Review: Mississippi Grind (2015)

I feel like I dedicate far too much time defending Ryan Reynolds on this blog, and after being massively underwhelmed by Self/less earlier this year, I was planning on giving Mississippi Grind a miss, but the reviews I had read looked fairly positive, so I scolded myself for being judgmental and gave it a watch the other night.

Gerry (Ben Mendelsohn) loves to gamble but is currently down on his luck and in serious financial trouble. When he winds up meeting Curtis (Ryan Reynolds) a younger, and charismatic poker player, the two decide to set out on a road trip throughout the South to win back what they have lost, not only money.

I’m not a gambler myself, and my only knowledge of poker is that it’s something to do with the number 21. I don’t know if aces are highs or lows, and I don’t know what anyone means when they say ‘check’, but luckily no knowledge of the hobby is required to enjoy Mississippi Grind. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a movie quite like it, but if I had to compare it to anything, it definitely has some similarities to Sideways.

This was a really enjoyable movie to watch, and I was never sure how it was going to end for the two friends. Just when things start to look up for them, a disaster is waiting just around the corner, and when you think the situation can’t get any worse, it does, but then picks back up again. The final casino scene in particular was a real nail biter, and the suspense that gets built up was really effective.I found myself sat on the edge of my seat, wanting to shout ‘Well then?! What happened??’ Thankfully we aren’t left hanging for too long.

I haven’t seen much of Ben Mendelsohn’s work so far but he is definitely one to watch here. His character was so well played. He gives off such a perfect loner-type with a hint of darkness, and I was never sure whether to feel sorry for his character or whether I wanted to grab him and talk some sense into him. Ryan Reynolds was great too and got to play the character he plays so well, but Mendelsohn definitely steals the show here.

My only real reservation is that I’m not sure what is missing from making Mississippi Grind a great movie. It was such an entertaining watch, but it was missing the ‘wow’ factor, and I can’t put my finger on why.

That said though, this is definitely worth a watch.

Oh, and I have typed the word 'Mississippi' so much now I'm hesitating, and it doesn't look like a real word to me anymore. Help!

Review: Deadpool (2016)

Ever since his character was ruined in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, I’ve been waiting for Deadpool to be done right, in his own movie. The Deadpool comics were the first ones I truly fell in love with. Turns out, Ryan Reynolds has been waiting longer than me, 11 years in total, I think. With that in mind, and after one of the most interesting, amusing and highly successful movie marketing campaigns of all time, I was terrified walking into the IMAX screen that my expectations were too high.  

I have been a little bit AWOL on the blog of late due to work commitments. 14hr working days and restless nights do not a blogger make.  However, I what I didn't realise that I had left Allie's Deadpool post high and dry, I could have sworn I had put my rambling thoughts in but apparently not! Sorry mate!

Deadpool may have super-human powers, but he’s no superhero. Before his change, he was simply Wade Wilson, a shady character with questionable friends and companions. When he discovers he has cancer, and multiple forms, an offer to not only cure his illnesses but make him stronger than before becomes an offer he can’t refuse. It also starts a life-long grudge against a guy named Francis (Ed Skrein).

Straight from the outset, Deadpool was hilarious. The opening credits are just as funny, if not funnier than the closing credits of 22 Jump Street. Then we get thrown straight into the action shown in the leaked footage (which I think Ryan Reynolds himself has virtually confessed to) and the trailers, only much, much more violent.  I think I may have actually laughed from beginning to end of this film, opening and closing credits included!

When you look at the movie as a whole, it’s really small, being almost a 50/50 split between current events and flashbacks. Deadpool could have easily been an hour and a half of pure comedy and violence, but there’s an origin story here with heart, that doesn’t feel like it’s been put there for the sake of it. It’s actually really clever, and comic book fans will love the pizza delivery scene. You’ll know it when you see it!  I don't get it :( you'll have to update me when I see you next!

