What I've Been Watching (December 2011)

SOME SPOILERS AHEAD

‘What I’ve Been Watching’ returns full force after a couple of months off from the reviews, including the conclusions to some of the biggest and best TV shows of the year, some award worthy and critically acclaimed new films, and as usual, some utter shit.

50/50 (2011)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt seems to have his pick of roles at the moment and with 2012 beckoning he is set to star in two of the most anticipated movies of the year (‘Looper’ and ‘The Dark Knight Rises’). His quick ascent to the top of the movie game is well deserved, and his leading role in ‘50/50’, an inspired by true events story about a young man’s battle with cancer, proves that he has the talent and likeability factor that is needed to draw in the crowds (even when starring opposite the ever popular Seth Rogen). Humour takes centre stage in what has the potential to be a depressing story of terminal illness, putting the main character in situations that perhaps haven’t been explored in previous movies about the struggles of somebody diagnosed with such a disease. How many of us actually know what it’s like for somebody with cancer to go to a bar and try and hook up with a girl? It is heart wrenching as well as heartfelt, which is a good combination for a comedy/drama, and is also the reason why ‘50/50’ is one of my films of the year. 8.5/10.

Total Recall (1990)

With the remake of this cult classic being released later this year, I decided to revisit one of the defining moments of both my childhood and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career. For me, it was the first film I had seen which both terrified and confused me, with the use of early CGI and animatronics creating a baffling alternate world and the appearance of a triple-breasted woman making me feel oddly intrigued, especially during pre-adolescence. Total Recall is an over-the-top thrill ride and certainly loses none of its charm after 20 plus years. Is a remake warranted? Probably not, but I’ll be willing to see what a new generation makes of a take on one of the best science fiction action flicks of the 90s. 8/10.

Our Idiot Brother (2011)

Paul Rudd can do no wrong with fans of mainstream American comedies, and I am one of those that enjoys the movies of the nice-guy actor no end. ‘I Love You, man’ has been revisited many times and this year will see him again team up with Jennifer Aniston in ‘Wanderlust’ and Leslie Mann in Judd Apatow’s ‘Knocked Up’ spin-off ‘This Is 40’. ‘Our Idiot Brother’ brings more familiar faces together to tell the story of a positive idealist who barges into the lives of his three sisters after a stint in jail for selling marijuana to a police officer (see where the keyword ‘Idiot’ hits home?). The movie is enjoyable and jaunts along with some genuine laughs and well executed family situations, making the whole experience rather sweet but not saccharine. 7.5/10.

The Walking Dead – Season 2 (Up to Mid-Season Finale) (2011)

‘The Walking Dead’ second season started with a lot of momentum after a popular and critically acclaimed first run (albeit with a weak and weird finale episode), and while there is a lot of good character work and key plot points from the graphic novel it is adapted from here in the first 7 episodes, I can’t help but feel disappointed. Sometimes the show has real promise, with a series of events from certain episodes getting me excited and fully interested, but then a lot of the good work is ruined by what seems like ‘filler’ episodes where not much happens and characters seem to repeat lines they’ve said over and over again. I really want to like it, but the story needs to move from Hershel’s farm as soon as possible to avoid getting stuck in a rut, where the characters look for another lost child for the entirety of the run of episodes (by far the most bland plotline the show has followed). The shock factor from the graphic novels isn’t addressed when it needs to be, the cliffhangers are boring and predictable, and some of the characters are infuriating at times.  Season 2 returns in February, hopefully with some more creative ideas and the will not to get cancelled. Some major characters need to be killed off and some shit needs to start going down for ‘The Walking Dead’ to remain on our screens. 5/10.

Rare Exports – A Christmas Tale (2010)

An alternative take on Christmas stories, Finnish movie ‘Rare Exports – A Christmas Tale’ injects fear and mystery to the magic of Santa Claus. It’s strange at times, but is driven ahead with the leading character of a young boy convinced that he knows more about the situations than his adult counterparts. The ending is quite ridiculous, but I enjoyed the movie for the running time and recommend it for anybody wanting to avoid the obvious movie choices at Christmas time. 6/10.

Boardwalk Empire – Season 2 (2011)

Not only the best show on TV at the moment, but perhaps the best TV show of all time, Boardwalk Empire’s second season grows from the first time around and already, after 24 episodes, it feels as though it has reached the point of ‘small screen classic’ just like The Sopranos and The Wire. The lead performances of Steve Buscemi, Michael Pitt and Kelly Macdonald are second to none and the writing on this series has reached such levels of perfection that it has to win every award it is nominated for. The situations are poignant, tense and executed like the best gangster flicks of all time, providing ultra-violent moments that are as unforgettable as the vice scene in Scorsese’s ‘Casino’ and the ‘do I amuse you?’ scene in ‘Goodfellas’.

‘Boardwalk Empire’ is paced perfectly as it builds to what is the biggest and most shocking twist I have ever scene in a drama series of this magnitude. I cannot wait for season 3. 9.5/10.

Life’s Too Short – Season 1 (2011)

The latest Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant helmed series saw showbiz dwarf Warwick Davis (star of ‘Willow’, ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Harry Potter’) as the focus of a ‘mockumentary’ style show, following the actor in his day to day life as he struggles with finding work during a very ungracious fall from the big time. It makes use of the same awkward comedy explored in Gervais’ previous shows ‘The Office’ and ‘Extras’, and although it does feel watered down at times, there are some truly cringe worthy and hilarious moments. Gervais makes use of his A-List contact book with appearances of Johnny Depp, Steve Carell and Liam Neeson (plus others) but Warwick really is the star of the show (along with his hapless assistant, played by Rosamund Hanson – Smell in ‘This Is England’). 8/10.

