Doesn't time fly? We are already at week 2 in our festive film fiesta. This week we delve into the somewhat "hit & miss" area of the "made for TV" movie.
So, will it be a Christmas cracker or a tinsel covered turkey? Let's find out, as we discover all about;
Christmas in Boston
As titles go, it's a bit of a non-starter, it certainly doesn't grip you does it? The film was only marginally better. Let us take a look at the storyline, then elaborate on the finer points.
Christmas in Boston follows the story of pen-pals Seth and Gina. They have been pen-pals since school, some 13 years ago. Now they are both grown up, both with jobs. Gina is a lowly journalist, Seth works for a major toy company.
They are still writing to each other, only now via email, rather than letter. They have never met. They have never spoken to each other on the telephone and they have never seen each other.
The only thing they have done is exchanged photographs over the years.
Enter plot twist number one. Actually they both thought themselves to be too awkward and ugly to send photo's of themselves, so they both sent photo's of their best friends; Ellen and Matt. Luckily they have remained best friends, although Ellen and Matt are unaware of the subterfuge they are embroiled in.
Plot twist number two. Seth has to attend a major toy conference in Boston (at Christmas, come on, it is a festive film!) And Gina, who lives in Boston, has to cover it for her newspaper. Which makes a change from the obituaries she normally writes.
So, the pen-pals of 13 years will finally get to meet. But hold on! Gina thinks Seth looks like Matt. And Seth thinks that Gina looks like Ellen!
Confused? It's OK, you will work it out.
So is the film any good? Well, yes it's alright. It is certainly your archetypal feelgood Christmas holiday romance. The storyline is fairly unique. The four main characters are likeable, funny and realistic. The actors playing the parts do a pretty good job too.
I think if you paid full price at the cinema to see this film, you would want some kind of discount. However, at the end of the day it is, what it is, which is a sometime bittersweet romance, with some funny moments, a good plotline, a happy ending and all set against a fine festive backdrop.
Enjoy.
Tuesday, 13 November 2012
Tuesday, 6 November 2012
Christmas Every Day - 6th November 2012
Tuesday Night is Film Night reaches into November and like it or not, there are only 8 weeks to Christmas Day. So, the advent calendar is out early and from now until the big day, Tuesday Night is Christmas Film Night!
This will not please some of you I'm sure, but there are others who wish that it could be;
Christmas Every Day
Did you see what I did there? Did you? I segued straight from the preamble into the title of the film. What? Oh please yourself!
We kick off our season of seasonal movie cheer, with a "made for TV" classic. Which is such a shame, as this one could really do well if it were out on DVD or BluRay for you youngsters.
Christmas Every Day is a feelgood movie, in the same style of Groundhog Day. Released in 1996 it's stars Erik von Detten as Billy Jackson. Billy is not having a good Christmas. Everything appears to be against him. His basketball skills, his Uncle David, the bully at school.
So, when he upsets his sister, telling her there is no Santa, she makes him wish for it to be Christmas every day.
And guess what? It is.
If you're familiar with the Groundhog Day story, you know what happens next. Billy needs to explore all the tangible ways to get time back on track. This means trying different scenarios to make people happy and he finds out quickly that you can't please all of the people, all of the time.
Yes, there is a message in this movie. And it is a saccharin sweet feelgood film, but it's a great one. It encapsulates that magical Christmas spirit, that you find in really good seasonal films. And the unique twist in this film, is that you see the story through a child's eyes.
It's not an adult trying to put things right, or making amends after several ghostly visitations, it's a teenager, trying to pull together family values, so that the people around him can enjoy Christmas.
If you love Christmas movies and you love to have a good cry, then you'll love Christmas Every Day. As I say, it's not out on DVD, so look out for it in the Christmas film schedules.
This will not please some of you I'm sure, but there are others who wish that it could be;
Christmas Every Day
Did you see what I did there? Did you? I segued straight from the preamble into the title of the film. What? Oh please yourself!
We kick off our season of seasonal movie cheer, with a "made for TV" classic. Which is such a shame, as this one could really do well if it were out on DVD or BluRay for you youngsters.
Christmas Every Day is a feelgood movie, in the same style of Groundhog Day. Released in 1996 it's stars Erik von Detten as Billy Jackson. Billy is not having a good Christmas. Everything appears to be against him. His basketball skills, his Uncle David, the bully at school.
So, when he upsets his sister, telling her there is no Santa, she makes him wish for it to be Christmas every day.
