Review: T2 Trainspotting

Sequels long after its original is always risky business. Especially one that I did not think needed it.
But director Danny Boyle is back with a follow-up to one of the most influential British films of all-time.

I had only seen Trainspotting for the first time several years ago. I remember being quite impressed by it, despite me never going nuts for drug-related films. I was more interested by the style of film-making and well developed characters. It also contain one of the most distressing scenes I have seen in any film.

21 years later, and now we see where the lads are now. I saw the trailer to see if it's going to be worth it, and I was surprised how good it looked. Some of the dialogue I was hearing sounded like we were instantly back in this mad environment. With the trailer doing plenty to get me intrigued, I had pretty solid hopes for a worth sequel.

Amazingly, I felt it managed to all come together. For something that I'm sure Boyle holds very dearly to his heart, you would expect him to never go near this work again. Especially when he has never done a sequel before. But we are now here, and I think everyone did a grand job.
I did not get the sense that the makers made this for an easy box office return. I felt it was there to be an actual follow-up to the events from 1996, which is fantastic to see.
The tone is definitely being aimed at the people who grew up with the original. With that in mind, it will be interesting to see how it works to the generation that are of the age the cast were in the original, and see if it can relate to a broad age range.

The gang are back, getting up to all sorts of crazy shenanigans, and all four of them were great in their performances. Honestly, it was like they had never left.

Ewan McGregor holds the film well as Renton, has many strong moments and you can tell he is enjoying getting back in the saddle. Roberty Carlyle continues to be as hilarious as Begbie was back in the day. Ewen Bremner as Spud shines the most for me, was given great development and became such a pivotal part of this sequel. I was really surprised to see Johnny Lee Miller give a great performance, as it is only recently that he has got back into movie acting after being busy with a TV series.

Another thing some sections of the audience like to see with sequels, is the level of nostalgia. The use of that and memory was cleverly done. It felt like it meant something, instead of just making us think "I'd rather be watching the original".

I have only very minor negatives. There were moments that felt a bit scattered at times and did not feel that well connected to the main story.

But in the end, I was not expecting this to be so enjoyable. Boyle and his done have done a great job by keeping this a down-to-earth story and making feel like it deserves a second installment.

I think what the films big strengths are, is what made the original so successful. The characters are still as memorable as ever, the writing is sharp and funny when needed, the visuals are engrossing and impactful, and the soundtrack is strong. They also managed to make the film worth seeing for people who haven't even seen the original, which was impressive to see.

When you think about it, a lot of Danny Boyle's work is about friendship, and this one is no different. I will continue to be excited for his next project, after making what will probably one of the big surprises of 2017. What a start to the year!

Rating: 8/10

Review: Hacksaw Ridge

With the amount of war films that have been made, you would think all the true stories that are filmworthy have been made?

Well, director Mel Gibson is back to tell another one, and it's quite an astonishing one when you see it on paper.
I was instantly excited to see this, as I like Gibson's work and war films, when they're done right. While I think his most successful film Braveheart is not as good as the Academy thought so back in 1995. I still think it is a pretty good film. I actually prefer a later project of his called Apocalypto. It does not get enough credit, and I hope people can discover that in build-up to see his latest feature.

It is safe to say that I was pretty impressed by it, and deserves all the awards recognition it is getting. The first act while solid, does get cheesy at times. But as soon as the action starts, boy does the film get very good and highly captivating. It is non-stop exciting and thrilling and the general feel of the film is extremely uplifting and inspiring.
It is an amazing true story in the some of the harshest environments known to man.

I loved the old school style of structuring and story-telling. It always puts me at ease. Also, it just goes to show that you don't have to be current to tell a story to modern audiences. It felt like I was watching a war film from the 1960's, but obviously with better budget and technology.

Andrew Garfield is terrific in this. He has been in two big films this year, and I think his performance in this was comfortably better then in 'Silence'. In terms of his best of all-time, I still think 'The Social Network' is just a fraction better.
Teresa Palmer was great in it, and her chemistry with Garfield really worked well.
There were a lot of surprising performances from Vince Vaughan, Sam Worthington and Luke Bracey. They were all great. With Vaughan not known for his serious roles except for in 'The Lost World: Jurassic Park', it was great to see him back in this zone. As for Worthington, he gets a lot of undeserved hate for his past work. Yes he's no Laurence Olivier, but I think he's perfectly fine. This was definitely one that took a few by surprise. I can definitely agree with Bracey not being that memorable. But the character he was playing definitely seemed to work for him. I hope this is the start of something big for that man.
Another performance that is worth mentioning is Hugo Weaving. This actor rarely gets mentioned anymore. It is easy to forget how great he has been in films like The Matrix trilogy, The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, Captain America: The First Avenger and two of my favourite films of all-time, Cloud Atlas and V For Vendetta.

