James Cameron, before the release of Titanic, was considered one of the world's most daring action film-makers. His previous canon of work, including The Abyss, Aliens, True Lies and the first two Terminator films made the world stand up and pay attention to a man whose vision of action and adventure ranked with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Then he announced he was … [Read more...]
Review: Monsters (2010)
There are many remarkable things about Monsters, but to start with the basics: it cost a mere $500,000 to make, has a professional cast of two, and is the director's first feature. All the visual effects were made on director Gareth Edwards' laptop at the end of the day. Edwards has won the award for Best Director at the British Independent Film Awards. And it's one of the best … [Read more...]
Review: We Bought a Zoo (2012)
King of schmaltz Cameron Crowe is known for wearing his heart on his sleeve. He ˜had us at hello' in Jerry Maguire and in We Bought a Zoo he brings us an unfailingly optimistic look at love, loss and having the bravery to start again. The film is centered around Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) and his recently bereaved family as they try to move on from the tragic loss of Mrs Mee … [Read more...]
Review: The Woman in the Fifth (2012)
The Woman in the Fifth is very much a multinational movie. Directed by a Pole, Pawel Pawlikowski (My Summer of Love), it's leads are an American, Ethan Hawke and a Brit, Kristin Scott Thomas. And the whole thing is set in Paris (the fifth of the title, refers to the fifth arrondissement, an area of Paris, where Scott Thomas's eponymous character lives). … [Read more...]
Review: The Tree of Life (2011)
Terrence Malick is a polarising director. Initially making a staggering debut with Badlands, his follow-up Days of Heaven lead to a 20 year break before The Thin Red Line announced his return to working behind the camera. His films split critics more regularly than any other as he seems to walk the line between pretentious, artistic, genius and self-indulgence. The Tree of … [Read more...]
Review: What Dreams May Come (1998)
What Dreams May Come a film that has slipped under many a fantasy-lover's radar. It follows one man's journey through the afterlife to reunite his family and poses the age-old question; how far would you travel for true love? Robin Williams stars as Chris, a loving father and husband who not only loses his two children in a car accident, but then tragically meets his own … [Read more...]
Review: Rampart (2012)
When Martin Scorsese released Taxi Driver in 1976, he invited the film-going audience into the head of a sensational character. Travis Bickle, played to perfection by method genius Robert De Niro, has become one of the most socially inept, borderline sociopathic and iconic monsters in film history. Dave Brown (Woody Harrelson), the focal point of Oren Moverman's Rampart is … [Read more...]
Review: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)
The website reads "Welcome to the best exotic Marigold Hotel... for the elderly and beautiful" and it is this slogan that encourages a group of seven seniors to up sticks and move from their retirements in the UK to stay in India. Based on a novel These Foolish Things by Deborah Moggach, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is directed by John Madden, whose most famous film to date … [Read more...]
Review: The Vow (2012)
2012 saw the release of The Vow, not to be confused with the slightly more memorable Stalinist propaganda film from 1946. Based loosely on the true events surrounding a real life couple, Kim and Krickitt Carpenter it sees Paige Collins (Rachel McAdams) suffer a severe head trauma after a car accident that makes her forget the last couple of years of her life including her … [Read more...]
Review: The Town (2010)
When Ben Affleck first turned his hand to writing his own film he came up with the amazingly brilliant Good Will Hunting (along with buddy and co-star Matt Damon). Many years later he directs and plays a part in writing The Town (2010), casting himself as the lead Doug MacRay, with Jeremy Renner as his right hand man James (Jem) Coughlin. Rebecca Hall features as Affleck's … [Read more...]