Burnt: Blu Ray Review

Burnt: Blu Ray Review

Rating: M
Released by Roadshow Home Ent

It’s the long path to redemption in Burnt, the latest serving from the cinematic kitchen.

Cooper plays chef Adam Jones, who destroyed his career in Paris, and also wrecked his life with booze, drugs and women. Having paid his penance for his mistakes by shucking a million oysters, he swans back into London and the life of maitre’d Tony (Daniel Bruhl, one of the film’s high points), demanding another chance and trading on his brilliance in a former life.

With Jones determined to get a third Michelin star, he begins setting up a kitchen, but finds the sins of his past are roadblocks to his current behaviour…

Unlike last year’s amiable Chef, Burnt is a traditional road to redemption story, with a diversion into Gordon Ramsay behaviour and tirades.

Opening with a ramshackle “getting back the gang a la Oceans 11/12/13 for one last heist / restaurant Michelin star” push, the film’s got a rag-taggle feel to it, Burnt never really settles for anything ambitious or deep in its treatment of its protagonist, preferring to tread a workmanlike route.

Jones’ narcissistic tendencies and chef based arrogance are deeply alienating, and certainly his relationship with Sienna Miller’s sous chef and potential love interest Helene has all the hallmarks of a classic bully/ victim/ abuse cycle (in fact, it’s deeply disturbing that this is never fully addressed throughout – and is echoed in his relationship with Bruhl’s Tony who comes back time and time again, simply because he’s dazzled by his brilliance).  Despite re-teaming with hisAmerican Sniper colleague, there's never really a sense of plausibility to the relationship - even though one suspects those within the industry may quietly acknowledge the inferred realities of what transpires.

So, Jones' quest back to redemption and acceptance by the critical world is marred by this and also by the fact he never actually shows his talents or the troubles from his past which threaten so catastrophically to derail his plans for gastronomic success. It is merely enough for the script to tell us he's great and continue to ram that point down our throats that it feels like it suffices, like a cinematic amuse bouche that doesn't hit the spot.

Cliched moments mar the journey too as this volatile and cocky chef heads onwards; and while Wells’ eye for frenetic fleeting shots of haute cuisine feel like a slideshow working on double time, his evocation of the culinary perfection and white sheen of the restaurant world is a tantalisingly refreshing treatment and avoids falling into clichéd food porn shots.

But it's the fact that Burnt is a film that flounders without a real identity, seems happy to highlight supporting players and then toss them aside like a discarded starter that irritates more than anything. Emma Thompson, Uma Thurman and Alicia Vikander are treated appallingly, reduced to fleeting cameos in effect and left in the wake of Cooper's character. A deeper interaction with more of them would have been more effective and certainly would have given Burnt the depth that it so desperately needed. (Though one twist is deliciously served up towards the end, adding some much needed spice to this bland concoction)

Ultimately Burnt serves up all the cliches, but with a protagonist who's so unlikeable and who behaves in a manner that's so unworthy of ultimate redemption. It's more a cinematic meal that you'd possibly want to send back, rather than savour every bite of.

Win a double pass to see 10 Cloverfield Lane

Win a double pass to see 10 Cloverfield Lane

To celebrate the release of 10 Cloverfield Lane on March 10th, we're giving you a chance to win a double pass to see the film, thanks to our pals at Paramount Pictures.

About 10 Cloverfield Lane:

A Bad Robot Production

 “10 Cloverfield Lane”

Produced by J.J. Abrams and Lindsey Weber

Story by Josh Campbell & Matt Stuecken

Screenplay by Josh Campbell & Matt Stuecken and Damien Chazelle

Directed by Dan Trachtenberg

Cast:               Starring John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and John Gallagher, Jr, in 10 Cloverfield Lane, Monsters come in many forms....

To enter simply email to this address: darrensworldofentertainment@gmail.com  and in the subject line put 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE. 

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Blu Ray Revealed

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Blu Ray Revealed

RELEASED ON Blu-ray™ AND DVD ON APRIL 13, 2016

Including new in-depth bonus offering fans the chance to experience more

BURBANK, Calif. (March 3, 2016)—Star Wars: The Force Awakens shattered box office records upon its debut to become the cinematic event of a generation with over $14.5 million in New Zealand and $2 billion worldwide. Opening to New Zealand’s biggest box office weekend ever, Star Wars: The Force Awakens enjoyed a huge NZ$6.3M opening week, smashing the previous record held, by NZ$2.2M.

