00s Movie Review - Layer Cake

Director: Matthew Vaughn
Genre: Crime/ Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 2003
Starring: Daniel Craig, Michael Gambon, Colm Meany, Tom Hardy, Sienna Miller, Sally Hawkins, George Harris

Description: A successful cocaine dealer (Daniel Craig) gets two tough assignments from his boss on the eve of his planned early retirement.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2025 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 25: S FILM FROM 2004
 
Review: We know Matthew Vaughn now for his work as a director on “Kingsmen: The Secret Service”, “Kick-Ass” and “X-Men: First Class” and he produced films like “Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and “Snatch”. “Layer Cake” was Vaughn’s directorial debut and has especially a lot of similarities with these last two films (set in the criminal underworld, mixing humor with violence, following many different characters).

Daniel Craig plays an unnamed drug dealer who wants to quit, but his clients won’t let him go. He gets new assignments, that are a little out of his expertise. And, of course, nothing really goes according to plan.

I’m a fan of Vaughn’s work, both as a producer and a director. I like his style. “Layer Cake”, although getting a lot of praise and love, is just fine for me. I understand why people love it, but it’s not a favorite for me.

Rating: 3/ 5

10s Movie Review - Warrior

Director: Gavin O’Connor
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 140 minutes
Year: 2011
Starring: Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Morrison, Denzel Whitaker, Frank Grillo, Kurt Angle, Noah Emmerich

Description: The youngest son (Tom Hardy) of an alcoholic former boxer (Nick Nolte) returns home, where he's trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament - a path that puts the fighter on a collision course with his estranged, older brother (Joel Edgerton).

Review: MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) is a brutal sport for some. For others it’s the most exciting sport on the planet. If you think “Warrior” is a 140 minute long film about knock outs and bloody fighters, you’re wrong. This film goes much deeper.

Tommy, an ex-marine who fought in Iraq, returns to his home town Philadelphia after being absent for 14 years. There he is reunited with his father Paddy, a former alcoholic and the reason that Tommy fled with his mother. Tommy wants to restore his band with Paddy, by working together. Tommy wants to attend an MMA tournament where he can win 5 million dollars. Tommy’s older brother Brendan has the same idea.

I’m not going to compare it with “Rocky” or “Raging Bull”. That’s not fair,  unnecessary and “Warrior” is great on its own. The three leading men, Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton and Nick Nolte are all fantastic. Hardy manages to bring a certain intensity to the screen, but there is also some melancholy and aggression. The mixed emotions and him fighting with them is amazing to see. Nick Nolte adds up to that, by playing maybe his best role ever. Edgerton shows the same passion, but with more modesty.
The character development is so strong and there is a real good build up to that final fight. When we come to that final fight, you get chills all over your body. An amazing soundtrack, with a song from “The National” in the final scene, only helps the intensity of that scene.

Although “Warrior” maybe not the most original story, it’s the total package that counts. And that’s way above average. I love “Warrior” and its great performances.

Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Review - Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Director: Andy Serkis
Genre: Action/ Science Fiction/ Adventure
Runtime: 97 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: Tom Hardy, Woody Harrelson, Naomie Harris, Michelle Williams, Stephen Graham, Reid Scott, Peggy Lu

Description: Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) attempts to reignite his career by interviewing serial killer Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson), who becomes the host of the symbiote Carnage and escapes prison after a failed execution.

Review: Tom Hardy once again takes on the role of Eddie Brock and his alien parasite Venom, but in “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” we see a side of the bloodthirsty alien that we would rather not have seen.
In this sequel to “Venom”, Eddie Brock has accepted that he must share his body with Venom, but this leads to much bickering between the two. When deranged killer Cletus Kasady takes in his own symbiote and transforms into Carnage (a red larger version of Venom), Eddie and Venom must put their problems aside for a while.
Tom Hardy, as always, is a joy to watch. He feels more at home in this sequel as Eddie Brock. Without him the movie would have been a lot less engaging. This is partly due to his buddy Venom. And the sequel is a lot funnier. Venom has become a prankster and some jokes are good. But some are not. At those moments you don’t think you’re watching “Venom: Let There Be Carnage”.
Fortunately, when Venom and Carnage come face to face, the film is really good and the two rivals go head to head in some spectacular action sequences. Carnage is an impressive villain. Woody Harrelson, who plays Cletus Kasady, is too. At first. At the start of the movie, he is really good. But when he becomes the host of the symbiote Carnage, Cletus becomes more cartoonish and silly.
“Venom: Let There Be Carnage” does make an attempt to give Cletus some depth, pairing with Shriek and giving the two their own storyline. But not enough to make Cletus an unforgettable character.
The film feels a bit messy at times and is not one of the better Marvel films. It does make for an entertainment popcorn movie and it still is worth your time. Because the strong action sequences make up for a lot.

