Room Review

Room Review

http://www.mediamikes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/room.jpg

Five year old Jack has lived in room all of his life, his friends are wardrobe, sink and plant, and his only connection to the outside world is a TV with bad signal. Lenny Abrahamson's new film Room is an extremely moving display of childlike wonder and innocence, and is one of my favourite films of the past few months.


Jack's mother has been trapped in a small 10x10 room for 7 years, with her only point of contact to the outside world being 'Old Nick' who comes every Sunday to drop off groceries and abuse her. For Jack, room is all he has known, and his mother tells him that room is all there is in the world. Television comes from TV planets, and everyone on TV is flat and made of colour, the only thing outside of room for Jack is outer space. The magical fairy tale type world that Ma has created for Jack becomes the main point of focus in the film when she decides she wants to escape room. Jack fights and argues with his mum when she starts to try and explain the real world to him, that there are trees and oceans and dogs outside room. The two of them escape fairly early on into the film, and the story becomes about what happens afterwards, when Ma discovers that life has been carrying on without her outside.

This is an extremely powerful and moving piece of work, largely down to the fact that most of the film is seen through the eyes of Jack. His struggle to adapt to the outside world is fascinating to watch, as he tries to comprehend everything around him, while his mother is struggling to cope with the fact that the world has changed since she left. The relationship between mother and son is the most convincing I have ever seen in a film, newcomer Jacob Tremblay is a revelation as Jack. Jacob gives a true and honest portrayal of childhood, much like Quvenzhane Wallis in Beasts of the Southern Wild. He is both quiet, gentle, angry, loud, scared and fearless all at once, displaying an emotional maturity far beyond his years. Brie Larson as Ma however is the standout performance in the film, her strength crumbles after leaving room, and as her role as Jacks mother changes, she falls apart. We don't often see the aftermath of these kinds of events in films, Ma's fairy tale ending of being reunited with her family is not what she expects, as she tries to cope with the fear and memories of room and what happened. Jack begins to grow up and adapt to this new world, while Ma is trapped in limbo between the two, testing their relationship and exploring the often under addressed post traumatic stress disorder that she experiences.

The melancholic soundtrack of Room, consisting of traditional music pieces and contemporary post rock in the form of band This Will Destroy You add to the emotional intensity of some of the scenes, particularly when Jack and his mother and reunited after their escape. Jack's narration of the story works perfectly too, he describes the world outside of room using the magical terminology he's been taught by his mother to draw us into his mind and what he is thinking. The trembling documentary style of filming is nothing special, but does a good job of not getting in the way of the story and characters, this is not in any way a pretentiously technical film, but rather a human story made to be absorbed directly to the heart, not the brain.

Come awards season Room will surely do well, and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone and everyone, a must see film this season.

9.5/10

The Revenant Review

http://dl9fvu4r30qs1.cloudfront.net/80/9f/a6afc7384cc1acb88de59c4d2d34/revenant-leo.jpg

I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I didn't quite realise Iñárritu's The Revenant was a full blown body horror gag-a-thon until I saw it the other day at an Odeon pre release screening. By the end of the film I felt physically and mentally exhausted, I'm still unsure if that's a good thing or not.

I managed to see The Revenant early through Odeon's Screen Unseen secret film screenings, much to my delight, I had originally guessed the film would be The Big Short. The film is Spanish Auteur Alejandro González Iñárritu's latest feature, who directed the magnificent Birdman last year, so my hopes were high that The Revenant would carry on the directors string of critical hits. In many areas, the film succeeds magnificently, and will surely do well come awards season, however there are a few issues that hold the film back from greatness.

