Working with the Herts Advertiser Newspaper

I'm now working with the Herts Advertiser Newspaper and they are featuring my reviews at their website. The link is http://www.hertsad.co.uk/what-s-on/reviews.

In Time

Science Fiction, concept dominated, In Time centres on three main characters, who buy time to extend their lives beyond twenty five, at which point they don't age and potentially could be immortal. Justine Timberlake puts in a controlled performance as the lead as does Cillian Murphy as the chief investigator of the suspicious happenings. Both are watchable and next to the rising star of Amanda Seyfield, who will clock up four films in 2012, the cast are a good looking bunch. In fact the whole film strives to score points with visual metaphors the obvious one being the remaining time on their forearms, glowing green numbers, an idea they believe is better than it actually is. Throughout In Time we are pitched against the clock and if the clock runs out they die. Overly simple perhaps but on some level it works and the film carries the viewer along to the end at which point you feel there could have been more substance to an interesting idea.

61/100

Contagion

Nestled in the disaster genre starring an unfeeling Matt Damon, the solid Laurence Fishburne and an irritating Jude Law Contagion goes up against popular films such as Outbreak and comes up short. One of the most talked about aspects of the film was the early departure of Gwyneth Paltrow, which she depicts in brutal realism, but she flits through the story in memories and reconstructions and is perhaps the second strongest element of the film. By far the best presence is the performance of Kate Winslet. She plays the part of a scientist tracking down the cause of the disease and her gritty engagement reflects the tragic nature of the theme. But her story grinds to a halt and leaves the viewer wanting more as she is let down by the vastly experienced Director, Steven Soderbergh, whose involvement no doubt guaranteed the excellent cast. Contagion, although intriguing, feels empty when something so terrifying is happening to all concerned.

43/100