Stephen Somers

To say that Sean Penn is the worlds bleakest director would be like saying it gets a bit nippy in Greenland. From The Indian Runner to The Pledge Penn's world is an utterly depressing place. So for the most part Into The Wild was surprising in that the scenery was spectacularly uplifting and the characters the doomed (and stupid) Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch) runs into are for the most part friendly and nice.

As you may or may not know McCandless, in response to his materialistic parents, decided to give away all his savings, cut up his credit cards and anything that could identify him and set of in his shit-heap car crosscountry to fulfil his goal of living off the land in Alaska.
Along the way he leaves his car in the course of a flash flood (after burning his dwindling cash supply) to hitchhike the rest of the way. He also runs into a pair of friendly hippies (including Catherine Keener), a roguish farmer (Vince Vaughn, who's very good) and a lonely old fart (Hal Holbrook) who offers to adopt him. As you do.
He finally reaches his destination after 2 years. And at first he finds happiness. He proves resourceful in living of the land and begins to write about his adventures. But then "Alexander Supertramp" ,as he's now calling himself, begins to realise the enormity of his decision. And it's not just living of the land that's the problem, it's the fact that he's only got himself for company. Unfortunatly he becomes cut of because from civilization because of the Spring Thaw and ends up wasting away and dieing in the "Magic Bus". As he dies he continues to record his demise. And thats basically the story.

Look, this film is really well done. While I rather Penn as an actor, his is without a doubt a powerful director and obviously this story means a lot to him. Emile Hirsch is great as McCandless, easily convincing us of his bizarre motivations. And the whole film is spectacular to look at.
It's just that it's all so bloody frustrating. McCandless's naivety is mind blowing. It's all fine to admire him for wanting to live of the land and dispense with everything materialistic in his life but to die to prove a fucking point is nothing other than stupid. STUPID STUPID STUPID.
It's a fine film but I didn't enjoy it in the end. I've never been more frustrated with a movie character.
An admirable film but a bloody annoying one at the same time.
6.5/10

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BIG RED

September 16th 2008 12:13

If you like your super heroes to be all dark and angsty with complex personalities and lots of intrigue not to mention chiselled good looks then leave now........your not welcome here.
If, on the other hand, you like them as big red devils with sawn off horns who chug beer and chew cigars as well as sing Barry Manilow and have a healthy dose of the Homer Simpson outlook on life............then come on in, the waters warm.

The important thing to remember when watching Hellboy 2: The Golden Army is not to over analyse it. Don't try to pick it apart because you propably will.
As those who saw the first cool Hellboy film will know, this is based on a Mike Mignola character from Dark Horse Comics. And while it is a sequel it is possible to watch this one without having seen the first one and not feel lost.
Hellboy (Ron Perlman) is still working with a secret government agency which specialises in the paranormal and supernatural. He is assisted in this by his fiery, needy and pregnant girlfriend Liz (Selma Blair), fish man Abe (Doug Jones), the ectoplasmic Johann Kraus (voice of Seth MacFarlane) and Agent Manning (Jeffrey Tambor). They are thrown into an ancient conflict involving elves, trolls, toothfairies (you won't leave money under your pillow for this lot again) and a golden army of mechanical kinda clockwork thingies. This takes them to a hidden troll market where they encounter Elven Princess Nuala (Anna Walton) who they bring under their protection from her rather pissed off twin bro Prince Nuada (Luke Goss).
After a couple of spectacular fights involving Hellboy and a Troll and Hellboy and a big tree they take her back to their headquarters where her brother tracks her down and takes her, but not before inflicting a potentially fatal wound on a rather drunk Hellboy.
They then track them down to Northern Ireland where they are met by the Goblin that built said golden army who then takes them to meet the Angel of Death (of course) who saves Hellboy. This allows Hellboy to kick Prince Nuada's arse allowing him to dispand the golden army forever.
Are you confused? Well you should be because this film makes no sense.
But that shouldn't deter you one bit. This is still heaps of fun. Director Guillermo del Toro, who directed the brilliant Pan's Labyrinth, seems to be having a ball. Scenes such as the troll market and the final fight are spectacularly done. The thing with the Hellboy films is that they obviously don't take themselves very seriously unlike some superhero films which seem to be so eager to get a message across.Whereas Dark Knight might be the thinking mans superhero film, Hellboy is the brainless mans film (I mean this in the best possible way).

