100 Words… – Page 5

100 Word Review – Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015)

February 6, 2016March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Drama, Sci FiTagged Action, Adam Driver, adventure, Andy Serkis, Carrie Fisher, Daisy Ridley, Drama, Harrison Ford, IMDb, J.J. Abrams, John Boyega, Mark Hamill, Oscar Isaac, Oscars, Sci Fi, Star WarsLeave a comment

Someone told me that if I’d seen the original trilogy and enjoyed it, I would like this film and in a way had already seen it. Having now seen it, I would agree.

The original cast is back for the continuation of the story thirty years after the Empire was destroyed by the rebels. Expect plenty of references to the original trilogy and director J.J. Abrams (Star Trek, Super 8, Lost) does a wonderful job of combining the old and the new in a way that makes me very excited to see what comes next. Currently number 78 on IMDb’s top 250 films.

100 Word Review – Josie and the Pussycats (2001)

February 5, 2016March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, F-RatedTagged adaptation, Alexander Martin, Breckin Meyer, Comedy, Comic, Deborah Kaplan, Donald Faison, Harry Elfont, music, Musical, Rachael Leigh Cook, Rosario Dawson, Seth Green, Tara ReidLeave a comment

“Conform! Free will is overrated! Jump on the bandwagon! There is no such place as Area 51!”

Josie (Rachael Leigh Cook), Valerie (Rosario Dawson) and Melody (Tara Reid) are The Pussycats, until they find themselves caught up in the middle of a subliminal international conspiracy to influence the world’s youth.

Seth Green, Breckin Meyer, Donald Faison and Alexander Martin co-star as boy band Du Jour, whose questionable lyrics will stick with you for days.

Written and directed by Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan (Can’t Hardly Wait, Surviving Christmas) and adapted from the Archie comics, expect brilliant silliness from beginning to end.

100 Word Review – While You Were Sleeping (1995)

February 3, 2016March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, RomanceTagged 1990s, Bill Pullman, Comedy, Jon Turteltaub, Peter Gallagher, Romance, Sandra BullockLeave a comment

Sandra Bullock (The Heat, Miss Congeniality, Speed) at her absolute finest in this classic 1990s Rom Com.

Lucy (Bullock) sells tickets at a train station, when a handsom stranger (Peter Gallagher) falls onto the tracks and she rescues him. Mistaken by his family for his fiancé, comedy, romance and drama ensue.

Bill Pullman (Independence Day) co-stars along with some other familiar 1990s faces. Do not let the fact it was directed by Jon Turteltaub (of National Treasure fame) put you off. It’s a wonderful film, nominated for a Golden Globe among other awards, that will leave you feeling warm inside.

100 Word Review – The Departed (2006)

February 2, 2016March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., DramaTagged Action, Alec Baldwin, crime, dark, Drama, IMDb, Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Scorsese, Martin Sheen, Matt Damon, Oscars, Ray Winston, William Monaghan1 Comment

If the film that (finally) won Martin Scorsese (Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Shutter Island) his Oscar isn’t worth watching, then I’m not sure what is.

Screenplay by William Monaghan (Body of Lies, Edge of Darkness), it’s set in the duplicitous world inhabited by Boston’s mafia and law enforcement.

Intense, beautifully shot and with a cast to die for (Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Martin Sheen, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, Ray Winston), it has a truly brilliant soundtrack.

With four Oscars and at #43 on IMDb’s Top 250, I’d call it perfect, if only there were some strong women in it.

100 Word Review – Trumbo (2015)

February 1, 2016February 1, 2016Posted in 100 Words...Tagged Bryan Cranston, Classic Hollywood, communism, Dalton Trumbo, Helen Mirren, Hollywood, Hollywood Ten, Oscar, political, politicsLeave a comment

Based on the life of the Oscar-winning screenwriter Dalton Trumbo (Roman Holiday, Sparticus) and his time on the Black List as one of the infamous Hollywood Ten.

Brilliantly cast and put together, the film breathes a new life into antime of constructed fear and censorship that holds up a mirror to politics throughout the ages. Despite the heavy content, it retains a levity and humanity that is truly brilliant.

Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) is superb in the title role and his co-stars all shine just as bright. It’s unsurprising that he’s been nominated for an Oscar for his performance.

