Sunday, 29 April 2018

Review: Avengers: Infinity War (2018)



Do you ever feel anxious before watching a movie? I do. It is driven by an insane desire and excitement to see particular movies. These films have typically been the major blockbusters. Films of immense expectation. I both love and loathe the feeling, but I think I would rather have it than not. In recent years I have had the feeling quite a fair bit. Some that stick out for me are The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, The Avengers and Interstellar. Sure, there are plenty more, but these are the ones that come to mind immediately.

This year, there are two films I can think of at this point that are creating that intense anxiety and excitement for me. One of those is the film I got to see today (thankfully) and the other is Mission Impossible: Fallout (coming in late July).

This review is for today's film - Avengers: Infinity War.

After 10 years of films in the MCU we finally have the beginning of the end - the great battle with Thanos. What a build up we've had - from the great Iron Man in 2008 to most recently the kick-ass Black Panther. Some fantastic films, some great films and some just good. Nothing bad in my opinion.

How does Infinity War fare? The simple answer to that is excellently.

The Russo Brothers came on board the MCU with the remarkable Captain America: The Winter Soldier and then the impressive Captain America: Civil War. Infinity War at this point sits side-by-side with Civil War for me - maybe a tad higher. Only subsequent viewings will allow me to confirm that. Winter Soldier and The Avengers duke it out for top spot for me in the MCU.

What we have after 10 years though is a film that brings the large group of heroes together to fight the big bad in a way that is very engaging and often funny. Visually this film is splendid, with plenty of action in other parts of the universe. The tone is mostly serious, as this is the end game, but damn it is fun. At 2.5 hours, there is a lot going on, but it flows very well. Thanos has been worth the wait. That is all I will say there. I honestly don't want to say anymore than that, as it really is a gigantic film that should be experienced without nothing but the relationships you've formed with the characters over the last 10 years. Going in with that, you should definitely have fun and probably get a little emotional.

4.5/5

Sunday, 7 January 2018

Top Films for 2017

What a year! My wife and I welcomed our first child into the family. Subsequently, I watched less film but still managed 235 - that's about 4 per week. Of those, 56 were re-watches and 25 were trips to the cinema. That rate of cinema trips is declining rapidly though. 

I still managed to sort through clips and compile my Top Films video. It is a 5 min clip with honourable mentions. It contains 40 films I loved and 25 films I almost loved. I hope you enjoy it and find something that interests you. 

Click here for the video link.

Thanks. Here's to a great 2018 in film.

Sunday, 8 October 2017

Review: Blade Runner 2049 (2017)


I didn't get around to seeing Blade Runner (1982) until a few years ago. I don't recall loving it the first time around, and after another 2 visits I still don't know if I love the movie. I do however think it is very well made, mainly for the visuals and dystopian world that was built. Great score too.

Despite that, I have been anticipating the sequel for quite some time. Mainly because of the director involved - Denis Villeneuve. The man has some beautifully crafted films under his belt before this one. That alone was reason enough to be excited. If you've seen Prisoners, Sicario and Arrival, then you know what I mean.

Denis has not disappointed here. Blade Runner 2049 is a breathtaking film. The special effects and cinematography by Roger Deakins are just flawless. I could watch this film over and over again just to analyse the detail in the future Los Angeles that Denis has expertly expanded on from the original. You will think this is all real.

The story is a natural and logical progression from the first film, but you probably can get away with having not seen the first. The run-time is a massive 163 mins, which can be a test. That's 45 or so mins longer than the first, and people can find that one slow. This is also slow, but never dull. This movie is not an action film. There is action, but it is minimal. This film is about the journey of the characters and the mystery being solved. Even though it takes its time, I was never bored. I was entranced and enjoying the sumptuous delights that were being displayed on screen. This is true science fiction.

I haven't touched on what the actual story is, and don't really want to. It is best to just enjoy the ride without knowing too much. I'm in love with this film for the visuals and world building as well. Even more than the first one. The rest of it will take some further viewings, as there is a bit more to unpack about the story and how it was told. I have felt that way about plenty of films before. Films that I am not sure how to feel about initially, but I know that further visits will be rewarding. This is because they deliver so much, it takes time to fully process. Some examples of films like that for me have been The Dark Knight and Inception. Those two are from another master of the craft working today - Christopher Nolan. Both he and Denis are a couple of the best filmmakers working today.

