St Vincent. Everybody Needs Good Neighbours.

Posted on December 1, 2014 by The Sloth

The Sloth had almost forgotten Bill Murray starred in Ghostbusters. How long ago does that feel? For so many years now he’s been the go-to actor for misanthropic anti-heroes. St Vincent is no exception.

Bill plays Vin. Vin is a misanthropic curmudgeon who lives alone with his cat and a permanent glass of bourbon. He gets ‘serviced’ at regular intervals by Daka (Naomi Watts) a Russian ‘lady-of-the-night’ who works at the local girly bar and is also having his baby. Vin’s preferred solitude is rudely interrupted by the arrival of divorced new neighbour Maggie (Melissa McCarthy) and her school age son Oliver (Jaeden Lieberher). Finding himself locked out of home when he returns from school one day, Oliver invites himself into Vin’s home to wait for his mum. Eyeing him suspiciously, Vin feeds him sardines and crackers whilst mentally totting up a babysitting invoice. Oliver needs an after school babysitter, Vin needs money and so begins a relationship of convenience.

Now you don’t need a crystal ball to figure the grumpy old man and the naive young boy will soon form an unlikely (likely…) bond. And that Vin’s misanthropy is a façade hiding pain at a very deep level. And that the relationship of convenience will soon become genuine.

On paper St Vincent is hugely clichéd. Take the character roll call. We have: The Grumpy Curmudgeon; The Tart With A Heart; The Underdog Kid; The Divorced Single Mom; all present and correct. And the familiar themes of father figures and growing up. But it also detours down genuinely touching side alleys. Adding in the sheer force of Mr Murray’s marvellous cycnicism – if you cut him, would he not bleed caustic acid? – it quickly sucks you in with sheer watchableness. What’s not to like about Vin shamelessley forcing a juvenile to mow his woeful excuse for a lawn whilst he reclines with booze ‘n’ fags? When The Sloth grows up, we want to be a foul tempered alcoholic who swears at cold callers and exploits child labour. Much more fun.

UK release 5 December

Top five classic romantic movies to snuggle up to

Posted on December 2, 2014 by The Sloth

Please welcome back The Sloth’s special guests Lovestruck.com who are in festive mood.

It’s that time of the year when all we want to do is dive onto the sofa, lock the door and snuggle up with our other halves with a glass of mulled wine in one hand and a mince pie – or three (ahem) – in the other. With Christmas just around the corner there are a host of classic love flicks showing on the TV and plenty to be watched on demand. Here at Lovestruck.com, we love a good love story and here are our top winter warmers:

Love Actually (2003). No list of festive rom coms would be complete without Richard Curtis’ classic, which features the intertwining love stories of multiple characters played by a seriously top notch cast (including High Grant, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy and Alan Rickman) over the Christmas season. From the Prime Minister, to the boy with a crush on his classmate, there is something for everyone to relate to – and it will leave you feeling on a festive high. Our top quote – Prime Minister: “If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling that love is actually all around.”

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961). This American comedy, starring Audrey Hepburn as the awesome Holly Golightly, is an all time gem and we’re pretty sure you must have seen it already (and it’s always worth revisiting) but if you haven’t – this is one for as soon as you have a film-sized window in your diary. Ditsy and delightful Holly charms the whole of New York including her neighbour: struggling writer Paul Varjak (George Peppard). One of the most iconic movie kisses of all time sees them embrace down a rainy New York alley at the end. Our top quote – Paul: “People do fall in love. People do belong to each other, because that’s the only chance that anyone’s got for true happiness.”

Beauty and The Beast (1991). They say Disney films are for kids but quite frankly, this is right up there with our fave romantic flicks of all time. Paige O’Hara voices the sassy and smart Belle, who is captured and kept imprisoned by the brutish Beast (voiced by Robby Benson), a prince magically transformed into a monster as punishment for his arrogance. As they spend time together, Bells starts to see beyond his looks to the man beneath. This was the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture Oscar and it dazzles with fabulous tunes and stunning visuals. Our top quote – Gaston: “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you had feelings for this monster Belle.” Belle: “He’s no monster Gaston, you are.”

