QUICK! FIRE! REVIEWS! (Dec/Jan 2014 so far)

Here's a selection of reviews of films i've seen in the last few weeks that I can't possibly write full reviews on (does not include 12 Years A Slave which will have it's own review, it's spesh).

The Hobbit - The Desolation of Smaug

These films are fairly enjoyable in their own right.  It's a shame that even though you can feel the love poured onto the screen everything just feels slight and a little pointless. Seeing goblins/orcs being killed for the 5th time naturally feels repetitive and the fluff at Laketown could have been taken out altogether.  Still though, we aren't talking Star Wars prequels here.  A qualified success.

Rating: 6/10 (C+)

Saving Mr Banks

Saving Mr Banks is a charming enterprise with professional performances around topped by an ever entertaining turn by queen of the world, Emma Thompson.  You'll enjoy it while its up there on the screen but ultimately it lacks a certain menace and bite to really leave a dent.  Competent comford food that at times dives deeper between the persistent Disney and the stoic P.L. Travers. Well worth streaming when it is released.

Rating: 7/10 (B-)

Captain Phillips

The pick of the Hanks' releases this year.  Mainly memorable for it's claustrophobic final third with a riveting final reel that rivals much of the celebrated actor's best work.  The real find here though are the actors playing the Somalian pirates, most notably Barkhad Abdi as the anti-captain.  Greengrass' shaky cam is on show here but is understandable considering the choppy sea environment.  Life changing? Hardly.  Life affirming? You bet.

Rating: 8.5/10 (B+/A-)

Philomena

I've seen this twice now and although I enjoyed it the first time round, it's impact was greater on second viewing.  This is essentially a grown up buddy road movie with heavy sociological themes mixed with light comedic flourishes.  My issue if anything first time around was I felt the religious angle wasn't barbaric enough, but then I realised that the film wasn't trying to open up philosophical quandaries of its leads, but instead show the subtleties of understanding and spirituality.  It's an evergreen hymn rather than stomping religious blaxpoitation and all the better for it.

Rating: 8.5/10 (B+/A-)

American Hustle

Fresh of JLaw's Golden Globe win, I have to say straight off the bat she is FANTASTIC in this.  To be fair as are all of four leads.  This is a black comedy, with great costumes, cinematography full of flair also.  It absolutely romped by for me but at the same time I can understand how some viewers would come out taking very little from the picture.  Having allowed a few days to let the film to sink in I'm still not too sure whether this is a great film that tells me more underneath the sparkly undeniable surface.  Still though, its not to be missed.

Rating: 8/10 (B+)

Ones To Watch #14 - Green Zone

#14

Green Zone (dir. Greengrass)

Expected Release Date: TBA

Starring: Matt Damon, Brendan Gleeson, Jason Isaacs, Greg Kinnear, Amy Ryan

Studio: Universal Pictures

The ‘Green Zone’ is a small area in Central Baghdad, Iraq (roughly 12km2) and the zone of international establishments in the city.

Green Zone, is adapted from the 2006 book, Imperial Life In The Emerald City written by journalist Rajiv Chandrasekaran (currently working at The Washington Post). The novel garnered much acclaim on its release for succeeding as a tense and edgy thriller. It went on to win the Samuel Johnson Prize for non-fiction, one of the most prestigious book prizes in world literature.

In my view (and I can be quoted on this), Paul Greengrass is the best British director in the business at the moment. Since 2002s Bloody Sunday he has continued to excel in almost discreet fashion with Bourne Supremacy and Ultimatum. His greatest acheivement however is United 93, which surely would have won more end of year awards if not for its sensitive subject matter.

Films based on the Middle East have not prospered too kindly in the last year or so with Lions For Lambs, The Kingdom & Rendition among many others coming short. But Greengrass has created an immaculate track record thus far and the fact that it’s his third reteaming with Matt Damon should ensure sparks will fly!