Broken City

***
Release Date: March 1st 2013

In a city rife with injustice, ex-cop Billy Taggart seeks redemption and revenge after being double-crossed and then framed by its most powerful figure: Mayor Nicholas Hostetler.

Director: Allen Hughes (The Book of Eli, From Hell)

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jeffrey Wright, Barry Pepper

There's a lot to be expected with Broken City; an impressive cast and a storyline that holds premise, but this is not the case. The story is weak, with characters that are forgotten easily. Not only does Mayor Hostetler (Crowe) use and abuse ex-cop/hired investigator Billy Taggart (Wahlberg) to find out if Mrs Mayor (Zeta-Jones) is cheating on him, he's out to dish the dirty on liberal opponent Jack Valliant (Pepper). He's definitely corrupt and will do whatever he can to stay in power, because that's what it's ultimately about, power.

Interestingly Michael Fassbender was offered the lead role as Taggart but turned Wahlberg, who also produced the film, down. Whether that was down to the weak storyline...

Crowe does not live up to the dangerous eminence we expect of this character. Instead, we see someone who tries to hard to be a stand out character in cinema history.

This is not one of Mark Wahlberg's strongest roles either. Taggart is an ex-cop due to shooting and killing someone on the job. He is let free on the basis that he quits the force. Battling his own demons, we see him eventually go off the rails and the choices he makes affect his personal life. Wahlberg teeters on the edge of typecast-dom, but this time round, his character is boring and bland, and by the time being interesting comes around it's too late.

Admittedly the landscapes are fantastic. Nice swooping long shots of New York City at night could not look any nicer. But as soon as we hit lower ground, we are left wanting to hit the skies again. The scenery and lighting set the mood and emotion well.

There are smaller parts from Catherine Zeta-Jones and Barry Pepper whose characters are stronger, but are not plot driven. They are there to drive others, which is a shame as they have potential to be key players, creating unexpected twists. Instead they are involved in an incredibly predictable plot.

Overview: Looks great, but underneath the sheen is an obvious outcome. Tries too hard to be something it isn't.

The Fifth Estate

**
Release Date: October 11th 2013

A dramatic thriller based on real events that reveals the quest to expose the deceptions and corruptions of power that turned an Internet upstart into the 21st century's most fiercely debated organization.

Director: Bill Condon (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1/2, Dreamgirls)

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Bruhl, David Thewlis, Peter Capaldi

The trailers at teasers for this film have been edited in a way that makes The Fifth Estate look suspenseful and very serious. The topic that it entails is serious, but not to the standard that Hollywood likes to make you believe.

From leaking the British National Party's addresses and phone numbers to Bradley Manning's leak of U.S cables (documents), we follow Wikileaks from the very beginning, from small time news to major headlines.

How much of the truth will we know? The Fifth Estate is based on accounts from ex-Wikileak partner Daniel Domscheit-Berg (played by Daniel Bruhl) and Guardian journalist Nick Davies, who were eventually bought down to earth by Julian Assange (Cumberbatch) and his egotistical, maniacal ways (at least according to the film). At this present moment, this is the only verdict we will receive through the use of media, mainly because Assange himself is stuck in the Ecuadorian embassy in the UK due to the US being after him for releasing highly classified info and allegations of sexual assault in Sweden.

This film is very similar to The Social Network, creating suspense on what's said rather than action. The difference between them is TSN keeps you gripped, sounds, setting and character eminence, TFE lacks all this, a score that's forgettable, 'stereotypical' settings in shack looking hideaways and clubs, with a cast that fade in to the background.

Cumberbatch is the only character that keeps this film going. His Australian drawl, fitted with his selfish attitude make him look like a sociopath (whether the film is right or wrong, this is the impression that it gives). Cumberbatch is moving on to better things, from Star Trek to The Hobbit (voice of Smaug), and now this.  

Overview: Cumberbatch may display some acting, but he's annoying and hard to sympathise with, resulting in careless feelings at the outcome.

