Nasty Goes To The Movies

Has Ewan Mcgregor ever made a bad film?
I've just watched the trailer for The Impossible. Think I'll wait till it comes on the telly, and watch it from behind the sofa.

Reply #21. Jan 28 13, 5:07 PM

nasty_liar

Yeah he made the Star Wars prequels...

Reply #22. Jan 31 13, 6:00 AM

nasty_liar

The Fighter (2010)

'A look at the early years of boxer "Irish" Micky Ward and his brother who helped train him before going pro in the mid 1980s.'

Starring
Christian Bale
Mark Wahlberg
Amy Adams

Time to go ever so slightly back in time because I saw this film on TV on sunday and was very surprised by it.

We are taken through 'real life' events of the boxing brothers from Lowell Massachussetts with Bale as the older, washed up, junkie brother - Dicky Eklund and Marky Mark as the younger brother trying to get his career off the ground - Micky Ward.

This film feels like a British made flick in that it feels smalltime, gritty, real with a score used sparingly and to good effect. The supporting cast do a great job of bringing you into the world of this family.

Huge performances come from Amy Adams and Christian Bale. I'm more impressed everytime I see Adams because not only is she incredibly hot, she leaps off the screen in seemingly every film she does. But Bale steals the show in what for me is a hauntingly good performance. Speaking as somebody who has seen how addicts often act, carry themselves and interact with me first hand I can say that this was a remarkable showing from him.

The two hours whizzed by, I would highly recommend this film. It is one of the best I have seen of this genre.

Reply #23. Jan 31 13, 6:11 AM

Professer

Nasty agree with what you said about Life of Pi is a remarkable film and story, i am now alternating between LEs Mis DVD i have and Life of PI and on the later seeing things i missed first time round, and second etc.

Loved the way the story was told

Reply #24. Feb 01 13, 4:57 AM

nasty_liar

Yeah, Life of Pi was a real spectacle that i enjoyed a lot. Glad I saw it at the pictures.

I've seen Gangster Squad, Lincoln and Les Mis so far this week (can you tell I'm off work at the moment?) so will write something about one or two of those later today.

Reply #25. Feb 01 13, 6:30 AM

nasty_liar

Gangster Squad (2013)

Los Angeles, 1949: A secret crew of police officers led by two determined sergeants work together in an effort to take down the ruthless mob king Mickey Cohen who runs the city.

Starring
Sean Penn
Josh Brolin
Ryan Gosling
Emma Stone

with
Robert Patrick
Anthony Mackie
Nick Nolte
and Michael Pena

Ok, so quite a cast huh?

This flick has a good vibe to it, very comic book in feel. Nicely shot all the way through. The stars all look that part and the plot moves along quickly enough.

Performances are all reasonable with no standouts, Sean Penn eats up the material as the bad guy. In fact my friend said he'd also eaten a dollop of ham too... I wouldn't be quite that harsh. Ryan Gosling is smooth as silk while Josh Brolin plays the lead successfully.

This film is nicely done but doesn't hit the heights and unfortunately does not compare to the benchmarks of this genre. You'll enjoy it enough as a romp though if you like gangster films.

Reply #26. Feb 01 13, 3:48 PM

lesley153

I watched a Star Wars film... once. Not sure I even knew there were prequels!

It wasn't intentional. I was at my brother's, when his daughter and son-in-law rolled up. The SIL is a Star Wars freak. A grown man, husband, father, headmaster, and Star Wars freak. He put a DVD on. Nothing else to do, so I watched it, mostly with my chin on my knees.

Reply #27. Feb 01 13, 5:23 PM

nasty_liar

I love Star Wars, I have watched the original trilogy time after time and read dozens of the expanded universe novels but the prequels were a huge disappointment.

Reply #28. Feb 01 13, 6:33 PM

nasty_liar

Les Miserables (2012)

n 19th-century France, Jean Valjean, who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after he breaks parole, agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's daughter, Cosette. The fateful decision changes their lives forever.

Starring
Hugh Jackman
Russell Crowe
Anne Hathaway

I have always wanted to see this on stage and so it was a good chance to see it! I was really impressed by it. It looks and sounds fantastic and I wouldn't be surprised if it wins a load of accolades.

Nothing much more to say! No complaints! Go see it if you never have done before!

Reply #29. Feb 03 13, 12:59 PM

nasty_liar

Lincoln (2012)

As the Civil War continues to rage, America's president struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield and as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on the decision to emancipate the slaves.

Starring
Daniel Day-Lewis
Sally Field
Tommy Lee Jones
David Strathairn

I did enjoy this film as I suspected I would but I have to ask myself how much I would have enjoyed it if that period of history did not fascinate me so much... possibly not but who knows.

Daniel Day-Lewis is an outrageously talented actor and delivers an impressive performance to carry the weight of the film. There are nice little turns from the support cast though, in particular Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones have chance to shine.

The plot is simple enough and moves along nicely in an understated manner that was appreciated by yours truly. This film tells a basic story and does it well. I really enjoyed it and will watch it again sometime but it is not, as I thought it might have been, one of my all time favourites. I would expect it to be enjoyed more by Americans as I found it to be fairly self-congratulatory, maybe that's just me.. I'll reserve judgement until I've seen it again. :)

Reply #30. Feb 03 13, 1:10 PM

nasty_liar

The Last Stand (2013)

The leader of a drug cartel busts out of a courthouse and speeds to the Mexican border, where the only thing in his path is a sheriff and his inexperienced staff.

