Cartel Land is a gruelling documentary that gives us insight
into the brutal, unforgiving world of Mexican cartels, which is in my ever so humble opinion, the hands down the
best documentary of the year. It’s a great achievement for any documentary when it gets the audience so
involved that they forget they’re watching a documentary and it starts feeling
like a feature film: well lets just say Cartel Land really captures that feeling.
Arguably the main purpose of a documentary is to inform you about a subject or at least offer some new information that you didn’t know before, Cartel Land goes beyond that and when you leave the cinema (read couch) you will be feeling like an insider who knows things that they aren’t supposed to. That’s the amazing thing about this film, it tells you things in an almost whispering-in-your-ear kind of way, it feels like it’s all supposed to be a secret (yes the events in the film are that unbelievable) and you shouldn’t be seeing what you are. Of course that’s great and terrifically exciting and that’s why this documentary hits you like a punch, seriously though nothing this year will make you feel so naïve.
Arguably the main purpose of a documentary is to inform you about a subject or at least offer some new information that you didn’t know before, Cartel Land goes beyond that and when you leave the cinema (read couch) you will be feeling like an insider who knows things that they aren’t supposed to. That’s the amazing thing about this film, it tells you things in an almost whispering-in-your-ear kind of way, it feels like it’s all supposed to be a secret (yes the events in the film are that unbelievable) and you shouldn’t be seeing what you are. Of course that’s great and terrifically exciting and that’s why this documentary hits you like a punch, seriously though nothing this year will make you feel so naïve.
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/movie/cartel-land/id1028601686?mt=6&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
OR
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B016YEKCEY?ref_=imdbref_tt_wbr_aiv&tag=imdbtag_tt_wbr_aiv-21
In what is perhaps the most underrated and underseen film of
the year (Calvin's note: I will concur even without seeing the film as it's been getting rave reviews but doesn't seem to be showing anywhere), Joel Edgerton gives the most criminally overlooked performance of the
year (Intrigued? Thought so) (Calvin's note: Edgerton's fantastic in Black Mass as well, and he also directed/scripted this film) and if that wasn’t enough the man has written and
directed the film as well (Calvin's note: seems you're as impressed as I am). Naturally you’re curious to know what the film is
about and the best way to answer that question is by describing how the film
makes you feel, because really the film is less about the story (mind you there
are some excellent twists), but more about the atmospheric thrills that leave
you questioning what is right, and what is wrong, and where lies the line between
morality and immorality.
I’ve always considered it absolutely brilliant when MILD SPOILER AHEAD a film switches protagonists and antagonists midway, because it’s such a hard and bold move to make, needless to say The Gift pulls it off with perfection and in the end you’re confused about who you really sympathise with.
SPOILER FREE NOW
If you like tense thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat and are nail-bitingly suspenseful then The Gift is the movie for you tonight, seriously you’ll thank me for this one (or any of the other 3 in this article). (Calvin's note: Apparently Jason Bateman who I'm usually not much of a fan of is great here, so definitely worth checking out. Also, Rebecca Hall <3)
SO GET WATCHING!!
https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/The_Gift?id=SZME0z5m5nA&hl=en
ORI’ve always considered it absolutely brilliant when MILD SPOILER AHEAD a film switches protagonists and antagonists midway, because it’s such a hard and bold move to make, needless to say The Gift pulls it off with perfection and in the end you’re confused about who you really sympathise with.
SPOILER FREE NOW
If you like tense thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat and are nail-bitingly suspenseful then The Gift is the movie for you tonight, seriously you’ll thank me for this one (or any of the other 3 in this article). (Calvin's note: Apparently Jason Bateman who I'm usually not much of a fan of is great here, so definitely worth checking out. Also, Rebecca Hall <3)
SO GET WATCHING!!
https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/The_Gift?id=SZME0z5m5nA&hl=en
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B012UQKXYE?ref_=imdbref_tt_wbr_aiv&tag=imdbtag_tt_wbr_aiv-21
A Most Violent Year (2014)
A Most Violent Year was one of my 3 favourite films of 2014 alongside Whiplash and Nightcrawler (Calvin's note: Whiplash is my Best Picture choice for 2014-2015) and there’s a theme it shares with the other two, which is Ambition. A Most Violent year is a film with incredibly sharp and intelligent dialogue, beautiful vignette cinematography and brilliant performances, this is one of those rare films in which almost every character is extremely smart and that’s what makes any conversation in the film so exciting.
J.C. Chandor who is the writer/director of the film has an immensely versatile and impressive 3 film filmography (Margin Call 2011 and All is Lost 2013) I highly recommend watching his other two films as well, in the years to come J.C. Chandor is destined to become a great filmmaker just like his contemporary and fellow auteur Cary Fukunaga (True Detective 2011, Beasts of No Nation 2015). Alright enough fanboy praising, back to the movie in which Oscar Isaac provides us with what is perhaps one of his best performances (amongst rapidly increasing competition) as an effortlessly reliable, self assured good guy that you can’t help but root for, all the way (Calvin's note: Issac = the new Pacino. Calling it now). Of course it’s just a cherry on top that Jessica Chastain totally excels in her role of a mobster’s daughter and Oscar Isaac’s wife, gracing us with one of her career best performances as well. I must say though, this is not a film that relies on a lot of different themes (definitely not action as it’s name might suggest to some) but slow building dialogue-dependent tension, in fact it’s set in 1981 NYC, which was statistically the most violent year in the city’s history and hence the title. Watch this film and you’ll know what a brilliantly crafted piece of cinema you had been missing out on.
OKAY CALM DOWN HERE’S THE LINKS:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00X8XCHMA?ref_=imdbref_tt_wbr_piv&tag=imdbtag_tt_wbr_piv-21
FREE WITH AMAZON PRIME
OR
OR
Palo Alto (2014)
Style over substance is always a
bad thing but maybe style slightly over substance may not be so bad, well
that’s the point that Palo Alto tries to make anyway and it pretty much gets
away with it too. The thing is we have to cut Gia Coppola some slack since it’s
her debut feature (yes she’s from THAT royal family of Hollywood) but I have to
admit this is one of the most beautifully shot, soothingly scored films I’ve
ever seen in my whole (19 years of) life. The plot, which is based on James
Franco’s short stories (who also stars in the film), is somewhat generic but
it’s strengthened with some fine performances (including a charmingly naïve
Emma Roberts) and breathtaking cinematography.
At the end of the day Palo Alto is
(on paper at least) a basic coming-of-age story that is elevated by stunning
visual filmmaking. Oh and BTW this film has Val Kilmer. Fat. Fat Val Kilmer.
Don’t tell me you don’t wanna see that.
YEAH I KNOW, THE LINKS…
YEAH I KNOW, THE LINKS…
ENJOY WATCHING AN INCREDIBLE FILM
TONIGHT !!!!
P.S. YOU’RE AMAZING
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