Berberian Sound Studio is the second film from writer / director Peter Strickland, following on from 2009's critically acclaimed Katalin Varga. Set in the 1970s, it centres on Gilderoy (Toby Jones), an unworldly, middle aged sound engineer who travels from his home in Dorking to the titular sound studio somewhere in Rome. Gilderoy has been employed to mix the audio for … [Read more...]
The Lorax (2012) review by That Film Guy
Theodore Seuss Greisel is an American children's fiction icon, having made his name with books like Horton Hears a Who!, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and The Cat in the Hat. Recent years have seen a mixed bag of cinema releases based on these favourites, the latest of which is based on The Lorax, a cautionary tale about the dangers of sacrificing nature in favour of … [Read more...]
Review: The Big Lebowski (1998)
Reviewing a comedy is always difficult, since if you explain what makes it funny you're giving away the jokes and effectively spoiling the film. Reviewing something like The Big Lebowski is especially difficult, since it can be very hard to tell what it's actually about; the plot is wildly incoherent, and there are enough weird digressions and threads that go nowhere that … [Read more...]
Review: Coraline (2009)
Welcome to The Twilight Zone for kids in another Henry Selick production, Coraline. The audience will see childhood fun and frolics take on a sinister edge and bringing the characters to life are Dakota Fanning as Coraline with Teri Hatcher and John Hodgman featuring as her parents. Henry Selick uses his famous stylistic way of film animation making this piece of work instantly … [Read more...]
Review: Killer Klowns From Outer Space (1988)
A GROTESQUE parade of candy-coloured, hooligan freaks is how the makers describe the eponymous bad guys in Killer Klowns From Outer Space. They're not wrong “ which is surprising given the film they made. Magnificently terrible from start to finish, this film has everything a classic shouldn't: an incredibly slow-moving plot, infuriatingly unrealistic characters and acting so … [Read more...]
Review: SUPER (2010)
Films based on comic books, notably superheroes, have seen an explosion in popularity in recent years. Along with adaptations of the most famous titles, the last few years have seen a new sub-genre appear, those of the pseudo-heroes. Films such as Kick-Ass and Defendor have taken the conventions of the comic book genre and toyed with various elements to create a more … [Read more...]
Review: Melancholia (2011)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B005PWVK52][/pullquote] Melancholia, sadness, depression. A perfect word that encompasses Lars von Trier's film making technique. Melancholia is the oddest disaster movie ever made, with no reference to the impending doom until over half way through, many may seem … [Read more...]
Review: Black Swan (2010)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B00B8863ZO][/pullquote] Darren Aronofsky is quickly gathering a reputation as a director who propels his actors to acclaim and accolades. Ellen Burstyn (Requiem for a Dream) Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler) have all received Oscar nods for their gritty … [Read more...]
Review: Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010, Thai)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B004GP0O42][/pullquote] Uncle Boonmee is the latest movie from Thai auteur Apichatpong Weerasethakul. Shortlisted for last year's Academy Awards, it's a slow-paced meditation on life (or multiple lives) and death. Boonmee is an ageing farmer in rural Thailand. He is … [Read more...]
Review: A Life Less Ordinary (1997)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B004VLKXG0][/pullquote] Following on from the staggering success of Danny Boyle's breakout film Trainspotting, comes his version of a romantic comedy. Given a much bigger budget, moving the action to the United States and given an a-list female lead meant that the … [Read more...]