The Help (2011)

A heartfelt drama about the civil rights movement, The Help follows Skeeter, a headstrong, young, white woman who interviews several black maids in order to publish a book about their unjust experiences. Slow for the first half - even a little unravelled - the film eventually composes itself and finds its niche. From a modern day perspective, it becomes incredibly difficult not to simplify the characters as one of two types of people during this period: the empathetic good and the psychopathic evil. This is probably inevitable given the subject matter. The soundtrack is carefully chosen and while it is under-utilised this works as too much music would detract from the tone of the film. Definitely engaging by the time the curtain closes and worthy of a few viewings.

8.5/10

Drive (2011)

Two parts drama to one part action, Drive is an unusual film about a shy/awkward guy who's a part time mechanic and stuntman by day and a getaway driver by night. Packed with a new-age synthy soundtrack, it has a dream sequence feel to it for the first half and then takes a sudden swerve into vendettas and mob violence much like the change of pace in The Departed. The dialogue is terse, like our driver, as we meet his love interest, Irene, next door and unravel the pair's sets of problems.The soundtrack softens the film and is generally likeable, making the film more accessible for those less interested in the action side of things. It's a solid film yet it never fully connects with the viewer. Worth a few views all the same.

7.5/10

The Hangover Part II (2011)

This sequel re-hashes the same basic premise: a group of guys celebrate on a bachelor's night out before waking up the next day so hungover that none of them remember what happened. This time around, they're in Thailand which makes the back-tracking of events a lot more wild and foreign and leads to some darker jokes overall. There's a drug selling monkey, some awkward lady-boy scenes and another kingpin after them as they try to find the Bride's brother who's been 'lost to Bangkok'. The music is sparse and underutilised but does welcome in the key moments such as waking up the morning after. All in all, there's a few laughs here and there and plenty of "what the?" moments but it sacrifices any depth in the story for sheer entertainment value. Could be seen a few times as you channel surf over the years. 

6.5/10

The Caller (2011)

The Caller is a Butterfly Effect type movie with a horror twist. It follows Mary as she moves into a new apartment and receives calls from a mystery woman a few decades in the past. The mystery caller keeps altering events in the past and this in turn affects Mary's present. Unfortunately, it feels drawn for the first hour and then feels rushed for the last half hour and could have been balanced better. The soundtrack is sparse and forgettable and could have been used to help fix the slow start. The film gets bonus points for trying to add something cerebral to the horror genre (even tipping its hat to Star Trek) but I can't imagine anyone wanting to watch it more than twice.

6/10

Friends with Benefits (2011)

Friends with Benefits is a surprisingly sharp and modern take on Romantic Comedies. With worthy performances from both Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis as a couple, it examines the contemporary relationship and the expectations and idiosyncracies of men and women. The language is fresh and realistic and contributes to the quick-witted humour. The soundtrack is mostly well-chosen and keeps the movie on pace. It is only at the beginning and very end of the story where things veer towards the cliché and I felt particular distaste when Dylan's father had a lucid moment and explains his life's regrets which seemingly mirror the dilemma of the young couple. That aside, it's deserving of a couple of watches.
7.5/10

I Love You Phillip Morris (2009)

A black comedy, I Love You Phillip Morris tracks Steven, a gay con-man who lands in and (repeatedly escapes) out of prison while pursuing the love of his life: Phillip Morris. Occasionally awkward, the film has its own sense of direction as it phases into being a romance, a drama and a comedy. Based on a true story, the unusual tempo is bolstered by a fantastic oldies soundtrack that is prevalent throughout. It's a bit like the love child one would expect from The Boat that Rocked and The Shawshank Redemption but it doesn't succeed as well as either. ILYPM is ultimately missing a binding agent and it feels a little loose towards the end of the story - if not, a little drawn out. Still, it's worth doing time with twice or more. 

