2016 has been an *interesting* year to say the least, but enough about talking about it as if it's a person. ("Ugh, screw you 2016." etc...) Instead, film-wise it has brought us the likes of Zootopia/Zootropolis which was a surprisingly thought-provoking Disney film, the recent splendor of Rogue One, superhero spectacles Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange and Deadpool, the latter which showed us how to bring a fresh, original and cheeky take on a comic book story. Disney also brought us Moana, The Jungle Book and the return of the fish in Finding Dory, and Warner Bros brought some magic back into our lives with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Add dramas like Arrival and Patterson and we've been spoilt for choice!

So, 2017 - what do you have in store for us?

La La Land

I should probably get commission for La La Land since I keep raving about it so much. It's going to create such a song and dance in January so I'll politely point you to the full review, stop talking, and simply leave you with this...

Plus, here are some more trailers of films I'm looking forward to in 2017!

Kong: Skull Island

Transformers: The Last Knight

War For the Planet of the Apes

The Mummy

Blade Runner 2049

Alien: Covenant

Logan

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2

John Wick: Chapter 2

Baywatch

Finally, a big thank you for supporting the blog this year - I can't wait to spend hours and hours in the cinema next year and write all about it, so stay posted :)

Love,
Bev xxx

So, Christmas is over and you're desperately in need of something funny to deter those post-Christmas blues. Why Him? can offer you something more than just 'funny'. It's downright blinkin' hilarious. It's Bryan Cranston vs James Franco in this new bizarre take on the 'Meet the Parents' tale. Nothing spectacularly extraordinary, but this relationship definitely isn't ordinary. 

Whether you've had to meet the parents, or the new partner of someone, or you are simply a person involved in this weird but inevitable relationship triangle, you might be able to relate to the premise of Why Him? Over the holidays (so it is a Christmas movie - kinda), Father Ned (Bryan Cranston) and fam go and visit Daughter Stephanie (Zoey Deutch) at college...and Boyfriend Laird (James Franco). One is overprotective but loving, one's not as innocent as she looks, one's well-meaning but these meanings manifest themselves in peculiar ways. For example, he wants to get a Christmas tree so he cuts one down...from someone else's front yard. And he heard Ned liked to bowl so he built a bowling alley complete with cheesy mural. You get the gist. This is basically the film - event by event, Laird tries to win the approval of Ned, doing something nonsensical and getting a priceless reaction from Cranston. Both have no 'chill' level.

This is a modern comedy, with modern Japanese toilet jokes, Siri on steroids (voiced by Kaley Cuoco), explanations as to why "totally" should be abbreviated to "totes", Facetime mishaps, and cameos from Steve Aoki (electro house DJ dude with long hair). That said, it uses the same old, crude gags time and time again. If you're ok with that then it's a pretty fine, funny film. If you need something to push your laughter to new levels then this is not it. The whole 'meet the parents' thing is hardly an original concept, but I think Franco's character of Laird is different. I imagine might be how James Franco is In Real Life (ok, maybe a tad exaggerated..) but we have a strangely likeable character even if he is "literally has no filter".

The film seems to have come about from one simple story ('Father meets daughter's crazy boyfriend'), then everything else - all the details and frills - are like a story-writer just thought "Oh, how about we add this too?" One of the standout (and most bizarre) additions is Butler/Best Pal/Self-defence Coach Gustav bringing an extra level of woah just when you thought it couldn't get more woaaah. If I told you it's a comedy but contains martial arts, you'd understand. Slightly. It's not really necessary, but none of this is. It doesn't really bother building much of a backstory; they just jump straight into it. Yet somehow it's about 2 hours long! If the film is in stages, Stage 1 is already in full gear, but the last stage lets it down a bit, and any resolutions are reached in a surprisingly simple way.

