Trainwreck

31st August 2015 at 10:45, Bolton

I had been told by a couple of good friends how funny Trainwreck was, so I could not help but be a little apprehensive before entering the cinema.  Would it pass the 6 laugh test? Why was it so funny? 

With an unlikeable main character and dull and uninteresting love interest, Trainwreck didn't have much going for it for me.  

Amy and her sister are given a motto at an early age by their cheating father, "Monogomy isn't realistic".  One sister (Amy) takes this motto on and lives by it well into her 30's, whilst the younger sister decides to ignore this and marries a happy go-lucky, slightly weird chap with an intelligent kid.  The film pokes fun at this family with respect of Amy's views. (The film is seen from Amy's perspective, with her relationship hating persona.  

Now, don't get me wrong, both Clare enjoyed the film, but for me it barely scraped towards the 6 laugh threshold sneaking in a good belly laugh near the conclusion involving a trampoline and a basketball net, but the raucous laughfest I was expecting never arrived. 

When we left the cinema our usual talk about the film we had just seen didn't happen, we had forgotten it by the lobby.  I am sure in the right crowd with a few tipples, Trainwreck could be a good giggle on DVD, but for me it was a little bit of a self titular film.

Am I getting old?

Oh, I loved the Matthew Broderick cameo and think the Lebron James was great, see, there were some good bits in it

....and one more thing, if you are going to make a chick flick and make us guys take our good ladies to see these films, they need a little eye candy...Amy Schumer.....far from Rachel Lee Cook!

Hitman - Agent 47

Friday 28th August 20:50

Now, I understand the difference between video game narrative and film narrative.  Especially with a franchise that allows you to tackle scenarios in multiple ways, guns blazing, super stealth, somewhere in between or my usual super stealthy until I mess up and then i take everyone out! EVERYONE! and the restart.

The history of video game based movies is tarnished at best, and for me this is mainly down to the player experience.  Recently, Hitman Absolution was one of my favourite games, not leaving my console for a  good month or two, replaying levels to get a more perfect route than the last.  The story line that came with the game play was movie-like, but not a movie.

When games are transferred to the big screen for a feature film, this is where they lose all connection and just become mindless pictures on screen, and when you throw in possibly one of the worst actresses I have seen on film since Hermoine Granger, the possible savior of the stained genre film was going nowhere.

Now don't get me wrong, I think the Vorhees-esque (always walking but keeping up with runners) Hitman at the start of the film was menacing.  A cold blooded killer with a contract, but this slowly (in fact, quite quickly) deteriorated into an absolute monstrosity.

I will not even bore you with the story line as it is pretty pointless, generic and run-of-the-mill, but if you want to see some of the worst acting ever, then Hannah Ware is perfect.  Every line she delivered must have been read straight from the dull script, so wooden and monotonous.  She infuriated me every time she was on screen.  I have a new contender for the Hermoine Granger school of acting award.

All I can say is, if you are a fan on the game franchise then avoid this film, if you are not a fan of the franchise, then avoid this film, if you know of anyone who has enjoyed this film, then simply avoid them too.

Inside Out

Saturday 22nd August at 17:10

Who is the leader in your mind?

I had heard many reviews about how "Inside Out" was Pixar's greatest achievement since Toy Story 3, this was a big claim for it to live up to.

We are introduced to Riley on her very first day on this mortal coil, and Joy is introduced into her mind as she lays eyes on her mother and father.  It is then the key role of Joy to bring happiness to Riley for the rest of her life.  Suddenly she starts to cry, as Joy turns, another fellow has joined her in the main HQ, Sadness.  As her life progresses, other head quarter personnel appear, Anger, Disgust and Fear all with their respective characteristics.

This was a great look into how a mind functions from a creative point of view.  Riley's mother's mind is lead by Sadness, her Dad's by Anger.  The leader of each mind is indicative of the main personality trait of the human, but each emotion has an integral part to play.

The adventure begins when Joy is separated from the Main HQ and put into the reserves with Sadness, they must find a way back before everything goes wrong for Riley.

When Clare and I left the cinema we started to talk about which emotion was prominent in our minds, mine obviously Joy.  This is how films should be, you leave with a thought about the film, applying it to real life, understanding how the mind works by simple measures.  Inside Out is a very clever film, but lacking in the laughs of previous Pixar films.  There were a few smirks, giggles and one possible chortle, but no belly laughs or guffaw's.

Beautiful with colour and vibrancy this is everything a Pixar Movie should be, far better than some of the recent releases but far from the Toy Story or Up status.  The beginning sequence of Up is one of the best opening sequences in film history.

I am unsure how kids will take this film with it's neurological substance, but as it looks colourful and has great, entertaining characters I can see it getting away with it.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E

Saturday 15th August at 20:30

Style over substance?