7/10

Oranges and Sunshine (2010)

Oranges and Sunshine is a purist drama centred on Margaret Humphreys, a British social worker who uncovers evidence of a historical government policy that shipped thousands of children from England to Australia. It's a story which needs to be told but it gets weighed down by its seriousness while Margaret's personal life is generally too dull to break the monotony. Despite being lifted by some great acting and solid subject matter, the film fails when it comes to peaking and plateauing instead taking a more documentary-style focus. The soundtrack is enjoyable, but under-utilised, and could have been further expanded upon to make the experience seem less of a chore. A focus on more of the emotion of the major characters as opposed to the document research itself would have made this film a lot more rewatchable. A oncer for most.

6/10

Super 8 (2011)

A genre mish-mash, Super 8 is about a group of geeky teenagers who become embroiled in the cover-up of a state secret. It's The Goonies meets War of the Worlds with an old-fashioned twist that felt very much like I was watching a diluted version of The Iron Giant. However, despite Spielberg's involvement and some pretty solid acting it never quite captures that ET spark. The music is well-chosen and befitting and tries valiantly to elevate the film but the lack of cohesion means it definitely drags at times. The thrills generally miss the mark and it seems like there is so much room left for a deeper story or, at the very least, some extra heart. Disappointingly rewatchable, if only to list all the missed opportunities.

6.5/10

It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010)

A charming dramedy, It's Kind of a Funny Story is about a suicidal teen who commits himself to an adult psychiatric ward and has a profound effect upon its patients. As he realizes that his problems aren't as bad as some of the others', our protagonist, Craig, starts to confront his issues all the while helping the ward deal with all of theirs. The soundtrack is mostly old-school/excellent and hints of decent comedy are sprinkled frugally throughout. The film does its best to dispel the unavoidable schmaltz but sticks to being a feel-good movie about acceptance and growth and that's okay. The main actor helps to elevate the film and is reminiscent of a young Keanu Reeves (if Keanu had a soul). Rewatchable: thanks to the music and the message.

8/10

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows I (2010)

Deathly Hallows is the seventh installment of the series and, unfortunately, it languishes a bit. There's a lot of foreboding and stressed relationships amongst our heroes but the plot seems aimless at times. We're thrown into the midst of a confusing horcrux hunt coupled with a story that is obviously holding back for the sequel. Emma Watson is noticeably grating this time around and the director fails to capitalise on allusions to racial conflict which would add depth and purpose to the oncoming war. That said, it's visually appealing and does leave you looking forward to the finale. Will see it again.

7/10

The Best and the Brightest (2010)

A goofy rom-com about the struggles of parenthood, The Best and the Brightest follows a couple trying anything to get their kid into a prestigous pre-school. With the ever-awesome Neil Patrick Harris as the husband and a no-nonsense 'trainer' upselling their qualities to the school, it nonetheless falls flat and languishes in silly, unbelievable plots and characters. The soundtrack is dull yet suitably highfalutin and the climax did very little for me. Sparse jokes are hidden throughout (but you may lose interest and stop looking for them) so this is definitely only worth a single shot. 

5/10

Secretariat (2010)

It's impossible not to compare Secretariat to Seabiscuit; they're both about underdog horses who persevere at the races. This one, however, has a few more cards up its sleeve: it's also a feminist tale of courage in addition to being a refreshingly charming sports flick. Even if you're not much of a racing fan, the plot really draws you into all the hubub of the gambits. The soundtrack is subtle yet effectively used during key moments and the great casting and direction means the pacing is a little friendlier this time around. On the flip side, Seabiscuit's strength is that it has a more historical slant and there's a bit more to learn from it. On the whole, I enjoyed both flicks and think they both have their place being re-watched in filmdom.