The films strongest aspect is easily the action sequences. They are so on point. I have not seen such brutal battle scenes since Saving Private Ryan, and I am not exaggerating.
Mel Gibson has done another great job with this story. With Gibson directing, you should always expect him to never let up on the violence. I am fine with that, as it shows that are not concerned on appealing to the widest possible audience. As for the violence in the film, it felt true to the environment, and there are moments that are hard to look at.
Another thing you usually see in his films, is religion. I felt there was enough to not de-tract from the main story.

But sadly Gibson can over-the-top, and the violence does that at times for me. It is only a minor criticism, as the heavy majority of the violence is so well executed. Also, the ending felt a bit abrupt. I would have liked a more satisfying scene to end the movie.

It is great to see Gibson back directing again, and he is made another treasure for all of us to enjoy. There are plenty of great moments in this film that I will always look back on, including some incredibly tense moments towards the end. The performances are great, the action is some of the best I have seen from 2016 and the score works well with the visuals.
I know there are some people that are always curious as to how "true" these 'true story' films are. There is a bit at the very end that certainly cements the content you see on screen to not be 'Hollywoodized' at all.

Rating: 8/10

My Top 10: Most Anticipated Films Of 2017

It's been a bizarre year for movie in 2016. Most of the year was disappointing, especially for the blockbusters. Then it was only until towards of the end of the year where a hefty amount of really good films were being released.

So we are now in 2017, and hopes of some highly memorable blockbusters are extremely high. Especially when there are plenty of potential excellent ones scheduled for release within the next 12 months.

Before I mention some of my most anticipated films, I must mention some of the 2016 films that have yet to be released on my very own British shores. The remeaining 2016 films that I am still excited to see is Matthew McConaughey's latest film 'Gold', Jeff Nichol's newest feature 'Loving', the new Ang Lee film 'Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk', Oscar front-runner 'Fences', Ben Wheatley's newest project 'Free Fire', another Oscar contender 'Hidden Figures', 'The Founder' which shows the origins of McDonalds, powerful drama 'Christine', Paul Verhoeven's 'Elle', the new Gael Garcia Bernal drama 'Neruda', Chan-Wook Park's beautiful looking 'The Handmaiden', Jessica Chastain's 'Miss Sloane' and animation 'The Red Turtle', which is being co-produced by Studio Ghibli.
One other 2016 film I am unsure to see that is yet to be release is 'The Great Wall'. While it may look nice and contains Matt Damon. A part of me thinks this won't be that good at all.

Now I'm going into 2017. So far I have put pins in over 100 films. Whether those pins will stay there is another question. But for now, I will give a recap of films that have missed out in my top ten, but still deserve a mention.

I will begin with the first official 2017 film, and that is Danny Boyle's long awaited sequel to Trainspotting, 'T2: Trainspotting'. My most anticipated film that did not make my top 10 is Gore Verbinski strange and creepy looking 'A Cure For Wellness'. I'm not expecting much for the new 'Power Rangers' film. But as it was a big part of my childhood, I have to see what's what. I'm intrigued to see how the live-action re-make of 'Ghost In The Shell' goes. I really hope it gives the animated original justice. I would certainly consider looking at this potentially good looking thriller 'Unforgettable'. Despite the over emphasized news item on this particular film, I'm still going to see 'A Dog's Purpose'. 'The Circle' with Tom Hanks and Emma Watson looks interesting. As much as I am looking forward to another Pirates film, I'm not sure if 'Pirates Of The Caribbean: Salazar's Revenge' will be any good. But I will still go and see it, as I love the franchise.
These days, superhero films are becoming part of our everyday life. Some are not in my top 10 that I am still excited for is the good looking 'Wonder Woman', 'Spiderman: Homecoming' which hopefully begins a franchise worthy of the source material, Taika Waititi's 'Thor: Ragnarok' and 'Justice League' which could make or break many peoples belief in the DC Extended Universe worth paying money to see unfold.

Cars is back with a third installment, the cool sounding 'The Dark Tower' which is based on a Stephen King novel, Luc Besson's 'Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets' could be this generations The Fifth Element, Edgar Wright's new film 'Baby Driver', Doug Liman and Tom Curise are back together in 'American Made', a much deserved Kingsman sequel is coming out called 'Kingsman: The Golden Circle', we have a 'The Lego Ninjago Movie' being planned for a release which I am excited about and there is a new Tomas Alfredson film 'The Snowman' starring Michael Fassbender.
One film that I was thinking of gambling and putting in my top 10 despite no trailer being out yet, is an 'Untitled Cloverfield Antholoy Movie' in the work. I love both Cloverfield films, and another one makes me super-psyched. But I think a lack of info prevented to not quite get it in my top 10.
Films planned to be release towards the end of the year that I am likely to see are Paddington 2, Red Sparrow, Murder On The Orient Express, Coco, Darkest Hour, Jumanji, The Greatest Showman and an Untitled Disney Live-Action Fairy Tale,

Films are provisional set for 2017, but have yet to have a specific release date that sound interesting are Annihilation, Battle Of The Sexes, Mary And The Witch's Flower, Mary Magdalene, Patti Cake$, The Kidnapping Of Edgardo Mortara, Three Billboards Outside Of Ebbing Missouri, Untitled Darren Aronofsky Project, Untitled Detroit Project, Wind River, World War Z 2.

