Two Little Boys Movie Review

Releases: 20^thSeptember 2012

Rating: R16 – Contains Horror, violence, sex scenes & offensive language

Duration: 105 minutes 

Genre:  Comedy

Starring:Bret McKenzie, Hamish Blake and Maaka Pohatu

Director: Robert Sarkies (Out of the Blue, Scarfies)

Reviewer: Mikey Collins 

The Premise>> An irreverent comedy about Nige, his best mate Deano and their riotous misadventures as they struggle with their imploding long-term friendship which is put under pressure by an unfortunate incident involving a hot meat pie, a ginger cat and the untimely death of a Scandinavian soccer star.

The Review>> Since director Robert Sarkies debuted with his 1999 feature Scarfies, some have been wondering if he would return to the dark comedy which made the film famous in New Zealand, or, stay in a similar vein to his most recent film Out of the Blue (2006). Both films had an entirely different feel, so it was hard to say exactly what it was that Sarkies liked to do. It’s safe to say things are clearer now; he likes inter-social comedies, usually about everyday people finding themselves on the wrong side of the law. Two Little Boysmakes this clear, and sees an obvious return to a more Scarfies-like storyline.

Bret McKenzie, from TV’s Flight of the Conchords, plays Nige, a seemly timid young man trying to make the transition from a teenage terror into a man worthy of a girl he’s chasing. On the other side, there’s Deano, played by Hamish Blake from the comedy duo Hamish & Andy, a guy who’s strange fixation on Nige borders on maniac obsession. His main goal; that the pair, and only the pair, remain best of friends till their last, dying breath.

Their worlds are pushed into overdrive when Nige accidentally runs over a Norwegian tourist. As upsetting as it is, the two still want to accomplish their goals, and being thrown in prison for manslaughter isn’t an option. Nige needs Deano’s skills to fish him out of the trouble, and Deano, as clever as he is, sees it as an opportunity to solidify their friendship – let the crazy misadventure begin.

This screwball comedy sees two very fun people in real life, on the big screen for an extended amount of time, which is never a bad thing. They both make very believable mullet-sporting southland goons, trying to make the most out of life. You’ll find yourself squirming at the awkward and laughing at the irreverent, especially during one of their swearing battles.

The Verdict>> If you liked Scarfies, and are after some edgy humor,  with a taste of pre-Scarfies southland history, then Two Little Boys is for you.

Some extra bits to know about the film and to look out for>> Filming started in 2010 in the Southland District, New Zealand and concluded in 2011. Director Robert Sarkies’ brother Duncan Sarkies wrote the novel that predates the film.

It premiered at the Berlin film festival in February 2012.

Jo Nesbo’s Jackpot

Releases: 13^thSeptember 2012 

Rating: R16 – Contains Violence, offensive language & horror

Duration: 82 minutes 

Genre:  Drama

Starring: Kyrre Hellum, Henrik Mestad and Marie Blokhus

Director: Magnus Martens (United)

Reviewer: Jon E Clist 

The Premise>> Terrified and bloody, Oscar Svendsen awakes clinched to a shotgun in a strippers joint. Around him 8 dead men, and police aiming at him. To Oscar it’s clear that he is innocent. It all started when four chaps won 1,7 million on the pools…

The Review>> There have been some crazy films to come out of the Norwegians. Some films even that I can honestly say I found a little hard to fully comprehend. So when this screening came along I really wasn’t sure what to expect other than it might get weird at some point. I was right, weird it did get. The storyline starts right in the middle of the action, while the central character finds himself stuck in the middle of a violent crime, seemingly without knowing how he got there. The plot is unfurled through flashbacks that accompany his conversations with the investigating police detective.

What in general seems like a simple story of a crime gone wrong, peels away its layers like a devious onion. The twists and turns makes for entertaining viewing as you are kind of kept guessing throughout the film. Of course for the bulk of us the cast are not recognisable, so it’s hard to judge how their roles in this film compare to previous films, however for the most part they are believable and quite entertaining in quite an over the top style.

