Rev Stan's film blog: October 2014

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October 2014

10/19/2014

#LFF Review: James McAvoy in the Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby and a bit of the Q&A

Synopsis: The disintegration of couples relationship after a tragic event.

Stan's thoughts: Like to think of this one as an emotional mystery 'thriller' but first I need to explain how the film came about. It was originally shot as two films, Him from James McAvoy's perspective and Her from Jessica Chastain's. To make it more commercially viable (I'm reading between the lines a little) the director Ned Benson was encouraged to edit the two together into one film and thus 'Them' was born. I'll come back to this.

The film opens with a romantic dinner between Conor and Eleanor early in their relationship. They are happy and having fun. Then we cut to some time in the future and see Eleanor attempt suicide. What follows is the aftermath in Conor and Eleanor's relationship as they try and piece things together, indeed can they piece things together and what was it that led Eleanor to make an attempt on her own life?

There is never a big reveal in this film just a slowly growing understanding of what happened to them fed by an undercurrent of sorrow and tragedy. It is gently moving, no killer emotional punch, just a feeling in the gut that had me on the verge of tears pretty much throughout.

James McAvoy said in the Q&A afterwards (yes I got to walk the red carpet 'with' Mr McAvoy) that it was an unusual filming experience because Ned Benson's process was so different to other Hollywood films he's worked on. He kept getting told to do less and the result is a performance that is pared back and speaks volumes without grand gestures and words. A performance that reminds me a little of Atonement.

Jessica Chastain is equally superb, full of unspoken hurt and sorrow. A woman obviously on the emotional edge but quietly so.

Great supporting cast too Ciaran Hinds plays Conor's father, Isabelle Huppert and William Hurt Eleanor's parents and Viola Davis her lecturer.

It is difficult to tell what was lost from cutting the two films together. I'd love to see them to properly judge particularly to get more under the skin of Eleanor. I suspect it might shed a bit more light on the implications of the ending too.

James McAvoy was asked whether it was hard playing Conor for a particular plot reason I won't reveal but he said it was easy to get into character just not easy to leave him behind.

Ratings

Stan’s 75%
IMDB 71%
Metascore 58%
Rotten Tomatoes No score yet
RT Audience Rating* No score yet

Recently seen

The Hundred Foot Journey

* Based on number of people who rated the film 3.5/5 and higher

Posted at 11:08 AM in American films, Independent films | Permalink | Comments (0)

10/12/2014

#LFF Review: The best constipation comedy you'll see - The Mule

Synopsis: A first time drug mule is caught returning home to Australia from Bangkok where the police decide to sit and wait for the evidence to appear.

Stan's thoughts: This is black comedy, Australian style and it is brilliantly dark and funny. And it is the dark side which pushes this to a cut above. In the hands of the American's it would most likely have been a puerile gross out comedy and not nearly as a good as a result.

In the Q&A, director/writer/star Angus Sampson said he wanted to play with the idea that men generally think they are the most intelligent person in the room. In doing so he tricks the audience into believing they have quickly sussed out each character. And of course his female characters out trick them all. Sampson delivers an unlikely hero.

It isn't pleasant, the violence can sometimes be quite shocking and it definitely isn't a film you want to watch while eating. The humour is delicately balanced in between, it never seems out of place perhaps reflecting the ridiculousness of the scenario - it is based on real events. And lets face it who doesn't laugh at a fart joke.

There is no general release date yet but seek it out if you do appreciate a well done black comedy, I suspect this will be a hidden gem. In fact I'm still chuckling at certain scenes.

Ratings

Stan’s 80%
IMDB 71%
Metascore 58%
Rotten Tomatoes No score yet
RT Audience Rating* No score yet

Recently seen

The Hundred Foot Journey

* Based on number of people who rated the film 3.5/5 and higher

Posted at 08:59 PM in Australian films, Comedy | Permalink | Comments (0)

#LFF Review: Jack O'Connell runs for his life in the tense thriller '71

Synopsis: A soldier on his first tour (Jack O'Connell) in Northern Ireland gets accidentally left behind when a riot breaks out in dangerous part of Belfast.

Stan's thoughts: Been eager to see this since I saw Jack O'Connell play a violent young offender in Starred up earlier this year. The trailer for '71 held a lot of promise and the film didn't let me down, in fact it was even better.

