Something about.. the BAFTAs 2011

The BAFTAs - the creme de la creme of film gather in one room to celebrate the greatest films of that year. 2011 was no different with one major exception: it was the most predictable award show I have ever seen.

Everyone knew that The King's Speech would fair well, but it dominated beyond imagination.

Although fully deserving of the acknowledgement of the academy, I also felt that The King's Speech should not have scooped all the awards that it did.

Unsurprisingly and justifiably Colin Firth took the leading actor award for the second year running for his portrayal of King George VI. Last year the British actor took home the award for his role in A Single Man.

The supporting actress award went to Helena Bonham-Carter, who was also fully deserving of the accolade after such a refined and regal performance as the Queen. Her scatty but witty speech was the highlight of the evening and showed her as an intelligent and talented woman.

Geoffrey Rush was also an unsurprising choice for the supporting actor award for his extrovert performance as speech therapist Lionel Logue.

Although the odds were on The King's Speech to win the best film I must admit I felt slightly disappointed when it took the coveted title. Although the film was impeccable I didn't feel it deserved both best film and outstanding British film awards.

However, it was satisfying to see modest writer David Seidler take the original screenplay award.

The King's Speech was also honoured with the award for original music for the work of composer Alexandre Desplat. A biased part of me hoped this award would go to musical visionary A R Rahman for 127 Hours.

The Harry Potter films were a logical choice for the outstanding British contribution to cinema award, and I think it could be the first in many more to come after the release of the final chapter later this year.

Hit film The Social Network which tells the story of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg took home three awards. Aaron Sorkin was awarded the adapted screenplay award, Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter were acknowledged for editing and David Fincher got the prestigious director award although in my mind Danny Boyle fully deserved the nod for his exhilarating, inspiring and original 127 Hours.

Natalie Portman completed the bookies list of predictions by taking home the leading actress award for her fragile and harrowing performance as ballerina Nina Sayers in Black Swan.

It was a particularly memorable and poignant moment as Sir Christopher Lee accepted the Academy fellowship award with a truly moving speech.

The Academy acknowledged Inception's creative department and special effects by awarding the film with awards for production design, sound and special visual effects.

Alice in Wonderland was also awarded with gongs in costume design and make up and hair.

Tom Hardy took home the Orange Wednesdays rising star award and the best animated film award went to Lee Unkrich for Toy Story 3. True Grit's Roger Deakins was awarded for cinematography whilst The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo took home the film not in the English Language award.

It was an unexpected but satisfying win for Chris Morris, writer/director of Four Lions which took the outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer award.

The Eagleman Stag was awarded the short animation award and short film went to Until the River Runs Red.

Something about.. Black Swan

Darren Aronofsky, the acclaimed director of Requiem for a Dream and The Wrestler, presents another intense and artistic film, Black Swan.

The film takes the glamorous and elegant world of ballet and explores the darker side of this historical art form, tainting its purity with a psychological story which reflects the famous tale of Swan Lake as Natalie Portman falls into darkness and loses her mind.

Portman deserves all the credit she has gained from her performance as the lead, dedicated ballerina Nina Sayers who lands the lead role when her dance company puts on Swan Lake.

She encapsulates the fragile beauty of the White Swan, graceful and innocent and as a ballerina desperately seeking the approval of her mother and her director, Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel). Portman powerfully displays Nina's transformation from a delicate and timid ballerina into a troubled and paranoid lead.

Mila Kunis is the perfect supporting actress and opposite Portman she plays the reckless and free-spirited Lily, resonating everything that Leroy wants out of his Black Swan, and everything that Nina is not.

The casting and performances - including supporting roles by Winona Ryder and Barbara Hershey - are flawless, and the style in which it is put on screen is captivating. But the story is where the film lacks credibility.

A powerful and eye-catching use of light, and dark, throughout the film creates a theatrical atmosphere mirroring that of seeing a real ballet in a theatre. And the use of props - such as mirrors - coupled with the voyeuristic style of filming and specific editing style create tense and thrilling scenes as Nina slowly slips into insanity.

Although aspects of the plot are particularly strong, such as the development of the characters and their onscreen chemistry and relationships, I can't help feeling the film hasn't quite got it right.

Nina's insanity seems all too extreme, and although I respect the complexity of the story and what the film makers were trying to do, it didn't quite work.

