Tuesday Night is Film Night comes around so very quickly, cannot believe this is the 5th film of 2012! Tonight's film was a Christmas present and it's taken us this long to get around to watching it, but it was well worth the wait. Let me tell you all about;
The Blind Side
The Blind Side is based on the true story of Michael Oher, a homeless boy who, through the love and care afforded to him by a kind family, becomes an American football player and graduates to college.
The route that gets him there is sad, but uplifting, emotional and inspirational.
The stunningly beautiful Sandra Bullock, plays Leigh Ann Tuohy, who along with her family takes care of "Big Mike". He doesn't like being called Big Mike, but as he is a gentle giant of a boy, you can see why he is called that. Quinton Aaron is absolutely superb Michael, totally convincing and spot on with the manner and characteristics of a gentle giant.
So the Tuohy's take in Michael and help through school, concentrating on his talents for football. Being a huge boy, he is ideal for defence and blocking, but being gentle, he is scared of committing, until in one memorable scene he is convinced on how to play football, not by the coach, but by Leigh Ann, who walks out onto the pitch and explains that his team are his family and he needs to protect them like he protects his family.
This does the trick and all of sudden Michael becomes this massive footballing talent.
There is a lot more to this film than football, it is very touching and heart warming, we follow a shy, troubled individual, who has been let down by teachers and his blood mother, disregarded because he is believed to be simple, disturbed by drug addiction and violence at home, but we see him blossom, with support, care and love, into a larger than life young man, with the world of college football and ultimately the NFL begging for him to join them.
The Blind Side is brilliant, moving and funny. Sandra Bullock makes the role of Leigh Ann her own and quite rightly won the 2010 Oscar for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role.
Watch this movie. That's an order.
Tuesday 31 January 2012
Tuesday 24 January 2012
127 Hours - 24th January 2012
A bit of a departure for this weeks Tuesday Night is Film Night, out goes the pink & fluffy rom-com, chick flicks and in comes a gripping drama;
127 Hours
The film is based on the true story of Aron Ralston, who sets off into the wilds of Utah, to go canyoneering. Alone. Without telling anyone where he has gone. This is fine, he's done it before, he is experienced. What he doesn't figure on, is slipping into a huge crevice, with a massive boulder, that wedges his arm solid.
Stuck, alone and with no real hope of escape, we follow Aron and his struggle to survive the impossible.
So, how does Danny Boyle, the director, fill 94 minutes of film, with just a story, of a bloke stuck down a hole for 5 plus days? (Hence the title; 127 Hours).
Well, and here's one of the positives to the film, it is beautifully shot. Some of the camera work is stunning. One scene early on, see's Aron stuck fast and the camera pulls back in one long sequence, pulling back out of the rock, up into the sky, drawing in the full panoramic expanse of desolate dessert, that Aron is alone in the middle of.
If you are unaware of what Aron does to get free, I'm not going to tell you. Needless to say, there is some gore, but it isn't gratuitous, it is necessary in the re-telling of the story, but it is done in context and sufficiently graphic enough to shock.
OK, he cuts his arm off!
Leading up to this pivotal moment, we see various flashbacks as Aron dreams, then hallucinates as he is stuck in his hole, with dwindling water supplies. Kept company by his video camera and thoughts. Again, these flashbacks are well shot and integrate with the "live action" very well, but you need to maintain concentration, so as not to confuse reality, with the dream sequences.
All in all, it's a good film, based on a remarkable story. There could have been at the end to fill in some gaps and round off the story happily, but other than that, not a bad movie at all. The word that best describes it is; gripping.
Enjoy.
127 Hours
The film is based on the true story of Aron Ralston, who sets off into the wilds of Utah, to go canyoneering. Alone. Without telling anyone where he has gone. This is fine, he's done it before, he is experienced. What he doesn't figure on, is slipping into a huge crevice, with a massive boulder, that wedges his arm solid.
Stuck, alone and with no real hope of escape, we follow Aron and his struggle to survive the impossible.