Rating: 3 / 5

TV Show Review - Peaky Blinders (Season 5)

Season: 5
Genre: Thriller/ Drama/ Crime
Number of episodes: 6
Year: 2019
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Helen McCrory, Paul Anderson, Sophie Rundle, Joe Cole, Tom Hardy, Sam Claflin, Natasha O’Keefe, Packy Lee, Finn Cole, Kate Phillips, Aidan Gillen

Description: In the wake of the Wall Street Crash, Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) faces new dangers from unexpected quarters.

Review: The fifth season of “Peaky Blinders” is one to remember. In these six episodes, we see Thomas Shelby slowly slide down, barely sleeping and his alcohol and drug abuse is excessively high. And brother Arthur also gets deeper into misery.
This season mainly evolves around those two, where Polly plays the incredible role of the dame that can not be messed with. The Peaky Blinders, and Tommy especially, are attacked from all corners. Danger is everywhere, even within their own group.
Tommy is ambitious. He becomes a member of the parliament, proofs to be an outstanding spokesman and stands out. But there is another man that does this: Oswald Mosley. He is the devil himself and he easily gives viewers chills. We see the rise of his fascism.
Tommy wants to do something good for a change, but will he succeed? The wives of Tommy, Arthur and Michael all play an important role, besides Polly, in this fifth season. The downward spiral that starts in the first episode, eventually becomes a slide which seemingly has no end. The story is well told and all actors have become their characters, which make them extremely believable and somewhat frightening.
The last three episodes are all some to look forward to, but that final episode will leave you breathless. With an ending that will make you want more. Season 5 of “Peaky Blinders” is one of the best. Especially for the character of Tommy Shelby: we see his demolition as a leader, husband, father, brother, but most of all as a man. That downward spiral will definitely be something to build on in the next season.
“Peaky Blinders”, after 5 seasons still a show that manages to make their characters vulnerable and touches you as an audience.

TV Show Review - Peaky Blinders (Season 4)

Season: 4
Genre: Thriller/ Drama/ Crime
Number of episodes: 6
Year: 2017
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Helen McCrory, Paul Anderson, Sophie Rundle, Joe Cole, Tom Hardy, Adrien Brody, Natasha O’Keefe, Packy Lee, Finn Cole, Kate Phillips

Description: The Shelby family reunites and has to face yet another enemy: the Italian-American Luca Changretta.

Review: Season 4 of “Peaky Blinders” is mostly centered on the return of the Shelby family. Th return of old behavior and the return of friends and foes.
At the start of the season, the family is completely torn apart. The consequences of season 3 are present and traumatic. When each of the members of the Shelby family receive a card, it’s cleat they are in great danger. This threat brings the family closer together again. One of their own gets killed in the process, which make vengeance a big drive to overrule all the differences between the family members.
The danger comes in the form of Luca Changretta, the son of the man Arthur once killed. Changretta is out for revenge and he is a worthy opponent that you don’t want to mess with. And he gives other enemies a chance to get back at the Shelby family as well. For instance, Alfie Solomons. His organization is key in the battle between Changretta and the Peaky Blinders.
The other danger is the upcoming communist movement. Tommy Shelby has to work extra hard to prevent his factories from falling due to the strike. And union woman Jessie Eden is a strong opponent in all this.
The cat and mouse game between Changretta and Shelby delivers us some old fashion spectacle and tension. Arthur falls back into his old role and no challenge is too big. His religious wife Linda is dragged into the Shelby world even more. And Polly beats an emotional breakdown to serve her family the way she does best.
There are a few critical notes. The fact that Tommy Shelby solves everything with sex, whenever a woman enters the screen. And in this season it gives him a new challenge. Luca Changretta’s character is really good, but Adrien Brody is sometimes a bit too much and Changretta becomes more of a gimmick than an actual character.
Especially towards the end of the season, “Peaky Blinders” reaches its old level. Straight forwards, violent and a strong plot. And the acting is, as always, fantastic.

