Date Night Movies – NZ Film Freak

Tenet

Tenet movie poster 2020

Director: Christopher Nolan
Writer: Christopher Nolan
Released: September 2020
Starring: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine and Kenneth Branagh
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Well, right off the bat this movie screams IT’S THE SAME DIRECTOR AS INCEPTION. The familiar cast members, the editing, colour-scheme and the over-complicated storyline were just a few of the tell-tale Nolan signs.

However, as I am a massive Inception fan, I was not upset about this. In fact, I was hoping to see more of the same cast (where’s Leo at?).

This classically Nolan premiss is difficult for me to explain, so I’ve found the synopsis for you: Tenet is about a secret agent who embarks on a dangerous, time-bending mission to prevent the start of World War III.

(The word ‘Tenet’ is a palindrome, meaning that it’s spelt the same way forwards as it is backwards; a nod to the time-travelling theme of the movie.)

If you think you recognise the protagonist (John David Washington), you don’t, because Tenet was pretty much his debut on the big screen. He is the son of Denzel Washington though.

John David Washington Tenet

Also, if you recognise the super tall, elegant woman in the movie (Elizabeth Debicki), she’s from The Great Gatsby.

Elizabeth Debicki in Tenet

Robert Pattinson wasn’t as bad as I expected but he does pout his lips a lot, which is quite distracting. I’m pleased he was given the opportunity to do an action role and avoided being trapped as the heavy drama/romance actor. (I must point out that I think he was a very poor choice as our new Batman though.)

If I learnt anything about keeping up with complicated movies, it’s that you have to listen carefully to the dialogue as that’s where the storyline is explained, and Tenet is no different. The conversations between characters last across multiple locations within a scene, with lots of details being explained.

Tenet

The complexity of the film is not to be shied away from, however. Considering the cinemas have been shut for MONTHS, Tenet was a welcome debut! It’s full of action and drama, which was a perfect balance for my husband and I to enjoy.

If you’re a time travel nut like I am, you’ll thoroughly enjoy the car chase scene, as well as all the little bits and pieces where they talk about travelling through time and debunking any holes in the science to ensure your suspension of disbelief remains firmly intact.

You may walk away from the movie feeling a bit confused over the details of the plot, but it’ll only leave you wanting to see it again to fully enjoy it the second time around. So strap on that mask and head to the cinema to see Tenet – it’s well worth it!

Jodie’s rating: 7/10

PS. If you’re seeing this in the theatres while heavily pregnant like I did, bear in mind that your baby will probably not like the scenes with all the guns and explosions. (Get ready to be kicked in the ribs a lot.)

Knives Out

Director: Rian Johnson
Writer: Rian Johnson
Released: November 2019
Starring: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, Lakeith Stanfield, Katherine Langford, Jaeden Martell, Christopher Plummer
—

I love whodunnits!

My friend and I have read multiple Agatha Christie novels, and while we always try to figure out the culprit before the end, we never seem to be able to get into Agatha Christie’s head.

After hearing that Knives Out was a sort of Agatha Christie mystery, I decided that I had to watch it.

While it has all the tropes of a murder-mystery, it is in fact far from being a classic or typical murder-mystery.

As a result, I found it a tiny bit disappointing. Because Agatha Christie novels are perfect in every way, and Knives Out seems to try to one up her… Which is impossible to do without the story becoming over complicated or outlandish.

The thing is, the entire plot is given away too early – or at least that’s what I thought. As though we were told too much too soon. Of course, it all makes sense when the final twist at the end knocks you off your feet. But still, I was looking forward to be taken along for the Agatha Christie ride.

Nevertheless! The enormous amount of twists and turns are sure to keep you hooked, so long as your suspension of disbelief remains.

I loved the cast and characters – Toni Collette has always been a favourite of mine, and Daniel Craig did a surprisingly good job of being an investigator from the deep south! The mansion itself seems to be a character on its own too – the aesthetic is spectacular.

Overall, it’s a good popcorn movie that you don’t have to think about too much. Every scene has been carefully choreographed, with a huge attention to detail.

Jodie’s rating: 6/10

Jumanji: The Next Level

Director: Jake Kasdan
Writers: Jake Kasdan, Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg
Released: December 2019
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Awkwafina, Alex Wolff, Morgan Turner, Ser’Darius Blain, Madison Iseman, Danny Glover, Danny DeVito
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As I mentioned in the first remake – Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle – you can in no way compare these modern day films to the 90’s Robin Williams Jumanji masterpiece. Nor are these parody movie intended to be.

With that said, let’s begin:

Jumanji: The Next Level was everything that I expected it to be. It was clearly capitalising on the success of the first one, with the story being an after thought. However, if you didn’t see the first movie then you’d still enjoy this second instalment.

In this movie, the characters from the first film are catapulted into Jumanji again. This time, Spencer’s (Alex Wolff) grandfather (Danny Devito) and his friend (Danny Glover) joined. This was the perfect opportunity to make fun of boomers, and they didn’t hold back!

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It played on the most popular aspects of the first film: Jack Black pretending to be a teenage girl, Kevin Hart’s sass, crazy ways of losing one of their three lives, and hilarious one-liners.

There were new avatars such as a horse (yay) and Ming Fleetfoot, whose strength is thievery and pick-pocketing. ca-times.brightspotcdn

This movie was far more about the characters than the storyline, which was a little weak. But despite its predictability, it was another awesome kids’ movie with lots of action and comedic moments. While there was a generous sprinkling of cheese, the movie didn’t try to be anything more or less than it was; entertaining.

Would definitely recommend watching if you loved the Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. If you didn’t see the first one, don’t worry, they explain the rules of the Jumanji game very well in this movie so you won’t get lost!

Jodie’s rating: 6/10

Downton Abbey

downtonabbey

Director: Michael Engler
Writer: Julian Fellowes
Released: September 2019
Starring: Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton and Penelope Wilton
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From the day Downton Abbey came on Lightbox, we have been binge watching it. We aimed to watch all six series by the time the movie came out.

We succeeded. On the final week of Downton being in cinemas, we got our $10 ticket and went!

I must say, after about a month of watching back-to-back episodes, we were a bit over it by the time we watched the movie. It was basically just another episode that started right where the finale left off.

It followed the same upstairs/downstairs troubles and triumphs, but with the backdrop of the Royals coming to stay at Downton. All the while, tying up the loose ends of the final series.

The movie was ho-hum, and plodded on in the same fashion as series 5 and 6 had (not much scandal or suspense). I think the writers had been running out of steam for some time, and the movie didn’t seem to show much difference in their creativity.

I seriously believe that the best storyline for the Downton Abbey movie would have been episode 3 in the very first series – Mr Pamuk’s scandalous death. Now that was a great episode, and that would have been a fantastic movie!

But in this movie, all the characters were as they had been and so were their circumstances.

Although, I can’t deny that the TV series and the movie are all high-quality in every way – from the acting to the costumes to the historical intricacies. It is a fantastic way to understand the era – it’s like we’re following the lives of real people of the time.

