The Meyerowitz Stories (2017) Solid work but dreary and depressing.

I normally hate movies which base the whole story on someone dying, a bit like this movie which is purposely slow, starts when relatives mainly the distant siblings all come together and try to pretend that everything is normal and everything is loving when inside there is a hidden resentment and hatred.

This movie may be very true to life and Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller & Dustin Hoffman work believably in this dark drama surrounded by wit & moans.

I definitely don’t want to see this film again, I enjoyed the actor’s,I enjoyed the performances, but it was just too dreary, Hoffman has the best lines and character, he still knows how to transfer the written word into gold on a screen.

As a side note I really hope Adam Sandler leaves all the teenage Happy Gilmore stuff alone now & focuses on some meaty roles, he has real acting talent when he is not shouting or walking around like an oversized baby, I would love to see him as a killer or a cheating husband.

6/10

Wheelman (2017) Great idea,film lacks somthing

Wheelman starts off well, the camera view is based from the back of the car, you hear muffled voices and see a couple of men chatting outside, before long you get to meet your lead character played by Frank Grillo,he is the getaway driver, straight away I felt comfortable knowing that he is ” behind the wheel” as the lead he took everyone on a thrilling ride in the Purge 2.

This film sets up a great start by bringing in lots of car chases, accidents and thrills, but then the director seems to forget about these mystery characters and instead increases the speed of the film from 10mph to 200mph, there were plenty of questions unanswered but everything seem to wrap itself up without any explanation as to why, then the credits rolled, maybe a quirky direction but for me it feels like the film ran out of money and did not have an option to film many key scenes, really shame as it had the feel of a good action film .

5/10

Cardboard Gangsters (2017) Raw and Entertaining

Cardboard Gangsters breathes a ton of oxygen into a dead genre, the setting is a poor estate in Ireland and the back drop is about a group of friends who are tired of living week to week without any real money and struggling to find a purpose in life.

As well as the good writing throughout, there is an honesty to the film which draws you in, if this was a cliché London flick all the characters would automatically move from scene to scene murdering people or hurting people without there being a flicker of intimidation or thought from the character in question, this film highlights the fact that you can choose to live a dangerous life but if you do you might have to face up to some dark consequences,may seem like common sense but the average person is good-hearted and has the support of family around them, when you truly break out of societies decency rules the effects can be devastating to a persons own karma, I have not seen a film break new ground with such style and clever writing in a long time, all on a limited budget, the people involved in this film will go on to bigger and better things, I have no doubt, treat yourself to fabulous night in with the Cardboard Gangsters.

9/10

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‘Criminal Activities’Trying to be too clever.film review 2015

The film starts off well, a group of friends meet up over coffee and one of them mentions that he has a friend with information about stock that is only going up in the near future, they all agree to go in it together and raise the funds to invest.

The movie then copies the theme to Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels and creates a sense of panic and a need to raise a certain amount of money before their lives become threatened.

It was nice to see Michael Pitt again after ‘Boardwalk Empire’ & ‘Funny Games’ but the scene stopping moment comes when John Travolta shows up with his new wig, I say wig, I am guessing it is some kind of implant,black paint,superglue attachment, either way a close friend should have pulled him to one side and told him to grow old gracefully or go and get some fake hair that actually looks like hair, not the stinky raccoon he is using at the moment.

Back to the film and it just tried to hard to be slick and clever, a lot of the plot and dialogue has been used for similar films in the last twenty years and by the time the big reveal comes near the end,I just did not care.

4/10

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Maze Runner: ‘The Scorch Trials’ How to ruin the legacy of the 1st.film review 2015

The first film was a cracker, filled with suspense,mystery and excitement.

I was looking forward to more of the same in Maze Runner 2, how disappointed can one be in a film,well for me, very!

The film carriers on from the first,the escaped kids are being taken to a safe area,from there the film is filled with moments and scenes that go nowhere,zombie like characters in the style of the ‘walking dead’ weird monsters and a chase team.

The people responsible for this sequel need a smelly cold fish slapped against their face continuously until some brain function returns,Bloody dreadful film.

1/10

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‘Ant Man’ Film review -Paul Rudd’s pension sorted! (2015)

I like Paul Rudd, he has that every man quality and lends his face beautifully to sarcasm.

So we have had Superman,Spiderman, Batman & now Antman? I am still not sure on this, the action sequences are entertaining and the skill of being able to shrink at will seems to bring as many solutions as it does problems.