As you can see, there is plenty to enjoy in 2017. But here are the 10 that I am excited for the most at the start of 2017:

10) War For The Planet Of The Apes - After really enjoying 'Rise' and 'Dawn', the current Planet Of The Apes has exceeded many expectations.
With this one looking to flow into the original Planet Of The Apes, I am intrigued to see if this installment could make one of the best trilogies of recent times.

Release Date: July 14th

9) The Lego Batman Movie - I really enjoyed 'The Lego Movie', and it became one of the best and most popular films of 2014.

Now the most memorable character, is getting his own film. Will Arnett is back as the voice of Batman, and from what I've seen in the trailers, the style of comedy is similar to 'The Lego Movie'. Just take my money now!

Release Date: February 4th

8) Kong: Skull Island - I am always excited for any King Kong film, and this one is no exception.
With a stellar cast including the amazing Tom Hiddleston and Brie Larson and this being in the same universe as the latest Godzilla film. This could be a highly memorable blockbuster.

Release Date: March 10th

7) Logan - This film has been getting a lot of buzz. Mainly because of the extremely mature tone, and it could be the Wolverine film we have been longing to see.

Hugh Jackman's character has become special to him, and I am confident he will give it a huge send-off.

Release Date: March 1st

6) Beauty And The Beast - The next Disney live-action re-make. I have always been weary for re-makes. But after really enjoying Cinderella and The Jungle Book, I just can't resist going nuts for one of the most beloved Disney animations of all-time.

I loved it as a kid, and I am partly confident this will be another critical hit.

Release Date: March 17th

5) Alien: Covenant - After the mixed reviews of Prometheus, some momentum was lost within the Alien franchise.
Despite avoiding the trailers, I have heard many great things that has made me put it up this high. Especially with Ridley Scott aiming to make it more of a horror, like with the original Alien.

Release Date: May 19th

4) Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 - It became one of the highest grossing films of 2014, now director James Gunn returns the biggest band of misfits.
I will never get tired with the first GOTG, and the thought of a sequel makes me have a crisis downstairs. Yes, I am that excited.

Release Date: April 28th

3) Blade Runner 2049 - I had huge doubts with this one, as the original Blade Runner was so unique, that I knew the tone would be hard to be replicated (see what I did there) by anyone else.
But after seeing Arrival, I knew director Dennis Villeneuve was a safe pair of hands.
I haven't seen the trailer, but the images have me thinking we could have something special on our hands.

Release Date: October 6th

2) Dunkirk - I don't care what type of films it is, it is a new Christopher Nolan film.

His films have become events to me and many others. With this one being based on true events, especially with something so epic, I am excited to see what Nolan and his team can create.

Release Date: July 21st

1) Star Wars: The Last Jedi - You knew it was going to happen. After The Force Awakens, we are now in full swing of one Star Wars each year for the next few years.
Will this be similar to Empire Strikes Back as The Force Awakens was to A New Hope? We'll just have to see.
This might become a regular thing having a Star Wars film as my number one.

Release Date: December 15th

Review: Moonlight

During awards season, there are always a few films that end up having a long stint being shown at various film festivals, before it gets shown around the world.

This year, the main one seems to be Moonlight. A relatively unknown director in the form of Barry Jenkins, and bar Naomie Harris and Mahershala Ali, an unknown cast.

With all that in mind, the film must have made an impact to be considered as one of the front-runners in the major awards.

Now that I've seen it, the film is most certainly impactful in both its story and execution. With the story being a difficult one to tell, Jenkins and his team manages to tell it in such a way that makes it raw and visceral.
What I liked about it the most was a lot of the film feeling so real, that it was almost like watching a Richard Linklater film. Speaking of Linklater, seeing Moonlight reminds of Boyhood. This could be a nice companion piece to Linklater's ground-breaking coming-of-age drama.

All the performances were very good. In terms of awards recognition, it is hard to see who deserves to get a nomination in my opinion. Due to the structure of the film, I felt there was not enough screen time for most of the cast. The only one that I felt I could give a nomination to is Naomie Harris, who was very strong and haunting throughout this film.
But I have to give huge props to Alex R. Hibbert, Mahershala Ali, Ashton Sanders, Trevante Rhodes, Jharrel Jerome and Andre Holland.

