100 films in 100 days – Liar Liar #100films

The 70th film of my 100 film challenge is Liar Liar. I love this classic 90s comedy! It’s definitely one of my faves. I love Jim Carrey and he is on fine form here. I have other Jim Carrey films that I love more, but this one is still a lot of fun.

I know a lot of people are divided in their opinion of Jim Carrey, and I understand why people might not like him. For me, he’s a comedy hero. Liar Liar is a somewhat less physical performance for Carrey, where often he is actually playing his character rather straight.

Once the truth-telling kicks in the laughs come thick and fast. I personally love the little comments he says to people. Particularly when a colleague asks him “How’s it hanging?”… “Short, shriveled and always to the left.”

Brilliant.

The cast are great too, Maura Tierney matches up well as Carrey’s Ex and Cary Elwes is perfect as the dorky boyfriend. The kid is especially good and is incredibly cute, having great chemistry with on-screen parents Carrey and Tierney.

There are a lot of memorable bits in the film, perhaps the court room scenes are the highlights. I find that Liar Liar consistently makes me laugh each time I see it and I hope that we get to see many more comedies from Carrey in the future.

100 films in 100 days – Guardians of the Galaxy #100films

The 68th film in my 100 film challenge is Guardians of the Galaxy. Since Marvel decided to make their own movies instead of letting other people, we have witnessed an ever growing and truly ambitious project begin to unfold since 2008. Throughout multiple films we have seen the development of many characters across several films, that exist in many interconnected story lines.

The fans know that in the next few years many of these stories and mainstream characters will be reaching huge climaxes. Marvel’s ambition is big though. In fact it’s huge, and why wouldn’t it be consider the volume of comic book content they own and could use. So why not move on from the big heroes like Iron Man, Thor etc. and brave new territory.
Guardians was the first of the new characters that Marvel released, and for me it didn’t disappoint. I have come to realise that often what I want from a superhero film is to have fun. Some of Marvel’s recent entries are lacking in this area, but not Guardians. It has excellent comedy elements and is genuinely funny and exciting.

The great humour is helped by brilliant casting and chemistry between the 5 guardians. A lot of credit has to go to James Gunn, as co-writer and director, he delivers so well here. I love each of the out anti-heroes, but Groot and Rocket steal the show. They are a cinematic duo that will be loved for years to come. They have a genuinely interesting character arc too.

The humour, the action, a great cast, a decent baddie, a rich new universe of characters and places – all these things come together to make one of Marvel’s best films in recent times.

There’s a sequel in 2017. Bring it on!

100 films in 100 days – The Skeleton Twins #100films

The 67th film in my 100 film challenge is The Skeleton Twins. I remember this film having some fairly positive reviews when it came out last year. Both Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader found fame on SNL and have had increasing success on the big screen. This film, although it has comedic moments, is more of serious story – something both Wiig and Hader show themselves to be more than capable of doing.

With a strong Indie vibe, the storyline is actually rather depressing. Themes such as suicide, infidelity and paedophilia certainly bring down the mood, but impressively the film is balanced with enough humour to keep it all together. It’s perhaps not as funny as you would expect with these two in the lead roles, but I didn’t mind that.

I hope that this film leads to more things for both Wiig and Hader. I know Wiig is on an upward trajectory, with Ghostbusters destined to be a hit. I think Bill Hader is great and we need more Bill Hader.

In everything.

100 films in 100 days – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) #100films

The 66th film in my 100 film challenge is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014). As a kid I loved the children’s cartoon. It was one my favourite things to watch. I even had a t-shirt! I also remember the live action films that came out in the 90s, but as with a lot of things from my childhood, memories fade and I don’t remember the series or films all that well.

Having bypassed the 2007 animated film, I felt that this one was worth a watch. No, not because of Megan Fox – who do you think I am?! It was because it included two of my favourite Will’s. Will Arnett and William Fichtner. And neither of them disappoint.

They are both essentially typecast in their roles, Arnett is there for humour and Fichnter is a bad guy. This doesn’t stop them from being two of the best things about the film. Overall it isn’t a great film, but not a total calamity. The action sequences are genuinely entertaining and make the film.

