What do you get if you put Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, several big character actors and guns on location in South Africa? Suprisingly, a pretty good thriller.
Ryan Reynolds plays Matt Weston, a CIA safe house-keeper who is desperate for a promotion that's a little more stimulating than watching a bunch of monitors, which is all he seems to do. He has a nice French girlfriend in Cape Town and an opening credit sequence which allows for the obligatory Ryan Reynolds topless shot (pretty sure that's now written into every contract he signs). Meanwhile, Denzel Washington's Tobin Frost, rogue agent extraordinaire and downright cool customer, is engaging in some shady operations in the city. Frost, willingly captured, is brought to Weston's house, which turns out, unlike the title suggests, to not be that safe. After they come under attack by mysterious assailants, the pair are forced into a begrudging partnership. And once that happens, the film doesn't really let you stop for breath.
Directed by Daniel Espinosa (his first mainstream feature), Safe House shouldn't be good. It's got all the cliches of a bad thriller; the mismatched partners, the shady CIA operatives, car chases and a plot twist that any remotely active viewer will see coming a mile off. But somehow, amidst all the genre checklist, Espinosa creates a film that is tense, edge-of-your-seat stuff that lets you forget that you're watching what could have been something awful.
This is largely down to the performances of the two leads with Reynolds and Washington. Although both roles are the kind that the two actors could do in their sleep, they nevertheless give Weston and Frost more than just the stereotypical hero/anti-hero stuff. As a result, when the inevitable denouement occurs, the chemistry between the pair ensures that you actually care where it's all going to end up. This is also a key factor in the fight scenes; instead of cutting to wide shots of a couple of figures tussling, Espinosa brings you right into the action, holding the shot whilst the punches fly in to the point of it becoming claustrophobic. You see every fist or knee connecting, hands around throats or knives perilously close to flesh to the point of almost feeling the blows yourself. In a seriously impressive car chase scene, you, of course, get all the usual shots of cars flying down the street, people scattering and metal-crunching impacts, but you're also thrust into the car itself.
In this respect, the South Africa location is inspired and is utilised to its full effect. A refreshing change from the usual American cityscapes, Cape Town gives the film another edge. It's grimy and sweaty, adding to the claustrophobic atmosphere that builds throughout the film. Even when the location switches to the countryside, we're forced inside and narrow corridors become the focus, rather than the wide open spaces beyond. One particularly effective action sequence takes place in a township of rickety, tightly-packed buildings. Unlike many action films who suffer from such fast cuts that you have absolutely no idea what's going on until a survivor emerges, this sequence follows three parties, on foot, across roofs and in vehicles. Such is the effectiveness of the editing that you never lose track of who is doing what to who, despite it going at the same fast pace.
By twisting all of the usual cliches ever so slightly, intense action sequences and with impressive lead performances, Safe House is a lot better than I expected. Sadly, its third act in all its predictability does let the side down slightly. However, it's well worth a night-in, if only to see a Reynolds-Washington pairing that knock three kinds of hell out of each other and everyone else.
****
- Becky
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Friday, 17 February 2012
NEWS: Hustle Finale
After 8 series, 48 episodes, one BBC three spin-off series, two exits and two new characters, Kudos Productions’ Bafta nominated con-men drama for BBC One, Hustle, will end tonight. I have waxed lyrical regarding my love for this programme on the blog before but I feel that, tonight being something of a special occasion for the show, I am well within my rights to do so again.
It has long been a brilliant means of escapism for grumpy BBC viewers, and particularly Londoners, as it created an alternate version of the city where a gang of five people could do precisely what they liked to earn their money, whilst still playing fairly of course, and no one, not even the Old Bill were going to stop them. And in a world plagued by financial recession, terrorism and ancient apocalyptic predictions - it was very welcome.
Not only was it well timed and well intentioned, but well made, too. Slick camera work, post-modern audience addresses and plot twists worthy of Arthur Conan Doyle, it has been thoroughly entertaining from start to finish.
There are rumours afoot of the return of a familiar character tonight (well, they’re more the rumours, we’ve seen the photos) – Jaime Murray’s Stacey Monroe. Her interaction with characters both old and new is set to make fascinating viewing for long time fans of the show. It’s also clear, from the tiny snippets of information we were fed from both the teaser trailer at the beginning of the year as well as the preview at the end of last week’s episode, that this will be the gang’s biggest con yet, and that the episode will feature an alarming looking rooftop scene, gangsters and guns.
Other than that, we don’t really know anything. Will they all die horribly in a clash with Russian mobsters? Will only some of them die? Will they all walk away at the end just like always? I really don’t know. What I do know, is that Hustle will be sorely missed.
The finale of Hustle airs tonight, on BBC 1 at 9pm.
- Jen
- Jen
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
FEATURE: Valentine's Day Special
As the majority of you have probably noticed due to the sudden influx of flowers, chocolates and general heart-shaped paraphernalia, it's Valentine's Day. Instead of providing you with the usual list of ideal Valentine's Day films, we're going to put in a little twist this year; Jen will provide you with three films for all you loved-up couples while Becky suggests another three for those people who lack a date this time around. So, if you're preparing to cuddle up to your Valentine tomorrow or nursing a certain amount of hatred towards the most couple-y day of the year, we've got a list of ideal films to choose from.
For the Singleton:
I've noticed a certain trend amongst single people coming up to Valentine's Day and it conveniently splits into three specific groups. First of all, you've got your angry/hate-the-world types who don't really want to ignore Valentine's Day, they want to grab it by the throat and punch it in the face. Secondly, you've got your solidarity bunch, a group of people who band together to ignore the fact that none of them have a date. And finally, you've got your hopeless romantics, convinced that this time next year, they'll be dining on an M&S Meal for Two and gazing adoringly into the eyes of their other half. With that in mind, I've got a film for each category, matching up the emotional state with a silver-screen counterpart.
