The Social Network

In a nutshell - the story of how the social networking website 'Facebook' was found.

Directed by two of our absolute favourites, the brilliant David Fincher (Fight Club) and written by the equally brilliant Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing) we didn't expect this movie to fail us and thank goodness, it didn't. It begins in 2003 with a breathless, wordy scene in a noisy bar and, to be honest, we hadn't a clue what was being said because of Jessie Eisenbergs fast paced delivery and the music. Nevertheless we were soon drawn into a story that was totally compelling. Jessie Eisenberg is superb as Mark Zuckerberg and Andrew Garfield as Zuckerberg's best friend, Eduardo Saverin. Although we didn't pay much attention to Saverin at first, by the end of the movie we all felt really sorry for the guy. It is just ironic that Zuckerberg created the world's greatest tool for communicating with people and yet, in reality, he couldn't communicate.

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Source Code

When soldier Captain Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) wakes up in the body of an unknown man he discovers he is part of a mission to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train. As part of a government experiment called Source Code he is able to cross over into another man's indentity during the mans last eight minutes of life on the train.

Keen to see this new Duncan Jones movie after the brilliant 'Moon' we experienced a thriller that was both gripping and intelligent. An entertaining puzzle that kept us guessing but wasn't without emotion and a little humour. Some call it Groundhog Day meets Inception. All we know is Duncan Jones didn't disappoint. This movie is brilliant!

5 elephants

Citizen Kane

Following the death of a publishing tycoon, news reporters scramble to discover the meaning of his final words.

It was made 70 years ago and by today standards certain aspects are not great, but that's because we are used to seeing great things in movies. But in Citizen Kane everything was, for want of a better word, ground-breaking. Some of the shots are brilliant and the acting is superb.

Still, when we came to watch this movie and comment on it, it was difficult (and not just because each actor seem to speak a thousand words a minute - boy did they talk fast in those days!) because we'd been told, often enough, this was the greatest movie of all time.

It's one of those movies you will enjoy much more when you reflect on what you've experienced. When you consider how old it is, it really is a remarkable piece of movie-making that has truly stood the test of time.

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Seven

David Mills (Brad Pitt) and William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) are two detectives who become embroiled in a case involving several sadistic murders.

Deeply disturbing to watch, yet compelling. The kind of movie that stays with you for days. You try to shake it off but it won't go. You may even dream about it.

An absolutely brilliant film that'll you hate to watch but love at the same time.

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Moon

Director Duncan Jones' first feature film about Sam Bell an employee who is contracted by Lunar Industries to work on the moon and that's all we're saying because we don't want to give away the plot.

Trawling through the films on Love Film I came across this movie and without even reading the synopsis put it on the list because it had such a cool poster. Months later it turned up and before we watched it I was repeatedly asked what it was about, to which I replied 'the moon, I guess.' But when we came to watch it we were blown away. This should have got Sam Rockwell an Oscar nod - at least. It's incredible to think this movie was made for just $5m, it looks as if it's been filmed on location - on the moon! The entire movie literally has only one actor in it. It's a fantastic film. Brilliantly directed and superbly acted.
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Best line - Sam: Gerty, is there someone else in the room?

The Shawshank Redemption

Based on the Stephen King novel the Shawshank Redemption tells the story of Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) a young and successful banker who is given a double life sentence for the murder of his young wife and her lover. At Shawshank prison he gains the respect of Red (Morgan Freeman) the prison 'fixer' and together they embark on a life changing journey.

In essence the secret of a good movie is simple. It isn't the cinematography, it isn't the direction, the lighting, the music. It isn't even the cast. It is quite simply the story. A good story has you enthralled from beginning to end. It makes you care so much for the protagonist that you hope and pray that somehow everything will turn out all right. A good story makes you hate the corrupt and feel for the broken. The Shawshank Redemption is such a story. If there is a list of movies you want to see before you die. This movie should be on it...no, it must be on it.

5 elephants

Step Brothers

Brennan and Dale, two middle-age layabouts that act like ten year olds, are forced to live together when their respective parents get married. As reluctant step-siblings their immature antics cause chaos.

If you want to watch a film that takes you out of yourself, a film that for one hour and thirty-four minutes makes you forget all your problems then watch this movie - not once but twice, three times. Listen to the dialogue - it's hilarious.

Anchorman, Talladega Nights and now Stepbrothers. Will Ferrell, Adam McKay - you guys rock!

We give it Five elephants.