Looper

http://www.loopermovie.com/

Although I'm not a particular fan of anyone involved in Looper, I do like Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Emily Blunt and have definitely found their recent performances (Gordon-Levitt in Inception and 500 Days Of Summer and Blunt in The Adjustment Bureau and The Young Victoria) make me want to see more of their films. Ole Brucie though I can take or leave (sorry Becki). 

As far as 80s action heroes go I was always a fan of Sly in my youth, and can appreciate a bit of Arnie cheese, but Bruce just never impressed me. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't avoid a Bruce Willis movie, I just don't feel that strongly about him either way. 

So Looper was a bit of a mixed bag for me. The main thing that put me off was the fact that Joseph Gordon-Levitt didn't look like Joseph Gordon-Levitt. In order to make him look like a young Bruce Willis the filmmakers made the decision to put Gordon-Levitt in prosthetic make up. Something I think was unnecessary as I didn't think it made him look any more like Bruce Willis than Emily Blunt did. He had the mannerisms, the walk, the voice, everything, so why bother with make up that didn't actually add anything to the performance? Now I know I'm going to stir controversy with that comment as I know that some people who've seen Looper did think it made a difference but for me, they didn't need to do that. I think it caused me more confusion that Joseph Gordon-Levitt didn't look like himself than trying to reconcile that he was supposed to be a young Bruce. If he'd not worn the prosthetics I think I'd have found it easier to concentrate on his performance.

The film centers on Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who works as a Looper in the year 2044. Loopers are described as garbage men, taking out the future's trash. A lot of things have changed by 2044 but time travel has not yet been invented. Skip another 30 years into the future and it has been, so when the people of 2074 want someone gone, they zap them back in time and the Loopers kill the target and dispose of the body. The only problem with taking out the future's trash is that at some point you'll need to dispose of yourself. That's where old Joe comes in, played by Bruce Willis. But will young Joe be able to kill his future self?

I'm not going to spoil it for you but needless to say if you can get over the prosthetics, Looper is a well written, directed and acted sci-fi thriller that will keep you hooked til the credits roll. As one of my friends pointed out in a review she wrote for the film, although this could have been a brain bending sci-fi film, it's all laid out so clearly that you never find yourself not understanding it. That's surely a tribute to all involved that they made a film that's easy to watch but still interesting, new and engaging. 

If you haven't ventured out to the cinema this month I would recommend Looper but be warned, there are a few scenes that those with a delicate disposition may find hard to stomach. Me, I loved those scenes the best! :0)

7.5 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 7th October 2012

UK Release Date - 28th September 2012

Cast Overview:

Joseph Gordon-Levitt ~ Joe

Bruce Willis ~ Old Joe

Emily Blunt ~ Sara

Paul Dano ~ Seth

Noah Segan ~ Kid Blue

Piper Perabo ~ Suzie

Jeff Daniels ~ Abe

Director/Writer ~ Rian Johnson

The Five-Year Engagement

Mini Review

http://www.thefiveyearengagementmovie.com/

The Five-Year Engagement tells the story of Tom (Jason Segel) and Violet (Emily Blunt) who's initial engagement gets put back due to Violet getting a new job out of state, meaning the couple have to move house. Their nuptials get further delayed by Tom's inability to find a suitable job in their new surroundings and inevitably friends and family beat them to the aisle. Will Tom and Violet ever make it to the wedding they have waited so long for?

I've always liked Emily Blunt and enjoy Jason Segel immensely in How I Met Your Mother, I just don't ever seem to warm to him on film. But the film intrigued me with it's promise (from the producer of Bridesmaids) and by the pairing of it's leads so I wanted to see it. 

Whilst it was quite funny in places I can't say that I laughed an awful lot and it definitely didn't stick in my mind as much as Bridesmaids did. Segel and Blunt did have a comedic chemistry and seemed very comfortable with each other but I didn't really buy the two of them as a couple. Which is kinda necessary in a romantic comedy.

I wouldn't recommend for a cinema outing (especially if you don't get to go that often) but once it's out on DVD you certainly wouldn't go wrong if you were looking for an easy watch comedy on a cosy night in. 6 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 10th July 2012

UK Release Date - 22nd June 2012

Cast Overview:

Jason Segel ~ Tom Soloman

Emily Blunt ~ Violet Barnes

Chris Pratt ~ Alex Eilhauer

Alison Brie ~ Suzie Barnes-Eilhauer

Rhys Ifans ~ Winton Childs

Director ~ Nicholas Stoller

Writer ~ Jason Segel (Screenplay) and Nicholas Stoller (Screenplay)

Salmon Fishing In The Yemen

Mini Review

http://fishingintheyemen.com/

I went to see Salmon Fishing In The Yemen on a bit of a whim. My best friend and I decided one grey Sunday afternoon to go to the cinema. The obvious choice movie was Avengers Assemble but as I had already seen it and was imminently about to see it again she made the executive decision to see Salmon Fishing instead. And I'm glad she made that call.

