Film Review | The Other Woman

Carly (Cameron Diaz) thought she had everything: the right job, the right house, the right guy, until she meets Kate (Leslie Mann) – her boyfriend’s wife. After coming face to face with reality, Carly’s world is turned upside down in the most bizarre turn of events as she finds herself befriending Kate – not in a, “keep your friends close, but your enemies closer” kind of way, the “BFFLs / sorority sisterhood” kind of camaraderie. And if things aren’t any weirder, Amber (Kate Upton), yet another mistress added to the mix like salt to the wound, joins this odd friendship and unites with Kate and Carly in the attempt to take Mark (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) down.

The Story

This film is a mature version of 2006’s, John Tucker Must Die. As Cameron Diaz puts it, it’s a “celebration of women” instead of a reboot of Mean Girls. Unlike JTMD, The Other Woman takes a different approach to the nature of how women interact, view and relate to each other when a man is their common denominator. The writers put the stay-at-home woman, the working girl and the young-naïve-chic in the same ‘room’ – perse – and have them work together rather than compete against each other. It’s a collaborative film with loads and loads of comedic flare.

What the story does best is collaborate the different personalities of the characters and allow them to enhance each other’s characteristics rather than have them heading into a head-on collision. The dynamics between the different characters propel the humour embedded into this film. There’s not one moment where you’re not gasping or laughing from start to finish, I seriously have never laughed so hard in my life!

The Cast

Cameron Diaz is an outstanding lawyer who is at the height of her career. Diaz’s portrayal of a hardworking woman with ties that she decides to cut or tighten is incomparable. She was confident, (at times) unforgiving, and yet caring and loving enough to make Carly relatable and – at times even – comical.

Leslie Mann outshined everyone by far in this film. Not only the loyal stay-at-wife, but she was also the main source of comic relief. Although Kate was mainly the funniest character with her ongoing word-vomit and drunken escapades, she was also a good source of contemplation. As Kate reflects on her marriage and the sacrifices that she made to make it work, you feel just as sad and angry as she does when she finds out that her husband was a lying-cheating-monster.

Kate Upton is the younger woman in this film and lifts the dynamics up a notch as her character becomes the final addition to this twisted hand of fate. Amber, though naïve, is also sporadically insightful and gives the film that sisterhood-like factor as she’s added to the picture. Upton did a great job of portraying a young, but not completely stupid mistress. She brought a strength to the character that we don’t usually see in characters that are supposed to be the “dumb-one” in the pack – kudos to both Upton and the writers.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is just as funny as Mann in this film. He is all at once truly charming and truly devious, which makes Mark both lovable and detestable. He had great chemistry with Diaz as well, giving audiences a real sense of Mark’s true nature of being an expert con artist both in his professional and personal life.

Overall, The Other Woman has you laughing from start to finish. There are moments where your stomach will have a break from all the stitches you’ve accumulated from one scene to the next, but right after you’ve recovered, another burst of comic action happens in front of you. ANYONE can watch this film. Yes, it’s one for the ladies, but I think guys will get just as much out of this film as any girl sitting next to them. GO SEE IT.

sL Star Rating: ★★★★★

Next on sL: X-Men: Days of Future Past

Film Review | The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Spider-Man is flying high with his regular crime-fighting schedule. Misunderstood by both the media and the public, the genetically enhanced hero seems to shrug it off and battle against anyone who wants to terrorize the city of New York. But with the memory of what it cost him last time lingering in the shadows, is Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) ready to put everything and everyone he loves in danger again and again?

The Story

I have to say I enjoyed this second film much more, story wise, then that of the first film. There’s much more back story in this film then the previous films and I feel like you received a lot of closure in regards to Peter’s past. This closure then brings on a real sense of something new ready to start with this reboot of the Spider-Man character.

We see both new and old enemies in this film – i.e. Green Goblin (Dane DeHaan) and Electro (Jamie Foxx) – which really has you in that in-between stage of the franchise. There are aspects of the film that are familiar and at the same time, there are aspects that are novel. By the time the two worlds collide, it’s one big party that Spider-Man is only too eager to crash.

But don’t get me wrong, although this film is a big combination of action, scientific experiments and political schemes, it’s also got that romantic and melancholic touch to balance all the testosterone-fueled energy it exudes – so prepare yourself for an emotional rollercoaster!

The Cast

Andrew Garfield, I have to say, has stepped up his game and really had fun with Spider-Man. His both comedic and serious, thus leaving you drawn to every aspect that is both Spider-Man and Peter Parker. He did an incredible job with both the serious and lighthearted sides of the film – kudos Mr. Garfield!

Similarly, Emma Stone reprised her role with ease. Feisty, confident and determined, she showed another side to Gwen Stacy that she wasn’t able to in the first film. She’s not your typical damsel in distress; in fact, in many ways she is her own hero. Stone understood and portrayed the importance of Gwen’s actions – no matter their consequence – was out of her own decision. Allowing Gwen to be brilliantly fierce.

