This entertaining animated comedy from the studio behind mega hit franchise Despicable Me powers along on the back of its talented voice cast and recognisable pop tunes. Buster (Matthew McConaughey), a theatre-owning Koala, is on the cusp of losing his business, so he decides to stage a singing contest that attracts a menagerie of talented animals (an under-appreciated mother, a stage shy elephant), big and small. Continue reading “Review: Sing (2017)”
Tag: Despicable Me
Review: The Secret Life Of Pets (2016)
This animation from the makers of Despicable Me has pep and visual humour to spare, even if the familiar plot isn’t quite up to scratch. Max (Louis C.K.), a faithful canine, is sidelined when his owner brings home an unkempt mutt (Eric Stonestreet). Their reckless attempts to one-up each other soon leave them lost on the streets of New York, hunted by viscious strays. Continue reading “Review: The Secret Life Of Pets (2016)”
Review: Minions (2015)
The loveable yellow critters from the Despicable Me franchise are spun-off into their own adventure in Minions, a cutesy rush of colour and slapstick that ultimately disappoints. In a time pre-Gru, the Minions have become despondent, struggling to matter without an evil henchman to serve. Stuart, Bob and Kevin mission to find one is rewarded when they cross paths with female supervillian Scarlett Overkill (Sandra Bullock). Continue reading “Review: Minions (2015)”
Review: Despicable Me 2 (2013)
Despicable Me emerged in the Summer of 2010 to surprising success, depicting the transformation of an evil super-villain to the adoptive father of three high-spirited children, Agnes (Elsie Fisher), Margo (Miranda Cosgrove) and Edith (Dana Gaier). It’s no surprise, then, that this month sees the release of Despicable Me 2, uniting the cast under Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud’s direction. Continue reading “Review: Despicable Me 2 (2013)”
DVD Releases: February 21, 2011
64th BAFTA Film Awards: Nominations
Best Film
- Black Swan
- Inception
- The King’s Speech
- True Grit
- The Social Network
Outstanding British Film
- 127 Hours
- Another Year
- Four Lions
- Made In Dagenham
- The King’s Speech
Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director Or Producer
- The Arbor – Clio Barnard (Writer), Tracy O’Riordan (Producer)
- Exit Through The Gift Shop – Banksy (Director), Jaimie D’Cruz (Producer)
- Four Lions – Chris Morris (Writer/Director)
- Monsters – Gareth Edwards (Writer/Director)
- Skeletons – Nick Whitfield (Writer/Director)
Director
- Danny Boyle – (127 Hours)
- Black Swan – (Darren Aronofksy)
- Christopher – Nolan (Inception)
- Tom Hooper – (The King’s Speech)
- David Fincher – (The Social Network)
Original Screenplay
- Black Swan – (Mark Heyman, Andrés Heinz & John McLaughlin)
- The Fighter – (Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson)
- Inception – (Christopher Nolan)
- The Kids Are All Right – (Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg)
- The King’s Speech – (David Seidler)
Adapted Screenplay
- 127 Hours – (Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy)
- The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo – (Rasmus Heisterberg, Nikolaj Arcel)
- The Social Network – (Aaron Sorkin)
- Toy Story 3 – (Michael Arndt)
- True Grit – (Joel Coen & Ethan Coen)
Foreign Film
- Biutiful
- I Am Love
- Of Gods And Men
- The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
- The Secret In Their Eyes
Animated Film
- Despicable Me
- Toy Story 3
- How To Train Your Dragon
Leading Actor
- Javier Bardem – (Biutiful)
- Colin Firth – (The King’s Speech)
- Jeff Bridges – (True Grit)
- Jesse Eisenberg – (The Social Network)
- James Franco – (127 Hours)
Leading Actress
- Natalie Portman – (Black Swan)
- Julianne Moore – (The Kids Are All Right)
- Noomi Rapace – (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
- Hailee Steinfeld – (True Grit)
- Annette Bening – (The Kids Are All Right)
Supporting Actor
- Christian Bale – (The Fighter)
- Andrew Garfield – (The Social Network)
- Mark Ruffalo – (The Kids Are All Right)
- Geoffrey Rush – (The King’s Speech)
- Pete Postlethwaite – (Inception)
Supporting Actress
- Amy Adams – (The Fighter)
- Lesley Manville – (Another Year)
- Barbara Hershey – (Black Swan)
- Miranda Richardson – (Made In Dagenham)
- Helena Bonham Carter – (The King’s Speech)
Original Music
- A. R. Rahman – (127 Hours)
- Danny Elfman – (Alice In Wonderland)
- Wally Pfister – (Inception)
- Danny Cohen – (The King’s Speech)
- Roger Deakins – (True Grit)
Cinematography
- 127 Hours – (Anthony Dod Mantle, Enrique Chediak)
- Black Swan – (Matthew Libatique)
- Inception – (Wally Pfister)
- The King’s Speech – (Danny Cohen)
- True Grit – (Roger Deakins)
Editing
- 127 Hours – (Jon Harris)
- Black Swan – (Andrew Weisblum)
- Inception – (Lee Smith)
- The King’s Speech – (Tariq Anwar)
- The Social Network – (Kirk Baxter & Angus Wall)
Production Design
- Alice In Wonderland – (Robert Stromberg & Karen O’Hara)
