V for Vendetta - 2006 - Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman, John Hurt

Dark, stylish and definitely provocative.

Written by the Wachowski's (Matrix Trilogy), V for Vendetta is based on Alan Moore's graphic novel and takes place in a Britain that is corrupt; a society run by "the party", and its leader, High Chancellor Adam Sutler (John Hurt). The film follows Evey (Natalie Portman), a meek, unassuming young girl who gets saved by V (Hugo Weaving), a vigilante whose well articulated/masked rebellion against the establishment could be the wake-up call society needs.

What pours out of this film from the outset is its provocative nature through its commentary on social anxiety. V for Vendetta plays on the fear of a totalitarian government, constant surveillance, media manipulation and, of course, corporate greed and corruption. By creating a film that has such dark yet relevant subject matter, it forces questions onto an audience that already possesses these fears.

Where the film lets itself down is in the human story. The sort of romantic sub-plot with V and Evey simply doesn't work. I find they have moments that are attempting to be real and thoughtful but I found it was difficult to translate to the audience due to a distinct lack of sensuality between the characters. What holds the film together quite wonderfully is the always interesting V, whose magnetism ensures the story doesn't fade too far away from the original goal; not through lack of trying with Evey's whole imprisonment period, which I found to be overly involved.

The acting performances and cast were on top form. I found the way Hugo Weaving held the character to be superb; being unable to display facial expression didn't diminish his portrayal due to the brilliant delivery of a script that possessed tendencies of over-complication. The rest of the cast performed admirably, including an enjoyable showing from Stephen Fry as closeted homosexual talk/comedy show host Gordon Deitrich.

Lets itself down at certain parts, yet overall a film that is stylish, extremely entertaining and without a doubt thought-provoking.

J.Henderson

Just about 7/10.

Nightcrawler - 2014 - Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Riz Ahmed

A one-man show.

Director and writer Dan Gilroy (writer of The Bourne Legacy (2012)) has created a gripping thriller set in LA's gruesome night-life. Jake Gyllenhaal (Prisoners, Brokeback Mountain) stars as Lou Bloom, a highly motivated man looking for a sustainable career with very little luck until he finds to world of crime journalism. The high-speed life of nightcrawling finds Lou and his employee Rick (Riz Ahmed) hunting down fires, car crashes and murders so that they can get their piece and sell it onto veteran TV news director Nina (Rene Russo). As Lou finds his business growing he continues to pursue bigger and bloodier stories, but how far will Lou go to achieve the perfect news story?

The stand-out aspect, of the whole film, is without a doubt Gyllenhaal. He manages to portray Lou, this deluded, self-important, creep with fathomless brilliance. Lou hands himself the title of CEO of his own 'professional news gathering service', yet in reality this is simply Lou and his 'employee' Rick sitting in Lou's car waiting on the most gruesome 911 call. Gyllenhaal's ability to play the emotionless, sociopathic Bloom carries this film to a height that it would otherwise only wish to be at. This is not to say other aspects of the film are poor, however, Nightcrawler is not a world beater.

The film, at times, is extremely thrilling and has the capability to get your heart pounding. On the other hand, when these pulsating scenes have come and gone the film has moments of feeling terribly slow. Additionally, although Lou Bloom is psychotic beyond compare with a moral compass that is simply non-existent, the development of Bloom as a character is lacking completely, with the viewer knowing everything about his make-up within 5 minutes.

Although the performances of Russo and Riz Ahmed (Four Lions) are perfectly admirable, Nightcrawler unfortunately has the feel of a one-man show as Jake Gyllenhaal will, for sure, get many nominations for this performance. Dan Gilroy has delivered an excellent directorial debut with moments of superb intensity with a lead character that you just cannot take your eyes off; unfortunately, the overall film is just slightly lacking.

Should be watched just for Gyllenhaal.

J.Henderson

7/10

  

Glue - 2014 - Billy Howle, Jordan Stephens, Callum Turner.

Much more than a whodunnit.

Writer Jack Thorne (Skins, This is England 86') creates Glue, a teen drama set in a remote village in the English countryside. When the body of Cal Bray (Tommy Knight) is found face down in the mud, the investigation into his death forces his friends, and this quiet village, to confront their own demons and dark secrets; secrets that will change the face of this small community forever.

