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Grand Piano (2013)
Phonebooth as almost directed by Brian De Palma brings a strange combo that is a lot of fun!!
Elijah Wood has become a surprisingly versatile actor in the last few years!! From his major role as Frodo in the Lord of the Rings and now Hobbit films (admittedly this is more a cameo role) to his frightening portrayal of Frank Zito in last years Maniac remake, this role in the Spanish thriller Grand Piano sees him go down a different sort of character entirely.
The below synopsis is taken from IMDb: Moments before his comeback performance, a concert pianist who suffers from stage fright discovers a note written on his music sheet.
I like this film a lot even though the writer and director push the realms of believability to pretty much bursting point!! Wood plays Tom Selznick, a formidably talented yet twitchy pianist who 5 years ago got the worst case of stage fright attempting to complete his master's most complex composition, only to flee the stage during a sold out performance. He is now talked into returning to the stage by his incredibly successful wife played by Kerry Bishe, Wood's nerves are stretched to breaking point when an unseen (for the most part), but voiced (by way of an earpiece), sniper, played by John Cusack, threatens his life and that of his wife if he makes a mistake during the performance. The assassins motives remain a mystery for most of the film and when they finally arrive they feel a bit unnecessarily convoluted, overall this film brings a style of thriller that cinema hasn't seen in a while.
Grand Piano reeks of the sort of film making that Brian De Palma would crank out back in the 70's and 80's. It is certainly more than just a tip of the cap to the 70+ year old director that's for sure. But the huge and beautiful cinematography of the auditorium, the vibrant colours and wonderful symphonic score of this film is something truly to behold. The acting isn't of the highest standard but I do enjoy Wood's performance and I also loved seeing Cusack take on the role of the bad guy.
Yes it's all a bit twee at the end and yes the overall plot is a bit of nonsense, however I found Grand Piano to be a lot of fun and kinda nostalgic. It's not a heavy recommend from me but if you get the opportunity then there are worse things to watch on a Saturday night.
RocknReelReviews.com
Mi Mefakhed Mehaze'ev Hara (2013)
A nasty, funny and very western feeling Israeli film that Tarantino urges you all to see!!
I can say hand on heart that, for all the foreign cinema I have ever seen, I had never seen anything from Israel!! The only reason I had, at all, for checking out Big Bad Wolves was that Quentin Tarantino stated that it was the "Best film of the year" in 2013, a marketing slogan that is now permanently attached to every poster artwork now produced for this movie. Now whilst I don't think this film was the best film of last year, that was clearly the Maniac remake, this film is a bloody good twisty turny roller-coaster ride with a good sense of humour offset against the very dark subject matter.
The below synopsis is taken from IMDb:
A series of brutal murders puts the lives of three men on a collision course: The father of the latest victim now out for revenge, a vigilante police detective operating outside the boundaries of law, and the main suspect in the killings – a religious studies teacher arrested and released due to a police blunder.
Now I really don't want to get too heavily involved with too much of the plot intricacies at all in this film as I believe that the less you know about it will enhance the enjoyment you will have when you watch it. In fact myself, Bossman Dave and The Baz all discussed this film recently for my horror podcast and it was unanimously liked by all three of us Rock n Reel reviewers!! Instead what I will say is that this film is fairly bold. I say that with the confidence that I have never seen a revenge thriller which focuses on a torture of a suspected child molester/killer handled with the level of gallows humour that Big Bad Wolves delivers!!
The acting is of a great standard and the characters are reminiscent of what you might expect of a Coen brothers movie, as the character of Gidi (Grad) states "maniacs are afraid of maniacs". The amount of surreal characters helps you to keep engaged in the story as the inevitable torture sequences ensue. And whilst I got the ending about 15mins from the films finish I thoroughly enjoyed the pacing of this movie. The setting and scenery were visual eye candy and even the score of the film is pretty cool.
I can see what Quentin Tarantino loved this film so much as I can see a lot of Reservoir Dogs and even to an extent Pulp Fiction in this movie. For me it was a great watch and I would most certainly recommend this movie
just not as vehemently as the great QT!!
RocknReelReviews.com
RoboCop (2014)
A surprisingly above average remake.
When Rock n Reel Reviews was first starting up back in 2012 and we were at the very beginning of our podcasts, rumours of a push to get Robocop remade had started to surface. The full force geek-rage we had at this news was palpable to say the least and I declared that this film would be Doomed to Failure!! Two years on and after countless hours of articles and conversations about the going-ons in and around the set of the film just added fuel to the fire of my blunt statement and was very much at the back of my mind when I entered the cinema last month. And let me say right from the start that this film is not a patch on the original Robocop
.however I have to admit that I was wrong with my "Doomed to Failure" statement as this remake actually has a lot to be happy about and isn't the train-wreck I was expecting!!
The below synopsis is taken from IMDb:
In 2028 Detroit, when Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman) – a loving husband, father and good cop – is critically injured in the line of duty, the multinational conglomerate OmniCorp sees their chance for a part-man, part-robot police officer.
I think the biggest issue you will have in watching this film is disassociating yourself from the fact that you've seen the original more awesome film. However, like I said above, there is actually a great deal of good in this remake. Joel Kinnaman is actually a decent Alex Murphy, Gary Oldman is a interesting character who is dealing with some of the more interesting morality issues raised in the plot, Michael Keaton is in fine form as the billionaire CEO trying to overturn public perception to his product by using marketing manipulation while Samuel L. Jackson is his pawn as the almost FOX NEWS type news anchor.
