Stars - Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson, Sharlto Copley, Patrick Wilson
Director - Joe Carnahan
Memorable Quote - 'I love it when a plan comes together.'
Review - I've never experienced the original in 'A-Team' in any capacity beyond that of a certain chocolate bar advertising campaign, so this is in no way going to be a comparative review. The first part of the film had me annoying those who knew the original with endless questions: who are the A-Team? What is their actual job? Under whose authority do they act? I never really got any satisfactory answers to those questions, but getting swept away into the action shut me up about it for a while. Said action does perhaps seem a little disjointed at times, swimming from one scene to another with little connection, or a cinematic choice that alienated me a bit. The actors themselves - Cooper, Neeson, Jackson, and Copley - do a good job at combining action with humour, although there isn't much time to really get acquainted with them. Cooper and Copley are arguably the strongest, and it's clear that Cooper is only at the start of what may become a very long career, though Neeson lacked impact. The storyline is so-so; at the end of the day I can't bring myself to care much, but maybe it's just because I tend to switch off when things get overly action-y. 3.5/5
#2 - THE HANGOVER
Stars - Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha, Mike Tyson
Director - Todd Phillips
Memorable Quote - 'Like you said - we all do dumb shit when we're fucked up.'
Review - What a hoot! Anyone who might avoid this film with the idea that it might be lowbrow or full of toilet humour should change their minds. 'Funny' is an understatement - every twist and turn of this tale brings a new shade of humour, as three friends try to remember where they left the groom before the wedding starts. From the ridiculous to the even more ludicrous, stolen tigers lead us to a Mike Tyson singalong and casino winnings buy a drug dealer from a Chinese gang boss (who, incidentally, delivers some of the funniest lines I've heard in a long time). Cooper makes his second appearance of this blog in a well-played role, though perhaps a little similar to that of his 'A-Team' run. Galifianakis is arguably the star thanks to his overall comic potential, though he is exactly the sort of guy you wouldn't want hanging around in real life. The whole thing plays a little like a Pepsi Max advert, but is no less enjoyable for it. It is almost a mystery-comedy as we try to work out what on earth could have happened, and the investigation is executed well. Definitely worth a watch - laughter is good for the heart. 4/5
#3 - UN PROPHETE
Stars - Tahar Rahim, Niels Arestrup
Director - Jacques Audiard
Memorable Quote - n/a
Review - Well, this is gripping. Following the tale of a good-for-nothing young lad who finds himself in jail at the age of nineteen, and facing a six year sentence, we begin with a feeling of sympathy. Claiming he is innocent, he starts what can only be a horrible time in a concrete cell, with the least of comforts, getting beaten and having his shoes stolen. It all changes when the Corsicans in control of the prison force him to murder another man, and although he is clearly reluctant, he has no choice but to go through with it. Watching his transformation, the clearest view of his internal thoughts is written all over his face in private moments - Rahim is brilliant in this, giving us such a strong indication of what is going through his head without needing to open his mouth. As he goes from strength to strength the roles change - we feel sympathy for the Corsican instead, toppled from his throne by the young pretender. There is little chance to feel disgusted or alienated from Malik - he is hard working and intelligent, first learning how to read and then teaching himself a new language by reading a dictionary, he is also cunning and fair: although he carries out all the Corsican jobs until the finale with loyalty and efficiency, he also carries on his own practices to rise high in the criminal underworld. Compelling, gripping, and driving, this film is a deserving winner of many awards. Full of tiny touches (such as Malik automatically sticking out his tongue in the airport), you won't regret giving this one a try. 5/5
If you enjoyed reading this blog, please take the time to comment, rate, or even click on an ad to support a starving blogger.
No comments:
Post a Comment