Starring
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Johnny Knoxville

ARNIE's back!

Enjoyable action flick. Typical stuff as Schwarzenegger delivers dry one liners and stumbles his way through yet another blockbuster. He may be a horrible actor but he knows how to deliver what is required in this type of film.

My only question is why in the heck does Johnny Knoxville get second billing?? He's hardly in it! (who is he anyway?)

Far more important to the plot and more watchable are Eduardo Noriega as the villain of the piece and Luiz Guzman as Arnie's sidekick. Forest Whitaker seems like he's there just for the paycheck, but then this film isn't going to be made or broken by sublime acting performances is it?

I was quite pleasantly entertained for 1 hr 47mins as it gives high octane car action (repeatedly), mass shootouts (repeatedly), stabbing (yeah!) and general carnage.

Average but enjoyable action movie.

Reply #31. Feb 03 13, 1:22 PM

Professer

Nasty the stage version of LEs Mis is Different to the movie as the movie had more scope losing the confines of a stage.

Whilst the singing will be much the same as the movie they sang live as they did the scene,I am hopefully going to see the stage version again soon, Just wish i had been lucky enough to see Alun Armstrong play the ionn keeper live still have the next best thing the dvd of the 10th anniversary show.

I agree partly what you said about Lincoln but for me Tommy Lee Jones stole the films.

Having never been a big fan of Tarantino's movie i was reluctant at first to see Django but am pleased i did as is a good film well acted. Been a good year so far for movies

Reply #32. Feb 03 13, 1:22 PM

Professer

Just a week to go before i get to see A good Day to die Hard.

Looks like it will be a film and enjoyable.

Meantime i will watch Les Miserables again and again.

Reply #33. Feb 07 13, 12:04 PM

Professer

Watched The Sweeney last night whilst i enjoyed the film i wished they had changed the main characters names, whilst Ray Winstone is a reasonably good Actor, he is no Jack Regan theres only one Jack Reagan the late great John Thaw.

Is like the actor playing George Carter his name eludes me is no Dennis Waterman. Irecall the original Sweeney movie which was good just a extension on the TV show.

The new one has a good story some red herrings to keep you guessing, suggest you take a look at this nasty if you like action movies.

Reply #34. Feb 09 13, 4:37 AM

nasty_liar

I saw Sweeney at the cinema and enjoyed to some extent, I found the guy from Plan B very irritating and I found the film lacking in depth but it is loud, explosive and keeps your interest for the full run time. I won't bother with it again though.

John Thaw was one of my favourite actors and trying to replace him is difficult so I'm glad they just did their own thing really.

Reply #35. Feb 09 13, 5:21 AM

Professer

Have finally seen the impossible and agree with your views on it, have to say that if Naomi Watts does not win the best actress oscar they will lose any credibility they have left, is a stunning performance from her, having seen most of the other films that have best actress nominees in it, The impossible and Naomi Watts is by far the best performance

Reply #36. Feb 23 13, 6:04 AM

nasty_liar

Well, I didn't really want to comment much on a film that takes its inspiration from such a recent and tragic event so I kept my thoughts very brief but succinct.

As for Best Actress going to Anne Hathaway and not Naomi Watts. You have to learn what the Academy Awards are, it's not necessarily who was best that year but who they feel is 'due' or who 'deserves' to get it that year or who should win it 'politically' (for example, no way that Day-Lewis was losing out after playing one of the most famous american presidents in a very favourable light to present him as Godlike but in a normal year and in a regular role would they really have given him his 3rd award? I doubt it).

Reply #37. Feb 25 13, 2:01 AM

nasty_liar

Oops, I meant to say Jennifer Lawrence... oh well, who can blame me for being a bit obsessed with Anne Hathaway ;)

Reply #38. Feb 25 13, 2:12 AM

Professer

Not be Nasty i adore anne more so since her portrayal of Fantine, i know you said you'[d like to see stage show you should trust me you and the wife will adore it, finally there is a book out as of yesterday called from stage to screen is all about how Les miserables developed. Is a good read some fab extras too from posters etc

Reply #39. Feb 26 13, 9:46 AM

nasty_liar

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

A chronicle of the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after the September 2001 attacks, and his death at the hands of the Navy S.E.A.L. Team 6 in May 2011.

Starring
Jessica Chastain

I enjoyed this movie. Great effort to put into context the continued efforts to find and kill Bin Laden. Was it worth it? How do you feel by the end of the movie? Those are the questions I feel they are asking here. This movie tries to outline the sheer persistance, hard work, torture, luck, and most importantly effort that might go into a mission like this.

Jessica Chastain is magnificent here as she carries the weight of the plot on her shoulders. Previously saw her in Lawless (alongside one of her costars in this picture, Jason Clarke who incidentally is excellent as Dan here) where she was also brilliant. She plays an intelligent ball breaker without becoming vicious and manages to convey how jaded someone in her position starts to feel. She brings home her shock initially at some of the tactics used, but without seeming weak and then portrays someone who can bury all her doubts and fears to get on with the job at hand without coming across as heartless. Sorry to harp on about her character but it is a marvelous achievement from director and actor and the whole movie depends on it working.

There is a perfect balance between longer talky scenes and the punctuation of bombs, torture scenes and high tension scenes. I rate this film as very good but not one of my all time favourites. Not quite as good as Hurt Locker but this film shows once again that Bigelow is one of the top directors.

Reply #40. Feb 26 13, 11:44 AM

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