Welcome to Marwen could be the closest we get to seeing Steve Carell carry an war/action movie but Marwen excels when it actually comments on the effects of trauma and PTSD. There is a clear and very neat hook at the … Continue reading Welcome to Marwen (2018) Review
The UK Office is one of the best sitcoms that British television ever produced. Through two seasons and one Christmas special, The Office gave us a “real-life” story, with recognisable characters like awful boss David Brent, as well as a love … Continue reading Which is better? – The UK or US Office?
According to IMDB, Jack Nicholson was considered for the titular role of Benjamin Braddock. Watching this film, the character is so obviously and clearly meant for Dustin Hoffman you can’t imagine anyone else playing him. From the opening shot, framed around … Continue reading The Graduate (1967) Review
Someone at NBC must have said to Greg Daniels “we want you to create a show that is almost exactly like The Office without being set in an Office. Mr Daniels, happy to keep making television and sitcoms, duly obliged and … Continue reading Parks and Recreation (Season 1) TV Review
Because I review a whole tv series rather than individual episodes, there is a chance of spoilers, so if you haven’t watched the whole series yet, stop reading now! I don’t know many television shows that have successfully survived when their lead actor/character decides to leave. The only shows that I can think of that have tried to continue once their lead has decided to move on to other things are X-Files (David Duchovney), Scrubs (Zach Braff), and Two and Half Men (Charlie Sheen). I’m sure there are many more and each of these had various degrees of success. Unless you … Continue reading The Office (An American Workplace) (Season 7) TV Review
Because I review a whole tv series rather than individual episodes, there is a chance of spoilers, so if you haven’t watched the whole series yet, stop reading now! The American version of The Office is better than the original, UK version. Pretty bold statement and one that is actually silly and pointless. By this point, with (I think) the ninth season airing in America, the similarities between both programs is so slight and superficial, that comparing them would be like comparing James Bond and Johnny English. Yeah, they’re both spies, but apart from that? I have been a fan of … Continue reading The Office (An American Workplace) (Season 6) TV Review
This is really a film of two halves. The first half is brilliant and could easily have been the whole film. I actually wanted it to be the whole film and was slightly irritated when that part stopped and the story developed into something else. The second half, though not as good, is actually helped by how good the first half is. The first half that I’m so enthusiastic about is helped forward by the brilliant performance and chemistry between Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling. The premise for this part of the film is really simple and has been done to … Continue reading Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011) Review
Steve Carell is a deceptively good actor. He has much more of a range than most people realise. He’s probably most famous for his more “wacky” or crazy roles, where he gets to be outrageous or obnoxious, like The Office, Anchorman or Date Night. Recently though, I’ve watched a couple of films where he has played much more understated, quieter and, even as lame as this sounds, complex characters. He’s great as part of the ensemble cast in Little Miss Sunshine, plays a fantastic part in the surprisingly enjoyable Stupid Crazy Love (review coming soon) and he’s brilliant in Dan in Real … Continue reading Dan in Real Life (2007) Review
They are making Anchorman 2. I’m going to let that one sit for a moment with anyone who didn’t know…….. This is hopefully great news but with any sequel, you just hope that it has enough magic to be repeated. Unusually for me though, I think this film actually does. I think it has a lot going for it and its all down to one thing… Will Ferrell. I have seen a lot of Will Ferrell films and when he is on comedy form, he is a pretty hard act to beat. Anchorman, in my opinion, was the film that … Continue reading Anchorman (2004) Re-View
About a month ago I caught the end of Ghostbusters 2. It was brilliant. I found myself reciting key lines and getting excited about seeing moments that I don’t think I’d watched since I was at leat a teenager. The Ghostbusters were a huge part of my childhood. I loved both films, the tv show, I had books, toys, bedsheets and wallpaper. I was (and still am) a huge fan. So any news about a new Ghostbusters film should be met with unbridled joy and excitement… but no. I think it is a terrible idea. Here’s why; 1. No Bill … Continue reading Why they shouldn’t make Ghostbusters 3!
