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SEE IT

How She Move
Dir: Ian Iqbal Rashid
Starring: Rutina Wesley, Brennan Gademans, Cle Bennett, Tre Armstrong, Kevin Duhaney
***
What’s it about?
Raya Green (Wesley) is a high school student “straight outta the projects” but she is a little smarter than the average hoodrat. Studious, articulate and intelligent she is deeply passionate about dancing.

In a well worn use of plot devices Raya wants a better life for herself and in order to raise the necessary tuition funds for a place at a high falutin school she bands together with a local Step group who are about to enter an X Factor-esq competition for dancers.

Is It any good?
Whilst the acting, cinematography and photography won’t win any awards this is a visual treat when the cameras attempt to follow the incredible dance moves. Lets face it the plot is just a thinly veiled excuse for teens to engage in some seemingly back breaking dance offs which admittedly they do carry out with an intensity not seen since David LaChappelles movie Rize. The Dialogue is slightly cluncky and is delivered with a lack of authenticity that lets down an otherwise passable script.

You’ll remember this bit:
I must say I was struck by the many plot holes that pepper the paper thin plot. Judging from the amount of time that Raya’s buddies, who all happen to work in a garage, actually spend dancing instead of what they are paid to do I was surprised they could all a) Keep their jobs and b) turn a profit for the seemingly prosperous garage owner.

The sole reason this movie works is down to the sheer audaciousness of the dance routines and booming soundtrack. Spectacular, frenzied and energetic is an understatement and judging from the relatively low outlay for the film to be made and the truly spectacular stateside box office receipts I wouldn’t be surprised if a sequel is in the works as you read this.

FINE Line:
“…if you have a milkshake, and I have a milkshake, and I have a straw. There it is, that’s a straw, you see? Watch it. And my straw reaches across the room and starts to drink your milkshake, I drink your milkshake! I drink it up!” Daniel Plainview – There Will be Blood

Bin It:
St. Trinian’s
Dir: Oliver Parker and Barnaby Thompson
Starring: Talulah Riley, Rupert Everett, Colin Firth and Russell Brand
*
What’s it about?
In the good ol’ days of the Empire Ealing Studio’s was once the bastion of British film making. This year to mark its triumphant return one of its tired and moth eaten franchises had the dubious honour of being remade…this is it. The all girls school is on the brink of bankruptcy and its up to the attendees to save it…all together now…Dear God no!”
Is it any good?
If it were not for my professional obligations I would have walked out of this shoddy, repugnant steaming pile of poo. Predictable, unfunny and genuinely offensive this has to be a sure contender for next years Razzies where the previous years worst movies ever created are subject to ridicule and finger pointing.
You’ll remember this bit:
For all the wrong reasons the female characters will be indelibly etched into your memory. In what has to be one of the most exploitative attempts to sexualise young adults this effort is truly shambolic. Avoid this like you would avoid a headmaster’s cane.

Reel News:

Beyonce Knowles will join Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Cedric the Entertainer and Emmanuelle Chriqui in Cadillac Records, about the 1950s music executive Leonard Chess, who discovered the likes of Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry. Knowles is playing Etta James in the film.

Hugo Weaving will join Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins and Emily Blunt in the upcoming remake of The Wolfman, which director Joe Johnston starts filming next month in London.

Fresh from the Bafta win for This is England Stephen Graham is to join the cast of Michael Mann’s Public Enemies, about the FBI agent played by Christian Bale who hunted down gangster John Dillinger Johnny Depp.

Kristin Kreuk and Chris Klein will join Rick Yune and Michael Clarke Duncan in Street Fighter, the second film based on the classic videogame about extreme fighting,the first, in 1994, starred Jean Claude Van Damme. Andrzej Bartkowiak Exit Wounds is directing.

Ellen Page will star in Drag Me To Hell, a horror film by Sam Raimi about a person who’s given a supernatural curse. Filming starts this month in Los Angeles.

Sylvester Stallone is thinking about revisiting another of his past characters, namely Gabe Walker from Cliffhanger 1993. Apparently, a sequel, called The Dam, was written in the late-90s but never managed to get into production.

One Question Interview:

Hayden Christensen star of Jumper
MM: Jumper is an incredbily physical movie. Did you end up with any cuts or bruises…or should I say did your stunt double end up with cuts and bruises?”
HC: “I split my ear open in a fight with Samuel L. Jackson’s character. Then one of my pupils hyperdilated after they put these drops in my eyes to make them go bloodshot after a fight with Jamie Bell’s character Griffin. It got stuck in the dilated position so I had to go to hospital for that.”

