The Easie Precis: Bright, quirky, visually interesting adventure film. The most Wes Andersony Wes Anderson film yet.
Compatible Movies: Pretty much anything else Wes Anderson has done.
The "for what it's trying to be" score: 92%
Watch the Trailer? Sure! Watch it here. Doesn't reveal too much. Might actually be a little misleading concerning what the film is really about.
A Little More Detail...
This film has scored so highly because it represents an artist coming to the point of really honing in on what they want the creations to be. This film is very much what it is trying to be which sort of helps makes you accept everything in it because even if it's not reality it's at least on purpose.
As to whether or not you should watch it? If you liked any other Wes Anderson films, then yes. If you never have then it's a fine introduction to him. It's very playful. Less of a film that makes you laugh (it does have its moments), more of a film that makes you smile.
What I love about this film is there is a bit more gore than in his previous work. Contrasted to the playful manner of the rest of the film, these parts seem really in your face.
However, this film also picks up on a theme which seems common in many Wes Anderson films: the fading of past glory. When we first meet the Hotel in this film it is only a shadow of its former self....
What's it About?
Old Europe. War. Art heists. Not as much about a hotel as you'd think...
Best Viewing Company: Anyone
Movie Reviews and Bad Spelling!
Saturday, 31 January 2015
Friday, 30 January 2015
Movie Review: Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)
The Easie Precis: Documentary about Banksy. Maybe made by Banksy. Who is Banksy? What is a documentary?
Compatible Movies: Unique.
The "for what it's trying to be" score: 89%
Watch the Trailer? Definitely. Watch it here. Now.
A Little More Detail...
If you like meta, then this is for you. A guy tried to make a documentary about Banksy. Banksy decided to flip it around and make it a documentary about this guy making a documentary about him. Then this is documented in this documentary. Then maybe you think Banksy just made up this guy so he could make a documentary about this guy making a documentary about himself. Kinda like an autobiography-by-proxy documentary. You know what? I'll stop trying to explain it...
That's the brilliance of Banksy - that he will go the extra mile for his 'pranks' and 'art' so you imagine the same for any films associated with him.
It's consistently entertaining all the way through. If you have any interest in art (modern art / "graffiti" / stencil art) then worth a watch. If you don't - well, it's still pretty entertaining and an interesting concept.
What's it About?
Banksy - the stencil artist and the art world.
Best Viewing Company: Bunch of friends, or just yourself
Compatible Movies: Unique.
The "for what it's trying to be" score: 89%
Watch the Trailer? Definitely. Watch it here. Now.
A Little More Detail...
If you like meta, then this is for you. A guy tried to make a documentary about Banksy. Banksy decided to flip it around and make it a documentary about this guy making a documentary about him. Then this is documented in this documentary. Then maybe you think Banksy just made up this guy so he could make a documentary about this guy making a documentary about himself. Kinda like an autobiography-by-proxy documentary. You know what? I'll stop trying to explain it...
That's the brilliance of Banksy - that he will go the extra mile for his 'pranks' and 'art' so you imagine the same for any films associated with him.
It's consistently entertaining all the way through. If you have any interest in art (modern art / "graffiti" / stencil art) then worth a watch. If you don't - well, it's still pretty entertaining and an interesting concept.
What's it About?
Banksy - the stencil artist and the art world.
Best Viewing Company: Bunch of friends, or just yourself
Tuesday, 27 January 2015
Movie Review: Oldboy (2003)
The Easie Precis: A man is recently released after being taken hostage and imprisoned without reason. Now he seeks revenge on whoever did this to him. Sounds like a Tarantino film? Feels like one also - just a bit more... quirky.
Compatible Movies: As mentioned above, shades of Pulp Fiction or Kill Bill.
The "for what it's trying to be" score: 92%
Watch the Trailer? Yes. Watch it here.
A Little More Detail...
This film is an enigma wrapped in a... bla bla bla. Whilst getting almost philosophical at times the mystery delicately unravels at a well determined pace. This is important to make the story even more compelling than the action and fight-scenes that are typical of a revenge film.
