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 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.

Film Review – The Giver

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Alexander Skarsgård, Brenton Thwaites, director Philip Noyce, Divergent, dystopia, film reviews, Jeff Bridges, Katie Holmes, Logan’s Run, Lois Lowry’s, Meryl Streep, movies, Odeya Rush, reviews, screenwriters Michael Mitnick and Robert B. Weid, Taylor Swift, The Giver, The Hunger Games, young adult fiction

Based on Lois Lowry’s 1993 novel The Giver shows the darker side to young adult fiction and a dysfunctional dystopia.

The idea is similar to Logan’s Run, Divergent or even distantly to The Hunger Games, however less action packed.

Set in a colourless world that has eliminated all emotions, Jonas (Brenton Thwaites) is selected to be the new ‘Receiver of Memory”. Since no one can remember the past and no one is able to feel pain, anger, desire, joy and love one citizen in this bland utopia is chosen to feel and remember.

The Chief Elder (Meryl Streep in a wig) hints at a tragedy that accord to the last receiver, but one talks about it, even remembers properly. So when Jonas meets is mentor, The Giver (a craggy Jeff Bridges) he tries to find out what the secret is.

But unable to share what he is experiencing when the Giver shares his knowledge and allows emotions to erupt, Jonas soon finds life hard in the community, especially when he is at home, which they call dwellings. His dutiful but distant parents (Katie Holmes and Alexander Skarsgard) notice the changes and are concerned.

Luckily his best friend and love-interest Fiona (Odeya Rush) is more open to the idea of something new, but she is afraid of the strictly monitoring Chief Elder.

As the plot moves on and colour is infused into the scenes it becomes obvious that The Giver never quite grips it’s audience and just muddles along, a little like the community it is criticizing.

And while director Philip Noyce and screenwriters Michael Mitnick and Robert B. Weide have stayed close to the original story, it doesn’t translate to screen well, especially the bombardment of images at the seems like trying to hard.

Overall the strong cast just isn’t enough to turn The Giver from a bland tale of an unhappy future into a vivid story you can emotionally attach to. And even though newcomers Thwaites and Rush do try their very best, and receive good support from Taylor Swift, in a thankless walk-on role, they are just not convincing as 16year olds.

So if you want an action packed dystopia with a strong story and convincing actors maybe wit for The Hunger Games later this year.

Film Review – Think Like A Man Too

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Angela Elayne Gibbs, Bridesmaids, Film Review - Think Like A Man Too, Films, Hangover, Kevin Hart, Las Vegas, movies, Regina Hall, reviews, Terrence Jenkins, Think like a Man, Think like a Man too

After the mess the film Think Like a Man was two years ago it comes as somewhat as a surprise that there is now a sequel: Think Like a Man Too .

The last film used Steven Harvey’s best-selling relationship book to create a loose story around the battle of the sexes, this time around there isn’t even such an excuse.

Set in Las Vegas, the five couples find their relationships tested, in the most unlikely of situations. Candace (Regina Hall) and Michael (Terrence Jenkins) want to tie the knot but his overly domineering mother (Angela Elayne Gibbs) keeps getting in the way.

And while the men and the women try to beat each other at having the best stag/hen do on the glittering Las Vegas strip you can’t help but feel someone was trying to create a bad Hangover/ Bridesmaids mash up and not succeeding.

And doesn’t even matter that there are a few individual performances by some of the cast and even the few funny moments that Kevin Hart does supply are too over the top, predictable and nothing new.

Think Like a Man Too was a massive flop when it came out in the USA earlier this year and it is doubtful that it will score big in the box office here either. Don’t waste your money on a ticket, as the only thing you’ll probably enjoy is your popcorn.

Film review – A Walk Among the Tombstones

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A Walk Among the Tombstones, Adam David Thompson, Boyd Holbrook, Brain “Astro” Bradley, Dan Stevens, David Harbour, film reviews, Films, Liam Neeson, Matthew Scudder, movies, reviews, Scott Frank, Sebastian Roche, Writer/director Scott Frank

Since the late seventies private eye Matthew Scudder has been a big star of the crime novel scene, now, finally, Lawrence Block’s creation has been brought to life by writer/director Scott Frank.

Based on the Block’s tenth novel A Walk Among the Tombstones has a classic film noir feel to it, a distinct touch of retro and good old-fashioned story telling.

The opening scene, set in the early nineties, gives us the back-story: Matthew Scudder (Liam Neeson) is an alcoholic NYC cop who drunkenly stumbles into a shootout that goes terribly awry. Cut to 1999 and Scudder is now an unlicensed private eye who goes to AA meetings and does ‘favours’ in exchange for ‘gifts’.

When drug addict Peter (Boyd Holbrook) convinces Scudder to meet his drug-dealer brother Kenny (Dan Stevens), the private eye is reluctantly caught up in a serial killer case.

