The Big Year

**
Release Date: December 2nd 2011

Two bird enthusiasts try to defeat the cocky, cutthroat world record holder in a year-long bird-spotting competition.

Director: David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada, Marley & Me, Hope Springs)

Starring: Jack Black, Steve Martin, Owen Wilson, Rosamund Pike, Jim Parsons, Rashida Jones

It's easy to say that The Big Year is one of a kind. How many films can you say you've watched that involve bird fanatics? Probably none.

With an impressive array of comedians (Black, Wilson and Martin), there's a lot to be expected from this film. Like belly aching laughs followed by uncontrollable crying. Instead, we found out that bird watching holds little comic value. This is more a light drama with a few smile in between.

Brad (Blac) and Stu (Martin) strive to become champion bird watcher by participating in the Big Year: to see as many birds as you can within a calender year. Neither of them tells the other or any one else of what they're doing. They make sure that existing champion Kenny Bostick (Wilson) is unaware of their plans.

The only mentionable funny bit see's the trio watching two eagles make their romantic descent. Two of them miss their wives. The last one is left silent.

Bostick is the most interesting character of the three, always chipping off his wife Jessica (Pike) whenever the opportunity arises to see a rare bird. He's in fact a very likeable 'villain' (if that's what he can be called. He may have a slight cocky attitude, but there's no reasoning behind his passion and drive, or for Brad and Stu.

There's an occurring theme running from the beginning, one that spells it out for you when you meet Jessie. Maybe The Big Year should have ended for one before the year started.

Overview: The Big Year plays it safe all the way through to the end. The three comedy legends aren't as strong as we've seen in previous work. The scenery is beautiful, but jumping from one place to another to find a bird and repeat can be monotonous. 

300: Rise of an Empire

****
Release Date: March 7th 2014

Greek general Themistocles leads the charge against invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes and Artemisia, vengeful commander of the Persian navy.

Director: Noam Murro

Starring: Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, Lena Headey, Rodrigo Santoro 

You can tell after the first 5 minutes that a big presence is missing. Don't get me wrong, Sullivan Stapleton, who plays general Themistocles, does a grand job in a lead role, but coming off the back of Gerard Butler's (as mighty as he was) is a hard thing to do.

It was a big wonder whether ROAE was going to be a prequel or a sequel. It is neither. Film critics dub it a parallequel. Lena Headey's Queen Gorgo (who's in the first one), is our voiceover this time, telling us the tale of Themistocles and his battle against the Persian fleet (this coincides with Leonidas' battle). Persian general Artemisia (Eva Green) stands in his way. God-king Xerxes' history is told, so is Artemisia's. We finally know why Xerxes has such hate for the Greeks.

The overall template used in 300 has been copied and pasted. Although the scenery is just as coarse and smooth as the first installment, it never cements new ideas. 3D cinema didn't exist when 300 was released. Adding it to Rise of an Empire means the blood, guts and gore are full-frontal. Blood spatters everywhere and limbs fly off never to be seen again. 

Rise of an Empire only furthers the aspect of the few against the many. There's not so few as three hundred this time round, but it's not for the lack of trying to amass the numbers. Themistocles approaches Queen Gorgo to see if the Spartans will fight as one with the other Greek nations. As you can tell this doesn't work in his favour.  

So we are left with the Athenian general and his band of Greeks, who feel somewhat like the leftover substitutes compared to the Spartans we're used to seeing. And try as they might, Themistocles and co. are cracking fighters. 'You fight much harder than you fuck' mocks Artemisia. An over-the-top scene with Themistocles riding a horse along the fleet is not just insane but fun to watch.

Overview: ROAE ends with a third likely to happen. If it's goes by the history, then there's still some wrapping up to do. You're likely to enjoy this if you loved the first. 

300

****
Release Date: March 23rd 2007

King Leonidas and a force of 300 men fight the Persians at Thermopylae in 480 B.C.

Director: Zack Snyder (Man of Steel, Sucker Punch, Watchmen)

Starring: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Dominic West, David Wenham, Vincent Regan, Michael Fassbender

Is 300 vastly over-the-top? Or an accurate account of the battle of Thermopylae? A bit of both really. In history, more than 300 men went to defend the pass against the huge Persian army. It numbered around 7000, made up of Spartans, Athenians, Thespians and Thebans. So what makes a better story for the screen? A small contingency that's vastly outnumbered of course! It's an adaption of Frank Miller's comic of the same name. It's neither real or fantasy, it sits somewhere in the middle.

