Safe House Review

Another enjoyable recent film.

Felt very much like a typical Tony Scott/Denzel Washington collaboration but it was actually directed by Daniel Espinosa (yes, I had to look that spelling up!)

Ryan Reynolds is the young Safe House operative who has to keep tabs and indeed handcuffs on Washington's character.

There are some great action sequences, car chases, roof dashes, shoot outs and a brilliant set piece set around a South African football stadium which either had thousands of extras, or was filmed on an actual match day (is that Denzel Washington with a gun?!!) The reason I make the Tony Scott reference is because of that saturated film-stock method he often uses, that we see again here.

I liked the way the film blurred the lines between who was "good and bad" in the story, and there was one revelation which was, for me, jaw dropping.

Great performances and a suitable ending, though again, bold.

Denzel harks back a little to his Oscar winning Training Day persona, but all is not what it seems, and he plays all the facets of his character brilliantly. Reynolds also holds his own, and I look forward to seeing what he does next (a Deadpool spin off?! Proposal sequel?!)

A great night at the cinema only spoiled by the young lady to my right who spent the whole film texting back and forth on her mobile phone. Why pay to see a film when all you want to do is correspond with people outside the cinema! Any suggestions on "turn your flipping phone off" etiquette please feel free to comment below

4 Denzel's out of 5

The Artist Review

Not often I go and see a film the week after it has won numerous Academy awards, including Best Film, Actor and Director. But that is the case with this one.

Needless to say expectations were very high.

Were they met? Sort of.

So, a silent film. In 2012! It did take a bit of getting used to, but after a few minutes you are thoroughly enjoying the dazzling artistry on display.

One quibble would be with the aspect ratio of the film. Basically like watching TV at the cinema. Square image and barely cinematic at all. Was probably intentional, but ideally the point of going to the cinema is to enjoy as widescreen an image as possible.

The lead actors, and the dog were superb! And there were some great "Best Picture" moments that will be shown in montages for years to come. I did enjoy the film but I found the ending a little bit lacking. With the advent of talkies, our lead actor struggles to evolve, until a novel idea to bring him back towards the end.

I was just looking for a bigger payoff, does this new film become a success? We know where the film is going relationally, I just would have liked a scene where we see"Sparkle" rekindle the success George used to have.

There is a lot to love here, the best use of the word, "bang" in all of cinema, the performances, the impressive music, the cinematography and just the guts to make such picture!

So, for me, the best picture of 2011? I'm not sure, I haven't had the chance to see the latest Woody Allen or Moneyball etc. But an enjoyable film none the less, that left me a little bit cold at the end.

4 silences out of 5

The Muppets Review

The Muppets are back!

Really enjoyable comeback feature for the cloth classics.

Greatly helped by co-writer Jason Segel who lends genuine charm and enthusiasm for the stars and the material. Also greatly enjoyed were the songs mostly by Flight Of The Conchords luminary Bret Mckensie. If you liked this movie you must check out both series of their sitcom classic! (I am still indebted to Tom and Simon Wade for introducing me to this wonderful musical show, and Scrubs and, well........)

If I was nitpicking, though, I actually thought the "Life's a happy song" song was more deserving of the Academy Award than the "Man Or Muppet" song! But that's just me!

I liked the in-jokes littered throughout the script. Amy Adams was also wonderful as Mary (really looking forward to her as Lois Lane in the Man Of Steel next year!) Chris Cooper also wonderfully chewed the scenery as the bad guy (with a brilliant musical rappy moment!)

It's hard to quibble over plot points when it comes to a film involving talking and singing puppets! But oil under the muppet theatre in Hollywood? Really?!

This is a great fun film for all the family. Some nice cameos and a good life affirming message. I also liked how bright the film was! They could have gone for some sort of post-modern muppet parody, but I like the way the film pretty much went straight down the middle.

Having said that I also liked the fun they poked at Disney musical convention such as "let's meet them in the montage", and "well I did just sing a song about that!"

Good cameos (love Zach!) a fairly convenient wrap up using a bowling ball irritated, as it seemed like the core driving force of the whole story was wrapped up during the end credits! Also because of all the muppets onscreen some got a little lost in the mix but overall a film I look forward to buying and enjoying with the kids! Bring on The Great Muppet Caper remake! But leave A Muppet Christmas Carol well alone!

4 muppets out of 5

The Woman In Black Review

This is a film which helps you remember why we go to the cinema.

Why it is best to see certain films with as full a screening as possible!

I haven't seen the play (only 2 actors involved!) or read the book this is based on but I had heard enough about it to know this was a well admired and appreciated ghost story.

The film shows the boy who was Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) play a very different character, a mournful father who through his work is lead to an old abandoned house at the end of a causeway.

You can look the plot up, but needless to say this is a great scare filled experience. The 12A rating proved a full audience can be genuinely frightened without lashings of gore and severed body parts. Doors slam, figures are briefly glimpsed, a rocking chair goes mad!

All this is excellently realised and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing the audience shriek in terror!

It got to the point where the group of girls to my right were crying, "no, no, no!" at the anticipation of what might happen!

The film-makers use a lot of tricks to keep the audience engaged, although there was one section involving a swamp and a car where I thought they missed a trick. A glimpse of the woman in black at this point would have been unbearable!

I enjoyed the flashbacks, and the film in general.

I understand the films ending is quite differently to the stage play, but I somehow think it works. Certainly the way they have developed the Radcliffe character, and we see some sort of resolution for him and his family, even if slightly unexpected.

So a great scary movie, but will it be as frightening on a small screen after repeat viewings? Probably not. See it at a cinema! I find it more difficult now watching all the films I want to, becoming a Daddy and everything! But films like this remind me of the power of the communal movie watching experience.

4 Potter glasses out of 5