nadiatownshend Reviews

The Lake House (2006)

Can this be happening?

[8/10 · 12 April 2018]

Th Lake House is subtle in approach and although it lets itself flow at it's own pace - there was not a dull moment. If you want lots of action - this is not what you're looking for. But if you want a moving story, with an intriguing character study and wonderful romantic story of friendship and love then look no further. I do not like soppy love stories so don't get the wrong end of the stick here - this film is not soppy - it's moving and touching and makes you think about life, the people in your life, missed chances, and connections.

People often complain about Reeve's "wooden acting" - I have to say - I don't know what they are talking about because I think he is a fine actor and he's really wonderful in this. People should give him more credit - his turn in the Lake House might well be one of my favorites of his. Sandra Bullock is also a wonderful actress and her talents should not be taken for granted - it is always a delight to watch her on screen and her turn here as Kate is sensitive and charming and also real.

There's no question here when it comes to Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves on-screen chemistry - the two are always a wonderful pair ever since Speed and here they work well together once again.

If you're looking for a kind of drama with some touching elements and real human story then check it out. I guarantee you this may well become one of your favorite films.

For a fresh story, script and chemistry-filled acting I give this 8/10 because as a plus it is also totally re-watchable - think I've probably seen it over a dozen times.

Frozen River (2008)

Leo and Upham - A Master Class in Acting !

[8/10 · 11 April 2018]

Melissa Leo is a wonderful actress - she has some excellent titles under her belt.

Her acting in this is as expected - brilliant and powerful as the single mother trying to build a better life for her two kids and scraping by on a meagre wage. The comes along Misty Upham's character - also a single mother who is facing some challenges in her life. I really loved the fact that they used proper Native American/ First Nation actors and actresses in this movie - kudos to the Director and casting as everyone did a stand up job in their roles. This is Misty (RIP) at her finest. The chemistry between herself and Leo was tense, affecting and hit all the right notes.

The scenery and setting - as bleak as their situation.

As they struggled to improve their lives they were smuggling people who were struggling to improve their lives and the cycles of struggle for that perfect dream were grinding away.

You will certainly not be dissappointed with this excellent indie!

Flawless (1999)

Fierce and Beautiful

[8/10 · 11 April 2018]

I will start by saying RIP Phillip Seymour Hoffman - his acting talents were magnificent and we truly lost a special person. Every one of his films is acted with passion and dedication and "Flawless" is no different. He is special in this and his portrayal of the fierce drag queen is tender and heartfelt whilst also being fierce and powerful. Robert De Niro is of course brilliant in his role and really did an incredible job playing a stroke survivor - that is no easy feat and he has put his all in to every movement and every word spoken. This film should be watched for the acting talent and energy of these two actors alone as well as the character study of two very interesting people who find themselves with unique challenges to face in life. The cinematography is not top notch (the film was made in '99 so it does have a rustic quality) but it's perfectly fine. The focus here is on the characters, colourful and frantically trying to find connections in a difficult world. They are flawed in some ways through sheer stubborness or quick tempers but they aren't all that different when it comes down to it - they are both flawed in similar ways and maybe that's why their friendship works. It doesn't feel forced - it grows naturally and their chemistry is on fire. I loved this film - it depicts the world of drag queens wonderfully and the difficulties members of the LGBT community faced in the 90's. For the time it was made I applaud it - it hasn't tried to sugar coat anything and it has thrust us in to a layered and colourful and magical environment.

Loved it loved it loved it .

It's on Netflix UK right now so watch it.

Jungle (I) (2017)

The Boy Who Lived

[10/10 · 11 April 2018]

From the moment Jungle begins it doesn't let you go and even when you've finished it it comes back and haunts you because you can't believe this actually happened. It's a very inspiring story about a group of naive young men and the psychological impact of the experience on Radcliffe's character is emotional and scary whilst affecting. The scenery is breathtaking, the story - true. Radcliffe's acting talents shine through and he is unrecognizable in this role. A brilliant film and story of survival that should not be missed.