Captain Phillips

****
Release Date: October 18th 2013

The true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years.

Director: Paul Greengrass (Green Zone, The Bourne Ultimatum, United 93, The Bourne Supremacy)

Starring: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman

There are two main points to mention that makes Captain Phillips an intense, on-the-edge-of-your-seat, thriller. The first is Tom Hanks, and his ability as an actor. His acting hasn't been this powerful and touching since Cast Away, showing emotion so deep you will feel everything Captain Phillips does.

The second is Paul Greengrass' direction. There might not be as much action compared to his Bourne films, but it will keep you hooked from the get go.

Most of you, like me, will be unaware, or will have forgotten about the events that took place in 2009. If that's the case, then the first 45-60 minutes is guesswork. Will the Somalians manage to board the ship or will Captain Phillips and his crew keep them away? Well, it would not make for great viewing if the Somalians scurried off with their tail between their legs.

Alas, they do, and it's no easy feat for four Somalian pirates. Led by Muse, they dominate, overpower and wreak fear into the ship's crew. This doesn't long, however, as the Captain is sharp and cunning and uses the resources around him to take advantage.

Captain Phillips isn't at all patriotic. There is no right or wrong doing. Both the Americans on the ship and the Somalian pirates are followed throughout the film. The Somalians are not seen as the enemy but seen as doing a job that's normal to them. “There’s got to be something other than fishing and kidnapping people,” Phillips says to Muse (Abdi). “Maybe in America, Irish, maybe in America,” he replies.

This film is consistently suspenseful, right up to the end. It's the ending that will move you, and respect Tom Hanks more than before. His acting doesn't get any finer than this. This is his moment, and awards will be heading his way for it.

Overview: Another fantastic effort from Greengrass. Tom Hanks is phenomenal, with great support from Barkhad Abdi.

Insidious Chapter 2

***
Release Date: September 13th 2013

The haunted Lambert family seeks to uncover the mysterious childhood secret that has left them dangerously connected to the spirit world.

Director: James Wan (The Conjuring, Insidious, Saw)

Starring: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins, Lin Shaye, Barbara Hershey, Steve Coulter

In my eyes sequels are usually never as good as the first. In Insidious Chapter 2's case, it excels in mostly every way.

Chapter 2 starts exactly where the first left off. Elise (Shaye) is dead, after helping Josh (Wilson) bring back his son from The Further (the creepy netherworld), only to find Josh acting very odd and not being himself, so the Lambert family enlist some help from friends old and new to help with their situation.

All the scares are in the right place, which is what the first lacked. Just as you've caught your breath back from one scare, another comes unpredictably. It's clear that this is going to be consistent after the title credits come as a shock. The cinematography adds to the trepidation; the camera takes you exactly where it wants you in order to unleash the unexpected. James Wan has a natural talent where others don't, with this film and the likes of Saw, he leaves his viewers with their hands over their faces or ears.

There is a careful amount of overlapping with the first film, tying up certain events nicely. This has been done before in the Saw franchise, but goes too far after seven films. Wan had nothing to do with Saw after the first one, and has taken advantages of other director's potential work.

I am torn between love and hate for Specks and Tucker. The paranormal investigators are the leads in comedy, cracking jokes or being cowardly at our expense. This is good because they keep the audience calm when they shouldn't be, making the surprises harder and stronger, and bad because it takes away any seriousness the audience had for the film.  

Some of the ghouls and ghosts in The Further are random, even if they're scary when they appear, but maybe that's the whole point, not much is known about the netherworld. It is an open world that I feel hasn't left ours yet.

Overview: a step forward from Insidious. The end is left open to a third chapter. Let's hope it's as good as the second.

Thanks for Sharing

***
Release Date: October 4th 2013

A romantic comedy that brings together three  characters who are learning to face a challenging and often confusing world as they struggle together against a common demon: sex addiction.

