Category: Review

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Brazil (1985) Review

Ben

Films set in a dystopian future will hold your interest for maybe the first half an hour but will always, eventually, need a decent story or at least a narrative that makes sense, to maintain my focus and attention. Part of the “fun” with a film set in a dark, grim future is the unfolding of the world. What are the “rules” or “laws?” What makes this future scary, stupid or ridiculous? What part does our “hero” play in this dark, new and maybe inevitable world? These intriguing questions will only last for a while before you need your hero to … Continue reading Brazil (1985) Review

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Arthur (2011) Review

Ben

It’s a risky move casting a stand-up comedian in a film role because ultimately, they will play themselves and that only appeals to some of the audience. These decisions are usually made because it’s a great way to cash in on the growing or already huge fan base of a particular comedian and the first few roles are just that comedian being himself in a specific story. Comedians can then become great comedic or even dramatic actors. The first few Eddie Murphy films were just Eddie Murphy being Eddie Murphy but soon he managed to make films that were less reflective … Continue reading Arthur (2011) Review

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Conspiracy Theory (1997) Review

Ben

I get frustrated when it seems all the ingredients are there for a great film but the makers or studio or whoever, seem to take the easy, more common or just wimpy option. This decision can come from a mistrust of the intelligence of the audience, trying to make a film fit in with a certain trend or style that is popular in other films or the worst yet, just adding a tacky, happy ending. The worst culprit of this for me is still I Am Legend. All the way through the film I thought I’d figured out the obvious … Continue reading Conspiracy Theory (1997) Review

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Caddyshack (1980) Review

Ben

Some films have performances from certain actors that are so good, they actually bring the whole quality of the film up around them. This can be so effective that you can almost be “tricked” into thinking a film is good because an actor is so brilliant in it. It works particularly well when the actor who puts in a good performance is actually the centre of the film, the main part. Unfortunately for Caddyshack, the two performances that I am talking about are not central to the movie. Those performances are of course Bill Murray and Chevy Chase. These two actors … Continue reading Caddyshack (1980) Review

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Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004) Review

Ben

Sometimes, making films with your friends makes for great entertainment. When you can see that a cast genuinely really like each other, they have great banter and can spark off each other, especially in scenes that are clearly improvised, the end product is usually a very entertaining film. We’ve seen this a lot recently, particularly with the films produced by Judd Apatow. The same actors end up in each film and the result is usually very entertaining, though not always hilariously funny or a “classic” comedy. Dodgeball fits this description perfectly. The same actors end up playing the same sort … Continue reading Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004) Review

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A Cock and Bull Story (2005) Review

Ben

The fact that this film had a unique style and structure meant that I was always, quite inevitably, going to have an issue with aspects of it. In my opinion, when a film tries something a bit different, it’s either brilliant (like Memento) or it’s actually only ok (like The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.) The positive aspect of a Cock and Bull Story is that I was really interested in half of the film, one aspect of its unique structure but then bored or puzzled by the other half. The film is an adaptation of the book Tristram Shandy but also the “mock-behind the … Continue reading A Cock and Bull Story (2005) Review

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Unknown (2011) Review

Ben

Liam Neeson is a believable, brilliant action hero for one reason above all others; he’s an “everyman.” What I mean by “everyman” for anyone that isn’t familiar with the term, is that he is a hero who could be anyone. He doesn’t have a huge advantage over anyone else or characteristics that make him stand-out from your average man. He hasn’t got a huge build like Arnie and Sly or have specific skills which have made him famous, like the martial arts of Segal or Van Damme. Liam Neeson is an appealing action hero because he could be you! That was part … Continue reading Unknown (2011) Review

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The Foot Fist Way (2006) Review

Ben

If you are going to stretch what is essentially a sketch show character into a film that runs for about an hour and a half, you have to do a good job of fleshing out his story. Sketch show characters usually have one joke that keeps being repeated in different situations. To then try to take that popularity and make it last for over ninety minutes is ambitious and something I’ve only seen work a few times. Sacha Baron Cohen just about makes it work. Borat was brilliant because he took the character but put him in “real life” situations. He just about … Continue reading The Foot Fist Way (2006) Review

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Body of Lies (2008) Review

Ben

You can have two great actors, a fantastic director and a weighty story but still make an average film. Body of Lies is the perfect example of this. The two leads, Leonardo Di Caprio and Russell Crowe, are stars that would attract any number of people to a film on their names alone. Di Caprio is fantastic in The Departed and Inception and Crowe is equally as good in Gladiator or 3.10 to Yuma. With two stars this big attached, you’d expect the film to be of a very high quality. The same with the director. Ridley Scott directs Body of … Continue reading Body of Lies (2008) Review

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Total Recall (1990) Review

Ben

I have one main issue with Arnold Schwarzenegger; I will never look like him! I don’t mean “win the lottery, get plastic surgery and change my face” look like him but I’ll never be the size of Arnie. I’m sure I could manage it eventually if I put the work in, trained for a ridiculous amount of hours everyday, eat the right foods and took the right vitamins/steroids but I’m lazy. I’m a guy who loves to spend hours on end watching films of all different types so the thought of me dedicating my life to becoming the size of Arnie … Continue reading Total Recall (1990) Review