The Town: Blu Ray Review
The Town
Released by Warner
Bros
Rating: M
In this flick, set in Charlestown in America, Affleck is Doug MacRay, a
criminal who's found robbing banks is the only way to survive the miserable
drudgery of working a construction job.
However, he along with his three co-robbers, end up abducting the manager of
the latest bank they turn over - Claire, played by Rebecca Hall.
The problem is that they're not sure what Claire saw or heard so when Doug's
volatile buddy Jem (a searingly jumpy turn by Jeremy Renner) suggests keeping an
eye on her, Doug decides it'd be safer if he looked out for Claire.
As Doug and Claire's relationship begins to flourish into something, the
police (led by Mad Men's Jon Hamm and Lost's Man in Black Titus Welliver) begin
to close in on the gang - and Doug starts to wonder if he can ever escape from
the life he's forged for himself.
I hadn't been expecting too much from a Ben Affleck outing to be honest - but
thanks to some excellently restrained directing which allows the story to
breathe and come to life, he's managed to put together a corker of a film with
some brilliant ensemble performances - from the likes of Gossip Girl's Blake
Lively as Jem's sister who's had an off-on-off again thing with Doug and is
resentful of Claire to Jeremy Renner's nerve tingling performance as Jem, a man
who can explode at any second.
That's not to say the likes of Pete Postlethwaite as a gangland kingpin who
runs a florist and a cameo from Chris Cooper as Doug's dad don't shine -
everyone brings their A game to this flick about desperation, hopes of escape
and the promise of another life.
Rating: 8/10
Monday, 28 March 2011
The Social Network: Blu Ray Review
The Social Network: Blu Ray Review
The Social Network
Rating: M
Released by Sony Home Ent
It didn't quite make it at the awards ceremonies this year, but The Social Network remains one of last year's great film.
Jesse Eisenberg plays Mark Zuckerberg as we dive back to the heady days of the 2003 Harvard scene - and his introduction to a pair of Harvard twins, the Winkelvosses, who are working on a site idea called The Harvard Connection.
Ultimately Zuckerberg builds the Facebook and a legal battle ensues as to whether he's ripped off their idea.
Written by the West Wing scribe Aaron Sorkin - and you know it from the moment the film opens. Sparkling dialogue, zippy scenes and smarts are all over this Oscar winning screenplay - plus throw in a great soundtrack too and you've got the perfect combination.
But the Social Network also thrives from its actors - Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake all add so much to this film from beginning to end.
As I said at the time of cinematic release, The Social Network is simply unmissable and the film for the web generation. It remains even more so on Blu Ray and DVD thanks to a great film and scores of fantastic extras - this is how movies should be treated on release to the small screen; not simply churned out without any thought.
Perhaps the best release of 2011.
Rating: 9/10
The Social Network
Rating: M
Released by Sony Home Ent
It didn't quite make it at the awards ceremonies this year, but The Social Network remains one of last year's great film.
Jesse Eisenberg plays Mark Zuckerberg as we dive back to the heady days of the 2003 Harvard scene - and his introduction to a pair of Harvard twins, the Winkelvosses, who are working on a site idea called The Harvard Connection.
Ultimately Zuckerberg builds the Facebook and a legal battle ensues as to whether he's ripped off their idea.
Written by the West Wing scribe Aaron Sorkin - and you know it from the moment the film opens. Sparkling dialogue, zippy scenes and smarts are all over this Oscar winning screenplay - plus throw in a great soundtrack too and you've got the perfect combination.
But the Social Network also thrives from its actors - Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake all add so much to this film from beginning to end.
As I said at the time of cinematic release, The Social Network is simply unmissable and the film for the web generation. It remains even more so on Blu Ray and DVD thanks to a great film and scores of fantastic extras - this is how movies should be treated on release to the small screen; not simply churned out without any thought.
Perhaps the best release of 2011.
Rating: 9/10
Sunday, 27 March 2011
The Ghost Writer: DVD Review
The Ghost Writer: DVD Review
The Ghost Writer
Rating: M
Released by Sony Home Ent
Roman Polanski's latest is a political thriller which sees Ewan McGregor's Ghost Writer brought in to help polish former UK Prime Minister Adam Lang's memoirs following the suicide of the previous writer.
