REVIEW: Restrepo

Restrepo

Director: Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington

Year: 2010

Plot Summary: Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington's year dug in with the Second Platoon in one of Afghanistan's most strategically crucial valleys reveals extraordinary insight into the surreal combination of back breaking labor, deadly firefights, and camaraderie as the soldiers painfully push back the Taliban.

Winner of this year's documentary award at Sundance and tipped for an Oscar nomination, Restrepo is a documentary that follows a group of soldiers positioned in the most dangerous area of Afghanistan for just over a year.

By Daniel Sarath with 1 comment

REVIEW: Monsters

Monsters

Director: Gareth Edwards

Year: 2010

Plot Summary: Six years after Earth has suffered an alien invasion a cynical journalist agrees to escort a shaken American tourist through an infected zone in Mexico to the safety of the US border.

Monsters has been causing some giant waves within the film industry. Made on only £500,000, shot by only two people and pieced together by a minuscule crew, it's a testament to the power of low budget film making during a period when everyone is keeping an eye on their wallets. Director Gareth Edwards proudly uses his talent for visual effects and expert eye for cutting corners here to create this science fiction movie that proves you can still achieve stunning visuals with just a handful of cash. All you need is a good imagination.

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REVIEW: The Hurt Locker

The Hurt Locker

Director: Kathryn Bigelow

Year: 2009

Plot Summary: When renegade Sergeant James takes command of a highly trained bomb disposal unit, he frequently risks the lives of himself and those around him with his suicidal methods and a complete disregard to danger.

It's the season for film awards with the Golden Globe nominations announced this week and the Oscars looming closer and closer. Therefore, it's only appropriate to revisit last year's big winner: Kathryn Bigelow's war film The Hurt Locker.

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REVIEW: 300

300

Director: Zack Snyder

Year: 2007

Plot Summary: In the midst of the Persian-Greco war, Spartan King Leonidas leads his army of 300 soldiers into battle against the invading Persian army during the Battle of Thermopylae.

Although I hated his adaptation of Watchmen with a strong passion, I was convinced by a friend to watch Zack Snyder's acclaimed 300 a few weeks ago. Adapted from the graphic novel by Frank Miller, the man who created the surprisingly entertaining neo-noir Sin City, it tells the story of Spartan king Leonidas who took his army of just 300 men to war against an invading Persian force. Nevertheless, despite what IMDB users or various critics have said, I found 300 to be even more terrible, cringe-worthy and infuriating than the aforementioned Watchmen.

By Daniel Sarath with 1 comment

EDITORIAL: Analysing the Golden Globe nominations

The Golden Globes leave me disappointed year after year.

While the Oscars, though admittedly not perfect, have had a fairly good history of choosing nominees who truly deserve to be recognised, the Golden Globes instead seem to get it all wrong.

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REVIEW: Never Let Me Go

Never Let Me Go

Director: Mark Romanek

Year: 2010

Plot Summary: Ruth, Kathy and Tommy, spend their childhood at a seemingly idyllic English boarding school. As they grow into young adults, they find that they have to come to terms with the strength of the love they feel for each other, while preparing themselves for the haunting reality that awaits them.

One of the most anticipated releases of the year comes in the form of Mark Romanek's Oscar-tipped drama Never Let Me Go. Based on the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, which was called the book of the decade by Time, it follows three children at a seemingly idyllic boarding school as they grow up.

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REVIEW: The Diving Bell And The Butterfly

The Diving Bell And The Butterfly

Director: Julian Schnabel

Year: 2007

Plot Summary: The true story of Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby who suffers a stroke and has to live with an almost totally paralyzed body.

To simply call The Diving Bell And The Butterfly masterpiece of film-making would be an injustice because, in fact, Julian Schnabel has crafted one of mankind's greatest works of art with his beautiful, stunning and overwhelmingly emotional tale of Elle magazine's former editor Jean-Dominique Bauby.

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REVIEW: Somewhere

Somewhere

Director: Sofia Coppola

Year: 2010

Plot Summary: A hard living Hollywood star is forced to re-examine his life when his 11 year old daughter turns up on his doorstep.

Sofia Coppola's movie is one that causes a strange response in the viewer; it is both wonderful and disappointing at exactly the same time. After all, it's hard to deny that Somewhere is a work of high-art that confirms Coppola as a master behind the camera, but it's also something of low entertainment leaving you cold, emotionless and frankly a little bored.