From the outset of the series it is clear that Glue is more than a simple whodunnit; with diverse and complicated characters forced upon the viewer due to the almost claustrophobic nature of the intertwining relationships in this remote community. Jack Thorne manages to create a bizzare situation whereby you feel that everyone involved are the closest of friends only for lies and secrets to throw all of it up in the air. This brilliant aspect of the writing means that Thorne has created a drama that has the potential to continuously keep the audience guessing and be fixed firmly to the edge of their seat.

Although the cast is young, they are certainly talented. Jordan Stephens, of Rizzle Kicks fame, gives an extremely enjoyable performance as the care-free, slightly sociopathic Rob, who cares more for having a good time than trying to come to terms with the backlash of the murder investigation. However, the stand-out performance for me is Billy Howle. Howle plays James Warwick quite brilliantly; you can feel the tension in the relationship with his mother, you can see how he feels trapped in his life and that he wants nothing more than to get away. Howle, along with Thorne's script, manages to translate James' journey throughout the series superbly.

I am trying to discuss Glue with no spoilers at all because I found the whole series to be a rollercoaster that I couldn't stop myself from talking about; from trying to piece together the clues left in each episode, only to find out I was completly wrong. But, I'm afraid, there is very little I can discuss without giving something away, therfore, I will leave you with this - as Telegraph writer Jonathan McAloon puts it, Glue is "a triumph of style and content" and I believe it should not be missed.

Catch up now on 4oD!

J.Henderson.

Marvel Announce Phase 3 Line-Up! Including, Thor: Ragnorak, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 & 2, Captain Marvel and Inhumans.

Couldn't have asked for any more!

Here it is! Marvel President Kevin Feige has revealed all about the studios' upcoming projects;

Doctor Strange - November 4th, 2016

Guardians of the Galaxy 2 - May 5th, 2017

Thor 3: Regnarok - July 28th, 2017

Black Panther - November 3rd, 2017

Avengers: Infinity War Part One - May 2018

Captain Marvel - July 6th, 2018

Inhumans - November 2nd, 2018

Avengers: Infinity War Part Two - May 2019

Although rumours of casting have already been circulating social media, with very few roles cast; now the real speculation will begin with these latest announcements. In the Marvel event in Los Angeles, people were speculating the official announcement of the lead actor in the upcoming Doctor Strange movie, heavily rumoured to be one of the most popular actors in Hollywood today, Benedict Cumberbatch. However, if Feige’s track record is anything to go by then you should expect the unexpected from Marvel. One piece of casting news that we do know, however, is that of Chadwick Boseman, star of the upcoming James Brown biopic Get on Up (2014), has been cast as the lead in Black Panther. Boseman is definitely a rising star and looks as though he'll be a great casting choice for Marvel.

If Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer got you excited, this movie news should send you on an all new high. It’s Marvel’s Phase 3! We’ve already had 10 movies from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, from Iron Man, to Guardians of the Galaxy.

Marvel really knows how to excite their fans, and following the huge announcement of DC’s Cinematic Universe, Marvel has almost blown them out of the water with their own news.

I’m neither a Marvel fanboy nor a DC fanboy; I just love this golden age for comic book movie fans. Nevertheless I feel more excited about Marvel’s Phase 3, than I do about DC’s news, but this is down to having seen 10 MCU movies, and only Man of Steel in the DC Universe. If Nolan’s Batman was a part of this universe I would be all in, but unfortunately we have to wait until 2016 to see Affleck’s take on the Caped Crusader.


DC has movies that aren’t scheduled to be released until 2020, including Shazam, featuring none other than Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Warner Bros made this announcement of 10 DC movies (Excluding individual Batman and Superman movies) along with new Harry Potter spin-offs, and new Lego movies. This is 3 major franchises versus Disney’s Marvel franchise, and Disney certainly did it in style, in an almost Apple like fashion.


We are currently still in Phase 2 with the new Avengers movie and Ant-Man on the way in 2015, and then Captain America to lead us into Phase 3 with Civil War in 2016, with the Russo brothers taking on Cap, after the huge success of Winter Soldier. Civil War is a huge and exciting prospect if the 2007 comic is anything to go by, but certain legal rights will have to alter the storyline.
Age of Ultron already hints at the civil war, with its chilling trailer to the Avengers sequel, and if Marvel is now taking it’s movies down a darker path, I for one am well and truly on board.

This announcement also goes to show the true power (no pun intended) that superhero films, and Marvel Studios, hold in the film industry today. 

Bring on Phase 3!!!

Oliver Cooke and Jake Henderson

In the Loop - 2009 - Tom Hollander, Peter Capaldi, James Gandolfini

Seriously funny.

