Films to avoid

In my years as a film watcher and reviewer, I have seem some dross. Some utter dross. The last two films I've seen qualify for this category.

Both seemed fairly decent on the outside, with actors who had won accolades and had amostly decent track record. Both, however, revolve around a love interest story arc, and this is where they seemed to fall down.

Morning Glory, starring Rachel McAdams and Harrison Ford, is about a young woman who is made the new executive producer of an American Breakfast show named Daybreak (nothing to do with the equally awful real-life UK counterpart) and finds herself at constant loggerhead with the news anchor whom she wishes to make the star of the show. Sadly, there is nothing of any interest within the film for anyone to invest in, or even casually enjoy. The acting is woeful, the dialogue is corny and unoriginal, and the ending is spectacularly bland.

How Do You know stars Jack Nicholson, Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson. Last name aside, that's a fairly decent cast by anyone's standards. However, the film is a mish-mash of predictable rom-com and a seemingly serious attempt at a business side-story. One which never really gets taken seriously. The film contains clichés left, right and centre, and never feels like a fluid or coherent piece of work. To top it all off, the budget was pathetically big. $120 million. A shambles of a film, and a budget to match.

Avoid.

Blue Valentine

Starring Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling, Blue Valentine documents the rocky beginning, middle and collapse of a relationship founded upon abuse, spontaneity and clumsy 'romanticism'.

Presented in a fragmented fashion, much like 500 Days of Summer, the film presents the highs and lows of this chaotic and often out-of-sync romance, one which never feels natural or welcomed by either party.

The use of the colour blue is rather novel, as it clinically demonstrates the somewhat forced and loveless nature of a relationship which always feels as it could implode at any minute.

Both Williams and Gosling are wonderful in pulling off traumatised and often helpless warriors, and the film conveys the brutal realism of many a real-life marriage with aplomb. However, the film does lack a cutting edge and, perhaps intentionally, it does come across as being rather bland.

Whilst one would expect a great deal from this on-screen pairing, you can't help but feel letdown. A reflection of the story's marriage, perhaps.

6/10

28 Days Later

Set in the aftermath of a zombie outbreak in London, 28 Days Later stars Cillian Murphy in his breakthrough role.

Where the film excels is in its excellent cinematography. Wide-shots of an empty, destitute London (compared to its typical state of chaos throughout the working week), and of Britain's countryside really help create an image of a post-apocalyptic nation, filled only with half-living soulless creatures, devoid of emotions or understanding.

The rest of the film, however, fails to deliver. Whilst there are certainly moments of tension and horror which are well executed with the use of shadows, poor lighting and bland environments, latter scenes feel very poorly devised, especially those within the camp. Whereas you can understand the feeling of frustration (mentally and sexually) that would seep through the minds of those holed up in such a place, the writing herein just doesn't feel natural in the context of the film as a whole. Though maybe that was director's (Danny Boyle) intention.

28 Days Later is an assortment of middling acting performances, wonderful cinematography and a set of ideas which for my liking are only partly successful.

6/10

Little Miss Sunshine

A fun, Saturday afternoon time-waster, Little Miss Sunshine doesn't break any barriers nor does it do anything that hasn't been attempted before.

With Greg Kinnear, Toni Colette and Steve Carrell on-board, you have a vibrant and experienced main cast, supported by Alan Arkin and a natural young actress in Abigail Breslin, who is wonderfully relaxed and refreshing amongst a mostly adult cast.

As the 'family' attempt to make their way to the Little Miss Sunshine Beauty pageant in time to enter their youngest, they suffer heartache, vehicle problems and other nuisances, all the way trying to face their own individual flaws.

There's nothing much to praise, other than the film's relaxed approach with its shot selection and dialogue, which never feels forced or out of place. It's an Indie film which knows its limitations but doesn't try to do anything outlandish and as such just feels 'right'. Though how Alan Arkin received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor is totally beyond me.

7/10