Bosch (2014–2021)

Bosch Brought to Life

[10/10 · 11 April 2018]

Fans and non-fans of the books alike can now see Bosch on true form. Titus Wellivers' Bosch is everything you imagined him to be and more - he exudes cool with every smoulder and frown.

Bosch's Los Angeles is tough, gritty and exciting, but also mysterious and lonely.

Each Season bring to life one of the books which allows the show to breathe and delve in to the characters as well as let the books be brought to life properly - which is ultimately refreshing.

Pacing is always on point and leaves you wanting more as the characters meander and grow and the pressure builds to a brilliant finale always leaving you pining for more.

This is one of my favourite shows at the moment and imo the best on Amazon Prime!

If you like hard hitting detective shows like True Detective etc then you won't be let down - this has the substance and style to back it up.

LA 92 (2017)

A Moving Account

[10/10 · 11 April 2018]

The documentary is flawless in its retelling and the editing of the archival footage really places you in the midst of the moments captured - you almost feel like you are there. Parts were incredibly hard to watch - specifically the footage of Reginald Denny, the truck driver being pulled from his truck... But it is important to show the brutality and raw anger and frustrations that those few days entailed in order to educate people about the reasons behind the eruption of the riots in LA in '92. From what I learnt from the documentary - the reasons behind the riots were far more intricate and complex than what was displayed on the news. It inspired me to read more about it and find out more about the people who were involved. All in all probably one of the most fascinating, if not scarily real documentaries I have seen, which lays it all out factually using all original footage and doesn't hold back. It's so sad that such a great city as LA, with all its diversity, exploded in that symphony of chaos and the archival footage shows that it really was a wake up call to the city to draw together. Furthermore the way the city came together in the wake of the violence in order to rebuild was really wonderful and when we think of the riots we don't necessarily think of those good deeds that happened in the aftermath, but the documentary importantly reminds us that in the end there is hope for society yet.

The Take (2007)

Guerilla Film Making At Its Best

[9/10 · 11 April 2018]

The first time I saw this it blew me away. Since then it is probably one of my favourite movies of all time - why? The stylishness, the grittiness, the acting and the passion. You can tell that the people involved in the project really put their all into it and truly believed in telling a good story. The story itself is, on the surface, something we've heard of before - typical heist gone wrong yada yada. But what makes this so special is the clever character study and the evolution we see in John Leguizamo's character. This is one of his best roles - the acting is top notch. Rosie Perez is equally impressive in her role and the passion bleeds from the screen. You can tell Director Brad Furman wanted to stay true to the roots of the characters - he did go to Boyle Heights and filmed within the neighbourhoods wherein the story is set. On the commentary to the film he talks about the issues this raised due to guerilla style filming and some of the risks involved. The evolution of Leguizamo's character, a man just trying to make an honest living and provide for his family, who gets caught up in something outside of his control and has to fight through the ruins of the aftermath. It's truly wonderful to witness - the lawnmower scene and his anger is felt through the screen as he battles the scars he's been left with as a result of the events. Having seen Furman's other films, I still consider this his best for its unique nerve and sheer determination to make this project feel realistic and gritty. 9/10 - For the brutal and hardcore acting, cinematography and gritty realism - do not miss this!

Meet Bill (2007)

Fun and a good message (if not a little wet behind the ears)

[6/10 · 11 April 2018]

Bill is you standard dude - a job he hates and a wife who is a cheating brat who is reliant on her daddy. She ain't gonna change buddy!

Bill remains dignified through and Aaron Eckhart does a good job in getting us to sympathize with his character and root for him to find happiness.

I gave it 6/10 because of his chemistry with the actor who plays the young cheeky lad. Their banter is enjoyable to watch and also quite refreshing. In my opinion that's the best thing about the film - their friendship. They help each other grow in different ways and learn things about life.

