Review: Taken 2

Review: Taken 2

Liam Neeson was in a rut. He was cast as a father figure in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. He was cast as a weary and wise king of the jungle in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Just to top the typecasting off, he was cast as a physical and psychological mentor to Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins.

So he must have been as surprised as everybody else when 2008's Taken turned him into an action superstar overnight. Featuring a brilliant plot, a man's race against time to save his daughter when she is kidnapped overseas; excellent action scenes and chases through foreign streets; and of course one of the most iconic monologues in cinema history ("I will find you. And I will kill you."), Taken was a surprise hit.

Critics scoffed at the idea of a sequel, however. "Taken 2? She's been taken again? Worst. Parenting. Ever." The film does not follow the same formula as its predecessor though. This time, while on holiday in Istanbul, Neeson's Bryan and his wife have been captured and it's up to his daughter to save them instead.

The result is a horrifically restrained affair. Where the original Taken revelled in its realism, splattering the walls with blood and guts galore as Bryan did anything that was necessary to find his daughter, Taken 2 spends the vast majority of its 90 minute running time shying away from such violence. This leads to a dull, predictable movie that is a mere shadow of the first.

The main plot revolves around the vengeful dad of one of the Balkan goons who Bryan brutally disposed of in his previous endeavours. "We will have our revenge," he swears as he lowers his son's body into the grave. Meanwhile, Bryan is in Istanbul and is surprised to find his daughter Kim and his ex-wife Lanore there to greet him. A family reunion ensues, however it is (eventually - yawn) cut short when Bryan and Lenore are "taken" and it's up to Kim to rescue them.

From then on it's Bourne-style business as usual, with rooftop chases, ledge dangling and shootouts galore. Yet something just doesn't feel right.

Taken earned a 15-certificate for its "strong violence and scenes of torture." This was then bumped up to an 18 for the DVD as more scenes of bloodshed and gore were chucked in.

Taken 2, however, sits soundly at a 12A - a move made, no doubt, by the movie executives rubbing their hands together at the thought of a wider audience. As a result, Taken 2 loses its originality and its impact. Bullets enter walls rather than flesh, blades are brandished instead of used and a scene in which a character's throat is slit is simply implied rather than shown. The original would have laughed at our squeamish ways and focused the camera brutally on the death.

Neeson excels, however, and let's face it - he's the reason we're all watching. His screen presence is such that Bryan becomes a hugely likable character. We feel admiration for him and his skills as in one scene, with a bag over his head and certain death looming, Bryan counts to himself as he blindly tracks the duration, speed and distance that his captors are dragging him which then allows Kim to interfere. The super-spy elements are written well, even if they are a little predictable and run-of-the-mill.


Yet that makes the villains seem even more ridiculous. The vast majority of them are basic disposable fodder, and even more of them are as thick as two short planks. At least in the first film his enemies had some decent martial artistic skills and were a pretty decent shot - Taken 2 seems more like a video game set on "easy" mode where the bad guys have unbelievably terrible aim. The climax of the film is hugely disappointing too and amounts to little more than a conversation, but for the sake of spoilers this shall be left undisclosed.

Summary

Taken was no masterpiece, but it succeeded as an exciting vehicle for Neeson, the dormant action star just waiting to burst on to our screens. The film still had a drive and a sense of urgency that spurred us on to the edge of our seats as we watched a father do anything to save his daughter, an urgency that is missing in its sequel. So it's a shame that, despite Neeson's best ass-kicking efforts and some cool but predictable action scenes, Taken 2 fails to live up to its predecessor - in fact, it fails to live up to most modern action films at all.

3/10 - One for the rental list.

See it if you liked: Taken (2008), Live Free Or Die Hard (2007), Unknown (2011)

October Preview

October Preview

October is upon us and with it comes many great looking new movies. From sequels and animated fun to novel adaptations, as well as what looks to be a new indie favourite, the cinema has plenty to entice you with this month. 

In no particular order...

007: Skyfall

Director: Sam Mendes

Cast: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardam, Ralph Fiennes, Judi Dench

Release Date: 26th October

The name's Bond. James Bond. Following the somewhat disappointing Quantum of Solace, it looks like Daniel Craig's incarnation of the iconic special agent has ditched his emotional baggage and is back into badass mode. Skyfall will see MI6 thrown into turmoil as, after an operation in Istanbul goes horribly wrong and the identities of every agent are leaked online, James Bond is presumed dead. In the aftermath, questions are raised regarding M's ability to handle the situation - that is until Bond returns very much alive. Seeking answers, he confronts Raoul Silva, a dangerous villain claiming to have a personal connection to both of them.

Skyfall marks Daniel Craig's third consecutive Bond movie, while Judi Dench as M is now sitting at eight. Newcomers to the series Ralph Fiennes and Ben Wishaw also provide support.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower


Director: Stephen Chbosky

Cast: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Paul Rudd

Release Date: 3rd October

Originally a coming-of-age novel about the highs and lows of growing up, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is now hitting the big screen. It follows the heartwarming story of Charlie, a socially awkward freshman whose move to a new school throws his life up in the air. He is taken under the wings of two seniors however, as they introduce him slowly but surely into the real world and the emotional baggage that comes with it.

It's your basic feel-good teen flick, but with a healthy dose of realism and heart. Emma Watson is sure to be the driving force behind ticket sales, as she attempts to follow in the footsteps of her co-stars and thrust off her Harry Potter image in a film that includes "drug use, sexual scenes and strong language". Ooh.

Hotel Transylvania

 
Director: Genndy Tartakovsky

Cast: Andy Samberg, Adam Sandler, Steve Buscemi, Selena Gomez

Release Date: 12th October

A hotel for classic monsters is the name of the game here, as Dracula, Big Foot, Frankenstein's Monster, ghosts and skeletons take a break from their hectic lives in Hotel Transylvania. Dracula, the owner, invites the other fabled monsters to visit the hotel and celebrate the 118th birthday of his daughter Mavis.

That is until a young adventurer, Johnathan, stumbles upon the hotel and Dracula is forced to protect Mavis from falling for the human whilst protecting him from all the monsters inside the building.

