Genre: Comedy Director: Jeff Tremain Starring: Johnny Knoxville and Jackson Nicoll Running: 92mins As Jackass 3D came to an end in 2010 it felt like the right time, and while the 3D concept was well orchestrated and hilariously professional, the 3D premise was not much of a comedic step up from its predecessors. Three years on, Johnny Knoxville returns with Bad Grandpa; a Borat style mockery of gullible America with a surprisingly relevant but extremely brief story line.
Irving Zisman (Knoxville) finds himself in an unexpected situation following the death of his wife. Excited at the prospect of dabbling in American women, he is approached by toward the end of a hilariously disturbing mass dedicated to his wife's recent passing. Irving is left with no choice but to consider his morals, and more importantly, his family, and agrees to take grandson Billy halfway across America to his uncommitted father.
The loose plot in Bad Grandpa is wonderfully connected to the pranks that follow along the way as each pit-stop is met with the intention of distracting the people around them in comedic and at times disturbing fashion. Both Knoxville and sidekick Billy are ambitious from the start, holding no punches as they gate crash a wedding, destroy a local diner, flirt with women and the climatic build up of the beauty pageant in a fantastic scene that the trailer so stupidly reveals. However there is a lot more involved, as the sleazy 86 year old brings back some Jackass related moments such as robbing supermarkets, and potential fistfights with controversial moments involving racism and homophobia.
The chemistry between Knoxville and child star Jason Nicoll is a treat, with Nicoll's stone faced impressions proving gutsy in some terrifying situations; he is well mentored by Knoxville as he is clearly obliged to escalate further havoc to the finest and strangest parts of America.
Just like the previous Jackass movies, Bad Grandpa is short and may leave you wanting more. Bad Grandpa seems inspired by Sacha Baron Cohen's fictionalised plot in Borat. With Knoxville's renowned bravery, this ambitious attempt at shying from Jackass but keeping the bones of its origin pays off even if the trailer did reveal the majority of the hilarious pranks involved.
Starring: Tilikum, Dave Duffus, Samantha Berge and Dawn Brancheau (archive)
Running: 80mins
Blackfish, directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, is a fascinating, terrifying and deeply intriguing insight into the world of "so-called" entertainment, focusing on the ambitious extent that authorities of Seaworld will go through in order to keep it a money spinning attraction. Tilikum is an Orcha Whale raised, like many, in the surroundings of a concrete swimming pool in Florida's renowned tourist attraction Seaworld; a place that fails to advertise the true nature of the Orcha Whale. While friendly, they are considered extremely dangerous, pointing to the obvious nature of the mammal and its survival instinct, oh, an the title "Killer Whale" stands out also.
The story here is a biased outlook on animal exploitation and begins with footage of Dawn Brancheau; Tilikum's most recent victim and ironically, Seaworld's oldest and much experienced trainer. Her death was tragic but not surprising.
The death of Dawn Brancheau is a clear motive behind Gabriela's Blackfish in which is pieced from the origin of whale hunting, to Seaworld's neighbour "Sealand" while its main focus is on the peculiar and incidentally tragic happenings in both Florida and Spain. Blackfish is not out to please the average Seaworld fan, rather an attempt at opening their eyes.
The story of the whale is heartfelt and deeply emotional. Blackfish does well in captivating the emotions from former Seaworld instructors, the audience, the attraction and of course, the Whale - in which Tilikum is hailed both hero and villain.
Blackfish fails to ask "you" the question and rather runs on archive footage, newspaper headlines and tries dividing fact from fiction with Seaworld being widely criticised from the beginning. Blackfish brings a lot of experts to the table, eyewitnesses and solid footage of incidents that are guaranteed to leave you shook. The only specimen it does fail to provide is a perspective from Seaworld representatives and for obvious reasons. So while it falls flat in that area, Gabriela's fascinating insight into the exploitation of Orcha whales is surprising, heartfelt and thoroughly frightening.
