Danger Within (1959)
Don Chaffey directs this British war film which stars Richard Todd, Bernard Lee and Richard Attenborough. A group of British officers try to escape from a POW camp in Italy but it seems there is an informant in their ranks.
Despite the central premise of the film being about an informant the film does not really focus on this, rather it is more a side topic to various escape attempts. Really this film should have played off the tension of infighting and trying to find the informant but ends up being a fairly average film. There are decent performances as you would expect from this cast and it is worth looking out for an early, uncredited appearance from Michael Caine.
3/5
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
Tuesday, 6 March 2012
It was all going swimingly
Deep End (1971)
Directed by Jerzy Skolimowski this joint British-West German film stars John Moulder Brown and Jane Asher. A young pool attendant becomes obsessed with his female co-worker and struggles to come to terms with the sexually charged world of the pool.
Only recently rediscovered this film was thought lost for a long time but certainly typifies films about the sexual revolution in Britain. The plot does appear a little bit scatter brained and viewers should be warned there is a fair amount of nudity. When it comes to execution some of the dialogue does not seem perfectly synced and there is an odd foreign language news paper that pops up being read by an extra on the tube.
3/5
Directed by Jerzy Skolimowski this joint British-West German film stars John Moulder Brown and Jane Asher. A young pool attendant becomes obsessed with his female co-worker and struggles to come to terms with the sexually charged world of the pool.
Only recently rediscovered this film was thought lost for a long time but certainly typifies films about the sexual revolution in Britain. The plot does appear a little bit scatter brained and viewers should be warned there is a fair amount of nudity. When it comes to execution some of the dialogue does not seem perfectly synced and there is an odd foreign language news paper that pops up being read by an extra on the tube.
3/5
Monday, 5 March 2012
Dead
Hereafter (2010)
Clint Eastwood directs this supernatural drama which stars Matt Damon and Cecile de France. Three stories on a common theme of dealing with death and the afterlife end up connecting in London.
The problem with this film is that of the three stories only one of them really has an interesting central character, the Matt Damon sections with the reluctant psychic, the other sections feel rather bland. In the end it is not just most of the characters that come across as bland but the film it self as it does not really seem to go anywhere. As with any Eastwood film the direction is good but really the film could have done with more meat or just focusing on the one interesting character it has.
3/5
Clint Eastwood directs this supernatural drama which stars Matt Damon and Cecile de France. Three stories on a common theme of dealing with death and the afterlife end up connecting in London.
The problem with this film is that of the three stories only one of them really has an interesting central character, the Matt Damon sections with the reluctant psychic, the other sections feel rather bland. In the end it is not just most of the characters that come across as bland but the film it self as it does not really seem to go anywhere. As with any Eastwood film the direction is good but really the film could have done with more meat or just focusing on the one interesting character it has.
3/5
Sunday, 4 March 2012
When musketeers get old
The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)
Based on the work of Alexandre Dumas this adaptation from Randall Wallace stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Gabriel Byrne and Gerard Depardieu. The young king of France is a bad king but may his imprisoned twin offers the musketeers a chance to replace him.
This is a fairly loose adaptation that offers a clean and well constructed story based on elements of Dumas's story and early films on the same premise. About the only problem with the script is the way that it lays on the sentimentality in the final part of the film which feels a bit heavy handed. Despite all the departure from source material and history what we end up with is a decent film with a really good cast that has plenty to entertain.
3/5
Based on the work of Alexandre Dumas this adaptation from Randall Wallace stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Gabriel Byrne and Gerard Depardieu. The young king of France is a bad king but may his imprisoned twin offers the musketeers a chance to replace him.
This is a fairly loose adaptation that offers a clean and well constructed story based on elements of Dumas's story and early films on the same premise. About the only problem with the script is the way that it lays on the sentimentality in the final part of the film which feels a bit heavy handed. Despite all the departure from source material and history what we end up with is a decent film with a really good cast that has plenty to entertain.
3/5
Saturday, 3 March 2012
Wicked Witch of the US
Hanna (2011)
Directed by Joe Wright this action thriller stars Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana and Cate Blanchett. The daughter of a CIA agent seeks revenge on her mothers killer after a child hood living and training in an Arctic wilderness.
There is some great style to the execution of this film and the Finland based sections in particular look stunning. Less impressive is the plot which is fairly standard and seems to lack any moral compass as the protagonist and her father just kill anyone who gets in their way. In the end this is more an exercise in style and atmosphere than story telling but still a good watch.
4/5
Directed by Joe Wright this action thriller stars Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana and Cate Blanchett. The daughter of a CIA agent seeks revenge on her mothers killer after a child hood living and training in an Arctic wilderness.
There is some great style to the execution of this film and the Finland based sections in particular look stunning. Less impressive is the plot which is fairly standard and seems to lack any moral compass as the protagonist and her father just kill anyone who gets in their way. In the end this is more an exercise in style and atmosphere than story telling but still a good watch.
4/5
Friday, 2 March 2012
Objection?
Legally Blonde (2001)
Based on the novel of the same name this film is directed by Robert Luketic and stars Reese Withersoon, Luke Wilson and Selma Blair. A superficial, rich girl goes to law school to try and win her ex-boyfriend back.
It is not hard to see what this film is trying to do, hold up a mirror to some of the 90s superficiality as well as show that women do not need to define themselves by the man in their lives but should have their own goals too. The problem is that despite decent goals the film seems to fall victim to it's own superficiality and simplicity. What transformation there is protagonist does not feel especially earned and the ending seems hollow (as well as ridiculous) as the final court case is not won through the protagonist having changed but from what she knew from the start.
2/5
Based on the novel of the same name this film is directed by Robert Luketic and stars Reese Withersoon, Luke Wilson and Selma Blair. A superficial, rich girl goes to law school to try and win her ex-boyfriend back.
It is not hard to see what this film is trying to do, hold up a mirror to some of the 90s superficiality as well as show that women do not need to define themselves by the man in their lives but should have their own goals too. The problem is that despite decent goals the film seems to fall victim to it's own superficiality and simplicity. What transformation there is protagonist does not feel especially earned and the ending seems hollow (as well as ridiculous) as the final court case is not won through the protagonist having changed but from what she knew from the start.
2/5
Thursday, 1 March 2012
Air battle
Reach for the Sky (1956)
Based on the book of the same name this biopic is directed by Lewis Gilbert and stars Kenneth More. A young RAF pilot's ego results in the loss of both his legs and has to struggle to come to terms with his disability as well as fight to be allowed to fly again during WW2.
As with many biopics this film is not a warts and all piece but does at least hint at some of the negative character treats of it's subject. Sticking largely to the facts this is a decent WW2 film and certainly there is an inspirational element to someone having to over come such a terrible crash. Obviously being made over 50 years ago some of the special effects do look a little ropey at times but otherwise the film is well made.
4/5
Based on the book of the same name this biopic is directed by Lewis Gilbert and stars Kenneth More. A young RAF pilot's ego results in the loss of both his legs and has to struggle to come to terms with his disability as well as fight to be allowed to fly again during WW2.
As with many biopics this film is not a warts and all piece but does at least hint at some of the negative character treats of it's subject. Sticking largely to the facts this is a decent WW2 film and certainly there is an inspirational element to someone having to over come such a terrible crash. Obviously being made over 50 years ago some of the special effects do look a little ropey at times but otherwise the film is well made.
4/5
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