Film: The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug

Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) continues his quest to help The Dwarves get their homeland back from the fearsome Dragon Smaug in the second part of Peter Jackson’s trilogy.

Jackson’s face is the first on camera as he makes a fleeting appearance before we move on with the tale. Two thirds of the film is a chase movie with the evil Orcs on the trail of Bilbo and the gang who are helped this time out by Elves Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly). There are some fantastic fight scenes as the Orcs catch up with their quarry several times prior to the film’s glorious climax in Smaug’s lair.

Voiced brilliantly by Benedict Cumberbatch (Star Trek: Into Darkness) Smaug is a wonderful addiction to this series and more than makes up for the absent Gollum. At no moment do you doubt the validity of a talking Dragon, such is the atmosphere created. The fire-breathing is fantastic too and the battle between Dwarves and Dragon is absolutely terrific.

I had my doubts about this but thankfully The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug exceeds expectations and leaves the viewer crying out for the final instalment.

Ric’s Rating: Essential.

Film: Disconnect

A tv reporter investigates the webcam sex industry. Two young boys play an on-line prank with tragic results and a grieving couple become victims of identity fraud.

These three interweaving stories all illustrate the influence that on-line activity can have on our lives today.

Released in 2012 Disconnect failed to find much of an audience (I hadn’t heard of it myself) which is a real pity because what we have here is the best connecting-stories drama since the brilliant Amores Perros.

Jason Bateman successfully emulates Robin Williams by growing a beard for a serious part and then managing to carry it off. His is one of the best performances (as a troubled Father) among many on show here.

Max Thieriot (Bates Motel) is also fantastic as the misguided youth who turns to webcam work and then sees a possible way out through Andrea Riseborough’s reporter.

Throw in a desperate man tracking down the person responsible for his financial ruin and you have a totally compelling drama.

There is more going on besides what I have mentioned but you can expect to see some of the characters 

overlap into each others stories at some point in proceedings.

Thoughtful, powerful, absorbing and brilliantly performed Disconnect deserves to be seen and is undoubtedly the best film I have seen so far this year.

Available on all the usual formats now.

Ric’s Rating: Essential.

Film: Escape Plan

Ray Breslin (Sylvester Stallone) escapes from maximum security prisons for a living. Hired by the government he uses his expertise to test the robustness of the security procedures.

When the CIA come calling with an unusual offer Ray accepts the chance to test a secretive prison known as The Tomb. The Tomb houses the type of individual that has been deemed no longer welcome in society but can’t be dealt with through the normal legal process.

Once in The Tomb, Ray enlists the help of fellow inmate Rottmayer (Arnold Shwarzzeneger) in his attempt to escape and the duo must fend off the attentions of sadistic warden Hobbs (Jim Caveizel) and violent guard Drake (Vinnie Jones) as they put the plan into action.

I didn’t expect too much of this one going in but the draw of Rambo teaming up with The Terminator was too much to ignore and much to my surprise this isn’t the corny one- liner, tongue-in-cheek affair I was expecting.

Escape Plan is a serious, and often brutal, film that keeps the quips to a minimum. Sly and Arnie have great on-screen chemistry and bad guys Jones and Caveizel approach their roles with all the gusto required.

The two main stars may be approaching 70 years of age but this proves that they can still make the type of film that pretenders to their thrones such as Vin Diesel and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson often struggle to achieve.

Escape Plan is in UK cinemas now.

Ric’s Rating: Essential

Film: We're The Millers

When a small time drug dealer agrees to bring a shipment back from Mexico he thinks the perfect cover is to be a family man, so he recruits oddball friends and neighbours to play his fictitious brood.

Along the way they encounter another travelling family while also trying to evade a rival dealer and deliver the drugs on time.

The entire cast look like they’re having fun and it comes across on screen. Jason Sudeikis (Horrible Bosses) is great as the downtrodden pot dealer Dave and Jennifer Aniston delivers another hilarious and sexy  turn as stripper Rose, who has to convince everyone that she’s the perfect Mother. The pretend kids of the family are the hapless Kenny (Will Poulter) and streetwise Casey (Emma Roberts).

There are plenty of laughs here with Poulter especially giving a show-stealing performance, look out for the spider scene!

Without doubt the best comedy of the year so far.

We’re The Millers is in cinemas now.

Ric’s Rating: Essential    

Film: Hidden Face

A successful orchestra conductor is shattered when his girlfriend leaves him for no apparent reason after moving into a new house.

Time moves on and he finds a new lover but she doesn’t like being left in the house alone as she is convinced she can hear strange noises.

This superior Columbian drama tells its story by way of two different time-lines. We begin with the new relationship but soon go back to previous events with the original partner, leading to a brilliant finale that cleverly joins both stories.

Every so often a film comes along that greatly exceeds expectations. Hidden Face is such a film.

I knew little of it prior to watching it but I was expecting a ho-hum ghost story. Little did I know I was about to be treated to the best foreign language film I have seen in a long time, and thankfully there isn’t a ghost in sight.

Original, imaginative and totally compelling with great performances from the three main characters, Hidden Face is the type of film that I implore people to see.