The jokes come quick and fast, and they’ll please fans worldwide. There were some American references I didn’t understand, but poor David Beckham got poked fun at and there’s a brilliant Fawlty Towers joke in there too! it really is funny from start to finish, with a mix of crude, rude and downright offensive jokes, to my personal favourite moments, when Deadpool breaks the fourth wall. He pauses his own movie to fill us in on what he’s thinking, and forward winds bits we’ve already seen, which leads to a very gross moment when he forward winds too far. You’ll never look at a pair of Crocs the same way again. haha!

Ryan Reynolds was as awesome as hoped he would be, dark, dry humour and leaving no subject off limits.  I was genuinely terrified that they would hold back and avoid the really dark humour but they kept on pushing the boundaries.  They have no issue with breaking the fourth wall, taking aim at other Marvel/DC characters or even mentioning their real names in jest.  The plot wasn't the greatest but the comedy, narration and violence made the movie what it was, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Let’s not forget Stan Lee’s amazing cameo. We were told to expect it in the opening credits, and I was consiously waiting for it for ages, and boy was it worth the wait! What a guy! I also loved the two X-Men characters involved, Colossus (Stefan Kapicic) and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (best name ever!!) (Brianna Hildebrand). They really added to the story and I hope we get to see them again!

All in all, this was everything I wanted Deadpool to be and more. Consider me a very happy fan. oh, and if you haven’t seen it yet, make sure you wait till the end of the credits! 

This is the new number 2 in my superhero list (if you can consider it a superhero movie) and number 1 in my 'anti-hero' list.

Thursday Movie Picks: Movies with Memorable Declarations/Confessions of Love

It's Thursday! Time for Movie Picks. If you're new to this, Thursday Movie Picks is a fantastic series hosted by Wanderer at Wandering Through the Shelves, where each week she picks a theme and we all choose 3 movies that we feel fit.

This week’s theme is Movies with Memorable Declarations/Confessions of Love, and it’s also the first theme this month where I haven’t needed to Google what it meant (doh!). I’m going to try to make it through this whole post without mentioning that two-worded movie beginning with L and A...I think I’ve used it twice so far for this series...stay strong Allie, stay strong…

Anyway, I’m going with 2 classics and a personal favourite this week. Here goes!

I shamefully watched When Harry Met Sally (1989) for the first time last year, and it quickly became one of my favourite rom coms. Not only does it have that classic scene we all seem to know whether we’ve seen the movie or not (“I’ll have what she’s having”) but it also has one of the sweetest declarations of love ever, as Harry (Billy Crystal) runs through the streets of New York to finally tell Sally (Meg Ryan) how he really feels.

“I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour-and-a-half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts. I love that when I spend a day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes; and I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night.”

This week is proof that I will take any excuse I can to talk about Star Wars. In my defence though, one of the biggest highlights of watching the original movies was watching the romance between Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) grow. Never did I think I could really fall for Harrison Ford, until that cocky smuggler Han Solo stole every scene he was in. Let’s not forget that moment in Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) when Princess Leia finally gave in and told Han how she felt.

“I love you.”

“I know.”

Moving swiftly on to guilty pleasure territory! I’ve lost count of how many times my fiance and I have watched The Proposal (2009), it’ll just never get boring. Plus, 3 years ago when we were in New York on holiday flicking through channels in our hotel room, this was on! Funnily, the very next day we went to the top of the Rockefeller Center and he proposed to me! There you go, off topic rambles from me there. Anyway. Andrew’s (Ryan Reynolds) confession of love to Margaret (Sandra Bullock) at the end of the movie was equal parts sweet and hilarious.

“Three days ago, I loathed you. I used to dream about you getting hit by a cab. Then we had our little adventure up in Alaska and things started to changed. Things changed when we kissed. And when you told me about your tattoo. Even when you checked me out when we were naked. But I didn't realize any of this, until I was standing alone... in a barn... wifeless. Now, you could imagine my disappointment when it suddenly dawned on me that the woman I love is about to be kicked out of the country. So Margaret, marry me, because I'd like to date you.”

Looking Forward to Seeing in the Cinema this Month...February 2016

It doesn't happen very often, but this month Jenna and I are teaming up. There is literally only one movie we're dead excited for. Deadpool!  I could literally watch nothing else in the month of February and still be happy!

