AMAZING blind drop no-scope through wall: Black Ops Gameplay

Sweet Double Quick-hands Tomahawks: Black Ops Gameplay

Phone Booth (2002)

Mint - 4/5

So I saw this film on Channel 5 last night called 'Phone Booth'. I've seen this film many a time and, despite it literally being set in one single location, I never find myself getting bored of it. Colin Farrelll's performance is exceedingly arrogant and shovenistic towards the beginning but becomes hugel emotional as the film progresses, showing the diversity that Farrell can bring to any film. It's astonishing that Joel Schumacher managed to bring us such a captivating movie when the events unfolded in one single setting. In this way the film was a breath of fresh air to the 'hostage' genre of film. With previous films in this sub-type such as 'The Negotiator' and 'Speed' we feel a great tension building during the hostage scenes but when it breaks away to show some fairly pointless footage of the hostage taker or the police doing their work you lose the sense of empathy to those who have bee taken prisoner. By sticking solely to Farrell's character in this film, Schumacher enabled us to empathise during every second. This made Farrell's tearful scenes that much more emotional. I think the single location however was the reason for the short length on this film (81 minutes), which meant we were not beginning to be bored by the end.

What a good call the casting of Forest Whitaker was as Captain Ed Ramey. I seem to recall that, when I first watched this film, it was the first major role I had seen him in. I'd noticed his fleeting appearance in 'Platoon' but to me, 'Phone Booth' was the film that catapulted his career to where it is today. He was so genuine in the role. Now I'd be the first to admit that I'm a huge fan of Denzel Washington, but there was something about the role that actors such as this couldn't have pulled of. Whitaker was by far the right man for the job. This film was the film that tranformed me into a Forest Whitaker fan, simple as that.

I've never had a conversation in which somebody has said they dislike this film. It appeals to everyone and it is a British television favourite because it's a film that people can just sit and watch. They may not plan to watch it but when they see it on the TV guide it just leaps off the page.
Would I recommend it? Why haven't you seen it already?

Not Only A Film Geek: Part 2

Shutter Island (2010)

Superb Thriller - 4.5/5

So I saw this film called 'Shutter Island'. After seeing this film I would describe as a psychological thriller with elements of horror thrown in set on a tortured rock in the middle of the ocean. I think that sets the scene in your mind fairly well. Leonardo DiCaprio is becoming more and more associated with twisted films and hidden meaning and has certainly come a long way from the days of 'Titanic'. With his inclusion in 'Shutter Island' and 'Inception' 2010 was a huge year for DiCaprio and it surely must be nearing his time for an Oscar win. I would argue that no actor made a bigger impact on the film scene of 2010.

When watching 'Shutter Island' after 'Inception', there are many clear similarities between DiCaprio's performances and elements of the films themselves despite there being no real link between the films aside from their leading man. What struck me most was the similarity between the music used, and I was shocked to find that the genius that is Hans Zimmer was not the controlling hand of the music for 'Shutter Island'. We can see further similarities in DiCaprio's performances; in both roles we see the characters confusion and anger brewing and in both roles DiCaprio excelled. Until the release of these two films he wasn't, in my mind, much of an action/thriller film type of guy. I still remember him in films such as 'Titanic' and 'Romeo & Juliet' and I found it hard to believe he would be convincing in either role. However, I was overjoyed at being proved wrong on both these points.

The screenplay for 'Shutter Island' was magnificent and at no point during the film did it hint too strongly and what was to happen at the end and thereby did not ruin what turned out to be a magnificent twist in the plot. The ending was pure genius; a wide-eyed moment of gasping in air as you come to realise the truth, followed by a long debate about the meaning behind the film and explanations of the plot to yourself and others. DiCaprio's final line was so beautifully written and portrayed in such a poignant manner that it left us only with empathy towards his character. I'm sure there would have been some less than dry eyes in the audience at this point. This film is truly stunning and is one of the best thrillers I have seen in a long while.
Would I recommend it? Duh.

Groundhog Day (1993)

WHYY?? - 3/5

So I saw this film two days ago called 'Groundhog Day'. As you will know, when watching any film with Bill Murray you prepare yourself for a few laughs. While this film may have provided a fair few of them at times it still lacked direction and overall meaning. My biggest question after seeing the film was WHY??? It is to my knowledge never explained why Murray's character Phil becomes stuck in a time loop. I was expecting at least that by the end of the film he would have learned some moral lesson and we would be able to assume it was to make him a better person. Give us something to go on! I just couldn't grasp the meaning behind it at all.

