Anna Karenina

REVIEW BY NATALIE WARWICK

Tolstoys Anna Karenina isn't a new tale to me. I've long known the story so I was very much looking forward to seeing it come to life on the big screen. It tells the story of an aristocrat in late 19th century Russia and of her illicit affair with the dashing Count Vronsky. It's dangerous and passionate and fabulous. I was hooked from the word go.

Where this film shines is that it is set in a real life theatre and all the different areas of which make the scenes. The great halls where the parties are held are set in the auditorium and when they go outside they go to the riggings high above the stage. I found it intriguing and gave a 4th dimension to an already fabulous story. Lots of theatrical techniques are used in the film too: like scenes acted out in dance and mime, extreme emotions given more meaning through blackouts and freezeframes and spot lights... Also like a play you get the feeling that meaning is given to every aspect and breath of this film. The beautiful costume and Chanel jewelry are a mesh of 1800 and 1950's style. The idea is not to be 100% authentic but rather to add to the impression of high glamour and sophistication of the film.

Anna Karenina was 2 hours of joy. I was swept away by not only forbidden love, self destruction and suffocating social convention but because of how it was portrayed through the fabulous production and costume design. It is a truly beautiful film which I relished every second of. It doesn't please all unfortunately because Tom found it boring. His review consisted of a succession of zzzz's; but for me it was bliss. If your a fan of period drama and love stories and fabulous fashion you will adore this film too.

Classification: 12A

Year: 2012
Length: 129 mins
More info at IMDB

Silver Linings Playbook

REVIEW BY NATALIE WARWICK

Silver Linings Playbook was a good film but one which we, Tom and I, had categorised as a filler movie. You know one for Jennifer Lawrence to do in between The Hunger Games and Bradley Cooper before The Hangover 3. But apparently not. With 8 Oscar nominations in total Hollywood obviously values this movie over the vast other romcoms they churn out - but why?

I think the answer is that it isn't your run of the mill rom-com. It tells a love story but one which also deals with the "shock...horror" issue of mental health... Our main character Pat (Cooper) suffers with bi-polar disorder. The "love interest" Tiffany (Lawrence) is suffering with depression, through severe grief. So off the bat Silver Linings Playbook is more than an enjoyable film it's trying to raise awareness of mental health problems.

The film unravels around Pat on his release from a mental institution. He's hell bent on rekindling his relationship with his wife but in doing so we're introduced to his dysfunctional family and learn that everyone has their idiosyncrasies and issues that their dealing with. We see Pats friends with their perfect house which you can't but help see the cracks peak through and Pats Dad Pat Snr. (Robert De Niro) who's superstitions and betting on football games takes a downward spiral. In amongst all the drama that Pat and Tiffancy help each other deal with their own demons by training for a dancing competition.

Pat and Tiffanys performances of people suffering with mental health problems is extremely acute. In fact all performances are raw and heartfelt.This slice of life movie feels very close to the bone. It's real life. I relate to these people as I would relate to anybody in my real life. It's a film which will be enjoyed by those of you that enjoyed Little Miss Sunshine or Sunshine Cleaning.

It seems that the time has come for gush epic stories such as The Notebook, The Vow or The Time travellers wife to give way to a more realistic, and I think stronger for it, love stories such as  Love and Other Drugs and of course Silver Linings Playbook to reign supreme. I think Lawrence might clinch the Oscar for this one. Fingers crossed.

Year: 2012
Classification: 15
Duration: 122 minutes
More info at IMDB

Les Miserables

REVIEW BY TOM WORFOLK

This show is the longest running musical show in modern history. It's a two and a half hour romp through the ups (who am I kidding) and downs of early 1800s Paris.

Written in 1862 by Victor Hugo the story examines the nature of law and grace. The novel elaborates upon the history of France, the architecture and urban design of Paris, politics, moral philosophy, antimonarchism, justice, religion, and the types and nature of romantic and familial love.

The film adaptation (lifted straight from the West End/Broadway show) follows Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), an ex-convict turned Mayor who promises to look after a dying prostitues (Anne Hathaway) illegitimate daughter, Cosette (Amanda Seigfried). Due to the fact that our "hero" skipped out on probation, Javert (our friendly police officer played by Russell Crowe) has made it his life's mission to track down and bring Valjean to justice. The story spans 17 years and is set in a world of political turmoil, which finally culminates in the June Rebellion of France.

