TV Preview: Doctor Series 7 Part 2

Some things in life fill me with complete joy. Long walks on the beach, the scent of freshly cut grass and sunflowers on a summer's day. Oh, and being able to type the next sentence: Doctor Who is back bitches!

That's right Whovians, your favourite 1200 year old, double-hearted, kind of schizophrenic alien that zooms around time and space in a blue box is back on Australian television screens this weekend. So what can we expect from the second half of Series 7? Well dear fellows, read on...

After the first half of Series 7 whooshed by way too fast, we've had to wait nearly a year to see the Doctor back on TV. Sure we had the pretty fantastic Christmas Special, "The Snowmen", to fill the void, but fans were left craving more of the Doctor post-Ponds. Now, back for a full eight episodes, here is what you can expect from the BBC's flagship family show this Autumn...

Each episode follows Steven Moffat's formula of 'a film a week'. That is, each week we have a self-contained adventure that is fast-paced, fun and has it's own look and feel. The above poster is for the opener 'The Bells of St. John', a modern urban thriller, whilst we can also expect 'Hide', a spooky ghost story and 'Cold War', a submarine set siege.

Amy and Rory are gone for good. Show-runner Steven Moffat has ruled-out the duo returning for the meantime and is quoted as saying he is happy with the conclusion they were given. Sniff.


The show is focused on answering one question at a time. That is, we won't find out the Series 6 cliffhanger "Doctor Who?" until the riddle surrounding Clara Oswald is resolved.

For those of you not in the loop, Clara is the Doctor's newest companion. However, all is not that simple. The Doctor has already met Clara not once, but twice, each encounter ending with poor Clara biting the dust. Confused? Don't worry, the mystery surrounding Clara and her reappearances are the focus of Series 7 Part 2.

There's plenty of retro villains. One of the main attractions of Doctor Who is its recurring baddies. So, rest assured there are reappearances in the next eight episodes from the Cybermen (just not as you know them) and the even more retro Ice Warriors (set to appear in 'Cold War').

There's also new villains. If there's one thing we can commend Moffat and co. for, it's dreaming up some seriously chilling enemies in the past (e.g. The Silence, The Weeping Angels).

Promotional posters for 'The Bells of St. John', 'Cold War',
'Hide' and 'The Rings of Akhaten'

For the second half of Series 7, fans will be treated all sorts of enemies from the absurdly named Spoonheads in 'The Bells of St. John', the Whisphermen in 'Hide' to "a mummy of sorts" in 'The Rings of Akhaten'.

We'll see more of the TARDIS than ever before. That's right, episode 11 is entitled 'Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS' and it promises to give a glimpse of the sprawling insides of the Doctor's ship much in the same way that 'The Doctor's Wife' did in Series 6.

Another promotional image for the première, 'The Bells of St. John'.

Lots of returnees. The Cybermen and the Ice Warriors aren't the only returnees; Series 7 will see the return of plenty of the Doctor's friends and companions.

Pencilled in to appear in the yet untitled season finale are River Song (Alex Kingston), Madame Vastra (Neve McIntosh), Strax (Dan Starkey) and Jenny (Catrin Stewart), the last three of which will also appear in episode 12, 'The Crimson Horror'

Doctor Who returns to the ABC on Easter Sunday, the 31st of March 2013. Let me know in the comment section below what you are most excited for in the next run of episodes! I'll be writing a review of the 8 episodes when they have concluded in the same way I did for Season 7 Part 1. 

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Film Review: A Good Day to Die Hard

Back in Action: Bruce Willis as John McClane

There come a point in every movie franchise where it starts to outstay its welcome. For Indiana Jones, that time came with Kingdom of the Crystal Skull; Paranormal Activity did the same with its 3rd or 4th instalment and Transformers with Dark of the Moon. 

A Good Day to Die Hard is a case in point. So far beyond its sell-buy date that it is starting to smell bad, A Good Day to Die Hard should serve as a warning to all movie executives to quit while you are ahead.


Out to reconcile with his estranged son Jack, John McClane flies out of the familiarity of the US and into uncharted territory; Moscow. Here, he discovers that Jack well out of his depth, as a part of a CIA operation to extract political prisoner Yuri Kamarov. Hot on their tail are all kinds of cardboard cut-out cold war baddies who are out to kill Kamarov and usurp the United States with nuclear weapons.

