Well things are really starting to take shape for the team at The Reel Deal. Huge thank you to all that have so far been involved. But as you probably know by now, Friday is indeed Film Friday and I’m lucky enough to give you a micro movie review of what’s hot and what’s not at the cinema each week.
So if you want to have your own pocket size guide on what to watch at the cinema, then here it is, Gone in 60 Seconds. Its a short, sharp action packed look at what launches in your local multiplex week on week. This week is no exception, we’ve got testosterone heavy men shouting all sorts of homoerotic sayings in one of the films, a trip to an all star quirky quirky hotel in another, and something shooting straight out of errr…Mexico!
Now if you’re after more film fun, then we’ve got new strands of content launching too, including Joe’s Public, where presenter Joe Forrester goes around making the good people of London do lots of silly things to do with films.
And we also lots of fun additional footage coming your way too, for instance, here’s our very first junket interview for hit US comedy Ride Along.
This is just the start of our brand new channel, so make sure you subscribe, follow us on Twitter @thereelfilmshow and share to all your friends, The Reel Deal is all about real reviews and fun around films, so be a part of it too.
Can you believe its Friday again? That’s great news! Why? Well, because you get to watch all the latest releases at your local cinema. This week is extra special because the extraordinary Dallas Buyers Club is out. It features as part of this weeks Gone in 60 Seconds line up, so make sure you check out me in action hosting the next big run down of fantastic films for you to watch.
And if this type of film show floats your boat then please do subscribe to this channel, we have lots more to bring you, so stay up to date with all the latest film information via this handy video site! I love it and hope you do too!
Have a great weekend and most importantly watch some brilliant movies! x
So you may all remember that last week I posted a pilot of some content from a brand new film channel that I am presenting called The Reel.
Well, move over pilot and hello Episode 1! Sound fixed and every Friday you’ll be able to see my top recommendations for whats hitting the cinema each week. So, if you’re stuck for something to do this weekend, never fear Becks is here!
This week is totally action packed, there’s loads of great things going on at the cinema, so all I ask is you please support this show by sharing, following, tweeting (@thereelfilmshow) and subscribing. Also, it would be great to hear what YOU want from a film show.
In February we’re bringing you a bigger brighter version of a film show, hopefully something a little different that celebrates everything film has to offer from Independent Cinema, to fun facts and of course our very own thoughts on the big films coming out each week. So please do follow all the platforms which we’re posting on to stay tuned, if you love films then we’re creating this just for you!
Thanks for all your support and look out for Gone in 60 Seconds every Friday!
If you had any worries or concerns that Director Gary Ross’s successor would be turning this sequel into a Twilight esq format, where each film has its own unique stamp per director, and the lead character looks more and more bizarre as the films progress, then fear not, as The Hunger Games – Catching Fire continues the franchise brilliantly.
In the second installment of the hugely popular film adaptation, Tribute victors of the 74th Hunger Games Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark become targets of the Capitol after their victory sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem. As a result, President Snow decides to hold the 75th Hunger Games in which all previous victors will once again fight against each other.
If you have been a fan of the books and then watched the first film, you may have felt a little short changed in terms of the detail throughout the Games section itself. Catering to a 12a audience, the first installment of this franchise lacked some of the more graphic scenes of violence throughout, and replaced this with clever jump cuts and edits to keep the action flowing. I for one, was one of those people, and felt slightly underwhelmed when walking out of that original viewing.
However, this second film seems to have found its feet much more – realizing that there is a large share in terms of older audience members, it quite purposefully takes more risks. There is a whipping scene involving Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth) the shooting of an old man who dares to acknowledge the revolution, and a very unceremonious punch to the face for Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence). Although these are all wincing to the eye, they are a refreshing progression for the film, and as the film tackles more grown up subject matter, you very much feel like you’re watching a much more grown up film.
Once again the lead characters are portrayed well. Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen is brooding and thoughtful, more of the relationship between herself and Hemsworths Gale is explored, and Josh Hutcherson’s Peeta Mellark has realized that he must suppress his feelings in order to play the game and put on a great show. There is also an influx of new cast members (all the other Tributes get killed off in the previous film – in the style of a less brutal Battle Royale!) and one of the biggest surprises of this is Sam Claflin as Finnick Odair. With a flawless American accent, a smile to melt a lot of hearts in the female share of the audience, this British actor will probably use this character to cement his place in the Hollywood heart throb elite – Robert Pattinson better watch out!
Out with the old and in with the new is the way this second running of the film works, the style has been cleverly matched by Director Francis Lawrence to its predecessor and not a minute of filming is wasted. Even if you’re coming to the movie having loved the book, its truthful approach to what is written will be a welcome relief, and it may even hold some surprises for you too. Plenty of action for everyone, some eye candy for both boys and girls, and a very enjoyable film to watch. You will not be disappointed!
A gripping thrill rollercoaster of a ride, The Call is an interesting insight into the world of the Los Angeles 911 emergency services.
Starring Oscar winner Halle Berry as Jordan Turner a veteran 911 operator, we watch her journey as she takes a life altering call from a teenage girl played by Little Miss Sunshine herself Abigail Breslin. Not only does this call mean Jordan has to try and guide this girl to safety, she also has to confront a killer from her past and overcome her fears.Cut back and forth between the abduction and ‘The Hive’ (the department for 911 emergency assistants who work away like busy bees) the audience are taken on a tense ride and education as to what it really means to be a 911 operator. Making judgments between protocol and human instinct is a fine line in lifesaving situations, as we see through this film. Halle Berry is back to her finest in the majority of this film, as she showcases a mix of emotions that make the audience empathise with the difficult job she is faced with. Just like her character we understand the stress of the job and the natural (probably female) instincts that she has when faced with a child being abducted, and the consequences that lie ahead should Jordan as the operator put a foot wrong.
We also see a fantastic performance from Abigail Breslin as the victim. We follow her day as a normal girl shopping in a mall with her friend, and then once left alone, gets drugged, abducted and thrown in the trunk of a car by her kidnapper. The most tense and exciting part of the film is the interaction between the victim and Jordan. From the trunk she manages to make a 911 call which initially goes through to a rookie who finds herself way out of her depth and then gets passed on to Jordan. From this point on, you as the audience find out some really clever tricks to try and get yourself rescued from a kidnapping, using everything you can find to discover where you are travelling to, what the car looks like and most importantly anything you can do to pop open that trunk and jump out.
Breslin shows here that she has matured from a child to young adult actor seamlessly. Matching Halle Berry’s ranges of emotions, you watch her go from despair to sheer determination to get herself out of this situation alive. It’s this that makes the first three quarters of this film so engaging to watch…
…And then, sadly, in the last fifteen minutes or so, the film takes a tumble, so prepare yourself for this. After an hour and fifteen minutes of an intense, edge of your seat adrenalin filled thrill ride of a film, The Call sadly falls into the depths of B-Movie status and takes a route so completely left field of the original plot its not only difficult to watch, its also totally disappointing. It’s a shame that the film leaves you with such a sour taste at the end, it had so much promise, but there is still the opportunity to remember the immense film you had watched just before this semi-car crash.
Regardless of it’s ending, The Call is still very much worth a watch. For the majority, it’s an intelligent, intense and exciting film with great performances.
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