Rev Stan's film blog

Review: Trying to make hacking exciting in Blackhat

Synopsis: Jailed hacker Nick Hathaway (Chris Hemsworth) is temporarily released to help stop a cyber attack.

Stan's thoughts: Blackhat is the epitome of how difficult it is to make an exciting film about hackers. Firstly they spend all their time on computers writing and looking at code which isn't very filmic or dramatic. Secondly, it's quite technical so mere non-coding mortals like myself don't fully understand what it is the baddies are doing or what the goodies are doing to try and stop them.

In order to get around these problems Chris Hemsworth is not only a hacker but has been made into an action hero. He doesn't merely sit in front of a lap top tapping away, oh no, he goes out with the police chasing baddies and wielding a gun. In fact he seems to be quite good at wielding a gun and fighting and doesn't in anyway seem phased by getting involved in big shoot outs. Computer science classes can't be for the faint-hearted.

Sounds bad doesn't it? It is. In fact the first three quarters of the film is dull - the computer bits you don't understand and the action hero bits are so improbable they aren't even funny.

When the filmmakers seem to abandon all attempt at geekery and it is all about action in the last half hour, it's actually quite good fun.

Ratings

• Stan’s 42%
• IMDB 56%
• Metascore 51%
• Rotten Tomatoes 33%
• RT Audience Rating* 27%

* 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

Catch up review: Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

Synopsis: After being rescued from the Games at the end of Catching Fire, Katniss finds herself struggling with acute post traumatic stress and is manipulated into becoming the figurehead of the rebellion.

Stan's thoughts: My admiration for the adaptations of what are among my all time favourite novels continues. The film makers haven't attempted to gloss over the horror - physical and psychological of what the key characters experience. This first part of the final book is all about media, propaganda and manipulation with a complex character and relationship story thread weaved through it.

Jennifer Lawrence brilliantly portrays the traumatised Katniss who is not only struggling with PTS but a whole raft of mixed up feelings about Gale and the captured Peta. It sounds like teen schmultz but this is something far more intelligent and psychologically probing.

Josh Hutcherson doesn't get much screen time as Peta in this one being in the Capitol but through Katniss he is ever present and we do get to see much more of the ever so handsome Liam Hemsworth as Gale. Bonus.

Was slightly worried at the end of Catching Fire that Finnick (Sam Claflin) was going to be a more stable and together character than the book portrays but that seems to have been set right although I think his character's story has been a little sacrificed in order to keep the running time down. New cast members Julianne Moore as President Coin and Natalie Dormer as Cressida slot in perfectly though.

Have seen this three times now (yep) and it is some sort of Capitol torture having to wait for the final part in November.

Ratings

• Stan’s 90%
• IMDB 72%
• Metascore 64%
• Rotten Tomatoes 65%
• RT Audience Rating* 75%

* Number of people rating 3.5/5 or higher

Review: Stan's screen star of 2014 gets tortured in Unbroken

Synopsis: Biopic about Louis Zamperini (Jack O'Connell) an olympic runner and American Airforce bombardier in the second world war who survived days at sea in a life raft only to be picked up by the Japanese army and interned in a prisoner of war camp where he was brutally picked on by one prison guard.

Stan's thoughts: When you list all the things Louis went through and there is a shark attack in there it seems almost unreal and perhaps that is part of the problem, the film sometimes feels relentless like you are sitting ticking off the key moments shown in the trailer.

After a particularly clunky first act it does find its feet once Louis begins to form bonds with his fellow survivors. Jack O'Connell who plays Louis is my screen star of 2014 (Starred Up, '71) and an actor I can't wait to see what he does next. He makes this film for me. He has an amazing screen presence and has so much going on behind his eyes you could ditch his scant script entirely and he'd still tell the story brilliantly.

But despite his star turn the film ends up feeling like it is in awe of Louis leaving little room for the audience to feel that for themselves.

Ratings

• Stan’s 55%
• IMDB 72%
• Metascore 59%
• Rotten Tomatoes 51%
• RT Audience Rating* 77%

Review: The IMAX movie - Interstellar

Synopsis: Earth is dying and an ex-astronaut is brought in to fly a mission through a wormhole to find a new planet for the human race.

Stan's thoughts: This is film definitely worthy of a trip to an IMAX screen. The volume when the space craft takes off is such that it vibrates the whole cinema. I felt like I was on the spaceship with Matthew McConaughey and his crew.

There is a lot of science in this - worm holes, black holes, time and relativity and some have said you need a degree in physics to understand it. I don't have a degree in physics but understood enough to get the gist. Besides, this is a human story, the technicalities of space travel are background context and it is that which helps make this a great movie.

It is too long with the first and last act dragging their heels a bit but the central third is cracking. Christopher Nolan's skill is in drawing out the real emotion of the situation, despite how absurd but also in creating drama and tension from fairly ordinary situations. There is a scene where two bits of space rocket are trying to connect and I was on the edge of my seat.

A great ensemble of actors work brilliantly with sometimes clunky script but this remains an aural, visual and emotional feast and certain scenes and tones haunted me afterwards.

Ratings

• Stan’s 70%
• IMDB 90%
• Metascore 74%
• Rotten Tomatoes 73%
• RT Audience Rating* 87%

Recently seen

Nightcrawler

Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby

The Mule

'71

Maze Runner

Gone Girl

Before I Go To Sleep

The Hundred Foot Journey

Dracula Untold

A Most Wanted Man

Pride

The Riot Club

Night Moves

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

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

Dracula Untold

A Most Wanted Man

Pride

The Riot Club

Night Moves

Obvious Child

Two Days One Night

Welcome to New York

What If

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

Review: Scarlett Johansson puts a smile on the face in Lucy

Synopsis: Lucy is forced into acting as a drugs mule for a violent Taiwanese drugs baron but when the bag bursts in her stomach the drug has an unusual effect, increasing her brain capacity far beyond what normal humans use.

