Seven Psychopaths (Dir - Martin McDonagh 2012)

Summary: A struggling screenwriter inadvertently becomes entangled in the Los Angeles criminal underworld after his oddball friends kidnap a gangster's beloved Shih Tzu. 

Sometimes it's ok for a film to do exactly what is says on the tin. Walken is Walken, Rockwell was Rockwell, Farrell was Farrell and Harrelson was Harrelson and you know what? It was great. The summary above covers pretty much the whole plot, there are twists but they are abit predictable but there are enough giggles to see you through.
This film isn't breaking any boundaries or bringing anything new to the table but I thought it was really enjoyable.

Overall: Good comedy/rubbish triller 7/10

Silver Linings Playbook (Dir - David O. Russell 2012)

Summary: After a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own.

Ooo I love a rom-com, it's like my shameful little secret and if I have a girlie cry all the better. Silver Linings is a lovely quirky story in the same vein as Juno and I thought it was honestly charming.
Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawerence are great and I really enjoyed the supporting cast. I laughed, I cried and I got angry which is all I want from a rom-com but it did get a little Strictly Ballroom towards the end. I also must point out that the only big problem I had with this was De Niro playing an Irish American with a Itailian American accent, I know I'm nitpicking.

Overall: Russell you have redeemed yourself for the awfulness of The Fighter 8/10

Life of Pi (Dir - Ang Lee 2012)

Summary: A young man who survives a disaster at sea is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery. While cast away, he forms an unexpected connection with another survivor ... a fearsome Bengal tiger. 

Well this was just not my cup of tea and know lots of people who have seen this and enjoyed it but it wasn't for me. I enjoyed the first part before the boat journey, I thought it was setting up to be a really interesting bio pic exploring religion but it just turning into a weird unbelievable fastasy.
I didn't like the cgi, everything just seemed too hyper really/over the top and lets face it the tiger would have just eaten him.

Overall: Maybe it would have been better if he had been eaten by the tiger 6/10

Les Misérables (Dir - Tom Hooper 2012)

Summary: In 19th-century France, Jean Valjean, who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after he breaks parole, agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's daughter, Cosette. The fateful decision changes their lives forever.

I am under strict instructions from one of my work colleagues not to give Les Mis a bad review (she has been listening to the soundtrack on repeat for a month now), well I'm not sure if this is going to be a bad review but it will be honest.

I'll start by confessing that I love musicals, Singing in the Rain and The Wizard of Oz are 2 of my favourite all time films and I admit I was obsessed with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Summer Holiday as a child. I was not put off by all the lines in Les Mis being sung but it is a little strange to begin with as I was familiar with a musical style where conversations build up to a song rather than the lines flowing directly into song. I think the easiest way to review Les Mis is in a pros and cons list because otherwise it will take too long to write.

Cons
Russell Crows Singing.
Why is Ann Hathaway nominated for so many awards when she is only in 30 minutes of the film?
It's too long.
The film is just general film award fodder.
For some reason after watching this I had the La Resistance song from South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKvdlSLbrCostuck) in my head for days.

Pros
Hugh Jackman (Seriously amazing)
Helena Bonham Carter and Sasha Baron Cohen

Overall: This score is all for Hugh Jackman - 7/10

Beasts of the Southern Wild (Dir - Benh Zeitlin. 2012)

Summary: Faced with both her hot-tempered father's fading health and melting ice-caps that flood her ramshackle bayou community and unleash ancient aurochs, six-year-old Hushpuppy must learn the ways of courage and love.

Does anyone else know this feeling; you're watching a film and you know it's good and you want to like it but you just don't? Well this is my feelings on Beasts of the Southern Wild. The acting is good, the set perfectly fitting, the story intriguing and the directing fine but it just couldn't hold my attention. It reminded my in parts to Where the Wild Things Are although with a greater grounding in reality and there is nothing wrong with it, it just wasn't for me. I don't really have anything more to say about it.

Overall: just abit meh in my opinion but everyone else seems to like it 5/10