Hello! Or should we say "Merry Christmas!"
Yes, we are still here, but only just. In fact; time and tide waits for no man or film it seems and we are finding it increasingly hard to secure that necessary "us time" to sit down and watch films as a family these days. People are growing up fast. When we started all those years ago (17th September 2010), our youngest member was thinking about GCSEs, now she is out working for a living!
So, with time against us, maybe it is time to hang up the blog, leave the films where they are and move on. Who knows.
What we do know is, we have a film tonight and as Christmas is just gently disappearing behind us, why not a festive film to say goodbye to 2015?
Tonight it's feet up and film on, as we sample the scary delights of Tim Burton's;
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Well, that was interesting. Tim Burton's 1993 animated Halloween / Christmas tale features Jack Skellington; the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, who starts the film disillusioned with Halloween, as it's all been done before. He then discovers Christmas Town and the concept of Christmas, which he takes back to Halloween Town. Unfortunately he doesn't fully grasp the concept of Christmas and doesn't quite get it right.
As a story it's fairly basic, but enjoyable for the 76 minute duration. The best part really is the superb stop-motion animation, somewhat reminiscent of early shadow puppetry. Put the animation alongside a superb soundtrack from Danny Elfman and you have a quaint little crossover story juxtaposing Halloween with Christmas. It was considered to be too dark and scary for kids, but it isn't really not compared to some of the modern films aimed at children these days. It's also not really a film about Christmas per se, moreover the misadventures of Jack Skellington in his attempts to recreate Christmas.
Overall it was entertaining, but not necessarily "great". Good points, great animation, nice songs, but not a classic Christmas film.
TNiFN Rating 60%
Well, as blogs go this one was rather short. Sorry about that, but not really much to write about. And whether there will be more blogs we're not sure. We won't make any decisions now, we'll just see what the future brings. In the meantime Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year to all of our readers, both of you! Maybe see you soon.
IMDB Link
Tuesday 29 December 2015
Tuesday 1 December 2015
The Christmas Secret - 1st December 2015
It's the 1st day of Advent and our 3rd Christmas movie of the season. This week we are taking a risk with another one of those "made for TV" films. So is it going to be a hit or a miserable mistletoe miss with;
The Christmas Secret
Well as we said last week, the problem with the "made for TV" movies is they are fairly hit or miss affair, usually made with a limited budget and the acting talent is several streets away from the Hollywood Walk of Fame. However, we shouldn't dismiss these films, because sometimes you can unearth some gems, last week was a case in point - A Christmas Tree Miracle was indeed a great story, but what of this week, did The Christmas Secret tick the various boxes, albeit a low budget, schmaltzy, American daytime movie?
In a word; yes!
Firstly it is American as mom's apple pie and in places, as cheesy as mac & cheese with extra cheese, but yet again a wonderful well considered, thought out and intricate story on which to base your bog standard Christmas ethos, where things go wrong for the innocent, only to be turned around by a little Christmas magic and the intervention of those special characters you get in these genre of films. Magical stuff indeed.
To put some meat on the bones of this Christmas turkey and that's a term of endearment, not an indication that the film was anyway a flop; Bethany Joy Lenz plays quite wonderfully single mum Christine Eisley. Christine moved to Wilsonville after her marriage broke up. With her two cute kids, she tries to make a go of life in this small community, where her father once lived. Christine never knew her father as he died many years ago, but she felt a strange affinity to Wilsonville and decided to move there. These are salient points that will be of interest if you watch the film, they are all part of a multiplicity of storylines that evolve as the film progresses.
Christine is struggling to make ends meet, holding down a job, a home and looking after the children. And as with most films of this ilk, the formula to follow is that all these things conspire against her to provide a heap of jeopardy; she loses her job, she is facing eviction and the ex husband turns up threatening to take the kids. Not just a simple plot twist, but a multitude of plot lines that unravel as you go. However, although potentially cheesy and cringeworthy all these things actually add some gravitas to plot and make the story more credible. That is to say, it's not just a simple; here's the back story, here's the jeopardy, it's all gone wrong, here's some hope, it goes wrong again, a little bit of magic and they all live happily every after. It's better than that, quite a bit better.
Anyway, Christine loses her job as she is late for work after witnessing a car accident and subsequently saving the life of the female driver. Luckily though, due to being in the right place at the right time, she gets a new job straight away with Betty. Betty runs the local bakery and her family has lived and worked in Wilsonville for may years, which may or not be another salient point to remember. The woman who had a heart attack and crashed her car, to be saved by Christine, runs a local store with her husband. When their grandson (Jason) turns up from New York we gain a love interest for Christine. However due to a misunderstanding and some misdirection they do not know that Christine has saved Jason's grandmother. If you have just read that through without taking a breath, you'll probably give up on this blog and the film! But don't go just yet, it is worth it. Really.
Admittedly the multitude of story lines and the intricate correlation and relationship of the characters was so tangled, that one end of the TNiFN sofa suggested it was virtually incestuous! However, we think that that is where the beauty lies in films such as these, there is a compelling storyline that starts with a single strand, which unwinds and unravels, sometimes crossing and re-crossing until you get to that magical feelgood ending, when the threads are again intertwined in the correct order to assimilate a beautiful well rounded ending, an ending which we are not going to tell you about, just to say it is a classic Christmas ending. Also it's not all about the ending it's how you get there and A Christmas Secret is a perfect example of how to do it right. It's just a shame that it is not available on DVD to watch at a later date.
Note: If you have the cable or satellite channel "Christmas 24" - it is repeated this week. Obviously, if you are reading this sometime in January 2016, you've missed it!
In summation, a lovely film, perfect story and just the sort of film you want to be watching on first or any day of Advent! Merry Christmas!!
TNiFN Rating 87%
IMDB Link
The Christmas Secret
Well as we said last week, the problem with the "made for TV" movies is they are fairly hit or miss affair, usually made with a limited budget and the acting talent is several streets away from the Hollywood Walk of Fame. However, we shouldn't dismiss these films, because sometimes you can unearth some gems, last week was a case in point - A Christmas Tree Miracle was indeed a great story, but what of this week, did The Christmas Secret tick the various boxes, albeit a low budget, schmaltzy, American daytime movie?
In a word; yes!
Firstly it is American as mom's apple pie and in places, as cheesy as mac & cheese with extra cheese, but yet again a wonderful well considered, thought out and intricate story on which to base your bog standard Christmas ethos, where things go wrong for the innocent, only to be turned around by a little Christmas magic and the intervention of those special characters you get in these genre of films. Magical stuff indeed.
To put some meat on the bones of this Christmas turkey and that's a term of endearment, not an indication that the film was anyway a flop; Bethany Joy Lenz plays quite wonderfully single mum Christine Eisley. Christine moved to Wilsonville after her marriage broke up. With her two cute kids, she tries to make a go of life in this small community, where her father once lived. Christine never knew her father as he died many years ago, but she felt a strange affinity to Wilsonville and decided to move there. These are salient points that will be of interest if you watch the film, they are all part of a multiplicity of storylines that evolve as the film progresses.
Christine is struggling to make ends meet, holding down a job, a home and looking after the children. And as with most films of this ilk, the formula to follow is that all these things conspire against her to provide a heap of jeopardy; she loses her job, she is facing eviction and the ex husband turns up threatening to take the kids. Not just a simple plot twist, but a multitude of plot lines that unravel as you go. However, although potentially cheesy and cringeworthy all these things actually add some gravitas to plot and make the story more credible. That is to say, it's not just a simple; here's the back story, here's the jeopardy, it's all gone wrong, here's some hope, it goes wrong again, a little bit of magic and they all live happily every after. It's better than that, quite a bit better.
Anyway, Christine loses her job as she is late for work after witnessing a car accident and subsequently saving the life of the female driver. Luckily though, due to being in the right place at the right time, she gets a new job straight away with Betty. Betty runs the local bakery and her family has lived and worked in Wilsonville for may years, which may or not be another salient point to remember. The woman who had a heart attack and crashed her car, to be saved by Christine, runs a local store with her husband. When their grandson (Jason) turns up from New York we gain a love interest for Christine. However due to a misunderstanding and some misdirection they do not know that Christine has saved Jason's grandmother. If you have just read that through without taking a breath, you'll probably give up on this blog and the film! But don't go just yet, it is worth it. Really.
Admittedly the multitude of story lines and the intricate correlation and relationship of the characters was so tangled, that one end of the TNiFN sofa suggested it was virtually incestuous! However, we think that that is where the beauty lies in films such as these, there is a compelling storyline that starts with a single strand, which unwinds and unravels, sometimes crossing and re-crossing until you get to that magical feelgood ending, when the threads are again intertwined in the correct order to assimilate a beautiful well rounded ending, an ending which we are not going to tell you about, just to say it is a classic Christmas ending. Also it's not all about the ending it's how you get there and A Christmas Secret is a perfect example of how to do it right. It's just a shame that it is not available on DVD to watch at a later date.
Note: If you have the cable or satellite channel "Christmas 24" - it is repeated this week. Obviously, if you are reading this sometime in January 2016, you've missed it!
In summation, a lovely film, perfect story and just the sort of film you want to be watching on first or any day of Advent! Merry Christmas!!
TNiFN Rating 87%
IMDB Link
Tuesday 24 November 2015
A Christmas Tree Miracle - 24th November 2015
Put another log on the fire, another gift on the tree, it's time to rejoice wearing a reindeer onesie, whilst sipping a seasonal snowball. Do all this while we watch the next installment in our festive film run down. Which tonight is;
A Christmas Tree Miracle
The problem with the lead up to Christmas, when it comes to films at least, is the plethora of satellite channels pumping out their festive film fodder, hour after hour. Mostly "made for TV" movies, which really shouldn't have been made at all. With the mini synopsis you get whilst flicking through the channels, it is very difficult to determine what the film will be like. More often than not they will be American, extolling the virtues of Santa (usually dropping the "T"), surrounded by elves with candy canes and North Pole nonsense.
We try to avoid those.
Otherwise it is the formulaic films, where something bad happens, because someone did something bad to someone else and the moralistic tale unwinds, only to be fixed by some Christmas magic. Think A Christmas Carol without story, character or sentiment and you'll be close. So, all that being said it is a fairly hit or miss affair recording movies from the TV, but what about tonight's film; A Christmas Tree Miracle. It certainly sounds formulaic and winsome, but is that in a good or bad way?
To cut to the chase, it was a gem of a film. A real find amongst the potential dross. It doesn't have big name actors in it, there's no elaborate sets, no there's no big budget, but yet it has that key ingredient, certainly for a Christmas film; a really decent story. Yes, it is a moralistic tale of how the simplistic approach to life can make all the difference at Christmas, but it's a good moralistic tale. Anyway, enough procrastination let us have a synopsis.
The George family has a great life. The father; David George has a fantastic job and the children go to the best schools. Money is plentiful and life is luxurious. Immediately this tells us that this family is heading for a fall. Indeed, when David loses his job things start to spiral out of control and all just before Christmas. Days without work, turns to weeks and then months and eventually they have to sell their house and end up living in a motel. Then, one day, they meet a kindly Christmas tree farmer who takes them into his home and shows them the true meaning of Christmas.
In a nutshell, that is what happens, however there are many more layers to this story which accumulate as you go through. There are the standard Christmas acts of kindness that then see payback later on. There is also the bad influences, the greed and desire to want more, which obviously need to be overcome. All of these little things are tied in so very nicely with the way this story unfolds. It is a truly heart-warming film. One element that makes it special is the youngest daughter of the family; 6 year old Nina, narrates some of the story and you can tell that her innocent involvement is a key element to that feelgood festive feeling that is so very obvious in this brilliant little story.
There's no need to spin around the cast, they are all unknowns - but they play out their parts very well. Of note though is Terry Kiser who plays Henry Banks the eccentric Christmas tree farmer, whose business model of giving away Christmas trees seems a little askew, but proffers forward a true meaning of Christmas in this feelgood tale.
