'Sully: Miracle On The Hudson' Review

Based on a true story comes 'Sully: Miracle On The Hudson' directed by Academy Award winner Clint Eastwood. After coming close to another Oscar with 'American Sniper', would 'Sully' give Eastwood another chance at glory?

In 2009, US Airways Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger (Tom Hanks) was forced to crash land in the Hudson River. Despite saving all 155 passengers and crew members, an investigation is set to find out what really happened and may ruin Sully's credibility and his career.

Based on the true events of the US Airways Flight 1549, 'Sully' takes a very interesting look at a disaster. The non-linear and unique structure that director Clint Eastwood uses is perhaps the strongest part of the film. The film sets up the aftermath of the flight as Sully is being praised as a hero whilst attempting to deal with being in the spotlight. This gives us time to see Sully for who he truly is and instantly is likeable due to being down to earth. This is where the investigation starts to begin, which leads the audience to doubt what may have happened. The film is very clever with how it handles the situation as it doesn't rush to give you every detail about the crash landing. This leaves a lot of things up in the air as you are unsure whether or not the best thing was done. But by this point, you have already grown to like Hanks' character and as you know, he landed the plane successfully with no injuries. This then draws emotion as you see a likeable character being pestered for doing the right thing making you root for him even more. This is backed up when you see the events which lead to a very good final act. There are twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat as you eagerly anticipate the verdict of the investigation. The structure of this film really helps add to the drama and Eastwood really succeeds with this technique.

'Sully' also relies on the audience rooting for Sully and his co-pilot Jeff Skiles (Aaron Eckhart). To help with this, the film only has the help of Tom Hanks. Albeit Hanks is an A-list star, he is considered as one of Hollywood's nicest people and that transcends onto the big screen. His performance really shows Sully as a normal guy who just wants to do his job and provide for his family. Hanks does incredibly well in this role, making up for the atrocity that was Ron Howard's 'Inferno'. The same thing can be said for Eckhart in this film who does a great job as Hanks' second-hand man. The two were cast perfectly in these roles, bringing heart and bits of humour when necessary. The two really help this film stand as we see how this event affects both men which made it very human.

The runtime of the film is 1 hour and 36 minutes which for this story is enough. However, there is an aspect involving Sully and his wife that felt forced into the film to make it longer than an hour and a half. The family perspective most definitely should be included in a story like this as it is directly affecting them and their lives. However, the film didn't focus on them growing more as a family or bonding over a near tragedy. It sets up a half-hearted attempt at creating tension between Sully and his wife as if there were problems at home. However, the film does not fully commit to this and there is no payoff. Due to this, it just feels included for the film to be longer and it wasn't necessary to the story at all. This aspect albeit a short part of the film is by far the weakest point of this movie.

Eastwood uses special effects within this film to great use too. The scenes where the plane is seen making a crash landing look incredibly realistic. Seeing this plane glide through New York is the stuff of nightmares. The effects are astonishing and terrifying at the same time due to the realism. Again, the film doesn't overdo it as it then goes back to use real boats and practical effects within the rescue scenes. This allows the film to show more humanity as we see the effort from the coastguards and other helpers. This really helps the story becoming quite heartwarming as you see the better side of humanity as everyone is doing what they can to help one another.

Overall, this a very solid biographical disaster film. It doesn't ever seem exaggerated and the human feeling is kept. The structure of this film really helps as the crash-landing and safety rescue didn't last long enough for it to be the full movie. Eastwood does a great job crafting a story around this event and Hanks shines like always. A very interesting watch and one that you should check out.

Final Verdict = 

So have you seen 'Sully'? If so, what did you think of it? I hope that this review was useful for if you were planning on seeing the movie. Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my review, it is much appreciated!

By Angus McGregor

Top 3: Steven Spielberg

December 18th marks the birthday of one of film's greatest icons, Steven Spielberg. Spielberg has been powering out feature-length films since the early 70's in what has been an incredible career. He is a three-time Academy Award winner as he has inspired filmmakers such as James Cameron and Ridley Scott amongst many others. Spielberg happens to be my favourite director has brought some of my favourite films so it has never felt more appropriate to list some of my favourite films of his.

 So this brings an opportunity for me to start a new type of series called 'Top 3', where I will make a short list of my three favourite films from an actor, franchise or in this case, a director. Of course, there are going to be some films that will miss out as it is only a list of three and I'm sure you'll probably disagree. This list is made up of my personal favourites and are the ones that resonate most with me.

