Rock The Kasbah

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This movie is certifiably insane but has a lot of positive messages in it. I would give Rock The Kasbah a 7.5/10.

This film hooks you really well throughout, landing a good joke or presenting an interesting choice of subject matter at just the right point to keep the pacing moving. Ultimately the comedic elements of this film were some of the best parts, most jokes landed exceptionally well. What I really liked was the commentary in this film about Afghan culture as well as the conflict within Afghanistan; both observing the Afghan and American sides. While this film did have an American 'save the day' you didn't feel like this took away from the respectful approach towards telling what was ultimately a cultural story. The soundtrack makes this film, it's utilised as a character within this film while also aiding the comedic scenes of the film.

Bill Murray, who played Richie Lanz, was an incredible comedic protagonist in this film; his character's development was masterfully done because you feel like you've learnt the exact same lesson that Murray's character has by the end of the film. Fahim Fazli, who played Tariq, has quite a strong presence in this film; his line delivery is incredible. Taylor Kinney, who played Private Barnes, gives a convincing performance as a soldier but also nails a really awkward scene between himself and Murray; the scene between him and Murray is one of the funniest of the film and it's mostly due to Kinney.

However the best performance came from Scott Caan and Danny McBride, who played Jake and Nick respectively. They were easily some of the best comedic talents within this film, managing to outshine even Murray himself. Their chemistry with one another was flawless and I really admired how well they could bounce off of one another. They delivered a very satirical performance and definitely introduced a strong theme of war profiteering.

This film had very little to present in terms of visual style, the slow cutting was a testament to this. The cinematography didn't help much either as it focussed less upon imagery and instead constructed a fairly basic shot.

Bruce Willis, who played Bombay Brian, was an absurd role in this film and didn't feel like he belonged; Willis really felt like he was just cashing it in within this film. Kate Hudson, who played Merci, is just another prostitute role that falls for Murray; Hudson really had little more to contribute to this film than a weak romance subplot. Zooey Deschanel, who played Ronnie, felt like she had been written to leave; therefore you never really connected to Deschanel's performance at all. Leem Lubany, who played Salima, proved that a nice voice does not always mean a good acting ability; Lubany gave a weak performance alongside her co-stars and probably should have been introduced a lot sooner in the film. Arian Moayed, who played Riza, just felt like Murray's mouthpiece in this film; you didn't think much of his character unless he was translating for Murray. Jonas Khan and Sameer Ali Khan, who played Nazir and Azam Ghol respectively, just felt like stereotypical antagonists; they were never developed but instead just angrily arrived at the final act of the film. Beejan Land, who played Daoud, sounded like he had barely memorised his lines; his performance was annoying to watch because it was so simplistic.

The Last Witch Hunter

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This film had all the trappings of a good blockbuster if it weren't for the C grade plot. I would give The Last Witch Hunter a 4.5/10.

This film had some really nice visual effects, all the magic sequences looked incredible and the swarms of flies descending upon New York was stunning. The cinematography was another great element of this film, the camera really set up big expansive shots. The score was one of the best parts of the film, everything about it screamed major motion picture score.

Vin Diesel, who played Kaulder, was a pretty good lead in this film; Diesel gives a naturally likeable performance and discusses points of lore in this film with relative ease. Rose Leslie, who played Chloe, had a lot of screen presence; her emotional range was fantastic in this film and the scene where she breaks down over her friend dying was a great example of that. Michael Caine, who played Dolan 36th, is just straight up likeable; his line delivery is really good and he has some great chemistry with Diesel.

However the best performance came from Julie Engelbrecht, who played the Witch Queen. For some people Engelbrecht might seem like a strange choice but for me she is the only choice. What you get in her performance is one of the only characters that feels a part of the world the story attempts to create. Engelbrecht is terrifying in her role and her line delivery is phenomenal. She isn't just scary but she makes you interested in this fantasy world which is a feat few of the rest of the cast pull off.

This story is really hard to engage with because the lore and information about the witches, or the Axe and Cross or Kaulder are constantly being thrown at you throughout the film. Just as you think you have the grasp upon another piece of information you're force fed another fact. It's sloppy world building, a world should exist and present itself to you; you should not have to be told every piece of information about the world through some basic dialogue. The dialogue was another thing that suffered in this film, it was very basic and the good lines were few and far between. One of the points that really irked me about this film was that Leslie and Diesel seemed to be heading towards a sort of romance, despite the characters and actors having little chemistry when it came to this. The film constantly dealt out plot points that made no sense or undermined itself, it felt very rushed and not very well thought out. The editing was another irksome point as it was the only thing that let down the visual style; the cutting was too slow for a blockbuster film and so scenes moved slowly because of this.