The plot of The Revenant is simple, this is a revenge film set in the American Frontier of the early 1800's. Our leading man Hugh Glass (Leonardo Di Caprio) is mauled by a grizzly bear while on a fur trading expedition with a group of American explorers, leaving him on the brink of death. Talk of rewards and money leaves the group split, with some staying to look after him and the others heading off towards town, when Glass is betrayed by one of his men he must survive on his own through a brutal and cold landscape to get his revenge. The plot is very simple and well trodden, and therein lies one of the films main problems. Iñárritu has dedicated the majority of screen time to brutality, shock and physical endurance, which in itself wouldn't be a problem had the plot been something memorable. As it happens it's easy to forget exactly why this struggle is so important until the final section of the film. For two hours we see Glass walking, stumbling and crawling through the snow, eating raw fish, sleeping inside of a horse and committing brutal acts of violence against anyone that stands in his way. Something is missing, the emotional connection to what he is fighting for is lost in the never ending struggle to stay alive.

Aside from this, the film is stunning to look at, swirling long takes and natural lighting give the film an almost ethereal Malick quality at some points, while also being rooted in the gritty reality of the landscape Glass is fighting against. The film's many shocking body horror scenes are enhanced by cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki's gruelling close up shots, some of which are very difficult to watch without looking away.

The standout performances in The Revenant are Leonardo and Tom Hardy, both do an excellent job of saying a lot with their eyes and body language, without the need for much dialogue. These are performances of spit, snot and blood, of screaming and agony, and they do a damn fine job. I would hesitate to say that this is either of their best performances, and I don't think that this will give Leo his much deserved Oscar, but both are worthy of nomination. Similarly to Birdman, the soundtrack is drum heavy, but this time the drums are pummelling and mighty, the sounds of war, and make the few and far between action sequences all the more exciting. In terms of technical details then, The Revenant cannot be faulted, the film is clearly a well crafted piece of cinema directed by a supremely talented man.

While I enjoyed The Revenant for its visuals and performances, I wouldn't that I enjoyed the watching the long and gruelling struggle that Glass goes through quite as much. Impressive for sure, but not something that I would personally dedicate nearly two and a half hours to again any time soon.

7.5/10

Insidious Chapter 3 Review

Insidious Chapter 3 Review



http://cdn1-www.comingsoon.net/assets/uploads/1970/01/file_605793_insidious-3-poster2-640x948.jpg

As the film opens, a young girl knocks on a retired psychic's door wanting to speak to her deceased mother, unluckily for her, instead of contacting her mum she accidentally brings back a demon. Its at this point you know Insidious Chapter 3 is going to be a predictable film, luckily though, this Leigh Whannell directed chiller packs in enough effective scares to warrant a watch, especially for horror fans.

Quinn Brenner (Stephanie Scott) is a young girl approaching her college years, who lives with her widowed father and younger brother in a swish inner city apartment. While auditioning for a place in a top college in New York, she gets mowed down by a car while distracted by a mysterious waving figure, leaving her bed bound. Its at this point she begins to think she is being contacted by her dead mother, but when things start getting more violent and malevolent, its up to psychic Elise Rainer (Lin Shayne) to reprise her franchise role and rescue her from a demon that has latched onto her soul. While the plot is similar to parts 1 and 2 of Insidious, newly helmed director Leigh Whannell manages to create enough emotional substance in the characters to make the plot interesting and at times touching. Most of this is done with the interaction between Quinn and her father, played by Dermot Mulroney. The relationship between father and daughter is at the core of Insidious 3, both in reality and the ghost world they call 'The Further'. It is this dynamic, however cliché and predictable that makes plot of Chapter 3 more interesting than the first two instalments.

In terms of horror, the film has a knack of knowing exactly when to pull the quiet-quiet-bang jump scares that are so common in today's horror scene, making them much more effective than the generic and predictable scares of recent pictures like Poltergeist. Moreover the franchise avoids the CGI monster route in favour of images that are fleeting, yet linger in the mind long after the credits roll. Much like the first film (not so much chapter 2) Whannell uses our inner most fears to create effective jumps, a dark figure towering over your bed or a face in a window can be far scarier than a gross out monster or buckets of blood. Insidious Chapter 3 is also a film jam packed full of references. From the opening title scene alone we are treated to the same fantastically old school violin heavy music that has been used in past iterations of the film franchise, something which I have always enjoyed. Furthermore it is clear that a lot of the inspiration for the film's scares have come from Japanese horror, crawling faceless girls and strange messed up images are used brilliantly, as well as the world travelling 'other place' kind of horror you get from a film like Poltergeist.

