psycho_randomnumber Reviews

The Dark Knight (2008)

Excellent. But Not The Best Movie Of All Time....

[8/10 · 11 August 2008]

Christopher Nolan's dark masterpiece is clearly one of the highlights of Hollywood's 2008.

We all know why we love it; the spectacular action, the seminal ensemble & the hype.

But really...the No. 1 film of all time? The film is at least 15 minutes too long, it's saturated with so many themes and morals that it gets lost. Don't get me wrong, it's spectacular but it's not perfect.

Please stop voting ''10/10'' just because Heath Ledger gives a sublime performance. Think about it, and hopefully in a few months it will rest at about no. 150 where it belongs.

Ken Park (2002)

Social Commentary or Pornographic Exploitation?

[26 April 2008]

The phrase ''controversial film'' evokes an array of feelings. They, often, are watch just for their shock value. For the adrenaline rush or the nausea. Larry Clark's latest picture is no different. It is without a doubt, content-wise absolutely horrific Graphically portraying the lives of several teenagers it counts their sexual, abusive and in one case, incestuous exploits.

None thing's for certain, it definitely is NOT a social commentary. I am a 16 year old, and in the mind of Clark, therefore, supposedly right in the middle of this polemic tempest of law-breaking and desire. Yes, this is a factor but Clark has taken this to the hyperbolic extreme.

So, what's it purpose? From a craft perspective, it's sound. With the standard attributes for most American indie pics. There's nothing much else on offer.

Yes there are a few scenes, glances, shots or indications that are genuinely good and (as the writer/director intended) it is absolutely nauseating and sickening, but tantalising as well. I can only conclude it's abit of a nonexistent, Benin film. The sort of film you would watch with your friends, simply to see the look on their faces. Nothing more, nothing less.

Inland Empire (2006)

An assault on the eyes.

[3/10 · 13 February 2008]

Every time this ''experimental'' picture clutches at a grasp of interest, it loses it. Mainly because of the garish, painful to watch, lazy, amateur pornesque digital cinematography.

If any film student or enthusiast had handed this in as a festival piece, he or she would have been slapped with a pretentious badge and told not to quit their day job. It's meaningless in every sense of the word. The terrible sound job and unsymbolic, forced cutaways and randomness.

The only reason I've given this 3 out of 10 instead of 0 is because of an admirable performance from Jeremy Irons. I literally longed for scenes with him where i could comprehend and appreciate his role as the 'director'.

I really would like to know why people like this film but by reading professional and non-professional reviews, I'm still none the wise as to how the film was conceived without being thrown in the trash.

Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale (2007) Season 2, Episode 7

A satisfying blend of comedy and drama to end the series.

[7/10 · 28 December 2007]

I've been a long time fan of Ricky and Steve's works over the past decade and was anticipating the Xmas Special for quite a while. We all know it wouldn't have the same emotional and comedic impact as the Office Christmas Specials, but they did very well.

At 1hr 25, It's not a minute too long or short. We witness the development , rise and eventual fall of Andy, Maggie and Darren and we empathise. Those of you looking for 85 minutes of non stop gags, you won't find it here. The drama of Maggie's unemployment and Darren's working FULL time in the carphone warehouse are dealt with emotionally and sensitively. But, just like the rest of their work, there is A lot of well observed and well written humour.

My personal best moments.

1) The Carphone Warehouse Dance.

2) Clive Owen's cameo.

3) Andy in Dr. Who

Big Nothing (2006)

The intriguing and heavily influenced filming style is it's only merit.

[4/10 · 24 December 2007]

The Good

An unoriginal but interesting blend of rotoscoping, cross cutting and animated cutaways, crank ups, and interesting shots. They slightly help create and emphasise the themes and motifs but have an ambiance of superficiality. Also, Simon Pegg pulls of the accent.

The Bad, The Ugly.

A forced farcical plot. The writer must have thought that a multitude of deaths mixed with one liners can constitute to an absurdist, Coen Brotheresque masterpiece. Not true. At a mere 80 minutes it feels like a two hours as they entire film is set in a colour-saturated, dark, wannabe neo noir environment that leaves the viewer exhausted.

The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

Matured Anderson.

[7/10 · 6 November 2007]

Something felt different about this. Although it contained the main staples as all Anderson's previous films (Dysfunctional families, moving unique camera angles..) it felt more matured.

The film tracks three brothers surreal journey through the desert and towns of India. I'm sure the characters must have been written with the actors in mind because they fit the roles perfectly. Schwartzmen is perfect as a the sex-crazed ''lone one'', Wilson is excellent at playing the over-protective annoying brother and Brody is absolutely phenomenal as the depressed brother worrying over his soon to be child.

Like the rest of his films the best scenes are the small scenes. The movie would survive without them, but it wouldn't be the same. The quirky camera movements that make Anderson and his cinematographer stand out from the crowd.

Be prepared for a mind blowing scene involving three drowning children that brings the brothers closer than ever. That's all I'm going to say.

Chapter 27 (2007)

Wonderfully Slow, Wonderfully Painful.

[7/10 · 30 March 2007]

Slow and Painful. Two words that aptly describe the assassination of John Lennons.

Acting: Jared Leto is Mark Chapman. The weight gain, the accent, the mannerisms, the eccentric disturbing yet intriguing eyes. His acting is nothing short of excellent. Lindsay Lohan is believable, however, her character is esssentially non-existent.

Directing: Loneliness. The feeling is loneliness is excellently captured by director J.P. Schaefer. I don't want to compare this work to Taxi Driver but both pieces contain a broken, lonely main character in New York. The feeling of loneliness is beautifully capture. I felt lonely watching this movie, i felt all alone. Something i haven't felt since watching Taxi Driver.

Script: It won't be an Oscar winning script. You won't leave the theatre feeling mystified as you did after you saw fight club and the usual suspects. However, the script fits perfectly. Critics have crucified Chapter 27 saying it does not give an in-depth look into the mind of the killer. But that's not the point of the film, Mark Chapman even admits this a few minutes into the film.

If you feel it's too soon to watch a movie about John Lennon don't watch it. The actual killing scene, although not graphic, is very powerful. But if you have the choice of seeing this movie, give it a go.