Review: Victoria

2016 Laia Costa, Frederick Lau, Franz Rogowski, Burak Yigit

Think back and picture the craziest night out you have ever had, got it? Now times that by 10 and throw in a bank heist...

Spanish cafe worker Victoria (Costa) meets 4 Berliners on a night out and sparks up an unlikely friendship. Things take a sudden twist however when ex convict Boxer (Rogowski) must return a favour for the man who offered him protection in prison. The favour is specified as a 4 person job and with one of the 4 men smashed out of his mind on drugs, Victoria reluctantly takes his place.

The USP of Victoria is that it is filmed entirely in one take, no cut-aways, no clever sweeps to disguise scene changes this is the real deal. This is extremely impressive and to my knowledge has never been done to this extent. The film is 2 hours 18 minutes and doesn't break shot once. This daring style of film making was a risk reward and puts the viewer in the shoes of a silent and invisible character. You feel totally immersed in the world and almost one of the characters. The camera crew were easily the stars of this film and deserve all the praise they have gained.

 You are with the cast from start to finish, the audience travels through night clubs, rides in the backs of cars, inside posh hotels and even through a hail of gunfire. This makes for an unrivalled level of intimacy between audience and the characters as we are with Victoria through every decision and consequence. I truly connected with the people on screen, I cared for Victoria, felt sympathy for Sonne and I truly feared Boxer.

Victoria's pacing is a nail-biting slow burn, we loiter the streets and hangout on rooftops with the cast for at least the first half of the film. Things instantly pick up once the job gets under way, this was relatable in the way that snap decisions can have huge consequences. These decisions may seem insignificant at the time but they make way for larger and more dangerous ones to follow. This constant ramping up of tension and danger made for an exciting but at times harrowing watch. The film constantly made me question what I would do in certain situations and because the audience is essentially along for the ride we see the and feel the impact first hand.

A few people may take issue with the handheld style of film, however for the most part this was handled confidently. The pans were short and snappy without having that nauseating effect like in other productions. Another issue that may put people of is the subtitles, The character of Victoria is Spanish but speaks English throughout the film. The 4 Berliners however sometimes quickly transition from German to a thick accented English. This was sometimes difficult to keep pace with during the action sequences but not enough to break immersion.

By the end of the feature I could of sworn I had partied till 4 am, been in a high speed chase and felt the effects of cocaine all in the space of a couple of hours. I was really there, the film just convinced me and pulled me in from the outset. The bar has been well and truly raised.

The Verdict
Victoria reminds me why I fell in love with cinema, the connection t characters, the range of emotions and to ultimately the feeling of losing myself in another world. This is a daring and bold piece of film making that pushes the boundaries and raises the bar for technical achievement. A true gem and worthy of being called a masterpiece.

5/5

Review: Clinger

2015 Vincent Martella, Jennifer Laporte, Alicia Monet Caldwell

First love can be a real pain in the neck, Robert Klingher knows all too well after a gruesome and accidental decapitation.

Clinger starts off as a very innocent tale of first love set in a high school environment. Fearne is a running track star and chemistry whizz looking to get into college. Her unlikely boyfriend Robert is a real sensitive type who enjoys the simple things like playing guitar and cuddling. All seems well until a horrific accident ends with Robert losing his head. However his love is so strong for Fearne that he vows to never leave her side, even in the afterlife.

Alot of teen comedies rely on the same gags over and over and it can get rather stale. Clinger however used certain character tropes and cliques effectivly, adding horror elements or really clever tweaks just when you thought you knew where a scene was headed. Fearne's Christian best friend Moe was always spouting unintentional sexual innuendos and it never got old. Coach Kingley also had a darkly comedic secret I wont spoil anything here, but lets just say she's had a very interesting past!

All teeny bopper illusions are quickly shattered within the first 15 minutes as the blood starts flowing. This film had some really great gore effects and the ending scene out on the school running track is a treat for any gore hound! The main reason these splatter moments are so effective is down to their timing, Clinger pulls you back in time and time again with it's innocent teen comedy charms only to splash blood an entrails in your face as soon as you get comfortable. I fell for this time and time again but never once complained.

Despite all these good points the film does suffer from some quite serious flaws, pacing being one of them. At just 81 minutes (including credits roll) Clinger is criminally short. It almost felt like a TV movie but with a higher budget. While the laughs and the action built up to a steady finale the film felt like it still ended prematurely. The end was far too abrupt and for a film with horror elements it wrapped itself up a little too cleanly. It would have been nice to see how the characters reacted and went about their lives after the ordeal, are there any more potential murderous ghosts out there too? Sadly we will never know.

