X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

It's hard to believe it's almost been twenty years since the release of the first X-Men in 2000. While not the best superhero film, it was still a good film and a solid start to the franchise, which now includes several sequels, a prequel and a spin-off film that focuses on Wolverine (Hugh Jackman). However, following the release of Days Of Future Past in 2014, which was successful both at the box office and with critics, another instalment was released two years later, Apocalypse. While this follow-up failed to match the quality of its predecessor, I still enjoyed it more than most people. When it comes to the X-Men films, I'm easily pleased and don't expect much. I think that this is why I was looking forward to Dark Phoenix, the follow-up to Apocalypse. However, does it meet expectations?

Dark Phoenix focuses on one of the X-Men's most beloved characters, Jean Grey (Sophie Turner), as she evolves into the powerful Dark Phoenix. During a life-threatening rescue mission in space, Jean is hit by a cosmic force that transforms her into one of the most powerful mutants of all. Wrestling with this increasingly unstable power as well as her own personal demons, Jean spirals out of control, tearing the X-Men family apart and threatening to destroy the very fabric of our planet. 

Dark Phoenix is the most intense and emotional X-Men movie ever made. It is the culmination of 20 years of X-Men movies, as the family of mutants that we've come to know and love must face their most devastating enemy yet – one of their own. 

Since its release last week, Dark Phoenix has received a negative reception both from critics and audiences. I was disappointed by this as I was looking forward to finally seeing it. How. ever, despite this, I enjoyed Dark Phoenix. It's not without its flaws, including certain characters being underused and a weak villain, and it's far from the best film in the franchise. Those hoping to see more of the shape-shifting mutant, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence), and Quicksilver (Evan Peters), are going to be disappointed as they're only seen in the beginning of Dark Phoenix. The story focuses more on Jean and her inability to control her powers. After a fight breaks out between her and the X-Men, leading to a tragic death, Jean runs away. She soon meets Vuk (Jessica Chastain), who is the leader of a shape-shifting alien race known as the D'Bari. While Chastain does her best, her character is underdeveloped.

The Dark Phoenix story was previously adapted in The Last Stand which was released in 2006 and directed by Brett Ratner. It was negatively received by critics and audiences which is why Simon Kinberg, who makes his directorial debut with Dark Phoenix after co-writing several films in the X-Men franchise, wanted to remake it. While I don't think The Last Stand is a bad film, I do think that Dark Phoenix is an improvement. 

Kinberg is known for writing The Last Stand, Days Of Future Past and Apocalypse, which makes him the ideal choice to direct Dark Phoenix which he also wrote. Those expecting a film among the lines of something like Avengers: Endgame will be disappointed as both films are completely different, in terms of tone and story. For his directorial debut, I think that Kinberg has done a good job and has created a film that will be appreciated more by fans of X-Men. 

We're only six months into 2019 and we've already had our fair share of superhero films, including Dark Phoenix, Endgame, Captain Marvel and Shazam!. Because of this, I think audiences are suffering from 'superhero fatigue'. It's hard for superhero films to be unpredictable as they feature several cliches and the same narrative, which focuses on the superheroes trying to defeat the villain. This is one of Dark Phoenix's problems. Those who have seen several superhero films will not be surprised by certain outcomes.

I've always found previous superhero films to be lacking in tension because it was obvious that everyone was going to survive, due to the protagonist saving the day. Fortunately, I didn't think that this was the case for Dark Phoenix. Due to Jean's inability to control her powers, a main character is killed early on. Following this death, the X-Men are left broken and unsure of what to do. In my opinion, I think that this is the most dramatic X-Men film since Days of Future Past. The early X-Men films were hard to take seriously which made them more entertaining to watch. However, I think that the serious tone works for Dark Phoenix. 

Most of the cast from Apocalypse, including James McAvoy as Charles Xavier, Michael Fassbender as Erik Lehnsherr and Lawrence as Raven, return and, while their performances are far from Oscar-worthy, they each deliver solid portrayals of their characters. The most impressive is Turner who successfully captures Jean's struggles with her powers. In order to deliver an effective portrayal of Jean, Turner studied dissociative identity disorder and schizophrenia for the role, particularly for scenes where she has to change from the vulnerable Jean to the confident Phoenix. 

One of the highlights of the past X-Men films are the action sequences and I think that this is where Dark Phoenix was at its best. I think the fight sequence in New York City is the most memorable as we see most of the mutants, including Xavier, Lehnsherr, Scott Summers (Tye Sheridan), Beast (Nicholas Hoult), Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee) and Storm (Alexandra Shipp) fighting against each other. This is due to Xavier and Lehnsherr having a disagreement about Jean. Lehnsherr wants to kill Jean, however, Xavier thinks he can help her control her powers. 

Prior to watching X-Men: Dark Phoenix, I was hoping for a solid follow-up to Apocalypse that features a lot of mutant action, fortunately, I wasn't disappointed.

