Liberal Arts

Jason Segal is not the only cast member from the TV series 'How I Met Your Mother' who does some writing on the side. But Josh Radnor directs as well.
The 'coming home' story is very prolific in cinema. Another TV star, Zach Braff made a similar film 'Garden State'. In most films when someone returns home it is usually because of a death. So it was refreshing with 'Liberal Arts' that it was for a friend's retirement. From the reviews I read I had fairly high expectations for this film. You will no doubt say that I should not believe reviews, but these are from critics that I greatly respect and admire. This film is good but not as great as I was hoping for. The story is interesting from the perspective that many men who date younger women don't agonize over the age difference so much. I was perhaps expecting it to be funnier. It does have some very amusing moments. My favourite being when Jesse finds Zibby reading a vampire book. It does however make Jesse come off as a snob which made me dislike the character and thus turn me off the movie a bit. I did however like the way the relationship resolved itself and the ending.
I know that 'How I Met Your Mother' is a very popular TV series but it was not one I could get into. Josh Radnor looks to not only be a good writer and director but a good actor as well. Elizabeth Olsen is an actress everyone is raving about and this film is a good reason why. She is so delightful here and plays the character of Zibby really well. She has a nice level of maturity which is why Jesse falls for her. Richard Jenkins is another one of those actors that can do no wrong. I don't think it is possible for him to give a bad performance. Likewise for Allison Janney. Her role is a small one but incredibly effective. She can say so much from just one look. I also liked Elizabeth Reaser in her small part as well.
You might enjoy this more than I did. I think I was expecting it to be a lot better than it was. It is still enjoyable though.

Pitch Perfect

'Bring It On' brought competitive cheerleading to our attention. 'Glee' brought competitive show choir to our attention. Now we learn about competitive a capella singing.
I never knew about that a capella singing extended that far beyond a barbershop quartet. 'Pitch Perfect' may follow the clichéd story of a group of underdogs who are trying win a highly competitive sport. But in this case it is full of fun and interesting characters that make is incredibly funny. Writer Kay Cannon with help from Mickey Rapkin's book has created a group of women who are quirky and interesting. These are characters that, through the power of laughter, you come to care about and really root for in their quest for success. I admit that not all of them are fun to be with but you can't have everything. Aubrey is the type of character who is so short sighted that you just want to get up on the screen and slap her silly. I'm surprised none of the other girls in the team didn't do it for me.
As this is a character based film, then it is all about the performances. Anna Kendrick walks a very fine line in this film. While she is obviously the lead, she runs the risk of being overshadowed by her more interesting co-stars. That does happen a little bit here. Anna plays the only 'normal' person in this bunch of 'wacky' characters. While she stands out by virtue of the fact that she is the lead. Her character is not quirky enough to make a big impact. Brittany Snow kind of plays the same character from 'Hairspray', the side kick to the bitch. As the bitch Anna Camp is very good but her character annoyed me a lot. Which I'm sure was the intention. I was pleased that as a producer Elizabeth Banks got to give herself a small role as one of the judges. She and he co-judge played by John Michael Higgins are hilarious. However, the movie is stolen by the Australian comedienne Rebel Wilson. I remember when I was in the USA and the trailer for this film would come on and the reaction Rebel would get, made me so proud to be an Aussie. Rebel's witty one liners are what makes this film so funny. This is truly a star making turn and we are sure to see more of Rebel in the future.
A cut above the normal 'misfits make good' movies that you see all the time. It has hilarious characters and a breakthrough performance that makes the film well worth seeing. 

Trouble With The Curve

Like all great artists, the rumours of Clint Eastwood's retirement from acting were greatly exaggerated.
I am a very strange person. I find it ironic that I hate sports, but like sports movies. I think it is because the behind the scenes drama is so much more exciting than the actual game itself. Last year we got the baseball scouting movie 'Moneyball', which was all about using statistics to calculate who was a better player. Despite being about baseball and statistics I thought it was an excellent film. The director of 'Trouble With The Curve' is Robert Lorenz who has been producing Clint Eastwood's movies for the last few years. He now gets his chance in the directors chair and I think a lot of Clint's style has rubbed off on him. Much like the theme of the movie, which is that the old ways are sometimes better, Robert uses a very old style of story telling to bring this story to life. There seems to be a few movies being made this year that feature older people and it is pretty refreshing. This story has an element of predictability but as with many films the joy is not in the destination but the journey itself. Once again a knowledge of baseball is not required. The film is a very sweet story about a father/daughter relationship and baseball is only the setting not the main focus.
I am so glad Clint reneged on his plan to retire from acting. The man has still got the skill to give an excellent performance. He is still playing the grumpy old man routine but Clint has got it down to a fine art. Plus he manages to bring a great deal of emotion to the character so that he is not angry all the time. Amy Adams once again proves she can do any role she takes. You really feel like she could be Clint Eastwood's daughter. Equally as good in a non-flashy role is Justin Timberlake. I really admire him for the roles he is taking.
Once again this may across as a sports movie but that is only a small part of a bigger picture. Let's hope Clint breaks his promise to retire again.

Rise Of The Guardians

The latest idea in Hollywood is to group famous characters together in the one movie. This is the imaginary creature version.
Recently Guillermo Del Toro was made a creative consultant at DreamWorks Animation. For me this is the first time that you can see his influence in a more obvious way. The design of the characters in 'Rise Of The Guardians' certainly looks like something that Guillermo would have come up with. However the look of the film is probably its strongest asset. As usual with DreamWorks films it looks wonderful. The animation is top notch. The area that is lacking is the story. The basic concept is excellent but I just feel the execution has not been taken into consideration. My problem is that there appears to be a backstory about the Guardians and where they came from that needed further explaining. The film opens with an explanation of how Jack Frost came into existence but I do not think that was necessary. They should have given us an explanation of how the Guardians came together. I felt that there was an epic story here which needed further telling. Other than that the film is good and it is nice to see these characters come together in the one film.
This would have to be one of the better voice casts assembled. Chris Pine has played the rebellious rapscallion so often that he knows this type of character really well now. Alec Baldwin does a very good Eastern European accent and makes North (aka Santa) something a bit different to what you normally seen. Hugh Jackman put on the strong Aussie accent to play the Easter Bunny which I found slightly annoying. Fellow Aussie Isla Fisher does better as Tooth. Jude Law was my favourite as Pitch. He brings a great deal of evil and nastiness to his voice which suits the character.
A decent animated film which lacks the depth to make it a truly brilliant film. Perhaps the Guardians will be expanded more if they make sequels.