While investigating Kenny’s wife’s kidnapping Scudder discovers a trail that eventually leads to a pair of murdering sociopaths (David Harbour, Adam David Thompson). But he also finds an unlikely helper and friend in the homeless black teenager TJ (Brain “Astro” Bradley).

Things cone to a head when the killers kidnap a new victim, the young daughter of Russian drug dealer Yuri (Sebastian Roche) and Scudder takes over the negotiations ending in a very bloody scene in a basement.

A Walk Among the Tombstones is another notch in Liam Neeson’s ever growing action movie collection and in more than one scene you can’t help but feel you’ve seen it all before in Taken. But his performance is strong and is sure to pull in the fans.

Writer/director Scott Frank obviously knows what he is doing and creates a dark atmosphere, holds the suspense and even there are a few long “bit” in the middle he succeeds in tying it all together in the end.

Setting the film in 1999 gives it a nice touch but unnecessary subplots like TJ’s sickle-cell anaemia distract from the main story and slow the tempo down to much.

Overall A Walk Among the Tombstones is a beautifully shot film noir with a strong story, a solid leading man and creepy bad guys. And since there are sixteen other novels this could be a launch of a series for Neeson to apply his special set of skill in.

Film review: White House Down

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2012 and Independence Day, Bruce Willis, Channing Tatum, Die Hard, director Roland Emmerich, entertainment, film reviews, Films, Jamie Foxx, Joey King, John McClane, Maggie Gyllenhall, movies, reviews, Roland Emmerich, The Day after Tomorrow, White House Down

After The Day after Tomorrow, 2012 and Independence Day director Roland Emmerich has now decided it’s time to blow up the White House from within. No natural disasters or aliens needed, this time a handful of terrorists and a few corrupt politicians is all it takes. But of course there is a hero to hand to save the day.

John Cale (Channing Tatum) calls in a few favours and interviews for a job as secret service agent. Unlucky for him agent Finnerty (Maggie Gyllenhall) is not only sceptical of his abilities but knows him from his not so dashing past. Trying to not disappoint more women in his life Cale takes his angry teenage daughter Emily (Joey King) on a tour of the White House and of course politics obsessed Emily bumps into the Presidant (Jamie Foxx).

As luck would have it terrorist decided it’s the perfect day for a White House takeover and bring it down. But working class hero John won’t let this stop him from finding his daughter, who got lost in the ensuing chaos, and makes his way through gun-fire and falling debris only to find the Commander in Chief in need of a rescue. From then onwards John has a two-fold mission, find his daughter and save the President.

Like most “here-to save-the-day-movies” the character of John Cale is a close copy of Bruce Willis John McClane in Die Hard, only missing a few letters to his name and wearing the obligatory sweat stained tank top. But Tatum does a good job, not only does the shirt fit his physique beautifully, his charm and good delivery of one liners give White House Down a certain amount of flair and fun, not unlike the Die Hard series.

And it seems that America is in need of a new hero, making Tatums timing perfect, after all the ususual suspects are all getting a little too old : Bruce Willis is 55, Brad Pitt 49 and Will Smith 44.  But while Tatum is the obvious star of White House Down, Foxx is a little too predictable and bland but does have some good lines. King on the other hand often steals the limelight and is one to watch in the future. And Gyhllenhall does what she always does, is pretty, a little quirky but really just the female on the sidelines.

So while White House Down doesn’t really do anything new and tells a story already told it is well written with maybe a few too many outrageous twists. The special effects are believable, but it is Tatum who upstages everything with his good looks, on screen charm and athletic bravado.

So if you like Die Hard and a bit of a on screen demolition White House Down is definitely one to watch.

Film Review: Before Midnight

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Before Midnight, Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, director /writer Richard Linklater, entertainment, Ethan Hawke, Film Review: Before Midnight, Jesse and Celine, Julie Delpy, movie revies, movies, reviews, Richard Linklater, Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick

In Before Sunrise (1995) Celine (Julie Delpy) and Jesse (Ethan Hawke) fell in love during a brief, romantic encounter while wandering the beautiful city of Vienna. In Before Sunset (2004) Paris was the city of their rekindled romance, a flight was missed, and an unspoken promise was made.

Now, in Before Midnight,  Jesse and Celine are living with the consequences this promises left them with, the good and the bad. They have settled down as an unmarried couple in Paris, their two blond, curly haired twins keeping them busy. On a family trip to the Peloponnese in southern Greece Jesse, now an established novelist, pitches ideas to his friends while environmental activist Celine contemplates a career change.

After dropping his son Hank (Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick) off at the airport Jesse and Celine spend a rare moment alone as the twins sleep in the backseat. In a brilliantly witty dialogue they debate the past the present and the future, Celine’s mood shifting as quickly as always and Jesse at his usual laid-back, horny self.

