Film review Miss you Already – a little bit Beach-y

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cancer, Director Catherine Hardwicke, Dominic Cooper, Drew Barrymore, events, Film Review, Films, Ireland, Irish Cancer Society, Jacqueline Bisset, Light House Cinema, Miss you Already, movies, Paddy Considine, reviews, Special Fundraising Preview Screening, Toni Collette

Drew Barrymore & Toni Collette in Miss You Already

Tissues are a must for any that go and see Miss you Already. The film is based around the ongoing friendship between whirlwind Milly (Tony Collette) and hippie Jess (Drew Barrymore). Since childhood, the two have been as thick as thieves, Jess always following in Milly’s wake, best friends, no matter what!

When Milly, a mother of two, discovers she has breast cancer things begin to spiral out of control. Jess is there for her friend, but Milly seems to have lost all sight of anyone around her, as Jess puts it she becomes a “cancer bully”.

Anyone who thinks, “I know that story”, is correct; Miss you Already has more than a few similarities with the 1988 Beaches, staring Bette Midler as C.C. Bloom and Barbara Hershey as Hillary Whitney – just with a few role reversals.

And like Beaches, Miss you Already relies on the tight bond that women form, deep unconditional love with lots of humour thrown in – men are really only arm-candy.

Set in modern day London it does seem a little odd that both main characters are not English, and while Collette’s British accent is good, Barrymore’s absence of one is explained away. But Collette and Barrymore are expertly cast and the chemistry between the two is evident.

Both male leads however hold up the flag as Dominic Cooper partners up with Collette, as her saintly husband Kit, and Paddy Considine teams up with Barrymore as her life partner Jago.

Director Catherine Hardwicke is brave enough to not gloss over the gory bits and shots of mastectomy scars show us how rarely, if ever, we see, the reality of what cancer means to so many. This paired with the humour of how Milly tells her children about cancer and chemotherapy treatment Miss you Already really does show how cancer effects everyone around the person suffering.

Not knowing what to say or what to do is a bit part of how everyone around Milly reacts to her illness. Acceptance and humour is how Jess copes with the situation, Milly’s husband Kit seems less able to find a way to communicate. Milly’s mum, a vain TV actress, endearingly captured by Jacqueline Bisset, bumbles around never knowing what to do but always wanting to help – and in the end she has her shining moment, much to her own surprise.

Beautifully shot, the moor scenes in particular, Hardwicke howeveroverdoes the close-ups at times. Both Collette and Barymore are excellent actors and their skill would have allowed for a little bit of a distance.

So, even if Miss you Already is a bit Beach-y and not necessarily all that new, it is a modern day portrayal of what cancer does to lives. It is well worth a few packets of tissues and a perfect film for a night out with the girls. But men should watch it too, as they can learn a thing or two about women.

So if you don’t have any plans tonight, the Irish Cancer Society has organised a Miss You Already Special Fundraising Preview Screening today (Monday 21^st of September) at 6.30pm at the Light House Cinema, Smithfield Square. Grab your best friends and treat yourself to a great night out. Tickets are €25 each, which includes goodie bag and a drink at the pre-screening reception.

Man Up – the latest British Rom-Com

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blind date, Film Review, Films, Lake Bell, Man Up, movies, Olivia Williams, reviews, rom-com, Simon Pegg

Simon Pegg and Lake Bell in Man Up

Of late there has been a lull in Rom-Coms, so it is refreshing to see Man Up hit the big screens this weekend.

Nancy (Lake Bell doing a good English accent) is a thirty-something, slightly depressed single who has given up on love. Arriving in Waterloo station Nancy bumps into Jack (Simon Pegg ) who mistakes her for his blind date Jessica, a twenty-something city-girl.

Before Nancy can explain, she isn’t who he thinks she is, Jack quotes Silence of the Lambs and Nancy decides to take her big sisters advice and be spontaneous. The newly formed couple stroll around London and get to know each other, or rather Nancy gets to know who he thinks she is.

But this is only the first of many accidental meetings and as Man Up speeds through the various stages of a relationship a few strangers cause for much excitement. Half way through the date Jack finds out he has been having a great time with Nancy – not Jessica- and the perfect date goes terribly wrong. His ex wife (Olivia Williams) complicates matters even more and by the time Nancy and Jack part ways again you can’t help but hope that the story isn’t quite finished. And of course it isn’t – the ridiculousness continues until it’s somewhat silly climax!