These action scenes and the occasional flashes of playful lightheartedness are required to balance the intense often extreme aspects of the plot.
I have a theory that art is found more at the extremes of the human experience (hence, the plots of many operas). If this is true than this is one hell of an artistic film.
What's it About?
Revenge, The past, Toying with people's lives, One man's quest (with a little help from a hammer)
Best Viewing Company: A few friends or by yourself. I wouldn't watch with family...
Compatible Movies: As mentioned above, shades of Pulp Fiction or Kill Bill.
The "for what it's trying to be" score: 92%
Watch the Trailer? Yes. Watch it here.
A Little More Detail...
This film is an enigma wrapped in a... bla bla bla. Whilst getting almost philosophical at times the mystery delicately unravels at a well determined pace. This is important to make the story even more compelling than the action and fight-scenes that are typical of a revenge film.
These action scenes and the occasional flashes of playful lightheartedness are required to balance the intense often extreme aspects of the plot.
I have a theory that art is found more at the extremes of the human experience (hence, the plots of many operas). If this is true than this is one hell of an artistic film.
What's it About?
Revenge, The past, Toying with people's lives, One man's quest (with a little help from a hammer)
Best Viewing Company: A few friends or by yourself. I wouldn't watch with family...
Monday, 26 January 2015
Movie Review: Nightcrawler (2014)
The Easie Precis: Scum-bag Lou (Gyllenhal) goes around filming night-time Los Angeles car accidents, murders, etc. to sell the footage to local news channels. Might make you hate humanity.
Compatible Movies: Lou Bloom's textbook-like sermons on business are very reminiscent of Patrick Bateman in American Psycho (2000).
The "for what it's trying to be" score: 68%
Watch the Trailer? No. I wouldn't. Better to go in clean. However, if you really want to, you can here.
A Little More Detail...
This is a very well made film. The story, and pacing is good - and I am glad this film does not go down the route of what you would expect the typical Hollywood story to be: Lou films crime scenes. Lou wants to be the first at crime scenes. Lou realises if he commits crimes he will automatically be first at the scene.
This film doesn't do that. Rather, the characters become the focus. This makes for a more realistic film: one where the direction is focused on communicating the point as clearly and simply as possible.
On the flip-side, this is exactly what the film lacks. You'd think when I say crime, LA, cameras, that it would be a very stylish film. But it is not. The soundtrack and cinematography all seem to get out of the way and just allow the story and characters to come through. While I believe this film draws out the emotion intended, it does so with very little attitude - to the point where you might say it is quite plain. While I can't find great fault with what is presented I can't help feeling that there is a missed opportunity in what isn't presented.
What's it About?
Crime, TV news, gonzo
Best Viewing Company: Anyone
Compatible Movies: Lou Bloom's textbook-like sermons on business are very reminiscent of Patrick Bateman in American Psycho (2000).
The "for what it's trying to be" score: 68%
Watch the Trailer? No. I wouldn't. Better to go in clean. However, if you really want to, you can here.
A Little More Detail...
This is a very well made film. The story, and pacing is good - and I am glad this film does not go down the route of what you would expect the typical Hollywood story to be: Lou films crime scenes. Lou wants to be the first at crime scenes. Lou realises if he commits crimes he will automatically be first at the scene.
This film doesn't do that. Rather, the characters become the focus. This makes for a more realistic film: one where the direction is focused on communicating the point as clearly and simply as possible.
On the flip-side, this is exactly what the film lacks. You'd think when I say crime, LA, cameras, that it would be a very stylish film. But it is not. The soundtrack and cinematography all seem to get out of the way and just allow the story and characters to come through. While I believe this film draws out the emotion intended, it does so with very little attitude - to the point where you might say it is quite plain. While I can't find great fault with what is presented I can't help feeling that there is a missed opportunity in what isn't presented.
What's it About?
Crime, TV news, gonzo
Best Viewing Company: Anyone
Saturday, 24 January 2015
Movie Review: Mulholland Drive (2001)
The Easie Precis: Unconventional thriller. Beautiful imagery. Intriguing story. Might bend your mind into a pretzel.
