The Reel Life of Real Life

Rating: PG-13   Genre: Comedy Directed By: Peyton Reed Written By: Jessica Bendinger Released: August 25 th , 2000 Runtime: 99 minutes Studio: Universal Pictures Summary: The Toro cheerleading squad from Rancho Carne High School in San Diego has got spirit, spunk, sass and a killer routine that's sure to land them the national championship trophy for the sixth year in a row. But for newly-elected team captain Torrance, the Toros' road to total cheer glory takes a shady turn when she discovers that their perfectly-choreographed routines were in fact stolen from the Clovers, a hip-hop squad from East Compton, by the Toro's former captain.   Review: I enjoyed this movie. I think I would have loved it in my pre-teen years had I heard of it back then. It’s incredibly light-hearted and surprisingly feel-good. There’s no badness to it whatsoever. For sure something to throw on at the end of a long day you can just have a laugh and smile at...

Rating: PG-13 (adult situations/language) Genre: Comedy Directed By: John Hughes, John Hugues Written By: John Hughes Released: June 11 th , 1986 Runtime: 103 minutes Studio: Paramount Pictures Summary: Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) wakes u one beautiful morning in Chicago with the decision that school is not the place to be today. Thus, he convinces his best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) to “borrow” his father’s irreplaceable red Ferrari before kidnapping Ferris’ girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara) and the three set out for a day of fun and games across town. In the meantime, the school principal (Jeffrey Jones) is after him, as is Ferris’ sister, Jeanie (Jennifer Grey), both sick of Ferris’ unwitting ability to get away with everything! The film is directed and written by John Hughes and is one of his funniest comedies. Scratch that. One of the funniest comedies out there. Review: This is a brilliant movie. What else can be said? Ferris Bueller, is, ...

Rating: R:18 Genre: Comedy, Drama, Horror, Mystery & Suspense Directed By: Mary Harron Written By: Mary Harron, Guinevere Turner Released: Apr 21 st , 2000 Runtime: 97 minutes Studio: Lions Gate Films Summary: In New York City in 1987, a handsome, young urban professional, Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale), lives a second life as a gruesome serial killer by night. The cast is filled by the detective (Willem Dafoe), the fiance (Reese Witherspoon), the mistress (Samantha Mathis), the coworker (Jared Leto), and the secretary (Chloë Sevigny). This is a biting, wry comedy examining the elements that make a man a monster. Review: First off, I loved the design of the opening credits. It was so satisfying. The simplicity, the colours, the music, the timing – everything. There was a humour and even a shred of elegance while building the idea of bloodshed to come. In a way it mirrored the character’s personality wonderfully. The music was fun too. Lot...

Rating: PG-13 Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance Directed By: Richard Loncraine Written By: Adam Brooks, Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin Released: September 17 th , 2004 Runtime: 98 minutes Studio: Universal Pictures Summary: Frustrated at his own failures and disillusioned with professional sports, tennis player Peter Colt (Paul Bettany) resolves to retire from competition and become an instructor at an exclusive private club. But when Colt receives a surprise wild-card berth in Wimbledon, he can't help but enter the tournament. Soon, Colt meets Lizzie Bradbury (Kirsten Dunst), a beautiful American tennis player with an upcoming match of her own, and finds the inspiration he hopes will turn his luck around. Review: This is a really sweet natured film. I would say it’s pretty hard to go wrong with it. A sweet romance, some funny moments to make you smile, a warm plot with heart. If rom-coms are your thing then this is one worth adding to the list. ...

Rating: R:15 Genre: Drama, Romance Released: April 15 th , 2017  Runtime: 100 minutes Studio: Indigo Film Summary: Based on the 2007 novel by Nick Hornby, Samuel, a 16-year-old skateboarder, dreams of moving to California to go pro until he meets the girl of his dreams and gets her pregnant. Review: I enjoyed this film a lot more than I was expecting to! The characters were all very likable and at times relatable. Everything felt realistic. While I was initially confused by the structure, as the film went on I liked it more and felt it brought some originality to a storyline that has probably been done umpteen times in movies and tv shows. Once Samuel learns that his girlfriend wants to keep the baby he begins to experience vivid dreams about how his life has adapted to this. His mind remaining in the present day, these flashforwards are confusing to him as he tries to catch up on what he has missed in the intervening years. Then returning to th...

