The Lady K Academy Film Awards Day 1 - Worst Film

As promised, here is the first award of my very own film awards season, kicking off on my sister in law's birthday. As such, I have decided to dedicate this award, for Worst Film, to her; Happy Birthday Zoe, my gift to you is that I saw this film so you would never have to.


Ladies and Gentlemen I give you the Worst Film of 2011 - The Green Hornet

A film so bad that it got my lowest score of the year and which I blocked out so quickly I couldn't remember seeing it to review it. It was only when I was checking through my ticket stubs for information on a different film I was reviewing that I found the ticket and realised I'd need to do a review. I had to read up on the synopsis because I couldn't remember what the film was about, only that Seth Rogan annoyed me immensely. Everyone I know who has seen it since, has agreed that it is one of the worst films they have ever seen. AVOID!!!

Runner Up: 

Cowboys and Aliens 3/10

Now you know mine, maybe you'll share with me some of your own worst experiences at the cinema this year...

Like Crazy...Again

Loyal readers of my review blog may recall that I saw a film last year that I was enormously looking forward to, and which lived up to my very high expectations when I was lucky enough to see an advance screening of it at the BFI London Film Festival.

A film which I commented at the time would "no doubt get a lot of critical praise but which probably won't get a nationwide release in order to get the audience numbers that will make it a hit. If it comes to an independent cinema near you I urge you to seek it out and go see it."

It turns out I could not have been more right, as the film has been released this Friday 27th January, and while it is showing at mainstream cinemas across the country, it is only showing at a handful of them.

I therefore thought it prudent to remind my readers of my thoughts on the film and again urge you to see it, if you are lucky enough to live near (or even in) a town that is showing Like Crazy...

http://www.likecrazy.com/

The film starts off as your typical girl meets boy, the girl is british student Anna (Felicity Jones), who is studying at a college in Los Angeles. The boy is fellow student Jacob (Anton Yelchin). The pair fall so in love that Anna decides to stay in LA after student visa has expired. She returns to the UK a few months later but when she tries to re-enter the states she is denied entry because she violated her previous visa. And so follows a story of two people trying to make it work under the pressure of great distance. 

Having never been in a long distance relationship myself I can't comment on whether this is an accurate portrayal of one. But I can say that it seems more realistic than most I've seen. The performances from the two leads are mature (for such young actors) and thoughtful. I know from articles that I read (when I was trying to find out more information) that most of the dialogue was improvised which just speaks volumes about how they seem to have really taken the time to create these characters, rather than just taking their cue from the writer/director. I also thought Jennifer Lawrence's performance, although a much smaller role, was heartbreaking.

The only thing I would change is the very abrupt ending which left one person sitting near me to ask 'do you think there'll be a sequel?' The answer is no, I don't think there will. The message at the end was very clear to me. But that doesn't mean it had to end there. I could have happily watched for another 15-30 minutes as you get so wrapped up in these characters lives that you want nothing but things between them to work out. 

This is a film which will no doubt get a lot of critical praise but which probably won't get a nationwide release in order to get the audience numbers that will make it a hit. If it comes to an independent cinema near you I urge you to seek it out and go see it. 9 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 15th October 2011

UK Release Date - 27th January 2012

Cast Overview:

Anton Yelchin ~ Jacob

Felicity Jones ~ Anna

Jennifer Lawrence ~ Sam

Charlie Bewley ~ Simon

Alex Kingston ~ Jackie

Oliver Muirhead ~ Bernard

Director ~ Drake Doremus

Writer(s) ~ Drake Doremus and Ben York Jones

The Oscars 2012 and The Lady K Academy Film Awards

This years Oscar nominations have finally been released. So far they have caused me to be outraged at one ill informed man at my work, started debates and arguments between friends and dismay between siblings.

In the run up to Oscar night - February 26th 2012 - I will be showcasing my own awards season and revealing 3 award winners per week. So stay tuned to see who got my vote.

