After surviving the horrors of World War II, Hungarian architect László Tóth (Adrian Brody) flees to America in search of a better life. One that it seems wealthy industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr. (Guy Pearce) is willing to give him. Over the course of a captivating 214 minute running time, which includes a baked … Continue reading The Brutalist
Los Angeles, 1949. Jewish crime boss Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) has a vice like grip on the city and its corrupt police force. That is until Police Chief William Parker (Nick Nolte) asks Sergeant John O’Mara (Josh Brolin) to form the Gangster Squad. An off the books unit whose task is to dismantle Cohen’s empire … Continue reading Gangster Squad
An idealistic junior campaign manager believes he is currently working for a politician who is the real deal and will truly make a difference. But is anyone truly insusceptible to the corruption that comes with power? Leading into the Ohio State Primary the stakes could not be higher. Whomever wins will take the Democratic nomination … Continue reading The Ides Of March
When Emily (Julianne Moore) asks Cal (Steve Carell) for a divorce he is completely blindsided. Oblivious to the fact that he has lost his sense of self it takes new friend Jacob (Ryan Gosling) to open his eyes to a new found self respect. Crazy, Stupid, Love is a romantic comedy that starts with the … Continue reading Crazy, Stupid, Love.
A Driver (Ryan Gosling) who acts as both a criminal wheelman, a film stuntman and a mechanic finds himself embroiled in a heist gone wrong with mob connections. The opening thirteen minutes of Drive are perfect. We see the distinctive pink lettering of the opening credits, we hear the Driver's speech to his current customer … Continue reading Drive
When David Marks’ (Ryan Gosling) wife Katie (Kirsten Dunst) goes missing in 1982 the prime suspect is Marks himself. Set across the years of 1971 to 2003 All Good Things is based on the true story of real estate tycoon Robert Durst. Even more sensational than the content of this film is that it would … Continue reading All Good Things
A Mexican Cartel boss approaches an under appreciated lawyer with an unbelievable demand. Secretly arrange gender reassignment surgery for him, fake their death and relocate his wife and children without anyone knowing. Accept and be rich or decline and die. Emelia Perez is an outlandish film. The plot line synopsis above only covers the first … Continue reading Emilia Perez
The story of how Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams) fall in and out of love. Cross-cutting the couple's tender beginnings with their bitter ending. Completing my double bill of Ryan Gosling characters falling in and out of love I watched 2010’s Blue Valentine. A much more gritty and contemporary love story compared to … Continue reading Blue Valentine
Lars (Ryan Gosling) surprises his family and local community when he reveals his long distance internet girlfriend to be a lifelike sex doll. Realising his mental health is in decline everyone decides to go along with his delusion whilst he works through his issues. Lars And The Real Girl is a difficult film to explain. … Continue reading Lars And The Real Girl
When wealthy engineer Ted Crawford (Anthony Hopkins) discovers that his wife is having an affair he shoots her point blank in the head before confessing to the police, asking for his trial to be expedited and choosing to represent himself. Prosecutor Willy Beachum (Ryan Gosling) who has one foot out of the door on his … Continue reading Fracture
Phil the Bear's Film Reviews 