"The 85th Annual Academy Awards" - Recap

So that was The Oscars, and how did the show fair in its 85th year?

It did well. Firstly to host Seth MacFarlane. He was good but he is from being anywhere near as classy and stylish as verteran host Billy Crystal, or as witty and funny as Whoopi Goldberg. He had some nice moments, like his opening comment about the mission to make Tommy Lee Jones smile. Bringing Capt. James. T. Kirk on screen was bizarre, not really sure whether that belonged.

It was an evening with a few surprises, a tie, which we have not seen in almost 20 years, there was a gasp from the audience, which was great fun.
There have been a few near misses with people almost falling on the steps to the stage, but tonight it actually happened. Hugh Jackman was ever the knight in shining armour coming to the rescue of Jennifer Lawrence.

There were some amazing performances. I must admit that by the time the "In Memoriam" section began, I had not realised that Barbra Streisand had not yet performed, so when they showed a picture of Marvin Hamlisch, and then the screen parted, and the great songstress started performing, the penny dropped. Am sure that Marvin would have been very proud of such a wonderful tribute, and from someone who clearly loved him very much.
It was fantastic to see Adele perform her OSCAR WINNING song from the OSCAR WINNING James Bond film "Skyfall", although it was a shame that she was occasionally drowned out by on over-enthusiastic orchestra.

On an individual basis, the night belonged to the legendary Dame Shirley Bassey, her performance of "Goldinger" was quite out of this world. It was a tad disappointing that the James Bond tribute did not amount to more, in that there had been whispers that all six actors would be involved.
Nice that Dame Shirley got the first standing ovation of the night.

Was it me or was Catherine Zeta Jones miming?  Strongly suspect she was. But there were some amazing performances from the likes of Jennifer Hudson, and also the cast of "Les Miserables" in a quite stunning performance. Really brought the house down.

Some of the Presenters fell truly flat on their faces, more so than Jennifer Lawrence. Look at Oscar winner Sandra Bullock, what was she babbling about? But even she was overshadowed by the truly awful Melissa McCarthy and Paul Rudd. Their stint at presenting was dire, and I really wanted them to be ejected from the stage. 

Regarding my predictions, out of the main eight, I got seven correct, so was delighted with that, the only one I got wrong was Best Director.

On the whole, the results went pretty much as expected, there was very little surprise, despite the potential for there to be a few shocks.
Performances were amazing, and it has to rank as one of the best shows for the entertainment, cannot recall many other Oscar Broadcasts where there were so many great artists on stage.
Now the burning question - would I have Seth MacFarlane back as host? The answer would be yes, but only to give him one more opportunity to see if he can improve on his lacklustre MC efforts this time round. He had the potential to be a great host, and it did not show.

"The 85th Annual Academy Awards"

I don't just enjoy the movies, I absolutely love the movies, and for anyone like me, and yes there are others, there can be no bigger event in the year than the Academy Awards - The Oscars.

So here we are on Sunday 24th February 2013, just hours away from the 85th Show, and for me it looks set to be one of the best shows EVER. The results may not be the best, especially if "Argo" wins Best Picture (I Know I keep going on about it), but the show itself will be phenomenal.

For a start we get to see the cast of "Les Miserables" performing on stage. Then performing her Academy Award nominated song, for the first time live, will be Adele, singing "Skyfall". There is a special tribute to celebrate the 50th anniversary of James Bond 007, this will include seeing Dame Shirley Bassey performing, and to top all that, coming back to the Oscar stage, for the first time in almost 40 years is the one and only Barbra Streisand.

So with all that and more, it is easy to see why this will be Oscar at its very best........

My Winners list will be posted shortly.

"The 85th Annual Academy Awards" - My Predictions

Well here goes, as usual I will be compiling two lists of winners, the ones I think will win, and the ones I want to Win. I may also include if I think there could be a few surprises.

Best Picture

I think that it is between these two titles, as much as it pains me, "Argo" will no doubt win Best Picture, but I would love to see "Les Miserables" pull a last minute victory.


Best Director

An easy one...I will be very surprised to if Steven Spielberg does not bag Best Director, and he is also the one I would like to see take home The Oscar.
Michael Haneke and Ang Lee could be potential competition, but I think seeing as Ben Affleck is not nominated (hoorah) then it should be Spielberg's win.


