Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows - 20th May 2014

Tuesday Night is Film Night is watching this week;

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Guy Ritchie is back at the helm for this 2011 sequel to Sherlock Holmes, with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law reprising their roles as the master criminologist and his trusty sidekick. This time they are out to thwart the evil plans of one Professor Moriarty, who is intent on making his wealth from the spoils of war. Set in the 1890's once more into the breach run Holmes and Watson in another tale of derring-do.

As with the 2009 film Guy Ritchie and the team proffer a two hour tale of intrigue, suspense, mind games, logic and brilliant effects all set to the backdrop of Victorian London and beyond. Again Downey Jr. portrays our hero as a rather swash buckling and fists flying individual who relies on his massive power of observation and logical deduction, as well as a few swift bouts of fisticuffs. Some Sherlockian purists may not enjoy the more physical adventures, but the thought processes and mental acrobatics are still there, as Messrs Holmes and Watson pursue the evil genius Moriaty.

John Watson manages to marry Mary, although with no real help from his best man; Holmes. Indeed Holmes turns the stag night, the marriage and the subsequent honeymoon to his advantage, to ensure that Watson is around to deal with Moriaty's henchmen. 

The rest of the actual story is a little complicated and involved, therefore we could not do it justice here, needless to say it is a tale of good versus evil and the battling brain and brawn of the two adversaries. Jared Harris makes a rather wonderful Moriaty, playing it cool but sinister. Whilst Holmes brings in his brother Mycroft for assistance, superbly played by that doyen of Britishness; Stephen Fry. When Fry first appeared it was an absolute delight, and one hoped that this was not just a fleeting cameo and luckily enough it wasn't, and his presence bought a somewhat calming, proper influence, with a comedic undercurrent, to the plot twists.

The film is fun to watch, although the action is a tad over the top, it's the use of narration over slow motion thought processes that we enjoy, where a scene is described, then replayed in real time, giving you an insight into the character of Holmes. There's also some good use of high speed camera work, to give some ultra slow motion effects, over the top of live action. A most enjoyable film, better in some regards to the first outing for this pairing.

Not much else to say really, apart from at 129 minutes it is fairly long, but should hopefully keep you entertained for that period of time.

TNiFN Rating 75% 


IMDB Link

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason - 13th May 2014

It's sequel week here at Tuesday Night is Film Night, so get your big knickers on, for the sequel to Bridget Jones's Diary;

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason

Yes the hapless and sometime hopeless Bridget Jones is back in this bittersweet tale of loves lost and found. The somewhat delightful Renée Zellweger reprises her role as the scatterbrain Bridget whose diary turns over a new leaf as we pick up where the diary left off last time.

Bridget is in love (still) with the dashing Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) however, their relationship starts to slowly unwind as personalities clash and assumptions are made about others who seem to be getting a bit too close. Matters are made slightly worse by the reappearance of Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) who had discovered Bridget's big knickers in the previous film.

All this loosely leads, via various plot twists and amusing anecdotal scenes to Bridget and Mark parting company and Bridget and Daniel working closely together. Stir into the mix some drug smuggling, a spell in a Thai correctional facility and the imminent reaffirmation of Bridget's parents marriage vows, then you get a delightful romantic comedy from the pen of Helen Fielding, again breathing life into the mundanities that class as the life and loves of one Miss B. Jones.

Moving away from the detail of the story, as this is not so important here, what we have with Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason is a repeat performance of the winning formula that was Bridget Jones's Diary. It would have been very easy to follow up the original with a sequel that was just cashing in, but this sequel does not do that. It picks up where we left Bridget and continues that journey, yes in the same predictable manner, but it's still fresh, funny, touching and entertaining. This is due in some part to the wonderful writing of Helen Fielding, allied with the outstanding performances of Zellweger, Firth and Grant. It is fair to say that Hugh Grant plays Hugh Grant, in so much as the character of Cleaver is Grant and vice verse, but you couldn't really pick anyone better for the role. Also Colin Firth again plays a fairly straight laced , stiff upper lip English character (see Love Actually for instance), but again this is the ideal persona for the forlorn lover of Bridget.

Other notable characters to pick up on are Jim Broadbent as Bridget's father. Broadbent is just a sublime actor bringing to life the dourest of characters, unfortunately underused in this sequel. As is Celia Imrie, who had the briefest of appearances, which is such a same for such a wonderful actress. Jeremy Paxman even makes a cameo appearance, possibly having more dialogue than poor Celia. At the end of the film we are treated to an appearance of the pre-Midsomer Murders Neil Dudgeon as a nameless taxi driver. Some other bit parts go to Ian McNeice (Doc Martin and Doctor Who) and Jessica Hynes (The Royle Family and Spaced) to name but a couple.

