Six movies

Okay so I have fallen behind on my movie reviews but I've more or less caught up with this challenge. I am more or less on track to watch two movies a week, 104 a year.


So here are the six movies I haven't had to time to do full reviews for:




Start Trek First Contact 1996


An average romp but nothing particularly thrilling or original. 7/10


The Last Boy Scout 1991


An average romp. 7.5/10


Fast and Furious 2009


It would have helped if I had known it was the fourth in the series!Typical action movie. Lots of action,some average acting. 7.5/10


Blair Witch 2. Book of Shadows 2000


Not bad but not as good as the first movie. Nicely different. 7.5/10



Carrie 2013


Pleasantly surprised at how good this remake is. It's really good and close to the novel. Enjoyed. 10/10



Curtain 2015



This is quirky stuff. It did keep my interest, although it's low budget and the acting wasn't great at all.Never really got to understand what the hell was going on!


7/10

Cash ( 2010 )

            A man finds a suitcase full of cash

Starring Sean Bean, Chris Hemsworth and Victoria Profeta

Written and Directed by Stephen Milburn Anderson





This is an enjoyable romp that kept me hooked all the way through. It's not the greatest movie ever made and it has it's fair share of plot holes and unrealistic elements, but I enjoyed watching it.


Sean Bean makes this film. Without him it wouldn't have worked. He is superb. The other two main characters, Chris Hemsworth and Victoria Profeta were less good. For much of the movie they seemed quite lacklustre and I didn't buy Hemsworth's accent. He was trying desperately to disguise his Australian accent but I think he struggled.



If you can get past the unrealistic plot in parts, this is a fun movie. Sean Bean at his best.

7/10

About Time ( 2013 )

A man discovers he can travel in time and sets out to find love

Starring Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams and  Bill Nighy





            Written and directed by Richard Curtis






Well I am a sucker for any movie that includes time travel so how could I resist this one?


Okay it's more Love Actually than The Time Machine if you add a dash of Groundhog Day, but it's a really good feel good film. It's funny and witty in all the right places and it's really cleverly written. It more than keeps you interested for every scene. Normally I wouldn't really consider myself to be a rom-com kind of guy but this is an exception.


Domhnall Gleeson as the lead is a little bit of a wimp and the part could easily have been played by Hugh Grant but that aside he still played a good part as did everybody else.



This is one I would recommend.



Enjoyed  

9/10

The Breakfast Club ( 1985 )

A bunch of high school kids spend their Saturday in detention

Starring Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall and Ally Sheedy



Written and directed by John Hughes







This is another one that I somehow managed to miss during the eighties. But then again I was only thirteen so it was probably a little old for me.




I was expecting this to be just like St Elmo's Fire and, although I really liked that movie, this was surprisingly totally different. It really is a great movie. It's very much a typical eighties film but this one has that something extra. It's funny in all the right places but also grabs at your heart strings with a splash of drama in all the right places as well. It's surprisingly well acted and probably has to go down as one of the greatest teenage high school movies ever made.

A lot of the plaudits must go down to the terrific script and direction by John Hughes.




I wasn't expecting to like this film as much as I did. But it turns out I love it.

10/10

WarGames ( 1983 )

A teenager accidentally starts world war three

Starring Matthew Broderick and Dabney Coleman

Written by Lawrence Lasker and Walter F Parkes



                       Directed by John Badham




As a teen of the eighties I have always known about this film but somehow I never got around to watching it.


Watching it now is like a trip back in time and it is pretty typical of movies of the time. It's actually quite a good movie with an original story, which you don't get very often nowadays. There are no stand out acting performances but the movie does suck you in and has a decent ending that makes you think.

If you want to watch a fun family friendly movie, you can't go much wrong with this one. I enjoyed it.

8/10

The Kid With A Bike ( 2011 )

A young boy tries to find his father

Starring Thomas Doret and Cecile De France


Written and directed by Jeanne-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne





There is something incredibly charming and captivating about some of these French movies with subtitles and this is no different.

It's just a great story with no bells and whistles. Great acting and it keeps you mesmerized until the end. These films tug at your heart strings and you forget about the subtitles completely.


I loved this.

8/10

The Time Machine ( 2002 )

A poor retelling of the original novel and book

Starring Guy Pearce



Based on the book by H G Wells


Screenplay by David Duncan and John Logan




                                   Directed by Simon Wells







I was quite excited to catch up with this movie as I am a big fan of the original novel and the original film, but I was less than impressed.



I felt deflated watching this. Fair play to them that they have tried to create something different rather than just copying the original movie but it has lost all of the magic and charm completely. The original Time machine kept you glued to the screen, it captured your imagination, this didn't sadly.