TV Show Review - Peaky Blinders (Season 3)

Genre: Thriller/ Drama/ Crime
Number of episodes: 6
Year: 2016
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Helen McCrory, Paul Anderson, Annabelle Wallis, Sophie Rundle, Joe Cole, Tom Hardy, Paddy Considine, Natasha O’Keefe, Packy Lee, Finn Cole, Kate Phillips, Gaite Jansen

Description: Set in 1924, two years after the events in series 2. It follows the Shelby family as they enter a dangerous world of international intrigue. Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) and his entire organization are at risk forcing him to question everything about his ambitions and desires.

Review: After two very strong seasons, expectations are very high. And even though it never reaches that same level, “Peaky Blinders” is still one of the best crime series out there. The people Tommy Shelby and his organization have to face this time, are stronger than ever. Series 3 follows the same kind of pattern, but eventually manages to surprise big at the end.
The third season focusses on personal development. A quest for their role in this complete picture. At the start everyone is living their best life: Tommy marries Grace, live in a beautiful mansion and have a son named Charlie. Even the very unstable and aggressive Arthur is married now and has devoted himself to the lord. But in that first episode, they also see that trouble isn’t that far away. And this time it’s the Russians. The Bourgeoisie that were send away from Russia by the communists. They want to return, but need the Peaky Blinders to find weapons. They are represented by a wealthy family, with especially daughter Tatiana playing a confusing role in this all. Driving Tommy crazy.
Arthur is led by his wife Linda. Aunt Polly is in search for love and acknowledgment. She seems weaker then ever and regularly reaches for the bottle. Her son Michael is confronted with a reverend from his past. This same reverend, Hughes, becomes Tommy’s biggest threat.
Series 3 is a filled with political games. Which will intrigue viewers, but misses the sparks from the previous two seasons. But it’s still on top, when it comes to other shows in this genre. The acting is again great. Cillian Murphy’s Tommy shows more weak moments and he loses his cool a couple of times. Which is a Tommy we didn’t see often yet. And we are introduced to Reverend Hughes, played wonderfully by Paddy Considine.
A good third season, I’m ready for season 4.

TV Show Review - Peaky Blinders (Season 2)

Season: 2
Genre: Thriller/ Drama/ Crime
Number of episodes: 6
Year: 2014
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Sam Neill, Helen McCrory, Paul Anderson, Annabelle Wallis, Sophie Rundle, Joe Cole, Tom Hardy

Description: A gangster family epic set in 1919 Birmingham, England; centered on a gang who sew razor blades in the peaks of their caps, and their fierce boss Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy)

Review: “Peaky Blinders” has a strong first season, that made me jump into season 2 immediately. And it’s even better! More locations are used and new characters are added, with the most important ones being Alfie Solomons (played by Tom Hardy) and Darby Sabini (played by Noah Taylor). Real personalities.
Tommy Shelby could use some opponents that are a serious threat. Where in the first season Tommy tries to own Birmingham, he now tries to take over London. But London just happens to be the terrain for Solomons and Sabini. Tommy is even more ambitious in season 2. He buys a race horse and meets some elites, which he manages to win for him. And even Winston Churchill wants to work with him. Tommy has to deal with Chester Campbell again as well, but this season focusses on the expansion of the Shelby family.
Arthur and John get more responsibilities. Paul Anderson, who portrays Arthur, gets more interesting things to do with his character. And the same goes for Helen McCrory, as Aunt Polly, who starts a search for her long lost children that were taken from her. But her storyline is the least interesting. I also found the romance story of Tommy and his old love a bit rushed this time.
Cillian Murphy is again the man that carries the series, as Tommy. But he is very well assisted by Tom Hardy this time. He’s only in a few scenes, but he steels them all. He has such charisma, it almost makes Murphy fade away.
The most epic moments of this season are definitely the ambush by Sabini in the first episode and the big fight scene in Sabini’s London club.
The second season did it again and was very strong. Let season 3 begin!

