Tangled

After a spate of action filled, overly intense films I decided to "lighten things up" and watch one of the latest releases from Disney. I predicted it perfect for a Sunday evening after an afternoon filled with French coursework.

It's based around an old German fairytale, although I'd never heard of it, so to me, the story of Repunzel, a Princess with magical healing hair who was captured by an evil, wicked lady at birth to preserve her youth was totally new.

I was expecting the usual barrage of slapstick physical comedy and amusing animals but I got more than I bargained for. Despite my weariness at such a late hour I was captivated throughout. Mandy Moore, from the smash-hit A Walk To Remember, was easy on the ears and chief stud, Flyn Ryder, the charming, enigmatic and altogether perfect leading male was a character I could really relate to....Joking. He was good though!

The story follows Ryder, who evidently was on the receiving end of a big marketing push to try and attract more boys to the film, is a wanted thief who stumbles across Repunzels "house" whilst escaping the clutches of Jonny Law. They make a deal and escape together and the usual excitement ensues as we wonder if she'll a) realise that she is the Lost Princess and b) if they'll get caught and Ryder sentenced to death!!

In the cinemas it was 3D (isn't almost everything these days) so I missed that element of it on my laptop but there were a couple of scenes in particular where it would've had me reaching out in awe, most notably the Lantern Scene....emotional is all I'll say. For an animation it seems a bit odd to praise the cinematography but there were some cool visuals and sweeping countryside shots where it felt as if you were in a helicopter.

Both Ryder, whose real name we discover is Eugene (any Eugene's who watched this must've felt really lame) and Repunzel were intensely likeable and there I was willing two cartoon characters to fall in love and seal it with a kiss to boot. Her able assistant frog popped up with several moments where I laughed out loud....(if only there was an abbreviation to sum that up??) and a horse named Maximus who was equally amusing.

By all means not the best Disney film ever (will anything top the Toy Story Trilogy) but it was genuinely funny and you know that you'll end it with a smile on your face and your stomach Tangled from laughter.....

Limitless

A great premise was the key in Limitless. "Imagine what you could if you could access all of it" was the exhilarating line from the trailer referring to the pill which struggling writer Eddie Mora is given which lets him use the whole of his brain.

Bradley Cooper's first starring role as said writer has a genuinely intriguing plot. He captures the declining Mora well and is likeable enough as the "hero" we follow. After the predictable but enjoyable initial extravagant use of the "enhanced Eddie", he settles down to the serious business of making money which in turn leads him into the clutches finance-giant Karl van Loon (De Niro). I thought they had a great on-screen relationship with De Niro his usual mafia-esque self.

Mora sets about causing a huge stir by making a killing on the stock market over the course of only a few days. As his profile increases people become suspicious and as NZT (the miracle drug) is more widely discovered he attracts what you could call some heat. As I said, Cooper is likeable in his role so I was willing Eddie on to eventually come out on top, a journey which is thrilling despite some real lapses in common sense. A few times I said to my neighbour (I knew him, I'm not an overly-forward stranger) "Why doesn't he just do that?" or "surely he'd do this?" etc, which let the film down a bit. But actually, one of my queries was answered at the end, so there's some comfort there.

 Visually exciting too, with some camera work which I can only describe as "zooming", but is evidently extremely difficult to film gives it another edge and throughout it's viscerally interactive, which seems like an attempt to overwhelm our senses, but something I enjoyed nevertheless. I left the cinema annoyingly frustrated. Not because of the film, just because I really wanted to take some of the NZT and experience the super-human brain power!! Imagine it?

So Bradley Cooper's attempt to break out from his Rom/Com type cast is on the whole a success. Despite some fore mentioned holes in the plot, I can guarantee you an exciting, well-paced 104 minutes with enough development to keep you on your toes. Some actually quite funny moments too, notably with his new found language skills, increased my enjoyment no end. Its not a film to nit pick through but if you sit there, take it for what it is and relax, the fun you'll have is Limitless....

The Lincoln Lawyer

Thinking of Matthew McConaughey being a serious, hard-nosed lawyer filled me with hesitant anticipation but the trailer looked solid and I was hooked. As it turns out McConaughey's character, slick talking Mick Haller isn't all that different from the people he's played before, just with fewer jokes and less love of the ladies.