7/10

MOTHER! REVIEW

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Director Darren Aronofsky is known for his psychological horrors such as Black Swan and Requiem For A Dream, and his latest film, mother! may be his most controversial work yet. The film premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in early September and received both cheers and boos. While most critics went on to deem it a 'horrific masterpiece', some were not so appreciative of what Aronofsky had created. However, it is those films that were initially deemed controversial and disturbing that have gone on to become iconic and known as masterpieces, including Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange and The Shining, Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho and Roman Polanski's Rosemary's Baby (which Aronofsky found inspiration from for this film). I think that, because of this, we should be giving mother! a chance and congratulating Aronofsky for having the guts to make something directors would be too scared to even try and make into a film. Yes, it is violent, disturbing and hard to watch at times but the same can be said for the aforementioned films. mother! isn't suitable for all audiences but those who love and appreciate dark, disturbing thrillers such as The Shining and Rosemary's Baby will find something to appreciate in mother!.

The plot follows a young woman, 'mother', (Jennifer Lawrence) whose tranquil life with her husband, 'Him' (Javier Bardem), at their country home is disrupted by the arrival of a mysterious couple, Man (Ed Harris) and Woman (Michelle Pfeiffer). Their personal family drama spills over into the house leading to the death of their son and a memorial service held at their house. After the guests leave, the couple who own the house end up at the center of a cult that turns their home into a warzone.

I think it's best to go in to mother! totally blind as that is what Aronofsky wanted for his audience. He barely gave any details about the plot and even the trailer raised more questions than answers. However, I think that this was a good strategy as it intrigued audiences and persuaded them to see it. Another marketing scheme included uploading mother!'s posters to Aronofsky's Twitter account. The first poster was a painting and showed Lawrence's character holding out her heart. However, Aronofsky soon pointed out there were hidden Easter Eggs and clues in the poster, vital to the film's plot. Those who are interested in watching mother! should think twice as it involves a lot of violence, especially in its third act. It's one of those films that is definitely not for the faint hearted. 

For his cast, Aronofsky has chosen four of the best actors working today including Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Michelle Pfeiffer and Ed Harris. Both Lawrence and Bardem have received Academy Awards in the past for their impressive performances, Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook, Bardem for No Country For Old Men. Both Pfeiffer and Harris have also been nominated for Oscars in the past. All four actors give impressive performances but none more so than Lawrence. I have supported Lawrence and seen her films ever since she gave her breakthrough performance in The Hunger Games in 2012 and she is yet to give a disappointing performance. Her ability to become her characters amazes me and the same can be said for her role as mother. mother! is shown from her character's point of view and the camera follows her around the house. This was achieved by having a cameraman walk closely behind her which meant that all the actors had to rehearse every step and movement. We feel mother's pain of having strangers in her house and we are also annoyed at her husband for not sending people away. Their house goes from being a peaceful paradise to a claustrophobic, living hell as more and more guests turn up, eating their food and literally breaking and destroying their house. This is all shown brilliantly in the third act as mother desperately walks through the house. She can barely breathe as she is surrounded by people and, because we have developed a connection with her, we can barely breathe either. It's incredibly intense. 

The main reason why the characters are all unnamed is because they're all religion-based. As Aronofsky explained, the husband is named Him in the closing credits and is the only character with a capital letter in his name because he's meant to be God. This is proven in the climatic scene when he says 'I am I'. Religious people will know that this is a line God uses in his scripture. The title, mother!, refers to Mother Nature, whom Lawrence portrays and the other characters are based on biblical characters. The couple are Adam and Eve and their sons are Cain and Abel. The house itself is Earth and we see mother's connection with it as she see visions of a beating heart. Although I'm not religious, I really appreciated Aronofsky's metaphors and allegories for how we're treating Mother Nature. As of right now, the world is in a bad state and I don't think we're doing enough to help save it. Many people may be offended by the violence aimed at mother but I can definitely see Aronofsky's message. Mother Nature has given us this beautiful world but we're destroying what she created through climate change and pollution. Hearing mother cry, 'I gave you everything! You gave it all away' is heartbreaking and it truly made me think about how we're destroying the only home we have.

mother! has been one of my most anticipated films of this year and it certainly exceeded my expectations. The evening before its release last month, I accidentally saw a spoiler which put me off watching it. However, I knew I had to watch it, mainly for Jennifer Lawrence's captivating and intense performance. Although I normally don't like these type of films, I thoroughly appreciated all the hard work that went into creating it. This is the second film of Aronofsky's I've seen (the other being Black Swan), however, I can definitely say that he is one of the most creative and visionary directors working today. I'd say that the the intensity and disturbing tone of mother! is similar to that of Requiem For A Dream. Overall, mother! is a thought-provoking product of a singularly ambitious artistic vision. 

9/10

PASSENGERS REVIEW

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​Passengers was my highly anticipated film this year. It features my favourite actress, Jennifer Lawrence, as one of the lead characters and is a combination of some of my favourite genres all in one film including sci-fi, drama, thriller and romance. Safe to say, I had high hopes for this film.

Before watching Passengers, I discovered Jon Spaihts' original script. After reading it, I can understand why it was on the blacklist which is a list of the most liked scripts. Spaihts succeeds in creating two likeable characters and a compelling space adventure that is full of tension with a sprinkle of romance and humour. I pictured both Lawrence and Chris Pratt in the two lead roles and knew that director Morten Tyldum made the right choice in casting them as their characters. Speaking of Tyldum, he manages to bring Spaihts' script to life and turn it into a really entertaining film. Of course, there are a few flaws but what film doesn't have flaws?

