anyway) and Tobey Maguire was surprisingly good as Nick. There were elements of it that didn’t’ quite gel but all in all it was an enjoyable film and more importantly it helped people rediscover the original novel. There was a statistic announced that said that in the week after the film’s release, there were more copies of the novel sold than in Fitzgerald’s lifetime – I call that a resounding success.
Iron Man 3:
I left Iron Man 3 feeling a bit “meh”. That’s the only way I can think to describe it. It was far superior to the second outing but lacked the flair of the first film. I saw this one in IMAX 3D and firstly it has to be said that the 3D was completely pointless and almost painful to watch. The story was good, but Iron Man 3 fell down in its choice of villain. Now I won’t do spoilers here or anything, but the films 3rd act felt a bit like jumping the shark and left me thinking “is that all there is?” Thankfully they ended the film well and there were plenty of laughs throughout. However, getting the villain wrong is never a good thing.
Star Trek Into Darkness:
This has been my favourite film of the year so far. Benedict Cumberbatch was excellent as the villain (with a nice twist that we all saw coming but still enjoyed anyway), the story was airtight and Chris Pine’s Captain Kirk came into his own. I also saw this film in IMAX 3D and was blown away by the effects. JJ Abrams got the casting spot on and toyed with the audience throughout. Star Trek 2 was an exhilarating thrill ride that I can’t wait to take again when it’s released on DVD.
Side Effects:
This film was truly unique and entirely different to what I thought it would be. What began as a searing portrait of the pharmaceutical sector, turned into something much more devious and darker. Rooney Mara was electrifying and it was good to see Jude Law taking on a challenging role. It didn’t entirely work (Its 3rd act twist felt a little unnecessary) but it was still an intriguing film with great acting and an enthralling story. Hopefully Soderbergh’s break from directing won’t last too long!
Django Unchained:
Sublime is how to describe this Tarantino epic. True some were offended by the language and brutality of the film but it was pure class Tarantino and it was fascinating to watch. Christoph Waltz more than deserved his Oscar; I still think it’s criminal that Leonardo DiCaprio and Samuel L Jackson were overlooked for their incredible work. There were only two faults I could find with Django and those were: that it lasted about 20 minutes too long, and that Tarantino cast himself apparently as an Australian. Can’t wait to watch this one again.
Welcome to the Punch:
Average is how I would describe this film. Enjoyable and easy to watch but ultimately it was forgettable and at times I forget that I went to the cinema to see it. The story was ok, as was the action and acting. It definitely didn’t live up to the hype.
Gangster Squad:
Another one that left me feeling a bit cold. Gangster Squad lacked the heart of Lawless and felt like a half-baked attempt to do another Prohibition film. Some of the action was ok, but the only person you cared about in the whole thing was Giovanni Ribisi. The rest of them felt like cannon fodder.
Now there are some films that I’ve not got round to watching yet, and I’ve also seen some phenomenal films that weren’t on my list. Firstly The East was a truly sublime piece of cinema, as was French delight Populaire. It just goes to show how expectations can change at the drop of a hat.
Radio Silence
Apologies my dear people for the radio silence. I will return soon and there will be much movie news to discuss.
Right now I’m in love with the new Star Trek trailer, have ashamedly become addicted to Vampire Diaries and have been focusing far too much on personal issues to celebrate film. This will all change and the Red Sofa will live!
Why Shallow Grave is the best Boyle film
With Trance coming out, I’ve written an article for Flickering Myth on why Shallow Grave is the best Danny Boyle.
Please read, comment, retweet etc
BAFTA Afterthoughts
So the BAFTAs are done for another year and I’m happy to say that some of my predictions didn’t come true! The event itself was quite entertaining: a few good presenters, Stephen Fry on top form and a slightly out of place performance from Paloma Faith, but it came down to the Awards and there were a few surprises.
Leading Actress went to Emmanuelle Riva for her portrayal of Alzheimer sufferer Anne. I was surprised that BAFTA chose to go for an obscure foreign film, but it was nice to see them honouring a truly stunning performance. I’m not sure if anyone was watching closely but David O’Russell’s reaction to Jennifer Lawrence’s loss was quite amusing.
I called Supporting Actress wrong as well with Anne Hathaway scooping yet another award. I usually like Hathaway but her award campaigning has been so over the top that it’s put me off her slightly. Hopefully once the season’s over she’ll return to normality.
Argo was the big winner for me with Ben Affleck making a touching speech about ‘second acts’ and the such like. His transformation from young Hollywood actor to Bennifer and now to award winning director is joyous and I hope he continues making such innovative films.
It was good to see The Imposter getting recognised and Searching for Sugar Man as well. The BAFTAs this year were good to watch and I’m hoping for more surprises in the future.
The BAFTAs approach
It’s a few hours to the BAFTAs and I’m getting rather excited. What is it about an awards ceremony that’s always entertaining to watch? I’m glad Stephen Fry is back on presenting duties, he’s just far more interesting then Jonathan Ross who comes across a bit try hard at times.