Everything done from the technical side is so so good. It is beautifully shot, the general colour scheme fits the tone really well and the soundtrack is moving and dramatic at the right times.

The only gripes I had with the film, was the pacing. It was a bit too slow for me most of the time, and that was testing my interest. While some slow moments felt necessary, other parts did not feel right.

Despite all it's praise I have given it, I would call this film an 'important film' more than anything else. It is very well made, from the structure to its executions, the performances are great, the emotion is well played, I love how atmospheric the score is and the story is intriguing and topical.
But sadly, I was only appreciating it instead of loving it. While I can't ignore its terrific craftmanship, I cannot see myself watching this again. It's re-watchability I think will be poor, and it could slowly be forgotten over time.
Also, I think the general mainstream audience will struggle to get into this film and truly appreciate it. The pacing is slow, and the topic its covering appeals very little to the casual film-goer.

That being said, important films should always be highly recommended and you should definitely go and see it. It just maybe the only time you watch it.

Rating: 8/10

Review: Jackie

When done right, movies about historical figures or moments usually gone down well with both critics and audiences. They also fair well within the awards season. Recent examples would be Lincoln, The King's Speech and Selma.

With Jackie, I have been eager to see this for some time as I have always been fascinated by the JFK incident, and the aftermath from it.
With the Cold War still going on, the whole country were so tense of any speculation, and it was interesting to see who would make the next move.

I was also excited to see this because of Pablo Larrain directing this, and Natalie Portman playing Jackie Kennedy. Sadly, the only film I have seen from Larrain is 'No' and I thought it was very good. As for Portman, she is one of my favourite female actors around today. Even without being in my number one film of all-time V For Vendetta, she has also done some great work in Black Swan, Leon and the hugely under-rated Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium.

Well, I certainly got a really good film. But I did not think it would be that impactful. From the opening scene, I could already feel the atmosphere the film was going for, and I was liking it a lot.

I have to go straight to the performances, because Portman is just absolutely stunning in this. Is it clearly her best performance since Black Swan. She really transforms herself into the First Lady, and it really surprised how influential she was during and after her husband's presidency. She definitely deserves another Oscar. It is always with these types of roles. It could have been a half arsed attempt at an impression. But I truly believe that she completely turn into Jackie Kennedy right in front of us.
Peter Sarsgaard was a really nice surprise in his role as Bobby Kennedy. He didn't steal the show. But it was certainly a memorable performance and seemed to play a pivotal part in making this film so gripping. There were also some solid supporting roles by Greta Gerwig, John Hurt, Billy Crudup and an almost unrecognisable Richard E. Grant.

I was really impressed with the cinematography by Stephane Fontaine. I would like to find out what type of camera they used, as it had a genuine 1960's look to it. I also loved the constant close-ups, which reminded me of The King's Speech. It felt really intimate, and as if you should not be that close to something so personal and distressing.
It also looks phenomenal. Even without the camera making it look like that time period, the sets and costumes did enough justice. Honestly, it was like watching a documentary.
The score by Mica Levi is incredibly haunting and is used heavily throughout. I will never forget her work for the score of Under The Skin, and this is as memorable.
Also, the writing was pretty solid, whilst also being really strong in certain moments.

Next to no negatives to mention. But if I was being picky, there were moments in the second half that felt like a lull. But like I said, it is a very minor thing.

I think it is safe to say that I really enjoyed it. This is a very good character study, that goes into quite some depth of one of the most famous women of 20th century America.
So if you're going into the film expecting an investigation of the famous assassination, don't. However, the execution of the assassination that we all know about, is done so well. Even though you know what is going to happen, just being so close to the action was really captivating.

When I like certain bits of history, I am always interested to learn more, and this was one of them. There was plenty in this film that became news to me as I was seeing it. I liked many of the aspects that they show and how America was at that time, and how big of a chance was this particular era in American presidency.

Definitely go and see it for Portman's performance and if you have always been interested in this story.

Rating: 8/10

Review: Lion

As well we are well into January, that means more and more of the Oscar contenders are merging onto British shores.

It is always an interesting time of year from film releases in the UK. There is always a nice mix of the big film-makers and the independent ones.

This particular film seems to be a bit of both. While it is a directorial debut and the film-makers seem to be independent based, the cast is pretty stellar.

I must say, that for a directorial debut, you would think director Garth Davis had been doing this for years. It is a terrific piece of work in what is a very emotional true story.
I wasn't really sure what to expect from this, and the first act manages to grip you pretty much straight away. One thing that surprised me was the heavy use of visual story-telling. That seemed to be a masterful stroke, and I wish more films did that as it shows how powerful the silent films were at story-telling.
There is a bit of a lull towards the second act. However, it still remained enjoyable enough by the time the emotional finale comes around.

