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Talk to Me (2022)
Something to suit every horror fan
I must say, booking to see this with my partner was a gamble. I'm aware of A24 and I find their taste in film differs slightly to mine. I'm not a huge fan of arthouse or 'leave it up to viewer interpretation' type films. I like story-telling, clear direction and a definite ending.
The sort of A24 films I refer to when I make this reference is Hereditary, The Witch and The Lobster. Myself and my partner went to see The Witch when away in Liverpool and everyone in that theatre left scratching their heads. What does it all mean?
Now its not all bad, Green Room is, in my opinion at least, one of the scariest horrors I've ever seen. It felt close to the bone, personal and plausible.
However my biggest fear was a comparison one reviewer made between Talk to Me (2022) and Smile (2022). I thought Smile was hugely overrated, a cheap jump-scare filled mess with a story easy to lose interest in.
All this being said, I was expecting some arty type, ambiguous social commentary which would completely miss the mark on the North-West working class English audience in attendance.
I was wrong.
The first scene set the perfect pitch for the entire film. It perfectly captures the edginess of an overfilled house party, bass filled beats and the utter selfishness of a teenage existence.
It was brutal and devastating.
One young man in the audience turned to his friend and said, "what the hell have you brought me to?" Some people chuckled around me. I could tell some had returned for a second viewing and had a "just you wait and see" type sarcasm to their sniggers.
It set the bar high and subtly transitioned into character building. Every single one of the characters hit the mark. The young disillusioned teen looking for meaning after the loss of her mother, two insecure young lovers, two young teenage boys jostling for macho one-upmanship and a single mother, barely keeping it all together.
Now I cannot spoil it, but I will say that, without a huge budget, this film did not resort to cheap scares. The acting and direction during the 'possession' scenes was more intense than any jump scene in your typical horror trash.
The pace its sets is electric as well, I couldn't believe it when we'd got the final third of the film as I was so engrossed. As was everyone else.
Now, my only minor gripes were to do with the ending. It doesn't leave it open, but I think they could have tightened it up, made it a bit more obvious to the more casual viewer.
The ending in my opinion was solid, perfectly coming full circle and bringing every last word that was uttered into ideal relevance. But I overheard a few conversations leaving the screening where people were clarifying what actually happened, it even made me consider whether I'd correctly consumed the horror of it all.
Also, they could of explored the history of the hand object in further depth. They only briefly touch on the backstory, that scene could have been longer.
These gripes are nowhere near enough to not make me want to see it again. In fact, I think I will go again, the big screen is the perfect place for this film. Eerie, dark and charging at break-neck speed, with moody teenage Australian rap complementing the underground feel of it all.
This film should be enjoyed by all horror fans in my opinion. Now stop deliberating and book your tickets.
Better Call Saul: Fun and Games (2022)
Shock Value
Without doubt, one criticism nobody can give BCS is that it moves too quickly. In fact, through season 1 till 6, we've moved at glacier speed, really getting an insight into what made Jimmy, Saul Goodman. In the process, we've unraveled character qualities I didn't even realise I desired, like Gus Fring and Mike Ermantrout. But Vince Gilligan didn't just draw on the notsalgia of BB fans, he created more detailed characters like Kim Wexler and Nacho Varga.
Despite this and a recent appetite for sudden acts of violence, Gilligan's most shocking recent spin as the sudden jump in time. We're now facing the prospect of a certain 'reunion'. It took my surprise so much, I'm not even sure if I want more of what worked before in BCS, or the glory days of BB.
Either way this show continues to shock with the smallest of plot turns, something that so little modern day shows fail to grasp.
From (2022)
Anti-climatic
Well, a great start. Episode one begins with a particularly chilling scene, spine chilling suspense and shocking violence.
The concept is also excellent, leaves for plenty of character growth and plot development. Sadly only one of these occur. A bit of humour, a well built lead and teenage problems. All well and good, but wait... wasn't this a spine chilling violent horror?
Filler episode after filler, I'd already committed my time to this so I continued on till the end of season 1. By this time, poor cliff hangers had become the norm and this is the result of the final episode.
Potential without any substance. I real shame.
Severance (2022)
Humorous, thrilling and expertly shot... The best drama since Big, Little Lies
Reading negative reviews, being unable to review (I have to complete a full season before reviewing), genuinely left me with anxiety.
This is incredible. The imagination in the writing is the best I've witnessed since Breaking Bad, the drama and acting since Big, Little Lies and the mystery like the first season of Homecoming. The final episode is incomparable to anything I've seen before.
This series has really been on my mind, to the extent I've been deliberately acting to help my future self a day ahead of time! Call me crazy, but this will inspire wider thinking unlike anything shown before.
The Rental (2020)
The hard stuff done right, the easy stuff... well... why even involve it at all?