It's quite a funny film without having to rely on cheap and crass humour - it succeeds in being funny on it's own wit and charm.

The casting is excellent and it's definitely worth a watch for the array of talented actors/actresses therein.

All in all it is an enjoyable, charming little movie, with a few drawbacks (we wish he would be more mad at his wife!!!) but give it a chance - you will enjoy it for the cast and the chemistry between characters.

Pushing Tin (1999)

You are cleared for ILS runway 14R

[7/10 · 10 April 2018]

There's quite a few negative reviews here and it is quite interesting to see the different opinions and things that people got out of the film.

For me I really enjoyed it - it really portrayed the life of an ATC really well and all the intricacies and detail was cool to see - the Director obviously tried to introduce us to the stress, fast-paced world of an ATC and the sort of pressures they are put through.

It is enjoyable to watch Cusack's energy - if not a little stressful. Billy Bob Thornton has a cool swagger and devilish charm that draws you in and is great as a stark opposite to that of Cusack's character.

The reason I enjoyed this film was for the portrayal of the unique roles of ATC's and the human element of Cusack's evolution in his character as he realized that his lifestyle was terribly unhealthy. The two characters, in the end, learnt much from one another's differences.

I, Tonya (2017)

Honest and Brutal

[9/10 · 10 April 2018]

The word honest is used here as a reflection on the honesty of the characters in who they are. We will of course never really know whether she was indeed involved to the extent as stated.

If anything the film really gave the characters involved their chance to lay it all to rest and set the record straight as it were.

But more than that - it is an in depth character study of those key players in the infamous scandal and what happened for them to reach that breaking point so to speak.

The actors and actresses do not hold back with their characteristic and comedic portrayals and at times can be rather brutal - Allison Janney anyone?! It really is a triumph in terms of acting, script and the production of a true story - the story itself in its retelling could have gone either way but the screenplay was impressive and pushed our actors talents to their limits - especially the excellent Margot Robbie, who is almost unrecognizable in her portrayal.

Cinematography was stylish and made use of a toned down filter in colour schemes which reflected the late 80's/early 90's well and really set the scene.

The humour doesn't miss a beat and is cleverly dry, inserting some serious moments in between.

We feel genuinely sorry for Margot Robbie's, Harding as a woman who was consistently up against something and someone throughout her life - at points tough to watch but never drowning in it's own self-indulgence, it hits all the right beats and draws emotion for a character who was chastised mercilessly without clear cut evidence to implicate her in the crimes she was judged for. Not to say that what she did was right, she was involved in some wrongs, how much we will never know, but one thing we do know is she was one hell of a skater who fought for approval with every stride and triple axel.

Dreamland (II) (2016)

Meet Me In Dreamland

[8/10 · 10 April 2018]

Where to begin - Johnny Simmons is actually a really great and underappreciated actor. He's young, charming and displays an element of sensitivity. All in all he has this human quality and is very believable.

His portrayal of the young "Graduate"esque Jazz pianist is delicate and smooth. The other actors and actresses are finely cast and do the job perfectly fine. One of my favourite things about this film is how the soundtrack fits the scenes perfectly. The synthy waves compliment the lonely back drop of the Los Angeles urbanscape.

Without further ado I move on to cinematography. It had the inherently indie vibe going on throughout - and it worked. It's a Los Angeles thing and artistically it's a great reflection of the city. Some people will use you, some will make you and others break you and you have try not to be too trusting in a city that can be quite unforgiving but equally beautiful and full of vibrance.

The message within the story really resonated with me - as a twenty something Jazz lover and lonely city dweller I felt a pull to the storyline and really connected with the main character. So if that makes for a biased review then so be it.

I really enjoyed and relished every moment and when the credits started rolling I was sad because I really didn't want the "dream" to end.

Off beat and plenty of soul to carry it along on a tight budget - bravo.

