The Sense of An Ending: Film Review

The Sense of An Ending: Film Review

Cast: Jim Broadbent, Charlotte Rampling, Michelle Dockery
Director: Ritesh Batra

Based on Julian Barnes' Man Booker prize winning novel, the film version of The Sense of an Ending benefits greatly from the paucity of its lead actor.

Broadbent doles kindly and curmudgeonly in his role as Tony Webster, a retired man who runs a camera repair shop. Webster is a man consumed by the past in more ways than one. He refuses to get a smartphone despite his daughter (Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey) being about to give birth, he tends to damaged cameras, and his desktop runs an old system.

Further to this one foot in the past ethos, Webster one day receives a letter which sends him down memory lane. Caught up in reflections from yesteryear, Webster begins to re-examine his life and his decisions.

Intercut with scenes from Webster's school days and burgeoning romance and relationship with an enigmatic girl Veronica and his friendship with school newcomer Adrian, the film has a tendency to simply cut to the past as the assignations of the present start to come squarely into focus. But it comes to rely on its bifurcated structure to provide the drive of the film as it continues.

And while Broadbent is the main reason to view this film, thanks in large part to a subtle underplayed turn that always hints at something more, this adaptation is probably more for an older generation after some reflexive viewing.

Parts of the book feel like they could have been trimmed for the screenplay, and a lot of Dockery's scenes and her character genuinely feel redundant to what's actually transpiring.

Equally, a fleeting appearance from Rampling squanders one of the best assets, and while that's not her fault, and is the demand of the narrative, her scenes with Broadbent's Webster pack an emotional power that's hard to deny.

But it's the hard yards to get to the emotional pay-off, with much of the film's mystery desperately masking itself as an enigma. Webster's rhapsodic ruminations are certainly universal in some ways (love, lust, desire) but the ultimate reveal feels more muted than devastating; a sign perhaps that translating this to a larger canvas means the intimacy of the book's context is a little torn asunder.

There are plenty of wry whimsical words which will resonate with the older end of the audience as it ambles toward its conclusion, and Broadbent's somewhat particular demeanour as Webster means he's never anything less than watchable, but perhaps The Sense of an Ending is more a case of a story that is slightly - and unfortunately - lost in translation.

La La Land: Blu Ray Review

La La Land: Blu Ray Review

The director of Whiplash delivers an homage to love and musicals that's all rush and very little drag, while reuniting stars Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling for the third time (after Crazy Stupid Love and Gangster Squad).

Stone is Mia, an aspiring actress stuck in the role of a barista on the WB lot and frustrated in auditions; Gosling is Seb, a jazz enthusiast and purist piano player who dreams of setting up a club in the crummy dive which threw him out, but whose ambition is thwarted by bosses who want him to play the set list and nothing more.

The pair meet by chance a couple of times in the kind of coincidence that some would garner as fate and over the period of a year, told via Chazelle's four-seasons-in-one-film on screen titles, begin a gentle romance that's threatened by ambitions, reality and life itself.

La La Land is a bright, breezy, colourful homage to musicals of the past and a Hollywood of yesteryear.

It sets its store out in its very first opening moments, where a crowded LA freeway is turned into a free-wheeling fully choreographed dance number where car residents frolick on bonnets, in the road and on rooves with such abandon that it's impossible not to be carried along with the Another Day of Sun song.

Bathed in retro primary colours and nods to the Hollywood of the past (Mia's apartment has an Ingrid Bergman mural and The Black Cat poster), Chazelle's attempted to recapture the joie de vivre of the great musicals and the spectacles that were once so common place, but are now sneered at. Even throwing in some meta lines about whether people will love it or not, to which one character retorts "F*** them", La La Land is a throw everything at it piece, where a great amount brilliantly sticks.

This is cinema to swoon at, cinema to fall in love to and a film where the leads have the chemistry that's needed to pull through some of the slightly dodgier singing numbers they're gifted. They don't make movies like this anymore, and it's good they don't - because when one like this comes along, it knocks your cinematic socks off.

But while La La Land is a film of dreamers, it's also bathed in a sad melancholy that ebbs and flows with the tide of life as the year of their romance plays out and reality comes heartbreakingly knocking.