Blade Runner 2049 is quality on all fronts. An impressive cast and a riveting sound design. The score by the great Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch isn't as transcendent as the original by Vangelis, but it is effective. Make sure you check it out on a big screen with a great sound system. Don't be bored, because you're witnessing something beautiful unfold before your eyes. Films like this don't come along often enough. I look forward to watching this again - and again.

4/5

Sunday, 17 September 2017

Review: It (2017)



I went into this film with some high expectations. I haven't read the novel or seen the TV mini-series, but the trailer and the recent critical acclaim had me hyped up. So, guess what? I left the cinema a bit disappointed.

First at foremost - it is an alright film. I won't beat around the bush on that. But, without even knowing how faithful the adaptation is or how it compares to the mini-series, to me it just seemed liked a slightly creepier/gorier version of a kids supernatural adventure film. To me, this felt like a movie version of Stranger Things.

I guess I expected it to be quite a tense and scary ride, but there wasn't all that much intensity and the scares were a bit predictable. It certainly has creepy moments, but nothing that stuck with me. For comparison sake, films that have creeped me out in recent years have been Insidious and The Conjuring. The Descent is also one that comes to mind as being a horror ride for me.

What we get with IT is a fun film with the gang of kids working very well together. Their individual personalities really shine through and make for an enjoyable film experience. There are a lot of laughs, which perhaps takes away from the horror of the situation. IT himself is well portrayed, but after a while I felt the film relied too much on quick cuts and fast movements from him to be scary. I didn't feel the real menace of IT enough. This is what was missing for me. I wanted that suffocating dread. I want the stuff of nightmares to come alive. It didn't for me.

In the end though, the film is entertaining and well produced. The cast of kids really do make it work. I do look forward to Chapter II. For those that don't know, this story is a two part presentation, but Chapter I does resolve to the point it feels like a complete film. Chapter II will be from the Adult perspective.

3/5

Sunday, 6 August 2017

Review: King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)


Extremely different to the 2004 film, but this is no less fun. I enjoy the sword/sorcery/fantasy genre, and this is a combination of all that and trademark Guy Ritchie. Some say it is boring and difficult to follow - I say, dafuq? to that.


The effects are pretty well done. The action scenes are exciting. The production design is cool as well. If anything, it probably wasn't as funny as it was trying to be in some places and I don't know if Hunnam has the screen presence really needed for blockbusters. However, it is an enjoyable escapist fantasy film. I'll watch it again one day.



3.5/5

Review: Alien: Covenant (2017)



An improvement on Prometheus - slightly. For me, this film was more enjoyable because of the intense vibe. Prometheus had very little in that way. This film manages to provide thrills and expand upon the themes presented in Prometheus.

Scott knows how to craft a beautiful looking film. The sets and effects are lush. The cinematography on the planet, much like Prometheus, is glorious. The script is a bit better, mainly because there are less stupid human actions. This is what both films share though - nonsensical human decisions. It is probably more forgivable here.

The standout performances both come from Fassbender. I really wanted more from both Walter and David. The rest of the cast is pretty good. Unlike the first film, the characters are decent. Prometheus had a few too many dumb characters.

Overall, it sits just above Prometheus for now, but miles behind Alien and Aliens. It is almost a mish-mash of all Alien films. It may be impossible to do something truly original and amazing with this franchise now, but in saying that, I would like to see where this particular ending could go.

3.5/5

Tuesday, 1 August 2017

Review: Dunkirk (2017)



As per usual with a Nolan film, the anticipation was very high. The extremely positive reviews meant the expectation was ridiculous. And, like most of the first viewings of a Nolan film, I didn't love it.

Now, this film is definitely an exhilarating cinematic experience. I saw it on an IMAX screen (digital) and was quite impressed with the audio. I actually expected the IMAX screen to be bigger, so I was a bit disappointed there. However, the stunning cinematography definitely made up for that. Hans Zimmer's score tops off a great sound design.

Nolan immerses the audience in a tension filled war story. This is not a typical war film though. It plays out like a series of loosely connected vignettes. This is probably the issue I had - I couldn't connect to the characters emotionally through this method. Well, not enough anyways. There were hints of it here and there, but the jumping all over the place felt a bit jarring. I also felt the script didn't have the kind of impact I expected, especially since so little dialogue is used. Some of the dialogue was also inaudible.

