February Film of the Month

In a blink of an eye this month has flown by! And to end the month of February, it is inevitably time for the second Film of the Month.

I haven't seen as many films as January - three in total. So let me know if you have seen any other movies this month - whether they were awful or awesome.

As always, here is the all important rating system:

* = Poor. Why did I even bother?!

** = OK. Could have done better.

*** = Good. Recommended though don’t feel bad you don’t get to see this one.

**** = Excellent. Not quite perfect but highly recommended.

***** = Masterpiece. You’d be a fool not to see this film.

That Awkward Moment

That awkward moment where the outtakes are funnier than the entire movie (and even then it's not great). This was one of those silly 'edgy' rom-coms or guy-rom-coms. Zac Efron put in a fairly comedic performance however Miles Teller as Daniel steals the show. I maybe laughed out loud once where Efron's character turns up in some rather obscene attire for a sophisticated birthday party. The rest of the film? Meh. Don't bother.
Rating: *

Dallas Buyers Club

The performances in the movie are phenomenal. Firstly, Matthew McConaughey is brilliant. As widely reported, McConaughey transformed himself for the role losing over 40lbs but he should be commended for a terrific performance - well he is nominated for an Oscar this weekend so I guess that is praise indeed! And so is Jared Leto for that matter who is up for a Supporting Actor Oscar. The story was engaging though I wasn't completely swept off my feet. Would I have still liked it if there was a different cast? I'm not too sure. The performances carry this film and I'm sure it will do well at the awards this weekend. Definitely recommended, not quite a four star film for me though.

Rating: ***

Her

I loved the cinematography of this film. The colour palette and futuristic look of Los Angeles is visually stunning. I liked the setting of the film too - a not too distant future where technology has developed even further to the point where we can have personal relationships with our devices. It triggered questions on what it means to be human and our relationship to technology right now. I'd have been interested to listen to Samantha Morton's performance, who was originally cast as Samantha in the film. She was replaced by Scarlett Johansson in post production who puts in a pretty good vocal performance. I thoroughly enjoyed the film though I don't know if I felt so emotionally connected or invested in Theodore and Samantha's relationship - but I guess that's kind of the point? It's a computer device, not a human being, so is it ok not to feel as emotionally invested with the central couple? I'll leave that open to debate. Joaquin Phoenix puts in a heartfelt performance which I adore and I think the movie overall is very original. Again, this is a good recommendation. It was close to four stars but not quite.
Rating: ***

This month has been hard to pick as you can see with two films getting the same three star rating, but my personal February Film of the Month goes to...

Dallas Buyers Club

Do you agree? Or do you disagree?

What films have you seen this February?

Comment below or tweet @TicketStubBlog

(All images from IMDB.com)

Top Ten Film Romances

From top left: When Harry Met Sally, Brief Encounter, Dirty Dancing, Beauty and the Beast, Brokeback Mountain, Casablanca and centre, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

With it being Valentine's Day, Ticket Stub is all loved up this week! To mark this occasion, I have picked my Top Ten Film Romances.

What are your favourites? Comment below or tweet @TicketStubBlog. 

1. Casablanca (1942) - Rick and Ilsa

"Here's looking at you, kid" 

One of the most iconic Hollywood romances starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. 

2. Beauty and the Beast (1991) - Belle and Beast

"Tale as old as time..."

This animated love story is enchanting and wonderfully romantic, showing the importance of inner beauty and not judging by appearances.

3. Dirty Dancing (1987) - Baby and Johnny

"Nobody puts Baby in the corner"

Starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, the sexy dancing and cute scenes between the two characters make this one of the best coming of age romances.

4. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) - Joel and Clementine 

"Why do I fall in love with every woman I see who shows me the least bit of attention?"

Erasing the memory of their relationship, we see the sweet yet destructive romance between Joel and Clementine. One of my top favourite films of all time.

5. When Harry Met Sally - Harry and Sally

"You say things like that and you make it impossible for me to hate you. And I hate you, Harry. I really hate you"

What can I say? I had to include it! If you read Ticket Stub often, you know I adore this rom-com. Harry and Sally test out the theory whether men and women can just be friends. 