King Leonidas (the very epic Gerard Butler) is aware of the Persians attempting to invade Greece. He decides to take 300 Spartans with him, to defend the only pass that the Persians can take to get to them. In his band of buffed up warriors is David Wenham (known for his character Faramir in Lord of the Rings) and a slightly younger Michael Fassbender. You might, like me, forget he was even in this!

300 cuts every now and then from the 300's defense to Queen Gorgo's (Lean Headey) attempt to persuade the Spartan council to send out the Spartan army. It breaks up the momentum of the battles, which is what I wanted to see a lot more of, but without a functioning storyline there's no relating to the characters and their way of thinking.

The action makes the story engrossing. There's no doubt that 300 is beautifully shot. It's had the same level of post-production work as Robert Rogriguez's Sin City. Snyder uses slow motion incredibly well, emphasising the bloody and gorey moments. The CGI is simply stunning.

There's a mixture of cheesy, overblown, incomprehensible, ironic feelings about certain parts of 300. Like Gerard Butler's beard. Or the weirdest sex scene you'll ever see. Or a traitorous hunchback. Or grotesque looking oracles. Or ridiculous six packs (eight if you're the King). Does anyone stop to think that being lightly garbed and carrying nothing but a spear doesn't bode well for a long trip? Either way, these are minor issues. As long as we don't start believing this was all true...

Overview: An epic dose of sheer crazy entertainment. Now try and shout 'this is Sparta!' with as much passion as Leonidas. 

The Grand Budapest Hotel

****
Release Date: March 7th 2014

The adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend.

Director: Wes Anderson (Moonrise Kingdom, The Royal Tenenbaums)

Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Harvey Keitel, Jude Law, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Saoirse Ronan, Jason Schwartman, Tilda Swinton, Tony Revolori

Wes Anderson is a one of a kind director. He does as he pleases. Being unique is the key to success in an industry full of remakes and sequels. What may seem like a strange project to some will surely be adventurous to others. 

We first see Tom Wilkinson, the author who introduces and guides us through the tale of Gustave H (Fiennes). The story is passed to the younger author (played by Jude Law), who then meets Gustave H's old lobby boy Zero Moustafa (who at this point is the owner of the hotel), who tells the author how he came to be Gustave's personal companion (and the owner).

So now, told by a third voiceover (older Zero) we see what kind of antics Gustave H gets up to, accompanied by the younger self (Revolori). Gustave is a likeable, mischievous character. He cavorts with elderly ladies, and bores his workers with poems and sonnets. It's merely coincidence when something or someone interrupts him every time. He's blamed for the death of infatuated Madame D (Swinton), and Zero must do all he can to help him in this tight spot.

Wes Anderson guides us through this story with a number of mesmerising attributes. Shots zoom in and out, pan upwards and downwards. Every shot has incredible depth, from the fanciful costumes, interiors designs, antics in the backgrounds, to the two dimensional exterior settings. Its humour may not smack you straight in the face. Instead the jokes flow well with what can be seen (even if it's a little dry).

Anderson has enlisted an impressive cast, some coming straight from his last venture, Moonrise Kingdom. Adrien Brody is the domineering son of Madame D, snarling and hurling abuse at Gustave. All the other actors (Edward Norton, Saoirse Ronan, Jeff Goldblum) have major impact. All attention is on Fiennes though. It's hard to believe he can be so nice after seeing him as Voldemort.

Overview: A fine piece of art by Wes Anderson. There's a fine balance of cynicism and belief with TGBH, one that would be nice to see again and again.      

Non-Stop

***
Release Date: February 28th 2014

An air marshal springs into action during a transatlantic flight after receiving a series of text messages that put his fellow passengers at risk unless the airline transfers $150 million into an off-shore account.

Director: Jaume Collet-Serra (Unknown, Orphan, House of Wax)

Starring: Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, Michelle Dockery, Lupita Nyong'o

This is director Jaume Collet-Serra's second film with actor Liam Neeson. He has helped push Neeson in to the big action limelight. Their first film together, Unknown, sees Neeson in a mistaken identity chiller.