Lawrence and Pratt star in an exciting sci fi-thriller about two passengers, Jim Preston (Pratt) and Aurora Lane (Lawrence) who are on a 120-year journey, aboard a spaceship called the Avalon, to another planet, Homestead II, when their hibernation pods wake them 90 years too early. Jim Preston and Aurora are forced to unravel the mystery behind the malfunction as the ship teeters on the brink of collapse, with the lives of thousands of passengers in jeopardy.

The first 15-20 minutes of Passengers focuses on Jim, as he is the first to wake up early, and we see him battling loneliness and depression for a year. His only company is an android bartender, Arthur (Michael Sheen). This leads to Jim making a life changing decision. Many critics have been giving Passengers negative reviews and, to be honest, I can understand why. This is because of the choice that Jim makes and it may change the audience's opinion of him. While I don't condone his actions, I didn't hate him for what he did as I've never been a position like his where I'm entirely alone. Many people do crazy things when trapped in a depressing mindset. This is what makes Passengers so thought-provoking as I did wonder what I would do if I was trapped alone on a spaceship.

This where Aurora comes in and, because she and Jim are the only two passengers awake, a friendship develops which soon turns into a romance. This is where Passengers is at its most entertaining as there's clearly chemistry between the pair. In a montage, we see them get closer as they dance, watch films and go on a date together. Passengers is worth watching for their performances. In my opinion, I didn't really like Pratt's previous roles, including Owen in Jurassic World and Peter Quill in Guardians Of The Galaxy, as, to me, he came across as a bit irritating. However, I thought his performance as Jim was solid as, apart from the one action he makes, he's a generally likeable character who is prepared to do anything to save Aurora and the other passengers when the Avalon goes down. Lawrence is mesmerising as Aurora and, like most of her previous roles, portrays her as a strong individual. She's not afraid to stand up for herself and, like Jim, risks her life to save others. Another performance worth mentioning is Sheen as Arthur who is an android bartender and serves Jim and Aurora. He brings humour to his role as he doesn't always say the right thing but is fun to watch. Laurence Fishburne makes an short but memorable appearance as Gus Mancuso, the captain of the Avalon, in the film's climax.

Speaking of which, I really enjoyed the climax. When the Avalon begins to shut down, it's up to Jim and Aurora to try and fix the ship. It's thrilling, full of tension and, although I knew what was going to happen, I was still on the edge of my seat.

The setting and design of the Avalon is really impressive. When Jim is walking around the ship near the beginning of the film, I was in awe of how stunning it looked. In a way, it made me wish I was there just so I could explore the ship.

The visual effects are amazing. With a sci-fi film, the effects have look realistic and, fortunately, the computer generated imagery is some of the best I've seen. The scene where Jim and Aurora fly outside the Avalon is one of my favourites as it felt like I was out in space with them.

If I'm being honest, I think judging a film entirely on one character's decision isn't right. There's so much to enjoy about Passengers and I highly recommend giving it a watch and making your own opinion of this film. Like I mentioned earlier, this was my highly anticipated film and it didn't disappoint.

8/10

X-MEN: APOCALYPSE REVIEW

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If it wasn't for Days of Future Past, I'd say that Apocalypse is the best film in the X-Men franchise. It's just as exciting and features one of the best battle sequences between the mutants and Apocalypse.

The film's main focus is on Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac) who was the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel's X-Men universe and amassed the powers of many other mutants, became immortal and invincible. Now, upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto (Michael Fassbender), to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) with the help of Professor Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction.

Yes, some characters are left underdeveloped but that doesn't make the film terrible. The film's strongest characters come from Charles' team of X-Men including Mystique; Jean Grey (Sophie Turner); Scott Summers (Tye Sheridan), also known as Cyclops; Peter Maximoff (Evan Peters), also known as Quicksilver and Hank McCoy (Nicholas Hoult), also known as Beast. After they learn about Apocalypse's plan to cause destruction to Earth, they immediately team together to save the planet.

Most people will be surprised to see Storm (Alexandra Shipp) side with Apocalypse but due to the events of Days of Future Past, history has been altered. This means that some of the mutants have turned out differently than they did in the previous installments. We are also introduced to a new mutant, Psylocke (Olivia Munn), and she can generate psi-bolts that can stun, injure, or kill others. When we first see Angel (Ben Hardy), after damaging his wings, he is depressed but after Apocalypse improves them, he teams up with him. The fourth member is Magneto, who after Days of Future Past, is now living with his wife and daughter. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes causing him to team up with Apocalypse and cause destruction to the world.

McAvoy, Fassbender, Lawrence, Hoult and Peters give performances that are even better than the previous installments they featured in. We see McAvoy's Xavier struggling even more with his ability to read minds, Fassbender's Magneto has become even more vulnerable due to the tragedy he has just witnessed and Lawrence's Mystique shows off her fighting skills. One of the most memorable scenes from Days of Future Past was the sequence that featured Quicksilver using his ability to escape the Pentagon. That sequence is improved when he turns up at the school to find it being destroyed so he swiftly moves around and saves everyone. It's one of the most fun scenes to watch.
After appearing in the latest Star Wars film, The Force Awakens, Isaac shows us what a diverse actor he can be by giving an unrecognisable performance as the evil Apocalypse.