And guess what? It is.
If you're familiar with the Groundhog Day story, you know what happens next. Billy needs to explore all the tangible ways to get time back on track. This means trying different scenarios to make people happy and he finds out quickly that you can't please all of the people, all of the time.
Yes, there is a message in this movie. And it is a saccharin sweet feelgood film, but it's a great one. It encapsulates that magical Christmas spirit, that you find in really good seasonal films. And the unique twist in this film, is that you see the story through a child's eyes.
It's not an adult trying to put things right, or making amends after several ghostly visitations, it's a teenager, trying to pull together family values, so that the people around him can enjoy Christmas.
If you love Christmas movies and you love to have a good cry, then you'll love Christmas Every Day. As I say, it's not out on DVD, so look out for it in the Christmas film schedules.
Tuesday, 30 October 2012
Date Night - 30th October 2012
Change of genre this week, but how would one describe this film? A romantic feelgood comedy thriller?
It was all those things and a bit more, this week we saw;
Date Night
Steve Carell and Tina Fey star in this 2010 comedy from the pen of Josh Klausner. They play Phil and Claire Foster, just your normal, work-a-day married couple, with two kids, a house in the suburbs of New Jersey and a monotonous, predictable lifestyle. That is, until they go out on one of their date nights.
The film opens with some scene setting, laying out their predictable life, looking at the way they are compared to their friends, looking at their work and home lives. This is just to underpin the story as it unfolds.
The date night comes from the fact they occasionally have a baby sitter and go out to enjoy a meal together, but on reflection, this also becomes dull, monotonous and the same old routine. Until, after some prompting by friends, they change tack and try something new. They head out to a posh restaurant in the city, where they find it impossible to get a table. Impossible that is, until they 'steal' the reservation of another couple, who do not turn up. This leads in-turn to a case of mistaken identity, followed by getting mixed up with the criminal underworld, bent NYPD cops and seedy goings on at City Hall!
As a storyline, it's great, original and very funny. With appearances from Mark Wahlberg (The Lovely Bones and The Happening) and a small part for the lovely Mila Kunis (Friends With Benefits), it is a well cast movie. Steve Carell is brilliant and delivers some great dead pan lines. Tina Fey is not only gorgeous, but very funny too, especially the restaurant scenes and in the out takes, she delivers a cracking, what I can only assume was an ad lib comment, which had us rolling in the aisles with laughter. (Not that our front room has aisles you understand, it's just figure of speech).
Also, there is one brilliant, if not unexpected line from the Steve Carell character, where he says to Holbrooke Grant (Mark Wahlberg); "... and will you, for the love of God, put on a f**king shirt?"
Hilarious. You will have to watch the film to understand that bit!
The film also has one the funniest and most original car chases that I've ever seen.
All in all, Date Night is a cracking movie. Definitely one to watch.
It was all those things and a bit more, this week we saw;
Date Night
Steve Carell and Tina Fey star in this 2010 comedy from the pen of Josh Klausner. They play Phil and Claire Foster, just your normal, work-a-day married couple, with two kids, a house in the suburbs of New Jersey and a monotonous, predictable lifestyle. That is, until they go out on one of their date nights.
The film opens with some scene setting, laying out their predictable life, looking at the way they are compared to their friends, looking at their work and home lives. This is just to underpin the story as it unfolds.
The date night comes from the fact they occasionally have a baby sitter and go out to enjoy a meal together, but on reflection, this also becomes dull, monotonous and the same old routine. Until, after some prompting by friends, they change tack and try something new. They head out to a posh restaurant in the city, where they find it impossible to get a table. Impossible that is, until they 'steal' the reservation of another couple, who do not turn up. This leads in-turn to a case of mistaken identity, followed by getting mixed up with the criminal underworld, bent NYPD cops and seedy goings on at City Hall!
As a storyline, it's great, original and very funny. With appearances from Mark Wahlberg (The Lovely Bones and The Happening) and a small part for the lovely Mila Kunis (Friends With Benefits), it is a well cast movie. Steve Carell is brilliant and delivers some great dead pan lines. Tina Fey is not only gorgeous, but very funny too, especially the restaurant scenes and in the out takes, she delivers a cracking, what I can only assume was an ad lib comment, which had us rolling in the aisles with laughter. (Not that our front room has aisles you understand, it's just figure of speech).