Movie Reviews - Venom

Director: Rubern Fleischer
Genre: Action
Runtime: 112 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, Riz Ahmed, Melora Walters

Description: When Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) acquires the powers of a symbiote, he will have to release his alter-ego "Venom" to save his life.

Review: Venom is a fascinating anti-hero and (almost) villain in the superhero universe of Marvel and deserves his own film. Is refreshing to give the stage to a villain.
Eddie Brock is a journalist, with unorthodox methods and he will go far to get his story. While trying to unveil the secrets of a big company, he acquires the powers of a symbiote and an alter-ego comes to life: Venom.
Eddie is fighting his inner demon, he hears Venom’s voice in his head. He tries to fight it, but he can’t and he eventually has to find a way to live with it and use it for his benefits. A bit of Jekyll and Hyde.
When it comes to looks, Venom is perfect. “Spider-Man 3” tried it in 2007, but with no success. Here Venom looks exactly like he was created, like he just walked out of the comics. Tom Hardy is a good choice, he has played the anti-hero before in movies like “Warrior” and “Mad Max: Fury Road”. And the film is at its best when Eddie tries to fight Venom, for the outside world it’s like he is talking to himself.
The villain in this film is played by Riz Ahmed (star of “The Night Of"). He plays an Elon Musk type of opponent, the master brain behind the symbiote tests. I somehow never find him very believable as a villain.
I think “Venom” would have worked better if it got an R-rating, like “Deadpool” or “Logan”. It’s too righteous and colors within the lines too much. Heads are bitten off, but it’s never really seen. It feels more family friendly, when a character like Venom should go all out
The action is a bit messy and edited way too much. Too much digitalization was added.
“Venom” flirts with the dark side, but eventually turns to the safe zone. I was so excited for this film and it disappointed me. This is such a cool character and it deserved a better movie. It wasn’t as bad as “Spider-Man 3”, but I expected more.

Rating: 2,5 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 133: Dunkirk

Director: Christopher Nolan
Genre: Drama/ Action
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy, Barry Keoghan, James D’Arcy, Harry Styles

Description: Allied soldiers from Belgium, the British Empire and France are surrounded by the German Army, and evacuated during a fierce battle in World War II.

Review: You would think that we have enough WWII movies in Hollywood. But still movies based on this war are released. And every once in a while you wonder why this wasn’t made earlier. “Dunkirk” is one of those films. Aside from a British film from 1958 and a very impressive shot in the film “Atonement”, the battle for Dunkirk has been overlooked.
The fact that there were no Americans involved might be a reason, because the evens around Dunkirk happened about 18 months before the US got involved.
“Dunkirk” seems like a war epos, which is perfect for a director like Christopher Nolan. But this film is very different from the rest of his films. He never took on a true story and often works with existential themes. But Nolan is obviously very versatile and proofs that he can easily create a war movie with substance and subtlety. You can see it in the first 30 minutes, very timid and hardly any dialogue.
“Dunkirk” opens when the British army has withdrawn to the Dunkirk and is enclosed by the Germans. To draw the situations, newsflashes and flashbacks are left out. That the story starts here is surprising, because most Hollywood movies take their time to introduce. It starts right were the action is. And this is a fresh take on the theme.
For a war movie, Nolan kept it to a minimal and was very modest. The film isn’t over sentimental or dramatic. No extra fuzz. A story from a large scale, told by focusing on the smaller human moments.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 113: W Delta Z

Director: Tom Shankland
Genre: Thriller/ Crime
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 2007
Starring: Stellan Skarsgård, Melissa George, Tom Hardy, Selma Blair, Paul Kaye, Sally Hawkins

Description: A calculating killer coerces a detective to pay for his previous mistakes.