The Verdict

Short and far from sweet, Clinger is a great homage to teen comedies with well executed horror elements that come at you hard and fast. Clique breaking characters and nicely incorporated use of practical effects are the real stars of the show. Pacing and a disappointing abrupt end hold Clinger back from being truly great but this is still a thoroughly enjoyable teen horror gem.

3/5

Review: Goosebumps

2015 Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush, Ryan Lee

To some making a Goosebumps film in 2015 may have seemed like a doomed project. With the social media obsessed youth of today we are lead to believe that films based on children's books no longer interest today's children. However I think there is an ace up the sleeve of this film and it comes in the form of nostalgia.

Our story begins in a familiar suburban setting, Zach (Minnette) has just moved to a new neighbourhood and the only interesting thing about the place is his next-door neighbour and her eccentric and overprotective farther, who just happens to be Goosebumps author R.L Stine. After suspecting his neighbour may be in danger, Zach and his new found friend Champ (Lee) sneak into the neighbour's house and discover a library of strangely locked Goosebumps books. These are no ordinary books as once opened they unleashed the horrors within their pages. What later ensues is a Ghostbusters style round up of all the terrifying creations of author R.L Stine.

Soon the unlikely team of 4 is band together and race against time trying to round up the supernatural terrors before the town is overrun. There is a wide variety of classic characters from the novels on display here, some well known and some not so (Aliens with freeze guns!?) The cast is so huge by the you may actually miss some if you aren't paying attention, but honestly this is a good excuse to watch the whole film all over again. The main protagonist is the delightfully devilish Slappy, one of R.L Stine's most infamous horror and also voiced by Jack Black. It was such a joy trying to spot your favourite ghouls and creatures from years ago as Slappy carelessly released them one after another! All my childhood memories (pleasant and scary) came rushing right back.

The small but well rounded cast worked well together and the constant banter between Zach and Mr Stine was thoroughly amusing. The most laughs however came from the cowardly but loveable Champ, he had some real laugh out loud moments and was the main comic relief. There was a slight love sub plot which was handled better than in most teen young adult flicks, this was very subtle and kind of charming if not a a tad predictable. The story ultimately lead to a high school/fun fair show down which while exciting, ended a little too cleanly. It would have been nice to have a few more scares and close calls but it was a satisfying wrap up and fitted the fun feel and innocent theme of the film.

The pacing of Goosebumps was very paint by numbers which could be seen as a negative, this did allow the audience to get a little bit too comfortable as you new there were never going to be too many shocks or surprises.


The Verdict

The thing that truly shone in Goosebumps was it's sheer innocence, there were no 'adult jokes' or mature references, this was adventure and fun in it's purest form. This was a film that cared about it's audience, looked to it's past whilst keeping one foot firmly in the present. Goosebumps is a well crafted, heartfelt and charming nod to a fantastic 90's show and a decade defining author.

4/5

Review: Sicario

2014 Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro 

Emily Blunt plays Kate Mercer, an ambitious FBI agent who is recruited by a secretive task force to aid in the escalating war against drugs at the border area between the U.S. and Mexico. 
It is on this task force she meets the mysterious mercenary known only as Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro) and tries to get gain more intel on him whilst trying to serve her country. 

Right from the outset we are introduced to Kate and forced to walk her shoes as she discovers with the help of her team more than a dozen dead hostages stuffed inside the walls of a mexican drug den. Kate is seen vomiting later outside the den which instantly humanises her and makes you feel closer to her as a character.
This could be said about alot of the characters in Sicario, you felt the sense of trust, mistrust and even danger when they were on screen. A great decision by the director was one to let the audience discover things at the same pace as Kate, there weren't many cut away shots or back story and this made for a gripping watch.

The action in Sicario was a perfect blend of tense and hard hitting. There is a scene early on in the film where Kate and her newly acquired team are escorting a felon through Mexican border traffic and are suddenly caught in a gridlock. With every vehicle around them a potential threat this was a brilliantly crafted scene that saw nail biting tension slowly and painfully give way to violence, easily one of the best action scenes in recent memory.
I loved the stripped back feel to alot of the action sequences, the violence wasn't glorified but rather a means to an end for the characters. The director wanted to show us real situations, with real danger and real consequences. 

I can definitely recommend this film if you like great character driven drama with a slow build and an excellent payoff. This one had me thinking for days after the credits rolled.


The Verdict Sicario was criminally overlooked by audiences when it was released because it wasn't what they were expecting. Many expected a hard hitting action film with multiple explosions, this is a shame because what we have here is a beautifully crafted, tense and very personal character driven crime drama.