3. Jaws

The one that defined the Summer Blockbuster comes in at number three. The only great shark movie ever made is a masterpiece from Spielberg in what was one of his first breakthroughs in Hollywood. The performances from Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss are all perfect as Spielberg crafts a tense, scary film without you seeing much of the famous predator. 'Jaws' use of practical effects is legendary and perfectly executed as it is accompanied by one of the most iconic pieces of music from John Williams. When it comes to film, you won't see a better low build executed than in 'Jaws' as even the legendary Alfred Hitchcock praised Spielberg's work with this film.  For a film that was released in 1975, this film most definitely holds up and is a timeless classic. Even to this day, you'll still be afraid to go back into the water.

Favourite Moment: When the shark appears out of nowhere giving Scheider's Chief Brody and the audience the biggest fright of their life.

2. Indiana Jones and The Temple Of Doom

Coming at number two is technically the 'Indiana Jones' franchise- minus the fourth film. Instead of filling the list with the rest of the films, I've decided to go with my favourite from the series, 'Temple of Doom'. The darkest of the four films has a special place for me as it is the first of the series that I remember seeing as a child. There are dark moments as well as great, fun moments which combine to create a fantastic movie. Harrison Ford cements Indy's iconic character status in this film as 'Temple of Doom' delivers on all levels. There is so much to enjoy with this film, much like the two other original films but 'Temple of Doom' just nicks ahead of they two. The film did a great job at showing more of Indy's work bringing a new setting for a great adventure. The dark, mystical tone allows the film to separate itself from the original 'Raiders' and take it in a new direction. As the film to follow 'Raiders', it would have a lot of expectations to live up to. 

Favourite Moment: Where Indy and Short Round are trapped in a room with spikes coming close to crush them, only Willie is able to save them. The scene has drama, tension and also comedy that works incredibly well. 

'Office Christmas Party' Review

When interim CEO Carol Vanstone (Jennifer Aniston) tries to close down her brother Clay's (TJ Miller) branch down, he is given an ultimatum. Clay has to seal a potential client before Christmas. To do so, he requires the help of Josh (Jason Bateman) as well as other members of the workforce to throw a wild Christmas party to seal the deal.

'Office Christmas Party' gathers up a fairly impressive ensemble cast, with some of the individual performances being the saving grace of the film. Jennifer Aniston is fantastic in her role where she takes no crap from anybody. Aniston's character is brutal, bringing some of the films best moments with her cynicism. Kate McKinnon continues to impress me as she got funnier as the film went on. TJ Miller also shines as the man-child boss who just wants to have fun and be like his father. Courtney B Vance is up there with Aniston for the best performance as he goes all out in this film. Once he is allowed to let loose, he truly does so delivering very well. The cast features some other members who do fine in their roles but nothing spectacular like Jason Bateman and Olivia Munn. The two do are fairly grounded though compared to everyone else which was a fairly good contrast. 

Although there are some good characters that really help the film, there are a few that are so bad that they really hurt this film. Rob Corddry had no good moments in this film as all he did was scream random things that were painfully unfunny. The film continued to do this which made it hard to watch at times. There are a couple of others but I feel that they were given the short end of the stick when it came to some of the writing of the film that gave them no chance. And that is what holds this film from being a good comedy. The jokes and story aren't consistent enough to sustain a feature-length movie. The film has its moments for sure but there isn't anything that really stands out. There are a lot of poor moments throughout the film which balances out the good. 

The antics in the film most certainly are fairly wild but if you have seen the trailer, you have seen the main bulk of them. The scenes in the trailer such as trying to swing from the lights and the vending machine are about as wild as the party gets. The film wants to throw the most kick-ass Christmas party but it just doesn't seem that fun. You don't sit there in the audience like "I wish my work would do something like that" like the film hopes you would. Mainly because most of the things are highly illegal which gives no stakes to the film. You don't believe that anything will end up turning bad due to what has happened throughout the film. Even from early on, we see that these characters can just do what they want without consequence. This doesn't help the film as you know everything will just fall into place. 

In saying that, the film isn't boring and is fairly entertaining. Is this a new Christmas Classic? No, but it is an adequate comedy that will bring some laughs and is a good watch just for switching your brain off. There are aspects to enjoy throughout the film and it is nowhere near as bad as most of the comedies this year. It's not one to rush out and see but possibly give it a chance when it appears on TV.

Final Verdict = 

So have you seen 'Office Christmas Party'? If so, what did you think of the film? I hope that this review was useful for if you were planning on seeing the movie. Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my review, it is much appreciated!

