Moon by Duncan Jones

I come to you today, not with a new film due to the fact that I have been injured and bed ridden so have not been able to keep up with all the new releases, so I come to you today with a film that was released last year but got severely overlooked. I am of course talking about Duncan Jones debut feature film Moon, starring the unbelievable Sam Rockwell in a tour De force performance.

The film is basic in it's premise, what happens when a clone is awakened to the fact that it is a clone, is it its own person or do we have the power to manipulate them to do whatever we want. From this idea, Jones (who I should say right here is THE DAVID BOWIE'S son, but don't let that distract you from the greatness on offer in this film) extrapolates all sorts of issues and emotions that are both revelatory and confronting for the viewer. To give too much away of the film is to do you the viewer who hasn't seen it and great disservice. Know that I have watched this film I think at least five times in the past year, twice at the cinema and at least three times on DVD (that's right I am not upgraded to blue ray, yet. My friend Ben gives me grief about it all the time, so it will be soon.) And each time the film has left me emotionally exhausted, it really hits you right in the gut.

Duncan Jones doesn't put a foot wrong with every aspect of this film. It has a enough familiar sci fi genre conventions to make this film feel comfortable but at the same time there is a whole world (or should I say moon? I'm sorry, I know, I know a bad dad joke) of new ideas and experiences on offer to allow you fresh insight.

Sam Rockwell (I can't rave about this guy enough, those of you who haven't checked out Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind, do yourself a favour hire it and love it. And love his performance in it.) is truly stunning in the duel roles of Sam Bell and Sam Bell. On a purely technical level there was never a point where I thought they weren't both in the room. But emotionally Rockwell knows exactly how to draw a viewer into the world and know the right point to show the cracks in the person that left this viewer flawed. He is mesmerizing and heart breaking all at the same time. What left me more flawed is that this film, let alone Rockwell's performance were left out of the running at the end of year awards. In my mind his performance was the best of the year.

The films is also strongly aided by a rich and atmospheric score that has just the right amount of emotional sting to it by Clint Mansell. Mansell was also responsible for Requiem For A Dream and The Fountain, two of my favourite scores (both are on high rotation in my Itunes along with the Moon score now) but this time he is working alone and he nails it.

Go and buy this film because all I can tells ya is that it is a film that is more satisfying on the fifth viewing.

Thank you to all of those involved.

Iron Man 2 by Jon Favreau

I'm not going to waste too much time on this film because really what would be the point. It's going to make a bucket load of money. And the comic book fans will love it and even if they don't, all will be forgiven by the sight of Thors hammer as a tag on after the credits.

But I was left wanting a whole lot more. The game has been raised with Comic Book films with The Dark Knight and Kick Ass, but Iron Man is sorely lacking everything that these films had in spades.

I wasn't a fan of the first Iron Man and I'm even less of a fan now. At no point did I have fun in this film, at least the first one I did.

Jon Favreau who wrote one of my favourite films of all time in Swingers does a serviceable job here. He even quotes his own film by using a song from Swingers. It was a nice touch and probably my favourite part of the film, because I was also rewarded with seeing Sam Rockwell cutting up the dance floor. Rockwell seems to be one of the most under-rated actors going around. I really can't speak highly enough of him. When everyone else during the proceedings is getting a little too serious Rockwell tries to maintain a bit of fun, but seems to be let out to dry by everyone else.

See it, and wonder at the what The Avengers films is going to be like. This young chappy can wait.

The Blind Side By John Lee Hancock

I finally got around to watching 'The Blind Side' last night and it wasn't nearly as bad as I predicted. That being said the film is by no means memorable.

The film is written and directed by John Lee Hancock, who has been around for a while but hasn't got too many credits to his name. He is however responsible for writing one of my favourite films of all time 'A Perfect World' which was directed by Clint Eastwood and starred Kevin Costner. I found that film until it's final moments to be a subtle character study, which hit hard with some emotional truths about the welfare system in the USA.

'The Blind Side' however lacks all of the subtlety that 'A Perfect World' had and due to this I never fully went along for the ride. It is based upon the true story of Michael Oher and Leigh Ann Tuohy and how he went to become an NFL draftee due to her guidance and support. An amazing story truth be told, that is found wanting in this film and really is more movie of the week fare.

So I come now to Sandra Bullocks performance of which she won the Best Actress Oscar. Now her performance is restrained when it comes to letting off the tears but it does play to Bullocks strengths which has always been her quick tongue. The film belongs to Bullock but to me it is not enough to rate this as Best Actress performance.

Gabourey Sidibe in 'Precious' allowed me into a world I had never seen before and did it with such openness, I thought she might just overcome the behemoth that the Bullock Blind Side had become. This however does not surprise me considering for my money the best actor performance of the year wasn't even nominated, Sam Rockwell in 'Moon' a film that I have seen four times already now and can't wait too watch it again due in large part to Rockwell's blistering, emotionally charged performance.