Of course it is not without violence and edgy nature. So Jackpot is not going to be for everyone.  Jackpot comes from the creative mind of Norwegian crime novelist Jo Nesbo, who as of September 2008 more than one and a half million copies of his novels have been sold in Norway alone, and his work has been translated into over forty languages*. (Source: Wikipedia) Hence why in many countries the film is actually titled Jo Nesbo’s Jackpot. Of course his home country of Norway is not the only location interested in putting Jo Nesbo’s work on to the big screen. Martin Scorsese is currently production of one of Nesbo’s most popular crime novels, “The Snowman”. Perhaps this is the next edgy European novel series to successfully translate to the big screen on an international scale, perhaps in the same vein as The Millennium Trilogy.

The Verdict>> Of course this film has an intriguing flow and is edited in a visually interesting manner. So for those who like an edgy foreign film… this could be just what you have been waiting for.

Savages Movie Review

Releases: 13^thSeptember 2012

Rating: R16 – Contains Violence, offensive language, drug use & sex scenes

Duration: 130 minutes 

Genre: Thriller

Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Taylor Kitsch and Blake Lively 

Director: Oliver Stone (Platoon, JFK, Natural Born Killers)

Reviewer: Jon E Clist 

The Premise>> Entrepreneurs Ben, a peaceful and charitable marijuana producer, and friend Chon, a former Navy SEAL, run a lucrative, homegrown industry – raising some of the best weed ever developed. They also share a one-of-a-kind love with Ophelia. Life is idyllic in their Southern California town… until the Mexican Baja Cartel decides to move in and demands that the trio partners with them. When the merciless head of the BC, Elena and her enforcer, Lado, underestimate the unbreakable bond of the three friends, Ben and Chon – with the reluctant assistance of a dirty DEA agent – wage a seemingly unwinnable war against the cartel. And so begins a series of increasingly vicious ploys and maneuvers in a high stakes, savage battle of wills.

The Review>> Let’s be honest, Oliver Stone is one of those intriguing film makers. For most of the film going public his films can seem a little too intense and graphic. Think Natural Born Killers, Platoonand Alexander. Of course his ability to tell a dramatic tale with conviction and depth of character is truly genius. Any director who can draw so riveting a performance out of Tom Cruise like that from Born on the Fourth of July, has to be classed as a directorial master. Platoonwill most likely stay firmly etched as my top war drama of all time, while JFK opened my eyes to the possibility that history is written by the victors and is not always accurate to what really occurred.

So here we have a story of seemingly lovely nice and moral drug dealers caught up in a world that really doesn’t fit their ethos. It is another of those wonderful multi layered stories that kind of connects in different ways with the audience. There is the gritty nature of the drug dealing world they live within, it has afforded them a great lifestyle and many creature comforts, but has also created this kind of unrealistic bubble around their own form of reality. So when the buzz wears off and they are forced to face the truth of life around them the proverbial poo hits the spinner with immense force.

Then of course just under the surface of this plot line sits a love triangle. It is a form of relationship that we have been trained to believe could never work. Two guys who are close like brothers, loving the same girl, who in turn loves them equally. Yes the relationship is physical all round but not in some perverse fetish type format. You get the feeling that this is some new form of family that in some strange world works and fulfills their emotional needs.

Of course as these two elements of the overall plot collide, the complications that are thrust on to the relationship creates a tension that this relationship might not be able to withstand. Of course there is another component that adds weight to the production is the high quality of overall casting. With additional roles performed by such great actors as Salma Hayek, Benicio Del Toro and the great John Travolta, there is a wonderful depth to the characters coming from all angles.

The Verdict>> With a generally interesting plot and characters that you struggle to decide whether to Love or have them, this film will draw you in to its drama in that Oliver Stone special way.

