Friends With Benefits: Movie Review
Friends With Benefits
Rating: 7/10
Cast: Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake, Patricia Clarkson,
Richard Jenkins, Woody Harrelson
Director: Will Gluck
Haven't we already done this before with No Strings Attached starring Ashton
Kutcher and Natalie Portman in the past 12 months?
Well, sort of.
Mila Kunis stars as corporate headhunter Jamie who first meets graphic
designer Dylan Harper (Justin Timberlake) when she's trying to get him to
relocate from LA to take a job with GQ in New York. Harper's initially reticent
to take the post as he's not convinced the move is the right thing for him. But
Jamie takes him for a night on the town and that persuades him to up sticks and
move to the Big Apple.
But Harper doesn't really know anyone and so he latches onto Jamie and the
two become friends.
Who then decide a little casual sex won't necessarily be a bad thing - as
long as it doesn't lead to complications....
As romantic comedies go, Friends With Benefits is a bouncy, fun, light,
frothy cappuccino of the genre; it's got a pacy opening and some zingy funny
dialogue - as well as young things exposing a fair bit (and butt) of flesh.
That in mind, it's actually got a fair bit going for it - in particular,
Kunis who cut her comedic chops on TV sitcom, That 70s Show. She outshines
Timberlake in comic timing, playful sexiness and great delivery of some punchy
oneliners while batting those big seductive eyes. It's not that Timberlake's
terrible, just that he's not on the same level as her when it comes to the
comedy and ends up more goofy than plausible.
There's a bit of a lull when the film relocates from the fun of NY
to Harper's more serious home family situation in LA and despite another
brilliant turn from Richard Jenkin, the energy dip nearly becomes critical for
the movie.
A good solid ensemble cast, including a cameo from the superb Emma Stone, a
hippyish free loving Patricia Clarkson as Jamie's mother and Woody Harrelson as
a gay sports editor at GQ makes this something a little less predictable for the
rom com genre. Sure, there's a bit of dissecting of the tenets of the rom-com
world by the pair as they scoff at the banalities and predictabilities of
Hollywood's romantic world view (even former Grey's Anatomy starlet
and now romcom stable Katherine Heigl gets dissed), but it's all part of the
overall mix.
All in all, despite the blatantly shoe-horned in product placement and
repeated flash mobbing, Friends With Benefits will surprise you - it'll make you
laugh when you don't expect it and actually leave you with a fluffy glow as you
depart the cinema.
Thursday, 15 September 2011
The Help: Movie Review
The Help: Movie Review
The Help
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer
Director: Tate Taylor
Taken from a best selling novel published in 2009 by Kathryn Stockett, The Help stars the very talented Emma Stone as Skeeter Phelan in the time of the Civil Rights movement in 1960s America.
The film follows Skeeter's relationship with Aibileen (Viola Davis), an African American maid who's been raising white children for many years. It also charts her time with fellow maid Minny (Spencer) whose outspoken nature has got her fired from several positions.
Skeeter's just finished university and decides the way into journalism is to try and pitch an article about the maids and their relationships and tales of working with the prejudices and racism of 1960s America.
But as the story unfolds, it appears all kinds of relationships are about to be tested in Jackson, the heartland of the American South.
It's into inspirational and formulaic chick flick territory we go with The Help - a tale that covers all the bases from the time with a solid performance from a good ensemble.
Once again, Emma Stone demonstrates why she's fast becoming Hollywood's go to girl for slightly feisty chicks with a heart; she's very watchable in this as her character trail blazes the fight against racism; Viola Davis is stoic as the long suffering Aibileen who is the victim of prissy bitchy Hilly Holbrook (Bryce Dallas Howard) the leader of a snooty pack of women and Octavia Spencer brings a smattering of humour to the maid who takes vengeance on Hilly after years of mistreatment.
That's the thing with The Help; it does exactly what it says on the tin. While it's a little overlong and could have done with a hint of editing, this tale of empowerment and standing up, mixed with a dash of social commentary, is what you'd expect and is the perfect mother and daughter kind of outing - or a good night out for the girls.
