Review: Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part One (Mild Spoilers)

The biggest story about the first half of the final film of the Harry Potter franchise thusfar is the fact that it was originally going to be retro-fitted into 3D but Warner Bros. felt they didn't have the time to do the 3D job justice so we have to watch the film in glorious 2D. While watching the film I couldn't help but think if 3D would've enhanced it at all and apart from a scene involving the magic world's Axis of Evil early on, everything else was fairly subdued. Without giving anything away the primary plot of Harry Potter sees the titular bespectacled hero teaming up with bessie mates Ron and Hermoine to try and destory all the remaining Horcruxes that are giving the mega-evil Lord Voldemort all his power. This means that the trio are bunking off and not re-entering Hogwarts to complete their final year instead going on what is basically a magic-enhanced road movie through Shafestbury Avenue, The Forest of Dean and various other external venues. While on the road the main relationship between the three is explored as is the mysteries revolving around the Horcruxes and some more of Harry finding out just how essential he is to restoring the wizzarding world.

After reading a couple of reviews I was going in expecting to be utterly bored by parts of the film. However once Harry and pals had left to go on the round I was fully emerged in the world and the pitfalls along the way. My favourite scenes had to be the afformentioned ones that take place outside as the external locations add to Harry's woes thanks to the natural elements inflicting themselves on him and his friends. Although they are going through a lot of plot for me I thought story-wise the film was at its best when exploring the relationship between the three central characters as we've seen them grow up and now they are fully-fledged adults. The sixth film dealt too much with all the teeny relationship stuff however the sensitive portrayal of the Ron and Hermoine love-story is great as the friendship between Harry and Hermoine the former through a scene in which Hermoine tries to teach Ron how to play piano and the latter in which Hermoine and Harry dance together in order to cheer themselves up. There is also a nice scene in a graveyard during Christmas Eve when Harry sees his parents' gravestones for the first time. In terms of the three actors - Daniel Radcliffe seems to have matured as an actor although he does still seem to be delivering some of his lines like he was in a Shakespeare adaptation while Emma Watson has toned Hermoine down and delivers, by Harry Potter standards, a fairly subtle performance. But it is Rupert Grint, as Ron, who has grown the most, once known for pulling a face and going 'bloody 'ell Harry' he is now portraying a young man unlucky and love and jealous of his friend but learning to control these insticts.

For the fans of the big magical sequences there aren't many save one in the Ministry of Magic and the other in the Malfoy house. However the special effects have been used in other ways, there is a particularly nice sequence in which Hermoine narrates the Story of the Three Brothers which is accompanied by stark animations of the tale. The film does retain most of the humour that we've come to love from the franchise, but the laughs don't seem as forced this time and are mostly natural. One thing that I really noticed this time as well was JoAlexandre Desplat's score which, due to the tone, was a lot more haunting than it has been in previous Potter films. The obviuos flaw is that the story has been split into two parts which means that a lot of much-loved characters don't really get a chance to do anything. There's hardly any Alan Rickman, no Maggie Smith and only a little bit of Robbie Coltraine. There's also a lot of bits of 'popping up' from characters from previous films most notably Imelda Staunton's Dolores Umbridge, this is by no fault of the film as it is intergral for the story but I just felt it interrupted the pace of the film. However there are two small performances from actors new to the franchise Rhys Ifans gives a typically barmy turn as Luna's father Xenophilipous Lovegood while Peter Mullan is truly terrifying as the villainous Yaxley. The story does stop halfway but I think it is done in a way that Part One can stand on its feet as a sepearte film.

Overall this is a film that is starkly different than all the other Harry Potter films thusfar. There is no Hogwarts and not as much action as there has been previously. For me I thought that made a completely different and compelling tale but I know some will find that boring. I guess you'll just have to go and see it for yourself.

Feature: This Year's Oscar Contenders

Last year I got this all wrongI predicted Oscar joy for The Boys Are Back, Amelia and Where the Wild Things Are. This year I've done my research a little bit more and come up with a list of 15 films that I think you'll be hearing a lot of around the awards season.

Another Year 
Director: Mike Leigh 
What's it About?: A year in the life of a happily-married couple who have to deal with the less than happy lives of their friends and relatives.
What are its Oscar chances?: Oscar always loves Mike Leigh films and specifically Secrets and Lies which got a load of Oscar nods. This has been well recieved in the States and in particular the performances have been applauded.
What's it Likely to be nominated for?: Lesley Manville is the hot favourite to be one of the five ladies in this year's Best Actress race. The film itself may also make the top ten and Mike Leigh may be nominated for Best Director.
When Can I see it?: It's out on general release at the moment, your best bet is to check when your local arthouse cinema is showing it.


