The Departed

Cat Vs Rat

Director: Martin Scorsese
Release Date: 2006
Rating: 18
Running Time: 
Genre: Crime/ Gangster/ Thriller
Actors: Leonardo Dicaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Martin Sheen, Mark Whallberg

'Go ahead and shoot a cop Einstein, see what happens'.

After eleven years, Martin Scorsese returns to the gangster genre of cinema, set in the modern day to mark his third collaboration with  Leonardo Dicaprio  after 'The Aviator' (2004) and 'Gangs of New York' (2002). Combined with suspense, action and a tremendous ensemble cast, 'The Departed' is Scorsese's finest film since his final collaboration with Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci in 1995 with 'Casino' and of course the legendary 'Goodfellas' five years before that.

Thrown undercover to try and infiltrate and Irish gang, stated cop Billy (Dicaprio) must earn the trust of big time mobster and psychotic Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson) whilst at the same time trying to uncover Franks gang's intentions and locate the mole in the police force. Both sides race to find the other's rat creating a tense and incredible film.

For me, this was Dicaprio's finest role in one of Scorsese's films, and arguably one of the best of his career. After working with some top dog directors such as Danny Boyle, James Cameron, Stephen Speilberg and most recently Quentin Tarantino, there must be something about Scorsese in particular that keeps on drawing DiCaprio back. In particular with 'The Departed' I think it can be said that Scorsese managed to lay out such a deep and twisting storyline there are many aspects of this film to appreciate. Furthermore who could turn down a role starring alongside the great Jack Nicholson who once again is able to play the villain the audiences love to hate. Straight away we see Nicholson strut onto the screen at the start to The Rolling Stones' 'Gimmie Shelter', a song Scorsese uses in many of his gangster films which just oozes coolness. And then there's the fast paced cat and mouse chase between Matt Damon and Leonardo Dicaprio, that for a long time, is hard to see who is who. Mark Whallberg plays the funny-no bullshit sidekick of Martin Sheen that gives the film that touch of comedy during such a tough plot line. The film also features roles from stars Alec Baldwin and Ray Winston to make up a truly awe inspiring cast, but I suppose who could turn down the opportunity to be in a Scorsese film.

However, it think it can be argued that quite a few people feel slightly turned away from 'The Departed' given how it is in fact a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film 'Infernal Affairs'. Yet nevertheless, I find this film very hard to fault and would strongly urge audiences to check it out. The acting, the stars, the thrilling and tense narrative, it's hard to say what's not to like about this film. Another first class winner from the legendary Martin Scorsese once again.

9/10

The Wave

If You Were Asked To Do Something, Would You Do It?




Director: Dennis Gansel

Release Date: 2008

Rating: 15

Running Time: 107 mins

Genre: Drama/Thriller

Actors: Jurgen Voler,Frederick Lau, Max Reimelt

I think it's fair to say that when it comes to German cinema, I can hold my hands up and say I am not all that familiar with it all that well. Although I must add that from the few films I've seen I have learnt a lot about German culture, values and history and I must say that it goes very under the radar in British culture, which in a sense is actually stopping us from realising just how interesting and enjoyable it can actually be. Furthermore I must add that this doesn't just apply to German cinema, but world cinema in general. I find that most people prefer the American and British Hollywood Blockbusters, which are not bad by any means, but after a while, foreign cinema offers and alternative, fresh approach to film viewing.

I found Wolfgang Becker's 'Goodbye Lenin!' (2003) to be highly educational and fascinating as it helps portray the events of the 90's after the fall of the Berlin Wall and impact it had on East Germany. Furthermore I also found it be a film packed with a gripping story line with compelling scenes of romance, comedy and family values that are similar to that of British society. So naturally when it came to watching 'The Wave', or 'Die Welle' as it is referred to in German, I tried to be as open minded as possible about the German language and the overall storyline, which I must say, as predicted, was highly sophisticated and intriguing.

The film allows the audience to see the Westernised Germany in the modern day, and take a look at the guilt that many Germans still bare after the effect that Nazism and WWII had on everyone. It was also able to capture the ignorance of some people when it came to the topic of fascism, and indeed beg the question of whether in a democratic society, could people be transformed once again into following a dictatorship similar to that of Nazi party whereby uniform and fascist organisation was followed.