Whoa is me!

The revolution will be televised.

Film Review: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

I was a little tied up earlier this week so could not make the press screening. So I sent it girl about town Tori “I can raise a million pounds single handedly” Johnson who had this to say…

When you get offered tickets to a preview screening of a film, you automatically hope against hope for it to be one of the films you have been waiting to see for months. In my case, that film is Sex and the City. I’m a thirty-something single woman, with a career, great set of friends and a shoe and handbag collection to rival that of Bloomingdales. I’m also going to New York for my holidays this year, and, at a push, could call watching the film ‘research’…. All this goes to prove that I am most definitely not the demographic for Indiana Jones and the Wotsit of the Crystal Thingy. However, my flatmate is a lifelong Harrison Ford fan (second only to Johnny Depp) so we went.

And I’m glad I did. This film is exactly what an Indiana Jones film should be. If you were expecting the franchise to have been modernised, updated, glamorised or ‘improved’ in any way, then you will be disappointed. The film held my attention throughout with some very well choreographed set-pieces and clever comical action sequences. The film nodded more than once to the previous films (in one part, less of a nod and more of a full convulsion!), but, however tenuous or contrived, it all seemed to work.

The first few scenes made humour out of our aging action hero, but once the film got going, Indy was the man he always was and could be seen flying through the action just as energetically as ever he did. Although, the focus was most definitely on Shia Le Boef who took on the role of young buck beautifully, despite having all the hallmarks of being a bit annoying at the beginning, with his James Dean swagger and DA hairstyle. Without giving anything away, the scene with the monkeys and the vines could have gone horribly wrong, but seemed to work within the setting of unbelievable, fast paced action – think Pirates of the Caribbean meets the Mummy Returns!

John Hurt was fantastic and Ray Winston gave his usual cockney cheeky-chappie performance, no more no less, exactly what was needed. However, the award for best character has to go to Cate Blanchette’s [sorry - can't remember name], who’s sinister, mind-reading, Russian villain was perfectly performed, and almost had you rooting for her at the end.

Thirteen year old boys won’t be disappointed either, there is the obligatory scene with swarms of killer creepy crawlies and plenty of danger to overcome on the way to an epic CGI conclusion!

All in all, very much worth the price of a ticket. Ignore the negative press, this film ticks all the boxes and is destined to become a much loved Christmas Day movie of the future. Oh, and Harrison seems to have usurped Johnny Depp. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled!

Touch Me

The new mag is out and yes it feels great to be part of the institution called TOUCH…

Moment of Madness

It’s a well worn plot device that works successfully time and time again on the big screen in which the movies main protagonist spends an age toiling, grafting, forging an empire and reaches the top of his / her game. In a moment of madness, usually a misjudged wink, word or deed, unravels all of their hard earned, formulaic ill gotten gains, in an instant.

Why is it that on screen characters, when things are on the up, when everything is panning out really nicely, has a self destructive habit of pissing their success down the lavatory? Every genre has a story to tell using this format here we have a look at some of the best that ever did it…

No Country for Old Men – Llewellyn Moss

What’s the story?
He’s an ex Vietnam vet who’s living off the fat of the land doing a spot of welding here, shooting a few wild animals there. It’s a simple but carefree life that is ransacked in nano seconds when he stumbles across a drug deal gone bad and two million dollars in cash.

Mad moment
Literally seizing the opportunity with both hands and with a crazy glint in his eye Moss cannot believe his luck. After making off with the spoils he fails to spot the old adage bellowing loud and clear in this chance…”nothing in life is free”

What happens next
Never has a man’s lack of foresight returned to bite him so savagely in the rear than when assassin Anton Chigur is called in to reclaim the loot. There will be blood, sweat and tears…all his, sadly.

The Five Heartbeats – Eddie King Jr

What’s it about?
It follows the meteoric rise of a fictional 60’s vocal group who, from humble beginnings wow America with their singing ability. Hustling their way from pokey juke box joints all the way to sell out stadiums The Five Heartbeats catchy tunes net them money and power in record time far beyond the heights that any of them ever anticipated.

Mad Moment
In nearly every band there is always one bad seed. Here it’s Eddie King Jr played by Michael Wright who brings the band to a tear jerking halt with his night of debauchery fuelled by drink, drugs and women.

