Kill Your Darlings

Since the end of Harry Potter Daniel Radcliffe has shown himself to be a man who can pick a role. Obviously desperate to avoid being typecast, his films since the teen wizard hung up his wand have included roles in the ongoing revival of Hammer Films, with The Woman in Black, and now the decision to portray the talented Alan Ginsberg. Kill Your Darlings is the debut feature film from director John Krokidas and portrays the formation of the Beat movement and the murder of David Kammerer. I should warn you before I get into this review that I do have a personal attachment to many of the characters. The Beats is a literature movement that I have a lot of love for and I actually wrote about On the Road and Naked Lunch for my dissertation. With the former standing as my standard answer to the ‘what’s your favourite book?’ question.

Continue reading “Kill Your Darlings” →

14/12/2013 1

John Terry – Captain, Leader, Hero

Last weekend John Terry made his 400th league appearance for Chelsea and scored his 34th league goal. This took his Chelsea tally up to 594 appearances and 57 goals. In that time he has won 3 EPL titles, 5 FA Cups, 2 League Cups, 2 Community Shields and has played a part, if not actually playing in the final, in a Champions League and a Europa League title. Yet there are still people who would argue with you whether John Terry is a world class player. Do you know why? Because he’s a cunt. There is no denying that fact, history proves it. However, right here right now, I am going to make the case that that doesn’t matter. And John Terry the footballer still deserves your respect and your admiration.

Continue reading “John Terry – Captain, Leader, Hero” →

07/12/2013 0

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Image courtesy of Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Ben Stiller is a hard actor to like. When you look back over his filmography there is an awful lot of crap. Even his supposed good films, aren’t really that good. However, his latest effort seems to be outside his normal remit. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is an adaptation of a short story that was originally made into a film in 1947. In it’s current incarnation it has been around for a long time with it having been in line to be directed by everyone from Spielberg to Ron Howard. While Jim Carrey and Sacha Baron Cohen are just two of the actors who have been in line to play the central character. It has finally come to fruition however, with Stiller fulfilling both roles.

Continue reading “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” →

04/12/2013 0

Saving Mr Banks

Going near Mary Poppins should be a kiss of death to any film. Few films are so ingrained into the heart of the world than Robert Stevenson and Walt Disney’s blend of live action and animation. However, not many films can claim to have Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks on board and with John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side) manning the helm it may just be possible for Saving Mr Banks to do the impossible.

Continue reading “Saving Mr Banks” →

02/12/2013 0

Philomena

Steve Coogan‘s career has always been overshadowed by a huge partridge that stand’s in the background. His most famous character has left everything else he’s done lying in the dust and if you were to question people on the street about his other projects they would probably come up short. Therefore, to see him tied so closely to a film like Philomena, where he both stars alongside the always fabulous Judi Dench and is also responsible alongside Jeff Pope for having written it, is a bit of a surprise. Director Stephen Frears is a more obvious fit with his previous films including the Academy Award nominated The Queen.

Continue reading “Philomena” →

01/12/2013 0

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

The Hunger Games is very easy to dismiss as the latest Harry Potter/Twilight/Benjamin Sniddlegrass and the Cauldron of Penguin series. However, underneath that young adult fiction sheen it’s a film about a dystopian future where young children kill each other… Okay that’s not that under the radar, but the reality is that’s it a film that does a lot of things right. Not least in it’s portrayal of a strong, independent female character that has an actual personality beyond sitting in a chair moping after a sparkly vampire. Therefore, the second film in the series, Catching Fire, shall undeniably come out to a load of attention and make a shit load of money. (Just as a quick disclaimer I have once again read the book but will be reviewing the film as a separate entity).

Continue reading “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” →

23/11/2013 0

Gravity

As the end of the year approaches and we look back over it and discuss various end of year lists, Alfonso Curan’s Gravity will surely sit at the top of the ‘most hyped’ list. In the last few months it has been seemingly impossible to stay away from trailers and posters of Sandra Bullock and George Clooney facing the great beyond. Even it’s eventual release has done little to stop the onslaught with it being labelled far and wide with hyperbole like film of the decade/year/ever. Taking that all into account if it manages to live up to such hype it must surely be something special.

Continue reading “Gravity” →

23/11/2013 0

Four Four Stu

Image courtesy of Aberdeen Football Club

I did a podcast for university on Aberdeen’s impressive start to the season. Now while I wouldn’t call it a masterpiece, I am kind of happy with it in an embarrassed kind of way, so feel free to give it a listen. Credit for the inventive title goes to Sean Douglass.

Continue reading “Four Four Stu” →

07/11/2013 0

Thor: The Dark World

Marvel’s cinematic universe has taken on a life of it’s own and has introduced a whole new world of people to the fantastic comic books which have long captivated people across the world. The latest entry to the canon comes in the shape of Thor: The Dark World the follow up to Thor and the third appearance of Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddlestone as the quarrelsome Asgardian brothers Thor and Loki.

Continue reading “Thor: The Dark World” →

05/11/2013 0

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs was a surprisingly touching and fun film that also had a big dollop of surreal weirdness. It was also a surprise success so naturally we now have a sequel on our hands. The rather boringly named Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 is that sequel and has seen most of the original cast return apart from Mr. T who has been replaced by Terry Crews as Eric Devereaux.

Continue reading “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2” →

04/11/2013 0