Author: Jennifer Heaton

Starring: Ben Affleck (The Town), Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine), John Goodman (The Big Lebowski)

Director: Ben Affleck

Writer: Chris Terrio

Runtime: 2 hours

Release Date: 12 October (US), 7 November (UK)

Ah, Ben Affleck. You’ve had an interesting career, haven’t you? After getting your start in Kevin Smith films, you won that Oscar for writing Good Will Hunting with Matt Damon. Then something happened, didn’t it? You were in a bunch of crap like Pearl Harbour and Gigli before disappearing for a little while. But then you came back and decided to be a director. We all laughed at first, but then your movies Gone Baby Gone and The Town ended up being absolutely brilliant. So with Argo, you’re attempting to get that third straight home run. Did you succeed?

The story of Argo is so unbelievable that it has to be true, and luckily it is. The tale is extremely intriguing and it’s hard to believe that the CIA actually managed to pull this off. The film effectively uses classic thriller-style tension to create a genuine feeling of uncertainty, and also has a really good sense of humour that never feels too out of place (“You want to be a big shot without actually doing anything? You’ll fit right in!”). The film is also paced very well, making the two-hour run time fly by swiftly. All of this is down to Affleck’s strong direction. With Argo, the man manages to prove he can direct pretty much anything with a level of competency most full-time directors would envy. If he can keep it up, Affleck could easily be up there with Clint Eastwood in a couple of years.

Not a man to put himself completely out of the spotlight, Affleck also starts as protagonist Tony Mendez. While it might have been wise for him to focus on his directorial duties (as well as the fact that Affleck bears no resemblance to the real Mendez), he delivers an effective performance. But it’s the supporting cast of the film that really shines. Bryan Cranston shows he can be as commanding a presence on the big screen as he is on TV. John Goodman and Alan Arkin provide some great laughs as the primary comic relief. And Scoot McNairy appears as one of the fugitives, again showing he has a bright future in film.

Argo is a technically proficient film. The cinematography is gripping, and not just because it effectively matches the real footage of the hostage crisis. The editing is fast and fierce, but not so much so that the film becomes incomprehensible. The score works well, and the film makes great use of the music of the 70’s for certain scenes.

Well Mr. Affleck, you did it. You’re three for three, and it just so happens that your third is also one of the best films of 2012. I’m predicting some major Oscar nods come nomination time. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be up on that stage in February collecting that golden statue yet again. Good on you, sir.

And you were the bomb in Phantoms.

FINAL VERDICT: 9.5/10

Starring: John Hawkes (Winter’s Bone), Helen Hunt (As Good As It Gets), William H. Macy (Fargo), Moon Bloodgood (Terminator Salvation)

Director/Writer: Ben Lewin (Georgia)

Runtime: 1 hour 35 minutes

Release Date: 19 October (US), 18 January (UK)

I got the great opportunity to go to the UK premiere of The Sessions last night; director Ben Lewin and stars John Hawkes and Helen Hunt were in attendance and gave a Q&A afterwards. But enough of my bragging, how was the movie? Simply put, The Sessions is one of the best films of 2012 and needs to be seen by anyone who enjoys film.

The story of The Sessions is, while based on a true story, humorously absurd. The film is very well written and full of some cracking quotable dialogue (“Why go to Germany? It’s the only place in the world where having a sense of humour is illegal.”) The pace of the film is just right; not so fast that it flies by, but not so slow that you start checking your watch. But the main reason the film works is because it makes the main character of Mark (Hawkes) completely sympathetic and compelling. It’s easy for a film like this to just go “He’s disabled, so you have to like him”, but the film makes Mark such an interesting character that he would have been a great protagonist if he had been a perfectly healthy human being.

But the main reason Mark works as a protagonist is because of the powerhouse performance of Hawkes. For an actor who spends the entire movie only moving his head, he brings so much to the table here that you can’t help but cry “Give this man an Oscar!”. Just as great is Hunt in the role of Cheryl; she greatly compliments Hawkes and they have really good chemistry. By the end of the movie, you are really hoping that their relationship will work out, but you know it can’t. As the main comic relief of the film, William H. Macy is fantastic as Mark’s priest. His deadpan delivery and incompetence create some knee-slapping moments that help to alleviate the more heartfelt moments.

