"Ant-Man And The Wasp"

I have to admit that the first "Ant-Man" film did not exactly wow me. I thought that it was merely average. But this is sequel is far superior, and highly enjoyable,

We meet the team after events of the last two years. Lang is under house arrest for his involvement helping Captain America in Germany. Dr. Hank Pym and his Daughter Hope are working on trying to retrieve Pym's wife Janet who has been trappeed in the Sub Atomic quatnum realm ever since stopping a Russian missile from reeking havoc.
Also interested in the quantum experiment is a mysterious ghost figure. What are their intentions?

The opening scenes with a young Michael Douglas are excellent. It is really outstanding how this is achieved, and if I'm honest I do not want to know how it is done. But someone, somewhere is really working some creative magic.
As one would expect with Marvel there are some excellent action scenes, but with a Marvel spin, and given the sizes that the two title characters can shrink and expand to there is a lot of humour to be had, especially from seeing a rather large Pez or Salt jar being used to great effect.
The action is well photographed, and not in your face, and likewise the editing is equally well done.
And keeping with the humour, there is a fair bit of it from Luis and his Security Consultant team, the X-Cons.

The chemistry between Rudd and Lilly is excellent, and they make a great duo. Michael Douglas is excellent again as Pym, and nice to see Pfeiffer as his wife Janet.

Much improved on the original, and very entertaining.... 7 out of 10

PS - Yes there is a mid way end credit sequence (DO NOT MISS), but the very end one is not worth staying for

"Mission: Impossible - Fallout"

The Mission: Impossible films have been going for over 20 years now, and this is the sixth film in the series. Do either the franchise or its lead actor Tom Cruise show any signs of slowing down?
Most definitely not.

There has been a lot of hype with regard to the major stunt work and action sequences that Cruise has been involved in. It does make one wonder how nervous the Insurance Company executives must have been?

After the Capture of Soloman Lane, the IMF team are trying to retrieve 3 cores of plutonium, which are meant for the hands of 'The Apostles', the remaining remnants of Lane's group. Alas things do not go to plan. The plutonium is still out there, and The Apostles are hoping to deal with the mysterious terrorist John Lark, who aims to cause anarchy, as most terrorists do. His identity remains a secret, though he has inside information on the goings on at both IMF and the CIA, could it be one of the IMF team?

Rather than slowing down, the gauntlet has been well and truly thrown as to how far action sequences can be taken, especially with the involvement of the leading man. A lot has been about this in the press, especially after the injury sustained by Cruise during a rooftop jump in London. The action sequences are some of the best that have ever been put on celluloid. But I felt they also detracted from the plot. It is almost as though the plot has been written around the action, rather than the other way round. The story starts off well, especially with Hunt being investigated as a possible John Lark. The mistrust from the CIA makes for compelling viewing. But the second half the plot gives way to Hunt either on the road, in the air, or on a mountain edge. All great sequences, but what of the Apostles? Are they being saved for the inevitable MI7?

The cast are all as reliable as ever Some are hailing this the best Mission: Impossible film. I would not go that far. There has been better. And for anyone planning to watch it on the IMAX...save your money, I cannot for the life of me fathom out why the film was shot in 3D. It is a truly wasted format, and it adds nothing to the film. It would have been far better on the IMAX in the traditional 2D format.

Although for me it is not the be all and end all of action movies, it is still worth watching.....7 out of 10

"Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again"

I have just had to fish out the blu ray of the original film, because according to IMDb, it has been a decade since that Global Smash hit film came out. I was gobsmacked, and did seriously doubt the reliability of the information. More fool me, as it really has been 10 years. Where has that time gone to?

I for one was squealing like a nutter when I heard that there was going to be a sequel to one of my all time favourite films. I saw the original a staggering 6 times at the Cinema, a record that stayed for 4 years, until the release of "Skyfall".

So has the passing of time generated a sequel worthy to follow in the footsteps of such a beloved film?
The simple answer is no. I was in a state of shock after only 20 minutes. It is difficult to discuss my condition without giving away a major plotline. Yet the film concerns Sophie, and her wanting to have a Grand re-opening of the refurbished Bella Donna Hotel. As events unfold, we also journey back in time to how Donna (Meryl Streep) met the three Fathers who were responsible for Sophie.
The gods seem to be conspiring against Sophie and her big night. Two of her three Fathers are unable to attend, and Nature is venting its fury. And on top of that, she is expecting.

