Author: cwhitehouse13

Jason Bourne (2016) a film review. 

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Director: Paul Greengrass

Running time: 2 hours 3 mins. 

Cast: Matt Damon, Tommy Lee Jones, Alicia Vikander, Vincent Cassell, Julia Stiles, Riz Ahmed. 


Jason Bourne is back to uncover truths about his past. Sound familiar? Yes Matt Damon is back again and Paul Greengrass returning to direct does indeed raise expectations. Plus with Tommy Lee Jones, Alicia Vikander and Vincent Cassel added to the list, which also includes the return of Julia Stiles and there’s all the ingredients of another hit. But alas the concoction is merely satisfactory in all departments. I sat through the thin story which is just Bourne blabbing on about Treadstone, Black Frier or something and his past in hushed tones once more. I actually cared very little. Even Bourne says he knows everything of interest about his past. But this spy type action dusts itself off and yet doesn’t revel in action, dialogue or suspense. I felt like I left the cinema with nothing more than I’d entered with. Even Riz Ahmed was underused. Maybe there were too many charters at play? I don’t really know but it just felt like it was waffling on retreading what we have already seen enough of. 

Totally forgettable apart from being reduced to the one known as ‘The one with Tommy Lee Jones in’. 


C Whitehouse 2016


Star Trek Beyond (2016) film review 

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Director: Justin Lin

Running time: 2 hours. 

Cast: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urben, Zoe Salanda, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Idris Elba. 


This rebooted Star Trek franchise has finally done the thing which it secretly hoped to do, that is make me me think “maybe I should go back and watch some of the tv series”. The new cast now fell bedded in and oddly Chris Pine now sounds more Shatner than ever. I’m a sucker for a scene where we get to observe what an alien metropolis functions like and recently I got his same thing in Guardians Of The Galaxy, Elysium and now this. This delivers on the different alien environment front and also plays it right down the formulaic route of ‘chase the maguffin’ while evolving the team dynamic. The story follows a Marvel movies direction of baddie wants some thing you have and they need outsmarting. In a way it’s stuck in a box when it’s enemies all look Klingon and your teleporting out of certain death scenarios but other than that I still enjoyed the interplay between the crew a lot. Certain scenes had shaky cam and too fast fighting which left me staring at blurring images which I didn’t follow but others had well paced enjoyable action pieces which I could relish in. I do wish it would put down its nostalgia for the original series’ cast though. 

I really buy into the Spock/Kirk friendship these days and tha is played upon here even as new bad guy Krall throws obstacles at the guys. Idris Elba was unrecognisable to me until half way in under all the prosthetics but once I realised it was him, it was obvious. A colourful and action packed space adventure which was just what I wanted. 

I’m still not a Trekker but I will dig deeper. 


C Whitehouse 2016 

The BFG (2016) film review 

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Director: Stephen Spielberg 

Running time : 2 hours. 

Cast: Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill, Penelope Wilton , Rebecca Hall, Rafe Spall. 

 If I didn’t already know that this version was directed by Stephen Spielberg, then I’d have struggled to tell. His finger prints are maybe on some shot framing on a scene or two but outside of that I’d say this could’ve been anyone. The Big Friendly Giant himself, played by Mark Rylance, is recognisable in the face as the actor himself and the effects are done in a way which is reminiscent of the Robert Zemeckis’s A Christmas Carol from 2009. To be honest I expected a much more cutting edge CGI which I may struggle to believe was CGI at all. Sure it’s very good but when you see Ruby Barnhill playing young Sophie it high lit the gap between real and unreal for me. Sophie as a character and the BFG also surprised me because I didn’t wholly like either of them. Sophie seemed like a little brat with a chip on her shoulder. The source book is pretty simplistic in its story telling and that was felt on the film as long over running scenes such as meeting (person omitted) stretched my patients and that of my son. With so few things happening in general I kind of lost interest in parts.  


The opening stealth skills of the BFG showed skill and imagination but these moments faded out eventually. Although the scenes were shot looking like they could happen in the Harry Potter universe, there was little else in common with that much better family outing. When you realise you are enjoying the villains more than the heroes then you know you’re not properly invested. 

I left a little let down to be honest but there’s just enough to get you through till the end. 

