There seems little point in introducing characters to the story if their outcomes are going to be skipped over with such little care: why should the audience feel shock, surprise, sadness or joy, if we are given only the briefest suggestion as to what has happened?
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Continue reading Alex Cross
It is brave, and perhaps a little foolhardy, but whether through happy chance or the skill of the writers and director, it manages to keep its audience’s interest and never descend into unintended farce. For some, there might be too many competing elements on show, but I found the ride utterly thrilling.
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Hoopla Factor: Continue reading Headhunters
Director Asger Leth must have known he was helming a cookie cutter thriller, and brings it in at just on 100 minutes which is more than enough. Although there are no surprises, Man on a Ledge would be adequate Friday night dvd fare, but little more.
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Continue reading Man on a Ledge
Why put those poor stunt guys and performers through the fighting and the action if you’re not going to show the audience the result of their efforts? At the risk of sounding like a broken record: film is many things, but one of its primary attributes is that it is a visual medium. If we can’t see your action we can’t appreciate the film.
Rating: Hoopla Factor: Continue reading Safe House
Noomi Rapace does as much as she can with her limited role, and Rachel McAdams reprises Irene Adler for little reward. It is only Jared Harris as Moriarty who seems to be having much fun, and he brings a delicious evil to his turn as Holmes’ longstanding antagonist.
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Call me a traditionalist, but I expect a Sherlock Holmes story to contain an actual mystery. Make him a tap-dancing Lithuanian poodle from the 35th Century – I don’t care – as long as he still gets to solve mysteries.
Rating: Hoopla Factor: Continue reading Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Halle Berry and Robert De Niro share what are easily the most effective scenes, however their sub-plot is wrapped up nicely in a trite little bundle that suggests their author was interested in anything but their truth. Additionally, their precious moments of worthwhile screentime are swamped by the time spent with characters played by Sarah Jessica Parker and Katherine Heigl.
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Continue reading New Year’s Eve
What is remarkable about Drive is the assurance with which Refn and his cast deal with the material. The film features a wonderful opening sequence that defines the lead character and his world with effortless grace, and then follows that bravura entr
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Hoopla Factor: Continue reading Drive
There are those for whom this tale of missed opportunities and regret will ring true. The wonderful lead performance of Ginnifer Goodwin should win the film many fans, particularly among those who loved the book on which the screenplay is based.
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Continue reading Something Borrowed
It doesn’t take much to reference another character or plot in the Marvel canon, but each time it provides another layer of enjoyment for fans of the comics, and, for comic book non-aficionados like myself, a greater sense of understanding of the world according to Marvel.
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Anthony Hopkins is one of those actors who’d astonish even if he were merely reading out the phone book, and the other highlight is Jaimie Alexander, a little known actress that fulfils her Xena-type role as Sif rather well. Idris Elba is good as Heimdall, though he seems too restricted in his Big Shiny Helmet.
Rating: Hoopla Factor: Continue reading Thor
Nicole Kidman appears in a rather striking reminder of her talent in a supporting cameo that unfortunately was probably unnecessary and only serves to pad the film rather than enhance it. The film is overlong and could have benefited from a harsher edit.
Rating: Hoopla Factor: Continue reading Just Go With It