Tracks

While I was sharing a lift with two ladies at the cinema they asked me what film I was seeing? 'Tracks' I replied. They looked at me blankly.. 'About a woman who walks across Australia with 4 camels and a dog?' I offered. That description received a similar response.. 'I'll let you know if it's any good' I said although I doubt I'll ever see them again.. (I think they were church going folk.. Well, Freedom Church going folk that is..)

Anyway, on with the film..

My synopsis to the 'lift ladies' doesn't do the film justice really. It was beautiful. The Australian tourist board should be very proud as the country looks stunning and makes me wanna go there (after Iceland maybe). Being based on a true story always adds gravitas to a film too. Mia Wasikowska (who I last saw in 'The Double') plays Robyn Davidson, a young girl who decides to trek 1700 miles across the Australian outback from Alice springs to the west coast. Once she starts on her journey the sense of isolation and the harsh environment are well portrayed. The music is haunting and Robyn's motivation and backstory are shown in dreamlike flashbacks. Adam Driver plays Rick Salmoan, the young photographer for National Geographic who erm... follows her as part of a sponsorship deal with the magazine.
It's another one of those films that, if it wasn't for my Cineworld card I wouldn't have paid to see.. But I'm glad I did..

Overall another inspiring movie ****.

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Locke.

On paper this should have been the cinema equivalent of an hour and a half in the company of Andy Murray.. I wonder how they pitched it..? A man driving in his car, on the phone.. And that's it.. For an 90 minutes..
It's testament to Tom Hardy's performance that it worked. He plays Ivan Locke, a 'married with kids' concrete layer who, on the evening of the biggest project of his career sets off in his car to London. Over the course of the film and the numerous phone calls he makes/receives his life unravels...

It wasn't what I expected.. Judging from the trailer I was under the impression he was fleeing a crime scene.. I won't say anymore but I was genuinely gripped and enthralled... And all down to Tom Hardy's performance..
Another thanks to the unlimited card.. I would never have paid to see this.. But, again I'm glad I did..
Another excellent Tom Hardy ****.

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The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Second film today and this was the main feature. This one carries on with Andrew Garfields Peter Parker/Spider-Man, and in this one (initially at least) he's fully accepted his powers. Still a bit miffed with his parents 'doing a runner' and the promise he made to his girlfriends dad to stay away from her.. Enter into the fray Mr Osbourne (he of Oscorp) and son (the excellent Dane DeHann) and Jammie Foxx's Electro and you know the routine...

Again we have another 'trailer spoils film' routine here.. This one was particularly bad regarding a certain character and his tacked on appearance at the end.. Well that's what it felt like.. And again the film was just too long.. In it's defence the money was up there on the screen. The set pieces were excellent, but again if you've seen the trailer... 

I wasn't a big fan of the first Amazing Spider-Man.. It was ok.. As was this. Should have been better though..
Another disappointing **1/2

And as for the obligatory Marvel credit sting.. **spoiler** it was an 'X-Men:days of future past' snippet.. I couldn't be arsed to wait for the very end of the credits...
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Transcendence

Here's another advanced preview weekend. Before anything, lets synopsosise..
The film centres around 3 scientist friends who specialise in Artificial Intelligence. Johnny Depp plays Will Caster, the top brain of the 3 and after a presentation on the future of AI he's shot with a radioactive bullet. At the same time numerous AI labs are attacked too by RIFT, a group of Luddites. Anyway if you've seen the trailer you know the rest...

This is Wally Pfister's directorial debut. As in Christopher Nolan's right hand man, and you can see he's picked up a few tips.. As with all Sci-fi you've got to go in with an open mind.. Which I did.. The CGi was good as was the acting, which is to be expected with Johnny Depp, Paul Bethany and Rebecca Hall. Throw in Nolan regulars Cillian Murphy and Morgan Freeman and the actings in the bag.

But somehow I didn't connect with the film. With today's Sci-fi aiming towards realism (even the super hero movies) the science in this movie tests my even my limits of acceptability.. It goes to show the quality of the writing that I can accept that a man with a hammer can fly between realms and summon lightening and yet I struggle with nano technology contaminating rain water...

Overall rating **1/2.