Ron Perlman is great as the title character who is impossible to dislike. The way he chews cigars while shooting his big arse gun makes him one of cinemas coolest characters. Selma Blair is fine as his girl although she doesn't really have much to do (she does look good in leather though). Doug Jones as Abe is a bit lost in all the mayhem but he does have a funny scene where he and Hellboy get pissed while singing Barry Manilow. The Johann Krauss character brought nothing to the film and should be dispensed with before number 3. Jeffrey Tambor is wasted which is a pity because as anyone who has seen Arrested Developement will know he can be quite funny.
Anna Walton as Princess Nuala suffered the same as Selma Blair in that there wasn't a lot for her to work with (shoulda dressed in leather). Luke Goss of Bros (no frickin way!!!) was really good. No no, I'm serious. The only thing wrong with him was that there should have been more of Prince Nuada.
All in all this film was a brainless wonder.
I just can't wait for number 3.
7.5/10

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Dark and Stormy Knight

August 18th 2008 12:45

To say that The Dark Knight has been hotly anticipated would be a gross understatement.

And while the film would undoubtadly have been a huge success, Heath Ledgers death did give it a certain air of mystique.
You see, it's been a big year for super-hero movies. From drunk ones to green ones to metal ones it's been a mixed bag. And with the exception of a certain crystal skull film, they've all been pretty good.
I tried not to get caught up in the Dark Knight wave of positivity. I went to see it three weeks ago and then stewed over it before going to see it again.
On second viewing it wasn't the masterpiece I first thought although it was close. And it occured to me on seeing it again what a horrific shame it is that Heath Ledger is gone because his Joker is even more astonishing on second viewing.
Let's face it, a review of Dark Knight is a review of Ledgers performance first and the rest of the film second.
And it is a really good film filled with great performances, great action, more explosions than you could possibly shake a stick at and a dark, menacing feel that befits a film about a weirdo who dresses up as a bat. It has a good plot (if a little muddled) which I'm not going to delve into because, frankly, I'm not a commited enough writer.
Instead I'm going to talk aimlessly about the good and bad bits/people that stick out in no particular order.
First up, I have a problem with Christian Bales voice when in bat mode. I just couldn't get comfortable with it. Sounds to forced and put on. I wanted him to just hack up that furball and clear his throat. I'm also not a fan of the new bat mobile and bat bike. Far to bulky and clunky for my liking. And god knows how much fuel they guzzled. He should have driven the Lambourghini more as far as I'm concerned.
On the acting front, well where do I start.
Gary Oldman has long been my favourite actor and he's great in this. There's nothing showy about the part, just all quiet and restraint. His best part in years.
Maggie Gyllenhaal is starting to overshadow her brother with a string of good parts and she's good here too.
Aaron Eckhart is all dashing and handsome as Harvey Dent and goes convincingly ga-ga after his one sided face peel.
Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine, while both coasting, do add a bit of old class to the show.
Christian Bale is a sometimes brilliant actor but I just can't be convinced by him as Batman. Sure he looks the part of Bruce Wayne, all handsome and charismatic, but for mine he just looks out of place just as he did in Batman Begins.
And how nice it was to see Eric Roberts (Julia's brother don't you know) having some fun as mobster Sal Maroni.
And then there's Heath Ledger.

Everything you've heard about his Joker is true. It's a creepy, disturbing, charismatic and mesmerising turn that in some ways is too strong for the film. Every time he's off screen the film suffers. And it's not the grotesque face or the purple suit or greasy hair that gets you, it's the voice. He reportedly took weeks to perfect it and it shows. It slithers out of his mouth and wraps itself around the screen making you're neck hairs stand on end.
The best performance of the year bar none.
But as good as Heath ledger is , I don't want him to win an after death Oscar. Let's not insult the man by giving him an award the Academy would never have had the courage to give him were he still alive.
It's a landmark performance that doesn't need to be validated by a silly statue.
A memorable film.
8/10

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