Aside from the less than spectacular storyline the film did provide us with some tear jerking moments as we see Murray stuck in a seemingly endless journey of the same day, attempting to kill himself numerous times and still waking up the next morning. Bill Murray has never been an actor I have really ever empathised with but to my surprise he managed to do just that. We as an audience could feel his pain and frustration which partially made up for the lack of direction.
I would also like to mention the skill shown by the actors and actresses who had to repeat their scenes over and over but adapt them according to what Murray said or did, most notably Stephen Tobolowsky who provided us with many laughs with his character Ned.

Overall I would describe this film as over-rated. There is such hype surrounding it and I think most of this must stem from the casting of Bill Murray. However, when you look into the film you see many holes. Unlike the many unanswered questions in the TV series 'Lost', these effectively ruined the film for me. I just wanted to be told why.
Would I recommend it? If you're up for some head scratching.

The Informant! (2009)

Damon can't save it - 3/5

So I saw this film about a month ago called 'The Informant!'. You cannot help but be enticed by the advertising for this film. The DVD case itself leaves you with much anticipation, as does the trailer. To be frank, this film was a major let down. It's one of those films you have to concentrate on for every single second or you will lose any understanding of the storyline. The script, especially where Matt Damon's character Mark Whitacre is concerned, moves at such a pace that if you blink you will miss it. Add to this the fact that most of the dialogue concernes complex business speak that the average viewer will have little to no knowledge of and you have a film that will pass many people by. My girlfriend fell asleep during this film in what is probably a world record time. It is far from a film that you can just put on and enjoy.
Despite what you may be thinking this film is not all bad. The dark humor contained within provides the astute viewer with many a laugh. It is nice to see Damon in a quirky comedy such as this. To his credit he plays the proverbial nerd in a very entertaing way. It just goes to show that major Hollywood stars that we assume are relatively one dimensional, which to our fault we usually applaud them for, can produce performances that we really did not expect. Despite Damon's superb performane however, the film was nothing to rave about. I'm sure that if you have seen this film, you will know what I am talking about.
What I'm trying to say with this review is that I fail to understand the hype surrounding this film. Granted, It was funny, but this was in no way a saviour to the storyline which, to the average viewer, just didn't appeal. I must admit that there is little room to improvise within a film based on true events however. It is possible that Steven Soderbergh did as best as he could with the story that unfolded.
Would I recommend it? Only if you are in the mood to listen and are free of distractions.

Preview: The Eagle (2011)

So I think I might see this film called 'The Eagle'. Released on the 25th March, 'The Eagle' brings us the story of Channing Tatum attempting to return a lost standard from the cold realms of Scotland. Now, although I was enticed by the trailer, I don't think the star of 'Step Up' will do much good as a Roman.Come on, are you serious? Yes he may provide a character for the girls to oggle, but for the male section of the audience what will he do? I am yet to see the film 'Fighting' so I'm not sure how Tatum will fare in an action movie such as this, but my prediction is that he will be swallowed up by similar performances which are far more memorable.
So as you can see, what we need is a manly character to hold this whole thing together, a character to make the whole 'Roman action film' believable. What do we get? Billy Elliot. That's right, you didn't misread that. We have been provided with Jamie Bell as a co-star. I can't tell you how much I would love to be surprised by Bell's performance but, as I have said about the casting of Tatum, I just can't see myself being blown away by it. Come on! What you need is a slightly older male actor who is not a stranger to this sort of film. I'm thinking possibly Liam Cunnigham or even Alexander Siddig. Alas, we are doomed to almost two hours of what will most likely be a dull experience. Won't be shelling out to watch this in the cinema. Bring on 'Battle: Los Angeles'!

How To Train Your Dragon (2010)

