Film Review: Silver Linings Playbook

Director: David O. Russell
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver
Runtime: 122 minutes

Silver Linings Playbook is a beautifully crafted tale of two damaged and down-on-their-luck people who find themselves searching for that 'silver lining' in one another's lives. Sometimes emotional and raw, Silver Linings Playbook takes a sensitive topic and injects a dose of heart that will win audiences over.

What the film nails is it's representation of bi-polar and OCD personalities. Director David O. Russell doesn't hold back in showing the subtle and not so subtle intricacies of both disorders. The effect is sometimes surprising as characters such as Pat (Bradley Cooper) and Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) arcing back and forth  between elation and depression.

Where the film finds its true voice is the on-screen chemistry between its two leads. Cooper and Lawrence handle the confronting and sensitive subject matter with delicate care that adds both heartfelt emotion and levity. Pat, with his overwhelming obsessions and idiosyncrasies is trying to overcome his disorder to win back his wife whilst Tiffany is looking for an escape from her past mistakes.

They find what they are looking for in one another, the two of them working together to move on with their lives and start a new chapter. The majority of the scenes the two share with one another will not fail to bring a smile to your face as their unconventional social skills can be hugely funny at times.

This however does not mean that Silver Linings Playbook is a romantic comedy that pokes fun at its subject matter. On the contrary, the flipside of the film shows the emotional trauma and heartbreak at suffering from such a disorder. Walking this delicate tightrope of sensitive subject matter could have sunk the film but the well-acted characters proves otherwise. The film is perfectly perched on the line that divides romantic comedy from psychological drama.

The films supporting cast is impressive as well with Robert De Niro possibly stealing the show with his portrayal of Pat Snr. who suffers from OCD and is obsessed with his football team, the Philadelphia Eagles. Meanwhile, Jacki Weaver is great as caring and loving mother Dolores who is always there for her whole family.

Silver Linings Playbook is a film that has been drenched with Academy Awards nominations (Cooper, Lawrence, De Niro and Weaver are all nominated for best actor/actress awards) and it is easy to see why. There is really nothing of note that I can pick out as a downside from Silver Linings Playbook. It should most definitely be seen by anyone who is one the hunt for a touching and well-crafted tale of human emotion, imperfections and love.

I give Silver Linings Playbook: 9/10

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Quotes Corner: Karl Pilkington #2

Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington and Ricky Gervais

Karl Pilkington. A man with no qualifications, very little education and who is now known the world over as a man who has a head shaped like a f**king orange. As a long time fan of Karl and his hilarious discussions with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, I've compiled together a quick list of some of the best quotes uttered by the man himself. 


On Eygpt
"You don't see that in the brochure. Shitty old nappy whizzing through the air. They tend to leave that out"

On the Pyramids of Giza
"It's like a massive game of Jenga that's got out of hand"

On the Amazon jungle
"What's so good about the Amazon? Can't be that good; there are things in it that would rather live in me knob"

On the difficulty of being a stick insect
"Imagine being a stick insect walking about. You'd forever be going, "Is that whats-his-name?" And you'd have to walk all the way up to the twig and you'd go, "Oh, it's just another bloody twig again.".

On China
Ricky Gervais: "You are the strangest man on the planet"
Karl: "You haven't been to China"

On Gremlins
"What were those things in Gremlins called?"

On cavemen
"Even cavemen had little pants on when you see footage of them"

On socks
"I don't like socks, they just cut off your freedom"

On the French
"If a French woman was talking to me, I'd say "I don't know what you're talking about love but it sounds good"

On problems
"A problem solved, is a problem caused"

On inventing
"If an idea isn't daft, it isn't worth thinking about"

On romance
"Suzanne says to me 'Do you love me' an' I go, 'Yeah, you're alright"

On living without thumbs
"I did a bit of an experiment, it's my job at home to do the washing up. I thought to make it interesting and stuff, I wondered if I could do it if I didn't have any thumbs. So I just sort of held them in and it's amazing how it took me ages!"

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Best of feeling fuzzier: 1 Year Anniversary!

Happy Birthday to me!

