Django Unchained

Director: Quentin Tarantino (Won Golden Globe for best screenplay for this film)

Starring: Jamie Fox (Ray, Law Abiding Citizen); Christoph Waltz (Inglourius Basterds); Leonardo Di Caprio (Titanic, Inception)

Running Time: 165mins

If there were only 3 reasons to watch this movie, then here they are: Scenery, Soundtrack & Jamie Foxx. Besides Ray, this has to be Foxx's (Django - the 'D' is silent) finest moment as a freed slave seeking revenge for his wife. Having said that though, some of his performances were overshadowed by the awesomeness that was Samuel L. Jackson in his portrayal as Stephen the housekeeper. I enjoyed him in Pulp Fiction but I think it's safe to say that I enjoyed this performance much more. Other terrific performances included the likes of the unwavering Christoph Waltz as Dr. King Schultz the dentist/bounty hunter as well as Leonardo DiCaprio as Calvin Candie (ruthless plantation owner who has Foxx's wife). The violence left me reeling every once a while and it's long, perhaps a little too long, but the interaction between the actors, the story, camerawork, blood, script and the pretty cool cameo from director Tarantino make the 165 minutes worth it! Do yourselves a favour and download the soundtrack. It's fantastic! And by the way, ignore what Spike Lee said about this film, it's not racist. Even if Foxx's character uses the 'N' word one too many times in the derogatory sense, it's a fantasy. Enjoy it as such and also let the figures speak for themselves, so far the movie has made around $150m at the box office...

Lincoln Kills it! (and gets killed)

Director: Steven Spielberg

Starring: Daniel-Day Lewis (Last of The Mohicans, My Left Foot, Gangs of New York); Sally Field (Forrest Gump, Where the Heart is)

Running Time: 150 minutes

Off the bat I'm going to say that it's either Denzel Washington or Daniel-Day Lewis walking away with the Oscar for best actor. It's plain to see why his Golden Globe win was well deserved! Lewis is, as always, undeniably brilliant! Brilliant! I must admit though that I did find it hard to tear myself away from the thought that he looked and almost sounded like 'Bill The Butcher' from Gangs of New York but after the first 10 minutes or so, he became Honest Abe. I'm afraid I can't comment on the realism of the movie with regards to historic facts, etc but I have been assured by a friend of mine that Spielberg did a wonderful job in portraying the events that unfolded around the passing of the 13th Amendment (for those of you who don't know, this amendment abolished slavery in 1865). Whether or not he'll win best director remains to be seen but on the whole it was a beautifully shot movie with other moving performances by Sally Field as Lincoln's wife and Tommy-Lee Jones as Thaddeus Stevens (would love to see him walk away with the Oscar this year but me thinks Christoph might clinch it for Django Unchained). If you're not a history buff and into heavy dramas, this movie will be quite boring and oh, Lincoln gets assassinated. No this is not a spoiler alert. If you didn't know that then you REALLY shouldn't be watching this... 

Life of Pi

Director: Ang Lee (Hulk; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; Brokeback Mountain)
Cast: Suraj Sharma
Running Time: 127 Minutes

Finally a movie where you don't need to read the book because, well, bar one or two small exclusions, the film matches it perfectly! Although, the book really is beautifully written and I highly recommend it. If you have read the book, like me, your imagination could not have exceeded director Ang Lee's vision for this wonderfully adapted movie. From the amazing opening scene as the camera moves over and through the zoo to the magical floating island laden with millions of meerkats, Pi's journey will have you fixed to your seat for 2 hours. Pi (Suraj Sharma - his debut film having made the cut out of 3000 hopefuls auditioned in India) is a serious yet rather humorous character who manages to not tame a fully grown Bengal tiger on his little lifeboat but trains him. His experiences will leave you laughing and crying (I promise)! A terrific film that I believe will become one of those that students will be studying in matric! On a last note, I had the pleasure of interviewing both Ang Lee and Suraj Sharma for the MNet Movie Show so be sure to watch it! Follow me on Twitter for details on when it will air: @JasonMGreer

Feb 2013 Update:
Well done on winning Oscars for:
Cinematography
Director
Music
Visual Effects

The Campaign

Director: Jay Roach (Meet the Parents & Austin Powers)
Starring: Will Ferrell & Zach Galifianakis
Running Time: 85 mins