The performances were excellent and strong. There were moments that made you forget that these people aren't professional singers but then there are moments that remind you they aren't. Watching Wolverine sing reminded me of watching Bond sing in Mama Mia but Jackman was slightly better to be fair.

One complaint a friend of mine had was that he thought Crowe was miscast as Javert as he should be more rugged and gruff. I don't necessarily agree with this but it does demonstrate well how individuals will relate and empathise with different characters in the story due to their different backgrounds and outlooks on life.

One thing is for sure though, when the cast start singing "do you hear the people sing" there won't be a person watching that doesn't feel the beauty of the song and the passion of the revolution that its meant to represent.

Overall it's an enjoyable experience and if you like watching musicals (and for some reason you haven't seen this at the west-end or Broadway) then you won't be disappointed with this one.

Nat's two cents worth
Les Mis is the first movie I have ever seen which I knew all the words before hand. I found the opening scene spectacular. I loved it. I also loved Russell Crowes portrayal of Javert. But what I found dissapointing was the hollywood shine. I felt that the movie didn't really portray the awful and "miserable" lives which I always imagined. It's all a bit too clean if you know what I mean. What the film did focus in on though was how small in scale the June Rebellion was and how tragic the whole affair was. I also felt Cosette's (Siegfried) voice could have been stronger (don't hate me :-() and Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter did what they do best, as the comic relief, as Thenardier and Madame Thenardier; although their part took me back to Sweeney Todd and half expected Jonny Depp to come round the corner at any moment!

Year: 2012
Classification: 12A
Duration: 158 minutes
More info at IMDB
 

The Twilight Saga - Breaking Dawn Part 2



REVIEW BY NATALIE WARWICK

Here's to an end of an era - Twilight film 5 has been released and the franchise is now left to box set sales the world over and to be watched by Twihards at sleepovers. I am a big fan of the books (well the first 3) and three years ago I read all four books in record time, counting the hours until New Moon was to be released...and trawled 4 cinemas, as 3 were fully booked, on opening night to watch it. At that point in time I couldn't get enough of Twilight. Now 3 years on I lack the enthusiasm and in a bid to avoid the 'full to the brink' showings and gaggles of wolf whistles and boos and yay's at every turn I decided to go and see the final instalment a few weeks after release.

In truth I always disliked Breaking Dawn. I felt that the Twilight series would have done better finishing with Eclipse in relation to it being an epic love story. Sorry, nowhere in Romeo and Juliet or Wuthering Heights (on which New Moon and Eclipse were based on) did they get married and go on a honey moon and have children...zzzzzzzzz. Ok ok Romeo and Juliet got married but you get my drift. I was also not expecting much from this film as, in the book, nothing dramatically really happens.

This is where the film has merit over the book. We see a whole new scene unravel which doesn't happen. I remember watching in suspense and confusion; desperately racking my brain to see if I had got it wrong and misremebered the ending. But alas I hadn't - this scene was obviously put in to give the film substance so hooray for that. I half thought aswell that they had changed the ending too.

On its own merit the film follows the same flow as the rest of the franchise. And is quite an enjoyable ride and a fitting final conclusion. I prefer Bella as a vampire. It's the first time she is portrayed as a strong and self assured woman. By this film, long gone is the teenage anx riddled scenes and we're left with a more mature story. I imagine watching all 5 films in order would see a great development in her character. I actually liked to see the new editions to the cast come to life, on screen, and I think they did Enesme (Bella and Edwards daughter) really well.

My favourite part of the film was the end where they did a montage of all the films, showing all the key parts to Edward and Bella's relationship, all along to the original soundtrack. I actually shed a tear or two because it took me back to when I first read the books and watched Twilight over and over again. At that point I could not getting enough of the story of forbidden love and teenage anx. I found it very fitting and emotional on how it relit these memories and bought back to the foreground what Twilight was always really about. (As Breaking Dawn Part 2 doesn't really delve into) And that is.. in the words of Carrie Bradshaw (ala Sex and The City)... love, real love, ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can't live without each other love.

