Review for 'The Disappearance of Alice Creed'

Release April 30

Directed by J Blackson

Starring Eddie Marsan, Gemma Arterton, Martin Compston

The irony of The Disappearance of Alice Creed is that it will be seen by little to no one. After seeing the trailer I had to go on the official site to find where my local cinema was playing it. But that doesn’t mean it is a bad film, far from it. The Disappearance of Alice Creed I one of the best British films of the past decade.

The set up is this, two men with untold backgrounds buy an apartment and strip it down only to build it back up again with soundproof walling and a pretty basic bed. Then get changed in silence into jumpsuits and prepare for something we are not told. As they sit in their unmarked van only one or two things are uttered before they step out. The next shot is of two doors opening and a screaming woman being thrown into the back of a van to which she is then driven to the apartments, stripped naked and rapped of dignity before being dressed up in a jugging outfit and handcuffed to the bed and then poor Alice Creed (Gemma Arterton) is left in the dark.

That is the twenty minute set up and I couldn’t say another word. If I did I would have to be executed because what develops from there has so many twists and turns it’s becomes a modern Hitchcock. For the first twenty minutes antagonist Vic (Eddie Marsan) and his partner Danny (Martin Compston) do not speak whilst they plan everything to a pin point. The films is carried by only three actors which brings to mind films like the Sleuth remake with Michael Cain and Jude Law.

For a writer/director J Blakeson it is a great movie to get people to notice you with. This is a fresh classic crime movie just like The Italian Job or Get Carter was in their days. The enjoyment with have you on the edge of your seat as the constant changing of plot keeps going through out. The audience are constantly asking themselves who they connect with and who they are rooting for because each character is believable and has their own goals.

A lot of films these days I see end up me staring at my watch for the time but this kept me glued through out. I only hope that the movie get’s found by a bigger distributor.

Anticipation - 3

Enjoyment - 4

In Retrospect – 4

Trailer

Coming soon to a PC near you...

I’m back from doing nothing and will start up doing blogs again. This is for two reasons. One I have a lot to say and two my Playstation 3 just broken so I’ll have some free time. I’ll be doing reviews and with set them out like the independents film magazine: Little White Lies which I highly recommend. So reviews with be short and snappy and hve a Anticipation score, a Enjoyment score and a In Retrospect score. If I’m creative enough I might even rename them.

This is a quick post before I go out to see Nightmare on my love for horror cinema- I mean Nightmare on Elm Street but when I come back with hopefully write and post my review for the tense The Disappearance of Alice Creed. Then pointlessly Iron Man 2 and so on. I might even do some reviews on old movies such as Park’s JSA, or Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai and hopefully Bresson’s Director’s Cut of LEON. Also I will be reviewing some new DVDs the first probably being The Road (BLU-ray).

Let’s hope I can keep it going this time.

#53 Park Chan-Wook: my new favourite director

The first time I read (or to be precise saw) something on a Park Chan-Wook film was in the back of a film magazine; for his most recognised movie (excluding Thirst) Oldboy which came out in 2003. For some unknown reason when I saw Min-sik Cho as Dae-su Oh with half his face covered which his dark hair and the mysterious stranger behind him locking like someone from a Tarantino flick both staring me down I began to be interested. Apart from Oldboy the only Korean film I had seen at the time was The Host which I believe if better then Godzilla (the ‘98 outing not the brilliant ‘54) but who’s arguing. So I went I bought a copy and watched it. The first few times you watch Asian films and more importantly Korean films you need to watch them a couple times through because the’re style of film is more complex then the Weston approach because they tend to throw so much information you can get lost (this happened with me on Sympathy for Mrs Vengeance) but after you have seen enough of them you won’t even think about it. This could however all be just me but that’s how I felt.

Anyway, Park Chan-Wook is from South Korea and during his time at University his made a film club called the ‘Sogang Film Community’ and during that time wrote a number of articles on contempory cinema. At first Park wanted to be an Art critic but upon watching Hitchcock’s Virtigo he wanted to become a director. His first film was The Moon Is... the Sun's Dream however his earliest work I personally have seen was Judgment. Judgment is a great short film but can only be seen on the Cinema 16: World Short Films DVD but definitely worth checking out. Ok so here is his Filmography before I continue to ramble on-

The Moon Is... the Sun's Dream

Saminjo

Judgment

JSA: Joint Security Area

Sympathy for Mr Vengeance

If You Where Me

OldBoy

Three… Extremes

Sympathy for Mrs Vengeance

I’m A Cyborg but that’s Ok

Thirst

So with the exception of The Moon is… and Saminjo, I have seen everything of his (Three. Extremes is actually really extreme in content but what can you expect from Takashi Miike?). After seeing Thirst I just had to go back and watch all his other films and what a collection it is to come upon. Along with Park being one of my favorite directors, Song Kango-Ho is my new favorite actor (The Host, JSA, Sympathy for Mr Vengeance and Thirst) and the two have a Johnny Depp/Tim Burton relationship. Song is such a flexible actor and a good screen presence that everything he’s in is so interesting and different.

