Room - Phil's Five Words for Films

Room Directed by Lenny Abrahamson (Frank,2014) and based on the screenplay & 2010 book by Emma Donoghue, Room centres on a young boy, Jack, who has known nothing of the world other than the room in which he has been held captive. Together with his 'Ma', his world has to change quickly as they bid to escape from their captor, 'Old Nick'. The first half of the film is claustrophobic and personal and the second half is tragic yet hopeful. The naïve, first person tone of the book has been perfectly captured in the low level camera work and the focus on faces and simple relationships. Brie Larson won an Oscar in 2016 for her performance but, for me, it is the young wonder of Jack ( Jacob Tremblay ) that really steals the show. A wonderful film about parenthood, learning from life and growing through experience. Emma Donoghue was rightly nominated for an adapted screenplay Oscar.

8 out of 10
Cert 15 (UK)
118mins 2016

American Hustle - Phil's Five Words for Films

American Hustle There's loads of great performances in this con artist, FBI shakedown but it looks and feels like a drug-fuelled party held in a 1970s costume department. There's just too much 'Wig' going on. Like Christian Bale's character, Irving Rosenfeld, it is hard working, entertaining but a little bit bloated. The colour and energy of the film distracts from the main characters and plot, meaning I was left not really caring for any of the main players. Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Christian Bale and especially Jennifer Laurence all shine and they play off each other with hyperactive intensity. For all their effort and that of the props department, it is a movie that doesn't quite match the sum of its considerable parts. The main problem with that being that it seems quite a long film to leave you feeling so empty. Enjoyable, high energy, fluffy and a distraction from anything there to get your teeth in to. Like candyfloss.

7.5 out of 10
Cert 15 (UK)
135mins. 2013.

Oscar 2016 - My Final predictions.

OK, so here are my thoughts on which films I think will walk away with the statues at the Oscars 2016. I think 'The Revenant' will take the bulk of the 'big' awards but there are plenty of deserving films that will be fighting for the others. 'Mad Max: Fury Road' will do well in the technical & production catagories. I'm hoping 'Ex Machina' gets something.

Best Picture - The Revenant 
Best Director - Alejandro G. Inarritu, The Revenant
Best Actor - Leonardo DiCaprio - The Revenant
Best Actress - Brie Larson, Room
Best Supporting Actor - Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
Best Supporting Actress - Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl
Best Original Screenplay - Ex Machina
Best Adapted Screenplay - The Martian
Best Cinematography - The Revenant
Best Film Editing  - Mad Max:Fury Road
Best Production Design - Bridge of Spies
Best Costume Design - Mad Max:Fury Road
Best Visual Effects - Ex Machina
Best Makeup and Hairstyling - Mad Max:Fury Road
Best Sound Editing - The Martian
Best Sound Mixing - Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Best Original Score - Bridge of Spies
Best Original Song - Spectre
Best Animated Feature - Inside Out

Whiplash - Phil's Five Words for Films

Whiplash When does pushing for glory become psychologically abusive? There are so many reasons why Whiplash is, in my opinion, the perfect film. It is not just because the script and screenplay crackle with intensity or that the film, directed by Damien Chazelle, literally never takes it's eye off the central character, Andrew. It is not even that the film was put together in less than 3 months on a remarkably small budget (£2Million). Nor is it the stunning performances that bristle with punishing ambition and the bitter sweet dangers of pushing too hard for greatness. Miles Teller and the Oscar award winning JK Simmons are both fantastic, sparring with each other throughout, a drum kit doubling as a boxing ring. Teller should also have been in the running for multiple awards for his outstanding performance. It is not just the wonderful Jazz score or the beautifully timed edit that give it a free, yet insanely focused feel. It's not the painful, high tempo, 'Rocky with Drums' training scenes or the spiteful, aggressive, redemptive tone of the ending. It is the whole. The ensemble, that pushes it forward. Raising the finale to a spine tingling final close-up. It forms one of those rare things, a film that I could watch over and over again, taking something new each time.  Whiplash.

10 out of 10
Cert 15 (UK). 106mins
2014.

Oscar Predictions 2015 - Phil's Five Words for Films

OK, so here are my thoughts on which films I think will walk away with the statues at the Oscars 2015. There could be a big 'USA/Brit' swing thing this year, with 'The Imitation Game' & 'Theory' versus the 'Boyhood' & 'Birdman'. It could go either way but I think 'Boyhood', the excellent 'Birdman' and Keaton will win by a beak and if that does happen, then 'Imitation' and 'Theory' will be drastically under represented by the end of the night. The 'production' statues will be dominated by 'The Grand Budapest Hotel', such a large gathering won't go unrecognised.

Best Picture - Boyhood
Best Director - Alejandro G. Inarritu, Birdman
Best Actor - Michael Keaton - Birdman ( 'Theory' close enough 2nd to steal it)
Best Actress - Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Best Supporting Actor - J.K. Simmons, Whiplash
Best Supporting Actress - Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Best Original Screenplay - Wes Anderson - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Best Adapted Screenplay - Graham Moore - The Imitation Game
Best Cinematography - Emmanuel Lubezki - Birdman
Best Film Editing  - Boyhood
Best Production Design - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Best Costume Design - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Best Visual Effects - Interstellar
Best Makeup and Hairstyling - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Best Sound Editing - American Sniper
Best Sound Mixing - Whiplash
Best Original Score - The Theory of Everything
Best Original Song - 'Glory' Selma
Best Animated Feature - How to Train Your Dragon 2
Best Foreign Language Film - Ida

Oscar Shouts - Phil's Five Words for Films

Ok, so plenty of people have been asking me what I think will win or should win awards at this year's Oscar Ceremony. Here is a list of my thoughts.

Best Film - 12 Years a Slave
Best Director - Alfonso Cuarón - Gravity
Best Actor - Matthew McConaughey - Dallas Buyer's Club
Best Actress - Cate Blanchett - Blue Jasmine
Best Supporting Actor - Jared Leto - Dallas Buyer's Club
Best Supporting Actress -Lupita Nyong’o - 12 Years a Slave