Smiffy's Reviews

[mr-m-smith]

‘Sound of Metal’- Review

Every once in a while, a film comes along that hits you in the gut, chokes you up and reinstates your love and appreciation for film. In an age where if you’re not interested in superhero stories you can pretty much just go and fuck yourself, original, poignant stories about the human condition can often fall by the wayside. Thankfully, Sound of Metal seems to be getting the credit it deserves. With critics hailing the film as a masterpiece and award nominations aplenty for star and director alike, Sound of Metal is a film that you’d be crazy not to watch.

British actor Riz Ahmed stars as Ruben, a 30 something drummer, touring with his band and living in his RV with his girlfriend. A former addict who wants to make it big, the drama begins when one night on stage, he realises he’s losing his hearing.  Desperate to raise money for a surgery that may or may not help restore his hearing, Ruben is taken on a journey that thrusts him into a community where he must learn to adapt to his new life without sound. 

Not only does Riz Ahmed deliver a stunning, tragic and beautifully nuanced performance as our lead character, but the film’s direction and sound design make this film an utterly unique experience. Told skillfully from Ruben’s perspective, we see the effect that his condition has on his career and relationships and are given an insight into what life is actually like for someone who is deaf.

Although sad and contemplative, at it’s core, this is an uplifting story of overcoming and adapting to change. It’s about facing a tragic loss and the effect this can have on our lives, but it’s also a celebration of acceptance and perseverance. A truly inspiring film that will both break your heart and bring you hope, wonderfully directed, with a stellar lead performance from Riz Ahmed (he learnt American sign language AND learnt to play the drums for this role). This had me genuinely amazed. Sound of Metal is the best film I’ve seen in a long time and I highly recommend you take the time to see it.

Thanks for reading,

Smiffy

[mr-m-smith]

‘Terminator: Dark Fate’ (18) Review *** By Michael Smith

Terminator: Dark Fate is the 6th installment in a franchise that hasn’t been any good since the widely considered masterpiece that was Terminator 2. In a cheap bid to cash in on the nostalgia for the franchise, this latest offering brings back the old cast, disregards films 3, 4 and 5, regurgitates everything good from the second one (albeit with a couple of different characters) and inevitably manages to make a far less watchable and compelling film all round. Not to mention the Terminator timeline by now makes about as much sense as James Cameron’s decision to make 9 back-to-back Avatar films.

Forget John Connor, Dani Ramos (Natalie Heyes) is now the future saviour of the world and much like the second film, Dani is being hunted by a liquid Terminator sent back through time to eliminate her and must change the course of the future with the help of her very own Terminator friend. So far, so Terminator 2. Like, the exact same film right? Grace (Mackenzie Davis) is the robot sent back to protect Dani, a human/terminator hybrid with super soldier capabilities and the new terminator played by Gabriel Luna is suitably menacing. Linda Hamilton returns as Sarah Connor (still fierce as ever) and Arnie makes his inevitable come back. But all the familiar faces and recognisable tropes only serve to remind you they’ve basically repackaged the first two films, called it the sequel to T2 and made the exact same film again, only this time with an all new protagonist. 

If you switch your brain off, the action is fairly entertaining, setting the pace immediately with a decent opening 20 minutes that introduces the new characters, gives us an intense car chase and keeps you pretty much on the edge of your seat. For 20 minutes, you think maybe this could be great. And then you realise that this is all there is and you’ve seen this all before. There is no extra depth. No real purpose in getting the cast back together. You have a new Terminator that can make two of himself and that’s about it. The action is fine but with questionable effects and predictable set ups, the stakes feel practically non existant as the film fumbles from one death defying moment to the next, with no real concerns that anyone might actually die at any point. For all the hype around this unstoppable killing machine, he sure is crap at his job.

The first time Arnold uttered the now infamous line ‘I’ll be back’, it was 1984 and no one had the faintest idea how absurdly iconic (or accurate) those words would become. 35 years later and Arnie has said that exact line in no less than FIFTEEN of his own movies. Including (yawn) 4 of the Terminator films. You’d think they’d take this opportunity to reignite the franchise, but instead the story uses the exact same blue print, the same characters and the same dialogue over and over again. With more bad films than good films at this point, the franchise should have died a respectable death long ago. And after an underwhelming opening weekend at the box office and poor reviews all round, this should be seen as the nail in the coffin. The message to Arnie should be loud and clear... however much money they offer you- next time, don’t come back.

Thanks for reading.

Smiffy

[mr-m-smith]

‘Gemini Man’ (12A) ** Review. OUT NOW. By Michael Smith

Will Smith has made some interesting decisions in his career. Mega blockbuster hits like Men in Black and Independence Day made him a Hollywood superstar, dramas like Ali and The Pursuit of Happyness showed his dramatic range, I am Legend proved he was still a legend and then...everything else since has been kinda...underwhelming. Sure, this year’s Aladdin was a hit; but in the past decade Smith has truly made some duds and I’m beginning to wonder if he ever actually reads the script anymore, because Gemini Man is one of his biggest missteps of all.

The story goes something like this...Will Smith is THE BEST ASSASSIN IN THE WORLD, who JUST WANTS TO RETIRE, before he’s BETRAYED BY HIS FORMER AGENCY and CHASED DOWN by a CGI version OF HIMSELF. That is this film in a nutshell. And it’s as boring and predictable as you’ve probably already guessed it is. The script is nonsensical, the characters are completely two dimensional and the visual effects (that are the whole selling point of the film) are underwhelming at best.