Elijah Wood, who played Dolan 37th, is one of the most irksome and poorly written characters in this film; the 'plot twist' in which he betrays Kaulder comes out of nowhere and is rather ineffectual to the story. Olafur Darri Olafsson, who played Belial, was a really weak antagonist; he felt very stereotypical and you didn't much care what he did. Joseph Gilgun, who played Ellic, is barely understandable in this film; this is probably some of the worst line delivery that I've seen this year. Isaach De Bankole, who played Max Schlesinger, is a complete puppet to the plot; rather than being a character he simply acts as a means to an end for the plot. Michael Halsey, who played Grosette, lacks screen presence in this film; he's one of the characters that should have made me interested in this world but didn't really deliver much in the end. Dawn Olivieri, who played Danique, is another weak antagonist; you feel like she's hastily crammed into this film to extend the running time and push a last minute plot point.

The Dressmaker

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This film bears such a powerful beginning and ending with an incredible performance by Kate Winslet that was sadly bogged down by a weak plot, subplots and poorly written characters. I would give The Dressmaker a 4.5/10.

In terms of narrative what really matters was the character of Tilly and how elbaorate her search for the truth was as well as her own psychological damage done by the people within her town. This incredible character immediately hooked you at the start of the film and nearly had you cheering in your seat by the end of the film. The soundtrack and score really fluctuated but ultimately orchestrated many seats beautifully.

Hugo Weaving, who played Sergeant Farrat, was a rather whimsical and likeable character in this film; his crossdressing persona and immense chemistry with Winslet made a lot of scenes quite enjoyable. Kerry Fox, who played Beulah Harridiene, portrayed the best antagonist of the film; such a vicious and petty role that was portrayed with the appropriate spite. Julia Blake, who played Irma Almanac, was such a kind figure in this film; her scenes brought the best out of Davis and she really was a role you genuinely liked. Genevieve Lemon, who played Mae McSwiney, did grief so incredibly well in this film; when she broke down over Hemsworth's death it quickly became one of the better scenes of the film.

However the best performance came from Kate Winslet, who played Myrtle 'Tilly' Dunnage. I swear when Winslet does a leading role in a historical drama you know she's going to knock it out of the park. The reason for that is her presence, she commands the personality of her character completely. You see all degrees of her role in this film, defiance, grief, weakness, strength, love, joy and triumph. Winslet is a powerful performer and she shows it in this film, dominating every scene and proving that she can lead a film solely by herself.

This film has a muddied plot, muddied in the sense that we're constantly being diverted with these bizarre comedic moments, or out of place romance subplots, or spontaneous changes in how characters act. It was strange and the more this went on the more outlandish the film got. Ultimately the pacing of the film suffered by going so far afield and you felt as if the film had gone on for too long by the end of it all. The cinematography was nothing short of wasted potential, the film opened with stunning shots but wound up being peppered with mediocre imagery after the first ten minutes. The editing was no better, the incredible cutting at the start of the film gave way to a simple flow after only a short time.

Liam Hemsworth, who played Teddy McSwiney, was a character that introduced a strange subplot into this film; he became a romantic interest for Winslet which felt very out of place in this film. Sarah Snook, who played Gertrude 'Trudy' Pratt, was a very weak superficial character; I was baffled by how constantly her character kept changing without any justifiable explanation. Judy Davis, who played Molly Dunnage, gave a performance that just didn't feel genuine; her comedy fell flat and seemed to be pathetic instead. Caroline Goodall, who played Elsbeth, was such an over the top character; her acting was exaggerated completely. Rebecca Gibney and Shane Jacobson, who played Muriel Pratt and Alvin Pratt respectively; had next to no presence in this film; they just became bumbling sideshow acts to Snook, Goodall and Mackay. James Mackay, who played William Beaumont, was supposed to be a charming role that was alluring; instead he sort of awkwardly stood in for a few scenes and didn't have any chemistry with the rest of the cast. Gyton Grantley, who played Barney McSwiney, didn't feel very convincing in his performance of a disabled person; I think there needed to be a lot more to make this a good portrayal. Barry Otto, who played Percival Almanac, was this bizarre twisted role; he just didn't feel realistic at all. Sacha Horler, who played Una Pleasance, was another cast member who tended towards performing over the top; she just felt very artificial in her performance. Alison Whyte, who played Marigold Pettyman, was shockingly erratic in her role; she escalated to a point that just didn't seem very believable in the film. Shane Bourne, who played Evan Pettyman, had no screen presence in this film; his role as an antagonist was greatly diminished because of this.

