TV: Hell on Wheels (S1) (6/10)

Why did I watch it?
Season one originally aired in 2011 and I saw a re-run advertised and looked up the show's premise. On the back of that and the fact that it comes from the network behind The Walking Dead and Mad Men I thought it was worth a watch.

What's it all about?
After the US Civil War finishes, former farmer and Confederate soldier Cullen Bolhannon travels West to Hell on Wheels, the travelling settlement accompanying the construction of the transcontinental Union Pacific railroad in 1865. Although looking for work at the railroad Bolhannon is secretly on the trail of the Union soldiers who murdered his family during the war.

The Good:

• Excellent production as you would expect from AMC. Epic Western setting.
• Mostly decent acting from the likes of Anson Mount, Colm Meaney and Tom Noonan
• The Swede (he's actually Norwegian you know)

The Bad:

• Common's performance as former slave Elam Ferguson isn't the best
• Disappointingly Hell on Wheels' storylines (Bolhannon's manhunt, Durant's financial difficulties, the Indian problem and Elam's fight against racial inequality) are underwhelming and not as interesting or absorbing as they could have been.

Favourite line:

'Do you not believe in a higher power?' - Sean

'Yes sir. I wear it on my hip.' - Bolhannon

Stand-out moment: Bolhannon going after Union soldiers or Indians

Like the show? Watch: Deadwood

What my wife would say: The historical setting and story-lines wouldn't appeal. 'Boring' I would imagine.

What the world thinks:

Metacritic - 63/100

Twitter -

So Guys…looks like I’ll finish up Hell On Wheels Season 1 tonight. I’ve really been loving this show so far.
— Danté, The Destroyer (@DanteLerae) November 20, 2013

FILM: Silver Linings Playbook (8/10)

Why did I watch it?
Due to the hype, nominations and awards I always meant to catch this film but it never appealed to me as much as some of the other films out at the time like Lincoln, Life of Pi etc. Anyway, the Mrs was keen to watch it (a film with Bradley Cooper and dancing!) so we did.

What's it all about?
Recently released from a mental hospital, bi-polar Pat (Bradley Cooper) moves back in with his parents and focuses everything on getting back together with his estranged wife, despite the fact she took out a restraining order against him. Back in town he meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), recently widowed and with her own problems, who needs a dancing partner.







The Good:

• A different take on the old romantic comedy story
• Interesting story that combines American football, mental illness and dancing.
• Great cast and absorbing performances all around, personally I thought Bradley Cooper's was slightly superior to Jennifer Lawrence's. It wasn't interesting to see Cooper use some of mannerisms from this film again in The Place Beyond the Pines.
• Features the Philadelphia Eagles, my favourite NFL team.

The Bad:

• Cooper's intense portrayal of his character can take a little getting used to at the offset.

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Eagle's jersey

Favourite line:

'You say more inappropriate things than appropriate things.' - Tiffany

Stand-out moment:

Either the dancing competition (not as off-beat as the one from Little Miss Sunshine but it does have bi-polar tendencies) or Pat waking his parents in the middle of the night to rant about the Ernest Hemingway book he is reading having an unhappy ending. 

Like the film? Watch: Little Miss Sunshine

Like the director? Watch: The Fighter, upcoming American Hustle (starring Cooper and Lawrence again).

What my wife said: Disappointed, 'the only reason to watch this film is because it has Bradley Cooper in'.

What the world thinks:

Rotten Tomatoes - 92%

Metacritic - 81/100

LAMB Score - 4.26/5

Twitter -

I can't remember the last time I liked a movie as much as "Silver Linings Playbook." The art direction and soundtrack were ACHINGLY good.
— Rainbow Rowell (@rainbowrowell) September 12, 2013

FILM: Captain Phillips (9/10)

Why did I watch it?
I liked the look of this film from the moment I caught the first trailer. It looked exciting, intense and a film that could give Tom Hanks a platform for another great performance.

What's it all about?
In 2009 the Maersk Alabama was boarded by Somalian pirates off the coast of East Africa. Captain Phillips recounts the events that took place that day, the ordeal of the ship's crew and of the US rescue mission to save Captain Phillips (Tom Hanks).










The Good:

• Tom Hanks' fantastic performance as Captain Phillips. The level of emotion he displays in the scenes at the end of the film need to be seen to be believed.
• The performance of the Somali actors, in particular Barkhad Abdi as Muse and Faysal Ahmed as Najee.
• Change in dynamic from the crew of the Alabama versus the hijackers to the US Navy versus the hijackers on smaller scale keeps things fresh
• Paul Greengrass' direction keeps the tension up throughout. I loved the decision to instantly stop the music playing of the dramatic chase scenes as the hijackers ladder fixed to the side of the ship.

The Bad:

• There's no denying that the final third played out like an advert for the US Navy. They were awesome! I would be more likely to sign up after seeing that than watching Battleship but if those are the events that transpired then what could the screenwriters do if they wanted to be faithful to the story?