This is more than just the cat and mouse game of Gary, the lost soldier, trying to get back to safety, never knowing if the people he meets are going to be friends or want to kill him. It is also about what he observes and experiences for good and bad on both sides of the conflict along the way.

The troubles remain a sensitive topic but in having Gary as a passive observer no sides are drawn. He makes no judgement, any action is survival extinct and last resort. In fact his fear is mirrored by many he meets on his journey.

What you get is a film in which there is layer after layer of gritty, grimy tension. O'Connell doesn't have much by way of words to communicate but the stress, fear and anxiety of his situation is palpable. He reminded me a little of Leonardo diCaprio's performance in Scorcese's The Departed, a film of such high tension and nerves it leaves you feeling a bit jittery afterwards. And '71 is the same but it does it in 98 minutes rather than two and a half hours.

This isn't a relaxing watch, it is one of those films that haunts you long after you've left the cinema and for that I loved it.

Ratings

Stan’s 88%
IMDB 78%
Metascore 81%
Rotten Tomatoes 97%
RT Audience Rating* 92%

Recently seen

Maze Runner

Gone Girl

Before I Go To Sleep

The Hundred Foot Journey

* Based on number of people who rated the film 3.5/5 and higher

Posted at 08:28 PM in British films, Thriller | Permalink | Comments (0)

Review: The mysterious and tense Maze Runner

Synopsis: Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) wakes up in a lift that has emerged in an encampment of boys bordered by high walls, The Maze. He only remembers his name as do all the other boys. Then one day a girl appears in the lift.

Stan's thoughts: I'm a huge fan of young adult fiction and films, even though I'm old enough to be the target audience's mother, so I had heard about this film a few months ago, there was a bit of a buzz about it and the book its based on. Decided not to read the book (it's part of a series) and go into the film without expectations.

It is part Hunger Games with a hint of Lord of the Flies. The difference with the former is the not knowing why the boys have been put in the Maze. Without their memories there are no reference points. It certainly adds a delicious intrigue.

Maze Runner is also refreshingly shy of romance, there is no love story. Now I love a bit of soppy teen love but without it there are no distractions from the mystery and horror that is unfolding. This being the first of a trilogy (the second film is due out next year) you don't get all the answers by the end in fact you get a hold load more questions which is also satisfyingly frustrating.

It is also a great action movie with good characters at its heart, characters that you care about. Great to see Will Poulter, Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Kaya Scoldelario flying the Brit actors flag. There is a sense of jeopardy that adds to the tension. It's nicely imagined, exciting and I really enjoyed it. Can you tell?

Ratings

Stan’s 80%
IMDB 75%
Metascore 56%
Rotten Tomatoes 63%
RT Audience Rating* 76%

Recently seen

Gone Girl

Before I Go To Sleep

The Hundred Foot Journey

* Based on number of people who rated the film 3.5/5 and higher

Posted at 10:14 AM in Action/Adventure, American films, Fantasy | Permalink | Comments (0)

10/10/2014

Review: Why I wasn't quite gushing about Gone Girl

Synopsis: A man's wife disappears in suspicious circumstances and he becomes the prime suspect.

Stan's thoughts: I really enjoyed Gone Girl up to a point but I can't quite gush about it like a lot of people (I have found one other so far who shares my opinion). In order to explain why I can't gush I am going to have to give plot spoilers so don't read on if you don't want to know.

I haven't read the book is probably the first thing I should say so I went into the film without any inkling where it was going and was initially gripped by the story. Then there was a loose thread in an otherwise tightly woven plot but once I'd started to pull at it, it made an unsatisfactory hole.

The point was when Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) was in hospital and being questioned by the FBI. Suddenly the fact that the crime scene at her home had been proven to be staged was quickly forgotten. Neither did the FBI question how she could slash her attackers throat while tied up.

It then got me thinking about the initial investigation and questioning: why weren't her previous boyfriends investigated - firstly when they were looking for potential kidnappers and then if they had they might have noticed a bit of a pattern?

When the police were suspicious about Nick her husband (Ben Affleck) not knowing much about Amy why weren't the equally suspicious about her and what she might be up to - a bored housewife? If she wrote her diary over a much shorter period of time, surely there are forensic tests that would have shown that? OK that last one might be a bit extreme but surely they'd want to explore every avenue.

Then they did something really silly, something that was ridiculous even for Hollywood: Amy left hospital still covered in blood and in her hospital gown. I'm sorry, she just wouldn't be allowed to leave hospital in that state, her friends and family wouldn't let her leave hospital in that state.

