Posts

Oscar-nominated drama Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close arrives in the UK. Heres Carleys verdict on a film that has divided critical opinion so far… There are few who couldnt tell you where they were when they heard about 9/11. Around the world you could watch in real time, as events unfolded in Manhattan. Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn, who makes an outstanding feature film debut) is not like normal children. And once or if he solves the mystery of the key, where does he go from there?...

In doing so it makes clear its possession and ingestion of cake. It delights in broad, crude jokes, but has intelligent things to say with them. It is truly discursive. In other words,Holy Flying Circusis thought-provoking enough to get away with incredibly bad taste jokes. The time elapsed since 1979 makes for plenty of room to reference the Pythons later careers. I left the window open and it blew away....

Ad content continues below Were you a Hammer fan growing up? JG:Sure, I think its part of everybodys childhood isnt it? Its an extraordinary piece of work (laughs). What are the ingredients of a scare would you say? How do you craft one? Susan Hill:I read a lot of ghost stories, because I was writing a ghost story. Being frightened when youre not sure youre all right is a big difference....

Get your grindhouse on, as Shank 2 is here to pour blood into your Xbox. It was a game that just looked cool. Ad content continues below Sadly, theres not all that much more to it. Rating: 4 out of 5

The director of Zombieland returns with a new action comedy, 30 Minutes Or Less. No great surprise, then, that his next flick should be another fast-paced buddy comedy:30 Minutes Or Less. The only way to fund his dream of a tanning salon-cum-brothel (aim high, kids!) is to bump off his domineering, wealthy dad and pocket the inheritance. Someone just like a certain pizza delivery guy, in fact. The luckless Nick is soon at their mercy....

The Phantom Menace makes a dramatic reappearance in cinemas, this time in 3D. Nick finds out whether time has been kind to Star Wars Episode I… So, almost 13 years since it last appeared in cinemas, the infamousEpisode Iis back. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I was a kid again. Damn you joyous childhood memories of watchingStar Wars! But how hasThe Phantom Menacefared since its initial release?...

Had you played the originalSyndicatefrom the early 90s? Ad content continues below I came quite late to gaming, I didnt start playing until 2002. As a result, I missed out not just onSyndicate, but on the whole isometric thing. In fact,Syndicateis technically the first game I worked on. You hand it over for sign-off. For example, do ideas in your writing inspire the designers to add new elements to the game?...

Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds star in the action-packed thriller, Safe House. Its director Daniel Espinosa whos the real revelation here, though. Everyone owns an expensive mobile phone, and drives around in a jet-black four-wheel-drive Mercedes. Ultimately, the familiarity ofSafe Houses plot is what detains it from brilliance, or at least four-star very-goodness. For director Daniel Espinosa, though,Safe Houseis a more than promising Hollywood debut. Rating: 3 out of 5

The Woman In Blackmarks a few firsts. Ad content continues below Also, Janes writing (Jane Goldman, screenwriter) is kind of amazing. I dont think thats going to happen, but I think it will start that. So I missed out on that one, and I never read the book at AS level either. I read the book, obviously, once Id finished the script and knew I was meeting James. I still havent seen the play....

Hell, he even came out ofDoghousewith pride and career intact, and that was crap. Joseph is mentally disabled, his hulking frame belying the innocent, childlike personality within. Fail to do so, and theyre both dead. Hes no One-Punch Mickey, theres no joy or triumph here its tears, resentment and pain. So, considering that they are regular occurrences, are they entertaining? The title of the film isnt exactly trying to disguise the source of the story....

Charlize Theron inYoung Adult? She finds the gaps in between as well. Browning being overlooked for awards recognition? I can cope with that. Well, those who have already seenYoung Adultwill appreciate already just what an injustice has been done. The pair previously collaborated on the more accessibleJuno, butYoung Adultcouldnt be much more different. Thats about as upbeat as it gets. Its an unpleasant plan, that Mavis goes about in not particularly pleasant ways....

Unusual, unsettling and uncompromising, Martha Marcy May Marlene is a drama that deserves your attention. But then, mainstream thriller may be the most inappropriate label to apply toMartha. In fact, applying any kind of label is a tricky one. SoMarthathe film and Martha the character remain constantly fascinating, because its hard to know where either is heading. Beyond that, youre on your own. Ad content continues below Its a tension that Durkin refuses to release....

In person, John Hawkes is a really nice guy. But, on screen, and specifically on screen inMartha Marcy May Marlene,hes not very nice. Yet Hawkes doing not nice still carries a magnetism that few other actors could pull off. He can even carry a tune, as witnessed when his Patrick serenades Martha, acoustic-style. You actually recorded it for an MTV slot, is that right? But I think it came out okay....