By Angus McGregor

'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' Review

'The Force Awakens' breathed new life into the 'Star Wars' franchise as a rejuvenated cast combined with our favourite characters to create something truly magical. 'Rogue One' was next in line to continue the saga but we were going back in the timeline yet again. With the story not featuring a lot of the regular characters and being placed just before the original trilogy, this was the franchise's biggest risk yet.

Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen) was taken away by the Empire to work on what will become the Death Star. He leaves behind a daughter, Jyn (Felicity Jones) who grows up to become rather rebellious. She is soon recruited by the Rebel Alliance to help locate her father in return for her freedom. However, as she learns more, Jyn and her team become a much bigger part in the fight against the Empire than they expected. The team now have to steal the Death Star's plans so they have the slightest chance of defeating the Empire.

The film starts off with the classic 'A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...' but with no opening scroll. The opening still does feel like a Star Wars movie as Michael Giacchino's score is Williamsesque as a large starship appears from the darkness. From this moment on, you know you're in for a ride. The opening scene is a great start to the film as we are introduced to new characters in a tranquil setting as the Empire approaches. The cinematography and performances from Mads Mikkelsen and Ben Mendelsohn shine. From there, it seems as if the film is just going to spring on. However, the film's main problems come shortly after this.

The film then proceeds to introduce Jyn Erso and the rest of the characters within a short period of time. A lot of fan service is placed here as we travel to different planets as the universe is expanded fairly well. The main problem with this first acts it its character building. Our heroes don't really do anything that great or memorable to make you really care about them - apart from the wonderful droid K-2S0. It does seem as if some moments were cut out as it feels a little rushed as we don't immediately fall in love with the characters, unlike how we did to Rey, Finn and Poe Dameron in 'The Force Awakens'. This doesn't help with the emotional moments early on in the film as it aims to tug at your heartstrings but ultimately fails at doing so. In all honesty, this is my only gripe with the film as the rest grows upon this, getting better as the film progresses. 

In this Star Wars film, we get much more of the war aspect than ever before. We see conflicts in areas never seen before, with the Rebels carrying out a lot of the attacks on the unsuspecting Empire. Director Gareth Edwards did good work with 'Monsters' and 'Godzilla', and his work with action continues on here. Edwards creates a true war feeling except for the obvious changes with stormtroopers and to the guns. It was truly like if you mixed the likes of a 'Saving Private Ryan' with 'Star Wars'. There are so many great scenes within this film, both in space and on the ground as Edwards more than succeeds with the action has he sets up everything incredibly well whilst bringing a realistic look to the conflict. The aspect of sacrifice is handled superbly in this film as that is the cost of war. This adds some great emotion to the film which was lacking earlier. The final act of this film is absolutely incredible. Everything that you could possibly want is delivered in one of the best endings to a film I have seen this year. The film delivers so much in the end that you forget about the negatives as you are in utter joy watching the battles commence. Without spoiling anything, the final minutes of this film are the best which will have fans cheering after watching it. 

We get to see our characters be heroes that really make you care for them. Donnie Yen and Jiang Wen shine as the film goes on with Yen's Chirrut Imwe being one of the coolest characters to grace the Star Wars franchise. We get to see a fresh cast within this franchise and the new character do a great job. In fact, I feel that the two weakest characters were from the two most well-known actors, Mads Mikkelsen and Forest Whitaker. Other than them, the new cast does very well, bringing good emotion and moments that will have you on the edge of your seat. K-2SO improves on BB-8 last year as he is so helpful in the film and is equally hilarious. K-2SO may be the best droid that we have seen in the series as he is perfect, credit to Alan Tudyk for his performance. Felicity Jones and Diego Luna are the main stars of the film and do an adequate job. They do enough within the film but they are not going to give you trouble when making your list of all time favourite characters. There was something lacking within them compared to other heroes in the franchise, although it is tough to compete with some of film's greatest characters of all time.

As for improving the franchise, 'Rogue One' most definitely does so. The film adds in details that improve the whole saga and answer some of the questions about the other films. We get a new, fresh look at some of the areas in the galaxy that we have never seen before. Darth Vader, as well as the rest of the returning characters, benefit a lot from this film despite not being in the film a lot. When you first see him, you are filled with joy and then terror when you see what he can do. 'Rogue One' is a very worthy addition to the franchise. Fans will really love this one- I know I did- but there is also enough for casual filmgoers to enjoy too. Overall, a solid addition and if the rest of the anthology are as good as this, we're in for a treat.

