Feature Films (Briefly) Reviewed

[Foley]

Brief Reviews of Feature Films

I once found this format quite useful so thought I'd allow myself to start with a few so called reviews here.

Cashback (2006)
Comedy | Drama | Romance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cashback_%28film%29


Good humour combined with a thoughtful narrative. There are a few hilarious and well played roles. I have no idea how did they produce some of the scenes, it's quite unique I must say. Definitely worth watching.


The bank job (2008)
Crime | Drama | Thriller
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bank_Job


I liked the story with all the twists, even though it was a tad schematic. Compelling acting. It's not anything fantastic, just a decent film.


Casualties of War (1989)
Drama | History | War
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_war


Shows the Vietnam war but this time it's not another of these films where the US are the heroes saving the world from bad red villains. Combat scenes were dreadful to say the least. I'd recommend it just for the sake of an interesting narrative.


The Merchant of Venice (2004)
Drama | Romance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Merchant_of_Venice_%282004_film%29


Based on Sheakspeare's tragedy as you would imagine. Al Pacino as Shylock. Good acting, pleasant scenery. If you're into these times or you enjoy ye olde English Sheakspeare's dialogue - wait no longer and watch it.


Juno (2007)
Comedy | Drama | Romance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juno_%28film%29


Ellen Page's big debut that gave her a lot of well deserved awards. I must confess, it's one of few romantic comedies that I actually enjoyed. Story, acting, humour - all on a high level. Recommended.


The Tracey Fragments (2007)
Drama
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tracey_Fragments_%28film%29


I'm not gonna lie, I was lured here by the excellent performance of Ellen Page in Juno and if it wasn't for her, I'd have ditched the film after a quarter. Eventually the story clarified and the film didn't turn out to be that bad.
It is an odd one. Very experimental editing, leaping in time, overall a unique post-production. I dunno, it's weird, probably helps the viewer to empathise with a psychiatric. If you want something unusual - watch this.


Superbad (2007)
Comedy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superbad_%28film%29


Geez, how much energy and humour is in this film... Not much to say about it, it's a hilarious comedy - made my day, highly recommended.


The Hurricane (1999)
Biography | Drama | Sport
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hurricane_%281999_film%29


That is quite a biography and a struggle to prove one's innocence in light of law. Set in US, based on "The Sixteenth Round". I thought it was gonna be dull but in the end of the day I found it a decent movie. Don't expect spectacular action or fancy character arches. Still worth watching.


Whip it (2009)
Drama | Sport
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whip_It_%28film%29


Oops, dead end. Somewhat entertaining - sure, but I don't like the characters. Everything comes too easy. I don't really know what I expected (well, probably a mix of drama and sport) but there's something missing in this film. Maybe I don't get it, maybe it's been created for women.


Our War and Our War II (both series, since 2011)
If you're looking for a documentary about the British involvement in the Afghanistan war, look no further. Events recorded by the soldiers with helmet cams. Combined with interviews and a good commentary.
This is the first episode I saw and it got me - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYvHiDMMtOw. The series and especially the aforementioned episode - recommended for people interested in military actions.


Riley Rewind (2013)
Drama | Sci-Fi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PevwW0v0uM


A five acts long movie (70mins altogether) directed by Ray William Johnson (yes, the guy from YouTube).
Very nice storyline (that's the biggest strength of this film), well-executed post-production, surprisingly good acting (though Ray didn't seem compelling for me). Worth watching.


I'll be dropping more later on.

[Gary]

Haven't heard of most of these movies, but nice reviews.

[Foley]

Smart People (2008)
Comedy | Drama | Romance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_People


First of all, great soundtrack. Interesting storyline, decent humour. Recommended.


Peacock (2010)
Drama | Thriller
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peacock_%282010_film%29


It's about multiple personality disorder where alterego takes over a man. In my view it's been a bit boring. Cillian Murphy playing a man and a woman in one film - that was a good performance though.


Mouth To Mouth (2005)
Drama
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouth_to_Mouth_%282005_British_film%29


British production. So called road movie with rebellious teenager. Not particularly interesting for me. I absolutely loved the accents though.


Vanishing Of The Bees (2009)
Documentary
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanishing_of_the_Bees


Clarifies a few things regarding the disappearance of bees in the US and Europe. Nothing exciting here.


Hard Candy (2006)
Drama | Thriller
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_Candy_%28film%29


Hehe, now that is a thriller and a half. Unpredictible storyline - that's for sure. The female lead doesn't stop surprising. Impressive acting made this a good film. Definitely worth watching.


Lawn Dogs (1997)
Drama
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawn_Dogs


I won't spoil you anything by saying that it covers similar topics to the previous title. Throughout the whole film you fell that something is not right and bad things are gonna happen. The ending is surprising. Good one.


