PLACES BEYOND THE PINES - REVIEW

PLACES BEYOND THE PINES - REVIEW

A highly ambitious film from writer/director Derek Cianfrance, Places Beyond the Pines covers a wide range of themes such as Family, love, fatherhood and the inevitable.

The film powerfully explores the consequences of motorcycle rider Luke’s fateful decision to commit a crime to support his child. The incident renders him targeted by policeman Avery, and the two men become locked on a tense collision course, which will have a devastating impact on both of their families in the years following.

In truth that little plot summary doesn’t paint an accurate picture of the film and yet, it’s the focal point of the story.

The Narrative of the story is a really split into four parts: The first part being about Luke (Played by Ryan Gosling), the second part being about Avery (Played by Bradley Cooper), the second and third part being about AJ (played by Emory Cohen) and Jason (played by Dane DeHaan).  

It’s really a film with four chapters, and each chapter is told from the Point-Of-View of one specific character. However instead of each chapter being about the same events from a different character’s POV, the narrative moves at a linear pace, allowing the film to move forward without reiterating past events to the audience. 

We are dropped inside the pinnacle most vital point at each of the characters lives, as we witness these characters deal with a particular situation, which will in turn shape their entire lives.

Its certainly intrigues and interest, as the story is not told by any conventional means. Somehow it had wonderfully cinematography to match this delicate multiple thread, as we view the story as though we are witness to the proceedings, always close by in close proximity, following the character of the moment.

The film has a wonderful cast, with the likes of Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes, Ray Liotta, Rose Byrne and Dane DeHaan. Everybody is fantastic in the film, bringing their A-Game and really pulling off top-notch performances.

Bradley Cooper is certainly on a role with picking the right the movies to do and Dane DeHaan proves once again that his the perfect person in Hollywood at the moment to play twisted teenagers.

Places Beyond the Pines might not always hit its beats, but its still a first class lesson on story-telling. With a great cast and performance to match, this certainly is a fantastic dark, melancholic tale of the sins of the Fathers and the fate of their sons, a true lesson in the circle of life.

My Rating

8/10

A HAUNTED HOUSE - REVIEW

A HAUNTED HOUSE - REVIEW

Spoof films have been around for longer then most of you would believe, and for the most part they have been done really well. Films like Hot Shots, Airplane and the Last Action Hero were really the epitome of parody films. Recently we have gone through a rough patch when it comes to parody films with the last good parody film arguably being Scary Movie 2. Now Marlon Wayans, being one of the brains behind the last arguable good parody film, steps into his own satirical venture and at the conclusion its clear to see that while it isn’t bad, its not exactly great either.

The film goes about, Malcolm and Kisha move into their dream home, but soon learn a demon also resides there. When Kisha becomes possessed, Malcolm - determined to keep his sex life on track - turns to a priest, a psychic, and a team of ghost-busters for help.

It goes without saying that this film is far from being a masterpiece but its not completely horrible either.

I’ll start with the good aspects of the film, as I felt the main strength of A Haunted House was that the film decided to keep this satirical story mainly focused on one film, in this case being Paranormal Activity. Now while there is a few unwarranted and brainless gags that rip off other films, they not as needless as the latest batch of Spoof films. The film isn’t one large buffet of random characters and scenes from other films, instead its own film.

It follows its own narrative while heavily borrowing from Paranormal Activity and its keeps this single focus throughout, which makes easily watchable.

The film also retains the horror mode from its source material, while throwing in comedy, which makes it entertaining.

However, the film isn’t as good as the first Scary Movie, although it tries to be but it does fail. Needless grotesque anal rape scenes fart jokes and childish antidotes, completely negate the clever scenarios that were set up and diminish the films narrative. The first half or so is probably where the film shines the most, thereafter it would seem they ran out of ideas.

 With a little more thought A Haunted House could have certainly been one great parody movie.

 Even so, the film will still draw in some laughs, and you might find yourself enjoying it.

Our Rating

5,5/10

THE HANGOVER PART III – REVIEW

THE HANGOVER PART III – REVIEW

After Hangover Part II released, the film disappointed a lot of fans, as it offered nothing new to the series, it simply copied the formula of the first film and gave audiences the same film in a different setting. This time around director Todd Phillips promised audiences that Part III would be different from the first two, however you will be surprised at just how different this film truly is.

In the aftermath of the death of Alan's father, the Wolfpack decide to take Alan to get treated for his mental issues. But things start to go wrong on the way to the hospital as the Wolfpack is assaulted and Doug is kidnapped. Now they must find Mr. Chow again in order to surrender him to the gangster who kidnapped Doug in order to save him.

The film ditches its Hangovers, its rote adventure, its reverse narrative, its debauchery and fun, and yet it hardly offers audience anything compelling in return. The film does away with all its comedy, and replaces it with a dark action thriller. For a film series that’s all about its comedy this has to be quite the bizarre move.

The film will certainly alienate its audience who are looking to watch a film that will offer them a great sense of fun and excitement.

The film does offer some laughs yet they so few and far between as the film puts the weight of the comedy on Ken Jeong’s Chow and Zack Galifianakis’ Alan, who are best in small doses. Alan’s petulance quickly becomes over bearing and the joke gets old real quick and too much of Chow in the film is undoubtedly never a good thing.

