“Everything is Awesome!!! Everything is cool when you’re part of a team!!!”

Hello :-)

I’ve gotten into the habit of taking myself to the cinemas on Valentine’s Day, not for a date or anything, just because it coincides with stuff I want to see. This year, just in time for Valentine’s day and the half term holidays we see the release of ‘The Lego Movie’ which I went to see on 14th :-)

We begin in Bricksburg. Our hero, construction worker Emmet Brickowski (Chris Pratt) happily goes about his little yellow life doing the same thing day in, day out. One day, on a building site, Emmet comes across Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks) and falls into her quest to discover ‘The Special’, find ‘The Piece of Resistance’ and put a stop to the evil Lord Business’s (Will Ferrell) plan to control his subjects.

I’m really annoyed.

‘The Lego Movie’ is so so so good that I feel as if everything that follows in 2014 is going to be slightly anticlimactic. If there’s anything as bright, clever, warm, inventive and as god damn funny as ‘The Lego Movie’ between now and the end of December it’ll have been a bloody brilliant year.

Phil Lord and Chris Miller have both directed and written the screenplay for ‘The Lego Movie’ so I’m heaping praise on them both… actually… I have a metaphorical dumper truck full of praise and I’m backing it up to tip it’s contents over their heads. The script is an absolute gem. It’s clever and does the same thing as Lord and Miller’s ‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs’ films by being both adult and child friendly. When you strip it down, the reason ‘The Lego Movie’ is so good is because it’s jam packed with gags and that hit the mark over and over again. We say that and it sounds so simple but as we’ve seen countless times in the past, consistently funny jokes aren’t an easy thing to get right.

The warmth of the film comes from the plethora of totally lovable characters.

There’s smorgasboard of supporting talent from Alison Brie as the diabetes-inducingly-sweet Unikitty, Channing Tatum as Superman, Jonah Hill as the Supes-Fanboying Green Lantern, Cobie Smulders as Wonder Woman and Morgan Freeman as the hilarious Obi Wan-esque mentor Vitruvius.

Having Liam Neeson as Bad Cop/Good Cop, a police officer with a split personality is a stroke of genius. Sending up Neeson’s recent spate of tough guy roles, Bad Cop/Good Cop is a bit like an infinitely nicer Gollum. I particularly like where Bad Cop goes to smash up a chair but because it’s made of a moulded piece of plastic, it just bounces around the room.

Threatening to steal the movie in every scene in which he appears is Will Arnett’s Batman. Lord and Miller have made him completely oblivious to how he appears to the outside word and it’s brilliantly funny. Also Batman’s foray into emo song writing had me in stitches.
The glue that binds this whole thing together is Emmet. Chris Pratt’s character is adorable. A sweet everyman who is thrust into the midst of an extraordinary situation.

The animation is CGI but done in such a way as to make it look like stop motion which endeared it to me immediately. It’s a visual mardi gras; the colours have all been turned up to 11 and there’s so much to look at you’re constantly spotting things that make you smile. For me, it’s the attention to detail that makes it so wonderful. Everything is Lego. When there’s an explosion the smoke cloud is Lego, when something is on fire the flames are Lego, when someone turns on the shower the water droplets and soap bubbles are Lego.
There is such affection for the Lego product here, which goes some of the way to explaining why ‘The Lego Movie’ never feels corporate. There is an element of advertising, this is a film based on a child’s toy after all, but it never feels like you’re being sold stuff. You forget all of that until you emerge from the cinema, check when Toys R Us closes and hot foot it over there to do a late-night trolley dash down the Lego aisle.

Tonally it really reminded me of Aardman’s ‘The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists’ which is a lofty, but totally deserved, comparison. In the same way that ‘The Pirates!...’ is a joyous sensory assault ‘the Lego Movie’ feels like someone’s dropped a Berocca in a can of Redbull and made you neck the lot. That a film can capture a sense of chaotic fun whilst maintaining a simple, strong narrative and delivering a surprising third act emotional punch is somewhat remarkable.