Review: The cover of the DVD says it’s “Se7en” meets “Saw”. And that’s sort of true. A police duo is trying to find a serial killer who tortures the victims before killing them. Gladly the focus is more on the police work than the torturing, although the ones that we get are pretty gruesome.
Helen Westcott is a young police officer that has to team up with veteran Eddie Argo. They find a pregnant woman with the letters WΔZ carved in her belly. They are looking for a serial killer.
The film has a raw and grim atmosphere. It’s an overlooked thriller. You can see it drew inspiration from movies like “Se7en” and “Saw”, but it also has many original aspects. There is a twist, that is very surprising, but for me a bit farfetched. Overall “W Delta Z” is a pretty good thriller.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 23: The Revenant

Director: Alejandro González Iñarritu

Genre: Drama/ Adventure/ Thriller

Runtime: 156 minutes

Year: 2015

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson, Will Poulter, Paul Anderson, Lukas Haas, Javier Botet, Brendan Fletcher, Brad Carter, Kristoffer Joner, Kory Grimm

Description: A frontiersman (Leonardo DiCaprio) on a fur trading expedition in the 1820s fights for survival after being mauled by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team.

Review: “The Revenant” tells the remarkable true story of Hugh Glass. The viewer is sucked in immediately, when we see a fight scene between the traders and natives. Glass, and a small group of survivors, manage to escape on a boat. But that’s when the real drama starts. When they find a place to stay for a while, Glass explores the area. He is attacked by a bear and he is severely injured. It looks like he’s not going to make it. A few men, one of them being John Fitzgerald, offer to stay with him. He however leaves Glass for dead. But Glass is not willing to give up.

Leonardo DiCaprio, who plays Hugh Glass, doesn’t have a lot of dialogue after his bear attack. But he manages to show us his emotions through his eyes and moans. DiCaprio and his will to live are the spindle of “The Revenant”. But Tom Hardy, as Fitzgerald, delivers an equally impressive performance. I think his portrayal of Fitzgerald is a bit underrated and underappreciated, because everyone talks about Dicaprio’s performance. The young Will Poulter, as Bridger, was also surprisingly good.

But the best and most beautiful thing about “The Revenant” is that the great acting goes hand in hand with gorgeous images of nature. It looks breathtaking. Everything was filmed with natural lighting. The camera work is fantastic, there are some shots in the film I still don’t know how they did it. This all makes “The Revenant” a cinematographic masterpiece.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Best & Worst: Tom Hardy

Tom Hardy keeps making great movies and has only a very few big misses. Here are my picks for Tom Hardy’s best and worst movies.

 

 

You would think it’s just another fighting movie, but it’s not. A has deeper layers, fantastic performances and great music. I love “Warrior”, it breaks my heart every time.

Honorable Mentions: “Mad Max Fury Road”, “The Drop”, “Locke”, “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy”, “Bronson”, “Inception”, “The Dark Knight Rises”, “Layer Cake”

 

 

I still don’t know what Tom Hardy is doing in this film. First off all, I’m not a Reese Whiterspoon fan and why does she get to date both Tom Hardy and Chris Pine? And this film is super cheesy and unfunny. I would like to forget about this movie, I saw it on an airplane once.

Dishonorable Mentions: -

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 118: The Drop

Director: Michaël R. Roskam

Genre: Crime/ Drama

Runtime: 106 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, James Gandolfini, Matthias Schoenaerts, John Ortiz, Elizabeth Rodgiguez, Michael Aronoy, Morgan Spector, Michael Esper, Ross Bickell, James Frencheville, Tobias Segal, Patricia Squire, Ann Dowd, Chris Sullivan

Description: Bob Saginowski (Tom Hardy) finds himself at the center of a robbery gone awry and entwined in an investigation that digs deep into the neighborhood's past where friends, families, and foes all work together to make a living - no matter the cost.

Review: Again we had to say goodbye to a good actor. “The Drop” marks the last film for the in June 2013 diseased James Gandolfini. It’s a nice goodbye, because it’s a really good film.

The Belgian director Michaël R. Roskam got fame for his Oscar nominated debut “Rundskop”. “The Drop” is his first America movie. The term ‘drop bar’ means that criminals drop money at a bar, a so called bank for criminals. The bar’ Cousin Marv’s’ in Brooklyn is an example. Bob (Tom Hardy) and his cousin Marv (James Gandolfini) run it. Everything goes fine until a somewhat amateurish robbery takes place. Bob and Marv are held responsible for the stolen money and need to get it back.