On a technical level, there’s not much to say. The film is shot well, but there’s no amazing camera work. The music is fitting, but not exactly memorable. But The Sessions isn’t that kind of film; it’s trying to wow you with its drama, not its technical wizardry.

I can’t say this enough: The Sessions is one of the best movies of the year and should be seen at your earliest opportunity. The film doesn’t open for a while in the UK, but as soon as it does get to the theatre. You won’t regret it.

FINAL VERDICT: 9.5/10

Starring: Ethan Hawke (Training Day), Vincent D’Onofrio (Full Metal Jacket), James Ransone (The Next Three Days), Juliet Rylance

Director: Scott Derrickson (The Exorcism of Emily Rose)

Writers: Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill

Runtime: 1 hour 50 minutes

Release Date: October 5^th (UK), October 12^th (US)

Good horror films are hard to come by these days; they just don’t make ‘em like they used to. Everything is either found footage, torture porn, or a remake. But then comes Sinister, an interesting beast that combines both classic and modern scares to create a film that should have you whimpering in your seat by the end.

The story of Sinister is simple and easy-to-follow. The majority of the story stays confined to a single house and we are very closely tied to the main character of Ellison (Hawke). The film uses the found footage concept as a story device rather than an excuse and creates a mixture of filmmaking techniques to create something different and unsettling. The film’s start is a little plodding, providing not enough story or thrills. But about halfway through the second reel, the film kicks into gear and becomes both engaging and terrifying. The conclusion may leave some disappointed, but you won’t leave completely unsatisfied.

The entire film is held together from start to finish by a tremendous performance by Hawke. His character is both reckless and determined, putting aside everything for his goal. You feel everything he feels: from his frustration with his family to his utter shock when he sees something horrific. It’s good that he delivers so well because they rest of the cast is so-so. Ransone does decent work as a local deputy, and D’Onofrio’s role is important but little more than a cameo. The main sore spot is Juliet Rylance as Ellison’s wife; she’s just too overdramatic and doesn’t sell her lines in a way that makes me believe her grief as much as Hawke manages to. I’ve looked into her history to find she’s mainly a stage actress, which does explain a lot.

But what about the scares? That’s what you watch horror for, right? I’m glad to say the killings in Sinister are as ingenious and inventive as anything you’ve seen in a Saw movie, but much more believable and not as ridiculous. A kill involving a lawnmower is particularly gut wrenching. Like any good horror movie, it doesn’t show you everything; only enough to create a mental image that’s probably scarier. The cinematography is basic but effective, whilst the found footage photography looks completely genuine. The score, meanwhile, becomes very overbearing at points particularly during the found footage scenes; I thought it would be much scarier if they left those sections silent.

In conclusion, Sinister is a great horror film that I can see myself watching during Halloween movie nights. It stumbles and falls into a couple of traps, but always picks itself up and keeps moving. See it if you can handle it.

FINAL VERDICT: 8/10

Starring: Charlie Tahan (I Am Legend), Winona Ryder (Beetlejuice), Martin Short (Three Amigos), Martin Landau (Ed Wood)

Director: Tim Burton (Batman)

Writer: John August (Big Fish)

Runtime: 1 hour 27 minutes

Release Date: October 5^th (US), October 17^th (UK)

Tim Burton certainly has had a mixed career, hasn’t he? He’s made amazing films such as Ed Wood and Edward Scissorhands, but then he does Charlie & The Chocolate Factory and Planet of the Apes. So when something new from Burton’s warped mind comes along, I always have hope but must remain sceptical. But put down your torches and pitchforks, because his latest creation Frankenweenie is alive and here to stay.

If you know the basics of the original Mary Shelley novel Frankenstein, then you know the basics of this. But it’s the unique spin Burton puts on the tale that makes it great. The connection the film makes between Victor (Tahan) and his dog Sparky is tremendous and sucks you in almost immediately. The film is full of horror references as obvious as Dracula and as obscure as Gamera; classic horror fans will find this a treat. The film is very short, so the movie does go by quickly but rightly so considering its fast pace.

