Tuesday 24 January 2012

Reviews: The Artist, The Inbetweeners and Carnage

It's been a mixed bag of films for me over the last few days from the classic to the vulgar to the brilliantly clever and utterly hilarious.

The Artist
When a film has been raved about as much as this one has, it's hard to live up to the hype. I expected greatness - and was not disappointed. Apart from a short stint in the middle where the film started to drag just a little, the film is beautiful, emotional and utterly joyous.
The performances are incredible particularly by the two leads Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo, evoking sadness and humour in equal measure and often with surprising subtlety given the style of this throwback to the era of silent films. The score is stunning and compliments each mood perfectly.
An absolute must-see for film buffs and non buffs alike. It's superb.

4.5/5 FOBLES

The Inbetweeners
Ridiculous, shocking, vulgar and ridiculous (OK I said that twice), the film sees the four boys go on holiday. Simon's stalkerish obsession with Carly takes on new heights.
The jokes are more crass, the plot all the more farcical. It's closer to Kevin and Perry than the series but for fans of the show, you will of course be expecting this. It doesn't have the same concise humour as the episodes but it's not an awful way to while away a couple of hours - if you like that sort of thing.

2.5/5 FOBLES

Carnage
When two eleven year old boys have a minor altercation at the park and one hits the other across the face with a stick, the two sets of parents decide to sit down and talk about what to do next - all amicably, all as adults.
What starts out as an adult conversation gradually turns into utter chaos. Loyalties switch, hilarity ensues and all manner of chaos takes place under one roof. And after the introduction of alcohol, the true personalities and frustrations of the four rear their ugly heads.
The script is brilliant as the film is all dialogue and very little action. Each actor is perfectly cast from the neurotic, overbearing Jodie Foster to the workaholic Christoph Waltz.
Based on the play "God of Carnage" by Yasmina Reza, this film version all takes place in the one setting - the apartment of the "victim's" parents and not for one second does it ease up.

4.5/5 FOBLES

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