Monthly Review Round Up (Feb 2015)

Welcome to the February round up!

Check out my scathing slang and glowing gems of the last month: 

I'm With Geek

Gotham: Red Hood 
Hyena
Hinterland




HeyUGuys 

Backstreet Boys: Show Em What You're Made of



Cinema Chords 

The Boy Next Door


So many films and so little time - Keep your eyes peeled for more updates! 

Monthly Review Round Up (Jan 2015)

Welcome to the January round up!

Check out my scathing slang and glowing gems of the last month: 

I'm With Geek

Kingsmen: The Secret Service
Chastity Bites
The Musketeers: Apple Store Regents St
Gotham: What the Little Bird Told Him
Gotham: The Fearsome Dr Crane


HeyUGuys

Dying of the Light
Documentary: Tales of the Grim Sleeper



EasternKicks

The Discarnates
Handsome Suit


So many films and so little time - Keep your eyes peeled for more updates! 

The Light Shines Only There (そこのみにて光輝く)

When a film gets short-listed for the Academy Awards one can’t help but be intrigued. When a film has Best Director and Best International feature attached to it, it certainly makes it all more desirable. For female director Mipo O (Here comes the Bride, My Mom!) it seems she has struck gold with audiences and critics alike. Albeit, The Light Shines Only There, lacks a certain substance in an otherwise carefully paced drama.

When it comes to romance and drama it’s hard to think that we haven’t seen it all before. We see the same format countless amounts of times, the same plot elements and audiences will still go to see them time after time. The Light Shines Only There, is no exception to this equation of boy meets girl, yet what writer Ryo Takada does with Yasushi Sato’s original work is rather interesting. Set in Hokkaido, the narrative follows the reclusive Tatsuo (Gou Ayano: Mother, The Long Goodbye) who whilst wasting his money gambling meets the eccentric Takuji (Masaki Suda: Don Quixote, Princess Jellyfish) who seems to be in a worse place than Tatsuo himself. When invited back to Takuji’s shabby little family home, Tatsuo, along with the audience see how dysfunctional and quite frankly sad Takuji’s set up really is. Between his callous mother and bedridden, sex addicted father, the only light in this little shack is the pretty Chinatsu (Chizuru Ikewaki: Princess Jellyfish, The Devil’s Path), Takuji’s older sister.

Ordinarily, this immediately sets the scene for romance; yet it seems the emotionally stunted Tatsuo and the part-time prostitute Chinatsu have a lot of self-healing to do beforehand. What we are presented with is an in depth study of their emotional journeys not just towards their relationship with one another, but within themselves. What is so enticing about this elegant film is that it shows us just how visually stunning such a bleak narrative can be. The tone, the composition and indeed sullen soundtrack all marry together to give us a well rounded drama. They even achieved in making the lovers first intimate encounter with each other look like a teenagers first time, despite both of their grim  and not so innocent histories.   

Overall, this is a well acted, well directed piece that has certainly managed to get itself noticed. Albeit, it seems the film-makers chose style, over content. This two hour drama, doesn't fail entirely at keeping you enthralled; yet delving into the sporadic flashbacks would have solved this flaw.  This is a troubled, yet interesting look at humanities relationships, in and outside the family circle. 

Directed by Mipo O

120 mins, (2014)

The Drop

Getting caught in the middle of something you don't want to be is bad enough, never mind getting trapped in the center of a robbery gone wrong which is what Bob Saginowski (Tom Hardy) gets himself into. Before we delve into this quite simply fantastic cinematic experience, one has to take the first 5 minutes of The Drop with a pinch of salt. As an American Hardy explains exactly what a 'drop bar' is. By no means does the rest of the film hand you answers on a plate, albeit it quickly gets the details out of the way and straight into the deeper subject at hand. 

"I just tend the bar" claims the quiet, reserved, bartender Bob who currently works for his Cousin Marv (James Gandolfini). Everything seems to be going swimmingly until the two are held at gunpoint and forced to empty out their cash registers to scum of the earth criminals. Just like any gangster plotline of this 'ilk', we see a hierarchy when it comes to the 'money drop' bars and a hell of a lot of "Give me my money" uttered. Except, where this film stands out, is it's ability to provide a gangster narrative without copious amounts of violence and swearing, gratuitous sex and car chases. Dennis Lahane, the genius behind this script who previously gave us Mystic River and Shutter Island, crafts it in such a way that the film doesn't need such frills. His words along with the actors portrayal of their characters are more than enough to drive this forward until the bitter end.

Many people will be watching this just because it's James Gandolfini's last performance, however man of the moment Tom Hardy continues to impress with his husky, flawless Brooklyn accent. Back in April everyone raved about his performance in Locke and although hard to beat his Saginowski completely tops it. Hardy's character is a survivor, a protector and he will do whatever is necessary in order to resolve the situation. To the point where he finds a beaten up pitbull puppy in Nadia's (Noomi Rapace) trash can, and simply can't just leave it out in the cold. He is a protector and the puppy later named Rocco almost symbolises the way in which Bob balances both the good and bad deeds he does in life - and is also possibly the cutest little pitball ever known to man. Director Michael R. Roskam, gives us some very touching moments with Bob and his new found friend in this otherwise somewhat chaotic world Marv and Bob have found themselves in. Perfectly placed lingering and out of focus shots give depth to those on screen. Even in the brief moments we see Noomi, you feel more attached to her character than ever. James Gandolfini is Cousin Marv. No one else could have played him as well as he did. On one hand we have an overweight man, chugging away, minding his own bar and on the other we have a corrupt, conniving and at times scary gangster. A man that made his mark as Tony Soprano and now with Marv gives us a very memorable final performance.   

