Starred Up

Brutally Superb

Director: David Mackenzie
Release Date: 2014
Rating: 18
Running Time: 105 mins
Genre: Prison Drama
Starring: Jack O'Connell, Rupert Friend, Ben Mendelsohn

'Starred Up means you're a leader'

Jack O'Connell makes his début as a lead actor in this hard-hitting British drama set entirely in an English prison. Never setting foot outside the gates that seal the inmates into this prison, we're made to feel and witness the brutality and the anger that lives inside of with everyone within the walls. It's so fantastically acted by everyone in it and believe it or not it's a film that made me feel proud at what us Brits are able to produce. Though maybe not agreed by everyone, for me it put 'Bronson' to shame, the message that's carried through in this film resonated with me so much more. It begs the question, is anyone capable of change? And do we really know our enemies from our friends?

When teenager Eric Young (O'Connell) is taken out of a young offenders jail and thrown into life living in an adult prison he has to try and change the way he acts before he's killed. Trying to cope with the stress and aggravation of his anger, rehabilitation group, cell mates and the only man he is unable to stand up to, his father (Ben Mendelsohn). It's not long before Eric learns that if he's going to survive life in prison he's going to have to start playing by the rules, but he's not as capable of this as his rehabilitation instructor (Rupert Friend) is first hoping for.

Though not an easy watch, it's a film that I'd watch over and over due to it having something fascinating inside it that we have rarely seen before on the screen.  Having had jails change quite a lot in the past 15 years 'Starred Up' begins to give us a fresh look at the prisoners and guards alike behind the walls, and the most frustrating yet genius thing about this film is, we don't know who to be in favour of. The amazing thing about this film is that, though our head says we should support the law and the police, our hearts draw us towards Eric and the cell mates challenging everything that we believe in.

Though unfamiliar with David Mackenzie's previous work, it does feel that this director has got something special about him through his fabulous use of direction and cinematography. It was once said that if you can show a film without too much dialogue and the audience know what's going on you've made a successful movie, and I think Mackenzie's done this with 'Starred Up'. Even at the very start of the film when we see Eric arrive, there is very little dialogue, particularly once he enters his cell, but it's clear what he's thinking and what he's planning, it's fair to say O'Connell is so well suited to the role, he's come along way since 'Skins'. Throughout the film there are so many wonderfully crafted long duration shots and experimental camera angles that compliment the film so well.

There's a strong sense of enigma in this film and though we never find out anyone's crimes and why they're there. this doesn't take anything away from the films impact. I think this is Mackenzie's way of saying, it doesn't matter what they've done, all that matters is that they're there now and that's what's important and has the biggest impact on the film.

Overall I loved it. The suspense, drama, fighting and the belief that we can change. Fantastic film, the best British drama since 'This Is England'.

9/10

Need For Speed

Another 'Fast And Furious'?

Director: Scott Waugh
Release Date: 2014
Rating: 12
Running Time: 125 mins
Genre: Action/Crime/Drama
Actors: Aaron Paul, Michael Keaton, Dominic Cooper

Would I sum up 'Need For Speed' as 'Fast and Furious 7'? No. Would I call it a rip off? No. The two films are completely different, well, they're both about cars but I think you know what I mean. I do think it's got to be said that this film was incredibly average. There were both pros and cons with this film and it evened out as very balanced between the two. Though the acting is good, the cars are pretty badass and the stunts are quite exciting, I'd say the film is let down awfully by poor writing.

The story is quite complex given what actually goes on in the film, I still don't think I fully understand it so it's clearly one you've got to pay attention to at the start. After street racer Aaron Paul, (who's characters name I forget because I just say him as Jesse Pinkman) is sentenced to jail after being framed for his friends death during a race, he is released and heads from New York to California in under 48 hours to take place in another street race, why? I honestly cannot remember, it just wasn't that exciting.

