And The Winner Is....

My word! I have so many films to review!!!

But first things first.

A week yesterday was the end of our annual film week (Woohoo.) Last year was very official.. We had notepads and rated the films to decide a winner. We scraped that. This year was about enjoyment. We didn't decide a winner all together but I know what came out on top for me. (Note: The winner isn't my favourite out of the films on the list. Just the one that I enjoyed most in film week.)

Here are the films:

• DAY 1


• The Beach (****)
  
• Moon (*****)


• Goodfellas (*****)


• The Good, The Bad and The Weird (See previous review)


• DAY 2


• Into The Wild (****)


• The Holy Grail (*****)


• The Pianist (*****)


• Being John Malkovich (*****)


• DAY 3


• In Bruges (*****)


• Brick (*****)


• Walk The Line (****)


• The Shining (*****)


• DAY 4


• Leon (We were half asleep - or asleep- for (ooer))


• Garden State (****)


• Taxi Driver (Which we never got around to.. This year or last year.)


• [500] Days Of Summer (*****)
  

You can tell from my mini star ratings which films I loved.

But the winner is.........

[500] Days Of Summer!

So lets review it.

The story of one man called Tom and his love with Summer. A girl... Not the season. The tag line of the movie is, 'Boy meets Girl. Boy falls in love. Girl doesn't.' Sound original? No? Well it is. Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) works in an office and falls for colleague Summer (Zooey Deschanel.) She may or may not love him back. We follow the 500 days of their relationship, good and bad, but not in chronological order. We jump from day 22 to 204. (Maybe not those exact days but you get the point.)

The film doesn't take itself too serious. We're randomly treated to a documentary about love with opinions from characters. There is a huge dance sequence complete with an animated bird. There is a split-scene comparison between reality and expectations for a whole scene. The film is very funny. Check out the date scene in Ikea, "Honey. I don't know how to tell you this, but there is a Chinese family in our bathroom." But it is also sad... After all it is (not) a love story.

The soundtrack is epic. Every song is brilliantly selected. Some camera work is outstanding and the acting is just... wow.

Watch this movie. No exception.

Best bit? Either the dance sequence or the first date to Ikea. Classic.

Night At Grosse Pointe With A Wild Target.

I have a list of films to review building up so forgive me for some short reviews. And also I apologise for the extreme lack in blogs recently. I've had exams and performances etc.

Lets start at the most recent film I watched on the television box.

Night At The Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian.

This is a film that will be enjoyed by all ages. Kids will love it for the funny slapstick and prat falls and we older folk will enjoy it for the clever references t

o real (and fictional) historical characters. A pity though.. The original had a lot less characters and so it was a lot easier to focus on them and they became very funny. Unfortunately this had twice as many characters and just too much going on to focus on. Larry (Stiller) sets off to DC to save his favourite exhibits but the magic tablet soon falls into the hands of evil Pharaoh Kahmunrah and events begin to get out of hand.

Einstein's clones had been in short supply.

But all is not lost! The few characters that actually had more than ten minutes screen time were as hilarious as ever and very well acted. I'm speaking of course of the wondrous Amy Adams as Amilia Earhart who performed her part very well. But Owen Wilson and Steve Coogan as Jedediah and Octavius stole the show again with their miniature antics like stabbing the toes of the baddies and confronting squirrels.

Overall not a bad film but nothing special. Good if you're just wanting to relax on a lazy afternoon.

Best Bit? The Einstein bobble heads. "All together now! Zats ze vay uh huh uh huh ve like it"

Next up, Grosse Pointe Blank.

Starring one of my favourite actors around , John Cusack, Grosse Pointe Blank already looks good. And it is. I always like a good black comedy and this is almost too light to be put with this particular genre. But I suppose if Martin Blank (Cusack) wasn't a hit man then there would be no comedy or darkness. When a job happens to be in the same place and time as his high school reunion he has a decision to make. Find his high school love? Or do his job?
Cusack is awesome and funny as always and his co-star Minne Driver is stunningly beautiful and incredible. Its a really enjoyable film with some laugh out loud moments and also some real touching stuff. Who says hit men can't have hearts? We'll come onto that next review. The soundtrack kicks ass and the action sequences are awesome.

A must see if you ask me. Really fun and really cool.

Best bit? The awesome fight scene near the end.

Finally another comedy about a hit man, but this time with an aura of British humour. Bill Nighy stars as Victor Maynard, the best British hit man around. But when he's put on a job to kill the beautiful Rose (Emily Blunt) things get out of hand. It's a British film through and through and very funny. But the show stealer here is Rupert Grint. His comedy timing is superb and he's actually a really good actor. Well done to him for moving on before the end of Harry Potter to show his range.

Bill soon realised his mistake; never trust a ginger with a gun.

Their lack of souls makes them born killers.

Sure the film had some jokes that weren't funny and some scenes which didn't quite make sense but brilliant performances all round. It's worth a watch if you like British humour. In Bruges fans.. Pre-order the DVD now.


Best bit? Any of Rupert Grint's moments. He's perfection in the form of a ginger.