There's plenty of action and thrills but that didn't make up for the loss of the awe and wonder. And Samantha Mumba? Really? That's just poor casting. She couldn't act her way out of a packet of crisps.

6/10

The Bucket List ( 2007 )

               Two terminally ill men make a list

Starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman



Written by Justin Zackham



                                       Directed by Rob Reiner

This is a great film. Plenty of laughs and drama mixed together with some top class acting. Once in a while a movie comes along which grabs you by the ghoulies. One minute you are laughing and the next minute tears are streaming down your face. There's not a lot to dislike about this one. In fact I have no negative comments whatsoever.



This is a great film. Easy to watch and not easy to forget.

10/10

The Happiest Days Of Your Life ( 1950 )

A boy's school receives some very unwelcome visitors

Starring Alastair Sim and Margaret Rutherford


Screenplay by Frank Launder and John Dighton




                         Directed by Frank Launder

For an old movie this is a fun runaround.



It's short and witty and a great way to pass just over an hour of your time. It's silly and easy to watch and passes really quickly so that says something about it.

If you fancy a laugh without too much of a plot headache, give it a shot.




7.5/10

The Deer Hunter ( 1978 )

     

           One marriage, one party, one war looming

Starring Robert De Niro, John Savage and Christopher Walken


Written by Michael Cimino, Deric Washburn, Louis Garfinkle and Quinn K Redeker

                 Directed by Michael Cimino







This is a great film.




It's pretty long at around three hours so you need to have a bit of spare time and patience, unless, like me, you watch it over a few separate sittings. And it's slow to get going so you will have to stick with it. But it's worth it.

Everything about this movie is brilliant. From the acting to the story development to the cinematography. It's a clever movie with lots of hidden meanings and depth and you probably need to watch it a few times to appreciate everything it has to offer.


The acting is top notch, especially Christopher Walken.



Superb.

On a side note I recognized the theme music from a kids TV show in the eighties ( Take Hart) and I finally get the Revels Advert from TV!

10/10

Sleepers ( 1996 )

Sometimes revenge is the only answer

Starring Robert De Nero, Kevin Bacon, Brad Pitt and Dustin Hoffman




Based on a book by Lorenzo Carcaterra

                        Directed by and Screenplay by Barry Levinson

This is another example of something that could have been so much better.




I was sat watching this thinking to myself, ' I bet the book is better than this.'

There are so many big names in this film and it even has a soundtrack by John Williams, it should have worked but it didn't. There is something that just doesn't work. It felt like the whole movie was crammed together and didn't have room to breathe. We don't get time to get our heads around the story or the individual characters, I spent most of the movie trying to work out which character was which. And just when I was starting to get a grip, we are shoved thirteen years into the future and have to try and work it all out again.

Considering the star studded line up, for me it was Dustin Hoffman that came out on top even though he only played a small role. He played to alcohol lawyer with perfection, it's a pity we didn't see any stand out performances by any of the others. I don't know what went wrong. Maybe this movie would have been better served with a different production team or a different director.

As for the story itself, it's allegedly based on a true story but that is another story.






Watchable but frustratingly disappointing.



7/10

Coraline ( 2009 )

A girl discovers a universe where her parents treat her like a Queen but all is not as it seems

Voiced by Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, John Hodgman and Robert Bailey Jr

Written by Neil Gaiman (Novel) 

Screenplay written by and also directed by Henry Selick

At last a great movie!

The whole thing is just incredible from the story to the voice actors to the unbelievably good animation. Right from the beginning credits ( which are superb by the way) this movie sucks you in and it doesn't matter how old you are. Neil Gaiman is gaining a top class reputation as a writer and this has all the hallmarks of his imagination. I haven't read the book or most of his books, so I don't know how it compares to the novel, but this works brilliantly as a movie in it's own right.

I am in my forties but I enjoyed this movie just as much as any kid would. In my opinion it manages to create a magical world within a magical world much better than anything I've seen from the hands of Tim Burton or anybody else.



It's fun and totally hypnotizing.


10/10

Erin Brockovich ( 2000 )

          A woman's fight against water pollution

Starring Julia Roberts, Albert Finney and Aaron Echhart

Written by Susannah Grant

                         Directed by Steven Soderbergh.

When I read the tagline for this one I wasn't overly excited and I wasn't wrong.



This is average at best. Everything about it spells the word average. Average story, average acting and an overall average production. I've seen much better courtroom drama's than this and I'm not really a fan of court room dramas.