As announced this morning by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert A. Iger at The Walt Disney Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the epic movie will be available to own on Blu-ray™ and DVD on April 13.

Discover the complete story behind the making of Star Wars: The Force Awakens with in-depth documentary and bonus material that will take fans on an exciting journey behind the scenes.

Secrets will be revealed through extensive footage, never-before-seen deleted scenes, and exclusive interviews with the actors and filmmakers. Blu-ray™ bonus features include:

• Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey – For the first time, discover the complete story behind the making of The Force Awakens, revealed through in-depth footage and exclusive interviews with the actors and filmmakers in this feature documentary.
• The Story Awakens: The Table Read – Cast members familiar and new reflect on the memorable day they all first came together to read the movie’s script
• Building BB-8 – See how the filmmakers brought the newest droid to the screen, creating an instant fan favorite in the Star Wars universe.
• Crafting Creatures – Watch movie magic as the filmmakers bring a cast of new creatures to life.
• Blueprint of a Battle: The Snow Fight – Go deeper into the epic, climactic lightsaber battle between Rey and Kylo Ren
• John Williams: The Seventh Symphony – The legendary composer shares personal insights of his work on Star Wars and The Force Awakens
• ILM: The Visual Magic of The Force – An insider’s look into the remarkable digital artistry of the movie’s visual effects
• Force For Change – Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. See how the Star Wars: Force for Change initiative has united Star Wars fans all over the globe in using the Force to help others.
• Plus Deleted Scenes

Star Wars: The Force Awakens saw the eagerly anticipated reteaming of original Star Wars stars Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill, along with Anthony Daniels, the only actor to have been in all seven Star Wars films, and Peter Mayhew. The returning cast was joined by newcomer Daisy Ridley, who beat out fierce competition to take the principal role of Rey; BAFTA Rising Star Award winner John Boyega (Attack the Block, Imperial Dreams) as reluctant stormtrooper Finn; Emmy® nominee Adam Driver (Lincoln, Girls) as the villainous Kylo Ren, and Golden Globe® winner Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis, The Bourne Legacy) as Resistance pilot Poe Dameron.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens was directed by J.J. Abrams and written by Lawrence Kasdan & J.J. Abrams and Michael Arndt. Lucasfilm president and eight-time Academy Award® nominee Kathleen Kennedy and J.J. Abrams, along with his longtime producing partner Bryan Burk, are the film’s producers.

           

Having established a musical legacy with his iconic scores for the previous six films in the Star Wars Saga, acclaimed composer John Williams returned to score Star Wars: The Force Awakens, ultimately garnering his 50^th Oscar® nomination for it.

           

DISC SPECIFICATIONS:

FEATURE RUN TIME:                            Approximately 136 min.

RATING:                                                  DVD is rated M-V

ASPECT RATIO:                                      Blu-ray Feature Film =           2.40:1

                                                                 DVD Feature Film = 2.40:1                                                                         

AUDIO:                                                   Blu-ray = English 7.1 DTS-HDMA, English 2.0 Descriptive Audio, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital Language Tracks

                 DVD = English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Descriptive Audio Language Tracks

LANGUAGES:                                         English, French & Spanish

SUBTITLES:                                            English SDH, French & Spanish

Bridge of Spies: Blu Ray Review

Bridge of Spies: Blu Ray Review

Released by 20th Century Fox Home Ent
Rating: M


Powerhouse director Steven Spielberg re-teams with acting buddy Tom Hanks for the fourth time in this refreshingly old school Cold War thriller, inspired by true events and with a script given a spit and polish by the Coen Brothers.

At the height of the Cold War in 1957, Hanks is insurance lawyer James B Donovan, an all-round good guy. Given the task of defending Mark Rylance's spy accused Rudolf Abel, Donovan believes he's been given a poison chalice, with everyone turning against him for his decision to follow due procedure and the American justice system.

However, when an American pilot (Austen Stowell) is shot down in Russian airspace and paraded on trial as the paranoia ramps up, Donovan's called upon by the US Government to negotiate a trade. And things get more complicated when a young US student's caught up in the burgeoning East / West German republic and imprisoned, leading Donovan to try to do all he can to free him as well.

It's easy to see why Spielberg and Hanks were attracted to Bridge of Spies - it's likeSchindler's List, but with espionage thrown into the mix as the nice guy does all he can to save the day.

