The Trip (2010) 8/10

Starring : Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, Paul Popplewell
Director : Michael Winterbottom
Running Time : 107 mins

Steve Coogan is asked by The Observer newspaper to tour the best restaurants in the UK, and when his girlfriend pulls out he is forced to ask his colleague Rob Brydon to go with him instead. The trip starts off badly when they are put up in a double room with one bed, and as it progresses their budding friendship seems to overcome their initial disagreements, with Coogan trying to improve his standing in Hollywood and facing his mortality while Brydon simply misses his wife.

In this movie version of the popular TV series, Coogan and Brydon do a wonderful job playing off each other in the largely improvised performances that flow from them as the travel round the country. Coogan stuck-up persona plays wonderfully against Brydon more down to earth everyman character, and fans of either actors work will enjoy this.

You’ll like this if you liked : In The Loop

Catch Me If You Can (2002) 8/10

Starring : Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen, Amy Adams
Director : Steven Spielberg
Running Time : 141 mins

When his parents get divorced and he is forced to choose between them, teenager Frank Abagnale Jr (DiCaprio) runs away from home and tries to make hi way on the streets of New York by cashing bad cheques, but when he realises that airline pilots rarely get questioned about their actions, he makes himself a fake ID and starts masquerading as a pilot himself. It isn’t long before he draws the attention of the FBI and finds himself being chased down by persistent agent Carl Hanratty (Hanks).

Although Tom Hanks performance is a little boring in this movie, DiCaprio is fantastic in the lead. He manages to make you sympathise with him even though he is playing a criminal, and his reactions to situations are wonderfully given and make this a stand out drama. This isn’t the comedy I was expecting it to be, but it is still a humorous narration on the life of Frank Abagnale.

You’ll like this if you liked : Rogue Trader

Underworld : Awakening (2012) 6/10

Starring : Kate Beckinsale, Stephen Rea, Michael Ealy, Theo James, India Eisley
Director : Mans Marlind & Bjorn Stein
Running Time : 85 mins

The existence of vampires and werewolves has been made public, and humanity has made it their mission to wipe out all non-humans. Vampire Selene (Beckinsale) is captured and kept prisoner in cryogenic stasis for twelve years, and discovers on her awakening that not only have all Lycans and Vampires been practically wiped out, but that she has a daughter, Eve (Eisley), a half-vampire half-werewolf hybrid created by the sinister Dr Jacob Lane (Rea).

The Underworld movies seem to get progressively worse, but this was marginally better than the previous instalment as it actually had a plot. This probably would have been better if it hadn’t been in 3D, as many of the effects tailored themselves towards this rather than trying to be naturally good, and the runtime was incredibly short at barely seventy-five minutes without the end credits

You’ll like this if you liked : Blade Trinity

The Sitter (2011) 8/10

Starring : Jonah Hill, Max Records, Ari Graynor, Sam Rockwell
Director : David Gordon Green
Running Time : 81 mins

Noah Griffith (Hill) is forced to look after his next door neighbour’s three precocious kids while they’re away, but when he gets a phone call from his on-again-off-again girlfriend Marisa (Graynor), inviting him to a party if he can bring some drugs, he takes the kids out on the town with him and soon finds himself in trouble with local drug kingpin Karl (Rockwell).

Although this is almost exactly the same plot as Adventures In Babysitting, this is still a great laugh out loud gross out comedy. Hill plays a similar character to those he’s played previously in such movies as Superbad and Knocked Up, and the supporting cast of kids are very funny in their roles. Fans of gross comedies will enjoy this, but if you don’t like black comedies then steer clear.

You’ll like this if you liked : Adventures In Babysitting

The Lucky Ones (2008) 8/10

Starring : Rachel McAdams, Tim Robbins, Michael Pena
Director : Neil Burger
Running Time : 114 mins

A trio of soldiers – Colee Dunn (McAdams), Fred Cheaver (Robbins) and TK Poole (Pena) – return from Iraq with thirty days leave, having each been injured in the call of duty and end up on a road trip together, with Colee wantin g to return her boyfriend’s guitar to his family, TK trying to get his mojo back for his girlfriend after injuring his genitals, and Cheaver aiming to win his son’s college tuition by heading to Vegas.

