Films: Knowing

Film: Knowing (2009)
Dir. Alex Proyas
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Chandler Canterbury, Rose Byrne, Lara Robinson

The trailer for this film made me think 'big Hollywood end-of-the-world disaster movie only to be solved by an American hero.' How wrong could I be?

The basic premise of the story is that, in a time capsule buried in the 1950s, a young girl cursed by whispered voices in her head has left behind a double page of seemingly unrelated numbers. John Koestler (Nick Cage) is a widowed scientist who happens upon the numbers, and begins to find strange patterns within them. The code tells of 5 decades of human suffering and death, including the date in which his own wife died in a hotel fire. There are three dates remaining so John takes it upon himself to prove the code right, and save some lives in the process. His young son gets dragged in to the nightmare, along with the little girl's now grown up daughter (Rose Byrne) and her own child (Robinson). The film follows John as he begins to find reason and order in a world which he previously thought was random and coincidental.

Knowing is full of bone chilling moments of suspense, particularly with the recurring presence of a group of whispering, shadow-faced men in trench coats. The visual effects are stunning, and will ultimately be lost on the small screen once this film makes it to dvd. It is a barrage of sounds and images which come at you from every angle, and when you are least expecting it. Cage gives a heartbreakingly convincing performance as the unlucky and tortured soul dealing with his wife's death, his son's apparent connection with another world, and the impending end of his own.

This film is a cinema must-see. Stay with it. I almost lost heart at certain points, one of which was the prelude to the ending. But I stuck with it, and left the cinema reeling with excitement and questions. The film's message is a baffling one and perhaps not always completely clear unless you have some knowledge of Old Testament bible imagery, of which there is plenty. However, it is a great talking point, well acted and spectacularly shot.

My rating: **** 4/5 stars
Reccommendation: Try and catch this before it leaves the cinema. Otherwise watch it with the surround sound fully turned up! Be patient and give it a chance. You'll be hooked.

Films (Classics): Never Been Kissed

Never Been Kissed (1999)
Dir. Raja Gosnell
Cast: Drew Barrymore, Michael Vartan, David Arquette, Molly Shannon, Jon C. Reilly

This an old film which I could probably quote line for line in places. For some unknown reason it was shown on Film4 yesterday evening so I decided it was time for an ICEHISE review. (I know, that didn't work. I won't do it again.)

So, here's the deal. Josie is a newspaper copy editor who falls into her her first ever undercover report. However, the location is a high school and this turfs up all sorts of uncomfortable memories for 'geek to the core' Josie 'Grosie'. She tries and fails miserably to fit in with the cool kids until her brother (also posing as a high school student) enrols and helps her to transition from geek to chic. Well, the school dream boy asks her to the prom - what more could a girl want. Along the way, Josie becomes a little more than friendly with her gorgeous English teacher, Sam Coulson.

This is a chick-flick through and through. Therefore, it is corny, unintimidating and fairly easy to watch while doing something else. However, it does have some corking one liners and a delicious fairytale ending. Barrymore is very endearing as a super geek (I can't help but think that she brings a hint of personal experience to the role) as is Arquette as her well meaning brother. Vartan is a complete hearthrob and totally convinces me as a down to earth and passionate teacher. He delivers his cheddar-laden lines with style and I love him for it!

I feel like a fraud talking about cinematography in a film like this so I'll just say that it has a well chose soundtrack, some great costume and a great final scene shot at a baseball game. It's harmless fun that you must, MUST take with a pinch of salt.

My rating *** 3/5 stars
Recommendation: Watch, laugh, maybe shed a tiny tear. Don't think too hard!

Music: Take That - The Circus

Take That are, without question, the greatest Man Band in the world. I challenge you to show me a band that has made such a successful, likeable and humble comeback. They have none of the celebrity arrogance that comes with huge sell out bands, and the best part is that their music has actually become even better than before. I was never a big fan of Take That the first time round. Now, I am nothing short of a groupie.

The album is a well put together selection of poppy numbers and ballads and the theme of The Circus runs througout. Gary Barlow must be credited as one of the greatest singer-songwriters of this generation and his lyricism and musicianship are wonderfully put on show. Barlow sings with warmth and ease, back beautifully by his band mates whose harmonies blend and flow like they've been doing this for years. Oh...wait...

