Labor Day

Mini Review 

http://www.labordaymovie.co.uk/

I really didn't know what to expect from Labor Day from the trailer but I knew I wanted to see it. Thankfully, unlike a lot of other films lately that have only come out at independent cinemas (or the really big Cineworld in Crawley), Labor Day did come out at Cineworld in Brighton and so my friend and I went along to see what it really was all about.

The film opens on single mother Adele (Kate Winslet) and her son Henry (Gattlin Griffith). We soon learn that Henry's father Gerald (Clark Gregg) left Adele for his secretary, and immediately you get the feeling this was due to more than him not being able to remain faithful to his wife. It is intimated that Adele is suffering in some way, at first I thought from depression, but later you get the full story (which I won't go into as I feel it really should be seen). One day when Henry has managed to get his mother out of the house and to the supermarket, they happen upon Frank (Josh Brolin) who has recently escaped police custody after an operation. He convinces Adele to take him home with them and while at first Frank intends to leave the next morning, he ends up having to stay due to it being the Labor Day weekend, as he is unable to get out of town. As Adele and Henry get to know Frank, they see that first impressions do not always get to the heart of the matter, and in harboring a fugitive, they may actually save themselves.

I'm actually really sad that it has taken me a week to write this review because I believe that Labor Day has now finished in Brighton, and it is one of the best films I have seen so far this year.

Winslet and Brolin are superb and have such wonderful chemistry, but it's a combination of fantastic writing, spot on direction and cinematography, the acting and the pacing of the movie that make it so enjoyable and watchable. I suppose at heart it is a love story but it's not soppy in any way. You might also think that the likelihood of a woman like Adele falling for a convicted fellon over a weekend is rather dubious, but their relationship never feels rushed or unrealistic. The narration by the older Henry, played by Tobey Maguire, also adds a touch of familiarity and almost cocoons you into thinking everything will be alright. He has a nice voice which I never really noticed until now.

If Labor Day is still showing near you I really do urge you to see it. And if my review came too late I can only apologise that you'll have to wait for the DVD. It is so good though, I can only ask that you please do invest in that wait. 9.5 out of 10. 

Viewing Date - 22nd March 2014 

UK Release Date - 21st March 2014 

Cast Overview:

Adele ~ Kate Winslet

Frank ~ Josh Brolin

Henry ~ Gattlin Griffith

Adult Henry ~ Tobey Maguire

Young Frank ~ Tom Lipinski

Mandy ~ Maika Monroe

Gerald ~ Clark Gregg

Officer Treadwell ~ James Van Der Beek

Mr Jervis ~ J.K. Simmons

Evelyn ~ Brooke Smith

Director ~ Jason Reitman

Writer(s) ~ Jason Reitman (Screenplay) and Joyce Maynard (Novel)

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)