A Cinephile's Words

The thoughts, feelings and opinions of a massive film fan. Prepare to find an archive full of short film reviews. If you have any questions, suggestions, recommendations or feedback don't hesitate to message me. Thanks and enjoy.

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Page Eight [2011]

Directed by David Hare.

Starring: Bill Nighy, Rachel Weisz, Michael Gambon, Judy Davis, Tom Hughes, Saskia Reeves, Ewen Bremner, Felicity Jones and Ralph Fiennes.

Genre: Thriller

A highly sensitive document ends up in the hands of MI5 agent Johnny Worricker [Nighy]. He quickly finds himself embroiled in political corruption and secrecy. Page Eight stars an enjoyable cast. There's good performances all round from a talented ensemble. Nighy and Gambon are particularly likeable, despite Nighy's character being a bit too gloomy and morbid than we'd like on occasion. It's a shame they don't get to share more screen time together.

Page Eight is a solid film. It throws up no surprises but is well directed and has enough to keep you entertained. It avoids getting to political or bogged down in conversation. The film is accessible and an easy watch. It's a fine piece of British drama. The visuals are very European and are very crisp and clear while it's ensured they stay far from Hollywood melodrama. Overall Page Eight is a good film and the first part of what will hopefully be an entertaining trilogy.

7/10.

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King Arthur [2004]

Directed by Antoine Fuqua.

Starring: Clive Owen, Keira Knightley, Ioan Gruffudd, Mads Mikkelsen, Joel Edgerton, Hugh Dancy, Ray Winstone, Ray Stevenson, Stephen Dillane, Stellan Skarsgard and Til Schweiger.

Genre: Historical

A film that claims to be based on recent, or at least at the time, archaeological discoveries about Arthurian legends but is really just historical mumbo jumbo. Arthur [Owen], now a Roman officer, and his knights are set on one last quest before earning their freedom. Visually the film is quite impressive. In a time when studios overuse special effects King Arthur insures it strays wide from it. Its dark but beautiful and reminiscent of its setting. King Arthur isn't a fantasy so it stays grounded.

King Arthur ignores a lot of which could make it a far deeper film. It purposefully avoids love affairs and features a mismatch of facts and many inaccuracies. Its not to be taken as a serious representation but as a piece of entertainment its not bad. It has its fair share of action and likeable characters. You can't accuse it of being over the top or too Hollywood but its hardly the finest piece of cinema either.

6/10.

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Man of Steel [2013]

Directed by Zack Snyder.

Starring: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Lawrence Fishburne, Russell Crowe, Antje Traue and Ayelet Zurer.

Genre: Superhero

Man of Steel is the latest Superman reboot. Kal-El [Cavill] is sent to Earth where he struggles to live a nomadic lifestyle. He soon has to reveal his true identity when the planet is threatened by General Zod [Shannon]. Man of Steel offers a far broader backstory than we've ever had before and tries to deal with issues naively paved over in previous Superman instalments. But here is a film that doesn't do enough and fails to live up to its promises. The acting is good but suffers thanks to uninteresting characters. General Zod isn't a very good villain and is ultimately the stereotypical angry, crazy military guy, but that is kind of the point.

The special effects are amazing in parts but some of the visuals just look dull, fuzzy and muddy. You can't disgard the effort that must have gone into such elaborate fight scenes though. The film's most impressive scene is General Zod's introduction to Earth. Things never quite reach that highly after it. In the end the film looks like its trying to hard to outdo The Avengers by racking up the destruction. The film is poorly paced and plays off a fair few stereotypes. Man of Steel is looking to bank off of the recent Superhero domination of film but is late to the party.

5/10.

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The Breakfast Club [1985]

Directed by John Hughes.

Starring: Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, Paul Gleeson and John Kapelos.

Genre: Comedy

Five students, all belonging to different high school stereotypes, discover they have more in common than they first thought after they're put in detention on a Saturday. The Breakfast Club is the crown jewel of John Hughes's filmography. A coming-of-age comedy that is finely directed, expertly acted and most importantly relatable with an important message carried. The Breakfast Club balances drama and comedy perfectly. It never gets too serious and certainly doesn't get silly.

While the teenagers are represented fairly their teacher isn't. It perhaps unfair he's presented as being cynical, cruel and unsympathetic but he's arguably only shown as a teacher in the eyes of students. With its tight spaces and familiar visuals The Breakfast Club does a good job at keeping us entertained. A few unnecessary occurrences at the end seem to only be there to comply with an unwritten rule of Hollywood but it doesn't take much away from what is a teen classic.

8/10.

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Kick-Ass 2 [2013]

Directed by Jeff Wadlow.

Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jim Carrey, Clark Duke, Olga Kurkulina, Lindy Booth, John Leguizamo and Morris Chestnut.

Genre: Superhero

Still hurting from his father's death Chris D'Amico [Mintz-Plasse] seeks revenge on Kick-Ass [Taylor-Johnson] who meanwhile is training to become a better hero. Kick-Ass 2 is a film that constantly struggles and doesn't know what its trying to do. It can't seem to leave behind many previous characters while trying to introduce far too many. Some of the new characters we don't get enough of but thankfully some, like Mother Russia [Kurkulina], we do.

The plot is weak and equally a lot of the performances are. The film lacks the charm and charism of the first. The action is often unsatisfying and that includes the film's big finale. Kick-Ass was a bit different and offered something new to the currently bloated Superhero market. Kick-Ass 2 is just another film that fails as a sequel to build upon its predecessor in every department. It offers nearly nothing particularly memorable and feels like a smaller film that the first despite how it tries so hard to grow.

3/10.

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The Big Lebowski [1998]

Directed by the Coen Brothers.

Starring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, David Huddlestone, Julianne Moore, Tara Reid and Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

Genre: Comedy

After being mistaken for somebody else of the same name Jeff Lebowski [Bridges] becomes tied up between unusual people in strange situations. Bridges is so convincing as 'The Dude' you might well believe that is how he actually is. He embodies his character perfectly, delivering dialogue effortlessly and flawlessly. Unusually for a comedy The Big Lebowski offers up an inventive and unique plot as well as a funny and well thought out script.

The Big Lebowski has some real genuine laugh out loud moments. There are some stand out and clearly iconic laughs and its clear to see why the film as become such a cult phenomenon. The plot mightn't always hold together too well. It is fairly random and feels somewhat pieced together but you'll love the characters. There is some great comedy to be discovered here and the film keeps going until the end.

7/10.

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Alpha Dog [2006]

Directed by Nick Cassavetes.

Starring: Emile Hirsch, Justin Timberlake, Shawn Hatosy, Anton Yelchin, Ben Foster, Sharon Stone, Chris Marquette, Dominique Swain, Alex Solowitz, Fernando Vargas, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Willis, Amanda Seyfried and Harry Dean Stanton.

Genre: Crime

When a drug dealer kidnaps the younger brother of someone who owns him money things start to get messy. Alpha Dog is another modern day film that insists on giving Bruce Willis a bad haircut. Prepare to meet one of the most obnoxious casts in cinema. The performances are fine but the characters are such idiots you can't help but dislike them, but that is kind of the point. Timberlake leads the way with by far the best performance. One of the leads, Hirsch, lets the side down with the most unconvincing role.

Alpha Dog is a glossy and pretty encounter but lacks substance. There's entertaining scenes with fun to be had. But ultimately the film has a flimsy plot and fails to make you really feel for the film's victim, no matter how hard they try to make him vulnerable, adorable, innocent and naive. Alpha Dog arguably glamorises the whole situation including the drug dealer life style and the violence too much given this film is based on a true story. Its a sensitive issue and the film isn't very sensitive.

5/10. 

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One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest [1975]

Directed by Milos Forman.

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, William Redfield, Will Sampson, Brad Dourif, Sydney Lassick, Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd, William Duell, Vincent Schiavelli and Dean Brooks.

Genre: Drama

Randle McMurphy [Nicholson] is convicted of statutory rape. To avoid prison time he fakes mental illness so hes sent to a mental institution, which he believes will be an easier sentence. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a masterpiece well worthy of the awards it earned. The multi-talented cast is perhaps one of the most memorable ever, a colourful bunch who work together perfectly. Between them the patients portray mental illness flawlessly. The acting is superb all round as no one breaks character. Nurse Ratched [Fletcher] is one of the greatest villains in cinema because shes a real villain. Shes truly coldhearted. You'll despise her.

The performances on screen are complimented by the impeccable direction. Everything from the major details to the subtle bits has been thought through. The script is expertly written and gets the delivery it deserves. Undoubtedly dramatic but hilarious on occasion. The film never gets ridiculous and stays true to its style. McMurphy orchestrates many moments of madness and entertainment. The film is guilty of letting a few scenes drag on a bit longer than they should but One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a joy to behold.

10/10.

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Monsters University [2013]

Directed by Dan Scanlon.

Starring: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Joel Murray, Sean Hayes, Dave Foley, Peter Sohn, Charlie Day, Helen Mirren, Alfred Molina and Nathan Fillion.