Over all Man Up is fun-filled film and delivers on what it promises – a good old fashioned Rom-Com. And while this film may be littered with slapstick moments and witty one-liners it never once tries to be taken serious. Simon Pegg does a good job as straight-laced Jack but the true star of the film is Lake Bell. She sparkles and shines, makes fun of herself throughout and is a joy to watch.

So if you are looking for a light fill to enjoy and quickly forget Man Up is your best bet – the perfect date-night or girls-night-out movie.

 

 

San Andreas: a bit of a disaster

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Alexandra Daddario, California, Carla Gugino, disaster films, Dwayne Johnson, Film Review, Films, Hugo Johnstone-Burt), Ioan Gruffudd, Kylie Minogu, movies, Paul Giamatti, reviews, San Andreas, San Francisco

Dwayne Johnson and Carla Gugino in San Andreas

Following in the footsteps of many a disaster film San Andreas tells the story of a what-if scenario: what happens when a hunky helicopter pilot is faced with two massive earthquakes and a tsunami, he becomes the hero who saves his daughter and reconciles with his ex-wife.

Like so many disasters movies a little bit of science is needed to set the scene, in this case this job falls to Cal Tech seismologist Lawrence (Paul Giamatti).

He and his team are trying to find a way to predict earthquakes and moments before the Hoover Dam crumbles and falls he discovers that his theory works. He hurries back to his lab, mumbling science gibberish – something about magnetic pulses and mini quakes – to discover that the entire San Andreas vault has lit up predicting that the next “big one” is eminent.

During all of this we meet surly Ray (Dwayne Johnson), who is grieving the loss of his dead daughter, his estranged wife Emma (Carla Gugino) -who has shacked up with multimillionaire developer David (Ioan Gruffudd) – and his stunning daughter Blake (Alexandra Daddario) who is about to start college.

So who cares about the millions of people who die when buildings fall on top of them or a massive tidal wave drowns them in seconds, as long as hero Ray (Dwayne Johnson) and his family, plus hanger-ons, survive?

As the earth quakes and San Francisco’s skyline falls all around them, Blake teams up with cute, British, twenty-something Ben (Hugo Johnstone-Burt) and his know-it all younger brother, Ollie (Art Parkinson) and Ray, in his helicopter, abandons his team and sets out to save his ex and daughter. There is even a short cameo of Kylie Minogue, before she falls off a roof

But sadly there isn’t much originality when it comes to San Andreas, and it stubbornly ignores the scientific advice given by USC earthquake experts to further dramatics. However for a film that unashamedly is based around its massively biceps hero San Andreas doesn’t do a bad job.

All in all San Andreas is a predictable disaster drivel, no surprises and an unrealistic plot. But if you like big bangs, toppling buildings and lots of special effects then you’ll enjoy two hours of explosive CGI fun.

Film review: The Book of Life

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3D, animation, animation films, Channing Tatum, Day of the Dead, Diego Luna, director Jorge R Gutiérrez, entertainment, Film Review, Film review: The Book of Life, Films, Ice Cube, Jorge R Gutiérrez, Kate del Castillo, movies, Ron Perlman, The Book of Life, Zoe Saldana

The Book of Life is a quirky animation film by director Jorge R Gutiérrez, celebrating Mexican folklore and the Day of the Dead.

The story begins outside a dusty old museum with a rag-tag bunch of temperamental children showing up for a tour and delightful guide, with long hair and a sexy smile showing them a hidden doorway.

With the help of wooden puppets she begins telling the old Mexican folktale of Manolo (Diego Luna), Joaquin (Channing Tatum) and Maria (Zoe Saldana).

As children the three are the best of friends, playfully teasing each other, both boys already in love with Maria, but on the Day of the Dead the stunning La Muerta (Kate del Castillo), the ruler of the Land of the Remembered, bets Xibalba (Ron Perlman), the lord of the Land of the Forgotten, that one day gentle Manolo will marry Maria.

Xibalba champions the adventurous Joaquin and decides to stack the odds in his favour, so he cheats and gives Joaquin a mystical medal.

The children grow up, each following the path their parents envisions them too, but when Maria returns from boarding school, things change, rules are broken and death happens.

But in this charming story, death isn’t permanent, love triumphs and staying true to oneself is the biggest victory of course there is a happy ending, moral and all.