Redemption for Adam Sandler? Looks that way - fingers crossed.

Liberal Arts



Director: Josh Radnor
Cast: Josh Radnor, Elizabeth Olsen, Richard Jenkins, Zac Efron
Release Date: 5th October

How I Met Your Mother's Josh Radnor returns to the director's chair for his second indie outing. As well as writing Liberal Arts, Radnor takes up the role of Jesse, a 35 year old college admissions officer in a romantic relationship with 19 year old student Zibby.

Now that How I Met Your Mother is soon to reach its conclusion (surely!), it's good to see Radnor breaking out from his breakout role as the show's star. He had already proved his excellent flair for atmosphere and subtle realism in his directorial debut happythankyoumoreplease back in 2010, so Liberal Arts will hopefully be the indie hit of 2012.

On The Road


Director: Walter Salles
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund
Release Date: 12th October

Two guys and that blank-faced girl from Twilight go on a road trip. She does naughty things to them and she gets naked a few times, all while Sal, one of the guys, tries to get over the death of his father. Sex with Kristen Stewart is not the answer, my friend - doesn't he read the papers?

 Ruby Sparks


Directors: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
Cast: Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Steve Coogan, Antonio Banderas
Release Date: 12th October

A high-concept romantic comedy with an excellent twist, Ruby Sparks follows the story of Calvin, a struggling writer. He wrote a successful mainstream novel at the age of 19, however he has failed to follow it up with anything of equal quality. After an assignment from his therapist, Calvin's writer's block subsides and he begins writing the story of Ruby Sparks - soon after, he realises he is falling in love with her.

The next day, he wakes up to find that Ruby Sparks has sprung to life from the page and is now a physical being who can speak to him. Hilarity and questions of sanity ensue.

Paul Dano has already impressed this year as an ill-fated looper in, er Looper, and solid support from the likes of comedy king Steve Coogan should ensure that Ruby Sparks certainly lights up the screen.

Frankenweenie


Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Charlie Tahan, Winona Ryder, Martin Landau, Catherine O'Hara
Release Date: 17th October

A Tim Burton movie without Johnny Depp? Not seen one of those in a while! Frankenweenie, a remake of one of Burton's earlier short films, has been labelled as his "freshest, finest film in years", so we can (probably) expect big things.

The charmingly black and white film tells the tale of Victor, who harnesses the power of science to bring his beloved pet dog back to life after his untimely death. The experiment works, and Sparky accidentally gets out and begins causing havoc in the town of New Holland.

Interestingly, Frankenweenie is the first black and white AND the first stop-motion animated film to be released in IMAX 3D. Those necks be cranin'.

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

Director:  Eric Darnell
Cast: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer
Release Date: 19th October

Billed as the most critically and commercially successful film in the hilarious trilogy, Madagascar 3 hits British cinemas on 19th October. Deciding that it's time for a last ditch attempt to get back to New York, Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Gloria the hippo and Melman the giraffe find themselves stranded in France whilst eluding capture at the hands of a crazed hunter.

Cue an animated trek across Europe which is sure to be a more child-friendly version of Eurotrip whilst maintaining a decent and hilarious dose of international stereotypes.

Paranormal Activity 4


Director: Ariel Schulman
Cast: Katie Featherston, Kathryn Newton, Micah Sloat
Release Date: 17th October

"Urgh, another one?!" I hear you cry. Abuse it all you like, you'll be going to see it just like everybody else.

Paranormal Activity 4 picks up just after the events of the 2nd movie in the series, detailing where the now possessed Katie vanished to with Hunter, the baby who happens to be the object of the demon's desires.

Now living next door to Katie and Hunter is Alice, a teenager who notices "weird stuff" going on when Hunter is around. When Katie is taken to hospital, it falls to Alice to babysit Hunter, and more "weird stuff" happens. Like I even need to explain it. Now with added webcams!

007 aside then, October looks to be shying away from the huge action blockbusters, instead offering some more character-driven dramas and plenty of animation to tempt us inside the cinema and away from the cold winter nights. Check back to Movies Under The Microscope throughout the month for reviews of all of these films; in the meantime, you can check out the article archive from the drop down menus on the right.

Review: Looper

Review: Looper

I really wanted this movie to be good.

Following The Dark Knight Rises and Premium Rush, Joseph Gordon-Levitt's golden year rounds itself off with Looper, an engaging sci-fi thriller with rivers of style but an unfortunate drought of substance. 

Sadly, Looper finds itself at the back of the line in terms of the quality of his movies this year, as even Gordon-Levitt's superb performance opposite Bruce Willis and Emily Blunt can't save the story from tanking down a lane of clichés and characters so paper thin you can practically see them flapping in the breeze.

Don't get me wrong, Looper is enjoyable to a certain degree, but it's never quite a fully rounded loop (ooft). The first 45 minutes or so are absolutely genius, however it soon becomes clear that the trailers have been horribly misleading about the core plot of the film, as instead of a cat and mouse chase between Gordon-Levitt's younger Joe and Willis's older Joe, we have a ripped off story about a man from the future attempting to assassinate a child who will one day grow to be a notorious killer. Arnie must be fuming.

Before this list of clichés is ticked off though, we follow the story of Joseph Simmons (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a "Looper". Loopers kill and dispose of targets sent back in time by their employers in the year 2072, therefore removing all evidence of the murder in the future - the only rule is to never, EVER, let the target escape. Joseph enjoys his life, reaping the rewards of his easy job with wealth, flash cars and pleasurable company dominating his existence. That is until the day when he recognises one of his targets as his future self (Bruce Willis), who escapes after overpowering him. The failure of this job causes his employers to go after him, leaving Joseph only one choice - kill his future self, or be killed.

It's after this point that the plot begins to sag. A key scene, one which was presumed to be a highlight of the film, is where young and old Joe sit together in a diner discussing their predicament. "Why don't you just do what old men do and die?" grins young Joe. "Why don't you take your little shooter out from between your legs and give it your best shot...boy?" retorts Willis's older Joe. Unfortunately, that's really the only decent back and forth between the actors. 

