After the mega-blockbuster smash hit Transformers: Dark Of The Moon, Michael Bay, the infamous filmmaker that consistently churns out terrible film after terrible film yet keeps making embarrassing amounts of money, comes back to our screens two years later with his, quote, "great character piece". Pain & Gain is an odd film to review, since it's based on the true story of … [Read more...]
The Heat (2013) review by That Film Dude
Director Paul Feig's follow-up to the critically and commercially lauded Bridesmaids, The Heat serves a similar purpose in giving a prime summer release date to a female-fronted comedy in a genre usually dominated by men. And fortunately, it looks set to follow in the success of Bridesmaids, having grossed over $130 million at time of writing from a budget of $43 million, … [Read more...]
Only God Forgives (2013) review by That Film Brat
In 2011, Nicolas Winding Refn and Ryan Gosling teamed up to create Drive, a stylish, 80s-esque neo-noir masterpiece that was my film of 2011 and one of my favourite movies of all time. Now, Gosling and Refn are back for another collaboration, this time with the revenge thriller Only God Forgives. As I said above, I was a big fan of Drive, so I was looking forward to this film … [Read more...]
Love Crime (2010, France) review by That Art House Guy
Love Crime was completed in 2010 but took a year to reach US cinemas and it was over two years before UK audiences had a chance to watch it. It's a little difficult to understand why, as there seems to be no reason why this clever, twisty thriller couldn't gain an audience. Set in the world of corporate high flyers, Love Crime follows the relationship between Christine … [Read more...]
Review: The Fast and the Furious (2001)
For a franchise that latterly revolves around huge international heists and globe-spanning adventures it's sometimes easy to forget that The Fast and the Furious started as a simple street racing film. Proving an unqualified success, it is now one of the longest-running and multi-parted film franchises that continue to draw people into cinemas with the promise of high-octane … [Read more...]
Review: Fast & Furious 6 (2013)
The Fast & Furious films have to be one of the more interesting franchise stories. Blowing out the gate with the mediocre original before going off the boil with two pretty terrible sequels, it was given the breath of life by director Justin Lin and with the best instalment of the lot Fast & Furious 5. It became a global money-spinner, and thus with the melodrama … [Read more...]
The Place Beyond the Pines (2012) review by That Art House Guy
The small town of Schenectady near Albany in upstate New York is known as ˜The Place Beyond the Pines' in Mohawk language. This is the setting for Derek Cianfrance's new movie, the follow-up to 2010's Blue Valentine, in which he again teams up with Ryan Gosling for a tale of fathers and sons, violence and consequences. … [Read more...]
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) review by That Film Guy
Shane Black, who made a name for himself by writing Lethal Weapon put himself in the director's chair for Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Loosely based on Brett Halliday's Bodies are Where You Find Them, it creates a wry, snarky pulp fiction noir-comedy-thriller set in modern day Los Angeles. … [Read more...]
Broken City (2013) review by That Film Doctor
New York is the quintessential film city. It's iconic skyline, famous architecture and yellow taxicabs make for sometimes stunning, but always-functional backdrops for film narratives. Also, its film-friendly economic policies make it relatively easy (and cheap) for filmmakers to close streets, hire vehicles, to commandeer subway stations. As such, many films have used the city … [Read more...]
Jack Reacher (2012) review by That Film Brat
Jack Reacher didn't start off well. Controversy erupted when it was announced that the actor who was cast for the titular big, hulking 6'5 military policeman was none other than Tom Cruise. Many fans cried out against this, saying he didn't match the psychical attributes described in the books, and didn't have the power for the role. Author Lee Child supported the decision, … [Read more...]