Event: The Littlest Picture Show to host #MTOS this Sunday

So, The Littlest Picture Show has been invited to host the wonderful Movie Talk On Sunday (#MTOS) on Twitter (you may have heard of it?) to discuss the topic of TRILOGIES. 

If you're new to this craze, then below are a few paragraphs from co-founder @Raghav about what #MTOS is and how it works:

"It really is simple. There are 10 questions. We will throw out 1 question relating to the week's topic every 10 minutes starting at 20:00 GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) every Sunday evening. All the questions and subsequent answers/discussions, by you, should simply be followed by #MTOS. In your Twitter "search" you can type in #MTOS and follow what everyone is saying and henceforth answer back and take part. If you "like" someone's answer simply Re-Tweet it like you would normally on Twitter."

"#MTOS is all about you. We will try and make the questions open ended with multiple answers. Let the discussions go off in a tangent if you find someone who agrees/disagrees with what you think. Just remember to #MTOS everything so someone neither one of you follow can also join in."

Below are the (amazing, I'm sure you'll agree) questions I devised in my brain, so check them out:

1.  Name your favourite trilogy! #MTOS
2.  What aspects make a great trilogy? Is it the character/s? Setting? Concept? SFX? #MTOS
3. Which director would you say is best suited to making a trilogy and why? #MTOS
4. Which trilogy would you remake and why? #MTOS
5. With some memorable ones out there, who is your favourite trilogy character of all time and why? #MTOS
6. Which trilogy should NEVER have been made in the first place? #MTOS
7. What individual film (or one with a sequel) would you like to see made into a trilogy? #MTOS
8. Do the first 3 films in a franchise constitute as a trilogy, or does a 4th, 5th, render it invalid? Discuss.. #MTOS
9. With news of JURASSIC PARK 4 on the way, which franchises should never have gone/go further than number 3? #MTOS
10.  To finish off, what are your top 3 trilogies of all time? Rank them! #MTOS

Here is a comprehensive list of trilogies: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_film_series_with_three_entries


And here are films series with 4 instalments: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_film_series_with_four_entries

See you all Sunday 12th February at 8pm sharp, or else!

Review: Chronicle

Rating: 12a
Duration: 83 mins

So the found footage genre has been done to death, but please cease with the heckling already. Granted, the eye-rolling prospect of going to see such a movie will no doubt evoke memories of Apollo 18 and Paranormal Activity 3, but for all the mediocrity plaguing our screens, there are some fine gems that genuinely work well: with The Blair Witch Project, Troll Hunter and [REC] as fine examples.

Relative newcomers Josh Tank (director) and Max Landis (writer), present an overused format whilst incorporating an interesting sci-fi drama. Refreshingly, the three leads are unknowns: the cast consists of social misfit Andrew (Dane DeHaan); his on-the-fence semi-jerk cousin Matt (Alex Russell); and the local high school's Mr. Popular Steve (Michael B. Jordan), to complete an unlikely trio of pals. One night at a party the threesome discover a gaping hole in a field and decide to venture inside to see where a tremor-like sound is emanating from, naturally. The boys emerge from the experience with an inexplicable telekinetic abilities after coming into contact with mysterious living crystals, a la the Fortress of Solitude, as they begin to bond with their new found powers and decide what, if anything, should be done with them. Chronicle is different in the sense that it explores the superhero genre in a more humanistic way; asking what a group of teens would really do with powers, rather than take a squeaky clean Clark Kent approach.

The character types are laid out in an obvious fashion: Andrew is the unpopular, social outcast with some obvious brooding anger buried within. Steve, however, is the opposite: good with the ladies, charming and uber popular, with Matt comfortably on the fence between the aforementioned polar opposites.

The entire film is shot from a home-made point of view, and without it actually being 'found footage' per se, the opening sees Andrew ponce around with it to rather annoying 'I'm filming cos I want to' effect. Immediately the concept of a teenager recording his life (simply as a weak plot device) at school and at home for no apparent purpose seems a little blasé. However, as we quickly learn, it can be attributed to his teen angst, which most viewers will forgive, or at least overlook.

For a mere £7.5m, the frequent special effects and impressive set pieces prove that multi-million dollar budgets don't necessarily make it better (as we glare in Michael Bay's direction for the first time this year), as the script itself is a coherent and well structured story that uses the amateur, no-frills style effectively, which makes the special effects appear more convincing. As the third act builds in pace, Tank opts to cut to various security and TV cameras in an attempt to jazz up the action sequences and certainly benefit: moments of a silent, grainy surveillance camera oscillating as walls explode works surprisingly well. 

