David M. Brown's Blog, page 41
July 31, 2013
Film Review: Morning Glory
Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton and Jeff Goldblum star in this comedy set in the world of television production, penned by ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna. Becky Fuller (McAdams) is a sparky, ambitious young television producer who spies an opportunity to claw her way up the career ladder when she is offered a job on ‘Daybreak’, the worst-performing morning chat show in the ratings. Her decision to hire veteran newscaster Mike Pomeroy (Ford) to host the show meets with scepticism from network executive Jerry (Goldblum) and co-host Colleen Peck (Keaton), and with little enthusiasm from Pomeroy himself, who is obliged by his contract to take this less-than-promising gig. Can Becky overcome the poor ratings and in-fighting to bring the team together and transform the show into something to be proud of?
Starring: Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton
Directed by: Roger Michell
Runtime: 107 minutes
Studio: Paramount
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB Review: Morning Glory
Becky Fuller (Rachel McAdams) is a workaholic on Good Morning New Jersey but ends up losing her job and seemingly her dream of one day working on the Today show. After firing off multiple resumes to the same companies she lands a job as an executive producer at Day Break and is charged by Jerry Barnes (Jeff Goldblum) to improve the show’s ratings or the plug will be pulled and she’ll be out of work. Becky has something of a masterstroke when she convinces her hero, Mike Pomeroy (Harrison Ford), to co-host the show with regular Colleen Peck (Diane Keaton) who has seen off numerous fellow hosts and executive producers. Becky has to somehow engineer a way for Mike and Colleen to work together which is far from easy.
A veteran in news, Mike is only interested in serious stories so when he finds that Day Break is somewhat lighthearted he struggles to settle in. Colleen doesn’t suffer fools gladly and the two hosts soon clash, especially when it comes to saying goodbye at the end of each show. While Becky has to mediate between the two hosts, she has to get the ratings up which seems an impossible task at the outset. Married to her work, Becky finds the unexpected prospect of romance with Adam Bennett (Patrick Wilson), a fellow producer who becomes increasingly frustrated with Becky for not leaving her work at the front door when she gets home. Can Becky and Adam find a future together? Will Mike and Colleen ever stop fighting? Will Day Break be saved?
Morning Glory boasts an impressive cast with veterans such as Ford, Keaton and Goldblum all a pleasure to watch. Ford, in particular, is great as the disgruntled Mike who you’ll grow increasingly frustrated with. The romance in the film is a weak point really. Though it takes second place to Becky’s challenge of saving Day Break, it is one that’s easily resolved and once done so it’s quickly forgotten. The focal point of the film is the lessons that Mike has for Becky and it is these that resonate with you after the conclusion. The ending is somewhat predictable but a good cast still make this one a fun venture.
Morning Glory is a pretty good comedy with the highlight being the memorable actors and actresses on show. A weak romance plot hinders the story somewhat but thankfully this takes a back seat to the competitive world of television ratings. Ford was the undoubted highlight for me here, stealing the film without even seeming to try.
Verdict: 3/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: Morning Glory | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
July 30, 2013
Film Review: W.
Whether you love him or hate him, there is no question that George W. Bush is one of the most controversial public figures in recent memory. In an unprecedented undertaking, acclaimed director Oliver Stone brings the life of our 43rd President to the big screen as only he can. W takes viewers through Bush’s eventful life — his struggles and triumphs, how he found both his wife and his faith, and of course the critical days leading up to Bush’s decision to invade Iraq.
Starring: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Banks, Ioan Gruffudd, Colin Hanks, Toby Jones
Directed by: Oliver Stone
Runtime: 129 minutes
Studio: Lions Gate
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB Review: W.
