The History of Future Folk

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

A sweet and modest indie comedy about a couple of aliens that, whilst on a mission to destroy earth discover music and decide to stay and form a little folk band. Though it's not really my kind of music the film is perfectly charming and the leads equip themselves well.

Antiviral

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes


Well the apple hasn't fallen that far from the tree. David Cronenberg's son Brandon has made a film that thematically feels like his father's early work but stylistically they are quite different. The premise is wonderfully icky. Celebrity diseases, the latest trend. Our protagonist, a subdued Caleb Landry Jones, sneaks out copy protected viruses from the company he works for, cracks them and sells them on the black market. Of course this leads to all kinds of trouble.

A strange world and the film explores it with a confident style. It's also emotionally distant, cold and clinical. There's enough to keep it interesting though.

The Last Exorcism Part II

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Eehhhhhh. I really enjoyed the first film. An I'm glad Ashley Bell gets to continue to show how awesome she is. But the film didn't need a sequel. They went the Blair Witch route and jettisoned the found footage concept for the sequel which made this just a really lame demon possession teen horror with nothing new to offer.

Pitch Perfect

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

Write Up.

Makes an odd double with Enter the Void...

Enter The Void

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

Write Up.

I've wanted to give this one another watch for a while. Such a long film, feels very slow paced because of how dream-like it is but it usually seems to engage. A little exhausting though. But 2nd time through I picked up more of the set up at the beginning which helped navigate the latter half of the film. It's an admirable effort and I'm in awe of the accomplishment, even if I'm not always totally onboard with individual elements. A very unique film.

Bernie

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

Write Up.

So great. Those Interview subjects come up with lines you just couldn't write. Delightful.

Smashed

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

A great little portrait of a character in the throws of alcoholism. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is a joy to watch. And she has a great supporting cast. It's not as rough going as other films that deal with the subject, it does have its light hearted moments but it still feels earnest. I enjoyed it muchly.

Bullet to the Head

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Terrible.

Escape from Planet Earth

IMDB

First time viewed: Yes

Current Release: Yes

Just because it's cheaper animation, doesn't mean you skimp on story. Or humour, character, stuff like that. They seem to have done the opposite here, the film actually looks quite nice and they forked out for some well known but ultimately dud actors for the voices but the story is pretty pedestrian. meeehhh

The Reluctant Fundamentalist

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Mira Nair's latest is an interesting drama that lives and thrives in all those murky grey areas. Riz Ahmed, who was so great in Four Lions, gives another engaging performance, the rest of the cast are reliable too. I guess the story was pretty straight forward but covers a lot of ground jumping back and forth in the narrative. In the end I felt it was a little overly long, there were parts that felt drawn out but I did enjoy it.

Killer Joe

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

Write Up.

Wonderfully despicable people. So funny.

Broken

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

A slightly schizophrenic British suburban drama. Despite the uneven tone I greatly enjoyed the film, mainly for the performances. Newcomer Eloise Laurence is great and holds the disparate plot threads together.

Despite a couple of somewhat unresolved storylines it's a satisfying watch with some real moments of tension and humour.

Damsels in Distress

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

Write Up.

This film is just THE BEST. Could be a go-to for whenever I feel down because it'll never fail to put a smile on my face.

The Internship

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

Google does look like a fun working environment. However this movie is not a very fun watching experience. Going through the motions much?

After Earth

IMDB

First time viewed: Yes

Current Release: Yes

Watched With: Naomi

Well it's a thousand times better than M. Night Shyamalan's recent efforts. That's still faint praise though. And yet even in his recent disasters there was still a definite directors hand at work. The end results are much better here but it just feels like less effort was made. Perhaps its the lack of emotion inherent in characters for the purposes of the very basic and straight forward plot. Pedestrian effects, simple action, average score. The most notable thing about the film was the production design and while I don't think I was enamoured by it, at least it was something new and interesting. 

I just think the exact same story could have been told in a much cheaper setting and been just as, if not more effective. This just feels like Will Smith wanted something fun to do with his son one summer.

Sound of My Voice

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes


I love watching film where I know nothing but the title and discovering something amazing. That's what happened here. I should probably have watched this before Another Earth but I'm glad I saw it before The East, which I now anticipate more. Check this one out and discover it like I did!

Despicable Me 2

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes


This one is under embargo. But I felt exactly the same about this one as I did about the first. Here's how I felt about the first. Eh, it was ok but nothing special. I am not endeared to those minions, I don't get them.