What made the first film such a success, other than the Music of Abba, can be summed up in two words - "Feel Good", and that is sadly lacking in this sequel. I felt quite deflated after 15 or so minutes. The idea of going into the past worked to a degree. Lily James was good as a young Donna. I thought that both Jeremy Irvine and Josh Dylan were great as the young Sam and Bill, and it has to be said very pleasing on the eye. Hugh Skinner as the young Harry was merely ok.
As well as the lack of the feel good factor, there was much humour missing from the film. Barely a chuckle was had throughout the whole 2 hours.

And another great shame is that even a Super Group like ABBA have some dodgy songs in their back catalogue, and as so many of their hits were used in the original film, we are subjected to lesser ABBA songs in this sequel. Even the big dance numbers or reusing of previous songs all seem to lack any sparkle.

It isn't all doom and gloom though....fear not. There is some saving grace, mainly from the godess that is Cher, who is simply dazzling as Great Grandma to be  'Ruby'. I loved her duet with Andy Garcia, who appears as Hotel Manager 'Senor Cienfuegos'.

It's Mamma Mia!! but maybe not as you were expecting.

Simply put, it was disappointing.......6 out of 10  (and that's mainly for Cher)

"Hotel Artemis"

Yes I'm back. I have not a Film Review for a considerable amount of time, and the second of these latest two reviews was what inspired me to start again. Apologies for being away for so long, but down to business.

The concept of "Hotel Artemis" intrigued me, and made for a must see film, especially given that it stars both Jodie Foster and Jeff Goldblum. Set 10 years in the future, in Los Angeles during a Riot, we find the Hotel Artemis is taking a lot of bookings....but not all is as it seems. For the Hotel is actually a front, a cover concealing that it is actually an exclusive Hospital where the criminally injured can go and get their gunshot wounds healed etc, and no questions asked. Just pay your membership, obey the rules, and all is peachy.
We get introduced to some fascinating characters, most of whom have secrets, including Nurse, who is the medical charge on duty. Despite the Riot, it's just a normal Wednesday at the Hotel, that is until the Crime Boss of Los Angeles, and Owner of the Hotel Hospital, The Wolf King, turns up in need of some medical assistance. This is when the fun really begins.

The plays along quite nicely, the characters all well fleshed out, and well played. Minor quibbles are Jeff Goldblum is given very little screen time, despite a wonderful opening. There isn't quite the big finale that one might expect from a film like this.
Jodie Foster is as reliable as ever, in a role that is something of a departure for her. Anything that gives the Oscar winner screen time gets a thumbs up from me.

The best way I can think to describe the film is imagine a medical action drama with shades of "Escape from New York" and "Assault on Precinct 13". Had this been released 35 years ago, then it would almost certainly have had John Carpenter's name attached.

Enjoyable enough......7 out of 10

The 90th Annual Academy Awards - My Predictions

With just a couple of days to go, the excitement is building as we get ready to celebrate all that is great in the Film World, with the arrival of the 90th Annual Academy Awards.

What a year it has been, in some ways good, and in other ways...well...that's another story.
This past year cinematically has been much improved, and I have seen my Cinema attendance increase, surely a sign that things are getting better with the quality of films. There is quite a mixed bag of movies nominated this year. And as usual I am going to concentrate on the main 8 categories:-

Best Original Screenplay
Best Screenplay Based On Material Previously Produced or Published
Best Actor in A Supprting Role
Best Actress in A Supporting Role
Best Actor In a Leading Role
Best Actress In A Leading Role
Best Director
Best Picture

These 8 categories have garnered 44 nominations, and I have managed to see 40 of them, so not bad going.
As ever, my list will be of who I think will win, and who I would ideally like to see win.

Best Original Screenplay

This is easy as my Prediction and choice of Winner are the same. I think that Martin McDonagh will be victorious for his excellent screenplay for....









 Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published

Although there are a couple of films which could throw a spanner in the works, my choice and also the Winner I think will be James Ivory for his stunning adaptation of......






Best Actor in A Supporting Role

I think that Sam Rockwell will win for his brilliant portrayal of a racist cop.
I have no problem with Sam winning but I'd equally like to see his co-star Woody Harrelson win for playing the local Sheriff or even Richard Jenkins for his lovely performance in "The Shape of Water"



Best Actress in A Supporting Role

Again this is an easy one to call. Anyone who has ever watched "The West Wing" will marvel at Allison Janney's transformation into the foul mouthed Mum from hell in "I, Tonya" and this is why she will Win the Oscar, and rightly so








Best Actor in A Leading Role

If ever there was a certainty, then it has to be Gary Oldman for his tour de force performance as Winston Churchill in "Darkest Hour"





 

If Mr Oldman had not been nominated then I would like to think that the very excellent Timothee Charlamet would be in with a shout for his stunning performance in "Call Me By Your Name"






Best Actress in A Leading Role

As with all the Acting Awards this year, I think it is safe to say there will be very few surprises. In fact all are pretty much set in stone.
A firm for some time now, Frances McDormand will bag her second Oscar for playing the tough as nails, no nonsense Mom Mildred Hayes in "Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri"




Best Director

Don't get me started on the fact that Martin McDonagh has not been nominated in this category - TRAVESTY
If one was a conspiracist, then one might think he was left out to pave the way for the man who I think will win, and he is Guillermo Del Toro for "The Shape of Water"

I would certainly be delighted to see Christopher Nolan win for his great work on "Dunkirk", although not the best film of the film, but his triumph at what was put on screen deserves recognition




Best Picture

Despite that there has been a recent backlash against "Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri", I still think it will reign supreme at the Academy Awards and win Best Picture.

If there is going to be a repeat of what happened two years ago when "Spotlight" robbed "The Revenant" of a Best Picture Oscar, then the film that will steal "Three Billboards" thunder will be "The Shape of Water"

In an ideal world, I would love to see "Call Me By Your Name" win Best Picture. From start to finish it was a delight to watch. A wonderful screenplay from James Ivory, great performances ebut especially from Timothee Charlamet and Armie Hammer, and stunning cinematography




So there you have it. Just to recap, the nominees I think will win are:-

Best Original Screenplay - Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published - Call Me By Your Name
Best Actor in A Supporting Role - Sam Rockwell
Best Actress in A Supporting Role - Allison Janney
Best Actor in A Leading Role - Gary Oldman
Best Actress in A Leading Role - Frances McDormand
Best Director - Guillermo Del Toro
Best Picture - Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri

And to just sidestep for a monent, if there is any justice then the Best Cinematography Oscar will go to Roger Deakins for his work on "Blade Runner 2049" not only as it was stunning but also for the fact that he is one of the very best in his field, and he is long overdue for Oscar recognition.

And good luck to Host Jimmy Kimmel, who did a first class job last year, and I for one am delighted to see him back.

Let's hope whoever presents Best Picture, will have the nerve to shout out if something is wrong !!! Lord preserve us should they give the Award to the wrong film.....

Oscar Nominations 2018 - My Thoughts

A little later this year but here are my thoughts on the nominations for the 90th Annual Academy Awards...

BEST PICTURE
Just because the Academy has increased the quote to a maximum of ten movies, does not mean that we have to have a full list, or as in this year, nine.
For me there are a number of films which should not have made the shortlist, and a few omissions, as always.
I have seen all nine of this years nominees, so am well voiced to be critical. For me I would have left out "Phantom Thread", "Lady Bird", at a push "The Shape of Water". All really good films, but one questions whether worthy of a Best Picture nomination.

I must add, that I feel "Get Out" is woefully overrated. Again like the others, it is a good film, cleverly written, but it DOES NOT deserve a Best Picture nomination, or quite a few of its other nominations.
And although there is a lot of love for Aaron Sorkin's "Molly's Game", for me the far superior Jessica Chastain film is "Miss. Sloane", which for me is one of the years best....and not a single nomination.

