Review: Melancholia (2011)

Jamie Neish4 Comments

Lars Von Trier is the type of director who’s not scared of polarising audiences. Not content with making straightforward films, he’s instead built up a career by following the more controversial route, exploring topics that are puzzling, difficult, or both – not concerning himself with the dozens of cinemagoers he may be excluding in the process. Melancholia, the Danish auteur’s latest oeuvre epitomises his beliefs and cinematic style in a completely dazzling, meditative fashion: one certain to split audiences right down the middle.

Opening with a visually beguiling yet skin-crawlingly ominous prelude that depicts the moment just before the planet Melancholia swallows up our very Continue reading “Review: Melancholia (2011)” →

Review: Red State (2011)

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Over the years, Kevin Smith has made a name for himself directing such provocative and riotous comedies as the infamous Clerks and last years miscalculated Cop Out. His latest directorial effort, Red State, is an entirely different ball game. Not only does it see Smith returning to the guerrilla filmmaking style that made him a household name, but it also sees him tackling subject matter outside his typical comfort zone. This is how freely he works when not having to deal with Hollywood studios and experienced actors – something that, despite its often incoherent execution, is very interesting to behold.

Travis (Michael Angarano), Jarod (Kyle Gallner) and Billy-Ray (Nicholas Braun), respond to an online invitation Continue reading “Review: Red State (2011)” →

Cinema Releases: September 28, 2011

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Abduction

Director: John Singleton

Starring: Taylor Lautner, Lily Collins and Alfred Molina

DVD Releases: September 26, 2011

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Thor

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman and Anthony Hopkins Continue reading “DVD Releases: September 26, 2011” →

US Box Office: September 23 – 25, 2011

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1. The Lion King 3D – $21.9M

2. Moneyball – $19.5M

3. Dolphin Tale – $19.1M Continue reading “US Box Office: September 23 – 25, 2011” →

Review: The Change Up (2011)

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The body-swap comedy has become somewhat a staple in Hollywoodland of late. While some films find intriguing and interesting ways of exploring the subject, for example Freaky Friday and 17 Again, others seem to struggle from the offset, falling into an unoriginal heap of bad jokes, one dimensional characters and despair. The Change Up, unsurprisingly written by the duo responsible for The Hangover – have you seen the posters?! – falls into the latter pile.

Dave (Jason Bateman) and Mitch (Ryan Reynolds) are two guys with entirely different lifestyles. Dave, a married, middle-aged lawyer, yearns for Continue reading “Review: The Change Up (2011)” →

Cinema Releases: September 23, 2011

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Crazy, Stupid, Love (Review)

Director: Glenn Ficarra and John Requa

Starring: Steve Carell, Julianne Moore and Emma Stone Continue reading “Cinema Releases: September 23, 2011” →

Review: Friends With Benefits (2011)

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After Ivan Reitman’s unbalanced No Strings Attached, director Will Gluck and screenwriting duo Keith Merryman and David A. Newman take a stab at ridiculing the stereotypical relationship between a man and a woman, and the modern-day conventions of a romantic comedy.

Jamie (Mila Kunis), a New York headhunter, enters into a no-strings-attached relationship with Dylan (Justin Timberlake), her latest client, after they’re both left wounded by previous romantic commitments. However, when real-life starts to complicate their pact, their “purely physical” affinity is tested to the max. Continue reading “Review: Friends With Benefits (2011)” →

Cinema Releases: September 21, 2011

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Warrior

Director: Gavin O’Connor

Starring: Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton and Nick Nolte

Review: Drive (2011)

Jamie Neish9 Comments

Genre sensibilities are turned inside out with Drive, Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn’s muted modern-day take on the celebrated neo-noir film.

Hollywood stunt-driver by day, getaway driver-for-hire by night, Ryan Gosling’s unnamed character is shrouded in mystery. He subscribes to a methodical lifestyle, timing everything to perfect precision. When he meets his coy next-door neighbour Irene (Carey Mulligan), he finds himself wrapped up in her husband’s (Oscar Issac) unfortunate – and criminal – predicament. Forced to abandon his scrupulous attitude, he must adopt a much more reckless way of life. Continue reading “Review: Drive (2011)” →