Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Film List 2013

It's been a busy year. I only saw 517 movies this year, the least I've ever seen since I began keeping records. Other work has sadly taken over my life. BUT this year was also the most new films I've ever seen in a year (301) and the most I've ever been to the cinema in a year (219, probably in no small part due to the need to see Gravity on the big screen in 3D as many times as possible). So for everyone that joined me or followed along on the blog, a big thanks. As usual there were so many films I have not managed to find the time to squeeze in and a handful that didn't bother me that I missed (...Grown Ups 2, Scary Movie 5) but here's a very vaguely ordered list of the new release films I saw this year. 

Super Duper Awesome Must See Movies:

Movies I really loved:

Movies that were great:

Movies that were pretty good:

Movies that were alright I suppose:

Movies that were mostly okay but didn't really do much for me:

Movies that were lacking a certain something:

Movies I just didn't care for:

Movies that actively made me hurt:

I must say, the terribly movies this year aren't nearly as bad as terrible movies from previous years. Likewise some of my favourite movies this year would not be equal to favourites from previous years. But some really great discoveries this year.

Last year it appears I was correct in my assumption that Gravity would make it to the top of my list. There's no film I'm aware of that really stands out for next year so I'll be excited to see how things shake out.

So let me know what you think, where I'm completely wrong, what films I should see that I've missed out on, what your favourites are etc. And hopefully I'll see you all at the movies next year. 


Posted by Robert Woods at 9:03 PM 0 comments

Simon Killer


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Holy moly that's an uncomfortable film. In a good way though I suppose, it's certainly effective. I only recently saw Antonio Campos' last feature Afterschool and his latest has a similar slow pacing and elusive main character. I found this less distancing than his first effort though. Brady Corbet is just amazing.

Not an easy watch first thing in the morning but I wanted to try and get it in before the end of the year after seeing it pop up on a few other peoples lists. I think it's a little long, the story is very simple but there's a very strange vibe that gradually creeps in and then just overwhelms the last act. Interesting stuff. 
Posted by Robert Woods at 2:06 PM 0 comments

Monday, December 30, 2013

The Conspiracy


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

A fun found footage/mockumentary thriller type thing. All constructed as a documentary but basically the conspiracy stuff is just a set up for an eyes wide shut style secret society infiltration that manages to get some real good tension going. Quite enjoyed this little number even though the characters had to take a few unbelievable leaps of logic to get to where the film needs them to go.
Posted by Robert Woods at 11:31 AM 0 comments

Wrong Cops


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Quentin Dupieux has another film out within the year. This one seems much more loose, which is saying something considering his last two absurdist and tangental narratives. This film barely has a narrative and is more like a series of sketches of his bizarre abstract style of humor. Certainly not for everyone. I must admit I didn't enjoy this film as much as his previous two, it has its moments but just doesn't hold together as well. But Marilyn Manson sure surprised me with one of my favourite performances.
Posted by Robert Woods at 11:13 AM 0 comments

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Disconnect


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

A solid drama of sprawling but interconnected stories about how people are disconnecting from each other through technology that is meant to bring people closer together. Nice cast and many uncomfortable moments.
Posted by Robert Woods at 11:24 PM 0 comments

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug


IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Michael

Write Up.

Watched it at IMAX today. Yeah I don't know what they've done but the 48fps seems much better this time around. Perhaps it's how they authored the dcp? Who knows.
Posted by Robert Woods at 9:28 PM 0 comments

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Kick-Ass 2


IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes

Write Up.

Another fun commentary track. Playing spot the wig with the stars hah.
Posted by Robert Woods at 9:15 PM 0 comments

The Heat


IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes


Incredibly extensive and in-depth write up. But yeah I really did enjoy this one. The bluray has 5 commentary tracks, including a mystery science theatre 3000 track and the premiere audience live track. I chose to listen to the director and cast commentary. there's a lot of overlap but still most enjoyable.
Posted by Robert Woods at 8:48 PM 0 comments

Thursday, December 26, 2013

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Paul, Tim, Naomi, Mum, Tyler, Gemma, Tom, Rebecca, Megan, Ben, Tara, Greg, Tammie, Sam et. al.