It seemed that not a single second could be spared, with our favourite characteristics of every character given their own fair-share of screen time. Maggie Smith had her famous one-liners, Mary had her sharp tongue, and Mrs Hughes kept everyone in their place!

I would recommend seeing the movie. You won’t be shocked or excited. But whether you’ve seen the series or not, there is still the human interest factor that would resonate with many.

What I wouldn’t recommend, however, is to binge-watch every episode within a month and then see the movie. Because that might make you bored of the characters and overall arching storyline…

Jodie’s rating: 6/10

Yesterday

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Director: Danny Boyle
Writers: Jack Barth and Richard Curtis
Released: June 2019
Starring: Himesh Patel, Lily James, Ed Sheeran and Kate McKinnon
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Yesterday is a movie exploring the world where The Beatles never existed. After a global black-out, the protagonist Jack (Himesh Patel) wakes to discover that he’s the only one who remembers The Beatles or their songs.

Thankfully, as he’s a struggling musician he’s able to bring The Beatles’s music back to life. But with the fame and fortune, guilt and doubt isn’t far behind.

Yesterday is an easy watch. It’s a great Sunday afternoon family film with a fantastic soundtrack.

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I loved the little intricacies such as the incorrect lyrics because Jack couldn’t remember all the words – and who would? Put under pressure, I doubt you could name every single Beatles track and all the lyrics that go with it.

I also liked how the film explored what The Beatles would have endured if they had of been as famous as they were in the sixties today. It was particularly interesting listening to the comments and feedback from the record company – the White Album being rejected due to the racist title, for example.

Ed Sheeran makes an appearance. In fact, he’s in the film a fair bit! Coldplay’s Chris Martin was supposed to take this role but due to schedule conflicts, he wasn’t able to do it in the end.

Lily James is a favourite of mine – she’s perfect!

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I loved the English comedy and the unexpected surprises in an otherwise cookie-cutter rom-com.

While it’s not a blockbuster it certainly is a sweet story, which is something we all need to watch sometimes.

Jodie’s rating: 6/10

The Lion King (2019)

Director: Jon Favreau
Writer: Jeff Nathanson (Based on The Lion King (1994) by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts and Linda Woolverton
Released: July 2019
Starring: Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfre Woodard, Billy Eichner, John Kani, John Oliver, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and James Earl Jones
—

We had such a wonderful night out to see the remake of The Lion King!

While the original 1994 Disney version wasn’t my absolute favourite movie as a child (Sleeping Beauty will always be number 1), it was certainly a movie that was ingrained in my childhood.

I used to sit close to the TV with my Simba, Narla and Scar plush toys in front of me, and act out all the scenes alongside the movie.

It was a real treat to watch The Lion King for the first time again. However, its realistic live-action animation didn’t always work in its favour because it meant that the animals couldn’t physically do what the cartoon characters could do.

the lion king 1994

Such as Simba swinging from a branch and flipping into the lake, or Pumba’s big bottom getting wedged into a log when being chased by Narla, or Scar playing with a mouse that weaved through his fingers.

None of that is physically possible for animals, which this David Attenborough-esk remake showed.

The Lion King with Timon and Pumbaa

While I was disappointed because it lacked the visual humour of the 1994 cartoon, I think younger children would be disappointed because of the visual complexity of the realistic animals. It’s not just colours and shapes with this remake; it’s a nearly a documentary style movie that I’m sure young children would get bored with.

Nevertheless, I’m forced to realise two things:
1. Just like Toy Story 4, this movie is first and foremost for my generation. The generation who remember the original so fondly and who grew up with Disney animation.

2. Kids these days are not impressed by cartoons because everything is so realistic now. So while I would have liked to see an animation that took advantage of what lions couldn’t really do, today’s children would want nothing less than an accurate representation of what lions are physically capable of.

I was also a little disappointed by the casting; it seemed like they’d spent all their money on Beyonce – who actually had a relatively small speaking role and only two songs! Although, looking back at the 1994 version, there weren’t tonnes of A-listers in that either. I just wish Rowan Atkinson remained as Zazu’s voice.

Despite how critical I’ve been, I really enjoyed it. There were some laugh-out-loud moments with the comedy duo of Timon and Pumbaa of course. (Although, there definitely could have been more funny scenes.)

The opening scene gave me chills and I loved seeing all the ‘real-life’ animals interacting. It was a lot of fun to hear the soundtrack again, which was spectacular.

I’m also pleased that The Lion King can be experienced by children for the first time again.

Jodie’s rating: 7/10

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Director: Jake Kasdan
Writer: Chris McKenna
Released: December 2017
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Bobby Cannavale
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I was on the back foot about this film because I loved the ‘first’ Jumanji film so much.

I say ‘first’ film, but these movies are totally unrelated. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is very loosely based on the board game featured in the 1995 film, but updated to a play station game to target the newer generation.

The main characters are high schoolers who find themselves in detention together – not unlike The Breakfast Club. They are cleaning out the basement of the school when they come across this Jumanji game.

Each student picks an avatar based on the names provided. But they soon find themselves being sucked into the game and becoming the characters they chose.

Ironically, the school bully finds himself as Franklin ‘Mouse’ Finbar (Kevin Hart) – the nerdy avatar with no strength and only a giant backpack as a ‘special ability’ – and the nerdy little kid finds himself as the hulking Dr. Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson).

The character-switch is brilliant, particularly in the case of the girly-girl who finds out that her avatar is not a cute professor – Professor Sheldon Oberon – but a character represented by Jack Black.

Jack Black plays a teenage girl so well! Very funny. Especially when he teaches a fellow teenage girl how to be attractive.

“That was so intense. I like can’t even with this place.” – Bethany/Professor Sheldon Oberon (Jack Black)

Within the game they overcome lots of obstacles and dangerous hurdles. All the while being guided by an NPC (non-player character) called Nigel Billingsley (Rhys Darby). He’s pretty glitchy and repetitive, which was funny.

I thought this was going to be a cheap and nasty knock-off of Robin Williams’ Jumanji. I was ready to be offended on his behalf.

But actually, I laughed a lot! I loved it. I watched it on the plane from the UK to New Zealand – which is a long flight – and I didn’t fall asleep or lose concentration at all!

Cool concept, funny characters and a definite re-watcher!

Jodie’s rating: 8/10

A Star is Born

Director: Bradley Cooper
Writers: Based on story by William A. Wellman, Robert Carson, Dorothy Parker, Alan Campbell. Screenplay: Eric Roth, Bradley Cooper, Will Fetters
Released: October 2015
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Andrew Dice Clay, Dave Chappelle and Sam Elliott
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Believe it or not, this is the fourth version of A Star is Born.

