"Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa"

From the start I want to make it clear that I would not normally watch a film associated with the "Jackass" telelvision series. For me it is just about the lowest form of entertainment on the planet, along with reality tv shows.
Yet there was something about the trailer that appealed, and there was hope that this might be something even remotely entertaining.

The basic premise is simple. Knoxville under very heavy make up masquerades as an 80+ year old Grandfather, taking his young grandson to be with his rather unworthy father. Along the way, they get into various situations, which are leashed upon as unsuspecting public. The action is filmed using hidden cameras.
Not exactly the most novel of ideas, but it has been given the "Jackass" spin, and at times is funny. Alas it does suffer from that some of the funniest bits are shown in the trailer. It is a shame that a trailer could not be contsructed to illustrate what the film was about but without having to give too much away. A few of the gags do fall by flat but there are some good laughs, but not as many as there could have been.

The make-up used to age Knoxville is excellent, and there is no doubt why so many were fooled by his appearance. Jackson Nicoll is excellent playing Billy the grandson. He really comes into his own in one the best scenes of the film, when Grandpa enrols Billy as a contestant in one of those young child pageants that the Americans seem obsessed with, and to most of the civilised world are just plain creepy and WRONG.

It was good, but despite the promise from the trailer, cannot get more excited than that......6 out of 10

"Captain Phillips"

From acclaimed Director Paul Greengrass comes the true story of Captain Phillips Phillips and his crew, as they are embroiled in a hostage situation as their cargo carrier is boarded by Somalian Pirates.

These simple fishermen travel the seas in search of a vessel, either to tale their valuable cargo, or in a worse case scenario, they hold the crew hostage umtil a ransom is paid.
All the men on board the Carrier are aware of the treacherous waters that they travel, and this is brought home when an attempt is made to board the vessel. Thankfully for them the attempt fails, no thanks to the Authorities who provide little help. Unfortunately for the Crew the Somalians are a determined bunch, and return, and on their second attempt are more successful.
Phillips jhas instructed the majority of his crew to hide in the lower areas of the Carrier, and try stay out of sight of the Pirates. He in the meantime tries to sort a deal where the Pirates can get some money and be back oin their way home, but they seem to want a far bigger haul for their efforts.

Director Greengrass builds the tension quite nicely as the crew try to evade being spotted by the Pirates and thus becoming additional hostages. There comes a point where the crew may have the upper hand, but things do not go as expected, and Phillips finds himself with the Pirates in an escape vessel. The Pirates aim is to make it to land and offer the good Captain for a ransom. This is where the confinement really builds up the tension.
The military get involved as the US Government does not want to see Phillips reach Somalian land, the stakes are high, as they have to find a way to get him free of his captives, yet it is almost seemingly impossible given the small craft that they are all housed in.

The Pirates are all played by actors with no previous experience, yet this does not show. Many have said how great Barkhad Abdi is in his portrayal of the leader of the Pirates, and yes he is very good but for me it was Barkhad Abdirahman who really did an excellent job, his character seeming rather unhinged, the slightest noise, or something not right and he wants to start shooting, even if it meant killing Phillips and having nothing to bargain with. Whenever he was going off on one, you never knew what might happen next, and it often left one with a sense of unease.
As ever, Mr. Hanks does a first class job in the title role, and many have said he most certainly be Oscar nominated and may even win a third lead actor award. If he does it will be for the final 20 minutes or so, this is when Hanks really is at his very best, as the realisation of what is potentially going to unfold, as the events play out, we feel every emotion with him.

A good film, which boasts a memorable final act.......8 out of 10

"Romeo and Juliet"

One of the greatest stories of all time, a new adaptation from the Creator of "Downton Abbey", and an all star cast.
And yet somehow it does not work sadly.
The story itself needs little introduction, but for those not familiar with the work of Shakespeare, know that the Capulets and the Montagues are bitter enemies, their families constantly at war with one another. But when Romeo and Juliet fall in love, a member from each family, they hope to end the bitter feud. But the Gods seem to conspire against the young lovers.

I think in fairness it may not be totally the fault of the film-makers, in that I was constantly thinking of "William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet", directed by Baz Luhrmann, a film I really admire. And it was difficult not to have images from that movie in my head whilst watching this new version.