Pirates in a Hollywood film with no guy-liner in sight. Take note Jack Sparrow.

Favourite line:

'I'm the captain now.' - Muse

Stand-out moment:

The pursuit of the Alabama by the pirates' skiff is thrilling to watch and brilliantly directed.

Like the cast? Watch: Castaway, The Green Mile

Like the director? Watch: United 93, The Bourne Ultimatum

What my wife would say: Saw it and she was crying by the end.

What the world thinks:

Rotten Tomatoes - 94%

Metacritic - 83/100

LAMB Score - 4.31/5

Twitter -

Hanks in the last five minutes of Captain Phillips. #whyillnevergiveuptryingtobeabetteractor
— Patrick J Adams (@halfadams) November 14, 2013

FILM: Flight (8/10)

Why did I watch it?
Not only does Flight star everybody's favourite Denzel but it received two Oscar nominations, for original screenplay and for Denzel himself.

What's it all about?
Following his normal routine Captain 'Whip' Whitaker takes off in his passenger jet drunk and high from the previous night. However on this doomed flight a mechanical failure leads him to take unorthodox emergency action resulting in an investigation into the circumstances of the flight.

The Good:

• The terrifying flight sequence
• Denzel's intense performance - deserved the Oscar nomination (ultimately beaten by Daniel Day Lewis' Lincoln
• Gripping character drama
• Whip taking a toke of oxygen from the emergency supply before taking off!

The Bad:

• Errmm.....doesn't make you want to get on a plane for a while?

Trouble at 30,000 ft and not a snake in sight

Favourite line:

'Death demands responsibility' - Hugh Lang

Stand-out moment:

The flight sequence

Like the cast? Watch: Training Day, The Bone Collector

Like the director? Watch: Cast Away, Forrest Gump

What my wife would say: Watched it, 'glad he did the right thing in the end'.

What the world thinks:

Rotten Tomatoes - 78%

Metacritic - 76/100

LAMB Score - 4.06/5

Twitter -

Denzel Washington is actually incredible in Flight
— Jake Rosenberg (@theREALjrosey) November 10, 2013

BOOK: Inherent Vice, Thomas Pynchon (6/10)

Why did I read it?

Somebody at work mentioned Thomas Pynchon to me so I decided to look up some of his work and admittedly it was the LA setting and colourful hippy front cover that attracted me to Inherent Vice out of all of Pynchon's bibliography. 

What's it all about?

Set in the late 60's LA private detective and full time stoner Doc Sportello investigates the alleged kidnapping of a property magnate and an old flame, the murder of the magnate's bodyguard and the suspicious death of a musician, all of which appear to be connected to a shady organisation called The Golden Fang and corruption within the LAPD.





  

The Good:

• Eclectic mix of characters
• Bigfoot and Doc's LAPD and PI love hate relationship
• Short and fast paced
• The 60's L.A. setting

The Bad:

• The story didn't get hold of me and I had no urgency in uncovering the mystery. When I did it seemed an anticlimax to say the least.
• The main story and the fragments of it brought by each the characters didn't seem totally cohesive in mye eyes, especially relating to Coy Harlingen.
• A few too many pages dedicated to 'trips'.

Favourite line:

'Hair and drug-use issues not withstanding, I've never thought of you as any less than professional' - Detective Bjornsen

What the world thinks:

Amazon - 4/5

goodreads - 3.64/5

Twitter -

Finished Inherent Vice today. Not sure if I loved it, or that I even got it, but it's definitely a wild trip.
— David Dougan (@DavidWDougan) November 11, 2013

TV: The Wire (S3) (9/10)

Why did I watch it?
Season three of David Simon's Baltimore epic The Wire is the first season I haven't seen yet and I just completed re-watching the first two seasons to get back into the swing of things.

What's it all about?
Season three's central theme focuses on Baltimore's political machine, as the season's narrative follows the street level consequences of the incumbent Mayor's decision to increase the pressure on acting Police Commissioner Burrell to reduce crime statistics, all in the name of re-election  Meanwhile Lieutenant Daniels' Major Crime Unit continues to investigate the Barksdale organisation as Avon wages war against new dealer Marlo and Stringer struggles to legitimise the organisation through property development.

The Good:

• The usual high quality, thoughtful, uber realistic writing
• The penultimate episode Middle Ground
• Rawls and Burrells' reaction at the ComStat meeting when Major Colvin's reveals his Hamsterdam tactics
• Some big revelations and one of my most loved characters gets bumped off
• Avon's thug mentality versus Stringer's 'bodies are bad for business' policy

The Bad:

• Slower than usual this time around - the least enjoyable season so far for me but hey it's still The Wire.
• The political flavour of the season, with time dedicated to Councilman Carcetti, Mayor Royce etc. is less savoury than the homicide, street crime and drug trafficking angles of previous seasons.

Who gets got?