Black Swan
Director: Darren Aranofsky 
What's it about?: A ballerina who gets the lead in a performance of Swan Lake starts to feel like she is being upstaged by another dancer who may or may not be a figment of her imagination.
What are its Oscar chances?: Although Aranofsky does usually produce some fine work the premise seems a little off-the-wall for Oscar.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: This may be up for quite a bit thanks to rumoured top notch performances by Natalie Portman, Vincent Caselll and Barbara Hershey who could get Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress respecitvely. It is likely it will also crop up in the Top 10 Best Picture list but I doubt Aranofsky will make Best Director.
When can I see it?: Unfortunately for us in the U.K. the release date is currently listed as the 11th February but these things are subject to change.

Blue Valentine 
Director: Derk Cianfrance
What's it about?: Looking at the life of a modern day couple from their first meeting to several years down the line.
What are its Oscar chances?: This is probably this year's quirky and offbeat entry although it may be a little too quirky for Oscar to take it seriously.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: This may be an actors film most likely Ryan Gosling will crop as one of the five Best Actors while Michelle Williams may also get into the Best Actress race.
When can I see it?: There is no official U.K. release date at the moment.

The Fighter 
Director: David O Russell
What's it about?: The real life story of boxer 'Irish' Mickey Ward who rose up from an obscure competitor to a title winner with help from his brother
What are its Oscar chances?: Fairly high thanks to the twinning of a real-life tale and a triumph against adversity plot.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: Another big one I expect it will feature in the Best Picture and Director categories as well as Best Actor nod for Mark Walhberg and Best Supporting Actor for Christian Bale.
When can I see it?: Again it'll have to be a wait until February as its currently slated to be released on the 4th.

Inception 
Director: Christopher Nolan
What's it about?: Going into people's dreams, stealing information, kicks, totems and an ambigous ending. Come on we all saw this one!
What are its Oscar chances?: A couple of years ago it wouldn't have a shoe in but the changes to the Best Picture category are so blockbusters like Inception can be awarded the same recognition as arty films that no-one went to see.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: Best Picture and Best Director the latter of which Nolan may actually get. It will also be nominated for all the techincal awards as well as Best Original Score. In terms of acting awards its best chance is with Marion Cotillard getting a Supporting Actress nod.
When can I see it?: If you didn't catch it over the summer or you just want to see it again its out on DVD on the 6th December.

The Kids are Alright 
Director: Lisa Cholodenko
What's it about?: A lesbian couple with two children are introduced to the man who was their sperm donor and their lives change forever.
What are its Oscar chances?: Again another quirky choice but it has great pedigree and some Oscar favourites among its cast ensuring that it will at least feature in one of the categories.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: The smart money is on Annette Bening to walk away with the Best Actress Oscar for playing the uptight Nic and she may well be up against her on-screen partner Julianne Moore for the award. Mark Ruffalo may also be nomianted in the supporting actor category and the film will most likely feature in the Top 10 Best Picture list. Cholodenko is likely to be nominated but for the film's screenplay rather than for her direction of it.
When can I see it?: Its still on general release at some places and some smaller arthouse cinemas will be screening it soon.

The King's Speech 
Director: Tom Hooper
What's it about?: George VI's surprise rise to the throne following his brother's abdication and his relationship with a speech therapist who helped to cure him of his stutter.
What are its Oscar chances?: Very good, we have real-life story combined with a prestigiuos British backdrop and a lot of recognisable British actors.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: At the moment this is the Bookie's favourite to win Best Picture but that may well change come Oscar time. Colin Firth is also favourite to win Best Actor for his performance as George VI with Geoffrey Rush tipped for a Supporting Actor nomination and Helena Bonham Carter for Supporting Actress.
When can I see it?: It's set for release on the 7th January.

Love and Other Drugs 
Director: Edward Zwick
What's it about?: The relationship between a charming viagra salesman and a girl with a free spirit and a big secret.
What are its Oscar chances?: This is the contender which has the token 'character with an illness' in it, it did have big buzz a few months ago but other films have since overtaken it.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: If anything Best Actress for Anne Hathaway as the kooky Maggie we may also see an adapted screenplay nod.
When Can I see it?: Its out on the 27th December.

127 Hours 
Director: Danny Boyle
What's it about?: A mountain climber who gets trapped under a boulder for the amount of time alluded to in the title.
What are its Oscar chances?: Its got an Oscar winning director behind however the subject matter is a little strange and the academy might not like the more extreme moments of the plot.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: It'll probably make the Best Picture Top 10 elsewhere Danny Boyle might get a look in for Best Director and James Franco is likely to occupy one of the five Best Actor slots.
When Can I see it?: Its out on the 7th January.

