So after watching La La Land I had 40 minutes to chill until my next film; T2: Trainspotting, the eagerly awaited (by some) sequel to the Danny Boyle classic Trainspotting. Narrowly avoiding the crowd of middle aged women storming into Fifty Shades of Grey, I took my seat (slightly inhibited might I add) to watch a sequel I never knew I wanted, but was glad is here now.
Let me just start by saying its not as good as the first film. Obviously. I also don't think its as good as the other Irvine Welsh adaptation 'Filth', starring James McAvoy in the lead role. So calling this the 'third best film' in my so-called 'Welsh Trilogy' seems a bit harsh because it's an enjoyable film - just not as good as the two films that preceded it.
The story was a little bit weak, concentrating a little too much on nostalgia rather than plot, yet if you're a big enough fan of the first one I'm sure you wouldn't mind. This film is definitely a sequel rather than an individual film. Sometimes you have sequels you can watch without seeing the first one, this is not one of those films.
The acting is good all round, sometimes the accents can be a nuisance to understand but I'm not sure if that's because of the director, the editor, the actors or me being slightly pissed. However can't get away from some really nice moments, especially between Frank and his family.
The film wasn't bad. I'm not sure it was good either, but it wasn't what I would call a memorable experience. Although I saw this film yesterday, I can easily remember more moments from teh first film (I watched many months ago) than this one. If you liked the first one, go see it, although it might be best avoided if you haven't seen the original.
My Score: 7/10
Saturday 11 February 2017
My Oscar Predictions
It's that time of year again - OSCAR SEASON.
Here are my predictions for the 89th Academy Awards:
Here are my predictions for the 89th Academy Awards:
My Oscar Predictions:
Best Picture: La La Land
Best Actor in a Leading Role: Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea)
Best Actress in a Leading Role: Natalie Portman (Jackie)
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Mahershala Ali (Moonlight)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Viola Davis (Fences)
Best Animated Feature Film: Zootopia
Best Cinematography: Linus Sandgren (La La Land)
Best Costume Design: Madeline Fontaine (Jackie)
Best Director: Damien Chazelle (La La Land)
Best Film Editing: John Gilbert (Hacksaw Ridge)
Best Foreign Language Film: Toni Erdmann
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Star Trek Beyond
Best Music (Original Score): Justin Hurwitz (La La Land)
Best Music (Original Song): Justin Hurwitz (La La Land)
Best Production Design: David Wasco (La La Land)
Best Short film (Animated): Borrowed Time
Best Sound Editing: Ai-Ling Lee (La La Land) OR Robert Mackenzie (Hacksaw Ridge)
Best Sound Mixing: Andy Nelson (La La Land) OR Kevin O’Connel (Hacksaw Ridge)
Best Visual Effects: Robert Legato (The Jungle Book)
Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay): Barry Jenkins (Moonlight)
Best Writing (Original Screenplay): Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester by the Sea)
Some of the categories I cannot decide between because I feel this year the quality of films are so high that I find it nearly impossible. Despite not knowing how it will go on Sunday, I can only hope that I am not too drastically wrong and look like a bit of a prat.
We shall see
La La Land (2016) (Review)
So on the 10th February I went to see a double bill of La La Land followed by T2: Trainspotting, and I sat down for the long haul, eagerly anticipating the movies that lay in front of me. First up, was La La Land.
La La Land is an exceptional film. On every technical level it exceeds (although sometimes the sound mixing is poor with the actors voices slightly too quiet), and the acting and writing too exceeded my expectations and created one of the most entertaining, gripping and emotional experiences I have EVER had in a cinema.
Before the film even started my foot was tapping, my whole body buzzing for the film ahead; not since The Force Awakens (or perhaps Civil War) have I been this physically excited for a film to begin. The opening? It did NOT disappoint. From the first musical number - I was hook, line and sinker for this film.
As the film progresses Damien Chazelle's writing really comes to the foreground. Although the music was still exceptional, I found myself much more intrigued by the story and characters - without the music - than I thought I would be. I found myself drawn so far into their magnetizing relationship which drew me to the edge of my seat, the edge of happiness. I didn't want to fall in. But I did.
The last ten minutes destroyed me. I fell over the edge and into the dark depths of broken love. I could barely hold off the tears as we witness, from Seb's perspective what could of been, something so common for us as a society to do. We always look to what could of been, sometimes never truly living in the moment of what we have. That final look between Seb and Mia ruined me. If the film wasn't going to get a glistening review before those final ten minutes, it would be now.
La La Land was one of the greatest experiences I can remember in recent memory of having in a cinema. It was exciting, bold and, throughout, exceptionally beautiful. This is how cinema should be.
My Score: 9/10
La La Land is an exceptional film. On every technical level it exceeds (although sometimes the sound mixing is poor with the actors voices slightly too quiet), and the acting and writing too exceeded my expectations and created one of the most entertaining, gripping and emotional experiences I have EVER had in a cinema.
Before the film even started my foot was tapping, my whole body buzzing for the film ahead; not since The Force Awakens (or perhaps Civil War) have I been this physically excited for a film to begin. The opening? It did NOT disappoint. From the first musical number - I was hook, line and sinker for this film.
As the film progresses Damien Chazelle's writing really comes to the foreground. Although the music was still exceptional, I found myself much more intrigued by the story and characters - without the music - than I thought I would be. I found myself drawn so far into their magnetizing relationship which drew me to the edge of my seat, the edge of happiness. I didn't want to fall in. But I did.
The last ten minutes destroyed me. I fell over the edge and into the dark depths of broken love. I could barely hold off the tears as we witness, from Seb's perspective what could of been, something so common for us as a society to do. We always look to what could of been, sometimes never truly living in the moment of what we have. That final look between Seb and Mia ruined me. If the film wasn't going to get a glistening review before those final ten minutes, it would be now.
La La Land was one of the greatest experiences I can remember in recent memory of having in a cinema. It was exciting, bold and, throughout, exceptionally beautiful. This is how cinema should be.
My Score: 9/10
Thursday 9 February 2017
Returning to post!
You may not care, hell, who does? But I am returning to this blog to post film reviews through 2017. Whoop? I guess.
I'm hoping to post here pretty regular my thoughts on new films, classic films, bad films and just film in general. So stay tuned! Or don't. Its ok.
- James
I'm hoping to post here pretty regular my thoughts on new films, classic films, bad films and just film in general. So stay tuned! Or don't. Its ok.
- James
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