Knowing

Knowing, 2009.

Nicolas Cage, oscar winner and the biggest action star of the 90s (see The Rock, Con Air & Face/Off) was on a big run of strike outs when this reviewer decided to part with his $15 of his hardest earned to see his latest offering. Bangkok Dangerous, The Wicker Man remake, Next & Ghost Rider were all akin to having tabasco sauce forcefully shoved into one's eyeballs. Quite simply, big Nic needed this film to do well at the box office and for it to be entertaining for his legions of loyal, if not growing somewhat impatient, follwers.

Well, this film goes someway to redemption. The film was a huge box office success taking over $180M worldwide.

The film centres on a series of apocalyptic events, as predicted by a troubled young school girl in the 1950s. A university professor, Cage, takes it upon himself to decipher to girl's predictions in order to prevent any future disasters. Edge of your seat special effects and a surprisingly strong sense of tension throughout keep this film moving along nicely.

It is hard to take Cage seriously these days though in many ways, whether it be the hair plugs or the fact that it is laughable to think of him as a professor.

Early in the film, heavy focus is placed on his relationship with his son and troubles he confronts in moving on from his wife allow him to explore his other side (he did win an Oscar. No really, he did) which hasn't been seen much at all since 2002's Adaptation.

This is an entertaining film which this reviewer believes most will enjoy, although it was hard not to think back to Cameron Poe or Stanley Goodspeed.

6/10

Willo

Independence Day

Independence Day, 1996

On July 2 the question that has always been asked "Are we alone in the universe?" is answered when aliens arrived and these guys are not here for peace. When the aliens atack the world must unite in order to stop them. With the help of computer technician David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) and Captain Steven Hiller (Will Smith) the aliens are destroyed and humanity saved.

Bill Pullman plays the President of United States fairly well and helps save the day by joining the fight and who does an amazing speech before the final battle scene. It seemed that the world "would not go quietly into night on this our independence day".

7/10

Drowd

Before The Devil Knows You're Dead

Before The Devil Knows You're Dead, 2007

Blog readers will soon come to learn that Phillip Seymour Hoffman is this reviewer's favourite actor - an honour I'm sure he lists on his bulging CV.

Before The Devil Knows You're Dead isn't the best film he's in but it's a good place to start my Seymour Hoffman review fest.

Hoffman and his brother (Ethan Hawke, Reality Bites) decide robbing mom and dad's jewellery store is a great way to get them out of a financial jam. Surprise surprise, it's not as fool proof as they first thought.

Along for the ride are Marisa Tomei (PSH clearly punching above his weight in this one) and Albert Finney - both very good in supporting roles.

Full of moral dilemmas, giving into vices and general panic - Before The Devil Knows You're Dead is very dark but undeniably gripping.

Directed by Sidney Lumet (who teamed up with Al Pacino in the seventies for Serpico), BTDKYD deserves 7/10.

Nutbuckle

Air Force One

(1997) Directed by Wolfgang Petersen. With Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman, Glenn Close

This movie takes presidential politics to new heights as Harrison Ford aka The President says "get off my plane" to a highly organised and trained group of terrorists. These terrorists look to use The President as leverage to free their commander from a eastern European gulag. Gary Oldman plays the terrorist leader to perfection and the seemingly immortal Glenn Close plays a Vice President under siege from Chiefs of Staff wanting to give up on former air force pilot President James Marshall.

This is a classic action film in the tradition of Under Seige and popcorn flick lovers will not go away disappointed. Harrison Ford shows his age in scenes that involve a lot of physicality but more than makes up for it with his consistent and firm delivery of powerful dialogue.

When stacked up against other 'one against many' action movies, this one ticks all the boxes for mindless, check your intellect at the door, entertainment and if you dont expect anything else, you will come to the same conclusion as this reviewer.

Snap says 7/10

(500) Days of Summer

(500) Days of Summer, 2009

The dude from Third Rock gets it done in a smart, funny, romantically scented comedy. Playing his leading lady - Zooey Deschanel - who pulls off cute bitch with aplomb.

JGL is a seriously good actor (see Mysterious Skin rather than him getting hacked up in Halloween H20) and he carries the audience with him throughout this one.

The lanky guy from Criminal Minds bobs up - but this is a two-hander and both are terrific. Snazzy dance sequence, Temper Trap on the soundtrack and a narrator with a cool voice - how can you go wrong.

Lads - if the girlfriend grabs this one at the video store - use it as leverage to rent District 9 but watch it with her anyway.

7/10

Nutbuckle