The Green Hornet

http://thegreenhornet.co.uk/

The first of several films released early this year with an unremarkable trailer. But one which I knew I'd end up seeing anyway, mainly because my only male cinema buddy would probably want to see it. Unfortunately the film was so bad that just over a week later I couldn't even remember seeing it! 

The story centers on Britt Reid (Seth Rogan), the son of a Los Angeles newspaper publisher who has always been a disappointment to his father James (Tom Wilkinson). Britt lives his life as he pleases, spending lots of daddy's money as he goes. He receives a wake up call in the form of his father's death. A childish prank leads Britt to discover - and then stop - a mugging with the help of one of his father's former employee's Kato (Jay Chou).

With Kato in tow the two devise a plan to become crime fighting duo "The Green Hornet". Along with this decision to fight crime, Britt decides to become more respectable and get a job. So he starts work at his father's newspaper by taking over as publisher. He hires a new secretary Lenore (Cameron Diaz) and asks her to investigate the recent activities of "The Green Hornet".

I spent most of the movie being irritated by Seth Rogan. I've seen him in other mediocre movies but never realised before that he only ever seems to play variations of himself. I read an interview with him recently in which he struck me as quite an arrogant man who's been very lucky to have gotten as far in Hollywood as he has. The other characters in the film are almost as two dimensional as his "character" is. Strange considering the film is in 3D. 

The remaining parts of the movie, when I wasn't being annoyed by Seth Rogan, I was wondering what possessed Cameron Diaz to agree to being in it. Her role was tiny and literally could have been played by anyone. I was hoping she would save the movie as she has good comic timing and is not exactly the type of person who's hard to watch. But even she couldn't do anything with such a lifeless character who held so little screen time.

I have not been this disappointed by a movie since The Last Airbender, and that one I did actually want to see! Not worth the ticket fair, let alone the extra cost for the bad 3D. 2 out of 10 (for James Franco's cameo).

Viewing Date - 16th January 2011

UK Release Date - 14th January 2011

 Cast Overview:

Seth Rogan ~ Britt Reid/The Green Hornet

Jay Chou ~ Kato

Cameron Diaz ~ Lenore Case

Tom Wilkinson ~ James Reid

Christoph Waltz ~ Chudnofsky/Bloodnofsky

Edward Furlong ~ Tupper

James Franco ~ Danny Crystal Cleer

Director ~ Michel Gondry

Writer(s) ~ Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg

Writing Credit for George W Trendle for radio series 'The Green Hornet'

The King's Speech

http://www.kingsspeech.com/

My next cinematic outing was to see another showing of Love and Other Drugs. As much as I know you're dying to know what I thought of that movie, as I've said before, it doesn't count in the reviews of 2011. Moving swiftly on then to The King's Speech. The film had been released to rave reviews and early performances quickly sold out. It had been on general release for a week when I eventually managed to see it. This was initially to my annoyance, but had The King's Speech not been sold out I wouldn't have had the pleasure of seeing It's Kind of a Funny Story - see below review. So with trepidation I went along with the crowd to see what was soon to be a multi-award winning film. 

The King's Speech tells the story of Prince Albert Duke of York, who reluctantly became King George VI when his brother King Edward VIII, decided he would rather marry divorced american socialite Wallis Simpson than retain the throne. Albert, who not only had no desire to be King, had a debilitating stammer which prevented him from speaking publicly. Quite a problem when you're the King of England. Luckily for 'Bertie' his wife Queen Elizabeth, who would later become the beloved Queen Mother, was a no-nonsense sort of woman who sought help from an Australian speech therapist, Lionel Logue. Logue's unorthodox methods enrage the King and lead Bertie to storm out of Logue's office believing he cannot be cured. However, Logue has method to his madness and the King soon discovers that these methods of curing him, no matter how ludicrous, actually work. 

In order to understand (and like) Bertie's character we must learn the reason for him being an uncomfortable King and a stammerer. Understandably this tale takes time to tell. As such the film does feel long, and in telling the back story of Edward VIII's rise and fall it takes a while to get to this story's strength, the friendship forged between the King and Dr Logue. Two very different men who find common ground, allowing them to work together and become life long friends. Which in the end benefits them both.

Although I didn't enjoy The King's Speech as much as other recent monarchy based movies such as The Duchess or Young Victoria I am happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised. The performances are all exemplary as you would expect from such a cast; Colin Firth's stuffy King, Helena Bonham Carter's fiesty Queen, Geoffrey Rush's wonderfully weird speech therapist and Guy Pearce's stubborn Edward VIII, with a spiffing English accent to boot. The only criticism I have with the casting lies in Timothy Spall who I find quite creepy in every role he plays. It works well for him in Harry Potter but not so much when he's playing Winston Churchill. 


