Film Review: Roland Emmerich’s Anonymous

Anonymous ★★★★★

Cast: Rhys Ifans, Rafe Spall,

Vanessa Redgrave, Joely Richardson

Director: Roland Emmerich

In Cinemas: Now

In his 1998 survey - Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human - Harold Bloom provides an analysis of each of Shakespeare’s 38 plays, “twenty-four of which are masterpieces.” Written as a companion to the general reader and theatergoer.

Bloom declares that bardolatry ought to be even more  of a secular religion than it already is. Bloom contends in this work that Shakespeare Invented Humanity, in that he prescribed the now common practice of Overhearing Ourselves, which he says drives our changes.

I’m not suggesting that Roland Emmerich’s latest film – Anonymous – in which the filmmakers introduce an alternative history of the Bard, then promptly sets about dismantling all we think we know, and all we’ve learnt about Shakespeare, is in anyway based on any form of fact, it’s a little more ambiguous in it’s take on possibilities. If shakespeare had written a 39th play though, Anonymous could very well have been his plot. Critics have been short on praise for Emmerich – the director of Independence Day, Godzilla and The Day After Tomorrow – most squarking that taking on a British period drama was a huge misdemeanor for one of Hollywood’s blockbuster kings.

The far to clever Luke Buckmaster of crikey.com wrote: “Much of the running time consists of well coiffed regal authorities conversing in dark hallways. Ignore the interesting ideas the script’s premise implies: Anonymous is not about how streaks of greatness can come from unexpected places or about how geniuses can be shunned from the history books, at least not in any meaningful ways. The acting is soporific, the writing dull and Emmerich’s fish-out-of-water direction is surprisingly consistent — he provides the film a steady ebb and flow — but lacklustre. Full disclosure: despite feeling well rested and wide awake when I entered the cinema, I slept through around 20 minutes of the second act” Read the full article »»»»

Cult of Elizabeth Olsen: Martha Marcy May Marlene

Olsens latest film is the first feature film from young writer/director Sean Durkin, Martha Marcy May Marlene is certainly a stylistically assured debut, mysterious, moody, unbearably tense…

One of the benefits of a large family is that, of several children, your more likely to turn out at least one normal adult. A point in case are the Olsen sisters. Elizabeth Olsen is a commandingly lovely actress, wistful, with soulful eyes and a gracefilled figure, Elizabeth cuts a fine figure on the screen.

CONTINUED: Read the full article »»»»

Movie Review: Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive

There aren’t too many benefits of being over 35 years old, one standout that insures enjoyment is a remembrance of the 70′s. I can hear the cries now, sorry but I’m adamant, the 70′s WAS the style decade of the last century, just get to grips with it!

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Starring: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Ron Perlman, Christina Hendricks, Oscar Isaac, Albert Brooks
Release Date: 16 September 2011
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Genre: Action, Thriller

IMDB: www.imdb.com

We Rate Drive : ★★★★★ [thats 5 ot of 5]

Summary: ‘Drive’ is the story of a Hollywood stunt driver/mechanic – Gosling – who moonlights as the superlative getaway driver-for-hire in the gritty criminal underworld. He finds himself a target for some of LA’s most dangerous men after agreeing to aid the husband of his beautiful neighbor, Irene – Mulligan. When the job goes dangerously awry, the only way he can keep Irene and her son alive is to do what he does best – Drive!

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Film! Appollo 18

Officially, Apollo 17, launched December 17th, 1972 was the last manned mission to the moon. But a year later, in December of 1973, two American astronauts were sent on a secret mission to the moon funded by the US Department of Defense. What you are about to see is the actual footage which the astronauts captured on that mission. While NASA denies its authenticity, others say it’s the real reason we’ve never gone back to the moon :: Read the full article »»»»

Film Review: Another Earth

Debut director Mike Cahill’s Another Earth imagines not just another planet capable of housing human life but another planet on which humans irrefutably live. It doesn’t stop there: on this planet, which has recently appeared in the sky, another version of every person on Earth exists. Another you, another me. A parallel planet, or perhaps a paradoxical world?

We Rated: ★★★★★

On the night of the discovery of Earth2 , an ambitious young student and an accomplished composer cross paths in a tragic, life changing accident.

The plot of this dreamy indie flick sounds like altogether low: young woman with a bright future kills a man’s wife and child while driving drunk and struggles to secretly make it up to him

This tragedy takes place behind a science fiction facade. A newly discovered planet advancing on Earth appears to be a mirror image of our own planet, a parallel planet?   Read the full article »»»»