It is always tricky to extol the virtues of a film you have enjoyed without giving too much away, whilst still trying to sell the idea to those of you that decide to read this blog. All we can say is; A Christmas Tree Miracle is an old fashioned tale, set against the back drop of modernity, promoting heart-warming values, guaranteed to bring a tear to the eye and a smile to the face.
If you want to at least buy one Christmas film this year, then give this one a go, we're sure you will not be disappointed.
TNiFN Rating 95%
IMDB Link
A Christmas Tree Miracle
The problem with the lead up to Christmas, when it comes to films at least, is the plethora of satellite channels pumping out their festive film fodder, hour after hour. Mostly "made for TV" movies, which really shouldn't have been made at all. With the mini synopsis you get whilst flicking through the channels, it is very difficult to determine what the film will be like. More often than not they will be American, extolling the virtues of Santa (usually dropping the "T"), surrounded by elves with candy canes and North Pole nonsense.
We try to avoid those.
Otherwise it is the formulaic films, where something bad happens, because someone did something bad to someone else and the moralistic tale unwinds, only to be fixed by some Christmas magic. Think A Christmas Carol without story, character or sentiment and you'll be close. So, all that being said it is a fairly hit or miss affair recording movies from the TV, but what about tonight's film; A Christmas Tree Miracle. It certainly sounds formulaic and winsome, but is that in a good or bad way?
To cut to the chase, it was a gem of a film. A real find amongst the potential dross. It doesn't have big name actors in it, there's no elaborate sets, no there's no big budget, but yet it has that key ingredient, certainly for a Christmas film; a really decent story. Yes, it is a moralistic tale of how the simplistic approach to life can make all the difference at Christmas, but it's a good moralistic tale. Anyway, enough procrastination let us have a synopsis.
The George family has a great life. The father; David George has a fantastic job and the children go to the best schools. Money is plentiful and life is luxurious. Immediately this tells us that this family is heading for a fall. Indeed, when David loses his job things start to spiral out of control and all just before Christmas. Days without work, turns to weeks and then months and eventually they have to sell their house and end up living in a motel. Then, one day, they meet a kindly Christmas tree farmer who takes them into his home and shows them the true meaning of Christmas.
In a nutshell, that is what happens, however there are many more layers to this story which accumulate as you go through. There are the standard Christmas acts of kindness that then see payback later on. There is also the bad influences, the greed and desire to want more, which obviously need to be overcome. All of these little things are tied in so very nicely with the way this story unfolds. It is a truly heart-warming film. One element that makes it special is the youngest daughter of the family; 6 year old Nina, narrates some of the story and you can tell that her innocent involvement is a key element to that feelgood festive feeling that is so very obvious in this brilliant little story.
There's no need to spin around the cast, they are all unknowns - but they play out their parts very well. Of note though is Terry Kiser who plays Henry Banks the eccentric Christmas tree farmer, whose business model of giving away Christmas trees seems a little askew, but proffers forward a true meaning of Christmas in this feelgood tale.
It is always tricky to extol the virtues of a film you have enjoyed without giving too much away, whilst still trying to sell the idea to those of you that decide to read this blog. All we can say is; A Christmas Tree Miracle is an old fashioned tale, set against the back drop of modernity, promoting heart-warming values, guaranteed to bring a tear to the eye and a smile to the face.
If you want to at least buy one Christmas film this year, then give this one a go, we're sure you will not be disappointed.
TNiFN Rating 95%
IMDB Link
Tuesday 17 November 2015
The Christmas Candle - 17th November 2015
Hello again! Yes, it's been a few weeks, but things are very busy here, so no real time for films. However, this week we have the opportunity to settle down and watch a film and as it is only six more Tuesdays until Christmas, why not watch a Christmas movie?
Stop moaning! You love Christmas!
Anyway, tonight we are shutting out the cold, huddling under the blanket and watching;
The Christmas Candle
We have been neglecting our film duties recently, so to come back and straight into a Christmas film is a bit of a challenge. Luckily The Christmas Candle has stood up to the test. The one thing that it has going for it is the fact it is a British film and British Christmas films have been very sparse of late. Also it is a simple and traditional story, just what you want in an uncomplicated feelgood festive film.
Set in the 1890s, The Christmas Candle is centred on the small village of Gladbury, where a legend tells of Christmas miracles that occur every 25 years, when an angel appears and blesses a candle at the local chandlery. Whoever receives the candle, lights it and prays, will be bestowed with a Christmas miracle.
Stick with the fanciful plot, the whole point of these films is to bestow the warmth of the Christmas season on the viewer, so allow the magic of the story in, it'll be worth it.
The Haddingtons have run the chandlery for many years and it is currently in the hands of Edward Haddington, played absolutely superbly by ex Doctor Who; Sylvester McCoy. Unfortunately it looks like the run of Haddingtons making candles in Gladbury will stop, as the Haddington's son is making his living running an electric light company in London. So the candles are out and the electric light is in. That is one thread of the plot to follow.
The main attention of the film is upon the Reverend David Richmond (Hans Matheson), an up and coming vicar, renowned for his inspirational sermons, who is invited to Gladbury to become the local vicar. He accepts the invitation, but soon discovers the legend of the Christmas candle and is aghast that the locals hang their hopes upon such a ridiculous notion. He wants to turn the village around and use his style to promote a more traditional and religious ideal, rather than rely on false hopes.
There is quite a lot more to the story than this brief synopsis, but to say too much will perhaps tarnish some of that Christmas sparkle that you should get from watching this heartwarming tale. Hans Matheson is particularly well cast as the fresh faced vicar, keen to make the wishes of his parish come true, without having to rely on Christmas candle miracles. Samantha Barks is also well cast as Emily Barstow, a love interest for our young vicar, who clearly cannot resist her beautiful dimples. Other notable luminaries in this quaint story are Barbara Flynn and John Hannah who add some class to the cast.
Rounding off the cast is an unusual, but inspired piece of casting - if only for her singing voice. The Christmas Candle provides a vehicle for Susan Boyle's first outing as an actor. Judging by her acting prowess, it may well be her last! Wooden is not the word. At least it provided some moments of levity, albeit ones that were not in the story. She was in fine voice for the singing though, to be fair to her and all joking aside, it was good to see her give acting a go.
As a Christmas film it ticks all the boxes and more. It is heartwarming, it is traditional. It isn't overtly religious, but does promote the real Christmas values, from the real Christmas story. There's no Santa Claus or Father Christmas, just traditional Victorian Christmas themes, one could almost say Dickensian. All of which are plus points.
Definitely a winning combination that was enjoyed by all of us here. Add it to your list of Christmas films to watch!
TNiFN Rating 80%
IMDB Link
Stop moaning! You love Christmas!
Anyway, tonight we are shutting out the cold, huddling under the blanket and watching;
The Christmas Candle
We have been neglecting our film duties recently, so to come back and straight into a Christmas film is a bit of a challenge. Luckily The Christmas Candle has stood up to the test. The one thing that it has going for it is the fact it is a British film and British Christmas films have been very sparse of late. Also it is a simple and traditional story, just what you want in an uncomplicated feelgood festive film.
Set in the 1890s, The Christmas Candle is centred on the small village of Gladbury, where a legend tells of Christmas miracles that occur every 25 years, when an angel appears and blesses a candle at the local chandlery. Whoever receives the candle, lights it and prays, will be bestowed with a Christmas miracle.
Stick with the fanciful plot, the whole point of these films is to bestow the warmth of the Christmas season on the viewer, so allow the magic of the story in, it'll be worth it.
The Haddingtons have run the chandlery for many years and it is currently in the hands of Edward Haddington, played absolutely superbly by ex Doctor Who; Sylvester McCoy. Unfortunately it looks like the run of Haddingtons making candles in Gladbury will stop, as the Haddington's son is making his living running an electric light company in London. So the candles are out and the electric light is in. That is one thread of the plot to follow.
The main attention of the film is upon the Reverend David Richmond (Hans Matheson), an up and coming vicar, renowned for his inspirational sermons, who is invited to Gladbury to become the local vicar. He accepts the invitation, but soon discovers the legend of the Christmas candle and is aghast that the locals hang their hopes upon such a ridiculous notion. He wants to turn the village around and use his style to promote a more traditional and religious ideal, rather than rely on false hopes.
There is quite a lot more to the story than this brief synopsis, but to say too much will perhaps tarnish some of that Christmas sparkle that you should get from watching this heartwarming tale. Hans Matheson is particularly well cast as the fresh faced vicar, keen to make the wishes of his parish come true, without having to rely on Christmas candle miracles. Samantha Barks is also well cast as Emily Barstow, a love interest for our young vicar, who clearly cannot resist her beautiful dimples. Other notable luminaries in this quaint story are Barbara Flynn and John Hannah who add some class to the cast.
Rounding off the cast is an unusual, but inspired piece of casting - if only for her singing voice. The Christmas Candle provides a vehicle for Susan Boyle's first outing as an actor. Judging by her acting prowess, it may well be her last! Wooden is not the word. At least it provided some moments of levity, albeit ones that were not in the story. She was in fine voice for the singing though, to be fair to her and all joking aside, it was good to see her give acting a go.
As a Christmas film it ticks all the boxes and more. It is heartwarming, it is traditional. It isn't overtly religious, but does promote the real Christmas values, from the real Christmas story. There's no Santa Claus or Father Christmas, just traditional Victorian Christmas themes, one could almost say Dickensian. All of which are plus points.
Definitely a winning combination that was enjoyed by all of us here. Add it to your list of Christmas films to watch!
TNiFN Rating 80%
IMDB Link
Tuesday 27 October 2015
High Fidelity - 27th October 2015
Hello! Remember us? Yes, it's been nearly a month without a film here at Tuesday Night is Film Night - did you miss us? Who said "no"?
Yes we're here and we have time this week and we are going to watch a film.
Tonight's film has been one we have been looking forward to, as we have read the book and now we want to see if the film version measures up. But will it be music to our ears or a cacophonous racket as we watch;
High Fidelity
The film is based on the superb book of the same name, by Nick Hornby. However the transition from page to screen has taken the story across the Atlantic and it's now set in the USA rather than a swinging 1990's London. As a result the musical references have taken on a more trans-Atlantic slant. By the way, the title does have a bearing on the story and music is key.
The lead character is Rob Gordon, played quite superbly by John Cusack. Rob runs his own record store; see? Music reference. At the start of the film Rob is is a relationship with Laura (Iben Hjejle), but only just. In fact within the first few minutes that relationship ends and our story begins. In the book Rob virtually narrates the story, filling in the details where required. Migrating this to screen, could have taken the form of flashbacks, instead director Stephen Frears opts for Rob talking directly to camera, regardless of the situation (and the occasional flashback for visual integrity). This breaking of the fourth wall works really well in the context of this film, as it not only mirrors the book, but it provides a useful way to fill the film with narration and direction without the need to constantly cut to flashbacks or removing the central character from the screen. Rob can hop in and out of the scene without distracting from the current storyline.
Essentially High Fidelity plots out the deterioration of Laura and Rob's relationship and then we see if they get back together again. Rob is a tad obnoxious, self-centred and unsure whether he has grown up or not. He likes to collate lists. The first that we see evidence of is his Top Five Break-ups, a list that Laura doesn't feature on, as if to prove a point to the recently departed Laura. In that regard, High Fidelity could be classed as a coming of age film, it is certainly about growing up, for Rob at least.
The comical musings in this film are generally provided by Rob's colleagues at the record store; Dick and Barry. Dick is quiet, shy but knowledgeable and played perfectly by Todd Louiso. Barry is loud, forthright, opinionated and obnoxious. So it was only fitting that Jack Black was to play this character and he does so with aplomb.
