June 2015 – Page 3 – cinemescope

100 Word Review – The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

June 7, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., ComedyTagged adaptation, Adrian Brody, art, Bill Murrey, Comedy, Edward Norton, Harvey Keitel, IMDb, Jason Schwartzman, Jeff Goldblum, Jude Law, Oscars, Ralph Fiennes, Saoirse Ronan, Stefan Zwing, Tilda Swinton, Tony Revolori, Wes Anderson, Willem Dafoe2 Comments

Based on the writings of Stefan Zwing, writer and director Wes Anderson (Fantastic Mr. Fox) takes us on a journey into the fictional Republic of Zubrowka in this beautiful comedy.

Ralph Fiennes stars as Gustave, a concierge at The Grand Budapest Hotel, accompanied by his faithful friend Zero (Tony Revolori).

This film is full of all the wonderful actors you could hope for from an Anderson film, and a few more besides. The direction a weird and wonderful work of art, with all the precision of a master. Winner of 4 Oscars and nominated for 5 more, it’s #183 on IMDb’s Top 250 list.

100 Word Review – Leon (1994)

June 6, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Action, DramaTagged Action, assassin, Drama, Gary Oldman, IMDb, Jean Reno, Luc Besson, murder, Natalie Portman1 Comment

This film should be compulsory viewing. It’s that simple.

Leon (Jean Reno) a reclusive professional assassin reluctantly takes in a young girl, Mathilda (an 11 year old Natalie Portman in her feature film debut) after her family is murdered by a corrupt FBI agent Stansfield (Gary Oldman).

Written and directed by the truly talented Luc Besson (The Fifth Element), this is part buddy film, part shoot-em up action drama. There is even a little romance.

It is beautifully shot, completely compelling, exciting and quite simply a wonderful film. I am not surprised it has made it to #27 on IMDb’s Top 250 List.

100 Word Review- Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

June 5, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., ComedyTagged adaptation, Brett Halliday, Comedy, Film Noir, Michelle Monaghan, Robert Downey Jr, Val Kilmer6 Comments

Based on the Brett Halliday novel, Bodies Are Where You Find Them, this is one of this films that will keep you thoroughly entertained.

Harry (Robert Downey Jr) is a small time criminal, stealing presents for his kid for Christmas, when he accidentally auditions for a Hollywood film while hiding from the cops.

Val Kilmer and Michelle Monaghan are superb co-stars with wonderful comic timing. Director Shane Black (The Last Boy Scout, The Long Kiss Goodnight) also wrote the screenplay.

What follows is a tangled web of misdirection, misinformation and murder that would rival some of the classic Film Noirs.

100 Word Review – The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)

June 4, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., ComedyTagged business, Cannes, Coen Brothers, Comedy, Ethan Coen, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Joel Coen, John Mahoney, Paul Newman, Tim Robbins1 Comment

“You know, for kids!” – Norville Barnes

Early Coen Brothers (The Big Lebowski, Fargo, No Country For Old Men) films are always a delight and this is no exception.

Recent business graduate and enthusiastically eccentric inventor Norville Barnes (Tim Robbins) is made president of a manufacturing company by Sydney J Mussburger (Paul Newman) as part of a stock scam.

Jennifer Jason Leigh and John Mahoney co-star in this weird, wonderful and wacky comedy about rare naivety in the business world and the joy of innocence.

It was the opening film at Cannes in 1994 and is still and absolute joy to watch,

100 Word Review – Fight Club (1999)

June 3, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, ThrillerTagged Action, Brad Pitt, Chuck Palahniuk, Comedy, David Fincher, Edward Norton, Fight Club, Helena Bonham Carter, IMDb, Jared Leto, Meat Loaf, Psychological, ThrillerLeave a comment

Knowing that I am breaking the first rule of Fight Club just writing this, proves what a great film this is.

Edward Norton plays an insomniac office worker whose life is disrupted when he meets the formidable, effortlessly cool Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt).

Helena Bonham Carter, Meat Loaf and Jared Leto make up part of the amazing supporting cast to this classic psychological thriller.

Based on the best selling novel by Chuck Palahniuk (Choke, Snuff), directed by the indisputably brilliant David Fincher (Se7en, Gone Girl); it combines paranoia, dark humour and violence and currently proudly sits at #10 of IMDb’s Top 250.

100 Word Review – Sightseers (2012)

June 2, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., ComedyTagged A Field In England, Alice Lowe, Ben Wheatley, British, Comedy, dark, Kill List, Steve Oram, ThrillerLeave a comment

This film is proof that you don’t have to go far from home to create a truly twisted feature.

In an attempt to show his girlfriend (writer Alice Lowe) the world, Chris (co-writer Steve Oram) takes her on a caravan holiday in the Lake District. But as circumstances seem to conspire against them, they deal with it the only way they can… Murder.

Dark, hilarious and full of those little frustrations that most Brits are too, well, British to confront.

Director Ben Wheatley (Kill List, A Field In England) is a master of the macabre, and one to watch for.

100 Word Review – Man Up (2015)

June 1, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, F-Rated, RomanceTagged Ben Palmer, British, Comedy, Harriet Walter, Lake Bell, Olivia Williams, Ophelia Lovibond, Romance, Sharon Horgan, Simon Pegg, Tess Morris, The Inbetweeners MovieLeave a comment

Currently in cinemas across the UK, buy your tickets now!

Lake Bell (yes, she’s American but she can do a surprisingly good British accent) stars as Nancy, a cynical 30-something who ends up on someone else’s blind date, with not-quite-over-it divorcee Jack (Simon Pegg).

With a whole host of excellent British actors (too many to mention here), this is the debut feature from writer Tess Morris and hopefully the first of many! Director Ben Palmer (The Inbetweeners Movie) has done a marvellous job, taking the audience on a journey that is truly awkward, funny, romantic and just down right wonderful.