Check mate

A Matter of Life and Death (1946)

Also known as Stairway to Heaven in the US this film from Powell and Pressburger stars David Niven and Kim Hunter. A pilot bails out of his plane over the English channel in the final days of the war, is he dead, alive, concussed, suffering from a brain tumour, does he have survivors guilt or something else?

The execution of this film has some really interesting elements especially in terms of special effects. Mixing between colour and sections in black and white to separate the different planes of existence works well and is no doubt a first in cinema. When it comes to the other worldly sections the special effects to pull of the strange sets like the massive stairway work really well as well given the technical limitations of the period.

As to the plot, it is an interesting set up and no doubt relevant to the time period given the great loss of life during WW2 but does feel a little contrived at times. I would also have liked to see the film hold it's ambiguity a little better and longer as it does tip it's hand a little too early on. When it comes to the treatment of the “other place” the film handles it really well favouring no religion at all and not taking a turn into a thinly veiled sermon like many films on the subject do.

5/5

It starts with a turd

Barney's Version (2010)

Adapted from the novel of the same name this film stars Paul Giamatti, Rosamund Pike, Minnie Driver and Dustin Hoffman. A man lurches through three marriages and various disasters as he tries to give his own version of how he lived his life.

There are some good performances in this film and Hoffman in particular has some great comedic moments, stealing a lot of the scenes he is in. When it comes to the plot the ending is heart breaking but I do think that the film missed out on a big chance to play with the unreliable nature of Barney's version of events given what happens to him in the end. While this is a well made film ultimately you do spend a large part of the film wondering why this story is being told, I think a larger focus on how people perceive Barney compared to how he views himself as well as the issues surrounding his fate would have made a better film.

3/5

Reef Beef

Donovan's Reef (1963)

Shot in Hawaii this is the last collaboration between director John Ford and star John Wayne that also features Elizabeth Allen and Lee Marvin. On a Polynesian island an estranged daughter wants to cheat the father she has never met out of his shares in his shipping company while John Wayne looks out for him.

As with any film from John Ford it is well made but maybe one of the lighter entries into his cannon that was more an excuse to take his friends for 8 weeks filming in Hawaii. There is an undertone of anti racism in this film which forms the core of the plot but is not really explored in enough depth in my opinion compared to Ford's earlier film The Searchers (1956) to really add a serious under belly to the film. With few surprises along the way this is a watchable film that seems to be most interested in having some fun in the sun above anything else.

3/5

Plot as we already know it

Life as We Know It (2010)

This comedy-drama from director Greg Berlanti which stars Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel. After a couple die their best friends that do not like each other have to raise the orphaned one year old daughter.

There is a decent premise for a film here, how to cope with the sudden and unexpected responsibility of raising a child but instead this is just used as wrapping to bash out the same old tired romantic comedy plot. What could have been a serious drama is instead a missed opportunity that is more focused on how it sucks that people have to give up their cool lives and how the lead characters should get it on. As a romantic comedy this is probably not the worst you will ever see but that is hardly a recommendation given the depths the genre can hit.

3/5

Punching above it's weight?

The Fighter (2010)

Biographical boxing film today from director David O. Russell which stars Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Melissa Leo and Amy Adams. A boxer struggles to make a career for himself while his older brother is a drug addict former boxer on the way down.

This film picked up two Oscars for acting and it is easy to see why as Bale and Adams in particular give really good performances. When it comes to the content of the film, it is a boxing film so there is not a lot that is revolutionary here. In the end this is a solid and slightly more mature entry in it's genre that is greatly helped by stand out performances.

4/5

Shallow plot?

Shallow Grave (1994)

Danny Boyle makes his directorial debut with this film staring Kerry Fox, Christopher Eccleston and Ewan McGregor. After their new flat mate overdoses three friends decide to keep the suitcase full of money he has but paranoia and greed get the better of them.

