The Last Exorcism: Movie Review

The Last Exorcism: Movie Review

The Last Exorcism
Rating: 7/10
Cast: Patrick Fabian, Ashley Bell, Louis Herthum, Caleb Jones
Director: Daniel Stamm
'Tis the season for horror again - what with Paranormal Activity 2 currently scaring them up on DVD, there's still the market for a good spooking.
In this "documentary" filmed in Louisiana, Reverend Cotton Marcus (Fabian) is a man tired of the church milking those who believe in exorcism. He knows the act is a scam and one day, randomly selects a letter from someone begging for help to use a way to end the charade.
With a doco crew in tow, he heads to the Sweetzer farm in deep dark rural Louisiana, bible belt territory to help a family who claim their daughter Ashley is possessed by a devil.
But when they get there, despite the Rev's time spent debunking the exorcism "myth" and the tricks of the trade, they soon discover there's more to this case than meets the eye....
The idea of a preacher who's lost his faith and has to face evil is not a new one - but The Last Exorcism is a spooky, freaky and frightening ride.
Part improvised, the story is brought to life by an engagingly likeable Fabian as the Rev who's determined to give the church back its credibility. We watch as he debunks the theory and shows the tricks of the trade (using wire to shake walls and pictures); it's thanks to his underacting that the whole thing feels so real - and when the frights come at the Sweetzer farm, you really do feel that the event is unfolding in horrific ways.
Ashley Bell also deserves credit for her performance as the innocent girl who finds herself in the middle of a ghastly situation. From her naïve ways initially to her eventual contortions during her possession, it's unsettling and spooky; a genuinely convincing turn from a relative newcomer.
The gathering crescendo and resulting storm that plays out on the deserted farm leads to a slightly grotesque ending - and unfortunately one that falls foul of its own narrative device. The documentary works well but the subsequent ending falls short.
Without revealing too much, the denouement is frustrating and will be as polarizing as the end to The Blair Witch Project all those years ago - while it's an inevitable end and one which is in keeping with the film's tone, there will be some who'll feel it's a little hysterical.

That said, overall The Last Exorcism is a welcome original entry into the horror genre; it reinvigorates the brand and will leave you glad when the lights go up at the end.

Ashes to Ashes Season two: DVD Review

Ashes to Ashes Season two: DVD Review

Ashes To Ashes
Season Two
Rating: M
Released by BBC and Roadshow
It's back to the 80s (1982 to be precise) for this second series of the sequel to the truly brilliant Life On Mars.
Keeley Hawes reprises her role as DCI Alex Drake, a present day copper apparently shot in the line of duty who wakes in 1982 - and in sexist pig DCI Gene Hunt's (Philip Glenister) world.
Desperately trying to make her way back to her daughter, Drake and the rest of the permed hair team take on a series of cases as she tries to piece together how she can get home.
Animal rights, murder, loan sharks - the entire seedy underbelly of the 80s is played out on screen again - but don't let that give you reason to dismiss Ashes To Ashes.
Brilliantly acted (Hawes and Glenister shine in their leading roles) and with a superb ensemble cast, this BBC drama is one of the contemporary best. The writers revel in their chance to vent their non PC script spleens and the result is hilarious, engrossing and compelling drama.
Throw in a confounding cliffhanger and I for one can't wait to see how the final series plays out.

Rating: 8/10

Dr Who: Meglos DVD Review

Dr Who: Meglos DVD Review

Dr Who Meglos
Rating: PG
Released by BBC
Essentially remembered as that serial with Dr Who as a cactus, this tale from 1980s and Tom Baker's final stint as the fourth Doctor remains more scorned for what it didn't achieve than what it did.
The Doc and Romana land on the planet Tigella, where two sides are fighting over an energy source. Trapped in a time loop by the evil cactus like creature Meglos (yes I know how that sounds) the floppy haired Doctor is stuck in the middle as he tries to ensure his own survival as well as that of his companions.
Meglos isn't a bad romp for Who - sure, it creaks at times with some dodgy acting but there's an attempt at some serious science too. It doesn't work as well as it could - as the doco with the writers attests to but it still remains an iconic piece of Who with Jacqueline Hill (aka Barbara from 1960s Who) appearing as one of the main players. With some reasonable production values, this four parter zips along (with a few groans here and there) amiably enough.
Extras: Commentary, docos on the writers as well as a very tasteful tribute to Jacqueline Hill who appeared in this and in the first ever series of Who

Rating: 6/10

A Prophet: DVD Review

A Prophet: DVD Review

A Prophet

Released by Sony
Rating: R18

Winner of the Grand Jury prize in 2009 at Cannes,A Prophet clearly deserves its accolades.