While the cast has many big names, the start of the show is Indian youngster Sunny Pawar. He instantly shines from the opening scene and was nothing but phenomenal. In fact, I felt he carried the film much better then any of the seasoned pro's involved.
As for the big names Dev Patel is as versatile as ever, and Nicole Kidman gives strong added emotion when the second act arrives and it is probably her best performance in quite some time. Rooney Mara's presence is always a welcomed for me and the performance as is as good as it could have been. It was great to David Wenham on screen, as I feel he is not in enough film roles.

There are only a couple of things from the technical side that I wanted to mention. The cinematography is fantastic. With a lot of the film shot in India, it really does not spare any expense. While it may show some dark truths of India, it is still shot so beautifully.
Also the score by Dustin O'Hallaran and Hauschka was well suited to the tone of the film.

The only negative I had with it as the lull in the second half that I mentioned earlier. It does gradually lose steam and at times becomes a big corporate message for a particular product. But thankfully, it still did enough for me to still really enjoy it.

I was very impressed with this feature, and I can now see why it is likely to be lined up within the Best Picture nominations at this years Oscars.  I must mention how great Pawar is again. He is probably the strongest image you will have stuck in your head after seeing this.
The story is the stuff film-makers dream of, the performances are consistently strong, the visuals are both beautiful and emotional and the whole experience is suitable for families.
I was amazed to see that this was rated PG. After seeing the film, I can see why. It would be great to see kids go and see it, as I think they could learn a lot from this film. However, I must warn parents as I feel it is only aimed for older kids as there are many dark and emotional moments.

To see this as his directing debut is staggering. I am now excited to see what Davis does with his next feature, which is apparently the story of Mary Magdalene.

There is a very good song in the credits, and it is being sung by Sia. 2016 has certainly been a busy year for her as she as also done end credit songs for The Neon Demon and Finding Dory. There are also some touching images being shown during those end credits, and it is worth staying for.

Rating: 8/10

My Top 10: Jim Carrey Films

People from my generation practically grew up with Jim Carrey. His outrageous acting in comedies made him on of the most popular actors around in the 90's. But he also done some dramatic roles that are high up in my greatest of all-time.

Sadly, it has been a while since he has done a good performance or been in a good movie. But I still think we should celebrate the legacy he has left from his work from the mid 90's to the mid 00's.

Out of his 41 films, I have seen 22 of them. I will rank all of the ones that I have seen and give a short review for each of my top 10:

22) Dumb And Dumber To
21) Batman Forever
20) Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
19) The Cable Guy
19) The Dead Pool
17) The Number 23
16) Horton Hears A Who!
15) A Christmas Carol
14) Me, Myself & Irene
13) A Series Of Unfortunate Events
12) Kick-Ass 2
11) I Love You Phillip Morris

10) The Mask - A pretty popular film back in the day when I was a kid.

Carrey plays a lonely bank clerk who finds a mysterious mask that completely changes his life.

It's good fun and has the unforgettable film debut by a extremely sexy Cameron Diaz.

9) Yes Man - A comedy that I was not expecting to like this much.

It sees Carrey's character be challenged by an old friend to say 'yes' to everything for an entire year to see if he has a better life.

Carrey's on-screen chemistry with Zooey Deschanel as well as Rhys Darby keeps the film moving and becomes a very pleasant and fun comedy.

8) How The Grinch Stole Christmas - Ron Howard's massively budgeted fantasy about the famous story of the Grinch.

Even behind the prosthetics, Carrey still gives another memorable performance.

It is a fun Christmas film filled with plenty of laughs and should be a permanent fixture in your holiday season viewing.

7) Liar Liar - One of his most popular films, and definitely a big guilty pleasure of mine.

Carrey plays a lawyer who cannot lie for an entire day after his son's birthday wish came true.

No matter how many times I have times I have seen this, it still makes me laugh hard.

It also contains what I think is the best out-takes segment of all-time during the end credits.

6) Bruce Almighty - Another enjoyable fantasy comedy in which Carrey plays an under-achieving news reporter who believes there is no God.

That is until God himself (played by Morgan Freeman) gives Carrey his powers to show how difficult it is to run the world.

Lots of laughs and incredibly re-watchable.

5) Ace Ventura: Pet Detective - The film that showed everyone Carrey's power within the comedy genre.

A animal specialist detective in tasked in the search of a missing dolphin.

Carrey's unique style of acting gave this film such uniqueness and began a string of many more Carrey lead comedies for the next decade.

4) Dumb & Dumber - This constantly funny flick directed by the Farrelly brothers is seen as one of the best 90's comedies and a cult favourite.