First impressions, a marked improvement over the first instalment. Less exposition (and singing) and what we do get is spread pretty evenly between scenes of action on the road. The film still suffers from being an adaptation of a book that is merely a series of events. they try and flesh out characters and even add in some to force love triangles upon us. Is it bloat or a much needed reprieve from a series of escalating but largely inconsequential action sequences? I haven't decided yet but I'm leaning towards the latter for the moment. The fact remains I don't know how these characters and their relationships will be paid off yet so this could be integral groundwork to something amazing or all just filler. We'll find out next year.

Once the party gets to their destination though, most of that falls away, the tension picks up and the last half of the film is just nonstop. For the lovers of action, there are some pretty stunning sequences. And finally seeing Smaug in all his glory was definitely worth the wait for me. I don't remember any of those big set pieces from the original story but they were darn cinematic. Benedict Cumberdragon is scary and awesome.

They flesh out the barrel sequence a whole lot and some of it is glorious. And is it just me or did they sneak in some 3d gopro-esque footage into their red photography?

I also really loved those spiders, especially because they had a device which let us understand their dialogue which just made the whole sequence hilarious for me. This film wins the award for most orc decapitations. They get away with some pretty violent stuff in this one. The Necromancer makes a very trippy appearance. That was a pretty flashy battle. It's interesting to see where Gandalf goes off to and I suppose it's something to cut away to but the extended sequences in Smaug in Erebor are so great I just want to stay with them. Couldn't really care less about Legolas in Laketown.

Thorin still has the most interesting character here. We get to see a little prologue with him (and a Peter Jackson cameo reprise from Fellowship) that emphasises his daddy issues. And he begins showing some signs of the same madness towards the end.

Again, I saw this in the high frame rate 3D. I don't know if the cinema has updated their equipment, or if the greater number of CG environments make the process smoother or the camera moves were less erratic in this film or after 2 viewings of the last film I'm just getting used to it, but it really didn't jump out to me as much this time. There's still a little adjustment period at the beginning where you think they shot it on cheap video but after a while it becomes the norm. I'll still want to check this out at IMAX HFR 3D but my local cinema looked much less stroby this time. And the 3D is just amazing when selling the sense of scale of Erebor and our characters proximity to Smaug. Seeing an angry dragon that size moving towards you in 3D space is kind of terrifying.

Also slimy bureaucrat Steven Fry is great.

So, still just a series of events with some filler but the events were FAR more fin this time. And it's all just so pretty I don't really care. I like spending time in Middle Earth.
Posted by Robert Woods at 11:29 AM 0 comments

Frozen



IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Paul, Tim, Naomi, Louisa, Gemma, Bri, Tom, Rebecca, Megan, Aaron, John, Evie, Tammie, Greg, Matt

Write Up.

Worth coming back to see in 3D just for the short film Get a Horse. Absolutely stunning use of 3D in an animated short that must have been very tricky to pull off in one shot. I can't think of a better way to throw classic Micky into the future and update him for today.

And Frozen looks great in 3D as well. A very striking opening shot and the atmospheric elements look great.
Posted by Robert Woods at 11:17 AM 0 comments

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty


IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Paul, Tim, Naomi, Cicely, Tom

Write Up.

It was actually slightly more enjoyable with a crowd that were getting into it. The cinematography is still the best thing about the film.
Posted by Robert Woods at 11:03 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Philomena


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Stephen Frears' latest is a feel good true story with an odd couple relationship of Judi Dench and Steve Coogan for added lighthearted comedy between the drama. It's pretty effective, doing everything it can to stay this side of melodramatic, very hard given the story, and for the most part it's successful. Coogan's screenplay and acting keep things pretty low key, which helps greatly. Not sure about all that awards hype but it's an enjoyable little number.
Posted by Robert Woods at 6:59 PM 0 comments

Monday, December 23, 2013

We Are What We Are


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

I think that trailer gives away too much. Fun to go into this one blind. I did know about the premise though but still enjoyed the film. It's very slow paced though, I probably wouldn't call it a horror, more of a drama with a thriller sort of ending. The cast are great and it's beautifully photographed. It has a sure sense of style about it even if that style is unbearably slow at times. But once things start to crank up towards the end it's pretty thrilling.
Posted by Robert Woods at 2:09 PM 0 comments

The World's End


IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Michael

Write Up.

Can't help myself. So much fun times. So much stuff to pick up with each new viewing.
Posted by Robert Woods at 2:06 PM 0 comments

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Summer Time Machine Blues


IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Tyler

Write Up.

