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.
Tuesday, 2 October 2012
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Trading Places - 25th September 2012
This weeks' Tueday Night is Film Night film, goes back to 1983. As Eddie Murphy and Dan Ackroyd star in;
Trading Places
Straight into the plot this week, to give you an outline of the story, if you don't know already.
Randolph and Mortimer Duke (Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche respectively) are super rich commodity brokers, making their money on the stock exchange. When a chance encounter with down and out con-man; Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) plants the idea of a bet in their heads. Could financial success be down to breeding or environment.
So they decide to fabricate a role swap, taking one of their very successful employee's, one Louis Winthorpe III played perfectly by Dan Ackroyd and force him out and replace him with Valentine. Therefore creating a cruel experiment in social Darwinism.
The tag line for the movie states; "Take two complete strangers, make one of them rich the other poor... just watch the fun while they're... Trading Places".
It's a very interesting concept, but the "fun" was rather thinly veiled and the laughs not high in ratio, but it is a classic movie, although showing it's age, as it is 29 years old this year.
For Eddie Murphy, it definitely helped to establish him as a comic actor, following up as it did on his debut film; "48 Hours" from 1982.
Ackroyd is perfectly cast as the pompous Winthorpe and Denholm Elliott does a sterling job as Coleman the butler.
However, the highlight of the film, for the male contingent at least, must be the gorgeously young (25 years old) Jamie Lee Curtis, who plays Ophelia, a local hooker who assists in the defrauding of Winthorpe, only to take pity on him and help him back on his feet. In the process of this, she is required to remove her top at least twice. Which was nice.
So although the film is now dated, it is a classic. The amount of swearing is high for an '80's movie, but don't let that put you off. The laughs aren't that regular, but the class of acting, the delivery and the story stand this film in good stead and is a must see movie, if only once. (And if only for the gratuitous visual splendour that is the chest of Miss Curtis).
Trading Places
Straight into the plot this week, to give you an outline of the story, if you don't know already.
Randolph and Mortimer Duke (Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche respectively) are super rich commodity brokers, making their money on the stock exchange. When a chance encounter with down and out con-man; Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) plants the idea of a bet in their heads. Could financial success be down to breeding or environment.
So they decide to fabricate a role swap, taking one of their very successful employee's, one Louis Winthorpe III played perfectly by Dan Ackroyd and force him out and replace him with Valentine. Therefore creating a cruel experiment in social Darwinism.
The tag line for the movie states; "Take two complete strangers, make one of them rich the other poor... just watch the fun while they're... Trading Places".
It's a very interesting concept, but the "fun" was rather thinly veiled and the laughs not high in ratio, but it is a classic movie, although showing it's age, as it is 29 years old this year.
For Eddie Murphy, it definitely helped to establish him as a comic actor, following up as it did on his debut film; "48 Hours" from 1982.
Ackroyd is perfectly cast as the pompous Winthorpe and Denholm Elliott does a sterling job as Coleman the butler.
However, the highlight of the film, for the male contingent at least, must be the gorgeously young (25 years old) Jamie Lee Curtis, who plays Ophelia, a local hooker who assists in the defrauding of Winthorpe, only to take pity on him and help him back on his feet. In the process of this, she is required to remove her top at least twice. Which was nice.
So although the film is now dated, it is a classic. The amount of swearing is high for an '80's movie, but don't let that put you off. The laughs aren't that regular, but the class of acting, the delivery and the story stand this film in good stead and is a must see movie, if only once. (And if only for the gratuitous visual splendour that is the chest of Miss Curtis).
Tuesday, 18 September 2012
Beastly - 18th September 2012
After a serious drama last week, we fall back into the realm of the chick-flick this week and discover what goes on in the film;
Beastly
Beastly, is billed as a modern day take on Beauty and the Beast, so one can safely assume the plot for this film. Running at it does at around 83 minutes long, which equates to 83 minutes of my life that I will never see again.
On the DVD, there is an alternative ending. I was hoping there would be an alternative beginning, perhaps one that was good!