Oliver Stone’s biopic offers a summary of the life of American president, George W. Bush (Josh Brolin), alternating between showing us his background and taking us to the present day where Bush is preparing to take his country to war in Iraq. The character of Bush prior to becoming one of the most powerful men in the world is one of disappointment and frequent failure. On more than one occasion, Bush has to be bailed out of a tight spot by his father, George H.W. Bush (James Cromwell), who is rising steadily through the political ranks and will eventually become President in 1988 only to be defeated by Bill Clinton in 1992. George W. Bush is maladjusted after his time at Harvard and Yale where he is well-liked by his peers. He attempts a series of jobs, including an oil rig, but always ends up quitting, frustrating his father even more.
Not all is bad for Bush though. We see how he meets his wife, Laura (Elizabeth Banks) in the 1970s but this coincides with his failure at an election in Texas where he loses to a Democratic candidate. If that isn’t bad enough, Bush is plagued by drinking problems but finally begins to turn his life around in the 1980s when he gives up alcohol and finds God. Despite assisting the presidential campaign, Bush remains in his father’s shadow, even more so when he watches him win the 1988 election and become the American President. In the 1990s Bush finally gets his break when he becomes Governor of Texas but he already has both eyes on the White House. As the story of Bush’s life is told we focus also on the present where he is firm and decisive in going to war in Iraq only for the failure to unearth WMDs coming back to haunt him. While the film doesn’t cover every part of Bush’s eight years in power, we do get a summary of some of the key moments.
Stone’s biopic will inevitably divide the critics. Fans of Bush may not like some of the depictions of him here while those who were against him may also be unimpressed with a film about his life. Personally, I found this to be an interesting biopic which shed more light on the man. It hasn’t changed my perception of him either way but it’s still an interesting piece, covering many of the controversies during Bush’s tenure but avoiding such areas as his response to 9/11 and his questionable victory over Al Gore in 2000. Brolin is excellent in the lead and is ably supported by an impressive cast including Richard Dreyfuss, Jeffrey Wright and Thandie Newton.
W. is a very good biopic of a President that divided America greatly during his time in power. Whether you’re a fan of Bush or not, Stone’s film has a lot of insight to offer into his character. It won’t alter your perception of him as a man and as a President but it remains a thought-provoking piece.
Verdict: 4/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: W. | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Film Review: The Housemaid
A sexy and stylishly crafted psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat, THE HOUSEMAID (Cannes Palme d Or nominee 2010) tells the tale of one woman s influence that tears a rich family apart.
Eun-yi (Jeon Do-youn) is hired as a nanny in an opulent mansion owned by the wealthy and handsome businessman Hoon Goh (Lee Jung-jae). He wastes no time in seducing his alluring young employee who seemingly has little choice but to comply with his sexual advances. Soon the vengeful women of the family, including a villainous matriarch and a heavily pregnant wife, plot against Eun-yi who must fight an equally devious battle to protect herself.
Suffused with a highly charged eroticism amidst a series of steamy sex scenes, THE HOUSEMAID is a supremely entertaining and compellingly constructed movie that is one of the most expensive ever made in South Korea. The outlandish, shocking denouement brings to a close an unforgettably enjoyable ride.
Starring: Jeon Do Yeon, Lee Jung Jae, Seo Woo, Yoon Yeo Jeong
Directed by: Sang-soo Im
Runtime: 106 minutes
Studio: Axiom Films
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB Review: The Housemaid
The gulf in class is the order of the day in Sang-soo Im’s thriller as Eun-yi (Jeon Do-yeon) becomes the new maid and au pair for an upper class family and remains under the supervision of Miss Cho (Yoon Yeo-jeong) who is hardened by years of servitude to the family. While Hoon (Lee Jung-jae) spends most of his day at work, his heavily pregnant wife, Hae-ra (Seo Woo) is waited on hand and foot. Eun-yi assists in the daily chores and also cares for Hoon and Hae-ra’s daughter, Nami (Ahn Seo-hyeon), who she becomes fond of. Positions within the hierarchy are initially respected but Hoon soon pursues an affair with Eun-yi and she is more than happy to acquiesce.