And for your information, here are the Oscar Nominations 2012, who do you think will win?? My predictions on the top 8 nominations can be found in red underneath each category and my hopes in blue.

Best Picture
War Horse
The Artist
Moneyball
The Descendants
The Tree of Life
Midnight in Paris
The Help
Hugo
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

The Artist

I'd be happy if either The Help or Hugo won

Best Actress
Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs)
Rooney Mara (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo)
Viola Davis (The Help)
Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady)
Michelle Williams (My Week With Marilyn)

Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs)

Viola Davis (The Help)


Best Actor
Demian Behir (A Better Life)
George Clooney (The Descendants)
Jean Dujardin (The Artist)
Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)
Brad Pitt (Moneyball)

Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)

I have only seen one of the nominated performances and that was Jean Dujardin in The Artist, however, I'm going to go out on a limb and say George Clooney (The Descendants) as I've heard good things about his performance in The Descendants.


Supporting Actress
Bérénice Bejo (The Artist)
Jessica Chastain (The Help)
Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids)
Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs)
Octavia Spencer (The Help)

Bérénice Bejo (The Artist)

I'd be happy with either Jessica Chastain or Octavia Spencer for The Help

Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh (My Week With Marilyn)
Jonah Hill (Moneyball)
Nick Nolte (Warrior)
Christopher Plummer (Beginners)
Max Von Sydow (Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close)

This is tough as Nick Nolte, Christopher Plummer and Max Von Sydow have never won Oscars. I'm going to go with Von Sydow as I think his nominated film (Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close) will be one that the Academy take the pity vote on.


Again the only performance I've seen is Kenneth Branagh (My Week With Marilyn) and I feel inclined to say his is the best of the performances nominated

Best Director
Woody Allen (Midnight In Paris)
Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)
Alexander Payne (The Descendants)
Martin Scorcese (Hugo)
Terence Malick (The Tree Of Life)

Terence Malick (The Tree Of Life)

Martin Scorcese (Hugo)


Best Original Screenplay
The Artist
Bridesmaids
Midnight in Paris
Margin Call
A Separation

The Artist

Bridesmaids


Best Adapted Screenplay
The Descendants
Hugo
The Ides of March
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Hugo

Here are the other nominations:
Best Foreign Feature - Bullhead, Footnote, In Darkness, Monsier Lazhar, In Separation

Best Animated Feature - A Cat in Paris, Chico & Rita, Kung Fu Panda 2, Puss in Boots, Rango

Art Direction - The Artist, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Hugo, Midnight In Paris, War Horse

Cinematography - The Artist, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Hugo, The Tree Of Life, War Horse

Costume Design - Anonymous, The Artist, Hugo, Jane Eyre, W.E.

Documentary Feature - Hell And Back Again, If A Tree Falls: A Story Of The Earth Liberation Front, Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory, Pina, Undefeated

Documentary Short Subject - The Barber Of Birmingham: Foot Soldier Of The Civil Rights Movement, God Is The Bigger Elvis, Incident In New Baghdad, Saving Face, The Tsumani And The Cherry Blossom

Film Editing - The Artist, The Descendants, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Hugo, Moneyball

Make Up - Albert Nobbs, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, The Iron Lady

Music (Original Score) - The Adventures Of Tintin: The Secret Of The Unicorn, The Artist, Hugo, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, War Horse

Music (Original Song) - The Muppets - 'Man Or Muppet', Rio - 'Real In Rio'

Short Film (Animated) - Dimanche / Sunday, The Fantastic Flying Books Of Mr Morris Lessmore, La Luna, A Morning Stroll, Wild Life

Short Film (Live Action) - Pentecost, Raju, The Shore, Time Freak, Tuba Atlantic

Sound Editing - Drive, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Hugo, Transformers: Dark Of The Moon, War Horse

Sound Mixing - The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Hugo, Moneyball, Transformers: Dark Of The Moon, War Horse

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

Mini Blog

http://www.missionimpossible.com/

As I saw Mission Impossible 4 somewhat later than it's theatrical release, I didn't feel there was a lot of point in me doing a review of it. Everyone who was going to see it probably already had and those who haven't probably won't be swayed by my review.

