Cameron Diaz seems to be either miscast or she cannot do 'nasty' well enough to be believable in this role. Jamie Foxx is good, he makes the lines he is given work well but every time he sings it is jarring as there seems to be a disconnect between his acting and singing performances - I believe it's him singing as he has released music albums it's just that something in the film that isn't quite right. Quvenzhané Wallis is also good but is not given as much room to emote as in Beasts of the Southern Wild. Bobby Cannavale is surprisingly good and easily out-acts Rose Byrne's as the English assistant (with an Australian accent). All the songs are there, the setting has been brought up to date, but I don't think it's a movie that brings a smile to your face or a tear to your eye as the original movie did and can still do.
The best thing in this movie is Bruce Greenwood and that should tell you something about a film where you would expect the two main characters to be the focus of your attention
Perhaps it was the hype preceding it or maybe it was because I had watched A Separation and my mind was still switched onto the movie detective setting but I was disappointed with Looper.
Sure the action is great and fast, the sets are brilliant and detailed, the acting quality is high and Joseph Gordon-Levitt's make-up is mostly not distracting, yet in the end I felt somehow cheated. Time travel is and will always be a difficult mechanic to convey and the film does a really good job to distract you into not paying attention at the intricacies but if at any moment you sneak a peek down as you are being sweep along nicely you'll start to pick at the plot.
I'd still recommend it as a low 8 out of 10
This film is all over the place, but it manages to hold all the pieces together better that other movies with the aforementioned affliction, such as another Disney film, National Treasure.
Imagine a committee of suits in a soulless room with a list of popular movies tacked on to a board and everyone in the room gets a go at it with a dart. You get a bit of Indiana Jones, a whole chunk of Star Wars, sprinklings of Firefly, Pirates of the Caribbean, Braveheart and Avatar all crammed in here.
The main character is devoid of charisma, but to be fair this could be the weird sensation that you are getting set up to get a performance, similar to that created by Spielberg with Ford in Indiana Jones, only to be deceived throughout the film. There's a group of other great and watchable actors in the cast but their talent is not used here at all.
At some point it seems like a scatty team member hilariously slipped whilst carrying the only copy of the film's script alongside scripts for The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones and wasn't particularly bothered to rectify the blunder.
The worse bit overall is that, for an action film, I had to watch it over two sittings after dozing off
Terrible movie, constantly moves like a hyper active person leaving the audience 10 paces back wondering about the flimsy plot and how on earth they can so tenuously and conveniently link so much "history" together.
A lot of people were conned into parting with cash to see this rubbish by the first movie, considering how this made it into the top 200 all-time boxoffice list
The idea behind the movie could be used in any other sporting or business context because this isn't a film about baseball. It's about the pressures that people have to endure when they're in relatively high powered jobs and are still expected to succeed with limited resources
The story is about making the best of what you have, a lot about having faith in people's skills and seeing beyond their marketability. Saying that, it doesn't make any strong statements and perhaps shies away from damning the huge amounts of money involved in sports today.
The script isn't as clever or witty as we have come to expect from anything Aaron Sorkin is involved in but the content is concise and mimics very well the language many people might come to expect from the world of sports.
Hoffman and Hill's performances are understated and professional but this film is all about Pitt who at times not only does he chew the scenery but also devours every edible prop in view
Overall it's a good film and for Pitt it's one that reinforces what is likely to be a great year for awards, but on it's own it's not his best
In a word 'Flimsy'. Good music, solid acting from Gallo, but Madsen's and Pantoliano's talents were wasted here. Facinelli is not compelling enough to warrant all the screen time he's given; his and Alexander's performances are not terrible, except for the "sex scene" which was laughable, but nothing stands out as amazing. Barely scores 6/10 for me
Fantastically set, acted, shot and directed thriller with beautiful pacing which keeps you on the edge of your seat and gives you just enough of the story to keep your imagination ticking over.
The acting is absolutely superb, with a special mention to Gary Oldman, and it's akin to watching an intense poker game, where a mere twitch of an eyelid conveys so much yet doesn't give anything away.
If you enjoyed films such as the original 12 Angry Men or Frost/Nixon you'll find another favourite here.
