The Signal (2014)

Three friends on a road trip through the South West of the US take a detour in the hope of tracking a
computer hacker, something very sinister happens, everything goes dark, when one of them, Nic (Brendan Thwaites) wakes he realizes he is in some US government experimental pound and being questioned about things not of this earth.

The obvious comparisons are an episode of "The Twilight Zone" and "X-Files" or the bigger budget "The Mist", but this has just as much intelligence and emotion. An absorbing screenplay, at time's beautifully poetic, fine performance's from the young cast (the only 'big name' being Laurence Fishburne) with a suitable ambitious, head scratching dénouement.

*****

Bad Words (2013)

A forty something man enters the US annual spelling Bee competition after finding a legal loophole to enter, much to the disgust of the fellow competitors, competition organisers, and a lot of parents, but just what is his modus operandi?

Jason Bateman ('Horrible Bosses', 'Juno') is the star of the show, not only does he star as the fabulously mean spirited Guy Trilby (think 'Bad Santa' without the suit) but he also wrote and directed the movie. Wonderfully mean spirited, Trilby belches out vitriol to his 10 year old contestants and the over bearing parents at every chance, blackly comic, politically incorrect, and very amusing, you are a legend Mr Trilby!

*****

Good Vibrations (2013)

'Good Vibrations' tells the true story of Terri Hooley, Belfast's very own "Godfather of Punk", from opening a small record store, stumbling upon the thriving underground Punk scene in the city ("I have seen the light!") to promoting live gigs and forming a record label, not to forget discovering The Undertones and the release of "the greatest single of all time" (John Peel) "Teenage Kicks".

This is a quite wonderful tale of a mans love for music, Richard Dormer as Terri oozes boundless enthusiasm with a big sh*t eating wide eyed smile, music isn't just  music, but an escape from the bombs, sectarianism and hate for him and all  the young people of Belfast. (the film never shys away from the 'troubles' with depressing footage of an awful time for the people)

An uplifting joyous movie and a testament to the power of music.

*****

Best Man Down (2012)

When drunk and obnoxious, but well meaning, best man 'Lumpy' expectantly dies at the wedding destination of bride and groom Kristin (Jess Weixler) and Scott (Justin Long) they are forced to cancel their honeymoon to fly home to Minneapolis to arrange the funeral, during which they discover some home truths about Lumpy, and especially when their paths are led to a 15 year old troubled girl Madison (Addison Timlin).

"Best Man Down" is a superb heart felt bitter sweet comedy drama with great performances all round from the cast especially Addison Timlin as lumpy's friend, the scene when she reads out her eulogy is genuinely moving and incredibly poignant. A movie that is a real tear jerker at times but also a film with a massive beating heart, outstanding.

*****

The Way Way Back (2013)

14 year old sullen teenager (aren't they all) Duncan (Liam James) is spending his Summer vacation with his Mother, over bearing Step Father and his daughter, he would rather be with his Father, this is not a holiday he's looking forward to.

Quite simply this is an outstanding coming of age comedy/drama, a superb cast, Toni Collette, Steve Carell as the Parents, great support from Alison Janney, Rob Corddry, as well as performances from teenagers  Liam James as Duncan and his 'soul mate' Susanna (Anna Sophia Robb). The star of the show though is Sam Rockwell as Owen, the manager of the Water Wizz Park, a park firmly stuck in the 80's (queue 80s soundtrack). Owen gives Sam a job at the Park, and soon the introverted teen soon begins to enjoy life and the people that you can meet on it's journey, Owen soon becomes not just a great friend but a father figure to him, one he doesn't seem to have.

Funny, poignant, a movie brimming with colourful characters, and a thoroughly engaging movie from start to finish.

*****

The Giant Mechanical Man (2012)

 

Janice (Jenna Fisher from the US Office) is down on her luck, evicted from her flat and living with her bossy younger Sister, she takes a minimum wage job at the local Zoo selling Juices, here she meets up with Tim (Chris Messina) who's also in the dumps, recently dumped, and trying to make ends meet as a street performer, soon they form a friendship, but this seem doomed to be scuppered by Janice's meddling, but well meaning, Sister.

 

I only caught this by chance whilst browsing Netflix, reviews were good, both from critics and public alike, and Jenna Fisher comes across so charming as a person I thought I'd give it a go, and boy was I rewarded. Utterly charming main characters, the film isn't smaltzy, but shows the flaws and frailties of normal folks dealing with the everyday ups and downs and  complications that life throws at us. The film has some great moments, when Jenna first encounters The Giant Mechanical Man to the tune of  Great Northerns  wistful "Our Bleeding Hearts", when Tim opens his heart to Jenna ("I just think you're great) and the films finale, the ending you hope you will get, and it delivers brilliantly.