Gemini Man has been passed around Hollywood for nearly 22 years. You’d think with all that time, they would have written the best script in the world. But alas, if you look closely at the writing credits, you’ll see a Mr David Benioff (writer ultimately remembered for fucking up the ending of Game of Thrones) is responsible for this abomination. So Smith does his best with what he’s given and remains charming enough throughout and despite co-starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead (as a generic government agent with zero back story) and Clive Owen (an apparently evil bad guy), the super convenient plot twists, miniscule character development and predictable reveals, mean the lacklustre writing struggles to bring out the best of it’s usually admirable cast.

There’s not even any good action! The film has maybe two decent action set pieces but beyond that it’s just fast paced, poorly edited fight sequences, full of bad CGI. Which is a huge surprise, given the films budget and the fact the whole premise relies on creating a realisticly de-aged Will Smith. It’s probably the entire reason anyone wants to see this film in the first place, and quite frankly, in it’s best moments it’s passable and at it’s worst-genuinely laughable. This would have been impressive 20 or even 10 years ago, but with the level of effects these days, Gemini Man just doesn’t cut it.

With it’s slow pacing, poor script and questionable effects, it’s absolutely baffling to me that a project that was so long in the making, with a visionary director like Ang Lee at the helm could be so unbelievably boring! The usually reliable film maker has somehow managed to spend $150 million on an entirely underwhelming and forgettable science fiction film that has been rightly destroyed by critics. And if you make a film that even Will Smith can’t save, you’ve clearly made a bad film.

 One for DVD for sure.

Thanks for reading

Smiffy  

[mr-m-smith]

‘Joker’ (18) -Review ***** OUT NOW. By Michael Smith

Every once in a while a performance comes along that gets everybody losing their minds. And the role of the Joker requires some mighty acting chops indeed. Jack Nicholson gave us a campy but ultimately iconic Joker in Tim Burton’s 80′s blockbuster, while Heath Ledger managed to craft a performance that defined his career, a performance held in such high regard that it’s still talked about with excitement to this day. But poor old Jared Leto had no such luck. He just got Suicide Squad. So it seems fitting that the buzz surrounding Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of DC comics most notorious super villain has reached fever pitch levels, sparking controversy, protests and internet outcry while practically handing Phoenix the Best Actor Oscar at the same time.

 A gritty character study that aims to humanise and understand the motivations of an up until now mysterious and indefinable villain. This is by no means your average superhero movie. This is not a film about the joker either, this is a film about the man who becomes the joker. An origin that doesn’t involve falling into a vat of chemicals or from simply having ‘one bad day’, this is the story of how a man becomes a monster and the film’s approach to getting there is surprising, shocking and alarmingly poignant.

Arthur Fleck (Phoenix) is a loner, working as a part time clown and living with his mother, he struggles with mental illness and a condition that sees him laugh painfully and uncontrollably, often in unsuitable situations. He dreams of being a stand up comedian and worships famous talk show host Murray Franklin (Robert De Niro), a Jay Leno esque character that plays a big part in Arthur’s transformation.

Shunned by society and stunted by his mother, Arthur is largely a victim of circumstance. Sympathetic at times, yet unhinged enough to remain dangerous and unrelatable. His tics and mannerisms always hinting at something more sinister brewing below the surface. Magnetic and unpredictable, Phoenix throws himself into the role to deliver something highly nuanced, provocative and wholly original. This is very much his movie and the actor is incredible. You simply cannot take your eyes off him.

Gotham City plays an important role in the film, depicted as a dangerous, dirty and crime filled dystopia, long before the presence of a caped crusader. Gotham is a city in need of a hero, but the Joker sure as hell is not the hero it needs right now. The Wayne family play a fairly major part too (including a young Bruce). Thematically, it’s an unashamed tribute to Martin Scorsese’s classic Taxi Driver, sharing similar narrative beats and iconography, but the films striking cinematography and impactful soundtrack provide a strong sense of it’s own identity.

As usual, the controversy surrounding the film has only sparked more hype and curiosity. Since winning the Golden Lion Award at The Venice film festival, a handful of early reviews have called the film a masterpiece, box office predictions are high and the general consensus is that this is a must-see.  And I must say, I whole heartedly agree. The film is a masterpiece. Phoenix is phenomenal and director Todd Phillips has redefined himself as a top tier film maker. Together, they have crafted a thought provoking, intelligent and challenging take on the iconic villain and unlike poor Jared Leto, this Joker will surely stand the test of time.

Go see it.

Thanks for reading,

Smiffy

[mr-m-smith]

‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’- Review **** OUT NOW. By Michael Smith

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is Quentin Tarantino’s 9th and (if the director’s claims are to be believed) penultimate film. Set in 1969 at a pivotal time in American history, the period represents a cultural tipping-point for Hollywood and indeed, the world. The film tells the story of fading television star Rick Dalton (Dicaprio), a passionate actor suffering a career slump and a crisis of confidence, who, accompanied by his long time stunt double and best friend Cliff Booth (Pitt) attempts to stay relevant in an ever-changing Hollywood, that is leaving him behind and becoming a place he no longer recognizes. 

Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt take the lead in a huge ensemble cast that includes Margot Robbie, Al Pacino, Kurt Russell, Timothy Olyphant, Damian Lewis and Dakota Fanning, among others. As expected from two Hollywood giants, Pitt and DiCaprio have an onscreen chemistry that keeps you enthralled throughout. DiCaprio's manic portrayal of a man unraveling at the seams is contrasted with Pitt’s cool and collected, semi-retired stuntman, who spends his time either driving around LA aimlessly, running errands for Rick or hanging out in his trailer feeding his dog. Funny, charming and overwhelmingly like able, the dog is quite simply awesome. Not to mention Pitt is perfectly cast as Rick’s loyal and humble friend and gives his best performance since Fight Club.

