Film: Cyrus

John C Reilly (Step Brothers) plays a divorcee struggling to come
to terms with life as a singleton when he meets Molly (Marisa Tomei), the two quickly begin a relationship before Molly's 21 year old still-at-home Son (Jonah Hill) becomes a serious problem.

This starts off mildly amusing but quickly becomes a creepy Oedipus complex drama that is neither dramatic or funny.

The character of Cyrus is a loathsome man-child that no one in their right mind would tolerate for five minutes let alone attempt to work around while forming a new relationship.

I get that it's supposed to be funny and touches on a subject that is true to life in a lot of families but they should have went for all out comedy (which would have worked) instead of this weird mix that just doesn't work.

Ric's Rating: 37%

Film: The A Team

This movie version of the much loved tv show lacks the charm and charisma of the original.

Swap Vietnam for Iraq and you pretty much know the background to this group of soldiers becoming a team of vigilantes for hire rendering this entire movie pointless if you have seen the tv show.

The film is an introduction to the characters, much like Russell Crowe's Robin Hood was but in this case a 10 minute montage would have done the job.

Liam Neeson (Taken), Bradley Cooper (The Hangover), Quinton "Rampage" Jackson of Ultimate Fighting Championship fame and Sharlto Copley (District 9) all try their best but don't quite manage to pull it off.

Also, the special effects are of a standard acceptable maybe 10 years ago.

The plot centres around counterfeiting US currency plates falling into the wrong hands and the lads must obtain them and clear their names.

All this is purely to pave the way for a sequel which has GOT to be an improvement, if it happens.

Ric's Rating: 39%

DVD: Valhalla Rising

We join One-Eye (Mads Mikkelsen) as he is being held captive (for an
unknown reason) and forced to compete in vicious fights to the death.

He soon escapes and joins a team of wandering fighters as they prepare to travel to Jerusalem.

Well that's it as far as the story goes I'm afraid because from that point onwards the film becomes an aimlessly wandering mess as the gang shore up on an unknown land and face an unknown foe while struggling to know who to trust. Wait a minute, I just made that sound good.

That's the trouble here, it should be good but the story goes nowhere through achingly long periods of complete silence. Mikkelsen himself does not utter a word throughout although the performance is still decent.

This movie was filmed in Scotland and has a mostly Scottish cast so maybe I just couldn't take a bunch of guys I'm more used to seeing in the likes of Taggart and River City (Scottish tv shows) seriously as mysterious warriors. A pity as I so wanted to like it.

It is beautifully shot, all the scenery looks great but being lucky enough to live in Scotland I have scenery every bit as striking five minutes walk from my house.

Ric's Rating: 39%

DVD: Heartless

Sometimes I get the feeling that I'm watching something different from everyone else...
Every review I have read heaps praise on this British horror film, I'm not going to.

There is a moment in this film where we get to see monsters in hoodies and I'm afraid it's all downhill from there. Reminded me of the moment in Jeepers Creepers where the bad guy sprouted wings, I just couldn't take it seriously from then on in.

It had a promising start too as we join a young man living with a "strawberry" birth mark, constantly hiding his face behind his hood. He lives with his Mum and starts to see an increase in violence all around.
Unfortunately it becomes a jumble of mental illness and supposed Demons on the loose and I found myself reaching for the fast forward button just to get to the limp conclusion.

Ric's Rating: 25%

Film: Shutter Island

Someone Is Missing declares the tagline to this film, I think it's
Martin Scorsese.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo play Federal Marshalls sent to investigate an apparent escape from a formidable mental institution.

From the get go I suspected this would be a bit ropey as the boat ride to the island was so cheaply filmed you could almost see the set wobbling. Then we have DiCaprio in a part that he is still too fresh faced for, I couldn't get on board with him playing this grisled war veteran tortured by his past. Ben Kingsly and Max Von Sydow collect their paychecks playing doctors but both have no decent material so maybe it's harsh to blame them for the shoddy performances they produce.

This film also suffers from The Sixth Sense Syndrome where I guessed the twist about 90 minutes before I was supposed to rendering the remainder of the film pointless.

All a bit boring so nothing much to recommend unless you are easily pleased or want to watch DiCaprio just for the sake of it.

Along with The Wolfman this enters the all new 2010 Turkey category.

Ric's Rating: 21%

Film: The Wolfman

In attempting to create an old fashioned Wolfman film the people behind
this one may just have been too accurate because what we have here is an almost exact replica of the wolfman films of a bygone era and it makes you laugh just as much as they do when you watch them now.

Benicio Del Toro just looks bored and Anthony Hopkins is good to begin with but he too descends into unintentional comedy as the story moves on.

The story itself isn't really worth mentioning as I'm sure you get the picture.

The laughs keep coming as we have the wolfman running around roofs with his big silly panting face right up at the camera and the finale is simply hilarious.

This didn't work for me on any level.
Bad story.
Bad acting.
Bad special effects.
Bad comedy.

Avoid.

Ric's Rating: 18%