I found myself losing interest after thrirty minutes, I am sure a thirteen year old would be glued to the screen, it just didn’t hold my attention even though Paul & Michael Douglous share good chemistry on screen and Paul offers some witty one liners the film quickly fizzles into a forgettable memory.

5/10

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5 to 7 (2015) Movie review: A Modern Day Classic 10/10

It’s been a few weeks since I saw this film but I can recall the dialogue & style of the film like it was yesterday.

The film is about a struggling writer who makes an excuse to talk to a beautiful women,what follows is a slow dance in the dark to discover if these two strangers have more in common than just sexual attraction.

I am in love with this film,it’s so unusual now day’s that a romantic film can make you feel anything for the plot or the lead characters,this movie does both with ease.

(Spoiler alert)

The title will probably give the plot away for people who have spent much time in France but for me I have never heard about the idea of having an open 5 to 7 relationship outside of marriage,the idea sounds morally wrong but as the film goes on I found myself swaying on both sides of the debate,added to this the romance blossoming around the story is enough to make you reflect on your own love life & smile within at the very prospect of asking your partner if he/she would entertain both of you having a fling between the hours of 5 to 7.

The concept is interesting but in no way does this become the shining reason to see the film,the writing & the acting are the reason,each character has depth and sincerity that will make you laugh,cry & breathe a sense satisfaction.

I am sure if this film was to become a reality for my life, my wife would have a fantastic new lover & I would end up in a coffee shop reading the sports section between the hours of 5 to 7.

10/10

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Hit the Road:India (2013) Movie Review – A 3D POSTCARD FROM INDIA – 6/10

An unconventional movie which includes two unremarkable characters who’s redeeming quality is their
genuine thirst for something different.

Positives: This film will motivate you to plan your own adventure and will make you reflect on your own past travels.

The soundtrack is outstanding and really brings about a feeling of freedom to the film.

The Movie manages to capture India’s shy turn of cheek and friendly smile in a way that most travel shows miss.

The Negatives:

Half a dozen Tuk Tuks are rented for the use of travelling around India,the film only follows the two guys from America,it would have been so much more interesting if the other groups were included in this film,at least there would be more characters to bounce off,as it is you have a road and the locals who fail to exchange any meaningful conversations throughout.

I really think the makers missed a trick with not having a scene at the start & end which showed them having a few beers and talking about their expectations and fears for the trip,as it is you don’t really get a feel for who they are until half way through the film.

Overall I enjoyed the film and the desire to complete what looked like a horrible road journey at times!

6/10

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Furious 7 (2015) Movie Review – Nice tribute to Paul but movie has 17 minutes worth of good stuff!

I was never big into cars when I was a little nipper,so this movie was never gonna be a big winner for me, I have seen the 1st one and did enjoy the charming talents of Paul Walker vs Vin Diesel’s angry persona, as for Furious 2,3,4,5 & six I managed to luckily escape these films without feeling like I had missed out on anything.

To start with this film is terribly cheesy, you know with the ”Expendables” franchise when they over kill a cheesy line but with there being an inside joke that this film is full of has been action stars, well in this film you have all the cheesy dialogue without there being an inside-joke, it seems every five minutes Jason Stratham,Dwayne Johnson or Vin Diesel are trying to out cool each other with their unthoughtful one liners!

As for the good in the movie, there are around 17minutes of good stuff surrounded by 2hours of bullshit!,the 17 minutes include some outstanding special effects which includes some ground breaking stunts in Dubai,added to this you have a nice tribute at the end which is sad as well as creepy at the same time, in the way they have edited footage to make it seem like it was a planned goodbye.

5/10

Paul Walker was a very talented actor, my favourite film of his would have to be Road Kill,he shows more of his range in this film and really takes the viewer on dramatic journey!

R.I.P

Maggie (2015) Movie Review – Walking dead without the good bit’s! 3/10

What a strange movie this was, it has the same back story to the huge TV hit ”Walking Dead” the only key difference being no interesting elements to this dour movie version.

Arnold plays a concerned father who needs to look after his bitten daughter before she changes,as an idea before seeing the film I was genuinely excited at the prospect of Arnold running round blowing away Zombies!

The film is so slow you would think you were watching a girl die of cancer and not a Zombie bite,the film took itself FAR to seriously and as a result you have a very dull film that has no redeeming features.

3/10

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