11 years in the making now, and we're just days away from the cinematic release. It's been over a year now since the early footage was 'leaked' and we still know very little about the plot. Well, this is Deadpool after all! The USA has it R-Rated, and at the time of writing this, we're still waiting for a UK rating. Very few movies get rated 18 here now, but I've still got my fingers crossed.  I was really hoping for an 18 but in an interview with Ryan Reynolds he confirmed it was 15, he probably knows more than we do!

Ryan Reynolds gets a lot of stick, not all undeserved I accept, but you can't argue with the fact that he was born for this role. No one else can don that iconic red suit and deliver those witty remarks like he can.  As well as take the piss out of his own poor movie choices ;-)

I think there is a good chance I am going to want to see this more than once but with it being NSFD I have limited opportunity, I may force Allie to come with me as well as go with her other half!!

As a total Marketing nerd (hey, it's literally my job) I've loved following the numerous posters for this. There are going to be some very confused girlfriends this month when they watch Deadpool, finally understanding why their dates were so happy to see this romantic comedy:

I thought the 'Skull, Poop, L' emoji poster was my favourite of them all when that went viral.

But then they followed up with this one!

Deadpool Marketing Team, you are my heroes. Where can I send in my CV?  It has to be the best marketing of any film in history, is there not a Oscar category for this?!

Here in the UK, we can get a load of Deadpool on 10th February, 2016.

Mini Reviews: Citizenfour (2014), Self/less (2015) & Spooks: The Greater Good (2015)

I’m back with a round of Mini Reviews! I haven’t done a post like this for a while, but there are 3 films I’ve watched recently which have either been a bit ‘meh’ or just far too mind blowing and terrifying for me to review properly. Here we go!

Citizenfour (2014) has been on my radar for a while. It’s a documentary by Laura Poitras about the findings of Edward Snowden, who has evidence of the illegal surveillance programs ran by the NSA in conjunction with other intelligence agencies around the world. It was a fascinating watch, but it was only went I went to bed that night that it really hit me, how terrifying it actually is. and I’ve been thinking about it ever since whilst using my phone or tablet. Is someone really watching me right now? Freaky! Citizenfour is a must watch.

I watched Self/less (2015) purely down to my undying love for Ryan Reynolds, but I wish he would stop appearing in terrible movies. Ben Kingsley is a dying man, but a highly successful and clever man, so he spends million on a dubious scientific program to have his mind transferred to a younger body. Only now, he can’t use his actual identity, rendering the point of the program useless. That’s just the start of the many plot holes, but it was an entertaining watch at the very least. 

I’ve never watched the TV Show, Spooks, but assumed Spooks: The Greater Good (2015) would stand on it’s own, which it did. It’s a typical terrorist on the loose movie in every sense, with the added twist of a traitor amongst the MI5 staff. My fiance and I took a stab in the dark guess on who it was within the first 10 minutes, and err, we were right. An interesting and fun watch, especially for Jon Snow fans, but it doesn’t bring anything new to the table.

Review: The Voices (2015)

Considering how much I love Ryan Reynolds, I can’t believe I had to wait for the DVD release before watching The Voices. It was one of those films that came out in only one cinema by me, for about a day, and then disappeared completely! I don’t need to be sold anything with Ryan Reynolds in, but a film featuring a crazy guy who talks to his cat and dog? I’m in, regardless!

Jerry (Ryan Reynolds) is a cheerful warehouse worker at a bathtub factory, who’s only recently moved to town. He has a severe mental issue which his psychiatrist tries to help him through, not helped by the fact that Jerry hates taking his medication. He also has a crush on work colleague Fiona (Gemma Arterton) which is complicated as she doesn’t really like him back, although Lisa (Anna Kendrick) does…

Oh, did I mention his cat, Mr Whiskers, and dog, Bosco (both voiced by Reynolds) talk to him?

The Voices is like no other film I’ve ever watched before. I don’t even know how to categorise it. It’s a Horror, but not to the extreme (I hate Horrors). It’s a Drama for sure, but it’s also funny to the point I cried at something Mr Whiskers said. I certainly can’t repeat it on here! Maybe that’s why the film got such mixed reviews, I think for some, the lack of a real genre can just be too off putting. 