This film follows a fairly predictable path given the subject matter right up till the end where plenty of double crossing takes place but is still an enjoyable watch. The best performance in the piece is from Christopher Eccleston who goes from being an average boring accountant to creepy, paranoid terror of the flat over the course of the film. The final sequences do lack a little tension which would have really helped the films ending.

3/5

Machete don't text

Machete (2010)

Robert Rodriguez writes and directs this film which stars Danny Trejo, Robert Di Niro, Jessica Alba and Michelle Rodriguez and is expanded from a faux commercial that appeared in Grindhouse (2007). War breaks out in Texas over illegal immigration.

While this film certainly has it's moments it does not really have enough of the over the top silly violence required to carry a film like this. The plot uses illegal immigration as the back drop but never really looks deeply into the issue and is obviously not especially realistic. There are some decent performances from the big cast although Lindsay Lohan playing a drugged out girl that wants to be a porn star probably was not much of a stretch for her.

3/5

Why the long tale?

The Horse Whisperer (1998)

Adapted from the novel of the same name this film is directed by and stars Robert Redford with support from Kirstin Scott Thomas as well as a young Scarlett Johansson. After a serious road accident in which her best friend is killed a young girl and her horse need help healing.

Undoubtedly the best part of this film is the excellent cinematography and stunning scenery, Redford's prior training as an artist really shows through and helps make this film look amazing. The plot itself is not especially impressive, covering the ground you would expect it to without getting overly melodramatic or in depth. Weighing in at nearly three hours long though this film takes a really long time to tell a simple story, it might not feel like it drags but I think you could cut about an hour off the length of this film with ease and it would not have any real affect.

3/5

Forced?

The Delta Force (1986)

Filmed in Israel and directed by Israeli director Menahem Golan this film stars Chuck Norris and Lee Marvin in his final film appearance. An American flight from Cairo is hijacked by Lebanese terrorists and American special forces have to save the day.

Usually these types of action films fall down on having ridiculous plots but this film takes it's cue from a number of real life events and incorporates them to provide a good set up. In fact the best parts of the film are probably those involving the passengers and depicting the hijacking fairly realistically. Where the film gets silly is in the inevitable action sequences at the end where realism is thrown out of the window in favour of Chuck Norris blowing stuff up. It is a shame that the final third gets carried away in what is an otherwise really good effort.

3/5

On the beat

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)

Based on the unsuccessful TV series Police Squad this film comes from the team behind Airplane! (1980) and stars Leslie Nielsen. A local businessman wants to kill Queen Elizabeth II when she visits LA, only Lt. Frank Drebin stands in his way.

The plot of this film is not exactly it's strong point but the fact that the script is chock full of gags covers up the cracks well. Nielsen is excellent as the bumbling and unaware of his surroundings protagonist selling all the jokes and performing the slapstick elements with a straight face when I am sure other actors could have gone over the top. This film is definitely up there with the earlier Airplane! (1980) in terms of quality and maybe even fits in more jokes.

4/5

Off the reservation

Cheyenne Autumn (1964)

This is John Ford's final western and it stars Richard Widmark and Carroll Baker with a cameo from James Stewart. Based on historic events in 1878 the Cheyenne leave their reservation in the south to return the land of their ancestors.

Like several of Ford's other westerns this film is shot largely Monument Valley which provides an excellent back drop as always. Other locations in the Nebraska section have some have some great snowy landscapes as well, all in all the films looks as good as you would expect from a John Ford western. The plot and characters are good as well providing a counter point to the earlier use of Indians in Ford's film, here the Indians are not bloody thirsty savages but cheated, starved and mistreated by the US government.

The only real down side to the film is the out of place section featuring James Stewart as Wyatt Earp. Completely out of tone and not really anything to do with the plot of the rest of the film the Dodge City scenes form a real hiccup in the middle of the film that was actually cut by studio executives for the cinema release. Why this part of the film has been restored for later releases is beyond me and it does put a blemish on an otherwise really good film.

4/5

And away?

