Reviews in a nutshell
If crazy animated antics are not your bag, look away now: Lightning McQueen gives the road over to his trusted but goofy pal Mater this time in the sequel, Cars 2. It seems Lasseterand co have gone back to the original plot of the evils of gas-guzzling cars in an environmentally-conscious world, with this story’s …
Rugged French actor Romain Duris came to international attention as charismatic professional relationship hacker Alex Lippi in Heartbreaker, opposite Vanessa Paradis last year. The unconventionally handsome actor has found a cheeky charmer niche it seems as lawyer Paul Exben in Eric Lartigau’s adaptation of Douglas Kennedy’s novel The Big Picture, a drama rather than a …
Award-winning documentary film-maker Emily James’s latest ‘window on life’ comes at a very appropriate time when most of us are feeling rather impotent and disillusioned at the way modern-day existence is heading, what with global capitalism ruling the planet and banks (and newspaper organisations) pulling the strings of those in power. Just Do It and …
Continue reading “Just Do It: A Tale Of Modern-Day Outlaws ***”
It’s the battle to end all battles, the finale to end all finales after a successful ten-year film run, with a cast who have grown into their roles and made the J.K. Rowling characters their own. A lot of the emotion felt whilst watching Part 2 of the Deathly Hallows stems not only from events …
Continue reading “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 ****”
Prison dramas are abundant, as are TV series depicting life behind bars that continue to fascinate audiences as they depict a pressure-cooker microcosm of life. So making a drama that stands out internationally is a tall order. But something quite unique about writer/director Daniel Monzón’s adaptation of Cell 211 (Celda 211)is the marriage of sheer …
As plots go, Kevin Asch’s one in Holy Rollers seems far fetched to say the least; an Orthodox Jew becoming an Ecstasy dealer and getting involved with an Israel drug cartel – sounds like the director was on drugs himself. But it also serves as one of the most compelling and unquestionably original ones to …
Film-maker Terrence Malick is an enigma, much like his films. With secrecy and speculation surrounding his latest ‘creation’ at Cannes this year, the industry prepared itself to be in awe of another Malick abstraction. And it didn’t disappoint Robert De Niro and jury, as The Tree of Lifewon the coveted Palme d’Or. Opening with a …
Director Michael Bay’s 3D battle is finally upon us this week, as Autobots and Decepticons clash once more in one almighty final confrontation on Earth – well, Chicago, actually. After being rather impressed by Paramount’s recent preview of an assortment of 15 minutes worth of 3D footage from the film and its trailer, there was …
Continue reading “Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon 3D ****”
Tom Hanks’ films usually follow the same sentimental pattern of ‘loser triumphs’, making them predictably feel-good, heart-felt and all-American. With Hanks in the title role, Larry Crowne is no exception as the amicable star brings his charismatic warmth and inoffensive humour to yet another human story. The story cashes in on current times of austerity …