1). Reservoir Dogs
Quentin Tarentino's debut feature is one long round of swearing and violence from start to finish. A heist movie that doesn't feature an actual heist, it has entered the popular culture consciousness for the iconic walking (spoofed brilliantly in Coupling) and characters like Mr Blue, Mr White and Mr Pink. Thanks in large part to Michael Madsen's Mr Blonde, the film can be quite gruesome, particularly the infamous ear scene, and the fact that Tim Roth's Mr Orange is slowly bleeding to death in the background for the entire film. Also it does not feature a romantic sub-plot in any way and allows the viewer to work out their aggression through all the shooting, hitting and ear-hacking that goes on. This makes it the perfect film for those angry types who wish to revile Valentine's Day and ignore their own lack of romantic sub-plot.
2). The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
This is a case of pick one or watch them all if you really want to miss the entire day. For all you out there craving solidarity in your singledom, this is an entire film of people of all kinds coming together to defeat an unstoppable evil. So you could see this an allegory of your attempts to combine your forces to collectively ignore one of the commercial events of the year. Well... if you really wanted to. Either way, the undeniable quality of the trilogy will mean you get lost in the realm of Middle Earth, caught up in Frodo and Sam's struggle to Mordor or the thrill of the Battle of Helm's Deep. Whilst there is the odd adoring gaze, the film is pretty light on romance but with arrows swooshing through the air and oliphaunts stomping the Pelennor Fields, you won't have time to think about it.
3. When Harry Met Sally
You may think it unusual for me to put this on the Singleton section but there is method in my madness I assure you. For all the hopeless romantics out there, this film represents the light at the end of the tunnel. Harry and Sally meet several times over the course of a few years, starting off hating each other, becoming friends and then falling in love. There's many false starts, an unforgettable scene in a diner, some dodgy karaoke and one of the best 'I'm in love with you' speeches that cinema has to offer. So for those lamenting their lack-of-relationship and wanting to live vicariously in the romantic moment, this film will offer that little ray of hope. One day, you too might meet your Harry or your Sally, depending on preference, and you'll share a lovely coconut wedding cake with chocolate sauce on the side. And if that doesn't sound like your cup of tea, see Choice 1.
For the Coupled Up:
For me, as a loved- up lady of the long term relationship, romantic films should be about re-affirming who you already are as a couple. Film nights for couples, romantic or otherwise, are about tucking in to the popcorn, pick and mix, and cheap pop, and enjoying your relationship for what it is, not necessarily some Hollywood image of what it could be.
So, after much pondering and a fairly hefty amount of pop psychology, I have come to the conclusion that, with this in mind, the sort of film you choose to watch with your better half when, say, in a more romantic frame of mind, probably has a lot to say about your relationship. Ergo, I have aimed my choice of three towards different types of couple, in an attempt to help relationship-ers everywhere choose the perfect film for that cosy night in tomorrow night.
That said, my boyfriend and I always watch horrors, so lord alone knows what that says about us.
1). The Notebook. For the Together Forever Types.
As with all the choices on my list, the message of The Notebook is that true love conquers all. Be it mental illness, long distances, and even other, lesser loves- your love for ‘the one’ will somehow find a way. The reason, then, that this film works for the cuddly, ‘I’ll love you always’ types, is that its whole ethos is not that of a simple ‘boy meets girl’ story. Our girl, Ally (Rachel McAdams) and boy, Noah (Ryan Gosling) do at some point meet, obviously, and it’s very sweet and cutesy and lovely and small town America. But then there are arguments. Huge, ferocious arguments. Girl then moves away, and meets someone else, believing that boy has rejected her. But after all of this, and despite being engaged to a trendy city type, Ally still chooses to go back out to the countryside to live with Noah. Her one true love. And that’s just one narrative arc. The other sees the older Noah and Ally, still together, with love this time overcoming both her mental illness and their ailing health. The message of this film, then, is that if your love is real, and true, that is all that matter. This film is perfect, then, for the ‘everything is rosy as long as we have each other, and no matter what happens we’ll be together forever’ types, as it will only serve to re-affirm how they already feel every time they look at each other.
2). Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, for the Arty We Love Each Other, But We’re Just Too Damn Cool For Romance type
Eternal Sunshine… in my opinion, is one of the brightest, and sharpest love stories ever made. Again, the main idea is that love overcomes all obstacles, memory in this case. However this is a far better choice, and in fact a far better film full stop, than say the similar themed 50 First Dates. This is simply because it drags itself, and its viewer, kicking and screaming out of the traditional love story mode and into something entirely new, quirky and clever. Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet) do fall in love, true, as couples have in every other romantic film since rose petals were first sprinkled across a duvet. But this is such a disjointed, well woven and frankly odd story that this film can be appreciated in its own right, completely aside from the romance. You can ignore the mantra of enduring love central idea and enjoy it simply as a clever indie flick with a few stars thrown in. (Whilst still subtly and secretly rooting for the central couple, of course- you’re not totally heartless.) Watch it with your other half if you would like to bring just a smattering of romance, to this international day of love, but are about as likely to buy an ‘I love you’ soft toy as you are to head off into the garden and start eating worms.
3). Moulin Rouge. For the Epic, Look How Much We/They Are In Love But Everything Just Conspires Against Us/Them type.
Now don’t get me wrong, Moulin Rouge is a fantastically versatile film, and one which can be enjoyed on many levels- the gorgeous scenery, the dancers, the music, the great performances- the list really is endless. But when it comes to couple types, this one goes straight to the top of the list for the type in need of a bit of drama. The type which feels most in love when crying over their other half- be it with tears of sadness or happiness. Again, it’s safe to say that love overcomes all, in this plot. In fact, it’s hard to ignore. We are straight away hit with the powerful image of the words ‘The greatest thing you’ll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return’ appearing on a typewriter, as the heartbroken Christian (Ewan McGregor), still desperately in love with and grieving for the love of his life, Satine, (Nicole Kidman), begins to write their story. Thus adding enough drama and tragedy to suit any couple in need of a bit of a cuddle and a weep. And at the end of it, unlike the ill-starred lovers of Baz Luhrmann’s world, you’ll still have each other. Granted, the tears may not be ideal for Valentine’s Day, but the sentiment sure as hell is.
