Tuesday Night is Film Night takes on an action thriller tonight, starring Liam Neeson, from 2008 we have;
Taken
What can I say? Taken is a brilliant film! Totally gripping from start to finish. Liam Neeson is, if I can steal an Americanism here, totally awesome!
The film follows estranged and retired CIA agent Bryan Mills (Neeson), as he tries to reestablish a relationship with his Daughter; Kim (Maggie Grace).
Bryan agrees to let the 17 year old Kim travel to Paris, with a friend, although he is very reluctant to do so, but agrees on condition she lets him know where she stays and that she rings every night.
When she fails to comply he starts to worry and calls her. Luckily she is fine until.................
What happens next is when the film really starts to kick off. Kim and her friend are kidnapped by Albanian immigrants running a prostitution racket in Paris. Bryan was on the phone to Kim at the time and all he has to go on are the words; "Good luck".
Bryan vows to find the kidnappers and when he does he promises to kill them to get his Daughter back.
And truth enough, he fly's out to Paris and immediately sets to work to regain his Daughter and wreak vengeance on the perpetrators.
And he does it in some kind of style!
In scenes reminiscent of Die Hard Neeson neutralises more baddies than a gallon of Febreeze. It is some great stuff!
Taken is a gritty, gripping drama, with a good storyline, cracking acting, some great action sequences and a decent ending. Although the ending is just a little bit fluffy.
It's still a must watch movie.
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
Monday, 7 May 2012
The Hurt Locker - 7th May 2012
So, Tuesday Night is Film Night is shifted a day early, so what could be better than spending a wet Bank Holiday Monday watching;
The Hurt Locker.
Films that are in the top 500 films on IMDB or are multi Oscar winners, are so for one very good reason.
They are clearly very good films.
The Hurt Locker is no exception. It is a gritty, realistic, thrilling, modern day war drama. Following the unfolding story of Delta Company, an elite bomb disposal squad, working on the streets of war torn Iraq, where everyone is a potential enemy and every object could be harbouring a bomb.
Brilliantly directed by Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker centres on a trio of bomb disposal specialists; Sergeant First Class William James (Jeremy Renner), Sergeant JT Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) and Specialist Owen Eldridge (Brian Geraghty).
The film provides a supreme, tense and gripping piece of drama. It grabs your attention from the stunning opening scene, which perfectly gets across the dangers faced by the specialist bomb disposal squad, you then follow them throughout the 131 minutes of real gripping drama, which will have you literally on the edge of your seats.
If there was any criticism, it would be the stereotypical roles played by the three main characters. William James is the brilliant bomb disposal guy, but is a total maverick. Sanborn, is the level headed one, always there for his team. And Eldridge is the scared one, frightened of his own shadow. These are the characters you see in most war films, so from that perspective it is slightly formulaic in approach, but do not let this put you off.
The Hurt Locker explores deeply the drama and trauma of modern day insurgent warfare.
It is a film not to be missed.
The Hurt Locker.
Films that are in the top 500 films on IMDB or are multi Oscar winners, are so for one very good reason.
They are clearly very good films.
The Hurt Locker is no exception. It is a gritty, realistic, thrilling, modern day war drama. Following the unfolding story of Delta Company, an elite bomb disposal squad, working on the streets of war torn Iraq, where everyone is a potential enemy and every object could be harbouring a bomb.
Brilliantly directed by Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker centres on a trio of bomb disposal specialists; Sergeant First Class William James (Jeremy Renner), Sergeant JT Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) and Specialist Owen Eldridge (Brian Geraghty).
The film provides a supreme, tense and gripping piece of drama. It grabs your attention from the stunning opening scene, which perfectly gets across the dangers faced by the specialist bomb disposal squad, you then follow them throughout the 131 minutes of real gripping drama, which will have you literally on the edge of your seats.
If there was any criticism, it would be the stereotypical roles played by the three main characters. William James is the brilliant bomb disposal guy, but is a total maverick. Sanborn, is the level headed one, always there for his team. And Eldridge is the scared one, frightened of his own shadow. These are the characters you see in most war films, so from that perspective it is slightly formulaic in approach, but do not let this put you off.
The Hurt Locker explores deeply the drama and trauma of modern day insurgent warfare.
It is a film not to be missed.
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
Due Date - 1st May 2012
Tuesday Night is Film Night hits the month of May and we start off with the comedy;
Due Date
Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis team up as Peter Highman and Ethan Tremblay respectively, in this comedy road trip across the United States.
The premise of the movie is this;
Peter Highman needs to return to LA, to be at the birth of his first child.
Ethan Tremblay is heading to Hollywood to try and make it as an actor.
The two do not know each other, until a car accident at the airport forces their separate paths to cross.
What follows is a slapstick adventure where, after being banned from flying (they end up on a "no fly list") the two characters join forces, somewhat reluctantly, to get across the USA in time for the birth of Peter's child.
I won't go in to details of their journey, as this is whole point of the film, so you will need to watch the film to appreciate all the jokes. There are some great visual gags and stunts. There are also a plethora of little gags, some funny, some hilarious.
Watch out for the scene with the coffee and Ethans' dead father. See? You need to watch it to find out.
