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

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

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

Mr Popper’s Penguins

Mr. Popper’s Penguins is a live-action family comedy film distributed by 20th Century Fox starring Jim Carrey, based on the children’s book of the same name. The film was originally slated for a release on August 12, 2011, but was moved up to June 17, 2011.

I was pleased that I went to see this film. I really love Jim Carrey and I thought that once again he gave a funny performance in this film. I liked how this film appeals to both kids and adults which makes it ideal for the whole family. The film is predictable but it didnt really matter as the film puts across a good message and is filled with funny and heartwarming moments.

Film Rating: 8/10

 

Captain America: The First Avenger

Captain America: The First Avenger is a 2011 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Captain America. It is the fifth installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film was directed by Joe Johnston, written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, and stars Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Dominic Cooper, Neal McDonough, Derek Luke, and Stanley Tucci. The film tells the story of Steve Rogers, a sickly man from Brooklyn who is transformed into super soldier Captain America to help the war effort.

I was very excited to see this film as Im a huge fan of comic books, graphic novels and superhero movies. I thought that the first half of the film was extremely good. It had some very impressive CGI and the plot was entertaining. I thought that the story started to get a bit muddled and lost towards the second half which was a shame. Chris Evans is good in the lead role.

Film Rating: 7/10

Zookeeper

Zookeeper is a 2011 comedy film starring Kevin James, and featuring the voices of Adam Sandler, Sylvester Stallone, Nick Nolte, Don Rickles, Judd Apatow, Jon Favreau, Cher and Faizon Love. The film contains computer animation, is produced by Sandler’s production company, Happy Madison, and is co-distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Columbia Pictures.

I wasnt sure what to expect from this film as I hadnt heard much about it. I really was surprised that I enjoyed it as much as I did. The plot is very predictable and generic but had me laughing quite a bit. I thought that Kevin James was very funny. I think that this film will be enjoyed both kids and adults so its worth going to see.

Film Rating: 7/10