Paul

The Synopsis
Graeme Willy *tee hee* (Simon Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Nick Frost) are two British guys who go to America for Comic Con and expand their holiday by taking a road trip and visiting all the great Sci Fi hotspots it has to offer. Their journey is thrown completely out of whack however when they end up hiding a real life alien fugitive, Paul (Seth Rogen)from the American government and agree to help him try to get home.

The Review
Aaah, me likey me likey. I mean I went in thinking that I was going to love it because it has my fav comedy duo in Nick and Simon but of course that worried me as I feared it wouldn't live up to my expectations but you know what? It was fandabidosy.

The whole thing just reeked of geek love but being a budding geek myself I felt at home watching it. It was basically a love story to all things sci fi and it was done by two men who obviously know their stuff. Now as far as I stand with the science fiction world I would have to say I'm around just below average but the sci fi things that I do watch have been known to take over my whole life, (namely Doctor Who... I could soak in those stories all day).

What I love about Paul is the same thing that Nick Frost and Simon Pegg always seem to do in the films they do together and that is they underline all their characters with aspects of themselves. Like I could easily believe that they have probably done the tour of America's best alien land marks plenty of times before they filmed this film. In fact I like to believe that when Nick and Simon retire they might migrate together to Roswell, buy a little two bedroom space shuttle shaped house and live out the last of their years whistling the theme tune from Close Encounters into the night sky whilst secretly hoping to hear the whisper of alien life speaking back...

Hmmmm, a couple of minutes has passed since writing the above as I have just closed my eyes and imagined how perfect the world would be if that would happen.

For anyone who is a little obsessed in the world of science fiction then there are millions of little tid bits littered throughout the film for you to go 'Oh my days! I saw that on Star Trek/Spielberg films/etc etc' I would like to think that I caught about 80% of them but I'm sure if I were to see it with a hard core sci geek I would probably hang my head in shame with the amount I really missed. So with that said, if you are not a sci fi geek at all but simply a fan of the comedy duo then it does not depend on you to get all the references in order to enjoy the film, it stands on it's own as a highly funny film without a need for research first.

The alien Paul in the film is rude and very funny and somehow comes across as very loveable. Seth Rogen's voice definitely suits animation, it's very soothing to listen to and his timing is awesome. There are a few moments in the one on one conversations between him and the other characters where it seems to get emotional and automatically each time I could feel myself getting nervous as I was sure it was going to enter into cheesy town but I have to say, not once did that happen. Instead at the end of these conversations I found myself inwardly applauding the writing of this. Thinking about it, this is quite obviously a film of love from two people who know this genre very well, it couldn't have been written any other way than just perfect for the genre it was in.

Go and see it, love it and tell your friends. Well done Nick and Simon, next one to look forward to is the Cornetto Trilogy finale! An almighty five faces from me as it appealed to my geekdom so well.

Just go with it

The Synopsis

After being jaded at his wedding Danny (Adam Sandler) devotes his life to using the idea of marriage as only a tool to pick up women. This was a flawless plan until Palmer (Brooklyn Decker) comes into his life and he thinks she could be something more. However when she finds his fake wedding ring in his trouser pocket, he is forced to enter into a lie involving his assistant Katherine (Jennifer Aniston)and her two children as his made up ex wife and kids.

The Review

I've never been much of a fan of Adam Sandler's straight out comedies but I love his rom coms. Let me get this out now, it is in no way a challenging movie and if you've seen 50 First Dates then expect the exact same gags but I tend to forgive him for this as it doesn't pretend to be anything else. I almost love that Adam Sandler doesn't change his rom coms from one to the other, the fact that they are always the same is like a security blanket that you can curl up under and feel safe.

Now it is stupidly unrealistic and sacrifices a lot for the sake of the gags involved but you don't end up too cut up about it as if you were expecting anything else then... well... do you not know Adam Sandler at all?

Having said all that, although it left me feeling all happy and warm inside I don't really have anything else to say about it. It was fun, it had a lot of jokes, (some I got, some I didn't) and it even had an A list supporting role (Nicole Kidman) but other than that it doesn't hold anything else to review.

Go and see it if you want a brainless feel good film and don't mind that it has a storyline you could have predicted from the trailer alone. 3 faces from me!

Black Swan

The Synopsis
This is a film about a ballet dancer, Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) who is cast in the role of the Swan Queen in Swan Lake. On her journey to the opening night she struggles to learn how to embrace not only the dignified white swan side of her role but also the much darker and intense black swan side. As she tries her hardest to let go and discover this side, the film explores the lengths she must go to to allow her mind to open up to the powerful and dangerous force that accompanies it.

The Review
Hands down, that was the hardest synopsis I've had to write so far. In truth there really are no words to describe this film. It is definitely one of those that can only be explained by going to see it yourself.