A great mix of trademark Almodovar film-making and stylish horror. The director manages to balance both elements superbly with extra bits of drama and dark comedy that fit together nicely and manage to cater to both horror and Almodovar fans alike. If you have previously enjoyed some of the director's previous work you will see the twist coming from early-on in the movie but the journey towards the inevitable ending does not disappoint. There are fantastic performances from Almodovar veterans Banderas, Anaya and Paredes, which are a testament to how accustomed and comfortable they have become with working with the director.
Wonderfully charming film about a penpal relationship between two people who struggle to understand the world around them. One is a young girl from Australia and the other a middle aged man from the US. If you find something to identify with in this film it will pluck at your heart strings whilst adding a little bit of comedy into the mix. The movie deals with some mature subjects but it's not too complicated as to not be enjoyed by young and older alike.
Quite a few good moments and not a terrible film at all, unfortunately the Jason Sudeikis character is just not as good or put-upon as the other two main characters and that ultimately hurts the outcome of two of the three story threads. The film Throw Momma off the Train is referenced in the dialogue and if it was the maker's hope that three characters would better than two then they should have spent more time developing the roles much more. There was a glimmer of hope in the Ealing-esque twist but in the end it wasn't enough. And as already mentioned elsewhere, Jennifer Aniston was definitely not the absolute best choice for the female boss. As good as she was in delivering her lines, it's difficult to disassociate her from Friends' Rachel Greene
Dark comedy about a husband who discovers his estranged wife has meticulously planned to bring her remaining family closer together after her death. Good if slightly morbid in places
Comments 1 - 15 of 15
Movie comment on Annie
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Cameron Diaz seems to be either miscast or she cannot do 'nasty' well enough to be believable in this role. Jamie Foxx is good, he makes the lines he is given work well but every time he sings it is jarring as there seems to be a disconnect between his acting and singing performances - I believe it's him singing as he has released music albums it's just that something in the film that isn't quite right. Quvenzhané Wallis is also good but is not given as much room to emote as in Beasts of the Southern Wild. Bobby Cannavale is surprisingly good and easily out-acts Rose Byrne's as the English assistant (with an Australian accent). All the songs are there, the setting has been brought up to date, but I don't think it's a movie that brings a smile to your face or a tear to your eye as the original movie did and can still do.6/10
Movie comment on Jay and Silent Bob Get Old: Tea Bagging in the UK
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Jodie getting "teabagged" at the end, ha!Movie comment on Endless Love
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The best thing in this movie is Bruce Greenwood and that should tell you something about a film where you would expect the two main characters to be the focus of your attentionMovie comment on Looper
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Perhaps it was the hype preceding it or maybe it was because I had watched A Separation and my mind was still switched onto the movie detective setting but I was disappointed with Looper.Sure the action is great and fast, the sets are brilliant and detailed, the acting quality is high and Joseph Gordon-Levitt's make-up is mostly not distracting, yet in the end I felt somehow cheated. Time travel is and will always be a difficult mechanic to convey and the film does a really good job to distract you into not paying attention at the intricacies but if at any moment you sneak a peek down as you are being sweep along nicely you'll start to pick at the plot.
I'd still recommend it as a low 8 out of 10
Movie comment on John Carter
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This film is all over the place, but it manages to hold all the pieces together better that other movies with the aforementioned affliction, such as another Disney film, National Treasure.Imagine a committee of suits in a soulless room with a list of popular movies tacked on to a board and everyone in the room gets a go at it with a dart. You get a bit of Indiana Jones, a whole chunk of Star Wars, sprinklings of Firefly, Pirates of the Caribbean, Braveheart and Avatar all crammed in here.
The main character is devoid of charisma, but to be fair this could be the weird sensation that you are getting set up to get a performance, similar to that created by Spielberg with Ford in Indiana Jones, only to be deceived throughout the film. There's a group of other great and watchable actors in the cast but their talent is not used here at all.
At some point it seems like a scatty team member hilariously slipped whilst carrying the only copy of the film's script alongside scripts for The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones and wasn't particularly bothered to rectify the blunder.
