Review: 17 Again

A kind of reverse-Big this was Zac Efron's Post-High-School-Musical let-see-what-you-can-do vehicle. Although Matthew Perry puts in a very decent performance as the adult version of Mike a brow-beaten dad who out of duty married his high school sweetheart this is Efron's show. Although not meeting the same standard of Tom Hanks' performance in Big he still does quite well in capturing some of Perry's mannerisms. The script does Efron no favours being quite weird in that Mike's daughter and wife both fall in love with the teenage version of him and the bonding with the son storyline is often put on the backburner. The more likeable storyline is the sub-plot in which Mike's friend and faux-father Ned tries to date the principal (played by Jan from the Office).

Although there are some bright spots in the film and Efron gives it his all this is all too predictable and unfunny to be a great film in the way Big was. Leslie Mann phones it in as Perry's wife while the casting of 23 year old Michelle Trachtenburg as Perry's daughter pushing believability through the window. This will appeal to teenage girls everywhere but for anyone not obssessed by Zac Efron avoid this.

Review: Sugar

Having greatly enjoyed Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck's debut Half Nelson, I was greatly looking forward to their second film Sugar. The film certainly starts well as young Dominican Miguel journeys to Kansas to play baseball. The first two thirds of the film play out like a traditional sports film with Miguel shown as a great pitcher in the Domincan Republic but struggling when he gets to the U.S. We are also presented with a fish-out-of-water type story where Miguel struggles to cope with his new host family an elderly baseball-obsessed redneck couple. I found it was the final third of the story where Fleck and Boden struggled to finish as Miguel leaves Kansas for New York after being frustrated with his playing.

Although I enjoyed the performances from the unkown cast of mainly Hispanic actors, it was the whole structure of the thing and Miguel's journey that troubled me. He was meant to be someone who loved and trained to be a baseball player but then found he was more at home playing baseball for fun and making tables. The love story between Miguel and his host families uber-religious granddaughter seems a little tagged on and although the message seems to be 'do what you love but don't let it take over you' it still seemed that there was something lacking in Sugar which was present in the great Half Nelson.

Review: Night at the Museum 2

Having quite enjoyed the first Night at the Museum film but at the same time hearing it on a loop at the video shop where I used to work, I was anticipating the second installment with trepedation. And this was quite justified thanks to the slapdash nature of it. In the first film at least Stiller's character was likeable and juvenille enough to sustain a film in which he was trying to deal with the supernatural nature of the museum while at the same time trying to reconnect with his son. However this time the film has scrapped any aspect of humanism from Stiller and instead gone for cheap laughs and a bit of history for the kids.

The characters from the first film played by Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Robin Williams and Ricky Gervais have been overshadowed by two new faces. The first Hank Azaria best known for his Simpsons voices here putting on another silly voice as an Egyptian leader. While Amy Adams as Amelia Earheart is incredibly annoying and the weird relationship she has with Ben Stiller is a little disturbing seeing as she is a waxwork. Fairing better are Superbad's Bill Hader as General Kuster and Christophre Guest as Alexander the Great while various actors from the U.S. Office pop up for one or two line cameos and Jonah Hill steals a very funny scene from Stiller.

Overall this is an okayish family film but it is no way as good as the first film which had heart and structure where this just has its eyes on the cash its going to get from large audiences who enjoyed Night at the Museum 1.

Review: Colin

Colin's reputation as a film preceeds it thanks to its meagre budget of just £45. Writer/Director Marc Price shot his film entirely on a hand-held Panasonic Mini-Dv Camcorder and found his actors on Social-Networking webstites. It is hard to judge Colin against other films because of its low budget but it does actually contain some good ideas. At the start of the film Colin is bitten by a friend and then he turns into a zombie. The first 20 or 25 minutes of the film are almost dialogue free as we see the zombie-stricken world through Colin's eyes. The second-half of the film then deals with Colin's family trying to get him to remember who he was before the film finally turns into a traditional zombie film with the survivors trying to kill the zombies.