Although as I’ve said previously I don’t expect any shock winners tonight here are my predictions for the big awards:
Best Film: Argo
With all the buzz that this film has been getting, I think we will get a pleasant surprise and Ben Affleck will be walking to yet another podium this season.
Outstanding British Film: Skyfall
This seems like a no-brainer and I’ll be surprised if it doesn’t win. We’ve had 50 years of Bond and Skyfall was truly exceptional and well worthy of this award.
Best Foreign Film: Amour
Has it in the bag
Best Director: Ben Affleck
I think BAFTA will honour Affleck considering the snub he got from the Academy.
Original Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino
Tarantino will never win the big awards because of the controversy around his films. But in terms of screenplay his talent is undeniable.
Leading Actor: Daniel Day Lewis
Lewis only does roles that will gain him an award so he has this one all wrapped up.
Leading Actress: Jessica Chastain
I think BAFTA will take the serious route and recognise Chastain for Zero Dark Thirty.
Supporting Actress: Judi Dench
It’s BAFTA, it’s British, it’s all about Bond, Judi Dench should get this one for her last outing.
Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz
Easily the best thing in Django, Waltz should get this prize with no hesitation.
It’s only a few hours so we’ll see how my predictions pan out!
Argo Buzz
Does anyone else find it highly amusing that Argo is winning directing awards left, right and centre; but it isn’t up for the Oscar?
Ben Affleck has been deservedly walking up to the podium again and again but he’ll be firmly in his seat on Oscar night.
Part of me wonders if the Academy is feeling a little sheepish in snubbing several directors this year. Although the nomination lists were extended this year; so many directors, actors, fx guys etc have been ignored (I still can’t believe The Impossible wasn’t even shortlisted for effects). I think on Oscar night a lot of voters are going to awkwardly look the other way as the generic winners are announced.
The New Star Wars
So JJ Abrams has been confirmed as the director for the new Star Wars franchise, what are you thoughts?
In my mind there’s no one better to take the reigns then Abrams. He proved to us with his reboot of Star Trek that he could make an up to date, intelligent and fun movie whilst still paying homage to the greatness of the original – hopefully he does the same with Star Wars. Abrams has openly stated that he loves Wars more than Trek, I think this should give him the edge and will allow him to create a great movie.
The only draw back to the whole story is plot. The original Star Wars movies are phenomenal and they’re filled with great characters, action and so on. The prequels were in my mind pretty much a disaster – whoever thought that casting Hayden Christensen was a good idea should be shot! – the only redeeming moment in those films was in Revenge of the Sith when Anakin finally became Darth Vader. 6 hours of film just to see that. We don’t know yet what direction the new Star Wars is going to take, I just hope that Abrams is given control over proceedings and is allowed to put his own stamp on the franchise. With Disney being a major player there probably won’t be much opportunity for a dark story line but fingers crossed!
Thoughts on the Golden Globes
Was I the only one who thought that the Golden Globes were horrifically predictable this year? Unfortunately due to the fact that I have a job and the need to sleep, I wasn’t able to watch the ceremony live but when I woke up the next day I prayed that there would be a surprise winner. No such luck, the big prizes went to pretty much everyone I thought they would. I’m not trying to be droll (although I can see why you’d think that) but I do wish they’d shake things up a bit.
Daniel Day Lewis accepted another award, Jessica Chastain was a shoe in. It was nice to see Ben Affleck taking on the big guys and winning for Argo though. As a precursor to the BAFTAs and Oscars it looks like Chastain and Lewis will be getting strong biceps with all this award winning. I do wonder though if it might turn out like the year when Mickey Rourke won the Best Actor BAFTA but lost out to the Oscar… only time will tell
Thinking of setting up an alternative awards ceremony that no one will take notice of… thoughts?
At least there was an array of fashion to keep me entertained though.
Best dressed for me was Naomi Watts. I love it when someone can completely cover up but look amazingly sexy as well.
Worst dressed I thought was Eva Longoria. This usually stunning woman just looked a bit off on the big night.
With the BAFTAs fast approaching there’ll be plenty more fashion, predictable awards and fingers crossed some surprises before we hit the big one.
Awards Season – Nominations
So it’s my favourite time of year once again – Awards season! I’m not sure what I love about a good awards ceremony but I always get excited by it.
First off let’s take a look at the BAFTA nominations that came out first.
Not that many surpises this year to be honest, although I’m still reeling from the fact that poor old Leonardo DiCaprio has been snubbed once again – what does the man have to do to get an Oscar?
Glad to see that the BAFTA have included Seven Psychopaths in the Outstanding British Film category. I truly thought Seven Psychopaths was
one of the best films of last year, and a superb follow up to the equally brilliant In Bruges.
I’m yet too see Hitchcock but from the various bits I’ve seen it does seem surprising that Anthony Hopkins hasn’t been recognised for his transformation. Argo looks set to be a contender this year which is nice. Ben Affleck is going from strength to strength and deserves recognition for his work.
