The Thief (1952)
This Cold War spy film stars Ray Milland and is directed by Russell Rouse. A nuclear physicist is working as a spy for an unnamed foreign power, will he be caught or can he get away?
What is unique about this film is that there is not a single line of dialogue in the whole film. While the film works as a coherent story even without the dialogue it does appear to be just a gimmick in this case and wears thin pretty quickly. The only way you can hold the attention of the audience if you are doing an experiment like this is to fill the film with atmosphere and tension which is unfortunately lacking in the execution of this film. Maybe certain film makers are over indulgent when it comes to the use of dialogue in their films but I was just waiting for this one to end barely 20 minutes into it.
2/5
Friday 30 September 2011
Thursday 29 September 2011
Taking the mikey?
Extract (2009)
Mike Judge returns with to work place comedy with this film staring Jason Bateman, Ben Affleck, Kristen Wiig and Mila Kunis. The owner of a flavour extract company has problems with his marriage and a potential work place law suit.
Compared to Mike Judge's previous films this effort really falls short, it lacks the over all humour of Office Space (1999) and the clear concept of Idiocracy (2006). While there are some funny moments there is not a lot to cover the largely weak plot. I think the main problem stems from the fact that the central character is a successful person with problems, we all prefer to root for the underdog like the factory worker rather than the factory owner.
3/5
Mike Judge returns with to work place comedy with this film staring Jason Bateman, Ben Affleck, Kristen Wiig and Mila Kunis. The owner of a flavour extract company has problems with his marriage and a potential work place law suit.
Compared to Mike Judge's previous films this effort really falls short, it lacks the over all humour of Office Space (1999) and the clear concept of Idiocracy (2006). While there are some funny moments there is not a lot to cover the largely weak plot. I think the main problem stems from the fact that the central character is a successful person with problems, we all prefer to root for the underdog like the factory worker rather than the factory owner.
3/5
Wednesday 28 September 2011
Dead famous
World's Greatest Dad (2009)
Robin Williams stars in this black comedy from writer/director Bobcat Goldthwait. A teacher's son is an arse hole that no one likes before he tops himself and becomes revered by people.
Despite this film doing the dreaded direct to video release it is actually pretty good. What the film is mainly about is the posthumous veneration of people and celebrity culture and it does this pretty well even it does take a little while to get to the point. The downside to the film is that I am not sure it really pushes the boundaries of either dark humour or satire far enough to be really funny which is a shame as there is plenty of good set up here.
4/5
Robin Williams stars in this black comedy from writer/director Bobcat Goldthwait. A teacher's son is an arse hole that no one likes before he tops himself and becomes revered by people.
Despite this film doing the dreaded direct to video release it is actually pretty good. What the film is mainly about is the posthumous veneration of people and celebrity culture and it does this pretty well even it does take a little while to get to the point. The downside to the film is that I am not sure it really pushes the boundaries of either dark humour or satire far enough to be really funny which is a shame as there is plenty of good set up here.
4/5
Tuesday 27 September 2011
Who are those guys?
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Based very loosely on the lives of the real life outlaws of the same name this film from director George Roy Hill stars Paul Newman, Robert Redford and Katharine Ross. After years of robbing the rail road two outlaws are chased out of the country.
If anything what this film is about is friendship and character as it is not very historically accurate or especially serious. What makes this film is the comedic slant and performance of the two lead actors. Like many of the great westerns there are hints of the end of the west as Butch and Sundance are no longer tolerated but pursued by the faceless LeFors. There are some really great lines, stunning scenery and a soundtrack that although completely anachronistic is strangely fitting.
4/5
Based very loosely on the lives of the real life outlaws of the same name this film from director George Roy Hill stars Paul Newman, Robert Redford and Katharine Ross. After years of robbing the rail road two outlaws are chased out of the country.
If anything what this film is about is friendship and character as it is not very historically accurate or especially serious. What makes this film is the comedic slant and performance of the two lead actors. Like many of the great westerns there are hints of the end of the west as Butch and Sundance are no longer tolerated but pursued by the faceless LeFors. There are some really great lines, stunning scenery and a soundtrack that although completely anachronistic is strangely fitting.
4/5
Monday 26 September 2011
Aces full, Mike
Rounders (1998)
John Dahl directs Matt Damon, Ed Norton and John Malkovich in this cult classic poker film. A young law student loses all his cash at cards and has to run up $15,000 in a few days to clear the debt of a friend recently released from prison.
This film may stick fairly closely to a common format used on sports films but it has more than enough texture and style to cover the slightly derivative basic plot. As the bad guy Malkovich nearly steals the film with his crazy Russian and there is a great supporting cast with John Turturro, Famke Janssen and Martin Landau. What makes this film a cult classic is that it really nails the sport it is covering and just oozes character even if Matt Damon's performance is a little understated.
