The Dawn Wall & Free Solo - 'Double Bill' - Phil's Five Words for Film

Rock Climbing Double Bill. Harness yourself in for a wild time. You do not need to be a climber to appreciate wonderful film crafting.

'The Dawn Wall' (2017 Cert 15 UK 100mins) & 'Free Solo' (2018 Cert 12A UK 100mins) 

'Free Solo' is an Oscar-winning documentary (2018) about rock climber Alex Honnold as he attempts to scale Yosemite's El Capitan Wall without a safety rope. As uncomfortably crazy as it sounds and not for the faint-hearted. My recommended prequel is ‘Dawn Wall’ from 2017, to give you an idea of scale and the levels of physical fitness needed from all concerned. 'Dawn Wall' follows free climbers Tommy Caldwell and climbing partner Kevin Jorgeson, who attempt to climb a 3000ft route up El Capitan. Both films will make you marvel at the lengths some people will go to push their boundaries and the limits of possibility within sport. I would argue that 'Dawn Wall' ( Dir. Josh Lowell / Peter Mortimer) has a more complete narrative but 'Free Solo' ( Dir. Jimmy Chin / Elisabeth Chai Vasarhelyi ) has the better drama and cinematography. Tense, palm sweating, vertigo-inducing double bill documentary that highlights the daring, perseverance, wonderful camera work and climbing skills of a dedicated bunch. Insane and fantastic. Near perfect documentary making. Just don't look down. 

9 out of 10 (together and individually)

Cert 15 & 12A UK

Sharknado - Phil's Five Words for Films

Sharknado Sometimes a film can be so ridiculously ludicrous that it just grabs you by the funny bone and it transcends all logic and defies all the usual rules. Sharknado is definitely one of those films. A super storm heads towards the west coast of America, pulling sharks from the ocean and dumping thousands of them on the unprepared citizens of coastal L.A. Every part of the film is awful. The premise, the script, the editing, the acting, the special effects, the science, the physics and even the laws of gravity are all terrible, so terrible that they are laughable. Therein lies the unintended brilliance. At no point

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part II - Phil's Five Words for Films

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part II So it all ends. 7 books, 400 million copies. 8 films, $6billion turnover, 1 incredible, long-lasting cast and 9 academy award nominations. Surely now is the time for this amazing series of films to be given the recognition they deserve and finally be awarded a bag full of Oscars. The new film rattles through the action and neatly pulls together all the strands of this amazing story as Harry and friends do battle with 'you-know-who' for one last time. There is a great balance to the film, with moments of humour and love set against a backdrop of sadness and tragedy. I still think that HP3 - The Prisoner of Azkaban- is the best of the bunch but the cinematography and effects have improved greatly and this latest film looks and sounds amazing. The soaring shots and epic battle scenes are like something from a war film. It's the affection for the characters and their world that really drives the films forward and any shortcomings are glossed over as the story reaches it's conclusion. The fantastic cast have really grown into their characters and the sense of loss within the film is tangable. It is the end of an era. Ten years in the making and full of energy, talent, wonder and magic, the story may well be told but the world will be with us forever. Brilliant.

9.5 out of 10
Cert 12A (uk)
2011.

Black Swan - Phil's Five Words for Films -

Black Swan So, you think a film about ballet might not be your thing? Well, think again. You think you'll be seeing a pleasant story about dancing and twirling and beating the odds? Well, think again. Natalie Portman is absolutely brilliant as she plays Nina, a slightly unhinged young ballerina, slowly falling to pieces whilst searching for the perfect performance. After being asked to play the lead roll in Swan Lake, Nina becomes caught up in a sordid and tragic battle with the dark side of herself, her passions and her overbearing mother. Beautifully directed by Darren Aronofsky ( The Wrestler ) the film descends in to a fantastical, trippy world of hallucinations, self-harming, sexual intrigue and madness. The cinematography, score and script are all completely OTT but, coupled with the insanity at the film's heart, it works really well. Natalie Portman has surely bagged an Oscar here but Mila Kunis, Barbara Hershey and Vincent Cassel are also superb. I'm sure there are holes to be picked at but this is a dark, twisted, sometimes repulsive, psychological drama that is thrilling and completely overwhelming. Could you ask for anything more? Great cinema.

9.5 out of 10.
Cert 15 (uk).2010

Coraline - Phil's Five Words for Films

Coraline. Director Henry Selick ( James and the Giant Peach and The Nightmare Before Christmas ) lets loose his wild imagination and takes us in to the twisted and psychedelic world that lies behind a secret door in Coraline's new house. At first, the new, other-world is full of wonder and excitement but all is not what it seems. Dark, grotesque characters mingle with trippy, insane dreamscapes and the result is a perfectly balanced voyage in to an eerie and frightening world. The stop-motion animation is incredible and the invention and originality that fills the screen is fantastic. Part fairytale, part nightmare, this film is definitely a children's story told for adults. Menacing enough to terrify young children and so full of beauty that it will mesmerise all. Coraline has everything that the recent 'Alice in Wonderland' lacked - humour, darkness, menace and style. A masterpiece of surreal animation.

9 out of 10
Cert PG (uk) 2009.

Let the Right One In - Phil's Five Words for Films -

Let the Right One In - Is this a horror? Is it a love story? It is difficult to put this beautiful, crafted film in to any particular box. The mood is dark and cold, as is the setting, yet the story is warm and powerful. You don't get blood-curdling screams or out-of-your-seat shocks. There is no gore-fest or ridiculous body count. Instead, you get a personal view of the grotesque. A warm, fuzzy vampire film that portrays the fight against demons. The horror is gentle but spine-chilling and the struggle of both main characters is tragic. Forget the subtitles, forget the Hollywood Vamp-flick remake- this is a subtle, wonderful story of society, bullies and friendship.

9.5 out of 10
Cert 15 (uk). 2009.