Based on The Talking Cure by Christopher Hamptons and A Most Dangerous Method by John Kerr the David Cronenberg-directed A Dangerous Method explores the birth of psychoanalysis and the key people involved in its inception Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung and Sabina Spielrein. It is a Canadian-English production and was one of the films that helped star Michael Fassbender win the London … [Read more...]
Review: J. Edgar (2012)
Hoover is a name that's synonymous with the FBI. For nearly 50 years the man built the Federal Bureau of Investigation into what it is today, battling the press, government and the general public. J. Edgar sees Leonardo DiCaprio stepping into Hoover's shoes and taking on, possibly, his most complex role to date. The film may not appeal to the general public in the same way … [Read more...]
Review: W.E. (2012)
It's no secret that Madonna likes and identifies with strong women. So when her second directional effort turned out to be about scarlet-woman du jour Wallis Simpson, no one was much surprised. W.E follows the story of rich, lonely New Yorker Wally Winthrop and her obsession with the affair which rocked the pre-WW2 nation. The split narrative jumps between the story of Wallis … [Read more...]
Review: Yamada: The Samurai of Ayutthaya (2010, Thai)
Yamada: The Samurai of Ayutthaya is a historical martial arts movie, based (rather loosely perhaps) on the life real life figure of Yamada Nagamasa. Yamada was a Japanese Samurai who ended up in Siam (modern day Thailand) after his lord was defeated in battle and he was forced to leave his homeland. In the period in which the film is set, the early 17th century, there was a … [Read more...]
Review: The Iron Lady (2012)
The Iron Lady is a biopic about Baroness Margaret Thatcher, the first Western female country head, the longest reigning British Prime Minister in the 20th century and a political and historical figure who polarises opinion to this day. It is directed by Phyllidia Lloyd (director of global smash hit Mamma Mia) and stars Meryl Streep in the lead role. … [Read more...]
Review: Mesrine: Killer Instinct (France, 2008)
It is a truth universally acknowledged that films with a colon their title are usually rubbish. From the made for TV films with names like Tough Love: The Jackie Donovan story, to blockbusters like The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 and Mission: Impossible, exceptions are few and far between. Fortunately, Mesrine: Killer Instinct is one of them. Killer Instinct is the … [Read more...]
Review: The King’s Speech (2011)
When it was released at the beginning of 2011, The King's Speech was a somewhat unknown quantity. It seemed to be another British historical piece with a good cast and a healthy dollop of patriotic jingoism that would carry it to moderate success at the box office. Imagine the audiences surprise when they sat down and so a simmering epic character piece, with one of the most … [Read more...]
Review: Moneyball (2011)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B005FLAOLY][/pullquote] Like romantic comedies aimed at female audiences, sports films are one of the most clichéd and formulaic genres in cinema. During the course of the movie you usually have an underperforming team who suddenly get an inspirational new coach or … [Read more...]
Review: My Week with Marilyn (2011)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B0064YORKK][/pullquote] The white dress, the red lips and the unmistakable voice is finally relived after many years, My Week With Marilyn provides a brief glimpse into one of the world's most iconic figures from decades past. Many are fascinated with her style, grace … [Read more...]
Review: 127 Hours (2011)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B004VLKXG0][/pullquote] 5.3 days, 127 Hours, 7620 minutes, 457000 seconds, no matter how you look at this time frame, being stuck in a life and death situation, on your own, in the middle of nowhere, is unimaginable. 127 Hours tells the story of Aaron Ralston the … [Read more...]