The Not Quite Quartet... best of the fest?

Plenty of fundulgence to be had at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year but the high point for me was The Not Quite Quartet.

The show consists of an enigmatic front-man, who’s clearly having a fantastic time freestyling witty banter and showcasing an impressive vocal range while his mute partner multitasks with his guitar, providing an inventive array of strums, plucks, scratches, bangs, beats, slaps and tickles that create a truly unique sound.

“…from surreal slapstick to soulful serenades…”

Quickly building audience rapport and covering the full entertainment spectrum, the dynamic duo zip effortlessly from observational humour to strikingly original adaptations of classic songs, from surreal slapstick to soulful serenades all of their own.

Along the way there’s no shortage of surprises. There’s beat-boxing, special guest appearances and a wild mix of accents and styles. And yet, the show never overreaches itself or clashes in tone, miraculously the quality and positive vibe remain consistent throughout.

There’s plenty of audience participation too, though nothing that had anybody cowering at the back to avoid.  While we watched, huddled in this cosy cave venue, audience suggestions led to an improvised ode to pineapple kebabs and incontinent lemurs. This was handled so adeptly that we were roaring with laughter while being awestruck by such innate creativity.

“Expect big things…”

The Not Quite Quartet offer so much that you just can’t fail to be entertained. My only criticism is that it was all over too soon and I was left with the impression that they could have comfortably maintained the quality for twice the running time. If they had, we’d have lapped it up. Expect big things from these guys.

Best of the fest!

*****

Go further: www.thenotquitequartet.com

WMDs! Come out, come out wherever you are...

Title:                Green Zone (18)  

The team from two thirds of the Bourne trilogy reunite, not to make it a ‘quadrilogy’ (sic), but to try their hand at an alternative: a politically charged Iraq movie.  Based on the book ‘Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq’s Green Zone’ the title refers to the supposed safe area of Baghdad, controlled by US forces following the invasion in 2003.  

Rather than focus on the war itself, Green Zone looks at the controversial justification that the-powers-that-be used for going into Iraq, Weapons of Mass Destruction.  (Such a well used, ominous term it’s earned its own capitals). 

“…plenty here for the hardcore action aficionados”  

So, at its core it’s a conspiracy thriller but there’s plenty here for the hardcore action aficionados, particularly those that appreciate the handheld intensity that have become the calling card for director Paul Greengrass.  

Matt Damon plays Roy Miller, a US Officer tasked with finding and reporting the presence of WMDs (such a well used, ominous term that it’s earned its own acronym), but guess what?  He comes up empty-handed.  Shocker…  Of course, that small detail shouldn’t stop a full scale invasion so they go ahead anyway.  Having morals, Miller questions the decision and as he digs deeper he must face the consequences of his actions whilst fighting for the truth to be told.  

“…surpasses even the spectacle of Black Hawk Down”  

Whilst not as visceral as the brutal hand-to-hand combat in the Bourne movies Green Zone is still incredibly action packed with an accomplished take on modern warfare and panning shots of a bombarded Baghdad that surpass even the spectacle of Black Hawk Down.  The plot moves at breakneck speed and has enough intrigue and competing agendas to draw the audience deep into the subterfuge.   

“Greengrass rolls his grenades with devastating effect”  

Green Zone has the benefit of having far more political clout than Bourne movies, as the movie makes as many assertions as its protagonist asks questions. Greengrass is no stranger to courting controversy and the release date is timely as he rolls another grenade into the whole ‘is the war in Iraq legal?’ debate, with devastating effect.    

Green Zone could quite easily be titled ‘Iraq: the re-Bourne conspiracy’ and it’s highly unlikely Greengrass/Damon fans will be disappointed.  It’s unfortunate that the film is marred by a predictable ending, but it’s forgivable when getting there is such a blast.      

Iraq: the re-Bourne conspiracy…  

****

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Director:         Jon Favreau  

Starring:         Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson, Mickey Rourke, Sam Rockwell, Don Cheadle.  