Mark Owen's deliciously shameless Mancunian accent gives character to the first track The Garden and other tracks, Julie and Hello. Owens distinctive vocal lends itself to the really showy upbeat numbers (as in the excellent Shine from previous album, Beautiful World). Of course, one of the strongest tracks on the album is UK #1 hit Greatest Day. The song is uplifting, epic, moving and simply wonderful. Watching the video, it is obvious that these fellas simply adore making this music. Other stand out tracks are The Circus, Here (which brings the circus right into the music) and Up All Night which is a definite nod to the work of Paul Simon.

All in all this is an excellent, exciting and adventurous album from Take That. It sits at number one on the UK album chart, and rightly so. These chaps are going to be around for a long time yet. So, here's my salute *salutes* to the man band, Take That.

My rating: **** 4/5 stars - Just a few tracks which don't stand out, but after a few more listens, that might become less of an issue and earn them another star!

Films: The Golden Compass

The Golden Compass (2007)

Dir. Chris Weitz
Cast: Daniel Craig, Nicole Kidman, Dakota Blue Richards, Freddie Highmore, Ben Walker, Sir Ian McKellan...

Imagine a world where people walk around followed by their souls in the form of an animal, where The North is a land of struggle, violence and mystery, and where adults begrudge the tendency of all children to get themselves covered in dust. Hang on, isn't this meant to be fantasy?

Philip Pullman's weird and wonderful story is brought the screen in this huge, visually enchanting movie. I was blown away by the visual effects, the scenery, the voice talent of the non-human characters, and even the movie debut of Dakota Blue Richards who plays lead character Lyra.

Lyra escapes the drudgery of her 'Uncle's' college when she is whisked away to assist the seductive Mrs Coulter (Kidman). The trip turns sour, however, when Lyra realises that Coulter is up to not good, and in charge of a thuggish group known as the Gobblers. Lyra has been given the last existing Golden Compass and soon finds that people will stop at nothing to get hold of it. The compass tells the truth to the person who can read it. Lyra and her demon (soul), Pan, journey to The North, enlisting the help of the Gyptians, families of children who have been taken by the Gobblers, and a huge armoured polar bear (voiced marvellously by McKellan). It is an adventure of the most exciting kind, where, of course, the good guys always triumph. However, the film ends on a cliff hanger, enticing audiences to sign up for the subsequent two films that will make up the trilogy.

A handful of stunning perfomances and even more stunning visual effects all add to this enchanting film. If you can get past the jargon which is used from the outset, assuming that we have all read the books and completely understand terms such as 'The Magisterium', 'Demons' and 'the Dust'. The world which is created is completely fantastical but strangely believable as the relationships between characters and Lyra's journey to save her friends are genuine.

My rating *** 3/5 stars
Recommendation: If you fancy escaping to a complete fantasy, you will enjoy this film. Forgive the oversuse of bizarre vocabulary and get involved! Not enough Daniel Craig for me, but I'm looking forward to the 2nd film!

Film: The Oxford Murders (2008)

The Oxford Murders (2008)
Dir. Alex de la Iglesia (oh sure, his name means 'Alex from the church!')
Cast: Elijah Wood, John Hurt, Julie Cox, Leonor Watling...


I'm not one to shy away from a film by an unknown director. I am not one to bring preconceptions to a film when I watch it (with the exception of anything involving Keanu Reeves or Andie MacDowell - sorry). This film seemed fairly intruiging to me. Is it possible to raise the profile of mathematical studies by getting the legendary John Hurt and Frodo Baggins himself on board? I like a good murder mystery and Oxford is a beatiful location. Like I said, I was quite interested.

It is hard to say what let me down, really. This film just did not deliver. Well, Oxford was beautiful, at least. I found the plot was too loaded, too heavy. The dialogue was predictable - I even quoted several lines before they were said. Wood brought his wide-eyed boyish quality to the character of Martin, a young mathmatician studying for a year at Oxford. However, this was not enough to carry him through the sketchy script, and his flaws certainly did not make him any more likeable. I think that is what was wrong. I could not empathise with any character in the film. Frankly, they were all utterly bonkers. Hurt put in a good performance but even he sounded ridiculous delivering some of his lines. Neither of the leading female roles made me jump for joy and note down their names for future releases.

The basic idea is that Martin (Wood) is an american student who believes in the power and structure of the secret structure of numbers to give us absolute truth. Lost already? Seldom (Hurt) is a slightly creepy and very grumpy professor and maths genius who denies Martin's claims. But when they both appear at the scene of a mutual friend's murder, where a peculiar mathematical symbol has been left, their brains start ticking. So the story traipses through a chain of murders and symbols, predictions, arguments, threatning conversations and one rather uncomfortable love scene. The film comes to a close in a way which is both a twist and the only completely logical ending. Nothing to write home about.

