Movie Picks 26.12.17

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The Killing of the Sacred Deer - 6 out of 10

This is a weird watch for sure, it has a creepy atmosphere throughout and it can almost seem unsettling to watch. The plot fixes on a young boy called Martin (Barry Keoghan) and his rather unorthodox companionship with an older doctor Steven (Colin Farrell). Though we aren’t sure how or why this apparent “friendship” started, from the early meeting you kind of know that something very weird is at hand. Steven’s family face torture throughout and it becomes an intense watch toward the end. I loved the idea of this storyline and though this movie looked visually very good, I felt the early parts were far too slow and this could lead to a few less patient of us to switch off before it gets to the remarkably intense later parts. The second half of this film is gripping however and it reaches an unbelievable climax when Stephen has to make a decision that is simply unthinkable. I think this is a decent watch though and certainly if you push past the slow start you will be rewarded in the end.

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Columbus - 5 out of 10
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The plus point is that this film looks incredible, the architecture on show is beautiful and it really does make me want to one day go and visit this place. Most of the 5 marks out of 10 just goes to how this movie looked because I’m sad to say I really found it quite dull. A film heavily based on two people talking about architecture was never going to be too action packed and riveting and I know that’s not what this film was about, but a film has to have something, the whole plot just seemed to meander through and I just wasn’t hooked. I think it’s a shame because I do feel John Cho and Haley Lu Richardson did their best with the lead parts yet I really just didn’t feel too much for this movie, perhaps I have missed something but this will go down as one of the slowest and less loved films I have seen this year.

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Get Out - 8 out of 10
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This is a cracker from the horror and mystery department, a fresh story for this genre and it really delivers. It is gripping and the plot is so great that you will forgive its slight predictability. It follows a young African American going to meet his girlfriends white parents, he has reservations about how they will treat him but she insists on their liberal natures and off they go to the family home where things just aren’t as they seem. Daniel Kaluuya is excellent as Chris Washington who is plunged into a nightmare at the Armitage family home and I have to give a special mention to Chris’ friend Rod Williams who, despite having little air time, when on screen was absolutely hilarious. However, ‘funny’ was not what this film set out to deliver and thankfully the action doesn’t disappoint either. You will be left thrilled.

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I Called Him Morgan - 8 out of 10
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A great documentary about the life and death of a Jazz musician called Lee Morgan, told from the perspective of his wife who recorded tapes documenting her connection with him shortly before her death. Sound normal right? Well, I failed to mention that his wife actually shot him at a performance at Slugs Saloon in New York and she then served time for the murder, a little more interested now aren’t you? This is put together so well and other interviews with Morgans band mates, friends and family help to put this picture into perspective and if you thought a documentary film which follows a Jazz musician would feature some sublime music you would be absolutely correct too. It’s a really interesting watch and it will also be a treat for the ears.

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I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore - 7 out of 10

Loved the story in this one, it follows a depressed woman who has her home robbed, frustrated by the lack of enthusiasm from the police to do anything about it, she sets off to try and reclaim her items herself enlisting the help of a strange neighbour along the way. They delve deeper into a criminal gang than is comfortable and find themselves in a lot of danger. Melanie Lynskey and Elijah Wood are fantastic in the leads Ruth and Tony and I really enjoyed watching their chemistry develop as the film moves on. It’s heartfelt but actually quite gory in parts too, which I wasn’t expecting at all and it delivers some great black comedy throughout as well. It may have started a little pedestrian but it really is worth the watch.

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Okja - 8 out of 10
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This almost felt like a live action studio Ghibli film to me, I can’t explain why but I loved it. It borders on the fantasy but set in a very lifelike setting too and follows the progress of a new breed of Super pig which is bred by the very loveable Mija. After her pig is kidnapped by a major corporation it follows her battle to reclaim her beloved friend. The messages are clear to see throughout this film and it would be easy to see this film turning some of the most ardent meat eaters away from livestock and though it really does have a big message throughout it delivers a very enjoyable movie too. Its full of drama, action and packed to the rafters with emotion and a scene with a farm toward the end is utterly devastating and will almost definitely make you think a little harder about putting that next pork chop down your gobs, but ultimately it’s just a brilliant film as well. Perhaps the only downside was a fairly irritating portrayal of Dr Johnny by Jake Gyllenhaal, forgivingly it wasn’t enough to put me off completely and makes this one of my most essential watches this week.

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The Foreigner - 7 out of 10

I haven’t watched a Jackie Chan movie in a long, long time. As expected the film is primarily packed full of action scenes but it’s actually got a decent enough story alongside it to keep it interesting. Jackie plays a father who is devastated after a terror attack kills his daughter and goes on a solo rampage to Ireland seeking the men who planted the bomb. Action films can be a little predictable of course and this is no different really but I still enjoyed it and this is possibly the best Jackie Chan movie for some time.

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Churchill - 4 out of 10

This was not what I expected at all. It focuses on Winston Churchill in the hours leading up to D-Day and you would expect that would portray this great man in a heroic light. Wrong! It’s factually bullshit and dramatised untruthfully and I have to say frankly that it is unforgivable. But even more unforgivable than the historic inaccuracies which plague this one throughout is the fact that it is so boring and lacks any sort of action. Aside from the one scene where he makes a famous speech, its pretty horrendous viewing I have to say. Avoid!

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Jim & Andy - The Great Beyond - 8 out of 10

Remember when Jim Carrey played strange comedian Andy Kaufman in the 1999 movie “Man on the Moon”. Well, did you know Jim was so involved with playing this character that he actually became Andy Kaufman throughout filming, even going to the extreme of meeting his family and behaving as the not so loved Tony Clifton. Thankfully Jim had the foresight to record the behind the scenes footage of his life in this period and this is just a fantastic display of these tapes, laced in with Jim telling us the philosophies of his career and what he has learnt from his time in show business. With more than a few loveable clips of Jim’s fantastic roles over the years this is brilliant watching for anyone who loves this man. It may just make you love him even more!