JSA: Joint Security Area is a story about soldiers from North Korea befriending soldiers from South Korea on the connection bridge between the tow apposing countries before turning sour and follows the story of a lady trying to uncover who shot who and who shot first. The two Sympathy for- films along with OldBoy are part of Park’s Vengeance Trilogy and are just brilliant and twisted tales of revenge. I’m A Cyborg- is probably his weakest of films but like all his movies has something init that I really like (especially the scene with Cha Young-Goon walking around shooting everything). And last film I’m going to mention is Thirst. And I’m going to go out on a limb and say Thirst was definitely my favorite Vampire film of last year (remember Let the Right on In was s big hit in my books) and I believe that Thirst was the best vampire film. I just find the decent Song’s character endures excellent. At the beginning he’s a pure virginal priest who turns into a sex maniac blood drinker. I have only seen Let the Right one in once and that was when it was released so I should go back and watch that but I think my opinion will not change.

I definitely recommend all of Park’s work to any proper movie goer and especially if you like world cinema. OldBoy is apparently being remade wit Will Smith and Steven Spielberg which just disgusts me to no end but before you see that (if it’s ever made) please check out these films. He writes and directs all of his work and the creativity and beautiful locations just make every outing of his something to watch out for. oh and lastly OldBoy has my favorite fight scene in any movie, take that Matrix.

Oliver Hunt

#52 - New Year and new post

Happy New Year everyone! First post on the new year and after a moth break! So pretty much I’ll just talk about movie news and post some links to some cool videos.

First off I hope everyone with a YouTube account subscribes to this guy because even if his movie taste can be horrific at times, he’s good for the latest news and trailers, ect.

Movie Buzz

On Total Film site they did a comparison between world cinema (classics) and the Hollywood remakes (not to classic): Solaris anyone? Still an interesting list which will grow in the next ten years with films like Let Me In (=Let The Right One In, catchy isn’t it). Really I do get pissed at Hollywood remaking films from around the world especially J-Horrors which are really translated well for American audiences. And when I hear things like Chan-wook Park’s Oldboy is being remade by Steven Spielberg and Will Smith I just ask myself is American’s are illiterate and can’t red subtitles?

Hollywood vs World Cinema

Now the point where people (my people or other horror fans) will look down on me. This year we can expect a hole rush of horror remakes and whilst I don’t agree with them I shamefully liked some of last years: The Uninvited (is A Tale of Two Twins), Last House on the Left whilst hating others: Halloween Part 2. Anyways going back on track this year several films are being remade such as Nightmare on Elm Street however one film has caught my attention, and I know it shouldn’t. George A. Romero’s old pre-Martin, pre-Dawn of the Dead film The Crazies is being remade by Brek Eisner and set for release the end of February. I have watched the trailer several times and I think it looks pretty good. Te original was rough as hell around the edges and I think this has a chance of something really quiet good (note I said has a chance).

The Crazies Trailer

The Los Angele’s times held a round the table discussion between James Cameron (Avatar), Jason Reitman (Up In The Air), Kathryn Bigelow (Hurt Locker), Lee Daniels (Precious) and Quentin Tarantino (Inglorious Bastards). There are about four or five videos about different aspects they had to face with their latest films. If you’re a fan or enjoyed any of these films it’s worth watching.

Envelope Roundtable Series

And lastly the 2010 Screen Actors Guild Awards are tonight and the nominations are in the link below. I guess for us English folk we’ll have to check in Sunday to find the winners but I know who I wan to win. In other Award season news, Acadamy Awards nominations announced 2^nd Feb, The Independent Spirit Awards are on the 3^rd March and lastly Sundance started on the 21^st!

Screen Actors Guild Awards

Sundance Film Festival

And that is it for now. I hope you enjoyed this odd ball post and maybe I’ll get around to doing more posts.

Oliver Hunt

#51 Top Films of the decade! Who will win?

So here it is. The last post of the decade and what a better way to finish it of but to post my top films of the decade and my personal favourite. Now first I want to say is that this is purely subjective. Obviously people will disagree but these are the films I personally thought where the best films of the decade.

Enjoy and comment.