So without going into a synopsis (that's what makes this a Mini Blog rather than a Mini Review) I will simply say that this was an excellent cast, some from previous impossible missions and some new to the fray but all wonderfully fleshed out and given plenty to do. Newcomer to MI Jeremy Renner particularly stood out for me and I personally can't wait to see him as Hawkeye in the up-coming Avengers movie. I also enjoyed Simon Pegg reprising his role as Benji Dunn but this time having much more to do.

The action set pieces, especially Dubai, are breathtaking. As a person who has a great fear of great heights, I had to watch the Dubai scenes through my scarf. While the lady sitting on the other side of my cinema buddy was literally jumping up and down in her seat. Scary and fantastic all at the same time. 

The ending is a little cheesy but fits in well with the franchise thus far. Overall I found this to be a highly enjoyable mission with enough shocks, scares and laughs to keep the most avid fan entertained. 8 out of 10.

Oh and just for my own sanity, was it just me or did Jeremy Renner's very well toned butt have rather a lot of screen time? I'm not complaining, just wondering if anyone else noticed? NB someone obviously did as check out the picture I found when I was googling this phenomenon, already tagged with 'Jeremy Renner's cute butt'. I rest my case. ;0)

Viewing Date - 11th January 2012

UK Release Date - 26th December 2011

Cast Overview:

Tom Cruise ~ Ethan Hunt

Jeremy Renner ~ William Brandt

Simon Pegg ~ Benji Dunn

Paula Patton ~ Jane Carter

Michael Nyqvist ~ Kurt Hendricks

Josh Holloway ~ Trevor Hanaway

Director ~ Brad Bird

Writer(s) ~ Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec

Based on television series "Mission: Impossible" by Bruce Geller

The Iron Lady

Mini Review

http://www.theironladymovie.co.uk/blog/

The Iron Lady charts the life of Margaret Thatcher. From her early days as an unlikely politician to her time as Prime Minister of the UK, through the Falklands War right up to the present day. 

As this is one of my *new* mini reviews you only get a brief synopsis and thoughts. Full reviews will be longer.

I found the Iron Lady to be thought provoking, eye opening and educational. Streep, as you would imagine, is superb in her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in all her guises, wife, mother and Prime Minister. I do however feel a little sorry for the actors and actresses in her shadow as they will probably be somewhat overlooked by critics and award academies alike. In particular I thought Alexandra Roach was equally excellent in the role of the young Margaret Thatcher and Jim Broadbent and Olivia Colman were wonderful in the less showy roles of Denis and Carol Thatcher respectively. The usual comic Colman putting in a particularly heartfelt performance. The only person I felt seemed particularly out of place was Harry Lloyd who played the young Denis. He just didn't feel like a younger version of Jim Broadbent and as such I couldn't really associate them with playing the same character.

If you want to see a film that you can then debate over dinner, or something that will make you question the way you see an iconic but somewhat hated political figure, then this is a must see. 8 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 7th January 2012

UK Release Date - 6th January 2012

Cast Overview:

Meryl Streep ~ Margaret Thatcher

Jim Broadbent ~ Denis Thatcher

Iain Glen ~ Alfred Roberts

Alexandra Roach ~ Young Margaret

Harry Lloyd ~ Young Denis

Olivia Colman ~ Carol Thatcher

Nicholas Farrell ~ Airey Neave

Anthony Head ~ Geoffrey Howe

Richard E Grant ~ Michael Heseltine

Director ~ Phyllida Lloyd

Writer ~ Abi Morgan (Screenplay)

Welcome

Well hello dear readers!


