Review: The Wolf of Wall Street

I do like Martin Scorsese's films - well, most of what I have seen at least. The man knows his craft - he's not some cheap, two-bit director, but a guy that can really tell a story well. With TWOWS, he's churned out a highly engaging 3 hours of cinema. Not many directors can pull off that kind of feat. This is not a Lord of the Rings extravaganza, with plenty of action to keep audiences entertained. This is a drama/comedy that will entertain the crap out of you. If you're easily offended, then please stay away.

Leonardo Di Caprio plays the true life character of Jordan Belfort. Based on his own life story, this film covers his exploits as a Wall Street stockbroker. He started out with a basic ambition - make money. Mentored early on by Mark Hanna (hilariously played by Matthew McConaughey, in a brief appearance), he learns the basics of how to get people to part with their money, and how to stay calm in the job. This involves drugs, jerking off (at least twice a day) and alcohol. Sounds good, right?

The film itself focuses on these few years of Jordan indulging in all the vices that his sketchy methods of stockbroking have allowed him. He makes milions, and can't help but feed his penchant for cocaine, hookers, cars, cocaine, and hookers again. Supremely confident, I sat wondering what it would have been like to be this guy for one day in his prime. 

Leo is true to his usual form - fantastic. He is deserving of an Oscar, and has been for many years. Along with him, Jonah Hill plays Jordan's right hand man Donnie Azoff. He's a slimy character, more depraved than Jordan in some ways. Jonah Hill is effective in the role, but I don't think it's an Oscar worthy performance. Margot Robbie is great as Jordan's hot wife. She brings the right attitude and sexiness to the role.

Scorsese shows us an extreme world of over indulgence, ridiculous office antics, and cruelty in the form of taking peoples hard earned dollars without any sense of ethics or morality. This is entertainment though, not a study on the impacts of these Wall Street thieves on the common man. This is more about the fun you can have while living that supreme life of a money loving, drug fueled sex addict - and how that vacuous life can lead to you ultimately having nothing of real worth.

Rating:

4 out of 5. Highly entertaining.

My Favourites for 2013

Around this time of year, we start getting all the top films, best films, and perhaps favourite film lists. There is a difference between what they mean, because I believe most of these lists list the best made films, which are usually the critical darlings. That's not to say a critical darling can't also be a favourite, but, for my list, these favourites may have been critically savaged. For some reason or another, I just enjoyed these films the most.

I keep a record of what I see at the cinema each year, but not what I watch at home. Well, the home viewing is actually recorded on the facebook page here, but, I wasn't doing it all year, so I won't include those films in my favourites for 2013 list. So, out of the 37 films I saw at the cinemas this year, these are my top picks. I'm still picking 10 films, even though the overall list is low. Something tells me I could change a few of these if I was to re-do the list in a few weeks. But, this is it for now. Enjoy!

In no particular order either.

This was a really fun film. Very witty scripting, and an effective mystery thriller. I look forward to seeing Tom Cruise continue in the role in a potential sequel that was recently announced. And no, I have not read any of the books yet, so I don't have any issues with Tom Cruise in the role. Although I don't think Christopher McQuarrie is a great director, I am keen to see what he and Tom cook up for Mission Impossible 5.

I read the book just before seeing the film, and it was amazingly adapted. Such beautiful cinematography and excellent computer effects. The mix between real tiger and cgi is practically flawless. A great story of courage and strength under, well, quite tense circumstances. How would you go in a boat full of wild animals? Ang Lee did a great job here. 

Again, another book I read before seeing the film. The book was the toughest read I've had, not that I have read a lot. But, it is just not straight forward at all. The film isn't either, but, it is fantastically re-created on screen by the great Wachowski's (Matrix Trilogy). The performances of the entire cast in different roles is excellent. This is grand story telling. 

 A critical darling from early in the year, this is a very well made drama comedy. Jennifer Lawrence bagged her Oscar for this role, and she just keeps getting better and better. Her and Cooper work well together as the 'slightly off mentally' strangers that fall in love. Not your typical love story I suppose. 

