Mac's Movies

UK Release Date: 6 October 2006 Certification: 18 Director: Martin Scorsese Cast: Alec Baldwin, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Vera Farmiga, Jack Nicholson, Martin Sheen, Mark Wahlberg, Ray Winstone Rating: 86% No better thing to say in a Boston accent than The Departed .  Review: The Departed   won four academy awards including best picture, best film editing and best director and it's Martin Scorsese's direction in  The Departed  that makes it unique compared to his other filmography. From the symbolism of certain shots to the near perfect storytelling and world building everything Scorsese does in   The Departed   has a purpose and a meaning.   The Departed continues Leonardo DiCaprio's run of films with Martin Scorsese following on from Gangs of New York and The Aviator . It's difficult to say who's performance is the greatest in The Departed with such a stellar cast but DiCaprio still shines through to display why he's one of the best a...

UK Release Date: 05 October 1980 Certification: 15  Director: Stanley Kubrick Cast: Scatman Crothers, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Barry Nelson, Jack Nicholson, Phillip Stone  Rating:   92 % "Here's Johnny!" Review:  The Shining is an exceptional, suspenseful horror movie that is left open ended and up to interpretation due to it's brilliant but ambiguous ending.  The Shining  is my first exposure to iconic filmmaker Stanley   Kubrick, with a filmography containing movies such as; 2001: A Space Odyssey , Paths of Glory and Dr Strangelove or: How I learned to stop Worrying and Love the Bomb . His unique style is what makes the movie really work. He'd have actors shoot several takes until they became unhinged, displaying the effect The Overlook Hotel would have on them. Some of his imagery is utterly beautiful which isn't expected in a horror movie making the film utterly unique.  Jack Nicholson is mental, and I mean that in the best possi...

UK Release Date: 11 August 1989 Certification: 12 Director: Tim Burton Cast: Kim Basinger, Michael Gough, Pat Hingle, Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Billy Dee Williams, Robert Wuhl Rating: 57 % "Wait 'til they get a load of me." Review: Like many comic book movies from the 1980's and 1990's Batman doesn't stand the test of time . Tim Burton directs, but in my opinion didn't take the project seriously. Batman is so over the top, but incredibly slow paced at the same time. I know that Tim Burton's Batman is loved by many fans, but as a teenager watching the movie for the first time, it felt dated and devoid of action. I generally love comic book movies but Batman is the exception to date. Michael Keaton is ok as the lead. His performance feels off compared to  Christian Bale's or Ben Affleck's interpretation of the same character [although Keaton donned the mask before Bale and Affleck]. Keaton is oblivious to what is happenin...