FilmClub

We start with gritty comic-book thriller Dredd (2012), directed by Pete Travis and later by producer Alex Garland (Ex Machina). It was the second live-action adaptation of the 2000 AD Comics Judge Dredd (copies of which are also available in the library to read), after the 1995 adaptation starring Sylvester Stallone. Taking over the title role in this one is Karl Urban (The Lord of the Rings, Thor: Ragnarok); who is supported by Olivia Thirlby (Oppenheimer) and Lena Headey (300, Fighting with My Family). Set in a dystopian United States, in a coast city named Mega-City One, the only law enforcers are the Judges (who ironically are also jury and executioners). Judge Dredd is a veteran among his peers, who is assigned to mentor and assess potential recruit Cassandra Anderson (Thirlby).

 

Dredd & Anderson are assigned to investigate several suspicious deaths at the Peach Trees tower block, co-incidentally home to a drug den run by “Ma-Ma” Madrigal (Headey). Things go awry however, when a panicked Ma-Ma seals the building, trapping the Judges inside. The judges must fight their way through both Ma-Ma’s goons & the equally scared residents to escape a literal hell hole. Dredd was much more positively received by both critics and audiences, and seen to be a more accurate portrayal of the source material. The majority of the praise going to Urban, for nailing the gruffness of the title role, despite only his mouth and chin being visible throughout the film. It features a fair bit of violence, but its enjoyable nonetheless. This action feast is rated 18, so its not for the faint of heart or families, but for those who are old enough – it’s available to watch anytime only on e-stream. You can watch a tantalising clip of the good Judge calling out Ma-Ma while the whole block listens, by clicking the link below:

 

The next remake is the Coen Brothers (Fargo, The Big Lebowski) version of western hit, True Grit (2010). It is a remake of the 1969 John Wayne film, that was itself based on a 1968 novel. This version stars Jeff Bridges (Tron, Iron Man), Matt Damon (The Martian, The Bourne Identity), Josh Brolin (The Goonies) and Hailey Steinfeld (Bumblebee, Pitch Perfect 2) in her feature film debut. Steinfeld plays 14-year-old Mattie Ross, whose father is murdered in 1878 by Tom Chaney (Brolin), who precedes to flee. Young Mattie, desperate for justice, travels across country to hire a bounty hunter to find & apprehend Chaney. She attempts to hire deputy U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Bridges) but due to her lack of funds, he swiftly rejects her.

 

Cogburn later changes his mind, when the resourceful Mattie surprises him by quickly raising the money to pay him. Reluctantly joined by Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Damon); who is chasing Chaney for a different crime; the three set out on a harrowing journey to take down the murderous criminal. A critical & commercial success, True Grit was nominated for an incredible 10 Academy Awards including Best Actor, Supporting Actress and Picture but disappointingly won none. It certainly would’ve been worthy of a win however. It did win a BAFTA for Best Cinematography, with Roger Ebert alluding to why – “the cinematography by Roger Deakins reminds us of the glory that was, and can still be, the Western”. Again, it was seen as more accurate to its source material than its predecessor. Steinfeld was profoundly praised for her role as Mattie. You can see Hailee and the rest of the fantastic cast on DVD or e-stream now. View the enticing trailer by clicking the link below:

 

Heading back to the future… we find J.J. Abrams (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Mission: Impossible III) version of Star Trek (2009). A quasi remake/prequel/reboot of the TV series of the same name (1966-1969), it featured an ensemble cast including: Chris Pine (Wonder Woman), Zoe Saldana (Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy), Zachary Quinto (Heroes) and Karl Urban [see: Dredd entry above]. The films premise centres around young Starfleet cadet James T. Kirk (Pine), as he joins Starfleet (a futuristic peacekeeping space force) and attempts to help them fight a mysterious ship.

 

After his father’s heroic sacrifice aboard the spaceship USS Kelvin, Kirk is inspired to join Starfleet and live up to his legacy. However, after some unfortunate training events, he fins himself grounded from space travel when a mysterious ship attacks Vulcan, home world on renowned officer Spock (Quinto). Quickly realizing Spock and himself have something in common with this ship, Kirk stows away aboard the new USS Enterprise with help from his new friend Dr. Leonard McCoy (Urban). But order to save the day, he’ll have to find a way to take command of the ship.