Stan's thoughts: Lucy is a wonderfully bonkers mix of sci-fi, violent gangster thriller and girl power. It is short and imperfectly formed - ironically, given the context, some of the science is best not thought about too much - but it somehow works.

Scarlett Johansson has really turned around my opinion of her as an actress since Under The Skin and it's great to see her in a film like this where she gets to explore two very different characters: the Lucy before and after the drugs.

The way Lucy's increasing brain capacity manifests itself and is depicted is imaginatively done with echo's of The Matrix.

I walked out of the empty cinema - love being the only person in the screen - with a big smile on my face.

Ratings

• Stan’s 78%
• IMDB 66%
• Metascore 61%
• Rotten Tomatoes 65%
• RT Audience Rating* 48%

Recently seen

The Rover

Guardians of the Gallaxy

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Begin Again

Boyhood

Jersey Boys

Bright Days Ahead

Fault of Our Stars

The Young and Prodigeous TS Spivet

Belle

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

 

Review: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes - is me or is it the film that made this feel 'meh'?

Synopsis: Disaster has struck the earth in the form of a virus. Human survivors have set up a colony in San Francisco but are running out of power and the apes have set up their own colony outside the city near the old power station.

Stan's thoughts: This film seems to have everyone excited, critics and audiences alike, but it just doesn't really do it for me. Maybe it's a case of 'its not you, it's me', but I just can't connect with the apes, however brilliantly they are rendered. I can't suspend my disbelief - they are talking apes.

Also there aren't enough shades of grey in the characters. OK so there are goodies and baddies within both camps but it is far too black and white. It is so obvious who falls into which category its like a klaxon going off within their first few lines of dialogue. It feels like it is film that wants to challenge but doesn't.

It's all very well executed and nicely paced etc but it just didn't grab me and excite me in the same way it seems to have excited a lot of others. Maybe it is just me.

Ratings

• Stan’s 50%
• IMDB 91%
• Metascore 92%
• Rotten Tomatoes 83%
• RT Audience Rating* 79%

Recently seen

Begin Again

Boyhood

Jersey Boys

Bright Days Ahead

Fault of Our Stars

The Young and Prodigeous TS Spivet

Belle

Edge of Tomorrow

Two Face of January

Maleficent

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

Review: Killing Tom Cruise over and over - Edge of Tomorrow

Synopsis: Cage(Tom Cruise) is caught in a time loop in a battle to defeat an alien invasion and only Rita (Emily Blunt) can help him use the anomaly to try and save the world.

Stan's thoughts: Was always going to see this as I happened to be in town the day they were filming the helicopter landing in Trafalgar Square sequence. Most of the side streets were cordoned off but had enough of a view to see a bit of what was going on, if not Mr Cruise himself.

And, 'I was there' aside this is an interesting action block buster. It's great to see a female character kicking ass and leading things. Who wouldn't enjoy watching Tom Cruise get shot in the head over and over by a woman? Of course Hollywood couldn't resist 'a kiss' which did have me rolling my eyes but I'll forgive it as they could have made a much bigger meal of a romantic liaison.

What particularly made this a satisfying action thriller is that you actually get a sense of what is going on amid all the chaos of battle (probably helped by the time loop). I normally quickly lose sight of who is attacking who and feel disengaged from the 'heros', while the battles are chaotic in this, you do get a sense of how it feels being down on the ground and that isn't something often achieved in films (Children of Men is a good example of it being done well).

It is an interesting premise too, think of it as Groundhog Day - the alien invasion, and all sorts of interesting acting talent pops up, part of the fun is thinking 'ooh there's...'

The film-makers should also get a pat on the back for not over indulging and keeping it under two hours long; too many films are more than two hours and most rarely need to be.

Good, frothy, well-made fun.

Ratings

• Stan’s 78%
• IMDB 82%
• Metascore 71%
• Rotten Tomatoes 90%
• RT Audience Rating* 92%

Recently seen

Two Face of January

Maleficent

X-Men: Days of Future Past

Frank

Blue Ruin

Godzilla

Ilo Ilo

Calvary

Pompeii

The Other Woman

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

Review: Godzilla (I went to see it so you don't have to bother)

Synopsis: Scientists unearth a huge pod deep below the ground that seems to have something alive in it. When it hatches it becomes a battle of man against monster.

Stan's thoughts: I'm not normally that moved by big, bang, crash sequences I prefer the character-led story lines in action movies but it is telling that in Godzilla the huge final battle was the only thing I sort of enjoyed.

Godzilla was just dull. I nearly walked out half way through having asked myself  'do I actually care about any of these characters or what happens to them?' The other bad sign was when the usual Hollywood devices and in consistences all start leaping off the screen and annoying me: Stand and stare at the cloud of nuclear fallout that is heading towards you for an inordinately long time; star monster, half way through the battle, suddenly remembering he can projectile vomit some sort of blue flame - that sort of thing. And then there was the script which just had me rolling my eyes at times.

It has a great cast in the likes of Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen and the fab Sally Hawkins but even they couldn't lift this to a state where I could suspend my disbelief and sit back and enjoy.

However it seems to be scoring well with critics and audiences so what do I know?

Ratings

• Stan’s 30%
• IMDB 74%
• Metascore 62%
• Rotten Tomatoes 73%
• RT Audience Rating* 74%

Recently seen

Ilo Ilo

Calvary

Pompeii

The Other Woman

The Amazing Spiderman

Locke

The Double

Divergent

Yves Saint Laurent

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