Friday, 18 September 2015
Film Review - Straight Outta Compton
Forrest Gump meets CB4 in a docudrama biopic of the rap music scene. It is primarily told by following the group NWA from formation to the eventual death of one of their members, with the changes in society and rap culture around them interwoven with the personal narrative.
The actors initially look to have been selected based on their appearance and likeness to the real group, including casting O'Shea Jackson Jr to play his own father. Fortunately the actors also have the skills to fill out their roles. Through the end credits there is a montage of original footage of NWA and the likeness of the actors to their original portrayals is as close as you will get without CGI intervention.
Paul Giammati is the only big name on show and to be honest they would probably have been better served without him. His presence is often distracting from the story as you can get sucked into the almost documentary nature of the filming of all of the other characters, but he is too well known and that serves as a constant reminder that you are just watching a fictional retelling. His is also the least sympathetically portrayed character throughout the movie, probably due to the circumstances of the break-up of NWA and his current relationship (or lack of) with the movie producers.
There is an abundance of quality music through the film, (not all rap) but in some sections this does detract as they try to cram in as many tracks as they can they. This often results in a cut away from music so another short squirt of a track can be brought up, rather than fade it or let it play over the next scene. I think I might have made some very different sound-editting choices given the same material.
Overall another 7 out of 10 movie. Could easily have been an 8 or 9 with just a few minor improvements.
Friday, 11 September 2015
Film Review - Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials
Of all the teen adventure movies this is arguably the least bad. In fact it is even verging on quite good. There are some hints at future revelations that suggest the next (final?) episode in the series might have a massive and stupid twist in it. Even if they were to realise my fears the story so far has already eclipsed Twilight, consumed the Hunger Games, driven straight through Divergent, ... I couldn't even be bothered to think of one of those for the horrible Golden Compass.
Fortunately they have changed the story so much from the books that spoilers from readers are unlikely, and as the producers have done such a good job so far I have to sort of trust them not to mess up the next step.
Back to just this instalment. The handful of survivors from the first film carry on their adventure straight from the end of the first movie. Thomas, Newt, Teresa and Minho are supported by the forgettable Winston and Frypan (maybe forgettable because he has grown about a foot in the supposed 20 minute flight from the end of first film). Then they are joined by Eris, who seems slightly conveniently to be a huge instant fan of Thomas and they try to escape their new location.
Minho continues to be the actual star performer of the team. He is still the strongest, fastest, smartest, carries more gear, fights harder and always has the best hair. Even when he gets struck by lightning, or more accurately knocked out by an explosion caused by that lightning, he just gets up and charges on.
Teresa continues to be obviously two-faced but this gives some added interest to the new love triangle with Tom and Brenda. Unfortunately Kaya Scoledario may look fantastic, but she still can't run, and apparently the director has noticed this time. When she is in short range running shots he has tried to minimise her screen time, and in the wider shots he subs in a stunt woman or CGI. It is probably covered up that no-one else will even notice but it bugged me so much in the first film I was watching for it this time round.
The 28-days zombies that are introduced as victims of the "flare" virus are cgi-ed in as well for the most part. They are way too much like the 'I am Legend' version, in terms of both speed and looks.
The new characters that come in all serve their purpose, either with roles to play in this film for Janson, Eris, Brenda (really, future sci-fi character called Brenda?) and Jorge or as obvious set-ups for major roles in the next film for Vince, Sonya, et al. The only real distraction is when Alan Tudyk turns up for an uncredited role. He is much too heavyweight an actor for the role he plays, unless he is being lined up for a major return later in the series.
Overall it is worth a watch if you liked the first one. And again I am going to score this one 7 out of 10.
Fortunately they have changed the story so much from the books that spoilers from readers are unlikely, and as the producers have done such a good job so far I have to sort of trust them not to mess up the next step.
Back to just this instalment. The handful of survivors from the first film carry on their adventure straight from the end of the first movie. Thomas, Newt, Teresa and Minho are supported by the forgettable Winston and Frypan (maybe forgettable because he has grown about a foot in the supposed 20 minute flight from the end of first film). Then they are joined by Eris, who seems slightly conveniently to be a huge instant fan of Thomas and they try to escape their new location.
Minho continues to be the actual star performer of the team. He is still the strongest, fastest, smartest, carries more gear, fights harder and always has the best hair. Even when he gets struck by lightning, or more accurately knocked out by an explosion caused by that lightning, he just gets up and charges on.