Emotional and moving, The Help is a sturdy showcase of talent with some great performances- however, with a slightly more experienced eye behind the camera, it could have transcended from something a little middle of the road to something a little more sensational.
The Help
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer
Director: Tate Taylor
Taken from a best selling novel published in 2009 by Kathryn Stockett, The Help stars the very talented Emma Stone as Skeeter Phelan in the time of the Civil Rights movement in 1960s America.
The film follows Skeeter's relationship with Aibileen (Viola Davis), an African American maid who's been raising white children for many years. It also charts her time with fellow maid Minny (Spencer) whose outspoken nature has got her fired from several positions.
Skeeter's just finished university and decides the way into journalism is to try and pitch an article about the maids and their relationships and tales of working with the prejudices and racism of 1960s America.
But as the story unfolds, it appears all kinds of relationships are about to be tested in Jackson, the heartland of the American South.
It's into inspirational and formulaic chick flick territory we go with The Help - a tale that covers all the bases from the time with a solid performance from a good ensemble.
Once again, Emma Stone demonstrates why she's fast becoming Hollywood's go to girl for slightly feisty chicks with a heart; she's very watchable in this as her character trail blazes the fight against racism; Viola Davis is stoic as the long suffering Aibileen who is the victim of prissy bitchy Hilly Holbrook (Bryce Dallas Howard) the leader of a snooty pack of women and Octavia Spencer brings a smattering of humour to the maid who takes vengeance on Hilly after years of mistreatment.
That's the thing with The Help; it does exactly what it says on the tin. While it's a little overlong and could have done with a hint of editing, this tale of empowerment and standing up, mixed with a dash of social commentary, is what you'd expect and is the perfect mother and daughter kind of outing - or a good night out for the girls.
Emotional and moving, The Help is a sturdy showcase of talent with some great performances- however, with a slightly more experienced eye behind the camera, it could have transcended from something a little middle of the road to something a little more sensational.
Upside Down - The Creation Records Story: Movie Review
Upside Down - The Creation Records Story: Movie Review
Upside Down - The Creation Records Story
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Alan McGee, Oasis, Primal Scream, The Jesus and Mary Chain
Director: Danny O'Connor
For those in the know, Creation Records will be responsible for many a favourite band and an exceptional tune.
And even for those not in the know, it's likely you'll have heard of the likes of Oasis, Primal Scream to name but two.
This doco focuses on the label's founder, ginger haired Scot Alan McGee, who was instrumental in shaping a lot of the early music scene of the late 80s and early 90s.
Using the standard talking head format of the doco genre, it mixes in a heady cocktail of archive footage of the early days in Scotland, the rock and roll sounds of the suburbs and interviews with the bands involved.
O'Connor's style is to leap about from one thing to the next as he charts the rise of the label and its successes in the UK and abroad.
Thankfully, he's got a charming and rogueish central character, McGee, which keeps you relatively engaged throughout and makes for an intriguing look at the record industry and the times which it helped create (the likes of Britpop and the shoegazing music scene).
It's a very traditional documentary and really offers nothing new on that front, but fans of the music of the time will be drooling at the insights into why the label imploded, why McGee was such a trendsetter and why many bands are so grateful they got the start they needed and wanted.
As a piece of music history, Upside Down - The Creation Records Story is one for fans and perhaps a few non fans alike to relish.
Upside Down - The Creation Records Story
Rating: 6/10
Cast: Alan McGee, Oasis, Primal Scream, The Jesus and Mary Chain
Director: Danny O'Connor
For those in the know, Creation Records will be responsible for many a favourite band and an exceptional tune.
And even for those not in the know, it's likely you'll have heard of the likes of Oasis, Primal Scream to name but two.
This doco focuses on the label's founder, ginger haired Scot Alan McGee, who was instrumental in shaping a lot of the early music scene of the late 80s and early 90s.
Using the standard talking head format of the doco genre, it mixes in a heady cocktail of archive footage of the early days in Scotland, the rock and roll sounds of the suburbs and interviews with the bands involved.
O'Connor's style is to leap about from one thing to the next as he charts the rise of the label and its successes in the UK and abroad.