Well, firstly I'd like to say looking at the IMDB score, and the poor reviews, I wasn't at all optimistic heading into this. Yet with COVID-19 restrictions and what not, an abundance of time and lack of options led me to this. For sixty-minutes of this film, the drama, character building, story... basically every element of a horror film that is, all so often, done wrong... this had all that. For sixty-minutes I witnessed four characters with motives and moral dilemma's, indifferences and affection, pour out in front of me. Let's say this wasn't a horror film, but a drama about moral decisions and character studies, this would have been a hit. But then the last thirty minutes takes everything you have loved about these characters, condenses it completely and ties a lovely generic horror ending bow on top. This is still a six, this IS a film worth watching for that sixty-minutes of fantastic scripting and acting, but you will be disappointed with the ending. I hope Dave Franco gives this gig another shot, he's close, he's got talent, but pull away from the influences of production companies (if this was the case) and just go with what you feel is right.
Ratched (2020)
Character development above plot
What's not within doubt is Ryan Murphy's flair for character development. Every character has a mystery, slowly peeled back and exposed for the viewer to judge, sympathise or loathe. Take Nurse Betsy Bucket, a foil for the lead character's objectives, but in one episode that disdain of her every flaw becomes the very reason you root for her by the season's end. As always Murphy doubles down on the story, spiralling into greater depths of sordid entertainment but by season end, the fizz has left the bottle. The character's alone will influence me to continue into season two, however when you are all in, do not fold again Murphy.
Tenet (2020)
Complexity above entertainment?
One hour and thirty minutes in, this was the point I officially lost the plot. For the final hour I sat back, enjoyed the action set pieces, marvelled in the sound mixing but the plot was put out to pasture for me. Without completely spoiling for those yet to see it, Tenet is Christopher Nolan set loose on the manipulation of time as we know it. But that, that's only half the story here, because a lesson in physics isn't fully complete without government espionage set across multiple countries. But what really frustrates me is the potential this had going into the final hour. Two well built relationships, a budding cop comedy set up between lead and BFF Pattinson and an extremely well written vengeful hatred between husband and wife. What could have been. Six out of ten is my ultimate pick, but this deserved more, and ultimately entertainment, sitting back and enjoying a thrillingly paced film was sacrificed for an over complex exploration into scientific theory.
Gangs of London (2020)
Ambitious, fulfilling but lacking long term potential?
Gangs of London is a spread across three genres, family drama, devastating violence and gangland crime. If one was hoping for a comparison, you would be best served watching Gareth Evans' (show creator) follow up to his directorial debut, The Raid 2 (2014). It was an equally ambitious follow up to The Raid (2011), which itself was condensed to one building, with undertones of gang motive, but mostly an Indonesian Kung-Fu experience inside a tower block. The Raid 2 simply took that concept, and using a gaming analogy, made it open world. It was astonishingly satisfying to see the characters that you made an emotional connection to in the original, apply themselves to the world outside of a tower block, and I felt it bore similarities to Internal Affairs (1990). Both 'The Raid' films follow Rama, an incredibly overqualified low-ranking police office turned undercover agent, infiltrating an immensely influential crime family. An inside man facing impossible odds, Rama battles through swarms of enemies in true John Wick fashion, and to summarize, is a one-man justice machine.
Gangs of London (2020) follows similar characters, in a similar world, however expanded even further. Like in The Raid 2, a family crime syndicate takes centre stage, The Wallace Family. Immediately the series hits the ground running, with the death of the head of The Wallace Family, leading to a power struggle amongst multiple international gangs, all yearning the same prize... the city of London.
The first episode sets the tone for the pacing, which is reminiscent to a greyhound sprinting towards the finish line. But, as the adage goes, a series is 'a marathon not a sprint'. In the same vein of Game of Thrones, the sheer size of the cast means you have to quickly become acquainted with the main players, central is Sean Wallace (Joe Cole) the son of the felled Wallace Family leader. Sean is ambitious but foolhardy, and his opposition know all too well that this is their opportunity to make a case for control of London.
However, the series does begin to waver after episode 5, which is without a doubt the standout. The episode is a fantastic shake up and follows just one character named Kinney. He is a Welsh traveller and leader of his clan, but his son has made a tremendous error in judgement and is in need of protection. Kinney goes to unimaginable lengths to save his son as total warfare ensues. This is Evans at his best, riveting action, stomach churning violence and survival against all odds.
From there it continues at the same pace, but with each episode, another character meets an untimely end and salvation becomes completely unrealistic. I'm unsure what the long-term goals are for the series, but the eagerness to end the existence of any character at any time, doesn't leave a lot of room for progress or emotional connection. In fact, the characters that survive the massacre of season 1 are, in my opinion, the less interesting ones.