4/5

Review: The Revenant

2016, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poulter

January has always proved difficult for any film released but if there was one film that people were convinced would break this cycle, it was The Revenant.

Inspired by true events (apparently?) Leonardo DiCaprio plays an 18th century frontiersman Hugh Glass who is left for dead by his companions after a horrifying bear attack and a unimaginable betrayal at the hand of his confidant John Fitzgerald.

The film opens with a stunning action sequence as Indians attack the frontier base in an attempt to steal their pelts. This scene was masterfully shot and at times looked as if it was done in one take. I don't believe that it was but the camera work and clever editing made it so believable and didn't break immersion for a second. This scene really set the tone for the rest of the film and I instantly wanted more.

The acting is top notch across the board, DiCaprio shines in this film and his portrayal of a grief stricken survivor was as believable as it was heartbreaking. He constantly delivered a deeply unsettling performance and clearly had to endure a lot throughout filming. You felt every punch, scrape and fall as his situation went from bad to worse, an exhausting but thrilling watch! Tom Hardy was a good but slightly monotone villain, his performance came across as erratic and his character could deceive those around but also break out into unspeakable acts of violence and cruelty. The sign of a good villain is when you root for them to get their just desserts at the end, Tom Hardy's acting provoked this feeling very early on in the film. The supporting cast were solid all round with a great performance from Will Poulter, glad to see this young British star getting more roles in major films he is one to watch.

The real stars of The Revenant however were the cameramen, they deserve to be paid just as much as the actors for pulling some of the insane and dangerous shots this film has to offer! So many times I found myself asking 'how did they do that one?' these moments became so frequent I no longer cared and just sat back and revelled in what in what was nothing less than visual poetry.

All the acting and camera tricks aside there are problems with The Revenant, some of them rather obvious. The main problem is with the plot, it has a huge low point in it's middle act and just doesn't seem to progress forward in what seems like minutes on end. The pacing of the first third and final act are fine but it really does stumble as it links these together, at least 30 minutes maybe more could have been cut without losing major plot points. Another thing that may put people of is the inconsistent tone, the film has very artistic shot and mixes in dreamlike sequences as the plot pushes forward. These are very distracting and at times felt totally unnecessary, they didn't match up at all with the violent and gritty ending. The ending is another problem, almost 2 and half hours we build up towards the final battle only for it to be riddled with cliques and a cop out 'make up your own mind' final scene.

The Verdict

The Revenant is a visual and technical triumph and will undoubtedly be talked about for years to come. It has a strong cast and some memorable action sequences. It is held back from greatness however due to it overly long runtime, inconsistent tone/ideas and limp-wristed finale. Is 2016 finally Leo's year? That remains to be seen...

3/5

Cinema Etiquette

The cinema is a wonderful place, for decades it has been a place for people to escape to and enjoy a wealth of different films. Cinemas have changed dramatically since the old days bringing new technology, more snack options and comfier seating with them into the 21st century.
'Newer' and 'more' however do not always ewual better, there has always been an unspoken 'etiquette' when it comes to cinema that has been around as long as the silver screen itself has. I feel that in these modern times that those sacred unwritten laws have been bent and mishapen as time has passed, its time to address the offenders!

Food
I shall hold my hands up and say that when it comes to food I am certainly not completely against it in the cinema environment. Lets examine everyone's favourite buttery (or salted) snack, popcorn!
There is nothing wrong with popcorn in cinemas, it has been a staple of the experience for years and iIdon't want it to ever fade. The problem with this snack though is not the snack itself, rather the way people choose to eat it. We as an audience should choose our chomping moments abit better, maybe stuff handfuls of the sweets stuff into our mouths as Optimus Prime crashes through a building and not when Rachel McAdams is finally going to get her kiss! This eliminates awkward chomping and having to feel the wrath of the dreaded 'shushers' now SHHHHHHH!

There is a more recent snack that should be terminated with extreme prejudice, hot food! How many times have you popped in a DVD at home and though 'gee you know what would go nicely with this? I full blown hot meal'. My local cinema complex is absolutely bursting with different restaurants choices but instead of choosing a nice seated meal before the film starts, individuals decide to gorge themselves on multiple hotdogs before the trailers have even finished. Hot food during the feature is just completely unnecessary. We've all been there, the person in front sits down with some lovely nachos that smell delicious and our tummys rumble, however after 120 minutes of sitting there going stone cold the remainder of this meal begins to fester and makes the whole aisle smell like landfill!

A what about the contraband of cinemas....im talking about sweets and snack brought into the the cinema but not purchased on the premise! THE CHEEK! Personally i feel there is absolutely nothing wrong with this if it is done in moderation. Do the cinema only stock chocolate M&M's but your preference is peanut? Just bring them in! I have dome this countless times and I really don't think after my friends and I have all paid close to £10 a ticket, a 30p bag of sweets is going to make a blind bit of difference.