When I say I laughed from start to finish I’m not exaggerating. I was hand flapping, doubled over in my seat laughing. For me ‘The Lego Movie’ is instant top 10 favourite film territory. Hysterically funny and unexpectedly moving ‘The Lego Movie’ is one to be enjoyed again and again.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a Lego Hogwarts to build.

Oh... and it has an epic blooper reel :-)

Now let’s have some

Reasons to be Cheerful :-)

1. MASSIVE ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Trailer drop! So on Tuesday morning we had a 19 second teaser trailer and a few photos and then later on the same day we had the super shiny sexy trailer, a pretty foxy poster and some nice character introduction videos. I love love LOVE how this looks :-) Bright, shiny and a level of bonkers befitting of a film where a talking Racoon is a central character. Can’t wait for August!!!

2. Tom Hardy has joined Cillian Murphy and the rather wonderful cast of ‘Peaky Blinders’. I am so very excited about the prospect of these two working together again. I loved the first series and now the wonderful Mr Hardy is on board series 2 looks to be just as good… if not better!

That’s all of it!

Goodbye till next time :-)

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"Your story is amazing, and in no good way"

Hello Everyone :-)

I’ve spoken before about how much I like Steve McQueen but just to clarify, I love his films. Never one to shy away from hard subject matter the Artist-turned-Director is tackling the subject of slavery in his latest offering ’12 Years a Slave’.

This story has been adapted from a firsthand account of the same name, written by Solomon Northup. In 1841, Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is a free black man working as a carpenter and fiddle player, and living with his wife and two children in Saratoga Springs, New York. Two travelling Circus performers (Scoot McNairy and Taran Killam) offer him a two-week job as a musician, but they drug Northup and he wakes up in chains before being sold into slavery.

The film follows Solomon as he is passed from the slave trader Theophilus Freeman (Paul Giamatti) to plantation owner William Ford (Benedict Cumberbatch) and finally the Cotton Plantation owner Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender).

It is a horrific truth that up till a point in our history the western world thought it was acceptable for people to own other human beings. Every nation balks at the idea of holding a mirror up to themselves and facing their less than spotless past; the British never reflect on the horrors they inflicted in the name of the Commonwealth and the same can be said for the US and the Slave Trade. As misguided as Quentin Tarantino may have been when he claimed he wanted ‘Django Unchained’ to "start a conversation” about slavery I can see where he was coming from. It isn’t something that gets realistically shown on screen and it should be. This is where ’12 Years a Slave’ is so good; it works dramatically and historically.

Steve McQueen has produced another film that looks fantastic. It may not be for everyone but I find his signature visual style utterly captivating. Unflinching, sustained shots of acts of unimaginable brutality taking place amongst the day-to-day working of a plantation are excruciating but McQueen doesn't look away however much we want him to. His continual use of close up shots of his actors’ faces demonstrates the trust he has in his cast, letting their performances tell the story and tell it they do.

The cast is, without exception, brilliant. McQueen, yet again, brings a career best performance out of Michael Fassbender. In the hands of lesser talent Epps would have been a two dimensional villain but McQueen’s storytelling and Fassbender’s talent makes him a many-layered sadistic bastard. His scenes with Mary Epps (Sarah Paulson being brilliantly vindictive) are so tense you will be wincing in your seat.

Lupita Nyong'o is the film’s breakout star as the downtrodden object of her Master’s desire. I can’t praise her enough other than to say Patsey will break your heart.

The linchpin in this is the ever-wonderful Chiwetel Ejiofor. A fantastically versatile actor who's Northup is full of quiet dignity with a strength of character that leaves you speechless. Ejiofor doesn't have a massive amount of dialogue, instead conveying so much by using just his stance, his eyes, his gait; it is a truly stunning performance. 