 

*****



The Lookout (2007)

Chris Pratt (John Gordon-Levitt) is a former high school hockey star who's life (and others more seriously) is changed forever whilst showing off with friends, his memory is handicapped, constantly making notes as reminders. He hooks up with some 'random' strangers in a bar, the cool sophisticated hip Gary (Mathew Goode) and starts a relationship with the sexy and sassy Luvlee (Isla  Fisher) but soon he realises he is being manipulated to conspire in the robbery of a bank he works at as a Janitor.

I'd never heard off this movie and only saw it advertised on Netflix one night, Gordon-Levitt, Jeff Daniels and Isla Fisher in a heist movie, got to be worth a play, and boy was it worth it. A heist drama like no other, quite low key, with thoroughly engaging characters, Gordon-Levitt is always a great screen presence and this movie is no different, this guy is one of the best young actors out there, an ingenious intelligent and engrossing movie, well worth seeking out.

*****

The To Do List (2013)

Brandy Klark, feeling sexually naïve and pressured, creates a 'list' to accomplish before going to college..

On paper this sounds like a quite awful teen comedy flick, but what a quite surprise it turns out to be. An old skool flick in the style of  'Easy A', '100 Days Of Summer' with the added crudeness of 'Superbad', this is a wonderfully fun, snappy and charming movie.

Slightly predictable at times, the 'pool' gag you can see coming a mile off, but it's still hilarious, shades of 'American Pie' vulgarity, as is the 'cinema' scene, but the characters are so likeable, the lead, Aubrey Plaza as Brandy, with great support from 'SuperBads'  Bill Hader as Wiley the pool owner, and yes, Christopher Mintz  Plasse (McLovin) as Duffy.

Rude, crude, but very likeable.

"Were you humping a pillow??"

*****

Scenic Route (2013)

Never heard of it? Right, here's the gist, two life long friends are  on a road trip when they break down in the wilderness of the US desert, stranded jovial conversation soon turns to criticisms of each others life decisions.

 

Two actors, one exterior scene, that's it for 90 minutes, but it's a 90 minutes that unwinds and twists it way with good performances from the two leads Josh Duhamel ('Vegas', 'Transformers') and Dan Fogler (Zach Galifianakis look a like but with talent), a good solid script, a movie that is a hybrid mix of '127 Hours' and 'Alive' with a twist ending that is a massive punch in the guts.

 

Highly, highly recommended.

 

*****

 

Rapture Palooza (2013)

It's the end of the world as we know it, and unless you are a believer (in which case you'll be beamed up to heaven) you'll be left to fend on a, literally, God forsaken Earth With Crows mocking you, evil crickets trying to bite you, oh and the bigger problem  mollten balls of fire spewing onto Earth randomly.

Totally bonkers, and out to offend just about everyone, think Kevin Smith's 'Dogma' cranked to the max, but most importantly, it's funny, very funny. Star of the show is Craig Robinson (US 'The Office') as the anti-Christ, his banter with his "future Bride" Lindsay (Anna Kendrick) is crude but grossly amusing, and how often in a movie will you see God and Satan having a fight in a Jacuzzi?

*****

Smashed (2012)

Kate is (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is young, married and a Primary school teacher, she is also, along with her husband, an alcoholic.She realises her addiction is spiralling out of control after a booze fueled night results in her smoking crack and vomiting in her class, then preetentending to be pregnant to cover up, she decides to get help, join AA and go sober.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead is an absolute revalation in this movie, sweet and charming but plays a drunk to the tee,so many great moments from her,  her first speech at the AA meeting, begging to be served Wine "after hours" and an incredible moment when she admits to her alcoholism.The movie is often funny, showing that yes alcholism is a disease, but 'sadly' getting drunk can be great fun.

Touching, poignant and sad at times, but also uplifting.Unmissable.

*****

11:14 (2003)

A car crash at 11:14 pm and the events leading up to it are chronicled from five different perspectives...

This film is 10 years old and I have to admit I'd heard nothing about it, I thought it would be just some serious, probably a bit melodramatic, drama, how wrong was I!!

At time's quite manic, one of the characters loses his penis in an accident, his mate then gets it back by stealing it from an ice box in an Ambulance, Patrick Swayze spends quality time with his lovable Golden Retriever trying to dispose of his dead daughters boyfriend whom he thinks she killed!

A manic, funny, wildly inventive black comedy drama, similar in vein to Doug Liman's classic "Go" from 1999, brilliant.

*****

Stitches (2012)

A Clown (Ross Noble) comes back from the dead to reek vengeance on those he blames for his accidental death at a children's Birthday, party many years ago.

Kind of "Friday 13th" meets Freddy Kreugar with a mass dose of 60's gore legend Hershell Gordon Lewis, Stitches is purely played for (blood drenched) laughs.Ross Noble is perfect in the lead, he pretty much looks like a mad clown even without the makeup and red nose, some of the 'death scenes' are pretty inventive, especially two involving an umbrella and a bicycle pump!!

"THERE'S A KILLER CLOWN IN THE HOUSE!!"