OK, it wasn't a good film, but let me at least spell out the plot and credit the cast. The Beast in this movie is Kyle Kingson, played the ever so good looking (so I am told) Alex Pettyfer. Kingson is an arrogant, obnoxious, good looking high school student. Good looking and he knows it.
At the start of the film there is some high school election, which was all a bit strange and difficult to follow, but the plot is so thin, it's easy to pick up the general idea. Anyway, Kyle falls foul of weird student, Kendra, who seems to be some kind of witch. Oh, here's an interesting point, Kendra is played by Mary-Kate Olsen, who has changed a fair bit since starring in Two of a Kind with her sister Ashley.
Anyway, Kendra curses Kyle.
Kyle turns ugly.
Kyle has a year to make someone say "I love you" to the now ugly chap.
Introduce love interest in the form of Lindy, played by Vanessa Hudgens and you have your story.
There are a few twists in the middle. The introduction of a blind tutor for ugly Kyle injects some much needed humour. However, on the whole, the story was pretty dire. The plot was thin. The acting was pretty wooden, especially in the alternative ending. And a lot of the scenes were really cheesey.
I normally say, if you have a couple of hours spare, on a wet weekend, then watch the film. In this case I'll make an exception, if you have a couple of hours spare, on a wet weekend, watch some paint dry, instead of watching Beastly, it will be more entertaining.
Hey, these are just my thoughts! You might enjoy it.
You won't.
Beastly
Beastly, is billed as a modern day take on Beauty and the Beast, so one can safely assume the plot for this film. Running at it does at around 83 minutes long, which equates to 83 minutes of my life that I will never see again.
On the DVD, there is an alternative ending. I was hoping there would be an alternative beginning, perhaps one that was good!
OK, it wasn't a good film, but let me at least spell out the plot and credit the cast. The Beast in this movie is Kyle Kingson, played the ever so good looking (so I am told) Alex Pettyfer. Kingson is an arrogant, obnoxious, good looking high school student. Good looking and he knows it.
At the start of the film there is some high school election, which was all a bit strange and difficult to follow, but the plot is so thin, it's easy to pick up the general idea. Anyway, Kyle falls foul of weird student, Kendra, who seems to be some kind of witch. Oh, here's an interesting point, Kendra is played by Mary-Kate Olsen, who has changed a fair bit since starring in Two of a Kind with her sister Ashley.
Anyway, Kendra curses Kyle.
Kyle turns ugly.
Kyle has a year to make someone say "I love you" to the now ugly chap.
Introduce love interest in the form of Lindy, played by Vanessa Hudgens and you have your story.
There are a few twists in the middle. The introduction of a blind tutor for ugly Kyle injects some much needed humour. However, on the whole, the story was pretty dire. The plot was thin. The acting was pretty wooden, especially in the alternative ending. And a lot of the scenes were really cheesey.
I normally say, if you have a couple of hours spare, on a wet weekend, then watch the film. In this case I'll make an exception, if you have a couple of hours spare, on a wet weekend, watch some paint dry, instead of watching Beastly, it will be more entertaining.
Hey, these are just my thoughts! You might enjoy it.
You won't.
Tuesday, 11 September 2012
World Trade Center - 11th September 2012
As Tuesday Night is Film Night falls on the 11th of September this year, we felt it was only fitting, that to mark the 11th anniversary of 9/11 that we should watch something to remember that fateful day, that is why we watched;
World Trade Centre
The title and the subject matter speak for itself really. World Trade Center is based on the true story of John McLoughlin (Nicholas Cage) and William Jimeno (Michael Peña), two New York Port Authority police officers, who get called, with a squad of colleagues, to the World Trade Center complex, when news of the first 'plane hitting the north tower was released.
So immediately, we are into the action.
The first 30 to 40 minutes of the film establishes the main characters and follows the story from the first strike, to both towers collapsing. Collapsing with the Port Authority police, trapped inside.
The rest of the film traces the trapped McLoughlin and Jimeno, as they battle to stay alive amongst the rubble. Switching between the current action and flashbacks to fill in the back story to each character.