Tarantino’s latest is a tribute to a golden age of cinema, with recognisable settings and characters, featuring cameos from Hollywood royalty like Bruce Lee and Steve McQueen (depicted as an arrogant idiot and a love-torn bad boy respectively). 1960′s LA is impeccably realised, immersing the audience in the time period with everything from the clothes, the cars, the hippies and of course, Tarantino’s carefully curated soundtrack. The director gives a glimpse into a bygone era, while taking real life elements and retelling them through his own style, with the usual dash of artistic license.

One such example is his approach to the tragic real life story of Sharon Tate (a true Hollywood horror story). Tate was a rising star when she was brutally murdered by members of the Manson family in her Hollywood home in 1969. In the film she’s introduced as Rick’s next door neighbor, where she lives with fiance and film director Roman Polanski, and knowing the fate that awaits her, the premise and setting all seem rather ominous. Robbie gives a great performance as the seemingly doomed star, but given the intrigue into her character going in, she is given surprisingly little to do.

Despite the real settings and real people featured throughout, the film’s narrative is less predictable than you might think, choosing to play fast and loose with the truth and ultimately going in it’s own direction. If you walk in expecting a Manson family movie, you may be surprised. Like Hitler’s fiery, yet, wholly fictional fate in Inglourious Basterds before it, Tarantino again chooses to subvert the audiences expectations and throw the history book out the window to make the story uniquely his own. The final act is shocking and violent but the majority of the film leading up to it, is a slow burning, character driven story that’s filled with the usual snappy dialogue, top tier cinematography, outstanding performances and shots of feet that we’ve come to expect from the director.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood can at times be a slow watch. At 2 hours and 40minutes, the director’s tendency to linger on characters killing time and seemingly doing nothing can provide a lack of tension, but the writing is so good that it’s never boring to watch. The film has a number of stand out moments and the chemistry between the two leads is a genuine joy to behold. Not his most accessible film, but still a strong entry in his practically unrivaled career, Tarantino delivers another classic and original tale to make it 9 for 9. 

Thanks for reading!

Smiffy

[mr-m-smith]

‘IT’- Review (18) *** OUT NOW. By Michael Smith

Clowns have had a rough time of it in recent years. If their whole look isn’t being used to terrify people on street corners, they are being outdone by PlayStation 4′s and karaoke machines, ruthlessly taking their jobs at children’s birthday parties. Who wants to hire a clown when you can all sit on Ipads and ignore each other at the age of 4? Personally speaking I’ve never found clowns to be very scary. From Krusty the clown to Adam Sandler, I’ve always found clowns to be kinda fun, but maybe that’s because my first encounter was watching children's TV show Charlie Chalk and not a film about a sewer-dwelling, psychotic, child-murdering clown. 

Based on Stephen King’s 1986 novel about a town being haunted and picked off by a supernatural entity, this is the second screen adaptation after the highly regarded 1990′s TV adaptation, starring Tim Curry’s (tough to beat) depiction of Pennywise the clown, gave everyone the willies. It’s fair to say the hype surrounding this remake has been huge. With a sinister trailer that managed to make a red balloon look terrifying, showcasing a new look Pennywise (and the kid from Stranger Things!) this actually looked like it would deliver a truly petrifying, shit your pants, nightmare-inducing, horror, that would truly end the careers of professional clowns everywhere.

The young cast is great and the dynamic between the group of friends (known affectionately as the losers’ club) who are preyed upon by the formidable clown,  is reminiscent of the kids from Stranger Things or even Stand by me- another classic film adaptation of a Stephen King novel. (Will it ever end?) Amidst all the horror, there is time for a coming of age romance and a lot of time is spent fleshing out the characters, which is no bad thing. The cinematography is fantastic and portrays the town of Derry as a character within itself, providing a mysterious and eerie backdrop for the story.

It’s a well made film with solid performances, but is IT actually scary? While it’s one of the better horror films I’ve seen in recent years, it’s not as horrifying as you might think. It has a creepy premise in itself and does have a handful of jumpy moments, but unfortunately, a lot of these moments that are meant to be the most terrifying are undermined by a sudden and jarring use of CGI that proves way too distracting to be scary. The film is most effective when it relies on practical effects, which might be why the (admittedly dated) TV original had such an impact on audiences for so long. Nevertheless, the film has received mostly positive reviews and has gone on to be a huge box office success, so naturally a sequel is already in the works. And no matter how that turns out, it’s the real life, hard working clowns of the world I feel bad for. Will their suffering never end?

Thanks for reading.

Review for ‘What happened to Monday?’ next week.

Smiffy.

[mr-m-smith]

‘The LEGO Batman Movie’- Review. (U) **** OUT NOW. By Michael Smith

If your childhood wasn’t blessed with the presence of a big box of LEGO, then A: what were you doing with your life? And B: I feel truly sorry for you. Sure, there were other brands of building blocks on the market but the satisfaction of making a house of LEGO was hard to beat. The only way I can see anyone not liking this film is because they grew up with a box of Duplo and still resent their parents for it. Although if this sounds like you, I shouldn’t worry too much, the way Hollywood is pillaging people's childhoods at the moment it should only be a matter of time until there's a ‘Duplo Batman Movie’ just for you. 

The LEGO Batman Movie is directed by Chris Mackay and stars the voice of Will Arnett as our caped crusader. We are introduced to a Batman living as a loner, still fighting crime, but his insistence on ‘working alone’ sees him friendless and isolated. In the first act, he goes around sulking in his Batcave and having full-blown temper tantrums with Alfred (kind of like the beginning of The Dark Knight Rises but you know...with LEGO). He's a Batman who doesn't 'need anyone' yet spends the film longing for any type of connection. All the while, Joker is busy assembling an 'evil army' (that contains an abundance of recognisable villains) to take over Gotham City. 