Each character of the film is given a very straight-forward and clear dynamic, personality and path. After the first 10 minutes, it's even clearer what their paths throughout the film will be. And of course, in Laird and Ned, what we have is two polar opposites...the free-spirited nature of Laird vs the strict Ned, out-there and foul-mouthed vs collected and reserved, an Internet entrepreneur vs someone whose company is based in print. (FYI I don't think print is actually dying, but whatever.) And the film tries to convince us they're actually pretty similar. I'm not too sure about that but I do have to commend Bryan Cranston because I'm sure parents from all over will be able to relate to him, plus he slips so effortlessly into his comedy boots. He's the typical dad who can't bear to see his little girl all grown up and his facial expressions (aka 100 ways to show "what on earth!?" on your face) are in fine form...all 100 of them.

Although I suffered from belly laughs and laughing so hard at each antic it hurt, the antic-and-response format may drive you insane. I'm also not exactly sure how the romantic pairing between Deutch and Franco works, but I guess the stark contrast of character is needed more than the romantic chemistry. Before I decided I was way too old to watch it, I used to watch a Disney Channel show called Suite Life on Deck which featured an actress called Zoey Deutch. Fast forward a few years and she's playing the voice of reason (somewhat) between the two most important men in her life, yet I am still more convinced on her chemistry with Zack (of Zack and Cody fame, ya'know). And it's this bit that causes me to struggle, like Ned, with "Why Him?" There are answers though, plus anything to get Ned riled up a little bit more.

Sure, there are cliches littered about, but I doubt you would have predicted Franco having a family Christmas card tattooed on his back, am I right?  It utilises fantastic leads and a fantastic cast (also with Megan Mullally, Adam DeVine and others), all very capable of making us laugh. Comedic timing shouldn't be taken for granted either. When I accept the film for what it is, just like Ned hopefully accepting Laird as who he is, I get a good fun, pleasantly unpleasant film.

Get the lowdown of Why Him? here:

It's a Star Wars movie but it's not a Star Wars movie. You know the opening scrolling text, the "...in a galaxy far, far away..." bit? The rolling titles of A New Hope are now otherwise known as Rogue One. It's gone rogue in some senses, but the heart of the Star Wars story remains. There are stunning space scenes, expanding galaxies, kick-ass action heroes, and oh - Vader's back. It's an inter-galactic feast and Christmas present come early. 

Dun, dun, duun, dunnn, dun, dunn, dunnn, dun, dunnnn. Whilst it may not be an exact copy of the iconic music, it honours the original score and puts a new edgier spin on it. Just like the soundtrack, Rogue One brings us back into familiar ground after 2015's The Force Awakens except this time it's the prequel not the sequel. In case you ever thought George Lucas's first trilogy and second trilogy were a mis-match of sorts, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story should hopefully bridge the murky gap whilst providing an entertaining story for old and new fans alike. In a Jedi-free time, the Rebel Alliance are battling the evil Empire who have an evil planet-destroying masterplan: the Death Star. But wait, there may be a way to save the day!

A few years ago, Disney bought the rights to Star Wars and we all went ballistic. "Six films weren't enough!?" "What about Georgey Lucas?" "What a cash cow...now they want standalone films too?" "Boo Star Wars, you're dead to me." These are all things I imagine we/The Internet said or thought at one point. Having grown up with I definitely wasn't convinced. However, The Force Awakens was pretty cool and now we can fawn over Rogue One whilst looking forward to the next film and the Han Solo prequel. It is far more original, though still carries over-familiar plot points like an all-important hologram, searching for a missing character, family issues and separation, a lonely childhood and vengeance.


