Easy A directed by Will Gluck; released in 2010

This film answers the question for a number of teens currently studying at an american high school, which is, don’t worry about losing your virginity. Do it when you want to. Don’t become a slut at a young age. This does not mean the film is the story of a girl who loses her virginity at a young age and becomes a slut, it is the complete opposite. It explains how the rumour mill can damage or build reputation and make a nobody a somebody in a matter of seconds. It tells the story of Olive (Emma Stone) an 18 year old girl with a best friend Rhi (Aly Michalka), who after Olive makes up a lie that she is going on a date with a college jock to get out of going camping with Rhi and her family, spreads a rumour that Olive spent all weekend having sex. The rumour spirals madly out of control, going to such lengths that ‘geeks’ approach her with money to spread rumours about herself and them ‘doing it’. This goes on for a while until Olive realises what she is doing is hurting herself and making her realise how harmful the high school rumour mill can be. I thoroughly enjoyed the film, especially the performance of Emma Stone, who after appearing in ‘Superbad’ and ‘Zombieland’, has gone on to establish herself as one of the best upcoming comedy drama actors in America. The way in which she can turn from comedy to drama in an instant enables her to connect with the audience as though she was your friend. The film explores themes of homophobia, love, sadness, family relationships and growing up, it could be seen as great tool for teenagers and show them how whatever comes your way when dealing with a school bully or troubles with your love life, in the end, everything is going to be okay. Another great aspect of the film is the amount of great cameos, all performed brilliantly; Amanda Bynes plays Olive’s high school enemy and does well to come off as a complete bitch and sweet high school girl at the same time, Stanley Tucci and  Patricia Clarkson are hilarious as Olive’s chilled out stonerish parents, Thoman Haden Church is supportive and grown up as her teacher Jack and Lisa Kudrow is evil as Jack’s wife, a high school councillor. They all come together to present, what is, a great film, that defines the high school playground rules; not only does it do this but is a gateway for Emma Stone to achieve success in mainstream and indie cinema roles. I highly enjoyed this film and recommend it to the teen audience and lover of indie cinema.

8/10

The Proposal directed by Anne Fletcher; released in 2009

From the director of ’27 Dresses’ comes another cheesy romantic comedy that I thought would make me cringe and turn off within the first 15 minutes. Surprisingly I enjoyed ‘The Proposal’, with thanks to the chemistry between the two lead stars Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock. They really make their fake-relationship, which comes full circle in an ending that will make you smile, convincing enough to make the re-hash of rom com clichés not seem as annoying as they usually are. I enjoyed the way in which their arguments seemed as though they actually bared a grudge off screen and brought it on to the screen, much to the delight of the audience and other actors, as apart from maybe Gammy’s (Betty White) performance had any other significance. The film is based on the usual big budget romantic comedy premise i.e. the actors involved have a much better film out at the same time or maybe within the last two years and do the film to keep up appearances and receive a big pay cheque. This does apply to ‘The Proposal’ but surprisingly there is an inkling when watching the film that all the cast enjoyed making this film, the comedy seemed to work, the serious emotional scenes were not only bearable but heart-warming and nearly even brought a tiny tear to my eye. As I said before, the rest of the cast are so insignificant that it may aswell have just been the two lead stars and numerous unknown actors popping up and saying a line every so often. The comedy scenes are good, for example when Sandra Bullock is on the phone to someone from head office and an eagle snatches it and when the two leads are completely naked and have an awkward hug, which in time has bearing on the overall outcome. I would recommend this to film to fans of 27 Dresses, the romantic comedy genre as a whole and fans of the two lead actors.

6/10

Control directed by Anton Corbijn; released in 2007

Before I watch this film I always remember the great music that Joy Division created, just so I can go into the film thinking of something happy. I do this to help with the depressed feel that the director, Anton Corbijn, applies to the cruel and short life of Ian Curtis (Sam Riley). The film, shot in black and white, is a well crafted biopic that shows the love Ian had for two different women (Samantha Morton and Alexandra Maria Lara), the trouble he had performing and writing beautiful music and finally the difficult relationships that occured with his friends (band members, manager and record label). The film is shot so well that each scene can make you laugh and cry at the same time and from watching the ‘Making Of’ documentary on the DVD of the film, the director and screenwriter each put their heart and soul into making it so. A lot of research went into making this film as accurate as possible; Sam Riley spoke of how Ian’s actual house was used and how emotional it was being in the same kitchen where he hung himself, this again is echoed in the incredibly dark feel to scenes where Ian is by himself drinking, smoking and dealing with epilepsy. The film, even though at some points, is incredibly hard to watch tells a great story and is a very good film, to people who haven’t heard of Joy Division or Ian Curtis will still find it tough to watch and enjoy how the music is used to echo a scenes feelings and emotions. The only way to describe this film would to mix the music and joy of ‘Almost Famous’ (Cameron Crowe, 2000) and the distinct emotional life of ‘Malcolm X’ (Spike Lee, 1992). Looking back on the  music that was created by the post-punk bands of the 70’s and 80’s, this film is great homage to the feel and look of the time, you really believe the scenes could have actually happened, as some may bend the truth to help the films overall feel and also to increase the sadness needed to propel it towards its known shocking climax. Anton Corbijn does amazingly to not make the final scene of the film, Ian’s suicide, not seem corny or too gory, it is done in a way that would put a smile to the face of Ian himself, an isolated event that shouldn’t be seen by everyone, just by the one he really loved, his wife Deborah, who would agree, she should be the last one to see him before he took the choice to end it all. If you choose to watch this film, remember how much of an icon Ian Curtis was and then sit through it see to see how much of a nice person he was and not just a troubled soul, as he brought not only incredible lyrics to the great music made by Joy Division but also a smile to all people who knew him so well. I recommend this film to fans of Joy Division, 80’s styles and also film biopics.