By now you may have stumbled upon A Good Day to Die Hard's greatest weakness; that this isn't really John McClane's story anymore. It's all about nuclear bombs, a rivalry between two Russian Cold War officers and the disaster at Chernobyl.

It must get awfully hot in those motorcycle leathers

Gone are the days when a Die Hard film focuses on John McClane kicking the crap out of a handful of terrorists in a Los Angeles skyscraper. Here, John McClane reaches Bronson-Bond levels of ridiculousness in the action stakes, surviving explosions and falls that even Batman, Rambo and Chuck Norris would struggle to survive.

Taking all of this into account, is A Good Day to Die Hard a good Die Hard film? No, it's the worst one by far. But if what your looking for is a massive car chase that tears Moscow a new one, you've got it. If your looking for some seriously kick-ass action sequences that involves numerous tanks, helicopters and a large bodycount, consider yourself lucky. There are some seriously slow-motion 'action porn' shots that are great. In terms of action, you'll get plenty of bang for you buck with this film. It doesn't make it a good story (as the early films were) but it is massive fun if that's what you expect going in.

Just hanging around

Bruce Willis doesn't give as memorable a performance as he has done in previous entry's here. In fact, his performance is pretty lacking in humour, something that we all know and love about the character of John McClane. Also, Jai Courtney's turn as Jack is fairly uninspired; the entirety of his dialogue comprises of moody and sulky lines directed at his dad. Alright, you have daddy issues, we get it.

In addition, the antagonists in A Good Day to Die Hard are both varied and unmemorable. Instead of sticking with one villain, there are several, and this just complicates matters. As I mentioned earlier, they're just cardboard cut-out Russian baddies that don't stick in the memory.

On the whole then, A Good Day to Die Hard is a poor attempt at a Die Hard film but it is a good action film. Go in with this in mind, or you'll leave wholly disappointed.

I give A Good Day to Die Hard: 4/10

See this if you liked: Taken 2, The Expendables 2, The Darkest Hour, Live Free or Die Hard

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Rank the Films #3: Die Hard

As any regular reader of feeling fuzzier will know, lists are pretty darn nifty. We have a profound appreciation for straight-up lists. This is the thinking behind Rank the Films, a regular feature that pulls apart the pros and cons of a series of films, ranking them in order of good to bad. 

With the fifth instalment in the franchise, A Good Day To Die Hard, hitting Australian cinemas this weekend we take a look at the Die Hard franchise, ranking them from worst to best. Give it a read and leave me a comment letting me know what you think!


Be sure to check back again later in the week for my review of A Good Day To Die Hard.

4th - Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990)

Rotten Tomatoes: 67%

Following up the original Die Hard with a sequel just as good way never going to be an easy task and so it proved for director Renny Harlin. In my mind the least memorable of the four Die Hard films to date, the second outing for John McClane (Bruce Willis) is simply trying to recreate the original too closely and suffers for it. With a villain that isn't that memorable and an implausible and confusing twist in the final third, the second Die Hard is a little generic to stand-out from the crowd. 

It does have its plus points however; Bruce Willis is still on top form as John McClane and the nail-biting time limit is a nice narrative element that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. On the whole, it is great entertainment but a little too forgettable up against the other entry's in the franchise. 

3rd - Live Free Or Die Hard [Die Hard 4.0] (2007)

Rotten Tomatoes: 81%

A lot older, a lot balder and a lot grouchier, John McClane is back in action alongside Justin Long's nerdy hacker Matt Farrell. A fresh 21st century take on Die Hard, the fourth entry into the franchise turned out to not be the disaster everyone thought it would be. This time the plot doesn't centre around a building or a plane being held hostage; it's a whole country. 

Die Hard 4.0 is big on action and has some really inventive set pieces that are equally entertaining as they are OTT. Overall, I put it ahead of Die Hard 2 because it ups the stakes and doesn't simply try and repeat any old formula. There are some genuinely good action scenes and Bruce Willis has lost none of that essential wit and charm needed to play John McClane. Maggie Q adds some sexy ass-kicking spice and Timothy Olyphant is a decent enough villain.

2nd - Die Hard 3: With A Vengeance (1995)

Rotten Tomatoes: 52%

The franchise's third outing shook up the Die Hard formula by giving John McClane the chance to stretch his legs a little; held to ransom by vicious terrorist Simon Gruber (sounds familiar...), McClane must zig-zag his way across New York City and solve a series of riddles and puzzles laid out for him.

