10 films to look out for in 2014

It's that time of the year again. Here's a list of 10 films I am looking forward to in the next 12 months.


1. 12 Years A Slave

Already tipped for major awards, this is an adaptation of a Solomon Northup biography which retells the life of a free black man who is abducted and sold into slavery. British artist and film director Steve McQueen directs Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup with Brad Pitt and Michael Fassbender in the supporting cast.


2. The Wolf of Wall Street.
Director Martin Scorsese's comedy vehicle stars Leonardo DiCaprio as the title character The Wolf of Wall Street (based on Jordon Belfort memoirs), it charts the life of a stockbroker rise and fall. Scorsese is not known for out and out comedies so this could be a big risk and at almost 3hrs long it may be asking a lot from cinema goers. Early reviews has been positive so maybe the bum ache will be worthwhile.

3.X-Men: Days of the Future Past

A fan favourite storyline in the comics and rightly so. In the near future when mutantkind very existence seems all but lost they try to avert an incident in the past by sending back Wolverine thereby changing every ones destiny. Mixing the original cast and the new cast ties both classic and prequel characters nicely together. With Bryan Singer back on board surely this can redeem the franchise back to it's glory and maybe wipe our memories of the awful X-Men 3.


4. The Raid 2: Berandal
The sequel to the smash, bang and wallop that was The Raid (currently in the works to be remade/re imagined Hollywood style). Here we find the action taking place 2 hours after the event of the previous film. There is little plot to speak of but with breathtaking action who needs a strong story...


5. Interstellar

Christopher Nolan's next big thing. There is little to say about the plot other than it's about mankind's discovery of a wormhole which allows for inter galactic space travel. Nolan's secretive nature means we'll have to until it explodes onto our screens. Can Nolan keep his run of critical and commercial films? Expect loads of mind boggling fx and brain bending twists. Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway star.


6. The Double
Jesse Eisenberg stars as a man who discovers an identical man in appearance but with the exact opposite in personality traits. It should be amusing to see the two sides of a character with one being the geeky, low on confidence vs the arrogant and outward persona. Richard Ayoade second feature after his delightful debut Submarine. Can he deliver on a promising career as a director?

7. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

I have to admit not to have seen any of The Hunger Games or read any of the books but as of writing, the second feature has broken all sorts of box office records and was the highest grossing film of last year, so maybe there's something I'm missing out on. Jennifer Lawrence returns as Katniss Everdeen. May the odds be ever in your favor.....

8. Edge of Tomorrow
A Tom Cruise sci fi picture with Mr Cruise playing a soldier reliving the same battle against aliens over and over again only to be killed time and time again. Can he find a way to change his path and inevitable death?
A film based on a successful Japanese novel "All You Need Is Kill", directed by Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity), I'm hoping this will be an interesting and fun ride just as Groundhog Day was an instant comedy classic. Emily Blunt co-stars.


9. Transformers: Age Of Extinction
Ok, ok, so this won't win any awards for acting or writing but as a fan of big transforming robots, I can't wait to see more metal on metal action. As long as you ignore the glaring plot holes, obvious sexism and dumb dialogue, we can all have a good time right? Mark Wahlberg takes over from "acting" duties with Michael Bay still on directorial duties.


10. Guardian of the Galaxy
Marvel's other superheroes franchise takes off, though it does seem to be a bit of a gamble on their part as Joe public may not even know who or what are the Guardian of the Galaxy. Mixing live action with CGI characters it will be interesting to see whether this is a hit or bomb at the box office. Have Marvel let previous success go to their heads? James Gunn directs with Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper providing the voices to a humanoid tree and a talking raccoon and Chris Pratt (Zero Dark Thirty, Moneyball) as Peter Quill.

You're Next (2011) Plus Official Trailer

From the team that bought us the horror anthologies V/H/S and The ABC's of Death, comes a story about a family get together being interrupted by what seems to be a random attack from animal mask wearing killers. As each family member gets picked off, one of the family guests emerges with an instinctive survival nature to fight back. It's been a long wait for this home invasion horror film to make it's way to the big screen yet normally this would ring alarm bells as to why there has been such a long delay for it's release. The apparent reason behind this is the lack of interest from distributors willing to take a chance.