Year: 2012
Classification: 12A
Duration: 115 mins
More info to be found on IMDb

Rock of Ages

REVIEW BY NATALIE WARWICK

I love rock'n'roll! put another dime in the jukebox baby.. I love rock'n'roll come and take your time and dance with me!! This review is a looong time coming, sorry Tom, alright I said sorry... unfortunately this is now out of the cinema but hopefully this review may come in handy when it comes out on Sky/DVD.  If you love Glee, you love fun, tongue in cheek movies that break out into awesome, well known, rock ballads at a drop of a hat then this will be right up your street. Be warned though, there is a very 'High School Musical' vibe going on but despite that I love it. The singings great, the story line is lots of fun and takes you on a whirlwind, fast paced journey.  For me, I was smiling and singing along the whole time; I was very entertained.

Rock of Ages, like the name suggests is the generic American dream story, set in 1987 tells the story of Sherrie Christian (Julianne Hough), a "small town girl living in a lonely world, took a midnight train..." to LA, where in a bid to become a star, gets roped into working at The Bourbon Rooms club, where she inevitable finds love and a new life. What I found a welcome surprise is that the 'cheesy fun' overlay of songs and rock outfits are supported well by a very good story line; which doesn't frail out like some movies do, which, like I said, is paced very well.

In regards to the A list/high profile cast: I was a little concerned about Russell Brand's dodgy Birmingham accent but I think that is all I didn't like about the movie. Tom Cruise plays the Axel Rose-esque character: Stacee Jaxx very well actually and let us not forget that Catherine Zeta Jones was Velma Kelly in Chicago (2002), so enough said. Alec baldwin cast as the ageing, rocker club owner was rather novel but he carried it off well too. and Paul Giamatti did what he does best as the slimy bad guy. Bravo Bravo.

Year: 2012
Classification: 12A
Duration: 123 minutes
Check more at IMDb

Love and Other Drugs

REVIEW BY NATALIE WARWICK

2011 was a good year for films but Love and Other Drugs was one of the best. I saw it twice at the cinema and just now on Sky Player. It is just as refreshing, funny, heartfelt and sad as it was the first time I watched it.

It starts in the 1990's and centres around Jamie (Jake Gyllenhalll), a member of an overachieving, medical, family and through a turn of events he becomes a pharmaceutical rep and through this meets Maggie (Anne Hathaway). A beautiful, bohemian, quick witted woman of his dreams. Cue a wirlwind romance. Sex and lots of fun. Except there's a but.. Jamie's career sky rockets as Maggie's health deteriorates putting their relationship under strain.

I always say its a romcom for adults. The love isn't some idealogical escapist fantasy it is real. A real relationship between two real people with real problems. They are relateable and likeable. The hot scenes are no way counteracted by the serious issues presented rather they are enhanced by them. My personal favourite is Jamie's brother Josh (Josh Gad) who gives most of the comic relief and has some cracking one liners. Yes I said cracking.

I love this film for many reasons because it makes me laugh, makes me go "mmm", "aweee" and cry. It touches me and one of those films I can't stop raving about.

Classification: 15
Duration: 112 mins
Year: 2010 (29th Dec!!)
More info at IMDb

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

REVIEW BY TOM WORFOLK

Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt are two of my favourite actors of the last 10 years, so when I hear that they are starring in a light comedy with a strange name then I'm all over it. I am so glad that I went to see it.

Salmon fishing in the Yemen has quite a tricky concept to grasp and I think its possibly been made a little too difficult to crasp due to the cryptic name of the film so I'll try and set it out a little more clearly - the premise of the film is about fishing for salmon in the Yemen. Wow - didn't see that one coming did you.

A visionary sheik believes his passion for the peaceful pastime of salmon fishing can enrich the lives of his people, and he dreams of bringing the sport to the not so fish-friendly desert. Willing to spare no expense, he instructs his representative (Blunt) to turn the dream into reality, an extraordinary feat that will require the involvement of Britain's leading fisheries expert (McGregor) who happens to think the project both absurd and unachievable. That is, until the Prime Minister's overzealous press secretary (Scott Thomas) latches on to it as a 'good will' story. Now, this unlikely team will put it all on the line and embark on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible, possible.

