Rev Stan's film blog

Review: Zero Dark Thirty

Synopsis: Based on first hand accounts, tale of the hunt for Osama Bin Laden.

Stan's thoughts: It's caused controversy because of the depiction of torture, some saying it glamorises and condones but I disagree. Director Kathryn Bigelow's style is very matter of fact and I believe she leaves it very much to the audience to judge the central question of whether Osama Bin Laden would have been found without torture. It is a little long - as is the way with Oscar contenders these days - but the tension builds nicely towards the end, which is quite a feat considering only someone who has lived in a box for the last 3 years wouldn't know how it pans out.

Don't claim to have understood exactly what led from a to b to c to Osama as the language is jargon heavy but Jessica Chastain gives a great central performance that is compelling to watch.

Well done and engaging enough but ultimately feel like I can tick it off my list.

Ratings:

• Stan's: 72%
• IMDB: 77%
• Metascore: 95%
• Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

Mark Kermode's review of Django Unchained

I like Mark Kermode's film reviews, in fact his view is the only one I seek out after I've seen a film to see if it marries with my own. Normally I listen to the podcast of his and Simon Mayo's film show on Radio 5 but I happened upon his review of Django Unchained before I got the chance and thought I'd share it as I pretty much agree with him word for word.

 

Review: The Sessions

Synopsis: After contracting polio as a child Mark O'Brien (John Hawkes) has been left paralysed from the neck down and has to spend 20 hours a day in an iron lung. With guidance from his local priest (William H Macy) he seeks the help of a sex therapist and surrogate Cheryl (Helen Hunt)  determined to lose his virginity. It's based on an article real life poet and quadriplegic Mark O'Brien wrote.

Stan's thoughts: This film isn't what you think when you read the synopsis. It isn't crass or exploitative it is funny and sensitively handled as Cheryl untangles John's physical and emotional feelings and desires.

The Sessions has that rare and wonderful marriage of provoking laughter one moment and tears the next. Fantastic central performances.

Ratings:

• Stan's: 84%
• IMDB: 74%
• Metascore: 80%
• Rotten Tomatoes: 94%

 

Review: Django Unchained

Synopsis: Bounty hunter Dr King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) frees slave Django (Jamie Foxx) in return for his help in identifying three brothers on whom there is a large bounty. A friendship develops and Schultz then assists Django in rescuing his wife who was sold to big bad plantation boss Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio).

Stan's thoughts: I've been falling out with Quentin Tarantino in recent years - he's become an indulgent and undisciplined director, letting his ego get in the way of great film-making.

Django was his last chance and while it is still too long and someone should physically stop him from making cameo appearances in his own movies, he is definitely getting back to form. It has the characteristic gory violence (my finger nails became fascinating a couple of times), cheeky script, colourful characters and theatrics to make it entertaining and good fun.

All that to one side, standout for me were the performances of Waltz, Foxx and DiCaprio. For the latter it was great to see him playing an out and out baddie.

Ratings:

• Stan's: 75%
• IMDB: 87%
• Metascore: 81%
• Rotten Tomatoes: 88%

 

Related articles

Review: Balanced and compassionate - What Richard Did

Review: The big question about Quartet

Review: Gangster Squad

Synopsis: Post second world war LA is under the control of ruthless gang boss Mickey Cohen. He has the police and the law in his pocket and criminal activity sewed up until the police chief forms a clandestine squad of low-ranking police officers to take him down.

Stan's thoughts: Aside from a stellar cast - Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Josh Brolin, Michael Pena etc - I don't think this offers anything new to the gangster genre. It is entertaining enough - if a little too graphically violent for my liking - but it just all seems a little too predictable and obvious. Maybe it's just the fact that I don't find big shoot outs engaging - lots of chaotic firing, few getting hit - or that you never really doubt what the outcome will be. Good enough but not great.

Ratings:

• Stan's: 55%
• IMDB: 73%
• Metascore: 40%
• Rotten Tomatoes: 34%

Other recent film reviews:

 

Related articles

Review: The big question about Quartet

Review: Balanced and compassionate - What Richard Did

Review: Balanced and compassionate - What Richard Did

Synopsis: Richard is a popular teen, plays for the local rugby club, gets on well with his parents and is reasonably successful with girls. In fact he has everything going for him until the morning after the all to common drunken brawl the night before.