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

Those films that feature the underdog are always some of the best films. This is the type of character that most people can relate to.
I was very much an introvert in high school. There were a few guys who I would talk to but none that I would call friends. I did not live in the area where my school was so it was not like I could meet up with my school friends on weekends. Most of the time I kept to myself and did not socialize with others. Unlike Charlie, in this film, I did not have a couple of older kids to help me come out of my shell. This would have to be one of the better 'coming-of-age' films I have seen lately. I think part of the reason that I liked it was because the film is set in the 1980's which is about the time that I was at school. It was set at a time that I could relate to. Something I cannot seem to do with lots of the modern type high school movies. One other thing I could relate to was the making of mix tapes. While I did not make mix tapes for other people, I made them for myself. Taping my favourite songs off the radio. There is also the very relatable issue of being in love with some one who does not exactly feel the same way. That is something which is universal. I was a little bit concerned when I found out that writer Steven Chbosky was not only adapting his own book but directing the film as well. Sometimes writers can be a bit too close to their material to make them effective. Steven, though has done an excellent job and manages to bring out all the emotion of the situations and directs with competence. My only major fault would be that I thought the ending was a bit too happy.
Logan Lerman does an excellent job as the sweet Charlie. He pitches the role at the right level of timidity so that he does not completely get taken over but his more over bearing co-stars and still make his character memorable. This would have to be one of Emma Watson's best roles since finishing the Harry Potter series. I think here she was better than she was as Hermione. Ezra Miller made an effective performance in 'We Need To Talk About Kevin', so it is nice to see him go from being so evil to being so good. Ezra is definitely the stand out in the cast. There are some nice performances by adults too. Kate Walsh and Dylan McDermott do a good job as parents without resorting to cliché. The same can be said of Paul Rudd who plays Charlie's favourite teacher. I was disappointed by Joan Cusack's small role.
One of the best 'coming-of-age' films I have seen in a long time. An emotional journey that I'm sure many can relate to but 80's kids could probably get more out of.

The Twilight Sage: Breaking Dawn - Part 2

It has finally happened. The epic love story between a human and a vampire has come to an end. Good news for some. Bad news for others.

It often infuriates me that Hollywood studios do not have many original thoughts. When it was announced that the final Harry Potter film was going to be split into two parts it was announced that the same would be done for 'The Twilight Saga'. The Harry Potter book was long enough to warrant the split, however 'Breaking Dawn' was not. My feelings about the series are well known if you have read my previous blogs. So you know what my feelings would be with this film. I found this film to be particularly boring because it felt more like a short story that had been extended to make a film out of. I would have thought it could be more interesting because of the impending threat and recruitment of more vampires to fight this threat but it just comes across as dull. What really topped it off was the incredibly lame ending. I'm not afraid to spoil it by saying they take the 'it was all a dream' concept to all new depths of being infuriating. Just when you think the film is about to get good they go and throw that tired old cliché at us.
While Kristen Stewart does get more life in this film now that she has become a vampire but she is still very dull. She has only a couple more facial expressions. The same can be said for Robert Pattinson. He seems to make a good effort with the dismal material. Taylor Lautner's character spend most of his time as a wolf so we don't get to see the human form much. Sadly he is wearing his shirt most of the time. The rest of the cast are up to the same standard they usually are. Which is not saying much. I did like Michael Sheen and wish Dakota Fanning had more to do.
You don't need me to tell you if this film is any good. You should know by now what your in for and if you'll enjoy it or not.

Celeste And Jesse Forever

You have no doubt seen Rashida Jones play small roles in many TV series and films. She has now written herself a leading role.
The most common theme amongst romantic comedies these days are couples who start off a friends who then fall in love. The twist here is that we have a couple who are separated and getting a divorce but still seem to maintain their friendship. This set up really had me worried. I find stories where couples say they are just 'friends' but behave like a couple in a relationship. That is the impression you get from Celeste and Jesse, until a friend announces they are supposed to be separating and getting a divorce. Then to add to my concern was the reason for their break-up, that Celeste cannot handle Jesse's slacker lifestyle. From the impression I got Celeste would have known this about Jesse before they got married. It further adds to the criticism people have about modern society that couples are getting married too soon. But then the film changes direction and gets incredibly good. 'Celeste And Jesse Forever' is very much a modern day romantic comedy. It is sweet that Celeste and Jesse try to remain friends despite breaking up, but their familiarity with each other means they are unable to move on. It is why Celeste keeps going back to Jesse. Celeste is an excellent character and you really come to care about her over the coarse of the film. Lee Toland Krieger did a brilliant job with the film's direction as well. His use of songs was very effective. 
Rashida Jones has proven herself to be a good comedic actress. Celeste is a role she wrote for herself and so she knows her own strengths and weaknesses. But she is excellent in the role. Celeste feels like a real woman and Rashida does an excellent job of bringing her to life. Andy Samberg is another comedic actor who has had a few minor roles, some good and some bad. He makes an excellent romantic lead here and a great partner for Radhida in some funny moments. Ari Graynor is excellent in the 'best friend' role. She has some of the film's funniest lines. Equally as good is Elijah Wood in a role which is a send up of the gay friend. Emma Roberts also makes a good spoilt young singing star.
For me this is one of the best modern romantic comedies. It does not have any big name stars but is still very funny and sweet.  

2 Days In New York

Actress Julie Delpy made her directorial debut with the film '2 Days In Paris'. It was enough of a hit to warrant a sequel.
The film '2 Days In Paris' was a good film that had some funny moments, in the style of 'Meet The Parents' but with an independent feel. Sadly Julie Delpy could not rest on her laurels and decided to make this sequel. For some reason she has decided revisit the same characters which helped to make her famous as a director. But instead of developing the characters in a good way she has made them worse. The characters in '2 Days In New York' are all people you do not want to know, especially in a film. They all have no redeeming qualities which makes you want to root for them or even spend time with them. They are all so stupid and do such dumb things. I could handle that sort of behavior in certain films but here it just comes across as bad. They do not feel like real people but badly written caricatures. The sub plot of Marion selling her soul as part of an art show was interesting but has a horrible ending.
Julie Delpy is a very good actress and seems to make a decent job of her own horrible writing. Marion can be charming but she does some stupid things. Chris Rock is probably the only one with a decent character in the film. His character is the most sensible one as he navigates his way through a bunch of crazy people. I'm sure that Julie's real father Albert got lots of fans from his performance in '2Days In Paris' but I think one film was enough for him. He does not do much more in this film except the same routine. It was good at first but just gets annoying after a while. The same can be said of Alexia Landeau and Alexandre Nahon. They both start of good but just get steadily worse as the film goes on.
If you liked '2 Days In Paris' then do not ruin the experience by seeing its sequel. A pretty bad set of characters.