Best Actor In a Leading Role

I don't believe that I am an Oscars expert or anything, but just about the World and his wife will be pretty certain that Ireland's finest actor will be making Oscar History tonight, when Daniel Day Lewis becomes the first Actor ever to have three Leading Actor Oscars. And yes I want Day Lewis to win, but a little bit of me would be oh so chuffed if Hugh Jackman won.

Best Actress In a Leading Role

In a year of what could be many surprises, this Category does seem to be one that is less set in stone. At the beginning it was Jessica Chastain would walk home with Oscar, but now my money is on Jennifer Lawrence, despite her young years. Though do not discount the more mature Emmanuelle Riva, it would be a nice birthday present for her.
Would like to see Jessica Chastain win for "Zero Dark Thirty".




Best Actor In a Supporting Role

For me there is no better choice in this category than Christoph Waltz, who will hopefully gain a second Best Supporting Actor, for working again with Quentin Tarantino. Christoph is both who I think will Win and who I want to win. 
Though don't lose sight of Tommy Lee Jones for "Lincoln".





Best Actress In a Supporting Role

There does seem to be an amount of certainly around this Award, and the fact that the Academy have probably already engraved Anne Hathaway's name on it. It would be a very worthy win, and I am happy to have Anne be in both my Win lists.







Best Screenplay Written Directly For The Screen

For me there is only one winner in the Original Screenplay Award, and he is Quentin Tarantino.
Although I would not be surprised to see Mark Boal take a last minute victory for his work on "Zero Dark Thirty".





Best Screenplay Based On Material Previously Produced Or Published

A tough one this, but I believe that Chris Terrio will win for his appalling work on "Argo".
I would like to see Tony Kushner win for his excellent work on "Lincoln"





So to clarify...here are my predictions for the Big Wins at the 85th Annual Academy Awards

Best Picture - Argo
Best Director - Steven Spielberg
Best Actor In a Leading Role - Daniel Day Lewis
Best Actress In a Leading Role - Jennifer Lawrence
Best Actor In a Supporting Role - Christoph Waltz
Best Actress In a Supporting Role - Anne Hathaway
Best Screenplay Written Directly For The Screen - Django Unchained
Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced Or Published - Argo

And just to finish off, I want to give a big Good Luck to  "Skyfall", and especially to Adele who is favourite to win for Best Song, and I really hope that she does.

It is going to be an unforgettable night, and there could be quite a few surprises.....so here is to Oscar and the enjoyment of the 85th Annual Academy Awards......

"Lincoln"

An epic movie looking at one of the greatest Americans, and Directed by Steven Spielberg in a real labour of love.

The Civil War is raging and Lincoln is under from many quarters to bring an end to the War that has cost so many lives. But he has another that he wants to win, the battle to free those from slavery. He is many votes short from achieving victory for the Slavery abolition. So engages a team to talk with the Undecided voters, and see if they can be swayed.
A deal could be made to end the Civil War, and some have promised to give their vote to end slavery if War is brought to an end, but Lincoln believes that should he end the War, those who have spoken against ending Slavery will vote differently when the time comes, thus he wants to find a way to end Slavery first.

The film opens on the battle fields, with many US soldiers being killed at the hands of other US Soldiers. We see Lincoln addressing some troops, trying to keep morale up. And from here we see the start of his long and difficult journey.
We also see Lincoln the family man, both he and his wife Mary still mourning the loss of their Son, though still with one elder Son hopefully to practice law, and a younger Child Son. Robert, the elder, feels he is letting down his fellow Country Men by not having signed up for his duty. This is something he is keen to rectify, and whilst Lincoln is happy for his Son to follow what he wishes to do, Mary is mortified, and does not want to have to bury another Son. Naturally this leads to tension between the two of them.
The film does concentrate on a specific time frame within Lincoln's life, and I suppose for some it seems like the ultimate history lesson, and though it may come across like that, there is a lot that can be learnt from it. I did not know about Mary Lincoln's mental instability, also that they lost a child so early in life. The film will not be for everyone, indeed during the screening I was at, five people of varying ages walked out at different times.

But what you are going for is to learn about the man, why he is so admired as probably the Greatest American President, the attention to detail, and knowing that you are watching a film made by some of the best practitioners of the art of film-making.

One cannot help feel sorry for both Tommy Lee Jones and Sally Field, as I suspect that in any other year, their performances as Thaddeus Stevens and Mary Lincoln would have garnered them additional Academy Awards, but I feel that this time round, there is only going to be one Oscar Winning Actor from the film, and that is of course Daniel Day Lewis, who will make Oscar History, and it would be very well deserved. He is well known for the lengths he goes to when he is in character, and this is no exception. Hard to believe that originally playing the part was that other towering Irish actor, Liam Neeson. It has to be said that the similarity between Day Lewis and Lincoln is quite remarkable.