Directed by Oliver Stone, the film captures in graphic detail and accurate reconstruction, the scene of devastation, panic and madness of this awful, tragic day. With honesty, realism and the occasional poetic licence, Stone and the writers build the emotion, pulling you closer into the tradegy, willing you to feel the raw fear, that must have been felt by the trapped and those searching for them.
The film is chilling, very moving, with an element of heavy going, but if you overcome this and are drawn in, it is ultimately a rewarding viewing.
If you want to feel even the smallest sense of what it must have been like, to be amongst the hell on earth, that New York must have been on that day, then watch this film, you will not be sorry.
World Trade Centre
The title and the subject matter speak for itself really. World Trade Center is based on the true story of John McLoughlin (Nicholas Cage) and William Jimeno (Michael Peña), two New York Port Authority police officers, who get called, with a squad of colleagues, to the World Trade Center complex, when news of the first 'plane hitting the north tower was released.
So immediately, we are into the action.
The first 30 to 40 minutes of the film establishes the main characters and follows the story from the first strike, to both towers collapsing. Collapsing with the Port Authority police, trapped inside.
The rest of the film traces the trapped McLoughlin and Jimeno, as they battle to stay alive amongst the rubble. Switching between the current action and flashbacks to fill in the back story to each character.
Directed by Oliver Stone, the film captures in graphic detail and accurate reconstruction, the scene of devastation, panic and madness of this awful, tragic day. With honesty, realism and the occasional poetic licence, Stone and the writers build the emotion, pulling you closer into the tradegy, willing you to feel the raw fear, that must have been felt by the trapped and those searching for them.
The film is chilling, very moving, with an element of heavy going, but if you overcome this and are drawn in, it is ultimately a rewarding viewing.
If you want to feel even the smallest sense of what it must have been like, to be amongst the hell on earth, that New York must have been on that day, then watch this film, you will not be sorry.
Tuesday, 4 September 2012
Leap Year - 4th September 2012
Tuesday Night is Film Night returns to what seems to be it's favourite genre, the romantic comedy, as tonight we discover the secrets of;
Leap Year
Right the basic idea of the film is; Anna (Amy Adams), is going out with Cardiologist Jeremy (Adam Scott). Their relationship has been going well for a few years and the question of marriage enters Anna's head. When a proposal doesn't materialise, Anna is quite rightly dejected. However, her father (John Lithgow) reminds her of an Irish (sic) tradition of the woman proposing to the man on the 29th of February, i.e. a leap year. And as Jeremy has flown to Dublin, in Ireland for a conference at the end of February, what better way to seal the marriage, than with a leap year proposal, in Ireland from Anna.
That is until she tries to get to Dublin.
First her plane is diverted to Cardiff. Then no other connecting flights will take her to Dublin. No ferries are sailing and she ends in a fishing boat, that drops her off in a small village, somewhere in Ireland, where she meets Declan (Matthew Goode). She enlists the help of Declan to get her to Dublin, which heralds the arrival of many, many minutes of farcical endeavours to travel to Dublin, by car, train, bus or foot.
So far so good?
As romantic comedies go, Leap Year is OK. However, if you were to write a formula for rom-com's, you can use this film as an excellent example.
The formula goes something like this;
Pretty girl, is in love with bloke who is a bit of a knob!
Pretty girl, through chance, meets handsome chap.
Pretty girl does not like handsome chap, she's in love with her knob, I mean bloke.
Funny things happen.
Pretty girl falls in love with handsome chap.
Handsome chap, cannot love pretty girl, because of bloke (knob).
Pretty girl, realises too late that she now loves handsome chap. Oh woe is her.
Pretty girl tests bloke (knob). Bloke fails test. Pretty girl runs off to find handsome chap again.
Tense moment..........
Happy ending.
Apply this formula, to a beautiful setting such as Ireland and you have a nice film.
Amy Adams is really good as Anna. Matthew Goode should not attempt an Irish accent. It was shocking.
All in all, Leap Year is a pink & fluffy, formulaic rom-com, but the love and laughs are perhaps not as hearty as some films of the same genre.