Director and writer Armando Iannucci (Veep, I'm Alan Partridge) brings us a spin-off of the highly successful British satirical political comedy The Thick of It. In the Loop chronicles the tested and uneasy Anglo-American relations during the run-up to a war. Simon Foster (Tom Hollander), a minor minister in the British government, makes a mistake when he states that "war is unforeseeable" during a radio interview. Before he knows it, Simon is one of the British governments biggest media figures and is being sent to Washington D.C., along with aide Toby (Chris Addison), to meet with American political and military leaders. As Foster seems incapable of saying what he is supposed to; he ends up being caught in-between pro-war factions and those who oppose the conflict. Will military action take place?

I honestly can't understand why I haven't seen this film sooner; with its outstanding critical reviews and top cast. Peter Capaldi will stick clearly in your mind after watching In the Loop due to his scolding rants that are simply unrelenting and quite brilliant. Hollander produces a spot-on performance, delivering vulnerability and empty-minded hopelessness to the screen superbly. James Gandolfini also puts in a notable showing as under pressure General Miller.

The stand-out aspect of this picture has to be its academy award nominated script. Iannucci is a master of comedy as shown in some of his other work. In the Loop is no different with its non-stop satirical black comedy which is seriously funny. The plot is magnificent, the one-liners are very slick and the rants are simply hilarious (perfectly illustrated in the relationship between Chad (Zach Woods) and Liza (Anna Chlumsky)).

A very clever film. And watch out for scenes with an Iannucci favourite, Steve Coogan.

J.Henderson

8/10.

Guardians of the Galaxy - 2014 - Chris Pratt, Zoe Salana, Dave Bautista.

I've been talking about this film non-stop since its release.

James Gunn writes and directs the Marvel event of 2014, Guardians of the Galaxy. An epic, space action-adventure that sees Marvel explore the universe in their latest franchise. The film centres on Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), an adventurer whose outlandish behaviour lands him being the subject of a bounty hunt after stealing an orb hidden by notorious villain Ronan (Lee Pace). The only way for Quill to resolve this situation is to form an alliance with an unusual quartet including, Rocket (Bradley Cooper), a weapons-obsessed racoon, Groot (Vin Diesel), a loveable tree, the fearsome and deadly Gamora (Zoe Saldana), and the vengeance-hungry Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista). On finding out the true power of the orb, the group must go to battle in order to save the galaxy.

I don't know about you, but prior to GOTG's release I wasn't expecting too much. I was unaware of most of the characters, I was surprised by the casting, and I honestly felt that it would be a one off that Marvel looked back on as a bit of a flop. I couldn't have been more wrong. From beginning, to end, I was hooked; the soundtrack, the acting, the story and the overall feel of the film was just what I wanted.

Chris Pratt leads the way with a charming and charismatic performance that holds together, quite brilliantly, his team of misfits. Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel's voice work as Rocket and Groot fits perfectly; with the pair forming a friendship that surprisingly brings out more emotion than you ever thought a tree and a racoon could!

But the biggest shock for me? Dave Bautista. I grew up watching Dave Bautista as a WWE superstar. I can't lie, when I previously mentioned that I was surprised by the casting, I was referring to Bautista as Drax the Destroyer. However, I was more surprised by the brilliance in his performance, playing the humourless, straight-to-the-point, loose cannon, with great wit, producing some unforgettable scene stealing moments. One, in particular, sticks out in my mind. For those of you that do not know, Drax the Destroyer is extremely literal, another aspect which is executed perfectly in Dave Bautista's performance. There is a moment when Rocket makes a comment that metaphors go straight over Drax's head, to which Drax replies, "NOTHING goes over my head... My reflexes are too fast, I would catch it." This aspect of James Gunn's script is what I love, it is not trying to be any other film.

In my opinion, ever since Christopher Nolan's Batman, in particular, The Dark Knight, I have found that the majority of superhero films have attempted the borrow from Nolan's way of thinking. Nowadays, superhero movies are focused on darker stories with a twisted villain who is as intriguing as they are villainous. I am not trying to state that Marvel are just the same as DC, because Marvel do like to keep a comedic streak in their films; I just feel that this Marvel way of film-making is being too heavily influenced by the work of Nolan.

Guardians of the Galaxy differs considerably as the focus of the film is clearly based with Peter Quill and his team, unlike many of the other films in the genre which has its sole focus on the villain. You just have to look at the new teaser for Age of Ultron to see this trend continuing. James Gunn has been innovative and created the most enjoyable Marvel film to date, due to not taking himself or his project too seriously.