Set in only one week, one German secondary school teacher, Rainer Wenger, decides to show his students what it would be like to be living in a dictatorship where uniformity is followed and obeyed. What starts out as a harmless experiment, it's easy to see how fascism is still not only possible but with the right encouragement and instruction, still very possible. 'The Wave' is a very political and incredibly controversial film when it comes discussing the political aspects of German history as it is still most likely a bit too close to home for some people, even in other countries. But nevertheless I think this is one of the key reasons why this film works so well and can be well credited, we are made to consider what's still possible and how easily with the right words we can change just like that. I suppose in many aspects 'The Wave' can be closely linked to William Goulding's 'Lord of the Flies' through the way it captures the slow break down of humanity and shows us the darker side that everyone possess and in that sense it's a very powerful concept.

Despite it all being in German, I found the acting to be superbly done and very believable, which is especially good given that most of the cast were still only teenagers when the film was made. For me it was a completely unknown cast, but I must say that Jurgen Vogel, despite never seeing him before, gave an enjoyable and interesting performance as the likeable yet controversial Rainer Wenger. A role that had me both shocked and inspired at.

I think 'The Wave' is certainly a film that audiences should check out, as it is highly enjoyable. Yet however it must be added that it is not the easiest of films to watch, it's message and the morals that it carry's will sit with you long after it's finished due to it's immense impact. The film will make you see that even though it's set in Germany, these issues can be possible pretty much anywhere and could therefore be indicating as well that we are all capable of doing things under certain leaders, and should we always listen to and do what we are told? Perhaps not the happiest of films but powerfully fascinating all the same.

6/10

The 40 Year Old Virgin

Hilarious, Outrageous and Straight Up Cringeworthy

Director: Judd Apatow

Release Date: 2005

Rating: 15

Running Time: 126 mins

Genre: Comedy

Starring: Steve Carell, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd

'Yeah well virgin isn't a dirty word but you know what is a dirty word, asshole, and that's what you guys are!'

In the film that started the 'From the guys that brought you' series and let onto 'Suberbad' and 'Knocked Up' we see Judd Apatow team up once again with Steve Carell, Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen after 'Anchorman' a year previously, to create one of the funniest American comedies of the decade. I think this film get's heavily overlooked and may people therefore are unaware of just how funny and romantic the film actually is.

When uptight electronics store salesman Andy confesses in a drunken poker game that he is 40 years old and still a virgin his friends vow to help him get back out there and find love by teaching him how to live, what it is to be a man and naturally, how to get laid. I'm sure even if people haven't seen the film there are one or two scenes people will be very familiar with such as when Andy is made by his friends to try and become more 'sexy', and by doing so is taken to get his chest waxed. This scene is so typically American in terms of how the camera will leave nothing to the imagination and make sure the audience is a grossed out as they can be.

In 'The 40 Year Old Virgin', we pretty much see the characters playing themselves but in a way that's so fantastically funny. For me, this film would not be the same without Jane Lynch's dry yet likeable role of Paula, the owner of the electronics store, she's so wonderfully funny and stern you can't not love her for it. Basically every character in the electronic store will make you laugh in at least one part of the film and I would actually hold my hands up and say that if they made a sequel to this film, I would go and see it, purely just to see more of the characters together again. I'd especially want to see Romany Malco, who plays Jay return, as since this film, he hasn't starred in any Apatow comedies, which given his performance in 'The 40 Year Old Virgin' is a great shame as he's one of the best things about it.

This film is definitely not one to watch as a family, due to it's highly crude and altogether cringey moments, but nevertheless if you have never seen it, I think it's certainly one to watch if you're in the mood for a laugh. What's so good about these American comedies is you can watch it again and again and still find it funny given that there are so many little touches audiences will miss the first time and pick up on in the second to make it all the more entertaining.

A true comedy masterpiece that will never seize to get old.

8/10

Seven Psychopaths

Stranger Than Fiction

Director: Martin McDonagh

Release Date: 2012

Rating: 15

Running Time: 110 mins

Genre: Comedy/Crime/Thriller

Actors: Collin Farrall, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, Woody Harrelson

'You don't just give back a kidnapped dog, it defeats the entire purpose of the kidnapping.'

Martin McDonaghs collaborates with Colin Farrall once again after his highly successful British 'indie' comedy 'In Bruges'. Despite being set in America this film focuses massively on the dark comedy that British audience's love to see in what can only be described as a work of genius in British cinema.

