A morbid Russian tale

The Dying Swan (1917)

Directed by Yevgeni Bauer this Russian silent film is based on the ballet of the same name and stars Vera Karalli. A young mute woman wants to dance and a broken heart motivates her to finally begin a career in ballet where she dances The Dying Swan.

As this film only has a 49 minute run time it is really hard to fully flesh out the themes involved such as in The Red Shoes (1948) or Black Swan (2010) but this is still a fairly good marriage of cinema and ballet. It takes a little for all the story elements to come together but otherwise this is a pretty good story with a new dream sequence. Mostly the film is well made although obviously given it's early production date it's execution is a little rough around the edges.

3/5

Another western Kurosawa fan

The Outrage (1964)

Directed by Martin Ritt this remake of Rashomon (1950) stars Paul Newman, Laurence Harvey, Claire Bloom and William Shatner. Different tales about the same event tell make it hard to separate fact from fiction.

Generally this film does a good job of transporting the events of the original film from Japan to a Western although maybe the ideas of personal honour do not translate so exactly. Most of the film is well made although it is a notch below the execution of Kurosawa's excellent direction. If this film was being made today you might not get away with having Paul Newman play a Mexican bandit but otherwise there is not much you can say against this remake.

4/5  

Blind leading the non blind

Wait Until Dark (1967)

Directed by Terence Young this film based on the play of the same name stars Audrey Hepburn, Alan Arkin and Richard Crenna. Three con men try to trick a woman struggling to come to terms with being blind into giving them a doll stuffed with heroin.

At times it does seem like the crooks in this film are going to slightly silly lengths to get what they want while the heroine is a little too trusting but largely the story is not too bad. Where the film works best is in how the antagonists underestimate the protagonist just because she is blind and how the protagonist over comes her disability to out wit the bad guys. Largely the film is well made although I am not sure that Hepburn is suited to being a scream queen as required in some sequences.

3/5

Bust

Monte Carlo or Bust! (1969)

Directed by Ken Annakin this film has a large cast including Tony Curtis, Terry Thomas, Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. People from various countries with various motivations enter a rally across Europe to Monte Carlo.

Essentially this film cribs a lot from Annakin's earlier Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines (1965) but has neither the script or the cast of the previous film. As a comedy the film is sadly lacking, while it has funny moments they are not numerous enough and the plot lacks a real drive to keep the film ticking over. All in all it is hard not to look at this film as the inferior younger brother of it's predecessor.

2/5

Points for trying

Zero for Conduct (1933)

Written and directed by Jean Vigo this film stars Gerard de Bedarieux, Louis Lefebvre, Gilbert Pruchon and Coco Golstein. Due to the strict nature of their school four school boys plan to revolt.

This film is fairly short, running only 41 minutes, so there is not a huge amount of plot here and things are kept fairly basic. As a comedy there are some funny moments with a large pillow fight being the highlight of the film but you would not say this is a film that keeps you laughing through out. At times the film shows it's age and some of the editing and general direction is a little rough at times.

3/5

Spring break 4 ever!

Spring Breakers (2012)

Written and directed by Harmony Korine this film stars Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine and James Franco. Four female college students bored with their lot in life head down to Florida with stolen money to indulge in spring break.

This film looks at how consumer culture leads to suburban flirtation with and appropriation of gangster culture which it does really well. At times the plot may seem a little thin on the ground but this is one of those you sort of have to go with the flow and it ends up being surprisingly deep. Through out the film is directed as if it is one long music video and this helps emphasise the role popular music has in seducing people to the hedonistic thug life, overall the film is really a really impressive mood poem.

5/5

A killing to be made

Hitchcock (2012)

Directed by Sacha Gervasi this film based on real events stars Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson and Ton Collette. In 1959 the famous director sets out to make his darkest and most disturbing film yet.

It is hard to say how much of this film is fiction and fact as at times the script does stray into speculation of the protagonists inner fantasies but in general it seems to do a decent job of sticking to real events. What is most interesting is the relationship between Hitchcock and his wife which comes to dominate the film. Clearly what is most impressive about the film is the performance of Hopkins and Mirren in the lead roles as Hopkins in particular undergoes a real transformation for the part.

4/5

The Mozart farce

Why Stop Now (2012)

Written as well as directed by Phil Dorling and Ron Nsywaner this film stars Jesse Eisenberg, Melissa Leo, Tracy Morgan and Isiah Whitlock Jr. A young man has a bad day trying to juggle taking his mother to rehab, an important audition and drug dealers.

This is a pretty charming farce that has a decent heart to it even if the story is fairly simple. There are some decent character moments enhanced by the good cast and more than a few funny moments through out the film. Largely the film is well made and the screw ball nature is a nice change to the usual comedies that get pumped out.