The story just about kept my interest but the whole movie seemed to drag and I was literally struggling to keep my eyes open. My son went to bed.

Julia Roberts was better than I thought she would be but there are no Oscar winning performances in this one. Probably the most interesting thing about this film is that it's based on a true story and I will probably google it.

6.5/10

The Sweeney ( 2012 )

The Return of London's Flying Squad 

Starring Ray Winstone and Ben Drew

Written by Nick Love and John Hodge

                                   


                                     Directed by Nick Love






 

I was a bit too young to watch the original TV show although I know a bit about it. So I'm not too blind sighted by any memories of the original series. I recorded this a few months ago but never really fancied it but I was wrong. It's a decent movie. The script is really good and the acting and whole production is superb.

It contains lots of great action sequences and sharp, witty dialogue. Ray Winstone was born to play this role! There's nothing original to be found here, just a fun, lively movie with something for everybody. I was scratching me head a little bit towards the end because I always have trouble keeping up with these action movie plots but I think I more or less got to grips with it.

Overall a fun movie with nothing too deep or complex. Just a movie to enjoy. And I did.

A safe 8/10

Point Blank ( 1967 )

 

A gangster is on a revenge mission

 

 

 

 

Starring Lee Marvin and Angie Dickinson


Screenplay by Alexander Jacobs, David Newhouse and Rafe Newhouse

                                  

 

                          Directed by Donald E Westlake

 

 

 

 

This is a below average thriller with a disappointing ending.

The whole thing is too artyfarty for it's own good and the constant use of pointless flashbacks does nothing to further the tension or plot. The acting throughout is as wooden as a park bench. The plot didn't really go anywhere and didn't keep my interest. The whole movie was just trying to be too arty and clever and that got in the way. I haven't watched many films from this era in the sixties so I don't really know if this was a common thing at the time.

The ending left me frustrated and so did most of the film. I can't really find anything good to say about it at all.



6/10
 

 

 

Sweet Sixteen ( 2002 )

A teenager from the wrong side of the tracks tries to build a new life

Starring Martin Compston and William Ruane 

Screenplay by Paul Laverty  

                                            Directed by Ken Loach

 

This is a gritty drama with plenty of colourful language from the get go.

It's not a fun movie, it's not exactly a laugh a minute. It's dark, it's real, it's disturbing. It's a bit like a lower budget, made for TV, council estate version of Trainspotting.

The acting is pretty decent and I liked all the location filming. The plot is okay, it kept my interest but it's not overly exciting. It's a short movie and probably long enough. But I really struggled with the Scottish accents. And I couldn't get the subtitles working on my TV!



Gritty. 7/10

The Gathering ( 2003)

 

 

A drifter loses her memory after an accident to find herself in a strange town

 

 

Starring Christina Ricci, Ioan Gruffudd and Kerry Fox

Screenplay by Anthony Horowitz

                                      Directed by Brian Gilbert

This is a case of a cool idea being poorly executed.

When you think about it, this is the kind of twisty idea that could only come out of Anthony Horowitz's head. But it doesn't quite work on the TV screen. It's sadly a bit of a limp biscuit as far as movies are concerned.

Everything about it screams low budget. The acting, the cinematography, the location filming. It's all very underwhelming. Arguable the best actor in it, Christina Ricci herself seems miscast and none of the other acting performances are anything to shout about.

This would probably make an amazing book and I'm guessing Horowitz would do a good job of it.




Watchable but instantly forgettable.

6/10

The Help ( 2011 )

 

               Change begins with a whisper

Starring Emma Stone, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer

 

Screenplay by Tate Taylor.

Novel by Kathryn Stockett

                             Directed by Tate Taylor

Based on the bestselling book by Kathryn Stockett, this movie is powerfully evocative and really makes you think. It's not a fun movie, it's quite disturbing and pulls at your heart strings. The acting is top class all the way through and the attention to detail is superb. We are transported back in time and there's no way back until the final credit.

Having said all that I found it a little bit boring. For all the emotional impact, I like my movies to excite me in some way. And this didn't to be honest. For me it lacked a little bit of something to keep me hooked, to keep me on the edge of my seat. And there was one extra problem. I really needed subtitles. I couldn't understand half of what was being said. When you can't hear or understand every other line that's being spoken it doesn't help!


But I'm in the UK and that southern drawl ( or whatever it's called) was pretty hard to follow!



 

7.5/10 Mainly for the acting and the attention to detail.

Tomboy ( 2011 )

 

 

A young girl moves to a new community as a boy

Starring Zoe Heran

Written and directed by Celine Sciamma

 

 

This is another short but pretty mesmerizing French movie with subtitles.