Well, this film was not very well received. In fact, it probably is not as good as the first, but man, did I really have a lot of fun watching it. It is the cast that makes this film. They work so well with other. The story, well, I thought it was perfectly entertaining, and don't have any of the fanboy or Trekkie angst that others have with how the main villain was handled.

My most anticipated film of the year. Wow, I was giddy as hell going into this. And, it didn't disappoint. It is epic stuff. Sure, a lot of the complaints are how it messed with the traditional story we know of Superman. But, why not change it up a bit. We've had plenty of the traditional Superman before (5 films?), so, I think the change is welcome. Russell Crowe and Kevin Costner in the one film, sign me up for sure. Henry Cavill was great as Clark/Kal-El. It's not perfect, but, it was great reboot. I really do wonder how they will fit Batman into this world though.

This was, for me, the perfect blend of love and laughter. The time travel aspect only added more fun to the mix - and I do love a time travel film. The feel good movie of the year.

What an adrenalin charged film. A fantastic recreation of the 70's world of F1, with some very effective racing sequences. The two main stars were brilliant. I love cars, and this was great fun. 

What a dark film this was. Just the shittiest of situations for any parent - what would you do if your child went missing. Hugh Jackman takes his Wolverine and amps it up by 10. It would be a crime if he doesn't win the Oscar for this.

The closest most of us will get to knowing what it is like in Space. This is a marvel of a production. A very taunt film, I had sweaty palms on many occasions during this movie. Beautifully filmed. 

 

American Hustle Review (No Spoilers)

Well, we're getting into awards season (Golden Globes and Oscars plus various others), so we're starting to get a few more dramas and overall award bait films coming through. I don't get to catch them all at the cinema, but I try to when I can. American Hustle is one such film. Director David O. Russell last gave us the excellent Silver Linings Playbook. He has cast two of his stars in that film to be part of this ensemble crime/drama/comedy with satisfying results. 

We've got Bale, Adams, Cooper and Lawrence firing on all cylinders here. Christian Bale really could be the most dedicated actor in the game. He'll thin down to sickening levels for some roles, beef up to play The Dark Knight, and then pile it on to play a fat hustler. It helps that he is also a great actor. He nails his performance here, as per usual. He's kind of the anti-hero in this film - a bad guy, but a good one too. Amy Adams is sultry as fuck in this. Oh my god, those cleavage baring outfits were heaven sent - oh, and her acting chops are top class as well. Cooper is probably the least talented of the bunch, but he's still quite good - he is certainly developing as an actor in some quite meaty roles. In fact, the intensity and chemistry between Cooper and Adams in some scenes was electric.  Jennifer Lawrence, well, what can I say, she is a showstopper. Such talent from a young actress. And man, does she play a bitch in this.

Cooper plays an FBI agent wanting to nail a supposedly shady politician, and essentially blackmails Bale and Adams into helping pull off a con (hustle). There are some hilarious moments, real gritty dramatic ones, and a highly enjoyable tone throughout the whole film. The 70's setting is well done, with a soundtrack that is just so catchy - I want that tracklisting. 

Overall, this is satisfying cinema, with a cast and story that is very engaging and occasionally quite tense. Probably not as good as Silver Linings for me, but still well worth it. 

Rating:

4 out of 5.

Ender's Game Review (No Spoilers)

It's been a while since my last post. A combination of busy weeks and laziness is to blame. There is never really anything not to write about, it's just about gettiing around to pouring my thoughts out onto the keyboard. But remember, I do publish shorter rewiews on facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/TooMuchToWatch

A couple of weeks ago I checked out Ender's Game. I love sci fi, in any form really - I also love that dystopian future we occasionally get to see in films. Following on from Oblivion earlier this year, this is another pretty cool take on the genre. However, this movie is based on a popular novel from the mid 80's by author Orson Scott Card. I know nothing about this book or the author, so won't even comment on that work or recent news stories about him. The film follows kids, around early to mid teen, that are in training to fight our new enemy - an ant-like alien species known as the Formics. The Formics almost wiped us out, and now, we have gathered these elite youngsters to be our last hope against annihilation. 

