Review: Big Eyes

The last few years has seen director Tim Burton make a few missed opportunities apart from Frankenweenie.

Burton's odd look at the world is often a pretty nightmarish vision that divides the mainstream audience.
However, this latest installment sees Burton go for something a little smaller in terms of the budget and ambition i.e. not aiming for a huge box-office taking.

Another surprise was not seeing Johnny Depp or Helena Bonham Carter cast. Instead we get two high-profiled modern actors in the form of Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz.

When being told at the start that this film is based on true events, you will be attempting to fool yourself by the end and think "how is this a true story?".
You can see from the start, that this film is performance driven. The characters invite you in to this world of greed, deceit and betrayal. The story structure may feel predictable throughout the viewing. But the direction and production is wonderfully done and that is where the film sells.

The opening act sets our main characters up nicely and we are already interested in them. As the story develops, the performances continue to enhance. The final third of the film turns into something quite different, the tension is cranked up and the finale is completely insane and yet it is what actually happened.
I can say that the usual Burton strangeness is not there, but there are enough similarities to films such as Edward Scissorhands and Big Fish that keeps you making you feel like it is a Burton film.

One thing you will find in this film is the amazing artwork and visuals throughout. With this film being about a famous modern artist, there is a lot of amazing works that it manages to engulf the screen many times during the film. With this film involving art, there is of course, critics. There is a minor role played by Terrence Stamp who is plays a critic that reminds of the critic Anton Ego in Ratatouille.
Also, with this being set in the 1950's and 60's, we get a very interesting view of the art world and what capitalism in general was like back then.

Obviously the biggest positive that brings this movie to life is the acting. Adams is becoming a huge heroine in films lately. Whether your male or female, you will be inspired by her performance.
She really shows us her characters nobility, hard-work and perseverance, which was quite rare for a female at that time in America. You feel for her throughout, whether she is making the right decision or not.
However, her performance is only half the film. To make it complete, we have Christoph Waltz. Winning two Oscars for playing villainous characters, but showing a lot of deceitful politeness.
This one did not feel as sinister as his previous roles, but he still manages to knock another one out of the park. You see the greed, selfishness and lies this character makes. But it Waltz's style that gives the character legs. Both of them are easily in contention for Oscar nominations.

Big Eyes is a very entertaining drama that has an intriguing story with interesting chatracters. It may feel predictable, but those performances are so great that it gives enough freshness to this film.
It might not be one I would watch again. But it is one that must be seen, especially for the performances, production design and crazy story.

Rating: 7/10

My Top 10: Tim Burton Films

For over 30 years, Tim Burton has shocked and amazed us with his directing style. Always known for his great use of fantasy mixed in with his regular gothic style of visuals. Burton has become a world renowned director that has boosted many actors careers.

His style definitely divides audiences. But one thing is for sure, is that he is always talked about.

Before anyone starts complaining, 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' is not on this list as Tim Burton did not direct it. He was a producer and Henry Selick was the director, despite the promotion campaign always billing it as 'Tim Burton's A Nightmare Before Christmas'.

As I have seen 19 of Burton's 21 films, I have decided to rank of all his films that I have seen, as well as a short review for each of my top 10:

19) Dark Shadows
18) Planet Of The Apes
17) Dumbo
16) Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children
15) Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
14) Alice In Wonderland
13) Pee Wee's Big Adventure
12) Mars Attacks!
11) Beetlejuice

10) Big Eyes - Burton's 2014 installment is a bit off-piste for a lot of his regular features.

Despite this being pretty small by Burton's standard, this story based on true events is astonishing and performances from Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz really enhanced it to make this a terrific watch.

9) Batman - Burton would definitely not be my first choice in directing a Batman film. But he manages to create a vision of Gotham that won audiences over.

He also brings back Michael Keaton, this time as the caped crusader himself.

With Jack Nicholson playing the Joker, there is a lot to like about this wonderfully paced, dark and gritty feature.

8) Frankenweenie - A highly enjoyable stop-motion story with lots of good references to the old monster movies.

It sees a boy determined to bring his recently deceased dog back to life. However there are serious consequences to his task.

7) Sleepy Hollow - A story that is perfect for Burton became a huge surprise with me.
After only seeing this in 2013, Sleepy Hollow showed Burton giving depth in everything he showed on screen.
From the content, to the set designs, costumes, visuals and general tone to it. This is wonderfully haunting and gives it enough vintage to it to make seem like it has jumped off the pages from the iconic novel.

6) Batman Returns - Not seen by many as Burton's best Batman. But it definitely is for me.

Burton's portrait of Gotham works for me and with the stakes much higher, the entertainment levels are romping way throughout.

Danny DeVito and Michelle Pfeiffer gives us engaging and very memorable performances as villains Penguin and Catwoman.

5) Corpse Bride - Burton has a rich history of stop-motion animation and this probably his best work as a director.

When a groom-to-be practices his vows, a young woman rises from the grave assuming it is her that is to be married.

The creations made are tremendous to look at, and Burton's gothic style is a perfect match.

4) Edward Scissorhands - Probably the film that people associate most with Burton.
It sees Johnny Depp play an uncommonly gentle young man that for some reason has scissors for hands.
I had only seen this fairly recently and could see why this was so successful.
It is brilliantly directed, is very well structured and we end up caring for such a character that defines Burton's career as a great director.

