Reviews

I Want Candy Oh dear. The best comment I can make about this film is it is watchable at best. Its basically about two film students who get cajoled into making a porn film featuring the industries leading lady, Miss Candy Fiveways.

Everything bout this film is basic. It's a story I've kinda seen before, and done marginally better in the Girl Next Door, the actors look like they are on auto pilot, its not very funny, there is no hidden depths and not even any nudity! Carmen Electra stars as Candy Fiveways, which must have been a real stretch of her acting talents. About as big a stretch as last time I saw her on film, which was bouncing up and down wearing lingerie in Scary Movie.

Two annoying British Actors who I have never heard of before, and particularly never wish to again, gurn up the screen on every occasion as the two best friends, Jimmy Carr plays himself as an annoying Video Shop host, and Zoe Slater from Eastenders pops up as the token love interest. Im not even going to comment on MacKenzie Crook.

Like I said, it's watchable at best. But please try to avoid.

Cloverfield is like nothing I've ever seen before. It grabs hold of you and doesn't let go. The film starts with a 20-minute introduction to the main characters at a leaving party. Past relationships are surfacing, and feelings are tense. Then something strikes the city.

Out of no-where, explosions are seen in the distance, and the action spills out from the party onto the street. It's mayhem, dust and debris everywhere, and then the statue of liberties decapitated head comes rolling into shot.

The camera is controlled by a member of the cast, it is shaky and nervy, and gives you a real sense of panic and disbelief. It's the closest they can do to transporting you directly into the panic and horror of the situation.

This film takes an established genre, and gives it a bold and innovative twist. You feel like you are watching something fresh, new and exciting. There is no need for any scientific explanation here; this is an age-old story of survival. And its brilliant.

No Country For Old Men

No Country for Old Men is mesmerising. It pulls you in and doesn't let go. It's basically a moral cat and mouse story, about the repercussion of people's decisions and actions. The acting is top notch, Josh Brolin is an actor that has never been too memorable on-screen, that all changes here. He plays Texan everyman Llewellyn Moss. This could well be a career-changing performance for him. Javier Bardem is pure evil personified, and burns with menace. Every time he appears, you expect bad things to happen. The scene where he mercilessly picks on a gas station owner is uncomfortable brilliance. The Coen brothers script is sharp and witty, and plays so real, you always feel like you are eves-dropping on someone else's conversations, or spying on their actions, rather than hearing words said for your benefit.

" If I don't come back, tell mother I love her". " Your mother's dead, Llewelyn". " Well then I'll tell her myself".

I'm saving the best for last here, Tommy Lee Jones is just wonderful. Im shocked he didn't get nominated Best Actor for this performance, because when all is said and done, this is his film he is the leading man. He bookends the film with thought provoking narratives on the frailty of the human condition, which have been lifted straight from the pages of the novel. These are the most important pieces of dialogue in the whole film and are delivered with such pathos, heart and regret by Tommy Lee Jones' character. His is a performance of understated intensity, and he is the soul of this quite brilliant film.

Two-Thirds good. The set up and flashback sequences are intriguing and interesting. Will Smith is as engaging as ever, and some of the shots of him walking around a desolate New York are nothing short of breath taking. But then the darkness comes, and the creatures come out. And unfortunately it's in these scenes, when this film switches from engaging dark science fiction into schlock horror. Those fantastic earlier moments are totally let down by a very poor final third, featuring underdeveloped characters and a rushed ending. Some of this film's ideas are excellent, and it has made me want to read the original novel. There is a five star science fiction masterpiece in there somewhere, unfortunately this was not it.

I usually struggle with Adolvomars liking of the melodramatic, and in parts Volver is no different. Volver is a ghost story played straight. It does delve into soap opera esquire moments at times, but it is played out with real heart. No more evident than where the daughter sings in the restaurant, while the mother watches from afar. It is a bittersweet story about a family dealing with grief, guilt and loss. And it's a wonderful film. Penelope Cruz shines as the gutsy mother, and is assisted by strong performances all round.

A wonderful, touching story, with an exceptional, career best, central performance from Penelope Cruz.

Its hard to write a quick brief describing what this film is about, so all I can say is what I knew before I saw it.

Troubled teenager with sleeping problems talks to a scary 6-foot rabbit called frank who tells him the world is going to end in 28 days.-

I basically thought I was going to see your average, run of the mill, teenage slasher film. That is what I was expecting, a couple hours of pure escapism, end of story. How wrong I was!

The first time I saw Donnie Darko it left me confused, breathless and slightly disturbed. I didn't know what quite to make of what I had just seen but I couldn't wait to see it again. I never thought a 6 foot rabbit costume could unsettle me so much.

After a second viewing my conclusions had been drawn, Donnie Darko is a superb, haunting and masterful piece of filmmaking.

The film starts out as a suburban family drama but quickly transcends into an enticing mix of high school teen film, science fiction, time travel, horror and suspense. The film is set in 1988. The main reason behind this I felt was to give viewers an automatic feeling of nostalgia.

The cast is faultless, Jake Gyllenhaal is mesmerising in the lead role switching between confused high school kid and something a lot darker effortlessly. The supporting cast in the shape of Catherine Ross, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore and Noah Wyle fall into their parts with ease and deliver everything expected of them and more, but the biggest surprise is Patrick Swayze who absolutely nails his role, as a self help guru with a sinister secret, with almost frightening conviction.

The soundtrack is awesome, featuring Echo and the Bunnymen and Joy Division and a haunting cover of Tears for Fears Mad World.

I have seen this film several times now and still feel that i don't only honestly understand all of it but understand as much as I want to.

It is refreshing to see a film that makes you think and come up with your own ideas and conclusions, instead of spoon-feeding you a start, middle and an end.

I consider this film as a fantastic piece of filmmaking, and I cant wait to see what Director Richard Kelly does next.

I would urge everyone to see this film at least twice, if you still don't like it then fair enough, but you may just discover something wonderful.