Carrey teams up with Jeff Daniels in this hilarious road movie about two unintelligent friends who set out to return a briefcase full of money back to its owner.

It leads to multiple moments of general craziness.

3) Man On The Moon - The performance that Carrey himself said drove him mad, and no wonder, as it was renowned obscure comedian Andy Kaufman.

It gives you a fascinating insight into his agenda in life, and it becomes quite surreal for the most part.

The documentary 'Jim & Andy' about his transformation into Andy is a wonderful companion piece.

2) The Truman Show - One of Carrey few dramatic roles. But when he does one, it seems to be one of the best films of all-time.

It sees an insurance salesman discover that his entire life is a television show. The story was way ahead of its time, and it still feels ground-breaking today.

It manages to mix perfectly the drama and Carrey style comedy.

1) Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind - A unique romantic story that has become one of the most important films of the 21st century.

When a couples relationship gets sour, they undergo a new procedure that can erase specific memories, in this case, their relationship.

It's highly imaginative story and execution manages to work, and yet still manages to keep within its interior themes.

Review: Split

One director that certainly has the most polarizing back catalogue, is M. Night Shyamalan.
After his breakout and highly acclaimed hit in 1999 with The Sixth Sense, that peak has certainly been hard to match.

Despite that, he still made some pretty good features like Unbreakable in 2000 and Signs in 2002. The downfall then started to show a couple of years later with The Village which was a mixed bag in my eyes. Then he hit rock bottom with Lady In The Water, The Happening, The Last Airbender and After Earth. I personally think Lady In The Water and The Happening is ok. But I get the hate for them. After Earth is definitely not that good, and I have yet to see The Last Airbender. But I am excited to see how bad it is.

Then in 2015 he released The Visit, which began somewhat of a small rise as it got mixed reviews. In relation to his latest project, the fallout from the film festivals Shyamalan was showcasing it, was getting largely positive reviews. Hearing that, made me excited and yet still weary that it would not transcend well from the critics to the audiences views.

I'll answer the first question that everyone is asking, "Is Shyamalan back?". It is a big fat yes. It's as if the Shyamalan we loved and saw greats things in, has returned back into his body making great films again.
The premise is certainly one that would perk anyone's interest levels. But what Shyamalan manages to do, is managing to make go with this and I was pretty captivated by it.

This film is all about one man, James McAvoy. He is nothing but spectacular in this. I think he is one of the hardest working actors around at the moment, and every so often there is a stand-out that reminds everyone how good he really is. He gives this role 100% and really went for it. This suprasses his role in Filth, which I previously thought to be his best. It is a shame at the timing of the release of this film, as I truly believe this deserves an Oscar nomination.
As for the other performances, I was so happy to see Anya Taylor-Joy in another role as I have seen great potential in her after performances in The Witch and Morgan. Taylor-Joy continues to prove to me that she is the biggest young talent in the industry right now.
Another role that was worth mentioning is Betty Buckley. She plays her role really well. Her character manages to shine, even with McAvoy controlling the majority of the film.

One thing I was not expecting, was the solid amount of comedy. But when you think about, there is a strange amount of good comedy in his hits. When Shyamalan can do comedy well, it is highly memorable, and this films is no different.
From a technical side, the cinematography really works in the environment. Afterwards, I realised that it was the same cinematographer from It Follows. That certainly explains a lot. Also, score by West Dylan Thordson is wonderfully subtle and creepy for the most part.

The only negative that I had with it is just a minor. A couple of supporting characters felt a bit out of place at times. But I only really noticed it long after seeing the film.

I think it is safe to say that Shyamalan is back with this fun, tense and exciting horror thriller. I never thought I would have this much fun and enjoyment from an M. Night Shyamalan film ever again. I seriously hope this is not a one-off.
For me, this is his best film since Signs. When Shyamalan gets it right, he manages to make you want to see it again straight away. I think when you see it again, you will see it in a different light and the enjoyment will still be there.
I love the gamble Shyamalan and his team seemed to take. The way the story was told was as if he relied a lot on the audience to fully get the film themselves.
I'll echo my praise to McAvoy again. The more you understand his character, the more interesting, exciting and tense the entire film gets. Also, anytime when you think the film is slowing down, McAvoy always seems to be there to pick up the pace again.

I will end this without spoiling anything. But all I will say is, that it is vintage Shyamalan. He's back!

Rating: 8/10

Review: Manchester By The Sea

After being seen more as a writer, Kenneth Lonergan is back for only his third venture into directing. Not only that, it is being billed as one of the main Oscar contenders.

Any film that has been given that title, is always put under pressure for being the best thing since sliced bread.

I have certainly tried my best to avoid anything and everything about this film. Before seeing it, I had heard that it is all about Casey Affleck's performance and that it is very depressing.
Well what I can say to that, is that there is more then just Affleck and it is definitely not as depressing as you would think.