Rating: NR Genre: Mystery & Suspense Directed By: Michael Thelin Written By: Rich Herbeck Released: March 4 th , 2016 Runtime: 80 minutes Studio: Uncorked Productions Summary: A young boy (Joshua Rush) tries to protect his two siblings when their new baby sitter (Sarah Bolger) starts to reveal her psychotic nature. Review: Suspense was built subtly but surprisingly well. The film had a huge sense of unpredictability. You really get a sense you could be expecting anything to happen. It’s twisted, dark and creepy. But it’s all done subtly and none of it is in your face. It’s hard to figure out what’s going on. We’re being fed clues but it takes a while for them to fully add up in any coherent way. We’re kept guessing which is always great! There was one big twist that would have been far bigger had the name not been Emilie. I think, while the name sums up the whole movie fairly, narrowed the room for surprise in this regard. Also, I’m inc...

Rating: PG-13 Genre: Action & Adventure, Comedy, Romance Directed By: Edgar Wright Written By: Michael Bacall, Edgar Wright Released: August 13 th , 2010 Runtime: 113 minutes Studio: Universal Pictures Summary: As bass guitarist for a garage-rock band, Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) has never had trouble getting a girlfriend; usually, the problem is getting rid of them. But when Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) skates into his heart, he finds she has the most troublesome baggage of all: an army of ex-boyfriends who will stop at nothing to eliminate him from her list of suitors. Review: This film is great. It’s easy-going, fun, silly – all the ingredients for a great time at the cinema. (Or as the case may be, a great night in at home!) Michael Cera plays the easily-likable Scott Prilgrim. As with many of Michael Cera’s characters, he’s a bit socially awkward but endearing just the same. An unlikely hero it might seem but proves t...

Rating: R:15 Genre: Comedy, Drama Directed By: John Hamburg Written By: John Hamburg, Larry Levin Released: March 20 th , 2009 Runtime: 105 minutes Studio: Dreamworks/Paramount Summary: Successful real-estate man Peter Klaven has it all: a great job, a beautiful home and a loving wife-to-be. Unfortunately, due to his devotion to both his work and fiancée Zooey, Peter has failed to make any friends. With his wedding fast approaching, the pressure is on to find a best man and so Peter embarks on several desperate attempts to find a best buddy. Review: I really loved this film. I’ve been wanting to watch it for so long and kept forgetting about it. I finally got around to it now. It has a great cast and is genuinely funny. Paul Rudd is always lovable in his comedic roles. He’s a funny guy. I’ve never been a huge fan of Jason Segal, I just never had an opinion. I thought he was funny here though, even one of my favourite characters. There are...

Rating:  R:18   Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery & Suspense Directed By: David Guy Levy Written By: Steffen Schlachtenhaufen Released: February 8 th , 2013 Runtime: 95 minutes Studio: IFC Films Summary: Iris (Brittany Snow) and seven other desperate people become trapped in Shepard's (Jeffrey Combs) mansion. Shepard forces them to play a sadistic game for a large sum of money -- but the dilemmas become increasingly deadly. Review: Well, this is all a very tense affair. Say what you will about this film, but as vulgar and barbaric as the whole thing is, at least it’s original! I don’t know if I can say I enjoyed this. Most of it was viewed through my fingers. I reckon that’s the sign of a good horror film. Whether that necessarily means it was “enjoyable” under this circumstance is up to you to interpret! Certainly, from start to finish it kept the tension up and mounting. Some moments were hard to look at. It makes you think a ...

Rating: R:18 Genre: Classics, Horror Directed By: Tobe Hooper Written By: Kim Henkel, Tobe Hooper Released: October 1 st , 1974   Runtime: 83 minutes Studio: Bryanston Pictures Summary: A teenage girl, her wheelchair-bound brother and a few friends intend to spend a brief holiday in the family’s rundown old summer house. In need of petrol a nearby home seems an obvious source but the neighbours aren’t too friendly… Review: I’m going to be blunt. I just thought this film was really crap. I don’t say this about many films. Ok, there’s no plot because the reasons behind why this maniac cuts up bodies is not explained.   Obviously, there is some reason. One does not just wake up one day and go around cutting up people for the hell of it. I don’t accept this as the basis for a horror story, ok, there has to be more to it otherwise there is just no point. Plus, the film is not even scary, it’s just disgusting and sick. The characters are no...

Rating: R:18 Genre: Drama, Western Directed By: Quentin Tarantino Written By: Quentin Tarantino Released: December 25 th , 2012   Runtime: 165 minutes Studio: The Weinstein Co. Summary: Two years before the Civil War, Django (Jamie Foxx), a slave, finds himself accompanying an unorthodox German bounty hunter named Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) on a mission to capture the vicious Brittle brothers. Their mission successful, Schultz frees Django, and together they hunt the South's most-wanted criminals. Their travels take them to the infamous plantation of shady Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), where Django's long-lost wife (Kerry Washington) is still a slave. Review: First impressions? Great film. Very violent. Not one for the faint hearted that is for sure. I guess this is hardly surprising when Quentin Tarantino is at the helm! In all seriousness though, some of the scenes are considerably difficult to watch. And then you hav...