Films can be predictable things. Romantic comedies as a genre are one the most formulaic there is. Guy meets girl, they hit it off, some small obstacles are placed in their way, they overcome them, usually involving a big gesture and the live happily ever after. Then, every once in a while a romantic comedy comes along that goes a different route. A more realistic route. These … [Read more...]
Pitch Perfect (2012) review by That Film Guy
A teen comedy with some attitude in the ilk of Mean Girls and Heathers, Pitch Perfect follows new college student Rebecca (Anna Kendrick) as she attends Barden college and finds herself being pressured by her father (a college dean) to try something new so signs up for the only all-female a capella group on campus, The Barden Bellas. Locked in an eternal battle against The … [Read more...]
Amour (2012, France) review by That Art House Guy
Amour is the latest film from Austrian writer / director Michael Haneke. Like many of Haneke's most successful movies, such as Hidden and The White Ribbon, it is set in France rather than his native Austria and features a French cast. Amour is a small-scale, claustrophobic film, set almost entirely in a single apartment “ that of Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and Anne … [Read more...]
So Undercover (2012) review by That Film Brat
Starring Miley Cyrus as a private detective, So Undercover is a film you have probably never heard of, and even if you had, if you are above the age of six you know to stay away. This is the kind of movie you really have to wonder what was going through the studio's head when they green-lit it. My guess is they already had a poster made, and then realised what a stupid idea … [Read more...]
Review: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
9 years after the release of the Oscar winning conclusion to The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King, director Peter Jackson returns to Middle Earth in the first part of a new trilogy that adapts JRR Tolkien's first novel in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. On the day of Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm) 111th birthday, he is caught by his nephew Frodo (Elijah Wood) … [Read more...]
Life of Pi (2012) review by That Film Guy
Based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Yann Martel, Life of Pi was initially courted by M. Night Shyamalan, Alfonso Cuaron and Jean-Pierre Jeunet before Ang Lee took on the task of filming a seemingly unfilmable book. A Canadian author (Rafe Spall) is sent in search of a mysterious Indian-born Canadian called Pi (Irrfan Khan) because he's told that he has a story … [Read more...]
Silver Linings Playbook (2012) review by That Art House Guy
Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper) is a man with problems. He has just been released from an institution, where he has spent eight months after beating the man who was sleeping with his wife half to death. He has been diagnosed with severe bi-polar disorder and his wedding song is a major trigger causing out of control episodes. Back home, he has move in with his parents and … [Read more...]
Review: Rise of the Guardians (2012)
Perfectly positioned before the Christmas period and after the staggering success of The Avengers, Rise of the Guardians, based on a series of books called The Guardians of Childhood, unites a series of mythical creatures into an an Avengers-like team of children's defenders. Created by Dreamworks Animation it follows on from box office successes like Kung Fu Panda 2 and How to … [Read more...]
Review: Seven Psychopaths (2012)
In 2008, Martin McDonagh released In Bruges. It was the tale of two hitmen, played by Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, hiding out in Bruges, waiting for orders from their boss, Harry, played by Ralph Fiennes. The film was very highly received, and won a BAFTA for Best Original Screenplay. It had a limited release in the US, but still managed to gross $33 million on a $15 … [Read more...]
Review: End of Watch (2012)
End of Watch is a new installment in the buddy patrol cop genre, set in gangland Los Angeles focusing on Brian Taylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Mike Zavala (Michael Pena). The movie swiftly establishes the level of violence with a high speed pursuit ending in a shootout and the reputation of the films two stars as the gunslinging good guys, all before the opening credits roll to … [Read more...]