4/5
John Dahl directs Matt Damon, Ed Norton and John Malkovich in this cult classic poker film. A young law student loses all his cash at cards and has to run up $15,000 in a few days to clear the debt of a friend recently released from prison.
This film may stick fairly closely to a common format used on sports films but it has more than enough texture and style to cover the slightly derivative basic plot. As the bad guy Malkovich nearly steals the film with his crazy Russian and there is a great supporting cast with John Turturro, Famke Janssen and Martin Landau. What makes this film a cult classic is that it really nails the sport it is covering and just oozes character even if Matt Damon's performance is a little understated.
4/5
Sunday 25 September 2011
Cheese touch
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010)
This American children's film is an adaptation of a book by the same name the cast includes Hit Girl from Kick-Ass (2010). An 11 year old has problems settling in at his new middle school and making friends.
There are some funny moments in this film but the main problem is that the central character is a dick. Sure the kid may be picked on a bit but really I think it is hard to have any sympathy for him given the way he treats other people as well and that is a major stumbling block for a children's film in my opinion. Ultimately I did not really have much interest in what happened to the main character and the jokes were barely enough to paper over the cracks.
2/5
This American children's film is an adaptation of a book by the same name the cast includes Hit Girl from Kick-Ass (2010). An 11 year old has problems settling in at his new middle school and making friends.
There are some funny moments in this film but the main problem is that the central character is a dick. Sure the kid may be picked on a bit but really I think it is hard to have any sympathy for him given the way he treats other people as well and that is a major stumbling block for a children's film in my opinion. Ultimately I did not really have much interest in what happened to the main character and the jokes were barely enough to paper over the cracks.
2/5
Saturday 24 September 2011
Moms
The Kids Are All Right (2010)
This comedy-drama from director Lisa Cholodenko stars Annette Benning, Julianna Moore and Mark Ruffalo. The kids of a lesbian couple want to meet their sperm donor father.
There are a few surprising things about this film, mainly that it is funnier than I expected and it manages to not be at all preachy. What I like about this film is that the characters are real people with plenty of flaws, which is something Hollywood often sadly over looks. Having said that the film manages not to be preachy it does seem that what we end with is more of a character study than a story for a reason but this is still a decent film.
4/5
This comedy-drama from director Lisa Cholodenko stars Annette Benning, Julianna Moore and Mark Ruffalo. The kids of a lesbian couple want to meet their sperm donor father.
There are a few surprising things about this film, mainly that it is funnier than I expected and it manages to not be at all preachy. What I like about this film is that the characters are real people with plenty of flaws, which is something Hollywood often sadly over looks. Having said that the film manages not to be preachy it does seem that what we end with is more of a character study than a story for a reason but this is still a decent film.
4/5
Friday 23 September 2011
Revolutionary
The Battleship Potemkin (1925)
This Soviet era propaganda film based on the 1905 mutiny on the title ship is directed by Sergei Eisenstein. After mistreatment and being made to eat rotten meat filled with maggots the crew of a Russian battleship start a communist uprising.
Why is this silent film considered so important? The answer is montage. These days we take the idea of montages for granted but Eisenstein was the pioneer that created the idea of cutting together different shots that created a collage in film to express emotion and metaphor. This film is the first real example of montage put into practise and it does so during the famous sequence of the massacre on the Odessa Staircase.
As a story this film is obviously going to have some problems given that it is a propaganda piece and thus likely not historically accurate in every sense, it is unlikely there was even a massacre on the Odessa Staircase for example. Silent film is not the easiest thing to watch for a modern audience but that is not to say the film is not entertaining. Clearly this is a milestone film but I do think it is a little over hyped in terms of being a true great as we know the content is flawed representation of history.
4/5
This Soviet era propaganda film based on the 1905 mutiny on the title ship is directed by Sergei Eisenstein. After mistreatment and being made to eat rotten meat filled with maggots the crew of a Russian battleship start a communist uprising.
Why is this silent film considered so important? The answer is montage. These days we take the idea of montages for granted but Eisenstein was the pioneer that created the idea of cutting together different shots that created a collage in film to express emotion and metaphor. This film is the first real example of montage put into practise and it does so during the famous sequence of the massacre on the Odessa Staircase.
As a story this film is obviously going to have some problems given that it is a propaganda piece and thus likely not historically accurate in every sense, it is unlikely there was even a massacre on the Odessa Staircase for example. Silent film is not the easiest thing to watch for a modern audience but that is not to say the film is not entertaining. Clearly this is a milestone film but I do think it is a little over hyped in terms of being a true great as we know the content is flawed representation of history.
