Submarine

http://warp.net/films/submarine

I'd read lots of good things about this independent british movie. But I rarely believe what I read, especially when the 'reviews' come from places like Cineworld magazine. Which, let's face it, just wants to get bums on seats. Instead I sought the advice of my former housemate, who was the only person I knew who'd seen the film.

I was glad I did because she was honest as ever and I value her thoughts in such matters. She basically told me not to expect too much from Submarine. So I didn't. I think my tactic worked well as the low expectations made me like the film, which I'm not sure I would if I'd gone in expecting greatness.

The film has quite a basic premise, british film about a boy who wants to lose his cherry. But there's a lot more to Submarine than will fit into a brief synopsis. The protagonist here is Oliver Tate (Roberts), who does indeed have a deep desire to call Jordana Bevan (Page), the slightly dangerous loner girl from his school, his girlfriend. And yes, he would quite like to loose his virginity in the process. Along the way Oliver experiences all manner of family dramas.

This is where I felt the film stumbled on its path to greatness. If it had been a quirky coming of age film that would have been fine. Or an off-beat comedy. Or a gritty british drama that dealt with real issues, that would have been fine too. But it doesn't work when it's trying to be all three categories wrapped into one period piece. 

Ultimately the film doesn't know what it wants to be. Or if it does, it's aimed too high and overshot itself. The mish-mash created doesn't really work on all levels. It goes from being hilariously laugh out loud funny to confronting weighty issues like infidelity and cancer. This makes for uncomfortable moments of not knowing whether it's supposed to be ironic - and therefore funny - or if it's being serious.

Despite the film's identity crisis, the one thing it really has going for it are the performances. Craig Roberts does the Welsh proud. He may be unknown now, but great things lie in the future of this young man. He's the glue that holds this film together and is a joy to watch. The rest of the cast are all perfect in their respective roles, with special mention to Noah Taylor as I've always liked him since he did Secrets - a most underrated Australian film which also starred Dannii Minogue (don't judge unless you've seen it) - and here he does a wonderful job of having 'the talk' with Oliver. 

Taking this into account makes it all the more unfortunate as I think the film would have fired on all cylinders in one genre, but as all three it doesn't really succeed. 7 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 5th April 2011

UK Release Date - 18th March 2011

Cast Overview:

Craig Roberts ~ Oliver Tate

Yasmin Page ~ Jordana Bevan

Noah Taylor ~ Lloyd Tate

Sally Hawkins ~ Jill Tate

Paddy Considine ~ Graham

Director ~ Richard Ayoade

Writer(s) ~ Richard Ayoade (Screenplay) and Joe Dunthorne (Novel)

Source Code

http://www.enterthesourcecode.com/

Here it is. The review that makes or breaks me as a credible, non-biased, professional film reviewer. Holy crap that's a lot of pressure.

My regular readers (or anyone who knows me) will know that the reason this review carries so much weight, is that I have an undeniable, ever present love of Jake Gyllenhaal. Not a crush. Lets not belittle this. It's an all consuming adoration. He is perfect to me. Always has been, always will be. I met him once for all of 5 seconds. It was the most magical 5 seconds of my life.

So now that you understand my affliction, maybe you understand why this review is going to be my defining moment. If I'm too biased I will never be a real, honest to goodness film reviewer. But how can I not be biased when I'm talking about Jake and his perfection? Let me tell you about the film and I'll deal with that conundrum afterwards.

The Source Code of the title is a device which allows a person to cross over into another's identity in the last 8 minutes of their life. There's a very specific explanation of the 'hows' and 'whys' of this in the movie, which I wouldn't want to attempt to re-iterate coz I'd probably get it wrong. The 'hows' and 'whys' aside, the guinea pig here is Captain Colter Stevens who has been placed in the body of a passenger on a train, which explodes 8 minutes later, just as he was getting to grips with what was going on. Capt Stevens mission is to be injected into this re-created scenario, over and over, until he discovers who bombed the train. The outcome of this discovery is to stop a further explosion planned for later that day by the same bomber. In a nutshell, the film is kinda like Groundhog Day crossed with Quantum Leap.

Sound confusing? Well it's really not as confusing as I've made it sound. The film is well timed and explains the technical stuff in a way which sheds light, but doesn't blind you with the science. You find yourself understanding it without feeling like you've been talked down to. Director Duncan Jones, who has only one other feature film under his belt (Moon staring Sam Rockwell), does an impressive job of shooting what is essentially the same scene several times, adding a different spin to each take.

