Skip to main content

Posts

Patriots Day: Average Guy Movie Review

In their third collaboration, Mark Wahlberg and Peter Berg are once again bringing a real life event to the silver screen. On 15th April 2013 the Tsarnaev brothers detonated two improvised explosive devices at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. This is the story of that day, the joint FBI/Police investigation and the four-day manhunt that followed. Even though you know it's coming, you can feel the tension build as you await the inevitable explosions. From there, slow burn turns to high octane as the cops deal with the aftermath and the manhunt begins.  Mark Wahlberg plays Sgt. Tommy Saunders, an amalgamation of three cops who were either present at the time of the bombing or involved in the subsequent investigation and manhunt. Also involved are Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis (John Goodman) and FBI Special Agent Richard DesLauriers (Kevin Bacon).   The splicing of real CCTV footage into the movie adds a creepy vibe. That being said, Patriots Day stil

Hacksaw Ridge: Average Guy Movie Review

Mel Gibson is back in the driver seat with Hacksaw Ridge . The movie tells the story of Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), a conscientious objector who wanted to serve but refused to carry a weapon. Doss served as an army medic in the Pacific during World War 2. His actions during the Battle of Okinawa - where it's estimated he saved 75 men single-handed - would earn him the Medal of Honor. If you've seen We Were Soldiers ; then Hacksaw Ridge may look oddly familiar. Gibson has clearly taken inspiration from his previous war movie, with the two sharing a very similar look - certainly in the battle scenes. Much like Randall Wallace did with We Were Soldiers , Gibson has managed to show the horrors of such a battle in a way that is respectful of all that those men did, and the camaraderie  they shared, without ever glamorising war. To that end, as much as this is Doss' story, the actions of his fellow soldiers are not overlooked, thanks in part to some brilliant performan

Breathe Easy: Average Guy Movie Review

Breathe Easy is an independent film, shot in multiple locations throughout ten countries. This global accomplishment took more than 20 directors roughly a year to make.  Strange clouds have appeared in the sky across the globe and people are starting to behave in very strange ways. Governments are scrambling to deal with the crisis, but without knowing the cause, what can they do except...Breathe Easy?  In a time when Hollywood studios can afford to film all over the world, it's easy for us to become indifferent. But an independent film shooting in ten countries including the UK, US, Australia and Hong Kong is an incredible achievement. And the results speak for themselves. Instead of focusing on one region or group during a global disaster - with small updates of events occurring elsewhere - the action is shared pretty much equally across all locations. It's an interesting look at how different people react to the same situation. Some will run, some will hide. Some wi

Assassin's Creed: Average Guy Movie Review

Well, it has finally happened! Hollywood has actually managed to make a decent adaptation of a video game. It's only taken 24 years! Assassin's Creed sticks fairly close to the story of the first game, to which they've added some tweaks.  Cal Lynch (Michael Fassbender) - a descendent of a secret order of Assassins - is saved from death row by a mysterious corporation known as Abstergo. Their goal, is to find the Apple of Eden, an ancient artefact said to hold the genetic code for free will. Using a machine called the Animus, they plan to unlock the memories of Cal's ancestor, Aguilar - one of the protectors of the Apple - who is believed to know the artefact's location. Much like the video game series, this movie is intended to be the first in a series. It opens up multiple timelines to explore plus the ongoing modern day storyline. The movie is beautifully shot with the sophisticated, sleek present day contrasting with 15th Century Spain (shot

Oscars 2017: Sound Mixing

As part of The Lamb Devours the Oscars I'm looking at the Sound Mixing category. The sound mixers go to work after the all of the movie's sounds have been edited together. It's their job to decide the levels of all the sounds, so whether you hear the score over the top of everything else or quietly in the background.  Understandably, it's common for war movies and musicals to get nominated. The award is usually given to the Sound Mixers themselves.   Erik Aadahl - Sound Editing nominee for Argo in 2013 - described the roles of Sound Editor and Sound Mixer in an interview with Deadline: "One way of thinking about it is kind of like an orchestra, where you'll have the composer composing the symphony and then a conductor saying, 'More flutes here,' and that's very much like what mixing is - it's like conducting."   Previous winners include: Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) - Chris Jenkins, Gregg Rudolph and Ben Osmo Les Miserables (2012)

Live by Night: Average Guy Movie Review

Ben Affleck's latest project sees the actor/director donning a fedora rather than a cowl. Live by Night - based on the novel by Dennis Lehane - is a story about crime, corruption, greed, hate, revenge and most of all...booze. Set during prohibition, Affleck's Joe Coughlin is a war veteran and an outlaw who gets in deep with members of organised crime and their illegal rum trade. The gangster movie seems to have in recent years gone out of fashion, much like the western. But can Live by Night do for gangster movies what Bone Tomahawk and The Magnificent Seven remake are doing for the western? The movie starts strong with a brilliant car chase through Boston, reminiscent of Affleck's previous movie, The Town. Everything that happens is building towards this revenge story. In seeking his revenge, Coughlin must make alliances with people he would otherwise avoid. These people live in a world of greed, where everyone hates everyone else, and for a multitude of differen

Sunshine Blogger Award

Thank you to Film Carnage ( @Film_Carnage ) for nominating me for the Sunshine Blogger Award. Check out their blog here: https://filmcarnage.wordpress.com/ Where we go from here is the interesting part: 1. Post the award on your blog 2. Thank whoever nominated you 3. Answer 11 questions 4. Pick 11 bloggers to receive the award 5. Send those bloggers 11 new questions Film Carnage here are my answers to your questions (hope you like them)... What is the next film you'll see at the cinema? I plan to see Hacksaw Ridge next. You know what they say about well laid plans! If not watch Die Hard with a Vengeance and see what Samuel L. Jackson has to say. What is your favourite book to film adaptation? Jurassic Park. This came out when I was a kid, dinosaurs brought back to life and running round an island, what kid wouldn't love that? The movie does it's own thing while remaining faithful to the book and it looks incredible even today. They just