Bloody Brilliant Horror

My partner is not a fan of a lot of the horror films I watch, but on walking into the room half way through this, a smirk appeared and he sat down to watch the rest of the film.

This is small budget, scurrilous satire I highly recommend you adding to your DVD collection.

You can read my review over on Starburst.

Terracotta Distribution recently released Hansel & Gretel on Blu-ray and it looks amazing on this format. A sad and fascinating fantasy story that takes elements from the Brothers Grimm fairy-tale and twists them to ask the question ‘what would happen if the children never got saved’? A continuous carousel like nightmare plays out in the seemingly idyllic setting of a pastel hued house in a deep forest. 

 You can read my review over on Starburst 

 

Another Terracotta DVD release is Desire to Kill  which comes out on 20th August. You can read my review over on Cinetalk

Other horror titles I have reviewed recently are Lovely Molly which I thought  had a lot of potential...You can read my review over on the fabulous Filmoria 

And although it is not what I would classify as bloody brilliant I did enjoy 

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter as it made me laugh A LOT!

You can read my review over on Starburst

Electrick Children, Brooklyn Brothers, Joyful Noise and the Art of Rap

A lingering love story filled with the curiosity of youth and the gentle nature of innocence. It flows to a modern beat of rock and the timeless tempo of the Utah and Nevada landscape.  An exceptional debut from Rebecca Thomas; can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.  

You can read my review here and I also interviewed Rebecca whose next film will involve Mermaids.. You can read the interview here. 

  The Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best is another directorial debut from Ryan O Nan who also writes and stars in this musical road trip movie of sorts that starts slowly but strums along nicely once it gets going. Andrew McCarthy makes an appearance!

You can read my review here.

Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton throw bread rolls at each other, sing some songs and give some good old advice to their children and grandchildren in the gospel choir duelling picture, Joyful Noise.

My love for Dolly Parton knows no bounds! 9 to 5 was her finest movie moment (I think we can all agree on that) but to watch her dancing with (the ghost of) Kris Kristofferson under the moonlight was pretty special too!

You can read my review here.

Ice-T meets with a bunch of his friends from the world of rap to discuss their craft.  Each artist shares their different approach and all come across as passionate. The foundations of rap are focused on, the importance of performance, and the creative process of each is fascinating to learn about making this a fine tribute. 

You can read my review of Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap here.

The Dark Knight Rises

It finally arrives tomorrow and it is pretty good, you can read my review over on Starburst

The masks are cool and everything but Selina Kyle wears some wicked boots. Someone send me a pair. Juno Temple makes her way into the Nolan gang too (loved her in Killer Joe and Dirty Girl).

Brave

Pixar do it again! You can read my review over on Starburst

In cinemas Scotland and Ireland : Aug 3rd

In cinemas England and Wales : Aug 13th

Review: Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

“I’m not a survivalist, I’m an optimist!”

Lorene Scafaria’s directorial debut shows promise, with her background as a screenwriter penning Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist her knack for writing a funny line and setting up some amusing and poignant scenes is clear. The soundtrack suits the pensive mood for an end of the world setting and though it falls on the sentimental side it works. Scafaria mixes apocalyptic mind set with road trip adventure and the jovial tone works extremely well for the first half of the film. Unfortunately the “friend” aspect of the film is lost to a romantic storyline between the two lead characters, Dodge (Steve Carrell) and Penny (Keira Knightley). 

There are 21 days left until a meteor hits the earth. Dodge has been abandoned by his wife and Penny regrets her life as a serial monogamist. Both are reflecting on their lives and their misspent ways when Penny stumbles through Dodge’s apartment window and they first meet despite being neighbours for years.  Dodge looks to his first love whereas Penny is looking to reconnect with her family and they both take to the road in search of the void in their lives. Disconnect, loneliness and lack of community spirit are the themes explored, but what it all comes down to is the question, “what would you do if the world was about to end? “ Priorities are changed and rules are thrown out the window making a marvellous first hour of viewing.  The pair cling on to the only pillar of hope they can which is the promise of fulfilment through human connection.  With material items losing value a relationship formed on the road steers these two to their obvious end. 

This is an end of the world comedy that after a strong start takes a turn into romantic schmaltz.  For the most part Scafaria’s strong, witty script keeps the momentum chugging along. People taking drugs, letting their kids get drunk, engaging in promiscuous sexual activity and basically all the conduct of a society on the edge are presented in an exceptionally funny way. Dodge and Penny don't feel fully developed as characters, and though both Carrell and Knightley give good performances, it is hard to believe in their forming relationship. Though mostly charming, it seems to lose the comedic, laid back vibe half way through in favour of mainstream predictability with the emphasis moved from friendship to amorous sentimentality. 

