Nowhere Boy (2009) Review

director: Sam Taylor-Wood

writer: Matt Greenhaigh

starring: Sam Johnson

genre: Drama, Music







If there was a specific biopic that I wish to have been made it would be a full blown big budget Beatles film. But for that to happen all the planets of solar system would have to be aligned. For now we have to make due with a small part of John Lennon's life in the wonderful film called Nowhere Boy. This is about John Lennon's youth and the first meetings he had with his fellow Beatles band-mates. But most importanly about his realthionship with his family and mother.

John (Sam Johnson) is 15 years old and a troublemaker. Not good at school and always intersted in getting into trouble one way or another. He lives with his aunt and uncle due his mom's inability to take care of him. This leads John to his Mom and his curiosity to find out what led to this inability and maybe there was a way to rekindle their lost relathionsihp. At the same time this will lead the Lennon family into confrontation and big secrets that will have to be revealed to John. Throughout these events John will learn of his passion for rock and roll and Elvis. Huge influences that will lead him to learning the guitar and creating the Quarrymen which later one day will lead to the legendary band of the Beatles.

The film is filled with dynamic performances and a keen look at the dramatic filled youth of John Lennon. We can see from young his influences and his rebellious side. He was the most controversial member of the Beatles and the most rebellious at youth. But it wasn't in spite of having a destructive family but actually a very loving family that in the end came together instead of tearing apart for young John.

As a drama Nowhere Boy excels in bringing great performances, a interesting look at the young life of John Lennon and plenty of drama that came out of his young life. For Beatles fans this is a great recommendation. Now we just have to wait much a little while longer for a Beatles biopic. If that ever happens...

Personal Rating:

Review by Paul

Black Swan (2010) Review

director: Darren Aronofsky

writers: Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz, John McLaughlin

starring: Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel, Mila Kunis

genre: Drama

I absolutely loved Black Swan. I wasn’t sure at first if I would enjoy it and I wasn’t sure what to think. When the movie was over I still wasn’t sure what to think. Despite how that might sound, that is not a criticism, but rather high praise for director Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler, Requiem for a Dream), and Natalie Portman, who present a movie that is complex, compelling, and never ordinary. It is also one of the year’s best.

Little Fockers (2010) Review

director: Paul Weitz

writers: John Hamburg, Larry Stuckey

starring: Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Owen Wilson, Teri Polo, Jessica Alba

genre: Comedy







Little Fockers is the continuation of the original film Meet the Parents (2000) and it's first sequel Meet The Fockers (2004). The second sequel is a film that wasn't needed, wasn't demanded but came nonetheless like most sequels and Hollywood films. But now that its out is it any good? is it worth your money? or should you wait for the DVD? The answers our meh, no and definitely. Little Fockers could have been much more if it was anything more like the previous films that actually had laugh out loud material and that also didn't give out all its best jokes within their theatrical trailers.

Due Date (2010) Review

director: Todd Phillips

writer: Alan R. Cohen, Allan Freedland, Adam Sztykiel, Todd Phillips

starring: Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifanakis

genre: Comedy

Last year no one was expecting the Hangover to be that much of a success not only at the box office but also with critics. Filmmaker Todd Phillips has moved up the ladder with films like Starsky & Hutch and the Hangover making a name of himself as one of the best known filmmakers in the genre of comedy. He might not be Judd Apatow with a better in his sense of emotion and meanings in his films, but he is well known for his ability to bring out laugh out loud situations into fruition. His new film Due Date is no different at being the most hilarious film of the year.

Easy A (2010) Review

director: Will Gluck

writer: Bert V. Royal

starring: Emma Stone, Amanda Bynes, Penn Badgley, Thomas Haden Church

genre: Comedy, Romance

There are two kinds of teen films that come to mind. Your shallow, non provocative teen film and then your polar opposite of racy, controversial humor and sex ala American Pie. Both have standouts in the genre and failures. But what if someone was in the mood for something right in the middle? Well don't you worry because Easy A is that kind of film that pushes the boundaries of touchy teen issues without having nudity, profanity and still manages to be a entertaining film.

