The Aviator (2004) Film Review

What did I know about Howard Hughes? Only that he was famously germaphobic and reclusive and rich. In all honesty, I didn’t even know why I knew of him. In this biopic of his early life, Leonardo DiCaprio the playboy, the film producer and the aviation pioneer. And it’s fabulous. DiCaprio was fabulous, as was Cate Blanchette and Kate Beckinsale, John C. Reilly, Alec Baldwin, Alan Alda, Jude Law… the list goes on.

I shouldn’t be surprised at how good it is as it is a Scorsese film. He is a master, even though I often find that I don’t like his films. But this, to me, is really as good as a film can be. Great pacing, and the cinematography is brilliant, capturing that kind of technicolour look of films from this era. Just fabulous.

The Aviator won awards for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Cate Blanchett), Best Achievement in Cinematography, Best Achievement in Art Direction, Best Achievement in Costume Design and was nominated for Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Leonardo DiCaprio), Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (Alan Alda), Best Achievement in Directing, Best Writing – Original Screenplay and Best Achievement in Sound Mixing.

The Young Pope – TV Review

What would happen if an American was made Pope? What if it was a young American, say in his late fortes or early fifties? What if he was really handsome? And what if, after being made Pope, the Vatican Council (or whoever it is that makes these decisions) suddenly realises that he is dangerous, not only to the Church but to their whole way of life?

Jude Law plays the Pope, and he has this wonderful mix between being a cheesy American evangelist and a hard-line Catholic. He is at times vulnerable and also completely in control. And episode to episode, I had no idea what was going to happen next. It’s fab. Oh, and the title sequence? Brilliant.

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) Film Review

I had held of watching this film for two reasons: firstly, I didn’t love Wes Anderson’s previous film, Moonrise Kingdom, and was a bit concerned I wouldn’t love this, and I have truly loved many of his previous films; second, I saw a trailer early on and thought that I had seen most of it. I was wrong on both counts. I love it and the trailer actually gave very little away.

Essentially, the film tells the story (in a somewhat convoluted fashion) of a bell boy working at The Grand Budapest Hotel. No, that is not it. There is a lot more, there is theft and betrayal, sex and love, cakes and guns, prison and trains. But to attempt to tell it could give away too much, and it is a story that it is a delight to simply watch unfold. The typical, beautiful style of Wes Anderson is apparently in every shot, and his large cast of some of the most wonderful actors is great. (Although extremely male-heavy, with no really good female roles. Wes Anderson usually does better on this count… shame)

I think that if you do not like Wes Anderson films, you won’t like this one. If you haven’t seen one, perhaps this might be the best to introduce you to him.

The Grand Budapest Hotel won Oscars for Best Achievement in Costume Design, Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score (Alexandre Desplat) and Best Achievement in Production Design. It was nominated for Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Achievement in Directing (Wes Anderson), Best Achievement in Cinematography, Best Achievement in Film Editing and Best Writing, Original Screenplay (Wes Anderson, Hugo Guinness).

 

Contagion (2011) Film Review

Starting at Day 2, Contagion follows a virus that rips across the world, killing millions. It deals with individuals, companies, the government, conspiracies, all of kinds of things.

I remember seeing this in the cinema and being quite bored. It seemed slow and strange, and even though it killed off several of the more famous actors, it didn’t grab me. Yet I felt I’d missed something, and I’m so glad that I revisited it. It is not at all tedious, in fact it is totally compelling. It is fast and intense and, at times, really full on. I’d highly recommend it, though it is pretty darn depressing a lot of the time…

 

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) Film Review

Knowing that this was Heath Ledger’s last film, and indeed, that he passed away during shooting, I’ve been hesitant to watch it. Even knowing it’s a Terry Gilliam film and that filming was resumed with Colin Farrell, Jude Law and Johnny Depp, I still couldn’t bear it. I suspected (very wrongly) that it would feel unfinished, or, at best, half-arsed. As is often proven, I’m an idiot. Of course the perfectionist Terry Gilliam wouldn’t release a poor product.