Inception (2010)
Action | Adventure | Mystery
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inception


Well, you're missing out if you haven't seen this one. Good script, good acting, pleasant CGI, awesome soundtrack. Recommended.

[The Black Mamba]

Do you have a thing for Ellen Page?

[Foley]

Do you have a thing for Ellen Page?

I bascially take an actor/actress/director and watch their whole filmography. Just so happened that Ellen was first.

[The Black Mamba]

Oh.

[Jojishi]

It's crazy that Superbad came out 7 years ago now. I still remember when that came out. Jonah Hill is a pretty big name in comedy now if I'm right, but back then he wasn't. So I'd say he definitely got a lot of attention from that film, but I never watch it personally. I've always heard good things about it since I was 12. I might actually check it out if you say it's good.

Your reviews are nice and insightful. Short, sweet and straight to the point.

[Stickid]

you should rename this thread "Pages of Ellen"
ahahaa get it

i'll add my impressions to the films we've both seen

Cashback - perfectly fine movie but it didn't make a big impression on me, interesting and artsy but forgettable
Juno - technically not Page's debut but it was probably the first time most saw her. anyways super cute movie i like it
Superbad - the first Judd Apatow movie i saw, it holds a soft place in my heart even though i was underwhelmed when i saw it again recently

Inception - neat concept and all, but i've just never been a big fan. one of nolan's more forgettable films
Hard Candy - really enjoyed my time watching it, darkly entertaining

[Foley]

you should rename this thread "Pages of Ellen"
ahahaa get it

Blimey, I knew this one-by-one-through-filmographies idea was gonna backfire. I've got a few more films with her but forget it. At least for now.


Les Quatre Cents Coups / The 400 Blows (1959)
Crime | Drama
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_400_Blows


One of the oldest films I've watched. A French black and white production. I really liked the script. It definitely makes for the lack of technology (it was made half a bloody century ago). The era of these films is long gone however I'm still inclined to recommend it. It's also somewhat thought-provoking.


Gravity (2013)
Sci-Fi | Thriller
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_%28film%29


Brilliantly written and directed. The action scenes are grand, I'll give them credit for the camera work. The film surely wasn't easy to shoot. CGI nicely complemented it as it was impressive. Worth watching.


Act Of Valor (2012)
Action | Thriller | War
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Act_of_Valor


I anticipated some realism. Oh well... Not a single damn was given in this regard. The storyline began schematically then it took quite an interesting direction and then at the end it became cliché again. If you want to see guns blazing - go for it - it's not lacking action. They also used some peculiar filters on the cameras (or it's post-production, I dunno) that were ever so annoying. I mean it looks nice, saturated and all that, but after a while you're sick of it. Overall I wasn't impressed.


X-Men The Last Stand (2006)
Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-Men:_The_Last_Stand


Aight, aight, aight, it does feature Ellen again (not much screentime though). Anyway, great special effects, picturesque sceneries and... I was about to say top-notch performances but I know what you'd say again. All in all, it's gripping, you won't regret watching it. By the way, I find it better than the recent sequel.

[Foley]

Lone Survivor (2013)
Action | Biography | Drama
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lone_Survivor_%28film%29


Dissapointed with Act of Valor watched some time ago, I came across this title. Lone Survivor promises to feature history based on facts (or more precisely, Operation Red Wings conducted by the US in Afghanistan).

At the beginning it appeared to me as some kind of documentary. After a few scenes that vibe waned however the cinematography was still unusual, it differed (I think in a good way) from popular action films. I exceptionally liked the sound design. Although the gunshots weren't always beliveable, I still find it being on a high level. Main characters' performances were as beliveable as the screenplay allowed them to be, I think. The sceneries were so fabulous that, at times, it was difficult not to consider them unreal.

How about realism? I've been reading Wiki and came to the conclusion that the film is only partially based on facts. The biggest deviation from them was the ending. And by ending I mean (roughly) last half an hour of the film, when you could find true motifs but not happenings.

Apart from that, there's inhuman toughness (this connects with the quality of performances I mentioned). I didn't count closely but the US soldiers were repeatedly hit with 7.62 rounds. Despite that, they proudly kept on moving, reacting with short screams or limping. I understand that being hit by an intermediate cartrige doesn't mean an immediate death, even if it's not once, but looking at their quantity and long-term lack of proper medical treatment, it is just over the top. According to the reports summarised on Wikipedia, the protagonists were mainly hit by shrapnels whilst direct gunshot wounds usually resulted in incapacitation and death.

Regardless of those deviations, the film lets you know what the soldiers felt like. It neatly pictures moral choices which compensates for most of the changes in storyline. I still find those (non-)lethal gunshots as a missed opportunity that ruined my immersion. And it's a pity, cause for the most part the film did a very good job showing soldiers' life in combat.