It's an oddball movie. A gentle and quirky tale of a young girl's search for her own identity. It kept my interest all the way. 

No car chases. No special effects. Just a decent story that gives a unique insight into a child's life.

I liked it.

7.5/10

                                            

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid : Rodrick Rules

 

 

It's back to school and Greg falls in love

 

 

Starring Zachary Gordon and Devon Bostick 

 

Screenplay by Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah

 

Based on the book by Jeff Kinney

 

                                        

                                  Directed by David Bowers

 

 

 

This is just as good as the first film. Once again it's aimed at a much younger audience than me but the kid in me really enjoyed it.

 

It's full of laughs and it's another movie that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. This time the focus is on Greg's laborious relationship with his older brother and he also falls in love with the new girl in town. There's a different director for this sequel but it has the same feel and there's not much difference in how the movies come across. It's just as funny and silly and enjoyable.

 

8/10  I must look out for the third installment.

 

 

 

Love Like Poison ( 2010 )

 

A young girl comes home from school to find her father has left.

Starring  Clara Augarde, Lio and Michel Galabru

Written by Mariette Desert and Katell Quillevere

Directed by Katell Quillevere

I am really falling in love with these French subtitled films.


This is a coming of age tale. A battle between religion and lust. It's quirky, dark and funny in places. It starts off slow but slowly creeps in and captivates you. It is well acted and it's one of those movies that makes you think about life and all kinds of stuff. It's packed full of symbolism and meaning.

 

 I love it!



10/10

Awake ( 2007 )

A millionaire finds himself awake during heart surgery

Starring Hayden Christensen, Jessica Alba and Lena Olin

Written and Directed by Joby Harold

 

 

 This is a surprisingly good film although I didn't really fancy it.



It's quirky and different from anything I have seen before and the plot kept me intrigued all the way through. There aren't really any brilliant acting performances but they all did just enough to make it a decent movie. Probably the pick of the bunch was Lena Olin who outshone everybody in the acting department.

Overall not the best movie I've ever seen but worth a watch. But a few twists and turns.

7.5/10

Unknown ( 2011 )

A man wakes from a coma and loses his identity

 

Starring Liam Neeson and Diane Kruger

 

Written by Oliver Butcher and Stephen Cornwell ( Screenplay) 

Based on the novel by Didier Van Cauwelaert


Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra 

 

A man loses his memory and nobody recognizes him, including his wife.


Does this sound familiar? Well the plot isn't new and the premise has been used in many movies. But guess what? I don't care.

I love this film! It has everything that I want in a movie. Great acting, a super plot, some brilliant action scenes and lots of twists. Unlike some movies where the plot twists are difficult to keep up with, I didn't have any difficulty here. The plot is clever but it doesn't try to be too clever. I was with it all the way.

It keeps you guessing all the way and I really think that is the secret to a great movie. A good plot keeps you waiting, to find out what happens next. This film suits Liam Neeson. I can't imagine anybody else playing the main lead. And he is a great actor. Not wooden at all like some people suggest.

Did I tell you that  love this movie?

10/10 for me.

 

 

Remember My Name ( 1978 )

A woman is released from prison and then starts stalking a man. But why?

 

 

Starring Anthony Perkins and Geraldine Chaplin.

 

Written and directed by Alan Rudolph.

 

 

 

This movie has such a promising premise but ultimately it's a frustrating watch.



It did keep my interest and I was fascinated all the way through to know what was going on and why this strange woman was stalking the main protagonist and his wife. The stand out performance was by Geraldine Chaplin, she played a great part. Unfortunately Perkins was quite wooden and I wanted to poke his screen wife (Berry Berenson) with a very long stick to see if she was still alive.

The ending was frustrating. I was hoping that all the loose ends would be tied up or we would at least get a decent twist, but I was left with more questions than answers. I usually don't mind open endings, but this one left me feeling short changed. What the heck actually happened at the end? What the heck happened in their relationship before she was locked up in prison?


 

Too many unanswered questions and I really can't be bothered surfing any movie related message boards to find out. I'll move on to the next old movie.



 

7/10


 

 

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid (2010)

                   It's not a diary, it's a movie

 

 

 

Starring Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron and Devon Bostick

Written by Jackie Filgo, Jeff Filgo, Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah

 

Based on the book by Jeff Kinney.

 

 

Directed by Thor Freudenthal.

 

 

 

This is a kids movie so it's not exactly aimed at me.

 

Having said that I quite enjoyed it. It's a funny, feel good movie that made me chuckle. I liked it but I'm guessing kids everywhere love it.

