Film Reviews by GI

From the opening titles to the 1960s setting and the narrative structure and editing style this is clearly a film centred around director Steven Spielberg's love of Alfred Hitchcock and especially his late 50s and early 60s thrillers. To that end this is endlessly entertaining and whilst some of the plot is really unbelievable that simply adds to the sheer delight of the film as it homages such wonderful cinema as North By Northwest (1959) or Torn Curtain (1966). In a charming performance Leonardo DiCaprio is Frank Abagnale, based on a real conman, who learns from his small time grifter father (Christopher Walken) how to commit cheque fraud. he basically grows very adept at it and in addition can utilise disguise to con his way to defrauding banks and institutions from playing an airline pilot, a doctor and a lawyer. The basic plot is a cat and mouse one as he is chased throughout by FBI Agent carl (Tom Hanks) who learns quickly how his prey operates after being fooled by him a few times. Carl runs the lowly Cheque Fraud Unit but soon identifies Frank is netting several millions by his actions. A piece of old school cinema with a great support cast that includes Jennifer Garner, Amy Adams, Martin Sheen, James Brolin and Elizabeth Banks. A Spielberg film that is worth rediscovering and possibly one that gets forgotten amongst his more celebrated and bigger films.

With this thriller we're in Fargo territory as Emma Thompson nails the Minnesota accent. She plays Barb, a kindly woman freshly widowed who heads out to a remote lake to scatter her husband ashes at the fishing site where they had their first date. But losing her way she stops at a remote cabin and disturbs a bizarre couple who have kidnapped a young girl. Without a phone signal and limited resources Barb decides she has to help the girl. This leads to a series of events as the nasty pair played by Judy Greer and Marc Menchaca try to deal with Barb as well as carry out their macabre plan involving the girl. It's an entertaining thriller with a first class lead performance from Thompson and whilst there are some plot holes this is a film that rattles along at a strong pace, has an alarming and twisted plot and a distinct chilly atmosphere. It's outrageously good fun.

This is an explosive, comic, action crime film that utilises the style of Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) with its fast paced, multi stories and razor sharp editing. It's certainly a highly entertaining, violent film with a great cast and it rattles along at breakneck speed. Set in Las Vegas it concerns a seedy entertainer Buddy 'Aces' Israel (Jeremy Piven) who has big mob connections but has decided to turn informer for the FBI and is hiding out in a plush hotel. The mafia have a massive contract out on him which attracts a host of top killers. FBI agents Ray Liotta and Ryan Reynolds, are also on their way to remove Israel into protective custody. When they all converge on the hotel mayhem ensues. The plot is very clever here too involving an FBI undercover operation from the 1950s and the relationships between various characters creates some neat twists. The cast includes Alicia Keys, in her first film, Andy Garcia, Ben Affleck, Joel Edgerton and Jason Bateman. Written and directed by Joe Carnahan this is great fun and well worth checking out if you've never seen it.

A zany, darkly humoured and violent crime flick from director Darren Aronofsky, which is very entertaining and filled with bizarre characters. Austin Butler stars as Hank, a washed up former baseball star whose fall from grace is told in a series of flashbacks. The only good thing in his life is his girlfriend played by Zoë Kravitz. His life takes a very nasty turn when his mohican haired English neighbour Russ (Matt Smith) asks him to look after his cat, which leads to him getting seriously beaten up by some Russian gangsters. As events around Hank get worse he has to find some resolve to fight back. And events really do go in some very unexpected directions. Brilliantly plotted and with some laugh out loud moments this is weird, fun and gloriously gonzo. I did find Hank recovered a little too quickly from a major tragedy during the events of the story but with it's great cast that includes Liv Schreiber, Carol Kane, Vincent D'Onofrio and Laura Dern has a mid end credits cameo this is a recommended film to check out. Surprisingly good.

A really entertaining mystery thriller that despite being set almost entirely in one room works very well and keeps up the tension even though the plot is obviously very contrived and occasionally fails to push itself in certain directions. Meghann Fahy plays Violet, an attractive single mum to Toby (Jacob Robinson). The film opens with Violet being attacked, an incident that becomes relevant to the main plot. She has, after many years, decided to go on a first date with Henry (Brandon Sklenar), whom she has met only online. This takes place in a high rise, posh restaurant. Henry is a handsome, amiable chap but Violet begins to receive anonymous texts that indicate her son is being threatened and that she is being constantly watched. The texts tell her to do certain actions including murder or Toby will be killed. This one of those plots which focuses on who is controlling the 'game'. Several suspects are put forward during the film, and sometimes these are not followed through satisfactorily but overall this is a well directed thriller that uses its limitations of location very well. Eventually it moves into action territory as everything unfolds. Good, solid thriller and very enjoyable.