Superman Returns (2005) Review

director: Bryan Singer

writers: Dan Harris, Michael Dougherty

starring: Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey

genre: Comics

It took 18 years to get another Superman film. But why did it have to take so long for us to get this miserable failure? I think we could have lived without Bryan Singer's take on Superman as he brought nothing new to the table except bringing the previous film's flaws back to life.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009) Review

director: Steve Carr

writer: Kevin James

starring: Kevin James, Jayma Mays

genre: Comedy

Film is a form of art but also of entertainment. Sometimes the line is crossed and there are many arguments to which side of cinema is better. Me I'm  personally in the middle. This sometimes is a problem that many films face by being too far on one side than the other and subsequently alienating it's audience members. Paul Blart is a simple film made for families that demand no intelligence whatsoever from the films they want to see. In that specific sense Paul Blart succeeds in being a funny film for that market. For everybody else it will be a film easy to forget.

The Invention of Lying (2009) Review

director: Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson

writer: Ricky Gervais

starring: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe, C.K. Louis, Jonah Hill

genre: Comedy, Romance

Now here's a original idea and applied to the most unoriginal genre of romantic comedies. Ricky Gervais is the man behind the hit British TV shows the Office and Extras and now co-directs, writes and stars in a very funny film that teaches us the valuable lesson that being truthful and honest doesn't get you anywhere.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010) Review

director: David Yates

writer: Steve Kloves

starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint

genre: Adventure, Fantasy

Let's just get this out of the way there will never be a great film based on a Harry Potter book. Many people who are not fans and of course have not read the book might have a different opinions based on the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I. Some say they wanted to see the whole movie together instead of watching part I and part II. Personally I agree with that, but there is a reason why they made the movies in parts. Besides getting more profit but also to keep all of us in the loop of what is going to happen next (trust me it’s worth waiting for)! Suspicion will drive you crazy for those who have not read the books. My advice is wait to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam (2010) Review

director: Joaquim Dos Santos

writer: Michael Jelenic

starring: George Newbern, Jerry O'Connell, Zach Callison, Arnold Vosloo

genre: Animation, Action, Comics, Family, Shorts

It's been well known that DC has been pushing its most famous characters on to the straight to DVD animation scene. And they've haven't been doing a bad job so far. There initial efforts have only been of  their top dog characters. Now there going pushing lesser known heroes out to the mass  either through short films or sold packaged together with the DVDs of the other DC superhero animation films. Superman/Shazam is the first short DC film Ive seen and is actually my first encounter with the hero Captain Marvel as Ive still not read any comics with him in it. Pleased to say I wasn't disappointed..

The Town (2010) Review

director: Ben Affleck

writers: Ben Affleck, Peter Craig, Aaron Stockard

starring: Ben Affleck, Jeremy Renner, Rebecca Hall, John Hamm

genre: Crime, Drama

Not many films get your attention without having something of a particular interest to you. The Town managed to got my attention due it being made by Ben Affleck. After his debut film Gone Baby Gone (2007) Affleck now directs himself as well and proves to audiences once again that he is not only worth noticing in front of the camera but also behind. In my eyes not only does he shows skill but promise for a long and successful career as a filmmaker.

The Social Network (2010) Review

director: David Fincher

writer: Aaron Sorkin

starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Arnie Hammer

genre: Biopic, Drama







The Social Network is not the kind of film I enjoy to review. It's one of those films that you don't have really anything particularly bad to say about it and also not the kind of film that has a defining feature to rave about. You could say that Aaron Sorkin's script is the defining feature but no one is going to be sold on who wrote the script but about how status updates were created.

Clerks (1994) Review

director: Kevin Smith

writer: Kevin Smith

starring: Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Marylinn Chigliotti, Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes

genre: Comedy

Ever wondered how it is to be a clerk? How it feels, what are your dilemmas? Well the movie Clerks pretty much shows the whole picture of how it is to be a clerk! This one is Kevin Smiths first movie and a pretty good one i might add!