 

The acting is brilliant, considering how young they all were!

8/10

Careless (2007)

A guy finds a finger in his kitchen

Starring Colin Hanks, Fran Kranz and Rachel Blanchard

Written by Eric Laster

Directed by Peter Spears

I think this is only the second movie I have ever watched on you tube.


This isn't the best move ever made but it's silly and quirky and offbeat and it genuinely made me laugh in a few places. Even though it is a low budget film and there are no famous movie stars in it, I enjoyed it. It's well written, even if it is pretty stupid in parts.

I thought the main character reminded me of Tom Hanks but I only found out at the end that it was his son.

Crazy. Silly. Daft.

7.5/10

Out Of The Furnace ( 2013)

In a poverty stricken steel town two brothers struggle to survive.

Starring Christian Bale, Casey Affleck and Woody Harrelson

Written by Brad Ingelsby and Scott Cooper



Directed by Scott Cooper.

Never has the term 'dark and gritty' been more suitable for a movie.

It's grim stuff. This one kept my interest all the way and the acting and cinematography is good. It's not a bad film at all but it's also not exactly the most exciting film I've ever seen. I wasn't sitting on the edge of my seat.

It's quite compelling and it's not boring. I enjoyed it. In a dark, gritty, late night kind of way. I think it's the first time I've seen the three main actors in anything and they played good parts. There's also a small bit-part played by Forest Whittaker. I almost didn't recognise him but I don't think I've ever seen him in a bad movie. He's so versatile as an actor.

I give it a 7.5 out of 10.

A.I Artificial Intelligence (2001)

A highly advanced robot child yearns to be a real

 

Starring Haley Joel Osment and Jude Law.

Written by Brian Aldiss ( short story) and Ian Watson ( screen story)

and Steven Spielberg ( Screen Play).

Directed by Steven Spielberg

 

 

Not my cup of tea. Maybe it is more aimed at a younger age group. But not my kind of film.


I found this to be too far fetched and the story was long winded and the plot was all over the place. The special effects are great and the acting was good but the plot let's this one down in my opinion. To use the analogy of a book, there was absolutely nothing to keep me wanting to turn the pages. It lacked a hook or I didn't have any desire to know what happened next. Plus I didn't really like any of the characters whatsoever, apart from the cute bear! Jude Law's character was simply annoying. I don't think I've seen him in anything good yet.

Great effects, shame about the plot.

6.6/10

Les Combattants ( 2014)

Starring Adele Haenel and Kevin Azais


Written by Thomas Cailley and Claude Le Pape


 

Directed by Thomas Cailley

It's a while since I've watched a foreign subtitled movie and this is one of those hidden gems that you sometimes find on the TV listings.


It's a boy meets girl romance with a difference. It's quirky, wonderfully understated and quite mesmerizing to watch. This is a gentle film without any big plots or car chases but I really enjoyed it. It's well written with a nice touch of humour throughout.

Good film.

8/10

The Call Of The Wild: Dog of the Yukon (1997)

The Adventures of a dog called Buck

Starring Rutger Hauer and Richard Dreyfuss ( Narrator).

Written by Jack London ( Novel), Graham Ludlow ( Screenplay.)

Directed by Peter Svatek.

This is a case of a really good book being totally diluted.


Jack London's classic was beautifully written from the dog's perspective and was an incredible read.

Sadly everything that made the book great has been lost in this film adaptation. It just felt like I was watching a trailer for the actual book. The beauty of the book simply didn't come across and we are left with something that is threadbare. The narration was probably an honest attempt to see the movie through the ayes of Buck but it was quite irritating.

Not great.

6/10

Charade (1963)

A man is murdered and the hunt is on for his money.

Starring Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant

Written by Peter Stone ( Screenplay) and Mark Behm

Directed by Stanley Donen

I recorded this a few months ago but never really fancied watching it. I was expecting it to be a bit boring and old fashioned but it's actually a very good film.

It has a bit of everything. A bit of comedy, a bit of romance, some good action scenes and a great plot. I also really liked all the location filming. It also has a great soundtrack by Henry Mancini.


It keeps you guessing all the way to the end and is full of twists and turns. It's the first time I've watched a Cary Grant movie and he plays a good part and looks a bit like George Clooney. Audrey Hepburn is adorable and also plays a good part in this great film.


I love a movie with a great ending and this is one of them.



9/10

Imaginary Playmate ( 2006)

 

An imaginary friend turns bad.

Starring Dina Meyer, Rick Ravanello and Cassandra Sawsell

Written by Christine Gallagher

Directed by William Fruet.