A very poor story that left me feeling as though I was somewhat robbed of my money, but you can almost tell that it's going to be like that from the trailer and the fact it is another 'driving' movie. In terms of acting in this Domanic Cooper was alrigh, but it's definitely not the strongest role he's done and it did really annoy me that he had to put on this fake American accent even though he could've just used his normal voice, it wouldn't have affected the film what so ever. Michael Keaton was very enjoyable to watch, though that is probably because he is brilliant in everything he stars in and was able to bring a fair bit of comedy to a shockingly serious film, who died? Oh, right. And Aaron Paul played the same likeable character with a dark side he has done in so many other things, such as Breaking Bad and..well it's still early days for the actor, but looking at how the young star is doing, it's seeming as though we will continue on the big screen a few more times after this.

Overall, though a film that was able to pass the time, it was fairly boring and really not that great. I think the main reason it was so poor is that it's very easy to laugh at rather than  but again that comes down to the poor script, I reckon there will be plenty of digs made at this film due to it's plot-holes and ridiculous one liners and unfunny jokes, it had the potential to be good, but maybe tried that bit too hard.

5/10

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Wes Anderson, You Genius

Director: Wes Anderson
Release Date: 2014
Rating: 15
Running Time: 95 mins
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Jude Law, Edward Norton, Harvey Keitel, Willem Dafoe, Owen Wilson, Mathieu Almeric, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, Adrien Brody, Saoirse Ronan, Tony Revolori

How would I sum up 'The Grand Budapest Hotel'? I simply have no clue where to even begin.

Ralph Fiennes for me has potentially just given the performance of his career in this outstanding film directed by the artist that is Wes Anderson. In the past ten years the director has come so far in what he's made and what he's achieved, so much so that the director can afford to basically work with anyone he chooses. Needless to say the cast for 'The Grand Budapest' is absolutely phenomenal and Anderson has cast a whole range of talent to work with him, they did not let him down. The fast paced nature of this incredible film will carry you through a labyrinth of events that throughout will have you feeling baffled, shocked and in fits of laughter.

It maybe a slightly confusing film, that being 'TGBH' takes place as a girl reading a story, about a story, about a story, though not as hard to grasp as you may think. We start off being carried through the film by Jude Law, a man narrating his visit to The Grand Budapest Hotel years after it was once the grand masterpiece it was known for being. It's got to be said that the narration done by Law in this sounds somewhat reminiscent of 'Lemony Snicket's: A Series of Unfortunate Events', so much so the feel of settings and visual effects in a way are managed to match as well. We start off being welcomed into a much more dingy and run down Grand Budaest hotel, I did find myself wondering if it was in fact a more ironic title than a serious one and we begin hearing the story of the once Grand Budapest Hotel, from the now owner, then Bell Boy working for none other than the excentric and wonderfully ignorant concierge M. Gustave.H and it is there that the story unravels into a web of outrageously brilliant events.

Wes Anderson always works with such a unique style it's fairly easy to spot a film by the auspicious director. They're typically overly zany and almost set in a world very separate from our own. Particularly through his use of colour and the way that he's almost portraying a live action set in a cartoon world. There's a strong emphasis on colour, eccentric characters and bizarre plot twists in all of Wes Anderson's films, in 'TGBH' it's fair to say it followed suit and remained as what can only be described as a typical Wes Anderson film. The incredibly witty and humorous performance from Ralph Fiennes very much suited this amazing bright pink hotel where the uniforms worn are a strong purple colour and everything was made to feel very grand and stupendous indeed. Humour is something that reoccurs throughout the entire film and in fact I can't remember the last time I laughed so much in the cinema, I found the whole thing incredibly entertaining. One of the funniest things about the film was the way that another famous face would pop up every five minutes and I've got to say that I reckon Wes Anderson is trying to make Ed Norton and Harvey Keitel, two very well respected actors, look more and more ridiculous in each film they're in by him, going from scout leaders to, well it's probably better you just watch it.

