Based on the real life story of computing genius Alan Turing, The Imitation Game follows Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch) as he is hired by the British government for a top secret project where he and a team of code-breakers have to figure out Enigma, the notorious World War II code machine that proves to be impossible to break. Despite clashes with his team, and attempts to hide … [Read more...]
Review: Paddington (2014)
It's tough to know what's surprising about the latest incarnation of Paddington Bear, that there was furore about the film's content being suitable for children or the fact that it's very, very good. … [Read more...]
Review: Detention (2011)
School's Out I love films. I think that's obvious from the fact that I write for a film website, but really, I do. Films are what keeps me going, what gets me up, what I'm passionate about. As with any passion, there needs to be something to set it off. No flame without a spark. I may go on about the genius of Before Sunrise or the tragic beauty of A Bittersweet Life, these … [Read more...]
Review: Zodiac (2007)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B0013BCWEW][/pullquote] Arguably one of the most sensational real-life crime, man-hunt procedurals of all time, The Zodiac Killer is the subject of David Fincher's supremely rich and engaging thriller Zodiac. Based on a book of the same name by Robert Graysmith it … [Read more...]
Review: Boyhood (2014)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B00LHTGJZI][/pullquote] As film concepts go, Richard Linklater's idea for Boyhood is a brilliant one. Filmed between 2002 and 2013 in short bursts each year, it's the story of Mason, an American kid growing up, following him from pre-school to his first day of … [Read more...]
Review: 20,000 Days on Earth (2014)
A Portrait of the Artist [pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B00K8GL8G6][/pullquote] Nick Cave has been making brilliant, compelling music for more than 30 years, from explosive post punk blues with the Birthday Party to his extensive body of work with the Bad Seeds. … [Read more...]
Review: How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
The Viking Empire Strikes Back [pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B003BIFPG2][/pullquote] Dreamworks used to play second fiddle to Pixar in the hit animated movie stakes but not anymore. … [Read more...]
Review: La Haine (1995, French)
From Paris with Love [pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B002BD9DS4][/pullquote] Films that typify the urban realm and do justice to representing particular cities are few are far between. Cities in film are often shiny facades of nothingness, backgrounds on which the story can play out. Notable … [Read more...]
Review: The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol has been turned into a variety of films and television shows. Alistair Sim stars in the most traditional film version, while Bill Murray played an 80s version of Scrooge in Scrooged and Jim Carrey stars in an 3D animated version. The best of all the adaptations, was released in 1992 and starred a collection of Jim Henson puppets made famous on … [Read more...]
Review: The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B00IONUOPQ][/pullquote] After watching Wes Anderson's last film, 2012's Moonrise Kingdom, I remember thinking it was the most 'Wes' of all his films but his latest offering may have 'out-Wesed' it. … [Read more...]