Up (2009)

Pixar churn another one off the production line with this animated adventure starting the voice talent of Edward Asner and Christopher Plummer. A widower wants to fly his house to Paradise Falls in South America.

What this film suffers from most is the high standards Pixar have set for themselves, while it is in no way a bad film I do think it falls short of the usual level we have come to expect. The best part of the film is the montage at the start showing the time the old man and his wife spent together with life getting in the way of their dreams. When it comes to the actual plot of the film it just feels like a second thought, it may have some funny moments but fails to really spark in my opinion.

3/5

80s Weapon

Lethal Weapon (1987)

Director Richard Donner helms this quintessential 80s buddy cop film staring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. An old cop and a suicidal cop work together to find out why a hooker was murdered.

I was expecting that the plot of the film would be pretty bad given that the 80s was a real haven for action films with terrible plots but while the plot is not especially original it does not get excessively silly. In the two main characters at least the film does manage to squeeze some real characters into the film which is again fairly unusual for the genre. Over all this film is probably one of the best from this period in the genre but is still not that realistic in the end.

4/5

Riding through the glen

The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952)

Made in England but funded by Disney this version of the Robin Hood tale stars Richard Todd and features a number of other British actors. King Richard is off crusading, Prince John is an evil so and so which leaves only the loyal archer to fight back.

There are a large number of Robin Hood films floating about, what makes this one unique is that it actually has a British cast which seems to be something of a rarity. When it comes to the script sadly it seems to be a case of just cramming in the expected beats of a Robin Hood film rather than telling a clear story or having characters with much personality. Strangely it is Maid Marian that has the fullest character while everyone else just seems to be fulfilling plot requirements or audience expectations.

3/5 not the worst or best version of the tale you will see.

Bombs?

Four Lions (2010)

No stranger to controversy in his work in television writer/director Chris Morris turns to the big screen with a black comedy about Islamic terrorism. A group of British Muslims want to get in on the war on terror but are not the most competent terrorists in the world.

I am sure there are some people that will find this film offensive on general principle but those are the type that are going to find something offensive without even watching it, for the most part I do not really think it is. There are some really funny moments in this film but I am not sure you would say it is consistently funny through out.

The it does end on a fairly sad note for the central characters but I am not sure it does enough to look into the real issues at hand even if the film does stand against fanaticism. In the end I do feel a bit like the soft option has been taken in a few areas and maybe this could have been a better film but it is certainly very British in it's treatment of the subject matter.

3/5

Hole

Rabbit Hole (2010)

Based on the play of the same name this low budget drama stars Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart. Eight months after the accident that killed him a married couple are trying to come to terms with the death of their four year old child.

This is a well made film that manages to sensitively deal with a subject that could easily stray into melodrama. There are some good performances from the cast, especially Kidman but it is hard to find anything revolutionary or new that the film adds to the topic. In the end the message is everyone has to deal with grief in their own way which while true is not a new idea.

3/5

A date with the past

High Noon (1952)

Directed by Fred Zinnemann this western stars Gary Cooper and has the first major role for Grace Kelly. Avoided and abandoned by his friends and ageing marshal waits for the past to arrive on the noon train.

Built around the idea of the story being portrayed in near real time the film uses this devise to build up the tension of the impending arrival of violence. The tension rises nicely as clocks are present in a lot of shots to keep the viewer informed of how time is running out. Over all this is a well made film even if some of the music does seem slightly dated to modern tastes.

What the film is really about is the red scare and persecution in Hollywood of suspected communists, indeed following the making of this film writer Carl Foreman was himself blacklisted. The way the community turns on the protagonist works really well as a metaphor for the treatment of those seen to be causing problems and how it would be best for everyone else if they just “went away”. At the time a number of people felt the film was un-American but the idea of the individual at odds with the community is one of the central themes of the genre.

5/5

Strike?