8/10

Due Date directed by Todd Phillips; released in 2010

From looking at reviews of this film, which were predominantly negative, I really felt as though I should give it a watch and hopefully prove all the doubters wrong, sadly, this wasn’t the case. Due Date fails to deliver throughout, I found myself sitting watching it laughing out of pity. It really did have all the makings of a buddy extreme funny movie, much like Todd Phillips’ other films ‘Old School’ and ‘The Hangover’. The stars Robert Downey Jr. and funny new guy on the block Zack Galifianakis really didn’t seem to connect during jokes that lacked the enthusiasm of previous comedies they have appeared in, such as The Hangover and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Every time a scene was built up to a punch line the delivery and timing would be dry and therefore not allow a joke to have any sort of humour. At times the film did have the occasional funny moments, for example the incident with weed in Mexico and when Ethan (Galifianakis) shoots Peter (Downey Jr.) but sadly these were two moments that couldn’t bring the film to the level of humour you come to expect from director Todd Phillips. Some of the best scenes in the film are the action sequences, which wouldn’t have looked out of place in any of the Die Hard movies; however within this sort of movie each action sequence should be followed by a look that leaves the audience in fits of laughter whereas this film at some of its worst points may have seen me leave the cinema. The chemistry between the two leads really doesn’t have the same chemistry as buddy road trip movies of the past, such as Planes, Trains and Automobiles, which this film, for some strange reason has been compared to. Steve Martin and John Candy have you in fits of laughter and at times tears of joy and sadness, which make that film a classic, this film however, severely misses the mark. One saving grace of this film is the drama, as I feel, if you look at it as a buddy drama movie, with moments of sadness – the death of Ethan’s father and Peter’s discovery that Darryl (Jamie Foxx) may have slept with his wife, then it could be a decent film but due the fact this has been billed as a road ‘Comedy’ movie this thought has to be dismissed. In a year where Downey Jr. starred superbly in ‘Iron Man’ and Galifianakis made you laugh as hard as he does in ‘Between two Ferns’ in ‘Youth in Revolt’, this film should be dismissed as a quick pay cheque for each actor and one that they should leave off their resume. I happily, do not recommend this film to anyone, especially fans of Todd Phillips.

3/10

Garden State directed by Zach Braff; released in 2004

This film really shows the talent’s of the writer, director, actor, soundtrack compiler and all around guy Zach Braff. Written with a real sense of truth, this film tells the story of Andrew Largeman (Braff) who has to return home, to where he hasn’t been since the age of 16, to attend his mum’s funeral. A trip home for Andrew is tough due to his Dad blaming him for putting her in a wheelchair for a lot of her adult life. This is helped even less by the darkness and dreary weather which welcomes his return. The shining light of his return is young epileptic quirky girl Sam (Natalie Portman) who acts as a rock for Andrew at this hard time in his life. She enables him to smile for once and live his life, also helped by the fact he is not on any form of medication while he in New Jersey – he has been on a mixture of drugs since the age of 11, prescribed by his broken dad (Ian Holm). The main focus of this film is the relationships between Andrew and Sam and Andrew and his dad. They both completely juxtapose each other in a way that is so sad to watch. Scenes involving Braff and Portman have a brutal honesty and a mix of the unsure and true love. From their first meeting they have a great on screen chemistry and from no fault of his own as a director, Braff may have fallen in love with Portman during filming as the connection they have during the film is untold. The film is all about trying to rediscover lost lives where there has been an ambition to do something great that was never achieved, Andrew’s obvious love for his Dad which he can’t put in to words and actually say to him, Sam’s trouble with epilepsy and constant lying which holds her back to do something great; maybe within music and Andrew’s Dad’s obvious real feelings towards Andrew and how his mum’s paralysation really wasn’t his fault. These are all acted superbly during the 97 minute duration and are helped by the acting skills, obvious great direction from Braff; this film was heralded at many film festival and has now gone on to be a Miramax Cult Classic, up there with such films as ‘Dogma’ and ‘Adventureland’. Peter Sarsgaard plays Mark, an old school friend of Andrew, who is the obvious character who never had any ambition and is happy to dig graves, live with his mum and party hard each weekend. He is used well by Braff to show why Andrew had to get out of New Jersey but also to show he never forgot his roots and did have people who appreciated him. This highlights another real important character in the film, New Jersey. Its great look on screen really shows the feelings Andrew has, it is dark and dreary and lacks ambition, it could have been a great place to live and attract tourists but never realised this. I highly recommend this film to all fans of Zach Braff, Cult films and people stuck in a life of lost ambition; you aren’t the only one. The soundtrack was also greatly awarded, it also helps the film get across the true reality of the film and push artists such as ‘The Shins’, ‘Coldplay’ and ‘Remy Zero’ more and more into the public eye and great success.