1937 (Janet Gaynor and Fredric March)
1954 (Judy Garland and James Mason)
1976 (Barbara Streisand and Kris Kristofferson)
2018 (Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper)

It’s about a rock star called Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) who is an alcoholic with failing hearing and a career that is winding down. He bumps into a waitress called Ally (Lady Gaga) who has some decent pipes and takes her under his wing. Before he knows it, she’s an even bigger pop star than him and fame changes her from a humble, ordinary girl into an unrecognisable star.

While she rakes in the money and wins all the awards, Maine’s alcoholism gets worse.

The two main characters’ relationship reminds me of Johnny Cash and June Carter as portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon in the movie Walk the Line. I liked how in love they seem – no wonder why it sparked rumours that Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper had a fling! They’re a very convincing couple.

Actually, in so few words: Walk the Line + Burlesque + two and a half hours = A Star is Born.

The movie itself has brilliant music in it, especially everybody’s favourite song ‘Shallow‘. Despite a few plot holes and weird twists and turns, I can certainly appreciate that this movie stands out from the bunch this year.

But while the first quarter of the film was giving me chills and teary eyes, that quickly faded as the pacing of the film was getting slower and slower, and the story was getting longer and longer.

I looked over at my friend (Sascha) who appeared to be thinking the same thing: ‘where is this story going, and when will it end?’

Thankfully, Lady Gaga’s stunning performance almost made up for the dragged-out shots and painfully slow story line – she was a brilliant actress. Bradley Cooper looked the part too, with his rough exterior, long hair and diesel-engine voice.

After the movie finished, I thought I’d check out Lady Gaga’s Instagram as I was excited to follow her and be a fan of her acting career. But then quickly changed my mind as her Instagram isn’t a platform to showcase her talent or personality, it’s an album of her near-naked photos.

Then I remembered there were at least four scenes where Lady Gaga was naked for no reason in the movie. I realised that she’s just a woman who likes to get naked at the drop of a hat and talk total nonsense in interviews. Which was disappointing.

I guess I really only liked the character she was playing, which I suppose is credit to her acting talent.

My verdict is that the acting and the music is top notch, and this remake will probably win all the awards and be known as a Hollywood sensation. But the pacing is so slow and drawn out that even the heavy emotion of the story simply isn’t enough to keep you focused.

Therefore, if you’re looking for an emotional film about musicians falling in and out of love, I’d recommend watching Walk the Line instead. It’s got all the perks of A Star is Born – hit songs, flawless acting and it still covers the same distressing issues (such as substance abuse). The difference being that the pacing is faster in Walk the Line and keeps you hooked.

The music, the performances and the cinematic beauty of this movie is wonderful. But the rest of it lets it down.

Jodie’s rating: 5/10

Sing Street

Director: John Carney
Writer: John Carney and Simon Carmody
Released: May 2016
Starring: Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Lucy Boynton, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Aidan Gillen, Jack Reynor, Kelly Thornton
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I was dubious about this film at first, I was thinking ‘any second now it’s going to take a turn for the worse’. But it didn’t! It was actually a very uplifting film from beginning to end.

I love movies about a likeable and naive underdog – like About a Boy or Driving Lessons – but coming-of-age films with a great soundtrack like this one is even better. The songs are so catchy!

It’s very similar to The Commitments as it follows the story of a band of young Irish musicians in the 1980s/1990s. But Sing Street has a more definitive love story and protagonist. I really enjoyed it!

Darren: What does “happy-sad” even mean? How can we be both things? It makes no sense.
Conor: It means that I’m stuck in this shithole full of morons and rapists and bullies, and I’m gonna deal with it, okay? It’s just how life is. I’m gonna try and accept it and get on with it, and make some art.

Protagonist Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) is sent to a new school as a result of his parents breaking up. It that wasn’t bad enough, he is already getting picked on by students and teachers at school. Conor soon meets a young, aspiring model (Lucy Boynton) hanging around the school, who he tries to impress by saying he’s in a band. As a result, he immediately tried to recruit people to be in his band.

Brendan: This is life, Conor. Drive it like you stole it.

The band is a bunch of misfits and underdogs, which I just love! It’s so funny.

Sing Street would particularly appeal to those who love 1980s pop or who love stereotypical 80s fashion. But even if you don’t like either of those things, you’ll love the humour in this film. It’s Irish humour like in Black Books or Calvary.

An easy-to-watch film about people who win at life by not giving up, and continuing to pursue their dreams. A real pick-me-up.

Jodie’s rating: 7/10

You’ve Got Mail

Director: Nora Ephron
Writer: Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron
Released: December 1998
Starring: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Parker Posey, Jean Stapleton, Dave Chappelle, Steve Zahn, Greg Kinnear
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A classic 1990s rom-com! Featuring the mum and dad of 90s rom-coms – Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

It’s from the writer/director Nora Ephron – the brain behind When Harry Met Sally, the similar 90s story of Sleepless in Seattle, and Julie & Julia. (She must have really loved Meg Ryan – I wonder if Nora considered her for Julie & Julia because she has a striking resemblance to Amy Adams.)

You’ve Got Mail is the ultimate feel-good film. It’s everyone’s daydream; realising the love of your life has been in front of you the entire time. In this movie, Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) owns a quaint book shop, until a giant book-selling conglomerate – owned by Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) – moves right up the road from her.

Kathleen: [writing to “NY152”] People are always telling you that change is a good thing. But all they’re really saying is that something you didn’t want to happen at all… has happened.

This threatens her family business, so Kathleen takes comfort in a stranger online – known as NY152 – whom she confides in. Developing feelings for the stranger, and vice versa, they decide to meet and you’ll never guess who NY152 turns out to be.

(Meanwhile, Kathleen is dating a complete arse (Greg Kinnear) who I absolutely adore hating.)

Kathleen: [in an email to “NY152”] The odd thing about this form of communication is that you’re more likely to talk about nothing than something. But I just want to say that all this nothing has meant more to me than so many somethings.

It’s got just the right amount of cheese for this outlandish twist of fate to be believable and enjoyable. It reminds me of Serendipity in that way.

I love the nonsense that Kathleen talks about. She really does have her head in a book even when she’s not reading:

Kathleen: [writing to “NY152”] Once I read a story about a butterfly in the subway, and today, I saw one! It got on at 42nd and off at 59th, where, I assume, it was going to Bloomingdales to buy a hat that will turn out to be a mistake, as almost all hats are.

It’s the perfect rainy Sunday watch. Its happiness and joy will make the sun come out in your life!

Jodie’s rating: 6/10

Kathleen: I love daisies.
Joe: You told me.
Kathleen: They’re so friendly. Don’t you think daisies are the friendliest flower?

I agree! ❤️

Paul

Director: Greg Mottola
Writers: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost
Released: March 2011
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Blythe Danner, John Carroll, Lynch Sigourney, Weaver Seth Rogen
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From the director of Superbad, and the creators of Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead, comes Paul.

A story about a laid-back alien called Paul (Seth Rogan) who is on the run from the government across the States before getting picked up by a couple of geeky tourists, Graeme (Simon Pegg) and Clive (Nick Frost). Graeme and Clive attended Comic-Con before travelling to various locations where UFOs have been sighted in an RV, until they get a closer encounter than they expected!