Now, there isn't anything new or original in the story/plot but what is done on screen is carried out and executed brilliantly. Majority of the characters are paper thin in detail and most come off as horrible and/or unsympathetic beings that you want to see bite the bullet. One does suspect though this is what the filmmakers wanted us to feel.

As the family members bicker on what to do when the first of them is swiftly shot down by a an arrow, the film suddenly shows it's diabolically dark humour. When they argue about who is to run for help, they debate on each others physical statue or how one brother won't make it because of his size, you realise that the film has injected and splice in a family drama amongst a horror film. It's this strange mix which gives the film it's uniquely engaging entertainment.

The film does have it's fair share of cheap scares (characters off screen suddenly appearing, or quiet then loud moments) but it's to be expected. Though the way in which most of the family members are set up, you'll gladly cheer for them to die in the most brutal way possible. The positive points for the film has to go to the mask the killers wear. They are a master stroke in how to make something look pretty creepy and disturbing (unfortunately when the mask comes off, the sense of fear and panic does wains). 

The setting and location is visually striking and menacing, it's isolation and remoteness fuels the nightmarish subject matter. The actors are passable, no famous stars you would recognise unless you are au fait with horror films (glad to see Ms Barbara Crampton back on the big screen). A hugely enthralling and enjoyable film which also has a satisfying ending. Go in with an open mind and prepare to laugh as well as being terrified.

Acting: 3/5

Narrative: 3/5

Technical Merit: 4/5

Entertainment: 5/5

15/20

The Conjuring (2013)

I finally got round to watching The Conjuring the other day and my word, was it impressive. It reminded me a lot of the old horror films I use to watch when I was younger. A lot of jump scares and quiet then loud moments but the overall the film succeeds because of it's use of older and simpler techniques. I think a lot of modern audiences have forgotten how to feel scared.


The story is based on a true story(!) about a family moving into a new home where strange occurrences start to befall the family members. They contact a paranormal team wife and husband Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) and Ed Warren (Patrick Wilson) to investigate. What the couple encounter is so
mething more deadlier than they could ever imagined. 

With all types of movies based on true stories, as an audience member you can either believe everything you see as fact or take it with a pinch of salt. If you take the former belief then the movie may take on more meaning and shocks and scares may make you feel more....well uneasy. Though saying that if you are a non believable, the story can still provide you with feeling of unease and creepiness.

What works well in this entertaining yarn is it's ability to surprise you with jumps and scares that you think are coming then don't and when they do, it's executed very well. As a fan of the genre I found myself jumping at few choice moments (even though I could tell they something was about to happen). Some of the scares come from implied/suggestive moments like in one scene where two of the daughters are woken up by something and one of the daughters believe that that thing is behind the door, and as an audience member you imagination runs wild as you wait for something to come out only for the door to slam shut and for your heart to miss a beat. It's a cheap trick but very effective. There is little to no gore in this film so gore hounds will be very disappointed. 

The acting is uniformly strong in this film with everyone playing their parts straight and with conviction. The director has
done his homework too and uses old tricks from classic horror films which he implements with a assurance and aplomb. For those of you who haven't seen old school horror films, this will be a great introduction, and for those of you who have, you can fondly remember how we all use to be scared at the things that go bump in the night and the darkness that lie in the corners of every room.

Here's a link to the trailer: http://youtu.be/ejMMn0t58Lc

Acting: 4.5/5

Narrative: 4/5

Technical Merit: 4.5/5

Entertainment: 5/5

18/20

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

The 2nd instalment of the new generation cast to cement their feet into the shoes of well established characters, settings and the famous ship, the Starship Enterprise. In the hands of JJ Abrams, the franchise is on the right course to expand and attract new fans. There will always be the die hard fans (and I'm not talking about the Bruce Willis films here guys!) who will object to their beloved characters and universe going in a different direction or in a particular style.