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REVIEW: Badlands

Badlands

Director: Terrence Malick

Year: 1973

Plot Summary: Young lovers, Kit and Holly, go on a killing spree across towards the Badlands of Montana.

Malick's first debut remains one of cinema's finest moments almost 40 years after its release charting the road trip that Kit Carruthers, a young garbage collector, and his girlfriend, Holly Sargis, take towards the Badlands of Montana after killing Holly's father.

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REVIEW: Public Enemies

Public Enemies

Director: Michael Mann

Year: 2009

Plot Summary: The Feds try to take down famous American criminal John Dillinger during a booming crime wave of the 1930s.

It all seems like a recipe for greatness. Combining the story of America's most notorious criminal, John Dillinger, with the direction of Michael Mann and the performances of Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Marion Cotillard, Public Enemies promised to be one of the finest films of 2009. However, it is somehow a major disappointment.

By Daniel Sarath with 1 comment

REVIEW: Of Gods And Men

Of Gods And Men

Director: Xavier Beauvois

Year: 2010

Plot Summary: Eight Cistercian monks come under attack in their Algerian monastery forcing them to question both their faith and their mission in the country.

France’s submission for the Best Foreign Film award at the Oscars is one of the finest works of world cinema so far this year. Telling the story of 8 Cistercian monks who came under attack in their Algerian monastery in 1996, Of Gods And Men is an engrossing and moving tale of spirituality.

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FILM CHALLENGE: 192) Easy A

192) Easy A

Director: Will Gluck

Year: 2010

Plot Summary: After a little white lie about losing her virginity gets out, a clean cut high school girl sees her life paralleling Hester Prynne's in "The Scarlet Letter," which she is currently studying in school - until she decides to use the rumor mill to advance her social and financial standing.

It's hard to deny that Easy A, an American comedy about a clean-cut high school girl who uses the school's rumour mill to advance her popularity, is a well-written comedy. With an off-beat and original narrative alongside some fast, witty dialogue it will leave you wondering where the 90 minutes went and smiling from start to finish.

However, that doesn't necessarily make Easy A fantastic by any means.

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REVIEW: Skeletons

Skeletons

Director: Nick Whitfield

Year: 2010

Plot Summary: Two exorcists literally remove the skeletons from the cupboards from people's homes.

Falling somewhere between Being John Malkovich, Donnie Darko and Inception, the winner of this year’s Best British Film at the Edinburgh Film Festival has all the right ingredients to be a cult classic. Its concept – two men who specialise in finding, as the saying goes, the skeletons inside people’s closets - promises to make for a smart, funny and enjoyably bizarre hour and half of entertainment. However, for a number of reasons, it just doesn’t work.

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FILM CHALLENGE: 190) American: The Bill Hicks Story

190) American: The Bill Hicks Story

Director: Matt Harlock and Paul Thomas

Year: 2010

Plot Summary: A photo-animated documentary about comedian Bill Hicks as narrated by the ten people who knew him best.

Bill Hicks is not only the greatest comedian in stand up history, but he’s also one of the most inspirational men of the last 30 years. In a generation of people who began to question the ‘American Dream’ following Vietnam, JFK, Martin Luther King, Watergate, etc. Hicks was the voice of the disillusioned who channelled his confusion, anger and the embarrassment of his country through his comedy.

American – a documentary that looks at both the personal life and the career of Bill Hicks told by close friends and family - does justice to the man and is one of the best non-fiction works of cinema you’ll find this year.

One of the things that is most impressive about the documentary is the wonderful way that it takes the audience through the trajectory of Hicks’ career. Though Hicks doesn’t contribute to the documentary outside of videos of his stand-up, photographs and animated sequences, you can’t help but feel a strong emotional connection to him and this allows you to take his journey from the small comedy clubs in Houston to the London Hammersmith Apollo alongside him.

Moreover, it gives a fascinating look into the world of stand-up comedy. Behind all the jokes and the sketches, American portrays a lifestyle that is excruciatingly lonely, extremely hard work and could all go wrong at any minute.

But, above everything else, it’s the exploration of the personal life of Hicks that makes American so brilliant. Though the interviewees clearly know and love him, they aren’t afraid to lay bare all of his alcoholism and self-doubt for the world to see and his helps create a truly personal insight into his psyche.

Powerful, hilarious and gripping from the first minute, you could go into American with no idea who Bill Hicks and come away in total awe of what this man achieved and those who already do know him will be equally as enthralled to learn about his personal life and his struggles off stage. Terrific.