But he finds himself embroiled in a political storm when Lang (an excellently suave Pierce Brosnan ) is caught up in a war crimes trial - Lang's accused of agreeing to the illegal capture and torture of terror suspects for the CIA.
The Ghost Writer is a tense, smart piece of film; a crackling sizzling political thriller - even if occasionally it veers into slightly unbelievable territory (suddenly the ghost writer becomes a crack investigative expert).
But it's the central performance of McGregor which makes this film such a compelling watch as it unfolds in front of you.
Whether it's handling some of the comic relief lines (and dry humour) which are peppered through the script ("All the words are there just in the wrong order" he remarks about the book) or steering us with a sense of impending dread towards the end of the film, you can't take your eyes off him.
It's a great film from Polanski and holds your attention for two hours as the paranoia - and unexpected humour - ramps up as the revelations finally reveal the truth.
Extras: Docos on the DVD - but on blu Ray you get an interview with much maligned Polanski.
Rating: 8/10
The Ghost Writer
Rating: M
Released by Sony Home Ent
Roman Polanski's latest is a political thriller which sees Ewan McGregor's Ghost Writer brought in to help polish former UK Prime Minister Adam Lang's memoirs following the suicide of the previous writer.
But he finds himself embroiled in a political storm when Lang (an excellently suave Pierce Brosnan ) is caught up in a war crimes trial - Lang's accused of agreeing to the illegal capture and torture of terror suspects for the CIA.
The Ghost Writer is a tense, smart piece of film; a crackling sizzling political thriller - even if occasionally it veers into slightly unbelievable territory (suddenly the ghost writer becomes a crack investigative expert).
But it's the central performance of McGregor which makes this film such a compelling watch as it unfolds in front of you.
Whether it's handling some of the comic relief lines (and dry humour) which are peppered through the script ("All the words are there just in the wrong order" he remarks about the book) or steering us with a sense of impending dread towards the end of the film, you can't take your eyes off him.
It's a great film from Polanski and holds your attention for two hours as the paranoia - and unexpected humour - ramps up as the revelations finally reveal the truth.
Extras: Docos on the DVD - but on blu Ray you get an interview with much maligned Polanski.
Rating: 8/10
Thursday, 24 March 2011
Red Riding Hood: Movie Review
Red Riding Hood: Movie Review
Red Riding Hood
Rating: 5/10
Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman, Julie Christie, Shiloh Fernandez, Max Irons, Viriginia Madsen, Lukas Haas
Director: Catherine Hardwicke
From the director of Twilight, comes a film about a girl who's in love with the wrong boy as a killer stalks the village she lives in.
Hold up - that sounds exactly like Twilight....
Red Riding Hood is the latest adaptation of the fairy tale and sees Amanda Seyfried's Valerie trapped in a love triangle with Shiloh Fernandez's woodcutter Peter and Max Irons' Henry - as well as a murder mystery, when the townsfolk she's living with in a high mountain range are picked off by the big bad wolf.
As fear continues to grip the snow-capped village, a priest (played with scene chewing aplomb by Gary Oldman) is called in to try and save them.
But as the climate of terror grows, the threat to Valerie and those she loves becomes greater - and soon she realises she's the key to saving everyone.
From its opening shot of villages in mountains as the camera sweeps across trees, it's very hard to not think about Twilight - which I guess to a degree is what you'd expect from the director of the very first film. Throw in lines like "If you love her, you'll let her go" and "I lost a sister - I can't lose you" and clearly you're in teen angst territory in more ways than one. Add into the mix a pair of boys and a love triangle - plus a wolf which looks like one of wolf pack from a certain other franchise - and you'd be forgiven for thinking you're watching a different film.
That said, while the rest of the cast are fairly wooden and stilted, Amanda Seyfried shines in this. With her big blue eyes (all the better for seeing you with, right?) and pale complexion, she stands out from the rest of the townsfolk - but physicalities aside, she also stands out with her slightly ethereal acting, bringing an air of mystery to her part as the film goes on. Gary Oldman is okay too - but he's clearly overacting in some parts which takes the edge off a little.
