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What's new on the big screen |
| Hancock |
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Over the past few years Will Smith has rescued a number of average movies. Try as he might, though, Big Willy can't stop this flaccid blockbuster centred round a shit-faced superhero called Hancock from completely losing its way about halfway through.
The film starts off well enough. Hancock (Smith) in his drunken state is a blast to hang out with, the wasted crusader crashing into road signs and directing quality insults at kids and old ladies. With public dissatisfaction growing — every time the superhero helps someone he causes a huge amount of damage — Hancock has the good fortune of rescuing idealistic PR Ray (Bateman) who, despite objections from his wife Mary (Theron), offers to improve his image.
But as our anti-hero straightens up and starts to fly right, the film itself goes through a transformation, shifting from comedy to drama. It's a jarring change of tone which, along with an insipid plot-twist, sucks the life out of Hancock.
Not helping matters are the ropey special effects that suggests the budget was blown on Smith's pay-cheque, and a surprisingly charmless turn by Theron. At least the perennially underrated Bateman puts in a memorable performance, while Smith's comic timing has never been better when slurring drunken putdowns.
Too bad, then, director Peter Berg had no idea what sort of movie he wanted to make. Not enough laughs to be a decent comedy, not gripping enough to be a solid drama, Hancock falls between the seats when, with the talent, it should soar.
One of the year's big disappointments.
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| Kung Fu Panda |
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A contender for best animated film, this follows the adventures of lazy panda Po (Jack Black) who has to become a chop-socky master to protect his valley from an evil snow leopard. Stunning visuals, spot-on gags and inspired vocal work make this a joy.
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| Mes Amis, Mes Amours |
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When life hits the skids bookshop worker Mathias (Vincent Lindon) swaps Paris for London and moves in with uptight friend Antoine (Pascal Elbe) to form a very odd couple in this enjoyable relationship comedy.
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| The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian |
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Let's be honest, The Chronicles of Narnia is the poor man's Lord Of The Rings. The films based on CS Lewis' books have the Kiwi director (Andrew Adamson) and the stunning New Zealand setting but, as The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe showed, a quartet of posh kids is nowhere near as engrossing as four hobbits.
While a tad more accomplished than the last trip to Narnia, Prince Caspian does little to light a fire under the franchise. The second instalment in the series sees Peter (Moseley), Susan (Anna Popplewell), Edmund (Skandar Keynes) and Lucy (Henley) summoned back to the magical kingdom by Prince Caspian (Barnes), the rightful leader of
the Telmarines who now run the place. Having been ousted by his evil uncle, Lord Miraz (Sergio Castellitto), Caspian joins forces with the foursome and all of Narnia's creatures to reclaim his throne and ensure peace throughout the realm.
The special effects are more spectacular and the battle scenes bigger this time round, but Prince Caspian still struggles to make an impact due to its needlessly slow pace and rubbish acting.
Chief among some stilted performances is Moseley's annoying turn as Peter, the young actor transforming what should be a heroic character into a whiney prat. Also firing blanks is Castellitto, whose snarling bad guy comes a distant second to Tilda Swinton's White Witch in the first film.
The CGI animals fare a bit better — Eddie Izzard is a standout voicing a sword-wielding mouse — but anyone looking for a great fantasy epic will have to wait for The Hobbit.
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| Female Agents |
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Sophie Marceau leads a group of French Resistance fighters who have to stop plans for the D-Day invasion ending up in the hands of the Nazis in this glossy war drama. It looks fantastic, but lacks real tension.
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| A Complete History of My Sexual Failures |
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To try and figure out why he is so unlucky in love, film-maker Chris Waitt tracks down the women who dumped him in a very personal documentary. A real-life version of High Fidelity, this is both funny and poignant.
PIERRE DE VILLIERS |
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| Mongol |
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I went to see the film with trepidation as was expecting the usual Hollywood 'blood & gore' scream fest but was very pleasantly surprised to find it a beautiful Russian production in with Mongolian actors and their language have been chosen to depict their nomadic life very realistically. The film focuses unusually on Temudjin's early childhood before he becomes the Genghis Khan of all Mongols and conquers half the world.Stunning wide-angle panorama shots make you want to go riding there and a storyline of enduring love gives this historic figure a human face.
Susanne Werth- Bryans |
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| In Search Of A Midnight Kiss |
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The only reason I went to watch 'In Search of a Midnight Kiss' was because it was the one starting at the exact moment I walked into the cinema. My first impression was that this was an interesting and enjoyable film. Why is it that we enjoy watching the random occurrences in the life of pathetic people? Perhaps because seeing someone get caught jerking off to a photo of his friend's girlfriend makes our moments of shameful truth look a lot better. My second impression was that the character of Vivian was some sort of wet dream the writer was living out. It should be noted here that the women portrayed in the film are hot, horny and easy, as a set rule, whilst the men are more ordinary and slightly dull. Coincidence? I think not. My third and final impression was that this is a lovely, quirky film. We watch the anti-hero rescue the damsel in distress, said damsel becoming more interesting as midnight marches closer, with a sadly uplifting surprise ending. The actors delver complex and natural performances, while the dialogue and plot keep the audience fascinated despite the obviousness of the upcoming midnight kiss. In the film we find the physical and metaphysical embodiment of midnight; the end which is the beginning.
Chris Starford |
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