When Marty (Colin Farrell) is having trouble finding inspiration for his new Screenplay 'Seven Psychopaths' his friend Billy (Sam Rockwell) helps him try and find some inspiration and consequently the two of them end up getting caught up in a sticky situation with some real life psychopaths. With wit and fast pace action throughout, 'Seven Psychopaths' offers an indie approach to film narrative finding a balance between violence and pacifism as well as reality and imagination forming a weird yet wonderful story of friendship and romance...tied in with a ton of violence and swearing from seven pretty intriguing, humourous and deranged psychopaths. 

Colin Farrall and Sam Rockwell in this film are just hysterically brilliant and to make it even better they threw Christopher Walken and Woody Harrelson into the film as well to form one of the best ensemble casts in years. All four actors bring something slightly different to the film but they all compliment each other so well. In particular one scene taking place somewhere in the desert on a camping trip we see Farrell, Rockwell and Walken try and brainstorm the screenplay for 'seven psychopaths' which is just highly enjoyable to watch, you can't not love and appreciate Rockwell's enthusiasm, Farrall's dry outlook and Walkens sheers presence in the scene, great work lads.

It's good to view 'Seven Psychopaths' with an open mind and go in as blind as you can as I can guarantee it will not be what you were expecting but it might even be a tiny bit better. It's very rare I watch a film and then straight away want to put it right back to the beginning and re-watch it straight away but there was so much that drew me into this one. The comedy, the action, the settings, the use of there being a story within a story, it made for a truly memorable and enjoyable film definitely worth checking out. You may even shed a tear in parts, as despite all the comedy, 'seven psychopaths' does hold a couple of moving moments to make it a very well rounded film.

8/10

The Family

A Family Film About The Mob

Director: Luc Besson

Release Date: 2013

Rating: 15

Running Time: 111 mins

Genre: Comedy / Gangster / Action

Actors: Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Tommy Lee Jones

'Al Capone always said, asking a man politely holding a gun is always better than just asking a man politely.'

Robert De Niro returns once again to our screens in this fresh and  modernized gangster movie with a twist, produced by the ever incredible Martin Scorsese. Though 'The Family' was not directed by Marty, the films got his trademarks all over them. From the Mafia culture, violence, way of settling 'business' and love for pasta, to the characters sitting down to watch a screening of the 90's gangster classic 'Goodfellas' directed by Scorsese, the films wrapped up and riddled with 'Scorsese stamps' that can be smelt from a mile away.

Thrown into the witness protection programme after things back home in Brooklyn go horribly wrong, Giovanni Manzoni and his family are sent into hiding in a quiet little rustic village in Normandy, France where nothing could ever possibly go wrong, enter the Manzoni family. With tongue and cheek violence throughout, the film combines aspects of the Italian-American gangster lifestyle and very dark comedy to form this very interesting and altogether entertaining film.

The acting in this film cannot really go uncredited as it's fantastic start to finish from all the cast. De Niro's performance doesn't need any defending as he is able to, as usual, deliver a knock-out performance as yet again another gangster we can't help but want to love. It has to be said it's nice for people of my generation to have a chance seeing De Niro on the big screen in a gangster movie after such a long time, cheers Bobby, you never fail to disappoint. One particularly brilliant scene that stands out is between Robert De Niro and FBI Agent Tommy Lee Jones and despite not being that long, it felt similar to 'Heat' with Robert De Niro and Al Paccino when they came face to face. It does have to be noted that despite playing a gangster, De Niro was playing a father as well, which at his age of seventy, he wasn't actually that bad and pulled off a believable role of being in the midst of fathering two teenagers.

It's got to be said as well the Michelle Pfeiffer pulled off a very believable Mafia wife and she managed to get involved in her share of violence and adopt the gangster way of life. The children in the film were also great to watch, the daughter, played by Dianne Agron took on a role ten years younger than her actual age of twenty-seven  but nevertheless gave a believable performance as part of this overly violent family, she's come along way from her character in Glee. Despite not really seeing the son in anything else I reckon John D'Leo has got a lot of potential as he too was unfaultable in the film, playing a character much more mature and capable than we first see at the start.

