Issue 43 - University of Surrey's Student Union

24 FILM
The Stag | 6 th March 2012 film@thestagsurrey.co.uk
Film
Review: One for the Money (2012)
By Tiffany Tucker, Film Editor
Released on 24 th February, One for the
Money stars Katherine Heigl who
plays the initially unemployed and
freshly divorced Stephanie Plum. This
action-comedy is excellent if you’re
looking for a film that is lighthearted but
full of laughs. One for the Money is a film
adaptation of Janet Evanivich’s novel, and
brings to life the vibrant hilarity which
holds true to the book.
Plum is in desperate need for cash
and lands a job at her cousin’s bail
bonding business, otherwise known as a
bounty hunter. It is important to note the
similarities the film has to The Bounty
Hunter. The back and forth attacks
between Heigl and the handsome Jason
O’Mara, and the obvious sexual tension
between their two characters, meant
that the ending resulting in a romance
was inevitable.
Not quite a chick-flick, yet it possesses
enough female empowerment to shout
girl power! Overall, One for the Money
is certainly entertaining, if a little
predictable.
Review: Bad Teacher (2011)
By Tiffany Tucker, Film Editor
Bad Teacher was released
last year, and I have been
meaning to watch it for a very
long while. I settled down to
expect a fairly mediocre flick
and was actually pleasantly
surprised. Cameron Diaz
is rude, quirky and her ‘I
don’t give a damn’ attitude
is authentic and convincing
which was, in my opinion,
what made the film successful.
There was something very
refreshing about the main
character playing the villain:
time after time with films
we’re all presented with the
classic loveable and generic
lead who fails to excite or
amaze us in any way. Diaz, on
the other hand, is ruthless,
and takes what she can get by
any means possible!
The story follows
Elizabeth Halsey (Diaz) who is
dumped by her wealthy fiancé
and reluctantly returns to the
middle-school in which she
teaches (well, I’m not sure if
‘teaches’ is the word). Halsey
is anything but concerned
about providing her students
with an enriched education,
and would rather show films
and sleep in class.
However, with the arrival
of none other than Justin
Timberlake, she begins to
act as if she loves her job in
order to impress him. She is
also desperate for a boob-job,
and when she discovers that
there is big money to be made
by being a good teacher she
switches gears, proving that
she is a teacher for a reason.
Halsey is a marijuanasmoking
thief, but despite
all of these things I came
to admire her complete
disregard for society. Her
unconventional method of
teaching is oddly effective
and, in the end, she proves
herself to be the opposite of
the film title. If you haven’t
already watched this film,
I would definitely give it a
chance: it won’t change your
life, but it is laugh-out-loud
funny at times and not as
predictable as first expected.
Review: The Room (2003)
By Caroline James, Film Team
If you’re a Film Studies student,
a cult movie lover, or have
friends who fall into one of those
categories, then it’s possible that
you’ve heard of The Room (2003),
dubbed by critics as “the Citizen
Kane of bad movies.”
The central plot is a typical
melodramatic love triangle
between philanthropist banker
Johnny (Tommy Wiseau), his
fiancée Lisa (Juliette Danielle)
and his conflicted best friend
Mark (Greg Sestero). However, a
significant amount of the film’s
running time is also dedicated
to a series of unrelated subplots
involving the friends of the main
characters. For example, Denny,
a weedy college student whom
Johnny financially supports, and
Lisa’s friend Michelle, who is seen
in one scene sneaking into Johnny
and Lisa’s apartment to have sex
with her boyfriend.
At this point you’re probably
wondering why some people enjoy
watching this film. The reason?
Because although it was originally
only shown in a limited number
of Californian cinemas, the film
quickly developed a cult following
as fans found humour in the film’s
various technical and narrative
flaws. For instance, there is one
scene in which Lisa and Denny
inexplicably crouch down and
talk on the floor with the sofas
only a few feet away. Furthermore,
at midnight screenings of the
film, audience members cry out
‘Spoons!’ and start throwing
plastic spoons towards the screen
whenever the unexplained framed
photo of a spoon is visible in Lisa
and Johnny’s living room.
Most importantly though,
the highlight of this film is the
performance given by Tommy
Wiseau (who also wrote, directed
and produced the film). His
indistinguishable accent, his
terrible annunciation and the way
he wanders through the film and
its dialogue as if in an intoxicated
haze, make his performance so
enjoyably bad, that in some ways
it’s iconic.
Therefore, if I’ve left you
unconvinced about the wonders
of The Room, then I suggest
looking up the theatrical trailer,
or even looking at the Nostalgia
Critic (thatguywiththeglasses.com)
review if you have time. Though
if I’ve somehow successfully
encouraged you to witness this
rather unique masterpiece, then
I strongly suggest looking out for
its screenings in London’s Prince
Charles Cinema – the ultimate
cinema for cult movie lovers. Who
knows, you might just be lucky
enough to see Tommy Wiseau and
Greg Sistero give a Q&A session at
the start!