Hey everyone! It's now been one whole year since I set up this blog and started rambling at ya'! So, in order to celebrate, I thought I'd compile together a collection of some of my best posts and features from the last year. Some that have been the most popular, others which I am personally proud of or pleased with. Make sure to let me know in the comments section below what you think are some my highlights from Year 1 of blogging at you all (or ranting to give it it's proper term). 

Give them a look over and let me know what you think! Thanks to everyone for giving me some great feedback over the last year, it's always great to hear what people think of the stuff I write. If you have any tips, feedback or even requests just let me know! Thanks again!

Verdict: Sherlock - The Reichenbach Fall

My most viewed post in the first twelve months of feeling fuzzier is my verdict on the final episode of Series 2 of the BBC's Sherlock, a post which has been hugely popular!

Posted back in March last year and it feels as though we're still no closer to learning the truth about how Sherlock managed to f... [THIS SENTENCE HAS BEEN CENSORED TO AVOID ESSENTIAL SPOILERS].

Seriously, Messers. Moffat, Gatiss, Cumberbatch and Freeman, get your act together and make Series 3 already!

Check out the post by clicking on this link here: Verdict: Sherlock - The Reichenbach Fall 

Rank The Films: Harry Potter

A series I should really be getting back to, my first entry of Rank The Films dealt with one the greatest quandaries of our time; just which Harry Potter film really is the best of them all! Contentious stuff I know, enough to whip your Hippogriff into a frenzy!

A series I hope to continue (recommendations for movie franchise are very welcome!), I was immensely pleased with how this feature turned out and how well it rated as well!

Check out the feature by clicking on this link here: Rank The Films: Harry Potter.

Rant: Hokey Halloween Costumes

Another feature/opinion piece I'm pretty proud of, my crazed rant on the stupid sexy side of Halloween is a piece that a lot of people seemed to love; thank you all!

Pieces such as these is something I hope to do more of in the coming year so keep your eyes peeled and your ears pinned! 

Check out the feature by clicking on this link here: Rant: Hokey Halloween Costumes

Film Review: The Dark Knight Rises

 

Hardly surprising given the blockbuster numbers it pulled in at the box office, The Dark Knight Rises has so far been the highest rating film review that I have written since starting up this blog last year. 

Even though it didn't make it into my Top 5 Films of 2012, The Dark Knight Rises was a hugely satisfying conclusion to Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. Coming soon, I hope to write some short reviews on DC Universe Animated Original Movies like Batman: Gotham Knight and Batman: Under the Red Hood. 

You can check out my review of The Dark Knight Rises by following this link here: Film Review: The Dark Knight Rises. 

Film Review: The Avengers

Another film review of my mine that has rated well is that of Joss Whedon's The Avengers. Released in cinemas back on Anzac Day, The Avengers was a brilliant geek-fest that brought together Marvel's best and brightest superheroes in one massive film. It was so good in fact, it featured on feeling fuzzier's Top 5 Films of 2012 list. 

You can check out my original review of The Avengers by following this link here: Film Review: The Avengers. 

5 Films for the End of the World

Milking the whole Mayan Apocalypse thing, my feature on End of the World films is another one of my favourites that I have written. Written with a heavy heart (I believed it to be my final post before Armageddon), this post is one that I put together in order to celebrate those films that capture so perfectly destruction, desolation and desperation of all mankind (and some that don't). 

You can check out this feature by clicking on this link: 5 Films for the End of the World

My Top Albums of 2012

The Rubens

I love listening to and writing about music and new artists I come across just as much as I love writing about and reviewing films. My Top Albums of 2012 list wasn't one that was easy to compile; with so much great music coming out in the last twelve months, it was hard to whittle it down to my favourites! 

Everything from the The xx to The Vaccines featured and it also ranks as one of my highest rating posts after less than a month so thanks everyone! 

You can check out my Top Albums of 2012 feature by following this link: My Top Albums of 2012. You can also check out my 2012 Spotify Playlist by clicking here. 

My 10 Most Anticipated Films of 2013

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Looking ahead then, to the next twelve months in cinema. My 10 Most Anticipated Films for 2013 feature from earlier this month is one that I enjoyed writing enormously given the sheer amount of great films we're being treated to this year. I'll be hoping to rush out and review as many of these films as possible when they hit cinemas here in Australia!

You can check out this feature by clicking on this link: My 10 Most Anticipated Films of 2013. 