3) Ed Wood - Finally got round to seeing this and it is as terrific as everyone says it its.

Johnny Deppy plays the ambitious but troubled director Edward D. Wood Jnr. who is looking to fulfill his dream as a film director. This true story is a great watch, especially for fans of the history of film.

2) Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street - A dark, gritty, gothic film starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter. Surely this sounds like a generic Burton film?

At first it does, but the performances and extraordinary pace and tone gives us such a powerful and memorable film that puts Burton back on the map with a hugely successful re-telling of the gory stage musical.

1) Big Fish - This film manages to make it feel very Burton-esque and yet nothing we have seen him do before.
This surprising heart-warmer not only shows a great love story. But also the relationship of a father and son.

Burton gives us an extraordinary journey that Ewan McGregor's character stumbles upon several odd characters with a heart-wrenching conclusion that definitely pulled my heart strings.

Review: Unbroken

This time of the year is when we get a whole bunch of films looking for success in the upcoming awards season. Some of them could be seen as 'Oscar bait' or genuinely be one of the films of the year.

Beginning this latest batch of Oscar contenders, is Angelina Jolie's first notable film as director. She has directed a feature and a documentary in the past. But it has not been publicised enough to be recognised within the mainstream crowd. It tells the story of Olympic hero and WWII soldier Louis Zamperini.

This has been a big project for Jolie for some time and has taken great pride in making sure of creating something that will captivate audiences around the world.

I personally know almost nothing on Zamperini's story apart knowing his name of Olympic history.

What I saw was another inspiring story during WWII, and I do not entirely mean that in a bad way. I'm saying it because it is a hard genre to stand out in. There have been thousands of war films over the years and you can only remember a certain amount.

The films open up nicely and gives us an impactful tone. As the film goes on you start to understand his triumphs and tough situation that has been given to him. The rest of the first half amazed me in terms of being shocked at what happened in this story. As for the second half, it seemed to be unsure of itself in terms of where to go next.
The story structure and pace is perfectly fine. But like I said previously, war films really need to stand out. This did that in bits, but sadly not enough for me to consider as a certified classic let alone an awards contender.

The best part of the film is definitely Jack O'Connell's performance as Zamperini. He really shows off his character. You feel, sympathise and certainly get inspired by him. His character has enough of a rebellious side that you can easily relate to.
There are enough minor roles that are worth mentioning. Takamasa Ishihara has a great presence and on-screen relationship with O'Connell. Domhnall Gleesson, Garrett Hedlund, Finn Wittrock gives us nice variety. There is also a nice surprise in Jai Courtney who usually disappoints and has become massively over-rated. Thankfully, Jolie shows us his potential and that now gives me hope in the new Terminator film that he stars in.

Sadly, everything else felt pretty satisfactory and nothing outstanding. The several performances was its biggest positive. However, it's lack of groundbreaking moments made this feel a bit too generic.
It all felt like something that I have seen before, and it has been done better. I still had an enjoyable experience. It is a really touching story and has very likeable characters. Sadly, I felt Jolie was concentrating too much on one part of the story and not the full story that others are expecting.

Unbroken manages to pass as a pretty solid film. The story is interesting and makes you want to find more about it. But I can see this being lost within the awards mix and the many other classic stories within its genre.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Exodus: Gods And Kings

2014 has been a notable year for biblical tales moving onto the big screen.
Earlier in the year, we saw Darren Aronofsky's vision of Noah, which I felt was an enjoyable experience and an interesting take on the classic tale.

Now, it is Ridley Scott showing us his portrayal of the story of Moses and Ramesys. As many film fans know, there was the impressive 50's classic The Ten Commandments. It stars Charlton Heston as Moses and Yul Brynner as Ramesys. It is seen as one of the best films of that decade and would definitely be a tough ask to even compete with it.

But like with Scott's version of Robin Hood, he is not too bothered about trying to beat a previous portrayal. He just wants his vision put onto the big screen for all to see.

When I originally heard about this, I had high expectations. But as it got released around the world, my anticipation levels were gradually moving down to something more satisfactory.

Capturing an "epic" seems quite hard these days compared to the golden era of epics in the 50s and 60's. With CGI doing most of the work, we do not seemed as amazed compared to the groundbreaking giant sets and the staggering amount of extras needed for various scenes from yesteryear.

We have an incredible opening set-piece that sets us up nicely for what is to come. However, the rest of the first half felt a bit slow for me. Thankfully it was not terrible, I just did not see anything new, different and even the stuff that has been done before was not even that exemplary.
Then, the second half manages to romp along really well and builds up you up nicely for the epic (yes epic) final act. Then just when I thought it was going to be a satisfying end, Scott then quickly brushes past a major moment of the story.
It felt to me that Scott did not want that moment as the centre-piece compared to its 1950's predecessor, and yet he still put it in the film. If you know the story, then you can imagine what I am talking about. So if Scott brushed over it, then I think he should not have included at all.

