The Muppets

There really aren't any great surprises in the first Muppet movie since 1999, The Muppets , but that's quite okay because it is familiarity that is at the heart of the movie.
Gary (Jason Segal) and his 'brother' Walter (Peter Linz) have grown up together and are inseparable, a little to the disappointment of Gary's 10-year girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams).
Walter has never felt that he fitted in and it is only when he sees The Muppet Show for the first time that he finally finds something that gives him a sense of belonging. He also idolises Kermit.
Gary, Mary and Walter travel to LA to see take the Muppet Theatre tour only to find that it has been run down and on the verge of closure at the hands of an evil oil tycoon Tex Richman (Chris Cooper).
The trio set out to find Kermit and with their help our favourite frog sets out to reform the muppets and raise $10 million to save the theatre.
There are heaps of cheesy songs, nods to previous Muppet movies, celebrity cameos (including an hilarious one by Jim Reynolds, who is best known as Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory) and, of course, the Manah Manah song.
I think while this will appeal a bit to kids it will certainly resonate with the big kids, such as myself, who grew up when the muppets were massive. What this movie shows is that they still are and, really, the wholesome brand of humour is what's missing in the world in 2012.
You'll have a great time and guaranteed to have a laugh and leave the cinema feeling good. That's what the Muppets are all about.
A 7.5 out of 10.

A better life

When I was a teenager I'd often wonder what other people's lives were like as I walked past houses, particularly ones that looked better than mine.
I also daydreamed about living in the USA, I'd imagined that over there a better life was certain. That idea largely came from the fact that my TV died comprised a lot of American dramas - 90210, Party Of Five etc.
I think that wondering has stayed with me because I still look at other people and surmise that their lives must be better. Sure that is a very superficial assessment.
I don't have it bad. In fact I'm sure that there are a whole heap of people who would like to have had the opportunities that I have.
Small comfort, sometimes, though.
Then I think, what would it be like now if I had done some things differently. What if I'd decided to start working out when I was 16?
What if I had gone to a different university and done a different course? (That one would change things considerably I would suggest, but I have to say I do enjoy my job!).
I could keep listing questions and dwelling over possible 'sliding doors' moments. It won't get me anywhere.
If I want things to change I have to instigate them, take control of where I am heading as best as one can.
At least then I can't sit back and wonder what might have been.....

Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows

Sequel-itis strikes again despite the best efforts of a few cast members in Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows which simply goes too far trying to top what was a very entertaining 'original'.
As shown at the end of the first film, Holmes' foe in this sequel is the evil genius Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris) and he is really one of the stand out performances in the film, alongside Jude Law's Dr Watson.
In true Robert Downey Jr style, Holmes hijacks Watson's stag party and wedding, and honeymoon, in the name of pursuing Moriarty and solving his case.
The trouble is, in this context it really didn't work for me like it has in other films. Holmes is a detective, not a common street thug. And while some of his insightful fight scenes were interesting in the first film I thought the inflated number of fight scenes was excessive for someone whose real talent is in his mind.
Along for the ride is Noomi Rapace (from the original Dragon Tattoo movies) as a gypsy Simza who is drawn into the hunt for Moriarty.
There are entertaining elements to this film, don't get me wrong. But I went in expecting some development from the first one and it was just a mish-mash of fights and Holmes pestering the life out of Watson - though their bromance was pretty clearly highlighted.
The chess scene towards the end with Holmes and Moriarty was an example of the type of psychological battles the two enemies have and there wasn't nearly enough of that with the writers resorting to mindless, though well choreographed, action.
Stephen Fry, as Moycroft Holmes, does supply a few comedic moments, albeit one rather embarrassing one included, but overall the film was disappointing.
SPOILER!
Given that Watson types The End on his manuscript at the end of the film, to also signal the film is finished, Holmes types a ? leading us all to believe another sequel will be on the way. I know they do this in just about every film series (I'm surprised they didn't try it with Harry Potter just to keep the franchise going) but it was unnecessary.
A 6 out of 10.

The Iron Lady

A lot has already been said about the performance of Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady and the only thing I can add is to say it is one of the most stirring performances I have seen in a film.
It can't be easy to portray such a famous, real life, person but Streep is simply stunning as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, dubbed the Iron Lady because of her tough approach to tackling the man's game of politics.
Given that during Thatcher's 11 years as PM I was between the ages of 4 and 15, or thereabouts, I don't have an intimate personal understanding of how the world saw her. So other than knowing who she is - first female PM, etc - I didn't have any strong feeling either way about her.
However, I am aware that she was a leader that polarised people. You either loved her or hated her.
I think this may have helped because it is one of the finest films I have seen in a number of years.
But it isn't an easy ride. Thatcher is presented at the beginning as an aging, possibly dementia-ridden, powerless woman and it is quite sad, knowing who she is, to watch her struggle.
It is as the elderly Thatcher that Streep will just knock you out. While as a younger woman it is obvious that it is Streep playing the role but there are times when you have to double take looking at the elder version. And she nails her voice.
Her story, her rise to power in the UK, is told in flashbacks. And she is always accompanied by her late husband Denis (Jim Broadbent) who she hasn't been able to let go of emotionally.
While the film wasn't perfect I think that Streep's presence and portrayal really make you see past any flaw it may have. Really, though, the only thing I felt was missing was that bit at the end of the film, when the movie is about a real person, that tells you a bit of real life context.
I know there may have been some great performances in the lead up to the Oscars but, really, if Meryl Streep doesn't win best actress then the Academy is a joke.
She embodied everything in a 'best actress' turn - she consumed the role, she commanded your attention and she made you feel something (whether positive or negative) about the character. And she was flawless.
Bravo, Meryl. A 9 out of 10.