Yes, the film is a technical marvel. The CGI feels non-existent. There is plenty of tension, but also a bit of dullness to it. I'm not sure if I was just tired or if I was getting bored on occasion.

The one thing I know for sure is that I look forward to experiencing it again once the hype has died down. I'll buy the bluray and crank it out on my home cinema. As with the majority of Nolan's films, I have learned to love and appreciate them more with each viewing. He is one of my favourite directors, so I hope to feel the love that others feel for this film one day. If not, then I can at least say it is a well made film.

3.5/5

Sunday, 16 July 2017

The Soap Opera Diaries

My wife is currently on maternity leave with our first child - little man Baby Cruz. She wrote this small entry as a guest post.



Ok here I go...I hope this is ok. ðŸ˜Š

So the sad part about maternity leave is that it allowed me to get up to date with The Bold and The Beautiful. This has become a somewhat happy event though, as it means I get Cruz cuddles while he has his afternoon nap for 30 minutes while I hold him in my arms. 

So what has been happening in the world of the Forresters? Well, Ridge is still trying to win Brooke back. Back in March when I started watching it again, they were about to get married in Sydney. Then Ridge (played by a different actor to the original Ridge....how ridiculous!) was caught by Brooke kissing his dad's wife and the wedding was off!! When they returned to LA, Brooke became engaged to another man - Bill Spencer. Not quite sure who he is, I may have missed a few episodes in the last 15 years. Anyway, so Ridge has spent the last 3 months worth of episodes trying to win Brooke back. I'm thinking he'll still be doing the same when Cruz starts school. 

As a side story to this, the Spectra Designs Fashion House stole designs from Forrester Creations and released their new line of dresses. If this sounds familiar to you (it did to me) it is because this happened before - 15 years ago and probably a few more times during the 15 years of episodes that I have missed. 

As entertaining as watching this show has been for the last 3 months (not really entertaining), the best thing about it is that it is conveniently broadcast during Cruz's 4.30pm daily nap. Would I recommend you leaving work early to catch the latest developments? Probably not!

Saturday, 15 July 2017

Review: Baby Driver (2017)



Strap yourself in for a fun ride. I was initially not all that excited to see Edgar Wright's latest directorial effort. I like/love his films, but there was something about this film that didn't really get me initially - I think it was the actual title. As stupid as that sounds, I thought the title "Baby Driver" sounded a bit lame. But, as time went on and I saw a trailer and then the reviews started flooding in, well, I changed my tune.

I asked a mate that loves car films to see this with me. He likes to watch films without knowing anything about them. I told him it was called Baby Driver - that's it. He wouldn't have looked it up. What I was secretly wondering was whether he would indeed like this film - hell, I wondered if I would too. You see, he hated Hot Fuzz after I recommended it to him. I love Hot Fuzz by the way.

What did we think? Not only is it a fun ride, he thought it was awesome. I think he reacted to it better than what I did, and I loved it.

The car scenes are very well executed. They're exciting and tense, and there's some playfulness to them. Baby, the Driver, listens to his iPod almost incessantly. He has specific tracks to drive to. To set the mood, to give him perfect timing behind the wheel. From the first scenes, you know you're going to enjoy the movie.

The other aspect that got me is the emotional story behind Baby. Without going into it, as an audience member it was important to feel that connection to him and his story, and Wright really nailed it. His chemistry with Lily James is on fire. She is just an absolute delight.

The humour is great, but not too over the top. After all, this is a reasonably serious situation for Baby with deadly consequences in this world of crime he's reluctantly involved in. Another aspect I really liked, is that the story doesn't go the way you think it will.

This is definitely a must-see film. The music is groovy and really tops off the driving scenes. I can tell you now, the drive home from the cinema was an inspired one.

4/5

Saturday, 8 July 2017

Review: Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)


The 6th film in 15 years and the 3rd actor to play the iconic role. I admit, I wasn't really excited to see this film. With a baby in my life now, this was probably going to be one film I decided to miss at the cinema. Well, I am glad I took the opportunity to go with some mates - because it was a blast.

Tom Holland made his debut as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War. He was often cited as stealing the show in that film. I don't think so, but he was a great addition to the already bumper cast. It intrigued me to see where they could go with the character, but, I wasn't exactly hanging out for it. I suppose I was still wanting to see Andrew Garfield get a chance to have a great third film in his turn as the character. I loved Amazing Spider-Man, somewhat liked Amazing Spider-Man 2, but really wanted to see where that universe would go. Oh well...