When it comes to the big ones – Lead Actor, Lead Actres – it’s no surprise to see Daniel Day Lewis at the forefront of the Actor category. Lincoln hasn’t come out in the UK yet, but my feeling is that Lewis only seems to do films that will attract awards. He is a phenomenal actor, but maybe he should let someone else have a chance! When it comes to Lead Actress it’s good to see Jennifer Lawrence nominated for Silver Linings Playbook. I was quite surprised as although Silver Linings was a good film I didn’t know if it was groundbreaking enough to be nominated. Saying that though it was hilarious and heartfelt and it’s good to see it get some attention.
Check out the full list of BAFTA Nominations here
Now onto the Oscars, and to be honest I’m not entirely happy. My main gripe is with the fact that The Imposter hasn’t been included in the Best Documentary category, and that The Impossible has been overlooked for special effects.
Some artists have been overlooked this year including Kathryn Bigelow, Ben Affleck and Paul Thomas Anderson for Best Director. We all assumed that these three were a shoe in for this award but it seems that the Academy have taken the view point that Zero Dark Thirty, Argo and The Master boast great performances, but the direction isn’t Oscar worthy. The Master has been left off the Best Picture category all together, even though the amount of nominations has been risen to 10!
On the plus side, I’m glad that Naomi Watts was recognised for The Impossible, she was simply phenomenal in it. As I said above it’s good to see Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper recognised for Silver Linings, however, I do think Robert DeNiro and Jacki Weaver as Best Supporting is a bit out of leftfield.
As is usual, Tarantino has been passed over, but what we must remember is that the Academy doesn’t like a controversial film – just take the example of Crash winning Best Film over Brokeback Mountain. I’m still looking forward to the ceremony (and the dresses – I’m a girl deal with it) but I do hope that next year they’ll look at a wider section of films.
Check out the full list of Oscar nominations
Are there any films that you think have been passed over?
BAFTA Rising Star Nominations
It’s awards season once again, my favourite time of year! I’m not a girly girl by any means but the dresses are fantastic and the films are even better.
But being the Brit that I am, I’m looking forward to the BAFTAs already, and the nominations for the BAFTA Rising Star have been announced. It’s nice that there’s an award that the public can go for, and considering previous winners i.e. Tom Hardy, it’s an important award.
The women lead the nominations this year, which is nice to see. The nominations are….
Juno Temple – I first saw her in Atonement but I recently watched Killer Joe and she is definitely one to watch
Elizabeth Olsen – A pleasant surprise, who knew that the Olsen family could actually produce a talent
Andrea Riseborough (who got my vote) – she was fantastic in Shadow Dancer and she’s an amazingly versatile actress
Alicia Vikander – unfortunately not seen her in much!
Suraj Sharma – being able to carry a film essentially alone is no mean feat and it’s going to be interesting to see what he’s going to do next.
Please Vote for BAFTAs Rising Star and celebrate new talent
The New A Good Day to Die Hard Hard trailer
Well the new Die Hard trailer is here and I’m shocked and not in a good way. From the outset it doesn’t feel like a Die Hard movie and there’s some horrific CGI on show. This could well be the death of a much loved franchise. I wanted this film to be good but the Moscow location is just wrong and the villain looks flimsy. Bruce is always entertaining to watch but I think this will be a chore to watch. What do you think? http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=98324
Top 5 trailers of 2012
Hi all below is a link to my Guardian Film blog post about my top 5 trailers of 2012. Please read, enjoy and share 🙂 http://t.co/VvQI0WQu — helen murdoch (@hellidoch)
Films to look forward to in 2013
2012 has been a pretty good year for movies, although there were some shockers; but now it’s time to look ahead to all that 2013 has to offer.
The Impossible
Ignoring the fact that this is the true story of a Spanish family yet a white English family has been cast; The Impossible looks like a fantastic film. Arguments over whether enough time has passed to dramatise the tragic events of Boxing Day 2004 will continue to rage, but as a film addict I’m looking forward to it. Juan Antonio Bayona’s first English speaking film looks set to wow and provide an unflinching portrayal of disaster. I’ve always had a soft spot for Ewan McGregor but he looks on top form in this one. Naomi Watts is sure to get an Oscar nod for this one but for me I want to see the ten minute sequence of the ravaging tsunami that’s a testament to the dedication of Bayona’s direction.
Man of Steel
Now that The Dark Knight trilogy is done and Marvel are churning out film after film, it’s now Superman’s turn to take centre stage. From the trailer it seems that this film is going to have a similar impact to Batman Begins. Zack Snyder isn’t to everyone’s taste, I loathed 300 but loved Watchmen, but I have high hopes for Man of Steel. The casting of the relatively unknown Henry Cavill is intriguing and the trailer itself shows a combination of intense action and emotional maturity. Marvel are excellent at the action part, but when it comes to raw emotion and the stereotypical “dark” element of the superhero genre, DC rules.