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Film Review: Gangster Squad

Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling in Gangster Squad

Director: Ruben Fleischer
Starring: Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn, Emma Stone, Nick Nolte
Runtime: 113 minutes

Gangster Squad is an stylishly shot and star-studded homage to a much-loved genre that doesn't wholly disappoint but also doesn't live up to it's full potential. 



Set in 1940's Los Angeles, Gangster Squad centres around a troupe of uncorruptible cops who are dead-set on bringing mobster kingpin Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) to justice for his crimes across the city. As the stakes and death toll escalate, what was once a small-time attack on the mob-world slowly becomes a personal and vicious guerilla war between the two sides.

Heading up our squad of vigilante cops is John O'Mara, acted by the brilliant Josh Brolin. Honest and determined, O'Mara has a wife and unborn child at home to protect but also his duty to serve to honour. Brolin's character isn't one that is untried and untested but then, none of the characters are. From Brolin's white knight, Penn's cackling and malicious Cohen to Emma Stone's seductive femme fatale, all of the characters here fit an mould that is instantly recognisable.

This isn't a criticism of the film however. If anything, it's the opposite. It allows for Gangster Squad to be something of a known quantity, fitting into a genre that has been built up over time with ease. The characters, the settings, the props are all reminiscent of the classic Hollywood films from which Gangster Squad can trace its heritage. The most important things about this film is its authentic 1940's look and feel. From the classic Chevorlet cars and smoke filled bars and casinos, Gangster Squad certaintly looks the part.

Whilst it may be predictable, the narrative in Gangster Squad isn't one-dimensional. Whilst some characters fall by the wayside (Anthony Mackie's Coleman Harris is a little underused) others really shine. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone continue their electric on-screen chemistry last seen in Crazy, Stupid, Love to great effect. Likewise, the attention awarded to O'Mara and Conway Keeler's (Giovanni Ribisi) home-life adds depth to their character's and focuses on what they have to lose.

But what is a gangster movie without unrestrained mayhem and madness. If there's one point that this reviewer needs to emphasise, it's that Gangster Squad has more bullets, explosions and vehicular destruction than you can shake a tommy gun at.

Make no mistake, shooting up a street in Chinatown and slow-motion bullets tearing through a hotel foyer is what Gangster Squad is all about at its heart. Director Fleisher embraces this notion wholeheartedly, the films various action set-pieces making Gangster Squad one of the loudest and brashest films this year. The car chase in the film's middle third stands out as a highpoint.

There is however, an over-riding sense that the whole thing doesn't come together quite as perfectly as it could have done. Penn over-acts to the degree that his villain comes across as more of a cartoon character. In addition to this, the blood and gore can be overwhelming at times, the opening scene where Cohen pulls apart a rival by tying his arms and legs to two separate cars particularly gruesome.

Gangster Squad looks rich and is chock full of rip-roaring action but falls a little short of expectation through some avoidable mis-steps. A must-see for fans of the genre, performances from Brolin, Stone and Ribisi hit the mark but others (Penn) miss the sweet spot.

I give Gangster Squad: 7/10

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Quotes Corner: Karl Pilkington #1

Karl in An Idiot Abroad

Karl Pilkington. A man with no qualifications, very little education and who is now known the world over as a man who has a head shaped like a f**king orange. As a long time fan of Karl and his hilarious discussions with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, I've compiled together a quick list of some of the best quotes uttered by the man himself. From XFM, Podcasts and An Idiot Abroad, the trio's rants, running jokes and quirky sense of humour have had me clutching my sides with laughter. Let me know in the comments section below if you have any personal favourites! 



On Pandas
"If it kicks off and I have to thump it in the head and I end up injuring it, again I look like the bad man: "Karl thumps endangered species in the head".  But at the end of the of the day, if it comes at me, I will go at it. I will kick a panda in the bollocks if I have to"

On the Great Wall of China
"It's not the Great Wall. It's an alright wall. It's the Alright Wall of China"

On what he'd do if he knew the world would end tomorrow
"I've always wanted to kick a duck up the arse"

On Winter
"The lake was frozen over, the ducks looked worried. They were just sat there, looking, sort of going, what's going on?"

On Jellyfish
"They are 97% water or something, so how much are they doing? Just give them another 3% and make them water. It's more useful.

