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Reviews
A Lonely Place for Dying (2009)
Something quite different about this movie.. but room to improve
Plusses; some nice cinematography, great acting by Marquand, pretty cool basic plot, nice retro vibe and instagram feel Minusses; Some ham-fisted acting by the actors. Still bearable though. Robert's character is just a bit too soft to believe his back story... He seems better suited to a family feel good movie. Some unnecessary details that aren't developed. The basic crime/fundament is really poorly described and weak as a basis for what it gives rise to. Worth a watch but almost comes across as the 70's gun drama the retro vibe would like to be suggesting, if it weren't for Marquand's strong performance. What more can I say.
Warm Bodies (2013)
Funny, cute and different
A quite different take on the zombie theme. On the surface a dumb and dumber premise but artfully handled and nice allusions to Zombie lit, Shakespeare and world politics. This film is often surprisingly beautifully shot with some nicely understated CGI and even more understated humour (even if occasionally borrowing from Shaun of the Dead...but who could resist?).
Not rip roaring laughs but delicate film making meshed with dumb zombie humour in a way that somehow works. Overall premise seems a bit cheesy but supported by the film's metaphor of accepting/understanding others ... difficult when someone wants your brains.
Flight (2012)
Not knowing who to root for equals quick disinterest
I love Denzel Washington. I don't mind that he grits his teeth, steels his gaze and does that funny tongue in cheek thing. If that's his toolkit, it's a good one and playing a flight captain fits straight into it. But this is not his finest hour.
This film starts out looking like a gritty moral dilemma, an heroic story with a twist. It ends up leaving you feel drained of interest, with only a dull anger replacing suspense, concern or hope.
One or two funny and unexpected twists, but ultimately succumbs to Hollywood treatment, leaving a sense that the Director didn't get to say what he wanted.
It draggggggs for a good 70%of this film.
Goodman, not Washington, carries this film, but is used far too sparingly and feels like he's walked in accidentally from the neighbouring studio.
Gangster Squad (2013)
Slickly assembled, powerfully acted take on a staple plot
I seriously doubt anyone watches a movie called "Gangster squad" with any illusions that it might be about a small boy who befriends an Orca whale, or is a biopic on a famous recluse writer, or perhaps a light hearted comedy about two friends who refuse to acknowledge they are in love with each other.
Spoiler:It's another movie about a squad that chases gangsters. The only question in your mind should be, "is it better than the others?"
The answer is, "Yes!", although in truth the others include some excellent wares.... let's call it first equal.
Penn's acting and presence is just so damned awesome. Brolin is well Brolin; this can get a bit much in large doses but most will like him here for what he does best; square jawed gritty resolve, devil may care, vengeance type stuff.... and then as ever, there is the squad, who are a pretty cool take on what (according to formula) must be a smart, steely but quirky bunch of misfits.
Watch it, don't make me spell it all out for you.
Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn (2012)
like it says on the tin....
No more no less, this is simply a video game made into a movie. I was more optimistic at first, given chit chat about jackson, del torres, blomkamp... suggested any movie might be more thoughtful.
Upside; Fun shoot em up, some great acting, OK character development and fairly cool baddies and action sequences.
Downside; it still carries off like the snippets in the video game (not helped by Master Chief's game voice, by an unnecessary and clumsy CGI treatment of the soldiers, and a cheaply rendered hologram character/subplot whom the Director offers no explanation for. Similarly the flashback (future) situation is so poorly portrayed as to leave you apathetic to its relevance/lack thereof.
Simply ditching the credits sequence would be a massive improvement. Some sequences are too hastily shot and/or edited, it leaves the viewer no way of knowing what the point was.
Also agree with others that this film follows the bootcamp, aliens formulae that's been done infinitely better in other movies, making it feel both trite and inferior.
God Bless America (2011)
different
Despite a fundamental nod to Michael Douglas' Falling Down character, in every other sense this movie is difficult to parallel with any other.
Super violent, without being too graphic, a tarantinoesque, blasé treatment of murder. Preachy throughout, predictably hipster in some parts and clumsy production in other parts. The basic premises of shallowness, 15 mins of fame, eroding society, groupthink, TV generations is not new but is delivered with equal doses of hamfistedness and finesse. The former the script, the latter the direction and acting.
However, for sheer audacity and novelty, plus some great if affected acting, a good watchable romp.
Hope Springs (2012)
hope springs then collapses in a heap on the ground
An ill-fated decision to give in to my girlfriend's pleas, seeing it was Valentines day. This movie has all the slovenly pace, predictability and dryness of the "fix your marriage book" that kicks off Meryl Streep's quest for conjugal bliss. In fact, take away the wasteful use of top stars and this could quite possibly have been a CD inserted in a sleeve in said book, for those who prefer to have their book read to them.
Throw in some unsexy and awkward discussions and scenes around pensioner sex, and you have yourself one very boring, painful and unentertaining film.
I can appreciate that some viewers "recognised" the film subject matter, but that doesn't legitimise eschewing a script and the arts of film making in favour of a lazy minute by minute "public record" approach
I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009)
I'll take the surreal over the real
A college flick exposes a film to a fair bit of comparison and criticism, but I didn't find it merited for this awkward and quirky movie - genuinely funny moments, good scripting and acting.
Interesting that some reviewers expected so much from a high school comedy, especially those who are disappointed when the movie follows "unbelievable" plot lines - Perhaps there's an audience out there for a dry, minute by minute High School take on "Big Brother", but as for me, I'm grateful for a High School comedy that doesn't take itself, or the High School setting so seriously.
Perhaps not legendary but novel enough and funny enough to warrant a night in front of the goggle box.
Le pacte des loups (2001)
Awful
True, it's good points do include Monica Belucci and that it relates to a true story. Also must be said I unfortunately watched an over-dubbed version (there's something about hearing the dialogue in french that makes you forgive almost anything...). And finally, it was in the least quite inventive and novel. However, the film seems to have been thrown together from random cuttings. It fails to lead the viewer anywhere in particular, darting from inviting sympathy for the villains to rejoicing at their come-uppance, so many pointless/directionless subplots, including love and deception, that have no bearing, and ridiculous moments of pretend pathos. That we have American indians/french doing jet li moves, as another viewer mentioned should have said it all (even disregarding that its captured in an amateurish way when compared with the Hong Kong greats).