Up In The Air

I love air miles. It would also appear I love films about air miles. Or maybe I just love Jason Reitman's film about air miles? Either way, I really did love Up In The Air. It's brilliantly acted, obviously by George (although I've always been a bit non-plussed by his face in the past) but also in the support cast, particularly Anna Kendrick (massively under-rated in New Moon) and Vera Farmiga. The story - man likes a life on the road, man gets threatened with a life at home, man meets woman, man's sister gets married, man decides maybe there might be more to life than a life on the road - manages to twist and turn just as it verges on the clichéd and as a result keeps you interested, entertained and fully involved. It's funny and smart, and it's more than worth 109 minutes of your time.

New Moon

Uh-oh. It's here. The big one. NEW BLOODY MOON. I have decided to do the rest of my review in a list. Because the last couple of hours have brought out the 12 year old in me and I used to like a list in my youth.

Things of note:
1) IT'S AMAZING.
2) Jacob's teeth are incredibly white.
3) Bella basically talks in grunts, but I suppose that's heartbreak for you. I actually liked her a lot better this time around. The acting has improved and her friendship with Jake makes me want a werewolf for a best friend. The dynamic of their relationship is perfectly portrayed, and it's lovely to watch, in spite of my being anti it in the book. I was Team Edward I'm afraid.
4) Edward doesn't really move his mouth when he talks. It makes it easier to fixate upon and wonder what it's like to have a little kiss with it. I imagine that's EXACTLY what Chris Weitz had in mind with his stage directions.
5) Charlie Swan got hot. Moustache and all.
6) Jacob really does have the most ridiculous muscles ever. Good ridiculous. Like when the kids say 'sick' but don't mean vomit. And I know this because I spent the majority of the last 2 hrs and 15 mins watching them closely.
7) Said muscles made my fickle mind decide I might not be Team Edward after all and maybe, just maybe, I'm Team Jacob. Or can I be both? Team Jedward? Or is that just too X Factor?
8) For all Stephanie Meyer's being not the best writer in the world (I mean in terms of Pulitzers, clearly her imagination is brilliant), the woman can capture youth like no other. The heartbreak, the confusion, the loneliness and the love - the teen angst is palpable and even the most grown up of grown ups in the theatre felt it.
9) Dakota Fanning is one scary mother fucker.
10) When Aro reads Alice's thoughts and it cuts to a scene - WEIRD. You'll know what I mean.

Precious

So it's about this time of year that the clever folk who write about films with big words prefix everything they say with some form of Oscar insight. Ooh, look, this film's a bit deep or dark or does not star Seth Rogen, LET'S GIVE IT AN OSCAR NOD! And that sort of excitement is exactly what's been happening with Precious. Do not let the clever folk with their lighty-up pens put you off though. Precious really is quite brilliant. Often disturbing, always thought provoking, in parts hilarious and without exception brilliantly acted (even Mariah), it really is a worthy Oscar contender. While it's not always easy viewing, it's worth the pain (and the 15 minute standing ovation it got when screened at the Cannes Film Festival) - a truly great film.

The Boys Are Back

Just before I went to see this film, someone pointed out to me that Clive Owen can't act. It's true, he really can't. He is, however, quite pleasing on the eye and in that sense, the perfect person to play a dad struggling with bringing up two young boys in the aftermath of his wife's death. What I loved about this film was the way it managed to tug at the heartstrings, be touching and sweet and funny, without being twee or overly and obviously emotional. I also loved that the two boys, George McKay (basically Ron Weasley) and Nicholas McAnulty, lacked the usual precocity of a child star, and both gave touching and believable performances. Surprisingly lovely.