Colin has a great central performance from Alistair Kirton who holds the film together vrey well giving Colin some character even though he has little dialogue apart from at the start and end of the film. The other performances feel a little amateurish but that's because they are but Price is a good enough director to get the most out of his actors. The main problem I have with Colin is not the filmic aspects, which are surprisingly good given the budget. It is in fact the script which is low on character development after 90 minutes of watching I feel I knew very little about Colin despite the introduction of his sister and mother. This is interesting seeing as the script would've cost nothing to make but is the weakest elment here.

Overall though for a debut director and given the money he had, Colin is an enjoyable low-budget horror movie which is actually better than some of the starrier horror films around today. The kind of community aspect of the film is seen at the end of the credits where Price thanks all the people who helped him out in various ways with make-up, food and locations (the scary house, the non-scary house). Based on this Price has a very promising future as a director but he might want to leave the script-writing to someone else on his second feature.

Review: Bride Wars

I basically watched this so I could take part in the Mark Kermode challenge to find ten films worse than Bride Wars released this year. After watching Bride Wars its hard to imagine that feat being made possible. The main problem with Bride Wars is that most of the characters are so one-dimensional that its hard to care. Anne Hathaway is a pushover and Kate Hudson is driven and they have to learn not to be. Their grooms are interchangeable while Hudson's brother played by Jake from One Tree Hill is a walking chiseled-jaw. In fact the only likeable character is the teacher played by Kirsten 'Third Rock from the Sun' Johnson who we're supposed to think is a self-involved slob but is actually the only person to show some depth. The worse character in the whole piece is the wedding planner/narrator played by Candice Bergen who claims that women are dead before they get married. It's like feminsim didn't even happen.

The so-called comedy sequences involving blue-hair and an oompa-loompa-esque spray tan are horrendous. Lessons are learnt at the end, but most of those lessons are learnt by the audience about ten minutes into the film. An ambigous ending means that a sequel possibly entitled Baby Wars could be next. I sure hope not. Deoid of any humour or emotion this certainly isn't a romantic (or any other) comedy. Unless you're watching it to take part in the Dr. K challenge avoid it like Swine Flu.

Feature: This Years Oscar Contenders

As we approach December that means that The Oscars are on the way. Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin have been announced as co-hosts while the longlists for animation and documentary feature have been released. In this blog I'm going to look at some of the films that have been tipped for glory.

Amelia
Whats it about? A biopic about Amelia Earheart's flight around the world
What are its Oscar Chances?: Although the reviews haven't been favourable Oscar loves a biopic.
What is it likely to be nominated for?: I would say that Hilary Swank is in for a good chance of getting one of the five best actress slots if nothing else while are own Ewan McGregor and Christopher Ecclestone could be in for Supporting Actor nominations.
When can I see it?: Its out now

An Education:
What's it about?: See further down for a full review.
What are its Oscar chances? Pretty good to nab something, the performances and script are spot on and as the Best Picture category has been widened to include ten features this could well got on that list. This film is likely to be Britain's best hope for awards glory.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: Alfred Molina is a dead cert for Best Supporting Actor while newcomer Carey Mulligan has a good shot at Best Actress while Nick Hornby could also grab an adapted screenplay nomination and as I said the film itself should be in the running.
When can I see it?: Its out now

The Boys are Back
What's it about?: This Australian set comedy drama sees a sports writer lose his wife in tragic circumstances and he is left to bring up their son as well as a son from a previous relationship.
What are its Oscar Chances?: Oscar likes a film based on a true story that features some kind of tragedy and its directed by Scott Hicks who was nominated for Shine in 1996.
What's it Likely to be nominated for?: This film seems to be Clive Owen's show so look for him to nab one of the five Best Actor slots while Hicks may be an underdog for Best Director and there may also be an Adapted Screenplay Nomination.
When Can I see it?: Its released in the U.K. on the 22nd of January

