The Reel Life of Real Life

Rating: PG Genre: Comedy, Drama, Mystery Directed By: Johnathon Lynn Written By: Jonathan Landis, John Landis, Jonathan Lynn Released: December 13 th , 1985 Runtime: 96 minutes Studio: Paramount Pictures Summary: Based on the popular board game, this comedy begins at a dinner party hosted by Mr. Boddy (Lee Ving), where he admits to blackmailing his visitors. These guests, who have been given aliases, are Mrs. Peacock (Eileen Brennan), Miss Scarlet (Lesley Ann Warren), Mr. Green (Michael McKean), professor Plum (Christopher Lloyd), Mrs. White (Madeline Kahn) and Col. Mustard (Martin Mull). When Boddy turns up murdered, all are suspects, and together they try to figure out who is the killer. Review: I really enjoyed this film. I thought it was a very clever and something original. I loved how they based it on the game. And I think they did so very, very well. From start to finish the film aroused much chuckles and sometimes laugh out loud momen...

Rating: R:15 Genre: Comedy Directed By: Jeff Kanew Written By: Steve Zacharias, Jeff Buhai, Tim Metcalfe, David Obst, Miguel Tejada-Flores, Steven Zacharias Released: July 20 th , 1984 Runtime: 90 minutes Studio: 20th Century Fox Summary: Geeky college students Gilbert (Anthony Edwards) and Lewis (Robert Carradine) are evicted from their dormitory when the Alpha Betas -- who recently burned down their own fraternity house by accident -- confiscate the building. When the college forces the freshmen to live in the gym, Gilbert, Lewis and their fellow dorks relocate to a run-down house. When the Alpha Betas, led by jock Stan (Ted McGinley), repeatedly humiliate them, the nerds plot revenge. Review: The tv show, The Goldbergs did an episode based on this film which I watched recently and realised this was a film I’d heard the name of often but had never actually seen. I enjoy The Goldbergs for their 80s movie references and wanting to get the refer...

Rating: PG Genre: Action & Adventure, Comedy, Science Fiction & Fantasy Directed By: Stephen Herek Written By: Chris Matheson, Ed Solomon Released: February 17 th , 1989 Runtime: 105 minutes Studio: Orion Pictures Corporation Summary: Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) are high school buddies starting a band. However, they are about to fail their history class, which means Ted would be sent to military school. They receive help from Rufus (George Carlin), a traveler from a future where their band is the foundation for a perfect society. With the use of Rufus' time machine, Bill and Ted travel to various points in history, returning with important figures to help them complete their final history presentation. Review: I definitely found this funnier than I probably ought to have. It’s one of those films you know is stupid but there’s something very endearing about it all and you enjoy it in spite of yourself. My initial tho...

Rating:   R Genre: Drama Directed By: Marti Noxon Written By: Marti Noxon In Theatres: July 14th, 2017 Runtime: 107 minutes Studio: Netflix Summary: Ellen is an unruly 20-year-old anorexic girl who spent the better part of her teenage years being shepherded through various recovery programs, only to find herself several pounds lighter every time. Determined to find a solution, her dysfunctional family agrees to send her to a group home for youths, which is led by a non-traditional doctor. Surprised by the unusual rules, Ellen must discover for herself how to confront her addiction and attempt self-acceptance. Review: I came across this film while browsing through Netflix fairly recently and decided to press play fairly randomly. I don’t know if “enjoy” is the right word to use for this movie given the subject matter is quite tough. But I got into it and I liked it. All the performances were great. Lily Collins is a talented actress...

Rating: R:18 Genre: Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy Directed By: Alfonso Cuarón Written By: Alfonso Cuarón, Timothy J. Sexton, David Arata, Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby Released: September 22 nd , 2006 Runtime: 109 minutes Studio: Universal Pictures Summary: When infertility threatens mankind with extinction and the last child born has perished, a disillusioned bureaucrat (Clive Owen) becomes the unlikely champion in the fight for the survival of Earth's population; He must face down his own demons and protect the planet's last remaining hope from danger. Review: This is a really good film. But quite stressful to watch. I think the concept is so intriguing though. I sat in silence thinking about it for a while afterwards. The production designers must have had a great time – the set design, for what it is, is fantastic. This derelict creation of a dystopian 2027 is a scary world, perhaps a bit far-fetched and seem...