Director: Stuart Blumberg (The Kids Are All Right, The Girl Next Door (Writer))

Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Tim Robbins, Gwyneth Paltrow, Josh Gad, Joely Richardson, Patrick Fugit, Pink

Addiction, especially sex addiction, is an taboo subject. Anyone who hasn't experienced it will never know what it's like, and probably make a mockery of it. Addicted to sex? Surely that's just an excuse?

Stuart Blumberg, with his first major directorial role, shows us how serious it can be, with a comedic edge that borderlines on the mockery. This can be seen through the three main couples and their backgrounds.

Adam (Ruffalo), 'sober' (as they say) for over five years, is encouraged by his mentor, Mike (Robbins) to put himself out there and start a new relationship. He meets Phoebe (Paltrow), a health fanatic who's had her own troubled past, but the difference between them is one opens up, the other one does not. Three guesses who?

Mike not only mentors Adam, but a bunch of other addicts, alcoholics included. He may have been/be a repressed addict too, but makes up for that by helping everyone else but his son, Danny (Fugit), an ex-drug addict himself, 9 months sober. He's not just cold towards him, he's also in denial that he's clean and on the road to recovery.

Neil (Gad) is a skilled doctor who gets the sack because of his addiction by getting caught for aiming a secret camera up a colleagues' skirt. His inability to chuck away his vast stash of porn tapes makes it hard for him to overcome his addiction. He becomes buddies with unlikely but surprisingly capable actress Pink as Dede, whose addiction lands her in more trouble than she wants.

The acting is at it's finest. There is little to point out and a lot to enjoy from the characters. Mark Ruffalo and Josh Gad stand out the most, the first goes through all the motions, losing his grip on things as his relationship with Phoebe plummets, the latter just a joy to watch.

The funniest parts of Thanks for Sharing that are probably the most memorable is whenever Neil is doing something funny at our expense because of his weight, e.g. riding a bike because he's not allowed to use the subway or running flat out to help Dede due to being stuck in heavy traffic.

Overview: Not a bad effort from Blumberg. Keeps you interested all the way through. Proving not all stories have a 'happy ever after'.

Quartet

***
Release Date: January 1st 2013

At a home for retired musicians, the annual concert to celebrate Verdi's birthday is disrupted by the arrival of Jean, an eternal diva and the former wife of one of the residents.

Director: Dustin Hoffman

Starring: Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Billy Connolly, Tom Courtenay, Pauline Collins

This film couldn't offend anyone even if it tried. It's not the greatest piece of work, but it is a calm, easy going film with some of the finest actors ever to have graced our screens, not to mention a good effort from Dustin Hoffman as director.

Reggie (Courtenay), Cissy (Collins) and Wilfred (Connolly) are retired musicians, living in a retirement home specifically for talented entertainers. As they prepare for the annual celebration of Verdi's birthday, a new guest arrives, Jean, much to the disappointment of Reggie, who was previously married to her. Later on, the trio try to entice Jean into joining them as a quartet, and perform at the birthday bash after so many years apart.

Quartet is a standout comparison to Best Exoctic Marigold Hotel, mainly because films with a maturer ensemble have been great to watch, not to mention a screen full of the finest English talent to have ever graced cinema, topped with a cast that making people laugh comes naturally.

There is a big struggle to relate their music taste to contemporary art, as Reggie teaches a group of students the history of opera/classical music and tries to compare it to the likes of Rap and Hip-Hop. Quartet may not be for everyone purely on the basis of taste in music. 

All the main characters stand out one way or another. Gambon is the head planner of the birthday event, and after seeing him in the Harry Potter films, it's a difficult transition from good to obnoxious and means he can be when things aren't going his way. Reggie does nothing but brood and moan for much of the film, but it's easy to see his conflict of interest through his emotions whenever Jean is around him.

The performances that match the singing talent are Cissy, as she tries to make the best of everything whilst occasionally losing her memory and going off the rails. As the truth hits home to all the others that this is the last place/thing they could do. The other is Wilfred, and his futile attempts and remaining young at heart, dishing out the charm and compliments to any female who comes his way.  

Overview: Don't expect a lot to come out of Quartet, but it's easy watching, topped with the actor's abilities make it worth while.