4/5

Cast of Titans

Remember the Titans (2000)

Directed by Boaz Yakin this film based on real events stars Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Wood Harris, Ryan Hurst and Donald Faison. In the early 1970s a black football coach seeks to bring together white and black players at a newly integrated highschool.

It seems that this film is generally accurate to real events although at times it fabricates or over emphasises certain events but it gets the general thrust right. The story is well told if fairly basic and while it may get a little melodramatic at times it is not overly preachy. What is best about the film is the great young cast that has a lot of depth in the supporting roles.

3/5

The golden fields of Texas

Days of Heaven (1978)

Written and directed by Terrence Malick this film stars Richard Gere, Brooke Adams, Sam Shepard and Linda Manz. During the great depression a couple posing as brother an sister work on a farm in Texas and get caught in a love triangle with the sick man that owns the farm.

The plot of this film is fairly simple and not overly unique but provides a decent foundation for this film. Unusually we often see the characters in conversation but are left to infer the general idea of what they are saying which works pretty well given the simple nature of the story. Where the film is amazing is in it's execution, this is one of the best looking films you will see and it captures landscapes as well as events with more than a nod to the biblical really well.

4/5

Tripping the house not so fantastic

The Fall of the House of Usher (1928)

Directed by James Sibley Watson and Melville Webber this film based on the short story of the same name stars Herbert Stern, Hildegarde Wilson and Melville Webber. Strange things happen to a man and woman living in a large house.

Without knowing the plot of the story this film is based on before watching this film it is pretty impossible to divine and plot or narrative here. There is no dialogue or titles cards to suggest who people are or what is happening which makes for a very confusing 13 minutes. Where the film is strong is in the striking visuals that explore a range of strange techniques.

2/5

I'm the writer, I out rank you!

The Producers (1968)

Written and directed by Mel Brooks this film stars Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, Dick Shawn and Kenneth Mars. A scheming theatre producer and a nervous accountant attempt to make money by defrauding investors in a Broadway play.

Essentially this film is a hilarious farce that has more than a knowing nod to some of the practises of it's own industry. While the film may not be that long it does not overstay it's welcome and handles what could be bad taste subject matter really well. Some of the direction and film quality is a little weaker than the writing but while it is clear that the film was made on a budget it does not affect your viewing of the film.

4/5

Hear no evil, speak no evil

The Seasoning House (2012)

Directed by Paul Hyett this film stars Rosie Day, Kevin Howarth, Sean Pertwee and Dominique Provost-Chalkley. During the Balkans war a young girl is made to work in a brothel drugging other girls who are forced to work as prostitutes.

There are some deeply dark elements to this film and it depicts some harrowing events mostly of sexual violence, plenty of times the film is unsettling as well as keeping you on the edge of your seat. Where the plot falls down is the plot is fairly empty, failing to tie into the larger prejudices behind the war or the specific problems in the area in which it is set. It is the direction that helps this film stand out maintaining a great atmosphere despite not having the greatest script to work with.

4/5

The 13th

Lincoln (2012)

Directed by Steven Spielberg this film stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Tommy Lee Jones. In the opening months of 1865 President Lincoln pushes for a constitutional amendment to ban slavery in the dying days of the US civil war.

Unlike many biopics this is not a sweeping story that takes place over years but a rather more contained tail which spans only a few months but does a good job of giving a snap shot into who the protagonist was. Like many films there is a idolisation of the protagonist but for the most part it seems this film is historical even if it is a little detail obsessed in the political parts of the film. As with any Spielberg film this is competently made and Daniel Day-Lewis gives a stand out performance as you would expect.

4/5

The coward Henri III

The Assassination of the Duke de Guise (1908)

Directed by Andre Calmettes and Charles Le Bargy, who stars in the film, this film also features Albert Lambert and Gabrielle Robinne. In 1588 Henri III of France summons Duke Henri de Guise to his palace where upon the duke is killed.

For those of us not especially familiar with French history of the period this short film is a little hard to understand and offers little explanation for the on screen action. Most of the short run time of this film is taken up with showing the planning of and action of the assassination itself, it would have been nice to see even just a little on why the king wants the duke killed. Largely the film is well made with good sets and costumes as well as being well shot.

2/5

Cavemen prefer blondes

One Million Years B.C. (1966)

Directed by Don Chaffey this remake of the film of the same name stars Raquel Welch, John Richardson and Percy Herbert. A caveman is thrown out of his tribe and meets a woman from a more civilized tribe.

