Change Your Image
cspcsm8188
Reviews
X: First Class (2011)
X:Men First Class Reboot!
Matthew Vaughn's treatment of the film is controlled, adhering to the script firmly which may create some flaws in the story but not so much to lose sight of the crucial Xavier-Magneto bond/rivalry. Yes, McAvoy and Fassbender are excellent in their respective roles and carry the story beyond the traditional superhero dilemmas of coping with gifts that pressure and alienate them from the rest of humanity.
This prequel/reboot is the best thing to happen to the X-Men franchise! The film provides riveting action, powerful drama, and an intelligent backstory to the beloved comic book mutants. The film ventures into Dark Knight territory with its darker tone and does not disappoint. X-Men: First Class is easily the best X-Men film to date!
Trainspotting (1996)
Danny Boyle + Drug Movie = Awesome
If you want an honest, unflinching portrayal of drug use, then this is your movie! Trainspotting stars an excellent cast Ewan McGregor as "Renton," an Edinburgh twenty-something with no goals but to score some heroin. He and his "mates" run amok throughout the city looking for any way to get high and, along the way, must deal with sadistic girlfriends, juggling friendships, and avoiding withdrawal. Renton resolves to kick his addiction, but his past keeps coming back to haunt him.
Boyle doesn't pull any punches with his storytelling, giving us the good, the bad, and the ugly with equal force. And he does this with masterful cinematography, editing, and music. The acting is praiseworthy as well, providing a bevy of memorable performances, including Robert Carlysle as the psychotic "Begbie."
This film is one of the best films I've seen about this subject matter and one of the best to come out of modern British cinema!
Liberty Kid (2007)
Coming of Age in Post-9/11-Era New York City
Liberty Kid tells the story of best friends Derrick and Tico, a pair of young Latinos struggling to make it in, and in Derrick's case out of, the tough streets of Brooklyn. Their lives are dramatically altered by the events of 9/11, leaving them without a job when Liberty Island is closed indefinitely. Tico is content to just "live in the moment," but Derrick has a "vision." But while their mentalities may point them in different directions, circumstances lead them back into the streets.
Writer-director Ilya Chaiken rounds out her characters very well and keeps the atmosphere subdued but very real. The soundtrack gives voice to Derrick and Tico's suppressed thoughts and feelings and the cinematography is without frills, taking care not to disturb the action and letting the story naturally unfold.
This is a small-budget film with a big heart that provides a window into the world of young urbanites coming of age in the post-9/11 era. Liberty Kid is an unsentimental realist portrayal that handles its subject matter with respect and without prejudice.