The only one good thing that having so many nominees in this category does is split the vote mnore, and can lead to an upset, which as a viewer is always exciting....though as with "Spotlight" not always a good choice.

BEST DIRECTOR
I never understand this one. Of late there are more times when the Best Director & Best Picture Oscars go to different films. I know that logic should not factor into the Oscars, silly me for thinking it would, but surely what is voted Best film, then the Director responsible should be rewarded accordingly. However I will also say that this year there would be a fair argument for Christopher Nolan winning Director for his work on "Dunkirk" yet, like many others, feel it is not the best Film. But given how brilliant say "Three Billboards..." is, it is surely a crime that Director Martin McDonagh has not even been nominated. With nine Best Picture nominees, and only five for Director, yes someone is going to lose out. But surely not the Director for the favourite to win Best Picture?
Even if Martin McDonagh had been nominated, I'm sure that Guillermo Del Toro would have won anyway, but that's not the point. There are at least 3 Directors who should not have made the shortlist...Paul Thomas Anderson, Greta Gerwig, and Jordan Peele. Where are the nominees for Joe Wright & Luca Guadagnino?

BEST ACTOR & BEST ACTRESS
Overall I would say that these categories are pretty good. There is the odd exception, and I would have expected a nod to Dame Judi Dench for her stunning work in "Victoria & Abdul" but other than that, its as expected.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR & BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Again as above, these two categories are pretty much as expected. The only thing I have wondered is whether Kevin Spacey would have gotten a nod for his portrayal of John Paul Getty had it not been for the scandal that saw him replaced by Christopher Plummer?


OVERALL
I think this year it is all about ticking boxes, and it SHOULD be about the films, performances and craft technicians who really deserve the recognition.

2017 - "This Year In Film"

Another Cinematic year has come and gone. And how has 2017 faired?

Well  I have to say that I think it has been an excellent year for cinema. I think I can illustrate this no better way than by saying for the first time in 7 years I have been to the Cinema over 100 times in a full year.
That certainly means that a lot of trailers have caught my eye, and gotten me into more screenings this year, but that does not necessarily mean that the quality of the film as a whole has been better.

We will start on a high and look at some of the many films that have really entertained me this year.

Scorsese....Lian Neeson....Andrew Garfield....Adam Driver....A compelling story and stunning photography. 

 A wonderful and welcome return of some richly created characters, brilliantly acted

Mel Gibson shines behind the Camera with a stunning performance from one of this years brightest stars - Andrew Garfield

A great film telling an astonishing story of a group of extraordinary women

(what more do I need to say?)

Denzel & Viola....enough said

Like "Hacksaw Ridge", the year got off to a remarkable start with another powerful true story. January was going to be the month to beat





Here are some more of the amazing movies that have been just a pure delight to watch over the last 12 months

Quite a diverse selection.
A year of great love stories, with Annette Bening on top form as Gloria Grahame, Dame Judi Dench reprising her Oscar nominated role as Queen Victoria, Ashton Saunders excels in "Moonlight", Dev Patel shows the love for his Mother in "Lion" and Armie Hammer and Timothee Chalamet are on Award winning form in "Call Me By Your Name".

As discussed above, the use of true life shines brightest this year, with as mentioned "Lion", "Hacksaw Ridge" & "Hidden Figures" all great films in their own right. But it didn't end there. We also had the great McDonalds story as told in "The Founder", a look at the end of the British reign in India in "Viceroy's House", and India coming to Victorian England and a great friendship between two very different people in "Victoria & Abdul".
Great heroism in "Patriot's Day", and heroics of a different kind as Emma Stone is at the top of her game as Billie Jean King in "Battle of the Sexes".

Having not been a huge fan of the first two 'Thor' films, it was pleasing to see the third film really bring some fun back, and this ranks as one of the most entertaining films of the year.
A long overdue return to form for Writer / Director M.Night Shyamalan with his brilliant thriller "Split", chilling performance from James McAvoy, and what an ending......

But as with all things, there is an opposite, as so there has to be a selection of less pleasing films, and here they are.....I know that there is at least one controversial choice.


Some of the Worst Films of 2017.....