Released in the UK on 13th July 

The Amazing Spider-Man

Was there warrant enough for this Spider-Man reboot after the Sam Raimi origin story only coming out ten years ago? Having had issues with the visuals in that particular franchise I was looking forward to updated technology giving the suited hero some real depth.  This Spider-Man looks amazing. The suit for one has texture and the action scenes feel more robust.  Scenes in the first half of the film where Peter Parker gets bitten exploring the labs of OsCorp feel refreshed and have been updated well. Blue UV hues mirror the suit he will soon don and intricate designs delight.  Though I did enjoy Toby Maguire and Kirsten Dunst’s performances in the 2002 version I was looking forward to a new spin on this superhero tale.  Once again the leads have been cast well with Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone having great chemistry. Sally Field is a feistier Aunt May and her character develops a harder edge as the film goes on. Paired up with Martin Sheen as Uncle Ben they come together to form a fine parental team.  

This origin story does on the surface have some differences. Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) playing the love interest and the discovery of Peter’s father’s past work lead him to interactions with the curiously cold Dr. Curt Connors (Rys Ifans). This mad scientist contrasts well with Peter’s own story as he transforms into the Lizard and loses his humanity.  Unfortunately this is where the visuals let the film down with some uninspired CGI. With nods to Godzilla and Creature from the Black Lagoon (pictures of the lizard's claw making the front of the newspapers) it is disappointing that this movie monster is not as striking as those made in 1954. 

Garfield is superbly well cast in the role of Peter Parker, geeky enough to be believable and incredibly endearing. This Spider-Man reacts with a youthful arrogance, taunting his prey and humiliating them with his web slinging abilities. He playfully quips when in the suit and strikes the famous comic book stances. Director Marc Webb inserts some dark action between romance and comedy in the first part of the film and develops his characters well, but the finale does have a generic air of going through the motions to set up the sequel.   

Spidey leaps and bounds forward in fast action scenes of free running style and sticky awkwardness but doesn’t reach the promised amazing heights.  Aimed at a younger audience who should enjoy the high school romance aspect and teen angst but a sense of familiarity in this origin story may leave some underwhelmed. 

Released in the UK on 3rd July 2012

Sheffield Doc Fest: Music and the DIY spirit

Bones Brigade: An Autobiography tells the story of a group of individuals who were cemented together through skateboarding. Stacy Peralta, Director of Dogtown and Z Boys and the much loved The Search for Animal Chin (of which he is a little embarrassed by now) takes us back to the 1980s to tell the story of the formation of the Bones Brigade skate crew.  Tony Hawk, Rodney Mullen, Mike McGill, Steve Caballero, Lance Mountain and Tommy Guerrero revolutionised and formed the modern face of competitive skateboarding.  Peralta splices old school footage, photos, and interviews that sum up the true spirit of this crew but he has also produced an excellent account of the history of skateboarding. Rodney Mullen is a rad, passionate genius who is mesmerizing to watch on screen through his skate tricks and speeches. An inspirational story about a passionate and driven group of boys growing up and getting to make a living from doing what they love.


Indie Game: The Movie was always a must watch for me, with my partner being a part of the games industry and some of my friends games developers I was intrigued to see how the filmmakers would portray their subjects. Thankfully the documentary focuses on the personal stories and inspiration for the games leading to a funny and moving depiction. 

Grandma Lo-Fi is the embodiment of a melodic soul.This documentary has been put together very much like a homemade mix tape and it is a lovely tribute to an inspirational woman.










Pertti Kurikka’s Name Day is a four piece Finnish punk band who are making a name for themselves in the scene. All the members have learning difficulties and voice their frustrations through their music and lyrics. Directors Jukka Karkkainen and JP Passi put this band under the spotlight and the outcome is positively positive.  The Punk Syndrome is an uplifting celebration of what it is to be a creative human being.

Searching for Sugar Man charts an investigation born out of a love for music and a man who captured the imaginations of a liberal white population wanting to rebel against their government.

Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet honours the mighty axeman who would not stop fighting for his life.












All these films share the DIY and independent spirit that often comes with creativity and each tells a compelling story.
You can read my full coverage here: http://www.cinetalk.tv/tagged/sheffield-doc-fest