Genre: Animation

Monsters University is the prequel to 2001's Monsters, Inc. Its the origin story for the two protagonists Mike Wazowski [Crystal] and Sulley [Goodman]. Monsters University is a funny and enjoyable addition to Pixar's filmography. It lacks the originality and inventiveness of some of their other works but remains entertaining. It steers clear of the grosser kind of gags competitors may throw into a film. Especially a film about monsters, where it'd be so easy to do so. The cast has many of the lovable characters we remember plus some welcome additions. The members of Oozma Kappa are too adorable not to like. 

Pixar have become known for appealing to both young and adult audience. Monsters University lacks the nods to pop culture adult audiences may appreciate. Its certainly a film more aimed at children. Visually it shows further evidence in Pixar's consistently developing imagery. Its vibrant and smooth. Monsters University is a lot closer to average than a lot of Pixar's other work and yet its still better than so many other animated productions.

7/10.

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Night and the City [1992]

Directed by Irwin Winkler.

Starring: Robert De Niro, Jessica Lange, Alan King, Jack Warden, Cliff Gorman, Eli Wallach, Barry Primus and Harry Milligan.

Genre: Noir

Harry Fabian [De Niro] is a lawyer who decides to try his hand at promoting boxing after a recent case he took. Night and the City is a little different to the typical New York based films we've seen before, many of which star De Niro. It doesn't get bogged down as much. The plot is a bit more free flowing and avoids lingering too long and miserable cliches. There's characters you'll forget and then they'll reappear. You might not always know whats going on. The plot isn't always as clear and the characters aren't always as memorable as they could be. 

Robert De Niro is once again the star man. His performance is head and shoulders above the rest. He's charismatic and sleazy. Jack Warden is great as the fiery and hot headed former boxer Al Grossman. Its disappointing that the film leads up to this great night of boxing that we never get to see. Sure there are many boxing films out there but we want to see a real finale for this one. The closest we get to boxing is Al Grossman flinging his fists around in the air.

5/10.

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10 Things I Hate About You [1999]

Directed by Gil Junger.

Starring: Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, David Krumholtz, Andrew Keegan and Larry Miller.

Genre: Comedy

10 Things I Hate About You is the modernisation of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. We briefly follow the lives of two highschool students, Kat [Stiles] an unsocialable feminist and her sister the cute, friendly and describable Bianca [Oleynik]. 10 Things is reminiscent of the John Hughes classics of the 80's but there is a bit more to it than that. It doesn't completely play off high school stereotypes. It often pokes fun at them. Its an innovative and intelligent film in its own way.

The film is lead by a talented cast, many of which went on to have very successful careers. They're all excellent in their own right and bring something new to the table. The films funny and it can also tug on your heart strings. The soundtrack is fantastic. It stretches across a wide range of genres yet remains subtle and suitable. Unfortunately there are some out of character moments, the film is somewhat of a coming-of-age, but that doesn't excuse some unusual actions. Never the less we have a teen film that memorable and of a good standard.

7/10.

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21 Jump Street [2012]

Directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller.

Starring: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Dave Franco, Brie Larson, Rob Riggle, DeRay Davies and Ice Cube.

Genre: Comedy

21 Jump Street is the story of two police officers who have to go back to high school when sent in undercover as students. Its a smart and fun mash up of cliches and tropes. 21 Jump Street combines the teen comedy and buddy cop genres well. Its a cross between a sleazy modern day police action film and an 80's teen flick. It sure is amusing and offers up some laughs. Its an innovative idea.

Unfortunately despite being fairly clever the film is predictable and not too memorable. You'll have some laughs but you won't remember them. There's certainly more memorable action comedies in recent times. There are some good characters though. Hill and Channing work well as a unit and compliment each other well.  

5/10.

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Two for the Money [2005]

Directed by D.J. Caruso.

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Al Pacino, Rene Russo, Armand Assante, Jeremy Piven, Jamie King and Carly Pope.

Genre: Sports

Brandon Lang [McConaughey] is a former college footballer who uses his exceptional knowledge of the game to predict results. Hes picked up by Walter Abrams [Pacino] to spearhead a business with the intention of recommending winners to punters for a fee. Two for the Money is predictable and cliched. You don't have to be Brandon Lang to work out whats coming around the corner next. The film's plot is weak and certainly what you want to watch this film for.

The film's strength is in its characters. Walter Abrams is unpredictable, ambitious, charismatic and unhinged and he likes to shout a lot. Hes a bit crazy and ultimately good fun. Hes an Al Pacino character. McConaughey is solid enough. Hes straight faced and his character develops quickly but only a limited number of audienc will ever really feel for him or relate to him. Two for the Money is fun in parts but stays around for a bit too long. Its not a bad film but it falls well short of a touchdown.