There was a division of opinions on the TNiFN panel as to whether the book was better than the film, or the film was better than the book. In fact it was a 50-50 split of opinions. (And as there were only two of us tonight, the maths were not hard to work out!)
As the film staged the plot in Chicago, whereas the book was set in London, the transition to film takes it out of the book's context immediately. Gone are the references to British music and in are more comments about American music. Even to the point of having an unnecessary "Born In The USA" cameo from Bruce Springsteen; which seemed to be more for elevating the film's status, by the addition of a rock star, rather than adding to the story's gravitas by aligning the plight of Rob's story to that of a song lyric. It would have been nice to have some more British songs in the soundtrack, as that would have at least provided a nod to the story's origin. We digress.
All in all, High Fidelity is a great story. Nick Hornby certainly nailed that one. We would definitely suggest reading the book and watching the film, just to compare notes. John Cusack is really good as Rob, his deadpan looks to camera to relate his feelings are a fresh approach and do add to the style of delivery. There was also some sibling rivalry as Joan Cusack played Liz a friend of Laura's. John and Joan being brother and sister. Who said you don't learn anything here?
We certainly enjoyed the film, hopefully reflected in the score below.
TNiFN Rating 81%
IMDB Link
Yes we're here and we have time this week and we are going to watch a film.
Tonight's film has been one we have been looking forward to, as we have read the book and now we want to see if the film version measures up. But will it be music to our ears or a cacophonous racket as we watch;
High Fidelity
The film is based on the superb book of the same name, by Nick Hornby. However the transition from page to screen has taken the story across the Atlantic and it's now set in the USA rather than a swinging 1990's London. As a result the musical references have taken on a more trans-Atlantic slant. By the way, the title does have a bearing on the story and music is key.
The lead character is Rob Gordon, played quite superbly by John Cusack. Rob runs his own record store; see? Music reference. At the start of the film Rob is is a relationship with Laura (Iben Hjejle), but only just. In fact within the first few minutes that relationship ends and our story begins. In the book Rob virtually narrates the story, filling in the details where required. Migrating this to screen, could have taken the form of flashbacks, instead director Stephen Frears opts for Rob talking directly to camera, regardless of the situation (and the occasional flashback for visual integrity). This breaking of the fourth wall works really well in the context of this film, as it not only mirrors the book, but it provides a useful way to fill the film with narration and direction without the need to constantly cut to flashbacks or removing the central character from the screen. Rob can hop in and out of the scene without distracting from the current storyline.
Essentially High Fidelity plots out the deterioration of Laura and Rob's relationship and then we see if they get back together again. Rob is a tad obnoxious, self-centred and unsure whether he has grown up or not. He likes to collate lists. The first that we see evidence of is his Top Five Break-ups, a list that Laura doesn't feature on, as if to prove a point to the recently departed Laura. In that regard, High Fidelity could be classed as a coming of age film, it is certainly about growing up, for Rob at least.
The comical musings in this film are generally provided by Rob's colleagues at the record store; Dick and Barry. Dick is quiet, shy but knowledgeable and played perfectly by Todd Louiso. Barry is loud, forthright, opinionated and obnoxious. So it was only fitting that Jack Black was to play this character and he does so with aplomb.
There was a division of opinions on the TNiFN panel as to whether the book was better than the film, or the film was better than the book. In fact it was a 50-50 split of opinions. (And as there were only two of us tonight, the maths were not hard to work out!)
As the film staged the plot in Chicago, whereas the book was set in London, the transition to film takes it out of the book's context immediately. Gone are the references to British music and in are more comments about American music. Even to the point of having an unnecessary "Born In The USA" cameo from Bruce Springsteen; which seemed to be more for elevating the film's status, by the addition of a rock star, rather than adding to the story's gravitas by aligning the plight of Rob's story to that of a song lyric. It would have been nice to have some more British songs in the soundtrack, as that would have at least provided a nod to the story's origin. We digress.
All in all, High Fidelity is a great story. Nick Hornby certainly nailed that one. We would definitely suggest reading the book and watching the film, just to compare notes. John Cusack is really good as Rob, his deadpan looks to camera to relate his feelings are a fresh approach and do add to the style of delivery. There was also some sibling rivalry as Joan Cusack played Liz a friend of Laura's. John and Joan being brother and sister. Who said you don't learn anything here?
We certainly enjoyed the film, hopefully reflected in the score below.
TNiFN Rating 81%
IMDB Link
Tuesday 29 September 2015
If I Stay - 29th September 2015
Tuesday Night is Film Night rounds off September with a film from 2014. This week it's a romantic drama, with a touch of music, as we watch;
If I Stay
Starring Chloë Grace Moretz as Mia Hall and Jamie Blackley as her boyfriend Adam, If I Stay is a romantic drama, with it's basis firmly grounded in music. Mia is from a musical family, her dad; Denny (Joshua Leonard) was a drummer in an up and coming band, her mum; Kim (Liana Liberato) was a bit of a groupie. However, their offspring decided at an early age that the cello was going to be her instrument of choice and she becomes a proficient player destined for great things. Adam is slightly older than Mia and is in a band, but music brings them together. Adam is keen to pursue his blossoming music career, as is Mia and she applies to Julliard to further her musical education and is awaiting the results of her audition. All is going along so well, until as Mia puts it;
"Isn't it amazing how life is one thing and then, in an instant it becomes something else. Like here I am, Mia, the girl who thinks about the cello and Adam, and whether I get a stupid letter or not, and just like that..."
Just like that everything is turned up side down. Mia, hey younger brother Teddy, mum and dad are involved in a car accident and Mia "awakes" to find herself following her own life via an out of body experience. The film thus progresses, switching between the current storyline and then drifting back to previous scenes where the current emotions are retold via the flashbacks.
As a story, If I Stay is really quite good. We like the thoughtful way the tragedy is played out, how close it is to the novel of the same name by Gayle Forman, we don't know, having not read the book, but it may well be worthy of a read, as the screenplay for If I Stay was really quite moving.
At the end of the day If I Stay is a bit of a teen romance, geared to a younger audience, but the it pulls no punches with the tragedies, we won't say too much here, but if you get drawn into the story then prepare for some tears. We didn't necessarily think that the story was played out with enough gravitas to pull you in to the midst of the film, some of the scenes were a tad cheesey, but only slightly. This film could go either way, in the respect of whether you like it or not. That's not to detract from the quality of talents on screen, Chloë Grace Moretz is particularly good to watch, but not in the cello scenes where the CGI lets the filmmakers down somewhat, as you could see the join! There's a great performance from Stacey Keach who plays Mia's grandfather.
All in all a good story, but geared to a younger audience, as witnessed by the higher scores from the younger end of the sofa. The acting was good, but some of the flashbacks could lose you if you didn't maintain concentration. Perhaps some jeopardy would help and a few more tears just to draw the audience closer, not bad, but not brilliant either.
TNiFN Rating 68%
IMDB Link
If I Stay
Starring Chloë Grace Moretz as Mia Hall and Jamie Blackley as her boyfriend Adam, If I Stay is a romantic drama, with it's basis firmly grounded in music. Mia is from a musical family, her dad; Denny (Joshua Leonard) was a drummer in an up and coming band, her mum; Kim (Liana Liberato) was a bit of a groupie. However, their offspring decided at an early age that the cello was going to be her instrument of choice and she becomes a proficient player destined for great things. Adam is slightly older than Mia and is in a band, but music brings them together. Adam is keen to pursue his blossoming music career, as is Mia and she applies to Julliard to further her musical education and is awaiting the results of her audition. All is going along so well, until as Mia puts it;
"Isn't it amazing how life is one thing and then, in an instant it becomes something else. Like here I am, Mia, the girl who thinks about the cello and Adam, and whether I get a stupid letter or not, and just like that..."
Just like that everything is turned up side down. Mia, hey younger brother Teddy, mum and dad are involved in a car accident and Mia "awakes" to find herself following her own life via an out of body experience. The film thus progresses, switching between the current storyline and then drifting back to previous scenes where the current emotions are retold via the flashbacks.
As a story, If I Stay is really quite good. We like the thoughtful way the tragedy is played out, how close it is to the novel of the same name by Gayle Forman, we don't know, having not read the book, but it may well be worthy of a read, as the screenplay for If I Stay was really quite moving.
At the end of the day If I Stay is a bit of a teen romance, geared to a younger audience, but the it pulls no punches with the tragedies, we won't say too much here, but if you get drawn into the story then prepare for some tears. We didn't necessarily think that the story was played out with enough gravitas to pull you in to the midst of the film, some of the scenes were a tad cheesey, but only slightly. This film could go either way, in the respect of whether you like it or not. That's not to detract from the quality of talents on screen, Chloë Grace Moretz is particularly good to watch, but not in the cello scenes where the CGI lets the filmmakers down somewhat, as you could see the join! There's a great performance from Stacey Keach who plays Mia's grandfather.
All in all a good story, but geared to a younger audience, as witnessed by the higher scores from the younger end of the sofa. The acting was good, but some of the flashbacks could lose you if you didn't maintain concentration. Perhaps some jeopardy would help and a few more tears just to draw the audience closer, not bad, but not brilliant either.
TNiFN Rating 68%
IMDB Link
Tuesday 22 September 2015
The Breakfast Club - 22nd September 2015
We are stepping back in time this week at Tuesday Night is Film Night, way back to 1985, a whole 30 years, to sample the delights of;
The Breakfast Club
Although some of us at TNiFN Towers would have been around and would have been the right age at the time of this film's original release (cough, cough, that'll be me!!), nobody actually saw it back then. Therefore it's classic status was unknown to us, clearly we've led a sheltered life. However, we were encouraged by reviews and were keen to get it off the Sky+ box. Anyway back to the film synopsis, we know it's a cheat, but indulge us for a few minutes, the following paragraph was stolen from Wikipedia, purely for the fact that it sums up the characters and their reasons for being thrown together succinctly, so forgive the laziness for one moment;
"On Saturday, March 24, 1984, five students report at 7:00 a.m. for all-day detention at Shermer High School in Shermer, Illinois. While not complete strangers, each of them comes from a different clique, and they seem to have nothing in common. The beautiful and pampered Claire Standish (Molly Ringwald), the state champion wrestler Andrew Clarke (Emilio Estevez), the bookish Brian Johnson (Anthony Michael Hall); the reclusive outcast Allison Reynolds (Ally Sheedy), and the rebellious John Bender (Judd Nelson)."
Anyway, back to us. We would describe this film from the pen of, and under the directorship of John Hughes, as a coming of age high school story, some would say the best in this genre, it certainly was compelling, we think that sums the plot line up quite nicely; compelling. These five teenage characters thrust together with their multiple lives juxtaposed against each other and examined under the microscope of their own making. Each character has their own traits, their own story, their own reasons for being there and their own outlook on teenage life, take all of these variables and you are presented with a compelling (there's that word again) comedic drama, with a multiplicity of story threads interwoven with each other, where they are examined and cross examined via the internal machinations of the self acclaimed Breakfast Club. (This name is revealed at the end).
We travel though at a high pace, but a slow speed, which is a contradiction in terms, but that is what it feels like, the mood of the film and that of the story is in a constant state of flux as the intermingled storylines ebb and flow in and out of focus. Each character in turn taking a leading position, then falling back as another takes over. Each story is from their own different background and their own perspective, sometimes they agree, sometimes they agree to disagree, sometimes they argue, sometimes they console each other, but all the time these five, disparate, separate, unconnected, unrelated, different and distinct individuals are drawn together. That is one of the fascinating threads to the whole film; how a disjointed and remote group can come together in such a way and if you haven't seen the film, we're not going to delve into the detailed minutiae of how this is achieved.
The film is funny and sad, it is depressing yet uplifting, it is buoyant and quirky and all the while the Eighties soundtrack is not that far away. Maybe the music and the fashions are dated now (we loved the music though!), but the story and issues examined are still relevant today. Although it is definitely aimed at the teen market, we don't think it matters if you're not a teenager anymore, as long as you were a teen once, then this film will certainly strike some chords. Hopefully.