Bright Star
What's it about?: The three year romance between poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne
What are its Oscar Chances?: With An Education, Bright Star looks to be one of the Brits best hopes another true story with an accomplished director, The Piano's Jane Campion, at the helm.
What's it Likely to be Nominated for: While it may scrape in for Best Picture and Best Director is hopes lie in its central performances by Ben Whishaw and Abby Cornish both of whom may pick up Best Actor and Actress Nominations while Paul Schneider as Keats' best friend may get a Supporting Actor Nomination.
When I can I see it?: Its currently on general release

Broken Embraces
What's it about? A wheelchair bound film director recounts an affair with one of his former leading ladies
What are its Oscar Chances? Medium, Pedro Almodovar often fares quite well in the foreign language category so Broken Embraces is likely to feature there but he won't get a director nomination.
What's it Likely to be Nominated for? The main award that the film will push for will be Best Actress for Penelope Cruz even though Lluis Homar's performance was equally impressive. It may also feature in the screenplay category.
When Can I see it?: It's still playing in some places but you'd have to seek it out, I'd wait till 1st February to see it on DVD

Brothers
What's it about?: When his older brother goes missing while on a tour of duty in Afghanistan, Tommy Cahill comforts his brother's wife and child which leads to the beginning of an affair which is made worse when the brother returns.
What are its Oscar Chances?: War's big business at the moment and this boasts three fine performances from its twenty to thirtysomething cast as well as a dependable director in Jim Sherdian.
What's it Likely to be Nominated For?: Probably a lot there's chance for Best Actor for Jake Gyllenhaal or even Tobey Maguire with one getting a Supporting Nod instead while Natalie Portamn may get a Supporting Actresss Nomination and it may also be up for Best Director and Best Picture
When Can I see it?: Its out in the U.K. on the 22nd of January


The Hurt Locker
What's it about?: A bomb disposal unit in Iraq
What are its Oscar Chances?: Another outsider but another war-based film which looks to be a big trend. I'm not sure how Katherine Bigelow's realist approach will sit with the academy but it may be a surprise entry.
What's it Likely to be Nominated for?: Probably will sneak into the Best Picture category and is an outside choice for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay but it is likely to feature heaily among the technical awards (Editing, Sound Mixing etc.)
When can I see it?: Its finished its general release and will be able to watch on DVD on the 28th of December

The Informant
What's it about?: The vice president of a multi-national company becomes an FBI informant
What are its Oscar Chances?: Another true story and another established director in Steven Soderbergh mean it will probably creep up in at least one category
What's it Likely to be Nominated for?: Matt Damon certainly has to be one of the favourites for Best Actor as he put on weight for the role and the academy always admires any chage in bodily appearance for a role. Meanwhile it may also crop up in the Screenplay category although it seems like it may be an outsider for Best Picture and Best Director
When Can I See it?: It's out today (20th November)

Inglourios Basterds
What's it about? An American Unit in World War 2 who specialise in scalping Nazis plaan to blow up Hitler
What are its Oscar Chances?: Very slim in the Best Picture and Best Director categories as the film was widely panned. Don't look for Tarrantino to be one of the five Best Directors this year.
What's it Likely to be Nominated for?: However there is a glimmer of hope in the Supporting Performances. Christoph Waltz as the charmingly creepy Nazi Interregator may be nominated and indeed win Best Supporting Actor while Melanie Laurent is an outside choice for Best Supporting Actress as the cinema owner intent on revenge.
When Can I See it?: Its available on DVD from the 7th of Decemeber.

