Tuesday Night is Film Night returns to comedy this week, when we dish up a dose of;
Anger Management.
Now, I 'm not a huge fan of Adam Sandler, but paired up with Jack Nicholoson in this film and you get a pretty good comic counterpoint.
Adam Sandler plays hapless Dave Buznik, who manages through no real fault of his own and in sometimes bizarre circumstances, to fall foul of the law, for alledgedly beating up an air stewardess.
As recompense, he is ordered to complete a session of anger management. He is put under the auspices of Buddy Rydell (Nicholson) and his slightly unorthodox approach to anger management.
What follows is some fairly basic, but funny situations, where Buznik manages to land himself into more trouble, which then equates to more sessions with the good Dr. Rydell.
The laughs are there in Anger Management, and they are some really good laugh out loud laughs, but they are a bit few and far between. It's consistently good, but not consistently funny.
Jack Nicholson is undoubtably the star of the piece, Sandler is his slightly annoying counterpart. In fact Sandler is upstaged by some of the smaller roles; look out for his Lawyer in the Courtroom scenes and the many cameo appearances, especially a cracker from John McEnroe.
I may have played down Anger Management somewhat, it's certainly a film that could stand more than one viewing and would stand up well to that test. It's a shame about Adam Sandler, but hey! You may like him.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, 17 April 2012
Tuesday, 10 April 2012
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close - 10th April 2012
Tuesday Night is Film Night's second movie in April is the very recent release;
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
I'm not entirely sure that whatever I write here will do justice to the film at all. It would be extremely easy for me to say; "just watch it"!
It is a fascinating, gripping, dramatic, believable, emotional, sad and provocative story, that lures you in slowly and gently, easing you into the warmth and safety of it's plot, then grabs you by the throat and will not let you go until the very end. It is an emotional roller coaster that holds you tight, as you rise and fall on the triumphs, the pitfalls, the highs and lows. Shaking you, throwing you from side to side. You need to hold on tight, not taking your eyes from the screen. Follow each twist and turn closely and don't look down!
OK, I have I whetted your appetite at all? I'll fill in some gaps, but I urge you to watch this film as soon as you can.
Starring the fantastic Tom Hanks, although he doesn't feature all that much and Thomas Horn, who does feature throughout the film!
Hanks and Horn play father and son, Thomas and Oskar Schell.
Thomas is a jeweller and Oskar his school age son. They have a devoted relationship, which is underlined at the start of the film and is key to what happens next.
It is a journey film, where Oskar finds a key in his fathers closet and he is sure that it will lead to some secret, linking back to his now dead father...........
Oh, yes, the Tom Hanks character; Thomas Schell dies, very early on in the film. It's the way he dies, the day he dies and what he says and does before he dies, that are important. For the answer to those questions, watch the film. (Or Google it).
As I said before it is an extremely gripping film. Thomas Horn is absolutely brilliant as Oskar Schell an absolutely outstanding performance, for one so young. Tom Hanks, well he is as always, fantastic.
Kudos also for Max von Sydow, who plays a character called The Renter, who doesn't speak, but nevertheless it is a great performance. Also the beautiful Sandra Bullock is as lovely as ever, as Linda Schell, Oskar's mother, Thomas's widow.
I could probably sit here and eulogise about this movie for longer than the film itself. It is definitely on the list of films to watch again and again. The film is based on the 2005 novel (of the same name), by Jonathan Safran Foer, which should make a good read.
Enjoy this film. I'm sure you will.
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
I'm not entirely sure that whatever I write here will do justice to the film at all. It would be extremely easy for me to say; "just watch it"!
It is a fascinating, gripping, dramatic, believable, emotional, sad and provocative story, that lures you in slowly and gently, easing you into the warmth and safety of it's plot, then grabs you by the throat and will not let you go until the very end. It is an emotional roller coaster that holds you tight, as you rise and fall on the triumphs, the pitfalls, the highs and lows. Shaking you, throwing you from side to side. You need to hold on tight, not taking your eyes from the screen. Follow each twist and turn closely and don't look down!
OK, I have I whetted your appetite at all? I'll fill in some gaps, but I urge you to watch this film as soon as you can.
Starring the fantastic Tom Hanks, although he doesn't feature all that much and Thomas Horn, who does feature throughout the film!
Hanks and Horn play father and son, Thomas and Oskar Schell.
Thomas is a jeweller and Oskar his school age son. They have a devoted relationship, which is underlined at the start of the film and is key to what happens next.
