Review: 500 Days of Summer (2009)

                                                                              

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Drama 

 

Director: Marc Webb                                    

 

Writers: Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber

 

Staring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel 

 

Rating: ★★★½

 

 

500 Days of Summer is a romantic comedy that isn't Hollywood and fairy tales but harsh, painful and realistic but at the same time heart warming. Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) believes in love and when seeing Summer (Zooey Deschanel) he believes she's "the one" however Summer doesn't believe in true love, despite this the two get close together and become more than friends but problems arise when Tom wants to put "labels" on their relationship. The film shows 500 days from the moment Tom first saw Summer, flicking and skipping through the days back and forth to show how things changed and how things were before.

 

 

Tom designs greeting cards but his true passion is for architecture, one day at work at a monthly meeting Tom meets newly arrived assistant Summer, and then and there falls for her. This sets up the scenes where he hopelessly tries everything to talk to her, and for her to notice him representing something many in the audience can relate to. Eventually after some not so smooth conversations Tom and Summer become friends, but it soon develops into more than just friends.Kissing in the photocopying room, endless cinema dates and even shopping in Ikea makes Tom fall even more for Summer but he soon crashes as Summer tells him that she's don't want things to get serious and to keep it casual. Despite this their relationship still develops and slowly but surely Summer lets Tom into her hidden away mysterious life that no one has ever had the privilege to see and hear about before. However their heart warming cute relationship that everyone in the audience would want suddenly takes a u-turn and the two break up. The rest of the film consists of how Tom copes without Summer however she does return later in the film but is it for the good of Tom? 

 

The film in a unique way shows how something can change so quickly and the harsh reality of relationships and love, something that other romantic films cover up and stray away from. There are two scenes that will stick in your head after watching, the "Ikea scene" is heart warming and is a real "awww" moment within in the audience. The second is the "expectation vs reality scene" that is truly unique but represents real life as its something everyone can relate to as we tend to make up scenes in our heads of how we hope events turn out. The film not only provides us with the generic expectations of a romance film but those of a comedy too, helped by Tom's friends (Geoffrey Arend, Matthew Gray Gubler)there are many scenes that will make you laugh for a number of different reasons. 

Not only does 500 Days of Summer have a great storyline and plot but it is also accompanied by great acting and a even better soundtrack. The soundtrack is modern and refreshing, featuring songs such as Sweet Disposition (The Temper Trap) and She's got you high (Mumm Ra) it complements the feel and style of the film, completing it. This is definitely one of the best romantic comedies that has been released for a while and one to watch. 

 

Donnie Darko (2001)

                                                                    


Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi

Director: Richard Kelly

Writer: Richard Kelly

Staring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Mary McDonell, Holmes Osbourne

Rating: ★★★★★

Those who have said bad things about this film have just not understood it. Donnie Darko is that film where you'll find yourself watching it over and over looking for the explanation, on the way you will then discover just how good this film is and why it's rated as one of the best films of all time. It has an amazing cast, a young Jake Gyllenhaal plays the character of Donnie, after he will star in award winning films such as Brokeback Mountain and The Day After Tomorrow. Future Batman star Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jake's actual sister plays Donnie's sister Elizabeth. We also get to see the well known Patrick Swayze and Drew Barrymore staring alongside the otherwise "young" cast.

Jake Gyllenhaal plays Donnie Darko, a teenager who has "issues", he suffers with hallucinations and gets visited by a demonic six foot rabbit named Frank who manipulates Donnie to commit acts of crime. At the dinner table his sister Elizabeth (Maggie Gyllenhaal) tells his parents (Mary McDonell, Holmes Osbourne) that he hasn't been taking his medication. However later that night due to these visions Donnie escapes death as a 747 Jet engine crashes and destroys his bedroom whilst he's on a midnight trip with Frank. The mystery grows as Frank tells him that the world is going to end in "28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes and 12 seconds" and that jet engine is unknown by the FBI creating the question of where exactly did it come from? All that is known is that Donnie's escape from death and Franks appearance are two supernatural events that have crossed and are somehow linked. 