Stone and Gosling make the perfect pair, even if the second half of the film grounds their romance in tensions and drama as the rows grow between following your heart and your dream and dealing with the harsh realities of life. They are the dreamers many of us wish to be, and their ease of chemistry and tonic of romance feels beautiful to behold.

Consequently, it's the nostalgic escapism of Broadway swathed in the visual opulence of the past - but more crucially, La La Land is the tonic to the festive season - a timeless romance, swept up in the romance of dreaming, and all wrapped in a bright colour palette and with such heart, that it's impossible not to fall in love with La La Land - and fall hard. 

Whisky Galore: DVD Review

Whisky Galore: DVD Review

A remake of the 1949 Ealing classic of the same name, the 2017 version of Whisky Galore doesn't quite pack the same sweet punch.

At the height of the Second World War on the Scottish island of Eriskay, the islanders are shocked to find they've run dry. With no sign of any more rations of whisky on the way, the island begins to fall apart - but that all changes when a ship runs aground just off the coast. With the postmaster Macroon (Rab C Nesbitt star Gregor Fisher) discovering their cargo is whisky, a devious plot to steal the good stuff is put in place.

But the only thing standing in the islanders' way is the officious Captain Wagget (played by Eddie Izzard) as the battle of wits escalates.

Even though it's based on a true story, Whisky Galore is perhaps more suited to a home viewing than a big screen outing.

With its gentle broad slightly nostalgic humour and occasional am-dram performances, it does feel more like the blue rinse brigade will enjoy it more than a younger audience, who may feel some of its timings and pacings are a little slow at best.

Eddie Izzard's Wagget is extremely reminiscent of Dad's Army's Captain Mainwaring in terms of bumbling officiousness and self-pomposity but that's no bad thing.

There's a gentle calmness to proceedings but there's very little edge to what's happening - and some of the sub plot threads about Macroon's daughters getting married off aren't mined for the emotional depth and wistfulness they could provide.

All in all, Whisky Galore puts the dram in Am-dram, but it's not as intoxicating a shot of cinema to anyone other than an older audience, despite beautiful settings and an old school nostalgic vibe. 

Double GTA$ & RP on Rockstar Stunt Races, Juggernaut, Resurrection & More

Double GTA$ & RP on Rockstar Stunt Races, Juggernaut, Resurrection & More

There are many paths to success and excess you can take over the coming days in GTA Online - with Double GTA$ & RP on offer in four distinct modes. Now through May 25th, stay in the black by painting the town blood red with Double GTA$ & RP in Juggernaut and Resurrection. If you're more comfortable behind the wheel than gunning down your adversaries, you can also earn Double GTA$ & RP in any of the many adrenaline-inducing Rockstar Created Stunt or Special Vehicle Races.

25% OFF THE GP1, INFERNUS CLASSIC AND MORE 

Also starting today and running through May 25th, cut costs while cutting corners with 25% off any of the vehicles from Cunning Stunts: Special Vehicle Circuit, including:

• Hijak Ruston
• Progen GP1
• Pegassi Infernus Classic
• Grotti Turismo Classic

Once you've picked up your new ride, take 25% off the price tag on the following vehicle modifications:

• Transmission upgrades
• Brakes
• Exhausts
• Spoilers
• Engine upgrades
• Turbo upgrades 

Finally, complete the look while you're out on the track with 25% off all Cunning Stunts clothing.

PREMIUM RACE & TIME TRIAL SCHEDULES

A multitude of chances to fatten your virtual wallets and RP, check out the next two weeks of Premium Races and Time Trials:

May 16th - 22nd

This week's Premium Special Vehicle Race is "The Loop," locked to the Rocket Voltic and the Time Trial is "Down Chiliad."

May 23rd - 29th

Test your mettle with the Ruiner 2000-locked "Steeplechase" serving as the week's Premium Race and "Del Perro Pier" as the Time Trial.

Premium Races can be launched through the Quick Job App on your in-game phone or via the yellow corona at Legion Square. GTA$ payouts are awarded to the top three finishers and all racers get Triple RP just for trying. To participate in Time Trials, set a waypoint to the marker on your map and enter via the purple corona. Beat par time and earn a nice GTA$ & RP reward.

