Gangster Squad

http://gangstersquad.warnerbros.com/

Gangster Squad seemed to be a long time coming. It was initially due for release around the same time as Lawless but was postponed by the cinema shooting in Aurora as the film featured a scene involving a shoot out at a cinema. 

I'm not sure that January was the best time to release the finished film, not when cinemas at the moment seem to be full of Oscar contenders. But I guess as it's not likely to be a contender for awards it's probably as good a time as any for an old fashioned gangster film.

The film is loosely based on the story of Mob boss Mickey Cohen and how the Los Angeles police force formed a secret squad of officers who's sole purpose was to take him down.

I know several guys at my work who really loved this film, however me and my two friends I saw it with definitely found it left us less than impressed. The acting is solid and if I'm honest I do struggle to say what was wrong with the film. It just felt lacklustre, over long and repetative in places with one shoot out after another. I guess that was the whole point, this being a gangster film, but it just got boring after a while. 

The scenes depicting the family lives of the cops were a nice touch and definitely gave the characters more depth but they felt a little like fillers for the big shoot outs and that's where the film became bland and uninspired for me.

If your a fan of those involved or have a particular love of gangster films then you'll probably think this is a great way to spend 2+ hours. If not then I'd say there's not much here for you. 6 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 15th January 2013

UK Release Date - 11th January 2013

Cast Overview:

Josh Brolin ~ Sergeant John O'Mara

Ryan Gosling ~ Sergeant Jerry Wooters

Sean Penn ~ Mickey Cohen 

Emma Stone ~ Grace Faraday 

Nick Nolte ~ Bill Parker 

Anthony Mackie ~ Detective Coleman Harris

Giovanni Ribisi ~ Detective Conwell Keeler

Robert Patrick ~ Detective Max Kennard

Michael Peña ~ Detective Navidad Ramirez

Director ~ Ruben Fleischer

Writer(s) ~ Will Beall and Paul Lieberman (book)

The Amazing Spider-Man

http://www.theamazingspiderman.com/

When the announcement was made that Spider-man was being re-booted my immediate reaction was one of outrage. Not because I thought the Spider-man story couldn't be better than what we'd already seen, no. I simply thought it was too soon to start over. After all, Spider-man 3 was only released in 2007 and 5 years, to me, is not a sufficent length of time to re-make a film (or series of films) that in my eyes worked pretty well first time around.

Having said that I knew that curiosity would get the better of me and that I would at least see the new Spider-man. If for no other reason than I could say I told you so, to the film-makers and fans who were all losing their heads over this new version.

While this version doesn't stick to the exact story from the Sam Raimi films, it is pretty close to the story we know. Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is bitten by a Spider and inherits some of it's qualities, such as the ability to crawl up walls. Around the same time, Peter's uncle is killed and Peter decides to use his new found abilities to track down the killer and bring him to justice. 

There are two big differences from this and the Sam Raimi Spider-Man. In this movie the villain is The Lizard/Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans) rather than the Green Goblin and the love interest is Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) rather than Mary Jane Watson. Now those familiar with Sam Raimi's Spider-Man films will know that Dr Connors features as Peter's university lecturer in Spider-Man 2 and 3 (yes I'm aware that 3 was the nail in the franchise's coffin as far as many people are concerned), perhaps eluding to the fact that The Lizard was scheduled to become the next villain? Those who've seen Spider-Man 3 will also recall that this introduced Gwen Stacy into the mix too. So it seems that Alvin Sargent who co-wrote the screenplay here and who also co-wrote the screenplay for Spider-Man 2 and 3 might have had a hand in the similarities. And may also explain why this Spider-Man does feel more like a follow on in many ways than an origin story.

But an origin story it is. However, the good thing about this origin story is that there are enough subtle changes, as well as the big changes, to make it feel like you're watching something you haven't seen before.

The cast is a dream and while I was a fan of Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker he just can't compete with the younger and quite frankly much better looking Andrew Garfield. Garfield concerned me going in, I hadn't been all that convinced by him in The Social Network or Never Let Me Go. Sure he's pretty but could he cut it, a brit as the all American geek? He forces me to eat my words as yes, he can cut it. And does indeed cut a fine figure in that rather revealing suit. He's cute and geeky in equal measure and really very believable as a 17 year old boy. OK, maybe 19 but certainly looks younger than Tobey did.

