Scenes from a Marriage - 1973 ****

'Scenes from a Marriage' is many things. Bleak, desolate, depressing, positive, hopeful, heartbreaking. But the thing that stands out most about it is how powerful and interesting it actually is. Weighing in at nearly three hours long, and originally broadcast as a mini series, it could be accused of being heavy. 

Ingmar Bergman again focuses on the emotions and character development as opposes to a strong narrative. 

It's intense, and the whole film revolves around a couple's disintegrating marriage. Things start off well, with the couple seemingly happy, but then put of the blue the husband returns from a trip to Europe to say that he has fallen in love with a younger woman. He leaves to be with her, then comes back six months later.

Both characters are incredibly unlikeable, the husband, thoughtless and chauvinistic and the wife, pathetic and desperate. (When the man goes to leave his wife, instead of begging her forgiveness, he insults and criticises her and lists all the reasons he hates her, dhe in turn apologises to him and offers to help him pack!)   

Whether the film reaches a conclusion is really up to the individual viewer. The pair don't seem to be able to live with or without each other which seems to make the whole film utterly pointless anyway. 

(HORROR) Sawney: Flesh of Man - 2013 *

This had surprisingly good reviews for a film about a cannibal so I wasn't too worried about watching it. It turned out however to be nothing like I had imagined. Awful. Diabolical even. 

Sawney Bean is a perverted, blood lusting lunatic who captures women on their way back from parties and clubs and cuts them up into little pieces. 

The acting was bad. And I didn't get much of a sense of the story which I had been hoping for. It's one of those legends that I don't know much about. 

I'll maybe research him a bit more, but by books, not awful horror films. 

The Knack... And How to Get It - 1965 ***

When I was about ten I caught a clip on one of my Dad's VHS's of Rita Tushingham running up and down the road telling 'Rayyype' at every possible moment. I never knew what film that clip came from, but not I've seen this, I do.

For a film that is so positively reviewed as me of the 'landmark' films of the 1960s I found it moderately funny, and just a bit silly. Colin, Tolen and Tom share an apartment, but that is about all they have in common. Tolen is a womanising chauvinist while Colin is calm and sensible. Tolen is so narcissistic that he believes he can teach Colin how to hook up with as many women as he does. This is 'The Knack'. Tom is neutral and doesn't really think much about anything.

Nancy is a skittish, frankly infuriating woman who bumps into them whilst they are out trying to purchase a bed and proceeds to take over all three of the men's lives (and apartment). I thought it was too obscure and too 'quirky' for its time, although I quite liked Michael Crawford not yelping 'Bettayyy' at every available moment. 

If you want a good 1960's film try something like 'Georgy Girl'. 

The Look of Love - 2013 **

Steve Coogan doesn't do well in drama. I don't mean to typecast him as someone who can only do Alan Partridge but I just don't find him particularly receptive in films where he can't make me chuckle. Here he plays the kingpin Paul Raymond who builds a business empire in 1960s Soho, introducing the risqué topic of naked and bikini clad women into his cabaret shows. He balances a troubles relationship with his wife and his daughter, and soon becomes infatuated with one of his young, inexperienced girls. 

Can't say I thought much of it. 

Sensation Hunters - 1933 ***

'Sensation Hunters' doesn't particularly stand out, although it was apparently good enough for a remake to be made 10+ years later. 

A woman named Dale is taken under the wing of the aristocratic first class passengers of a Pacific liner, but is soon outed as a cabaret girl and shunned by society. 

It wasn't bad, and Arline Judge is quite good in her part. 

(HORROR) Neighbor - 2009 *

 What is this film? What is the point of it? A woman moves into a house in a nice neighborhood and proceeds to go about murdering people who get in her way. People seem to be rating this highly, but why I have no idea. 

Please don't waste your time.

(HORROR) Watch Me 2006 *

A hideously awful film about a cinema student whose friends are murdered one by one after watching a video tape. That's original isn't it. Oh dear.