For those hoping for a certain mutant with claws to make an appearance, you won't be disappointed. However, it is short and sweet but that doesn't stop it from being one of the best scenes in the film.

After watching Days of Future Past, I had high expectations for this film. Were those expectations met? Yes. In fact, they were beaten. Director Bryan Singer has successfully created another exciting installment.

8/10

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS REVIEW

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In my opinion, First Class is the most enjoyable to watch in the whole series. This is a prequel to X-Men and we are introduced to many of the characters from the first film. This includes Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lensherr (Michael Fassbender), who is also known as Magneto.

The film has the same opening as the first X-Men which is where we see Erik as a young boy at a concentration camp and discovering he can control metal. However, this scene continues and we meet the antagonist of the film, Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon), who forces Erik to reveal his metal-controlling abilities. Unfortunately, this leads to his mother being killed in front of him and his life long vengeance on Shaw. We are then showed Charles and Raven's first meeting when they were children and learn that they were raised together. This may come as a surprise to some people because, in the first three X-Men films, the two have no relationship at all and Raven is actually on Erik's side. Fortunately, this prequel explains that and also how Charles ended up in his wheelchair.

One thing we do know, judging from the previous films, is that Charles and Erik were once friends. This film shows how they met and how their relationship became damaged. Both McAvoy and Fassbender have great chemistry together and pull off strong performances as the iconic characters.

Newcomers also include Jennifer Lawrence as Raven whose performance as the blue-skinned mutant is a lot better than Rebecca Romijn's, in my opinion. She has more personality and has a bigger role than in the earlier films. I also liked Nicholas Hoult as a young Hank McCoy, also known as Beast. It's in this film, we see how he developed his mutation when one of his vaccinations goes wrong.

This prequel also features one of my favourite cameos which is when Charles and Erik go looking for mutants and they find Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) in a bar, who has a great one-liner. It's worth watching this film just for that cameo, if I'm honest. 

It wouldn't be an effective X-Men film if there wasn't any exciting action sequences. Fortunately, the director, Matthew Vaughn (who is directing his first X-Men film), ends the film with a battle sequence between Charles and his X-Men, Erik and Shaw. It's really intense and it's because of this sequence that a conflict begins between Charles and Erik. It's a great way of ending the film as it explains everything that X-Men made us question.

Overall, First Class has everything that makes it a successful prequel: strong performances; exciting action sequences and a effective back story.

7/10

X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST REVIEW

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It's been almost two decades since director Bryan Singer brought the popular comic books to the big screen in X-Men. It proved to be popular with fans and has become one of the most successful superhero franchises in its own right. It now has a total of six films, including a prequel and an origins story that focused on one of the main mutants, Wolverine.
I would say that Days Of Future Past is more science-fiction than simply a comic book action film. The film is set in 2023 where Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), Eric 'Magneto' Lehnsherr (Ian McKellen) and the X-Men are facing annihilation from the Sentinels which are robots that have only one purpose: to find and kill all mutants. Unfortunately, the X-Men are struggling to defeat the Sentinels and their only hope is for Kitty Pryde (Ellen Page) to send one of the mutants' consciousness to 1973 where the Sentinels were first created. James 'Wolverine' Logan (Hugh Jackman) is the only one who can withstand the journey. This may be Wolverine's biggest challenge yet, not to stop Sentinels creator, Boliver Trask (Peter Dinklage), but to reunite the 1973 versions of Charles (now played by James McAvoy) and Eric (Michael Fassbender) as they're the only ones who can stop Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) from killing Trask. However, both Charles and Eric have different ways of doing this task. The kind-hearted Charles wants to try and convince her not to kill whereas Eric tries to kill Mystique. Meanwhile, for Wolverine, the situation becomes more and more desperate.
Days Of Future Past is, in my opinion, the best X-Men movie in the series. It's full of action and all of the characters that made the franchise successful return. This includes: Jackman's Wolverine. He is as tough and brave as ever; Charles Xavier, who is portrayed both by Stewart in the future and McAvoy in the past. Both actors give strong performances to Xavier. There's also an interesting scene where the past version of Xavier interacts with the older version of himself. McKellen isn't in Days Of Future Past that much, we see more of Fassbender's Magneto, who is still focused on killing those who have tried to kill him. We meet new mutants including Quicksilver (Evan Peters) who helps break out Magneto from the Pentagon. Lawrence is brilliant as Mystique, I'm happy she has a bigger part here than in First Class.
This film has a great opening, with the X-Men using their powers to try and stop the Sentinels. There is tension throughout the film as we never know if Wolverine is going to be able to succeed in changing the past and preventing the Sentinels from being created. The editing is really good too as it shows how the past can affect the future.
X-Men: Days Of Future Past is not only a brilliant superhero film but it's also one of the best films of 2014.

8/10

JOY REVIEW

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Fresh from appearing as Katniss Everdeen in the action-packed Hunger Games franchise, Jennifer Lawrence stars as the title character, Joy Mangano, a woman who went from a struggling, divorced mother of two to being a successful business woman and entrepreneur. This film shows her incredible journey and shows both the highs and lows.

