What To Expect When You're Expecting - Guest Review

Our guest review comes courtesy of http://www.charpee-charpee.blogspot.co.uk/

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING
 

2012 

12A

Directed by Kirk Jones

Starring Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks (and many more)  

Sitting in the cinema I wasn’t really expecting a cameo from Cheryl Cole or Whitney Port within the first three minuets – however, this successfully told the audience to be prepared for a star studded cast. What To Expect When You’re Expecting includes many of Hollywood’s comedy greats; at first I was apprehensive that it was one of those films where loads of celebrities are shoved together and it doesn’t really work – but I was so wrong!


The cast of this film completely bounce off one another to create amazing comedic delivery, each duo have been strategically paired and the chemistry within each couple is fantastic. Personally, one of my favourite aspects of this film is that the individual couples tentatively link with one another, creating a fantastic overlapping web. This also means that a big group of pregnant couples aren’t forced, unbelievably, in your face. There’s something about this film that makes you think that there are couples out there enduring these weird and wonderful pregnancies.

This film made me laugh and cry; there were many highs and several emotional lows – I promise you, if you watch this film you will empathise with every character, even if you’ve never had a child. I also warn you that when Cameron Diaz gives birth, her acting is fantastic; unfortunately, this does mean that you will feel her pain, and lots of it. 

When I left the cinema I had a huge smile upon my face – What To Expect When You’re Expecting, is my feel good film of the summer.

Rating: 8

A huge thank you to friend of Amateur Reviews and fellow blogger Char for her contribution to this blog, you are welcome to guest any time! Here's a link to her wonderful fashion and lifestyle blog which is a real gem - http://www.charpee-charpee.blogspot.co.uk/

Prometheus - Premiere Live

"And we're live, from London!"

Prometheus is landing tonight, in the UK at least, and right this very minute the premiere is taking place in London! The event is being streamed live online now so follow the link below to see the action.

30 years since Scott's first science fiction, 33 years since Alien - the anticipation could not be greater and tonight sci-fi fans across the nation will find out if Prometheus is all it's cracked up to be: don't let us down Ridley...

http://www.prometheus-movie.com/news/220

There will most likely be a full post on all the actors from the carpet outside the theatre when more photos have surfaced, until then, you've got to make do with the charming Mr Fassbender.

Les Miserables - Trailer

Just a quick one for today... The new official trailer for Les Mis was released today and it's looking fairly epic! Hugh Jackman, Eddie Redmayne and Anne Hathaway star in the classic musical to name but a few! Let us know what you think of the first trailer in the comments below!

Favourite Soundtracks - Part I

A huge part of the film experience is the music that goes with it and Amateur Reviews wanted to start a new series of posts sharing favourite soundtracks with all our readers. Feel free to comment any major ones that have been missed out and it may well make Part II!

1. KICK ASS - The OST for this superhero movie was quite frankly kickass, amongst amazing tracks from Primal Scream and a fair few from The Prodigy the one that defines Kick Ass for most is Stand Up.

2. SUCKER PUNCH - If you read the Amateur Reviews post of this movie you'll know that one of the reasons this film was liked was due to the amazing soundtrack. Emily Browning even sings on a few of the tracks. Here's Army of Me by Bjork.

3. INCEPTION - Hans Zimmer turned his hand to another score for this Christopher Nolan masterpeice. It's hard to pick just one as they are all beautiful, but the one that defines the epicness of Inception is most definitely Time.

4. HANNA - The Chemical Brothers are responsible for this incredible soundtrack and the one picked for this post is The Devils In The Beat. After watching Hanna it's impossible not to whistle this for the next week!

5. WARRIOR - The National feature heavily on this soundtrack and really make the film what it is. If there's one in particular that results in tears is the song About Today which accompanied the climax of the movie.

6. CONTROL - This biopic of the life of Ian Curtis and Joy Division had an absolutely brilliant soundtrack but the film's closer Atmosphere really epitomises the entire movie.

7. THE BEACH - Danny Boyle is a favourite in terms of soundtracks. This is the first of two entries for his movies. Very hard to say whether All Saints Pure Shores or Moby Porcelain was better. But that scene where Richard first sets eyes on the beach is one of the film's highlights so Moby it was!

8. SUNSHINE - And the second Danny Boyle film on the list! A very powerful soundtrack but the one that closes the movie is so atmospheric and makes the final scene as powerful as it is.

9. THE HANGOVER - Again, very hard to pick just one because there are so many, but in the end it could only be the song that accompanies the wolf pack when they enter their hotel room after arriving in Las Vegas!

10. LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE - The Winner Is from this soundtrack is the one that made the cut. It's hard to decide whether this song is sad of positive but it does evoke a fantastic movie, so it's good either way.

That rounds off the first top 10! Feel free to comment, and on a side note: all films listed are definitely worth a watch regardless of the excellent soundtrack. Happy listening!

Modern Classics - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY

2011


15


Directed by Tomas Alfredson


Starring Gary Oldman, Colin Firth and John Hurt

In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley is forced from semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6.