It was so different to Avengers and was actually the perfect movie to break up screenings of the superhero flick. Salmon Fishing In The Yemen is based on a true story of a Sheikh (Amr Waked) who enjoys fly-fishing so much that he wants to introduce it to his home land The Yemen. His assistant Harriet (Emily Blunt) enlists the help of fisheries expert Alfred Jones (Ewan McGregor) who, despite having no faith that the project will work, agrees to help the Sheikh with his predicament. Soon the British government get wind of the story and decide to use it to promote healthy relations between the UK and the Middle East. 

Going off the trailer I'd seen I didn't think the film would be that great, but Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt had a very genuine chemistry which made their characters instantly likeable. I found the dialogue in their scenes realistic, and in the latter stages of the film, once their friendship was forged, I thought their moments on-screen were quite touching. The scenes involving Kristin Scott Thomas' character were the least enjoyable for me, and the scenes which were mostly played for laughs, which wasn't really necessary. But this didn't have too detrimental an impact on the overall film. 

The film was refreshing in that the story was not your usual rom com or brit flick but a nice mish mash of the two with a slice of political drama on the side. A surprisingly watchable, feel good film which is perfect for a drizzly Sunday afternoon. 8 out of 10.

As I didn't think much of the trailer I have included a clip below for your delectation.

Viewing Date - 29th April 2012

UK Release Date - 20th April 2012

Cast Overview:

Ewan McGregor ~ Dr Alfred Jones

Emily Blunt ~ Harriet Chetwode-Talbot

Kristin Scott Thomas ~ Patricia Maxwell

Amr Waked ~ Sheikh Muhammed

Tom Mison ~ Capt Robert Mayers

Director ~ Lasse Hallstrom

Writer(s) ~ Simon Beaufoy (Screenplay) and Paul Torday (Novel)

The Adjustment Bureau

http://www.theadjustmentbureau.com/

If you've read my reasons for doing this blog, you'll know the last thing I want to do is steal from another review. The very last thing I EVER want to do is steal from an Empire review. So obviously I won't. What I will say is that they categorised this film so perfectly that I at least have to tell you what they said. So to paraphrase with the utmost respect, Empire's Helen O'Hara who said that The Adjustment Bureau is "Inception for romantics". She nailed it. And that is why I want to be one of them!

I knew very little about The Adjustment Bureau going in, I'd just seen the posters on the bus shelters around Brighton. I hadn't seen the trailer and I hadn't read anything about it (not even Empire's four star review). If, like me, you haven't done any research on the film please allow me to elaborate.

The Adjustment Bureau opens on the campaign trail of New York Congressman David Norris (Matt Damon). We see him flying high in the polls and then bottoming out when pictures surface of his bar fighting, prank pulling past. While practicing his 'down but not out' speech for the announcement of his lost election he meets Elise (Emily Blunt) who inspires him to tell the truth to the public as she thinks they'll reciprocate more to an honest man. He does this and although the election is lost, David's popularity soars. A few weeks pass and David meets Elise again, by chance, and she gives him her number. Moments later David is kidnapped by a bunch of trilby wearing men who tell him he must never see Elise again as doing so would be going against 'The Plan'. 

Does David fight for who he believes is the person he's meant to be with, or go along with the design in store for his future? You'll have to see the film to find out. What I will tell you is that this is a nail biting, tense thriller which also has a believable love story running alongside it. You wouldn't think those two genres would go together but they work surprisingly well when teamed up. Without the love story I'm not sure what you'd root for here. With it, and I know this sounds cheesy, the film has heart. It makes you so passionate about the outcome of the film that you'll never have been happier to see a love story spliced with a thriller.

*Spoiler Alert!* About two thirds of the way in I was thinking, "if these two don't end up together then this has been a really shit film!". I'm sure my score mixed with aforementioned comment will give away the ending, hence the spoiler alert!

I was half hoping after Matt Damon's performance in Hereafter that this film would be a dud, or at least that he would be. The half of me that was hoping he'd be good was not disappointed. His performance here was just as good (though not as emotional as Hereafter - but then the movie is totally different) and I find, for the second time this year, that I am swiftly becoming a Matt Damon fan. Something I've never been and never thought I'd be. Emily Blunt was her usual marvellous self showing her vulnerable and quirky sides and making the audience fall in love with her, as she does so frequently with ease. The supporting cast from Terrence Stamp to Anthony Mackie are also faultless and allow the audience to have some feeling towards the bureau rather than have them be a faceless organisation. 

A film that will have you on the edge of your seat while also falling a little bit in love. 8 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 5th March 2011

UK Release Date - 4th March 2011

Cast Overview:

Matt Damon ~ David Norris

Emily Blunt ~ Elise Sallas

Anthony Mackie ~ Harry Mitchell

John Slattery ~ Richardson

Terence Stamp ~ Thompson

Director ~ George Nolfi

Writer(s) ~ George Nolfi (Screenplay) and Philip K Dick (Short Story)