If it's on the TV, on a wet and windy weekend, give it a go. If not, don't.
Leap Year
Right the basic idea of the film is; Anna (Amy Adams), is going out with Cardiologist Jeremy (Adam Scott). Their relationship has been going well for a few years and the question of marriage enters Anna's head. When a proposal doesn't materialise, Anna is quite rightly dejected. However, her father (John Lithgow) reminds her of an Irish (sic) tradition of the woman proposing to the man on the 29th of February, i.e. a leap year. And as Jeremy has flown to Dublin, in Ireland for a conference at the end of February, what better way to seal the marriage, than with a leap year proposal, in Ireland from Anna.
That is until she tries to get to Dublin.
First her plane is diverted to Cardiff. Then no other connecting flights will take her to Dublin. No ferries are sailing and she ends in a fishing boat, that drops her off in a small village, somewhere in Ireland, where she meets Declan (Matthew Goode). She enlists the help of Declan to get her to Dublin, which heralds the arrival of many, many minutes of farcical endeavours to travel to Dublin, by car, train, bus or foot.
So far so good?
As romantic comedies go, Leap Year is OK. However, if you were to write a formula for rom-com's, you can use this film as an excellent example.
The formula goes something like this;
Pretty girl, is in love with bloke who is a bit of a knob!
Pretty girl, through chance, meets handsome chap.
Pretty girl does not like handsome chap, she's in love with her knob, I mean bloke.
Funny things happen.
Pretty girl falls in love with handsome chap.
Handsome chap, cannot love pretty girl, because of bloke (knob).
Pretty girl, realises too late that she now loves handsome chap. Oh woe is her.
Pretty girl tests bloke (knob). Bloke fails test. Pretty girl runs off to find handsome chap again.
Tense moment..........
Happy ending.
Apply this formula, to a beautiful setting such as Ireland and you have a nice film.
Amy Adams is really good as Anna. Matthew Goode should not attempt an Irish accent. It was shocking.
All in all, Leap Year is a pink & fluffy, formulaic rom-com, but the love and laughs are perhaps not as hearty as some films of the same genre.
If it's on the TV, on a wet and windy weekend, give it a go. If not, don't.
Tuesday, 28 August 2012
The Happening - 28th August 2012
Well the good films just keep on coming. Well, let's just reserve judgement for a second, as we look at tonight's Tuesday Night is Film Night film;
The Happening
From 2008, Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel star in this sci-fi thriller about a mysterious toxin that seems to be transferred via plants, but nobody is sure.
The film opens in Central Park, New York and within the first few minutes, you know where this film is going, as it grabs you by the throat and drags you kicking and screaming into the realms of it's fantasy terror.
It seems like an airborne toxin sweeps through Central Park and everybody comes to a standstill and...........
............... I don't think I'm giving too much away, when I say, they start committing suicide left, right and centre. As an opening sequence, it's a cracker! And the scenes are quite graphic, so you are literally on the edge of your seat, not knowing what you are going to see next.
The action centres on school teacher Elliot Moore (Wahlberg) and his young Wife; Alma (Deschanel) and we follow them as they try to head to safety, away from New York. However, the events keep 'happening', and this phrase is repeated several times, hence the films title.
As I said, it is a gripping, intense, violent thriller. Very creepy in places and will have you hiding behind the sofa. Wahlberg is superb as Elliot, playing the cool school teacher, who is trying to keep it together for those around him, as they try to flea from the onslaught of this deadly 'thing'.
The drama is powerful, the action is striking, the storyline is plausible, the ending is diabolical................
What?
Yes, afraid so. I was expecting a happy ending. Which, inevitably is what happened. However, it was also inexplicable. Open ended. Inconclusive. Nothing was rounded off neatly. Which I guess alludes back to the opening section of the movie, but still, I like a film with a start, middle and end.
Two out of three is not good enough.
Unless of course, they make The Happening 2!!
In summation, great start. Good middle. Terrible end!
Check out the reviews on Amazon. It was slated!
The Happening
From 2008, Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel star in this sci-fi thriller about a mysterious toxin that seems to be transferred via plants, but nobody is sure.