Bridge Of Spies

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Steven Spielberg shows himself to be an old dog who has no new tricks when it comes to his direction. I would give Bridge of Spies a 6.5/10.

This is an incredible plot, it feels like two fantastic short films woven into one. The first aspect of the film analyses the ethics around who deserves a proper defense in the American justice system. Whereas the second part focussed upon the political tension between America, Russia and the rising problems within Berlin. The special effects in this film were quite minimal but there were some incredible moments such as the U2 being shot from the sky. The score of this film is what stands out, it's something that feels like it could become a timeless classic.

Tom Hanks, who played James B. Donovan, is an incredible lead in this film; his line delivery is phenomenal. Dakin Matthews, who played Judge Byers, really rallied against Hanks in this film; his gruff rebukes are some displays of really good acting. Scott Shepherd, who played Hoffman, built some great chemistry with Hanks; his constant conflicting performance to hanks was really entertaining to watch. Mikhail Gorevoy, who played Ivan Schischkin, was a great sinister role; I loved how he presented politics and the Soviet perspective of the film.

However the best performance came from Mark Rylance, who played Rudolf Abel. I haven't seen Rylance since he blew me away in The Gunman and he's done nothing but come back with a vengeance. You think this would have been a sinister role or the role of an antagonist but it isn't. What Rylance delivers is someone who is remarkably human, you laugh at his repeated quips and you have nothing but empathy for him. What really gets to the core of the film is the great chemistry between Rylance and Hanks, all of which culminates in Rylance's perfect delivery of the 'Standing Man' story.

This is a long film and you feel it, you want to be a lot more engaged than you are but when Hanks and Rylance aren't guiding the action this film falls relatively short. The cinematography felt out of date, this was certainly a nostalgic sense of film making that was only felt by Spielberg himself. The editing suffered in a similar way, cross fades and other old fashioned transitions meant this film became something out of the bargain bin.

Billy Magnussen, who played Doug Forrester, had no screen presence in this film; his stereotypical go getter role was another out of date aspect of the film. Amy Ryan, who played Mary Donovan, couldn't hold a candle to Hanks and had no chemistry with him; she didn't seem very necessary to the film. Jillian Lebling, who played Peggy Donovan, wasn't a great child actor; she was a tool to heighten the fear factor for the family subplot. Noah Schnapp, who played Roger Donovan, seemed like a very artificial role; he was written in an unconvincing way to filter in more exposition. Eve Hewson, who played Carol Donovan, didn't deliver a great performance; she was victim to a romance subplot that was completely thrown aside and never addressed after it had been introduced. Austin Stowell, who played Francis Gary Powers, was a character who needed more attention; there was nothing about this role that made you care about his fate. Jesse Plemons, who played Joe Murphy, had absolutely no screen presence; nor did he really share any chemistry with his co-star Stowell. Will Rogers, who played Frederic Pryor, was victim to the same issues as Stowell in that you didn't care about his character; furthermore Rogers was introduced far too late into the film to have any impact upon the audience. Sebastian Koch, who played Wolfgang Vogel, delivered the Berlin aspect of the plot and frankly it came off as too little too late; we were well into the film by now to care about any part of the politics in Berlin so that became another failed subplot.

Burnt

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I am sincerely blown away by how incredible this film is. I would give Burnt an 8/10.

I think what makes chef films so appealling isn't because it's a story about success or attaining greatness but crafting something that can be enjoyed; and really I think that's what this film excels at. The plot of this film really goes all out in making one of the best chef films that I've seen, with a protagonist and supporting cast that are all really well written. The pacing for this film was great, I never really felt bored and was hooked for the entire time. The cinematography was so vivid and crisp, everything leapt out at you in incredible detail. The editing was really interesting, at points the film just played out in these long takes but in others we saw swift cutting that just threw incredible imagery at you at breakneck speeds. The soundtrack for this film had a lot of soul; there was no weak link in that solid compilation.

