Rev Stan's film blog: September 2013

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September 2013

09/22/2013

Review: An easy lesson in how not to get yourself out of a plot cul de sac - The Call

Synopsis: Halle Berry plays a 911 call operator Jordon who makes a mistake on an intruder call that leads to a girl's murder, when a similar situation arises she's determined not to make the same mistake again.

Stan's thoughts: For the first two thirds this is a tense thriller as Jordon tries to help kidnap victim Casey (Abigail Breslin) who's is in the boot of a car on her mobile. It's a fight against time as the police try to trace her disposable mobile (difficult apparently) and Jordon trying to keep Casey calm and help her escape.

*plot spoilers* The police eventually identify her kidnapper and find his holiday home, have a cursory look around (first dumb thing) don't discover the basement or his car which has mysteriously disappeared. They can find half a finger print on a broken bottle but not a tyre track.

But the big problem is born out of the fact that once Casey's phone call has been disconnected, Jordon's role has become redundant. How do we keep the the Hollywood star in the plot?

Answer: They send Jordon off up to the lonely hills to check the house out herself and of course it has suddenly become dark and she loses phone signal (it mysteriously comes back when the drama is all over) and she hasn't told anyone, especially her cop boyfriend, where she is going.

Naturally she discovers the basement and rescues Casey, all by herself, and I could have almost almost swallowed that if it wasn't for the final five minutes. Rather than calling the police to come and arrest our kidnapper and give the audience some sort of explanation as to why he's taking young girls and scalping them, they have Casey and Jordon decide to get their revenge. They drag the kidnapper back into the basement and tie him up and leave him. Because the police wouldn't have checked the place out once Casey reappeared. And they wouldn't want a murderer brought to justice, they'd rather leave him somewhere where he might might escape and kill again.

Someone needs to be slapped or sacked or something. Who attended the test screenings? Did they film different endings and not tell the cast which they would use? The Call went from a four star film to a two star film in about 20 minutes. Shame, shame, shame.

Ratings

Stan's: 30%
IMDB: 66%
Metascore: 51%
Rotten Tomatoes: 43%
RT audience rating: 67%

Recently seen

Rush

In A World

Ain't Them Bodies Saints

Posted at 11:19 AM in American films | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Review: The thrill film of the year - Rush

Synopsis: Biopic about the on and off track rivalry of Formula One drivers James Hunt and Nikki Lauder in the 1970s. The former is a handsome, charismatic playboy with the champagne and shag lifestyle, the latter a serious, hard-working, technically knowledgeable, early-to-bed Austrian.

Stan's thoughts: This is a film that is about personality just as much about racing but its genius lies in Ron Howard's creation of an atmospheric film that portrays the looks, sounds and genuine sense of danger of Formula One racing forty year ago. Two out of the 20 racers each season would die.

Howard knows just where to put the camera at the right moment sometimes getting in incredible close it's not even like you are in the car with the drivers but in their helmet, while at others pulling back to give a broad scope. The result is a thrill ride of a film that is also a fascinating character study of what drives two very different personalities to do such a dangerous sport.

Great film, great performances (whole gambit of great Brits too - Julian Rhind-Tutt, Stephen Mangan and Natalie Dormer) and if it doesn't snag a place or two on the Oscar short-lists there isn't any justice.

Ratings

Stan's: 90%
IMDB: 84%
Metascore: 73%
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
RT audience rating: 94%

Recently seen

In A World

Ain't Them Bodies Saints

Posted at 08:25 AM in British films | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

09/15/2013

Review: In A World

Synopsis: Carol is a voice coach but wants to break into the male dominated world of movie trailer voice-over work in which her dad is the big star.

Stan's thoughts: This is an odd film to sum up because the going for the goal storyline is interwoven with a rom-com. Carol (Lake Bell) doesn't realise the sound technician where she works has the hots for her and her sister Dani (Michaela Watkins) is getting bored with domesticity with husband Moe (Rob Corddry).

And in the main it works. It is laugh out loud funny - there is a particularly good scene where Carol is trying to teach Eva Longoria a 'cockney gangster' accent. (Keep an eye out for some other big name cameos).

I do have a slight problem with kooky, un-coordinated characters like Carol though, I can find them a bit irritating in a 'get a grip' kind of way (Frances Ha Ha is a case in point). Lake Bell skates very close to crossing the line a few times but earns points from steering away from the obvious a couple of times. Otherwise this is a fun, inoffensive and amusing film that will be remembered most for a handful of cracking vignettes.

Ratings

Stan's: 60%
IMDB: 73%
Metascore: 79%
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
RT audience rating: 86%

Recently seen

Ain't Them Bodies Saints

Posted at 10:51 AM in American films, Comedy, Independent films | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Review: The subtly moving Ain't Them Bodies Saints

Synopsis: Young husband Bob (Casey Affleck) escapes prison to reunite with his wife Ruth (Rooney Mara) and meet his daughter for the first time.

Stan's thoughts: This is one of those beautifully subtle films that grips from the outset and is quietly moving. Director David Lowery (who also wrote the screenplay) succeeds in creating an atmospheric film that has a quiet tension and threat set against a gritty 1970s rural Texas back drop. But equally it has a subtle warmth and love which makes it quietly affecting.

Great performances particularly from Casey "I talk without opening my mouth" Affleck and Rooney Mara. A surprisingly good film, reminded me of a much more contained and less melodramatic version of Cold Mountain .

