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Fucked Up Love
'Blind Date' the only real highlight in an otherwise painfully slow collection of shorts.
8th Jan 2011
Read more 2 star reviewsThe Town
Thoroughly entertaining heist movie from Ben Affleck. Deducting for so thoroughly 'homaging' Heat.
7th Jan 2011
Read more 3.5 star reviews
Animal Kingdom
Brilliant, brooding, Aussie underworld thriller. A great debut and the best film of 2011 ...so far.
7th Jan 2011
Read more 4.5 star reviewsSearch
Jarhead
Magnificently assembled film, unfortunately offering little more than updated 80's war movie cliches.
3rd Jan 2011
Read more 3.5 star reviewsSyriana
Stylish, sprawling, epic look at levels of subterfuge and intrigue with the oil industry and the middle east.
3rd Jan 2011
Read more 4 star reviews
The Adventures of Robin Hood
Timeless, spectacular, epic swashbuckler - with beautiful Technicolor cinematography.
Halliwell says: A splendid adventure story, rousingly operatic in treatment, with dashing action highlights, fine comedy balance, and incisive acting all round. Historically notable for its use of early three-colour Technicolor; also for convincingly recreating Britain in California.****
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2nd Jan 2011
Read more 5 star reviewsStaten Island
Clunky compilation of three interlinked short stories.
1st Jan 2011
Read more 2.5 star reviews
Best of 2010
CSF
Just because most of our 2010 reviews have been happening on Twitter doesn't mean quality music hasn't be coming in thick and fast this year. Here's my top 5 for 2010:
Abe Vigoda - Crush
Probably my most unexpected favourite for 2010, Crush finds LA Smell regulars Abe Vigoda moving up a notch to make their most accessible album yet. If a band like this can ever hit the mainstream, this is certainly great prep - like Interpol with more ideas and better beats.
The Soft Pack - The Soft Pack
The San Diego post-punkers graduate from community college with straight A's in 'chorus'. After a lot of hype and a fairly average live sighting, I was surprised to find myself so engaged with this first album proper. Side A rules.
LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
The bubble may have burst as LCD Soundsystem set to disband, but there was still time for one last go-around. Not quite as ace as Sound of Silver, but with tracks like 'All I Want' and 'Home', it's still stuffed with classics.
Spoon - Transference
Harnessing all their studio 'accidents' into another masterfully produced masterpiece, Spoon yet again deliver a five star album. So consistent I almost forget about them. Some great slow burners on here.
Black Mountain - Wilderness Heart
Almost forgot this one ...which is a surprise considering how bombastic it is. After the note perfect In The Future, Black Mountain had no hope of topping getting even better just yet, but the least they could do was shore up their legend. Old Fangs and the title track cruised into their best-ever playlist.
DULY NOTED: Weezer - Hurley / Pinkerton Deluxe
With their departure from a major label, it seemed certain that Weezer would put aside all the contractually-obliging crap they're been churning out and finally release a great record again. Nope. Hurley crawled back up to a 3, but luckily the time had come for a deluxe edition of 90's classic Pinkerton. A re-release shouldn't be anyone's best album in a decade, but this one is stuffed full of long-lost tracks, b-sides and oddities - plus it's getting a five star rating for being overlooked the first time round.
Monsters was a great movie. Somewhere one of the worst ever. Kings of Leon, The National and Band of Horses all disappointed. Roll on 2011.
1st Jan 2011 - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 5 star reviewsAnything For Her
Gripping French prison break drama, with echoes of The Fugitive.
30th Dec 2010
Read more 4 star reviews
Somewhere
Pretentious, drawn-out fluff from Sofia Coppola. A promising idea, stretched to Jarmuschian proportions.
29th Dec 2010
Read more 2.5 star reviews
Dorian Gray
Bodice-ripping, period action movie, predictable in style and execution.
28th Dec 2010
Read more 2.5 star reviewsMoonwalk One
Incredible, beautifully restored Koyaanisqatsi-esque documentary about Apollo 11, from 1970.
28th Dec 2010
Read more 4 star reviewsSFW
Shambolic Generation X-ploitation movie. The Stephen Dorff revival has begun.
28th Dec 2010
Read more 2 star reviews
Black Swan
Masterfully crafted, pretentious but compelling horror from Aronofsky. The Force is strong with this one.
27th Dec 2010
Read more 4 star reviewsPrecious
Beautifully acted, unique, original and challenging 80's urban drama - if still a little uneven.
27th Dec 2010
Read more 4 star reviewsAvatar
Cartoony, cliched re-hash of Cameron's repertoire, plus Dances With Wolves. Thought it would be better in 2D.
26th Dec 2010
Read more 3 star reviewsUp In The Air
Original, inventive, touching rom com with George Clooney on top form.
25th Dec 2010
Read more 4 star reviewsThe Fantastic Mr Fox
Clever old school animation from Wes Anderson brings Roald Dahl's cheeky chap to life.
25th Dec 2010
Read more 3.5 star reviewsIt's Complicated
Promising romcom for grown ups ...which isn't that complicated.
24th Dec 2010
Read more 3 star reviews
The Fugitive
Impeccable writing and direction, plus a near-career best turn from Harrison Ford. Flawless.
23rd Dec 2010
Read more 5 star reviewsMe and Orson Welles
Slight, but amiable historical comedy - from a deep undercover Richard Linklater.
20th Dec 2010
Read more 3 star reviews
Weirdsville
Amusing Canadian indie stoner comedy. With dwarves.