4/5
Thursday 22 September 2011
Car crash
Driven (2001)
After many years writer/actor Sylvester Stallone got his racing project to the screen with director Renny Harling and co-stars Burt Reynolds, Kip Pardue, Til Schweiger, Estella Warren and Gina Gershon. A veteran driver is brought in to help a young hot shot win the ChampCar World Series.
Any sports film lives or dies on it's depiction of the sport involved and this film is just terrible in that respect. There are physics bending crashes that are so obviously CGI it hurts as well as events that are just so stupid they have no place in a serious film. While there are some promising elements in the set up and character back story it is all ruined by the idiotic execution of the film.
2/5
After many years writer/actor Sylvester Stallone got his racing project to the screen with director Renny Harling and co-stars Burt Reynolds, Kip Pardue, Til Schweiger, Estella Warren and Gina Gershon. A veteran driver is brought in to help a young hot shot win the ChampCar World Series.
Any sports film lives or dies on it's depiction of the sport involved and this film is just terrible in that respect. There are physics bending crashes that are so obviously CGI it hurts as well as events that are just so stupid they have no place in a serious film. While there are some promising elements in the set up and character back story it is all ruined by the idiotic execution of the film.
2/5
Wednesday 21 September 2011
Empty
The Broken (2008)
Lena Headey stars in this British horror film from writer/direct Sean Ellis. Following a car crash a young radiologist starts having nightmares and mental problems, is she going nuts or is something more sinister happening?
This is a superbly directed film that really oozes tension showing off all the tricks of the trade, the problem is that is all you can say is good about this film. What little plot there is is fairly derivative, there is no real explanation for what happens in this invasion of the body snatchers lite effort which is a real shame as it shows a lot of promise. The characters ultimately have no depth or personality at all and merely exist to walk through the scary set pieces.
3/5
Lena Headey stars in this British horror film from writer/direct Sean Ellis. Following a car crash a young radiologist starts having nightmares and mental problems, is she going nuts or is something more sinister happening?
This is a superbly directed film that really oozes tension showing off all the tricks of the trade, the problem is that is all you can say is good about this film. What little plot there is is fairly derivative, there is no real explanation for what happens in this invasion of the body snatchers lite effort which is a real shame as it shows a lot of promise. The characters ultimately have no depth or personality at all and merely exist to walk through the scary set pieces.
3/5
Tuesday 20 September 2011
How long do you cut a piece of rope?
Rope (1948)
Director Alfred Hitchcock adapts the play of the same name for the big screen with star James Stewart. Two young men murder a friend then have a party straight after to see if they can get away with their crime.
What is interesting about this film is that it is shot to appear as one long take which is a real achievement when you consider the cameras of the time were large, bulky and could only contain 10 minutes worth of film at a time. As an experiment in film making I think the film works pretty well even if you can spot most of the transitions they are not jarring.
The plot is adequate and holds a decent amount of tension, which Hitchcock is well known for. It would have been easy to over use the idea of having the body constantly under threat of discovery but as you would expect from Hitchcock he knows what he is doing and uses this sparingly. Inspiration for the plot came from the real life Leopold and Loeb murder but I do not think that the idea of committing the perfect murder just for the sake of it really provides enough depth to make this an excellent film.
4/5
Director Alfred Hitchcock adapts the play of the same name for the big screen with star James Stewart. Two young men murder a friend then have a party straight after to see if they can get away with their crime.
What is interesting about this film is that it is shot to appear as one long take which is a real achievement when you consider the cameras of the time were large, bulky and could only contain 10 minutes worth of film at a time. As an experiment in film making I think the film works pretty well even if you can spot most of the transitions they are not jarring.
The plot is adequate and holds a decent amount of tension, which Hitchcock is well known for. It would have been easy to over use the idea of having the body constantly under threat of discovery but as you would expect from Hitchcock he knows what he is doing and uses this sparingly. Inspiration for the plot came from the real life Leopold and Loeb murder but I do not think that the idea of committing the perfect murder just for the sake of it really provides enough depth to make this an excellent film.
4/5
Monday 19 September 2011
Worth a proper gander?
Five Graves to Cairo (1943)
Director Billy Wilder adapts a Hungarian play to WW2 setting for this film which stars Fanchot Tone and Anne Baxter. A British soldier is trapped behind enemy lines in North Africa and has to pose as a waiter in a hotel.
Given when this film was made it is not hard to spot it was part of the propaganda effort and some of the dialogue is clearly for political reasons. The plot is a little unrealistic, supposing that the Germans would have known in 1937 that they would have been fighting a war in Egypt at some point. There are also a number of ropey accents on show as American actors fill in for British and French characters.