Throughout the film, they never feel as though as they are portraying one person at different time periods in their life. If they had more screentime together perhaps the connection would be stronger, yet even though Joseph Gordon-Levitt completely nails the mannerisms, tone and cocky attitude of your average Bruce Willis character, it really feels as though these are two completely different people who just happen to have the same name. Their characterization is not fleshed out enough to deflect this negative aspect, and the narrative deflates into an overly familiar bad guy vs. even worse guy progression (with some interference from a few unwelcome third parties).

As for Emily Blunt, her portrayal of Sara, the single mother of the apparently apocalyptic child with bizarre telekinetic abilities, is very wooden. The British actress fails to hit a convincingly consistent American accent, particularly in the emotionally heavy scenes involving her son's future. The boy in question is played rather badly too, and his story becomes frustratingly boring. Looper has been billed as a man vs. himself story, however we have been misled and this child's tale of woe soon takes over the main narrative. Yawn.

The setting of the movie is also a little puzzling, as one minute we are following Joe's life in the midst of this futuristic city; the next, he is suddenly in the middle of who knows where and the city has vanished from sight as he bumps into Blunt's character, meets his future self at a small out-of-town diner and disposes of his targets. How is he getting there on foot so quickly?

Plus, while we're dissecting the plotholes of Looper, why does the criminal organisation allow such space for mistakes by letting the "Loopers" dispose of their future selves? The margin for error is enormous, as one "Looper" displays early on when his future self is zapped back from the future to be assassinated. However, he sings a song from his childhood invoking a fear of death into the younger man who then refuses to kill his older counterpart. Why not have one "Looper" dispose of another future "Looper", thus removing the emotional connection and the potential disaster?

Summary

Overall then, Looper has unfortunately dropped from its predicted pedestal of "the most exciting, original movie of the year" to the most disappointing. To break it down simply:

The good: Joseph Gordon-Levitt looks, acts and talks the part, providing an easily comfortable performance that really shows off his acting chops. In various scenes, Bruce Willis's trademark smirk and his cocky attitude really shine through Gordon-Levitt's mannerisms, making us believe we are looking at a young acting legend. As for Willis, despite his hyped role amounting to little more than a supporting part, his Looper character is possibly the most emotionally engaging role he has played for a very long time. His action scenes are very few, however when he is let loose we have the usual thrill of watching the veteran actor have fun.

The bad: A misleading premise that suggests the film will be much more exciting than it actually is, some very wooden acting from supporting parts, a bucket full of plotholes and a script full of clichés. Despite Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis giving it their all, the two share very few scenes which is a horrifically missed opportunity, and even their superb talent can't save Looper from becoming a been-there-done-that, predictable bore. Don't even get me started on the ending.

Blame the script or blame the over-ambition of the movie, but after the first thrilling 45 minutes, Looper simply fails to deliver the intense, action-packed sci-fi that we were promised. Terminator 2 much?

5/10 - Mediocre

See it if you liked: Terminator 2 (1991), Back to the Future (1985), The Butterfly Effect (2004)

5 Things To Know About Looper

5 Things To Know About Looper

Are you planning on seeing Looper sometime after its release this Friday, yet know little to nothing about the movie itself? Fear not, Bluffmeister. Here are 5 things you should know about 2012's most original, exciting sci-fi blockbuster.

1. The plot.

In the year 2042, a future dominated by gangs and mafia companies, a 25 year old assassin called Joseph Simmons works as a "Looper". Loopers kill and dispose of targets sent back in time by their employers in the year 2072, therefore removing all evidence of the murder in the future - the only rule is to never, EVER, let the target escape. Joseph enjoys his life, reaping the rewards of his easy job with wealth, flash cars and pleasurable company dominating his existence. That is until the day when he recognises one of his targets as his future self, who escapes after overpowering him. The failure of this job causes his employers to go after him, leaving Joseph only one choice - kill his future self, or be killed.

2. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is Bruce Willis is Joseph Gordon-Levitt is Bruce Willis...

Director Rian Johnson recently stated that, after working with Joseph Gordon-Levitt on 2005's Brick, he wrote Looper as a short story with the actor in mind for the part of Joseph (hence the identical names).  The only question after that was - who to cast as the future version of 2012's golden boy?

The answer - acting legend Bruce Willis. The veteran actor was soon cast as the older, wiser version of Joseph, a man sent back from the future with a warning for his past self - but will young Joe care about a future he can alter at will?

Gordon-Levitt has said that, to prepare for the role, he had to go through 5 hours of prosthetic make-up per day in order to look like a young Willis, while his other research involved downloading audio files of the Die Hard star's movies and learning his speech mannerisms.

3. The Director.

 

Rian Johnson is a visionary film-maker, in the same vein as Christopher Nolan and The Wachowski siblings. His previous directorial and screenwritten works include the Joseph Gordon-Levitt starring Brick, The Brothers Bloom and various episodes of the fantastic TV series Breaking Bad.

Of Looper, Johnson said "This was so much fun to shoot. The crux is 'What would you say or do if you could have a conversation with your future self.' You have these two great actors (Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis) sparring it out for dominance in this scene where they're just talking and trying to figure out their motives." When asked about the use of time travel, he said "It's not really the focus of the movie. It's there, it's used but it's just a vehicle for the plot to move forward. It's much more about how these characters deal with the situation that they're in."

4. The Cast.

Aside from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis portraying the same person, we also have a fantastic supporting cast bringing the shady characters in this futuristic world to life. Amongst these, Jeff Daniels plays Abe, a Looper sent back from the future to initiate the entire organisation of assassins. He acts as a father figure to Joe, offering guidance and encouragement that his job is for the greater good - but is he as trustworthy as he seems? And when the chips are down, how loyal will he really be to Joe?

British actress Emily Blunt also stars as Sara, a single mother who finds herself embroiled in Joe's horrific circumstances when he gatecrashes her life on her farm.

Paul Dano and Noah Segan also star, while Piper Perabo provides support as Suzie, a dancer who frequently sleeps with Joe.

