SOME
SPOILERS AHEAD
March
was a great month for me to take a look of many highlights from 2011 that
somehow passed me by, with Paddy Considine’s directorial debut ‘Tyrannosaur’
being one and comedy hit ‘Bridesmaids’ being another. I also indulged in some
mind-numbing action (‘In Time’) and some cult classic cinema (‘Lost In
Translation’), while the second half of the second season of ‘The Walking Dead’
drew to a surprisingly positive close.
Straw Dogs (2011)
This was
a remake in every sense of the word, certainly not a reimagining, of the 1971
British movie ‘Straw Dogs’, and despite moving the setting from rural England
to the deep south of the US, the attention to detail in terms of almost
identical shot-for-shots and dialogue took away from what could have been a
decent retelling. The movie centres on L.A. screenwriter David Sumner (James
Marsden) who relocates with his wife to her hometown in the Deep South. There,
while tensions build between them, a brewing conflict with locals becomes a
threat to them both, especially from Sumner’s wife Amy’s (played by Kate
Bosworth) ex-boyfriend (played by Alexander Skarsgard). The sense of dread is still
there, but Marsden’s leading man isn’t nearly as captivating as Dustin Hoffman
was in the original, and while the story is a slow burn, it’s credible enough
to capture a new audience and is a solid thriller, although at times the
decisions of the characters can be infuriating. 6 / 10.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
I’ve
always had a great love for ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’, and it’s a
love that grows the longer I spend away from it. After a couple of years I
decided to invest in a Blu-Ray copy of the movie, and I am very happy that I
did so. The visuals, excellent cinematography and eccentric style from director
Michel Gondry makes this dysfunctional love story one of my favourites of the
last ten years or so. Jim Carrey plays a heartbroken man, Joel, who decides to
undergo a procedure to erase the memory of his unhinged ex-girlfriend,
Clementine, (played by Kate Winslet) but soon regrets his resolution and
struggles to keep hold of the memories of her within his own mind. The story is
non-linear and erratic, displaying the details of the Joel and Clementine’s
relationship (from the major to the minor) with the visionary direction from
Gondry picking up all the quirks or a modern day romance and the writing from
Charlie Kaufman specifying the deeper elements of memory, love and heartbreak
in a way that is both easy to relate to and grounded. The cast is fantastic,
and while this is a romantic comedy of sorts, it never feels like it, which is
why it is so timeless and enjoyable. My MOVIE OF THE MONTH, of course, with 9 / 10.
Tyrannosaur (2011)
The
directorial debut from Paddy Considine has been on my ‘must watch’ list for a
good while, and when I finally got around to giving ‘Tyrannosaur’ my full
attention, I wasn’t disappointing. The movie is an exceptional piece of bleak
British filmmaking, tackling the issues that surround the day-to-day lives of
the working class and the demons that can effect the average man or woman. The
subject matter can appear dreary, but at its core the film is a life-affirming
tale of two very different people coming together and supporting each other
throughout the various trials they face. The acting is amazing; with Olivia
Colman (of ‘Peep Show’ fame) delivering a damaged performance that is
note-perfect. Considine’s direction is concise and this film will stay with me
for years to come. Intense and though-provoking, 8.5 / 10.
The Sitter (2011)
Jonah
Hill (before he lost the weight!) stars in a no-brain comedy that was easy to
watch and even easier to forget about, but during the running time I quite
enjoyed the gross-out/over-the-top type of comedy that Jonah Hill excels at,
and even the addition of a trio of kids (who Jonah is babysitting) doesn’t give
the movie an annoying or heart-warming edge, which makes it a riot. Sam
Rockwell is awesome as a unhinged yet loving gangster and his performance makes
this movie worth a watch, but only a 5.5
/ 10.
We Need To Talk About Kevin (2011)
Tilda
Swinton stars as a mother who has a difficult relationship with her son, Kevin,
from birth, and this difficulty soon manifests itself in the form Kevin
committing a terrible crime. This movie looks for the root of the boy’s evil,
be it from his strained relationship with his mother or a significant mental
issue from birth. ‘We Need To Talk About Kevin’ is an accomplished and
understated thriller, exploring the life of Kevin from infancy to his teenage
years. Swinton’s performance is pained and controlled, and it’s a great role
for an actress whom I have never been keen on in the past. 6 / 10.
Young Adult (2011)
Charlize
Theron stars as an unhinged recent divorcee who returns to her hometown to try
and rekindle love with a childhood sweetheart in ‘Young Adult’, a comedy drama
that has heart beneath the self-loathing. It’s a great performance from Theron,
who plays the manic-depressive pretty well, while the supporting cast do well
to allow her to shine. It isn’t massively enjoyable, however, and the constant
cringe worthy moments feel occasionally overdone. It’s in no way a chick flick;
more of a quirky take on that genre (it is from the writer of ‘Juno’) but
probably worth avoiding if there are better things to watch, like movies about
hunting trolls. 5 / 10.