The Book of Life is an original take on a predictable tale with the colourful take on Mexican artwork adding to its appeal. The figures look like they have been carved from wood and painted in as many colours as possible, but tasteful and endearingly so.

And even if the adventure down to the land of the forgotten may be a little scary for some of the more junior viewers, the happy and huggable Candle Maker (Ice Cube) lightens the mood ensuring that darkness never prevails for long.

With it’s 3D imaging and unusual design The Book of Life is an enjoyable film for everyone in the family and a brilliant Halloween treat.

Film Review: Gone Girl

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Ben Affleck, bestseller, Carrie Coon, David Fincher, Film Review, Film Review: Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl, Hollywood blockbuster, Kim Dickens, Missi Pyle, movies, Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Fugit, Rosamund Pike, thriller, Tyler Perry

This autumns most anticipated thriller Gone Girl is finally here and it doesn’t disappoint. Adapted by the author herself, Gillian Flynn has turned her bestseller successfully into a Hollywood blockbuster.

On their fifth year wedding anniversary Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) arrives home to find his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) has disappeared. He calls the police assuming someone broke in and abducted her, but as the investigation unfolds things just don’t add up.

Detectives Boney (Kim Dickens) and Gilpin (Patrick Fugit) soon change the investigation from abduction to murder and Nick becomes their main suspect.

However the police aren’t the only ones watching Nick’s every move, the media is all too present, dissecting his every gesture and creating a modern day witch-hunt.

As the story unfolds, with many twists, turns and surprises, we learn through flashbacks, narrated by Amy herself, all about how Nick and Amy met, fell passionately in love and had to leave their lives in New York behind and help Nick’s mother unsuccessfully fight cancer.

But things aren’t as they seem as Gone Girl play’s with perspective and the situation looks very different from Nick’s point of view. His problem is: will anyone believe him?

With the media showing the world what they think, Margo’s (Carrie Coon) unwavering belief in her twin brother Nick and an obscure treasure hunt supplying some answers, it isn’t surprising the Gone Girl keeps its viewer enthralled and highly entertained.

Both the well constructed script by Gillian Flynn and the direction provided by director David Fincher successfully manage the delicate balancing act between too much and too little information, unbalancing their audience at the perfect moment.

As further the story unravels the more bizarre the film becomes, but in a very enticing and captivating way. A lot of this great entertainment is down to the main actors; Affleck is both sympathetic and highly suspicious as husband Nick, and Pike is one-dimensional when needed and vindictively complex when called for.

Even the side characters lend both humour and interest to the film: Neil Patrick Harris is fantastically creepy as Amy’s high school stalker boyfriend, Tyler Perry says exactly what the audience is thinking as a high-powered lawyer who made a name for himself defending murderous husbands and Missi Pyle is perfect as a talk-show host with a piranha-esque bite and smile.

But what is really surprising about Gone Girl is the unique look it takes at society, class and agendas, how happiness turns into ruins, how lies, deceit and the ever-present media form and destroy perceptions, even when the truth seems more obvious – and it’s funny! At times so much so that there are laugh out loud moments, but don’t think you’ll leave the cinema with a giggle, your head may be spinning a little, you’ll feel a little confused, a “what the f***” may not be too far from your lips and you’ll definitely be thinking about Gone Girl for a while.

Overall Gone Girl and David Fincher have achieved something rare, a hyped up film that lives up to its promises.

Film Review: The Calling

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Christopher Heyerdahl, Donald Sutherland, Ellen Burstyn, Fargo, Film Review, Film review: The Calling, Gil Bellows, Inger Ash Wolf, movies, screenwriter Scott Abramovitch, Susan Sarandon, The Calling, Topher Grace

Based in a small snowy town in Canada with a female cop as a lead The Calling is begging to be compared with Fargo. Sadly The Calling falls somewhat short as the dark humour in missing and it feels more like a TV drama than a big screen thriller despite its stellar cast.

Detective Inspector Hazel Micallef (Susan Sarandon) holds down an undemanding job in a sleepy town in Ontario. Despite taking pain killers and enjoying her booze she seems to know what she is doing which becomes more evident when a gruesome murder occurs.

An elderly woman is found with her head nearly cut off and a silent scream fixed on her face. This is just the first of a series of bizarrely positioned bodies with odd frozen facial expressions, all indicating that some ancient Christian ritual was taking place.

Hazel and her fellow detective Ray (Gil Bellows) follow up the leads and ,with the help of Ben (Topher Grace) – a capable transfer from Toronto- figure out who the murderer is: a creepy religious zealot called Simon (Christopher Heyerdahl) and the cat and mouse game begins.