LEGO® MARVEL SUPER HEROES 2 - ANNOUNCE

WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT, TT GAMES, THE LEGO GROUP

AND MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCE

LEGO® MARVEL SUPER HEROES 2

Iconic Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains from Different Eras and Realities Come Together for an All-New, Original Adventure in the Sequel to Blockbuster Hit, LEGO® Marvel Super Heroes

Burbank, Calif. – May 15, 2017 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, TT Games, The LEGO Group and Marvel Entertainment today announced LEGO® Marvel Super Heroes 2, an all-new, original adventure and sequel to the smash hit, LEGO® Marvel Super Heroes. Bringing together iconic Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains from different eras and realities, along with signature LEGO humor, the latest epic adventure from TT Games transports players into a cosmic battle across a myriad of Marvel locations ripped from time and space into the incredible open hub world of Chronopolis. LEGO® Marvel Super Heroes 2 will be available starting November 15, 2017 for PlayStation®4, Xbox One®, and PC. The game will be released for Nintendo Switch™ this holiday. 

“With a completely original branching storyline, LEGO® Marvel Super Heroes 2  introduces amazing new gameplay features, including the ability for characters to manipulate time and a four-player competitive Super Hero battling mode,” said Tom Stone, Managing Director, TT Games. “With a huge array of brand new characters from the Marvel Universe, including old favorites in new guises, this game is sure to thrill both LEGO and Marvel fans, as well as newcomers to the series.”

“The LEGO Group is delighted to continue the stories of the legendary Marvel characters in a new LEGO adventure,” said Sean McEvoy, VP Digital Games, The LEGO Group. “Fans young and old will love playing through this all-new cosmic saga spanning the Marvel Universe as seen through the LEGO lens.”

“As we look to bring amazing games to Marvel fans of all ages, we’ve teamed up yet again with our incredible partners at LEGO, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and TT Games,” said Jay Ong, SVP, Games & Innovation, Marvel Entertainment. “LEGO® Marvel Super Heroes 2 brings characters from across Marvel’s history into an original story told in a way that only LEGO games can, offering hours of epic gameplay.”

Players will go head-to-head with the time-traveling Kang the Conqueror in an epic battle across Chronopolis, from Ancient Egypt and The Old West to Sakaar and New York City in 2099. Along the way, gamers will be able to take control of a host of iconic characters, from Cowboy Captain America from the past to Spider-Man 2099 from the future along with Thor, Hulk, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Doctor Strange, Green Goblin, and dozens of other Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains.

Packed with entertaining LEGO humor for fans of all ages, LEGO® Marvel Super Heroes 2 features a four player multiplayer mode, allowing friends and family to play competitively or cooperatively as a team.

Follow LEGO® Marvel Super Heroes 2 at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LEGOMarvelVideoGame

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LEGOMarvelGame

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/LEGOMarvelGame

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LEGOMarvelVideoGame

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands - Fallen Ghosts Expansion coming May 30

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands - Fallen Ghosts Expansion coming May 30

HUNTERS BECOME THE HUNTED IN TOM CLANCY’S GHOST RECON^® WILDLANDS’ SECOND EXPANSION, FALLEN GHOSTS, COMING MAY 30, 2017

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA— May 16, 2017 —Ubisoft^® has announced that the second Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands expansion, Fallen Ghosts, will be available to season pass owners simultaneously onXbox One, PlayStation^® 4 computer entertainment system and Windows PC on May 30, 2017. The expansion will release for individual purchase for all players a week later, on June 6, 2017.

Fallen Ghosts takes place after the fall of the Santa Blanca Cartel. With Unidad’s military force unable to maintain control over Bolivia, the country is in a state of civil war. To help restore order, the Unidad enlists cartel members, veterans, mercenaries and criminals from various nearby countries as volunteers. Together, they form a new brutal special unit: Los Extranjeros, which is ordered to track and eliminate all American agents.

In this chaotic situation, the Ghosts have one last mission: evacuate the last CIA members and American civilians remaining in the country. Shot down enroute to their mission, the Ghosts find themselves in the middle of the jungle, without external support, facing deadly enemies equipped with the latest gear and technology. These dangerous elite soldiers are separated into four distinct classes:

-     Armored: Equipped with heavy bulletproof plates, they are especially threatening in close combat.

-     Elite Sniper: Geared up with an advanced movement detector, these Elite Sniper are able to notice far away targets and never miss their shot.

-     Jammer: With a jamming antenna directly in their backpack, they are able to neutralize drones and interfere with all electronic equipment.

