Following from the success generated from his debut film Bottle Rocket, director Wes Anderson created a film that would give him a more globally recognised level of success from which his entire early career would be built. Rushmore really heightened his notoriety and helped to establish him as the unique film-maker he is today. It also represented the first film of future … [Read more...]
Bottle Rocket (1996) review by That Film Guy
Wes Anderson's first foray into feature films came with Bottle Rocket. Based on a short film produced by Anderson, he brought fellow University of Texas alumni Owen Wilson and brother Luke on board, and then found partial funding from Texas-based screenwriter L.K. Carson and rolled the momentum on to becoming a success at the Sundance Film Festival. … [Read more...]
Identity Thief (2013) review by That Film Guy
From director Seth Gordon, comes the latest in his ever-expanding filmography of comedies. Ever since his supremely handled documentary beginnings in King of Kong, his work has become more mainstream and far less entertaining bouncing from the risible Four Christmases to the annoying Horrible Bosses and now to his latest offering, Identity Thief. … [Read more...]
Reno 911!: Miami (2007) review by The Documentalist
For perhaps the majority of people the name 'Reno 911' will mean little, however it is a very funny US TV show spoofing the reality show Cops following the bungling Reno sheriffs department and its deranged and bewildered officers. That it spawned a feature length film is something of a mystery given that it works so well as a 30 minute TV show but it had a go and although not … [Read more...]
Good Vibrations (2012) review by That Film Dude
Good Vibrations is the story of Terri Hooley, a Northern Irish DJ who founded the shop and record label of that name in the early 1970s, which was instrumental in introducing Irish punk groups to mainstream UK attention. Set against the backdrop of Ireland's Troubles, the film charts Terri's successes and failures at managing his shop and his life, and does so to a fantastic … [Read more...]
Old School (2003) review by That Film Guy
For people of a certain age, Old School represents the quintessential University/College film. Like Animal House before it, Todd Phillips' comedy masterpiece engrossed a generation who watched it religiously and it thus it took its place in the canon of great comedies. Being released so close to Will Ferrell's magnum opus, Anchorman, Old School can often be overlooked in … [Read more...]
Robot and Frank (2012) review by That Film Guy
Directed by Jake Shreier, Robot and Frank is an independently spirited drama comedy set in the near future. It follows eponymous Frank (Frank Langella) a retired cat burgular, whose deteriprating memory is cause for concern for his son Hunter (James Marsden) who brings him a robot (Peter Sarsgaard) to help around the house. Initially sceptical of the machine, he soon finds that … [Read more...]
World’s Greatest Dad (2009) review by That Film Punk
Bobcat Goldthwait is perhaps best known to some as squeaky-voiced buffon Zed from the Police Academy sequels. But over the last decade or so, the actor-turned director has been carving himself a reputation for writing and directing comedies of a somewhat ˜unique' nature. Take breakthrough film Sleeping Dogs (2006), which gained a lot of attention on the independent circuit for … [Read more...]
Kindergarten Cop (1990) review by That Film Doctor
The 10 years between 1985 and 1995 were probably Arnold Schwarzenegger's finest years. Starting with Commando, he then went on to do some of the finest action films ever put to celluloid, including The Running Man, Total Recall, Terminator 2 and True Lies. His penchant for comedy also saw him team up with his aesthetically antithetical actor, Danny DeVito in Twins, another … [Read more...]
Song for Marion (2012) review by That Film Brat
Song For Marion (also known as Unfinished Song) focuses around Arthur (Terence Stamp), the grumpy husband of Marion (Venessa Redgrave), a free spirit who is set on performing with her choir in an upcoming competition. However, when Marion falls ill of cancer, Elizabeth (Gemma Arterton) tries to convince Arthur to sing in Marion's place. Arthur is also at odds with his estranged … [Read more...]