This is a reboot, get over it. If people are so objectionable over the way the Star Trek mythology is handled you can go back to your Star Trek: The Motion Picture and your Star Trek Insurrection's and remember how dull and awfully slow they were. Those films will never be able to convert non fans to the franchise but this one and the previous chapter will, I for one, am on board and can not wait to see how things continue you develop. 

 The sequel opens up with a bang as the crew (and the audience) are hurtled straight into danger. Kirk and co, are on a planet trying to save it's alien inhabitants from an erupting volcano. When things call for a drastic and immediate decision, Kirk disobeys Star Fleet code of ethics and saves the day. Unfortunately his superiors (and Spock) do not agree. Believing he will be assigned to a 5year exploration of deep space, he is instead call up to be reprimanded and loses his captaincy of the ship. Meanwhile in London, we are introduced to the mysterious John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch) who coerces a Star Fleet Officer with a promise to save his dying daughter for an exchange of a favour...I could go on with the plot, but it's safe to say it's up to the crew to stop Harrison's plot and there are plenty of twist and turns which will keep the viewers on their seat. 

All the cast return and put on their best impersonation of these well loved (and known) characters, some getting more screen time (Scotty) while others are reduces to little dialogue and actions (Sulu, Chekov and Bones) but that isn't really a criticism. If the characters were all given the same or more things to do, the film's run time would easily exceed 3+ hours. As it is, most of them are reduced to what their designated status and skill sets are to progress the plot's natural progression.

The main leads do perform an admirable display and imbue their characters with a lot of depth and emotion. There is a genuine connection that the audience can feel between Kirk and Spock. Benedict Cumberbatch's villain is a great deal more than a maniacal menace. There is a reason for his vengeance against Star Fleet and there is a great deal of control to his performance which is never over the top and provides the viewer with  sympathy to his cause.

There are nods and winks to the Star Trek lore, (with the most apparent coming near the end) and there is an utter respect to the old films and series. Things which both old and new fans can both enjoy and appreciate. What is totally different is the pacing of theses films. There isn't many scenes where some explosion or action sequence is on show, but that is punctuated with very talky, science fiction dialogue as it cuts back and forth between action and drama. It works very well.

Is this a better film than the previous effort. No. It's a continuation to the series which opens up many doors for it's characters and world to go into. It's a solid encounter for the crew of the Enterprise with a very polished finish (lens flair still intact!). It's an entertaining ride with some great touches of humour and dramatic performances, with plenty on offer for everyone. 

Acting: 4/5

Narrative: 4/5

Technical Merit: 4.5/5

Entertainment: 4.5/5

17/20

Iron Man 3

The third in the ever increasing popular Iron Man series, follows on from the enormous Avengers film where we find Tony Stark having to battle anxiety attacks and sleepless nights from his experiences fighting extraterrestrials in New York. Not able to cope or fully recover, Stark hides himself amongst his suits and gadgets neglecting his partner Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow in a more substantial role this time around). The story starts though with a flashback, going back to 1999, before Stark became Iron Man.

The events that unfolds, informs us of how a budding young scientist Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) comes to Stark with a new idea which unfortunately, he dismisses, this in turn results on his past decisions coming back to haunt him... Fast forward to the future and there is a more imminent danger in the form of The Mandarin (played with great joy and humour by Sir Ben Kingsley), who targets the US and threatens to kill civilians via bombings.

Stark ignores the publicity and news on the Madarian and doesn't see it as his duty to get involve but when  his ex-bodyguard Happy Hogan (Favreau), becomes one of the latest victims and suffers from major injuries, Stark issues a threat on national news and announces his address to Mandarin which was an unfortunately the wrong thing to do.....

There is quite a bit of substance to the story and there is a some choice dialogue littered throughout the film. Not really surprising come from the director Shane Black. Anyone who is familiar with his screenplays will know he has some killer quotable lines (just check out The Last Boy Scout or Kiss Kiss Bang Bang). Stark is once again imbued with great charm and retorts, but it isn't only the heroes who come out with funny dialogues, even the henchmen come out with some comedic lines.

