Cinema Without Borders Blogs

The Social Network

Smart and stylish story of how FaceBook was created, with excellent performances and razor sharp dialogue. It has all the elements of a Greek geek tragedy, and a thunderous soundtrack to compliment the fast paced scenes.

The Blindside

Warm and a little sappy real life tale of how sassy family woman Sandra Bullock takes in a stray but loveable teenager and turns his life around. She won the Oscar for it and it really does tug at the heart strings.

Toy Story 3

It’s impossible to think that there’s a human out there who hasn’t seen this film yet, and more unlikely that anyone who did didn’t enjoy it. It’s nigh on perfect story telling from Pixar who have nailed the formula for making movies heart warming and humorous, adventurous and fun.

The Lovely Bones

Creepy tale set in the seventies of a murdered teen girl trying to catch her murderer out from after life. Outlandish visuals do hamper this Peter Jackson tale, but Stanley Tucci is chilling as the hidden psycho in suburbia.

A Single Man

A gorgeously filmed piece from fashion designer cum director Tom Ford. Set in the 1960’s, Colin Firth stars as a university professor gripped with grief after the death of his gay lover. As he becomes increasingly disconnected from the world around him, he begins to find what beauty remains in the world in the form of infatuated student Nicolous Hault. A touching, tender and beautifully realised portrait of grief.

Salt

Hugely entertaining spy thriller thats somewhat of a guilty pleasure as it veers towards the improbable and ridiculous, but with a sultry Jolie playing action hero the sheer ‘popcorn movie’ bliss of this whole affair wins out.

How to Train Your Dragon

Fantastic kids film about a secret friendship between two sworn enemies. It does jar slightly as to why The Viking characters all have Scottish accents, and why the leading lad is the only American, but it’s fun and fuzzy and nigh on impossible to dislike.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Spectacularly violent film version of the popular book. Dark and intriguing murder mystery with twists and shocks to boot.

Easy A

Fresh and funny teen film with a wonderful turn from Emma Stone as the bright high school student who pretends to sleep with underdogs to help their social standings. Nice little message that isn’t too cheesy either when her plans land her in trouble. Best High School film since Mean Girls.

Scott Pilgrim vs the World

Wonderfully energetic and highly imaginative comic book tale of one loser kids fight for love, as he attempts to win over the heart of ubber cool but vulnerable Romana, by defeating her 7 evil exes Street Fighter style. Original and fun, with a stand out performance by the fantastically camp and bitchy Kieran Culkin.

Kick Ass

A new take on the super hero genre with Aarron Johnson who by day is a picked upon high school kid and by night is Kick Ass, a super hero vigilante keen to clean up the streets. The film  really belongs to Nic Cage and Chloe who star as father and daughter superhero team Big Daddy and Hit Girl. You just dont get a lot of 8 year old swearing assassins in this genre…

Cemetery Junction

Sweet little tale of adolescents dreaming of escaping their small town in Middle England in the 70’s. It’s laugh out loud funny and touching as the three male leads banter their way through this hugely enjoyable film from Office writers Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merhcant.

Four Lions

Controversial comedy from even more controversial writer Chris ‘Brass Eye’ Morris, about 4 bumbling youths attempting to go Jihad and blow up the London marathon. Sitcom style humour makes for big laughs, layered with a sense of pathos and sadness.

Let Me In

Fans of the Swedish original Let the Right One In may cry foul, but this American remake has enough of its own flare and flavour to justify being original its own right. It maintains all of the touching tenderness but with enough key differences to merit a watching. You’ll be surprised by how enjoyable it is.

Inception

Was it all a dream? Is this really good? It’s the mysteries surrounding this film. In hindsight were we hoodwinked by this massive blockbuster with its sterling cast and towering graphics? Or is it that blockbusters have become so insanely stupid that the world grabbed a hold of anything with an ounce of brains to it?

There’s no denying the grandeur of the special effects, and the premise of the story is interesting if not a little too pleased with itself. It’s hard to say if this is celluloid suduko, pure genius or just a cinematic Rubik cube of crap. I guess it was designed to tease movie buffs and comic geeks into a self induced pleasing little coma whilst they mull over every tiny detail.