Autumn Views...

Gravity - 4 stars ****

I actually ended up seeing this on the day it came out, completely by chance, as the girls and me fancied a trip to the cinema and happened to notice this was playing. Although I'd seen the trailer a few times, it didn't quite register whilst I was buying the tickets, so I bypassed the 3D showing in favour of the cheaper 2D version, and then realised my mistake! We decided to see it anyway, and though I must admit it would have been a much better experience in 3D, it was still a great film.

It doesn't have a very complicated storyline, as the main focus is on the special effects, the 3D element and the massive build up of suspense throughout, which it creates very well - it was probably my most stressful and traumatic film experience! It takes place in space, where medical engineer Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and astronaut Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) are stationed on a mission, when some debris hits them, killing their fellow crew member and separating them from their base, and each other. The next 75 minutes is the aftermath - every jaw dropping, heart pounding, adrenaline rushing minute of it.

Bullock steals the show as Ryan, who has to face her demons and push herself to the limits in order to survive, and Clooney is a loveable rogue providing some light comic relief from the catastrophe that ensues around him. I would urge anyone thinking of watching this movie to see it, and definitely opt for the 3D variation. There are so many moments when it could have turned something picturesque into something beautiful, and a quick intake of breath into a ' jump out of your seat' scene that it is worth the extra £2.50!

Summer Reads...

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger - 4 stars ****

I picked this book up in a charity shop after seeing that it was written by the same author as The Time Traveller's Wife, which though I haven't read, I have heard is excellent. It tells the story of a pair of 21 year old American twins, Valentina and Julia, who move to London after being left their Aunt Elspeth's flat (who also happens to be their mother Edie's twin) in her will when she dies of cancer. This may sound fairly usual, except that there are conditions they must follow. They have to live there together, for at least a year, and their parents aren't allowed to visit due to an old feud between Elspeth and Edie that is unspoken of.

The flat is next to a graveyard, where Elspeth's long-time partner, Robert, works, who also happens to live in the flat below. The flat above is inhabited by Martin, a crossword writer whose wife leaves him due to his excessive OCD. The book follows the motley crew as they become accustomed to their new situations, which often leads them together.

So far, although interesting, it sounds pretty normal doesn't it? Add to the mix the fact that Elspeth's ghost is trapped in the girls' flat, and has a habit of making her presence known, and it is a whole other kettle of fish.

This book is not only both well written and planned out, but also hugely original. Don't be put off by the fact that there are supernatural powers at work, if that is not your bag; this is definitely not a normal ghost story. A completely unexpected twist at the end really made this for me, and I would recommend it to anyone who fancies a change from the norm. Reading this has made me keen to search out Niffenegger's other work.

Spring Reads...

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton - 4 stars ****

This book has taken me forever to read, but not due to it being boring, simply because I barely have time to pick up a book nowadays! I bought it from a charity shop as I have read Kate Morton's previous two books and loved them, although this is probably her weakest if I'm honest. This isn't due to anything other than the superiority of the others, and it is still a very pleasurable read that I would recommend.

It is predominantly about three sisters (Juniper, Serafina 'Saffy', and Persephone 'Percy' Blythe) who live in a big castle called Milderhurst in the English countryside. They have been there their entire life, through wars, deaths and drama, and are now very elderly women existing in a state of disrepair. 

A publisher called Edie is asked to write the opening to a book called The True History Of The Mudman, which was written by the sisters late father Raymond Blythe. Despite being a creative genius, he was a troubled man, who suffered with delusions and attacks of paranoia, something that was passed on to his daughter Juniper. Edie is particularly fond of the book, and she unearths a major coincidence when she discovers that her own mother was evacuated to the castle during the war. She visits the area to question the sisters about their lives, and so begins a tale that flits between past and present and from character to character in order to explain their individual stories.

This book was brilliant in that every character was completely different and had very realistic personality traits, showcasing their flaws and secrets perfectly, and the language used is quite beautiful:

'And it had seemed to Tom, as it still seemed now, that Juniper was just like that flower. An object of unfathomable perfection in a world that was breaking apart. It wasn't only the way she looked, and it wasn't only the things she said. It was something else, an intangible essence, a confidence, a strength, as if she were connected somehow to the mechanism that drove the world. She was the breeze on a summer's day, the first drops of rain when the earth was parched, light from the evening star.'

It takes a while to get into as there are so many different scenes that must be set, and because of this it is broken up into five separate parts each addressing a different person within the story.

This book really does put you through emotional turmoil. It is traumatic, moving, shocking, endearing, tragic and very intricately woven, so it leaves you connecting all the pieces until the very end, and indeed afterwards. I can't wait to read Morton's latest masterpiece!

Candid Article 25

Here's the link to my latest article!

http://candidonline.com/dvd-review-chained/

Summer Views...

The Dark Knight Rises - 5 stars *****

Before I went to Tenerife, I went to see this with my friends after work one night as I had wanted to see it for a while. I loved The Dark Knight, but haven't actually seen Batman Begins - I don't think it makes much of a difference though as they are all good stories in their own right.

