Smiley
Directed by: Michael Gallagher
Starring: Caitlin Gerard, Melanie Papalia, Shane Dawson
A throwback to nineties post-"Scream" horror, "Smiley" tells of an urban legend based on a killer who inhabits the internet and can be summoned by typing "I did it for the lulz" three times.
Yep, it's "Candyman" for the Skype generation. Director Michael Gallagher started out making popular YouTube videos which is exactly what this movie looks like with it's garish lighting and minimal set dressing. In fairness the script does manage to tie up all it's loose ends which is more than can be said for most big-budget flicks today.
Yep, it's "Candyman" for the Skype generation. Director Michael Gallagher started out making popular YouTube videos which is exactly what this movie looks like with it's garish lighting and minimal set dressing. In fairness the script does manage to tie up all it's loose ends which is more than can be said for most big-budget flicks today.
3/10
Safety Not Guaranteed
Directed by: Colin Trevorrow
Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Mark DuPlass, Jake Johnson,Karan Soni
Aubrey Plaza is an intern at a Seattle magazine who finds herself answering Mark Duplass' advert for a time-travelling companion. Initially her intent is to use him for a humorous story but of course she ends up falling for him. Like most recent American indie comedies, it all feels very unoriginal. There are subplots we've seen before countless times involving a character's return to his hometown and some pathetic racial stereotyping. Please, independent film-makers of America, do something interesting. If Sean Durkin can make "Martha Marcy May Marlene" on a low budget why must the rest of you insist on making these trite "dramedies"?
5/10
Ginger & Rosa
Directed by: Sally Potter
Starring: Elle Fanning, Alice Englert, Christina Hendricks, Alessandro Nivola, Timothy Spall, Annette Bening, Oliver Platt
It seems while Dakota Fanning was in the U.K filming the detestable "Now is Good", her much more talented little sister, Elle, was in the same country shooting Sally Potter's latest. It's a cliched 1960's coming of age tale which mixes the plots of "The Squid & the Whale" and this year's "Albatross" but lacks the charm of either. In recent years we've become used to seeing American movies starring Brits but here it's a reversal with most of the lead roles played by Americans. Robbie Ryan's cinematography and Fanning's performance are both commendable but otherwise there's little of interest on display.
5/10