This is the film that I've been talking about non-stop since its release, and I know that the majority of people who see it have been doing the same. If you want comedy, adventure, sci-fi and a kick-ass soundtrack, GOTG will blow you away.

J.Henderson

9/10.

Last Forever... How I Met Your Mother finale. End of a legendary era.

That's How I Met Your Mother.

March 31st 2014 saw the end of a sitcom that has graced our screens for nearly a decade. When the first episode aired on Sept 19th 2005, who'd have thought that nine years later we'd be looking back on some great times that include a pineapple incident, a slap bet, a goat, robots vs wrestlers, a butterfly tattoo, one special bar and five friends. Last night the finale aired, but how did things end for Ted and the gang?

SPOILERS - YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

As a ridiculously huge fan of HIMYM I cannot lie, I am slightly disappointed by the final ever episode of the long-running show. The final episode goes on to highlight the big moments following Barney and Robin's wedding; and there are plenty of ups and downs, but mainly downs.

Lily and Marshall: The pair move to Italy for a year after the wedding. On their return to New York Marshall goes back to work in corporate law, hating his working life until he gets offered his dream job of a judge in 2018. The couple finally move out of the apartment above the bar and also get pregnant with their 3rd child.

Barney and Robin: This is a real sad point of the episode. After their wedding the couple struggle with the requirements of Robin's job, the constant moving that comes with following international news results in divorce. Following the divorce Robin continues with her job and ends up distancing herself from the group, whilst Barney goes back to his bachelor days, completing the 'perfect month' only to find out he has got one of his many one-night stands pregnant. After the birth of his daughter, Ellie, Barney seems to dampen his need to go out and pull women as he has a more important female in his life.

Ted and the mother: Finally we see the couple we have been waiting nine years for. The mother, who we find out is called Tracy McConnell, is now part of Ted's life and we see her become one of the group; indulging in traditions such as their annual Robots vs Wrestlers night. We see Tracy get pregnant and make Ted's dream of a family come true. However, we find out that in 2024 Tracy becomes ill and eventually passes away, leaving Ted a widower.

2030: Ted has finished telling his story and his children see right through him with his daughter Penny saying, "You made us sit down and listen to this story about how you met mom - yet mom was hardly in the story. No, this is a story about how you are totally in love with aunt Robin." And that is what this whole show has apparently really been about and the finale ends with another final romantic gesture from Ted, bringing the Blue French Horn back to Robin.

What is so disappointing about this episode? For me, the worst part of the finale was Barney and Robin's divorce. In episode 22 of the final season we see the couple tie the knot and then within 15 minutes of the next episode it's all up in smoke. Then, with the revelation of the mother's death comes the obvious reality that Ted and Robin will end up together after all. Now, this would have been all fine if the show had only ran for a few seasons, yet this was not the case. Seasons 8 and 9, up until last nights episode, created a change in the character relationships which resulted the viewership being invested in Barney and Robin's marriage for the long haul. Furthermore, I personally think that by the time everyone had met the mother and seen her for the majority of the final season, we just wanted to see her and Ted together. Nobody was invested in Ted and Robin anymore because Robin's relationship with Barney worked so well.

I just felt that the final episode lacked any real joy from the main characters. Even when discussing Ted and Tracy's wedding we are aware that Robin has grown apart from the group. The whole 45 minute finale just seemed quite depressing, I'd rather of seen the celebration of the big events rather than focus on sad changes.

I will always remember this show for its comedic genius, its weird and wonderful story and its brilliant characters. I thought nothing could replace Friends but How I Met Your Mother has been a show I have grown up with and respect in itself. I will 100% be watching this show in years to come despite the nature of its ending.

J.Henderson.

Vertigo - 1958 - James Stewart, Kim Novak.

Hitchcock's most personal film.

Vertigo, adapted from the French novel D'entre Les Morts, is, according to Hitchcock himself, the directors most personal film; one centred around obsession and deceit. Scottie Ferguson (Stewart) retires from his position as a private investigator after an incident which reveals his fear of heights; vertigo. After retiring Scottie is lured into another case by an old friend, Gavin Elster (Tom Helmore), who asks Scottie to tail his wife who he suspects of being possessed by the spirit of a woman from the past. Elster's wife, Madeleine (Novak), is stunningly beautiful and after tracking her movements for some time Scottie begins to fall in love with her. As the film progresses, twists and turns in the plot reveal more and more about each character resulting in a whirlwind thriller that is widely considered to be one of the greatest movies of all time. 