The Florida Project (2017)

The American Dream from the Peripheries

[7/10 · 10 April 2018]

This is a wonderful little story of how kids see the world but also the harsh realities of poverty in America. As per the director, Sean Baker's previous, Tangerine, this also take a documentary style approach and all of the character display a reallness like no other.

This in some ways is totally unique but in other ways it can make for somewhat wasted minutes on dialogue that doesn't necessarily move the story along in any way.

Despite that - I think that is what Baker is going for here - a snapshot of a week or so in the life of families who are on the peripheral, people whose stories may not necessarily be told in regular Hollywood movies.

Acting - The actors really do a great job in drawing together the sense of frustrations, community, their reliance on one another for comfort and support and their desperate situations. The fact that this is some of these people, incl. the kids first film roles is pretty amazing and they seem totally natural in front of the camera. In some ways the kids are not necessarily acting but perhaps just being themselves (aside from the swearing, one hopes). It also shows how kidIt also displays the hopelesness of the cycle of poverty perhaps. As these kids have grown up in this situation, this is all they know and their life literally revolves around this small patch of tarmac in the few connected motels.

Seasoned actor William ** portrays a character with sensitivity that we are not accustomed to in his infamously menacing previous roles. He really displays the emotions of a man who cares about these families and looks out for the kids but also a man who is stuck in between his professional role as manager and his morals and care for the people at the motel. Ultimately he is as empathetic character as the others but one can't help but think they would be stuck without him and perhaps he isn't as appreciated as he should be by the residents.

The cinematography was wonderful - a great mix of bright and sickly colours which really drove home the idea of the falseness of Disneyland and ultimately the American Dream. It was a stark contrast to the reality which these kids and their parents found themselves in.

SPOILER *****

The Ending - Ok there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the ending due to the cinematography implemented. I saw it both ways. The end was building up to a climax and was really bringing a lot of emotions out of me upon watching it but once it reached that final Disney scene, with the running and chasing down the street to finally arrive at the magic kingdom, it felt a little rushed and due to change in format of cameras and such it felt a somewhat cheap ending to an otherwise cinematically spotless movie. I totally get what the director was going for but I just didn't like the way it was done. Despite this I feel it was definitely an appropriate ending - just deserved a little more from a cinematography perspective given the rest of the film.

I also thought that her mother's comments to the social services characters were really important because she was right in many ways. She really did care for her daughter and was doing what she could to make her kids life happy within the frame that she was capable of doing. She didn't really know how to be a good mother however she was trying and she loved her kid.

Overall I believe this film should and must be seen - it is brilliant, different, bold and electrifying in its cinematography and the performances therein - and the message is brave and brilliant. We can make of it what we will and it inspires much debate and thought. That's what makes this film deserving of a watch. After all that is what true cinema is all about - taking risks on important stories which would otherwise not be told.

Our Brand Is Crisis (2015)

Political Dice

[9/10 · 10 April 2018]

From an entertainment perspective the film was enjoyable and the climax was satisfactory and fulfilling. In fact those end scenes built up to quite a powerful and thought provoking finish which was a nice turn in pace in comparison to the rest of the movie - which focused more on comedy. The film had a good mix of seriousness and humor.

The Script was pretty tight and displayed some humorous moments which did not detract from the story. It also had real heart.

The choice of setting was really interesting. It allowed the film was show how people go in to countries with no consideration of the consequences of their actions and then happily leave as if nothing ever happened.

Sandra Bullock's character was pretty intricate and multi-layered which was really cool to watch and her acting talents were strong in bringing out the various aspects of the character.

Also, I would like to note that showing a strong woman in politics was bold and great to watch as she tried to thrive in the dog-eat-dog world of male-dominated politics. Sandra did a great job in applying these difficulties to her character and how it ground her down in some ways and drove her on in others.

There were some moments where I was laughing, or shouting at the screen (the bus scene) or truly felt the intensity of the emotions of the characters (the ending ).

All in all I thoroughly enjoyed this film and can't believe I hadn't heard more about it upon its release. 9/10