My hat goes off to Jamie Foxx who plays the antagonist, Electro – a.k.a. Max Dillon, an insignificant electrician working at OSCORP, who finds himself receiving everything – and more – he wanted for his birthday. I loved Foxx’s transition from a socially awkward nobody to a destructive menace for the negligence of those around him. It was incredible to see such a dramatic transformation from someone whose appetite for attention is wet through the feeding of (electrical) power – there’s a great metaphor for dictatorship if you ever needed one!

Similarly, Dane DeHaan’s take on the Green Goblin and Harry Osborn was equally admirable and (in the best way possible) nauseating. What I mean is, in this reboot, Harry isn’t a spoilt brat, in fact here he’s just as power-hungry as Electro who understands the nature of being “tossed aside”. DeHaan’s performance left me with goosebumbs and in deep psychological analysis as I was driving home from the drive-ins – kudos to you too Mr. DeHaan!

Overall, it was a great film about the human hunger for attention and appreciation. There are points where you want to root for Electro just as much as Spider-Man, and there are times where you just wish that he would blowup. The dynamics between all the characters are brilliantly amazing – allowing it to really live up to the title of the franchise.

sL Star Rating: ★★★★

Next on sL: The Other Woman

Film Review | Captain America: The Winter Soldier

After the devastation of New York, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is still coming to terms with the changes of this world. But one thing’s for sure, the war he plunged into the arctic depths from is still very much the same war he woke up to. Now working for S.H.I.E.L.D., Rogers is hoping that the similarities would out-way the differences in the new world. But in a world full of war, who can you really fighting who?

The Story

Picking up from the first Captain America and Avengers films, CA: The Winter Soldier follows through the comic plots and opens up the world of S.H.I.E.L.D. as wells as other central characters. There are big character/plot developments for (and with) Agent Hill (Cobie Smulders), Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), which is fascinating in the greater scheme of The Avengers front. We also receive a new love interest for the Captain; Revenge’s Emily VanCamp makes an appearance as Kate – a.k.a. Agent 13.

The film engulfs the theme of technological advancement with the preservation of human minds via computer hard drives as well as cutting-edge weaponry that can wipe out masses in a “flick” of a switch. The idea in this film is annihilating the threat before it can even become a threat. With old enemies – even those who were once comrades – in play, this film questions who is good and who is evil?

The Cast

Chris Evans, I’ve always thought, captures the essence of a soldier who’s come back from – not just the dead – but also another time altogether, perfectly. Not only does Rogers have to overcome slight spurts of post-traumatic stress, he also has to come to terms with the fact that the past, though can manifest itself in the future, cannot be returned to. Evans understands the role and the fact that he has to bring the values of the 40s into the 21^st century. One thing I will commend the costume department for is this: Evans keeps his clothes on!

Scarlett Johansson, although retaining Black Widow’s kick-ass nature, is actually the main source of comic relief in this film. Her banter with Evans is playful and believable. Aside from her comedic streak, we see a different side to Johansson’s character in this film, which helps us really understand its attempts to tackle to philosophical battle of who truly is the ‘real’ enemy.

Samuel L. Jackson is brilliant as usual. Like Johansson, he gives you a few witty lines to laugh about. There are moments in this film where you really do feel for Fury as well, which is a good thing since we don’t really get to do that too often since he’s the leader of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Robert Redford takes on the role of Alexander Pierce, fellow head of S.H.I.E.L.D. Not wanting to give too much away, Redford plays an excellent dual role. There are times where you question him just as much as times where you completely trust him. His relationship with Fury is an important one and the conflicting feeling you get with Pierce is exactly why I loved the concept of this film.

Sebastian Stan you’ll recognise from the first film, and for those of you who follow the comics religiously, you’ll know exactly who he is in this film. For those of you who are simply watching the films as they come, you’ll catch on pretty quick. Stan delivers a brilliant performance as a conflicted soldier just as much as Evans. Though his character is much more tortured that the Captain, he truly depicts the questioning aspect of this film really well.

Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders and Emily VanCamp are all great supports in this film. Mackie is a brilliant “wing man” as Falcon – again, another great source for comic relief, while Smulders and VanCamp took a more serious portrayals of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.

I just wanted to give Aussie, Callan Mulvey, a shout out for his brilliant appearance in this film. I knew he was freaky in Home and Away, but Mulvey was an outstanding double agent in this film along side the rest of Rogers’ former unit.