Also, there is one brilliant, if not unexpected line from the Steve Carell character, where he says to Holbrooke Grant (Mark Wahlberg); "... and will you, for the love of God, put on a f**king shirt?"
Hilarious. You will have to watch the film to understand that bit!
The film also has one the funniest and most original car chases that I've ever seen.
All in all, Date Night is a cracking movie. Definitely one to watch.
Tuesday, 23 October 2012
A Time To Kill - 23rd Otober 2012
Tuesday Night is Film Night, this week picks on a film that we've had kicking around for a while. It's a long film, running as it does at 149 minutes, so we needed to ensure we had sufficient free time to watch it. And today we did, but what did we make of;
A Time To Kill
Last weeks film; Project X could not be any more different to this weeks movie. For a start, A Time To Kill is good! In fact I would go further than that, A Time To Kill, is an excellent film.
So let's have the synopsis, before we dissect it.
Matthew McConaughey, him of the Southern drawl, much maligned by me in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, plays Mississippi lawyer Jake Brigance, where his Southern accent is perfectly placed.
Brigance takes on the defence of Carl Lee Hailey, played fantastically by Samuel L Jackson, when Hailey is accused of the murder of two rednecks.
The problem being that Hailey did kill them, in cold blood, in revenge for the brutal kidnap and rape of his 10 year old daughter.
However, can Jake Brigance get him acquitted, claiming temporary insanity?
A Time To Kill, is based on the book of the same name, by John Grisham. It is a powerful story, culminating in a fantastic, gripping, believable courtroom scene. The drama unfolds logically, but with sufficient twists and turns to keep you on your toes. Having not read the book, I can only assume that it is a real 'page turner', as the film keeps you engrossed for all of it's two and a half hours.
McConaughey is superb, and perfectly cast. He is assisted in this case by a law student, played by the stunning Sandra Bullock. Yes, we like Sandra Bullock, again perfectly cast for this film. In fact all of the cast were perfect for the characters they played. Kevin Spacey put in a highly commendable performance as the prosecution lawyer and DA; Rufus Buckley.
Donald Sutherland played Lucien Wilbanks, the former boss and mentor of Brigance. Again perfect casting, as Sutherland got to grips with his drunken character.
The only possible mis-casting, was the character of Brigance's secretary; Ethel Twitty, played by Brenda Fricker, who found it tricky to convert her naturally Irish accent, into a convincing Southern Belle warble. On the plus side, it was lovely to see Fricker in a film, after knowing her so well from her days in Casualty.
The outcome maybe predictable, but how you get there is a fantastic journey, one that my mere words on this page could not even entertain to convey in any meaningful way. You have to see how a southern county is torn apart, by hatred, loathing and prejudice. How two sides, in more ways than one, take on the pressures caused by the wrong-doings of others. How empathy and benevolence, stand against brutality and fear. And how one should never judge a book by it's cover.
All I can suggest is, that you take the time to watch, A Time To Kill. You will not be disappointed.
A Time To Kill
Last weeks film; Project X could not be any more different to this weeks movie. For a start, A Time To Kill is good! In fact I would go further than that, A Time To Kill, is an excellent film.
So let's have the synopsis, before we dissect it.
Matthew McConaughey, him of the Southern drawl, much maligned by me in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, plays Mississippi lawyer Jake Brigance, where his Southern accent is perfectly placed.
Brigance takes on the defence of Carl Lee Hailey, played fantastically by Samuel L Jackson, when Hailey is accused of the murder of two rednecks.
The problem being that Hailey did kill them, in cold blood, in revenge for the brutal kidnap and rape of his 10 year old daughter.
However, can Jake Brigance get him acquitted, claiming temporary insanity?
A Time To Kill, is based on the book of the same name, by John Grisham. It is a powerful story, culminating in a fantastic, gripping, believable courtroom scene. The drama unfolds logically, but with sufficient twists and turns to keep you on your toes. Having not read the book, I can only assume that it is a real 'page turner', as the film keeps you engrossed for all of it's two and a half hours.
McConaughey is superb, and perfectly cast. He is assisted in this case by a law student, played by the stunning Sandra Bullock. Yes, we like Sandra Bullock, again perfectly cast for this film. In fact all of the cast were perfect for the characters they played. Kevin Spacey put in a highly commendable performance as the prosecution lawyer and DA; Rufus Buckley.
Donald Sutherland played Lucien Wilbanks, the former boss and mentor of Brigance. Again perfect casting, as Sutherland got to grips with his drunken character.
