Film Review : American Sniper

Film Review : American Sniper 

By Paul Daley 25th January 2015 

So here's my problem with this film How does the killing by one man of 160 people make the American Sniper of the title Chris Kyle an American hero? Should this  be a film that celebrate his achievements or should it condone the glorification of a mass murderer

Unfortunately Director Clint Eastwood chooses to avoid addressing any of these questions along with any of the other moral dilemmas that would arise from the significance of Chris Kyle's actions. What he (Eastwood) has chosen to do, is to make a cold sterile 'mater of fact' movie. That nails it's patriotic colours to the flag. 

Based on a true story. American Sniper, tells the tale of celebrated Navy Seal Chris Kyle. This specialist Marksmen was credited with the most kills in any conflict. He was responsible for the death of at least 160 terrorists mostly men but as shown in the film he is prepared to shoot and kill, women and children without any remorse also.

Bradley Cooper plays Kyle, and has been nominated for an Oscar for his performance. Playing to a home audience, the film has been much praised. It's significance being, to give its audience a warped sense of Kyles achievement, but sadly  it fails to address the bigger question of why American troops were actually in Iraq. And whilst  Eastwood doesn't feel the need to make a movie that digs to deep, neither does Cooper playing Kyle choose to question his actions, or shows any remorse for his victims. 

This is soulless movie, that to me lacks any depth. Coopers character is difficult to engage with. And the saving grace of the film is Sienna Miller, who plays Kyle's wife. She is the only sympathetic character who actually brings any emotion to the screen. Their is never a set piece moment in which Coopers character questions what he is doing or why they ( America) are in Iraq. For the most part this is  gung-ho let's go get 'em before they get us movie.

I wonder, does Eastwood,  subconsciously portray 'Chief' Kyle as modern day 'Dirty Harry'. A character from his acting past. Both were men of few words but who had an appetite for killing without compulsion. Driven by the need to take the bad guys off the street. It didn't seem to matter to the director that the streets in this modern tale are thousands of miles from Kyle's Texas heartland. 

Kyle became known as 'Legend'  to his fellow Marines, such was his prowess. and it's Kyle's legend that The director and the cast have tried to protect. Unfortunately In in doing so they have made a film that leaves you with more questions than answers. 

Despite his 'heroics' it's not the terrorist that takes Chris Kyle's life, but a battle scared former marine veteran. Just like his own deadly bullets. The gunshot that killed him  was unexpected and came out of the blue. 

Despite its Oscar nominations, as testament to the Iraq war I think it fails to reach the heights other contemporary films about the Iraq conflict achieved such as The Hurt Locker and the under rated JarHeads. 

Man Talk 26th January 2015

Their was a time when a round of drinks for the lads was lager lager lager and if their was someone  a bit old school a pint of bitter. Now a trip to the bar ( not so many pubs anymore) means having to choose from a selection of beers with as many options as any wine list. From the European bottled options to the exotic Asian beers and now the micro brews that seem to be the flavour of the month. Just asking for a beer has never been more complicated. I was recently offered a pint of 'neckoil' in one bar or the option of a Punk IPA or a Mad Hatter in another. And they are just the ones I could remember. I say remember as another beer  I tried isn't called 'Ruination' for nothing. Thank goodness for dry January.

I discovered What every man should have in his wardrobe the other day, it's a smart belt or a 'Beltie' This is a micro processor controlled belt which adjusts itself depending on your circumstances. If you eat to much it will loosen itself. This clever little thing is programmed to automatically adjusts itself as your waste line expands. However It also recognises when you've been sitting around to long and tightens itself, forcing you to stand up and move around until it decides you've had enough exercise  then  it eases the pressure. 

You may have seen in the news that experts recommend  walking for twenty minutes a day is good for your health. Which is great for me because the nearest fast food  outlet  is a  ten minute walk away. So add the ten minute walk back and all that excersize will not only keep me fit but give me an appetite to eat my chips win win id say. 