Sienna Miller, who played Helene, gave a stand out performance in this film; her chemistry with Cooper was great but there were many scenes where you really felt that she outclassed him. Daniel Bruhl, who played Tony, was quite a fun role to watch; I liked the natural way the sexuality of his character was dealt with and portrayed. Omar Sy, who played Michel, had such a commanding presence in his scenes; however the best part about his character was the twist in which he betrayed Cooper. Henry Goodman, who played Conti, wasn't in the film much but gave such a genuine performance; I loved his wit in his scenes. Matthew Rhys, who played Reece, was one of the most incredible performances in this film; his ever shifting interactions with Cooper were some of the best scenes within the film. Uma Thurman, who played Simone, has a great minor appearance in this film; I loved her natural chemistry with Cooper and her sassy retorts. Alicia Vikander, who played Anne Marie, was the one aspect of the drug backstory that I really liked; the fact she had a mere two scenes with Cooper and still maintained a powerful relationship with him really shows her strength as a performer.

However the best performance came from Bradley Cooper, who played Adam Jones. This is one of Cooper's best performances in a long time, he really nails this role. It's the drive that you admire at first, his unwavering push to get his own kitchen and third Michelin Star. But you soon see Cooper performing exceptionally in tandem with the rest of the cast and you can't help but admire how well he's formed chemistry with almost the entire ensemble. Cooper is naturally quite good at playing up a character's wit; the sarcasm or sly digs that he makes in this film are brilliant. What really makes this performance stand out is how Cooper is so erratic in this film, sure he has a commanding presence in the kitchen but his outbursts and breakdowns are just completely unpredictable and I loved that.

There's not much I really disliked about this film but one thing that I thought wasn't well executed was the drug backstory. Cooper's character was too grounded in his present predicament with only slight references to the stuff from his past that it almost felt like his past didn't matter so much. We needed to see or be told more specifically about his earlier days when he crashed and burned.

Riccardo Scamarcio, who played Max, had no presence in this film; he was talked about as if he were important but you just didn't feel this in the execution. Sam Keeley, who played David, gave a weak performance that didn't stand out; something Keeley didn't seem to understand was that you can play a weak and cowardly role without lacking presence in a film. Emma Thompson, who played Dr. Rosshilde, is such a bad actress; everything she does just feels like a stale performance or one where she fails to put in enough effort. Lexi Benbow-Hart, who played Lily, was a bit too exaggerated and over the top in her performance; she wasn't the best child actress.

The Walk

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This is quite possibly the worst film Joseph Gordon-Levitt has ever done. I would give The Walk a 5.5/10.

This film really had a good aspect of it's plot when it focussed on Philippe's drive to make his walk on the wire happen; the minute the focus was on him getting ready to cross the Twin Towers was when the film really picked up and became interesting. Ultimately though this film was about style and it was the style of the film that served it. The score has quite whimsical at times which fit into the tone, but as the feature progressed it really became quite beautiful as we see him engage in his walk between the Twin Towers. Ultimately the best thing about this film was the cinematography; the jaw dropping scenic shots that just took in the sheer magnitude of this feat.

James Badge Dale, who played Jean-Pierre, was great in this film; he was incredibly convincing as this man who could talk and convince others of his intentions on the fly.

However the best performance in this film came from Steve Valentine, who played Barry Greenhouse. Valentine was full of energy and enthusiasm within his role, you felt he was giving a performance that was genuine. This was something you didn't really realise was missing from the film until he appeared. His humour in scenes really brought the film up and was one of the few times I found enjoyment in this film.

This film is long and it feels it, you get bored the minute you realise Gordon-Levitt is going to narrate/monologue for the entire film. In fact this use of narration feels cheap, it's such a basic way to provide exposition but you lose credibility in how you show your story to an audience. Then the story itself presents us with characters who aren't developed enough to be interesting alongside a protagonist who isn't very likeable. The entire first act of this film is boring while the second is meant to provide a sense of nostalgia for the Twin Towers. Sadly you don't believe in this at all because every time the film attempts to connect to it's themes or important messages it just comes across as artificial; no performer in this movie really seems to connect to the ideas of the film.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who played Philippe Petit, puts on quite a terrible French accent in this film; his entire performance felt hollow and empty as if he couldn't quite convey what the film was trying to show and in this regard he failed the film as it's protagonist. Ben Kingsley, who played Papa Rudy, gave an even worse accent; worse than this he had no presence and you don't really feel like he fulfilled his mentor role well. Charlotte Le Bon, who played Annie, feels like a love interest that is wedged into this film; you could take her out of the film and wind up with a finished product that isn't any different. Clement Sibony, who played Jean-Louis, had no presence in this film; worse yet his chemistry with Gordon-Levitt needed to be a lot better for this film to work. Cesar Domboy, who played Jeff, fell into the background quite quickly in this film; he was utilised for his character's fear more than he was used as a character. Ben Schwartz and Benedict Samuel, who played Albert and David respectively, had no presence at all in this film; in fact their erratic character traits and odd personalities didn't even really fit in with this film.

Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension

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I thought I'd already seen Poltergeist this year but then the franchise that refuses to die out came along with it's blatant rip off so i have to review it again. I would give Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension a 4/10.

One thing that is timeless in the Paranormal franchise is the score and the sound effects that are utilised; this entire film sounds really good and sets the tone of the scares. I also have to admit that the pacing moved along pretty well, but that's no big feat as the film isn't even an hour and a half long. Some of the special effects within the film are quite cool; specifically the early stuff we see with the shadows.

Chris J. Murray, who played Ryan, is actually a pretty good lead in this film; his concern is genuine so you fall into his obsession of solving this possession. Michael Krawic, who played Father Todd, gave quite a natural performance; however he was also extremely powerful in the exorcism scene.

Yet the best performance came from Dan Gill, who played Mike. You see Gill's performance embodies what the horror genre lacks and seriously needs more of: realistic characters and performances. Gill is naturally quite entertaining and comedic as Mike, his chemistry with Murray is phenomenal. But when the film starts moving towards the horror aspects he reacts in a realistic manner. There's a great scene where the demon forms behind him that really stood out from the rest because his terror was so real.

I'm tired of jump scares. I scare easily so anything will scare me and get a reaction from me, however when even I can recognise the laziness of just inserting a jump scare for shock factor then I can tell the film isn't achieving much. This film is also burdened with tropes: possessed children, exorcisms, religious paraphernalia, Bloody Mary, creaky flloorboards, flickering lights and that priest showing up to try save the day. It's such a basic, simple plot that wastes your time. The found footage cinematography is over used, unfortunately it's an aspect of this franchise and it's clear that they're grasping at straws to keep using it. The editing is very simple, the transitions between scenes could have been done by some kid on Movie Maker. And the other aspect of the special effects is that some of them look really fake, especially in 3D. If you're going to make a shadow hand pierce through somebody at least put some effort into making it look half good.

Brit Shaw, who played Emily, was dealt a poorly written character in this film; this is the mother of the girl who is possessed yet she has no presence until the very end of the feature. Ivy George, who played Leila, isn't a great child actress; there are a few dialogue scenes where she looks and sounds as if she can barely remember her lines. Olivia Taylor Dudley, who played Skyler, was a very vague role; her connection to the family wasn't very clear in the film and so you just felt like she was there out of a need for more characters.

Crimson Peak

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Once you realise this film isn't so much a horror as it is a thriller you begin to really appreciate it. I would give Crimson Peak a 7/10.

The premise of this story is quite exceptional because it paints itself as a horror film, however as the plot unfolds the horror elements give way to a story about murder, secrets and a tale of questionable love. What you really have to admire about Crimson peak is that somehow it keeps it's pacing, I found myself very engaged in this film despite the dialogue heavy scenes and the long beats between action. It was a rich film and provided a lot visually, which helped with the pacing as much as the structure of the narrative. For example Del Toro's cinematography in this film is pretty perfect; the shots are otherwise grand or they take in every possible detail. The special effects were particularly good, the ghosts were well made but it was the insects that really stood out.

Tom Hiddleston, who played Thomas Sharp, is such a conflicted character to watch in this film; his emotional range is a true testament to his acting prowess.

However the best performance in this film came from Jessica Chastain, who played Lucille Sharp. In fact this probably one of her stand out roles for me; she really shows her talent as an actress in this film. She gives quite a restrained performance at first, one that is very sinister and grounds us in the tone of the film. However as the plot progresses and we see her explode into fits of rage or give quiet monologues about death and pain we really begin to fear her. If anything Chastain is the most horrific thing within the film, far more than any special effects ghost. The grief we get from her when she kills her brother/lover is just so powerful and very terrifying to watch.

The editing for the film is clearly meant to be an homage of sorts but in actuality just felt out dated and a poor use of transition between scenes. The film itself took far too long to get under way, the first half hour was riddled with quite intensive dialogue and a plot centred more around Carter Cushing than anyone else. The end of the film was bogged down with a weak dialogue exchange that showed the script wasn't capable of dealing with big action sequences. Overall the film couldn't even produce much of a horror vibe, the ghosts were unsettling but all sounded and looked the same.

Mia Wasikowska, who played Edith Cushing, gave the exact same performance she gave in Alice in Wonderland; her inability to feel convincing in emotional scenes was a major flaw in her performance. Charlie Hunnam, who played Dr. Alan McMichael, felt so out of place in this film that you believed he was merely there thanks to his previous Pacific Rim role (which was likely the case); his devoted role just seemed exceptionally fake and he did very little to aid in furthering the film to a satisfying conclusion. Jim Beaver, who played Carter Cushing, was quite monotone in this film; he gave a very rigid performance and it wasn't a big loss when his character died no matter how gory it was.