While the latest film is a definite step in the right direction for the franchise, it still doesn't have the same emotional depth or provide any food for thought that a more leftfield film like The Babadook does and at its core Insidious 3 is a film to please the masses at multiplexes. So while a lot of things have been improved and the film packs a serious amount of decent scares, it could be argued that the Hollywood sheen makes it difficult to become truly invested in the characters or horror, which are often predictable, yet solid and effective.

7.5/10



Top 5 Films of 2014

 Top 5 Films of 2014

 

Its been far too long since I have posted on here, so I'm doing a list of my favourite films of 2014. Its been a great year for films, with a nice balance of brilliant blockbusters, incredible Oscar winners and arthouse gems, here are my top 5 of the year.

 

 

#5 Guardians of the Galaxy

 

 

As an avid hater of anything Marvel, Guardians of the Galaxy caught me by surprise, the film turned out to be a hilarious sci-fi romp in the same vein as Star Wars. The usual superhero fare is simply not my cup of tea, even the acclaimed Avengers Assemble has never piqued my interest, this however was brilliant. With tongue planted firmly in cheek Guardians of the Galaxy takes aim at the conventions of sci-fi and turns them on its head in self referential delight. The characters are vivid, animated and always funny, making the film an absolute joy to watch. The final battle set in Marvel's favourite location, the generic city, was slightly underwhelming compared to the bright and colourful locales seen in the earlier portions of the film, however it doesn't detract from what is surely Marvel's best film to date.

 

 



 

 

#4 Lilting

 

 



http://www.fliks.com.au/movie/lilting/poster/

 

Starring Ben Whishaw and the astounding Pei Pei Cheng, this quietly affecting drama tells the story of two people struggling with grief and their cultural differences. Junn (Cheng) is mourning the loss of her young son Kai who was killed in an accident, when a stranger appears at her care home, her sons boyfriend. The relationship between the two is mostly told in emotive body language and facial expressions, as Junn can't speak English. The film deals with ideas of cultural identity, loss, misunderstanding and guilt as it slowly escalates into an emotional piecing together of Kai's memories and experiences. The two lead performances are quiet yet shattering, Whishaw is increasingly becoming one of Britain's finest actors, and Pei Pei Chengs legacy remains untarnished, she is mesmerising.

 

 

 



 

#3 Gone Girl

 

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/check-out-the-new-poster-for-david-finchers-gone-girl-plus-amy-dunne-has-a-pinterest-account-20140911

 

 

David Fincher's latest mystery is Gone Girl, a crime scene thriller about the disappearance of Amy Dunne (Pike) on the 5th anniversary of her marriage to Nick Dunne (Affleck). The film twists and turns throughout the 2 hr 30 running time, utilising both Nicks viewpoint and diary entries from Amy to try and piece together what happened. It's difficult to explain much of the plot without revealing anything, suffice to say it isn't what you would expect from the genre. The film tackles issues surrounding the media, gender roles, relationships and what they mean, delving deep into what makes a relationship work, or what doesn't. It's also meticulously directed by Fincher, who frames every scene with precision and detail, Gone Girl is a film that you could watch countless times and still not notice the detail put into each and every frame. A special mention must be given to Rosamund Pike, who has transformed herself from posh English darling to Hollywood superstar in her blinder of a performance.