The cast is made up of Burton regulars, but surprisingly absent are his super-regulars Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter (guess they were off doing The Lone Ranger without their precious master). But the cast here is perfectly fine. Charlie Tahan does well as the lead, but he didn’t blow my socks off. Ryder and Short also do commendable work, particular Short’s character of Nassor (who uses a great Boris Karloff voice). But the standout amongst the cast is Martin Landau as the science teacher; not only is the design of his character unique, but Landau gives this character so much life that you can’t take your eyes off him. Pity he’s only in a handful of scenes.

The stop-motion here is classic Burton. If you’re familiar with The Nightmare Before Christmas or Corpse Bride, you know what his style is and it continues to work here. Like with most recent stop-motion, CG is used to enhance certain scenes, but it doesn’t detract from the countless hours of work the animators put into creating this world. As usual, Danny Elfman provides the score and, while very familiar, is as eerie and awesome as ever.

Like how Victor Frankenstein repaired his beloved dog, Frankenweenie has repaired my faith in Tim Burton. This is his best film in over a decade and should be seen by anyone who loves a good time at the movies. I know every time this year I’ve reviewed an animated movie, I said it was the best one, but this time I mean it. Go see this movie!

FINAL VERDICT: 8.5/10

Starring: Brad Pitt (Moneyball), Richard Jenkins (The Cabin in the Woods), Ray Liotta (Goodfellas), James Gandolfini (The Sopranos), Scoot McNairy (Monsters), Ben Mendelsohn (The Dark Knight Rises)

Writer/Director: Andrew Dominik (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford)

Runtime: 1 hour 37 minutes

Release Date: 21 September (UK), 30 November (US)

Well, here’s one that kind of came out of nowhere. Having heard very little about this movie (mainly due to its delayed release in the US), I went in knowing nothing the trailer didn’t tell me. What I ended up watching was one of the best films of the year.

This is a bleak film. Very bleak. Bleak in almost every single way it could be. There is no relief from the bleakness other than a lot of dry humour, but it’s all about bleak stuff. Did I use the word bleak already? Anyway, the film’s plot is pretty simple once you get right down to it, but it’s all hidden under an odd structure. Our protagonist Jackie Cogan (Pitt) doesn’t show up until twenty minutes in, and the first act of the film mainly focuses on the petty crooks Frankie (McNairy) and Russell (Mendelsohn). It makes sense in the end why the story is told like this, even if it’s initially a little jarring. The film also has a very prominent social and political message, emphasised by the fact the film is set during the run up to the 2008 US presidential election. The constant sounds of Obama talking about hope and coming together as a nation whilst we watch scenes showing the downtrodden and broken slums of New Orleans really puts things into perspective and shows how America isn’t as rose-tinted as its media suggests, which is pointed out heavily during the final scene between Pitt and Jenkins.

The performances by the entire cast are stellar. Pitt is as great as ever, creating a protagonist who is likable despite his trade, mainly because he knows what he does isn’t exactly right. McNairy and Mendelsohn are really great as the inept crooks we follow at first, and I hope they get more high profile work after this. Gandolfini, while still acting as if he’s in The Sopranos, delivers a great performance as a drunken mess of a criminal. Jenkins and Liotta’s parts are minimal but effective, and this is probably the best I’ve seen Liotta in years.

Killing Them Softly isn’t an action movie, but its scenes of violence are brutal and wince inducing. This is mainly down to the incredible sound design; every punch and every gunshot feels real and makes you jerk in your seat. A scene where Liotta gets the crap beaten out of him is particularly memorable and bloody. The film also makes great use of slo-mo (in a way very reminiscent of Dredd) during a scene that combines the three coolest things you can shoot in slo-mo: guns, rain and broken glass. The cinematography is very simple but gloomy, matching the tone of the film. The soundtrack is made up entirely of licensed music, and it fits the mood well.

In the end, Killing Them Softly is a fantastic crime film. It’s filled with memorable moments and great performances from all key players. If it ends up on my Top Ten at the end of the year, I wouldn’t be surprised. Go see it soon; just don’t expect to come out feeling warm and fuzzy (especially if you’re American).