This is the tale of Batman eight years on from the last film, and in this time he has become akin to an old man, weak and reclusive, locking himself away in his grand house. This is due mainly to the public, who have taken a disliking to him after he took the blame for Harvey Dent's crimes. However, the terrorist acts of a new threat - Bane - forces the superhero to come out of hiding to challenge him. 

He must work to regain his strength, and it is during his rigorous training that as an audience you really get a grip on the depths of the character of Bruce Wayne. It is refreshing to see a superhero fail, and struggle to come to terms with his own weaknesses; it makes it that much more emotionally involving - I totally welled up at various points throughout this!

There are a few new characters in this, local policeman John Blake (cutie Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and most noticeably love interests Anne Hathaway as Cat Woman and Marion Cottillard as Miranda, who both provide eye candy for males in the audience, not least due to a certain leather catsuit. I personally love Cottillard, and it was great to see her playing a slightly different role in this, as there was a great twist for her character in the end.

The film overall was brilliant, slick, action-packed, gripping, believable, and contained a score of highly talented actors who really brought the picture to life. It was pretty long (over 2 1/2 hours!) but not once did my attention wane, and I think that is the symbol of a truly awesome piece of cinema. A few people I have spoken to have said it is the best film of 2012, and I can honestly say that I don't doubt it for a second.

Winter Views...

The Woman In Black - 3 stars ***

I went to see this as I saw the stage production of it whilst on holiday in Edinburgh with my boyfriend, and it was so creepy! I was interested to see if the chill-factor translated as well when it was adapted for the silver screen. 

When I heard that Daniel Radcliffe was playing the lead, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed. Having not seen him in anything since Harry Potter (and not being particularly enamoured of him in that) I didn't think he would do the role justice, and also thought it very odd that he was cast in a role that requires him to have a 4 year old son, when he looks little over 18, despite the addition of facial hair! Even so, I was willing to give it, and him, a try.

Basically the story is about a young widowed solicitor, who moves to a remote area to go through some papers left by a lady who has died. Whilst he is staying there he starts to see a mysterious lady, and young children begin to die in freakish accidents. The longer he stays, the more time he has to delve into the history of the area, where he learns that similar accidents have occurred whenever newcomers move into the house. He vows to solve the mystery, to no avail.

I think the main problem with this film, aside from Radcliffe, who didn't do anything to change my former opinion of him, is that it has had unnecessary parts added to it to make the audience jump (look away when he touches the window!). I personally feel that the plot is scary enough, especially with the twist at the end, so no extra bumps in the night were needed. But that's Hollywood I guess.

It is worth watching if you want a cheap thrill with a very good story behind it. But personally I would recommend seeing it at the theatre, for a much more spine-tingling experience.

Winter Views...

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - 5 stars *****

I was eagerly awaiting the release of this film after seeing a billboard advertising it over summer, and being an avid fan of the books, I was excited. I never got around to watching the original Swedish versions of the films, but heard they are very good, so they are on my to-see list.
The plot is pretty complicated, so I'm going to cheat and say you can find it on Wikipedia using the link at the bottom of the page. Otherwise I'd spend this whole post going over the storyline and not actually talking about what a brilliant film it is.
First of all the cinematography in this is awesome, there are loads of great scenery shots, and techniques that are effectively used to really visually enhance the movie. The standard of acting is great, but then it is Daniel Craig who plays the lead, so it was always going to be a pretty safe bet. However, backing from Stellan Skarsgard (Bootstrap Bill in Pirates of the Caribbean) and Joely Richardson adds icing to the cake, and the actor who plays the 'baddie' is nasty in a really spine-tingling way - he would make even the most mild-mannered of people want to kill him. Perhaps the person who caught my eye the most though, was Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander, the lead female. Not attractive in a standard way, but the feistiness and 'don't care' attitude that she exudes really blows you away, and as a fan of alternative looking people, I had quite the girl-crush on her!  
A word of warning to those thinking of watching this though. There are quite a few scenes that are very graphic and emotionally disturbing, so if you are not good with violence or blood, then perhaps give this one a miss. I must admit, I was quite shocked at the level of intensity that some scenes showed considering this had a pretty mainstream Hollywood cast. I knew the Swedish version was very loyal to the book (which is 463 pages long and very detailed!) but I expected a diluted version from an American adaptation. It's a good thing though, as it doesn't lose any of the grittiness and drama of the book.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Girl_with_the_Dragon_Tattoo

Spring Views...

Limitless- 4 stars ****

This was a spur of the moment view, as I had some vouchers for two free tickets to use, and it was all that was on that suited the times we were free. After watching the advert, I thought it actually looked pretty good, and Bradley Cooper being the star meant even if the film was rubbish, at least there would be something nice to look at.

I didn't have to resort to this though, as the film was well worth seeing. It tells the story of Edward Morra, a guy struggling for inspiration to write his book, and recently dumped by his girlfriend due to his lack of motivation. One day he bumps into the drug dealing brother of his ex-wife, who lets him sample a new drug- NZT-48, that lets humans access 100% of their brains rather than the normal 20%. After one dose, he completes the first section of his book, and cleans himself up, causing him to want more of the substance that makes him so productive.