It split the panel here at TNiFN Towers, not everyone thought it was as good as the other, but it was a slow burner, getting better and better as the film and the story progressed. As a result the ratings are fairly mediocre for the great film that it is classed to be.
Editors note; what can you do? I only write this stuff, the others vote!
TNiFN Rating 76%
IMDB Link
The Breakfast Club
Although some of us at TNiFN Towers would have been around and would have been the right age at the time of this film's original release (cough, cough, that'll be me!!), nobody actually saw it back then. Therefore it's classic status was unknown to us, clearly we've led a sheltered life. However, we were encouraged by reviews and were keen to get it off the Sky+ box. Anyway back to the film synopsis, we know it's a cheat, but indulge us for a few minutes, the following paragraph was stolen from Wikipedia, purely for the fact that it sums up the characters and their reasons for being thrown together succinctly, so forgive the laziness for one moment;
"On Saturday, March 24, 1984, five students report at 7:00 a.m. for all-day detention at Shermer High School in Shermer, Illinois. While not complete strangers, each of them comes from a different clique, and they seem to have nothing in common. The beautiful and pampered Claire Standish (Molly Ringwald), the state champion wrestler Andrew Clarke (Emilio Estevez), the bookish Brian Johnson (Anthony Michael Hall); the reclusive outcast Allison Reynolds (Ally Sheedy), and the rebellious John Bender (Judd Nelson)."
Anyway, back to us. We would describe this film from the pen of, and under the directorship of John Hughes, as a coming of age high school story, some would say the best in this genre, it certainly was compelling, we think that sums the plot line up quite nicely; compelling. These five teenage characters thrust together with their multiple lives juxtaposed against each other and examined under the microscope of their own making. Each character has their own traits, their own story, their own reasons for being there and their own outlook on teenage life, take all of these variables and you are presented with a compelling (there's that word again) comedic drama, with a multiplicity of story threads interwoven with each other, where they are examined and cross examined via the internal machinations of the self acclaimed Breakfast Club. (This name is revealed at the end).
We travel though at a high pace, but a slow speed, which is a contradiction in terms, but that is what it feels like, the mood of the film and that of the story is in a constant state of flux as the intermingled storylines ebb and flow in and out of focus. Each character in turn taking a leading position, then falling back as another takes over. Each story is from their own different background and their own perspective, sometimes they agree, sometimes they agree to disagree, sometimes they argue, sometimes they console each other, but all the time these five, disparate, separate, unconnected, unrelated, different and distinct individuals are drawn together. That is one of the fascinating threads to the whole film; how a disjointed and remote group can come together in such a way and if you haven't seen the film, we're not going to delve into the detailed minutiae of how this is achieved.
The film is funny and sad, it is depressing yet uplifting, it is buoyant and quirky and all the while the Eighties soundtrack is not that far away. Maybe the music and the fashions are dated now (we loved the music though!), but the story and issues examined are still relevant today. Although it is definitely aimed at the teen market, we don't think it matters if you're not a teenager anymore, as long as you were a teen once, then this film will certainly strike some chords. Hopefully.
It split the panel here at TNiFN Towers, not everyone thought it was as good as the other, but it was a slow burner, getting better and better as the film and the story progressed. As a result the ratings are fairly mediocre for the great film that it is classed to be.
Editors note; what can you do? I only write this stuff, the others vote!
TNiFN Rating 76%
IMDB Link
Tuesday 15 September 2015
Dallas Buyers Club - 15th September 2015
Tuesday Night is Film Night returns this week with a highly recommended movie, but will it be a thumbs up for the 6 times Academy Award nominated film? Let's find out, as we watch;
Dallas Buyers Club
The film opens with a scene at a rodeo, where vehemently heterosexual Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey) is proving that fact quite aggressively. Unfortunately, Ron is also keen on drink and drugs along with the debauched unprotected sex with the trailer trash that hang around the rodeo and as a result the opening scene concludes with Ron collapsing on the floor of his 1980's Dallas home.
As an opening scene it is intriguing, puzzling and has the promise of a good story. That story unravels fairly rapidly for Ron when he is admitted to hospital after his collapse and after some routine blood tests show up more than was anticipated, the doctors discover that he is HIV positive. Something that Ron is quite clearly shocked by and which he explicitly denies, as he isn't some lousy faggot!
However, like it or not Ron is diagnosed correctly as having AIDS and is given approximately 30 days to live, not something easily absorbed by the red-necked Ron, although as his health deteriorates it is clear that something needs to be done, so he starts to look for some drug therapy, but the hospital can only offer a randomised drug trial where there is a chance that the drugs may be placebos. Initially he manages to get drugs smuggled out of the hospital, but when that supply runs out he ends up going to Mexico to source some more drugs. Here we actually get to the crux of the story, Ron's health begins to improve when he takes the vitamins and peptides prescribed by the doctor in Mexico, who was actually a struck off American doctor, now working the other side of the border. Ron sees an opportunity to make some money selling the same drugs that has helped him, to other AIDS victims. This is where he strikes up an unusual relationship with Rayon a homosexual played superbly by Jared Leto and they form a business liaison selling drugs. This is clearly illegal, so they soon turn into a Buyers Club, where people subscribe to a club and get the drugs free, thus circumventing any legislation.
Ron also strikes up a friendship with hospital doctor Eve, played by the lovely Jennifer Garner as she is sympathetic to Ron's cause and understands how the large pharmaceutical companies are manipulating the doctors into using their drugs for clinical trials, by offering large cash incentives. So the story turns again with Ron being a HIV champion, taking on the drugs companies and the FDA (U S Food and Drug Administration) and trying to beat them at their own game.
It is a fascinating story and the film clearly had potential, but we were a little let down by what we perceived to be a lack of pulling power, we didn't feel drawn into the film. McConaughey clearly pulled out all the stops for the role, and was a very convincing character, but we got bored quite easily with the lack of gravitas that could have improved the storyline. Certainly a serious subject, but the McConaughey character didn't do it for us. Jared Leto was much better and more convincing and Jennifer Garner was a saving grace, pulling us back in with some great dialogue. McConaughey as an actor is very talented and he was definitely the right person for the role and prepared for the role by losing a massive 21kg.
All in all Dallas Buyers Club should be a film that is enjoyed and judging by the other reviews and the Oscar nominations it was clearly well received, it just didn't float our respective boats. Whether that says more about us and our choice of film or the film itself, we'll let you decide. We wanted to like it, but we weren't sold. Great story though.
TNiFN Rating 57%
IMDB Link
Dallas Buyers Club
The film opens with a scene at a rodeo, where vehemently heterosexual Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey) is proving that fact quite aggressively. Unfortunately, Ron is also keen on drink and drugs along with the debauched unprotected sex with the trailer trash that hang around the rodeo and as a result the opening scene concludes with Ron collapsing on the floor of his 1980's Dallas home.
As an opening scene it is intriguing, puzzling and has the promise of a good story. That story unravels fairly rapidly for Ron when he is admitted to hospital after his collapse and after some routine blood tests show up more than was anticipated, the doctors discover that he is HIV positive. Something that Ron is quite clearly shocked by and which he explicitly denies, as he isn't some lousy faggot!
However, like it or not Ron is diagnosed correctly as having AIDS and is given approximately 30 days to live, not something easily absorbed by the red-necked Ron, although as his health deteriorates it is clear that something needs to be done, so he starts to look for some drug therapy, but the hospital can only offer a randomised drug trial where there is a chance that the drugs may be placebos. Initially he manages to get drugs smuggled out of the hospital, but when that supply runs out he ends up going to Mexico to source some more drugs. Here we actually get to the crux of the story, Ron's health begins to improve when he takes the vitamins and peptides prescribed by the doctor in Mexico, who was actually a struck off American doctor, now working the other side of the border. Ron sees an opportunity to make some money selling the same drugs that has helped him, to other AIDS victims. This is where he strikes up an unusual relationship with Rayon a homosexual played superbly by Jared Leto and they form a business liaison selling drugs. This is clearly illegal, so they soon turn into a Buyers Club, where people subscribe to a club and get the drugs free, thus circumventing any legislation.
Ron also strikes up a friendship with hospital doctor Eve, played by the lovely Jennifer Garner as she is sympathetic to Ron's cause and understands how the large pharmaceutical companies are manipulating the doctors into using their drugs for clinical trials, by offering large cash incentives. So the story turns again with Ron being a HIV champion, taking on the drugs companies and the FDA (U S Food and Drug Administration) and trying to beat them at their own game.
It is a fascinating story and the film clearly had potential, but we were a little let down by what we perceived to be a lack of pulling power, we didn't feel drawn into the film. McConaughey clearly pulled out all the stops for the role, and was a very convincing character, but we got bored quite easily with the lack of gravitas that could have improved the storyline. Certainly a serious subject, but the McConaughey character didn't do it for us. Jared Leto was much better and more convincing and Jennifer Garner was a saving grace, pulling us back in with some great dialogue. McConaughey as an actor is very talented and he was definitely the right person for the role and prepared for the role by losing a massive 21kg.
All in all Dallas Buyers Club should be a film that is enjoyed and judging by the other reviews and the Oscar nominations it was clearly well received, it just didn't float our respective boats. Whether that says more about us and our choice of film or the film itself, we'll let you decide. We wanted to like it, but we weren't sold. Great story though.
TNiFN Rating 57%
IMDB Link
Tuesday 8 September 2015
We Bought a Zoo - 8th September 2015
Tuesday Night is Film Night is back after missing a week last week, busy busy! This week we settle down to watch;
We Bought a Zoo
Tonight's film is based on the true story of Benjamin Mee, who did in actual fact buy a zoo. The one fact, that we've just found out, that is not portrayed in the film is the real zoo is based in England.
Matt Damon stars as Benjamin Mee, a recently widowed husband, left with two kids to bring up. When things start to go wrong with his eldest child; Dylan, who gets expelled from school, Benjamin looks to how they can improve their life and maybe even have a fresh start. To achieve this, he starts to look for a new house, to get away from the constant reminders of his loved, but late wife. He finds nothing suitable on the list of available properties, until he discovers the perfect house that, according to the Estate Agent; ".... has complications". The complications being it comes with a zoo attached and the clause in the purchase states that any new owner must take on the zoo, even though it is rundown and not up to specification.
Clearly Benjamin likes a challenge, as he buys the zoo, thinking that it will help his son Dylan. His daughter Rosie needs no encouragement and she loves the new life. The film then follows the real struggles that Benjamin and his family have to face getting the zoo up together, luckily when he took on the zoo, he also took on the staff and Head Keeper Kelly (Scarlett Johansson) is keen to revitalise the zoo and ensure that it passes the necessary inspections to be open to the public again. Kelly is also a love interest for Benjamin, although he is still mourning the death of his wife Katherine and really cannot let her go.
It is a brilliant story, made that little bit more special by the mere fact that is based upon a true story. Clearly it has been given the Hollywood treatment and certain aspects have been changed, not least the location! Matt Damon is great as Benjamin, although sometimes upstaged by Maggie Elizabeth Jones who played his daughter Rosie, a very confident young (7 years old) actress. Scarlett Johansson is also worth mentioning, she plays the character of Kelly really well, being forceful and driven to save the zoo, but clearly with a growing crush on Benjamin, giving that underlying thread of romance to the story. This is also true with Dylan too (Colin Ford) who also sparks a flame of love into the heart of Lily, a teenager that works at the zoo. So there's a multi-faceted thread to the story which easily fills the two hour running time.
All in all We Bought a Zoo maintains a sweet innocence to the story, with the zoo playing the underdog as it were and everyone loves to see an underdog win. There's a fair amount of jeopardy thrown in to add tension, along with a modicum of zoological comedy to raise a few laughs. Certainly a fun family film and one to look out for.