My rating: ** 2/5 stars
Recommendation: If you like maths you might like this. Or you might not. Or maybe if you have a brain that thinks, you might like it. Or not. If you are impatient, have something else to do or don't enjoy getting confused and then angry with yourself that you were confused by something so obvious, don't watch it. Ok?

Films: Hancock

Hancock (2008)
Dir. Peter Berg
Cast: Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman, Eddie Marsan.

John Hancock is a man of amazing strength, ability and...terrible people skills! This guy can take a shower of bullets, walk into a moving freight train, jump a mile high and fly even further. However, blessed with all these powers, Hancock cannot seem to win over the public. The first we see of him in the film is mouthing off to a young boy and drinking neat whisky.

Ray and Mary Embrey are a well-to-do and optimistic couple who could probably use Hancock not turning up in their life, but when he saves Ray's life, that's just what he does. And straight away you can sense there's some major part of the Hancock story missing. Oddly, it seems to lie in Mary Embrey. At this point, the storytelling part of the film loses its way and becomes somewhat rushed and staccato. The film does not allow itself enough time to expand certain aspects of the story. So, sadly, we are left slightly befuddled by the action that unfolds.

And action it certainly is. The special effects in this film are sensational and this is what kept me watching. Smith is charming in his portrayal of a misguiged superhero and his dialogues with Ray Embrey (Bateman) produce some of the films finest comic moments. But it is the effects which will stay with you after you turn off the DVD player. Rapid, electric, faultless visuals create the insane idea that Will Smith really can do all these things. Come on, if any Hollywood actor can, it's Will!

My rating: **** 4/5 stars
Recommendation: What the film lacks in narrative it wins back in execution. It's a visual feast. Just don't lose sleep thinking about the story!

TV MOVIE: Flood

Flood (ITV, 2007)
Dir. Tony Mitchell
Cast: Robert Carlyle, Jessalyn Gilsig, Tom Courtenay, Joanna Whaley, David Suchet

Flood exploded onto tv screens last night in the first part of this made for tv movie drama. Now, apparently this was first screened back in August last year, but I seem to have missed the boat (no pun intended) on that one. The teaser trailers which have been shown on ITV over the last few weeks were enough to get me interested. Well, it's Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty) and David Suchet (Agatha Christie's Poirot) in an epic looking movie about London being flooded. What could go wrong?

Well, generally nothing massive does go wrong. I'm talking in film terms here, not in the sense that London is hit by a huge wall of water and thousands of people are swept away. That's pretty bad. But the film is well produced, the cast are all great, and the story unfolds gradually in a way that means, at the dramatic cliffhanger last night, I was hooked enough to want to watch next week. Having thought about it, though, this could be more the fact that I just want to know which of the characters will survive and if it really will play out like an English version of other epic disaster movies like The Day After Tomorrow and Independence Day. Yes, I can just hear David Suchet making some moving national address over the television as the camera pans out and the tv set floats upstream.

Let me explain the basic concept of the film. A huge storm travels across from the US and creates a massive waver which wipes out the Scottish town of Wick. The Met Office, trying their hardest to remain calm in the line of Suchet's piercing stare, make some pretty shoddy predictions about the storm blowing over. But of course it does not. Leonard Morrison (Courtenay) is a slightly estranged scientist who predicts that the weather will combine with high spring tides, overwhelm the Thames barrier and devastate London. Morrison's son (who, for the record, has issues with his father from his youth) and his ex-wife (always a winning combo in a drama) are the only people in the know who can possibly save the day.

The special effects are pretty spectacular. And the writers have considered the effects of a catastrophe of this scale on London's underground system, population, schools and hospitals. In fact, the scenes in the 'sit. room' with Suchet who plays the Deputy PM, and his team are some of the most convincing and tense. All in all, it's an interesting and not entirely improbable idea. But the film does steal from the aforementioned Hollywood blockbusters in its delivery. There have already been far too many scenes with people shaking fists and screaming 'noooooooo!' Even the regular freeze frame intercut with a digital clock ticking, very reminiscent of 24, could get annoying.

But I will tune in next Sunday nevertheless. I want to know if they manage to save London. If they do, the film will seriously plummet in my opinions, because they have pretty much set the scene for mass devastation. No, I'm not some sick freak who likes to watch suffering, but I do hate the, 'but wait, three people really can fight a 25 foot wall of water and win,' Hollywood-esque sentiment. British film can do much better than that. I'll keep you posted.

My rating (so far): *** 3 stars
Reccommendation: If you watched the first part, watch the second or you might go mad. If you didn't start it, don't bother.