Despite its many problems, I did feel entertained in the end. I know there are articles of people complaining about the all white cast. 'The Ten Commandments' did that, and I don't recall them having problems with the critics.
However, one casting choice baffled me completely. It involves Sigourney Weaver's character who felt totally uninvolved, had a couple of uninteresting lines and occasionally had her face on screen just to remind everyone that she is there.
The only reason that she is in that I can think of is Sigourney's past ventures with Scott.

As for the other performances, Christian Bale did as well as expected. It was a great transformation that by the end of it, you knew him as Moses rather than the guy from The Dark Knight films.
Joel Edgerton was good as Ramesys, but I felt there could have been more interesting development. Ben Kingsley contributes as well as Kingsley can only do. A bit like Weaver, there was an odd choice in the form of John Turturro. I could not take him seriously at all, because of his previous work. But thankfully, we do not see him for long so that did not distract me from the main story.

A lot of fans will probably be expecting another Gladiator. But believe me, it is hard to replicate let alone out do a film like that.
This is a bit more mainstream by Scott's standards. There is enough epic moments in there to amaze you, but it does not manage to make you forget the problems it has. The big highlight was the bit everyone is waiting for and thankfully it does not disappoint. It really made me go "wow" and made me think better of the film that saw everything else seem pretty average.
The special effects were tip-top in the right places. But in the rest of the film, it did not have enough heft that it needs for a story such as this.
It is definitely not one that will be remembered for years to come, but there is enough in there to hold its ground and I would still recommend it just for a couple of its major set pieces.

Rating: 7/10

My Top 10: Ridley Scott Films

Known for his directors cuts and interesting subject matter, Ridley Scott has got a pretty impressive back catalogue.

For about 40 years, Scott has always given us interesting stories. From period pieces, to space epics, Scott has had his moments of creating masterpieces, but has also made some that he seemed to not quite get across to the audience.

One thing that Scott has being doing that last few years is make his own vision of well known stories. With Robin Hood and Exodus: Gods And Kings out to own and a re-telling on the David vs Goliath story on the way, Scott is definitely stamping his mark on various myths and biblical tales.

Out of the 29 films that Scott has directed, I have seen all but 6 of them, including films such as Matchstick Men.
Below are my rankings for the films that I have seen not to make my top ten.

23) The Counsellor
22) Exodus: Gods & Kings
21) Someone To Watch Over Me
20) Robin Hood
19) Legend
18) Alien: Covenant
17) Prometheus
16) Hannibal
15) The Duellists

14) House Of Gucci
13) Body Of Lies
12) Napoleon

11) The Last Duel

But for now, here is my top 10. Enjoy:

10) A Good Year - A bit of an odd turn of events for Scott, but he manages to make a rare rom-com that I actually like and would happily own.

It sees Russell Crowe play a stockbroker inherent his uncle's vineyard in the south of France.

While renovating the site, he notices a lifestyle that he could get used to.

9) Thelma & Louise - Finally got round to seeing this in 2016. Now I can see why this is seen as a classic. It is a fun and highly enjoyable road movie.

Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon are a great duo and their chemistry works so well.

There is also nice surprise minor role from a young Brad Pitt.

8) All The Money In The World - An exciting thriller based on the true story of the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III. The grandson of notorious American rich-man John Paul Getty.

A stellar cast with top performances by Christopher Plummer, Michelle Williams and Mark Wahlberg gives us wonderful look at how rich men think and live.

It is almost a real-life Citizen Kane, but with a kidnapping taking place in the middle of it.

7) The Martian - Scott takes us back to the stars as Matt Damon stars as an astronaut stranded on Mars after being presumed dead during a mission.
His new mission is to survive until a rescue mission comes to bring him home. It is highly enjoyable with a surprising upbeat tone.

Based on the popular nove by Andy Weir, Scott gives us a terrific portrayal of this space adventure.

6) Black Hawk Down - One of the most popular films of the year of its release (2001), this romping war thriller hits all the right notes when wanting a good time.
A group of elite US soldiers see themselves in Somalia a country that is heavily-armed and highly dangerous.

5) Kingdom Of Heaven - A modern epic that tells a tale bravery and leadership during the crusades in 12th century Jerusalem.

One man (played by Orlando Bloom) seems to find himself as the defender of the people. This film takes you on an incredible journey and makes the most of the word 'epic' that films from the 50's would be proud of.

4) American Gangster - It's America in the 1970's and a detective is trying to bring down a Manhattan drug lord.
There are terrific performances from Denzel Washington and Josh Brolin.

The whole viewing experience has a great vintage feel to it and transport straight back to the gritty nature of crime dramas from the 1970's.

3) Alien - The film that saw Scott become a big name in film directing.

I and many others see this as a masterpiece. It is also a huge landmark for the sci-fi and even horror genre.

There are so many groundbreaking moments in this film that you just have to see it to believe it.

2) Blade Runner - After not getting a lot of praise on its initial release, this 80's cult classic has become one of the few films to be seen as iconic over a period of time.

Harrison Ford plays Deckard, a blade runner that must eliminate four beings known as replicants, who have returned to Earth to find their creator.

1) Gladiator - The 2001 Best Picture winner and Scott's most successful film in terms of collecting major awards.

It tells the story of a Roman general who is betrayed and ends up as a gladiator to seek revenge.

This will stand the test of time and become one of the greatest films of the 21st century.

