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...]
The Bling Ring (2013) review by That Film Brat
The blurred line between 'harmless fun' and 'crime' is an interesting topic. There are films that shamelessly glamorize it with little to no consequences like 21 & Over, but there are also films that claim to go into the mindset of it. This was used to fantastic effect in this year's Spring Breakers, and now Sofia Coppola's new film The Bling Ring attempts to de-construct … [Read more...]
The Numbers Station (2013) review by That Art House Guy
What's this then? John Cusack as a world-weary hitman, who is starting to wonder if his chosen profession was really such a good option after all “ if there is any sense in the killings he undertakes, if he is losing an important part of himself through what he does as a profession? Before you get excited, be aware Cusack is not playing Martin Blank, and choice of profession … [Read more...]
The East (2013) review by That Film Brat
The East is a political thriller (of sorts) co-written by star Brit Marling and based around a eco-terrorist group known as, well, The East. Ellen Page plays Sarah Moss, a former FBI agent working for a private intelligence firm, who are attempting to infiltrate The East. And, well, that's about all I can say. Normally, if I don't summarize a plot fully in a review, it's … [Read more...]
Trap for Cinderella (2013) review by That Film Student
Your face comprises a significant part of your physical identity, but what do you do when you discover that it is not actually yours? We are introduced to main protagonist, Mickey (Tuppence Middleton), lying in a hospital bed, unable to move or speak. The tear that trickles down the side of her face resonates with us and from that moment we are completely on her side. In … [Read more...]
The Experiment (2010) review by That Film Guy
In 1971 US psychologist Philip Zimbardo ran a sociological study known as the Stanford Prison Experiment. The idea of the experiment was to see how a diverse group of people would respond to being placed into the positions of prisoner and guard in a prison. The experiment was stopped after only six days after the guards began inflicting psychological torture on the prisoners. … [Read more...]
The Seasoning House (2012) review by That Film Punk
The Seasoning House is the first feature from Paul Hyett, a make-up and effects maestro previously known for his gore and creature designs in such films as The Descent and Attack The Block. His directorial debut is a gritty, atmospheric feature, but one with some intensely troubling issues that make it difficult to recommend. … [Read more...]
Blade Runner (1982) review by That Film Doctor
Blade Runner was a genre-defining film. Made at a time when the world's technological capabilities were increasing quicker than our ability to use them all properly, it tapped into all those futuristic dreams (or anxieties) that characterised societies across world. Even the futuristic-sounding musical score by Vangelis was carefully crafted to add to the fantastical atmosphere … [Read more...]
Basic (2003) review by That Film Guy
A low-budget thriller with an A-list cast, Basic follows a split-narrative form. The action is divided between the events in a jungle during a routine training mission lead by West (Samuel L. Jackson) and the interrogation of the survivors of said mission by Hardy (John Travolta), a former Marine who hates being called ˜sir.' As he slowly tries to find out the truth from … [Read more...]
The Purge (2013) review by That Film Brat
Platinum Dunes is a production company formed in 2001 by infamous high-budget-high-return-schlock film maker Michael Bay, along with producers Brad Fuller and Andrew Form. They specialize in making horror films, specifically remakes of classics. These include the remakes of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, A Nightmare On Elm Street, The Amityville Horror, and Friday The 13th. They … [Read more...]