Misfits – Season 3 (2011)

Misfits had a Nathan shaped hole to fill when it returned at the end of 2011, with the hilarious (and perhaps main draw of the show) Robert Sheehan leaving for pastures new. Joseph Gilgun (another ‘This Is England’ prodigy) had a big job, but really did great with his dual personality character of Rudy coming into the group in this super-power driven comedy drama. This series had more stand-alone episodes than a constant driving narrative (which made the previous two series’ so addictive), but it’s a fun show, which has too many likeable characters to let that become a problem. A zombie episode, a Nazi time-travelling episode and an episode centred on the risks of sexually transmitted disease lets you know what you’re in for this time around, with a lot of well written tongue-in-cheek moments and homages to popular culture. Not the best series, but a solid group of episodes in what is (perhaps) the final time we’ll share with Misfits. 7/10.

Gran Torino (2008)

Race, age and prejudice is explored in Clint Eastwood’s directing and acting combo ‘Gran Torino’ where Clint plays a disgruntled Korean war veteran and widower who deals with the influx of immigrants and the uprising of gang warfare on his neighbourhood. It’s played out to tug on the heartstrings in a way that isn’t overly contrived, and the violence is sparse, especially with the overwhelming tension that hangs over the whole movie. It’s in the same ‘elderly man versus young hoodlums’ vein as gritty Brit thriller ‘Harry Brown’ but ‘Gran Torino’ is a much more understated experience. 7/10.

Prince of Persia – The Sands of Time (2010)

The adaptation of the video game of the same name has Disney’s stamp all over it, when really the only way to make this story enjoyable was to stick closely to the fantastic source material where terrifying sand monsters, exciting acrobatics and bold fight sequences were common place. Unfortunately this is a watered down, CGI rich version of the tale, bringing the romantic elements to the forefront and forgetting that for an adventure story to really work, we have to root for the protagonist. Jake Gyllenhaal’s Prince is a little too self-absorbed for me to get on board with and the tricks he pulls off with the time rewinding sands are nowhere near as clever as they could be. Utterly forgettable and certainly doesn’t warrant a sequel. 4/10.

This Is England ’88 (2011)

The gang return in Shane Meadows’ third delve into 80s northern England, and ‘This Is England ‘88’ had a lot to follow after the devastating and achingly real ‘This Is England ‘86’. This time around it is a lot more of a slow build, focusing on Lol’s descent into depression following the murder of her rapist father and tensions between the rest of the group following the falling out of Woody and Milky (after the fathers Lol’s child). The drama is set as Christmas and although moves slowly most of the time, the performances are great and the issues addressed both relevant and powerful. Again wonderfully shot by Meadows with an elegant score, ‘This Is England ‘88’ is as popular as it’s predecessors and will surely warrant another follow-up. 8/10.

Shark Night (2011)

Pretty sure I should have known what I was getting myself in for when I signed up for ‘Shark Night’, but I’m a sucker for a movie about a sea monster, no matter how trashy or corny it ends up being. But this really does take the prize for worst shark film I’ve seen in a long, long time (so bad it even convinced me to get hold of a copy of ‘Jaws – The Revenge’ to wipe my memory of this clean). Bad acting, bad CGI and a half-assed plot full of gaping holes. Oh yeah, and one of the victims of the shark tries to kill it by wading in to waist deep water holding a spear. And succeeds. A tremendous SHIT MOVIE OF THE MONTH with 2/10.

Limitless (2011)

I’ve heard a lot of good things about Bradley Cooper’s leading role in ‘Limitless’, the story of a struggling writer who discovers a drug that improves brainpower to increase the potential of whoever takes the pill. Of course, there are complications, and the movie does well at showing the rise and eventual downfall of somebody driven by the fear of failing. Cooper’s performance is solid, as is a role for Robert DeNiro, but the story is fairly linear and doesn’t veer off into exciting territory all that often. A decent thriller, however, and definitely worth a watch. 6/10.

Warrior (2011)

Last year had ‘The Fighter’, which combined family drama with sporting action to such a degree that it did incredibly well at the Academy Awards and has even been touted for a sequel. This year it’s ‘Warrior’, the tale of two rival MMA fighting brothers (played by Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton) who enter the same competition after years without seeing or hearing a word from each other. Nick Nolte plays their father, and it’s a great performance, his wounded man feeling just as honest as Mickey Rourke’s in ‘The Wrestler.’ The family drama isn’t as intense as that from ‘The Fighter’, but the fight sequences are much better, making them both tense and exciting as you root for both leading men, although their characters are very different. I enjoyed ‘Warrior’ a great deal, and it makes my list of top 10 movies of 2011 (quite near the top, to be precise). It’s definitely my MOVIE OF THE MONTH (although ‘Boardwalk Empire’ was the best thing I saw in December) with 8.5/10.

Red State (2011)

Another movie to make my favourite 10 of 2011 is also the last film I saw that year. Kevin Smith’s ‘Red State’ is a complete departure for him, stepping away from comedy/action and moving seamlessly into thriller/horror territory with the story of religious extremists who kidnap some teenage boys they believe as ‘sinners’ and withstand a siege from armed forces who become aware of the crimes they are committing in their church. It’s streaked with black comedy, but ultimately, it’s an exploration of a very real problem in the US. Sure, the ending is quite disappointing and brings up more questions than answers, but the movie is a thrilling ride that I found it hard to look away from. And when the ‘villain’ is as despicable as the one in ‘Red State’, it’s clear than not even John Goodman can take him down without a fight. 8/10.