So there you have it- different films for different couples. Which, if I had my way, is exactly what Valentine’s Day itself would be like.
For the Singleton:
I've noticed a certain trend amongst single people coming up to Valentine's Day and it conveniently splits into three specific groups. First of all, you've got your angry/hate-the-world types who don't really want to ignore Valentine's Day, they want to grab it by the throat and punch it in the face. Secondly, you've got your solidarity bunch, a group of people who band together to ignore the fact that none of them have a date. And finally, you've got your hopeless romantics, convinced that this time next year, they'll be dining on an M&S Meal for Two and gazing adoringly into the eyes of their other half. With that in mind, I've got a film for each category, matching up the emotional state with a silver-screen counterpart.
1). Reservoir Dogs
Quentin Tarentino's debut feature is one long round of swearing and violence from start to finish. A heist movie that doesn't feature an actual heist, it has entered the popular culture consciousness for the iconic walking (spoofed brilliantly in Coupling) and characters like Mr Blue, Mr White and Mr Pink. Thanks in large part to Michael Madsen's Mr Blonde, the film can be quite gruesome, particularly the infamous ear scene, and the fact that Tim Roth's Mr Orange is slowly bleeding to death in the background for the entire film. Also it does not feature a romantic sub-plot in any way and allows the viewer to work out their aggression through all the shooting, hitting and ear-hacking that goes on. This makes it the perfect film for those angry types who wish to revile Valentine's Day and ignore their own lack of romantic sub-plot.
2). The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
This is a case of pick one or watch them all if you really want to miss the entire day. For all you out there craving solidarity in your singledom, this is an entire film of people of all kinds coming together to defeat an unstoppable evil. So you could see this an allegory of your attempts to combine your forces to collectively ignore one of the commercial events of the year. Well... if you really wanted to. Either way, the undeniable quality of the trilogy will mean you get lost in the realm of Middle Earth, caught up in Frodo and Sam's struggle to Mordor or the thrill of the Battle of Helm's Deep. Whilst there is the odd adoring gaze, the film is pretty light on romance but with arrows swooshing through the air and oliphaunts stomping the Pelennor Fields, you won't have time to think about it.
3. When Harry Met Sally
You may think it unusual for me to put this on the Singleton section but there is method in my madness I assure you. For all the hopeless romantics out there, this film represents the light at the end of the tunnel. Harry and Sally meet several times over the course of a few years, starting off hating each other, becoming friends and then falling in love. There's many false starts, an unforgettable scene in a diner, some dodgy karaoke and one of the best 'I'm in love with you' speeches that cinema has to offer. So for those lamenting their lack-of-relationship and wanting to live vicariously in the romantic moment, this film will offer that little ray of hope. One day, you too might meet your Harry or your Sally, depending on preference, and you'll share a lovely coconut wedding cake with chocolate sauce on the side. And if that doesn't sound like your cup of tea, see Choice 1.
For the Coupled Up:
For me, as a loved- up lady of the long term relationship, romantic films should be about re-affirming who you already are as a couple. Film nights for couples, romantic or otherwise, are about tucking in to the popcorn, pick and mix, and cheap pop, and enjoying your relationship for what it is, not necessarily some Hollywood image of what it could be.
So, after much pondering and a fairly hefty amount of pop psychology, I have come to the conclusion that, with this in mind, the sort of film you choose to watch with your better half when, say, in a more romantic frame of mind, probably has a lot to say about your relationship. Ergo, I have aimed my choice of three towards different types of couple, in an attempt to help relationship-ers everywhere choose the perfect film for that cosy night in tomorrow night.
That said, my boyfriend and I always watch horrors, so lord alone knows what that says about us.
1). The Notebook. For the Together Forever Types.
As with all the choices on my list, the message of The Notebook is that true love conquers all. Be it mental illness, long distances, and even other, lesser loves- your love for ‘the one’ will somehow find a way. The reason, then, that this film works for the cuddly, ‘I’ll love you always’ types, is that its whole ethos is not that of a simple ‘boy meets girl’ story. Our girl, Ally (Rachel McAdams) and boy, Noah (Ryan Gosling) do at some point meet, obviously, and it’s very sweet and cutesy and lovely and small town America. But then there are arguments. Huge, ferocious arguments. Girl then moves away, and meets someone else, believing that boy has rejected her. But after all of this, and despite being engaged to a trendy city type, Ally still chooses to go back out to the countryside to live with Noah. Her one true love. And that’s just one narrative arc. The other sees the older Noah and Ally, still together, with love this time overcoming both her mental illness and their ailing health. The message of this film, then, is that if your love is real, and true, that is all that matter. This film is perfect, then, for the ‘everything is rosy as long as we have each other, and no matter what happens we’ll be together forever’ types, as it will only serve to re-affirm how they already feel every time they look at each other.
2). Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, for the Arty We Love Each Other, But We’re Just Too Damn Cool For Romance type
Eternal Sunshine… in my opinion, is one of the brightest, and sharpest love stories ever made. Again, the main idea is that love overcomes all obstacles, memory in this case. However this is a far better choice, and in fact a far better film full stop, than say the similar themed 50 First Dates. This is simply because it drags itself, and its viewer, kicking and screaming out of the traditional love story mode and into something entirely new, quirky and clever. Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet) do fall in love, true, as couples have in every other romantic film since rose petals were first sprinkled across a duvet. But this is such a disjointed, well woven and frankly odd story that this film can be appreciated in its own right, completely aside from the romance. You can ignore the mantra of enduring love central idea and enjoy it simply as a clever indie flick with a few stars thrown in. (Whilst still subtly and secretly rooting for the central couple, of course- you’re not totally heartless.) Watch it with your other half if you would like to bring just a smattering of romance, to this international day of love, but are about as likely to buy an ‘I love you’ soft toy as you are to head off into the garden and start eating worms.
3). Moulin Rouge. For the Epic, Look How Much We/They Are In Love But Everything Just Conspires Against Us/Them type.
