Author: Ben Gummery

From writer/director Stephen Belber comes the gripping and intense real-life drama Match; starring Patrick Stewart, Matthew Lillard and Carla Gugino.

We see a day in the life of  Tobi Powell (Stewart) a seasoned professor of dance at Juilliard; except this is to be no ordinary day as he encounters Lisa (Gugino) & Mark Davis (Hillard) who claim to be researching for a dissertation turn out to have a hidden agenda with potentially huge implications.

Stewart’s performance here is Electric; an in your face and no-holes-bared tour-de-force which gives us a full frontal look into his characters psyche; however some may find it overplayed at times it is a delight to watch none the less. This is a real performance piece with very few scenes other than the interactions with the main ensemble (Tobi, Lisa & Mark) and the cast certainly rises to the challenged with Gugino providing a suitable female influence in the film. Lillard is perhaps the least interesting of the three but none the less delivers some great performances in some very difficult and gut-wrenching scenes. The writing here delves the whole range of the human experience and really allows Stewart to show off his talents if nothing else.

5/5 – See this film; even if only for Stewart’s performance.

Containment is a new British thriller from writer/director Neil McEnery-West and screenwriter David Lemon.

The film stars Louise Brealey, Sheila Reid and Lee Ross.

In a similar vein to films such as Outbreak, Contagion and Attack the Block the film’s story follows a group of tenants stuck in a tower block as a bunch of government officials in HazMat suits seal off the area for no apparent reason. This really is all a set-up for the human stories of those involved which explores areas such as parental relationships, race, class and the elderly.

This aspect of the film is at least compelling and ably played by the cast; another driving force of the film is the ‘US & Them’ relationship between the tenants and the Haz-mats though not really covering any new ground here. This film works better in the human story aspect.

The film is fairly well shot but again doesn’t really stand out visually and thriller aspect of this film doesn’t really hold up to expectation which is instead pinned on the story and drama. It plays like a taught thriller at times but ultimately is not successful in this aspect and is inconsistent.

Now available. in select cinemas and VOD in UK.

3/5

This new thriller from writer/director Ken Sanzel follows the story of two illegal gun fighters (the type of fight where they use live rounds and wear bullet proof vests for spectator sport).

The film stars Mickey Rourke, Freida Pinto and Ryan Kwanten.

John (Ryan Kwanten) is a happy go lucky gunfighter on his way up as he seeks to fight with Zorringer(Mickey Rourke); the biggest name in the game.
He befriends female fighter Colt (Freida Pinto) who is also on a mission to avenge her dead brother and the two embark a dangerous journey together.

This is a story of a dangerous lifestyle that becomes a dangerous relationship and an exploration of what people think they need to do in order to make money and prove themselves.
That said, the story hangs mostly on the shock factor with many convenient plot devices and if it wasn’t for the guns and bullet-proof vests I think it would fall flat. The film does have some beautiful shots and locations and is backed up with a kicking rock score.

Kwanten’s performance is admirable but well matched by Frieda Pinto who explodes off the screen. Mickey Rourke’s cameo as old-school wealthy gunfighter Zorringer is a presence but is all too short lived in the film.

3/5 – An interesting exploration in to the lives of gun-fighters but not much merit beyond that.

Available to pre-order now from Amazon. Out on October 5th.

In German with English Subtitles.

From writer/director Curtis Burz; The Summer House is a story about friendship and family but is far more taboo than those normally told on screen and it’s both gripping and intriguing in the way that many European drama’s can be with just a touch of grit to it’s realism.

The film stars Sten Jacobs, Anna Altmann and Jaspar Fuld.

The Larsens are a picture perfect family from the German upper-middle class. They have everything that means comfort and should mean happiness. Business success, a stylish, light-flooded home and a full scholarship for their daughter to study in England. However, the head of the family, Markus (Sten Jacobs), an architect, lives a secret, bisexual double life as his wife Christine (Anna Altmann) and their eleven-year-old daughter Elisabeth (Nina Splettstößer) drown in unendurable loneliness. Markus realizes that he has a strong yearning for one of his daughter’s school friends, Johannes, 12, also the son of his tax penalty-bedeviled business partner, Christopher (Stephan Bürgi).

The cinematography is wonderfully bright and reflective in contrast to the story (with some excellent arty european style shots such as close-ups of food and making coffee) and a mixed electronic and light ambient/jazz score helps with the pace of the piece and adds excitement.
The subject matter is certainly controversial but I am not sure if this is merely shock cinema (the sex scenes are very graphic) for the sake of it or if there is a deeper story trying to be told here.

3/5

The film is available now to rent or buy now on Vimeo.