A concept that was thought-up on the set of Shaun of the Dead, but was not to be a part of the ‘Cornetto Trilogy’ with Edgar Wright. Looking into it, Pegg and Frost decided on an American director instead of their usual collaborator to keep an American tone.

Paul is a fun film, but can become a bit of a drag to watch because it feels like a never-ending chase without enough funny moments along the way to sustain your attention.

It’s an epic road trip film, which is entertaining enough with it being neither hilarious or a total write-off. Because of the writers’ previous epics – Hot Fuzz in particular – I was expecting a faster-paced script with cooler moments. But I guess the humour was tailored for an American audience.

Nevertheless, Pegg and Frost are brilliant writers and the casting was great. Seth Rogan was a good choice to be the voice of the CGI alien, whose attitude is severely laid-back, even in the most stressful of situations.

The cast is quite large for a relatively simple storyline, and I wonder how many of the characters were necessary.

Paul is essentially a love letter to the science-fiction genre, and Steven Spielberg in particular whose voice makes a guest appearance over the phone in one scene. So if you’re a science-fiction fan, you’ll probably enjoy this more than the Cornetto Trilogy fans would.

Jodie’s rating: 5/10

War of the Worlds

Director: Steven Spielberg
Writer: Josh Friedman, David Koepp (screenplay), H.G. Wells (story)
Released: June 2005
Starring: Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Justin Chatwin, Miranda Otto, Tim Robbins
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Firstly, ‘yes’ I am a massive fan of War of the Worlds. I studied film at high school and university, where H.G. Wells’s original story The War of the Worlds and the 1953 film of the same name were frequently picked apart.

Also, one of my favourite childhood memories is going to see Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds musical in Auckland during 2007.

I had always been obsessed with Jeff Wayne’s 1970s musical interpretation of the story. I listened to his soundtrack on repeat before I went to bed most nights as a teenager, as did my father before me. It’s a masterpiece and it can not be improved upon.

Therefore, for the first time ever, I was disappointed to hear Morgan Freeman’s narration on Spielberg’s film version. In my mind, it was an insult to change Richard Burton’s spoken word on Jeff Wayne’s soundtrack.

Nevertheless, I definitely love this film interpretation despite it not reflecting the musical masterpiece that came before it.

It is a sci-fi horror about Ray (Tom Cruise) and his two children Rachel (Dakota Fanning) and Robbie (Justin Chatwin) trying to escape the alien invasion. The aliens are relentless and terrifying as they displace millions of people.

There’s no where to run, there’s no where to hide and there’s no way to kill the aliens and their machines.

Horrifying!

Ray soon finds a safe haven with a man named Harlan who takes them in. But Harlan begins to lose his cool and Ray realises that with the pressure on, it’s survival of the fittest – the aliens are no longer the only danger.

Steven Spielberg aced the art of suspense, but so has Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning – they are both incredibly talented no matter what you think about them on a personal level. They’ve done well to capture the essence of our most primal fears and created a blockbuster film out of it.

Although, Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg do turn this global disaster into a very American hero, nuclear family sort of story. I think it would have been a little more raw and real if it was English-made. Or maybe I’m just being too patriotic.

To me, this film is a classic in many ways. I can see the essence of Signs in this retelling of War of the Worlds, and I have seen War of the Worlds echoing in many sci-fi invasion films since.

Jodie’s rating: 7/10

Cloverfield

Director: Matt Reeves
Writer: Drew Goddard
Released: January 2008
Starring: Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas, T.J. Miller, Michael Stahl-David, Mike Vogel, Odette Yustman
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Cloverfield is basically The Blair Witch Project but set during an apocalypse in a city, rather than a witch hunt in the woods. I thought it would be an easy watch, and perhaps even a good film as I’ve always heard it being referenced to.

(Not to be confused with 10 Cloverfield Lane, which is the second instalment.)

But it was not entertaining, exciting or scary. I was hanging on by a shoestring the whole time I was watching it, holding on to the possibility that it might get better. But then it ended.

I felt incredibly deflated. But kudos for keeping me hooked just enough for me not to turn the film off.

Basically, a guy called Rob (Michael Stahl-David) is leaving America and going to Japan and all his friends and work colleagues throw him a surprise party. Rob’s camera is given to a friend called Hudson (T.J. Miller) who is in charge of filming the party and testimonials. One woman, Beth (Odette Yustman) , speaks to camera and it’s revealed that she is the ex-girlfriend who is clearly still in love with Rob. Rob feels the same way, shown by the regret he expresses when she leaves the party – just before the lights go out in the city.

Suddenly, buildings are falling and everyone scatters into the city streets. Hudson is still filming everything and he sticks close to Rob who is hell-bent on finding Beth, who he decides is the love of his life. In the distance a large shadow can be seen – a monster who is smashing up the street.

It reminded me of Godzilla meets War of the Worlds in that respect. But a far more simplified and cheesy version.

I appreciate there are many qualities in this film that would make it ideal to study at school: A small group of characters on a quest despite the uphill struggle and imminent danger posed by a monster. Simple film techniques and good use of sound effects in the place of music. It’s a relatable environment, and the storyline plays on our fears.

But quite frankly, it was boring. Without giving away too much, the open-ending was incredibly unsatisfying and way too many of the core characters get killed off, which is a let-down because most films need a hero in order for the audience to feel content at the end.

I would say it was a brilliant, if not predictable, film if you told me it was made by a group of self-funded film school students. But surprisingly, Paramount Pictures is behind this.

All in all, you’ll find yourself scoffing and eye-rolling rather than watching through sweaty fingers at the end of your seat.

Jodie’s rating: 4/10

Crazy, Stupid, Love

Directors: Glenn Ficarraa, John Requa
Writer: Dan Fogelman
Released: July 2011
Starring: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon
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Initially reminding me of other star-studded, multi-storyline films like Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Day and Love Actually, I didn’t have high-hopes for this ‘dramedy’. However, I was pleasantly surprised – it’s very funny indeed.

It follows several storylines that all end up being intertwined. But it begins with Emily (Julianne Moore) who cheats on her husband Cal (Steve Carrel). Jacob (Ryan Gosling) takes pity on a moping Cal and gives him a fashion and ego make-over.

Steve Carrel – who is also a producer of this movie – wanted the film to be called ‘The Wingman’ as it accurately described the main storyline. But it was eventually decided that it was a boring title and Crazy, Stupid, Love was chosen instead. (Even though it’s a girlie title, and inaccurate as there’s not a lot of ‘crazy’ in the film.)

Jacob: Are you the billionaire owner of Apple Computers?
Cal: No.
Jacob: Oh, ok. In that case, you’ve got no right to wear New Balance sneakers, ever.

Meanwhile, Jacob starts dating Hannah (Emma Stone), who I find to be very relatable and down-to-earth. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone have brilliant chemistry and have been a couple in two more films since Crazy, Stupid, Love – Gangster Squad and La La Land.

