Garyswordz

Mawkish, lumbering dross, 15 July 2007

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

I viewed this film cold, knowing nothing about it, and left it cold. The tale of Chris Gardner,played by Will Smith, a down on his luck black travelling salesman, making good as a Stockbroker has narrative potential. But Director Gabriele Muccino, whose track record is hitherto with foreign language films, squanders it.

I didn’t really like Chris Gardner.His pursuit of the stockbroker “Dream” is at the expense during the film, of a squalid life for his young son. His wife, played by Thandie Newton,has a horribly underwritten role. her inability to look after their son, at least in the short term, is never clear.

His co workers at the stockbrokers are all pretty shallow, and objectionable characters – is this really the dream that he is chasing? The narrative hinges on an ever increasing series of disasters and hurdles which impede his “pursuit of happiness”. Yet the uplifting element required to counterbalance this in the minds of the audience never really works.

At 117 minutes the running time is a good 30 minutes too long. After 90 minutes I found myself saying to myself, “look he gets the job at the end, can we just finish now?”

Essentially episodic in style, there are some good moments, and good characters, but Muccino fails to “join up the dots”. For a film so dark and downbeat, racism and the cynicism of the financial world gets a super-gloss. The happiness that he finds at the end is a Stockbrokers job which subsequently earns him millions . Wow.

A total miss hit. This story should either have been rewritten as a straight comedy – and it could have worked as such, or as a cinema “verite” piece, warts and all. It wasn’t, so it fails.

Bloated Finale, 28 May 2007

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

I am a huge fan of Pirate films as a genre, and loved the first POTC installment. The second one seemed like half a film to me, so i was keenly waiting the conclusion of this tale. I could not have been more disappointed.

It is easy to forget that the first film focused on the roguish charm and wit of Jack Sparrow, told a coherent story, was well plotted, pacey, and had few special effects. “worlds End” has grown into a bloated monster, fat on the success of the first two installments. Hugely impressive, and expensive, special effects have dwarfed the plot such that Sparrow has been relegated into little more than a bystander in this juggernaut of a CGI driven picture.

Many of the scenes were shot during last years filming of the second “Dead Mans Chest”, and apparently the script had not been finalised at that point. It shows. This franchise has become a “Mision Impossible” style enterprise whereby the set pieces are put together first, and then joined up by a script that tries to make some sense of it.

Sadly, i do hope that this is the end for this series.The English Rose innocence of Keira Knightley now seems wet, her attempts at being Action Woman risible. And as for Orlando Bloom, he is about as dashing as Larry Grayson, as he hangs around to win his lady’s heart. Jack, previously the vibrant life of every frame has been sidelined by a tidal wave of special effects that are simply there because the money is there to provide them , rather than because of any dramatic imperative.

Farewell, and bon voyage – i will remember the good times.

Worthy But Turgid, 28 May 2007

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Fincher is one of the best directors around at the moment. His credentials include Alien 3, Fight Club, Seven, Panic Room and the massively under rated The Game. Stylistically, and technically, the film is fine. But by his own high standards it is a dramatic failure.

The opening third of a long 2 hour 49 min running time shows him at his best. The violence is shocking, malevolent and unsettling with the audience sharing the bewilderment of the time. Whio is the killer ? Why is he doing this? What are the links ? When is he going o strike next? Then the problems start.

Essentally this is the story of Grayson the cartoonist turned author and his quest to unmask the Zodiac killer. But this takes over twenty years, the contact from Zodiac is episodic, and the genuine killings all take place at the front end of the picture.

Grayson does have a complex story to tell – and Fincher tells it. But ultimately in so doing he kills the dramatic tension of the tale. A journalistic maxim is “never let the facts get in the way of a good story” and this applies here.The labyrinthine detective work begins to collapse under its own investigative weight leaving space really only for devoted “Zodiacphiles” but not the standard cinema goer.

Surprisingly Fincher chooses to pass on two of the most dramatic moments of the story. The moment when two patrol car officers pass the Zodiac killer after he has slain the taxi driver is recounted but not portrayed, and the heart attack death of the prime suspect is told by post film postscript ! The soundtrack is wonderful “Hurdy Gurdy Man”, Santana et al, as is the acting and dialogue.But ultimately an intriguing story does not necessarily make a great film, as is evidenced here.

