Tag Archives: No Spoilers Review

Drama, No Spoiler Reviews

ROOM (2015): The Things I Liked…

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Room (2015), Jacob Tremlay, Brie Larson
Room (2015), Jacob Tremlay, Brie Larson

Based on the novel by Emma Donoghue, the story of Room is one of the love between a mother and her child. Particularly, in this instance, all that such a love can come to mean, given the enclosed surroundings that the two are forced to call home.

The scenes that stick with me after watching Room are the ones that involve an incredible amount of tension and suspense and the very powerful/moving silent moments.

Directed by Lenny Abrahamson, the reasons I had to watch Room include the extraordinary story, the film’s trailer, and the promise of Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay’s  performances.

The mother/son dynamic is the key focus of Room and understandably so. However, I still found myself wanting to know more about Sean Bridger’s ‘Big Nick’ character and how it is that he came to be. Something tells me that the ‘Big Nick’ movie exists, it just may not be based on a book by Emma Donoghue.

Watch Room for the performances, camera work, general execution and all that the story  has to say about love and imagination.

Speaking of imagination, there’s one specific movie that popped into my mind as I watched Room and it’s Roberto Benigni’s Oscar Winning, Life Is Beautiful (1997), a movie I highly recommend.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Drama, No Spoiler Reviews

THE DRESSMAKER (2015): For The Story, Fashion, Style…

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The Dressmaker (2016), Kate Winstlet
The Dressmaker (2016), Kate Winstlet

The Dressmaker is a fun revenge drama set in a rural small town in Australia. I use the word ‘fun’ because of the dialogue, characters, cinematography and the haute couture fashion and colours of the 1950s.

The character played by Hugo Weaving is the source of several laughs and a definite highlight. And, as always, the film’s star, Kate Winslet, delivers a wonderful performance. The movie’s beautiful soundtrack, courtesy of composer David Hirschfelder, is also another plus.

The Dressmaker (2015), Kate winslet, Liam Hemsworth
The Dressmaker (2015), Kate Winslet, Liam Hemsworth

Directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse and based on the novel by Rosalie Ham, I say watch The Dressmaker because it’s good. Furthermore, you probably won’t be able to guess how things will unfold before they do.

Sarah Snook, Judy Davis, and Liam Hemsworth also star. Here’s the trailer for a taster.

Happy Film Loving, 

G

Comedy, Drama, No Spoiler Reviews

4TH MAN OUT (2015): For The Story & The Beautiful Bromance…

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4th Man Out (2015), Chad Overstreet, Evan Todd, Parker Young
4th Man Out (2015), Chad Overstreet, Evan Todd, Parker Young

Parker Young, Chord Overstreet, Evan Todd, and Jon Gabrus are the stars of 4th Man Out. Set in a small U.S. town, the story follows four friends after one of them surprises the other three by coming out as gay.

My favourite thing about this movie besides the relevance of the story and how well told it is – has to be the beautiful bromance(s), I’ve always been partial to those. There’s also the soundtrack, particularly the song played in the trailer.

Thanks to the acting talent, dialogue by Aaron Dancik and Andrew Nackman’s direction, it all felt very real.

Watch  4th Man Out for a story that will put a smile on your face for deeper reasons than those I’ve mentioned above.

Happy Film Loving, 

G

Source: JustWatch
No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

MOJAVE (2015): There’s Something I Liked…

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Mojave (2015), Garrett Hedlund
Mojave (2015), Garrett Hedlund

My favourite thing about Mojave is the bass in Garret Hedlund’s voice. The  general story had potential, but in the end it didn’t turn out as well as it could have. My main issue is with the plausibility of aspects of the story and the general overuse of the word ‘brother.’

The only reason I don’t completely regret watching Mojave is Garrett Hedlund. Can someone please cast him to star in a well scripted and executed movie? I ask because I believe in his acting abilities, not just so I can enjoy listening to him speak.

As for Oscar Isaac, I can’t say I loved his performance here. But, he was good in Ex Machina (2015). So there’s that.

Watch Mojave if you really, really must. The only other reason I can think of is if you want to find out just how much truth is in everything I’ve said about Garrett Hedlund. Or, maybe you want to count how many times the word ‘brother’ is said. The answer is way more than you’d ever want to hear.

Director William Monahan is also responsible for the unfortunate script and Mark Wahlberg makes an appearance.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch
Drama, No Spoiler Reviews

THE 33 (2015): For The Story Of Survival, The Great Musical Score By James Horner…

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The 33 (2015), Lou Diamond Phillips, Antonio Banderas
The 33 (2015), Lou Diamond Phillips, Antonio Banderas

Around the time the Chilean mining accident took place in 2010, I learned only the basics of what happened; namely the number of men trapped and the fact that fortunately, against the odds, they all made it out alive.

Starring Antonio Banderas, Juliette Binoche, Mario Casas, Gabriel Byrne and Rodrigo Santoro, The 33 is the story of the 33 men, those who helped get them out and their experiences of the fateful day, through to the rescue.

Directed by Patricia Riggen, The 33 had me thinking about how much people really do need each other to make it. The survival of all the 33 took a lot of different decisions and actions both big and small, by the men trapped deep underground and people above ground.

The 33 (2015), Juliette Binoche
The 33 (2015), Juliette Binoche

The running time of The 33 is just over two hours; too long if you ask me. However, that likely had something to do with me wanting to see the suffering of the men end. After all, the audience already knows that all will be well in the end. A luxury the 33 didn’t have, effectively making their emotional journeys even even more moving.

One wonders, would I have watched The 33 if the ending wasn’t as happy? Probably not, because, well, wouldn’t that make it a sort of a horror movie, the very genre I’m not at all partial to?

I see The 33 as a well-told story  about what it can take to survive when the odds are very much against you. As you watch The 33, you won’t be able to avoid noticing just how great the musical score is.

.The late, great James Horner is the composer responsible. He’s also the man behind the music in both Titanic (1997) and Avatar (2009). 

Watch The 33 because it’s good.

Happy Film Loving,

G