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Dano, Viola Davis and Terrance Howard.
Running: 153 Mins
Following a thanksgiving gathering across the street, Keller (Jackman) and friend Franklin (Howard) find themselves calling their daughters names down a wet and windy suburban avenue. Alert of a suspicious van parked outside previously, Keller realises the daunting situation that both Anna and Joy's disappearance is subject to a double kidnapping.
The streets become ever so lonely and the situation becomes a reality when the local police, including detective Loki (Gyllenhaal) turn up to gather some information regarding the daughters of both families. As Loki digs deeper into the possible characters involved, Keller struggles to maintain his peace, making matters worse for Loki, Franklin and everyone involved. While Loki is adamant and confident in finding the kidnapper, the circumstances become harder to accept with a plot revealing deeper answers as Loki thinks he has found the answer in Alex (Dano), only to unravel some loose ends in an investigation that becomes harder to tie up.
Prisoners reels you in easily with a story that becomes ever so gripping but to say it is enjoyable may be the wrong word; more interesting and satisfying (in parts), with a gathering of dark scenes that leave a bad aura every time. Director Denis Villeneuve really hits home with this strong, relate-able topic, with its aggressive scenes and terrific performances from the cast, you could say the result is all too real to actually leave the cinema with a fine grin. It supplies a gritty, yet extremely depressive aura similar to that of David Fincher's Zodiac (2007) with its endless discovery moments yet as a member of the audience, it takes you back to square one every time.
The possibility of this happening quickly dawns on you from the beginning as Villeneuve's vision of relating it to factual kidnappings seeming all too real. Prisoners is a frightening tale of some wonderful, disturbing and dedicated characters that refuses any sense of euphoria from the very beginning.
While Prisoners deserves much applause for its modern vision on a disturbing and quite existing society, Villeneuve assembles a great cast of actors to help create just that. It is one of the most nail biting atmospheric crime dramas of 2013 thus far.
Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal maybe on the hunt for bragging rights at the Oscars this year, and while Jackman's performance is the most talked about, both men are countered for their own, personnel performances; ones that may stand a chance masterfully at the forth coming Oscars event.
Prisoners is certainly not the most upbeat crime dramas of the year but its deep intentions are heartfelt. The performances from the all round cast are jaw dropping, with a plot seeking nothing less than sorrow from its audience.
The Hollywood craftsmanship of Quentin Tarantino needs very little introduction other than he is a full time director, writer and most times, a very in-depth movie critic with rival projects in the past finding that out the hard way. Tarantino is never shy of controversial opinion; while those who once pointed the finger at Quentin's work have in most cases felt the force of powerful and very constructive words from a man who's argumentative persona is felt like a hot knife through butter. Nevertheless, Tarantino is an all round child like movie buff. His work is hailed to be contently successful due to the desire of creating a film that he, as an adolescent, would have liked to pay in to see.
As you may or may not know, one of Tarantino's favourite movies of all time is Battle Royale (2000). While we would love nothing more than an extended list of enjoyable and somewhat personal list of classic movies from the man who knows best, we are giving his top ten favourite movies of 2013 instead.
Afternoon Delight
Director/Writer: Jim Soloway
Starring: Kathryn Hahn, Juno Temple and Josh Radnor
Synopsis: Rachel (Kathryn Hahn) is frustrated at the lack of romantic spark that once embraced the home she shares with lover boy Jeff (Radnor). Desperate to dabble in new experiences, the "stay at home mom" visits a strip club in which she meets McKenna (Temple); a struggling teenager caught up in a life that needs rescuing. Rachel does just that, in granting McKenna the new life of being a nanny to her kids, Rachel believes this is a deed worth pushing. However her selfishness creates tension within the household of others, with husband Jeff finding it difficult to cope around a situation that becomes all too peculiar and unsatisfying as far as his relationship goes with Rachel.