This is a surprisingly warm-hearted comedy drama, considering the subject matter, and the three leads do a wonderful job of keeping things light throughout, even when things turn ugly for their characters. I love the irony of the movie’s title, because none of the three main characters seem to be able to catch a break, what with everyone lying to them and misleading them from beginning to end.

You’ll like this if you liked : Jarhead

How Do You Know (2010) 7/10

Starring : Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson, Jack Nicholson
Director : James L Brooks
Running Time : 121 mins

When she finds out she’s been cut from the United States women’s softball team, Lisa Jorgenson (Witherspoon) decides to re-evaluate her life. Similarly, businessman George Madison (Rudd) discovers that his company is being investigated and decides to take his mind off things by going on a blind date with of all people Lisa. George thinks that Lisa is just what he needs to cope with his problems, but Lisa seems to think that what she needs is someone who is insensitive and won’t try to make her feel better, namely her sort-of boyfriend, baseball player Matty Reynolds (Wilson).

This is an odd little movie, with the romance between Witherspoon and Rudd being almost non-existent until the end of the film. Rudd is really good as his characters optimism about a potential relationship with Witherspoon counters his pessimism towards everything else in his life, and Wilson does a superb job as Witherspoon’s thoughtless yet likeable boyfriend, while Witherspoon herself does a great turn as the indecisive lead.

You’ll like this if you liked : As Good As It Gets

Take Shelter (2011) 6/10

Starring : Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain, Tova Stewart, Shea Whigham
Director : Jeff Nichols
Running Time : 122 mins

Curtis LaForche (Shannon) starts having violent dreams of impending doom, and is torn between telling his family what he thinks is going to happen to them or to see his doctor and get something to put an end to his visions. His family history of schizophrenia doesn’t help people to believe his warnings, and it isn’t long before the visions start to invade his everyday life.

This is a very slow moving movie that, very much like Another Earth, is basically a movie about mental suffering masquerading as science fiction. Lead actor Michael Shannon does an impressive job as a mentally ill man, and the supporting cast are similarly melancholy throughout the proceedings, but if you are expecting an amazing spectacle about a deadly storm then this won’t be for you.

You’ll like this if you liked : Another Earth

Outlaw (2007) 7/10

Starring : Sean Bean, Danny Dyer, Lennie James, Sean Harris, Rupert Friend, Bob Hoskins
Director : Nick Love
Running Time : 102 mins

Danny Bryant (Bean) returns home to Britain from Afghanistan to find his own country no better than the war-torn land he has just been fighting in, and that the police and the government are either unwilling or unable to do anything about it. Together a number of likeminded locals, he decides to take the law into his own hands and get rid of the street thugs that threaten their way of life.

The ensemble cast of this surprisingly touching drama do a brilliant job of showing just how downtrodden and betrayed by society they feel as the gangs of thugs that roam their streets close in on their world and do their best to destroy it. Sean Bean is exceptionally psychotic as his leads a band of useless fighters, yet there are some lighter moments peppered throughout the movie that make it far more watchable.

You’ll like this if you liked : Harry Brown

Goon (2011) 7/10

Starring : Seann William Scott, Jay Baruchel, Alison Pill
Director : Michael Dowse
Running Time : 92 mins

Bouncer Doug Glatt (Scott), who is something of an outcast from his highly intelligent family, is offered a job playing hockey for a losing hockey team due to his uncanny ability to be incredibly violent and for having the toughest skull around, and in spite of his inability to actually skate or play hockey.

Seann William Scott is a likeable idiot in this comedy, where he never attacks anyone unless they provoke him first. Even though the story doesn’t feel that original, it is handled with originality and manages to keep itself entertaining by providing its audience with likeable characters and a definite direction for the lead actor. Worth watching, but only if you can stand the violence.