On the whole a great film about a great man, with a great performance at the heart of it......8 out of 10

"Wreck It Ralph"

A disgruntled Computer Games character longs to be loved, and hailed as a hero. Ralph spends most of his day smashing up a housing complex. The residents get annoyed, call upon Fix-It-Felix who comes along on his merry way, and repairs everything, much to the delight of the residents, and the annoyance of Ralph, who promptly gets thrown off the top of the tower block, every single day. And this is the life of Ralph, and Ralph wants more....

So Ralph leaves the confines of his game, and wonders into the big wide gaming world. A military game he espies, and feels this will be the best way to prove his worth, especially when at the end of the game, a medal is awarded. But alas all does not go well, and Ralph manages to unleash one of the pesky critters from that game into the another game, and the whole Game World is put in jeopardy.

Ralph now has to not only still prove to everyone that he can be a hero, but stop the possible end of all games in the Arcade.
Great idea....but was remarkably dull and boring. I am the first to admit that I am not a fan of Arcade games, never have been, but even so I felt I knew enough, and that there would be enough laughs and entertainment along the way to make the film worth seeing. It did not turn out that way, and it was very disappointing.

The 3D was of little benefit, the animation was good, John C. Reilly was all that I commend about the film, he providing the voice of Ralph.

Am sure the kids will love it, but this big kid did not........4 out of 10

"A Good Day to Die Hard"

All insurance companies beware, John McClane is back.

Once upon a time, there was a film franchise, it looked at the every day antics of of a New York Police Officer, and the unfortunate turn of events that would plague his life. This film series was not only well Directed, but had a cracking story, excellent action sequences, was well photographed, and was an all round excllent collection of movies. Then six years ago it all went horribly wrong....

I am of course referring to "Die Hard". We had three wonderful movies from 1988 to 1995, and then someone had the bright idea to bring McClane back with "Die Hard 4.0", and oh my it was a dire effort. It was dreadful, and not a worthy addition.

Jump forward to 2013 and New York's finest is back in business, and this time in Russia. Not seeming the kind of man to be taking a vacation, he is actually there as his Son has been arrested and is involved in a plot to steal nuclear material. Father and Son are reunited and all hell breaks loose.
Quite early on there is a major vehicle chase, and though it is action packed, it has to rank with "Quantum of Solace" as having one of the worst photographed chases in film history. The Camera is just too close. This gives little or no opportunity to take in and enjoy what is happening on screen. Yet even when there are just dialogue scenes, a characters face, and I mean just above forehead to the chin, fills the screen. I have heard of in your face but this was bloody ridiculous. I do not know what compels some Cinematographers to shoot in this style, it is so unnecessary, and all it does is infuriate the viewer, and this one in particular. You only have to look at the work of past Masters of the Camera, like Peter Menzies, Oliver Wood and the main man Jan De Bont, all knew exactly what to do with a Camera and give the best visuals to the audience. Alas Jonathan Sela, who has been ear-marked as a Cinematographer of the Future, should give up and try another aspect of Cinema, as he clearly sucks as a DP. Editing also plays a key factor, and so for that Dan Zimmerman must take full blame, as his work is appalling.

The plot is laughable, the characters dull, McClane has been made into some kind of unstoppable, unbeatable, unbreakable Super Hero, despite all that he goes through, he only seems to suffer with superficial cuts and bruises etc. At least in the earlier movies, he was an ordinary having an unordinary day. Far from the case here. The additional characters fair no better, the villain is the worst there has been, and the relationship between Father and Son is tedious.

Die Hard should now just be allowed to die, as the once excellent franchise has become a joke, especially when comparing now to its former glory. Roderick Thorp would be shaking his head in shame.......3 out of 10

"Django Unchained"

It is hard to believe that this is the first film written and Directed by Quentin Tarantino that I have reviewed for my blog.