5. The Critics.

So far, Looper has a 93% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating "almost universal acclaim". Empire and TotalFilm have both given the movie 5 stars (Outstanding), with the latter citing it as "The best sci-fi movie since Moon. The best time-travel yarn since 12 Monkeys. And one of the best films of 2012."

You can read my full review of Looper in the next few days. Meanwhile, you can check out the trailer below to get you hyped for the September 28th release date.

Newsarama: 23rd September

Newsarama: 23rd September

It's Sunday, which means it's time for a look back at 10 interesting tidbits of movie news from the last seven days.

10. Peter Cullen confirmed to return as the voice of Optimus Prime.

Despite director Michael Bay choosing to give the Transformers franchise a new direction by setting the fourth installment in space, he has confirmed that the movies will keep the continuity of its voice actors. Peter Cullen, the iconic voice of lead 'Autobot' Optimus Prime, will return to the role, however former protagonists Shia LaBeouf and Rosie Huntingon-Whiteley will not be making a comeback. 

9. Clint Eastwood discusses Expendables 3 rumours. 

Sylvester Stallone seems hell-bent on recruiting every single action star in recent cinematic history for the third movie in his Expendables series. Producer Avi Lerner has already confirmed that Nicolas Cage has joined the cast, however the film may have hit a setback when it comes to Clint Eastwood...

Speaking of Stallone's desire to get him on board, Eastwood said "He does? I haven't had the opportunity to see The Expendables yet. I haven't read any material. I'm probably more apt to direct something. Maybe I'll direct Expendables 3."

8. The Great Gatsby delayed until May 2013.

 

Director Baz Luhrmann's adaptation of F.Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel has been given a new release date. Previously expected to open on Boxing Day this year, The Great Gatsby 3D, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio as the titular character, will now be released on May 10th 2013. Warner Bros. have stated it is so that it "reaches the largest audience possible". Rather than going up against December's big movie The Hobbit, The Great Gatsby will now do box office battle with next year's summer blockbusters Star Trek 2, Man of Steel, Iron Man 3 and Monsters University.

Nice job, Warner Bros...

7. Director Rupert Wyatt leaving Planet of the Apes sequel.

20th Century Fox's Dawn of the Planet of the Apes ship may need to find itself a new captain, as British director Rupert Wyatt is rumoured to be quitting the film citing over-ambitious scheduling. Fox have cited a May 23rd, 2014 release date for the sequel to 2011's surprise success, a date which Wyatt believes is far too close for such a large project.

The situation is very reminiscent of other studios' greedy impatience for money-spinning sequels to franchises. Last year, The Hunger Games director Gary Ross decided not to take on the sequel, Catching Fire, due to Lionsgate's desire to have the movie out by November 2013.

6. The Lord of the Rings helmer Peter Jackson states an interest in directing Doctor Who.

Peter Jackson is a particularly busy bee these days, what with the recent announcement that The Hobbit will be a trilogy rather than just two parts. However, the director is also a fan of 49 year old British sci-fi Doctor Who, stating "I'm a huge Whovian, and I think Matt Smith's fantastic." 

When asked about directing an episode, the New Zealand based film-maker responded "Just name a time and place and I'll be there!"

While this is all just idle chit-chat, something tells me that if, and only if, a Doctor Who movie was to be produced, Peter Jackson would certainly be the man for the job.

5. Joss Whedon's Avengers 2 struggles revealed.

Joss Whedon, the Godfather of all of Marvel's Phase 2 projects, has revealed that signing on to direct a sequel to his hugely successful The Avengers wasn't actually a no-brainer after all.

"There’s a business aspect to it and I would be disingenuous not to say that, but the question for me is, 'Do I have another story to tell about these people?'" he said. "So we worked on the business side of it and I didn’t think it was going to happen - I was like ‘I’m never going to do this again.’" However, he reveals that he couldn't say no to the movie after an intense brainstorming session in London.

"I’m so in love with that universe and the characters and the way they were played and I have so much more I want to do with them. I know I can’t match the success of the first one but I can try to make a better film and that’s what I’m excited about. That’s the new room of fear I’m entering now."

The Avengers 2 opens in the UK on May 1st, 2015. Marvel's Phase 2 projects, including Iron Man 3, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Thor: The Dark World, Guardians of the Galaxy and more, will be released beforehand. Speaking of which...

4. Marvel's head honcho Kevin Fiege discusses the involvement of Thanos in Phase 2.

Having made his big bow in the end-credits of The Avengers, intergalactic super-titan Thanos has been the subject of much speculation amongst Marvel fans. President of Production Kevin Fiege has discussed how the warrior will fit into their Phase 2 projects, particularly when it comes to sticking to the same plan of patience which worked for Phase 1.

"Clearly, there’s a purpose to us putting him in the end of [The Avengers]," he said. "We do have plans for him. I wouldn’t say we ever feel the need to rush anything one way or the other. We succeeded in Phase One because we stuck to our guns and stuck to the plan. That plan took place over many, many years and it ultimately paid off."

3. The Dark Knight Rises Blu-Ray/DVD gets a release date.

 

The Dark Knight Rises will be released for your home viewing pleasure just in time for Christmas. The trailer on YouTube has been altered to accomodate this, and the description of the video states that Nolan's latest will hit home on December 3rd 2012. Fans of the director shouldn't be surprised, as this is also the exact date that The Dark Knight and Inception were released in 2008 and 2010 respectively. While this isn't an official announcement, we can expect Warner Bros. to make one in the next few days.

2. Screenwriter slays rumours of 28 Weeks Later sequel.

Those hoping for a send off for the 28 [insert time period here] Later franchise have been disappointed this week, as screenwriter Alex Garland has confirmed there will be no final installment in the zombie-horror series. 

The Dredd director, who scripted the Danny Boyle movie 28 Days Later and executive produced its sequel 28 Weeks Later, said "I'm still so proud of 28 Days Later and how well it's been received over the years so I appreciate that. But in regards to another movie, no - there are no plans for a 28 Months Later or whatever they were calling it."

He added "This is a series I've always been heavily involved with between the original and the sequel so if there were plans for another movie, I would absolutely know about it."