The worse bit overall is that, for an action film, I had to watch it over two sittings after dozing off
Movie comment on Celda 211
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Fantastic film. All round great work. The transformation of the characters in the story is paced brilliantly.The casting is magnificent and their work is just right. The camera work gives you a real claustrophobic feel which makes the story even more intense
Movie comment on National Treasure: Book of Secrets
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Terrible movie, constantly moves like a hyper active person leaving the audience 10 paces back wondering about the flimsy plot and how on earth they can so tenuously and conveniently link so much "history" together.A lot of people were conned into parting with cash to see this rubbish by the first movie, considering how this made it into the top 200 all-time boxoffice list
Movie comment on Moneyball
Atom
The idea behind the movie could be used in any other sporting or business context because this isn't a film about baseball. It's about the pressures that people have to endure when they're in relatively high powered jobs and are still expected to succeed with limited resourcesThe story is about making the best of what you have, a lot about having faith in people's skills and seeing beyond their marketability. Saying that, it doesn't make any strong statements and perhaps shies away from damning the huge amounts of money involved in sports today.
The script isn't as clever or witty as we have come to expect from anything Aaron Sorkin is involved in but the content is concise and mimics very well the language many people might come to expect from the world of sports.
Hoffman and Hill's performances are understated and professional but this film is all about Pitt who at times not only does he chew the scenery but also devours every edible prop in view
Overall it's a good film and for Pitt it's one that reinforces what is likely to be a great year for awards, but on it's own it's not his best
Movie comment on Loosies
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In a word 'Flimsy'. Good music, solid acting from Gallo, but Madsen's and Pantoliano's talents were wasted here. Facinelli is not compelling enough to warrant all the screen time he's given; his and Alexander's performances are not terrible, except for the "sex scene" which was laughable, but nothing stands out as amazing. Barely scores 6/10 for meMovie comment on Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
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Fantastically set, acted, shot and directed thriller with beautiful pacing which keeps you on the edge of your seat and gives you just enough of the story to keep your imagination ticking over.The acting is absolutely superb, with a special mention to Gary Oldman, and it's akin to watching an intense poker game, where a mere twitch of an eyelid conveys so much yet doesn't give anything away.
If you enjoyed films such as the original 12 Angry Men or Frost/Nixon you'll find another favourite here.
Movie comment on La piel que habito
Atom
A great mix of trademark Almodovar film-making and stylish horror. The director manages to balance both elements superbly with extra bits of drama and dark comedy that fit together nicely and manage to cater to both horror and Almodovar fans alike. If you have previously enjoyed some of the director's previous work you will see the twist coming from early-on in the movie but the journey towards the inevitable ending does not disappoint. There are fantastic performances from Almodovar veterans Banderas, Anaya and Paredes, which are a testament to how accustomed and comfortable they have become with working with the director.Movie comment on Mary and Max.
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Wonderfully charming film about a penpal relationship between two people who struggle to understand the world around them. One is a young girl from Australia and the other a middle aged man from the US. If you find something to identify with in this film it will pluck at your heart strings whilst adding a little bit of comedy into the mix. The movie deals with some mature subjects but it's not too complicated as to not be enjoyed by young and older alike.Movie comment on Horrible Bosses
Atom
Quite a few good moments and not a terrible film at all, unfortunately the Jason Sudeikis character is just not as good or put-upon as the other two main characters and that ultimately hurts the outcome of two of the three story threads. The film Throw Momma off the Train is referenced in the dialogue and if it was the maker's hope that three characters would better than two then they should have spent more time developing the roles much more. There was a glimmer of hope in the Ealing-esque twist but in the end it wasn't enough. And as already mentioned elsewhere, Jennifer Aniston was definitely not the absolute best choice for the female boss. As good as she was in delivering her lines, it's difficult to disassociate her from Friends' Rachel GreeneMovie comment on Cinco días sin Nora
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Dark comedy about a husband who discovers his estranged wife has meticulously planned to bring her remaining family closer together after her death. Good if slightly morbid in placesMovie comment on Daniel & Ana
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Disturbing tale of how a family is torn apart as they fail to cope in the aftermath of a kidnapping. Difficult to watch