Blunt Reviews Presents: Tomorrowland

As much as I admire Brad Bird for making this unabashedly bold science fiction film, I found that structurally it does leave much to be desired. I like the concept, and I thought the visuals were really quite impressive, it’s just sometimes the pace needed a bit of a gentle push to keep things moving. Generally, it is a solid lighthearted sci fi adventure that holds together, without being anything to be too amazed by. I admit I enjoyed it and I did find it intriguing, but I wouldn’t necessarily jump to watch it again any time soon.

Blunt Reviews Presents: Inside Out (2015)

Inside Out sees Pixar back on top form with one of the best animated films I’ve seen in recent years. It would be a lie and an understatement if I were to say anything less than this film is expertly executed. Every single element is polished and perfected so it feels like an intricate clockwork mechanism that runs smoothly. It’s intelligently written, beautifully animated, and most importantly it’s though provoking. Behind glossy animation there are a number of weighted themes explored, so it’s no surprise it made a twenty year old such as myself cry multiple times. In short: brilliant.

Blunt Reviews Presents: Ex Machina (2015)

Alex Garland writes and directs what can best be described as a haunting science fiction masterpiece. I knew very little upon watching this, and soon found that it is a masterclass in science fiction cinema, built on poignant and intriguing subject matter, accompanied by a sharp screenplay. The performances are solid, with Alicia Vikander once again proving that she is an immense talent that can carry a film to new heights. What I liked best is that the delivery is so smooth and stylish, building a sense of claustrophobia, whilst asking questions as to what it means to be human.

Blunt Reviews Presents: Beasts of No Nation (2015)

If the Academy wants to ignore this film for whatever bizarre reason then they can continue being morons, because this was an utterly compelling piece of film. Even from the outset this is a gritty drama that completely immerses the audiences into a world of conflict and uncertainty, in one of the most naturalistic films I can remember seeing. Idris Elba is superb as ever, with the young Abraham Attah giving an outstanding performance in the lead role. It’s from Attah’s performance that the film explores key themes like maturity and the social construction of childhood. Nothing short of brilliant.

Blunt Reviews Presents: Cinderella (2015)

I can’t remember the last time I watched a film that had such exaggerated theatricality, and yet was so painfully dull. This is a wasted attempt by Disney to give a much loved classic a live action update. It’s annoying because the film is directed by Kenneth Branagh, who I actually like, so why is he anywhere near a project as dull as this? It feels like someone asked a plank of wood to direct a film starring bricks, just to shut kids up for a couple hours and earn Disney an Oscar nomination for Best Costume Design. It’s rubbish.

Blunt Reviews Presents: X+Y (2015)

I can honestly say that I was delighted with this film. I knew absolutely nothing about it and then was overjoyed upon discovering it was one of the most uplifting films I have encountered for a long time. The writing is superb, telling a story that’s compelling and funny with an appropriate air of melancholia, combined with characters the audience easily connects with to create an three dimensional film with substance. For me, the outstanding performances from Asa Butterfield, Sally Hawkins, Rafe Spall and Eddie Marsan really elevate the film and give it a beating heart. Watch it now!

Blunt Reviews Presents: Hot Girls Wanted (2015)

Approaching this as a documentary I knew very little about, I found it to be interesting and informative, yet difficult to watch. Some of the material and accompanying footage is shocking to say the least, but this adds to the overall impact the film has. It manages to capture the essence of good documentary film making; showing every aspect of the chosen subject without shying away from the darker sides, however distressing they may be. The subject is approached with utmost sincerity and it paints an unbiased picture, whilst delivering a number of messages that resonate with a modern audience.

Blunt Reviews Presents: [SPOILER FREE] Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

I want to hug J. J. Abrams. This is the second franchise he’s saved and improved. Ultimately there are fundamental flaws, including a lack of originality, cheesy throwbacks and elements that pissed me off, but that doesn’t remove the fact I thoroughly enjoyed it. The film respects its classic heritage and looks backwards in order to move forwards. George Lucas is completely out of the equation, so it’s like Abrams’ parents have left for the weekend and he’s throwing a kick-ass party. It has substance, humour, superbly directed action, a phenomenal cast, and most importantly a strong female lead!

Blunt Reviews Presents: Spectre (2015)

It’s difficult because I know I enjoyed Spectre, and it’s definitely a good Bond film, but I expected more from it after Skyfall set the standard so high. Unfortunately “good” is the most that can be said of this film. It was ultimately a disappointment, but an admirable one. Sam Mendes is still doing wonders as director, but for me there was too much box ticking and not enough development. It has all the cliché elements audiences typically associate with Bond, but it’s useless stapling those elements to a hollow shell. Most annoyingly, Christoph Waltz is a completely wasted talent.

Blunt Reviews Presents: The Visit (2015)

M. Night Shyamalan returns as writer and director with this flimsy and annoying horror attempt that loses everything cinema audiences previously liked about Shyamalan. The man who was once the king of unforeseeable plot twists now presents minor plot developments that can be seen from the opening minutes of the film onwards. So sit tight and please welcome to the stage jump scares, overacting, uninteresting characters that you couldn’t possibly hope to sympathise with, and a general feel that someone has attempted to copy David Lynch’s style and mixed it with the bog standard recipe for a shit modern horror.