Movies (0 - 9) A - L

28 Weeks Later
Release: 11/05/07
Length: 99 mins
Certificate: 16
Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
Starring: Robert Carlyle, Imogen Poots, Macintosh Muggleton, Catherine McCormack, Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner & Harold Perrineau
Britain has been griped by a deadly virus, its victims becoming rabid flesh hungry animals and the UK is quarantined. Don (Carlyle) loses his wife to an attack but manages to escape. Finally the infection is abated and the US Army begins the slow and rigid process of re-patriotisation. Don is now to be reunited with his 2 children coming back from Spain. 28 Weeks Later and the infection is about to ‘Rage’ again.

Carlyle here shows why he is one of Britain’s best acting talents, offering an honest and vulnerable turn in the first half and suitably intense one through the rest the movie. Macintosh Muggleton (I want this lad to be a success just to see that name on a billboard!) and Imogen Poots are perfect as Don’s kids - Andy & Tammy. Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner & Harold Perrineau as three maverick soldiers trying to protect the children each hit their mark.

For this movie Danny Boyle has handed over directing duties to Spain’s Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (known previously for ‘Intacto’). He offers clever, frenetic and most of all suitable visuals never resorting to show-off ‘Guy Ritchie’ big wink-ery. Imaginative scenes included a moment with a helicopter that out decapitates ‘Dawn of the Dead’ and a night scope equivalent of ‘Blair Witch’s’ handheld shots. I does lack the humanity and optimism of the first movie (I never really got a chance to learn most of the characters names) yet this could be considered the ‘Empire’ of a supposedly larger series.

The movie lacks a little in characterisation but offers high tension, frights and edge of the seat thrills in what is a horror-drama based disaster movie lacking the off-putting gloss of it US contemporaries. ‘Rage On’.
Score: 4 out of 5
- Captain Gonzo Johnson (12/05/2007)
Alpha Dog
Release: 20/04/07
Length: 117 mins
Certificate: 15
Director: Nick Cassavetes
Starring: Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone, Emile Hirsh, Justin Timberlake, Anton Yelchin, Shawn Hatosy, Ben Foster and Harry Dean Stanton.
 
Inspired by the downfall of the youngest man ever on the FBI’s Most Wanted list, This film follows Johnny Truelove (Hirsh) a small-time drug dealer, trying to live up to the image of his mobster father (Willis). When a confrontation with a hopped up associate (Foster) over owed moneys turns nasty, Johnny and his hapless cohorts decide on the spur of the moment to kidnap his 15 year old half brother (Yelchin). The problem comes with what do with their young charge.

Willis and Stone give solid performances on the periphery of the story supporting its young cast. Justin Timberlake proves his acting chops as likeable crony, Frankie especially in scenes alongside Anton Yelchin, who is spot on as the stolen boy, Zach. Also standout are ever-loyal Schmidy (Hatosy) and Zach’s wired brother, Jake (Ben Foster, near unrecognisable here from X-Men 3).

Cassavetes gives us near perfect pacing up until the final ten minutes where we’ve become too caught up in the story of Frankie, Zach & Schmidy to care about Johnny. The interviews are great way to show character perspective but little overused in the 3rd Act, as are the split screens at times. The dialogue throughout on the other hand is right on the money.

For those looking for story which is far from black and white that will promote discussion, this movie is for you. The message is a little muddled in places yet this is easily saved by well paced direction and enjoyable performances.
Score: 3.5 out of 5
- Captain Gonzo Johnson (17/04/2007)

Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Release: 15/06/2007
Length: 92 mins
Certificate: PG
Director: Tim Story
Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon and Doug Jones with the voice of Laurence Fishburne.

Whilst the foursome are making the fourth attempt at the weeding of Mr. Fantastic and The Invisible Woman, A mysterious figure is arriving from deep space leaving devastation in his wake. Can the family of superheroes find the secret of The Silver Surfer before the earth draws its final breath?

For the most part, the returning actors have their characters down pat. Gruffudd's Richard's is nerdy and unconfident in one breath and the teams elastic backbone in the other, Chiklis is a loveable grump and Evans plays the hotshot with hidden depth to a tee. On the other hand though Alba here whilst being less 'invisible' than she was in the previous movie is an uneasy fit for Sue Storm and McMahon despite vast improvements still offers up a fairly campy Doom. The visuals provided by Doug Jones and the vocals of Laurence Fishburne make The Surfer this year's most likely spin-off.

Tim Story here offers a tight script, with excellent pacing and witty dialogue, coupled with good special effects and CGI. The apocalyptic climax did seem a little rushed, with little build-up throughout the movie.

This second outing is an improvement on the original, offering - despite its faults - a fun movie for all of the family

Score: 3.5 out of 5
- Captain Gonzo Johnson (17/06/2007)

The Hitcher (2007)
Release: 01/06/2007
Length: 83 mins
Certificate: 18
Director: Dave Meyers
Starring: Sean Bean, Sophia Bush, Zachary Knighton & Neal McDonough
Couple Jim Halsey and Grace Andrews are on a road-trip through New Mexico to get to friends and Spring Break, when they narrow escape a psychopath who they kindly offered a ride to the next town. Unfortunately the man known as John Ryder is not finished with them.

Sophia Bush & Zachary Knighton do a passable job in what soon becomes just another youth slasher movie. The arc for Bush’s character for instance is nothing we haven’t seen before. Sean Bean is enjoyable as Hitcher John, full of quiet menace, seemingly in on some sick private joke. Unfortunately the focus is rarely off the couple long enough to enjoy his turn.

Director Dave Meyers (here in his first feature away from Music Videos) here in the early going does a good job of keeping the tension and achieve suitable frights. This bodes well despite some ham-fisted imagery (road kill, a child’s bloody bible story). Unfortunately somewhere in the middle he starts directing an action film rather than a thriller. Odd choices include a full on car chase shoot-out complete with Nine Inch Nails blasting in the background. Also some of the scenes could have done better with blood and gore left to the imagination.

Despite early promise this movie doesn’t leap any further than just okay. Great if you’re not feeling too picky but if you are, better off checking out the ’86 original.

Score: 3 out of 5
- Captain Gonzo Johnson (01/06/2007)

Lucky You

Release: 21/06/2007
Length: 124 mins
Certificate: 12A
Director: Curtis Hanson
Starring: Eric Bana, Drew Barrymore, Debra Messing & Robert Duvall

Huck Cheever is a professional Las Vegas gambler specializing in Poker, living a thousand dollar stake at time, keeping people at a distance. He's trying to make up a stake to enter the Annual World Series of Poker. Can he win at the big show, win the lady (Barrymore) and repair his relationship with his estranged Poker pro dad (Duvall)?

The movie's leads do a good job here, especially Duvall showing why he is still one of the classiest acts in Hollywood. Bana is compelling as the material allows and Barrymore aids proceedings with her onscreen charisma. Curtis Hanson offers appropriate visuals and montages but falls short of making Poker visually compelling. The movie is over long and pacing wise plods in places.

Despite good performances and a serviceable enough story, poor pacing & formulaic plot bring it in below the mark. It's a case of good skill, poor hand.
Score: 2.5 out of 5
- Captain Gonzo Johnson (21/06/2007)