Before Midnight
Director: Richard Linklater
Starring: Ethan Hawke and Julie Deply
Synopsis: Jesse (Hawke) and Celine's romance is celebrated over two decades from when they first met. Both are on holiday in Greece, courtesy of an invitation from a former colleague and friend of Jesse's. As the trip comes to an end, Jesse finds himself in limbo, with a once dedication toward Celine hanging in the balance as a relationship that has lasted a lifetime begins to slope. However the surviving friendship and lustful chemistry between both, shows that neither is willing to give up on what they both discovered on a Paris train a lifetime ago.
Blue Jasmine
Directed: Woody Allen
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin and Sally Hawkins
Synopsis: New York based socialite Jasmine (Blanchett) is deceived into false love and ultimately left with nothing other than her sister Ginger. While they say family should become first, the depressed mindset of Jasmine quickly becomes a burden to the household of Ginger and her husband Augie (Andrew Dice Clay).
The Conjuring
Directed: James Wan
Starring: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga and Ron Livingston
Synopsis: Based on the real life work of paranormal investigators Ed (Wilson) and Lorraine (Farmiga), their duty calls on what seems a routine house of haunted ghouls; with the outcome, in most cases, appearing false. However, the experience of both Ed and Lorraine is tested as a family is terrorised in a dilapidated farm house in Rhode Island.
Drinking Buddies
Directed: Joe Swanberg
Starring: Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson and Anna Kendrick
Synopsis: Luke and Kate spend their days in the Chicago Brewery sober - to a certain extent. But their typical mundane shift can only last so long before they make a routine session of beer drinking. But considering both Luke and Kate are in "not so" convincing relationships, the romantic premise of Drinking Buddies kicks as they are both convinced of their lustful suitability, they know it can never be, or can it?
Frances Ha
Directed: Noah Baumbach
Starring: Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner and Adam Driver
Synopsis: The life of Frances Haliday (Gerwig) is full of wonderful hopes and dreams with optimism in abundance. Frances lives in New York without an actual apartment, and while the only way is up in the eyes of Frances, her friend Sophie is bemused to where exactly she sees her friend going and creates a fallout in friendship. However while Frances continues to live her life with sheer enjoyment, her sudden dawn on reality seems almost inevitable.
Gravity
Directed: Alfonso Cuaron
Starring: George Clooney and Sandra Bullock
Synopsis: Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock) is in the company of astronaut Matt (Clooney) who are both exploring the wonders of space on its first shuttle mission. Things take a turn for the worse when the shuttle is destroyed, leaving Dr. Ryan and Matt fighting against the daring possibility of being sucked into the abyss forever.
Kick-Ass 2
Directed: Jeff Wadlow
Starring: Aaron Taylor Johnson, Chloe Grace-Moretz and Jim Carrey
Synopsis: Kick-Ass (Johnson) joins up with a group of self inspired crime fighters in order to maintain the peace. On the other hand, Hit-Girl (Moretz) struggles to come to terms with modern day high school, with her personality outside the costume becoming harder to control.
The Loan Ranger
Directed: Gore Verbinski
Starring: Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer and William Fichtner
Synopsis: The Loan Ranger, aka the tale of John Reid is told to a young boy in way of enlightening the 1930s. Told through the eyes of a late Tonto (Depp), the movie retraces the origin of John Reid in a spaghetti Western parody that leads both Tonto and Reid through explosive territories and blockbuster adventures; a surviving outcome that grants Reid the title of "The Loan Ranger".
This is the End
Directed: Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen.
Starring: Seth Rogan, James Franco, Jay Baruchek and Craig Robinson.
Synopsis: A gathering of "stoners" and every Seth Rogen cohort you can think of, turn up for James Franco's house warming. Sounds like a lot of fun, especially if you are actually friends with these guys. But unfortunately, a seat in a dark room with a big ass screen is as close as we are going to get to witnessing the adventure of six of the funniest guys in Hollywood (at the moment); Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, James Franco, Craig Robinson, Danny McBride and Jay Baruchel (Read my full review here).
