Film reviews (From Gazette Series)

Film reviews

4:42pm Thursday 4th October 2007 in Leisure By Clare Shepherd

THE BRAVE ONE (18) The great thing about Jodie Foster is she chooses her films carefully and always manages to lift them to a higher level. Of course she is a fine actress, but her looks are also a great help to her. She can appear vulnerable, troubled, clever and tough with equally intensity and without saying a word.

Erica Bain (Foster) is confident, believing she lives in "the safest big city in the world" and tells her listening audience. She is a radio show host and is engaged to her beloved David (Naveen Andrews), a very attractive doctor, so all is well with her world. But a terrible brutal attack by three thugs in Central Park puts paid to that as David is killed and she is badly beaten up. To start with she battles agoraphobia as she figures out a way to live out the rest of her life. After her first not so successful foray outside, she decides to buy a gun to make her feel less vulnerable. But while she is doing her grocery shopping a man rushes in and shoots the girl behind the counter. Realising she is going to be next, she shoots him first and takes control of her life in a most unusual way. After the brutal attack in Central Park Detective Mercer (Terrence Howard) was visiting the hospital on another case, when he sees the terrible state the thugs have left Erica in. Unbelievably as she was beaten to a pulp, he recognises her at the scene of another crime and introduces himself. From then on, through their equal respect for each other friendship develops, and their lives are unexpectedly entwined.

I wouldn't recommend Erica's actions as a way to overcome fear, but it's easy to understand why she becomes a vigilante and it's what makes the story so compelling. As Erica is in a state of constant fear throughout the film I can't for the life of me understand why they have called it The Brave One; but I digress, Foster is brilliant giving an Oscar winning performance. In Erica's first radio show after the brutal attack Foster delivers a deeply moving programme, in which you really can feel Erica's pain. It is a shame that David is killed off so early because it would have been interesting to see more of Andrews and Foster together, as they seem a most unlikely couple, he so sexual and she so intense. However the chemistry between Mercer and Erica more than makes up for David's absence as they have a really charming friendship, which is easy to relate to and keeps the film moving forward. The initial brutal attack is horrific and made more so by director Neil Jordan using flashbacks of the young couple making love, going back and forth showing their bruised and then their flawlessly unmarked flesh. What is difficult to gets ones head around is that Erica's world goes so dramatically from perfect to danger lurking in every corner. Nevertheless this is a class act and thoroughly engrossing Clare Shepherd 8/10 WEEKS REVIEWS WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE YOUR FATHER (12A) Blake Morrison (Colin Firth) learns that his father Arthur (Jim Broadbent) has cancer with only a few weeks to live. As Arthur's condition worsens Blake contemplates their shared experiences and relationship. Dour, but great acting.

MR. WOODCOCK (12A) John Farley (Seann William Scott) is horrified when he hears his mother Beverly (Susan Sarandon) has fallen in love with his old nemesis, Mr. Woodcock (Billy Bob Thornton). He was John's gym teacher at high school and made his life hell.

HALLOWEEN (18) Having spent 16 years in a mental institution for brutally killing his mother's boyfriend, his sister and her boyfriend, Michael Myers ((Tyler Mane) has escaped, and Dr. Loomis (Malcolm McDowell) warns the residents of Haddonfield to beware.

MICHAEL CLAYTON (15) Michael (George Clooney) is a fixer for a large corporate law firm. He longs to leave his job, but is divorced and has mounting debt. Now he is facing his biggest challenge when attorney Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson) sabotages a case he is involved in. Interesting.

A MIGHTY HEART (15) This is the tragic true story about the kidnapping of American journalist Daniel Pearl (Dan Futterman) on the 23rd January 2002. His pregnant wife Marianne (Angelina Jolie) had to endure an interminable five weeks while she waited for news. Excellent.

DEATH PROOF (18) Quentin Tarantino's tribute to trash cinema sees Stuntman Mike (Kurt Russell) stalk two separate pairs of voluptuous women at different times, in his two ton "death proof" stunt cars with deadly consequences.

I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK & LARRY (12A) Larry is having problems with his grief and the insurance rules after his wife's death. So he turns to his best friend local fireman Chuck (Adam Sandler) with a very odd proposition, in order to protect his children with the insurance they need. Humourless.

DISTURBIA (15) Kale (Shia LaBeouf) becomes troublesome after his father's death and finds himself under house arrest. He spends his time looking out of the window and becomes convinced that his neighbour is a serial killer. Entertaining teen thriller.

ATONEMENT (15) When she was a teenager Briony (Romola Garai) accused her older sister Cecilia's (Keira Knightley) lover Robbie (James McAvoy) of a crime he didn't commit, resulting it far-reaching and tragic consequences. Brilliantly acted but boring.

SUPERBAD (15) Best friends Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera) are determined get drunk and have their wicked way before they go off to college. Fake ID's, sex, booze and an end of year party are the only things that occupy their one track minds.

RUN, FAT BOY, RUN (12A) Denis (Simon Pegg) left his pregnant bride Libby (Thandie Newton) at the altar. Now 6 years have passed and there has never been a day he hasn't regretted it. Determined to win her back from her new love Whit (Hank Azaria), he enters the marathon. Up beat.

SURF'S UP (PG) As most of us suspected penguins invented surfing. Here a documentary crew follow the Penguin World Surfing Championship and take audiences behind the scenes to see the most amazingly dangerous displays. Great entertainment for all the family.

BRATZ: THE MOVIE (PG) It's the first day at high school for Yasmin (Nathalia Ramos), Jade (Janel Parrish), Sasha (Logan Browning) and Cloe (Skyler Shaye), but they hadn't prepared themselves for the school's cliques and the leader of all of the groups, nasty Meredith (Chelsea Staub).

EVAN ALMIGHTY (PG) Though in "Bruce Almighty" things weren't going so well for Evan (Steve Carell), he is now a newly elected congressman. But his plans have to be put on hold when the Almighty (Morgan Freeman) asks him to build a new ark in preparation for a great flood. Slow.

HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX (12A) A Dementor attack on Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his ghastly cousin Dudley (Harry Melling) is just the beginning of the dark clouds gathering. Harry knows that Voldemort is back, but the Ministry of Magic doesn't believe him. Strongest and darkest film yet.

THE SIMPSONS MOVIE (PG) Springfield is in big trouble when Homer (voiced by Dan Castellaneta) accidentally causes a radioactive leak from a Nuclear Power Plant into the river. For Simpson fans only.

THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM (12A) Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) is still suffering from amnesia and being hunted by the CIA. He is now in hot pursuit of journalist Simon Ross (Paddy Considine) who seems to know an awful lot about him and hopes will enlighten him about his true identity. Gripping.