8/10

Dogma directed by Kevin Smith; released in 1999

This film is another cult classic from the writer and director of ‘Jay and Silent Bob’, ‘Mallrats’, ‘Zack and Miri Make a Porno’ and ‘Clerks’. Kevin Smith brings his usual mix of foul sexual humour and witty sarcasm in Dogma, a film that shows how taking the piss out of religion isn’t necessarily going to be offensive. The film tells the story of two renegade angels; Loki (Matt Damon) and Bartleby (Ben Affleck) who are on a quest to return to heaven to spite the almighty. The two frequent Kevin Smith collaborators do very well to highlight the way in which religion is seen as very real by a large majority of society and how it is seen as farcical by others. Loki is intent on destroying Mooby’s, a toy corporation who he believes have idolised ‘Mooby’, their main product and turned it into a god-like creature and see it as more important than God. This theme runs throughout the film; Bethany (Linda Fiorentino) works at an abortion clinic, an obvious target for religion fundamentalists. She is a direct descendent of Jesus Christ and is being sent to stop the renegade angels on completing their task. It is hard to say whether or not this film is anti religious or subconsciously religious as it has many opposing characters; a black apostle (Chris Rock) who continually tries to persuade Bethany that God is black and maybe a woman, Serendipity (Selma Hayek) who is trying to convince Bethany that God is definitely a woman and Azrael (Jason Lee) who is intent on destroying all of existence. I believe the film is showing how everybody is allowed to have their own belief about religion and about the film’s true meaning. It is though highly enjoyable and a great surprise is the acting skills of Chris Rock. He has had some very poor films throughout his career, such as ‘Head of State’ and ‘Bad Company’ but thankfully he is able to bring his stand-up comedian persona to the big screen and I’m sure other cast members were finding it hard to complete scenes without stopping to laugh at his timing and delivery. Still at relatively early points in their careers Damon and Affleck really do steal the show; you watch and if you have seen any of their post-Dogma films or directorial works find it hard not to see why they have gone on to achieve great success. Matt Damon has proven his worth in such films as ‘The Talented Mr Ripley’ and ‘The Bourne Identity’, each performance very similar to the talents he shows in this film, great timing for comedic scenes and brutally honest in a scene containing action or violence. Ben Affleck’s real calling has been as a director but you still understand why other director’s cast him, he has a great on screen presence and steals scenes where he has a monologue or is being critical of another character. Alan Rickman’s performance as the voice of God is surely a reason why he was chosen as Severus Snape, he can be funny and evil during each scene he is involved in. There are also great cameos from long time collaborators of Kevin Smith and the late comedian George Carlin; Kevin Smith must of wrote his role with him in mind and could be seen as a bit of a fan boy; this however does not overshadow Carlin’s great dark performance as a belligerent old vicar. I highly recommend this film for all agnostic or atheist people and fans of Kevin Smith.

8/10

American History X directed by Tony Kaye; released in 1998

One of the most heart wrenching destructive pieces of cinema I believe that has ever been conceived. Starring Edward Norton, in one of his best performances, in what was only his 5^th film is the powerful story of Danny, who after the death of his father when he was a teen, turns into a headstrong white supremacist with what he believes, nothing else to live for. Norton’s performance is outstanding, he makes you cry as a youngster, having to deal with the death of his father and then makes you smile with joy when realising how much his past has affected his family and the people surrounding him. Edward Furlong plays his younger brother, Derek, who from a young age idolizes Danny and does his utmost to copy his traits and mannerisms to impress not only Danny but himself and the entire neighbourhood, with dire consequences. Their relationship as two troubled brothers is compelling viewing, not only do you hate them for the atrocities they have taken part in but feel deeply sorry for the deluded mind of their father during their younger years. As you watch the film, you find it hard to understand the life they have chosen to live and how it has severely damaged their health, family life and future. The use of black and white flashback to show the history of the white supremacist gang and Danny’s time in prison is brutally honest and at some points very difficult to watch but you wouldn’t expect any less with the story and themes that Tony Kaye has chosen to include. The historical accuracy within the film also make it so easy but yet so horrible to watch, the presentation of the KKK, Nazism, racial hatred in America in the nineties and many more examples are understandably sickening. The film moves effectively slowly towards it’s shocking climax but you will be gripped the entire way; this is the sort of film which you can’t just watch five minutes of, once you have decided to watch it, you are in it for the long term. The film itself is described as ‘Violence as a way of life’ and this sums it up perfectly; I would recommend this film to anyone with an interest in the historical background of American racial hatred and fans of Edward Norton, as this is up there with the best leading role performances of the past 20 years.

