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
Tuesday 29 September 2015
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
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