filmfan's diary

I saw The Bank Job and Be Kind Rewind. Here's what I thought. Oh and the Oscar results are in.

The Bank Job - Jason Statham and friends rob a bank and find themselves the targets of a conspiracy when they find that they've stolen some incrimating photos. Everyone's out to get them before the photos go public. This is a pretty entertaining, but ultimately forgettable, heist movie. Its funny and violent where it needs to be and the acting's all fine. A fair way to spend an evening if there's no footy on.

Be Kind Rewind -  Jack Black and Mos Def recreate some classic films when the stock of their video store is wiped. This is funny and feel good. Director Michel Gondry is the guy behind Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, another great film. Be Kind Rewind is about loving movies and hating being told to hate piracy.

For official sites and what's next on my list, check my last blog.

The Oscars happened yesterday, despite all that writers' strike stuff, which seems sorted now anyway. For the full list of winners click here. As you might have guessed I'm happy that Juno got an Oscar for Diablo Cody's script - hard to believe its her first. Watch out for more great stuff from her. Check my last blog for links.

I'm happy that the Coen brothers did so well with No Country For Old Men and well done to Javier Bardem for winning best supporting actor - that was a  really creepy character. 

Good to see Ratatouille and Sweeney Todd pick up an award each too. 

Do you think that the Oscars went to the right people? Comment this blog and tell me your thoughts. 

Be Kind Rewind (22nd Feb) Jack Black wipes all the tapes in Mos Def's video store, so they remake them rather then buy new stock. Cue hilarious movie referencing as they recreate everything from Robocop "I know robot karate" to Driving Miss Daisy and Ghostbusters. Check out the trailer and the official site to learn all about 'sweding', and have a go yourself.

The Bank Job (28th Feb) Brits  rob  bank, unearth  political cover-up  and get  involved in a sex scandal. Based on real events, this stars Jason Statham with guns - what more could you want? Cool seventies soundtrack by the sounds of it as well. For fans of Life on Mars and Crank - which has got a sequel in production as I type. Called Crank 2: High Voltage, it follows Chev Chelios as he tries to find the Chinese mobster who replaced his heart with a battery-powered device that needs shocking to keep him alive. This will not sound stupid if you saw Crank - it sounds frickin' awesome!

Vantage Point (7th March) The US President is shot and the security services need to find the eight people who all had a view of what happened. Puzzle piecing action with Matthew 'Jack from Lost' Fox, Dennis Quaid and Forest Whittaker - of Last King of Scotland fame.

Diary of the Dead (7th March) Like zombies? Like movies filmed handheld-style? Harbour a desire to fight off hoards of brain-eating ex-humans before they eat your guts? Then you'll love the latest flesh-flinging flick from George A. Romero - the first one since the 'Night' original to be 'completely' his own. Clicky for the myspace, which'll be better than the official site when its up I'll bet.

Mister Lonely (14th March) Celebrity impersonators meet and fall in love - or something. Its either really crap or touchingly made with subtleties in each impersonators character which are like who they're pretending to be - or something. Meh. 

Horton Hears a Who (21th March) The first CGI adaption of a Dr. Seuss story, features the voice-talent of Steve Carell, Jim Carrey, Seth Rogen (Knocked up, Superbad), Jonah Hill (err...Knocked up, Superbad and Walk Hard), Isla Fisher (Wedding Crashers, Wedding Daze, Engaged-to-Sacha-Baron-Cohen) and a lot more funny people. Play guess that voice and enjoy the pretty colours and zany plot. Oh, and Mr Eko is a town crier. 

Drillbit Taylor (28th March) Owen Wilson as a 'soldier of fortune' employed by some kids as a bodyguard to protect them from a school bully. Part written by Seth Rogen - yep him again - and with a funny, trailer it looks pretty funny.

If you've read this far and haven't seen Juno yet, I can only say you're missing out. Its a teen movie without the crass stereotyping and its a romcom without the soppy crap. Its up for all the best awards and has one a skipload of them already - deservedly so too.

If you've read this far and have seen Juno, here's some links about the cast and crew.

Screenwriter Diablo Cody's Myspace, and other blog - both great reads.

Director Jason Reitman's About 99 more words in this entry