The Throne

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Probably one of the worst Korean films that I've seen this year. I would give The Throne a 4/10.

The beginning and the ending of this film are extremely powerful, you're moved by the music and visuals as well as the performances that really make these bold ways to start and end. I think it was in these scenes that you see the director's very clear vision of how he wished to portray his film. The score is exceptionally of the era, and the song that plays at the start as well as throughout the film is just such a powerful part of what makes this film interesting. I also have to say that I loved the cinematography in this film, the director really used the frame and how he filled it.

Kang-ho Song, who played King Yeongjo, was quite an intimidating role; you really felt the turmoil within him as he tried to keep the peace within his land and family as he saw fit. Hae-suk Kim, who played Queen Inwon, was a really fierce role; she just rallied against many members of the cast so well that it was disappointing to see her die.

However the best performance came from Ah In Yoo, who played Crown Prince Sado. Yoo has impressed me this year with his wild and erratic performances and Sado does not disappoint. You see him go from being quite a clever and restrained character to one that seems half mad and unpredictable. It's his scenes of grief that really stand out and you feel for him heavily when he breaks down.

The film has a really cloudy sense of direction when it comes to it's narrative, the story doesn't seem to have a message and the plot's flashback/present day narrative is more confusing than anything else. Ultimately the pacing really drags out as you're fed constant pointless scenes to what is ultimately an overstretched plot. The editing is another downside of the film with some exceptionally simple fades and cuts dotted throughout the film.

Geun-young Moon, who played Lady Hyegyeong, had very little screen presence in this film; at the end of the day her role had no impact upon the story as a whole.

Miss You Already

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I went in expecting nothing and came out emotionally wrecked. I would give Miss You Already a 7/10.

This film does wonders at talking about breast cancer and the ramifications of the disease; you see the progress of the lead as she deals with this disease and how others deal with her deterioration. It's quite powerful the way the story is told and the lengths that are gone to to pull off a convincing and moving film. The score and soundtrack for the film are perfect, the soundtrack especially just fits with scenes perfectly and brings a lot of life to them. The cinematography is fairly simple but shows some really clever and innovative shots throughout, it's clear the camera moves in such a visually stunning way when these shots are presented.

Dominic Cooper, who played Kit, was actually quite charming in this film; but what was great was how he showed the stress that was building within him. Mem Ferda, who played Ahmed, was a very minor but very fun role; I liked the empathy he shared as well as the comedic dance scene. Ryan Lennon Baker, who played Ben, was an incredible child actor; he was so full of energy and excelled at being a little rascal. Frances de la Tour, who played Jill, was a minor role with a huge presence in her scene; she was comedic but also brought some strong emotion to what is one of the best scenes of the film.

However the best performance came from Toni Collette, who played Milly. Was Milly the most likeable role in this film? No, certainly not but that's because Collette puts a lot of hard work into portraying someone who is realistic and convincing. You feel a lot of the pain that is portrayed, the grief and anguish is bleeding off of her in several scenes. Her erratic personality is exceptional and you can see the downward spiral of this role play out perfectly. Her outbursts and very natural responses to her disease is what makes Collette such a powerful actress in this role. Ultimately seeing her so fiery and fierce to being so weak and decrepit is a true testament as to how great of an actress Toni Collette is in this film.

What really bugged me about this film was the editing, some of the cuts were really poorly timed and pulled you out of the natural flow of a scene. The pacing for this film was really stretched out too, I think a few scenes could've been cut out to make it more tolerable. The comedy in this film, while strong, sometimes felt out of place or didn't land so soundly; in a very similar manner to how characters interacted with one another from time to time.

Drew Barrymore, who played Jess, just wasn't as funny as the rest of the cast so she failed in her line delivery a lot; she also didn't seem as invested in the emotional element of the film so her performance often fell short compared to the rest of the cast. Paddy Considine, who played Jago, was meant very clearly as a funny role but his jokes often came across awkwardly; he also completely failed at delivering strong moments of emotion across. Tyson Ritter, who played Ace, was the result of a rather annoying subplot about Milly cheating on Kit; Ritter's role and performance felt exceptionally artificial so this subplot didn't come off all that well. Jacqueline Bisset, who played Miranda, was a character who didn't feel real; she was this big over the top role that you just didn't believe in for the duration of the film. Honor Kneafsey, who played Scarlett, sounded like she was reading her lines for her major scenes; it was certainly one of the worst child actor performances I've seen this year.