Thankfully, he's got a charming and rogueish central character, McGee, which keeps you relatively engaged throughout and makes for an intriguing look at the record industry and the times which it helped create (the likes of Britpop and the shoegazing music scene).
It's a very traditional documentary and really offers nothing new on that front, but fans of the music of the time will be drooling at the insights into why the label imploded, why McGee was such a trendsetter and why many bands are so grateful they got the start they needed and wanted.
As a piece of music history, Upside Down - The Creation Records Story is one for fans and perhaps a few non fans alike to relish.
Win Win: Movie Review
Win Win: Movie Review
Win Win
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale, Melanie Lynskey, Jeffrey Tambor
Director: Thomas McCarthy
Paul Giamatti once again dons his slightly sadsack look for this indie quirky piece about a lawyer Mike Flaherty whose small business is facing a bit of a financial struggle.
Flaherty also moonlights as the coach of a small high school wrestling team - and they're struggling as well.
So, when he sees a cash lifeline from an elderly client, he decides to cash in and becomes the oldster's guardian.
However, that backfires when the grandson Kyle Timmons (Alex Shaffer) shows up and Flaherty's family takes him in. And when Mike realises Kyle can wrestle, suddenly it's all looking up.
But the fragile world is shaken up when Kyle's mum (our very own Melanie Lynskey) shows up, straight out of rehab...
Win Win is the definition of indie. It's from the director of The Visitor and The Station Agent and is once again another powerhouse performance from Paul Giamatti who seems to excel (and is in danger of being typecast) in these world weary character roles.
It's also wryly funny and heartfelt with great performances from Lynskey, who manages to turn a relatively loathsome character into something a little more nuanced and plausible - and Shaffer in particular who manages to get the teenage awkwardness down to an art form. He is a real discovery of a first time actor.
It's the ensemble which works well - Giamatti and Ryan impress with their humorously laconic relationship; Tambor and Cannavale are funny as the assistant coaches and as the house of cards crumbles that Flaherty's created, McCarthy does a good job of handling the situation rather than reducing it to mush.
There's a little case of the film sagging somewhat after an hour or so -but when they throw in a frankly hilarious wrestling scene, you're prepared to forgive it.
All in all, Win Win is a breath of fresh air and a quality indie with an impressive cast.
Win Win
Rating: 8/10
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale, Melanie Lynskey, Jeffrey Tambor
Director: Thomas McCarthy
Paul Giamatti once again dons his slightly sadsack look for this indie quirky piece about a lawyer Mike Flaherty whose small business is facing a bit of a financial struggle.
Flaherty also moonlights as the coach of a small high school wrestling team - and they're struggling as well.
So, when he sees a cash lifeline from an elderly client, he decides to cash in and becomes the oldster's guardian.
However, that backfires when the grandson Kyle Timmons (Alex Shaffer) shows up and Flaherty's family takes him in. And when Mike realises Kyle can wrestle, suddenly it's all looking up.
But the fragile world is shaken up when Kyle's mum (our very own Melanie Lynskey) shows up, straight out of rehab...
Win Win is the definition of indie. It's from the director of The Visitor and The Station Agent and is once again another powerhouse performance from Paul Giamatti who seems to excel (and is in danger of being typecast) in these world weary character roles.
It's also wryly funny and heartfelt with great performances from Lynskey, who manages to turn a relatively loathsome character into something a little more nuanced and plausible - and Shaffer in particular who manages to get the teenage awkwardness down to an art form. He is a real discovery of a first time actor.
It's the ensemble which works well - Giamatti and Ryan impress with their humorously laconic relationship; Tambor and Cannavale are funny as the assistant coaches and as the house of cards crumbles that Flaherty's created, McCarthy does a good job of handling the situation rather than reducing it to mush.
There's a little case of the film sagging somewhat after an hour or so -but when they throw in a frankly hilarious wrestling scene, you're prepared to forgive it.
All in all, Win Win is a breath of fresh air and a quality indie with an impressive cast.
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
Paul: Blu Ray review
Paul: Blu Ray review
Paul
Rating: R13
Released by Universal Home Ent
Aliens, geeks and Simon Pegg and Nick Frost back on screen - how can it go wrong?