Family Funnies - 4/5

So I saw this film about three weeks ago called 'How To Train Your Dragon'. Now, as you can imagine, after being told of a film that it's the best film somebody has ever seen, you inevitably go in with high hopes. I was not disappointed. Perhaps it wasn't the best film I'd ever seen but it couldn't fail to be bordering on such realms. It could have been the magical, heart-felt storyline or the humor elements of the film that swayed me in this direction. It had everything a top notch family film needed and more. The story, I would imagine, would have been a difficult one to grasp during the early stages of the making of the movie. What it needed to bring it all together was a host of stars and awesome animation. We got enough of that alright. Stars like Gerard Butler and Jonah Hill lent their skills, and lead man Jay Baruchel, known for small roles in such films as 'Knocked Up' and 'Tropic Thunder', was extremely effective as the nervous and wimpish main character Hiccup. Did he go on to make a good hero towards the end? I'm bordering on the side of yes.
Although I would love to say this film amazed me, it wasn't quite all I hoped it would be. It just lacked something. I don't know what it is and I will not pretend to. I just came away with a feeling that something was missing. Despite this however, I don't agree on the Best Animated Film Oscar being given to 'Toy Story 3' over this. The 'Toy Story' franchise has received a huge amount of acclaim as it is so why is an Oscar going to the worst of the three? 'How To Train Your Dragon' surely has to rate higher than that.
Despite whatever I felt was missing, DreamWorks certainly know how to make a family favourite with humor that appeals to the more aged film fanatic. For this you cannot help but applaud this film.
Would I recommend it? Of course I would.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

Easy to Relate to - 5/5

So I saw this film today called 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'. I had previously heard nothing but praise for this movie so I thought it was about time I checked it out. I'm so glad that I did. This was totally my type of movie, the type that brings you back to your childhood in the days of attempting to get off school. Matthew Broderick plays the undeniably cool Ferris Bueller and the film charts his antics during one day. Broderick could not have been better.  His little asides to camera were ingenious, it really brought the audience into the film and enabled the viewers to relate to the ecstatic feeling upon achieving a sick day off of either work or school. In this way his character was easy to relate to, one reason why he was so popular in the movie. The film adds in elements of absurdity to make sure this film isn't like any of its type. We see literally everyone in the neighbourhood supporting the apparently 'dangerously ill' Ferris and scenes such as the parade enable you to feel his charm. We must also recognise Alan Ruck for his superb performance as Cameron Frye. I must comment and ask the reason for Ruck's unpopularity in being cast in much else aside from cameo roles in crime dramas since. How did he not get the recognition he deserved after the release of the movie? His understated and nervous character contrasted perfectly with the cool of Ferris Bueller which is one of the many reasons this film was so perfect. Furthermore, it was also funny to see Charlie Sheen looking pretty similar to how he does at the moment!
So how about that parade scene huh? Do you get some shivers down your back every time you see it? I certainly do. The song choice could not have been better; you find yourself singing along and, if nobody else is around, dancing along too. I cannot fault this film and must view it on the multitude of merits that I found when watching it.
Would I recommend it? Well I don't normally buy DVDs of films I've already seen but for this, it simply had to be done.

In The Loop (2009)

Better than this sausage - 4.5/5

So I saw this amazing film the other day called 'In The Loop'. After previously seeing the trailer the fast-paced witticism that oozed from said trailer meant I knew I would enjoy this film. I was not wrong. The film contained an aggresive amaerican bully, played perfectly by James Gandolfini, and a rather smaller and less exuberant British alternative in the form of Tom Hollander. Metaphors such as this were packed into this film in an obvious and yet still highly enjoyable way. What I enjoyed most? Peter Capaldi's swearing! I've never heard anything like it! The Scottish accent was exceedingly effective in bringing the rage and frustration out in this part and Capaldi made me laugh out loud on many occassions. That's what this film is, a succession of main parts all played beautifully by a range of very fine actors.
As I sit here eating a good old english breakfast I think I want to watch this movie again. It's one of those types of film, the ones that you can quite happily re-visit after only a few days to pack a host more laughs into your day. The quick pace and quirky comedic style used by director Armando Iannucci means you don't have time to 'settle in' to this film. That it exactly how it should have been, you were supposed to get swept off into the realms of extremely funny political relationships and swearing on a whole new level. I highly suggest this film to anyone , with a slight knowledge of politics probably being an advantage. Even Steve Coogan made his way into the flick as an aggrieved constituant. All in all what this film manages to do is cram everything that is good about comedy into 106 minutes. You'll be laughing well after it finishes too.
Would I recommend it? Do you even need to ask?

Not Only A Film Geek...