Smart and a lot of fun, this film is actually hilarious. Laugh-out-loud funny while managing to appeal to both children and the parents who accompany then. It really is an example of a comedy for kids that can also be appreciated by adults. From Suicide Squad to some particularly funny nods to the 60's tv show, the film is littered with in-jokes and references all poking fun at the Batman canon. The jokes about the rivalry between Batman and Superman are brilliant, there are some great one-liners and Robin is at least meant to be annoying now. It's a tongue in cheek, light-hearted take on a hero we are so used to being bleak.

The animation looks great and the soundtrack adds a lot of humour to the film, whether he’s wallowing in self-pity in the Batcave to ‘One is the loneliest number’ or mistakingly trying to liven up a party by playing ‘I just died in your arms tonight’, the music adds another layer to the film (Batman even has his own theme song). A brilliant and rather perfectly cast Will Arnett is excellent as our caped crusader and with Michael Cera as Batman’s trusted sidekick, Ralph Fiennes as Alfred, Zach Galifianakis as The Joker, Rosario Dawson as Barbara Gordon and even Conan O Brien as the riddler, it’s fair to say that the supporting cast makes for quite the star-studded affair.

Much like the highly successful The LEGO Movie that came before it, this is very much worthy of any and all praise it receives. Entertaining throughout and packed with punchy dialogue and action it seems the franchise is actually kind of on to something. If you’d told me twenty years ago I’d be watching a film about LEGO I’d have thrown my LEGO at you. But you can take any character and turn him into a LEGO figure these days, so it seems that the possibilities are endless. How about THE MATRIX LEGO MOVIE! Or FORREST GUMP THE LEGO MOVIE? Or THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST LEGO MOVIE? Who knows what lies ahead for the franchise, but if they do make a MATRIX LEGO movie I for one would definitely go and see it.

(The word LEGO was said 12 times in this review).

Thanks for reading.

Review for ‘John Wick Chapter 2′ next week.

Smiffy

[mr-m-smith]

'Moonlight'- Review (15) ***** OUT NOW. By Michael Smith

“At some point, you’ve got to decide for yourself who you’re gonna be. You can’t let nobody make that decision for you”. However grammatically questionable that statement may be, it’s a powerful message that runs through the beating heart that is Moonlight. Based on an unproduced play called ‘In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue’ and influenced by the director’s own childhood and experiences growing up with a crack-addicted mother; this may be a film that deals with some heavy themes in a harsh environment, but it’s one of the best made, most beautiful films I’ve ever seen and quite frankly, everyone needs to see it. 

Nominated for 8 Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director for Barry Jenkins, Moonlight is a tale told over three acts chronicling the life of a young black boy named Chiron (fantastically played by 3 different actors) from childhood to adulthood. A story of a young boy growing up in a rough neighbourhood in Miami and his journey to becoming a man. We first meet Chiron at 10 years old. Bullied at school and at home by his neglectful, drug-addict mother (played terrifyingly well by Naomie Harris), with no father figure to look up to, he is a little boy with the weight of the world on his shoulders and the actor who plays him (Alex R. Hibbert) is simply incredible and on a couple of occasions- completely heartbreaking to watch.

Mahershala Ali (deservedly nominated for best-supporting actor) plays Juan. A drug dealer with a heart (and mouth) of gold; Juan befriends Chiron and over time becomes a sort of mentor and father figure to him. The bond they form is truly touching but not without it’s struggles. A scene where Juan teaches him to swim (the actor really is teaching him apparently) is a notable moment more memorable than it sounds. The prolonged looks, small gestures and moments of silence communicate the most in the film, making the most of a beautifully written script when it wants to, but never feeling the need to explain everything with words. Between the acting, the writing and the direction, this is a serious contender for the year’s best film (he says in February).

A story of self-discovery and human connection told through a beautifully crafted, emotional and thought-provoking tale of growing up. A fiercely directed film with heart-wrenching performances and powerful dialogue, Moonlight is all of these things and more. Also, there is one particular sequence with Chiron as a teenager that stands out as one of my all time favourite scenes in cinema EVER. It’s something you feel building throughout the film, but when it happens (OH MY GOD) when it happens!!! It’s a breathtaking, shocking, flash of violence in an otherwise calm-tempered film and the way that it’s directed cements it as one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen. I can’t urge you enough to go and watch it (even just for that one scene). You won’t regret it.

Thanks for reading!

Review for Split next week.

Smiffy

[mr-m-smith]

‘La La Land’- Review ***** (12A) OUT NOW. By Michael Smith

I have to admit to having a major crush on Emma Stone... and probably an equally large man-crush on Ryan Gosling too. And after seeing La La Land you’ll probably understand why. You can't watch this and not be impressed by the both of them. Funny and stylish with a playful dynamic (this is their third collaboration playing star-crossed lovers) both actors are the very definition of charming. With a palpable chemistry that jumps out of the screen at you like a 3D punch in the face, they should probably just screw each other already and get it over with.

Directed by Damien Chazelle (winner of best picture for 2015's Whiplash) La La Land is the story of Sebastian (Gosling), an aspiring jazz pianist and Mia (Stone), an ambitious actress/waitress, who both share the dream of making it big in the city of stars. Set in modern day Hollywood the film follows the pair through their numerous triumphs, trials and tribulations and from the first opening number that takes place in a traffic jam where Sebastian and Mia have their very first encounter, you get the feeling this might just be a little bit excellent.