The film opens up to what you would expect from the reviews. But after that, every scene just seems to build up the emotion and intensity to make this film feel so real and genuine.

The performances by the cast on the whole was some of the best work I have seen from any other ensemble in a 2016 film. They all felt believable and as if I was watching real life and being a fly on the wall during their conversations.
When it comes to Affleck, believe the hype. It is certainly a fantastic performance, despite it feeling subdued throughout. You start to think his character is hard to like. But as the film goes on, it would be silly not to feel sympathy for him and by the end really care for his character.
Lucas Hedges was a real star in this in the main supporting role. I really hope this is the start of something special.
As for Michelle Williams, while she is not the film for that long, anytime she is on screen, it is hard not be engrossed by her presence and the execution of the dialogue. It was also great to see Kyle Chandler on the screen as he is on a few of my favourite films from the last few years.

Outside of the acting, there is also a lot to like elsewhere. Despite a lot of people saying how depressing it is, there is a solid amount of comedic moments that made me and many others in the screening that I was in chuckle quite often.
The cinematography was really good. The wintery look to the locations was almost like a character in itself.

There is hardly any negatives worth speaking of, so its props to Lonergan and his team. The unexpected structure of story-telling totally won me over and it made this film watchable, entertaining and worked with my emotions in the right way.
Yes the subject and tone has sad outcomes and there are moments that are tough to watch. But the black comedy gave the film some light that may give it some re-watchability.
Mentioning that re-watchability factor could give this some legs going into the next decade of film-making. While some Oscar contenders seem to only work for that short space of time for awards season, others blossom long after it has come out. I can see the latter working for Manchester By The Sea.

Rating: 8/10

Review: La La Land

It is always tough to ignore the stuff you hear about a major Oscar front-runner before going to actually see it. You always go into fearing that you will be disappointed as a film that has already been given such a high accolade, you expect to be one of the greatest films of all-time. But it never always end up like that.

Out of the films that have won Best Picture at the Oscars this decade, I am fine with most of them winning the award. The only ones that I would not agree with, is Argo and 12 Years A Slave. While both were good films, I just would never give the title of Best Picture winner.

This year, we have La La Land that is already predicted to win many Oscars including Best Picture. It is also a musical. That is certainly a genre we rarely see these days, and be done well. The only recent one for me was Les Miserables.
Despite a part of me being nervous for not liking it, I was already expecting big things when I first heard about it. A musical directed by Damien Chazelle starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. That alone was enough for me. I have avoided the trailers and made sure to go in cold. After seeing Chazelle direct the amazing Whiplash, I knew he could direct a musical as music seems to be an integral part of several of his projects.

It actually took me a while to get fully invested with it. While I was liking what was happening on screen in the first half, everything felt like a bunch set pieces rather than telling a story. Also, a lot of first half was feeling like it was style over substance.

Thankfully as the film went on, I was seeing a story beginning to evolve. By the time the final act came around, I was enjoying it. Then the brilliant finale gave the film a great send off.

The performances were pretty good on the whole, especially all the dancers involved. I was unsure of Emma Stone at the start, whether I'm supposed to care for her. I was liking her by the end of it and it really is a great performance.

Ryan Gosling was great in it. His first appearance on screen gave me the first bit of reassurance that I was going to like the film. Any awards that he may win or get nominated for is totally deserving. Stone and Goslong's chemistry continues to be like their other films, believable, strong and great to watch.

Also, for the short time he was on screen, J.K Simmons continues to show how great he is and that Chazelle gets the best out of him.

Apart from the editing, the technical side of the film quite impressive. The whole feeling is very dreamy. A bit like Gene Kelly's musicals, there is always a big dreamy dancing set-piece. La La Land feels like that for nearly all of it. Even the Justin Hurwitz's score adds to that tone.
The music is obviously great. There are lots of big hits that has created a soundtrack that I would not mind having. The choreography of the dance sequences were very well done. What lacked in risk, was made up in finesse.
I really liked the camera work, especially the use of long tracking shots. Those aspects in a film always win me over.

For fans of musicals, there's lots of nice references to not the older ones, and older films in general. It'll be a good game for film fans to spot those moments.

In the end, while I had problems with the first half and that I still prefer the classic musicals, this is a great combination of giving the musical genre a new look and paying homage to the films that have made me and many others love this genre. I can already see myself enjoying this more and more on repeat viewings.

A lot of people will find enjoyment with this, but at different moments.

It's being billed as a love letter to Los Angeles. If it was a love letter to anything, it would be more to people that go to L.A. to capture their dreams. I hope this may kick start more musicals and this could be the template structure for future ones. But realistically, I am living in hope. In the meantime, let's just enjoy this highly entertaining piece of work.