Invictus
What's it about?: A look at Nelson Mandela's attempts to unite his country after the Apartheid during the Rugby World Cup in 1995
What are its Oscar Chances?: Excellent. A big time director in Clint Eastwood and big name stars this is a 'based on a true story' film that might actually go all the way.
What's it Likely to Be Nominated for?: Best Picture has to be a lock as does Best Director and Best Actor for Morgan Freeman as Mandela seems to be a cert. Matt Damon also might feature in the Best Supporting Actor Category if he's not nominated for The Informant.
When Can I See it?: Its on general release from the 5th of February

Julie and Julia
What's it about?: A modern-day blogger tries to cook all the recipes in a cook book by the legendary Julia Childs as we see Childs trying to make it as a chef in the 1950s
What are its Oscar Chances?: Its got Meryl Streep in it
What's it Likely to be Nominated for?: This is Streep's Oscar hope this year and its another real person that helps. Stanley Tucci also looks like he may be nominated for Supporting Actor in one of two films this being one of them.
When can I see it?: Although still showing in some cinemas it is out on DVD on the 11th of January

The Lovely Bones
What's it about?: When a girl is murdered by a neighbour she watches her family try to solve the mystery of her murder
What are its Oscar Chances?: Very good. It's helmed by Peter 'Lord of the Rings' Jackson and has quite a big cast of familiar faces.
What's it Likely to be Nomianted for?: It has to be in the Best Picture category, Jackson may be nominated for Best Director and it'll probably also be nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. Of the actors Atonement's Saoisre Ronan is likely to follow her Supporting Actress Nomination with a Best Actress Nomination while Stanley Tucci may get a Supporting Actor nod for this film. While former winners Susan Sarandon and Rachel Weisz may crop up as Best Supporting Actress, Mark Walhberg is an outsider for Best Actor also and the film may pick up some awards in the Art Direction categories.
When Can I see it?: Its out on general release on the 29th of January

Moon
What's it about?: A spaceman starts seeing things after being on a long solo mission
What are its Oscar chances?: A bit of an outsider but with an interesting concept and a great central performance it may get the attention of some of the voters.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: A best actor nod for Sam Rockwell may come as a surprise to most but I think that this is one of the best male performances of the year. The script may also get nominated for Original Screenplay.
When Can I see it?: It's on DVD now.

Nine
What's it about: A musical adaptation of 8 1/2 sees a film director struggling to keep his life under control thanks to all the women in his life.
What are its Oscar chances?: Fairly good. Oscar has a good relationship with musicals and this one will probably be a choice for the Best Picture as its director Rob Marshall already experienced Oscar success with Chicago in 2003.
What's it Likely to be Nominated for?: Apart from Best Picture, Daniel Day-Lewis has an outside chance of a Best Actor Oscar as does Rob Marshall for Director. There are also a bevvy of Oscar Favourite Actresses who may feature in the Best Supporting Actress shortlist these include Sophia Loren, Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz and Marion Cotillard. As the screenplay was co-written by the late Anthony Minghella it may also be nominated. Obviously as its a musical it may also pick up some awards for the music.
When can I see it?: Its on general release from the 18th December

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
What's it about: An overweight teen, who is abused by her mother and pregnant with her second child, is asked to enrol in an alternative school to increase her chances in life.
What's are its Oscar Chances: Good. The Academy loves a triumph against adversity story and this has it in droves. This is likely to be this year's little film that could.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: Lead actress Gabourey Sidibe's performance could be one of the five nominated in Best Actress but the smart money is on Mo'Nique, best known on these shores for he role in the sitcom the Parkers, to take home the award for Best Supporting Actress.
When can I see it?: It's out on the 29th of January

A Serious Man
What's it about?: A college professor whose life starts to fall apart when his wife asks for a divorce
What are its Oscar chances?: It has a good all-round pedigree in its acting and directing talents.
What's it Likely to be Nominated for?: Best Picture is a certainity, Best Director for The Coen Brothers maybe and Best Actor for the previously unknown Michael Stuhlbarg are also possibilities as is a screenplay nomination.
When Can I See it?: It's out today (20th November)

A Single Man
What's it about?: After the sudden death of his partner an L.A. based English professor tries to carry on as normal
What are its Oscar Chances?: Fair thanks to the actors involved
What's it Likely to be Nominated for?: The smart money is on Colin Firth to land a Best Actor nomination
When Can I see it?: It's on general release from the 12th of February

