Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) Film Review

After losing money in an illegal card game to a dodgy criminal, a group of young blokes have to try to get a shit ton of money in a hurry. There are crims of all kinds, there are drugs and heaps and heaps of blokes who are just a bit too clever.

This is such a perfect, 90s first feature type of film. Arty camera angles and special effects, great soundtrack, dialogue which is just a bit cleverer than it needs to be (along with a few massive pinches of ‘as if’). It was great back then… now? Well, it’s aged badly for me. What I loved then for being a bit sexy and cool is now cheesy and shit. And back then, I don’t think I cared if a cast was almost all white and male. Now… I just expect more. But what was really nice was a surprise appearance by Rob Brydon – that was nice! I’d love to see what someone seeing it for the first time would think – would it be clever and a bit sexy, or just a bit crap?

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels won the 1999 BAFTA Audience Choice award and was nominated for Best British Film and Best Editing.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015) Film Review

It’s the 1960s and style is kicking around everywhere here – the clothes, the hairstyles, the amazing furniture, the whole kit and kaboodle. There’s a very cool C.I.A. agent, Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) and a somewhat stilted but very handsome K.G.B. agent, Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer – and what a hell of a name he’s got!) who end up working together on a mission – to protect and gain information using sassy and gorgeous Gaby (Alicia Vikander). Then there are the bad guys, most notably the absolutely fabulous Victoria (Elizabeth Debicki -and this is an awesome actress with a fabulous stage presence and I want more of her please, casting agents and directors, note).

It is a beautiful film. It’s is stunning and stylish, cool and fabulous. It’s wasn’t that amazing plot-wise – interesting, but I wasn’t totally engaged. I just felt kind of distant and vague. Strange. Still, I’d recommend a watch, it’s a lot of fun.

 

Sherlock Holmes (2009) Film Review

Having recently enjoyed the sequel to this film (Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows), this film has been playing on my mind. I could remember some parts of the plot, but not enough. There were explosions, I recall, and some stylish depictions of London from the past (including a semi-complete Tower Bridge), but that was all I could recall.

Oh, I love these films. It’s thanks to Guy Ritchie. His early films were great in a crazy, violent but very funny manner (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch) but then he seemed to disappear for a while. There was the whole marriage to Madonna that didn’t help – especially making a film (Swept Away) with her. Although, I haven’t seen that to judge if it is as bad as many have said. So thank goodness for Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law and Sherlock Holmes. This has given Ritchie the perfect vehicle for his humour and violence, along with strong plots and beautiful art design. More, please. Many, many more. (Oh, but not to ask too much, keep them clever, original and interesting. Thanks.)

Sherlock Holmes was nominated for Oscars for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score and Best Achievement in Art Direction. Robert Downey Jr. won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical.

Sherlock Holmes in A Game of Shadows (2011) Film Review

Ah, Robert Downey Jnr. Can you do anything wrong? (I suppose apart from all those things you’ve allegedly been arrested for and stuff, but that was a long time ago, and besides, I’m talking strictly films here) Sherlock Holmes has held a fascination for people for such a long time, and the recent BBC adaptation was, without a shadow of a doubt, brilliant. That doesn’t take away from the awesomeness of this film, however.

In this film, Holmes becomes involved in Moriarty’s scheming to unsettle Europe and start a war. With a lot of fist fighting, guns and even bigger guns, Holmes and Watson are out to solve the puzzle.

This is a sequel to the film Sherlock Holmes, for which Robert Downey Jnr was awarded a Golden Globe. I don’t believe that there is anything crucial from the first film that you need for this sequel. I wasn’t lost at any time. The Guy Ritchie directing is back, strong as ever, with cool filmic techniques (such as film speed changes during the fight sequences, highlighting the crucial moments).

Sherlock Holmes is another series of films featuring Robert Downey Jar that I want to see more of. More Iron Man and more Sherlock Holmes, please. On a side note, I am looking forward to Elementary, the new US version of Sherlock Holmes featuring Johnny Lee Miller as Sherlock Holmes and Lucy Liu as *shock horror* a female Dr Watson. I can’t see any way that it will measure up to the BBC series, but what I am hoping for is something like Lie To Me – an American cop drama type show, but with brains.