A change of direction for the series, Die Hard 3 was met with mixed reviews back in 1995. For me though, Die Hard 3 is one of the better entry's into the series. It is closer in spirit to the original film and the increased scale is a breath of fresh air after the claustrophobic first two entry's. Also, the addition of Samuel L. Jackson as shop owner/reluctant buddy Zeus is a stroke of genius; he shares some zinging dialogue with McClane that captures so well the mid-90's attitude towards race.

The end result is a sequel that feels like a much better follow-up than the first sequel (it helps that Die Hard 3 is directed by the same guy, John McTiernan, as the original Die Hard) and an all-round superb popcorn munching action-flick.

1st - Die Hard (1988)

Rotten Tomatoes: 94%

They're never better than the original right? In this case, of course not. The original Die Hard is the real-deal, the film that laid out the blueprints for not just four sequels but a whole generation of imitators. Nothing since has really come close to matching its gripping and brutal hour and fifty-four minutes of greatness.

High above the city of Los Angeles, a team of terrorists has a seized a building, taken hostages and declared war. (Yes, I have taken that straight from the poster). It's up to off-duty cop John McClane to stop them, picking them off one by one and rescuing his captured wife in time for Christmas. 

Bruce Willis is at his best in his first outing as John McClane whilst Alan Rickman plays quite possibly one of the greatest (and most memorable) villains of all time. Tense, claustrophobic and most importantly, a whole lot of fun, Die Hard is hard to fault. A must see for any film fanatic!

Previous entry's in this series include the Harry Potter and the Star Wars franchise. Be sure to subscribe and not miss out on Rank the Films #4: Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

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Voice of Reason #9: The Ultimate Action Hero

James Bond? What a posh nonce. Jason Bourne? On your bike, mate. Ellen Ripley? Suck on an alien pod. You guys ain't got nothin' on John "Yipee-ki-yay motherfucker" McClane. With A Good Die To Die Hard hitting Australian cinema screens this weekend, we take a look at why John McClane is the baddest of asses in action cinema. 


Let's face it; John McClane is pretty much the ultimate bad ass of action cinema. If you put him in a cage fight with Bond, Bourne and Rambo, I wouldn't fancy their chances much against Mr. McClane; getting older and balder has only made him deadlier. Who can say the same thing for many other action heroes?

Not only is he a dedicated and honest husband, willing to subject himself to a pretty lame Christmas party with all of her co-workers in Los Angeles but he doesn't take any crap when said party heads south pretty quick.

When Alan Rickman's slimy and sneering terrorist Hans Gruber rocks up and starts to hold everyone hostage, McClane ain't the kind of guy to take it sitting down. Oh no. Instead, he goes all crazy on their asses and picks them off one by one like a Xenomorph hell-bent on celebrating Christmas without this kind of crap.

Saving the best until last, McClane finally ends the night by chucking Alan Rickman's slimy ass out a window on the building's 30th floor, only to watch his death unfold in glorious slow-motion. Ice cold.

And if we're honest, he has the best catchphrase going. Uttered with such a delicate blend of gleeful pleasure and sarcasm, McClane gets one up on Bond for simply having brilliant catch-phrases that don't sound horribly cheesy (We're looking at you, Roger Moore).

The guy doesn't even wear shoes; what you see as glass, he simply sees as fluffy carpet. He gets hurt, but keeps going. Cars, planes, and SUV's dangling down an elevator shaft; nothing fazes the guy. Add to this that in his time, he has had to repeatedly work during the Holiday season and you can see why McClane is such a trooper.

Face it people; John McClane is pretty badass. When it comes to it, he trumps them all. He's straight-up, determined and witty. Not to mention he's the life of any office party...

Disagree? Let me know what you think in the comments section below! Coming this week is my review of A Good Day to Die Hard as well as Rank the Films #3: Die Hard. 

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Verdict: Community Season 1

Given that Community premièred on American TV back in 2009, it can be said that I have been a little slow on the uptake. Four years since the first season aired and I've only just stumbled across the show by chance after looking around for something new and interesting to watch; as it stands, I'm over the moon that I did and a little sad that I didn't sooner.

Senor Chang confronts Annie

Community is a real gem of a show that has gained something of a cult following in its three full seasons (the fourth season is currently airing in the US). The show follows a diverse group of students at a community college (the fictional Greendale, Colorado) as they navigate the perks and harsh truths of being a student.