Mobile Phones
This should be absolutely zero tolerance, there are different levels of being a cinema goer, you might be a die hard fan or just as casual, but at the end of the day it comes down to one thing and that is respect. Would you use a mobile phone during a wedding reception or a funeral of a loved one?
Although it may be be immediately apparent going to the cinema is a social experience, you are experiencing and being engage in a story among friends. This should be a prime opportunity to just switch off from what ever distractions your phone has you gripped by, just switch off for an hour or 2 two. It's a saddening thing to see some major cinemas actually encourage mobile phone use with the addition of phone based quizzes and competitions, shame on them. If it was up to me I would install airport style security at every cinema to check for mobile devices, if found on thier person the offender would be swiftly taken out the back and given a proper seeing to.

Facilities
Any budding cinema goer will tell you that 'pre show urination' is essential, especially now we have 20 minutes of adverts and trailers added onto what could be a 150 minute feature! So therefore facilities should be close to hand and not need orienteering experience to find one. I really don't understand why some cinemas insist on making you trudge the halls of thier massive building once the call of nature strikes. Picture this, you are moments from the big finale of a film but need to answer the call, you sprint out of the screening room, down 2 corridors through reception to the nearest toilet, relief..... This is never the case however because for some reason a cinema that can hold close to a thousand people can only provide 4 urinals and 2 stalls, now im waiting in line and will just have to imagine how how the finale pans out. :(

I hope you enjoyed these witterings about the etiquette of cinema and feel free to share with me some of your best and worst memories from a visit to the silver screen, until next time!

The best and worst of 2015

Its that time of year again, and I cant believe how the time flys! There have been some huge releases in cinema this year and i tried my best to catch as many of them as I could. It was a great year also for horror films and some indie gems. So here are my best and worst of 2015, feel free to share with me your own as I would love to here from you! All the best and happy new year :)

The Best

Cop Car
A fantastic gem of a film that centres around 2 small boys who come across an abandoned cop car and decide to steal it. A tense and nerve racking game of cat and mouse ensues between the boys and the crooked cop who owns the vehicle. The film is beautifully shot and relies on a small cast of talented actors, the best Kevin Bacon performance I feel of his entire career.

We Are Still Here
An extremely well made horror film by one of my favourite directors Ted Geoghegan. The film has a very 80's vibe but still manages to feel current in the way that it is shot. Geoghegan did not disappoint on his 3rd major film and the last 15 minute bloodbath was my horror highlight of the year!

Ex Machina
A thought provoking look at technology, artificial intelligence and the human/machine relationship. Ex Machina is often tense, sometimes dark but always beautifully filmed. Another film with a small but talented cast this is easily one of the best Sci-fi thillers in the last decade.

Mad Max; Fury Road
'OH WHAT A FILM, WHAT A LOVELY FILM'

Dope
The surprise of the year for me, 3 loveable geeks are pulled into a circle of crime when their backpack is accidentally switched with one carrying drugs. Dope is heartfelt, funny and bang up to date. It features a stunning soundtrack and a truly memorable cast, I just 'recommend it enough.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens
A film that is truly worth of all the praise that it has been given. Episode 7 in the saga is just a pure adventure with a fantastic eye for detail. The new characters were instantly likeable and worked well together as well as with older cast members. Kylo Ren was a well written villain and I laughed more through this film than I did through most of this year's comedies!

The Worst

The Visit

To me The Visit was a complete flop, completely devoid of any suspense, scares and humour this was just an empty husk of a film.

Inside Out

Now before you all start sharpening your pitch forks hear me out.....

Inside Out was by no means a a terrible film, however it earns it's spot on my list for being the most disappointing. This was prasied as Pixar's masterpiece but for a film centred around emotions, I just didnt care. I didn't invest myself in the characters, the jokes felt forced and Sadness is possibly the most annoying character I have seen on screen all year.

Maggie

Arnold Schwarzenegger stares across fields for 90 minutes and doesn't blow anything up. Pass. 

Jurassic World

Nothing more than a cash grab! The 4th entry in the series takes everything we loved form the original film (suspense, clever writing, practical effects) and throws then all away. We are now left with a CGI heavy, nonsensical mess draped with product placement. Jurassic World deserves to be extinct.

The Human Centipede 3: Final Sequence

The most attention seeking, shameless piece of waste I have ever had the displeasure of seeing. This film felt like an insult to the genre and it's fans, a sad thing that such a vile film ever made it to our screens.