This is a much improvement compared  to the last film, which did feel a little tired and more of warm up towards the big gathering of superheroes that was The Avengers, this time around Downey Jr is given more of a job of acting, instead of just his face in a helmet. The film's logically progression is to show what he can do with out his powers, or in this case his multi million dollar suits and gadgets....which is of course to rely on his wits and charm.

It's probably fair to say that this is more of Tony Stark movie than an Iron Man film. That's not to say it's a bad thing. There are still some amazing set pieces within the film to satisfy the action junkies (most notably standout would be the multiple passengers rescue in mid air). The plot just feels more meaningful and thought out. 

If this is to Downey's Jr last stint as Iron Man (he will reprise the role in the forthcoming Avengers sequel), this is a good send off to a character he has made his own and anyone looking to step into those red Iron boots, will have a hellava job to match (let alone improve) his interpretation.

Acting:4/5

Technical Merit:4/5

Narrative:4/5

Entertainment:4/5 

16/20

http://youtu.be/aV8H7kszXqo

Kill List (2011) + Official Trailer

With Ben Wheatley's recent achievement Sightseers garnering critical acclaim, I thought I'd seek out and review his previous effort Kill List. The story revolves around a hit man Jay (Neil Maskell) and his family as he is tempted to take on a new assignment with a promise of a large reward. Things are not as simple as they seem. Jay is still trying to recover from a botched job and it takes some convincing from his old buddy to take up the job offer. With little or no money and his feeling of inadequacy and uselessness at home as the main provider, Jay takes up the offer. As the plot unravels the assignments are not as simple as they seem.

What this film does (very cleverly) is to incorporate an intense drama into a criminal thriller. The first half an hour plays out like a normal (but very intense) domestic story about a frustrated man and his family. There's a air of simmering tension as a dinner party fast turns into a slanging match whilst the guest are still present resulting in a violent outburst.

As the tension builds and builds, you feel that things are never going to go smoothly. Jay's tendency to snap at any given moment makes his character like a lit firework waiting to explode. On the assignments, it's clear from the outset that these kills are not the usual jobs they take on. When they try to uncover the reasons for the killings they unearth a nightmare they were not ready for nor expecting.

Without giving too much away, there is a sharp turn in narrative and style. In the last third all hell breaks loose and the film becomes almost horror like in terms of atmosphere and aesthetics. There are hints and clues as ever more weirder events occur and even if you can see what is about to happen, it is still brutal.

The violence won't be for everyone as skulls are smashed and many savage and unrestrained shootings emerge throughout the journey of the two hit men. The style of the film is shot very naturalistic, with low level lighting, simple editing and the action captured through one camera so many of the composition is immediate and grants the film a grittiness and realism. In a way it some times feels like a ambitious TV movie. This isn't a criticism, it tricks you into thinking it's small scale film but with it's ideas and vision it is much more.

A brilliant low budget Brit flick which showcases Ben Wheatley as a emerging talent to watch out for. The film successfully pulls off three genres with an ever present feeling of terror throughout. A film that pulls the wool over your eyes with it's contrasting styles in terms of narrative and tone. Thoroughly recommended.

Acting: 4/5

Technical Merit: 3.5/5

Narrative: 4/5

Entertainment: 4/5

15.5/20

Films I'm Looking Forward to in 2013

After another year of excellent films, here is my list of films to look out for in the new year. As per usual this is in no particular order....

1. Cloud Atlas.
A film based on a book that many deemed unfilmable, a sprawling novel that traverses through time, characters and location. The book is being translated by the Wachowski siblings and Tom Tykwer (director of Run Lola Run). and this will be an adventurous and ambitious film with recurring actors taking on different characters (many of the actors have 3 to 4 parts in each of the films separate yet connecting chapters). If they can pull it off, this will be a dazzling and intelligent piece to come along in a while. Read the book and you'll understand why.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByehYal_cCs

