The Woman In Black

Harry Potter megastar Daniel Radcliffe attempts to shake off his alter ego and break into the Hollywood A Lister's in the Edwardian set 'The Woman In Black', a big screen adaptation of Susan Hill's 1983 novel.

Radcliffe is Arthur Kipps a young widowed lawyer who must travel to the village of Crythin Gifford and sort out the estate of the deceased Alice Drablow.
Kipps is reluctant to leave his beloved son Joseph behind but is under pressure from his boss to finally resolve the complicated estate.

Upon arrival in the village he is met with a frosty welcome by most of the locals with the exception of Daily (Ciaran Hinds) who offers him a room at this stately home he shares with his wife.
In order to complete his required task, Kipps must visit the Gothic mansion of Eel Marsh House and sort through the tonne of paraphernalia.
The house is were Alice Drablow lived with her husband, son Nathaniel and sister Jennet, and is situated on a causeway, when at full tide is separated from the village.

It's pretty clear when he steps into the house that all is not well. Besides the abundance of paperwork, there are many unrelated writings and drawings which seem to connect the deaths of the Drablow family.
The character that is most intriguing is the sister Jennet as she was deemed mentally unstable!
When Pitts ponders the view from an upstairs window and spots the figure of a woman dressed in black staring up at the him, he knows he needs to ask some questions.

Events go from bad to worse very quickly when some of the children in the village are killed in very sinister and mysterious circumstances.
To his dismay, the locals accuse Kipps for these killings, blaming his probing of the Drablow legacy and visiting the Eel Marsh House.
They demand he leave immediately.

Kipps shares his findings with 'Daily' - his only ally in the village, and Daily reveals the his son was also taken from him some time ago and that the village has been terrorised by the ghost of a woman seeking revenge on the local children.
Daily's wife is obsessed with her deceased son and is fully convinced that he channels messages from the dead through her regarding future happenings.
When she experiences one such vision she tells Kipps that his son Joseph is next to die.
Kipps is distraught and sets out to save his son but first he must find a way to make peace with The Woman in Black.

If like me, you've read the book or seen the stage play, you won't be disappointed with this version of 'The Woman In Black'.
The first half hour was always going to be slow but it needed to be in order to instill the eerie atmosphere required.
But don't worry, there are lots of screams and jumps ahead to please the masses.
The setting is spot on and thankfully there is more or less a C list cast which adds realism and an element of authenticity.
Daniel Radcliffe is more than adequate in the main role and although he's used to acting with inanimate objects and CGI effects, he still manages to bring a strong mature presence to the part.

Looks like Harry Potter has grown up at last.

Score: 8/10

Carnage

Roman Polanski's black comedy featuring Jodie Foster, Kate Winslett,
John C Reilly and Christopher Waltz is a clever observation of adult behaviour.

Two new york couples meet to discuss and clear up the details of a violent altercation between their schoolkids, which resulted in one of the boys being badly injured.

It's clear from the couples initial over friendly yet smug demeanour that there are issues simmering beneath.
Both couples are eager to stress how strong their relationships and home life are, thus insinuating that they are the better parents and in the clear for their child's behaviour.

After several attempts to come to a mutual agreement it's quite apparent that neither couple are willing to cave and admit defeat.
The mothers are both uptight characters at the forefront of the debate, leaving the more cordial minded husbands to somehow bond.

However, after the they open a bottle of whiskey to calm the atmosphere, all hell breaks loose.
All four of them loosen up and their real characters come out to play.
This leads to the adults losing all inhibitions, acting outrageously, leaving their children's actions looking tame.

'Carnage' is a screen adaptation of a play, which is obvious due to it's pace and setting.
Based in a new york apartment and set in real time, the two couples are the only actors on screen for the entire film with the exception of a snippet of the incident involving their kids.
The script and observations are very sharp, keeping the viewer interested and the acting is superb.

