HER - FILM REVIEW

 Release Date: 14th February 2014 (UK)

Age Certificate: 15

Running Time: 126 mins

Director: Spike Jonze

Writer: Spike Jonze

Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams and Scarlett Johansson

'Her' is one of the greatest futuristic films ever. Partly because it’s so scarily close in the future that it’s funny. Especially when you look at the story. 

A lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with his newly purchased operating system that's designed to meet his every need. 

What this film really surprised me with was the level of involvement you get when watching it. From reading the synopsis you think to yourself, am I really going to believe this? It’s really weird when sitting down to watch it. You know it’s going to be good. It’s Spike Jonze! You’re just wondering how he's going to pull it off. But he does, with amazing success.

Joaquin Phoenix is a truly wonderful actor, I really started to appreciate his acting finesse in The Master, since then when I look back at his older films I can see that talent there. In his ever growing career his talent is only getting stronger. Scarlett Johansson is strangely brilliant. How can you create an amazing performance while using just your voice? However, I still think they should have used an unknown actress to voice it. The reason being, I had her face in my mind, and that isn’t the aim of the film. If it was a voice you hadn’t heard before, it would keep the mystery alive. Maybe that’s just me. 

Directing wise, this is one of Spike Jonze’s best, if not the best. He is a gifted film maker and if he carries on making films that are written as well as directed by him, it would be the start of something fantastic. 

The soundtrack by Arcade Fire is also top notch; you can’t go wrong with a bit of Arcade Fire. 

‘Her’ is astounding, visually, musically, and emotionally. By the way this film is shot and styled it makes me want to jump into the future. 

8.5/10

AMERICAN HUSTLE - FILM REVIEW

Release Date: 1st January 2014 (UK)

Age Certificate: 15

Running Time: 138 mins

Director: David O. Russell

Writers: Warren Singer and David O. Russell

Stars: Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Bradley Cooper

At first glance I thought American Hustle was an over glamorous comedy, oh, how wrong I was.

The first scene of American Hustle made me chuckle, it’s always a nice surprise to be greeted by such a strong opening image. 

The direction and acting come together in a wonderful storm. David O. Russell has had two great films in the last three years; Silver Linings Playbook is not included. American Hustle has taken the film headlines, as it being nominated for ten Oscars. This film keeps you engaged from start to finish and you don’t find your mind wondering what you’re having for dinner. 

 Christian Bale steals the spotlight for two reasons. The first being his terrific acting, and the second being another dramatic weight gain. I don’t think anybody knows how he does it. He defiantly deserves to be nominated for best actor; again.

The direction is fairly fresh, which is pleasant to see. However, it’s not anything we’ve not seen before. Yes, this is a very typical Oscar film, but it’s not anything to turn your nose up over. 

Like I said, it’s engaging to watch and indeed should be watched. Oh, there's also the wardrobe.

8.0/10

THE WOLF OF WALL STREET - FILM REVIEW

Release Date: 17th January 2014 (UK)
Age Certificate: 18
Running Time: 180 mins
Director: Martin Scorsese
Writers: Terence Winter and Jordan Belfort
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill and Margot Robbie

Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government.

Let’s start off with the negatives for a change. First, the character Jordan Belfort is totally unlikeable and a huge dick. I know this is the point of the film, you’re not supposed to know what happens to the unfortunate souls that buy nothing from him, and see his uncontrollable success. But the fact remains it doesn’t usually make a good film if you fail to back the main protagonist. The second failure of The Wolf is the over indulgent party scenes, there are too many to be frank. I am struggling to comprehend what Scorsese was pondering what to take out when ordered to do so. To give the benefit of the doubt, the party scenes do produce enough laughs to pull you through the film. However, the main point remains, you don’t care whether this guy dies, lives, is arrested or lives happily ever after.