6. Titanic (1997) - Jack and Rose

"I'll never let go"

I grew up with this movie and loved the Romeo and Juliet nature of Jack and Rose's relationship. Not only are they confronted with objections from society, they have to survive a sinking ship. 

Certainly one of the top film romances.

7. Brokeback Mountain (2005) - Ennis and Jack

"I wish I knew how to quit you"

Ennis and Jack fall in love in a tragic romance based on Annie Proulx's short story which I highly recommend reading.

8. Brief Encounter (1945) -  Laura and Alec

"If you'd die, you'd forget me. I want to be remembered"

A classic black and white cinematic romance. Laura and Alec meet at a railway station and begin a romantic love affair.

9. Annie Hall (1977) - Annie and Alvy

"Love is too weak a word for what I feel  - I luuurve you, you know, I loave you, I luff you"

Another favourite on Ticket Stub, Annie Hall may not end in the perfect romantic fashion but it is one of the best takes on romantic relationships.

10. Sleepless in Seattle (1993) - Annie and Sam

"I don't want to be someone that anyone settles for"

Showing in cinema screens tonight, this is a cheesy rom-com with the glorious Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. The film also references the wonderful An Affair to Remember (1957).

I have missed LOADS of movie romances off this list. 

What are your favourites?

Tweet @TicketStubBlog or comment below!

Happy Valentine's Day <3

Quote of the Day #8

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love
 and be loved in return"

Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Image: skymovies.sky.com

What is your favourite romantic movie quote?

Comment below or tweet @TicketStubBlog with your suggestions

Trailer Tuesday: The Fault in Our Stars (2014)

Image: hypable.com

On Wednesday, The Fault in Our Stars trailer was released racking up a total number of 3 million views in just 24 hours - and the view count is still growing (over 9 million at this point). If you have read the book by John Green then you'll definitely want to see this movie.

The Fault in Our Stars tells the story of Hazel, a 16 year old cancer patient who meets and falls in love with Augustus at a cancer support group. Although you may think this is a depressing story, and yes there are some very sad moments, the book is also witty and romantic. I hoping this will come across on screen.

Directed by Josh Boone, the movie stars some relatively new faces with Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort taking the lead roles. Yet there are some familiar faces too, including Williem Dafoe, Laura Dern and True Blood TV star, Sam Trammell.

If you'd like to know more about the making of the film, I suggest heading over to John Green's YouTube channel (he makes video blogs with/to his brother, Hank). He was on set for some of the film and interviewed a few of the stars of the movie.

The Fault in Our Stars will be released on 20th June 2014 in the UK.

What movies are you excited about for 2014?

Have you seen any great trailers?

Comment below or tweet @TicketStubBlog

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January Film of the Month

Welcome to Ticket Stub's first ever Film of the Month post! 

If you want to know more about this new feature click this link to yesterday's post explaining all.

As a quick reminder, here is the all important star rating system:

* = Poor. Why did I even bother?!

** = OK. Could have done better.

*** = Good. Recommended though don’t feel bad you don’t get to see this one.

**** = Excellent. Not quite perfect but highly recommended.

***** = Masterpiece. You’d be a fool not to see this film.

So what films have I managed to see this month? 

What rating will they all get?

If you want to find out more about each film (plot/cast/director etc.) all the titles link to their respective IMDB pages.

Without further ado, let's begin the first Film of the Month. 

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

I thought the film had some great moments, notably the cinematography with its transition shots, for instance one of the photographic negatives of a lake morphs seamlessly into the fountain outside the Life building. Another bonus is the soundtrack. I chose it as Ticket Stub's Soundtrack Saturday earlier this month. However, this unfortunately seems to be the only big highlight. The opening credits were promising but the narrative lacked a drive that I could connect with. With all the beautiful shots of Iceland and the adventurous fantasy sequences - to which some worked and others didn't - I think it became a case of style over substance. It was enjoyable but I felt as if every moment screamed CARPE DIEM which many have, and quite rightly, compared to a glorified version of the Nike 'Just Do It' ad.

