Kings

There is absolutely no doubt about it.

These two are reigning right now.

Empire Big Screen Round Up

Last weekend I spent three days at the O2 in London at Empire Big Screen.

A weekend full of screenings, panels and special guests, there is too much to simply put into print. So I thought a video would do nicely.

After turning my camcorder on and rambling for an hour or so, I finally managed to edit it down to two fifteen minute videos.

So please have a listen and make sure you join me next year!

Review: Warrior (2011) – HeyUGuys

Please check out my 5* review for Gavin O’Connor’s amazing Warrior over at HeyUGuys. Just click here.

Review: Drive (2011) – HeyUGuys

I am really honoured to be able to say that I had the pleasure of listening to Nicolas Winding Refn talk about his latest film, Drive, before watching a preview of his incredible film on Saturday evening at Empire Big Screen at the O2 in London. I am even more honoured to say that I was asked by the amazing HeyUGuys to review it for them. To check out my 5* review for Ryan Gosling’s new film, please click here.

What I’m Watching – August

This list only includes films I watched for the first time this month. My most recent viewing is the top entry:

Limitless (Dir: Neil Burger, 2011) ****

The Inbetweeners Movie (Dir: Ben Palmer, 2011) ****

Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (Dir: Rupert Wyatt, 2011) ****

The Skin I Live In (Dir: Pedro Almodovar, 2011) ****

Lars And The Real Girl (Dir: Craig Gillespie, 2007) ****

Into The Wild (Dir: Sean Penn, 2007) *****

The Kids Are All Right (Dir: Lisa Cholodenko, 2010) ****

Half Nelson (Dir: Ryan Fleck, 2006) ****

Cowboys & Aliens (Dir: Jon Favreau, 2011) **

Drive (Dir: Nicolas Winding Refn, 2011) *****

Warrior (Dir: Gavin O’Connor, 2011) *****

Moon (Dir: Duncan Jones, 2009) *****

Review: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

DIRECTOR: Joe Johnston.

CAST: Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Dominic Cooper, Stanley Tucci, Toby Jones, Richard Armitage, Neal McDonough, Derek Luke, Kenneth Choi, JJ Feild, Lex Shrapnel, Samuel L. Jackson.

SYNOPSIS: With World War II forcing America into action, Steve Rogers (Evans) is desperate to be drafted for military service. Sickly and rather on the small side, he receives knock back after knock back until his path crosses Dr. Erskine (Tucci) who is recruiting for the very hushed Project Rebirth. Being accepted due to his incredible courage, his body is enhanced to its maximum potential and Captain America is born. However, Johann Schmidt (Weaving) has plans to use the same technology to progress the Nazi’s secret organisation, HYDRA.

Holy smokes. Joe Johnston’s made something that’s more than just a ‘good’ film. In fact, he’s made a bloody great film that can easily boast of standing alongside Marvel’s best. Captain America is one of those rare comic book adaptations that has more on offer than just a glossy surface. It lacks an overly camp villain, manages to avoid glaringly cheesy one-liners from its star and has a female love interest who has more than a couple of brain cells (and who earns extra brownie points for being a Brit). The ending is one that will more than satisfy the Marvel diehards, but will undoubtedly confuse the hell out of those who have merely popped along to see that-film-that’s-going-to-shove-American-patriotism-down-my-throat – which it surprisingly doesn’t, actually. Of course, you’re not a real Marvel fan unless you stay until the end of the credits and this time the payoff is unbelievably sweet.

Review: Horrible Bosses (2011)

DIRECTOR: Seth Gordon.

CAST: Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, Donald Sutherland, Lindsay Sloane, Julie Bowen, P.J. Byrne, Celia Finkelstein, Ioan Gruffudd.

SYNOPSIS: Nick (Bateman) hates his boss for making him work sunrise to sunset with no reward. Kurt (Sudeikis) hates his boss for being a coked-out idiot who has no interest in the company aside from the financial reward. Dale (Day) hates his boss for being a borderline rapist when he’s about to get married. A drunken conversation between the three of them leads to the hiring of a hit man (Foxx) to ensure an easy working environment. But things are never that straightforward.

Horrible Bosses is undoubtedly a massive step forward for director Seth Gordon, with his previous work on American TV shows The Office, Modern Family and Parks and Recreation showcasing his effortless capability of working with the current Hollywood darlings usually favoured by a certain Judd Apatow. Although the first half of the film may feel like a rehearsal to the better-paced and more enjoyable second half, this film is far from predictable with a wonderfully natural chemistry between the three male leads.

Review: The Tree of Life (2011)

DIRECTOR: Terrence Malick.

CAST: Brad Pitt, Hunter McCracken, Jessica Chastain, Laramie Eppler, Sean Penn, Tye Sheridan, Fiona Shaw.

SYNOPSIS: Jack O’Brien (McCracken) and his two brothers (Eppler, Sheridan) grow up in the 1960s, spending their days carefree and full of play. We witness firsthand the loss of innocence through Jack’s eyes as he experiences his first brushes with death and suffering. The world is no longer as perfect as he believed and his family struggle with his quick progression into adolescence. Running parallel to this, an older Jack (Penn) tries to atone and understand past events in his life, working towards being able to forgive his father (Pitt).

To say The Tree of Life is grandiose is a complete understatement. It is beautiful, indulgent, heartfelt and extremely honest. And I truly believe it to be a masterpiece. Clichés aside, Terrence Malick’s Palme d’Or-winning film has been rather controversial, being booed at Cannes and five people walked out when I saw it. But I believe this to be a sign of a great filmmaker, somebody who divides opinion and stems controversial discussion. At the end of the day, this isn’t going to be a film people forget.