Irritating but Inventive Sequel, 26 May 2007

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

After the shortcomings of the recently released “Sunshine”, Garland and Boyle, the Executive Producers give further evidence that their talent doesn’t quite match their ambition.

A sequel to the limited, but well delivered 28days later, was merited.A sci fi film set in a contemporary Britain riven by virus crazed zombies/ crazies is worth revisiting. Initially the opening sequence when Robert Carlyle, the lead, is besieged by lightning quick vicious zombies is handled brilliantly. The camera work and editing combine to make a genuinely terrifying and horrifying scene.

However when the film settles down the hand held camera work and trademark grainy dark visuals start to irritate, as do the holes in the plot. The London settings, for a film financed in part by the UK film Council are thudding – Tower bridge,The Dome, Wembley, Big Ben.Nice for the Yanks, but a bit too obvious for British audiences.

The allegorical content regarding the parallels between the Americans inability to “hold” central London in the same way as they have failed in Baghdad is fine. You either “get” the layering, or you don’t. Those that don’t are not missing out as it does not interfere with the mainline plotting.

Pretty consistently dark, gory and unpleasant, there is an hilarious scene towards the end when a helicopter uses its blades to decapitate dozens of attacking zombies causing everyone in the cinema to burst out laughing – intentionally so, and a piece of welcome “black” relief.

The finale neatly opens the way for a third installment in such a way that i am sure it would b successful. Maybe next time eh Danny and Alex?

Flawed, but worthy,visually spectacular effort, 6 May 2007

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

The sci fi genre has only fitfully appeared in mainstream cinema recently. As a fan, I wanted the film to succeed. Boyle and Garland are distinguished and accomplished at directing and producing, and equipped with a big budget, this picture stood every chance of success. But somehow it doesn’t quite get there.

The CGI effects are tremendous. The soundtrack compelling, broody and sympathetic.The subject matter is Shakespearean in ambition – destiny, fate,tragedy, the Grand Quest. But the script doesn’t match this ambition and the storyline looks as though it has been machine-gunned in the editing suite.

A third of the way through the film we discover that the first mission spaceship is still around. The crew have to make a momentous and plot altering decision to investigate. the dramatic potential is huge but after the decision is taken we suddenly appear at “Icarus1” the original spaceship.

Ultimately i lost interest as the bold and challenging aspirations of the original story are shredded by cheap dramatic devices and unconvincing plot and character development. as a consequence it fails against the less ambitious “Event Horizon”, and never matches “Alien ” in the suspense stakes- both films clearly providing a stylistic anchor.

A decent effort – but could, and should, have been far better.

Fantasy Sword And Sandals Tale Delivers, 30 April 2007

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

I was fortunate enough to study Ancient Greek at school, but was not familiar with Frank Miller’s cartoon books in general, or his work on this story in particular. I have to confess that I thoroughly enjoyed this imaginative take on a famous tale.

The Spartans were a legendary warrior state, and the battle of Thermopalae arguably one of the most famous ever. The fact that Herodotus faithfully recorded these events in some detail provides a firm base for a fantasy with two feet firmly placed in fact.

Boldly, the majority of the films almost two hour running time is indeed taken up by action sequences. As such, the blood and gore count is of Tarrantinoesque proportions – but it’s fantasy portrayal allows much more to be shown than might otherwise be acceptable.

Gerard Butler gives a Mel Gibson inspired “Braveheart” performance as King Leonidas and is ably supported by Lena Headley as his wife and Queen in what amounts to a cameo role. Don’t be put off by the snobbish put downs of some commentators – she has a role to ply and does it in caricature style. His opponent, Xerxes, is curiously played by a Julian Clary lookalike,Rodrigo Santoro,in comic book style.