TNiFN Rating 77%
IMDB Link
We Bought a Zoo
Tonight's film is based on the true story of Benjamin Mee, who did in actual fact buy a zoo. The one fact, that we've just found out, that is not portrayed in the film is the real zoo is based in England.
Matt Damon stars as Benjamin Mee, a recently widowed husband, left with two kids to bring up. When things start to go wrong with his eldest child; Dylan, who gets expelled from school, Benjamin looks to how they can improve their life and maybe even have a fresh start. To achieve this, he starts to look for a new house, to get away from the constant reminders of his loved, but late wife. He finds nothing suitable on the list of available properties, until he discovers the perfect house that, according to the Estate Agent; ".... has complications". The complications being it comes with a zoo attached and the clause in the purchase states that any new owner must take on the zoo, even though it is rundown and not up to specification.
Clearly Benjamin likes a challenge, as he buys the zoo, thinking that it will help his son Dylan. His daughter Rosie needs no encouragement and she loves the new life. The film then follows the real struggles that Benjamin and his family have to face getting the zoo up together, luckily when he took on the zoo, he also took on the staff and Head Keeper Kelly (Scarlett Johansson) is keen to revitalise the zoo and ensure that it passes the necessary inspections to be open to the public again. Kelly is also a love interest for Benjamin, although he is still mourning the death of his wife Katherine and really cannot let her go.
It is a brilliant story, made that little bit more special by the mere fact that is based upon a true story. Clearly it has been given the Hollywood treatment and certain aspects have been changed, not least the location! Matt Damon is great as Benjamin, although sometimes upstaged by Maggie Elizabeth Jones who played his daughter Rosie, a very confident young (7 years old) actress. Scarlett Johansson is also worth mentioning, she plays the character of Kelly really well, being forceful and driven to save the zoo, but clearly with a growing crush on Benjamin, giving that underlying thread of romance to the story. This is also true with Dylan too (Colin Ford) who also sparks a flame of love into the heart of Lily, a teenager that works at the zoo. So there's a multi-faceted thread to the story which easily fills the two hour running time.
All in all We Bought a Zoo maintains a sweet innocence to the story, with the zoo playing the underdog as it were and everyone loves to see an underdog win. There's a fair amount of jeopardy thrown in to add tension, along with a modicum of zoological comedy to raise a few laughs. Certainly a fun family film and one to look out for.
TNiFN Rating 77%
IMDB Link
Tuesday 25 August 2015
Cuban Fury - 25th August 2015
Tuesday Night is Film Night is here yet again and this week it's off with the slippers and on with the dancing shoes as we get down to some sizzling Salsa action with;
Cuban Fury
There we are then, another film ticked off the list and it was a very good film indeed. So what is all about we hear you ask? (There's no need to shout, we can't really hear you).
Cuban Fury stars Nick Frost as Bruce Garrett who, at the start of the film is a childhood star on the Salsa circuit, dancing in all the competitions under the watchful eye of his tutor and mentor Ron Parfitt played by the aging disgracefully Ian McShane. Then just as the UK Junior Salsa Championship beckons and nationwide Salsa stardom is jsut around the corner, Bruce is confronted by some mean street kids who force feed him sequins and turn Bruce against the one thing he loves, fast forward 20 odd years and you have the start of a fun feelgood movie.
It's nice to see Nick Frost appear in a film without the ubiquitous Simon Pegg hogging the limelight, although Pegg manages to snatch a veritably brief cameo in this film. Frost alone is quite funny, plus the original idea for Cuban Fury was from Frost himself, so it's good see him Pegg-lessly driving a film forward. Anyway, back to the plot.
Bruce is now working for an engineering firm, alongside the boorish and arrogant Drew played very convincingly by Chris O'Dowd, clearly this character trait immediately places Bruce in the underdog position and therefore aligns the story in to feelgood mode. Ally this with the arrival of a new boss into the firm; Julia played by the lovely Rashida Jones and our feelgood film has a love interest as both Bruce and Drew are immediately taken by the new boss's looks. The story rumbles on with some suitably funny filling, supplied by a really good if somewhat unknown supporting cast and we reach the point where we find that boss Julia is into Salsa dancing. Shock! Horror! What will happen next?
Obviously, this is the queue for Bruce to don the heels of fire again and get back into the dancing, in the vain attempt to woo the boss. However, Drew has other ideas and sets out to subvert the attentions of Bruce and bag the boss for himself. Bruce is coerced by his sister Samantha played by the ever-so lovely Olivia Coleman and Bejan played by Kayvan Novak, whose constant middle-eastern and almost incomprehensible chatter pushes the bashful Bruce back to the dance floor. We did notice that it was either that Olivia Coleman got all the best lines, or at least her faultless delivery of those lines was extremely funny, we like her.
Obviously, being a feelgood comedy, the outcome is going to fairly predictable, but that's the whole point, you know where the finish line is, it's how you get there that's important and Cuban Fury does not fail to deliver in that regard. The humour is simple, but funny. The dancing is quick and rhythmic, most importantly the editing is superb, so you don't see where Nick Frost's feet finish and the professional dancers feet start, assuming that they must have cut in between professional dancers and the cast. Unless Frost did all his own dancing. Must check that.
All in all a very worthy film to watch, formulaic, funny and feelgood just what we like to watch here at TNiFN Towers.
TNiFN Rating 83%
IMDB Link
Cuban Fury
There we are then, another film ticked off the list and it was a very good film indeed. So what is all about we hear you ask? (There's no need to shout, we can't really hear you).
Cuban Fury stars Nick Frost as Bruce Garrett who, at the start of the film is a childhood star on the Salsa circuit, dancing in all the competitions under the watchful eye of his tutor and mentor Ron Parfitt played by the aging disgracefully Ian McShane. Then just as the UK Junior Salsa Championship beckons and nationwide Salsa stardom is jsut around the corner, Bruce is confronted by some mean street kids who force feed him sequins and turn Bruce against the one thing he loves, fast forward 20 odd years and you have the start of a fun feelgood movie.
It's nice to see Nick Frost appear in a film without the ubiquitous Simon Pegg hogging the limelight, although Pegg manages to snatch a veritably brief cameo in this film. Frost alone is quite funny, plus the original idea for Cuban Fury was from Frost himself, so it's good see him Pegg-lessly driving a film forward. Anyway, back to the plot.
Bruce is now working for an engineering firm, alongside the boorish and arrogant Drew played very convincingly by Chris O'Dowd, clearly this character trait immediately places Bruce in the underdog position and therefore aligns the story in to feelgood mode. Ally this with the arrival of a new boss into the firm; Julia played by the lovely Rashida Jones and our feelgood film has a love interest as both Bruce and Drew are immediately taken by the new boss's looks. The story rumbles on with some suitably funny filling, supplied by a really good if somewhat unknown supporting cast and we reach the point where we find that boss Julia is into Salsa dancing. Shock! Horror! What will happen next?
Obviously, this is the queue for Bruce to don the heels of fire again and get back into the dancing, in the vain attempt to woo the boss. However, Drew has other ideas and sets out to subvert the attentions of Bruce and bag the boss for himself. Bruce is coerced by his sister Samantha played by the ever-so lovely Olivia Coleman and Bejan played by Kayvan Novak, whose constant middle-eastern and almost incomprehensible chatter pushes the bashful Bruce back to the dance floor. We did notice that it was either that Olivia Coleman got all the best lines, or at least her faultless delivery of those lines was extremely funny, we like her.
Obviously, being a feelgood comedy, the outcome is going to fairly predictable, but that's the whole point, you know where the finish line is, it's how you get there that's important and Cuban Fury does not fail to deliver in that regard. The humour is simple, but funny. The dancing is quick and rhythmic, most importantly the editing is superb, so you don't see where Nick Frost's feet finish and the professional dancers feet start, assuming that they must have cut in between professional dancers and the cast. Unless Frost did all his own dancing. Must check that.
All in all a very worthy film to watch, formulaic, funny and feelgood just what we like to watch here at TNiFN Towers.
TNiFN Rating 83%
IMDB Link
Tuesday 18 August 2015
The Five-Year Engagement - 18th August 2015
Hello Tuesday Night is Film Night fan! (Is there more than one of you?)
We're back after a mini holiday hiatus and it's back to the good old rom-com for us tonight as we relax in front of;
The Five-Year Engagement
Starring the tolerable Jason Segal and the gorgeous Emily Blunt, last seen here at TNiFN in Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, The Five-Year Engagement follows this quaint and cute love story from a year after the time that Tom and Violet (Segal and Blunt) first met, right up to their wedding, if only they were to get married! You see and you may have gleaned this from the title, this relationship although loving and tender and destined for a trip up the aisle, is dogged by career moves and changes of mind. It is under this premise that the story unfolds. Ably supported by their requisite friends and relatives, they are encouraged and coerced to tie the knot. Unfortunately a career move for Violet, leads to a move from San Francisco to Michigan and Tom, a up and coming chef, has to swap a top job in a San Francisco restaurant, for making sandwiches in a Michigan diner.
So a fairly formulaic approach to the story, we have a quick build up and the relationship flourishes, but then as things change, the relationship spirals out of alignment and we witness, albeit with comedic moments and pathos, the dissolution of this very happy couple. This part of the film, does tend to drag on a bit and although the jovial nature of the story tries to encourage laughs, it falls short sometimes. Also if you're in psychology that's good, as Violet is at Michigan University studying psychology, with the man who puts a spoke into the relationship, but we have to put up with some cross over between storyline and character psychoanalysis which although it works to a degree, there are areas that could have been cut and you would not have lost the core of the story.
The Five-Year Engagement tries to be funny and the supporting cast does provide the necessary levity, it's just not quite enough to fully put the com into this rom-com. As for the rom part, that's just fine. Don't get us wrong, it was a delightful and funny movie, it's just it could have benefited from better and indeed funnier writing, rather than rely on a lot of strange characters and there are a few of those. As Jason Segal wrote the screenplay, along with Nicholas Stoller, then perhaps he should have written some more funny lines, rather than rely on physical comedy.
At the end of the day, it was a good film, it just could have been better. The story was really good and the way the two main characters drifted apart was handled really well and the finale was, although expected, just what the film needed to round off a feelgood romantic comedy.
All in all, a great story idea, with mediocre writing, brilliant acting and an enjoyable ending. Worth a watch if you are a fan of rom-coms.
TNiFN Rating 71%
IMDB Link
We're back after a mini holiday hiatus and it's back to the good old rom-com for us tonight as we relax in front of;
The Five-Year Engagement
Starring the tolerable Jason Segal and the gorgeous Emily Blunt, last seen here at TNiFN in Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, The Five-Year Engagement follows this quaint and cute love story from a year after the time that Tom and Violet (Segal and Blunt) first met, right up to their wedding, if only they were to get married! You see and you may have gleaned this from the title, this relationship although loving and tender and destined for a trip up the aisle, is dogged by career moves and changes of mind. It is under this premise that the story unfolds. Ably supported by their requisite friends and relatives, they are encouraged and coerced to tie the knot. Unfortunately a career move for Violet, leads to a move from San Francisco to Michigan and Tom, a up and coming chef, has to swap a top job in a San Francisco restaurant, for making sandwiches in a Michigan diner.
So a fairly formulaic approach to the story, we have a quick build up and the relationship flourishes, but then as things change, the relationship spirals out of alignment and we witness, albeit with comedic moments and pathos, the dissolution of this very happy couple. This part of the film, does tend to drag on a bit and although the jovial nature of the story tries to encourage laughs, it falls short sometimes. Also if you're in psychology that's good, as Violet is at Michigan University studying psychology, with the man who puts a spoke into the relationship, but we have to put up with some cross over between storyline and character psychoanalysis which although it works to a degree, there are areas that could have been cut and you would not have lost the core of the story.
