It's been a while....

so lets get into it.

The Grey

Or Liam Neeson vs the wolves. After sitting through a opening scene introducing Liam Neeson's character as a sad loner who's given up on life followed by a intense and well, frankly awes me plane crash, that's essentially what the movie is. Neeson and some fellow co-workers find themselves stuck somewhere in Alaska as a pack of wolves pick them off one by one. Sound boring? You'd be wrong.  There are plenty of nicely staged scenes of nail biting action/suspense for fans of the genre, plus just enough philosophical musing to justifiably say this is deeper than you're average popcorn movie fare. The end result is a horror survival story that (almost) smoothly blends with an exploration of man's struggle with his inevitable journey toward death and questions of where God fits into the whole mess. I just can't help but feel that this is a good movie that could have been a great one had a little bit more time been spent fleshing out the secondary characters rather than them just being wolf fodder and a vessel to convey the central themes.

***1/2 out of *****

Tinker Tailor Solider Spy

British spy movie that plays out a bit like a realistic James Bond, Tinker Tailor follows agent George Smiley as he comes out of retirement to try to unmask a mole working in the inner sanctum of British Intelligence known as The Circus, supposedly supplying British secrets to the soviets during the cold war.. Painting a vivid picture of the 70s and cold war paranoia, the film makes excellent use of flashbacks throughout in what is a masterfully told story.

The character development is subtle yet offers deeper insight through a brief exchange than pages of dialogue do in many other movies. The mini characters arcs and sub plots all intertwine seamlessly with the major plot to bring about one of the best movies of 2011. A complex narrative will mean that those unfamiliar with the source material may have to check it out twice to fully appreciate it (I enjoyed it more the second time around) but it's worth it. Don't expect loads of action, just brilliant film making.

**** 1/2 out of *****

This Means War

A romantic comedy that, for some reason, I saw with two other guys. Not really sure how that happened, although I guess because it had action elements as well that makes it acceptable. Reece Witherspoon, for some reason, decides it's good idea to two time two guys. The fact that those two guys are fellow CIA agents and best friends means, of course, they quickly find out about it and decide to outdo each other.

So, being an romantic, action comedy obviously the success of the film will rest on how those three elements hold up. As a romance? Fail - there is bugger all chemistry between Witherspoon and the two male leads (Tom Hardy & Chris Pine), and I couldn't have cared less who she ended up with. Action? The action scenes are pretty tame and run of the mill, and certainly wouldn't satisfy anyone who watched the movie for that aspect alone. Comedy? Well, yeah, it is funny. Not belly aching funny but funny enough. This Means War is not a great movie but it is, dare I say, a bit of popcorn fun. As long you're not expecting a masterpiece then there's no reason not to enjoy this slightly guilty pleasure.

*** out of *****

The Hunter

Another Australian film with an international star at the helm, this time it's Willem Dafoe. Not sure what's up with that, but anyway. Dafoe's character has been sent on a mission by his employer to hunt for the long thought to be extinct Tasmanian Tiger (no guesses for where the film is set) for reasons that are first unclear but unravel as the film goes on. What at first seems like interesting idea soon turns into a fairly tired environment vs industry story (and as usual environmentalists = good, big corporations = evil) and even some really nice cinematography showcasing the Tasmanian wilderness can't hide the fact there's zero character development to be found anywhere. Still, the film has a fresh and natural feel to it, and I like the concept, so I'll score it generously.

*** out of *****

Terri

Terri is an overweight high school student. He has no friends, is cared for by his crazy and sick uncle who actually needs Terri to care for him, and wear pyjamas to school because they are "comfortable." During the course of the film he is taken under the wing of the high school principal, played by John C Reilly, who realises Terri needs help, and also ends up befriending the used-to-be-the-most-popular-girl-in-school until she fell from grace and the school's resident juvenile delinquent. The incredible amount of sympathy that is generated for Terri makes this one hard not to like, and and as a character study the movie works. However, at the same time the story feels unfinished, and once we arrive at the end Terri's journey only seems about half of the way there. Had they added an extra 20 minutes or so to tie things up in a more satisfying way this would have been better, but as it is Terri is still well worth a watch.

***1/2 out of *****

Well I had planned to write more but I might save that for tomorrow. I'm tired and going to bed.