The film begins with Joy as a child and how she was always creating things. It then quickly jumps 15 or so years and shows her as a divorced mother of two who is struggling to make payments. To make things worse, her ex-husband is living in her basement, her mother lives in her bedroom watching soaps and her father turns up after his (now) ex-girlfriend dumps him, literally, on Joy's doorstep, much to her annoyance. Despite the negative environment, things begin to look up for Joy when she comes up with an idea: the Miracle Mop. What makes this mop a miracle? Joy perfectly describes this in the film, it's a plastic mop that can be easily wrung out without the user's hands getting wet. The head of the mop can also be used in the washing machine and will come out 'clean as new'. Getting this invention out is easier said than done, though and Joy struggles to get her invention noticed. However, she never gives up and she overcomes every obstacle because she is determined to make her invention a product. She meets with QVC executive, Neil Walker (Bradley Cooper), to try and get her invention on air. Unfortunately, things don't work out, at first, as the person selling the product, Todd, doesn't know how to use the mop and it doesn't sell. However, Joy takes things into her own hands and goes on TV to sell the product herself. This works and she manages to sell over 50,000 of her Miracle Mops. Despite this, things take a disastrous turn after Joy discovers that another company has been stealing her ideas and she is left bankrupt. Most women would fall into despair but what I loved about Joy is how, despite feeling like a failure, she picks herself up and carries on. This is the reason why we, as an audience, want to see her succeed as she never gives up and doesn't let anyone, or anything, get in her way.

This film is incredibly underrated. It's been released a week after the latest Star Wars film and will, unfortunately, lose out in box office ratings. The majority of people would rather watch a film set in space rather than an uplifting film about a powerful and successful woman. As much as I enjoyed watching Star Wars, I'd found it to be boring compared to Joy. I watched Joy Mangano's journey in awe. Her story is incredible and is told so beautifully through David O. Russell's directing and Jennifer Lawrence's amazing performance. I am so happy this has been nominated for two Golden Globes (one for Best Motion Picture and another for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture).

What I also loved about this film is that there was no romance. Sure, in flashbacks, we see Joy's relationship with her husband, Anthony but that's about it. Most directors and writers in Hollywood would try and force in a love interest but not O'Russell. He focuses on Joy and Joy alone. Yes, she becomes close with the QVC executive, Neil Walker, but that doesn't mean she has to have sex with him.

I think this is Lawrence's best role since she won an Oscar for playing Tiffany in Silver Lining Playbook which was also directed by O'Russell.

Overall, this film manages to tell the inspiring story of Joy Mangano. 

8/10   

AMERICAN HUSTLE REVIEW

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Director David O. Russell has a knack for combining comedy and drama in a entertaining way. For a lot of films, the combination of comedy and drama doesn't always work. If a film is too dramatic, it can make the comedy seem out of place and vice versa. However, O. Russell has managed to get the balance just right. This was clearly proven in his previous film, Silver Linings Playbook. He also uses the same actors he has worked with previously including Christian Bale, Amy Adams (the three collaborated in the 2010 film, The Fighter), Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence (who both worked with O. Russell on Silver Linings Playbook). This is a method that usually works because both the actor and director already know each other and can focus on creating a film. It's because of the combination of drama and comedy and the talented actors that American Hustle is one of O. Russell's best films.
A fictional film set in the alluring world of one of the most stunning scandals to rock our nation, American Hustle tells the story of brilliant con man Irving Rosenfeld (Bale), who along with his equally cunning and seductive partner Sydney Prosser (Adams) is forced to work for a wild FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Cooper). DiMaso pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and mafia that's as dangerous as it is enchanting. Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner) is the passionate, volatile, New Jersey political operator caught between the con-artists and Feds. Irving's unpredictable wife Rosalyn (Lawrence) could be the one to pull the thread that brings the entire world crashing down. Like O. Russell's previous films, American Hustle defies genre, hinging on raw emotion, and life and death stakes.
The film begins with Rosenfeld and Prosser, who is posing as British aristocrat Lady Edith Greensly, working for DiMaso after he catches them in a scam. He decides that, instead of sending them to jail, they work for him and line up four additional arrests. The film is then sent back to Irving's childhood and he describes, through narration, how he became a con artist and met Sydney who then describes her first opinion of Irving also through narration. I think this is a great way of getting to know the characters and their opinions of each other.
American Hustle's strongest point comes from the acting involved. There's not a bad performance to be found. The stand out, of course, is Bale as Rosenfeld. It's hard to believe that just over a year before this film, he was the Dark Knight in The Dark Knight Rises. This role further proves how talented he is as, instead of wearing a fat suit, he gained over 40 pounds for the role as overweight Rosenfeld. The actor is unrecognisable in his performance. Adams is perfectly seductive as his partner who, as Greensly, has a near-perfect British accent. Cooper's performance brings some comedic elements to the role and Lawrence is also comical as Rosenfeld's wife. Another strong performance comes from Renner who doesn't know he's being fooled by con artists, Rosenfeld and Prosser.
The film also manages to capture the setting of the 1970s really well. Anyone who grew up in that era will recognise the clothes, hair and music that feature within American Hustle. These all provide jolts of energy to certain scenes. Using music to enhance scenes works really well especially when Rosalyn is cleaning the house whilst mouthing the words to Sir Paul McCartney's 'Live And Let Die'. Definitely one of the comedic highlights of the film.
The plot is original enough that it is compelling. If Rosenfeld and Prosser fail to line up the four additional arrests, they are sent to prison which isn't something we want for the characters. Despite being con artists, they're not bad people. When he was growing up, Rosenfeld's father owned a glass window business and noticed that his father was taken advantage of by his customers. This lead to Rosenfeld breaking glass windows in the area so they would buy more windows. It's the only way he can make money for himself. Prosser met Rosenfeld at a party where they bonded over jazz music and soon fell in love. This leads to an affair between the two and is the cause of many arguments between Rosenfeld and his wife.
In 2014, American Hustle was nominated for a total of ten awards including Best Motion Picture, four Best Performance awards for Bale, Adams, Cooper and Lawrence and a Best Achievement in Directing award for O. Russell. Unfortunately, they didn't win any but I'm very happy they were nominated.
Overall, American Hustle is very funny and has an ensemble of some of Hollywood's most talented actors. It compensates for its flaws with unbridled energy and O. Russell's most irrepressibly vibrant direction.
8/10

