Safe Haven

Mini Review

http://www.safehavenfilm.com/

Despite Safe Haven looking like it would be a big bowl of cheese, my friends and I decided to see it as we're huge fans of another Nicholas Sparks adaptation, The Notebook. This film however, is quite different to that, as it is from other Nicholas Sparks adaptations I have seen such as Dear John and A Walk To Remember, although they do seem to all follow similar themes of love and loss.

In this particular adaptation we follow Katie (Julianne Hough), as she runs away to the small beach town of Southport (no, not the miserable one in the UK!). What or who she is running from is not known. Once settled in Southport with a job, a home and a friendly neighbor Jo (Cobie Smulders), Katie starts to feel more secure. Little does she know that a police officer from her old home town of Boston, is looking for her in connection to a murder there. Meanwhile Katie starts to get close to Alex (Josh Duhamel) and his two children, not realising that every day the cop searching for her is getting dangerously closer to her current location. And if he finds her, everything she's worked so hard to leave behind will not only re-surface, but it could destroy everything she's worked so hard to build. 

I was pleasantly surprised by Safe Haven. After enjoying The Notebook I was keen to see Dear John, but was then massively disappointed by it. It was so much cheesier than The Notebook and featured some pretty bad performances by Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried. I was so put off that I didn't bother to see the next Nicholas Sparks adaptation, The Lucky One. But something about the trailer for Safe Haven made me think that it was going to be different from those movies, and I'm glad I gave it a chance. The choice of going with relative unknown Julianne Hough as the lead actress also gave the film more of an edge, as because she wasn't a star I never felt like I could completely trust her character or that she would be safe from getting killed off. 

My only gripe with the film, although sadly it is a pretty major gripe, is that the ending is so ridiculous it completely belittles the rest of the film. If the ending had been different, or even if the closing minutes simply didn't happen, I would have really liked Safe Haven. As it stands, it has to have the worst ending of the year so far. I won't spoil it for you if you plan to see the film but I challenge anybody to watch this and not roll your eyes as the credits roll. 5 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 14th March 2013

UK Release Date - 1st March 2013

Cast Overview:

Julianne Hough ~ Katie

Josh Duhamel ~ Alex

Cobie Smulders ~ Jo

David Lyons ~ Kevin

Mimi Kirkland ~ Lexie

Noah Lomax ~ Josh

Director ~ Lasse Hallström

Writer(s) ~ Leslie Bohem (Screenplay), Dana Stevens (Screenplay) and Nicholas Sparks (Novel)

Side Effects

Mini Review

http://www.sideeffectsmayvary.com/

I have recently started making the most of Orange/EE Wednesdays with a friend from work. As I have a Cineworld card it means that with the Orange/EE code, she gets a free ticket. Bargain! We saw the trailer for Side Effects a couple of weeks earlier and as my friend is a fan of Channing Tatum it seemed to be a bit of a no-brainer that we would see Side Effects.

The film tells the story of Emily Taylor (Rooney Mara), a young woman who has suffered from depression since her husband Martin (Channing Tatum), was imprisoned for insider trading. Upon his release she assumes that they will be able to put the last 4 years behind them, but instead she finds herself slipping deeper into depression's grasp. She starts seeing a psychiatrist, Dr Banks (Jude Law), who prescribes her with an amazing new drug. The immediate effects are everything Emily and Martin hope for, but then the side effects of the drugs start to creep in and if they get out of hand, they could destroy the lives of not only Emily and Martin, but Dr Banks too.

I found Side Effects to be quite a different film from the one advertised in the trailer. For one, as my poor friend discovered, Channing Tatum's role is considerably smaller than the trailer indicates. That aside though I found that it was different in a surprising way rather than a disappointing sense. The film was a lot darker and had a lot more twists that I was expecting. From the trailer I guessed this was going to be more of a courtroom drama, looking at the side effects of the drug prescribed, but in reality the film is more of a psychological thriller and had so many double crosses that I had trouble keeping track of them all.

The only problems I had with the film were that it felt overly long, and after the main twist had occurred I'd already figured out what all of the remaining twists were going to be. So it felt more like a waiting game for everything to be neatly wrapped up. I did still enjoy the film overall and if you're a fan of psychological thrillers or any of the actors involved then I'd say you're likely to enjoy this. It's a popcorn movie but an enjoyable one, and at times, brain teasingly so. 7 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 13th March 2013

UK Release Date - 8th March 2013

Cast Overview:

Jude Law ~ Dr Jonathan Banks

Rooney Mara ~ Emily Taylor

Catherine Zeta-Jones ~ Dr Victoria Siebert

Channing Tatum ~ Martin Taylor

Vinessa Shaw ~ Dierdre Banks

Ann Dowd ~ Martin's Mother

Polly Draper ~ Emily's Boss

Director ~ Steven Soderbergh

Writer ~

Scott Z. Burns (Screenplay)

The Paperboy

Mini Review

http://thepaperboy-movie.com/

Although I am signed up to See Film First I rarely get notified of their advanced screenings. As it so happens one of my friends got tickets to this screening but was unable to attend, and as such gave the tickets to me. I appealed on Facebook for anyone who wanted to join me for the early morning showing of the film, which just so happened to be on Mothering Sunday; and I was pleasantly surprised to have the ticket snapped up by a friend who used to be my housemate many moons ago. Surprising, as despite sharing a flat for over a year, this was our first cinematic outing together. 

