An Unusual Suspect is An American Psycho!

            

So I decided to go a little old school and revisit 'American Psycho' and 'The Usual Suspects'. First up, American Psycho. You may be surprised to learn that this film almost had Leo Di Caprio in the lead role along with James Woods as the cop and Oliver Stone as the director. Di Caprio baled (pun intended) to shoot 'The Beach' so Stone pulled out along with Woods. Personally I'm glad it was Bale who got the role (just because he's a brilliant actor) and this shot him to stardom which ultimately led him to becoming a hardcore actor who lets rip at lighting people crossing his set and climbs into bullet proof suits with capes. Anyway, I had forgotten the part of the film when he opens the fridge to hand his receptionist some sorbet and there, sitting in a plastic bag, is the head of a woman he murdered the night before! He truly was a psycho and was definitely worth the re-visit. Oh yeah, I also liked his taste in music.

The Usual Suspects...well, I'm embarrassed to say that I had actually forgotten the twist which was great because I watched the film with 'fresh' eyes. Strange to notice that the only actor who made it out there alive to become an A-list actor was Spacey. He is just brilliant. The fact that I've interviewed him before might have something to do with that statement...I mean, the guy had a couple of fingers glued down to make his 'gimpy' disability look more real! Anyway, I really enjoyed the story (again) and I thought that Stephen Baldwin was actually pretty good. Del Toro was also good, well, the times when I could hear what he was saying.

After having watched these 2 movies I gotta say that I really miss old school films. No CGI, no waste your time 3D and no hiring hot chicks just because they're hot!

Silver Linings Playbook

Director: David O. Russell (The Fighter; Three Kings)

Starring: Bradley Cooper (The A-Team; The Hangover), Jennifer Lawrence (Hunger Games; Winter's Bone), Robert De Niro (Meet the Fockers; Goodfellas)

Running Time: 122mins

Whew this was a long movie but fortunately my review is short. Gone are the days when movies weren't longer than 1h30mins! Trying to keep an audiences attention span is never easy and I'm not quite sure if O.Russell managed to do that. Cooper plays a bi-polar guy who's just been released from a psychiatric hospital after beating up her wife's lover. He's in remorse and wants to get back with her. Enter Jennifer Lawrence playing a depressed widow who just wants to get her rocks off. However, she feels a connection with Cooper and a pretty touch & go relationship begins to blossom. Huge kudos to  Lawrence. She truly is a magnificent actress and has this depth to her performances. All this at the tender age of just 22! Anyway, this wasn't my type of film but I suppose it has to be good what with 8 Oscar nods (editing; directing; writing; picture; actor; actress; supporting actor & actress). I feel slightly awkward not having enjoyed such an epic film but I know I'll make it right with some of you one day. I gotta say though that it's quite cool seeing Chris Tucker back on the big screen playing a normal lovable character even though secretly I still enjoy him in the Rush Hour movies...

Wreck-ed it Ralph

Director: Rich Moore (Futurama; The Simpsons)

Voice talents of: John C. Reilly (Stepbrothers; Chicago), Sarah Silverman (School of Rock; There's Something About Mary), Jane Lynch (Glee; 40 Year Old Virgin)

Running Time: 108mins

Just a quick review, I thought that this was a very cute movie. Most animated films are I suppose (unless of course you're going for something a little darker like 'Watership Down'). Anyway, this film is based on a video game character who wrecks buildings for a living and after 30 years he decides that enough's enough and he's tired of being the bad guy so leaves his game in search of adventure and to ultimately become a hero. As most cartoons (sorry...animated films), this is a feel good story that will have you wishing you could also play inside the 'Sugar Rush' game. One thing which I find hard to believe though is that this film cost approx. $165m to make...really? For a cartoon?! Fortunately for them however is that they've already made around $185m so far. Oh yeah I loved Jane Lynch as Sergeant Calhoun! So on a closing note, if you got some time to spare then watch it, otherwise wait for it to come onto TV.

Ar-GO all the way to the Oscars!

Director: Ben Affleck

Starring: Ben Affleck (The Town; Good Will Hunting); Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle; Breaking Bad); John Goodman (The Flintstones; Roseanne); Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine)

Running Time: 120 minutes

The first and only thing that upset me about this film is that I wasn't able to watch it before the Golden Globes because I SO would've called Affleck's win. What a movie! Now I, like most people I'm sure, had no idea about the exact history behind the film, I mean you've got a basic idea that this guy from the CIA is sent in to Iran posing as a movie producer to rescue a bunch of American diplomatic personnel, posing as his crew and I'm not sure how the story played out in real-life back in 1980, but Affleck made absolutely sure that for not even a second would I be leaving my chair during the 120 minutes. I have to also commend him on his acting. I've never really seen him as much of an actor but he truly has become a force to be reckoned with and the only other person I can quite confidently say is able to self-direct well, is Clint Eastwood. Alan Arkin's Oscar nod for Best Supporting Role is definitely well deserved as the producer of this fake film and interestingly enough I thought that John Goodman also held up his end of the acting stick very well and oh, Bryan Cranston, well he certainly has come a long way since playing the dad in 'Malcolm in The Middle'! With an estimated budget of $44.5m, it's already raked in 3 times that at the box office coming in at just over $126m which, in my mind, should be one of the factors that will have Argo taking home the Oscar for Best Picture. Good job, Mr Affleck!

Seven Psychopaths

Director: Martin McDonagh (In Bruges)

Starring: Colin Farrell (The Recruit, Total Recall); Sam Rockwell (Moon, Iron Man 2); Christopher Walken (Balls of Fury, Catch me if you Can); Woody Harrelson (Zombieland, Natural Born Killers)

Running Time: 110 mins

It's not easy for films to capture your attention in the first few minutes, but let me assure you, this film delivers and it does so with 2 bullets to the head! Literally! Pretty new director, McDonagh, has done an amazing job by hauling in a brilliant cast of actors to play out a story that will have you wondering 'what next'. Farrell plays a struggling screenwriter who's toying with an idea for his next film about seven psychopaths. He's helped along by his best friend played by Rockwell and a dog thief played by Walken. It's not possible really for me to give you an exact synopsis on the film because there's a fine line between me giving too much of the story away and me just keeping completely quiet. I can tell you however that 2 reasons to watch the film would be for Harrelson as a ruthless mob boss who's bark is as big as his bite and who's also particularly upset about his Shih Tzu being stolen and then Rockwell as the 'creative brains' behind the film in progress. It's hilarious as it is violent. There's a perfect balance so don't worry about closing your eyes or mouth. Closing thought, am a little surprised this has only made $15m at the box office when it cost $15m to make...oh well, maybe the DVD sales will help it make a profit.

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...