Donnie attends the local private high school where he meets Gretchen (Jena Malone), a new student who has troubles of her own. They form a relationship and Donnie gets attached, however Gretchen although curious of Donnie's behaviour is unaware of his visions and his recently committed crimes. Donnie also forms a bond with his English teacher (Drew Barrymore), they share a similarity in which they both have had trouble with the old gym teacher, she plays an important role in the film as she provides an important clue for Donnie. Another key character is "Grandma Death" or Roberta Sparrow, Donnie and his dad nearly run her down a few days after the jet engine crash and she whispers something into his ear. Later on in the film his professor gives him a book that was written by Grandma Death and that proposes the idea of time travel to Donnie, and after reading her book Donnie believes he has all the answers. The rest of the film then fuels on Donnie putting these clues and answers together before he 28 days left, quickly runs out.

This film provides everything from comedy moments to suspense, thrills and gasps. The soundtrack deserves credit and it is complementary throughout as the score is parallel to the scenes. The acting is at a high standard, Jake Gyllenhaal adapts to role of Donnie amazingly well and creates a real attachment between himself and the audience. For Richard Kelly's first film it is definitely one to remember and one not to miss out on, Donnie Darko will surely be known for many years to come.

Review: Drive (2011)

Genre: Crime, Drama

Director: Nicholas Winding Refn

Writers: Hossein Amini, James Sallis

Staring: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks

Rating: ★★★★★


Ryan Gosling stars in this crime drama as a Driver, he has no name, no past, no other life. He drives as a stuntman, a wheelman for getaways and he drives to save his neighbours lives. We first see  Driver in LA being used as a wheelman for a getaway. He's calm, composed and mysterious and in pursuit from the police he uses not only the sheer power, speed and his driving ability but the environment and intelligence to escape. During the day he works as a mechanic and a stuntman, he asks no questions, he just drives.

He is this traditional "hero" and this film fits the 1960's trend and style, he is a complete mystery but all we can tell is that he's damaged and whatever damaged him has had a lasting effect on his mental state. He has no family, no friends, no past not even a name making him defined purely by his behaviour and all he does is drive. He has few if any emotions, he doesn't talk much but we become to be attached and sympathise for him and this is down to a truly amazing soundtrack and score editing.

 The Driver befriends his neighbour Irene (Carey Mulligan), and her son Benecio (Kaden Leos) and within a week becomes very affectionate and close. He takes them home from the supermarket after their car breaks down, he then goes on to drive them around and take them places. This sets up a rather heart warming relationship between the three of them however Irene's husband and Benecio's dad called Standard (Oscar Isaac) is due out from prison in a week destroying the relationship. Standard at first is hostile with his new neighbour but then realises that he can use him to pay off his debt in a $1million heist on a local pawn brokers. However when things go wrong it puts his family in danger and being attached Driver decides to take it into his own hands to protect their lives. This fuels the rest of the film as Driver gets involved with ruthless big time mobsters Ron Perlman and Albert Brooks as he takes risks to show unbelievable loyalty and feelings for Irene.

As the plot progresses and the danger and conflict increases we see the damaged Driver show as he displays extreme violence. This however creates us to sympathise for him more rather than making him a villain, it also brings some great entertainment and some thrilling action.

The film is action packed but leaves room for a light hearted romance and a good storyline, for once I think a film has managed to balance this out correctly and effectively. Unlike most other crime-action dramas, Drive is a very realistic film, chases seem realistic and so do stunts. CGI is used as little as possible, Danish director Nicholas Winding Refn respecting the genre and craft of film making. The key element in this film is sound, Cliff Martinez should be very proud of what he's achieved. Due to the lack of dialogue from the driver the soundtrack speaks for him, telling us everything about him including his feelings. Drive has been credited with many awards for it's sound editing and well deserved too. This is definitely a film you don't want to miss and you won't be disappointed after watching.