There are lots of nods to classic movies made throughout the film, from An American in Paris to Singing in the Rain, almost every MGM musical is referenced and there are nods to Casablanca, Rebel without a cause and plenty more if you look closely enough. At one point, Sebastian even serenades Mia whilst leaning on a lamp post and if that doesn’t mean anything to you, then you sir, do not know your musicals. However many references there are, the film always feels fresh. The music is catchy and original, songs like ‘Another day of sun’, ‘Someone in the Crowd’ and ‘City of stars’ are particularly memorable and the large scale routines (often with hundreds of extras) are impressively choreographed and beautifully captured on camera.

The dances between Stone and Gosling are performed with enough technical skill and finesse that they’d probably make it into the finals of Strictly (just about) and the sequences are often filmed in one long continuous shot making it seem all the more impressive. Both actors are perfectly cast and prove they have the voice and the moves to pull off something of this scale.  Oh, and if he wasn’t great enough already-adding many the string to the Gosling bow (not least the tap dancing)-when he sits down to play the piano you will be about 5% surprised at how brilliant he is and about 95% resentful. Apparently, he learnt to play in a few months. That handsome son of a bitch.

La La Land has already been drenched in awards, winning every single category it was nominated for at the Golden Globes, it’s also just matched the record (14) for most nominations at the Oscars, including best picture, best director, best actor and best actress; so I would not be surprised to see this win big with the academy. So does it deserve the admiration? In a word, yes. La La Land feels like you’re being transported to a simpler, more innocent and more romantic time. A modern tribute that feels like a classic musical, it’s brilliantly written, expertly directed and undoubtedly (if you like musicals) one to watch.

Thanks for reading.

Review for Moonlight next week

Smiffy

[mr-m-smith]

'Silence'- Review (15) **** OUT NOW. By Michael Smith

Martin Scorsese is possibly the world’s greatest living film maker. With a career spanning more than 50 years, the director is still one of the most exciting people making movies today. Master of the gangster genre, his back catalogue shows a wide variety of projects, from romance to comedy, musicals and religious epics. His more recent films (Hugo, Shutter Island, The Wolf of Wall Street) have showcased what a diverse director and all round story teller he is.

Set in Japan (but actually shot in Taiwan) Silence is the story of two Jesuit priests in the 17th century played by Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver who travel to Japan to find their mentor Father Ferreira (Liam Neeson) who has apparently, amidst rising pressure and the savage persecution of all Christians, renounced God as his saviour and given up the faith.

Somewhat naive to what will greet them when they get to Japan, the priests start their journey and set sail into ‘high danger’ to spread the word of Christ and track down Father Ferreira. As the film progresses the magnitude of what the two priests are up against makes their task seem impossible. The film does not shy away from the brutality and at times can make for a heavy watch. These people suffer terrible fates for their beliefs and the torture and suffering is distressing to say the least, drawing comparison to some of the worst scenes in films like 12 Years a Slave or Schindler’s List.

With The Last Temptation of Christ and Kundun, this isn’t the first time Scorsese has tackled religion. A long time in the making, this has been his passion project for 20 years and was originally starting production a few years ago with Daniel Day Lewis, Benicio Del Toro and Gael Bernia Garcia before the film hit scheduling issues and recast in favour of Neeson, Garfield and Driver.

Garfield is actually very good in a challenging role (Thank Christ) and it’s a good job too as most of the film weighs heavily on his shoulders. A young, idealistic man with a messiah complex who believes in his cause irrefutably but goes through so much turmoil in the name of the lord, its no surprise he starts to have a few questions. Driver gives an equally good performance but only gets about a third of the screen time. Have no doubt this is Garfield’s film. And while I still think he’s no Leonardo Dicaprio, he deserves credit for taking on a challenging role.

Silence is a film with a thought provoking narrative, moments of genius, some boring parts, occasional scenes of gratuitous violence, whole hearted performances and A-class direction throughout. The cinematography, the script and all round grandeur of it all, prove that any film from Scorsese will always be a master class in film making. Although it might not be to everyone’s taste, (I admit it could shave off 20minutes) Silence makes for a powerful film that boasts fantastic performances and imagery that will stay with you long after you’ve seen it.

Thanks for reading!

Review for La La Land next week

Smiffy

[mr-m-smith]

‘Hacksaw Ridge’- Review (15) *** Out 27th Jan. By Michael Smith

Fresh from his sabbatical, Mel Gibson returns to direct Hacksaw Ridge- the true story of Desmond Doss, a medic for the army who refused to carry a gun or kill a man and was proclaimed a war hero when he became the first man to win the medal of honour. A story about a real life ‘all American’ war hero who served in and survived the Battle of Okinawa without ever firing a single bullet. Starring Andrew Garfield, Vince Vaughan and Hugo Weaving among others, the film is likely to be nominated for all things Oscar come February. So place those bets now people.

I’ll be honest...it's taken me a while to like Andrew Garfield. And I still haven't quite got there yet. However, despite my dislike of Andrew Garfield's ugly, stupid, talentless face, I was really looking forward to this film since I heard Mel Gibson was directing. After Braveheart, The Passion of the Christ and Apocalypto, the star of What Women Want has at least proved you can still make a decent film even when you’re hated by most of Hollywood; and although Hacksaw Ridge is quite good, it's no way near Gibson's best. 

The Battle of Okinawa is portrayed as one of the most brutal and savage battles ever. The war scenes are up close, full of shocking moments, grand scale fighting with big explosions, bombs going off, limbs flying through the air and men dying while they cry for their wives and mothers. The reality is harsh and at times it can seem a heavy watch. There's a lot happening onscreen and in the action scenes where you have about 500 extras running around and explosions everywhere, Gibson's directing prowess shines through. 

For me where this film fails (and where Gibson fails) is in the moments we're meant to care. Something felt missing from my ability to actually give a crap about anyone in this film. Heroic as the story is, at times the direction feels so overly dramatic and cliche that it doesn’t feel like a true story at all. The first half an hour plays out like some sort of romantic comedy and Garfield is so wide-eyed in his performance I thought I was watching Bambi joins the military. So by the time the real drama arrives, it already feels long overdue. 