Chronicle boasts some excellent visuals, notably once the boys discover they can fly. It's a film that'll leave you satisfied, especially after the heart-racing climax, with well executed CGI set pieces ranging from the torture of a spider to the destruction of a fleet of police cars. In honesty, it's the more subtle occurrences that make it engaging on a human level, as well as a realistic one: the manner in how the teens initially use their powers covertly for their own amusement feels natural, bar one mischievous scene where they scare the bejesus out of a young girl with a teddy bear.

The supporting cast is minimal and somewhat weak, with an aggressive role for Michael Kelly as Andrew's unemployed, drunk father, and a seemingly pointless love interest for Matt in the form of school pal, Casey, who also likes to film people. In essence, it's all about the leads and how they handle their new gifts, as they decide how to accept them in what is a solid genre piece.

VERDICT: Chronicle succeeds where many shaky-cam films fail. Yes, the opening wobbles, but once the story kicks in and the SFX woo the audience, it's hard not to find something in each character to relate to and perhaps even sympathise with. A steady build up and fantastic finale levitates this to the summit as one of 2012's best so far. And we were so close to a pun free review, too.

Review: Carnage

Rating: 15
Duration: 80 mins


Carnage is the latest film directed by ever-so-slightly controversial filmmaker, Roman Polanski, that's based on the 2006 play by Yasmina Reza, with who he has teamed up with to adapt into the screenplay. Originally set in Brooklyn, the film is filmed in France (due to Polanski's US criminal convictions), it retains the illusion of an American setting, yet has a slightly European aesthetic to it as well.

Essentially it's a situational comedy in its purest form and is only 80 minutes long, which initially seems like a more-than-manageable duration. The story focuses on two sets of parents who set up a meeting to discuss the conflict between their bickering sons, culminating in one of them cracking the other over the head with a branch. On the 'victim's' side are the somewhat traditional, working-class, Penelope (Jodie Foster) and Michael (John C. Reilly), whose world collides with the fast-paced, high-powered lives of Nancy (Kate Winslet) and Alan (Christoph Waltz), as the discussion of their offspring's altercation ends up in a childish battle of pride and self preservation. 

From the moment we are introduced to the parental characters, the script maintains a witty and snappy pace that, on the surface, comes across as a dramatic piece with subtle comedic undertones: mannerisms, facial expression and body language gradually become more overt as their squabbles and point-scoring become more juvenile. 

The majority of the short film flows smoothly as the script is well paced, snappy and charming with its entertainment. However, as it turns out it could have, and probably should have, shaved 15 minutes off the end, as the final few scenes tend to stutter a little and runs out of steam in comparison to the rest. That said, the film is a whimsical experience and as the interaction heats up, we begin to see the personalities and diversity of each character displaying their traits, as the rounds of scotch flow, everyone becomes more opinionated and much more honest in their opinion. 

Each of the four main characters are strong, with Waltz perhaps being the most alluring with his effortless charisma, but everyone - in one way or another - contributes something different that equates to a solid exploration of situational comedy that is wholly amusing.

This isn't a typical film you'd associate with Polanski, having recently made films such as The Pianist and The Ghost, as entering the comedy route after the aforementioned dramas is a complete change of pace for him. With his years of experience, he competently, if not dazzlingly directs this bare-bones piece in a straightforward manner, and rightly so considering the anecdotal context.

VERDICT: Carnage is a solid collaborative effort and a sharp and intelligently produced adaptation, even if it does falter towards the final push. Polanski creates a humble film that exudes a Europeanness (specifically in its opening and closing), whilst retaining a slice of intended Americana. 

Competition: Win Yamada: Way of the Samurai Blu-ray!

With the success of our recent competition for The Debt Blu-rays as well as the current Thor giveaway, it's time for yet another competition (I bet you can barely believe your peepers)!

This time it's for the Japanese action film Yamada: Way of the Samurai which is available from Monday 30th January on Blu-ray & DVD. To celebrate the release from Cine Asia, we have a copy on Blu-ray for one lucky winner and it couldn't be easier to enter!

HOW TO ENTER:

STEP 1: FOLLOW me on Twitter here and TWEET the following:

COMPETITION: WIN WAY OF THE SAMURAI on Blu-ray! RT & FOLLOW @littlestpicshow to enter! Details here: http://tiny.cc/68eca #competition #film

STEP 2: Follow this blog (click 'follow' at the top left of the page) to keep track of my latest reviews, articles & future competitions!