Rating: **

American Hustle

When initially seeing the trailer, I wasn't that bothered about this movie. But after the Golden Globe wins, I thought I'd see what all the fuss was about. I was pleasantly surprised. The story and characters in David O. Russell's film are gripping. There are tense moments in places, plenty of laughs too (including a fabulous Jennifer Lawrence rocking to Live and Let Die whilst cleaning) and fantastic performances from a knockout cast. If the film doesn't pick up awards for costume and hair and make-up this season, I will be very annoyed. I mean that film is wig-central: Bradley Cooper in a perm and Christian Bale with a comb-over. What could be better? That's right, Bradley Cooper sexily dancing to Donna Summer. All jokes aside, this film had me captivated throughout and the dynamics between all the central characters are thrilling to watch. There is a fantastic twist at the end too which placed the film even higher.
A pleasant surprise indeed. 

Rating: **** 

The Railway Man

I was willing for this film to be good but there were moments where the plot needed to move along quicker. More time should have been spent in the war scenes which were well put together and engaging to watch. I didn't have any particular sympathy towards Nicole Kidman's character, who plays Eric Lomax's wife, and the dialogue on the train with Colin Firth was a tad cringe worthy, especially on the line 'are you romantic?'. Pass the sick bucket. Despite these downsides, the story is fascinating - exploring the themes of suffering and forgiveness in war and post-war. Jeremy Irvine gives a great performance as the younger Lomax. He convincingly captures Firth's voice and mannerisms and I felt I was genuinely seeing the younger soldier. The structure of the film could have been better and I think the music was sometimes oddly placed. It is a story worth watching, but maybe read the book instead.

Rating: ** 

12 Years A Slave

There has been plenty of hype with this film, with critics beckoning everyone to see it and it being nominated for a bunch of awards. And you can see why. Steve McQueen has made an outstanding film. It is brutally violent and heartbreaking - as it should be - showing the harsh reality of slavery and Solomon Northup's true story. The cinematography is visually stunning. Shots of the gorgeous orange sunsets cleverly juxtapose the barbaric suffering happening in the land. Chiwetel Ejiofor's performance is phenomenal. His face, especially his eyes, are so expressive that as an audience member following Solomon's journey you can feel every ache and pain. Some shots just linger on his face and at one point it seems as if he is staring right down the lens begging for help in his eyes. McQueen, known for these long shots in his previous films, doesn't shy away from them which forces you into the harsh cruel world that Solomon mistakenly falls into. In one scene, I nearly had to look away. Newcomer Lupita Nyong'o gives a powerful debut performance too and Michael Fassbender certainly brought a chill to my bones as the villainous Epps.

 I was utterly moved by this film and it is one of those rare films that makes you think long after you've left the cinema. All this adds up to what can be described as a masterpiece. Bring your tissues.

Rating: *****

The Wolf of Wall Street

I am writing this review literally 30 mins after seeing it at the cinema, in time for this January post! So straight out of the cinema screen, here is my initial reaction. The Wolf of Wall Street is loud, obscene and not for the easily offended. As widely reported, Scorsese's movie has set the record for the highest number of times the f-word is used. That's 506. It is a black comedy showing the insane excess that money can bring, especially when it's illegal. Leonardo DiCaprio gives an entertaining performance as Jordan Belfort and Jonah Hill steps up to the mark as his right hand man, Donnie. Both have been nominated for Oscars this season. There are some great cameos from Rob Reiner, Matthew McConaughey and randomly Joanna Lumley. I'm not so sure that one worked. I especially liked the voice-overs and Belfort talking directly to the audience which immediately entices you into his world of money and greed from the get-go. Despite the three hour running time, this film comes out with all guns blazing and I would certainly give it a good recommendation.

Rating: ***

Ticket Stub's January Film of the Month is...

12 Years A Slave

Do you agree? Or do you disagree?

What films have you seen this January?

Comment below or tweet @TicketStubBlog

(All images from IMDB.com)

Introducing Ticket Stub's Film of the Month

In Ticket Stub’s New Year’s Resolutions post I vouched to try and write my own film reviews for 2014. I've never really written film reviews before, so to ease myself in to this new area of blogging, 

I will be doing a Film of the Month post.

I will write a very short review (100-200 words or so) of each movie I have seen for the month. 

Alongside each review will be a star rating, as follows:

* = Poor. Why did I even bother?!

** = OK. Could have done better.

*** = Good. Recommended though don’t feel bad you don’t get to see this one.

**** = Excellent. Not quite perfect but highly recommended.

***** = Masterpiece. You’d be a fool not to see this film.

Out of all the movies, one will be picked as Ticket Stub’s Film of the Month. At the end of the year, I will collate all twelve of the best films and pick Ticket Stub’s Film of the Year. 

