Tag: Review

Review: Trishna (2011)

Jamie Neish5 Comments

While in India managing a hotel, Jay (Riz Ahmed) meets Trishna (Freida Pinto), a soft-spoken, hard-working young woman living in one of the country’s poorest areas. In a bid to spend more time with her, and improve her situation, Jay invites Trishna to work at his hotel. As they spend more and more time together, their feelings develop and the opportunity to relocate to Mumbai becomes irresistible. However, when Jay’s father (Roshan Seth) suffers a heart attack and they’re forced back to where they started, they discover that their relationship isn’t exactly as it appears.

Adapted from Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Trishna sees the well known story relocated. The changes accentuate not only the novel’s main theme – Continue reading “Review: Trishna (2011)” →

Review: Bel Ami (2012)

Jamie Neish6 Comments

Georges Duroy (Robert Pattinson) is a peasant. Finding himself in Paris, he’s taken under the wing of old friend Charles Forestier (Philip Glenister), who lands him employment as a political writer and introduces him to three high society ladies: his wife Madeleine Forestier (Uma Thurman), Virginie Walters (Kristen Scott Thomas) and Clotilde De Marelle (Christina Ricci). Through means of seduction, betrayal and deception, Georges slowly rises from poverty to wealth, but it all comes at a price.

The concept of one man’s elevation to wealth and power through any means necessary is a fascinating one, and, perhaps with a screenwriter more attuned Continue reading “Review: Bel Ami (2012)” →

Review: Hush (2008)

Jamie Neish1 Comment

As Zakes (Will Ash) and Beth (Christine Bottomley) speed along the M1 late at night, stopping at various service stations to allow him to put posters up, they catch a glimpse of a naked woman in the back of a lorry that stops suddenly in front of them. After an argument about what they’ve seen, bringing to a head their tumultuous relationship, Beth mysteriously vanishes. Believing her disappearance has something to do with the lorry, Zakes embarks on a chase to save the one he loves.

Although the narrative is fairly derivative, Hush is rooted in its ability to create an overwhelming sense of unease, rather than relying on cheap tricks Continue reading “Review: Hush (2008)” →

Review: John Carter (2012)

Jamie Neish3 Comments

Ex-Civil War Captain John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) is on the run, looking for a quiet life. Upon being forcibly re-enlisted, he finds himself caught in the crossfire of a skirmish somewhere in the desert of Virginia. Looking for cover, he stumbles upon a strange cave, and before he knows what’s happening he is somehow transported to Mars – known locally as “Barsoom”. Confused, disorientated and struggling to control his strength in such low gravity, Carter makes his escape from the four-armed, insect like “Thark” aboriginal warriors who found and claimed him, only to be set upon by Deja Thoris (Lynn Collins), Princess of Continue reading “Review: John Carter (2012)” →

Review: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)

Jamie Neish4 Comments

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)” →

Review: Wanderlust (2012)

Jamie Neish3 Comments

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)

Jamie Neish1 Comment

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

Jamie NeishLeave a comment

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)

Jamie NeishLeave a comment

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)” →

Review: Natural Selection (2011)

Jamie Neish2 Comments

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)” →