The film is set in the hot Florida summer of 1969 and tells the tale of Charlotte Bless (Nicole Kidman), a woman who has a thing for corresponding with men in prison. Her latest man on the inside is Hillary Van Wetter (John Cusack), who has been imprisoned on death row for murdering the local Sheriff. Charlotte believes him innocent and contacts local newspaper family the Jansen's, asking Ward (Matthew McConaughey) and his writing partner Yardley (David Oyelowo) to write a story about Hillary. Charlotte wants them to investigate claims that Hillary has been wrongly imprisoned simply because he's a redneck. In the process of freeing her jailbird, Charlotte gets close to Ward's younger brother Jack (Zac Efron), who in turn becomes more than a little infatuated with Charlotte. 

The Paperboy was certainly different I will give you that. I'm not entirely sure it was a suitable Mothering Sunday film or that it should be seen at 11am on any day of the week, but it was very atmospheric of the place and time it was set; the story was unique and the acting superb. Unlike Kidman's other film that I saw this month, Stoker, I didn't feel like this was style over substance, but I still didn't feel that it had an awful lot to say for itself. The overwhelming feeling that I took from The Paperboy is that it's a film about loneliness and how different people deal with it in different ways. Charlotte is drawn to people in prison, but ultimately, although she wants someone, she doesn't believe they'll get out. *spoiler alert* Her shock is clear when Hillary shows up at her door after being released. Ward's homosexuality in an age when this was more than frowned upon but could get you killed, makes him long for companionship to the point where he takes things to extreme levels. Jack's loneliness embodies itself in a crush on an unobtainable woman. And almost gets him killed. *End spoiler*

I don't feel like my life has been changed by seeing The Paperboy but I'm still glad that I did see it and I would still recommend it. But it's not for everybody. I was glad that I went to see it with someone who is very open minded as this would not have been the type of film for some of my friends. It does feature a lot of graphic scenes of sex and violence. But if you think you can stomach that and it sounds like an interesting premise then I'd give it a watch. Just don't believe all the awards hype about it. 7 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 10th March 2013

UK Release Date - 15th March 2013

Cast Overview:

Zac Efron ~ Jack Jansen 

Matthew McConaughey ~ Ward Jansen

David Oyelowo ~ Yardley Acheman

Scott Glenn ~ W. W. Jansen

Nikolette Noel ~ Nancy

John Cusack ~ Hillary Van Wetter

Nicole Kidman ~ Charlotte Bless

Macy Gray ~ Anita Chester

Director ~ Lee Daniels

Writer ~ Lee Daniels (Screenplay) and Peter Dexter (Novel and Screenplay)

Song For Marion

Mini Review

http://uk.eonefilms.com/films/song-for-marion

As you may have seen from my last review, I wanted to see Song For Marion since it's release at the end of February. I believed the release date for this film was the reason for Hansel and Gretel (also starring Gemma Arterton) being put back by a couple of days, as they were originally scheduled to come out on the same date. Seeing how good Gemma was in Hansel and Gretel made me want to see this even more, even though it is a British comedy and they're usually on my list of movies to avoid. 

The film tells the story of Marion (Vanessa Redgrave), a woman with a terminal illness, who enjoys singing in her local choir. Marion's husband Arthur (Terence Stamp) is against anything that will make Marion weaker, making her illness worse, and so doesn't hide his annoyance towards the choir and their director Elizabeth (Gemma Arterton) who is constantly trying to get Marion, and in turn Arthur, more involved. However, getting grumpy old Arthur to join in is going to be harder, but perhaps more rewarding, than Elizabeth ever imagined. 

As I said above, I tend to avoid British comedies like the plague as I generally find them to be the most unfunny and boring films out there. I'm all for supporting British film but when we turn out crap it makes it hard to do. Song For Marion however was a film I could definitely get behind. It wasn't hilarious but it had moments of being genuinely funny, it was touching, it was thought provoking, it had bloody brilliant performances and it left me with a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. If all British films, not just British comedies, were made with such love I don't think the industry would struggle to keep up with our counterparts from across the pond. 