This type of movie making will not be to every ones liking but if your a Polanski or Woody Allen fan it will prove most favourable.

Unfortunately, I reckon 8 of 10 adults will actually relate to such intolerable behaviour


Score: 8/10

The Grey

Liam Neeson enhances his ever increasing billing as Hollywood's leading action man in 'The Grey', a movie adaptation of a short story.

Neeson stars as Ottway, an oil rig worker in Alaska who's role is to hunt the wolves that attack the drillers.
From the onset it's clear that he is a troubled man contemplating suicide and his only means of solace in such a lonely environment are his thoughts and mental images of his wife.
He is a loner and rather than mix with his fellow workers, he opts to sit alone struggling to complete a letter to his beloved.

Tragedy strikes for the crew on a flight home as their plane crashes into the Alaskan wilderness.
Ottway and a handful of co-workers miraculously survive the incident and immediately it's apparent that they are not alone.
The plane has landed in a territory inhabited by ferocious wolves and they see the survivors as intruders.
As Ottway is an expert at reading the wolves traits, he's the obvious choice to take on the role as team leader.
This comes with it's drawbacks!

The majority of the crew are fine with this - bar Diaz (Frank Grillo), who sets about immediately to defy all his orders.
After one near fatal incident involving a sudden wolf attack on the camp, Diaz sees the error of his ways and starts to respond to Ottway's mindset.

The crew (including an unrecognisable Dermot Mulroney) know that in order to survive they need to stick together and try move as far and as quick as possible from their current position to a more secure area beyond the trees.

And so begins a battle of wits between the injured, tired and hungry crew and the clever, strong and vicious wolves.
There are many obstacles ahead of them - torrential snow storms, fatigue, frostbite but most of all - Wolves!

What lies in store for the viewer is an edge of the seat thriller with plenty of action. The stunts and the CGI effects are excellent - plus the scenery is breathtaking.
The only time the momentum let's up is over a group bonding session where they discuss their personal issues, which is very corny but hey - they are human after all!

The Grey is a breath of fresh air as it's released at a time where the cinemas are full of Oscar contenders, which aren't always up to much.

Ultimately the real stars of the movie are The Wolves but Neeson gives them a run for their money?


Score: 8/10

The Descendants

Sideways and About Schmidt's Alexander Payne directs the normally suave and enigmatic George Clooney in this quirky melancholic drama.

The Descendants sees Matt King (Clooney) trying to re-connect with his two rebellious daughters on a road trip to a neighbouring Hawaiian island.
The reason for the trip is twofold, King is pursuing the real estate agent who was having an affair with his wife Elizabeth prior to her tragic boating accident.
Elizabeth is in a coma and the doctor's have given her no hope, therefore King must come to terms with not only the shocking news of his wife's affair but also the impending task of forgiving his wife and ultimately saying goodbye.

King's family life has kind of passed him by due to his work obligations, and his kids resent their father for missing out on their upbringing.
He has a strict moral code regarding money - an ethic that eludes his
family, and although financially set he chooses to live a comfortable yet non-indulgent lifestyle.

His family and extended relations are due to inherit a major amount of money by the sale of land bestowed upon them by ancestors.
King is the appointed executor of the will and is under increased pressure from his money hungry cousins to sell to the highest bidder - regardless of their plans for the historic scenic land.

To add to the feud, King learns the man who has been having an affair with his wife is the real estate broker dealing with the sale of the property, and by closing on such a lucrative deal his foe will earn a huge monetary percentage.
This throws a major spanner into the works and King's actions create a major furore.

Clooney's portrayal has been lauded by critics for this understated but heartfelt performance and yes he is believable whilst beiing adequate.
The problem being, the character doesn't have the depth for Clooney to portray anything but!
He successfully carries it off but it certainly isn't an awarding winning performance by any stretch.

The film has a decent supporting cast with Robert Forster and Jeff Bridges, plus both young actresses playing his daughters are excellent and bring an element of humour.

