Casablanca (1942)

In the midst of World War II, the movie studios of the time (Warner Bros, Paramount, Mayer Goldwin Mayer etc) were pumping out dozens of movies a year. Few were any good, and many were forgotten entirely. One movie from the time (when the US were just getting into the war) however managed to not only maintain notoriety and acclaim for the best part of the 20th century, but also permiate almost all of television and Film in some way or another, how many times for example have you heard "here's lookin' at you kid" or "you'll regret it, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but some day". The film was Casablanca.

The epitome of "noir", black and white, whiskey, the Smokey saloons and trilbeys, this movie personifies what we look back on romantically as 1940's America. (even though it's set in Morocco). While the plot and themes could have been used for propaganda, it's used moreso to enforce pride in the countries remaing resliant to Nazi forces. Instead of demonising them, the film seems to make them out to be more like shifty businessmen, merely wanting a clean and easy surrender. While it seems unsettling, it's quite refreshing.

Humphrey Bogart stars in his career defining role as Rick, the owner of the tavern where many a mis-doing occur. A french sergent in his pocket, a gin bar doing extrenely well, Life seemed to be grand, until she walks in. The she being Ilsa (utterly charmingly played by Ingrid Bergman). What unravels is one man's seemingly self preservation turn to ambition for the greater good, it shows a man giving everything and more for a cause greater than himself.

Old? sure. Naive? Most definitely. A little hammy? What pre 1950's film wasn't?
What defines this film is more about how sacrificing ones wants for the good of your country doesn't necessarily mean fighting on the front line or in a cockpit, one can make great contributions in other ways. The film was Long touted as one of (if not THE) greatest film(s) of all time, something I can't say it deserves. Was it great for the time it was made? Absolutely, Director Michael Curtiz uses his exotic setting sparaingly, driving his characters to form the story, and it's a very clean, merely aged film, only relevent to those of the generation and film history ethusiasts. 6.5/10

Rachel Getting Married (2009)

After the announcement of The Dark Knight Rises (2012) casting choices such as Tom Hardy as Bane and Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, I had mixed feelings. Good because Hardy is probably the finest (relevantly still unknown) British actor working these days, and bad feelings because.. well... Oh come on THE PRINCESS DIARIES?!?!?!?! This is the new catwoman? So admittedly I overreacted, and when I calmed down I took it upon myself to check out one of Hathaways few sensible non-RomCom roles, finding Rachel Getting Married.

It is the story of a junkie returning from rehab in time for her sisters wedding (the titular Rachel, played subtly by Rosemarie DeWitt) where she isn't exactly welcomed with open arms. On top of being a former junkie, a few more cats are let out of this family's bag, the relationships of the characters unravel and some dark, deep seated, tragic events come to the foreground and it's revealed how much pain the family still feel, both internal and external.

While addicts, and former addicts in cinema are usually the "lost causes" of plots, it was nice to see a character truly growing as the film progresses, the fact that she used to be so engrossed with the drug addled life-style seems to only add to her, it is neitehr used for sympathy nor promoted, it's simply a part of her.

So did the film relax me with regards to Miss Hathaway? Kinda... I mean first and foremost I trust in Mr Nolan to choose the actors he feels right about, also the acting here was pretty tight, and nuanced. While there was a sense of sorrow in her character, there was also a glimmer of strength that escalated and deflated throughout the movie, finishing just how the movie should. A very honest story, shot in a way that puts you right next to the characters, an indie feature worth checking out, not a "top tenner" though. 6/10

Triangle (2009)

Triangle: the 2009 headfuck of a movie set on a seemingly abandoned boat in the middle of nowhere. Jess is the mother of an autistic boy caught up in strange events that occur after the yacht her ad some extended friends are sailing on capsizes and they are "rescued" by a deathly quiet cruise liner. The film is deeply psychological, and in a similar vein as Inception, has you playing back previous parts of the film in your head just so you can get your mind around what's happening. Showing us what a small budget (1.5 million quid) and lots of imagination and a great cast can do in what has to be one of the best tricky/twisty plot line films ever, it is an absolute must watch and is disgustingly underrated and unknown.