Gone With The Wind (1939). Still the highest grossing movie of all time, this flick tells of the tempestuous coupling between Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) and strong-willed Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh). We’d be open-mouthed if you’d not seen it already and, even if you have, we’re sure it’s time for another showing because more than 70 years on, it still sweeps you up into the golden age of Hollywood. This is one love story to seriously get your teeth stuck into. Our top quote – Rhett: ”Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.”

The Holiday (2006). A dead cert to get you into the holiday spirit. When two women, played by Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz, swap homes on a whim for the holiday season after bad break-ups with their boyfriends, they discover more about themselves and find love on the way. With an awesome cast (also featuring Jude Law and Jack Black), it never fails to disappoint. Our top quote – Miles: “It’s Christmas Eve and we’re going to celebrate being young and being alive.”

What other films would you add to our list? Do you have festive classics that you watch every year? Tell us @lovestruck

Get On Up

Posted on November 16, 2014 by The Sloth

get_on_up Chadwick Boseman is a name we’re not too familiar with on this side of the pond, the topics of his previous cinematic outings Draft Day (football in the American, rugby-with-shoulder-pads sense) and 42 (baseball) being somewhat US-centric. Hopefully that’s all about to change for in Get On Up he proves, yet again, that he’s a cracking actor.

A portrait of legendary soul singer James Brown, Get On Up doesn’t stick to the usual chronological biopic rules, instead it skips about through place and time. One minute we’re watching him flying into the middle of a warzone to play to troops in Vietnam, dodging bullets and exclaiming “they tried to kill James Brown!” (gotta love a starry ego), the next we’re experiencing his shockingly unhappy childhood - living literally in a shack in the woods with an abusive father and abused mother – the next we’re with a drunk James, falling apart towards the end of his career, holding a room full of terrified accountants to ransom with a shotgun.

Dipping about here and there might be disorienting but it does highlight how, regardless of place or time, that starry ego was always fully functioning. There clearly was one thing at the center of James’ world and that was James. Oh, and music, but primarily James. One thing Get On Up doesn’t do is shy away from his rampant, strutting, preening, selfish narcissism. Whether regally referring to himself in the third person or viciously verbally abusing his long suffering band, it made us wonder what comes first, the star or the ego?

Anchored by an extraordinary performance by Mr Boseman in the title role, Get On Up makes for striking viewing. When biopics often present their subjects in a hallowed light, it’s good to see one that doesn’t pull any punches. Mr Brown may have indeed contributed some astounding music to the world, but that genius came at a bit of a cost.

UK release 21 November

Serena. Plenty Of Clouds. No Silver Linings.

Posted on October 17, 2014 by The Sloth

serena If we were J-Law and Bradley Cooper’s respective other halves, we’d be getting a bit worried. Serena is the third time they’ve worked together and Bradley was apparently recruited at J-Law’s special request as they had such a ball on Silver Linings Playbook. Just sayin’…

This, however, is the first time they’ve done ‘serious’. Set in depression era North Carolina where men were men and women were of little consequence, Bradley plays George Pemberton, wealthy owner of a timber farm and dashing alpha-male. In need of a wife but finding few women of much interest, George is transfixed one day by the impressive skills of horsewoman Serena and sets about woo-ing her, which takes all of 5 minutes.

Soon married and high on a cloud of romance, George brings his alpha-female back to his timber farm where it becomes clear she is a woman of MUCH consequence. Assuming an equal status with her husband, who instructs his begrudging men to accept direction from Serena as if from him, all is joy and happiness. Until it becomes evident that not only can Serena not bear a child to complete their lives, but George is already father to an illegitimate son. Inevitably, jealously and paranoia soon begin to rear their ugly heads.