Shutter Island 
Director: Martin Scorsese
What's it about?: An troubled FBI agent goes to a secluded mental instiution to investigate the disappearance of a patient.
What are its Oscar chances?: It was hoped that Scorsese's picture would be in last year's shortlist but after its release date was changed it opened earlier this year that means that it may not be as fresh in people's minds as some of the other films. Saying that it is directed by academy favourite Scorsese.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: It may sneak into Best Picture but its more likely that it will get a lone Best Director nomination and maybe Best Score.
When can I see it?: You can watch it on DVD now.

The Social Network 
Director: David Fincher
What's it about?: How Facebook came to be created and how its founder Mark Zuckerberg came to be sued by two different parties at the same time.
What are its Oscar chances?: Fairly good thanks in part to Fincher's direction and Aaron Sorkin's masterful script.
What's it likely to be nomianted for?: I would say that a screenplay win would likely be its best chance but then Fincher may win Best Director and it will probably also be in the Best Picture category. In terms of acting it may be Andrew Garfield who gets a Best Supporting Actor nomination rather than Jesse Eisenberg as Best Actor.
When can I see it?: Its currently showing in most cinemas.

Toy Story 3
Director: Lee Unkrich
What's it about?: The final installment in the popular animated franchise which sees Woody, Buzz and the gang having to seperate from Andy once and for all.
What are its Oscar chances?: Very good. Like with Inception, it will most likely find itself in the Best Picture category because of the opening of the field from five to ten, Up was in there last year and Toy Story 3 is a superior tale.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: I wouldn't be surprised if this was the shock Best Picture winner making it the first animated film ever to win the award. Elsewhere I think it may get nominated or even win Best Original Screenplay written by former Oscar winner Michael Arndt.
When can I see it?: Its out on DVD next Monday.

True Grit 
Directors: Joel and Ethan Coen
What's it about?: The Coen Brothers remake of John Ford's classic western concerning the story of a young girl who hires the toughest marshall she can find to help her do the job.
What are its Oscar chances?: The Coen brothers had success a few years ago with No Country for Old Men, this film sees them team with last years Best Actor winner Jeff Bridges so it may do well.
What's it likely to be nomianted for?: Probably Best Director, Picture and perhaps screenplay although acting wise I'm not sure if Bridges will be able to do the double although the suprise candidate might be young Hailee Steinfeld as a Supporting Actress.
When can I see it?: It's slated for a U.K. release on the 14th January.

The Way Back 
Director: Peter Weir
What's it about?: A group of soldiers who escape from a Serbian prison in the 1940s and have to find their own way home are aided by a young girl
What are its Oscar chances?: Another true story/triumph against adveristy tale this time with added war and sweeping exterior shots its bound to be there somewhere.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: Weir will no doubt add to his stack of Best Director nominations and it'll likely pop up in the Best Picture category. Ed Harris is the most likely of the actors to get a nomination most likely for Best Supporting Actor.
When can I see it?: Its out on Christmas Eve or Boxing Day depending on when your cinema opens/shuts.

Winter's Bone 
Director: Debra Granick
What's it about?: A teenage girl in the Ozark mountains needs to track down her father in order to keep the home she shares with her younger siblings.
What are its Oscar chances?: Its probably has a middling chance but there are some strong performances and some stunning camera work.
What will it be nominated for?: Most likely Jennifer Lawrence will be up for Best Actress and it'll probably get a cinematography nod also
When can I see it?: Its just finished playing at the cinemas so you'll have to wait till the 31st January to watch it on DVD.

There are many more titles that could possibly sneak into the list such as the Australian indie flick Animal Kingdom, Sofia Coppola's Somewhere, Clint Eastwood's paranormal film Hereafter, the British feel-good flick Made in Dagenham, the British feel-bad flick Never Let Me Go, the Robert Duvall-starring Get Low and the low budget Nicole Kidman film Rabbit Hole. However the 15 films above are the ones I would most stick my money on come awards time.

