Gambit

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

I had heard for years that Joel and Ethan Coen loved the original Gambit and had been working on a remake. That prospect excited me greatly, the original film with Shirley MacLaine and Michael Caine has a great narrative device and a fun premise to see them play with.

So it was a real surprise that, without warning, the actual finished film was suddenly released, playing only once a day on one nearby screen. For a film that I'm actively following to manage to come out without me finding out anything about it feels like quite a feat in this day and age. It wasn't even listed on any of the cinemas coming soon sites. They just dumped it. It must be really bad then right?

Well no, it was actually really enjoyable, as one would expect from a Coen Bros. script. Their slightly skewed idea of British witticism is hilarious enough, but then to get Colin Firth, Alan Rickman and Tom Courtenay to deliver the dialogue makes it that much sweeter.

Cameron Diaz is the MacLaine equivalent here, though the character has change significantly. And they use the same structure but truncated their first act more than the original film and seem to spend more time in the thick of the farce. And that's where it's all new material and there's some very silly and funny stuff to behold.

I don't know why the film has been dumped but if you try really hard, you'll manage to catch it in cinemas, and it's perfectly enjoyable too. Also seek out the original, which is equally fun.

Now You See Me

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

A fun but kind of forgettable film. Louis Leterrier keeps things moving (quite literally, I don't remember a static shot in the film...) and the cast are all very watchable. The twisty turny plot is something of a magic trick of its own, in that if you start to look closer, you'll see less and less that makes sense. But the film only aims to entertain and it does that just fine, with enough humor and action to keep the audience satisfied.

I wished they had slightly more believable magic on display. They do set up a mythology for something bigger though, and inbetween my viewing of the film and writing this post, summit have already announced there will be a sequel. Not sure it really needs one though.

Pain & Gain

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

Michael Bay forgoes his usual big budget blockbuster and gets back down and dirty with a passion project, a comedic true crime story that' taken him 10 years to get off the ground. And it's a hell of a story, so unbelievable it could only be true.

It feels a little strange laughing at these idiot characters, knowing that they were actually real people but the great cast really give it their all and create many memorable moments. In true Bay fashion, it's a little chaotic but the pace is kept up for the most part and the script is much better than his recent giant robot efforts. The 5 person narration is a little overwhelming but I guess it gets you right into the head of every character very quickly and provides some good lines. Still it seems a little lazy.

And of course it's colour graded to the nines. Looks pretty good and they even throw in GoPro footage for some unusual angles. Bay does his tracking through holes in the wall gag to follow two scenes at once again. Still the same bag of tricks, but the script doesn't really call for any Bayhem.

I thought Mark Wahlberg was fantastic but everything that Dwayne Johnson did was just hysterical. He has a good singing voice too. Who knew?

A dark satire with horrifically delusional characters that you can't help but laugh at and then feel bad about after. Strange experience but ultimately I enjoyed it muchly.

100 Bloody Acres

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

An admirable effort. The comedy didn't really work for me but there were a few moments of levity and some nice character work.

The Conjuring

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Belinda, Tyler, Therese, Tom, Peter

Write Up.

Had to go back again to finish off the screening from last time! Love the 70'sness of it all.

The Bling Ring

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

Sofia Coppola's latest, based on a Vanity Fair article, is a darkly comic look at celebrity obsession. Her last film rubbed me the wrong way but I'm pleased to report that this film was far more enjoyable, thanks to the subject matter, the characters and cast. Also helps to have a cool soundtrack and a good score snuck in between the songs too.

Emma Watson is a bit of a stand out amongst the young cast. She is probably the most vapid of them all and gets all the best lines. But her reactions a priceless too. Hilarious comic performance. Leslie Mann, who plays her mother, was also a big stand out with a fascinating and almost horrifying character and their scenes together were my favourite.

Coppola is content to make a very simple film and let the events speak for themselves. The result is an easy and fun watch.

The Conjuring

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Kate, Belinda, Tyler, Therese

Write Up.

Okay technically, this was just over half of the film, because right at a pivotal moment the power went out at the cinema, freaking everyone out. Which was kinda cool, but ultimately very disappointing because the crowd we had were really into it and getting huge reactions which was just so much fun to watch. We'll have to organise a re-watch soon and hopefully get to the end this time!

The World's End

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

Yes, awesome fun. The last in our Cornetto trilogy of blood and ice-cream. I just love the way Edgar Wright shoots action. Actually just the way he shoots in general, his films have such great pace and the way he works blocking and movement into his edit points is great. It must have been a pain to plan out but it just flies by when you watch and is so easy to follow.

A great cast, filled with many cameos too. It's a different genre once again and things get very Carpenter-esque at the end which is kinda off the wall but a good kind of insanity. I think the less you know about the film going in the better, I still think those trailer give away far too much, but the film still works great. Good times folks!

Pacific Rim

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Kate, Todd, Belinda, Adrien, Tui, Jay, Claire, Stacey

Write Up.

Twice in one day! This time in a regular 2D session, so it was a little less impressive (if that's possible) but the crowd made it fun.

Pacific Rim

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Mum, Dad

Write Up.

Took the folks to see it in Imax 3D. What fun.

The Way Way Back

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

Nat Faxon and Jim Rash have made a cute little coming of age film with a really great cast. Fun to see Steve Carell play a real asshole for a change, he does it well. Liam James is a very convincing mopey awkward teenager. Sam Rockwell is his usual cool self.

There are some very funny parts, many of which involve Allison Janney. And of course the obligatory dramatic beats are all hit too which make is feel well rounded. Very enjoyable if not a little formulaic.

The Wolverine

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

James Mangold made a comic book movie! It would be faint praise indeed to say it was better than the characters first solo outing. But as can be expected from Mangold, it's focused much more on character development and drama than action. Which I absolutely loved. (Although I'm not averse to bullet train action sequences...)

 I had some third act problems and there's one or two character that really get shortchanged, but nothing that's going to ruin my enjoyment overall.

Ninja's are fun.

Don't see this in 3D, some of the worst post-conversion I've seen in a long time.

There's also a very blatant mid-credit set-up for the next X-men film, Days of Future Past. 

Hangar 18

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: No

Heh, kinda hoaky but pretty fun.

The Heat

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Paul Feig's latest was good fun. A nice female-centric buddy cop comedy. The story is pretty average but the comedy works and that's what's important. Most enjoyable.

To the Wonder

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Naaahhhhh....