BAD BRAINS: A BAND IN D.C. (M.I.F.F.)

A decent enough documentary on legendary D.C. punk band Bad Brains. Charting their story from school friends to influential hardcore band. We see a history punctuated by incendiary live experiences but scarred by the side effects of religion and (probable) mental illness.  The filmmakers leave us many times laughing at H.R. rather than attempting to understand what is wrong with him - and there is very evidently something wrong. Although it is exciting indeed to see the live footage and hear the stories of their early live prowess, the film is ultimately unrewarding in its inability to offer any insight into the dark side of the Bad Brains that has blighted their existence. The infamous incident of their homophobia toward the Big Boys is brushed under the carpet as nothing more than youthful indiscretions; and the fact there is no discernible attempt to understand what is going on with H.R. left it feeling like there was an interesting story here that went untold. Over all it was a little too long and a little lightweight.

M.I.F.F. Rating 3 out of 5 (mostly for the live footage)

IMDB: Bad Brains: A Band In D.C.

HARA-KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI (M.I.F.F.)

Takashi Miike's follow up to the amazing 13 Assassins remakes a 1962 film of the same name, wherein a lone samurai (Ebizô Ichikawa), living in poverty, requests from a lord the chance to allow him to commit a seppuku (hara-kiri) and honourably take his own life. From there, we hear in flashback, the tale of what brought the samurai to this point; and of a younger ronin who had come to the lord a few weeks previously with a similar request. Similar in style to 13 Assassins, and once again featuring the excellent Kôji Yakusho, it sits as an interesting companion piece courtesy of its excellently recreated feudal Japan settings. Despite some largly unnecessary 3D (when is it EVER necessary?) the story drags you in, however it is a far more sombre affair than 13 Assassins. Whilst Assassins was a fun exciting adventure, Hara-Kiri is bleak and introspective. A worthy view, and no mistake, but certainly a more complex and downbeat experience than Miike's last outing.

M.I.F.F. Rating 4 out of 5

IMDB: Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai

ROBOT AND FRANK (M.I.F.F.)

Set in a near future, Frank (Frank Langella) is a bored retired cat burglar, rattling around his old house, trying to cope with the onset of senility, with his grown up children living far away. Frank’s son Hunter (James Marsden) gets him a robot helper to assist him around the house and try to keep him active and alert. Initially standoffish and unimpressed,  Frank gradually forms a bond with Robot, as he learns the Robot’s moral compass is not quite as centred as he first believed. Under the auspices of keeping Frank’s mind active, the two chums plot a heist together and the tale that ensues is both uplifting and bittersweet . Fantastic performances from a great cast (also including Susan Sarandon and Liv Tyler), Robot and Frank is a cracking movie.

M.I.F.F. Rating 5 out of 5

IMDB: Robot And Frank

SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED (M.I.F.F.)

Excellent comedy with sci-fi undertones (or should that be overtones?), as Aubrey Plaza (who has a boy’s name) plays Seattle Magazine intern Darius (also a boy’s name); who along with 2 colleagues - smarmy journo Jeff (Jake M Johnson) and earnest college boy Arnau - goes forth to investigate a cryptic, provincial classified advert seeking a companion for time travel (“Must Bring Your Own Weapons. Safety Not Guaranteed”). As Darius becomes closer to the advert’s author, Kenneth (Mark Duplass), and his unconventional plans we follow their progress; along with Jeff’s goal to track down a childhood sweetheart. Funny, heartwarming and one hundred percent enjoyable. It’s brilliantly acted and thoroughly enjoyable. Plaza , Johnson and Duplass have charisma by the bucketload and it’s a funny and truly entertaining movie.

M.I.F.F. Rating 5 out of 5
IMDB: Safety Not Guaranteed