Apr 20 2018

Perfect (2016)

Director: Jeremie Battaglia

Plot: Perfect follows the Canadian synchronised swimming team beyond the beauty, to the brawn it takes to qualify for Rio 2016.

Runtime: 1 Hour 17 Minutes

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Interesting Sports Drama

Story: Perfect starts as we watch the first training camp for the Canadian synchronised swimming team, the coach is firm and doesn’t care what your status in previous years have been, she will only select the best performers. With the team selected we watch their preparation with the world championships, specialised training camps, the injuries they have suffered through all in the hope to quality for Rio 2016. We see the highs and lows this team goes through and the unity they show through this ruthless athletic demand.

Thoughts on Perfect

Thoughts – When it comes to sports documentaries I find myself drawn to them on a regular basis even if it is a sport I know nothing about. I will always have respect for any athlete that is trying to master their sport of choice, this documentary shows how important this moment is for the coaches and the athletes preparing. Seeing how the Canadian team has a team of unique looking women have to overcome this because other countries seem to get bonus points for having the similar look. This shows the reality of the sport to the athletes. Seeing the sacrifices that are needed to be made for the Olympic dream with the idea of failure leaving them almost broken as to where their future will be is important too. The idea to follow the team is interesting because it gives us an intimate look at the preparation, rather than just looking back. This is a very well-directed movie that should get the praise it deserves.

Overall: Sports documentary that needs to be watch.

Rating

Kodachrome (2018)

Director: Mark Raso

Writer: Jonathan Tropper (Screenplay) A.G. Sulzberger (Article)

Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Jason Sudeikis, Ed Harris, Bruce Greenwood, Amanda Brugel, Dennis Haysbert

Plot: Set during the final days of the admired photo development system known as Kodachrome, a father and son hit the road in order to reach the Kansas photo lab before it closes its doors for good.

Runtime: 1 Hour 40 Minutes

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Brilliant Drama

Story: Kodachrome starts as music executive Matt Ryder (Suedikis) is about to lose his job unless he can sign the next big band, even after this he will be looking at the door, his distant father Ben (Harris) is dying and his carer Zoe (Olsen) comes to Matt in hope that he will give his father one final wish, to travel across America to Kansas to go to a photo lab, the last of its kind.

Reluctantly Matt agrees to go on the trip and along the way the two must everything out as we learn about how Matt dislike to his father comes from his own father’s quest for success which never saw him around.

Thoughts on Kodachrome

Characters – Matt is a music executive, he has been in the industry for years and has always had an ear for talent, his weakness comes from signing the talent. He has a bad relationship with his father since his father wasn’t around during his youth, he goes on a journey with his father in an attempt to build bridges before his father dies, while attempting to save his job. Ben is the father of Matt, he is a world-renowned photographer that has always been using Kodachrome to develop his photos, with the last development lab getting closed down and his health beating him, he wants his son to join him on a cross country trip to make up for his years of errors. Zoe is the carer for Ben, she helps build the first bridge between the two and joins them on the journey, she tries to keep the peace between the two and even offers Matt a new friend who has been on the same dysfunctional paths.

Performances – Jason Sudeikis is a comic actor I have always thought was good in comic roles, but isn’t the one I enjoy his style, for me this is his best performance because he gets to put the odd joke in a serious performance, giving it the grounded level required. Ed Harris is fantastic in his role showing the stubbornness needed but also showing the signs of regret he is feeling. Elizabeth Olsen once again shines in a supporting role in the film.

Story – The story here follows a father and son that have a distant relationship that must go on a road trip with the father dying of cancer sooner rather than later. The two must put aside the difficulties from the past for a moment of clarity between the two. This story shows that no matter what people have been through they will always be love for family in them, a lesson to be taught and a secret that will keep them strong.

Settings – The film takes us from New York to Kansas with sights of America along the way, we don’t hit the landmarks, but we get the sense of distant they must travel.

Scene of the Movie – Parsons the lab.

That Moment That Annoyed Me – Who is this band ‘Live’

Final Thoughts – This is one of the best movies of the year, we get a balance between the reality of what will be happening to Ben and the proof family will always love you right up to the final moment when they can create a moment in someone’s life they will never forget.

Overall: Must see drama.

Rating

Apr 20 2018

ABC Film Challenge – Favourites – T – Train to Busan

Favourite Films

This month we are going to be taking on the films I enjoy, my favourites of all time. I have a strange taste in movies, so be ready to expect some true greats and some you could never see on anyone’s favourites list. I will only be picking movies on this list and it will just be my discussing my picks rather than giving full reviews.

Train to Busan

Why I’ve Picked this choice – When it comes to zombie movies I will always watch anything new, I will always be a fan of the ‘Of the Dead’ films and with a few exceptions, we generally rarely reach this level again. Then this movie came along, Train to Busan, starting with a businessman father taking his daughter across South Korea by train, things soon take a turn when it turns out a local zombie outbreak has hit the train and joined with other passengers, the battle to survive hits.

This is a pure adrenaline ride of a movie, once the action starts, it simply doesn’t start, we care about the characters we meet, who all have their flaws, the fights with the zombies are brutal to watch and with an ending that will leave you feeling exhausted and emotional broken, this is a must watch for all horror and zombie and film fans.