I suppose at the end of the day, Red Riding Hood will find a teen audience that will adore it - with some striking visuals and a gothic air here and there, there's certainly something for genre fans to love - but many will feel they've seen it all before. Some may even argue they've seen it done better too.
Red Riding Hood
Rating: 5/10
Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman, Julie Christie, Shiloh Fernandez, Max Irons, Viriginia Madsen, Lukas Haas
Director: Catherine Hardwicke
From the director of Twilight, comes a film about a girl who's in love with the wrong boy as a killer stalks the village she lives in.
Hold up - that sounds exactly like Twilight....
Red Riding Hood is the latest adaptation of the fairy tale and sees Amanda Seyfried's Valerie trapped in a love triangle with Shiloh Fernandez's woodcutter Peter and Max Irons' Henry - as well as a murder mystery, when the townsfolk she's living with in a high mountain range are picked off by the big bad wolf.
As fear continues to grip the snow-capped village, a priest (played with scene chewing aplomb by Gary Oldman) is called in to try and save them.
But as the climate of terror grows, the threat to Valerie and those she loves becomes greater - and soon she realises she's the key to saving everyone.
From its opening shot of villages in mountains as the camera sweeps across trees, it's very hard to not think about Twilight - which I guess to a degree is what you'd expect from the director of the very first film. Throw in lines like "If you love her, you'll let her go" and "I lost a sister - I can't lose you" and clearly you're in teen angst territory in more ways than one. Add into the mix a pair of boys and a love triangle - plus a wolf which looks like one of wolf pack from a certain other franchise - and you'd be forgiven for thinking you're watching a different film.
That said, while the rest of the cast are fairly wooden and stilted, Amanda Seyfried shines in this. With her big blue eyes (all the better for seeing you with, right?) and pale complexion, she stands out from the rest of the townsfolk - but physicalities aside, she also stands out with her slightly ethereal acting, bringing an air of mystery to her part as the film goes on. Gary Oldman is okay too - but he's clearly overacting in some parts which takes the edge off a little.
I suppose at the end of the day, Red Riding Hood will find a teen audience that will adore it - with some striking visuals and a gothic air here and there, there's certainly something for genre fans to love - but many will feel they've seen it all before. Some may even argue they've seen it done better too.
Get Low: Movie Review
Get Low: Movie Review
Get Low
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Robert Duvall, Lucas Black, Bill Murray, Sissy Spacek
Director: Aaron Schneider
Robert Duvall stars in this story spun, apparently, from folk tales.
Duvall is hermit Felix Bush who's spent 40 years living deep in the woods away from those nearby in mid-America.
Rumours swirl about him, the "weirdo in the woods", such as how many people he's killed - but no-one really knows much about his life or who he is.
One day, he heads into town to arrange his own funeral with Bill Murray's Frank Quinn (the local undertaker) - but with the proviso that anyone who attends has to bring a story about Bush.
Quinn, along with protégé Buddy (Lucas Black), pulls together the event - but it takes an unusual turn, as a long-standing mystery rises to the surface...
Get Low is not speedy cinema - it's blessed with some very, very dry humour and a stunning performance from Duvall, but it's slow to engage your emotions.
The mystery of why Bush made a hermit of himself propels the narrative along but by the time the revelation comes to light in the final act, it's lacking the commensurate punch that it needs. That's not to detract from Duvall's delivery of the truth, which is mesmerising, but you'd be hard-pressed not to join the dots of clues scattered throughout.
Unfortunately, what it means is that you feel slightly let down at the end - and while Get Low is blessed with great performances from Duvall, Murray and Black, it's not likely to endear you with its - at times - snail-like pace.
Get Low
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Robert Duvall, Lucas Black, Bill Murray, Sissy Spacek
Director: Aaron Schneider
Robert Duvall stars in this story spun, apparently, from folk tales.
Duvall is hermit Felix Bush who's spent 40 years living deep in the woods away from those nearby in mid-America.