Review: Let Me In

There has been a lot of controversy about English language remakes of foreign films. With David Fincher's remake of Stieg Larson's Girl with The Dragon Tattoo trilogy and also Russell Crowe starring in The Next Three Days a remake of the French film Anything for Her people are starting to question why these remakes need to appear. Obviously the main reason is that some people don't want to read subtitles when they go to the cinema. I do know at least two people who I've had arguments with about watching foreign movies and you always get the 'I don't want to read, when I watch a film' answer so with that preamble we get Let Me In the remake of the Sweedish film Let The Right The One In, which incidentally was one of my favourite films of last year. The plot basically concerns bullied 12 year old Owen who lives in an apartment block in 1980s New Mexico and is incredibly isolated. Owen has no friends and spends most of his nights gazing through a microscope or sitting about on a climbing rame tackling a rubix cube. Owen then meets Abby a girl who he begins to befriend and then spend a lot of time with however Abby is in fact a vampire. Set against this we have the police investigation into the deaths of several members of the community which have in fact come because Abby's 'father' has been killing for her. After her 'father' is badly hurt, Abby has to start to fend for herself with jeapordises her relationship with Owen.

Right off the bat I would say if you haven't seen Let The Right One In, go and rent it or buy it on DVD. Saying that I wouldn't dissuade anyone going to see Let Me In either. While it isn't nearly as good as the film it has been adapted from it still has enough merit to justify it being viewed. My main concern was that Matt Reeves, who previously directed Cloverfield, would make it so in your face it would lose its subtle edge. However that hasn't happened, while there's a little bit more special effects and death than there is in the original, at the same time a lot of the film focuses on Owen's character and his hardships and why he needs Abby. That means that there is a lot resting on the shoulders of young Kodi Smitt-McPhee, previously seen as Viggo Mortensen's son in The Road, here he is extremely compelling as a young boy who always views life from the outside. Even if Reeves had completely over-stepped the mark the film would still be watchable thanks to the young actor's contribution to the film. Chole Moretz is also perfectly fine as Abby, I just think that her exposure in Kick Ass effected my view of her performance here. She is nowhere near as full on as she was in that film but while at the same time I didn't feel I quite believed that she was a 200 year old vampire. There is also excellent support from Richard Jenkins as 'the father' and Elias Koteas as 'the policeman'.

Suprisingly I also find myself laughing a couple of times mainly at the period pieces. Reeves is keen to rip on the 1980s setting so we have clips of Ronald Reagan on the T.V. and 1980s music being played throughout. However for me the best scene that rips on the period setting is where the sweet shop clerk, who has previously been seen in the film, comes to the counter wearing full Boy George regalia while Culture Club plays in the background. The spaces of the apartment block and it snow-filled outside area are also well utilised with Abby and Owen's initial meetings on the climbing frame incredibly well supported by the backdrop. The only problem with this being a remake is that I knew how it was going to end but as a film on its own it retains most of the subtetly of the original while bringing the story to a new audience. The best result is that enough people will see this film and want to watch the Swedish original which can only be a good thing.

Review: The Kids Are Alright

Quirky indie comedies about dysfunctional families are quite common these days, a lot of them pop around awards time. However, while it has been tipped for awards glory, The Kids Are Alright isn't as obvious in its quirkiness as some of those other films and instead focuses on relationships and what happens when a couple has been together for years and their children have grown up. It just happens in this case that the couple are both women Nic and Jules, played respectively by Annette Bening and Julianne Moore, despite this they seem to be a fairly normal couple. Nic and Jules each carried one of their respective children both using the same sperm donor who is sought out by their children Joni and Laser, when the former turns 18. The rest of the film sees how the family unit is rocked by Paul's arrival, the uptight Nic is wary of chilled out restraunter Paul's effect on the kids especially Joni who is about to go off to college. Jules meanwhile, who has never settled on a career, finds herself drawn to Paul as they have a lot in common and later he hires hre on a gardening project. Through his relationship with Paul, Laser is able to stand up to his idiotic friend while Joni is able to stand-up to Nic's authority. The whole thing interweaves between the various relationships as things are changed forever because of Paul's introduction into the family.

The main thing that The Kids Are Alright has going for it is its ensemble cast. Mak Ruffalo's performance is probably his best since his star making turn in You Can Count On Me. His Paul is laid back and has alternative views but when he meets Nic and Jules his life changes and he starts to experience responsibility and love for what may possibly be the first time. Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson are great as Joni and Laser, the former gives a subtle performance as a teenager embarking on a new stage of her life while the latter demonstrates the struggles of a teenage boy growing up with two mums. Julianne Moore makes Jules almost childlike, she almost comes across as spoilt and attention-seeking. This is evident in one scene where Nic and Paul finally start to bond the camera pans to Jules face to see her almost upset that she may have to share her new friend Paul with her partner. Moore always inhabits her roles fully and this is no difference however this is mainly Annette Bening's film. Every scene that she appears in she dominates as she makes Nic a hard character obsessed with rules and proper manners but at the same time always wanting to show that she is forward-thinking. But Benning also shows Nic's soft side during a scene in a bathroom in which everything changes in her relationship with Jules.