Youth In Revolt (2009)

Cera does dual personality well - 3.5/5

So I saw this film last night called 'Youth In Revolt'. The reason I had been looking forward to this film was because I thought I would see Michael Cera in playing a bad-boy image much unlike many of his other films. We only saw fleeting glimpses of this persona but it was enough. I enjoyed seeing Cera's dual personality and I think he portrayed the alter ego Francois with flair. I wouldn't have thought Cera would be able to pull off a moustache wearing, cigarette smoking womaniser for one second so it was a nice surprise to see him in a role such as this, even if it was only for a bit. His performance as the intelligent, witty, shy and understated character Nick Twisp also did him justice. This is the type of role we are used to seeing Cera in and I was worried it could become a tad repetitive. However, he manages to bring something new to this role; whether it was the inclusion of a dual personality that allowed him to achieve this.
The actual storyline I thought was slightly off at times, major events seemed to happen while passing us by in a flash. However, it managed to stay coherent and funny throughout. You do find yourself asking a lot of questions throughout the film about how Nick Twisp has escaped the law, but I suppose we are meant to thank the brashness of his alter ego for this. The inclusion of beautiful well animated scenes integrated into the film added an indie touch to the proceedings which I actually liked. Ray Liotta's cameo role, as do many of his smaller roles, left much to be desired however.
I feel as if I may be leaning to much towards male actors in this blog, so lets give a hand to Portia Doubleday's performance in the biggest film of her career so far. She was both charismatic and captivating and it seemed like it was meant for the audience to have the same reaction as Nick Twisp when she broke the news about having a boyfriend at the start of the film. Going back to Michael Cera for a minute; this is the type of audience reaction evoked by Cera's geeky and understated performances. We end up rooting for him. This ultimately led to the ending being just what we expected and hoped for.
Would I recommend it? If you're a fan of 'Juno' you'll love this. 

The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)

Barrel of Laughs - 3.5/5

So I saw this film called 'The 40 Year Old Virgin'. It's a barrel of laughs isn't it? With a stellar cast including funny-men Steve Carrell and Seth Rogen you can't help but find this film hilarious. There's a guy in this called Gerry Bednob too! Add to this a title which tells you straight from the start that this is going to make you laugh and you've got yourself a movie. Now I won't pretend it's the funniest film out there but it is genuinely laugh out loud hilarious in places. Judd Apatow delivers his brand of comedy and it appeals to almost everyone.
I must digress slightly here as I remember what a friend said to me last night in the pub. What is Seth Rogen's main film? In popular films he features but rarely plays a big role. I know he was the main character in 'Observe and Report' and to a degree 'Pineapple Express' but somehow he manages to fade into the background. Everybody loves him but when I was asked the question I was like uhhhhhh... You probably think I'm crazy and disagree with me but it's something to think about.
Back to the film then. I didn't like Romany Malco's character Jay one bit and I don't think he was acted as well as he should have been. You put in the token black guy of the group and make him a stereotypical 'bitch' hunter. It's wearing a bit thin. Why not swap his character with Seth Rogen's? That could have made for some funnier stuff.What I liked about how this film was laid out however was that, in places, you could see the actors bringing in their own material and it's nice to see that, you know that the actors are having a laugh and this draws you in to having a laugh with them. Parts of the storyline sagged slightly and the ending did let it down a bit but overall I'd say it was a success.
Would I recommend it? If you want some laughs, go for it.

The Wolfman (2010)

Lacked depth - 3/5

So I saw this film last month called 'The Wolfman'. I'd heard that this film was, and I quote, 'quality' and so I was looking forward to it. Furthermore, as a massive fan of Benicio Del Toro, I was looking forward to seeing him in an action packed, gory horror film, the sort of film we haven't really seen him in before. But it was about as far away from 'quality' as you could get. I just didn't get into it. The action scenes were pacy and hard to get in to and the story lacked any real substance. His performance was amazing either. I expected this film to be very dark and have a few more jumpy moments in it; it was attempted by director Joe Johnston but to me it really didn't hit the spot.The best scene was probably Benicio transforming in front of a lecture room full of the best minds of the day and beginning a wild chase through London. The scenes of Del Toro attempting to track down the killer of his brother in the town are really just filling and get very tedious towards the end. Anthony Hopkins performed well and most of the scenes he was involved with were enjoyable.
Again, like 'Clash of the Titans', we see a film that doesn't live up to its trailer. They stuffed every last bit of excitement from the film into the trailer and left the film with little else to reveal. There were attempted twists to the plot line but you could see them coming a mile off. Now, before I go too far, this film wasn't awful. It was well made and who doesn't want to see Benicio Del Toro transforming into a werewolf? It was quite evident however that it was trying to ride on the back of the successful 'Twilight' franchise. And I can't stand 'Twilight'.
The special effects were probably what held the film together. They were impressive and it was evident that huge efforts had been taken during the making of the film to make the effect wow the audience. However, it is unfortunate for the makers that good special effects don't make a bad movie good.
Would I recommend it. If you like 'Twilight' then yes. Not for me however.