On History
Stephen Merchant: "The Ancient Babylonians'..."
Karl: "I'll just stop you there. What's a Babylonian?"

On Australia
"Every creature is bigger and angrier than anywhere else on the world. It can be that spiders and snakes normally hide under rocks, the Earth is one big rock and Australia is at the bottom of it..."

On Global Warming
"If you put an icecube the size of the Empire State Building into your glass on Jack Daniels, it's gonna make it freezing"

On Global Warming
"They keep saying that sea levels are rising an all this. It's nowt to do with the icebergs melting, it's because there's too many fish in it. Get rid of some fish and the water will drop. Simple. Basic Simple Science.

On Pandas
"It's like the panda, they say that's dying out. But what do they do? When you see them they're just sitting in the jungle eating"

On Biology
"Does the brain control you or are you controlling the brain? I don't know if I'm in charge of mine"

On homosexuals
"I'm still none the wiser as to why they do that"

On Neil Armstrong
"Neil Armstrong, that spaceman, he went to the moon but he ain't been back. It can't have been that good"

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Film Review: Jack Reacher

Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher

Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, Jai Courtney.
Running time: 130 minutes


The first film to be centred on Lee Child's burly super sleuth, Jack Reacher is a combination of Bourne thrills with Sherlock Holmes-esque deduction that hits the target for the most part. 



After a sniper brutally murders five innocents in cold blood, the police consider it an open and shut case after an ex-military sniper is hauled in for committing the multiple shootings. It's only when he requests one thing ('Get Jack Reacher') that the plot thickens and the conspiracy deepens.

As murder mysteries/crime thrillers go, Jack Reacher sticks to the hymn sheet, the various twists and turns in the narrative not coming as too much of a surprise for those in the audience who are familiar with the genre conventions. Given the degree to which he makes the role his own, it could be argued that Jack Reacher would suffer greatly without the involvement of Tom Cruise as the titular hero.

Cruise is, if you'll pardon the pun, in cruise control throughout. Whilst he may not physically resemble author Lee Child's written description of Reacher, Cruise does ooze an on-screen presence that proves that this is his show. Whether it's taking on five goons in a bar fight single-handed or unleashing a razor-sharp wit on suspects, Cruise makes it look effortless - his depiction of Reacher not being too far removed from that of Ethan Hunt from Mission: Impossible.

Elsewhere, Rosamund Pike is charming, if a little unremarkable as lawyer Helen Rodin. Her most impressive scenes come at the films beginning when she is talked into meeting with the families of the victims; other than that, her character is put in the shade by those around her.

Jai Courtney is slightly underwritten as Charlie but he makes a big enough impression to perk my interest for his upcoming turn as McClane Jnr. in A Good Day To Die Hard. Likewise, Werner Herzog's genuinely chilling villain The Zec is underused, his true motives skated over slightly. This is the film's biggest failing; it focuses so much on Reacher, important plot points tend to have been pushed into the background in his place.

In terms of action, the films centrepiece comes in the form of a car chase that sees Reacher chase Jai Courtney's villain in a bright red classic muscle car. Full of flashing headlights, squealing tyres and burnt rubber, this chase is genuinely thrilling, as exciting and engaging as anything you would find in a Fast and Furious or Bond film.

On the whole then, Jack Reacher is a fairly standard run-of-the-mill crime caper that is elevated above others through some pulse-pounding action sequences, hilarious one-liners and Cruise's own charisma and presence. It would set your world on fire, but it won't bore you too tears. Good, but not great.

I give Jack Reacher: 6/10

See this if you liked: Alex Cross, Taken 2, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, The Bourne series.

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My 10 Most Anticipated Films of 2013

With 2012 behind well and truly behind us (pah, 2012! What a joke!) I look forward to my most anticipated films of the coming 12 months. We've got action, comedy, drama, science-fiction and fantasy all on offer, so something for all cinematic tastes. What film are you looking forward to most in 2013?

10) The Wolverine (25th July)

Hugh Jackman as The Wolverine

With Wolverine's first solo outing (the ill-fated X-Men: Origins Wolverine) containing little to praise, things may be beginning to look a little brighter for Marvel's brutish reclusive anti-hero. If the teaser images of Hugh Jackman's bulging arms and pecks (right) are anything to go by, The Wolverine aims cast aside any poor first impressions and bring back the badass we all recognise from the original X-Men trilogy. 