Garfield gives a forceful and dedicated performance in this film and brings a lot of emotion to the screen... but whether or not that emotion transferred off the screen into my brain is a different thing entirely. Hugo Weaving gives a raging performance as Desmond’s abusive, alcoholic, ex-military father. And Vince Vaughan as Sergeant Howell makes for an interesting choice but is surprisingly convincing from the moment he steps onscreen. Arriving in a hail of fury and rarely calming down to pause for breath. It's one of his better roles in recent years. Sam Worthington is also in this and he’s solid enough but is probably the least notable character of them all- and there's nothing new there. 

I'm giving Hacksaw Ridge 3stars as I had a few too many hangups about the actors and the directing. Parts of this film are amazing, the war scenes are impressive and it’s not so much that it’s really a bad film, but on Gibson's report card, if I was his teacher, it would say 'could do better'. Also, there was one actor in particular who really didn't impress me. I won't name names but let's just say he was a terrible spiderman and let's just pray he's a whole lot more watchable in Silence... I mean, if anyone can make Andrew Garfield give a good performance it's Scorsese. Although saying all that I think he probably should win an Oscar for this. If it’s the Oscar for 'Most eye makeup worn by a male actor in a film ever’.

Thanks for reading

Review for La La Land next week

Smiffy

[mr-m-smith]

‘Doctor Strange’- Review (12A) **** OUT NOW. By Michael Smith

From Detective to Dragon to Doctor, Bend-a-dick Cum-a-Bunch has jumped on the superhero steam train and landed the starring role in Marvels latest addition to their ever-expanding universe, Doctor Strange. Marking the beginning of a new era for the Avengers saga, having got used to superhumans with a whole bunch of bog standard super powers, this latest blockbuster finally introduces magic, time-travel and multi-dimensions into the mix.

Playboy millionaire Doctor Stephen Strange is a cantankerous shit, who spends his time driving fast cars and gloating about what an amazing doctor he is. Until one day whilst driving his very fast car, he has an accident and loses all feeling in his hands. Hands being fairly fundamental to his work and knowing the state of American health care, he rejects Western medicine and travels to Kathmandu to seek alternative methods. Here he meets Morpheus, sorry, no, he meets this bald chick called ‘The Ancient One’ played by Tilda Swinton who basically acts like Morpheus and trains the Doctor to see beyond the Matrix as it were. I’m sure some physio would have fixed his hands but why not eh!?!

What with being the origin story of a brand new hero, the film has a typically familiar arc to past Marvel films but that’s to be expected. The cast is all great, Tilda Swinton is excellent as The Ancient One, although the decision to make her character a white caucasian woman instead of an old Asian guy seems completely pointless. Particular mention to Rachel McAdams, who manages to bring substance to a small role as Strange’s lover and friend. Mads Mikkelsen is on excellent (and fairly typical) form as the villain of the piece. He plays a man called Kaecilius who was trained by the Ancient One but was seduced by the dark side (aka Star Wars) and is now trying to summon demons from the dark dimension. Or something like that. 

Stephen Strange is a man of science who becomes a man of faith and then traverses both worlds. With magical artifacts, multi dimensions and other realities coming into play, this is certainly Marvels trippiest offering to date, not to mention one of it’s more visually ambitious projects. The special effects in this are insane! Like, go to the cinema and watch it in 3D insane! A mixture of Inception and The Matrix the whole film feels like a mushroom trip, bending the rules of physics as the Doctor learns to control himself and the world around him. One particular moment really needs to be seen to be believed as the Doctor travels the entire universe in one mind-bending sequence.

All in all the film is excellent. Entertaining from start to finish with fantastic action, incredible effects and if you’re a Marvel fanboy you won’t be disappointed. Cumberbatch is an excellent choice for the Doctor, playing the part as a mix of Sherlock Holmes and the eccentric doctor from House. A solid addition to the Marvel franchise and one that will make a great Avenger when the time finally comes. Doctor Strange is a welcome newcomer, offering something new whilst remaining quintessentially Marvel and with planned appearances in Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers Infinity War, there’ll be plenty more of the strange doctor on our screens in the future. 

Thanks for reading

Smiffy

[mr-m-smith]

‘The Accountant’- Review (15) *** OUT NOW. By Michael Smith

It’s been a busy year for Ben Affleck. Not only did he battle Superman in the underwhelming Batman Vs Superman, he’s directed and starred in his soon to be released 4th feature film ‘Live By Night’, started filming for the new Justice League movie and has even found time to squeeze in this saucy little crime thriller. Winner of the most inventive movie title since The Mechanic, The Accountant is a crime drama (with a hint of action) starring Ben Affleck as (get ready for it)... an accountant with autism who ‘uncooks the books’ for some very dangerous clientele.

The Accountant is the fictional story of Christopher Wolfe, a man who leads a double life working at a small town accountancy firm while also working freelance for high-class criminals. While investigating some missing money in a legitimate robotics company, Christopher meets Dana (played by Anna Kendrick) and the two of them uncover a secret that kickstarts a series of events that put their lives in danger. Luckily, not only is he a Good Will Hunting level mathematical genius, he’s also a Jason Bourne level badass, proficient in shooting, martial arts and killing ten bad guys with his bare hands. How many accountants do you think can do that? All I can say is someone’s been paying attention to Matt Damon’s career.