There is a travelling theatre stage on the back of an old-fashioned horse-drawn caravan that appears in random locations. The feature act is Doctor Parnassus; the thousand-year-old man who provides a unique experience to anyone who enters. But it is running into the ground in the modern age as it has not updated – until the appearance of the hanging man, Tony (Heath Ledger).

There is so much more to the plot, but I think you should just watch and enjoy. Be aware, though; it’s crazy and nuts, with unreal worlds hidden from view, and you really need to suspend your disbelief to enjoy it.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus was nominated for Oscars for Best Achievement in Costume Design and Best Achievement in Art Direction.

Anna Karenina (2012) Film Review

Set in Russia quite some time ago, Anna Karenina tells the story of Anna (Keira Knightly) who is happily married to the staid and steady (and boring) older man, Karenin (Jude Law) until she meets the charming soldier, Vronsky (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). They cause a scandal in society with their flirtatious looks and dancing and eventually their love brings them both down.

This is an extremely beautiful film. Cinematically stunning, with the theatrical absurdity that I have long loved from Tom Stoppard. For me, the film was a bit long, but it was so stunning that I didn’t mind. I didn’t even mind Keira Knightly’s pouting or the long, drawn-out shots with the single tear slowly tracking down her face. It was worth it even just for the spectacular dance sequences with the languid and stunning movements. I wish I’d seen it on the big screen.

Anna Karenina won Oscars for Best Achievement in Costume Design and was nominated for Oscars for Best Achievement in Cinematography, Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score and Best Achievement in Production Design. It was also nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Score – Motion Picture, won a BAFTA for Best Costume Design and was nominated for BAFTAs for Best British Film, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Film Music and Best Make Up/Hair

Hugo (2011) Film Review

Hugo (Asa Butterfield) is an orphan who lives about the Paris train station, hiding from the evil Station Inspector (Sacha Baron Cohen), watching and stealing small parts from toy booth owner Georges Melies (Ben Kingsley) and rebuilding the automaton his father (Jude Law) was fixing before he died. Before long, Hugo befriends the god-daughter of Georges Melies, Isabelle (Chloe Grace Moretz) and they embark on the adventure of finding what the world hold, and what place they have within it.

It’s a sweet little story, tying in with some of the real history of cinema, but it just didn’t win me over. Why, I wonder? The story and characters were strong, and it was certainly beautiful. Perhaps it was the acting.  I felt that the young lead was doing far too much eyebrow and mouth acting, like Daniel Radcliffe throughout the Harry Potter films. I think when you see films with amazing child actors, you know that there is better than this. I really had very little interest in what happened to Hugo, and I guess that is pretty important to the film. I think there was also the element of brushing over the ugly side of life; yes, the orphans were captured by the evil Station Inspector, but I didn’t feel the fear that they were trying to portray here.

Hugo won Oscars for Best Achievement in Cinematography, Best Achievement in Sound Mixing, Best Achievement in Sound Editing, Best Achievement in Visual Effects and Best Achievement in Art Direction. It was nominated for Oscars for Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Achievement in Directing (Martin Scorsese) Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (John Logan), Best Achievement in Film Editing, Best Achievement in Costume Design and Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score.

The Rise of the Guardians (2012) Film Review

What happens when Pitch, the bogeyman, decides to take over the world to make every child scared of the dark by taking away their belief in the magical characters that make their lives better? The Guardians must assemble – Santa (called North, a massive, Russian, knife wielding dude voiced by Alec Baldwin), the silent Sandman, the Tooth Fairy (Isla Fisher) and the Aussie Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman). Not only battling Pitch (voiced by Jude Law), the Guardians must welcome the new and reluctant Guardian, Jack Frost (Chris Pine).

It’s a really good kids film. It’s beautiful, even when watched in 2D on a television. There is some good humour, a splash of emotional schmaltz and a pretty cool storyline. If you are around kids and need something to watch, this is a decent watch with quite a few laughs.

The Rise of the Guardians was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature.

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.