Overall, this is totally a guy’s film. Like Iron Man 3 and Thor 2 it’s jam packed with action, gunfire and explosions of epic proportions. Although, ladies I think you’ll appreciate it just as much – like Amy, the winner of my #sLBdayComp, said, “Chris Evans, enough said”. But seriously, I enjoyed it more than the first one – not just for Mr. Evans! My one warning is this, be ready for a few scenes trying to layout “Captain America vs. Hydra” plots in the film – they are important though. Otherwise, everyone go see it – although probably not in 3D, like I keep saying, people are in 3D a flat screen doesn’t change that fact.

sL Star Rating: ★★★★

Next on sL: The Amazing Spider-Man: Rise of Electro

FILM REVIEW | Divergent

Beatrice Prior (Shailene Woodley) has always known that Abnegation was never her home. Her heart is always longing to be outside the grey walls of her birthplace, but she has never known where her longing would take her. On the day of her aptitude test her mind is set on going with whatever her results suggest, yet a small piece inside her fears that her results would only affirm that Abnegation is her true identity.

With a cruel twist of fate, her results are inconclusive, no, worse. She is Divergent.

Not knowing what it means to be “Divergent,” Beatrice now has to hide to save her life – the only thing she knows for sure about being Divergent is that everyone wants you dead. With Dauntless as her heart’s desire, she abandons her faction and finds herself in the forefront of a civil war to maintain the fragile peace between the five factions.

The Story

If you haven’t read the book, it’s basically about a social system that works on the basis of groupings called, “factions”. I’m going to go all Mean Girls on you now to describe these groupings.

“Post-apocalypse Chicago is your central nervous system; you’ve got your: Dauntless (the brave); Amnesty (the peaceful), Candor (the honest); the greatest people you will ever meet – Abnegation (the selfless), and the worst, beware of the Erudite (the intelligent).”

Once the city’s children turn the age of sixteen they have a choice to either stay in their factions or leave to join another faction. The city’s motto is, “Faction Before Blood”. Leaving your faction means automatic shunning from your old faction.

Generally, the story was pretty much the same as the book. I have no qualms with the overall plot and progression of the film. I thought some parts that were vague in the book were brilliantly explained through the cinematography in the film. I particularly liked the simulations of Tris’ fear landscape – specifically speaking, I enjoyed watching how she overcomes each of her fears is portrayed through one seamless scene-by-scene progression.

One thing I was a little disappointed about was the ending. Although it was very close to the book, I was a little peeved that they didn’t stay true to who is supposed to be controlling the simulations and how it was undermined. Although I understood why in terms of the series’ progression, but I thought, since they’d been pretty much accurate up until that point, why change it?

The Cast

Shailene Woodley is great in her first big film. She was great lead in the sense that she had that awkward quirk that Tris needs as she progress through her initiation from Abnegation to Dauntless, but I’m not confident in her development as to how she will react to other simulations in the future. There is a fragility in her that Tris loses by the end of the book and I just didn’t see that in Woodley in this film. I hope she proves me wrong in the second film.

Theo James was a convincing Four. Although I pictured Four to be an African American – and that image played on my mind while I was watching the film – I thought James was stronger than Woodley in terms of his character presence. It’s not a brooding allure, it’s a real demand for attention through his facial expressions. There’s a real jadedness to his portrayal that made his character believable. Which is helpful considering I didn’t really like Four in the books – no offence Veronica Roth.

Jai Courtney was a brilliant Eric. Again I pictured Eric a little different – i.e. lankier and less domineering in looks – but Courtney did Australia proud as he plays one of the most evil characters I’ve ever encountered in fiction – both on screen and on paper. He was borderline Heathcliff in this film, yet retained the Erudite wit within his Dauntless figure. I loved that he found the balance between Eric’s old faction within his new faction.

Kate Winslet was a simply flawless in this film. The heartlessness of Jeanine in the books was definitely conveyed in the film. She did overshadow Woodley, but in such a way portrays the icy relationship between the characters in the book. Casting both Winslet and Woodley was perfect with the description that Roth writes in Divergent, where Tris says, “I kind of look like her.” The cinematography that allows their constant mirroring is a brilliant kudos to the casting of this film.

Overall, Divergent was accurate to the book. So whatever you thought of the book, you’ll think of the film. Everything you fell in-love with in the book, you’ll fall in-love with in the film. Everything you hated about the book, you’ll hate about the film. Everything you – well you get the idea: book = film. If you haven’t read the book, like the Hunger Games, it’ll just be a source of “more information” for you. I usually recommend reading the books, but when the film is as accurate as it gets, like the Twilight Saga, I think the Divergent Series will be one you can simply watch without reading the book.

sL Star Rating: ★★★

***

Guest Reviewer | Irene's Corner

The best part of the film would have to be the cast! I’m pretty impressed with the cast selection for this movie. I think they did really well with choosing actors who could portray the characters in the novel realistically. I was particularly impressed with Zoë Cravitz who plays, Christina. I think her portrayal of a “badass” bestfriend was commendable.

The worst part of the film would probably have to be the over theatrics.  Let’s just take a moment to think about the confrontation scene between Jeanine and Tris towards the end of the film – can you say cheesy or? For most parts of the movie the music is pretty bomb – particularly in the zip line scene – but all the overly orchestrated stuff was a tooootal bummer.

If I could change anything about this film, I would change the ending.

Irene's Star Rating: ★★★

Next: Captain America: The Winter Soldier