In Non-Stop, all's well doesn't always end well. We can see that Bill Marks (Neeson) has problems from the start. Drinking alcohol before boarding a flight is only the beginning. Hitchcock would be proud of the set-up here. Our lead has personal problems. A life threatening situation ensues, and everyone's a culprit, even Bill. This is a film that's a game of guesswork for the audience. Bill enlists the help of fellow passenger Jen Summers (Moore) and air hostess Nancy (Dockery) to help track down his foe.

Bill doesn't have the best of luck. Nothing goes his way, but it's not his luck that overthrows suspension of disbelief. Do we lack the knowledge to find out who the criminal is, or is Collet-Serra using our ignorance to direct us further away? Either way, we are always one step behind the mastermind.

With a great beginning and an even sterner middle, it's a shame that the end is dire. Our suspension of disbelief dissolves into thin smoke, and a sour taste is what's left. Non-Stop goes to show that an impeccable lead can't always save a misleading plot. The turnout would have been acceptable if it were predictable rather than piling on senseless tripe.

The supporting cast have little to do other than gawp at Bill. Lupita Nyong'o, now an Oscar winner, has a bit part with a terrible English accent. Other familiar faces are suspects too. In this situation it would be easier for us to have no connection with actors we've seen before, and cast new faces instead.

Bill spends a large amount of time conversing with the enemy through text messages. The text pops up for us to see, and a message tone to boot. It happens often. So often that it will grind some gears.

Either way, Liam Neeson can't be blamed for anything. He's already shown in Taken and The Grey that he's the man with the 'don't mess with me' factor. Another project called Run All Night is set for a 2015 release, with both director and actor collaborating together again.

Overview: Non-Stop is let down by its ending. Better luck next time.

Liberal Arts

***
Release Date: October 5th 2012

When 30-something Jesse returns to his alma mater for a professor's retirement party, he falls for Zibby, a college student, and is faced with a powerful attraction that springs up between them.

Director: Josh Radnor (Happythankyoumoreplease)

Starring: Josh Radnor, Elizabeth Olsen, Richard Jenkins, Zac Efron, Allison Janney, Elizabeth Reaser

Liberal Arts is one of the most inoffensive films out there. I wouldn't go out of the way and say it's a feel-good film though. It's an equal concoction of happiness and sadness. Josh Radnor (How I Met Your Mother) directs, writes and stars in this exuberant film about Jesse (Radnor), who goes back to the university he attended for his favourite teacher's retirement party. He meets Zibby (Olsen), and a connection builds between them.

The age difference between Zibby and Jesse holds him back. 16 years separates them. Is that bad? This usually holds mixed opinions. Olsen's character is mature for her age of 19, but does that deem it acceptable? We see them swapping mix tapes and writing letters to each other, forgetting their age completely.

Liberal Arts is heavy in dialogue. For a movie that's a romcom there's too much chitter-chatter and not enough action. It feels like a lesson in literature. Words don't roll off the tongue easily. Radnor's script might look good on paper but the spoken word (especially Jesse's) is rigid. Zibby is natural and charming. She's in the lead for the most interesting character.

It can be said that Liberal Arts is unique, never following other similar films and their cliches. It's not infested with parties and nonsensical mannerisms, it's full of mature interaction and young adults who want to be more than a stereotype. Zac Efron is a witty layabout, piling Jesse with wise proverbs. Allison Janney is the teacher Jesse looks up to and Richard Jenkins is, well, Richard Jenkins; a retiree who yearns for more.

Overview: With a bit more experience Josh Radnor will excel as a director and writer just as much as an actor, and hopefully throw off the How I Met Your Mother typecast in the process. 

Her

****
Release Date: February 7th 2014

A lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with his newly purchased operating system that's designed to meet his every need.

Director: Spike Jonze (Where the Wild Things Are, Adaption., Being John Malkovich)

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Olivia Wilde, Scarlett Johansson

Technology has developed and changed so much over the last few decades. Her will strike some (vocal) chords that would have previously be a thing of the future. The likes of Terminator and I, Robot have made it clear how far our fears can go when it comes to the development of technology. Do we look to technology when we feel lonely? Her delves in to this, with Joaquin Phoenix's Theodore choosing the Operating System Samantha (Johansson) over physical connection.