The Five-Year Engagement tries to be funny and the supporting cast does provide the necessary levity, it's just not quite enough to fully put the com into this rom-com. As for the rom part, that's just fine. Don't get us wrong, it was a delightful and funny movie, it's just it could have benefited from better and indeed funnier writing, rather than rely on a lot of strange characters and there are a few of those. As Jason Segal wrote the screenplay, along with Nicholas Stoller, then perhaps he should have written some more funny lines, rather than rely on physical comedy.
At the end of the day, it was a good film, it just could have been better. The story was really good and the way the two main characters drifted apart was handled really well and the finale was, although expected, just what the film needed to round off a feelgood romantic comedy.
All in all, a great story idea, with mediocre writing, brilliant acting and an enjoyable ending. Worth a watch if you are a fan of rom-coms.
TNiFN Rating 71%
IMDB Link
Tuesday 28 July 2015
The Theory of Everything - 28th July 2015
Here we are again for our grand, spectacular, 252nd film! Did you miss the celebrations for the 250th? Yes, so did we!
Anyway this week it's a biopic, we do love a good biopic and hopefully this is one, sit back relax, put them feet up and wonder about;
The Theory of Everything
Where shall we start with the Theory of Everything? Well, it you didn't know already, it follows the early life of Stephen Hawking, from college days to just after A Brief History of Time is published and everything in between. It is based on Jane Hawking's book; "Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen" which we implore you to read, either before or after seeing this absolutely superb film!
The film traces quite brilliantly the personal battles of Stephen as he is diagnosed with Motor Neuron disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to be exact. The diagnosis comes when his superb cosmologist mind is working through theories in his early period at Cambridge University and just when his relationship with Jane Wilde is starting to blossom. So we get a multi-layered story which not only focuses on the scientific facts and theories, but you have the romance from the relationship between Stephen and Jane, plus you have the over-arching story of Stephen and his remarkable, and it is truly remarkable, life.
There's really not much more to say about the story, it is fascinating, it is very real and it is totally inspiring. Yes, we like the Prof!
However, this is a film blog and not a Stephen Hawking fan site, so to the film. First and foremost much kudos should go to Eddie Redmayne for his Oscar winning portrayal of Stephen Hawking. Redmayne clearly studied Hawking carefully, for he mimics with tender accuracy the body language, subtle nuances and facial expressions of Hawking. Taking a somewhat difficult subject matter and portraying it with such pathos and endearance is just sheer brilliance and a credit to Redmayne. That Oscar is well deserved.
Alongside Redmayne you have the delightful Felicity Jones, who we have seen in a few TNiFN films; Cheerful Weather for the Wedding and the more recently seen; Cemetery Junction. Jones is ideal as Jane Hawking, a seemingly weak and shy individual, but this outer view belies the inner strength of a determined woman, who has vowed to stick with Stephen to the bitter end, which in the early days was only going to be about two years, but how things changed? More details to be found in the book or the film.
Surrounding these two main characters you have a multitude of supporting cast members each of whom play their small or slightly larger parts to progress the story with energy, sympathy and humour. And that's what we keep coming back to; the story. Aside from the totally magnificent acting from Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones it is the exceptional story that delights the viewer of this film. Many people may have shunned the idea of a film about Stephen Hawking, thinking it may be too high brow, intellectual, steeped in science or not a biography that they would necessarily choose, but the thing is it is based on Jane Hawking's biography of her life with Stephen and this is where that twist comes in, it's not all about the wondrous and extraordinary life of Stephen, it is the sub stories, how his life has affected others. It's not just about the brilliant mind of one remarkable human being, but a touching, moving and endearing story of a genius and those that surround him.
We're running out of superlatives here! Just watch the film, you will not be disappointed. This review might not be brilliant, but the film is.
TNiFN Rating 95%
IMDB Link
Anyway this week it's a biopic, we do love a good biopic and hopefully this is one, sit back relax, put them feet up and wonder about;
The Theory of Everything
Where shall we start with the Theory of Everything? Well, it you didn't know already, it follows the early life of Stephen Hawking, from college days to just after A Brief History of Time is published and everything in between. It is based on Jane Hawking's book; "Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen" which we implore you to read, either before or after seeing this absolutely superb film!
The film traces quite brilliantly the personal battles of Stephen as he is diagnosed with Motor Neuron disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to be exact. The diagnosis comes when his superb cosmologist mind is working through theories in his early period at Cambridge University and just when his relationship with Jane Wilde is starting to blossom. So we get a multi-layered story which not only focuses on the scientific facts and theories, but you have the romance from the relationship between Stephen and Jane, plus you have the over-arching story of Stephen and his remarkable, and it is truly remarkable, life.
There's really not much more to say about the story, it is fascinating, it is very real and it is totally inspiring. Yes, we like the Prof!
However, this is a film blog and not a Stephen Hawking fan site, so to the film. First and foremost much kudos should go to Eddie Redmayne for his Oscar winning portrayal of Stephen Hawking. Redmayne clearly studied Hawking carefully, for he mimics with tender accuracy the body language, subtle nuances and facial expressions of Hawking. Taking a somewhat difficult subject matter and portraying it with such pathos and endearance is just sheer brilliance and a credit to Redmayne. That Oscar is well deserved.
Alongside Redmayne you have the delightful Felicity Jones, who we have seen in a few TNiFN films; Cheerful Weather for the Wedding and the more recently seen; Cemetery Junction. Jones is ideal as Jane Hawking, a seemingly weak and shy individual, but this outer view belies the inner strength of a determined woman, who has vowed to stick with Stephen to the bitter end, which in the early days was only going to be about two years, but how things changed? More details to be found in the book or the film.
Surrounding these two main characters you have a multitude of supporting cast members each of whom play their small or slightly larger parts to progress the story with energy, sympathy and humour. And that's what we keep coming back to; the story. Aside from the totally magnificent acting from Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones it is the exceptional story that delights the viewer of this film. Many people may have shunned the idea of a film about Stephen Hawking, thinking it may be too high brow, intellectual, steeped in science or not a biography that they would necessarily choose, but the thing is it is based on Jane Hawking's biography of her life with Stephen and this is where that twist comes in, it's not all about the wondrous and extraordinary life of Stephen, it is the sub stories, how his life has affected others. It's not just about the brilliant mind of one remarkable human being, but a touching, moving and endearing story of a genius and those that surround him.
We're running out of superlatives here! Just watch the film, you will not be disappointed. This review might not be brilliant, but the film is.
TNiFN Rating 95%
IMDB Link
Tuesday 21 July 2015
Saving Mr. Banks - 21st July 2015
This week we take a short hop back to 2013 with Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson as we watch the biographical story of P.L. Travers;
Saving Mr. Banks
You really cannot go wrong with a Tom Hanks film, but team him up with the sublimely talented and wonderful Emma Thompson and you have a sure fire hit on your hands.
Saving Mr Banks is a biographical account how how author P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) is cinematographically seduced, for want of a better phrase by the inimitable Walt Disney (Hanks). P.L. Travers wrote the children's story; Mary Poppins and Walt wants to bring the story, that he read to his children, to the big screen. However, he hadn't bargained on the voracious and tenacious Mrs Travers, who holds this very personal story very close to her heart, the characters after all are family to her.
The film juxtaposes a childhood thread of Helen Goff (before she became P.L Travers), set in Australia in the early twentieth century, against the 1960's version where she is being coerced by Mr Disney to allow him to portray her dearest of characters on film. The viewer drifts between the 1900's and the 1960's, as the intertwined story unfolds. On the one hand you have the young Helen growing up with her loving, but heavy drinking father, set against the Disney studio team trying to develop the story with music and animation, both of which Mrs Travers cannot abide. And it is this to and throwing, that provides a multi-layering of story as we see the organic growth of the film; Mary Poppins, set against the sometime tragic and sometime happy moments of the young Helen Goff growing up. It is these moments, these fleeting glimpses in history, that has provided the basis for the original Mary Poppins book and now the movie version too.
That organic growth is very evident when the musical talents of Robert and Richard Sherman (B.J. Novak and Jason Schwartzman respectively) work through the songs for the film and it is quite delightful and amusing to see a dramatisation of how they could have possibly developed. Set this against that powerful, strict and stiff upper lipped force that is P.L. Travers and you have yourself a keen Anglo-American battle, which is just fun to watch.
Emma Thompson is quite simply superb as Mrs Travers, ideally suited for the role and practically perfect in every way, to coin a phrase stolen from some film! Also, and yet again, Tom Hanks is on the money as the king of the Magic Kingdom. His mannerisms and perfect Missourian drawl of Walt Disney is just brilliant and they are both a joy to watch.
Whilst on the subject of the cast, there is one character that may get over looked, but we believe he plays a pivotal role in the film; Paul Giamatti plays Ralph the driver supplied by Disney to ferry Mrs, as he calls her, around and they strike up an unlikely but palpable friendship which adds so much to story. At first their relationship is quirky and provides a modicum of levity to the story line, but as it develops Ralph becomes a real friend to Mrs Travers.
In summation, the two stories mingled together is such a beautiful way to run this story line out, hopping back and forward those sixty or so years from childhood beginnings of the saga, to it playing out in the transformation of the characters to film, it's touching, emotional, heartfelt and charming, with a little bit of whimsy thrown in for good measure. The cast are marvelous, the soundtrack familiar and yet touching. The stunning Australian scenery, played out against the Hollywood backdrop is all so easy on the eye and wonderfully shot.
In short a really lovely, pink and fluffy film. Which should score quite highly from the massed panel here at TNiFN Towers.
TNiFN Rating 89%
IMDB Link
Saving Mr. Banks
You really cannot go wrong with a Tom Hanks film, but team him up with the sublimely talented and wonderful Emma Thompson and you have a sure fire hit on your hands.
Saving Mr Banks is a biographical account how how author P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) is cinematographically seduced, for want of a better phrase by the inimitable Walt Disney (Hanks). P.L. Travers wrote the children's story; Mary Poppins and Walt wants to bring the story, that he read to his children, to the big screen. However, he hadn't bargained on the voracious and tenacious Mrs Travers, who holds this very personal story very close to her heart, the characters after all are family to her.
The film juxtaposes a childhood thread of Helen Goff (before she became P.L Travers), set in Australia in the early twentieth century, against the 1960's version where she is being coerced by Mr Disney to allow him to portray her dearest of characters on film. The viewer drifts between the 1900's and the 1960's, as the intertwined story unfolds. On the one hand you have the young Helen growing up with her loving, but heavy drinking father, set against the Disney studio team trying to develop the story with music and animation, both of which Mrs Travers cannot abide. And it is this to and throwing, that provides a multi-layering of story as we see the organic growth of the film; Mary Poppins, set against the sometime tragic and sometime happy moments of the young Helen Goff growing up. It is these moments, these fleeting glimpses in history, that has provided the basis for the original Mary Poppins book and now the movie version too.
That organic growth is very evident when the musical talents of Robert and Richard Sherman (B.J. Novak and Jason Schwartzman respectively) work through the songs for the film and it is quite delightful and amusing to see a dramatisation of how they could have possibly developed. Set this against that powerful, strict and stiff upper lipped force that is P.L. Travers and you have yourself a keen Anglo-American battle, which is just fun to watch.
Emma Thompson is quite simply superb as Mrs Travers, ideally suited for the role and practically perfect in every way, to coin a phrase stolen from some film! Also, and yet again, Tom Hanks is on the money as the king of the Magic Kingdom. His mannerisms and perfect Missourian drawl of Walt Disney is just brilliant and they are both a joy to watch.
Whilst on the subject of the cast, there is one character that may get over looked, but we believe he plays a pivotal role in the film; Paul Giamatti plays Ralph the driver supplied by Disney to ferry Mrs, as he calls her, around and they strike up an unlikely but palpable friendship which adds so much to story. At first their relationship is quirky and provides a modicum of levity to the story line, but as it develops Ralph becomes a real friend to Mrs Travers.