Trollhunter (2010)
Norwegian
movie ‘Trollhunter’ takes the form of another found-footage movie, but this one
starts as a basic documentary following a crew looking for those responsible
for recent bear killings. Of course, things take a drastic turn, with a
mysterious Trollhunter getting caught up with the filmmakers who follow him on
his quest to capture/kill several escaped trolls. It’s a fantastic thrill ride
and the special effects are very well executed, making it one of the less
forgettable found-footage movies. 7 /10.
Lost in Translation (2003)
Now,
this really is a classic. While ‘Lost In Translation’ defined indie filmmaking
almost 10 years (yes, 10 years!) ago, it’s the kind of movie that doesn’t lose its
delicate, unwavering beauty, even after many viewings. It’s Bill Murray’s
definitive 21st century role and arguable the film that out Scarlett
Johansson on the map, and the fact that it all takes place in one of the most
exciting cities in the world, Tokyo, makes it an endearing movie that has a
place in my heart. Murray stars as a past-it American actor visiting Tokyo to
work on a whiskey commercial, while Johansson is a neglected newlywed who meets
the actor and strikes up a bond with him. Essentially, it’s a love story, but
it’s never as black and white as that, and the sheer simplicity of the
characters makes it so timeless. I’m welling up here… it’s just beaten to MOVIE
OF THE MONTH by ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’, but does get a
respectable 8.5 / 10.
In Time (2011)
An
action film with a dumb premise (where everybody lives on time rather than
currency) and a leading man in the form of Justin Timberlake was never going to
do too much for me, but unfortunately this was so bad that I almost switched
off (almost) and switching off is a rare occurrence for me. It has to be really
bad for that, so to come so close gives you an idea of how much I disliked
this. I won’t go into detail, but if I asked a brain-dead chimp to write a
science fiction flick I’d probably end up with something far more exciting than
this. A definite SHIT MOVIE OF THE MONTH with 3 / 10.
Bridesmaids (2011)
I’ve
been meaning to watch ‘Bridesmaids’ for a long time, and I’m not entirely sure
why I didn’t get round to it sooner. It got rave reviews and the nearly all
female cast had received plaudits for putting females comedians back on the map
with their take on a gross-out, over-the-top comedy with a heart. It’s a hit,
and rightly so, because the comedy moments are aimed specifically at both
genders, making it enjoyable for anybody looking for a simple laugh and not a
female power trip. Great fun, 7 / 10.
The Walking Dead – Season Two (from Mid-Season to Finale) (2012)
There
was certainly a time during the first half of season two that I felt like
giving up on ‘The Walking Dead’, but somehow I persevered, my love for the
graphic novel series outweighing my intense hatred for certain characters in
this TV show and their ridiculous, clueless and illogical decision making.
Unfortunately for the show, the second half made me feel the same and worse,
and for a lull that lasted almost 4 episodes, I was ready to switch off for
good, which would have been a great shame. Now, a lot happened in this second
half of season two (yes, confusing, these damn mid-season breaks aren’t my
favourite) but not until the last 3 episodes or so. The rest of the episodes
were the characters going through the same old motions, coming together to make
bland decisions about bland things that I didn’t care about and I’m sure the
writers can’t have been incredibly involved in. But the last 3 episodes save
The Walking Dead from extinction, with the plot turns, killing of major
characters and move away from the farm (about time!) leaving me actually
looking forward to season three. Could’ve been a lot, lot better though, so
only gets a 6 / 10.
Snowtown (2011)
Gritty
Australian crime drama gripped me with last year’s ‘Animal Kingdom’, and
‘Snowtown’ did just the same, with the true story about notorious Aussie serial
killer John Bunting and the story of his role as twisted mentor to a 16 year
old, as he takes him under his wing and inflicts his traits onto the young boy.
It was as dark as ‘based on a true story’ dramas come, but for me it wasn’t as
shocking as I expected it to be. Sure, there were some truly gruesome and
terrifying moments, but I didn’t feel as though there was as much tension as
there should be. 6.5 / 10.
The Ides of March (2011)
2011 was
the year of Ryan Gosling, and alongside his starring role in ‘Drive’; the
George Clooney directed/co-starring political drama ‘The Ides of March’ was
also a huge success for the actor. Gosling stars as a member of Clooney’s
presidential candidate staff and the movie centres on the strained
relationships between the major players as dirty politics are used and
blackmail is commonplace. It was a well-rounded film based around subject
matter that I don’t have a great interest in, and I was impressed. 7 / 10.
Transformers – Dark of the Moon (2011)
I have a
love/hate relationship with Transformers movies. The premise/ideology/nostalgia
behind them is fantastic, but both of the movies prior to this third instalment
have fallen short with me. Sure, the first had its perks, but the second was a
mess and left me feeling like the series had died. But of course, the Michael
Bay films are a major draw for audiences, so a third got the green light, and
to be honest, I was pleasantly surprised by what ‘Transformers – Dark of the
Moon’ had to offer. I had forgotten many plot points from the other two, but
falling into this movie was easy, and even the absence of Megan Fox didn’t
deter me too much. The action is as insane and mind-boggling as ever, but the
set pieces were outstanding and the story actually seemed to have some
substance behind it. And Rosie Huntington-Whiteley really isn’t a bad
replacement for Megan Fox. 6 / 10.
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