It is also admirable that the film never lingers on the fact that these are two women raising children. Instead, and quite rightly, we are told that it is perfectly normal for these two women to raise children together and apart from Paul's line 'I love lesbians' the sexuality of the characters is never raised. The film is mainly about people questioning about how they see themselves Paul likes to think of himself as unattatched and happily so, Jules likes to think herself as a free-spirit and Nic as a woman with alternative views however through their interaction with each other their perceptions change. The whole thing is expertly directed and co-written by Lisa Cholodenko who breathes real life into her character and the film is also incredibly well-shot. My only qualm is that the sub-plot involving Joni and her unrequited love for a male friend is never fully resolved. Overall though this isn't overly-quirky but at the same time is funny and heart-warming with an ending that isn't cliched or overly sentimental.

Review: Easy A

Films set in the teen world and more specifically in the American high school are ten-a-penny, however most of them are not as funny as Easy A. The film concerns Emma Stone's Olive Pendergrast, a girl whose completely ignored at her school and quite likes it that way. The film starts with Olive adressing us via a webcam talking about various lies that she's told and how they've got her into trouble. After lying about her first sexual encounter, Olive then helps out a gay friend so he won't get bullied for his sexuality and soon she is being paid by various dweeby lads to lie about variuos sexual endeavours. Her lies find her target of an extreme Christian group lead by the scarily nice Marianne. Eventually she decides that her lies are costing her her friendships and her reputation and so the film comes full circle with her revelations via webcam.

Easy A's main problem is that because of it's hyped-up sexual content it has been awarded a 15 certificate in this country and therefore its key audience won't get to see the film. Which is a shame because this is a cracker of a film and up there with the best teen films. Although it has been likened to Mean Girls and Clueless I would say it is closer in terms to Juno thanks in part both to its witty and clever script and its breakout lead performance from Emma Stone. Stone, who has had to endure some roles in truly awful movies like The Rocker and The House Bunny, plays Olive has incredibly snappy and quick but not as thick-skinned as she thought. As the film goes on and we get to the inevitable emotional content, Stone never lets Olive become soft instead she just realises she needs someone to lean on. Stone is ably supported by some fantastic older actors who never outstay their welcome or overshadow the central story. Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci, as Olive's parents, play well off each other and are incredibly warm but also have a bit of a wild side. They were so good in fact that I began to wish that they were my parents. Thomas Hayden Church is also great as Olive's literature teacher and somewhat confident while Lisa Kudrow and Malcolm McDowell are also on good form as the guidance councller and principal respectively. Amanda Bynes also makes up for starring in so many apalling teen films by giving us the holier-than-thou Marianne and reminding us what a gifted comic actress she is, it is a shame that this will be her last role as she has given up acting at the ripe old age of 24.

The film's other plus point is in its cultural references. The film's title refers to Olive embroiding a scarlet A on her chest in a similar way to that of the heroine of The Scarlet Letter did to signify she was an adulterer. The film rips on literary references and there is quite a nice Mark Twain film but Olive also references John Hughes and other 1980s teen films and wonders why her life isn't like that. There are a couple of sore points mainly the relationship between Olive and the quirky Todd which seems to be there to give Olive a happy ending and also at times it feels a tad cliched but this is a smart film with a great lead performance which will surely find a lot of fans when it comes to DVD.

Review: The Social Network

Its weird to think that a few years ago there was no Facebook, no updates, no liking, no tagging people pictures but nowadays everybody seems to be doing it. It seems inevitable then that a film about the website's creator, Mark Zuckerberg, would be released sooner or later. Adapted from the book 'The Accidental Billionaire', 'The Social Network' has good pedigree as it is directed by David Fincher and adapted by West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin. The non-liner plot structure flicks between two legal battles that Zuckeberg is having one with his former best friend and Facebook co-creator Eduardo Saverin who wants his credits back on the website and the other with rowing twin brothers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss who claim that Zuckerberg stole the idea for Facebook from them. The whole creation of Facebook, which started when Zuckerberg didn't take his break-up with his girlfriend very well, is all told in flashback. Zuckerberg is never portrayed as a particularly nice character but at the same time Sorkin and Fincher and always keen to point out why he did what he did whether it be through jealousy or through influence. The influence comes via Napster creator Sean Parker who spots a good idea when he sees one but at the same time wants to get the level-headed Eduardo out of the way and concentrate on getting through to Mark. Through Sean's involvement Eduardo is screwed out of the Facebook phenomenon and wants revenge and that's where the legal issues come in.

