Chris Curtis

Last night

Sometimes life deals you little ironies which remind you just how weird it all really is. Last night was just such a moment seeing two films: first Mike Leigh's new 'Happy Go Lucky', followed by catching up finally with Michael Haneke's Americanised replica-remake of his 1997 cult shocker 'Funny Games'. Both sound quite jolly don't they?

So the evening starts with 'Happy Go Lucky', a remarkably upbeat film for Mike Leigh, this is just fantastic. The highlight for me, and by quite some way, is Eddie Marsan's role as Scott, a driving instructor wound so tight that the unresolved inner tension literally crackles out of the screen. The final driving lesson showdown is glorious. Scott's worldview is so perfectly acted that, even if you haven't heard anyone like that before, somehow you know there are people dotted all over the world who see life through his eyes.

A quick coffee and then on to 'Funny Games, made all the more interesting because I've never got to see Haneke's original version from the late 90's. You might think that two films with 'happy' and 'funny' in the title would go well together. Anyone who's seen 'Funny Games' will already be smiling at the chasm I was about to try and cross in movie genres in the space of 10 minutes. 'Funny Games' is a brutal essay on violence and how we, the audience, engage with it on the screen. The plot reminded me of Leopold and Loeb, the two young Nihilists famous for the murder of Bobby Franks. Suffice to say that, even though almost none of the violence takes place on the screen, this story of two young polite men terrorising a rich American family is just about the darkest film I've seen in a while. Happy and lucky it isn't. And yet, this is an amazing film. It breaks all kinds of rules about what you can do with a plot (and I won't spoil it here by saying what they are). It's 'difficult' to watch but I'm glad I did.

Coming home, strange confused dreams took over of happy people and dark murders. Weird.

Street Kings (David Ayer)

David Ayer wrote 'Training Day' and the excellent 'Harsh Times', so getting him to direct his first big movie must have seemed like a good idea. I guess it must have seemed like that to the impressive 'A' list cast that includes Forest Whittaker, Keanu Reeves and Amaury Nolasco (Sucre in Prison Break to the initiated). And hey, isn't that House (sorry, I mean Hugh Laurie) popping up there as a tough Internal Investigations cop? This has the potential to be a classy dark cop thriller about the underbelly of the LA police force.

Except it isn't. You can buy the best ingredients from the classiest markets, but if the recipe is wrong, it's still going to leave a bad taste in the mouth. 'Street Kings' somehow manages to completely fail to engage. The final twists aren't twists at all, they've been signposted in neon for the past hour and a half. The action seems to focus on attaching a camera to the wheel of a sports car and driving it up and down Sunset Boulevard at 3am in the morning. The story is apparently about a cop "questioning the loyalties of everyone around him" but the only loyalty being questioned was my liking of films like 'Harsh Times'. This film is too convoluted to please anyone who just wants action and too mixed up to catch the attention of anyone who wants to revel in a plot. What a shame.

In Bruges (Martin McDonagh)

A cracking week Gromit, what with 'Happy Go Lucky' bringing the deft comedy touch of Mike Leigh back to the screens.

'In Bruges' is also a comedy but much much darker, earning it's '18' certificate in spades as the film progresses. And you know what, it's a cracker. All the reviews today are talking about the snappy script, and that's what you notice first of all. The plot itself doesn't hurry, and you might be lulled into wondering what on earth is happening during the first 40 minutes. But the pace bears fruit. By the time you've engaged with the characters, played by Colin Farrell and the awesome Brendan Gleeson, things are ready to roll. The dark tale that plays out is a joy to watch... at least if a violent tale of Irish hitmen is what you imagine as joy. Best film for a while as far as I'm concerned.

Son of Rambow (Garth Jennings)

It's nice this film. Not earth shattering. certainly not as good as the US critic have declared it, but an enjoyable experience nevertheless. After a break from films (gasp) due to work, this was the first thing I saw last week. Maybe I had too great expectations, but it somehow didn't work it's magic on me as much as I wanted it to. The depiction of the Exclusive Brethren is wry and clever, and the characters are fun. Worth a trip.

Tropic Thunder (Ben Stiller)

Hello blog. I remember you. You were in my life before all those other deadlines came along. Now you're back.