The film opens in Central Park, New York and within the first few minutes, you know where this film is going, as it grabs you by the throat and drags you kicking and screaming into the realms of it's fantasy terror.
It seems like an airborne toxin sweeps through Central Park and everybody comes to a standstill and...........
............... I don't think I'm giving too much away, when I say, they start committing suicide left, right and centre. As an opening sequence, it's a cracker! And the scenes are quite graphic, so you are literally on the edge of your seat, not knowing what you are going to see next.
The action centres on school teacher Elliot Moore (Wahlberg) and his young Wife; Alma (Deschanel) and we follow them as they try to head to safety, away from New York. However, the events keep 'happening', and this phrase is repeated several times, hence the films title.
As I said, it is a gripping, intense, violent thriller. Very creepy in places and will have you hiding behind the sofa. Wahlberg is superb as Elliot, playing the cool school teacher, who is trying to keep it together for those around him, as they try to flea from the onslaught of this deadly 'thing'.
The drama is powerful, the action is striking, the storyline is plausible, the ending is diabolical................
What?
Yes, afraid so. I was expecting a happy ending. Which, inevitably is what happened. However, it was also inexplicable. Open ended. Inconclusive. Nothing was rounded off neatly. Which I guess alludes back to the opening section of the movie, but still, I like a film with a start, middle and end.
Two out of three is not good enough.
Unless of course, they make The Happening 2!!
In summation, great start. Good middle. Terrible end!
Check out the reviews on Amazon. It was slated!
Wednesday, 22 August 2012
Gran Torino - 21st August 2012
Tuesday Night is Film Night returns after the summer break, with a film that has had good things said about it, but personally I have no idea what it's all about.
So, will Clint be making my day? Or should I ask for a few dollars more? When we watch;
Gran Torino
I must confess to being dubious about Gran Torino. I've never been a fan of Clint Eastwood and considered a film with a car's name in the title, was maybe another chance to see gangs racing around the streets of America, shooting up everybody.
How wrong was I?
What the film is all about is something all together different. Clint Eastwood plays Walt Kowalski, a Korean war veteran, who is very protective about his property and is initially at odds with his Hmong neighbours.
When the son of his neighbours, falls into a gang, they try to make him take an initiation test, which involves a failed attempt to steal Walt Kowalski's prized possession, his 1972 Gran Torino.
Although angry with Thao (the neighbours son), Walt ends up befriending his sister. From this friendship, Walt sets out to make Thau repay his debt and work together with Walt, to reform the neighbourhood.
I could give a full detailed synopsis, but this may detract from the film, it is best to watch it, not only for the beautifully written story, but also for the class acting from Eastwood.
Gran Torino isn't a hard hitting drama, with car chases and cops, it's a fantastic story, with gritty realism, gravitas and emotion.
It is easily one of the best films I have seen.
Please watch it.
So, will Clint be making my day? Or should I ask for a few dollars more? When we watch;
Gran Torino
I must confess to being dubious about Gran Torino. I've never been a fan of Clint Eastwood and considered a film with a car's name in the title, was maybe another chance to see gangs racing around the streets of America, shooting up everybody.
How wrong was I?
What the film is all about is something all together different. Clint Eastwood plays Walt Kowalski, a Korean war veteran, who is very protective about his property and is initially at odds with his Hmong neighbours.
When the son of his neighbours, falls into a gang, they try to make him take an initiation test, which involves a failed attempt to steal Walt Kowalski's prized possession, his 1972 Gran Torino.
Although angry with Thao (the neighbours son), Walt ends up befriending his sister. From this friendship, Walt sets out to make Thau repay his debt and work together with Walt, to reform the neighbourhood.
I could give a full detailed synopsis, but this may detract from the film, it is best to watch it, not only for the beautifully written story, but also for the class acting from Eastwood.
Gran Torino isn't a hard hitting drama, with car chases and cops, it's a fantastic story, with gritty realism, gravitas and emotion.
It is easily one of the best films I have seen.
Please watch it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)