Miss Cho is the veteran of servitude, remaining loyal but secretly harbouring her discontent for the privileged family she has worked for. Although firm with Eun-yi, Miss Cho takes the girl under her wing and advises her how best to survive. When she learns of Eun-yi’s affair with Hoon, Miss Cho chooses to keep silent but she realises before anyone else does that Eun-yi is pregnant. Rather than discuss this issue with Eun-yi, Miss Cho reports to Hae-ra’s mother, Mi-hee (Park Ji-young) and reveals her concerns. While the family have appeared superior up to now, they have also been mostly harmless but Mi-hee changes all of that. Protective of her daughter, she doesn’t want any illegitimate children rivaling her grandchildren for Hoon’s affections. Something has to give and the end results are destined not to be pretty.
The Housemaid is a great depiction of the privileged lifestyle of the upper class with Eun-yi and Miss Cho being looked down upon as nothing. Both women accept their places but Eun-yi begins her affair with Hoon enthusiastically. Though Miss Cho tries her best to protect Eun-yi, there is no stopping the vengeful Mi-hee who will resort to some pretty desperate tactics to damage Eun-yi and prevent the birth of her child. Initially seeing no wrong with the family she works for, Eun-yi soon realises how little she matters to anyone and she starts to find her resolve. A good cast play their parts well here and the build up to the climax is well-handled. It’s the climax itself where the issues lie. It is a surprising ending, shocking even, and for many it won’t be the conclusion that they want. You have to applaud Sang-soo Im for not resorting to cliche but in this instance I would have settled for a more upbeat ending.
The Housemaid is a very dark thriller which works well until the ending. I had no issues with the cast or the story line but the denouement was a bit disappointing. Many audiences may disagree but I would have settled for less realism with the conclusion here. Reality is harsh and the struggles between the classes is not an easy one to break. The Housemaid is a good testament to that.
Verdict: 4/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: The Housemaid | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
July 29, 2013
Film Review: Annie Hall
Considered to be “Woody Allen’s breakthrough movie” (Time), Annie Hall won four Oscars, including Best Picture, and established Allen as the premier auteur filmmaker. Thought by many critics to be Allen’s magnum opus, Annie Hall confirmed that he had, “completed the journey from comic to humorist, from comedy writer to wit [and] from inventive moviemaker to creative artist” (Saturday Review). Alvy Singer (Allen) is one of Manhattan’s most brilliant comedians, but when it comes to romance, his delivery needs a little work. Introduced by his best friend, Rob (Tony Roberts), Alvy falls in love with the ditzy but delightful nightclub singer, Annie Hall (Diane Keaton). When his own insecurities sabotage the affair, Annie is forced to leave Alvy for a new life and lover (Paul Simon) in Los Angeles. Knowing he may have lost Annie forever, Alvy’s willing to go to any lengths even driving L.A.’s freewaysto recapture the only thing that ever mattered – true love.
Starring: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, Carol Kane, Janet Margolin
Directed by: Woody Allen
Runtime: 93 minutes
Studio: MGM
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB Review: Annie Hall
Woody Allen’s romantic comedy is a study of relationships with one in particular between a comedian Alvy Singer (Woody Allen) and Annie Hall (Diane Keaton). Alvy and Annie have split up a year before and Alvy is struggling to make sense of where it all went wrong. He takes us back through his life beginning with a difficult childhood where he veers from concern about the end of the universe to early sexual awakening. Alby becomes a stand up comedian and has two unsatisfying marriages before meeting Annie. They seem like a perfect match, have fun together and for Alvy in particular they have a good sex life. However, as time passes by cracks begin to appear in the relationship.
While Alvy has his comedy, Annie enjoys singing in clubs and is later noticed by record producer Tony Lacey (Paul Simon) who invites her to Los Angeles. This opportunity coupled with Alvy’s maladjustment with Annie’s family are just a selection of the reasons why the relationship begins to go wrong until we reach the inevitable separation. Alvy goes in search of the truth behind a good relationship, desperate to unearth the secrets but he cannot find consistent answers. The mystery remains. Missing Annie, Alvy is tempted to go to Los Angeles to try and win her back but is he successful or are they destined to not be together?