 

Star Trek was an undisputed triumph, seen to reinvigorate the franchise after it had stagnated in the wake of its last cinematic & tv releases (2002, 2001-2005 respectively); while also bringing a whole new generation to the Star Trek universe (including myself). It won the franchises very first Oscar award, and was commended for its strong cast, with Peter Bradshaw [The Guardian] exclaiming the standouts were – “Pine and Quinto, who give inspired, utterly unselfconscious and lovable performances”. Ty Burr, [Boston Globe] awarding the film a 4/4 rating, simply called it, “ridiculously satisfying”. With a perfect blend of excellent casting, spectacular visuals, a satisfying story, a powerful score and drama & humour in abundance, it’s no wonder this was the month’s only entry to get a sequel (two actually, in 2013 & 2016). Watch it on DVD or e-stream, and view the trailer now by clicking the link below:

 

Finishing up back in in Western territory, the final entry is The Magnificent Seven (2016). Directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, Olympus Has Fallen), it is a remake of the legendary 1960 western of the same name (itself a remake of Japanese film Seven Samurai). The movie features a collection of top actors such as: Denzel Washington (Training Day, Gladiator II), Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic World), Ethan Hawke (Boyhood, The Black Phone), Lee Byung-Hun (G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Terminator Genisys) and Haley Bennett (Marley & Me).

 

In 1879, Gold tycoon Bartholomew Bogue and his army have seized control of the town of Rose Creek, forcing the residents to work as cheap labour. After her husband is killed by Bogue, Emma (Bennett) & her friend Teddy take matters into their own hands, leaving to find bounty hunters to help free the town. Their first recruit is experienced bounty hunter Sam Chisholm (Washington); becoming the defacto leader of the group; who has history with Bogue himself. Thanks to Sam’s expertise, the group gradually recruit six other willing men to their cause, including former Confederate soldier Robicheaux (Hawke), assassin Billy (Byung-Hun) and gambler Joshua Faraday (Pratt). Together, the seven & Emma set out to take Bogue and his army down, while teaching the townsfolk how to defend themselves. With so little time, it seems like an impossible task however…

 

While not a complete domination of the original, The Magnificent Seven was certainly seen as a step up in many areas, not least a more diverse and vibrant cast, and incredible cinematography. The cast and actions were praised most by critics with Teri Schwartz [IGN] noting – “The action is big and sleek; the characters are charismatic and the film looks beautiful”. While Richard Roeper praised lead Denzel Washington, and exclaimed that film featured, “some of the most impressively choreographed extended shootout sequences in recent memory”. This magnificent masterpiece is available to loan only DVD from the Library. You can see some of the impressive choreography in the clip in the link below:

 

Remakes can be the bane of good cinema in the current climate, but these four are exceptions that have managed to transcend the original versions. I definitely suggest giving each one a watch in between your studies. Although remember Dredd is for 18-year-old’s and over only.

 

 

 

 

Not sure how to access e-stream? Then simply click on the link below…

 

 

We begin with one of the more recent entries, Joe Cornish’s Attack the Block (2011). A satire of sci-fi/alien invasion films, its cast features the likes of John Boyega (Star Wars, The Woman King), Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who) and Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz, Paul). The film’s setting is an apartment block in South London, Wyndham Tower [a fictional place]. Whittaker plays trainee nurse Samantha Adams, who has just moved into the block. One Bonfire Night [5th November], she is attacked and mugged by a teenage gang led by Moses (Boyega), but manages to escape when a strange meteorite falls from the sky, carrying an alien creature inside of it…

 

Moses kills the creature and takes it to drug dealer Ron (Frost), gaining his respect and a job. Meanwhile, Samantha reports the gang to the Police. But when more meteorites begin and the gang retreats into Wyndham, they are all forced to work together to survive. Attack the Block was positively received, seen as a refreshing new venture for the satire genre. Boyega’s performance was seen as a highlight and became his breakthrough in Hollywood. Christ Tilly [IGN] called it – “a blast from start-to-finish”, whereas Tom Philip [GQ] exclaimed that it “stands out as one of the best genre-mashup films of the decade.” Attack the Block is available now only on e-stream and you catch a glimpse of the action by clicking on the link below:

 

Travelling back almost 40 years, we turn to Western spoof Blazing Saddles (1974). Directed by the legendary “King of Satire” himself, Mel Brooks (Young Frankenstein, Spaceballs). Alongside Brooks, the cast features Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder (Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory) and Harvey Korman (Huckleberry Finn). In 1874, in the Wild West, construction begins on a new railroad. The railroad will need to be rerouted through the town of Rock Ridge, which peaks the interest of the dastardly attorney general Lamarr (Korman). Realising this railroad will increase the value of Rock Ridge, he sends a gang to push the townsfolk out, but they vow to stay and fight back.