We learn fairly early on that by watching this story from Jerry’s point of view, not everything is exactly as it seems. His old-fashioned, cosy-but-comfy apartment? Not quite so. It’s filled with rubbish and err, other things. It made me wonder what else we were only seeing from Jerry’s eyes. Especially his work place, with bright pink overalls and cheery music.

Anyone who has ever had a pet will find so much amusement from Jerry’s cat and dog. I hold my hands up in confession that I talk constantly to my two cats, Loki and Sherlock. I might not be able to hear them talk back to me, but a facial expression speaks a hundred words! Mr Whiskers is a typical cat, sarcastic and cruel, whereas Bosco likes to check Jerry is okay and find out if he wants to go for a walk.

The Gods must have heard my plea for a film starring both Ryan Reynolds and Anna Kendrick, but perhaps I wasn’t specific enough. Rom com please! Regardless, I loved them both in this, they were perfectly cast.

A film that’s certainly not for everyone, but a film I loved and will never forget!

Thursday Movie Picks: Movies Based on a Graphic Novel/Comic (Non-Superhero)

This week’s theme has really got me thinking. If you’re not familiar with the Thursday Movie Picks, it’s an amazing thing hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves. Each week brings a new theme, and all you need to do is pick 3 movies that fit the bill to discuss. This week is movies based on a graphic novel or comic book. Easy, right? Think again. They can't be superhero-related!

300 (2006) is the story of King Leonidas and his 300 men, fighting the Persians at Thermopylae many, many years ago. It’s also a series of comic books from back in 1998, written by Frank Miller! I can’t quite believe the movie is 9 years old now, I remember seeing it at the cinemas with my College buddies like it was only yesterday. Does that make me sound old? The sequel was okay, but 300 is a movie everyone should experience at least once!

R.I.P.D. (2013) is a quirky tale of a recently deceased cop who joins the Rest In Peace Department, and tries to find the man who murdered him. The movie is based on a Dark Horse comic by the same name. Sadly, the movie sort of bombed at the box office. I thought it was okay, my opinion is obviously biased but I understood people’s problems with it. Problem is, it’s a very little known comic in the first place and easily comparable to Men in Black.

Snowpiercer (2013) is a crazy story set in the future after a climate-change experiment went terribly wrong, and the planet’s only survivors are living on a train with a strict and harsh class system. The movie is based on a French graphic novel called Le Transperceneige, first published in 1982, although an English translation was released last year. Snowpiercer is a confusing yet brilliant movie, and I would urge anyone to give it a go if they haven’t already.

Thursday Movie Picks: Teen Comedies

This week’s theme is right up my street! If you’re not familiar with the Thursday Movie Picks, it’s an amazing thing hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves. Each week brings a new theme, and all you need to do is pick 3 movies that fit the bill to discuss. This week is Teen Comedies, which is a really difficult week for me. Difficult because teen comedies are a bit of a guilty pleasure for me! It’s okay to still enjoy them when you’re well into your twenties, right?

I could have happily put together a list of 20 movies this week, but I’ll behave, and pick my favourite 3.

I’m not ranking these three or anything, but if I could, Van Wilder would be my number 1, for so many reasons! This is Ryan Reynolds at his best, playing the most popular kid in college who doesn’t ever want to graduate. It’s your typical cheesy story, but man, I just love it so much. I haven’t seen the other Van Wilder films though, strangely enough.

It shames me to admit that I only saw Ferris Bueller’s Day Off for the first time recently, but if you read my review, you’ll know that already. Oh, how I wish I could go back in time to watch this again and again. Ferris pulls a sicky to get a day off school, and much fun ensues when his Principal and Sister try to catch him out. I wonder sometimes if this film influenced the cartoon Phineas & Ferb in any way?

Hoping that it’s acceptable to still love teen comedies in your twenties...have I ever mentioned how much I love Easy A? I can’t even pretend I saw this in my teens, as I was...21 when it came out. Oops. Emma Stone is in top form here, using the school’s rumour mill to her advantage when she spreads a lie about her virginity. 