Made in Dagenham (2010)

British cinema today with a film from director Nigel Cole based on real events which stars Sally Hawkins, Miranda Richardson and Bob Hoskins. It is 1968 and the female workers at a Ford car factory in London strike for equal pay.

When you are condensing real events to a film you often have to use composite characters for some of the roles but it is a real slap in the face to history when even the main character is a fictional composition as well. No doubt the fight for equal pay is an interesting one and this film is not badly made but it is a real shame that history and realism seem to have been chucked out the window in favour of a more simplistic film.

2/5

Thrills in Venice?

The Tourist (2010)

This romantic thriller stars Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp with support from Paul Bettany and Timothy Dalton. A banker has stolen a load of money from a gangster and his girlfriend enlists a tourist to help throw off the various people after the money.

The best way to sum up this film would be to call it a missed opportunity. There is a great selection of acting talent on show with little to show for it, Johnny Depp is particularly under used and Venice provides a beautiful back drop (probably the best thing in the film). When it comes to the plot it is wobbly at best and I would not advise trying to think to hard about it otherwise holes start to appear. In the end this is a watchable film but really should have been miles better.

2/5

Avast ye!

The Black Swan (1942)

There are no ballerinas in this film, Henry King directs Tyrone Power and Maureen O'Hara in this swashbuckling pirate piece. England and Spain are at peace now so former privateers in the Caribbean have to go straight, but not all want to.

Other than being one of the early films to be made in colour there is not a lot that is remarkable about this film. About all the plot points you would expect are covered and this is very much a by the numbers film. The characters are as simplistic as the plot and just about manage not to stray into being dubious stereotypes but Maureen O'Hara is little more than a damsel in distress who starts out hating the hero before marrying him.

3/5

Zulus, thousands of 'em!

Zulu (1964)

Michael Caine had his break through role co-staring alongside Stanley Baker in this film from director Cy Enfield. It is 1879 and 139 British troops are surrounded by 3-4000 Zulu warriors.

British imperialism of the Victorian period is a sticky subject which this film largely side steps in favour of focusing on the nature of war rather than the specific reasons for this one. While some characters do have bigoted views the film is largely respectful to the men on both sides of the conflict. There are some great performances and the scenery is truly stunning, the cinematography gives a real sense of Rorke's Drift being surrounded not just by the Zulus but also by the imposing landscape.

The problems with the film come largely from the fact that in large swathes historical accuracy has been thrown out of the window in favour of telling a better story. Changes to events are mostly kept to a minimum as the historic set up is dramatic enough but the changes to characters are where the problems lie. Some of the character changes do allow for the more balanced view of the film but unfortunately a number end up tarring historical figures pretty unjustly, the most common example being Henry Hook.

4/5

Devil's Angels

We're No Angels (1955)

One of the more unusual Christmas films reunites director Michael Curtiz and Humphrey Bogart along side Peter Ustinov and Aldo Ray. Three convicts on Devil's Island escape and stuck in the local store while trying to get off the island.

This is a light hearted comedy which does not have the most complex plot of all time but manages to carry off it's own kind of charm. The highlight of the film is Bogart and Ustinov playing their characters to perfection despite the fairly sparse nature of the comedy. If you have to watch one Christmas film about escaped convicts on a desert island then this is certainly the one I would recommend.

3/5

A fistful of CGI

The Warrior's Way (2010)

East meets West in this western staring Jang Dong-gun, Kate Bosworth and Geoffrey Rush. In a bizarre western town there is a three way face off between carnival performers, cowboys and ninjas.

Visually this film has it's moments even if unfortunately all the scenery appears to be CGI, but the world the film takes place is certainly unusual and at least looks interesting. The problems with this film pretty much all come from the weak dialogue, rudimentary at beast plot that takes a bit too long to get anywhere and some decidedly dodgy acting. It is a real shame when you have an actor like Geoffrey Rush to criminally under use him, he is barely in the film at all.

2/5

Needling

Puncture (2011)

Like many legal dramas this film claims to be “based on a true story” and stars Chris Evans. Hospitals will not buy a new safety syringe because there is a monopoly on medical purchasing so some lawyers take up the case.

