Margot, Mugging and Monsters

"When Nicole is good she's terrific, but when she's bad she's horrendous," said Richard.

Nicole Kidman always gave me this impression that she's a terrific actress but was held back by Tom Cruise.   To Die For (1995) is probably the only film I remember her from the 90s where she was given an edge. Whereas Batman Forever (1995) is where she makes the best of a bad situation.

When Cruise went, Moulin Rouge! (2001) and The Others (2001) came in.  Strength to strength.  And then with The Stepford Wives (2004), Bewitched (2005) and The Invasion (2007) she pretty much chooses to put herself into even worse situations.

So it's when I came across Margot at the Wedding (Directed by Noah Buchanan / 2007 / Recorded from Film4) I could not help but smile and be reminded of how smart she is.

Kidman is Margot, a writer from New York who is visiting her sister Pauline (Jennifer Jason Leigh) from whom she had a falling out with previously.  Her sister is getting married and Margot feels it's right to make amends.  Along with her son they find themselves seeing that they are far from perfect as they start focusing on their relative's faults.

One of the many genius parts of the film is Jack Black starring as her future brother-in-law.  Almost like a red herring you are led to believe that Black will soon be playing his usual self and as he doesn't, it becomes all the more bigger surprise when he finally caves in and becomes the comic-relief.  But by that time you find this all the characters are so set in their ridiculous yet realistic (sometimes even familiar) ways that Black is seen as one of the more normal characters.

Noah Buchanan has made a scrumptious black comedy where the clever believe they're clever but are rarely right.  Family has always been the other 'F' word.  And Buchanan has reinforced this amusing notion of life.

As for Nicole.  Make stinkers for the money and real movies for respect.  There is a balance you have gotten right for this business.

8 / 10

"One for The Continuing Adventures of Hermione Granger," I said.

Thankfully the guy behind the ticket booth understood me.

Sophia Coppola returns to the teen genre with The Bling Ring (2013 / Queen's Film Theatre, Belfast) after denying Twilight's finale.  Probably for the best.

With a true story and a Vanity Fair article to base the film on, what can wrong?

Not much to be honest.  Teenage films have become stronger in the past couple of years.  I don't know if the finale Twilight films has been used to help other teen movies look better, but I've notice more profound works going on.  Chronicle (2012).  The Hunger Games (2012).  And you can add The Bling Ring to this list.

Simply The Bling Ring is a group of teenagers managing to break into houses of local celebrities.  Although Emma Watson doesn't lead the group, she's probably the only recognisable face among the youths to old fuddy duddys like myself.  Leslie Mann appears as the teach-at-home mother.

At one point I felt (and secretly hoped) the film would turn into, 'Spot the Celebrity'.  But as it turns out Sophia Coppola is much more interested in telling a story.  The young cast are great and sporting.  Notably Emma Watson with an American accent.  At one point I felt I was trying to spot her acting badly.  But, and this arguement has been used a lot to disguise pretty actor's poor performances, it was meant to be bad and fake.  There are certain gestures you can spot to know if an actor is being rubbish and Watson didn't show them.  She has nailed being fake.

I only hope this isn't her being typecast.

The Virgin Suicides I would argue is Coppola's most tender film.  She has fun with it.  And although not as dark a subject matter, she has fun with teens mugging stars.

Funky soundtrack included.

8 / 10

As someone who thought Monsters Inc. was dull, I hesitated before walking into the screen for Monster's University (Directed by Dan Scanion / 2013 / Bangor Omniplex).  Originally I was going to see The World's End but had missed the first twenty minutes.

Already I was prepared for the most inoffensive and brightly coloured film of the year.

Usually when it comes to CGI-ed cartoon films from any studio (Pixar, Dreamworks, Sony...they're all becoming irrelevant because I often think it's just one big computer lab) I wish upon wish that dark and adult humour will be subtly slipped in.  Children will have their eyes fixed by wobbly characters whilst their parents will laugh at the rude jokes that can't be heard by infant ears.

But as I mention, as an old fuddy duddy, Monsters Inc. (2002) was dull to me.  So I wasn't itching to catch the prequel.

I rather enjoyed it.

Mike (Billy Crystal) and Sullivan (John Goodman) are new to Monster's University, a campus full of squiggly monsters and lovable creatures.  Mike has worked hard and continues to do so with academia revolved around scaring children.  Sullivan on the other hand is living off his father's reputation and impresses at first, but soon starts to see that hard work is involved.

Once the University fraternities announce their Scare Games, Mike reluctantly lets Sullivan join his outcast group to compete.

The adult humour I was hankering for isn't present too much.  Maybe a couple of jokes, but nothing too strong.  With that failing me, I found myself laughing more at visual jokes.  Spoken humour was too American and I wondered if many children outside of the US would get such jokes.  Or even understand the concept of University life.

Maybe I was just hoping for a kiddie friendly version of National Lampoon's Animal House (1978).

6 / 10

PLAYLIST : 
The Good Soldier Nine Inch Nails, Water Shows the Hidden Heart Enya, Get Back The Beatles, (Life in the Arctic) Kill Hannah, The Game Lacuna Coil, Journey to the Cave Nicholas Hooper, Here Comes the Sun The Beatles, Empty Sounds of Hate Marilyn Manson, Clowns t.A.T.u, Get Your Gunn Marilyn Manson, The Songs That Saved Me Kill Hannah, Procession Alexandre Desplat, Afraid Nelly Furtado, The Saltwater Room Owl City, Death Note Soundtrack, Monsters Paramore, Dance Magic Dance David Bowie