For the most part, we much enjoyed this slow-burning tale of love and obsession. Brooding and atmospheric, it takes unexpected twists and turns into an increasingly nightmarish scenario. Our only caveat was the overly melodramatic ending, which frankly was a little silly. But with two ever-watchable leads you can’t really go wrong. And did we mention Bradley shares undeniable chemistry with J-Law? We’re just SAYIN’…

UK release 24 October

Before I Go To Sleep

Posted on September 3, 2014 by The Sloth

before-i-go-to-sleep-poster-debuts-online-165153-a-1404314515-470-75 We are a somewhat squeamish Sloth. So when Before I Go To Sleep opened with an extreme close up of Nicole Kidman’s graphically bloodshot eye, we nearly had to reach for the smelling salts.

Christine (Nicole Kidman) has lost her memory. Each morning she wakes up in bed next to an apparent stranger who turns out to be her husband, Ben (Colin Firth). Ben patiently explains to her, as he has done each morning for numerous years, that she is suffering amnesia after an accident. Each day Christine will learn anew about the life she leads until she goes to sleep, at which point her memory is wiped once again.

But in the past two weeks Christine, unknown to Ben, has secretly started treatment with neurologist Dr Nash (Mark Strong). Keeping a daily video diary at his instruction to aid her memory, she begins to experience flashbacks from her earlier life. Flashbacks that lead her to question whether Ben is being entirely truthful to her.

Before I Go To Sleep is based on the mega-hit, best seling novel. Which naturally raises the question – is it better than the book? Well, no. But how many films are? Much as The Sloth loves the moo-vies, the nuance and detail of 500-odd written pages are seldom improved by reducing to 90 minutes of screen time. So let’s judge it on its own merits. It might not reach the Hitchcockian-esq heights it clearly aspires to – all claustrophobia and menacing score – but it kept us cheerfully hooked for all of those 90 minutes. Boasting a subversively sinister turn from Colin Firth, and equally confounding Mr Nice Guy turn from rent-a-villan Mark Strong, if you need a servicable little runaround of a thriller, it’s perfectly reliable.

UK release 5 September

What If. Friends Without Benefits.

Posted on August 21, 2014 by The Sloth

What-If-poster We hate rom coms. They make us want to stick forks in our eyes and run screaming for the nearest Terminator box set. But, because we are dutiful and honorable Sloth, we put personal suffering to one side and committed ourselves to What If.

90 minutes later we still had our sight. So by normal reckoning it was therefore fabulous and you should go see it pronto. What? You want more? Grrr.

Wallace (Daniel Racfliffe, sadly without a canine sidekick called Gromit), is a bit of a geek. Shambling around at a party he strikes up a conversation with the also geeky Chantry (Zoe Kazan). Hitting it off, Wallace walks her home, clearly anticipating a bit of tonsil tennis. Sadly, Chantry chooses that moment to casually reveal she has a boyfriend, the flirtarious harpy. Crestfallen, Wallace tears up the ‘let’s be friends’ phone number she gave him and sulks.

Not for long. Bumping into each other at a movie theatre, they hit it off once again. And this time, stay in touch. For while Chantry’s boyfriend Ben (Rafe Spall, with Canadian accent) is still on the scene, Wallace figures he may as well lust from afar. So begins a beautiful friendship, marred only by Ben’s suspicion of Wallace’s motives, plus the continual ribbing and derision Wallace’s friend Allan (Adam Driver) pours upon him. But can a man and woman every stay just friends?

Yes, we’ve seen this scenario before and no-doubt we’ll see it again. But, putting our cynicism aside, as rom coms go this is definitely one of the better ones. It’s sweet without being too cutesy and features just enough crudity and low budget indie sensibility to steer well away from Kate Hudson territory. And we did quite like Daniel as a leading man – all nervous and short and awkward. He’s definitely no chested-waxed hearthrob and that makes a refreshing change.

Now we’re off to watch Arnie blow things up.

UK release 20 August

God Help The Girl. Cynics Need Not Apply.