At first I found the plot structure of The Social Network a little jarring as I wasn't quite sure who it was suing Zuckerberg and why. However, after I fully immersed myself in the movie, I found myself really rather enjoying it. Jesse Eisenberg was a great choice to play Zuckerberg as he looks very nerdy but at the same time is a strong actor who is able to sink his teeth into some of the less attractive parts of Zuckerberg's character. Although he does some truly awful things we are able to sympathise with him in a way and that's partly due to Eisenberg who makes Zuckerberg seem like a real human being. Andrew Garfield's Eduardo is the film's heart really as Eduardo is a geniunely nice guy and sticking by Mark through most of the film he reveals himself to be a true friend. Justin Timberlake also does well as Sean Parker, perhaps the film's only real villain, he combines an easy charm with some real talent when we see the darker side of Parker's psyche. Armie Hammer is also great doubling as the Winklevoss twins he is able to make each of them a little different and has the air of haughty authority down. However the real star of the film is Aaron Sorkin whose script is full of humour and character. From the opening scene in which Zuckerberg is dumped, Sorkin gives us his trademark snappy fast-paced dialogue which fans of The West Wing will be used to. One scene in particular in which the twins confront the President of Harvard about Mark's website reminded me of several scenes from the Washington-based drama.

There are a couple of very minor flaws, firstly that most of the film is set indoors and it does feel very claustrophobic from time to time. And also that this is a very male-dominated film the only real female characters are, soon-to-be-Girl-With-The-Dragon-Tatoo, Rooney Mara as Mark's ex-girlfriend and Rashida Jones as co-council during the legal scenes. These are small quibbles because in the end The Social Network is possibly the best written film of the year so far and must surely be up for some gold come Oscar time.

Review: Made in Dagenham

Seven years ago Nigel Cole made a film about a real life story starring a predominantly female cast of known British actresses, the film was called Calendar Girls and went onto be a massive hit even spawning its own West End show spin-off. Now Cole is back with another film based on a real-life story starring a predominantly female cast and that film is Made in Dagenham which concerns the year in which the women in the Ford Motors Factory in Dagenham went on strike and demanded equal pay. Like in Calendar Girls, Cole is interested on us getting to know the central female characters and at the film's heart is Sally Hawkins' Rita O'Grady, a family woman who is intially reluctant to stand-up for the women but as the film goes on she begins to find her own voice. There is also Geraldine James' Connie a more mature member of the workforce whose husband is suffering from post-traumatic stress after servingin World War 2. As the strike goes on things begin to get tougher especially for Rita as her husband also is forced out of work when the Ford motor plant shuts down. The Government and the Ford company both start to get involved, firstly Ford sends the tough Robert Tooley over to deal with the women and then trade minister Barbara Castle is ordered to sort the struggle out. Along the way there is a lot of tragedy but a lot of heartfelt moments as well as the women try to achieve what they set out to.

There is a debate to be made on whether Made in Dagenham is too broad and doesn't focuse enough on its topic. However I believe that if the subject had been adapted into a grittier picture then not as many people would've gone to see the film and that would've been a shame as there's a lot to like here. The central characters are all well drawn most notably Rita and Connie as well as Rita's husband Eddie, a man of simple pleasures who doesn't quite understand why his wife's doing what she's doing. Even the smaller characters get their moments for example Rosamund Pike's Lisa is a well educated woman who is married to the Ford plant boss and is therefore confined to the kitchen and isn't allowed to give her views on most topics. That's not to say that everybody gets a fair deal, Andrea Riseborough's Brenda only seems to exist in order to have sex with variuos menfolk and then laugh dirtly about it, and an actress of her standing deserves better. The performances are top-notch all around from Sally Hawkins as Rita down to Roger Lloyd Pack as Connie's husband special mention has to go to Richard Schiff as the long-in-the-tooth Tooley who thinks the women can be handled quite easily and steps in to show the British how its done.

Overall I think Cole has improved on Calendar Girls as there's a lot more meat in the tale of the Dagenham girls. He gets the tone between comedy and tragedy dead on here and there are a couple of moments where I generally teared up and also some bits where I couldn't stop laughing. It may be a little bit cheesy and a bit broad but Made in Dagenham is one of those films that just makes you feel-good and also is able to tell the tale of a very plucky group of women.

