MOVIE REVIEWS
All That Jazz Review
Director Bob Fosse and star Roy Scheider are at the top of their games in this dazzling, self-aware stage drama about a death obsessed director-choreographer. You probably haven’t even heard of this film and you would start thinking that is some sort of 3rd grade drama, but then you would be mistaken as you would find out that this film is one of a kind.
Of all the films I’ve seen this one is one of my favorites. The dancing is frenzied, the dialogue piercing, the photography superb, and the acting first-rate. All That Jazz generally compels us to deal emotionally with our own death and the values which give meaning to our lives.
A film which is highly entertaining to watch as it is full of emotional moments, enhanced by the very good and realistic acting by Roy Scheider.
Written by: Argiris Lazaris
Iron Lady – Review
Abi Morgan (screenwriter) in collaboration with Phyllida Lloyd (director) managed to bring to life one of the most inspirational stories of the 20th century.
The story revolves around ex-UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s life from a young age up to 2003 where she had to deal with the harsh reality of her recently deceased husband and the daily ordeal she went through in order to fight for her views.
Meryl Streep gave a first-rate performance, winning an Oscar for Best Actress in 2012. According to film critiques, she successfully portrayed Margaret Thatcher at all stages of her life. A purely British film, ideal for those who are fond of the European Cinema and Aesthetic.
Another positive aspect that made the movie stand out is the fact that its main focus is not on politics but on everyday life. Really nicely filmed with lasting shots of beautiful indoor and outdoor sceneries, including really good art direction, make-up and production design (settings).
Written by: Morris Gormezano
“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” Review
“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” Review
Of all the films I’ve seen, “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” is truly one of the most original and epic films released in the last couple of years. Even the tagline of the movie reads “An epic of epic epicness” and I couldn’t agree with it more. The movie was directed and written by Edgar Wright and released in July 2010 to positive response from top critics.
Based on the graphic novel series by Bryan Lee O’Malley, the plot revolves around Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera), a lazy and arrogant young man from Toronto who falls in love with a mysterious girl named Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), but she explains that in order for them to date, Scott must defeat her 7 evil ex-boyfriends, each one with their own supernatural power and all determined to kill Scott. As a subplot, Scott is the bassist for the band ‘Sex Bob-omb’ and they attempt to enter various battle contests in order to become famous.
This movie acts more like a video game than it does an actual movie. The concept of the 7 evil ex-boyfriends is similar to a concept of 7 boss battle, and even though they are not all action-packed climatic battles, most of them are made just for comical purposes. Every character in the film is funny and original and you’ll love every single one. There are many video game, movie, comic book and in general, pop culture references from successful franchises throughout the film, so if you’re a geek of any kind, this movie is highly recommended for you. Even though the jokes are really silly and mostly consist of punch lines and puns, you can’t help yourself but laugh and although the plot itself is not very strong, it’s very easy to follow and enjoy. The most noted features though are the music and visual effects of the film. The music consists of many upbeat rock songs, as well as many classic video game tunes from many famous games, while visual effects are used in many occasions such as flashbacks and dreams and are by far some of the best I’ve seen. In conclusion, this movie is fast, stupid, innovative, ridiculous and filled with funny moments that are going to make you laugh for hours.
Written by: Kostas Tsilikas
Shawshank Redemption- Review
In 1946, a banker named Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is sentenced to a life term at the Shawshank State Prison in Maine after he is convicted for the murder of his wife and her lover, which he stubbornly proclaims his innocence for. At the prison he meets another inmate, Ellis Redding (Morgan Freeman) otherwise known as ‘Red’ who he quickly becomes friends with. However, the ugly realities of prison life soon become apparent to Andy: sadistic guards, a corrupt warden and ruthless inmates are only some of the problems he has to face.
The film is based on Stephen King’s novella ‘Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption’ from the collection ‘Different seasons’. It was adapted for the big screen in 1994 and received high critical acclaim. Going on to be nominated for seven academy awards and two golden globes, it is considered by some as one of the greatest films of all time.
One of the film’s strongpoints is the strong foundation it had to work with. It boasts poetic, moving dialogue and a score that can garner an emotional response from its audience. Shawshank Redemption also had a strong foundation to work with: a cast array of talented scene designers, composers, cinematographers and fantastic cast helps create one of the most convincing performances I have ever witnessed. The film manages to succeed at entertaining the audience and leaving us with a message of hope and redemption.
It is in my opinion, a masterpiece delivering a breath of fresh air from an industry oversaturated with blockbuster action films.
Written by: Pavlos Palios