What he did to Shakespeare...

To Be or Not to Be (1943)

Directed by Ernst Lubitsch this film stars Carole Lombard, Jack Benny and Felix Bressart. In Poland during the Nazi occupation a stage company ends up working to stop a German spy.

This film walks a very thin line managing to be a really funny film about a dark time in history. Beyond all the jokes, of which there are plenty, this film does a good job of not losing sight of the real situation and sending up the Nazis. There are some decent performances as the hammy actors with delusions of grandeur as well.

4/5

Integrating Baseball

42 (2013)

Directed by Brian Helgeland this film based on real events stars Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, Nichole Beharie and Andre Holland. In 1947 the owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers seeks to make Jackie Robinson the first African American to play top level baseball.

Despite being a film about an interesting subject and having a substantial budget this comes across as a television film of the week effort. While there are some historical inaccuracies it does not appear they are too egregious but the story did seem a little self congratulatory rather than focusing on the actual struggle of the situation. It is a shame that this is such a weak effort for what was an important moment in American sport and civil rights.

2/5

Simple Millers

We're the Millers (2013)

Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber this film stars Jennifer Aniston, Jason Sudeikis, Emma Roberts and Will Poulter. A small time pot dealer gets in debt to his boss and has to make a drug run to Mexico with the help of other misfits.

There is plenty to enjoy with this film but it always takes the easy route and never really fulfils what is actually a lot of potential. What we really needed here is a bit more time exploring the characters to give the film some depth but the focus is too often on the easy jokes. Most of the cast could sleep walk through this film but Ed Helms has a pretty good cameo as the drug dealer boss.

3/5

Not muppets in space

The Dark Crystal (1982)

Directed by Jim Henson & Frank Oz this film features the voice talent of Stephen Garlick, Lisa Maxwell and Billie Whitelaw. A young Gelfling goes on a quest to fulfil a prophecy and return balance to this alien planet.

This is a fairly standard fantasy inspired heroes journey type story that takes place on another planet. Nothing much unusual comes up in the story and it does not have a lot going for it beyond the superficial layer. Where the film is at it's strongest is in the excellent creatures and puppets created by by Henson and co.

4/5

In ability

In Security (2013)

Written as well as directed by Adam & Evan Beamer this film stars Ethan Embry, Michael Gladis and Clea DuVall. With a failing home security business in one of the safest towns in the country two men go on a crime spree to drum up business.

The basic plot of this film is fairly paint but numbers but the script really lacks any jokes to make this a comedy. There is a belated attempt to make this a second rate Shane Black film but that is too little too late. While there are some big name cameos in this film none of them go anywhere and there is some really hammy acting from Cary Elews as the bad guy.

1/5

Back stage, back stabbing

All About Eve (1950)

Directed by Joseph L. Makiewicz this film stars Bette Davis, Anne Baxter George Sanders and Celeste Holm. We find out how a young woman went from adoring fan to winning the top award for a theatre actress in less than a year.

The plot of this film features some nice scheming characters as well as a turn or two that may catch the audience unawares. Where the film works really well is looking at both the role of women in society (especially in the post-war environment) as well as how the ageing process affects those gender roles. There are some decent performances and it's worth watching out for an early Marilyn Monroe performance in a supporting role.

4/5

No dogs here

Cry 'Havoc' (1943)

Directed by Richard Thorpe this film based on the play “Proof Through the Night” stars Margaret Sullavan, Ann Sothern and Joan Blondell. 1942, a group of civilians volunteer to work as nurses at a US army hospital on Bataan with Japanese forces closing in.

Considering when this film was made if offers a pretty balanced and realistic view of the role of nurses. Events are not really sugar coated and even the odd bit of criticism of the powers that be appears to have been subtly snuck in. It is refreshing to see a war film that essentially has an all female cast (blink and you might miss a young Robert Mitchum) even if at time it is a little obvious this is a film based on a play.

4/5