Where to begin with such an iconic film and director. I've wanted to review a Hitchcock film for a while but struggled to pick which film to start with. I eventually landed on Vertigo due to its depth, controversy and sheer brilliance. Vertigo had an extensive production time due to problems concerning casting (Hitch wanted to cast Vera Miles, but the role went to Novak after Miles got pregnant.) and prolonged illness to the director. This unpredictable and unwanted start to production on the film pushed Hitch and made Vertigo a very personal project.

When I first watched this film, which was some years ago, the first thing that struck me was the soundtrack. The powerful and compelling music provided by Bernard Herrmann adds an extra tone to the picture which compliments the trials and tribulations on screen perfectly; creating another dimension that without which would not have resulted in the film that it is.

With Vertigo, Hitchcock has masterfully created a technically brilliant film that plays on a confrontation of colours with the reds of Scottie and the greens of Madeleine forming a visual dimension that is missing from many modern day thrillers. Directors of late don't tend to go into the depth that the likes of Hitchcock went into which in my opinion is a real shame. If more directors went into more depth and added elements to their film-making, I believe the thriller genre would get back to a higher level of appreciation. In recent years I feel the genre has been viewed simply in terms of entertainment and the art has been lost.

In terms of Hitchcock's oeuvre Vertigo is not his most entertaining film, feeling quite slow at times, however, the film is technically brilliant with a plot that takes the viewer on a thrilling ride that investigates the nature of human obsession and deceit. Vertigo is a classic that should be watched by all.

9/10.

J.Henderson.

    

American Psycho - 2000 - Christian Bale, Jared Leto, Willem Dafoe.

Underrated and impressive.

Directed by Mary Harron, American Psycho is a crime drama based upon the book of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis. The story is set in 1980s Manhattan and centres on the life of investment banker Patrick Bateman (Bale). With a life that is based around going out to fancy restaurants just to simply keep up appearances whilst also spending a large portion of his time as a serial killer, Bateman struggles with the emotional side of life; constantly portraying an air of calmness and intellect.
Detective Donald Kimble (Dafoe) discusses the disappearance of Bateman's colleague, Paul Allen (Leto); who Bateman had murdered after feeling humiliated once seeing Allen's stylish business card. Can Bateman keep control of his murderous tendencies?

Simply put, Bale makes this film. It's said that during production DiCaprio was proposed to star as Bateman but due to fears of a teen audience flocking to an R-rated film, Bale was preferred (definitely for the best). Bale plays the cool, measured individual on the outside and tense, uncontrollable mess on the inside extremely well. Bateman is a man who can control almost every part of his life other than his murderous urges which Bale personifies.

Harron produces a film that is slick and thrilling, definitely managing to keep the audience engaged leading a character that resembles something of a modern day Alex DeLarge. I find that American Psycho keeps you thinking throughout and undoubtedly leaves you with discussion points.

I'd recommend it to those that don't mind a large helping of blood.

J.Henderson

7.5/10

Gravity - 2013 - Sandra Bullock, George Clooney

If films were only rated on their visuals, this would be the best film I have ever seen. 

Gravity, from director (and co-writer) Alfonso Cuaron, is a sci-fi thriller set within the depths of space. The story focuses on Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock), a medical engineer who is on her first mission into space along with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (Clooney). On what seems a routine spacewalk disaster strikes as a huge amount of debris comes whirling at Stone and Kowalski and suddenly the pair find themselves tethered onto nothing but themselves, floating in space with oxygen continuously depleting. Will the pair make it back to solid ground?

Cuaron has made a film that will undoubtedly be remembered as a cinematic great, but for it's visuals and not for its story. Visually this film is the greatest I have ever seen with the deep, silent, emptiness of space captured remarkably with the use of CGI. Due to this, Gravity is a beautiful film that has the ability to leave you speechless at the wonder that is on the screen. The result of which being 7 Academy Awards including Best Visual Effects, Best Film Editing and Best Cinematography.

However, for all that this film excels in it lacks in any effective story. I found Gravity painfully difficult to connect with due to the distinct lack of character development proving this picture's downfall. Even the little character interaction that did occur failed to engage me as a viewer. During the section where Ryan discusses her past with Matt it left me wondering why this conversation had not happened earlier, why had this topic of conversation not happened during the first week of their shuttle mission?

What this boils down to is a poor script; a poor story in fact. That interaction was needed for any hope of audience sympathy and connection to Ryan Stone, a character who is the only person on screen for the majority of the film. Yet, the necessary connection was not effectively established and in my eyes the film suffers for it.

