Views from the Void

The Brave One
Plot: Erica (Jodie foster) is a radio presenter in New York, but when a mugging gets her fiancé killed and she ends up in hospital, she finds that she doesn’t feel safe anymore. She gets herself a gun for protection but unsure she would ever use it. However, things turn worse when she is a store during a robbery and has to shoot the armed robber for her to escape alive. This is her first kill and soon she finds that she can kill easily just to protect the innocent. But cop Mercer is on her tail.
My Thoughts: Hot on the heels of ‘Death Sentence’, this provides us with another vigilante movie. However this film doesn’t depend on the blood and violence to provide the suspense, but more on how Erica reacts to each situation and the relationship building between her and the cop. The plot is straight-forward and you can’t help empathising with her throughout the film. I even liked the ending, even though there is no way it would happen in reality! (I wonder if it was due to audience pressure)
On the whole, a great vigilante style movie with heart and depth that other violent shooty film doesn’t have. However it is slow and feels like it is dragging along in some places.
Best Bit: Every time a bad guy gets it.
Score: 7/10

Halloween
Plot: Michael Myers is a disturbed little boy, who ends up slaughtering many members of his family at Halloween. He gets institutionalised and, seventeen years later, escapes to stalk the street where he grew up- and teenager Laurie!
My Thoughts: IN this film, as compared to the original, we get to see the beginning- in fact the first 45 minutes seem to be about him as a boy. We see how Michael as a ten year old has a fascination with dead things and how he ends up killing his family. And to be honest, I didn’t really need to know. Even though, there is a slight sense of satisfaction when the gross step dad gets his throat cut, I didn’t really want to feel any empathy with the psychotic killer. This version adds blood and gore but seems to lose the edge and suspense of the original.
On the whole, even though there are some ‘jumps’ it feels like we have been here before and it loses a lot compared to the original.
Best bit: The asylum breakout is probably the best bit. But I all feels familiar
Score: 6/10

Shoot ‘Em Up
Plot: Apparently there is a plot beyond ‘lots of guns get fired’. It involves Mr Smith (Clive Owen) protecting a new born baby after his mother gets shot.
My thoughts: This film is basically an excuse for lots of guns firing. The shooting starts right at the beginning and doesn’t end. There is a high body count and those that aren’t killed by shooting (which isn’t many) are killed by inventive uses of carrots, which Mr Smith eats a lot of. The plot is an afterthought. The writer must have started with the premise ‘I want loads of guns and shooting’ and when challenged with ‘but why’ he must have got stuck. ‘I know, lets have him protecting something that lots of people with guns can shoot at.’ I think maybe the idea of a baby was only used so they can have the idea of cutting the umbilical chord by shooting it! Although some of the scenes are exciting, unfortunately it roams into the realms of ridiculous and fantastical far too often. In fact ‘ridiculous’ is a great description of the film. There are many times when I thought ‘That wouldn’t happen’ or ‘there is no way he could have done that in the time’. The plot seems to be non existent- or just thrown in to justify some of the shooting. I know it’s related to growing babies, but beyond that it was not very cohesive. But the worst thing in the film is the dialogue. Every other line is a cheesy pun related to what’s happening. And most of them aren’t even funny!
On the whole, it is a shooty gun related film with little plot and tacky dialogue. But if you like action then this may entertain, as there are some good action sequences.
Best bit: The freefall from the plane
Score 6/10

Superbad
Plot: Evan, Seth and Fogell are on a mission to get laid at a graduation party. But to do that, they need to get booze, which can only be sold to those over 21. Luckily Fogell has just got a fake I.D. in the name of McLovin
My thoughts: This film follows three socially inept and sexually frustrated students as they try to get booze and get laid. Each has an object for their affection and part of the fun of the film is finding out if they end up getting it on with their ‘chosen’ girlfriend (much like American Pie). There are lots of rude and crude jokes, the script is very good and has some clever lines, and there are some good visual jokes. (Prepare for some inventive penis drawings). Because the plot is basic, the film relies heavily on the characters and the situations they find themselves in. My favourite characters are the two cops, who form a bizarre bond with ‘McLovin’.
On the whole, it is a typical crude teen ‘cumming of age’ movie with some great characters. If you likes American Pie then you will probably find this better.
Best bit: The two cops steal the show
Score: 7/10

