West of Memphis (Dir - Amy J. Berg. 2012)

Summary: An examination of a failure of justice in the case against the West Memphis Three.

As many people may know I will watch a documentary about anything which, to be honest is not always a good thing. The problem with my enthusiasm for documentaries is that I don’t always check what a documentary is about before watching them and this was the case with West of Memphis. For some reason when I sat down to watch West of Memphis I thought it was going to be a music documentary so was a little miffed when it came apparent it was yet another documentary about the Memphis 3. I mean don’t get me wrong the wrongful conviction and  freedom of the Memphis 3 is a very worthy topic but hasn’t this subject matter been covered enough in the 3 Paradise Lost films and the hundreds of TV interviews? Even Damien Echols (one of the Memphis 3) says during the course of the film that there are many cases like his in America and he finds it strange that so much media focus has been given to the Memphis 3  and I can’t help but agree with Echols.

West of Memphis is not a bad documentary and is very different from the Paradise Lost trilogy. Where as the Paradise Lost series was filmed as the time events happened (1^st – The Memphis 3’s initial conviction, 2^nd – their appeal and 3^rd – their freedom), West of Memphis has the benefit of reflection, gives a distanced perspective and has a well-rounded narrative. The problem I have with West of Memphis is that it does sometimes come across as a vehicle for all of the Memphis 3’s famous supporters (Eddie Vedder, Henry Rollins, Peter Jackson and Johnny Depp to name a few) to appear on film to tell the world about their support and how nice they were to give money/raise money for the cause and how they always believed the 3 were innocent.

West of Memphis did include things I did appreciate such as the opinions of different medical examiners, the debunking of the cult killing theory and the private investigation into Terry Hobbs. I felt that the film effectively highlighted that the real offenders of the Robin Hood Hills murders will never be brought to justice.

Overall: If you have never heard or the Memphis 3 this is all you need to know but if you have watched all the Paradise Lost Trilogy, West of Memphis isn't really bringing anything new to the table. 6/10

Django Unchained (Dir - Quentin Tarantino. 2012)

Summary: With the help of a German bounty hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner. 

 

Slightly different format review; this is a text conversation about Django Unchained I had with my Mam. I had seen Django Unchained with my friend Mary the night befor, after which Mary and I had a very thorough post film dissection and everything we discussed I have basically condensed into the review I messaged to my Mam. I also like that me and my Mam appear to have completely different opinions of the film.

 

Overall: My opinion was that it was fairly rubbish. Tarantino hasn't produced a good film since Jackie Brown but Django did manage to get a few laughs out of me. 5/10

The Master (Dir - Paul Thomas Anderson. 2012)

Summary: A Naval veteran arrives home from war unsettled and uncertain of his future until he is tantalized by The Cause and its charismatic leader. 

I really try not to read reviews until I’ve seen a film myself, I mean yeah if I stumble upon Mark Kermode reviewing something on TV I can’t help but watching it but I don’t actively hunt reviews out until after I‘ve seen them. I hadn’t seen/read any reviews for The Master other than a short plot summary which to be honest didn’t give me high hopes, I mean how could anything top There Will Be Blood and why would I enjoy a film exploring the relationship between an Alcoholic and a Cult Leader. I also had the suspicion that I would love Joaquin Phoenix’s character and hate Philip Seymore Hoffman’s role and generally just couldn’t see this working. Well I can honestly say after watching The Master that all my presumptions were wrong and this is a powerhouse of a film.
From the off I hated Phoenix’s character Freddie, everything about Fred is off and unnerving, his actions seem slimy, aggressive and sickly, his posture is wiry and hunched like some evil is eating him from the inside out. Freddie has all the nasty dislikeable qualities of a Bukowski character but with non of the charm and Phoenix is so convincing, committed and awesome in the role I couldn’t help but smile and continue to do so pretty much throughout the whole film.
The story is about being trapped, one by circumstance (the psychological after effects of war) and one by his own creation (by being the leader of a cult he has founded).  I honestly cannot stop thinking about this film, I watched it over 4 weeks ago now and I really cannot articulate how good it is. Not all the best films are based on likable characters and sometimes what makes a film great is that you hate the main characters with passion.

Overall: I want to take you on a slow boat to China. 10/10

Anna Karenina (Dir - Joe Wright. 2012)

Summary: Set in late-19th-century Russia high-society, the aristocrat Anna Karenina enters into a life-changing affair with the affluent Count Vronsky.