When we last met Downey Jr’s egotistical Tony Stark we were introduced to a unique, irresistibly charismatic arrogance and the world was made aware of his super-suited alloy bodied alter ego, Iron Man.  The first film, Marvel’s first fully funded blockbuster, was a commercial and critical success, finding an appealing balance between humour and balls-to-the-wall comic book action.   

The secret was in the casting, unconventional yet perfectly pitched.  Hopefully this forthcoming sequel will be able to do the same, with some very capable stars in the new super villain roles fixed on stepping up to take Stark down a notch or two… 

“…plenty more of the playfully edgy banter of the original.”  

Let’s hope that they’re given room to breathe and we get plenty more of the playfully edgy banter of the original.  Too many big budget super sequels have suffered from too-many-baddies-lose-the plot syndrome™, becoming one-dimensional clichés with limited screen time devoid of the character development they deserve.   

This time around we’re given the allegiance-flipping Black Widow (Johannson looking to overthrow Pfeiffer’s long held crown as sexiest queen of the cat-suit), Whiplash (Rourke, barely recognisable in Russian electro-dominatrix mode, ooer…) and Justin Hammer (Rockwell) who’s keen to build an army of iron suited soldiers based on Stark’s technology.  

 “…the cinematic equivalent of a 2 Player co-op…”  

With so many adversaries there looks to be no shortage of action and Iron Man’s now got some much needed backup.  In the cinematic equivalent of a 2 Player co-operative mode, Stark’s pal Colonel ‘Rhodey’ Rhodes (Don Cheadle, who replaces the first film’s Terrence Howard) dons a primed, pre-paint job version of the armoured suit to become War Machine, effectively doubling the destruction.   

Iron Man 2 may be the heavyweight in the comic movie stakes when pitted against Kick-Ass, but it’ll have to work twice as hard to build upon the cast iron foundations built by its predecessor; especially if it’s to compete with the originality of the young upstart.  Whatever the outcome it’s great news for cinemagoers, as we power into to a blockbuster summer of comic book carnage.  

4-Word Thinking:  Suited to Marvel us 

Go further:  Visit the official site or view the preview trailer below.  

Pez dispensers are so much more efficient nowadays...

Title:                 Kick-Ass 

Director:           Mathew Vaughn (Layer Cake, Stardust) 

Starring:            Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloe Grace Moretz, Nicholas Cage 

Based on the forthcoming graphic novel from the creator of ‘Wanted’ this is a superhero movie with a difference.  Like Watchmen before it, there’s no way this would have been made if there weren’t a load of successful superhero movies already out there… if only to reference and riff off.  

“…average teenage guy is inspired to be a superhero.”

It’s a simple but brilliant concept.  An average teenage guy is inspired to be a superhero.  He doesn’t have any special powers or even much in the way of training or heroic physique, but nobody else is doing it so it’s his duty right?  You don’t have to be a complete geek to have shared that same fantasy, but I’m sure it helps.  Needless to say he’s going to get into some scrapes. 

The real draw though, are the ‘real’ superheroes that turn up, Big Daddy (Cage in budget dark-knight-a-like costume) and his cute young daughter, Hit-Girl (Moretz).  Cute that is, until she starts using the ‘C’ word and mashing bad guys like they’re Play-Doh.  She singlehandedly justifies the title and a trip to the cinema based on the trailers alone.   

“…a cult phenomenon in the making.” 

She may be difficult to recognise from her last performance as the wise young sister in ‘500 Days of Summer’, but the garish pink hair, ill-fitting lone ranger mask, foul mouth and ability to give Neo and Trinity a run for their money in the run n’ gun stakes can’t hide the fact that she’s a major talent and cult phenomenon in the making. 

Add McLovin’ as a rich kid bad guy who also dons mask and cape to bring down the titular lead and you get more comedy potential than ‘Hancock’ and ‘Mystery Men’ joining forces.  The amateur superhero comedy may becoming a sub-genre all of its own, so let’s hope this sets the benchmark, and… well, let’s hope it does exactly what it says on the tin.   