You’ll like this if you liked : Slap Shot

Bride And Prejudice (2004) 6/10

Starring : Aishwarya Rai, Martin Henderson, Madira Babbar, Anupam Kher
Director : Gurinder Chadha
Running Time : 107 mins

Lalita Bakshi (Rai) is one of four sisters whose parents want nothing more than for them to find a nice Indian man to settle down with, but when she meets William Darcy (Henderson), and American hotelier with ideas about opening a chain of hotels in India, she takes an instant disliking to him even though he is immediately attracted to her.

Fans of Bollywood movies and romantic musicals will love this, but for many this will feel like an unlikely romantic comedy. Many of the characters are unlikeable and stunted, with little or no personality of their own, and even those supporting characters that are marginally entertaining are just stereotypes with little depth. Only bother with this if you are a big musical buff.

You’ll like this if you liked : Grease

Burke And Hare (2010) 8/10

Starring : Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis, Isla Fisher, Tom Wilkinson, Jessica Hynes, Bill Bailey
Director : John Landis
Running Time : 92 mins

William Burke (Pegg) and William Hare (Serkis) are two Irishmen living in Scotland who discover that they could make a fortune by providing bodies to the medical schools in the area. When one of the tenants in their boarding house dies, they begin what is to become an historical series of murders in order to make themselves some well-deserved cash.

This is an entertaining enough black comedy, based loosely on the true story of the 19th Century murderers and body snatchers, that manages to make light of what at the time would have been a very serious crime. Imagine if someone made a comedy about The Krays? Still, this is funny in parts and the characters manage somehow to be likeable, although it was hard to get a firm grasp on what exactly Isla Fisher’s character was up to. I didn’t trust her relationship with Burke, but that might just be a case of bad acting, bad writing or bad direction.

You’ll like this if you liked : I Sell The Dead

Almost Famous (2000) 8/10

Starring : Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Kate Hudson, Jason Lee, Patrick Fugit, Zooey Deschanel
Director : Cameron Crowe
Running Time : 124 mins

It’s 1973, and aspiring rock reporter William Miller (Fugit) is given the chance of a lifetime when Rolling Stone see his work and ask him to write a 3000 word article about any band of his choice, He chooses his favourite band, newcomers Stillwater, and travels with them as they go on tour, where he gets some powerful insights into the real world of rock and roll.

This is a well written, well directed movie that gives a good idea of the kinds of things rock stars might have to go through on their way to the top without being too gratuitous or going into too much depth. Relative unknown Patrick Fugit does a great job as the main character of this movie, though he is well overshadowed in the casting order. There are some fun moments as well as some dark ones. And the level of drama and comedy is perfectly balanced to make this feel as realistic as possible.

You’ll like this if you liked : Dazed And Confused

The Lincoln Lawyer (2011) 7/10

Starring : Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe, William H Macy, Josh Lucas
Director : Brad Furman
Running Time : 119 mins

Defence lawyer Mick Haller (McConaughey) is famous for preventing criminals from being prosecuted, mainly thanks in part to the crooked prosecutors who try to lay more crimes on his clients, but when he represents wealthy realtor Louis Roulet (Phillippe), who is accused of rape and attempted murder, he starts to think that his client may be related to some of his past cases and that he may actually be more guilty than he claims.

This is an interesting legal drama that quickly spirals into a thriller when McConaughey discovers that Phillippe has him over a barrel. McConaughey plays the slimy lawyer perfectly – although he isn’t that slimy when you realise he’s only stopping the prosecutors from landing other crimes on his clients – and although Phillippe isn’t particularly good as the villain this is still a worthy drama (until it kind of falls apart at the end).