So, how does Danny Boyle, the director, fill 94 minutes of film, with just a story, of a bloke stuck down a hole for 5 plus days? (Hence the title; 127 Hours).
Well, and here's one of the positives to the film, it is beautifully shot. Some of the camera work is stunning. One scene early on, see's Aron stuck fast and the camera pulls back in one long sequence, pulling back out of the rock, up into the sky, drawing in the full panoramic expanse of desolate dessert, that Aron is alone in the middle of.
If you are unaware of what Aron does to get free, I'm not going to tell you. Needless to say, there is some gore, but it isn't gratuitous, it is necessary in the re-telling of the story, but it is done in context and sufficiently graphic enough to shock.
OK, he cuts his arm off!
Leading up to this pivotal moment, we see various flashbacks as Aron dreams, then hallucinates as he is stuck in his hole, with dwindling water supplies. Kept company by his video camera and thoughts. Again, these flashbacks are well shot and integrate with the "live action" very well, but you need to maintain concentration, so as not to confuse reality, with the dream sequences.
All in all, it's a good film, based on a remarkable story. There could have been at the end to fill in some gaps and round off the story happily, but other than that, not a bad movie at all. The word that best describes it is; gripping.
Enjoy.
Tuesday 17 January 2012
Never Been Kissed - 17th January 2012
Tuesday Night is Film Night rolls on into the New Year, with a romantic comedy, this time we sample the delights (?) of;
Never Been Kissed
I'm not sure where to start with this review........... OK the film is 107 minutes long, it's only worth watching for the last 30 minutes!
That's harsh, but probably fair.
Here's a quick synopsis;
Drew Barrymore plays Josie Geller, a 25 year old Copy Editor working on a Chicago newspaper. She is picked to go undercover, to get the inside story of the local high school and how the kids of the day are coping. The problem being that Geller didn't enjoy high school as she was far from popular and was a bit geeky and therefore bullied. Her return, is not much better.
The love interest comes in the shape of her English teacher, but clearly a teacher / student relationship is wrong, but Josie's boss wants that to be the scoop; High School teacher falls fro student, type thing. (Watch it, then you'll know what I mean).
Anyway the film runs through this bizarre and extremely weak plot, heading towards the school prom and the publishing of this undercover story, but there appears to be no story and Geller and her boss will be out of a job.........................
.... or is there a story? Cue the last 30 minutes, which totally makes up for the first 77 minutes.
As a romantic comedy / feelgood story ending, it's good, it's original and a bit of a tear-jerker. And no, I'm not going to tell you.
So, to summarise, endure the first hour or so, but enjoy the end.
Never Been Kissed
I'm not sure where to start with this review........... OK the film is 107 minutes long, it's only worth watching for the last 30 minutes!
That's harsh, but probably fair.
Here's a quick synopsis;
Drew Barrymore plays Josie Geller, a 25 year old Copy Editor working on a Chicago newspaper. She is picked to go undercover, to get the inside story of the local high school and how the kids of the day are coping. The problem being that Geller didn't enjoy high school as she was far from popular and was a bit geeky and therefore bullied. Her return, is not much better.
The love interest comes in the shape of her English teacher, but clearly a teacher / student relationship is wrong, but Josie's boss wants that to be the scoop; High School teacher falls fro student, type thing. (Watch it, then you'll know what I mean).
Anyway the film runs through this bizarre and extremely weak plot, heading towards the school prom and the publishing of this undercover story, but there appears to be no story and Geller and her boss will be out of a job.........................
.... or is there a story? Cue the last 30 minutes, which totally makes up for the first 77 minutes.
As a romantic comedy / feelgood story ending, it's good, it's original and a bit of a tear-jerker. And no, I'm not going to tell you.
So, to summarise, endure the first hour or so, but enjoy the end.
Wednesday 11 January 2012
Cherrybomb - 11th January 2012
Back to the old routine now, albeit a day late. This weeks' film is a bit of an unknown quantity, it's from 2009 and it's called;
Cherrybomb
Starring Rupert Grint (sporting a dodgy Northern Irish accent), Cherrybomb turns out to be a gritty teen drama, fuelled by obsession, drugs, aggression and sex.