2. Iron Man 3.
As the main focal point and lead character in the Avengers, it will be intriguing to see what Shane Black will do to bring new life to Tony Stark. Shane Black was the go to guy in the 80s for scripts for action flicks (he wrote Lethal Weapon you know!) and has a knack for writing great dialogue and characters. As before Tony Stark will be played by the ever charismatic Robert Downey Jr. Let's hope that this one won't be like the last, which was a real stinker of a film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EjG-1U3wq

3. V/H/S.
A compendium of shorts where a series of guys are given a mission to locate a a mysterious VHS cassette tape which contain a collection of captured freaky and creepy footage. Will this breed new life to the found footage genre, who knows, but it does look very very scary in places. With a different directors for the different segments there will be something of a variation to each narrative.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m3ExdKJe_U

4. Man of Steel.
Having recently been given the Superman Box Set for Xmas, this has whetted my appetite to see the Man from Krypton. Zach Snyder has the helm with Henry Cavill pulling on the classic blue and red tights, are we to believe a man can fly again... let's hope so. As a child, Superman to me, was the all American hero and Christopher Reeve will always be Clark Kent/Superman but this is a reboot with David S. Goyer and Christopher Nolan writing the story, maybe this will be a darker and more realistic version Superman.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DaPBBOHfsA

5. Evil Dead.
Remakes tend to suck, right? Well having watched the trailer over and over again, I am hoping this will be one of the exceptions where the remake brings something new yet still respecting the original. With the film just being awarded an NC-17 certificate in the US, this is looking promising to be full of gore and shocks. With Raimi giving his blessing on this re-imaging (and on producing detail) it can't be all that bad, can it?
Let's hope for more of Dawn style remake than an Elm Street one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHDJm1D2ELw

6. Star Trek Into the Darkness.
With all the characters established from the reboot, this should allow for more room for action. That's not saying the previous one isn't action packed but it did have a duty to introduce the characters to a new audience. So all the return crew are back fighting against Benedict Cumberbatch dastardly villain. As a non-Star Trek fan, I found the last effort to be thoroughly enjoyable and exceed all my expectations. And now with J.J. Abrams now officially confirmed to direct Star Wars VII: Revenge of the Lens Flairs (I'm kidding 'bout the title....) this is a chance to scrutinise his ability to explore and expand on one of boldest sci fi  franchises and to see whether he can the same on THE biggest sci fi following.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeLp2qr2iCg

7. Hitchcock.
A movie about one of the greatest film makers ever will always be an interesting subject matter. Many know of his treatment towards his female stars but this film focuses on his life and relationship with his wife. Set during the production of Psycho, this will be a treat for film fans alike to be able to watch the development of a great classic and the man behind it. Hitchcock will be played by Anthony Hopkins with his wife Alma Reville played by Helen Mirren.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7vYhtfNM9U

8. Before Midnight.
The continuing story of a couple of lovers destined to be with one another. We first saw them in Before Sunrise, and then we reconnected with their lives in Before Sunset and now we catch up with Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Deply) another nine years on in Greece. It's funny how easy it is to watch the Before films as they come around every nine years to remind us of how beautiful a love can blossom and how the audience is left wondering what has happened to our two friends. Once again directed by Linklater, will this be as successful as the previous 2 films? The same crew are back and whose to say that this won't be the closing chapter we were all looking for.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUGwK4v1sOM

9. Pacific Rim.
Here's a big budget effort from the director whose given us Pan's Labyrinth and the 2 Hellboy movies. This film see Earth coming under attack from giant monsters intent on destroying our biggest cities. The nation of the world intend to combat these creatures by building enormous robots to combat threat. With little or no major stars this takes classic Japanese monster movies and hurtles it to a new audiences. Let's hope this doesn't turn out to be another Godzilla (the US version).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vKz7WnU83E

10. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For.
We finally get the follow up to Sin City, the marvellous comic book feature which had buckets of style and felt more like a comic than a film. The new film will feature return of many of the characters and will be based on Frank Miller's graphic novels "A Dame to Kill For" and "Just another Saturday Night" plus 2 new stories written esp for the big screen. With many of the cast and crew returning this shouldn't fail.