Blunt Reviews Presents: The Lego Movie (2014)

I loved it. I absolutely loved it. I sat down to watch it with a rather cynical predisposition, and then it completely took me by surprise. It is a genuinely funny and exciting film that is visually stunning. I cannot even begin to explain what it’s about because the plot is so chaotic but I loved every minute of it. The screenplay makes audiences of all ages laugh out loud and it’s just a wonderful experience. I love that it proved the cynics wrong and it clearly doesn’t need an Academy Award to prove just how awesome it really is.

Blunt Reviews Presents: Pride (2014)

I cannot begin to describe how much I loved this film. It made me smile, laugh, cry, and most importantly it made me pound my fist into the air with joy. It’s a british masterpiece that is fantastically written, delivering an all manner of important messages, whilst promoting sexual orientation equality and gender equality. It’s an uplifting experience that makes you realise people can do amazing things if they stand together. A classic David and Goliath styled story based on real events, but even with a somewhat melancholic conclusion it’s still one of the best films of last year.

Blunt Reviews Presents: Inherent Vice (2015)

Thomas Pynchon’s seventies stoner comedy makes the leap to the big screen with Paul Thomas Anderson as writer and director. It’s a film that’s obscure and without a structured narrative, but it’s still heavily likable. It’s a classic case of character over substance and proves the novel is unfilmable. It is already on it’s way to join The Big Lebowski as a cult classic, with memorable quotations galore and a lot of character. It’s not PTA’s best and ultimately is somewhat disappointing but it’s still laugh out loud funny and a unique experience from someone who understands cinema. “Motto panukeiku!!”

Blunt Reviews Presents: Nightcrawler (2014)

Writer Dan Gilroy returns to deliver a phenomenal piece of cinema that he also directed. Nightcrawler is a dark look into the slimy side of news broadcasting, focusing on one individual intent on becoming a success by any means. Jake Gyllenhaal stars in his best acting role yet as we see him completely immersed into the role of an obsessed, and often troubled individual. This is by far Gilroy’s best screenplay as it is intelligently written, which accompanies the dark and gritty nature of the film perfectly. It’s fast paced and an exciting film that will both impress and infuriate.

Blunt Reviews Presents: Interstellar (2014)

Veteran writer and director Christopher Nolan presents his latest blockbuster, an unabashedly bold science fiction epic that challenges the audience on a number of levels. It is by no means Nolan’s best work and it’s disliked by many, but personally I thoroughly enjoyed it. I admire Nolan greatly for making this film the way he wanted, delivering a narrative that is obscure but intriguing, and that explores heavy topics such as mankind’s place in the universe. Visually it is spectacular, with many haunting shots in the depths of unknown space. A fantastic film, but approach with an open mind.

Blunt Reviews Presents: Whiplash (2015)

Rising star filmmaker Damien Chazelle presents a film that is damn near perfect. Every element is finely tuned, with an outstanding screenplay from Chazelle and some of the best editing you’ll see all year, courtesy of Tom Cross. Miles Teller is fantastic as the protagonist, however the show is stolen by J.K. Simmons who is phenomenal. Chazelle’s directing style is ruthless as we literally see blood, sweat and tears on screen in this dark exploration into the destruction of the body and soul as a young man strives to become the best at any cost. A truly extraordinary film.

Blunt Reviews Presents: The Theory of Everything (2015)

James Marsh directs the superb biopic of Professor Steven Hawking and his first wife Jane; a beautiful film that explores love, science, the creation of everything we know, and most importantly the human spirit. Eddie Redmayne is of course fantastic as Professor Hawking however, for me, the real star is Felicity Jones as Jane Hawking, a truly fantastic performance by an incredibly talented actress. The screenplay is both witty and heartbreaking as we see a romance built and broken, which combined with the beautiful cinematography by Benoît Delhomme makes for a truly outstanding film that made me cry multiple times.

Blunt Reviews Presents: Paddington (2014)

This old favourite is successfully updated for a modern audience by director and writer Paul King, and with the help of an outstanding cast. Ben Whishaw lends his voice talents as the titular character, whilst british actors Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins and Peter Capaldi star alongside, with Nicole Kidman filling the role of the terrifying villain. It is well directed and visually pleasing, with a screenplay that sparks laughter among every generation whilst showing the value of family. Overall it makes for a largely entertaining family film that should put a smile on the face of just about everybody.

Blunt Reviews Presents: Gone Girl (2014)

By the end of Gone Girl I was shaking, I was sweating, I wanted to swear at my television. It was fantastic. It was one of the only times in recent years that a film has completely swallowed me, it dragged me in and consumed me. David Fincher is back at his best as the director, who manages to capture such small details as he presents the twisted tale of Amy Dunne. Gillian Flynn makes her big screen debut as she writes the screenplay of her own novel, which is superb and makes for a gripping and challenging film.

Blunt Reviews Presents: Into the Woods (2015)

There is a common misconception that men do not like musicals. Not true. If they’re done well then they are enjoyable. I enjoyed Chicago. I massively disliked Into the Woods. Which is confusing considering they have the same director. What on Earth happened? The trailer looked promising, the cast has people like Emily Blunt and Anna Kendrick in it, it has an Oscar winning director; it should have been better! It’s just a dull, uneventful two hour drag that was beyond disappointing. Even the talents of Meryl Streep were not enough to salvage this trainwreck of a film.