The only possible mis-casting, was the character of Brigance's secretary; Ethel Twitty, played by Brenda Fricker, who found it tricky to convert her naturally Irish accent, into a convincing Southern Belle warble. On the plus side, it was lovely to see Fricker in a film, after knowing her so well from her days in Casualty.
The outcome maybe predictable, but how you get there is a fantastic journey, one that my mere words on this page could not even entertain to convey in any meaningful way. You have to see how a southern county is torn apart, by hatred, loathing and prejudice. How two sides, in more ways than one, take on the pressures caused by the wrong-doings of others. How empathy and benevolence, stand against brutality and fear. And how one should never judge a book by it's cover.
All I can suggest is, that you take the time to watch, A Time To Kill. You will not be disappointed.
Tuesday, 16 October 2012
Project X - 16th October 2012
Tuesday Night is Film Night branches out this week and tries a recent movie, from 2012 in fact. Tonight we see what is in store for;
Project X
So what is Project X? It's a film that follows the exploits of a group of teens who attempt to throw the most epic teenage birthday party ever.
And do they succeed? Probably.
The film is 88 minutes long. I will never get those 88 minutes back, they are gone, forever. You can't go back.
I'm not even going to list the actors or the characters, please help yourself to IMDB to check the details.
A couple of points. It is an 18, there is a lot of swearing. I'm not prudish, but it's totally unnecessary. Secondly, the majority of the camera work is handheld, which is the crux of the film, I guess, as the party is being filmed by one of the characters. The upshot is, the framing is constantly moving and it can be tricky to see what is going on. Which for the most of the time is drunken carnage.
This is clearly a young persons film. If you are a young person, embrace it. If you're an old person, avoid it.
The highlights of the film, were the funny bits. There are just a few. The best of which, I'm sorry to say, was the midget in the oven!
Enjoy!
Project X
So what is Project X? It's a film that follows the exploits of a group of teens who attempt to throw the most epic teenage birthday party ever.
And do they succeed? Probably.
The film is 88 minutes long. I will never get those 88 minutes back, they are gone, forever. You can't go back.
I'm not even going to list the actors or the characters, please help yourself to IMDB to check the details.
A couple of points. It is an 18, there is a lot of swearing. I'm not prudish, but it's totally unnecessary. Secondly, the majority of the camera work is handheld, which is the crux of the film, I guess, as the party is being filmed by one of the characters. The upshot is, the framing is constantly moving and it can be tricky to see what is going on. Which for the most of the time is drunken carnage.
This is clearly a young persons film. If you are a young person, embrace it. If you're an old person, avoid it.
The highlights of the film, were the funny bits. There are just a few. The best of which, I'm sorry to say, was the midget in the oven!
Enjoy!
Wednesday, 10 October 2012
Law Abiding Citizen - 10th October 2012
Couple of points to make, firstly the date. We actually had Tuesday Night is Film Night on a Wednesday. Matters not.
Secondly, the film we watched was brilliant, so I suppose I should tell you a bit about;
Law Abiding Citizen
Firstly, the two main players in this film are Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx, who play Clyde Shelton and Nick Rice respectively.
Rice is a career minded prosecutor. Shelton is a law abiding citizen, who sees his wife and daughter murdered, but as some evidence is inadmissible, Shelton's lawyer; Rice, could not get life sentences for both of the suspects. Instead a deal is made with the defence to have lesser charges made.
Shelton is clearly upset by this and decides to seek revenge.
And what revenge?
OK, it's a poor synopsis by me, but that's the basic premise, but you really have to watch it, to gather all the nuances and details of the case.
Be warned, it is a Certificate 18 and there are scenes of gruesome violence and torture, but you have to live with that, to get the most from this thriller. It is gripping right from the opening sequence and you never know what is coming next, with plot twists and turns that are unexpected and brilliant.
Major kudos needs to go to the writer Kurt Wimmer. The storyline is drama perfection, acted out superbly by Foxx and Butler. Jamie Foxx is outstanding as the gritty, no nonsense lawyer. While Gerard Butler is magnificent as the cool, calm and collected Clyde Shelton who exacts revenge on the justice system, in a dramatic, thrilling and one could almost say; an exciting way.
It will have you on the edge of your seat and sometimes behind it, cowering from the gore!
Again, Law Abiding Citizen is one of those films where, saying too much about the plot would give too much away and detract from the enjoyment. So, if you want to know what it's all about, get a copy and watch it.