I’ve wanted to see this one for a while and I’m delighted to say it didn’t disappoint. Allen co-wrote the excellent script which is full of wit and charm, and is delivered effortlessly by the cast. Allen is great as Alvy but Oscar-winner Keaton is wonderful as Annie. As comedies go this one has its highs and lows with the mood. Alvy and Annie’s relationship is never an easy one and they both convey a couple that try to ride the many bumps but face the inevitable demise of something they thought would never end. The conclusion is bittersweet but it is completely apt and rounds off what has been a memorable experience.
Annie Hall is more than worth its plaudits and the four Oscars that it garnered. A great cast, fabulous script and some memorable exchanges from start to finish make this one unmissable. Though it doesn’t have the happiest of endings, Annie Hall is an injection of realism in the difficult world of relationships but it has a lot of heart.
Verdict: 5/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: Annie Hall | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Film Review: Cockneys vs Zombies
As contractors to an East London building site unlock a 350-year old vault full of seriously hungry zombies, the East End has suddenly gone to hell and the cockney way of life is under threat. Equipped with all the guns and ammo they can carry, a group of bank robbers led by Katy (Michelle Ryan) are London’s only hope of saving East London from a zombie Armageddon.
Starring: Michelle Ryan, Georgia King, Harry Treadaway
Directed by: Matthias Hoene
Runtime: 88 minutes
Studio: Studiocanal
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB Review: Cockneys vs Zombies
The East End of London is overrun with zombies in this horror comedy. Builders uncover a 17th century grave condemned by Charles II and are bitten by skeletons which turn them into zombies. Soon the epidemic is spreading fast and those still alive have to find a way to fend off the threat. Our primary focus is Terry (Rasmus Hardiker) and Andy (Harry Treadaway) who are in the midst of planning a bank robbery to raise funds to spare a retirement home from closure. Their main concern is for their grandfather (Alan Ford) who is outspoken, resourceful and proud of his country. The brothers recruit their cousin, Katy (Michelle Ryan), Mental Mickey (Ashley Thomas) and Davey Tuppence (Jack Doolan) to help them pull off the robbery not realising zombies are on the loose.
The robbery goes pretty badly and the gang are left surrounded by police and have two hostages – Emma (Georgia King) and Clive (Tony Gardner). They are then surprised to find zombies have killed the police outside and they can now escape. The gang intend to head for the retirement home to rescue their grandfather and his friends. This is no easy matter though and they are delayed reaching their destination. They needn’t worry though because their grandfather rallies the pensioners and arms them for a battle of their own. The question is who will survive and will they make it out of London?
Echoes of Shaun of the Dead are without question here. Matching such a classic British film was never going to be easy and although Cockneys vs Zombies falls somewhat short it still has some good moments. The best bits have to be with the people at the retirement home fighting the zombies. You can’t help but laugh when one pensioner played by the late Richard Briers is using his zimmer frame to escape the zombie horde with both moving at the same frighteningly slow speed. The scenes with the bank robbers are good too but given that they’re all armed you don’t worry about them as much as the older folks. There are some good laughs, plenty of gore and carnage but somehow the film just doesn’t quite reach the heights of say Zombieland.
Cockneys vs Zombies is another welcome attempt at the zombie genre from my fellow countrymen. Although it is a pale imitation of Shaun of the Dead, there are still some amusing moments on offer here and surely a valuable lesson to respect your elders and not to annoy them as the zombies come to find out. Zombie fans should find a lot to like here. For other film fans, there are better zombie flicks out there.
Verdict: 3/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: Cockneys vs Zombies | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
July 28, 2013
Film Review: BASEKetball
This spoof of the sports industry comes from the director of ‘The Naked Gun’ and stars ‘South Park’ creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone as two average guys who devise a game to play in their driveway. When the game becomes a national obsession, the duo are propelled into stardom and their new-found status allows them to indulge in all the dubious trappings of fame.
