Rise of the Footsoldier (2007)

Taking many cues from the vastly superior Goodfellas (1990), RotF is a British crime flick that documents a regular football yob's move from spilling rival blood on the terraces to unflinching murderous gangland crime, via a route that's less than subtle, to say the least. The aggressive nature of the individual in question, Carlton Leach (Ricci Harnett), is reflected in the film's shooting style, which is like a hammer to the face. The hope appears to be that the thuggish and engineered-to-shock graphic violence will help distract from the fact that Carlton and almost everything else about the film is one-note. But anyone able to see beneath the surface will likely come to the same conclusion as I did, that RotF is a story of excess that loses sight of all but one of its most base goals;. i.e. the peddling of onscreen brutality.

2½ demolition jobs out of 5

Sensation (2010)

Irish farm-boy (Domhnall Gleeson) is forced to make life-changing decisions when he falls for a New Zealand whore (Luanne Gordon) in Writer/Dir. Tom Hall's black comedy. It has some funny moments and the performances of the two leads is commendable, but Donal, the male half of the equation, isn't the likeable kind of loser that's worth rooting for, which really hinders the film's reach. In fact, he's a contemplate git. The increasing absurdity of situations he responds to feel forcibly written and the lack of charm in even the secondary characters eventually make Sensation something of a chore to endure, which is a shame because it starts out with some real potential.

2½ sticking points out of 5

Road to Paloma (2014)

Co-written, produced, directed by and starring Jason Momoa, Road to Paloma is an understated gem. Made for just $600,000, it has the spirit of Easy Rider (1969) but with a final scene that Dir. John Hillcoat would be proud to own.
Everything works, from the intimate handheld camerawork to the subtle but soulful exploration of main character Wolf's reasons for being on the road to begin with, all tied together with a perfectly fitting music selection.
The expansive environments that the biker travels through somehow act as a reminder that human relationships can be fleeting but meaningful, and that beauty can be found in the most remote of places. Considering Momoa's Hollywood career to date, it's fair to say that he has some hidden depths.

5 family matters out of 5

Felidae (1994)

A German language animation about cats. You'll notice the rating on the box is a 12, but I suspect that in other territories it might be higher because there's graphic violence, adult themes, and the kind of language that often gets kids in trouble with their parents. It's the story of Francis, the new cat on the block. A number of brutal cat murders have occurred prior to his moving there, and they show no signs of stopping. Francis attempts to uncover the truth about why they're happening and the identity of who is responsible.
It's a noir story with a cat in the lead detective role; the usual thuggish nasties and lowlifes that you often get in the genre are also represented.
Animation is smooth and realistic and the audio, though simple, is good - the soft sound of cat paws on wood is one of life's best sounds.

3½ cold sacks out of 5

Slap Shot (1977)

Reggie (Paul Newman) is coach of the Charlestown Chiefs ice hockey team. Their popularity is waning, and the economic downturn of the general area means the paying audience that they need to stay afloat just isn't there. Salvation comes when an outbreak of extreme violence on the ice strikes a chord with the fans; angry at a faceless system, they crave blood. The more of it that gets shed, the more popular the team becomes.
I don't personally consider Slap Shot to be a 'sports' movie, but it's a movie and it has sporting action, so call it what you will. What's important is that it stands strong by avoiding the woeful clichés that often plague the genre. And while it has a lot of comedy, it's played straight, not slapstick. Even the most violent members, the three Hanson brothers, are bloody hilarious at times.

3½ crazy pucks out of 5

The Towering Inferno (1974)

Previously it was a watery death that an ensemble star cast had to run from, now it's a fiery one. They're opposing elements, but the end result is a similar kind of disaster movie, again produced by Irwin Allen (Dir. John Guillermin).
With a story adapted from two different novels (The Tower by R.M. Stern; The Glass Inferno by T.N. Scortia and F.M. Robinson), the script doesn't rush to the big event, but nor does it dally. An epic establishing scene effectively gets us to where the (hot) shit goes down. Thereafter the two male leads, Paul Newman and Steve McQueen, are cleverly kept apart for the longest time but are dependent on each other's skills at crucial moments throughout.
The villains of the piece are hobnobbing rich folks who feel that their life is somehow worth more than that of the average Joe.

3½ corners cut out of 5

Basic Instinct (1992)

Referenced in popular culture mostly for its audacious beaver shot, Verhoven's film does occasionally have more to offer. It's an odd mix of salacious dime store novel and noir-ish thriller with a self-awareness that isn't always beneficial to the plot. The attraction/sexual tension between the two leads is laid on much too thick in the first half. The intimate moments, while fewer in number, are equally as direct but more successful with regards getting under the surface of the duo's back and forth games. The occasional nod to Hitch's San Francisco set masterpiece hints at a story that might've strived to be more sophisticated had the powers that be wished it so. As it stands, it's semi-trash that's saved mostly by Verhoven's ability.

3 practical applications out of 5

Shin Godzilla (2016)

Toho's 29th Japanese Godzilla film is another hard reset of the franchise, with a new creature design and a new origin story behind it.
The majority of the film involves politicians, bureaucrats, military leaders, etc, talking about how to deal with the daikaijū threat, with fast cuts to give the impression that things being discussed hurriedly is some kind of compensation for things being uninteresting - it's not. The first hour in particular is dense with such dialogue scenes, leaving no comfortable entry point for a viewer to connect, or even sympathise, with a single individual.
Godzilla, referred to as male more than once in the English subs, is mostly CGI, mo-capped so that it moves kind of like a man in a suit. Points for good intentions, but ultimately it's a CGI creature with zero personality.

2 bad choices out of 5

Poetry (2010)

A South Korean drama about a woman named Mija who's having difficulty remembering the names of everyday objects. Mija enrols in a local poetry class but struggles to tap into the creative self that she believes is nesting within her. In her search for inspiration she visits locations that connect to a tragic event, directly affecting her decision making.
Veteran actress Jeong-hie Yun is amazing as the central character, evoking sympathy without compromising her dignity by venturing into mawkish waters. Likewise, Dir. Lee Chang-dong manages to get to the heart of the matter(s) whilst keeping a distanced objectivity throughout.

3½ floral wings out of 5

The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)

Real life brothers Beau and Jeff Bridges play onscreen brothers Frank and Jack Baker, respectively, in Writer/Dir. Steve Kloves' mature drama about relationships both personal and professional. The duo are pianists, earning a living playing bars and functions, playing the same hackneyed songs over and over as they provide a soundtrack to other people's lives, but suffer their own. When Susie (Pfeiffer) storms into their midst, her seductive and destructive nature causes deep introspection.
There's a sombre tone, as if a spiralling downward motion is nearing its end, but there's a feeling that its corollary exists therein, waiting to break free.
Performances from the three leads are terrific. Being a counterpoint to the brothers means Pfeiffer stands out, but it's honestly some of her best work.

4 circular motions out of 5