Was anybody one of the 10,000 people who applied for the vacancy as a paint ball impact tester. Yes it's a real job, being used as a target and getting paid for it. 

Mark Zuckerberg founder of Facebook latest obsession is books. He says they allow you to immerse yourself in  a subject - nice idea but could you live without google for your instant information, how many of us could find the time to go to a library and spend hours looking for some facts, when we can have the answers at our finger tips in seconds. Sorry Mark but theirs no going back. 

I'm sure some of you will be really glad to know that scientists have found that being sarcastic can add up to 3 yrs to your life. Yippee! They've found that  sarcasm is extremely good for the mind - well they would say that wouldn't they 

What's with the crazy weather these days. This week they announced that  last year was the hottest ever, and  yet, we had record flooding and it got so cold, at one point experts called it a 'Weather bomb'. We had tornados in Bristol last week and hundred mile an hour winds in Scotland  and now the latest extreme is 'Thundersnow' it's what you get when theirs a storm but it's to cold to rain. My advice, be prepared, these days you dare not leave home without a hat scarf raincoat, sunblock and a pair of sunglasses.  Four seasons in a day is the norm these days

Film Review: whiplash

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Film Review : Whiplash 

If you’re expecting Whiplash to be one of those sanitized musical television series and movies you saw portrayed back in the eighties, for example Fame or more recently Glee, then don’t bother going to see this film.

Each episode of Fame would begin with dance teacher Debbie Allen motivating her class by telling them “if you want fame you’ve gotta earn it”. And the students all knew to be the best, but they’ve all got to try a little harder. In Glee, the words of encouragement are coming from teacher Will Schuster, played by Mathew Morrison. His idea of encouragement was to be firm but fair.

Whiplash turns these ideas of positive encouragement on its head and shows a darker side of musical schools. This is an uncompromising movie that examines the real price you have to pay for fame. JK Simmons plays Mr Fletcher, the demonic music teacher. His style could be likened to that of a psychotic army drill instructor; he is brutalising perfection outof his students.

Simmons gives a performance so filled with bile and anger that even sitting in the audience, you are left shaken by its force. It’s such an effective and believable performance that it should guarantee its presenter an Oscar in the next few weeks. Fletcher is vicious in his appraisal of his charges, opposed to his students’ meek acceptance of his verbal and sometimes physical battering.

Whiplash is the title of a jazz tune that the boys in the band are expected to perfect for an up and coming music competition. Miles Teller plays the young, ambitious drummer, who hopes to win a place in the school’s elite jazz band with Simmons as the leader, who expects perfection from his players. He sees failure as either weakness or defiance. The young Teller, who hopes to impress Simmons, demonstrates an almost Olympian commitment to the challenge of perfecting his drumming skills.

Watching Whiplash leaves you feeling as uncomfortable as the students. Such is the expletive driven battering; those that fail to achieve the conductor’s high standards receive nothing, and such is the convincing force with which Simmons delivers his vicious lines. You can’t help but squirm as he switches up his gears of intolerance.

This brilliant and original drama is a modern-day twisted High School Musical, replacing happy pop songs with the uncomfortable rhythms of jazz. Director Damien Chazelle explores ambition in the different ways both pupil and master quest for greatness, then descend in to an obsessive madness for perfection.

You will not see a better acting performances this year than those of Simmons and Teller. Their acting is dark, menacing and intense, just like the movie, which you watch sitting on the edge of your seat. Like the jazz music they play, it is a film that is both off beat and unconventional with its unusual theme. It makes it something to be seen and savoured.

Film Review: Foxcatcher

BY PAUL DALEY | January 18th 2015

I bet not many film reviews begin by applauding the skills of the make up team who have transformed the acting talents in this movie. So let’s begin by giving credit to those often underappreciated souls whose collective talents add to the value of this film.