God Bless America

You may remember Bobcat Goldthwait as the crazy, out of control guy from the 'Police Academy' movies. Bobcat has now calmed down and become a director.
As a script writer I am not a fan of reality TV. I do not watch any of those shows and from the bits I've seen I find the people on them to be in no way interesting. So when I heard what this film was about, I got a bit excited. I'm a huge fan of black comedies so this film definitely appealed to me. Our hero Frank gets to do what most of us sometimes dreamed about doing in our sickest moments. If we had nothing to live for, to go around killing people we hated. The film begins with a very sick and twisted dream sequence which made me laugh a lot. The plot is pretty clichéd and is only a way for Bobcat to rant about what is wrong with America, but he does it in a very entertaining way. It is a clever satire on our modern life and obsession with certain people in the media. He also has a go at how people have no manners anymore and have become so selfish. The great thing is that even though Frank is going around killing people he has a good reason for doing it. There are a few people who come into the firing line but he does not kill them because they are not nasty enough. The targets might be obvious but you don't mind when done so hilariously.
Joel Murray is probably a face that is familiar to you. He has appeared in many films and TV series in small roles. I think this is his first lead. He is perfect as our put-upon hero. Being a less familiar face means he can play the regular type guy role. Joel has that deadpan quality which makes him funny as well as real. His partner in crime Tara Lynne Barr is equally as funny and a nice side-kick for Joel. She has the perfect balance of sweetness and nastiness. I also liked how they did not take their relationship in the obvious direction.
It may look cheap and be very wrong but it sure is funny. Let Frank and Roxy live out your dream of getting even with society.

Red Dawn

In 1984 the movie 'Red Dawn' was made. Then in 2010 an Australian version was made. Now we get another go at the story.
'Red Dawn' is another one of those films that has been sitting on the shelf for ages before being released. Sadly that time on the shelf has not been good to the film. Overall the film does not feel cinematic. To me it felt more like a made-for-TV movie and not something you would want to see at the movies. I kind of got the feeling that it had been put under a rigorous test screening process and that things which were not working had been cut out. This means it opens rather quickly. While the opening titles sequence is very effective in conveying lots of information in a small time period there is still lots that need to be explained. The whole premise of the film seems pretty ludicrous anyway. I cannot imagine North Korea getting away with a ground assault on the USA like it is depicted in the film. I have not seen the original film so cannot vouch as to whether the credibility of the premise is better verified then. At least it made more sense in 'Tomorrow When The War Began'. Australia is not a major super power with a huge army and nuclear weapons in its arsenal. The other thing that did not make sense to me was the fact that some Americans were rounded up and put in detention camps. It was never explained as to why these people in particular were singled out and not others. Perhaps I missed some vital piece of information.
Poor Chris Hemsworth seems to have been unlucky with a couple of films he made. Before he became famous with 'Thor' he made 'Red Dawn' and 'The Cabin In The Woods' which had their releases held up. Chris is definitely the best thing in this film. He manages to pitch his performance in just the right way so that he brings dignity to a trashy film. The one thing that really annoyed me about this film was Josh Peck. While his performance was pretty bad what I could not get over was the fact that he did not look like he could be Chris Hemsworth's brother unless he is adopted. Chris looked like the actors who play his parents but Josh would have to have been adopted. A minor point but it was one of those niggling things that just ruined what was already a pretty bad movie. Josh Hutcherson gives a decent performance.
People wonder why Hollywood cannot come up with an original idea and instead keep remaking old films. This film does nothing to make remakes seem like a good idea.   

Skyfall

50 years ago we were introduced to Bond, James Bond. Over that time we have been on many adventures with this distinguished spy.
I have long been a fan of the James Bond 007 franchise. I think the first film of the series I saw was 'A View To A Kill'. I remember loving the film and finding it exciting. Then came the Timothy Dalton phase which I did not see until later. So it was not until the Pierce Brosnan era that I really got into Bond. Many people ask you 'what is your favourite Bond?' To me that is like asking who your favourite Dr. Who is. It is not a question that I can answer. While I like Pierce, I like the character and think he is great who ever is playing him. Each actor brings their own qualities to the character and makes him so diverse and such an endearing figure in cinema history. I think it is a testament to Eon Productions  once headed by Cubby Broccoli and now lead by Barbara Broccoli and Michael J. Wilson that the character has managed to survive so long. They have fought many hard battles to keep the integrity of the character intact and they have to be admired for that. While I admit that sometimes the series has gotten silly and out of control, they have generally been able to steer it back to sensible waters.
I may not be the best person to judge a James Bond film. Whatever the film I always love it the first time I see it. I get so caught up in the thrill of seeing a James Bond film that I over look any flaws the film may have. But I do think that there are very few flaws in 'Skyfall'. On reflection there is just so much going on in the film with the story having so many layers and themes being touched on. The opening action scene certainly sets the pace for the rest of the film. It has one of the best moments in the film, which is in the trailer, when Bond lands on the back of a train and adjusts his cuffs before continuing the chase. For me that moment encapsulates the entire character of James Bond. Despite all the crazy stuff going on around him he is so swave and sophisticated to make sure he looks good while doing it. What I also loved was a greater involvement of M in this film. While M's bosses in British parliament have always been a normally unseen presence in previous films they have a greater influence now. M is under pressure not just politically but personally as well. Other Bond films have tackled personal issues with Bond but this one has him helping out someone else. A someone who is like a surrogate parent to Bond. We then also have the villain reeking havoc on MI6 with his maniacal plans. Perhaps because of MGM's financial woes the writers Neal Pervis, Robert Wade and John Logan had time to work on the script and get it right. Sam Mendes I think is one of those directors that can do no wrong. All his films have been great. He was the perfect choice to direct this film and has the skill to not only make spectacular action but to develop the characters so you care for them more. This is especially true of Bond as we learn more about his history and origins.
As mentioned above I am a fan of Pierce Brosman's version of James Bond, but I do have respect for Daniel Craig's interpretation. It is true what they say that he is more gritty and raw and does not go in for some of the silliness that other Bond's have had to go through. So while he comes across as a killing machine, 'Skyfall' has given Daniel more to work with. He is no longer just a man on a mission but one with a history that shapes who he is. Judi Dench is an actress of such skill and grace that she adds dignity to any film she is in. That is certainly true here and finally she is given more material to work with. Dench encapsulates the role of M so perfectly here with her toughness when she needs to be, as evidenced by a tough decision she needs to make in the beginning of the film. To the soft side when she must put her life in the hands of the man who she possibly unconsciously sees as her son. Javier Bardem has proven before what a skilled actor he can be at playing villains. He is so menacing and evil. Without giving too much away he plays that evil so well once again but with a slightly more flamboyant touch. His opening scene would have to go down as one of the best entrances of a villain in Bond history. Ralph Fiennes makes an excellent introduction as M's boss. He is very good at playing the tough boss role as well as being one who is sympathetic as well. Ben Wishaw is excellent as the new Q. Making the role younger was a wise choice. Also wise was introducing another Bond regular. Although I felt the reveal was a bit forced.
It might be a brilliant Bond film but it is a brilliant film. I plan on seeing it several times in cinemas to fully digest all that is going on. I don't think you need to be a Bond fan to appreciate the greatness. 

