Mac's Movies

UK Release Date: 06 November 2020 Certification: 12A Director: Thor Freudenthal Cast: Devon Bostick, Andy Garcia, Walton Goggins, Beth Grant, Molly Parker, Charlie Plummer, AnnaSophia Robb, Taylor Russell, Lobo Sebastian Rating: 65% 'If you can't trust your mind, trust your heart.' Review: Words on Bathroom Walls is a relatively small movie with a budget of just over $9 million that deals with Schizophrenia and the effects it can have. Schizophrenia is a severe long-term mental health condition that disables a person from being able to distinguish their own thoughts and ideas from reality. And I felt that the movie was able to deal with this condition and difficult subject matter brilliantly by putting it on the big screen and displaying Schizophrenia in a positive light - putting out a strong message: that Schizophrenia is an illness but the person affected is not. I also thought the visualisation of Schizophrenia was great, almost drowning out the thoughts of Charli...

UK Release Date: 10 November 2016 Certification: 12A Director:  Denis Villeneuve Cast: Amy Adams, Tzi Ma, Mark O'Brien, Jeremy Renner, Michael Stuhlbarg, Forrest Whitaker Rating:   98 % 'Why are they here?' Review: Arrival is an intriguing and fascinating sci-fi movie from Denis Villeneuve based on a short story about the arrival of alien life - starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Forrest Whittaker. Upon release the movie received worldwide praise which resulted in a best picture nomination at the Oscars only losing out to Moonlight .  Firstly, this is Amy Adams' movie. She is truly terrific as linguist, Louise Banks who essentially has to create and decipher a whole new language in order to communicate with the aliens - which are known as heptapods. As the movie progresses, Louise begins to interact more and more with the heptapods and that makes both her and the story even more interesting and Amy Adams is able to display every emotion that she's fee...

UK Release Date: 28 August 2009 Certification: 15 Director: Kathryn Bigelow Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Brian Geraghty, Evangeline Lily, Anthony Mackie, David Morse, Guy Pearce, Jeremy Renner Rating: 84% 'You don't have to be a hero to do this job. But it helps.' Review: The Hurt Locker is a modern day war classic. It was critically acclaimed, winning a total of six Oscars including best picture and best director for Kathryn Bigelow (who at the time became the first female director to win the award). However, the movie is unquestionably about the affects of the Iraq War on US soldiers and how for some people it became an addiction.  The cast assembled for The Hurt Locker is now filled with A-list actors but at the time was cast away for not having any so called big names as leads. Never the less Jeremy Renner stands out as I believe he isn't 'acting' and is instead just enjoying the role - yet he can still show a caring, emotional side to Staff Sergeant William ...

UK Release Date: 30 July 2021 Certification: 15 Director: James Gunn Cast: Peter Capaldi, John Cena, David Dastmalchian, Viola Davis, Idris Elba, Joel Kinnaman, Daniela Melchior, Margot Robbie, Sylvester Stallone Rating:   87 % 'Don't get too attached.' Review: The Suicide Squad is DC's latest addition to their extended universe. With a huge cast, witty director and gory action, it's certainly one of their best.   The ensemble cast is simply extraordinary. Margot Robbie is, as always, great as Harley Quinn - who's by far my favourite character in the DCEU. Her comedic timing is spot on as well as her violent, maniacal impulses. Viola Davis is utterly hard as nails as Amanda Waller. The power she has over supervillains, serial killers, the worst of the worst is sensational. Every new addition absolutely kills it. The back and forth one-uping of each other  between John Cena's Peacemaker and Idris Elba's Bloodsport is one of the highlights of the movi...

UK Release Date:  27 September 2013 Certification:  15 Director:  Denis Villeneuve Cast:  Maria Bello, Paul Dano, David Dastmalchian, Viola Davis, Jake Gyllenhaal, Terrence Howard, Hugh Jackman, Melissa Leo  Rating: 98 % My brilliant introduction to Denis Villeneuve.  Review: In my opinion, the main takeaway after watching Prisoners is that Denis  Villeneuve is an utterly brilliant and insanely talented director. Not only is his filmography utterly impressive from top to bottom with  Arrival ,  Blade Runner 2049  and the unreleased but eagerly anticipated Dune standing out. But also the deliberate choice of shots and filming techniques increases the tension and suspense - credit to cinematographer, Roger Deakins, for being able to depict Denis Villeneuve's vision.  And although this was my first time seeing one of his movie's, I can't wait to watch what else he has to offer.  Every time I see Jake...

UK Release Date:  31 August 1984 Certification:  12 Director:  John G. Avildsen Cast:  Randee Heller,   Matin Kove,   Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue, William Zabka Rating:   89 % I'm a black belt in Taekwondo Review: Over the past couple of weeks I’ve discovered  Cobra Kai on Netflix and have enjoyed bingeing it - I’m a black belt in Taekwondo so I related to the martial arts aspect and the benefits it has on both your body and mind. So I decided that it was only right to go back to where it all began and watch  The Karate Kid .   What really stood out to me were the performances. Ralph Macchio shot to stardom with his role as Daniel LaRusso, becoming one of the most in demand child actors. He’s able to portray a likeable, relatable character that has a more complex side to him . Elisabeth Shue is enjoyable as Daniel’s love interest, Ali, helping make Daniel a more emotive character. Martin Kove is a menacing villai...

UK Release Date: 31 October 2014 Certification: 15 Director: Dan Gilroy Cast: Riz Ahmed, Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton Rating: 93% One of the best movies of the last decade. Review:  Dan Gilroy's directorial debut is a phenomenal thriller depicting the life of an unreliable narrator who has the occupation of a crime journalist (Louis Bloom played extraordinary by Jake Gyllenhaal) who becomes sadistic and starts creating his own stories to earn money.  I don't know how Jake Gyllenhaal didn't win an Oscar or even get nominated for his role, as Louis Bloom, in Nightcrawler because it's one of the best performances in the last decade. He's able to make the audience care for a psychopath and his slow but inevitable downfall. He also has some dialogue heavy scenes where he's able to carry the movie all on his own.  His form of method acting also goes quite unnoticed but he lost thirty pounds for the role by eating only kale salad and chewing gum whilst a...