CWhitehouse 2016

Ice Age: Collision Course (2016) film review 

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Director: Galen T. Chu

Running time: 1 hour 34

Cast: Queen Latifa, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Jennifer Lopez, Simon Pegg, Jessie J. 


The odd Ice Age family continue to evolve and work through human family problems in animal form . The normal formula of getting from A to B in order to stay alive is still followed here but this time it’s to avoid the asteroid which wiped out the dinosaurs. 

But also as usual, the plot is secondary to the bickering cast and the sight gags which are the true life of this series. Just when you think the animators would have wiped the well of invention dry, especially where Scrat is concerned, we see that’s just not the case. If you’ve seen any of the films up to now you’ll know what to expect on the whole. While that should be dull and tired in reality, it just keeps working. The kids will be happy for the full running time and the adults won’t be annoyed by any of the goofy characters. It’s just such a comfy slipper of a movie, it’s hard to find a problem with it. Cancel the apocalypse, Buck is back to help the furry gang save the world. 

C Whitehouse 2016


Ghostbusters (2016) film review 

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Director : Paul Feig

Running Time: 2 hours

Cast: Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, Neil Casey, Andrew Garcia, Charles Dance, Ozzy Osbourne. 

The female cast of the new Ghostbusters, Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones plus villian Neil Casey have all been on Saturday Night Live in America. Director of Bridesmaids, Paul Feig, has also shown previous good form in comedy. Rolling all this together should result in a real treat of a comedy movie. Well it does and it doesn’t. The lead cast work really well together and often seem to be holding back smirks from endless improvised takes. That chemistry works well as does the mix of modern yet cartoony retro ghostly effects. Receptionist Chris Hemsworth is entertaining as the possibly over ‘Mr. Bean- stupid’ yet handsome but dumb Kevin. The story follows the essential set up of the first outing with a team of scientists making a breakthrough as spirits are unleashed on New York. Although they dropped the Sigourney Weaver/Rick Moranis plot thread this time around. It’s a fun ride with feisty sassy dialogue between the new team. But what spoilt the overall result for me was the crudeness of humour in an essentially family film. It’s a 12a, which hints at its tone but audiences will inevitably bring along 8 year olds who then have to sit with parents burying their blushes as they are questioned about vaginal jokes and cover their kids eyes and ears as middle fingers fly and category B swear words are shouted. Caution must be taken I feel.
My biggest gripe is that I welcome a cameo or two from the original movie or maybe an in joke here and there but I stopped counting at 12 ‘point at the screen’ moments or line quotes. That self referencing made it feel unsure of itself due to the fan baiting and reminiscing. The film is peppered with call backs even after the end credits roll and the final sequel set up is done. It’s also evidence that McCarthy works better as a team player. 

I would also mention that a couple of ghost scares may give ten year olds or younger nightmares. But I still enjoyed the ride as someone who loved the first movie- not the second. This reminded me of The Frighteners also, which is still good fun. So a better than expected but aimed at a young adult market, rehash of a nostalgic piece of my childhood. 

I’ll happily watch a sequel, but without my son. 
C Whitehouse 2016

Where To Invade Next 2016 (KFC Screening 17th July) 

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Director: Michael Moore

Running time: Michael Moore…..oh no, 2 hours. 

Cast: Michael Moore


I became aware of Michael Moore in 2007 when BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE was getting good reviews. The man himself seemed to be this force of nature for good. But subsequent films of his painted him as a bit of a token trouble causer just trying to find another hit. He’s a professional nuisance, a fly in the ointment by trade who has become the face of the supposed hidden truths of America. But what I do like about him is that I come away from his films having learnt so much in a relatively short space of time. I knew nothing of the USA health service until SICKO for example. 

This latest offering of his has a somewhat misleading title. Where Moore normally has his documentary style of filmmaking put him at the feet of unfair business giants as he barks up their trouser legs, this one seems to have him grabbing at straws. He has no real flag to wave over anything in particular. But I felt that was a strength actually. The basis for this movie, rather than highlighting everything which is wrong with America, is to travel the world and showcase the things which other countries do really really well, in the hope of claiming the idea as his own and taking it home to implement there. It’s a positive feeling movie which is joyous in tone and yet still open our eyed what else is going on in the world. Again I learnt some have amazing stuff along the way in a concise and well edited two hours. There’s no through point as such but it’s still entertaining to be taught how other places run so differently. 