Teresa continues to be obviously two-faced but this gives some added interest to the new love triangle with Tom and Brenda. Unfortunately Kaya Scoledario may look fantastic, but she still can't run, and apparently the director has noticed this time. When she is in short range running shots he has tried to minimise her screen time, and in the wider shots he subs in a stunt woman or CGI. It is probably covered up that no-one else will even notice but it bugged me so much in the first film I was watching for it this time round.
The 28-days zombies that are introduced as victims of the "flare" virus are cgi-ed in as well for the most part. They are way too much like the 'I am Legend' version, in terms of both speed and looks.
The new characters that come in all serve their purpose, either with roles to play in this film for Janson, Eris, Brenda (really, future sci-fi character called Brenda?) and Jorge or as obvious set-ups for major roles in the next film for Vince, Sonya, et al. The only real distraction is when Alan Tudyk turns up for an uncredited role. He is much too heavyweight an actor for the role he plays, unless he is being lined up for a major return later in the series.
Overall it is worth a watch if you liked the first one. And again I am going to score this one 7 out of 10.
Friday, 4 September 2015
Film Review - No Escape
I have to admit I wasn't really bothered about seeing this one. Owen Wilson doesn't really work for me in anything. The other options out this week weren't any more enticing though so we booked in to see it. Unfortunately then the other half wasn't feeling well so I had to sub-in a spare cinema buddy.
The story is actually pretty simple, and superbly effective in that simplicity. Family moves to new country, coup happens and foreigners become targets of the rebels, family has to escape.
As with pretty much every movie I have seen this year, and despite the simplicity of the story, there are some silly niggles. Top on that list was the Bond-villain-esque failures of the 'rebels' to just kill them. There are at least four times where it takes a fairly heavy suspension of disbelief as to how they survive. James Bond himself showing up to intervene at one point as an overwhelming deus ex-machina.
Each of those is easy enough to ignore though as the story charges along at a decent pace and gives you something new to worry about before you can think too much about the script hole. And worry is the key word there. It is a very emotional movie. You do feel for the family, you do get scared when they are in scary situations.
The most extreme violence is mostly done off-screen, but in such a way that you have no doubt as to what is going on. There are a whole host of good directing tricks here. I doubt I spotted them all but there are some last-second cutaways, some next room sound effects, a few blood-spattered murderers, and so on. In one example there a couple of big explosions, the second of which does much of the killing but by which time we are being treated to the shock-numbed sound effects from the first.
The slightly less extreme, and I am including beating a man to death with a table lamp and multiple shootings, are done in such a way as to be very realistic without being massively graphic. This mix of directing skills actually adds to the emotional strength of the film as you are left in the same position as the family often are, of knowing what is happening but not actually being able to see the details and your own fear and imagination filling in the gaps.
While I am on the writing / directing (both by John Erick Dowdle so I am giving him credit for all the tricks) I am also going to give out some bonus points for the mixture of languages and the way that is also used as a tool to limit the information given to the family, and the viewer. It is a really great trick, right up until he forgets to use it in the second last scene with the Vietnamese army.
All in, much better than expected 7 out of 10.
The story is actually pretty simple, and superbly effective in that simplicity. Family moves to new country, coup happens and foreigners become targets of the rebels, family has to escape.
As with pretty much every movie I have seen this year, and despite the simplicity of the story, there are some silly niggles. Top on that list was the Bond-villain-esque failures of the 'rebels' to just kill them. There are at least four times where it takes a fairly heavy suspension of disbelief as to how they survive. James Bond himself showing up to intervene at one point as an overwhelming deus ex-machina.
Each of those is easy enough to ignore though as the story charges along at a decent pace and gives you something new to worry about before you can think too much about the script hole. And worry is the key word there. It is a very emotional movie. You do feel for the family, you do get scared when they are in scary situations.
The most extreme violence is mostly done off-screen, but in such a way that you have no doubt as to what is going on. There are a whole host of good directing tricks here. I doubt I spotted them all but there are some last-second cutaways, some next room sound effects, a few blood-spattered murderers, and so on. In one example there a couple of big explosions, the second of which does much of the killing but by which time we are being treated to the shock-numbed sound effects from the first.
The slightly less extreme, and I am including beating a man to death with a table lamp and multiple shootings, are done in such a way as to be very realistic without being massively graphic. This mix of directing skills actually adds to the emotional strength of the film as you are left in the same position as the family often are, of knowing what is happening but not actually being able to see the details and your own fear and imagination filling in the gaps.