I feel like they should be together in real life too.

Hannah: Will you take off your shirt… Seriously? It’s like you’re Photoshopped!

Crazy, Stupid, Love delves into the unabashed journey of falling in love, including all the embarrassments and relatable moments. All the while, the jokes come thick and fast to keep the drama light.

It is a fun, quirky and hilarious film – it’s certainly an easy watch. This film is not as shallow as the promotions make it appear either, and the talented cast keep you laughing all the way through.

Jodie’s rating: 7/10

Life of the Party

Director: Ben Falcone
Writers: Ben Falcone, Melissa McCarthy and Chris Henchy
Released: May 2018
Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Gillian Jacobs, Maya Rudolph, Julie Bowen, Matt Walsh, Molly Gordon, Stephen Root, Jacki Weaver
—

I love Melissa McCarthy, but I lowered my expectations after reading a fair few below-average reviews about her new film Life of the Party.

This didn’t deter me though, so my brother-in-law and I went to the cinema. Within ten minutes we were choking on our popcorn during fits of laughter, and getting stitches as we tried to stifle our chortles! Almost every scene was hilarious. By the end of the film, I had mascara streaked down my cheeks and a mild headache from trying not to laugh too loud.

It is by far the funniest film I’ve seen so far this year. (Although, as the only film I’ve seen so far this year is A Quiet Place, Darkest Hour and Split I guess that’s not saying much.)

It’s about a kind and sweet mother called Deanna (Melissa McCarthy), whose husband suddenly tells her he wants a divorce. Within a week, she picked herself up and decided to finish her archeology degree at the same college/university as her daughter, Maddie (Molly Gordon).

Deanna: I’m down to clown.

Life of the Party is co-written and directed by McCarthy’s real-life husband Ben Falcone (AKA Air Marshall John), who tends to have a cameo in her films. (This movie was no exception, so keep an eye out for him.)

It must have been so hard for him to write and direct his wife doing kissing scenes… I watched an interview about it and he said the love scene was shot on their tenth anniversary. But it was okay, he said. They seem so down to earth as a couple! I love them.

Quick fact: McCarthy and Falcone’s fathers feature in the film as the racquetball guys.

What makes this movie great is how wholesome and lovable Deanna is, and how the majority of characters love her too! There’s always a couple of mean girls at uni of course – Jennifer (Debby Ryan) and her side-kick – but Deanna takes them in her stride and has some very cheesy come-backs.

But the real ‘bad-guy’ is her husband’s new wife, Marcie (Julie Bowen, AKA the mum from Modern Family). She does an incredible job of being evil, and the story becomes rather revengeful. Which, is extremely entertaining.

There are a couple of scenes in particular that made me lose control in thick fits of giggles. One of them is the infamous presentation scene where poor Deanna gets so nervous that she sweats profusely. After reaching for tissues to dab her face with, she turns around to reveal her cheeks covered with white fluff where the tissue stuck to her. I lost it.

The other scene to look forward to is the dance-off where Deanna goes to a 1980s themed party and has a dance fight with horrid Jennifer. I died.

And in between these scenes is Maya Rudolph’s character, Christine! Holy Jesus, she was so so funny. She was brilliant! I want a best friend like Christine.

Christine: THAT’S MAH GIRL! THAT’S MAH LADY RIGHT THERE!

With limited swearing and rudeness, Life of the Party is a feel-good film. There are a couple of characters I’d change up, but for the most part you will be grinning in between fits of laugh-out-loud hysterics. You’ll leave the cinema with a page out of Deanna’s book of being super friendly, motherly and kind to everyone.

In fact, I went to Sainsbury’s after this film and I was still channeling Deanna’s positivity. I must have traded my ‘resting bitch face’ for a grin because a lot of people were smiling back at me. Not sure if this was to do with my panda eyes though.

My advice is to ignore the below average reviews, take this sweet film at face value and have a laugh. It’ll make you feel better.

I’m so keen to see this movie again.

Jodie’s rating: 6.5/10

Peggy Sue Got Married

Continue reading “Peggy Sue Got Married”

Wedding Crashers

Director: David Dobkin
Writers: Steve Faber and Bob Fisher
Released: July 2005
Starring: Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Christopher Walken, Rachel McAdams, Isla Fisher, Bradley Cooper, Jane Seymour
—

While it’s crudely about John Beckwith (Owen Wilson) and Jeremy Grey (Vince Vaughn) crashing random weddings to get lucky, it’s certainly a very funny film once everyone’s put their boobs away.

What begins as just another wedding to find a fling, ends with John developing a genuine crush on Maid of Honour Claire Cleary (Rachel McAdams). However, Jeremy is trying to convince John to escape the wedding early as Claire’s wildly intense and immature sister Gloria (Isla Fisher) forms a strong attachment to Jeremy.

While there is a lot of swearing, there is also a ton of very funny one-liners.

At the end of the wedding, Gloria demands that Jeremy come to her family’s summer home for the weekend. While John jumps at the chance with the hopes of getting to know Claire better, Jeremy finds himself trapped by the scary nutcase that is Gloria.

From here, I thoroughly enjoy the Claire/John half of the story, and not so much the Jeremy/Gloria storyline. Purely because I like a plain old love triangle, and am not such a fan of the crude humour that is typically associated with Vince Vaughn.

Owen Wilson plays the classic ‘good guy’ character as usual, which I adore! He goes out of his way to sabotage Claire’s cheating boyfriend to keep him out of the picture for as long as possible.

[Playing football]
John: Oh, *you’re* gonna cover me.
Claire: Like white on rice.
John: All right I like my odds here. Let me give you a little warning, I’m going downtown.
Look for me in the endzone after this play, I’ll be the guy holding the ball.

John’s love interest is Claire who is played by Rachel McAdams, who conveniently happens to be my love interest because she is so upsettingly pretty. How does she do it? I don’t know whether to be pleased or angry when she’s on screen because I’m so jealous of her beauty. I could cry it’s so unfair.

Anyway. Be that is it may.

Vince Vaughn’s character experiences some pretty freaky situations with the Cleary family, which leaves you cringing but ultimately in fits of giggles. Isla Fisher’s character is really scary. She’s everyone’s worst nightmare of an ex.

Gloria: Jeremy, you’re amazing!
Jeremy: I think you’re amazing…
Gloria: Don’t *ever* leave me.
Jeremy: Ever.
Gloria [in sing-song voice]: Good… Because I’d find you!

Nevertheless, it is very funny watching Jeremy and John keep up their aliases in front of Claire, Gloria and their posh but highly inappropriate family.

It’s cheap and dirty, but with an unexpectedly wholesome storyline in parts. Ultimately, it’s an entertaining summer comedy!

Jodie’s rating: 6.5/10

Groundhog Day

Director: Harold Ramis
Writer: Harold Ramis, Danny Rubin
Released: February 1993
Starring: Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott
—

Groundhog Day is one of my favourite comedies by a long shot.