Starring: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Yasmine Bleeth, Jenny McCarthy, Robert Vaughn
Directed by: David Zucker
Runtime: 104 minutes
Studio: Universal Studios
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB Review: BASEketball
Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s sport comedy tells the story of Joe Cooper (Trey Parker) and Doug Remer (Matt Stone) who are high school graduates that have simply never grown up. They gatecrash a high school friend’s party at the outset and find their contemporaries to be grown up with jobs and responsibilities. A bet over a game of basketball sees the two friends earn some renown and gives rise to a new form of of the sport which they call BASEketball. American sport is in the doldrums and this new idea elevates the two friends to stardom and the birth of a new sports league.
Joe and Doug are indebted to the support and funding of Ted Denslow (Ernest Borgnine) but when he dies, Joe takes control of the team he plays for and has a huge stake in the game. Ted’s wife, Yvette (Jenny McCarthy) isn’t happy but she finds an ally in Baxter Cain (Robert Vaughn) who wants to monetise BASEketball and make a huge profit. Joe isn’t interested but when Doug sees the potential in earning decent money from the venture, a seemingly irrevocable gulf appears between the friends. If that isn’t enough they end up competing for the affections of Jenna Reed (Yasmine Bleeth) as well. Who will win?
Coming from the creators of South Park, BASEketball was inevitably going to be funny but I didn’t expect it to be as hilarious as it is. The sport itself is fantastic with players permitted to put their opponents off with slanderous words and actions which creates some memorable results. As with South Park there are those moments where you find yourself laughing very hard even though you know it might not necessarily be appropriate. I don’t recall laughing so much watching someone try to revive an ailing patient in hospital for instance. The ending to the story may be predictable but Parker and Stone’s comedy is so funny that you won’t care.
BASEketball is one of the funniest sports comedy I have had the pleasure of watching. Focusing on a new sport that gives hope to America, Parker and Stone portray two friends who go from high school rejects to sports stars almost overnight but with fame and wealth comes many heavy prices. Whether you’re a fan of South Park or not, I can’t imagine many people not finding this funny.
Verdict: 4/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: BASEKetball | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Film Review: Paintball
Low-budget horror. A team of eight adrenaline junkies applies to participate in the ultimate paintball game. On arrival they are blindfolded and taken deep into a remote forest, and the game begins. But the game soon plunges its players into the realms of nightmare as one team member is hit with a real bullet, and what began as a thrill-seeking sport becomes a desperate struggle for survival.
Starring: Brendan Mackey, Jennifer Matter, Neil Maskell
Directed by: Daniel Benmayor
Runtime: 87 minutes
Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB Review: Paintball
A group of action enthusiasts take part in a game of extreme paintball which begins with them, worryingly, blindfolded in the back of a truck before being released at an unspecified location. Their instructions are to make for a series of flags while keeping an eye out for a rival team. What should be a weekend of excitement soon turns into a nightmare when they realise they are being hunted by a lone soldier who isn’t firing paint but real bullets. Whenever the group reach a flag they find a box containing a different item but it is unclear at the start what these discoveries are for. Only later do they realise they are being given parts to a gun that will enable them to fight back.
The lone gunman that hunts our eight hapless enthusiasts isn’t content to just shoot them from afar. He prefers to wound and execute them in a series of brutal ways. The violence of these acts is minimised somewhat as our view of the atrocities are through the hunter’s eyes and he wears a pair of goggles to help him pick out his prey in all conditions, even at night. As the numbers are wilted down we have David (Brendan Mackey) who becomes something of a rogue, turning on his companions to aid his own survival, while Anna (Jennifer Matter) is one of the last survivors, seemingly weak to begin with but growing stronger as the weekend grows old. The question is why are they being hunted for real? Who is behind it? Does anyone survive?