I simply cannot praise this film enough and it's certainly up there with the best film I've seen recently, maybe even overall and I hope this isn't the end for this outstanding directors. I think it would be amazing if WA was able to make a film funnier and more entertaining than this one, albeit on par with 'TGBH', simply because I found it so wonderfully brilliant and original. Without giving too much away I found it the perfect mix of emotions and atmospheres in this film and combined all aspects of what we want to see in the cinema, even including some scenes of comic violence, sex and a profanity cursed in almost every other line, in this way it's a very 'taboo' film yet some how the man manages to get away with it and actually pull it off. I suppose it's quite similar to Seth Macfarlane with 'Family Guy' due to the unbelievable and cartoon element it's got to it. Basically what I am saying is the man can do no wrong and at an easily digestible 95 minutes it's a film that won't require too much effort to watch and will keep you so transfixed you'll be sad when it ends.

9/10

Blackfish

The Film Everyone Must See

Director: Grabriela Cowperthwaite

Release Date: 2013

Rating:15

Running Time: 90 mins

Genre: Documentary

'The movie Sea World didn't want you to see'

This is certainly a film to stay well clear of if you enjoy going to Sea World. It's a film that feels so different to others because there is simply nothing like it that I've seen. 'Blackfish' is a documentary that explores the life of the killer whale, also known as the Orca, and it gives us a real insight into the majestic and incredible lives they live. We're taught a lot about how the Orca's act and behaves, we see them in the wild and we see them in captivity and it doesn't take long before the film is able to grasp everyone watching it and show them the harsh reality of the life of these creatures after we got our hands on them. Through the use of 'talking head' interviews in usual documentary fashion, we're taken on a journey exploring the life of the Orca right from when they were captured up to now and it is not an easy watch.

I've got to say that when watching this I was shocked. I had no idea the amount of casualties and fatalities that had built up from the trainers working with the killer whales at Sea World and even the killer whales themselves. At one point of the film someone stated that a killer whale lived up to about 35 years old and in captivity they lived until about 25, we learn soon after that in actual fact an orca can live up to 100 years old and is usually expected to live as long as a human would. This was just the start of a very heart-aching film. I had always felt that it was morally wrong to keep these creatures in captivity and in such small enclosures ever since I saw 'School of Rock' and heard Jack Black express his views. 'The man kidnapped Shamu and then threw her in a chlorine tank!'. But seeing 'Blackfish' just places it on a whole new level.

This film is so incredibly shot, directed and edited, it makes it feel so different and unique in comparison with other films, reaching audiences on such an emotional level. It's both  awe inspiring and yet heart breaking film. It's got to be said the music in this is so fantastically put together, it is able to make us feel exactly how we should be feeling and compliments the film so well. We're shown how majestic and loving these creatures can be, but also how dangerous and unpredictable they are. The trainers are never sure what they will do next, making them such a danger they can be to train and work around. Through a sequence of captured and documented archive footage we are able to see the danger that an Orca can be in captivity, not just to humans, but to themselves as well. There's no denying this is not the easiest film to watch. In one clip we see a killer whale slowly dying after being attacked by another one that it was sharing a tank with, we see them scared and bleeding and just altogether suffering. It's no wonder Sea World refused to be interviewed for this film.

There are some gasping scenes laid out in this documentary, we see whales try to drown trainers, we see them toying with them, hurting them and even trying to kill them. One piece of footage is even able to envelop me in the same fear I had when watching 'Jaws' due to the way we see a trainer literally swimming for his life away from this Orca chasing after him. My reaction to watching 'Blackfish' was mainly shock and a lot of anger. It was agrivating to watch due to how little anyone actually knew about these creatures. No one was ever sure what they were going to do next and that's what made them so dangerous. Perhaps it was playing, perhaps it was frustration, maybe it was just boredom, but after learning how intelligent these whales really were you wonder how they could have still kept them locked up and enclosed. We see these creatures taken away from their families and thrown into a completely different environment far away and force them in with other Orcas from different families, take their babies away from them, ship them around, it's a wonder they didn't turn sooner.  It's definitely a film everyone should see no matter who, you're able to learn so much during the film, though not all of it is good, it will certainly stay with you and perhaps give you an altered perception of the life of animals living in captivity.

