Cinema Review - The Wolf Of Wall Street

Martin Scorsese's directorial career has spanned no less than 4 decades, in which he has presented to audiences a rich array of powerful stories, enigmatic characters and simply scintillating cinematic adventures that are more than often unmatched. A man who possesses a filmography that speaks for itself, Scorsese knows no limits to his creations, and The Wolf Of Wall Street is one cinematic entry that will once again live long in the memory.

Based on the true life story of stockbroker Jordan Belfort, The Wolf Of Wall Street follows the young go-getter (Leonardo DiCaprio) as he heads into the bullpen and tackles one of the toughest and meanest industries known to man. Introduced immediately by cocaine-snorting, money-lusting Mark Hanna (Matthew McConaughey), Jordan soon finds himself at the heart of proceedings as he loses his job, but then finds his drive and determination resuting in his own company and a whole wealth of opportunities.

Banding together a team that includes best friend Donnie (Jonah Hill), a man whose white teeth are as unsettling as his marriage to his cousin, his eccentric father (a brilliant Rob Reiner) and many others, Jordan finds excitement in robbing from people to line the pockets of himself and his employees. As the game reaps the ultimate rewards and Jordan marries the beautiful Naomi (Margot Robbie), the authorities close in, with Agent Patrick Denham (Kyle Chandler) turning his sights on taking down Belfort once and for all.

If you're not too fond of violence, drug-abuse, sex and explicit language then you may want to turn away now; if not, then you're in for a treat of the Martin Scorsese masterpiece kind. We all know Marty has served up some truly remarkable films in his esteemed directorial career, and now the man himself serves up on a silver platter yet another to have you singing from the rooftops.

The praise for the film comes from every corner; at the heart is the man whose stretch without an Oscar is perplexing as it is infuriating, and once again Leonardo DiCaprio proves he is one of the best leading men in the business. Arrogant, lustful and outrageous, his portrayal of Jordan Belfort is one that will stick long in the memory. Whether it be his over-enthusiasm for cocaine, his constant sex drive or the moment he loses all control of his body in one of the most hilarious drug-fuelled scenes you will have ever seen, Leo has it all and deserves all the accolades under the sun.

That too can be said of his extremely well-crafted supporting cast. Jonah Hill strikes a chord yet again with both his dramatic and comedic credentials, director Rob Reiner proves he is just as good in front of the camera as he is behind it, and former Neighbours star Margot Robbie adds her name to the list of desriable actresses around today with a sultry and unforgettable performance.

It's not just the actors who are in top form here. The double-act of Scorsese and screenwriter Terence Winter are simply electric. While Marty whisks us frantically through the bullpen, has Leo talking directly to us down the lens, and serves up a multitude of simply breathtaking scenes, Winter, known for his work on The Sopranos, brings to us a script littered with the most profanities in one film, yet wholly justified, and combined with such slick and engaging dialogue that it really feels like you are in the thick of it. 

The Wolf Of Wall Street, like its main protagonist, is a one of a kind beast; it's a dirty, filthy, foul-mouthed piece of work and the better for it!

Film Rating: 5 F's out of 5

Top 10 Of 2013

As we approach another exciting year, it's time to look back at some of my own favourite films from the past year, in what was yet another exceptional 365 days in the cinematic calendar. It was a tough contest, with many a brilliant film emanating from every corner of the cinematic universe, but I've finally narrowed the list down to 10 and here they are.

1. Captain Phillips -Tom Hanks deserves an Oscar for this spellbinding performance in a gruelling, thrilling, nail-biting film that grabs the audience from start to end. Talking of the end, it is one of the most profoundly moving finales you will see in a long time.

2. Gravity - The work of an absolute visionary, Gravity is monumental in its scale, visuals and performances, culminating in a groundbreaking cinematic experience. The 3d is stupendously perfect, Bullock earns another Oscar nod and Clooney offers a superb supporting role. Unbelievable visuals, immense sound work and gripping drama, Gravity is a stunner.

3. Don Jon - Honest, funny and wonderfully structured, JGL's debut feature stands out from the rom-com crowd in every aspect. It's one of the cleverest and in-depth studies of the genders in a very long time and just shows how talented Gordon-Levitt really is.

4. The Selfish Giant - A magnificently brave debut feature that speaks volumes in the British industry today and stands tall like a giant among even the very best of British in recent years.
The young talent on show here is nothing short of astounding, even usurping the hugely impressive senior cast members.

5. Man Of Steel - It's the Superman depiction we were waiting for; epic in scale and in its action sequences, strong in its emotional edge and utterly engaging.

6. The Spectacular Now - Simply breathtaking stuff. Miles Teller is the best he's ever been and Shailene Woodley once again shows why she is one of the best young females around.

7. Like Father, Like Son - With a simply fascinating premise, Like Father, Like Son presents interesting key individuals who really help the audience to invest in the events unfolding. A strong adult cast is only bolstered by superb choices in child casting, to create a wholly emotional and affecting film experience.

8. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - Capturing the sheer essence of its literary counterpart, Catching Fire is the film that builds on the foundations of the first films and delivers in aces.

9. The Kings Of Summer - Cut from the same cloth as Stand By Me, The Kings Of Summer is a sheer exceptional film brimming with wonder and superiority. Packed with beautiful imagery and scenery, this is one independent film that will live long in the memory with its captivating story of running away from home to begin a new life and the eventual perils involved with independence.

10. Stoker - Haunting, psychological warfare on the mind that etches itself in there and doesn't let go. Sublime direction and editing backed by the exceptionally unsettling and sinister Goode and tainted Wasikowska

Where are they now?

As a regular contributor to Yahoo!, I often throw my hat into the ring of their horror blog and produce content that focuses on the best in the genre.

Recently, I took a journey of exploration to find out about five individual figures notable in the world of horror and asked the question; where are they now?

Check out my articles and feel free to share.

Sir Christopher Lee

Robert Englund

Christina Ricci

Jamie Lee Curtis

Heather Langenkamp

You can also check out my Yahoo profile with more of my work here.

Cinema Review - Carrie

Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed horror remakes/reboots (whatever you want to call them) in the past; Rob Zombie's Halloween even made me sit up and recognise that my favourite horror film could be tinkered with to great effect, but there are some that should have been simply left alone. The latest edition in the 'classics that should be left alone' is Kimberley Peirce's Carrie. 

For those not familiar with Brian De Palma's classic take on the Stephen King novel, Carrie focuses on the shy Carrie White, this time portrayed by the brilliant Chloe Grace Moretz, as she attempts to make her way through school. Unfortunately for her, trouble comes in the form of both her abundantly religious, self-harming and forceful mother (Julianne Moore), as well as the majority of those around her at school.

For Carrie, life is dreadful and day-by-day the events that unfold see her slowly descending into anger, culminating in her uncovering that she has telekinetic powers that are growing stronger. Amazed by her newfound characteristic, Carrie's life seemingly improves further when she is invited to the prom by one of the most popular guys in school. Initially confused, she soon comes around to the idea it is not part of a joke, but unbeknownst to her or her date, something terrible is being planned, and will unleash her inner fury upon them all...

Shot-for-shot remakes simply have no place in the horror genre, let along any

other. They seem like the most pointless addition to the growing list of Hollywood releases, and in Carrie it feels like a lot of the 1976 film is being replicated through lack of originality. That being said, Kimberley Peirce's 'update' is flaccidly scripted, devoid of any scares or real terror, and simply doesn't provide the strong characteristics required to be called a success.

In truth, the only guiding light throughout the whole film is Moretz, gritting her teeth and plunging herself into a role that sees her turn from scared and bullied teenager to livid defier of human nature. She produces another horror remake turn worthy of plaudits, it's just a shame she is let down by her support anchors. The usually reliable Julianne Moore turns pantomime villain as she overplays mother Margaret, while the remainder of the cast may as well have been plucked from a straight-to-DVD film. 

Peirce clearly respects her subject material but all too often, culminating in a wholly forgettable horror entry. Cementing her version with laughable dialogue, changes that provoke head shakes, and a real failure to channel any fear into her audience, this is a piece of work she may want to forget. 

Film rating: 2 out of 5 F's 

Blu-Ray Review - Time Bandits

The ultimate throwback to the adventurous films of the 1980s, Time Bandits makes it bow on blu-ray and I don't mind telling you, it looks breathtaking in its new form and still glimmers with excitement and joy with every scene that passes.

Time Bandits follows eleven-year-old Kevin (Craig Warnock) whose love for everything historical is about to get a whole lot more exciting, as he joins a group of dwarves on an adventure as they use a stolen map to locate treasure. Along the way, they come along such individuals as Robin Hood (John Cleese), Napoleon (Ian Holm) and King Agememnon (Sean Connery). As their quest continues, Evil (David Warner) plots to steal the map and use it for his own devices.

Time Bandits is without a doubt one of those films that will appeal to a certain generation, its low-budget and lack of special effects a far cry from the films of these days. Nevertheless, an adventure that is undoubtedly as fun for the actors themselves as us the audience, it is a breathless delight and proves that adventures don't have to be blockbusting and possess a huge budget to be ultimately immersive.

With the likes of John Cleese, Michael Palin, Sean Connery and many others on hand, the film itself whisks along at a nice pace, allowing for the fun to really be had by viewers, and the story is as simple yet captivating as humanly possible. 

Regarded as a cult classic, Time Bandits is one of those films that will forever remain a stalwart of the film history, involved in its own quest to slay the blockbuster dragons and prove that low budget films have just as much a right as any to wow audiences. A stunning blu-ray conversion and a true family film, this is one you can savour for years to come yet...