Star Michael B. Jordan's directorial debut is a return of his Adonis Creed character from the spin off series originating with the Rocky films. It's a highly polished but soulless boxing drama that follows the same format of most films in the genre and indeed this series. Now retired and a successful trainer and businessman as well as a happy family man Creed is thrown by the sudden return of an old friend from his teenage years. Damian (Jonathan Majors) has just been released from prison for a crime that partially involved Creed and now despite a warm approach has a dark agenda to get even with Creed. There's a couple of big boxing set pieces including the finale where Creed and Damian are the adversaries and these include the usual slow motion and ups and downs until the predictable conclusion. This is one for fans of the series and/or boxing films in general but overall it's routine stuff.

A needlessly incoherent and contrived psychological drama that fails to grip its plot and leaves you with a totally unsatisfied feeling. It seems to be a real jumble of ideas wrapped in a convoluted script that arguably needed some sorting out. The cast do their best but the characters, as written, are incomplete and as the viewer it's difficult, if nigh impossible, to get a handle on what is the film trying to actually say. Julia Roberts is Alma, a Yale University professor, up for renewal of her tenure. She is apparently idolised by one of her students, Maggie (Ayo Edebiri), whose very wealthy parents make donations to the University. Alma's husband (Michael Stulbarg) thinks Maggie has a crush on his wife. After a party at their house at which Maggie attends, Alma's colleague (and possibly ex-lover), Hank (Andrew Garfield) gets drunk and takes Maggie back home. Subsequently Maggie accuses Hank of sexual assault, which he denies, and creates a dilemma for Alma as to who to believe. With this basic storyline the pieces are in place for an in-depth look at this all too frequent scenario but this film drifts laboriously into complexity and ambiguity and results in a bit anticlimax. For added annoyance is the soundtrack which is not only intrusive but for some reason has a bomb like ticking bomb on it which doesn't increase any tension but simply cons you into thinking the film is heading somewhere and its a nuisance too! I can't help but feel this was a wasted opportunity considering the talent on offer and the nature of the story.

Unashamedly a soppy and very contrived love story designed to highlight that movie romances are simply fairy stories. It references and homages An Affair To Remember (1957) and in doing so it's a throwback to the classic romantic comedies of yesteryear. But none of this is a criticism because Sleepless In Seattle is a lovely, heartwarming American romcom with two charismatic leads who have real charisma even though they share very little screen time together. Tom Hanks plays Sam, who having lost his beloved wife to illness, moves with his 8 year old son Jonah (Ross Malinger) to Seattle to start a new life. Jonah, sensing his Dad's loneliness, one night calls a radio station asking for a new wife for his dad and inadvertently starts a nationwide story which is picked up by journalist, Annie (Meg Ryan). She begins to feel a strange connection with Sam despite never meeting him and which brings her own relationship into question. The course of their two stories drives them towards each other in a lovely story that defies all sense of reality but this is movie world and it all works a treat. Although this is not a Christmas film it sort of feels like one so it's a great film for that season. the support cast are excellent including Hanks real life wife Rita Wilson as well as Carey Lowell, Bill Pullman and Rob Reiner.

This is a riotous adult sports comedy that follows the antics of a failing American ice hockey team, the Charleston Chiefs. They are on a huge losing streak and consequently the team's mysterious owner is losing money and there are rumours the team is to be closed down. Veteran player/coach Reggie Dunlop (Paul Newman in a performance that will be a big surprise if you've not seen this film) attempts to stall this by spreading false rumours the team is being sought after by a Florida buyer. But then the manager (Strother Martin) brings in the weird Hanson brothers, Jeff, Steve and Jack, to play on the team. Their style amounts to nothing more than fighting on the ice and as the crowd relishes the violence Reggie encourages the others to go all out with fights too and they begin not only to win but also to attract a huge following. But soon Reggie regrets the loss of a good sporting contest and winning by skill. This is really very, very funny and for it's time it's very profane and trying to say something about violence in art and media especially relevant in in the mid 70s when cinema was pushing the boundaries of screen violence and the exposure of it to young people. Viewed today it's a a great sports comedy, entertaining throughout and good to see Newman clearly having the time of his life (he often cited this as his favourite film). If you've never seen this then check it out it's great stuff.

Notorious for it's big plot twist and reveal (of which I will give nothing away in case you haven't seen this) this remains a moving, intricate and very well written ghost story, full of suspense it is director M. Night Shyamalan's best film. Bruce Willis is eminent child psychologist Malcolm Crowe. He takes on a new patient, a young boy named Cole (Haley Joel Osment), who suffers from chronic anxiety and is socially ostracised. His mother (Toni Collette) doesn't know why and is desperate to help her little boy. Malcolm soon discovers that Cole has a deep secret that he has never revealed and Malcolm knows he has to get the boy to tell him what it is if he is to help him. He is completely unprepared for what that secret happens to be. Willis and Collette are both fantastic here but the film goes to young Osment who really nails the role of Cole. It's an emotional rollercoaster and whilst there's some shocks along the way Shyamalan is rightly restrained making the film extremely watchable. He sprinkles clues throughout the narrative and follow up viewings help you to spot them. This is often cited as a film that is spoiled once you know how it turns out but I disagree. This is a film with more to offer than just the story's conclusion and I recommend you to watch again if you've only seen it once. And if you've never seen this little gem then I really recommend it.

