Drive

Drive is a 2011 American action-drama crime film directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, and starring Ryan Gosling as the principal character, with Carey Mulligan, Ron Perlman, Bryan Cranston, Christina Hendricks, and Albert Brooks.

Like the book, the movie is about a Hollywood stunt performer (played by Gosling) who moonlights as a getaway driver.

This is one of my favourite movies of 2011 so far! It was so impressive. It stars Ryan Gosling in the lead role and he gives a very cold but brilliant performance. The story is absorbing and beautiful direction keeps you glued to the screen. It really reminded me of older film styles. For some reason I felt similarities to the film American Psycho. The style of the film is very unique and has good action scenes, drama and sometimes shocking violence. This really is a gem of a film!

Also has a cracking soundtrack! This is a MUST SEE!

Film Rating: 9/10

The Debt

The Debt is a 2011 drama-thriller film directed by John Madden based on a screenplay written by Matthew Vaughn, Jane Goldman and Peter Straughan. The film is a remake of the 2007 Israeli film of the same name by Assaf Bernstein. It stars Helen Mirren, Sam Worthington, Jessica Chastain, Ciarán Hinds, Tom Wilkinson and Marton Csokas.

In 1966, Mossad agent Rachel Singer (Jessica Chastain) arrives in East Berlin to meet with fellow agents David Peretz (Sam Worthington) and Stefan Gold (Marton Csokas). Their mission is to capture Nazi war criminal Dieter Vogel (Jesper Christensen) – infamously known as “The Surgeon of Birkenau” for his horrific pseudo-medical experiments on Jews during World War II

I hadnt heard much about this film before going to see it and I had only seen the trailer once. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was a real gem! I would describe it as a spy/thriller. It kept me thoroughly entertained and absorbed from start to finish. The film has an impressive cast and very good story. I thought that Helen Mirren was very impressive.

Film Rating: 8/10

Crazy, Stupid, Love

Crazy, Stupid, Love. is a 2011 romantic comedy-drama film directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, written by Dan Fogelman, and starring Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon and Analeigh Tipton. The film was released on July 29, 2011.

I loved this film so much! The cast was very impressive, the plot kept me entertained and I thought it was very funny. The film has a perfect blend of humour, romance and drama. I really like Ryan Gosling and Steve Carell and thought that they both gave good performances in this movie. This film is well worth going to see!

Film Rating: 8.5/10

I Dont Know How She Does It

I Don’t Know How She Does It is a 2011 American comedy film based on Allison Pearson’s novel of the same name. The film stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Pierce Brosnan, and Greg Kinnear about Kate Reddy, a financial executive and the breadwinner of her family.

A comedy centered on the life of Kate Reddy, a finance executive who is the breadwinner for her husband and two kids.

I went to see this film with my girlfriend after seeing the trailer. I thought that this film was okay- it was nothing original but we still enjoyed it and it had the odd funny moment here and there. The film is predictable and a little cheesy but it makes a good ‘date movie’.

Film Rating: 7/10

30 Seconds or Less

30 Minutes or Less is a 2011 American comedy film directed by Ruben Fleischer starring Jesse Eisenberg, Aziz Ansari, Danny McBride and Nick Swardson. It is produced by Columbia Pictures and funded by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg.

I thought that this film was extremely rude but very very funny. It has a similar style of humour to films like Superbad, The Hangover and Knocked Up. The film has a funny plot that keeps you laughing the whole way through. The film is fairly short and leaves you wanting more.

Film Rating: 8/10

Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre is a 2011 British romantic drama film directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and starring Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender. The screenplay is written by Moira Buffini based on the 1847 novel of the same name by Charlotte Brontë. The film was released on 11 March 2011 in the United States and 9 September in Great Britain and Ireland.

I went to see this film not knowing the story at all. I thought that this was a good film that was beautifully directed, had great acting and some amazing scenery. I enjoyed the story. I would recommend this film if you like Pride and Prejudice or other period dramas.

Film Rating: 7.5/ 10

A Lonely Place to Die

A Lonely Place to Die is a 2011 survival thriller film directed by Julian Gilbey and based on a screenplay from Will Gilbey. It  stars Melissa George, Ed Speleers, Karel Roden, Eamonn Walker, Sean Harris and Kate Magowan.

A group of five mountaineers are hiking and climbing in the Scottish Highlands when they discover a young Serbian girl buried alive in a small chamber in the wilderness.

I hadnt heard much about this film but I thought that the trailer looked good. I really enjoyed this film. I was kept on the edge of my seat throughout and thought that it was very absorbing. I thought that Melissa George was impressive in the lead role. This film is well worth going to see if you get the chance.

Film Rating: 8/10

The Change-Up

The Change-Up is a 2011 American body swap comedy film produced and directed by David Dobkin, written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, and starring Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman. The film was released on August 5, 2011 in North America by Universal Pictures.

I loved this film! I thought that it was a lot funnier than I expected. Its completely unoriginal as the story is so similar to Freaky Friday and Its a Boy/Girl Thing but its still very funny. I thought that Ryan Reynolds was very funny. The film is very rude at times but I still really enjoyed it.

Film Rating: 8/10

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a 2011 English-language espionage film directed by Tomas Alfredson, from a screenplay written by Bridget O’Connor and Peter Straughan based on the 1974 novel Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré.

The film stars Gary Oldman as George Smiley, and co-stars Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Toby Jones, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kathy Burke and Ciarán Hinds.

Set in London in the 1970s, the story follows the hunt for a Soviet double agent at the top of the British secret service.

I wasnt sure whether to go and see this film or not. I thought that the cast looked amazing and the trailer seemed pretty good. I have to say that it really wasnt my cup of tea as I found it a little dull. I did think that the film managed to capture the style of the 70s and the actors gave great performances but I found it hard to get into. I also thought that the film was slightly too long.

Film Rating: 6.5/10

Friends with Benefits

Friends with Benefits is an American romantic comedy film directed by Will Gluck, starring Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake. The film features an ensemble cast which includes Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone and Patricia Clarkson.

I was excited to see this film as I thought that the cast looked good and I thought that the trailer looked very funny although probably not looking like anything original. I have to say that I was surprised to find that the film was actually very unique. It was very funny and is one of the better comedies that I have seen in recent times. I thought that the pairing of Kunis and Timberlake seemed very natural and worked very well.

This film is worth going to see

Film Rating: 8/10