Dr. King Schultz is a Dentist, and as a side line is a also a Bounty Hunter. He is keen to track down three fugitives from the law, the Brittle Brothers, unfortunately he has no idea what they look like. But he knows a man who may do. Therefore he tracks down Django, a slave who just might be able to point out the nasty pieces of work to Schultz, then he can aprehend them, or if need be kill them, and then claim his bounty.
The pair hit it off, and with the two working together, it could become quite a profitable venture for the both of them. Along the way, Schultz discovers that Django has been seperated from his wife, and is keen to track her down. They continue their journey of dealing with law breakers, and try to find information that will lead Django to be reuniuted with his wife.
It turns out his quest may not be an easy one, as she is a slave for one 'Calvin Candie' a despicable land owner who will not let her go so easily. It will be a case of who can outfox who.

Schultz and Django make quite the partnership, and the chemistry between Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz is a delight to watch. There are some hilarious scenes, most notably a group discussion from a group of ranchers, who are about to launch an attack on Schultz and his compatriot, and that with their white head cloth covers, they are unable to properly see when riding. A right slanging match goes on, and the scene descends into farce, and is wonderfully funny.
As the film is at times funny, it is also brutal with some scenes extreme scenes of fighting, there is some bloody violence too, but then again fans of QT will be well used to that by now.

There is also the issue of racism, the treatment of characters, and for me one mof the most racist characters in the film is 'Stephen' and he is played by Samuel L. Jackson. One would suspect that this is deliberate.
With such a long running time, it would be difficult to keep the pace for the whole 165 minutes, and indeed there is a segment of the film, where my attention did flag a little, it was when we are first introduced to 'Calvin Candie' and it is no fault of DiCaprio, just that section of writing, but it is a minor blip in an otherwise excellent movie.

Westerns have been part of Cinema almost since the beginning, but there have been few Westerns like "Django Unchained". It is a remarkable film, coming from the pen of Quentin Tarantino who also called the shots from the Director's Chair. He once again works his magic, bringing together all the elements that make the film such a hit. A compelling story, touches of humour, some nice cameo appearances, especially from Franco Nero, who appeared in the original "Django" and also from Don Johnson who plays 'Big Daddy', nothing to do with wrestling. His trademark wit, violence, there are also some beautifully shot sequences, one in particular when our two Bounty Hunters arrive in a new town, and the silhouettes of them and the town is shot against the fire red of the sky, truly stunning.
And one aspect that cannot be overlooked is the killer soundtrack. I don't know how he does it, but time and time again, QT assembles just the best songs and music to accompany his films.

A great cast, an Oscar Winning lead actor, but for me there is one who shines above all, and he is Christoph Waltz. His performance is charming, witty, engaging and a delight to watch. The almost three hours running time just flies by in his company. Twice he has now worked with QT, and I this second performance will bag him his second Oscar, and very well deserved it is too.

The genius of Tarantino just continues........9 out of 10

"Flight"

There are certain expectations that one would have as the passenger of an airplane, a comfortable(ish) seat, maybe a window seat, and a Pilot who has not been under the influence of either alcohol or drugs, and also had a decent nights sleep.
For one group of Passengers on board a flight to Atlanta, they are not so lucky with their Pilot. Captain Whitaker has unfortunately, for them, been guilty of all counts. Does this impair his ability to fly the airplane?
It is only a short internal flight, with a flying time of less than an hour. Yet half way through their flight, the plane loses power, and starts to nose dive. Whitaker aware of the fact that he is losing control of his plane does the unthinkable and inverts the plane, in other words he turns it upside down. Despite being the opposite way he normally flies a plane, this actually gives him back some control. He is then able to flip the plane back over the correct way, and find a clear area to crash land. Remarkably out of the 102 people on board, only 6 are killed in the incident. Whitaker is hailed a hero for doing the impossible, and miraculously saving the lives of almost everyone on board.

At the same time we also encounter Nicole, who is on the set of a porn film. One at first thinks that we have changed films. She has a drug problem, and is keen to get her next hit, this she does though is warned not in inject. Despite the warning, she does inject, and overdoses, ending up in hospital, and this is where these two rather damaged souls meet. A chord is struck between the two of them.
But where Nicole is keen to rid herself of her demons, and end her dependancy on drugs, Whip is less keen or more so less able.
He is under investigation by the Airport Authorities, as although he is being hailed a hero for saving so many lives, there were still six that perished, and there are questions to be answered, especially when two small empty bottles of alcohol are found in the wreckage, and it could only have been Crew members who had access.

Everyone is calling him the hero of the hour, his face is all over the news and press, Cameras constantly wanting their 15 mins with Whitaker, being interviewed by the Aviation Governing body, and trying to put his life back together.