Black Mass

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The American version of Legend, right down to the terrible plot and style. I would give Black Mass a 4/10.

I think the plot for this film is intriguing, there's some really dark presentation of the criminal world here as well as the corrupt element of law enforcement. I think the best part of the film is the score and soundtrack; it's all extremely gritty and dark; setting the tone perfectly for some of the major scenes of the film.

Johnny Depp, who played James 'Whitey' Bulger, is a complete maniac in this film and I love it; his performance is wild and unpredictable to the extent that you don't know whether he's about to be violent or humourous. Joel Edgerton, who played John Connolly, shows off how you do character development in his performance; he begins the film as a rising star with a lot of power and is reduced to Bulger's flunky who is completely subservient by the end of the film. Benedict Cumberbatch, who played Billy Bulger, is incredibly charismatic in this film; he has a lot of chemistry with the rest of the cast because that is what his senatorial role demands of him. Kevin Bacon, who played Charles McGuire, is such a good figure of authority in this film; he plays really well against Edgerton and you can see his alliances constantly shift and change through Bacon's performance. David Harbour, who played John Morris, is by far one of the stand out performances within this film; I like how he plays against others and how his moment of morality comes about.

However the best performance came from Corey Stoll, who played Fred Wyshak. Stoll is in this film for little more than twenty minutes but he immediately stands apart as one of the best performances due to his presence alone. Stoll embodies this straight by the books law enforcement agent with no time for anything but the job completely. He almost has no chemistry with anyone intentionally because you see him throw walls up against other actors. His extreme ability to go from calm to confronting makes for some of the best scenes of the film.

This film could have had a lot to say but it chooses to ignore this opportunity for scenes that just elaborate upon the character of Bulger and Connolly; while this is an interesting aspect what should be far more interesting is the theme of corruption and the political implications of the film. The pacing for this film is slow, you are presented scene after scene of Bulger's crimes with some of these scenes not doing a thing to advance the story. The cinematography is incredibly simple; there's not a lot special in how the camera is utilised. The editing is another weak factor, there's no cutting to create a better sense of pacing or action it's all just quite basic.

Dakota Johnson, who played Lindsey Cyr, gives a performance that is all over the show; she smiles when she's actively trying to go against Bulger so that when she has her final scene you feel like her character isn't very clear. Jesse Plemons, who played Kevin Weeks, was important for the first ten minutes; after that Plemons was shunted to the background and had next to no screen presence. Rory Cochrane, who played Steve Flemmi, lived in Depp's shadow for most of the film and never really stood out in a scene; you started to feel like Depp's role was the only active criminal of the film. Adam Scott, who played FBI Agent Robert Fitzpatrick, had very little reason to be in this film as he had very little to do in this film; whenever he had a major scene his performance was absolutely dwarfed by others. Julianne Nicholson, who played Marianne Connolly, gave a very stoic weak performance; she didn't display very much in terms of an emotional response to the scenes she was in. Lonnie Farmer, who played DEA Agent Eric Olsen, embodied my least favourite aspect of the film which was the interrogation/narration aspect that was integrated into the film; it was a really weak way to cram in as much exposition as possible without letting the scenes speak for themselves.

The Martian

This review may contain spoilers!

After watching this I can't help but feel that Gravity and interstellar have both been made quite redundant as examples of 'good' space films. I would give The Martian a 9.5/10.

Do you know how hard it is to make a film that runs for 140 minutes or upwards feel well paced? It's an exceptional feat and The Martian pulls it off admirably. I've always thought survival scenario films have had a tendency to drag but this is engaging throughout. In fact half of this film is led with one sole lead acting on their own in what is just a well written and interesting plot. It's funny, it contains a lot of information that's interesting and it has some of the best dialogue and scenes that I've seen this year. The special effects take you quite literally out of this world, with Ridley Scott masterfully creating space and alien landscapes that are the best they've looked potentially ever. The cinematography really compliments these stunning visuals and captures the fantastic views as well as the predicaments of Damon's leading role. The soundtrack for this film is quirky and has an interesting role to play in the film; but it is the score that's the real triumph here.

