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Cloud Atlas 2012
"What is an ocean, but a multitude of drops?" - Adam Ewing
I think the only sensible way to review this film is by each of it's inter-twining stories. In chronological order, of course:
PHASE ONE
Time and setting: South Pacific Ocean, 1849
Genre: Sea-faring adventure/period drama
Protagonist: Adam Ewing (Jim Sturgess)
Well, I suppose a good place to start is the worst place to start, because things can only get better. Although the events of this section are meant… -
Savages 2012
"What really happened was more of a f**k-up than a shootout." - O
Well, that was the most pleasant surprise of a film I've had in a while. After reading mostly negative/average reviews for the film adaptation of the best book I read in 2012, I was a bit too wary of watching this, afraid that it would only result in disappointment. But what I've found is a really fun, stylish and slightly flawed sucker-punch to the face.
Let's start…
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The Social Network 2010
Guys, I now have a website. It ain't much to look at yet (mainly because I'm just using it for personal statements and whatnot for the Silver Arts Award thing), but it'll get better in the future. Enjoy, folks!
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Rio Bravo 1959
"A game-legged old man and a drunk. That's all you got?" - Pat Wheeler
Well, hot damn, is this a cool movie. I just want to start by saying that this is one bad-ass movie from the very beginning, with the two main characters (John Wayne and Dean Martin showing that they can actually act) strutting their stuff through their dirtied pasts. These are three-dimensional characters in a genre which is sometimes lacking that vital element of empathy, and this…
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Django Unchained 2012
Just changed my name from Driver to Driver King Schultz. To avoid confusion and all that jazz.
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Holy Motors 2012
"3! 12! Shit!" - Monsieur Oscar ( L'accordéoniste)
CHIMPANZEES. TALKING LIMOS. WEIRD KEYS FOR FINGERS. ACCORDIONS. MOTION-CAPTURE LOVE-MAKING. ALIEN-DEMON PENETRATION. MONSIEUR MERDE'S ERECTION. MONSIEUR MERDE EATING MONEY. MONSIEUR MERDE EATING FLOWERS. ADVERTS FOR WEBSITES THAT ARE ACTUALLY GRAVESTONES. HOMELESS PEOPLE SHUFFLING THROUGH SEWERS. EVA MENDES' CAT-WALKING. BITTEN-OFF FINGERS. ARM-PIT LICKING. "WEIRD, WEIRD...HE'S SOOOO WEIRD!" OLD BEGGAR WOMEN. MARVELLOUS MOTION-CAPTURE ACROBATICS. SUICIDE PACTS. MULTIPLE MURDERS THAT COULD BE SUICIDES. MASKS. BARBED-WIRE MASKS. "AIM FOR THE CROTCH!" MASSIVE DOGS. MUSICAL NUMBERS. ALLUSIONS TO JIM MORRISON AND HIS MAUSOLEUM. NIGHT-VISION. PIGEONS. OH YEAH, DID I MENTION CHIMPANZEES? AND MONSIEUR MERDE?
What the hell did I just watch?
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The 400 Blows 1959
"Eureka! I've found it! - Antoine Doinel
That quote pretty much sums up my attitude to French New Wave. After witnessing the truly dreadful Breathless about a month ago, I was incredibly wary of another New Wave film from a country that is famous for its pretentious cinema. The 400 Blows is the exact opposite of this: a tender, human, naturalistic drama from the heart. And eureka, I've found one that I actually like.
Held high by a wonderful performance…
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Django Unchained 2012
Quentin and Christoph have done it again! Here's hoping that they'll trump the Oscars too!
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The Shawshank Redemption 1994
"Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'." - Red
There. I watched it. I am now a free man. It was good. Great. Excellent, in fact. Still over-rated, but could it be anything else? My heart lies firmly with Pulp Fiction and no amount of "Oh, it's the greatest film ever 'cause IMDB says so!" could make it anything other than a disappointment. But I've been disappointed far more violently than this.
All the critical acclaim I can see is…
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The Simpsons: The Longest Daycare 2012
Pretty much what I think of all Simpsons-related stuff; entertaining, slightly amusing but nothing special.