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 2 REVIEW

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When The Hunger Games was first released almost four years ago, I had no idea it was going to be the successful franchise it is now. I was fourteen when I watched the first film and began reading the books and each film just got better and better. This is definitely the case with Mockingjay Part 2, the thrilling and emotional conclusion of the franchise. 

I would also say that this is the film that, I think, is the most faithful to the original book of the same name. There were so many parts in the film that I remembered reading about when I first read the book three years ago. Whilst I was reading the books, I didn't know how the cast and crew were going to make a film adaptation in a creative and successful way. Nevertheless, they managed to do it.

Jennifer Lawrence returns, for one last time, as Katniss Everdeen, the main protagonist. In the first Hunger Games, she only intended to protect her younger sister, Primrose (Willow Shields), from fighting in the violent games. She didn't think she would survive, let alone start a revolution against the Capitol. However, by the end of the Games, she and fellow District 12 tribute, Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), won despite the rules clearly stating that there should only be one Victor. This is what starts the rebellion. In Catching Fire, Katniss is forced to go back into the games for a special version known as the Quarter Quell, much to her dismay. She forms allies with new characters, Finnick Odair (Sam Claflin), Beetee Latier (Jeffrey Wright) and Johanna Mason (Jena Malone) who are part of a secret rebellion plan formed by the Head Gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman). Katniss doesn't know this until the end of the games and she is rescued by Plutarch who explains she is the Mockingjay, the symbol of the revolution. In Mockingjay Part 1, Katniss is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and is finding it difficult to cope without Peeta as she doesn't know if he's dead or alive. She meets the President of District 13, Alma Coin (Julianne Moore), who is unsure that she is the right person to be the face of the revolution due to her struggles. However, Katniss proves her wrong and films short films, known as 'propagandas', to distract the Capitol and to persuade the people of Panem to join her fight against President Snow (Donald Sutherland). However, things don't all go to plan because, when Peeta is rescued, he tries to kill Katniss. This is because he's been hijacked which means that the Capitol has corrupted his memories of her to make her appear violent or a threat to him.
Now, Mockingjay: Part 2 picks straight up where Mockingjay: Part 1 left, with Katniss recovering from her injury. Despite her struggles, she is still willing to be part of the fight against the Capitol but President Coin refuses and sends her to District 2 to film a propaganda, much to her annoyance. She is desperate to kill President Snow for everything he has done and goes on a rogue mission to join her fellow soldiers to take over the Capitol. President Coin is not happy with this and sends Peeta who still has negative views on Katniss and continues to have violent acts of rage towards her. However, he is slowly recovering from his disordered views of Katniss and he begins a game called 'Real Or Not Real' to help him know the truth. This was one of my favourite parts in the book as I thought it was a clever way to help Peeta understand his disorded image.
Director Francis Lawrence has stated that this is the most violent out of all The Hunger Games and he's not wrong. At one point in the film, Finnick mockingly states, 'Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 76th Hunger Games' and it truly is like that. The Capitol itself is like an arena with thousands of booby traps and bombs, known as Pods, lying on every corner. Katniss and her team of soldiers, one of which includes friend Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth), must avoid all of these traps in order to make it to the President's mansion.
I had read the books so I knew what was going to happen but I was still shocked at how brutal certain people's deaths were. One specific death scene had me in tears when I first watched it as the character was one of the most likable in the series and the character died in such a violent way. There was also another death scene which had me in tears but wasn't as violent as it was so sudden. These deaths may come as a shock to people who haven't read the books.
There are several new characters played by some of the best actors. Despite being only on screen for a short time, they still manage to pull it off. In fact, every actor in this film was amazing, especially Jennifer Lawrence. She is perfect as Katniss and really understands her character well. Throughout the films, I think she's definitely matured and grown into the role. I've also got to mention Josh Hutcherson as Peeta. In The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, Peeta had a charming personality but in this film, he's lost that charm due to the Capitol torturing him. He goes from being violent one minute to being really emotional. Josh really managed to make me feel sympathy for him.
I think this is a great conclusion to one of the biggest film franchises and I would definitely say that it's the best of the four films as there's plenty of violence, suspense and emotional moments.
With brilliant acting, intense scenes, amazing special effects and great directing, this is one of the best book-to-film adaptations I've ever watched.
9/10
Read my review of The Hunger Games here.
Read my review of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire here.
Read my review of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 here.