Back to this film. Holland nails it. I have absolutely no clue about how Spider-Man is portrayed in the comics or the animated shows, but he really does provide a fresh take on the characters of Peter Parker and Spider-Man. This is the aspect that got me the most - it didn't feel like a retread.

Peter Parker in this film is a real teenager. Although Holland is 20-21, he perfectly encapsulates what it is to be a teenage boy. He and his geeky sidekick build lego star wars, check out chicks out of their league and get teased by seniors.

Michael Keaton as the villain Vulture - excellent work from the 89/92 Batman. Keaton is great as a good guy and as a bad guy in films. Here he is really showing how masterfully he can play unhinged, not to the point of batshit insane, but just enough to make him unpredictably deadly.

Much to my surprise, the story is fairly grounded and the presence of Tony Stark/Iron-Man is limited. I was concerned that the film may focus too much on this character and take away from Peter - but, this is definitely a Spider-Man film. Stark plays a great mentoring role, and that's pretty much it.

There's plenty of humour in this. I was laughing out loud quite regularly, and very invested in the journey of the Parker/Spider-Man. The action is exciting but not over the top. This is an excellent film overall. It stands up there with the first two Tobey films - maybe even higher.

4.5/5

Sunday, 25 June 2017

Review: Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)


In simple terms - a fun film and pure popcorn cinema. However, it does lack the excitement and emotion of the 1, 3 and 4. Let me expand a little.
Transformers 5 is exciting - in parts. For great periods of this film it gets lost in establishing and explaining the story. One key thing as well, even though I did like the story, is the lack of actual Transformer action. There are moments here and there, but the main piece is at the end. At least with the other films, a lot of the action was more Transformer centric. In this one, it seems to be more about Cade Yeager. Now, yes, the human element should be prominent, but I think the balance was way off here. There are also a lot of human characters being juggled, at the expense of Transformer action.
Even though I was enjoying it, this one actually did feel a bit long. The major element though that hit me quite late in the film, is the lack of emotion in it. There are hints of it, but I realised towards the end that the absence of a central character is why it felt a bit empty to me.
Overall, it is impressively shot. There isn't many out there that can shoot action on the scale that Michael Bay can. I'm a major fan of his work, but here he seems to be focussing on bigger scale and in the process he lost sight of the emotional element to the added dimension in the story.

3/5

Tuesday, 6 June 2017

Review: Wonder Woman (2017)


Gal Gadot and Director Patty Jenkins deliver the goods - in a big way. Before Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, I didn't have a huge amount of interest in Wonder Woman. Sure, I've seen the Linda Carter tv show as a kid, but, to me it's always been about Batman and Superman.
In BvS, Gal Gadot just shined as Wonder Woman. She had the beauty, strength and screen presence to really make me sit up and take notice. Since then, I waited with great anticipation for her origin story.
As far as origin stories goes, this is top notch. It is right up there with the best including Spider-Man, Batman Begins, Iron Man and Man of Steel. As part of the DCEU, I would say I love it as much as MoS and BvS.
Jenkins and her crew bring to life a great story. The opening scenes in Themyscira are exciting and showcase the fighting skill of the amazon woman. The journey from there to London and into the battlefield adds greater depth to Diana as she discovers the bleak reality of men and their passion for war and terror. The fish out of water scenes are handled well. Not too comedic but enough to show you how sheltered the paradise has been from the outside world.
Gadot has been perfectly partnered with Chris Pine. Together, their chemistry sizzles. Pine himself is excellent as the hero that is not necessarily a superhero, but just a damn good man - perhaps an above average one.
Overall, the production is excellent. Perhaps some not so convincing CGI in some places, and some lulls in the pacing, but they're minor complaints. I look forward to Justice League even more now, and really do hope we see another solo Wonder Woman film.

4.5/5

Sunday, 29 January 2017

Top Films for 2016

2016 felt like a really big year for me. I haven't been tracking my films watched for many years, but with 330 films under my belt in 2016 it must be one of if not my best ever. The 330 includes 98 rewatches and a bumper 42 visits to the cinema. Damn good year, and definitely one of my last big years for a quite some time - baby on the way. 