The Great Gatsby
Intrigue rather than excitement is drawing me to Baz Luhrmann’s take on F Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel. The two trailers we’ve seen are typical Luhrmann – big, brash and fast editing – but I’m intrigued to see what he does with the source material. As a lover of the book, Leonardo DiCaprio seems perfectly cast as Gatsby and Toby Maguire as narrator Nick Carraway makes sense as well. Where Luhrmann loses me is in the casting of Carey Mulligan as Daisy. Mulligan is a fantastic actress, but simply put she is not Daisy, she is too blonde and fragile to play this tragic heroine. The novel is told entirely from Nick’s POV and he never sees Daisy and Gatsby alone together, so the various scenes of them together might not work. DiCaprio very rarely disappoints so I’m hoping he can carry this film.
Iron Man 3
Robert Downey Jr is a joy to watch and with the first trailer of Iron Man 3 doing the rounds it seems that Tony Stark’s 3rd outing will be no different. From the trailer it does seem that this is following the standard “darker than the predecessor” formula but with a couple of decent villains on show I think Iron Man 3 will live up to expectations. Iron Man 2 was disjointed so with the directing reigns being handed to Shane Black, here’s hoping for a return to form. Action wise it looks like they’ve turned it up to 11, with Stark’s stylish pad being blown to smithereens in the trailer – here’s hoping Pepper Potts makes it.
Star Trek into Darkness
I never liked Star Trek on TV, so I went to see JJ Abrams interpretation with trepidation – and thank God I went. The first film was funny, emotional and packed full of action and great performances and I can’t wait to see what the sequel offers. The unnamed villain played by Benedict Cumberbatch is intriguing and a step up from Eric Bana’s Nero. Cumberbatch has come into his own in the last couple of years and his eerie voiceover in the first trailer looks set to catapult him even further into stardom. All the originals have returned which is excellent as the ensemble nature of Star Trek is what made it such an excellent movie. The title annoys me slightly, but I’m really just looking for a fault.
Elysium
District 9 is in my top 10 sci-fi films ever made, so to see Neil Blomkamp making another film has got me all giddy. Set in the year 2159, a man takes on a mission to bring equality to two worlds. The wealthy live on a man-made space station, whilst everyone else resides on a ruined Earth. Starring Matt Damon, Jodie Foster and the sublime Sharlto Copley, Elysium looks set to top District 9s originality. It’s been quite quiet on the marketing side of things, but a few images have been released and that got my mouth watering. Hopefully a trailer will land soon and I can analyse to my heart’s content.
Side Effects
Who knew that Channing Tatum could act? After a slew of rom-coms and dramas he proved himself in 2012 by taking roles in 21 Jump Street, Haywire, and Magic Mike, all of which showed that there was something more to this dancer/model. Side Effects is his 3rd collaboration with Steven Soderbergh and co-stars Rooney Mara, Jude Law and Catherine Zeta Jones. Following the story of Mara’s descent after taking anxiety pills, it looks like an intriguing examination into the prescription drug culture we live in. It looks like there are plenty of twists and turns along the way so I’m interested to see what Soderbergh does with this one. I had a mixed response to Soderbergh in 2012, I thought Contagion was provocative and interesting, Magic Mike was hilarious and Haywire was all over the place. Hopefully Side Effects will see him back on track.
Django Unchained
Tarantino returns this January with Django Unchained and from the various trailers released, you can tell it’s classic Tarantino. Jamie Foxx is the lead, Christoph Waltz is on hand for the comedy and Leonardo DiCaprio is the racist yet camp villain. It looks like it’s chock full of violence, humour and guns so it’s got my vote as one to watch this year. True it is just shy of 3 hours but I’m hoping that Tarantino does his best to keep me engaged throughout. Tarantino films may be about dark subject matter but ultimately he wants his audience to have fun and this is what Django will deliver.
Passion
Brian DePalma is an unflinching film maker and the trailer for his new film Passion looks packed full of suspicion, intrigue and sex. Starring Noomi Rapace and Rachel McAdams, this film follows a young businesswoman who decides to murder her boss and mentor after she steals her idea. Many tongues are wagging about the sex scenes between Rapace and McAdams so it will be interesting to have a watch and see what all the fuss is about. It’s nice to see McAdams taking on meatier roles rather than the standard rom-coms she churns out throughout the year. Rapace is a fascinating actress so this pairing should make for perfect viewing.
Welcome to the Punch
This gritty crime drama from director Eran Creevy boasts a phenomenal cast including James McAvoy, Mark Strong, Andrea Riseborough, Peter Mullan and many more. It’s been a while since McAvoy took on a gritty role so it’s going to be interesting to see him in this crime thriller.
Maniac
Elijah Wood proved in Sin City that he could be creepy, and next year the remake of Maniac hits our screens. Since snippets of footage emerged from Cannes, this horror has intrigued me and I’ve been waiting for a UK release date for ages. There looks to be a serious amount of carnage going on in Maniac so it’ll be an interesting one to watch.