You could (if you really wanted to) criticise the film for its portrayal of Solomon’s life pre-kidnap. Historically, even in the North, free black men and women would have had to deal with everyday racism. Northup said in the source material that he had to deal with the “obstacle of colour, and the consciousness of my lowly state” so it’s unlikely he’d have been as well regarded as the film depicts. I cannot, however, stress to you how much of a minor point this is.

It’s also been said that the film has been designed purely to “engender white guilt” which I think is completely ridiculous and an insult to what is an exceptional piece of work.

People go to the movies for all kinds of reasons but I feel that anyone with an interest in cinema, politics, drama, literature or history should see ’12 Years a Slave’. The subject matter is such that this could never be described as an enjoyable experience but this isn’t a case of wanting; this is a case of needing. This story needs to be seen. You couldn’t (and shouldn’t) watch things like this all the time, you’d be crushed by the weight of it all, but every now and again we need to.

McQueen has added to his already impressive body of work with the harrowing, all-consuming, utterly devastating ’12 Years a Slave’; dramatically, historically, politically and emotionally, this film is brilliant in so many ways. Whether or not it will pick up any of the Oscars for which it has been nominated remains to be seen, but to me it’s already a winner. If there is a better film than this released in 2014 I will be very surprised. See it now.

Right, it's time for...

Reasons to be Cheerful :-)

1. The ever-wonderful Paul Bettany has been signed up to 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' as something other than J.A.R.V.I.S. Bettany looks set to play 'The Vision' an android created by the titular Ultron. With Ultron being played by James Spader, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olson and now Paul Bettany being added to the expanding Marvel movie  roster, it looks like it's going to be a good one :-)

2. Ben Wheatley news! So not only is the excellent Mr Wheatley directing two episodes of the new, Capaldi lead 'Doctor Who' but he's also confirmed the amazing Tom Hiddleston for his next film 'High Rise'! Ben Wheatley is one of my favourite British Directors working today, his 'Who' episodes will definitely be different but I'm so looking forward to it. Also, Wheatley and Hiddleston? Hell YES!

3. Trailer Time! This won't be for everyone but I think it looks fantastic. From the mind of Terry Gilliam 'The Zero Theorem' is about  a reclusive computer genius working on a formula to determine whether life holds meaning. Needless to say, as part of a thematic trilogy with 'Brazil' and '12 Monkeys' 'The Zero Theorem' looks like it's going to be crackers but I'm a fan of envelope pushing sci-fi, especially when it's starring Christoph Waltz, Ben Whishaw, Mélanie Thierry (brilliant in 'The Princess of Montpensier), David Thewlis, Tilda Swinton and Matt Damon.

4. And finally the most awesome bit of news I've heard in forever, 'Back to the Future' is being turned into a musical.

That's all for today!

Goodbye till next time :-)

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"She was the Picasso of passive-aggressive karate."

Hello Everyone :-)

‘American Hustle’ by David O’Russell. Rhyming Film Titles and Directors is just funny, I don’t care what anyone else says.

I found myself in the rare situation of having heard almost nothing about ‘American Hustle’ before I went to see it the other weekend. The only thing I knew was it’s the same guy that did ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ and has a super impressive cast list. Here’s how I got on with it.

Set in 1978 ‘American Hustle’ follows Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) and Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) who begin an affair and make a living by scamming people into applying for fake loans. When they’re caught the pair are made to work with FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) or face going to Prison.

A scheme is devised involving a fake Arab Sheikh looking for potential investments in America in order to entrap Mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner) who is campaigning to revitalize the gambling industry in Atlantic City. The trio go ahead with the plan but will Richie's over-eagerness to catch Carmine or Irving’s Pyromaniac Wife Rosalyn (the ever-wonderful Jennifer Lawrence) derail their operation?

‘American Hustle’ is a strange beast. To invert a common adage, it is less than the sum of it’s parts.

The performances are definitely the best part of ‘American Hustle’. As the ever lovely Mad Prophet Mark has said ‘American Hustle’ is a case of “Five-star performances, three-star film”.