While I am on the writing / directing (both by John Erick Dowdle so I am giving him credit for all the tricks) I am also going to give out some bonus points for the mixture of languages and the way that is also used as a tool to limit the information given to the family, and the viewer. It is a really great trick, right up until he forgets to use it in the second last scene with the Vietnamese army.
All in, much better than expected 7 out of 10.
Monday, 31 August 2015
Film Review - Hitman 47
Last week's review of Vacation started with "I hate reboots. Almost as much as I hate remakes. And spoof movies (unless they have Mel Brooks or Leslie Nielsen involved) are generally the worst of all."
I should have reserved that for this week's reboot of the Hitman series.
I normally argue that you shouldn't try to remake or reboot a good film because it was done right the first time. The implication of that logic is that it is not a bad idea to reboot a poor movie as you could actually make a better movie than the original.
I should have reserved that for this week's reboot of the Hitman series.
I normally argue that you shouldn't try to remake or reboot a good film because it was done right the first time. The implication of that logic is that it is not a bad idea to reboot a poor movie as you could actually make a better movie than the original.
Friday, 28 August 2015
Film Review - Vacation
I hate reboots. Almost as much as I hate remakes. And spoof movies (unless they have Mel Brooks or Leslie Nielsen involved) are generally the worst of all. So Vacation looked at first sight to be a shocker that I really shouldn't bother with. The trailers looked quite funny though, and there was a clear self-reference to the originals that made me somewhat hopeful that it might be a half decent successor to the Chevy Chase originals.
In the end the worst thing about it was probably the forced appearance of Chase himself at the end of the movie. Almost, but not quite, rescued by the appearance of the original car.
Some of the jokes along the way were a bit puerile, some were just stupid, others were referential to the original. But most of them got laughs. The opening credits were funny and got the whole audience giggling away so when some of the weaker jokes came later the momentum continued through them and on to some of the better laughs.
Even the lowest and cheapest gags were at least throwbacks to the originals so when they didn't warrant laughs themselves they did get a smirk of nostalgia. There are even some really sneaky Easter Eggs for fans of the original.
Watching the original would probably be beneficial if you want to get the most out of the nostalgia value but it isn't really necessary.
And, I still want to know what the swastika button does.
In the end the worst thing about it was probably the forced appearance of Chase himself at the end of the movie. Almost, but not quite, rescued by the appearance of the original car.
Some of the jokes along the way were a bit puerile, some were just stupid, others were referential to the original. But most of them got laughs. The opening credits were funny and got the whole audience giggling away so when some of the weaker jokes came later the momentum continued through them and on to some of the better laughs.
Even the lowest and cheapest gags were at least throwbacks to the originals so when they didn't warrant laughs themselves they did get a smirk of nostalgia. There are even some really sneaky Easter Eggs for fans of the original.
Watching the original would probably be beneficial if you want to get the most out of the nostalgia value but it isn't really necessary.
And, I still want to know what the swastika button does.
Monday, 17 August 2015
Film Review - The Man from UNCLE
Up front, I hate Guy Ritchie, I dislike Henry Cavill, I am not a great fan of Armie Hammer and I can just about put up with Hugh Grant. And on the other hand I loved the original Man from U.N.C.L.E. tv series.
So I went in to this film with low expectations. I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised. I am not going to get carried away and suggest it is as good as the original series. I am certainly not going to forgive Guy Ritchie for his treatments of other franchises. This one I am going to give him some credit for.
The 60's styling is excellent. The consistency of the sets, clothing, cars, gadgets, decoration, phones, ... throughout the film really does hold up well. I didn't spot anything that didn't fit. No doubt, there are styling slip-ups somewhere, but I didn't catch any of them. Also there were a few of the action sections where the transitions from the original series were used.
The performances are pretty good as well. They are getting some stick on imdb for being wooden, but I felt that they were fitting with the characters and the original source material. Cavill was certainly a huge improvement on his Man of Steel performance. Armie Hammer does a decent job of keeping a straight face despite having most of the best jokes. Both are a little flat, but this matched with the original characters. Hugh Grant, when he does officially turn up, doesn't do particularly much. This does mean that he doesn't do anything wrong though.
The baddies are a bit flat. Again it is quite in-keeping with the TV series that they are just stereotyped villains. They could have benefitted from been a bit more rounded. Certainly the husband could have been fleshed out, or mashed together with the Nazi torturer to create a single complete character.