If you have any reservations about subtitled movies try this and you’ll never look back.     

Hidden Face is available on DVD in the UK now.

Ric’s rating: Essential.

Film: Iron Man 3

Robert Downey Jr returns as Tony Stark for the latest superhero adventure from Marvel.

We last saw Stark’s Iron Man in the brilliant Avengers (I’ll ignore the silly UK title) and at the beginning of this film he is still suffering mentally from those events. Iron Man was briefly sucked through a wormhole to a galaxy far far away!

This time he is without his superhero friends as he battles a vindictive terrorist known as The Mandarin (Ben Kingsly).

Meanwhile we have the shifty scientist Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) attempting to convince Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) to fund his DNA altering research via Stark’s corporation.

The previous Iron Man films were a bit run-of-the-mill but the character (and Downey Jr) had a brilliant outing in the Avengers. That screen presence continues here and the other heroes are not missed. Robert Downey Jr is magnetic as Stark, both in and out of the Iron Man suit, and the rest of the cast look like they are having the time of their lives. Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda) is excellent as Col. Rhodes aka War Machine and special mention has to go to Ben Kingsly for his brilliant and surprising portrayal of The Mandarin (steer clear of any spoilers regarding this character).

Iron Man 3 builds on the success of The Avengers and with new Thor and Captain America films coming soon Marvel’s current crop of hits looks set to continue.

Iron Man 3 is in cinemas now.

Ric’s Rating: Highly Recommended.       

Film: Battleship

A signal is sent to deep space from a research centre in Hawaii which provokes a very hostile reply from an Alien race.

The aliens arrive (with devastating effect) during a worldwide naval exercise which happens to be taking place in Hawaii, the focal point of the invasion. Soon a motley crew of sailors, led by a former delinquent, find themselves cut-off and alone against an overwhelming enemy force.

This film was much maligned on its release but isn’t half as bad as I was expecting, in fact it’s bloody good fun. The aliens obvious technological superiority threaten mankind with extinction and in true Independence Day style a group of unlikely heroes attempt to save the day.

Based on the family game this even manages to include a grid reference and the words “miss” and “hit”.

Battleship is cheesy, predictable and way over-acted but it’s an entertaining special-effects laden war film which is far superior to the likes of Battle: Los Angeles and Cloverfield.

Ric’s Rating: Highly Recommended.

Film: Detachment

Substitute teacher Henry Barthes (Adrien Brody) arrives at a High School full of rebellious teenagers and attempts to make a difference.

While coping with numerous issues at the school Henry also has to deal with the failing health of his elderly Grand-father and the welfare of young hooker Erica who he befriends during many late night bus rides.

This story has been done many times before (Dangerous Minds, The Principal) but Brody’s performance along with that of the rest of the cast, which includes James Caan, Christina Hendricks and Lucy Liu, elevate this from the pack.

Detachment is a powerful and emotional film but the constant down-at-heel feeling could have been helped by some lighter moments.  The overall mood created is one of despair and I can’t help thinking that it needn’t have been quite so vivid.

Detachment is available everywhere on DVD and is currently showing on Sky Movies in the UK.

Ric’s Rating: Highly Recommended.

Film: Thale

“Troll Hunter’s twisted cousin” exclaims the poster. But does this Norwegian folklore flick meet the same high standard?

Leo and Elvis are specialised cleaners, they clean crime scenes and houses where the dead have lain for quite some time. While cleaning a remote cabin they make a startling discovery, one of the occupants is still very much alive.

Meet Thale, a beautiful young woman who has apparently been kept captive in the cabin. It soon emerges that Thale isn’t exactly a typical 20-something. She can sense illness and impart her memories through touch. As the guys wait for help to arrive others begin to sense Thale’s presence.

The film mostly takes place in the cabin and relies heavily on the performances of the three main actors. Thankfully they are up to the job and we are treated to a tense and creepy film that even manages to handle the weirdness on display very well indeed.

Thale isn’t quite as good as Troll Hunter but it isn’t far off it and will appeal greatly to fans of that film.

Thale is available on DVD in the UK from 25^th March 2013.

Ric’s Rating: Highly Recommended. 

Film: Jackpot

Based on a story by bestselling author Jo Nesbo this Norwegian film starts with a Tarantino-esque shoot-out in a strip-club. The story of four co-workers winning a mega-money jackpot on football betting is then gradually revealed.

Oscar runs a factory that employs ex-offenders and he reluctantly agrees to join a betting syndicate with three of the workers. When their results come up it isn’t long before greed, rivalry and some long-forgotten grudges begin to influence the behaviour of the group.

The result is a violent and often hilarious film that keeps the viewer guessing how things will turn out.

Jackpot is available on DVD in the UK now.

Ric’s Rating: Highly Recommended 

Film: Death On The Staircase: The Last Chance

This captivating documentary film re-visits the case of Michael Peterson, a man convicted of murdering his wife, as he attempts to convince the court that he didn’t receive a fair trial.

Peterson has spent eight years in jail and with various appeals already rejected he cuts a rather forlorn figure as we see him in his cell and wandering around the prison yard.

