This month the cinemas have got a lot to offer! Our little HC film buffs have been at the pictures to weed out the weak and find out the best films for you to go and see. Here’s the lowdown of October’s best releases.
LEGEND
If you have not yet seen Legend, I strongly suggest that you do. Two Tom Hardys, many gangsters and set in the glamorous 60’s – what more could you want? I’m not going to try say too much about what actually happens in the film as we don’t want any spoilers, however it is beautifully shot and the acting is brilliant!
Legend is a biopic film based on the Kray Twins, during the 60’s in London. The film does contain many true elements of the Kray twin’s life – the shooting of George Cornell in the Blind Bugggar Pub and the stabbing of ‘Jack the Hat’. These specific events are truly depicted, but they are not at the foreground of the film- this is mainly the relationship between Reggie and Frances (his wife). It is through her eyes that we see the brothers in action.
Hardy, hands down to him, does a beautiful duel performance of the two Kray twins – Ronnie and Reggie. His Ronnie is psychotic, charming, frightening and also very amusing.Reggie is very dapper, intelligent, soulful, and can be at times the more frightening twin.
However, although there are some violent scenes they are almost glossed over. So if you are a screamer I wouldn’t worry too much! The film, in my opinion, does romanticise the Kray twins as Britain’s gangster-heroes. Which in some ways, they were looked up to, and historically we do romanticise them. However, Hardy does do a great job in reminding us they were both villains to a grand scale. On a side note, there is something for everyone in this film, whether its gangster action, true romance, and a strong family/friend dynamic. I will warn you there are scenes that make you squirm and scenes that will have you in tears. This, in my opinion, is one of the best films I have seen in a long time and I most definitely would go see it again. (Also, Tom Hardy is so hot in it!!)
HC’S POPCORN RATING: 4/5
THE INTERN
With two of my favourite actors, I always knew that ‘The Intern’ was going to be good. Anne Hathaway and Robert DeNero star in the ironic film, where retired Ben (DeNero) plays the intern for high rising fashion CEO Jules (Hathaway). The two strike an unlikely friendship that will leave (some of us) with a tear in our eye. From the offset, I presumed it was going to be light humoured film for a Saturday evening. However, the story has an underlying deep message about love and of all things, feminism (Obviously HC loves). Hathaway is described in the film to be crashing the glass ceilings in the e-commerce world which is what we love. This film highlights the issues with working women and provides a message that is empowering for all. Highly Recommended.
HC’S POPCORN RATING 5/5
THE MARTIAN
Last week, a friend of mine invited me to join him in seeing the expedition to Mars of Mark Watney and NASA. I accepted the invitation, but only because I hadn’t seen my friend in ages. I always tend to be sceptical about movies that everyone is passionate about, and in the case of The Martian, I was even more so because it was yet another story about space. Ah, well, what one doesn’t do for the sake of friendship…
Luckily, The Martian turned out to be better than I expected! Although the story was once again set in space, it pleased me to see that the atmosphere of the movie wasn’t ‘Armageddon-esque’. There was no dangerous meteor heading towards Earth to bomb it down to ash and no lives were sacrificed. Just one tiny astronaut stranded and forgotten on Mars.
The protagonist isn’t just some astronaut either: he is the botanist of the crew that forsake him. It is probably an underestimated profession on our planet, but it saves Mark’s life on Mars. Watching him growing his potatoes for a Martian dinner party, I felt like adding a farming class to my survival skills! Mark Watney is a very down-to-earth protagonist; he realises that he is probably going to die, and that the rest of the galaxy has forgotten him. Rough deal! Nevertheless, his sense of humour brings him through the day and entices him to find a way out of his hopeless situation step by step. This makes him a very likeable and realistic character. Pop-culture references such as the ‘horrible disco music’ of commander Lewis, and the stereotypical portrayal of science nerd Rich Purnell (played by Donald Glover) add to the humorous tone of the movie.
So I followed our protagonist in my own imaginary space shuttle, but I had to stop and think about the whole ‘dust-on-Mars-is-actually-a-fertile-farm’ thing. However, some quick research confirmed this. In fact, researchers from NASA actually planted vegetables in a soil designed to mimic the Martian dust and they succeeded at growing different types of crops- how convenient!
Overall, the fictional trip is a lot of fun to participate in, the plot is easy to follow and the storyline is very enjoyable, but also makes your grey cells work and urge you to look up Mars facts. So sit back, suspend your disbelief, and follow this tale of Robinson Crusoe in space while enjoying some potato chips (just maybe not grown on Mars!).
HC POPCORN RATING: 4/5