Rev Stan's film blog

Review: BAFTA winner and Oscar foreign film nominee, the beautiful Ida

Synopsis: Ida, an orphan, has been raised in a convent in post second world war Poland but a couple of weeks before taking her orders the mother superior sends her to see an aunt where she discovers who she really is.

Stan's thoughts: Missed this when it was released back in September and I kept hearing such good things that I pounced on a scheduled screening at the Soho Curzon yesterday morning - presumably it's been re-released for awards season.

And I'm so glad I caught it because it is such a beautiful film. It is subtle and quiet, like the central character Ida and every shot is like a beautifully composed photograph, dripping with atmosphere and meaning.

Ida is prepossessing in looks and character, gentle and innocent but certainly not quite as naive as you might think given her upbringing. Agata Trzebuchowska gives one of the subtlest and most intelligent performances I've ever seen. Always perfectly composed she doesn't say much but there is something in her eyes and in a quiet look that communicates volumes. The success in the performance is that by the end you feel like you completely understand her even when the path she takes is unexpected.

It's shortlisted for best foreign film and cinematography Oscars and deservedly so for both. Pawel Pawlikowski writes and directs with such empathy for the subject matter. The politics and history of the period are all there but they never overcrowd Ida's story. It is shot in black and white and the two directors of photography Lukasz Zal and Ryszard Lenczewski capture the stark 1960s Polish landscape and yet still make it beautiful.

I'll be backing Ida at the Oscars.

Ratings

• Stan’s 90%
• IMDB 75%
• Metascore 90%
• Rotten Tomatoes 96%
• RT Audience Rating* 80%

* Number of people rating 3.5/5 or higher

Review: Colin Firth kicks ass in Kingsman

Synopsis: A secret intelligence service based out of a tailors in Savile Row unearths a plot to kill off a large portion of the worlds population and a new recruit is called upon to help.

Stan's thoughts: My friend Kate described this perfectly as James Bond crossed with Kill Bill. It cranks up suave Bond, gadget Bond, car Bond to 11 and then adds in Kill Bill-style fights and ruthless villains. It gently mocks Bond, the characters even referencing the films.

Seeing Colin Firth in an action hero role is a bit of a revelation, albeit an action hero who is always impeccably turned out. And Taron Egerton* does a fab job as Eggsy, the recruit from the wrong side of the tracks trying to make his mark.

There are a couple of kick ass ladies in the mix too - Samuel L Jackson's lisping villain has an Uma Thurman in Bride mode-style side kick (Sofia Boutella) and there is a ballsy and brainy recruit (Roxy played by relative newcomer Sophie Cookson) who keeps Eggsy on his toes.

And just to round it off you have the likes of Mark Strong, Michael Caine and cameos from Jack Davenport and none other than Mark Hamill.

Kingsman was just what I needed after a run of serious Oscar films. It is over the top and silly but it is also cool as a cucumber, fun and entertaining and I left with a big grin on my face.

* Great to see him securing big roles - have seen him on stage a couple of times. He had a small role in Last of the Haussman's with Julie Walters at the National Theatre but certainly made an impression and then more recently in No Quarter at the Royal Court. You can see him next in Brian Helgeland's film Legend about the Kray twins which is due for release in September.

Ratings

• Stan’s 79%
• IMDB 83%
• Metascore 59%
• Rotten Tomatoes 71%
• RT Audience Rating* 89%

* Number of people rating 3.5/5 or higher

Review: Jupiter Ascending (into the heaven of duff films)

Synopsis: Jupiter (Mila Kunis) has a mundane life cleaning houses unaware that she is genetically linked to a powerful family intent on getting their hands on her and her rightful inheritance.

Stan's thoughts: Was really looking forward to this. Needed some good sci-fi/fantasy action fun after all the intense, thought-provoking Oscar films I've been devouring recently. It has the Wachowski's writing and directing and a superb cast of British thesps supporting Kunis and Channing Tatum in the leads. What could go wrong?

Well the script mainly. The film was just a few minutes in when I was wincing with embarrassment for the actors having to deliver such trite nonsense. The amount of what critic Mark Kermode calls 'Basil exposition' should have set alarm bells ringing - if you need that much explanation of the world you've created and plot set up then something is wrong. Another warning bell is that it felt long and it was only 2 hours 8 minutes long.

While I was watching I couldn't help thinking that all the energy and imagination had gone into creating the fantasy world and the special effects. Well I say imagination there are plenty of Cloud Atlas reference points to spot (and I loved that film). It all felt a bit too much. If they'd stuck with the super humans and splicers - humans spliced with animal and presumably alien DNA then it might have worked better.

The pleasure in watching this was spotting the British thesps - Eddie Redmayne giving a scenery chewing performance as one of the baddies, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Tuppence Middleton, Douglas Booth, Vanessa Kirby, Sam Barnett...I just hope they took home a good pay packet.

Jupiter Ascending feels like the Wachowski's have vomited up 10-course banquet of ideas and as a result you can't see the amuse-bouche for the fish course.

Ratings

• Stan’s 35%
• IMDB 60%
• Metascore 40%
• Rotten Tomatoes 22%
• RT Audience Rating* 52%

* Number of people rating 3.5/5 or higher

Review: Dopey drama in Inherent Vice

Synopsis: Joaquin Phoenix plays a dope smoking private investigator asked by his ex-girlfriend to help out her two timing lover who's about to be sectioned by his wife and her boyfriend. I think.

Stan's thoughts: Got really excited by the trailer for this. It looked a little eccentric in style and tone and a little bit silly and, after all the worthy and/or tense Oscar fodder I've consumed in recent weeks, was just what I was looking for. Sadly it didn't live up to expectation.

The best way to describe it like going out with a group of people you don't know very well and staying sober while they all get off their tits. It's gets boring quite quickly. The plot is rambling to say the least and there are a ton of characters, some you never even see, which makes it difficult to follow; in fact I couldn't really tell you what was going on half the time.

There is also an inordinate amount of female nudity which felt gratuitous very quickly.

Inherent Vice has some great little moments and I did laugh out loud a couple of times but not enough to keep the whole thing together. Sorry PT Anderson but I was a bit bored.

Ratings

• Stan’s 40%
• IMDB 72%
• Metascore 81%
• Rotten Tomatoes 72%
• RT Audience Rating* 56%

* Number of people rating 3.5/5 or higher