4-Word Thinking:           No power = no responsibility. 

Go further:              Visit the official site or view the trailer below. 

Title:          Alice in Wonderland

Director:          Tim Burton (Sweeney Todd, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Edward Scissorhands)

Starring:          Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Matt Lucas.

Lewis Carroll’s trippy classic is re-imagined in this pseudo sequel from the modern master of twisted fairy tales, Tim Burton.  The distinctive gothic aesthetics that the director is so famed for should be a perfect fit for the fantastical source material, and to top it off it’ll all be in glorious Disney 3D.

“a host of big names to play the oddball inhabitants..”

Alongside Burton’s wife Bonham Carter as the Red Queen are his regular go-to-guy Johnny Depp and a host of other big names keen to play the oddball inhabitants of Wonderland.  Some inspired casting sees Depp as the Mad Hatter, another kooky loon to add to his character repertoire, Stephen Fry as the Cheshire cat, and Matt Lucas (he of Little Britain and Shooting Stars fame) as both Tweedledee and Tweedledum.

The eye candy is so sumptuous that the film is already screaming out ‘eat me’, but hopefully the characters, their relationships and the plot (where an older Alice revisits a Wonderland ruled by the evil Red Queen), will be more than just skin deep, justifying a return journey down the rabbit hole. 

4-Word Thinking:           3D Wonderland… curiouser & curiouser…

Go further:    Visit the official site or watch the preview below.

"Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads..."

A trip worth taking or should you steer clear?

Apocalypse movies may be in vogue (2012, I am Legend, Book of Eli, et al) but The Road is about as far from the bombastic end of the world blockbusters of Roland Emmerich as you can get. Not least of all because – on paper at least – it sounds more misery-inducing than watching an Eastenders omnibus at a family wake.

“…hauntingly beautiful cinematography that captures a world bled of life and colour…”

Based on the Cormac McCarthy novel of the same name, The Road tells of the desperate plight of a father (an emaciated Viggo Mortenson back in bearded Aragorn mode) and his young son (newcomer Kodi Smit-McPhee) as they make their way to the coast.  As in the novel, we’re never told exactly how the world ends but we’re left with little doubt that it’s a manmade catastrophe which has reduced the world to an ashen wasteland. This is where the film comes into its own, using hauntingly beautiful cinematography to capture a world bled of life and colour.

At the film’s heart is the bond between a devoted father and his beloved son – the picture of innocence – in a world turning to hell.  (Perhaps this is a sentiment that many single parents can already relate to…).  The two are gradually starving to death on their perilous trek across a decimated America and must hide from the surviving populace, many of whom have resorted to cannibalism in their own desperate fight for survival.  This effectively makes it a thriller which builds tension and fear more poignantly than many ‘pure’ horror films. 

 “…a reality where there’s no longer any use for morals”.

Like Stephen King’s post-apocalyptic classic ‘The Stand’, The Road quickly separates survivors into two factions: the good guys and the bad guys.  Only here the distinction gradually becomes muddied and we’re forced to re-assess our perspective of good and evil, right and wrong.  The pair fight to remain true to their own integrity and values in a reality where there’s no longer any use for morals. 

In this respect it’s also a coming of age story for the boy, as his father imparts the knowledge and determination that could prove vital to his survival. These concepts are fleshed out very effectively with help from some familiar faces in supporting roles and cameos, particularly Robert Duvall, who’s barely recognisable as scene stealing old man, Eli.

“It’s hard to imagine anybody being better suited…”

The previously unknown Kodi Smit-McPhee does a respectable job of whimpering through the proceedings as the young boy, but perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s Mortenson who gives the stand-out performance.  It’s hard to imagine anybody being better suited to this role. He looks as though he’s gone down the method route and being sleeping rough in the woods for several years.

