Film Reviews by JR

I thought the film was great, very well made, well shot, gritty and gruesome. It doesn't pull any punches and isn't for the feint hearted I would say. It's not entirely believable, but that occurs to you in thoughts after the film, so you can easily suspend your disbelief throughout. Great performances, good to see Kurt Russell pulling out an excellent portrayal as the hardened Sheriff.

Also thought the film, whilst a Western was quite unique in the way it approached the Genre. Whilst a different film, with a different matter (therefore not making it entirely comparable) I definitely preferred Bone Tomahawk to the Hateful Eight, and whilst this film isn't short it was far lest indulgent in my opinion than the Hateful 8.

Give it a go.

I have seen some of the other reviews on CP on this film, and they are entirely reasonable. For me it depends on the mood you are in when you want the film and what you hope to achieve by watching it.

It was silly, but very amusing and beautifully made and filmed with good performances. Certainly not as likeable, or as throughtful as other Coen Brother's film, as say Inside Lleweyn Davis. But that said, I watched this on a Sunday afternoon, and it was indeed the perfect Sunday afternoon film. You didn't need to engage your mind too much, but neither did the humour in the film negate being thoughtful about it.

As I mentioned, it's a film beautifully shot, with the set pieces impeccably designed. The dialogue is amusing and the characters great.

Just don't expect too much from it, enjoy it for what it is, and view it as the Coen Brothers having fun and poking fun at Hollywood and you won't be disappointed. It's well worth watching it, and definitely better (way better) than a two star film.

I would have to say, that I think the other written reviews of the film aren't entirely fair. Sure, there are moments when you doubt the main protagonists would actually do what they are doing. But the film is very intense. Whether or not the one take shooting benefits the film is one thing, it's surely a great achievement though.

Will make you want to go to Berlin if you haven't. In fairness, I would agree by the end you are almost relieved that it is over. But I don't think all films should should make comfortable watching.

I watched this film without any expectations, with the exception of the hope that it would be a watchable, 'entertaining' and gripping.

Having now finished, I can say it is not an uplifting film, but it is extremely well made, well acted and worth watching. It conforms to all the stereotypes that one might have of corruption in the former USSR, however it is not clichéd. Centred around a man who is about to have his home taken from him by the state and is doing his best to stop that happening. As the film progresses there's a definite groundswell of factors set against him, but you always have the hope that events conspiring against him and his family might resolve themselves in a positive manner. It pulls no punches, glamorizes nothing, is extremely well shot, I shall say no more for fear of giving away too much of the story.

But I'm glad I watched it, would recommend it to others and found it enjoyable, not in the feeling it leaves you with, in that it's a well crafted and shot film. It is not a feelgood film, and all the better for it.

I wasn't actually expecting to receive this film, as I couldn't remember selecting it (which of course I did), but I'm glad I did.

I'm not normally a huge fan of Kiera Knightley but I enjoyed her performance in the film. It's a story, which as another reviewer mentions is one that has been done before. A songwriter trying to make her mark and gain success in a tough and competitive smaller scale musical environment. Think smaller gigs in bars and clubs. She sets about trying to record an album and meets Mark Ruffalo who takes us on a journey, of recording the album in unusual settings.

Mark Ruffalo is great, as usual and you very quickly warm to his character and his positive attitude. A well crafted film, with some great settings, a loveable cast and very uplifting. As I said, not the sort of film I would usually select, however having done that I found a film that I enjoyed and finished feeling very good about what I had just watched.

I'll probably be repeating a lot of what others have said in this film, but I found it completely gripping, watched it with two other people and not a word was spoke throughout the film as we were all engrossed in it. That should be recommendation enough.

Extremely well shot, and lovingly made. it's not an action thriller as such, but the way the film meant that action wasn't needed and it focused more on character development and insight. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, is great, as a head of a small hidden anti-terrorist unit, who has his demons, but these aren't overly stated by him and don't dominate his acting, in fact he plays the role perfectly.

Rachel McAdams (of whom I'm not often a fan) is great as well, as is Daniel Bruhl and the sense of antagonism between her and Hoffman is perfectly played.

Very sad that this was PSH's last film, and I couldn't help looking at his character and thinking what he must have been going through at the time it was made, probably added to why his character was so believable.

So a firm recommendation and I hope you will be as captivated as I was.

I'm not adverse to watching films that require usage of the old grey matter, and Jesse Eisenberg is as always good in this film. Mia Wasikowska also puts a good performance in on this film. But unfortunately, it wasn't really likeable in anyway to me, it left me feeling a bit cold. It was certainly strange, but then I expected that from the book on which it was based. But for some reason it reminded me a bit of Terry Gilliam's Brazil, not in the story, and certainly not from the sets, but partially in the way it was presented. I normally stick with a film, but found it a bit too long winded, so didn't really enjoy it. However would accept it might appeal to others more, hence the rating.