In summation, the two stories mingled together is such a beautiful way to run this story line out, hopping back and forward those sixty or so years from childhood beginnings of the saga, to it playing out in the transformation of the characters to film, it's touching, emotional, heartfelt and charming, with a little bit of whimsy thrown in for good measure. The cast are marvelous, the soundtrack familiar and yet touching. The stunning Australian scenery, played out against the Hollywood backdrop is all so easy on the eye and wonderfully shot.
In short a really lovely, pink and fluffy film. Which should score quite highly from the massed panel here at TNiFN Towers.
TNiFN Rating 89%
IMDB Link
Tuesday 14 July 2015
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes - 14th July 2015
Tuesday Night is Film Night needs to stop all this monkey business and quit aping around and sit down to watch a film, but what shall we watch gibbon half a chance? Take the cheese on toast from under the gorilla mother and sit down!
Who writes this rubbish?
Tonight we are watching;
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
It is good to catch the sequel of a film we've already seen, (see Rise of the Planet of the Apes) and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a really good sequel. It is set in a post apocalyptic earth, where a Simian flu virus has wiped out most of the inhabitants of the planet. Outside San Francisco the small pocket of apes that were around at the end of the first film have evolved and are now living in communal surroundings and have developed skills like basic building and making fire. They have noticed that the humans are now scarce and have not been seen for at least three years, that is until a small band of human survivors, who have set up a community in the centre of San Francisco try to find a small hydro electric power station near to the apes home. The plan being to supply power to the city and try to reestablish a human presence on earth. However, they did not bank on finding a colony of evolved apes who can communicate with humans.
Caesar, from the first film (played by Andy Serkis) is still the dominant male in the colony and when the human search party is captured it is Caesar who negotiates and eventually starts to trust the humans to work on the hydro electric plant. Malcolm (Jason Clarke) brokers a treaty with Caesar, but things start to breakdown, on both sides, as human and ape rebels shall we say, start to distrust either side and their own leaders.
Does that sound all a bit confusing? It isn't really, watch the film and the story will unfold quite clearly and you will find human nature is echoed in ape behaviour, where trust becomes mistrust and where respect and loyalty breeds contempt and disorder. Far fetched as the storyline may be, but the behaviour of the on-screen apes and humans are not so different to reality, when it comes to living together with people or in this case a species with different beliefs.
Is that a bit heavy for a film review? It's either philosophical thoughts or monkey jokes here!
Anyway you look at it, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a great film, with a good storyline. It goes without saying that the CGI effects are outstanding, making the simulated action very real and believable. Jason Clarke and Gary Oldman are really good as the leading human actors, as are Serkis (Caesar) and Toby Kebbell who plays Koba, the rebel ape. The film starts with a brief synopsis of the pandemic that has struck the earth, so it's not necessary really to understand the plot of the first film, but it is advisable to watch it to get the full depth of story that links the second film to the first.
Perhaps not as good as the first film, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is still a gripping drama to watch and is worthy of a viewing should you find the time and enjoy a bit of far fetched monkey business.
TNiFN Rating 76%
IMDB Link
Who writes this rubbish?
Tonight we are watching;
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
It is good to catch the sequel of a film we've already seen, (see Rise of the Planet of the Apes) and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a really good sequel. It is set in a post apocalyptic earth, where a Simian flu virus has wiped out most of the inhabitants of the planet. Outside San Francisco the small pocket of apes that were around at the end of the first film have evolved and are now living in communal surroundings and have developed skills like basic building and making fire. They have noticed that the humans are now scarce and have not been seen for at least three years, that is until a small band of human survivors, who have set up a community in the centre of San Francisco try to find a small hydro electric power station near to the apes home. The plan being to supply power to the city and try to reestablish a human presence on earth. However, they did not bank on finding a colony of evolved apes who can communicate with humans.
Caesar, from the first film (played by Andy Serkis) is still the dominant male in the colony and when the human search party is captured it is Caesar who negotiates and eventually starts to trust the humans to work on the hydro electric plant. Malcolm (Jason Clarke) brokers a treaty with Caesar, but things start to breakdown, on both sides, as human and ape rebels shall we say, start to distrust either side and their own leaders.
Does that sound all a bit confusing? It isn't really, watch the film and the story will unfold quite clearly and you will find human nature is echoed in ape behaviour, where trust becomes mistrust and where respect and loyalty breeds contempt and disorder. Far fetched as the storyline may be, but the behaviour of the on-screen apes and humans are not so different to reality, when it comes to living together with people or in this case a species with different beliefs.
Is that a bit heavy for a film review? It's either philosophical thoughts or monkey jokes here!
Anyway you look at it, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a great film, with a good storyline. It goes without saying that the CGI effects are outstanding, making the simulated action very real and believable. Jason Clarke and Gary Oldman are really good as the leading human actors, as are Serkis (Caesar) and Toby Kebbell who plays Koba, the rebel ape. The film starts with a brief synopsis of the pandemic that has struck the earth, so it's not necessary really to understand the plot of the first film, but it is advisable to watch it to get the full depth of story that links the second film to the first.
Perhaps not as good as the first film, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is still a gripping drama to watch and is worthy of a viewing should you find the time and enjoy a bit of far fetched monkey business.
TNiFN Rating 76%
IMDB Link
Tuesday 7 July 2015
Dinner for Schmucks - 7th July 2015
Tuesday Night is Film Night wanders back to 2010 for a comedy starring Steve Carell. Tonight we serve up;
Dinner for Schmucks
Dinner for Schmucks? Film for schmucks more like. Ludicrous.
Scathing first line, but true unfortunately. The DVD case states "Outrageously funny". Unfortunately this is not the case, it was and we quote one of the panel here at TNiFN Towers; "....weird, but mildly amusing".
To cut to the chase and fill in some synopsis detail, Dinner for Schmucks is about Tim, played by Paul Rudd, who is after a promotion at work. He makes a move to hook a big customer and gets the chance to prove himself. This is when he finds out that his superiors have this strange ritualistic evening, where they host a dinner celebrating the idiocy of their guests, so when Tim is invited, he just needs to bring a guest, this is when he runs into Barry (Steve Carell), who is a part time taxidermist and luckily, a complete idiot.
The rest of the film plays out some convoluted and farcical premise that Tim will lose his girlfriend, due to the antics of Barry and the fact that Tim is chasing this materialistic promotion, which actually goes against his beliefs and if you ally this with the fact that his girlfriend is appalled by this dinner idea as well, then you end up with some bizarre scenarios which are interspersed with a modicum of comedy.
There's roles for some homegrown talent in the form of David Walliams and Chris O'Dowd, but even their combined performances cannot rise this diatribe of drivel out of the mirthless mire we find it in.
The films follows this really strange idea of a story, laid over the top of a formulaic feelgood romantic comedy, with little romance and slightly less comedy. There are a few laugh out loud moments, but these are crammed into the official trailer that lulls the viewer into a false sense of security. Really how they justified filling 114 minutes of film with this vapid and feeble story is beyond us.
The actual "dinner" scene was funny, but filled about a fifteen minute segment near to the end, if they had concentrated more of this and less on the procrastination to get to this pivotal plot moment, then perhaps it may have been funnier. Steve Carell was very humourous, but he generally is, but Dinner for Schmucks was not the best vehicle to showcase his talents. Which is a shame, as we had high hopes for this comedy caper.
If you want a gift boxed, expensive and shiny coaster for your coffee cup, then buy this DVD.
TNiFN Rating 48%
IMDB Link
Dinner for Schmucks
Dinner for Schmucks? Film for schmucks more like. Ludicrous.
Scathing first line, but true unfortunately. The DVD case states "Outrageously funny". Unfortunately this is not the case, it was and we quote one of the panel here at TNiFN Towers; "....weird, but mildly amusing".
To cut to the chase and fill in some synopsis detail, Dinner for Schmucks is about Tim, played by Paul Rudd, who is after a promotion at work. He makes a move to hook a big customer and gets the chance to prove himself. This is when he finds out that his superiors have this strange ritualistic evening, where they host a dinner celebrating the idiocy of their guests, so when Tim is invited, he just needs to bring a guest, this is when he runs into Barry (Steve Carell), who is a part time taxidermist and luckily, a complete idiot.
The rest of the film plays out some convoluted and farcical premise that Tim will lose his girlfriend, due to the antics of Barry and the fact that Tim is chasing this materialistic promotion, which actually goes against his beliefs and if you ally this with the fact that his girlfriend is appalled by this dinner idea as well, then you end up with some bizarre scenarios which are interspersed with a modicum of comedy.
There's roles for some homegrown talent in the form of David Walliams and Chris O'Dowd, but even their combined performances cannot rise this diatribe of drivel out of the mirthless mire we find it in.
The films follows this really strange idea of a story, laid over the top of a formulaic feelgood romantic comedy, with little romance and slightly less comedy. There are a few laugh out loud moments, but these are crammed into the official trailer that lulls the viewer into a false sense of security. Really how they justified filling 114 minutes of film with this vapid and feeble story is beyond us.
The actual "dinner" scene was funny, but filled about a fifteen minute segment near to the end, if they had concentrated more of this and less on the procrastination to get to this pivotal plot moment, then perhaps it may have been funnier. Steve Carell was very humourous, but he generally is, but Dinner for Schmucks was not the best vehicle to showcase his talents. Which is a shame, as we had high hopes for this comedy caper.
If you want a gift boxed, expensive and shiny coaster for your coffee cup, then buy this DVD.
TNiFN Rating 48%
IMDB Link
Tuesday 30 June 2015
Kingsman: The Secret Service - 30th June 2015
Hello there! It's been a while. Yes, we had three weeks off to do all sorts of other things rather than watch films, but we're back now and tonight we are going to be taking a look at;
Well there we are then, first film back after our mini hiatus and it's a cracker. Kingsman: The Secret Service is a spoof spy, thriller with a bit of comedy thrown in, just in case. In fact one could go so far as to liken it to a brand mash-up of James Bond, Austin Powers, Kickass and My Fair Lady all rolled into one, with the lovely Colin Firth as the nations favourite Kingsman, lovely Colin.
Essentially the plot of Kingsman: The Secret Service is your bog standard spy thriller. Megalomaniac super villain discovers something to rule the planet, in this case the answer to global warming and sets off to put his plan into action. To save the planet, enter the Kingsmen, a top secret super efficient, anti-terrorist, anti-establishment, anti-everything team of crack spies and agents, ready to take on and win their every mission.
However, this time it is slightly different, as an existing agent; Galahad (aka Harry Hart) played by Colin Firth rescues from the street, for want of a better description, the son of another agent, an agent who just happened to save the life of Galahad, while losing his own and as a result, Galahad is indebted to him and who wouldn't be?
Still with us?
So Taron Egerton plays Gary 'Eggsy' Unwin, son of a long dead Kingsman. Eggsy has dropped out of school, dropped out of the Marines and fallen in with the wrong crowd, but when he takes it one step too far and gets embroiled in a contretemps with some local hard nuts, he ends up on the wrong side of the police cell door. However and here we roll back 17 years, when Galahad (remember him? Colin Firth, yes?), had to tell the family of the death of his Kingsman colleague, he left a special medal with Eggsy, on the back was a number, it takes just one phone call to this number and he is free. Galahad takes him under his wing, as he believes Eggsy has the making of a Kingsman and so we have a street kid rubbing shoulders with, to coin a phrase from the film; "aristocratic snobs, born with a silver spoon stuck up their arse!" on the Kingsman training programme.
Are you confised by our synopsis? Watch the film, it will make sense honestly. It's a decent story, but with the multi-faceted threads, you're better off watching it to get the lay of the land, rather than read us wobble on about it!
