THE BLING RING FILM REVIEW

Release Date: 5th July 2013

Age Certificate: 15

Running Time: 90 mins

Director: Sophia Coppola

Writer: Sophia Coppola

Stars: Katie Chang, Emma Watson and Israel Broussard

Sophia Coppola brings us The Bling Ring, at first look a good premise. But once you start watching it’s lacking in almost everything apart from that. 

Inspired by actual events, a group of fame-obsessed teenagers use the internet to track celebrities’ whereabouts in order to rob their homes. 

Like I say, an interesting story you would think. However, when you are greeted by this new chick flick. Yes, that’s what it is, a chick flick. I wanted it to be so much more than that! Any way you are greeted by a comic sans text, which is not a good choice if you ask me. Loud, terrible music is heard throughout the whole of this film. Thirdly and lastly, you don’t care whether the teens committing these crimes are jailed, get away with it or killed. It’s one of those types of films. 

Perhaps I’m being too harsh, Coppola does have some obvious talents but she needs to steer them in the right direction. Maybe in a few years she’ll make something wonderful again, like Lost in Translation. 

Anyway, a fairly shot review is needed here.

The characters are dead behind the eyes

-         Terrible music

-         Comic sans

-         Disconnection from the film

6   6/10  

THE ACT OF KILLING (DIRECTOR'S CUT) - FILM REVIEW

Release Date: 28^th June 2013

Age Certificate: 18

Running Time: 159 mins

Director: Joshua Oppenheimer

Writers: ----------------

Stars: Haji Anif, Syamsul Arifin, Sakhyan Asmara

Last night I went to watch The Act of Killing (Director’s Cut) at the ICA Cinema. I sat down in the room that only sat 45 people and let the weird, disturbing documentary unfold. This film isn’t for everyone and I don’t think it was for me unfortunately. 

A documentary that challenges former Indonesian death squad leaders to re-enact their real-life mass-killings in whichever cinematic genres they wish, including classic Hollywood crime scenarios and lavish musical numbers. 

The Act of Killing surprisingly revolves around killing and the consequences of killing. There’s not really anything else I can say about this film, it’s just troubling. There is something about it where you don’t know whether you should burst out laughing or be worried about how weird these killers are. 

The big downside to this film is that you don’t care whether these ‘gangsters’ are psychopathic or actually feel sorry for what they have done. Either way you look at it they have killed about 1000 people each. EACH! It’s just sick. And to add to it they are making a film about murdering. They can’t let go, their life is killing. 

Like I said I saw the director’s cut and things needed to be cut out and I’m glad they were for the theatrical release, there were shots in there that had no meaning and seemed to drag on for way too long. Another thing which is annoying me is the reviews this film is getting, look, don’t get me wrong I don’t mind sitting down watching a nearly three hour very slow foreign film, it’s just it didn’t make me feel anything like a documentary should. 

7.3/10

SAVAGES FILM REVIEW

 Release Date: 21st September 2012

Age Certificate: 15

Running Time: 130 mins

Directors: Oliver Stone

Writers: Shane Salerno Don Winslow and Oliver Stone.
Stars: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Taylor Kitsch and Blake Lively

Another Sky Movies film, and this time I’m reviewing ‘Savages’, Oliver Stone’s 2012 film. You always enjoy the anticipation to sit down and watch an Oliver Stone film because his forte is making controversial films. ‘Savages’ brings us drugs, guns, explosions, sex and some more violence. A nice family film. 

Weed growers Ben and Chon face off against the Mexican drug cartel who kidnap their shared girlfriend.

The film brings some good acting to the table, especially by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, his character is the one that the audience is supposed to care for. This is because he doesn’t kill anyone and has a conscience; he is more of the brains behind this drug interface. 

Chon, played by Taylor Kitsch, is the muscle behind the operation. Their relationship is obviously tight as they both share the same girl. And that girl is Blake Lively, she played her role well in The Town, and she played this one okay to. However, in The Town she did play a ‘women who gets around’ and in ‘Savages’ she lets two guys share her. So yes, she probably has been type casted. 

Benicio Del Toro also does a very good job of being the ‘bad guy’, very creepy and very unpredictable which is what you need to make a good villain. Also...John Travolta is in this film! And he actually isn’t that bad. That’s as much as I can say about him though. 

The story is intriguing I’ll give it that but I’m just saying if you were a leader of a drug operation you would keep your daughter in your sight all of the time and protected. But that isn’t the thing that ruins this film, the ending does. They play out about ten minutes of the scene and then rewind, it’s like they said, ‘you know what I didn’t like that, let’s shoot it again’. It was stupid. 

Oliver Stone has added another controversial film to his list. It went down a treat in some parts, kept you wanting to watch until the end. However, when the end did come I felt like crawling up into a ball and crying.    

