Senna: Movie Review

Senna: Movie Review

Senna

Rating: 8/10

Cast: Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost

Director: Asif Kapadia
You wouldn't expect a film about Ayrton Senna to be so moving unless you were a Formula One fan.

You would be wrong.

This doco, simply made using archive footage of races, interviews and home movie footage is one of the most rewarding films of the year.

It tells the story of his life -mainly on the track to be honest - and his rivalry with fellow driver Alain Prost, the Frenchman with whom discord became all out war.

But what emerges from Kapadia is an intimate portrait of a focussed and driven man who's knocked around by the system because all he wants is success and isn't willing to play the game.

Scenes of racing, some of which come from cockpit cameras are scintillating; there's footage of drivers' meetings which have been hitherto unseen and hint at some of the conflict felt by Senna as he butted heads with the powers that be; and of course, there's a wealth of footage from races thanks to videoing done at the time. By not using the traditional talking heads in a studio format, Kapadai's interlaced dialogue over footage of Senna - and it's a nice touch which immerses you more in Senna's life rather than taking you out and transporting you back to the studio every five minutes.

Throw into that some family footage, scenes of holidays and truly, Senna is a wonderfully multidimensional picture of the man who was a star on the tracks and a role model to so many Brazilians who were living through some truly horrific times back home.

The whole film is a truly emotional journey as it becomes a fascinating battle of wills, tactics and rivalry as the feud between Senna and Prost heats up.

Add in the final section of the film which deals with Senna's death in Imola in 94 and it's just heartbreaking, leaving you a wreck after the preceding joyous celebration of the legend.

Ultimately this doco is one of the best of the year; at the end, I left having been through the gamut of emotions and brimming with interest at a subject I didn't remotely care about when I initially sat down to watch this.

Senna is well worth your time and you can expect to see it next year on pole position come award season.

Hanna: Movie Review

Hanna: Movie Review

Hanna
Rating: 7/10
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett, Tom Hollander, Jessica Barden
Director: Joe Wright
With a soundtrack by The Chemical Brothers, you would expect Hanna to be something a little bit cool.
And by golly, it is.
The Lovely Bones' Ronan is Hanna, whom we first meet in an icy wasteland as she hunts a deer with a bow and arrow. As she stands over the body, she tells it "I just missed your heart."
Within seconds of that, she's being attacked by a man - Erik (Eric Bana) - who turns out to be her father, training her for potential assassin work.
When Hanna decides she's ready to head out into the real world and not the snow covered wastelands of Finland, she's soon on the run from CIA officer Marissa Wiegler (Blanchett) who'll stop at nothing to bring her in and down.
As if that wasn't bad enough, Hanna's also got an assassin (Hollander) on her tale and winds up with a free loving family on their global road trip...
Hanna is effortlessly cool and stylish - though at times, it feels a little like that's at the expense of the script. It's almost as if someone's storyboarded some stunningly great images and ordered the director to shoe horn them in where possible. That said, while they do stand out, it's a real point of difference in this thriller which is welcome.
An absolutely pulsating and blistering soundtrack from the Chemical Brothers is brilliantly used; one sequence of a break out from a jail is akin to one of the Brothers' early music videos; it's frankly at times a welcome assault on the eyes and ears and will look like nothing else you've seen this year. It's hard to believe this is from the director who brought us Atonement and it really does show a skill at work and there's plenty on screen which you won't forget once the credits go up.
While Hollander, Bana and Blanchett are impressive in their roles (Blanchett appearing the coldest and disconnected as a ruthless CIA officer), this film is once again the showcase of star Saoirse Ronan, whose fragile looking but ass kicking teen assassin is the perfect mix of vulnerability and hard as nails attitude. With fiercely blue eyes, a gentle voice and a pitch perfect performance, it's easily her film to carry off - and she does it easily.

I'll freely admit Hanna won't be to everyone's tastes (there are some lapses in the logic of the script) - but if you fancy a hitman on the run thriller with an eclectic feel and awesome soundtrack, this is really something you'll cherish and love.

Oceans: DVD Review

Oceans: DVD Review

Oceans
Rating: G
Released by Hopscotch and Roadshow entertainment

Narrated by Pierce Brosnan, this nature doco is an outstandingly shot, relatively non-preachy primarily French piece about the majesty and bounty of the Oceans of our planet.

With laconic and sparse narrative from Pierce Brosnan, the gorgeously shot footage sweeps across and swoops in and out of the waters of the world, as our senses are bombarded with wondrous images.

