Romance – cinemescope

100 Word Review – Sixteen Candles (1984)

May 20, 2017May 11, 2017Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, RomanceTagged 1980s, Anthony Michael Hall, Comedy, Joan Cusack, John Cusack, John Hughes, Justin Henry, Michael Schoeffling, Molly Ringwald, Romance, teenLeave a comment

Written/directed by John Hughes (Pretty In Pink, The Breakfast Club), like many of his other films, this is a staple of main stream 80s Hollywood, and partly credited with the rise of the teen comedy/romance.

Being a teenager is already hard, but Samantha (Molly Ringwald) suffers humiliation after humiliation on her sixteenth birthday.

Funny, stupid, romantic and with the kind of outfits that were only popular in the 80s, this is a great, fun film that doesn’t ask to be taken too seriously.

Look out for a very young John Cusack and a wonderful part for his sister Joan Cusack.

100 Word Review – Breakfast At Tiffany’s (1961)

May 14, 2017May 11, 2017Posted in 100 Words..., Drama, RomanceTagged 1960s, adaptation, Audrey Hepburn, cult, Drama, George Axelrod, George Peppard, Hollywood, Romance, Truman CapoteLeave a comment

“A girl can’t read that sort of thing without her lipstick.” – Holly Golightly

Based on the novel by Truman Capote of a prostitute and her next door neighbour, this Hollywood version keeps all of the glamour of its source.

Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn), a New York Socialite, lives next door to ‘average Joe’ and hopeless romantic Paul Varjak (George Peppard) in this 1960s cult movie.

Screenplay by George Axelrod (The Seven Year Itch, Paris When It Sizzles), this film manages to live up to its stylish reputation while sneaking in some of the darkness and turmoil of the original story.

100 Word Review – Cloud Atlas

April 9, 2016April 7, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Action, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Sci Fi, UncategorizedTagged Action, adaptation, adventure, Ben Whishaw, British, David Mitchell, Doona Bae, Drama, dystopian, Fantasy, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Hugo Weaving, James D'Arcy, Jim Broadbent, Jim Sturgess, Romance, Sci Fi, Susan Sarandon, Tom Hanks, Tom Tykwer, Wachowski Brothers, WachowskisLeave a comment

Adapted from David Mitchell’s novel and directed by Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run, Perfume:The Story of a Murderer) and the Wachowskis (The Matrix, V for Vendetta), this film is extraordinary.

There is no describing the plot. It crosses time and space in seconds, covering both the past, present and future as well as alternate worlds.

The cast is fantastic (Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugo Weaving, Hugh Grant, Doona Bae, Jim Broadbent, Susan Sarandon) and the cinematography is exquisite. There is simply too much to see to take it in with one viewing. This film is Romantic with a capital R.

100 Word Review – Deadpool (2016)

February 21, 2016March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, Romance, Sci FiTagged Action, adaptation, Brianna Hildebrand, Comedy, comic book, dark, Ed Skrein, IMDb, Morena Baccarin, Romance, Ryan Reynolds, Sci Fi, Tim MillerLeave a comment

This may be the perfect comic book movie.

Set in the X-Men universe, this is an origin story film for the funniest mutant around, Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds).

It’s the first feature for director Tim Miller, who was involved in the visual effects for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and it was written by the team behind Zombieland. It’s stylised, it’s got a dry and dark sense of humour, and it shows a tongue-in-cheek self-awareness which is missing from the more run-of-the-mill comic book movies.

Even the opening credits are hysterical. It’s not suitable for children, but definitely for everyone else!

100 Word Review – The Voices (2015)

February 20, 2016March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, F-Rated, Romance, ThrillerTagged Anna Kendrick, Comedy, dark, Gemma Arterton, gore, Horror, Marjane Satrapi, Michael R Perry, Romance, Ryan Reynolds, ThrillerLeave a comment

The best word to describe this film is ‘weird’.

Jerry (Ryan Reynolds) is a likeable mentally unstable man working a dead-end job. When he follows the advice of his pets and pursues his office crush (Gemma Arterton) things get dark pretty quickly. And that’s just the beginning.

Written by Michael R. Perry (Paranormal Activity 2) and directed by Marjane Satrapi (Persepolis) it sits on a very stylised fence between horror thriller and quirky comedy.

If you don’t like bloody films, this is not the one for you, but otherwise do watch it. Anna Kendrick costars and Reynolds is magnetic as always.

100 Word Review – Sisters (2015)

February 12, 2016March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, F-Rated, RomanceTagged Amy Poehler, Comedy, Paula Pell, Romance, Tina FeyLeave a comment

Amy Poehler (Inside Out, Mean Girls) and Tine Fey (Megamind, Mean Girls) reunite with writer Paula Pell (Saturday Night Live) in this wonderful and ridiculous comedy.

Two sisters (Poehler and Fey) attempt to recreate their youth by throwing the ultimate house party. The problem is they aren’t as young as they used to be, and neither are their friends.

The cast is full of “O it’s that guy from that thing” faces which makes the whole film feel like you’re watching a group of friends have a great time. Not the world’s greatest comedy, but certainly good for a laugh.

100 Word Review – Secretary (2002)

February 8, 2016March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Drama, F-Rated, RomanceTagged adaptation, BDSM, Drama, Erin Cressida Wilson, James Spader, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mary Gaitskill, RomanceLeave a comment

Adapted from Mary Gaitskill’s short story by Erin Cressida Wilson (Men Women and Children, The Girl on the Train), this film has accrued the kind of cult acclaim that Fifty Shades could only dream of.

Lee (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is a troubled young lady with self-harming tendencies when she starts working at a small law firm for the demanding Mr. Grey (James Spader).

With strong themes of sexuality and BDSM, this film is dark and erotic and really human. It’s not for the squeamish or the faint of heart, but it is beautifully, stylishly done and the two leads are perfection.

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 – 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.