The strengths are obvious; it looks marvelous, as it would, coming from Scorsese.  It’s also fast paced which is always nice in a film. The three hour time limit has been criticised, which I partly agree with, however, it doesn’t necessarily feel three hours. Finally, the acting is top notch. Saying that, I still think Leonardo DiCaprio still won’t win the Oscar, which is indeed disappointing, but one day he will achieve. He’s too much of a great talent to be forgotten in the Oscar timeline. Jonah Hill, for me, will always be remembered as the loser from Superbad, and that’s a shame. 

Good for some laughs and a spectacle for great acting. The Wolf of Wall Street is an adult film for teenagers.

7/10

GRAVITY - FILM REVIEW

Release Date: 7th November 2013

Age Certificate: 12A

Running Time: 91 mins

Director: Alfonso Cuaron

Writer: Alfonso Cuaron and Jonas Cuaron

Stars: Sandra Bullock and George Clooney

Gravity, a film about the lack of gravity.

It sees Sandra Bullock and George Clooney fixing a satellite in the atmosphere of space, only to find that debris is hurdling their way, they then have to use instincts to survive. 

 

The first, and most obvious feature of Gravity is the use of special effects, they are sublime. The opening shot is an overview of Earth and all you can hear are faint radio stations. I was excited before the film began, but when this shot filled up the screen it was unbelievable. As well as the film being silent, the cinema was silent, this is unprecedented, usually you have a woman with a nose bag strapped on filled with popcorn and hot dogs sitting next to you. Anyway, the rest of the film is filled with hundreds of effects to keep the whole world talking. 

I always like a film that has little dialogue and one major dilemma. However, the main problem with Gravity is its ending. I’m not going to spoil it, but it was just too ridiculous, this is to be said for a few features in the film, but especially the end. 

There’s not much to be said for the acting, other than it was great, it was good to get a back story to Bullock’s character, and she managed to pull the heart strings well. Sometimes the back stories are forced on to the audience and half the time it feels like the character doesn’t believe in it either. In Gravity this was not the case. 

Gravity needs to be seen in cinema, do not wait for this to come out on DVD, watch on the biggest screen possible. 

8.5/10

BLUE JASMINE - FILM REVIEW

Release Date: 21^st September 2013

Age Certificate: 12A

Running Time: 98 mins

Director: Woody Allen

Writer: Woody Allen

Stars: Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Peter Sarsgaard

The annual event of a Woody Allen film is here again; this instalment into his growing collection of 45+ films is called Blue Jasmine. First, let me start off by saying, I went to the cinema to watch this. I was the youngest there by about 60 years. It seemed to be the old peoples’ weekend evening out; you thought they would like to enjoy themselves, but no, all they do is moan and gossip! Every time a trailer comes on there was a collective moan, if it’s not Casablanca or Woody Allen they have the mindset that they won’t like it. However, apart from this I managed to enjoy the film.

A New York socialite, deeply troubled and in denial, arrives is San Francisco to impose upon her sister. She looks a million, but isn’t bringing money, peace or love...

I love Woody Allen; I’ve seen around about half of his film, yes I know, I’m slacking. However, in his most recent films, Blue Jasmine has to be up there with Midnight in Paris and Match Point. The directing is superb as usual; there are no special mamby pamby effects, and no explosions. On the other hand, there is one piece of special effect (a plane flying) and perhaps he should best stick to dialogue. What I love about Allen is that it’s all about the story. 

The acting in Blue Jasmine also obviously contributes to the transfixing feel of the film. Cate Blanchett steals the show, you will have to watch the film to understand fully, but you feel every step she goes through. Alec Baldwin also plays his role well. Allen is going through a stage of Mr. Baldwin at the moment and it seems to be holding up. Sally Hawkins also takes her character and runs away with it.

This is another one of those films where you don’t worry how many minutes you’ve got left or make a drink half way through, you will be compelled every step of the way. And what did the two old codgers sitting behind me think? ‘I think all Woody Allen films are pathetic.’

9.0/10