Day Of The Dead (2008)

Genre: Horror, Action, Thriller

Director: Steve Miner

Writers: Jeffrey Reddick, George .Romero

Staring: Mena Suvari, Nick Cannon Michael Welch, AnnaLynne McCord

Rating: ★★1/2

After the very much successful remake of George A. Romero's 1978 Dawn Of The Dead a remake of another classic was obvious, so four years later Romero teamed up with Jeffrey Reddick this time to recreate his Day Of The Dead. However this film doesn't compare to "Dawn" and is not even on the same level, even the original didn't but when comparing them as remakes its not even a contest. One of the flaws is that it doesn't follow the original whatsoever except the use of the original names for a few characters. Okay, so it doesn't exactly follow the old script and it doesn't have to, to be a good film, but the storyline is so modern and overused it ruins the original feel to it and dresses it up as an everyday "zombie" film.

The military closes off a small town in Colorado for some "special training" and it just so happens to be at the time most of the neighbourhood has some flu-like virus. However as the local medical centre overruns and the virus begins to develop it becomes clear that this isn't something that a few aspirin or paracetamol can sort out, the virus starts to turn people into flesh eating raged filled monsters. Whilst limbs are being ripped off and blood splattering every wall and pavement in the town tough female soldier Cpl. Cross (Mena Suvari) back in her hometown must escape with the help of a few colleagues and on the way rescue her recently reunited brother and his girlfriend.

Cpl.Cross is joined by Salazar (Nick Cannon), a soldier who acts likes he's in a ninja video game and Bud (Stark Stands), a "newbie" who's a polar opposite being sensitive, kind and a vegetarian. They are trapped in a hospital surrounded by Zombies with a limited supply of weapons. In a inventive and action packed gruesome fashion they fight their way to a hummer to escape. Trapped and hiding in a nearby radio station is her brother Trevor (Michael Welch), a spoilt teenager with a bit of a grudge and attitude, he's joined by his squeamish girlfriend Nina (AnnaLynne McCord). After being rescued they search for answers in a underground lab, in which they find the truth about how their town has been wiped out but still face the problem of the flesh eating ghouls. The rest of the film gives us unrealistic action, explosions and more blood, jumps and scares in attempt to entertain us.

The film tries to play on the growing and recovering relationship between Cpl.Cross and her brother but in all truth it isn't one bit touching or heart warming but cheesy and expected. The most enjoyable character in this film for me is Salazar, he brings the action and although unrealistic it provides us with the gore and blood we came to see and wanted. Despite its flaws Day Of The Dead deserves some credit for their faster, smarter and uglier zombies. The zombies show how much has developed since George A. Romero's original film but furthermore take a new aspect. The zombies tend to remember something from their previous life, whether it be a trait or a memory, this leads to the creation of a smarter and more dangerous zombie that we get to meet in the closing stages of the film. To me the films protagonists somehow remind me of the monsters in I Am Legend (2007) in the way they jump and climb ceilings and walls.

All in all Day Of The Dead isn't the best but It isn't quite the worse, many including myself expected far much better but that wasn't provided. The film doesn't quite take the full use of George A. Romero's original and with some shabby acting and some cheesy side plots it lets itself down. Fanboys and Romero worshipers will be bitter after viewing this but if you just want some action, blood and gore you will probably be mildly entertained, but I wouldn't go out of your way to go and see it.

Review: The Crazies (2010)

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Mystery

Director: Breck Eisner

Writers: Scott Kosar, Ray Wright, George A. Romero (credited for original film)

Staring: Radha Mitchell, Timothy Olyphant, Danielle Panabacker, Joe Anderson

Rating: ★★★½

Although officially this is not a traditional "zombie" film it follows the same narrative of one, creating a lack of innovation however what you expect to get out the film you well and truly do resulting in just over 90 minutes of entertainment. The down-sider to this film is there is far too much dialogue and too little scares and thrills that you would expect from a film of this genre.