From the word go when we see the whales captured, right up until the end where we learn a the devastating events that went over the 40 years this film took place, we are made to feel for everyone, the trainers and the whales alike. One of the best things about this film is that the people who lived through it as the trainers at Sea World are the ones talking in this film and telling us about their experiences working there. Through this we learn about the relationships they built up with the whales and it's not until a long way in that we are able to realise the danger that went on.

It's got to be asked, was that went on worth it at all simply for the public's entertainment? My guess is no. One of the speakers in this film states that he hopes people will look back on this in 50 years as a barbaric time, and others stated that all they want is for the whales to be released back into the sea to live the rest of their lives exploring in peace and maybe then they could actually be happy. Whatever does end up happening, I reckon that thanks to Grabriela Cowperthwaite and the others who took part in the making of this film, something will be done about fixing what's gone on.

The best things about documentaries like this is we are able to see that a truth revealed that we should know, and unlike most documentaries we see it from so many different perspectives it's not a film we could argue is lying or only showing one side of the argument. We see people talking and expressing their views from so many different angles, there are people who helped capture the whales, train the whales, work with the whales, experts on the species, witnesses, the film has such a vast spread of people talking and that's why I think it's such an effective documentary at really gunning home it's message of unjust and unfair treatment of Orcas.

7/10

The Damned United

A Triumphant Football Film

Director: Tom Hooper

Release Date: 2009

Rating: 15

Running Time: 95 mins

Genre: Biopic/Sport/Drama

Actors: Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall, Jim Broadbent

'I wouldn't say I'm the best football manager but I'm definitely in the top 1.'

Whether it was the fantastic performance delivered from Michael Sheen, the bromance developed between him and Timmy Spall, the wit, or the story I was wrapped up in, for 90 minutes I found myself completely transfixed on 'The Damned United'.

When looking at the films that Tom Hooper has directed, 'The Damned United', 'Longford', 'The King's Speech', and even most recently to some extent 'Les Miserable', there's a great sense of realism added to his films that audiences really tend to admire. When looking at the kind of reaction 'The Kings Speech' was awarded, there was clearly something about it that audiences enjoyed seeing. After looking at the films that have been successful I've found that with biographical dramas in cinema, if delivered well they can have a big impact on the audience due to how they resonate with most people.

'The Damned United' in this case was no different and I found it such an interesting story I'm not surprised they chose to tell it. It was stated that 'Brian Clough was the greatest manager England never had', and we're able to see just how great him and Peter Taylor could actually be when working together and the talent the two of them had. The film showed how they were able to take a failing team and bring them sailing to the top of their division and showed just how much potential players could actually posses under the right manager. Though it's a fairly dialogue heavy film, there are some excellent football shots included, one particularly standing out whereby we see Derby positioned in 18th place out of 20, but over the rest of the season Brian Clough and Peter Taylor were in control, we see them pulled right up to the top of the table resulting in them winning the league.

For football fans this is able to give a much different look into the world of English football than what it has become today. We don't see the big teams that we do now, with the players signed for up to 50 or 60 thousand, but rather we see local boys throwing themselves into the teams they loved. I found it amazing when watching this film that Derby County had the potential to be one of the top teams in the country at that time, opening up a window into a time in football that we haven't been shown before.

If this film was able to show me anything, it was that, though Brian Clough made it a mere 40 days as manager of Leeds, it did not mean he was actually a bad manager. Through the film we are shown a series of flashbacks of how he came to be the manager of Leeds and what he was able to achieve during the six years he was at Derby before moving there. Seeing Clough's story unravel the way that it did, it opened up a very different impression of him to what I had of the manager before seeing this film. He was a man that had the potential to do great things but had everything going against him.

A triumphant British film, well done lads.

7/10

Family Plot

A Genius Departs From Cinema

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Release Date: 1976

Rating: PG

Running Time: 115 mins

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Actors: Bruce Dern, Barbara Harris, William Devane, Karren Black

Mystery, plotting, twists and suspense, it's good to see that before Alfred Hitchcock's career finally came to a close he was able to make one more stab at the genre he knew and created better than anyone.