Step Brothers

***
Release Date: August 29th 2008

Two aimless middle-aged losers still living at home are forced against their will to become roommates when their parents get married.

Director: Adam McKay (Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy)

Starring: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Mary Steenburgen, Richard Jenkins, Adam Scott, Kathryn Hahn

Step Brothers is the Marmite of all films. Either you're going to love it and laugh at every moment, or hate it, and wonder why the parents of the two immature, 40 year old sons put up with such nonsense.

Brennan (Ferrell) and Dale (Reilly) still live with both of their parents. Nancy (Steenburgen) is the mother of Brennan, and Robert (Jenkins) the father of Dale. They are forced to not just live with each other, but share the same room when their parents tie the knot. They hate each other with a passion, Dale the more cocky, 'this is my territory' type, whilst Brennan pretends to be naive and innocent.

It's hard to believe that two grown men would still live with their parents, but what makes this work on camera is the chemistry between Ferrell and Reilly. The laughs throughout are the biggest and the best when they are together; building a bunk bed, getting beaten up by kids and both having episodes of sleepwalking.

Step Brothers relies heavily on the stupidity of its characters. Some parts/characters are believable, whilst others are over the top and generally irritating. Adam Scott is the brother of Ferrell, but happens to be the complete opposite of his older sibling. He's successful, has a great job, but he's smug about it, especially towards the duo, who I can't help but side with. Scott's character Derek may not be outrageously funny but he is the main influence in getting the pair to join forces midway through the film.  Derek's wife, Alice (Hahn) isn't a believable character and is mindlessly excessive. She's fed up with her relationship and throws herself at Dale at any opportunity she can get.    

The film trails off towards the end as the step brothers try to make amends for their wrong doings, as they are forced to grow up and get their act together. The ending feels rushed because they go from not caring to caring within a heartbeat. They've been nasty and horrible to their parents for many years, but suddenly, out of the blue, the last mishap turns them upside-down, leaving us with an ending that's happy, but ill fitting.

Overview: A great film for Will Ferrell fans, but like Will Ferrell and his sense of humour, it's not for everyone.

Girl Most Likely

**
Release Date: September 7th 2013

A failed New York playwright awkwardly navigates the transition from Next Big Thing to Last Year's News.

Director: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini (The Extra Man, The Nanny Diaries)

Starring: Kristen Wiig, Annette Bening, Matt Dillon, Darren Criss, Christopher Fitzgerald

Even now after watching this film I'm trying to comprehend the meaning of Girl Most Likely. Girl most likely to what... succeed? Fail? Fall in love? Cry about everything and blame it on others? Maybe.

There isn't many uplifting moments in Kristen Wiig's life. We follow her break-up, her crazy way to win back her boyfriend, and a general lack of trust towards anyone. Her fake suicide attempt goes out of control as one of her 'so called' friends finds her either asleep or knocked out from taking some of the pills, we never fully know. What we do know is the doctor believes she's 51/50 (police term for crazy and on the loose), and needs a loved one to oversee her for the next 72 hours. That 'loved one' in none other Annette Bening, her gambling, not so affectionate mother.

Wiig is taken back to her family home in New Jersey, much to her disgust. She finds out that her mother is seeing someone slightly odd; Matt Dillon, a younger man with the problem of talking a load of crap... for example he's undercover CIA and he's been struck by lightening three times. Another inhabitant (Darren Criss), has moved in to her old bedroom, forcing her to shelter under a bed sheet fort in the living room.

The only piece of information that's drives the story is let slip by her mum; that her father isn't actually dead and lives in New York. At least half of the film is filled with nonsense that has nothing to do with this.  

This may not be Wiig's best performance but it's made up by one other performance. Christopher Fitzgerald is Ralph, Wiig's lovable brother. He may not be the brightest, but he's knows what he wants in life, and has the most unforgettable scene in the film.... taking his bullet proof, human sized crab shell around the streets of New York, reeling in more laughs for one scene than the rest of the film.