Stan's thoughts: A naturalistic and compassionate portrayal of guilt. Nicely set up and balanced so as to avoid feeling contrived helped by a wonderful central performance from Jack Reynor (hope to see more of him in the future). Simple story telling that is emotionally rich, can't help but make you think.

Ratings:

• Stan's: 70%
• IMDB: 71%
• Metascore: Not yet rated
• Rotten Tomatoes: 88%

Review: Uncomfortable and emotional viewing - The Impossible

Synopsis: Based on the true story of a Spanish family holidaying in Thailand when the 2004 tsunami hit, separated they search for each other not knowing who is alive or dead.

Stan's thoughts: This is a difficult watch, harrowing at times and naturally very emotional. It doesn't shy away from the gritty realism of such a horrific natural disaster and the aftermath. Succeeds in marrying the scale of the disaster with the intimacy of the family's own predicament. Left me feeling a tad emotional and wanting to find out more.

Ratings:

• Stan's: 80%
• IMDB: 77%
• Metascore: 73%
• Rotten Tomatoes: 82%

What is the ultimate film weepie double bill?

Call me a weirdo (weirdo) but I love a weepie. Have quite a few in my DVD collection that I dig out when I want to cry, all rated from silent tears to full out sobs.

Watching Brokeback Mountain which is in my collection, got me thinking about what the ultimate tear-jerker double bill would be.

This is what I have to choose from the 'full out sobs' category:

• Brokeback Mountain
• Single Man
• Bright Star
• Third Star
• Never Let Me Go
• Atonement
• Jane Eyre

So here's my list of the best pairings:

Brokeback Mountain & Single Man - Gay heart break

Bright Star/Atonement/Jane Eyre - Costume drama heart break

Never Let Me Go & Third Star - Terminal heart break

What would be your ultimate weepie double bill?

 

Review: The big question about Quartet

Synopsis: Trials and tribulations of putting on a fund raising concert for an old people's home for ex classical singers and musicians.

Stan's thoughts: Not quite as funny or as poignant as it could be and predictable but nonetheless a pleasant and easy watch with a feel good ending. Begs the question whether this is the best vehicle the film industry can come up with to showcase the extraordinary talent of the likes of Maggie Smith, Pauline Collins, Tom Courtenay, Michael Gambon and Billy Connolly.

Ratings:

• Stan's: 56%
• IMDB: 66%
• Metascore: 56%
• Rotten Tomatoes: 86%

New year, new approach to my film blog but first a look back at 2012

Been rather neglectful of my film blog in 2012 to the point of virtually giving it up. The problem is time. Last year I saw over 100 plays and nearly 90 films and I have a demanding day job. The long and short of it is I get better readership and interaction with my theatre blog and it brings its own rewards in the form of the occasional free theatre ticket. It's a big incentive and hence why it has had the lion share of my writing time.

My film blog has alway been more of my own personal record of what I see and I enjoy writing about what I see but it still takes time. The further behind I fell with my reviews the more difficult it was to catch up and so eventually I gave up (the spammers who 'love reading' my blog didn't).

But the blog and lack of attention and lack of record of my film watching has been nagging at me. So what to do? I need something that is quick and easy, a method of reviewing in a way that takes 10-15 minutes.  So I'm going to attempt to do very short and succinct reviews topped by a one line synopsis and taled by the equivalent IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes ratings.

Primarily it will be for my own record and if anyone else finds it of interest then fabulous. I'll attempt to cover other stuff as and when it takes my fancy. Let's see how we go.

Before I crack on with my first review of 2013 here's a quick list of my favourite and least favourite films of 2012.

Favourites (order of screening)

• Shame
• Chronicle
• Hunger Games
• Kid With A Bike
• The Imposter
• Shadow Dancer
• Untouchable
• Perks of Being A Wallflower
• Skyfall
• End of Watch
• Argo
• Amour
• Great Expectations

Least favourites (order of screening)

• J Edgar
• W.E.
• The Raid
• Berberian Sound Studio
• Killing Them Softly
• The Master