Final Verdict = 

So have you seen 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'? If so, what did you think of it? I hope that this review was useful for if you were planning on seeing the movie which I highly recommend! Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my review, it is much appreciated.

By Angus McGregor

'The Edge Of Seventeen' Review

As a film fan, amongst my favourites are coming of age comedies like 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' and 'The Breakfast Club'. There's just something that resonates with me within this genre that makes me love these types of films. I'm very glad to say that the same effect has happened with 'The Edge of Seventeen'.

Life sucks for 17-year-old Nadine (Hailee Steinfeld) and it seems to get a whole lot worse when her best friend Krista (Haley Lu Richardson) starts dating her older brother Darian (Blake Jenner). Everything seems to get worse for the awkward teen as she is more alone than ever whilst dealing with her teenage life problems.

In coming of age stories, you need a likeable or relatable- or a combination of the two - main character in order for the viewer to actually care about. All successful coming of age movies do so (Ferris Bueller, The Breakfast Club, Stand By Me etc) and 'The Edge of Seventeen' can certainly be added to that list. Hailee Steinfeld's Nadine is my personal favourite character of the year. It feels very odd to say that a 17-year-old girl is a character whom I've seen most of myself in this year. Nadine doesn't associate with a certain group, likes old movies, a bit over dramatic at times and very awkward at times in front of certain people. This character represents so many people incredibly well as there is at least something that people will be able to relate to. However, it doesn't stop there. There are plenty of other characters within the film that are relatable, whether it is the older brother who has to keep things together or even just the character traits of Woody Harrelson's character Mr Bruner. The film captures so many aspects of teenage life to near perfection in what was scarily accurate at times.

Hailee Steinfeld helps with this feeling as she brings one of the year's most impactful and best performances. Steinfeld is perfect in this role as Nadine as she goes through all sorts of troubles bringing fantastic comedic and dramatic moments to the film. Steinfeld's performance is touching yet hilarious as the combo works magnificently. Steinfeld combines so well with the other characters, especially with Woody Harrelson as the duo's chemistry was phenomenal. The two's cynical comedy was hilarious and a real pleasure to watch. Harrelson too does very well with the comedy but as the film comes closer to the end, he shows great range by being a supportive adult figure for Nadine. Blake Jenner was great earlier this year in Richard Linklater's comedy 'Everybody Wants Some!!' and his performance in this film rounds off a good year for Jenner. Jenner gets to show more range in this film and he delivers a powerful, passionate speech at the end which was one of the films best moments. The film is filled with great performances including Kyra Sedgwick and Hayden Szeto as I could go on and on praising the wonderful talent involved in this film.

What this film does so well as it balances the many different aspects of teenage life. We see the fun that Nadine has in small doses as not everything is terrible all of the time. This by far is the main part of the film with the comedy shining. There are so many clever jokes that just land every time unlike many comedies this year. The deliveries from the cast as well as patient build-up lead to the film becoming one of the year's funniest films. However, the film is certainly not afraid to get serious. I already mentioned the qualities shown by members of the cast in these moments but that's only touching the surface. There is a scene in this film that is actually quite difficult to watch. This is simply due to the subject matter and due to you caring about the character. The ending of this film is incredible as it delivers on all points, having you laughing and then feeling sad shortly after.  

The film comes from first-time director and writer Kelly Fermon Craig who has cited John Hughes as an influence for this film. This film is the closest we are going to get to the works of John Hughes ever again. This is an incredibly clever, funny and well thought out film executed to perfection in what is an incredible first feature film. Crag most definitely is someone to look out for if she can continue to craft great stories with this much detail and quality. What is great about this is that it adds another female director who should be given more opportunities as we look for more diversity in film roles.

This film is most definitely going to resonate with me for a very long time. I loved every moment of this film from start to finish. From the high to the lows. The comedy and the drama mixed perfectly well as if it were a classic John Hughes film. There are so many things I can relate to in this film as this cinema experience was unlike any other I can remember having. The characters, the performances, just everything amazed me. I was entertained thoroughly in the meanwhile leaving me no option to give this film the highest possible rating.

Final Verdict = 

So have you seen 'The Edge of Seventeen'? If so, what did you think of it? I hope that this review was useful for if you were planning on seeing the movie which I highly recommend. You really won't regret checking this one out. Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my review, it is much appreciated!