Seven Psychopaths

A couple of years ago Martin McDonagh took us on an obscenity filled trip to Bruges. He now takes us to LA.
A popular saying amongst writers is to 'write what you know'. Which is why we get films like this one about writers. Some script writers have taken that adage and made something of it by subverting the subject. Charlie Kaufman did it brilliantly in one of my favourite films 'Adaptation'. Martin McDonagh seems to be doing something similar here by having the lead character be a script writer and comment on the films action as if it was a film. It is quite clever and Martin does a very good job with the devise. It also feels a little bit autobiographical with Martin being like Marty and coming up with idea of a movie with seven psychopaths and then working that into a film script. Martin is very good at writing dialogue which is something I'm very jealous of. The film's dialogue is clever and very witty with some hilarious lines. The characters are also nicely crazy, much like the film's plot. That's the thing I liked most about it was the unpredictability of the plot. You never really knew where it was going and that is refreshing these days. I did find the second half a little slow going at times. I also thought that there were a few twists in the plot that could have been revealed at different times.
I think Colin Farrell does his best work when he is in smaller budget films. He is quite funny as he gets continually frustrated by all the crazy events going on around him. Sam Rockwell is one of those actors who is excellent in everything he does and this role does not let him down. Woody Harrelson is equally as good. He plays crazy so well. The best performance though is from Christopher Walken. His role is not only hilarious but his character has a softer side which gives him an emotional edge.
Martin McDonagh has once again made a clever, witty and violent comedy. Not quite as good as 'In Bruges' but still excellent.

The Sessions

I think it must be pure coincidence that we are getting two films at the same time which are about men who are paralyzed.
I know it is wrong for me to compare but I found 'The Sessions' a better film than 'The Intouchables'. While 'The Intouchalbe' is a conventional story about a friendship, 'The Sessions' explores a unique issue which many of us would rather not think about. Sex  is not a topic which many people like to talk  about so to see a film about sex and the disabled is a pretty major achievement. 'The Sessions' explores the issue in a very sensitive and heartfelt way. Writer/director Ben Lewin infuses the film with some humour which helps to lighten the mood and make the audience feel less uncomfortable about the topic which is discussed. I liked how the story was not as simple as a man finding someone to have sex with him, but you had into the mix his religious issues and you get a story which has a lot of substance. My only minor criticism is that Ben staged a few scenes in unusual ways which felt a bit weird to me.
John Hawkes may not be very popular but he is one of the best actors working in films today. John gives a nicely nuanced performance as Mark. This is another role where an actor can not perform physically and John makes more of the role than his limited capabilities. This is by far and away the best performance that Helen Hunt has ever given. She is very raw and reveals quite a lot which she should be commended for. But she does it with such ease that you have to remind yourself that it is and actor playing a role. William H. Macy provides much of the film's humour with his confessional session with John. Moon Bloodgood has mostly done action films so far in her career so it is nice to see her doing a role with more sensitivity and emotion.
An uncomfortable subject matter has been given a new lease on life in this brilliant film. It also features some of the best performances you are likely to see this year.

The Intouchables

It is the most popular French film in France and is now slowly taking over the world.
Hype can be a funny thing. There are films which come out that you hear so many good reports about a film that you almost feel as if you must enjoy it. While I did think 'The Intouchables' was a good film, I did not think it was as wonderful as everyone has been raving about. For me when I see a French film I have a certain expectation that they will take a fairly conventional story and make it feel fresh. Writers/directors Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano have not done much to make the film unique. I admit that it is charming and a really feel good story but I think I just expected something more. I did like the inspirational story about not taking people at face value. One other criticism is that Driss's family life was not explored enough. To me it felt a little bit tacked on and was not intergrated well into the main story. Plus it felt very clichéd.
Francois Cluzet does an excellent job by doing very little. He is paralyzed so all the expression comes from his face and he cannot move. Francois manages to be expressive with very little movement. He leaves all the big movements up to his co-star Omar Sy. Omar is a whirlwind of energy in this film and gives it a great deal of its charm. He is brilliant in the role and is the biggest reason to see the film. I also liked Anne Le Ny who plays the housekeeper. 
I am in the minority here with my opinion so perhaps you should go judge it for yourself. For me it was a good film but not as great as everyone has been raving about. 

The Master

In the art house cinema world Paul Thomas Anderson is highly respected. He is one of the few auteurs whose entire resume is highly respected. His new films are always highly anticipated.
It does not matter what subject he is exploring, whether it be pornography or an oil magnate, his films are a work of art. 'The Master' is no exception. I've always loved Paul and his films. He really feels like a clever film maker who knows how to use the medium to tell his story. The opening of the film where we learn about our lead character Freddie is mostly done without dialogue. Just a series of sequences that shows how disenfranchised Freddie is with his life. He was not much of a soldier. Continually making moonshine and getting drunk. His life after the war is not much different. Then he stumbles across Lancaster Dodd, a guru who runs a type of cult. Supposedly the film is based on Diane tics and the early days of Scientology. While that might be the case I do not think that is the important issue. For me it could have been about any religion. Freddie seems so lost in his life journey that it any religion would have sufficed.
Joaquin Phoenix returns after his 'retirement' from acting. He could not have picked a better film to make his return. While he does have the annoying habit of talking out of the corner of his mouth, he is still brilliant in the role. I did get the feeling that if he was 20 years younger that Paul would have cast Daniel Day Lewis in the role. Joaquin seems to be playing it like Daniel. Equally as brilliant is a frequent Paul Thomas Anderson collaborator Philip Seymour Hoffman. He is perfect as The Master. There is one scene where Lancaster interviews Freddie which had me completely mesmerized and that is because of the brilliance of these two actors. Amy Adams fits nicely with these two. Amy seems to be very different in every role she does and that's what makes her so great. I also quite liked Jesse Plemons who plays Lancaster's son in the film. He seems to be the only voice of reason in the cult.
A film for those who enjoy classy cinema that is a work of art. It will make you think and give you something to discuss with your friends afterwards. Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the best film makers working in cinema today.