This is a movie I have been hyping up and wanting to see with my friend 'J' for quite some time. We waited patiently for this long to wait and see it together and so I have been subject to the many reviews and different 'words of mouth' about this film for weeks. I knew it would be dark, I knew it would be weird, I knew it would make me turn away from the screen and go "tell me when the bleeding stops." And let me tell you, I was not disappointed.

This film was weird. But in a totally amazing way. It delved so deeply into the human psyche that I feared we'd never be able to get out again. Definitely not one to see if your mind is anywhere other than in a healthy place because otherwise it will creep you out and leave you cowering in the corner of a dark room, swaying backwards and forwards and questioning your own existence and how much control you have over your mind.

But if you're able to handle that and see it purely objectively then... wow. There is no doubt in my mind that Natalie Portman will be accepting an Oscar for that role this year. She was so fragile all the way through and never dropped character making her own personal journey completely believable.

And as for Mila Kunis? Being a MASSIVE That 70's Show fan I have this fondness towards all of the cast and (in the sad, 'films and books are my life' way that I have) always hope that they do well in any further ventures. Mila has definitely landed on her feet in terms of her career. She has a very real take to her acting which almost seems like she's not acting at all... I know I didn't really explain that very well but I'm still trying to find the words I mean for her performances. It was the same thing she did in 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall.' There's a sense of 'reality show' feeling about her acting. Like a camera is trained on her talking and being a person rather than her being an actor with lines... Even reading that back, it sounds odd and I don't think I'm explaining myself very well. Maybe in her next movie I'll put my finger on what it is. Whatever it is, I like it.

Actually watching the film, I'm glad I went with a friend rather than chose that as a film to watch on my own. It sort of pushes the boundaries of British comfortableness and possibly the most entertaining part of the movie for me was listening to the packed cinema's embarrassed giggles as certain scenes progressed. I too let out a few embarrassed giggles and J and I were known to throw each other the 'oh my days, did that actually just happen?' look on more than one occasion.

Whilst I can fully understand that this is not a film for everyone, (a suspicion that was confirmed when we witnessed several people get up and leave the cinema on different stages in the film) there was no denying that it was very well made and with just the right tone that left you constantly confused on what was reality and what was insanity. It achieved it's goal in a style I cannot deny to be absolutely flawless and made me realise that I could never and would never be a ballet dancer because it seems like way too much hassle and pain...

The King's Speech

The Synopsis
Based on the true story of King George VI's (Colin Firth) journey to the throne, the struggle he had with his longstanding stammer and the damage it had on the Country's faith in him as King. His wife, Queen Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter) calls on the help of Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush) to coach him in overcoming his stammer.

The Review
Aaah man, I love films where I come out feeling all patriotic and this was one of them! I have never felt more British and proud. I know the royal family get a lot of slack for not seemingly doing...well...anything but I absolutely love them.

There's this little part of me that stays dormant for the majority of my day to day life, this is the 'proud to be British' gene. It's always there but it very rarely takes a dominant position in my life. Previous to this film the main culprits for encouraging it to take over are a: Al Murray or b: anything written by Richard Curtis, with the occasional c: british comedy panel shows. But this film and it's simple 'probably not going to be understood by the Americans' undertone just made me want to jump from my seat and start singing the national anthem at the top of my lungs. Luckily I resisted this urge as it was already kind of sad that on 'Orange Wednesdays' at my local cinema at half eight in the evening, I was looking slightly 'weird freak who no one likes' as I queued for half an hour all on my lonesome.

Anywho, enough about me. The film... Colin Firth was awesome and definitely deserves the awards he's been getting, oscar worthy performance definitely. The film was funny and realistic. Helena Bonham Carter played an amazing portrayal of Queen Elizabeth, balancing the regal uptight behaviour with her complete devotion to her husband perfectly. Geoffrey Rush... perfectly timed one liners throughout and the performance was at his usual stunning level. I was a little confused with his accent as I would not have for one moment assumed he was Australian had they not kept on bringing it up throughout the film. His wife definitely sounded Australian but the scenes with them two again confused me. I couldn't quite understand what kind of relationship they were trying to show. Was it distant? loving? happy? unhappy? All the scenes seemed to sit uneasy with the rest of the film, like the director switched styles of filming specifically for them and it made the flow slightly disjointed.

That aside, I loved it and can definitely see why there is a lot of fuss about it. If you're looking for a realistic representation of our beautifully civil and uptight British ways then this is the film for you. If youre looking for action and plot twists, perhaps hold out for something else. Overall it was funny, powerful, emotional and a perfect way to brush up on your history knowledge if you don't know much about the Royal family at that time. I swear.. no one actually needs to go to history lessons, the films are showing it all for us anyway. (DISCLAIMER: Not all films are as historically accurate as they claim to be, for example, do not rely on Disney's Hercules to teach you about Greek mythology because in spite of what they say, it is certainly NOT the 'Gospel Truth.')

Another four faces from me.