2/5
Director Billy Wilder adapts a Hungarian play to WW2 setting for this film which stars Fanchot Tone and Anne Baxter. A British soldier is trapped behind enemy lines in North Africa and has to pose as a waiter in a hotel.
Given when this film was made it is not hard to spot it was part of the propaganda effort and some of the dialogue is clearly for political reasons. The plot is a little unrealistic, supposing that the Germans would have known in 1937 that they would have been fighting a war in Egypt at some point. There are also a number of ropey accents on show as American actors fill in for British and French characters.
2/5
Sunday 18 September 2011
I'm Johnny Knoxville...
Jackass 3D (2010)
Johnny Knoxville and friends return along with the help of some special guests for another selection of stunts. Snakes, rams, bulls, Africanized bees, planes with jet engines and various other times help make up the stunts this time out.
If you do not know what to expect by now then you only have yourself to blame if you watch this film and end up turning off in disgust. The stunts range from disgusting, juvenile, offensive, stupid, funny to hilarious and what you end up with is a mixed bag that will likely hit or miss depending on your own sense of humour. You probably will not want to admit you find this film funny but there are just about enough funny moments and camaraderie between the cast members to make up for the various parts that make you want to vomit.
3/5 viewer be warned on the nature of the content
Johnny Knoxville and friends return along with the help of some special guests for another selection of stunts. Snakes, rams, bulls, Africanized bees, planes with jet engines and various other times help make up the stunts this time out.
If you do not know what to expect by now then you only have yourself to blame if you watch this film and end up turning off in disgust. The stunts range from disgusting, juvenile, offensive, stupid, funny to hilarious and what you end up with is a mixed bag that will likely hit or miss depending on your own sense of humour. You probably will not want to admit you find this film funny but there are just about enough funny moments and camaraderie between the cast members to make up for the various parts that make you want to vomit.
3/5 viewer be warned on the nature of the content
Saturday 17 September 2011
Making a killing
Burke and Hare (2010)
John Landis directs Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis in this black comedy inspired by the lives of the famous Scottish serial killers. In need of money and finding a gap in the corpse market two men start up their own “surgical supplies” business.
Probably the best thing about this film is spotting all the cameos from British actors which includes Christopher Lee and many others. From the opening titles the film makes it clear that historical accuracy is not a major concern and given this is not a serious film with plenty of laughs it is not hard to get on board with. In the end this is a funny if unremarkable and not especially memorable film.
3/5
John Landis directs Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis in this black comedy inspired by the lives of the famous Scottish serial killers. In need of money and finding a gap in the corpse market two men start up their own “surgical supplies” business.
Probably the best thing about this film is spotting all the cameos from British actors which includes Christopher Lee and many others. From the opening titles the film makes it clear that historical accuracy is not a major concern and given this is not a serious film with plenty of laughs it is not hard to get on board with. In the end this is a funny if unremarkable and not especially memorable film.
3/5
Friday 16 September 2011
Blind faith
Daredevil (2003)
Long time fan of the Marvel comic of the same name Ben Affleck stars in this adaptation alongside Jennifer Garner, Colin Farrell and Michael Clarke Duncan. A blind man in Hell's Kitchen works as a lawyer by day and vigilante by night.
This is one of the darker Marvel adaptations out there and is also one of the less popular despite managing a good box office return. Probably the weakest element of the film is the script which is average really and lacks a strong plot. Generally this is a well made film with decent performances from the cast, it is just a shame they had so little to work with.
3/5
Long time fan of the Marvel comic of the same name Ben Affleck stars in this adaptation alongside Jennifer Garner, Colin Farrell and Michael Clarke Duncan. A blind man in Hell's Kitchen works as a lawyer by day and vigilante by night.
This is one of the darker Marvel adaptations out there and is also one of the less popular despite managing a good box office return. Probably the weakest element of the film is the script which is average really and lacks a strong plot. Generally this is a well made film with decent performances from the cast, it is just a shame they had so little to work with.
3/5
Thursday 15 September 2011
Bank and bankability
Becoming Jane (2007)
Based on the the historic figure Jane Austen this film stars Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy who are directed by Julian Jarrold. Budding young writer Jane is encouraged to marry as her father is a Reverend with little money or standing to secure her future.
As someone who lives in the area that is depicted it is a real shame to find out that the film was shot in Ireland and not locally. When it comes to the historical accuracy of the film we may well be on wobbly ground as this is more an embellishment of real events at best. The plot itself is not bad but is not especially remarkable either. Despite being fairly well made it is hard to take the film especially seriously as ultimately it is just a historical romance trying to cash in on a tenuous link to the name Jane Austen.
3/5
Based on the the historic figure Jane Austen this film stars Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy who are directed by Julian Jarrold. Budding young writer Jane is encouraged to marry as her father is a Reverend with little money or standing to secure her future.