The story is a bit weak but then it is for kids. I didn’t like Shredder – he needs to be a bit more sinister for me. The CGI of Splinter was pretty poor too, but then a 6 foot rat will always look a tad suspect. Megan Fox does well and actually wasn’t too bad in this.

Hear there may be a sequel in the works. I’m sure the original series will never be beaten by a live action film. But you never know. 

100 films in 100 days – Ride Along #100films

The 64th film in my 100 film challenge is Ride Along. Ok so a friend of mine said this film was really funny. So I decided to watch this film. Unfortunately for me, my friend was wrong. I remember when I saw the trailer for Ride Along, featuring Ice Cube and Kevin Hart, and thinking it looked terrible. I should have gone with my gut. When comedy feels forced and hard work they cease to be funny, sadly this is what happened here.

It’s not a complete train wreck, to be fair, Kevin Hart shows some potential here, and I think he will certainly star in more comedies. I confess I haven’t seen much of his work before, but there is definitely something about him. Whether he will make comedies that will become classics in years to come will remain to be seen. Ice Cube is ok in this film, but then playing the angry guy is kind of his thing.

The action-comedy is now a well-worn path, and Ride Along offers little originality. Obvious comparisons to Beverly Hills Cop or Lethal Weapon pop into the mind – RA is most definitely not in that league. Perhaps the best bit is the warehouse scene near the end, which is actually rather good. The reveal of the mysterious Omar is fun (I won’t say who), although this actor really wasn’t at his best in this film.

Some things amaze me. Not Ride Along, but the fact they’re making Ride Along 2.

Unbelievable.

100 films in 100 days – The Wedding Singer #100films

The 62nd film in my 100 film challenge is The Wedding Singer. While husband points are certainly a factor in the reasoning for watching this film, in all fairness The Wedding singer is actually really funny. It just happened to be starting on TV when the wife and I sat down for dinner, so we ended up watching it.

With Adam Sandler you know that there will be a greater emphasis on the comedy in the romantic-comedy – something that will help a lot for the fellas in the audience. Set in the eighties, we also get to enjoy a great soundtrack with a lot of classics. I even found that someone had put together a YouTube playlist from the film, it was pretty decent. The original songs that are in it are equally great too.

I know Sandler, like other comedy stars, splits an audience – some hate him, while others can’t get enough. I wouldn’t say I’m his biggest fan but when his is on form he is fantastic. He is definitely on the money here, and the chemistry with regular co-star Drew Barrymore works really well too.

Whilst it won’t move mountains with profound brilliance, but this kind of film isn’t meant to. It works really well as the kind of film that puts a smile on your face for an hour and a half. Its a lot of fun.

100 films in 100 days – The Player #100films

The 61st film in my 100 film challenge is The Player. A few years ago I remember seeing on the news that Robert Altman had died. He was celebrated as a legendary film director, and whilst I had heard of some of his work, I hadn’t seen a lot of what he had made. When looking through his career The Player stood out as being one if his classics, and it has been a film I’ve wanted to see for some time now.

Released in the earlier 90’s, The Player is a satirical look at the people working in Hollywood that make the decisions about which movies get made. Tim Robbins is a executive that sifts through thousands of stories, single-handedly holding the power of giving them the elusive green light to be made.

The film opens with a fantastic continuous shot that moves from conversation to conversation around a series Hollywood production offices. The irony and comedy within the scene sets the tone of the film. Or so you think, as the film takes several unexpected twists and turns; it shifts from just a comedy to a mystery, crime-thriller.

In the end the film highlights the facade and unreality of the Hollywood ‘bubble’. Honesty and the pursuit of true ‘art’ is willingly exchanged for commercial success. Money, greed and power triumph over quality and integrity.

Robbins is excellent as the star, as is the extensive supporting cast. It’s a lot fun to see the numerous different actors that are in the film, whether as themselves or as a character. It is brilliantly made, and had a real freshness to it. It’s a film I want to watch again as there is a lot going on – it seems like the kind of film that would reward repeat viewings.

100 films in 100 days – The Cable Guy #100films

The 59th film in my 100 film challenge is The Cable Guy. This was another film I saw when I was quite young. Famously this film did badly both critically and at the box office, but then it grew into cult status. I was curious to see if I liked it now.