The duo from Hot Fuzz, Spaced and Shaun of the Dead reteam (and write) this comedy about two guys, Graeme and Clive who head to geek mecca Comic Con after years of dreaming of making the trip.
Sated on the nerd fest that is Comic-Con, the duo then decide to roadtrip around the States, taking in some of the best UFO spots in America.
On a remote highway, the hapless pair chance upon Paul, a grey alien (voiced by Seth Rogen).
The little chap needs a helping hand to escape the government and get home - so Graeme (Pegg) obliges - and the great alien road trip begins.
Throw in a couple of FBI agents chasing, an accidental kidnap of Kristen Wiig's Ruth from an RV camp and a shadowy figure trying to stop them, and you've got the recipe for the rest of this scifi-geek-steeped-pop-culture film.
Eschewing many sci-fi references (ET, Close Encounters, Aliens, Star Wars et al), Paul is likely to appeal more to a certain sector of the audience than others.
That said, don't let the scifi bent of this witty (at times puerile) script put you off.
The trademark bromance chemistry between long time working partners Pegg and Frost continues to amuse on many levels and ensures Paul is a good night at home.
Extras: Featurettes, bloopers, trailers, Simon's silly faces&.
Rating: 7/10
Paul
Rating: R13
Released by Universal Home Ent
Aliens, geeks and Simon Pegg and Nick Frost back on screen - how can it go wrong?
The duo from Hot Fuzz, Spaced and Shaun of the Dead reteam (and write) this comedy about two guys, Graeme and Clive who head to geek mecca Comic Con after years of dreaming of making the trip.
Sated on the nerd fest that is Comic-Con, the duo then decide to roadtrip around the States, taking in some of the best UFO spots in America.
On a remote highway, the hapless pair chance upon Paul, a grey alien (voiced by Seth Rogen).
The little chap needs a helping hand to escape the government and get home - so Graeme (Pegg) obliges - and the great alien road trip begins.
Throw in a couple of FBI agents chasing, an accidental kidnap of Kristen Wiig's Ruth from an RV camp and a shadowy figure trying to stop them, and you've got the recipe for the rest of this scifi-geek-steeped-pop-culture film.
Eschewing many sci-fi references (ET, Close Encounters, Aliens, Star Wars et al), Paul is likely to appeal more to a certain sector of the audience than others.
That said, don't let the scifi bent of this witty (at times puerile) script put you off.
The trademark bromance chemistry between long time working partners Pegg and Frost continues to amuse on many levels and ensures Paul is a good night at home.
Extras: Featurettes, bloopers, trailers, Simon's silly faces&.
Rating: 7/10
Monday, 12 September 2011
Game Review - Rugby World Cup 2011
Game Review - Rugby World Cup 2011
Rugby World Cup 2011
Released on Platform : PS3
In case you hadn't noticed, there's the small matter of the Rugby World Cup currently on the go.
As the whole nation heads descends into rugby madness, it's certainly a contagion which is infecting the gaming world as well with the latest tournament now being released onto the consoling world.
Well, I say the latest tournament but to be honest, this one is lacking a little Kiwi action with the All Blacks being signed up exclusively for another game, meaning this tournament feels a little lacking in the current action.
You have choices to make on many levels in this - be it on the team front, strategies, penalty kick choices, tournaments or one off games, there's certainly enough options to keep you busy.
Enlisting in a tournament means you have to go through the process of progressing through stages and how far you go, will all depend on who your opponents are. The earlier stages are of course easier and when you get to the finals, as you'd expect, there's a possibility of a real fight on your hands.
As for gameplay itself, well, to be fair, it's a playable affair - if an unspectacular one.
As ever with these kind of games, the crowd background adds very little to the atmosphere because they're sort of blurred out and relatively undefined.
Coupled with a generic commentary, the signs are there for a bit of a yellow card to be honest given these factors fail to immerse you deeply into the game.
On the pitch itself, the players are glimpsed mainly from the back of the head and on the rare occasion when they do face camera, the graphics are fairly blandly put together and look akin, in places to Mr Potato Head.