Rating: PG-13 Genre: Horror, Mystery & Suspense Directed By: Mike Flanagan Written By: Mike Flanagan, Jeff Howard Released: September 9 th , 2016 Runtime: 97 minutes Studio:  Relativity Media Summary: Foster parents Mark and Jessie welcome 8-year-old Cody into their home. The boy tells Jessie that he's terrified to fall asleep, but she assumes it's just a natural fear for any young child. The couple become startled when their dead biological son suddenly appears in their living room. To their surprise, Cody's dreams can magically become real but so can his nightmares. Mark and Jessie must now uncover the truth behind Cody's mysterious ability before his imagination harms them all. Review: This is an interesting take on the Nightmare on Elm Street concept. Dreams becoming real, a being that haunts someone in their sleep. If they fall asleep they, or people they know will die. I guess it’s been done a lot nowadays, but not quit...

Rating: NR Genre: Drama Directed By: Mike Rutkowski Written By: Mike Rutkowski, Nicole Holland Runtime: 93 minutes Studio: ITN Distribution Summary: Strange events plague a group of friends in a haunted Massachusetts house. Review: This was actually good! I’ve seen it get woeful feedback on the internet but I don’t think it deserved that. What’s probably the biggest offence people have taken is the acting. On this, I have to agree. The actress who plays Taryn (our lead) is probably the best of a bad lot to be honest. The actress who plays Diana, god love her, she’s seen to try. Her character is a few cards shy of a full deck, so it’s almost a case that she’s so bad she’s good. As for the rest of the characters, well, they all have their tuppence worth to give to the story. They’re not all there for the sake of being present, and generally not as dim as their character-type might have you initially expect after first impressions. Let’s just say ...

Rating: PG-13 Genre: Comedy Directed By: Hallie Meyers-Shyer Written By: Hallie Meyers-Shyer Released: September 8 th , 2017 Studio: Open Road Films Summary: Recently separated from her husband, Alice Kinney decides to start over by moving back to Los Angeles with her two daughters. While celebrating her 40th birthday, Alice meets Harry, George and Teddy, three young filmmakers who need a place to live. Complications soon arise when she agrees to let the men stay in her guesthouse temporarily. As Alice develops a budding romance with Harry, her newfound happiness comes crashing down when her ex shows up with a suitcase in his hand. Review: I really enjoyed this film. It’s very light-hearted and easy going. It reminded me a lot of The Holiday. It had a similar score and similar atmosphere. No real badness to it at all. That being said, there’s not great umph to it either. It’s easily forgettable plot-wise and in a sense character-wise. Although...

Rating:   R:15 Genre:   Drama, Horror Directed By: Tomas Alfredson Written By: John Ajvide Lindqvist Released: January 26 th , 2008 Runtime: 114 minutes Studio: Magnet/Magnolia Pictures Summary: Oskar, a twelve-year-old boy being bullied at school, meets Eli, a girl who seems to be the same age. As the film progresses, both develop a close friendship. But in the meantime curious and slightly grisly deaths have been taking place around the area and it quickly becomes clear Eli has something to do with them…because she’s a vampire. Review: This is actually a really beautiful film. I suppose at first glance one could be excused for brandishing it off to the same shelf as Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series with the whole romanticising vampires trend. However, this is very much a darker story. Most of the film takes place around the huge gray and quite oppressive apartment building that seems to just suck the life out of the residents who ...

Rating: R Genre: Drama, Mystery & Suspense Directed By: Steven Soderbergh Written By: Scott Z. Burns Released: February 8 th , 2013 Runtime: 106 minutes Studio: Open Road Films Summary: For four years, Emily Taylor (Rooney Mara) has awaited the release of her husband, Martin (Channing Tatum), from being imprisoned for insider trading. Finally, Martin comes home, but Emily feels just as bad as she did when he was incarcerated, and she sinks into a deep depression. After her failed suicide attempt, psychiatrist Jonathan Banks (Jude Law) prescribes a series of medications. When those don't work, he gives Emily a new medication -- but the drug leads to ruined lives and death. Review: This is quite a gripping thriller with an excellent cast. The film is structured well. Opening with what would turn out to be the pivotal scene of the film where everything changes for everyone but leaving so much to yet be revealed. Having seen a sliver of t...