This is the tale of Malik, (Tahar Rahim) a 19 year old French Arab sentenced to 6 years in jail.

Finding himself in over his head initially, Malik is ordered to kill a Mafia informant by the Mob inside the prison - or forfeit his own life.

With no choice, Malik carries out the crime and subsequently finds he rises through thr ranks of the Mafia inside the jail. Pretty soon, Malik is a pivotal part of life behind bars - but soon realizes that there will come a time when he's leaving jail to embark on the next stage of his life.

A Prophet is a sophisticated, restrained and sensitive drama with a wonderful central performance from Tahar Rahim.

It's deeply compelling, richly rewarding and gripping from beginning to end.

This is a film to be treasured.

Extras: Deleted scenes, commentary and rehearsal footage.

Rating: 8/10

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps: DVD Review

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps: DVD Review

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
Rating: M
Released by Roadshow Entertainment

23 years since Gordon Gekko headed to prison at the end of Wall Street, he's back.

And in the meantime, the real financial world has seen major changes.

At the same time as Gekko exits jail, Shia LaBeouf's Jacob Moore is an investment banker who's looking into the death of his mentor Lewis Zabel (Frank Langella).

Moore begins to suspect Josh Brolin's Bretton James may have been involved - and he vows revenge.

And Gekko sees - and seizes - the opportunity to exert his power...

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps is a curious film - there are splashes of the usual Oliver Stone extravagance on the directing front but there's also flashes of genius too.

One particular trick sees Stone outlining the skylines of New York and London with the share market ups and downs; it's a clever visual touch which stands out - even if it is over used.

Sadly there's too little Michael Douglas and as a result, the film feels somewhat redundant in parts.
It's clear a financial expert's had a hand on the script. The problem is that it goes a little too far into financial speak and despite the drama's being there, it's as if Stone's unveiling yet another conspiracy (though this time it's factual) and the film suffers a little because of it.
But it's the treatment of Gekko which is the most disappointing - the character changes so much in the final reel that you almost feel cheated at the end.

Extras: Commentary by Oliver Stone and doco on the return of Gekko.

Rating: 5/10

The Runaways: DVD Review

The Runaways: DVD Review

The Runaways

Rating: R16
Released by Sony Home Entertainment

Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning leave their Twilight images behind in this tale of hedonism, hard rocking and harmonies.
Set in the 70s it's the true life coming of age tale of Joan Jett and Cherie Currie, how their rock and roll lives collided and they blazed the trail for women in rawk music.

But while Jett was always determined to be a rock star, Currie was more saddled with the problems of family life which seem to cause conflict within her - and unleash her inner demons.

This film belongs to Fanning as drug addled Currie and Michael Shannon as the maestro Kim Fowley who sees the potential of the female band-it's their relationship with everyone else which eclipses most of the film itself.

Punky and spunky, The Runaways is a hedonistic trip, fizzing with energy and humanity.

Extras: Commentary with Joan Jett, KStew and Dakota Fanning; featurette - nice touch on the commentary to keep the interest going. Blu ray offers exactly the same.

Rating: 7/10 

The Sorcerer's Apprentice: DVD Review

The Sorcerer's Apprentice: DVD Review

The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Released by Disney
Rating: PG
In the latest from Disney, Nicolas Cage stars as Balthazar Blake, a sorcerer who's fought his arch nemesis, Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina complete with requisite English bad guy accent and goatee beard) throughout time - and since the time of Arthur and Merlin.

But Blake needs to find the Prime Merlinian, a sorcerer who has so much power that they can wield the power of Merlin and help vanquish Horvath.

Enter Jay Baruchel's Dave, a nerdy physics major who ten years ago met Blake, was told of his destiny and then watched Blake disappear into thin air.

However, when Blake reappears, Dave finds he is slap bang in the middle of Maxim's plans to use an ancient power to raise an army of the dead and take over the world&can Dave help Blake save the day?
The Sorcerer's Apprentice is a fresh, fun take on the world of sorcery and magic; it's fantastical family fun complete with its everyman central character played with humour and likeability by Jay Baruchel.
With some eye popping special effects (some of which hark back to the Mummy) and a script which is smart enough to throw cinematic nods to the older end of the audience (Star Wars and Indy are just two of them), the team behind this know how to keep all sections of the audience engaged.
Extras: A whole heap of behind the scenes stuff, deleted scenes and outtakes make this a reasonable, good looking package on Blu Ray.

Rating: 7/10