Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (movie)

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

What an incredibly hard film to write about.

I never read other reviews before writing my own. It’s not that I don’t think that there is value in them, or I wouldn’t be sat here tapping away at my keyboard, I just feel like now I am doing this I want to remain unbiased. The downside here is that, given my inexperience, I have no idea whether I have completely missed something or give away far too much. However, it’s important to me that I don’t just regurgitate someone else’s opinion as my own.

The difficulty with Tinker, Tailor is that it’s a completely different animal to the majority of mainstream films making their way to your nearest Odeon, making me feel completely out of my depth. However, before you stop reading, I can tell you now, this is a good thing, because what it means is the film is so good, I am concerned I won’t do it justice.

I had hoped to read the book before seeing the film, it seems to be that 99% of the time, the book is substantially better. However, my busy holiday itinerary didn’t allow me the opportunity to sit down and get into it.

It’s a pretty famous story, both as a novel, John Le Carré’s most celebrated work, and a TV series aired in 1979 and starring Alec Guinness. If, like me, you weren’t aware of it until more recently; I am sure you can guess, this is a Spy story. However, something else you may have already established is that this isn’t a James Bond or Jason Bourne type thriller. With Gary Oldman playing the main protagonist, this is a contemplative and far more realistic tale.

Gary Oldman is an increasingly rare beast. One of those rare actors whose presence in a film is virtually a guarantee of quality. Tinker, Tailor meets those expectations, with substance prevailing over style and a victory of plot over shock and awe effects.

Playing veteran spy George Smiley, Oldman is beyond reproach. His supporting cast, including the likes of Tom Hardy, Colin Firth and Mark Strong are also excellent; I could find little fault.

In terms of the film itself, it doesn’t follow the plot of Le Carré’s novel to the letter, at least in terms of the first few chapters I’ve read; with the order of the scenes somewhat different. I’ve not read any of Le Carré’s work before, so I don’t know if George Smiley is an oft used protagonist; but little time is given to describing the characters or the setting, with the action, such as it is, beginning immediately. The film is the same, with a few different scenes coving a number of sub-plots, providing no indication of what is to come. Although initially harder to follow, it’s refreshing, because the audience are not treated like idiots who need the characters and plot to be spoon fed to them in advance. Whilst this may end up prompting questions from girlfriends up and down the country along the lines of ‘who’s he’, ‘what are they doing’ and ‘who’s the goodie and who’s the baddie’, it doesn’t take that long to pick up the threads. (Sexist comment for effect, not because I really believe it, there are substantially more idiotic boyfriends than the other way around!).

Some may find the pace of the film slow and it is one of those films that your dad will invariably fall asleep whilst watching. But I would definitely call this a thinking man’s film (more casual sexism there, I blame the English language for that one). If you are in the mood for something clever and realistic, this is definitely for you, as I have said, James Bond it is not. I should probably have mentioned by now Le Carré is a former spy, so there is a decent chance that this sort of thing really did go on.

By the end of this film, you genuinely feel like you’ve been on a journey and that something has happened, there is anough going on that you aren’t ever spending your time trying to work out who has done what but in the end it all comes together nicely. Without wanting to labour the point, although I probably have done, this is not a friday night flick, it is not a date movie and it is certainly not for people who wear Reebok Classics, this is a film for people who appreciate good cinema, if that’s you, go and see it. 4.5/5

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Gay Paris at the Witching Hour. A.k.a. Midnight In Paris

Midnight In Paris

I had never planned to see this film (and it’s definitely a film, not a movie, this one). In fact, I wasn’t even aware of its existence until I learned that it would be playing during my flight home from Athens; which does mean I had to watch it on the small screen. By small screen I mean super old school 14″ CRTs perched up above the aisles.

Woody Allen’s latest effort was chosen to open the Cannes Film Festival this year, quite an honour in itself, particularly for a film boasting Owen Wilson as the lead.

I didn’t know what to expect, although when you find out Woody Allen is directing you immediately get an idea, until the presence of Mr Wilson chucks you a bit of a curve-ball.

Technically the film is something of a Rom-Com, although like many it’s pretty long on Rom and short on Com, not that it’s any the worse for it. It’s not from the Notting Hill end of the genre, aiming for far greater depth and subtlety.

Owen Wilson as the lead is actually a good casting choice, despite my initial reservations. As soon as you shake off the Wedding Crashers memories and accept the film for what it is, he’s actually ideal for the role. A typical writer, self involved, scatty and with an attractive girl, he wants to move to Paris on something of a whim, not just Paris though, 1920s Paris, the subject of his first proper Novel.