Considering the bleakness of the storyline, I would have been happy to experience some comedic distraction, however this isn't something Evan's has ever delved into. It does make the series feel like a struggle as it continues and is disappointing considering its something every successful programme has.
But do not be too disheartened, this is a good series. It's an interesting genre mash up and it will satisfy audiences looking for 'something to binge'. The action scenes are shot tremendously well, the acting is solid but never focused on. The immensely ambitious scale and budget adds to the allure of the setting, making it feel legitimate. I do hope a follow up season is in development regardless of my suggestions for improvement, as I will continue to watch it. The show does have its limitations, but it will satisfy and entertain audiences seeking thrills and high level criminal activity.
Widows (2018)
Incredible movie let down by a cutdown third act
Widows is a fantastic movie with strong performances, gripping writing and superb direction for Mcqueen, who continues to shock and amaze/ The original length of the film was around 3 hours and if this was maintained, this could easily be a 10 star film.
Pros
- Excellently paced and superbly written.
- Each character has necessary depth
- Kaluuya and Debicki put in stunning performances.
- Opening scene is one the best since Drive (2011)
- Very hard to predict and is in that sense similar to Gone Girll
- Hits the right tone
Cons
- Third act is incredibly rushed
- Interesting characters (Jamall Manning, Alice's mother and Carrie Coon's Alice, have no ending and are wasted
- Carrie Coon would have made a much better lead than Viola Davis
Moana (2016)
Moana: Disney plays the same note, the good one
Firstly Moana will be incredibly popular. It's a tried and tested format of young prince/ princess finding themselves in the real world, as well as the characters, trials and tribulations that come with that (Tangled anyone?). The premise is simple, Moana, a young soon to be tribal leader of her people, feels the sea drawing her into an adventure which will ultimately save her people.
Based in the beautiful south pacific, the production does it justice with awe inspiring scenery and settings. The script follows a very Disney fan familiar route however it has proved timeless, inspiring and feel good for parents and children.
Like Frozen the main character Moana is joined by an unusual sidekick, as a snowman would like melt in the climate, a simple chicken substitutes. For adults, the bizarreness of it all made for some humour, however by the end I was wondering if it was morally questionable to be laughing at a mentally challenged sidekick, despite it being a chicken.
Dwayne Johnson was made for his role, not just considering his heritage, but acting as young Moana's unwilling tutor Maui, his presence captivates and dominates the screen.
Very much like Frozen, Moana provides a child friendly soundtrack. However to some viewers, including myself, the headline song "How far I'll go" was played throughout the film. I felt the song being crammed down my throat as "Let it go Take 2" and despite children enjoying the experience, the feeling of forcing it on the audience was obvious to the more experienced pallet. Also another scene (involving a huge octopus) had an extremely odd "Robbie Williams" type song, not in keeping with the genre and to be honest the whole scene just felt odd.
The final third of the film is, as already stated, inspiring and heart warming, leaving that nice fuzzy feeling that the Disney greats seem to do.
Your children will love this movie, and is a must-see for the festive season. A well made production, with a reasonable script, a tried and tested format and (for the most part) an enjoyable soundtrack, this movie is very good and deserving of 8*.
The Perfect Host (2010)
The Perfect Role
Any fan of the TV series 'Frasier' is a friend of mine and for this reason it seems Nick Tomnay (director) has found himself a new friend. I don't know if he wrote this movie with David Hyde Pierce in mind (although I'm pretty certain) or it was just good casting but from start to finish Pierce keeps audience members either gasping or laughing (sometimes simply gasping for air), as he stars, and makes this film equally enthralling and hysterical. He takes Nales Craine's character and adapts him into a more self confident and exciting individual which makes for great viewing.
I do however believe the side story staring Clayne Crawford, despite injecting a certain seriousness and direction to the movie, draws upon Hollywood clichés and doesn't really bring much substance to the piece.
The Perfect Host has it's faults for sure, but I would suggest it to the masses due to it's incredibly clever humour and an A* performance for David Hyde Pierce.
I Want Candy (2007)
Entertaining Watch
Here's a film that delivers exactly what it sets out to achieve, it leaves that nice feel good impression on the audience. It's light fun and this film will entertain groups as well as individuals. It's far from Spielberg stuff but it offers a fresh and fun approach to a genre swamped in woeful products. I had very few expectations for a movie based on filming a porno but with the lower prospect came a pleasing revelation. 'I Want Candy' is a truly good film.
The plot is simple, two college students decide to develop a class film but unfortunately receive funding from a group of gangsters, who's one goal is to film Candy (Carmen Electra). The story although predictable provided just enough humour to keep the audience entertained, three moments in particular had my eyes watering. One disappointment for me was Jimmy Carr being handed very few good lines and his character was very forgettable.
