It's Complicated

This has been marketed towards the older cinema viewer, and, if you’re in that demographic and a Nancy Meyers film floats your boat, you’ll probably have a good time. That isn’t to say this film is any good though. Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin star as a divorced couple who, during their son’s graduation, begin an affair ( Baldwin ’s character has re-married). Errr…and that’s about it really. Steve Martin pops up as a potential love rival, but there are few jokes to be had throughout the whole script. The film falls into that old trap of not being sure whether it’s a comedy or a drama and fails to be either, or at least either up to an average level at best. Streep seems to be everywhere these days and she doesn’t disappoint again, though she may be a bit too OTT for some in this. Baldwin fares less well, gurning his way through the film and failing to capture the heart or sympathy of the audience (Glengarry Glenn Ross seems a long way off now). Overall, if this looks like a film you’ll like, then get in that cinema queue. If not, it certainly isn’t a complicated decision what to do…..

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict
If you like this sort of thing then you’ll probably go home satisfied and can add an extra mark to the rating. For the rest of us, you may actually want to deduct a mark. Rating: 5/10.

The Road

John Hillcoat follows up the blistering The Proposition, with his adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s novel The Road. The Proposition was brutal, but entertaining. The Road is similarly brutal, but the entertainment factor is it a premium due to the heavy content of McCarthy’s novel. The story concerns Man (Viggo Mortensen) and Boy (Kodi Smith-McPhee) trying to survive in a world post an unspecified disaster of some kind. The relationship between Mortensen and his son is the focal point of the story, as Man paternally tries to protect his son and make sure neither of them fall into the desperation (basically cannibalism) that has affected many of the other survivors. Mortensen gives a solid performance and there is believable chemistry between himself and Smith-McPhee. Be warned though, this really is a grim film at times, with the cannibalistic scenes particularly disturbing. Talk has been made of this being one of the most depressing films ever made. It’s certainly not uplifting, that’s for sure. Not that this makes it a bad film, but it doesn’t really help, especially as the film drags for long periods. The usual message in a film like this is “What would you do in such a situation?”. The problem being this is hardly an original concept for a mainstream film and, especially, with the glut of similarly themed films in recent years, you kind of feel like you’ve been here before. Perhaps this was best left as a novel.

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict
Beautifully shot, but apart from a decent turn from Mortensen, that isn’t really enough for you to see a film that is just as effective on paper. Rating: 5/10.

Nine

Following on from Chicago Rob Marshall would seem the right man to take another stage hit from the boards to the big screen. It seems that a who’s who of Hollywood actresses were falling over themselves to star in this as well. The people who auditioned makes interesting reading. However, I’m not sure it really matters who won the roles in the end as the film struggles to capture the imagination that Marshall showed with Chicago and the musical routines are basic at best. The story revolves around film director Guido Contini and his struggle to make a new film while trying to control the many relationships he has with the various females in his life. This isn’t all that exciting to watch. Only a few of the musicals numbers have dramatic choreography, with the rest being standard solos. Amazing to listen to live in a theatre no doubt. Not quite so good in a cinema. In between songs we get Daniel Day-Lewis faffing around as Guido. Apparently Day-Lewis did his usual immersive preparation for the role, but his accent comes across as something akin to ‘Allo ‘Allo. On the plus side, the film is beautifully shot, with some stunning lighting and cinematography. However, the overall feeling of when a successful musical / play is transformed to the big screen is usually “why?”. That is definitely the case in this instance.

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict
Far too slow between the numbers, and not enough of them get the pulse racing. Should have stayed on Broadway. Rating: 4/10

Spread

Beyond the slightly amusing tag line (“It’s a business doing pleasure”), there’s little thought or originality that has gone into Spread. Primarily it seems to be a vehicle for Ashton Kutcher to provide a few shocks with some juicy sex scenes. To be fair to Kutcher he isn’t all that bad, but the storyline of his wandering LA gigolo is so vacuous and hollow that I’m not too sure what the intended audience is (apart from AK fans after a cheap thrill). Kutcher and the rest of the characters are so caught up in their own lives and deceits you have no compassion for any of them. The film then completely loses it at the end and instead of following through with its convictions tries to redeem Kutcher’s character with such a personality turnaround it’s quite laughable. If the storyline is meant to be a comment on the battle of the sexes, then neither males nor females come out shining in this. There is a kernel of an idea here but it remains dormant and unheated, meaning the only response you feel as the film progresses is lukewarm apathy.