It is a journey film, where Oskar finds a key in his fathers closet and he is sure that it will lead to some secret, linking back to his now dead father...........
Oh, yes, the Tom Hanks character; Thomas Schell dies, very early on in the film. It's the way he dies, the day he dies and what he says and does before he dies, that are important. For the answer to those questions, watch the film. (Or Google it).
As I said before it is an extremely gripping film. Thomas Horn is absolutely brilliant as Oskar Schell an absolutely outstanding performance, for one so young. Tom Hanks, well he is as always, fantastic.
Kudos also for Max von Sydow, who plays a character called The Renter, who doesn't speak, but nevertheless it is a great performance. Also the beautiful Sandra Bullock is as lovely as ever, as Linda Schell, Oskar's mother, Thomas's widow.
I could probably sit here and eulogise about this movie for longer than the film itself. It is definitely on the list of films to watch again and again. The film is based on the 2005 novel (of the same name), by Jonathan Safran Foer, which should make a good read.
Enjoy this film. I'm sure you will.
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
The Stepford Wives - 3rd April 2012
Here at Tuesday Night is Film Night, we have a small number of outstanding films yet to watch, however will they be outstanding in the fact that we haven't seen them yet, or will they be outstanding in reality?
The first film in the list to come under the cinematic microscope is the 2004 sci-fi, comedy thriller;
The Stepford Wives
We weren't sure what to expect from The Stepford Wives, having not seen the 1975 original, nor this; the 2004 remake. The cast list is impressive, with some big Hollywood names, but can the story live up to the stellar cast?
Not sure........
The story follows Joanna Eberhart (Nicole Kidman), a successful TV network president, who suffers a nervous breakdown after some disastous events loses her postion as network president.
Her husband; Walter (Matthew Broderick) decides to move the family from Manhattan to the manufactured community of Stepford.
On arrival, it all seems very weird, cutesy and idyllic. The women are polite and smiling homemakers, the epitome of a 1950's American dream.
Joanna makes friends with Bobbie Markowitz, brilliantly played by Bette Midler, who is an acerbic, recovering alcoholic, Jewish writer! Between them they try to discover the secret behind these perfect wives and also what goes on behind the closed doors of the Stepford Men's Association.
I'm sure that the thriller moniker is not necessarily correct, as it certainly was not thrilling, nor was it very "sci-fi". Although the wives do turn out to be robots! Sorry, have I given that bit away?
The film gets off to a slow start and doesn't really pick up pace at all. There are some good laughs in it, so the comedy tag stands, but as a film to be recommended, then I'm afraid it's near the bottom of the pile.
Luckily, we did not have any preconceived expectations of this film, so it didn't have to live up to any, but it was poor.
Still, it's another film ticked off the outstanding list. Outstanding in the fact that we haven't watched them.
Fingers crossed for something better next week.
The first film in the list to come under the cinematic microscope is the 2004 sci-fi, comedy thriller;
The Stepford Wives
We weren't sure what to expect from The Stepford Wives, having not seen the 1975 original, nor this; the 2004 remake. The cast list is impressive, with some big Hollywood names, but can the story live up to the stellar cast?
Not sure........
The story follows Joanna Eberhart (Nicole Kidman), a successful TV network president, who suffers a nervous breakdown after some disastous events loses her postion as network president.
Her husband; Walter (Matthew Broderick) decides to move the family from Manhattan to the manufactured community of Stepford.
On arrival, it all seems very weird, cutesy and idyllic. The women are polite and smiling homemakers, the epitome of a 1950's American dream.
Joanna makes friends with Bobbie Markowitz, brilliantly played by Bette Midler, who is an acerbic, recovering alcoholic, Jewish writer! Between them they try to discover the secret behind these perfect wives and also what goes on behind the closed doors of the Stepford Men's Association.
I'm sure that the thriller moniker is not necessarily correct, as it certainly was not thrilling, nor was it very "sci-fi". Although the wives do turn out to be robots! Sorry, have I given that bit away?
The film gets off to a slow start and doesn't really pick up pace at all. There are some good laughs in it, so the comedy tag stands, but as a film to be recommended, then I'm afraid it's near the bottom of the pile.
Luckily, we did not have any preconceived expectations of this film, so it didn't have to live up to any, but it was poor.
Still, it's another film ticked off the outstanding list. Outstanding in the fact that we haven't watched them.
Fingers crossed for something better next week.
