Brilliant Films You Haven't Seen: Starter For 10 (2006)

After finishing a late-night shift at my video store, I was in the mood to rent a DVD. I had heard about this little British comedy called Starter For 10 in EMPIRE magazine when they were promoting James McAvoy's Role in Atonement, but I had yet to see it. I took the film home and popped it in the player as I ate my dinner.

The next 90 minutes were absolute bliss! Starter For 10 is a brilliant film. The film follows Brian Jackson (McAvoy) in his quest to gain knowledge at university as well as compete on his university's team for the television quiz show University Challenge. I know the premise does not sound all that intriguing, but the realistic depictions of Brian's relationships with his mother (Catherine Tate), and his two female friends Alice (Alice Eve) and Rebecca (the excellent Rebecca Hall) make this comedy ring much truer than others. James McAvoy is an infinitely talented actor who has never given a disappointing performance, and his work here is no exception. Both McAvoy and Rebecca Hall are two wonderful young actors who are now beginning to get the recognition they deserve; McAvoy for Atonement and Hall for Woody Allen's new film Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

I recommend that everyone see Starter For 10. it is one of those rare comedies that manages to be extremely funny while at the same time being convincing in the dramatic department. A brilliant film and one of my personal favourites. Highly recommended.

Lightning Review: The Orphanage (2007)

I love a good horror film. My favourite horror film of all time is The Others starring Nicole Kidman. That is one of the rare films that is terrifyingly scary, yet at the same time has an emotional element that most dramatic films would strive for. Juan Antonio Bayona's Spanish-language film The Orphanage (or El Orfanato) sits comfortably in this exclusive genre. I was of course drawn to it by the presence of producer Guillermo del Toro.

The film follows Laura (Belén Rueda), a woman who spent her childhood in an orphanage. As an adult, Laura moves back into the now abandoned orphanage, planning to re-open it to house a group of disabled children. While there, Laura's son Simon (Roger Príncep), begins a friendship with an invisible friend name Tomas. On the day of the orphanage's grand re-opening, Simon goes missing. The film then chronicles the next year of Laura's life as her and her husband Carlos (Fernando Cayo) attempt to relocate their son. The investigation leads Laura to believe that Simon's imaginary friend may be anything but.

The less one knows about the story the better, as the film twists and turns in unexpected ways of which it is best to become aware of as the film progresses. The standout sequence in the film is a night vision sequence in which a medium Laura has hired attempts to make contact with the orphanages invisible inhabitants. The sequence is one of the most thrilling and frightening I have ever seen. Special mention must go to Belén Rueda's performance as Laura and Roger Príncep's performance as Simon. I eagerly await the next film from Juan Antonio Bayona, as The Orphanage shows him to be an extremely promising director.

5 stars.