Review: The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies

Well, here we go. Our final bit of Middle-Earth and it is up to old reliable himself Peter Jackson to give us one epic final battle.

Throughout the Hobbit saga, there has been a lot of doubt on Jackson if could stretch this short book into three pretty long features.
For me, I felt that he has managed to put in sensible additions, that help push the story along and gives us interesting sub-plots around the big picture.

However, for this one I think we finally saw Jackson having to scrape the barrel for those final few drops. Thankfully, that does not mean that I was disappointed by it. If there is one man that can stretch source material, it is Jackson. He would properly marry the books and grow old with them if he could.

It's definitely an ambitious one for Jackson to complete as like the others it has to stand-alone, be a fitting end to the trilogy and has to flow into The Lord Of The Rings.
We literally begin where we left off which is what I expected. Everything is setting us up nicely for the main event. To say that this film is one battle scene is an under-statement.
For people who want a well structured plot and development, this may frustrate you. But if you want battle scenes, then this is film for you and Peter Jackson knows how to orchestrate battles. There are many moments that honestly looked so beautiful, that they should be on a medieval tapestry.

Despite not this being a character-driven finale, there are still some notable performances Richard Armitage definitely shines in this film along with Martin Freeman. Their chemistry on-screen does hook you in and even makes you all emotional inside. Also, even though these are motion capture performances, I felt the performances by Manu Bennett and Lawrence Makoare gave us a great finale for the evil characters of Azog and Bolg.

I know I should not mention this as it does not need praising even more, but the visual effects were just glorious. Jackson's team are surely at the front of this technology and made everything look so breath-taking that really made me say "wow" in a deliberate way during the screening.
I have been picky in the previous two for these films to be far too digital-looking. But I think the effects seem to have improved and have that genuine feel about it.

Now, I'm afraid there are clear holes and negatives that I must mention. We got introduced to one new character that was quite pleasing, but we never saw what happened in the end which was a shame. We also got that with a few characters we have met before. It was frustrating as I know we would not see them in Lord Of The Rings.
Also, even though I was impressed with the battle itself, there were parts of it we never saw get settled. Jackson decided to concentrate too much on what was happening away from the battle.
As for the over-stretched scenes, this film definitely showed us why this franchise should have been two films. But what frustrated me the most is that I think Jackson stretched the wrong points. If he closed the gaps that I had mentioned before, I think this would still have flowed well like parts one and two managed to accomplish.

At the end, I was expecting to feel highly emotional as this was the last time we would see Middle-Earth on the big screen. But I think the abrupt and rushed ending for me meant that it just came and went. However, I did like the fitting song during the end credits.

I think after seeing all the over-stretched moments, I think it is the safe to say that this should have definitely have been two films. This will never be seen as a stand-alone film, unlike its sister trilogy. The best experience you will get from this trilogy is to watch it one go.

Despite that problem of opening too many doors and not closing enough, there are so many positives that mask the negatives to make this a fitting finale. But I can safely put this as the weakest of the franchise.
It was never going to emulate that same success Lord Of The Rings, but it has still been a highly enjoyable experience that continues to show how much Peter Jackson has elevated film-making.
I will never forget my cinema visit to watch The Fellowship Of The Ring. It is still to this day the best cinematic experience I have ever had. Like many, I have fallen for this world Jackson has put on from paper to the big screen. I love the source material and how Jackson has used it. There is no question he has changed the face of the fantasy genre and I do not think there will be another franchise like this.

Rating: 8/10

My Top 10: Film Trilogies

In an age where sequels and prequels are the big attraction for summer blockbusters, trilogies are coming in thick-and-fast and then shortly departing us after becoming a quadrilogy.

With many classics franchises such as Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Alien and many others not being eligible in this list, we are still left with an impressive list that I can guarantee will not remain the same.

Just missing is the Millenium trilogy. Sweden's gritty trilogy of the Millenium book series, Noomi Rapace stars as young computer hacker Lisbeth Salander.

After initially helping a journalist in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Salander is then involved in a crime that forces her to go on the run in The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest.

I had hoped to have watched other trilogies that I am longing to see, but sadly work has got the better of me lately.
But for the time being, here are my top 10 trilogies that are definitely essential viewing:

10) The Godfather - The life of a highly organised crime dynasty is one of the best praised trilogies.
We begin with an ageing leader (played by Marlon Brando) handing over duties to his son in an incredible opening feature.

Part II sees the son take control whilst seeing the young days of his father.

Despite Part III being seen as a disappointing finish, I still found it entertaining enough to close the story that sees the now ageing soon looking for a protege to take under his wing

9) Before - A romance trilogy is almost unheard of. But director Richard Linklater gives us a relationship that we want to know what happens next.
After the incredible success with Before Sunrise, nine years later sees them re-unite in Before Sunset. A further nine years sees what could very well be the final chapter in Before Midnight.
Romance is usually not my genre, but this is something special.

8) Three Flavours Cornetto - The loose trilogy by Edgar Wright featuring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost has become probably the best comedic trilogy of all-time.