Me and You - 2012 *

Very slow film about a quiet boy who pretends to be going on a week long school skiing trip and instead spends the week in his mother's basement with his favourite food and books.His tranquility is disturbed by the arrival of his stepsister who is in the middle of coming off drugs and needs a place to crash.
It's not much of a film, and the lead actor is incredibly annoying and uncommunicative.

Rage - 2009 **

The only highlight from 'Rage' is Jude Law sporting a dress, a wig and a bizarre Russian accent.
'Rage' is simply scene after scene of characters involved in the fashion industry talking to an unknown interviewer who is filming them on his phone.
It starts off well, and it's a unique idea for a film, but after half an hour or so it just becomes a drag. Most of the actors are well known and it's a shame that they don't have much of a platform to really act on. I had gone to watch this primarily for Lily Cole but found she could barely do anything with what she had.

Four Rooms - 1995 ***

I never knew Tim Roth could do funny, but here he is, playing a frazzled bellboy at a hotel on New Year's Eve to a variety of witty, surprising and downright hilarious guests. There are four segments, each focuses on a different room and a different variety of guests, but all involve Theodore 'Ted' who feels himself getting slowly madder as the night goes on. 

Quentin Tarantino, Bruce Willis, Madonna and Antonio Banderas all make appearances. 

The Paperboy - 2012 *****

I would expect anyone with an ounce of a brain to approach this with trepidation after seeing Zac Efron's name on the poster.

Seriously, I haven't seen anything like this ever before, but it was amazing. I really loved it. It sort of reminded me of 'In the Heat of the Night'. In many scenes you can almost feel the heat and sweat dripping off the characters. Nicole Kidman was the standout performance here although I must say (and I'm going to get shot for saying this) but Zac Efron wasn't as bad as I thought he was going to be. The story revolves around John Cusack's character who is languishing in jail after being found guilty of murder. Nicole Kidman is his adoring but spunky pen pal, who, believing that he is innocent, teams up with two reporters to try and investigate the story and ultimately clear his name. 

Kidman's makeup is fantastic, and her character is so gutsy and savvy that she becomes the centre of Efron's infatuation. 

This is a brilliant film. Kudos to director Lee Daniels for coming up with such an excellent end result. 

Cougar Club - 2007 **

There seems to be a fascination with older women being seduced by younger men in American films. It's very odd. And I suppose this wasn't a bad film as cheesy films go, and the plot didn't rot my brain any more than usual. A couple of Yale graduates decide that they will be be able to earn lots of money hosting exclusive parties that only members of the expensive 'Cougar Club' can attend. It all backfires of course, but is still fairly funny. 

Pervert! - 2005 **

A very ridiculous and over the top movie. Lots of breast shots and pointless nudity. Quite funny in parts, but overall just bad. Don't bother. 

Vampire's Kiss - 1988 *

'Vampire's Kiss' is a joke of a film. It has a huge cult following due to one frankly forgettable scene involving ingesting a cockroach, but apart from that the pace is slow. And then fast. Then nauseatingly slow again. Nicholas Cage is the sort of actor who makes it difficult to distinguish of he is actually acting or just being himself. Here it couldn't be more obvious that he cannot act to save his life.

Cattle Call - 2006 *

Except for the very funny 'Vacation' movies, National Lampoon is a bit of a damp squib. It's just a vague name that people associate with comedy when in actual fact the company send to churn out the most awful junk imaginable.
'Cattle Call' is no exception. It's quite literally horrendous with such an embarrassing story that it will make you weep. The idea of 'auditioning' women to be your girlfriend without them knowing just really annoyed me! It seemed utterly sexist and chauvinistic. It wasn't funny either.

Carrie - 2013 **

I can't say the original film is one of my favourites, but it still had a certain quality that was utterly absent here. The main star was captivating as Carrie, but nowhere near as perfect for the part as Sissy Spacek was. The film is supposed to include a religious and psychotic mother who constantly grinds Carrie into the ground, but this didn't seem to be present here. Julianne Moore was moderately harsh and unkind, but no way near on the same level as Piper Laurie. I thought it was important for the mother to be unhinged so that it enhances Carrie's pent up angst and aggression but it wasn't to be here.
Certain scenes were good, but nothing topped the original shower scene or the prom one. Maybe too tame? Either way, it's best to see the original and maybe watch this only if nothing else is available.