I am aware that my view may not be shared with the majority but I feel that many may have overlooked the story due to the simply magnificent visual and sound effects. In my opinion Gravity took home one too many Oscars as I believe Steve McQueen produced a much better case for the Best Director award.

Gravity is gripping, it is exhilarating and without a doubt stunning to watch, but its story and character development let it down.

J.Henderson.

7.5/10.

Oscars round-up... who won what?

How could you miss the Oscars?! But for those that didn't manage to catch it, here's a round-up of the winners of the big six awards; Best Director, Best Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.

In the nights other award categories Gravity truly ran supreme taking home the Oscars for Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography and Best Film Editing. Other than Gravity, The Great Gatsby managed to pick up a couple of Oscars for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design which is great for a film that has not been given the greatest reviews from critics.

The Disney film Frozen won Best Animated Feature and also got the Oscar for Best Original Song; a great night for them and also the award is Disney's first Best Animated Feature Oscar in the 14 years that the category has been around. The outstanding Her, directed by Spike Jonze, only managed the one Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

Ellen DeGeneres hosted the awards and although some critics have said her hosting was flat, I felt DeGeneres did a magnificent job, she was relaxed throughout and interacted wonderfully with the celebrities with her highlights including the ridiculously awesome selfie and a pizza delivery. The night was going excellently and the announcement of the big six awards made it even better.

Best Film: 12 Years a Slave

As the night went on I feared that 12 Years a Slave would fall victim to the Gravity dominance; but I'm so glad it didn't. 12 Years a Slave is stunningly crafted by the miraculously brilliant Steve McQueen and included outstanding performances from the likes of Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong'o and Michael Fassbender. What I feel set this film apart from Gravity and the other nominees was its gripping true story that was phenomenally told. A film that will not be forgotten any time soon.

Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron

Gravity gained its 7th Oscar with Cuaron gaining the Best Director award. Cuaron created a film that will be remembered for its technical prowess. However, I shocked that this award did end up in Cuaron's hands as I felt the direction from Steve McQueen was more worthy. Alfonso Cuaron had already been handed the award for Best Film Editing and I feel that that was where his personal Oscar lay, but not for Best Director.

Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)

Matthew McConaughey was sublime in a performance that rightly deserved the Oscar. The man who was renowned for his rom-coms has proven himself on the big stage and shown everyone that his transformation into dramatic acting is complete. Alright Alright Alright.

Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)

This was hardly a surprise as Leto's performance as HIV-positive transgender woman is quite honestly immense. Leto was the strong favourite out-doing great performances from Jonah Hill and Michael Fassbender.

Best Actress: Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)

What a shock! Oh wait... no it wasn't. Blanchett was the bookies favourite and now has her second academy award; gaining her first for her performance in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator.

Best Supporting Actress: Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave)

I was so happy to see Lupita gain this award as her portrayal of Patsey was harrowing and so powerful that it just wouldn't have been right for anyone else to win the Oscar. I had a horrible feeling that Jennifer Lawrence would snatch the award in a similar fashion to last year but thankfully not.


2013 was a wonderful year for cinema... here's to an even better 2014!

J.Henderson

Prisoners - 2013 - Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal.

A morally challenging thriller.

Prisoners, from French-Canadian director Denis Villeneuve, is a crime thriller whose focus is on that of Keller Dover (Jackman). When his six-year old daughter and her seven-year old friend go missing on thanksgiving, with a bumped up RV as the only lead, Detective Loki (Gyllenhaal) arrests the driver (Paul Dano) and begins to investigate. With no evidence on the RV driver Loki has no choice but to let him go, which results in Dover taking the law into his own hands; but how far will he go to find his daughter?

Denis Villeneuve brings us his first English-language film with Prisoners and is the follow-up to his Academy Award nominated film from 2010, Incendies. Prisoners is consistently dark, bringing complex moral dilemmas to the foreground and pushing their boundaries. Villeneuve has created a pulsing and at times nauseating thriller in his US debut which definitely shows a lot of potential for greater things in the future. Villeneuve and writer Aaron Guzikowski create a whodunit of sorts that is open-ended throughout and as such keeps you close to the action and invested in the plot. 

Prisoners is filled with some strong performances from a stellar cast that includes, Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Melissa Leo, Paul Dano and Terrence Howard. Any scene involving the magnificent Paul Dano was tense and completely gripping with the only real issues regarding the acting appear with the arrival of Gyllenhaal. Portraying a cop who is battling his own demons as well as his case (a cliche that Gyllenhaal does not pull off), his performance is simply unconvincing and is ultimately the worst thing about this film. 