Posted on August 14, 2014 by The Sloth

GOD-HELP-THE-GIRL-01 We’re just going to come right out and say it – we absolutely loved God Help The Girl. Written by Stuart Murdoch of Everything But The Girl, it features music from the band’s repertoire performed by the actors. And yes, this does mean they are prone to bursting into song in the middle of the street. The Sloth sees half of you are already reaching for your coats and normally we would entirely share your reaction, but wait just one second and hear us out.

Eve (Emily Browning) is a reluctant hospital ward. Anorexic and troubled, she uses music as an escape. Quite literally. Making a break for it one night she heads for a gig in the centre of Glasgow where she meets musician James (Olly Alexander). Angry and alone after a bust up with the rest of his band, James finds solace in Eve and, when she admits she has nowhere to go, invites her to stay in his flat.

Bonding over a shared love of music, Eve reveals some of the songs she has written to James who, already smitten, now falls head over heels. Deciding to form their own band they recruit the ever-cheerful Cass (Hannah Murray) as a third member and our trio set about rehearsing, arguing, canoeing round Glasgow’s canals and playing the odd gig, because that’s what bands do.

What makes this so touching is the relationship between James and Eve. His ever-hopeful, unrequited adoration of her is so painful and true to life it brings back all those memories of schoolyard crushes you’d hoped to have buried forever. Yes it’s whimsical and yes it’s a touch cloying and yes the camera gawps a little too reverently at Emily Browning’s undoubted beauty, but it has so much charm and heart that you’d be churlish not to thrown caution to the wind and soak it all up. Then come out singing.

UK release 22 August. UK DVD release 27 October. Want more music? Try Begin Again.

Begin Again. Band It Like Beckham.

Posted on July 15, 2014 by The Sloth

begin You may or may not know that Keira Knightley is married to a member of The Klaxons. Which is interesting as in Begin Again she plays the girlfriend of a musician tasting new found fame, who then promptly leaves her once the groupies come a-calling. Let’s not speculate on the chances of art imitating life and move swiftly on.

Dragged reluctantly onstage during an open mike night, songwriter Greta (Keira Knightley) finds herself crooning a self-penned creation to a bar full of disinterested New Yorkers. Apart from one. Dan (Mark Ruffalo), a shambolic, semi-alcoholic A&R man is enchanted. Fired from his own record label only that morning, Dan drunkenly seizes upon Greta as his ticket back into the business.

Greta is similarly no stranger to troubles. Recently arrived in NYC to support her up and coming musician boyfriend Dave (Maroon 5 frontman, Adam Levine) as he records a new album, Greta finds herself swiftly relegated from co-writer and muse to tea lady. On discovering Dodgy Dave’s been forging more than a strictly professional relationship with one of his new colleagues, heartbroken Greta throws caution to the wind and agrees to record her own album with Dan.

Our Keira’s already proved she can take a neat free kick and fight pirates in a corset. In Begin Again she can add an endearingly girlish, fragile singing voice to her accomplishments. Taking the decision to record each track outside to capture the background sounds of the city, Dan, Greta and their troupe of session musicians work their way around NYC and through an emotional musical therapy of their own.

Yes, it’s a touch forced in places and frankly, if Dan and Greta reveal their supposed ‘guilty pleasures’ playlists as including the likes of Sinatra and Stevie Wonder, then The Sloth ain’t never showing our Take That collection to nobody. But overall this is sweet and uplifting, helped by an enigmatic, Lost In Translation style relationship between the two leads. A not-so-guilty pleasure.

UK release 11 July. DVD release 10 November.

The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window And Disappeared

Posted on June 29, 2014 by The Sloth

100yearold The world’s unquenchable thirst for all things dark, quirky and Scandinavian rages on. The latest Nordic juggernaut attempting to slake it is 100 Year Old Man (we’re not typing it all out again, we’ll wear out our three toes). Adapted from the best selling novel, this is not just any blockbuster juggernaut, this is the biggest Scandinavian movie EVER at the Swedish box office. Yup, bigger than anything female and dragon tattoed. That’s sizeable hobnail boots to fill.