Now don’t get me wrong, Moulin Rouge is a fantastically versatile film, and one which can be enjoyed on many levels- the gorgeous scenery, the dancers, the music, the great performances- the list really is endless. But when it comes to couple types, this one goes straight to the top of the list for the type in need of a bit of drama. The type which feels most in love when crying over their other half- be it with tears of sadness or happiness. Again, it’s safe to say that love overcomes all, in this plot. In fact, it’s hard to ignore. We are straight away hit with the powerful image of the words ‘The greatest thing you’ll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return’ appearing on a typewriter, as the heartbroken Christian (Ewan McGregor), still desperately in love with and grieving for the love of his life, Satine, (Nicole Kidman), begins to write their story. Thus adding enough drama and tragedy to suit any couple in need of a bit of a cuddle and a weep. And at the end of it, unlike the ill-starred lovers of Baz Luhrmann’s world, you’ll still have each other. Granted, the tears may not be ideal for Valentine’s Day, but the sentiment sure as hell is.
So there you have it- different films for different couples. Which, if I had my way, is exactly what Valentine’s Day itself would be like.
Sunday, 12 February 2012
FILM REVIEW: The Woman In Black
I walked in to the cinema to watch The Woman in Black, after an unexpected and rather embarrassing detour into the screening of Young Adult, with some unhelpful baggage. And I don’t mean the three jackets and bucket load of popcorn I’d had to awkwardly smuggle into the correct screen with me.
The baggage in question was the knowledge that this film version of The Woman in Black, written by Jane Goldman and directed by James Watkins, is the story’s third outing. Its third adaptation after appearing first as a book, written by Susan Hill in 1983, and secondly as a long-running play, currently on at Covent Garden’s Fortune Theatre. I walked in to the cinema knowing all of this. I can’t say I knew a great deal about either of the other two adaptations, but I knew they existed.
The funny thing is, even without this, if I’d gone in to the film completely cold, having never heard of The Woman in Black the play, having never heard of the book, I still think I would have walked out at the end with at least a fairly strong inkling that this story wasn’t always supposed to be a film.
It’s not the script that’s the problem. Goldman’s screenwriting is, in itself, as strong as ever. It isn’t the direction of individual scenes- each and every one is well put together, and when Watkins gets it right, he gets it very right. It isn’t the cinematography, the locations or the camera work- all are well thought out and this comes across. It’s not even the performances. Another piece of baggage I walked in with was the belief that I was likely to find Daniel Radcliffe far too young for the role of Arthur, a widower with a four year old son, but even that didn’t bother me after the first few scenes.
Because the one, real problem I had with this film was the pacing. It may seem like a small issue, but it means that the film never quite settles. It never quite relaxes into itself- and as a result it never quite immerses you fully- and this is crucial for any film. It takes far too long to build up the suspense needed for a really successful horror, and when it does, it is thrown away far too hurriedly. Things finally get exciting when Radcliffe’s character spends the night alone at the haunted house on the marshes, but this is all too quickly over, as is the second night spent there with Sam Daily (Ciaran Hinds).
This problematic pacing gives the viewer an unsettling experience, but for all the wrong reasons. True, some scenes are genuinely terrifying, and the building up of atmosphere and intrigue can be excellent, particularly in the hands of Janet McTeer’s Mrs Daily. But this is a film, not a play, and it needs more. It needs more than a shadowy figure periodically appearing. It needs more than a few doors opening by themselves, and a chair rocking of its own accord. There isn’t enough terror for it work as a horror, and there isn’t enough plot for it to work as a thriller. The truth is, it never quite has the confidence to stand up for itself as a story in its own right, and suffers for it.
Perhaps if you go in to the cinema with no prior expectations, no awareness of the previous adaptations, and having somehow un-read this review, you will be able to appreciate this film for what it is, and enjoy it. I am, admittedly, a huge horror fan, so perhaps this too held me back as I was expecting more thrills than I was ever going to get. So by all means go forth and see it for yourselves. You may appreciate it far more than I did.
But I can’t promise anything.
**
One for the dog, whose tail wagged throughout his performance, even in the scariest scenes, and another for the times I genuinely jumped out of my skin.
http://thewomaninblack-movie.co.uk/
- Jen
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
NEWS: The Amazing Spider-man Trailer
In my previous post about the big films of 2012, I decided not to include The Amazing Spider-man because, frankly, the first trailer left me feeling a little cold. It seemed to be going down a route that was almost melodramatic, all rising choral music and emoting in dark corners, not to mention the vertigo-inducing first-person clamber across the New York skyline. Whilst I am still puzzled at why Spiderman needed to be rebooted after Sam Raimi's 2002 film, I wanted to remain open-minded about this - Andrew Garfield is one of the finest up and coming actors, Emma Stone can do no wrong and Marc Webb's 500 Days of Summer is a very good film but the first trailer failed to capture the imagination. So The Amazing Spider-man was relegated to Honourable Mentions, but on the viewing of the second trailer, released today, I may just have to change my mind.
We're looking at something that is perhaps a little closer to the Spiderman of the comics than the Spider-man in in the Sam Raimi film. First of all, here's a witty, funny Peter Parker, as capable of dashing off a quick one-liner as he is beating up several police officers. Humour was always something that was never quite fulfilled in the previous incarnation of Spider-man, unless of course you count the emo dancing scene in the third film (though I don't think that was intentional). There's also a glimpse of a web-shooter which was the original source of Spidey's ability to swing from building to building on little more than a web-like string while the love interest, Gwen Stacey, was his canonical first, appearing before Mary Jane came along. We're given a longer glimpse of Rhys Ifans' Dr Curt Connors (aka the Lizard) who looks like he could be a suitably snarling villain and we see his origins; it is Peter himself whose formula allows the Lizard to be created. This also sets up the plot; Peter will have to learn Uncle Ben's oft-quoted lesson the hard way. I'm sure you know which lesson I mean.