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Shattered Silence - 27th March 2012
This week's Tuesday Night is Film Night film, was taken from a recent broadcast on Channel 5 (UK), it transpires that it was a made for TV movie and according to IMDB was called Sexting in Suburbia.
So, I was not holding up much hope for;
Shattered Silence
Firstly, I'm not sure why we have a differing title listed in IMDB.
Secondly, being a 'made for TV' movie, there is no commercial release available, from what I can see. (Don't get confused with a film of the same name starring Michael Douglas).
Thirdly, after saying all that, the film was really good!
Shattered Silence follows the aftermath of a foolishly sent text message from high school student, Dina Van Cleve (Jenn Proske) to her then boyfriend Mark Carey (Ryan Kelley).
Basically, Dina thought Marks advances, on the night of the Home Coming dance, were slightly forward, shall we say and told him that she was not ready to make that kind of commitment, Mark took exception to being shunned and walked off.
As an apology, Dina sent Mark a personal and provocative picture message, or a Sext (hence the secondary title of the film).
However, Mark out of spite or plain foolishness, doesn't waste anytime, returns to the dance and starts making out with Skylar Reid, another girl from school, who's Mum, coincidentally is friends with Dina's Mum, Rachel Van Cleve (played fantastically by Liz Vassey).
So, what happens to the picture message? Somehow, it gets from Mark's phone and onto somebody else's. However, before long, the picture message has spread around the whole school and beyond.
And all of a sudden Dina Van Cleve is bullied and mocked for what she has done. Everybody looks at her at school and they start to make snide comments. She is branded a slut for what she has done. She is kicked off the hockey team and she falls out with Mark, quite rightly, but also her relationship with her best friend Claire, is torn to pieces.
The affect on Dina is devastating and as you will see, at the very start of the movie, and I only mention it now to build the tension, she commits suicide. And is found hanging by her mother.
Dina's mother, Rachel, then spends the rest of the movie seeking out answers as to what happened in the six weeks between the Home Coming Dance and Dina's suicide.
Shattered Silence is an intriguing drama, with suspense, tension and atmosphere. It portrays realistically the real issues with school and cyber bullying. Although the last 5 minutes of the film needs to be taken with a pinch of salt, as it was more to do with delivering a message, rather than providing a conclusion to a story.
Having said that, we really enjoyed Shattered Silence and would urge anybody to see it, if they get a chance.
So, I was not holding up much hope for;
Shattered Silence
Firstly, I'm not sure why we have a differing title listed in IMDB.
Secondly, being a 'made for TV' movie, there is no commercial release available, from what I can see. (Don't get confused with a film of the same name starring Michael Douglas).
Thirdly, after saying all that, the film was really good!
Shattered Silence follows the aftermath of a foolishly sent text message from high school student, Dina Van Cleve (Jenn Proske) to her then boyfriend Mark Carey (Ryan Kelley).
Basically, Dina thought Marks advances, on the night of the Home Coming dance, were slightly forward, shall we say and told him that she was not ready to make that kind of commitment, Mark took exception to being shunned and walked off.
As an apology, Dina sent Mark a personal and provocative picture message, or a Sext (hence the secondary title of the film).
However, Mark out of spite or plain foolishness, doesn't waste anytime, returns to the dance and starts making out with Skylar Reid, another girl from school, who's Mum, coincidentally is friends with Dina's Mum, Rachel Van Cleve (played fantastically by Liz Vassey).
So, what happens to the picture message? Somehow, it gets from Mark's phone and onto somebody else's. However, before long, the picture message has spread around the whole school and beyond.
And all of a sudden Dina Van Cleve is bullied and mocked for what she has done. Everybody looks at her at school and they start to make snide comments. She is branded a slut for what she has done. She is kicked off the hockey team and she falls out with Mark, quite rightly, but also her relationship with her best friend Claire, is torn to pieces.
The affect on Dina is devastating and as you will see, at the very start of the movie, and I only mention it now to build the tension, she commits suicide. And is found hanging by her mother.
Dina's mother, Rachel, then spends the rest of the movie seeking out answers as to what happened in the six weeks between the Home Coming Dance and Dina's suicide.
Shattered Silence is an intriguing drama, with suspense, tension and atmosphere. It portrays realistically the real issues with school and cyber bullying. Although the last 5 minutes of the film needs to be taken with a pinch of salt, as it was more to do with delivering a message, rather than providing a conclusion to a story.
