Movie collection 2015

Posted on July 18, 2015 by Craig M

Hi folks. I recently uploaded this video to my YouTube Channel. It gives a general look at my DVD and Blu-ray collection and how they are stored in my home. I would love to hear any feedback, and if you like these sorts of videos on this blog. If there is enough interest I may also do a more in-depth video of some of my favourite items.

Gone Baby Gone

Posted on February 1, 2014 by Craig M

Viewed – 01 February 2014 Netflix

Taken me a while to review this and it seemed the most interesting choice on Netflix as I was perusing titles suitable for both my mother and father to watch at same time … so anything particularly violent or with sex in it is usually out the window. This 2007 drama stars Casey Affleck and Michelle Monaghan as a 30 something couple who are also private investigators. They get hired by the dysfunctional family of a recently kidnapped girl after the Police fail to produce leads. Will they manage to find the girl when the authorities could not?

Based on a novel by Dennis Lehane and Directed by Ben Affleck, who has increasingly made a name for himself as a director with titles like the Oscar-magnet Argo … this I feel is his most assured and meaningful film, with a real-world relevance in reflection to those missing children headlines we hear about. Co-starring Morgan Freeman as a world-weary Police Chief (isn’t he always?) and Ed Harris as a special agent Casey turns to during his investigation, this has decent performances across the board. Although taking a while to warm to, Ben’s younger sibling proved a believable and watchable lead and well, I’m a fan of the gorgeous Monaghan who again proves convincing. It doesn’t gloss over the more harrowing aspects of child abduction neither. For a movie watched with my parents, the language was stronger than I felt necessary, but that’s my only sticking point.

The story had plenty of twists and turns, keeping me guessing throughout (although I got lost a little) and even when I thought I had it figured out, pretty much guessing one of the bad guys early on … the final morality-punch was a surprise, leaving me thinking ever since. Well worth checking out.

Verdict: 4 /5

The Wolf Of Wall Street

Posted on January 29, 2014 by Craig M

Viewed 28 January 2014 Cinema

I will generally watch anything featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, who I believe to be one of the best actors of his generation and has turned out some quite remarkable performances over the years … highlights being Stephen Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can and most recently his villainous turn in Tarantino’s Django Unchained. The same could be said for his long standing partnership with famed director Martin Scorsese, easily one of the best in the business. And so we come to this their latest collaboration, but does it live up to their other works?

Based on a true story, DiCaprio plays Jordan Belfort a man who becomes a millionaire during the eighties by working the stock markets to his favour, and lives life to the extreme, enjoying wealth, drugs, women, cars … and more drugs. This hectic and outrageous film portrays Belfort as a man of excess, where he becomes addicted to a lifestyle that can only end badly. Basically this is a rags to riches tale, and seems to follow the blue print of Scorsese own Goodfellas, swapping gangsters for crooked stock brokers but the theme remains the same.

It’s a heady mix that Scorsese delivers with his expected style and expertise – fast and full of information, a wealth of side characters and cameos (was that Joanna Lumley?) and various stand out performances, including a hilarious Jonah Hill and a memorable Matthew McConaughey. But of course this is DiCaprio’s movie and he’s is like a tornado – blowing through the movie and delivering one of his most crazy, complex and brilliant performances in years (think Gatsby on acid!). Along with a director still at the top of his game and a shocking, riveting story (even if at times its unbelievably mad) this fired on all cylinders. It also happens to be the funniest movie I have seen in a long time (the cerebral palsy sequence…yes, really).

Jordan Bellfort may not be one of DiCaprio’s more likable roles, but the movie is a drug-fuelled ride of parties, sex, nudity and full-on-entertainment that’s very hard not to get caught up in. Superb.

Verdict: 5 /5

Top Ten Movie Crushes

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Craig M

Inspired again from a post over at The Sporadic Chronicles Of A Beginner Blogger and further more from the idea posted over at Cinema Parrot Disco, here are my own (to best recollection) ten movie crushes … in no particular order.

Scarlett Johansson in Lost In Translation

Back when she was a little less glamorous, she is an image of innocent beauty, and makes for a great partnership with Bill Murray. First Johansson film I ever saw too.

Winona Ryder in Reality Bites

So many images in this movie of Winona looking sassy, cool, beautiful … her hair, those eyes, and it’s a great romantic drama too.

Mila Kunis in Black Swan

Seductive and dangerous. Kunis at her sexy best.

Bridget Fonda in Point of No Return (aka The Assassin)

Vulnerable, tough and sexy. This role should have made her a star, but sadly the movie bombed.

Maggie Gyllenhaal in Secretary

Launched this quirky, gifted actress and as a more girl-next-door-type, exudes subtle sexiness and weirdness. My kinda gal!

Marion Cotillard in Inception

DiCaprio’s phantom wife, seductive and deadly, but also tragic. A great actress and such smoky eyes!

Katherine Isabelle in Ginger Snaps

One of the hottest actresses to ever turn into a revenant snarling wolf – Isabelle exudes sex and eroticism, whilst also being rather funny!

Michelle Pfeiffer in Batman Returns

Forget Anne Hathaway, THIS is the only Cat Woman the movie industry ever needed. Part dominatrix, part tragic victim, and Pfeiffer at her sexy, beautiful best.

Sandra Bullock in Speed

Again another first and launched the career of this very likable actress. Looking her prettiest and girlfriend-like in this classic thriller.

Maggie Cheung in The Heroic Trio

Fell for her during my Hong Kong Action Cinema phase in the 90s … a stunning example of a hot female badass action hero!! Oh and she’s a very good actress too, see ‘Hero’.

So a few unusual choices there you might think, a few obvious ones but kind of sums up the kind of females I tend to crush over in movies. Have you a list of your own? Give it a go and lets see!!