Pitch Perfect Review

So, how many good songs are in Pitch Perfect: well, about 3 - but who cares? This is a fun movie!

The story revolves around Beca, a reluctant college student, who wants to move to LA to become a music producer. She joins an A Capella group 'the Bellas' and learns to make friends and fit in.

Anna Kendrick is enjoyable and very watchable as Beca. Her character develops and we grow to feel for her. Skylar Astin is wonderfully likeable as the love interest; Adam DeVine is wonderfully dislikeable as the bad guy. However, it's Rebel Wilson who really shines. She steals every seen she's in with some hilarious and endlessly quotable one-liners.

The characters are the real high points of this movie, but the plot really lets it down. It's highly predictable; however, it's entertaining and amusing - and in this kind of film - that's what matters.

It's easy and predictable; but amusing and fun. If you can't watch Pitch Perfect without having a good time; you must be dead inside!

3.5/5

Oscars 2015

So – Oscar time has come. The nominations are out and opinions are running wild amongst film nerds everywhere. There’s worthy recognition on the list; as well as some snubs. Here, I will place my predictions on the categories: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress. Remember, I haven’t seen an awful lot of these movies for I am twelve and short on cash to spend on the cinema so my predictions will be based on what films the Academy tend to vote for, reviews, Golden Globes and BAFTAs etc.

Best Picture:

Nominations:

American Sniper
Birdman
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Selma
The Theory of Everything
Whiplash

Predictions:

Immediately after seeing this I thought, “well, what about Nightcrawler, Interstellar, Foxcatcher, Inherent Vice, Gone Girl...”, but then – they’re not really Oscar baiters, are they? I am surprised that Mr Turner has had hardly any recognition. When I saw it I thought “Oscar” and Timothy Spall won Best Actor at Cannes for it but hey ho, the Oscars work in mysterious ways!

I could go on forever about this – who will win; who won’t. But to keep it short, Boyhood is what’s going to win. It did at the Golden Globes and the sheer spectacle of it will get it recognition.

I personally would put Guardians of the Galaxy and 22 Jump Street on there but whatever...

Best Director:

Nominations:

Alejandro González Iñárritu – Birdman
Richard Linklater – Boyhood
Bennett Miller – Foxcatcher
Wes Anderson – The Grand Budapest Hotel
Morten Tyldum – The Imitation Game

Predictions:

There are obviously a lot of directors that you could go on about getting snubbed for the award but I’m just going to go through the people who actually did get nominated:

Millar and Tyldum getting nominated doesn’t surprise me. They are obvious choices; but you can’t pretend they didn’t do a good job on their films. Alejandro González Iñárritu’s continuous shots in Birdman deserve recognition and it’s nice to see this nomination. Finally Wes Anderson gets recognition from the Academy for Best Director – it’s been a long time coming! But – again – Linklater will win as he kept the standards high in his film for 12 whole years.

Best Actor:

Nominations:

Steve Carell – Foxcatcher
Bradley Cooper – American Sniper
Benedict Cumberbatch – The Imitation Game
Michael Keaton – Birdman
Eddie Redmayne – The Theory of Everything

Predictions:

Jake Gyllenhaal’s snub for Nightcrawler, as well as Timothy Spall’s for Mr Turner have not gone unnoticed in my book. I am surprised that David Oyelowo has not been nominated for Selma because that seems to be one of the kinds of movies that attracts the Academy. Bradley Cooper is now the 10^th actor to get 3 consecutive Oscar nominations – for Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle and now American Sniper. The last person to achieve this was Russell Crowe in 2000, 2001 and 2002. From what I’ve heard, Steve Carell and Michael Keaton have performed fantastically in their movies. Carell making a fantastic transition from hilarious comedic actor (“I Love Lamp!”); to serious drama actor. And the legend that is Michael Keaton is back in the lead role and making people everywhere swoon at his performances. However, the two in the running really are Eddie Redmayne and Benedict Cumberbatch. These performances are the kinds that will really catch the Academy’s attention (terrible disease suffering physicist, genius gay war hero) so it’s really between these two. As a fan of Cumberbatch, I would love him to win but after stealing it at the Golden Globes – it’s going to go to Redmayne.