I really should create a Top 10 list of Tuesday Night is Film Night films. And if I did, Law Abiding Citizen would be in that list.
Secondly, the film we watched was brilliant, so I suppose I should tell you a bit about;
Law Abiding Citizen
Firstly, the two main players in this film are Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx, who play Clyde Shelton and Nick Rice respectively.
Rice is a career minded prosecutor. Shelton is a law abiding citizen, who sees his wife and daughter murdered, but as some evidence is inadmissible, Shelton's lawyer; Rice, could not get life sentences for both of the suspects. Instead a deal is made with the defence to have lesser charges made.
Shelton is clearly upset by this and decides to seek revenge.
And what revenge?
OK, it's a poor synopsis by me, but that's the basic premise, but you really have to watch it, to gather all the nuances and details of the case.
Be warned, it is a Certificate 18 and there are scenes of gruesome violence and torture, but you have to live with that, to get the most from this thriller. It is gripping right from the opening sequence and you never know what is coming next, with plot twists and turns that are unexpected and brilliant.
Major kudos needs to go to the writer Kurt Wimmer. The storyline is drama perfection, acted out superbly by Foxx and Butler. Jamie Foxx is outstanding as the gritty, no nonsense lawyer. While Gerard Butler is magnificent as the cool, calm and collected Clyde Shelton who exacts revenge on the justice system, in a dramatic, thrilling and one could almost say; an exciting way.
It will have you on the edge of your seat and sometimes behind it, cowering from the gore!
Again, Law Abiding Citizen is one of those films where, saying too much about the plot would give too much away and detract from the enjoyment. So, if you want to know what it's all about, get a copy and watch it.
I really should create a Top 10 list of Tuesday Night is Film Night films. And if I did, Law Abiding Citizen would be in that list.
Tuesday, 2 October 2012
Men in Black - 2nd October 2012
Tuesday Night is Film Night carries on digging up films from the past. This week it's back to 1997 for;
Men in Black
A streetwise NYPD detective joins a secret organisation that polices extraterrestrial affairs on Earth.
Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones star in this comedy sci-fi movie from 1997. They play agents J and K, members of a top-secret organisation established to monitor and police alien activity on Earth. The two Men in Black find themselves in the middle of the deadly plot by an intergalactic terrorist who has arrived on Earth to assassinate two ambassadors from opposing galaxies. In order to prevent worlds from colliding, the MiB must track down the terrorist and prevent the destruction of Earth. (Synopsis borrowed from IMDB).
Well, the film maybe from 1997, but we haven't seen it and not being a big fan of sci-fi, I was somewhat sceptical about watching it.
I needn't have worried, the laughs are plentiful, the action fun, the special effects although being 15 years old are really good. Will Smith is as funny as ever, but it's the straight laced Tommy Lee Jones that made me laugh more, he appears stern and straight, but is really funny.
Also, Vincent D'Onofrio who plays the ill fitting alien Edgar is fantastic. As is Linda Fiorentino who plays pathologist Laurel Weaver.
Men in Black is one of those movies, that when you see it again, you will see more gags and more visual humour than you did last time.
A must see, or must see again movie.
Enjoyed it.
Men in Black
A streetwise NYPD detective joins a secret organisation that polices extraterrestrial affairs on Earth.
Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones star in this comedy sci-fi movie from 1997. They play agents J and K, members of a top-secret organisation established to monitor and police alien activity on Earth. The two Men in Black find themselves in the middle of the deadly plot by an intergalactic terrorist who has arrived on Earth to assassinate two ambassadors from opposing galaxies. In order to prevent worlds from colliding, the MiB must track down the terrorist and prevent the destruction of Earth. (Synopsis borrowed from IMDB).
Well, the film maybe from 1997, but we haven't seen it and not being a big fan of sci-fi, I was somewhat sceptical about watching it.
I needn't have worried, the laughs are plentiful, the action fun, the special effects although being 15 years old are really good. Will Smith is as funny as ever, but it's the straight laced Tommy Lee Jones that made me laugh more, he appears stern and straight, but is really funny.
Also, Vincent D'Onofrio who plays the ill fitting alien Edgar is fantastic. As is Linda Fiorentino who plays pathologist Laurel Weaver.
Men in Black is one of those movies, that when you see it again, you will see more gags and more visual humour than you did last time.
A must see, or must see again movie.
Enjoyed it.
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