Apollo 18:
What's it about?
A 'found footage film' about a classified mission to the moon after the last official landing of Apollo 17 (hence the title), in which American astronauts are sent to apparently erect some sort of Russian missile detection system. However, amidst the craters on the surface, they discover the Russians have at some point landed on the moon and suffered a terrible fate. Better be careful which moon rocks you pick up then...
Who would I recognise in it?
No 'big names' here, but it was produced by Dimension Films and Timur Bekmambetov, and edited by Patrick "Drive Angry" Lussier.
Great/Good/Alright/Shite?
There's creepy crawly moon monsters out there in the cold silence of space, and while it's not an exceptional shocker, Apollo 18 does prove to be a pleasant surprise nonetheless. The claustrophobia of a lunar module or a space suit unsettles you from the back of your mind, while the isolation of the moon's surface creates genuine chills. There is a tendency towards LOUD NOISE jumps from time-to-time, but when you descend into a pitch black crater with nothing but a camera's flash for guidance, you know that sooner or later there's going to be an explosion of popcorn before your eyes. Stylistically the film is a real success, with contrast, colour, grain, and even aspect ratio and framing, all seamlessly matching the real-life NASA footage. What's less convincing is the inconsistent low gravity experienced by the two (out of three) astronauts who land on the moon - sure, this would have been a fairly low budget production, but to see them walk across the surface, rather than bounce like Neil Armstrong (may he rest in peace) and his moon walking brothers so memorably did, does strip away some of the believability, which is otherwise pretty strong. Atmospheric, chilling, and proving to be a rather enjoyable mixture of found footage frights with period-set Apollo moon missions, it's surprisingly good.
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Absolute Power:
What's it about?
An ageing master thief witnesses a murder - committed by the President of the United States.
Who would I recognise in it?
Clint Eastwood, Ed Harris, Scott Glenn, Gene Hackman, Dennis Haysbert, Laura Linney, E.G. Marshall, Penny Johnson, Richard Jenkins.
Great/Good/Alright/Shite?
Also directed by Clint Eastwood, the film kicks off with a masterfully suspenseful opening combining a tense robbery with an intriguing (and ever-more tense) murder. That said, in the second half the film does give way to a few plot holes and edits that put you on the back-foot - as if a few scenes were cut out of the flick to trim down the running time. However, it's a classy production, with a good plot, and even with the odd wobble here and there, it proves to be a very enjoyable thriller. Good.
Killer Elite:
What's it about?
Based on a book by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, this action thriller set in the early 1980s jets between the UK and Oman as professional killers take on certain members of the SAS, as ordered by a Sheik who is holding one of their men captive with a list of assassination targets as ransom.
Who would I recognise in it?
Jason Statham, Robert DeNiro, Clive Owen, Dominic Purcell.
Great/Good/Alright/Shite?
Occasionally hard-to-follow, the mix of action movie punch ups with old school back-door-politics is an uneasy one. Fans of Statham's usual oeuvre will probably be a bit disappointed, while anyone seeking some sort of examination of dirty politics and military manoeuvres might be left a little wanting. A few good punch ups are to be had, and Dominic Purcell (Prison Break's Lincoln Burrows) really has fun rocking an unruly 'tache and a British accent, but in the end it's only alright.
The Pool Boys:
What's it about?
A graduate seeks to spend his summer working so he can win a scholarship to Harvard, but his cousin's fancy-sounding water treatment business turns out to be him working as a pool boy (or "pool man" as he prefers) in a rich neighbourhood. Seeking to earn enough money for his tuition when his scholarship prospects go out the window, our fresh-faced graduate and his slacker cousin turn their hand to pimping. Hijinks ensue.
Who would I recognise in it?
Matthew Lillard, Efren Ramirez, Tom Arnold.
Great/Good/Alright/Shite?
Directed by the guy who did American Pie 2, Lillard is a joy to watch, his eyes wide and his lips flapping at a million miles a minute, grabbing all the best lines in the process. Plot wise it's American Pie meets Risky Business with a pool added in. Tom Arnold also gets to rip a few good gags (some aimed at himself) along the way too. Splash in some bared boobs 'n' butts, and you've got the usual sort of R-Rated comedy fare. It's a bit underwritten at times (big skips forward in plotting logic are patched over with 'oh yeah, so we ended up at this point' voice overs), but it's breezy lads-night-in fun. On the border between Good and Alright.
Bowfinger:
What's it about?
Steve Martin writes and stars in this 1999 comedy about a struggling Director looking to put together his best film ever, with the help of Kit Ramsey, only the movie megastar he has no idea he's actually starring in the film.
Who would I recognise in it?
Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, Heather Graham, Terrence Stamp, Christine Baranski, Jamie Kennedy.
Great/Good/Alright/Shite?
The premise alone is barmy fun, but Martin's script brings warmth and subtle touches of escalating absurdity to keep the film breezy and enjoyable, further helped by Director Frank Oz. Murphy's paranoid movie star being a member of a 'celebrity cult' called "Mind Head" (a semi-subtle version of you-know-what) makes for an intriguing side plot as the man becomes ever-more insane with recurring instances of 'alien attackers' pushing him towards a mental breakdown. Murphy even gets to double-play as his own nerdy brother 'Jiff' whose goal in life is to be an errand runner. Add in Heather Graham's not-so-naive Hollywood newcomer actress, Martin's blagging Director (the shooting of a car chase is crazily ingenious), as well as Christine Baranski's demurely professional board-treader, and you've got a bloody good time. Utterly daft, but with a genuine heart and passion for filmmaking thrown into the mix. Great.
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