Twitter Film Reviews (May 2013)

May was a pretty interesting month for film viewing. It was a very mixed bag as usual bit it was the month in which I saw my first X-rated animated feature and also my first Ralph Bakshi film, which was Heavy Traffic (1973). I also went through another Nightmare on Elm Street phase which I seem to do annually; the trigger for this one was watching the DVD of a horror convention I attended the previous May where I met Robert Englund. 

I hope you enjoy the reviews below and also my Top Ten Picks. Keep in mind that they're not necessarily my favourite films of the month, mainly titles I think more people should see and are perhaps a little underrated.

LORENZO'S OIL (1992) This film is a love story, but one of parental love of unmeasured courage and devotion. It's an inspiring story. 4/5 [May 1^st]

HEAVY TRAFFIC (1973) is a very adult animated film. It's dirty, seedy and darkly comedic but it has meaning, it's a film about life. 3.5/5 [May 2^nd]

THE HOBBIT (2012) takes a little while to get going but it's an epic adventure with amazing visuals. I loved the opening prologue. 4/5 [May 3^rd]

BILOXI BLUES (1988) is worth seeing for Chris Walken's character alone. It's a great little comedy with some very witty dialogue. 4/5 [May 4^th]

NEVER SLEEP AGAIN: THE ELM STREET LEGACY (2010) An amazingly detailed documentary; it's candid and a must see for any Elm Street fan. 5/5 [May 4^th]

BOBBY (2006) is an underrated historical drama that boasts a great ensemble cast. It's brilliantly directed by Emilio Estevez. 4/5 [May 5^th]

SERPICO (1973) gets better every time I see it; one of the early powerhouse performances from Pacino, a powerful drama about corruption. 4/5 [May 7th]

...AND JUSTICE FOR ALL (1979) An emotionally charged legal drama based on morals and ethics. Pacino is amazing and the final scene, wow! 4/5 [May 8^th]

THE WAY (2010) Martin Sheen absolutely shines in this deeply moving human story of pilgrimage. The cinematography is stunning! 4.5/5 [May 9^th]

1969 (1988) is an underwhelming anti-war drama. Performances are good but the film is all over the place and fails to really excel. 3/5 [May 11th]

TAKEN 2 (2012) makes very little sense and is just pretty ridiculous in general. It tries way too hard to top the original film. 2.5/5 [May 11th]  

THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM (1955) Sinatra's best dramatic performance. It's such a sad film that doesn't give you much faith in people. 4/5 [May 12th]

REAR WINDOW (1954) My favourite Hitchcock film. It's unique, daring and suspenseful; with a great cast and amazing set design. Must see! 5/5 [May 12th]

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3: DREAM WARRIORS (1987) A perfect mix of horror and comedy with a great script. It's the best sequel. 4/5 [May 13th]

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS (2009) is why I love alternate history. This film is so cool and spectacular with the best dialogue. It's a bingo! 5/5 [May 13th]

AMERICAN GANGSTER EXTENDED CUT (2007) This is the cut to watch, it's a much more complete film. It's a well told gritty crime epic!  4.5/5 [May 14th]

TEXAS CHAINSAW (2013) I guess you could call this a film. It feels so pointless; it's piss weak and tries to justify murder. A waste! 1/5 [May 15th]

THE LITTLE GIRL WHO LIVES DOWN THE LANE (1976) Jodie Foster was one sharp kid in the 70s. A unique thriller about seclusion and murder. 4/5 [May 16th]

HITCHCOCK (2013) is a brilliantly witty film; that's a love story at its heart. Made with such enthusiasm and Hopkins is wonderful. 4.5/5 [May 17th]

DJANGO UNCHAINED (2012) One great mix of genres; so much fun! It's better the second time round, I didn't want it to end. 4.5/5 [May 19th]

STRAW DOGS (1971) A very raw 70s psychological thriller with a lot of atmosphere. It feels so intimidating and Hoffman is at his best. 4/5 [May 20th]

DEMONS (1985) Not a great film but entertaining. Spooky atmosphere with excellent lighting, great music and really gross gore effects. 3.5/5 [May 22^nd]

STRAW DOGS (2011) Not that bad, tries a little too hard and lacks any real atmosphere. Kate Bosworth gives the strongest performance. 3/5 [May 23rd]

CITY HALL (1996) A strong political drama with an equally strong cast. It's pretty grim, and there isn't much resolve towards the end. 3.5/5 [May 24th]

AMERICAN MARY (2012) Gets points for creativity and Katharine Isabelle's strong performance, but the second half really falls flat. 3/5 [May 25th]

MAMA (2013) is so boring! Why is Jessica Chastain in this movie? This is one of the most bland horror films I've seen in a while. 1.5/5 [May 25th]

WAIT UNTIL DARK (1967) A first rate crime thriller, that's well underrated. See it for Alan Arkin's creepy performance alone. 5/5 [May 26th]

THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991) is the classic American thriller that perfectly blends elements of crime and horror, its brilliant! 4.5/5 [May 27th]

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (2002) Underrated to say the least. I loved the set design and the cool 60s vibe. It's a great well told story. 4.5/5 [May 28th]

RUBY SPARKS (2012) Not bad, not really my genre of film. The acting was good, it had some funny moments but I found it annoying overall. 3/5 [May 29th]

THE GREAT GATSBY (2013) Visually stunning and behind all the glitz and glamour it's a story about the destructive power of wealth. 3.5/5 [May 30th]

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (1990) I forgot how dark this film was; pretty intense at time but a lot of fun for fans young and old. 4/5 [May 31st]

Top Ten Picks

1.) The Way (2010)

2.) Wait Until Dark (1967)

3.) Never Sleep Again

4.) Biloxi Blues (1988)

5.) Catch Me If You Can (2003)

6.) Heavy Traffic (1973)

7.) Django Unchained (2012)

8.) Straw Dogs (1971)

9.) The Man with the Golden Arm (1955)

10.) The Great Gatsby (2013)

If you wish to follow me on Twitter you'll find me @DrHasslein