Another reason for my reconsideration is the way in which the recent trailer and some preview footage, which debuted last night at a special event, has been received by the press. The predominant reaction has been one of great enthusiasm for both, praise going especially to the removal of all the emotional stuff in favour of solid comic-book style action. Another aspect of the film that is looking very interesting is the idea of exploring Peter's relationship with his parents, or rather the lack of it, and how this has affected the high school student we see. One thing that has continued to emerge, and has been the only aspect of the film that inspired me with confidence from the beginning, is Andrew Garfield's relationship to the character he is portraying. From his completely adorable introduction at Comic-Con last year to the interview he gave yesterday, Garfield has demonstrated that he is unequivocally a complete Spiderman fanboy and with someone that passionate in the lead role, one can only hope that he has ensured the film will do its source material justice.
- Becky
We're looking at something that is perhaps a little closer to the Spiderman of the comics than the Spider-man in in the Sam Raimi film. First of all, here's a witty, funny Peter Parker, as capable of dashing off a quick one-liner as he is beating up several police officers. Humour was always something that was never quite fulfilled in the previous incarnation of Spider-man, unless of course you count the emo dancing scene in the third film (though I don't think that was intentional). There's also a glimpse of a web-shooter which was the original source of Spidey's ability to swing from building to building on little more than a web-like string while the love interest, Gwen Stacey, was his canonical first, appearing before Mary Jane came along. We're given a longer glimpse of Rhys Ifans' Dr Curt Connors (aka the Lizard) who looks like he could be a suitably snarling villain and we see his origins; it is Peter himself whose formula allows the Lizard to be created. This also sets up the plot; Peter will have to learn Uncle Ben's oft-quoted lesson the hard way. I'm sure you know which lesson I mean.
Another reason for my reconsideration is the way in which the recent trailer and some preview footage, which debuted last night at a special event, has been received by the press. The predominant reaction has been one of great enthusiasm for both, praise going especially to the removal of all the emotional stuff in favour of solid comic-book style action. Another aspect of the film that is looking very interesting is the idea of exploring Peter's relationship with his parents, or rather the lack of it, and how this has affected the high school student we see. One thing that has continued to emerge, and has been the only aspect of the film that inspired me with confidence from the beginning, is Andrew Garfield's relationship to the character he is portraying. From his completely adorable introduction at Comic-Con last year to the interview he gave yesterday, Garfield has demonstrated that he is unequivocally a complete Spiderman fanboy and with someone that passionate in the lead role, one can only hope that he has ensured the film will do its source material justice.
- Becky
Monday, 6 February 2012
NEWS: The Avengers Superbowl Slot
Whilst the Giants were battling the Patriots for the glory of winning the Superbowl, audiences were treated to a fight between giants and patriots of a superhero-kind. As you have probably all guessed from my previous post, I am ridiculously excited about The Avengers; it's not just because it's the largest gathering of superheroes since Comic-Con, Joss Whedon or Chris Hemsworth's flowing locks but because, from the footage so far, it looks awesome. You can view the Superbowl advert here.
Now I am fully aware that we probably have a grand total of 3 minutes of footage released so far from the actual film and plenty can go wrong in a full feature, but everything about that footage has impressed. Particularly the final line of the Superbowl advert. I won't ruin it for you here (chances are if you've been following this film's progress as avidly as I have, you'll know it already) but it's worth it just for that ten seconds. It also gives us a look at the other Avengers such as Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) who have so far been a little lost among the other superhero heavyweights.
Oh yes, and there's a Hulk.
- Becky
Now I am fully aware that we probably have a grand total of 3 minutes of footage released so far from the actual film and plenty can go wrong in a full feature, but everything about that footage has impressed. Particularly the final line of the Superbowl advert. I won't ruin it for you here (chances are if you've been following this film's progress as avidly as I have, you'll know it already) but it's worth it just for that ten seconds. It also gives us a look at the other Avengers such as Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) who have so far been a little lost among the other superhero heavyweights.
Oh yes, and there's a Hulk.
- Becky
Sunday, 5 February 2012
FEATURE: 2012 - It's Gonna Be Big
We're one month into 2012 and various people have already started going on about how the world is going to end. Details are still cagey on whether or not it will actually involve John Cusack running away from a lot of stuff or something about neutrinos that has no scientific basis in fact. What we do know is that 2012 is going to be a good year to head to the cinema. Although film releases so far have been mainly awards-bait material such as The Artist and The Descendants, they've set the bar pretty high for their big screen successors. But what a year it is set to be. Instead of rattling through every single film to be released in the next 11 months, I've decided to present you with the Top 10(ish) movies I'm most excited about. So without further ado, here's the Assorted Buffery shortlist of what to look out for in 2012. Click on the movie title headers for trailers.
Daniel Radcliffe's starring role in this adaptation of the play, itself taken from Susan Hill's novel, has led to many people labelling the film as 'What Harry Did Next', understandably so given its horror/Gothic-y overtones. However, this is Radcliffe all grown up, portraying a father looking to take care of his young son and having to take a particularly dodgy job as a result. Early reviews have been favourable, praising his performance (well he's had plenty of 'look scared' practice) and it seems that the film is genuinely scary which is refreshing. No doubt Jen, our resident horror movie buff will be looking forward to seeing this one when it's released nationwide on February 10.
Way back in 1999 (was it really that long ago?!), we were introduced to four guys who made a pact between them to lose their virginity by graduation and followed the hilarious consequences that included, amongst others, milfs, 'pale' ale and an infamous encounter with an apple pie. After the two follow-up sequels, the American Pie series became a seemingly endless cycle of straight-to-DVD features that failed to replicate either the comedy or the success of the original trilogy. Now, the gang is back together for their high school renuion; Jim and Michelle are married with a child, Oz and Kevin are succcessful career-men, Finch is nowhere to be found and Stifler is... well Stifler. Reuniting the entire original cast, including Eugene Levy's awkward dad, American Reunion takes us back to East Falls High and from the look of the trailer, back to the racy humour that made it such a hit on the first place. Head to the school reunion on May 2.