Love and Other Drugs

The Synopsis
Jamie (Jake Gyllenhall) is a man with a low attention span and a charismatic personality. After he starts his new fad of being a drug salesman he meets Maggie (Anne Hathaway) a young woman with stage one Parkinson's and a complete fear of commitment. The film explores the couple as they both surprise themselves by falling in love and learning all the challenges and perks that come with it.

The review
Ladies, let me just get this off my chest before I get all profound and 'professional' in my reviewing. Jake Gyllenhall in this movie is STUPIDLY gorgeous. This was a fact that took me completely by surprise as, although being slightly aware that he wasn't exactly hard on the eye, I had never found him particularly that attractive. It freaks me out when I'm faced with a revelation such as this as I'm pretty much lost as to how I had never noticed before. I have seen a LOT of Jake's work and not even Brokeback Mountain had made me stop and take notice, which judging by the type of men I have been known to show interest in in the past should have been the film, if there was going to be any, that would have turned me to 'Team Jake.' Nonetheless, it was this film and he was truly beautiful and nail bitingly yummy in it all the way through. Enough said on that... onto the proper stuff.

I was once asked a few years ago whether I write stories that are plot based or character based. This was a concept that to me I had never thought about until asked but since have always looked at when watching a film or reading a book. When it comes to romance films, the plot line 9 times out of 10 can be predicted within the first ten minutes of the film. This film is no exception to that rule, but what makes this film good instead of ridiculously mundane is that it is 100% all about the characters. Both Maggie and Jamie are real and completely screwed up characters that are entirely relatable to the audience and Hathaway and Gyllenhall both give an outstanding performance throughout. As a film on the whole, yes there really isn't anything substantial to it but in amongst it all there are pockets of sheer dialogue beauty between the two of them as they project their own screwed up insecurities on the other in a way that only proves they are perfect for each other.

Scenes such as Jamie's panic attack and Maggie's bathtub speech are two of the highlights of the film. My hat is tipped off to the writers for those particular moments. The film was simply about two very real people and without relying on anything fantastic happening it focused on these people and who they were, which in this context was by far enough.

Pretty impressed tbh, a good four faces from me.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Bruno (Asa Butterfield) is an eight year old boy and son of a German soldier, (David Thewlis) who is sent to run a concentration camp in the height of the Second World War. Due to this he moves his whole family to a house near one of the camps. After exploring one day Bruno finds a boy called Shmuel (Jack Scanlon) sitting in the camp and makes friends with him. As the film unwinds we see the harsh realities of World War 2 through the eyes of two eight year old boys.

To say this film was awesome is the understatement of the century. It has been a long while since I have seen a film that moved me as much as this one did.

Although there have been many war films, I once heard it said that there is no story that has been done too many times as long as you find a new angle to see it. This film was that, it was harsh, truthful, rough and didn’t pull any punches when talking about the brutality that was used in the concentration camps at that time. But every plot turn we saw was seen through the eyes of Bruno; an eight year old boy who for the main part of the film thinks he’s living next door to a farm whose occupants seem to be wearing strange pyjamas.

With this angle we never see blatant portrayals of the torture that the Jews had to endure but rather subtle hints that leaves you chilled to the bone. It is so beautifully done that I spent two or so hours with my mouth wide open and my body completely tense.

I could not find one thing wrong with this film. With an amazing script, stunning performances from all, inspired directing and an almighty film score I was amazed from beginning to end. I mean this to the point where I almost want to make it my life mission to get every person I know to see it. As far as I’m concerned there is no reason for you not to see this and if there is just one film you see this year, make sure it’s this one. An almighty five faces from me.

Taken

Bryan (Liam Neeson) is a retired spy for the government who has left his job to devote his time to his 17 year old daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace) who he had been estranged from for the majority of her life. When she goes to Paris with her friend she is kidnapped by human traffickers and Bryan goes on the war path to get his daughter back.

Well this film had an awesome trailer that took a plot line that had been used many times and made me interested.

Unfortunately that was where the intrigue ended. It was a competent film with one of the greats (Neeson) as it's lead and so in my mind was worth seeing at least once. The action was interesting enough to keep me on my toes throughout and the pace of the film was just right to not cause that dragging feeling you can sometimes feel in action films.

This was all it was however. There was nothing amazing about it that made me impressed and balled over. Neeson's acting carried the film though his American accent was little to be desired and quite often he just sounded like a Irish man trying to carry himself off as an American. (Which in all fairness to him is what he is)

The action in the film although fast paced and interesting did leave me and my regular film buddy a little skeptical. Neeson's skills as a spy seemed to be reliant on coincidences in his circumstances rather than any actual clever writing.

And were the reactions the characters had to the situation they found themselves in realistic? Meh. Bad script writers. Bad.

All in all, it wasn't one I regretted seeing but I've pretty much forgotten about it already and I only finished watching it an hour ago. You probably won't hate it, but you probably won't love it either - I guess that means I nothing it....

Neeson's performance gained one more face than this film probably deserved which proves their one golden good choice was in their casting. It gets a (just barely) three faces from me.