Christian Bale puts in the kind of committed performance we’ve now come to expect from him and is excellent as Irving. Amy Adams successfully makes a character that could so easily have been deeply dislikeable very sympathetic. Jeremy Renner plays it well; his relationship with Irving is one of my favourite things in the movie. Bradley Cooper is fantastically batshit and his conversations with his long suffering Boss Stoddard Thorsen (a browbeaten Louis CK) are excellent.

The film is never more alive than when Jennifer Lawrence is on screen. She gets the smallest amount of screen time out of the main players and I found myself trying to will her onto the screen in places where the story was dragging.

One thing this film isn’t lacking is design. The period sets and costumes are spot on. From Bradley Cooper’s hilarious perm, Jeremy Renner’s massive collared suits to Amy Adam’s seemingly endless wardrobe of cleavage flaunting dresses it looked great. Also the soundtrack was fantastic. Never were the two elements better matched than when Sydney and Richie go to a disco and dance to Donna Summer’s seminal classic ‘I Feel Love’. Someone has taken a lot of time and care in getting ‘American Hustle’ to look and sound just so and they have done a fantastic job.

With all this fab styling and brilliant performances it’s all the more of a shame then when the plot doesn’t deliver. I couldn’t for the life of me tell you why David O’Russell has made the decisions he has. The story is based on the Abscam operations of the late 70’s early 80’s and when you read about the actual investigation it’s far more interesting than the story with which we are presented.

In the real events Mayor Angelo Errichetti (on whom Jeremy Renner’s character is based) had a reputation for committing crimes and during the Abscam operation offered to get the fake sheikh into illegal businesses such as money counterfeiting and drug smuggling. O’Russell, however, has made Carmine far more of an innocent who is doing all this for the good of the people. This makes the denouement all the more frustrating because Carmine doesn’t deserve what’s coming to him. What is this supposed to achieve? Is it trying to make us sympathise with the plight of politicians? If it is I wouldn’t be the first to say you’re fighting a losing battle. Is it trying to make us dislike Irving for ratting on his mate who gifted him a “Science Oven”? If it’s the latter why the hell have you spent all that time (and, even though it’s 40 minutes shorter than ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’, it feels excruciatingly long) trying to make us like him and rehabilitate him after he cheats on his Wife?

Also Sydney, O’Russell pushes that character to the very edge of tolerable. We already don’t like her because she’s wrecked the home of Rosalyn (easily the most likable person in the film) but then she does this weird thing pretending she has an English accent and trying to win Richie over apparently for the hell of it, in the hands of a less capable actress that character would’ve been a complete car crash. You’re sat there trying to fathom all this out and then the simple truth dawns on you; none of it makes any sense.

For all it’s impressive costumes and awesome cast ‘American Hustle’ left me cold. It's uneven and it isn't up there with 'The Fighter' or 'Silver Linings Playbook' but it is worth seeing for Jennifer Lawrence alone. Funny in places, boring in others 'American Hustle' is entertaining... but only just.

Now I think I fancy some...

Reasons to be Cheerful :-)

1. So the 'Muppets: Most Wanted' Super Bowl slot was pretty awesome :-) The film is out on 21st March 43 days to go!

2. In part 1 of a bit of a Shailene Woodley news round up here's the trailer for 'Divergent'. I think this looks cracking :-) Drum banging feminist that I am I LOVE that this is another female lead action thriller. MORE OF THIS PLEASE!

3. Finally for today, tissues at the ready because the trailer for 'The Fault in Our Stars' has landed! I am a huge fan of this book, to me it is practically perfect in every way. I know that sound like I'm setting it up for a fail but I think the trailer looks fantastic. I bawled my eyes out so god knows what I'm going to be like come June. If you haven't already, read the book, it's wonderful.

That's all for today!

Goodbye till next time :-)

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“I am NOT gonna die sober!”