 

The citizens demand Governor Le Petomane (Brooks) hire a new sheriff to help them, however he is slyly convinced by Lamarr to hire black railroad worker Bart (Little) as the sheriff (hoping it cause the citizens to leave). Bart is aided by alcoholic gunslinger Jim (Wilder), and sets about stopping Lamarr’s plan while trying to win the townspeople over. While it opened to mixed feelings, Blazing Saddles was on the whole praised for its absurdness and humour, being considered a cult classic in the present day. Jan Dawson [The Monthly Film Bulletin] noted that it “contains so many good parts and memorable performances”. You can view one of those performances of Brooks as the Governor by clicking the link below and watch the whole film only on e-stream for a barrel of laughs:

 

From westerns to disaster movies, third up is the timeless Airplane! (1980), directed by Jim Abrahams with David & Jerry Zucker (Ghost). The cast is headlined by Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty (She’s The Man) and Leslie Nielsen (The Naked Gun). The plot focuses upon Ted Striker (Hays) [an ex-fighter pilot, turned taxi driver], who has a severe fear of flying. Yet, when his flight attendant girlfriend Elaine (Hagerty) ends their relationship, he impulsively buys a ticket on her flight from Los Angeles to Chicago, in an effort to win her back – bad idea!

 

Things go hilariously wrong when all of the flight crew are mysteriously incapacitated, and it’s left up to Ted to land the plane safely, with help from fellow passenger Dr. Rumack (Nielsen). Widely regarded as one of the best films of 1980, Airplane! is viewed as a comedy classic to this day. As Janet Maslin [Chicago Sun-Times] denoted – “Airplane! Is more than a pleasant surprise… it’s just what the doctor ordered.” You can watch the full film on both DVD & e-stream, but experience a taste of the fun (a hysterical scene involving a blow-up auto-pilot) by clicking the link below:

 

Last but not least, we have the author’s choice – the exquisite political satire – The Death of Stalin (2017). Directed Armando Iannucci (Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa). Based on a French graphic novel, it is tells a fictionalized version of the events immediately after the death of former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin (1878-1953). It’s impressive ensemble cast includes: Steve Buscemi (Con Air, Transformers One), Sir Simon Russell Beale (Mary Queen of Scots, Thor: Love & Thunder), Sir Michael Palin (Monty Python), Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter) and Jeffrey Tambor (How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Hangover).

 

The story begins on the night of 1st March 1953, as Stalin suffers a severe stroke. The rest of the film takes place in the aftermath with Stalin on his deathbed, while a political battle erupts to replace both him & his ideologies. This battle includes several powerful figures such as: First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev (Buscemi), Stalin’s Deputy Georgy Malenkov (Tambor), Head of the Army Georgy Zhukov (Isaacs) and Foreign Secretary Vyacheslav Molotov (Palin). While some form alliances, Head of the Security forces Lavrenti Beria (Beale) hurriedly puts his own machinations into motion, making an enemy of all his rivals.

 

The Death of Stalin is an uproarious romp, mostly down to an incredibly talented cast. The performances of Buscemi, Beale and Isaacs are definite highlights. It was beloved by critics around the world - with Peter Bradshaw [The Guardian], awarding the full 5 and commenting that film – “is superbly cast, and acted with icy and ruthless force by an A-list line-up”. Whereas, Sandra Hall [The Sydney Morning Herald] gave it 4.5/5, considering it – “a devastatingly funny dissection of power politics. You can loan the full movie only on DVD now, but first observe the funniest of scenes when Stalin is found unconscious by simply clicking the link below:

 

Well, whether you are new to college or not, why not take a break from all the early stress of finding your way around and decompress with a free movie on the library? I find it a perfect way to escape from reality and get lost in another world, you might too.

