February | 2012 | the m0vie blog

The Sopranos: Sopranos (Review)

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Darren

I feel like I am massively late to the party. Not fashionably late, mind you. However, my gran received The Sopranos on DVD for Christmas, and I’ve decided to go back and watch it from the start with her. I’ve seen bits and pieces of the iconic television show over the years – even following it for a full two seasons in the middle – but I’ve never seen David Chase’s dark exploration of the American dream from beginning to end. So, slowly, in the company of my grandmother, I shall be making my way through what many people consider to be the best television show ever produced. And where better to start, after all these years, than the very first episode?

Talking it out...

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Filed under: Television | Tagged: american dream, arts, Christopher, David Chase, Gary Cooper, godfather, hbo, history, Melfi, review, Silvio Dante, Soprano, sopranos, Steven Van Zandt, Television, the sopranos, the sopranos (pilot), Tony, Tony Award, Tony Soprano, tv, United States | Leave a comment »

Non-Review Review: Casa De Mi Padre

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Darren

This film was seen as part of the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival 2012. It was the first “surprise” film.

Will Ferrell’s Casa De Mi Padre is perhaps the most esoterical comedy ever produced. The comedian has his legion of loyal fans, but it’s difficult to imagine that there’s a large crossover between those who enjoy Ferrell’s work and those with an affection for Mexican telenovelas. Filmed in “Mexico Vision”, with pretty much all of the dialogue in Spanish (rather than, as one DEA agent puts it, “American”), the movie displays an astonishing commitment to its basic premise, which is effectively one joke sustained over its runtime. I can sense already that Ferrell’s latest project will be his most divisive to date, dividing film fans into “love it” or “hate it” camps. I fall strongly into the former.

A que no me alcanzas!

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Filed under: Non-Review Reviews | Tagged: business, Casa de Mi Padre, Ferrell, film, Gloucestershire, Illegal drug trade, jameson dublin international film festival, lars von trier, Meta-joke, Mexican people, Mexico, Movie, non-review review, prison, review, Spanish, Spanish language, Sunglasses, Terrence Malick, United States, will ferrell | 3 Comments »

Non-Review Review: Bel Ami

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Darren

This film was seen as part of the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival 2012.

I have to admit to being pleasantly surprised by Bel Ami, the first film from theatrical veterans Declan Donnellan & Nick Ormerod. It’s a classy little period drama that doesn’t necessarily redefine the genre, but instead stands as a worth addition to the canon. In a way, it seems like a more lavish BBC adaptation, which is quite a compliment when it comes to period drama. I don’t know if actor Robert Pattinson will necessarily find life after Twilight, but I imagine he will find a niché if he choses his next couple of roles as carefully as he chose this one.

Hm... This guy rings a Bel...

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Filed under: Non-Review Reviews | Tagged: Bel Ami, Christina Ricci, colm meaney, Declan Donnellan, Edward Cullen, Kristin Scott Thomas, Nick Ormerod, Pattinson, philip glenister, Phillip Glenister, Robert Pattinson, twilight, uma thurman, United States | 18 Comments »

Non-Review Review: Black Gold

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Darren

This film was seen as part of the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival 2012.

The problem at the heart of Black Gold is that its politics are too simple to fit within the confines of the epic sand-swept adventure that it sets out to tell. It’s hard to construct a standard epic when there’s no clear delineation between the forces of good and evil. While the stylish direction, larger-than-life performances and James Horner’s classic score may point to an old-fashioned adventure film, the fact we’re asked to sympathise with a protagonist burning men alive in tanks or engaging in terrorist tactics creates a surreal dissonance that the movie never quite gets past.

Riders in the sandstorm...

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Filed under: Non-Review Reviews | Tagged: Antonio Banderas, Arab, Arab people, Auda, Banderas, Black Gold, black gold (2012), black gold (film), film, hollywood, James Horner, London, mark strong, Movie, non-review review, review | Leave a comment »

Non-Review Review: Albert Nobbs

Posted on February 19, 2012 by Darren

This film was seen as part of the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival 2012.

Albert Nobbs is a fascinating little film that plays host to two fascinating central performances. It’s no secret that the movie has been something of a passion project for Glenn Close since she first played the role on stage, and she relishes the opportunity to bring the eponymous character to the big screen. Just as impressive is Janet McTeer as her confident and an unlikely friend. However, the movie suffers a little bit from a script that offers clever and enticing symbolism and metaphor, at the expense of offering an accessible narrative.

Close call...

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Filed under: Non-Review Reviews | Tagged: aaron johnson, Albert, Albert Nobbs, arts, brendan gleeson, film, Glenn, Glenn Close, Janet McTeer, John Banville, Mia Wasikowska, non-review review, review, Rodrigo García Barcha | 5 Comments »

Non-Review Review: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Posted on February 19, 2012 by Darren

This film was seen as part of the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival 2012.