As someone who lives in the area that is depicted it is a real shame to find out that the film was shot in Ireland and not locally. When it comes to the historical accuracy of the film we may well be on wobbly ground as this is more an embellishment of real events at best. The plot itself is not bad but is not especially remarkable either. Despite being fairly well made it is hard to take the film especially seriously as ultimately it is just a historical romance trying to cash in on a tenuous link to the name Jane Austen.
3/5
Wednesday 14 September 2011
M-m-m-m-monster
Frankenstein (1931)
Loosely based on the Mary Shelley novel this classic Universal monster film stars Boris Karloff as the monster. A young scientists leaves his university and fiancée to dabble in the dark arts of creating life with monstrous results.
This film is relatively short and does not stick especially closely to the original novel, in it's time it was far more shocking than a modern audience would find it leading to heavy censorship in some states. While the film does lack a lot of the depth of the novel it is probably decent enough to frighten young children although older viewers will probably find it fairly weak.
3/5
Loosely based on the Mary Shelley novel this classic Universal monster film stars Boris Karloff as the monster. A young scientists leaves his university and fiancée to dabble in the dark arts of creating life with monstrous results.
This film is relatively short and does not stick especially closely to the original novel, in it's time it was far more shocking than a modern audience would find it leading to heavy censorship in some states. While the film does lack a lot of the depth of the novel it is probably decent enough to frighten young children although older viewers will probably find it fairly weak.
3/5
Tuesday 13 September 2011
Status
The Remains of the Day (1993)
Producer/Director team Merchant Ivory adapt the novel of the same name for screen staring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson. During the inter war period the lord of the manor tries to secure peace for Britain with Germany while the butler and housekeeper have an unrequited relationship.
What this film is mainly about is the constraints of social status and position, because of his professional role the butler has become unable to express his feelings either to the housekeeper or to the lord of the house on politics. The script and story are really well crafted and work well without being melodramatic, where the film falls down is I honestly have no idea what the housekeeper sees in the butler. If you can suspend your disbelief on that issue though this is a really good film.
4/5
Producer/Director team Merchant Ivory adapt the novel of the same name for screen staring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson. During the inter war period the lord of the manor tries to secure peace for Britain with Germany while the butler and housekeeper have an unrequited relationship.
What this film is mainly about is the constraints of social status and position, because of his professional role the butler has become unable to express his feelings either to the housekeeper or to the lord of the house on politics. The script and story are really well crafted and work well without being melodramatic, where the film falls down is I honestly have no idea what the housekeeper sees in the butler. If you can suspend your disbelief on that issue though this is a really good film.
4/5
Monday 12 September 2011
Punches
The Kid (2010)
This British biopic from actor/director Nick Moran stars Rupert Friend, Natasha McElhone, Ioan Gruffudd and Bernard Hill. A young boy deals with abusive parents and tries to find his way in the world.
This film could really have done with a longer run time as it does feel like some of the early parts of the story are giving fairly short shrift with Bernard Hill and Ioan Gruffudd in particular having small parts. What is impressive is how well Natasha McElhone skanks up, I thought her performance was a real departure from the usual roles she takes. Obviously the story of abused boy comes good is not a nice one in places the film is well made and does an adequate job telling the story.
3/5
This British biopic from actor/director Nick Moran stars Rupert Friend, Natasha McElhone, Ioan Gruffudd and Bernard Hill. A young boy deals with abusive parents and tries to find his way in the world.
This film could really have done with a longer run time as it does feel like some of the early parts of the story are giving fairly short shrift with Bernard Hill and Ioan Gruffudd in particular having small parts. What is impressive is how well Natasha McElhone skanks up, I thought her performance was a real departure from the usual roles she takes. Obviously the story of abused boy comes good is not a nice one in places the film is well made and does an adequate job telling the story.
3/5
Sunday 11 September 2011
Sucks?
Vampires Suck (2010)
Serial producers of parody Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer turn their attention to the latest series of angsty vampire films. A girl moves to a new town and falls in love with the local vampire boy.
Not being a teenage girl I have not seen any of the Twilight films or read any of the books so this parody is facing a bit of an up hill struggle to begin with. There are some funny moments and this film is not as bad as I expected but having said that it is probably too specific in what it is parodying rather than focusing on being a more rounded out general comedy. This is not as bad as some of the other films from the same team but in the end that is not exactly a ringing endorsement.
2/5
Serial producers of parody Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer turn their attention to the latest series of angsty vampire films. A girl moves to a new town and falls in love with the local vampire boy.