1. Trailer round-up: Great Expectations and The Hobbit.

Director Mike Newell's adaptation of the classic novel Great Expectations has been given a fresh trailer. The film stars War Horse's Jeremy Irvine as the young lead, Pip, with fantastic support from Helena Bonham Carter as Miss Havishem, the wealthy spinster living in her ruined mansion. Ralph Fiennes, Robbie Coltrane, Jason Flemyng, David Walliams and Holliday Grainger also star in the film, which will be released on November 30th this year. 

You can view the trailer right here:

 

Meanwhile, Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Hobbit has also released a brand new trailer ahead of its December release. This second teaser for the Lord of the Rings prequel gives us a deeper insight into Middle Earth's supporting cast, and the reason Bilbo is chosen by the dwarves to reclaim their homeland from Smaug the dragon. Look out for brilliant scenes such as Gandalf's admission that the young hobbit gives him courage, Bilbo facing off against goblins and, hilariously, Martin Freeman's famous "fed up" face as he waits for Gollum's ramblings to finish.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey stars Martin Freeman as Bilbo, with Ian Mckellen, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Andy Serkis, Hugo Weaving and Elijah Wood all reprising their roles from The Lord of the Rings. New cast members include Sylvester McCoy, Richard Armitage, Stephen Fry, Benedict Cumberbatch and James Nesbitt. The first part of the trilogy will be released on December 14th this year, and you can view the fantastic new trailer below, as well as a brand spanking new poster featuring a surprisingly bad-ass looking Bilbo on the right.

 

That's all for Newsarama, check back to Movies Under The Microscope this week for a review of Rian Johnson's excellent new sci-fi Looper - before it goes on commercial release! Ooh, I feel so important.

Review: To Rome With Love

Review: To Rome With Love

Woody Allen's latest directorial venture into a European capital marks the veteran actor's first appearance in one of his own films since 2006. Yet, To Rome With Love doesn't focus on Allen alone - this brilliantly constructed jigsaw of a movie follows the stories of multiple couples either living in or visiting Italy's eccentric capital city.

Such characters include Alec Baldwin's ageing architect John, who encounters a young student (Jesse Eisenberg) with a passion to pursue a similar career path - and a a dilemna in the form of an equally fierce passion for his girlfriend's best friend (Ellen Page). Meanwhile, Hayley, a young self-employed artist, (Alison Pill) encounters a handsome Italian lawyer, Michelangelo, however her dad (Woody Allen) isn't quite as thrilled about the relationship - that is until he discovers Michelangelo's father, Giancarlo, has a superb operatic voice. The catch is that he only has the confidence to sing in such a way in the shower.

Thirdly, newlyweds Antonio and Milly move from their rustic hometown to Rome because Antonio's upper class uncles have offered him a high earning job in the family business. Unfortunately, however, Milly gets lost on the way to the hair salon and cannot find her way back to the hotel. Meanwhile, Antonio worries and, hearing a knock on the door and assuming his wife has returned, he answers it in his underwear. Anna (Penelope Cruz), a prostitute, bursts into his room insisting that she has been paid to have sex with him and she will not leave until he does. His uncles mistake Anna for Milly, and Antonio is forced to go along with the tale. Finally, an everyday man working 9-5 in a dull office longs to be able to make a difference to his life. One day he wakes to inexplicably find himself branded a celebrity, with the paparazzi documenting his every move.

To Rome With Love runs the risk of stretching itself thin - the film is a tree whose many branches never touch despite stemming from the same trunk. However, each little story has the potential to become its own feature film, and that's the charm. Allen gives us a beginning, middle and end for each character and each tale is wrapped up nicely (although one is very cleverly left open to interpretation, Nolan style).

As for the comedy, this is possibly Allen's best work. Fans looking for something more akin to the sweet, nostalgic delight of Midnight In Paris will be disappointed that this is not a similarly artistic look at Italy's capital city, however it soon becomes clear that To Rome With Love is not trying to be Midnight In Paris 2.0. 

Which is a shame, because despite the charm of the stories in To Rome With Love, they all seem a little too familiar. A young man conflicted with feelings for another woman, a case of mistaken identity and an unwillingly talented man too shy to face his potential have all been done before in various feature films - and let's face it, an 'Average Joe' discovering that the world wants to watch his every move is almost a complete rip-off of Jim Carrey's The Truman Show.

There are some bizarre moments in the film that take away from its charm too - for example, the opening and closing sequences in which a traffic director and an artist break the fourth wall and discuss the many stories occuring in the city feel very cheesy and unnecessary. Add to that the use of subtitles throughout the film when Italian characters are speaking which can be rather distracting and To Rome With Love can be a somewhat distant experience - although saying that, it's either we watch subtitles or learn fluent Italian to enjoy the movie to its fullest.

To combat this, however, we have superb performances from a very broad range of acting talent. Jesse Eisenberg and Ellen Page have fantastic chemistry together and, despite their characters' unsympathetic storyline, we are very emotionally invested. I for one hope this isn't the last time we see these two young superstars on screen together. Alec Baldwin also provides some excellent comic relief, often hilariously popping up in the most bizarre places alongside Eisenberg to offer some not-so-welcome advice. As for Woody Allen, his character is a little annoying but it soon becomes clear his intentions are honest and the actor/director is just as good as he has always been. The supporting cast of Italian greats are also brilliant, particularly with their physical comedic timing.

Rome itself, however, is not given any particularly highlight during the film. Unlike Midnight In Paris, where the French capital is a principal character within itself, To Rome With Love uses the "eternal city" as more of a convenient backdrop for these characters to meet or have their stories played out. While this is fair enough, as the movie is a comedic character study, it really feels like the film could have taken place anywhere else. To Rome With Love isn't really a suitable title for a film that doesn't particularly show any love to Rome - more affection for the eccentricity of people and the antics they get into.

Summary

Overall though, To Rome With Love is very funny and hugely enjoyable to watch. The unconnected short stories are structured brilliantly, with each finding its own fulfilling conclusion. The acting is also fantastic, and despite slightly alienating factors such as subtitles and cultural references to Italy and its capital city that we may not always understand, superb performances from Eisenberg, Page and even Woody Allen himself ensure the movie stays on track and keeps our interest high. 