Blu-Ray Rating - 4 out of 5 F's

Cinema Review - Elysium

Neill Blomkamp sprung onto the scene just a few years ago as he presented the world with a staggering vision of sci-fi in the supreme District 9. Now, armed with a bigger budget and a larger platform, the director brings to us Elysium, but can he work his magic once again in the genre?

Elysium sees the world in 2154 as it has changed vastly, with Earth a wasteland and only home to the poor, with those who can afford the luxury, living on Elysium, a brand new space station world with no disease and maintaining a fruitful way of living. 

On Earth, Max (Matt Damon) is looking to live as best as he can working an honest job, but when he is exposed to extreme radiation poisoning, he has little choice but to find a way up to Elysium for a cure. His only way of doing so is doing one last illegal job as he dons an electronic suit of armour that gives him super strength and is the key to his survival. Unfortunately, on his trail are Secretary Of Defence Jessica Delacourt (Jodie Foster) and her hired bounty hunter Kruger (Sharlto Copley)...

There's no denying that Blomkamp is certainly at home when it comes to the sci-fi genre. His imagery and focus on an engaging story within a ravaged world is once again at the pinnacle, and with Elysium he is allowed to broaden his horizons in comparison to the slums of South Africa in District 9. That extra allowance is arguably a welcome sight, with the film among one of the most beautiful sights to behold this year, but at times it does feel a little too big.

While the spectacle is for the most part impressive, Blomkamp's casting is a mixed bag. Damon is undeniably brilliant in the leading man mould, as ever, his character evolving from helpless citizen to the one man who can make a difference is definitely what a blockbuster of this magnitude requires. So too is the villain of the piece, Copley, whose rather soft-hearted accent is quickly shunned by a truly intimidating, blood-lusting individual whose dangerous motives and sheer anger easily strikes that level of fear into the audience that we expect. 

On the flip side, both William Fichtner and, more surprisingly, Jodie Foster bring the bad, with wooden performances and, in Foster's case, an awful accent. At times, in fact, it almost appears that Foster's dialogue is being dubbed somehow, slightly perplexing the audience.

Those negatives aside, Elysium is certainly an applaudable second entry from Blomkamp and continues his strength in the genre, especially when it comes to thrilling set pieces. Any film that contains guns that simply evaporate people and a brilliantly poised grenade explosion to the face should be worthy of accolades.

Film rating: 4 out of 5 F's

Cinema Review - Kick-Ass 2

In a world where Marvel have taken comic book movie domination to a whole new level, it was great to see Mark Millar's Kick-Ass spring onto the scene a few years back. Now, with a reputation to withstand as somewhat of an underdog in the comic world, Kick-Ass 2 hits our screens with new director Jeff Wadlow handed the reins from Matthew Vaughn.

Dave Lizewski (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) has fully embraced his alter-ego as crime fighting Kick-Ass, and in representing good in the city, soon finds that more costumed heroes are out there fighting the good fight. But as Dave joins forces with Justice Forever, led by Colonel Stars And Stripes (Jim Carrey), Mindy McCready (Chloe Grace Moretz) looks to hang up her cape as titular hero Hit-Girl.

With Kick-Ass teaming up with his new gang of superhero friends, Mindy experiences the tough reality of high school as she butts heads with the popular girls, an experience she is far from familiar with. Meanwhile, the villain formerly known as Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) is determined to kill Kick-Ass once and for all, creating himself a new persona as The Motherfucker. Hankering for a slaughter, the self-proclaimed 'world's first ever villain' creates his own team, The Toxic Mega-C*nts and sets out to wreak havoc.

Kick-Ass 2 is certainly a return to familiar territory for fans of the original, with the stakes and the character numbers heightened. In doing so, director Jeff Wadlow slightly lets the ball slip but it would be very unfair to say this sequel is one that is far from its predecessor in terms of quality and its all-important fun factor.

Filled to the brim with belly laughs, outrageous violence and projectile vomiting, Kick-Ass 2 is a brilliant continuation of the series and produces yet more magic from its leads in Johnson and, without a doubt, Moretz. In fact, this is very much Hit-Girl's show, with Moretz returning to bring yet more obscenities and over-the-top youth violence, with her slashing her way through leagues of villains in some of the best action sequences in the film.

That's not to say Kick-Ass and the rest of the gang don't have their fair share, much to the contrary as a great array of new colourful characters add depth to the proceedings. Carrey may be slightly underused but he utilises his screen time well and the likes of Night Bitch (Lindy Booth) and Doctor Gravity (Donald Faison) offer up new and refreshing servings. On the villainous side, Mintz-Plasse hams it up just as he should do but Mother Russia (Olga Kurkulina) is the beast that towers above all both physically and in her performance. A truly formidable foe if there ever was one.

Kick-Ass 2 may not quite be as good as its predecessor but Wadlow knows how to make his audience tick and manages to forge together elements of the first film along with some new ideas to create a riotous affair. Kick-Ass may be around for one last bow but it's certainly Hit-Girl who we want to see more of.

Film rating: 4 out of 5 F's