Rumours swirl about him, the "weirdo in the woods", such as how many people he's killed - but no-one really knows much about his life or who he is.
One day, he heads into town to arrange his own funeral with Bill Murray's Frank Quinn (the local undertaker) - but with the proviso that anyone who attends has to bring a story about Bush.
Quinn, along with protégé Buddy (Lucas Black), pulls together the event - but it takes an unusual turn, as a long-standing mystery rises to the surface...
Get Low is not speedy cinema - it's blessed with some very, very dry humour and a stunning performance from Duvall, but it's slow to engage your emotions.
The mystery of why Bush made a hermit of himself propels the narrative along but by the time the revelation comes to light in the final act, it's lacking the commensurate punch that it needs. That's not to detract from Duvall's delivery of the truth, which is mesmerising, but you'd be hard-pressed not to join the dots of clues scattered throughout.
Unfortunately, what it means is that you feel slightly let down at the end - and while Get Low is blessed with great performances from Duvall, Murray and Black, it's not likely to endear you with its - at times - snail-like pace.
World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles: Movie Review
World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles: Movie Review
Battle Los Angeles
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Marines, Aliens, Explosions, Space ships
Director: Jonathan Liebesman
Do you like alien invasion films?
Do you like plenty of shooting?
Do you like a minimal plot which sees a leader looking for redemption after the loss of troops in former combat?
Do you like stuff blowing up?
If you've answered yes, then move along, this review won't matter to you. Because right after you've read the title, you'll be in the queue for the ticket. And waiting for the inevitable video game release.
For the rest of you - strap in.
World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles (to give it its title outside of the USA) centres on a platoon of marines recently returned from combat, who've suffered the loss of their own thanks to the decisions of Aaron Eckhart's staff sergeant.
24 hours later this crew of gung-ho grunts (including one who's about to marry, one who's got post-traumatic stress, one who's a marine on the brink of retirement - just the regular collection of cliches) is heading into battle when a series of meteors land at strategic points around the world.
Pretty soon, it's clear this is an invasion force - and the marines are one of the last lines of defence in the war against this unnamed extra terrestrial army.
World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles does what it says on the tin.
As I've already said, it's got the tenets of a B movie, a war film and an FX spectacular thrown in - as well as the predictable Iraq allegory (the aliens are after our resources; they use water for fuel ... subtle it may not be).
But visually, its style is impressive - it looks like a war film with its handheld cameras, verite style following the marines as they try to save civilians from behind enemy lines (which resemble wartorn streets of Iraq). It really gets you into the heart, paranoia and uncomfortable nature of battle.
The opening works well - the suspense as the aliens arrive and simply start shooting does enough to set the scene (even with the obligatory last night out of the marines before being shipped out).
But towards the end, all semblance of plot goes out the window - previously unassailable aliens are able to be run down with humvees; gung-ho statements like "I'm ready for payback" really destroy what atmosphere there was. It's the kind of film that should be shown to Marines to hype them up before combat - the whole thing is akin to a major recruitment drive film or a PlayStation game (get the marines to the city, steal the bus, shoot the aliens, save the civilians etc).
The other major problem is that outside of Aaron Eckhart and Michelle Rodriguez, I couldn't really tell you who's who - the other actors all blend into a camouflage goo and don't stand out in the slightest.
Having said that, World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles is a reasonable adrenalin-filled spectacle for two hours, full of bullets, bangs and boys (and slightly dodgy alien FX) - ultimately, it's not adding anything new to the genre but is distracting enough.
Battle Los Angeles
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Marines, Aliens, Explosions, Space ships
Director: Jonathan Liebesman
Do you like alien invasion films?
Do you like plenty of shooting?
Do you like a minimal plot which sees a leader looking for redemption after the loss of troops in former combat?
Do you like stuff blowing up?
If you've answered yes, then move along, this review won't matter to you. Because right after you've read the title, you'll be in the queue for the ticket. And waiting for the inevitable video game release.
For the rest of you - strap in.
World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles (to give it its title outside of the USA) centres on a platoon of marines recently returned from combat, who've suffered the loss of their own thanks to the decisions of Aaron Eckhart's staff sergeant.