A melancholic report from one of the many possible stories from the underworld of Brooklyn, that’s how “The Drop” can be described. Tom Hardy is a great actor and again shows that as the good guy Bob. It’s great how his character develops and how strong his performance is. James Gandolfini also does a great job. It’s not a very big role, but it’s memorable. Matthias Schoenarts is convincing as the dominant Erik and Noomi Rapace shines as well. A cast to die for.

That well written story also makes this movie good. The tempo is just right, not too fast, just the right buildup. “The Drop” is an overlooked film from 2014, that’s definitely a shame. It’s worth your time, because it’s a very good film.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 83: Bronson

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn

Genre: Action/ Crime/ Drama

Runtime: 92 minutes

Year: 2008

Starring: Tom Hardy, Kelly Adams, Katy Barker, Edward Bennett-Coles, June Bladon, Amanda Burton, China-Black, William Darke, Anna Griffin, Matt King, Matt Legg, Brendan McCoy, Juliet Oldfield, Jonathan Phillips, Hugh Ross, Terry Stone, Joe Tucker

Description: A young man (Tom Hardy) who was sentenced to seven years in prison for robbing a post office ends up spending three decades in solitary confinement. During this time, his own personality is supplanted by his alter-ego, Charles Bronson.

Review: Who is the man who got famous for his violent behavior towards prison guards and fellow prisoners, and got into prison for a robbery that gained him only £26,18?

We see Charles Bronson, who used to be Michael Peterson, as a beast in a cage and a clown on the stage. Nicolas Winding Refn didn’t only choose an interesting man. The angle of Bronson as a celebrity and wannabe superstar, is also a good find.

The movie is dark, yet humorous. Bronson tells the story himself, also while breaking the fourth wall. Images of the prison a switched for Bronson on a podium. This is all in combination with a great soundtrack.

Although the movie starts with heavy images, the movie is a big spectacle with a fast pace and humor. What Bronson really feels or thinks, we never find out. It becomes it little mote clear, but Bronson never really makes sense. And Tom Hardy’s performance is phenomenal. Very well done! Intense, strong and funny.

“Bronson” is a well-made film, powerful and confident and made with flair.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 75: Mad Max: Fury Road

Director: George Miller

Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Thriller

Runtime: 120 minutes

Year: 2015

Starring: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Zoe Kravitz, Riley Keough, Nathan Jones, Megan Gale, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Josh Helman, Abbey Lee, Courtney Eaton, Debra Ades, Richard Norton, Angus Sampson

Description: In a stark desert landscape where humanity is broken, two rebels just might be able to restore order: Max (Tom Hardy), a man of action and of few words, and Furiosa (Charlize Theron), a woman of action who is looking to make it back to her childhood homeland.

Review: “Mad Max: Fury Road” is film in its purest form. A movie records moving images and this film is non-stop movement. And movement of the most exciting kind. This movie, directed by visionary George Miller who also made the thirty year old movies with Mel Gibson, is not a movie you just watch. You experience it. And not at home, but on the big screen and with the best sound quality possible. “Mad Max: Fury Road” is a spectacle with a capital S.

George Miller is pretty old school. Ninety percent of the images are actual vehicles and real actors, without any computer animated touches. And you see that. The actors lie, sit and fight in and on the very originally created vehicles. 150 to be exact. The wildest and most creative cars pass you by.

Miller also surprises the audience with his camera work. Sometimes he shoots very low near the ground, where you are right beside the wheels and the dessert sand. In another shot you’re above all the vehicles and get a perfect overall view. Sometimes the camera moves quickly between platforms and vehicles or the camera follows one of the ‘War Boys’. Excellent camera work.

“Mad Max: Fury Road” is set in a post-apocalyptic world, with absolutely no civilization. Tiran Immortan Joe leads it, with his War Boys. He tells his War boys they go to the paradise Valhalla when they die for him. And it works, because they do anything for Immortan Joe. He wants a son, who can take over his work. He captured five beautiful women, who he impregnates. One female warrior, Imperator Furiosa, doesn’t accept that and helps the five women to escape. On their way they meet Max, who helps them.

There is hardly a minute to catch your breath. From the first moment you are sucked in all the action and chases. It sounds exhausting, but Miller manages to keep it interesting the entire time. This is a pure audiovisual experience.