I decided that I couldn't possibly leave you in the cold, wide, world without my guidance so I have decided to create a new blog for 2012 and beyond. I did this rather than carrying on with my previous review blog because that one was specifically designed for me to use in 2011, hence the title was Film Reviews 2011.


I have also decided to merge the reviews with my personal views as my personal blog wasn't really getting my full attention what with all the reviews I was doing.


I hope my readers from Film Reviews 2011 will follow me on this new blog but it won't be as review heavy as before as I simply don't have the time to review every film I see, and do my other writing and a full time job. Which sucks, I know, but can't be helped.


Thanks for sticking with me last year and I hope to have some good reviews and other interesting stuff to bring to you this year too.


Love Lady K 

New Year's Eve

http://newyearsevemovie.warnerbros.com/index.html

How's this for a strange twist of fate? My last movie review of 2011 (I know it's now 2012 but this is my last review of a film I saw in 2011) is New Year's Eve, and I saw it on the last day of 2011, New Year's Eve.

I knew from the moment I saw the trailer that despite the film looking like it might be terrible, I would end up seeing this with one of my best girl friends. And I did, during my Christmas break up to the north west of England.

The film, as you might have guessed, is set on New Year's Eve in one of the most spectacular locations for a New Year's Eve movie to be set, New York City. As Stan Harris says at one point in the trailer, "nothing beats New York on New Year's Eve". We have the ball dropping at Times Square, two pregnant women dropping at a nearby hospital, midnight kisses, chance encounters, rock stars, a dying man's last wish and one night to make all your new year's resolutions come true. The star studded cast take you on a whirlwind journey of New York on New Year's Eve.

I must admit that after my cinema buddy saw it and told me how terrible it was I was not holding out any high expectations for New Year's Eve. And I did think that it would pass by without me getting to see it. But a well timed showing fit with our plans and et voila, New Year's Eve on New Year's Eve actually happened. And you know what? It wasn't all that bad. 

Sure the cast is ridiculous. You thought there were a lot of famous people in Valentines Day or New York I Love You? Well that's nothing compared to this. I don't think I've seen a cast list this long since Harry Potter. And to be honest, it's unnecessary. Some of these roles could have been given to unknown actors or lesser known character actors and it wouldn't have made the slightest difference to the film, other than you wouldn't be playing 'spot the celebrity' every time the scene changed. I'm not saying anyone is particularly bad, it's just overkill on the famous actor front.

The thing that is most obvious, with all these famous types running around and with so many story changes, is that very few of the actors have chemistry. Not really through any fault of their own but they have so little time to become acquainted with one-another that it's hard to build rapport and in turn, chemistry. I also find it unbelievable that Ashton Kutcher would be best friends with Zac Efron or that Zac Efron would even contemplate snogging Michelle Pfeiffer (especially as the latter looks so haggard in this film). 

But you are right in thinking I said that this film wasn't all that bad. And it really wasn't. It was a light, fluffy, not too demanding film that kept me entertained for the 2 hours it was on. 6 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 31st December 2011

UK Release Date - 8th December 2011

Cast Overview:

Halle Berry ~ Nurse Aimee

Jessica Biel ~ Tess Byrne

Jon Bon Jovi ~ Jensen

Abigail Breslin ~ Hailey

Chris "Ludacris" Bridges ~ Brendan

Robert De Niro ~ Stan Harris

Josh Duhamel ~ Sam

Zac Efron ~ Paul

Hector Elizondo ~ Kominsky

Cary Elwes ~ Stan's Doctor

Katherine Heigl ~ Laura

Ashton Kutcher ~ Randy

Seth Meyers ~ Griffin Byrne

Alyssa Milano ~ Nurse Mindy

Lea Michele ~ Elise

Sarah Jessica Parker ~ Kim

Michelle Pfeiffer ~ Ingrid

Hilary Swank ~ Claire Morgan

Director ~ Garry Marshall

Writer ~ Katherine Fugate