Hanks is as watchable as ever as Donovan, who has to negotiate his family's escalating tension at his involvement in standing up for a man accused of spying. Coupled with his son's real fear of the atomic bomb and his growing estrangement for his belief in the American principles, Hanks' character is as much out in the cold as Abel, and Hanks relishes his time in the spotlight with a studied dependable portrayal of a decent man.

The film begins with a chase sequence as Rylance's precise and measured Abel tries his best to elude the pursuit of several G-men, adorned in fedoras in the transit system. It's a sequence we've seen many times before in many different spy films and Spielberg executes it faithfully, carefully and masterfully.

But this studious chase sequence is perhaps one of the few moments of action in a film that settles for brilliant war-time aesthetics and settings and good ole-fashioned scenes of men talking (even with the Coens' wit brushed through the script aimed at punctuating the almost documentary-like feel). Bridge of Spies is not smeared in action and it's certainly not an urgent film (making it feel like one from yesteryear), preferring to take its time to head to its destination as the politics of trading, the escalating global tensions and the intertwined stories play out on screen to varying degrees of success.

Certainly, there's an argument to be made for Rylance's involvement in the film - his Abel is a spy by way of a laconic Droopy The Dog, dishing out dry wit and perfectly timed comments to cut through the moodiness of the situation. In the time he's part of the narrative, he's unmissable. Sadly, the middle part of the film deems it necessary to exclude him from the narrative, preferring to concentrate on Donovan's Frank Capra-esque escapades in Berlin. His final sequences hint at the true nature of a life after for a spy and it's in the titular Bridge that the film becomes subtly nuanced and shows a welcome melancholy edge.

It's not a fatal flaw for Bridge of Spies, and there's certainly an argument that this sedentary, masterful weaving of a story will suit a largely Sunday afternoon audience, but it's perhaps telling that in its 2hrs 20 minutes. the lack of real urgency starts to show and almost causes the film to be lost in the ether. It's only in the final moments as a trade happens on the titular bridge that you realise how gripping it's been.

There's no denying Bridge of Spies is a worthy story, and another example of Spielberg and Hanks teaming up to champion the common man who ultimately made a massive difference; but there's just a nagging feeling which persists that it could have done with a blast of more energy to propel it along.

Rating:

Rock the Kasbah: Blu Ray Review

Rock the Kasbah: Blu Ray Review

If you ever wanted to see a film with Bill Murray trussed to a bed, bedecked in a blonde wig and wearing a diaper, then Barry Levinson's latest is for you.

Murray plays washed up verging-on-con-man music manager Richie Lanz who spends his days listening to awful karaoke singers and promising them the world in return for cash. But his world turns around when he takes his last remaining client (Zooey Deschanel) on a USO tour of Afghanistan, believing fame and fortune lie around the corner.

However, having been ripped off and left without any means of escape from Afghanistan, Richie has to try and turn his fortunes around to make it out alive - and things get more complicated when, for the first time in his life, he discovers a genuine talent. Could his shot at redemption also be his undoing as he travels to Kabul to get his female singer on Afghan Star?

If you're expecting a hoot-a-moment film from the man who cocked a snook at the armed forces with the Adrian Cronauer story in Good Morning, Vietnam, then Rock The Kasbah is not the film for you.

It lurches wildly between tones as it negotiates a lunatic sensibility with a social commentary - and not always entirely successfully. Murray brings his usual deadpan laconic stylings to the table and there's just something about this rapscallion and his louche outlook that gets you on side. Certainly, in parts, Murray looks like he's having a blast.

The rest of the supporting cast don't fare as well - Hudson gets some extra time in the final furlong as the Armed forces tart-with-a-heart (even if one scene looks quite obviously like it was re-shot and re-scripted); Caan and McBride make the most of their extended cameos as black-market dealers - and even Willis shows up to whisper some lines before slinking off into the sand dunes of both the desert and the movie, only to reappear when dramatic fortune requires him to do so.

Equally, the film's sensibilities border on abrasive too, with the sentiment that Lanz can do whatever he wants with his client simply because he's American. Want to ride roughshod over years of cultural issues and oppression of women without any consequence? Sure, then Lanz is your man - and the script crassly precipitates this with Lanz getting his way for Afghan Star. Granted, it's morally questionable and perhaps a tighter script or a neater plotting of the arc could have helped, but this last third push within the film rankles and feels grossly awkward despite Murray's innate charm propelling it along.