Much of the plot of this film is pretty ridiculous as obviously dinosaurs and man never co-existed and the lack of dialogue keeps things fairly basic. There are times when the story really drags and it does not help that a lot of the special effects have not aged well. Ray Harryhausen provides the stop motion dinosaurs which work a lot better than the oversized pets which are also used and just come off as silly.

1/5

A bombshell

Kings Go Forth (1958)

Directed by Delmer Daves this film stars Frank Sinatra, Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood and Leora Dana. In the south of France during WW2 an officer and one of the men under his command fall in love with the same woman.

While the basic plot of this film is very common the script adds a little shading round the edges by using class differences and racial prejudice to add to the conflict. It is some what of a nice surprise to see a slightly deeper level applied to the usual love triangle story for a change. Mostly the film is well made and the South of France provides a different back drop to the usual.

4/5

Making friends makes you better

The Magic of Belle Isle (2012)

Directed by Rob Reiner this film stars Morgan Freeman, Virginia Madsen, Emma Fuhrmann and Madeline Carroll. A widowed author spends the summer in a lake side house and makes friends with the family next door.

This is a fairly easy watch that covers a pretty simple plot at a gentle pace. At times the plot threatens to get a little over sentimental but is generally well handled, for the story to work really well I think the protagonist would have had to start with much darker behaviour to make his journey have more impact but the story still works. There is a decent cast but much like the plot not a lot stands out in a film which has plenty of similar compatriots.

3/5

Getting taught

The English Teacher (2013)

Directed by Craig Zisk this film stars Julianne Moore, Michael Angarano, Greg Kinnear, Lily Collins and Nathan Lane. A small town high school English teacher runs into a former pupil and determines to help him succeed as a playwright.

What is good about this film is while it starts with a number of obvious elements it rarely goes where you would expect but does not really go anywhere remarkable either. There are occasionally funny moments with in the film but for what is billed as a comedy there is not a huge amount to work with. In the lead role Julianne Moore does her best but there is never anything to really write home about here in either direction.

3/5

Satanists next door

Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Directed by Roman Polanski this film based on the novel of the same name stars Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon and Sidney Blackmer. Is a young woman slowly buckling under the mental and physical pressure of being pregnant or is there an evil plot to steal her baby?

It appears that the film does a good job of sticking to the plot of the novel and the story works well using the supernatural as a metaphor for mental difficulties a woman suffer from around having a child. What I like most about the film is that it leaves the audience to draw it's own conclusions for a long time before the protagonist actually verbalises what her fears are. Where I was less impressed was with the direction as the film was neither unsettling, scary or really ever tense in my opinion.

4/5

A host of bad things

The Host (2013)

Directed by Andrew Niccol this film based on the novel of the same name stars Saoirse Ronan, Jake Abel, Max Irons, William Hurt and Diane Kruger. Earth has been invaded by parasitic aliens and few humans remain free.

There are some interesting concepts in this film but none of them are ever explored and in general the characters seem poorly thought out. The story relies on the usual ideas of humans being different or better than all races out there which is pretty arrogant and not an especially interesting way to take the story anyway. I have always been a big fan of Andrew Niccol but what he is doing here is beyond me as this is way below the level of his other work.

2/5

Fire with fizzle

Fire with Fire (2012)

Directed by David Barrett this film stars Josh Duhamel, Rosario Dawson, Bruce Willis and Vincent D'Onofrio. After a fireman is the only surviving witness to a double murder he is put into protective custody while the bad guys try to hunt him down.

Despite having a good cast this is actually a really weak effort that went straight to video/dvd. Every time it looks like the plot is about to do something unusual it ditches that possibility to return to the same old stuff you have seen before and like many vigilante/revenge films has no cost for the protagonist when he goes outside the system. With little going for the script the cast does not have much to work with and the sound track is also weak.

2/5  

Filming a version of the legend

Jesse James (1939)

Directed by Henry King this film loosely based on real events stars Tyrone Power, Henry Fonda, Nancy Kelly and Randolph Scott. Two brothers go to war with the railroad company and become outlaws.

As with many films about the famous outlaw large swathes of history get thrown out the window for the plot of this film which makes the protagonist a much more sympathetic figure. As a piece of entertainment this is not a bad film but for historical purposes it is pretty bad. There is plenty of star power here and this is one of the first colour films so the colour does seem a little off at times.

2/5

More Williams Woes

This Property is Condemned (1966)

Directed by Sydney Pollack this film based on the play of the same name stars Natalie Wood, Robert Redford, Charles Bronson, Kate Reid and Mary Badham. During the depression the railroad sends a man to lay off workers in a small town here he falls in love with the daughter of a boarding house owner.

