Change Your Image
wassupmjm
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Lists
An error has ocurred. Please try againReviews
Room (2015)
Outstanding
This is a dazzling movie.
The film is superbly built; the first half is set within 'Room'; for Joy (Brie Larson) it is the shed where she's been held hostage, for her little boy Jack (Jacob Tremblay) it is the only world he knows. Joy has told him that the only thing outside of Room is outer-space and anything seen on TV only exists in TV-land. One of the most intriguing aspects of the film is the contrasting lenses through which Joy and Jack look at the world and specifically Room. For Jack it's all he's ever known; he affectionately names each object - sink, bath, plant, wardrobe. For Joy, it represents oppression, for Jack, it's life. And yet, the promise of trees and leaves and dogs is still alluring - Joy eventually lets Jack in on the truth about 'outside' before hatching a plan to escape. The intensity rises throughout the opening sequence as the desperation of their situation becomes more apparent. As Jack plays dead and their evil captor loads him into a truck wrapped in a carpet, I have never wanted anything more passionately in a film than for their plan to succeed - it had to. My heart wouldn't cope if it didn't, such is the strength of connection that Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay create through their incredibly forceful and convincing performances.
Thankfully their plan did work and the film could easily have ended here; a story of brutal oppression, despair, hope, uncertainty and ultimate victory; a classic tale. Mother and son out in the open. Free with trees and leaves. Granny and Grampa. It would have been a good film.
The reality had far more depth. Joy had escaped; it'd been all she'd wanted, all she'd thought about but now she was there, she wasn't happy. Jack wasn't happy either, although his reasons are more immediately apparent; losing the comfort and security of home and the close proximity of his Ma. What Joy was processing was far more nuanced; perhaps an element of guilt-ridden anti-climax, what-now syndrome, a remorseful and personal look at how life had moved on without her - her parents had separated and gotten on with their lives. Did she even matter? Overwhelming insecurities over her parenting naturally arose.
All of this drives her to the edge of death as she attempts to end it but this moment gives her some perspective. Jack cuts off his hair - his 'strong' - and sends it to her in hospital. This display of love and affection empowers Joy and she comes back a stronger, happier woman and a stronger, happier mum, scarred by trauma unimaginable but on the road to a better life.
It's two magical performances from Larson and Tremblay. It's a mesmerising tale that is expertly woven together into an exceptional film. In my opinion is deserves Best Picture and if Larson doesn't win Best Actress then I will eat my hat and wonder what the world is coming to.
The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
What An Experience...
Wow. I don't even know where to begin.
This film is a truly epic story that sucks the viewer in and doesn't let them go. I have rarely come out of a film feeling so emotional, beaten, battered and bruised. What a beautiful portrayal of life and some of its purposes. I thought the acting was outstanding throughout and the soundtrack and cinematography were spot on, all adding to a thoroughly brilliant movie.
I particularly appreciated the effort to stay true to life - this isn't your classic Hollywood blockbuster, this is a beautiful portrayal of two extraordinary yet ordinary lives and you cannot help but become involved in the story as it unfolds.
I always think a good film should lure the viewer into truly caring about the characters and their lives. This did that with almost unrivalled success. A must see.
In the Land of Women (2007)
Lacking.
I am giving this film a six out of ten purely because it has Adam Brody and Kristen Stewart in it who are two of my life heroes.
Other than that this film offers very little. It is really rather lacking in terms of character development... Carter and Sarah go on a couple of dog walks together and all of a sudden he's writing her love letters. All the while, Carter is making out with Lucy, even though he fancies her Mum.
I maintain that Adam and Kristen are fantastic actors/resses but their skills have sadly been let down by a rather wet script that lacks any sort of substance and fails to draw the viewer in to a position where he actually gives a damn about what happens.
Notting Hill (1999)
What A Film
This is genuinely the funniest film I've ever seen. You must see it. This is Hugh Grant at his very best and Julia Roberts does a pretty good job too. Those two steal the show but the support actors really make this film - Spike is wonderful and hilarious and Honey really adds something to proceedings as well.
Richard Curtis has done a fine job with the script; the first forty minutes is particularly special and I find myself chuckling the whole way through the start, even on the 12th viewing! It is an all-round incredibly charming film.
An exceptional film that I would recommend to all.