8.5/10

127 Hours (2010)

A gritty, based-on-a-true-story drama, 127 Hours follows Aron Ralston, a reckless outdoorsman who journeys to a great canyon in Utah - alone. He is then trapped by a large boulder crushing his arm and is forced to survive 5+ days with only a few protein bars, a bottle of water and a backpack of basics. Aron is an engineer so it is surprisingly compelling watching his thought process while trying to free himself. It is also elevated by a fantastic soundtrack (composed by A.R. Rahman from Slumdog Millionaire) and some genuinely human - and even funny - moments with his camcorder. Much better than it sounds and worth surviving through a couple of viewings (even if the artsy direction is a bit off-putting at times).

8/10

The Kids are All Right (2010)

A decent drama about a lesbian couple raising a teenage son and daughter conceived by each of them via the same anonymous sperm bank donor, The Kids are All Right is really about the normalcy of gay/atypical family structures. Boosted by the solid performances of Annette Bening and Julianne Moore, it heats up when their children decide to track down their biological 'father' placing strain on their mothers' relationship. The soundtrack's a bit sparse and the story is a bit too lean at times and this ties up with a somewhat flat ending. Worth a watch or two anyway to get you thinking about some of the dilemmas.

7.5/10

Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)

This one is unique: it's a thriller filmed in documentary style and is a direct descendent of The Blair Witch Project. Genuinely scary at times, it employs repetitive sequences in which the viewer starts expecting something to happen but never knows exactly what will happen or when it will. Paranormal Acitivity 2 is not as slick as the original, however, as it is too slow and withholding while the story gets very messy when they try to link it back to the original. This makes it probably worth skipping ahead to halfway through and the movie is definitely a one time thing (it's not really a soundtrack kind of movie but the atmosphere is definitely there all the same).

6.5/10

Toy Story 3 (2010)

Easily the greatest animated series of all time, Toy Story 3 completes the journey of Andy's childhood and does it with just as many layers as its predecessors. The finale continues to offer an action-packed tale of friendship for the young while maintaining its Peter Pan Syndrome ethos for the old: reminding us of our old toys and the pure joy that is youth. Packed with laughs and the occasional tear, again for both young and old, Pixar Studios have once again proved their mettle when creating truly all-ages entertainment. The soundtrack is reflective and fitting and the voice-acting and animation exemplary. Watch it again and again; it never gets old.

10/10

The Social Network (2010)

Well-acted and armed with an almost too-good script, The Social Network traces the baby steps of the online phenomenon we now know as Facebook. From the numerous law suits wanting a piece of the pie what's clear is that nothing is straightforward. While Zuckerberg may have wrote and developed the code other key players funded it and made it  possible, while others may have come up with the idea in the first place. Beneath all the framing, this is a story about money/success and how a highly intelligent yet naive twenty-something year old becomes star-struck and then sort-of alienates and betrays his best friend. The soundtrack is young but doesn't inspire a film which still lacks emotional punch and purpose in the end. Informative, sharp but probably not worth more than 2 watches.

7.5/10

Due Date (2010)

An occasionally slow, road‐trip comedy Due Date follows a 'normal' jerk named Peter who is shafted by an abnormal and misunderstood stranger eventually leaving them with no option but to drive home together. The two men almost kill each other several times but the story remains par for the course throughout as they head to their respective destinations. There are some laughs scattered here and there and it benefits from Robert Downey Jr's personality (as Peter) and a generally fun soundtrack. But there's nothing really new here, aside from an awkward masturbation scene that noone wants to see again. Watch it once, maybe twice after you've forgotten it all.

6.5/10

Eat Pray Love (2010)

A flimsy chick‐flick, Eat Pray Love follows Liz (Julia Roberts) on a journey of self‐discovery. After realising how unsatisfied she is with her current marriage and life in general, Liz goes on a world trip through Italy (where she eats too much); India (where she prays too little); and Indonesia (where she finally finds just the right amount of love). The film has the maturity of Goldilocks & the Three Bears too as she blitzes through a series of meaningless relationships along the way. The decent soundtrack and charming visuals can only lift the film so far out of its shallow script and storyline. One viewing is more than enough.

5/10