Run Fat Boy Run
Plot: Five years ago Dennis (Simon Pegg) left a pregnant Libby on their wedding day as he was afraid of commitment. Five years on and Libby has a kid, Jake (Dennis’ kid) and a new boyfriend- control freak and perpetual marathon runner, Whit. Dennis finally realises that he is in love with Libby and vows to run the marathon to win her back.
My Thoughts. This is a pleasant light hearted romantic comedy, which follows a similar formula as other films such as ‘The Full Monty’ or ‘Cool Runnings’. The plot is a straight forward ‘against the odds’ type story and doesn’t really stray from it. There are a few secondary characters, which could have been developed further (such as the cross dressing shop lifter). The characters are acted well but the script occasionally lacks ‘oonph’ There are a few pleasant ( and unpleasant) scenes, plus cameos from some famous faces- the best being David Walliams.
On the whole it is a satisfying but not ground breaking comedy, which is sure to raise a few smile. And I am sure you will be rooting for him at the end! But be warned, this is no Hot Fuzz!
Best bit: The scene in the bakery (with David Walliams) and perhaps the bursting of the blister (yuk)
Score: 710

Disturbia
Plot: Kale is under house arrest and is forced to wear a tag. To relieve the boredom he starts to spy on his neighbours, and finds evidence that one of them is in fact a homicidal maniac.

My thoughts: Disturbia- sounds like a Peter Andre song- and is about as cheesy as one! Apart from the shocking initial scenes, there is nothing new or surprising about the plot. It is typical thriller suspense and you could count the cliché’ off on you hand as they go. That doesn’t make it a bad film though. There are still shocks and ‘jump’ moments, but really you should be expecting them. There are some nice other plot points, like the friendship with Ashley and the annoying Spanish kids from over the road, which add an extra (if a bit shallow and disney-esque) dimension to the film.
On the whole, it is Hitchcock meets High School musical. There is enough suspense to make it enjoyable but there nothing new or ground breaking. There is also nothing very graphic, so if you were worried about blood and gore- don’t be!
Best Bit: The opening scene surprised me, so well done on that!
Score: 6/10

Atonement
Plot: When Briony Tallis, the 13 year old sister of Cecelia (Keira Knightely), misreads a scene she witnesses between her sister and friend Robbie Turner (James McAvoy), she believes that he is a sexual pervert, which isn’t helped when Robbie asks Briony to deliver a letter, which uses inappropriate language. And when Briony’s friend is assaulted by someone, Briony gives evidence that Robbie was the culprit. Robbie gets arrested and is made to join the army. The film then follows the three characters as Briony learns the consequences of her action and tries to make amends.
My thoughts: This film is a well shot emotive melodrama of Austen proportions. The characters are well played, especially by the actresses playing Briony. There are some beautiful and powerful scenes, including the scenes shot on the beach in Dunkirk, however, beauty doesn’t necessary replace plot.
The first and last part of the film are good, but in the middle it does feel like it is plodding slightly without actually getting any further. There is quite a bit of jumping around in terms of timeline, which can make it difficult to follow, one of which didn’t make sense to me until you got to the twist at the end.
On the whole, if you like Pride and Prejudice then you will probably like this. There is little action, and has a sense of dragging through the middle. But it is beautifully set and acted.
Best bit: Briony’s hospital scene and the Dunkirk scenes.
Score 7/10

Death Sentence
Plot: Nick Hume (Kevin Bacon) is a family man devoted to his wife and two sons. When his eldest son is killed in what appears to be a robbery, Nick gets a look at the face of the killer- a young boy who is doing his ‘rite of passage’ killing to get into his brother’s gang. Nick’s solicitor says that there is no way that the boy will get life based solely on his eye witness report, so nick decides to drop his statement and go after the boy himself. When the boy dies, the gang seek revenge, starting a long chain of violence.
My Thoughts: Death Wish is back, but without Charles Bronson. Kevin acts the part very well. You can see his horror and fear when the first (accidental) death occurs, and how every action after that delves him deeper into turmoil. The scenes are dark, graphic and well shot. And even though, as the cop says ‘everyone thinks they are right in a war, but they’re not. They just end up dead’ (or something like that) you can’t help but empathise with the guy. The plot is straight-forward and doesn’t deliver any twists, but it does offer a couple of shocks, and the ending was pretty predictable but still excellently delivered.
On the whole, it is a gory new version of the Death Wish genre.
Best bit: The car park scene and the scene in the family home when the gang attacks
Score: 8/10