Top 5 Reasons to Go See Joy

Joy stars Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper and is essentially about a struggling woman with a dysfunctional family who invents a self-wringing mop. It doesn't sound incredibly exciting and even with the re-teaming of Lawrence, Cooper, De Niro and director David O. Russell after Silver Linings and American Hustle, I was not desperate to catch this. Films aboutmops just don't really excite me. Unless the mop is dressed up to look like a lady and someone is going to have a dance with it. anyway, not every movie can have lightsabers or mops with lipstick on, so I thought I'd give it a try...

Here's 5 reasons why you should too:

5. It will probably pick up a lot of nominations during awards season.

When I look at the biggest films of all time; your Avatars, Jurassic Worlds, Furious 7's and your Star Wars, and I see how much money is spent on them and then how much they make, it actually surprises me that films like this still get made at all.

Joy has serious quality in its cast and cost around $60 million to make. Without all the awards buzz surrounding its team of stars and director, I suspect it just wouldn't be seen by anyone. A few J-Law and Silver Linings fans might check it out. But I reckon it would struggle to make $60 million back.

It's already picked up two Golden Globe nominations for Best Comedy/Musical and Best Actress, so expect it to get a bucket load more during awards season. If you need to tick off all the major contenders before the Oscars, then make sure you let Joy into your life.

4. It's got a de-aged De Niro

This might not be what everyone is desperate to see, but those of us who remember the old De Niro of The Godfather Part 2, Mean Streets, Raging Bull et al will lap up the chance to see a digitally de-aged De Niro in some of Joy's flashback sequences.

It's also got quite a cool, tricky chronology in places with some little time hops thrown in to zip back and forth between Joy's past and present. A standout scene has De Niro giving a wedding speech that everybody will be sure to remember for a long time to come.

3. It's a film about strong women

I feel properly spoiled for strong women at the moment; what with Katniss, Furiosa and Rey to name but a few. Joy is a woman stuck in the middle of four generations of women in the same house. Her mother might be a useless TV soap-obsessed sad sack, but her grandmother is an inspiration and Joy herself is the light at the centre of the film. She overcomes a great deal of hardship, is kind and compassionate, creative and caring.

The highlight for me comes late in the film when Joy gets to pass on some good fortune to another woman. It's a very touching moment between two women who at one point or another in their lives, just needed to be given a shot by someone.

2. David O. Russell has made a movie about a mop that is kinetic and entertaining

While I'm not a huge fan of Russell, he does make entertaining movies. His camera zips along, the editing is all over the place and the soundtrack rocks with the likes of The Rolling Stones. He always gets great performances and even though the film is about the invention of a mop, the American Dream and family strife, it barrels along at an excellent pace. It could be floppy and cliched, but Russell's screenplay and direction keep things punchy.


1. Jennifer Lawrence is still the girl on fire

She's just awesome. This feels like a really personal film for J-Law right now, what with her recent public pay gap problems. She might be a bit goofy in real life, but her characters are deadly serious, as is her real-world determination to be at the top of her game. Which she is. If you're a fan of J-Law, you'll enjoy seeing her go from struggling single mother with a house full of dependents (including her ex-husband and her divorced mother and father) to ruthless, brilliant business woman. It's a transformation J-Law handles with ease and expertise. Guaranteed a Best Actress Oscar nomination.

Watch the trailer:



Seen it? Let me know what you think in the comments below or on Twitter @ilovethatfilm

Think someone needs convincing to watch it? Send them over here!

Bad Neighbours De Niro Party

I'm going to be seeing this film called Bad Neighbours just for Dave Franco's impersonation of Robert De Niro in Meet the Parents. I hope this is a good solid hour of the film but I reckon that might be optimistic. You violated the circle of trust Focker! Check out his little Jinxy. That looks like the best party in the world.

If this picture alone doesn't have you sniggering then check out the trailer. It's got a baby dressed as Heisenberg and eating 'blue meth', not to mention an unfortunate incident with a condom. Seth Rogen fans also might enjoy the stoner getting smacked around by misplaced airbags. The brilliant Rose Byrne is also in it so even if you can't stand Zac Efron, there must be something attractive about this film.