Bit of a spoiler from here on, so you might want to skip down to the last paragraph if you want to go and see this one knowing as much as me. I promise though, if you do read on, it doesn’t tell you anything you can’t work out for yourself pretty damn easily during the course of the film.

The story takes one of the traditional old formulas… Man with endearing innocence and friendly demeanor is with an attractive outside but ugly inside woman who he is so besotted with he doesn’t notice she’s wrong for him. He then meets someone else, who he slowly realises he is also into.

I can’t decide if Woody Allen is trying to be incredibly artistic with the character choices or if he is just being a little bit ridiculous because he can. In many ways the film only works because of their inclusion, and the main premise of the film isn’t very realistic; however although there is a fantasy plot-line, the film is not based in a fantasy world and there are times where I felt it was taken just a little too far.

All in all though, despite not blowing you away, it’s a solid film that has managed to derive a decent level of originality from a collection of ideas which have all been done before in different ways. Woody Allen is clearly a man who knows the formula for a good film and although it hasn’t been hyped, this is a nailed on third date movie and brownie points will be awarded if you go with the wife, which I am sure most men could handle quite comfortably. With that in mind, I’m going to give the film a solid 3.5/5, which sounds low, but it works out as a 7 out of 10, which isn’t bad at all. In fact, if I did ratings out of 10 it’d probably get 7.5, so there you go. Worth seeing, but unless you’ve got a 3rd date, or need to find an alternative to flowers for your wife, not necessarily at the cinema, because in a year or so it’s gonna be £4 in a bargain bucket somewhere.

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Write something proper about the new Harry Potter film? Erm. No.

So I feel like I should mention, I saw the Harry Potter Film last night. Part 2 of the 7th book. They have really milked that one, haven’t they! My conscience forced me to say… I should warn you now, because I can’t help myself, I have put a spoiler in this post. Some might consider it big and some might consider it obvious, but it’s there all the same.

I am embarassed that I saw it and even more embarassed to admit to it, but since I talk about most of the things I get up to which aren’t day-to-day then I thought I’d better say something. This is also the third night in the row I went to the cinema, impressive going by anyone’s standards.

I only went, because a friend was desperate to see it and I thought maybe its run would be finished before long, so I gave in. I was actively trying not to see it. I haven’t seen any of the others before and only saw Harry Potter and The Fellowship of The Ring (or whatever it’s called, I don’t bloody know) before this one.

I pretty much expected to have no idea what was going on for a while, but luckily, as it’s aimed at kids, there aren’t any particularly taxing themes to follow, or get confused by.

The cinema was pretty full considering, we were shunted off to one side, having previously sat in the wrong seats and been stared at somewhat harshly by their rightful owners for the next 2 hours.

The popcorn was ok, I bought a hot-dog, ate the Wine Gums and drank the Coke I’d brought from home and, as expected, Voldemort dies at the end.

Oh, sorry, did I spoil it for you? Come on, it’s pretty obvious, even if you haven’t read the epic final book.

That’s all you’re getting on that one. And in case you were wondering…

No, I don’t care that I put a spoiler in.

Yes, I will probably go back and warn you about it, because I’d rather like my readers not to think I am a dick.

Yes, I did swear in a review of a children’s film that children might read. Come on parents, it’s everywhere online, if you don’t like it, restrict them to Club Penguin or whatever crap they do these days.

No, I won’t be putting a picture in, it’s bad enough that I am writing this as it is.

Yes, I did manage to go to the cinema three nights in a row. Not only that, having paid half price on the two previous occasions I did pay full price for Harry Potter… In 3D.

No I’m not going to rate it, because having read all this, I should imagine that you won’t consider my opinion of this film as the most useful; you will want to see it if you’ve seen the last 7 regardless of what I say (that’s about £70 you’ve spent on seeing Harry Potter in the cinema just for yourself) and if you don’t like Harry Potter, you probably aren’t reading this right now, since the title includes the words HARRY POTTER.

Now eff off so I can curl up in the corner and spend the next 2 weeks getting over the shame of not just watching this film, but admitting to it.

If you like this kind of thing though, it’s actually not that bad. 😉

(In)between Malia and a hard place… The Inbetweeners Movie

The Inbetweeners Movie

So to a film which has a very specific audience of extremely dedicated followers, I count myself as one of these people. With this in mind, I will try as hard as I can to keep my review as objective as possible, I can’t promise not to use the word clunge… or pussay though.

I actually started writing this review yesterday, after my first viewing. Somehow, though, after worrying I might not see it at all this week, I’ve managed to end up watching it twice, 2 days in a row! Never in my life have I been to the cinema 2 days in a row, especially not to see the same film. I’d say that’s praise of the highest order, so if you’re in two minds, stop reading here and get down to the cinema. I’m not exaggerating about going now either. despite being in the largest screen on both occasions, the Cinema was packed.