The only gripes are a lack of attention given to the city itself, making the film's title a little redundant, as well as sequences at the start and the end of the film that break the fourth wall and take away from the atmosphere. Those looking for something similar to Midnight In Paris will also be disappointed as, despite sharing the same continent, the movies are worlds apart. That said, Woody Allen's latest is a great romantic comedy and will definitely make you laugh, thus achieving its goal.

7/10 - Very Good

See it if you liked: Love Actually (2003),  New Year's Eve (2011), The Five Year Engagement (2012).

Review: The Sweeney

Review: The Sweeney

Here come the fuzz...

"We're The Sweeney, shithead - and you're nicked," barks Ray Winstone's Jack Regan in the opening scenes of director Nick Love's revamped adaptation of the popular 1970s TV show.

Well, it's nice to see you too, Mr Winstone. He brings with him "The Sweeney", his team of elite police, all of whom pride themselves on their ability to push the boundaries of the rules. Leaving enough collateral damage in their wake after every arrest to rival that of a small tornado, Jack and the antics of his team attract the attention of superior Internal Affairs officers who want nothing more than to shut the division down. When a heist takes place at a private bank, Regan and his hard-as-nails sidekick George Carter (Ben "Plan B" Drew) suspect an old adversary has returned. As the stakes are raised and innocent lives are lost, Regan and Carter will stop at nothing to catch the "shlags" responsible.

Hyped as "The best British action movie in years", The Sweeney certainly lives up to that - some of the shootouts are incredibly ambitious, in particular an impressive sequence shot from Trafalgar Square to the ins and outs of the National Gallery. Ray Winstone may not be the kickass action star most would expect, but he certainly knows how to dictate a gunfight and his authoritative cockney tones certainly help to ramp up the action as he makes his voice heard between the bullets. He is cast brilliantly as our not so admirable protagonist Jack Regan, nailing the line between hard-man and emotionally puzzled mess as his character attempts to carry out a (slightly unbelievable) affair with a beautiful younger member of his crew (Hayley Atwell) - a member who happens to be married to the Internal Affairs officer investigating the shady methods executed by Regan's team.

As for Ben Drew, a.k.a Plan B, the actor/rapper/singer/director surprises on all fronts. Not only can he handle the action scenes, specifically hand to hand combat, but his character (while possessing a pretty predictable background) is very enjoyable to watch. The back and forth dialogue between Regan and Carter is cockney banter at its best (Guy Ritchie would be proud), and, as much as he claims he "shouldn't be underestimated", Carter is the very efficient Robin to Regan's Batman. This dynamic spices the film up very nicely, particularly during the later stages where Regan's fate is in question.

Unfortunately, however, that's just about all The Sweeney has to offer: a decent pair of perfectly cast leading men and excellent action scenes. The plot? Well, it's hardly the work of F. Scott Fitzgerald. The formula is an entertaining one, but it also gets very predictable very quickly: shoot stuff; car chase; arrest bad guy; converse with superiors; emotional moment; shoot stuff...and so on and so forth. Yet while the action is fantastic for the most part, the film's midway shootout through Trafalgar Square is much more epic than the actual climax, which leaves us feeling a little resentful and unfulfilled.

The running time (just under two hours) drags a little too - there is a significant chunk of the film which could easily have been left on the cutting room floor. More side-character driven plot points like these can be addressed in the sequel - assuming there will be one. Add to that a lack of humour save for one or two lines, and The Sweeney is a thoroughly dark affair. That said, one particular scene which sums up The Sweeney's cockney-and-proud dialogue is where Regan picks up a photograph - an inanimate object - stares at it for a moment and mumbles "You slag." This kind of unintentional humour raises a few laughs throughout the film and keeps us tied into the London atmosphere.

Speaking of which, The Sweeney's modern setting is given a glamarous Hollywood sheen, making London look fantastic. The shootouts in the streets, the chases through the parks and The Sweeney's offices are brilliantly realised, and the fantastic execution of the action scenes ensures that we never miss a beat.

Summary

What The Sweeney lacks in substance it makes up for in style. Despite its predictable plot, its exhausting running time and its whimpering climax, Ray Winstone's latest manages to satisfy both the action fanatics and those looking for a decent crime drama. Ben "Plan B" Drew is a surprise hit, and his back and forth banter with Winstone is thoroughly entertaining, while the typically cockney dialogue raises a few laughs here and there. The action is fantastic, with the highlight of the film involving a brilliantly executed, nailbiting shootout in London's Trafalgar Square.

Some words of advice for the writers of the (probable) sequel, however: just because you can use a caravan park in your finale doesn't necessarily mean you have to. As long as Winstone and Drew return though, The Sweeney will continue to satisfy thanks to their dynamic - with a better plot, a sequel could be so much more entertaining than this game of cops and robbers.

Go and see it now, you toilet.

7/10 - Very Good

See it if you liked: Hot Fuzz (2007), Taken (2008), Sherlock Holmes (2009).

Review: Lawless

Review: Lawless

Expectation is a killer. The whole situation is always very unfortunate - "Oh look, that film has a brilliant cast, it must also have a brilliant story!"

While this is sometimes the case, Lawless is unfortunately an exception. It excels at providing a very entertaining movie in many areas, however the plot itself is a moral jigsaw puzzle that never quite happily clicks in to place.

Based on the book The Wettest Country In The World by Matt Bondurant, Lawless follows the true story of the Bondurant brothers, a trio of Franklin County, Virginia dwelling siblings whose illegal liquor bootlegging activities are carried out behind their busy, popular bar. Forrest (Tom Hardy), Howard (Jason Clarke) and Jack (Shia LaBouf) find their lives running smoothly enough, as the general consensus in the town is that the Bondurant brothers are invincible to the law and their rival bootlegger Floyd Banner (Gary Oldman).