9/10

Zack and Miri Make a Porno directed by Kevin Smith; released in 2008

From the director of such cult classics that include; Dogma, Mallrats and Clerks come this laugh out comedy that has been described as “One of the best comedies of the year…” It is the story of Zack (Seth Rogen) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) who after not really excelling at school still live in their shitty old town with shit jobs struggling to afford their rent. Due to their situation they decide to shoot a porn film and from then on all hell breaks loose and the jokes get funnier and funnier. This film is laugh out loud from start to finish with a cast that includes Craig Robinson (Pineapple Express), Jason Mewes (Jay and Silent Bob), Justin Long (Waiting) and Brandon Routh (Superman Returns). The cast really work well together and are able to keep a straight face while delivering some of the funniest one liners I’ve heard since Anchorman; “Can I get a coffee, black”, “You sure can, white”, one of my favourite lines within the film. Kevin Smith has written a script that will make you cry with laughter and sadness throughout, a great highlight being the cameo of Justin Long, playing a gay porn star, which I believe is one of the greatest cameos I’ve ever seen. Don’t go into this film thinking it will be just another Seth Rogen comedy because it isn’t; it’s an insanely rude Kevin Smith picture with great comedic actors at their best. Some of the scenes are really too rude to mention but my favourite involves anal sex and poo; don’t let this put you off; it’s not as horrible as it sounds…or is it? Craig Robinson is great as one of Zack’s co-workers and really shows why he has been included in many Apatow related productions. The greatest success in this film is the chemistry between Rogen and Banks, as they are able to build up the sexual tension from start to finish and with great timing, jokes and tears keep you glued to the screen for the entire 97 minute duration. If you are looking for sick humour, then Jason Mewes or if you are familiar with the View Askew/Miramax universe ‘Jay’, is sickeningly hilarious in this film and will be the main attraction for fans of degrading Kevin Smith humour. I highly recommend this film to all fans of ‘View Askew’ universe, Seth Rogen and not if you have a light stomach.

7/10

Megamind directed by Tom McGrath; released in 2010

I am not normally an avid watcher of Animated films but from looking at the cast of ‘Megamind’, I really thought like it was worth a watch. Will Ferrell plays the Title character, who from birth is disregarded by earth dwellers and promises to be the evilest bad guy in all the world! His enemy is the great MetroMan (Brad Pitt), who from birth is admired by the people of earth and vows to protect them from all who threaten earth’s existence. With a supporting cast that includes Tina Fey and Jonah Hill, this film was a very good watch, with very well written child friendly humour and great animation; reminiscent of The Incredibles and Flushed Away. This film is also a very good watch for  teenagers and adults, as it deals with themes of love, sadness and at times is very emotional, such as (Spoiler Alert) when Megamind creates the ultimate bad guy, just so earth can have the battle of good and evil again. The cast as a whole come together to make a film which would match any live-action blockbuster for edge-of-your-seatness and excitement. The action in this film is brilliant, helped by the awesome sound effects, such as the destruction of Metrocity or the wicked laugh of MegaMind, heard many times throughout the 98 minute duration. It is hard to judge actors when they perform in voice roles but Will Ferrell really brings his hilarious voice, his lines in this film reminded me of ‘Anchorman’; ‘That’s…that’s a poor lady scream’ is a great example of this.  Brad Pitt also does well as MetroMan and even though it may not be the starring role really seems to care about the people of Metro City. Tina Fey plays the stereotypical love of main guy role but with an attitude that reminds of you great lead female roles of the past, such as Demi Moore in ‘G.I. Jane’. Not forgetting Jonah Hill, who over the recent years has appeared in many hilarious films as a more often that not laugh out loud surprise and that doesn’t stop here; he is brilliant in a dual role and really shows his good and bad side, which one I prefer, I’m not too sure! I would recommend this film to fans of Animation, Will Ferrell humour and Superhero blockbusters such as Iron Man and Captain America.

8/10

The Blind Side directed by John Lee Hancock; released in 2009

The Blind Side tells the real life story of Michael Oehr, a young man taken from a harsh childhood of violence and drugs and given a second chance at life, this is more than shown with the success that his life enabled him; he now plays in the NFL. This film really explores the life of an unknown and the kindness that a family can show to someone who is not as fortunate. An outstanding performance from Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy really takes this film from good to great, she really brings to the screen the heart and soul of her real life counterpart. This film really is an emotional rollercoaster and much like many other sports dramas; Moneyball or Any Given Sunday, you are gripped to the screen and wanting to know the outcome, even if it is a true story and you have done some research before watching it. The rest of the cast really are in awe of Sandra Bullock throughout and this is the only let down the film has. Tim McGraw is okay as Sean Tuohy but during scenes with his on screen wife you struggle to believe their relationship, it is only in scenes with Michael that you believe this is a strong Christian father. Kathy Bates’ cameo role as Michael’s tutor is a fine surprise, as even though she may be in the film for less than 30 mins, you are able to understand and believe the feelings she has towards the University of Mississippi and how badly she wants Michael to succeed. The children of the family do have bit parts but Jae Head delivers a worthy performance as  S.J., the young son of the Tuohy’s, an example of this being the way in which he interacts with Quinton during scenes when many coaches come to visit the house to get Michael’s signature. I enjoyed this film but without the performance of Sandra Bullock it may have fallen into drama obscurity. With the release of Moneyball in 2011, directors may have found the new source material to make compelling viewing from; the works of Michael Lewis. We could see an adaptation of ‘The Big Short’ in the years to come. I recommend this film to fans of Moneyball, Any Given Sunday and other sports dramas.