Zero Dark Thirty
Kathryn Bigelow proved with The Hurt Locker that she knew how to tackle an unconventional war movie and now she’s taking on the biggie – the death of Osama Bin Laden. Lots of politicians have been criticising the film lately due to the depiction of torture, but Bigelow’s film is a portrayal of Bin Laden’s death rather than 100% fact. This film has been in the pipeline for a while and with Jessica Chastain starring it’ll be perfect Oscar bait.
The Sessions
John Hawkes is quite possibly the best character actor in Hollywood at the moment. From bit parts in various movies he’s come into his own recently. The Sessions is the kooky film that always comes around this time of year, but this one actually looks surprisingly good. Telling the true story of Mark O’Brien who was paralysed by Polio as a child, The Sessions follows his determination to lose his virginity via the assistance of sex surrogate Helen Hunt. From the trailer the performances look excellent so here’s hoping it’ll do well at the box office.
Gangster Squad
Its release date had to be pushed back due to the Colorado cinema shooting, but Gangster Squad will hit out screens this January. Although the ending has had to be amended, it still looks like this is going to be a new take on the gangster film. Starring Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin, Emma Stone, Michael Pena, and Sean Penn with a fake nose, Gangster Squad looks set to light the cinema on fire.
Kick Ass 2
The first Kick Ass was hilarious to say the least and I cannot wait for the sequel to land. All the previous cast are returning (always a good sign) and Jim Carrey has signed on and I’m sure he’ll be at his flamboyant best. With an amalgamation of violence, slapstick and pop culture references, Kick Ass 2 isn’t to be missed.
Are there any films that I’ve missed that you’re desperate to see?
Top 10 Films of the Year
Top Ten Films of the Year
1 – The Dark Knight Rises
As a dedicated Nolan fan, the completion of The Dark Knight trilogy was always going to be my number 1 movie of the year. True it was met with mixed reviews from audiences but I wasn’t disappointed at all. When looking at the films as a trilogy they fit together perfectly, and Rises is the perfect swan song for Nolan’s genre defining trilogy.
By bringing the story full circle and providing audiences with the terrifying Bane (a fantastically cast Tom Hardy who’s been on fire this year), a tearful Alfred, loveable Gordon and newbie Blake, Rises had it all. Sure the twist was a bit obvious for any big Batman fan, but it was handled perfectly and was a treat from beginning to end. Although there won’t be any more Batman, I’m sure that with Nolan producing Man of Steel, there’ll be more than a hint of the Dark Knight in there.
2 – The Imposter
Words almost fail me when it comes to The Imposter – it was simply a masterful documentary that raised some terrifying questions and teased the audience throughout. The film follows the extraordinary story of Frederic Bourdin who posed as Texan teenager Nicholas Barclay and managed to full everyone into believing he was him. What starts off as a documentary examining the strange nature of conman Bourdin, and then twists into a darker and more sinister story. By combining home videos, interviews and reconstructions, Bourdin’s twisted con is played out before our eyes and is in my opinion essential viewing.
3 – Skyfall
It was all about Bond this Winter and thankfully unlike Quantum of Solace, Skyfall returned to the glory days of Bond. On hand there was the perfect casting of Javier Bardem as the villainous Silva, Judi Dench as M, the inclusion of Ralph Fiennes and the impeccable Daniel Craig. I remember a good long time ago when Craig was first announced as Bond, I am ashamed to say I fobbed him off. True he wobbled with Quantum, but with Skyfall Bond was back with a vengeance. With 50 years of Bond, Skyfall was all about tradition. He is after all a British institution and with Sam Mendes at the helm, Skyfall gave us an excellent plot, perfectly executed action and an emotional kick that will have most dabbing at their eyes.
4 – Headhunters
Norwegian crime caper Headhunters was a surprise to me this year. It was a bank holiday and I decided I wanted to go to the cinema but I didn’t want to go see anything that would be too crowded, so my boyfriend and I opted to go see Headhunters. We’re both fans of the Stieg Larsson books and we thought Headhunters would be of a similar vain. How right and how wrong we were. The adaptation of Jo Nesbo’s novel combines violence, humour, sex and thievery expertly. It’s always great going to see a film you know nothing about with Headhunters it’s best to watch it that way. It has many twists and turns and you’re treated to some fantastic performances. With the Americans set to remake this, I only hope they do as good a job as this one did.
5 – The Cabin in the Woods
The horror that isn’t a horror finally made it to our screens in 2012 and it didn’t disappoint. From watching the trailers you knew this wasn’t your standard film, but with its various twists and turns it proved to be violent and hilarious at the same time. Every horror cliché known is thrown into the film, but with the interjection of Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford as the controllers of the game, it offers laughs at every turn. There’s a ton of gore and enough humour to make this film one to watch again and again.
6 – Seven Psychopaths
Martin McDonagh’s follow up the phenomenal In Bruges is the excellently cast Seven Psychopaths. Following Colin Farrell’s Marty attempting to write his screenplay, ludicrous hijinks ensue, making for the best comedy of the year. Sam Rockwell is on top form as the unhinged Billy and Christopher Walken is delightful as the pacifist Hans. Without good casting this film simply wouldn’t work. It might not be to everyone’s taste as it’s slightly out there and to call it wacky is an understatement. I was laughing from beginning to end and can’t wait to see what McDonagh does next.
