Paper Towns Review
The Plot
A teenage boy on the cusp of finishing high school reconnects with the beautiful and mysterious girl next door for once crazy night. When she suddenly vanishes he and his friends embark on a strange and life changing journey to find her.
The Good
John Green reduced global audiences to tears with the painfully bittersweet The Fault In Our Stars, thankfully Paper Towns has a more whimsical and less tragic approach to teen romance. Green’s books translate well to screen and his knack for creating sincere emotions and drama remains firmly intact.
Delevigne is cleverly cast as Margo , the films missing girl and mysterious holy grail. Her real life fame and notoriety lends her character an instant aura of intrigue and allure. It would have been far more challenging for an average unknown actress to achieve this in really just a handful of scenes.
Nat Wolff gave a scene stealing turn in The Fault In Our Stars and this time he carries Paper Towns capably as everyman adolescent hero Quentin. His average boy next door appearance and deliberately awkward demeanour ensures he brings a credible reality to an increasingly elaborate adventure.
In truth it’s actually the film’s supporting cast that prove its most effective surprise. Austin Abrams and Justice Smith play Quentins’s best friends. The convincing chemistry between this trio of likeable social underachievers is actually the real heart of the story.
It’s refreshing and endearing to see a portrayal of teenage friendship that doesn’t resort to a lazy form of self-aware irony and witty cynicism. This isn’t just another batch of absurdly wise beyond their year’s high schoolers clearly written by adults. There’s actually something innately authentic and heartfelt about their good natured an unashamedly awkward co-dependence.
The affectionate bond and playful banter between the film’s unlikely heroes adds both humour and heart to an already intriguing mystery. It makes it so much more enjoyable to join the characters on their literal and metaphorical ride. The combination of suspense and sentiment holds audience’s attention firmly.
The Bad
Though she serves as an effective catalysts for the films story, in truth Delevigne has surprisingly little screen time for a film largely being marketed on the back of her ‘it girl’ supermodel status. Likewise, her character Margo will be a convincingly alluring dream girl for some people, for others she will merely be infuriatingly selfish and irritating. The virtues of Delevigne’s on screen presence, much like her real life persona, will divide opinions dramatically. In truth there’s still not much evidence available yet to truly judge her acting prowess or potential.
Nat Wolff is likewise promoted from scene stealing sidekick duties to leading man status. While his awkwardness is clearly an intentional character trait it does mean that at times he lacks a little charisma and personality.
It’s unfair but inevitable to compare the romantic leads in Paper Towns with those of Green’s recent global box office phenomenon The Fault in Our Stars. Sadly the mostly missing Delevigne and the deliberately average Wolff can’t match that iconic level of heart-breaking romantic chemistry.
Though the film does well to create a real sense of mystery and purpose, it builds to a conclusion that without being too specific won’t be universally satisfying. The film is exactly what it intends to be, but that won’t be to everyone’s tastes.
The Ugly Truth
Paper Towns is a sincerely sweet and pleasantly amusing romantic comedy, thanks in the most part to its enjoyable supporting cast. Delevigne’s mostly absent leading lady and the film’s conclusion will likely divide audience’s opinions, but aren’t enough to make them ignore the film’s other obvious charms.
Review by Russell Nelson
Cate Blanchett Attends London Film Festival
The 59th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express has announced Carol, Todd Haynes’ beautiful 1950s set drama, as the Festival’s American Express Gala. The film will receive its UK premiere on Wednesday 14 October at the Odeon Leicester Square, attended by the director and luminous stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara.
Based on Patricia Highsmith’s seminal novel, adapted by screenwriter Phyllis Nagy, Carol follows Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara), a young clerk in her 20s working in a Manhattan department store, who dreams of a more fulfilling life. When Therese meets Carol (Cate Blanchett), an alluring woman trapped in a loveless, convenient marriage, an immediate connection sparks between them. As the innocence of their first encounter dims, their connection deepens and they embark on a journey of self discovery.
BFI London Film Festival Director Clare Stewart says:
“We are delighted to announce that Todd Haynes’ Carol will be this year’s American Express Gala. Carol is a deeply romantic, emotionally honest love story and is also cinema at its most intoxicating and immaculate.”
Orlando Bloom Back For Pirates Sequel
Orlando Bloom will once again play Will Turner in the latest Pirates of the Caribbean sequel Dead Men Tell No Tales. Bloom was last seen sailing off on the high seas at the end of the original trilogy, but didn’t feature in the forth film On Stranger Tides.
The news of Bloom’s unexpected return was confirmed officially at the Disney D23 Expo over the weekend. The studio also released an official synopsis for the new film, which also stars Javier Bardem as new villain Captain Salazar.
“Thrust into an all-new adventure, a down-on-his-luck Captain Jack Sparrow finds the winds of ill-fortune blowing even more strongly when deadly ghost pirates led by his old nemesis, the terrifying Captain Salazar, escape from the Devil’s Triangle, determined to kill every pirate at sea…including him. Captain Jack’s only hope of survival lies in seeking out the legendary Trident of Poseidon, a powerful artifact that bestows upon its possessor total control over the seas.”
Star Wars The Force Awakens Poster
Iconic artist Drew Struzan has created the new poster below for Star Wars The Force Awakens. The artwork was revealed at the Disney’s D23 Expo event.
The most notable feature is the fact that John Boyega’s character Finn is shown for the first time actually wielding a lightsaber. The poster also showcases masked villain Kylo Ren with his controversially hilted lightsaber. Fans of the original trilogy will no doubt welcome the inclusion of plenty of X-Wings, Tie Fighters and Han Solo himself.
Bill Murray Joins Ghostbusters Reboot
After decades of reluctance to return to the franchise for Dan Aykroyd’s long delayed Ghostbusters 3 sequel Bill Murray is surprisingly apparently set to appear for at least a cameo in Paul Feig’s female lead reboot of the classic comedy franchise.
Murray takes his place alongside the cast which already includes Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones. It’s not yet clear if Murray will be playing the iconic Dr Peter Venkman or merely making an appearance in another capacity.