This film questions morals, in particular the issue of torture, and contains scenes that some may find extremely difficult to watch. However, I am glad I watched this film and is definitely one of my favourites from 2013.

J.Henderson.

7.5/10

12 Years a Slave - Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o

Brutal and undoubtedly unforgettable.

Steve McQueen, director of Shame and Hunger, brings us his next project in 12 Years a Slave; the brutal true story of Solomon Northup (Ejiofor); which is based on the memoirs written by Northup himself in 1853. Solomon Northup is a free man from New York who, in 1841, is kidnapped in Washington, D.C. and sold into slavery by slave-trader Theophilus Freeman (Paul Giamatti). After being shipped to New Orleans, Northup (with his name changed to 'Platt'), is bought by plantation owner William Ford (Benedict Cumberbatch) and forced to work. The film shows the life that Northup is forced to live during his time as a slave, in almost every harrowing detail.

Steve McQueen is continuing his trend of producing utterly shocking and difficult films to watch with this project, his third feature film. McQueen purposefully does not hide anything in the background, creating characters that will repulse and also characters that leave you in heartbreak, with McQueen sprinkling in wholesome characters where he can. Before the last five minutes I can safely say there is only one part of the 133 minute film that I enjoyed, and that was when Northup gave racist carpenter John Tibeats the beating he deserved. The rest of the film left me motionless in my seat as the brutal and thought-provoking portrayal of pre-emancipation proclamation America was being played before me. The way McQueen used the camera to portray such atrocities that occurred during this period in history brought me into the action in a way that I simply couldn't look away. McQueen shows his artistic background as 12 Years a Slave is visually brilliant with the content being nothing short of eye-opening.

To accompany the career best from the director is the career best from a number of actors including Chiwetel Ejiofor and Michael Fassbender. Ejiofor portrays class as a free man and owns the camera superbly throughout a performance that is quite extraordinary. However, Fassbender as the horrendous plantation owner Edwin Epps produces a masterful performance. Before Northup's arrival at Epps' plantation, previous owner William Ford explains that Epps is a fiery and aggressive slave-owner; Ford's words are not close to describing the man portrayed phenomenally by Fassbender. Epps is a drunkard, a rapist and a disturbingly destructive man whose compassion for his 'property' is non-existent. Fassbender gives the performance of his career and in my opinion is one of the leaders in the race for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

On leaving the cinema I felt my eyes had been opened. This is a film that needs to win Oscars, and will. This film should be seen by everyone and if you miss it then it is your own fault. An extraordinary film that will leave you speechless but your mind racing.

J. Henderson.

9/10.

Is The Following for you?

Should you watch The Following?

It took me way too long to start watching The Following (2013-). When I first heard about the show towards the end of 2012 I immediately was intrigued by the premise. The programme centres around former FBI agent Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon), whose biggest arrest during his career, a brilliantly charismatic yet psychotic serial killer Joe Carroll (James Purefoy), escapes from prison and forces Hardy to return to work. Carroll's compelling and hypnotic demeanor has allowed him to create a cult following that will accomplish all he requires, completing such deeds in his name and inspirations.

I only began watching The Following a couple of weeks ago and smashed through the first series within a few days, but why did it take me so long? Every Brit, no matter who they are, has seen the EE adverts that have littered our televisions. I cannot lie, and this may be (definitely is) unprofessional, but watching Kevin Bacon in them adverts stopped me from giving The Following a chance. With the end of 2013 brought new advertising and promotion for the 2nd series and I am extremely happy that I gave in and started watching this truly gripping thriller.

After watching the opening episode of the first series I knew that I wanted to see this story out. One aspect of the story had me hooked from the beginning and that was Joe Carroll. If there is one thing I love it's a proper villain. By proper I mean a villain that you can't help but quietly root for, a villain who you wish would occupy every scene. Heath Ledger's Joker and Anthony Hopkins' Hannibal both jump to mind. Now, I'm not trying to say that Joe Carroll is in this elite league with Hannibal and The Joker, but the admiration he creates from his followers in the story is mirrored by that which is emitted by all those who watch him from the comfort of their home. James Purefoy's performance is captivating and without a doubt the focal and most important ingredient in what makes The Following a show worth watching.