You spend the first half of Foxcatcheramazed by the transformations. From being trim and toned for his role inMagic Mike, Channing Tatum has morphed into the ‘incredible bulk’ for his character, the Olympic champion wrestler Mark Shultz. And before you can become too engrossed in Tatum’s performance, Steve Carrell totally reinvented himself to become John DuPont, the self-styled ‘Golden Eagle’ coach of the Foxcatcher wrestling team.

Foxcatcher is the true story of DuPont and his ultimately fatal obsession with Mark Shultz and his brother Dave, who are both champion wrestlers. DuPont, one of America’s richest men, invested huge amounts of his personal fortune to form his own wrestling team. The tragedy in this obsession is that it leads to him shooting and killing Dave Shultz in a jealous rage.

On the surface, this is a case of a single white millionaire lavishing his millions on his beloved sport of wrestling, and the complicated relationship with his prized champions. But beneath the surface, it is a far deeper, darker and far more thoughtful movie. It’s rooted in family, and the bonds that entwine them on all levels. From the controlling and manipulative John DuPont still craving acceptance from his mother – a vintage cameo performance from Vanessa Redgrave – to his twisted love for his protegé Mark Shultz and his resentment of the bond between the brothers, whose own relationship becomes strained by Dave’s reluctance to uproot his family and join his sibling in the Foxcatcher team.

Dave Shultz is played by Mark Ruffalo, who is another fine addition to this ensemble cast. His calm, reflective performance is a masterclass in understated acting. His commitment to the role sees him adopt a bulky squat frame, which blends perfectly into the mood of the film. However, it is Tatum and Carrell who have made all the headlines for this movie. Carrell, more renowned for his comedic talents, plays this role with a totally straight bat. Absorbing the nuances of the DuPont character completely, he never drops his commitment level to this role. Despite his character having strong comic overtones, he rejects the opportunity to play it for laughs.

For Carrell, it definitely is a breakout role, and makes him a serious contender for lots of awards. This is a performance that deserves its commendations. He breathes life into a strange, awkward character, and his physical transformation is amazing to say the least. While Carrell’s performance is a joy to watch, to me, it is Channing Tatum as the lumbering ox of a man Mark Shultz, that truly is the standout performance. Playing the Punch drunk wrestler, his mental capacity apparently slowed from one too many head locks, Tatum has produced a totally believable character.

He has created a slow lurching monster of a man. Perhaps he took character tips from Sylvester Stallone’s early Rocky movies, or more recently, Mickey Rourke’s Oscar-winning turn in The Wrestler.But this takes nothing away from Channing Tatum; this will be a long remembered performance. Credit should also be given to the acting talents of Sienna Miller. As Ruffalo’s wife she is unrecognisable. Hidden behind a mop of hair and oversized glasses,  she’s certainly not their to add glamour; she gives a solid supportive performance that enhances her reputation as a very talented actress.

Based on a true story, Foxcatchermay be a dark tragic tale, but the truth can often be more fascinating than fiction, which makes this movie worth seeing.

Film Review – Boyhood

Reality bites – Is Boyhood a homage to Fly-on-the-wall ‘Dramality’ for the hipster generation?

Richard Linklater deserves high praise for his latest labour of love, the movie ‘Boyhood. Filmed over a lengthy twelve year period, both the director and the cast have produced a work of outstanding originality.

A twelve year labour of love – hats off to the the cast, who have shown immense loyalty to this project.

The story itself, on the outside, is a simple one. The director films Masonas he is growing up, but Richard Linklater has managed to make ‘Boyhood’ so much more. The young star’s journey (played by Ellar Coltrane) from an eight year old boy to an eighteen year old young man may be the hook the film hangs on but it’s the mundane snapshots of his life that gives the film its depth and stirs the emotion.

The audacity of a film of this nature speaks volumes of the commitment of all those involved. The ‘grown ups’ Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette both give outstanding supporting performances. They too signed on to the director’s vision, turning up religiously every year to film the next instalment. Whilst the young Coltrane’s growth between scenes is an obvious talking point. Both Arquette’s and Hawke’s drift into middle age, is both touching and poignant.