7 – Shame
Shame was by no means an easy film to watch, but if you’re in the right mood it is a brilliant piece of film making. Michael Fassbender seemed to be everywhere this year, but with this portrayal of sex addiction, he and Steve McQueen proved that they are an unbeatable team. I thought it was appalling that the Oscar Academy overlooked Fassbender’s raw performance as sex addict Brandon. The film was a slow burner but it had a fantastic finale. It hinted at the trauma beneath and the scene with Carey Mulligan singing New York New York is breath taking. Shame isn’t one to watch again and again, but if you’re in the right frame of mind you should revisit its genius.
8 – Chronicle
A found footage film that actually worked (End of Watch was pretty good but the hand held was slightly annoying). Chronicle marked a new breed of superhero films and introduced the world to Dane DeHaan – recently cast as Harry Osborn in the Amazing Spiderman sequel. The reason Chronicle was successful was because it offered a new look at superheroes. Three teenagers inadvertently get super powers and they do what most teenagers would do. Inevitably one of them becomes power crazy, but before that the innocence of the three is fascinating to watch. With a sequel in the pipeline, I only hope that they do something different next time.
9 – Cosmopolis
Now this one will divide people, I don’t think Cosmopolis was the best cinema experience, but it is one of the best adaptations I’ve ever seen. I was pleasantly surprised that Robert Pattinson could act something other than a lovelorn hero, but here he was as Eric Packer, and he did a very good job. Cosmopolis is the type of film where if you don’t love the book you’ll hate the confined setting and the reams of dialogue. It’s one of my favourite novels and to see what David Cronenberg did with it was fascinating – that’s why it’s in my top 10. The final scene between Pattinson and Paul Giamatti is electric and worth watching.
10 – The Avengers
Joss Whedon is the King of ensemble casts and always has been. He never fails to make you care about each and every person, even though he does like to throw in a horrific death scene at some point in the movie. The Avengers was simply put a fun movie. Unlike the darkness of Nolan’s Batverse, The Avengers is a lighter superhero film and is all the better for it. Amongst the action and quips, what stood out for me with Avengers was Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk. I’ve never been a big fan of the Hulk but Ruffalo’s portrayal changed my mind and he provided a much better take on it than Eric Bana and Ed Norton did. Funny, sad and chock full of action, The Avengers is a great summer actioner.
Honourable Mentions
Killer Joe – Matthew McConaughy back on form in this dark comedy drama. Just don’t have KFC when you watch it
Looper – Rhian Johnson’s time travelling actioner was intense viewing and not for the fainthearted
Sound of my Voice – Brit Marling’s cult drama was a phenomenal indie film that left you guessing at the end
Magic Mike – Steven Soderbergh does male strippers and he makes a hilarious movie to boot.
Why we love Christmas Films
Why We Love Christmas Films – So Christmas has been and gone once again, but on the plus side there’s still New Year to look forward to!
Check out the link below to my article at Flickering Myth to read my analysis of why we love Christmas films:
Thoughts on Pacific Rim Trailer
I have to be honest and say that I’m not too sure on this one.
As a lover of Guillermo Del Toro films I expected that Pacific Rim would entice me from the first trailer – unfortunately it was lacking for me.
The 2 minute trailer focuses so much on action that there’s little plot to find. Seeing as this film comes from the mind of the man who created The Devils Backbone and Pan’s Labyrinth, I thought a good story would be at the heart of this film.
The trailer does show some incredible effects and the concept of the film is interesting. It just left me slightly cold. Whilst the sci fi element looks good its almost game like and the comparisons to Portal keep flying in.
I’m hoping the next trailer offers some more character development to entice me. It’s been a good couple of weeks for trailers with Man of Steel and Star Trek 2 both releasing. They succeeded in balancing story and action – Pacific Rim has failed in my opinion.
Jack Reacher…
So Tom Cruise has been getting pretty good reviews playing Reacher but I’m still not convinced…
The height thing is an issue but just from the trailer it seems like they’re playing it for laughs. Is this really a quality adaptation?
Considering the reaction to Cruise’s casting from fans I’ll be surprised if this film does well especially given its release date.
Only time will tell; but personally this film addict is unconvinced.
Man of Steel Trailer Reaction
Well just seen the new Man Of Steel trailer and it does look rather good.
True it’s playing on the producing credit of Nolan but it looks like Snyder has done a good job.
The trailer starts slowly exploring Clark in his youth before launching into the action.
A brief glimpse of Zod in there and I can’t wait to see what Michael Shannon will bring to the part. There’s a cacophony of action in the final 30 seconds and it looks like the effects are top notch.
From the voiceover it seems that Henry Cavill’s accent is generic but good.
With the official release date not until next Summer we’re all waiting with bated breath!
First look at Star Wars Into Darkness!
