Tommy Boy

I've been swamped lately and hardly had a second spare to write on this damn thing so I think it's about time I got back into the swing of things. And a perfect way to get back to it is with a viewing of Tommy Boy (1995) starring the wonderful Chris Farley and David Spade.


This was one of these films I had watched late night about 10 years ago, drifting off to sleep and barely watching so I was over the moon when it came on the TV again. Chris Farley is as sweet and crazy as an incompetent auto parts salesman charged with trying to save the company while Spade acts as his partner, at first hating him but then, as always, becoming his best friend. Unlike many comedy films, the story is actually really engaging and the performances are spot-on.


Sooooooo glad I saw it again and thoroughly recommend it!

                                                                                

Another Day, Another Doc

I'm still trying to peel myself away from documentaries at the moment but seem to be failing. I love them! I love them! I love them!!

I've been watching a few docs a day just now and have also been working as cameraman on a couple (one about a charity organisation and another about ballroom dancing). A doc, if made well, can be just as emotional and dramatic or lighthearted and funny as any Hollywood film but can also open you up to the world. A good doc will make you think or feel long after the final credits.

The latest one I saw was 'The Dungeon Masters' (2008) which follows three players of the role playing game Dungeons and Dragons. I found it to be a fascinating insight into a world I had only heard about. I knew that some players could be seen as a little out there but the flamboyant and kinda crazy lengths they go to was amazing. From covering themselves head to toe in black paint to pose as an elven princess to losing all their friends as a result of killing off characters, these people are totally dedicated.



Although it could be easy just to mock these people, the documentary makers picked three charming (if slightly mad) people who you were able to warm to straight away. They managed to feature some genuinely touching moments in their personal lives and for this I rate it as a top class doc.

The Documentary Master - Nick Broomfield


For the last couple of days, I've had a Documentary lock-in, my eyes glued to the screen, avoiding sunlight and socialising for about a day-and-a-half. Two in particular are from, in my opinion, the documentary master - Nick Broomfield (who I was lucky enough to meet after a Masterclass with him at Docfest '08. A true gentleman I must say).

                         

Kurt and Courtney (1998) and Biggie and Tupac (2002) are among his best and represent what a good doc should be about. Even though they are widely covered subjects, they provide revelations, new facts and interviews along with true emotion and tensions. Broomfield is brilliant at drawing out the rare emotion from his interviewees and his relentless pestering of people and purposeful doziness at times means he gets interviews others don't. Magnificent!

Good Burger, Good Film!

I recently signed up to Lovefilm where I am able to watch films straight away streamed through the Playstation. Although the choice of films at the present moment in the 'Watch Now' category is a little bare, I was able to watch Good Burger (1997). This Nickelodeon movie starring Kenan and Kel took me right back and had me and the girlfriend in stitches. It's idiot brand of humour is perfectly balanced so we were laughing all the way through. In more recent comedy films, this is rarely seen. You may have a chuckle now and again but it's not often that you come away feeling tired from laughing. Kenan and Kel play off each other to make it a great film for both kids and adults alike. Loved every minute!

"I'm a dude. He's a dude. She's a dude. Yeah we're all dudes yeah!"

P.S. Did anyone else hear the rumour years back that Kenan and Kel died in a car crash? What was that all about??

Under-rated actors!

In my last post, I spoke quickly about Sam Rockwell. In my opinion, he is one of the world's most under-rated actors going. Every performance he puts in is perfect and he usually steals the show. Your eyes tend to wander over to where he is in the shot to catch a glimpse of some hilarious facial twinge or heartfelt look.

It got me thinking of other under-rated actors going. Just a few to mention would be Giovanni Ribisi, Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro, William H. Macy, Anna Faris, Viggo Mortensen and Guy Pearce.

Join in and tell me your choice!

Conviction.

Just been to see Conviction at the pics starring Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell. It is based on the true story of a man wrongly convicted of a murder and his sister that takes up law to set him free.

I had not heard anything about the film beforehand and believe it hasn't received much publicity and I don't know how as it is an excellent piece of work. Very emotional and well-acted, the cast and crew do justice to a quite harrowing and shocking story. Hilary Swank as always is brilliant and believable as the sister fighting to free the man and Sam Rockwell plays him to perfection. I've always thought Mr. Rockwell is one of the most underrated actors going at this time which can be clearly seen in last year's Moon.

Verdict - 4 out of 5. Go see it and keep an eye out for future Sam Rockwell productions!

Bafta Nominations are in!

So, the Bafta Award Nominations have just been announced. As always some surprising entries and some left out that should be included.


For me, I know he's a popular choice and has been for a while now, but I find Colin Firth (The King's Speech) as charismatic as a damp cloth held out in rainwater to dry! His performances seem so immobile and stiff , he almost makes Clive Owen look like Lee Evans (Barring the scene in Bridget Jones' Diary where he and Hugh Grant have that almighty pathetic street fight, which is actually genuinely funny)!


The one missing on the Best Actor list for me is Tobey Maguire for his performance in Brothers. I'm actually not entirely sure if it eligible for this years or last years but either way it is an immaculately haunting performance which is the standard they should be striving for.

 

Also a special mention to Pete Postlethwaite who is a fine actor who will be sorely missed. Let's hope he gets what he deserves for his excellent performance in The Town.


The full list of nominations can be found at these links below.


http://www.bafta.org/awards/film/2011-film-awards,1572,BA.html


http://www.heyuguys.co.uk/2011/01/18/the-2011-bafta-nominations/#

Top 5 of 2010

As we enter a new year, it's always good to look back at the highlights of the year before. Here is my Top 5 Films of 2010. They may not be to everyone's taste or be the stars of the year but they sure done something for me.


1 - Inception            (Christopher Nolan)
2 - Toy Story 3         (Lee Unkrich)
3 - Youth In Revolt  (Miguel Arteta)
4 - Avatar                 (James Cameron)
5 - Shutter Island    (Martin Scorsese)


n.b. I have yet to see the French film Micmacs (Jean-Pierre Jeunet) which I have been wanting to see for a while and have been reliably informed is a cracker.


Feel free to join in with your top 5 - always good to see everybodies variations.

1st Post! - My favourite film.

So, I thought for my very first post, it would be appropriate to talk about my favourite film. Everybody has one which usually evokes some kind of emotion in us or reminds us of a special time in our lives and that right there is the magic of movies.

 My fave is not a blockbuster, it is not recent but for me it's the best - The Blues Brothers (the original, not the monstrosity that is Blues Brothers 2000!). It has everything - great music and musicians, amazing car chases, fantastic disrespect of property and authority and, most of all, it really is the epitome of cool!

I think I will be on 60th view or thereabouts and it still doesn't disappoint.


Join in the discussion and let me know what your favourite films are!