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Penny Glen’s Rants
2012: True Doom and Gloom?
Or an Excellent Incoming Year for Film and Technology?
Part 4 New Films - Reviewed the ‘Penny way’ Page 5 of 6
Or an Excellent Incoming Year for Film and Technology?
Part 4 New Films -
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We Need to Talk about Kevin
My mother reported this film to be very ‘artsy fartsy’ (her words, not mine – although it does seem to describe the film well) and then turned it off to watch something else. From this I can deduce that this film will not be for everyone. For those who will enjoy it however, the way this film makes you feel is indescribable. The plot goes as such: Kevin is a trouble young boy/sadist with a mother (Tilda Swinton) who wonders throughout the film whether she made him the way he is. He harms people for no reason, takes pleasure in it and has done something so terrible during the course of the film that his mother resents him and herself to a point of no return. I won’t tell you what he did, but rest assured it is enough to warrant self hatred as a parent. Watch and see. Fantastic performances by Swinton who was overshadowed by Meryl Streep and her Margaret Thatcher impression), Ezra Miller and John C. Reilly. This is definitely not something you’ll forget.
Hesher
This film was so underwhelming it completely missed me by when it was announced and released. It was the only film to date that got put on my rental wall without me noticing, which is definitely saying something. I can definitely understand the fascination with the film’s star Joseph Gordan-Levitt (Inception, The Dark Knight Rises), but to wasn’t that impressed with the film. Hesher is a man who hates the world, is pretty greasy, antisocial and loves metal music – pretty much most of my friends then. It is just his story and how he interacts with people, one guy in particular. I got bored, as you can see but Gordan-Levitt is definitely one to watch in the future, even if you didn’t like the film.
The Well Diggers Daughter
One man must choose between his sense of honour and his love for his daughter when she gets into trouble with a rich man’s son in his village. I haven’t seen this film, but I do want to try it sometime. I definitely have to get into the mood to watch a French film though, they are quite difficult to grasp as opposed to a Spanish film. I know it’ll be something different though.
Machine Gun Preacher
Ex-drug dealer and all around bad guy Gerard Butler develops a conscience and goes over to Bosnia to help the community – and tries to help starving orphans with a machine gun. Although a little silly sounding coming from me, it was a pretty good drama with action a plenty – and it comes well recommended for anyone like myself who is a fan of Mr. Butler. Those who aren’t should be.
Tower Heist
An ok-ish heist film with boring Ben Stiller (unless he is in Dodgeball or Zoolander) and predictable Eddie Murphy (unless he is in Dreamgirls or the Nutty Professor). It was supposed to be funny but didn’t make me laugh once. Not even a chuckle. The talent was wasted; Casey Affleck (Gone Baby Gone, The Killer Inside Me) as a little snitch and Gabourey Sidibe (Oscar nominated actress for precious) as the token funny gal. It was just stupid to be honest, but something to put on in the background if you don’t want something cerebrally stimulating.
Beautiful Boy
Starring one of my favourite actors Michael Sheen, this is the story of two parents trying to deal with the aftermath of their son’s suicide. Trouble is, he went on a rampage at his school and killed quite a few people before he committed suicide. I know it’s extremely difficult to watch this kind of thing, but this film is definitely worth it and Sheen shows me that I love his versatility even more than I did before.
The Greatest Movie Ever Sold
That crazy guy from ‘Super Size Me’ brings us some well deserved satire about how branding can make or break you in the world of movies. Considering the amount of McDonalds he ate and how ill he got during the last film I expect he’ll make a Michael Moore sized statement about film, don’t you? He’ll show that advertisers not only pummel us with adverts during tv breaks, in magazines, on posters and on annoying leaflets along the high street.....he will show how they get us during films too. Remember ‘I, Robot’? I do. So many Audi cars and Converse trainers right in your face. The Cheek.
The Chameleon
I haven’t seen this one but it seems intriguing – the FBI are on the hunt for a young man who is assuming the identity of a woman’s long lost son. Reminds me a little bit of ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ don’t you think? Something to have a go at I think.
Welcome to the Rileys
The film seemed decent enough (if that’s the word for it): a couple isn’t speaking anymore and the husbands seeks comfort from outside his marital bed. The couple if Oscar winner Melissa Leo and The Sopranos James Gandolfini. Decent right? However, the only reason why this film was released so late is due to another film on this list. The mistress is played by Kristen Stewart (Twilight series), part four is due out next week and this film was shot back in 2010. The reason it is being released March 2012? Kristen Stewart. The filmmakers had no idea she was about to skyrocket into popularity, but when they did realise this film was kept back in order to act as extra hype for when Twilight 4 is released. It takes away from any integrity about this film, including her performance in general. I’ll watch it when I’m ready to I think.
