I Love You Phillip Morris: Review

By Stephen Bain

29th March 2010 | 0 comments | 0 votes yet, click here to agree or disagree

A highly unusual, yet inspired pairing to say the least. Ewan McGregor starring alongside zany funny man Jim Carrey, a man people seem to either love or hate (I personally have been a big fan since his early days). This is perhaps not the comically mismatched “double-act” movie one may have expected but instead a pleasantly strange contemporary tale of love between two men. 

Carrey stars as Steven Russell, a seemingly happy family man whose life is suddenly altered by a car crash. Soon afterwards he ends up in prison where he meets the Phillip Morris of the title (McGregor) and the two form a romance. What follows are a series of events involving scamming and deception which (incredibly) are based on a true story.

The pairing of Carrey and McGregor certainly pays off. Carrey’s character is sure to provoke mixed feelings of genuine hilarity and disgust. His admittedly devious activities (which will make sense as the film develops) combined with his usual comic madness make this one of Carrey’s more interesting characters.

Indeed the main fault with this film is that it does not always seem to know itself which direction it is heading. One minute it pans out like a (certainly funny) screwball comedy with Carrey doing his usual Ace-Ventura style routine, the next it is almost stepping into the “Philadelphia” territory of serious drama. This is all sprinkled with more than a few, admittedly crude, jokes about homosexuality. The overall tone of the film however is certainly that of darker one compared to most of Carrey’s previous work. The opening scene demonstrates this clearly with Steven lying in a hospital bed apparently near to death as he begins narrating the story. As do the brilliantly executed final twenty minutes.

Ewan McGregor’s performance is possibly the superior out of the two however, with his character remaining a confused, yet constantly likeable figure. Carrey, on the other hand, shows that, while he can indeed do drama, it is perhaps the old-school rubber-faced routine that he is best at as this style regularly pops up during the films duration.

That said there are plenty of laughs to be had and the film remains a satisfying, if slightly uneven experience.

Mel out for Justice: Edge of Darkness Review

By Stephen Bain

11th February 2010 | 0 comments | 0 votes yet, click here to agree or disagree

He has chased after his kidnapped son, watched his wife murdered by English soldiers and become one, unstable, half of a cop duo. Now, after seven years absent from the big screen Mel Gibson (or “Mad Mel” as he has been named) returns as cop father Thomas Craven investigating the brutal murder of his young daughter (Bojana Novakovic). Read more »

Richie Goes Victorian: Sherlock Holmes Review

By Stephen Bain

8th January 2010 | 0 comments | 0 votes yet, click here to agree or disagree

Robert Downey Jr. has already portrayed comic book character Tony Stark in the recent adaptation of Iron Man (the second instalment is due in cinemas this summer), now he is going for the big-guns and bringing literatures most famous detective to the screen.  Behind the camera is Guy ‘Lock Stock’ Richie. An unusual choice for bringing Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s character to 21st Century audiences? Maybe. Especially after flops such as Revolver, one may be entitled to look on with some suspicion. However the results are, although certainly not perfect, undeniably fun.  

Downey Jr. is excellent as Mr Holmes, his fast talking manner fits perfectly with Sir Conan Doyle’s creation. Like his portrayal of Tony Stark, Downey Jr. oozes charm and wit as the womanising lead and it is clear that he seems to carry off these roles within his sleep. His incarnation of Holmes is someone who is, as often demonstrated, more than capable in a fight, never letting a person twice his size intimidate him (in typical Conan Doyle style, Holmes carefully notes the body’s weak spots before neutralising an opponent). Likewise, there is a lot of fun to be had watching Holmes dryly explain his various theories, especially as events reach their conclusion.

Visually there is a real sense of the period as the hustle and bustle of a murky Victorian London is captured wonderfully. It is clear Mr Richie went to a lot of trouble to get the look and feel right, with some scenes featuring dozens of extras. 

Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law work well together, although it is undoubtedly the former who sticks in the memory for longer. Mark Strong additionally is brilliantly menacing as the villainous cockney Lord Blackwood.

However the film feels too long, subsequently some of the action set pieces (particularly one around the dockyards at the middle-point) lose their intended impact. The film would have certainly benefitted from being cut down a further 20 minutes. Similarly the heroine Rachael McAdams is given relatively little to do onscreen besides look and act glamorous.

By the time the credits roll it looks like another franchise is on the horizon. Will this potential series of films do well with the public? Yes of course it will.

In summary, Sherlock Holmes is an enjoyable if flawed adventure with a shining central performance from Jr. and sufficient support from Law. That alone is enough to keep the audiences entertained.