The plot surrounds a small town in Iowa who are infected by a toxin that spills into their water supply resulting in a few mysterious deaths that then suddenly leads into a insanity, raged filled plague that wipes out the whole neighbourhood except from a few survivors. The film follows the towns Sheriff, David Dutton (Timothy Olyphant) who after a work catches a local baseball game with his deputy, Russell Clank (Joe Anderson). The game is paused as the towns drunk wanders onto the field with a shotgun, racing onto the field David tries negotiating but the shotgun equipped drunk raises his gun leading him to be shot in front of the whole crowd by the Sheriff. A autopsy shows that there was not a drop of alcohol in the system of the now dead armed wanderer causing ever growing suspicions from Sheriff Dutton.

The Sheriff's wife, the local doctor Judy (Radha Mitchell), starts treating some strange cases in Ogden Marsh and without spoiling the plot, Sheriff Dutton and his deputy discover the cause of the upcoming plague. However a money driven Mayor dismisses the claims and refuses to take emergency actions. After the spread and deaths worsen the town gets quarantined and unfortunately for the infected the cure seems worse than the disease. Judy, Dave and deputy Russell then have to fight their way out of what once was their home town but now is a plagued hell.



When looking at The Crazies you could do far worse but at the same time its just a mix between Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later and Day Of The Dead  (2005). For its genre it doesn't offer anything new but that doesn't mean its a bad film, the acting and special effects were good as you would expect from a modern film, and to add the gore and deaths were exciting with a pitch fork here and an angle grinder there. It sure isn't an all time great but a apocalyptic film worth watching? Give it a go.                                

 

Dead brought back to life? Dawn Of The Dead (2004) Review

Dawn Of The Dead (2004)

 

 

George A. Romero first wrote and directed the original Dawn Of The Dead in 1978 that became an iconic film and is responsible for the modern day craze that are zombies. Over 25 years later he teamed up with James Gunn and Zack Snyder to remake his master-piece, bringing Dawn Of The Dead back to life.

The film is written both by George A. Romero himself and James Gunn, it is directed by Zack Snyder a newcomer only previously directing two films. The cast doesn't consist of any big name "Hollywood A-Listers" but a practically unknown Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames and Jake Weber. Despite the newcomers and the "amateur" feel to the film, it manages to adapt George A. Romero's original screenplay into a modern and more polished film that shows how far Hollywood has come and progressed over the years. Not only is it better in a technical point of view but the acting is far much better and is an improvement on the 1978 original. When comparing it to the original they use the same narrative of a virus or disease spreading quickly across the world bringing back the dead with it and allowing them to take the living with them, the only way to kill them is to severe their brains and once bitten you will slowly endure the torture of turning into one of them. However as Hollywood has progressed so has the zombies themselves, becoming much more quicker and smarter unlike Romero's original slow walking pale ghouls.

The Film begins with Ana (Sarah Polley) clocking off a long shift as a nurse, coincidentally her last patient being a guy who has a "bite" wound. Going home she gets in bed with her boyfriend and falls asleep but awakes to a living nightmare. A little girl who lives in the neighbourhood is infected with this disease and leaps onto Ana's boyfriend ripping apart his neck, blood gushing everywhere and the little neighbourhood terror banging at the door sets us up for a fast paced opening sequence. Ana escaping through the bathroom window jumps into her car driving through her now apocalyptic neighbourhood looking for answers but unfortunately finding them at a bottom of a ditch as she looses control of her car and crashes. As she wakes we get introduced to Kenneth (Ving Rhames) a cop with a zero tolerance attitude, as the pair look for a way out of hell they meet more survivors and the group heads towards the shopping mall, just like Romero's original.