The choice not to hide behind make up and cinematic tricks only added to the authenticity of the story – meaning that what you saw was the real thing; warts and all.

The director claimed a lot of the script was improvised, with the story developing, to reflect ‘the moment’, and so the characters experienced the storyline as if in real time.

It was this degree of recklessness, allowing the ups and downs of their lives to be shown but never explained, which gave the film its edge.

There was, of course, a few staged plot lines. But for the majority of the film you entered a scene, and that place in the character’s lives became the story.

It could be said that this was a movie maker’s take on reality TV or ‘dramality’ – a TOWIE for the hipster generation. The plot was sketchy, the lines were never forced and the delivery was always presented in a laid back matter-of-fact sort of way.

Without thinking, this is a nod to the hipster generation. Swap the trendy, quirky ‘norm core’ swagger of Brooklyn and drop it in rural Texas and you get a sense of its styling.

Whilst nobody spoke to camera, it was absolutely a fly-on-the-wall drama. Like all good reality shows you got the feeling that once the young actors forgot the cameras were there, they allowed the film to just reflect the drift of their lives. They became comfortable not speaking and a look Could deliver as much emotion as any word or sentence.

Whether through luck or talent, casting Director Linklater has found a real star in his young lead.

Ellar Coltrane managed to maintain the personality of his character consistently throughout the twelve years of filming. His calm, delicate performance has been hailed for its maturity; the only real question over his acting ability would be: was he acting or, like the best reality shows, were we just seeing him play himself?

Future roles will tell us if he has a career in the business. But whatever happens, the string of awards that he will surely pick up will be a tribute to his efforts.

As a watcher, you feel the same sense of sadness that haunts the film: watching the boy grow older by years would strike a note with many and perhaps a tear or two for lost innocence.

Comparing this film to a reality TV show could be seen by some as a massive slight on a quality film, yet the premise is the same and sometimes the study of the banality of life can be as as rewarding as Shakespeare.

Man Talk 11th January 2015

 

 

'What do we want? Equality, when do we want it? Now!' A men's group is is calling  for equal rights for men in 2015. So move over you feminists. This year is all about the 'Menemists'   Thats right, If we are to believe what they are claiming ,men have been under the cosh for to long, and its time we stood up for our rights, and tackled the oppression we all suffer from women on a daily basis! Femenists burned their bra's, maybe we'll see angry mobs of disgruntled husbands setting fire to their underpants outside the Saint Georges Hall in protest. Seize the day my oppressed borthers, if you dare.

 

And on the subject of underpants how many of you received armour plated undies as gifts this christmas? Not many I guess, which is a pity, as research has found that, if your in the habit of siting with your laptop on your lap, the radiation emitted can cause problems down under.( and Im not talking about in Australia here!) Armour plated underpants are on the market to reduce the threat.

 

The Scouse girl phenomenon of walking round town in rollers may have been a big hit with the ladies a few years ago, but I don't think Bruno Mars latest look promoting men wearing rollers in their hair in his video for the brilliant 'Uptown Funk', is going to take off. The sight of a gang of girls, shopping with big velcro rollered sets might be acceptable,  but a gang of lads standing on the Kop or in the Gladys Street, 'rollered up' for a big night out later. Just isnt going to happen.

 

Next thing you know we'll all be wearing 'Mankets' or an extra big scarf that looks like a blanket, Its the 'trendy' look for guys or so they say, Think Ill be sticking to a coat.

 

Do you consider yourself a 'Hate Watcher' or somebody who when watching TV spends the whole time telling anybody who will listen how awful the programme is, how terrible the actors are and asking why we are watching such drivel. They hate watching but love telling everbody about it!