Although it must be said that Part III certainly does close out the story, bringing together everything that has happened from the first film. It certainly is the finale to this entire adventure, however it’s probably not the finale fans will be hoping to see.

I’m actually quite bemused that Todd Phillips purposefully created a film that would quite frankly kill the film series for fans and any hope of a further sequel. The purpose of the film was sorely to have no one ask for a future installment and after watching Hangover Part III; I don’t think anybody would want to see another Hangover film ever.

It definitely is a shame that the Hangover series will be going out on such a low note, as the first film was certainly something that no one expected to be as big as it was.

The Hangover series is probably the perfect example of how to effectively milk and then kill off your franchise.

Truthfully the film isn’t really that bad, if the film wasn’t called Hangover, I would probably have more good to say about it then bad. Because truthfully the Hangover Part III isn’t that bad as a dark action thriller, but that’s the problem is it not?? We don’t expect the Hangover to be an action thriller, we expect laughs, and quite frankly the audience will look for things to laugh at but will not actually be that funny.

Bradley Cooper has been on quite a roll in recent years as his film choices have been pretty rock solid, but in this film his character, Phil certainly gets lost in this story. With the last two films we always see Phil taking the lead trying to figure things out, while in this film his just a passive observer to everything that goes on.

Even as an action thriller the film failed quite frankly as it undermines its own suspense and thrill with low quips and flat humour from Alan, which falls on its face and undermines the thrill.  

The Hangover Part III is an okay action thriller, but coming from a film series that’s big on its laughs, the Hangover Part III offers little at that. It’s a disappointment as a comedy, as a Hangover film and certainly as a finale to one of the most surprising outrageous film concepts in recent years.

Our Rating

3/10

FAST AND FURIOUS 6 – REVIEW

FAST AND FURIOUS 6 – REVIEW

From a small budget drag racing drama to a full fledged car action big budget extravaganza, Fast and Furious 6 speeds back onto the big screen and this time it’s bigger and better than ever.

The plotline is as follows:  Since Dom (Diesel) and Brian's (Walker) Rio heist toppled a kingpin's empire and left their crew with $100 million, our heroes have scattered across the globe. But there inability to return home and living forever on the lam have left their lives incomplete. Meanwhile, Hobbs (Johnson) has been tracking an organization of lethally skilled mercenary drivers across 12 countries, whose mastermind (Evans) is aided by a ruthless second-in-command revealed to be the love Dom thought was dead, Letty (Rodriguez). The only way to stop the criminal outfit is to outmatch them at street level, so Hobbs asks Dom to assemble his elite team in London. Payment? Full pardons for all of them so they can return home and make their families whole again.

It goes without saying that when a franchise reaches its 6^thfilm, it’s normally on its way down, if its not there already. However, Fast and Furious 6 is the exception to the rule. This sixth installment in this high octane franchise, brings together all the elements that we loved about these past films, except this time it wraps itself out in a all out action fest.

While previous films have had there fair share of action and brawls, Fast and Furious 6 looked too amped that up to a whole new level. The film really is non-stop action from beginning to end, going well above your expectations of action in the film.

However, unlike Fast Five, Furious 6 has quite a bit plot holes. The story is stretched all over the place and the pace of the film is incongruent. The film feels tremendously choppy as it jumps at an incredible pace through a variety of scenes. Even so, for a film that just over 2 hours and 10 minutes long, the action pace, the vibe and energy amongst the crew and the defying of physics certainly makes this film are very fun ride. 

The film brings back the cast we all love as well as add new cast members that really liven things up.

Villains in the past Fast and Furious films have been nothing but fillers in the story, never really having an impact on the plot, instead just giving our protagonist someone to fight against. In Furious 6 however, with the addition of Luke Evans we got a villain unlike any other.

Luke Evans certainly stepped up for this film, and embraced his character fully having fun playing Owen Shaw from beginning to end, with intensity and prowess. Even though Evans physical stature is significantly smaller than Vin Diesel and the Rock, his presence on screen certainly is as large if not larger then theirs.

Michelle Rodriguez returns as Letty and she proves why she is the fans favourite badass chick. Her fight with Gina Carano's Riley, is certainly one of the highlights of the film, as these two incredible dangerous sexy woman, show the got more then what takes to through down with the big boys. 

Justin Lin certainly proved with this film and this franchise that he is a master of not only action films, but also, large ensemble cast, as he proved once again that he can toggle the film in such a way that each and everyone of the stars manage to get a reasonable amount of screen time as well as add to the plot.

Even though most fans are sad to see Lin exit this franchise, Furious 6 is certainly his swan song as ties up all four of his Fast and Furious films seamlessly. Suddenly FF1-FF6 fall into canon and everything just makes sense. This was certainly Lin’s curtain call, and yet somehow he managed to set up the next chapter of this saga. (You might want to stay for the Post-Credit Scene).

Furious 6 is certainly one hell of a action ride, the story might not be as tight as Fast Five, but with Letty returning, and Luke Evans being a total badass its certainly one to be remembered for a long time.

Our Rating

7,5/10