Not being a teenage girl I have not seen any of the Twilight films or read any of the books so this parody is facing a bit of an up hill struggle to begin with. There are some funny moments and this film is not as bad as I expected but having said that it is probably too specific in what it is parodying rather than focusing on being a more rounded out general comedy. This is not as bad as some of the other films from the same team but in the end that is not exactly a ringing endorsement.
2/5
Saturday 10 September 2011
That facebook film
The Social Network (2010)
Jesse Eisenberg stars in this real life story from director David Fincher that was nominated for 8 Oscars. A student at Harvard creates the worlds most popular stalking website and gets sued a bunch.
The genius of this film is clearly in it's execution, a film about a website and law suits does not jump out as the easiest topic for a film. Managing to create a film that is consistently entertaining and does not get lost in the dryness of the details is certainly an achievement. It really helps that the script retains a lot of humour and the main character has a strong personality to carry the various deposition scenes.
Where this film does fall down is in the murky world between fantasy and reality. We know this film is based on true events but it does appear to take a decent amount of liberties with actual events. John Ford was a proponent of “When the legend becomes fact print the legend” to mitigate for artistic licence but when you are the one having the first say then you do have some responsibility to the truth in my opinion. You can still make a good fictional tale with a basis in reality without having to pass off fantasy as reality, Citizen Kane (1941) is a prime example of this.
4/5
Jesse Eisenberg stars in this real life story from director David Fincher that was nominated for 8 Oscars. A student at Harvard creates the worlds most popular stalking website and gets sued a bunch.
The genius of this film is clearly in it's execution, a film about a website and law suits does not jump out as the easiest topic for a film. Managing to create a film that is consistently entertaining and does not get lost in the dryness of the details is certainly an achievement. It really helps that the script retains a lot of humour and the main character has a strong personality to carry the various deposition scenes.
Where this film does fall down is in the murky world between fantasy and reality. We know this film is based on true events but it does appear to take a decent amount of liberties with actual events. John Ford was a proponent of “When the legend becomes fact print the legend” to mitigate for artistic licence but when you are the one having the first say then you do have some responsibility to the truth in my opinion. You can still make a good fictional tale with a basis in reality without having to pass off fantasy as reality, Citizen Kane (1941) is a prime example of this.
4/5
Friday 9 September 2011
dun dun dun!
Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943)
This is the sixth Basil Rathbone film as Holmes and is based on the story “The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual”. Doctor Watson is working at a stately home that has been converted to treat patients suffering from shell shock when there is an attempted murder.
Compared to the three preceding films in the series made during WW2 this one involves the least propaganda and is much more what you would expect from a Holmes story in terms of being a murder mystery. The plot itself is not especially unique but is acceptable and the family riddle/chess puzzle works fairly well. In the end this is a fairly average film but one of the better in it's series.
3/5
This is the sixth Basil Rathbone film as Holmes and is based on the story “The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual”. Doctor Watson is working at a stately home that has been converted to treat patients suffering from shell shock when there is an attempted murder.
Compared to the three preceding films in the series made during WW2 this one involves the least propaganda and is much more what you would expect from a Holmes story in terms of being a murder mystery. The plot itself is not especially unique but is acceptable and the family riddle/chess puzzle works fairly well. In the end this is a fairly average film but one of the better in it's series.
3/5
Thursday 8 September 2011
Bull headed
Raging Bull (1980)
Based on the true story of boxer Jake LaMotta this film stars Robert De Niro and was directed by Martin Scorsese. A fighter struggles with his demons and the Mafia while trying to get a championship fight.
There are a whole host of boxing films out there and plenty that deal with similar plots, the link between organised crime and boxing especially. What this film does differently is get the camera up into the boxing ring rather than leaving it stuck out in the crowd like it's predecessors. As a character LaMotta is certainly dominated by his dark side but we have no explanation for how he became so controlled by his insecurities, inclusion of some of LaMotta's childhood would have really helped round out this film as a biopic.
4/5
Based on the true story of boxer Jake LaMotta this film stars Robert De Niro and was directed by Martin Scorsese. A fighter struggles with his demons and the Mafia while trying to get a championship fight.
There are a whole host of boxing films out there and plenty that deal with similar plots, the link between organised crime and boxing especially. What this film does differently is get the camera up into the boxing ring rather than leaving it stuck out in the crowd like it's predecessors. As a character LaMotta is certainly dominated by his dark side but we have no explanation for how he became so controlled by his insecurities, inclusion of some of LaMotta's childhood would have really helped round out this film as a biopic.
4/5
Wednesday 7 September 2011
Soulless
Soul Men (2008)
In one of his last films Bernie Mac stars alongside Samuel L. Jackson in this buddy road movie. After the death of the more famous third member of their singing group the two remaining members reunite for a memorial concert.
