The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (2012)

Director: Stephen Chbosky
Starring: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Paul Rudd, Tom Savini, Mae Whitman
Certificate: 12
Genre: Drama, Romance
Awards: None

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower is a coming of age film directed by the book's author. Charlie (Lerman) is a freshman who has had a troubled past. He soon meets some friends such as Patrick (Miller) and Sam (Watson) who Charlie soon falls for.

Unlike your average high school film, this doesn't just go for comedy and decides to deal with bigger themes such as isolation and acceptance. The film is surprisingly dark in places and starts to get uncomfortable near the end. Yet Wallflower is still a sweet and smart film about friendship that stays with you after it finishes.

All three leads are exemplary, yet Miller arguably gives the stand-out performance as he changes from the joyful teenager to heartbroken lover with such ease. Watson sheds her Hermione in commendable form while the supporting cast all help raise the game.

****Good

In Time (2011)

Director: Andrew Niccol
Starring: Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy, Olivia Wilde, Johnny Galeki
Certificate: 12
Genre: Sci Fi, Action
Awards: None

In the future, people don't age after they reach 25 and money has been replaced by time, meaning that the rich can live forever. Will Salas (Timberlake) is not rich so he and everybody he knows live by the day, not knowing if it would be their last. When a man with a century gives all his life to Will, he can now move up to the rich area and unleash his form of justice.

In Time is one of those films with a good concept that could have been executed so much better. While watching I can't help but think how I would have written the story. There are a few sub plots that are never explained and the film all seems a bit angsty.

Timberlake and Seyfried are both watchable in their roles and there aren't really any complaints, but the show stealer is Murphy as the time cop chasing them.  His character is the most interesting as he is shown to have complexities that - although are never explained - eventually make you root for him rather than the other characters.

In Time could do with another chance with a more talented director and writer as it has a lot of good potential. I would love to see a bigger budget remake that makes more use of the unique format.

***Okay

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Director: Frank Darabont
Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, Clancy Brown, William Sadler, Gil Bellows, James Whitmore
Certificate: 15
Genre: Drama, Crime
Awards: None

A commercial flop at its release, The Shawshank Redemption has since gone on to be considered as the best film so far on sites such as IMDB. The film is adapted from the story by Steven King about Andy Dufresne (Robbins) and Ellis Boyd Reading (Freeman) - nicknamed Red - who are both inmates in Shawshank prison. The story begins when Andy joins the prison and the two bond over the years.

The Shawshank Redemption is indeed a masterpiece that is a must see for anyone with a love for cinema. The film is filled with emotional gut punches yet somehow remains uplifting as the years drag by in the grim place.

This is the film that arguably defined Morgan Freeman as the top actor for voice overs while also giving him his breakout role (although Unforgiven wTim Robbins is just as commendable as the quiet and refined main character we can't help but root for. The supporting cast are all great including a turn from Ally McBeal's Gil Bellows as small time crook Tommy who has trouble reading.
as before this).

The films fame already speaks for itself, but for what its worth, The Shawshank Redemption is one of the best film so far and will leave you wanting to see it again and again. If you haven't already seen it, you are definitely missing out.

*****Brilliant

Argo (2012)

Director: Ben Affleck
Starring: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman
Certificate: 15
Genre: Drama
Awards: Best Picture, Best adapted screenplay, Best editing

Argo is the story of how the CIA was able to sneak six hostages out of Iran during the crisis of 1980. To do this Tony Mendez (Affleck) comes up with the plan of pretending to be a film crew scouting for a sci fi film called Argo.

The film is full of tension as it slowly builds to the film's climax. The escape may be filled with clichés, but your heart will still be racing.

The Hollywood segments are perhaps the best parts of the film as film veterans John Goodman and Alan Arkin steal the show from Affleck's understated performance. The two add some much needed comedy to the affair.

Despite all this, I can't really say anything else about Argo. It just seems rather bland. It's a good film, but the praise it gets may be too much. The film is full of clichés that can become rather irritating overtime and altogether, it is somewhat forgettable.

****Good