Who We Are: Alex

Hello Internet. I’m a student at the University of Leeds, studying Spanish and Economics. So then, what qualifies me as a film blogger and reviewer, you may ask? Well nothing really. I just truly love films, and tend to watch a lot while procrastinating or just generally slacking. I thought doing this website would be a good way of putting this tremendous skill, yes skill, into action. A way to get off my ass, write some shizzle about film and inform the Internet of the latest movie news. So what do I look for in a film? Well I like a film with a great soundtrack and practically anything starring Bill Murray. Plus I believe the Dude or, His Dudeness, or, Duder, or, El Duderino (if you’re not into the whole brevity thing), is some kind of deity.

Twitter: @alex_steely

Review: True Grit

The Coen Brothers do it again, but reign in much of their trademark style in this genre piece. Great direction, writing and an outstanding cast performance make this the best western since The Assassination of Jesse James.

Let’s get one thing straight. I love the Coen Brothers. No Country for Old Men, Miller’s Crossing, Fargo, The Big motherfucking Lebowski – can’t get enough. Neither can the critics, it seems. With countless nominations, and multiple Oscar wins for the previously mentioned Fargo and No Country for Old Men, they’re kind of on a winning streak. The problem is, when you’re on a winning streak, that’s precisely what you have to keep doing. True Grit, a remake of a well known John Wayne picture and based on a classic western novel by Charles Portis, could have finally been their fall from grace. They’ve proven with the The Ladykillers (2004) that remakes may not be their forte, and when True Grit was announced to be a Coen Bros. remake, fanboys across the web simultaneously crapped themselves. Fear not, fanboys. True Grit isn’t as much a win as it is a triumph.

Review: The Fighter

While nothing new for the genre, a collection of excellent performances from Bale and company make for a very compelling boxing drama.

At a time when you’re spoilt for choice with the amount of good films out there (The King’s Speech, Black Swan, 127 Hours, etc.) some can slip under the radar, even if they don’t really deserve to do so. Luckily this hasn’t happened to The Fighter, David O. Russell’s boxing drama set in the depths of working-class Lowell, Massachusetts. It tells the real life tale of “Irish” Micky Ward’s formative years, struggling to make the grade before turning pro and getting his one shot at the big-time. It all sounds pretty generic, but that’s before you’ve met the family. Micky (Mark Wahlberg) is forever in the shadow of brother Dicky (Christian Bale), an ex-fighter that could have made something of himself had he not succumbed to the sweet, sweet charms of crack. There’s nothing wrong with a relaxing bit of crack you say? Well with consistent bouts of violence, brushes with the law and a spell in prison, it doesn’t seem to be working out too well for him. He also happens to be Micky’s trainer. Then you have the matriarch Alice (Melissa Leo), a tough, possessive bulldog of a woman who dotes on Dicky and their gaggle of terrifying sisters whilst “managing” Micky’s career.

Review: Tangled

Cheeky and entertaining without ever really standing out or bringing anything new to the animated genre. Perfectly good family fun, just don’t expect Beauty and the Beast.

Walt Disney Animation Studios return to the fairy tale format that made them famous with Tangled. The story is a re-telling of the Brothers Grimm tale Rapunzel, with Mandy Moore playing the longhaired princess. She’s taken as a child to live in a hidden tower by the evil elderly Gothel (posing as her mother) for the rejuvenating qualities of her hair. Every year, on Rapunzel’s birthday, the king and queen release lanterns in the hope that their lost daughter will see them and return. One night, while still a child, Rapunzel sees the lanterns and from then on dreams of seeing them up close. Eighteen years later and she is eager to see the outside world, and more importantly, the floating lanterns. Her opportunity comes in the form of the crook Flynn Rider, played by Zachary Levi, who promises to take her to see the lights. This deal does not go down well with Gothel, as she needs Rapunzel to keep her youthful looks. The chase through the kingdom ensues, with Rapunzel and Flynn getting into all types of tangles.