The two lead actors I knew very little about but both showed good charisma and ability in their roles. Carmen Electra and Michelle Ryan also provided respectable performances and did not just offer the 'fit factor'. I particularly enjoyed the three young actors acting as crew members as the were hilarious from start to end, (the scene where his trousers were falling down whilst holding the camera had me in stitches).
I really enjoyed the filming location and brightness, its a big change from the classic gritty grey British colours which make's the country look dull and ugly.
To conclude, if one was ever in need of a lift or just fancies a good watch 'I Want Candy' will not disappoint.
My Summer of Love (2004)
Delivers its message!
Heres a film that's sets out to defy, lures you in, makes you believe and then can take it all away. My Summer of Love was at times poetic, warming and just down-right deceiving. I thought that the filming location was superb particularly Tamsin's house as its interior decoration and its wonderfully scenic setting made for an excellent foundation for the film. The gulf between rich and poor made for an interesting watch however at times it lacked subtlety (the horse and broken bike scene was just a bit much for me).
Both actresses show flashes of quality, personally I thought Emily Blunt was outstanding in her role, she gave her character an arrogance, that even more experienced actresses fail to achieve. Natalie Press was also very good, she gave a performance that many people can relate to. However I did feel that Paddy Considine was at the top of his game in this film, stealing the show for me personally. Considine performed like a man on the edge during the whole film, and when he was finally pushed to far, Considine shone.
The ending was brilliant. All threw the film the audience could feel the connection between the two girls and when we discover it was false, it leaves a devastating impact (the scene when Tamsin's sister demands her top back, was a clever piece of writing, as I could feel Mona's pain). The fact that the film wasn't lured it to killing Tamsin was a brave finish as it kept its realistic approach, that had been so successful throughout.
I also have to mention the musical score which was extremely good and it gave an exceptional backdrop for the film (the classical music was particularly powerful).
Finally I believe that this film is a very good watch and will keep you interested to the very end, it's a film that will not push at excitement, but will leaving you thinking for day's later.
Jarhead (2005)
Gritty and real, a true grower!
The first time i watched this movie, I passively viewed it and I didn't take to it. Since then I have watched it more than 10 times and learnt to love it. The reason for this is the first time I viewed it I heard hype from peers saying how funny it is and I watched it looking forward to a light-hearted entertainment, however I got something completely different. An enthralling war time film that's beautiful honesty creates a real power house of a story, a plot I would soon come to love.
Swofford (Gyllenhaal) stumbles into the army, young and naive, his ignorance to reality truly captivates the audience as he is dragged threw a treacherous world of propaganda and dark reality. I thought Gyllenhaal's performance was inspiring particularly the scene were he rages at the scared timid Fergus (Gereghty), throwing his gun into the poor boy's face, Swofford's wrath is horrifically intimidating.
As well as Gyllenhaal, Foxx delivers a typically immense display. His character's humour and confidence always makes me laugh (his great speeches are written and performed to perfection). Along with Fitch, Troy and Kruger (my personal favourite) all the performances are solid.
The story is not written to impress audiences with shoot-outs and huge battles, but has been written to identify reality from fiction. The waiting is the key element, as it shows that boredom is worse than combat itself. Also the harsh treatment and seemingly pointless routines also add to the dim view of the war. The ending is (in my eyes) amazing, as the impact of the war hits home and always stays with the marines. I must also mention the musical score which is phenomenal.
To conclude this film will make laugh, angry but mostly it will help you to understand the life of a marine.
The Strangers (2008)
Simply pointless (spoiler)
Went to see this film a while ago but I still feel compelled to leave a comment. The film had a couple of respectful names to lead it yet the lack of direction dragged them down to nativity play stuff. I'm afraid that even Hostel left me thinking, "yeah, that bit was good", but this just left me wondering whether I could ever watch a more stupid film.
It's not that the suspense wasn't developed enough its that it lead to an end about as weak as a babies grip. After seeing the first half-hour i thought that even without developing the characters, the spooky "he's behind you!" effect may keep me watching. Then came the reality. Cliché ridden chase scenes back and forth, like an episode of scooby doo. The death of some random guy (missed the first ten minutes of the film, maybe they might have explained his story and made me love him). And the inevitable captive situation. OK so why? Whats the reason to end this scene with this irritable screaming... oh thats the fun part we don't get to know.
Yes, thats about as far as my £6 entry fee would take me. I don't care if that's the whole concept of 'strangers', there just random people killing for no reason, John Doe had more story than these goons. Also I love them two kids who are so brave to go and touch I woman with a knife in her. Truly inspiring performances boys! WARNING - Don't waste your time with this film as I did, it'l make your week seem long boring and eventually pointless.