7.0/10

The Fear of the Spotlight - My Short Film

This is my short film. It's a psychological short made during mid July of 2013 by Dylan Hayes. I hope you enjoy and would love any feed back, it would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES FILM REVIEW

Release Date: 19th April 2013

Age Certificate: 15

Running Time: 140 mins

Director: Derek Cianfrance

Writers: Derek Cianfrance and Ben Coccio

Stars: Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper and Eva Mendes

The Place Beyond the Pines is a film of two halves, in the first it’s action packed, in the second more slow placed. 

In the first half it consists of Ryan Gosling, a man who has to provide for his lover and young child. To do so he turns to robbing banks. This puts him on a collision course with an ambitious rookie cop, played by Bradley Cooper, navigating a department ruled by a corrupt detective.

I believe that the first half of this film will intrigue the larger percentage of the audience. Partly, because of the bank heists, the way the shots are taken are done very well. The second half grinds to a halt; it takes a look at the rookie cop, Bradley Cooper’s characters way of life and how he deals with a moment that has changed his life which occurs about half way through the film. 

The way this film changes pace is fantastic, it isn’t for some people’s taste, I take that on board but it was defiantly mine. The direction of The Place Beyond the Pines is also very stylist, the motorbike rides are shot superbly, the high scenic shots of them are quite mesmerising. It gives you a sense of calm in a hectic story. 

Yes, the main reason why this film will sell tickets is because of Ryan and Bradley in the film. The director, Derek Cianfrance has collaborated with Ryan before in Blue Valentine, I haven’t seen it, but I hear it’s pretty good however fairly depressing. The Place Beyond the Pines also is not very cheery, it gets quite dark at the end and I didn’t think it was going to go as far as it did.

The Place Beyond the Pines brings excitement and a sophisticated second half, a good mix if you ask me.

It’s definitely worth a watch.

8.0/10

ONLY GOD FORGIVES FILM REVIEW

Release Date: 2nd August 2013 (UK)

Age Certificate: 18

Running Time: 88 mins

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn

Writers: Nicolas Winding Refn

Stars: Ryan Gosling, Kristin Scott Thomas and Vithaya Pansringram

There are only few films where it splits the film community in half. This year that film is Only God Forgives. Some say it’s a masterpiece where as others say it is the worst film they have ever seen. I couldn’t wait to have a look and make my own decision. 

Julian, played by Ryan Gosling, is a drug-smuggler thriving in Bangkok's criminal underworld. However, he sees his life get even more complicated when his mother, Crystal, played by Kristen Scott Thomas, compels him to find and kill whoever is responsible for his brother, Billy’s recent death. 

I’m going to say it; I loved Drive! I know almost everyone says that but it was just one of those films that bought a feeling you hadn’t felt before. The romance, the tension and the direction all bought something to the table. I sat down to watch Only God Forgives wanting to leave with that same feeling.  But when I had completed the film I didn’t know what feeling I had, perhaps it was one of confusion. I wasn’t confused about the concept of the film but it was the confusion of did I like it or not. 

Right from the bat this film looks amazing, I knew it would, the cinematographer is Larry Smith; I actually think he’s a genius. Only a few flicks in the history of film look as good as this. It’s that beautiful! Directing is also outstanding apart from his twisted visions. The soundtrack is mesmerising, just like Drive, Cliff Martinez collaborates with Winding Refn again.

The downside of Only God Forgives is that it is gratuitously violent; I mean there is an eye ball stabbing in this film! You don’t need that, it doesn’t bring anything to it. Some other scenes are a bit too graphic but as Nicolas Winding Refn said violence is his fetish. I mean his favourite film is The Texas Chainsaw Massacre ever since he was 14 for God’s sake! 

The audience feels nothing for any of the characters; they are all heartless, cold and all murderers, apart from Crystal, Julian’s mother. She’s just a bitch.  Julian is a troubled child; it is possible there was forced incest between him and his mother. It’s not the typical motherly love. There is also another hidden truth that he has; all I’m going to say is that hands have a big role to play in the film. He urns for forgiveness.

Only God Forgives has hidden meanings and metaphors, mostly and probably all to do with God. I’m not going to say which character is supposed to represent God, but I’m sure you can work it out. It’s the man that is basically invincible and draws a sword from seemingly nowhere. 

I would be able to dive into this film describing meanings scene by scene but I don’t want to spoil too much. Even if one doesn’t enjoy the concept and story just go to admire the sheer beauty of the film. 

I will have to give Only God Forgives a massive complement; it’s a film that I have not seen the likes before. There should be more films that are more ’out there’ and shouldn’t worry what people expect of you. 

7.5/10 

Score could change (it’s one of those films)