There has been a lot of hoo ha about the realities of what is done to the plane in the film, and whether it would be actually possible. The majority seem to favour that it could not be done, but what you have to remember is that the actions taken by Whitaker are the catalyst for the remainder of his journey, and that is what should be concentrated on.
There are times when you watch Washington on screen, and you are so immersed in his brilliant performance. You feel that Whip is close to cracking, and having another drink, and you just try to will him to stop.
The finale of the film is the hearing that will decide Whip Whitaker's fate, and it is here where Washington really does shine, giving his all as we see what the future has in store.

It is obvious for all to see why Washington has been Oscar nominated, and there is an equally great supporting cast on hand also.
It is worth seeing the film alone for the plane crash, especially for someone like me who loves disaster movies. It is incredibly tense, well shot, and has one on the edge of their seat. The Direction from Robert Zemeckis is top notch, and as a whole is a really great movie.

A fly away hit.......8 out of 10

"Zero Dark Thirty"

Following on from the major Oscar winning success that was "The Hurt Locker", Director Kathryn Bigelow returns to similar territory with "Zero Dark Thirty", well certainly geographically, with this latest film which documents the ten year hunt for Osama Bin Laden.

The film opens with emergency phone calls, and also personal phone calls that were made by people trapped in the twin towers of The World Trade Center on September 11th 2001. It is a haunting reminder of horror that occured on that day.
The film then documents a timeline which follows the journey taken by the CIA in the quest to bring an end to the reign of the Al Qaeda head.
Maya, a CIA operative starts the film with her being present during a questioning of a suspect. Some rather heavy handed tactics are used during the talks, something she is clearly uncomfortable with. But she stands in the background and watches, as they try to extract information that will bring them closer to their target.
There is a chain of command, and following that chain is a long and ardous task, one that takes commitment, and Maya has that in bucket loads, she conveys a sense of determination so strong, she will not stop til the job is done. Others before her have long since gone on to other jobs back in the US, but she stays in her post, and will hopefully see the job through to the end.
When the team get a major break through in their intelligence, it leads them to a physician who can hopefully lead them ever closer to their goal. In a truly memorable sequence, events unfold, though they clearly show how desperate the CIA were to obtain valid information, leading to an attack actually inside a US base in Afghanistan.

Although the powers that be are keen to have Bin Laden captured, they seem reluctant to trust in the intelligence that Maya provides them with. Had we not already known the result, one would wonder whether he might have evaded capture or his death.

Her resilience and determination prevail, and the team are led to Pakistan, and a compound, which is heavily fortified. Given the security involved within the compound, they believe that someone seriously is evading being seen, and believe that Bin Laden is hiding out there. A task force is sent from Afghanistan to raid the compound and hopefully bring an end to the decade long man hunt. The latter part of the film is the Compound attack, virtually done in real time. It is compelling, brilliantly shot, almost documentary style. The film does not end with some big morale message, it just quietly fades out.

There is a strong cast, ranging from James Gandolfini as a top CIA head to Jason Clarke as Dan a CIA operative who works closely with Maya in those first few years. There are also a lot of unknowns on screen, which for a film like is makes it more like a documentary, sometimes it is easy to relate to a character when it is well recognised face playing the role.
Got a major surprise when a well known face on UK television popped in the film, thankfully very briefly.
But at the end of the day, the film belongs to Jessica Chastain, who has become quite prolific of late thanks to roles in films like "The Help", "The Debt" and "Lawless". We follow the journey she takes in her lead role as Maya, from those early days, uncomfortable with the torture used to obtain information, to her feeling of helplessness following the Suicide bomb at the US base, to her grit and determination to confirm where Bin Laden is, and initiate an Operation to capture or kill him. The said journey takes it toll, and this we see reflected in a great piece of acting.
As one has come to expect, the Direction is of the highest calibre coming from the Oscar Winning Director Kathryn Bigelow. Her attention to detail, style of film making make her one of the most brightest talents behind the Camera of her generation.

Some my find it a long haul, others, hopefully like myself, will find it absorbing, and an example of great film making....the two and a half hours of viewing time just fly by.......9 out of 10

"The Impossible"

On December 26th 2004 and event occured that took the lives of over 200,000 people.
The film looks at how the disaster affected an everyday family.