That is what the film is about but not what it is really about. The film is really about the subplot and the context of Blunt's and McGregor's characters and how their stories entwine with each other. The director here has made a beautiful film by taken a very simple premise and taking a deeper look at it rather the usual take by making it bigger and better. It had the whole cinema laughing at moments and I am sure that they were all nearly crying at others.

A big mention must go out to Kristin Scott Thomas whose character is extremely sharp and witty and she plays it to perfection.

I haven;t read the book that this film is based on so I can't comment on how true to the book it is or even if it carries the same weight but rating the film as a completely separate entity I would have to say that this film is a cracker.

Year: 2012

running time: 107 minutes

classification: 12A

For more info look on the imdb website

Midnight in Paris

REVIEW BY TOM WORFOLK

Just as Paris is a city you can't help but love, this is one of those films that you can't help but love.

Right from the start there is a happy vibe along with a relaxing and laid back overtone. Views of every part of Paris are shown in a kind of video slideshow and in any other film it wouldn't work unless it was over in half the amount of time but it just works in this film.

The film revolves around Gil (Owen Wilson) who is in Paris with his Fiancée Inez (Rachel McAdams). Gil is struggling to finish a book that he is writing but is also starting to question his relationship and so called friends. After he gets lost during a late night walk the magic starts happening.

I'm not one for spoilers so I am not going to go any further but suffice to say that the films main themes are nostalgia and modernism - and they are both covered very well.

The film is directed and written by Woody Allen and has the relaxed pace and wit you would expect to see from one of his films. If Woody was younger I am sure we would have seen him playing the main role of Gil as the Hollywood scriptwriter turned bemused author but Owen Wilson plays it very well.

If action films were like white water rafting down perilous waters then this is like sitting on the grass next to a gently flowing brook whilst sipping on Pimms and lemonade. Whilst Pimms and lemonade may not be to everyone's taste it should always be tried once and the same goes with this film - it might not stand out to you as the type of film you would usually go and see but give it a go. You never know - you just might like it.

Year: 2011

Running Time: 94 minutes

Classification: 12A

For more info go to the IMBD website

Remember Me

REVIEW BY NATALIE WARWICK

Now I'm reviewing this film first, out of all the films that I have seen in recent times, because it surprised me. To be honest I wasn't relishing the thought of another edge of your seat experience of Robert Pattison flaunting his devilish good looks and re doing his tired teenager "with issues" routine. However I was bored and flicking through the Sky player film list 'Remember me' seemed to fit the Sunday morning bill: it was a love story. end of...

Now what I expected to be a simple - boy meets girl from a different background, parents disapprove, girl and boy elope, girl dies, boy follows suit - kind of story, i'm afraid or happy to say that this love story has a greater tragic underlying which kept me gripped throughout. Both Tyler and Ally (played by Emilie De Ravin) have had tragic starts to their lives and have lost people which they dearly loved in quite awful circumstances. The opening sequence is actually quite shocking so be warned. Fast forward ten years and we meet Tyler and Ally as college undergrads studying in NewYork. Tyler firsts sets eyes on Ally in a lecture and finds out she is the daughter of a local law informer which he had had a running in with, so to teach him a lesson pursues her... falling in love along the way so cue the awkward scenes an hour and a half later when all comes out in the open.

What makes this film good, isn't their relationships but the relationships that they have with their families. Lets be clear Tyler is the epic boy "with issues" but somehow it seems justified and I'm guessing type casting may have come into play here. Robert plays the role well so we can't complain... Remember me highlights Tylers's dysfunctional relationship with his father. Played by 007 himself Pierce Brosnan, who's a rich busy corporate type and his love for his little sister, and his spiral of self loathing and despair as he approaches his 22nd birthday I think. Ally helps him by sharing her ethos of living in the moment. Although the narrative centres mostly around Tyler, we do get snippets of Ally's home life with her father and how they are struggling through after their tragic past.

Remember me is a poignant tale which, not only is thought provoking, is right out sad. It addresses the issues of grief and how it shapes people and affects how they relate to one another. I was left thinking about this film well beyond the closing credits. Please watch this if you enjoy your romances with a bit of depth. Don't be warned off if your a RomCom kinda person it's pretty easy going.

Year - 2010

Classification - 12A

Running time - 113 minutes 

For more info check the IMDB website