The film’s most interesting focus is on Christopher’s autism and how he has managed to cope with it his whole life. We are first introduced to him as a child in a doctors office where he is solving an upside down jigsaw puzzle. His military father worries that his son will be treated like a freak and decides to send him to fight training to learn to stand up for himself, hence why years later he’s not only a mathematical savant but a full metal badass. Socially awkward with some expected ticks, Christopher seems calm and collected, portraying a calm exterior with a sense of inner turmoil, it’s another strong performance from Affleck that’s pretty far from Batman. 

With an all-star supporting cast including Anna Kendrick, JK Simmons, Jon Bernthal and John Lithgow, you’d think the film would be great. Heavy sigh. Unfortunately, for all it’s potential, the film feels so over convoluted and long that the basic premise of accountant/secret assassin is lost in the shadow of subplots and characters that are far less interesting. The film certainly favours character over action and when the action does come and the death toll rises, it’s directed in a raw, clinical fashion that opts for realism and efficiency over flashy stunts and implausibility. 

Unfortunately, like its title suggests, The Accountant suffers from being boring and way too long. Although coming in at just over two hours, it feels like a lifetime, as it suffers from a middle act that loses all momentum. Christopher is a good character with an interesting backstory and the third act gets notably better, but the ending has two major twists that by the time you get to them you’re done caring. Anna Kendrick seems misplaced in a film with grumpy men in their 50′s and the film itself seems to tackle too much at once. Not a terrible film but not a particularly good one either.

Thanks for reading

Review for Doctor Strange next week!

Smiffy

[mr-m-smith]

‘Captain Fantastic’- Review (15) **** OUT NOW. By Michael Smith

Don’t panic... this is not what you think it is. Unless it is. Then it’s exactly what you think it is. But in case you have no idea what this is, or what I’m talking about, I can confirm that despite the title, Captain Fantastic is not a superhero movie. In fact, it’s about as far from a Marvel summer blockbuster as you can get. This is a family drama about a man who lives in the woods with his family and thankfully there isn’t a shred of spandex in sight.

Viggo Mortensen plays Ben Cash-the fantastic captain in question. A man who rejects modern day corporate America and lives off the grid in the forest, raising his six children to be completely self-sufficient. Their lives are not what you would consider normal. They don’t go to school, they don’t have televisions and they wear animal skins for clothes. Ben provides his children with a rigorous physical and intellectual education. By day they hunt and build and exercise, by night they make fires, read Dostoyevsky and play instruments. They celebrate Noam Chomsky day and Ben teaches them about everything from Marxism to hunting, foraging and growing their own food. It’s like having Bear Grylls for a dad... if he was a Marxist. When an incident involving his wife forces him to leave his paradise and enter the ‘real’ world, it brings with it some family issues and challenges his perception of what it is to be a good parent.

The film presents this modern dilemma in a way that forces you to view both sides of the argument and question whether Ben is the greatest father of all time or the worst. His methods are militant and at times his lack of sympathy for his own children seems shocking, but when his kids are all happy, physically fit, highly intellectual, talented individuals, the tough love approach seems justified. The families trip to the outside world presents the children with their own set of new challenges and for all their intellect, they are ultimately made to feel different.

At times, Captain Fantastic is inspiring and wonderful, full of love and laughter and at other times, it’s incredibly sad. The film has some poignant moments and deals with some heavy themes, so although it’s inspiring on the one hand, it’s quite heart breaking on the other. Funny at times and thought provoking throughout, it only suffers from a midway point that seems drawn out. Performance wise the kids are all amazing and I can’t imagine anyone else other than Viggo Mortensen in this role. He is truly fantastic. A scene where Ben gives his idiot teenage nephews a pop quiz, only for them to get ripped apart by his five-year-old is particularly well played.

It’s great to see indie films making such a mark this year. With titles like Swiss Army Man, Anomalisa, The Lobster and now this, 2016 has been a great year for some breakout, low-budget delights that prove you don’t need to blow something up every five minutes to make a great film. This is a beautifully made film with great performances and a powerful message for today’s society which makes you think about how we should be raising our children. This may well make you want to sell up and move to the woods.

Thanks for reading

Smiffy

[mr-m-smith]

‘Westworld. Episode 1’- Review ***** OUT NOW. By Michael Smith

Remember that terrible television show that HBO made that one time? No? Me neither. That’s because HBO is the Pixar of television and very rarely (if ever) drop the ball. From The Wire to The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire to a little-known series called Game of Thrones, HBO has been the leading standard in epic television for quite some time. As a network, they have repeatedly raised the bar and redefined audience’s expectations. An audience who no longer have to go the cinema to seek out high-concept drama or big budget effects. This new wave of shows cost millions of dollars per episode and are apparently written and created by evil geniuses because all of their shows end up with a major following, and their new series Westworld is certainly going to get people talking. 

Narratively speaking a television series has many advantages over a film. Not only can you embellish story-telling and explore a large number of plots at once, but the characters are far more three-dimensional when fleshed out over many episodes as opposed to just a couple of hours. Just think of roles like Tony Soprano (the archetype for all anti-heroes) or Don Draper in Mad Men. Actors get to create a fully realised character with many shades of grey who you’ll love, hate, laugh with and cry with over a number of years. These roles require heavyweight performances and recently we’ve seen our fair share of Hollywood royalty reassess their snobbery and jump on the television bandwagon, which often gives them far meatier roles and is arguably becoming more culturally relevant than the cinema.

So let’s get to the show itself. A sort of reimagining to the original 1973 film of the same name, Westworld is a science fiction thriller about an interactive theme park populated by artificial beings, where the rich pay lots of money to be completely immersed in a fantasy and do whatever they like without consequence. Although as Anthony Hopkins character remarks, ‘it’s not merely a theme park, but an entire world’, and a world where anything is possible at that. Set in the wild west, guests come to experience this world and the hosts who live there have no idea what’s going on. It’s an intriguing and rather sinister concept that at times feels like some kind of horror story. With the subject of artificial intelligence, the nature of life and themes of playing god, there is certainly a lot of moral dilemma coming our way. And no HBO drama would be complete without a ton of sex and violence right?