Tom Hardy is a very charismatic actor and is very convincing as Max. His mysterious looks, intimidating movements and effective fight scenes, just great. But it is actually Charlize Theron’s movie, she is probably the most important character in this movie. She is on fire, Theron is amazing in every scene. Although you might think it’s a movie for men, this movie is filled with kick-ass women.

“Mad Max: Fury Road” is pure porn for every action movie fan. It’s crazy, action packed, an adrenaline rush, spectacular and f-ing awesome! I simply can’t fault “Mad Max: Fury Road” The future is bright, Mad Max is back!

Rating: 5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 27: Lawless

Director: John Hillcoat

Genre: Crime/ Drama

Runtime: 115 minutes

Year: 2012

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Jason Clarke, Jessica Chastain, Guy Pearce, Mia Wasikowska, Dane DeHaan, Gary Oldman

Description: A trio of bootlegging brothers are threatened by a new special deputy and other authorities angling for a cut of their profits.

Review: They are inaccessible, the legendary image of the Bondurant family. Wars, epidemics, nothing got to them for decades. This family is the focus of “Lawless” directed by John Hillcoat. Leader is Forrest, and we also have older brother Howard and the youngest Jack.

“Lawless” is set in the thirties of the twentieth century in Virginia. De brothers Bondurant are leading an okay life, with their own illegal trade in beverage. But when a new sheriff comes to town, this life changes. Sheriff Rakes wants everyone to live by his rules and the Bondurant family is his biggest problem. Where others surrounder to Rakes, the Bondurant brothers don’t give in and fight him.

Although the leader of the Bondurants is Forrest, the leading role is for Jack. Shia LaBeouf manages to keep up with the other big names in the cast. Jessica Chastain shines as always, but she isn’t given that much to do. Gary Oldman is hardly in it and Guy Pearce is a creepy, convincing Sheriff. But it’s Tom Hardy that steals the show. There is something about Hardy that I can’t resist.

“Lawless” is a good western/ gangster film. It’s a movie that does lots of good thing, like the setting, the actors and the pace. But the lack of depth is a negative, both in the story as the characters. This makes “Lawless” an uncomplicated enjoyable watch.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 155: Locke

Director: Steven Knight

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 85 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Tom Hardy, Olivia Colman, Ruth Wilson, Andrew Scott, Ben Daniels, Tom Holland, Bill Milner, Danny Webb, Alice Lowe, Silas Carson, Lee Ross, Kirsty Dillon

Description: Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy), a dedicated family man and successful construction manager, receives a phone call on the eve of the biggest challenge of his career that sets in motion a series of events that threaten his carefully cultivated existence.

Review: One and a half hour of Tom Hardy driving a car from Birmingham to London. Doesn’t really sound exciting, but that’s the tendency of the movie. Director Steven Knight directs his second movie, with an amazing scenario.

The perfectly planned life of construction manager Ivan Locke is about to change. His loving family is waiting for him at home, while he is about to close the biggest deal of his career. The evening before, Ivan is forced to make a long trip to London. On that trip we find out that instead of building his perfect life, it’s ruined forever.

“Locke” is more a radio play then it is a traditional movie. This doesn’t mean there is nothing going on. There are more movies that had one character in only one location the entire runtime of the film. Look at “Phone Booth”, “127 Hours” and “Buried”. They were all in life threatening situations. “Locke” isn’t like that, but the great scenario keeps you on the edge of your seat anyway. The unexpected developments in the story make sure you keep your attention at all times.

Tom Hardy shows off his acting skills, he is one of the best and most wanted actors in Hollywood at the moment. Hardy is the only actor we see, the rest of the cast we only hear over the phone.

“Locke” proofs that you don’t need much to make a good film. The great performance by Tom Hardy make this car ride one you wouldn’t easily forget.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 7: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Director: Tomas Alfredson
Genre: Drama/ Thriller/ Mystery
Runtime: 127 minutes
Year: 2011
Starring: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, John Hurt, Mark Strong, Tom Hardy, Toby Jones, Stephen Graham, Ciarán Hinds

Description: In the early 1970s during the Cold War, the head of British Intelligence, Control (John Hurt), resigns after an operation in Budapest, Hungary goes badly wrong. It transpires that Control believed one of four senior figures in the service was in fact a Russian agent - a mole - and the Hungary operation was an attempt to identify which of them it was. Smiley (Gary Oldman) had been forced into retirement by the departure of Control, but is asked by a senior government figure to investigate a story told to him by a rogue agent, Ricky Tarr (Tom Hardy), that there was a mole. Smiley considers that the failure of the Hungary operation and the continuing success of Operation Witchcraft (an apparent source of significant Soviet intelligence) confirms this, and takes up the task of finding him.

