Film round up (Jan 22-29)
Too many films and not enough time! As I don’t have the time (nor the motivation) for full reviews, here are some brief thoughts on some of the films I’ve seen this week. Full reviews may come at a later date. Enjoy!
In cinemas now
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy -dir. Tomas Alfredson
This film epitomises the term ‘a slow burn’. A beautifully shot film which follows Gary Oldman as he is tasked with finding the mole within the upper echelons of MI6. Oldman is supported by his right-hand man, played marvelously by Benedict Cumberbatch in this complicated unravelling of lies and deceit. The ensemble cast is incredible and contains a number of great performances from the likes of Tom Hardy, Colin Firth, and Mark Strong. The world created in the film is picture-perfect Cold War era Britain, and the muted tones really add to the depressing grey feeling. The atmospheric (and Academy Award nominated) score completes the package. Tinker Tailor isn’t for everyone though. You need to concentrate and be happy with words as weapons rather than big gun fights or chase scenes. A more thrilling film cannot be found in cinemas currently.
4.5/5
Academy Award Nominations: Best Actor (GaryOldman), Best Adapted Screen Play, Best Original Score
The Descendants - dir. Alexander Payne
George Clooney plays a Hawaiian lawyer and land baron whose wife ends up in a coma after a boating accident. Clooney, the “second parent” is forced to take care of his daughters and deal with some serious and seriously dark family matters. The stars of the film are the two daughters played by Shailene Woodley and Amara Miller. They both react to their mother’s situation and related fallout in a completely believable and raw way. Nic Krause adds some much needed comic relief as Woodley’s seemingly bumbling friend. The film plods along at the same pace as the Hawaiian music which plays in the background during a large percentage of the film. While beautifully shot and well-written, the film often fails to connect. The slow pace and the way Clooney’s character treats his wife’s condition and his actions while she is in the coma seem shallow and unrealistic. A lovely film that is just missing something that is hard to pin down.
3/5
Academy Award Nominations: Best Actor (George Clooney), Best Motion Picture, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Adapted Screenplay.
The Muppets - dir. James Bobin
If you want a truly family film which will put a smile on the faces of all (big and small), then this is the film for you. An absolutely delightful tale of The Muppets’ fight to keep their studio from being claimed by an evil oil baron, and to be relevant again in the pop culture world. From catchy new songs, to wonderful nostalgic songs - you will be singing, you will be smiling, you will not be able to get them out of your head. If the Muppets themselves don’t amuse you enough, then the great cameos will. My personal favourite is Jim Pearson - keep an eye out for him. NZers should also look out for a muppet named ‘Lew Zealand’. The feel good film of the summer!
4/5
Academy Award Nominations: Best Original Song (‘Man or Muppet’ - Bret Mckenzie).
Coming to cinemas in April 2012:
The Deep Blue Sea -dir. Terrance Davies
A drama adapted from the popular Terence Rattigan classic play, set in post-war Britain. Rachel Weisz stars as Hester, a woman married to a wealthy judge who falls in love with an ex navel officer. The film follows Hester as she grapples with these feelings and deals with the consequences of her decisions. The film is a rather gloomy one. Post-war Britain was a tough place to be, and the colours and cinematography in this film reflect it. The film delves into many of the prominent themes and feelings surrounding love: desire, lust, duty, regret; and it does so in quite a powerful way. Weisz gives her all in this role and exposes the character’s every emotion for all to see. The film does suffer at times from some over-baring music and extended scenes involving groups of people singing en masse, and may have benefited by being slightly shorter.
3/5
Available to rent/own
I Saw The Devil - dir. Kim Ji-Woon
The revenge film to top all other revenge films. If you thought Japanese horror/thriller was frightening, then you haven’t seen anything yet. The film follows cop Byung-hun Lee who decides to hunt down a serial killer who murders (in the most horrific manner) his fiancée. As Byung-hun Lee is sucked deeper into his revenge mission, the line between the devil and the hero becomes increasingly blurred. What goes on in this film is too horrific to write down. Not only is it graphic, but it is honest-to-god scary. The film is beautifully made and wonderfully put together. Make sure you watch with a friend and/or the lights on.
3.5/5
The Hangover Part Two - dir. Todd Phillips
If you have seen the first film then you have seen this film. If you haven’t seen the first film, you should go and watch that instead. It is the same film but set in Thailand with a smoking monkey instead of a tiger, and some ladyboys with their goods out. There isn’t a single laugh in this film; it couldn’t even be considered mindless fun. It’s just mindless
0.5 /5