Taking centre-stage is ex-lawyer, womaniser and narcissist Jeff (Joel McHale), a character who oozes enough charm and charisma to give Han Solo a (Kessel) run for his money. The original premise sees the focus set squarely on Jeff, his mission to get his law degree (for real this time) and leave this community college 'blip' behind him being the main plot strand of the season; however, it isn't long before the lead writers discover that the gold lies with aiming the focus at each and every member of the cast.

There's the uptight and 'cool' Britta (Gillian Jacobs) on whom Jeff's sights are firmly set. Then there's motherly and caring Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown), quirky and totally innocent Annie (Alison Brie), pop-culture obsessed and socially awkward Abed (Danny Pudi), high-school football hero Troy (Donald Glover) and the overtly racist and bigoted senior student, Pierce (Chevy Chase). Rounding out the cast is the group's borderline psychotic Spanish teacher Senor Chang (Ken Jeong); the simple fact that their Spanish teacher is Chinese is genius in itself.

It's an eclectic and varied ensemble of characters and thankfully, each are given their chance to develop and grow as the first season goes along. The character development across the first season leads some truly heart-warming and touching episodes; 'Interpretive Dance', 'The Art of Discourse', 'Romantic Expressionism' and 'Beginner Pottery' are all great episodes that show how Community connects with the audience emotionally.

Jeff and Britta in the study room

As the season goes on, it becomes increasingly hard to pick a single favourite character; for me, it swings between Troy and Abed for their silly antics ("Troy and Abed in the moooorning"), Annie for her adorableness and Shirley owing to her giggly laugh and "thinly veiled anger issues".


The lack of laughter track suits the show really well and it allows for the jokes to flow thick and fast; Community isn't the kind of show you can half-watch because you'll miss a hell of lot if you do. The reams of in-jokes, movie quotes, references and Abed being "meta" is fast-paced brilliance that'll leave you in stitches.

On the whole, it is hard to pick apart some of the weaknesses in the first season of Community. A couple of episodes, such as 'English as a Second Language' stick out as being not as good as the rest,  but are by no means terrible. On the whole however, the whole season is fantastic; there isn't a single episode that will fail to make you laugh to some degree.

If haven't gotten onto watching Community, then you should. Grab hold a copy of Season 1 now and get onto it! It is easily one of the funniest shows on television!

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Film Review: Oz - The Great and Powerful

We're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz in this enchanting Disney adventure by Sam Raimi, director of the Spiderman trilogy. 


Oscar Diggs (James Franco) is a womanising and manipulative magician whose travelling circus act fails to win over audiences when they discover his on-stage antics are simply an illusion. After fleeing from a fight with a disgruntled partner of an ex-lover in his hot-air balloon, Oscar finds himself whisked away to a far off land through a ferocious twister.

He wakes up to find himself surrounded by sprites, munchkins and monkeys that can fly. This is Oz, home to a terrific trifecta of witches; the naive Theodora (Mila Kunis), the vampish Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and the wholesome Glinda (Michelle Williams).

In paying homage to the 1939 original, director Sam Raimi is treading on thin ice. Few films are as cherished and unblemished as The Wizard of Oz; ruining such a classic would be sacrilege as well as career suicide for all of those involved. Fortunately, Oz - The Great and Powerful is not a disaster at all, albeit not an wholly successful venture.

First off, James Franco is a little sketchy in the lead role; he starts off all swagger and charm as the womanising circus magician who finds himself proclaimed king and saviour of a kingdom. He's a charming but unlikeable character; it's hard to side with him as he sweeps Mila Kunis' Theodora off her feet only to leave her behind without a backward glance.

He's also a little shaky in the film's final third when Oz (as his friends know him by) is thrust to foreground of a battle to retake Emerald City from the Wicked Witches. Franco's highpoint are his scenes with Finley (Zach Braff) and China Girl (Joey King) which were both touching and funny.

The film's main strong point is its three leading ladies, Kunis, Weisz and Williams. Each have their moments to shine and neither disappoints. Kunis is, as always, attractive and likeable (at least until the halfway point), Weisz relishes her chance to get all mad-witch-bitch on our asses and Williams is enchanting as the Good Witch.

Raimi sets his targets firmly on the look and feel of Tim Burton's massively successful Alice in Wonderland by drenching Oz in luscious visuals that pop from the screen; the Emerald City looks like a fairytale Gotham whilst the cacophony of vivid reds, jades and yellows that adorn flowers, trees and brick roads alike are a real visual treat. It can feel a little CG heavy at times however, sequences like the one in the image above where Oz and Glinda travel by bubble looking a little too fantastical.