Some extra bits to know about the film and to look out for>> Oliver Stone began working on the screenplay adaptation before the book was published. So confidant he was of this story that he himself contributed to investing in the project.

Although this is the sixth time that Fernando Lara and Oliver Stone have worked together, it will be Lara’s first credited appearance in one of Stone’s films.

Not only did Demián Bichir and Benicio Del Toro co-star in Steven Soderbergh’s movies on Che Guevara, but Oliver Stone had previously filmed several interviews with Fidel Castro, whom Bichir played in the Che Guevara films. Gonzalo Menendez also played Castro in The Lost City

Taylor Kitsch received training from real Navy SEALs as a part of his preparation for the film.

Oliver Stone cast Taylor Kitsch after watching his performance in footage from Battleship, which was still in post-production at the time.

Oliver Stone instructed Blake Lively to take firearm training for her role. Despite not being experienced at the gun range, she hit center mass in her first three shots.

Oliver Stone wrote the role of Magna’s boyfriend for Trevor Donovan after the part he had originally auditioned for was cut out.

Taylor Kitsch performed his own stunts.

For legal reasons, all the marijuana plants in the film are artificial. The production designers visited legal medical marijuana growers to get the details right.

The Watch Movie Review

Releases: 13^thSeptember 2012

Rating: R16 – Contains Violence, sexual references and offensive language. 

Duration: 103 minutes  

Genre:  Comedy 

Starring: Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Richard Ayoade and Jonah Hill 

Director: Akiva Schaffer (Saturday Night Live (1/3 of the Lonely Island)

Reviewer: Jon E Clist 

The Premise>> Four everyday suburban guys come together as an excuse to escape their humdrum lives one night a week. But when they accidentally discover that their town has become overrun with aliens posing as ordinary suburbanites, they have no choice but to save their neighborhood – and the world – from total extermination.

The Review>> Okay so for a bloke this is nearly a dream come true… You have an awesome cast here and Ben Stiller. Now of course that might sound like I am being a bit bitchy about Ben Stiller but seriously he is fine in this movie. Of course it’s the genius of Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill and The IT Crowd’s Richard Ayoade that makes this film entertaining. Stiller plays his usual neurotic control-freak character, so there is no super surprise there. In fact you would say that he is just a slightly more adulated aimed version of his characters from the Meet The Parents and Night at the Museum franchises. So you know exactly what to expect from him and he delivers it as predictably as you would expect. (Well that’s the definition of predictability isn’t it?)

However Vaughn again shows his class as a typical kind of bloke who actually has very little class. His desperation to avoid growing up matches well with Hill’s desire for power. Then of course you have the masterful Ayoade, who again shows his brilliance in being a character that really doesn’t fit in any box. It is weird and cool to see him in a role where he actually pushes the boundaries with real swear words and adult conversation. For those who are familiar with his previous work in The IT Crowd, you will have a good laugh when he actually swears rather than saying fudge or flip. His naivety in The IT Crowdis awesome, however when he does let rip it has this shock factor that is worth the wait.

The Watch is a good blend of situational comedy blended with the absurd. I mean a Neighbourhood Watch group actually finding aliens? Come on it doesn’t get more absurd than that. I think for me, one of the stars of this film is the “Cost Co”. A large portion of the film centres around the local Cost Co. For those who aren’t familiar with Cost Co, it is kind of like “The Warehouse” Extra. Everything at bargain prices under the same roof, including alien attacks.

The Verdict>> A very funny blokes night out sort of film. The sort of film that most women would hate but best enjoyed on a bromantic mandate.

Some extra bits to know about the film and to look out for>> David Dobkin was originally going to direct with Will Ferrell in the leading role, but the duo fell out in summer 2009.

Chris Tucker was considered for the role of Jamarcus.

The movie was originally titled “Neighborhood Watch”, but was changed due to sensitivity over the Trayvon Martin shooting in Florida.