Bill Murray is perfect for the role of sarcastic weather man Phil Connors who finds himself reliving the same day over and over again.

Radio DJs: Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don’t forget your booties ’cause it’s cooooold out there today. It’s coooold out there every day.

It’s not his favourite day to relive, in fact it’s one of his least favourite days of the year. Groundhog Day is a popular tradition in USA and Canada whereby a groundhog is pulled out of a hutch in front of crowds of people and ‘predicts’ when the first day of Spring will be.

Phil Connors’ day is reset every morning to relive Groundhog Day repeatedly, so after a few days of confusion, he throws himself into doing exactly what he’s always wanted to do knowing tomorrow will never come. This film lives out our fantasy of living a life without consequences.

Phil: Do you ever have déjà vu, Mrs. Lancaster?
Mrs. Lancaster: I don’t think so, but I could check with the kitchen.

He drinks, he flirts, he lies, he eats only doughnuts and even learns piano. After getting bored, he begins to wonder how to escape this loop.

Piano Teacher: Not bad… Mr. Connors, you say this is your first lesson?
Phil: Yes, but my father was a piano *mover*, so…

He soon stoops to an absolute low of depression through this entrapment in a small town in a blizzard on corny Groundhog Day. So Connors kills himself. Again. And again. But he still wakes up unharmed the next morning. He concludes he’s an invincible God.

Bill Murray was the perfect choice, because his glum, dark humour is perfect for the brutish and egotistical, but hilarious, Phil Connors.

Phil: I was in the Virgin Islands once. I met a girl. We ate lobster, drank piña coladas. At sunset, we made love like sea otters. *That* was a pretty good day. Why couldn’t I get *that* day over, and over, and over…

The script, if I remember correctly, was massively controversial before they began filming. Because who would really want to watch a character go through the same day over and over again? While the first few scenes are boring for me to watch now that I’ve seen the film about 103 times, luckily they went ahead with the film because the first watch will be sure to make you chuckle.

If you’re not laughing at Connors’ comments and insults, you’ll be laughing out of sheer frustration for the character.

This comedy soon turns into a philosophical drama/romance, which actually makes you contemplate a little about what you’d really want to do with your life. Treating every day as though it’s your last, or even worse, as though today is going to repeat for eternity. That’s a scary thought.

Phil: Well, what if there is no tomorrow? There wasn’t one today.

Groundhog Day is a classic, and is frequently referred to in films and in every day conversation to describe a monotonous and uneventful day.

It’s easy to watch, is family-friendly (for the most part), and a little less shallow than the average comedy.

Jodie’s rating: 7.5/10

About Time

Director: Richard Curtis
Writer: Richard Curtis
Released: June 2013
Starring: Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy, Tom Hollander, Margot Robbie
—

From the brain behind The Boat that Rocked, Notting Hill, Love Actually and Bridget Jones comes a warm and fuzzy, all-nice, all-good, hot chocolate and cuddles on a rainy day kind of story. It’s called About Time. (If you loved Driving Lessons, I think you’d enjoy this film.)

I love coming-of-age films, there’s nothing better than seeing bog-standard, everyday man-on-the-street kind of characters on the tellie accomplishing the extraordinary and telling you that everything will be alright in the end.

About Time is one of the best feel-good comedy/dramas out there, partly because it’s to do with time travel. It’s about an innocent and quiet boy called Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson) who at the humble age of 21 is told by his father (Bill Nighy) that, like every man in his family, he can travel back in time.

While his grandfathers before him used time travel to make more money, and his father went back to read as many books as he could, Tim decides to use time travel to improve his love life. He soon begins to learn some harsh lessons.

Tim: Lesson Number One: All the time traveling in the world can’t make someone love you.

After a few of life’s trip-ups, a twist of fate and a lot of laughs, Tim finds Mary (Rachel McAdams) and goes about to win her heart. But that’s not the end of the adventure, as life intervenes and reminds Tim that he may be able to time travel, but he’s still going to experience hard times.

Tim: There’s a song by Baz Luhrmann called Sunscreen. He says worrying about the future is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life will always be things that never crossed your worried mind.

To match the emotion and tone of this film is a fantastic soundtrack, including Nick Cave’s Into My Arms and At the River by Groove Armada. It’s a great soundtrack, which supports Tim’s emotional journey throughout the backdrops of London and Cornwall.

I would watch anything Bill Nighy is in, and Domhnall Gleeson is pretty cool too. But I adore Rachel McAdams, I’m so pleased she was cast. Although she is so annoyingly beautiful, which they didn’t do a good job of hiding! I don’t think the bookworm character of Mary was supposed to be quite so attractive…

Mum: Mary! Good Lord, you’re pretty.
Mary: Oh, no. It’s just… I’ve got a lot of mascara and lipstick on.
Mum: Let’s have a look… Oh, yes. Good. It’s very bad for a girl to be too pretty. It stops her developing a sense of humor. Or a personality.

I love how, despite Tim’s efforts, things still don’t work out perfectly every time. Because life always interferes – just like with everyone else. It rains on the wedding, family members get hurt, people die, and things don’t always happen in an ideal order. In fact, life or fate is a character of its own in this film.

About Time is full of solid advice, the ‘what-ifs’ explained, and the strength of family. You will laugh, you will cry, and you’ll want to hug your favourite people a little harder.

Tim: And in the end I think I’ve learned the final lesson from my travels in time… I now don’t travel back at all, not even for the day. I just try to live every day as if I’ve deliberately come back to this one day, to enjoy it, as if it was the full final day of my extraordinary, ordinary life.

It’s a beautiful script and despite its slow pace, was executed into a film brilliantly. It’s one of my favourite films and perfect for a family movie night. But you will cry. So, you’ve be warned.

Jodie’s rating: 8/10

Edge of Tomorrow

Director: Doug Liman
Writer: Christopher McQuarrie, Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth (Based on All You Need is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka)
Released: June 2014
Starring: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton and Brendan Gleeson
—

Having recently reviewed Source Code – a sci-fi film starring Jake Gyllenhaal – I realised how similar that film’s concept is to Edge of Tomorrow. It was then that I realised that I have never reviewed Edge of Tomorrow! So here it is.

Disclaimer: The following plot you’re about to read may well put some people off of the movie because of the mention of ‘alien invasions’, ‘time travel’ and ‘war’. But the storyline is so gripping, that even the sci-fi and action film haters will enjoy watching the movie. (I promise!)

Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) is sent to the front lines of war despite his lack of training. As soon as the troop land on the beach* (resembling Normandy), Cage is attacked by the opposition – the aliens. The alien’s blood causes Cage to have the ability to restart the day again and again.

He tries to tell authorities that landing on the beach is a suicide mission, but no one believes him until he meets Sergeant Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt). She had the exact same thing happen to her, and they work together in a long Groundhog Day-like sequence to figure out how to win the war.

Rita: You don’t talk to anyone about this but me. The best-case scenario is you’re gonna end up in a psych ward. Worst case, you’ll get dissected for study. Are we clear?