NOTE: If you are not on Twitter, then you can email the above quote to mike@thelittlestpictureshow.co.uk including your name, with 'WAY OF THE SAMURAI COMPETITION' as the subject title.

TERMS & CONDITIONS:

Entries must be in by February 3rd .
The winners will be randomly selected and notified on February 4th.
Open to UK residents only.
No cash alternative.
Entrants must be 15 or above.

Blu-ray Review: Drive

It's not been in cinemas since September, as Nicolas Winding Refn's indie cult classic is finally released on Blu-ray and DVD this Monday, so rather than regurgitating September's review (which you can find here), below is a brief summary, with a focus on the Blu-ray release: the picture quality, sound, extras and the actual transfer itself. 

But before that, here's a condensed version of what I had to say for my cinema review last year:

"A roaring success at Cannes this year, Drive won Best Director as well as a nomination for the Palme d'Or after receiving a standing ovation. Essentially Drive is an indie production, constructed through filmic and cultural influences. It falls nicely into the cult category without the need to follow suit with mainstream conformity, as it shows the quality that can be produced on a mere $13m budget."

"There's no denying Gosling's appeal: a bewitching, charismatic charm he brings to the table that gives audiences no choice but to be 'wooed' by his alluring, yet reserved presence."

"It doesn't try to be cool, it is cool - he pulls it off with ease, which makes Driver a man with desirable attributes that viewers will surely be drawn to."

"Drive is a gripping, yet emotionally charged action film with notable performances from Gosling, Brooks and Mulligan. It's consistently thrilling, hugely likable and accompanied by a fantastic soundtrack that makes this the complete package. Winding Refn avoids succumbing to clichés as it progressively becomes more intense and violent before its boiling-point and fitting conclusion"

Now onto the Blu-ray disc and what it has to offer:

PICTURE QUALITY: It's sharp and beautiful to look at. Consistently impressive, it's perhaps the cityscapes that look more spectacular at night that not only sets the tone for the movie, but makes it a genuine delight to watch. Close ups of Gosling especially look crisp and the detail in general is visible and adds to the overall enjoyment.

SOUND: Whilst it wasn't experienced in surround sound, the dialogue was clear and the soundtrack was audibly great. If you haven't got surround sound, then cranking up the volume will make the songs sound just as emotionally powerful as they did in the cinema.  

EXTRAS: Possibly the weakest element of the release is the lack of bonus content to shout about. We're given a theatrical trailer, a TV spot and a slideshow of some stills, as well as the stages of the development of the quad poster for the film. The best of the extra features is a 41-minute Q&A session after the BFI screening with director Nicolas Winding Refn, hosted by Telegraph critic Robbie Collins. This was an interesting feature with a witty exchange between host and filmmaker, followed by a selection of audience questions, where Winding Refn offers some nice insight into the creative process.

In a previous interview he has stipulated that an Ultimate Edition will be released later this year, therefore the January disc is a bare-bones edition, so as long as you don't pay over the odds you're fine (Sainsbury's had the Blu-ray available for preorder at just £9.99 for example).

OVERALL DISC & TRANSFER: The main menu has some clips of the film in the background that fade in and out with a snippet of the excellent music from the film. The disc in general is pleasant but lacks the meatiness we all wanted in the extras section. The included content suffices, but it's the actual film punters will buy this for, and it certainly doesn't disappoint in that respect: having seen it once before and being overly familiar with the incredible soundtrack, it made a re-watch all the more special. 

The only problem I experienced was at around five different points of the movie, as a new shot began, the picture would stutter for a split second. Whether this is a problem with the disc (which it shouldn't be) or the Blu-ray player is in need of an update (which it could be) remains to be seen.

FILM:      ★★★★★

EXTRAS: ★★★

Drive is released on Blu-ray & DVD on Monday 30th January

The Oscars 2012: The Noms, Predictions & Snubs

So, the Academy have just announced the Oscar nominations for this year with the help of the lovely Jennifer Lawrence but, as predicted, there were notable snubs for 2011's big hitters, Ryan Gosling and Michael Fassbender, as well as the absence of animation heavywights, Pixar. There was no place for acclaimed documentaries like Project Nim or Senna either, and no sign of my beloved Carey Mulligan. But enough negativity; lets take a look at who was included shall we...