On second thoughts, the film serves as a memorial for those men and a point of it is to encourage people to learn about the presented events. And that's exactly what happened to me as I was reading though wiki like there was no tomorrow. I wouldn't be keen on doing that without the exaggeration in the film. Anyway, all in all, watching it was a worthwhile experience.

TL;DR
Based of a true story, but not completely. Dodgy realism, the characters absorb way to many bullets. Remarkable and unusual (for an action film) cinematography, fantastic sound design, main characters beliveable, sceneries so beautiful that they seemed unreal.

[Foley]

Haven't seen much recently, just a couple of titles I was recommended to watch.

Into the Wild
Adventure | Biography | Drama
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Into_the_Wild_%28film%29


It directly brings up the philosophy behind living as a hermit, close to nature. Despite this way of doing things, the dialogues weren't unnatural at all. The actors were convincing. The story was presented with a hint of mystery which I enjoyed. There's a lot of music going on, practically every VO monologue and shot showing surroundings is complemented by music. And it's perfectly fine because the soundtrack is wonderful. Sceneries aren't bad either. It's a remarkable one.


The Lovely Bones
Drama | Fantasy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lovely_Bones_%28film%29


Something you'll notice straight away - outstanding performances including those of child characters which is not a common sight. I liked transitions between fiction (or memories) and reality. Excellent job by the director and editors. It goes without saying that the film covers dark motifs but, at the same time, it's not shown in a blatantly graphic way, meaning it's something you would probably want to show your child. To that end, the fantasy aspect was tremendously exploited (in a good sense). Despite the overall dark vibe, they managed to put a few comical moments in place. Storyline is obviously great. Special effects - not too bad. Worth watching.

[Foley]

Tracks (2013)
Adventure | Biography | Drama
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracks_%282013_film%29


I haven't got much to say about this one, I find it forgettable. I'm not saying it was awful but it just didn't set itself apart in any special way. The plot started off slowly and it stayed slow-paced for the most part, except for a couple of breakthrough moment. One thing I can give them credit for is make-up. It felt realistic and complemented the atmosphere greatly.


Hancock (2008)
Action | Fantasy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hancock_%28film%29


It's gotta be said, Hancock was a surprise to me. I expected it to be full of mindless fighting with a charismatic protagonist but I was wrong as it turned out to be a gripping film with a decent storyline. At the beginning it did feel like a cliche superhero film but then it kept on surprising. The plot was getting deeper and deeper, more than you would've expected. Special effects were okay. Performances - magnificent. Recommended.


Casino Royale (2006)
Action | Adventure | Thriller
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casino_Royale_%282006_film%29


I remember old James Bond films (who doesn't) with those fighting scenes that always gave me the giggles. In Casino Royale, the original Bond films style had been adapted and slightly enchanced with recent trends in cinematography. And it was smashing - I look at it and I see a typical and enjoyable 007 film. As you would imagine, it's full of action scenes and complemented with good orchestral music. If you aren't fond of Bond films, it probably won't change your mind but still, it's worth watching.

[Foley]

Comedy time!

Small Time Crooks (2000)
Comedy | Crime
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Time_Crooks


A well written Woody Allen's comedy. It's been well performed, it's funny and all that and yet, I find it kind of forgettable. Camera is fairly boring and schematic. Music is atmospheric though. Recommended, after all.


To Rome with Love (2012)
Comedy | Romance
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Rome_with_Love_%28film%29


Watch with subtitles on cause it's a mix of English and Italian. At first I thought that they put Italian just for a couple of scenes for atmosphere but it turns out that whole threads are in it. Speaking of atmosphere, the music, the sceneries, the filters on the camera match up greatly. The magical-realistic aspect of the film confused me at first but then I liked it big time. Ludicrousness is there to fuel comedy. Worth watching.


Neighbors (2014)
Comedy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neighbors_%282014_film%29


Here we go, another comedy produced by and starring Seth Rogen. Good writing, full of energy, fantastic acting. Concluded with a daft fighting scene. Definiately worth watching.


Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)
Comedy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borat


How the hell did the screenplay make it to the 20th Century Fox (not the Indie branch). As you can probably imagine, this one is full to the brim with stereotyping. It also gets graphic, quite often actually. If it didn't make me feel sick, I would probably be laughing. Performances believable; the entirety of cinematography atmospheric; writing awkward and silly (in a good way). As to recommendation, I'll say it's not for everyone.

[Will]

Well this certainly pointed me towards some new films, thanks.

As for the one-by-one filmography stuff, I think you should still do it, Ellen Page is a fine actress and a good person to start with. Those guys were just joking around.

[Foley]

I think there's literally one title left. Anyway, good to hear that it's actually useful.