 

 

 

 

#2 Nightcrawler

 

 



http://www.finalreel.co.uk/nightcrawler-alternate-posters/nightcrawler-alternate-poster-janee-meadows/

 

Nightcrawler tells the story of Lou Bloom, a man looking for a job in Los Angeles, after several failed attempts, he stumbles upon a camera crew filming a crash on the freeway. After speaking to film crew he learns of a freelance crime journalism that pays well, nightcrawling, the process of filming accidents, murders and robberies in the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles. He quickly becomes engrossed in a grisly world of crime, television and journalism which begins to eat away at his sanity. Jake Gylenhaal has outdone himself with this film, in what is surely an Oscar winning performance he plays the sociopath character brilliantly, delivering some of the most downright insane scenes in any film I have seen. The film is darkly comic, satirising today's picture taking, selfie posting culture as well as the business of American television news mixing it with gut wrenching violent imagery.

 



 

#1 Intersellar

 

 

http://forum.parttimepoker.com/shooting-off-sponsored-party-poker-nj/983324-interstellar-review-spoiler-free.html

 

As much criticism Interstellar has gained, I still think it is the best film of the year. Christopher Nolan's Sci-Fi epic is unbelievable in scope and ambition, telling not just a human emotional story, but a scientific explanation of everything that happens. To some viewers this might be a turn off, audiences want to be entertained not taught, but the great thing about interstellar is that it manages to be both an intelligent and thought provoking piece as well as a blockbuster adventure, something which some critics cannot stomach. Much in the same way as 2001 did, Interstellar attempts to use space as a vehicle for events and ideas happening on Earth, in this case the film is a lesson of love and humanity, set against the silent backdrop of space and its imposing vastness. The film looks incredible too, especially in its native 70mm Imax version, the first glimpse of Saturn is jaw dropping, the scale of this film is on another level and the lack of green screen is a welcome change. Performance wise, Anne Hathaway, Matthew McConaughey and Jessica Chastain take the cake, all giving moving and passionate performances that all deserve nominations. Interstellar is a film that you must see while it is playing in cinemas, it'll be remembered for years as another landmark in Science Fiction and is Nolan's best film to date.

 

 





 

 

Thanks for reading! There are so many more films that I could have included, 12 Years a Slave, The Grand Budapest Hotel and Maps to the Stars came incredibly close! You can follow me on Twitter @Karlrichings to keep up to date with film reviews.



The Quiet Ones Review

The Quiet Ones Review

 

http://www.aceshowbiz.com/images/still/the-quiet-ones-poster06.jpg

For 4 years Hammer Horror films have failed to provide a quality horror picture that compares to 2010's Let Me In, The Quiet Ones most certainly does not buck that trend. The film is based on a 'true story', one set in England's Oxford University. A lecturer and his group of students carry out an experiment in the name of science, the experiment is designed to prove that paranormal occurrences are created by the force of human fear. The test subject in question is Jane Harper (Olivia Cooke),  a disturbed individual who has a knack for creating supernatural energy and whose past is blurred and forgotten. Jane, played brilliantly by Olivia Cooke, is an interesting character from the offset, managing to single handedly carry the film through its unbearably slow start. Director John Pogue attempts to give each character a sense of background and standing in the world, aiming to make the audience care, an exercise that ends up slightly overdrawn. Once things get going, the film's mystery is ignited, and the narrative briefly holds its own. After a surprisingly enjoyable middle section, complete with a battering of jump scares, the film's plot begins to lose its sense of mystery and follows the well trodden path into mediocrity.

 

The Quiet Ones makes up somewhat for the lack of innovation with a solid cast, all of whom provide good performances which bring the stale character archetypes to life. The well established and much loved Jared Harris plays the slowly maddening professor, and does so with considerable clout, delivering a character that is sufficiently creepy and ever so slightly insane. British newbies Sam Clafin and Erin Richards make up the rest of the cast, both performing to an admirable degree, particularly Clafin as Janes' love interest Brian. As is standard with Hammer films, the cinematography is moody and colourless, even in the films vibrant 1970's setting. While the sounds of T Rex are never a few minutes away, the lifeless and dreary settings never evoke the same passion. To make matters worse, the film attempts to switch between a regular filming style and a found footage/video camera style, with Brian's role as the documenter of the experiment as the excuse. The problem lies with the jarring cuts between standard film and home video, taking place at crucial moments within the film. Not only does the cutting between the styles not work, but the handheld camera is thrown about and ran with like an iPhone, something that would simply not be possible with clunky 1970's technology.