The plot of this film is classic Tennessee Williams set in the South with a young person trying to escape an over bearing mother. Generally this is a really interesting story but it does stretch a little too long and towards the end the pieces moving towards a contrived ending are a little obvious. There are good performances from the cast but Natalie Wood stands out in particular.

4/5  

Hanging around

Monkey Business (1952)

Directed by Howard Hawks this film stars Cary Grant, Ginger Rogers, Marilyn Monroe and Chris Coburn. A scientist working on an anti ageing formula tests a new batch on himself with slightly different results than expected.

As a standard screw-ball comedy this film is pretty funny and has some good if not classic moments. The story suggest that maybe youth is not something the characters should be rushing after but does not exactly explore this theme with great depth beyond the idea children are childish. Where the film stands out is in it's excellent cast and it would have been to see more of Marilyn Monroe who is really good in the parts she is in.

4/5

The kids don't care

Tokyo Story (1953)

Directed by Yasujiro Ozu this film stars Chishu Ryu, Chieko Higashiyama and Setsuko Hara. An elderly couple travel to Tokyo to visit their grown up children and their families.

You will find this film on a number of “greatest ever film” lists and it is certainly a very good film but I am not sure it does enough to jump off the screen to fulfil it's reputation. The story is a sad one of children that no longer have time for their parents that could just as easily be set today as 60 years ago. While the direction and editing are slightly different to what you might be used to it is done in such a subtle way that you may not even notice.

4/5

Broom broom

Drive (2011)

Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn this film based on the novel of the same name stars Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston and Albert Brooks. A mechanic and Hollywood stunt driver moonlights as a getaway driver.

The plot of this film clearly resembles a number of classic genre stories but does a good job of leaving more unsaid than said. Where the film is made is in it's execution which looks and sounds amazing. There is a nice level of tension through out which comes from the excellent direction and performances from a great cast.

4/5

Into cashing in

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

Directed by J. J. Abrams this sequel to the 2009 reboot stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Benedict Cumberbatch, Karl Urban and Alive Eve. Kirk and crew hunt down a terrorist responsible for two attacks on Star Fleet.

I was not a big fan of Star Trek (2009) and I was not a big fan of this film for mostly the same reasons, this film is all bells and whistles with no heart or brain. Inevitably there are going to be comparisons to Star Trek 2: Wrath of Khan (1982) which the script of this film falls well short of capturing the enigmatic nature of the same antagonist. While the plot attempts to say something relevant about the war on terror it never gets close to exploring those themes or being relevant in a way that Star Trek 6: The Undiscovered Country (1991) did, indeed motivation for the dark characters is never explored or explained. Alice Eve is criminally underused, you have to wonder if she is solely included for a scene where she is in her underwear and while Benedict Cumberbatch is a great actor his casting really does not fit with previous versions of the same character. Much like it's predecessor this film is not bad as an action film but is lacking as anything more which is a real disappointment.

2/5

Caught in the middle

Samurai Spy (1965)

Directed by Masahiro Shinoda this film based on a novel by Koji Nakada stars Koji Takahashi, Mutsuhiro Toura and Tetsuro Tamba. A samurai working as a spy for a neutral clan is drawn into the conflict between two rival powers.

Made during the Cold War the plot of this film could easily be a metaphor for the position that Japan and many other countries found themselves in, caught in the espionage war between East and West. Maybe it is because I do not speak the language the film is made in but at times I did find the plot hard to keep track of as it becomes increasingly convoluted with characters and double crosses. In general the action sequences are well made with some good samurai battles but the film could have done with being a little clearer as to who is who at times.

3/5

Chasing losses

Cleopatra: The Film That Changed Hollywood (2001)

Directed by Kevin Burns and Brent Zacky this documentary features interviews and unseen footage from Cleopatra (1963). We followed the troubled production of Cleopatra (1963) as a film studio bets everything it has on this mega production.

What this documentary does an excellent job of is charting disaster after disaster and various types of mismanagement that Cleopatra suffered from. Where the film falls down on is that it never fulfils it's premise and barely scrapes the surface of putting the film into a wider context of film history. It would have been nice to see some more interviews with those who had first hand experience with making the film but sadly nearly all the key people were dead by the time this documentary was made.

3/5

What was anyone thinking?

Sharknado (2013)

Directed by Anthony C. Ferrante this film stars Tara Reid, Ian Ziering, John Heard, Cassie Scerbo and Jaason Simmons. Los Angeles comes under attack from flooding, sharks and tornadoes.

This film has allegedly become something of a cult hit but it is very hard to see why as nearly every element of the film is terrible. About the best thing you could say about this film is that at least it is not massively offensive just stupid and badly made. The special effects are poor as is the casting, performances, script, direction and editing so watch at your own peril.

1/5