Fairy tales are the current go-to source material for several blockbusters coming up in the next couple of years and Snow White has got two interpretations this year with this film going up against Tarsem Singh's Mirror Mirror. From the trailer, Mirror Mirror looks awful, a gaudy, pantomime style mess that even Julia Roberts' ham-acting and Armie Hammer's chin couldn't save. By contrast, Rupert Sanders' Snow White and the Huntsman is taking it back to the fairy tale's darker roots via Middle Earth with far more battles and weaponry than you usually see in a story about a princess. Starring a glowering Chris Hemsworth as the Huntsman, Kristen Stewart as Snow herself and Charlize Theron pulling out all the bad-guy stops for the Evil Queen, I am really quite intrigued to see this one being a sucker for both fantasy and cool fairytale adaptations. While the casting of Kristen Stewart has caused a ruckus on the Internet, I think she's a fair actor when she's not cast opposite a sparkly vampire and a permanently semi-naked werewolf. The trailer is all about Theron though and she could be the scariest Evil Queen since the Disney version scared the bejesus out of me when I was younger. Snow White will arrive in cinemas on June 1.
5). The Cabin in the Woods:
Anyone who has ever met me has probably learnt within a very short space of time that I am a big Joss Whedon fan. Like huge. So when news broke that his much-talked about horror project looked like it was never going to see the light of day, my heart broke a little. Yet, thanks in no small part to a pre-Thor Chris Hemsworth in a leading role and Mr Whedon himself taken helm on The Avengers (more of that later), it has finally been given a release date. For any Aaron Sorkin fans (yes, I am one of those too), the film also stars Bradley Whitford, aka The West Wing's Josh Lyman, in a supporting role. This promises to be a mind-bending take on the horror sub-genre that follows the narrative of 'several friends stay at a cabin in the woods and chaos ensues' with a particularly intriguing tagline: 'You think you know the story'. Be warned if you do want to watch the trailer, it is a little spoiler-y so if you want to go into the film without any prior knowledge of actual content, just take a look at the awesome teaser poster. The Cabin in the Woods is out on April 13.
4). Skyfall
Bond is back this year, surviving his toughest challenge yet; Hollywood financial difficulties. After MGM's monetary worries were solved, James Bond's latest adventure, Skyfall, has gone into production with Daniel Craig back as the titular tuxedo-wearer, Sam Mendes in the director's seat and Judi Dench returning as spymaster M. This film promises to continue breathing new life into a tired franchise following the set-up by Casino Royale which was more in the Bourne vein of spy film. Quantum of Solace was a bit of a dip - I have seen it twice and still have no idea what on earth it's about other than Gemma Arterton getting covered in oil and Bond being really, really mad. Skyfall looks like it will be a return to some more conventions of 007s gone by with Ben Whishaw taking on the role of Q, Bond girls Naomie Harris and Bérénice Marlohe and a Bond baddie in the form of Javier Bardem. Plotwise, it is going to be something to do with M's past coming back to haunt her, promising more electric encounters between acting heavyweights Dench and Craig when Skyfall drops into the multiplexes on October 26.
3). The Muppets:
All together now; It's time to play the music, it's time to light the lights! Is there anything more joyful in this world than a Muppets movie? Jim Henson's felt creations have been entertaining us for generations and now, thanks to Disney and Jason Segel, they're back on our big screens. The Muppets follows Gary (Segel), Walter (Peter Linz) and Mary (Amy Adams) as they track down all the Muppets to get them back together and save their theatre from the evil plans of Chris Cooper's Tex Richman. Already released in the USA to positive reviews, we in the UK have had to wait what seems like a ridiculously long time for this to reach us. The film has also singlehandedly had the best marketing campaign ever in which we saw trailers that spoofed The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Green Lantern and just about everything (I love Breaking Prawn). I cannot wait to for Kermit and the gang to arrive over here and, as Segel is a massive Muppet fan himself, you can guarantee it is going to be a well-deserved addition to the Muppet canon. It hits the cinemas here February 10 (there must be something very special about this day).
2). Prometheus
Ridley Scott's Alien was a gamechanger in both genres of science fiction and horror, marrying the two neatly into one chestbursting package that gave us one of the best heroines ever in Ripley and launching the career of Sigourney Weaver (but it did sadly lead to Alien vs. Predator). When rumours began circulating of another sequel in the Alien franchise, they weren't met with the greatest of enthusiasm as Alien: Resurrection was quite frankly awful (sorry Joss Whedon). Then Scott himself spoke out that this film was to be called Prometheus and wasn't a sequel but a prequel of sorts to the Alien story, sharing much of the same "DNA" but exploring the origins of existence itself. The film will visit the abandoned ship that led to the alien attack in the original film and fans are hoping that we will finally get the back story for the Space Jockey. The cast alone is a fantastic reason to watch this with Michael Fassbender (is there anything he's not in currently?), Charlize Theron, Noomi Rapace, Idris Elba and Guy Pearce and we'll get to see them in action on June 1.
1). Twilight: Breaking Dawn: Part 2
Just kidding.
I know I said this would be my Top Ten films to look out for in 2012 but I just cannot decide between these three. Each film is likely to elicit an excited squeak from me at the mere mention of their name and I know I am not the only one. So here they are, the big three, the ones it seems the entire world is waiting for.
1). The Avengers
It's important to remember when talking of the Avengers that nothing like this has been attempted before. Never has there been a crossover of such magnitude nor has there ever been has many superheroes appearing together in one room. Directed by Joss Whedon, The Avengers will feature (deep breath) Robert Downey Jr's Iron Man, Mark Ruffalo's Hulk, Scarlet Johansson'scleavage Black Widow, Chris Hemsworth's Thor, Chris Evans' Captain America, Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye, Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury and the Big Bad himself, Tom Hiddleston's Loki. Marvel have been laying the groundwork for this film since Iron Man's post-credits sting in which Fury approaches Tony Stark to talk about something called the Avenger Initiative (at which point most geeks' heads exploded). Since then, we've had snippets of information in each film, feeding into the next one in the series including Stark's appearance in The Incredible Hulk, the locating of Thor's Hammer in Iron Man 2. Marvel have spent so much time building this project, it would be a shame to see it bomb but with anticipation this high, it's a double-edged sword. On the one hand, enough people will go to see it and ensure it's not a complete loss. On the other, it's a roaring success that carries on the creation of the Marvel universe on the big screen. I'm hoping so much that it is the latter. The Avengers will assemble April 27.
