Bria Lou Reviews

  When two fixers are hired to solve a problem, they find themselves unexpectedly working together when the situation spirals out of control. I was looking forward to this film. Being a fan of the Ocean's movies I already know how well George Clooney and Brad Pitt work together, so even though I wasn't 100% sure about the plot, I knew it would probably be a fun watch at least. I liked the film, but my first instinct ended up being completely right - I liked the characters and didn't really like the plot. The story takes a while to get into. And again this may be because I wasn't fully on board with the premise. But in saying that, it does get better after the first half hour, when the characters have settled into their roles and the audience know a bit more about what to expect. The film is completely held up by the chemistry between Clooney and Pitt. They work really well together and make you want to keep watching the film. If there had been two different actors starr...

  Next up for the bucket list was a re-watch that I was really looking forward to! I saved this film for as long as I could because I love it so much and wanted to have something to look forward to later in the year. Though having said that, I only saw the film in its entirety for the first time last year, so my love for it is definitely a new-ish thing! So this was only a second watch. And just like with the first watch, I loved the film. In fact, I think I loved it more the second time around. For a start, I found it a lot more emotional this time around. And not just at the end, but I found the beginning of the film, in the present, surprisingly emotional too.  This film is on the classics list for many reasons, and one of those reasons is because of the chemistry between Jack and Rose (played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet).  Those two characters had an amazing love story, electric chemistry and they share some beautiful iconic scenes. As good as the film's wri...

Two estranged friends reunite to carry out a dangerous plot. I'd never even heard of this film when I sat down to watch it. The premise was so vague that it really could have gone in any direction, and I didn't really have high hopes. Thankfully, the film is deceptively good, and not really what you'd expect. The first thing I have to talk about are the performances. The main characters are played by Naomie Harris and Natalie Dormer, and they both completely carry the film. They play their individual characters really well but also work really well together. Their characters are also really interesting. They are women from two different walks of life that blend well together. If the film didn't have any twists and continued how it starts, it would be really fun to watch the path these characters take together. The film is very dialogue-heavy, and at times feels like a play - I only found out after watching that it actually was adapted from a play. As well as the film fo...

This was probably the most iconic film on the bucket list - and therefore the most intimidating! The Godfather has been on my to-watch list for years, but I never got around to it. Partly because it seemed long and intimidating, partly because the plot never really grabbed me. But I'm glad it was on the list so I could have an excuse to force myself to watch it! The film is so iconic that if you haven't seen it, you have no idea how many other movies and TV shows it influenced, and how many pop culture references it created. The most notable references for me come from Family Guy and Modern Family, both of which have episodes that essentially copy entire scenes from the movie. But back to the film itself - I thought it was good. I liked the premise, it was well-written and directed, and the characters were created really well.  It was a bit hit-and-miss for me in the sense that there were scenes I didn't care about, but there are also scenes that have really stuck with me, ...

Not only was this a first-time watch, but it was my first time watching anything James Bond related. It's a franchise that has completely passed me by. And although I have seen many, and liked many, spy movies, this was a series that I never really had any desire to watch. I was actually quite surprised it was on the list - I think I'd assumed that if any James Bond movie was considered a classic, it would be one older than this. Nevertheless I did enjoy the film. It wasn't the best thing I've ever seen, but it was an enjoyable 2.5 hours. Like a lot of these older action based movies, my favourite thing was the love story within it. I loved the way the characters interacted with each other, and Daniel Craig and Eva Green had great chemistry! The rest of the plot I could take or leave. It was interesting, but it didn't feel like a wholly different story from other spy movies I've seen. Having never seen other James Bond movies I can't really make a judgement ...

  When a family are selected to test a new digital assistant, they soon find that AIA is more dangerous than they ever thought possible. This premise feels like it's been done upwards of 10 times in the last two years. But I happen to find the idea of AI perfect for a horror film, so I'll always come back for more! I didn't love this movie, and can definitely see its flaws, but I did actually have a good time with it.  For a start, the opening scene felt really silly and unrealistic, but it did have a lot of potential and was an interesting watch. However the tone of it felt a bit off compared with the rest of the film. I thought the main family felt really authentic, and they all worked well together. I'm particularly a huge fan of John Cho, so it was nice seeing him in this. And he was great! While the idea itself seems stupid and unrealistic, there is an undercurrent of fear knowing that if this product was marketed correctly, it's not crazy to think that people ...

  This was a highly anticipated re-watch. I actually saved this film for later in the year because it was something to look forward to. I don't remember the first time I saw this film, but it's always been one I've loved as both a horror fan, and as a fan of Stephen King adaptations. And while this isn't my personal favourite Stephen King adaptation (there are too many to mention, but Stand By Me and Misery are definitely my standouts), it's undoubtedly one of the absolute best, which is why it's on this list. There's something really interesting about watching a character slowly descend into madness, and it's done so well in this one partly because of the writing and directing, but also because Jack Nicholson did such an amazing job with the character. But the actors playing the supporting characters, such as Shelly Duvall, Scatman Crothers and particularly Danny Lloyd all did an amazing job with their roles. There are a lot of movies on the bucket list...