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Sunday 16 May 2010

Upcoming Films

Super 8

Combining the talents of Stephen Spielberg and J.J. Abrahams, Super 8 could quite possibly be the perfect amalgamation of the creative geniuses behind some of the most successful depictions of extra-terrestrial life ever committed to celluloid. Just watch the trailer and tell me you're not excited.



Inception

Cristopher Nolan's highly successful re-imagining of the Batman franchise cemented his status as an exceptional director who just can't seem to put a foot wrong and hopefully his reign will continue with Inception, which is almost guaranteed to be this Summer's blockbuster. The plot has so far been shrouded in mystery but with a cast including Dicaprio and Gordon-Levitz, this is bound to be another inspired film, which we can only hope matches the intensity of his earlier features such as Memento and Insomnia.




Black Death

Boromir is back! This time he's swapped middle Earth for Medieval England but once again he is dealing with supernatural creatures and appears to be on a very important mission. Okay, it's not really Boromir but its Ulric, the warrior Knight who is sent on a quest to hunt down a necromancer after the first outbreak of the bubonic plague. It all sounds slightly far-fetched but the reviews have so far been very postitive so this may well turn out to be a decent horror film. Certainly one to watch out for.



Machete

Robert Rodriguez is at his best when tackling violent Mexicans, so Machete has a lot to live up to. Based on a trailer that was shown between the double feature of planet terror and Death Proof, Danny Trejo stars as a federale agent betrayed by his superiors. If this is anything like the El Mariachi trilogy we are in for one hell of a ride.




The Adjustment Bureau

Since Blade Runner there has been an endless supply of films based on Phillip K. Dick's work, most have been diabolical but some such as Minority Report and A Scanner Darkly succeeded by sticking closely to the original material. Hopefully the Adjustment Bureau will follow suit as Matt Damon attempts to prevent his pre-determined fate from being realised by holding on to the woman he loves. Ten points if you can guess which film the trailer's music was stolen from, and I mean the first film it was heard in, not Kick-Ass.

Friday 14 May 2010

Films of the Decade - Part Four: 2003

10. Kontroll - Kontroll is an exceptional Hungarian movie taking place in the underground Budapest tube system as teams of ticket inspectors patrol the tracks while contending with the appearance of a mysterious serial killer who seems intent on pushing innocent people into oncoming tubes. As Bulcsu attempts to track down the killer, he crosses paths with a beautiful stranger dressed in a rabbit outfit and it is not long before the surreal occurrences take a turn for the worse with disastrous consequences. Fans of head trips such as Memento and Fight Club will find much to like in this unique thriller.

9. Carandiru - This intense crime drama set in the Brazilian prison of Carandiru is based on the real events of the riot in 1992 that cost the lives of 111 prisoners. Told from the viewpoint of the prison’s only doctor, struggling to contend with the constant stream of injured inmates, this gritty and visceral view of life in the biggest prison in Brazil prefers not to dwell on the cruel and violent felons but also touches upon the lives of the prisoners who appear not to belong. Tragic but compelling, Carandiru is a very under-rated film that delivers a powerful message and should not be missed.

8. Save The Green Planet - This Korean Sci-fi is a truly bizarre film that would never be commissioned in Hollywood. Its far-fetched story focuses on an unhinged individual who believes that the world is on the brink of an alien invasion and will do his utmost to prevent the impending catastrophe. After identifying and kidnapping a supposed ‘alien’ with the assistance of his partner, Byeong-Gu proceeds with extreme methods of torture to extract vital information from his captive. Any more information could potentially spoil the film and if you have not yet seen it that would be a great shame - do yourself a massive favour and buy this right now!

7. Oldboy - This cult favourite is infamous for a scene involving a live squid being eaten and a brutal five minute shot of Dae-Su using a hammer as a weapon in close combat. Not for the squeamish, this twisted thriller follows Oh Dae-Su as he is held captive for fifteen years before being released and told he has a week to track down his captor. Relentlessly paced and beautifully shot, this is the second, and most accessible, of Park Chan Wooks vengeance trilogy, a trio of films focussing on the destructive nature of revenge. Oldboy is an essential film for all world cinema fans.

6. Mystic River - Clint Eastwood is a cinematic legend, and his contributions to the world of film show no sign of slowing down despite his age. Mystic River was his finest work since Unforgiven, with the excellent ensemble cast on top form in this emotionally-charged thriller. When his daughter goes missing, Jimmy Markum (Sean Penn) has to confront his past and reunite with two childhood friends, played by Kevin Bacon and Tim Robbins,  in order to shed light on a series of disturbing events that have shattered an entire community. If you are a fan of Eastwood’s work this is one of his finest films to date and proved yet again that he is as good behind the camera as he is commanding its presence as an actor.