I found the film could've perhaps been better if it was able to maybe answer a few more questions at the end rather than resolve it in the way that was chosen. In typical Scorsese fashion, the film probably could've gone on for a bit longer and used that time to give a bit more of an explanation as the climax and ending did feel slightly rushed. What's more it would've been good to see more of a father/son relationship like there was a mother/daughter relationship, after all the film is called 'The Family'. But none the less, it is altogether a very enjoyable film and is one that is able to invite a bigger variety of audience into the gangster genre of film. I hope this isn't De Niro and Scorsese's last collaborations I know the two of them still have much more to give.

6/10

Keith Lemon: The Film

Funny For All The Wrong Reasons

Director: Paul Angunawela
Release Date: 2012
Rating: 18
Running Time: 85 mins
Genre: Comdey
Actors: Leigh Francis, Verne Troyer and others

Crass, stupid, boring.

I don't recall laughing or even being remotely entertained during this film, I even got up on several occasions to get food just to get away from it. It felt like they were trying too hard to make the film funny and they tried to include too many celebrity juice regulars and other cameos from 'Bo Selecta' characters. The film needed to focus more on the narrative, which to be honest didn't really have one of any kind.

Kelly Brooks performance was average at best and I would even go so far as to say that I actually preferred her role in Piranha 3D which is saying a lot, at least there was some kind of story line and it was slightly entertaining. It felt like most of the actors in this were all trying too hard and giving into the crude humor that wasn't necersary as most of them can be funny without resorting to toilet humour all the time.

The jokes were childish which is stupid because no person who will actually find it funny is old enough to even watch it and to be honest it's all just a bit lame. Leigh Francis should stick to what he's best at, hosting 'Celebrity Juice' as the humor and comedy in that is ten times better than any part of this mediocre catastrophe.

1/10

Gravity

Over hyped or Complete Genius?



Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Release Date: 2013
Rating: 12
Running Time: 91 mins
Genre: Sci-fi/Drama
Actors: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris

'Don't Let Go'

Sandra Bullock gives the performance of her career in this tense and wonderfully original sci-fi drama. When disaster hits a group of astronauts in orbit around the earth, Dr Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and Lt. Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) completely cut off from everything, must rely on each other to survive and get back home. The film will really play with your emotions and grab you in such a deep way. It's very easy for 'Gravity' to pull you into the action.

The incredible direction and editing in this film is truly captivating, with interesting camera techniques and angles used throughout. The camera places you in orbit with the astronauts and follows Dr. Ryan Scott on her incredible and devastating adventure in space and she desperately battles to get home. George Clooney gives a fantastic supporting role in this film finding the perfect balance of humour and compassion in what could also possibly be his best role to date also. Yup, these two actors have come along way from 'Miss Congeniality' and 'Oceans Twelve', two fairly entertaining films, but ones that place 'Gravity' on a whole other level. Ed Harris also returns after 'Apollo 13' to once again play the role of 'Huston' on the earth down bellow, and despite not actually seeing the actor, he still gives a very good performance none the less.

The CGI and special effects in 'Gravity' are, dare I say it, out of this world and are truly mesmerizing. They are able to show space on a whole new level but with a film to other films such as '2001: A Space Odyssey' and 'Apollo 13', with a tribute or two to other sci-fi's such as Alien. It's that there was a lot of work that went into perfecting the technology in this film given that it took 4 years to invent and launch onto our screens and the film on the whole is so reliant on it. The Effects tied in with the editing and direction will probably make you feel slightly dizzy and maybe a bit motion sick, which doesn't help with it being in 3D, but it is filmed so cleverly it's easy to look past all this and the 3D makes it feel so much more real and exciting.

It's safe to say that 'Gravity' will be able to show audiences the beauty, the silence, the danger, the hardship and the incredible journey that people go on when experiencing space, as well as maybe putting a few people off going to visit the moon any time soon. Despite all this, I must say I did find the narrative begin to drag half way through and you do begin to wonder where the film is actually going to end up as it's so unpredictable, but it is safe to say that it is a visual masterpiece and one of the best and most original films to come out of Hollywood in along time. Some people will of course view it as another Sci-fi blockbuster about a group of marooned astronauts, but it is safe to say the film does go much deeper than this. Whatever your opinion is, it's still a film to see in 3D on the big screen as it is so incredibly filmed and is honestly the next best thing to going to space.

8/10