Images such as sealion, marine iguanas, a sea otter smashing shells on a rock on its belly to feed- to scenes of squid fending off crab who've wandered too close to their territory.

It's an hypnotic and mesmerising snapshot of the world around us.

And a reminder of what brilliance lurks under the waters and far, far away from our eyes.

With the greatest of respect, when Pierce Brosnan's laconic voice over is ditched, then this really is when the film soars because there's nothing to beat the beautiful viciousness of nature at work.

Sometimes, all you need is what's up on the screen to take your breath away -with just the majesty of nature, Oceans is truly awe inducing as it takes in the life in oceans all over the world - including New Zealand's waterways.

Granted in a film like this, there's bound to be a message about the effect of pollution and the vanishing wildlife but unlike others of their ilk, here the directors show some restraint and don't hammer home the message. By using images from space of the effects of pollution on the waters, the message is got across simply and eloquently - once again, just a simple image paints a greater picture than a thousand words could.

Extras: None - disappointing

Rating: 7/10 

Priest 3D: Movie Review

Priest 3D: Movie Review

Priest 3D
Rating: 5/10
Cast: Paul Bettany, Karl Urban, Maggie Q, Stephen Moyer
Director: Scott Charles Stewart
Paul Bettany and our very own Karl Urban star in this latest cinematic outing.
For centuries man has been at war with vampires. And with the vamps hunting them to near extinction, there was only ever one line of defence - the priests.
But after the vamps' defeat, the priests were abandoned and reintegrated back into society.
However, when an apparent vamp attack kills the brother of one nameless priest (Paul Bettany), he has no choice but to hunt down their daughter and break his vow, risking all out war...
Priest 3D (forget the 3D as this is another of those pointless conversions) isn't a bad attempt at a western crossed with vampires.
There's plenty of imagery from the wild west (including a final set piece on a train) and the bleached look of this post apocalyptic world, along with some quite cool comic style pre titles, give it a bit of different feel. But some wonky CGI and some frankly laughable dialogue see it unable to rise from the dead.
Which is a shame as Bettany is good as the monosyllabic priest and Nikita's Maggie Q and Karl Urban also are solid as supporting cast (even if the latter chews a bit too much of the scenery).

Ultimately, a case of stylish fight scenes and a great look over relative lack of substance and OTT scenes ( eg Urban air conducting an orchestra as carnage unfolds around him), Priest hints at a sequel but it would need to deal with the flaws of the first before it could ascend to higher things.

The Guard: Movie Review

The Guard: Movie Review

The Guard
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle, Mark Strong, Fionnula Flannaghan
Director: John Michael McDonagh
It's back to slightly scabrous ways for this comedy about an Irish Garda played with great gusto by Brendan Gleeson, who's on somewhat of a career relaunch following In Bruges.
Gleeson is Sergeant Gerry Boyle, an Irish cop who loves the whoring and the drinking but is at heart, an old fashioned copper, prone to a bit of casual racism and abuse - however, he still believes in the law.
So his relatively quiet life is somewhat ruined by the arrival of a corpse, an American FBI Agent (a brilliant turn by Don Cheadle) and an attempt to shut down a massive drug smuggling racket run in his neck of the woods.
Darkly ironic, sardonic and sarcastic, this film's essentially a buddy cop film with one major difference - Gleeson.
His perfect timing and F bomb peppered delivery gives the film the tone it needs to set it apart from the rest of its genre and while the start of the filum (to quote the Irish vernacular) feels fresh and different, it does sag a little towards two thirds of the way through.
That said, there's enough to give it the oomph it needs to race to the finish line with another great character turn from the ever dependable Mark Strong.
Cheadle and Gleeson are a great pair and a sharp script brings out their very best - even if it is some of the most un politically correct material you've heard in a long time. Although Boyle's comments during the initial FBI briefing are just frankly hilarious as he bandies around as many stereotypes as you can imagine.
However, he's not just all unPC and whoring; thanks to Gleeson's clever portrayal and some script smarts, he's got a tender side when dealing with his dying mother.

There's just something witty about this darkly black tale of The Guard and while the story runs out a little toward the end, the humour will have you smiling throughout thanks to the great buddy dynamic between Cheadle and Gleeson.