Emma Stone. Ah, Emma Stone. Anyone who's read my review of The Help will know that I have a *little* bit of a girl crush on Emma Stone. Let me tell you, that's gone up a notch. My god is she beautiful in this movie. She just looks flawless. And is similarly cute, vulnerable and yes, even a little geeky as Gwen Stacy. Even Rhys Ifans who I've never really paid much attention to before is really good as Dr Connors, even if I'm still not sure where his accent was from. The supporting cast too, from Denis Leary to Martin Sheen and Sally Field, are all wonderful.

I really wanted to be right about this one but damn you Spider-Man, you are as Amazing as your title suggests. 8.5 out of 10.

NB - Look out for yet another excellent cameo from Stan Lee. And there is a mid-credits scene but nothing after that.

Viewing Date - 4th July 2012

UK Release Date - 3rd July 2012

Cast Overview:

Peter Parker / Spider-Man ~ Andrew Garfield

Gwen Stacy ~ Emma Stone

Dr Curt Connors / The Lizard ~ Rhys Ifans

Captain Stacy ~ Denis Leary

Uncle Ben ~ Martin Sheen

Aunt May ~ Sally Field

Director ~ Marc Webb

Writer(s) ~ James Vanderbilt (Story and Screenplay), Alvin Sargent (Screenplay), Steve Kloves (Screenplay) and Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (Marvel Comic Book)

The Help

http://thehelpmovie.com/us/

As previously mentioned in my Crazy, Stupid, Love review, I am a bit of a fan of Emma Stone. In fact, a bit is a bit of an understatement. Ever since I saw her in Easy A I have had a bit of a girl crush on her. And I also think she's one of the most promising actresses to come out of Hollywood in a long time. She's the only reason I'm even considering going to see the Spiderman re-boot. So when I heard about The Help it was a bit of a no-brainer that I would go and see it.

The Help is based on the best selling novel of the same name by Kathryn Stockett and tells the very different story of two women in Jackson, Mississippi during the early 1960s. Writer Skeeter (Emma Stone) has dreams much bigger than the small town in which she lives. The problem that she has is convincing the even smaller minds of the town's community, from the editor of the paper she works for, to her best friend and even her own mother, of the problems going on under their noses. Skeeter decides she wants to write a book from the perspective of 'the help', the African American maids who work for white families. Skeeter wants the world to know how they're treated, what they witness on a daily basis and how they're made to feel. The bigger problem is getting 'the help' to talk to her.

The more I looked into The Help, the more I read, the more interviews I watched, the more praise that was heaped on the book and in turn the film, the higher my hopes got. When I eventually saw the film however, it smashed all of that to pieces. It actually left me feeling that I'd just watched a really great film. 

The characters are fantastic, even the ones you hate, you can't help but admire the actors potrayal. And the actors, or rather actresses as this is a predominantly female cast, were faultless. Every single one. I know I already mentioned my girl crush on Emma Stone but she is wonderful. But then so are Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain. And the supporting cast is a dream, from the likes of Allison Janney (who can do no wrong in my eyes, I've loved her for years!) to Sissy Spacek and Mary Steenburgen. Fabulous one and all.

This is an eye opening story told with such emotion, had me laughing and crying in equal measure, which was so well executed by all involved. It seemed a story which was very dear to the hearts of everyone who had a hand in it, from the actors to the writers and director. It was a story told with such attention to detail and a lot of love.

I can't recommend this film highly enough. Harrowing in places, unafraid to show the bad with the good, but a film which ultimately proves that humanity can be gracious and kind. But without the schmaltz. As near perfect as a new film has gotten for me this year. 9.5 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 4th November 2011

UK Release Date - 26th October 2011

Cast Overview:

Emma Stone ~ Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan
Viola Davis ~ Aibileen Clark

Bryce Dallas Howard ~ Hilly Holbrook

Octavia Spencer ~ Minny Jackson

Jessica Chastain ~ Celia Foote

Ahna O'Reilly ~ Elizabeth Leefolt

Allison Janney ~ Charlotte Phelan

Chris Lowell ~ Stuart Whitworth

Cicely Tyson ~ Constantine Bates

Mike Vogel ~ Johnny Foote

Sissy Spacek ~ Mrs. Walters

Mary Steenburgen ~ Elain Stein

Director ~ Tate Taylor

Writer(s) ~ Tate Taylor (Screenplay) and Kathryn Stockett (Novel)