Having said that, we really enjoyed Shattered Silence and would urge anybody to see it, if they get a chance.
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
13 Going On 30 - 20th March 2012
Yet again the pink and fluffy, chick-flick reigns supreme here at Tuesday Night is Film Night!
As this week, we take in the majestic movie magic, the fantastic film fun, the sumptious celluloid selection.....
(OK, enough with the alliteration!!),
......... that is;
13 Going On 30
The gorgeous Jennifer Garner, leads the cast in this female version of Big.
The story follows Jenna Rink who is the 13 year old wishing she was 30. Typically (as with most films of this genre), Jenna is not in the girlie clique at school and so feels alienated, finding solace only in her best friend and neighbour Matt Flamhaff.
The geeky Jenna suffers further humiliation at her 13th Birthday party and ends up falling out with Matt and crying in the closet, sobbing and chanting that she wished she was 30!
Guess what?
The next thing Jenna wakes to find she is 30! (And now portrayed by Jennifer Garner) and is a succesful magazine editor and all round nasty piece of work, which is not what the 13 year old Jenna really wanted.
Confused as to what is going on. Unsure of who is who. Jenna has to work out what happened in the intervening 17 years and work out what she is going to do, to put things right.
Yes, it is a predictable film, using a proven formula, as seen in Big, or Freaky Friday, but Garner brings something fresh to the screen and there seems to be more touching moments as the romantic side of the story shines through.
More romance than Big, less comedy than Freaky Friday.
The romance is provided by Matt and Jenna, who try to rekindle their friendship, although Matt is engaged to be married, but can Jenna win Matt back?
Also Jenna has to work out how to save the magazine; Poise, that she works for (watch the film for full details on the magazine thread of the story). So there is a lot going on, which ensures there are no holes in the film and it is filled with continuing storyline. Whish is a very good thing. (Lookout for the Thriller dance routine, a heartwarming moment in the film).
Obviously, it all works out in the end, but the journey to get there, is a fun, interesting and an emotional one. It is a lovely movie and will be a firm favourite here, to be watched again and again.
As this week, we take in the majestic movie magic, the fantastic film fun, the sumptious celluloid selection.....
(OK, enough with the alliteration!!),
......... that is;
13 Going On 30
The gorgeous Jennifer Garner, leads the cast in this female version of Big.
The story follows Jenna Rink who is the 13 year old wishing she was 30. Typically (as with most films of this genre), Jenna is not in the girlie clique at school and so feels alienated, finding solace only in her best friend and neighbour Matt Flamhaff.
The geeky Jenna suffers further humiliation at her 13th Birthday party and ends up falling out with Matt and crying in the closet, sobbing and chanting that she wished she was 30!
Guess what?
The next thing Jenna wakes to find she is 30! (And now portrayed by Jennifer Garner) and is a succesful magazine editor and all round nasty piece of work, which is not what the 13 year old Jenna really wanted.
Confused as to what is going on. Unsure of who is who. Jenna has to work out what happened in the intervening 17 years and work out what she is going to do, to put things right.
Yes, it is a predictable film, using a proven formula, as seen in Big, or Freaky Friday, but Garner brings something fresh to the screen and there seems to be more touching moments as the romantic side of the story shines through.
More romance than Big, less comedy than Freaky Friday.
The romance is provided by Matt and Jenna, who try to rekindle their friendship, although Matt is engaged to be married, but can Jenna win Matt back?
Also Jenna has to work out how to save the magazine; Poise, that she works for (watch the film for full details on the magazine thread of the story). So there is a lot going on, which ensures there are no holes in the film and it is filled with continuing storyline. Whish is a very good thing. (Lookout for the Thriller dance routine, a heartwarming moment in the film).
Obviously, it all works out in the end, but the journey to get there, is a fun, interesting and an emotional one. It is a lovely movie and will be a firm favourite here, to be watched again and again.
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Despicable Me - 13th March 2012
Tonight Tuesday Night is Film Night branches out and tries an animated feature film, so will it be a thumbs up, or is it despicably meh for;
Despicable Me
So, the film is a heartwarming, fluffy little jaunt where, (and I lifted this straight from IMDB);
........... a criminal mastermind uses a trio of orphan girls as pawns for a grand scheme, he finds their love is profoundly changing him for the better.
It's a pretty good animated film, lots of laughs, albeit with a predicatable plot. It's a good family film, but for a young family.
Not the best film we've seen, but not the worst either.