I know that there has been some hoo ha about Mr. Fellowes and his dumbing down the words of The Bard to make the material more accessible for the audience, as to how much of this is true I do not know.
The cast have mixed fortunes. I may be wrong but it was hard to concentrate on Damian Lewis as he seems to be wearing a truly awful wig, presumably to disguise his shaven head, allowing him to play 'Brody' in "Homeland".
Alas Hailee Steinfeld just did not work for me as 'Juliet'. She seemed unable to convey any of the main qualtities that associates with the character.
There are some highpoints. As one would expect, Paul Giamatti gives a great performance as 'Father Laurence', and equally the very beautiful Douglas Booth is excellent as 'Romeo'.
But there is one cast member who towers above all others, and he is 17 year old Kodi Smith-McPhee as 'Benvolio', what a remarkable performance, so moving, and one you will not forget in a hurry.

It was an ok production, and there is much to enjoy, but it needed that certain something extra....6 out of 10

"Escape Plan"

Two Expendables team up together, in this action thriller which sees Stallone as an expert at breaking out of prisons, and highlighting the security flaws to the authorities.
He has to at times endure months in prison, examining the guard routines, the structure, and finding those all important ways for him to get out. Ray and his team are approached by a Government body to go into a Super prison. The stakes are high, the Prison said to be inescapable but the fee is high. Naturally Ray undertakes the biggest escape of his career.

As one would expect, things are not as cut and dried as they seem, and someone, somewhere wants Ray to languish in Prison for the rest of his life. If it seems like I am concentrating on Sly's character, that is because Arnie does not show up til about 30 minutes into the movie. He playing a low life crimial who may or may not know the location of a Crime king pin, and the Warden is keen to obtain the information.
Ray Breslin and his new best friend Rottmayer work together to find a way out, trying to outwit the Warden and his team of guards led by Vinnie Jones.

There is very little to commend about this film. The teaming of Stallone and Schwarzenegger should be a dream, after the massive success (in my opinion) of "The Expendables" movies. But alas here they both fall flat on their faces. The story is silly, the action is dull, what little there is, the cast seem to be stuck in first gear. As to what on earth Sam Neill is doing in the picture Lord only knows. An actor of his calibre deserves far better. And poor Vinnie Jones, well the less said about his work on the film the better.

All I can say after seeing this is that "The Expendables 3" cannot come quickly enough.....4 out of 10

"Blue Jasmine"

This years offering from Writer and Director Woody Allen is a rags to riches tale, only in reverse.
We meet Janette, now calling herself Jasmine as she arrives at her Sisters house, where she will be staying for a while. Things are not exactly going well for Jasmine, as she struggles to pick up the pieces of her life following something of a personal disaster.

With the aid of flashbacks we are able to see what life was like for Jasmine, when her husband was successful, and they were very wealthy and lived a life that so many could only dream of, including her own family, who she keeps very much at arms length, even when paying a small visit. Jasmine has more than money problems, she is dillusional, and strikes up a conversation with herself. She has aspirations of getting back on top, but achieving this may not be easy.
Ginger, her sister, is happy to have her sister with her, despite all that Jasmine and her husband have cost, money and ultimately her marriage. In fact her current relationship with grease monkey Chilli is in jeopardy thanks to Jasmine, and trying to inspire Ginger that she can do so much better.

The class story told between the two sisters is brilliantly done. Jasmine acting so high and mighty when she has the money, and more or less disowning her Sister and husband. But then when the fortune has gone, she has to lower her standards, trrying her best to bounce back, finding a menial job working in a Dentist, hoping to find a new man for her new life.

As ever the Direction and Writing from Allen are great, and he makes the most of his first class cast. Cannavale is great as Chilli, desperate to show Ginger that she does not need to better herself, and that she is fine just the way she is.
Sally Hawkins gives another great performance as Ginger, and Alec Baldwin, who is almost becoming an Allen regular, excels as the slimy husband of Jasmine.
But undoubtedly the star of the film is Cate Blanchett who gives some of her best work as Jasmine, whether loving the life of luxury or on the edge of a breakdown as she talks at length with herself or sees her relationship drift away, she really is on top form. It has already been suggested that she is a certainty for an Oscar nomination, and I would go along with that too.

Anyone expecting a full on comedy like "Bullets Over Broadway" "Manhatten Murder Mystery" or "Small Time Crooks" may be disappointed, as it is light on laughs, but the exploration of the characters is what makes this another highly rated Allen film.