The Drop is a enthralling crime thriller with some of the most outstanding performances on screen of this year. 

Directed by Michael R. Roskam
106 mins, 15 (2014)

Monthly Round Up

Welcome to the September and October review round up!

Check out my scathing slang and glowing gems of the last two months: 

Cinema Chords     

 Magic in the Moonlight 

 The Maze Runner

 Honeymoon

 71'

            

I'm With Geek   

The Judge

Sex Tape

            





EasternKicks
Black Butler 

Satellite Girl and Milk Cow

HK: Forbidden Superhero (HK: Hentai Kamen)

Handuken


So many films and so little time - Keep your eyes peeled for more updates! 

CineLanguage takes to the red carpet for LFF: 'The Drop'

As part of the BFI: London Film Festival, CineLanguage was lucky enough to grab a few minutes on the red carpet for the premiere of director Michael R. Roskam's latest film, The Drop. Sadly, this was the late James Gandolfini's final performance and the director and leading lady Noomi Rapace were bombarded with questions regarding working with such a talented actor. 

Being Roskam's second feature film and first in a language that isn't his mother tongue, set deep in the heart of Brooklyn, The Drop follows bar tender Bob Saginowski (Tom Hardy) who finds himself at the centre of a robbery gone terribly wrong.  In this hub of a gangster neighbourhood where friends and foes work together to create a cash flow, things get pretty heated when the wrong people catch wind of the bigger picture. Acclaimed writer Dennis Lehane has adapted his short Animal Rescue into a feature length script for this one and coming from the man who gave us Mystic River and the fabulously twisted Shutter Island, it is no wonder audiences and critics alike are raving about this one. 

Sadly for the female population there was no Tom Hardy. However for the guys, the stunning, very stylish Noomi was there to lay their eyes upon. The director himself looked very slick as well dressed in black from head to toe and equally took his time to do the rounds.




It is always nice to see actors and filmmakers take the time for press and fans and as Noomi willing took pictures and signed autographs for the people who came to support her. Like any carpet event it is near impossible in between the fans and other press to talk to everyone. Unfortunately, we didn't get the time with Roskam, albeit we struck gold as we got to ask Noomi a couple of questions about the project. 

Staying away from conventional questions, I managed to catch some footage and from the video below it is evident Noomi appreciated such words and her smile says it all: 

Being asked if she would appear in a comedy certainly made her laugh and as for working with Tom Hardy again, it seems she is game. Already collaborating again for Daniel Espinosa's Child 44, it seems the two work well on screen together.  

The Drop is released in theatres throughout the UK from Friday 14th November, 2014. 

Guardians of the Galaxy

It seems as if Hollywood is incapable of saying no to a superhero script when it comes flying across their desks. Of course they have always been around, but over the last decade Marvel and DC have stormed through theatres like Harry Potter flew through on his broom. After the monstrosity that was Avengers Assemble, Marvel looked in danger of burning out. With their latest Guardians of the Galaxy they have certainly proved to us that they are back on top. 

Guardians of the Galaxy has a very distinct personality and clearly stands out amongst the other Marvel features. Set galaxies away from planet Earth, 26 years after being abducted, Peter Quill, the Star-lord (Chris Pratt) finds himself in a pretty sticky spot after uncovering a powerful orb wanted by the evil Ronan, The Accuser (Lee Pace). Starring a fluffy raccoon riddled with sarcasm, a green skinned goddess full of rage and a very literal alien, literally - it's safe to say that this sets itself streaks ahead of the recent Captain America: The Winter Solider. This is spontaneous, sexy and slick. That being said, this may not be for everyone. It is obvious they have tried to aim this at every possible audience member, dribbling toddlers and OAP's alike, albeit some aspects felt forced as if they were trying too hard to be different. Arguable, this is exactly the kind of tongue-in-cheek dialogue and charm that such a film needed to get itself noticed in amongst  reams of summer releases. After all, this is directed by James Gunn, who gave us the hilariously ridiculous Super (2010) and the comedy horror Slither (2006); so it's apparent before you even walk into the cinema that some element of geeky comedy will be involved. Gunn balances all aspects here as well as giving us some side splitting one-liners. 

Christopher Pratt has always kind of been under the radar until his brilliantly voiced Lego self as Emmet in The Lego Movie earlier this year. Here, Pratt truly shows us what he is made of (and I don't just mean abs ladies!) It may seem like he his hiding behind the comedy but this man is great to watch regardless of his outrageous attempt to throw off the enemy by busting some moves. His Star-Lord charm never fails to win over audiences that's for sure. It seems for Zoe Saldana's feisty Gamora, he shall have to try just that bit harder. Bradley Cooper brings dry wit and out-right wickedness to his furry little friend Rocket, and Dave Bautista brings muscle and literally takes everything literally, perfectly well. This truly is a stellar cast and with the welcomed addition of Doctor Who star Karen Gillian taking on a much different and more demanding role it only gets better. Not to mention she did a Natalie Portman and saved her hair off in preparation for her jumped up alien robot, Nebula. Now that's dedication. 

This is a high-energy, non-stop sprawling space fuelled adventure with a soundtrack to match. The 3D CGI is flawless, bringing so many weird and wonderful alien creatures alive. One for the kids and certainly one that works on an utterly different level for the adults. A stunning surprise on all accounts that will have you smiling the entire way through. Not to mention the cutest dancing twig you will ever see, which would make even Vin Diesel go awww! Or perhaps just "I am Groot"!  

Directed by James Gunn
121 mins, 12A (2014)