Based on a Michael Conolly novel of the sort I am a sucker for, I was very confident I'd enjoy the film and I did. It was very slick, interestingly filmed with some gorgeous shots of Beverly Hills and had plenty of plot turns which kept me thinking throughout. It centres around lawyer Haller who is chosen by millionaire playboy Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillipe) to defend him in a GBH case against a prostitute. I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't take the route I cockily predicted in my head and there was genuine tension and intrigue throughout.

The main attraction for most would be seeing how McConaughey would adapt to an all together more serious role. I am a fan of his anyway but I think I can impartially say he was very good. Haller was likeably arrogant, showing just enough vulnerability to be sincere and seemed like an all round "cool guy" despite his dubious past. I enjoyed his relationship with his driver, Earl, with whom he had some solid banter. Phillipe was his usual lock-jawed self but was convincing as one of those rich pricks who have it all and I had one of those moments when you're watching a film and for a second you shimmy in your seat  and adjust position and feel like you've just been sucked out of the film for a moment. An obvious sign that I was "emotionally involved" with the characters.

One thing that hugely confused me was the time period it was in. It's obviously set in 2011 but the opening scenes shows his Lincoln car (which to my slight curiosity had no relevance to anything at all) shot very classically and it just felt like it was set in the 80s or something. I can't really explain why so you'll have to make up your own mind but it just felt slightly odd.

All in all, McConaughey was very good, helped by good efforts from his supporting cast, and the film carries alot of interest. I didn't want it to end but was very satisfied after it did. A very good crime/drama/thriller with enough character development to be drawn into the film. Lincoln Lawyer is definitely guilty of being a good film. Sentenced to a DVD re-watch.....

Easy A

With a high rating on rottentomatoes and my desire to laugh at a film, Easy A seemed like a great choice to watch. A pretty strong cast including Penn Badgley (Dan from Gossip Girl), Cam Gigandet (Vulchok from the OC) and notably Lisa Kudrow, who I don't need to tell you was Phoebe in Friends, I was expecting to be very impressed.

The story is narrated by main character Emma Stone, who plays Olive, and recaps the eventful last few weeks of her life at high-school as the Rumour Mill puts her firmly in the social spotlight. I was slightly hesitant as it could have been overly "chick-flicky" but to my joy it was not. I LOLed on several occasions, most notably a line from Olive's father(Stanley Tucci) and her adopted brother. Hilarious I assure you

It seemed a little as though Olive was a mimic of Stone's character from smash-hit Superbad but it didn't detract from her likeability too much, although she did seem a bit too clever for her age. Her intellect and use of vocab, which at many times went over my head, was strange considering how she acts in parts but I guess it might be trying to convey the personality confusion most, if not all, adolescents face. There were none of the usual stereo-types in the school which was refreshing. No token black guy, no token geek and not really a token "hottie". Instead the kids were much more realistic which in my opinion was a great thing because it made for a slightly more sophisticated comedy and makes Easy A an unusual version of a common story.

An over-religious Amanda Bynes as God-worshipper Marianne did grate a little toward the end but provided laughs for the most part. It was very polished and I think would even appeal to some adults. Olive's parents were very amusing, even if sometimes it was trying to be too funny, brought some substance to the story which made me care what was going on as supposed to simply finding it funny and s the film finished I was smiling and wishing it wasn't.

Easy A is a slightly different take on the high school comedy and well worth a DVD night in with friends. I laughed and chuckled for 90 minutes and overall I'd give it a poetically ironic A....

Inside Job

Being an Economics student and with my "passion" for the subject diminishing daily I thought I would watch the 2011 Oscar winning Documentary, Inside Job, to try and spark some interest!

It charts the demise of the financial market, initially in Iceland and then in the US and uncovers the people behind it. With Matt Damon as the narrator, Director Charles Ferguson has given it some "sex appeal", perhaps opening it up a larger audience than would have otherwise watched it. His neutral, unsympathetic tone of voice is brilliant in presenting shocking facts in a matter of fact way and he delivers the complicated intricacies of the crisis in simple, understandable terms. There are many breathtaking shots of Iceland and Manhattan which also help to break up the exhausting avalanche of Stock Exchange hatred!