The music and imagery coasts dangerously into “Gladiator” territory, but the battle set pieces are tremendous with the fantasy portrayal allowing maximum scope for dramatic license. And lets not forget that the Greeks loved a good story. Leonidas response to the Persians threat that they will block out the sun with their arrows -“Then we shall fight in the shade then” is stirring stuff and reflects a mock pompous script which is lively without taking itself too seriously.

Not as epic as “Gladiator”, or as Fantastical as “Lord of the Rings”, this film still scores within its own agenda – don’t let the purists from either the Historic or Comic Book factions put you off. Great story – well told.

Tight, Sharp. Yarn, 13 March 2007

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

This film has polarised opinion quite sharply, and has inevitably been compared and contrasted with “The Cave”, released at a similar time and with broadly similar themes. For me Neil Marshall has created an above average tale, which, whilst paying homage to the genre steers away from cliché.

The pretty much all female cast toys with the viewers stereo types. A girly, simpering whimpering band they are not. Dramatic tension between the characters is well developed ,and heroic deeds are just that, without the “macho” bravado that can bloat a Stallone style performance.

Stylistically, those familiar with “Dog Soldiers” will not be disappointed or surprised. The “b list” cast pull together in true egalitarian style to play their parts without trying to steal the show – sometimes less is more, and understated horror is often the best.

The transition from “cavers lost in a cave” to “cavers terrorised by strange things” is a bit “clunky”. But it is a tribute to the film that it would have worked as a straight caving accident drama.

At 99 minutes it just stays within its welcome – and has run its course. Non fans of the genre will not be converted. But fans will find this a welcome addition

Vigilante Makeover Fails To Deliver, 12 March 2007

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I wanted this film to work. The much derided “Death Wish” of the Seventies struck a popular chord in the same way that “Falling Down ” did in the nineties – both owing big debts to the “Revenge” Western genre before them. The time is right for a 21st century makeover and update . For the first twenty minutes or so I was expectant. Good scene setting, interesting characters, punchy dialogue. Then the film implodes into a direction less, scarcely believable mess from which it never recovers.

Sean Bean is good but ultimately wilts under a poor script and little light and shade for his role. Although touted as a “lads” film there is an almost total lack of female interest to amuse and entertain. The action sequences are uniformly unbelievable, and the band of vigilantes fails utterly to convince. The wonderful Bob Hoskins performs what amounts to a hastily arranged bit part, whilst Danny Dyer continues his “Football Factory ” persona as the kid who hangs out with the hard lads and looks tough just to avoid them beating him up.

The risible finale is poorly conceived, clumsily executed and is closer to farce than Armageddon. An opportunity missed.

Passable Horror Yarn, 12 March 2007

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Caving dramas offer the same possibilities as those involving submarines – closed quarters, hidden dangers, claustrophobic tension and an alien environment.This is a frustrating film that almost gets it right, but ultimately suffers from uncertain direction and a poor sense of identity.

The basic plot is that a group of scientist / cavers explore an uncharted cave ,are confronted by supernatural creatures, and some of them escape.The challenge is how to flesh that out within the context of the setting.

Admirably, it tries to avoid the clichés of the genre.The gorgeous Lena Headley provides some female class to proceedings, but she doesn’t get her kit off and does not whimper and simper. Macho bravado is also well tempered whilst offering several scenes of “derring do”. But somehow it does not come off. As a caving and diving enthusiast I found myself bored in too many scenes.

The straight scientific and exploring motives for the expedition are soon ditched, never to return.A quasi historical / religious element floats in and out of the plotting pretty randomly. The rockfall / peril / risky escape scenes are inevitably chaotic and with everyone in wet suits immediate identification is difficult. And in the final reel the film reverts to a pretty routine “escape from disaster” format which switches plotting again.

To be fair, the supernatural monsters are very well done, and the attack scenes both frightening and compelling. But ultimately it forms part of several ingredients which should mix together, but somehow don’t.

This film was contemporaneous to the much derided “Descent” which also flirted with nasty things in uncharted caves. Ironically the less ambitious “Descent” probably works better because of its limitations and delivers more consistently on its fewer objectives.

Offering good production values, and a serviceable cast, this is by no means a bad movie. However despite its grand designs, it never really moves out of the mundane, apart from the monster scenes.