Set in Belfast Malachy (Grint) and Luke (Robert Sheehan) are mates from differing ends of the social spectrum, Malachy still lives with his family in a middle class area, whilst Luke peddles drugs for his older brother. Their friendship is tested when Michelle (Kimberley Nixon) turns up on the scene.
Michelle is the daughter of Dave (James Nesbitt) who is the manager of the local leisure centre, where Malachy works. The boys then vie for the affections of Michelle, by performing acts of violence, aggression or vandalism just to impress her.
The action takes place over a long weekend, where the mischief gains momentum, and Malachy and Luke try to gain the attention of Michelle.
The tension and action builds through the middle of the film, and what started off as a bit of a game, soon spirals out of control, culminating with a drug fuelled, all night party at the leisure centre, which ends in tragedy.
Cherrybomb is a hard hitting film, it doesn't pull many punches and delivers a stark message. However, it is let down by a weak plot and some of the acting doesn't quite hit the mark.
Fans of Rupert Grint should check the synopsis before watching, Harry Potter it is not.
The soundtrack is pretty darn good though!
Cherrybomb
Starring Rupert Grint (sporting a dodgy Northern Irish accent), Cherrybomb turns out to be a gritty teen drama, fuelled by obsession, drugs, aggression and sex.
Set in Belfast Malachy (Grint) and Luke (Robert Sheehan) are mates from differing ends of the social spectrum, Malachy still lives with his family in a middle class area, whilst Luke peddles drugs for his older brother. Their friendship is tested when Michelle (Kimberley Nixon) turns up on the scene.
Michelle is the daughter of Dave (James Nesbitt) who is the manager of the local leisure centre, where Malachy works. The boys then vie for the affections of Michelle, by performing acts of violence, aggression or vandalism just to impress her.
The action takes place over a long weekend, where the mischief gains momentum, and Malachy and Luke try to gain the attention of Michelle.
The tension and action builds through the middle of the film, and what started off as a bit of a game, soon spirals out of control, culminating with a drug fuelled, all night party at the leisure centre, which ends in tragedy.
Cherrybomb is a hard hitting film, it doesn't pull many punches and delivers a stark message. However, it is let down by a weak plot and some of the acting doesn't quite hit the mark.
Fans of Rupert Grint should check the synopsis before watching, Harry Potter it is not.
The soundtrack is pretty darn good though!
Tuesday 3 January 2012
Road Trip - 3rd January 2012
This week we return to normality after our festive film fun and continue with movies that we have not seen before. Tonight we go for an all out comedy road trip, luckily entitled;
Road Trip
So the basic idea here is; Josh Parker (Breckin Meyer) has been the virtually lifelong friend / boyfriend to Tiffany Henderson (Rachel Blanchard). They are, when we join the story, both at college, albeit different colleges, in different states. The pressure is on to maintain the long distance relationship, so when Tiffany fails to get back to Josh after several 'phone calls, Josh starts to worry.
Egged on by his mate; E.L. (Seann William Scott), Josh foolishly falls into the company of Beth (Amy Smart). They hit it off immediately and suddenly find themselves alone, in Joshs' room, with the video camera rolling.........
Here is where the Road Trip comes into the equation. Josh had already videoed a message for Tiffany and asked one of the guys, who shares his room, to post it. Of course, what happens is the wrong tape is posted and winging it's way to Tiffany, who is at college in Austin, Texas, is the video tape of Josh and Beth getting it on!!
What follows is the adventures of Josh, E.L. plus Kyle (played by D.J. Qualls), (it's his car and credit card they use) and Rubin Carver (Paulo Costanzo). another one of Joshs' room mates. The four guys race from Ithaca University, in New York state, to Austin, Texas. Clearly with hilarious consequences! (You'll have to watch it to find out).
One of the best aspects of this film is, it is delivered via a narrative supplied by another college student; Barry Manilow (not the real one), played by the extremely "wacky" Tom Green, who relays the story to a group of new students, by cutting back and forth, on numerous occasions, between the action and him relaying the story.