Jyn Erso (played by a brill Felicity Jones and yes it is pronounced 'gin') is the token leader and a natural hero despite her ex-con background; she's thrust into the limelight without more than a second glance and you know she's capable of holding her own. Jyn and Jones, that is. I had reservations about her being a bit too similar to Rey (Daisy Ridley) but that thought never cropped up during the film. The nearly-English accent was slightly off-putting, however - yep I'm just being picky now. Joining Jyn is Diego Luna's Cassian Andor who is quite a prominent rebel with a less obvious agenda. It's a straight-forward partnership, but the only emotional weight is that towards Jyn's character and her father (Mads Mikkelsen) so everyone else is cool but you may have forgotten their names by the end of it. However, you do get memorable one-liners and humour from deadpan droid K-2SO (Alan Tudyk), and the show is practically stolen by Donnie Yen's character. Chirrut Îmwe is one who is one with the force; he may be blind but that doesn't stop him from kicking ass and being the bravest character on-screen. Thanks to the Force, obvs...a definite welcome surprise. 



Baddie-wise, it's not like there is one big villain focus who everyone should fight against, and this is where it diverges from the Star Wars diagram. Instead, the opportunity is taken to highlight the continued rise of the Empire, and some slimy Imperial guys like Grand Moff Tarkin, plus there is some Darth Vader for good measure. He isn't as scary as I remembered as a kid, but the menace is there, and he even gets to deliver a cracking pun. Finally, there are triumphant digital resurrections which celebrate the kind of technology we get in 2016. Lucky us!

2016 also brings about near-flawless special effects and complete transportation to whichever galaxy we're in at the time. Star Wars was always ahead of its time, CGI-wise, and the beauty of Rogue One's visuals is that we never question or doubt where we are. I love any films with space because we get utter spectacles that just get better with time.Composer Michael Giacchino also does a stellar job with the music. Director Gareth Edwards was at the helm of 2014's Godzilla reboot so he isn't afraid to cause large scale chaos and destruction to the planets featured.

Going back to how Rogue One is essentially a few paragraphs of text in A New Hope, it's fair to say we most likely know what will happen. However, the way the cast and crew bring that to life must be admired, and I don't feel like we're ever struggling for a story or for script. It's risky but in safe hands at the same time. The 'rebel' theme could be seen as quite political, but in the grand scheme of things it makes total sense amongst the Star Wars saga. You can still rebel against rebels, as it turns out. Lots of people have also been buzzing about the film's final act, which, with its last battle on the beach, could be mistaken for a regular non-spacey war film. Ignoring the silly "BIG RED BUTTON, PRESS HERE" (or thereabouts), it has lots to get you talking about.

Before Rogue One was released, we were promised a "grittier" Star Wars, and with some conscious risks, it delivers. This time it is a firm standalone episode, but it has enough familiarity to feel like a part of the SW family and journey. I think the fact that it had much less hype than the Star Wars release last year means it gets to slide under the radar as a surprise triumph, and will carry on building momentum. I'm not going to say it's the best one, or is namedrop which films it's better/worse than, but it is up there as a very entertaining film. Actually, that's a lie. It's much better than 1, 2 and 3.



Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is in cinemas now.

There are many reasons why La La Land has been met with unanimous acclaim. Here, I use 1037 words to try and echo why I completely agree and why this makes it into my ALL TIME FAVOURITES list! 

I'm so excited to write about this film. I first watched it at the London Film Festival over 2 months ago (!) and the excitement is still just as extreme as when I walked out of that cinema. That La La Land hype has been brewing ever since audiences first caught a glimpse of it, and rightly so. Heck, I even walked through those doors slightly skeptical and expecting a cheesy half-arsed musical but I couldn't have been more wrong. Since then, I've been treated to a surprise visit from Ryan Gosling himself, I've watched it again (thanks to the FDA) and am 1000% going to watch it for a 3rd, 4th and 5th time when it finally la-la-lands in UK cinemas in January. These are the easiest 5 stars I've given out in a while. I'm just as starry-eyed as they are.

Where to begin? The synopsis can be condensed into one sentence: A jazz pianist falls for an aspiring actress in Los Angeles. Enter Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as the mesmerising leads Seb and Mia, in a film that wows more than a musical, and has far more oomph than a romantic-comedy-slash-drama. And in some scenes, it's downright unapologetically bonkers. It's about following your dreams, and yes there may be musical numbers that may seem horrendous on paper, but give it a try because it's better than you could dream it (unless you are director Damien Chazelle, that is). As soon as boy meets girl, you get the warm fuzzy feeling of an old romantic movie. It's a simple plot, and arguably predictable in places, but it is encapsulated and portrayed in such an ambitious and dynamic manner that you'll want to give it a standing ovation. The story plays out like a fantastic musical number, with all the highs and lows you look for in a film.