Jessica Chastain, who played Melissa Lewis, is such a commanding presence in this film; she just falls into this role and becomes it incredibly naturally. Jeff Daniels, who played Teddy Sanders, was a character that I felt like was masterfully written and performed; he did good deeds but also made hard calls that painted him as an antagonist when in actual fact he felt like one of the most realistic characters of the film. Michael Pena, who played Rick Martinez, is fantastic at bringing a strong comedic presence to a dramatic film; I liked the sincerity he brought to his role it made him feel really human. Chiwetel Ejifor, who played Vincent Kapoor, was quite witty in this film and had a lot of energy; however I liked that he still felt like a government official as he was constantly working within the restrictions of what was legal. Donald Glover, who played Rich Purnell, is going to be the person who will completely throw my critique of too many characters right out the window; Glover enters the film and completely rejuvenates it and brings great amount of energy and comedy to it.

However I have to give credit to Matt Damon, who played Mark Watney, and gave the best performance of the film. In fact this entire film centres on Damon's performance as half the film is Damon monologuing scenes solo. Throughout we're presented with such a fantastic display of realistic emotion, reaction and humour. Damon can show struggle and tension, when the HAB is destroyed it is one of the hardest parts of the film and when he learns that his crew doesn't know he's alive you feel his rage. I think it's incredible that Damon progresses his role so well that it feels only natural when he's crying as he hears the voice of his crew-mates again.

My only real critique for this film was that the cast of characters was far too extensive, you'd get scenes that snapped back to Earth only to have a room crammed with people that became a bit hard to follow.

Kristen Wiig, who played Annie Montrose, didn't really do anything in this film; she acted as a PR person but was never the person who had a presence in media scenes. Sean Bean, who played Mitch Henderson, took far too long to have a presence in this film; for most of his performance he just felt tired and he certainly brought no energy to the film. Kate Mara, who played Beth Johanssen, didn't have much screen presence; her comedic moments didn't really land. Sebastian Stan, who played Chris Beck, was an exceptionally forgettable character in this film; you have next to no background on him so you don't much care about him. Aksel Hennie, who played Alex Vogel, seemed like an outside figure of the crew but his character was diversely changed in the second half of the film; I don't enjoy seeing a character rewritten for plot purposes as happened here. Mackenzie Davis, who played Mindy Park, became this figure who was a bit too much of a caricature figure for the sake of this film; she could have been quite a good role with some more grounded dialogue.

Pan

This review may contain spoilers!

A very good film that could have benefited from some attention to detail. I would give Pan a 7/10.

I think the strongest part of the film was the soundtrack and score; you can't get much better than Hugh Jackman entering to and singing Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'. The basic plot of Pan is well executed and presents quite a fun retelling of the origins of Peter Pan; this entire film is well paced with action scenes or fun comedic moments. The cinematography had some nice flow to it, these are some interesting sets and it's clear that the director goes to great lengths to show these off. Most of the special effects are incredible in this film, particularly the flying pirate ships and the fairies.

Levi Miller, who played peter, showed a lot of talent in this film's leading role; it's clear that Miller can hold his own in a major character position and his exuberant Peter is a high point of the film. Garrett Hedlund, who played Hook, is a fantastic gruff protagonist; I like the begrudging relationship that forms between him and Miller. Rooney Mara, who played Tiger Lily, has an exceptionally fierce dominating presence once she's a part of this film; in fact she's one of the performances who feels most a part of the world that the film builds up. Adeel Akhtar, who played Sam Smiegel, is such a fun comedic performance; Akhtar really embodies the cowardly bumbling essence of Smee. Kathy Burke, who played Mother Barnabas, was quite a good antagonist in this film; her over the top bellowing nasty matron was exceptional to watch.

However the best performance came from Hugh Jackman, who played Blackbeard. Jackman is erratic and full of energy in this film, he is throwing himself into this role completely. You feel this way from the get go when he enters singing and bellowing in such a fantastic manner. Beyond this we see Jackman portray a really interesting range of emotion within this antagonist; his first meeting with Miller is quite powerful. In this scene you see Jackman go from angry and intimidating to tearing up and growing very morose.

Where the film failed was it's lack of detail towards subplots; the Hook/Tiger Lily romance as well as the back story behind the natives and fairy kingdom all felt too rushed or put into the film far too late. This film focussed on Peter but failed to develop the stories of it's other characters enough to make this film really stand out. I also have to say that while I love most of the special effects, the Neverbirds looked absolutely atrocious.

Nonso Anozie, who played Bishop, was an antagonist who fell into the background more often than not; his role was diminished to glorified muscle for Blackbeard. Lewis Macdougall, who played Nibs, wasn't a great child actor, his performance felt like he was reading his lines rather than portraying their meaning. Jack Charles, who played the Chief, was kind of a caricature role; his accent was out of place and his entire performance was quite basic.