Room / Creed

http://www.roomthemovie.com/

It's been a one word movie double bill over the course of the weekend, starting with Room yesterday.

I haven't read the book but I've heard it's amazing. Having seen the film I can bet it is.

The story is a simple one, Joy and Jack live in 'Room'. Joy was kidnapped when she was 17 and when we meet her she's been held captive for 7 years. She has been raped, and her son Jack was born out of the situation with her captor. Jack is now 5 and Joy decides he is old enough to understand why they live in 'Room' and what is outside of it. They devise a plan to get Jack out, and hopefully, Joy too. I won't spoil what happens next.

Room surprised me on many levels. Going into it I thought it would be harrowing but a well made film which handled it's subject matter sensitively. And it did both of those things, but so much more besides. Jacob Tremblay who plays Jack is mind-blowingly good. I'm not even going to belittle his performance by uttering those words so often spoken about young actors and say 'for his age'. For any age, his performance is stunning. You believe completely that he has never known the world, and that his whole life has been this room, and his mother. He is completely mesmerising and you absolutely cannot take your eyes off him.

Whilst Jacob will get most of the praise for Room it has to be said that Brie Larson's more understated role required her to be in her own head a lot of the time, and that's not an easy thing to pull off.

The scene in the movie where they are putting their plan into action has got to be one of the most tense scenes I have ever sat through. My heart was pounding and I was unable to stop myself from shouting out even though we were in a packed screening. It's truly terrifying, and this coming from a horror fan. It's also got moments to make you cheer and cry and laugh and everything in between. So much that it's hard to imagine how one Room can make you feel so much. I will definitely be reading the book. 9 out of 10. 

Viewing Date - 23rd January 2016
UK Release Date - 22nd January 2016

Cast Overview:
Brie Larson ~ Joy
Jacob Tremblay ~ Jack
Joan Allen ~ Nancy
William H Macy ~ Robert
Tom McCamus ~ Leo

Director ~ Lenny Abrahamson
Writer ~ Emma Donoghue (Screenplay based on her own novel)

http://creedthemovie.com/

Creed was a totally different kettle of fish. The latest in the Rocky franchise, it tells the story of Apollo Creed's illegitimate son Adonis - Don or Donnie to his friends - as he tries to step out of his father's shadow and prove himself in the ring. He does this by enlisting the help of Rocky Balboa, his father's infamous opponent and friend.

I will admit that I am a fan of the Rocky movies but I did not see the last one, even though I understood it to be a return to form. I probably wouldn't have seen Creed if not for my friend in the states who saw it last year and recommended it to me. I'm glad she did as I actually thought it was a good addition to the 'legacy' as the press are calling it, and more importantly that the performances turned in were really good.

It should speak volumes that Stallone has been nominated for (and won) a couple of major awards in the supporting actor category, and after the steaming dump that was Fantastic Four, it's nice to see Michael B Jordan in something worthy, and see him put in a great performance.

A special mention must be given to the make up department on this movie. The shot of Donnie's eye in the final fight has stayed with me long after the credits rolled. It's also nice to see nods to the original movies. I won't spoil it by saying what, but there are is a lot of recognition given to the previous films and I always think that shows a lot of respect.

If you liked the other Rocky films, or like a good boxing movie, this one is definitely for you. 7.5 out of 10.
 

Viewing Date - 24th January 2016
UK Release Date - 15th January 2016

Cast Overview:
Michael B Jordan ~ Adonis 'Donnie' Johnson Creed
Sylvester Stallone ~ Rocky Balboa

Tessa Thompson ~ Bianca
Phylicia Rashad ~ Mary Anne Creed
Tony Bellew ~ 'Pretty' Ricky Conlan

Director/Writer ~ Ryan Coogler (Direction and Screenplay) and Aaron Covington (Screenplay)

The Danish Girl

http://www.thedanishgirl.co.uk/

The Danish Girl begins it's story with married Danish artists Einar and Gerda Wegener. The couple lead a happy and passionate life, but despite this they have not produced a child that they long for. When assisting his wife by sitting for her in place of her model, Einar is asked to wear stockings and heeled shoes with a dress draped over him. Unbeknownst to Gerda, this awakens his inner identity of Lili Elbe, and so begins a journey of discovery and change for the both of them.

I saw the trailer for The Danish Girl a while ago, and having watched Mr Redmayne last New Years Day in The Theory Of Everything, which was a wonderful film with a fantastic performance from Redmayne, I was very keen to see him again in this movie. The other draw for me towards The Danish Girl was Alicia Vikander who I first saw at the end of 2014 in an advanced screening of Testament of Youth. At the time she was a complete unknown to me, and then she blew up on the big screen in 2015, appearing in Ex Machina, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and Burnt. For me, her finest performance came in Testament though. She came from nowhere and put in this absolutely heartfelt performance that completely blew you away and made you feel every aspect of the war around her. And it was because of that movie that I knew she would be amazing here.

Of the two lead roles in this film, you cannot deny that Redmayne's is the showy award winner. I have no doubt that he will at the very least receive countless nominations for his performance here. And he should. It's an important story of one of the first recognised transgender women who underwent reassignment surgery, all when such procedures were experimental. However, it is Vikander's understated performance which grounds this film, and one which ultimately breaks your heart. Gerda loves Einar and supports him though the changes he ultimately needs to make in order to realise who he he truly is. Without Gerda's unwavering support Lili would take a lot longer to be realised, if at all. But all the while Einar is going through emotional and physical changes, it's Gerda we feel has to change the most. She goes from having a husband she adores, to a friend she cannot turn away from, no matter how much it hurts her to be there for Lili. She is simply superb and I hope she also gets the attention she deserves from this performance, because without her, I don't think this film would work.

You should see this if you are a fan of fantastic acting, and important stories that should be told. 8 out of 10. 

Viewing Date - 1st January 2016
UK Release Date - 1st January 2016

Cast Overview:
Eddie Redmayne ~ Lili Elbe / Einar Wegener
Alicia Vikander ~ Gerda Wegener
Matthias Schoenaerts ~ Hans Axgil
Ben Whishaw ~ Henrik
Amber Heard ~ Ulla
Sebastian Koch ~ Dr Warnekros

Director ~ Tom Hooper
Writer ~ David Ebershoff (Novel) and Lucinda Coxon (Screenplay)