Rating: 8/10

Review: Silence

It has been three years since director Martin Scorsese has released a film, and it is great to see him back.

For fifty years, this New Yorker has become one of the greatest directors of all-time. Known mainly for his gangsters, Scorsese has given us some of the most memorable films of all-time.

For me, I always seem to appreciate his films more than love them. Most of his gangster films I give good reviews, but never ones that would call one of the greatest films I have ever seen. The only exception would be The Departed. It seems to be his other films that I give more love for such as Hugo and Shutter Island.

I purposely avoided the trailers. But I was hearing that it looked really mysterious and heavily religious based. Now that I have seen it, I would definitely not consider this a masterpiece as some reviews are calling it. But there is plenty in here that I liked and admired about it.

The content was emotional, brutal and tough to watch. It was definitely the type of film you just don't see anymore and not one you usually see from Scorsese. I could see similarities with Apocalypse Now and one of the Scorsese's previous films, The Last Temptation Of Christ.

The performances were very strong throughout. Andrew Garfield was great in the lead. I honestly did not think he could hold this film for its 2hrs 40mins duration. But his performance gave us a character that we saw gradually break down from start to finish. It is certainly a well crafted performance that might get him an Oscar nomination and is by far his best work since The Social Network.
While Adam Driver and Liam Neesons give us good performances as well, it is the Japanese actors that stole the show. Yosuke Kubozuka shone in the first half, and then the second half belonged to Tadanobu Asano and Issei Ogata who were both fantastic. Don't be surprised if you hear those names in the awards nominations.

Other positives was the use of the landscape. It was a fantastic choice of location and it became a character in itself. With the top cinematography, this was certainly a gorgeous film to look at.

While there is a lot to like about this film, especially in its technical side, it is a film that I would probably not watch again. But I remain impressed with what Scorsese created.
This is can relate to why I don't think a lot of people will see this. I think the duration, complexity of the story and slow pacing of the film will put the mainstream audience many other demographics off seeing this.

Whether you see it or not, I think Scorsese has done another great job. It is wonderful to see him still going for ambitious projects and coming out with another welcomed addition to his back catalogue.
The performances are a huge draw and the environment is like something out of a nature documentary. It will create a lot of interesting debates within the realms of religion and politics. But I won't be surprised if this gets a small take in box office and this might be more for the Scorsese purists.

Rating: 8/10

Review: Assassin's Creed

For over twenty years now, the video game genre has graced itself onto the big screen.
Sadly it has had very little success, especially with the critics.

Universally, there is supposedly no good films based off a video game. As for me, quite a lot of them are bad. But there are some solid features out there such as Hitman and Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time, as well as some guilty pleasure of mine such as Super Mario Bros. and the action scenes of Need For Speed.

But there is one that I enjoyed watching, and that was Warcraft: The Beginning. Released last summer, I remember having a good time watching this fantasy epic, and I cannot wait for a sequel (if there is one).

As for Assassin's Creed, I was hoping this would buck the trend. This was mainly due to popularity of this video game franchise, and the concept being workable for cinema. I have never played the game and knew very little about the story. But I knew bits of the concept and it sounded like this could work as a narrative.

After seeing it, I have mixed feelings about this one. While I thought it was a solid film. It also felt like it was a missed opportunity.

I was certainly interested finding out what the story was. The use of history and religion made me intrigued to see where they would go with this. While it leaves us open for a sequel, it did not seem to make full use of what it had.

The cast list is impressive. But the performances did not seem to match billing. Everyone just seemed to go through the motions and never challenge themselves. Thankfully, some actors in this film can still do a solid job without having to go out of their comfort zone. Those people are Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons. I am big fans of Fassbender and Cotillard and I could watch anything that they do. But sadly, this is not one of their more memorable ones. But is certainly not bad.
It was also great to see Brendan Gleeson, Essie Davis and Denis Menochet make a small appearance.

The action scenes are a big part of the video game, and they were solidly made and executed in the film. I would have liked the level of violence to be higher though, as they seemed to hold back and think more about bringing in big audiences instead going for a more mature rating like the actual video games.
Another strength it had was the general look of it and the costumes. But sadly, it was not strong enough to make me forget and the rest of the film.

The editing felt a bit messy as it seemed to do random jumps to other scenes which ruined the films flow for me. I also think the story development felt sub-par.

This could and should have been a great. The source material sounds really interesting, and I think with the right people, we can have a great franchise. I still felt we have got a decent action film here. But it is one that I can see being forgotten very soon.

As for sequels, I am not sure if director Justin Kurzel was the best man for the job. He showed promise in Macbeth which was an interesting portrayal of the Shakespeare story with fantastic novels. I just think this was missing something that I don't think Kurzel could find a solution in possible later installments.

Rating: 7/10