- Black Swan – (Therese Deprez & Tora Peterson)
- Inception – (Guy Hendrix Dyas, Larry Dias & Doug Mowat)
- The King’s Speech – (Eve Stewart & Judy Farr)
- True Grit – (Jess Gonchor & Nancy Haigh)
Costume Design
- Alice In Wonderland – (Colleen Atwood)
- Black Swan – (Amy Westcott)
- The King’s Speech – (Jenny Beavan)
- Made In Dagenham – (Louise Stjernsward)
- True Grit – (Mary Zophres)
Special Visual Effects
- Alice In Wonderland – (TBC)
- Black Swan – (Dan Schrecker)
- Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1 – (Tim Burke, John Richardson, Nicolas Ait’hadi & Christian Manz)
- Inception – (Chris Corbould, Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley & Peter Bebb)
- Toy Story 3 – (TBC)
Sound
- 127 Hours – (Glenn Freemantle, Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, Steven C Laneri & Douglas Cameron)
- Black Swan – (Ken Ishii, Craig Henighan & Dominick Tavella)
- Inception – (Richard King, Lora Hirschberg, Gary A Rizzo & Ed Novick)
- The King’s Speech – (John Midgley, Lee Walpole & Paul Hamblin)
- True Grit – (Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff, Peter F Kurland & Douglas Axtell)
Make Up & Hair
- Alice In Wonderland – (TBC)
- Black Swan – (Judy Chin & Geordie Sheffer)
- Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1 – (Amanda Knight & Lisa Tomblin)
- The King’s Speech – (Frances Hannon)
- Made In Dagenham – (Lizzie Yianni Georgiou)
Short Animation
- The Eagleman Stag
- Matter Fisher
- Thursday
Short Film
- Connect
- Lin
- Rite
- Turning
- Until The River Runs Red
Orange Wednesday Rising Star
- Gemma Arterton
- Emma Stone
- Tom Hardy
- Andrew Garfield
- Aaron Johnson
Feature: Top Ten Films Of 2010
In total I’ve seen a lot of films in 2010, but here are the ten I consider my favourite:
1. The King’s Speech
The King’s Speech is an altogether clever, humorous and emotional film, supported by tremendous performances from it’s central cast. A must see, by all accounts.
2. The Kids Are All Right
The Kids Are All Right a fantastic film, exuding charm, wit, love, insecurity and anguish at every appropriate corner. In essence, it’s a film about the struggles of human relationships, and shows a family’s love has the potential to overcome any obstacle.
3. The Social Network
The Social Network is a film that deserves your attention. It’s not only a film about Mark Zuckerberg and the creation of Facebook, but also one of morality. One that requires your full attention and questions your beliefs and values; but also one that rewards you with its passion, attention-to-detail and humourous nature.
4. Another Year
Mike Leigh’s measured, and scarily realistic human nature drama is impossible to dismiss. Leigh’s laid-back approach let’s the characters and on-screen drama speak for itself. The central leads invite you into their lives and take you on a emotionally and wholly real journey through old-age. Lesley Manville, in particular, is breathtaking.
5. Winter’s Bone
Winter’s Bone is a film of true craftsmanship. Haunting, gritty, yet oddly inspiring, featuring a nuanced and captivating performance from newcomer Jennifer Lawrence.
6. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
Edgar Wright stepped up his game with this genre-crossing comedy film. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is a zany, mis-construed film that explores deep, poignant ideas, inter-cut with lots of crazy, heart-pounding action scenes, hundred of popular culture nods and hilariously odd performances from its central cast.
7. Toy Story 3
Defying expectations, Toy Story 3 proved sequels can be successful. Directed by the incredibly talented Lee Unkrich, the film manages to be a fitting, touching and honest conclusion to one of the most beloved, and inspiring, franchises of all time.
8. Inception
Christopher Nolan’s mind-bending science fiction, Inception is a singular accomplishment from an extraordinarily talented and game-changing director. It’s a visually stunning, intellectually challenging and emotionally engaging triumph, one that truly exemplifies modern filmmaking.
9. Monsters
Monsters is an incredible achievement in more ways than one, showcasing fine performances, an afflicting narrative, wholly real character interactions and special effects that rival those used on Blockbusters
10. I Am Love
Possibly one of the most overlooked films of the year, I Am Love is an incredibly well shot, acted, portrayed and directed. Tilda Swinton provided a flawless, and incredibly raw performance. One to seek out.
Honourable Mentions:
Easy A, How To Train Your Dragon, Four Lions, Kick-Ass, Piranha, Lebanon, Despicable Me, Bad Lieutenant – Port Of Call: New Orleans, The Runaways, Please Give, Cyrus, Splice, Mary & Max, The Hole, Exit Through The Gift Shop, The Killer Inside Me, The Illusionist, Whip It, Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, Somewhere, Dogtooth and Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1.