This is an average low budget movie with a predictable and familiar plot to thousands of other haunted house movies. It's better than I thought it would be but it's still pretty average fair. Dina Meyer plays a good part but the rest of the cast could well have been stolen from any old soft porn movie that's ever been made. It's a bit of fun but also instantly forgettable and the ending was also predictable and could have been foretold after about ten minutes.


Nothing new here but it was okay. A decent story spoiled mainly by a low budget.

6.5/10

The Aviator ( 2004)

 

 

     The Story of Aviator Howard Hughes.

 

 

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett and Kate Beckinsale.

 

Written by John Logan.

Directed by Martin Scorsese.

 

I can see why this movie has won so many oscars. It has all the right ingredients. Great acting, great cinematography, great photography and it is undeniably and unreservedly a Martin Scorsese movie with all of his trademark style and artistry. It's one hell of a production which I'm sure had the Oscar Nominations Board purring and salivating non-stop round the clock.



It is fascinating and it is an interesting watch but for me it's too long and a little bit boring. Just because a movie wins lots of Oscars doesn't necessarily mean it's an exciting movie and this fits into that category. It reminded me of Citizen Kane and I'd go as far as saying that it's basically the same kind of thing produced for a more modern audience. And that movie was pretty boring too.



 

This is a film I can appreciate on many levels but it's lacking a decent hook and a good dollop of excitement.

 

7.5/10 for the acting and production values.

14 Films

Here are 14 films that I've since watched but haven't had time to review them


Trainspotting 10/10 Brilliant


The Adjustment Bureau ( An okay sci fi.)


Source Code


This Boys Life ( Second time I've seen it and it's a great movie.) 10/10


13 Rue Madeline.


Good Luck Chuck.


First Snow.


Abbot & Costello Meet Dr Jeckyll and Mister Hyde.


Abbot and Costello Meet The Keystone Cops


Abbot and Costello Meet The Mummy

Star Trek

Meet The Fockers

NonStop ( Liam Neeson) 7.5. Average action suspense.


Girl Interrupted ( Winona Ryder,Angelina Jolly.) Love this one. 10/10

White Heat (1949)

A cop goes undercover to bring down the mob.

Starring James Cagney and Virginia Mayo.

Written by Ivan Goff, Ben Roberts and suggested by a story by Virginia Kellogg.

Directed by Raoul Walsh.

This is the third mob movie I've watched in a row and probably my least favourite.

I know it's supposed to be a classic but I don't get it. If I'd have watched it when it first came out I may have appreciated a bit more but for me it was just an okay, fun romp of a movie.

It's got practically the same plot as Donnie Brasco but of course came out many years earlier. I'd go as far as to say it's like Donnie Brasco with action scenes added. The action scenes are pretty good and the film kept my interest all the way even though it's quite a long one. But it is very dated and doesn't really stand the test of time that well. Not for me anyway. The acting is dated and so is the whole production.

I wasn't too impressed with James Cagney's performance. I found him quite wooden and hammy. The scene where he loses it in the prison dining hall just made me giggle it was so bad. I'm sure I'm on my own here because reading some of the reviews on IMDB it's heralded as the the finest mob movie ever made. But that's just the way I feel. It was an okay movie but nothing special. I'd be interested in watching some of Cagney's over stuff though.

And why was it called White Heat? Can anybody tell me?

7/10

Donnie Brasco ( 1997 )

            An FBI undercover agent infiltrates the mob.

Starring Johnny Depp and Al Pacino.

Written by Joseph D Pistone (Book), Richard Woodley (Book) and Paul Attanasio (Screenplay).

Directed by Mike Newell.

This is the second mob movie I've seen in a row and it's basically Goodfellas with a plot.

It perhaps lacks the overall polish and cinematography of Goodfellas but it makes up for it by having more plot and emotion. I didn't get to know each of the characters as much but that's probably because this is a shorter movie and based more on the relationship between the two leads as opposed to the the mob in general.

Al Pacino and Johnny Depp give good lead performances and their dynamic works well. It's my third Al Pacino film and probably my favourite. Likewise I've seen a few Johnny Depp films and this is the best performance I've seen. It's another side to him and it proves what a versatile actor he is as well as having the looks. And that's something you don't always see.

I still don't think Mob movies are really my thing but I'm enjoying catching a few and I have another one lined up. If anything I've learned a few things I didn't know before if the mob ever comes up in a pub quiz!

Just like Goodfellas this gets an 8 out of 10 but for different reasons. On a side note I was surprised to see who the director of this was considering the previous things he has directed. That's a weird one but he has done a good job.