On the whole, Oz - The Great and Powerful is a good, but not great, family fantasy adventure that will draw younger audiences to the land of Oz for the first time. It's light and fresh take on the tale will fit right in with family audiences. It may not captivate older audiences that grew up with the original and only the test of time will show its true worth

I give Oz - The Great and Powerful: 6/10

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60 Second Film Reviews #2

A round-up of some of the most recent films that I've seen on both the silver screen and at home, 60 Second Film Reviews is a new feature that gives you the low-down on a film without the waffle. This month, we have Wreck-It Ralph, The Woman In Black, The Inbetweeners Movie and Cloud Atlas.

Wreck-It Ralph (2012)

Wreck-It Ralph was a great surprise; a unique blend of kiddy humour and gaming references that older audiences will appreciate. It's certainly a film that strives to do something different.

Imagination abound has clearly been poured into the each of the in-game world's in Wreck-It Ralph.  The delectable visuals literally bounce out of the screen (the battle-bruised and bug-infested world of Hero's Duty, the colourful, candy-coated colours of Sugar Rush) give the film its own distinctive look and feel.

With a protagonist that isn't a goody-two shoes ("I am bad and that is good. I will never be good and that's not bad"), Wreck-It Ralph carries an heart-warming message of acceptance that'll please the kiddywinks.

Whilst it doesn't stand head and shoulders above other recent animations (Pixar's Brave and Dreamworks' Rise of the Guardians have the edge there), Wreck-It Ralph is a solid effort from Disney and it shows that the studio isn't afraid to try something a little new.

I give Wreck-It Ralph: 7/10

The Woman In Black (2012)

Moving on from a certain-wizard-franchise-that-must-not-be-named, Daniel Radcliffe stars in this genuinely chilling horror, The Woman In Black. Although it may be a little formulaic for die-hard horror fans, The Woman In Black was a seriously terrifying thriller/horror that will provide genre amateurs like myself with some genuine jump scares and nightmares for days.

It was great to see Radcliffe in a role outside of Harry Potter and he I thought that he carried the film on his shoulders well; He was convincing as both a widow and a father, his last outing as his magical alter-ego already feeling like an age ago.

The Woman In Black is really Radcliffe's show however, with there being only a couple of other characters to propel the story forwards. Also, the ending was a bit of a downer and I felt it could have been handled better.

I give The Woman In Black: 6/10

The Inbetweeners Movie (2011)

A fitting send off for both the cast and the fans, The Inbetweeners Movie is good enough to disprove anyone who says TV shows can't spawn successful films. In fact, with talk of sequel still circulating, there could even be a franchise in the works. 

Anyway, set a year after the end of the show's third and final season, The Inbetweeners Movie picks up where the four lads, Will (Simon Bird), Simon (Joe Thomas), Neil (Blake Harrison) and Jay (James Buckley) are off to the Greek island of Malia for two weeks of alcohol, girls and sun. 

Where this film excels is in its ability to not feel like a dragged out episode of the TV show. The longer run time doesn't harm the casts ability to extract hilarity from the script or add the occasional dash of heart. Whilst there is evidence of character development here, this being The Inbetweeners, the film doesn't take itself too seriously and it also avoids using any predictable romantic/comedy plot clichés near the end. 

I give The Inbetweeners Movie: 8/10

Cloud Atlas (2013)

An adaptation of David Mitchell's multi-stranded novel so ambitious it took three directors to film it all, The Wachowski's and Tom Tykwer's Cloud Atlas is an impressive piece of visually striking film-making that manages to fall a little short of classic status. 

Cloud Atlas tells the story of one soul that is spread across six past, present and future historical eras that are all interconnected with one another across time. Starring Tom Hanks, Hugh Grant, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Ben Whishaw and many more, the film certainly boasts an impressive ensemble cast that all appear in various guises across the six plot strands (spotting each actor/actress in each story can be turned into a fun drinking game!), but the multiple plots and locales means that Cloud Atlas loses track of its original notion of everything being interconnected. Sometimes, the plot points that connect the dots can feel forced or too briefly touched upon to really make an impact.

The films biggest plus point is the acting; there really isn't any single weak link in its cast. Another plus point is the luscious visuals and settings, the depictions of the futuristic Neo-Seoul and Hawaii being the most eye-catching.