If it's not finished it's run at your local cinema then I urge you to see Song For Marion, and if my review has come too late then I ask you to put it on your LoveFilm reminder list and catch it when it comes out on DVD. You won't regret it. 8 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 6th March 2013

UK Release Date - 22nd February 2013

Cast Overview:

Gemma Arterton ~ Elizabeth

Terence Stamp ~ Arthur

Christopher Eccleston ~ James

Vanessa Redgrave ~ Marion

Anne Reid ~ Brenda

Director/Writer ~ Paul Andrew Williams

Stoker

Mini Review

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/stoker/

After spending a lovely weekend with my friend we decided that we weren't quite ready for it to be over and would have time to waste a few hours at the cinema. The film we wanted to see, Song For Marion, wasn't on for another couple of hours so I suggested we see Stoker as my friend is a fan of Nicole Kidman. She asked me what it was about and I realised at that point that I didn't know. Upon looking at the synopsis I realised that the film also starred Dermot Mulroney who I've loved for years. So we decided that regardless of the dark subject matter we were going to give the film a chance.

The film opens on the funeral of Richard Stoker (Dermot Mulroney - woe is me). His introverted daughter India (Mia Wasikowska) and dedicated wife Evelyn (Nicole Kidman) are present, but so too is Richard's estranged brother Charlie (Matthew Goode). India, who has never previously been aware of the existence of this mysterous uncle, becomes increasingly intregued by Charlie and his sudden presence in her and her mother's house. The situation turns sinister when Charlie's aunt shows up and tries to warn India that Charlie may not be all that he seems. Will she listen to her great Aunt or is India destined to follow her uncle down a path that she can never turn back from?

Stoker is a hard film to grapple with. On the one hand it keeps the viewer interested by twists and turns in the plot, it's well acted and the direction is at times beautiful and yet always to the point. But on the other hand it doesn't really go anywhere or have much to say for itself. It's a definite case of style over substance. 

I wish there'd been some sort of epiphany at the end or that I'd felt somehow enriched by seeing it but I didn't. The only realisation being that those were 2 hours of my life I wasn't getting back. And that Dermot Mulroney should have had a bigger role. 5 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 3rd March 2013

UK Release Date - 1st March 2013

Cast Overview:

Mia Wasikowska ~ India Stoker

Nicole Kidman ~ Evelyn Stoker

Matthew Goode ~ Charlie Stoker

Dermot Mulroney ~ Richard Stoker

Jacki Weaver ~ Gwendolyn Stoker

Ralph Brown ~ Sheriff

Director ~ Chan-Wook Park

Writer ~ Wentworth Miller (contributing writer Erin Cressida Wilson)

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters

http://www.hanselandgretelmovie.com/

I would be lying if I said I hadn't been looking forward to this movie for quite some time. But that is mostly down to the constant delays it experienced on it's way to being released (bearing in mind that it was filmed prior to The Avengers!) rather than because I'm a fan of the fairy tale. 

The film opens on the famous tale of two children in the woods who come across a candy house and can't resist having a snack. Inside the house they discover a witch who tries to fatten up poor Hansel in order to eat him. The kids escape and burn the witch. The End. Or so those Grimm brothers would have you believe. Queue a nice animated sequence to help fill us in on what has become of the brother and sister since their encounter. Well, they become Witch Hunters of course! What else are they going to do with no form of therapy to work out their demons? They get hired by the Mayor of a small town with a witch problem and the ass-kicking ensues. But the witches are more than just an unwanted nuisance for the town and have snatched several children. What are they up to? And will Hansel and Gretel be able to figure it out in time to put an end to their schemes?

This movie has received a lot of stick but I found it to be a lot of fun. If you went in there expecting a serious movie, tacking all kinds of issues then I'd forgive you for being disappointed. What I was expecting was a somewhat cheesy premise, some laughs, lots of bad-assery and the occassional F-bomb and that's exactly what I got. 

Jeremy Renner's Hansel was actually a lot sweeter and accident prone than I was expecting. Having seen the trailer and knowing his penchant for action movies I expected him to be the brawn, and Gemma Arterton to be the brains. But I was pleasantly surprised to see her step out of her damsel in distress role and actually kick some butt. She was great as Gretel and never for one minute seemed like she couldn't handle herself. They had good chemistry and it was nice to see a brother/sister dynamic on screen in this type of film.

The witch make up was also impressive, as were the sets, as the filmmakers opted for realism, using prosthetics rather than CGI for the witches and filming in real forests in Germany rather than using green screens. When you're making a fairy tale I guess you want to ground it in reality as much as possible and I felt that it worked really well here. 