Goodfellas ( 1990 )

"As far back as I can remember, I've always wanted to be a gangster." -- Henry Hill, Brooklyn, N.Y. 1955.

Starring Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci and Robert De Niro.

Written by Nicholas Pileggi ( Novel) and Martin Scorsese.

Directed by Martin Scorsese.

First of all I'll say that this isn't normally the kind of movie I watch. In fact I think ( apart from Bugsy Malone which probably really doesn't count) this is the first Mobster movie I can remember watching, It's a proper guys movie. I'm a guy but I'm not that blokey. This is probably to movies what Top Gear is to TV.

It's quite long but it did keep my interest all the way. The acting performances are decent without there really being any stand out performances. Ray Liotta and Joe Pesci ( is he really not related in any way to Joe Paquale?) were probably the pick of the bunch amongst this star studded cast of big nosed very Italian looking actors.Robert De Niro didn't really play a big part and for most of the movie it felt like he was just going through the motions and doing a pretty decent impression of himself, if that makes sense.

The cinematography was good and there there lots of laughs, shocks, blood and twists along the way which I'd expect from a Scorsese film. The big problem from my point of view is that there isn't much of a plot. It's very artsy but there isn't much of a plot to keep me that interested. And I prefer a plot to grab hold of. That's probably because its a true story and they didn't want to make up too much stuff in case they offended the wrong people. I mean would you want to piss off the mob?

Overall this is a decent movie if you like this kind of thing. It's not really my kind of thing but it's still worthy of an 8 out of 10.

The Evil Dead ( 1981 )

A group of friends spend the night in a cabin in the mountains 

                                     and it doesn't go well.

Starring Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Richard DeManincor, Betsy Baker and Theresa Tilly.

Written and directed by Sam Raimi.

I think my age has a lot to answer for.

I'm guessing that if I'd watched this as a teenager I would have loved it or at least enjoyed it more than I did now as an old bloke. It definitely had lots of creepy moments and funny moments.

But from an old gits perspective I was actually a little bored watching this. I suppose when it was first released this movie would have been cutting edge and the ultimate horror flick. But I got that bored feeling in my stomach that I get when I'm reading a really boring book that I can't wait to finish so I can start the next one. It was all so repetitive. One demon possessed person attacks and then another and then another and then another. there was nothing new here and it's all been done before.

The acting was okay but a bit hammy and the special effects ( although probably brilliant in 1981) showed their age.

I'm giving it a 6/10 but my teenage self would have given it much more.

Vanilla Sky ( 2001 )

A wealthy playboy businessman is disfigured in a car accident. But all is not what it seems. 

Starring Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz and Cameron Diaz,

Written by Alejandro Amenabar, Mateo Gil and Cameron Crowe (Screenplay).

Directed by Cameron Crowe.

Weirdly this is one of those films I've always heard of but I always thought it was some kind of action movie involving fighter pilots. In reality it is totally not what I expected it to be.

It's a very bizarre movie that starts off quite normally but then turns into a sci-fi flick. It's full of strange twists and turns and flips itself on it's head quite a lot. For me it's too bizarre and confusing for my liking. I never really got a grasp of what what going on and then the ending was pretty disappointing. It felt like a movie that was trying to be too clever for it's own good and in the end it kind of failed. Don't get me wrong I usually love twisty sci-fi movies but this wasn't my cup of tea.

Tom Cruise was Tom Cruise. For me he's a good looking guy but I'm not convinced about his acting and so his performance was average. In fact there weren't really any fantastic stand out performances in this one. Penelope Cruz was hot. But Cameron Diaz was probably the pick of the bunch if I had to choose one.

Overall a pretty disappointing movie that didn't rock my world.

6/10

Beaches ( 1988 )

A chance meeting on a beach leads to a lifelong friendship.

Starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey.

Written by Iris Rainer ( Novel ) and Mary Agnes Donoghue ( Screenplay ).

Directed by Garry Marshall.

This is one of those movies that is both funny and sad. A great combination when it's done well and this is.

It's a great story that sucks you in from the very beginning and the acting performances by two leads are top class. It pulls at your heartstrings and gives you plenty of giggles along the way. The two children meeting on the beach at the beginning sets up the story well and is a perfect back story that sticks in your memory throughout.

I can't fault this film but if anything I think it could have been a little longer so that the final storyline could have developed at a slower pace but that is just nit-picking.

It's a great movie and I dare you not to shed a tear.

10/10

Tootsie (1982)

A struggling Actor dresses up as a woman in a desperate attempt to get a part.

Starring Dustin Hoffman, Bill Murray and Jessica Lange.