End Of Watch

Writer/ director David Ayer seems to have a big obsession with the LA police force. This time he uses the new 'found footage' format.
For me the found footage format can be very hit and miss. Strangely this film is both hit and miss. What I liked was the documentary like view meant we got to see the characters in a realistic way. This made them seem more real and not just actors playing the roles and so we care more about the characters. The scenes of Brian and Mike chatting in the car as they patrol were the best parts of the movie. They feels so relaxed and natural. I did think that David elevates his characters up a little bit too much. He makes them seem so wonderful winning awards, etc. But it just lessons their reality. I know we should not believe film synopsis but I thought the film was supposed to be about Brian and Mike coming under attack from a drug cartel but that sub plot did not play much of a role in the film. Speaking of the drug cartel. I found those characters to be very ridiculous. I am not a prude when it comes to swearing but the way these people swore was too much. they come across as charactures and not real people. These people might speak that way but the way they talk is more like parody.
Jake Gyllenhaal once again proves he is and excellent actor. So does his partner Michael Pena. The two of them make an excellent duo with their friendship seeming very real and not just made up for the movie. Natalie Martinez and Anna Kendrick do a very good job as the boys wives. It was nice to see America Ferrera doing a touch chick role after all the sweet roles she normally plays.
One of the better found footage style films. It works to give us a better look at two average cops in a tough area. But is let down by some unrealistic plot elements and characters.  

Bachelorette

Finally women are receiving equal opportunity when it comes to making crude comedies. With 'Bridesmaids' last year we now get another similarly themed film.
I think it is great that women are now having the chance to prove they can be just as crass as their male counterparts. It is a long time coming and something that I look forward to. And I mean 'forward to' as so far we have not had a decent crude comedy featuring a mostly female cast. I was not impressed with 'Bridesmaids' last year because like most Judd Apatow produced films it was too long and boring for a comedy. Now we get this one which is the right length but was still not funny. This time around the problem is the characters. The one thing that 'Bridesmaids' proved was that you can have likable female characters and still be rude and crude. Leslye Headland, the writer/director of 'Bachelorette' does not think the same thing. The three lead characters of Regan, Katie and Gena are not very nice women. Their motives are not very nice either. I'm not sure exactly why they are friends with Becky to begin with. All they seem to do is make fun of her and belittle her for her weight. Regan seems to be the one closest to Becky and is the most resentful of Becky. Which makes me wonder how Becky can not notice how much these women hate her. You can make the argument that Regan is nice enough to sacrifice a lot of her time to help Becky get ready for the wedding but her motive for doing it, out of spite, does not seem like a good reason. Gena was the only character of the trio that I liked because I liked her plot of trying to get back with an old boyfriend. The crude behavior also needs to come from an innocent place. Good women who stumble into bad behavior it more endearing than bad women making bad behavior.
I love the fact that Kirsten Dunst is doing a comedy but I just wish she made a decent one. She plays the bitch character really well though. Lizzy Caplan is great as Gena, the only nice character. Isla Fisher does play the continually drunken woman well but it is not a nice character. Rebel Wilson is excellent as Becky. I love how Rebel is becoming so popular in movies at the moment.
You can have unlikable characters in films but they have to be handled in a special way. You need to understand why they are so unlikable. Sadly Leslye Headland does not understand that.

Lawless

Aussies John Hillcoat and Nick Cave have teamed up on some great Australian crime films. They now cross the Pacific to look at some American criminals.
John Hillcoat is a skilled film director who has made an interesting look at one of the low grade crime families. While most criminals become rich and successful, the Bondurant boys just pretty much stay as they are. It's only the younger brother Jack who goes around flaunting his wealth and that is so he can impress a girl. The only disappointing thing about the film is that the story is pretty conventional. Perhaps the story of criminals does not have many variations and so there are no new ways to tell it. But director Hillcoat does make the film very thrilling. Largely because of the interesting characters that writer Nick Cave has recreated.
John has managed to assemble a very prestigious cast for his down and dirty film. Tom Hardy once again plays his stoic, hulking role. He is not very lively but manages to be a big presence in the film. But still mumbles a lot sadly. Shia LaBeouf took me completely by surprise and gave an excellent performance. He is well suited to playing the cocky young guy but he has a bit more substance to his character this time. Mia Wasikowska does a sweet job as the Amish girl being turned by Shia's character. Jessica Chastain is a gorgeous oasis in the sea of grubbiness that is the film. So graceful and lovely. Her character nicely offsets the dirtiness of the setting and other characters. Gary Oldman has a nice cameo appearance. The real star of the film and the one person that makes it well worth seeing is Guy Pearce. Guy has been in several films this year but this is by far and away his best performance. He is so creepy and scary.
The basic plot might be familiar but in the hands of director John Hillcoat it becomes a more visceral and thrilling experience.

Frankenweenie

In 1984 Tim Burton made a short film called 'Frankenweenie' for Disney. They did not like it. In 2010 Tim made 'Alice In Wonderland' for Disney which made over $1 billion for the company. This gave him the chance to expand his short film into feature length like he always wanted to.Long time readers will know that Tim Burton is my favourtie director, so you may need to take my reviews of his films with a grain of salt. I can be critical but perhaps not as much as I should.

 

I was so proud when 'Alice In Wonderland' made so much money at the box office. While I can admit that it is by no means the best Burton film, I was pleased that it meant Tim got a lot more creative freedom because of this.I believe it gave him the chance to make 'Dark Shadows' and this film. This is a stop-motion animated film which has not been a successful animated medium lately. The subject matter is very weird and macabre. Then when you add to this that the film is in black and white, these are not elements which make a major film studio like Disney want to make a film.

One criticism that Tim Burton gets is that he mostly makes films that are adaptations of existing works. He rarely does original films based on his own ideas. 'Frankenweenie' is one of those rare occasions and it really shows. As you know my favourite film of all time is 'The Nightmare Before Christmas', so I was really excited for this film. I was not disappointed. The one thing that made me love the film more was that this feels like a very personal film for Tim. I can see so much of Tim in the character of Victor. While he probably did not bring his dead dog back to life, I can imagine Tim doing just about everything else in this film. I have already spoken of my love for stop-motion animation and this film is no exception. The black and white cinematography just adds to the beauty of the puppets. Tim is obviously a fan of old horror films which were mostly filmed in black and white so it is his way of honouring these classics. The story is also brilliantly done too. It is very sweet as well as being funny and weird. All the elements I look for in a film. 

Tim has assembled a voice cast which features a few old favourites. Catherine O'Hara has worked with Tim before on 'Bettlejuice' and 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' and she gives another wonderful performance here. Her range is delightful too as she goes from playing something sweet like Victor's mother all the way to playing the weirdness of Weird Girl. Martin Short worked with Tim on 'Mars Attacks' and also plays a variety of characters brilliantly. Another Burton veteran is Winona Ryder. Her character is very similar to the one she played in her previous Burton film 'Beetlejuice'. The last time Martin Landau worked with Tim Burton is got him an Oscar. While that won't happen again here Martin is still brilliant. Charlie Tahan is excellent as Victor. The best voice for me though is Atticus Shaffer as Edgar. Atticus manages to do a great parody of the Igor character from other Frankenstein films.