If a story is gripping enough you might not notice the plot holes and flaws, if a story is gripping enough, sometimes it doesn't matter if you spot them but in this instance I couldn't detach myself from them once I had. So no I can't gush about Gone Girl. It started with so much promise and felt skillful but its final act just falls over and the more I think about it the more irritated I get by it.

Ratings

Stan’s 59%
IMDB 86%
Metascore 79%
Rotten Tomatoes 87%
RT Audience Rating* 91%

Recently seen

Before I Go To Sleep

The Hundred Foot Journey

* Based on number of people who rated the film 3.5/5 and higher

Posted at 09:03 PM in American films, Thriller | Permalink | Comments (0)

10/05/2014

Quick review: Before I Go To Sleep

Synopsis: Christine (Nicole Kidman) wakes every day having forgotten everything that's happened since she was in her 20s as the result of a head trauma but one day something happens that leads her to question the motives of all those around her.

Stan's thoughts: This seems to have had very mixed reviews but I really enjoyed it. I haven't read the book so I knew little about the story which may have helped.

It's a great psychological thriller which makes you question everyone and much of it is down to superb performances by the three leads. Colin Firth plays Christine's loving and patient husband and Mark Strong plays her gently sinister psychologist. Great also to see Anne-Marie Duff on the big screen as Christine's old friend.

The story isn't laboured and is therefore a tight and tense 90 minutes and it certainly had me on the edge of my seat. If your nerves can stand it, it would be a great double bill with A Most Wanted Man.

Ratings

Stan’s 70%
IMDB 65%
Metascore 41%
Rotten Tomatoes 58%
RT Audience Rating* 55%

Recently seen

The Hundred Foot Journey

* Based on number of people who rated the film 3.5/5 and higher

Posted at 09:48 AM in British films, Thriller | Permalink | Comments (0)

Quick review: Helen Mirren is stern and French in The Hundred-Foot Journey

Synopsis: An Indian family set up a restaurant in France opposite the Michelin starred eatery owned by the formidable Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren) which causes friction.

Stan's thoughts: Bit behind with reviews (again) so some even quicker thoughts than usual... This is a lovely gentle Sunday night type of film. Don't watch it if you are hungry because it is laden with food porn.

It's basically a story about people from very different backgrounds but equally passionate and skilled in cooking who clash but in the end learn something from each other. I don't think that's a plot spoiler particularly because you can see it coming with a blindfold on and it's the journey, as the title suggests, rather than the destination which gives its warmth and humour. There is also a nice romantic sub plot.

Drags its feet a little bit but a film that leaves you with a warm fuzzy glow, a smile on your face and a raging appetite.

Ratings

Stan’s 60%
IMDB 75%
Metascore 55%
Rotten Tomatoes 68%
RT Audience Rating* 74%

Recently seen

* Based on number of people who rated the film 3.5/5 and higher

Posted at 09:35 AM in Drama, Rom-coms | Permalink | Comments (0)

Review: Dracula Untold (we'll it isn't now, is it?)

Synopsis: Mixing the history of Vlad the Impaler with the myth of Dracula, Vlad is forced to seek help from a dangerous and deadly beast that lives in the mountain to protect his people.

Stan's thoughts: You know ideas are running out when words like 'untold' start making it into titles and surely the current love of all things vampire will run out soon too? This is muscular and gothic in tone, think the Gary Oldman Dracula film crossed with something like 300.

Vlad (Luke Evans) is toned, we get to see how toned he is (shame that) and is a conflicted hero. He was a successful soldier with a lethal reputation in his youth but is now trying to live in peace. Of course his wife is beautiful (Sarah Gadon) and supports him emotionally - lots of floaty dresses that fall off one shoulder and breathy pouting at the camera, you know the sort of thing.

Dominic Cooper phones in his performance as the big bad Turk demanding a tribute of a 1,000 boys from Vlad (is this the only role he likes to play these days?). And Charles Dance is the oddly creepy Dracula, a little bit Guillermo del Toro Pan's Labyrinth in style initially but then he just reminded me of a very old Tywin Lannister.

This all sounds a bit dismissive. The truth is Dracula Untold is alright, mildly entertaining it ain't anything new really. Everything is just a little too cliched to get anything other than a mild investment in the characters or sense of jeopardy. It's Dracula with lots of CGi and big, big battles which might really appeal to some.

Ratings