2009 – Drag Me To Hell – Sam Raimi

Why- Raimi returns to horror since Bruce Campbell vs The Army or Darkness. This film was so good you can sign my up for Evil Dead 4.

2008 – Cloverfield – Matt Reeves

Why- Best monster movie of the past few decade. The great publicity and mockumentary style film making all contribute to it being one of the top films.

2007 – No Country for Old Men – Coan Brothers

Why- The brothers strike back with one of the best book to film adaptations ever. The pacing of the film and tension combined with Brolin’s fine performance and Javier’s bad hair equal a timeless thriller.

2006 – El laberinto del fauno (Pan’s Labyrinth) – Guilimo Del Toro

Why- Like Spirited Away, Del Toro shows that fairy tales aren’t just for kids. Even if El laberinto del fauno was certificate 15.

2005 – Kiss, Kiss Bang, Bang - Shane Black

Why- My favourite Robert Downey Jr film which Wikipedia summed up - "crime/black comedy film, whick engages many conventions of the classic film noir genre in a tongue-in-cheek fashion."

2004 – Side Ways - Alexander Payne

Why- A light and very mature comedy which grabbed and surprised me. Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church work great together as two friend dealing with growing old, responsibilities and playing golf.

2003 – Lost in Translation – Sofia Coppola
Why- A beautiful romance which doesn’t involve sex but two sad souls who need each other. Will we ever know what Murray whispered to Johansson.

2002 – Spirited Away - Hayao Miyazaki
Why- Hayao Miyazaki shows that animated films aren’t just for kids. The magical characters and landscapes are timeless more over then any Disney film.

2001 – Donnie Darko
Why- Richard Kelly’s sci-fi horror did very badly in America but well in Europe captured me with the twisted tale of teen angst and a guy in a bunny suit.

2000 – Memento – Christopher Nolan

Why- Memento has the best editing in any movie I have ever scene. The was so impressive it would inspire any new film-maker.

And Film of the Decade goes to-

Hayao Miyazaki’s SPIRITED AWAY

And there you have it folks. I’d like to thank Kid in the Front Row for all his help with my blog (he’s doing a great job) and I’d like to thank the few people who read this and enjoy it. And if you want to join the team contact me for further details.

Oliver J. Hunt and the New Film Blog out...

#50 Rounding the year up

Number 50! Let hope next year I can get it to #100 and beyond! And now onto the one year anniversary of the NEW FILM BLOG which is at the end of the month. And what a year 09 has been for films and my blog. Of course the roads been bumpy but I’m thinking about getting others on board to help the blog through 2010 but we’ll just see.

So here’s the years round up. I’ll be posting my scores, my new scores for the film and the scores for films I didn’t review. Then do my top three films of the year! So lets get going.

Bronson – * * * * *

New score- * * *

Comment- Interesting film which probably no one saw. Think Chopper meets

Clockwork Orange.

*

Curious Case of Benjamin Button - * * * *

New score- * *

Comment- A film about a guy who gets younger every day. Starts of well but looses it’s magic about half way.

*

Drag Me To Hell - * * * * *

New score- * * * * *

Comment- Sam Raimi returns to horror since Bruce Campbell vs The Army or Darkness. This film was so good you can sign my up for Evil Dead 4.

*

Låt Den Rätte Komma In - * * * * *
New score- * * * * *

Comment- Swedish vampire film which isn’t about sex unlike most vampire films. The writer of the Twilight Saga needs to watch this and see what a real vampire looks like.

*

Inglorious Basterds - * * * * *

New score- * * * *

Comment- Tarantino’s back for a good shoot out but still feel a TV show would have been better.

*

Milk - * * * * *

New score- * * * *

Comment- Gus van Sant’s great indie film about a subject which obviously meant a lot to him. Great performances from Sena Penn and Josh Brolin.

*

Slumdog Millionaire - * * * * *

New score- * * *

Comment- Danny Boyle’s interesting film about child slavery, poverty and heart break which was hailed as the heart warming film of the year.
*

Star Trek - * * * *

New score- * * *
Comment- Good but I wasn’t a Trekkie so went over my head. Still better then expected.

*

Synecdoche New York - * *

New score- *

Comment- Rubbish next… ok ok so this film shows Charily Kaufman needs and editor and someone to chain him down.
*

Transformers: Raise of the Fallen - * *
New score- *
Comment- Worse the Synecdoche New York, next.

*

Watchmen - * * * *
New score- * * *
Comment- Great comic. Good adaptation. Better then expected.

*

The Wrestler - * * * * *

New score- * * * *

Comment- Mickey Rourke steps back in the ring for a heart warming story about the road to self victory.