Best Actress:

Nominations:

Marion Cotillard – Two Days, One Night
Felicity Jones – The Theory of Everything
Julianne Moore – Still Alice
Rosamund Pike – Gone Girl

Reese Witherspoon – Wild   

Predictions:

It’s great to see the brilliant Marion Cotillard getting recognition and I am thrilled to see her nominated for Two Days, One Night. Also, Felicity Jones being nominated for The Theory of Everything is great as it is a film about Stephen AND Jane Hawking so her nomination is deserved. Rosamund Pike’s nomination is an interesting one. Gone Girl didn’t shout out Oscar bait and her performance certainly isn’t the kind I thought the academy would go for – but her recognition is definitely deserved. Reese Witherspoon has a good chance in winning. The film she’s nominated for – Wild – is directed by Jean-Marc Vallée who worked on Dallas Buyers Club which got Matthew McConaughey his Oscar last year. However, it’s the year of Julianne Moore. With Maps to the Stars and Still Alice added to her filmography this year - winning at Cannes for the former and the Golden Globes for the latter – she’s bound to bring home the trophy.

Best Supporting Actor:

Nominations:

Robert Duvall – The Judge
Ethan Hawke – Boyhood
Edward Norton – Birdman
Mark Ruffalo – Foxcatcher
JK Simmons – Whiplash

Predictions:

It’s nice to see the legend that it is Robert Duvall getting a nomination for RDJ’s The Judge at the tender age of 84. Mark Ruffalo deservedly gets a look in for Foxcatcher, and Ethan Hawke puts in a great performance as Mason Sr. in Boyhood. I would love to see Edward Norton – who is long overdue the award – take home the trophy but I feel that JK Simmons’ performance as a sociopathic music teacher is going to take home the Oscar. After winning the Golden Globe – it seems likely.

Best Supporting Actress:

Nominations:

Patricia Arquette – Boyhood
Laura Dern – Wild
Keira Knightley – The Imitation Game
Emma Stone – Birdman
Meryl Streep – Into the Woods

Predictions:

Meryl Streep gets her 19^th nomination for an Oscar for Into the Woods – possibly the most obvious nomination of all this year. Laura Dern gets a look in for Wild. Maybe Jean-Marc Vallée is hoping to get the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor win he achieved last year but this time with the opposite sex. Keira Knightly unsurprisingly gets her second nomination for an Oscar as Joan Clarke in The Imitation Game. Emma Stone was excellent in Birdman – as was everyone else – and I think she will come second. But in first place I think will be Patricia Arquette for Boyhood. She won at the Golden Globes, she can win again.

Who do you think will win? Who do you think got snubbed? Leave your answers in the comments section or preferably tweet me @futurecritic1 on Twitter. Bye!

Oh , and, erm... WHY THE HELL DIDN’T THE LEGO MOVIE GET NOMINATED FOR BEST ANIMATION?! IT’S SO STUPID! TWO SNUBS FOR PHIL LORD AND CHRIS MILLAR THIS YEAR. I’M GOING TO GO AND PUNCH A WALL!

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 - Review

The last entry in a franchise always has two parts. Always two parts. Harry Potter – two parts. Twilight – two parts. And now, the Hunger Games – two parts. TWO PARTS! TWO PARTS! TWO PARTS! And the problem with these entries – apart from spending double the money on seeing them – is that the first one always kind of... sucks.

So, the latest entry into this sadistic-violence-for-teens franchise is the catchily titled The Hunger Games colon Mockingjay dash Part 1. And, well, It feels a little dragged out. I mean, this movie is 123 minutes long already and there’s going to be another one of these. That’s 246 minutes of a movie that’s book is as long as its previous instalments. I understand that in the previous films they missed out some key plot points (i.e. in the first one, they all seem to look very well fed. Where’s the hunger?), but that doesn’t mean they stretch out this book so long it’s no fun to watch the films anymore. And there not doing it for the story, it’s for the money! Francis Lawrence, you’re doing a Hobbit on us!