1). The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The release of the film is still just under a year away (too long, too long) but anticipation was peaked at the end of last year when Peter Jackson released the quite frankly awesome trailer, giving us our first glimpse of Martin Freeman's Bilbo Baggins and the dwarves. Like Skyfall, The Hobbit has had a tumultuous development; Peter Jackson said he wouldn't direct, Guillermo del Toro took the job, then he left, then Jackson was directing, Martin Freeman couldn't play Bilbo because of his commitment to Sherlock, then he could, then there was strike action and at one point, it looked like it was just never going to get made. Thankfully, everyone involved perservered and we LOTR fans get to journey back to Middle Earth this December. Split into two films, it's rumoured that Jackson has turned once again to the appendices of Tolkien's novel in order to give us a little more Hobbit action than the book would necessarily have yielded. The previously unmentioned cast members are fantastic too with Richard Armitage as the dwarven leader, Andy Serkis reprising his most famous and vocally distinctive role, several LOTR alumni returning like Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom and Cate Blanchett and finally, Benedict Cumberbatch as both the dragon Smaug and the mysterious Necromancer. Do we really have to wait until December 14?
1). The Dark Knight Rises
The viral marketing campaign has already begun with lucky viewers of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol given an exclusive 6 minute screening of the DKR prologue featuring Tom Hardy's Bane. He may be mumbling and unintelligible according to reviews but he cuts an impressive figure. Bane is only one factor in the anticipation for this film though. Since Batman Begins, Christopher Nolan's take on the canon has been dark, frightening and outstanding, reinventing the character and making a franchise that is entirely relevant for this generation of moviegoers. Helped in no small part by a towering performance from the late Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight was huge, widely praised and still one of the best blockbusters ever produced. Add to this back catalogue the return of Christian Bale, Michael Caine and Gary Oldman, newcomers Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotilliard and Mr Hardy himself, TDKR is promising to be the movie event of the summer. Set a few years after the events of The Dark Knight, we'll be seeing an older Bruce Wayne who must face up to Bane and who knows how many other antagonists and become the hero that Gotham needs and deserves. It's simple. We watch the Batman on July 20.
Honourable Mentions: Carnage, Young Adult, Martha Marcy May Marlene (out now), Safe House (24/2/12), John Carter (9/3/12), Jeff Who Lives At Home (20/4/12), Men In Black 3 (25/5/12), Friends With Kids (29/6/12), The Amazing Spider-Man (4/7/12), The Bourne Legacy (17/8/12), Gangster Squad (9/11/12), Django Unchained (26/12/12).
So in short, the world can't end in 2012. There are too many good films coming out.
- Becky
Heading into more serious territory now with the latest offering from David Cronenburg. A Dangerous Method follows the complex relationship of Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen) and his protogé Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender). Things begin to break down between the pair when a Russian patient, Sabina (Keira Knightley, back in a corset), arrives and begins an affair with Jung. The film has already been a hit on the festival circuit and with man-of-the-hour Fassbender in a starring role, this will be one for both drama lovers and psychoanalysts. I mean let's face it, when else are you going to see Magneto and Aragorn in a film together? Oh wait... A Dangerous Method is released here on February 10.
Way back in 1999 (was it really that long ago?!), we were introduced to four guys who made a pact between them to lose their virginity by graduation and followed the hilarious consequences that included, amongst others, milfs, 'pale' ale and an infamous encounter with an apple pie. After the two follow-up sequels, the American Pie series became a seemingly endless cycle of straight-to-DVD features that failed to replicate either the comedy or the success of the original trilogy. Now, the gang is back together for their high school renuion; Jim and Michelle are married with a child, Oz and Kevin are succcessful career-men, Finch is nowhere to be found and Stifler is... well Stifler. Reuniting the entire original cast, including Eugene Levy's awkward dad, American Reunion takes us back to East Falls High and from the look of the trailer, back to the racy humour that made it such a hit on the first place. Head to the school reunion on May 2. For me, Rian Johnson is one of the most exciting directors working in Hollywood today with the fantastically quirky Brothers Bloom and his debut, high school film-noir Brick which I adore. His latest, Looper, is another collaboration with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and promises to be another genre-bending feature. Gordon-Levitt works as a hitman for the mob, travelling through time to take out his targets until he recognises one of those as future self, played by Bruce Willis. Leaving aside the fact that I am yet to work out how Joseph Gordon-Levitt is going to grow up to be Bruce Willis, this looks like it's going to be a good mix of action and sci-fi. There's no trailer out there there yet but we'll see what it's all about when Looper is released over here on September 28.
Fairy tales are the current go-to source material for several blockbusters coming up in the next couple of years and Snow White has got two interpretations this year with this film going up against Tarsem Singh's Mirror Mirror. From the trailer, Mirror Mirror looks awful, a gaudy, pantomime style mess that even Julia Roberts' ham-acting and Armie Hammer's chin couldn't save. By contrast, Rupert Sanders' Snow White and the Huntsman is taking it back to the fairy tale's darker roots via Middle Earth with far more battles and weaponry than you usually see in a story about a princess. Starring a glowering Chris Hemsworth as the Huntsman, Kristen Stewart as Snow herself and Charlize Theron pulling out all the bad-guy stops for the Evil Queen, I am really quite intrigued to see this one being a sucker for both fantasy and cool fairytale adaptations. While the casting of Kristen Stewart has caused a ruckus on the Internet, I think she's a fair actor when she's not cast opposite a sparkly vampire and a permanently semi-naked werewolf. The trailer is all about Theron though and she could be the scariest Evil Queen since the Disney version scared the bejesus out of me when I was younger. Snow White will arrive in cinemas on June 1.5). The Cabin in the Woods:
Anyone who has ever met me has probably learnt within a very short space of time that I am a big Joss Whedon fan. Like huge. So when news broke that his much-talked about horror project looked like it was never going to see the light of day, my heart broke a little. Yet, thanks in no small part to a pre-Thor Chris Hemsworth in a leading role and Mr Whedon himself taken helm on The Avengers (more of that later), it has finally been given a release date. For any Aaron Sorkin fans (yes, I am one of those too), the film also stars Bradley Whitford, aka The West Wing's Josh Lyman, in a supporting role. This promises to be a mind-bending take on the horror sub-genre that follows the narrative of 'several friends stay at a cabin in the woods and chaos ensues' with a particularly intriguing tagline: 'You think you know the story'. Be warned if you do want to watch the trailer, it is a little spoiler-y so if you want to go into the film without any prior knowledge of actual content, just take a look at the awesome teaser poster. The Cabin in the Woods is out on April 13.