FINAL VERDICT: 9/10

Starring: Shia LaBoeuf (Transformers), Tom Hardy (Inception), Jessica Chastain (The Help), Guy Pearce (Memento)

Director: John Hillcoat (The Road)

Writer: Nick Cave

Runtime: 1 hour 55 minutes

Release Date: 31 August (US), 7 September (UK)

It took me a while to get round to seeing Lawless, but now that the release schedule has died down a bit, I had the time to catch this one before it fades out of theatres. It seems a little late to review it because if you were interested, you probably saw it already, but I’ll throw in my two cents anyway.

If I had to sum up Lawless in one word, that word would be ‘inconsistent’. There are moments in this film that are great but, like a hick hopped up on moonshine, it stumbles far too often. The film starts out well and quickly (maybe too quickly) establishes the key players and their motives. Then the movie takes a nap until the end of the second act. Sure, stuff happens but it’s all done at the pace of a pleasant Sunday stroll in the park. Characters walk out of the movie and don’t show up again for ages, and despite the decent running time the subplots don’t feel as tied up as the ending wants you to think they are. When the movie finally gets going again, it starts to become really good. But then the film ends on this sugary sweet ending and it just doesn’t seem right. If you want a satisfying ending, walk out before the last five minutes; it won’t feel as jarring.

What really saves the movie from being mediocre are two things. Firstly, the performances are superb across the board. This is arguably LaBoeuf’s finest performance, but compared to everyone else he looks as amateurish as a 15 year old in a high school rendition of Bugsy Malone. Hardy is as strong as ever, and delivers his lines in a Southern twang comparable to Jeff Bridges in True Grit, but still understandable without the use of subtitles. Jessica Chastain also keeps up her winning streak, though her role falters due to lack of development. Gary Oldman shows up every now and again, but despite his best efforts he seems mostly irrelevant. But the standout here is Guy Pearce as the villain. He is so slimy and ruthless that you come to love every single frame he’s on screen. His performance often borders on the cartoonish, but then he beats the crap out of someone and you suddenly remember this guy can do some serious damage. His performance alone is worth the price of admission.

The other great thing about this film is the violence. This movie is much darker than the publicity suggests, and I was wincing at certain moments. Within the first five minutes, Hardy beats a guy half to death with some brass knuckles, and what follows after that gets even more gruesome. It all comes together at the end for a shoot-out that’s very reminiscent of Bonnie & Clyde. The other technical aspects of the film work, but none are truly memorable. I found the editing strange at certain points; it definitely seems like they got enough angles to cover all the scenes, but I feel they don’t use the right shots at certain points. The music itself works fine and fits with the tone, but whenever they use anything with lyrics, it feels very off-putting.

To sum up, Lawless is a decent film, but it could have been so much more. With a script rewrite by a more experienced writer, this could have been an Oscar contender. But I must judge the film for what it is, and it is a film with great performances and some gruesome violence but falls apart in the structure and pacing department. See it if you still haven’t, but don’t be disappointed if you miss it before it gets dropped from your theatre.

FINAL VERDICT: 6.5/10

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Inception), Bruce Willis (Die Hard), Emily Blunt (The Adjustment Bureau)

Director/Writer: Rian Johnson (Brick)

Runtime: 1 hour 58 minutes

Release Date: 28 September (US, UK)

Looper is the brainchild of Rian Johnson, who made the terrific film-noir/high school movie Brick (he also made The Brothers Bloom, which I haven’t seen yet but really need to). The talent behind it, combined with the intriguing premise, has had me excited about this one for a while. Now that it’s finally released, I can happily say Looper lives up to all expectations and comes out as one of the best films of 2012 so far.

The plot of Looper is more complicated than the trailer suggests. Joe (Gordon-Levitt)’s hunt for his future self (Willis) is merely the starting point of a story that goes much deeper into themes of loss, revenge, and of course time travel. Some of the major plot elements of the film have been completely omitted from the publicity, and wisely so, and some of them are more interesting that the initial premise. The way the time travel works in this world is explained in detail, but no so much that it becomes over-bearing and requires the use of a diagram. It does some unique things with the concept of the past affecting the future, while also taking some obvious queues from other sci-fi films (the film screams The Terminator at several points). The film keeps up a good clip, though it does slow down a fair bit in the latter half of the second act.

