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Red State (2011) – Dir: Kevin Smith (Chasing Amy, Clerks)

We begin to understand three somewhat interesting characters living in a backwater town in North America. They’re just three young hillbilly horny guys. The best friends find a website for people who just want to get laid. They find a local woman on that website and they make a plan to meet her. These threeContinue reading “Red State (2011) – Dir: Kevin Smith (Chasing Amy, Clerks)”

Ex Machina (2015) – Dir: Alex Garland (Dredd, 28 Days Later)

The Turing test, named after the inventor of the modern computer, Alan Turing, is the test to see if an entity is intelligent to the point of being aware; if it is conscious. This test concerns AI, or artificial intelligence. In testing to see if a piece of software has achieved true AI. The climacticContinue reading “Ex Machina (2015) – Dir: Alex Garland (Dredd, 28 Days Later)”

Interstellar (2014) – Dir: Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight, Inception, Memento)

The appealing thing about this film is the story. The direction – expression of themes, tone and ideas is basic and boring. The way the story is told is not particularly remarkable, the writing – dialogue, dramatic elements, structure are all incredibly average. The story is interesting, though. This is not a movie about spaceContinue reading “Interstellar (2014) – Dir: Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight, Inception, Memento)”

The Deal (2008) – Dir: Steven Schachter (The Wool Cap)

William H. Macy as Charlie and Meg Ryan as Deidre star in this quirky drama about depression and the mainstream industry filmmaking process. It’s more about filmmaking than depression, but it’s a depressing picture of the industry. Not to worry, though, there are artists who defy the system and things seem to improve for themContinue reading “The Deal (2008) – Dir: Steven Schachter (The Wool Cap)”

The Five Obstructions (2003) – Dir: Lars Von Trier (The Idiots, Dogville) and Jorgen Leth (The Erotic Man)

One of my favourite Von Trier films, but don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s better than his fiction. If you want to understand me, watch this movie and you might half get it. Probably one of the best films about the creative process and it is approached as an art experiment. This movie isContinue reading “The Five Obstructions (2003) – Dir: Lars Von Trier (The Idiots, Dogville) and Jorgen Leth (The Erotic Man)”

The Temp (1993) – Dir: Tom Holland (Child’s Play, Stephen King’s The Langoliers)

Kris Bolin (Lara Flynn Boyle) is an office temp. Peter Derns (Timothy Hutton) is her boss. We are treated to Boyle in her sexiest role, yet. This is a fairly old movie now, so if you appreciate the younger, killer brunette, ex-model look for 90’s Lara Flynn Boyle then you may enjoy it that muchContinue reading “The Temp (1993) – Dir: Tom Holland (Child’s Play, Stephen King’s The Langoliers)”

The Zero Theorem (2013) – Dir: Terry Gilliam (Monty Python, The Fisher King)

Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained) is Qohen (pronounced Ko-en) Leth. His boss the interesting nerd, Joby (David Thewlis) often mispronounces Qohen’s name, calling him Quinn. Joby is angsty and anxiety-ridden, he’s a little bit crazy. Thewlis’s Joby lacks presence. He doesn’t really follow through with the character. Joby is an administrator, an overseer of the ITContinue reading “The Zero Theorem (2013) – Dir: Terry Gilliam (Monty Python, The Fisher King)”

American Sniper (2014) – Dir: Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino, Unforgiven)

Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper) and his brother are cowboys from Texas. They like to fight, drink and chase women. Chris considers himself a patriot and when his life as a cowboy seems aimless, he notices the war on the news and decides that’s a cause he can get involved in. He’s thirty years old andContinue reading “American Sniper (2014) – Dir: Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino, Unforgiven)”

Living on One Dollar (2013) – Dir: Ryan Christoffersen and Zach Ingrasci

What would life be like if you had to survive on one dollar per day as your only income? Four middle class, suburban, male, college students travel to a small rural village in Guatemala, called Pena Blanca, to try and answer this question. And also what would it be like to explore that world havingContinue reading “Living on One Dollar (2013) – Dir: Ryan Christoffersen and Zach Ingrasci”

Top Five (2014) – Dir: Chris Rock (I Think I Love My Wife)

In this charmingly dull attempt at a subversion of the romantic comedy – we find a story that is neither funny, nor a genuine reflection of love – it is about a comedian, but it is a sad, boring film and though it does take the formula of the romance film and copy and pasteContinue reading “Top Five (2014) – Dir: Chris Rock (I Think I Love My Wife)”