Garyswordz

Respectful, tense, safe homage, 13 January 2007

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

I approached this film with some trepidation. The US is notoriously flawed, simplistic and introspective in it’s international perspective. So I was prepared for a flag waving, navel gazing,sentimental tale safely geared for the home market. I was wrong to do so.

Greengrass tells the story straight in real time, and produces a powerful, restrained tale.Several of the performances are by the real people on the ground, giving it an authenticity which is the hallmark of the production.

The temptation to demonise the hi jackers is avoided, as is the temptation to flesh out the plane victims characters, and backgrounds, for dramatic effect. Balance wins here, dramatic effect however is reduced.

The overall feel is one of a well produced documentary .As such it is a fitting tribute to the people who were unwilling, but heroic, participants in one of the most extraordinary days in modern history. The lack of sensationalism and judgement loses some dramatic power opportunities, but wins in terms of credibility. As an historic document of that day – it is a triumph.

Fulsome Festive Fayre, 26 December 2006

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

There is a lot that is derivative about this movie. The plot is Toy Story / Small Soldiers / Jumanji/ Nutcracker Suite thrown together and shaken down. Ben Stiller does what he always does, there is snow at Christmas and a cherubic kid, with Carla Guggini for the Dads. But it works.

At 1 3/4 hours long it as at the edge of its welcome. But the plot is sufficiently well developed to carry you through (actually a coherent plot is quite welcome these days).

What makes this film though is a series of disciplined cameos which carry you through those moments of Stiller overload. Ricky Gervais is a wonderfully British Museum Director, Steve Coogan a wacky Roman General, Robin Williams a warm hearted Teddy Roosevelt and Owen Wilson plays a brief effective role as a Frontiersman. Couple this with a combative performance from Dick Van Dyke as a retiring guard with a grudge and you have just enough to keep you going for the duration.

Belly laughs are a bit thin on the ground, but try to keep a warm smile off your face and you will fail as a delightful, tight, limited plot unfolds.Fimly a children’s film but with enough to keep adults engaged and amused.

Quirky, Powerful and off Genre, 26 December 2006

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

I caught this movie unaware of who the Director and Cast were, let alone what the storyline was. I was rewarded with an above average movie which flirted with the Gangster genre, aided and abetted by ingredients from Western Revenge stories, and the unexplained, from sci-fi plots.

Like many, I have enjoyed David Cronenberg’s The Fly, The Dead Zone, and Dead Ringers, with an honourable mention to Crash. Viggo Mortensen excels as the lead Tom Stall, the ordinary man with extraordinary killing skills.Ed Harris is a savage counterpoint as Carl Foggerty, Stall’s nemesis.

The opening failed Coffee shop robbery starts off almost as an homage to Tarrantino’s similar scene in “Pulp Fiction”, but ends much more violently and unexpectedly. Cronenberg walks a difficult line throughout.He claims a distaste for violence and the glorification of it, but the raw brutality shown here is as graphic, and raw, as anything you will see anywhere.

The sub text throughout is of the lurking power of violence which is almost expressed as an extra terrestrial power, a nod to his sci fi antecedants.Sex is similarly deployed in an ambivalent manner. One scene has Stall and his wife acting out a schoolkid cheerleader fantasy culminating in explicit, full on sex, the other key sex scene has Stall brutally forcing himself on her before she acquiesces, consents, and crucially, enjoys.

Ultimately the film aspires, but fails to match, the flawed hero grandeur of say “Carlito’s Way” ,which itself has Shakespearean Tragic pretensions.A cameo performance by William Hurt, gaining him bizarrely a “best supporting actor” nomination, is a distraction.

The lack of local interest in the mounting feast of violence requires serious suspension of disbelief. But the integrity of performance from the entire ensemble is a joy.The 94 minute running time is tight and disciplined, and the otherworldly dimension of Stall, his wife, the luscious Maria Bello, and son in particular, provides nuances to a traditional core plot which lift this well out of the ordinary.

Weak,poorly acted inaction film, 13 November 2006

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

There are times when you start watching a film, and only continue in the hope that it is going to get better, simply on the basis that it could not continue as badly as it started.This is such a film.

Dennis Quaid sleep walks through his performance.Hugh Lawrie is hopelessly miscast, his squeaky contributions teetering on the comic – when in fact they are laughable. I have no problem with remakes.Stories retold for a different generation can be powerful and resonate with their time – “Titanic” and “Cape Fear” are good examples.

Yet this is not a poor remake.It is just a poor film. The premise for the film – that the survivors of a desert plane crash can create a new flying machine from the wreckage, requires suspension of disbelief.This can be achieved if the acting and the direction is strong enough, The film fails on both counts.

The special effects aren’t, the set pieces are predictable, the “action” is lumpen. Don’t waste an hour and 49 minutes of your life on this.

Sharp, clever, and very funny, 4 November 2006

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

Firstly, the preconceptions. I am not an Ali G fan and have previously found Cohens characters puerile, lame and unfunny. However, I could not help but be intrigued, and amused, by the pre- launch publicity, so I thought that i would give it a chance. Am I glad I did! The running time of 84mins is spot on, as soon as it runs out of steam it finishes. But before it does, it generates enough steam to power the Flying Scotsman ! Of course the toilet jokes are funny, they always have been and always will be. But the obvious humour is balanced by sharp observation – coloured mini i pods are for girls, and subtle laughs like when he throws down his suitcase in despair, – then we remember what is inside! The joke is not on Khazakstan – its on the United States which is mercilessly lampooned. It is difficult to decide which shots are “reality” takes and which are set up. The humour rests not only with Cohen, but with the Americans who don’t realise that their genuine reactions are the butt of his wit.