Anonymous
What if Shakespeare had a Ghost Writer? What if he didn’t actually write his own plays? What sacrilege! I haven’t seen this one yet but it does look interesting partly due to the director and his choice of an Elizabethan, dignified writer. Roland Emmerich mainly directs epic disaster or high budget films (Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, 10,000 BC) and Rhys Ifans is an excellent actor who reminds me of Gary Oldman in his younger days – absolutely crazy. You know what I mean, and I’ll get my hands on this when I can.
American Evil
Although the original title was ‘Older Than America’, the snazzy new poster with Bradley Cooper (The Hangover) with sinister looking red/black clouds and the new title of ‘American Evil’ bring up feelings of perhaps a demonic possession or something along those lines. Apparently if a film doesn’t do well in America, they re-package it and send it to us hoping that we can be fooled into thinking it could be a horror film. It is actually about a priest trying to silence a woman to keep her from revealing some terrible things that happened at a Native American boarding school. Sounds average to me.
Contagion
This was truly an excellent film all round. It is the somewhat accurate portrayal of how humanity would cope if an infectious killer virus actually took hold of the Earth by the throat. As the CDC struggles to find out what the virus is, where it came from, who was patient zero and whether it has a cure – we also follow ordinary people who catch it, people who have to deal with it and a great many million deaths. It isn’t a horror movie and the virus doesn’t bring people back from the dead...so if you want to watch this for those reasons, you’re out of luck. I will tell you though that this was the scariest thing I have ever seen (Penny is a Hypochondriac) since watching Philadephia when I was younger. Watch it if you dare, and even if this isn’t your thing, this film has a stellar cast: Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Damon, Lawrence Fishburne, Marion Coutillard, Kate Winslet and Jude Law. Go for it!
Daylight Fades
Ah the movie industry, I love it so. When something is unnaturally popular, people try to capitalise it. Twilight made vampires cool again (apparently), True Blood made vampires sexy, and the Vampire Diaries made vampires lovable. This is a low budget hybrid of the three. Watch if you really, really have to.
From Prada to Nada
Since I can’t stand the novel ‘Sense and Sensibility’ anyway, this contemporary spin doesn’t appeal to me whatsoever. Two sisters have been left poor when their father dies and must learn a lesson when they move in with their strict and quirky aunt. How Disney.
Immortals
Although the posters boast ‘from the producers of 300’, this film has a different atmosphere about it – being that it is totally crazy from top to bottom. Elizabeth 1 and 2 director Tarsem Singh creates wacky imagery in the mythical story of Theseus that are worth the price of the film alone. It is definitely unlike anything I’ve seen before and pulls out all of the stops to make something imaginative and unique. Saying that, the plot and performances are pretty mediocre. The only actor I admire in this was Mickey Rourke as the diabolically husky voiced king who wants a magical bow to rule the land. See also if you fancy a peek at the new Superman – Henry Cavill. He definitely has the handsomeness, the height and the presence but I’m hoping he’ll bring something exciting to the Man of Steel.
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Top of Page
My mother reported this film to be very ‘artsy fartsy’ (her words, not mine – although it does seem to describe the film well) and then turned it off to watch something else. From this I can deduce that this film will not be for everyone. For those who will enjoy it however, the way this film makes you feel is indescribable. The plot goes as such: Kevin is a trouble young boy/sadist with a mother (Tilda Swinton) who wonders throughout the film whether she made him the way he is. He harms people for no reason, takes pleasure in it and has done something so terrible during the course of the film that his mother resents him and herself to a point of no return. I won’t tell you what he did, but rest assured it is enough to warrant self hatred as a parent. Watch and see. Fantastic performances by Swinton who was overshadowed by Meryl Streep and her Margaret Thatcher impression), Ezra Miller and John C. Reilly. This is definitely not something you’ll forget.
Hesher
This film was so underwhelming it completely missed me by when it was announced and released. It was the only film to date that got put on my rental wall without me noticing, which is definitely saying something. I can definitely understand the fascination with the film’s star Joseph Gordan-
The Well Diggers Daughter
One man must choose between his sense of honour and his love for his daughter when she gets into trouble with a rich man’s son in his village. I haven’t seen this film, but I do want to try it sometime. I definitely have to get into the mood to watch a French film though, they are quite difficult to grasp as opposed to a Spanish film. I know it’ll be something different though.