A couple and their three sons head off to Thailand to spend what they hope will be a very Merry Christmas together. The festivities go well, and they are having a great time. But things change for them and hundreds of thousands like them the day after Christmas. An earthquake triggers a tsunami, and a huge wall of water heads towards the complex they are staying in. The force of the water is so tremendous that people are sent in every direction, and inevitably the family are seperated. The Mother and her eldest Son in one area, and elsewhere the Father and his two younger Sons, neither knowing whether the other are alive. First they come to terms with the horror of what they have been caught up in, then they try to find help amongst the death and devastation.

Both parts of the family soon find other survivors and are helped along their journey. Mother Maria has suffered some major injuries as a result of the disaster and does get to hospital. Whilst she awaits treatment, she enlists her oldest Son Lucas to help those around him, so he sets about to trying to reunite lost family members. There is one truly moving moment in the film when a Father and Son are brought together again.

Yet the film shows the goodness in man, as those people, strangers to each other came together, in this devastating event, to help one another, to care for one another. It would be easy to sit in the audience and wonder how much artistic license the film-makers have taken with the movie, but by all accounts very little has been altered about the actual events that take place.
The film vividly recreates those horrific events of that Boxing Day 2004, with some awesome visual effects. The make-up too is top notch, both recreating the injuries suffered, and the effects of infection.

The performances across the board are excellent, they are not over sentimental, striking the right cord. As ever Ewan McGregor is on top form as Henry, the father of the family. Naomi Watts again shows why she is one of the best Actresses at work, with her moving performance as Maria, the mother. All three child actors are excellent, but if I had to single out any one performance from the whole cast then it would be Tom Holland, a quite remarkable jon from one so young.

Yes I have been very critical of "Argo" and the liberties it took with its story telling, it is reassuring that here we get a very accurate account of what happened to this family. Yes there nationality has been altered but their story of survival is real, and should be an example of film-makers to not embelish facts or alter or create evenst just for artistic reasons.

If anyone wants to watch a film that champions human spirit over adversity, then forget "Argo", and watch this truly amazing and inspiring film. It is one that you will not forget in a hurry.

A humbling film that shows the greatness in humanity against huge loss and adversity......9 out of 10.

"The Last Stand"

In the late 1990's Arnold Schwarzenegger unwent a major heart operation. He recovered and upon his return in front of the camera, wanted to show the Cinema going public of the World that he was still on top form, and returned in the excellent Peter Hyams thriller "End of Days".
Fast forward to 2013. Arnold has not had a lead role in some ten years, mainly due to his Mayoral duties in California. Yes he has had the odd role, mainly for his friend Sylvester Stallone in "The Expendables" film series. But here he returns with his first top billing role since 2003. Can he recapture the same magic as in 1999?

Summeton is a small town, nothing much happens there, and Sheriff Owens likes it that way. Order reigns in the town. But things are about to change. After breaking away from his Federal charges, Drugs kingpin Gabriel Cortez is making his way for the sanctity of the Mexican border. And what would be between him and his freedom?  Yes you guessed it....the small town of Summerton.

With the FBI in hot pursuit, lead by Forest Whitaker, the local Sheriff has to go it alone, with his band of merry men, and women, as they do battle with superior fire power of Cortez and his gang of cohorts. There is the inevitable big shoot-out as the Gang arrive to clear out the town before the arrival of Cortez. Johnny Knoxville (Someone I feel has provided no merit to the film World whatsoever) provides some humour as his character gets deputised by Ray Owens, as he needs all the help he can get, and especially as Lewis is an arms collector.
Yes it is violent, and there are many guns of varying sizes being used, and at times the gun battles are entertaining to watch, but there is very little else to commend about the big screen return of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Why on Earth Oscar winning actor Forest Whitaker is in a movie like this, Lord only knows. He deserves far better. In fact his career has not exactly gone the way of some Best Actor winners.
I feel the best thing that Arnie can do right now is phone his friend Sly Stallone, and ask him to get a move on with the script for "The Expendables 3", and quickly.

If nothing else, it is nice to see the 87 year old movie veteran Harry Dean Stanton on screen again, still going strong after all these years.

The big guys return should have been better.........5 out of 10.

"Quartet"

Welcome to Beechwood House.....it being a retirement home for aged musicians and singers etc. Upon our arrival at the home, we find that there is a hive of activity. The home does at times struggle for funding, so when required, the residents perform a benefit gala event, aimed at raising funds for the home.