The best thing about The Calling is the line-up of talent. Smaller roles are filled with big name actors like Donald Sutherland as Father Price or Ellen Burstyn as Saradon’s concerned mother and Sarandon is quite intense in her role as Hazel, if a little cliché ridden. But it is Grace’s usual charisma that fills the screen and an outstanding performance by Heyerdahl is what really grabs your attention.

The premise of The Calling is great, the atmosphere good, the actors terrific, but the script is sluggish. Adapted from Inger Ash Wolf’s novel the screenplay to The Calling is overworked by screenwriter Scott Abramovitch.

So maybe this is the wrong film for Jason Stone to debut his career with, or maybe he is a more creative screenwriter and producer, but The Calling just lacks that little bit of oomph, to make it a great film.

long days and films

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Films, friends, G&T, Glasnevin Cemetery, Gone Girl, long days, Million Dubliners, movies, preview screening, pumkin

Yesterday was a long and busy day, but a good one. I started the day with going to  a press screening of a film, a documentary about the Glasnevin Cemetery called One Million Dubliners (review to follow).

Then I hurried over to college to entertain my students for five hours, non-stop, no break, rewarding but tiring work.

Once I departed all the knowledge I could in the time given, I could feel myself dropping into that zone of depleted energy and tiredness but my day wasn’t done yet. I still had a preview screening to go to with only a little time to grab a sandwich and some much needed coffee.

The advance screening was of much anticipated Gone Girl (review here) and since I had two tickets to the event I took a friend along with me. There were even some goodies stashed away beside the seats for us to tuck into.

I hadn’t really heard much about the actual content of the film, only that the book was a bestseller, one to read and that the film was meant to be one of the best of the year. Whenever these statements are made I am more often than not expecting very much, as false promises and the film industry go hand in hand.

But this time around I was pleasantly surprised: the film is really good! Both my friend and I came out of the cinema, a little dazed, and  we both agreed, definitely a film that deserves the attention it is getting.

Over a quick G&T we chatted, dissected and recapped the film and the recent events of our lives. So the quick turned into late and by the time a taxi dropped me off at my front door it was well past midnight.

So I am  feeling a little pumpkin-esque this morning, maybe befitting of the season, but I just hope that my students will be good and forgive me if my usually sparkly self is a little dull this morning.

Film Review: The Maze Runner

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Ami Ameen, Black Cooper, Director Wes Ball, Dylan O’Brien, Film Review, Film Review: The Maze Runner, Films, James Dashner, Kaya Scodelario, Lord of the Flies, Maze Runner, movies, The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, Will Poulter

A mix between Lord of the Flies and The Hunger Games, the latest YA book to receive a Hollywood makeover is The Maze Runner. Like so often the story is set in a post-apocalyptic world and author James Dashner refrains from any vampire fangs or werewolf bites and centers his trilogy around a group of young boys.

Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) wakes up to find himself in a vacant filed surrounded by a group of modern day lost boys. He tries to make a run for it but soon discovers that the field is surrounded by towering stone walls with only a tantalizing gap into the unknown as a way out. But before Thomas can escape the boys catch up with him and he discovers a whole new problem, his memory has been wiped.

As Thomas struggles to remember, the boys explain that they all arrived exactly the same way he did, and they are trying to find a way out. This new found tribe have created their own form of society every one has tasks, everyone has rights but there are rules to follow too, the main one being: only runners are allowed into the maze.

Quickly Thomas adapts to this new world but as he learns about the maze hidden behind the walls, the Grievers that kill whoever ventures inside after dark and the mysterious letters W.C.K.D he decides he needs to leave and rescue everyone.

But when he breaks the rule and runs into the maze the carefully crafted world the boys have created threatens to collapse. And then, without warning, a girl is left for the boys to find, Theresa (Kaya Scodelario) and she seems to know more than they do.

The Maze Runner is a better than your average YA film, and it’s low-tech vibe and handcrafted charm adds to a retro feel, making it more believable than it’s excessively CGI’d contemporaries. The cast is well picked, teeny heartthrob Dylan O’Brien stepping out of his sidekick role in the 80s throwbacks Teen Wolf, makes for a strong lead and a buff hero. Camp bully Gally is perfectly played by Will Poulter, Ami Ameen cuts a good figure as the mature leader of the group Alby and lovable chubby kid Chuck is brilliantly captured by Black Cooper. Only the stunning Kaya Scodelario seems out of place as Theresa. But that may not actually be her fault as she is not really needed for the plot and has no real input to any of the twist and turns The Maze Runner takes.