7/10

Orange County directed by Jake Kasdan; released in 2002

I have a secret love for american teen coming-of-ago comedies and ‘Orange County’ happily, does not disappoint. It tells the story of Shaun Brumber (Colin Hanks), a young aspiring writer who wants to fulfil his dream of attending the prestigious Stanford University so he can work with his hero Martin Skinner (played in a great cameo by Kevin Kline). Jake Kasdan, who is now more famous for his film Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, is able to direct a great cast, with a stand out performance from Jack Black, Shaun’s druggie older brother. Each scene where he is involved contains laugh out loud humour and you are drawn into his quirky personality and lack of care for the world. From the writer of School of Rock, this is a real feel good film, which contains many themes during its short 79 minute duration; such as, love, family relationships, the need for success and the confusing nature of growing up. Every time I watch this film, I remember why it is so good, this is because it is so relevant to somebody my age (21) and my situation (Studying at University). If you aren’t in my situation it is still definitely worth a watch and I recommend it to anybody who is a fan of School of Rock and Walk Hard. There is many great cameos aswell; Mike White (Writer and also wrote School of Rock), John Lithgow (Dexter, Rise of the Planet of the Apes) and Ben Stiller.

7/10

Never Let Me Go directed by Mark Romanek; released in 2010

Filled with love and sadness, Never Let Me Go tells the story of three young friends born in an alternate future, where they are raised from a young age to become organ donors for the population. The performances from the three young actors during the first act of the film come into fruition when their characters age into Andrew Garfield, Carey Mulligan and Keira Knightley, who do brilliantly to have the same mannerisms and personalities as their younger selves. The acting from then on is a joy to watch, as the love triangle develops and they are each in turn called to donate. The film has an eerie feel to it throughout, much like Romanek’s previous film ‘One Hour Photo’, it draws you in to a world that really doesn’t exist. Carey Mulligan’s performance is the real stand out performance in this film, as not only does she play the ‘true love’ but also the narrator, so has to have the voice of not only a jealous young girl and an assured twenty-something woman but also of an unbiased storyteller. The chemistry between the three central characters allows the film to involve them in all scenes and not bring in a major supporting role, which the director could have chosen to do. At just over 100 minutes long, the film moves steadily through time periods and helped by a soundtrack, most importantly the film’s title song, makes it seem as though you are there with them in school and then sadly with them in the operating theatres. All three actors will go on to bigger and better things after this film, no thanks to a great story from the writer of the critically acclaimed ‘The Remains of the Day’, which was adapted for the screen in 1993, starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson. I enjoyed this film and would compare it to all recent audience science fiction friendly films, such as Minority Report and Moon, as they represent the not to distant future, which one we don’t know just yet. Fans of Romanek will enjoy this film and also anybody who is a keen admirer of any of the three stars.

8/10

Shame directed by Steve McQueen; released in 2011

Words can’t explain the underlying sense of need in this film, from the outset, you are introduced to Brandon (Michael Fassbender), a man stuck in an ongoing world of sex, porn and masturbation. Each day is a struggle for him, as not only does he have sex addiction but also has to cope with talking to women who is unable to have sex with. The film’s title could have many meanings, firstly, the shame Brandon feels everyday when fighting his sexual urges, his feelings towards other people who are missing out on a life of sex or the most saddening factor in this film, his obvious untold love for his sister, Sissy (Carey Mulligan). I believe he carries out his sexual urges due to the fact he is unable to have sex with the one person he can’t, this may be totally wrong but her wanting to impress him and the shocking ending to the film seem to suggest this. An outstanding performance from Michael Fassbender was reminiscent of Ryan Gosling’s performance in Drive, also released in 2011. The film has many comparisons to Drive e.g. the singular lead character wanting to live in solitude and perform when need-be, delivered much success in a great year for cinema. Michael Fassbender’s performance has been greatly heralded and after seeing this film for the first time, I can now see why, he totally gives himself to the role and you are unsure of whether or not his life is a godsend or a curse throughout. Another great highlight of this film is the great use of single held shots during a scene, which really adds to the sense of reality and how much of a struggle this sort of life would be. Carey Mulligan’s performance as Brandon’s underachieving and unreliable sister enables the film to explore the way in which siblings deal with each other’s twisted lives. The film is gripping throughout and has similarities to Quentin Tarantino films, in the fact that each scene is more important that the last in terms of explaining the plot and real need to know what is going to happen next for each character. I thoroughly enjoyed this film and would recommend it to anybody stuck with sex addiction, fans of Steve McQueen and anyone needing to get away and see how it is to live with a burden.