Star Trek
What's it about?: Kirk, Spock and the rest of those guys but you know when they were young
What are its Oscar chances?: Surprisingly good. This year the Best Picture category has been widened to ten choices so more popular films can be included. As this was both loved by fans and critics don't be surprised if its nominated for Best Picture
What's it likely to be nominated for?: Most likely only Best Picture out of the big awards but it will more than likely clean up in the technical categories
When Can I See it?: It's on DVD now

Up
What's it about?: An elderly man tries to escape being put in a home by tying balloons to his house but he is unaware that a boy scout has snuck on board.
What are its Oscar chances?: As with Star Trek this is a commercial film that has been critically acclaimed and that's what Oscar is looking for this year
What's it likely to be nominated for?: It will feature in the Best Picture category but will probably win Best Animated Feature. It may also be up for Best Original Screenplay.
When Can I see it?: You can see it everywhere now and in 3D as well!!

Up in the Air
What's it about?: A man who travels around the U.S. to fire employees of multi-national companies is tasked with training an up-and-coming young businesswoman while evaluating his life and trying to collect as many travel miles as he can.
What are its Oscar chances?: Its this years indie darling in the vein of Juno which isn't surprising as its directed by the same man - Jason Reitman. It will most likely crop up as one of the 10 Best Picture nominees.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: Along with Best Picture there's rumours that George Clooney will finally get his Best Actor Oscar for this film. While Anna Kendrick of the Twilight Saga is also tipped to be nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Reitman may also be on for a Best Director or Original Screenplay Nomination
When Can I see it?: From the 15th of January

Where the Wild Things Are
What's it about: A boy creates a world full of wild creatures where he is the king
What are its Oscar chances?: It may be another favourite of the 'popular film' category and get in the Top 10 for the Best Picture category. With a known director like Spike Jonze behind it, it's chance are greatly improved.
What's it Likely to Be Nominated for?: Possibly Best Picture and Probably Best Adapted Screenplay plus a host of art and technical type awards
When can I see it?: It's on general release from the 11th of December.

You'll have to wait till next February to see how right I am but I will see how these films fare throughout awards season.

Review: Sounds Like Teen Spirit

When I started watching this film I thought the Junior Eurovision Song Contest looked kind of creepy with all the children made up to look like dolls almost like one of those horrible American beauty pageants. But Jamie Jay Johnson's film rises above that and explores four acts who are incredibly likeable. The Belgian band Trust have a slightly geeky lead female singer who just wants a cute boyfriend while the lanky boys in the band just want to learn how to dance. The Georgian girl really hopes to make her mother proud and put her country on the map. Marina from the Bulgarian group BonBon has become disenchanted with the idea of love following her parents divorce and the Cypriot boy wants to rise above the taunts that he recieves at school and put on a good show.

Where Smells Like Teen Spirit is at its best is in the candid interviews with the contestants a likeable bunch of geeks, dreamers and realists. This film was always going to be compared to Spellbound the American film about the Spelling Bees but this is different in its depiction of various European nations. There are some classic moments but none so entertaining as when the Georgian priest reveals his love of Heavy Metal music. Johnson's film is less succesful when trying to add a little bit of European history and explaining all the European conflicts that have effected the four acts we are following. This seems to be a completely different story however the main message seems to be make catchy pop-rock music not war. And if nothing else it has shown us that playing the accordian can be cool and that's got to be a good thing.

Review: An Education

Sometimes a film comes along that restores your faith in British cinema and An Education is that film. Set in a pre-Beatles Britain, Jenny's world is very dull and very boring until she meets David. The two worlds are represented by different scenery while Jenny's home and school are dressed in dull colours and shot bleakly, David's world is full of bright colours, fantastic lighting and great costumes. And this is where the brilliance of the film begins.

Nick Hornby's screenplay of Lynn Barber's memoirs is fantastic, Hornby is often unable to write believable female characters in his books but Jenny is a well-rounded teenage girl who has dreams and aspirations above her years but is still a child at heart. You have to wonder though how much of the script is from the memoirs, the scene with the banana especially seems too far-fetched to be true which means it probably is. Meanwhile Danish director Lone Scherfig proves why female directors should be as prominent as male directors. She is able to get the most out of every scene of the film and it is impressive seeing this only her second English language feature.