5. The Return - This minimalist Russian thriller is reminiscent of Ingmar Bergman’s quiet intimate dramas that focus on a small number of characters who are emotionally hinged around tragic events that have been buried in their past. More than just a character study, The Return is a complex drama that rewards the viewers patience with a heart-stopping third act. When a father returns from a twelve year absence to take his two sons on an extended fishing trip in the wilderness it is not long before the past collides with the present as the family try to rekindle their relationships under increasingly difficult circumstances.

4. Kill Bill: Vol 1 - There is no question about Tarantino’s brilliance as a film director, and while Kill Bill was not quite as edgy as his earlier offerings, it still packed one hell of a punch. Almost ten years after he gave the world Pulp Fiction, Tarantino ups the violence with Kill Bill, relying once more on Uma Thurman to take the limelight as a ferocious assassin out for revenge when she is betrayed by her criminal boss. The compelling storyline is balanced perfectly with the stylish ultra-violence, allowing the film to focus on character development as well as intense action. Fans of Tarantino’s earlier work will not disappointed as the reliance on martial arts for the action sequences prove to be a welcome addition to his repertoire. It’s just a shame that the sequel failed to deliver.

3. Dogville - The second of Von Trier’s films to feature in this list (Dancer in the dark was the first),  Dogville is a disturbing crime drama shot entirely in a single location. With a limited amount of props and no buildings as such, the action takes place on a dark surface chalked up with the floor plans of buildings and objects, enabling the viewer to see what goes on behind closed doors. Whilst this set design is basic, the acting is anything but, with thrilling turns from Nicole Kidman and Paul Bettany, who shine as the vulnerable village newcomer and the quick-witted doctor’s son that begins to uncover her disturbed past.

2. The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King - Much like with the original Star Wars trilogy, anticipation for the final instalment of the story was a key factor in the films success, with fans desperate to see the outcome of this epic adventure as soon as it hit the big screens. The return of the king is a true masterpiece, epic in terms of scale, emotional depth and storytelling, Peter Jackson’s labour of love cleaned up at the Oscars with eleven Academy Awards and all of them were well deserved. With the Hobbit in pre-production as we speak, it is not long before we will get another glimpse into the fantastical world of middle Earth.

1. Goodbye Lenin! - Occasionally a film you have never even heard of can take you completely by surprise and I was fortunate enough for that to happen with me on first viewing of Goodbye Lenin! This dark satire on East Germany in the late 1980s revolves around a son’s devotion to his mother that is tested to the limit when she ends up in a coma after witnessing his arrest during a riot. After his fragile mother awakes into a new Germany in 1990, Alex has to prevent her from finding out that East and West Germany have reunited in order to prevent the triggering of a fatal shock which could lead to her death. With clever homages to Kubrick throughout and a story that takes a superb snapshot of life within a politically rife time of Germany‘s recent history, this is a very intelligent and accomplished movie - films this good are few and far between.

It was an extremely difficult task to decide which ten films defined the year 2003 - here are my choices that didn't quite make the list:

Lost In Translation
Underworld
The Last Samurai
21 Grams
Once Upon A Time In Mexico
Zatoichi
X-Men 2
Open Range
Monster
Matchstick Men

Tuesday 11 May 2010

New Release - The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans

Whilst many hailed the original Bad Lieutenant as groundbreaking for its time, watching it now just doesn’t hold the same appeal, mindless violence and drug addled cops are no longer as controversial a topic as they were twenty years ago. Abel Ferrara is known for his gritty portrayal of urban life but even with the King of New York, his ventures appear dated and no longer as valid when compared to the back catalogue of auteurs such as the mighty Werner Herzog. Thank god then that it was Herzog who undertook the task of re-imagining one of Ferrara’s works and not the other way round, and by God, he did a bloody good job of it too.

Set in the decaying suburbs of New Orleans after the onslaught of hurricane Katrina, The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans follows the recently promoted police officer, Terence McDonagh, as he investigates the killing of five immigrants whilst struggling to battle his own ongoing problems with hard drugs and gambling. Loosely based on the original Bad Lieutenant released in 1992, Herzog’s version cannot be called a remake. Gone is the volatile and unpredictable Harvey Keitel who starred in the original, and in his place, but not treading on his shoes, is a darkly humorous Nicolas Cage - following on from his extraordinary performance in Kick-Ass with another exceptional turn.

The unconventional plot line may confuse fans of dross thrillers such as Edge of Darkness and Law Abiding Citizen, but is essential to the character development, as McDonagh meanders from one surreal situation to the next without any real progression for the first half hour. That being said, these encounters are exactly what you would expect from a Herzog film, and as the plot begins to unfold,  this warped humour becomes a perfect partner to the depravity of Cage’s character.