Ratings

Stan's: 70%
IMDB: 70%
Metascore: 74%
Rotten Tomatoes: 80%
RT audience rating: 73%

Recently seen

Posted at 10:15 AM in American films, Independent films | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

09/08/2013

Review: Only God Forgives (Nicolas Winding Refn)

Synopsis: Julian (Ryan Gosling) runs a drugs business in the seedy underworld of Bangkok and when his psycho brother is killed for brutally murdering a prostitute his psycho-bitch mother (Kristin Scott Thomas) flies in demanding revenge.

Stan's thoughts: This is a painfully beautiful and atmospheric film, every frame is like a carefully composed photo and for that it has to be admired. But with a weak narrative and character development it skates dangerously close to arty farty - all style and little substance.

I just feel a bit over the whole pairing of director Nicolas Winding Refn and Ryan Gosling and the brooding, long pauses and not saying much direction/character they seem to favour. Scott Thomas, however, lights up the screen adding much needed personality and was a joy to watch. Also fabulous to see Tom Burke playing against type as the nutter brother.

The extreme violence was a bit much to take at times, feeling a little gratuitous (my nails were well examined by the end).

If Refn put as much effort into character development as he did the look of the film then this would be cracking and while I don't think the narrative is as fragmented as some people have commented it felt like like it was only scratching the surface of the interesting relationships and back story.

Glad I've seen it and on the big screen but not a film I'll want to watch again unless someone does a compilation of KST clips.

Something different from this duo now please or rather they should head off in different directions.

Ratings

Stan's: 51%
IMDB: 61%
Metascore: 37%
Rotten Tomatoes: 40%
RT audience rating: 47%

Recently seen

Posted at 11:25 AM in American films, Arty films | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Review: Probably the only person not to like Richard Curtis' About Time

Synopsis: Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) discovers from his father (Bill Nighy) that he can travel back in time to moments in his life so Tim decides to use this skill to get a girlfriend.

Stan's thoughts: I really liked the first half an hour or so when Tim was getting the hang of the time travel (although don't think too much about how it all works) and refining his seduction technique over and over again but ultimately this feels like a 2 hour lesson in making the most of each day and I got a bit bored.

The characters are all standard Curtis fare - Bill Nighy pretty much playing the sort of dad you've come to expect, there's a ballsy mum, an away with the fairies uncle and family friend who is just obnoxious.

Any delight really came from the new talent and theatre spotting. Domhnall Gleeson is shaping up to be the go to actor for nice British chap in the vein of Colin Firth and perhaps Hugh Grant (and yes I know he's Irish). Then there was the fabulous Lydia Wilson as Tim's hippy and slightly bonkers sister (think Charlotte Colman-esque in Four Weddings) and the Vanessa Kirby as the vampish best friend of Tim's beau who is played by Rachel McAdams - the token American. Also bit parts for Stan fav Harry Hadden-Paton and Tom Hughes.

The Old Vic Theatre makes an appearance as does the National Theatre and the South Bank. Spent a little while also trying to work out which tube station Tim and love-interest were at.

So a great sight-seeing film but it begs the question why am I'm paying more attention to the locations and thinking about which plays I've seen the actors in and the conclusion I've come to is that it just wasn't enough of anything to add up to much. Not funny enough, not quite charming enough, a plot that was plodding and formulaic and all just a bit too sentimental.

Was really looking forward to it too.

Ratings

Stan's: 50%
IMDB: 70%
Metascore: 57%
Rotten Tomatoes: 71%
RT audience rating: 83%

Recently seen

Posted at 10:57 AM in British films, Rom-coms | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

09/01/2013

Review: The charming Way Way Back

Synopsis: Shy and awkward 14-year-old Duncan is on holiday with his mum, her overbearing boyfriend and the boyfriend's daughter. He doesn't feel like he fits in until he makes friends with the manager of the nearby water park.

Stan's thoughts: When favourite films such as Little Miss Sunshine are name-checked on the poster it normally sounds alarm bells and while this doesn't quite have the wit and charm of LMS it is still a great watch.

Liam James as Duncan gives a beautifully understated performance but it is Sam Rockwell as his friend Owen that is the stand out. He has all the best lines and for once we have an adult in a film that actually understands kids. While most of the other adults behave abomnably in some way Owen proves to be just what Duncan needs and it is lovely to watch him blossom.

Also lovely to see Toni Collette, Maya Rudolph and the ever fabulous Allison Janney.

It is a film the made me laugh and smile and certainly one to file under feel good.

Ratings

Stan's: 68%
IMDB: 72%
Metascore: 44%
Rotten Tomatoes: 47%
RT audience rating: 77%

Recently seen

Posted at 09:13 PM in American films, Comedy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Review: We're the Millers

Synopsis: Small time drug dealer is forced by his supplier into collecting a large stash of dope from Mexico. As a cover he persuades a stripper, a homeless girl and the dorky teen from his apartment block to pose as his family for the trip.

Stan's thoughts: This is definitely not the sort of thing I would normally go and see - it looks like the usual dreadful American gross-out comedy fare but actually it had me laughing and laughing quite a bit. I wasn't the only one in the audience either (makes a change). Not quite sure why it particularly tickled my funny rib - perhaps it's because it doesn't involve people getting drunk and lots of scantily clad, impossibly pretty woman.

Great to see young Brit actor Will Poulter stepping into the big time too.

Ratings