It’s Allan Karlsson’s (Robert Gustafsson) birthday. He’s 100, he lives in a nursing home and he’s being given a birthday party whether he likes it or not. Unfortunately, it’s a not. Faced with the prospect of being snapped for the local paper and having to socialise with his fellow doddery residents, he climbs out his window and legs it to the local bus station. While waiting for the next bus a dodgy looking chap asks Allan to keep an eye on his suspiciously enormous suitcase while he pops to the loo. Allan agrees. Then promptly nicks it, taking off in the bus.

So kicks off an eccentric, rambling road-trip-come-shaggy-dog-story that switches between past and present. Present day Allan soon finds himself hotly pursued cross country by the none-too-happy owner of the suitcase, picking up several new friends en route who aid his escape, not least Sonya, a circus elephant. Reminiscing partly with himself and partly to his new buddies introduces us to past day Allan, a frank talking genius (and dynamite expert) who allegedly contributed much to the course of history, hobnobbing with President Truman, Stalin, Churchill and Chairman Mao.

Mad as a bucket of frogs, witty and irreverent, It’s a delight. In a time when Hollywood churns out much unimaginative slush and remakes, how reassuring to see that imagination and new ideas are still actually possible. And apart from anything else, it’s good to see the market in cantankerous elders hasn’t been entirely corned by Alan Arkin.

Most Romantic Films That Make You Want To Travel…

Posted on June 17, 2014 by The Sloth

Please welcome back The Sloth’s regular guest bloggers Lovestruck.com, who are in holiday mood.

With the summer holidays now firmly in our sites and our sunnies and shorts dug out from the back of our wardrobes, here at Lovestruck.com, we couldn’t help thinking of romance and more specifically, the most romantic films of all time set in foreign climes. Here are our top choices:

Amelie (2001). Location: Paris.
How we love, love, love this French flick about a Parisian waitress (played by Audrey Tatou), who wants to make other peoples’ lives better, while struggling with her own loneliness. Cute and delicate, Amelie is funny, touching and has the most fabulous backdrop. The film is set in the 18^th district and makes us want to hop on the Eurostar right this second and go and drink wine in the sunshine on one of the cobbled streets. Our top quote: “A woman without love wilts like a flower without sun.”

Under The Tuscan Sun (2003). Location: Tuscany
Do you ever consider jacking it all in and heading off somewhere beautiful and starting all over? In this film, a recently divorced writer (played by Diane Lane) impulsively buys a dilapidated Tuscan villa where she begins a romance with the Italian local Marcello. And while that romance doesn’t last, she eventually meets an American on holiday proving that love can strike at a time when you least expect it to. Our top quote: “Signora. Please stop being so sad. If you continue like this, I will be forced to make love to you. And I’ve never been unfaithful to my wife.”

Before Sunrise (1995). Location: Vienna
This romantic drama, directed by Richard Linklater follows a young American man named Jesse (played by Ethan Hawke) and a French woman Celine (played by Julie Delpy) who meet on a train and get off in Vienna. They spend the night wondering around the city, getting to know each other. Witty and poignant, it is an unabashed look at romantic love.
Our top quote: “Isn’t everything we do in life the way to be loved a little bit more?“

Lost In Translation (2003). Location: Tokyo.
This is a study of two lost souls who come together and spend a few days together in Tokyo. Bob (played by Bill Murray) is a jaded, ageing actor and Charlotte (played by Scarlett Johansson) is beautiful and bored waiting for her husband. The pair form an unlikely bond and realise their friendship might be something more. Beautifully shot, the film also balances humour and poignancy. Our top quote: “The more you know who you are and what you want, the less you let things upset you.”

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008). Location: Barcelona.
Woody Allen helms this flick about best friends played by Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johansson, who travel to Barcelona and become enamoured with the same man. Things get much more complicated when his unstable ex then comes to stay. Anyone who needs some escapism (and to see some beautiful views of the city) needs to check this out pronto. Our top quote: “If you don’t start undressing me soon, this is going to turn into a panel discussion.”

What do you think of our choices? Do you have some of your own? Tell us @lovestruck