And to kick off, even though I'm not known for liking comedies (who wants to laugh when you can cry, right?) but this is receiving a lot of buzz around the net and looks very good. Ben Stiller has some shameful and some good stuff in his filmography... this looks like it could be on the good side.

Dark days.

First Omar. Now Snoop.

It's brutal out there. You're killing me with this season. But it's the best thing on TV period.

If you don't have a clue what all this is about, click here.

Film of the month

'Under the Bombs' turns out not to have much competition in terms of the best films in one of the bleakest months on record for decent releases. But I suspect I would be at the top of the list whatever. The film is a fictional account of a young woman's search for her son during the Israeli bombardment of Lebanon in 2006. The Director started shooting the film ten days into the bombardment as a way of coming to terms with what was happening. Using only 4 actors, the rest of the 'cast' are the people of Lebanon themselves, bringing an incredible power to the screen and making it the must-see for this month. I'll post more details when it's clear where it'll be opening.

Jumper

Doug Liman is the man we have to thank for 'Jumper'. FROM THE DIRECTOR OF MR AND MRS SMITH! according to the poster, as if we should take a step back and come over all reverent. Mr and Mrs Smith, wow, this must be something!

Alas, the mysterious powers that haunt Hayden Christensen, and which would have come in handy to fast forward you through an hour or two into 'Star Wars, Attack of the Clones', are also only good for this pupose in 'Jumper'. What, you mean I could jump straight to end of the film. Now that would be a superpower.

Truth is this is the poor man's poor man's best mates 'Matrix', a story so thin that it leaves too many questions I fear will forever remain unanswered. Just what is the Paladin's problem with the Jumpers, for example? We'll never really know apart from the occasional grunt from Samuel L. Jackson sporting the years best haircut: 'Only God should have this power' is about as detailed as it gets, giving the storyline of the film - a fight to eliminate the Jumpers from the face of the earth, very little to stand on.

Jamie Bell and Hayden Christensen have so little chemistry between them it's hard not to imagine they filmed their roles on different days and someone cgi'd them together. Probably the same guy who created the cars on the road in Toyko... do watch out for them, they're quite a sight.

OK, it's a bad week and I'm probably upset because there's not a single film worth seeing released today, but 'Jumper' really is an opportunity missed. There's always room for a sci-fi action flick in my book, a break from the intensity of fab films like 'Edge of Heaven', but this isn't it. 1 out of 10, and that being generous.

Cloverfield (Matt Reeves)

Everyone else has an opinion about Cloverfield, so I don't see why I shouldn't weigh in with my own two pennies worth.

Five cool things about 'Cloverfield'
1.The monster. They got it just right. Nasty.
2. Slow build up. 20 minutes and all we've seen is a party. But it sets the film up nicely.
3. Hand held filming. Sorry if you got motion sickness. I loved it.
4. The tunnel scenes. Classic horror. Always good to carry a night sight.
5. The ending. Nothing cheesy, not all happiness and light. My style.

Five bad things about 'Cloverfield'
1. The video camera guy. I know he's meant to be annoying but... he is.
2. The hospital... how the heck did they get that set up so quickly?
3. The little creature thingys... one wack with a spade and they're history. Wimps.
4. The camera battery...
5. The kids behind me in the cinema who just didn't get it.

Feast!

A feast, that's what we're currently experiencing. A glorious glut of the kind of film that by right should only appear a few times a year.

Let me elaborate:

'Let there be blood'.... and yes, blood there will be. Did someone say this is the 'Citizen Kane' of the modern day? Daniel Day Lewis is a force of nature in this movie based on a little know 1927 novel about the oil business. Will give you new ideas about uses for a bowling alley.

'Juno'... they said every line was a, well, clasic. And they were right. This is so good it'll make you weep. Except it's a comedy so maybe you'll laugh. Laugh-weep... oh, who knows. It's GOOD though!

'Before the devil knows you're dead'... Phillip Seymour Hoffman, wow. With a script so labyrinthine and exciting, you'll want to see it again and again.

'The diving bell and the butterfly'...the only one on the list I haven't seen, but the word is out that it's a cracker.

So eat up, enjoy the feast. National Treasure Book of Secrets is around the corner and we'll be back to sandwiches again.