Tower Heist

You don't realise just how ridiculous the idea of robbing someone of $20 million is until you see Tower Heist .
Sure movies like the Oceans series suggest it can be done but we're talking about a bunch of disgruntled former hotel employees and a petty thief trying to access a safe in a penthouse which is guarded by the FBI.
But that's what Josh Kovacs (Ben Stiller) decides to do when billionaire Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda) squanders all of the employees' pension fund.
With a motley crew of accomplices - a con Slide (Eddie Murphy), his brother-in-law Charlie (Casey Affleck), failed investor Mr Fitzhugh (Matthew Broderick), ex Burger King employee Enrique (Michael Pena) and Jamaican maid Odessa (Gabourey Sidibe) - they attempt to steal back the money they are owed.
Also caught up in the madness is Agent Claire Denham (Tea Leoni), who inadvertently gives Kovacs the idea to rob Shaw.
Reality pretty much has to be left at the door when you walk in but it is a pretty fun ride.
Stiller is in his element here, he's not trying to be an outrageous character. In fact, he's pretty much the straight man once Murphy is involved.
It's an interesting bunch of casting as well but it seems to gel, with Matthew Broderick playing a bit of a Ferris Bueller all grown up but now bankrupt character.
There are several quite amazing scenes and in one particular scene all I could think is 'there is no way anyone could get away with this is real life'. Anyway, if you're looking for a bit of light hearted escapism then this isn't a bad one. A 7 out of 10.

The 2011 Raymo Awards

It's that time again and in 2011 I saw a total of 40 films at the movies, and I have to say that the overall quality was very good.

We had three 9/10s, one 8.5 and 11 8/10s so that's pretty good. There were also a few very low scores with eight scored of 6.5 or lower (down to a 2/10).

A bit like in 2010, the real highlights came in some stunning performances, particularly from Ryan Gosling who as far as I'm concerned put in two five-star efforts in two very different films. Anyway, here is my 2011 in review....

1. 127 Hours
This is the true story of adventurer Aron Ralston who was forced to sever his arm to free himself from being trapped in a cave. It's in some ways a gruesome tale but a brilliant performance by James Franco as Ralston keeps you fixated on the story. It was a believable portrayal of a story that is both shocking and inspiring. A narrow, but deserved, winner.
2. The King's Speech
This was actually the first film I saw in 2011. The story of King George VI (father of Queen Elizabeth) and his struggle with public speaking due to a rather embarrassing stutter and the man who helps him overcome it. Again, a great cast with Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter and also Guy Pearce. At the start of last year I raved about this as the likely film of the year but it has been topped, just, by Franco's star turn.
3. Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes
Another one with James Franco as the star. He plays a scientist working on a cure for Alzheimer's, in order to cure his father (John Lithgow) of the disease. His treatment, when tested on apes, has surprising results but also grave ramifications for the population. This prequel to Planet Of The Apes was one of the surprises of the year for me, having been underwhelmed by the remake of the original a few years back. Franco is again excellent and Lithgow, as usual, is a scene stealer. Loved it and clearly one of the best of the year.
4. Unstoppable
When I looked back through my ratings I was surprised that this one made the top five but it is better than the average of its type of film. With Denzel Washington and Chris Pine, this one carried a pretty simple premise - runaway train heading for disaster - but was so well executed it was riveting and the two stars were magnetic. With a soundtrack that kept up the tension it was one of the more enjoyable movie experiences.
5. The Ides Of March
Ryan Gosling is headed for an Oscar, surely, this year. In this political drama, Gosling plays a strategist on the campaign for president by George Clooney's Governor who is both the player and the played in an under rated film. Not high on tension, its strength is in the performances of the outstanding cast with Paul Giamatti and Philip Seymour Hoffman (two personal faves) fantastic as always. Gosling puts in a five star performance, as he did in the movie Drive which just missed out on the top five.

Honourable mentions: Drive (deceptively understated), Captain America, The Smurfs, Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 2, Tintin and Scream 4.
Surprise Of The Year: Burlesque - I expected a 'bad but good' musical and instead found it to be one of the better musicals in recent years. Have to mention The Inbetweeners Movie - outrageous but very, very funny and I really expected it to be crap (though wouldn't have if I had seen the TV show first).
Flop Of The Year: Jack & Jill - Dear Adam Sandler, please realise we are no longer in the 1990s and you can't get away with the same old jokes any more.
I was also disappointed with Cars 2 while Immortals is the new record holder for lowest score getting a huge 2 out of 10.

This year promises to be very interesting. What I'm looking forward to the move are the finale to the Twilight series, the next Batman film and The Avengers. Hopefully there will be a few surprises in store and some more unforgettable acting. See you at the movies....