Chabrol's film is a clever dissection of the French bourgeoisie and its foibles. Bonnaire and Huppert are brilliant as the two social misfits whose individual peculiarities form into an unnerving and unsettling friendship. Sophie's illiteracy affects her pathologically, and we are never sure if it is her or the postmistress who have been opening the family's mail. The film has a violent and climactic ending which is the gradual result of the two women's alienation and eventual degeneration into killers. Outstanding.
Reviews
21 Reviews
It Always Rains on Sunday
(1947)
Bleak, desolate, but heart warming
3 February 1999
The film was made and set in the bleak environment of post-war east London and shows Robert Hamer to be an extremely talented and sophisticated film maker. Unlike Dearden and Relph, Hamer does not impose a moral framework on his characters. The film shows two sides of adultery between Googie Withers and the escaped convict and between her daughter and a Jewish shopkeeper. What makes this film stand out is its intentioned 'realism' and complex character portrayals. This little known classic is probably one of Ealing's finest films.
The Tribe
(1998)
Total and utter trash!
26 January 1999
Oh come on Leon! So if this film sides with a 'subversive' group of people it will naturally attract derision from mainstream critics. What a naive and childish viewpoint! This film deserves slating because it is absolute rubbish, in spite of Poliakoff's previous achievements. The plot, story and characters were unrealistic (the film aspired to be 'realist') and the dialogue was flat and vacuous. Literally all the performances, by a normally talented cast, were as flat as a fart. I'm sure this is one creation Stephen Poliakoff will be glad to flush down the toilet.
12 Angry Men
(1957)
A brilliant and humane film.
25 January 1999
I am writing to express disagreement with the previous commentator who suggested that the film casts doubt on the jury system. The jury system is democratic, in that it allows the defendant to put their case before twelve ordinary members of the public and not an arbitrary, draconian body.
Henry Fonda's character demonstrates that through the use of reason and not reaction, a jury can uphold humane values. All of the indifference, contempt and inflexibility is swept away by the patient and thoughtful reasoning of Fonda. The film is cinematically superb and has a timeless and beautiful human message that we must never lose sight of.
Henry Fonda's character demonstrates that through the use of reason and not reaction, a jury can uphold humane values. All of the indifference, contempt and inflexibility is swept away by the patient and thoughtful reasoning of Fonda. The film is cinematically superb and has a timeless and beautiful human message that we must never lose sight of.
Blood Simple
(1984)
A brilliant debut!
21 December 1998
'Blood Simple' is not as great a masterpiece as 'Fargo' but it is interesting to look at the visual similarities of both films. In particular the road scenes remind me of the shots of Brainerd and also the scene where the body of Marty is dragged out of the sight of an approaching lorry is like a scene in 'Fargo'. The Coens are particularly adept at showing the fragility of people against the natural environment - Minnesota (Fargo), Bernie in the woods (Miller's Crossing) and the bare Texas farmland (Blood Simple).
The Coen brothers are brilliant at depicting very ordinary people getting into situations that get out of hand. 'Blood Simple' is a great film that still stands the test of time.
The Coen brothers are brilliant at depicting very ordinary people getting into situations that get out of hand. 'Blood Simple' is a great film that still stands the test of time.
The Tribe
(1998)
Bad is not the word!
2 December 1998
Personally, I think a vote of 1 for this film is generous. The acting was poor and the story was absolutely crap. As a bloke the only part of it worth watching was seeing Anna Friel starkers.
The film was set in some dystopian present yet was full of eighties bilge about computers taking over the office, the working-class being a load of car stealing thugs etc. I can't say any more as the programme was so bad it is impossible to find any of its content worth commenting on, except for Anna Friel's gorgeous body. How on earth did this garbage get an average vote of 4.9? Well I suppose the film will be forgotten in the dustbin of TV history.
The film was set in some dystopian present yet was full of eighties bilge about computers taking over the office, the working-class being a load of car stealing thugs etc. I can't say any more as the programme was so bad it is impossible to find any of its content worth commenting on, except for Anna Friel's gorgeous body. How on earth did this garbage get an average vote of 4.9? Well I suppose the film will be forgotten in the dustbin of TV history.
Nothing Personal
(1995)
Utterly dire!