Coming from director John Madden, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is fairly straight-forward in what it offers audiences. Unlike Dev Patel’s entrepreneurial “Sonny”, who lures foreign tourists to his Indian hotel using a carefully photoshopped image, there’s no sense that the movie is in any way misleading. It’s a feel-good travel comedy-drama that throws together a wealth of experienced British talent in a story about embracing life and change and various other wonderful aspects of existence. It’s always thrilling to see these sorts of actors afforded the opportunity to shine, and a huge amount of the appeal of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is in watching its veteran thespians just cut loose and have a bit of fun.

Lounging around...

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Filed under: Non-Review Reviews | Tagged: Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, bill nighy, Celia Imrie, dev patel, film, india, John Madden, judi dench, London, Maggie Smith, Movie, non-review review, penelope wilton, review, the best exotic marigold hotel, Tom Wilkinson | 6 Comments »

Non-Review Review: Saving the Titanic

Posted on February 18, 2012 by Darren

This film was seen as part of the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival 2012.

Saving the Titanic is an interesting blend of documentary and drama, exploring the efforts of the engineers onboard the ill-fated ship, fighting to keep her afloat and alight just a little bit longer. The narration from Liam Cunningham suggests that the selfless bravery of those working in the bowels of the ship allowed her to survive more than an hour and a half longer than she should have. While the docu-drama never really reconciles the two approaches it takes to events – creating the impression that it should have opted for a “one or the other” style of approach – it is a fascinating look at one of the most important events of the twentieth century.

It's a dirty job...

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Filed under: Non-Review Reviews | Tagged: cgi, Ciarán McMenamin, Computer-generated imagery, denzel washington, film, Hugh O'Connor, james cameron, jameson dublin international film festival, Jamie Bell, liam cunningham, Movie, non-review review, Papist, programming, review, RMS Titanic, Saving the Titanic, Shepard, Steve Lynch, titanic, United States | 1 Comment »

Berry Your Head in Shame: Watching The White Dwarf Stars In Slow Motion…

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Darren

Speedman is a dying star. A white dwarf headed for a black hole. That’s physics. It’s inevitable.

– Les Grossman, Tropic Thunder

Fame is like anything else. It’s like money or luck. It comes and it goes. Still, as the poster for Halle Berry’s latest film, Dark Tide, arrive, it’s hard not to feel a little bit sorry for those performers who have watched their fame and popularity slip out from underneath them.

Halle Berry won an Oscar for Monster’s Ball. She played one of the few James Bond characters to be considered for a spin-off, appearing in Die Another Day. She got a considerable pay increase for showing her breasts in Swordfish. She headlined one of the very few female-centric superhero films, the dire Catwoman. Not all of those were good films. In fact, being harsh, I’d argue that one of them was a good film, and the rest were significantly flawed, if not outright terrible. Still, it’s quite sad to see the former Oscar-winner relegated to appearing in the latest film from the director of Blue Crush and Into the Blue.

She did make some Berry questionable choices...

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Filed under: Movies | Tagged: Academy Award, adam sandler, al pacino, Black hole, Cuba Gooding, Cuba Gooding Jr, Daddy Day Camp, Dark Tide, eddie murphy, education, france, Gabriel Aubry, Halle Berry, Hero Wanted, Jerry Maguire, Michael Caine, Nahla, Olivier Martinez, robert deniro, robert downey jr, Wilde Salome | 1 Comment »

The Sequel Dilemma: What Does It Take to Convince You To See a Sequel to a Really Bad Movie?

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Darren

I can’t help it. I am kinda excited to see Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. I know the first Ghost Rider was terrible. I sat through it. However, there’s still a little part of me that’s yearning to get a look at what Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor have done to the series. After all, the pair helmed Crank, perhaps the quintessential “very silly, very exciting” action movie. And, to be fair, there have been any number of movie franchises that have recovered from a near catastrophic instalment to offer something new and exciting and engaging.

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Filed under: Movies | Tagged: Amazing Spider-Man, Andrew Garfield, Brian Taylor, Crank, Drive Angry, ghost rider, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Idris Elba, Mark Neveldine, Mark Steven Johnson, nicolas cage, Rupert Wyatt, tim burton, Vengeance | 3 Comments »

Non-Review Review: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Darren

Stephen Daldry’s latest film, and surprise Best Picture nominee, looks lovely. It opens with a credit sequence that see Tom Hanks falling through the air like an even more stylish version of the Mad Men opening credits. The blue background is just the right shade, the picture is crisp, the focus is tight. Of course, that beautifully illustrative opening sequence exposes the primary flaw with Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. Some things just aren’t meant to look pretty, and some events can’t be wrapped up inside a feel-good blanket with a tidy ribbon on the outside.