The second review in our modern classics series was released in September last year and was fortunately, a box office success. It was refreshing to see a theatre absolutely rammed on opening night and for once, this turn out wasn’t for a massive Hollywood superhero sequel. It was for a quiet British spy movie without a single explosion.

Based on the best selling novel by John LeCarre, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is about a group of spies who discover that there is a double agent hidden right at the top of the ranks. What follows is what happens when the spies spy on themselves. It’s incredibly tense and requires concentration.

Swedish director Tomas Alfredson seems like an unlikely choice of director for a film of this ilk. But what he creates is a film that’s classy, silent and subtle. The film flits across the globe and there’s a distinct European feel to the way the movie is shot. This coolness is enhanced by the 70s setting: the costume and soundtrack is spot on.

You’d have to go far to find a better cast than this. The actors range from new talent to old veterans but they are all incredibly accomplished and really seem to flesh out the characters with great care. Gary Oldman’s George Smiley maintains some of Alec Guinness’ portrayal but adds an edge we haven’t seen before. We get the impression Smiley is one step ahead of everyone in the room, but unlike James Bond, he’s an unassuming retired man so it’s easy to empathise with him. Colin Firth takes on the eccentric Bill Haydon and is a delight to watch. It seems John Hurt’s role of Control is painfully under written, but nonetheless impressive. The young boys rounding off the cast feature Tom Hardy who thankfully neglected to try the Australian accent as Ricki Tarr and Benedict Cumberbatch who was remarkable as Peter Guillam.

There was a lot of talk when this film was released that it was boring and hard to follow. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Although you may come into the film at an advantage having read the book, but that is not a necessity, you just need to accept this is not the type of film where you can nod off for 10 minutes and still expect to know what’s going on! Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is an example of British film making at its best so if you haven’t already, get the DVD because this masterpiece has more than earned its position in our modern classics series.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tinker-Tailor-Soldier-John-Carre/dp/0340739614 - Here's a link to where you can buy the novel from.

http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?sku=423936 - You can also purchase the DVD from HMV.

Cannes 2012 - The Red Carpet

Along with our previous post about some of the notable films from the Festival, we thought we'd also post on some of the notable stars who turned out on the Red Carpet! Now this is a long post but we didn't want to leave anyone out...



Camila Alves in Marchesa





Jessica Chastain in Armani




Berenice Bejo in Prada




The cast of Mud




Tom Hardy, looking dapper! Even with the beard...




Stars of Lawless




Full cast shot of Lawless




Dane DeHaan at the Lawless showing




Bruce Willis, Ed Norton and Bill Murray




Diane Kruger looking stunning in Nina Ricci




Slightly obsessed with Diane Kruger, loved her in this Versus number




Doutzen Kroes in Versace at the amfAR's Gala




Garrett Hedlund, a true movie star!




We did try to find one of her smiling... The Reem Acra gown is lovely though!




Kristen Stewart, sporting the nearest thing to a smile we could find...




Marion Cotillard looking chic in peach




Natasha Poly looking smoking in the Roberto Cavalli dress




We think the Ralph Lauren gown looks amazing on Nicole Kidman




Vigo Mortensen and Kristen Stewart who both star in On The Road



Favourite outfit of the festival, Diane in Vivienne Westwood



Jean DuJardin and Alexandra Lamy




Zac Efron

Props if you've managed to get through all the Hollywood dazzle and made it to the bottom of the post! Who were you most excited to see?



Cannes Film Festival 2012

Oh how we wished we could be in Cannes for the film festival this week, and I’m sure we’re not alone! So we decided to give you all the heads up on the big films selected this year.

Moonrise Kingdom was Wes Anderson’s opening film. The American film stars Bruce Willis and Bill Murray in an ensemble cast and is about a pair of young lovers who run away in the 60s and a local search party is sent out to catch them.

Rust and Bone is an incredible French film directed by Jacques Audiard and starring the beautiful Marion Cotillard. The movie is based on Craig Davidson’s story of the same name.

Lawless formerly The Wettest County is a western drama about bootlegging in the American South. The film stars a stunning cast consisting of Shia Labeouf, Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Jessica Chastain and Dane DeHaan. John Hillcoat’s offering is definitely one we’re looking forward to seeing at the cinema.

The Paperboy has been getting mixed reviews, but with a cast including Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman, it seems like it could be worth a watch. The story follows two brothers as the investigate the events surrounding a murder to exonerate a man on death row.

The winner of the Palme d’Or was French-language film Amour directed by Michael Haneke and starring Isabelle Huppert. The narrative is about an elderly couple who are retired music teachers and the film deals with how the couple cope when Anne suffers stroke which paralyses one side of her body.

And the one we are most excited to see is On The Road. The film is an adaptation of classic novel by Jack Kerouac of the same name. The story is based on the years Jack spent travelling the US in the 40s with several figures who would go on to become Beat Generation poets including Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs. This particular adaptation stars Sam Riley, Garett Hedlund and Kristen Stewart. It seems film makers are enamoured by the stories of these poets as we have already seen James Franco’s portrayal of Allen Ginsberg in Howl, and are eagerly awaiting Kill Your Darlings later next year!