Unstoppable

4 Stars

Unstoppable (12A)

Director: Tony Scott

Cast: Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson

Run time: 98 mins

By Simon Howard 

 ‘This is Will Coalson your conductor speaking, we are gonna run this bitch down’. Having taken audiences on an underground thrill ride in last year’s remake of The Taking of Pelham 123, Tony Scott and Denzel Washington team up once again in this action-packed thriller, but instead of there being a psycho villain in the shape of John Travolta, the only bad guy here is the worker who accidentally pushes the wrong button which sends a half-mile long cargo train hurtling through Pennsylvania unmanned. Denzel Washington plays veteran engineer Frank Barnes, who must team up with rookie conductor Will Coalson (Chris Pine) in a race against the clock to catch up with and prevent the train derailing and decimating an entire town.

The whole film is an edge of the seat, white-knuckle ride, which builds into something genuinely thrilling and intense. Yes it may not feature prominently in many awards ceremonies, but it doesn’t take itself too seriously, with the action rightly taking priority over the acting and character development. The relationship between the two leads develops well in the limited time it is afforded, and is believable throughout. Both have predictably endured troubled times, and through the course of events inevitably begin to see light at the end of their tunnels. The premise of the film is simple and inoffensive- and it is all the more enjoyable as a result.

Although we are told in the opening credits that the film is inspired in part by real events, it would appear that Tony Scott has absurdly elevated the stakes, placing a train full of schoolchildren in the path of the runaway train, before going on to threaten the entire population of the fictional town ‘Stanton’. Rosario Dawson evokes plenty of emotion in her ‘control room’ role, and as she sees the drama unfolding before her eyes (‘it’s a missile the size of the Chrysler building!’) she shines in her interactions with both the greedy executives and the heroic train workers. Although there will inevitably be comparisons made with 1994 classic Speed, this film is completely different in almost every aspect.

The absence of vast amounts of CGI in the film is a success. Denzel Washington willingly throws himself into his own stunts, running at ease on top of a moving train. Following on from his successful role in Star Trek, Chris Pine has now firmly established himself as one of Hollywood’s newest leading men, and isn’t outshone by the legendary Denzel Washington. However the train is the real star of the show, and Scott captures its menace from every possible angle. One particularly neat aspect is the presence of constant live news updates keeping the audience and the relatives of the main characters informed as the plot unfolds.

Verdict: Bold, brash and relentless, this film is a real adrenalin rush from start to finish, as spectacular crashes and explosions provide plenty to whet the appetites of action seeking moviegoers. A perfect popcorn flick which stands out within the action genre, this is one of Tony Scott’s best films to date.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (12A) 146 mins

4 stars

Directed by: David Yates

Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, Robbie Coltrane, Alan Rickman, Bill Nighy, Helena Bonham Carter, Dame Maggie Smith

‘These are dark times, there’s no denying’. Not only for Harry, Ron and Hermonie, but for millions of fans around the world, who approach this much-anticipated instalment of the biggest franchise in cinematic history in the knowledge that the end is nigh. The chosen one has become the hunted one. No longer just a boy, Harry Potter is drawing ever closer to the task he has been preparing for ever since his first day at Hogwarts.

‘Everything’s changed.’ In this dark adaptation of JK Rowling’s seventh novel, the wizarding world has become a dangerous place. Harry, Ron and Hermionie must leave Hogwarts behind as they embark on a perilous journey to track down and destroy the secret to Voldemort’s immortality and destruction- the Horcruxes. With Dumbledore no longer around to guide and protect Harry on his quest, the three central characters must rely on each other more than ever before as the wizarding world deals with the growing threat of the Dark Lord. The Death Eaters have seized control of the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts, as they seek to find the one thing Voldemort truly desires- Harry Potter. It is up to the ‘The Boy Who Lived’ to find the Horcruxes before Voldemort finds him.

Nine years after the release of ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’, the characters we have become so familiar with have all grown up, and their performances have never been better. Rupert Grint no longer plays it just for laughs as Ron Weasley, with his jealousy over the relationship between Harry and Hermionie proving extremely believable. Without the pressure previous adaptations have faced of cramming all the action into one film, the acting abilities of Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe shine through, as they have time to come to terms with the monumental challenge which they face. JK Rowling is quoted as saying this is her favourite movie in the franchise yet, and it is clear to see why, as her characters are able to grow and develop emotionally.

The relative tranquillity of Hogwarts seems a million miles away, as against a backdrop of dark forests and windswept coastlines; the legend of the Deathly Hallows becomes clearer. The delightful Dobby the house elf returns and steals the show in every scene he is in. Ralph Fiennes is superb as the supremely menacing Lord Voldermort, raging ‘I must be the one to kill Harry Potter’. The supporting cast, a who’s who of British acting legends, all emerge with credit from their brief appearances. The chase scenes provide real edge of the seat action, and there are occasions where the bleak and serious nature of the storyline is put to one side. Seeing seven Harry’s at once (one of whom sports a fetching bra) and the characters flushing themselves down the toilet to reach the Ministry of Magic are rare moments of humour which provide light relief and temporarily lift the doom and gloom in the war between good and evil.

In a touching and tender moment, Harry and Hermonie dance in a tent in the middle of the forest. Amongst the sense of dread that permeates throughout, this is particularly touching and poignant, standing out in a deeply emotional film, which also sees Harry visiting his parents’ grave at Godric Hollow for the first time and Hermonie wiping all trace of herself from her parent’s memories. It’s impossible to avoid sentiment when Hagrid arrives on the scene to protect Harry, just as he did in the ‘Philosophers Stone’.

JK Rowling’s epic fantasy is vividly brought to life, and although there is a dark tone to the film, it is beautifully shot throughout. The landscapes could almost be mistaken for a ‘Visit Britain’ advertising campaign, such is the wonder and enchantment the filmmakers have been able to capture. However, this is without doubt the scariest film yet, with one Hogwarts teacher coming to a particularly unpleasant end, and for those with a fear of snakes, this film will not go down too well.

Having made the decision to split the final book into two films (part two is released in July), fans will be eager to discover how director David Yates has decided to split such a well-loved novel, and whether this will make this first instalment an un-fulfilling experience. I felt the split was done extremely effectively, and although this first part is perhaps not as action-packed as a result, it is no less enthralling as a result. It is a touch too long, but the main fault of the film is that we have to wait until next summer to see what promises to be a truly thrilling finale.

Verdict: The movie saga of the century approaches its spectacular conclusion in some style.  Complete with astonishing special effects, breathtaking excitement and heartbreaking emotion, the tension never fades, through desperate chases, dangerous escapes, noble deaths, electrifying encounters and a sprinkling of humour to break the tension every now and again. ‘So where do we go from here?’ Following this, the scene is well and truly set for an almighty showdown when the second part finally arrives next July.

Simon Howard