Unlike most modern horror films we have a large group of survivors but are only encouraged to be attached to a few, the others more than likely just there for Zombie bait. We as an audience care for Kenneth the cop, a TV salesman that just happens to come up with the right ideas (James Weber) and a "ghetto" loudmouth Andre (Mekhi Phifer) who's wife is pregnant. The way the characters are picked off is truly horrific and emotional, this film touches areas that other films rarely do and that leads for a terrifying, gruesome experience. One relationship In the film is between a stranded gun-shop owner and Kenneth who communicate through various signs and binoculars. The relationship touches at Romero's 1978 humorous approach as they play a "shoot the look-alike" game with the horde merging outside. To top it off there's even a cute fluffy dog that plays some role in the narrative.

In the rest of the film the survivors have to do some small "jobs" like fix the generator that lead to the dark, tense action scenes where zombies jump out of no where. The group as it slowly decreases decides to start taking risks and in a very excitable action-packed way they escape from the mall and head towards the dock. A few more propane explosions, blood splatters and heroic sacrifices later the film finishes leaving you truly entertained.

Dawn Of The Dead really does give you what you expect and a little more when you sit down to watch it but is it better than Romero's 1978 original? That's down to personal taste and opinion but for sure you wont be disappointed with this "bloody" great post-apocalyptic horror.

 

The Shining- Here's Stannnnnnleyyyyy

                                           

                      Working Under Stanley Kubrick

 

 

The director Stanley Kubrick is known as a perfectionist in the world of film but on the set of The Shining he entered a whole new level. To reach perfection Kubrick likes to take shots over and over again but not just any shots, every shot. During the most famous scene in The Shining (1980) Jack Nicholson playing the crazed character of Jack Torrance takes an axe to a door shouting "here's Johnnyyy". It was reported that to achieve perfection Kubrick re-shot that scene nearly 30 times. The best bit was that Jack had training as a fireman previously and said to Stanley Kubrick to give him a real axe and to use a solid oak door to make the scene realistic as possible, unknowingly he didn't realise he had to smash his way through 30 solid oak doors. Poor Jack Nicholson didn't even get a nomination let alone an award, on the brighter side at least his role has been made famous by Lenny Henry in the Travel Lodge adverts.

 

 

 

 

 

Jack Nicholson wasn't the only victim of Stanley Kubrick on the set of The Shining, Shelley Duvall who played Wendy Torrance, Jack's wife had a full on breakdown. Kubrick ordered the final sequences to be re-shot over a dozen times, in the final sequences Shelley Duvall had to act scared and upset as her crazed husband hunts her down with an axe. Where she had to keep crying it was reported that crew members had to keep getting her water where she had lost so much fluid due to the tears. After a few retakes she actually had a genuine breakdown and had to take a break. Shelley Duvall took a break from being an actress after filming and no surprise too as just like Jack she didn't even get a nomination.

 

 

 

- Liam Smith.

 

 

 

Top 5 all time favourites and why?

A short summary and reasoning to what are my top 5 favourite films of all times and why?

1.) Donnie Darko (2001)- Richard Kelly's sci-fi drama has had its mentions when it comes to the best films in the past decade but in my opinion this film has the ability to give films in the past four decades a run for its money. Staring an all star cast such as a young Jake Gyllenhaal who will later feature in films such as; Brokeback Mountain and Jarhead, along side the forever seeming ageless Drew Barrymore and the lovable Patrick Swayze, Donnie Darko certainly has the talent but that isn't quite the reason why I think its No.1. Jake Gyllenhaal plays a teenage boy who suffers from daytime hallucinations which allow him to see a rabbit who manipulates him to commit a series of events that eventually leads him to discover a world of secrets. The storyline is one of kind and will leave you with a number of questions at the end making you want to watch this film over and over again, it contains moments that will play on every emotion possible from laughter to crying, to anger and shock. Its complementary soundtrack that illustrates perfectly everything that's happening in the scene as well as foreshadowing the next should be classed as a masterpiece and will set the atmosphere for your adventure. Furthermore Richards Kelly's creation of the character Donnie and Jake Gyllenhaal's approach makes you inspire to be like him as well sympathising with the troubled teenager. If you haven't already seen this film you truly need to and once you have watch it again and again until you can acknowledge the master piece it is, you will not regret it. (9.5/10)