Director Wes Ball has done well in translating James Dashner’s book onto screen, but he does take his time in setting up the story, giving background and building characters. However once the Grievers make their long legged, metallic scorpion-like appearance and the Maze begins to reveal its secrets the plot picks up speed. But since it is the first of a trilogy the ending is left open and those few YA who haven’t read the books are left wondering what the whole thing was really about.

The Maze Runner is enjoyable, just not really much more than that, it holds no real surprises and doesn’t really vary too much from any of those other blockbuster YA films out there. But if you like teenage action and a enjoy a bit of escapism, The Maze Runner may be just perfect for you.

Film Review: Get-On-Up

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biopic, Chadwick Boseman, Director Tate Taylor, Film Review, Film Review: Get-On-Up, Films, funk, Get-On-Up, Godfather of Soul, gospel, James Brown, movies, R&B, Tate Taylor

Funk, swagger and a lot of hair add up to the biopic that is Get-On-Up, a story about the life and music of the legend that is the “Godfather of Soul”: James Brown.

Raised in South Caroline Brown grew up in poverty, was handed around from relative to relative and at the age of sixteen he ended up in jail. His love for music was rooted in gospels but he found his first success through R&B and later established funk.

Working off no consistent timeline Director Tate Taylor jumps around Brown’s life story, throwing in bits of his early childhood, his troubled youth, his rise to stardom and his demise. It is a colourful potpourri of James Brown in his constant reinventions. But what makes it hard to follow is the array of characters that appear but are then never seen again.

And while the film is unapologetic about Brown’s flaws, his erupting temper, his drinking and drugs, his inability to stay away from beautiful women (he was married three times and has more than the nine children he acknowledged) over all it doesn’t really do the Icon James Brown justice.

However, whatever might be said of Get-On-Up ,one thing is certain, Chadwick Boseman’s performance as James Brown is magnificent to watch. He’s got the moves, the look and while he is mostly moving his lips to Brown’s vocals he definitely does capture those mesmerizing performances that made Brown famous.

As far as biopic go Get-On-Up isn’t bad, if a little messy but one thing is for sure, its star Chadwick Boseman and the music is worth the watch.

Film Review: The Equalizer

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Antoine Fuqua, Chloë Grace Moretz, Denzel Washington, director Antoine Fuqua, Film Review, Film Review: The Equalizer, Films, Liam Neeson, Marton Csokas, movies, reviews, Robert McCall, The Equalizer, Vladimir Kulich

A remake of a 80s TV series The Equalizer is familiar ground for Denzel Washington. The aging action hero, unlike Liam Neeson, has been saving the world from bad guys since the beginning of his career and his latest collaboration with director Antoine Fuqua is no different.

Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) works at a hardware store by day and sits and reads in a Hopperesque diner at night. Sticking to a routine is obviously some sort of coping mechanism but when McCall meets prostitute Lena (Chloë Grace Moretz) is tightly wound world begins to unwind, and all it takes is 28 seconds.

McCall decides to help Lena and takes out Lena’s Russian pimp but by doing so he unwittingly gets involved in a massive Russian crime syndicate. Unhappy about his loss of revenue the head of the organisation, Puskin (Vladimir Kulich), sends his enforcer Teddy (Marton Csokas) to kill the unknown troublemaker and soon people are killed, things are blown up and body parts end up where they really shouldn’t.

As the plot slowly lumbers on to a showdown in the hardware store you can’t help but wonder about the invincibility of McCall, could a 59-year-old really be as deadly as Denzel unwaveringly portrays him to be?

And that sums up The Equalizer’s weak spot: it just isn’t believable. While Denzel does cut a good figure as a close to retiring age ex CIA agent, his shirts can’t quite hide his middle-age spread and this doesn’t really convince us that he could highhandedly take down the Russian Mafia.

But the action sequences are entertaining, the showdown shot in a very unique location and Chloë Grace Moretz tugs at your heartstrings as call-girl Lena.

The Equalizer is engaging enough but just can’t quite reach the needed sizzle to make a really good action film. But it is obvious that there is an intention to follow The Equalizer up with a sequel, and who knows maybe the next storyline will be kinder to the aging action hero.