More so than almost any director, Woody Allen makes films with a clear voice. His voice. In his earlier works he would star in his films, but as age has caught up with him, he has inserted various actors into his films to speak the words and opinions that he writes. Having never quite achieved the same critical success of his early films like Annie Hall and Manhattan, each new … [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: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Frank Capra stands as one the greatest directors of all time. He has won the Academy Award for best direction 3 times for the films It Happened One Night (1934), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) and You Can't Take it With You (1938). Two of these classic films star one of the biggest movie stars on the 1930s, James Stewart. The actor and director worked together numerous … [Read more...]
Review: Hugo (2011)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B0064YON8G][/pullquote] Rarely in this age of cinema where box offices are dominated by hulking great franchise films like The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 and Transformers: Dark of the Moon do you expect to find a high-budget independently-spirited, world … [Read more...]
Review: New Year’s Eve (2011)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B0058N2SIG][/pullquote] Portmanteau films are anthologies of short stories tied together with one central theme. In the 1940s and 50s these anthology films would be a useful way for a studio to show off all the stars they had at there disposal. The actual quality of … [Read more...]
Review: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (2011)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B00A6HL7S6][/pullquote] In recent years Stephanie Meyer's Twilight Saga has become a global phenomonen to rival Harry Potter. Originally best-selling novels, it wasn't long before the rights were snapped up and a film mega-franchise was born. Casting Robert Pattinson … [Read more...]
Review: Joyeux Noёl (2005, France)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B006GP30M8][/pullquote] Christmas Eve, 1914. A group of Scottish soldiers in a trench in Northern France strike up a song to cheer their spirits. A few hundred yards away across no man's land, a German singer picks up the tune, and steps out up out of his trench. A … [Read more...]
Review: The Deep Blue Sea (2011)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B006E1WORG][/pullquote] The Deep Blue Sea is an adaptation of Terence Rattigan's play of the same name, first performed in 1952. Brought to the screen by Terence Davies (Still Voices, Distant Lives; The House of Mirth), it tells the story of Hester Collyer (Rachel … [Read more...]
Review: Edward Scissorhands (1990)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B000WBZZAM][/pullquote] ˜Edward Scissorhands, a Christmas film? Surely not!' I hear you cry. But I guarantee it- once you realize that this film is all about the search for love, innocence and belonging (three massively Christmassy themes,) you won't be able to see it … [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...]