Also, the Barry character injects some very bizarre, but extremely funny moments throughout the film. Some cracking scenes, that will have you LOL'ling on your sofa!
We enjoyed Road Trip, with it's coarse laddish humour and scenes of a sexual nature.
Certainly worth a watch!
Road Trip
So the basic idea here is; Josh Parker (Breckin Meyer) has been the virtually lifelong friend / boyfriend to Tiffany Henderson (Rachel Blanchard). They are, when we join the story, both at college, albeit different colleges, in different states. The pressure is on to maintain the long distance relationship, so when Tiffany fails to get back to Josh after several 'phone calls, Josh starts to worry.
Egged on by his mate; E.L. (Seann William Scott), Josh foolishly falls into the company of Beth (Amy Smart). They hit it off immediately and suddenly find themselves alone, in Joshs' room, with the video camera rolling.........
Here is where the Road Trip comes into the equation. Josh had already videoed a message for Tiffany and asked one of the guys, who shares his room, to post it. Of course, what happens is the wrong tape is posted and winging it's way to Tiffany, who is at college in Austin, Texas, is the video tape of Josh and Beth getting it on!!
What follows is the adventures of Josh, E.L. plus Kyle (played by D.J. Qualls), (it's his car and credit card they use) and Rubin Carver (Paulo Costanzo). another one of Joshs' room mates. The four guys race from Ithaca University, in New York state, to Austin, Texas. Clearly with hilarious consequences! (You'll have to watch it to find out).
One of the best aspects of this film is, it is delivered via a narrative supplied by another college student; Barry Manilow (not the real one), played by the extremely "wacky" Tom Green, who relays the story to a group of new students, by cutting back and forth, on numerous occasions, between the action and him relaying the story.
Also, the Barry character injects some very bizarre, but extremely funny moments throughout the film. Some cracking scenes, that will have you LOL'ling on your sofa!
We enjoyed Road Trip, with it's coarse laddish humour and scenes of a sexual nature.
Certainly worth a watch!
Nativity! - 27th December 2011
So here's our last Christmas movie of the festive season. We conclude the Christmas film fun with;
Nativity!
This beautiful sweet, twee and funny Christmas movie, follows the torment of primary school teacher Paul Maddens (Martin Freeman) when he is charged with producing the school's nativity play.
Competing against the posh rival school for the honour of best reviewed show in town, the stakes are raised when Paul idly boasts that his ex-girlfriend Jennifer (the lovely Ashley Jensen), a Hollywood Producer, is coming to see his show with a view to turning it into a film. The only trouble is - they haven't spoken in years.
With the eccentric assistant Mr Poppy (brilliantly played by Marc Wootton) fuelling his 'little white lie', Maddens suddenly finds himself a local celebrity and at the centre of quarreling parents and over-excited children desperate in their bid for fame and fortune. Maddens' only hope is to get back in touch with Jennifer and lure Hollywood to town so that everybody's Christmas wishes come true.
This is a great Christmas film, with the right balance of love and laughter. A must see for the festive season!
Nativity!
This beautiful sweet, twee and funny Christmas movie, follows the torment of primary school teacher Paul Maddens (Martin Freeman) when he is charged with producing the school's nativity play.
Competing against the posh rival school for the honour of best reviewed show in town, the stakes are raised when Paul idly boasts that his ex-girlfriend Jennifer (the lovely Ashley Jensen), a Hollywood Producer, is coming to see his show with a view to turning it into a film. The only trouble is - they haven't spoken in years.
With the eccentric assistant Mr Poppy (brilliantly played by Marc Wootton) fuelling his 'little white lie', Maddens suddenly finds himself a local celebrity and at the centre of quarreling parents and over-excited children desperate in their bid for fame and fortune. Maddens' only hope is to get back in touch with Jennifer and lure Hollywood to town so that everybody's Christmas wishes come true.
This is a great Christmas film, with the right balance of love and laughter. A must see for the festive season!
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