Throughout proceedings Peterson’s dogged attorney David Rudolf and almost his entire family, including 4 out of 5 of his children, remain steadfast in their support of a man who has always protested his innocence.

You’ll notice from the poster that this is actually a sequel. The original series, The Staircase, covered the initial case & trial but thankfully we get enough of a re-cap here to cover all the pertinent points. The case is anything but straightforward and as the original trial moves toward it’s conclusion some surprising and shocking information comes to light.

Evidence later emerges that questions the motives and reliability of one particular prosecution witness.

Are Peterson and his team successful in their pursuit of a re-trial?

You’ll need to catch this riveting documentary from French film-maker Jean-Xavier De Lestrade to find out.

Death On The Staricase: The Last Chance was shown on BBC4 in the UK as part of their Storyville series but as you can see it’s also known as The Staircase II so keep your eyes open for it.

Ric’s Rating: Essential.          

Film: Les Miserables

The popular stage musical takes to the big screen in this lavish adaptation.

Hugh Jackman (Wolverine, Swordfish) is Jean Valjean, a former convict who has become a successful businessman while keeping his true identity a secret.

Russell Crowe (Gladiator, Cinderella Man) is the single-minded policeman, Javert, who tracks Valjean for years in an attempt to see him return to prison.

This is the main theme of the film but along the way Valjean encounters many other characters including Fantine (Anne Hathaway), her daughter Cosette, the wily Innkeepers (Sasha Baron Cohen & Helena Bonham-Carter) and young revolutionary Marius.

The tale of Valjean and Javert is set during the French Revolution but I found this element of the story slightly lacklustre and distracting. I didn’t feel as much for the characters presented during that segment of the film and I was eager for the Crowe / Jackman rivalry to resume.

Although I have never seen the stage show some of the songs were familiar. I Dreamed A Dream (famously sung by Susan Boyle) is beautifully performed by Anne Hathaway and Jackman delivers a powerful version of Bring Him Home. Even Russell Crowe can hold a tune, and what he lacks in singing prowess he more than makes up for in sheer on-screen presence.

This won’t appeal to everyone but it’s a passionate and emotional tale which features some amazing performances. If Anne Hathaway doesn’t pick up the Best Supporting Actress Oscar it’ll be a travesty.

Anyone keen to experience a different type of night at the cinema should check it out.

Ric’s Rating: Highly Recommended.            

Film: Jack Reacher

A former Army sniper is accused of killing 5 people but despite the overwhelming evidence he does not confess. Instead he simply asks the cops to “Get Jack Reacher”.

Enter Tom Cruise as the ex military cop now drifter from the novels of author Lee Child. In the novels Reacher is a world-weary 6 foot 5 man-mountain, so the casting of Tom Cruise, who still looks pretty much like Maverick from Top Gun, was met by scoff and scorn from many fans of the books, including me. Does he “nail it” as the recent posters proclaim? Read on...

Reacher is soon convinced to help the defence attorney (Rosamund Pike) investigate the evidence and inevitably there is much more going on than meets the eye.

With Reacher’s previous knowledge of the accused he quickly focuses on the mechanics of the sniping “mission” and concludes that it’s a set-up. A trail of corruption and cover-ups is then followed leading to a confrontation with some suitably nasty Eastern Europeans.

The choice of making the 9^th book in the series the first film adaptation is a curious one, I don’t remember it being a particularly exciting book but the interesting thing is, it does make a good film. The script is sharp and witty and there is plenty of tension, throw in enough action to keep fans happy and you have a surprisingly cool film.

So, does Cruise nail it as a man I imagine as a cross between Dolph Lundgren and Liam Neeson?

Considering that no film is ever gonna be a match for your imagination I have to say that, almost unbelievably, yes he does.

Jack Reacher is in UK cinemas now.

Ric’s Rating: Essential   

Film: Felon

Just as Wade Porter (Stephen Dorff) is about to expand his building business, his life turns upside-down. In his attempts to stop a burglar he accidentally kills the thief and ends up serving time in a very violent prison.

Prison is always a very dramatic setting. It has given us many classics such as The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile and tv series Prison Break. Surprisingly, you can count this among them.

Porter soon finds himself embroiled in the complicated world of gangs, violence and corruption within the prison walls while his fiancée (Mirisol Nichols) struggles to bring up their son and pay the bills on the outside.

Porter also finds himself subject to the attentions of Lt Jackson (Harold Perrineau, recently seen in Sons Of Anarchy), a corrupt and sadistic guard.

Perrineau steals the show as the vile Jackson but we also see his softer side as he struggles with a recent divorce while still looking after his son.

Val Kilmer (Top Gun, Tombstone) turns in his best performance in a long time as long-term prisoner John Smith, who at first seems a nasty piece of work. The reason for Smith’s conviction and behaviour is eventually revealed in one of the film’s most emotional scenes.

Can Porter overcome the odds and serve his time or will the violence he has become part of consume him and alienate his family?

Made in 2008, Felon is a tense, violent, exciting, emotional and very well acted little known gem of a movie. Catch it as soon as you can.

Ric’s Rating: Essential