black humor

“First there was an opportunity……then there was a betrayal – 20 Years later Mark Renton returns to Edinburgh to find a lot of change but also somethings that never change….”

From his gritty, raw beginnings with the uncompromising Shallow Grave to the exciting drug fueled Trainspotting, the quirky colorful A Life Less Ordinary, the post-apocalyptic horror 28 Days Later to his much acclaimed Slumdog Millionaire and Steve Jobs film maker Danny Boyle has been excelling & exciting movie goers for over 20yrs….

But for me, and some may disagree his early films are still his best work, small low budget, well acted, well written black humored slices of magic….

What an incredible, nostalgic, hilarious and momentous sequel TRAINSPOTTING 2 is – from it’s punchy soundtrack, quick snappy dialogue to the brilliance of Carlyle and it’s crack-a-jack visuals this is Danny Boyle direction at his best – yes it’s taken 20yrs to see this bunch of talent back on the big screen but can you just imagine just for one moment if this movie never happened? and the much publicized spat between McGregor & Boyle was never reconciled HOLY SHIT we would have missed out on so so much – like laughing in hysterics whilst watching Renton & Franco in the toilet cubical next to each other their faces a peach as the penny drops, or being stuffed up with emotion when Spud played by the amazing Ewan Bremner tried to kill himself and then being stunned with a mix of hilarity when he threw up in the bag that was suffocating him or watching once best friends Renton & Sickboy kick the crap out of each other in the pub and then you find yourself smiling like you were interacting with a puppy whilst watching them reconnect watching Georgie Best these moments make you feel alive as a film fan, pure cinematic indulgence….

TRAINSPOTTING 2 is everything I wished for and more, truly one helluva movie sequel that’s not only nostalgic but is equally as fun as it’s predecessor – from Danny Boyle’s vision, McGregor & Lee Miller’s chemistry to Ewen Bremner‘s sublimity and Carlyle‘s crazy this was a great night a the cinema and guys please don’t leave it another 20yrs to complete the trilogy ★★★★½

The Interview (2014/5) – Movie Review ★★★★

“They Hate us caus they Ain’t-us”

Director: Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg – Cast: James Franco, Seth Rogen, Lizzy Caplan, Randall Park, Diana Bang and Charles Rahi Chun – Synopsis: The Interview follows Dave Skylark and Aaron Rapaport as two friends running a TV show in the US called “Skylark Tonight” interviewing celebrities who usually spout trashy & outrageous nonsense – the show somehow manages to catch the eye of a certain North Korean leader Kim Jong Un who as it turns out is big fan of the show and grant the pair a one on one interview, upon hearing of this the CIA recruit Skylark and Rapaport to help assassinate the Korean Leader and that’s when the fun really begins Verdict: as you may know The Interview has become a movie shrouded in controversy, and just like a script from a Hollywood movie it all started with Sony axing the film from its planned Christmas schedule due to hacking threats (possibly the North Koreans?) which immediately saw a whole host of celebrities including George Clooney and the President of the United States taking to social media & many news outlets to decry the decision calling Sony weak and asking them to reconsider – it only took a few days for Sony to capitulate, with the FBI now involved in tracking these hackers a statement was put out that The Interview would return to the festive schedule and be shown in selected cinemas after all ! Overall: As a fan of Rogen and Franco’s style of brainless, moronic, insanely daft humor I had high hopes for this film their latest big screen pairing and by it’s end credits boy was I not disappointed – if you dislike gross-out comedy satires that produce the side splitting laughs but also in turn make you reach for the vomit bag, and your only thinking of watching the film due to the nonsensical over the top attention it’s received then you may want to reconsider – The Interview is made of the blackest of humor, some may even call the film distasteful and maybe it is – but overall it’s a well executed, tongue in cheek comedy that centers around a subject matter that shouldn’t be funny but really is, and that all due to it’s great material, it’s high tempo and a superb cast that includes a delicious turn by Randall Park playing Kim Jong Un who’s not only uncanny in resemblance to the North Korean leader but his camp & creepy portrayal makes his performance one of the true comic highlights of the year – if you have loved Rogen & Franco’s past movie pairings in Neighbors, This Is the End and Pineapple Express then I am pretty confident you will love The Interview it’s a comedy that will tickle you senseless, make your eye’s stream like a river and make your belly bounce till it hurts – the scenes that include that Eminem interview, Rapaport’s insertion, Kim Jong Un’s seduction of Skylark including the basketball come orgy and the tank ride, every moment on screen that included Sook played by the fabulous Diana Bang and each and every Franco smile, grimace and utterly stupid sentence spoken make The Interview one of 2014’s finest comedy achievements and one I can not wait to re-watch !!

Rare Exports : A Christmas Tale (2010) – Movie Review ★★★★

“This Christmas Everyone Will Believe In Santa Clause”

Director: Jalmari Helander Cast: Onni Tommila, Jorma Tommila, Tommi Korpela, Rauno Juvonen, Jens Sivertsen & Risto Salmi Synopsis: In the depths of the Korvatunturi mountains, lies Christmas’s biggest secret – a sacred grave where the occupant is awaiting excavation – It’s Christmas Eve in the wintery depth’s of Finland, and an ‘archeological’ dig has just unearthed the real Santa Claus. But this no ordinary white bearded, present baring Santa this is one nasty piece of work – and after the local children in their town begin mysteriously disappearing, a reindeer hunter’s son Pietari and his father Rauno set out to capture Santa, free the children and sell his ass to the evil, misguided boss of the corporation sponsoring the dig. But Santa has some helpers and his elves, will stop at nothing to free their master – Verdict: Based on the 2003 short, Rare Exports Inc., by Jalmari & Juuso Helander – Rare Exports : A Christmas Tale is one of them movies that until now has escaped my film watching radar, this is not a traditional festive movie so whilst eating your mince pies & your craving that slice of sentimentality, that warm feeling that the likes of It’s A Wonderful Life or White Christmas give you then stay well clear of Rare Exports – Jalmari Helander‘s movie is a well wrapped creepy Finnish Horror that succeeds in it’s cool & unique concept and delivers in it’s finale a festive message that’s of equal to the Christmas Classics of yesteryear – I must stress although the main star of the film is Onni Tommila who is absolutely brilliant like a throwback to them child star of the classic 80s movies Rare Exports is not really a movie for children as it contains a twisted, violent storyline that feature Slaughtered Reindeer and Naked Elves, it’s a much more evil, black humored take on our puffy faced, sleigh riding Saint Nick Overall: Rare Exports is one of the most delightful, enjoyable movies I’ve had the pleasure of watching over the holiday season for many a year, not since 74’s Black Christmas have I drooled over the screen, laughed and hid cowering behind my pillow – Rare Exports : A Christmas Tale is one film I shall no doubt add to my every growing list of Annual Festive viewings – it’s a truly brilliant, original and surprisingly fun movie !!