I usually do a write up for my top films list, but this year I took some inspiration from others and did a top films video instead. It's is a 5 min clip, with honourable mentions also included. My top films are any film I rated 4 star or more and it's based on Australian release date. My honourable mentions are 3.5 star films. Enjoy! .... And thanks for reading and watching. 




Sunday, 6 November 2016

Review: Hacksaw Ridge (2016)



Once I heard earlier this year that Mel Gibson had a new directorial effort coming out, I knew it would be a must see film for me. Even though he has made few films from behind the camera, they are all arguably very good or great films. The man knows how to tell a story - and typically quite violent ones. Gibson's last film as director was Apocalypto (2006). Hacksaw Ridge has been worth the wait.

Andrew Garfield stars as Desmond Doss, a Seventh-day Adventist that enlisted in WWII as a conscientious objector. He refused to carry a gun and kill the enemy, instead he wanted to help soldiers as a medical officer. What plays out on screen is not necessarily a religious story, but more the story of one man adhering to his convictions in the midst of an extremely harrowing part of history.

The film is comprised of two distinct sections. The first half is the introduction of the Desmond and his family life. We see him fall in love and decide to enlist. The second half is the war, and this is where the what may be perceived as a slow first half comes full circle. If you think you have experienced intense war films - think again.

Blood, guts, bullets, dirt, sweat, emotion and every nightmare (literally) of war is realised to perfection. Doss and his fellow soldiers in hell on Hacksaw Ridge. The performances throughout and especially in the war scenes are impressive. Garfield himself is outstanding, and I will be shocked if he doesn't see some recognition for his role come award season.

Gibson takes us deep into the belly of the beast that is war. Not only is this film an overall amazing production, the depiction of Desmond's story and the the emotional journey ensures you can't just let it go when you leave the cinema. All hail the return of Mel Gibson - I for one, am so glad he is back.

4.5/5

Tuesday, 1 November 2016

Review: Doctor Strange (2016)



I went into this one not really knowing much about the character or the film at all - and I was pleasantly surprised. Not that I have known a huge amount about the previous characters either, but since we've had a whole bunch of films with the same characters, it was nice to have something new. 

Doctor Strange stars Benedict Cumberbatch - in what seems a perfect fit. The story is, in the end, very similar to other Marvel films, but it has a fresh feel to it. That is mainly due to the visuals and action scenes and the fact his powers are pretty different to other superheroes - he's a sorcerer. 

I really enjoy magic and wizardry, so the fact this film focuses on that realm is pretty cool. The film wastes no time in delving straight into that side of things either, with the first action scene being a real mind bender. This is where we get to see how different this film is to the rest of the Marvel catalogue - the visuals. Think Inception and buildings folding in on themselves while people walk, run and fight in gravity defying fashion, and you might have an idea. It is not a rip off, but it takes the concept and adds some awesome sorcery effects to it. 

The film has a nice pace and good balance of action and humour. As usual, we're left wanting a little more in character use and development, but this film still delivers an entertaining 2 hours. I certainly look forward to seeing more Doctor Strange in upcoming Marvel entries.  

4/5

Saturday, 8 October 2016

Review: Deepwater Horizon (2016)


Peter Berg absolutely knocks it out of the park with this tragic true life story. This film has an almost documentary like feel to it. The acting is superb, with the script and production giving the audience quite an authentic experience on an oil rig.
It takes its time to get going, but the slow build is necessary to show the audience the events that lead up to what could have been prevented.
The special effect and stunt work on display here is exhilarating. You definitely need to see this on a big screen with big sound - the complete immersive experience. During this film, keep in mind this shit happened. Events may be dramatised for the film going experience, but, could you imagine an oil rig disaster that wouldn't be this dramatic?
Definitely one of the best films of the year.

4.5/5

Saturday, 27 August 2016

Review: The Shallows (2016)



Collet-Serra has delivered some pretty enjoyable films (Non-Stop, Run All Night, Unknown, Goal II) - not necessarily great, but fun nonetheless. He continues that with The Shallows.
Blake Lively stars as an everyday girl on a solo trip of self discovery. She travels to a secluded beach to surf - a place her mum had travelled to in her youth. The story and runtime is barebones, but what we get is a reasonably paced and intense 80 mins of girl vs shark.
The location is beautiful, the cinematography often stunning, with some impressive scenes of Lively in the water. I had a little gripe with the occasionally dodgy CGI surfing scenes (that wasn't Lively surfing?) but the actual shark is very well done.
What makes this work is Lively's performance and the fact this film is not a straight up gore fest with flashy death scenes. The scenes successfully provide dread and really put you in the film, stranded with Lively - you feel her anguish and desperation. Of course, this is a movie with a great white shark being a menace, so there is gore, but it is not like you would expect. It is the anticipation that gets you, not the ripped flesh.
The film occasionally loses pace, but for the most part it is edge of your seat cinema. Some minor grips aside, this is an efficient thriller.
3.5/5

