With the end of the year rapidly approaching, I’m squeezing in as many 2014 films for so year end lists, whether that is at the cinema, on Sky Movies or on demand. I’m very thankful that I didn’t pay to see most of these…
St Vincent
Bill Murray is gathering some Oscar buzz for his portrayal of a curmudgeonly old guy who becomes friends with the son of his new next door neighbour. I can see him being nominated but Michael Keaton is looking like the hot favourite to take the award. This is a warm comedy that does lapse into sentimentality too much towards the end. Before that, it has some laugh out loud moments and it handles Murray’s wife’s illness nicely. The acting plaudits ought also to be going to Melissa McCarthy, who doesn’t have that much to do overall, but does have one brilliant scene involving her breaking down when discussing her child with his teacher and headmaster. Naomi Watts struggles in the role of a Russian prostitute however.
Rating: 7 out of 10
My Old Lady
Laboured comedy drama directed by Israel Horovitz, and based on his stage play about an American inheriting a flat in Paris only to find that he has an elderly tenant who he can’t shift. In his mid 60’s, this is Horovitz’s directorial debut, and it shows! Lacking any cinematic quality, the film plods along, not helped by a miscast Kevin Kline. Maggie Smith is good as the old lady but it is the sort of role she can do in her sleep.
Rating: 4.5 out of 10
Time Lapse
Uninvolving sci-fi flick about a group of friends discovering a machine that can take photos 24 hours in the future. Surprise-surprise they decide to use it for personal gain and things start to go horribly wrong. I didn’t care for any of the characters or what happened to them.
Rating: 4 out of 10
Grudge Match
Ludicrous boxing drama about two elderly boxers coming out of retirement to settle a grudge. Sylvester Stallone has long since ruined the memories of Rocky with the increasingly ridiculous sequels but it is depressing to see Robert De Niro sully Raging Bull. The climatic fight and the not predictable outcome of it make this just about bearable.
Rating 4.5 out of 10
American Mary
Unpleasant and boring body horror movie that sat on a distributor’s shelf for a couple of years. Received some decent reviews and features a good performance by Katharine Isabelle as Mary, but this wasn’t for me.
Rating: 3.5 out of 10
Shame the Devil
Laughably bad British serial killer thriller, where the only thing worse than Paul Tanter’s ham-fisted direction are the universally wooden performances, especially from Simon Phillips in the lead role.
Rating: 2 out of 10
I, Frankenstein
Disastrous telling of the Frankenstein story with the attempts to make it a modern day action movie completely failing. The good cast – including Bill Nighy and Aaron Eckhart – cannot save this mis-fire. I expect to see this appear on a lot of the worst of the year lists.
Rating: 2 out of 10
The Canyons
Not quite as terrible as its reputation suggests, though featuring a very bad performance by porn star James Dean, and an overwrought script by Brett Easton Ellis. Paul Schrader’s maligned drama about relationships and revenge in Hollywood is saved somewhat by the underrated Lindsay Lohan.
Rating: 4.5 out of 10
The Borderlands
A very formulaic British horror about paranormal activity in a church has some fans, but it felt derivative and pedestrian to me.
Rating: 4 out of 10
Labor Day
Jason Reitman’s directorial career started so well with his first 3 features – Thank You For Smoking, Juno and Up in the Air. It has hit the rails since with the ordinary Young Adult and then Labor Day. Josh Brolin plays an escaped prisoner who hides out in stranger Kate Winslet’s house, and forms a bond with her and her son. The lead performances are okay, but this is pretty tedious and pointless. Reitman’s latest film, Men, Women and Children has also received lukewarm reviews.
Rating: 4 out of 10