Film Review : (500) Days Of Summer

Interviewing Quentin Tarantino a few weeks ago Jonathan Ross asked him if he was a fan of romantic comedies - or rom-com's to use the preferred bastardisation of the language. To his surprise, Tarantino said that there were many films like this that he did like. However, he pinpointed quite accrurately the downside of all of these movies which is the inevitable final fifteen minutes.

The good news is that (500) Days of Summer is just such a beast but entirely lacking that inevitable final fifteen minutes. It's promoted as not being a love story, but a story about love and that just about hits the nail on the head. It could also be described as a rom-com for people who don't like rom-com's!

It's an utterly delightful movie with two characters (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel) that you can really empathise with and a witty and sharp script with a number of twists and turns as it goes back and forth to view the characters at different points during the titular 500 days.

Gordon-Levitt has more than a touch of the late Heath Ledger about him, and there is a very apparent chemistry between him and Zooey Deschanel which further cements your belief in these characters.

The films goes through the highs and lows of a relationship and takes the audience on the ride as well. The audience at Cineworld tonight were certainly going all the way with the characters and as well as chuckles at all the right points, they clearly shared the disappointments along the way.

It would be difficult to provide much more information about the film without revealing more of the plot, and I think this is a film best seen without too much other than an understanding of the basic premise. But what I would stress is that this is a film that you should make the opportunity to see - it's warm, witty, sad, mournful and utterly life-affirming. And all with an indie-centric soundtrack (where The Smiths and Belle And Sebastian loom large).

Whatever you do, though, don't let any prejudice against romantic comedy stand in your way of catching this.

And I've got through this without making any salacious remarks about Zooey Deschanel!

Film Review : Inglourious Basterds

Not a film to test your spellchecker out with, Inglourious Basterds is the latest movie by Quentin Tarantino and all of the indications were that this was a movie worth seeing. That rather underplays its' many virtues, as it's a movie that undoubtedly worth seeing a second time (and more!).

I'm not sure if there's anything in the movie that will convert those not already fans of Tarantino's hugely entertaining canon but then again, I can't fully understand anyone who doesn't find something in at least a couple of his movies. There's also nothing here for those that have a dislike of history being messed with - it would be fair to say that just one or two things happen in this movie that didn't happen during the Second World War.

The film itself is made up of two back stories which come together allowing the tale to reach a fiery conclusion. As ever with Tarantino, there's great dialogue along with an ensemble cast who all give terrific performances. Oh yes, and some pretty gross-out violence.

Brad Pitt is great as the gung-ho leader of the Basterds which forms one of the threads, whilst Melanie Laurent leads the other as the surviving daughter of a Jewish family slaughtered by the Nazis. That slaughter was led by Colonel Landa of the SS who is superbly played by Christoph Waltz in the outstanding performance of the movie. In a single scene, he is able to generate both the chills you would expect from the heartless thugs you expect to find and generate laughs.

The film balances some serious(ish) intent with humour throughout. All the main characters find themselves in absurd situations which both provide hearty laughs as well as the move the story along.

The last number of Tarantino's films have played very much to his fanbase (Death Proof plus the two Kill Bills) but this is very much a return to his best form and might even be his best movie.

Now when will I be able to get to see this again?