With the majority of the film being set in Japan, Jackman's Wolverine takes on a Yazuka boss from his past in what looks to be a much lower key and personal storyline for the iconic character. It may not be the biggest superhero movie this year, but it might well be the most brutal. 

9) The World's End (3rd October)

If Shaun of the Dead was horror and Hot Fuzz was action, The World's End will be Wright, Pegg and Frost's take on science-fiction. The final chapter in the trio's Cornetto Trilogy, The World's End sees a group of friends reunite for a pub crawl across town only to encounter the end of days looming large. 

Very little needs to be said about this one; the trio's work has always been comedy gold! I can't wait to see Nick Frost and Simon Pegg send up the apocalypse movie genre. 

8) A Good Day To Die Hard (21st March)

John "Yipee-ki-yayy" McClane (Bruce Willis) is back for a another round of firefights, car chases and destruction in the fifth Die Hard film, A Good Day To Die Hard. Set in Moscow and featuring Jai Courtney as McClane Jnr. 

I'm expecting groan-inducing puns and OTT Eastern European baddies (think the Expendables 2) but with less Chuck Norris jokes, more of Willis' trademark cynicism and some kick-ass action set pieces that tear Mother Russia a new one. 

7) Man Of Steel (27th June)

Henry Cavill as Superman

The big reboot of the year: Superman is back and this time he's gotten moody. After the slightly light on thrills Superman Returns, Man of Steel sees Zack Snyder (of 300 and Watchmen fame) turn back the clock and bring Supes back to his roots.

Henry Cavill plays our titular metallic hero whilst Amy Adams plays Lois Lane, Michael Shannon is General Zod, Russell Crowe is Jor-El and Kevin Costner is Clark's adoptive father, Jonathan. Originally, I thought this one could go either way; Snyder has made some brilliant films in the past (300) but he's also made some real stinkers (Sucker Punch). The first full length trailer however gave me chills seeing it on the big screen, so my hopes are flickering into something bigger. Let's hope Superman is given the Batman Begins treatment and gets a decent reboot. 

6) The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (21st November)

Hot on the heels of the first film this March (see my review here: Film Review: The Hunger Games), Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence), Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and co. will be back in action this November. 

Based on Suzanne Collins' second Hunger Games novel, Catching Fire sees our young hero and heroine coping with the fallout from their actions at the end of the first film where they cheated the Capitol into letting both of them win the Games and keep their lives. 

Should Catching Fire manage to capture the same tone and feel of the first film, I see no reason why this can't be one of the biggest film of 2013; I'm can't wait to see the drama and tension really ramp up in this, my favourite book of the three. 

5) Thor: The Dark World (8th November)

With the Avengers blowing the socks off of everyone in 2012, Marvel turn it up to 11 in 2013 with not one but two films out this year. Second of these is Thor: The Dark World, the second solo outing for the Norse God of Thunder. 

With Chris Hemsworth returning as our titular buff deity and Natalie Portman back as love interest Jane Foster, I'm hopeful that this second instalment will impress just as much as it's predecessor did. Thor did a great job of taking a tricky concept and grounding it in reality and making it a part of the growing jigsaw that is the Marvel universe (in film). If Thor: The Dark World can do the same again, it's already onto a winner. 

Christopher Ecclestone has been cast as Malekith, the leader of an ancient race of Dark Elves who threatens to unleash war on the universe alongside, presumably, Thor's troublesome sibling Loki (Tom Hiddlestone)

4) Monsters University (20th June)

With Monsters Inc: being one of the best in Pixar's back-catalogue, it's great news that they've decided to bring back Sully and Mike for a prequel in Monsters University.

If the teaser trailer tells us anything, it's that Monsters University will be another entry into Pixar's expanding pantheon of classics that mixes together a children pleasing story with jokes that will bring a wry smile to faces of older audiences. Expect heart and soul mixed with college themed parties and mischief. An interesting premise for a what is essentially a kid's movie. Let's hope this is more of a Toy Story 2 than a Cars 2.