Machine Gun Preacher
Ex-
Tower Heist
An ok-
Beautiful Boy
Starring one of my favourite actors Michael Sheen, this is the story of two parents trying to deal with the aftermath of their son’s suicide. Trouble is, he went on a rampage at his school and killed quite a few people before he committed suicide. I know it’s extremely difficult to watch this kind of thing, but this film is definitely worth it and Sheen shows me that I love his versatility even more than I did before.
The Greatest Movie Ever Sold
That crazy guy from ‘Super Size Me’ brings us some well deserved satire about how branding can make or break you in the world of movies. Considering the amount of McDonalds he ate and how ill he got during the last film I expect he’ll make a Michael Moore sized statement about film, don’t you? He’ll show that advertisers not only pummel us with adverts during tv breaks, in magazines, on posters and on annoying leaflets along the high street.....he will show how they get us during films too. Remember ‘I, Robot’? I do. So many Audi cars and Converse trainers right in your face. The Cheek.
The Chameleon
I haven’t seen this one but it seems intriguing – the FBI are on the hunt for a young man who is assuming the identity of a woman’s long lost son. Reminds me a little bit of ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ don’t you think? Something to have a go at I think.
Welcome to the Rileys
The film seemed decent enough (if that’s the word for it): a couple isn’t speaking anymore and the husbands seeks comfort from outside his marital bed. The couple if Oscar winner Melissa Leo and The Sopranos James Gandolfini. Decent right? However, the only reason why this film was released so late is due to another film on this list. The mistress is played by Kristen Stewart (Twilight series), part four is due out next week and this film was shot back in 2010. The reason it is being released March 2012? Kristen Stewart. The filmmakers had no idea she was about to skyrocket into popularity, but when they did realise this film was kept back in order to act as extra hype for when Twilight 4 is released. It takes away from any integrity about this film, including her performance in general. I’ll watch it when I’m ready to I think.
Anonymous
What if Shakespeare had a Ghost Writer? What if he didn’t actually write his own plays? What sacrilege! I haven’t seen this one yet but it does look interesting partly due to the director and his choice of an Elizabethan, dignified writer. Roland Emmerich mainly directs epic disaster or high budget films (Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, 10,000 BC) and Rhys Ifans is an excellent actor who reminds me of Gary Oldman in his younger days – absolutely crazy. You know what I mean, and I’ll get my hands on this when I can.
American Evil
Although the original title was ‘Older Than America’, the snazzy new poster with Bradley Cooper (The Hangover) with sinister looking red/black clouds and the new title of ‘American Evil’ bring up feelings of perhaps a demonic possession or something along those lines. Apparently if a film doesn’t do well in America, they re-
Contagion
This was truly an excellent film all round. It is the somewhat accurate portrayal of how humanity would cope if an infectious killer virus actually took hold of the Earth by the throat. As the CDC struggles to find out what the virus is, where it came from, who was patient zero and whether it has a cure – we also follow ordinary people who catch it, people who have to deal with it and a great many million deaths. It isn’t a horror movie and the virus doesn’t bring people back from the dead...so if you want to watch this for those reasons, you’re out of luck. I will tell you though that this was the scariest thing I have ever seen (Penny is a Hypochondriac) since watching Philadephia when I was younger. Watch it if you dare, and even if this isn’t your thing, this film has a stellar cast: Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Damon, Lawrence Fishburne, Marion Coutillard, Kate Winslet and Jude Law. Go for it!
Daylight Fades
Ah the movie industry, I love it so. When something is unnaturally popular, people try to capitalise it. Twilight made vampires cool again (apparently), True Blood made vampires sexy, and the Vampire Diaries made vampires lovable. This is a low budget hybrid of the three. Watch if you really, really have to.
From Prada to Nada
Since I can’t stand the novel ‘Sense and Sensibility’ anyway, this contemporary spin doesn’t appeal to me whatsoever. Two sisters have been left poor when their father dies and must learn a lesson when they move in with their strict and quirky aunt. How Disney.
Immortals
Although the posters boast ‘from the producers of 300’, this film has a different atmosphere about it – being that it is totally crazy from top to bottom. Elizabeth 1 and 2 director Tarsem Singh creates wacky imagery in the mythical story of Theseus that are worth the price of the film alone. It is definitely unlike anything I’ve seen before and pulls out all of the stops to make something imaginative and unique. Saying that, the plot and performances are pretty mediocre. The only actor I admire in this was Mickey Rourke as the diabolically husky voiced king who wants a magical bow to rule the land. See also if you fancy a peek at the new Superman – Henry Cavill. He definitely has the handsomeness, the height and the presence but I’m hoping he’ll bring something exciting to the Man of Steel.
Continued on next page
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