Written by Larry Gelbart, Murray Schisgal and Don Mcguire.

Directed by Sydney Pollack.

This is a really funny movie!

There's not a lot to not like at all. The acting is excellent and it's quirky and genuinely funny in all the right places. It's easy to understand why it has earned a reputation as one of the all time classic comedies. Dustin Hoffman plays the main role perfectly and Bill Murray is a suitably witty co star. I never knew he was in this movie and didn't realise he was acting in movies as early as 1982.

On a slightly negative note it does take a bit to get going and the cinematography isn't brilliant. Most of the film is obviously filmed in a studio and it did seem a bit low budget at times.

 But overall this is a belter of a movie!

9/10

Revolution (1985)

             A New York trapper and his son get caught up

                                                  in the American battle of independence.

Starring Al Pacino and Nastassja Kinski.

Written by Robert Dillon.

Directed by Hugh Hudson.

This movie could have been great but instead it was a let down.

On a positive note the cinematography, period costumes and attention to detail was wonderful. And I found it quite educational and interesting from a historical point of view. Although I'm sure many experts would be able to find a few historical errors.

What let this movie down was the quality of acting and the plot which didn't really go anywhere. Al Pacino and the two actors who played his son had bizarre accents which didn't help. I think he was supposed to be Scottish but it came out as rather a weird combination of Irish and some other made up mumble language. In fact I couldn't hear half of what he was saying which kind of ruined the big movie moments! And there were more bizarre accents amongst the many actors in this ensemble. Maybe Al Pacino was a victim of bad casting or bad directing or perhaps his heart wasn't in the movie.

I didn't mind Nastassja Kinski's performance. It was probably the best of a dodgy bunch. And she was pretty good to look at too. But on the whole Revolution was a bit of a borefest. There is a big scene towards the end where the main character and another guy are chased by a pack of dogs. That's exactly how I'd describe the plot of this. Like a pack of dogs chasing something but never quite catching it.

6/10

Sunflower (1970)

An Italian woman is convinced her husband survived World War 2

Starring Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni.

Written by Tonino Guerra, Cesare Zavattini  and Giorgi Mdivani.



Directed by Vittorio De Sica.

This is my first foreign subtitled film of the year and it's pretty average.

There are no stand out performances and the story just about kept my interest but didn't have me on the edge of my seat. Sophia Loren is one of those actresses that was spoken about a lot in the seventies and eighties but as far as  know this is the first time I have seen her in anything.

We don't really get the chance to know any of the two main characters and the whole thing is very slow and never really gets going. On a more positive note the soundtrack by Henry Mancini ( another famous name from the seventies and eighties) is superb and the cinematography, considering this was made in 1970 was really good. I loved the location filming.

Overall a bit too slow for me.

7/10 mainly for the soundtrack.

Awakenings ( 1990 ) and The Hole ( 2009 )

                   A doctor discovers a drug to wake up catatonic patients.

Starring Robin Williams and Robert De Niro.

Written by Oliver Sacks ( Novel) and Steven Zaillian ( Screenplay )

Directed by Penny Marshall.

This is superb!

It ticks all of the boxes as to what a movie should be. To be honest I've had it on my Sky box for a few weeks and never really fancied watching it for some reason. But it really is worthy of as many accolades as it's been given.

The story sucks you in right from the beginning and two two main actors are brilliant. I've seen a few De Niro films now and this is the best I've seen him by far. His portrayal of the first catatonic patient to wake up is worthy of an Oscar. I knew he was a great actor but this performance is top drawer. Robin Williams is brilliantly understated and together they are perfect castings.

Awakenings is tearjerker and the plot won't have you on the edge of your seat, it will have you reaching for the tissues. It's an incredibly moving film. Well acted, well directed and with a great soundtrack. Brilliant!

This could be an early favourite to be my favourite movie watched this year.

10/10

    

               Two brothers discover a mysterious hole in their basement.

Starring Chris Massoglia, Haley Bennett and Nathan Gamble.

Written by Mark L Smith.

Directed by Joe Dante.

I remember watching Gremlins in the cinema as a teenager and hating it. Everybody else in the place was laughing their heads off but I just didn't get it. This is directed by the same guy and I didn't really get this either.

It's not terrible, just very average. Average acting, an average premise ( that's been done many times before on TV and in the movies) and average cinematography. There are a few positives. Haley Bennett in a swimming costume being one of them ( she was 21 when this was made so don't shoot me!) and there were some fun, creepy moments. But this is a movie that tries to be Beetlejuice but ends up coming across as a low budget TV version.

A few fun moments but not that great.

6/10