Category Archives: Thriller

THE RIOT CLUB (2014): Sam Claflin, Great At Being Despicable

The Riot Club (2014), Sam Claflin
The Riot Club (2014), Sam Claflin

At first, the young men of The Riot Club don’t appear too dissimilar to any gathering of adult students enjoying the freedoms synonymous with university life. That is until a fateful dinner where things take a dramatically dark and villainous turn.

This is a movie about two first-year Oxford University students and their experience as part of The Riot Club, a secret society of wealthy, elitist, hedonistic and undeniably privileged individuals.

Directed by Lone Scherfig, the film features some of the best of Britain’s young acting talent. Names that include Sam Claflin, Holliday Grainger, Douglas Booth, Max Irons, and so on. 

I say, watch it for the story, an insight into the usually inaccessible world of a very small group of incredibly privileged university students, the cinematography, and a reminder of just how punishing naivety can be.

Here is the trailer that had me sold.

Trailer song: ‘Inhaler’ by Foals.

Happy Film loving,

G

LEGEND (2015): Trailer Of The Week

Legend (2015), Tom Hardy
Legend (2015), Tom Hardy


Read my spoiler-free movie review of
 Legend (2015).


For all serious Tom Hardy fans, a promising cinematic feast is coming.

Legend, the Brian Helgeland-directed film has Hardy playing two characters. Namely Ronald and Reginald Kray, a.k.a. The Kray Twins – identical twin gangsters known for terrorising London in the 1950s and 1960s.

In a few months, the feast is coming. But first, an appetiser.

The Teaser Trailer…

Trailer 1…

Running Scared by Roy Orbison is the track playing throughout the teaser, for those who were curious. 

Happy Film Loving,

G

THE VOICES (2014) I’m Back On The Ryan Reynolds Band Wagon

The Voices (2014): Ryan Reynolds, Sam Spruell
The Voices (2014): Ryan Reynolds, Sam Spruell

The last time I saw Ryan Reynolds in a film was The Proposal (2009). It wasn’t my favourite and kind of kept me away from future Reynolds movies. Having now watched The Voices (2014), I can confirm that my attitude has changed.

The Voices is a crime/comedy film directed by Marjane Satrapi and stars Reynolds as Jerry – a sinister/very unbalanced individual who somehow manages to remain likeable.

You’ll probably find yourself not quite rooting for him, as such, on account of the murdering. However, empathy will kick in since he’s definitely ‘not well’.

The Voices (2014): Jacki Weaver
The Voices (2014): Jacki Weaver

The way the director/cinematographer present the world of Jerry, how he sees things as opposed to actual reality is a particular highlight.

Watch it for a pleasantly different turn from Reynolds and good performances from Jacki Weaver,  Anna Kendrick and Gemma Aterton. I was also glad to see great character actor Sam Spruell’s name on the cast list. 

Happy Film Loving,

G

TAKEN 3 (2014): Why It’s Worth Watching…

Taken 3 (2014), Liam Neeson
Taken 3 (2014), Liam Neeson

If you must watch only one Taken movie, please watch the original (Taken 2008) because it’s the very best.

Taken 2 (2012) was OK and Taken is quite the fun ride. Even though there isn’t much of a, so to speak, ‘taking,’ in Taken 3, the dynamic of the chase between Bryan Mills (Neeson) and the smart police officer played by Forrest Whitaker more than makes up for it.

Taken 3 (2014), Forest Whitaker
Taken 3 (2014), Forest Whitaker

There’s also a fantastic scene towards the end at Santa Monica airport involving a Porsche and a plane. The moment is so good that I’d have yelped louder had it not been for the neighbours.

Watch it because you’ve watched the original, the second and now you want to see how it all wraps up.

Happy Film Loving, 

G

SPECTRE (2015): Welcome James. It’s Been A Long Time…

Spectre (2015), Daniel Craig
Spectre (2015), Daniel Craig

Sam Mendes, the Director of my favourite film, American Beauty (1999) said yes to making his second James Bond movie – and the first teaser trailer for Spectre (2015) has now arrived.

It looks like we’ll be getting more of the signature breathtaking cinematography, musical score, action sequences and the super dialogue typical of recent Bond films.

With some of Europe’s finest film making talent at the helm – Sam Mendes, Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux, Monica Bellucci and of course, Daniel Craig, all we have left to do now is look forward to the final product and hope that the next trailer or two don’t reveal too much of the plot, please and thank you.

Happy Film Loving, 

G