April 2009


X-Men Origins: Wolverine (full review)
Good enough without being great, whether we see Wolverine live on or see any other mutant origin story up on the big screen will probably be dictated by how much moolah this will make. Let’s hope it does well enough because there’s still promise in the X-franchise if the meddling FoX (I'm assuming, of course) suits can stay out of the way.
***

The Uninvited
The Uninvited is yet another in an ever-increasing list of deeply average, teen-friendly J-horror ghostly apparition adaptations. The perma scantily-clad and (less perverly) charasmatic Arielle Kebbel helps make it watch/bearable though...
**

State of Play
State of Play US is an intelligent & interesting examination of politics, media (traditional & blogern) and corporate privatisation with a great cast and strong performances (and the Orange film ad guy). Produced and presented in a nifty & fitting 70 paranoid conspiracy thriller fashion, Kevin MacDonald's two-hour movie is about as good a boiled-down version of an outstanding six-hour mini-series has any right to be.
****

Shifty
Eschewing Guy Ritchie gansta-stylistics for something a little more low-key, realistic and raw, Shifty announces an emerging and exciting trio of talent-to-watch in the graduating-from-first AD to fully-fledged writer/director Eran Creevy and top-billed duo Riz Ahmed & previously-notable for supporting Daniel Mays.
****

Outlander (full review)
A Predator/Pathfinder/Highlander/Alien/Beowulf mash-up, Outlander is anything but original, but B-movie fun nevertheless. Worth a punt on DVD, but don’t waste your “credit-crunched” pennies seeing it at the flicks though.
** (and a half)

Observe and Report (full review)
Paul Blart gave mall cops a bad name, Observe and Report redeems and makes them scary-as-shit at the same time. A hilarious “darkroom black” comedy, this sees everyone involved taking a chance on outthere material and coming out the other side with mucho kudos.
****

FAQ About Time Travel
Very British (but with added fit 'n' funny American courtesy of a cameoing Anna Faris), FAQ is a clever, quirky, chic geek-referencing, dialogue-heavy fusion of Spaced and Hitchhikers. Ok so maybe it's essentially an extended pilot episode of the sort of TV show you'd expect to see on channel 4 but, that said, on this this evidence it's the sort of TV show I'd definitely tune-in to.
***

In The Loop
The Thick Of It, big-screen style. To the point no, just like star Malcolm Tucker (with much less profanity of course, as in not every alternative word) and quite unlike my normally waffly self. It's actually not as good as the TV show though for some inexplicable reason. Stand-out insult scene between Capaldi and Gandolfini mind.
***

I Love You, Man (full review)
Sure to divide opinion once again, I Love You, Man won’t win over any haters but will more than satisfy those that haven’t had enough of the Apatow/Rogen/Segal/now Rudd brand of geek-centric comedy with added heart.
****

Crank: High Voltage
Thought Crank was crazy high-octane action chaos? You ain't seen nothing yet. Demented writing/directing duo and sensory assassins Neveldine/Taylor are like Guy Ritchie turned up to eleven- and I mean that in a positive way! The Stath proves himself to be the best physical performer since Bruce Campbell plus.
****

Race to Witch Mountain
Race is really-decent, sci-fi, action kids movie. The sort Rodriguez's Spy Kids et al desperately want (and mostly fail) to be.
****

Let the Right One In (full review)
Do the right thing, Let the Right One In(to) your film-consuming, vampire-loving life. You’ll never look at a bloodsucker or an eerie-appearing kid in the same way again.
*****

Fast & Furious (full review)
Fast & F(o)urious should have been subtitled Loud & Ludicrous; nonetheless this is one reunion well worth attending.
*** (and a half)

Monsters vs. Aliens (full review)
It’s an obvious anime maxim, but so rarely accomplished: provide an entertaining story/characters with a belly load of laughs as well as envelope-pushing animation so that both adults and nippers alike leave satisfied. Well done MvA, you pulled it off with aplomb.
****