60 Second Film Reviews #16

Quick movie reviews, without the waffle. 60 Second Film Reviews is a regular feature where I compile together brief reviews of recent films I've watched at home or at the movies - and generally couldn't be arsed didn't find time to write a proper review for.

This month, we have Frank Miller's Sin City: A Dame To Kill For, 20,000 Days on Earth, and A Long Way Down. 

Casting Call: The Last of Us

The Last of Us is one of the most highly-acclaimed video games of all time. Upon its release in June 2013, Empire Magazine commented that The Last of Us "may also prove to be gaming’s Citizen Kane moment – a masterpiece that will be looked back upon favourably for decades." 

It is no surprise then that since Naughty Dog's best-seller hit shelves that a movie adaptation has been quietly brewing behind the scenes. Despite the release date not being confirmed yet, The Last of Us movie is definitely happening - and that got me thinking about who should play who in the movie that could finally prove video game adaptations don't have to be shit.

Here's what I came up with...

Film Review: American Sniper

American Sniper is a biopic about the deadliest sniper in US military history, Chris Kyle. Across four tours in Iraq, Kyle (who is played by Bradley Cooper) racked up over 160 confirmed kills and saved the lives of countless American soldiers.

Directed by Clint Eastwood and nominated for six Academy Awards (including Best Picture and Actor for Cooper), American Sniper is a slick but simplistic look into the psyche of Kyle, one that feels a little too skin-deep to really hit home.

Birdman Backlash (VOR)

Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is the clear frontrunner this Oscar season, a critical darling that has racked up nine nominations for next month's annual awards show. 

From the daring cinematography to the revelatory performances and bitingly satirical screenplay, Birdman has got critics across the globe falling head over heels on every level.

Bearing this in mind, how come I've been reading so much negative backlash on Facebook and from audiences who've seen the film? What is it about Birdman that has got audiences and critics so divided?

Film Review: Birdman

Birdman (or to use its full title, Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is a dark comedy/drama from director Alejandro G. Inarritu. It sees Michael Keaton play Riggan Thompson, a fading movie star who is writing, directing and starring-in his own Broadway comeback.

It's a front-runner in this Oscars' with nine nominations under its belt - so, how does it stack up?

Film Review: Two Night Stand

This is not the Miles Teller film you're looking for, but maybe it should be. 

Ok, confession time - I took to iTunes to hunt down the digital release of Whiplash. Turns out, I have to wait until February for that particular one so instead I watched Two Night Stand, another film that stars Miles Teller. It's a rom-com though. So I was doubtful from the outset.

Anyway, let's dive right in. What's the deal with Two Night Stand?

Film Review: Into The Woods

Into The Woods is a Disney musical adapted from the Broadway show of the same name. It's a retelling of several classic fairytales that intertwine with one another - Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk and Rapunzel to be exact. 

Witches, giants and magical kingdoms (no teddy bear picnics though), Into The Woods is an enchanting adventure that, whilst sporadically entertaining, doesn't wholly impress.

Oscars 2015: The Nominations

You know why we're here - to talk about the Oscar nominations, or more specifically, which films weren't nominated and really should've been. Which film(s) do you think missed out on some lovin'? Let me know your thoughts in the comments down below!