The Reel Life of Real Life

Rating: R Genre: Drama, Science Fiction, Fantasy Directed By: Spike Jonze Written By: Charlie Kaufman Released: October 29 th , 1999 Runtime: 112 minutes Studio: Gramercy Pictures Summary: In this quirky cult-favorite comedy, unemployed New York City puppeteer Craig Schwartz (John Cusack) reluctantly takes a temp job as a filing clerk for the eccentric Dr. Lester (Orson Bean). While at work, Craig discovers a portal that leads into the mind of renowned actor John Malkovich. When he lets his attractive co-worker Maxine (Catherine Keener) in on the secret, they begin both an unusual business scheme and an odd relationship that involves Craig's restless wife, Lotte (Cameron Diaz). Review: This has to be the most bizarre film I’ve ever watched. It makes no sense! So many questions, little answered.  I didn’t like any of the characters. I don’t know if we were supposed to? Cameron Diaz was nearly unrecognisable, I had to look twice! John Cu...

Rating: R Genre: Comedy, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Romance Directed By: Richard Kelly Written By: Richard Kelly Released: January 19, 2001 Runtime: 113 minutes Studio: Newmarket Film Group Summary: In a funny, moving and distinctly mind-bending journey through suburban America, one extraordinary but disenchanted teenager is about to take Time's Arrow for a ride. After surviving a freak accident, Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) begins to explore what it means to be alive, and in short order to be in love, he uncovers secrets of the universe that give him a tempting power to alter time and destiny. Review: This is one of the oddest films I’ve seen. Yet so compelling. I found it so confusing the first time I watched it, while I enjoyed it, I don’t think I fully appreciated how good a film it was. A lot of it went over my head. It has gained a huge cult-following over the years since its release. Gary Jules covered “Ma...

Rating: R:18 Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery Directed By: Jordan Peele Written By: Jordan Peele Released: March 17 th , 2017   Runtime: 104 minutes Studio: Universal Pictures Summary: Now that Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) and his girlfriend, Rose (Allison Williams), have reached the meet-the-parents milestone of dating, she invites him for a weekend getaway upstate with Missy and Dean. At first, Chris reads the family's overly accommodating behavior as nervous attempts to deal with their daughter's interracial relationship, but as the weekend progresses, a series of increasingly disturbing discoveries lead him to a truth that he never could have imagined. Review: The brilliance behind this film is probably its ability to have you scratching your head in a tense state of bemusement and abundant ‘what the fuck’ moments. I felt lost for most of it and was yet glued to the screen needing to know what was going to happen because I simply could not gues...

Rating: R Genre: Drama Directed By: Damien Chazelle Written By: Damien Chazelle Released: October 10 th , 2014 Runtime: 106 minutes Studio: Sony Pictures Classics Summary: Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller) is an ambitious young jazz drummer, in pursuit of rising to the top of his elite music conservatory. Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), an instructor known for his terrifying teaching methods, discovers Andrew and transfers the aspiring drummer into the top jazz ensemble, forever changing the young man's life. But Andrew's passion to achieve perfection quickly spirals into obsession, as his ruthless teacher pushes him to the brink of his ability and his sanity. Review: Wow. This is a brilliant movie. Just…wow. J.K. Simmons is slightly terrifying in this. I’m used to watching him in his role in Juno, so placid and gentle. Where did this come from?! I found it stressful watching his outbursts. Slightly awestruck at the same time. He won Best...

Rating: R:18 Genre: Drama Directed By: Kevin Macdonald Written By: Jeremy Brock, Peter Morgan Released: September 27 th , 2006 Runtime: 123 minutes Studio: Fox Searchlight Summary: This film is based on true events of the brutal Ugandan dictator Idi Amin’s regime as seen by his personal physician during the 1970s. Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy) is a young doctor from Scotland who goes to Uganda to assist in a rural hospital. Once there, he soon meets the new president, Idi Amin. The pair hit it off immediately and Nicholas soon becomes his closest advisor. As the years pass, Garrigan can’t help but notice Amin’s increasingly erratic behaviour as he slowly drives Uganda into bloody ruin. Realising that Amin is not going to allow him to return to Scotland, and realising the dangerous position he is now in, Garrigan must make some decisions that, if found out, could mean his own death. Directed by Kevin MacDonald. Review: I find this quite a di...

Rating: PG-13 Genre: Drama Directed By: Lasse Hallstrom Written By: Peter Hedges Released: Dec 25 th , 1993 Runtime: 117 minutes Studio: Paramount Pictures Summary: The film centres around the uneventful life of Gilbert Grape (played by Johnny Depp) as he looks after his mentally handicapped younger brother, Arnie (Leonardo DiCaprio), his two sisters and their morbidly obese mother, who hasn’t left the house in seven years following their father’s suicide. Set in the small town of Endora, I think it mainly focuses on the characters and their day-to-day activities, such as Gilbert’s on-going affair with bored housewife Betty Lamson, Arnie’s persistence in venturing up the water tower, and the new arrival of a Food Land supermarket just out of the town threatening to render the small shops in Endora redundant. Amidst this, the Grape family are preparing for Arnie’s upcoming eighteenth party, when a young woman named Becky (played by Juliette Lewis) arrives ...

Rating: PG Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance Directed By: Rob Reiner Written By: Rob Reiner, Andrew Scheinman Released: Aug 6, 2010  Limited Runtime: 89 minutes Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Summary: When they meet at age seven, Juli Baker falls instantly in love with her new neighbour, Bryce Loski. Bryce, however, does not share the affection. From this day forward, Bryce (played by Callan McAuliffe) tries hard to keep Juli (played by Madeline Carroll) at bay. After six years, she begins to feel that she was wrong about him being the love of her life, while, unfortunately, this is also about the time that Bryce begins to think he was wrong about her too…  Review: While the plot initially seems considerably cliché: “girl likes boy, boy likes girl” underneath all that there’s really something so much more to this story. Put the cliché aside and what you see is that each of the characters have their own background, their own personal journey be...

Rating: R:18  Genre: Classics, Horror, Mystery & Suspense Directed By: Roman Polanski Written By: Roman Polanski Released: June 12 th , 1968 Runtime : 136 minutes Studio: Paramount Pictures Summary: Directed by Roman Polanski: Rosemary (Mia Farrow) and Guy (John Cassavetes) Woodhouse move into an apartment despite several warnings about the building. Following the suicide of a girl staying in their building, they befriend an older couple, Roman and Minnie Castevet, with whom the girl was staying. Guy seems to form a very close bond with the couple, much to Rosemary’s disgruntlement. However, following a strange dream in which she is raped by an odd looking creature, Rosemary is elated to discover she is pregnant. The neighbours rally round but Rosemary soon becomes suspicious of their controlling behaviour and fears for the safety of her unborn baby. The film is based on Ira Levin’s novel of the same name. Review: I watched this film years ag...

Rating: R:15 Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance Directed By: James Ponsoldt Written By: Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber Released: August 2 nd , 2013   Runtime: 95 minutes Studio: A24 Summary: An innocent, bookish teenager (Shailene Woodley) begins dating the charming, freewheeling high-school senior (Miles Teller) who awoke on her lawn after a night of heavy partying. Review: I really like this film. I like the characters and their development. Their relationship is cute. And it’s got a lot in there, more than you’d think at first. There’s something more to it than just another teen-drama. Miles Teller is a good actor. So is Shailene Woodley. I think of the movies I’ve seen both of these actors in so far this might be my favourite roles they play. It doesn't feel like a sad movie while you're watching it but I’ve watched it twice now and both times I’ve come away from it feeling sad after watching it. There are sad things in it but...