However, the one thing that really drives this movie is the performances. Josh Hutcherson’s lack of material as Peeta really allows Jennifer Lawrence to outperform herself as Katniss. Emotionally, it’s difficult to watch as she tries to cope with the trauma that’s surrounding her. And the love triangle between Gale (played by Thor’s brother Liam Hemsworth, who finally gets something to do), Peeta and Katniss only seems forced a little bit (unlike Twilight). Sam Claflin is also excellent in the film, as Finnick. Plus, whoever put acting heavyweights Julianne Moore and the late, great Phillip Seymour Hoffman in the movie is a genius – they really stand out.

However, the woeful lack of action really shows. I mean, there are only four proper scenes of it, and they feel like a relief from the political overtones. I do not have a problem with these serious sections but you do need some action.

It’s a little stretched out; whilst watching it, I couldn’t help but think about have much better it would have been in just one part. However, it is a fun movie and you should enjoy it - even with the severe lack of action!

3/5

Paddington - Review

I love Paddington. There. I might as well not even write anything else. Paddington is just excellent. There are so many good things about this movie, so this review may be rather large:

For starters, the cast is absolutely excellent and really capture the magic of the movie. When I found out the movie was being made, I actually thought Colin Firth would make a brilliant Paddington. When he signed on I thought I should think about having a career in casting, but then he left the production. I was distraught. But now, after seeing the film, I couldn’t imagine anyone other than Ben Whishaw playing our protagonist. He seems so right for the part. Just the right softness and pitch in his voice. He captures the magic of the character and really performs Paul King and Hamish McColl’s brilliant screenplay.

Furthermore on that, the script is very funny. Hilarious is an understatement. The hard stare and the travel piano really did it for me. It paces perfectly and has a very heart-warming (and breaking, for that matter) nature.

Back to the cast, Nicole Kidman is devilishly, delightfully – and perhaps worryingly – sadistic as the film’s taxidermist antagonist Millicent. She seems born to play the role, which makes me slightly scared of her! Hugh Bonneville and Sally Hawkins are great as Mr and Mrs Brown, as are Madeleine Harris and Samuel Joslin as their kids. Peter Capaldi is also fantastic as their racist neighbour Mr Curry. Julie Walters is also excellent, and Jim Broadbent, and Matt Lucas. Imelda Staunton and Michael Gambon do some good voice work. And I couldn’t help but notice a load of CBBC actors cameoing. I counted James Bachman, Simon Farnaby and Alice Lowe.

They also manage to get an important political message across, in that it doesn’t matter where you’re from – you are just a person like everybody else. Nigel Farage must love this movie!

Another fab thing about Paddington is that the whole family can enjoy this film. I went with all my family and everyone came out with a huge grin on their face.

It’s touching, without being overly sentimental; gets an important political statement across; and the whole cast give excellent performances. Paddington is family movie perfection.

4.5/5

Interstellar - Review

Christopher Nolan’s direction has never really faulted. And his latest film, Interstellar, isn’t his finest but fits perfectly into his near perfect filmography. With breathtaking scenes and visuals and excellent cinematography from Hoyte van Hoytema, this space epic is extremely enjoyable.

The plot follows Cooper, played by Matthew Mcconaughey, an astronaut turned farmer in near future America. He stumbles upon NASA by seeing irregularity in the gravitational pull. He must go into space to save the human race from the dust destroying all the crops. However, by doing this he may never see his kids again...

OK, OK, OK. The plot is ridiculous; but you can’t help but enjoy it. The script - although occasionally cheesy (“Is love the 5^th dimension?”) - is very well-acted; especially Mcconaughey’s performance, as well as Jessica Chastain’s as Cooper’s daughter Murph. Michael Caine, Anne Hathaway and Mackenzie Foy are also very good.

Also, the effects are incredible, which is exactly what you’d expect from Nolan. Especially those on the ice planet they visit, which they actually filmed in Iceland.

However, the 169 minute run time perhaps drags occasionally, and it sometimes seems that there are so many characters and they don’t all get to properly develop; like Casey Affleck and Topher Grace’s character’s.

However, there are some really fantastic moments in the movie. For instance, the sound is incredible. Hans Zimmer’s booming score is sometimes so loud it’s too much to bear, but then it just goes absolutely silent – like it is in space. Also, the space suits they wear are exceptionally cool. There should be more films like Interstellar: big-budget blockbusters that are actually very ambitious and have big ideas; not just a shoot-em-up.