Overview: Forget about the girl, the film is most likely to fail.

The Call

***
Release Date: September 20th 2013

When a veteran 911 operator takes a life-altering call from a teenage girl who has just been abducted, she realizes that she must confront a killer from her past in order to save the girl's life.

Director: Brad Anderson (Vanishing on 7th Street, The Machinist)

Starring: Halle Berry, Abigail Breslin, Morris Chestnut, Michael Eklund

In The Call, Halle Berry is a 911 phone operator that has a bad day with a call from a girl who is involved in a home invasion and believes she going to be abducted. As she tries her best to help the girl, everything goes out of control, leaving the girl dead, and Berry, emotionally scarred.

Jump forward 6 months, and she's training a bunch of rookies who have no idea what they're in for. Whilst taking the trainees into 'the hive' a call goes bad for a work colleague, forcing Berry back in to action.... and guess what? It's none other than the same killer. Although she's unsure of her abilities, her supervisor supports her saying 'you can do this'.

As soon as she's back on board, Berry leads us through some spectacular acting and a roller-coaster of tension. It's followed by Abigail Breslin, the girl who's been abducted by the unknown assailant. She may start with the cliched screaming, irrational 'I'm going to die, and there's nothing I can do about it' way of thinking, but Berry manages to keep her calm, and use her initiative to escape. However, the audience and Berry are always left a step behind the attacker (Eklund), as a couple of passer's by get caught up in the situation.

The killer may be a bagful of cliches, but one thing remains certain, his intentions are clear and his motives are understandable (in a sense that it makes sense why he is like he is).  

The Call has suffered from a few stars setback due to its finale, which is a complete shambles and utterly unbelievable. Lets just say that Berry's character throws her warmhearted nature to do the right thing straight in to the water, leaving us with none other than loss of believability. It also falls under the stereotypical moves that make up a thriller/horror. Girl investigates alone, drops phone, has no signal to contact others, so decides to deal with the situation herself.

Overview: A great start and suspenseful middle, majorly let down by the end. 
  

White House Down

***
Release Date: September 6th 2013

While on a tour of the White House with his young daughter, a Capitol policeman springs into action to save his child and protect the president from a heavily armed group of paramilitary invaders.

Director: Roland Emmerich (2012, The Day After Tomorrow, Independence Day)

Starring: Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx, Maggie Gyllenhaal, James Woods, Richard Jenkins

Now everyone will be thinking, 'not another White House takeover film!'. A couple of months after Olympus has Fallen's outing comes White House Down. Now although it doesn't take a lot of thinking to know that they are very similar, it's this can only be reviewed on the basis that OHF hasn't been seen.

Channing Tatum is Cale, down on his luck after a secret service interview goes awry. This takes place whilst on a tour of the White House; trying to win back the love of his daughter Emily. The tour runs somewhat smoothly, until Emily needs the toilet, splits up from her Dad, then sh*t goes down (literally).

The paramilitary takeover happens due to President James Sawyer's vote for removing all troops from the Middle-East in order to create a peace treaty. Jamie Foxx plays Sawyer, and comes across as a believable President, that would get many a vote. 

The biggest things that WHD lacks is a character-audience connection. More time (and money) is spent on shoot-em-up action and some poor CGI. Watch out for the military choppers and bullet proof limousine cruising the White House gardens. It's a wonder why White House Down didn't use its $150m and use other actors wisely. Maggie Gyllenhaal's Finnerty, the special agent who interviews Cale, is the most useless character that has no input in driving the story. James Woods' Walker, on the other hand, has a major input, but doesn't (spoiler) live up to the role of a villain.  

Tatum's Cale near on mirrors Die Hard's John McClane, both being stuck in hostile takeover situations, going through elevator shafts and having a family member personally taken as hostage due to the terrorists finding out the family connection. WHD would probably work out as a potential sequel to the DH Series.

Overview: I can't believe I'm actually saying it, but there's too much action, and lacks a strong relationship between the audience and the main characters.