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.