What happens next?
Seeking to exploit the division in the band record label bosses step in and sow bad feeling and mistrust by offering various members separate recording contracts. The band split acrimoniously vowing never to speak to each other again.

Goodfellas – Tommy DeVito

What’s it about?
Anthony Hill, a wanabee wise guy who snitches on his mob pals after being caught dealing drugs, is the subject of one of Martin Scorsese’s most violent movies. It charts Hill’s rise as an insignificant foot soldier to lofty confidant of one of America’s most notorious crime families.

Mad Moment
“Now go home and get your fuckin’ shinebox” Apart from the obvious expletive, this is a pretty harmless throwaway line, only problem is it’s aimed at Anthony’s friend Tommy Devito who is perpetually looking for any excuse to “whack” all comers. Anthony’s moment of madness is stand by and watch as Tommy lays waste to this goon who turns out to be a “Made” guy.

What happens next?
After Hill assists him by disposing of the body it is this single action that not only unravels the friendship that exists between Tommy and Anthony but also sows seeds of mistrust with the rest of his mob pals.

Malcolm X – Malcolm X
What’s it about?
Malcolm Little aka Malcolm X aka El Hajj Malik El Shabbaz was the most charismatic and eloquent leader of the Nation of Islam. Spike Lee’s epic follows him from petty thief to civil rights leader culminating in his eventual assassination.

Mad Moment
Famed for his eloquence it was his ill timed statement on the assignation of President Kennedy that sealed his fate. Describing the assassination as “chickens coming home to roost” Malcolm X would soon find that his words would come back to haunt him in so many different ways.

What happened next?
After being suspended from public speaking X found life inside the Nation of Islam untenable. Whilst the accusations of adultery that were levelled at Elijah Mohammed hastened his exit, his changing ideology, popularity and outspokenness also made him the target of counter intelligence programmes that have been linked to his eventual assassination.

American Gangster – Frank Lucas
What’s it about?
Unbelievably Frank Lucas, America’s most notorious drug Kingpin, stayed under the radar undetected for decades whilst he dealt the purist of narcotics under the brand name Blue Magic.

Mad Moment
“That’s a clown suit. That’s a costume; with a big sign on it that says “Arrest me”. You understand? You’re too loud, you’re making too much noise. Listen to me, the loudest one in the room is the weakest one in the room.” A stern warning from Lucas to his own brother about the dangers of flash dressing and its propensity to draw the attention of law enforcers. It’s ironic then that it wasn’t the amount of bodies he’d racked up in his reign that brought him down but the wearing of a chinchilla hat that obscured the view of feds behind him at a boxing match.

What happened next
Top cop Ritchie Roberts eventually brings Lucas to justice but it’s the co-operation with the authorities that eventually enables the top dealers to be brought to account and facilitates Lucas’ early parole.

Heat – Neil Mac Cauley

What’s it about?
A group of bank robbers plan a series of audacious raids culminating in the heist of the decade whilst the feds close in.

Mad Moment
After a series of high risk bank raids MacCauley falls for a brunette who proves to be his undoing as top cop Vincent Hanna closes in and nabs his elusive foe.

What happens next
“A guy told me one time, “Don’t let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner.” Neil MacCauley might be able to trot out some great one liners but boy does he need to take his own advice once in a while.

Ghost Dog – Ghost Dog
What’s it about?
He’s an assassin, highly skilled in his art. Adopting the credo of the ancient Samurai he lays waste to all contracts with precision and dedication leaving no trace.

Mad Moment
“If one were to say in a word what the condition of being a samurai is, its basis lies first in seriously devoting one’s body and soul to his master.” It’s this selfless devotion to his mob boss that ultimately leads to carnage. In a moment of madness he is forced to ice his mentor.

What happens next
It’s downhill from here as the mob close in on him in an effort to even the score.

Scarface – Tony Montana

What’s it about
Charting the rise of the fictional Tony Montana, Cuba’s most hot headed export Scarface explores the inner turmoil, greed and ultimate betrayal of Montana who annihilates his competition to be become Americas most powerful drugs baron.

Mad Moment
It’s the moment where Montana slays his best friend Manny Ribera after mistakenly believing that he is taking advantage of his sister. A transgression that had it been based on fact might be unforgivable. Unfortunately Montana’s judgment is so impaired that his would friends and foes have, in his mind, merged into one.

What happens next
At this point of the movie Montana has reneged on his own rule “Don’t get high on your own supply” It’s this single act that underlines that Montana has lost all grip on reality and the empire that he has painstakingly built crumbles quicker than Michael Jackson’s foundation.