That's the main problem with Rock The Kasbah; its tonal inconsistencies end up providing a patchy affair that's scrappy and amusing in equal measures. As the Clash remarked, the Shareef don't like it - and for large parts of this film thanks to its cultural awkwardness, if you'll forgive the pithiness, neither did I.

Rating:

Win a double pass to see Hunt For The Wilderpeople

Win a double pass to see Hunt For The Wilderpeople

To celebrate the release of Taika Waititi's Hunt For The Wilderpeople on March 31st, you can win 1 of 5 double passes to see the new film in the cinema!

To enter simply email to this address: darrensworldofentertainment@gmail.com  and in the subject line put WILDERPEOPLE. 

Please include your name and address and good luck!

(Competition closes March 31st)



The full theatrical trailer for Taika Waititi’s adventure comedy ‘Hunt for the Wilderpeople’ has been released today ahead of the film's nationwide cinema release on March 31, 2016.

Starring Sam Neill and Julian Dennison, 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople' received rave reviews when it premiered in January at the Sundance International Film Festival. Trade bible Screen Daily touted the film as "warm, funny and deeply delightful", while The Hollywood Reporter described it as "a deliciously good time at the movies".


Alongside the release of the film, a special re-release of the novel ‘Wild Pork and Watercress’ by legendary author Barry Crump - which the film is based on – will be released by Penguin Random House (NZ). Featuring Neill and Dennison on the cover, this classic Kiwi yarn is available in all good bookstores now.

Legend: Blu Ray Review

Legend: Blu Ray Review

There's no disputing the Krays were synonymous with violence, intimidation and gangland rude in 1960s London.

This latest film to explore their riotous regime is pitched more as a romantic love triangle between Ronnie and Reggie Kray (both played by Tom Hardy) and Emily Browning's Frances Shea who's a bit fragile, according to her brother and desperate to rebel against her mother's wishes.

Ronnie is the more volatile of the pair, a sort of pug-nosed Michael Caine with a cold in Hardy's hands, but whose desire to rule with an iron fist sees him at loggerheads with the more suave and calmer Reggie, who believes himself to be a gangster prince at heart, but won't publicly acknowledge that. Into their world comes Frances, a naive waif of a girl whose fragility is at odds with the harshness of the reality of the Krays, but who's willing to be swept off her feet and seduced by Reggie.

Oscar winning director Brian Helgeland (LA Confidential) wastes no time in setting this latest version of the Krays up as a stylish look at the duo - and something quite distant from the Kray twins outing starring the Kemp brothers from back in the 1980s. But yet, despite the pristine veneer of the occasional bursts of violence (bizarrely set to music that sounds like a bad 70s style sitcom, no doubt to detract from the seething ugliness of the attacks), there's scant character progression at key moments.

Shea's decline is more immediate than gradual, and feels a little shoehorned in, a casualty of the escalating gang tensions and the police's sudden desire (and the narrative's sudden drive) to take the Krays out once and for all. It's a shame because Browning's porcelain fragility is neatly juxtaposed to the ugliness around her - even if her narration and voiceover begins to irritate as the film continues, preferring to use this as an expository tool rather than witness events.

Shea needs to be the eyes and ears of the Krays, a window into their world into the beauty and ugliness of it all, and sadly, she's too sidelined in this to make an effective story-telling tool or character.

Thankfully though, Hardy and Hardy's searing and savage turns as the suited-and-booted bastard Krays really stand head and shoulders above anything else in this. Helgeland wisely holds the duo from appearing on screen together  (save for back of head shots) until an epic showdown where Hardy takes on Hardy as the Krays scrabble at each other.

And from here onwards, Legend takes on a life of its own as the charismatic charm of the Krays becomes a balancing act between outright monsters and Casino like heroes. (Helgeland's Scorsese influences are worn on his sleeve - both from Goodfellas and Casino, and complete with swooping one takes that looks awfully familiar).  But Hardy never once loses sight of the nuances of the character which are needed to keep these two apart (even if the script feels the best way to do it is to push them into ACME cartoon comedy territory)

Ultimately, Legend stands on its gimmick, rather than the rest of its story-telling. There are a few story-telling niggles throughout this stylish pic that pick away at you throughout, but not for one moment, will you be distracted by Hardy's Legend-ary performance.