Saturday, 13 August 2016

Review: Suicide Squad (2016)



Ok, first up, this is not a trainwreck of a film. It has issues, but nothing to warrant the absolute lambasting it seems to have received. What is it? It's a good popcorn action film with jokes and some pretty dark characters. Is it the smash hit that the trailers promised? No - and that is where the disappointment side of things comes in. Damn that marketing was great. The trailers were astonishing and set it up to be fantastic.

What we do have is some pretty interesting bad guy characters smashed together to fight an evil more evil than them. Will Smith as Deadshot and Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn are the clear standouts here. Robbie in particular is great. She is completely immersed into the character, much like Ledger did with his Joker in The Dark Knight. Speaking of The Joker, Jared Leto gives a completely different portrayal than Ledger, which is a good thing, but it is nowhere near as great as Ledger's. In saying that though, Leto is good. I wish there was more screen time from him to really get a proper feel for it, but unfortunately he's probably got about 10 mins all up. Joel Kinnaman and Viola Davis give pretty good performances. Jai Courtney does well as the bogan/ocker Captain Boomerang. In fact, I quite liked the whole cast of characters. Killer Croc in particular looks pretty menacing. They work pretty well together and seem to be having a blast.

So, where does it falter? For me, it is in the editing and the story/script. Probably less so the actual dialogue, but the story just felt too light on. It is almost like there could have been an extra 20 mins in this film to beef up the plot lines of either the characters or the main threat. The motivations and danger posed by the main villain seem too simple, but that is quite often the case with these big comic book films. The editing is a bit choppy, and some confusion can set in with the flow of scenes. I understand films need to keep a pace, but I really was getting a feeling of scenes missing.

The big aspect in the marketing of this film was the music. I can't leave without mentioning that. For the most part, the music works. It may be over done, but like Guardians of the Galaxy, it adds an extra funky element to the storytelling.

There you have it. An enjoyable comic book film that I will watch again on Bluray and hopefully like more. It doesn't change the game, but it doesn't need to be shit on. I look forward to seeing the SKWAD back together again someday.

3/5


Sunday, 3 July 2016

Review: The BFG (2016)



Steven Spielberg is an icon of cinema. Pretty much my favourite director for a long long time, he has delivered some remarkably varied films.

Here Spielberg draws on his immense talent to bring to life a classic children's story. Admittedly, I don't think I have ever read the story, but I do know of it.

The BFG is the 'Big Friendly Giant', played brilliantly by Mark Rylance using motion capture. He is discovered by Sophie, an orphan that likes to wander during the night in the orphanage she stays in. Sophie is played by newcomer Ruby Barnhill.

The film is a very family friendly fantasy adventure. I have no idea how close it is to the structure of the book, but it is a beautifully realised adaptation. I wish I could say it is a great film though, but unfortunately it is not. The actual story and progression of it is missing a bit in the first half. I felt like it was almost going nowhere until the plot takes a turn about mid way. From then on, it shifts a gear and becomes more enjoyable. The pairing of Rylance with a great debut by Barnhill, and the direction from a man that definitely knows what he is doing in this genre provides an overall magical film going experience.

3.5/5

Review: Me Before You (2016)



Cliched, cheesy, soppy - and I loved it. Emilia Clarke is amazing in this film.

Sam Claflin plays Will Traynor, young rich playboy type that is involved in a tragic accident - one that leaves the once adventurous man a quadriplegic. Clarke plays Louisa Clark, a small town girl struggling to get a job. Their paths cross when Louisa is hired to look after Will at his family mansion.

What makes the film work is the pairing of Clarke and Claflin, and in particular, the beautiful performance by Clarke. She is as unlike Daenerys Targaryen as you could possibly get. The chemistry between the two and the thoroughly engaging story just makes this film a joy to watch. As I mentioned, it is cliched and cheesy, but damn it delivers that shot of love to your heart.

4/5