Review: John le Carré is without a doubt one of the masters of spy thrillers. The author of this story once worked for the MI6, so he knows how things work around there. His writing style criticizes the successful stories of James Bond. His characters are a bit less heroic, but because of their weaknesses they are more human. Take for instance George Smiley, the main character of “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”. Smiley is a modest, middle-aged man, who wouldn’t reach for a gun but purely trusts on intelligence. He sounds dull when you compare him to James Bond, but George Smiley is a very intriguing figure. Especially when you let Gary Oldman portray him.
The writers stayed very true to the novel. John Hurt plays Control, the boss of MI6, who sends agent Jim Prideaux (Mark Strong) on a secret mission to Budapest. He has to persuade a Hungarian general. It appears there is a spy in MI6, who hands out crucial information to Karla, the biggest spy in Russia. The general knows who it is, but Prideaux never lives to tell the tale. George Smiley, who’s just retired, has to find the mole.
It sounds like an average whodunit scenario, but there is more to it than meets the eye. The atmosphere and the characters are so interesting. The way director Alfredson filmed it, with the raw glow and different shades of brown, makes you feel like you are in the seventies. And there is a tension throughout the entire runtime of the film.
“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” proves that you don’t need an actionhero to make a good spy thriller. This is a breathtaking movie.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

In the Picture: The Characters from "Inception"

"Inception" blew my mind when I first saw it. Such a visual treat! That and its story are the most interesting parts of the film, but their characters are also worth looking in to. Here they are.

Dom Cobb
Played by: Leonardo DiCaprio
Cobb is “The Extractor” and is a master in the art of extraction. That means he infiltrates dreams and steals valuable information from them. He is a wanted man, because they think he killed his wife. Cobb doesn’t design dreams anymore, because his late wife appears in those dreams.

Arthur
Played by: Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Arthur is Cobb’s right-hand and is also called “The Point Man”. He takes care of the details, does the research and makes sure everything goes according to plan. Arthur finds his job fascinating and he is very organized, but can also be very skeptical. Cobb can always rely on him.

Ariadne
Played by: Ellen Page
Ariadne is a college graduate student and hired by Cobb as “The Architect”. She manufactures the world of the dreams. Although Ariadne sees the danger of the job, her curiousity won. She was unable to pull away from an unique opportunity like this. Ariadne is extremely creative and a fast learner.

Eames
Played by: Tom Hardy
Eames is “The Forger”. He can project the image of anyone. Eames is a smooth talker and somewhat of a prankster. There is a friendly rivalry between him and Arthur. Eames is interested in finding out what people keep locked in their minds.

Saito
Played by: Ken Watanabe
Saito is known as “The Tourist”. He is a powerfull and wealthy business man. He offers Cobb the job with a valuable reward. Saito accompanies Cobb and his team on the job he hired them to do and he comes in handy.

Yusuf
Played by: Dileep Rao
Yusuf is “The Chemist” and helps the team to find the perfect sedative that gets them to the dreamworld. He maintains a cool and collected attitude when within his own comfort zone, but he has the least experience in shared dreaming.

Robert Fisher
Played by: Cillian Murphy
Robert Fisher is known as “The Mark” and the main target of Cobb and his team. His father is on his death bed and he never had a close relationship with him. Robert is very rich and he can be very calm in stressed situations.

Mal
Played by: Marion Cotillard
Mal is Cobb’s late wife and she’s know as “The Shade”. Mal killed herself after believing her dreamworld was reality. She is frequently seen in Cobb's dreams as a projection of his subconscious.

Favorite Character: Arthur

Pic Spam: Tom Hardy

I'm so glad that I discovered Tom Hardy in "Inception". He's starring in a film called "Warrior" and its trailer looked great. And I can't wait to see him as Bane in "The Dark Knight Rises". Here are Tom Hardy's best pictures.