9/10

Office Space directed by Mike Judge; released in 1999

If there is a definition of a stoner/comedy/drama then this is it. Brought to you by the creator of Beavis and Butthead, which is evident throughout the film with the sharp tongued quick witted comedy, Ron Livingston plays Peter Gibbons, a man who totally hates his job along with workmates Michael Bolton (David Herman) and Samir Nagheenanajar (Ajay Naidu), who, after a hypnotherapy session goes wrong for Peter and his workmates get some bad news from their job, decide to rob the company they work for. The hypnotherapy session changes Peter’s life, he becomes more confident with women and makes Joanna (Jennifer Anniston) his new girlfriend – (Kung-Fu is a great aid in this!) The film is very funny and much like Mike Judge’s other films, ‘Extract’ and ‘Idiocracy’ has gained a significant cult following due to it’s niche comedy and great writing. The performances from the cast make it a very easy watch, especially if you are high, trust me. Each scene has a laugh-out-loud moment which is helped by the great peformances from each actor. There are also great cameos from Gary Cole, John C. McGinley, Greg Pitts – hilarious as Drew, a co-worker (O-Face is a stand out part of the film) and Diedrich Baber, who plays Peter’s chilled out next door neighbour. The chemistry between Peter and Joanna is very nice to watch and you want them to succeed as a couple and Peter’s relationship’s with his co-workers result in some hilarious consequences. The stand out performance in this film though has to be Stephen Root, who plays Milton, an employee who nobody respects, doesn’t receive pay cheques and who finally loses the plot which ties off the film perfectly. I would recommend this film to anyone who is a fan of Mike Judge’s work and anybody who has 90 minutes to spare.

8/10

Moon directed by Duncan Jones; released in 2009

Moon tells the lonely story of moon worker Sam Bell (Sam Rockwel) who believes that he is close to returning home to his wife and young daughter in a matter of days. His life is changed when a shocking discovery is made that effects him mentally and physically and reveals a twist that is on the same level of surprise as the end of Usual Suspects or the discovery made by Ed Norton in Fight Club. I love the way in which this film grips you throughout and even with it’s lack of characters, Kevin Spacey who plays GERTY, Sam’s computer friend, does brilliantly to play the antagonist and protagonist and you are never really sure what side he is on or if he is just obeying rules set by Sam and the company back home. Sam Rockwell’s performance is worthy of the praise it was given, not only is he able to capture the sense of loneliness you would encounter when undertaking the job but keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time, think 2001: A Space Odyssey meets Fight Club. The amount of action throughout the film fits perfectly within the story and is parallel with the brilliant dialogue that keeps revealing new information and twisting the plot from beginning to end. There are some great visuals in the film, such as the outside of the space station and the surrounding area that it is enclosed in, these are presented in a near future-like fashion and are totally believable and not completely ‘light-years’ ahead, as some films seem to do when attempting to capture maybe just 10-15 years into the future. Overall, the cast has been put together well and with supporting roles from Benedict Wong, Matt Berry, Dominique McElligott and Kaya Scodelario moves from start to finish in a well structured 97 minute duration. A clear beginning, middle and end sequence helps adjust you to the situation you believe you are taking part in with Sam. One of my favourite films of the last 5 years, this film is a must-see for science fiction fans.

9/10

21 Jump Street directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller; released in 2012

Adapted brilliantly from the 1987 television series of the same name, Jump Street tells the story of two high school enemies who become best friends when they join the police force 7 long years after high school. Channing Tatum, who has finally decided to appear in good films not shit like ‘Dear John’, ‘Coach Carter’ and ‘GI:Joe Rise of Cobra’ and Jonah Hill (who also wrote the story) play Morton and Greg and from the outset you can clearly see why this film has done so well, they are hilarious together on screen, there is a scene in the film (don’t read this next bit for spoiler) when they have to plan a high school party and have to acquire alcohol and drugs and they exclaim ‘We don’t have any fake I.D., HAHAHAHAHA’ as they at the age of 25, pretending to be high school students to infiltrate a drug ring and it is one of the funniest moments I’ve seen in a film for ages. It has a brilliant script which is performed brilliantly by a cast that includes Dave Franco (James’ younger brother), Ice Cube and Rob Riggle (Stepbrothers – hilarious actor) and it moves from scene to scene very well. There are also very emotional moments, for example, as Morton (Jonah Hill) was a so called ‘high school geek’, it is only fair that he become a ‘jock’ when re-entering high school as an undercover cop and the chemistry between him and Greg (Channing Tatum), as they come to terms that they are mixing in the circles that they despised 7 years ago, is acted superbly and showcases the acting skills of two great young actors. The action sequences in the film are also of a very high standard and contain hilarious dialogue that keep you on the edge of your seat for the films 109 minute duration. There is also a small cameo for Johnny Depp (star of the original series), this scene really does demonstrate the leaps and bounds that his talent has progressed since starring in the series 25 years ago. The romance involving Morton and Molly is also very compelling to watch and throughout the film, you are nervous to see what sort of reaction she will have when she discovers the truth. I’m sure the creators of the original series will have been very impressed by this remake and so will the audience; this film is highly enjoyable and definitely worth a watch.