We would also like to make a note regarding the soundtrack, which as we have said before can make all the difference to the ambiance of a film and here is no exception, some brilliantly chosen incidental music adds another layer of gloss to an already shining film.

There is something for almost everyone within the movie, whether it is the dashing figures of Firth and Grant cutting a swathe across the screen inducing the female contingent to break into synchronised drooling. Or the strangely alluring qualities of Renée Zellweger entertaining the male section of the audience with her cute giggle, making her wobbly bits dance to a delightful tune.

Obviously this film is not going to be to everyone's liking, but here at TNiFN Towers, will do love the romantic chick-flick comedy drama's and this film hits the spot entertaining all members of the household.

As for the scores, it's a thumbs up and a wave of the big knickers from us!

TNiFN Rating 75%

IMDB Link

Gravity - 6th May 2014

Tuesday Night is Film Night is here yet again. This week we branch out into the science fiction genre (cue a pun with the title), but will it be blast off? Or do we fall down to earth with a bump? As we watch;

Gravity

(Who thinks up these rubbish preludes?)

Enough of this tomfoolery, down to the business of reviewing the film. Well, it clearly divided the audience here at TNiFN Towers, as it is a clear departure from the much loved rom-com genre.

Gravity stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, as Dr Ryan Stone and Matt Kowalsky respectively. Kowalsky is an experienced astronaut, whilst Dr. Stone is a medical engineer on her first mission. The film opens with both of them working from the orbiting space shuttle, fixing a tethered Hubble Space Telescope. During their EVA (extra-vehicular activity) they encounter space debris from a recently destroyed Russian satellite which has destroyed other orbiting satellites, causing a massive wave of deadly debris. This debris smashes into the space shuttle, forcing Kowalsky and Stone to abandon their mission and their shuttle, as it is damaged beyond all use. Thus alone and drifting, with dwindling oxygen supplies and limited maneuverability left in Kowalsky's jet-pack, they need to find a way to safety.

OK as an opener, it is pretty spectacular. From a level headed, don't like sci-fi, prefer a bit of reality perspective, the actual concept of orbiting the earth, separated from the space shuttle, fixing a huge telescope is actually grounded in fact, whether anyone would feasibly survive a shower of satellite debris and the subsequent drift into to open space is another matter. However, you need to detach slightly from reality and go with the flow here, for what the film lacks in physical fact, it more than makes up for in cinematic splendour. The effects are quite simply stunning, if you step away from the screen for one one moment and try to work out how they manage to get Sandra Bullock floating weightlessly across the dark backdrop of space, you'll get a modicum of brain-ache. Visually, the  physics and fluidity of weightless movement are spot on and are key to a film that sets out to blow your mind with the effects. In fact, the first establishing scene that you see, was filmed in one continuous shot, lasting over twelve minutes. It is stunningly beautiful to watch.

Unfortunately, the special effects, stunning as they are, are to the detriment of the story. The story is simple and it really only needs to be simple. You are stranded in space and need to get home, easy. However, writer, director and producer Alfonso Cuarón clearly wanted to add more action and we are somewhat over loaded by tragedy and events, that it became more and more less plausible that anyone should survive this calamitous adventure. It's almost Die Hard in Space. Yes, you need to suspend reality for a bit, but for a film grounded in fact, it would have been nice to lessen the action and heighten the drama, have less impossibles and more plausibles. Plus a tad more dialogue, more feeling and depth would have been nice. A film cannot be good just on effects alone.

Having said that, although it was spurned as being "not much cop" by some members of the judging panel, others were more positive about the film. It is clearly a film for those who enjoy space, science fiction, (as well as fact) and a bit of an action thriller.

Sandra Bullock is very impressive as Dr Ryan Stone, she also looks mightily impressive floating around the International Space Station (that she happens to hijack), after she discards her space suit! George Clooney is not so good, acting very much like a real life Buzz Lightyear.

In summary, Gravity is visually stunning, with plenty of action. Acting and storyline was somewhat disappointing. Watching Gravity at the cinema would have made it a lot more visually impressive, watching at home does not bring that cinematic experience, unless you have a very large 3D TV.

TNiFN Rating 56%

IMDB Link