Just seen the teaser trailer for Star Trek Into Darkness (or Star Trek 2 as it will inevitably be called).
Now that’s how to do a teaser! It looks fantastic and it looks like it’s bigger, better and darker than the original. Although there’s more than a hint of Inception in the trailer i’m very excited.
Showcasing Benedict Cumberbatch’s unnamed villain it looks like Kirk and co are in serious trouble.
With the full trailer landing on the 17th I for one am excited. JJ Abrams reboot of a dying franchise is up there with Batman Begins as one of the best. Into Darkness looks like it won’t disappoint.
Silver Linings Playbook Review
Hi all,
Please find below a link to my review of Silver Linings Playbook, read and enjoy.
Silver Linings Playbook Review
Review of Breaking Dawn Part 2
With a sigh of relief, the Twilight saga is complete – for the time being at least…
There are rumours of a TV show, and they’re even discussing rebooting it already (stop it Hollywood we’re over it!)
Splitting Breaking Dawn into two parts made financial sense, but in terms of movie making it’s a horrific decision. Part 1 dragged and was only saved by the final half hour, Part 2 is a chore to watch. It only runs for two hours but it feels like 5.
Part 2 starts with Bella as a new vampire, but inevitably things go wrong and the Volturi show up convinced her daughter is an immortal child. For a two hour film, they really stretch this story out. The opening titles are over 5 minutes and it feels like they just needed to fill the time. I’ve always felt the Twilight saga was a bit of a guilty pleasure but I’m confident in saying that Part 2 is not included in that at all. It’s overlong, awfully acted (the others aren’t much better but they really take the piss here), and worst of all nothing happens!
The only saving graces in Part 2 is a few moments of humour from Lautner and Pattinson, but these are few and far between. It starts well with some exploration into Bella as a new vampire – an awkward sex scene between Bella and Edward is unintentionally hilarious – but it descends into farce quickly.
We’re introduced to a multitude of new characters and the stereotypes are painful to watch. A trio of Irish vampires show up, naturally they’re ginger and dressed like farmers. Considering there’s a Brit in this film, did it not occur to Pattinson to say “hang on a minute, people won’t buy this”. This clearly didn’t happen and I was stuck watching these characters for the rest of the movie. There’s a classic Dracula accent from a couple of vampires but none of these new characters are explored at all, making them feel like cannon fodder for the inevitable battle.
When I think about it more, the first 4 Twilight films work because of the love triangle idea. Now that Jacob has “imprinted” on Bella’s daughter – which comes across as creepy no matter how hard Lautner tried – Twilight simply doesn’t work without the overblown romance. Bella and Edward are finally together and they both look bored to tears by it all.
A cop out ending seals the deal for this poor film and as the “Directed by” title came up I thanked God it was over, collected my things and left the cinema. By making Breaking Dawn a 1 film epic they might have pulled it off, but as it stands alone it simply doesn’t work as a coherent, watchable, enjoyable film.
Film: **
Upcoming Reviews
There’s been a bit of radio silence but I will return!
Upcoming reviews include Breaking Dawn Pt 2, End of Watch and Silver Linings Playbook.
Also what does everyone think about the rumours surrounding Justice League?!
Top 15 British Sitcoms
With the passing of one of sitcom’s greats Clive Dunn I’ve decided to compile – in no particular order – my top 15 British sitcoms. It was a hard list to cut down but I hope you enjoy!
1. Spaced
Before the highs of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, Simon Pegg was working with Jessica Hynes on the hugely successful cult sitcom. Following
the lives of 20 something Londoners Tim and Daisy and their numerous friends it was a hilarious sitcom. Crammed with pop culture references and a wealth of nerdy connotations, Spaced is one of the most underrated sitcoms. Running for just 2 series it ended perfectly and is essential viewing.
2. Blackadder
In the UK we usually know when a series should finish and the 4 series of Blackadder are pure perfection. True the 1st series has a few more misses than the others, but it’s still better than some of the tosh that’s on nowadays (I really don’t get the appeal of Miranda). Following the various incarnations of Edmund Blackadder and his faithful dogsbody Baldrick, Blackadder demonstrates cutting British humour at its best. Full of sarcasm, guest stars, cutting remarks and slapstick, Blackadder never fails to entertain.
3. Red Dwarf
This wildly successful sitcom has gone on for a bit too long. The first 6 series were sitcom perfection, revolving around the crew of Red Dwarf stranded in deep space. However series 7 and 8 didn’t quite hit the mark, and the less said about Back to Earth the better. Series 10 on Dave has been happily refreshing with some of the original belly laughs returning. I would highly recommend watching the first 6 series of Red Dwarf purely for Chris Barrie’s phenomenal turn as Rimmer. Rarely has a character been so inherently annoying yet loveable.