Another master work from the genius that is Tim Burton. Being an original work for him this has a more personal touch which makes it all that much better.   

Argo

Everyone thought Ben Affleck's career was over after a string of box office flops. But lately he has revived his career with a string of critically successful films he directed.

It is amazing how people can reinvent themselves. As a director Ben Affleck just keeps on getting better and better with each film he makes. There is already talk of all the awards he will receive for 'Argo'. And they are very deserving. Many of us would know about the American hostages taken in Iran in 1979. But you would not know that there was a second group of people hiding out at the residence of the Canadian Ambassador. Affleck and writer Chris Terrio have made a really tension filled thriller that is also incrediblt funny. With the inclusion of film makers into the plot this lets them add some much needed levity to the film so it is not just all tense moments. Affleck is a skilled director who can nicely balance the humour and the tension so that the hour never compromises the seriousness of the situation which the American workers are in. The film's ending would have to be one of the most tense moments I have experienced in a film in a long time.
Ben Affleck director really knows how to get a good performance out of Ben Affleck the actor. While Ben plays the hero of the film he does not do it in a big showy sort of way. Tony Mendez is a quiet unassuming sort of guy and Ben plays it that way. Ben has also gotten himself some excellent actors to support him. Brian Cranston is finally getting the exposure he deserves and is his usual brilliant self here. As Tony's Hollywood contacts John Goodman and Alan Arkin are hilarious. Especially Alan who seems to be sending up the typical low budget Hollywood producer he has now doubt known over his career. Victor Garber and Tate Donovan are also very good in their roles too.
Another one of those true story films that features a plot which does not seem it could be true. A clever mix of tension and laughs which firmly establishes Ben Affleck as an all round film maker.

Killing Them Softly

Aussie director Andrew Dominik seems to enjoy exploring the dark underside of our world. He re teams with Brad Pitt to look at some more villains.

There has been much written and spoken about the nastiness of this film. Mostly that the men treat women really badly. While that is true, it is because of the world they live in. The men as depicted in this film are bad men. They do bad things. The steal, they kill and they take drugs. Not exactly the actions of nice people. While I am not condoning their behaviour, I'm just saying that it fits in with all their other unsavory behaviour. I think that is also part of the reason why people had trouble watching this film. We are exploring a dirty world with very dirty people so it is not going to be a very pleasant experience. Andrew Dominik does a brilliant job of making this film feel very authentic. All the elements from the script to costume and production design to bring this dirty world to life. These are also violent people and Andrew does not shy away from showing the horrific nature of the violence these people inflict. It is very brutal and not for the faint of heart.
I admire major movie stars who are not afraid to lower themselves and do some lower budget films. Brad Pitt's character of Jackie Coogan is possibly one of the nicer people amongst this group of nasty people. Brad plays it in a nicely cool and smooth way. Scoot McNairy is brilliant as one of the thieves Jackie is hunting down. He really seems at home with the crude dialogue he has to speak. He has a great sidekick in Aussie actor Ben Mendelsohn who is brilliant as the drug addict Russell. You really think he could have taken drugs to play the role. James Gandolfini pretty much plays Tony Soprano but is good at it. Ray Liota is also very effective as a hapless gangster.
This is a very unpleasant film and not for everyone. But if you like a simple story well told that is different to the glossy films you normally see then you should seek this out.

Raiders Of The Lost Ark

With the recent release of the Indiana Jones series on blu-ray, some cinemas have been screening 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark'. It was the perfect opportunity to relive this classic film.

There are many memories I have of my dad taking me to see movies when I was young. I remember him taking my brother and myself to see 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark'. It was screening as a double feature at my local cinema with 'Foul Play'. I remember being petrified throughout 'Foul Play'. Being so young I don't think I knew it was meant to be a comedy. I think I just found the big albino man really scary. It is amusing to note that I think I found 'Foul Play' scarier than 'Raiders'.
For me there are some films that are the very definition of the perfect film. The perfect mix of all elements that comes together to create perfection. It is simply the greatest action/adventure film ever made. Writer Lawrence Kasdan has crafted a brilliant script from a story by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman. The character of Indiana Jones is so perfectly realised that he comes fully formed in the film. All his back story is cleverly woven into the film so that you do not notice it. This is mostly done through his relationship with Marion. Some action heroes can be arrogant in their approach but Indy feels so humble that despite his uncanny ability to get out of any situation he comes across as a very average guy. It is also great to see that he has a strong female character to work with. Marion is a tough woman who can handle tough situations. But she occasionally needs Indy's help. The villain Belloc is also very well written too. The great thing is that he is not really the film's major threat. You could think of Hitler as an unseen bad guy who Belloc is working for. Belloc is not unlike Indy but is just passing the Ark onto a bad man. The story is also cleverly done and keeps getting interesting as it goes along. You certainly learn about The Lost Ark from watching the film. The twists and turns that Indy has to go through in protecting the Ark are fun and exciting. Which brings me to the direction. For me this is my all time favourite film directed by Steven Spielberg. The film has a wonderful playfulness which makes the film incedibly fun. Despite the fact that I have seen it numerous times I still get a great thrill out of seeing it. The action scenes especially are what make 'Raiders' so iconic. They are so brilliantly staged and shot. The sound effects are so great to that I always associate them with this film. I should also mention the wonderful music score by John Williams. Everyone knows that theme.
It is hard to imagine that Tom Selleck almost played Indiana Jones. Such is the brilliance of Harrison Ford that he was able to bring that everyman quality to the role, that he will forever be known as that that character. Some will say that he is also Han Solo, but for me he never got any better than he does as Indy. I am surprised that Karen Allen did not do all that much after this film. Her performance as Marion is sublime. While she is almost playing a damsel in distress who Indy has to rescue, Karen manages to still make the character strong enough that she can handle fighting along side Indy as well. John Rhys-Davies is equally as good as Indy's friend Sallah. He provides much of the film's humour and is wonderful at it. As mentioned above Belloq is not really the main villain. But Paul Freeman manges to make Belloq less of a traditional villain. Despite the fact that he plans to give the Ark over to Hitler, he is not all that different to Indy. He does have a very scary henchman played by Wolf Kahler.
Movies do not get any better than this. Simply perfection. Seeing it on the big screen only makes it greater.

Wuthering Heights

Emily Bronte only wrote one book. This book is considered by many to be one of the greatest novels ever written.