Essentially a hybrid of Ghost ship, Saw, and...Groundhog day? that's right...Groundhog day, it has to be seen to be understood, it's kind of like ghost ship if ghost ship was a good film. 8/10

Lemmy (2010)

The 2010 Rockumentary focusing on the British heavy metal legend Lemmy Kilmister reveals no hidden, dark depths to the member of rock royalty, nor do we see "the man behind the name", instead we see Lemmy Kilmister being Lemmy Kilmister, we see as he goes from the mundane tasks of cooking chips, playing xbox and chugging back whiskey to joining Metallica onstage in London's 02 areana, sitting in a green room with (my personal Jesus) Dave Grohl and the man himself taking a ride in a tank...

It is then, a varied bag with a few hiddem gems in the forms of celebrity anecdotes, while at first glance the limited appeal of the lead singer of a heavy metal band would be off putting to everyone but fans of Motorhead, we get to see a side to him we don't expect, sure there are the stories of the drugs and the women, but there are also near-heart wrenching moments where he talks of past loves and a son he doesnt see in a non-chalaunt way, he then proposes that one cannot both live the rock and roll lifestyle AND have a happy, loving family. Just when we feel things are getting to soft, he reminds us while we're here by thrashing away at his bass and (quite literally) turning the volume all the fuckin' way up.

Yes there are talking head moments we've seen in a million celeb documentaries, but none have come close to or shown such an honest, generous and flawed soul as this, he is Lemmy, he is a Rock star, he is a legend.

Conclusion? While it was cool for rock fans such as me to play guess who with all the ensemble of interviewees, even if you aren't geared up that way, you'll still find a compelling, interesting and flawed human being in this peice, he just comes with badass attitude and doesn't give a fuck what you think, I wouldn't expect anything less. 8/10.

Greatest quote "How do you make a dead baby float? 2 scoops of ice cream, 2 scoops of dead baby" - Lemmy

Requiem for a Dream (2000)

"What is Addiction?"

Keep that question in mind when you see this film, as it is the dominating theme of the plot. Dark, depressing and ultimately doomed characters seem to be Director Darren Aronofsky's strong point (bare in mind I'm watching this after 2008's The Wrestler and 2011's Black Swan) and he doesn't disappoint.

The story or 4 connected people dealing with their personal addiction, a mother and son, and teh son's friend and girlfriend, each of them has their vice and a dream that is doomed from the outset.

Starting slow, I buckled up for what I thought was going to be the Offsy's only dud at around the 30 minute mark, but mirroring the trajectory of the characters lives, the pace seems to picked up toward the end. Quicker cuts and increasing shots of these poor bastards brings the end to us sooner than we think, leaving us to want to go hang ourselves it's so dark.

My case in point is the mother, expertly pulled off by Ellen Burstyn who just want's to be on television, not for money, but because she want's something to happen in her quiet life, and she's driven quite literally insane waiting for a studio to get back to her about her application to be on a gameshow, what starts as a seemingly dark comedy turns rather rapidly into a depressing yarn.

Conclusion? Watch at your own peril, though fascinating and extremely well put together, the story is so amazingly dark. A masterclass of cinema at a time when we had other well timed and written pieces such as Fight Club and Memento, signalling a change of pace for hollywood, these films are absolutely character driven, it's a shame the rest of the decade couldn't maintain the great start it got off to. 8.5/10

The King's Speech (2010)

The journey of King George VI trying to rid himself of a speech impediment before he addresses Britain as we stride into war with Germany is a story that, in the wrong hands, could have gone in a very odd, and boring direction. Thankfully Director Tom Hooper manages to keep the story at a sensible tempo, basing the story primarily on the king's stammer and how it affects his regal position. The Politics, personal anguish of his brother Prince/King David and the upcoming second world war all feature, but are not the subject of the film.

It help's ofcourse that Colin Firth is simply marvellous, sorry to sound overly British (as I detest the label) but in the context of the performance it is the only description that suites. Though flawed, he is shown to be in such a unique and unlikely (to any of us common folk) situation that you can't help but feel sorry for him, but it's the way he carries out such brilliant dialogue with the stammer that impresses the most. It's reported that his father had a similar impediment and it aided his performance. it shows.

In supporting (but no less vital) roles we have Georffy Rush as Aussie speech therapist Lional Loque and Helena Bonham-Carter as Queen Mother herself, The Duchess of York. Both pushing (and at some points, pulling) his royal tongue twisted into the right direction.

Conclusion? It could have quite easily have been nothing more than a large scale TV movie, but that hasn't stopped it being utterly charming (if not, a little over-rated) and full of interesting characters who, historically accurate or not, paint Britain's royals during war-time in a rather favourable light, one to watch at the Oscars, and great for royal entusiasts, but not a classic. 6/10