Is The Following for you? This show has a story that will keep you on tenterhooks, or at least it did for me. If you scare easily then I may suggest you stay clear as The Following is a thriller that is filled with dark and suspense filled sequences.

If any readers have seen the show or decide to give the show a watch after reading this post then please comment and let me know if you agree with my analysis.

If I was to rate The Following I would give it.... 7.5/10.

J.Henderson.

American Hustle - 2013 - Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence

Quality acting.

Directed by David O. Russell (The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook), American Hustle is the story of  two con artists (Bale and Adams) who are forced by FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) to set up an elaborate sting operation on corrupt politicians, including the mayor of Camden, New Jersey (played by Jeremy Renner). 

The stand-out area of American Hustle, and where I begin with this review, is the acting. Phenomenal acting is the most memorable part of the picture. Playing Roselyn, Irving's (Bale) wife, Jennifer Lawrence produces another breathtaking performance as a woman obsessed with self-help books and constantly making trouble for Irving. Lawrence takes over every scene that she's in, once again showing why she is currently the hottest star in Hollywood. Personally, the other brilliant performance is by Christian Bale as con man Irving Rosenfeld. I don't think I'll forget the opening scene to American Hustle for a long time, especially seeing as I watched The Fighter the night before. The opening scene sees an overweight Bale (a huge contrast to the extremely thin Bale in The Fighter) fixing his toupee; with the entrance of Bradley Cooper's Richie DiMaso causing a simply hilarious sequence that I don't wish to ruin for anybody who has yet to watch the film. Another performance to watch out for is the cameo of Robert De Niro, although an extremely minor role De Niro shines.

David O. Russell has created, just as with Silver Linings Playbook, a mixed-genre film that contains elements of thriller, political, comedy and drama. However, I find that Russell's emphasis throughout the whole film is on the characters rather than crime or violence, which has proved a plus with Bale, Cooper, Adams and Lawrence all receiving Academy Award nominations.

If there is an area of the film that I could criticise it would be that, to the casual film viewer, American Hustle may not be captivating enough. After speaking to friends, who are passive film viewers, they felt the film just lacked a thrilling element that would keep them interested throughout the 138 minute running time.

Overall I found that the acting truly steals the show and makes the headlines for this picture. Watch out for a couple of Oscar wins!

J.Henderson

7.5/10

The Wolf of Wall Street - 2013 - Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill.

Exhilarating and hilarious.

The Wolf of Wall Street is based on the true story of Jordan Belfort (DiCaprio), a New York stockbroker who goes from working on penny stocks to a life of corruption and excess. Following Belfort during his twenties, he, along with right-hand man Donnie Azoff (Hill), takes the financial world by storm with his stockbroking skill and aggressive partying.

Martin Scorsese directs this masterfully funny and daring picture. Although being criticized for its glamorizing of the drugs and sex lifestyle, I don't see this as a huge issue. What this content gives is a fast paced (which was definitely needed in this 3 hour film) thrill ride that keeps you laughing and shocked throughout. Personally, I find this one of the most enjoying Scorsese films ever produced. The daring and outlandish characters were gripping to watch, in particular Jordan Belfort whose lack of remorse for his actions, combined with his love of drugs, created a villain who an audience just can't keep there eyes off.

The acting throughout The Wolf of Wall Street is simply remarkable. Matthew McConaughey as Mark Hanna, during the short time that he is present in this picture, controls each scene and has the full attention of Belfort. McConaughey's 'Money Chant', which is on the soundtrack, is actually a warm up technique used by McConaughey, and when seen by DiCaprio he felt it would have worked in the film; it definitely did with the sequence being a stand-out moment in the 3 hour spectacular. Jonah Hill produces an Oscar-nominated supporting role that proves his ability as an actor. When I saw Hill in Moneyball (2011) I thought he had the skill and talent to become one of the top actors in Hollywood, after watching The Wolf of Wall Street this opinion has not faulted. Hill is compelling and gripping as Belfort's drug-fueled aide, however, I don't feel he will have much luck at the Oscars with the likes of Jared Leto and Michael Fassbender further up the pecking order.

I feel the one area of the film that lets it down is the length. At three hours long the film is Scorsese's longest and most definitely could have benefited from having a few scenes cut down. The vast number of speeches were incredibly long and self-indulgent, at times there was the feeling that an epic speech had been made with a great final line only for it to continue for another five minutes and ultimately gave the audience a reason to lose concentration. On the other hand, the ridiculous and insanely entertaining parties bring every viewer back to the film.

The most exciting film of 2013.

J. Henderson.

8/10