Moore, looking older and tired, seems to be enjoying this new positive exploration too and it’s got a good balance of the dark history of the states and the bright futures of the foreign lands he visits. There’s his dry delivery over the top of course, guiding you through the facts and representing them with handy animations and graphs so as not to lose you as we are dealt facts which seem too good to be actually true. 

This is a breezy lesson In how much of the world has its head screwed on better than we do. It’s all about priority amongst humans and not capitalism. I was surprised about how much levity there www to be had at the heads of Michael Moore and I welcome more light hearted work from him in the future. 

C Whitehouse. 2016   

Independence Day: Resurgence  (Film Review)(2016) 

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Director: Rolland Emmerich

Running time: 2 hours

Cast: Liam Helmsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Maika Monroe, Jessie T. Usher, Sela Ward, Willam Fichtner, Judd Hirsch, Brent Spiner, Charlotte Gainsbourg. 
Nobody looks back at the first Independence Day movie and thinks it was a masterpiece. But as for spectacle and a huge dollop of dumb action, where Will Smith punches an alien and a crop spraying drunk helps defeat the invasion, we got enough of what we wanted from it. This too late follow up has no Will Smith but in his place we get a handful of spare change to try and plug the hole. Jeff Goldblum returns as Ian Malcolm from Jurassic Park even though that’s the wrong franchise. Bill Pullman is back as patriotic monologue spouting ex president. Judd Hirsch is back as favour to Rolland Emmerich. Plus Brent Spiner is back as cheap nerd actor. On top of this, because in all honesty , who cares about them, is B-list Hemsworth Liam, oh. 

 Playing Will Smith’s son is Jessie T. Usher (WHOOOOOooooooo????) and William ‘I’ve got gambling debts to pay’ Fichtner as lead dramatic army man. But it’s Maika Monroe of the excellent The Guest and It Follows, who I forgive. She’s coming up in her career and even though this is pretty pants, it’s good for her resume. Now all the actors are jobbing actors who come along and do exactly what’s asked of them. The problem is its blue print, by the numbers, seen it before, route one dross. 

In fact everything is 70%. The script, “that’ll do”, CGI, “that’ll do”, cast level, “that’ll do” and on and on. Patriotic speech times five. Heroic deed times three. Pointless characters to just fill running time times ten. 
And yet, knowing that it feels like a pilot for the Independence Day tv series and yet still isn’t as good as say Battlestar Galactica tv series, does still have its merits. It has half a dozen ‘money shots’ which on a show reel would look impressive. But the film as a whole hits it’s heights at ‘OK’ and its lows at ‘Jeez, how small is this world that everyone can randomly fall at their family’s feet at the exact moment even if they were briefly on another planet’. 

The science is totally wrong. There’s no g -force, no emotional weight, no ‘stop and see if they are friendly before blasting them’. No sense, no …will smith. The sets are glaringly obvious, in a Star Trek 1970’s way. Throw some sand down and lean on a fake rock level of cheap. 

BUT I did enjoy the final beasty in the latter half even though that too was recognisable in design. It has Aliens, Spaceships, Guns and Jeff Goldblum, therefore it’s got some worth. 

Like when all you want is a dirty sweaty burger from the back of a van even though it has no nutritional value, this movie fills a certain type of hole. Albeit a cheap one. And to practically bait the audience with a franchise carrot has got to be commended. 
C Whitehouse 2016

Marley (2012) 

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Director: Kevin Macdonald 

Running Time: 2 hours 24 minutes 
Whenever I here a song by Bob Marley, one thing comes to mind. Turn it off. But I must also state that I don’t dislike anything about it either. It just barely registers as music to my ears and is instantly forgotten. 
I have never had cause to find out about the man who was Bob Marley because I’m not political and our paths never crossed. 
But what I do like is watching a programme or a documentary about something which I know nothing about and learning something. 
I find most documentaries about musicians or people who are creative very enjoyable and generally inspirational. So because this film was out at the cinema I made myself go. 
I was glad that I did. Kevin Macdonald who had previously directed ‘The Last King Of Scotland’ and ‘Touching The Void’ does a good job with the task of piecing together a progressive collage of a journey from Marley’s days in Trench Town , through his early days and benefit gigs, right up to his death in 1981. There is candid talking heads featuring close family members and band mates and footage from various concerts and interviews. Marley himself is painted as he was in life, totally focused on his cause and an unashamed romantic beneath his shy exterior. 