Cedric (Pronounced Cee-dric, beware for incorrect pronunciation) is in his elements, wearing his kaftan with pride, organising and bawling at artists as they prepare their own section of the gala. We are introduced to residents Wilf, Reg and Cissy, Wilf being a stroke victim, but still keen to engage with any kind of fornication with either resident or staff. Both Reg and Cissy go about their daily routine, trying not to upset the apple cart. But their daily life is soon interrupted with the arrival of Jean Horton, a major star in her time, and the ex-wife of Reg.
Reg feels betrayed by the Staff at the Home for not informing him before her arrival. There is a frosty atmosphere between the two, and the events of what caused their break-up is unveiled.

With the arrival of Ms. Horton, this presents Cedric, Sorry Ceedric, with a truly great opportunity. As Wilf, Reg, Cissy and Jean had performed a piece by Verdi, the theme for their Gala, as a quartet, and now having the foursome back together, he sees chance to hugely increase ticket sales. Naturally Jean has no intention of performing in the quartet, or at all. Her singing days are over.
The other players look to Reg to resolve his differences with Jean in the hope that this will persuade her to change her mind, and reform for the gala performance.

This is a beautiful little story, talking of lives past, what is still to come, is there still life in those golden years ahead, and of missed chances, and forgiveness. You warm to the characters straight away, little wonder given the amazing cast that bring them to life.Naturally it would be difficult to single out any one performance, though if push came to shove then it would have to be Tom Courtenay as Reg, a wonderful piece of work. A real delight to watch, as indeed they all are.
And who is keeping control of this motley crew in the Director's Chair?  None other than first time Director, 75 year old Dustin Hoffman. Some may find it strange to find a new career at this time in his life, but this he does, and does so with an assurance and warmth, skill and grace that indicate he has learnt much from who have directed him over his many acting years.
 
There seems to be a trend lately of making movies with a more mature cast. Last year we had the charmingly delightful "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel", now we have "Quartet" and coming soon is "A Song For Marion". Yes they may feature an older cast, but their message is not just for the pensionable aged members of the audience.

I was intrigued as to if and how the Quartet would perform. Would the cast be singing like those from "Les Miserables"? Would they be miming?  Would it be obvious?  All I can say is that the end result is resolved in a genius fashion. It was the icing on the cake.

I cannot think of a reason for anyone NOT to see this film, and just look at the cast list and there are five easy reasons why it should be viewed, and there are many more on top of that. They may be in their senior years, but this film has plenty of life in it.

Music to my ears............9 out of 10.

"Les Miserables"

The Musical has dominated theatres around the World for the last 25 years, it has spawned numerous film versions, but comes the ultimate with the musical big screen release of "Les Miserables".

A huge undertaking, and a highly anticipated film for some time, there was considerable pressure on the studio and the Director to get it right, and that is exactly what they have done. A near flawless adaptation with an all star cast, beautifully bringing this epic to life.

I am sure that you all must know the story, but just in case......

Jean Valjean is in prison, he was desperate trying to feed his family, and stole some food. The French justice system being hat it is, locked him away for 5 years. His sentence is constantly being extended as he keeps trying to escape. Eventually his time comes, and is released on parole. Constantly watching over him whilst he was incarcerated was Javert, a prison guard, and later Police Officer. He takes a keen interest in the life of Valjean.

Valjean finds sanctuary with a Priest, and repays that hospitality by stealing their silver. Upon discovery in a nearby town, the Police confront the Priest with Valjean and the stolen Silver. The priest agrees with the story that Valjean has given them, in that the Priest gave him the Silver. Amazed by this turn of events, the Priest informs Valjean that he has bought a new life for the Convict with the Silver, and he is to do good by him. So Valjean breaks his Parole and sets off on a journey, with a Kings ransome in his pockets and a new life ahead of him. 

His new life begins with becoming Mayor of a town, looking after the people, he owns a factory staffed by women, ensuring they are well cared for. All goes well til one of his girls is exposed as being an unmarried mother, and is turfed out, leaving her destitute. At the same time the new Police Chief arrives, and is none other than Javert. Despite his suspicions that the Mayor is familiar to him, he does not believe that this beloved man of such high standing could be his former prisoner. That is until the undeniable truth is presented to him in a unique way. Once again Valjean must flee that justice system that is determined to put him back behind bars.

The years pass by, and Valjean has again set up a new life, the woman thrown from his factory died but he vowed to take care of her young daughter, which he does an admirable job of. But France is now close to revolution with the people wanting to rise up against their leaders, who have so much, whilst the people have so little. The lighting of the match to start the revolt is close to hand, Valjean's charge is in love with one of the revolutionaries, Javert is hot on the trail, as the flags begin to fly for freedom......