 

 

Not sure how to access e-stream? Then simply click on the link below…

 

 

 

With the help of his dutiful assistant Angus Bough (Miller), Johnny must navigate the complex machinations of the political world to prove to everyone he truly is the agent Britain needs. This spy spoof unsurprisingly saw mixed reactions from critics but audiences loved it. It’s perfect family entertainment and a popular guilty pleasure viewing. Two sequels were subsequently released, Johnny English Reborn (2011) and Johnny English Strikes Again (2018), while a fourth entry is in development. You can loan the start of the franchise now on DVD. Plus, click the link below to get a glimpse of the laughs, by watching the clip of Johnny being assigned his first mission:

 

The second British entry, is the much more old-fashioned drama – Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (2011). An adaptation of the 1974 John le Carré novel, it is directed by Tomas Alfredson and features an ensemble cast including: Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight, Harry Potter), Colin Firth (Bridget Jones’s Diary, Kingsman), Ciarán Hinds (Belfast) and Toby Jones (The Hunger Games). Oldman portrays British intelligence agent George Smiley, who is forcibly retired alongside his boss “Control” after an operation gone wrong. In the aftermath, Sir Percy Alleline (Jones) aka the “Tinker” becomes the new boss, hiring Bill Haydon (Firth) and Roy Bland (Hinds) aka the “Tailor & “Soldier” as his deputies.

 

After discovering a mole within the agency however, the undersecretary of state recruits Smiley to covertly investigate and find them. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy was a massive success, winning BAFTA’s Outstanding British Film award, while Oldman was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar. In terms of the critics, David Gritten [The Daily Telegraph] labelled it “a triumph” and rated it a full five stars, while Peter Travers [Rolling Stone] praised it as – “easily one of the year’s best films”. The quintessential espionage thriller is available on both & e-stream and you can view the trailer by clicking the link below:

 

Travelling ‘across the pond’, the first American entry is Burn After Reading (2008), directed by The Coen Brothers (The Big Lebowski, No Country for Old Men). The impressive cast for this black comedy includes – Brad Pitt (Troy, Moneyball), Frances McDormand (Fargo, Nomadland), George Clooney (Ocean’s Eleven 2001, Gravity), John Malkovich (The Man in The Iron Mask) and Tilda Swinton (The Chronicles of Narnia). The plot begins with CIA analyst Osborne Cox quitting his job when faced with demotion. Having learned of this, his wife Katie (Swinton) begins to divorce him and hopes to turn her affair with U.S. Marshal Harry (Clooney) into a proper relationship. Osborne meanwhile, decides to write a memoir to fill his time; though unbeknownst to him a draft is copied by Katie along with files for her divorce lawyer.

 

By a series of unfortunate events, a disk with the copied files is accidently left at a local gym. It is found by trainer Chad (Pitt) and his co-worker Linda (McDormand), who proceed to blackmail Osborne over what they think to be highly sensitive information contained within his memoir. This does not go as planned however, especially when the increasingly paranoid Harry gets involved. Described as “a tightly wound, slickly plotted spy comedy” by Andrew Pulver [The Guardian], it both intrigues and entertains in abundance, due to a stylish script and a fabulous cast. This underrated gem is available only on e-stream and you can a catch a glimpse of the hilarity by watching the clip in the link below:

 

Lastly, we have Peter Segal’s Get Smart (2008). Though a remake of a 1960s U.S. TV series of the same name, it is also pretty much the American version of Johnny English. Comedic giant Steve Carrell is in the lead role (Anchorman, Despicable Me), supported by the likes of: Anne Hathaway (Les Misérables, The Devil Wears Prada), Dwayne Johnson (Moana, Jumanji: The Next Level), Alan Arkin (Argo, Little Miss Sunshine) and Terence Stamp (Superman II). Carrell plays Maxwell Smart, an analyst for the spy agency CONTROL, while he dreams of being a field agent but is constantly rejected by the Chief (Arkin).

 

When CONTROL headquarters is attacked by rival organisation KAOS, who obtain all the identities of active field agents, the unknown Max is promoted to the rank of field Agent 86. He is partnered with Agent 99 (Hathaway) and tasked with uncovering and stopping KAOS plan, while retrieving the list of agents before more harm can be done to them. The two face friction along the way however, from veteran Agent 23 (Johnson). It’s funny, thrilling and enjoyable – Steve Carrell is at his comedic best with a stellar supporting cast. Richard Roeper [Chicago Sun-Times] labelled it as – “one of the more pleasant films of the year”. Loan it now only on DVD and view a clip of Max’s mishaps on a plane by clicking the link below:

 

Here’s to another year almost done, the summer break on the horizon. When you get the chance, why not have a rest and watch one of these highly entertaining movies, they’ll improve your holidays I have no doubt. Have a happy and safe Summer everyone! And I’ll see you in September where satire awaits…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not sure how to access e-stream? Then simply click on the link below…