Favourite line:

'I had him and he doesn't even know it' - Jimmy McNulty

Stand-out moment:

Stringer revealing all to Avon and the fisticuffs that followed

What my wife would say: #When you walk through the garden.....#

What the world thinks:

Metacritic - 98/100

Twitter -

The Wire. Season 3, episode 11. Absolute genius. Holy balls perfection.
— Moon Zappa (@MoonZappa) May 25, 2013

FILM: Pitch Perfect (6/10)

Why did I watch it?
All due to the Mrs this one. I fell for the line 'apparently it's like Bridesmaids and nothing like Glee'.

What's it all about?
Having freshly arrived at college, Beca wants a career in music and to appease her father ends up joining The Barden Belles, an unsuccessful all-girl a capella group determined to beat their long time rivals The Trebelmakers to competition success.

The Good:

• There's no denying that Pitch Perfect is funny at times. The script does contain a few gems so there is something here for the non-singing type.
• Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) is responsible for most of the film's laughs
• The cynical and misogynistic competition commentary provided by Elizabeth Banks and John Michael Higgins
• Cameo by Christopher Mintz-Plasse

The Bad:

• Both the singing and relationship story-lines are all too predictable
• Feels like The Breakfast Club is incorporated into the main couple's relationship story for nothing other than some form of credibility and coolness factor for the pair. As if they would be watching anything other than Glee.

Shall we watch Glee after this?

Favourite line:

'I'm going to kill him, I'm going to finish him like a cheesecake!' - Fat Amy

Stand-out moment:

The a capella battle

Like the film? Watch: Bridesmaids 

Like the singing and stuff? Watch: Glee

What my wife would say: 'It's more Bridesmaids than Glee'.

What the world thinks:

Rotten Tomatoes - 81%

Metacritic - 66/100

LAMB Score - 3.19/5

Twitter -

Just watched Pitch Perfect and...... enjoyed it. I'm disappointed in myself.
— Jake Hardy (@JakeAlive) October 23, 2013

FILM: Les Miserables (7/10)

Why did I watch it?

The Mrs loved it and thought I needed to see it so I decided to give it a go.

What's it all about?

Les Miserables tells the story of one Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), a paroled convict, over several decades in 19th century France. Valjean becomes guardian of factory worker Fantine's (Anne Hathaway) daughter Cosette and ends up taking part in a Parisian revolutionary uprising, all the while being hunted by Inspector Javert (Russell Crowe).

The Good:

• Intensity from live singing has to be credited .
• Grand production - nice visuals of France/Paris.
• Hugh Jackman's dedication to the role. The man gives everything.
• Appearance of Sascha Baron Cohen brings a bit of humour.
• Epic story.

The Bad:

• Seriously, how many words rhyme with Cosette?
• The shock of no dialogue whatsoever took some getting over.
• Yeah Russell Crowe's singing isn't great but at least he tried.

Jean Valjean...decent Movember entry

Favourite line:

'La la la la, ' - Everyone

Stand-out moment:

Jean Valjean and Javert facing off time and time again.

Like singing? Watch: Mamma Mia, Evita etc.

Like the director? Watch: The King's Speech

What my wife would say: I love musicals.

What the world thinks:

Rotten Tomatoes - 70%

Metacritic - 63/100

LAMB Score - 3.73/5

FILM: Argo (9/10)

Why did I watch it?

Argo has been high up on my list of films to see following the hype and awards it received on its release. I liked both of Ben Affleck's previous directorial efforts Gone Baby Gone and The Town.

What's it all about?

Based on a true story, Ben Affleck plays a CIA ex-filtration specialist Tony Mendez, tasked with getting a group of American embassy staff out of Iran in the months following the Iranian Hostage Crisis in 1979. Mendez turns to Hollywood, with support from film producers Alan Arkin and John Goodman, to create cover for the operation.

The Good:

• Sharp, funny script
• Affleck builds up the tension almost from the off and it rarely lets up anytime the action returns to Tehran
• The cynical Hollywood angle - Alan Arkin and John Goodman
• Bryan Cranston - just because
• Balanced introductory montage setting the scene for the Iranian Revolution and hostage crisis

The Bad:

• I got nothing, maybe the Mendez family angle which didn't add much value for me

Passport please, Mr Bat. Man

Favourite line:

'If I'm doing a fake movie, it's gonna be a fake hit!' - Lester Siegel

Stand-out moment:

The build-up to and storming of the American embassy in Tehran told from the viewpoint of the embassy officials

Like the film? Watch: Munich, The Americans (TV show)

Like the director? Watch: Gone Baby Gone, The Town

What my wife would say: Watched it and enjoyed it.

What the world thinks:

Rotten Tomatoes - 96%

Metacritic - 86/100

LAMB Score - 4.33/5
Twitter - 

Argo never fails to give me anxiety attacks even though I know the ending
— Maggie Genske (@maggie_genske) November 2, 2013