With influences reigning from 2001: A Space Odyssey, to Close Encounters of the Third Kind; Intersteller is a very thought-provoking piece of art thatNolan should be very proud of indeed.

4/5

Guardians of the Galaxy - Review

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a Chuck Berry song: a rocking ‘n’ rolling thrill ride filled with riffs and hooks. A film that fires off like a rocket into absolute madness! Roll over Beethoven; Guardians of the Galaxy are here!

So, Guardians is Marvel’s latest franchise – and let’s face it, it’s not their most well-known motley-crue.  However - beating Marvel heavyweight Captain America: The Winter Soldier at the box office - it looks like nobody cares.

James Gunn, the writer of the live action Scooby Doo movie, proves himself that he is actually super-clever director.  The film is very funny, and though the screenplay is full of space gobble-de-gook - the plot is really well-written. However, the most energetic and fun part of the film, are the characters:

First, Peter Quill, AKA Starlord; played by Chris Pratt; a scavenger who was abducted by aliens as a child; second, Gamora - Zoe Saldana’s green, leather-clad assassin; third, Drax the Destroyer; a Dave Bautista shaped purple and red muscle man; fourth, Rocket; Bradley Cooper’s alcoholic raccoon; and fifth, Groot; an, erm, tree; voiced by Vin Diesel who only says three words: “I am Groot”, but always very meaningfully.

OK, this isn’t the most normal movie around, but it’s still amazing! The plot holes are forgotten through the enjoyment and craziness; the soundtrack is incredible; Chris Pratt performs a dance that can never be recreated; Rocket and Groot have become one of the most memorable double acts of recent times. It’s just a great time! And remember that big, fat, ugly, purple alien from the end of the Avengers? Well, he’s called Thanos and he’s back for a bit more. Plus, there are loads of easter eggs; James Gunn has really gone all out with the fan service. Plus there’s an excellent supporting cast including Lee Pace as Ronan; Josh Brolin as Thanos; Doctor Who’s Karen Gillan as Nebula; and John C. Reilly; Michael Rooker; Glenn Close; Benicio del Toro and Shaun of the Dead’s Peter Serafinowicz and many, many more.

It’s difficult to fault Guardians, because it’s just a really great movie. Star Wars meets the Avengers, Marvel’s best movie yet.

4.5/5

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Review

So – Michael ‘Transformers’ Bay, king of ridiculous film franchises has got his hands on another one in ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’. “Oh Jesus,” I thought, “this is going to suck”. However, perhaps from Bay taking a producing credit and Jonathan Liebesman directing, it defeated my expectations – if not by a lot.

I’m not going to lie - I’m not a TMNT superfan. I haven’t read the comics or watched the cartoon. However, I have enough sense to work out that the turtle’s sensei, a mutant rat named Splinter - did not teach the title characters ninjutsu from a book.

The new origins story, written for the movie, is lazy; as is the rest of the script. And Shredder, the turtle’s prestigious arch enemy, just looks like a downsized, less-extravagant transformer. With Shredder, it’s not the armour that’s scary; it’s what’s behind it. I understood, that William Fichtner – a very capable actor – was playing Shredder, and that would have been great! But he actually played an underdeveloped, dull, not-very-scary sub-villain.

It’s not just Fichtner who plays a dull character, the rest of the humans are dreary as well. I mean, who’s interested in whether Will Arnett can bang Megan Fox? Really, guys, really?

However, with a sequel already green-lit, they can fix all of this pretty easily by the time TMNT 2 comes out in 2016.

Maybe I’m being too harsh – I mean, they did get some things right. The turtles themselves are fantastic. From the trailer they just looked like big, ugly, wrinkly, fat, green blobs but they actually, in the film, they come across really funny and are the best part of the movie. Let’s forget the monstrosity of the Vanilla Ice turtle rap from 1990’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze. The best part of this movie is the musical sequence - It’s very enjoyable!

TMNT has got everything you’d expect from a movie involving Michael Bay: a terrible script, shameless product placement (Skype, Pizza Hut etc.) and, of course, EXPLOSIONS!!! I mean, let’s face it, this film is stupid – but maybe that’s what you want from a movie about big, green turtles; who are martial arts experts; and adore pizza. But, this could have been so much better, and overall this is a major disappointment.

2/5