So anyway, to the highlights, without doubt the best performance comes from the lisping Samuel L. Jackson as the megalomaniacal Valentine, a billionaire intent on changing the whole world. Jackson is sublime and a joy to watch. As is Colin Firth, playing the quintessentially English gentleman spy, with a voracious penchant for eliminating the enemy, without having to loosen his tie.
Taron Egerton puts in a great performance as the young Eggsy, employing enough south London twang to make the character very believable. Look out also for the bladed legged Gazelle played by the very pretty Sofia Boutella, her flashing legs of steel could put Oscar Pistorious to shame, not that he isn't currently shamed enough.
Other highlights include a welcome appearance from Michael Caine as Arthur, who quite rightly sits at the head of the Kingsman table. Look out for Mark Hamill too, he of Star Wars fame, he makes an appearance as a professor working with Valentine on the global warming issue, an issue that quite literally blows his mind.
Which brings us to the subject of the very gratuitous and very bloody and violent nature of some of the scenes. Well, a lot of the scenes! There is a lot of flashing blades, firing guns and pointy things being stuck into all and sundry. There's more CGI violence in this film than you can click a mouse at. Luckily the way it is done and the way it is portrayed is erring on the side of comedic, a pseudo cartoon violence if you will, gruesome but inherently funny.
We enjoyed this film, if you refer back to the mash up of film genres and titles we referenced in the first paragraph then you will have an idea of what kind of film Kingsman: The Secret Service is. A bloody good one, pun intended.
As to the scores, a mixed bag of very high end ratings which aggregates to;
TNiFN Rating 96%
Blimey! That is a good score, so go and buy the film. Enjoy.
Kingsman: The Secret Service
Well there we are then, first film back after our mini hiatus and it's a cracker. Kingsman: The Secret Service is a spoof spy, thriller with a bit of comedy thrown in, just in case. In fact one could go so far as to liken it to a brand mash-up of James Bond, Austin Powers, Kickass and My Fair Lady all rolled into one, with the lovely Colin Firth as the nations favourite Kingsman, lovely Colin.
Essentially the plot of Kingsman: The Secret Service is your bog standard spy thriller. Megalomaniac super villain discovers something to rule the planet, in this case the answer to global warming and sets off to put his plan into action. To save the planet, enter the Kingsmen, a top secret super efficient, anti-terrorist, anti-establishment, anti-everything team of crack spies and agents, ready to take on and win their every mission.
However, this time it is slightly different, as an existing agent; Galahad (aka Harry Hart) played by Colin Firth rescues from the street, for want of a better description, the son of another agent, an agent who just happened to save the life of Galahad, while losing his own and as a result, Galahad is indebted to him and who wouldn't be?
Still with us?
So Taron Egerton plays Gary 'Eggsy' Unwin, son of a long dead Kingsman. Eggsy has dropped out of school, dropped out of the Marines and fallen in with the wrong crowd, but when he takes it one step too far and gets embroiled in a contretemps with some local hard nuts, he ends up on the wrong side of the police cell door. However and here we roll back 17 years, when Galahad (remember him? Colin Firth, yes?), had to tell the family of the death of his Kingsman colleague, he left a special medal with Eggsy, on the back was a number, it takes just one phone call to this number and he is free. Galahad takes him under his wing, as he believes Eggsy has the making of a Kingsman and so we have a street kid rubbing shoulders with, to coin a phrase from the film; "aristocratic snobs, born with a silver spoon stuck up their arse!" on the Kingsman training programme.
Are you confised by our synopsis? Watch the film, it will make sense honestly. It's a decent story, but with the multi-faceted threads, you're better off watching it to get the lay of the land, rather than read us wobble on about it!
So anyway, to the highlights, without doubt the best performance comes from the lisping Samuel L. Jackson as the megalomaniacal Valentine, a billionaire intent on changing the whole world. Jackson is sublime and a joy to watch. As is Colin Firth, playing the quintessentially English gentleman spy, with a voracious penchant for eliminating the enemy, without having to loosen his tie.
Taron Egerton puts in a great performance as the young Eggsy, employing enough south London twang to make the character very believable. Look out also for the bladed legged Gazelle played by the very pretty Sofia Boutella, her flashing legs of steel could put Oscar Pistorious to shame, not that he isn't currently shamed enough.
Other highlights include a welcome appearance from Michael Caine as Arthur, who quite rightly sits at the head of the Kingsman table. Look out for Mark Hamill too, he of Star Wars fame, he makes an appearance as a professor working with Valentine on the global warming issue, an issue that quite literally blows his mind.
Which brings us to the subject of the very gratuitous and very bloody and violent nature of some of the scenes. Well, a lot of the scenes! There is a lot of flashing blades, firing guns and pointy things being stuck into all and sundry. There's more CGI violence in this film than you can click a mouse at. Luckily the way it is done and the way it is portrayed is erring on the side of comedic, a pseudo cartoon violence if you will, gruesome but inherently funny.
We enjoyed this film, if you refer back to the mash up of film genres and titles we referenced in the first paragraph then you will have an idea of what kind of film Kingsman: The Secret Service is. A bloody good one, pun intended.
As to the scores, a mixed bag of very high end ratings which aggregates to;
TNiFN Rating 96%
Blimey! That is a good score, so go and buy the film. Enjoy.
Tuesday 2 June 2015
Notting Hill - 2nd June 2015
It's back to 1999 for this week's film, a romantic comedy from the pen of Richard Curtis. Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant star in;
Notting Hill
Clearly Notting Hill is a famous and quite rightly a very popular film of the romantic and indeed comedic genre. We all know the story of Anna and William.
What? You don't?
Well let us give you a brief synopsis to cover the main points. William Thacker is the proprietor of a bookshop in Notting Hill. Anna Scott is an internationally famous actress who happens to be in London promoting her latest film. Anna visits William's shop looking for a book. This brief encounter ignites a spark of romance, which is subsequently doused when the couple literally bump into each other again later that day, as the drink that William has just purchased covers Anna, as they collide on a street corner. William invites Anna to his house to clean up and that spark is rekindled albeit briefly as the romantic tension rises and the couple kiss.
The film then continues to follow Anna as her career progresses and William as his friendship with Anna blossoms. Although it can only be a friendship, as their juxtaposed lifestyles prove difficult to merge. That really is the crux of the story, although love is in the air, are the practicalities of getting a lowly shopkeeper from Notting Hill, to be with a starlet from Beverley Hills a reality or is it just a dream for them both?
Hugh Grant is superb as William. Quintessentially British and 100% Hugh Grant, as he really doesn't play any other character, but then you wouldn't want him to,he is perfect for the role and takes the words of Richard Curtis and translates them to the screen with aplomb and his own almost self-deprecating humour. As for Julia Roberts, she glows from the screen. Her sultry good looks and and the occasional impish smile makes her so easy to watch and she's not bad at acting either, taking her role as Anna Scott and playing her with passion, panache and poignancy.
Whilst we wax lyrically about the main cast, let us not forget the supporting players who really add another layer of charm, wit and enjoyment. Rhys Ifans as Spike, William's housemate is magnificent, he portrays the wacky characteristics to perfection, providing much of the comicality. Tim McInnery and Gina McKee play Max and Bella, friends to William who are always there to lend support, along with the magnificent Emma Chambers who plays William's crazy sister; Honey. Also praise should go to Hugh Bonneville who plays Bernie another friend of William, who looks so much younger than the characters that Bonneville plays now, which comes as no real surprise as it is a 16 year old film, but still you know what we mean.
Notting Hill is classic Richard Curtis without a doubt, but there is something that puts this above his previous film of the same genre; Four Weddings and a Funeral and on a par with the also brilliant Love Actually. It is very difficult to say what that is, at a guess it is a combination of the very witty script, the warmth of the story, the desire for a happy ending that the story instills in it's audience. It is the choice of location, the choice of music, the cast. Well, it seems to be a bit of everything!
Sometimes, just sometimes a film will come along and capture a moment, it will dissipate through the screen an ethereal, fuzzy feeling of comfort, fabricating a tangible sense of pleasure, with the ability to make you smile effortlessly whilst watching. Yes, there is something very pink, fluffy and warm about Notting Hill, it is a very comfortable film, like slipping into an old pairs of shoes, or being cossetted in a celluloid bubble of happiness.
Let us rein in the verbosity somewhat and get down to some closing facts, Notting Hill is a modern classic. It is very funny, romantic and charming, with an exceptional feelgood factor that makes it so very watchable.
Some good scores here at TNiFN Towers, although some scored higher than others. (Editors note; I know! Unbelievable! I loved it.)
Anyway Notting Hill gets a very respectable;
TNiFN Rating 91%
IMD LINK
Notting Hill
Clearly Notting Hill is a famous and quite rightly a very popular film of the romantic and indeed comedic genre. We all know the story of Anna and William.
What? You don't?
Well let us give you a brief synopsis to cover the main points. William Thacker is the proprietor of a bookshop in Notting Hill. Anna Scott is an internationally famous actress who happens to be in London promoting her latest film. Anna visits William's shop looking for a book. This brief encounter ignites a spark of romance, which is subsequently doused when the couple literally bump into each other again later that day, as the drink that William has just purchased covers Anna, as they collide on a street corner. William invites Anna to his house to clean up and that spark is rekindled albeit briefly as the romantic tension rises and the couple kiss.
The film then continues to follow Anna as her career progresses and William as his friendship with Anna blossoms. Although it can only be a friendship, as their juxtaposed lifestyles prove difficult to merge. That really is the crux of the story, although love is in the air, are the practicalities of getting a lowly shopkeeper from Notting Hill, to be with a starlet from Beverley Hills a reality or is it just a dream for them both?
Hugh Grant is superb as William. Quintessentially British and 100% Hugh Grant, as he really doesn't play any other character, but then you wouldn't want him to,he is perfect for the role and takes the words of Richard Curtis and translates them to the screen with aplomb and his own almost self-deprecating humour. As for Julia Roberts, she glows from the screen. Her sultry good looks and and the occasional impish smile makes her so easy to watch and she's not bad at acting either, taking her role as Anna Scott and playing her with passion, panache and poignancy.
Whilst we wax lyrically about the main cast, let us not forget the supporting players who really add another layer of charm, wit and enjoyment. Rhys Ifans as Spike, William's housemate is magnificent, he portrays the wacky characteristics to perfection, providing much of the comicality. Tim McInnery and Gina McKee play Max and Bella, friends to William who are always there to lend support, along with the magnificent Emma Chambers who plays William's crazy sister; Honey. Also praise should go to Hugh Bonneville who plays Bernie another friend of William, who looks so much younger than the characters that Bonneville plays now, which comes as no real surprise as it is a 16 year old film, but still you know what we mean.
Notting Hill is classic Richard Curtis without a doubt, but there is something that puts this above his previous film of the same genre; Four Weddings and a Funeral and on a par with the also brilliant Love Actually. It is very difficult to say what that is, at a guess it is a combination of the very witty script, the warmth of the story, the desire for a happy ending that the story instills in it's audience. It is the choice of location, the choice of music, the cast. Well, it seems to be a bit of everything!
Sometimes, just sometimes a film will come along and capture a moment, it will dissipate through the screen an ethereal, fuzzy feeling of comfort, fabricating a tangible sense of pleasure, with the ability to make you smile effortlessly whilst watching. Yes, there is something very pink, fluffy and warm about Notting Hill, it is a very comfortable film, like slipping into an old pairs of shoes, or being cossetted in a celluloid bubble of happiness.
Let us rein in the verbosity somewhat and get down to some closing facts, Notting Hill is a modern classic. It is very funny, romantic and charming, with an exceptional feelgood factor that makes it so very watchable.
Some good scores here at TNiFN Towers, although some scored higher than others. (Editors note; I know! Unbelievable! I loved it.)
Anyway Notting Hill gets a very respectable;
TNiFN Rating 91%
IMD LINK
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