Obviously, Inside Job is highly bias against the Investment Banks, Mortgage Brokers etc. and I do take that into account. Similarly with the editing of the interviews, I'm slightly sceptical as to whether they ran as filmed. However, and this is a huge however, it is impossible to watch this and not finish absolutely despising Capitalism and Politics. It is unrelenting in its assassination of anyone and everyone to do with corporate giants like Merryl Lynch and Goldman Sachs who acted breathtakingly greedily and immaturely. I literally cried out expletives on a minute by minute basis as it methodically lays out on a plate what went on over the last decade. I was surprised to see the problems were highlighted to began as far back as the 80s which served to create further anguish at how this was allowed to happen.

To my horror, an economist, Feldstein, whose papers I'm being told to read, is signalled out as a key player in successfully resisting regulation on the infamous Sub prime Market. I cannot describe how ridiculous some of the decisions made, by massively powerful people, seem. I may be a touch naive as to their world but there is no defence in what many of them seem to claim that "everyone would do it". Seeing the footage of the CEO's of failed Banks squirming under questioning was highly entertaining but then you learn that not one of them has been charged, for anything! Obscene

Even president Obama, who I've always liked, has re-employed several of the very people at the top of these organisations responsible for crippling America to his administration!! There are dozens of moments where I thought "wtf how can that happen" and "oh my god are you an absolute idiot". The shock and awe nature of this documentary has left me fuming and there are many more equally unbelievable revelations I don't wish to expose you to. I implore you to watch this skillfully and professionally made picture as it will at worst challenge your faith in the whole systems that guide us and at best leave you, like me, wishing you could run into one of these men and punch them in the face!

Monsters

This British sci-fi indie caught my eye at the recent BAFTA's where it was nominated for Outstanding Debut by a British Director. Although it subsequently lost out my intrigue didn't waiver.

It's set six years after NASA discovers the possibility of alien life within our solar system. A probe was launched to collect samples, but crashed upon re-entry over Central America. New life forms began to appear and half of Mexico was quarantined as an Infected Zone. The American and Mexican military struggle to contain "the creatures" and the story centres around a US journalist who is made to escort his bosses daughter back to the safety of the US border. Sounds interesting right?? Especially considering that the budget was under $500,000 and all of the special effects were done by writer/director Gareth Edwards with off-the-shelf software on his home PC!

I was surprised to find that we are shown one of "the monsters" during the opening credits. I was afraid that due to the small budget that it was going to be one of those frustrating films where you never really see the aliens. It worked well in the old films like Jaws but lets face it, in this day and age we really want to see what's going on. So this was a nice early surprise. The "monsters" take on giant squid-like forms which added to their authenticity as I wasn't thinking "wtf" when I saw them.

 

So we follow Sam(Whitney Able) and Caulder(Scoot McNairy) as their trip home faces setbacks and they end up rather predictably having to go through the heart of the Infected Zone. I'll say right off that I thought the acting was great. In essence, Monsters is a love-story and the director deliberately chose a real life couple as his leads. The sexual tension is very real and it works to create believable potential in their relationship. Able is extremely easy on the eye but I did get a bit annoyed with her persistent "I'm deep in thought looking into the distance" face. I got over this though and she was likeable, not the cringe, weak and vulnerable female leads which are usually seen in these sorts of films. Unfortunately I got a vibe from McNairy's character which I can only describe as dickish! I did warm to him, though, as the film progressed and he delivered a great quote. When asked by Sam whether he feels bad that something sad has to happen for him to have work he says, "what....like a doctor?".

The suspense is genuine and I was frequently found on the edge of my bean bag during run-ins with the creatures! It doesn't have too much of an indie feel about it which is testament to Edwards' production team and amazing considering all the extras were locals whom he persuaded to be in the film!