Unfairly billed as movie of the year by many, 'The Descendants' never lives up to this billing but don't let that put you off as it's charming, funny and a nice way to kill a couple of spare hours.


Score: 7/10

The Iron Lady

This is a confusing one!!!
Many, like myself will go into this movie with a damning opinion of Margaret Thatcher. Hardly surprising, considering her well documented infamous political career.
However, from as early as the opening scene my opinion changed in seconds.
This is not largely, but totally down to the captivating Meryl Streep.

'The Iron Lady' as Thatcher was dubbed by the Russians plays in real time at a stage in Thatcher's life where she is battling dementia and practically living as a prisoner in her own home, with round the clock help her domestic life resembles that of a private care patient.
She refuses to let up the ghost of her deceased husband Denis and reminisces with him on past glories which leads to her ailing memory being unable to decipher the past from the present.

From an early age and with influence from her politically active working class father, Thatcher was head strong and decided she would go to University and change her world.
She met and fell in love with Denis and when he proposed marriage she laid down the law stating that she would marry him but would not be a stay at home mum washing dishes.
Thatcher wanted to shake things up in the political world that was totally male dominated.
She kept to her word!

The film takes us though all the major political decisions and incidents Thatcher was involved in - her harsh 1981 budget which created mass unemployment, the Brixton riots, the minors strike, the Brighton hotel bombing to the economic boom of the late 80's.

Her biggest and possibly most daring decision was at a time of massive recession in 1982, she defied all financial strains and instructed an all out military assault after Argentinian forces invaded the British owned Falkland Islands.
Thatcher's government was bolstered by the successful outcome and her public image went from zero to hero.

It was the introduction of poll tax that really was her downfall both among the public, and to her detriment - her cabinet members. They seen it as the final stray.

Not being a huge political know it all and being Irish, I couldn't feel the dismay and disappointment that most of the UK reviewers and public have expressed about Thatcher's portrayal in this film.
Yes, it skims over areas where her tyrannical hand and prowess destroyed the working class - IE., the miner's strike, but I think the best of filmmakers would have struggled to make a balanced movie to please the masses about such an important, unique and ground breaking figurehead.

As interesting as the movie is (and it is!), it's all about Streep's performance. From the pitiful Thatcher fighting dementia to the feisty confident Thatcher as a world leader.
There are many supporting roles but none worth mentioning as she blows everyone away.
The woman is an acting genius and the other 4 nominees should just stay at home come Oscar night!


Score: 8/10

Haywire

Billed on tv and hailed as the best action thriller since 'Bourne'??? - You're having a laugh!!!

Mallory (Gina Carano) is a former black ops soldier taking revenge on her superiors after being framed on a dangerous kidnap mission in Barcelona.
Her choice of such a perilous occupation sees her taking on tasks that governments could not authorise but turn a blind eye to in order to clear up underhand situations.
Mallory is underestimated once too often and is seen as a dangerous loose cannon. There is a worldwide hunt out for her which takes her to many cities, including our fair city of Dublin.
Her aim is to avoid her assailants and get back to the US to protect her father. That's the general premise of this bland film!

There are so many things wrong with this movie. Gina Marano who plays Mallory is in fact a famous martial arts expert and her skills are evident too see in the various fight scenes.
However, her acting skills don't compliment her martial arts skills. The fight scenes are all very similar and get boring midway through.
Think, Jean Claude Van Damme movies from the 80's!

The impressive cast includes such acting heavyweights as Michael Douglas, Bill Paxton, Ewan McGregor and Antonio Banderas, but none of them can cover up the amount of holes in this script.
Man of the moment Michael Fassbender is the one and only scene stealer who hooks up with Mallory on a mission in Dublin.

The makers of the film never let the viewer explore Mallory's past therefore make it impossible to sympathise with a main character who chooses a life of danger - a life that she ultimately gets betrayed by.
Also, she seems to come from a fairly stable and wealthy background so everything seems to suggest that her life choices were self imposed.