Despicable Me
So, the film is a heartwarming, fluffy little jaunt where, (and I lifted this straight from IMDB);
........... a criminal mastermind uses a trio of orphan girls as pawns for a grand scheme, he finds their love is profoundly changing him for the better.
It's a pretty good animated film, lots of laughs, albeit with a predicatable plot. It's a good family film, but for a young family.
Not the best film we've seen, but not the worst either.
Tuesday, 6 March 2012
Disturbia - 6th March 2012
For this weeks Tuesday Night is Film Night film, we depart from the pink and fluffy, chick-flick, rom-com genre and run headlong into a dark and disturbing thriller, aptly called;
Disturbia
So, taken as a whole the film was not too scary. However, the tension builds and builds to an edge-of-the-seat or behind-the-sofa finale.
So what is Disturbia all about?
Well, the film centres of Kale Brecht (Shia LaBeouf) a high school kid that is involved in a car accident, which kills his father. As a result Kale becomes difficult and ends up punching his Spanish teacher. For this misdemeanour he is placed under house arrest and electronically tagged so that he cannot wander more than 100 feet from his house.
From the solitude of the family home, he begins to observe activity in his neighnourhood. Spying on the people that surround him, including Ashley (Sarah Roemer) who has just moved in next door. So this thriller has some love interest.
However, it is another neighbour; Mr Turner (David Morse), that Kale becomes obsessed with, having witnessed what he believes to have been a murder, taking place next door.
Interest in Mr Turner increases, and Kale ropes in Ashley and his school friend Ronnie, to help with the surveillance.
The tension builds and the film takes a darker route, when Ashley is following Mr Turner at the supermarket, whilst Ronnie and Kale try to discover some of the secrets of the house next door. When Ashley loses track of Mr Turners' whereabouts, things start to get scary, especially when he stops her in the car park and takes her car keys.
What will he do?
What he actually does is to tell Ashley, that he is a private man and doesn't appreciate being spied upon. So, he knows he is being watched, but as he points out, who is watching who?
From here the tension grows. Ashley wants Kale to drop the spying. Kale is convinced that Mr Roberts is a serial killer. So he concocts ways of obtaining evidence, but each time he seems to be thwarted by Mr Roberts.
So, is Roberts a serial killer. Is Kale deluded and totally wrong?
You'll need to watch the film to find out! We don't give away much here at TNiFN.
Needless to say, this is a good tense film to watch. Not too much gore, but enough scares to keep you hiding behind the cushion. It is fairly easy going to start of with, but the tension builds and the suspense grows to a great finale.
Disturbia
So, taken as a whole the film was not too scary. However, the tension builds and builds to an edge-of-the-seat or behind-the-sofa finale.
So what is Disturbia all about?
Well, the film centres of Kale Brecht (Shia LaBeouf) a high school kid that is involved in a car accident, which kills his father. As a result Kale becomes difficult and ends up punching his Spanish teacher. For this misdemeanour he is placed under house arrest and electronically tagged so that he cannot wander more than 100 feet from his house.
From the solitude of the family home, he begins to observe activity in his neighnourhood. Spying on the people that surround him, including Ashley (Sarah Roemer) who has just moved in next door. So this thriller has some love interest.
However, it is another neighbour; Mr Turner (David Morse), that Kale becomes obsessed with, having witnessed what he believes to have been a murder, taking place next door.
Interest in Mr Turner increases, and Kale ropes in Ashley and his school friend Ronnie, to help with the surveillance.
The tension builds and the film takes a darker route, when Ashley is following Mr Turner at the supermarket, whilst Ronnie and Kale try to discover some of the secrets of the house next door. When Ashley loses track of Mr Turners' whereabouts, things start to get scary, especially when he stops her in the car park and takes her car keys.
What will he do?
What he actually does is to tell Ashley, that he is a private man and doesn't appreciate being spied upon. So, he knows he is being watched, but as he points out, who is watching who?
From here the tension grows. Ashley wants Kale to drop the spying. Kale is convinced that Mr Roberts is a serial killer. So he concocts ways of obtaining evidence, but each time he seems to be thwarted by Mr Roberts.
So, is Roberts a serial killer. Is Kale deluded and totally wrong?
You'll need to watch the film to find out! We don't give away much here at TNiFN.
Needless to say, this is a good tense film to watch. Not too much gore, but enough scares to keep you hiding behind the cushion. It is fairly easy going to start of with, but the tension builds and the suspense grows to a great finale.
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