4/5

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FILM CHALLENGE: 189) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part One

189) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part One

Director: David Yates

Year: 2010

Plot Summary: As Harry races against time and evil to destroy the Horcruxes, he uncovers the existence of the three most powerful objects in the wizarding world: the Deathly Hallows.

Harry Potter is paving its way to be the most successful franchise in cinema history. But, so far, there hasn’t been a single film in the series that makes J.K. Rowling’s adaptations worthy that accolade. That is, until now.

Under the direction of David Yates once again, he takes The Deathly Hallows in a brave new direction that the previous Harry Potter films haven’t dared to explore. First of all, it’s much darker with many of the scenes packed with scares and suspense. Secondly. instead of being held back by the need to spectacle and action it takes time to explore its characters and their situations. And thirdly, The Deathly Hallows actually flows at a pace that doesn’t feel disjointed and episodic like every single one of the films before it, proving much build up and anticipation.

Even in terms of the way it’s directed, David Yates has stepped up his game and is clearly more confident behind the lens. The hand-held camerawork in the action scenes gives them a tension and realism that you’d never have normally expected from Harry Potter while the monochrome cinematography helps create the foreboding atmosphere of knowing that the three protagonists are on the run from Voldemort’s army.

Of course, it’s not a perfect movie by any means. It doesn’t really stand alone as a film and really requires the viewing of Part 2 before a proper judgement can be made. Moreover, while the intimate scale of it should be applauded, it makes you feel every minute of its 2 and half hours running time. But, most of all, I felt like there were opportunities for it to be very powerful that Yates missed out on. Hermione erasing her parents memory, for example, was very quickly glanced over while Harry visiting the town of his parents didn’t have the impact it should.

Nevertheless, it promises an epic finale in Part 2 and remains one of the most impressive movies in the series by a mile.

4/5

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End Of The Month Review - October To November

Top 10 Films Of The Month

10. The American

Director:

Anton Corbjin

Year:

2010

My review:

"Anton Corbjin has created something beautiful here. A unique drama that is atmospheric, well-observed, gorgeously photographed and features one of the best performances of the year."

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09. Lust, Caution

Director:

Ang Lee

Year:

2007

My review:

"A riveting drama that could have been a masterpiece if it was cut shorter, Lust, Caution is an expertly told story that confirms the genius of Ang Lee."

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08. Slumdog Millionaire

Director:

Danny Boyle

Year:

2008

My review:

"

A wonderful cinematic experience that, while it does have its flaws, is a heartwarming tale of overcoming stereotypes and triumphing over the suffering that you've been dealt to escape."

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07. The Beat That My Heart Skipped

Director:

Jacques Audiard

Year:

2005

My Review:

"

A terrific crime drama from one of the genre's best modern directors, Jacques Audiard portrays a brutal yet tender insight into the world of a young criminal trying to decide his path in life."

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06. Being John Malkovich

Director:

Spike Jonze

Year:

2003

My Review:

"

Being John Malkovich rightly put Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman on the art house and American indie map for bringing imagination and creativity back to the cinema screen in such a well-executed, intellectually stimulating and, above anything else, riotously fun way."

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05. Hoop Dreams

Director:

Darren Aronofsky

Year:

2008

My Review:

"R

anking right up there with the greatest documentary films that have been produced in cinema, Hoop Dreams is a masterpiece. Well-observed, riveting, inspirational and achingly sad, if the film was ten hours long and spanned their entire lives there still wouldn't be a single second in which you attention would waver."

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04. Secrets And Lies

Director:

Mike Leigh

Year:

1996

My Review:

"

A character-driven drama that is an intelligent study of the effects of secrets and lies, Mike Leigh’s Palme D’or winning movie is among the best of his career and he proves he is a master of screenwriting. Close to perfection."

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03. Hidden

Director:

Michael Haneke

Year:

2005

My Review:

"Has

an impending sense of doom that will leave your heart in your throat and an icy, disquieting atmosphere that will leave you frozen to your seat."

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02. Lost In Translation

Director:

Sofia Coppola

Year:

2003

My Review:

"

As touching a story you are likely to find in a modern American indie movie, but one that is equally intelligent, creative, deep in meaning and extraordinarily well-made from a woman who is destined to become one of this generation's most promising auteurs."

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01. There Will Be Blood

Director:

Paul Thomas Anderson

Year:

2007

My Review:

"

There Will Be Blood could possibly be greatest film of the last ten years, a two and a half hour epic that, despite being set during the turn of the 20th century, says more about the 21st century than any other movie has done thus far."

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