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Jennifer Lawrence is one of my favourite actresses and, although she isn't the main character in this, she shines. She really deserved to win her Academy Award for 'Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role'. She plays Tiffany alongside Bradley Cooper's character, Pat Solitano, who has just been discharged from a mental health hospital in Baltimore after he caught his wife Nikki, who is an English teacher, having sex with a history teacher in the shower and he almost beat the teacher to death. The film begins with him leaving the hospital with his mother and we learn how bad Pat's bipolar is. He is desperate to get back with Nikki and tries to convince everyone around him that he is better. Unfortunately, there are two nights when Pat loses control of his bipolar; one after he reads one of the books on Nikki's syllabus and another when he can't find his wedding video and ends up getting into a fight with his father and waking up the whole neighbourhood. I don't have bipolar but Bradley's acting gives a great insight into how difficult living with it can be.

His friend, Ronnie, invites him to a dinner party which is where he meets Tiffany, a depressed widow and sex addict who has recently lost her job after having sex with most of the staff. He finds her hard to understand at first, but his therapist convinces him to be friends with her. This leads to Pat asking Tiffany to give Nikki, who she is close with, a letter that he has written. Tiffany agrees on one condition: that he be her partner for a dance competition. This is where the comedy comes in. Neither are professional dancers and the scenes when they are trying to dance are really funny. As the months go by, they become more and more close and, by the end, develop feelings for each other.

For those who find it difficult to understand mental health conditions, I would recommend this film. Both Bradley and Jennifer give accurate and outstanding performances as characters suffering from different mental health conditions and, like I said, Jennifer really deserved her Oscar for this role.

Another great supporting act is Robert DeNiro, who plays Pat's father of the same name, who suffers from OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and gets angry a lot of the time when trying to deal with his son's bipolar. One of his best performances in my opinion.

This film accurately shows mental health conditions in a dramatic way with bits of comedy thrown in which works really well.

9/10

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 1 REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

The third film in the Hunger Games series, while not the best, is one of the most dramatic in the franchise. Despite there not being a lot of action compared to its predecessors, Mockingjay: Part 1 is still a compelling watch for fans of the previous films and Suzanne Collins' best selling books which this film is based on.

The film immediately picks up where Catching Fire finished. Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) has just found out that, due to the events of the previous Hunger Games, her home, District 12, has been destroyed. Fortunately, with her younger sister, Prim (Willow Shields), mother (Sandra Ellis Lafferty) and friend Gale (Liam Hemsworth), she is living in District 13 which was thought to have been destroyed but has turned into a secret base for rebellions run by President Coin (Julianne Moore). Katniss, who is now the leader of the rebellion known as the Mockingjay, tries to persuade the other Districts to join forces with her and take down the Capitol. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done, as Katniss' friend, Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), is being held captive in the Capitol. Despite struggling with post traumatic stress disorder, Katniss never gives up and is more determined than ever to take down the Capitol and kill President Snow (Donald Sutherland).

Jennifer's performance is one of the best things about the Hunger Games franchise. I think that her performance has improved with each film and that's no different here. Her portrayal of Katniss clearly shows that Jennifer understands what she's going through and, despite everything she's gone through, she still remains strong and tough for the rebellion. Katniss' 'If we burn, you burn with us!' monologue was one of my favourite parts from the book and also, thanks to Jennifer's performance, one of my favourite lines from the film. With Peeta being trapped in the Capitol, Josh Hutcherson has limited screen time, however, he gives an even more sympathetic performance. Peeta makes appearances via 'interviews' with Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci) and is forced to say thing he doesn't want to say. However, we see a whole other side to him in the film's climax and it's this scene that changes Katniss and Peeta's lives forever. Making her first appearance in the Hunger Games films, Julianne Moore is perfect as President Coin. Like Katniss, she is a strong and brave woman who is determined to destroy the Capitol.

The film is mainly driven by Katniss and her journey to save Peeta and destroy the Capitol. However, there's one action sequence that stands out and that's when Katniss, Gale and her team of rebellions travel to District 8 to film one of the propagandas needed to convince other Districts to stand up and fight. Unfortunately, Snow is watching Katniss' every move and orders bombs to be dropped down on District 8 leading to destruction and chaos. It's full of tense and we see Katniss at her best here, fighting arrows at the oncoming squadron in a attempt to prevent the bombs.

Most critics have said that this is the 'most boring' film in the series due to its lack of action but I disagree. The film's focus on Katniss' journey makes it a compelling watch and the amount of tension in this film makes this film impossible to be boring. Unless you've read the book, I doubt many people will see the climax coming. I've read the book so I knew what was going to happen, however, I was shocked at how brutal and scary it was.

Overall, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 sets up the franchise finale with a penultimate chapter loaded with solid performances, smart political subtext and some tense sequences.

9/10

Read my review of The Hunger Games here.

Read my review of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire here.

Read my review of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 here.

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Jennifer Lawrence returns as the main protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, in the second film of The Hunger Games series, Catching Fire. The film is set a few months after Katniss and fellow tribute, Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), rebelled against the Capitol and became the first two tributes to win The Hunger Games. The two must embark on a Victory Tour and perform as the 'star-crossed lovers'. After finishing the Victory Tour, both Katniss and Peeta think they're safe from the violent Games, unfortunately, this couldn't be further from the truth. President Snow (Donald Sutherland) soon announces that there will be a special version of the Hunger Games where the tributes will be reaped from previous victors. This means that Katniss, being the only female victor from District 12, will be forced back into the Games, much to her horror. 