5/10.

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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire [2005]

Directed by Mike Newell.

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Brendan Gleeson, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith and Robert Pattinson.

Genre: Fantasy

Harry Potter [Radcliffe] is unknowingly entered into the Triwizard Tournament, the worst competition for spectators as they can't properly view most the events, where he must compete against three other students in dangerous and life threatening challenges. Director Mike Newell builds upon the fine atmosphere created in The Goblet of Fire's predecessor. The series remains dark but lightens up with more hints of humour. The three leads start to show real maturity in Goblet. They're no longer children anymore. They're young adults who are starting to realise how dangerous the world they live in is.

Brendan Gleeson is the latest notable addition to the cast. He plays the quirky, creepy and yet amusing Alastor Moody. Ralph Fiennes is more than welcome with his excellent debut performance of Voldermort. He embodies villainy and evil with fine execution. Unfortunately the film's plot doesn't always flow as smoothly as it could and its a bit stop start. The supporting cast we've grown to love, the likes of Professor Snape and Hagrid, don't feature as much as we like. Throughout the series the cast all work off of each other to produce a spectacle but unfortunately a few are left behind here.

7/10.  

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Superbad [2007]

Directed by Greg Mottola.

Starring: Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Seth Rogan, Bill Hader, Emma Stone, Martha MacIssac and Aviva Farber.

Genre: Comedy

Seth [Hill] and Evan [Cera] are two socially rejected high school seniors desperate to lose their virginities. When invited to a party that night they end up on a crazy coming-of-age journey. Superbad is a genuinely funny experience. It has many laugh out loud moments and plenty of memorable lines. Its well written and Seth and Evan are fleshed out characters. Hill and Cera are a fantastic comedy duo, reminiscent of actors and comedians from days gone by, and they work off of each other expertly.

Rogan and Hader also shine as AWOL cops. Irresponsible, fun-loving and understanding. They're the type of cops you'd want to meet and when accompanied by Mintz-Plasse they have the perfect companion to rebound off. Superbad lacks the intelligence of some teen comedies, which prevents it from being one of the very best. And it lasts a bit longer than it should. But it can't be denied that here we have honest and raw good fun.

6/10.

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...And Justice for All [1979]

Directed by Norman Jewison.

Starring: Al Pacino, John Forsythe, Christine Lahti, Jack Warden, Lee Strasberg and Jeffrey Tambor.

Genre: Drama

Arthur Kirkland [Pacino] is a successful lawyer who while going about his job becomes disillusioned with the country's justice system. ...And Justice for All is a film that makes you think. It fairly accurately depicts what can be a cruel and unjust system. Our protagonist is certainly one who believes in second chances and hes shown as caring and loyal yet strong and just. Al Pacino leads a talented cast with a powerful and commanding performance.

...And Justice for All resists remaining completely dramatic. It certainly has its comedic moments, which are mostly supplied by the performances of Jack Warden and Jeffery Tambor. These moments don't feel out of place and this is a film that is never silly. Everything leads up to a dramatic and satisfying conclusion, which you'll want to watch multiple times as Al Pacino owns the screen. ...And Justice for All is a well written and finely executed courtroom drama.

8/10.

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Cloud Atlas [2012]

Directed by The Wachowskis.

Starring: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Doona Bae, Ben Whishaw, James D'Arcy, Zhou Xun, Keith David, David Gyasi, Susan Sarandon and Hugh Grant.

Genre: Science Fiction, Drama

Cloud Atlas is a film that tells six stories from the past through to the future, which are all interwoven with each other. In a time when films tend to be risk adverse Cloud Atlas is an ambitious project. Visually this film is great. The cinematography is fantastic and the film's style is wonderful. The special effects, which may not be quite up to the standard of some films nowadays, are still good. Cloud Atlas boasts a large and talented cast. Not all the acting is top drawer but when you've got several actors portraying multiple characters from different time periods you can't expect everything to be perfect. Jim Broadbent is the most consistent of the lot.

Six stories can be difficult to intertwine and this shows. Sometimes scenes are too rapidly edited together. Just as you're immersed in one story you're flown to the next. The stories also aren't quite as clever and as complicated as the editing may make it seem. Cloud Atlas feels like a film that tries to give you a message or a lesson and that it doesn't quite succeed. But this is a film you want to learn about. At one moment amusing and at another dramatic you can't accuse Cloud Atlas of giving you little. Maybe its guilty of becoming a bit too Hollywood at times for you take it seriously as the piece of art it tries to be. But here is a film that is certainly a creative and unique experience.

6/10.