3) Star Trek Into Darkness (16th May)

Kirk and Spock confront Benedict Cumberbatch's
villain

A follow-up to J.J Abrams' 2009 reboot, Star Trek Into Darkness looks set to continue the new franchise in fine style. Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto), Uhura (Zoe Salanda), Bones (Karl Urban), Scotty (Simon Pegg) and co. are all back in action aboard the Enterprise, this time facing off against Benedict Cumberbatch's vengeful villain. 

What I'm most excited for about this one is Cumberbatch's villain  the most recent trailer revealing him to be a part of Star Fleet in past. He looks simply malicious and terrifying from what we've seen so far!

If Into Darkness is a step up from the first film, it'll instantly be a contender for best sequel of the year.

2) Iron Man 3 (25th April)

Iron Man 3 will be Marvel's first film to be set after the events of the Avengers and if the recent trailer is anything to go by, things definitely don't look to be on the up for Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jnr.). It looks as though new director Shane Black is hoping to craft a story that is a lot more personal for Tony Stark after the somewhat lacklustre and poorly received Iron Man 2. 

Confronted with Ben Kingsley's the Mandarin, Iron Man must use his own ingenuity to fight back after his own private world is attacked and he is left out in the cold. Returning talent includes Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts and Don Cheadle as James Rhodes/War Machine. 

1) The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (26th December)

Bilbo (Martin Freeman) in Smaug's lair.

With An Unexpected Journey proving that the Hobbit trilogy will be nothing short of brilliant, I am highly anticipating the next instalment, the Desolation of Smaug. After escaping the clutches of the Goblin King and Azog in the Misty Mountains, Bilbo (Martin Freeman) and the band of Dwarves continue their trek across Middle Earth towards the Lonely Mountain. 

In this second instalment, they must seek council from a mysterious stranger, Beorn before encountering the Elven King in Mirkwood. However, the most exciting prospect is catching our first proper glimpse of Benedict Cumberbatch's Smaug. 

You can read my full review of An Unexpected Journey by clicking on this link: Film Review: The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey. 

So there we have it then, these 10 films are those that I am most excited for in 2013. Let my know what your looking forward to most in the comments below! Thanks!

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Film Review: Life of Pi

An adaptation of Yann Martel's novel of the same name, Life of Pi is a beautifully crafted piece of cinematic eye-candy that wins over the eyes, the mind, the heart and the soul. It is a gripping tale of triumph in adversity and enlightenment that will open the minds of many. 



En route to a new life in Canada, Pi (Suraj Sharma) is left stranded at sea with a collection of zoo animals (a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan and a Bengal tiger to be precise) after the ship his family are travelling on is ravaged by a gigantic storm.

Despite Pi's journey of soul-searching and religious experiences, the film doesn't come across as preachy or overly pious. Whilst the older version of Pi describes his story as "one that'll make you believe in God", the film allows for the audience to take as much or as little as they like from it.

After all, as the older incarnation of Pi says himself "Why does it need to mean anything?". If not taken in by the plethora of existential meaning through which the film wades, each and every member of the audience can come away feeling content on some level. Whether you come away feeling inspired by the teachings of religion or awed by the human dedication and resilience told through the titular character's ordeal, you won't leave empty handed. Even if you take nothing away emotionally, Life of Pi will win you over with its lush visuals that leap from the screen.

Case in point is the marvel that feline companion, Richard Parker. Faced with creating a primary character that walks and talks like a real animal entirely through a mixture of CGI and animatronics (much like Caesar in Rise of the Planet of the Apes), the end result is one that boggles the mind.

Not only does Richard Parker look so flawless that he may actually be there, but he is a character crafted so delicately and convincingly that he takes on human depth by the film's end. It is however, Suraj Sharma who leaves the greatest impression.

In his first acting role, Sharma doesn't come across as shaky, wooden or uncertain of his own ability. He effectively is able to manage the character's development from despair, to bravery and hope to resourcefulness and finally, broken and damaged.

With a dash of something for everyone one, Life of Pi is both an emotional and a visual experience that you cant' afford to miss. Whether you connect spiritually or just revel at the vibrant colours of the ocean and the engrossing shades on Richard Parker's fur, you won't fail to be impressed and uplifted by this spirited tale of human emotion and survival.

I give Life of Pi: 8.5/10

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