The cast is led by Asa Butterfield as Ender Wiggin - weird name. He does a stellar job as the chosen one - the one to lead the army of young soldiers into battle. This film is not your typical kids film - it has a darker edge to it. Asa is supported well by the likes of Harrison Ford, Viola Davis and Ben Kingsley. Although, I did find it weird that Ben Kingsley plays a Maori, even with a solid Kiwi accent. Why not just get a Maori actor - no star power? I know, plenty of actors have played characters from other backgrounds - this one urked me a little. I do love Ben Kingsley though.

The production and future technology in this film are excellent, and the story of Ender's rise from the academy cadet to leader of the resistance (no, this is not Star Wars) is interesting, if not cliched. Overall, I enjoyed this movie, and would be interested to see where the story goes in a potential sequel.

Rating:

3.5 out 5.

The Counselor Review (No Spoilers)

Every now and then, a film comes along that will divide audiences - The Counselor is definitely one of those films. You will either like this film, or hate it. If you love it, then you are definitely in a whole other group. The legend that is Ridley Scott brings together an all star cast, with a script by first time screenplay writer Cormac McCarthy. Although I am not familiar with his written work, I have seen some of his adaptations, namely No Country for Old Men and The Road, and both are good films. I preferred The Road over No Country. 

Where do I even start to tell you what I thought of it - firstly, casting. Fassbender is, as always, just cool. He is just damn cool. He is excellent as the confident Counselor, that starts to break up when the shit hits the fan. Don't worry folks, that's not a spoiler. It's in the synopsis. 

From IMDB - "A lawyer finds himself in over his head when he gets involved in drug trafficking."

The rest of the cast is all pretty good as well. Pitt, again, cool as a cucumber; Javier - another zany character for him; Penelope - nothing much to do, except look sexy, which she does well; Cameron, Diaz that is -  now this is the tough one. Cameron Diaz to some will be horribly miscast, to others she will be fine. For me, I'm a little torn. Her character is basically a femme fatale, a seductress that can't be trusted, but you'll fall for her anyways. For the most part, I think I am fine with her in the role. The thing is, I just don't find Diaz beautiful. Sure, you is alluring in this film, but there is no natural beauty to her. She looks good done up all slutty, but without that, I'm a bit meh. That's probably too critical on her in general, rather than how she played the role. 

The thing I quite enjoyed about this film is the dialogue. And let me tell you straight, this film is about dialogue. There a some minor moments of action, but it is predominantly talky. And, for the most part, it is sumputous for the ears. I could watch this again just to listen in more carefully. Aside from that, the usual Ridley production value is there - he really knows how to make a beautiful looking film. 

The story, well, it's pretty simple, but it's the way it is executed that will get most people. It just feels like the audience is left to fill in the gaps. Don't get me wrong, this is not a bad thing in movies, the audience should think about things, but, the movie is almost like watching a series of scenes that are put together to follow some sort of narrative, but it doesn't gel completely. Characters pop in here and there, but are never seen again or serve only to move the plot along to the next destination or scene. 

The first half is pretty much all talk, and then it slowly ramps up to a more intense ending, but, in some ways it needed to be bigger, or more gripping - especially after all that talk. It's good talk, but, you want the pay off, and I don't think we quite got that. I liked this movie, which I am happy to say. But, I wanted to love it, especially with the talent involved, and I just can't. I would watch it again though, some time down the track. 

In the end, without giving away the ending, what is it all about? - Simply - Greed is not good, be happy with what you have. Sure, there's more to it than that, but, it's a non spoiler review. 

Rating:

3 out of 5.

P.S. Cameron Diaz and a Windscreen - Javier's reaction - priceless.

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.

Follow me on Facebook

If you like my blog, then you may also like to follow my facebook page. Click the link below.

Too Much To Watch 

And/or my Twitter @Chetan1979

Thanks for visiting.