Many have found Gordon-Levitt’s make-up to make him look more like Bruce Willis to be a bit unnerving. But to be honest, you get used to it eventually. More importantly, Gordon-Levitt nails Willis’ mannerisms and tone of voice. But he also is sure to make his performance not an exact copy of Willis, considering that while they are both Joe, they are very different Joes that have experienced different things. Willis himself is on usual form, so if you know what to expect from him these days you’ll get exactly that. Emily Blunt, while introduced late in the film, does very well and has finally managed to shed her English accent for a role. Paul Dano and Jeff Daniels serve their small roles effectively, and Brick’s Noah Segan is back playing a similar role to the one he did in Johnson’s first film.

Action isn’t the main focus of Looper, but when it does it, it does it good. 95% of the action involves gunplay, and it works by limiting its arsenal to just a few different guns. The visual effects aren’t amazing either, but they do the job and never seem fake. The production design is where the film shines outside of story. The world is well designed and feels like a future that could actually happen: a well-blended mix of dystopic and apocalyptic. I also don’t think I’ve ever seen a sci-fi film take place mostly in corn fields, so points for originality there too. The cinematography is well done (especially during a scene where Joe goes on a drug trip) and the music is subtle but effective.

Overall, Looper is one of the best sci-fi movies in a while and easily stands up there with other modern classics like District 9, Inception and Source Code. Some may try to nitpick the film to death and point to some of its more unoriginal ideas, but look past the little details and you’ll find a film that, as a whole, is both fun and thought provoking.

FINAL VERDICT: 9/10

Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road), Tucker Albrizzi (Bridesmaids), Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air), Casey Affleck (Gone Baby Gone), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad)

Directors: Sam Fell (Flushed Away) & Chris Butler

Writer: Chris Butler

Runtime: 1 hour 32 minutes

Release Date: August 17^th (US), September 14^th (UK)

I had no real expectations going into ParaNorman. I hadn’t been religiously following it up until release, and didn’t really pay attention to it until the good reviews started coming in upon its US release. And now that I’ve finally watched it, I can easily say that ParaNorman is the best animated film of the year so far.

The plot is fairly straightforward and easy to follow for a kid’s film, but what’s original about ParaNorman isn’t its broad plot, but its slight intricacies. The exact character traits and plot points are against the grain and not what you’d expect (a couple of them could be seen as revolutionary). The film is very fast paced and doesn’t stop moving once the second act kicks into gear. The jokes, while not consistently hitting, fly so fast you hardly notice the bad ones. There are many references to classic horror movies (Norman’s ringtone is the Halloween theme. Nice!) and the film even opens with a tribute to Grindhouse. Not sure how many kids are going to get that reference, but its still awesome.

The film has a high quality cast that helps to bring some of these eccentric characters to life. Smit-Mcphee can sometimes be a little dull as Norman, but considering the loner attitude of the character, it fits. Mintz-Plasse does a good job as the bully Alvin, but even in the animated world he can’t escape being recognised as McLovin. The stand-outs for me in the cast were Affleck as the jock Mitch (a certain revelation about him is hysterical, John Goodman as Norman’s hobo uncle, and Jeff Garlin as Norman’s dad. The rest of the voices fit well with their characters, but don’t really stand out as much. Oh, and Jodelle Ferland plays another creepy child. Haven’t seen that before *sarcasm*.

But the stand out thing about ParaNorman is the animation. This was the same company that did Coraline, and it shows. The stop-motion feels so much smoother than films by Aardman, and really helps to suck you in. The art style, while very reminiscent of Tim Burton or Henry Selick, is beautifully realised to create some very detailed environments and set-pieces. The range of facial expressions, helped by the use of 3D printers, are astounding. CG is often used but, like with Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists, it is used only to expand upon the stop-motion, not replace it. The music is also really good and balances a thin line between whimsy and horror flawlessly.

In conclusion, ParaNorman isn’t a perfect movie, but it’s still a damn great one and one I could see myself popping around Halloween. It often feels as if it caters more to adults than kids, but I think the entire family can enjoy this one as long as your kids aren’t too squeamish. Its technical achievments may outshine its story, but is still a fun ride regardless. Don’t miss it.

FINAL VERDICT: 8/10