Review: Buried

2010 seems to be the year of films which are set in small confined spaces. Firstly we had the tank-based drama Lebanon followed by the lift-set Devil and now we have Buried focusing on Paul Conroy, a contractor in Iraq who has been Buried alive in a coffin. And it is the coffin that is the setting for the entire 90 minutes or so of the film and it is Paul who is the solitary figure on screen. The film's premise centres around Paul finding out firstly why he's in the coffin and secondly how he can get out of it. He has been left with a mobile phone, a lighter and luckily a pencil and some water. While in the coffin he is contacted several times by his captors and has to quickly try and respond to their demands in order to secure his freedom. This leads him on a wild goose chase phoning his family, friends, the FBI, the CIA, the media and the company he is working for.

Out of all the films I've seen this year, Buried is surely one of the most original. The concept of spending 90 minutes in a coffin with only Ryan Reynolds for company is the stuff of nightmares luckily the time passed pretty quickly. Reynolds is a revelation here proving that he has a life outside romantic or puerile comedy films. He portrays Paul as the every-man who is just in Iraq on a routine job and isn't quite sure why he's the one they're after. He works well in a very confined space to put across a man who after a while knows there's little help of escape and does it very well. The film also has moments of thrills most notably a scene involving a snake and the tension is upped in the film's very last moments which will leave you on the edge of your seats. The script also covers such topics as foreign relations, terrorist negoitations and corporate betrayal but never offers any real political views on any of them. Buried isn't by any means a perfect film but, if you can stomach it, its a very compelling and interesting film if not one that will ever stand up to repeat viewings.

Review: The Town

After spending several years in the wilderness, Ben Affleck's reinvention of himself is almost complete. After directing the superb Gone Baby Gone and putting in an impressive turn in last year's State of Play he takes triple duty in writing, acting and directing his Boston-based crime thriller The Town. Affleck plays Doug McCray who, along with Jermey Renner's James, is a career criminal and the film kicks off with a bank roberry. It is during that robbery that Doug meets bank teller Claire, later they begin a romance with her unware of his true identity. Doug's relationship with Claire makes him reconsider his life of crime but he is coerced into two more jobs firstly by James and then by the sinister crimelord 'The Florist'. Doug's life is further complicated by F.B.I. agent Adam Frawley who is on Doug's case right from the opening frame. As the final roberry takes place Frawley realises this is his last chance to catch Doug so he uses some underhanded tactics in order to get his man.

The Town is an enjoyable, if uneven, crime film that harks back to such classics as The French Connection. The audience is drawn in straight away thanks to the opening robbery being so gripping however the pace slows down afterwards as we explore Doug's relationships with Claire, James and James' sister who is Doug's sometimes girlfriend. However from the second robbery onwards the tension builds up as the cat and mouse story between Frawley and Doug really kicks into play and the final set piece around Fenway Park is truly spectacular. However there are some cliched and clunky moments throughout most notably the 'criminal who wants to leave the world behind' and the Shawshank Redemption-esque ending. Ben Affleck gives a competent performance from both sides of the camera because of the script he never makes Doug a one-note character and instead offers us a thorough insight into his life. Jeremy Renner is amazing as the slightly sinister James who on the surface is tough-as-nails but at the same time has very strong loyalties. Pete Posslethwaite is truly terrifying in his few scenes as The Florist while Rebecca Hall moves even closer to becoming a Hollywood leading lady. However it is Jon Hamm who gets the scenery chewing award as he truly relishes some of his more over-the-top lines as FBI Agent Frawley. The only week link is Gossip Girl's Blake Lively, as James' sister Krista, her attempt at a Boston accent makes Ray Winstone in The Departed look like a Boston native. And because she's really trying hard to 'act' its hard to understand anything that she actually says.

Despite its flaws The Town is a very good piece of film-making with all round decent performances from its impressive ensemble cast. If only the ending had been a little less clunky it may have been one of the films of the year but instead it's just a good honest film.

Review: Winter's Bone

Every year around autumn and winter time, there always seems to be at least one performance that heralds a brand new acting talent on the scene. Last year we had both Carey Mulligan in An Education and Gabourey Sidibe in Precious. This year the honour goes to Jennifer Lawrence who portrays Ree a young girl from the Ozark mountains who has to go on a journey to find her deadbeat father. Ree has basically become both mother and father to her two younger siblings since her father's disappearance she is their cook, protector and confedent. So when she finds out that their father has put the house up for colaterall for his bail and has since gone missing she sets out to uncover the secrets behind his disappearance. This leads her to battle the community head on as she runs into trouble thanks to the close-nit secrets that our being kept. Her only ally is her slightly dodgy uncle who wants to her help keep the family together.