15th Dec 2010
Read more 3 star reviewsThe Wolfman
The 71m 1940's 'classic' original gets an over-stylized, under-developed re-hashing. Thin.
15th Dec 2010
Read more 2 star reviews
Monsters
Masterfully handled low-budget sci-fi. Easily the best film I've seen in a while.
11th Dec 2010
Read more 4.5 star reviewsLakeview Terrace
Tense and well handled suburban thriller from Neil LaBute, with Samuel Jackson and Patrick Wilson.
7th Dec 2010
Read more 3.5 star reviewsSlumdog Millionaire
Danny Boyle does Chungking Express in this deftly handled tale.
5th Dec 2010
Read more 3.5 star reviews
Four Christmases
Predictable, seasonal rom-com with Vince Vaughn. I slept through Christmases 2&3.
4th Dec 2010
Read more 2.5 star reviewsThe Education of Charlie Banks
Well handled coming-of-age movie from Fred Durst. Jesse Eisenberg stars
4th Dec 2010
Read more 3 star reviews2012
Hilariously OTT, icon demolishing, end-of-the-world, mega-disaster movie.
28th Nov 2010
Read more 2 star reviewsThe Boys Are Back
Nicely shot, but overly sentimental Clive Owen-as-single-dad drama.
28th Nov 2010
Read more 3 star reviewsCellular
Low signal thriller-by-numbers with Captain America and Jason Statham.
25th Nov 2010
Read more 2.5 star reviewsLaw Abiding Citizen
Gerard Butler romcom + Se7en + Saw = odd mix.
21st Nov 2010
Read more 2 star reviewsNine
An endless stream of stereotypes and cliches. It's a musical. I was asleep after 10 minutes.
21st Nov 2010
Read more 2 star reviewsParanormal Activity
The most profitable movie of all time. Creepy, but ultimately quite boring horror.
14th Nov 2010
Read more 3 star reviewsThe Ugly Truth
Romcom by numbers with Gerard Butler and Katherine Heigl.
14th Nov 2010
Read more 2 star reviewsIrma Vep
Intriguing but underdeveloped 90's arthouse, with Maggie Cheung bringing method to her cat burglar role.
12th Nov 2010
Read more 2.5 star reviewsHarry Potter & The Half Blood Prince
A presumed adherence to the book makes for a long, slow film.
8th Nov 2010
Read more 3 star reviews
Pretty In Pink
Flawless 80's classic, with a killer soundtrack and endless scene-stealing turns from James Spader.
6th Nov 2010
Read more 5 star reviewsThe Hangover
Old School meets Weekend At Bernies, thin, but with some fine comedy moments.
6th Nov 2010
Read more 3.5 star reviewsAway We Go
Slight and under-developed road trip dramedy from Sam Mendes.
6th Nov 2010
Read more 2.5 star reviews
Jeff Beck
BIC, Bournemouth
This was the opening night of guitar maestro Jeff Beck’s UK tour, with his last date 26 October at the Royal Albert Hall. He was fronting a three-piece band of percussion, bass and keyboards. Bassist Rhonda Smith did limited vocals, but the majority of the programme was not surprisingly instrumental to allow Beck to show off his technical virtuosity. Jeff doesn’t talk much; so don’t expect introductions, except to the other members of the band.
The numbers oscillated in a balanced way between jazz funk and lyrical anthems such as Beck’s Bolero and (amazingly) Nessun Dorma. Best of all was his acclaimed grammy winning version of A Day in The Life, where he recreates the varying moods of the piece through his brilliant playing. It was a little disappointing not to hear more work from his early blues-rock era, but this has clearly been superseded by works from his more recent albums.
The support act on the show was Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue. Shorty (Troy Andrews) plays not only trombone but is equally at home on trumpet and vocals with a mixture of jazz of all types. Virtuoso solos and a brilliant rhythm section made for an excellent opening act.
22nd Oct 2010 - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 3.5 star reviewsThe Social Network
(dir. David Fincher)
Relativity Media
You may wonder where the drama is in a story following the rise of Facebook - and it's a legitimate question. Maestro director David Fincher put this film into quick production and with a script from The West Wing's Aaron Sorkin there was plenty of promise. The script is masterfully done and with some great performances from Rodger Dodger's Jesse Eisenberg and soon-to-be Peter Parker Andrew Garfield there's much to admire.
Like most biopics however, there's both an inevitability and a lack of tension to the narrative. At least with Titanic the inevitable conclusion involved the world's biggest ship hitting an iceberg and sinking. Unfortunately there's no iceberg here. Yawn.
18th Oct 2010 - 2 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Read more 2.5 star reviewsThe Social Network
Solidly made movie with a top notch cast + crew .....but ultimately a dull biopic.
17th Oct 2010
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The Parallax View
Forgot that I watched this, slow, self important conspiracy classic on Moviedrome in the 80's.
Halliwell says: Stylish, persuasive political thriller with a downbeat ending; the villains win.*
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16th Oct 2010
Read more 3 star reviewsTeenage Paparazzo
Straightforward but engrossing documentary from Vinnie Chase, turning the cameras on the paparazzi.
11th Oct 2010
Read more 3 star reviewsUp
Heart wrenching tale from Pixar about life's opportunities. Lovely.
10th Oct 2010
Read more 3.5 star reviewsThe Firm
Nick Love's retrofied remake of Alan Clarke's football hooligan classic.
10th Oct 2010
Read more 2.5 star reviews
A Single Man
Stylish, classy, luscious, old school arthouse movie from Tom Ford. Best film I've seen in a while.
6th Oct 2010
Read more 4 star reviews