Stuff To Look At

Plenty of film-related goodies for your audio-visual pleasure this week, including Inside Out, Tomorrowland – A World Beyond, and John Wick…

Inside Out

This latest trailer for Disney Pixar’s latest animated feature Inside Out reveals a little more about the plot. The film seems to continue Pixar’s brand of humour on different levels and emotion. Inside Out is due for release in the UK on 24th July 2015.

Tomorrowland – A World Beyond

I remember having these wonderful chicken strips at Tomorrowland in Florida’s Disney World many years ago. I don’t think this new film is about them, however. Tomorrowland – A World Beyond seems to be giving meat to the theme park ride as film concept with Brad Bird directing, from a screenplay by Bird and Damon Lindelof. Tomorrowland – A World Beyond hits UK screens on 22nd May 2015.

Paper Towns

Paper Towns is the latest film adaptation of a John Green novel. The Fault in Our Stars writer Green second film adaptation is a coming of age story starring Cara Delvingne and Nat Wolff. Paper Towns is set for release in cinemas this summer.

John Wick

Not the puppy! Action thriller John Wick looks like it is going to be a lot of fun. The film stars Keanu Reeves as a retired hit man on a revenge mission. Also starring Alfie Allen, Willem Dafoe, and John Leguizamo, John Wick hits UK cinemas on 10th April 2015.

San Andreas

Disaster movie San Andreas sees the threat in the form of a massive earthquake, and the protagonist in the form of Dwayne Johnson, eager to rescue his daughter in San Francisco amidst the chaos. San Andreas will be released in UK cinemas on 29th May 2015.

Film Review: Plastic

Purportedly based on a real story, there are many things in Plastic which are anything but believable.

Sam and his friends are university students who moonlight as credit card fraudsters. When the group mess with the wrong target, they are forced to make a large amount of money to save themselves…

Julian Gilbey’s Plastic seemingly intends to be a glamourous caper with banter, girls and violence. Unfortunately, there are a number of issues with the film that hinder the audience’s enjoyment.

Foreshadowing in Plastic is heavy, leaving little suspense later in the film. Dialogue can be unconvincing at times, with exposition obvious on occasion. Attempts at humour are not that successful.

The end result in Plastic is not incomprehensible. However it is the chain of events that lets the film down. There are moments when the characters’ actions or plot developments seem ridiculous. The motive for Frankie’s involvement, for example, does not ring true. There would be no reason she would need to raise funds for the reason given in contemporary Britain. It is made all the more implausible by the fact that she eagerly jets away when there is not a reason for her to go.

Another problem with the film is that none of the characters are likeable. It is difficult to root for any of them, or to engender enough energy to dislike them. When Yatesey is meant to charm, and this happens on a few occasions, this charisma is not translated to the audience. This could be down to the miscasting of Alfie Allen in this role. Ed Speelers fares slightly better.

Plastic offers a level of gratuity that is made all the more overt by the use of slow motion. Towards the end of the film, there is a gregariously violent sequence which exhibits a commendable sense of energy with its outrageousness.

Plastic never bores its viewers, but its plotting ensues that it is too silly to be genuinely enjoyable as a crime caper.