The premise behind Paintball is quite interesting but after that the film falls apart quite badly. We have group of characters we never get to know so it’s hard to keep track of who is who and to be honest you won’t care that much. Even the narrative of David turning into a selfish bad ass disintegrates as quickly as it begins. The camera has trouble keeping up with the action at times and appears somewhat clumsy. I’ve never been paintballing but I imagine shouting and grumbling very loudly is not the way to avoid detection. Sadly this is what our group of would be soldiers resort to. I appreciate they’re scared at being hunted for real but surely silence would be more preferable. There is a development to the story in the latter stages and questions are answered but as the final credits appear you’ll feel sorry at the 90 minutes of life you have now lost.
Paintball had the potential to be good but the execution is poor. A group of uninteresting characters with no depth, a weak story and little in the way of drama make this one to forget. I’ve been in two minds about trying paintballing but if it’s as lousy an experience as this film is then I may choose to give it a miss.
Verdict: 1/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: Paintball | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
July 27, 2013
Guest Post: Yellow Socks and Blood Spots – Bailey J Thompson
We are delighted to welcome Bailey J Thompson, author of Yellow Socks and Blood Spots, who joins us to share a guest post..
Guest Post: 10 Reasons Being A Teenage Author Helped Me Write Yellow Socks and Blood SpotsBeing a young author doesn’t always work to your advantage, in fact, sometimes it can make your journey harder. But here’s ten reasons why being a teenage author helped me to write Yellow Socks and Blood Spots.
1) PERSPECTIVE – I was seventeen (Protagonist, Isasbelle’s age) when I began to write the novel. I think that currently being that age gave me a real ability to put myself into my character’s shoes. Sometimes, I would find myself playing through scenes in my head as I walked through the halls at my high school. I was able to imagine how I would react, or how my friends would react because I was surrounded by what Isabelle would have been surrounded with.
2) FRIEND’S EXPERIENCES – It was interesting to see the different perspectives of my friends and classmates as a few of them went through the similar situation. I was able to borrow some of their stories and circumstances to mimic in the book.
3) RUMORS – If there’s one thing that true in every high school, it is the ability for rumors to spread at lightning speed. The neatest thing was that once the rumor had spread that I was writing a novel about teenage pregnancy, young women began to approach me with their stories. I guess they knew that I had been speaking to some of the friends that I knew had had similar experiences, and it multiplied.
4) TRUST – Along with that, came trust… because if it wasn’t peers, I found some of my friend’s mothers confiding in me with their stories. It was really strange at first to know such intimate details about my supiors, but eventually I was able to incorporate it into the story and feed from their emotions.
5) TEACHER and PEER SUPPORT – When you’re in high school, there is a whole community of professionals and adults that want to help you succeed. Which meant that if I ever had a question about writing style, grammar or needed an editor or an opinion, there was always someone ready to help.
6) MARKETABILITY – There is something about being able to say that you’re a “teen author” that helps you to sell a book. I remember explaining my story to someone, and her first question was, “when do you turn 20?”. At first I thought it was legality until I told her that I turned 20 in February 2014. Her response, “we better get to marketing!” Similarly, my age adds to a lot of media and word-of-mouth…
7) RELATABILITY – Personally, I LOVE that I am able to see eye-to-eye with my readers. I hope that writing a YA Novel while I am a young adult will help me to better connect with those who read my book.
8) NAÏVETY – I am going to mention this one, because I know that it is true. Being a writer is hard work and I know that at times it can be disappointing and discouraging – but I think that being young and completely blind to this market when I began the publishing journey of Yellow Socks and Blood Spots allowed me to dream as big as I could, rather than be discouraged by the reality. Sometimes not knowing what you’re in for can work to your advantage. Have you ever noticed that, for example, a shift at work is easier and less stressful if you don’t know what time it ends at (your boss has left it open), than when you know that your shift ends at 8:00. When you don’t know, instead of counting down until 8:00, you’re blindly working through your shift without focusing on when it’s over. I think it was the same.
9) NO RENT – Repeating the whole “being a writer is hard work” thing, I’m still living in my parents house. So rather than holding a full-time job and worrying about paying for rent, car payments, etc., my financial situation has been pretty stress-free, allowing me to focus on my book, and take extra time off work to work on it. I finished high school when the book was half done (June 2012), and so I was able to take a leap-year off school and focus solely on my writing.