I like the original Guy Richie films, Snatch being one of my all time favourite films, but of late Mr Ritchie has seemed a little off form.  As well, I recall many a Friday night at my substitute Grandad George's house watching re-runs of the classic spy tv show U.N.C.L.E.  I loved Robert Vaughn and David McCallum in their roles, so I had a little background going into this film

The one thing that stands out in this re-invigoration is the style.  Be it from the occasional Ritchie camera flair that he has, the excellent soundtrack or the sheer beauty of the fashion portrayed, the film just has pazazz.  As I left the cinema though, I had completely forgotten what I had watched.  I enjoyed the two hours of entertainment but it was not memorable or inspiring at all, which is why it has taken me over a week to write the review, I was just not inspired to do so.

There are some fun scenes, and then there are the ones that start great but drag on far too long. There is also a little trope used where a scene will play out and then it will go back to a pinnacle point from a different perspective and show how a scam or event played out from our heroes point of view. The first time this is used it is quirky and fun, by the umpteenth time it is just a ploy to engineer easy plot points and becomes tedious.  It got to the point where I was expecting a "repeat shot" and the surprise element had gone.

The plot is very bland and I can honestly say, I can't really remember much about it.  There was a billionaire and a girl who had married into the family with heinous ambitions, but that is about it.

Alicia Vikander is stunning and fits the era very well, Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer play the agents of U.N.C.L.E with flair, but it all lacks pretty much everything else.

I think Armie should start to avoid the 1960's TV show re-imaginings as they are not working out too well for him at the moment.

And why does it always have to be franchises at the moment? Always with origins leading to a franchise!

Mission - Impossible: Rouge Nation

2nd August 2015 - 19:30

Ethan Hunt goes rogue again and bands together a rag-bag team to tackle another world changing problem, all he was short of this time was Vin Diesel and The Rock!

I must admit, the MI franchise is little hit and miss with me, I think the first Cruise outing is very slow, entertaining but slow,  The Woo-Mask changing -Super hero-Dove Flying part two is bizarre, MI:III I have little memory of, and then there is the Dubai Sandstorm MI:IV which I thoroughly enjoyed.  I was looking forward to this one though based on the trailers, more Benji, More Ving and loads more action.

With the syndicate, "an Anti-IMF" threatening global chaos, Ethan Hunt (who is thought to be making the syndicate up to justify the IMF) goes rogue and recruits the old faithfuls (from the last two films) to try and bring down the threat.  Joined this time by double-double crosser Isla Faust (Rebecca Ferguson)

There are a few great action sequences, and the plane bit from the trailer is not a major plot spoiler.  Once car/bike chase sequence is very entertaining, however it does rely a little too heavy on CGI at one point which really stands out and looks ridiculous.  Ethan Hunt is a little indestructible in this film as he takes a few scrapes too many to survive, yet gets up and doesn't have a scratch on him, but hey-ho, it is MI.

The "Heist" is entertaining and suspenseful, but ruined by the trailer....and I was left questioning, "how do normal staff change the cards in the server?" 

I left the cinema fulfilled with great entertainment and would happily watch MI:V Rouge Nation again, it seems like the franchise is going a little Fast and Furious now and I can only see a collaboration of Dom's rag-tag team and Ethan's Rogue Agents as the future project.

Southpaw

1st August 2015: Bolton: 17:40

Apparently Jake Gyllenhaal is in Southpaw at some point, I only saw Billy "The Great" Hope.

Southpaw is a film about loss, lows and the climb back to the top.  When tradegy hits the hope family and Billy Hope hits rock bottom, his daughter (fantastically acted by Oona Laurence) wants nothing to do with him and is put into child services.  Billy turns to an old coach to help him refocus his life, train and get back his daughter and the passion in his heart.

It is a very cliched film that you can guess what is going to happen from the very start, but this does not devalue the emotional ride that Southpaw is.  Superbly acted by all the main cast (not including 50 cent), you feel for the characters and want their lives to get back in order.  Billy Hope has a resemblance of Jake Gyllenhaal but with a serious pre-film workout.  Muscles upon muscles.  His emotional outbreaks are real heartfelt moments and you feel justified with his character.  Oona Laurence nearly steals the show though, as a child actor she really ups the game, being the stronger in the father and daughter relationship .

**** My Advice - do not watch the trailer *****

The training montage sequence lost it a little for me as this was too close to Rocky Montages and they will never be beaten.  My Brother and Cousin completed the Ironman Bolton a few week ago and the night before, to psych themselves up, they watch Rocky training montages on youtube.  This cannot be repeated and definitely not with a rap score.

Southpaw is a modern day Rocky, pretty much down to the letter, but there is nothing wrong with that, but being a little more cliched than anticipated, it is not perfect.