This film is beautiful, the set is mostly based on a theatre building, with different parts of the theatre becoming differently locations, it is very clever, I just wish the performances had been as good as the set design. Anyway lets start with the good; I quite enjoyed Jude Law’s performance and it was nice to finally see him play a part where he didn’t have to hide his receding hairline. Aaron Taylor-Johnson was convincing as the womanising Vronsky and I really felt his role mature by the end of the film. Overall I enjoyed the supporting cast (Matthew Macfadyen, Kelly Macdonald & Domhnall Gleeson) but what spoiled it all was Keira Knightley. Now I don’t normally mind Knightley, I usually quiet like her in period dramas as I think she has an innocence and vulnerability that works well but the role of Anna Karenina was meant to convey love, passion, conflict and madness but all I got was a wet blanket. Thinking back to this, I think I would have preferred it with a different leading lady, maybe Emily Blunt would have been a good choice following her performance in The Young Victoria. I don’t know, Anna Karenina seemed full of promises which it failed to deliver.

Overall: It was stunning but it needed a better leading lady 5/10

Paranorman (Dir - Chris Butler & Sam Fell. 2012)

Summary: A misunderstood boy takes on ghosts, zombies and grown-ups to save his town from a centuries-old curse.

I was disappointed with Paranorman; the animation was brilliant, the idea was interesting and I thought it had everything that would made a good kids film that adults would enjoy as well but I was wrong.
Firstly the plot was a little weak and the script lulled in parts. Secondly it just seemed to long, it either needed the story to be padded out more or needed a secondary sub-plot to up the pacing (yes I know this is pretty much the same as my first point but this issue really has to be highlighted). Lastly I felt there were too many references to classic horror films to make it accessible to children, yes the adults in the audiences will appreciate them but the kids will miss the joke and feel left out.

Overall: Disappointing but very pretty 6/10

Magic Mike (Dir - Steven Soberbergh. 2012)

Summary: A male stripper teaches a younger performer how to party, pick up women, and make easy money. 

How did this get any good reviews? I guessed the whole plot within 10 minutes and does anyone really find Matthew McConaughey attractive? It has non of the charm of The Full Monty or Coyote Ugly and all of the horrible in your face-ness of Striptease or Showgirls. Soberbergh has not done a good film since Traffic and even though I was ill while watching this it was still a massive waste of time.

Overall: Please don’t watch this. Predictable and bad throughout, Channing Tatum and Joe Manganiello's abs are honestly not worth the effort 2/10

Argo (Dir - Ben Affleck. 2012)

Summary: Argo is a 2012 American thriller film, based loosely on an account published in 2007 of the "Canadian Caper", in which Tony Mendez, a CIA operative, led the rescue of six U.S. diplomats from Tehran, Iran during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis.

Dear Ben Affleck,  

Having just seen Argo I felt I had to write you this letter to apologise for the horrible comments I have made regarding your past work. In the past I may have referred to you as a hack, described your acting skills as wooden and your emotional range as goldfish-like. I have also, in the past at every opportunity, compared your inadequate acting skills to the greatly underrated & vast talent your brother Casey has consistently demonstrated throughout his career. Dear Ben Affleck I am sorry and I promise this bad mouthing of you will not continue. 

I have to admit the turning point in my opinion of you was your directorial début Gone Baby Gone, it was brilliant. It was such a beautiful film noir I think I told everyone I know to watch it. The came The Town which, to be honest was not as good as Gone Baby Gone but it did show stylistic versatility. The Town was good and I think the most interesting element about it was seeing just how much your acting had changed for the positive with you self directing. 

So lets gets finally talk about Argo, it is excellent, I really cannot remember the last time a film had me on the edge of my seat so much. The casting was inspired, the comic relief of John Goodman and Alan Arkin, the doubt and tension created by Scoot McNairy and there was you with all your brooding quiet intelligence. The tone this political thriller was fantastic and I really believed I was in the early 80s. I had been worried going into the cinema that it would be too dramatic, over the top and fast paced but Argo slowly builds, drawing you into the character developments and the subtle suspense.

Overall: I think I've done enough ass kissing and Argo is a masterpiece 10/10

Yours Sincerely,

Rachel Durance