It started with Shaun Of The Dead with a unique rob-zom-com story that showed us the level of clever comedy these three were achieving. It is so smart in just its comedy, but its story-telling and editing.
Then came another belter in the form of Hot Fuzz where the action is thrilling and the comedy is as good as ever with many other high British talent contributing.
The third chapter

7) The Hobbit - Peter Jackson's prequel to The Lord Of The Rings trilogy.
Despite the book being fairly short and not as dark, director Peter Jackson manages to stretch the source material to give us three fantastic installments of the tales of Bilbo Baggins.
After being appointed to a dangerous task, to exploring to edges of Middle-Earth we have never seen before.
If you loved Lord Of The Rings, get excited for more of the same.

6) The Matrix - Another trilogy that sees one part of the three elevate this franchise up higher then some people may think.
The Matrix began with the most eye-popping and ground-breaking action/sci-fi we have seen in a long time.
Despite Reloaded and Revolutions disappointing us, they are still essential to the story and is gripping entertainment. But this trilogy will forever be remembered for the introduction to this futuristic world.

5) Back To The Future - Robert Zemeckis' highly-entertaining and consistent trilogy of a professor and a teenage rebel going back and forward in time in a car is many peoples favorite.
Sounds crazy, but once you see it for the first time, you just want to watch the rest.

We go back to their own past, future and a past so-far back we see the beginnings of their families settle into the town of Hill Valley.
This is one trilogy that I pray does not get re-made.

4) Toy Story - Pixar's only trilogy that began with origins of the success of the studio itself.

Toy Story shows the adventures of a group of house-hold toys. We see new toys split the group, steal the owner's favorite and the toys being forced to move on to a new owner.

This franchise is special to me and millions of others. It is the perfect blend of action, comedy and emotional drama.

3) Dark Knight - From Tim Burton's gothic portrayal to Joel Schumacher's almost crucifixion of the franchise,. Christopher Nolan's visions not only saved the Batman franchise, but elevated it to a level that no-one thinks will be surpassed.
From training with The League Of Shadows, to saving crime-ridden Gotham, to facing-off against some of Gotham's craziest criminals.

This trilogy is quite extraordinary and gives a really realistic vision of what the world would be like with a character like Batman.

2) Dollars - Sergio Leone's unforgettable Spaghetti Western trilogy starring The Man With No Name played by the then un-known Clint Eastwood.
This trilogy sees the adventures of a wandering gunfighter.

You see him star a war in a town consisting of two rival families, teaming up with a fellow bounty hunter to catch a outlaw and the search for buried treasure with two other gunmen in hot pursuit.

1) The Lord Of The Rings - Director Peter Jackson gives the vision of J.R.R Tolkien novels that we have all been wanting.
The Lord Of The Rings trilogy sees an unlikely fellowship journey with their enemies most prized obsession and going into the lion's den to find the only place it can be destroyed.

It has mythical creatures, breath-taking landscapes and some of the best battle scenes in film history.
It's ground-breaking visual effects, countless memorable characters and scenes makes this is the perfect trilogy and well deserving of its many Oscars.

My Top 10: Jude Law Films

For me, Jude Law has never been an impressive lead, but a better at doing the supportive role.

Always been a big name in the world of acting, but I have always seen as a bit over-rated, but when he shines it never really gets praised enough.

From his breakthrough in 1997, Law has become a household name. His career highlights have been three Golden Globe nominations, two Oscar nominations and a BAFTA win all in films that have ended up in my top ten.

All of the films in this list are worth watching. They do include two films that are in my top-100 of all-time and one that used to be in there.

Out of his 60 films, I have only seen 28 of them.

28) Peter Pan & Wendy
27) The Holiday
26) Anna Karenina
25) Repo Man
24) All The King's Men
23) Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald

22) Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore
21) Captain Marvel
20) Black Sea
19) eXistenZ
18) A Series Of Unfortunate Events
17) Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows
16) Rise Of The Guardians
15) Sherlock Holmes
14) Alfie
13) Spy
12) Contagion
11) Side Effects

10) Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow - Did not get the praise it deserved in my opinion. This wonderfully old-school feel adventure sees Law as the dashing Sky Captain, the best pilot in the business.
With the help of a tenacious reporter, they are in search of missing scientists.
What they find is something they could not have imagined in their wildest dreams. This is great fun.

9) Road To Perdition - When a son witnesses what his father does for a living, their loyalty is put to the test.

With Tom Hanks leading the way, Law plays a minor role.

Law plays a crime scene photographer who also has another profession that he does not want many people to know about.



8) Enemy At The Gates - A wonderfully tense war thriller that sees a Russian and German sniper go head-to-head in the middle of the battle of Stalingrad.

With Law up against Ed Harris, there troubled characters hooks us in to an terrific battle of the best sharp-shooters in Europe.

7) The Aviator - One of Martin Scorsese's most under-rated features that shows the life of troubled director Howard Hughes.
With Leonardo DiCaprito leading the way as Hughes, we see Law play the icon himself Errol Flynn.
An character who has been a big part of my childhood, I can easily appeal to Law's character. Also, the history shown within this film really gives us an interesting vision of the film business from the 1920's-40's.

6) Cold Mountain - Winner of one Oscar nomination and one of Law's nominated roles as a Civil War soldier making a dangerous back home from war to be with his sweetheart.
From the eye-catching opening scene to the well developed story, this was definitely a big film in the year it was released (2003).

Check out also Renee Zellwegger's Oscar winning performance.