This decade’s sport: 2005 – 2009

By Harry Chichester

21st December 2009 | 0 comments | 0 votes yet, click here to agree or disagree

In this review of cricket, golf and rugby in the latter half of the decade that is passing through our grasp, England’s Ashes triumph of 2005 rated as probably the most exciting and satisfying collective national event (if you are English!!).  However, for sheer pathos, for sheer poignancy, nothing matched Tom Watson nearly but not quite winning the 2009 Open Championship at the majestic age of 59. Read more »

This decade’s sport: 2000-2004

By Harry Chichester

14th December 2009 | 4 comments | 2 people like this

It is my pleasure to make a small contribution to t5m’s excellent review of the Noughties decade. In this piece I have covered cricket, golf and rugby for the years 2000 to 2004. I will cover the same sports from 2005 to 2009 in a separate article next week. Mostly, I have been serious and straight-laced by reporting the most important events and achievements that happened, but towards the end I have allowed myself to become childish about rugby league and highly partisan about rugby union. It is boring to be neutral about sport, so let me declare unequivocally that Jonny Wilkinson’s drop-goal to win the 2003 Rugby World Cup was the best moment ever, ever, ever! Read more »

This decade’s current affairs: 2000 – 2004

By Matt Fricker

14th December 2009 | 2 comments | 4 people like this

It’s the end of the decade, a time which always lends itself to great periods of retrospection, the noughties found themselves frequented by the themes of fear, terror and paranoia throughout the years. Read more »

Up Review (Long Overdue)

By Stephen Bain

1st December 2009 | 0 comments | 0 votes yet, click here to agree or disagree

After several weeks I was finally given the opportunity to watch Pixar’s ‘Up’ over the weekend. This film has received positive feedback from critics and audiences alike. Did it live up to the hype? You are about to find out.

Arguably Pixar’s best film since Finding Nemo, ‘Up’ is a perfect example of how cinema should be done. The seamless blending of flawless animation and powerful themes of mortality will prove a treat for adults just as much as children. Earlier this year Clint Eastwood appeared as the grumpy old man with a heart in ‘Gran Torino’. Essentially Carl Fredricksen, the old man in Up (voiced by Ed Asner), is not far removed from Clint’s Walt Kowalski. He is isolated, unsatisfied, a recent widower and bitter about the ongoing changes occurring around him, yet we sympathise with him instantly. The excellent opening ten minutes takes us through Carl’s life and shows us the sadness experienced as well as the more joyful moments. Although this sequence may establish a somewhat sombre mood, it is done gently and never ventures into gooey sentimentally.

The story itself centres on Carl, now an old man, setting off in his house, with the assistance of hundreds of helium balloons, to look for adventure. Joining him is an equally keen youngster named Russell (Jordan Nagai), eager to gain his merit badge for ‘helping the elderly’. Once they arrive in South America, the two encounter a large, rare bird and a talking dog. Additionally Carl meets his childhood hero, world-renown explorer Charles Munz (Christopher Plummer). 

The animation in the film is once again nothing short of spectacular. When we see first Carl’s house attached to different coloured balloons floating in the bright blue sky, one would have to have a heart of stone not to be impressed.

The balance of humour, excitement and warmth is virtually flawless. The two side-kicks, a large part of the film’s comic relief, are genuinely hilarious, and the more suspenseful moments work perfectly. More importantly however ‘Up’ enforces a truly timeless message that life is about much more than fulfilling your own, personal desires. Sometimes sacrifices need to be made and, ultimately, it is how you treat your fellow man which is important.

I firmly believe that ‘Up’ will rank alongside the Toy Story films, Finding Nemo and Monsters Inc and become a classic in the years to come. Its stunning visuals along with its surprisingly mature heart may even mean that it could surpass all of the above. In other words it would be a guaranteed Christmas Day television hit, and that is meant in the best possible way.

Roll on the next Pixar adventure Toy Story 3.

FlashForward – Playing Cards with Coyote

By Jamal Guthrie

18th November 2009 | 0 comments | 1 person likes this

Please be aware that this review includes spoilers…

Unfortunately it seems as though we’re in for a, one week on one week off, scenario where for every decent episode, we have to sit back and wade through a poor one. Their are times during the inconsequential jabbering, when I forget that everyone in this programme is mind numbingly stupid. Going back to Gough, the agent who sacrificed himself last week in order to save a woman he may have been destined to kill. A week later she is found and left burdened by a suicide note written by a complete stranger who has left his friends and family in mourning. Stupid. Read more »

2012 Review: Its The End of the Blockbuster (As We Know It!)

By Stephen Bain

16th November 2009 | 7 comments | 1 person likes this

BBC film critic Jonathan Ross described 2012 as ‘insultingly lazy’. Nothing could be more accurate.

This apocalyptic tale is the latest effort from Ronald Emmerich, director of Independence Day, Godzilla and The Day After Tomorrow. As you may expect it is laden with special effects (the budget reportedly being around the $260 million mark). Read more »