100 Words… – Page 15

100 Word Review – The Wind Rises (2013)

June 17, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Drama, RomanceTagged animation, Anime, biopic, Drama, Hayao Miyazaki, history, Romance, Studio Ghibli, tragedy, war, World War IILeave a comment

Another truly beautiful animation from the creators of Howl’s Moving Castle and My Neighbour Totoro. This is the sort of biopic that could only come from the mind of the breathtakingly talented Hayao Miyazaki.

Based on the life of Jiro Horikoshi, designer of the Mitsubishi fighter planes that were used by the Japanese during World War II. In true Miyazaki style, it follows not only the facts of Horikoshi’s life but also his dreams, where he has conversations with Giovanni Battista Caproni, the famed Italian aeronautical engineer.

It combines the historical and the fantastical with moments of romance and tragedy.

100 Word Review – The Artist (2011)

June 16, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, Drama, RomanceTagged Berenice Bejo, Comedy, Drama, Hollywood, IMDb, Jean Dujardin, Michel Hazanavicius, Oscars, Romance, silentLeave a comment

If you haven’t seen this already where were you in 2011? It is a masterpiece of silent filmmaking in the modern age.

George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) and his dog are silent movie stars at the peak of their career in Hollywood’s golden years. He meets Peppy (Berenice Bejo) an aspiring dancer and helps her with her career. But as talking pictures takeover, their lives are sent spinning in very different directions.

Hilarious, romantic and dramatic, writer and director Michel Hazanavicius perfectly captured the essence of that tumultuous time in Hollywood’s history and translates it for a modern audience. It’s technically flawless!

100 Word Review – Coherence (2013)

June 15, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Drama, F-Rated, Sci FiTagged Alex Manugian, Drama, Elizabeth Gracen, Emily Baldoni, Hugo Armstrong, James Ward Byrkit, Lauren Maher, Lorene Scafaria, Nicholas Brendon, Sci Fi, ThrillerLeave a comment

I don’t want to tell you anything about the plot of this film for fear of giving away something crucial, so instead I’m going to tell you about how this wonderful independent Sci Fi film was made.

Writer and director James Ward Byrkit spent over a year constructing the concept for this feature. The actors never saw a script. It was shot in one house over five nights. At the beginning of each shooting session each actor was given information about their character and what they should reveal.

The result is magnificent. It’s trippy, thought-provoking and just brilliant. Watch it!

100 Word Review – Spy (2015)

June 10, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Action, Comedy, F-RatedTagged 50 Cent, Action, Alison Janney, Bridesmaids, CIA, Comedy, Jason Statham, Jude Law, Melissa McCarthy, Miranda Hart, Paul Feig, Peter Serafinowicz, Rose Byrne, spy, The Heat1 Comment

The best spy film I have seen in years!

The magnificent Melissa McCarthy stars as Susan Cooper, a CIA agent who has been out of the field for 10 years, working intelligence in the “basement” with friend Nancy (Miranda Hart). Will she be able to remember her training, combat her awkwardness and save the world (or at least America)?

Written and directed by Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, The Heat), expect laughs explosions and some seriously butt-kicking action. Jude Law, Rose Byrne, Jason Statham, Peter Serafinowicz and Alison Janney make up part of the ridiculously talented supporting cast.

Go watch this film! NOW!

100 Word Review – Stranger Than Fiction (2006)

June 8, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, RomanceTagged Comedy, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Literary, Maggie Gyllenhaal, philosophy, Queen Latifah, Romance, Tony Hale, Will FerrellLeave a comment

“This may sound like gibberish to you, but I think I’m in a tragedy.” – Harold Crick

Harold Crick (Will Ferrell) is an IRS agent who starts hearing his life narrated (by Emma Thompson) in his head, foretelling his upcoming death. Running out of options he seeks the help of a local literary professor (Dustin Hoffman).

This is a brilliant comedy that combines philosophical and literary theory to examine our control over our own destiny, how far we would go to preserve that, and what it’s like to live a story.

Queen Latifah and Maggie Gyllenhaal co-star in this extraordinary film.

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.