 

In terms of horror, the film manages a few jolts in the middle half, using the handheld camera to full effect. A darkened room with only a circle of torch light illuminating the surroundings has of course been done many times before in found footage films, however Pouge plays with expectations, leading into some decent and genuine frights, as well as tension that leads to nothing. Unusually, the film shys away from the use of CGI during most of the film, a decision that really helps keep the mood and atmosphere in tact, unlike the recent Marked Ones or Devil's Due.

 

For now at least, the horror genre appears to be undergoing a creative drought, with few releases being more than re-runs of the same formula. Perhaps Hammer will return to its former glory, but for now the production company survives on it's legacy. The Quiet Ones is an average horror film, popcorn entertainment that serves only as a night out with friends or for a night in with a partner, horror fans looking for the next game changer will have to carry on waiting it seems.

 

6/10



Top 5 Films of 2014 So Far

Top 5 Films of 2014 So Far

Its been 6 months since my last post! So since its been so long I thought I would reintroduce myself with my favourite films of 2014 thus far. As usual, the first few months of the year give us some what turn out to be the years best films, mostly due to the Oscars and other ceremonies. So here are my personal picks for the best of the year so far.

#5 - August: Osage County

http://talent.adweek.com/gallery/August-Osage-County-Alternative-Movie-Poster/14547493

 

Based on the award winning play of the same name, this family comedy/drama revolves around the troubles of a dysfunctional family as they reunite after the death of a relative. Meryl Streep plays a superb part as the broken mother whose drinking habits and depression have driven the family apart. While the film gained some Oscar attention, it gained generally average reviews upon its release, with most accusing it of lacking a heart. Personally I found the film to be very poignant, while some of the head biting and arguments drive some of the scenes towards shout-offs, the end of the film was done beautifully. August Osage County is a high drama version of what it is like to have a broken family, and in that respect it succeeds.

 



 



#4 - Dallas Buyers Club

 

 



http://a-bittersweet-life.tumblr.com/post/73218955299/read-learn-absorb-the-screenplay-to-jean-marc

 

Matthew McConaughey won the heart of critics in last year's Mud, in Dallas Buyers Club he once again proves that he is a formidable talent in the world of Hollywood. Dallas Buyers Club tells the true tale of a Texan cowboy diagnosed with HIV and given 30 days to live. The film tackles some tough subjects such as homophobia, the American health care service and anti-corporate activism, which are all held together by both McConaughey's and Jared Leto's performances. The film is funny, which is unexpected considering the subject matter, however it works perfectly, giving the film a lightheartedness while still being incredibly moving.

 



 

#3 - Her

 



http://shyfyy.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/her1.jpg

 



Her is a comedy directed by the brilliant Spike Jonze, it takes aim at modern relationships as well as our relationship with technology, in a very literal sense. The story begins with Theodore, a lonely letter writer who is finalising his divorce. The film is set in a dystopian future where virtual reality has taken over the real world, namely with OS1, the worlds first artificially intelligent operating system. Theodore buys the OS and upon installing it is met with a female voice (played by Scarlett Johansson), the AI operating system slowly begins to form a relationship with the writer, leading into a full blown relationship with his computer. The premise sounds creepy, but the sharp humour makes sure the narrative never becomes more than an intelligent comment on our technology obsessed society. Spike Jonze once delivers a visually beautiful film too, filled with his trade mark melancholic framing and beautiful colours, not dissimilar to his work on Being John Malkovich.

 

 





 

#2 - 12 Years a Slave

 



http://tlkabtmovies.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/12yas-poster-art.jpg

 

So much has already been said about Steve Mcqueen's masterpiece 12 Years a Slave, that it leaves little to write about that has not already been written. What can be said is that this film is a true cinematic triumph in every way possible. The winning combination of stellar performances, assured direction and thematic bravery has created a beautiful, yet earth shattering piece that is sure to become a modern classic. A must see.

