Cop Out

YEAR 2010

DIRECTOR Kevin Smith

STARRING Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan

 WRITER Robb Cullen, Mark Cullen

OVERVIEW A comedy about a veteran NYPD cop (Willis) whose rare baseball card is stolen. Since it's his only hope to pay for his daughter's upcoming wedding, he recruits his partner(Morgan) to track down the thief.

OPINION  Great casting!!!! Great scripting (unless it was ad libbing?) Is Morgan the inspiration for Shrek? He is fascinating to watch. He has a comic’s timing to die for and a face to match. There are 3 scenes I could watch over and over again..so far …4 times. The ‘interview room’ scene at the Police Station , the ‘Knock knock’ scene in the Police car and the ‘Italian mother ‘ at the burglary scene. Willis is perfect and modest. He gifts Morgan most of the screen time and Morgan deserves it.

The pace is fabulous.

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What’s your number

YEAR 2011

DIRECTOR Mark Mylod

STARRING Anna Farris, Chris Evans, Martin Freeman and Zachary Quinto.

OVERVIEW an offbeat young woman decides, after hitting the un-magical number of 20 lovers, to re-visit all her ex-boyfriends in the hopes of finding the man of her dreams. She’s assisted in her quest by her womanising neighbour Colin (Chris Evans).

OPINION  No no no . Anna Farris is hilarious …in that bunny movie, but not this. She is too old to look so young and isn’t she supposed to be 30+? God knows. Chris Evans is worth a re-look….if he gets a better movie , which I think he will. Story hanging on by its claws and dialogue was better left on the page..

RATING YY

Happy Ever Afters

YEAR 2009

DIRECTOR Stephen Burke (feature debut)

STARRING Sally Hawkins, Tom Riley, Jade Yourell, Ariyon Bakare, Tina Kellegher, Simon Delaney

 WRITER Stephen Burke

OVERVIEW One venue for two wedding receptions and when Maura clashes with Freddie, disaster ensues and inter-marriage romance blossoms.

OPINION  Lovely tale…with great potential. Too long and tough editing would have increased the laughs and kept a jauntier flow. The co-star almost steals the show from the lead actress.

RATING YY1/2

 

 

Tabloid

YEAR 2010

DIRECTOR Errol Morris

STARRING Joyce McKinney ,Kent Gavin, Dr. Hong

 WRITER Errol Morris

OVERVIEW documentary on a former Miss Wyoming who is charged with abducting and imprisoning a young Mormon Missionary

OPINION  Really interesting. As the tabloid reporter said” this has something for everyone, bondage, beauty Queens, kidnapping, nuns”. My own personal opinion- don’t fall in love with a wimp!

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Lost in Translation

YEAR 1988

DIRECTOR Sofia Coppola

STARRING Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson and Giovanni Ribisi 

WRITER Sofia Coppola

OVERVIEW A movie star in Tokyo to do a whisky ad and a neglected newlywed meet up as strangers.

OPINION  Bill Murray is mesmorizing…. It’s like watching bubbles float through the air…you cannot take your eyes off them, wondering when they will pop and surprise you. Such a genus!! My own personal feeling is Johansson is propped up by some very big talents, in all her movies and that her bubble will eventually burst – but not in a good way. Beautiful, compelling direction by Coppola and wonderful writing.

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Broken Flowers

YEAR 1988

DIRECTOR Jim Jarmusch

STARRING Bill Murray, Jessica Lange and Sharon Stone

WRITER Jim Jarmusch, Bill Raden (inspired by an idea from),

OVERVIEW Murray embarks on a cross-country journey to track down four of his former lovers after receiving an anonymous letter stating that he has a son

OPINION  touching and Bill Murray is understated and realistic…good choice . we wait for a laugh and don’t get one, but it keeps us waiting the whole movie. I like the thinking; putting sharon Stone and Jessica Lange together in the same movie.

RATING YYY1/2

 

 

What about Bob?

YEAR 1991

DIRECTOR Frank Oz

STARRING Bill Murray, Richard Dreyfuss and Julie Hagerty 

WRITER Alvin Sargent (story), Laura Ziskin (story),

OVERVIEW A psychiatrist’s most dependent patients, tracks him down during his family vacation.

OPINION  Bill Murray is a comic genius. The innocent face and the sweet demeanour hide his demonic side. I think this is one of the worst titles in the history of movie-making. Should have been ‘ Baby Steps’.

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