THE MONUMENTS MEN [2014]

George Clooney directs an all-star cast in his enthusiastic war film, The Monuments Men, which tells the story of WWII platoon that set out to retrieve stolen artwork from Nazis near the tale end of the war.
The film sets out with good intentions but gets lost in a mess of humorous & serious tones that never seem to really find a favorable balance.  It's spreads it's ensemble cast of characters out too thinly and therefore we never really connect with any of them at all.  However by showing us a different reason to fight a war is what it set out to do without the cynicism & hatred and I really admire that.  A pity it's such a mess.

2 good times for a cigarette out of 5

THE ARTIST [2011]

Like Martin Scorsese's beautiful Hugo, French director Michel Hazanavicius' The Artist is a passionate ode to the golden age of cinema.

Telling the story, through picture only, of an aging silent film star who finds himself obsolete with the introduction of talkie films, it explores the themes of the inability to adapt and too much pride.

It strips back all the bells and whistles leaving us with a wonderful story, instantly likable characters, lavish photography and charming music courtesy of Ludovic Bource.
...and isn't that what good film-making is all about?

4 adorable dogs out of 5