Hello Everyone :-)

I adore Martin Scorsese. He’s a fan of Powell and Pressburger (creators of my favourite ever film ‘A Matter of Life and Death’), is wonderful in interviews and looks like he could be the best Granddad ever. He also makes fantastic films that come in all shapes and sizes. The most recent offering from this septuagenarian is ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’. 

Jordan Belfort is the titular Wolf; at the beginning of his tale it’s 1987 and he’s a 20-something fresh faced upstart looking to make a name for himself in the stock market. After the financially disastrous Black Friday Jordan loses his high flying job and he ends up working as a penny stocks broker making a mint flogging crap shares. Jordan

goes from strength to strength, enlisting the help of Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill) to set up his own firm, Stratton Oakmont. The firm makes an obscene amount of money through some less than legal deals and begins to build a reputation for their bachalian parties and huge displays of wanton greed. As Belfort’s empire of excess begins to spiral out of control the FBI start an investigation that could bring about the destruction of all Jordan has built.

‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ is like watching someone walk on a high wire for three hours, one wrong move and it could all come plummeting down but Scorsese absolutely nails it. In a way that is no less than masterful he manages to make Belfort

’s lifestyle look extravagant and wild but in such a way that we never want it for ourselves. He has more money than us, he has a beautiful wife, a massive house, dozens of flash cars; yet the characters are portrayed as vile ingrates that we want absolutely nothing to do with. However, what we do want to do is laugh at them and we do… a lot.

Admittedly, 3 hours long is too long and we could have probably lost one of the many scenes of explicit sex and drug taking. That said that film travels at such a speed that those three hours zip by and before you know it you’re wandering out of the cinema wondering how the hell it’s 11 o’clock.

This film is a bit of a vehicle for Scorsese’s darling Leonardo DiCaprio but there are some excellent supporting turns. Cristin Milioti as Jordan’s first wife Teresa and Margot Robbie as Naomi, Belfort’s second wife pretty much make up half of the female contingent of this movie and they both do a great job. The most notable of the supporting cast is Jonah Hill who is wonderful. Continuing his streak of ‘Best Supporting Actor’ roles, he is one of the funniest things in a very funny film.

In a role that, frankly, could not be done by anyone else, Leonardo DiCaprio is outstanding. He is such a charismatic actor that he makes the despicable, depraved Belfort utterly engaging. In a weird way it reminded me of Frédéric Bourdin in the fantastic documentary ‘The Imposter’. You don’t like him as such, but you can’t take your eyes off him. He also is the owner of the best piece of physical comedy I have seen in YEARS when it comes to the country club scene.

This isn’t a good vs evil story with villains and heroes, this isn’t a greek tragedy where the protagonist starts high is brought low by the turn of events; this is an altogether more realistic look at what happens when big shots get caught doing wrong. This is the ultimate sticking point in the movie and how you feel about it may well hinge on how you feel about the story’s resolution. I had a great time with ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ but after I’d seen it I felt like I needed a course of antibiotics to purge it from my system.

Now I fancy some…

Reasons to be Cheerful :-)

1. So the big news in the world of Superhero movies is that the ever-wonderful Jesse Eisenberg has been cast as Lex Luthor in the ‘Batman vs Superman movie. This is exciting for a number of reasons,
A. Jesse Eisenberg’s continued employment is an excellent thing.

B. It’ll be very interesting to see how this younger Luthor interacts with the more mature Superman.

C. It’ll be even more interesting to see if he interacts with Batfleck and if so how.

I’m a massive fan of Eisenberg and I’m completely reassured that he can deliver an excellent Luthor.

2. And for the best news I’ve heard all day, Disney is hinting at a ‘Frozen’ sequel (I’m without a laptop at the minute so I haven’t posted my Frozen blog yet… needless to say I LOVED it). Also for any ‘Frozen’ Fans Odeon are showing special ‘Sing-a-long-a-Frozen’ screenings this weekend. I may well be in attendance :-)

That’s all for today!

Goodbye till next time :-)

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