Thankfully, while these niggles aren't ideal, they don't detract too much from the game play itself which, even the most inept and uneducated to the sport will be able to grasp.
Overall, this official game is a bit of a disappointment; it's certainly one to wile away the hours in between watching the coverage on TV ONE and on tvnz.co.nz but it's not quite worthy of a placing in the upper echelons of essential sporting console games.
Rating: 6/10
Rugby World Cup 2011
Released on Platform : PS3
In case you hadn't noticed, there's the small matter of the Rugby World Cup currently on the go.
As the whole nation heads descends into rugby madness, it's certainly a contagion which is infecting the gaming world as well with the latest tournament now being released onto the consoling world.
Well, I say the latest tournament but to be honest, this one is lacking a little Kiwi action with the All Blacks being signed up exclusively for another game, meaning this tournament feels a little lacking in the current action.
You have choices to make on many levels in this - be it on the team front, strategies, penalty kick choices, tournaments or one off games, there's certainly enough options to keep you busy.
Enlisting in a tournament means you have to go through the process of progressing through stages and how far you go, will all depend on who your opponents are. The earlier stages are of course easier and when you get to the finals, as you'd expect, there's a possibility of a real fight on your hands.
As for gameplay itself, well, to be fair, it's a playable affair - if an unspectacular one.
As ever with these kind of games, the crowd background adds very little to the atmosphere because they're sort of blurred out and relatively undefined.
Coupled with a generic commentary, the signs are there for a bit of a yellow card to be honest given these factors fail to immerse you deeply into the game.
On the pitch itself, the players are glimpsed mainly from the back of the head and on the rare occasion when they do face camera, the graphics are fairly blandly put together and look akin, in places to Mr Potato Head.
Thankfully, while these niggles aren't ideal, they don't detract too much from the game play itself which, even the most inept and uneducated to the sport will be able to grasp.
Overall, this official game is a bit of a disappointment; it's certainly one to wile away the hours in between watching the coverage on TV ONE and on tvnz.co.nz but it's not quite worthy of a placing in the upper echelons of essential sporting console games.
Rating: 6/10
From Time To Time: DVD Review
From Time To Time: DVD Review
From Time To Time
Rating: G
Released by Roadshow
Based on best seller The Chimneys of Green Knowe, From Time To Time is a ghost story mixed in with family intrigue.
When thirteen year old Tolly (Alex Etel) is sent to live with his grandmother (Smith) at her country estate, he becomes obsessed with the family secrets which are embroiled in the home.
Tolly discovers he can move between his world and the past - and begins to uncover family secrets of the estate which have lain dormant for years
From Time to Time feels a little out of time to be honest - it's certainly enchanting in places and has some wonderful effects as Tolly travels from the present to the country home of the past.
Doors open and suddenly Tolly's back in a past brought to life by wonderfully evocative colours and society life.
But it's all a little plodding in places - it feels a little Secret Gardenish as they negotiate different times and along with simple acting and no real emotion from the lead, it's hard to become engaged in this tale.
Which is a shame because Fellowes manages to eke out maximum spookiness from the old mansion, wrings out the best from his locations and gets a great performance from Maggie Smith.
Rating: 5/10
From Time To Time
Rating: G
Released by Roadshow
Based on best seller The Chimneys of Green Knowe, From Time To Time is a ghost story mixed in with family intrigue.
When thirteen year old Tolly (Alex Etel) is sent to live with his grandmother (Smith) at her country estate, he becomes obsessed with the family secrets which are embroiled in the home.
Tolly discovers he can move between his world and the past - and begins to uncover family secrets of the estate which have lain dormant for years
From Time to Time feels a little out of time to be honest - it's certainly enchanting in places and has some wonderful effects as Tolly travels from the present to the country home of the past.
Doors open and suddenly Tolly's back in a past brought to life by wonderfully evocative colours and society life.
But it's all a little plodding in places - it feels a little Secret Gardenish as they negotiate different times and along with simple acting and no real emotion from the lead, it's hard to become engaged in this tale.
Which is a shame because Fellowes manages to eke out maximum spookiness from the old mansion, wrings out the best from his locations and gets a great performance from Maggie Smith.
Rating: 5/10
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