The Lady from Shanghai (1947)

  'The Lady from Shanghai' is a 1947 Film Noir directed by, and starring, Orson Welles.
  An Irish sailor, Michael O'Hara (Welles), agrees to a cruise to Acapulco on Arthur Bannister's yacht, after meeting his wife, Else Bannister (Rita Hayworth), and saving her from a robbery. Bannister is a twisted defence attorney, which O'Hara is curious about. On the way he meets George Grisby and Elsa falls in love with O'Hara. Once in Acapulco, Grisby tells O'Hara about how he would pay money to O'Hara to help him fake his own death. Back in San Francisco, O'Hara helps Grisby, but inevitably, things don't go to plan.
  As Film Noir is one of my least favourite genres, I set my expectations to below zero. However, I was wrong to do so, as this is a fine supplement to the genre. Only a few films in the large Film Noir genre ('Mildred Pierce', 'Touch of Evil', 'Key Largo' and 'The Third Man') would I consider great movies, and this film could also be added to that list.
  Orson Welles is often considered the second greatest directer ever (no.1 being Hitchcock of course), but he wouldn't even appear in my top 20. 'Citizen Kane' and 'Touch of Evil' are two amazing films, but a director shouldn't be put in the record book for making two phenomenal films, especially after the boredom inducing 'Chimes at Midnight' and the bland 'Magnificent Ambersons'. I know he created a bunch of techniques that improved the artistic qualities of cinema with 'Citizen Kane', so I still think he is a decent director. After watching this film, I am definitely intrigued to watch more of his films.
  Not only is he a fine director, but he is also a great actor. Not many actors have such a demanding presence on screen, and I thought the Irish accent was pretty great as well. I'd take it any day to Daniel Day-Lewis's irritating Lincoln voice.
  All trademarks of a typical Film Noir are here, an innocent man being framed, money, guns, corruption and an infamous femme-fatale. Shot in black and white, I assumed this film was made in 1957, as the cinematography was 10 years a head of it's time. Everywhere from Acapulco to the Funhouse was framed with creativity to perfection.
  The plot has a couple of holes in, but it does make you think what Welles could have done with this film if the studio wasn't holding him back.

TO CONCLUDE
I wouldn't say a perfect Film Noir but a fine and enjoyable one.

SCORE
77

Now, Voyager (1942)

  Now, Voyager is a Romantic American film made in 1942 and directed by Irving Rapper.
  Charlotte Vale (Bette Davis) has mental problems, lacks self confidence and has mother issues. Her rich mother (Gladys Cooper) is strict and lets Charlotte have no freedom. As she is sent to a Sanatorium, her sister Lisa (Ilka Chase), suggests Charlotte relax on a cruise. While there she meets a married man, Jeremiah Duvaux Durrance (Paul Henried), and, you guessed it, they fall in love. After the cruise they head there seperate ways, Charlotte marries, but they are destined to be together...
  Released the same year as Casablanca, it 'dibbles and dabbles' in one of my least favourite genres. The 'Classic American Romance' movie. It feels like I have seen this film before as it is similar to 'Trouble in Paradise', 'The Lady Eve', 'Roman Holiday' and 'All that Heaven Allows'. This may be the best of the bunch, but that doesn't mean its an effective romance. These movies tend to make you feel sick to the bone, with the main characters repeating "I love you, but I can't tell anyone as I am engaged", before finally getting together at the end for a long romantic kiss. They all have the same aim, but what set s this apart from the others is Bette Davis's quality acting, and some decent camera techniques and settings. Apart from that there is nothing really to add.

TO CONCLUDE
In a bland genre, this is meh.

SCORE
68

12 Years a Slave (2013)

  '12 Years a Slave' is a 2013 American film directed by Steve McQueen. Not that one. The other one.
  It follows Solomon Northup as he gets captured by slave kidnappers, taken away from his wife and kids, and sold to plantation owners in the South of America. Firstly, he is sold to Ford (Benedict Cumberbatch), a plantation owner which respects him and treats him with respect. Tibeats (Paul Dano) helps with looking after the slaves, and after Solomon, renamed Platt, attacks him, Ford sells him to Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender) for fear that Tibeats will kill him. Epps is a far worse slave owner, whipping the slaves constantly, treating them worse than animals.
  Despite this being frontrunner for Best Picture at this years Oscars, it is far from the best film. It is powerful, and the acting nominations were deserved, I just thought 'Blue Jasmine', 'Gravity' and 'The Wolf of Wall Street' were better films overall.
  We all know what this film is about, so from the second he is captured, we want to see him being reunited with his family. The film makes you wait 2 hours, which is more frustraiting then suspenseful. The cinematography has one or two gorgeous shots (the camera gliding up river, past strange blossoming trees), but they are spoiled by having a shallow depth of field. The actor is in the foreground in focus, but the background is blurry. I appear to be the only person frustrated by this, but I believe a deep depth of field would have made the film look gorgeous.
  Also frustrating is the way the actors stare into the distance, with no words being spoke, nothing occurring on screen, just them staring. It's allowable in Art Movies but feels completely out of place in a Hollywood Historical Epic.
  '12 Years a Slave' can be compared to 'Roots', but 'Roots' is more memorable and superior in almost every way. As catchphrases go, I feel like "I AM KUNTA KINTE OF THE MANDINKA TRIBE" is better than "I WILL NOT FALL INTO DESPAIR WHILE FREEDOM IS OPPORTUNE".
  Most will enjoy this film, but I have to admit that 'Shame' was better. Steve McQueen (Not that one) is a very talented director, who can get incredible performances from his actors. Nice to see cameos from Omar (from 'The Wire') and Fassbender's crotch.
Every year for the past couple of years, the Academy has chosen history over special effects and innovation ('The Hurt Locker' over 'Avatar', 'The King's Speech' over 'Inception', 'The Artist' over 'Hugo', 'Argo' over 'Life of Pi') and this year will see no change as '12 Years a Slave' will win over 'Gravity'. Oh well.

TO CONCLUDE
This is very much an acting film with incredible performances from the entire cast.

SCORE
75