Give it all you’ve got

Hey,

On Sun 20 July I’ll be cycling from London to Southend to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.

Please can you dig deep and sponsor me by using the following link http://www.justgiving.com/m-morgan

Thanks in advance.

Film Review: Adulthood

Adulthood

What’s it about?
Following on from the highly successful Kidulthood is the eagerly anticipated sequel. After serving six years for murder Sam (Noel Clarke) is released back into the community where friends and relatives of his victim, Trife, are still simmering from his thuggery.

Whilst life may have stood still for Sam, with the continuing themes of bullying, and violence following him into prison (we find out how by way of well edited flashbacks), those he left behind have been inextricably affected by his murderous act. Jay (Adam Deacon) has transformed into and angry drug dealer, Moony (Femi Oyeniran) is focussed on finishing his law degreee, Alisa is a single mum bringing up her daughter with the help of her mother and Sam’s ex, Claire (Madalaine Failrley), has found a new man (Danny Dyer) and is determined to move on.

From the outset Sam is focussed on ending the circle of violence that he started but his redemption is made all that more difficult with a shady mentor Big Man (Wil Johnson), lurking in the background, a price on his head and a new breed of bad boys who are determined to pursue him to settle the score.

Is it any good?
Featuring a great soundtrack, and a good use of splitscreen, it’s phenomenal and manages to blow it’s predecessor out of the water. This is no mean feat, but with Clarke in the Directors chair, on scripting duties and in the starring role, greatness is almost certainly guaranteed. Clarke manages to multitask with perfection. For a directorial debut he has put together a perfectly cast, immaculately edited and impeccably paced film. Adulthood benefits from a tight script which features both witty and realistic dialogue. In addition Clarke’s skills on screen are understated, generously allowing his co-stars to develop their characters.

You’ll remember this bit?
This is very much a performance based film featuring many of the young actors from the first movie who have all, notably Deacon, raised the levels of their onscreen skill.

The mugging scene in which Deacon deals out a stern rebuke to a client who is reluctant to pay for his dope is pure class. This warms you up for a later scene which is an interesting variation on the classic mexican stand off…baseball bat vs automatic handgun.

Plan B, as Dabs, shines as the perpetually out of control thug who also shows a keen sense of comic timing. Dyer whilst providing a brief performance adds value here dominating his scenes with an intensity that many will liken to that of Ray Winstone. Adulthood is a timely film given the cycle of violence that many in the UK, either voluntarily or involuntarily, now find themselves a part of. With its message of hope, redemption and an end to violence this is definitely the most important film of this year.

E.T.A: 20 June

Righteous Kill

De-Niro and Pacino together on screen again is a reason for celebration. So why does this trailer not excite me?

Fourth Blood

Rambo

What’s it about:
“Y’know what you are, what you’re made of. War is in your blood. When you’re pushed, killing’s as easy as breathing.” This really sums up the premise of Stallone’s directorial attempt at re-starting one of the worlds most violent but iconic film franchsies ever. But come on I think you’d pretty naïve to think that spending 91 minutes in front of a large screen with Stallone stomping around was going to be about social etiquette, jolly japes and misunderstandings.

Its hard to believe that it’s been 20 years since the last outing in the series Stallone’s John Rambo has now retreated to Northern Thailand where he works on a pretty dilapidated long boat doing what a man does with too much time on his hands…you know stuff like…hunting poisonous snakes. Anyhow its not long before he’s escorting a group of missionaries seeking to enter Burma to deliver medical supplies and the good word of the Lord. Now… you’ve seen the same news reports that I have so you know nothing good can come of this…right?…right!

Is it any good?
I’ve got to admit how incredibly enjoyable I found this. Stallone has applied the “If it aint broke why fix it” motto and what we have come to expect from the franchise is delivered straight no chaser with a violent intensity not experienced since the early movies of Paul Verhoeven. Bodies are cut in half, chewed by pigs, blown apart by landmines all in mind splitting detail.

You’ll remember this bit:
The rescue attempt carried out by Rambo with the help of a group of mercenaries is pretty slick. To go into detail would spoil what amounts to a very well filmed, thought out and put together rescue. Events leading up to the raid are pretty entertaining especially when Rambo is mistaken for a simple boatman by one of the loudmouthed band of soldiers.

