What If - Movie Review

Who's in it?

Adam Driver, Rafe Spall, Zoe Kazan, and Daniel Radcliffe

What's it about?

Wallace (Daniel Radcliffe), freshly cheated on and broken up with, goes to a party and meets Chantry (Zoe Kazan)- promptly falling in love with her but vows to remain just best friends due to her long-term relationship.

Any Good? 

The thing that was most impressive about this movie wasn't just that it was shot in both Toronto and Dublin, but that it made the Liffey board walk look fairly clean, that's worthy of an Oscar itself! Ah but really, it did a good job of showing what it's like in the city for the short time it was here.

Wallace is an introvert-esque guy that also happens to be a total douchenozzle at first but he grows on you with such subtlety that you don't notice, until he gets in awkward situations and you find yourself biting your lip, reclining into your seat a la Inbetweeners. Chantry is an oddity, I mean she totally plays with Wallace's head a couple of times which did bother me (Dammit subtle grower on Wallace!) but she was likable even then, akin to Ramona Flowers.

The original Irish/UK poster

While I did get a That Awkward Moment vibe off this film, there were some pretty emotional moments. They really did shine and showed off Mr. Radcliffe's acting chops. Especially in one scene when he looks at Chantry - you'll know the one when you see it. 

It also taught me how to make Fool's Gold - an entire loaf of bread baked in butter and filled with peanut butter, jam and topped with bacon that myself and my good friend Ally have agreed to tackle together - so big props, What If for taking 10 years off my life!

While it may sound like a neckbeard film about 'The Friendzone' or 'Good Guys Finish Last' there's a whole lot of heart in this Irish-Canadian film collab - as was the subtle dry humour displayed. Even with the fairly childish approach to the situation, it's actually worth the watch.


Rating: 

Jersey Boys - Movie Review

  Who's in it?

Vincent Piazza, Erich Bergen, Michael Lomenda, John Lloyd Young and Christopher Walken

What's it about?

Jersey Boys is the story of how 3 criminal minors met a brilliant song writer and went from being safe-stealing messers to the most popular band pre-Beatles in America.

Any Good?

I liked this, I don't know if it was the AMAZING soundtrack or the Joysey charm the accents brought, even with the ridiculously long 2 hours and 14 minutes run length filled with fluff. Even with an easy hour of pure filler the main story can hold up if you pay close enough attention, with great extra characters like Joseph Russo as the truly funny Joe Pesci. 

The fourth-wall breaking talking to the camera really shined at times, but I did notice that not once did Frankie himself do it until the final scenes, more the other characters for him and it reminded me a lot of Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad's later seasons if you see what I mean.

The acting was pretty solid to say the least, Vincent Piazza as the total D-Bag of the film was genuinely aggravating, which can be huge props for a role like that. I liked Erich Bergen in this, he was the best of the entire band and I really did care and root for him whenever he was in an argument. 

Christopher Walken was Christopher Walken in terms of his role of mafia man Gyp, but there's one scene where he goes to see Frankie sing and his acting is out of this world, incredible for the entire duration.

I've said it and I'll say it again, I liked this. It had the early rock sound that just hasn't been replicated since The Beatles and it sounded great. One thing I just realised is that this movie is an actual musical due to the amount of songs featured, but it's done so well it just feels like the songs are meant to be there each time. Not bad Clint/Frankie/Bobby et al, not bad at all.

Rating? 

The (sigh..) Eldest Gorgebag