The Firm

WARNING: THE ABOVE TRAILER CONTAINS SWEARING

Apologies that I couldnt play a clip of the film on the show this week, however check out the trailer above

in Nick Loves 5th film The Firm( after Goodbye Charlie Bright, The Business, The Football Factory, Outlaw) he retains his trademark love for the violence

The often criticised director is usually accused of gloryfying violence, However just as in the Foootball Factory Love shows he can embed the film with both a message and a conscience

In my opinion this is Nick Loves best film to date, and if you really want to compare it, then yes its better than The Football Factory

But for me this was a brave step by Love. To take a critically acclaimed TV piece and to rework it from a slightly different angle, could be seen as bold by some and stupid by others. However when you have the gift for capturing british culture that Love has you might aswell use it.

The films is as much about the clothes and haircuts as it is about the football violence. For fans of the Football Factory and Love's previous work, this film is a must. For anyone else who isnt a fan, give this a go, you may just be a Nick Love fan in the making

4/5

Adventureland

Advertised as "from the director of superbad", Adveantureland has a lot to live up to. Superbad was one of the most succesful comedies of the last few years. Where superbad is a loose biographical tale of Seth Rogens ascent into adulthood, Greg mottolas new film mirrors his own growing up

Safe to say their is plenty that we can all relate to. The minimum wage job, the chase of the unobtainable girl, but most of all that magical summer, that most of us had at some point in our adolescence when, despite the situation (rubbish job, no money) you feel as if you have your whole lives ahead of you

The whole themepark setting gives plenty of scope for comedy and fun times, and with crazed customers and out of date corn dogs, you realize that getting through the summer alive may not just be metaphorical

Adventureland, much like superbad relies on some crude humour, although its definitely no superbad 2. It has more heart and a gooeyier centre, but is still equally fullfilling

If you liked superbad, or even a fan of Bill Heder, Kristen Stewart, Ryan Renolds, Jesse Eisenberg etc etc. there should be enough here to keep you happy. Like a day at the fair, its full of ups and downs, and if you manage to get through it without spilling your guts, happy days!!


3/5

(500) days of summer

This is not a love story

from the opening disclaimer to the end credits it seems very clear that (500)days of summer isnt your average rom-com. In fact, the film seems to go out of its way to avoid the usual cliches and in my opinion ends up all the better for it

Rom-coms exist on a very tried and very tested formula, guy meets girl, throw an obstacle in their way, they overcome that obstacle and end up living happily ever after. Nothing wrong with this, and if you are someone that needs a bit of sugar to help your popcorn go down then you probably would of been better watching the proposal.

(500) days strives to be original, and this could come across as feeling forced and contrived, but the writing and stellar performances from Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt dont allow that

Directed by first timer Marc Webb, he goes for the understated yet stylish, but also takes the breath aswy with a big musical number and an expectation vs reality split screen that works fantasically well

here we have a story of role reversals, guy meets girl, guy falls in love and girl wants to keep it casual. the most interesting and well used part of the tale is the time frame. set over 500 days it flits back and forth at random as we see snapshots of their blossoming relationship.

The one complaint I would have is that, although interesting, it seems a part Deschanel could do in her sleep, and the real meat and bones is left to Gordon-Levitt who is fortunately up to the task

With its indie charm, killer soundtrack and off-beat romance, this for me is one of the films of the year and a must see

so what you wating for...

5/5

Funny People

Ok, Funny people

well lets start with the title. Straight away you have to say its a bold move to call the movie funny people, I mean this means it really does have to be funny right?

Well I guess just being Judd Apatow means you are expected to be funny. The guy behind films such as Cable guy, Anchorman, Talladega nights, Superbad, Pineapple Express etc etc has a lot to live up to.

This movie is billed as being his third film (as both Writer and Director) following the hugely sucessful 40 year old virgin and Knocked up. In terms of subject matter, It seems Mr Apatow feels that the more serious the subject, the more laughs he can get out of it. The 40 year old virgin deals with belated sexual awakening, Knocked up deals with pregnancy after a one night stand, and Funny people deals with Death.

The film follows Adams Sandlers character, who is a successful comedian coming to terms with his terminal illness. He then finds out he is better and bang, he has obtained a new lease of life.

The film feels very personal, and the inclusion of actual footage of Adam Sandler making prank calls from when he used to live with Apatow just add to that. This is a film by stand up comedians by people who used to do stand up

So the main question is, is it any good?

Well the answer is a resounding yes. The film is probably Apatow's best work to date. The cast are superb and there is a great chemistry forged by the fact that these people are long term collaborators. Where the film is let down is by an over long third act which just means this excellent film meanders to its inevitable conclusion when it should of sprinted there. You could easily trim 20-30 minutes off and the film would be better for it

Saying that, if thats the only complaint I can find from Funny people, that there is too much of it, then its a complaint I would be happy to make again and again when it comes to future Apatow films

One of the best comedies of the year. Check it out


4/5