Overall, a lot of gore but also a lot of fun. Which has been sorely absent from our screens in a while. The Oscar season of serious films is over, go let your hair down for a night. 7 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 27th February 2013

UK Release Date - 27th February 2013

Cast Overview:

Jeremy Renner ~ Hansel

Gemma Arterton ~ Gretel

Famke Janssen ~ Muriel

Pihla Viitala ~ Mina

Derek Mears ~ Edward

Thomas Mann ~ Ben

Peter Stormare ~ Sheriff Berringer

Director/Writer ~ Tommy Wirkola

Warm Bodies

Mini Blog

http://warmbodiesmovie.com/

I'd looked forward to Warm Bodies since I saw the trailer. As a fan of horror movies in general, and especially of films that throw traditional horror ideas on their head, I was intrigued by the idea that a Zombie could be cured of their zombification by something that a Zombie would be likely to never find; love.

As such, I was determined to see the film before it finished at my local cinema, even though this meant going out alone at night in freezing cold temperatures. And I wish I could say that it was worth my plight. But alas, I should have waited for the DVD.

Yes it is a fresh take on a decaying story but it's basically Romeo and Juliet with Zombies which I find slightly less original. The main Zombie being named R because he doesn't remember what his full name is and the girl he falls in love with being Julie. I found this homage to be unnecessary and annoying rather than the delight I think I was meant to feel. And don't even get me started on the 'balcony' scene!

I also found that Nicholas Hoult is not yet ready for leading man status. He can't carry a film, and quite frankly having a cast of mostly unknown young actors to back him up does not work in this film's favour. John Malkovich's small role as Julie's father brings a welcome addition of a well known face who can also pack a punch in the acting stakes. Unfortunately though he's just not around enough. Much like Bill Murray's role in Zombieland, this film would have majorly benefitted from a cameo from a high profile star, but sadly for Warm Bodies, no-one stepped up to the plate.

This leaves Warm Bodies as yet another intriguing premise let down by a less than impressive cast and silly decisions by the filmmakers to infuse their zombie movie with shakespearian comparisons. It just doesn't work. 6 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 21st February 2013

UK Release Date - 8th February 2013

Cast Overview:

Nicholas Hoult ~ R

Teresa Palmer ~ Julie

Analeigh Tipton ~ Nora

Rob Corddry ~ M

Dave Franco ~ Perry

John Malkovich ~ Grigio

Director ~ Jonathan Levine

Writer(s) ~ Jonathan Levine (Screenplay) and Isaac Marion (Novel)

Beautiful Creatures

Mini Review

http://beautifulcreatures.warnerbros.com/

Beautiful Creatures is based on a book of the same name and tells the story of Ethan (Alden Ehrenreich) a boy who wants nothing more than to leave the small town he grew up in, that is until he meets Lena (Alice Englert). Lena lives with her uncle in a strange old house and soon finds herself and her family the subject of vicious rumours by the small minded townsfolk about them being devil worshipers. Ethan is drawn to Lena regardless of the gossip and when he gives her a locket he finds amongst trinkets in his house, he and Lena share a flashback of the civil war. Lena confesses to Ethan that she and her family are casters which means they can perform spells. Lena tells Ethan that her 16th birthday will determine whether she is a caster of light or dark origin, i.e good or evil. Ethan believes he knows who Lena truly is but will that make any difference to her fate?

I really wanted to like Beautiful Creatures. It had an impressive cast and an intriguing story. But I am sorry to say that it's not overly well executed. I think mainly because the filmmakers tried too hard to mould it into the next Twilight film so that it would get at their target audience. I haven't read the books that it's based on but I would bet that they're worthy of more than the filmmakers allowed this movie to be.

The younger cast were unknowns which gave them more of a chance to shine but I have to say that they didn't really make an impression on me, and the better known cast such as Jeremy Irons, Emma Thompson and Emmy Rossum were all a little too OTT hammy for my liking.

The film felt a lot longer than it's two hour running time and by the end I really didn't care whether Lena was going to be good or bad, I just wanted the film to be over. Which is a shame as it's not that bad a story. It's just not all that special a film. A distinctly average 5 out of 10. 

Viewing Date - 17th February 2013

UK Release Date - 13th February 2013

Cast Overview:

Alden Ehrenreich ~ Ethan Wate

Alice Englert ~ Lena Duchannes

Jeremy Irons ~ Macon Ravenwood

Viola Davis ~ Amma

Emmy Rossum ~ Ridley Duchannes

Thomas Mann ~ Link

Emma Thompson ~ Mrs Lincoln / Sarafine

Eileen Atkins ~ Gramma

Director ~ Richard LaGravenese

Writer(s) ~ Richard LaGravenese (Screenplay), Kami Garcia (Novel) and Margaret Stohl (Novel)