This is one of those wonderfully epic movies that only comes along every few years. The story has captivated people of all ages, and rightly so. It is the ultimate story of redemption. Totally compelling, with a host of great characters, this is one story that will continue to be heard long after I am gone. Bringing this Cinematic masterpiece to the big screen is Oscar winning Director Tom Hooper. You would think that a more seasoned Director would be required, someone with years of experience, and dealing with huge epic movies. This is only the fourth film to be directed by Mr. Hooper, but such is the skill he brings, it feels like he has been doing the job for years. Like a gifted artist, he paints a broad canvas with such vivid colours.

Heading up an all star cast is Hugh Jackman, already a big name on Broadway, he really gets to flex his vocal muscles playing Valjean. Playing the cast out Fantine is Anne Hathaway. The two share some great scenes together, which is funny as they performed a duet together when Jackman was hosting the Academy Awards a few years ago. Even then they were a formidable team. Now there is no stopping them. They make truly magical music together. Both delivering career best performances, and as some have already predicted, the Academy have probably already enscribed Ms. Hathaway's name on what is surely to become her Best Supporting Actress Oscar.

Also on hand is Oscar winner Russell Crowe as Javert, giving another excellent performance, this despite the fact that he has garnered some criticism for his singing skills. I don't think that he is as bad as has been made out to be, and does an admirable job.

Amanda Seyfriend, as Cosette, has already displayed her talent when she appeared in the fabulous "Mamma Mia", and her skills are once again very evident as she plays Fantine's daughter who Valjean takes under his wing.

Eddie Redmayne plays the love interest for Cosette, Marius, one of the revolutionaries who is causing a headache for Valjean, as he is torn between his daughter's happiness and his bid to keep his freedom. At times Mr. Redayne does seem to go a lovely shade when performing some of the songs, but that is not to belittle his singing, as he does a superb job, and also gives a memorable performance, in fact I would say it is up there with Ms. Hathaways.

Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen provide the entertainment as The Thenardiers'. They are a roguish couple who look after after Cosette when she is a little girl, constantly trying to extort more money for her upkeep.

Visually stunning, with huge sets, a credit to the Production Designer, costumes galore, and an all round cinematic viewing that will be hard to top this year. Every department of the film is working to the best of their abilities, and that is very evident from the finished product.

If you want to see a weak example of cast members performing alongside their music then watch "Moulin Rouge". If you want a far better example then watch "Mamma Mia". But if you do want to see your film stars sining live, and oh yes it is very plain to see that they are, then this is the ONLY choice for you. It took some nerve to convince a studio to let their cast sing live, to get a cast willing to go through that process, but the end result is well worth it.

What an amazing start to 2013, you will be far from miserable after watching this film.......10 out of 10.

 

"Life of Pi"

The unfilmable film has arrived, said by many to be a movie that would never see the light of day, DIrector Ang Lee brings the novel to the screen.

An Indian family decide to move to Canada, not just the family but their business also, which just happens to be running a Zoo, so every animal will be joining them on their slow boat across the Atlantic. Whilst on their journey a huge storm puts paid to their plans, as the boat becomes engulfed in waves of such magnitude, that many are swept overboard, including Pi, our main character.

Recovering from his ordeal, and having been witness to the loss of his family, Pi adjusts to his situation, alone in a lifeboat, well, alone until he discovers that he has some furry friends to keep him company, and not all are that friendly. He has to contend with an Orangutan, Zebra, a rather vicious Hyena, and a Bengal Tiger called 'Richard Parker'. Not only does Pi have to contend with the elements, the risk of dehydration and starvation, but also be weary of his new friends, and for some of them, he could be their next meal.

For a variety of reasons, the two survivors on the lifeboat are Pi and Richard Parker, and Pi has to find a way for them both to survive, trying to teach the tiger and get him to learn, creating a fascinating relationship, and becomes quite an integral part of the film.

The film has been described as the most visually stunning film since "Avatar", well for me that is not much of a recommendation, as I thought the James Cameron movie was visually weak. And I have to say that it looks nice at times, but is far from visually stunning. And as usual, the 3D aspect still further illustrates how far away this format is from being perfect.

It is an enjoyable film, but would not say it is life afirming, Suraj Sharma gives a wonderful performance as Pi, in his first Film performance, an admirable feat indeed. Nice Direction from Ang Lee, butb he has done better.

Nice but a little bit adrift......7 out of 10