Gnomes & Magic

It really is saying something when the most memorial part of a film is the advert before it starts. Sad but true is this fact with Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince. Cinematography and direction is sublime with vistas of dark and wondereous lands and double entendre's falling like wild fire in this coming of age of our hero. Unfortunately it's about 1 hour 20 minutes too long, for all the story line that's covered. I have been told by those who have read all the books, that this sets up the story for the next installment...an extra 25 minutes at the start of the next film would have been more than sufficient.



The traveling gnome advert for Days Out Guide however was fantastic. Yes, yes, I remember the gnome that caught the traveling bug in Amelie. May be not a solely original idea, but most definitely perfectly executed. Which is half the struggle. My suggestion, save the cinema ticket for the next installment and watch the ad online now.

On The Verge Of Taking A Stand

WOW! Did I have no f**king idea what I had let myself in for with this movie. Based on the BBC series The Thick Of It, this fly on the wall mockumentary gives a behind the scenes look at the interwaeaving relations of British and American government agencies. This parody of true to life scenarios of poltical agenda and public gaffes, take one back seat MP and catapult him into the world arena. A blindering idiot with no idea of the implications of his words, continues to dig deep in his already overwhelming trench. While a tourettes wheelding government advisor applys barbed wire to the dam that has already broken its banks. Internal departments face off against one another, each possessing a potential whistle blower. A highly elaborate spin on multiple levels appeases all, leaving the audience with a sick taste in their mouths, as to the real world significance. An amazing cast shot with choppy, abrupt close ups and sharp edits adds to the energy and urgency of the film. Be warned, the language of one individual is highly offensive yet completely in context with his character. In The Loop is a great film that will have you deliberating whether to laugh out loud or cringe at the inconceivable incompetence of elected officials.

I See Stupid People

Imagine it's 2055 and despite all the research and science that's predicted the depleting earths' resources, the human race has continued to rape the planet and is now facing the consequences for it's ignorance. Pete Postlethwaite, a lonely custodian wandering around the vast halls of the world's Art treasures in a futuristic water tower style museum high above the ever rising ocean, sits at his desk and views REAL stories from a database documenting the evidence preceding the current predicament. The Age Of Stupid brings documentary film making and the very real possibilities of our greedy state of being together for a more than sobering experiencing. The facts of the environment are delivered on every level of understanding, told through human stories that leave your eyes wide and bulging in disbelief. It not only tells you what has happened and the direction we're all going in, but more importantly how we can all get involved A film that everyone needs to see, digest, discuss and more importantly act upon.

Up For Grabs

A bum of a farther who has surcombe to a life of sedentary production worker by day and beer drinker by any given opportunity, is given the ultimate responsibility when his bright young daughter takes his civic right into her own hands. "It is every citizens duty to vote" echoes throughtout this film as Ernest "Bud" Johnson has the monumentous decision of the deciding vote in Americas Presidential election. The word gets out as to Bud's predicament and within a nano second the sleepy town of Texico, New Mexico becomes the finish line to the White House race.


This movie shows us nothing new with Democratic and Republican representatives switching sides to win Buds favour. However it does highlight how politics has become a victim to mass media, with opinions bent and skewed to achieve a win result and high ratings. Swing Vote is the cotton candy you look for at the fair...the expectation keeps your eyes wide open, but once you've handed your money over, it's only a few licks until you're holding an empty stick with sticky fingers. An easy going film with some touching real life moments. The trailier offered so much more than the studio coud deliver.

Smiley Face

Now, I'm no graphic novel geek, so as far as acurracy goes I'm out. What I can say is Watchmen is one amazingly violent, pessimistic, grey, apocalyptic yet optamistic in a completely roundabout deranged manner of a film. A group of everyday citizens, turned caped crusaders revived by all, have fallen on hard times as the public and press turn against them and are forced to go into hiding. Don't worry if you have come into this movie blind, a trip down memory lane cutsey of flash backs, brings us up to speed with our current predicament of dire straits.



A film to gawk at for its visual integrity, hue, feel and costumes transport you back in time with lighting that draws you in until you jump from your seat with every punch that's thrown. This is not for the faint hearted with a vast amount of running time spent busting jaws and even the odd villian spontaneously combusting, leaving organs embedded in walls.

Watchmen drags you deep down into the uglest hollows that only human hatred can achieve. If you're paying close enough attention, you'll work out part of the ending, but not the real zinger of a twist. I'm still marvelling over the creative talent to it's logic and it's playful takes on some highly iconic images.

Free Falling

Heartache, new frontiers and a child's lucid imagination, come together under the blue sky of an early twentieth century Hollywood. With a palette of vivid primaries, in a wash of golden yellows, Alexandria, a mischievous little migrant girl recuperates after a fall leaves her in hospital with a broken arm. In need of stimulation, Roy, a newly acquired friend aids her in a fantasy adventure. Unfortunately her guide, a stuntman who has suffered a fall to impress a lady, has ulterior motives in mind. As the fall guy weaves his bandits through truth and fiction, the real world takes greater presence within his magnificent fable, until fatal consequences fall out. A real treat of the senses with sweeping landscapes of distant shores, beautiful dialogue that ebbs naturally and a cheeky little monkey to boot. The Fall (2006) was released on the festival circuit in 2006 and has hit select cinemas since. Now on DVD, a great excuse to get the projector out and remind yourself what the movies is all about.