Compatible Movies: L.A. Mystery gives hints of Chinatown (1974). No time-travel, but Donnie Darko (2001 also) comes to mind for some reason - maybe the sometimes weird acting. General sense of creepiness that you get from most David Lynch movies.
The "for what it's trying to be" score: 90%
Watch the Trailer? No, better to go in with no expectations. Trailers I have seen are very much focused on trying to sell tickets.
A Little More Detail...
The good thing about this film is that, for those who don't like things too art-house, 70% of this film is just plain beautiful and entertaining and intriguing and all-around good to watch.
The great thing about this film is the other 30%.
David Lynch manages to convey such a strong story without explicitly telling it - and that is why it is great. Consider, Hemingway famously had the "ice-berg" theory: you only tell the stuff on the surface, and by doing so readers will infer the real heart of the story that is concealed underneath. Well, David Lynch seems to go one better: you don't even really tell the stuff on the surface. Or, you do, but you make it fragmented or contradictory, or even meaningless at times. This way, the minds of your audience become so much more involved.
This is an important point, because it isn't a short film and it isn't an easy movie ("hey, that's the name of this blog!?"), but the entire time you watch it, you feel captivated. For myself, at least, the film managed to keep me not just watching it, but actively watching it.
The thing is, though, there are parts with pretty ordinary acting and parts that feel very cliche. As a part of the greater whole, however, they feel almost done this way on purpose. In danger of giving too much credit, you could at least say that these parts don't detract from the experience because the very essence of the film means that you shouldn't take everything you see literally anyway.
What's it About?
It's a mystery (probably the most apt 3 word summation, ever). Typical elements such as "person moves to a new city", amneasia, contract killers and tiny tiny people.
Best Viewing Company: By yourself or one or two friends. Too in-depth for crowds, potentially awkward for family
Compatible Movies: L.A. Mystery gives hints of Chinatown (1974). No time-travel, but Donnie Darko (2001 also) comes to mind for some reason - maybe the sometimes weird acting. General sense of creepiness that you get from most David Lynch movies.
The "for what it's trying to be" score: 90%
Watch the Trailer? No, better to go in with no expectations. Trailers I have seen are very much focused on trying to sell tickets.
A Little More Detail...
The good thing about this film is that, for those who don't like things too art-house, 70% of this film is just plain beautiful and entertaining and intriguing and all-around good to watch.
The great thing about this film is the other 30%.
David Lynch manages to convey such a strong story without explicitly telling it - and that is why it is great. Consider, Hemingway famously had the "ice-berg" theory: you only tell the stuff on the surface, and by doing so readers will infer the real heart of the story that is concealed underneath. Well, David Lynch seems to go one better: you don't even really tell the stuff on the surface. Or, you do, but you make it fragmented or contradictory, or even meaningless at times. This way, the minds of your audience become so much more involved.
This is an important point, because it isn't a short film and it isn't an easy movie ("hey, that's the name of this blog!?"), but the entire time you watch it, you feel captivated. For myself, at least, the film managed to keep me not just watching it, but actively watching it.
The thing is, though, there are parts with pretty ordinary acting and parts that feel very cliche. As a part of the greater whole, however, they feel almost done this way on purpose. In danger of giving too much credit, you could at least say that these parts don't detract from the experience because the very essence of the film means that you shouldn't take everything you see literally anyway.
What's it About?
It's a mystery (probably the most apt 3 word summation, ever). Typical elements such as "person moves to a new city", amneasia, contract killers and tiny tiny people.
Best Viewing Company: By yourself or one or two friends. Too in-depth for crowds, potentially awkward for family
Saturday, 17 January 2015
About
This blog contains simple, straightforward reviews of movies.
Easie Movie aims to answer the question: should I watch this movie? As such, we rate films based on what they are trying to be, and give you a brief description of what they're about.
Sometimes we go into a little more detail for the film buffs out there.
Easie Movie contains only positive reviews. Every film listed on this site is, at the very least, "worth a watch."
The reviews are short and sweet so you can quickly get the idea of whether it is something you are interested in or not.
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