If you need to read a review of this film, it might not be for you if I’m honest. With the target audience generally the 18-30 category, this film ticks all the boxes, both from the audience and production company’s point of view. It’s a nailed on, must see film for all of us who still feel like we’re still living the four boys’ lives and it is hardly a hollywood blockbuster in terms of budget. My flabber will be ghasted beyond belief if the makers of this film didn’t make the entire budget of the film back within a week.

Anyway, ignoring all that, this film is a clunge fest in every sense of the word. The boys, after leaving school head off on what can only be described as the ultimate coming of age holiday, a trip to Malia, the party capital of Crete.

I’m not going to spoil it for you by giving away the story, partly because there isn’t much of one, but let’s be sensible, the last 3 series’ despite charting the pitfalls of 6th form didn’t have a great deal of that either.

I think that with such a successful series, the pressure is on when making a film, hence the title of this review. My own biggest concern was that we’d end up with a bit of a ‘Kevin & Perry Go Large’. With a similar theme (teenagers on holiday) it could have all gone horribly wrong. In reality, though, Kevin & Perry were caricatures played by middle-aged men in short sketches, meaning that other than the odd huff, there wasn’t actually much there to base the film on. The Inbetweeners is a well written programme with a good back catalogue and well-developed characters played by actors not much older. I should have known, I didn’t need to worry.

Other than that, perhaps the biggest danger is that we’d end up with one long episode and whilst there are worse things in the world, is that something you really need to go to the cinema for? Well in this case yes. If it is like an episode, it’s like one of the properly funny ones. The gags are non stop and there are plenty of themes to keep it entertaining. One or two genuinely classic memorable moments and enough of Jay’s bullshit to fill… something really big.

This is a film which not only leaves every teenager in the cinema talking about when to go to Malia, it leaves those of us in our late 20s and older pining for those days and wondering if we can get away with a trip of our own.

The real joy of The Inbetweeners, both in terms of the series and the film is that we can relate to all of them. We all knew a Jay and we all behaved just like Simon over a girl. Whilst all of them are probably a bit more polarised than we’d admit to being ourselves, nothing is so ridiculous that you can’t believe it might actually happen. That’s the joy of this type of film. As Charlotte said to me as we were walking out, The Hangover is hilarious for having things like a Tiger in the hotel room, but The Inbetweeners is funnier without it. We’ve all been there.

It’s simples then ;-p If you love The Inbetweeners, you need to see this film, immediately. If you aren’t bothered, then don’t bother and if you’ve never heard of The Inbetweeners, you really need to borrow my Series 1-3 box-set, watch them all this weekend and get down to the cinema before it’s too late!

5/5

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It’s not a monkey! Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Ok, so you should know that I saw this one on Saturday and I should warn you, Saturday was a stressful day, so this review might be a bit sh*t! I should also warn you once again, this review may give away a little more than you’d like to hear.

My first thought here was that the title is stupid. I mean, maybe they are hamstrung by the fact they needed to include the words ‘Planet of the Apes’, but it doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. If it were me that got to decide these things, and there are good reasons why it isn’t me, but if it were, I’d probably have given it a sub-title. Maybe something like ‘Planet of the Apes: Genesis’, but we’re lumbered with it as it is.

Moving away from such trivial matters, the movie itself (I hate that word, I much prefer to say ‘film’ but when it comes to Hollywood blockbusters/franchises, the word movie just seems more appropriate). Anyway, the movie itself opens with a scene of Apes being rounded up for a spot of casual scientific testing. From there on it’s pretty obvious what’s going to happen here and together with a decent amount of ‘story’ the story plays out as one would expect.

I have seen little of the original films and I always struggled with the premise of a spaceship somehow travelling through time and ending up back on earth with the Apes somehow not only in control, but with infrastructure and society matching our own, as we see at the end of Tim Burton’s 2001 remake. However, this film provides a believable premise and genuine identification with the main protagonist Caesar. The film hinges on the act of one human, doing what we all fear will happen, producing a drug which is both the ultimate cure and the ultimate killer. His humanity is what gives Caesar his future and his arrogance leads to the beginning of a world changing battle. The plot spends a long time winding around Caesar’s early story and yet provides us with little justification for the ultimate change and final outcome; a rather violent affair given the Ape’s earlier life experiences. The end of the film leaves us with something to ponder, why exactly did they go through all that they did and what exactly do they expect to happen next? In other words, this is a film designed entirely to make us come and see another one and whilst it is good, I’m not sure it’s good enough to have the audience flocking back for more.