5) The Talented Mr. Ripley - The film that made Jude Law the poster boy of the late 1990's.
Based on successful novel, Law plays millionaire playboy Dickie Greenleaf.

But when a young achiever Tom Ripley (played by Matt Damon) comes searching for him in Italy to take him back to America, Greenlead's relationship with his girlfriend (played by Gwyneth Paltrow) and his life are in danger with an unpredictable Ripley on the scene.

4) The Grand Budapest Hotel - A small role for Law in this one, but an important that sets us up for the wonderful latest installment by director Wes Anderson.
His usual quirkiness is there. But it seems, this is his masterpiece and everything has come together.
With a star-studded cast, get ready for something quite bonkers but consistently hilarious.

3) Gattaca - This could well be one of the most under-rated films of all-time.
Despite recently leaving my top 100 films of all-time, it is still an unforgettable viewing experience.
In a world where your genes sets that path you live, one inferior man takes the identity of another man to pursue his lifelong dream of space travel.
Law plays the now disabled Olympic swimmer Jerome Morrow who helps Ethan Hawk's character of living his dream.

2) Hugo - My film of 2011 and a more family friendly feature from Martin Scorsese.
Set in 1930's Paris, an orphan boy working the clocks in a railway station stumbles upon a mystery that will change his and many others lives forever.
It is utterly charming and is a wonderful family adventure that explores the world of early film-making.
Law plays the father of the orphan boy.

1) A.I. Atrificial Intelligence - Director Steven Spielberg gives us a sci-fi version of the classic Pinocchio story.
A young robotic boy is longing to become human and is on the path for his own 'Blue Fairy'. With the help of a robot that is programmed as a male prostitute a.k.a Gigolo Joe (player by Jude Law), the young robot embarks on an epic journey in a world where robots and human on the brink of war.
Law ends up with a Golden Globe nomination as Joe.
It is near-perfect and one of Spielberg's best.

Review: Black Sea

Films set on a submarine come few and far between. But there are enough films within this subgenre to recommend.
From the star studded The Hunt For Red October and Crimson Tide, to one of the best foreign language films of all time, Das Boot.

We now have a British made thriller directed by Kevin Macdonald. The Scotsman is mainly known for directing documentaries that include the terrific Touching The Void. However, he has moments of doing feature films where his biggest achievement came from the Oscar-winning The Last King Of Scotland.

What I got from it was a feeling of a tense modern pirate thriller that definitely makes sure the viewer feels the claustrophobic nature of a submarine.
The opening third really gets you into all the characters well and that sets us up nicely for the rest of the film. You can therefore care for them and so the only thing missing is to see how thrilling it can get.
For the rest of the film, there are very tense moments that include one terrific set-piece that is probably the film's golden moment. As we geared up for the final moments, the tension had got me fidgeting in my seat and by the time the credits rolled I felt thoroughly satisfied of how everything ended.

Big positives are the character development, its striking visuals, levels of tension and several performances.
There was a whole bunch of characters you could get involved with. Whether their intentions are good or bad, you can easily not get mixed up with any member of the submarine crew.
Macdonald made great use of the claustrophobic nature of submarine life. However, his most defining moment in the film takes place outside of the sub which felt quite haunting.
All the performances all felt solid at least and some were above average. However, I really liked Jude Law's performance. Playing a man from Aberdeen meant a verdict on how his accent is. I felt it was consistent and pretty good. It felt genuine and really gave his character enough presence to be engrossing viewing.
One positive that I do not feel will get enough recognition will be the soundtrack. It's old fashioned nature gave the film a real buzz and was an essential asset.

For the negatives, I felt the script felt a bit basic which was a shame as I felt it could have really made the tension over-flow. This did not mean it was bad, I just felt that there this was a missed opportunity on giving the film the depth it deserved to have.

So despite the lack of depth and occasional low-key feel to it, I felt fairly satisfied with this. You can see the director made the most of the life in a sub to make it an immersive experience.
Some people may think that Macdonald's interests in the inside of the sub may have distracted him from giving the film depth, but I think there is more than enough to like and make you feel tense at the right moments.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Get On Up

Recent musician biopics seem to be really well made.
From the highly enjoyable Walk The Line, to the emotional Ray, we now have the king of soul James Brown taking centre stage.

I would not call myself a fan of his work, but I have huge respect for the guy and I am always impressed by his live performances from yesteryear.

As for the film, we probably have got the best portrayal possible of Brown played by the ever-emerging Chadwick Boseman. With a great career ahead of him, he could well have already given his best performance. In this film, we get the chance to see a controversial character who paved the way for basically every musician. Like many celebrities, he has many demons and conflicts during his professional career. I was expecting something as gritty as Ray and as enjoyable and energetic as James Brown himself.

I definitely got half of that. As for the a well structured story with true emotion, I felt as if I was missing something crucial.
As mentioned before, Boseman clearly holds this film together. The physical aspect of Brown is a big attraction. Whenever there is a concert moment in the film, all you can do is be highly impressed by Boseman's presence on screen. His explosive performances on stage really shows you how hard he has worked to portray this music legend.
Sadly two big problems was the lack of story structure and the editing. It felt hard to create any sort of flow or tempo. It felt more like you were dipping in and out of a collection of episodes in the wrong order. The whole pace of the film kept being stuck in first gear to be honest.