The most fun time travel movie ever. And even now I'm still picking up new things they've layered into the background. So great.
Posted by Robert Woods at 2:02 PM 0 comments

Timecrimes


IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Tyler

Write Up.

So great.
Posted by Robert Woods at 1:59 PM 0 comments

Static


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler

Didn't get to see this in 3D unfortunately. I'm curious to see how they used it though.

This looks like a standard home invasion horror and for the first half it is. It's a pretty slow build too. Things take a left turn though. It's a twist we've seen before and it makes the emphasis more on the drama but I don't think the characters were set up well enough for me to be invested in that. Sara Paxton's been getting around a bit of late, come a long way since the Aquamarine days.
Posted by Robert Woods at 12:22 PM 0 comments

Open Grave


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

There's a really good premise here and a pretty good cast too. I think the audience gets ahead of the mystery a little which means waiting for characters to catch up. And it's hard to get invested in characters when they spend the whole movie trying to figure out who they are. I liked the set-up and the idea of the film a little more than the execution but there's still some good stuff to enjoy here.
Posted by Robert Woods at 11:31 AM 0 comments

Friday, December 20, 2013

Drinking Buddies


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler

Joe Swanberg really stepped up to the plate with this little number. That whole mumblecore movement seems to have moved on a bit into something that's much more palatable. They've really got it down and these independent filmmakers are now all working with some really great talent too. This one manages to set up all the romantic story beats but keeps defying expectations of cliché.

Our four leads are just amazing, empathetic, heartbreaking and loveable. It's a really interesting examination of a seldom examined kind of relationship and there is great tension in waiting for the smallest thing to push the whole thing out of balance. 

I thought it was really beautiful and oh so bittersweet. Seek it out.
Posted by Robert Woods at 11:12 AM 0 comments

Ender's Game


IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler

Write Up.

I wanted to see this one again, it keeps growing in my estimation. Really interesting.
Posted by Robert Woods at 11:07 AM 0 comments

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler, Naomi

The satire works great this time around. And the insanity seems to have escalated somewhat. Plenty of laughs as should be expected. This that were funny in the first film because they were subtle or unexpected are more front and center here which robs them of much of what value they had in the first place but there's plenty of new jokes to enjoy as well. 

A little of Brick goes a long way but he was given much more to do here and with so much else going on the other members of the crew didn't get as much time to make an impression. The endless cameo parade at the end got a little tiresome and I don't think the end credit scene was really worth the wait but it's still all good fun. 
Posted by Robert Woods at 10:56 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

This Is the End


IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler, Naomi

Write Up.

Checking out the bluray. There's some great laughs and really nice supporting turns.
Posted by Robert Woods at 10:51 AM 0 comments

Jaws


IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Tyler, Naomi

Write Up.

Such a gorgeous bluray. And really fun to watch with someone who has never seen it before. Those jumps still work.

Posted by Robert Woods at 10:47 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Oz the Great and Powerful


IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler

Write Up.

Checking out the film and some extras on bluray. No denying the feats of fanciful production design.
Posted by Robert Woods at 10:43 AM 0 comments

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy


IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Tyler

Time for a rewatch before the sequel. It's be a very long time since I watched this on first release. I was never obsessed enough to be able to quote the whole thing like some of my friends, in fact I think I only watched it once.

Watching the bluray now, the biggest tell tale sign that the film is 10 years old is that it is a comedy that was still shot using film. You can see the grain and a few specks on the print. With the amount of footage they generate in these improv comedies, the film stock must get very expensive (as evidenced by the copious amounts of extra features of deleted alternate and extended sequences that we waded through after). I can only imagine how much they create now they don't have to worry as much about that.

I enjoy those steps outside reality the film takes, the characters are heightened enough as is but there are moments that just push it over the top into absurdist territory. Ferrell and the gang all have their great moments. For me the unsung hero is Christina Applegate who has to be the straight person but still go toe to toe with this insanity and fit into the world.

I forgot about all those cameos too. They just roll them out.

Good to catch up with, still not an all time favourite but most enjoyable nonetheless.
Posted by Robert Woods at 10:22 AM 0 comments

Ass Backwards


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler

June Diane Raphael and Casey Wilson have been playing the best friend / co-worker roles in comedies for a while now but they've taken it upon themselves to write a film where they'll get to finally be lead roles. It's an admirable effort with plenty of good laughs, if only mildly memorable.
Posted by Robert Woods at 10:07 AM 0 comments

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Frozen


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler, Naomi, Michael

Not to be confused with Adam Green's great film of the same name, although I can imagine the hilarity. Also sadly no seen in 3D yet, but hopefully that will be rectified very soon. Especially to see the Micky Mouse short Get A Horse that's attached. That NEEDS to be in 3D.