A really intriguing science fiction film that predated The Matrix (1999) and which I suspect influenced that very popular and ground breaking film. Dark City is a dystopian fantasy that involves a mystery and surreal imagery as the plot gradually unfolds. John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) wakes up in a seedy hotel with no memory. It's an American city circa late 40s and early 50s and seems trapped in perpetual nighttime. John quickly discovers he's wanted for a series of brutal murders of prostitutes including the freshly killed girl in his hotel bedroom. Avoiding the police led by hard boiled Detective Bumstead (William Hurt) John tries to find out what has happened to him and learns he has a wife (Jennifer Connelly), a strange doctor (Keifer Sutherland) and to top it all a very peculiar band of pasty faced weirdos are after him too. There's some Lynchian set pieces and the plot unravels in a well scripted and quite original story. There's a director's cut that is the version to see as it is the truer version of director Alex Proyas' vision. Great cast, great story and very entertaining.

Clearly influenced by Jim Jarmusch's 1995 western Dead Man this is a strange supernatural story set before the American Civil War in the wilds of Arizona. Guy Pearce plays an ether addicted doctor who is grieving for his dead family who have died of plague. Needing money he agrees to help a former slave (DeWanda Wise) take her young daughter across the wilderness to see a famed priest. This is all because if the girl, who is inexplicably white and blonde, touches anyone or thing they instantly die and the mother believes she is possessed. On the journey they have to deal with a variety of characters and there's plenty of violence along the way too. It's a difficult film to quantify and it did remind me a little of Bone Tomahawk (2015) too. Pearce gives his usual angsty performance and Bill Pullman and Joanna Cassidy pop up in support roles. Visually it's a western, narratively it's a somewhat weird horror film about superstition and fear. It's watchable if a little odd.

Director Noah Baumbach's study of the price of fame and a story about regrets and trying to rediscover what are the real joys of life. In many ways this is, perhaps, a bit overly sentimental but with George Clooney in the titular lead role it actually finds just the right level without tipping over into a saccharine yucky story. Jay is a global movie star who relies on his entourage, led by manager Ron (Adam Sandler) in the running of his life. At a funeral of the director (played by Jim Broadbent) who gave him his big break but who Jay also rejected when his mentor was struggling, he bumps into an old drama school colleague who reveals how much he hates Jay for stealing his big break. This leads him onto a journey of attempted redemption especially with his two daughters with whom he has been a poor father. The journey is into Italy where Jay has to face some home truths about how he is perceived by those around him and re-evaluate his relationships especially with Ron. Clooney is perfect in the role and brings a moving performance that has the contradictions of a man who loves the fame but also feels the looses that it has cost him and includes the responsibility he now holds over those who need his fame for their own lives. An enjoyable and interesting film with a strong support cast that includes Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Greta Gerwig, Patrick Wilson, Stacey Keach and Emily Mortimer, who co-wrote the script.

A thoroughly delightful erotic comedy set in 1920 in Australia. Hugh Grant plays an uptight English priest, Tony, who thinks he's modern and broad minded. He and his wife Estella (Tara Fitzgerald) have just arrived in Australia where Tony is to take up at a new parish. Before doing so he is instructed by his bishop to visit artist Norman Lindsay (Sam Neill) and persuade him to remove a painting, which the church considers to be blasphemous, from a major exhibition. However Norman, his wife and three delectable models, provoke suppressed desires in Estella and Tony finds he's losing the battle of wits with Norman and his wife. This is partly a comedy of manners and partly a sexually charged period drama with digs at the church' obsession with sex. Religious iconography litters the film all of which is used as either a giggle at the ridiculous attitudes of Christianity or to highlight the power of nature and natural emotions of human beings. This is a gem of a film and well worth seeking out if you've never seen it. Supermodel Elle Macpherson costars as one of Lindsay's models and a young Ben Mendolsohn can be spotted in a few scenes. A lovely little film with a great cast, great story and beautiful setting. I highly recommend it.

A somewhat off-kilter sci-fi/horror/thriller that suffers from intermittent plotting but has a neat atmospheric vibe and proves to be intriguing as it goes on. Set in Bavaria it follows Gretchen (Hunter Schafer), an American teenager, who has been forced to join her father (Marton Csókás) and his new family in Germany. Sulkingly she accepts a job on in the resort hotel of her father's boss, Herr König (Dan Stevens). But soon Gretchen begins to witness strange goings on including a rather nasty woman who seems to be lurking in the nearby forests. The plot revolves around König and his nearby hospital/research centre and his apparent interest in Gretchen's mute half sister. It's a bizarre story and not always easily coherent although it keeps you watching. Both Schafer and Stevens are excellent and although the climax is a bit unwieldy, clichéd and arguably underwhelming this is an interesting story and a film that is enjoyable.