24 hours later this crew of gung-ho grunts (including one who's about to marry, one who's got post-traumatic stress, one who's a marine on the brink of retirement - just the regular collection of cliches) is heading into battle when a series of meteors land at strategic points around the world.
Pretty soon, it's clear this is an invasion force - and the marines are one of the last lines of defence in the war against this unnamed extra terrestrial army.
World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles does what it says on the tin.
As I've already said, it's got the tenets of a B movie, a war film and an FX spectacular thrown in - as well as the predictable Iraq allegory (the aliens are after our resources; they use water for fuel ... subtle it may not be).
But visually, its style is impressive - it looks like a war film with its handheld cameras, verite style following the marines as they try to save civilians from behind enemy lines (which resemble wartorn streets of Iraq). It really gets you into the heart, paranoia and uncomfortable nature of battle.
The opening works well - the suspense as the aliens arrive and simply start shooting does enough to set the scene (even with the obligatory last night out of the marines before being shipped out).
But towards the end, all semblance of plot goes out the window - previously unassailable aliens are able to be run down with humvees; gung-ho statements like "I'm ready for payback" really destroy what atmosphere there was. It's the kind of film that should be shown to Marines to hype them up before combat - the whole thing is akin to a major recruitment drive film or a PlayStation game (get the marines to the city, steal the bus, shoot the aliens, save the civilians etc).
The other major problem is that outside of Aaron Eckhart and Michelle Rodriguez, I couldn't really tell you who's who - the other actors all blend into a camouflage goo and don't stand out in the slightest.
Having said that, World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles is a reasonable adrenalin-filled spectacle for two hours, full of bullets, bangs and boys (and slightly dodgy alien FX) - ultimately, it's not adding anything new to the genre but is distracting enough.
Saturday, 19 March 2011
Chloe: DVD Review
Chloe: DVD Review
Chloe
Rating: R16
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
An erotic thriller remade from a French film from the 90s, Chloe stars Amanda Seyfried as a mysterious woman who wreaks some kind of havoc on an apparently happily married couple.
Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore are Catherine and David; when David doesn't return for his birthday and encouraged by the fact he appears to flirt with everything, Catherine suspects him of having an affair.
So she engages the services of prostitute Chloe (the sultry Seyfried who oozes sexuality in this) to tempt her hubby. But when Chloe comes back and reveals all, Catherine finds herself brought to life by the sordid details - and soon Chloe's about to destroy their lives...
Sultry and sexy, this psycho thriller also dips into the silly side as well - the end completely ruins what's gone previously and plunges Chloe deep into OTT territory.
Seyfried does sultry very well (boding well for Red Riding Hood) and Moore impresses as the obsessive yet suspicious wife.
Granted you can see what's coming and when, but respected Atom Egoyan spins out the suspense of the story well, and with the sensual side and sexual obsession ramped up, this is something a little different.
Extras: Deleted/ Alternate scenes
Rating: 6/10
Chloe
Rating: R16
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
An erotic thriller remade from a French film from the 90s, Chloe stars Amanda Seyfried as a mysterious woman who wreaks some kind of havoc on an apparently happily married couple.
Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore are Catherine and David; when David doesn't return for his birthday and encouraged by the fact he appears to flirt with everything, Catherine suspects him of having an affair.
So she engages the services of prostitute Chloe (the sultry Seyfried who oozes sexuality in this) to tempt her hubby. But when Chloe comes back and reveals all, Catherine finds herself brought to life by the sordid details - and soon Chloe's about to destroy their lives...
Sultry and sexy, this psycho thriller also dips into the silly side as well - the end completely ruins what's gone previously and plunges Chloe deep into OTT territory.
Seyfried does sultry very well (boding well for Red Riding Hood) and Moore impresses as the obsessive yet suspicious wife.
Granted you can see what's coming and when, but respected Atom Egoyan spins out the suspense of the story well, and with the sensual side and sexual obsession ramped up, this is something a little different.
Extras: Deleted/ Alternate scenes
Rating: 6/10
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