8/10

Chronicle directed by Josh Trank; released in 2012

Think Cloverfield meets X-Men in this thriller from the director of the critically acclaimed indie hit ‘Big Fan’. It tells the story of three boys who unearth the ability to control objects with their minds. This may sound like it could turn into a corny action flick that is easy to watch but is actually the complete opposite, all three boys see their power in different ways and as the film moves along at a fast pace, they all have different opinions on why they have received the gift. The film, at some points is very dark and has poignant undertones, for example, how Andrew’s (Dane DeHaan) father beats him – this I believe is why Andrew thinks he may have received his power, Steve (Michael B. Jordan) feels the powers are to be showcased and celebrated by their friends – the talent show and Matt (Alex Russell) I believe is unsure why the powers have been thrust very quickly into their hands. The film is very well scripted and you get the sense throughout that something is going to go very wrong as their powers become stronger, this is in parallel with the friendship the boys have; as their powers go stronger they begin to grow apart and are undecided on what to do with their lives. The action scenes in this film are as good or not better than the brilliant script and the fact that it is presented in the ‘found footage’ style make it unbelievably believable. The scenes where they first discover their powers are a delight to watch, for example, when Andrew moves a car with his mind, it is so in sync you are blown away. Overall, the young cast performed brilliantly and made a great script look amazing on camera. Michael Kelly delivers an efficient performance as Andrew’s father and your feelings towards him change towards the end of the film as Andrew begins to evolve into what he didn’t want to be – his father. I thoroughly recommend this film, not only for fans of the ‘found footage’ style of cinema but also a teen audience wondering what it would be like to have powers and how wrong it could go, remember these guys aren’t X-Men, they haven’t been born with the ability – the films asks one big question; What would you do if you developed telekinesis?

8/10

I Melt With You directed by Mark Pellington; released in 2011

If you haven’t heard of this film and from the title, believe it to be romantic comedy, I think you should buckle in and prepare yourself for another psychological thriller from the director of Arlington Road. From the outset you are introduced to each character separately and introduced to each of their individual unfulfilled lives; this could be their work life, love life or a lack of direction. The film shows how, each summer, the four friends agree to meet and throw all inhibitions about the window and go on a fun fuelled, no rules drug binge, the consequences not thought of, think Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas meets Danny Boyle’s Sunshine; not the stupid slasher part but the sense that they need to do anything to achieve their goal. The film however spirals wildly out of control, as each character deals with their own demons and also the belief that a college made pact is the only thing left in their soulless lives. I enjoyed the performances from all four actors, Jeremy Piven, Thomas Jane, Christian McKay and Rob Lowe but at some points couldn’t picture them as an actual four piece who would do anything for each other and thought as though they were actors all trying to out-do each other on screen and not work as a team, which would have helped the film more smoothly towards it’s conclusion. The first half an hour to fourty five minutes is really an introduction – drug fuelled three day party but this lacked good scripting and you just have to try and enjoy the visuals, which to be fair are very accurate to what a party with that amount of durg taking would be. The script does though improve when it really starts, this is when you discover something that will really shock you but goes downhill as each character deals with their life. The monologues performed by each character are the real saving grace for this film, each actor doing well when in a very emotional state. If though you are looking for an easy dark thriller, then this will be right up your street but if you are looking for a well scripted Oscar winner then you will be dissapointed. I enjoyed this film and would recommend it to anybody who wants to be shocked or wants to see how drugs can seriously effect your state of mind.

6/10

25th Hour directed by Spike Lee; released in 2002

Even though I’ve now only ever seen three Spike Lee films; this one, Inside Man and Malcolm X, I have become a huge fan. With each film he brings such a sense of meaning and a wanting for his actors to really express themselves on screen. The way in which he uses a range of close ups, shooting the same scene twice from different angles and cutting it sometimes out of sync really puts his marker on a film. I really felt the first half an hour of this film was very mysterious and I was made to believe that any of Monty’s (Ed Norton) close friends could have sold him out to police and in turn sent him to prison for 7 long years but from then on it became a story of wanting and needing for each character, Frank (Barry Pepper) wanting to be the most successful and most arrogant person at his workplace or even the world, Jacob (Philip Seymour Hoffman) wanting to have sex with an underage student and Monty wanting to discover himself, who set him up and his lost relationship with his father (Brian Cox). The relationship Monty has with his girlfriend Naturelle (Rosario Dawson) is a poignant one, as she throughout the film I believe, is seen as the main suspect in selling out Monty. Ed Norton is the real star of this film though and after looking back at the films he has won awards for; Primal Fear, People vs Larry Flynt and American History X, I was amazed to find he was only nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Actor. The films brilliant cast all come together to form what easily could be a real group of childhood friends and this makes the story all more sad to watch, as you fall more and more in love with Monty as the film ticks towards its final minute. To show how critically successful this film was, the writer of the original book and the adapted screenplay went on to write; The Kite Runner, Brothers and the critically acclaimed Game of Thrones. This is must watch for all fans of Ed Norton, Spike Lee and anyone who wants to see a film where ‘Anything that can go wrong will go wrong’.