I couldn't help but think that "the Wall" (erected by the US to keep out the monsters) was a little dig at them but having some British pride in me I loved it. All in all I really, really enjoyed Monsters and would highly recommend it, a brilliantly elegant scene at the end was very intense and brought a smile to my face. Even if the very end was a bit abrupt for me. An unusual setting for a romance, Monsters shows that you don't need big budgets to produce a captivating movie..

Slumdog Millionaire

With the Oscars coming up on Sunday I went through the past winners to find something to watch and realised I've never seen the Danny Boyle smash-hit of 2008, and winner of Best Picture, Slumdog Millionaire. I remember when it came out thinking that this wouldn't be a film for me and resolutely stood by that to the point where the whole craze passed me by.

Confidently into my 20s and with a new-found respect for films without car chases or Angelina Jolie, I can declare that I was wrong to resist watching this for so long. I thought it was excellent. Fearing that perhaps it would be a simple story of Dev Patel, playing lead Jamal Malik, winning Indian Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, I was pleasantly surprised with the backstory behind each of his answers. I enjoy films which jump between time periods as it keeps you on your toes. Boyle does a good job in ensuring that things do not become messy nor leave you wondering who's who or what's what, a mistake often seen with this type of filming. The poetic connections between some of the answers were the sort which make you go "aaahhhhh" whilst openly grinning.

The child actors were terrific, especially the youngest Jamal who was adorable as the younger brother of bully Salim and really helped to make the early days of the Malik brothers' lives interesting. Often if they aren't up to scratch, films lose impact and become un-believable when the children don't act well but thats no problem here. Some incredible shots of India during this period, especially during the slum scenes, were fantastic on the eye. The vivid colours of the locals washing their "things" were amazing and, although I've never been, I felt like I got a real sense of the frenzy of India.

Having found Dev Patel incredibly annoying in his breakthrough role in Skins, I didn't think of him as that character at all, a sign that his acting was successful. I did though find in some parts that his face seemed to be stuck in a "I've had a really hard, troubled life and am in constant discomfort" kind of expression which was a bit one dimensional but on the whole he was very good. Anil Kapoor had the perfect swagger for the presenter of the show and so too Madhur Mittal, playing Salim Malik, was authentic as Jamal's troubled brother, however I could not help but think all throughout the time he was on screen that he looked exactly like Bruno Mars????

Onto Freida Pinto then, as the stunningly attractive Latika, the childhood sweetheart of Jamal. She had relatively little involvement but for me, as long as I never think something like "she can't act" or "thats not believable" then said actor has done a solid job and this is the case for Freida. Obviously she is sensational to look at in shot but for this, and for reasons I shall explain, Slumdog falls down a bit and leaves me questioning as to whether it is a film deserved of 8 Oscars.

It was obvious from the minute Jamal allowed Latika into his temporary shelter aged around 5 or 6 that they would be destined to become adult lovers. The only thing that I believe let the film down was the fact that even in pre-adolescence, Jamal was talking of his "destiny" to find and be with Latika and he, on several occasions throughout the film, mentioned that she was all he'd been looking for. I don't know about others but when I was 12,13,14 the last thing I was thinking about was being in love and getting married, and I was hardly the butchest of teenagers. I realise that this isn't as suited to Hollywood as an epic tale of romance but for me Slumdog wasn't a "Hollywood" film. It had more depth to it until it became about simply Jamal finding his love. I'm not saying it makes the film bad by any means. It was thoroughly enjoyable throughout but it had potential to be alot more.

 

The romantic in me though, as I have shown in previous posts, was thrilled with the ending. I did, though, think that Boyle could have made it slightly less obvious that they would be together, as it was a touch predictable. This said, the very end sequence left me unashamedly teary!!...Not for long though as the ridiculous post-credit "dance" I found to be utterly idiotic. After an intense and passionate story I didn't think a comic dance with the main cast at the spot where Latika and Jamal came together was in any way appropriate. My sense of humour had been put to one side for a dramatic couple of hours and the credits only caused me to raise a sceptical eyebrow and take the DVD out in frustration.

All in all though, it was, as quoted on the poster "a heartwarming story" and as an original way to tell a story from India, it deserves great credit but 8 Oscars....I'm not so sure....