I love Emily Blunt. Did you know she was pregnant during some of this film? Gosh. She’s so perfect, and great in this film. Have I mentioned that on at least two occasions people have said I look similar to Emily Blunt?

I was told that if I didn’t have crooked teeth or many of my current facial features, that I would look JUST like EMILY BLUNT! 🤪 *so proud* pic.twitter.com/VVF3u5Vy0T

— Jodie (@NZFilmFreak) 28 July 2017

One of very few drawbacks to this film is how Emily Blunt’s character has permanently perfect make-up and hair. A pet peeve of mine that I explain in this post here.

With a little sprinkling of comedy throughout the script, this action/sci-fi film is a fantastically entertaining watch. You’re on the ‘edge’ of your seat the entire time. Every time Cage dies – and he dies a lot and in all sorts of ways – you relive the day over with him, trying to figure out how to save the day.

While it does sound repetitive, the film develops quickly keeping you on board.

The problem with futuristic stories is of course the confusion and the problem of the audience’s suspense of disbelief, but information is drip-fed constantly to explain everything in a natural way.

Edge of Tomorrow has a somewhat complex concept, which makes a change to the boring combat-heavy action films where everyone’s shooting but no one gets killed. (In this film, everyone gets killed. A lot.) But it is a great watch for family movie nights for sure.

Jodie’s rating: 8/10

*Um, I’d just like to say as a side note that I have visited the beach that they filmed some scenes for this movie. It’s Saunton Sands in Devon. I’m basically Emily Blunt, I know.

Source Code

Director: Duncan Jones
Writer: Ben Ripley
Released: April 2011
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga, Jeffrey Wright
—

I love time travel films! This is a brilliantly simple story combined with the mind-bending possibilities of time travel.

‘Source Code’ is a top-secret military experimental operation where injured pilot Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) is given the ability to repeatedly relive the final eight minutes of a man’s life. The man is Sean Fentress who dies in an explosion on a train.

Each time Stevens relives the final eight minutes of this man’s life, he is given the opportunity to seek out the person responsible for planting the bomb on the train in an attempt to stop it from ever happening.

But, time travel being the way it is, can he really stop it happening? Or will he only stop it happening in that alternate version of life.

(Watch Back to the Future if you need an explanation on this theory.)

The story line reminds me of the Tom Cruise film Edge of Tomorrow, where he is able to relive the same day over and over until he figures out the solution. Except, Source Code is a intelligently simple film (in other words, clearly had a far tighter budget). At it’s core, it’s basically three location and four characters. So smart! Maybe it could be developed into a stage play.

It’s intense and brilliantly written. I looked it up, apparently the guy who wrote it really struggled to get his script to see the light of day. The director hadn’t had much experience either, while the cast is star-studded.

Source Code is an easy-watch, and despite its action/sci-fi themes, is actually quite an emotional film where the main character contemplates death and family a lot.

Jodie’s rating: 7/10

Hot Fuzz

Director: Edgar Wright
Writer: Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg
Released: July 2007
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jim Broadbent
—

A brilliant action-comedy from writers Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg. It’s one of my favourite films, and I can’t believe I’d never gotten around to review it.

Hot Fuzz is the second instalment of what is referred to as the ‘Cornetto trilogy’ by Edgar Wright fans (due to the ice cream’s frequent appearances). Shaun of the Dead being the first, The World’s End being the third.

This is my favourite film of the three because it is so cleverly written and very funny. It follows the story of goody-two-shoes London policeman (rather “police officer. Being a man has nothing to do with it.”) named Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) who gets transferred to a small, rural village against his wishes.

Sergeant: …we’re making you sergeant.
Nicholas: I see.
Sergeant: [mumbles]
Nicholas: In where, sorry?
Sergeant: In Sandford, Gloucestershire.
Nicholas: But that’s in the country…
Sergeant: Yes! Lovely!

The straight-laced Sergeant Angel is frustrated by the Sandford police who prefer to turn the other cheek rather than causing a fuss when someone breaks the law. He soon discovers there is a reason for this.

So, with amateur officer Danny Butterman (Nick Frost) as his sidekick, Angel’s love for the law is put into full swing as they begin a full-on investigation into what is going on in the village.

Inspired by stereotypical action films, the writers have made fun of the genre by including all the sorts of characters you’d usually see in an action film. They even go as far as re-enacting popular action movie scenes, or quoting them. They’ve studied the genre very well!

Danny: Where’s the trolley boy?
Nicholas: In the freezer.
Danny: Did you say “cool off?”
Nicholas: No I didn’t say anything…
Danny: Shame.
Nicholas: Well, there was the bit that you missed where I distracted him with the cuddly monkey then I said “play time’s over” and I hit him in the head with the peace lily.
Danny: You’re off the fuckin’ chain!

This entertaining and fast-paced film is littered with hilarious one-liners and nods to action film tropes and quotes. The script for this movie is so clever – it must have taken ages to work out how it was all going to piece together.

The script has a lot of fore-shadowing all through it, weaved through an intriguing mystery of murders and outrageous characters. My favourite being two officers, both named Andrew – AKA ‘The Andes’ played by Paddy Considine and Rafe Spall.

The editing is incredible, which is classic Edgar Wright. We studied his work for an entire year at high school; I can see his influence a mile off now, even in his most recent film, Baby Driver.

If you love gun fights, car chases and a good belly laugh, then this is the perfect film! A classic date night movie too, I think. Just like Shaun of the Dead and The World’s End, it’s a great blend of genres to keep everyone happy.

For me, some of the action scenes were a bit long-winded, and just when you think the film is finished, it doesn’t. But maybe that’s because I don’t actually like action films all that much.

Danny: Have you ever fired two guns whilst jumping through the air?
Nicholas: No.
Danny: Have you ever fired one gun whilst jumping through the air?
Nicholas: No.
Danny: Ever been in a high-speed pursuit?
Nicholas: Yes, I have.
Danny: Have you ever fired a gun whilst in a high speed pursuit?
Nicholas: No!

I love films that make fun of themselves, and this is the king of them all. I can recite the whole film, I think – I’ve watched it so many times!

Jodie’s rating: 8/10

Baby Driver

Baby Driver Movie poster

Director: Edgar Wright
Writer: Edgar Wright
Released: June 2017
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Kevin Spacey, Ansel Elgort, Lily James and Jon Hamm
—

From the genius that is Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World’s End and Scott Pilgrim vs the World), comes Baby Driver. A music-infused movie about a getaway driver named Baby, played by baby-faced actor Ansel Elgort (The Fault in our Stars).

Deborah (Lily James): “You’re name’s Baby? B-A-B-Y, Baby?”

Baby scores his own life by picking the appropriate music on his iPod for everything he does. He doesn’t do anything without music playing in his ears, stemming from a traumatic car crash as a child that left him with tinnitus.

