Category Archives: No Spoiler Reviews

Comedy, Crime, No Spoiler Reviews

SNATCH (2000): More Of The Witty, Fast & Clever…

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Brad Pitt isn’t the only big-name star in Snatch (2000), Guy Ritchie’s follow-up to Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels (1998). Benicio Del Toro and Dennis Farina make two more very welcome stateside additions.

Snatch (2000), Brad Pitt, Jason Flemyng
Snatch (2000), Brad Pitt, Jason Flemyng

Snatch is a fun British gangster film with fast, witty dialogue delivered by engaging characters. To reference just three, a ‘dodgy Russian’, a loud Jewish American and a bunch of well organised Irish Gypsies. You can certainly expect plenty including clever antics, a few not so clever but very entertaining antics and some ‘healthy’ double crossing for good measure.

I’ve heard some criticise Snatch and Lock Stock for being ‘all surface and no substance‘. That may be true to a degree, but sometimes surface is exactly what you need for your movie fix. What I can pretty much promise you about Snatch is this, you won’t feel anywhere near as cheated as you probably did after watching the last two instalments of the Hangover (2009) trilogy. Believe me!

Snatch (2000), Jason Statham, Brad Pitt, Stephen Graham
Snatch (2000), Jason Statham, Brad Pitt, Stephen Graham

Watch Snatch if only to see Brad Pitt’s interpretation of a version of the Irish accent, and Benicio Del Toro being brilliant and as effortlessly cool as always.

Did I already say that the last 20 minutes is super? No? Well, ‘The last 20 minutes are super‘.

Happy Film Loving, of the ‘surface and no substance’ variety,

G

Source: JustWatch
Comedy, Crime, No Spoiler Reviews

LOCK STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS (1998): Brilliant British Film

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Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels (1998), Nick Moran
Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels (1998), Nick Moran

‘Brother, mother, any other sucker!’

Super wordplay. Just one of the the things I love about this movie.

Set in London’s East End, Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels is very entertaining, thanks to the excellent dialogue and incessantly funny male banter.

Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels (1998), Nick Moran, Jason Statham, Dexter Fletcher, Jason Flemyng
Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels (1998), Nick Moran, Jason Statham, Dexter Fletcher, Jason Flemyng

From writer/director Guy Ritchie, the film fits comfortably into the comedy/crime genre. There’s no shortage of well-crafted characters, some of whom you’d count yourself very lucky to never encounter.

If you’re a seasoned film fan, It may be hard to not have Quentin Tarantino pop into your mind; for reasons including but not limited to the highly quotable dialogue, perfect pacing and brilliant soundtrack.

‘Watch it!‘ That’s my not-so-gentle recommendation.

Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels (1998), Vas Blackwood
Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels (1998), Vas Blackwood

‘Because if you don’t, I’ll kill ya.‘ _Rory Breaker

Just playing, of course. I’m simply quoting the great character pictured above.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch
Comedy, No Spoiler Reviews, Romance

THAT AWKWARD MOMENT (2014): The Good Things

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That Awkward Moment (2014), Zac efron, Michael B. Jordan, Miles Teller
That Awkward Moment (2014), Zac Efron, Michael B. Jordan, Miles Teller

The following are three of the best things about Zac Efron, Michael B. Jordan and Myles Teller’s That Awkward Moment, a comedy/romance about twenty-something friends living and dating in New York.

Directed by Tom Gormican; That Awkward Moment definitely isn’t a perfect movie – for reasons including, ironically, awkwardness. But these snippets of dialogue are indeed memorable. I’ve even found myself quoting one or two of them to friends.

1) ‘New York’s charm is that you’re surrounded by things you can’t have’. ‘New York’s charm is it makes you think you can have them’. Having been there myself and experienced the energy, I can confirm that both statements are true.

2) ‘Jason. You weren’t there for me. On a day when I really, really needed you. And being there for someone when they need you, that’s all relationships are, Jason. That’s all they are.’ Delivered whilst perfectly composed and with all pauses mid-sentence only working to make the statement more impactful in the moment – regardless of how simple the idea and words may be.

3) ‘Guys, in High School, I was voted as most likely to have the best eyes’ This one’s my my favourite! The line makes me giggle because I didn’t see the silliness coming.

Watch That Awkward Moment if you’re curious. I mean, how could one not be after the above snippets?

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch
No Spoiler Reviews, Sci-Fi, Thriller

INCEPTION (2010): Only If Other Films Would Stay Away From The Music

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Inception (2010), Leonardo DiCaprio
Inception (2010), Leonardo DiCaprio

Part of what makes Christopher Nolan’s Inception (2010) so very good, is Hans Zimmer’s brilliant musical score.

Unfortunately, since the the film’s release, seemingly far lesser movies keep using it. I say ‘seemingly far lesser’ because I can’t actually see myself ever watching any of the offending titles.

I admit, I’m probably too attached to the original film and music, but all the trailers I’ve seen that use the Inception score really don’t look very promising. If they did, I wouldn’t be writing this.

You only have to watch the following Airborne (2012) trailer to see and understand.

To help get that highly disappointing Airborne taste out of your mouth, here are two fantastic Inception trailers.

Inception Trailer 1

Inception Trailer 2

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch
Comedy, Drama, No Spoiler Reviews, Romance

THE ONE I LOVE (2014): So, Here’s Something Different…

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The One I Love (2014), Mark Duplass, Elizabeth Moss
The One I Love (2014), Mark Duplass, Elisabeth Moss

It is well documented that repetition inevitably gets dull and people end up switching off. This is the case with many romantic comedies and generally any genre that repeats the same themes and plot lines continuously and with minimal difference.

The One I Love (2014) can be accused of no such thing. Yes, the narrative contains a classic stage in the long term relationship lifecycle. But the execution offers a very refreshing and unexpected difference in a story about a married couple. A pair trying to find their way back to that great past period in their relationship; a place  where happiness was the default setting. And as they begin their journey, rather peculiar things start happening.

For me, The One I Love is more of a drama than a romantic comedy, even though it has been categorised as all three (comedy, romance and drama) simultaneously.

I say watch it because of the two impressive lead actors. Watch it for the different kind of execution, because you’re somewhat bored of the formulaic nature of rom-coms and need something else. And  lastly, definitely watch it because you want to be pleasantly surprised.

Here’s the trailer.

Happy Film Loving

G

Source: JustWatch