22/08/2014 The Film Review

back, head of the Belgian Grand Prix. Now it is time for The Film

Review. Welcome to The Film Review on BBC

News. To take us through the releases, Anna Smith. What have we

got this week? A lot of action, a bit of romance. Lucy, the new film

by Luc Besson, starring Scarlett Johannesson, a woman who has

superhuman powers and to a new drug. Then we are going to Sin City two,

starring Eva Green and Jessica Alba, Bruce Willis and Mickey Rourke. A

huge all`star cast for the graphic novel adaptation. And Daniel

Radcliffe in a rented comedy in What If. Is he any good? Let's find out

`` romantic comedy. Less kick with Scarlett Johannesson in Lucy. A lot

of excitement. Luc Besson has a great history of action films with a

female star, such as the fifth element. Scully Johannesson plays a

party girl who is an unwilling drugs mule who has drugs sewn into her

body, which explode. With that she is able to outwit her captors, and

track down a scientist played by Morgan Freeman who can maybe advise

her. Yes Western Mark my name is Lucy, I have read your research. All

of my research? Wow, I am very flattered but I find that hard to

believe. I read your theory on the use of the brain's capacity, a bit

rudimentary but you on the right track. I absorbed a large amount of

a drug that will allow me to use 100% of my cerebrally capacity.

Right now I am a 28% and you are right, when I reach 28% the brain

opens up. You can control your metabolism? Yes, I can also control

radio, telephone, and television. He looks understandably perplexed. He

is meant to be the leading scientist but she outwits him in one go. It is

interesting to see how becoming this all seeing woman. As the percentage

goes up, she becomes more powerful. The problem it is based on a myth,

the idea that we only use 10% of our brains, which was debunked a long

time ago, but Luc Besson just says has a laugh with it, it is

entertaining. I was intrigued by the brain percentage usage, presumably

if we get close to 100% come all sorts of things can happen. Without

giving too much away, she develops powers that we would consider to be

paranormal. She can prevent her own death because there is an imploding

aspect. It touches on many things but ultimately it is a popcorn

thriller and you have to take it as that, a science fiction with the

emphasis on fiction. What about Scarlett Johannesson? She is too

epic, she has shown in under the skin that she is really coming out

`` to mythic. She has a lot of sensitivity, she isn't just a pretty

girl. Luc Besson has a history of hiring those actresses. She is very

good. Sin City two a game to kill for. Yes, Eva Green is the game in

question, we won't see much of her because she's not wearing much in

film. The black and white works very well, interweaving hard`boiled

stories, detectives, prostitutes, strippers, corrupt politicians, all

of those stories interweaving. Mary Whitehouse would have a field day!

It is a top end to forget 18 stuff, but that is what the fans want from

the first film. Take us back to the first film, nine years ago. It was,

the problem is that we know what to expect now, visually and

thematically. It is very dark. I preferred this film, it has stronger

female characters although it is problematic from the feminist point

of view. I found it less sadistic in terms of the violent. A review

called it a technological marvel. Presumably this one cannot be that

as well because technology has moved on. Ground`breaking for the time, it

is well done. Let's talk about the ROM com, What If. I have read mixed

views. Yes, Daniel Radcliffe plays eight Hugh Grant type in Canada, he

falls for a girl, but she has a boyfriend. It is a well they, won't

they, that seems to go on for a long time. I have been with Ben for

five`year 's, and I totally get that the guys don't want to hang out with

a girl with a boyfriend, but it sucks, it makes you think that the

only interesting thing about you is how you look with your clothes off.

It should be easier to make friends when you have a boyfriend because

there is no conclusion. That is it, your big pitch to be my friend?

That's terrible! It's terrible `` I know, friends? Yes, why not? Is this

how you always make friends, like it is a business deal? It is unnerving.

I sense it is friends mourn one side than the other. Yes, it is a kind of

unrequited romance, he is smitten. We watch them living their lives,

going to parties and on other day. It is centring on the will they,

won't they, rather than another story, because there isn't much

chemistry. Their friends, played by Andrew driver, quite well written,

they don't really work as a central pairing because Daniel Radcliffe is

a comedy actress. He has proven himself as a dramatic actor but I

don't think this experiment is worth repeating ``, the actor. You need to

persuade people to stick with it. You need persuading. You do not care

about the romance. If you are a fan of Daniel, would you stick with it?

Younger fans of his from Harry Potter who find him very sweet, it

may work for them, check it out. White pick out your favourite this

week. My favourite is the Rover, David Mitchell's post`apocalyptic

thriller set in the Australian outback. Robert Pattinson is very

good in this, but Guy Pearce steals the show as a drifter who is

desperate to get his car back. A very character driven drama, dark

and gritty, but unlike Sin city it has a different sensibility. That is

your if we are staying at home, what do you recommend? I recommend

tracks, another Australian outback film, but a different one, a true

story of a woman who walked across the desert with just camels and a

dog for company. A wonderful story. There is great stuff. Thank you for

joining us. . A quick reminder before we go that you will find more

film news and reviews from the BBC online including our previous

programmes. That is it for this week. Thanks for

watching, goodbye. We have made it to the weekend and

for many people it will be an extended weekend with the