The period drama, especially those that are based on classic novels are made in a certain way. They have a dignity and grace with which they are made. Thankfully director Adrea Arnold decided not to do that with her interpretation of 'Wuthering Heights'. Andrea takes a very modern and different look to the film. It will probably upset many people that it was filmed almost like a documentary with the jerky camera moves. Andrea has managed to go for a certain look and feel with the film that sets the right mood and tone for the story. I found the book to be one of the most angry books I have ever read. While at the core of the book is the love story between Heathcliffe and Catherine, there is a great deal of anger between each of the characters. Many have said that moodiness comes from the environment on the Moors where the story is set. Andrea captures that mood nicely with this film. There is very little dialogue and all the action or feelings are expressed through looks and behaviours. The harshness of the landscape also plays a big part with many nature and scenery shots helping to add to the mood of the film.
James Howson is excellent as the older version of Heathcliff. He manages to emote so well without saying anything. You can see all the pain that he feels due to his love for Catherine. James is complimented by Solomon Glave who plays the younger Heathcliff. Shannon Beer gives an excellent performance as the young Catherine. She brings out that fiestiness of the character nicely. As the older Catherine Kaya Scodelario is very good but does not manage to reach the heights of her fellow cast.
A period drama but not as you know it. If you are getting a bit tired of seeing the same old period films then this one is for you. Andrea Arnold has certainly refreshed the genre.

Mental

In 1994 Toni Collette and director PJ Hogan launched their careers with the film 'Muriel's Wedding'. They both return home for this new comedy.

'Mental' is supposed to be a partially autobiographical film. Apparently PJ Hogan's father hired a woman off the streets to look after him and his family. For me that is the problem with the film. 'Muriel's Wedding' is supposedly autobiographical too so both films have virtually the same characters and are set in roughly the same sort of place. Considering that 'Mental' is not a direct sequel to 'Muriel's Wedding' they feel like very similar films. That is not to say that film is not good. 'Mental' has an excellent story and some brilliantly written characters. PJ is able to balance the comedy and drama really well. The comedy is quite wacky and in some cases silly but that's what I quite liked about it.
I would like to take this opportunity to speak about Aussie films and their lack of success. 'Mental' received an MA15+ classification in Australia, I believe that this hindered the film's success at the box office. As someone who works in cinemas I've found that when you restrict the audience of your film you can limit its box office potential. There are some Australian films that should have that restrictive classification, but if you are going to make something that is meant for a mainstream audience then you need to try and reach as many people as possible. This means making the film in a certain way. I do not expect a writer or director to compromise their artistic vision but if you are trying to make a commercially viable film then something like the film's classification is something that needs to be considered. 'Mental' got its MA15+ classification for strong language and themes. The language part could have been changed slightly to fit a lower classification. The film is about mental illness so a slight tweak there could have adjusted the film's strong themes.
With such well written characters the cast of this film has given brilliant performances. Toni Collette is brilliant in everything she does. I don't think she can give a bad performance. I did however think that she put on the Aussie accent a little too strong at times. Anthony LaPaglia is mostly known for his serious roles so I loved to see him do some comedy. Liev Schreiber gives a nicely subtle performance as a shark expert. His Aussie accent is spot on too. All the girl's who play Anthony's daughters in the film are wonderful. But it is Lily Sullivan who stands out as the older daughter. The film's best performance though is by Rebecca Gibney. I was totally blown away by how good she is in this film. She normally plays regular sorts of people and not 'characters' so she really gets into the role.
Another excellent Aussie film that comes just short of greatness. If PJ Hogan had changed the setting and character slightly so they did not feel so much like those from 'Muriel's Wedding' then it would have been perfect.  

Ruby Sparks

It seems actors like to write themselves a film role to get work. This would be the case for Zoe Kazan.

As a writer I love to see films about writers. They always have the most interesting problems because they are ones that I can relate to. I also love different romantic comedies. Which is why I loved this film so much. Calvin is a character much like me and so I found myself relating to him, not just as a writer but on a more personal level. We are often told as writers that we need to love the characters we write about. Regardless of whether they are good or evil we need to love them as it is this love which makes them fully formed characters which an audience can believe in. Zoe has taken that idea one step further with this film. She nicely presents some interesting moral issues as well for someone who has complete control over their creation, who happens to be a human. While there are a few bad thoughts that creep into Calvin's thinking, mostly put there by his brother, he is still a good enough character that he does not go too far. In some ways all people in relationships would like to have some control over their partner. This film proposes what would happen if that came true.
Paul Dano gives a wonderfully goofy performance as Calvin. Paul seems to be able to be uniquely different in every film he is in. He plays the nerdy type guy very well. Zoe Kazan is not only an excellent writer but a great actress too. She is utterly delightful as Ruby. Zoe manages to play the role at just the right level so you never feel sorry for that fact that she is being manipulated. There are a few lovely cameos from Annette Bening, Antonio Banderas and Steve Coogan.
A really delightful romantic comedy which might be a wish fulfilment for many men. But despite this slightly unsavoury theme it is very sweet.   

Arbitrage

We have not seen much of Richard Gere on the big screen lately with most of his films going straight to DVD here.

With wealth comes power. For some rich people this power goes to their head and they feel they are indestructible. Such is the case for Robert Miller in this film. Writer/director Nicholas Jarecki has made a good little thriller about a man who think he can control everything. There are lots of good twists and turns to keep you interested. You are constantly on the edge of your seat wondering if Robert will get away with it. The only weak point is the ending which comes a little abruptly and with one loose end.
Richard Gere has played this type of role many times in his career so he can do it really well. He does show a slightly vulnerable side at times which give it a bit of an edge. This is not the first time that Susan Sarandon has played Richard's wife in a movie. Her role is not very big and only comes into effect at the end of the film. Tim Roth is pretty much playing the same role he does in the TV series 'Lie To Me' except he does not have the cool lie detector skills. Nate Parker is excellent as Robert's alibi.
It may not win any awards or be a huge success but this is a decent thriller that reminds us Richard Gere is still around.

Hotel Transylvania

The last time Adam Sandler did voice work for an animated film was 10 years ago for the film 'Eight Crazy Nights'. I think this film will be more successful for him.

A frustrating thing I find with lots of films is that they set up an interguing premise but then do not make it into an intreguing film. That is definately the case here. Having all of the classic movie monsters coming together is a very good idea. But sadly there is not a good story to bring them together. It seems some film makers think that animated films need a child character in them so as kids can relate to them. I don't think that is true. There is also the idea that all these monsters are so scared of humnas that they need a place to hide out. I'm willing to accept that humans can be bad, but the whole idea of these monsters is that they are worse and more scary. I also did not find the jokes or humour very funny. There were many obvious jokes that I did not find very clever.
Adam Sandler does a very good as Dracula. I think his accent was well done. As usual he has gathered all his friends to provide the voices for the other characters. They are not particularlly great but then they do not have all that much to work with.
Younger audiences might get a bit of a laugh out of this animated effort. While it does not make me hate Adam Sandler anymore it does not make me like him either.