Men Behaving Madly

Delightful, quirky and quiet, who could resist such a film. Brent Hamer's Kitchen Stories (2003) is all that and much, much more. Set in Norway in the early 1950's, a group of Swedish behavioural researchers have a new study at hand. The kitchen routines of single Norwegian men. Observers are paired with a host, who they are forbidden to talk to or interact with in anyway what so ever. Observations and recording is their very being.

We follow Isak, a strange somewhat recluse of a man and his mild mannered house trained observer, Folke. The relationship is beyond awkward to start with Isak refusing to what he volunteered for. To be observed. But as the men get used to each other's constant presence, barriers recede and misconceptions evaporate.

This film is an absolute treasure of wealth, with it's simple yet beautiful cinematography and off kilter synopsis. Men are a funny breed, hiding emotions under a layered multitude of thick skin. Slow and steady wins the race...this film rewards those with patience.

Web App's To Go

A great web app that I have to give praise to, as well as a financial contribution, is Cinema Times for the iPhone. Thought up by 2 students in Scotland, this gem not only has a great looking icon to place on your screen, but actually works! In fact I've been to the movie theatre more often of late due to its efficiency. You simply tap in your movie choice and location (which can be as vague as London) and it will list all available cinemas and showtimes. It even gives you a direct link to the film's trailer on Apple's website and it's IMDB page. If you're not a movie person, don't worry, because these guys have a number of useful web apps that appear to work better than the originals and some fun games to boot. I found them through the iPhone & iPod Touch's Application website which has a host of amazing links for you to save to your home screen...but you can also find them by going directly to their website The Mac Box.

Tumbleweeds, A Case Full Of Money And A Kept Promise

It's hard not to appreciate the talent of The Coen Brothers. For the majority of men I know "The Big Lebowski" sits high above all other's as "the coolest film ever!" Although I enjoyed "The Big Lebowski" it was only after seeing "The Man Who Wasn't There" that I fell under the spell of their film making. Shot purely in black & white, every scene is composed like a still photograph with amazing use and development of depth of field, subject and lighting. Yet somehow "No Country For Old Men" blows it out of the water on all counts. Where T.M.W.W.T. had a very strong score that added to the films tension, N.C.F.O.M. has only 1 scene with music, lasting less than a minute. The silence of the film is deafening, causing me to involuntarily hold my breath repeatidly through its duration. What to some may appear to be a slow drawn out story is a big part of the films success.



The patience they have with each character as they fumble and carniage ensues, reminds us of the time and energy each action and reaction takes in the real world. Along with the lack of music and speed, is an ever present lack of dialogue, stripping the story down to an amazing example of (almost) silent movie making. Conveying everything on a visual level works to perfection here, with The Coen Brothers again treating movie making as a succession of still photographs. This is what sets them apart from the crowd. This film needs to be seen on the big screen. Don't bother taking a date, as you'll lose all hope, as the world before you turns dark and all encompassing.

There Will Be Blood

It has been a long time since I thought a movie was worthy of the West End experience and the price tag that goes with...but the wait is over. From the opening scene when you first experience that chilling score of a maddening genius, like Amadeus chewing on cotton wool, you know you're in for a movie to remember. The cinematography, art direction, score, script and dare I say it, cast and acting in this film are seemless perfection. We are transported back to the great push west on the hopes of get rich quick philanthropist' and promises of schools and commerce. Daniel Day-Lewis plays our money hungry hero with lunatic paranoia and furrowing brow. Dillon Freasier plays the unfortunate child that Day-Lewis takes as his own, after his real father dies at the success of finding oil in those early days. Freasier is a mere tool in Day-Lewis' grand scheme of oil domination, yet he does feel a fatherly bond, which eats away at him like moonshine on his liver. Not wishing to spoil the experience I will stop there, as words do not do this grand operatic of life in the barren west justice. There Will Be Blood needs to be watched on the big screen with eyes ever expanding until the psyche is no more.

Civilization As We Know It

A film that I have been anxiously awaiting the release, arrived on US soil yesterday. "Children of Men" adapted from P.D. James novel set in 2021, when women no longer have the ability to procreate and the youngest person on the planet dies at the age of 18 years, 11 months, 7 hours and 16 minutes (or somewhere around there). The entire world is in a state of destruction & warfare, which we witness here on English terra firma. Although the film strays some distance from the original novel on a few details, most probably for cinematic & time reasoning, what it stays true to is spot on. Hope where there is none. This film has everything from light hearted moments you'll chuckle at, to tension that will make you hold your breath for 20 minutes and great acting to boot!