So begins a twisted tale, of criminals, cheats, success and failure, as Edward rises to the top of a business run by Robert de Niro and regains his girlfriend, but at the expense of his safety and privacy. Bradley Cooper does the role huge justice, showing many facets as he goes from slob to charismatic leader to hard faced businessman, and hearing him speak French shows that he is not just a pretty face!

There were some brilliant camera shots in this, most notably the beginning, when it zoomed through images of the inside of a brain, through city streets and buildings, all at super speed. It sort of hurt my eyes, but in a good, trippy kind of way, that added an extra dimension to the film. This effect returned later in the movie when Edward started to experience blackouts, and it was a very clever way of showing the audience how it must have been for the character.

The only downfall to this film for me, was the slightly rushed ending. Upon leaving, I had to go through and rethink certain conclusions that I felt despite having massive run ups to them, had been revealed too speedily at the finale. It did create a talking point on the journey home though, so it did have its benefits!

Winter Views...

Black Swan- 5 stars *****

I was eagerly awaiting this to come out, after I saw it featured on Film 2011 before Christmas. I am a huge Natalie Portman fan, and after reading the synopsis on IMDB it seemed like the type of film I would enjoy. I'd spoken to a few people who had seen it and they all raved that it was amazing, so I had high hopes.

The story is pretty simple, a senior dancer (Winona Ryder) retires from a ballet company, leaving the top spot in need of a new star. Nina (Portman) has been at the company for a long time, and works hard to obtain the role- as the Swan Queen in Swan Lake. However, despite embodying the innocence of the White Swan, she also needs to show the seduction of the Black Swan. Another of the dancers, Lily (Mila Kunis) is much better at this side of the role, and the competition and demands of the performance play with Nina's sanity. She suffers from hallucinations and becomes deluded that Lily is trying to steal her part, forcing her to undergo a complete transformation. It is the epitome of a psychological thriller, and is directed by Darren Aronofsky, famous for The Wrestler.

It sounds like an average plot, and to be fair, after the first half an hour I was getting a little impatient for it to 'get on with it', but then I must have spoken too soon. Cue lesbian sex, self-harm and masturbation scenes, coupled with frantic music and more than a few scream/ jump out of your seat moments. I honestly came out of the cinema a nervous wreck, and it is possibly one of the most traumatic films I have ever seen. This seemed to be the general consensus; as upon leaving we were all chattering away about how frightened we were and which bits were the most chilling.

Looking past the fact that it scared me witless, you have to congratulate such a bold film. It goes to places that would make the inner prude come out of the most sexual of people, and the cast are all fully committed to the roles they play. Natalie Portman is perfectly cast, as not only does she portray the temperament of the character, but she has the tiny skeletal frame that is commonplace amongst many professional ballet dancers.

I would recommend this film if you want to see something different- it is sure to be spoken about a lot this year so make sure you don't miss out! Just go prepared with a hand to squeeze and a jacket to cover your eyes!

Summer Views...

Inception- 5 stars *****
I was really looking forward to seeing this film, after basically all of my friends had seen it and given it rave reviews. I went without knowing anything about it, except that it was directed by Christopher Nolan, famous for The Dark Knight. As I throughly enjoyed that when I saw it, I had high hopes for anything else spawned from the same mind.

Looking at the cast, including the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael Caine, it is clear from the beginning that it is a very high budget piece of film. The whole concept of the plot is one that is very abstract, but one possible to acheive without the use of special effects all the time (though as in any Hollywood blockbuster, they are not spared). As such, there are a huge number of scenes that look like they could have cost millions to produce, but the end result is one of believability rather than fake overly computer generated footage.

Though it is a long film (two hours and twenty eight minutes) it keeps you gripped throughout, not just because of the beautiful cinematography and excellent cast, but also as the plotline is so complex that if you turn away for a second, you can miss something crucial to the overall piece. Without giving anything away, the simple summary of the story is that Dom Cobb (DiCaprio) is an extractor; someone capable of entering peoples' dreams and stealing the deepest secrets from their subconscious. However, this is not a career that has produced favourable results, as he has lost things dear to him through past endeavours. In a final job in order to obtain that which he has lost, he must use his talents in a different way; to plant an idea into a subject's head so as to manipulate him into a business decision. Along with a selected team (including Ellen Page and Joseph Gordon-Levitt) each with their own useful abilities, he attempts this task of inception, whilst battling his own inner demons along the way.
I found the acting to be of a high standard in both the familiar, and less well known faces, and the cast all seemed very fluid together, with noone appearing out of place. Also as a fan of Marion Cotillard, I found her portrayal of Mal, Cobb's wife, both haunting and heartbreaking, and it was a role that felt tailor made for her.
Inception was a brilliant film, one which I would happily see again. It left me thinking at the end, not just because of the unexpected twist, but because of the deep topics that it focused on. It was one of those quite hard-hitting movies that almost drains you as you process the complexity of the back story and all it encompasses, but in a good way.