Recent Reviews: RoboCop, Filth Blu-ray, Grudge Match, Banshee Chapter DVD

I've been a busy bunny with writing film reviews for Filmoria over the last couple of weeks. I've been sent to screenings and sent review copies of films and here is a round up of the films that have recently been released:

Check out my review of the new RoboCop film at Filmoria.

I also reviewed the Blu-ray of Filth for Filmoria.

And Grudge Match starring Sylvester Stallone and Robert De Niro.

And Banshee Chapter out now on DVD.

Upcoming reviews will include The Stag, The Book Thief, Brian de Palma's Phantom of the Paradise and a very soppy romance called Endless Love. I also got to interview Jon S. Baird, the director of Filth on Thursday and I will be posting that interview on Filmoria on Monday.

More reviews from I Love That Film:

Only Lovers Left Alive

The Wolf of Wall Street

Out of the Furnace

Philomena

Dallas Buyers Club

12 Years A Slave

American Hustle

All is Lost

The Railway Man

Captain Phillips

Last Vegas Review: VIP OAPs

De Niro, Douglas, Freeman and Kline. It's a killer cast but where once De Niro's name might have been a mark of quality, now it is often cause to lower your expectations and brace for the worst. And so it was that I entered a screening of Last Vegas, a comedy about four OAP's, friends since they were kids, who take to Las Vegas for a bachelor party when one of their number decides to get hitched to a girl half his age.

The four boys we meet in Brooklyn in a photo booth fighting over a girl are suddenly transformed 58 years later to the stars we know and love. When Douglas' Billy proposes to his young girlfriend at a funeral, he calls up his old buddies for (possibly) one last hurrah of a stag weekend as he prepares for his Vegas wedding. Freeman's Archie is on a range of medication and forced to stay indoors by his caring son, Kline's Sam is given a hall pass, Viagra and condom by his despairing but loving wife and De Niro's grouchy old git Paddy is still bitter about Billy not showing up to the funeral of his wife (and the object of both their affections since they were boys).

Once they get to Vegas, the bare bones characters have been set up and director Jon Turteltaub's camera is free to leer at the young women dressed provocatively everywhere around the strip. As old rivalries boil to the surface, seething resentment simmers and a new lady emerges to steal the hearts of both Douglas and De Niro's characters, Last Vegas looks set to be tacky, predictable but fuelled by dazzling star power.

Actually while Last Vegas is predictable, it is still full of heart and both the stars and their characters will win you over by the end. Some of the comedy is so obvious that it should be plastered on neon signs but seeing Freeman drunk on Vodka Red Bulls is priceless and De Niro and Douglas bring some serious emotions to bear on what could have been an overly mawkish and sentimental script. Freeman and Kline steal most of the laughs while Douglas and De Niro bring the heart and soul. The female characters have nothing to do except be bland love interests but the old boys milk their age for every gag and dash of gravitas they can.

Last Vegas may not be brilliant or worthy of such a stellar cast but it's still way better than The Hangover.

What did you think of Last Vegas?

More reviews from I Love That Film:

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Captain Phillips

Saving Mr. Banks

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Don Jon

Machete Kills, The Conspiracy, Snitch and more

Ender's Game

Sunshine on Leith

How I Live Now

Filth

Upcoming screenings: Mandela, Last Vegas, Secret Life of Walter Mitty

I've got three preview screenings lined up over the next couple of weeks. The first is Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, the second is Last Vegas and the third is The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

The first on Monday is Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. I literally found out I had a ticket to this advance screening moments before I found out that the real life legend had just died. It is going to make the screening a very bittersweet experience. I grew up with my older sisters around me wearing 'Free Nelson Mandela' badges and always hearing about the good he had done  in the world. I'm sure Idris Elba will do a fantastic job in the central role and as I have not read the book, I am very excited to learn more about the man's life. I can guarantee that, particularly in light of this week's events, it is going to get emotional. Let's hope the film can do the man justice. Here is the trailer:



Next up is Last Vegas starring Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Robert De Niro and um Kevin Kline... something tells me Jack Nicholson was busy? Four old buddies, friends since they were kids get together for one last hurrah in Vegas to celebrate the impending marriage of Douglas' character to a girl half his age. Looks like it could be quite funny. Douglas and De Niro are at each others' throats and Freeman's character just looks like he should be repeating the old mantra 'I'm too old for this shit'. Here is the trailer:



The final film I'm seeing next week is The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, directed by and starring Ben Stiller. Comparisons to things like Forrest Gump have been thrown around and it certinaly looks epic in scope. Mitty is a day dreaming office worker who sets off on the adventure of a lifetime (or is he just daydreaming?) and looks like he will likely fall in love along the way with Kristen Wiig. I'm definitely intrigued about this one. Looks like it could be a great heart warmer hopefull for the festive period. Here is the trailer:



What do you think? Want to see any of these?

The Silver Linings Playbook Review

Thanks to the From the Red Carpet film club I got a pair of free tickets to see The Silver Linings Playbook. My wife has read the book and was telling me all about it and became immediately dismayed when she saw the first trailer and the casting of Bradley Cooper. However I think the film sort of won her over with a few reservations. I liked it more than I expected to. 

Taking some giant steps away from the source book in order to make a much more conventional rom-com, it is still an enjoyable film with very interesting characters and some great performances.

Despite going on a bit long and straying far too close to convention for much of the last half, Lawrence, Cooper and De Niro are very impressive and playing some seriously interesting characters compared to the average rom-rom.

The book really highlights the obsession of Pat much more and makes it far more obvious and sad that he is never going to get his wife Nikki back. Nevertheless Cooper is excellent but Jennifer Lawrence really steals the film.

Lawrence as Tiffany is brave, funny, a little bit crazy and very slutty but always completely sympathetic and believable.  She balances the serious with the humorous perfectly.

Cooper shows much more chops than in his other films.  It is great to watch him in something that strays from the typical boorish comedies of his past.

The chemistry between Cooper and Lawrence is excellent with their dancing and verbal sparring being wonderful to watch.  Both stars inhabit complicated characters going through big changes and both looking for their silver linings and happily finding each other.  Her stand off with De Niro’s Pat Sr. is a rousing shakedown that leaves De Niro flustered. Unfortunately it becomes far too obvious as with most rom-coms where this is heading.

De Niro is great as the OCD Pat Sr. It is a role that gives him more of an opportunity to stretch his acting muscles than anything we have seen him in recently.  It is refreshing to see him tackling a less masculine role than his usual and even shedding a tear or two.

As the film’s final third takes a turn for the very, very conventional, the dance competition and Pat and Tiffany’s relationship becomes far less interesting and the film feels as though it could have been wrapped up quicker.  It is a shame that it decides to stick so slavishly to rom-com conventions, particularly from director David O. Russell.

The comedy is definitely the selling point.  Despite the serious parts and subject matter, it is the comedy that keeps you caring for the characters and enjoying the film.

Silver Linings has some far more interesting characters than the average rom-com but it’s a real shame the story gets so straight jacketed by convention. It is entertaining but not worth going crazy over.

The From the Red Carpet review is here.

What did you think ladies and gentleman?

The Ten Best Actors of All Time: Relay Race

The baton has been passed.  Thanks to Scott from Front Room Cinema, it is my turn to add and replace an actor on the list that has been doing the rounds since it was started by Nostra at My Filmviews.  Check here for The Focused Filmographer's update who then passed it to Scott and now here we are!  What silly decision am I going to make?  Read on to find out!  Here's the deal:

"So what’s the idea behind the relay? I’ve created a list of what I think are the best actors. At the end of the post I, just like in a real relay race, hand over the baton to another blogger who will write his own post. This blogger will have to remove one actor (that is an obligation) and add his own choice and describe why he/she did this. At the end the blogger chooses another blogger to do the same. The idea is to make this a long race, so that enough bloggers get a chance to remove and add an actor. We will end up with a list (not ranked in order) which represents a common agreement of the best actors"

So here's the list and who I've added and replaced is at the bottom!  Long may this series continue!