The effects appear pretty standard, although the apes are entirely CGI, which is both impressive and a touch unnecessary, we are advised on the poster that the people who made Avatar are involved, but I can’t see a great deal over and above Burton’s film to get the juices pumping. Serkis is fantastic as Caesar though and he has proved again that he is the king of motion capture.

In terms of timeline and relationship with the rest of the franchise, for people that care about these things, the film generally works. You can understand why the Apes don’t like Humans, you can see how they were able to bring this to bear, it leads nicely towards the ultimate outcome told to us in the original stories, the question is, how long can they drag it out until we get there?

Overall a good film movie and worth seeing on the big screen, but not one to sate the appetite of purist Apes fans nor those looking for a rich storyline. On the plus side, Helena Bonham-Carter is nowhere near this one!

3.5/5

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Super, Smashing, Great… Super 8.

Super 8

Since Friday night, unusually, I’ve done three different entertainment related activities, I have taken in one theatre trip and two films at the cinema… I’ve still yet to write about any of them, so I’d better get started…

I’ll do a separate review on each, despite my temptation to throw everything into one epic post, since that wouldn’t actually make a great deal of sense. The most recent and therefore, most fresh in my mind was Super 8, J J Abrams and Steven Spielberg’s latest Sci-Fi cum children coming of age action flick. I’ve never done a film review before, in fact I’m reviewing most things for the first time for this blog and, with that in mind, I may give away more than you want to know. If you think I have, let me know and I’ll try and be a bit more reserved with the next one. Otherwise, read on…

We all know Spielberg, we all know the guy can make a kids movie, with E.T., Hook and The Goonies amongst his credits we also know they are films which are capable of entertaining us whether we’re 13 or 33. Finally we know the man has a formula. Yes, there is the standard hero story and yes like every film he slavishly follows it, but Spielberg’s formula, is more complex, it’s devilishly clever in fact, so clever I am almost blown away by its sheer genius… Include a fat kid and, if possible, find an excuse to point and laugh at him. Within minutes of the film starting, I am able relax into my seat, re-assured that this time, things will be no different.

Now, for something a bit different, throw a bit of Abrams into the mix and see what happens. Two genuine movie heavyweights pooling their collective resources, experience and knowledge to produce a genuinely scary young person’s film? This could be good.

As it turns out, it’s great.

All the required ingredients are there, characters you can relate to, an underlying story of romance (extra points for making said romance of the forbidden Romeo and Juliet kind) and a giant great big monster. Now, I nearly wasn’t going to mention the monster, the trailers don’t really show it and perhaps it would ruin it for you.  However, if we exclude Star Trek, which is rather more prescriptive and look back at the stuff Mr Abrams is best known for then immediately we have some clues. Take Lost, the TV series which spent a long time confusing people before introducing… a huge monster, a few of them actually. Then there’s Cloverfield, the film which no-one was allowed to speak about before it was released, barely had a trailer and involved the concept of being filmed on a handheld camera before WHAM, a giant monster comes crashing through the city. Sensing a theme much?

In reality then, I walked in not knowing what to expect, when in reality the two main forces behind this film immediately fell back on what they know best, fat kids and scary monsters.

Despite the formulaic nature of the film, both in terms of the overall themes and specific details it’s a genuinely entertaining picture. Special effects are generally barely worth a mention unless they are either exceptionally good, or terrible. In this case we saw a monumental train crash and a cleverly introduced monster, which you don’t get to see eye to eye until very near the end. Other than the general disaster movie/alien invasion, we are provided with a well constructed story surrounding the fat kid and his friends making their own movie, (giving the film its own title) which is believable and at times touching. This is topped off with our story of young, forbidden love between the children of two warring parents. With the film set some time in the late 70s or early 80s it’s easy to buy the innocence of the children in a story which today could lead to only one thing – teenage pregnancy. However, the story, at least the aspects not directly related to giant monsters or disaterous train wrecks almost feels autobiographical. You could believe a young Spielberg or Abrams was running around corralling a group of friends into different scenes and shots almost oblivious to the world carrying on around them and it certainly gave the film a reality amongst the fiction.

Finally, I should also mention that for once, we have a film which does not feel like the start of a longer story, doesn’t feel like its sole purpose is to set the scene for the next film and hasn’t left us hanging, waiting to find out what will happen next. This is a true stand-alone tale and it is better for it, which is becoming all too rare.

If you accept the fact that originality is almost dead in the world of cinema, particularly when budgets are big and expectations are high, this film is genuinely entertaining and will have a real appeal for all ages. The 12A rating certainly reflects the film’s scarier aspects and I wouldn’t suggest this is a film which is appropriate for under 12s. It’s been out for a few weeks, so I’d suggest getting down to see it if you haven’t already, particularly if you have an Orange Wednesday, or O2 Priority thing going to waste.

4/5

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