Tag: Romance

100 Word Review – Secretary (2002)

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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)

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sandra bullock while you were sleeping

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)

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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.

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100 Word Review – Stardust (2007)

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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.

100 Word Review – The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

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This is Sci Fi on a personal scale with potentially international consequences. 

A politician (Matt Damon) meets a ballerina (Emily Blunt) he should never have met. Can their love survive or will the Adjustment Bureau restore order as fate intends it?

Based on the short story by Philip K Dick (Total Recall, A Scanner Darkly, Blade Runner), adapted by director George Nolfi (The Bourne Ultimatum, Ocean’s Twelve), this film falls somewhere between Sci Fi paranoia and all out action.

Co-starring John Slattery (Mad Men) as Richardson, this is a film about destiny, choice and fighting for what you believe in.

100 Word Review – Kissing Jessica Stein (2001)

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Written by and starring the wonderful Jennifer Westfeldt (Friends With Kids, Ira & Abby) and Heather Juergensen.

After a series of unfortunate dates, Jessica (Westfeldt) decides to explore her sexuality when she reads a personal ad that piques her interest. Unsure of where her preferences lie, she sets forth to meet Helen (Juergensen) and find out what she needs from a relationship.

Sweet, awkward and funny, it explores the fluid nature of sexuality and what is required in a relationship without being crude, obvious or overtly sexual. Westfeldt is fantastic as the uncertain Jessica, playing perfectly of Juergensen’s sexually confident Helen.

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100 Word Review – Amélie (2001)

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Romantic and whimsical in a quintessentially French fashion. 

Amélie (Audrey Tautou) lives alone in Paris, working at a local cafe. The death of Princess Diana prompts her to find a hidden treasure in her flat. She starts doing good deeds and standing up for the less fortunate when she meets Nino (Matthieu Kassovitz).

Co-written and directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (A Very Long Engagement, The City of Lost Children), it is stylishly shot with a truly lovely soundtrack. Quirky, beautiful and funny, it was nominated for five Oscars, including Art Direction and Cinematography, and is currently number 75 on IMDb’s Top 250 films. 

100 Word Review – The Sound of Music (1965)

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Let’s start with the obvious; if you don’t like musicals you won’t like this film.

Set during the run up to Nazi Germany’s occupation of Austria, Sister Maria (Julie Andrews) leaves her convent to act as governess to a widower’s (Christopher Plummer) seven children (Charmain Carr, Heather Menzies-Urich, Nicholas Hammond, Duane Chase, Debbie Turner and Kym Karath).

Based on the stage musical and directed by Robert Wise (West Side Story), it won five Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director.

It’s a beautifully made film that you’ll be able to sing along to parts the first time you watch it.