In which Martyn, Gerrod, Pete and Ash review the 1996 film ‘From Dusk till dawn’.
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Hitchcock has been promoted as a behind the scenes look at the production of Psycho, but
it’s nothing more than a movie based on speculation and guess work. What follows is a complete mess of a movie that comes across as a GCSE drama group, trying their best.
Anthony Hopkins plays the famous master of suspense and is stuck in a fat suit and the least convincing facial prosthetics, since a 1960’s episode of Doctor Who.
It opens with Hitchcock’s relationship with the public, it then quickly turns into a look at Hitchcock’s private life, which has seemingly just been fabricated by the makers of the film.There’s a scene where Hitch watches Vera Miles (Jessica Beil) undress, through the Norman hole. He also leers at women through a window and has a “special” collection of 8×10 photos. We’re told that Alma (Hellen Mirren) made invaluable contributions to her husband’s work and that they saw each other as collaborators and had equal respect for each other. They then show her to be an attention-starved woman, who is considering an affair with studio hack, Whit (Danny Huston).
Those looking for an interesting biopic into the man’s life, will be bitterly disappointed. It’s interesting that the film makers weren’t allowed to use a frame from Psycho, I believe they weren’t even allowed to use the soundtrack, the famous shower score is the Danny Elfman remix, from the 1998 Psycho remake. It’s also interesting that Hitchcock’s daughter doesn’t feature, she isn’t even mentioned. Wait for this to come on TV.
Hitchcock is released in the UK on February 8th
⭐️
Taken 2 sees Liam Neeson reprise his role as 
Bryan Mills, the man with a “certain set of skills”. Taken 2 is not a particularly good film, but it’s not THAT bad either.
The action takes place in Istanbul, Bryan is now back on active duty as a private bodyguard for the rich and famous. His ex-wife and daughter decide to fly out and surprise him. The families of the gangsters of the first film, seeking to avenge the people Bryan killed. He and his wife are taken and he then gives his certain set of skills to his daughter, over a mini-phone he keeps in his sock.
There are some intense sequences, but the action is not quite as good as the first film, the writing is generic and the editing pretty convoluted and kinetic, sometimes working and sometimes not. What really hurts the film is the fact that the studio pushed for a lower rating, so there is a lot of ‘cut to gun firing, cut to a body falling on the floor’ moments. The most laughable death occurs when Liam Neeson breaks someone’s neck, simply by putting his arm under the man’s nose.
There are also some huge logic gaps in the film, Bryan and Kim steal a cab, crash through the US embassy and the US embassy just seemingly let Bryan go back to shoot up Istanbul. Strangely the film succeeds in entertaining, I was never bored. If you’re looking for an engaging action film, stick Taken on. If you’re looking for something to watch at the end of a hard day, stick Taken 2 on. Look out for the inevitable Taken 3, where it turns out Kim’s boyfriend is the gangster’s second son, Marco.
DVD extras
Taken 2 is released on DVD on February 4th, 2013.
In which Martyn gets drunk and he and Gerrod discuss the 2012 films, The Sweeney and, Dredd.
This is a raw, unedited discussion by two drunk people. Enjoy. Play along at home, by listening out for Gerrod’s ghost and our secret word ‘mouse’.
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“Fill a bowl with boiling water and washing up liquid, this is two sets of Marigold problem”.
Being Human returns at the end of the week and gets off to a flying start
. Tom, Hal and Alex (Michael Socha, Damien Molony and Kate Bracken) return as our supernatural trio.
The story picks up a few weeks after the events of series 4. Tom and Hal are still grieving for Eve and Annie-though neither are mentioned, which is a very smart move. Series 5 is about as distant as we could get from the original show and, that’s no bad thing.
Michael Socha and Damien Malony reprise their roles effortlessly. Hal and Tom have managed to inject the humour that vanished in the later part of George and Mitchell’s tenure. Kate Bracken is brilliant as Alex and is a million miles away from Annie.
This is a great first episode and will no doubt win over any George and Mitchell fan-girls, or general naysayers that felt Being Human had lost its spark. I’m going to call it now, a sixth series is a given.
Being Human returns to BBC Three, February 3rd at 10 pm
What you lookin’ at, slag?
In 2007, Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg brought us Hot Fuzz. Hot Fuzz was the answer to the question ‘why doesn’t Britain make big, over the top cop movies’. Everybody involved in this has clearly never seen Hot Fuzz.