Like most similar films while there are funny moments the script lacks any real originality and has only token depth to the characters involved. There is just about enough funny to go around but pretty much everything about this film is the same as a number of other films from the same genre. Isaac Hayes also makes a final screen appearance in this film as he died shortly after filming was complete as well.
3/5 unoriginal comedy
In one of his last films Bernie Mac stars alongside Samuel L. Jackson in this buddy road movie. After the death of the more famous third member of their singing group the two remaining members reunite for a memorial concert.
Like most similar films while there are funny moments the script lacks any real originality and has only token depth to the characters involved. There is just about enough funny to go around but pretty much everything about this film is the same as a number of other films from the same genre. Isaac Hayes also makes a final screen appearance in this film as he died shortly after filming was complete as well.
3/5 unoriginal comedy
Tuesday 6 September 2011
Burning desires
The English Patient (1996)
Adapted from the novel of the same name by director Anthony Minghella and staring Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe and Kristen Scott Thomas this film picked up nine Oscars. A young nurse cares for a dying man with horrible burns in a monastery in Italy during the closing stages of World War 2.
So as this film won nine Oscars it goes without saying that it is really well made, especially the make up for the title character which could really make or break a film if it looks bad. There are some really great locations and performances from the cast, just in general the film looks excellent. The ideas of nationality and ownership that run through the film work well as well as the themes of healing. Given that there is a lot of switching between time periods there is the possibility for the editing to become disorientating or confusing but again it works well.
Inevitably there are some changes and omissions from the novel and I think these both add and detract from the film. While the film does a good job of capturing most of the ideas of the film it does lose some of the subtleties. Changing the back story for the Caravaggio character does make his character work better for the direction the film takes. The real shame for me is the diminishment of the part Kip plays as one of the major themes of the piece is to do with nationality, it is also disappointing that Hana gets less of the spot light as well.
5/5 a really well made and thoughtful piece.
Adapted from the novel of the same name by director Anthony Minghella and staring Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe and Kristen Scott Thomas this film picked up nine Oscars. A young nurse cares for a dying man with horrible burns in a monastery in Italy during the closing stages of World War 2.
So as this film won nine Oscars it goes without saying that it is really well made, especially the make up for the title character which could really make or break a film if it looks bad. There are some really great locations and performances from the cast, just in general the film looks excellent. The ideas of nationality and ownership that run through the film work well as well as the themes of healing. Given that there is a lot of switching between time periods there is the possibility for the editing to become disorientating or confusing but again it works well.
Inevitably there are some changes and omissions from the novel and I think these both add and detract from the film. While the film does a good job of capturing most of the ideas of the film it does lose some of the subtleties. Changing the back story for the Caravaggio character does make his character work better for the direction the film takes. The real shame for me is the diminishment of the part Kip plays as one of the major themes of the piece is to do with nationality, it is also disappointing that Hana gets less of the spot light as well.
5/5 a really well made and thoughtful piece.
Monday 5 September 2011
Cast escape to Greece
Escape to Athena (1979)
Produced by David Niven's son this film stars David Niven, Roger Moore, Telly Savalas, Claudia Cardinale, Stefanie Powers, Richard Roundtree and Elliott Gould. During 1944 in Greece a POW camp commanders plans to loot ancient treasure are hindered by his prisoners, his superiors and the resistance.
This is a fairly light war film which relies on star power and comic relief to get by. There are some really nice sequences in the opening moments of the film which are shot using a helicopter but sadly the rest of the film does not live up to the early promise. In the end this is a watch-able if not especially funny film.
3/5 not the greatest ww2 action film out there.
Produced by David Niven's son this film stars David Niven, Roger Moore, Telly Savalas, Claudia Cardinale, Stefanie Powers, Richard Roundtree and Elliott Gould. During 1944 in Greece a POW camp commanders plans to loot ancient treasure are hindered by his prisoners, his superiors and the resistance.
This is a fairly light war film which relies on star power and comic relief to get by. There are some really nice sequences in the opening moments of the film which are shot using a helicopter but sadly the rest of the film does not live up to the early promise. In the end this is a watch-able if not especially funny film.
3/5 not the greatest ww2 action film out there.
Sunday 4 September 2011
Fakes
Irma Vep (1996)
Chinese actress Maggie Cheung stars as herself in this predominantly French language film that is a satire of the French film industry. Everything falls apart during the remake of a silent film as the director has a nervous break down.
While this film may be a satire it is not especially funny and does become a little confusing. I am not sure if something gets lost in translation but ultimately the film does feel a little bland. Yes, some directors are much more interested in satisfying their own egos by creating impenetrable films that they claim are intellectual but this film does not really go far enough into lampooning the process in my opinion.