Not in the slightest bit scary, but great, gory fun, and a very entertaining black comedy.

*****

Broken (2013)

Another week and another Brit flick starring Tim Roth, yay!
Unlike "The Liability" which was a straight to dvd/on demand release, this a cinema release and I was drawn to it by an interview on Radio 2 with the charismatic Roth one afternoon.

11 year old 'Skunk' witness's her neighbour get a vicious beating one day during the start of the school holidays, this starts the cycle of a bleak chain of events.

"Broken" is a slow burner that keeps you guessing as to what will happen to the various residence of the small cul-de-sac.Often charming and sweet about the wonders of childhood, sometimes brutal, starting 'Comp' and the challenges this entails and the thrill of your first love.

Great performances from Roth, Cillian Murphy and especially 11 year old debutant Eloise Laurence, hard hitting but often poignant "Broken" is pretty much faultless and  an early contender for one of the movies of 2013.

*****

The Angels Share (2012)

The of a group of young offenders on the rough streets of Glasgow, sentenced to community service and directed by Ken Loach (Kes), you wouldn't expect a laugh a minute high jinx's comedy, which is what you don't get, but you do get a wonderfully warm witty Brit drama.Like able characters in a 'Hustle' style con.

Every bit enjoyable as Loach's brilliant "Looking For Eric" a few years back, this is a wonderfully warm, witty, gritty comedy/dram with a near perfect ending and  I can't rate this Brit flick high enough.

*****

Grabbers (2012)

Aliens invade an Island in um...Ireland, the only way to survive is get drunk...book me a flight!!!
I had slightly low expectations, hopefully mildly amused at best, but how wrong was I.
Utterly engaging characters, dry,witty dialogue, a real fun B-Movie horror flick so reminiscent of such 'classics' as Tremors and Deep Rising, with even a knowing nod to the drunken exploits of Gremlins towards the end.
Great Balti & a Beer Saturday night (or any night) entertainment.

*****

Dog Pound (2010)

Pretty much a remake of the late 70's British borstal classic 'Scum', this is every bit as hard hitting.All the key scenes from the original are here, the rape/suicide, the initial "who's the Daddy" rise to power (though thankfully none of the dialogue is needlessly replicated) and the riot finale as the inmates anger explodes.

Dog Pound though adds a few original touches, the film is slower paced than Scum, with the violence and tension brought to a boil over a much longer time, the largly unknown cast are excellent, the characters shuffle around, sizing each other up......

Dog Pound was a real 'pleasant' surprise, mature, raw, adult and well acted with a fine sledgehammer final shot.

*****

Easy A (2010)

I'd marry her tomorrow ;-)

One of the best 'adult teen comedies' since the classic black humor of Alexander Paynes 'Election'.The superb Emma Stone plays Olive, a clean cut girl who's little white lie about losing her virginity lands her the label of an "easy A", or school slut to be more blunt.

This really is Emma Stone's movie, she is in it just about every one of it's 92 minutes running time, and is utterly charming, funny and sweet, the rest of the cast is just as engaging, Lisa Kudrow, Thomas Haden Church, Malcolm McDowell as Head Teacher, one of the films of the year for me and one of the best 'teen comedies' for some time.

"This is public school. If I can keep the girls off the pole and the boys off the pipe, I get a bonus."

*****

The Loved Ones (2009)

What do you get if you cross Carrie with Saw? You get this instant horror classic from Australia that's what.

I have to admit I only stumbled across this film by accident when it got a rave review at this years Frighfest, so decided to give it a viewing, boy was I glad I did.When Brent (Xavier Samuel) turns down his unbeknown secret admirer 'Princess' (Robin McLeavy) he doesn't know what a big mistake he's making!!

A heady mix of utter gruesome nastiness, superb black humour and tongue in cheek dialogue, first time director Sean Byrne has produced one of the must see horror flicks of the past decade.

"Bring the hammer Daddy"

*****

London To Brighton (2006)

It's three in the morning, a prostitute called Kelly with ripped clothes and inflamed black eye bustles a terrified 12 year old girl into a public toilet somewhere in South London,they are fleeing from someone and decide to get the next train to Brighton.As the film progresses we slowly learn what has happened via a series of flashbacks, and it's a very harrowing subject.

I have to admit I was blown away by this 'little' film, yes the subject is deeply unpleasant, but it is handled maturely, there are no 'Lock Stock' style bad guys in this film, just ordinary people, some good, but a lot of very very sadistic violent characters.You really care for the characters which is the most important essence of any film, the acting is superb, especially Lorraine Stanley as Kelly and newcomer, Georgie Groome who is barely a teenager and puts in a stunning performance as the terrified youngster Joanne.

This is a quite brilliant debut from a young film-maker, Paul Andrew Williams, he recently quite rightly won a best newcomer award at the Edinburgh Film Festival, and for me it's one of the best British movies ever.