From Paris With Love Review: I See London, I See France…

23/02/201006/03/2011Leave a comment

FROM PARIS WITH LOVE (15): On General Release From Friday 26th February

For a long time, the OTB team have had a question on our minds. Why hasn’t John Travolta fired his agent?

In between passable comic turns, there are just bizarre choices listed on his CV. Deep down we know he’s a good actor, so we were once again collectively dismayed to see his shiny bald head on the poster for From Paris With Love. But in the end this apparently stricken movie wasn’t too bad.

Travolta plays Charlie Wax, a wildcard CIA special-ops agent who gets partnered with straight-laced Reese (Jonathan Rhys Myers) to stop some terrorists blowing up half of Paris. Do It!

Extraordinary Measures Review: Kill Me Now

23/02/201006/03/2011Leave a comment

EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES (PG): On General Release From Friday 26th February 2010

I didn’t have high hopes when I walked into the screening for Brendan Fraser’s latest offering. It looked like one of those movies that once you’ve seen the trailer, you’ve seen pretty much the whole movie.

And I was right. It was dull, manipulative and felt like your average FIVE weekend matinée or what the Americans call an ‘after-school special’.

John Crowley (Fraser) is a high earning businessman of some sort who has two children with Pompe disease – a rare genetic illness that gives them a lifespan of just nine years. But he resolves to raise enough money to support Pompe research done by crotchety old Dr. Stonehill (Harrison Ford). But can he do it before his children run out of time? Do It!

Percy Jackson And The Lightning Thief Review: Still Holding Out For A Hero

11/02/201006/03/2011Leave a comment

PERCY JACKSON AND THE LIGHTNING THIEF: On General Release From 12th February 2010

It looks like Hollywood’s gone all historical on us in 2010.

Percy Jackson And The Lightning Thief seems set to be the warm-up for an epic season which includes Clash Of The Titans, Prince Of Persia and let’s not forget about Robin Hood.

Looks like the award for sexiest skirt-wearing actor could be a tough category this year.

But can Percy Jackson set the tone for the others? The answer is sort of. The main difference between Percy and it’s contenders is that it is set in the present US and the leads are all teenagers. Yeah, I know, it doesn’t sound like a winning formula but director Chris Columbus makes it work. Do It!

Tony Review: Killing In The Name Of…Tony

02/02/201016/09/2010Leave a comment

TONY – LONDON SERIAL KILLER: On Limited Release From 5th February & On DVD From 8th February

If you saw Tony on the street, your reaction would probably be to cross to the other side of the road. His appearance, his speech and his undefinable creepiness will give you goosebumps.

And you’d be right to have this reaction because there’s a good chance that half an hour before you saw him, Tony was suffocating someone to death in his flat, then chopping up the remains in his kitchen sink.

Tony: London Serial Killer is the debut feature film from writer/director Gerard Johnson who’s expanded the story from his own short film. The short will also be a feature on the DVD along with another impressive short, Mug. Do It!

Armored Review: Robbing You Blind

21/01/201016/09/2010Leave a comment

ARMORED: On General Release Friday 22nd January

To make a good heist movie you need a distraction, a getaway car, an alibi and a target worth the risk.

You also need good pacing, fresh dialogue and suspense.

Unfortunately only mere traces of these things can be found in Armored. Better stick to Ocean’s 11.

Mike (Matt Dillon) heads up a team of armored security guards who decide to rip off one of their own trucks for a cool $42 million but, in order for their plan to work, they need newbie Ty to be a part of it. Do It!

Brothers Review: The War At Home

20/01/201006/03/2011Leave a comment

BROTHERS:On General Release From 22nd January

Don’t say you’re sick of war movies until you’ve seen Jim Sheridan’s Brothers.

It doesn’t spend too much time shoving violence down your throat but instead focuses it’s energy painting a portrait of the families left behind.

When Sam (Tobey Maguire), a Captain in the marines is missing and thought to be dead, his wife Grace (Natalie Portman) must try to carry on. After just being released from prison, Sam’s younger brother Tommy, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, tries to reconnect with his family and forms a special bond with Sam’s wife and kids. Do It!

Nowhere Boy Review: Mad About The Boy

22/12/200906/03/2011Leave a comment

NOWHERE BOY: On General Release From 26th December 2009

Nowhere Boy chronicles the early life of musical legend and British icon, John Lennon.

Of course ‘before fame’ biopics wouldn’t work with every rock legend. I don’t think anyone is gonna pay to see ‘Jon Bon Jovi: The Early Years’.

While towards the end of his life the world knew him as a long-haired hippy lying in bed and waiting for peace, in his teen year it appears he was quite the wild child. Before the Beatles, before the bowl haircut and…before Yoko.

Matt Greenhalgh’s script shows us the rebellious, blokey side of Lennon including drinking, girls and a smoking habit that would put a lung cancer ward to shame. Do It!

Jennifer’s Body Review: Maneater

31/10/200916/09/2010Leave a comment

JENNIFER’S BODY: On General Release From Friday 6th November 2009

I’ve not been shy about the affection, shall we say, that we have for Megan Fox.

But we’ll also be honest and say that it is most definitely not based on her acting. I’ve always admired her ballsy attitude in interviews while gents have enjoyed her other attributes.

Well now even the ladies are gaga for Fox after seeing the Diablo Cody penned and Karyn Kusama directed Jennifer’s Body.

When indie rock band Low Shoulder arrive in the small town of Devil’s Kettle looking for a virgin to sacrifice, they come across hot high-schooler, Jennifer (Fox) and nerdy best friend, Needy (Amanda Seyfried). Unfortunately for the town, Jennifer wasn’t even a ‘back-door virgin’ and so the sacrifice goes awry, leaving her with a need to feed. Do It!

Dead Man Running Review: A Load Of Cockney

28/10/200906/03/2011Leave a comment

DEAD MAN RUNNING: On General Release 30th October 2009

When I heard that 50 ‘Fiddy’ Cent was going to be in a new British gangster movie I was all atwitter.

When I heard Danny Dyer was going to be playing the same character he always does in a new British gangster movie, I just sighed.

Though Dyer doesn’t break knew ground in Alex De Rakoff’s Dead Man Running, he does play second fiddle this time around to Tamer Hassan. Do It!

All Tomorrow’s Parties Review: The Best Weekend You Never Had

23/10/200916/09/2010Leave a comment

ALL TOMORROW’S PARTIES: On General DVD release from Friday 2nd November 2009

If you like partying all weekend, getting off your face on…. fizzy drinks, and listening to some of the coolest indie bands around then chances are this movie was made for you.

All Tomorrow’s Parties is a collection of fan filmed footage from the festival of the same name, which takes place in East Sussex and Somerset at out of season holiday camps each year.

If you don’t dig festivals or live music then you could be wasting your time on this but whether you love them or loathe them this is more of an experience than a film. It’s loud, sweaty, sexy and enthralling.

There’s no plot, no characters (unless you count the musicians) and there’s no point. It’s mostly a matter of sitting back and being sucked into the festival. Do It!

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Category: Film Reviews