10 Actors I Would Watch in Almost Anything (Allie)

Forgive me if I get this wrong, but I think this theme started with Abbi at Where the Wild Things Are. I love the idea, list 10 actors that you would watch in almost anything, and then another list of 10 actresses. These are 10 guys who could sell a film to me just by being in it.

Why: When I was younger, every Saturday meant another Jim Carrey film. I was so excited the night before Bruce Almighty came out that I could barely sleep, and my brother and I still quote his character from Liar Liar on a regular basis.

Best Role: Bruce Almighty

The one even he couldn’t convince me to see: I Love You Phillip Morris This is a great film, you must see it!

Why: This is probably the most simplest of all the actors in my list. I simply have never seen a bad Tom Hanks movie, and so I'm not sure I could ever refuse to see something that he’s in.

Best Role: Forrest Gump

The one even he couldn’t convince me to see: Larry Crowne

Why: I’m sorry, I was about to type and then I got lost in those eyes. Can that count as my reason? No? Ok. I just think he’s incredibly charming, and just the right kind of cocky. Oh, and those eyes...

Best Role: Star Trek

The one even he couldn’t convince me to see: Blind Dating

Why: He’s the most bad-ass guy I know. Not personally of course, but he’s bad-ass nonetheless. I actually really need to see some of his older work to see another side of him, but I would be first in line for Taken 9.

Best Role: Taken

The one even he couldn’t convince me to see: Battleship

Why: I haven’t seen a comedy of Steve Carell’s that I haven’t found hilarious. I first saw him in The 40 Year Old Virgin and he’s just the master of awkward comedy. That’s not all though because I love his serious roles too.

Best Role: Crazy Stupid Love

The one even he couldn’t convince me to see: Bewitched

Why: This man is an absolute legend. I love his acting work of course, but I just love how he has so much fun in anything he does. Not that I’ve met him, but he seems so great with his fans and he just oozes charm.

Best Role: The Avengers

The one even he couldn’t convince me to see: The Deep Blue Sea

Why: He’s the first actor I ever became fascinated with; I have fond memories of tracking down some VHS tapes on Amazon when I was still in High School. I used to quote Bubble Boy on a regular basis.

Best Role: Donnie Darko

The one even he couldn’t convince me to see: Rendition

Why: I don’t think I’ve ever loved an actor as much as Ryan Reynolds. His dry, witty humour is my absolute favourite, and I could watch any of his movies time and time again!

Best Role: The Proposal

The one even he couldn’t convince me to see: None, I have actually seen everything he’s been in! So far at least.

Why: This guy makes me smile without even doing or saying anything. He’s just an incredibly likeable actor, and he deserved to be in any of my top 10 lists for the three flavours cornetto trilogy alone.

Best Role: Shaun of the Dead

The one even he couldn’t convince me to see: A Fantastic Fear of Everything

Why: Benedict is my current obsession, thanks to Sherlock. I had to forcibly made to watch it in the first place, but I fell in love with his acting skills (and then just him!) soon after. He’s just incredible, and perfects whatever role he plays.

Best Role: Star Trek Into Darkness

The one even he couldn’t convince me to see: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (I really did try)

Review: Turbo (2013)

I've done a terrible thing. I told you all in my Best and Worst: Ryan Reynolds post that I'd seen every film Ryan Reynolds was in, and I hadn't! Technically I don't think this should count as it's just his voice in the film, but as me and Jenna were going through IMDB lists, I suddenly realised I hadn't seen Turbo yet. Netflix to the rescue! Really? I'm amazed, I remember you being so excited when it was announced.  I actually saw this on a flight to god knows where while it was on at the cinema in the UK.

 

 

It doesn't matter how old I get, I'll always be excited about animated films. I've always loved DreamWorks films, possibly more than Disney, but let's save that for a planned post we have for the future! WHAT?! This is definitely a discussion we need to have in the future!!

 

You can probably guess the story for Turbo without watching the trailer. Theo is an ordinary garden snail who dreams of winning the Indy 5000, a famous car race. He winds up in an accident which gives him nitros powers, essentially changing him from Theo into Turbo.