I give Cloud Atlas: 6/10

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Voice of Reason #8: In-Flight Films

Okay, so a recent flight across Australia got me thinking; what is the best kind of film to watch in-transit? Airlines often populate their in-flight entertainment systems with a miniature digital library of cinematic treats, with my last flight offering everything from the thrilling and often satirical Argo to the cutesy and family-friendly Mr. Poppers' Penguins.

So what to choose? With so much on offer, it can feel overwhelming trying to whittle it down. You weigh each option up carefully, not wanting mess up such a crucial decision. Before you know it, you've spent so long trying to choose that the plane is now landing and you've missed your chance. Bummer!

So anyway, here we have a few ground rules (or should that be sky rules?) on what not to pick next time you are trapped inside a tightly packed metal tube with hundreds of complete strangers and you need to find a way to pass the time.

1. Anything that'll make you jump. Turbulence may be one thing, but a jump scare from the latest Paranormal Activity flick will definitely send that packet of peanuts or can of Coke you opened raining down on your fellow passengers. You don't want this.
2. Anything scary. Remember, at some point in the next 600 hours of flying, you might want to get some shut eye. This isn't going to happen if you decide to tune into Nightmare on Elm Street; you'll end up calling for the air hostess to make you a warm glass of milk and soothe your brow whilst you mumble something about the Freddy Kruger trying to kill you.
3. Anything that involves planes. Not Airplane!, not Flightplan, not Snakes on a Plane, not Die Hard 2 and definitely, absolutely not Flight. Unless you really relish the idea of reaching for the sick bag and reacquainting yourself with that bagel you just had in the terminal.
4. Something that'll get you judged. You might be trapped on a plane for seeming eternity, but there are better ways to pass the time than watching Tinkerbell: Secret of the Wings. The only thing you'll be getting out of that will be odd glances from the people sat next to you.
5. Anything that is too funny. What? No comedies? Not if your the kind of person that laughs so loud the captain will be able to hear you. Cue angry stares from two old ladies you just jolted awake. Thanks a lot Simon Pegg.
6. Something that'll get you in the *ahem* mood. Remember your surroundings. You don't want to be be caught in the awkward situation where the air hostess leans in on you watching a particularly steamy sex scene that involves lots of jiggling.
7. Transformers. This one has nothing to do with being on a plane, you should just avoid the Transformers films altogether. They're crap. You have been warned. 

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Film Review: Side Effects

Rooney Mara in Side Effects

Jude Law, Rooney Mara and Catherine Zeta-Jones star in Side Effects, an intelligent and haunting thriller from director Steven Soderbergh.


Emily (Rooney Mara) had it all. A husband, a great job and a life to be proud of. When the rug is ripped from underneath her and her husband Martin (Channing Tatum) is sent to prison, her downward spiral with numerous prescription drugs begins. With a cloud of depression hanging over her, Emily turns to psychiatrist Jonathan Banks (Jude Law) for help. And this is where it gets interesting...

For obvious reasons, continuing on with a synopsis of Side Effects would greatly ruin the shock and surprise of the film's numerous twists and turns, each one more sinister and surprising than the last. This film draws you in and gets you hooked, feeding you just enough information to keep you tantalised from start to finish.

First of all, the script and pacing is spot on. The film swings between drawn out periods of tension followed by rapid, sporadic bursts of drama that cause the plot to veer this way and the next. The acting here is also top-notch. For me, the real stand-out performance came from Jude Law's character Dr. Jonathan Banks. Whilst I've seen plenty of Law in other films, his performance here really made me sit up and take notice.

The same praise can be afforded the film's other lead Rooney Mara, gloomy and tortured to begin with but something very different and unexpected come the end. Likewise, Catherine Zeta-Jones' sultry performance as Dr. Siebert starts in one place but ends in another, her firm gaze and stilettos injecting a dose sexiness and tenacity into the mixture throughout.

The end verdict is that Side Effects is a surprisingly effective and complex psychological thriller that messes with your head as much as any pill could. An early contender for My Top 5 Films of 2013, it's wonderfully smart, stylishly shot as well as dark, brilliantly acted and thought-provoking. Just as Soderbergh did with Contagion, Side Effects makes you stop and think about our frenzied pill-popping culture. If there's one thing you'll take from Side Effects it is this; always read the label.

I give Side Effects: 8/10

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