For a legal drama there is not a lot of court room action and seems to be caught between being a legal drama and an issues film. The most interesting character in the film is the lawyer with a drug problem but while we see the affects it has on his life we never get to find out the reasons for it which is a real shame. In the end this is a fairly average film that highlights the problem at hand but does not do so in an overly entertaining way.

3/5

Recycled

London Boulevard (2010)

Based on the novel of the same name this adaptation from writer/director William Monahan stars Colin Farrell, Keira Knightley and David Thewlis. Recently released from prison a young man tries not to return to a life of crime.

There is not a lot of originality about this East End gangster film which recycles a lot of the usual clichés, including the ending which will not be shocking to the audience as it is designed to be as you have seen it plenty of times before. The most interesting character in the film is the reclusive actress who sadly prophesies her own down fall when bemoaning the poor supporting roles women have in modern cinema. It does not help that there are some deciedly dodgy accents on show, most notably from Colin Farrell. In the end I would have much rather seen a film about Knightley and Thewlis's characters than what we got.

3/5

Unremarkable

Unstoppable (2010)

“Inspired by real events” this film is directed by Tony Scott and stars Denzel Washington, Chris Pine and Rosario Dawson. There is a run away train filled with explosives, who can save the day?

As you would expect from a film with such a high budget it is very well made in terms of the effects used. It would seem that the “inspired by real events” title is used as a license to diddle with the facts in the name of increased drama but realistically there is not much depth to the film. While the film does not feel long it does take a long while for our heroes to actually get involved in the events of the day which probably makes the film longer than needed.

3/5

Dead boring?

The Evil Dead (1981)

Director Sam Raimi broke onto the scene with this low budget horror film that stared Bruce Campbell and was edited by one Joel Coen. Five college students go to spend some time in a cabin in the woods and run into some evil spirits.

I have to say that I found this film to be a real disappointment. You expect some corner cutting given this is a low budget first time effort but the real lack of any plot depth or characters was a big let down. The special effects are passable given the nature of the film but other than that it is hard to for me to find many positives.

2/5

Railroaded

Aces 'N' Eights (2008)

Made for TV (never a good sign) this western stars Casper Van Dien, Bruce Boxleitner and Ernest Borgnine. The rail road is coming and some people do not want to sell their land.

It is hard to find much good to say about this film, the plot is a combination of clichés and over used ideas with various holes and parts that just do not seem to be thought through. Most of the characters lack any depth, the acting is poor, the dialogue is not up to much and the direction is just annoying. About the only redeeming feature of the piece is that the sets and locations are not bad given this film was probably made on a low budget.

2/5 hard to find a reason to watch this.

Hard Graf

The Battle of the River Plate (1956)

Based on real events this film from Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger stars Anthony Quayle and Peter Finch. A German heavy cruiser faces off against three Commonwealth cruisers in the early part of WW2.

While this film is largely told from the point of view of the Allies it does give a fair portrayal of the German captain who is shown as a professional naval officer rather than a Nazi caricature. What stands the film apart from most naval war films is that it mainly uses real war ships rather than model work and that is a vast improvement even if it is fairly obvious an American ship is used to portray the German raider. Over all this is a well made effort that largely sticks to the facts which is in sharp contrast to the modern trend of forcing fictional narratives into real events.

4/5

Don't mess around with Jackie Brown

Jackie Brown (1997)

This is the third film from director Quentin Tarantino and is based on a novel by Elmore Leonard, the large cast includes Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Forster. An air stewardess is caught between the law and her gun selling boss.

This is not Tarantino's best film but it is still a decent offering with plenty of his directorial signatures sprinkled through out the piece. The plot is decent with more double crossing than you can shake a stick at but is not really interesting beyond it's superficial level. What is probably the best thing about this film is the great performances from the cast, especially Grier who really carries the film well.

4/5