I've been anticipating this one for a while, listening to the soundtrack and checking out all the amazing technical stuff in vfx news. The fx animation in this is really spectacular. As is the character animation. Olaf must have been tricky to rig.

But enough tech talk. What makes this film great is that it is both a wonderful throwback to the Disney animated musical, with some really great songs that actually further the plot, and at the same time the story manages to twist the more conventional fairy tale cliches into something more modern but never really loses that classical feeling.

You could argue that this is a more feminist piece but at its heart it still about woman being unable to control their emotions. But the idea of a Prince Charming and true love breaking the spell certainly look different here. And the lack of a true villain is very interesting, the sister relationship is what's centre stage here.

Kristoff could replace Flynn Rider as my prince of choice. Flynn has more personality, but shucks, I just can't lay off the blondes. 

The songs in the first half are very enjoyable. But besides a quick reprise, they sort of forget about singing halfway through and only go back to it for a pretty naff comedy number in the 2nd act. But there's some memorable stuff by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, who also gave us Avenue Q, Book of Mormon and the little seen but delightful new Winnie the Pooh movie. 

It also has its fair share of comedy. Kristen Bell's Anna is probably the scruffiest and most proactive princess I can remember. Idina Menzel's Elsa can high belt. And just like in Wreck-it-Ralph, stealth Alan Tudyk does marvellous work.

The film really has nothing to do with Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen but it stands on its own as hopefully a representation of what Disney can do with story and character from here on in.  Here's hoping for a second golden age. And stay through the credits for some humorous messages and a nice little moment at the end.
Posted by Robert Woods at 3:11 PM 0 comments

Saturday, December 14, 2013

The World's End



IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes

Write Up.

Commentary 3, cast, good fun.
Posted by Robert Woods at 11:14 PM 0 comments

The World's End


IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes

Write Up.

Commentary 2, the technical commentary with Edgar Wright and DP Bill Pope.
Posted by Robert Woods at 7:41 PM 0 comments

Pacific Rim


IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes

Write Up

Commentary time! You can't doubt Del Toro's passion. He sure loves his monsters. Some interesting things to learn too, mainly about the use of colour and design. A bit of a history lesson too.
Posted by Robert Woods at 4:15 PM 0 comments

Friday, December 13, 2013

Marry Poppins


IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No

Write Up.

Saving Mr. Banks is coming out soon, so Disney released a tie-in Bluray of this classic. I checked out the extra features, there's a lot about the creation of the Broadway musical and some good interviews and the commentary, which I listened to again as I watched. It's much easier in HD to see the seams in the fx work but the animation and especially the amazing matte paintings have such detail to them that you can really appreciate. Good to see again as a refresher before Disney's oscar hopeful for this year.
Posted by Robert Woods at 2:13 PM 0 comments

Gravity


IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Gemma

Write Up.

They had cheap tickets to a Vmax session. This time I sat a little closer. Makes a big difference even though there's some slight ghosting that's more prominent. Sound is much better in the bigger cinemas too.
Posted by Robert Woods at 2:10 PM 0 comments

The World's End


IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes

Write Up.

Commentary time! There are 3 on the bluray but I had to start with Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg. Always entertaining and insightful and so much to pick up on. They love to pack their films with hidden sight gags and double meanings and there's so much here I missed in the fist two viewings. Such a fun film.
Posted by Robert Woods at 1:50 PM 0 comments

Thursday, December 12, 2013

The Fall


IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Tyler, Shane

Write up.

I recently looked over all my lists of all the films I've seen since 2008 to find out which ones I rewatched the most. This was pretty high up on the list but I still have friends who hadn't seen it yet, so this fixed that problem and bumped it up a place too.
Posted by Robert Woods at 1:43 PM 0 comments

American Hustle


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

A fun period conman movie with a great cast. Jennifer Lawrence is absolutely hilarious. Loved Louis C.K. too. With a conman movie you usually expect some sort of narrative long con, not so here, this is a very straight forward tale and they clearly set up the final play so what this film amounts to is pretty much a bit of fun with great actors playing interesting characters but not much of an inventive plot. I expected something more from David O. Russell but this isn't a heavy hitter, just a slightly overly long piece of well put together entertainment.