It was nice to see a new Hollywood take on Ireland, with gritty city centre locations instead of scenic green fields.
There is a good chase scene stretching from the interior of the
Shelbourne Hotel in Stephen's Green to the rooftop area of the Wynn's Hotel.
Dublin never looked more characteristic - and refreshingly dull!

Wait for the DVD!!!

Score: 4/10

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

As a fan of the Stieg Larsson 'Millennium' series of books, I was apprehensive of the books being brought to the big screen. Especially as all 3 have already been made into movies in Larsson's native Swedish tongue.
They have proved to be a huge critical and commercial success worldwide in spite of the films being subtitled.

However, when David Fincher was appointed Director I was far less worried. Fincher is one of, if not the most innovative and ground breaking filmmakers of today, responsible for such classics as Seven, Fight Club, Zodiac and The Social Network.

Set in modern day Sweden the action takes place between Stockholm and the northerly remote town of Heldsted.
Daniel Craig plays Mikael Blomkvist, a successful journalist who's career is in turmoil when he fails to win a high profile libel case against suspected fraudster Hans Erik Wennerstrom.
The media are on his case, and his company - local monthly paper sheet 'Millennium' looks doomed due to the big monetary loss suffered by the court case.

Millionaire and major Swedish business tycoon Henry Vagner (Christopher Plummer) sees something in Blomkvist and reckons they could both use each other. Vagner needs Blomkvist's journalistic and investigatory talents to solve the disappearance 40 years ago of his niece Harriet and help him complete his memoirs.
In return Vagner will not only pay him for his services but will also provide him with damning evidence against Wennerstrom that may help Blomkvist expose his dodgy dealings and restore Blomkvist's public and professional reputation.
Blomkvist is initially reluctant to do so but eventually decides to up sticks to Heldsted and begin his investigations.

Meanwhile back in Stockholm Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) is experiencing her own difficulties. Her life is a mess, no family to speak of, living squalidly and under government orders to report regularly to a guardian due to her former crimes of theft and violence.
What she does have in her favour is that she is highly intelligent and a genius computer hacker. The security company that Lisbeth does illegal hacking work for is the same company that sourced Blomkvist for Vagner and this is where their connection lies.

As Blomkvist delves into the vast archives of The Vagner enterprise, there are several cans of worms opened and he quickly realises that he needs some assistance with his research.
Lisbeth is called in as the ideal candidate due to the research necessary being dark, dangerous and dirty.
All the things Lisbeth thrives on and excels in.
She is relieved to get out of Stockholm as her guardian who she sees as a father figure has had a stroke and she has been assigned a new guardian who is sinister to say the least.
Also, she sees something interesting and enigmatic about Blomkvist and relishes her new adventure.

Like the book the first part of the film is complex whilst being interesting and captivating.
The second part of the movie heats up with plenty of action and ultimately tries to tie up all the outstanding questions posed to the viewer in the initial parts of the film.
At no time are there any lapses and the director ensures that we are treated to stunning winter scenery and clever thought out action sequences.
I have to mention the opening titles sequence as the graphics and music are fantastically original and clever - exactly what you'd expect from a Fincher directed film.

Both Craig and newcomer Mara are excellent as the main characters and have been perfectly cast.
Thankfully there are no American actors trying to speak with a Swedish dialect - with the exception of Robin Wright who gets away with it.
Instead, there are many well known British actors like Joely Richardson, Steven Berkoff and the always brilliant Christopher Plummer who fit the scene suitably.

Guys should not let the title of the film put them off from seeing this movie as it's not a girlie movie by any stretch of the imagination. In fact it's quite the opposite, with some harrowing scenes that are difficult to watch and and a few jumps and scares along the way.

It's rare that a film is as good as the book but this succeeds on all levels.


Score: 9/10