"Manchester By The Sea"....too depressing, and in my opinion Casey Affleck was not the Best Actor, far from it. He should not have even been nominated for an Oscar, let alone have won it.
Several much loved films did not fair to well for me...films like "It Comes At Night" and "Baby Driver".
One of the biggest disappointments of the year was the gritty thriller "The Snowman", which promised so much....it was directed by Tomas Alfredson who directed one of my all time favourite movies - "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy", it had an excellent cast, the likes of Michael Fassbender, Toby Jones, J.K. Simmons, Rebecca Ferguson, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Val Kilmer, and from the trailer looked really good.
Oh dear......oh well, you can't always judge a book by its cover, or in this case, a film from its trailer.

But down to the most important choices, and my favourites of 2017....here we go.....

Although I am awarding Best individual performances, there is one actor I need to single out for being the most prolific and consistently wowing us with one great performance after another, and he is.......

 

Andrew Garfield

Preaching the word of God, in a land where Christianity is outlawed he was dazzling in Martin Scorsese's "Silence"

A great actor playing a truly great hero, Desmond Doss in the powerful and moving drama from Mel Gibson "Hacksaw Ridge"

Another true life story and the life of Robin Cavendish and the many lives he changed in "Breathe"

And although this was a theatrical performance I did get to see it thanks to a National Theatre Live Screening, and this will be the performance that people will be talking about for years, and rest assured come Award season, he will need a well enforced shelf to store all his awards from his performance in "Angels in America"




Here come the big three.....

Best Performance By An Actor in A Leading Role
  
A few quick special mentions, especially to the already mentioned James McAvoy in "Split", the amazing Ewan Bremner, who for me stole the show with his amazing performance in "T2 Trainspotting", Denzel Washington in "Fences", Ali Fazal in "Victoria & Abdul" and Jamie Bell in "Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool".  Great work from each and every one of them. But there can be only one winner......

 Timothee Charlamet 

He gave a mature and heart breakingly beautiful performance in the love story of the year in "Call Me By Your Name". The scene that everyone talks about is probably one that many may miss as it plays out during the end credits, but from start to finish he conveys the angst of a young man and his journey into love which may or may not be reciprocated


Best Performance By An Actress in A Leading Role

Yes there is still much to be said about Women and the lack of great material, and even more so on equal pay, but if this year is anything to go by then Women are creating some truly outstanding performances.
Natalie Portman was the highpoint of "Jackie", and Emma Stone was good in "La La Land", but Oscar worthy, not for me. 
All three leads of "Hidden Figures" were exemplary. As was Danielle Macdonald in "Patti Cake$". And a firm favourite of mine continues to give a beautiful performance in "Film Stars Don't Die In Liverpool" and she is Annette Bening.

But there can be only one Winner.....or can there???

 

Jessica Chastain     

It's clearly a case of red heads rule. Jessica Chastain has shown her brilliance in great films like "The Help" and "Zero Dark Thirty" but this year it was her performance in "Miss. Sloane" that blew me away. 

Emma Stone

She may have started the year with an Academy Award for her work on "La La Land", and the debate as whether it was deserved will continue, but for me she should be getting an Oscar this year for her work as Billie Jean King in "Battle of the Sexes". 

Best Picture

I have really wrestled over this one. And for me it is bizarre in that there are films that featured in last years Oscars Ceremony and films that will no doubt feature in this years Ceremony. There in lies the problem of having Oscar movies released in the UK between November and March of any given year. 

I would normally always try and have just One Best Picture Winner, and worst case scenario I would have to allow for two or if really pushed then three would be my absolute maximum.

But this year I am torn between four top movies, and given that I cannot choose between them, I am going to have to declare a four way tie. So which are the four top films of 2017?

 

 "Moonlight"

 

"Battle of the Sexes"

 "Miss.  Sloane"

 

"Call Me By Your Name"

I mentioned at the beginning about what a strong year that 2017 has been, and I think that I can give no other better example of this than by the result for Best Picture. To have a four way tie is just plain bonkers but I cannot pick between these four first class films, and I will be proud to have all of them added to my Film collection when they become available on Blu Ray...yes I already have "Moonlight", and "Miss Sloane".

We can only hope that 2018 will be half as good.....Happy viewing