Meanwhile, if the spy story isn't holding your attention, you can always play 'spot the cameo' instead. David Beckham is the obvious one. Hugh Grant plays an identified character in the second half of the movie but you can also spot him a couple of times before he is introduced. On the more obscure you can also spot Chris Evans Ferrari California in a cameo at the race track. Unfortunately we don't get cameos from Robert Vaughn or David McCallum.
So I went in to this film with low expectations. I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised. I am not going to get carried away and suggest it is as good as the original series. I am certainly not going to forgive Guy Ritchie for his treatments of other franchises. This one I am going to give him some credit for.
The 60's styling is excellent. The consistency of the sets, clothing, cars, gadgets, decoration, phones, ... throughout the film really does hold up well. I didn't spot anything that didn't fit. No doubt, there are styling slip-ups somewhere, but I didn't catch any of them. Also there were a few of the action sections where the transitions from the original series were used.
The performances are pretty good as well. They are getting some stick on imdb for being wooden, but I felt that they were fitting with the characters and the original source material. Cavill was certainly a huge improvement on his Man of Steel performance. Armie Hammer does a decent job of keeping a straight face despite having most of the best jokes. Both are a little flat, but this matched with the original characters. Hugh Grant, when he does officially turn up, doesn't do particularly much. This does mean that he doesn't do anything wrong though.
The baddies are a bit flat. Again it is quite in-keeping with the TV series that they are just stereotyped villains. They could have benefitted from been a bit more rounded. Certainly the husband could have been fleshed out, or mashed together with the Nazi torturer to create a single complete character.
Meanwhile, if the spy story isn't holding your attention, you can always play 'spot the cameo' instead. David Beckham is the obvious one. Hugh Grant plays an identified character in the second half of the movie but you can also spot him a couple of times before he is introduced. On the more obscure you can also spot Chris Evans Ferrari California in a cameo at the race track. Unfortunately we don't get cameos from Robert Vaughn or David McCallum.
Thursday, 6 August 2015
Film Review - Fantastic Four
Fantastic?! Four?!
What an utter mess of a film.
I knew before going to see it that there were a lot of production problems as the movie was rushed out to fulfil some contractual clauses regarding who owns the rights to the characters. That is no excuse for this turgid mess.
Miles Teller and Kate Mara need to go back to their respective agents and fire them. At least Jamie Bell has the decency to hide behind CGI for the small sections of the movie where he bothers to show up.
Since I am on a bad film name binge this week, there are 5 of them, that much is obvious from the trailer. Also the Fantastic part just never happens. Hold on, while I go back to the trailer and scream about fraud. Most of the quotes in the three trailers are either not in the film, or are used completely out of context in the trailer.
I can completely understand why Stan Lee doesn't appear in the movie. He must be so utterly disgusted at what was done to his creations that he wanted to distance himself from it. That they need to squeeze in an adoption to justify their black character, and completely miss that "the Thing" is actually a metaphor for racial discrimination must be like a punch in the face to his original creative talent.
Shocking! 4 out of 10. And of those 4 points, one is a sympathy vote for Miles Teller that this follows his tour de force in Whiplash, and another is for Kate Mara in a superhero costume.
What an utter mess of a film.
I knew before going to see it that there were a lot of production problems as the movie was rushed out to fulfil some contractual clauses regarding who owns the rights to the characters. That is no excuse for this turgid mess.
Miles Teller and Kate Mara need to go back to their respective agents and fire them. At least Jamie Bell has the decency to hide behind CGI for the small sections of the movie where he bothers to show up.
Since I am on a bad film name binge this week, there are 5 of them, that much is obvious from the trailer. Also the Fantastic part just never happens. Hold on, while I go back to the trailer and scream about fraud. Most of the quotes in the three trailers are either not in the film, or are used completely out of context in the trailer.
I can completely understand why Stan Lee doesn't appear in the movie. He must be so utterly disgusted at what was done to his creations that he wanted to distance himself from it. That they need to squeeze in an adoption to justify their black character, and completely miss that "the Thing" is actually a metaphor for racial discrimination must be like a punch in the face to his original creative talent.
Shocking! 4 out of 10. And of those 4 points, one is a sympathy vote for Miles Teller that this follows his tour de force in Whiplash, and another is for Kate Mara in a superhero costume.
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