8/10

Fright Night directed by Craig Gillespie; released 2011

One of the most enjoyable romcom’s involving the living dead I’ve seen since Shaun of the Dead was released in 2004. It may start out as the same old ‘yer, there’s a vampire living next door mate, course there is’, but it develops into a very real story of love, hate and sadness. The main character, Charley Brewster (played by Star Trek star Anton Yelchin) is a firm non-believer of vampires and continually dismisses his childhood best friend Ed (played by Christopher Mintz-Plasse), who tells him that his new next door neighbour Jerry (Colin Farrell) is a Vampire. There are many laughs throughout, mainly involving Peter Vincent (played by David Tennant), such as him revealing he doesn’t really have long hair, how rude he is to his performer girlfriend and the overall feel to the scenes he is involved in. There are many twists and turns involving main characters, the relationship between Charley and his girlfriend Amy (Imogen Poots) is very enjoyable to watch all the way up to the film’s explosive climax, the special effects work really well – vampires, explosions and lots and lots of blood and of course Colin Farrel’s performance as the sex hungry, wild vampire intent on causing harm to whole of Las Vegas. A story that seems to go very quickly but with laughs and frights all the way, it is highly enjoyable and definitely worth a watch.

7.5/10

Half Nelson directed by Ryan Fleck; released in 2006

A story of a teacher Dan Dunne (played brilliantly by Ryan Gosling), as he falls more and more into a drug fuelled, hate everybody around yourself sort of state. It is a story that you love and hate at the same time, on one hand, you are gripped by the way in which Dunne interacts with the children in his class and this is surely the only time he is really happy, apart from when with his ex-girlfriend, who, he is deeply in love with but is unfortunately now getting married and on the other hand, you hate the way in which he is treating himself, doing an endless amount of drugs and throwing away a meaningful teaching career. The answer could be the loveless relationship he has with his family, which is very depressing to watch, when he visits for a meal or the relationship he has with another female teacher which ends up with him nearly committing rape. This is a very dark tale of how family is very important and if you let it slip away from you then all sorts of things can go wrong. The shining light of the story is the relationship he has with a thirteen year old student called Drey (played by Shareeka Epps), this starts with her catching him smoking crack cocaine in the school toilets but from then on, they seem to become real friends, at one point he confronts Frank, a local drug dealer (played by Anthony Mackie), about whether or not he should be taking care of her. There are many metaphors in the story, the way in which he teaches the students about black history – black equality, which is mirrored with him developing a relationship with a black girl, teaching about ‘Turning Points’ in history, this is mirrored with the whole film, is it a turning point in his life? Is he going to sort himself out or will the drugs take over? Overall the story is alot to take in but definitely worth seeing, as it definitely appeals to a wide audience and highlights the troubles with drugs, loveless relationships that need working on and neighbourhoods that encompass all of this.

9/10

Adjustment Bureau directed by George Nolfi; released in 2010

Matt Damon plays David Norris, a charismatic young politician running for senate when he is thrown into a story he never knew existed. A broken man, wanting to make a difference after the death of his family, he randomly meets  Elise Sellas, played by Emily Blunt, in a men’s toilet on his election night and immediately falls head over heels in love with her. From the moment Matt Damon steps on screen, you can see why he is now being heralded as one of the world’s finest actors; you are gripped by everything he says and with the help of Emily Blunt form an on screen partnership that is hard not to believe. Both their performances are stunning and with director George Nolfi, who must have cast Matt Damon after seeing him act brilliantly in his script for The Bourne Ultimatum, you find it hard to take your eyes from the screen. A film based on another Philip. K. Dick novel is all the way through a mix of science fiction and drama and after the critical success of Blade Runner, A Scanner Darkly and Minority Report, you find it hard not to see why directors use his work as basis for screenplays. There is a very eerie feel to the film from the outset and it flows smoothly, with every twist and turn looking like a surprise to the actors and not just the characters they are playing. This is not made any easier by the performances from John Slattery (Mad Men), Terence Stamp and Anthony Mackie (Hurt Locker), as the adjustment team sent to change the future’s of the two main characters. Mackie delivers another fine performance as the only member of the squad, of what the audience are made to believe are angels, with a soul. The film comes to a great conclusion and could be seen as some sort of religious propoganda but not too much that you believe that it is ridiculous.

8/10

Social Network directed by David Fincher; released in 2010

Any lover of facebook will be a lover of this film. Not only does it give you a detailed history of the website, which has made Mark Zuckerberg the world’s youngest billionaire, (played wonderfully by Jesse Eisenberg) but it also shows you the importance of, if you have an idea, don’t let anybody hold you back and put all your heart and soul into it. It’s business, don’t let even close friends stop you from achieving greatness. The antagonists in this film played in a duel role by Armie Hammer, are the Winklevoss Twins. Armie plays them in such a way, that you despise them from the outset. This is made even worse from what you learn at the end of the film! Justin Timberlake delivers a so far, career defining performance that will surely see him achieve greatness, much like Mark Zuckerberg, he plays Shaun Parker the Co-Founder of the the now bankrupt Napster music file sharing website. From the moment he steps on the screen you believe every word he says and this not only sucks the audience in but even though he is playing the character of Mark Zuckerberg, Jesse Eisenberg seems to be sucked in himself. A what you call ‘drama thriller’ from the outset, this film is one of David Fincher’s best since ‘Fight Club’. Eduardo Severin is portrayed as a dark and at sometimes jealous and deceiptful character played by Andrew Garfield, he does great when bouncing back and forth in the legal discussions and also as Mark Zuckerberg’s only friend in what seems to be a tale of joy and woe.

8/10