Since the first film was released in March 2012, I was devastated when I found out that I had to wait 20 months to watch Catching Fire. However, this was definitely worth the wait as I saw it in IMAX at my local cinema a week after its release and it was incredible. It really brought the Games to life and the sound quality was immense. The action has improved since the first film and the story becomes more tense as Katniss tries to protect Peeta, Gale (Liam Hemsworth), who is her friend from District 12, and her family, which consists of her mother and her younger sister, Prim (Willow Shields). 

This film is probably one of the most accurate adaptations of the book as it contains the majority of the dialogue and scenes.

Francis Lawrence takes on the series from previous director, Gary Ross, who couldn't direct due to scheduling conflicts. I definitely think Lawrence was the best choice for directing as he previously directed the science-fiction thriller, I Am Legend starring Will Smith. He understands the characters well and what they've been through and easily shows their pain and aggravation. 

Jennifer Lawrence is brilliant as Katniss Everdeen, the heroine of the series. This film shows how selfless she is as she is constantly standing up for herself and protecting her family. An example of her selflessness is when Gale is being publicly whipped and she runs to his aid. Another example is when she learns she and, fellow victor, Peeta are being thrown back into the Games and she asks their mentor, Haymitch (Woody Harrelson), to protect Peeta, even if it means she dies. These examples are perfect at showing how brave and protective she is of her friends and family. This is definitely one of Lawrence's best performances since her role as Ree in Winter's Bone and as Tiffany in Silver Linings Playbook.

Josh Hutcherson is also great as Peeta Mellark. In The Hunger Games, it was revealed Peeta had a crush on Katniss which made their relationship tense. However, in Catching Fire, they become closer as they bond in the Games. Unlike Lawrence, I grew up watching Hutcherson's previous films including Bridge To Terabithia and Zathura: A Space Adventure so I loved watching him in a mature role. 

The action sequences in the first Hunger Games is what made it a compelling watch, especially in the film's climax. However, the action has improved in this sequel and is a lot more exciting than its predecessor. The climax in this film is a lot more tense than the previous film and, unless you've read the book, many people will be on the edge of their seats as they have no idea how the film is going to end or what the cliffhanger is.

Overall, with brilliant acting performances all round, this is a great adaptation of Suzanne Collin's best-selling book and is the best in the series.

9/10

Read my review of The Hunger Games here.

Read my review of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 here.

Read my review of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 here.

THE HUNGER GAMES REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Katniss Everdeen is, undoubtedly, one of Jennifer Lawrence's best performances. It was this role that shot her to stardom and gained her success. This is the first film in The Hunger Games franchise and it's one of the best as it sets up the premise and characters and introduces us to the titular Hunger Games.

In a dystopian future, the totalitarian nation of Panem is divided into 12 districts and the Capitol. Each year two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal retribution for a past rebellion, the televised games are broadcast throughout Panem. The 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors while the citizens of Panem are required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss' young sister, Prim (Willow Shields), is selected as District 12's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), are pitted against bigger, stronger representatives, some of whom have trained for this their whole lives.

Like I mentioned, Jennifer's performance of Katniss is one of her best, in my opinion. She makes Katniss a strong and feisty protagonist who is determined to win the Games in order to return home to her sister. This was the first film I'd seen Jennifer in and I immediately became a fan of hers.

Another strong performance comes from Josh Hutcherson as Peeta who develops a friendship with Katniss despite the inevitable fate that one of them will have to die. The cast includes a lot of recognisable names including: Woody Harrelson as Katniss and Peeta's mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, who is an alcoholic and provides some comic relief; Elizabeth Banks who is unrecognisable underneath her incredible make-up and costume as Effie Trinket who is Katniss and Peeta's escort and Stanley Tucci as the eccentric TV presenter, Caesar Flickerman.

Of course, with films like this that feature a lot of conflict, there's going to be an antagonist and that's President Snow who is played brilliantly by Donald Sutherland. From the second we meet him, we know he's the villain. To be honest we don't see much of him because the film's main focus is on the games and the conflict between the contestants. Fortunately, in the sequels, we see a lot more of him and why he's the main antagonist of the franchise.

With a film that's about fighting to the death, there's going to be violence. This was one of the main concerns when making this film because the filmmakers wanted the film to be a 12A (PG-13 in US) but found it difficult as the book, written by Suzanne Collins, was so violence. Fortunately, they were successful. The level of violence is still quite high and the way in which some of the contestants die are brutal but not graphic. 

If it wasn't for Collins' book, I probably would've given this film a miss as, back when this was released when I was 15, I didn't enjoy watching violence. However, I loved the book and knew I had to watch the film. Fortunately, the motion picture adaptation didn't disappoint and it went on to be a huge success, receiving critical acclaim and gaining over $694M at the box office. 

Overall, because of its thrilling action and strong performances from the whole cast, The Hunger Games captures the dramatic violence, raw emotion, and ambitious scope of its source novel.

8/10

Read my review of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire here.

Read my review of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 here

Read my review of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 here