Tag: Blogging

Review: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)

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Enticed by the promise of a luxury hotel in the heart of India, seven soul-searching retirees travel half-way around the world in the hopes of a relaxing, less expensive retirement. Unfortunately, when they arrive, not everything matches up to the exuberant brochure. As each of them adapt to their new surroundings (from the culture to the food), their lives start to unravel in interesting, poignant and amusing ways.

Adapted from Deborah Moggach’s novel These Foolish Things, The Best Marigold Hotel is about how, by exposing themselves to a culture as expressive Continue reading “Review: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)” →

DVD/Blu-Ray Of The Week #1: Tomboy

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This week’s DVD/Blu-Ray of the week is Tomboy, writer and director Céline Sciamma’s follow-up to the critically acclaimed Water Lilies.

Unafraid in its depiction of a young child’s sexual confusion, Tomboy is an affecting, well envisioned and delicately captured examination of a 10-year-old girl’s need to disguise herself as a boy in order to make friends in an unfamiliar Continue reading “DVD/Blu-Ray Of The Week #1: Tomboy” →

US Box Office: March 2 – 4, 2012

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Surpassing studio and analyst expectations, The Lorax won the weekend with an astonishing $70.7M. The latest film – a new take on Dr. Seuss’ acclaimed children’s book – from emerging animation studio Illumination Entertainment (Despicable Me, Hop), The Lorax, along with this week’s other top ten entries, showcased a particularly on-form box office.

The Lorax sought off stiff competition from the Todd Philips produced Project X. Debuting to the tune of $20.7M, the found-footage comedy proved a hit with Continue reading “US Box Office: March 2 – 4, 2012” →

Review: Wanderlust (2012)

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Finding themselves both out of work after investing in a small yet expensive micro-loft located in Manhattan’s West Village, George (Paul Rudd) and Linda (Jennifer Aniston) decide to up sticks. Stumbling upon a hippie commune after an unsuccessful stay with George’s brother, Rick (Ken Marino) and his alcoholic wife, Marissa (a scene-stealing Michaela Watkins), the couple decide to stay on at “Elysium” in the hope of finding themselves.

While they initially embrace this more simple way of life, they soon hit a few stumbling blocks, and are forced to confront issues (such as infidelity) that they Continue reading “Review: Wanderlust (2012)” →

Review: The Vow (2011)

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Paige (Rachel McAdams) and Leo (Channing Tatum) are happily married and very much in love. When a car accident puts Paige in a coma, she wakes up without any recollection of her relationship with Leo. Doing his best to cope with the unfortunate situation and escalating distance between them, Leo battles obstacles (an ex-boyfriend and possessive parents) to remind her of the love they once shared in a bid to win her back.

Predicated upon the complexities and emotional resonance contained within the extraordinary events, The Vow, for the most part, breaks from the typical Continue reading “Review: The Vow (2011)” →

8th Annual Glasgow Film Festival Round-Up

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Fast becoming one of the UK’s leading film festivals, Glasgow Film Festival’s eighth year has proven to be one of its best yet.

Selling over 30,000 tickets and attracting some top name guests, there was no better place to be this February than flitting between the marvellous Glasgow Film Theatre and the tallest cinema in Europe, Cineworld Renfrew Street.

Small on scale, yet big on ideas, co-directors Allan Hunter and Allison Gardner Continue reading “8th Annual Glasgow Film Festival Round-Up” →

Blast From The Past #3 – Once (2006)

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Produced on a shoestring budget of £100,000, Once is the definition of an intimate and naturalistic film. Tracking the burgeoning relationship between an Irish busker, Glen Hansard, and a Czech immigrant, Markéta Irglová, filmmaker John Carney’s musical romance is a sweet tale of how the beauty of music has the ability to draw these two unnamed people from dissimilar backgrounds together.

Finding truth in the authentic chemistry shared between Hansard, Irglová and the real-world presence of modern-day Dublin, Carney’s tale is a simple one, but Continue reading “Blast From The Past #3 – Once (2006)” →

Help Me Make Another Short Film

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In school, I made a four minute short called Goodbye To Youth (embedded below). While it was far from a masterpiece (although I did receive an A for my efforts), it did allow me to put the knowledge I’d acquired from studying A Level Film Studies to the test.

Since then, I haven’t done any filming or editing work, which is a real shame as I enjoyed every minute of that experience and was as proud as punch when it was shown alongside my classmates at my school’s mini Academy Award event Continue reading “Help Me Make Another Short Film” →

Review: Natural Selection (2011)

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Loyal Christian housewife Linda (Rachael Harris) enters into panic mode when her husband, Peter (Jon Gries), suffers a stroke. Discovering that he’s been donating sperm in secret, she sets off to find his eldest “son”, Raymond (Matt O’Leary), a foul-mouthed ex-con. Realising she’s worlds apart from Raymond in terms of beliefs and values, Linda has a mammoth task ahead of her to ensure Raymond is able to reunite with his biological father before it’s too late.

A road film of sorts, Natural Selection bathes in the encumbrances of the clashing of Linda and Raymond’s personalities, pointed out early on when Raymond Continue reading “Review: Natural Selection (2011)” →

Review: Your Sister’s Sister (2011)

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Unable to recover from the untimely death of his brother, Jack (Mark Duplass) is sent to a picturesque cabin on a tiny island by best friend Iris (Emily Blunt). Arriving at the cabin, Jack runs into Hannah (Rosemarie DeWitt), Iris’ half-sister, who’s taken shelter there after running out on a seven-year-long relationship.

Nursing their respective troubles over a bottle of tequila, Jack and Hannah find themselves sharing a night of passion, only to be rudely awoken by the unexpected arrival of Iris, who’s come to keep Jack company.

Utilising a part-scripted, part-improvised approach, Your Sister’s Sister boasts a Continue reading “Review: Your Sister’s Sister (2011)” →