I love Jim Carey. I know people who hate him as much as I love him though. Here is one of his best performances. Mostly he is doing the comedic stuff, but he has to switch to serious parts too. Something he shows as being very capable of. Broderick is excellent too, and their relationship on screen is fun to watch.

I loved the basketball game sequence, ending with Carey’s ridiculous backboard smashing slam dunk. I could watch that all day. The karaoke party and the weird medieval restaurant scenes are both strange and hilarious too.

I really enjoyed watching it again. It’s a bit creepy, very funny and so much more. Ben Stiller does a great job directing here, and rather than the film being simply a comedy – it also makes a serious comment about the effects of TV in our society. It even correctly predicts the impact that the internet will have.

We have become a society where we are so dependant upon screens and the visual medium. Our relationships with others are dictated accordingly. Our ideas of truth and reality stem from what we see on TV. How aware are we of the power we give to the screens we are so attached to? We are addicted. We feed off what we watch, but not all food is good for you. Eating the wrong things make you ill. Eating too much makes you fat and lazy. Is the thing you’re watching good for you? Do we ever ask this question?

Thought provoking, funny and bonkers. A cult classic that asks important questions.

A must see.

100 films in 100 days – Three Kings #100films

The 58th film in my 100 film challenge is Three Kings. I remember watching this a long time ago. My brother and I rented it from the local video shop. Don’t think either of us were huge fans – perhaps I was a bit too young to get it. Three Kings has been a film I have wanted to see again for a while – critically still loved, it needed another go.

David O. Russell had seen a lot of success since he released The Fighter in 2010. Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle were critically well celebrated too. Of the three films, I liked The Fighter a lot, but was disappointed by American Hustle (despite fine performances from Bale and Lawrence). So it’s interesting to see an earlier film from him.

For me, the film is ok. It’s a satirical war film that uses a mixture of humour and tense action to convey its message. The main characters start off as rather unlikeable people, trying to steal Saddam’s hidden stash of gold. Their journey into becoming heroes, to be fair, is somewhat interesting.

The humour is good at the start of the film, visually it’s fun too, but this fizzles out when the plot gets serious. I didn’t feel like any of the actors particularly stood out, not in any good way. Wahlberg was trying a bit too hard for me and Clooney seemed distracted half the time. Ice Cube was fine as the ‘angry black guy’, but I’m now bored of such stereotypes – his character certainly lacked the depth of the (white) others.

I certainly enjoyed the comedic elements of Three Kings the most. The serious stuff didn’t keep me as interested. I can kinda see why people like it, but there are other war films out there that are more interesting and better at asking the same kind of questions.

Watch Full Metal Jacket or The Hurt Locker instead. For me, the jury is still out for David O. Russell.

100 films in 100 days – Beverly Hills Cop III #100films

The 57th film in my 100 film challenge is Beverly Hills Cop III. Unfortunately this is where the franchise goes downhill. It’s a shame as the first two were a lot of fun and are much loved. It all goes wrong here, probably the reason that we haven’t yet seen a fourth entry.

I think part of the problem is the director. Looking at his career, John Landis certainly seems more experienced in the comedy arena, than in action. Having worked with Murphy before I wonder if this film was great fun to make but not so much fun to watch.

With Murphy and Landis you might think therefore that the comedy would be great, but these expectations are never reached. Often the humour is laboured and only squeezes out a chuckle. The whole script lacks in subtlety, and it often feels like they’re trying too hard.

A key problem is that this film is set and released in the 90’s. Things have changed a lot. One of the big changes is the soundtrack. All of a sudden we have orchestral music playing in the background – it feels all kinds of wrong after the fun and brilliant 80’s vibe of the first two. Even the theme song was updated to fit in with the sound – a bitter disappointment!

Some of the characters in it come across really OTT and lack believability. The bad guy, played by Timothy Carhart is simply annoying (probably meant to be). With Taggart having ‘retired’, they add in a new cop played by Hector Elizondo – he lacked any chemistry and comedic timing – it’s hard to watch.

Disappointing. Time has done it no favours. Would be great to see a new instalment though. This time with Foley’s son or daughter? – lots of potential there.