As Jenny Carey Mulligan, whose biggest role in cinema thus far was as Kitty Bennett in Joe Wright's Pride and Prejudice, shines bringing an efforvecent spirit to the character and mixes the giddiness of the main body of the film with the heartache of the last quarter. Mulligan has recieved Oscar Buzz for her role but in my opinion the actor most deserving of awards for this film is Alfred Molina. As Jenny's father he is presented as a comic stick in the mud for most of the film but his heart-to-heart with his daughter at the end demonstrates what a fine performance this is. Peter Sarsgaard veers just on the right side of creepy and is often presented as a boy who never grew up while in their brief scenes Emma Thompson and Olivia Williams are brilliant as Jenny's headmistress and Engish teacher respectively.

There are some little niggles which means this film isn't quite perfect. David's friends Danny and Helen, played by Dominic Cooper and Rosumand Pike, are quite one-dimensional seeming existing to show how vapid some of the people who David associates with are. Even though Pike tries her very hardest with the limited material she is given ultimately she is nothing more than window dressing. I would have also liked to have seen more interaction between Jenny and Olivia Williams' teacher character in the first third of the film before it is explored deeply nearer the end. But these are little niggles, as this is a brilliantly written, finally directed piece of British cinema which deserves all the plaudits it must recieve in the upcoming awards season.

Review: Shorts

After trying the non-linear narrative structure out in his more adult works, Robert Rodriguez tries it out in his latest children's film: Shorts. Rodriguez has had mixed success with children's films from the great original Spy Kids film to the awful Sharkboy and LavaGirl. In my opinion Shorts falls in the middle of these two.

Initially a good idea, this film falls down in its final tbird when everybody decides to learn a lesson about themselves. However before that there is a lot of fun to be had and if your immature enough to laugh at animal poo and giant snot that comes to life then you'll like this. There are also some more mature gags for the adults watching.

The young actors all play their parts well and there is a nice ensemble of adult actors let by the wonderful James Spader as the odious Mr. Black and William H Macy as the germ-obssessed scientist. Less useful is Kat Dennings, who seems to be there just to fil time, as the sister of the main character and Jon Cryer and Leslie Mann have little to do as his parents.

As you would expect from a Rodriguez kids film this is visually extremely powerful almost too much at some points but overall I thought this was enjoyable enough to be watched at least once by everyone with an overactive imagination.

Review: The Men Who Stare at Goats

A film of two halves 'The Men Who Stare at Goats' starts slow and eventually picks up pace thanks to the use of some clever flashbacks. The first 20 minutes or so establishes Ewan McGregor as the lead - a cuckolded journalist who journeys out to Iraq to try and find some action and ends up finding Clooney's Lyn Cassidy a psychic spy on a mission. Clooney plays the part quite deadpan but it is in the story of the jedis that we get the real laughs.

This is thanks to the performance of the film from Jeff Bridges as Bill the leader of the group that trained Cassidy. Bridges is basically playing a version of The Dude character from The Big Lebowski but is damn entertaining and has much better screen chemistry with Clooney than McGregor does. As the villain of the piece, Kevin Spacey is given little to do which is a problem given his stature as an actor.

Although this film is often funny thanks to Clooney and Bridges. The chemistry between McGregor and Clooney isn't present which is a big problem as they are meant to be the lead duo of the film. Given its 84 minute runtime it is surprising that this film is still quite slow and dips in the middle where Ewan and George are lost in the desert. Although the final ending is quite uplifting it doesn't stop most of the film from being ultimately disappointing given the stature of the four lead actors.

Welcome to the Movie Blog

Yes that's right Matt's at the Movies now in this latest blog which will contain reviews, views and lists. I hope that you enjoy this as much as the movie blog.