As I already mentioned the most positive thing about the film is Lawrence's performance. After playing a young Charlize Theron in last year's underrated The Burning Plain, Winter's Bone is definitely her ticket to the big time. Lawrence gives Ree a toughness rarely scene in female characters of her age but at the same time she makes it clear that she is still a girl. At one point Ree goes to the army so she can earn money to keep the house and her siblings safe, however once she finds out she can't have the money straight away she starts to crack. The other interesting performance is from John Hawkes as uncle Teardrop the slightly unhinged protector of Ree who gives an unpredictable and completely watchable turn. However, thanks to Ree's trek, the brutal surroundings of the Ozark mountains becomes its own character every small hut and its inhabitants providing more obstacles for the young heroine. Winter's Bone isn't an easy watch and it is fairly slow but if you stick with it then you'll find a film that is both compelling and breathtaking in its scale and its performances. I think we'll be hearing Lawrence's name a lot more after the award's season.

Review: Tamara Drewe

When you think of comic book movies you immediatedly think superhero or more recently the geeky postmodernist Kick Ass or Scott Pilgrim. However your hardly ever picture the English countryside and a sexy central heroine with a penchant for small jean shorts. But that's exactly what Tamara Drewe is, adapted from Posy Simmonds' graphic novel it stars Gemma Arterton as the titular heroine a journalist who has returned to her small Dorset village. complete with a new nose. in order to sell her mother's house. While there Tamara has to deal with romantic complications with her ex Andy and also with Ben a rock drummer who she interviews and then ends up dating. Running parallel to this story is that of the local writer's retreat run by the comely Beth and her philandeirng mystery novelist husband Nicholas who also has a history with Tamara. To complicate matters further local girl Jody, who is Ben's biggest fan, sets out to sabotage Tamara's relationship with her idol and ropes in her best friend who is also Andy's niece to mess with Tamara. What follows is an utterly hilarious comedy of errors as people get the wrong end of the stick, have a lot of sex and at the end of the day there is kind of a happy ending.

I have to say I really enjoyed Tamara Drewe thanks mainly due to its comic tone. As it is adapted from a graphic novel the characters are very broadly drawn but that's part of the film's appeal. The whole film is also very clever as it weaves in literary references, thanks mainly to the writer's retreat, and in particular Thomas Hardy as one of the writers is composing a non-fiction work about Hardy. But personally I thought the whole thing had the tone of a Shakespearian comedy - the lovers forced together, the various obstacles they have to overcome and the two mischevious characters who are messing around with the other players' lives that only the audience are aware of. Gemma Arterton is perfectly fine in the lead role she asserts her sexuality when needs be and also displays a sort of melancholy about her past. As Arterton gives something for the males to look at I am also reliably informed that Luke Evans, who portrays the strapping Andy, is a 'bit of alright'. However the more compelling performances come from Tasmin Grieg and Roger Allam as Beth and Nicholas she is incredibly moving as the much cheated-on wife and he is hilarious as the philanderer. Dominic Cooper also gives a very good turn as the vain and bored rocker who has a very strange relationship wtih his dogThe two young actresses playing the girls are also brilliant giving the whole thing a lot of childish humour. Overall a funny, love story to the countryisde with some interesting performances and some nice shots of Dorset.

Review: Piranha

Certain times films come along that totally revolutionise the way we see the medium and can only be defined as ground-breaking. Thankfully Piranha, originally shown in 3D, is not one of those films instead it is a complete tounge-in-cheek homage to the original Piranha franchise and other B-movies. The flimsy plot concerns a small beach community which is invaded every year for Spring Break in particular it looks at the female sherrif and her teenage son Jake who is desperately in love with a girl-next-door type. Jake ends up becoming a photographer for a slezy girls-gone-wild type director who also manages to convince his would-be-love to come with them. As you can probably guess from the title, tragedy strikes when prehistoric piranhas start to swarm around the sea and gobble up all the horny students and low-lives. The rest of the film is full of screaming, escaping and severed penises as the sherrif must try and keep her family safe and try and defeat the piranhas.

Unlike the last B-Movie homage, Snakes on a Plane, Piranha doesn't take itself too seriously and instead focuses on the flesh and the death. This is evident from the first scene in which Richard Dreyfuss basically copies his scene from Jaws as he gobbled up early doors by the piranhas. The performances are great although Elizabeth Shue does a good turn as the sherrif forced to turn hero and Christopher Lloyd hams it up as a fish shop owner. Also present is Jerry O'Connell as the sleazy director who has the honour of having his member bitten off as well as our own Kelly Brook who spends most of the film topless or naked and utters the immortal line 'nice horn'. The only problem is that we already know that the central family will all survive and most of the superfulous characters will get gobbled up luckily that doesn't matter as this is just a fun, guilty pleasure summer flick that never outstays its welcome.