Change Your Image
scarletmcnally
Reviews
King of California (2007)
King Evan
King of California tells the tale of a recently released psychiatric patient who believes that there is treasure buried under suburban California.
This film is a quirky alternative to those mega-popular indie flicks being fired at us left right and centre every Oscar season. It manages to incorporate some original (albeit far-fetched) ideas with genuine emotion - a realistic approach to an unconventional story.
Although this was marketed as a 'Michael Douglas movie', the film belongs largely to Evan Rachel Wood. Her performance as Miranda, the older-than-her-years 16 year old who has to deal with work, bills and evading social services, is pitch perfect. You sympathise with her as she attempts to keep her father stable by indulging in his oddities.
However, Douglas is due praise. His performance as the mentally unstable father is one that truly conveys the frustration of his condition - both to himself and Miranda. The film sustains the mystery, as the audience sees through Miranda's eyes rather than Charlies. Why is he doing this? Is he lying? Will he ever stop searching?
The yellow tones of the sand and the wide open landscapes contrast with the corporate logos of McDonald's and Wal-Mart, creating an image of constant change in the area and suggest that the old fashioned ideals and natural environment of the area have been eroded by a capitalist mentality.
Overall, I give this film 8 out of 10.
See this if you liked: Down in the Valley Little Miss Sunshine
The Pianist (2002)
Haunting.
This film was perfect...so why did I not give it a perfect 10? Well, the realistic and haunting feel makes me love this film, but hate to watch it. When I watched this for the first time, I realised that this was one of the most realistic films I had ever seen. To think that it was based upon a true story was sickening. That actually happened.
I love this film because they do not hold back on anything, however disturbing it may be, this makes the film real. It doesn't hold back on Adrien Brody struggling to escape from a building in the process of being bombed, it doesn't hold back on the feeling of "Oh. My. God." when you see the tin rolling towards the German Soldier's feet and it certainly doesn't hold back on the true horror of World War Two.
This film makes it clear that survival is possible. Wladyslaw Szpilman (Adrien Brody) wasn't wiped out by the Holocaust. He wasn't forced into gas chambers in concentration camps. Wladyslaw Szpilman survived the war, and lived on into the 21st Century.
A masterpiece.
The Calcium Kid (2004)
I wanted to hang myself after this film.
What the hell is the matter with this movie? Firstly, I've seen some bad Orlando Bloom films, but this one just takes the mick. His accent is simply terrible. The jokes in this film are pathetic. I wanted to cry at the embarrassment of this film. I just don't get how people think that it is even remotely good. After the first 10 minutes (which included Mr Bloom feeling himself up in his bed) I just couldn't stand much more. I don't see how anybody can sit through this movie, even if it does have a popular heart-throb (although horrendous actor) Orlando in it, it's just a very very badly made and badly acted film.
Shame on you.
The Village (2004)
Amazing, literally jaw-dropping
Well what can I say? M. Night Shyamalan has once again provided us with a shocking and extremely clever film to sit and watch. The Village is a thriller, with strange creatures and interesting people, but it is widely based on love too.
Joaquin Pheonix does a spectacular job playing mysterious Lucius Hunt. His performance was almost as good as when he played the evil guy in Gladiator.
Bryce Dallas Howard is an amazing actress and I really hope to see her in many more films. Her performance as blind woman, Ivy Walker, was extremely believable. Her fear scenes were very well played.
Adam Brody, a favourite actor of mine, also does a very good job of playing Noah Percy. His death scene was shocking and very upsetting. He was truly fabulous in this movie.
The scenery is beautiful - it makes me feel like I've been missing out on the woods. The creatures look perfect for the part - real, yet not real.
While many people came out of the cinema with a feeling of "What the hell?", I came out with a distinct feeling somewhere in the pit of my stomach of when something shocking happens, with some big realisation in it. This film made me think for a very long while. Well, grief leads you to do drastic things.
Truly an amazing film. Definitely up there with the best. Thankyou M. Night Shyamalan!