 

Can't say I'm to impressed wit the latest government advice on how we should get our information if there is ever a Nuclear apocolypse, or a major life threatening catastrophe. They say check Facebook Twitter or other social media sites for news. Obviously who ever thought of that idea is not a regular social media user, or they would know that there are already regular reports of all kinds of appocolypses from the zombie type to the Alien landings. If twitter was taken at face value, we'd all be stockpiling food and living in our cellars. 

 

The great phillosopher Joey Essex, credited for introducing the word 'Reem' to the english language, was asked for his predictions for the word of 2015, his choice – 'Whopper' – to be used to celebrate an achievement, as in, 'The column is complete and its 'Whopper!'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Katie Hopkins – Speaking the unspeakable truth

Katie Hopkins – Speaking the unspeakable truth

By Paul Daley 3rd January 2015

In a sanitised world were to quote most political commentators

‘you can’t get a cigarette papers between the political parties’

it’s down to ‘rent-a-gob’ motor mouth columnists like Richard Littlejohn, former Sun editor Kelvin McKenzie and the current ‘Enfant Terrible’ Katie Hopkins to –  ‘Tell it like it is’ with their versions of what is for many the uncomfortable truth.

Shooting from the lip these commentators have raised the hackles of not just the left and the right of the political spectrum, but the ‘right on’ brigade as well

But it is Katie Hopkins the former  ‘Apprentice’ contestant who has carved out her own particular niche as the face of ‘Fed up Britain’.

She touches nerves with her opinions. And her views are always frank, fearless, and controversial, delivered with a bluntness that would leave most politicians looking for a job.

One part Tory to two parts UKip.  Although not endorsing any one political party. Her agenda, is a mix of a return to the values of  the good old days, fused  with a modern day appraisal of the ‘sorry’ state of the Britain we live in today.

From immigration to the work shy, she espouses her opinions. She berates the benefits Britain culture. Her latest campaign is against the obese (in her opinion it’s a self inflicted condition that should neither be condoned or be excused.)

An example of her bluntness, was a recent radio phone- in, in which she berated  an overweight home shopping delivery driver accepting no excuses for his weight issues, and telling him she wouldn’t have employed him, as the public face ofhis company. To paraphrase, ‘who wants to see a fat man delivering food to your door, what message does that send out?

To make her point that obesity is a lifestyle choice. She deliberately gained four stone in weight and then lost it again, to show how, in her opinion it can be done.

But Hopkins is not just a one issue talk box.  She has also criticised mothers for giving their children exotic names. Caused outrage with her views on Peaches Geldof who died of a drug overdose. And lately she has enraged a nation after saying a  Scottish nurse infected with the Ebola virus shouldn’t be treated in England.

But does her vitriol, whilst jaw dropping express an under current of opinion that many right wing politicians may agree with but are afraid to say.

The UKip  leader Nigel Farage comes closest to expressing Hopkins views in a political forum. Whilst the other party leaders, fearing ‘real issues’ confrontation try to avoid controversy. Farage’s ”blokey’ man down the pub persona is the agenda that is winning most support.

The ingrained policies of the left and the right in politics are struggling to come to terms with a straight talking man ( or woman) in the street approach to the countries perceived problems.

Katie Hopkins and her ilk are now setting the agenda with their forthright views, and it’s how politicians such as Farage are responding to those issues that are shaping the political arguments.

So does Katie Hopkins have her own agenda? Or is she just, as some might say ‘a gobby bird’ who likes to speak her mind. She might argue that she’s tapping into the inner voice in all of us.

Hopkins now a tabloid columnist and an active user of social media. She generates the same sort of reaction to her opinions  as any leading politician. Loved or loathed she has established herself as a ‘voice’ of middle class Britain, and it’s a role she has embraced.

She described herself as; ‘A conduit for the truth’ her critics are not so generous calling her an ‘insufferable snob’ and a ‘lowlife superbitch’

whatever your opinion of her, their can be no doubt that Katie Hopkins is a voice switched on to the under current of modern day Britain, and more and more people are listening in.