10) ACCEPTANCE – Tackling such an issue is super-tough as it is. I still get nervous telling certain people about the topic of my book, and actually avoid the subject altogether if I know it is going to start a scene. I’m always holding my breath when I explain the concept of my book to somebody new. So far, I’ve only had a handful of people tell me off… but for the most part, I think being young keeps people in line and polite. Most people, anyways.
About Yellow Socks and Blood Spots (2013)
Two lines means pregnant, and pregnant is the very last thing seventeen-year-old Isabelle wanted to be. She’s just beginning her senior year, she’s rekindling the respectable relationship she once had with her family and she has finally fallen in love. Her boyfriend, Jason wants an abortion, while Isabelle wants to give her baby a chance at life, whether that means adoption or raising her baby herself. Her situation raises a question of values, beliefs, rights, societal expectations and personal opinions, and as Isabelle’s friends and family discover the news, they seem to think they know what’s best for her and her baby. Within two weeks of finding out about their beautiful disaster, Isabelle and Jason have to come to a mutual agreement and make a life and death decision.
Amazon USAmazon UKWebsiteGoodreadsFacebook About Bailey J Thompson
Bailey J Thompson is a teenage author that resides in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. She has been storytelling since the moment she could talk, and has since developed passions for creative writing, photography, nature and the environment. Yellow Socks and Blood Spots is her debut novel.
WebsiteTwitter
Guest Post: Yellow Socks and Blood Spots – Bailey J Thompson | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Film Review: Extract
The creator of Office Space, writer-director Mike Judge (Beavis and Butt-head), moves from cubicles to the assembly line with Extract– his outrageous return to workplace comedy, featuring a hilarious ensemble cast of quirky characters. About to sell his successful flavor extract company, life is almost sweet for Joel (Jason Bateman) until a freak on-the-job accident happens. Add to that his bored wife (Kristen Wiig), his laid-back, stoner best friend (Ben Affleck), a sexy con artist (Mila Kunis) who blows into town with dollar signs in her bedroom eyes, and a dumb gigolo and life as he knows it turns sour. Filled with laugh-out-loud one-liners and raunchy comedy, Extract is 100% pure hilarity.
Starring: Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Ben Affleck, Mila Kunis, J.K. Simmons
Directed by: Mike Judge
Runtime: 92 minutes
Studio: Miramax Lionsgate
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB Review: ExtractMike Judge’s eventful comedy centres around Joel Reynolds (Jason Bateman) who owns Reynolds Extract, a successful company on the bring of a prestigious takeover. At home things are not great. Joel and his wife Suzie haven’t had sex for quite some time and the frustration is clearly getting to Joel. He turns to bartender and pot smoker, Dean (Ben Affleck), for advice and is offered drugs but initially refuses. Further problems arise for Joel when one of his employees, Step (Clifton Collins Jr), is injured at work and loses a testicle in an accident National Lampoon would have been proud of. Con artist, Cindy (Mila Kunis), learns about the incident and befriends Step, convincing him to sue Joel’s company for a large pay out she intends to get her hands on. She then gets employment at Reynolds Extract and Joel is immediately attracted to her.
While Cindy acts all innocent, she is pilfering purses and other goods from her colleagues while Joel is struggling to keep her out of his head. Dean advises him to hire a gigolo to seduce Suzie which then means Joel is free to pursue an affair with Cindy in revenge. Such is Dean’s logic. Joel initially dismisses the idea but after popping a pill he and Dean arrange some business with Brad (Dustin Milligan) who poses as a pool cleaner at Joel’s house. Joel doesn’t believe his wife will cheat on him but no sooner has Brad been to the house than he is contacting Joel to say Suzie was more than willing to have sex with him. That’s just the beginning of Joel’s problems and with a lawsuit from Step threatening to damage any hopes of his company being taken over and giving him early retirement things don’t look like they’ll improve anytime soon.
