The Fault in Our Stars

If you’re looking for a great film to catch right now, then look no further then the brilliant The Fault in Our Stars, but be warned, you will need tissues to get through this one.

Directed by Josh Boone, TFIOS is a shows a realistic portrayal of cancer, for a film, that essentially is not about cancer, but the love two teenagers share. Boone, has taken what is a brilliant novel, by John Green, and has made it into a brilliant and gritty must see film, an extraordinary feet. With a massive fan base around the book, this film needed to be made well, and it has, boosting its popularity.

The film deals with the perils of cancer, in what can only be described as a realistic way. It shows the hardships, the pain and the suffering, without being afraid to honestly portray these scenes. At the same time, the film has a complex narrative, with a strong romantic plot.

The film, like the book, takes a first person perspective, and is narrated and told through the eyes of Hazel, a 17 year old girl with lung cancer, and how she falls madly in love with the charming, and complex Augustus Waters. this film steers well clear of sappy, over the top teenage romances that so many films do these days, and shows a more mature, raw love, that will move audiences.

The actors in TFIOS should be commended. Both Shailene Woodley, and Ansel Elgort shine on screen, together and separately. There is strong chemistry between these two actors, and they seem comfortable around each other. With this film, their careers are set to take off.

While the film is brilliant, it does skim over some of the plot point addressed in the novel, however, this is not a flaw, the film is able to hold on its own, and will keep audiences hooked.

The Fault in Our Stars, is a wonderfully realistic film of first love, hardships and moving on. Tears are assured. 8/10.

Like Crazy

These days it is hard to find an authentic romantic drama that is not stereotypical and cheesy. Like Crazy, is the exception. There is something raw and real about this film, that makes it stand out from the crowd.

Like Crazy, directed by Drake Doremus, tells the story of Anna, an English student studying in America, who falls for Jacob an American boy. Deciding that their love is too strong to separate them, she over stays and violates her student Visa, meaning she is unable to return to America after a holiday home to London.

As soon as you start watching this film, you realise that there is a gritty realism to it. The shots, are a little shaky and yes, there are not some of the finest cinematography, but this is not a flaw, in fact, it makes the story seem even more real. Alongside clever camera work,  is a realistic cast . There are no gorgeous actors involved that’s not to say that the cast are not attractive, but they seem real, like people you would know.

This is an emotionally driven plot. Anna and Jacob face many hardships in their journey to be together, and we ride the emotional roller coaster with them, from their highs to their lows.

While this film is unique, it has to be said, that the narrative is at times a little slow. It does not possess the atmosphere of big budget romance drama films, so some may find it a little boring,

Like Crazy is a story of first love, crazy love, and the sacrifices we make for love. A 6/10.

The Vow

“Life’s all about moments, of impact and how they changes our lives forever. But what if one day you could no longer remember any of them?” This quote from Leo, the male protagonist of The Vow, sums up the film well.

The Vow, tells the story of Paige and Leo, a couple madly in love with a deep connection. Tragedy strikes, when Paige is seriously injured in a car crash, wiping away the last 5 years of her life, leaving her with severe memory loss, and no idea that Leo is the love of her life.

Based loosely on a true story, the audience immediately looks to feel sympathy with Leo, the male protagonist, and as expected, we connect easily with him. It is hard to imagine how it must feel, when the one person you truly love, does not remember you, and more significantly does not love you. Channing Tatum surprised me in this role, and was able to bring the character to life in all the right ways.

Other than Tatum, the cast has been chosen well. The beautiful Rachel McAdams, is perfect as Paige, and brings depth and emotion to the character, something that is needed for such a serious story line. Sam Neill arguably best known from Jurassic Park is well suited to Paige’s strict, stubborn father.

As the movie progresses, Paige lapses back into her old life, of country clubs, money and her ex fiancée. All the while, her family fail to tell her why it is she has not talked to them in 5 years.

The Vow is a romantic film, that unlike some today is charming. The acting is good and the story line is well portrayed. Grab a box of tissues, you’ll need them. 8/10.

About Time

About Time, is a charming and funny film, that must be added to any romantic’s list. With a stellar cast, and well written story, About Time is a film that gets it right.

About Time tells the story of Tim, a young man, who on his 21st birthday, discovers he can travel back in time by going into a small, dark space and clenching his fists. After using the gift, for many trivial matters, Tim eventually finds a greater calling, to change the past for the better.

The first thing to note about this film, is that there is no sense of awkwardness that you would come to expect from other time travel films. Unlike The Time Travellers Wife, Tim has the ability to control his time travel, and does so, without the knowledge of those around him.

The cast for this film, could not have been picked more perfectly. Bill Nighy, as always is great in his role, but it is newcomer Domhnall Gleeson, that truly shines on-screen. He is perfect for the lanky out of luck man he plays, and his comedic timing is perfect. Not only that, but his range of emotions is very believable. Rachel McAdams, is perfect as his opposite, and true love Mary, who is plays a role different to any she has before. It is nice to see her has a plain simple girl, with a quirky sense of fashion and insecurities, in fact, it is one of the few films, that features, what many would consider ‘real people’. The lead characters, are not in fact incredibly gorgeous. They are more charming, and represent your everyday person.

Of course, the movie does come with flaws, and if you have not yet seen this film, I advise you not to ready on. When Tim first learns that he can travel in time, his dad explains that there are 3 simple rules.

1. Only men can travel back in time

2.You can only travel back in time, not forwards

3. You can only travel to moments in time where you a present.

These rules are broken several times in the film, particularly when Tim, takes his sister back in time, to fix her life, after a car crash. Nowhere, does it state that you can travel back in time with someone else. Subsequently, this leads Tim to change the future, thus changing his much-loved daughter Posey, to a boy, meaning Tim travels back again, so that his sister is once again in a car crash. It is then explained that one cannot travel back in time before a child’s birth, as the events that lead to the birth, lead to the child. This seems to be ignored when both Tim and his father travel back in time to relive a childhood memory of Tim’s, but this does not change the birth of his children. It is for these minor flaws, that mean that the film is not perfect.

Regardless if this, About Time, is a great romantic comedy, and for this, I give it an 8/10.