BEST PICTURE

Nominations:

The Artist
The Descendants
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
The Help
Moneyball
War Horse
The Tree of Life

My winner: The Artist

Predicted winner: The Artist

Thoughts: Some good, if not great film choices here (bar The Artist and The Tree of Life). War Horse shouldn't be anywhere near this category and neither should Moneyball, but what about inexplicable inclusion of Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close? Yeah, I've never heard of it either.

___________________________________

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Nominations:

Demian Bichir (A Better Life)
George Clooney (The Descendants)
Jean Dujardin (The Artist)
Gary Oldman (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy)
Brad Pitt (Moneyball)

My winner: George Clooney

Predicted winner: Jean Dujardin/George Clooney

Thoughts: A mixed, but strong selection here with notable turns from Pitt and Oldman, even if some the films themselves weren't amazing. Clooney feel like the favourite after his Golden Globe success, but faces stiff competition from Dujardin and even a sterling effort from Brad Pitt.

___________________________________

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Nominations:

Best Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh (My Week With Marilyn)
Jonah Hill (Moneyball)
Nick Nolte (Warrior)
Christopher Plummer (Beginners)
Max Von Sydow (Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close)

My winner: Nick Nolte

Predicted winner: Christopher Plummer

Thoughts: Perhaps the fiercest category of the lot with some very strong performances here. Both Hill and Branagh are solid, but Nick Nolte was superb in Warrior and is probably not getting the credit he deserves. However, as per his Golden Globe win, Christopher Plummer seems odds on.

___________________________________

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Nominations:

Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs)
Viola Davis (The Help)
Rooney Mara (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo)
Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady)
Michelle Williams (My Week With Marilyn)

My winner: Rooney Mara

Predicted winner: Meryl Streep

Thoughts: This has to be my least favourite category as being a fan of Williams, I was vastly underwhelmed by her role in My Week With Marilyn. Similarly, Streep's Thatcher isn't the most popular of sorts, but most likely to win. Rooney Mara, for me, was the most appealing so she gets my (some say outrageous) vote.

 ___________________________________

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Nominations:

Berenice Bejo (The Artist)
Jessica Chastain (The Help)
Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids)
Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs)
Octavia Spencer (The Help)

My winner: Berenice Bejo

Predicted winner: Octavia Spencer

Thoughts: There's a distinct lack of Carey Mulligan here (predominantly for Shame, but also for a subtle effort in Drive) and I'm not happy. There's also an interesting nomination for Chastain who was superb in Take Shelter and just as good in The Tree of Life, but it recognised for The Help. My most likeable choice is Bejo in the fantastic The Artist, though.

___________________________________

WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)

Nominations:

Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris)
JC Chandor (Margin Call)
Asghar Farhadi (A Separation)
Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)
Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo (Bridesmaids)

My winner: Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)

Predicted winner: Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris)

Thoughts: The surprise for me is how Bridesmaids is present; not only because it's a mainstream comedy, but for the fact it's a funny, albeit average film. Nice to see Margin Call here but again, The Artist steals it for me, even though Woody Allen could swipe it.

___________________________________

WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)

Nominations:

Alexander Payne, Nat Faxton, Jim Rash (The Descendants)
John Logan (Hugo)
George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon (The Ides of March)
Aaron Sorkin, Steven Zaillian (Moneyball)
Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughn (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy)

My winner: Aaron Sorkin, Steven Zaillian (Moneyball)

Predicted winner: Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughn (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy)

Thoughts: A good collection, but Aaron Sorkin has a slick, well written film in Moneyball, but the panel might opt for the Brit ensemble thriller Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, even though it was hit-and-miss with audiences, including myself.

___________________________________

DIRECTING

Nominations:

Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris)
Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)
Terrence Malick (The Tree of Life)
Alexander Payne (The Descendants)
Martin Scorsese (Hugo)

My winner: Terrence Malick (The Tree of Life)

Predicted winner: Any one of them

Thoughts: All worthy contenders and, in truth, I can see any one of these directors walking away with the prize. Malick is probably the outsider, even though The Tree of Life is a fantastically made film, but Scorsese will almost certainly be battling it out with Hazanavicius and Allen.

 ___________________________________

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

Nominations:

A Cat In Paris

Chico & Rita
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots
Rango

My winner: Rango/Chico & Rita

Predicted winner: Rango 

Thoughts: The lack of Pixar's presence is the big shock (or is it after Cars 2?). Rango is a wonderfully dark, quirky and beautifully animated movie, which has winner written all over it. Saying that, Chico & Rita is a lovingly made and charming foreign film.