 

I'll be honest, the plot was incredibly obvious, but you have to remember that this is predominantly a kid's film; you shouldn't expect an Inception style plot! Nevermind the kids, you wouldn't understand it if they made it too complicated!! ;-) - Hey!! That said, the story is still enjoyable and you really do root for Turbo throughout the film. The other snails are perfect side characters too, and virtually everything that Samuel L Jackson's snail, Whiplash, says will make you laugh.  Agreed, I loved him!

 

There are plenty other famous voices in this too which you'll have fun trying to identify, especially the little old lady who runs the nail salon! I'll give you a hint - The Hangover! The cast of this is pretty incredible to be fair, if all these actors were in a live action film together it would have to be a must see!!

 

I really did enjoy this film even if it was missing the hidden 'just for adults' jokes that Shrek provides.  It was more for kids and less for adults with a liking for kids films.  The story as Allie said was predictable but you don't expect anything else and it is perfectly enjoyable (and ideally SFP!!).  The animation (as expected these days) is faultless and has your eyes glued to the screen even if the storyline doesn't.

 

If that's not enough for you, there's a great moment poking fun at how the internet just takes everything too far! 

 



 

All in all, a decent movie that your kids will love, even if you don't. Plus, at least now I really can say that I've seen every film Ryan Reynolds has been in!  Well done, quite an achievement!!

Enjoyable but for me a 'one watch wonder'

 



Best and Worst: Ryan Reynolds

Like you would admit to the worst haha!!

Excuse me, I haven't even started this post yet! This is what I would consider to be the worst anyway, you don't get a say Missy!

I'd really like to do a series of these posts, I have a terrible habit of finding a new Actor or Actress and then working my way through their entire filmography. Who best to start with other than Ryan Reynolds? I can hand on my heart say that I have seen every film he's been in, and I don't know if I should be proud of that or not.

This is genuinely really hard for me to do, because there hasn't been a single film of his that I haven't liked, and a ton that I have really liked, but I'm going to give it a go!

BEST - The Proposal (2009)

I know, I know, it's a RomCom. But I'm a Flick Chick! It was either going to be this or Just Friends which I love just as much.

I can't tell you how many times I've seen this film now, because I've lost count. It's the kind of film I like to put on in the background on a Saturday whilst I'm doing something else, and I could probably quote the whole film if you gave me a chance.

Ryan is typical Ryan in this, and that's why I love it so much. His sarcastic remarks just kill me and I often find myself saying to people I'm waiting for that I'm now 100 years old. Apart from Jenna. She's just Captain Slow.  Thanks, I have short legs, it's not my fault!!! haha! I will fully agree that this is his best movie, it's hilarious and just that tiny bit different to other rom-coms in that you don't really like the leading lady character until waaaaaaay down the line.

My favourite scene from this film made it into my Top 10 Film Quotes so I won't share it with you again, but instead I'll give you this: 

Extra points to Sandra Bullock too because she's just amazing too! I'm sure there's a part 2 to that video somewhere...

WORST - The In-Laws (2003)

Just getting that out there before Jenna goes crazy typing 'Green Lantern' all over this post! You'll be pleasantly surprised, I'm not even mentioning the Green Lantern!! It wasn't a bad movie! Now that I've read a ton of the comics I can agree that they really could have done a lot more with that massive budget, but that film not only got me interested in Ryan Reynolds but DC Comics itself so it can't be all bad!

No, I chose The In-Laws. I nearly went with Finder's Fee but I really liked the plot of that, but I had to actually remind myself that this film existed. The film itself wasn't too bad, I don't want to be harsh, but I still can't understand what it's meant to be! Is it a RomCom? Or an Action Thriller? It tried to be both, and kind of failed at both. 

I haven't seen this movie so I can't comment on whether it is actually the worst, but MY worst Ryan Reynolds movie has to be The Nines.  I cannot explain how awful this film is, you have to watch it yourselves to truly believe it.  It is the most random, non-logical film I have ever seen!  I expected the ending to answer all the questions and it just posed more and made you even more confused - it's the Lost of films!!

Here's a trailer if you've never heard of it before:



So there we have it! That wasn't too hard! I'd like to put out an honourable mention to some of his other roles though.

What would your Best and Worst be?