Director John Hillcoat has worked hard to harness the sombre tone of the novel and manages to say much about the human condition with few words, carefully alluding to the levels of depravity that the human race can sink to in desperate and chaotic times. Some of the more graphic moments from the book (barbequed babies anybody?) have been toned down or omitted entirely, but this does nothing to detract from the cold hard impact of the film.  

“…an unlikely glimmer of hope in a doom-laden tale”.

This restraint is a welcome surprise from the director whose last film was 2005’s visceral ‘The Proposition’, and it’s a relief that he manages to retain an unlikely glimmer of hope in such a doom-laden tale.  There’s at least a brief glimpse of faith in human nature and it shows a resilience of spirit that will hopefully limit the number of people departing the cinema at speed, via the rooftop.

The Road is commendably loyal to its poetic source material, and whilst it’s likely to get a nod come awards season it’s certainly not for everybody. If you enjoyed the book, or if you’re keen to experience a bleak dystopia that makes ‘Children of Men’ look like a Haven holiday camp then this could be the perfect diversion.

A gruelling journey, but The Road’s worth travelling.

****

Go further: visit the official site.

Eric needed time travel like a hole in the head.

Title:               The Time Traveler’s Wife

Director:           Robert Schwentke (Flightplan, Tattoo)

Starring:           Eric Bana, Rachel McAdams

If you’ve read the novel then you may have already guessed that it was only a matter of time before the Time Traveler’s (sic) Wife would be adapted for the big screen.  If there was ever any doubt then it it only took the success of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button to make it a dead cert. 

The Time Traveler’s Wife is a twisted take on romantic drama that sees Henry (Eric Bana) randomly skipping through time, having no control or influence over the when, where or why it’s happening, confined only by his own lifetime.  In a similar vein to Benjamin Button the onus here is on the timelessness and power of true love in the face of impossible, freakish odds, the aging process, and ultimately, our own mortality.  

“Pretty Dodgy Territory”

On his Sam Beckett-esque leaps Henry usually manages to hook up with Claire (Rachel McAdams), his future wife and soulmate who gets used to his regular, naked appearances in her family’s garden from a very young age.  Needless to say the story is in pretty dodgy territory when initiating a relationship between the adult Henry and his pre-teen wife-to-be and on occasion even the book struggled to keep this high concept within the realms of decency. 

No doubt the film will go to great lengths to emphasise a degree of innocence to avoid making Henry out to be some kind of transcendent sexual deviant, but whether this will detract from the edginess and darker undertones of Audrey Niffenegger’s novel, only time will tell.

The plot, cast and potential are all in place – Eric Bana would certainly have been amongst my top choices for Henry - but us mere mortals will have to wait for the film’s release to find out whether this love story is a step back in time or the quantum leap that the novel deserves.

4-Word Thinking:         Back2 the Future Missus

True Tale of Persecution Defies Belief

Defiance recounts the tale of three Jewish brothers who flee Nazi-occupied Poland into the wild forests of Belarussia.  Many more Jewish men, women and children evading Hitler’s army join them, and they attempt to survive in the forest as a desperate means to escape persecution.  Even as the forest community advances there is the constant threat of death in its many guises. Harsh winters, living on the brink of famine, disease, the German soldiers and bombings, even the Russian Resistance fighters who also inhabit the forest pose a threat to the refugees who have only each other and their freedom to show for their hardships. 

This makes for an ominous, harrowing and often heavy-going viewing experience that only manages to avoid being overbearing through impromptu, wild outbursts of violence that keep the proceedings suspenseful. 

“…impromptu, wild outbursts of violence keep the proceedings suspenseful…”

Following previous efforts ‘Blood Diamond’ (2006) and the ‘Last Samurai’ (2003), Defiance marks another success for Writer, Director and Producer Edward Zwick.  He’s carving himself a solid reputation by offering dramatic insights into a variety of distinctive cultures and history that isn’t traditional Hollywood fodder.  He has a natural empathy for the material but injects enough action, heroism, and cohesion to make it accessible to a wide audience.  The director’s choice for the Bielski brothers is excellent casting.  Each have an independent strength of character, yet share enough courage and grit to lend gravitas to their unintentional rise as respected leaders. 