As McDonagh grapples with his drug problems, these fantastical occurrences increase, with the appearance of reptiles such as crocodiles and lizards strangely reminiscent of Jonny Depp’s drug fuelled hallucinations as Raoul Duke in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The results of which culminate in a baffling break-dancing sequence that will remain in your mind a long time after leaving the cinema, especially considering the accompanying music is the same Herzog used at the end of his depressing character study Strozek - perhaps echoing the ill construed ideals of society portrayed in Herzog’s earlier film by hinting that Cage’s Bad Lieutenant could well be the antithesis of Strozek..

Although there are fine performances by supporting actors Eva Mendes and Brad Dourif, I cannot help but focus on Cage’s portrayal of Terence McDonagh, his domineering yet eerily charismatic approach to assaulting two old women is twisted humour at its best. This film is the perfect antidote to the mindless Summer blockbusters that are creeping into circulation around this time of year, complete with the drug-fuelled action and sickening violence that thrill seekers expect from your average blockbuster but far superior in terms of direction, Bad Lieutenant is a great example of an independent film-maker beating Hollywood at its own game.

8/10



If you like this you will enjoy these:

The Boondock Saints
Aguirre: The Wrath of God
Wild at Heart
Woyzeck

Wednesday 5 May 2010

New Release - Hot Tub Time Machine

Hats off to the person who coined the phrase Hot Tub Time Machine, what a brilliant name for a film! Its just a shame that the concept failed to live up to expectations and left me feeling like I needed my own hot tub time machine so that I could travel back in time and avoid ever watching the movie.

When a disgruntled middle aged man attempts to commit suicide, it is down to  his old friends (through association rather than choice) Adam and Nick, played by John Cusack and Craig Robinson respectively, to restore his faith in humanity with a trip to a ski resort from their teenage years. Joined by Adam’s nephew Jacob, it is not long before the foursome take a ride in a time bending hot tub and wind up twenty years earlier when the ski slope was in its heyday - cue sexy young ladies in 80s gear and an endless stream of crude, unfunny jokes.

This is basically Back to the Future crossed with The Hangover -as the marketing team behind the film have kindly pointed out - but what they fail to mention is that while it may sound brilliant on paper, the amalgamation of the two ideas falls flat as both plot lines meander aimlessly from one dull situation to the next. There are a number of moments throughout where Hot Tub Time Machine goes beyond being a homage to its influences and becomes a blatant rip off, failing miserably to replicate the choicest moments from Back to the Future and instead just ruining the credibility of the film.

I sincerely hope that unlike most comedies the actors were not required to ad lib their own lines, as while this works well with comedians such as Steve Carrel and Will Ferrell, Cusack and co. could not cause a single smile with their laboured gags. If however, the actors stuck rigorously to their lines, then the scriptwriters would benefit enormously from a visit to their local comedy club to gain some fresh ideas, as the jokes could have easily been written by an immature teenager.

For me, the star of the whole film was Crispin Glover, whose mere inclusion is bound to incite comparisons to everyone’s favourite time travel movie involving a flux capacitor. While his screen time is limited, the running gag revolving around the loss of his limb is very amusing, a clear cut above the rest of the humour, but serves only to frustrate the audience as they realise that Hot Tub Time Machine had the potential to be something very special.

Hot Tub Time Machine is a missed opportunity, and while it is not the worst of comedies, the only reason it stands out from a crowded genre is its daft title and a handful of stolen ideas. By cleverly fooling the general public with a brilliant marketing campaign, Hot Tub Time Machine is bound to fair reasonably well at the box office but you would do well to spend your money on something far more enjoyable - go and buy Back To The Future, it's much cooler to travel through time in a Delorean.

5/10



If you liked this film you will enjoy these:

Back To The Future
Beerfest
Superbad
The Hangover

Tuesday 4 May 2010

Films of the Decade - Part Three: 2002

10. Bubba Ho-tep - A rare example of a film that successfully traverses a wide range of genres, Bubba Ho-Tep is a dark comedy that delivers on a number of levels. This strange tale centres on Sebastian Half, a worn out Elvis Presley impersonator played by Bruce Campbell as he endeavours to protect his residential home from supernatural forces. Famed for his role as Ash in Sam Raimi's Evil Dead trilogy, Bruce is in familiar territory here as his character faces undead creatures in a somewhat surreal situation. While there are a few fairly unsettling moments in the film, the addition of humour to lighten the tone also brings with it a strange emotional attachment to the main characters. Few people have heard of this film, which is a shame as Bubba Ho-tep is a truly unique cinematic experience that is not to be missed.