Robert Downey Jr. is superb, perfectly playing the straight laced Peter. Zach Galifianakis also puts in a great performance as the bumbling, inept but ultimately, dare I say, loveable Ethan.
Due Date is a knockabout comedy road trip, which should have you laughing out loud.
Well worth a watch.
Due Date
Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis team up as Peter Highman and Ethan Tremblay respectively, in this comedy road trip across the United States.
The premise of the movie is this;
Peter Highman needs to return to LA, to be at the birth of his first child.
Ethan Tremblay is heading to Hollywood to try and make it as an actor.
The two do not know each other, until a car accident at the airport forces their separate paths to cross.
What follows is a slapstick adventure where, after being banned from flying (they end up on a "no fly list") the two characters join forces, somewhat reluctantly, to get across the USA in time for the birth of Peter's child.
I won't go in to details of their journey, as this is whole point of the film, so you will need to watch the film to appreciate all the jokes. There are some great visual gags and stunts. There are also a plethora of little gags, some funny, some hilarious.
Watch out for the scene with the coffee and Ethans' dead father. See? You need to watch it to find out.
Robert Downey Jr. is superb, perfectly playing the straight laced Peter. Zach Galifianakis also puts in a great performance as the bumbling, inept but ultimately, dare I say, loveable Ethan.
Due Date is a knockabout comedy road trip, which should have you laughing out loud.
Well worth a watch.
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
Sixty Six - 24th April 2012
Tuesday Night is Film Night rumbles on with the bitter sweet British comedy;
Sixty Six
The film follows the story of Bernie Rubens and the build up to his Barmitzvah, which looks set to be a disaster when it coincides with the 1966 World Cup Final.
A cracking cast, led by the young Gregg Sulkin, who plays Bernie, make this film a real belter. Helena Bonham-Carter plays Bernie's Mother; Esther Rubens and his Father; Manny Rubens is played by the fantastic Eddie Marsan.
I will just clarify the "fantastic" superlative prefixing Eddie Marsan in the previous sentence. I have not been aware of any of Eddie Marsan's work, but in Sixty Six, he is absolutely fantastic as the long faced, slow and steady, Jewish patriarch.
Completing the central cast we have the delightful Catherine Tate and the very funny and versatile Peter Serafinowicz, who play Bernie's aunt and uncle; Lila and Jimmy.
So, typically Bernie is a bit of a hopeless case, always last to be picked for the football team. (A cracking opening scene depicts this). However, it is soon to be his Barmitzvah, and he will become a man. He starts planning a great celebration, that will overshadow his elder brothers' Barmitzvah. It will be bigger and better, more guests, better presents, better music etc. etc.
However, things do not go to plan and a series of events collude to ruin Bernie's big day. Not least of which the day of his Barmitzvah will clash with the World Cup final, although England won't make it to the final........... or will they?
The film is certainly a comedy, with some really brilliantly funny scenes, all credit to the writer Paul Weiland for those, but it is also dramatic and sad, Eddie Marsan providing pathos by the bucketload, in his role as Bernie's suffering Dad.
Sixty Six is your typical British comedy of recent years, but that's not a bad thing, there have been some great British comedies recently and this is certainly one of them, although it may have been overlooked, which is a real shame as it is a really charming film, with a fantastic story which underpins the layers of comedy and tradegy.
A really great film, watch it when you can.
Sixty Six
The film follows the story of Bernie Rubens and the build up to his Barmitzvah, which looks set to be a disaster when it coincides with the 1966 World Cup Final.
A cracking cast, led by the young Gregg Sulkin, who plays Bernie, make this film a real belter. Helena Bonham-Carter plays Bernie's Mother; Esther Rubens and his Father; Manny Rubens is played by the fantastic Eddie Marsan.
I will just clarify the "fantastic" superlative prefixing Eddie Marsan in the previous sentence. I have not been aware of any of Eddie Marsan's work, but in Sixty Six, he is absolutely fantastic as the long faced, slow and steady, Jewish patriarch.
Completing the central cast we have the delightful Catherine Tate and the very funny and versatile Peter Serafinowicz, who play Bernie's aunt and uncle; Lila and Jimmy.
So, typically Bernie is a bit of a hopeless case, always last to be picked for the football team. (A cracking opening scene depicts this). However, it is soon to be his Barmitzvah, and he will become a man. He starts planning a great celebration, that will overshadow his elder brothers' Barmitzvah. It will be bigger and better, more guests, better presents, better music etc. etc.
However, things do not go to plan and a series of events collude to ruin Bernie's big day. Not least of which the day of his Barmitzvah will clash with the World Cup final, although England won't make it to the final........... or will they?
The film is certainly a comedy, with some really brilliantly funny scenes, all credit to the writer Paul Weiland for those, but it is also dramatic and sad, Eddie Marsan providing pathos by the bucketload, in his role as Bernie's suffering Dad.
Sixty Six is your typical British comedy of recent years, but that's not a bad thing, there have been some great British comedies recently and this is certainly one of them, although it may have been overlooked, which is a real shame as it is a really charming film, with a fantastic story which underpins the layers of comedy and tradegy.
A really great film, watch it when you can.
Tuesday, 17 April 2012
Anger Management - 17th April 2012
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!
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, 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.
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