That is until Special Detective Charlie Rakes (Guy Pearce) travels from Chicago to pop his nosy head into their business. However, it soon becomes clear that Rakes has his own agenda and his grudge match against the Bondurants soon begins to level the small town and causes distress and disaster to the people within. Cue a bloody battle for survival as the Bondurant brothers find their status elevated from criminals to outlawed heroes, fighting to restore peace and order to their family and town.

Director John Hillcoat, whose previous projects include The Proposition and The Road, leaves little to the imagination when it comes to the violence. Tom Hardy's character in particular recieves a horrific beating at certain points, all of which is seen in clear focus, while the bloody shootout climax at the end of the movie is as gory as a 15-rated drama can really get away with.

Don't worry, though. That's a good thing.

The hard-hitting nature of Lawless relies on this visual impact. It may not be particularly fun to watch, but the violence pulls us in and makes us care much more about these characters whose imperfect yet peaceful lives have been shattered by this power-hungry, corrupt scumbag from the big city. 

Ah, yes. The characters.

Tom Hardy's had a pretty varied year so far, with romantic comedy This Means War and epic superhero drama The Dark Knight Rises under his belt, in which he is completely unrecognisable. Lawless continues to show his diversity as well as his 'hard-man' image, as Forrest, his character, is a quiet yet violent man who would do anything to protect those closest to him, even if his criminality is frowned upon by the mainstream. Hardy does give a very outstanding performance as usual, his subdued nature acting as a magnet for our curiosity and pulling us in to the film. His character's fondness for knitwear is also rather charming.

Unfortunately, however, the other major star billed as a primary character and used rather prominently in the trailers and promotional material is wasted in a cameo. Gary Oldman's character, Floyd Banner, is seen very briefly - it's also a shame that he doesn't have any screentime at all with Hardy, his Dark Knight Rises co-star. It's hard not to feel cheated when we are promised an actor of Oldman's callibre for a film in which his time on screen is very short indeed.

As for Shia LaBouf, his performance is rather more predictable. The Transformers star, who has recently said he is going to shy away from mega-franchises in future, is once again cast as the young wannabe looking up to his siblings and desperately trying to prove himself. It's all very 'been there, done that', but LaBouf just about gets away with it as his character progresses throughout the film. Guy Pearce's villainous character is also very predictable, frustratingly so. The only surprising thing about him is a lack of a moustache which, if present, he would surely be twirling 24/7.

Which brings us to the villainous nature of the movie itself - we are effectively rooting for lawbreakers, as the film uses the good old Godfather trick: win sympathy for your criminal protagonists by making the criminal antagonists just that little bit more conniving and evil. It's a tired premise, and when the movie's conclusion is wrapped up in such a nice little package with no repercussions, the concept feels very overused and predictable indeed.

Still, while the story is a little rough around the edges, the set design is beautifully clear and the shooting locations are stunning. The Prohibition era of the late 20s is brought to life brilliantly, and the small town of Franklin County looks fantastic and perfectly believable, even if there is little exploration carried out for us to see more of the environment.

 Summary

Lawless is a violent, cruel story which forces us to have faith in the bad guys as they take on an even more horrific enemy - a concept that has been done countless times, and one which is given no originality at all here. The plot is also wrapped up a little too neatly to believe considering the content of the film, which leaves us feeling that Lawless tried a little too hard to be an epic sucker punch and settles instead for a block and parry.

That said, however, the acting is fantastic and that's enough to carry the movie on its own. Tom Hardy, Shia LaBouf and Guy Pearce excel in their roles, making us really feel towards the characters be it sympathy or disgust. The violence in the film is a little surprising and certainly pushes us into the movie - where other productions would opt to shy away from showing the blood, this one lives up to its name by breaking the rules of a 15-rated movie. It's a little over-familiar, but Lawless is a decent flick to end the summer season with.

6/10 

See it if you liked: No Country For Old Men (2007), True Grit (2010), The Proposition (2005)

Newsarama: September 16th

Newsarama: September 16th

It's Sunday, which means it's time for a look back at the last seven days in movieland. Here are 10 interesting nuggets of movie news from the last week.

10. James Cameron nearly directed Jurassic Park.

Avatar and Titanic director James Cameron has revealed what could have been his vision for Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park movies. He described his story as "much nastier" than the final product, and also noted how he felt after he saw the released version. 

“When I saw the film,” said Cameron, “I realised that I was not the right person to make the film, Spielberg was. Because he made a dinosaur movie for kids, and mine would have been Aliens with dinosaurs, and that wouldn’t have been fair."

9. Joss Whedon talks The Avengers 2 and his upcoming S.H.I.E.L.D TV show.

Work has already begun on the script for the sequel to Marvel's The Avengers, and writer/director Joss Whedon has described the more complex direction he would like the superhero team up to move in.

"The creation of the team is not the happy ending," he said. "It is the beginning of something that is complex and difficult, and now I get to dig a little deeper. And maybe, while I'm digging, just twist that knife. And that's exciting for me."

Meanwhile, Whedon is also overseeing all of Marvel's Phase 2 projects (including Thor: The Dark World, Iron Man 3 and Ant-Man) whilst developing a spin-off TV show called S.H.I.E.L.D, based on the organization spearheaded by Nick Fury in The Avengers. However, fans hoping for cameos from Captain America and the rest of the gang may be disappointed.

“It’s new characters," Whedon confirms. "It needs to be its own thing. It needs to be adjacent to the movies, but you don’t want to do a show where you’re constantly going, ‘Iron Man just left, but he was totally here a minute ago.’ You want them to do their own thing.”

8. Sequels planned for Ted and The Bourne Legacy. 

 

Universal have confirmed that sequels are on the way for The Bourne Legacy and Seth Macfarlane's Ted. Despite mixed reviews for Legacy, producer Frank Marshall has discussed the direction they want to take the fresh Bourne franchise.

"We're gonna follow Jeremy Renner's new character," he revealed. "Everything else is wide open. That's the great thing about this now. The table is set to go any direction we want to. But we will, I'm sure, follow Jeremy and see what happens. Jeremy and Rachel Weisz."

Ted has racked up close to $400 million worldwide, having amassed a raft of solid reviews, and Universal is looking to fast-track a sequel to capitalise on the character's popularity. According to Universal CEO Steve Burke, the studio will move on a sequel, "as soon as we can".