9. Catch Me If You Can - Spielberg’s adaptation of this true story is a captivating and inspirational adventure, with Leonardo Dicaprio and Tom Hanks on fine form as the crafty conman and dedicated detective respectively. Frank Abagnale Jr ( Dicaprio) is on the run from the law as he manages to fool a number of unsuspecting victims when he poses a pilot, doctor and legal prosecutor, constantly amassing a wealth of money but longing for a place that he can call home. As pure entertainment, this is an outstanding achievement, but the fact that Catch me if you can is based on real events just makes it even more poignant.

8. He loves me…he loves me not - Following on from the huge success of Amelie, Audrey Tautou appeared in this brilliant thriller as a young student in love with a married doctor. Gripping from start to finish, and complete with an ingenious plot device that is bound to leave audiences reeling, this is a perfect counterpart to Amelie, showcasing the dangers of obsessive love. The first of five foreign films to make the list in 2002, He loves me…he loves me not proves that people who refuse to read subtitles really are missing out on some exceptional films.

7. Infernal Affairs - Far more impressive than its Hollywood remake ( The Departed), Infernal Affairs is a blistering crime drama, with a taut storyline that follows two rival undercover agents and the life-changing decisions they will make when their loyalties are tested to the limits. Featuring spectacular shootouts and unexpected revelations as the plot unfolds, Infernal affairs is a masterpiece that should not be overlooked in favour of its Hollywood counterpart.

6. Irreversible - Unfortunately this film is infamous for the wrong reasons. A fifteen minute rape scene is enough to put off the most liberally minded film fans but it is essential to look past that and experience the whole film to truly understand the powerful message behind the explicit violence. The disturbing storyline is played in reverse, similar in style to Memento, adding to the disorientation and heightening the tension as the film begins with the climax and we are left confused as to how such events occurred. Not for the faint hearted, this is powerful stuff, worthy of your time but a film that is experienced rather than enjoyed.

5. 25th Hour - Edward Norton had an explosive start to his career with Primal Fear and became an overnight A-list celebrity with knock out performances in American History X and Fight Club, however it was 25th Hour that proved he was more than just a flash in the pan, emphasising the emotional depth and intensity he was capable of when portraying characters on the edge. 25th Hour follows the last day of freedom for a convicted drug dealer as he struggles to cope with the impending seven-year jail sentence and confronts friends and family members from his past with devastating results.

4. Lilya 4-Ever - The unforgettable opening scene is still as captivating as it was eight years ago, a foreboding score heightens the tension as a young bedraggled teenage girl contemplates suicide in this brutally stark drama exposing the cruel reality of human trafficking. Left alone in Estonia by her careless mother, Lilya is forced to grow up fast in order to survive. Along with her only friend Volodja, similarly neglected by his parents, Lilya attempts to forge a new life for herself and put the past behind her. This heart-breaking portrayal of innocence being corrupted will stay with you for a very long time.

3. 28 Days Later - Zombie films had become stale and rotten, much like the hideous creatures contained within, and it was down to Danny Boyle to breathe new life into the genre with his fresh take that was highly compelling and very original. From the eerie opening sequence in which a lone survivor awakens from a coma in a post-apocalyptic world to the frenetic pacing of the final confrontations where it is unclear who has been consumed by rage, 28 Days later is a modern horror masterpiece that upped the ante for Romero aficionados everywhere. The believable storyline features moments of sheer terror thanks to the magnificent cast and their creation of characters that we actually care about. Easily one of the most impressive and downright terrifying films of the decade.

2. The Lord of the Rings: The two Towers - The Fellowship of the Rings was a monumental film that left Tolkien fans desperate to return to Peter Jackson’s Middle Earth. Two Towers had a difficult act to follow but didn’t disappoint. With the story in full swing, the second instalment of the Lord of The Rings could focus on huge battle sequences and impressive CGI effects to entertain the audience, culminating in a relentless siege that raised the bar in terms of the sheer scale of the action shown on screen. If the fellowship hadn’t convinced you, the Two Towers was certain to blow you away.

1. City Of God - Nominated for four Oscars but criminally missing out on all of them, City of God is a sprawling crime epic set in a violent neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro as a young group of friends gradually become embroiled with a local gang. Whilst one of the friends ends up as a dangerous drug dealer, his best friend chooses a different path, distancing himself from the grim lifestyle to become a daring photographer. Their lives continue to collide and their friendship is tested to the limit as the crimes escalate out of control. Shockingly brutal and visually stunning, City Of God is a landmark film that is sure to stand the test of time.


It was an extremely difficult task to decide which ten films defined the year 2002 - here are my choices that didn't quite make the list:

The Pianist
In America
The Rules of Attraction
Sympathy for Mr Vengeance
Minority report
The Bourne identity
The Hours
Interstate 60
Confessions of a dangerous mind
24 Hour Party People