Thankfully, the performances and look of it still manages to make it a solid and respectable romp. You will definitely learn a lot about who Brown is, how important he was and the inspiration he gave to people. We see his tough upbringing, his rise in stardom and the flawed characteristics. The concert moments are the big highlight, but the unexpected jumps between different moments of his life will leave you frustrated.
Lots of potential that sadly did not hit a lot of the right spots. But Boseman's performance is enough to see this on the big screen.

Rating: 7/10

Review: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

One of the highest grossing franchises of all-time returns. After a hugely successful sequel with Catching Fire, we are now back in the world of Panem and the adventures of Katniss Everdeen continues.

I think it is safe to say that the Hunger Games themselves are now over and we are now beginning the war with the rebels and the capital.

After hearing that the final book is disappointing, I had my doubts that the film may also be unable to match my expectations.
However, I felt that the first part of Mockingjay had succeeded in many areas.

One big positive for me was that I was able to enjoy my viewing experience even without an actual Hunger Games. With a film mainly involving build-up for the final installment, it got me hooked and interested to the very end.
It is definitely very different to the previous two. From what I saw in part 1, this final part definitely should not have been split in two parts. But for what it was, it got me psyched for part 2.

I can see a lot of people being possibly bored by it as nothing major happens. But what I will say to defend it, is that we get to see the political side of The Hunger Games. The content is highly interesting, there are some great set-pieces and the final act is pretty tense and it ends with a surprising finale.

As with all Hunger Games films, Jennifer Lawrence is made for her role as Katniss Everdeen. Now the face of the rebellion front, Lawrence definitely brings her A-game by bringing out every type of emotion and really makes it feel real.
A lot of scenes kept me on edge thanks to Lawrence's performance and her relationship with all the supporting cast.
Donald Sutherland is back with another chilling performance as President Snow, the late great Phillip Seymour Hoffman gave us another reason to miss him with a memorable performance, Woody Harrelson and Elizabeth Banks gives us some nice light relief as Haymitch and Effie. As for some of the new characters, I found Natalie Dormer to be a solid stand out. After her success on TV with Game Of Thrones, she will definitely get a lot of great chances in the future.
One nice surprise in the film was a cast member from the Mighty Ducks franchise which gave me a huge inspiration for what my life has become. So for fans of those films, except something to be really excited about.

Overall, I felt that even with not a lot to work with, they nailed it for me. With all of its emotional and gripping moments, it made me remember me how enjoyable this franchise is. It may be lacking in action, but it adds in its character drama which managed to win me over. It even got me having goosebumps for one scene which is high praise from me.
I found it hard to pick apart major negatives. It is definitely a slow burner, but it sets you up beautifully. I think once I see part 2, it will definitely look better as one film rather than two parts.
This is definitely one of the most intense franchises around. For those people complaining about it, then I suggest watching this and part 2 back-to-back next November and you will agree that it is a great companion piece.

Rating: 7/10

Review: The Imitation Game

In the last few years, the bog-standard best film nomination for the Oscars is usually involving a emotional drama based on a true story.

In 2014, we have this years attempt with The Imitation Game. Based on the true story of Alan Turing, the man who cracked the Nazi enigma code during World War II.

Directed by Morten Tyldum who has previously made films in his native language of Norwegian He has now fledged the nest to make blockbusters with a wider appeal to the big money-making market. He has created a methodical look to the life of Alan Turing before, during and after the war.

Throughout the film, we get a well structured and precisely made story about the ultimate un-sung hero of World War II. This tribute to his achievements will make people realise how much of an influence he has made to today's technology.

Whenever someone asks about The Imitation Game, you will instantly begin with the performance of Benedict Cumberbatch as Turing. His performance really shows us Turing's clinical, precise and surprisingly witty focus to achieve the impossible and crack the unbreakable enigma code.
His lack of social skills really shows when he asked to be part of a team when cracking the code, and we start to see the struggles this man has had in the past and eventually has after the war.

But what Cumberbatch manages to show that we did not know, was Turing's compassion for a few notable colleagues and his knowledge of love and relationships during the film that manages to be the key in winning the war.

For the performances, the entire supporting cast contributes when needed. Keira Knightley gives us her most refreshing performance for some time. Mark Strong remains a daunting screen presence, and we get an unbelievable debut performance from youngster Alex Lawther who plays Turing during his school days.
It is as if we are watching a younger Cumberbatch. The characteristics and mannerisms of Cumberbatch's are spot on and in many ways steals the show from Benedict's nose.

As for the rest of the film structure, the screenplay is well crafted and gives us enough depth to appreciate his achievements whilst portraying other interesting aspects to Turing's life. The pace is a romping one where I never felt bored.
The visual effects were satisfactory, but thankfully this is not a film dependent on its CGI. The setting looks perfectly fine for a film like this and the intensity is given out at the right times.

I can confidently say that this will get universal praise. It ticks all the right boxes in terms getting noticed in the awards season and it plays to the widest audience possible.
Cumberbatch definitely delivers his best big screen performance and is a sure-fire candidate for a Best Actor nomination. Whether he can win it or not, we will have to wait and see as there are hints of superior performances coming up in January.