100 Word Review – Porco Rosso (1992)

November 30, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Drama, FantasyTagged 1930s, Action, adventure, animation, Anime, Drama, family, Fantasy, Hayao Miyazaki, Italy, Japanese, Michael Keaton, war, WWILeave a comment

In classic Hayao Miyazaki (Howl’s Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke) style, this Japanese anime perfectly captures the spirit of adventure and freedom that permeates throughout it.

Set in the skies above a 1930s Italian coast, a WWI veteran pilot makes a living in his sea plane as a bounty hunter, taking down air pirates. His name is Marco Rosso and he was cursed to look like a pig.

Definitely family friendly, but with hidden depths that might have made me cry. There’s humour, there’s romance, there’s a sense of history and the dubbed version even has the voice of Michael Keaton.

100 Word Review – The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2012)

November 28, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Drama, F-RatedTagged 9/11, adaptation, Drama, Kate Hudson, Kiefer Sutherland, Liev Schreiber, Mira Nair, Mohsin Hamid, political, politics, Riz Ahmed, warLeave a comment

After 9/11, you could choose your side. I had my side chosen for me.

– Changez

Adapted from the extraordinary novel by Mohsin Hamid and directed by the wonderful Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding, Vanity Fair), this film should be compulsory viewing for everyone living in the 21st Century.

A journalist (Liev Schreiber) interviews a suspected terrorist (Riz Ahmed) about how his life, his family and his current situation.

Co-starring Kiefer Sutherland and Kate Hudson, this film is exciting, dramatic and hauntingly understandable.

Ahmed is spectacular in his role as Changez, brilliantly capturing all the dimensions of a truly complex and intriguing character.

100 Word Review – The Running Man (1987)

November 26, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Sci FiTagged 1980s, Action, adaptation, Arnie, Arnold Schwarzenegger, dystopian, future, Sci Fi, Stephen King, Steven E de SouzaLeave a comment

Arnie really is wonderful, isn’t he? If you were ever in doubt, watch this film.

Set in a dystopian future, Ben Richards (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is convicted of a crime he didn’t commit and forced to participate in a public execution disguised as a brutal gameshow.

Based on the novel by Stephen King (The Shawshank Redemption, The Shining), it was adapted by Steven E. de Souza (Die Hard, Commando). Think an adult 1980s Hunger Games, but with more gore and less characterisation. There’s explosions, plenty of shouting, people in leotards and enough exploding heads to keep any Arnie fan happy.

100 Word Review – Tammy (2014)

November 24, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, Drama, F-Rated, RomanceTagged Allison Janney, Ben Falcone, Comedy, Dan Ackroyd, Dan Aykroyd, Drama, Gary Cole, Kathy Bates, Mark Duplass, Melissa McCarthy, Nat Faxon, Romance, Sandra Oh, Susan Sarandon, Toni ColletteLeave a comment

Written by, directed by and starring the wonderful Melissa McCarthy and her husband Ben Falcone, this deserves far more than the pitiful IMDb score it’s received.

Tammy (McCarthy) is fired from her job (by Falcone) and finds out her husband (Nat Faxon) is cheating on her (with Toni Collette) in the same day. Against her mother’s (Allison Janney) wishes, she takes off with her grandmother (Susan Sarandon) on a road trip that will change her life.

Watch it for the awesome cast, the brilliant moments of understated humour and the raucous laugh-out-loud comedy. It’s wonderfully human and just downright delightful.

100 Word Review – Stardust (2007)

November 15, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, Fantasy, RomanceTagged adaptation, adventure, British, Charlie Cox, Clare Danes, Comedy, family, Fantasy, Ian McKellen, Jane Goldman, Mark Strong, Matthew Vaughn, Michelle Pfeiffer, Neil Gaiman, quirky, Robert De Niro, RomanceLeave a comment

Adapted from Neil Gaiman’s (Coraline, Mirrormask) brilliant novel, prepare for a fabulous flight of fantasy.

Determined to prove his love by returning with a fallen star, Tristan (Charlie Cox) sets out into the land beyond the wall, unaware of the witches, kings and pirates waiting for him on the other side.

Dream-team Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman (Kick-Ass, Kingsman) wrote and directed this seriously star-studded film. Clare Danes, Ian McKellen, Mark Strong, Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro co-star to name just the best known. It’s fun, mostly family friendly, funny and completely fantastic in every sense of the word.