Unlike in Before Sunrise and Before Sunset the first half of Before Midnight introduces more characters, that may only play minor roles but that are integral to the plot. However director /writer Richard Linklater never loses sight of the unique chemistry between Celine and Jesse.

Jesse struggles with the guilt of leaving his, now teenage, son behind when he chose Celine over his ex-wife. He yearns to spend more time with his son and short-tempered Celine sees this a threat to the life they have build together. And even though she would love Hank to be with her and Jesse, she will not move to Chicago.

When friends insist that Jesse and Celine spend their last night alone in a hotel the quick-witted banter and nimble dialogue becomes more intense. Unlike in the other movies Jesse and Celine now know each other inside out, they know which buttons to press and soon a walk at sunset through the village becomes foreplay, which in the Hotel then escalates from mild irritation into a full-blown row.

As always Delpy is mesmerizing to watch, her fiery temper exploding on screen and her ever-changeable moods a true testament of her talent. But Hawke is equally good with his excellently timed one-lines and raw emotions. And while both Hawke and Delpy are named as co-writers it is evident that Linklater has yet again created an imaginative, honest and very real script

Before Midnight is about the battle of the sexes, a portrait of how lovers can unknowingly trample each others dreams and how time changes relationships. Unlike the earlier movies Before Midnight takes a look at “what happens next”, the gentle promises and tender optimism of Before Sunrise and Before Sunset are replaced with, at times callous, honesty and unconditional acceptance.  A true love-story, one Hollywood seldom tells.

But will they make it? A question Celine asks herself as she mutters this years best last line in a Movie: ‘That must have been a hell of a night, we are about to have!”

Film Review: World War Z

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Abigall Hargrove, Brad Pitt, Daniella Kertesz, Director Marc Forster, entertainment, Fana Mokoena, film reviews, Films, Ludi Boeken, Marc Forster, Mireille Enos, Moritz Bleibtreu, movies, Pierfrancesco Favion, reviews, Ruth Nega, Sterling Jerins, World War Z, WWZ

Hollywood’s latest zombie movie World War Z (WWZ) is based on the book written by Max Brooks. However ‘based’ is all it is as unlike the book it doesn’t deal with any of Brooks big questions about corporate power, corrupt governments or even the illegal trade in human organs. And instead of narrating the intricate, investigative tale through a series of interviews with survivors the film is happy to play it safe and have our hero just save the day.

In the opening sequence of the movie Philadelphia, for some unexplained reason, is suddenly overrun by a mysterious epidemic. Caught in the middle of it Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) and his wife (Mireille Enos) and kids (Abigall Hargrove, Sterling Jerins) narrowly escape the chaos by hijacking a camper van and making a run for it.

While trying to figure out what is happening, Lane, a former UN investigator, gets a call from his former boss Thierry (Fana Mokoena).  It becomes clear that the rampaging, biting zombies area a global problem.  Needing their ‘best man” the UN fly Lane and his family out to a military base in the middle of the ocean.

Once there Lane is bribed, his families safety in exchange for his reassignment. Now on the search for answers Lane criss-crosses around the world bumping into international actors in minor roles along the way (Ludi Boeken, Pierfrancesco Favion, Ruth Nega, Moritz Bleibtreu). However there seems to be no cure for the ‘zombie flu’ but the weirdly intuitive Lane has an idea and makes his way to a Welsh research laboratory, his newly acquired, one-armed, Israeli sidekick Segen (Daniella Kertesz) in tow. But even the would-be climatic scenes in the laboratory fall slightly flat and no real answers are given.

Why does the UN think so highly of Lane? He doesn’t seem to have any real knowledge, nor is he particularly brave or bright, he is resourceful but seems to think more of his family then the problem at hand. How did the whole thing start? Was there some sort of conspiracy like the detained CIA agent (David Morse) was ranting on about? Why the weird monologue at the end? And why 3D, there really is no need for it.

Overall World War Z isn’t a bad film, it’s just not particularly good, and definitely not ‘genre-bending’ as Pitt proclaimed it to be. While the WWZ zombies aren’t the usual slow-moving undead we have gotten use to, they do seem to have a lot in common with Zack Snyders ones in the remake of Dawn of the Dead.

Director Marc Forster seems lost and just piles on one massive destruction scene after the other. Its length doesn’t help and some of its disjointedness could down to the several attempts of reworking the ending. And it definitely it doesn’t help, that it veers so far away from the book.  In addition to this there is no real character development and besides Pitt all other actors feel like garnish.

But if you like zombies and want to see Pitt run around in ill-fitting clothes and with a bad hairdo, World War Z isn’t the worst way to spend an evening.