Love, rosie (2014)

Based on the book "Where Rainbows End" by Cecelia Ahern where –long story short- Alex and Rosie are perfect for each other but for whatever reason keep getting pushed apart. I read the book earlier in the year after learning that it would later be adapted into a film. Although I enjoyed the book towards the end it was becoming more and more irritating that they still weren't together.

This movie will have you clenching your fists with frustration, laughing out loud, and welling up in the right moments and sometimes at the same time. Whenever something made yours eyes swell up with tears, something small happens to keep you from losing it and breaking down in the middle of the theatre. Rosie (Collins) and Alex (Claflin), childhood bestfriends who dance around their true feelings for each other through multiple decades, countries and partners. The story line tortures the viewers that sit on the edge of their seats, praying and waiting for the two friends to finally admit their feelings and get together.

Kingsman : the Secret Service (2015)

When I saw the trailer for this movie, I was excited for it, because it was from the director of X- Men: First Class. People are also saying that it is a tribute to classic spy films (mainly the James Bond movies of the past), and judging by the posters, it pretty much is trying to be. Now, after seeing the movie, what do I think about it? Let's find out.

The plot of Kingsman: The Secret Service starts out by showing us a Kingsman secret agent dying during a mission. After that, Harry Hart, another Kingsman secret agent, visits the agent's widow and their son, Gary "Eggsy" Unwin to give them a medal with a phone number on the back. He tells Eggsy and his mother that if they need any help, then all they need to do is to dial the number and use a special message.

The acting is great from the ensemble cast. Colin Firth, does a great job, carrying charm and wit to his character. Newcomer, Taron Egerton also carries a lot of charm and wit to his character. Samuel L. Jackson is very charismatic and bad ass as the villain. Even though his act was more a parody, Samuel Jackson was up there with the best Bond villains, weaving a colorful archetype of a man who thinks he's doing what's best for the world in what turned out to be a very cleaver, over the top plot. Aided by a cool henchmen, with blades on her prosthetic limbs, it makes you wonder what would happen if he went heat-to-head with Roger Moore. The supporting work from Michael Caine, and Mark Strong, are also great with the limited material that they work with. Overall, the cast is great and all look like that they are having fun in their roles.

The Imitation Game (2014)

Great film. IMO Best picture contender next to Boyhood and Birdman. I was lucky to watch this movie on near movie festival near me as surprise screening. The Imitation Game has Benedict Cumberbatch playing Alan Turing. The film shows various different points of Turing's life: His difficult school life, his triumphs during the war and his conviction for his homosexuality after the war. The film drifts through these various timelines in a non linear way and paints a brilliant portrait of Turing. His conviction following the war could have been focused on more and Keira Knightly is a bit jarring, but TIG is unshaken by its flaws and emerges a triumphant and deeply moving historical drama. Like many Oscar baiting movies it's all about the acting. Benedict Cumberbatch is absolutely outstanding as Turing and as far as I'm concerned he's the best actor Oscar front runner for 2014.

The film opens with some very good early scenes, that convey well the upheaval caused by the outbreak of the war. The crowd scenes are nothing new, but as time goes by, it must be harder to get the period details correct. The opening scenes, have that authenticity, as well as conveying the great social upheaval of the war. Not so much exciting, but rather impactful and panoramic.