7. Justice League movie and Batman reboot may be completely unconnected.

Yet more confusing news from DC headquarters, as according to Batman-on-Film, DC and Warner Bros. are "considering the possibility" of having multiple Batmen on our cinema screens at once.

The studio already has Will Arnett voicing an animated lego version of the caped crusader in their LEGO movie, however the implication here is that the actor portraying Bruce Wayne in Justice League (2015) will be a completely different actor than the one in the as-yet-untitled Batman reboot.

So if this news is true, then the chances are high that Henry Cavill's portrayal of Superman in next year's Man of Steel will also differ from the version of the character that will appear in Justice League.

Blimey.

6.  Dreamworks Animation reveals all upcoming movies until 2016.

Looks like Dreamworks have their hands full for the next 4 years, as they have announced all of their animated flicks in production up until 2016.

After this year's Rise of the Guardians, sequels will include Kung Fu Panda 3 and How To Train Your Dragon 2 and 3, as well as The Penguins of Madagascar, a spin-off of Madagascar.

Among the more original flicks heading our way, The Croods, Turbo and Mr Peabody & Sherman will all reach us by 2013, while Me and My Shadow and Happy Smekday! will be released in 2014. Trolls, B.O.O and Mumbai Musical are slated for 2015 while the aforementioned conclusions to the Kung Fu Panda and How To Train Your Dragon trilogies will reach us in 2016.

Dreamworks are showing no signs of quantity over quality either, as the stars signing up to these flicks include the likes of Seth Rogen, Emma Stone, Nicolas Cage, Jason Segel, Robert De Niro, Ryan Reynolds and Snoop Dogg. Even Jim Parsons (Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory) will be starring in the lead role opposite Rihanna in Happy Smekday!, a casting event which nobody saw coming.

 5. Sequel to The Hunger Games begins shooting.

With the November 22, 2013 release date a little over a year away, Catching Fire has begun shooting in Atlanta. Based on the book by Suzanne Collins, the sequel to (the surprisingly excellent) The Hunger Games will see Katniss, played by Jennifer Lawrence, experiencing life after her horrific experience in the arena during the first film, as well as dealing with the repercussions of her refusal to kill her final opponent. President Snow, sensing that the rebellion from the lower classes is growing, prepares a twist for the 75th annual Hunger Games - a twist that will find Katniss back in the arena with all of the winners of previous tournaments.

The rest of the cast includes Donald Sutherland, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Woody Harrelson.

4. The Dark Knight Rises Blu Ray/DVD will definitely not feature a director's cut.

Backtracking on rumours that circled the web last week, sources close to Christopher Nolan have denied any such implication that The Dark Knight Rises will feature a director's cut upon its Blu Ray/DVD release.

That said, it is still unclear whether there will be any deleted scenes at all, however if there are not it should not come as a shock to anybody. Christopher Nolan has never been one to include additional material in any of his home releases. Until Warner Bros. releases an official statement regarding the release date and additional content of the Blu Ray/DVD, everything is speculation (as is always the Nolan way).

3. Godzilla and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboots given release dates.

  

May 16th, 2014 will see the release of Godzilla, a remake of the 1998 monster classic. The franchise will be given a "more gritty, realistic and terrifying actioner", according to Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures. The film will be directed by Gareth Edwards, the talent behind 2010's atmospheric drama Monsters, while David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight Rises) will be tackling the screenplay.

Scaly creatures cruising around Manhattan may be the norm in 2 years, as the as-yet-untitled reboot of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will also be released on May 16th, 2014. The film will be produced by Trasnformers director Michael Bay and will reportedly focus on the origin of the mutants, however a leaked copy of the script upset many die-hard fans when it was revealed the turtles would in fact be aliens from outer space rather than the sewer-dwelling creatures as in their comic book stories.

2. 300 sequel given a new title.

The title for the follow-up to Zak Snyder's epic warrior movie 300 has finally been revealed after much speculation. Director Noam Murro has confirmed that the prequel will be called 300: Rise Of An Empire.

Meanwhile, Gerard Butler has confirmed he will not be reprising his role as King Leonidas, who died an epic death at the end of the first installment. "Oh yeah, I'm not doing it," he said. "They're filming the sequel right now. I wish them the best, but it didn't work out. It wasn't really my thing."

300: Rise Of An Empire stars Eva Green, Rodrigo Santoro and Callan Mulvey, and it will be released on August 2nd, 2013.

1. Fantastic new trailers for Lincoln and Wreck-It Ralph online.

They're like chalk and cheese, but Steven Spielberg's ambitious take on the life of Abraham Lincoln has finally been given a full cinematic trailer, and the trailer for Disney's fantastic comedy about the lives of videogame baddies has also found its way online.

Spieilberg's new film charts Abraham Lincoln's final few months in office as he attempts to bring an end to the American Civil War while fighting to abolish slavery (vampires not included).

Lincoln stars Daniel Day-Lewis as America's 16th President, as well as Tommy Lee Jones, Sally Field, James Spader, Jared Harris and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (seriously, what isn't he in these days?). You can view the typically Spielberg-ish trailer below.

 

Meanwhile, Disney have released the brilliant new trailer for Wreck-It Ralph, an animated comedy which tells the story of a video game bad guy who is...well, sick of being the bad guy. For over 30 years, he has been attempting to destroy a building that the hero in his particular game builds to gain points. Deciding to prove he can be a good guy instead, Ralph escapes the game and enters a variety of others, including shoot-em-ups, racers and arcade classics. Fantastic stuff. 

 

Wreck-It Ralph will be released on November 2nd, 2012 and it will star John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman and Jane Lynch. You can view the trailer above, and look out for appearances from classic characters such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Bowser from Super Mario, Smoke from Mortal Kombat, Frogger and even Inky, Blinky and Pinky from Pac-Man.  

That's all for Newsarama this week, check back to Movies Under The Microscope for reviews of Dredd, Lawless, The Sweeney and To Rome With Love as well as the usual mix of features and articles.