Black Swan was successful in making the audience question everything they see on screen. But it went too far, leaving the viewer unsure as to whether what they just saw was really happening in the script or was just in Nina's head.

Beginning with simple and subtle illusions worked, but as more and more of the film was skewed by Nina's imagination it was easy to get too lost. Some parts seemed unnecessary and it felt as if the director was over-complicating things.

Something about.. Morning Glory

Morning Glory has an impressive and applaudable cast - Harrison Ford, Jeff Goldblum, Diane Keaton and Rachel McAdams lead the film. And grossing more than $30,000,000 at the box office the plot must live up to the A* cast.

Well it seems anyone will see a film if it's got a high profile cast list because Morning Glory was nothing special. In fact I'd go as far as to say it's un-special.

McAdams plays an enthusiastic and passionate producer who takes up a challenging job to improve a struggling morning show after getting fired from her original job. Along the way she meets a string of stereotypical and cheesy characters, including Indiana Jones himself, Harrison Ford.

Ford should have stuck to archaeology because he's poor as a moody and grumpy journalist come TV presenter. His pensive and overly serious performance is unbelievable, dull and OTT.

The film is typical of another unoriginal comedy churned out by a Hollywood studio without a second thought. And unsurprisingly that means its an uninspiring and instantly forgettable film that I have seen before and I will see hundred times again.

Something about.. Secretariat

Animal films - particularly those about horses - are not up everyone's street. But Secretariat breaks down those boundaries.

Not only will horse lovers like it, but wider audiences will too.

It is an inspiring and empowering story of belief and faith. With some horse racing thrown into the mix.

The film follows the story of Penny Chenery, a respectable and proud wife and mother whose life changes after the death of her mother. Returning to her family home and farm - with a long history of training and racing horses - she takes the decision to continue her parents work and puts all of her effort into a long-shot horse, Big Red.

Enlisting the help of eccentric but brilliant trainer Lucien Laurin, played by the one-and-only John Malkovich, Penny (Diane Lane) guides the audience on a journey of overcoming obstacles and problems to reach the seemingly impossible goal of winning the Triple Crown.

Secretariat is uplifting and inspirational, not just for those interested in horses or horse racing, but for everyone sending out an important message that anyone can achieve anything with just a little belief and a little hope.

Despite the conflict of training her beloved Big Red and the long-distance relationship with her family, the illness of her father and the money problems, the film - which is based on the true story of one of the greatest racehorses to ever run - Penny shows that anything is possible if you don't give up.

As a horse lover I obviously enjoyed the film, but I would also recommend it to other anti-animal people.

The characters are wonderfully developed and believable, and the casting is faultless.

The plot has the perfect combination of fast-paced and exciting racing action scenes, humorous one-liners and situations, and warm, emotional relationships between family and between Big Red, his owner, trainer and jockey.

Seabiscuit was a hit on its release in 2003 - the true story of an unlikely champion racehorse rising above all the obstacles to become a surprise success story. Secretariat is ultimately the same - but better.

Something about.. Going the Distance

When watching Going the Distance after The Town it's hard not to draw comparisons. Therefore I'm reviewing them in that order and in comparison to the dark bank job film, this rom-com is the polar opposite.

Going the Distance is light, funny, enjoyable fluff. It is not life changing, or meaningful - but it's hilarious and satisfying.

It did everything I wanted it to do, made me smile. It was a laugh a minute.

The story is not original or new, but it was inoffensive and entertaining.

Drew Barrymore plays Erin, a journalism intern who meets Garrett (Justin Long) whilst working in New York temporarily. Despite promising themselves that the initial one night stand will not lead to anything meaningful, they quickly fall in love which creates problems when Erin returns home to San Francisco.

The film is centred around the couple as they struggle with their long distance relationship.

It is personable and relatable, and touching for anyone who can identify with the situation of being torn between your relationship and your career.

The film won't win any awards - and the cast certainly won't receive any credit, but I think Going the Distance deserves some recognition even if it's just for being the first trashy, cheesy rom-com in a long while to make me physically laugh out loud.

Highlights include Dan's through-the-wall soundtrack, a spontaneous moment of passion on the dining room table and a certain youtube video.

Going the Distance is certainly a film to take along to a girly evening - and will go perfectly with popcorn, wine and face masks. But it's also the DVD to add to your collection, or buy as a friendly birthday gift.

