CHARIOTS OF FIRE v KILLING THEM SOFTLY

CHARIOTS OF FIRE v KILLING THEM SOFTLY

ok not like for like, but something of a grudge match none the less.

First off CHARIOTS OF FIRE. (DVD from the library) 

Now I'm of the generation that grew up with Nescafe Nigel Havers and not Chariots of Fire Nigel Havers.

For those that don't remember, Nescafe ran a series of adverts that played out like a soap opera and featured Nigel Havers trying desperately to charm his way into his neighbours knickers.

So in my eyes, Havers had some ground to make up (pardon the pun) if he was to redeem himself as a credible actor. 

And to my surprise he does so, and would have liked to have seen more of him in this. 

The opening sequence is wonderful and pays homage to an era of cinema that allowed opening credits to stretch over 5 minutes.

For over good examples see SUPERMAN, for bad examples see OVER THE TOP.

Talking of Sly, if you thought some of the training scenes in Rocky was homo erotic, it pales significantly in comparison to when Ian Holm turns up and starts rubbing buttermilk on the back of Ben Cross's back.

The film stands up, has a wonderful intensity to it but feels a bit flabby in places. The John Gielgood scenes bored me slightly which is a shame. 

And lets face it, its a film about RUNNING. We are just watching men run, either in a straight line, or in a circle. So considering the subject matter, its amazing this film held my attention at all.

NOW, on to something that is right up my dirt track, people running around shooting each other with shotguns.

KILLING THEM SOFTLY (at cinemas now)

Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta 

 

First off I saw this film on a four beer buzz so was probably expecting to doze off after the 20 minute mark.

But the film kept me in the game, and I think that was down to the writing, the characters were genuinely interesting and worth investing in.

I want to echo Mark Kermode (Wittertainment podcast 5live) who said this film is about machoism, but ultimately all the characters portrayed are cowards.

After watching The Curious Case of Benjamin Button a month back, I remember thinking, Brad Pitt owes me one.

I'm happy to say he has cleared the ledger. 

SO watch KILLING THEM SOFTLY and not CHARIOTS OF FIRE. 

LAWLESS v WE BOUGHT A ZOO

WATCH THIS, NOT THAT..

THIS WEEK 

WE BOUGHT A ZOO (Available on dvd at Blockbusters)

v

LAWLESS (Currently playing at the cinema)

We start with WE BOUGHT A ZOO..

So Matt Damon has lost his wife and decides to upsticks with his jumpy up and down daughter and super depressing teenage son.

He meets Scarlett Johansson (remember her from every film you've watched recently?). 

She looks at Damon with goo-goo eyes everytime he hammers a cheque to save the zoo. Which by the way, happens a lot.

The main problem is that Damon has not gotten over his dead wife, whom you don't give two craps about because you were never introduced to her in the first place.

But don't worry you get to see Damon reminisce every five fucking minutes through numerous photo albums on his mac book. 

It is the equivalent of your girlfriend having a great time on the piss the night before with her girl mates, but being a complete hungover dick with you the day after.

Moving on to LAWLESS starring Shai Labeouf

Now the best thing I've seen Shai LaBeouf in up until now is a street fight you tube video where he gets his ass kicked by a shirtless fat guy on a Vancouver sidewalk. 

have a look..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dff_KSFPLBs

I missed the meeting a few years back where it was decided that Shai had to be a shoe-in for every role that needed a leading man in his early twenties. The Transformers, Wall Street 2, Indiana Jones and the forgettable film title.

I also missed the meeting where it was called for Tom Hardy to feature in every film that needs a leading man to look broody but be capable of kicking ass at any given point. 

That said, Tom Hardy has been in the best film of the year so far, and Shai has yet to star in a film of any credulity. 

It's well put together, it looks fine aesthetically, and it keeps you on your toes throughout.

But enough about Jessica Chastain's cleavage. BOOOOOOOM!!!

But seriously, she's not in it enough and you only really care about her and her relationship with Tom Hardy.

Gary Oldman turns up, but don't go taking a piss when he's on, because he's not on for long.

SO

Both films based on true stories, as is MY film that has been released this week in time for the Colchester film festival.

OUR WORLD CUP

and you can watch that here...

http://www.youtube.com/user/peteyfourfingers?feature=mhee

So shamelessly, watch my film OUR WORLD CUP, not LAWLESS, or, WE BOUGHT A ZZZzzzzzzz

DREDD v TAKE SHELTER

Yesterday I watched two movies of stark contrast.


DREDD (at the pictures, in pointless 3D)

and

TAKE SHELTER (on dvd from the library)



Well first off, DREDD.
The film has a bad-ass rating of 10/10
The woman in it is super-hot (Olivia Thirlby) and unlike the Stallone original, it is entirely watchable.
Trouble is, I saw this film about 5 months back and it's called the RAID and that was epic.
PS_the drug sequences are beautiful and it really makes me want to take them.
I doubt that was the message the film was trying to get across, infact, I doubt there was any message.
But who cares, it is brutal in places, predictable in others but will at no point in time bore you.
Less can be said for Total Recall.

Moving on.

TAKE SHELTER

Got no release at the cinema locally, and you won't find it in Blockbusters either.
But you will see about 20 copies of EAT PRAY LOVE, or some other bullshit of a similar ilk.
It is about a construction worker  played by Michael Shannon, (look out for him he will be playing ZOD in the upcoming superman) who builds a tornado shelter in his back lawn because he
believes it could come in handy for the apocalypse, which he is having crazy dreams about man.
Everyone in the village thinks he's nuttier than squirrel shit including his super-hot wife (Jessica Chastain).

But who will have the last laugh eh?
Well I don't want to spoil anything for you but the film has genuine tension and creeped me out a little which wasn't expected. As for the ending, I have since googled it and have come to the conclusion that you can pretty much take from it what you want. It works for me but have read and heard reviews that say otherwise. Other reviews are available of course but they just happen to be wrong.
This is a gem of an end of days movie, that doesn't rely on a feast of CGI, Will Smith, or Roland Emmerich and I suggest you seek it out from your local library.


THAT SAID...

THE RAID is probably the film of the year for me so far so..

Watch THE RAID,....

NOT TAKE SHELTER or DREDD

Watch this not that (Flight plan v Total Recall)

OK

Two films I've seen this week,..

FLIGHT PLAN on the iPlayer with Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster loses a kid on a plane, I prefer her stuck in a small room where she at least knows where her children are.

v

TOTAL RECALL the cover version with Colin Farrell at the picture house.

Kate Beckinsale takes on the role of Sharon Stone AND Micheal Ironside.
So Richter still won't make it to the party.
It has a higher boob count than Flight Plan (1.5 ratio)
Not as good as the Paul Verhoeven original so..

So watch TOTAL RECALL (with Arnie),....NOT......FLIGHT PLAN