About Time Review (No Spoilers)

Well, my previous entry talks about expectation, and sometimes having it set to high. I’ve heard very good things about About Time, and the film maker's previous credits are pretty much excellent as well. So, how does this movie stand up to it all – well, the praise is definitely deserved. Instant classic!

I love time travel films, and I’ve got a penchant for good romantic comedies. But, this is all so much more. Drama, comedy, romance, science fiction - blended perfectly. I fucking loved it.

I don’t know much about the male lead, but he was certainly very likeable. Sure, he’s a red head, but we can’t hold that against him. Female lead, Rachel McAdams – love her! Has she been in a shit film? Well, she probably has, but, because she’s in it, it’s still worth watching. Is she the go to girl for romance films? The Notebook (classic), Vow, Morning Glory…the list may go on. She’s got a wonderful on screen presence, and her chemistry with her counterpart on screen is very believable.

Chemistry – that’s really what makes this film just work. All the characters just mix so well together. Whether it is they’re falling Iove, or have a odd family bond, it’s all just so real and unreal at the same time. Real because you can relate to the emotions being presented here, and unreal because it has time travel…haha. Seriously though, this is the feel good movie you need to see. It’ s funny, heart felt, and damn good entertainment.

I fucking loved it – I know, I said that before.

Oh, and Bill Nighy, as the dad, is just superb.

Rating:

5 out of 5.

Captain Phillips Review (No Spoilers)

One problem I have with reading about and following film talk so much is that I can get caught up in expectation. That is, if a film is reviewing very well, I can expect that I will automatically love it as well. Then, what happens is that I go watch it, and only end up thinking it was good, not great. That’s how I feel about Captain Phillips. Actually, let me get this straight at least, it’s very good, but I didn’t love it.

However, when left feeling like this, I struggle with my rating. So, let’s run through the key points before rating.

Acting – excellent. Tom Hanks really is a pro. He’s a legend basically. That is saying a lot, but come on, it’s fucken Tom Hanks. He’s been around for ages, done varying roles, and, in the end, has made some pretty damn good films. He really puts in the effort to give a convincing portrayal for anything he’s in. There is a reason why he has won 2 academy awards for best actor. The supporting cast are all very good, with the actors playing the Somali pirates very convincingly.

Production – Pretty much the entire film takes place at sea, with production being on a real life container ship and other sea vessels. The production value overall is very high, which is what you would expect with this calibre of talent on and off the screen. Paul Greengrass is best known for the 2^nd and 3^rd Bourne films. He knows what he’s doing with films like this. However, don't go in expecting a Bourne film...think more United 93 instead.

Story – based on a true story, it’s a very interesting story of survival. Although you may know the ending, the series of events that unfold are quite tense. A friend of mine thought the ending played out a little too Hollywood-ish, but, that is a minor issue. I actually thought it was fine. Didn’t bother me.

Overall – The film is indeed very good. I found some of the pacing was a bit off towards the middle, and perhaps it could have been about 15 to 20 mins shorter - just to tighten it up a bit. But, it’s also hard to say where they could have cut it. There’s plenty of character development in this, so I shouldn’t really complain about length. I’m not sure I’d ever watch it again though, but, in a few years, you never know.

Rating:

4 out of 5.

Prisoners Review (No Spoilers)

The question here is - how far would you go to keep your family safe? Hugh Jackman is a man on the edge in this film, but, does he go over? That's a question each audience member will be asking themselves - is it too far? 

The first trailer for this film really didn't give much away, it seemed like a run of the mill detective/mystery thriller. However, this is 2.5 hours of a harrowing journey into the lives of families that have lost children - abducted without a trace. The central characters are portrayed by Hugh Jackman (father of one of the girls) and Jake Gyllenhaal (detective on the case). Both are pretty much brilliant. Hugh missed out on the oscar for Les Miserables, but he could very well bag it for this role. His performance is as realistic and powerful as they come. Jake is superb - taking hard edged cop to new levels. 

The supporting cast members are all great. The setting is a bleak small town, and there are no sunny days in this place. It adds to the intense atmosphere. This is a film where you really do wonder where the hell it is going. Will it be a happy ending, or an ultimately hopeless inevitability. Although i felt at times the pacing was just a bit too slow, you're never bored with what is happening. This film is like a fine tooth comb through the shittiest of situations.

It's definitely worth your time. If you like your hardcore dramas, with intense emotions of loss and despair, this is for you. Man, I'm really selling it aren't i? This is oscar worthy stuff - at least for the always great Hugh. 

Rating:

4.5 out of 5. 

Gravity Review (No Spoilers)

I had been waiting with anticipation for this film for well over a year. There was very little information about it for quite sometime, up until the recent few months when audiences were treated to some great previews. It showcased some intense scenes, and some spectacular visual effects. The final product truly delivers on both of those. 

I lost count on the amount of times my hands got sweaty - such an intense film going experience. Clooney and Bullock are pitch perfect in their roles. Director Alfonso Cuaron has constructed a science fiction / space film like no other. This is not a film about aliens, or a Star Wars or Star Trek, this movie is like watching a documentary on when the shit hits the fan in space. Utterly realistic, the visuals alone are worth the price of entry. I went and saw this at a large screen, with an awesome sound system. I'm so glad I paid my $20 to see it this way. 

It's perhaps the closest we'll ever get to seeing what planet earth looks like from space - unless you're due for a flight into the stratosphere sometime soon. It's a 90 min film, and none of that time is wasted. You're drawn into the unfolding events right from the get go. Although character development is a little bit light on, the film is ultimately about the struggle to survive, given the worst odds possible. You do feel for the main characters in their attempts to stay alive, in a place where no one can hear you scream.

If this doesn't win awards (yes, talking to you Academy) for Visual Effects and Cinematography at least, then it's a disgrace. 

Rating:

Been hovering around a 4 or 4.5 out of 5. I'll go for a 4.5, because, in the end, it takes something special to get the hands all sweaty like that.