That's as far as the story goes, and it doesn't need to go any further than that. Theodore, overtime, soon realises that Samantha cannot be controlled. The system's ability to expand is frightening as Samantha procures emotion and a backlog of memory that Theodore has no way of reverting. Theodore faces the same issues that are in a real relationship.

Her is set in the not too distant future. Just enough time for has passed for it to be moderately believable. Being in a relation with your operating system is not unheard of. Some are disgruntled on the idea. Others, a way of filling a void.

There are fleeting moments of physical interaction. They come from flashbacks or awkwardly placed dates. What does it say about society when the OS is more attractable?

Phoenix puts in a great performance, aided highly by Johansson's voice acting capabilities. Everything you see on screen comes with a lot of thought. Fashion has taken a back seat. Theodore and manager Chris Pratt wear trousers up past their navels, and vibrant colours fill the world.

Overview: Stand out moments include a phone sex scene and Samantha using a surrogate. Be open minded when watching Her, as no one person is the same when it comes to relationships.

The Conjuring

****
Release Date: August 2nd 2013

Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren work to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in their farmhouse.

Director: James Wan (Saw, Insidious, Insidious: Chapter 2)

Starring: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga

James Wan has had a very busy year (2013), bringing out the improved second chapter to Insidious, the high grossing FAF6, and this, The Conjuring, his latest spectacle. As this is a late review, some readers may be aware that there's a sequel on the way, and deservedly so.

The difference between the two (compared to IC2) is The Conjuring is convincing. Hollywood has churned out plenty of paranormal films of late (Paranormal Activity, The Devil Inside), none of which hold much credibility.

Based on true case files of the Warrens, the story starts off strong but like Insidious, drifts a little towards the end. The Warrens visit the Perron family, who've recently moved in to their new farmhouse. There's little time to get to know them, especially as there are seven of them. Instead, Wan dives straight in to the plot. The house is haunted, and the spirit/s have attached themselves to the family. The Warrens are called on to help resolve the problem.

We see cliches used impressively, and with greater impact. A mix of fine sound editing and great cinematography mean scares are in the right places. Low key lighting to the point of blindness adds to the edgy, bum-on-the-edge-of-your-seat entertainment. The acting is believable, never drifting away from the seriousness surrounding the story.

The Conjuring still comes with niggles. The ending's exorcism disrupts the momentum by going way overboard, and ends up blasting a heavy load off in a short space of time that shifts from scary to ridiculous. At least, and unlike Insidious, we are kept in the deep confines of our imagination, rather than exposing the paranormal threat. It's better that we're left to our own devices and our own conjuring, and Wan happily leaves it alone.

Overview: Easily one of the best horrors of 2013. Full of lots of jumpy moments. Go in with a tough stomach.         

Fatal Attraction

****
Release Date: September 11th 1987

A married man's one night stand comes back to haunt him when that lover begins to stalk him and his family.

Director: Adrian Lyne (Indecent Proposal)

Starring: Michael Douglas, Glenn Close

There's a lot to take on board with Fatal Attraction. The main aspect? Don't cheat. It tells, or rather shows the backlash of infidelity. It should be called Fatal Consequences.

The first half sees Dan (Douglas) having his wicked way with work colleague Alex (Close). Hot and steamy is an understatement, yet guilt comes quickly, from characters and audience alike, as we initially suffer what he suffers. Knowing that nothing good will come of this means we feel the pain before Dan does. The second half just goes to show how individuals react, and the grass isn't usually greener on the other side. Alex begins to stalk Dan, and she'll do anything to catch her prey.

Fatal Attraction's story is tight, thrilling and gripping to the point of exhaustion. What keeps the momentum going is the connection between Dan and Alex. Alex's confidence and authority overpowers Dan and his senses. Douglas is sidelined by Glenn Close's riveting performance, who easily emasculates any resolve he tries to make.

Expect the unexpected; Alex goes from having a tantrum about being used and dumped (we can empathise with her at this point) to cutting her wrists and trashing Dan's apartment. The outcome of it all exceeds expectations. This isn't an enjoyable piece of cinema, it's an uncomfortable experience that teaches tough lessons.

Overview: A well presented film that's a struggle to watch. Close and Douglas are phenomenal.