*

Films I didn’t review
*

(500) Days of Summer - * * *

Comment- Got me loving The Smiths and Joseph Gordon Levitt, enough said.

*

Antichrist - * * * * *
Comment- Lars von Trier’s disturbing flick shows audience that cinema can be engaging, challenging and truly disturbing.

*

Avatar- * * * * *
Comment- James Cameron’s ten year brain child was worth the wait. It’s smurfs meet Furngully, in a good way.

*

Funny People - * * *

Comment- disappointment from Judd Apatow but still worth watching.

*

Halloween 2 - * *

Comment- I feel the first of the Rob Zombie Halloween films was in some ways better then the original however this is one of horrors darkest days and not in a good way. Good thing Zombie isn’t making H3.

*

The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus - * * *

Comment- Terry Gilliam is back and with a vengeance. Still felt the end could have had five minutes cut off but still Tom Waits redeemed it all.

*

Last House on the Left - * * *
Comment- The original was on of the grittiest films in history. But did it constitute for a remake? Probably not. However this films a more cleaned up on which I enjoyed to the end.

*

Paranormal Activities - * * *

Comment- Scary film which kept me up all night.

*

Moon - * * * * *
Comment- Duncan Jones’s first film shoots straight into my top five sci-fi films. Need I say more?
*

Pontypool - * * * *
Comment- An Canadian zombie horror where the virus isn’t transmitted by bites but by words.

*

Zombieland - * * *

Comment- Pretty funny zombie flick with twenty minutes without any zombies. And NOT as good as Shaun of the Dead.

And now that that’s out of the way its time for my top five film of 2009!

Top 5 movies of 2009

5. Inglorious Basterds – Quentin Tarantino

4. Avatar – James Cameron

3. Antichrist – Lars von Trier

2. Moon – Duncan Jones

1. Drag me to Hell – Sam Raimi

So what do you think? Do you agree? What was your top films of 2009? Please comment below.

Well I hoped you liked it. There it is. Now onto the bigger picture. Top films of the decade!

* * *

P.S. I saw this video on YouTube recently and thought I had to add it in it is truley incredible. I also had a little of a change around of my list but the #1 stayed the same!

Oliver Hunt

#49 One Night At The Movies Long Ago - A story of paranoia, strange strangers and bad glares.

I was in.

*

At the time, which wasn’t long ago, I was planning on seeing a film with a certificate that was older then me, If only by a couple of months. Now, all my friends had boasted about seeing the dreaded 18 certificate films with ease or without worry. But for me that was different. Being a somewhat paranoid freak I felt that everyone was watching me. The CCTV, the people selling tickets, even the other movie goers.

*

On the drive there I thought of plan upon plan of ‘what if’. What if they look at my boyish charm and rat me out? Do I run? Or keep my dignity as I stroll out without a care (even if I HAD to see this film)? Outside there was the usual Arthouse cinema goes with their beer cups which I just walked past. At my local Arthouse (and where I was sneaking in) there is two places to pay. I only knew one. So I waited behind a crowd for my shot at a prize (the prize being able to see the film). I had booked the tickets online with the plan that once I’m their I can just wipe out a card (my dad’s) and pay for the ticket. But half way to the ticket stall was when the person behind said that tickets could be bought at the confectionary stand. For some reason I followed the two or three people who where in front of me over to the stand.

*

For some unknown reason I felt comfortable. I felt that the plan was going well and it would be in and enjoying the film with in the hour. Then the door to the only screen opened and about a hundred people flooded out all happy after watching the film I planned on seeing. I ignored them so that I wouldn’t hear something I’d regret eavesdropping on. Now when I looked back the lady behind the counter I saw she was looking at me. No not looking, staring at me. As if she knew. Every so after she would look at me trying to suss me out or break my spirit. So I just stood up straight and didn’t let it bother my out side complexion. But on the inside I was stressing. Now it was my turn and to my amazement, she didn’t ask for ID or anything. She just took my (dad’s) card and did everything fine.

*

And that was it. You would think that was the end but it wasn’t. After the screen opened I walked in and sat in my usual place which is in the middle of the room, not to close to the screen but not to far enough and sat down and began to happily read the little free book of up coming films. Then I noticed over my should and man sneaking up to me. I looked over the seat at him when he began to talk to me. Apparently the seat I was sitting on was the best in the cinema because it’s where all the speakers are pointed at. What could I say to this? I thanked the man for telling me and kept my head down. But once the film started I was safe. I was happy. The panic was over. I was in.

*

Oliver J. Hunt