Shorts (2009) Review

director: Robert Rodriguez

writer: Robert Rodriguez

starring: Jimmy Bennett, Kat Dennings, Trevor Gagnon, Jon Cryer, Devon Gearheart

genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family

Could you love your kids so much that you would lower your humor and your intelligence level to make a film for them? I wouldn't but Robert Rodriguez just couldn't help himself. Not once but now over 5 times. Three Spy Kids films and then Shark Boy and Lava Girl and now with Shorts. With his latest family film Rodriguez outdoes himself by making a terribly silly film that would make me feel ashamed if my father had made it.

Machete (2010) Review

director: Robert Rodriguez, Ethan Maniquis

writer: Robert Rodriguez, Alvaro Rodriguez

starring: Danny Trejo, Steven Seagal, Jessica Alba, Robert De Niro, Jeff Fahey

genre: Action, Comedy

For those unaware of what Machete is and how it was created here's a little background. It's all due to Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino's double feature Grindhouse (2007). In between the double feature were fake trailers of B-style movies. Machete was one of the trailers and was the only fake trailer to be lucky enough to become a full length film. But can a simple fake trailer make a suitable full length film?

Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World (2010) Review

director: Edgar Wright

writers: Edgar Wright, Michael Bacall (based on the graphic novel) by Brian Lee O'Malley

starring: Micheal Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Anna Kendrick, Ellen Wong

genre: Action, Comedy, Comics

Scott Pilgrim didn't only have to face the world but also film audiences that didn't manage to fill in the cinemas. The 60 million dollar budget film has done only a mere 31 million in the U.S. alone. And from the look of it wont be doing any better internationally. It's a very peculiar film that will take getting used while your watching it within the very first minutes. But for a experienced gamer and comic book fan this film is a walk in the park.

Predators (2010)

director: Nimrod Antal

writers: Micheal Finch, Alex Litvak (story) by Robert Rodriguez

starring: Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga

genre: Action, Sci-Fi

Truth be told, after the bitter direction the Alien Vs. Predator franchise took, anything else afterwards would be a serious step up. Clearer vision was needed and Robert Rodriguez was the right man to handle it. He might not have made the direction of the film be too complex but it's still a fun action flick that not for one second tramples on films of past or be a complete waste of time.

Brookyln's Finest (2010)

director: Antoine Fuqua

writer: Michael C. Martin

starring: Ethan Hawke, Don Cheadle, Richard Gere, Wesley Snipes

genre: Drama, Crime

Every year or so there is some kind of dramatic cop film. It's an familiar genre with no need of going away. Most of them aren't bad just not deep enough or smart enough. Case in point Brooklyn's Finest. It's a very good film for what it is but doesn't go far enough to be memorable.

The Expendables (2010)

director: Sylvester Stallone

writers: Sylvester Stallone,

starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Terry Crews, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke, Randy Couture

genre: Action

A film filled with all the classic action stars of the 80's, 90's and 2000's may be a dream come true. But it's also hell of a thing to control. Stallone after going back to his roots with success with Rambo and Rocky thought it would be best to make a action film with a true dream team of action stars. What he forgot on the way was the emotion of Rocky and the guts and intensity of Rambo. 

The Room (2003)

director: Tommy Wiseau

writer: Tommy Wiseau

starring: Tommy Wiseau, Juliette Danielle, Greg Sestero

genre: Drama

Have you ever seen a film where it's so bad that you wonder how was it even possible for it to be created? Time after time you see bad films and you can detect where and why it's bad. You can give it even a little respect due to the fact that it was made in bad taste and for it's professional filmmaking that was at least present. This film is not like that, not even close. It's a film with countless of mistakes, that amateur film students wouldn't even be capable of ever coming close to accomplishing. Watching this film will give you courage in knowing that you will never suck as bad as the man who is behind this monstrosity Tommy Wiseau.