By Angus McGregor

'Moana' Review

2016 has been blessed with some great animated movies. 'Zootropolis/Zootopia', 'Kubo and The Two Strings' and 'Storks' have been particular highlights for me with the likes of 'Finding Dory' following shortly behind. Disney is back again and looking to add to that list with 'Moana'. And they did just that.

Moana (Auli'i Cravalho) is growing tired of being stuck on the one island. After her grandmother reveals a secret about their people and what has caused them to be secluded , Moana sets off on a journey to make things right. Moana will need the help of demi-god Maui (Dwayne Johnson) as they travel across the ocean against dark forces.

2016 has been an incredible year for Disney. If you include the success of the Marvel movies as well as the inevitable success of 'Rogue One' with the animation success, then 2016 is one of the companies best years in recent memory. With Pixar bringing 'Finding Dory' to become the year's highest-grossing film, as well as Disney's 'Zootropolis' (Zootopia), the year has been a financially and critically successful year. And 'Moana' only builds on that.

Following in the footsteps of 'Tangled' and 'Frozen' comes yet another upbeat musical with fun, interesting characters. The film introduces actress Auli'i Cravalho who is phenomenal in her film debut. Cravalho shines as Moana, doing exceptionally well with her delivery throughout the film. The young Hawaiin actress also showcases her beautiful singing voice, giving the likes of Idina Menzel (Frozen) and Mandy Moore (Tangled) a run for their money. Cravalho isn't alone in bringing quality to the movie as she only has the help from the world's biggest movie star, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson. And it is clear to see why Johnson is on top of the world as his charisma and comedy is on point throughout this film. Johnson provides great support to his co-star as the two showcases great chemistry, bouncing off one another and interacting very well to bring some heart to the film. 

It's very well known that Disney is the kings of animation as the company have been powering out classics since the 1930's. The companies ability to create fantastic, entertaining, intriguing characters is part of the reason to why they have been so successful. Directors John Musker and Ron Clements have been a part of classics like 'The Little Mermaid', 'Aladdin' and 'Hercules', which most people would agree are filled with great characters. 'Moana' is no different. Moana herself is a fun character who won't let anything come in between herself and her goals. She is strong willed but not perfect as she is still young and fairly naive. The character of Maui portrayed by Dwayne Johnson is an incredibly well-written character. Maui is at fault for causing trouble beyond Moana's island as he grew greedy with power. Maui had good intentions for the world but the constant need for praise and approval continued to push the demi-god to make rash decisions. Maui progresses through the film to think about others rather than just himself. It is very clear that the creators really thought about this character, taking the time to give him more than just cool abilities which they so easily could've done so.

Disney set 'Lilo and Stitch' in Hawaii but they had yet created a film surrounding the mythology surrounding the Pacific Islands. It's crazy to think this as well considering how the area is an animators dream. The scenery alone is breathtaking in the film as it truly is made to loo like paradise but the ocean as well is beautiful. Due to the mythology within the film, the creators got a chance to experiment with shapeshifting, lava monsters and the Kakamora- an homage to 2015's 'Mad Max: Fury Road'. There are many aspects of this film that seem to be perfect for an animator as there are so many fun aspects that they were able to craft. The animation is top quality of course, as you would expect from such an established name.

If you're someone who had 'Let It Go' constantly stuck in your head back in 2013, then prepare for 'Moana' to have the same effect on you! Whether it is Cravalho's 'How Far I'll Go' or Johnson's 'You're Welcome', you will be humming or singing along for weeks to come. The songs are infectiously catchy and upbeat that will not only entertain you but just make you happy. 'How Far I'll Go' is the standout song from this musical and probably a safe bet for an Academy Award nomination. The talent involved do great as the music is combined with beautiful vocals to create something truly magical.

'Moana' is yet another great addition from Disney. There is so much to enjoy about this film, whether it is from the characters, the visuals or the music. The fun is infectious and a good time is guaranteed with this one. Another great film for the list of quality animation works in 2016 which we may hear more of during award season. If you don't mind me, I'm going to listen to the soundtrack some more now. 

Final Verdict = 

So have you seen 'Moana'? If so, what did you think of the film? I hope that this review was useful for if you were planning on seeing the film which I highly recommend. Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my review, it is much appreciated!

By Angus McGregor

Month at the Movies: November

We are getting closer to award season and that is clearly evident with some of the films that came out in November. Some of these movies are surely going to be in contention come February. However, it wasn't a flawless month as there were a couple of disappointments. I was fortunate enough to see 10 different films this November in what was a mixed month. 

If you aren't aware of this series, I pretty much go through the month and rank the movies that I saw that month based on a combination of quality and how much I enjoyed the film. So let's get into the list! 