2.) Pulp Fiction (1994)- Quentin Tarantino's creation is undoubtedly one of the best films to be made to this day. Staring the likes of John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Willis performance wise Pulp Fiction is outstanding but for film lovers who look at a film cinematically Pulp Fiction is a masterpiece. The film is like a puzzle as it approaches with four plots that all interlink and combine together for an astonishing ending. John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson play two mobsters who find trouble with a gangsters wife Mia, (Uma Thurman) a boxer played by Bruce Willis and eventually find themselves interrupting a pair of diner bandits mid-robbery. This crime thriller creates such suspense and will have you truly drawn in and eyes glued to the screen. When first watching this film I was amazed how it all unravelled and came together and ever since I've found myself watching it again and again, its not only me who thought the same as cinematically it was voted the best screenplay and original script and clocked up a further 59 wins and 46 nominations, so no wonder its featured as one of the all time greats. More than worth a watch as you experience this puzzle unfold before your eyes. (9/10)


3.) The Shawshank Redemption (1994)- 1994 was a good year for film and it got even better as Stephen King and Frank Darabont combined to create The Shawshank Redemption that warmed every bodies hearts with a story that will be remembered for decades to come. The film focuses on the relationship of two prisoners played by Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman that develops over the years in which they serve at Shawshank Prison. Tim Robbins plays Andy Dufresne a successful banker in the real world but behind prison bars he finds his way of becoming well known to all, serving a life term for the murder of his wife and her lover he finds friendship with the prison "fixer" Red (Morgan Freeman) who helps him adapt to prison life and the two endure in an adventure one could only imagination. The film is truly inspirational as well as heart warming as the character of Andy teaches us that our spirit can never be imprisoned. Nominated for seven Oscars and another 15 wins and being rated IMBD's number one film of all time this film is definitely one you have to see.  (9/10)

4.)The Shining (1980)- Two of the best known directors and writers combined in 1980 to create The Shining based on the Stephen King novel Stanley Kubrick adapts it to become one of the best horrors of all time, also becoming a template for future blockbusters. The popular Jack Nicholson plays a dad who takes his wife and son to stay at the Overlook Hotel up in the Colorado mountains to act as caretakers over the winter break so he can finish writing his book. However his son Danny is haunted by horrific visions of past events that has occurred at the hotel as he is blessed with the power of "the shining", the hotels demons also manipulate Jack who has a complete mental breakdown and turns against his own family. The Shining focuses on the horror of isolation and the torture of your own family being manipulated and turning against you, this combined with a thrilling soundtrack and score along side a fast paced final 30 minutes The Shining is an excellent horror film. It was also one of the first films to use the Steadicam which allows the audience to be put right in the shoes of the characters. Again this film is a must watch. (8.7/10)
 
5.) One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest (1975)-  Jack Nicholson stars in Milos Forman's 1975 blockbuster that focuses on the life of patients in a mental institution. Jack Nicholson plays a rebellious character named McMurphy, to escape the law he admits himself into a psychiatric ward however once admitted he endures and witnesses the abusive and degrading actions of Nurse Ratched. McMurphy developing his relationship with the other patients rallies them together to make a stance against the oppressive Nurse. The story is truly heart warming and heart-breaking as you see McMurphy become a victim of Nurse Ratched as he attempts to better the lives of his new found friends, the film encourages you to sympathise with him as well as experiencing his journey. You will find yourself fighting back that lump in your throat as the end credits roll down your screen. The film picked up an amazing 5 Oscars and is rated as the 16th best film of time. Personally I believe this film will never get too old and deserves all the credentials it gets, another one you must watch. (8.5/10)

So there you have it, my personal top five films of all time and why, if you haven't already then watch them as you wont regret it.