-     Covert Ops: Equipped with a new prototype cloaking device that makes them almost invisible and a powerful crossbow, they give a new meaning to the word “Ghost.”

The Fallen Ghosts campaign will feature 15 new missions in which players will have to take down four new bosses located in three different regions. In the expansion, players will start with a new character at level 30 and equipped with all of the main game skills. The level cap will increase from 30 to 35, and players will be able to unlock nine new skills including physical, weapon and drones skills.

Fallen Ghosts also features six exclusive new weapons ranging from new assaults rifles, sniper rifles and a crossbow that can be equipped with explosive arrows.

Finally, the more hardcore players will be pleased to know that the advanced and expert difficulties have been tweaked to offer an even higher challenge. By turning the HUD off players will get the most extreme and tactical experience possible in Ghost Recon Wildlands.

In Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands, players discover a fictionalized future Bolivia, a few years from now, in which players must take down the Santa Blanca drug cartel by any means necessary. Behind enemy lines, they hunt down targets and discover intel, using any of the more than 60 vehicles available, including cars, motorcycles and even helicopters that they can commandeer. To topple the cartel, players have to fight their way to El Sueño, Santa Blanca’s ruthless leader, by breaking down the Santa Blanca drug cartel’s operation piece by piece as they sever alliances between the drug lords and the corrupted government. A PvP mode for Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands will be available in the coming months.

For more information about Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands, please visit ghostrecon.com.

King Arthur: The Legend of the Sword: Film Review

King Arthur: The Legend of the Sword: Film Review

Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Jude Law, Eric Bana, Astrid Berges-Frisbey, Djimon Hounsou, Aidan Gillen, Neil Maskell
Director: Guy Ritchie

Playing like some bastard version of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Towers, and already a massive flop at the US Box Office, Guy Ritchie's take on King Arthur isn't quite as bad as you've been led to believe.

It's not perfect, either, but the visceral energy and sheer chutzpah that Ritchie imbues part of this fantastical tale with a visual thrill that's hard to shake.

It doesn't start off well, with a CGI heavy Return of the King /Two Towers / Warcraft style battle atop the ramparts that sees possessed pachyderms throwing rocks and taking on hordes of bad guys at the behest of a Mage blighting the land.

But the story concentrates on Sons of Anarchy star Charlie Hunnam aka Arthur, who witnesses his father's death before being cast off in a boat for his own safety.

Growing up on the back-alleys and streets of Londinium and denying his royal heritage, Arthur's forced to face his destiny when he manages to pull the sword Excalibur from the stone.
It's this that puts him on a collision course with his uncle, the ruthless leader King Vortigen (Jude Law), who's determined to deny Arthur his birth-right.

There's a kernel of a good gritty take on the Arthurian legend here, but it's buried deeply under the relatively rote and muddied CGI that blights large parts of King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.

In particular, Ritchie's geezer take on proceedings and quick cut montage adds a level of irreverence that is welcome in among the familiar trappings of conventional story-telling.
Ritchie used similar devices in his take on Sherlock Holmes and here, the speed and energy pays off with an unconventional way of doing a conventional story.

However, it's these stylish touches which add greatly to King Arthur and almost manage to distract from the occasionally flat delivery of some clunking dialogue (chiefly and unfortunately from former model Berges-Frisbey) and some rather exposition-heavy scenes.
The film's over-reliance on slow-mo also hurts proceedings as well, with it becoming a stylistic bridge too far and a visual trick that needs dialling down to achieve greater effect.

There's also a distinct feeling that the duality of destiny for the protagonists and their journeys on them would have made for a better film, with Arthur doing all he can to deny it, and Vortigen falling further into darkness as he desperately scrabbles to embrace it.

Ultimately, though it's the jumbling of all the ingredients that make King Arthur a disappointment of a film, with supernatural elements becoming the norm over the characters. When the film moves away from those (aside from the brilliant creation of a slithering octopus-like creature that lurks in Vortigen's catacombs), the human elements aren't strong enough to spring to life from the page.
It's a shame as Maskell's innate likeability and Hunnam's oafish-ruffian-geezer energy that make parts of King Arthur bearable.

It's just unfortunate that the weak script and a tighter edit weren't deployed to help save this from feeling like a derivative and sub-par fantasy epic that could ambles on its way and could have been so much more.