Which brings me to the final scene. Yes it is somewhat predictable, but it's the ending you find yourself routing for and leaves the movie with a feel-good finish. And there's nothing wrong with that. 7 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 14th January 2011

UK Release Date - 7th January 2011

Cast Overview:

Colin Firth ~ King George VI

Geoffrey Rush ~ Lionel Logue 

Helena Bonham Carter ~ Queen Elizabeth

Guy Pearce ~ King Edward VIII

Derek Jacobi ~ Archbishop Cosmo Lang

Michael Gambon ~ King George V

Timothy Spall ~ Winston Churchill

Jennifer Ehle ~ Myrtle Logue

Eve Best ~ Wallace Simpson

Director ~ Tom Hooper

Writer ~ David Seidler (Screenplay)

It's Kind Of A Funny Story

http://www.focusfeatures.com/its_kind_of_a_funny_story

This was a film I knew nothing about but which happened to be showing at a time when me and my friends were planning to go to the cinema. It turned out to be a surprising little movie which I otherwise wouldn't have seen. 


The film is about a boy, Craig (Keir Gilchrist), who wants to kill himself. I know, right now you're thinking "Whoa, bit of an extreme intro" but it's essential to the story so please allow me to elaborate. The reasons Craig has for wanting to end his life are all relatable, he's in love with his best friend's girlfriend, he doesn't fit in, his parents are pressuring him to do well at school, oh and he stress vomits. Despite the pressure piled on him by his clueless parents he loves them and doesn't want to hurt them, or his little sister, by going through with suicide. So he decides instead to check himself into a mental health facility. The only drawback is that the adult psychiatric ward is the only one open, and if he checks in there he has to stay for a minimum of 5 days. Once on the ward he meets many weird and wonderful characters including his roommate, an agoraphobic egyptian named Muqtada and the wackiest of all the psych patients Bobby, who befriends Craig and shows him that life aint so bad. Whilst coming to grips with life on the ward Craig falls for a fellow patient, self harmer Noelle (beautifully played by Emma Roberts). 


The film is darkly funny, refreshingly honest, touching and for anyone who's dealt with these kinds of issues it's deeply moving in places. Zach Galifianakis, best known for purely comedic roles in films such as The Hangover and Due Date showcases his talent for dramatic acting here alongside a faultless cast. The previously unheard of Gilchrist and previously unremarkable Roberts are outstanding. A rare treat. 9 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 8th January 2011

UK Release Date - 7th January 2011

Cast Overview:

Keir Gilchrist ~ Craig

Zach Galifianakis ~ Bobby

Emma Roberts ~ Noelle

Viola Davis ~ Dr Minerva

Zoe Kravitz ~ Nia

Thomas Mann ~ Aaron

Aasif Mandvi ~ Dr Mahmoud

Bernard White ~ Muqtada

Lauren Graham ~ Lynn (Craig's Mother)

Jim Gaffigan ~ George (Craig's Father)

Jeremy Davies ~ Smitty

Director(s) ~ Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck

Writer(s) ~ Anna Boden (Screenplay), Ryan Fleck (Screenplay) 

and Ned Vizzini (Novel)

Burlesque

http://www.burlesquethemovie.com/

Technically the first movie I saw in 2011 was Love and Other Drugs. And believe me I could talk all day about how beautiful Jake Gyllenhaal was in that movie (as well as how good the film was overall). But as I first saw Love and Other Drugs in 2010 it doesn't count as my first movie of 2011. This honour goes to Burlesque. 


Although I hate to admit it I wanted to see the film as soon as I saw the trailer. No, I am not a closet Cher fan, nor am I that fond of Christina (check spelling) Aguilera. I also have a tendency to dislike musicals, and while I know Burlesque is not technically a musical, it does feature it's fair share of singing and dancing. My real reason for wanting to see Burlesque is that I am quite fond of the quartet of male actors in the movie. Cam Gigandet, Eric Dane, Peter Gallagher and Stanley Tucci. The two formers for their dashing good looks (yes I'm that shallow) and the two latters for the range of characters they've played which I have loved and loved to hate over the years. Thankfully when I saw the trailer I wasn't worrying who would agree to accompany me to such a movie as I knew that this film would be right up my best friends street. I'm happy to say I wasn't wrong. About my best friend or the movie. 


I thoroughly enjoyed Burlesque. The dancing (from all involved) was a joy to watch, the singing (from Cher and Christina) was not too overdone, and the acting - especially from Aguilera - was better than expected. The story is of small town girl Ali (Aguilera), who dreams of being on stage. She travels to LA and finds herself waitressing in the Burlesque lounge. A club where the dancers mime along to classic songs. The club is struggling financially when it's owner Tess (Cher) discovers that Ali can not only dance, but sing too. She makes Ali the star of the show and things start to look up. 


Without spoiling too much I will say that there are heartaches and struggles along the way as you'd expect from this type of movie but on the whole I found it to be an enjoyable piece of fluff. It won't be to everyone's taste and has taken lot of criticism for being too similar to Cabaret and Chicago but I think if you take it at face value you'll enjoy it. 7 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 3rd January 2011

UK Release Date - 17th December 2010

Cast Overview:

Cher ~ Tess

Christina Aguilera ~ Ali

Eric Dane ~ Marcus

Cam Gigandet ~ Jack

Julianne Hough ~ Georgia

Alan Cumming ~ Alexis

Peter Gallagher ~ Vince

Kristen Bell ~ Nikki

Stanley Tucci ~ Sean

Director/Writer ~ Steve Antin