The supporting cast contribute nicely, especially Mark Strong and the incredible Alex Lawther. The story is engaging, memorable, touching and it involves a character that deserves the recognition he never got when he was alive. This film is bringing the story of Alan Turing to the masses. I am in full support of it and I can see a lot of others doing the same.

Rating: 8/10

Review: The Drop

It is not often that a trailer has mislead me in my expectations for the worst. However, The Drop has managed to do that.

For many people, they are going to see this for James Gandolfini's last performance.
For others it will be the interesting trailer and Tom Hardy's performance.

I was looking a bit of both, but mainly the latter. Directed by Michael Roskam who is mainly known for directing the pretty solid Oscar nominated Bullhead, the trailer suggests a really gritty crime thriller with intense performances and a killer twist.

For most of the film, I had the sense that we were on the verge of a tense feature. But sadly, it was constantly in the development stage and kept stalling right up to the hugely disappointment ending.

Thankfully, this film does have its redeeming features. This is solely thanks to the performances. Lead by Tom Hardy who is becoming one of the big attractions in the film industry. He definitely keeps you interested, and the supporting cast gave us a lot of potential.
Gandolfini gives us a fine farewell and manages to trump the rest of the cast. There is one scene where I was actually engrossed in the film and felt like the perfect send-off for a career that I saw very little of.
Another performance that was interesting enough to save the film was Matthias Schoenarts who lead Roskam's previous installment Bullhead. His performance actually could have been improved if his character was given more development. As for Noomi Rapace, her best is still from the Millenium trilogy most notably in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. I still feel her best performance in an American film is still yet to come.

My final thought is that I feel the director was trying to make a modern 'Mean Streets'. I am afraid to say that he failed to achieve this. It felt like a short story that was forgotten to be given any development to move on to the next stage. The movie was constantly in first gear. But like I said, the saving grace is the performances. Tom Hardy gave us a sympathetic character that we could root for, Gandolfini's swan song stole the show especially in one defining scene, Rapace was solid and Schoenaerts was gritty and cold. But sadly, none of them was given enough story to develop their characters. For me, it is a failure. But luckily, it still gets a respectable score due to the potential it showed from their actors and it at least it had basic solid structure to it.

Rating: 7/10 

Review: Interstellar

Well, here we are. Many peoples and my most anticipated film of the year.

With Director Christopher Nolan leading the way, we are surely in for something completely different.
The best thing about Nolan, is that his films have stories that we do not ask for and yet they are ones that we need.

With this latest installment, we see Nolan take us to the stars and beyond our own galaxy. The Dark Knight director explores the use of space and time, and not just in our world.

What we get is something seen as more of an event then a feature film.

Firstly, the film may be approaching three hours, but it in no way does it feel like that whatsoever. I was never bored and was totally gripped by the story from the opening scene to the closing credits.
But like with all Nolan features, you cannot lose concentration and highly recommend not to take a toilet break during your visit to the cinema.

As we get to know the situation Earth is facing, we are involved in a story that sees the human race push themselves to the limit of survival.
With the story cranking up more and more across the galaxies, it perfectly sets us up for a finale that will sell the film.
However, the conclusion that Nolan gave was something that will divide audiences, just like 2001: A Space Odyseey did in the 1960's. What I saw, I got and hopefully understood. But it was definitely not the ending I was expectng or perhaps wanting.
One thing that the final part of the movie that it resembled was one of the Doctor Who series finales. I won't say which one as that would spoil it. But it is something that will definitely make or break the film when putting it with other great sci-fi's.

Despite that, the positives for this film are at a high-level and are over-flowing.
Nolan always brings out the best in his actors. Matthew McConaughey's character is great and is an emotional core to the film. However, it is Mackenzie Foy that steals the show as her relationship with McConaughey wins us over in the first half of the film.
As the film goes on, the performances of Jessica Chastasin and Anne Hathaway gives it more depth. There was one great minor role that definitely surprised me, not just in the performance but on who was doing the performing. I obviously will not spoil that surprise.
The script is always Nolan's centre-piece. Always containing complex theories, this is certainly not one to leave your mind at home for.
One positive that I was not expecting to be a notable one, was the soundtrack. Composed by Nolan's regular music writer Hans Zimmer. The introduction to a creepy organ really gives the film the right amount of tension at the crucial moments. I will certainly be listening to the full score multiple times.
The element of the film that will get the highest praise is its visuals. With beautiful and mysterious events in space engulfing the screen, there will be many moments that will literally be jaw-dropping.

So even with the final act not exactly going the way I think it should have done, I still think Nolan has amazed us once again. His level of ideas remain at the top of the directing pyramid and I'm not saying that as a Nolan fanboy.
Interstellar can bring fans of sci-fi and romance together. This film may been on the surface as a sci-fi epic, but also the importance of love within a family and how far humanity can go. Nolan has produced a tribute to humankind's works and achievements since our evolution breakthrough thousands of years ago.
With a story that will be discussed for years to come, in front of a backdrop that is just awe-inspiring whilst a chilling soundtrack is being played. This is certainly Nolan's attempt of a masterpiece. For me, it falls slightly short of the perfect Inception in my opinion, but you just have to give credit where its due for its high level of ambition.

Rating: 9/10.