Did anyone think that was a Sandra Bullock cameo? I wouldn't be surprised, the didn't even credit Robert De Niro hah.
Posted by Robert Woods at 12:49 PM 1 comments

Battle of the Year


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Another year, another 3D dance movie. Oh man this one's a doozy. Hilariously inept dialogue and scenes with probably the most blatant product placement I've ever seen in any film since Mac and Me. Apart from just being a big ad for a multitude of Sony products and Braun shaving the film blatantly uses chunks of the documentary Planet B-Boy (now streaming from Sony's online store to PS Vita...) to get the coach played by Josh Holloway, and the audience up to speed on what exactly B-Boy-ing is. And in truth the dancing style did nothing for me, I don't really get it. The 3D was, umm, a thing.

In all honesty the dialogue and forced drama was so hilariously bad that I really enjoyed myself enough to reccomend this one to those of you that like that sort of torture. Josh Peck was the only actor who got one or two genuine laughs from me and he did the best at selling the material but really, there's nothing much here but another forgettable trashy dance movie.
Posted by Robert Woods at 12:49 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Gravity


IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Dominic, AJ

Write Up.

It's still out! Woo.
Posted by Robert Woods at 5:36 PM 0 comments

Closed Circuit


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Nice 70's style paranoid thriller for the modern age. It's a bit of a slow burn but once it gets going it's okay. Unfortunately I think most of the audience is going to be slightly ahead of most of the twists and turns of the film but it's still intriguing enough and the cast equip themselves well.
Posted by Robert Woods at 3:03 PM 0 comments

Delivery Man


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Ken Scott has remade his own film, Starbuck, from 2011. I haven't seen the original but by all accounts this one is the same but in english. And with a more expensive cast.

And it's okay I guess. An interesting premise but not exactly mined for dramatic potential. It's a stock standard template and I didn't find it particularly funny, and it probably raises more questions than it can answer in the runtime but it's only concerned with making a pleasant experience and there's nothing particularly offensive in the film so I guess they succeeded. 
Posted by Robert Woods at 2:22 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

The Spectacular Now


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

What a beautiful film. Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley step up and deliver some of the most naturalistic performances of teenagers I've ever seen. And it helps that the writing of these character are give them so much to play with. The entire film is just subtly heartbreaking, I guess at times more overt than others, but it never tips over into melodramatic or feels anything other than honest. Get out there and see this now.
Posted by Robert Woods at 2:01 PM 0 comments

The Railway Man


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Cicely

It always amazes me just how many more new stories people find to tell from the wars. This time a true story and perhaps more interesting, the aftermath of a survivor from a Japanese prisoner of war camp. The structure mirrors the story of Nicole Kidman's character trying to fill in the gaps of the past. We're often shown the beginning of a sequence and the end only to have the middle revealed later on where it will have more of a dramatic impact.

Not knowing the book or story it was based on, the revelations throughout the film worked quite well for me even if the manipulation was quite transparent. The cast are all great and it was a treat to have the director at the screening for a Q and A after.

The tragedy of war and the brutality of torture has been seen many times on screen before and it didn't make much of an impact here but probably more important and far more successful emotionally was the climax and message of reconciliation. In large part due to the performances of Colin Firth and Hiroyuki Sanada.

I could have done without the wall-to-wall score but otherwise a satisfying film.
Posted by Robert Woods at 12:59 PM 0 comments

Monday, December 9, 2013

The Wicker Man


IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Tyler

Write Up.

They had a special screening of the new Studio Canal print at an outdoor cinema here and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to check it out on the big screen. There's a massive dip in quality and colour for some scenes but it's a vast improvement on the only other available option, which was from the workprint on VHS. Pretty cool that they managed to dig it up and dust it off for the 40th anniversary.
Posted by Robert Woods at 4:44 PM 0 comments

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Violet & Daisy


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Hitgirls! James Gandolfini! Fun times and some nice drama to boot. I enjoyed this little number, smart writing for a small cast and locations and the actors are all great.
Posted by Robert Woods at 12:22 PM 0 comments