By then I may have extended reviews but as a newcomer to reviewing film, I think this is a good start. 

I'm seeing The Wolf of Wall Street tomorrow night and I'm hoping to get home in time to do a quick review with all the other January movies. 

So expect my first Film of the Month post late tomorrow evening.

Top Ten Film Award Moments

2 weeks ago the Golden Globes kicked off the film awards season. There were plenty of brilliant moments on the night, mostly from the hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler with their hilarious monologue and a drunk Emma Thomspon throwing her shoes. I'm sure there will be plenty more memorable moments to come over the next month or so, but in the meantime I've chosen my Top Ten Film Award Moments. 

What are yours? Comment below or tweet @TicketStubBlog and you could be featured in the next post.

1. Colin Firth aka Prince Charming

As if he wasn't charming enough, when Meryl Streep went up to accept her BAFTA award for The Iron Lady, Colin Firth ran to her rescue. Streep's shoe came off as she walked up the stairs but, ever the gentlemen and as if from a fairytale, Firth saved the high heel placing it back on Streep's foot.

2. Hugh Jackman Oscar Medley

Hugh Jackman features prominently in this list, and this is one of the best moments ever at the Oscars. Hosting in 2009, Jackman sang a whole medley, with a little help from Anne Hathaway, bringing together all the films nominated for Best Picture. Just pure brilliance.

3. Billy Crystal's 2012 Oscar Monologue

Hosting 9 times, I had to pick at least one of Billy Crystal's opening monologues with his wonderful trademark 'Oscar Oscar' song! Click here to see the video of his 2012 monologue (for some silly reason it is not on YouTube).

Image: nydailynews.com

4. Jennifer Lawrence wins Best Actress, Oscars 2013

Jennifer Lawrence was certainly shocked when she won the Best Actress Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook. And as she walked up the stairs, she fell up them. Come to the rescue - Hugh Jackman! Another Prince Charming moment. The rest of the audience stood up for the actress whilst she said 'you guys are just standing up 'cause you feel bad that I fell and that's really embarrassing'.

5. Ricky Gervais's 2011 Golden Globes Monologue

A controversial host for the Golden Globes, presenting from 2010 to 2013. I've chosen Ricky Gervais's 2011 opening monologue. His comments on The Tourist may have left us giggling but he certainly did not impress Johnny Depp. Awkward and hilarious.

6. 'You're Boring' Song

You know the bit where an actor/actress/director etc is accepting their award, gushing in their speech and THAT music comes on beckoning the person to shut up and get off stage? Did you know there are apparently lyrics to this song? Jack Black and Will Ferrell have the answers.

7. Ellen's Picture with Clint Eastwood, by Steven Spielberg

Hosting in 2007, Ellen DeGeneres takes the opportunity to have a picture with Clint Eastwood. Who better to take it than Steven Spielberg? Just get that framing right, Steve. Also - is it weird that hearing that it's 'for my MySpace' sounds dated now? Ellen is hosting the 2014 Oscars and I'm hoping she will get a selfie with another famous face.

8. Sandra Bullock: From Worst Actress to Best Actress

The Razzies look at the year's worst Hollywood films and performances. Sandra Bullock was one of the rare actors to accept their Razzie award in person. The day after the awards, Bullock won her first Oscar. The accolades were for two different films - the Razzie was for her performance in All About Steve whilst her Best Actress Oscar was for The Blind Side in 2010. Her Golden Rasberry and Academy Award now sit side by side. Here's her acceptance speech at the Razzies.

9. Gollum accepts MTV Movie Award

Back in 2003, Gollum won the MTV Movie Award for Best Virtual Performance. As Andy Serkis accepts the award, who comes along to eff and jeff about Dobby from Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson? It's only Gollum himself!

10. Ensemble of Les Miserables Sing at the Oscars

The final Hugh Jackman mention in the list. Last year the cast of Les Mis all sang together for a showstopping performance of One Day More. A rare moment as the cast had never sung altogether before.

What are your favourite film award moments?

What are your predictions for this year's Oscars?

Comment below or tweet @TicketStubBlog with your suggestions