#1 - SE7EN
Stars - Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey, Gwyneth Paltrow
Director - David Fincher
Memorable Quote - 'Wanting people to listen, you can't just tap them on the shoulder anymore. You have to hit them with a sledgehammer, and then you'll notice you've got their strict attention.'
Review - Whew, what a corker. Actually can't believe I only just got round to seeing this - and I know I say that a lot, but it's true. The acting is exactly as impressive as you would expect from reading the cast list, and I feel like you really get to know the characters. You feel affection for Somerset, you like Mills and want to see him do well, and when you realise (predictably, before Somerset does) just what is in that delivered box at the end, you feel real horror on Mills' behalf. You watch the characters being manipulated by the killer, and you know you can't stop it from happening. It's clear that this inspired a slew of copycat films (pretty much the entire Saw series, for a start, even down to the main detectives in the first installment), and it's clear why. This is perfection in the detective genre: an interesting case, compelling detectives, an enigmatic city and a race against time. Key also is that final twist - the idea that there are two murders left to go when they take him in, and that they have stopped him before he completes his cycle, being blown out of the water by Mills' actions. Every scene is gripping and intense, even the simple dinner scene where Paltrow and Pitt force their smiles through the sound of the train. I'll say no more because if you've seen it, you know it's an amazing film, and if you haven't, there's no need for me to spoil it for you. Go watch it, now. 5/5
#2 - NAPOLEON DYNAMITE
Stars - Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Jon Gries, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino
Director - Jared Hess
Memorable Quote - 'Gosh!'
Review - I've seen many reviews of this film that stated, 'if I had watched this when I was teenager...'. In a sense I think it's true that, like Juno and other similar works, this is a movie that appeals to the teenage market, mostly by showing them themselves with a large dose of humour attached. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy it as much as an adult, far from it - if you've ever been to high school then you know what it's like, and you know how being a teenager is, so you can identify. The characters are caricatures, obviously, and a lot of the film has a very dated feel, but that tends to add to its charm rather than retract. Jon Heder is perfect as the awkward teenage nerd trying to fit in and not understanding why he doesn't, and Pedro's breath of optimism (believing he could ask the most popular girl in school to the dance) becomes a refreshing catalyst to change Napoleon's life. I think in a way that's what the aim of this movie was - to say that you can change the way people see you if you have a little confidence, that you don't have to always live in the past like his Uncle, and that people have hidden depths - who would have suspected the cousin of being able to get the girl that he did? More than anything it's about transition, about growing up and learning - which can happen at any age. Perhaps I would have rated it higher a few years ago, but that I suppose is the danger of a teen movie. 3.5/5
#3 - PANDORUM
Stars - Dennis Quaid, Ben Foster, Cam Gigandet, Antje Traue, Cung Le
Director - Christian Alvart
Memorable Quote - 'You're all that's left of us. Good luck, God bless, and Godspeed.'
Review - There were so many ways this film could have gone wrong. Even reading the synopsis I was skeptical, but then I remembered the fact that I've never seen Ben Foster in a role I didn't enjoy watching and went for it anyway. I'm glad I did, because this dodges most of the things that swallow up other sci-fi movies. There were no absurd aliens from outer space attacking, and if you refuse to accept the idea that it was only the chemicals that changed the humans into monsters, well, even the characters admit that it's only a theory. The explanation for the disappearance of Earth is barely touched on - clever, since now we can't argue with the likelihood of the scenario. There's a nice neat Fight-Club-esque transition between young Gallo and 'Payton' that came as a surprise to me - up until the moment that he could still hear his voice even after pressing the mute button, I had no suspicions. It's rare for a movie to be able to do that these days, but it was well done, and looking back at the camera shakes and ghosting throughout the movie it all began to make sense. The special effects were used sparingly and well instead of the excessiveness than can sometimes plague this genre, and the acting was top class. Gigandet reminded me of a young Hayden Christensen, which is not to be sniffed at - it was a similar crazy sneer that catapulted Jake Gyllenhaal to fame, let's not forget. Foster was captivating as always, taking us through the whole spectrum of fear, paranoia, control and anger as he battled the demons inside and outside, pushing all of the other characters to one side. Even as it seems that Gallo will kill Nadia, we as an audience are focusing instead on whether Bower is going to save her or give in to Pandorum. The ending had a kind of wretched hope to it, suggesting that if he can defeat Pandorum, then together the survivors can defeat the remaining hunters and start a new Earth. In short, I recommend this to anyone who, for instance, was so exasperated with Avatar that they cringe every time they hear the word, anyone who ever enjoyed Star Trek or Farscape, and anyone who enjoys good acting. 4.5/5
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