4). Skyfall
Bond is back this year, surviving his toughest challenge yet; Hollywood financial difficulties. After MGM's monetary worries were solved, James Bond's latest adventure, Skyfall, has gone into production with Daniel Craig back as the titular tuxedo-wearer, Sam Mendes in the director's seat and Judi Dench returning as spymaster M. This film promises to continue breathing new life into a tired franchise following the set-up by Casino Royale which was more in the Bourne vein of spy film. Quantum of Solace was a bit of a dip - I have seen it twice and still have no idea what on earth it's about other than Gemma Arterton getting covered in oil and Bond being really, really mad. Skyfall looks like it will be a return to some more conventions of 007s gone by with Ben Whishaw taking on the role of Q, Bond girls Naomie Harris and Bérénice Marlohe and a Bond baddie in the form of Javier Bardem. Plotwise, it is going to be something to do with M's past coming back to haunt her, promising more electric encounters between acting heavyweights Dench and Craig when Skyfall drops into the multiplexes on October 26.
3). The Muppets:
2). Prometheus
Ridley Scott's Alien was a gamechanger in both genres of science fiction and horror, marrying the two neatly into one chestbursting package that gave us one of the best heroines ever in Ripley and launching the career of Sigourney Weaver (but it did sadly lead to Alien vs. Predator). When rumours began circulating of another sequel in the Alien franchise, they weren't met with the greatest of enthusiasm as Alien: Resurrection was quite frankly awful (sorry Joss Whedon). Then Scott himself spoke out that this film was to be called Prometheus and wasn't a sequel but a prequel of sorts to the Alien story, sharing much of the same "DNA" but exploring the origins of existence itself. The film will visit the abandoned ship that led to the alien attack in the original film and fans are hoping that we will finally get the back story for the Space Jockey. The cast alone is a fantastic reason to watch this with Michael Fassbender (is there anything he's not in currently?), Charlize Theron, Noomi Rapace, Idris Elba and Guy Pearce and we'll get to see them in action on June 1.
1). Twilight: Breaking Dawn: Part 2
Just kidding.
I know I said this would be my Top Ten films to look out for in 2012 but I just cannot decide between these three. Each film is likely to elicit an excited squeak from me at the mere mention of their name and I know I am not the only one. So here they are, the big three, the ones it seems the entire world is waiting for.
It's important to remember when talking of the Avengers that nothing like this has been attempted before. Never has there been a crossover of such magnitude nor has there ever been has many superheroes appearing together in one room. Directed by Joss Whedon, The Avengers will feature (deep breath) Robert Downey Jr's Iron Man, Mark Ruffalo's Hulk, Scarlet Johansson's
1). The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The release of the film is still just under a year away (too long, too long) but anticipation was peaked at the end of last year when Peter Jackson released the quite frankly awesome trailer, giving us our first glimpse of Martin Freeman's Bilbo Baggins and the dwarves. Like Skyfall, The Hobbit has had a tumultuous development; Peter Jackson said he wouldn't direct, Guillermo del Toro took the job, then he left, then Jackson was directing, Martin Freeman couldn't play Bilbo because of his commitment to Sherlock, then he could, then there was strike action and at one point, it looked like it was just never going to get made. Thankfully, everyone involved perservered and we LOTR fans get to journey back to Middle Earth this December. Split into two films, it's rumoured that Jackson has turned once again to the appendices of Tolkien's novel in order to give us a little more Hobbit action than the book would necessarily have yielded. The previously unmentioned cast members are fantastic too with Richard Armitage as the dwarven leader, Andy Serkis reprising his most famous and vocally distinctive role, several LOTR alumni returning like Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom and Cate Blanchett and finally, Benedict Cumberbatch as both the dragon Smaug and the mysterious Necromancer. Do we really have to wait until December 14?
1). The Dark Knight Rises
The viral marketing campaign has already begun with lucky viewers of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol given an exclusive 6 minute screening of the DKR prologue featuring Tom Hardy's Bane. He may be mumbling and unintelligible according to reviews but he cuts an impressive figure. Bane is only one factor in the anticipation for this film though. Since Batman Begins, Christopher Nolan's take on the canon has been dark, frightening and outstanding, reinventing the character and making a franchise that is entirely relevant for this generation of moviegoers. Helped in no small part by a towering performance from the late Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight was huge, widely praised and still one of the best blockbusters ever produced. Add to this back catalogue the return of Christian Bale, Michael Caine and Gary Oldman, newcomers Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotilliard and Mr Hardy himself, TDKR is promising to be the movie event of the summer. Set a few years after the events of The Dark Knight, we'll be seeing an older Bruce Wayne who must face up to Bane and who knows how many other antagonists and become the hero that Gotham needs and deserves. It's simple. We watch the Batman on July 20.
Honourable Mentions: Carnage, Young Adult, Martha Marcy May Marlene (out now), Safe House (24/2/12), John Carter (9/3/12), Jeff Who Lives At Home (20/4/12), Men In Black 3 (25/5/12), Friends With Kids (29/6/12), The Amazing Spider-Man (4/7/12), The Bourne Legacy (17/8/12), Gangster Squad (9/11/12), Django Unchained (26/12/12).
So in short, the world can't end in 2012. There are too many good films coming out.
- Becky
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