1996 was a younger more naïve time for the film-going audience. Transformers was still a cool kids toy from the 1980s, Nicholas Cage had some acting credibility and no one had really heard of an up-and-coming director called Michael Bay. His first film, Bad Boys had kindly introduced the world to the next big superstar in Will Smith. There was some excitement about where this … [Read more...]
Review: Take Shelter (2011)
Jeff Nichols debut directorial feature Shotgun Stories proved an independent and critical success. his follow-up, Take Shelter swept through the independent awards season like a tornado. Cruelly avoided by both the BAFTAs and Oscars, Nichols has every right to feel aggrieved as Take Shelter became one of the stand-out films of 2011. It failed to make its budget back at the box … [Read more...]
Review: Moon (2009)
Moon is an engaging and thoroughly compelling science fiction drama which went almost completely unnoticed when released last year. It won a few awards, most notably the BAFTA for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer for Duncan Jones, but even that is hardly likely to attract a great deal of attention. It made very little money at the box office, which is … [Read more...]
Review: RoboCop (1987)
Paul Verhoeven is something of an anomaly in the directing world. None for making exploitation films, he managed to string together a series of surprising commercial successes. He will likely be remembered for being the man to take Saved by the Bell's Jessie and taking away her clothes in the universally condemned Showgirls, but it shouldn't be forgotten that this is the same … [Read more...]
Review: Iron Man 2 (2010)
When Iron Man burst onto cinema screens in 2008, it represented a something of a gamble. Lacking the cultural popularity of Spider-Man or Batman, 'ol' shellhead' was a B-List character and casting Robert Downey Jr. in the role seemed like just as much of a gamble. Fortunately for Marvel and director Jon Favreau it paid off and Iron Man became a huge hit. Cue sequel. Reuniting … [Read more...]
Review: The Running Man (1987)
The Running Man, released in 1987 is an Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle loosely based on a novel by Stephen King released in 1982 under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. After a slow start at the box office, The Running Man just took its $25m budget back ending with $38m. While initially receiving a lukewarm critical reception, it has since become something of a cult classic after … [Read more...]
Review: Albert Nobbs (2011)
Based on a short story by George Moore, Albert Nobbs is a period drama set in Ireland in the 19th century. The film, which probably would've gone under most peoples' radar on release, found itself in the odd position of having two Oscar nominated performances. Glenn Close for her role as Albert Nobbs and Janet McTeer for her role as Hubert Page. While neither actor won, they … [Read more...]
Review: Resident Evil (2002)
Ask yourself, did anyone really think this was ever going to be a good film? It's a video game adaptation, for one thing. I have never seen a decent video game adaptation (and no, the two Final Fantasy films do not count, as one is a sequel to the game, and one has zero relation to any game in the series). And second, it's directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. Before this film, he … [Read more...]
Review: Taken (2008)
Liam Neeson, a man known for his dramatic turns in films like Schindler's List and Rob Roy, has managed to create a fall-back position as a gruff, aging action hero. Ever since Star Wars: Episode I “ The Phantom Menace he has picked up roles as a take-charge action veteran and he has never been more impressive than in Taken. Inspired by an idea by Luc Besson, who also acts as … [Read more...]
Review: Project Nim (2011)
Released in the same week as Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes in 2011, Project Nim is the story of an experiment started in 1973 to see if raising a chimp in a human family and teaching it signing would result in it acquiring language skills. Headed up by Herbert S Terrace at Columbia University, 'Nim Chimpsky' (a play on Noam Chomsky, the famous human language theorist) was … [Read more...]