Doc (Kevin Spacey): “Still got a hum in the drum, he plays his iPod to drown it out”

I’m thinking this might be converted into an all-singing, all-dancing musical or stage play one day.

In some ways, it’s a ‘runaway film‘. But this theme in the movie is soon hijacked by reality, how you can’t run forever and how you must face the music at some point. This realism is something I like about the film.

Baby Driver movie

Whereas I usually fall asleep during action films, such as in various James Bond scenes, I didn’t in Baby Driver. I think because it was mixed with comedy a lot of the time, and it appears to be a tad more realistic, because the protagonists actually get hit in gun fights.

Bats (Jamie Foxx): “The moment you catch feelings is the moment you catch a bullet.”

I have studied Wright’s films ever since I started studying media at high school. Baby Driver exhibits classic Wright hallmarks, including extremely layered shots where you’ll pick something new up on every watch. There is nothing in this movie that is there by accident. Their costume, the music; everything is there for a reason.

Baby Driver movie - Kevin Spacey and Ansel Elgort

My favourite Wright hallmark is the very long scene without a single edit, all perfectly choreographed, just like in Shaun of the Dead when Simon Pegg’s character walks to the corner shop and back.

Another one, is the compilation of short, sharp edits. Finally, Wright’s English humour running through the dialogue, making Baby Driver stand out from the more glossy Hollywood action films.

Baby (Ansel Elgort): Your tattoo says ‘hat’?
JD: Yeah, it used to say ‘hate’. But to increase my chances of employment I had the E removed.
Baby: How’s that working out for you?
JD: Who doesn’t like hats?

While I thoroughly enjoyed the first third of the film, it went a bit long and flabby in the middle. Toward the end it picks up again, until the very end, which seems rushed, causing my suspension of disbelief to be stretched.

JD: I left my shotgun behind.
Bats: Not groovy JD. Not groovy at all.

While this isn’t a favourite film of mine, it is certainly a one-in-a-million film, and a good date night movie. The characters are cool and are played by talented actors, with a love story and a ton of wicked car chases and gun fights.

Griff: Is [Baby] retarded?
Doc: Retarded means slow. Was he slow?
Griff: No.

Jodie’s rating: 6.5/10

Split

split1

Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Writer: M. Night Shyamalan
Released: January 2017
Starring: James McAvoy and Betty Buckley
—

Another brilliant film from M. Night Shyamalan. It’s the best kind of story – the kind that you’ll be thinking about for days.

For me, Split is a return to Shyamalan’s trademark of well-rounded characters and fantastic storylines. It’s a film that echoes the genius of The Village and The Sixth Sense.

Split is about a man called Kevin Wendell-Crumb (James McAvoy, whose talent will be gushed upon shortly) who has 23 personalities. He kidnaps three girls and keeps them hostage. All the while, one of the three girls cottons on to his multiple personalities, and tries to manipulate one of them – a nine-year-old boy – to help them escape. But, will they be able to escape before the mysterious 24^th personality reveals itself?

split2

I can’t explain how remarkable McAvoy is in this film. I know McAvoy as Mr Tumnus from the Narnia films, we named our goat Mr Tumnus after his portrayal of this character because we loved him so much.

Every one of McAvoy’s personalities in this film is so believable, especially Patricia. Oh my goodness, she’s scary. The crazy thing is, you feel relieved when you realise McAvoy’s character is the nine-year-old, and petrified when he’s Patricia, even though he’s physically the same person. That’s how talented he is. He can morph himself into different people seemlessly.

I didn’t think much of the hostages’ acting. They were mostly appearing dumb-founded with a lot of silent, wide-eyed staring. But I was fascinated by the psychiatrist in the film, Dr Karen Fletcher (Betty Buckley). Buckley’s acting was phenomenal. I was hooked on every word she said; she was so articulate and fascinating. So actually, perhaps I should say kudos to the screen writing. Nevertheless, along with McAvoy, she was great.

I was expecting a horror, but this is actually a thriller. More than that, it is a sequel to the thriller Unbreakable (featuring Bruce Willis), and a prequel to a thriller called Glass, which is set to be released next year! I’m on that like white on rice.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. If you loved Shyamalan’s films from the early days, then you’ll love this too. Brilliant writing, fantastic casting, and horrifyingly complex characters and theories that will have you dwelling on the film for days.

Highly recommend seeing it.

Jodie’s rating: 8.5/10

The Girl on the Train

girltrain1

Directed: Tate Taylor
Written: Erin Cressida Wilson. Based on The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Released: October 2016
Starring: Emily Blunt, Rebecca Ferguson, Justin Theroux, Haley Bennett, Luke Evans, Allison Janney (Juno’s mum!), Édgar Ramírez and Lisa Kudrow.
—

The Girl on the Train is up there with Gone Girl! A mind-twisting psychological thriller, through the eyes of Rachel (Emily Blunt) – a frail alcoholic who is the last person to see Megan Hipwell (Haley Bennett) alive.

However, as we see the events unfold from Rachel’s point of view, you never know what is real and what has been imagined, as she struggles to remember what she saw .

girltrain4

Is she the murderer? Was it the ginger dude on the train? Was it Megan’s husband? You honestly wouldn’t know for sure – massive twists!

We experience the battle against herself as she grows stronger and more focussed on trying to remember what she saw that night when Megan went missing.

I have read the book, and if I had of seen the movie immediately after I think I would have agreed with the public’s negative reaction of it being too different to the novel. As instead of it being set in the dingy outer suburbs of London, it is set in glamourous waterside mansions of New York.

Apparently the movie was always going to be set somewhere in the USA, because alcoholism is ‘less accepted there‘, and the juxtaposition of the character’s sadness with the glorious mansions she passed on the train made it visually shocking… I still don’t think it was necessary to change the country’s setting, but whatever. At least Emily Blunt was allowed to remain English.

girltrain3 I enjoyed it very much, though. The characters are believable and relatable (my two big ticks for every movie). Emily Blunt makes an amazing drunk person – that must have taken a lot of practice to look that authentic. It’s actually scary and makes you think twice about drinking.

I’m pleased they didn’t make her look flawless while she was drunk. I was worried they would make her look too ‘pretty’, but her cheeks are puffy and red, her eye make-up is smudged and her hair is messy – you wouldn’t know she’s a celebrity.

But if I had to be nit-picky, the male characters all looked far too similar. I guess this was to encourage you to see through the hazy eyes of a drunkard who couldn’t identify anyone. But with the film being visually dark, everyone having short, dark hair could get confusing if you didn’t know the storyline.

Or maybe it’s just our crappy TV that makes the contrast too deep.

Nevertheless, if you haven’t read the book you’ll likely enjoy it more, because you wouldn’t be able to notice the differences from the novel. But you may find it a bit slow-paced and long-winded at times.

Would recommend!

Jodie’s rating: 8/10

PS. On more than one occasion, I have been told that if I didn’t have crooked teeth, chubby cheeks or many of my current facial features, that I would look JUST like Emily! 🤪🤪 *so proud*.

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