10. Bad Santa 2

The sequel from the 2003 crude Christmas movie came as a surprise when it was announced. Nobody was really asking for this sequel and it would have been better if it was not made at all. The old cast is back along with Kathy Bates who does add some good moments to the film. However, the film sticks to its rude humour which doesn't deliver the whole way through. A poor sequel, not that it was expected to be a classic.

Final Verdict = C-

Check out my review of 'Bad Santa 2' here 

9. Paterson

I think that I am the only person in the world who does not like this film. Critics have been raving about this film and Adam Driver's performance, describing them as some of the best pieces of work this year. I didn't feel this at all. In fact, I don't see anything special about this film. It's dull, boring and uneventful and just did not work at all for me. A very disappointing showing as I expected a masterpiece. Possibly the most overrated film of the year.

Final Verdict = C-

Check out my review of 'Paterson' here  

8. Bleed For This

The last film I saw this month was 'Bleed For This' and was the most average film of the month. The film most certainly isn't bad but it isn't good enough to stand out, especially within its genre. Miles Teller and Aaron Eckhart both do great in their roles but the film just seems to be lacking that extra something. The action isn't up to the usual standard as the film fails to really engage you like other boxing films would do so. 

Final Verdict = C+

Check out my review of 'Bleed For This' here 

7. The Accountant 

Ranking these next four films is very hard as they are fairly similar in quality. Unfortunately for 'The Accountant', they fall last on that mini list. The film is filled with great performances, especially from Ben Affleck and Anna Kendrick. The film had a great situation with these two actors but split them up, making the second half of the film less enjoyable. There is some good action but a poor finish and pacing do hinder the quality of this film.

Final Verdict = B

Check out my review of 'The Accountant' here 

6. A United Kingdom 

Next up the biographical-romance-drama 'A United Kingdom'. This film brings a powerful and effective story as it looks at serious issues. The film is also elevated due to the performances of David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike who both show their class. The film does become a little stale as there isn't much progression throughout the film. There are moments that seem to be repeated as the film loses its strong hold on the audience. A solid film nonetheless but repetitive viewings aren't likely with this one.

Final Verdict = B

Check out my review of 'A United Kingdom' here 

5. Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them

The return to the wizarding world was a fairly successful one as 'Fantastic Beasts' was a fun movie. The quality doesn't quite match the 'Harry Potter' films but there is plenty to enjoy in this film. There are some fun characters and creatures that do make this a pleasant viewing. The film is a bit predictable and some of the characters aren't fully fleshed out do hinder the film, though. Overall, this is a fun, easy watch that fans of the series will surely enjoy.

Final Verdict = B

Check out my review of 'Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them' here 

4. Allied

Marion Cotillard cements herself as one of film's best current actresses with her role in this film. The film is beautiful looking with incredible sets and costumes being on display. The film uses tension very well throughout the film too, which makes this a very enjoyable viewing. The film isn't perfect though as the first half is building up the romance which in the end doesn't feel completely genuine. This does pose a problem as it takes up a lot of the time and does impact the story due to it not working that well. 'Allied' is an adequate film, bringing an intriguing story with great performances.

Final Verdict = B

Check out my review of 'Allied' here 

3. The Light Between Oceans

Much like 'Allied', 'The Light Between Oceans' takes a lot of time to set up its romance aspect. The difference, though is that TLBO feels genuine and truly works. Vikander and Fassbender are fantastic in this film which really allows it to succeed. The film is packed with emotion with many highs and lows that will make you both happy and sad. Again, the film is stunning as the cinematography is phenomenal which may earn cinematographer Adam Arkapaw some nominations during award season. A great and tragic movie overall, however, I would say that you need to like this kind of film to get full enjoyment from it.

Final Verdict = A-

Check out my review of 'The Light Between Oceans' here  

2. Arrival

'Arrival' is undoubtedly one of 2016's best films. The Sci-Fi film is unlike many others as it is an alien invasion film, but succeeds by not making the aliens themselves the main part. It's more 'Close Encounters of The Third Kind' than other Sci-Fi films as its slow, effective burn story works a treat. There's a reason to why this film has achieved large critical acclaim. Amy Adams steps up in this incredibly clever film with a powerful message within. The writing, cinematography and performances all come together to create greatness. This only cements Denis Villeneuve's position as one of the best modern film directors. This film is truly incredible and one that you have to see. 

Final Verdict = A

Check out my review of 'Arrival' here