A lot of this is down to Gosling and Stone, who are reunited on-screen again (following 2011's Crazy, Stupid, Love and 2013's Gangster Squad). It's clear that they have chemistry (it's the best it has ever been here), and the casting is perfect, but who would have thought singing and dancing would be in their lists of skills too? Supporting cast are really just supporting - even John Legend, and this is a film for the two leads who sing and dance their way through their love story. They shine just like the stars in their surreal planetarium dance routine (one to note), and as brightly as they do in real life Hollywood. As Stone was probably once a struggling actress too, you begin to wonder how much art is imitating reality, but it's reflected in such a powerful and wide-eyed relatable performance (Oscar-nom alarm bells #1). Then you have Gosling, whose smirks and quips are hella entertaining, and that's before he even begins playing the piano - something he learnt especially for La La Land (Oscar-nom alarm bells #2). These are both world-class entertainers with a 'best in class' performance for us all.

The actual characters are vulnerable and relatable and extremely well written. Sure, I'm not an actor or musician but it strikes chords in the least expected places and I'd expect it'll do the same for you. After all, everybody has a dream and this is a film for dreamers. With characters seemingly stuck in the past - in two time periods in fact - it's a clash of culture when you see mustang upon mustang...followed by an iPhone. Times and timing is everything, as you will soon discover.

One of the other 'wow-factor' elements is the way everything is portrayed - it's one big, fat, giant showcase of "wow". There are some astonishing pieces of imagination where every inch of the screen comes to life, plus some really intricate attention to detail. I'm talking production value and a show-stopping opening scene, stunning purple sunsets, cinematography (Oscar-nom alarm bells #3), freeze-frame moments that put all your Mannequin Challenges to shame, glorious light and shade, and some fantastic set design. Yet sometimes it's the intimate performances that can have the most impact, thanks to Stone and Gosling conveying the pages and pages of script in a single facial expression. They're the only people in the room, and the cinematic version of the stage spotlight works so well.

And of course, we have to talk about the music. With six original songs, all worthy of Broadway and West End recognition, they deserve to be talked about. The songs are powerful and catchy (I can probably sing most of them back without prompting), and poetic, adding that extra layer of drama whilst somehow managing not to be cheesy. Musical motifs are used as a strong mechanic, and the power of silence is goosebump-inducing. There's this one line that goes "here's to the ones who dream", and a combination of everything plus Emma Stone's soft but emotional voice, can make a grown man cry. Probably. As someone with a musical background myself, playing piano for nearly two decades, I also have to applaud Gosling 'cos he makes me and my piano pieces look really bad.

I did say this film is a basic boy-meets-girl scenario, but it's the diving into dreams theme that was my immediate talking point as I walked down the streets of Leicester Square, sobbing away and analysing every aspect of my life so far. How's that for a post-cinema response? La La Land flickers from dream to reality to dream until you're dizzy just deciding which one is which. It's about pipeline dreams and growing up, the sacrifices, trying and failing, the foolish dreams, the hearts that ache and the mess we make...

I could add a whole bunch of Oscar nomination alarm bells as I try to wrap up my thoughts on a magical 2 hours and 8 minute masterpiece. Old Hollywood meets a modern age. Two actors totally steal the show - and all the other shows around. It's a film with more la-la-layers than a la-la-lasagne, ready to tell a story in an unforgettable way. I'm ready for this to la-la-land a whole load of awards next year and for the whole world to be able to watch it and talk about it with me. But for now, I just cannot wait to watch it again.


La La Land is in US cinemas from 9th and 16th December. Other audiences have to wait a little longer, awww.