Clear History


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Larry David's HBO telemovie directed by Greg Mottola. I never really watched Curb Your Enthusiasm  but if this film is anything to go by I'm not sure how well I'd handle it. It's that awkward cringe humor where horrible people dig themselves deeper and deeper into trouble. It is funny but sometimes I find it a little hard to take and this one tipped it just over the edge for me. But fans will love it and it has a really great cast. The gags are dutifully set up and escalate nicely.
Posted by Robert Woods at 12:15 PM 0 comments

Ender's Game


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Michael, Kate

Did you guys know that Digital Domain was a production company? Their logo appears before this film for producing, not just vfx. I thought they went bankrupt? Anyway they finally got controversial novellest Orson Scott Card's classic sci-fi story to the big screen after decades in development, and it does look mighty pretty.

I've never really been that enamoured with Asa Butterfield. The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas did not work for me at all and just turned me off him in general. Even in the wonderful Hugo. He's not terrible or annoying but he doesn't have much presence to me, which could have been a problem for a character like this, but it kind of works in his favour for the character arc.

I didn't know the story going in and while it's a straight up war games film set in space there's an interesting morality play going on and enough emotional depth to the character to make the action investable.

Did I mention it's mighty pretty? Oscar VFX nominations have been shortlisted and this was left off, which seems like a real oversight. There's some amazing work here. I guess we're over saturated with VFX now though. Still I really enjoyed this one. I obviously didn't take part in the LGBT boycott, the studio maintains that the author is a producer in name only and so many wonderful artists did amazing work in a film that is all about promoting equality and understanding of others. I'll file this next to Wagner's operas, the work has merit even if the author is a dick.
Posted by Robert Woods at 11:29 AM 0 comments

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2



IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Michael

Write Up.

In 3D this time. Pretty swanky.
Posted by Robert Woods at 11:13 AM 0 comments

Almost Christmas aka All Is Bright


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

A fun little christmas film with a good cast. An odd couple riff with two ex-cons try to go straight selling christmas trees. Paul Giamatti and Paul Rudd both play endearing assholes well. Sally Hawkins is always a treat too. The story is pretty standard but well performed and an enjoyable watch.
Posted by Robert Woods at 10:52 AM 0 comments

Friday, December 6, 2013

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler

I don't know too much about the short story the film is based on but I do know it's completely different to the original adaptation. I also know this one's been in development for a very long time.

So we have Walter Mitty, a daydreamer who has to learn to to start living his dreams to enjoy his life. That's a very simple and basic narrative thread and we've all seen it before. Unfortunately for this film, whatever uniqueness it had going for it was completely spoiled in the omnipresent trailers that have been blaring out at us for the past few months. There's really not much more to the film that what we see there.

If you have managed to avoid the trailers, and don't mind on-the-nose sentiment, you might get something out of this. Ben Stiller has made a visually captivating film but I found no real drive or emotional response from it.
Posted by Robert Woods at 4:00 PM 0 comments

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Mr. Nobody


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Well well, somebody wants to make BIG cinema.

We have a protagonist who can remember the future and past of his life in multiple tangental universes. And the scenes all play out jumbled together. Now I believe I saw the directors cut, clocking in at 157 minutes. Really though after the first half hour you get what the film is about and what it's doing, watching multiple iterations of a lifetime play out dramatically gets tiresome when it doesn't really add to the experience or theme. It's a a grand experiment and a big jumble of a film with some really beautiful moments and really slick directing and production but so much of it is not needed.

The film goes some trippy places. Reminded me a little of Cloud Atlas except this film is pretty much just about the butterfly effect and doesn't have any of the emotional resonance or storytelling skill.
Posted by Robert Woods at 5:18 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

The To Do List


IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler, Shane

Write Up.

It is rather fun. It only really occurred to me this time around that the heavy handed period setting is needed for the plot to take place, this story would be very different with the internet available...
Posted by Robert Woods at 5:15 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

The Book Thief


IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler

I don't know the book this is based on. But I found the film to be saccharine and self important. Way too long and just not that interesting. Technically it's fine, although you have to question the use of subtitled German/writing freely interspersed english words/ English in german accents. It's not a terrible waste of time, you might get more out of it than I did but I found it pretty forgettable.
Posted by Robert Woods at 5:05 PM 0 comments

Monday, December 2, 2013

Monsters University


IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler

Write Up.

Looks great on blu. I'll have to hear to commentary next.
Posted by Robert Woods at 5:01 PM 0 comments
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