What a transformation

Vehicles transforming at 80 miles per hour never looked this good. Transformers raised the bar in terms of special effects and easily stole the “Blockbuster of the Summer” title.

Did I like it…not a lot

The worst on screen pairing award this year goes to the Mitchel and Webb for their part in the movie Magicians. Vacuous, nonsensical claptrap which ought never to have been greenlighted. If you don’t want this to be given the sequel treatment don’t buy the dvd.

Press On

Press gathering of the year award certainly goes to the good folks at Noble PR for their audacious Star Wars extravaganza. Complete with an army of Stormtroopers led by Darth Vader himself this was a press launch to beat all press launches.

And to wet our whistles..not just any old champers mind, no expense was spared…and to top it all off County Hall was decked out in all the costumes set peices, memorabelia and clips from all of the great movies. Flanked by fan boy and journo legend in his own lunch break Jono I found his enthusiastic faith disturbing…

All good in the hood

Set visit of the year has to be awarded to the sequel to Kidulthood, Adulthood. I’ve been on a few set visits but never have a cast and crew been such a great bunch of people to talk too.

Here’s the moment when I spoke with the Director and star Noel Clarke.

Can You Feel It?

Phew! Okay, we’ve put together a real bumper issue for you…get yourself down to your local WH Smiths and other worthy stockists!

Childs Play

I know this is a bit random but I’m a sucker for kids and turntables. Now when you put the two together I’m hooked. It’s nearly my son’s first birthday and maybe…just maybe if I brought him a couple of turntables and a mixer he might be as good as these two who incidentally are 5 and 8!

Glory(ous)

By popular demand I’ve set out my full review of American Gangster which if your new to this site you will not have seen as yet.

The telling of this extraordinary tale based on the true story of 70’s drug kingpin, Frank Lucas who uses his incredible business acumen to forge a criminal empire that rises above the mafia, is relayed in an almost steamroller like fashion. Firstly the movie is directed by Sir Ridley Scott, secondly it features a masterstroke in casting in that it stars Denzel Washington as Lucas and Russell Crowe as Richie Roberts the Detective who will ultimately bring him down.

Whilst the tale could have been heavily weighted towards Lucas as his story of how he used the coffins of dead Vietnam soldiers to transport heroin into America is fascinating in itself, Scott chooses to segue between the lives of the two main characters. Their backstory is expertly told and we quickly establish that whilst they might be on opposite sides of the law both Lucas and Roberts have many things in common. Relentless, ambitious, quick witted and focussed are several traits they share and as scenes are introduced they paint a picture of two men who like them or love them are ultimately flawed.

The opening scenes serve as a taster of the carnage that will ultimately ensue as we are given several pointers as to Lucas’ frame of mind. After setting ablaze (a subtle nod to Man on Fire perhaps?) an adversary who has been bound and gagged Lucas is determined to do a thorough job and so empties his gun on the unfortunate recipient. However, it is the chilling warning that Lucas issues to a family member that underlines his ruthlessness when Lucas warns him not to double cross him as he’s a very busy man who has little time to attend the funerals of relatives.

Crowe delivers an equally mesmeric performance and his portrayal of Roberts is understated to the point of brilliant. Essentially a good cop, a fact underlined by his refusal to pocket part of a million dollars in drug related money both he and his partner stumble upon he does also reveal flawed aspects of his character as he works his way though several women in the first 45 minutes of the movie whilst trying to hold onto a relationship with his son and estranged wife.

There are several set pieces and obvious nods to various movies of the same genre the most obvious of which is Scarface. The movie features an incredible soundtrack which is well used and never dominates each scene. What was refreshing to see, however short, were the superb performances from Brit actors Chiwitel Ejiofor and Idris Elba both of whom are used exceptionally well. Cuba Gooding Jr, is superb and, against type, delivers a flamboyant interpretation of drug merchant Nicky Barnes.

Fans of both Crowe and Washington will not be disappointed as the movie, like their performances, is flawless. Michael Mann’s Heat with it’s showpiece scene in which De Niro and Pacino face off in a diner is also deconstructed here. Instead of just paying homage both Crowe and Washington seek to reset the bar which they do to great affect. American Gangster is a master class in acting, pacing and story telling my only criticism would be at 156 minutes perhaps it could have been a little longer.

Not the woollen kind…

Samuel L Jackson as the bad guy…what’s not to like.

Fine Line:

“This is Lex Luthor. Only one thing alive with less than four legs can hear this frequency, Superman, and that’s you.” – Lex Luthor, Superman

mm