Silver-celluloid

  White House Down can be summed up in one word: fun. Basically, if you have seen Olympus Has Fallen you know the plot of this movie. John Cale (Channing Tatum) is a Capitol Policeman who has messed up with his eleven year old daughter Emily (Joey King). Emily is really interested in politics and the President James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx) is her idol so Cale calls in a favour to get tour tickets to the White House for them both as a present. At the same time he has an interview as a Secret Service Agent protecting the President. While they are there the White House is taken over by an armed paramilitary group and Cale has to save the day. Director Roland Emerich of Independence Day fame is determined to destroy the White House again in White House Down which is big, enjoyable and full of action. This is what a silly action movie should look like. The characters are engaging and likable in a way that was missing from this year's previous White House destroyer Olympus Has Fa...

Silver-celluloid often looks at the latest cinema releases but there is a film that did not enjoy a very wide release at the cinema and is now available to rent on DVD. It is a hidden gem. From the pen of Wentworth Miller, star of the 2005-2009 TV series Prison Break, Stoker stars Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman and Matthew Goode. It is directed by Chan-Wook Park, director of the cult hit Old Boy, and this is an interesting pedigree that has turned out exceptionally well. Dealing with difficult subject matter, something not entirely unexpected if you are familiar with Park’s work, this is a beautifully shot, well scripted, dark, intriguing film that is well worth a watch. India Stoker (Mia Wasikowska) lives with her mother, Evie (Nicole Kidman), feeling isolated and in mourning after the unexpected death of her father. When a previously unknown and long lost uncle, Charlie (Matthew Goode) turns up, he brings with him intrigue, questions, and an unsettlin...

Out this week Just a quick round up of some of the UK cinema releases this week. From Wednesday August 21 st Elysium: A new action, sci-fi drama from Neil Blomkamp, the director of District 9, starring Jodie Foster, Matt Damon From Friday August 23rd Lovelace: A drama biography of Linda Lovelace who was coerced into the porn industry by her abusive husband. Starring Amanda Seyfried, Peter Sarsgaard and James France. Directed by Rob Epstein and Jeff Friedman We're The Millers: A man hires a fake family to try and smuggle drugs in this crime comedy starring Jennifer Aniston and Emma Roberts. Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber From Wednesday August 28th You're Next: This horror sees a family under attack from a group of killers. Starring Sharni Winson, Nicholas Tucci and A.J. Bowen. Directed by Adam Wingard From Thursday August 29th One Direction - This is Us (3D): A documentary about the music group One Direction. Starr...

Sequels are usually inferior by design and Kick Ass 2 is no exception. The original Kick Ass film was a huge hit with good reason. Well scripted, funny and with its tongue in its cheek, it controversially managed to bring a bright superhero movie to an adult audience in a new way that avoided the dark and brooding Batman reboots of Christopher Nolan and the full blown bright cartoon-like elements of Scott Pilgrim Versus the World. Its humour was the root of its success and the cult following of Kick Ass has led to an eager anticipation for the second film; a success that has given it a lot to live up to. One of the reasons that the first Kick Ass movie was such a hit was the combination of screenwriters Jane Goldman and Matthew Vaughan, and the directoral talent of Matthew Vaughan. The absence of this combination was extremely noticeable. However, despite not living up to its predecessor, this movie was entertaining. The film picks ...

Starring: Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Leonado DiCaprio Director: Baz Luhrmann Genre: DramaRunning time: 143 minutes There is one question that needs to be asked before watching The Great Gatsby : how do you feel about Baz Luhrmann films? Fans of Romeo & Juliet , Strictly Ballroom and Moulin Rouge will probably know what to expect from the latest Luhrmann offering; those unfamiliar with these movies may be more surprised. A short confession before this review continues: the novel The Great Gatsby is a personal favourite and a work of genius that can only be described as almost impossible to film, therefore I entered the screening with some trepidation, apprehensive that Baz Luhrmann may have destroyed a classic. This said, Lurhmann's version is interesting. Many critics have reacted with some vitriol to the film, panning it for skimming the surface of the novel but any film that tries to take on such subtle and complex source material runs this risk. For those u...

Starring: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, Melissa Leo Director: Antoine Fuqua Genre: Action Running time: 120 minutes It is easy to see why a lot of critics hated this film. It is overly patriotic, sometimes rambling, and with quite a few scenes that should have seen the cutting room floor. This said, it is also a lot of fun. Olympus Has Fallen works as a fully-fledged, old-school action movie; predictable of course, but sometimes that is exactly what is wanted when going to see this kind of movie. The plot is basic and easy to follow. Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) is a secret service agent assigned to protect the President of the United States and his family. In a tragic accident the First Lady is killed and Mike feels responsible. Eighteen months later a terrorist attack leaves the fate of the President and his son in Mike's hands, but will he live up to the challenge? The first and most glaring of its faults is the overly long and lingering shots to emphasise the patrio...

A Neo-noir crime thriller,  Trance is glossy, good looking and has a helter skelter of a plot that will keep most people guessing until the bitter end. Danny Boyle is at his directorial best, with sleek and smooth direction which is a treat. Moving away from the 28 Days Later, Slumdog Millionaire subject matters, Boyle has gone back to his dark roots with a movie which is reminiscent of Shallow Grave with its focus on greed, violence and the underbelly of human nature. Simon (James McAvoy) is an art auctioneer. However, during a robbery at the auction house where he works he is hit on the head and loses his memory. As he recovers he soon realises that he needs to remember where the stolen painting has gone or suffer dire consequences. In a desperate attempt to regain his memory Simon visits a hypnotherapist named Elizabeth (Rosario Dawson) in the hopes that she will help him to locate the stolen artwork. What results is a journey into the mind which offers an unreliable narrator...