The film looks beautiful and the attention taken in the use of CGI is actually really well done and should hopefully stunt the years of ageing in repeat viewing. The action is never over the top and actually more placed in appropriate places, they even take the time to update how things like the Prime Directive works etc.
The plot as well has been updated along with some of the original social commentary. Where the original focused on a lot of the corporate corruption of the 1980's and the disparaging differences between those that have and those that have not, the remake takes a far more current stance. The pros and cons of America's drone wars, the mass media manipulations and the culture of lobbying government are all in this films cross-hairs. And for the most part it attempts to look at these issues as the back drop to a film aimed to entertain the, 12A certificate in the UK, PG13 in the USA, audience.
The film fails on one major vital story telling plot
the lack of any actual clearly defined main villain. There is no Clarence Boddicker
that's not to say there isn't a crime lord in this film because there is, however there is little story arc for this character and it's wrapped up a little too quick for my liking. It's more about the nasty corporation of OmiCorp and it's pristine looking CEO and the levels he is willing to go to have his way. Like I said above, Michael Keaton is great in this role however I was left a bit deflated at the final showdown. Another possible villain could be the former solider-turned military trainer for OmiCorp played by Jackie Earle Haley who has, from the start, a massive disliking to the idea or premise of Robocop. With a trio of lacklustre villains it was a bit difficult to rally up the support for Robocop.
Overall the film isn't a train-wreck, moreover it's actually a decent little popcorn action film that tries to at least play out a bit of social commentary alongside the moderate violence. Robocop (1987)
this film is definitely not but I can say that when I left the cinema Robocop (2014) had put a smile on my face
a sentence I never thought I would ever type.
RocknReelReviews.com
Her (2013)
Sensitive, strange and sad.
The idea of falling in love with a computer operating system probably seems outrageous and ridiculous, but in Her, Spike Jonze does a pretty good job at showing how this could soon enter the realms of possibility.
Imagine; an artificially intelligent operating system, programmed to meet your every need, as well as possessing a friendly 'personality' and even an apparent consciousness. This is exactly what Joaquin Phoenix' character Theodore experiences and through his heart-warming, delicate performance, encourages you to empathise with this extraordinary situation, even if you might not understand or accept it.
Scarlett Johansson's performance as Samantha, the voice of the operating system, is also far deeper than one would expect from a computer. She manages to convey an entire individuality within that piece of software.
Although the complexity of adult relationships is depicted in an honest and refreshing way, it's difficult not to get sucked into Theodore's melancholic state and on occasion the film feels slow and empty. However, this reflects the character's bouts of loneliness and serves in highlighting the joy Samantha brings him. If anything, it's a reminder to cherish the positive relationships we have with significant others.
The concept of falling head-over-heels for a computer is absurd. But as we continue to let our real lives merge with the virtual world, how long will it be until our dependence on technology slips into full on immersion? Even romantically – as it seems to be accepted in this projection of the not-too-distant future.
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12 Years a Slave (2013)
The True Story of One Mans Years of Slavery
This is my second review for Rock n Reel Reviews. My first was a fairly straightforward animated family adventure full of singing, dancing, and a hilarious talking snowman. My second was in danger of never seeing the light of day. As I sat and watched 12 Years A Slave I was slowly overwhelmed by the sense of dread that no words I could possibly bring forth could do justice to what is a truly remarkable piece of cinema. I was then struck by the notion that there are probably very few people on Earth whose words could. But films like this exist to inspire and even if my words fail to capture the greatness of 12 Years A Slave, if even just one of you ventures to your local cinema to see it, then I will have accomplished what I set out to do.
Set in the mid 1800′s, 12 Years A Slave tells the story of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a man free born, living in up state New York with his family and earning a living as a carpenter and fiddle player. In 1841 Solomon is kidnapped and sold into slavery, forced to work on the cotton plantations of Louisiana. Initially in the service of the relatively benign William Ford (Benedict Cumberbatch), circumstance eventually sees him sold to Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender) a scripture quoting plantation master who believes it is his religious right to own and abuse those he considers his property. What follows is the most harrowing and heart breaking piece of film making since Schindlers List.
Helmed by British director Steve McQueen (Shame, Hunger), 12 Years A Slave has been rightly lauded as "one of the best films ever made", a sentiment with which I take no issue whatsoever. Everything about the film is inspired. The performances from the leads are breathtaking, Ejiofor and Fassbender quite rightly gaining Oscar nods for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor respectively. Fassbender in Particular is immense. His portrayal of Edwin Epps is as terrifying as it is ultimately pathetic. The supporting cast all shine brilliantly in their cameos – Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, Brad Pitt and Sarah Paulson being the most notable.
However special praise must be reserved for young Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong'o. Making her American film début she steals the film with her fleeting performance as Patsey, a young girl born into slavery and the target of Epps salacious intentions. An Oscar for Best Supporting Actress is surely inevitable. A tip of the hat must also go to the production design. The plantations of 12 Years A Slave are a far, far cry from the shining white mansions and lush green fields of other films of similar subject matter. Everything is drenched in a shroud of slow decay and stained with blood and sweat, a mirror into the souls of those who lived and died there.
As I reach these final lines, I am once again struck by the reality that these few paragraphs will in no way shape or form express the true greatness of 12 Years A Slave. I can only hope that once you have seen this film for yourself you will be at the same loss for truly fitting words to describe it as I have found myself.
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