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict
Tries to be callous, but then ridiculously looks for redemption in the final reels. Though you probably will have given up caring long before then. Rating: 3/10.

Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll

Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll is an account of the life of Ian Drury from his childhood in a disabled children’s home up to fame and fortune with The Blockheads. Director Matt Whitecross starts the film with an eye hurting mix of animation, jump cuts and general confusion. It’s not a great start. However, things improve when the film settles down into a more narrative structure and we get to enjoy Andy Serkis’s uncanny portrayal of Drury. Visually and vocally, Serkis puts in a great performance and his more OTT roles from his previous films are quickly forgotten. However, despite a strong supporting cast portraying his family, the film suffers as it concentrates on Drury’s relationship with them at the expense of any sort of analysis of his music. The film makes Drury come across as some sort of talentless sixth form student, and on the occasions some of the hits are used in the film they barely resonant, despite being some of the biggest songs of that time. Take away the music and you have a film that is actually a bit of a struggle to watch as there actually isn’t much to make us warm to Drury. Not that having a successful music career is an excuse for his selfish behaviour, but the film needs more balance between private life and public life. Worth watching for Serkis as Drury, but the film lacks clarity and fails to portray just how big Drury was at his peak

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict
Sex? Yes. Drugs? Plenty. Rock & Roll? Far too little. Rating: 5/10.

Daybreakers

Another bloody vampire movie? Wait, come back! For while this is another bloody vampire movie it’s also clever, enjoyable and a very bloody vampire movie. The concept of Daybreakers is fairly original. In 2019, due to a plague, the majority of the population are now vampires, who harvest the remaining humans for their blood. However, the humans, and the blood, are running out. Writer/Director combo Peter and Michael Spierig take this idea and flesh it out with some smart twists, some enjoyable hammy acting and some outrageous gore. Ethan Hawke stars as the main protagonist, a blood researcher looking for a solution to the shortening supply of claret. Sam Neill takes up the reigns as the villain of the piece and takes the acting gong with a nice display of heartlessness. There are quite a few jumps to be had, but the over reliance on cheap tricks to obtain them does begin to annoy after a while. Unfortunately the whole she-bang does fall apart very quickly at the end as the Spierig’s turn the splatometre up to 11 (you’ll need a strong stomach) as the screenplay becomes all mixed up. Overall though, you may sick to death of vampires, but Daybreakers provides more bite than most and I expect it to gain a cult following.

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict
A smart script, plenty of gore, only let down by the confused ending. Rating: 7/10.

Nowhere Boy

Sam Taylor-Wood’s Nowhere Boy is an account of John Lennon’s latter teenage years, before fame and fortune beckoned with The Beatles. It mainly concerns the relationship between himself, his mother and his aunt. Though it does include the meetings with Paul and George, any fans looking for a musical slant to the film will be disappointed. However, don’t be put off as Taylor-Wood gives us an enjoyable film, though it does have its down sides. The first being that Aaron Johnson, who plays Lennon, bears little resemblance to the man at all (piercing blue eyes!). Though obviously not a deal breaker it is somewhat distracting, especially as Johnson, though only 19, also looks about 10 years older than he actually is. Secondly, though Taylor-Wood gives us one nice little montage and a few jump cuts, the overall feel of the film is a bit stagey. Luckily, this is mostly forgotten due to the great acting on show. Johnson gives a great performance as the ever more confused Lennon (plus points here to Taylor-Wood as well, as she doesn’t shy away from the darker and mean side to Lennon) and Kristin Scott Thomas does unemotional stiff upper lipped Englishness as only she can do. Throw in some amusing dry scouse wit and you’ve got a film that definitely more A Day In The Life than Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da.

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict
Funny, well acted, with a strong emotional core, but you feel this film could just as well be about a random person as opposed to one of the most famous people that’s ever lived. Rating: 7/10.