You're Next - 2011 *

'You're Next' tries to follow in the footsteps of successful "home invasion" films such as 'The Strangers' and Funny Games' but just doesn't work. The whole idea of the film, and the 'surprise twist' towards the end are simply pointless, and do little to enhance what is already a bit of a mish-mash.
A group of relatives all spend the evening at the large house owned by one of them.
Throughout the night they are harassed and terrified by a group of masked villains who try to get inside the house, and cut off all outside contact for the trapped people inside.
It sounds good but it's not, the acting is atrocious, and the motives and opinions of the family are just dire.

The Moth Diaries - 2011 ****

A surprisingly haunting and eerie film, and Lily Cole is just extraordinary to watch. She has a certain beauty to her that reminds me of a Japanese doll, with huge eyes and a tiny mouth.
She plays Ernessa, a mysterious girl who turns up at an all girls boarding school and gradually integrates herself into the middle of a close friendship between two girls. Ernessa isn't all that she seems however, and before long she is threatening the close bond the two girls already have.
I enjoyed the film a lot, found it tense, and found the Marina and the Diamonds track 'Numb' at the end summed up the whole ethereal quality of the film.

A Few Best Men - 2011 ***

Was a bit hesitant about watching this especially seeing Kris Marshall. He's generally far too over the top for me, but he actually worked here. He meshed well with the other characters - the do holder groom, the hopeless manic depressive friend, and the 'heading for trouble wherever he goes' pal. Olivia Newton-John didn't stand out, but it didn't matter. Some hilarious head trippy scenes ensue,including a gay drug dealer and a cocaine smuggling goat, and it was worth the ride.

Rogue - 2007 ****

Genuinely scary creature feature about a group of tourists experiencing a boat tour in Australia and becoming stranded after a terrifyingly giant crocodile knocks their vessel to shore. They then have to try and manoeuvre themselves to safety on the other side of the river without going anywhere near the water. I was surprised and impressed with this (except for the reactions of the tourists when their loved ones are ripped to bits which was pretty bad).

Fired Up - 2009 ***

I found this pretty funny to be honest. I've come to realise that american comedy usually goes out its way to objectify women and we have to contend with shot after shot of breasts, arses and fake tan. Instead of moaning about it I may as well just try and grasp what humour there is in the selected film.
This movie is very like that, except most of the shots are cheerleader related as two stupid but loveable jocks find themselves in the centre of a cheerleading squad. It was good.

Cult Rescue - 1994 **

Infuriating movie about a wife and mother who falls prey to a dangerous individual who leads a cult. Nora begins having agonising back and head pain and goes to see a 'new age' doctor who she believes will cure her. What she doesn't realise is that his deep meditation techniques are actually infiltrating her deepest subconscious and changing her way of thinking towards her family and her life.
Its very frustrating seeing someone being brainwashed with absolutely no control.

Gettin' It - 2006 ***

Teen comedy about a shy and unpopular virgin who, after a misunderstanding about his "size" becomes popular beyond his wildest dreams with all the women in his town. It's silly and immature but quite amusing.

(HORROR) Open Graves - 2009 *

A sort of poor version of 'Final Destination' where each main character is doomed and cannot cheat death that comes in the form of a dragonfly.
In Spain a group of friends stumble upon an eerie board game of Mambo, which curses all who play it. None of them believe it however, and of course horrific things start happening. Pretty poor offering really, even with the beautiful Eliza Dushku.

Cougar Hunting - 2011 ***

Not a bad film, rather humorous. About three guys in dead end jobs who decide to go Aspen to flirt with, and hopefully sleep with as many 'cougars' as possible.
Its your typical American idiotic men storyline, but its still quite funny.