Stylish and beautifully directed, Westworld also boasts some big names. And more importantly big performances. Sir Anthony Hopkins is the troubled creator of the park, the one and only Ed Harris is an evil cowboy running riot (which is a major understatement), Rachel Evan Wood is Dolores, a kind, sweet, pretty girl who just happens to be one of the AI’s that lives in the park, Thandie Newton plays a hooker and James Marsden (Aka Cyclops) plays the hero cowboy. And if the cast doesn’t scream ‘major credentials’ enough, the episode is written and directed by Jonathan Nolan (brother of best director in the world ever Christopher Nolan, and co-writer of Inception and The Dark Knight trilogy among others) and has already been hailed by critics as ‘the best pilot for a tv series since Game of Thrones’... and we all know how well that did. 

It’s a fantastic first episode crammed with potential that sets the series up for an intriguing arc. This will be a success whether you’re into it or not, but you’ll be hard-pressed not to be impressed by this first offering. I for one can’t wait to see where this is going. An intriguing opener that establishes characters and story in classic HBO fashion. Great cinematography, a killer cast and a thought-provoking script with endlessly quotable dialogue.... “Some people choose to see the ugliness in this world, the despair, I choose to see the beauty”. Based on the first episode, Westworld is a series that has a lot going for it and certainly one to watch.

Thanks for reading,

Smiffy

[mr-m-smith]

‘Swiss Army Man’- Review (15) ***** OUT NOW. By Michael Smith

Every now and then you have to swallow your pride and give someone the credit they deserve. I would be the first to say Daniel Radcliffe’s acting is a bit stiff. At times his acting is so bad you'd be forgiven for thinking that he'd only ever played dead bodies in his previous films, but in Swiss Army Man, Radcliffe takes rigor mortis to the next level. And thankfully, this time- that’s the point. Hand on heart (and I can't quite believe I'm saying this), Radcliffe is fantastic in a role that couldn’t be further from Harry Potter…unless you killed Harry and he washed up on a beach somewhere or something (I’d watch that). It's ironic that having played a boy wizard for most of his career and a magician in this summer's Now You See Me 2, it's his performance as a dead body that finally gives us something to be considered truly magical.

Paul Dano (incredible), stars as Hank, a man stranded on an island, who we first meet trying to hang himself from a tree. It is in this desperate moment that he notices a dead body washed up on the shore (played with fantastic effect by Daniel Radcliffe) and decides to change his mind. This seemingly random happening sparks an unlikely friendship that takes the pair on an epic adventure, that sees Radcliffe's dead body 'Manny', utilised as everything from a human jet ski, to providing clean water (don't ask). The premise is a strange one and the film certainly has a lot of crazy things happen, but at its core, it’s a story about life, love and loneliness. Hank is a living body who feels dead inside. Manny is a dead body with life inside him. As they strive to survive, they talk about love, sex and family. The script is funny and poignant, one of my favourite lines after Hank explains to Manny what sex is, Manny replies, 'Girls must be so nice to let guys do all these things to them.' Yes Manny, they are very nice indeed.

On the surface, a film about a man who befriends a dead body that has a case of terrible flatulence and an erection that points the way home might sound like a tough sell. And you’d be right. Swiss Army Man is as weird as it seems, but it is also truly wonderful and much, much more than a film about a farting corpse. Trust me on that one. Written and directed by Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert and starring Daniel Radcliffe and Paul Dano, this is a film made by all the Daniels. Their first feature-length film, having had an upbringing making music videos; the Dan's have made a quirky, inventive and above all beautiful film.

On IMDB under genre, the film is listed as a comedy, musical, action, adventure and fantasy, so even they aren't quite sure what it is. It's definitely not a musical, but music plays a big part and the soundtrack is genuinely incredible. The entire thing is Accapella and integrated into the film in such a way that it adds a totally unexpected and stylish element that basically just adds to how bloody imaginative this film is. It makes me feel warm just thinking about it, but maybe I just spilled my tea. Anyway, regardless of genre box ticking, this is a very interesting and unique film that is fairly difficult to compare to anything that's gone before it. At a stretch, and with a gun to my head I would say the only thing that feels similar would be something like 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' or something equally powerful. Because that's what we have here, a powerful film with an emotional core that has touched people and got them talking, and they're not just saying 'Oh my god Daniel Radcliffe can act?'...they are saying 'holy shit, I have to see that again'...although most of them probably mentioned the Radcliffe thing too.

I realise not everyone will be as sold as I am and some will watch it and think it's just plain weird. But after watching it three times (yes I'm sad) I can assure you that Swiss Army Man deserves recognition as the brilliantly crafted, heartfelt and bonkers masterpiece that it is. I absolutely love it and will be recommending it to everybody. If you could see me, I'm recommending it to you right now. And probably talking about it to someone as you read this. So please watch it! I'd be interested to know what people think. A truly brilliant and uplifting film that will make you laugh and cry in equal measure. Sweet, funny and profoundly original, a film about a dead body that brings a broken soul back to life, this is a film you need to see. Paul Dano is absolutely brilliant in this, and for once, I have nothing but praise for Daniel Radcliffe who is surprisingly excellent in a challenging role as a farting, penis-navigating corpse. So maybe he’s finally found his thing.

Thanks for reading,

Review for ‘Hunt for the Wilderpeople’ next week

Smiffy

[mr-m-smith]

‘Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates’- Review (15) * OUT NOW. By Michael Smith

It’s shit.