I was taken in by the film immediately because I love listening to African accents and it taught me a lot about Rastafarianism which I knew nothing about prior to this movie. I came away knowing how Reggae was formed and it’s message of peace between everyone on the planet. The family talk frankly about the events which clouded their enjoyment sometimes whilst on tour with this small man who had a large persona. 
It also documents an operation on his toe that seems inconsequential to begin with but becomes important later on. 
The film was surprisingly long I felt, as a non reggae fan especially. The music went through me and was forgotten the instant the credits rolled. I am not a new fan of the music but I have a huge amount of respect for the man himself. I will never hear his music again without thinking good of him and his cause. 
This was a pleasure that I am really glad I watched. So if you like Bob Marley and his music then you should love this.

C Whitehouse 2016 

The Lady In The Van (2015)

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Director: Nicholas Hytner
Running time: 1 hour 44 mins 

Cast: Maggie Smith, Alex Jennings, Jim Broadbent 

I would say this film is a delightful portrayal of an incident which was supposed to last a short period but escalated for years. Alan Bennett, played brilliantly by Alex Jennings takes pity of ‘Miss Sheperd, also played brilliantly by Maggie Smith, who is a bag lady but owner of a van, who bothers a street in Camden where Bennett lives. Rather than being a good deed doer, Bennett’s offer to let the lady park in his driveway is in fact to stop her getting in the way of his writing. 

Yes, that relationship, if that’s what you can call it, is fractured and amusing but really I more enjoyed the ‘other’ Alan who is his writer self, who is also portrayed on screen by the same actor. He talks to his other self as an inner voice personified. It’s engaging and light hearted but there’s the sense of sadness in the lady’s past as we uncover and piece together a surprising past. 

I really enjoyed this little film and enjoyed my first dip into the world of Bennett.
C Whitehouse 

Film Review Of : The Conjouring 2: The Enfield Case (2016) 

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Director : James Wan 

Running time: 2 hours 14 mins 

Cast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Madison Wolfe, Frances O’Connor, Lauren Esposito, Simon McBurney, Simon Delaney, Franke Potente, 
As a part time paranormal investigator, I had much more of an interest in this Enfield Case as it’s possibly the uk’s best known case. The recent tv three parter with Timothy Spall as intrepid investigator Maurice Grosse reignited people’s fascination with the case of a poltergeist energy which attached itself to one young girl and spoke through her on tape, even though a girls throat is incapable of making such deep tones. It’s a classic piece of evidence. 

To see James Wan deliver this tale had great possibilities for me. But being a horror film lover I also suffer from being too knowing about the music cues and other well trodden clues which ruin most scary movies for me. The first Conjouring was enjoyable to me but I never jumped or really felt uneasy in my seat while most of the audience had a great roller coaster ride. 

So to have The Conjouring 2 give me shivers in a few parts made me love this movie. Sure enough there are some failings such as the Crooked man which seems more Guillermo del toro than J.Wan. but with so many different types of scare tactics, there’s always something coming along which is likely to hit the spot and tap into your fears. The Warrens are back (which to be honest, I didn’t know had any hand in the case) plus the Marilyn Manson looking dude resembling the demon from Insidious albeit dressed as a nun this time. The use of shadow is exemplary and there are at least a couple of scares which I was left gleeful over. There child actors appear wooden a little until you see what the actual children were like in life- odd, out of it, and practically disturbed by events. All the cast do a good job but special merit must go to Simon McBurney as Maurice Grosse in a role which he nails as this unique man. 

There is probably half the movie which you could class as pure Hollywood polish just added to entertain but I was impressed at the details of the case which were implemented especially the neighbours over the road and the police who witnessed activity first hand. 

This is the best ghost story horror I’ve seen in many a year and I’ve watched everyone which I can get my hand on. 

I see this as a classic. 

C Whitehouse (Whitehouse Investigations) 2016