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The Raid 2

There's one or two films I can think of where, introducing a gun earlier on in the proceedings would certainly improve the situation. Not just for the protagonists involved but also, in the case of 'The Legend Of Hercules' the entire audience.. There are certain sections in 'The Raid 2' where a gun would have helped our hero. But thanks to Gareth Evans it wasn't required. Those who are familiar with his excellent directorial debut ('The Raid' in case you were wondering) will know what to expect here.. If I had to sum it up in one word that would be BRUTAL. Relentless and thrilling would also cover it..
Ah yes, synopsis, nearly forgot.. Iko Uwais plays Rama, the police man for the first film, and this time he's tasked with an undercover operation to route out the corrupt police.

To be fair I loved it (despite the constant sweaty palms and wincing). The action was, at times extraordinary! As you try to catch your breath another set piece (literally) kicks in.. The person sat behind me would occasionally vocalise what I was thinking with the odd 'owww..!' and 'oh my god'. Not to mention the odd 'Jesus Christ!!!'. If you are at all aversed to heads being crushed and limbs bending the wrong way I'd advise you not to see this film.. If that sort of stuff doesn't bother you, fill yer boots!

Another awesome offering from the Welsh man.. ****
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Divergent

How's this for a movie pitch.  It's based on a global best seller so it's gonna be good... The world has been ravaged by war. The surviving humans have been divided up into different clans... We'll call them 'Factions' for the sake of argument. Emerging from this dystopian order comes a young, strong female lead who's different....  Sound familiar? That's right, it's The Hunger Games.. And there's the problem.. To use a gaming analogy if 'The Hunger Games' is Half Life then 'Divergent' is Counter-strike. You use the basic engine of a good game, change some of the details and there you have it. The same could be said with the Percy Jackson movies and they're based on the very successful 'Harry Potter' engine..

That being said the performances were good and the CGi was good enough that you didn't notice it..

The question is 'will it generate enough interest to start a franchise?'. Or will it end up another 'Golden Compass' or 'The Seeker:The Dark is Rising'?  

Out of the films I've seen this weekend it's better than Noah.... but not by much..

Rating: **1/2

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Noah

Second film today and here we have Darren Aronofsky's take on the Noah chapter of the first testament.. And it was a sell out viewing..

Now we all know the story.. God decides to destroy mankind with a flood and tasks Noah with the job of building an ark and saving all the animals.. I think that's the basic gist of it, it's been a long time since I read it.

And therein lyes the problem.. If they'd called it something else and based it on a planet in a galaxy far,far away they could have probably got away with it. But as it's based on a true story (according to certain delusional people) that is its main failing... Darren Aronofsky try's to appeal to both believers and atheists half way through the film with an interesting story told by Noah to his family (God created evolution). But it didn't detract from what was basically a two hour plus pile of crap.. Anthony Hopkins was the standout for me, injecting what little humour there was into the film. And in all fairness, Emma Watson was also very good too. 

I would argue that they've made the best they could out of a bad book. .. There were even a few laughs from the audience at inappropriate times.. Plus it was way too long... 

I dunno.. ** seems generous. On the plus side Iceland looked gorgeous (as per usual) and the CGi wasn't too bad.. 

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The Double

And thus completes my Trilogy Of The Weird..

This is Richard Ayoades second directorial effort and after the excellent 'Submarine' I was kinda looking forward to it.. 

Quick synopsis, just to fill you in.. Jesse Eisenberg plays Simon James, an office worker (for want of a better description) who's mundane life if thrown into chaos buy the arrival of James Simon (Jesse Eisenburg). 

The film was set in a time that you couldn't quite put your finger on.. Definitely pre-digital, the tv's were small and the phones were bake-o-lite.  It was quirky in a Wes Anderson way, with particular attention paid to the small details. Jesse Eisenberg hasn't been this interesting since 'The Social Network' and puts in a very good performance has himself and his doppelgänger.. Mia Wasikowska is appealing as the love interest and most of Ayoades chums turn up in cameos.  Including Chris Morris, Chris O'Dowd the two leads from Submarine and the excellent Paddie Constantine..

I loved it. I laughed consistently and was equally enthralled by the whole of Ayoades world he created.

Overall another weird one but a deserving ****.