While this isn’t the funniest comedy you will ever see, it does have a lot of charm as well as great characters. Bateman is great as the sexually frustrated Joel who ends up stressed out by problems at work and those at home of his own making. Kunis and Wiig are both good as the two women in Joel’s life but the undoubted highlights in this film are Affleck’s philosophical Dean but perhaps even more amusing is the one track minded Brad who not only sleeps with Joel’s wife after being paid but then goes back for free before offering his services to any other women Joel might know! I wasn’t sure how this work out in the end so there were one or two surprises.
Extract may not have a plethora of laugh out loud moments but it still has a lot going for it. The quirky characters, the questionable intelligence of Dean, the lack of a brain cell in Brad, Joel’s struggles with both Suzie and Cindy, all these elements add up to what is an amusing experience. Even Gene Simmons gets in on the act though he’s missing the customary make-up and doesn’t stick his tongue out. A good effort.
Verdict: 3/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: Extract | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Film Review: A Fantastic Fear of Everything
Jack (Simon Pegg) is a children’s author turned crime novelist whose detailed research into the lives of Victorian serial killers has turned him into a paranoid wreck, persecuted by an irrational fear of being murdered. When Jack is thrown a life-line by his long-suffering agent, and a mysterious Hollywood executive takes a sudden and inexplicable interest in Jack’s script, what should be his ‘big break’ rapidly turns into his ‘big breakdown’ as Jack is forced to confront his worst fears; among them love, laundry and serial killers. …A Fantastic Fear of Everything (2012)
Starring: Paul Freeman, Simon Pegg, Zaak Conway, Alan Drake, Elliot Greene
Directed by: Chris Hopewell, Crispian Mills
Runtime: 96 minutes
Studio: Universal Pictures UK
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB Review: A Fantastic Fear of Everything
Jack (Simon Pegg) is a children’s author who has switched to the dark and eerie world of crime writing. Having researched Victorian murderers for his book, Jack has become paranoid that someone is out to get him and he now barricades himself in his London flat. He does manage to venture out to meet with his agent, Clair (Claire Higgins), who isn’t enthusiastic about his latest work, wanting him to work on a children’s story about a hedgehog instead. Clair’s opinion changes somewhat when a Hollywood executive expresses an interest in Jack’s crime novel and there is talk of a possible movie deal. Jack has to get himself together to meet Clair and the executive for dinner and so begins a series of mishaps.
Jack’s flat is run down and in need of a clean up. He parades around the place in his dressing gown and underpants, has no clean clothes and is reluctant to answer the door to anyone. Managing on little sleep, Jack spends his time trying to stay sane and piecing together suspects including one man who he is convinced must be a descendant of Dr Crippen. Forced to venture out, Jack has the difficulty of going to a launderette to wash a handful of clothes and make himself presentable for his meeting. This is far from straightforward though. Jack senses someone is after him and his fears are not helped by strange noises in his own home and peculiar figures wandering the streets. The basic routine of getting ready to leave the flat goes somewhat awry when Jack is forced to leave with a knife and drying his clothes in the oven literally backfires. The question is, is Jack’s fear of danger on the streets of London all in his head or is there something to justify his fears.
A Fantastic Fear of Everything started well enough and Pegg raised many smiles having to carry the film on his own for a time. The problems he creates for himself are very funny but the film loses its way somewhat in the second half when Jack heads for a launderette. What began as a fairly straightforward and quite funny comedy grew a little too incredulous in the latter stages which is a shame. This is still a good comedy and Pegg fans will likely enjoy this but compared to his other work such as Spaced and Shaun of the Dead this one pales significantly.
A Fantastic Fear of Everything is an okay comedy about a writer losing his grip on reality in switching to a genre that has him constantly on edge. There are some very funny moments in here but the second half of the film does not live up to the first. Pegg puts in another good performance but the film doesn’t quite match up to his talents as a comedian.
Verdict: 3/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: A Fantastic Fear of Everything | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