4. The Inbetweeners
The newest series on my list and possibly one of the greatest ever, The Inbetweeners perked up British sitcom which was in dire straits. Following the lives of loser types Will, Simon, Neil and Jay it was an honest betrayal of life as a teen in a London suburb and it was full of laughs. From the vulgar to the stupid, throughout the 3 series it portrayed numerous hilarious situations. All the characters felt real and that’s what’s integral to a good show. The movie may have been 20 minutes too long, but it lived up to the hype and is well worth a watch – however, the American alternative should be avoided at all costs.
5. Fawlty Towers
Basil Fawlty’s frustration has never felt more relevant than now. The 12 episode sitcom is sheer perfection with not one duff episode. True it’s dated, but John Cleese embodies every frustrated man and makes the absurd hilarious. My favourite is A Touch of Class where Basil attempts to attract a richer clientele and instead befriends a con man. It’s almost like running on a treadmill for an hour watching a 20 minute episode as you’re right with Basil and his numerous inconveniences.
6. Black Books
There’s something we love about a lead character who’s an absolute tosser. In an American sitcom Bernard Black would never have worked, but in Black Books his grouchy and selfish behaviour makes for excellent entertainment. Supported by dim-witted Fran (Tamsin Grieg who can be seen in the fantastic Friday Night Dinner), and Manny (Bill Bailey), the sitcom explores the desperation of life with heart. Its final episode was moving and with just 3 series made it didn’t overstay its welcome.
7. Only Fools & Horses
Initially unsuccessful on its first release, it was only when it was repeated that Only Fools got the attention it deserved. The odd couple of David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst makes for exciting viewing and there’s something nostalgic about watching an episode. The final episode ended the series perfectly, and if the ill-fated Christmas specials are ignored than it is a perfect sitcom.
8. The Office
I’ve found that people either love The Office or hate it. I fall on the love side and thoroughly enjoy each episode. Ricky Gervais knew that David 
Brent didn’t have the staying power of Del-Boy so he finished after 2 series and a Christmas special. By keeping it short and sweet, the drama, comedy and the heart of The Office has rarely been matched. For those who watched the Christmas special and didn’t cry you have no heart.
9. Dad’s Army
When I think about Dad’s Army I think of being a child and it was always on a Sunday evening. Dad’s Army is the sitcom that children can watch and that you can still enjoy as an adult. It’s not pretentious and it deals with a subject that needs to be made light of. The inept Captain Mainwaring is a delight to watch and this is an ensemble sitcom cast at its finest. With the passing of Clive Dunn I’m sure we’ll be treated to an evening of classic Dad’s Army episodes.
10. The Vicar of Dibley
Dawn French’s Geraldine Granger was a rarity in that she was the female focus of a sitcom. It’s only recently that women have been able to take centre stage, but it all started in Dibley. The clergy are easy to caricature and French does it with a tenderness that makes it quintessentially British. The supporting cast made the show successful and exciting to watch. It’s been off air for a long time but I wonder if there’s another Christmas special left in them.
11. Porridge
Whoever had the idea of setting a sitcom in a prison was a genius. Ronnie Barker is cheeky, and likeable as Fletcher despite the fact that he is a criminal. Porridge subverts the form and makes it so that you don’t care what Fletcher did, you just want him to get one up on Mr Mackay. It managed to make prison seem fun which was probably unintentional; but watching the various high jinks that Fletcher and his cellmate Godber (Richard Beckinsale) get into is excellent to watch.
12. One Foot in the Grave
The thing about Britain is that we love a good moan, myself included. That’s why Victor Meldrew is the perfect sitcom character. The situations he gets himself in to are absurd yet highly entertaining and you can’t help but feel for his long suffering wife Margaret. When the show ended in with the episode Things Aren’t Simple Any More it took a different approach than you’d think. With the death of Victor Meldrew widely known, the final episode focused on Margaret and revealed a tenderness that ended the show wonderfully.
13. Keeping up Appearances
We all know someone like Hyacinth Bucket; always trying to better herself and uncomfortable if the table isn’t laid properly. By caricaturing this stereotype, it made for hilarious watching and the cruise ship episode sticks out in my memory. Her long suffering Richard is the male version of Margaret from One Foot in the Grave and you can’t help but wonder that when both respective partners snuffed it, they probably would have got on quite well. Keeping up Appearances is tame and chase but there are a fair few laughs in there.
14. Father Ted
Everyone loves to take the piss out of religion but with Father Ted they really pushed the boat out. Although it hasn’t aged that well, there are still some standout episodes – A Song for Ireland and Speed 3 particularly stand out. By combining the grumpy Ted with drunk Jack, slow Dougal and the unhinged Mrs Doyle each episode hit the mark spectacularly. Although it was tragically cut short by the death of Dermot Morgan in 1998 it is still repeated on TV and always raises a laugh.
15. Peep Show
I took a long time to get into Peep Show and although it should have finished a couple of series ago, it still raises a smile. The first few series were
hilarious with the duo of David Mitchell and Robert Webb performing a hilarious double act. The different camera angles and alternative narration were revolutionary and added to why Peep Show has endured for so long. All I can say is “Ergonomic Keyboard”.
FromTheRedSofa 