Here we go…

Robert De Niro

Although he may not have had any roles that stood out in the last couple of years, he has proven what an amazing actor he is. Just think of his roles in Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Godfather: Part II, Goodfellas, The Untouchables, Heat and Cape Fear.

Daniel Day Lewis

Although he might not have appeared in as many movies as some of the other actors in this list he makes up for it in the amazing performances he gives. He really disappears in his roles. Some of his best work includes My Left Foot, There Will Be Blood, Gangs of New York, In the Name of the Father and Last of the Mohicans.

Charlie Chaplin

Now this might not be someone you’d immediately think of, but when it comes to comedy and silent movies he was perfect, funny and knew exactly how to make his audience care about the character he played. Some of his best work can be enjoyed in The Kid, City Lights, The Great Dictator and Modern Times.

Gary Oldman

He has proven that he is a true chameleon, with a very distinct look in every movie he appears in. His acting is always a joy to watch. Some of his best known work is that in the Harry Potter series, Leon, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, the latest Batman movies and Dracula.

Philip Seymour Hoffman

He started acting in 1991 and really has had a very versatile career appearing in movies that are loved in art houses, but in mainstream movies as well. His movies include The Ides of March, Synecdoche, New York, Charlie Wilson’s War, Capote and Magnolia.

Marlon Brando

Now I must admit that I haven’t seen many of his movies, but he was stunning in his most famous role in The Godfather, but also roles in Apocalypse Now, On The Waterfront and A Streetcar Named Desire he wowed audiences.

Robert Duvall

Robert Duvall has had an amazing career as well. I don’t know much about his early work, but I always enjoy to see him on the screen. His characters always are injected with something that grounds them into reality. He appeared in movies like Get Low, The Godfather, Colors, Apocalypse Now and THX1138.

Christian Bale

With quite the diverse range in roles, Oscar-winner Christian Bale goes to great lengths for many of his roles. From losing weight to almost unhealthy standards twice (The Machinist, The Fighter) to taking dance and martial arts lessons for 10 weeks for Newsies (a film which he dislikes), Bale consistently goes to incredible lengths to bring a role to life. Other examples of his great work include: Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Prestige, Empire of the Sun, Equilibrium, and 3:10 to Yuma.

Paul Giamatti

This is a guy who can do anything. He is the everyman of actors. From insane villains to hen-pecked husbands on the brink of depression. He has great comedic timing as well as some fantastic dramatic chops. From Win Win to Barney’s Version to Ides of March (which he owned) to Sideways. I could watch this guy paint walls and still be enthralled.

My Choice

Edward Norton

The star of one of the greatest films of all time; David Fincher's Fight Club.  He has made a career out of playing characters with two sides to their personalities.  From an 'innocent' abused choirboy with a dark side in Primal Fear right up to his turn as The Incredible Hulk, Norton does Dr Jekyll and Mr Nutcase Hyde better than anybody!  American History X and Fight Club are the standout performances of his career and though he might not have a huge filmography, his casting with Brando and De Niro in The Score was a significant baton-passing to the best actor of a new generation.

Who I Replaced

Samuel L Jackson

He may well be one of the hardest working actors around, with 139 roles to his name, but I really don't think he stretches himself too much. Yes I loved him in Pulp Fiction but other than that I can't think of a role where I'd say 'damn that Samuel L. Mother Humping Jackson is a fine actor!'

I'm terribly sorry to get rid of the only black guy on the list and then replace him with a guy who played a neo-nazi.  I promise there is no hidden agenda here!  I just hope somebody puts a Poitier or Freeman or Washington on this list soon so I can relieve some sense of guilt! 

 So, to who do I bestow the baton?  I think I'm going to go with Ruth from FlixChatter.  Let's see which actor she will replace and who will be added in the next lap of this relay!  Good luck Ruth!