 

 



 

#1 The Grand Budapest Hotel

 

 





http://www.aintitcool.com/node/65500

 

As a massive fan of Wes Anderson's work, its no surprise that The Grand Budapest Hotel has topped this list. The Grand Budapest Hotel is Wes Anderson at his best, very much encompassing all of his quirks and auturisms that have established his career as one of the worlds most celebrated filmmakers. The film is a typical Wes epic, being perhaps most similar to his brilliant stop motion The Fantastic Mr Fox, but less like his last feature Moonrise Kingdom. The narrative revolves around Gustave, the concierge at The Grand Budapest Hotel and his new lobby boy Zero, as they steal a priceless work of art and attempt to escape the pursuing authorities, all the while maintaining the traditions of the established hotel. It's a film that is laced with superb verbal gags, meticulous direction and brilliant performances from a plethora of Hollywood stars. The definition of a perfect film.

 

 



 

 

That concludes the list for my favourite films of the year so far, however there were a few films that came incredibly close to the top 5, so I have to give credit to Inside Lleywn Davis, Frozen and Labour Day, all of which I enjoyed immensely as well.



The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Review

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Review

 

http://oyster.ignimgs.com/wordpress/stg.ign.com/2013/10/catching-fire-imax-poster-610x903.jpg

 

 

Being a massive fan of both the Suzanne Collins novels and the original film, The Hunger Games Catching Fire is one of the most exciting film events of the year. It gives me great pleasure to say that the latest film in the series does not disappoint.

 

 

The action again revolves around the newly championed Hunger Games winner Katniss Everdeen. With the imminent arrival of the 75th annual Hunger Games approaching, and the increasing political tension between the districts mounting, it falls on Katniss Everdeens shoulders to keep the peace, or else lose her family and friends to the villainous president Snow. As Katniss attempts to dampen any signs of resistance by playing by the Capitol's games, it becomes increasingly clear that a revolution is beginning, with the mockingjay pin that Katniss wears becoming the symbol of the rebellion. When Katniss accidentally fuels the revolution, President Snow announces that the 75th Hunger Games' tributes are to be selected from the pool of existing winners, unsurprisingly, Katniss and Peeta are picked. From here the plot simmers slowly until the start of the games, when it escalates and explodes into an adventure filled romp that far exceeds its predecessor's Hunger Games in terms of sheer action. The final scene of the film leaves the viewer with an excruciating need to see the next film, which is a major success in the film franchise business.

 

 

Visually the film is stunning, directed with sublime elegance by Francis Lawrence, a man who's previous credentials include Lady Gaga and Britney Spears music videos. In Catching Fire he proves that he can direct a film just as well as a music video, wisely swapping out the original film's wildly shaking camera for a new, easier to watch shooting style. The change is even more apparent when both films are watched back to back, one of the main problems with the Gary Ross directed original was that the action scenes were near enough unwatchable, here the tides have been turned significantly and for the better. The special effects have had a noticeable improvement as well, giving the film a much shinier finish than the previous, and again making it easier to watch.

 

The star studded cast including Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz and Liam Hemsworth is a lineup to die for. The clear standout is Jennifer Lawrence, who brings a feisty yet humble and down to earth flair to Katniss, a brilliant female role model for the younger generation. Woody Harrelson once again shines as the lovable alcoholic Haymitch, as does Lenny Kravitz as the quiet but brilliant Cinna. Elizabeth Banks delivers another zany performance as Effie Trinket, who is given a much larger role in this film and, astonishingly, is much easier to warm to.

 

 

Catching Fire is the ultimate blockbuster, it adheres to some of the traits of the genre, yet never succumbs to them, and ties blazing action and adventure with heavy characterisation and real world commentary. The Hunger Games is turning out to be the darling of critics around the world, and one of the only franchise films in which the second film eclipses the first. One things for sure, I'm definitely looking forward to the final film.

 

9/10