Learning To Drive Review
The Plot
As her marriage dissolves, Manhattan writer Wendy (Patricia Clarkson) takes driving lessons from Sikh instructor Darwan (Ben Kingsley) who has marriage troubles of his own. In each other’s company they find the courage to get back on the road and the strength to take the wheel.
The Good
Director Isabel Coixet brings a small but endearingly sweet story to the screen with Sarah Kernochan’s script that creates one of the most beautifully natural pairings of Clarkson and Kingsley. With two such high caliber performances bringing gravitas to the chemistry, Kernochan’s script jumps to life wonderfully.
The story of two souls who find each other in the midst of Manhattan is a simple one but told with a depth that doesn’t fall to the power of its acting. Ben Kingsley gives a heartwarming performance as peaceful driving instructor Darwan who, even through the trials and tribulations of an arranged marriage and harboring illegal immigrant family members, still comes through the screen with a palliative sense about him.
While Darwan deals with the beginnings of his married life, Patricia Clarkson’s Wendy is dealing with the end of hers, coming to terms with being single and alone in a big city and unable to even drive away from it all. As she tries to smooth out her life and start afresh, starting with learning to drive, Wendy becomes instantly likable making the story even more accessible for audiences.
As well as this, we also get Sarita Chaudhury, last seen wooing Tom Hanks in A Hologram For The King, who has now moved on to Ben Kingsley as arranged bride, Jasleen, who tries to settle into the strange and foreign life of Manhattan. Meanwhile, on Clarkson’s side we get Grace Gummer as daughter Tasha. While the two roles aren’t much in terms of plot (though Chaudhury arguably gets more to do than Gummer) they serve as nice additions to an already strong film.
The Bad
There really isn’t much to disappoint in Kernochan’s script. The only slight misgiving that can be pointed out is it’s small hints at more to the friendship between Darwan and Wendy than meets the eye. It’s a fleeting moment, and were it dwelt on any longer it would be a distracting one.
The Ugly Truth
What Kernochan’s script absolutely nails is balance. At no time does Darwan’s difficulties become more important than Wendy’s, or vice versa. In the short 90 minutes Learning to Drive is an utter joy to watch and will certainly not feel like wasted time in the presence of such great actors.
Review by Johnny Ellis
The Conjuring 2 Review
The Plot
Lorraine and Ed Warren (Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson) travel to Enfield, London to help a single mother raising four children alone in a house plagued by malicious spirits.
The Good
When cinema audiences were first introduced to Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson’s enigmatic ghost-busting couple, Lorraine and Ed Warren in 2013’s The Conjuring, focus shifted to one of the highlights of the film, creepy haunted doll Annabelle who soon after got her own gig in a spin-off film. What’s clear in this straight up sequel, and after the dire reviews of Annabelle, is that what really worked for the franchise was the Warren’s along with James Wan who returns as director.
The Conjuring 2 kicks off with a brief glimpse into arguably the most well known haunted house story, the Amityville horror. Before the title is even shown, Wan manages to bring back the genius filmmaking that made the first installment so spine tingling, upping the ante while not becoming bogged down with retelling a story that even the casual horror fan knows already.
Instead, returning screenwriters Carey and Chad Hayes’ script jumps across the ocean to tell another, though perhaps slightly less well known true story set in Enfield. Back in 1977, the Hodgson family became victim to a ghostly haunting of an old man who possessed daughter Janet (Madison Wolfe). Soon enough, along with the ghostly attention came media attention. What the Hayes brothers script manages to work in perfectly is the doubt and skepticism that came with this Enfield haunting.
Meanwhile, Lorraine and Ed are sent over to dig around and discover for themselves whether the claims are true, in a plot line that sees them coming out of early retirement as Lorraine frets over a possibly disastrous premonition involving Ed.
The Bad
While the story is great and the plot brings up some interesting questions for the paranormal skeptics to dwell over, at times the dialogue can seem a touch on the stereotypical side, almost as if the Hayes brothers looked to old episodes of soaps to find the voices for the Hodgson family, especially in the first half.
Ultimately, The Conjuring 2 does end up slipping into the familiar territory of the well oiled formula for paranormal horror films. That is perhaps to be expected, even if it does slightly disappoint those led to believe James Wan will offer more this time round. It’s no real problem though thanks to the masterful technique of Wan’s ability to hone the genre and own the formula with some beautiful camerawork.
The Ugly Truth
The Conjuring 2 works impressively well at times and manages to offer a truly shocking and spine-tingling story thanks to the genius of James Wan’s directorial talent. While the script has some dialogue issues and slips into generic horror towards it’s final act, there’s still enough to give this the title of the years best horror so far.
Review by Johnny Ellis
Amanda Seyfried Clé de Peau Beauté 2016 Launch
The SHISEIDO Group’s high-prestige brand Clé de Peau Beauté (CPB) hosted an autumn/winter 2016 global press conference with the theme of Fearless Beauty, held at Shanghai’s Fairmont Peace Hotel on Thursday, June 16, 2016. Amanda Seyfried, the brand’s muse and global spokesperson who visited China for this event, appeared on stage at the opening of the event. The products presented at this time are part of the makeup collection conceived by Lucia Pieroni, Makeup Creative Director for Clé de Peau Beauté, through inspiration by Tamara de Lempicka, one of the most memorable female artists of the Art Deco period. It is planned that they will be marketed in 12 countries and regions around the world starting in autumn 2016 (Japan, China, Taiwan, ROK, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, USA, Canada, Russia).
Speaking at the event Amanda Seyfried had this to say:
“I feel great affinity with women who live strong, bold lives, like Tamara de Lempicka. Even in the face of difficulty, it’s important to forge ahead powerfully without flinching, maintaining a sense of conviction. If society becomes such a place that women can play active roles while being even more radiant and true to themselves, I think we may be able to resolve the many difficult issues facing the world today.”
The hollywood star was also full of lavish praise for the Lempicka Liquid Rouge product being launched as part of the collection:
“Just like a dress that presents you at your best, this rouge is a wonderful item that makes you look dramatic and attractive. When I’m wearing it, I feel like I can be bolder and freer than I usually am. I also like the crystalline, brilliant texture.”
A Full gallery of pictures below:
Suicide Squad Euro 2016 Gif Generator
In the most unlikely of team ups, DC Comics super villains movie Suicide Squad has joined forces with the Euro 2016 Football Championships… Now you can celebrate the heroes & villains of Euro 2016 with the Suicide Squad Gif Generator. Create and share your own gifs to support your squad with an inspired bit of playful app wizardry below.
Helen Mirren Joins Fast and Furious 8 Cast
During an interview with Elle, Dame Helen Mirren made a somewhat surprising announcement that she will in fact star in the latest Fast and Furious sequel. Te news follows Mirren’s public admission during an interview with Yahoo in march last year that apperaing in the high octane franchise was actually a great ambition for her.
During her more recent Elle interview Mirren inadvertently let slip she’s “about to do Fast and Furious 8″. “So you are confirmed to be in Fast 8?” the clearly skeptical interviewer asked. Academy award winner Mirren replied, “Yes, I am. I said, ‘I’ll be in it, but only if I’m allowed to drive if I do drive in it.’ But we’ll see. We’ll see how it transpires.”
Finally Helen Mirren, high performance muscle cars and Vin Diesel can share the ultimate joy of CGI car stunts together…