Crazy Stupid Love: Movie Review

Crazy Stupid Love: Movie Review

Crazy Stupid Love
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon
Director: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Prepare for a romcom with a slight twist.
Steve Carell is Cal Weaver, who's been married to Emily (Julianne Moore) for 25 years.
Over dinner one night, Emily announces she wants a divorce.
And that sends Cal's world spinning into a nosedive - from what he perceives a perfect life, Cal heads to a local bar repeatedly where he sees Jacob (Gosling) using his skills to pick up women on a nightly basis.
One night, without warning, Jacob asks over Cal and offers to spruce his image up and get him some success with the ladies.
However, Jacob's grooming turns the usually inept Cal into a womaniser&.
At the same time, law student Hannah (Emma Stone) is questioning her life with her steady but slightly dim boyfriend - she heads to the same club where Jacob's practising his womanising ways and despite her initial refusal, ends up falling for him&.
Crazy Stupid Love is a bit of a treat and a departure from the usual romcom formula.
There's a heart and humanity as well as a dose of bittersweet honest reality in this film; granted, Steve Carell once again goes for the forlorn approach and dials down his comic tendencies but thanks to a good strong script, some amusing set pieces and a twist (which you're either on board with or waving at the shark which just jumped past), this really does entertain.
It's probably because Carell and Moore create a convincing couple and convey the realities of being together for so long so well.
As for the rest of the ensemble, Marisa Tomei is simply unhinged as Kate who's Cal's first score; Kevin Bacon also plays it straight as the guy who breaks up the leading duo.
But it's Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling who impress most out of this ensemble. Stone once again demonstrates why she's heading for the stratosphere with perfect comic timing and a dash of heart; granted Gosling's smooth cad and roguish womaniser isn't much of a stretch for any actor but Gosling gives him a pinch of reality too.
Ultimately Crazy, Stupid Love is a welcome diversion from the usual sop and sappy romcoms - it's funny, fresh and real with a great cast.

TT3D: Movie Review

TT3D: Movie Review

TT3D
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Guy Martin, a host of other TT racers, motorbikes, The Isle of Man
Director: Richard De Aragues
"There's nothing to compare it with."
How often have you heard that from anyone involved in any kind of extreme sport?
This latest sports doco looks at the legendary Isle of Man TT motorbike racing event; one which has been running for years and has claimed around 231 lives in spectacular crashes and yet doesn't see a drop off in willing participants.
De Aragues' film takes a look at the races of the 2010 event and in particular follows the tousled mop topped and lamb chopped racer, the Englishman Guy Martin, a fascinating and in some ways intimidating young character.
Martin is the classic loner - and also the classic self deprecator, full of Northern English charm and the kind of guy who'd call a spade a spade and that'd be that. When we first meet Martin, he's being interviewed in a garage pit repairing a truck - before he takes his bike out to hoon around to see what speed he needs for the upcoming race.
The following 100 minutes then chart the highs and lows of the race, The Isle of Man
Tourist Trophy described as "the greatest motorcycle road race in the world, the ultimate challenge for rider and machine."
But De Aragues has triumphed by making this film an edge of the seat, thrilling piece about freedom of choice, spirit and endurance.
Thankfully the 3D is non intrusive - it's not used to make you duck in the cinema when bikes come hurtling toward you, it's used subtly to bring depth to the proceedings and give you a feel for the event.
Sure, some of the sporting clichés are there - phrases like "If it doesn't excite you, then you're not alive and that's a fact" sit alongside the likes of "it's like being able to fly" and slow mo shots of riders in action. But I'm prepared to forgive all of those because of how gripping this actually is right from the get go.
Eschewing charm and a straight talking style, Martin's an easy subject for De Aragues to follow - but it also gives the sport a face and grounds the competition in a humanity and warmth which make it feel universal, rather than just a speed freak's wet dream of a film.
Guy Martin is an enigmatic guy - often seen being interviewed with a mug of tea in hand and prone to sleeping in the back of his van and enjoying his own company before a race, he's something of a riddle but his no-nonsense attitude has won him a legion of fans - and this film is likely to cement that reputation as it provides a fascinating insight into not only his mindset but the rest of the racing fraternity.
I realised I was gripped when I was on tenterhooks and on the edge of my seat to see if one racer had made it out alive after a crash - it's here that De Aragues gets to the knub of what makes these riders tick because of one scene in a hospital where a rider lets down his guard and finally shows some vulnerability after an horrific crash - before a bit of the bravado came back. It's a brief but telling moment and one which spoke volumes about all of those who take part in this race.
Mashing archive footage and a candid look at one competitor, Guy Martin, this doco is simply hands down one of the best sports docos I've ever seen - packed with humour, tension, suspense and humanity - and believe me when I say that's praise coming from a non sports fan.

Quite simply unmissable.