Rich and I started our Lovefilm subscription some time ago and we have some months where we struggle to gt through the 4 films that are sent and others where it’s no problem.  Sometimes this is down to how busy we are but often it is because of the film.  we may receive a film through that one or both of us really wants to see (hence it’s inclusion in our list) but when it arrives, it is hard to get motivated to actually watch it.  Enduring Love has sat on our TV stand for weeks now and though I do really want to see it, I am never in the mood!

So here is part one of a series of 20 second reviews of  each film we have watched so far using our subscription:

Jumper
27 June 2008

The book on which the film was based is sitting my reading pile (though is woefully near the bottom due to the number of book I have to read for my OU course).  Apparently the book is better than the film but that said, the film was still very enjoyable and exciting.  It has a fairly unusual concept and Hayden Christiansen was pretty well cast although he is one of those actors I can never fully get behind.  I guess playing a young Darth Vader is going to leave it’s mark.  I won’t go out of my way to watch again but if there’s nothing else on, I probably won’t turn it off.

Dan In Real Life
27 June 2008

I loved this movie.   Steve Carell takes time out of his madcap role as Michael Scott on The Office to deliver a poignant performance of a widowed father finding new love.  The family dynamics in the film are very authentic and I could watch Juliette Binoche wash dishes.  Dane Cook was a total revelation to me.  I had only ever encountered him with clips of his stand up which is not really to my taste. He seems like a bit of a douche, to be honest.  But in this film, he showed he can actually act and emote.  Well played.  I want to own this movie so I can watch it over and over.

Southland Tales
8 July 2008

Oh dear.  I wanted to like this film, I really did.  I had heard reports of its suckage but also watched a few interviews with the many cast members.  They seemed so in love with it and so enthusiastic and yet, alas, it was a bit rubbish.   I think they were trying for something really deep. I think they failed.  This review from Rotten Tomatoes captured my feelings exactly:

Whether this is a demented B-movie or a comment on demented B-movies is hard to say. It is horribly fascinating, if not for the full 150 minutes.

I will voluntarily never watch this again.

30 Days of Night
8 July 2008

I love zombie and / or vampire films.  This dark, tense thriller did not disappoint.  I even didn’t mind Cowbag being in it (aka Melissa George who I loved as Angel but then broke our hearts as Vaughn’s new wife in Alias – the nickname ‘cowbag’ is well-known amongst the Alias forum-dwellers of old).  Josh Hartnett played his role superbly and the scary badass head vamp played by Danny Huston was also excellent, although I went the whole film wondering when Neil Tennant had started acting.   This is a film I would love to see again sometime but I doubt we will buy it.  Unless we already have and I have just forgotten in which case, yay!

The Other Boleyn Girl
21 July 2008

I think I enjoyed this film.  It was entertaining, pretty to look at but it was not the sort of film that really stays with you.  The costumes were luscious and the chemistry between Scarlet Johansson’s Mary Boleyn and Eric Bana’s Henry VIII was palpable but then I challenge any man not to feel a bit hot under the collar with Scarlet.  Natalie Portman was very good as Anne too but the overall effect meant that I was left not liking anyone very much which makes it hard to give a crap.  I’d rather not watch it again.

Charlie Wilson’s War
21 July 2008

Well I am glad to leave the post on a high note.  This film was vastly entertaining, gripping, enlightening and very well made.  Tom Hanks, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Julia Roberts are all class acts.  This film was a fascinating insight into the cold war with some terrifying revelations (for me at least!).  The extras on the DVD were excellent with documentaries about the making of the film and about the real Charlie Wilson.  I will most definitely want to watch this film again at some point in the future.

Part 2 can be found here!

Part 3 can be found here!

Part 4 can be found here.