___________________________________

CINEMATOGRAPHY 

Nominations:

The Artist
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
The Tree of Life
War Horse

My winner: The Tree of Life

Predicted winner: War Horse/The Tree of Life

Thoughts: I didn't enjoy War Horse, but the thing I took from it was the battle scenes and visual scale of it. Having said that, Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life is a thing of sheer beauty, so therefore gets my vote.

___________________________________

BIGGEST SNUBS:

Drive
Shame

Senna
The Skin I Live In 
Take Shelter
Submarine
Tyrannosaur 
Melancholia
50/50

Thoughts: Pretty self explanatory here. The worst ones left out are Drive and Senna, which I rate extremely highly and it's also a shame to see British flicks Submarine and Tyrannosaur forgotten as well. Oh, one final word: Shame.

Blu-ray Review: The Debt

Based on an Israeli film from 2007, this American remake of The Debt is penned by Kick Ass scribes Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman and is directed by period drama enthusiast, John Madden (not to be confused with the ageing NFL ex-pro and commentator).

With the original gaining little attention at the time, the heavyweight ensemble of this version alone earns it more attention and not just because it stars the legendary Helen Mirren. She's joined by rising talent Jessica Chastain, who plays the younger version of her, as well as the likes of Tom Wilkinson, Ciarán Hinds and Sam Worthington, too.

The story takes place in 1997 where Rachel (Mirren) is thrust into the media spotlight as she (and more so her daughter) promotes her book of memoirs from her time serving in the mid 60's as a Mossad agent in Israel, as she- along with team members Stephan (Tom Wilkinson) and David (Ciarán Hinds) - attempt to track down and capture Nazi war criminal Dieter Vogel (Jesper Christensen). 

The story frequently shifts from one time period to the other; as we witness the younger versions of the trio (including Marton Csokas as Stephan and Sam Worthington as David, respectively) undertake their mission as an intriguing plot and tense thriller unfolds.

Notably, the acting is great, especially with the talent involved, however their questionable accents are the obvious flaw in an otherwise strong array of performances. Whilst it would seem Chastain has been in pretty much everything in 2011, this is by no means one of her stronger contributions, yet she competently portrays an emotionally layered role convincingly, with worthy support from Csokas and Worthington at her side. What unfolds is a dangerous game of secrets, lies and cover ups as a gripping against-the-clock scenario presents itself. What's more is that the central characters embark in an emotionally provocative love triangle that has repercussions both in 1965 as well as 30 years later.

The script is well written and tightly structured, as the bulk of the plot takes place during the 60's; the decade switches aren't as confusing or poorly executed as one might expect, but are expressed coherently and should avoid disorientating viewers.

VERDICT: The Debt ultimately lacks that killer touch and the level of high suspense that transforms it from a great thriller to a superb one. However, solid acting coupled with a well paced exploration of its character arcs prove that sometimes a remake can succeed, as Madden invites his audience to experience the thrills and intensity this has to offer.

DISC EXTRAS:

A Look Inside The Debt
Every Secret Has A Price: Helen Mirren In The Debt
Feature Commentary With Director John Madden & Producer Kris Thykier

Very disappointing if truth be told, with only a couple of minutes of interviews and footage that are repeated in both the featurettes.


FILM:       ★★★★
EXTRAS: ★★


The Debt is out now on Blu-ray & DVD.

Competition: Win The Debt on Blu-ray!

Starring Jessica Chastain, Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson, Sam Worthington and Ciarán Hinds, The Debt is a  gripping and intense thriller that boasts a superb cast and engaging story to boot.
With the imminent release of the film, The Littlest Picture Show is giving YOU the chance to WIN one of TWO copies of the film on Blu-ray!

HOW TO ENTER:

STEP 1: FOLLOW me on Twitter here and TWEET the following:

COMPETITION: WIN THE DEBT on Blu-ray! RT & FOLLOW @littlestpicshow to enter! Details here: http://tiny.cc/29h63 #competition #film #bluray


STEP 2: Follow this blog (click 'follow' at the top left of the page) to keep track of my latest reviews, articles & future competitions!

NOTE: If you are not on Twitter, then you can email the above quote to mike@thelittlestpictureshow.co.uk with 'THE DEBT COMPETITION' as the subject title.

TERMS & CONDITIONS:

Entries must be in by January 26th .
The winners will be randomly selected and notified on January 27th.
Open to UK residents only.
No cash alternative.