You’ll like this if you liked : Primal Fear

Love And Other Disasters (2006) 8/10

Starring : Brittany Murphy, Matthew Rhys, Catherine Tate, Santiago Cabrera
Director : Alek Keshishian
Running Time : 91 mins

Emily Jackson (Murphy) – known to her friends as Jacks – works for UK Vogue and lives with her gay friend Peter Simon (Rhys) who she spends most of her free time trying to set up with various men. When she meets assistant photographer Paolo Sarmiento (Cabrera), she thinks he’d be perfect for Peter, little realising that Paolo is straight and is actually attracted to her.

Many people have disregarded this movie, saying it’s filled with clichés, but many of the clichés are there just so that the writer can knock them down. I actually enjoyed this rom com – even though Brittany Murphy’s back story explaining her accent is a little convoluted – and thought that the story was good, even though it annoyed me that the Argentinian guy didn’t realise that Jacks thought he was gay. A great little rom com that won’t disappoint fans of the genre.

You’ll like this if you liked : Little Black Book

Another Earth (2011) 6/10

Starring : Brit Marling, William Mapother
Director : Mike Cahill
Running Time : 93 mins

Four years after causing a fatal traffic accident, Rhoda Williams (Marling) is released from prison and decides to return to the sole survivor of the crash, John Burroughs (Mapother) – who has just woken up from a coma - to beg his forgiveness. Instead, she pretends to be from a cleaning service and starts helping him sort out his life.

The title of this movie is a little misleading, as the discovery of another planet earth is something of a backdrop to the main story of a car accident, but by the end of the movie it makes a little more sense why the other planet is relevant. This movie is a little slow going, and if you are expecting a sci-fi you will be sorely disappointed, but overall it isn’t too bad of a tale.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Astronaut Farmer

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010) 8/10

Starring : Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina, Teresa Palmer, Toby Kebbell
Director : Jon Turteltaub
Running Time : 110 mins

Dave Stutler (Baruchel) discovers that what he assumed was a childhood hallucination was nothing of the sort when sorcerer Balthazar Blake (Cage) and his evil nemesis Horvath (Molina) are released from their ten year long prison and search for Dave in order to locate a nesting doll that houses the souls of a large number of evil sorcerers.

This is a great action comedy for kids, with a wonderful performance from Baruchel and an unusually tongue-in-cheek performance from Cage. The plot is reasonably interesting and keeps the action going from start to finish, and the effects are both imaginative and relevant to the story. Fans of Disney will love seeing the live action mop sequence from Fantasia, and fans of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson will enjoy the special effects.

You’ll like this if you liked : Night At The Museum

Mission : Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011) 8/10

Starring : Tom Cruise, Paula Patton, Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner, Michael Nyqvist
Director : Brad Bird
Running Time : 133 mins

Ethan Hunt (Cruise) springs into action when the IMF is framed for setting off a bomb on Russian soil. In order to clear their name, Hunt and his team of misfit agents go rogue under the Ghost Protocol initiative and set about obtaining evidence that the real force behind the terrorist attack when international criminal Kurt Hendricks (Nyqvist).

I have to admit, after the first Mission : Impossible movie, they started to go downhill, but this one actually makes me think they might be getting better. Cruise does still annoy me a bit, but the supporting cast – especially Simon Pegg who is awesome – really make this more of an interesting story with plenty of action packed scenes from the director of The Incredibles.

You’ll like this if you liked : Quantum Of Solace

Intermission (2003) 8/10

Starring : Colin Farrell, Shirley Henderson, Kelly MacDonald, Colm Meaney, Cillian Murphy
Director : John Crowley
Running Time : 103 mins

A disparate group of Dubliners find their lives thrown together through random chance when local troublemaker Lehiff (Farrell) gets two acquaintances from the local pub to help him kidnap a bank manager, hold his girlfriend hostage, and force him to bring them a bag full of cash.

I’d never heard of this movie before I watched so I didn’t have any expectations to start with. I actually thought it was a great little movie that perfectly managed to connect the stories of the characters involved without anything feeling too forced, like in other ensemble movies like Crash or Powder Blue. The stories are interesting and fun, the characters are believable, and the situations are both laughable and heart-warming.

You’ll like this if you liked : Submarine