2/5
Chinese actress Maggie Cheung stars as herself in this predominantly French language film that is a satire of the French film industry. Everything falls apart during the remake of a silent film as the director has a nervous break down.
While this film may be a satire it is not especially funny and does become a little confusing. I am not sure if something gets lost in translation but ultimately the film does feel a little bland. Yes, some directors are much more interested in satisfying their own egos by creating impenetrable films that they claim are intellectual but this film does not really go far enough into lampooning the process in my opinion.
2/5
Saturday 3 September 2011
Greed is back
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010)
Director Oliver Stone and Michael Douglas return alongside new comers Shia LaBeouf and Carey Mulligan in this sequel to Wall Street (1987). Everyone's favourite asset stripper and criminal businessman makes a come back in front of the back drop of the recent financial crisis.
The problem with this film is that it is fairly bland, yes it covers the important issues fairly well but not in a way really engages the viewer. It should be fairly easy to get us spitting at the mouth at the idiots that cause the credit crunch but I think the film gets a little lost in the details. It is a real shame because Gordon Gekko was the perfect choice of a character to bring back for a story like this, sadly the execution ends up being a bit average. Some of the use of split screen and inserting images of characters on the other end of phone calls seems a little out of place too.
3/5 not the worst sequel ever but not the best either.
Director Oliver Stone and Michael Douglas return alongside new comers Shia LaBeouf and Carey Mulligan in this sequel to Wall Street (1987). Everyone's favourite asset stripper and criminal businessman makes a come back in front of the back drop of the recent financial crisis.
The problem with this film is that it is fairly bland, yes it covers the important issues fairly well but not in a way really engages the viewer. It should be fairly easy to get us spitting at the mouth at the idiots that cause the credit crunch but I think the film gets a little lost in the details. It is a real shame because Gordon Gekko was the perfect choice of a character to bring back for a story like this, sadly the execution ends up being a bit average. Some of the use of split screen and inserting images of characters on the other end of phone calls seems a little out of place too.
3/5 not the worst sequel ever but not the best either.
Friday 2 September 2011
If it wasn't for that pesky old woman...
Murder, She Said (1961)
Based on the Agatha Christie novel “4.50 from Paddington” this is the first of several outings for Margaret Rutherford in the role of Miss Marple. An interfering old woman witnesses a murder and resolves to solve the case when the police do not believe her as they are unable to find a body.
It is hard to find a lot to say about this film one way or the other really. The film does not appear to take itself especially seriously which is probably a good thing as there is not much suspense and the actual mystery is not particularly original. This film just about suffices as a distraction for an hour and a half but is not much more than that.
3/5 light murder mystery
Based on the Agatha Christie novel “4.50 from Paddington” this is the first of several outings for Margaret Rutherford in the role of Miss Marple. An interfering old woman witnesses a murder and resolves to solve the case when the police do not believe her as they are unable to find a body.
It is hard to find a lot to say about this film one way or the other really. The film does not appear to take itself especially seriously which is probably a good thing as there is not much suspense and the actual mystery is not particularly original. This film just about suffices as a distraction for an hour and a half but is not much more than that.
3/5 light murder mystery
Thursday 1 September 2011
Another man hunt
US Marshals (1998)
After the success of The Fugitive (1993) it was decided to build a sequel around the team that hunted the original protagonist, Tommy Lee Jones reprises his role to become the star. When a prison transport plan crashes one of the prisoners gets away and the hunt is on for him.
So the plot of the film is not that great, it's fairly similar to a lot of thrillers out there and the fact that the fugitive is against innocent makes you wonder if there are any guilty people on the run at all but otherwise it is about serviceable. There are probably two key problems with the film, the first is that there is too much focus on the head agent and not enough on his team as having more of an ensemble piece would probably have carried the weak plot a bit better. The second problem is that the major set piece of the film, the plane crash, is so early on and after that it feels like the film makers blew the budget as the rest of the film is a bit tame by comparison.
3/5 an average action thriller.
After the success of The Fugitive (1993) it was decided to build a sequel around the team that hunted the original protagonist, Tommy Lee Jones reprises his role to become the star. When a prison transport plan crashes one of the prisoners gets away and the hunt is on for him.
So the plot of the film is not that great, it's fairly similar to a lot of thrillers out there and the fact that the fugitive is against innocent makes you wonder if there are any guilty people on the run at all but otherwise it is about serviceable. There are probably two key problems with the film, the first is that there is too much focus on the head agent and not enough on his team as having more of an ensemble piece would probably have carried the weak plot a bit better. The second problem is that the major set piece of the film, the plane crash, is so early on and after that it feels like the film makers blew the budget as the rest of the film is a bit tame by comparison.
3/5 an average action thriller.
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