Allen can still cut the mustard.....7 out of 10

"How I Live Now"

Daisy has newly arrived in the UK. There are interesting scenes at the airport. The military are in full force, soldiers and guns everywhere. Security is clearly very tight.
She is taken to the relatives that she will be staying with. Quite quickly she comes across as one of those annoying ungrateful brats that you want to take a baseball bat to. She not be pleased about where she is staying, which is a house out in the middle of nowhere, where a very bohemian lifestyle is adopted, or maybe that she is there in the first place, because her father was sick of her, and wanted some respite. Maybe that is where the resentment of all around her stems from, the fact that she feels unloved by those closest to her.

But with strong defiance she does start to settle into life in the country, though clearly not what she is used to. But things are not well in the UK. There is something afoot as the unknown situation intensifies. The mother of the household has some expertise relating to what is happening, and has to jet off to foreign climbs, leaving the teenagers to fend for themselves, one gets the impression that this happens on a regular basis.
They are quite content with this, cooking their food, going hunting, and swimming, and generally enjoying themselves. And life carries on as normal, that it is until there is an incident. And it is a real highpoint of the film, so effectively done. From this point on, things will never be the same again for the family. They are separated, and they vow to all get away from where they will be taken and go back home. The remainder of the film follows that journey. Whether they make it or not is not for me to discuss here, but it is reasonably engaging. I did feel that there should have been a little more threat. And it would have also been nice to understand what the cause of the military involvement, and those behind the incident where about.

Ronan plays the unloved annoying Daisy well, in fact she does such a good job, that within the first five minutes of her being on screen you want to give her a good slap. The other younger cast members are equally good in their respective roles. Tom Holland goes from strength to strength after his great work in "The Impossible".

Whather it has been said before I do not know, but for me there are similarities to the earlier film "Tomorrow, When The War Began", and for me this new film pales at the side of the 2010 movie.

It is ok, but have seen better.......6 out of 10

"Prisoners"

Ever since I saw the trailer for "Prisoners" I was hooked. Coming across as a really intelligent and taut thriller. My concern was would the film live up to the expectations, and also all the word of mouth that had spreading?

The answer is an emphatic yes.
It's Thanksgiving in an every day small American town. Two close families are celebrating the event. Each family has a small daughter, they being best friends, and they go out to play, the parents belieiving that they are under the supervision of their elder siblings, but this is not the case.
Soon it is clear that they are missing, and the two families have to endure every parents worst possible nightmare.
A possible suspect is quickly in the frame, and the parents are anxious for the Police to get a confession, and to be given the location of where their children are being held. Distressingly for them, the Police can find no means of incarcerating the suspect once questioned. He is released and the agony for the parents continues.
For one of the Fathers, Keller, this is more than he can cope with. And he takes matters into his own hands. At this point the film looks at what a lengths a parent would do to get their child back. I for one cannot even begin to imagine the absolute terror a parent is faced with in this situation. And I am sure there are those who would do anything to get that missing child back, whether within the parameters of the law or not. And it asks that very question,of how far do you go? When you feel the Police are doing nothing, and you yourself feel so useless, what other course of action is there? Is it ever justifiable? It all makes for very compelling viewing.

If you enjoy a fast paced film, then this will not be for you. The film has a running time of two and a half hours, and yet one is glued to the screen for every single one of those 150 minutes. It is like slowly peeling an onion, as the many layers are revealed. A thought that went through my mind whilst watching the film was that it was like watching "Broadchurch" on the big screen.

With the calibre of cast that has been assembled for this movie, there is no one stand performance, as everyone is at the top of their game. From Hugh Jackman as 'Keller', the Father driven to do all he can to get back his missing daughter, to Paul Dano, playing the lead suspect, and really excels in his role, all realy bring this tale to life.
The film is beautifully shot, making full use of the location, and the weather conditions, it adds a chilling quality, but then again it was shot by one of the finest Cinematographers in the business, namely Britains very own Roger Deakins, who did such an outstanding job on "Skyfall".
And I seem to be saying this quite a bit of late, but yet another exemplary score, which like the cinematography really adds atmosphere.

This is American Cinema at a very high level. The film gets to ask of the audience many questions, especially around the issue of violence against possible suspects. Is it right? Does the end justify the means? It is not a painting by numbers movie, not everything is set in stone, there are a few twists and turns along the way, and there is a particularly tense race against time sequence.
It looks great, is compelling, tense, brilliantly acted and a real credit to Director Denis Villeneuve.

I doubt there will be a better thriller this year........9 out of 10.

(PS If you want to know why it doesn't get a 10, please get in touch)