Now, it’s not that the Sweeney is a bad film, it really isn’t. It just isn’t the Sweeney. It’s directed by the uber-talented Nick Love. the problem is, Love seems to think he is directing the next big classic. But, this isn’t Heat, and Winstone and Plan B aren’t DeNiro and Pacino. However, Ray Winstone is well cast as Reagan and puts in one of his best performances in recent years. But, Plan B just comes across as a poor man’s Tom Hardy. He mumbles his lines and tries to come across as sinister, but just comes across as miscast. The film doesn’t quite know if it wants to be a full-on action film or a police procedural. It doesn’t do both particularly well. There is a fantastically shot, shoot-out in Trafalgar Square that falls flat, due to the fact that there are approximately 11 bystanders, that’s right 11 by-standers in Trafalgar Square, the streets of central London have absolutely no traffic, which means we get cool shots of Winstone speeding along Waterloo bridge, but if you know anything about London, it instantly takes you out of the moment.
The villains are two-dimensional and get interrogated in a white office, with a great view of London, full with the latest Macbook’s and digital video cameras, but they never ask for lawyers.
If you’re a fan of the original series and you’re thinking of watching this, don’t. But, If you’re at a loose end one evening, stick this on and enjoy with the alcoholic beverage of your choice.
The Sweeney is out on DVD January 21st
*Contains Spoilers*
Continue reading Review-Primeval:New World Episode one *Contains Spoilers*
Judd Apatow has evolved as a director, progressing from his earlier works, such as “Knocked Up” and “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” which relied heavily on funny-vulgar humor, to his more recent movies like “Funny People” and “This is 40.” In his latest film, Apatow deftly interweaves deeper subject matters, such as love, marriage, parenthood, responsibility, and family, with his trademark irreverent humour .
“This is 40” is a spin-off to “Knocked Up,” with Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Maude Apatow, and Iris Apatow reprising their roles. Katherine Heigel and Seth Rogen are notably absent, the former having openly criticized Apatow during the press conferences for “Knocked Up.” However, Rogen’s character is mentioned in the movie.
The film revolves around the struggles of the family, with Sadie going through puberty and becoming a drama queen, while they face significant financial difficulties. Pete’s record company is on the verge of bankruptcy, and his deadbeat dad (Albert Brooks) is mooching off him.
The first half of the movie follows the familiar Apatow comedy formula, but as the story progresses, it delves deeper into the characters’ relationships and problems, making it more engaging. What sets this film apart from others is that it lacks the typical Hollywood happy ending. The characters still have their quirks and annoyances, and there is no quick fix or happily-ever-after conclusion, making it a refreshing departure from formulaic comedies.
While the movie was enjoyable, it did feel a bit too long, with some scenes that could have been trimmed. Nevertheless, with the same cast and creative team, “This is 40” could be adapted into an excellent HBO or Showtime series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
ill manors is the directorial debut movie from the rapper, turned actor, turned film-maker, 
Plan B, AKA Ben Drew. What makes this such an astonishingly impressive film, is the fact that it comes from a first time director and was shot on the extremely limited budget of £100,000. It looks like a much more polished and expensive production.
Ben Drew insists that this is not autobiographical, but is a party based on real events and local urban legends. The film plots several days in the lives of several Forest Gate residents, who are all in some way connected.
Aaron (Ahmed) is the friend and go-for, to drug dealer Ed (Ed Skrein). Aaron starts to see Ed in a new light when he forcibly pimps out crack-addicted prostitute Michelle (Anouska Mond) in order to pay for the phone, he thinks she stole.
Meanwhile, Kirby, played excellently by Drew’s godfather, Keith Coggins. Has just been released from jail. Kirby used to be the local kingpin who is now forced to work for his former go-for, Chris (Lee Allen). Kirby wants his empire back, but Chris isn’t gonna let him have it. Katya (Natalie Press) is a trafficked sex slave from Eastern Europe who escapes her kidnappers and goes to extreme measures in order to protect her baby. Apart from Riz Ahmed, the cast is made up of mostly unknown actors, which gives the film an added sense of realism and authenticity that doesn’t come with most “urban” dramas.
The direction is slick and inspired, Drew employs a few techniques, such as non-linear storytelling, as well as a mix of mobile phone footage and split-screen action, that could have felt gimmicky or clichéd, in the wrong hands. He flashes us back through the characters lives to show us their childhoods. Even though some of the characters are overly violent and unlikeable, you still care for them. Everybody in this film is a victim in some way. Drew provides the score to the film, but the tracks never feel intrusive. The music has a purpose that adds another layer to the story.
If the film has any flaws, it’s the running time. It’s just over two hours. But, that is a very minor quibble for such an impressive debut.
Plan B announced last week that he is taking a year off, I can’t wait to see what he comes back with.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
DVD Extras:
Documentary
Shorts
Videos