Surprisingly sophisticated and subtle, whilst simultaneously being base and crude.This film made me laugh out loud more often than I can recently remember. I shall be fascinated to read the American reviews of this film – I don’t think that they are going to like it!

Triumphant British Gangster Film, 14 September 2006

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

I first saw this film on release some 26 years ago,and have revisited it on several occasions.But a TV showing last night prompted me to test its’ quality once again – I was not disappointed.

Class oozes out of every frame. Helen Mirren cuts a dazzling sexy,swathe throughout as Bob Hoskins’ gangsters moll. Hoskins himself gives a tour de force performance as Harold Shand, the London villain who suddenly, and inexplicably, finds his fiefdom spiralling out of control.

The action races along at a pace of knots, but it is the superlative Barrie Keeffe screenplay that continues to delight with Harolds’ monologues at the heart of things. Upon the death of one of his henchmen he reflects “Poor Colin, who could do this to him? He would never hurt a fly – well mot unless it was necessary….” Despite Shands’ thoroughly ruthless character Keeffee imbues a Shakespearean strand of Tragedy both to the story, and Shand.This is magnificently demonstrated with Shands murder of one of his right hand men “I smell treachery” and his child like collapse into the arms of Mirrens’ Victoria as events spiral out of control.

The classy dialogue makes the profanities and violence, when they come, even more powerful, and make no mistake this is a powerful tale of corrupt power, deceit, loyalty and disloyalty. No British Gangster film has come close to this in the last quarter of a century which is as much a testament to its. stature as it is a condemnation of its’ poor imitators.

Overlong, predictable, but enjoyable fare, 9 September 2006

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

Owen Wilson is in danger of being typecast for his laconic, laid back style of humour. But ultimately, who cares ? When he can trot out this sort of likable role on autopilot.

Strongly cast, Kate Hudson is gorgeous, immaculately dressed and is a joy to watch as the understated foil to Wilson. Matt Dillon, playing her husband, gives a strangely muted and one dimensional performance as her husband with zero chemistry between them. The plot demands that he is emotionless and the strong and silent type. This he delivers absolutely, but with no hint of the light and shade that the character needs to display later on in the story.

Michael Douglas revels in his supporting role as the autocratic, clingy father. The ensemble child supporting roles are clichéd, lazy, and nauseating.

There is a hugely enjoyable 60 minute film in here, but the rest is just padding. Dip in and enjoy, but set your expectations at half power.

Venomous Fun, 28 August 2006

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

This is no classic. It is a hugely enjoyable slice of well edited, fast paced action which veers between shlock horror, buddy movie, thriller, and slapstick comedy at a lightning pace.

Samuel L Jackson rightly wins the plaudits as FBI agent Neville Flynn.His performance nods to his previous incarnations in Shaft in particular, but also Jackie Brown, Kill Bill Vol 2 and Pulp Fiction giving the film a depth and integrity beyond the immediate storyline.

The formula is standard, but works. The ageing stewardess who could have retired, the young stewardess who is on her last flight, the two young children flying on their own for the first time (Don’t do it kids!),the little dog just oozing “eat me” appeal for hungry snakes,the gratuitous bare breast shots, the impossibly short skirt of the tastiest air hostess,and the steward who Isn’t gay ! (the biggest shock of them all).

Sometimes we want to see a film which just entertains us , and makes us laugh, squirm and cheer. If you fancy some of that – then you will love this.

Amongst The Best Ever Gangster Films, 18 August 2006

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

I am not prone to hyperbole.The gangster pic genre has a long, distinguished history. The classic ingredients are often imitate, but rarely improved upon.Then came The Usual Suspects.

Singer shoots for the stars in the opening sequence, and hits the target.The sweeping classical music, the incessant rain, the unexplained bodycount, an unfolding picture of catastrophe – all draw the viewer into this compelling and outstanding film.Cliché is bypassed and fine storytelling unfolds.

The ensemble cast are brilliant.Giancarlo Esposito is outstanding as Jack Baer, the deadpan FBI agent determined to get his man. The Suspects themselves give bravura character performances each of which colour the question, Who, or what, is Keyser Soze? Where this film scores is that although it is firmly in the Gangster genre, it is narrative and plot driven. The gritty violence is incidental and all the more powerful for it. The Twist is a bodyblow at the end, but this story bears watching again and again for its’ quality alone.Reminiscent of Cagney at his finest, Singer combines the inevitability of “Carlitos Way” with the literacy of “Heat”. 106 minutes, and every second counts. Unmissable

Bloated Action Pic For Devotees Only, 17 August 2006

Author: gary-444 from United Kingdom

Firstly, my credentials. I enjoy an action pic along with the best of them. X men 3, XXX, etc, I can lie back and just enjoy them.Also, I am a huge Singer fan. but this is a messy, overlong, overbudgetted juggernaut that needed the studio to say; “sometimes Bryan, less is more.” Undoubtedly there is a pretty good film in here. Brandon Routh is faithful to the Superman legend and pays homage to the Reeve legacy well. Kate Bosworth plays a straight, if distinctly unsexy Lois Lane, whilst Kevin Spacey steals every scene he is in as a brilliant Lex Luther. Oh, and also have fun looking out for a cameo performance by Sir Richard Branson “in flight”.

So what’s wrong? The simple plot is overlong and about an hour “fat”. Singer is brilliant at dramatic tension and layered plot, as is evidenced by “The Usual Suspects”.Here, he replaces plot and narrative with special effects and set pieces. The tightness and pace of the brilliant “X men 3” is missing, resulting in long tracts which are, quite frankly ,boring.

Afficianados of the Superman genre will feel well sated.Children will lose interest. The curious will find other more worthy projects for their attention in other films.