"My heart is beating so fast it's like a phonebook in a dryer!" Don't ask me what that means but expect more of those 'gems' throughout the film. Off the bat I gotta say that Ferrell & Galifianakis' chemistry is great but I was hoping for a little more. I preferred his 'tangos' with Sascha Baron Cohen and even Mark Wahlberg but I think sticking two high profile comedians deft in the art of ad-libbing together in one film, was too much. If you've watched the trailer, you've pretty much seen all the funny parts. There were a few surprise cameos for me though including the 67 year old, John Lithgow. Kudos should also go to Dermot Mulroney who is brilliant as the underhanded campaign manager. Overall it's a fun movie with a few laugh out loud moments but I think I'd rather see the two of them in separate movies from now on.

Taken 2

Director: Olivier Megaton (Transporter 3 & Colombiana)
Starring: Liam Neeson (Schindler's List & The Grey); Famke Janssen (X-Men & Taken)
Running Time: 91 Minutes

With an opening weekend in the US of $50m, there should be no doubt in your mind that wanting to go and watch Neeson kick some ass is a priority! It's the same 'plot' per say however this time, Neeson get's kidnapped! Before you know it though, he's out of the pickle and starts his rain of beat downs and monotone dialogue on the baddies all with some help from his daughter. It was overall a very enjoyable but fairly predictable movie that came to an end pretty quickly. My only gripe, the fight scenes were shot badly. I wanted to see exactly how he disarmed the thug, snuck his fist into his left nostril and broke his right leg all at the same time...but alas, you're left feeling dizzy from the short, sharp shots! Pity. I'm not gonna give you anything more about the story but I will leave you with this quote that sends shivers down my spine everytime I remember it: "If I kill you, your other sons will come and seek revenge and I will kill them too."

Dredd - The Judge has returned

Director: Pete Travis (Vantage Point & Endgame)
Starring: Karl Urban (Star Trek & Red); Lena Heady (300, Game of Thrones); Olivia Thirlby
Running Time: 95 mins

Judgement has come! Finally after over 15 years, Dredd, the way he was intended, has come to save the world. Ok, it's only one building so far. There's not a moment to breath as the movie opens with a high speed car chase along Johannesburg's M1 through swarms of taxis and Putco busses. Oh sorry, I didn't tell you, Dredd was shot mostly in Joburg and Cape Town. Once the first perp is caught, it's almost non-stop, gut spewing, head exploding, cheek ripping, eye gouging gratuitous violence from there. Dredd (played by the relatively unknown Karl Urban) is a no-nonsense judge who has no qualms dishing out beatings and death sentences on the spot and along with his psychic rookie partner, Anderson (Olivia Thirlby) they follow an extremely simple storyline to catch the baddy. The baddy, Ma-ma, is played by Lena Headey (you'll remember her as the incestuous Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones) and even with her scars and rotten teeth, she's still sexy. Not too keen on the performance though. Nonetheless, if you're up for a proper hour & a half escape with guns, killing and slo-mo, then you're gonna enjoy this. My best parts of the film, when people inhale the drug 'Slo-mo'...the 3D effects really are very pretty. And apparently this might just become a trilogy...that's all for now.

To Rome With Love (as funded by Romans)

For some reason I've never been a fan of Woody Allen movies, maybe it's because I've felt intellectually inferior, however I decided it's finally time to grow up and go watch one of his films. The result, pleasantly surprised. To Rome With Love is wonderfully written and the performances were equally as enchanting. From the opera singer who can only perform in the shower to the wide eyed 'country girl' who faces the dilemma of wanting to sleep with a famous actor. From the man who wakes up famous (yes, literally) to Penelope Cruz's character as a prostitute. Now, if, like me, you have never been to Rome, then best you get yourself to your closest cinema because this has to be hands down one of the best guides to Rome out there. Which is not surprising seeing as though the movie was basically funded by Roman investors. I'm glad to see that those little cobblestone alleyways and hanging plant baskets do actually exist. Picturesque! My only gripe...it's just a wee bit too long with a running time of 112 minutes. By the end of it you're like please just wrap things up. Oh yeah, and Alec Baldwin's role...I'm still confused.