It's guaranteed giggles and an easy-going feel-good film.

Something about.. The Town

I had high hopes for The Town. A modern day bank robbery film - violent and brutal, action-packed but with an unexpected and unconventional love story.

Previews gave the impression of a powerful, fast-paced but challenging film about a man torn between his dark money-hungry criminal side and his good loving side.

The audience was thrown into the action, kicking off the film with the chilling robbery carried out by masked thieves with guns. A similar scene like that in many bank job movies I felt the film may struggle to be original or memorable.

But disappointingly it turned out to be even less than just that.

The film just took itself far too seriously. (Although I never thought possible) there was too much intensity. No scenes of lightness to lift the mood, no moments to breath, and there was certainly no fun or humour. There was just too much pent up passion, too much tension. It was like waiting for a stretched elastic band to break, or waiting for a giant balloon to burst - uncomfortable and awkward.

In a modern city setting and with some 'normal' characters the story was too dark and evil. There were too many hushed tones, mumbling on-edge conversations and whispering voices in dark corners.

Too much intensity - took itself too seriously, there were no moments to breath, no scenes of lightness or even humour. The Town was full of too much pent up passion, too much tension.

Shockingly Ben Affleck was one of the best parts of the film. Unlike his typically corny acting he was surprisingly convincing as the double-sided Doug MacRay, a greedy bank robber and a caring partner.

Rebecca Hall was good as Claire Keesey - a hostage from the bank robbery who unknowingly falls for one of her captors - is average. She plays the part well but brings no sparkle to the lead female and is instantly forgettable (I had to IMDB her in order to reference her in this review!)

And Blake Lively struggles to demonstrate her acting ability outside of Gossip Girl, playing Krista Coughlin, a drug user, single mother and former lover of Affleck.

In fact, the unknown actor Jeremy Renner who plays the harsh and gritty character of James 'Gem' Coughlin is the strongest performer in The Town. He plays an edgy, chilling and cold criminal with little compassion in his debut film and he could be one to watch in the future.

All in all, my hopes were dashed. The film was nothing special. It was average - distinctly average.

Something about.. Wall Street Never Sleeps

As soon as I saw the Wall Street Money Never Sleeps trailer I was engaged. I couldn't wait to see the film which looked intelligent, exciting and topical. I couldn't have been more wrong.

I have a rule that once I start to watch a film I always watch to the end. This is usually no effort at all but Wall Street Money Never Sleeps was the longest two hours of my life. It was physically painful in fact.

The film may have had a decent cast of Shia LaBeouf, Michael Douglas, Frank Langella and Carey Mulligan, a topical and interesting plot line based on real events and a talented director - all the ingredients for the perfect film. But despite being topical it was painfully dull.

Based on the stock market crash in Wall Street I expected a thrilling, exciting and fast-paced film, reflecting the stock market itself. But the film was too much talking and used too much financial lingo - any viewer without an economics degree would struggle to keep up.

Although each cast member delivered a good performance, bursting with passion, they struggled to carry the film through without a good enough plot.

It's also far too long. For a film that makes passively watching such hard work, it also did it for far too long.

Unless you're a stockbroker or a financial advisor or an economist I would not recommend this film. You'll just feel like a fish out of water, or you'll feel out of your depth - kind of like the bankers who got us in this financial mess.

Something about.. Miss Potter

I had two preconceptions sitting down to watch Miss Potter. A film about a world famous author of which little is known about could always be revealing and intriguing. But also runs the risk of being dull.

However my judgement is that the film was a quaint and charming insight into the woman behind one of the best-selling authors of all time.

Renee Zellweger is not a favourite actress of mine and I often struggle to warm to her in roles, but she presented a relatively likeable, strong and inspiring woman in Miss Potter. The love and compassion she has for her imaginary characters and the stories she tells is believable.

Ewan McGregor is still far from becoming a great actor or winning any awards, but despite his wavering ability to perform, he manages - once again - to create a warm and relatable character which you both like and care about. Clearly why he makes such a strong lead man and love interest.

The story is somewhat slow and the action sparse, but Miss Potter does exactly what you expect it to do. It doesn't excite, enthral or thrill, but it does entertain, enchant and inspire.

I do think this is a film to be enjoyed more by those who have read the Potter books and grown up with her stories. But with a well-known cast, warm story and beautiful cinematography it would come as an enjoyable surprise to most who watch it.