After his films dropped slightly in the 60's for some of them,, particularly after Hitch finished 'The Birds'(1962). Films such as 'Marnie'(1963) and 'Torn Curtain'(1966) were good, as is everything the director has ever done, but they lacked the flair that audiences so long for when seeing a Hitchcock picture like  in films such as 'Rear Window'(1954) and 'Vertigo'(1958). It was clear that he was beginning to explore and experiment with new works, perhaps he knew he was be able to given the high profile and the trust with production companies and writers that he had managed to create  in the 1950's.

The thing with Hitch was that he's now known for making old films, but at the time they would have been seen as incredibly modern. Using, colour, advanced technology and exceptionally talented rising actors and audience favorites, Hitch was always known keeping up with the times. In the early 40's he was making films such as 'Saboteur'(1942) and 'Lifeboat'(1944), two film-noirs set during WWII, which at the time of their release was currently going on. 

Naturally when the late 60's came about, a lot of the topical issues were centered around the exportation and use of nuclear weapons and espionage that are themes, heavily placed in and centered around both 'Torn Curtain'(1966) and 'Topaz'(1969). Though they were both interesting films, they could equally be seen as some of his less successful pieces, and took place in more eastern European countries, consequently they felt more like '007' films than Alfred Hitchcock films. It probably began to look as though Hitch was unable to keep up making the films he use to release and had to try this different style because of this new era of cinema that was arising.

After the success of 'Frenzy'(1972), a murder mystery centered around a wrongly accused man set in 1970's London, it was good to see The Master of suspense return to his roots, both by location and narrative. With comedy, mystery and horror combined it's a real portrayal of what the great director is able to do best. This returning back such films he made previously such as 'Shadow of a Doubt'(1943) and 'Psycho'(1960), films about an unsuspected serial killer murdering helpless victims, it also featuring themes about blame falling on the wrong man similar to other works such as 'The Wrong Man'(1956) and 'The Trouble With Harry'(1955). Needless to say with 'Frenzy', the film did exceptionally well and inspired Hitch to go on and make one more before his career ended due to how he was able to give the audience again what they wanted.

With 'Family Plot', I found it the perfect film for Hitch to end his career with. It was embedded and enriched with everything that he was best known for and it returned to a genre that was beginning to slip away from Hitch's films.

For me, this is why 'Family Plot' was so needed. It gave a more nostalgic look back over Hitchcock's style, almost taking us back to the 40's and 50's, reminding us of how he earned the title of 'The Master of Suspense', but also gave it a chance to make a film that could hold it's own originality, still keeping up with the times. Albeit by this time Hitchcock was growing very old and both  him and his wife were growing very ill at the time, being the professionals they both were, they made the film any way and it gave Hitchcock a final opportunity to make one more of the pictures we so loved by him, riddled with mystery, twists and fast paced thrills.

Looking at 'Family Plot', it isn't one that could necessarily match the genius and flair that Hitchcock possessed in the 1950's, and is more likely one that audiences will not be as familiar with due to the fact it was entering an era of cinema that Hitchcock was not going to be around for. It can also be added Hitchcock wanted an entirely unknown cast, and wanted the location the film is set to be entirely unknown. But, it was still an incredibly clever and enjoyable film and moreover 'Family Plot' should be remembered due to the poignant and iconic fact that it was Hitchcock's last ever film. 

For this, it stands as one of my personal favorites that the director has made. It contained so many brilliant and inventive shots, high angles, close ups, tracking and so many others Hitch is known for, also a mysterious and captivating score composed by the brilliant John Williams, and most of all the overall feel given to the film was just so 'Alfred Hitchcock'. I'm sure myself and so many others are so grateful this film got made. There's so much I could say both about this film and Hitchcock's career, but what I will say is that, you left us on a good one Hitch, cheers for making one more.

7/10