Of course I can't review the film without talking about the performances. Here is where I am torn because I want to tell you that Jake did a great job. But I also don't want you to think I'm just saying that. He really did do a great job, my personal feelings for him aside. I honestly think this film wouldn't work so well without him. Or at least without someone who is able to be likable but also a little weird, and funny but also able to convey emotion. Jake does all of these things effortlessly. If thinking that makes me biased, well I guess my potential new career is down the toilet. But I think you'll agree that liking, or at the very least being on the side of, Capt Stevens is kinda essential to the film. 

My friend who accompanied me to the film thought it was predictable. I guess I'd agree with that to some extent but then I don't think Source Code ever labled itself as a mystery? *Spoiler Alert* I personally found the predictability to be a blessing as the ending I was hoping for whilst watching the film, is the ending I got. *End Spoiler* What did surprise me was the emotion of the movie. The last couple of scenes especially. And how grounded in reality the characters were, despite the fantasy setting. Cast wise, I felt it was a pity that both Michelle Monaghan and Vera Farmiga had little to do in their supporting roles as both were superb. I don't see how the script could have allowed their characters to do more but it was still unfortunate that their roles were so limited.

A film that stands apart from anything else on general release. Source Code will draw you in with it's premise but keep you hooked with it's humanity. 8 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 1st April 2011

UK Release Date - 1st April 2011

Cast Overview:

Jake Gyllenhaal ~ Captain Colter Stevens

Michelle Monaghan ~ Christina Warren

Vera Farmiga ~ Colleen Goodwin

Jeffrey Wright ~ Dr Rutledge

Michael Arden ~ Derek Frost

Director ~ Duncan Jones

Writer ~ Ben Ripley

The Lincoln Lawyer

http://www.thelincolnlawyermovie.com/

  

I was so surprised that reliable sources of mine were recommending a Matthew McConaughey film, I had to see it for myself. Could the rumors be true? Could McConaughey actually be starring in a good film once again?

Putting faith in those I trust, I convinced my cinema buddy to come to the last showing of The Lincoln Lawyer at Cineworld before the influx of new films came out on Friday. It was a late showing, something I don't usually go in for on a school night, but I had to know if it was any good. A happy surprise came when we bumped into two friends, who happened to be seeing the same film, whilst we were purchasing our tickets.

We took our seats and were drawn into the story of lawyer Mick Haller (McConaughey), who essentially uses a Lincoln car (hence the title) as his office. His most recent case sees him defending rich kid Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe), who's been arrested for assaulting a prostitute. Roulet insists he's innocent and being set up so that the prostitute can get her hands on his fortune. Whilst trying to prove Roulet's innocence Mick stumbles upon some evidence which may clear one of his previous clients, Jesus Martinez (Michael Peña), who's currently doing time for a crime it seems he may not have committed.

I was relieved to say that I agreed with the people who recommended The Lincoln Lawyer (I don't have to disown them!) as I really quite enjoyed it. The film moves at a steady pace and has enough twists and turns to stop the boredom normally induced by courtroom dramas.

McConoughey hasn't done a film this good, or in which he is this good, for a long time. As far as serious films go, I'd say it was probably A Time To Kill (his big break movie with Sandra Bullock) when he was last as good as this. Worryingly he also played a lawyer in that movie. Maybe that speaks volumes about the career path he should have taken instead of being an actor, as he seems most at home playing this kind of character? Or maybe it just says that he should take more serious roles and stop making the dreadful rom-coms which have littered his filmography for the last 10 years. He's not a bad actor, as he proves here, he's just made bad choices.

But the film is not only about McConaughey. Here he is sharing the screen with an equally good cast. I'm talking about the ever watchable Marisa Tomei, the excellent William H. Macy and the surprisingly good Ryan Phillippe, alongside supporting roles filled by Josh Lucas, John Leguizamo, Michael Peña and Francis Fisher. An all round excellent cast. So maybe McConaughey is only as good as the fellow actors who populate his films? Whatever it is, it works here. 

A gripping courtroom drama that showcases the talents of some of Hollywood's finest. 8 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 31st March 2011

UK Release Date - 18th March 2011

Cast Overview:

Matthew McConaughey ~ Mick Haller

Marisa Tomei ~ Maggie McPherson

Ryan Phillippe ~ Louis Roulet

William H. Macy ~ Frank Levin

Josh Lucas ~ Ted Minton

John Leguizamo ~ Val Valenzuela

Michael Peña ~ Jesus Martinez

Bob Gunton ~ Cecil Dobbs

Francis Fisher ~ Mary Windsor

Director ~ Brad Furman

Writer(s) ~ John Romano (Screenplay) and Michael Connelly (Novel)