“The sibling rivalry between the Bielski brothers evokes a gut-wrenching resonance…”

The main focus is on eldest brother Tuvia, played by Daniel Craig.  The role demands more of Craig than his recent return as Bond and he again proves that he’s adept at striking an ideal balance between ruthless apathy, wisdom and integrity.  His younger brother Zus (Liev Schreiber) adopts a much more gung-ho approach, unleashing his anger in reckless attacks against the Germans.  Youngest brother Asael (Jamie Bell) looks up to them both but is torn between them, forced to find his own means of dealing with the dire situation.  At times the sibling rivalry between the Bielski brothers manages to evoke a similarly gut-wrenching resonance as the opening footage of real life atrocities.

“Defiance offers a fresh perspective of the grim realities of World War II.”

It may be grim subject matter, but overall this is a tale of hope, as a band of desperate strangers pull together, building a fully functional community in a bid to survive against impossible odds.  This poses some interesting sociological issues that the Zwick dabbles with, though never explores to its full potential.  The film offers solid production values that only suffer during similar scenes to the Bastogne episodes of ‘Band of Brothers’ (2001) - if you’ve seen those then you may find the action in this a little tame by comparison.

Defiance offers a fresh perspective of the grim realities of World War II. The performances of the courageous yet flawed protagonists provide a gritty, authentic heroism that elevates the tone without ever losing sight of the harrowing subject matter.  Defy anybody claiming they don’t feel the urge to cheer the brothers Bielski during the climactic scenes. 

Rating: **** 

Title:                X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Director:           Gavin Hood (Rendition, Tsotsi)

Starring:           Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Ryan Reynolds, Taylor Kitsch

Released:         May 2009

Synopsis:         The first in a potential franchise of prequels to the X-men films, Origins sees animalistic mutant Wolverine (Jackman) seeking revenge against his half brother, Victor Creed (Schreiber playing the man fated to become Sabertooth) for the death of his girlfriend.  As glimpsed in the previous X-Men movies Wolverine ends up being subjected to the ‘Weapon X’ program, where adamantium – an indestructible alloy – is grafted onto his skeleton.

Hugh Jackman is once again perfectly cast as the cigar chewing, savage mutant with extendable claws and anger management issues.  He’s joined by a variety of mutants from Marvel’s extensive comic mythology.  Perhaps most significantly is the big screen’s first incarnation of Cajun card sharp, Gambit (Kitsch), a staff-wielding gambler who can manipulate kinetic energy, notably absence from the previous X-films, to the disappointment of many fans.

Go further:  View the Latest Trailer or visit the Official Site.

4-Word Thinking:         Don’t expect yellow spandex…

Title:                 Terminator Salvation

Director:           McG (Charlie’s Angels, We are Marshall)

Starring:            Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Helena Bonham Carter, Bryce Dallas Howard

Released:         May 2009

Synopsis:         The fourth film in the Terminator franchise is set after Judgement Day, when a nuclear Holocaust and Skynet’s cyborgs are on the verge of wiping out mankind.  Salvation focuses on the struggle of John Connor (Bale), fated leader of the dwindling human resistance.  The film also introduces Marcus Wright (Worthington), a stranger whose last memories were of being on death row – Connor must decide whether the newcomer has been rescued from the past or sent from the future.  More importantly, is he man or machine, friend or foe?

Director McG has yet to prove himself as a serious contender, but with Bale on board, Stan Winston’s final effects work and the premise of a full on future war this has serious potential.  There are even rumours of a cameo from the Governator himself…   

Go further:       Visit the Official Site or view the latest Trailer

4-Word Thinking:           Rage against the Machines