Looper

Time travel can be a very tricky proposition. It can be incredibly complex and complicated. Travellers need to be careful or they could wipe themselvesout of existence.

Rian Johnson is a writer/director who I greatly admire. With the films he has made Rain has proven he can be very diverse in the tone and subject matter of the films he makes. It is this talent that makes him more than well qualified to tackle the tricky subject.
When you think about it, this film is about being forced to commit suicide in order to save your life. It is an intriguing premise and one that makes you think about what you would do if placed in that situation. Without revealing too much there is a reason the younger Joe must kill his older self than just saving his own life. Does that sentence make any sense? Time travel can be a complicated but Rain has managed to simplify things with the plot of this film. He also makes a little fun of the whole premise with a meeting of the younger and older self. Much like Christopher Nolan did with 'Inception', Rain has made an intelligent mainstream thriller. It makes you think and you have to pay attention to fully understand it. More than one viewing maybe required as well. I also liked the camera work of DOP Steve Yedlin. I loved the way the camera moves and the camera position for scenes is composed.
The casting of this film has caused a lot of discussion. Rain chose to use two different actors to play Joe rather than the same actor in make up. He chose to use make-up to make Joseph Gordon-Levitt to look like his older self played by Bruce Willis. This means that Joseph looks a little different and that has drawn people out of the movie because all they can think about is how different Joseph looks. I was quite surprised that Joseph not only looks like Bruce but acts like him too and not just inn obvious ways but subtly too. I have long been a fan of Joseph's and he just keeps getting better with each role. I think people do not give Bruce Willis much credit as an actor. He does quite a lot of films and not all of them are that great. But every so often he gets a brilliant role and more than excels in it. This is one of them. His character goes on an emotional rollercoaster in this film and Bruce is more than up for the challenge. Equally as good is Emily Blunt. She usually plays nice sweet girls in most of her previous roles but here she is more tough and determined. I was totally blown away by how good she is. All three leads though pale into insignificance by the performance of Pierce Gagnon who plays Emily's son in the film. This very young boy is simply stunning. He has so many subtleties to his performance I was amazed at how good he was at such a young age.
A clever and smart thriller that does not let the complications of time travel overwhelm the story. It also feature some amazing acting, young and old.  

My Fair Lady

There has been a question which has plagued man for some time. Does the rain in Spain stay mainly on the plain? I went on an investigation to find out.
It is such a same that musicals are not made as often as they once were. Back in the 1930's - 1960's, musicals were extremely popular and highly regarded. Now they are not made as often and don't always work. Which is a shame. Musicals in general though are a genre that should be seen on a big cinema screen. This one is no exception.
The original 'Pygmalion' story is one which has been told many times in movies in various forms. The upper classes seem to like having a go at trying to pass off someone from the lower classes as one of their own. A classic story of someone rising above their station in life. The most commonly known version of the story is 'My Fair Lady' a grand and delightful musical. The story is very light and quite predictable but it is the fun of the music that keeps you interested. The production design and costume design are also very grand so visually there is always something you can look at. I really enjoyed the songs and some I did not realise came from this musical. 
I did not, however, like the male characters in the films. Eliza's father only sees her when he wants money. Then when she becomes rich and passes on the money to him he becomes a bit ungrateful because his life has changed so much cause he's rich. Colonel Pickering comes across as a nice guy but does not really do much to stop the bad behaviour. The biggest one is Professor Henry Higgins. He is such a nasty guy. While he does treat everyone badly his venom is mostly directed at Eliza and he really treats her badly. In some ways you wonder why she goes back to him if he treats her so badly. While he is not physically violent to her he is verbally abusive which could be seen as just as bad.
Audrey Hepburn is one of the most charming and delightful actresses who ever lived. I've sadly not seen many of her films, which I'm ashamed about. Audrey has quite a big range in this film with the character that she plays. At the beginning I found Eliza incredibly annoying mostly because of her accent. The really thick cockney accent she speaks got so grating after a while. Rex Harrison has been criticised for not singing his songs in the film and just speaking the words. So I became conscious of this during his songs. That was a little distracting and perhaps if I did not know that I would have enjoyed it more. Rex still does a good job as Henry and makes a good nasty guy. Stanley Holloway is good as Eliza's father. He fits well into the cast of unsavoury male characters.
A truly delightful and fun movie musical on a grand scale. The plot and some of the characters are questionable morally speaking but if you can get past that then you can have fun with this film.

Hope Springs

The cinema is full of films about young people having sexual problems. They usually end happily with the couple over coming their problems. But what if later in life the problems return?
It is a very unpleasant experience for people to see or hear about an older couples sexual problems. Mostly because it reminds people of their parents and their sex lives which is an uncomfortable thought. But sex and intimacy problems is something that can arise with couples later in life. Couples become so comfortable with each other that they take each other for granted. That is the problem that befalls Kay and Arnold in this film. They are fairly stereotypical characters. I think we can recognize traits in them that feel familiar to either ourselves and/or our parents. That does make the story feel real and relatable but it is the way the film is told that it lacks. I think I was expecting a bit more comedy and a bit less drama with the story. The therapy sessions are not exactly very dynamic. What also does not help is Arnold and his annoying behaviour. We get that he is uncomfortable talking about sex with a stranger but he also seems completely oblivious to how much his inability to touch his wife lovingly is causing her pain. Then when he goes to the therapy sessions he is so withdrawn and unwilling to say much that it becomes so annoying. He always looks as though he is about to say something, reveal an emotion but then steps back from it. I became incredibly frustrated by this behaviour. I know husbands are always portrayed as frustrating people who do not understand their wives but their comes a point when it gets annoying. While he does get the hint towards the end of the film it still makes for tough going for most of the film.
This film is another example of the talent of Meryl Streep. In her last film she played a tough, forceful woman who ran a major country. Now she is playing a meek and mild housewife trying to put her marriage back together. She does both roles so incredibly well. It goes to show she can play a broad spectrum of characters. Tommy Lee Jones does a very good job of playing the annoying husband. Tommy has made a career out of playing gruff characters like this so it suits him very well. I was pleased to see Steve Carrell in this film as it shows he not only plays wacky comedy characters, that he can play straight serious ones as well. The only problem is that he has very little to do. His role is a very important one to the story, I just would have liked to see him have more to do.
It is refreshing to see a film that looks at an older couple and the problems they have with their relationship. There are issues which seem familiar and that people can relate to. But when one of them is incredibly annoying it dampens what could have been a great film.