1 December 1998
I disliked this film intensely and left during the scene where the loyalist gang are shot up by the British. The film effectively blames the people of NI as being the cause of their own troubles. It suggests that the 25 year war was a question of intransigence and nothing to do with Britain's partition of Ireland and domination of its history i.e. NI was created by Britain in 1921 irrespective of the wishes of the rest of Ireland.
The characters are portrayed as hapless fools, even though I despise loyalist paramilitaries they were fighting for a cause - maintaining their artificial privileges over the Catholic community. It is a known fact that British Intelligence collaborated with loyalists during the war, no doubt to keep the Catholics at bay and demoralise republicanism.
Nineties' values about 'machismo', masculinity etc are transposed on to 1970s Belfast and are portrayed as part of the supposedly unique Irish 'psyche' which leads to violence. The stupid song from the woman in the club - old Ireland of green fields ..blah..blah.. - is given a symbolic stature, i.e. poor young fools fighting for an impossible cause. Tedious, ahistorical, cheap and nasty trash. O'Sullivan has made a personal statement on a conflict which requires serious political analysis.
The characters are portrayed as hapless fools, even though I despise loyalist paramilitaries they were fighting for a cause - maintaining their artificial privileges over the Catholic community. It is a known fact that British Intelligence collaborated with loyalists during the war, no doubt to keep the Catholics at bay and demoralise republicanism.
Nineties' values about 'machismo', masculinity etc are transposed on to 1970s Belfast and are portrayed as part of the supposedly unique Irish 'psyche' which leads to violence. The stupid song from the woman in the club - old Ireland of green fields ..blah..blah.. - is given a symbolic stature, i.e. poor young fools fighting for an impossible cause. Tedious, ahistorical, cheap and nasty trash. O'Sullivan has made a personal statement on a conflict which requires serious political analysis.
My Name Is Joe
(1998)
Ken Loach back at his best!
29 November 1998
This was a funny, sad, moving and terrific film. Ken's attention to detail, location and his non-judgemental view of the main characters make this one of his best films. Brilliant acting throughout, we are left with an all too clear view of the ugliness of capitalism and the people it leaves behind i.e. a heroin addicted couple on a Glasgow council estate. I think Ken makes better films when he concentrates on contemporary Britain rather than the Spanish civil war or the Sandinistas.
Miller's Crossing
(1990)
Excellent!
29 November 1998
This film is an example of the Coen brothers at their mercurial best. The central performances by Byrne, Finney and Turturro are brilliant. The character of Bernie accurately represents the Jewish shyster bookie/gangster of the period (no anti-semitism in my comment). There are characteristic touches of Coen humour especially the scenes where people vibrate, when the trigger of the machine gun goes off, after being shot. A great movie one of the best!
Dead Man Walking
(1995)
I yawned lots....
25 November 1998
SPOILER: This film was one of the most boring, tedious and nauseating examples of liberal American bilge I have ever seen. My vote of 5 only takes into account its minor technical accomplishments.
Sean Penn's character is impossible to sympathize with and Susan Sarandon plays an extremely self-righteous liberal. I abhor capital punishment and I felt that the film did not take the bull by the horns. All we got was an inevitable weepy. The amoral murderer finally shakes off his 'macho' front when he apologises to his victims' parents as he is being tortured to death with poison gas. A boring, wishy-washy and forgettable film.
Sean Penn's character is impossible to sympathize with and Susan Sarandon plays an extremely self-righteous liberal. I abhor capital punishment and I felt that the film did not take the bull by the horns. All we got was an inevitable weepy. The amoral murderer finally shakes off his 'macho' front when he apologises to his victims' parents as he is being tortured to death with poison gas. A boring, wishy-washy and forgettable film.
Excellent cinematography and great performances.
25 November 1998
This film was seen to be the last of Woodfall's 'kitchen sink' dramas. There are great performances by Tom Courtenay and James Bolam as the two borstal boys. Colin (Courtenay) is very much a nihilist rejecting everything around him, like Arthur Seaton in Saturday Night and Sunday Morning.
The story of Colin's refusal to fit into the pattern of 'model prisoner' or 'consumer' is well conveyed by Richardson and the scenes which follow Colin's runs through the woods are beautifully shot. Overall the film was slightly jumbled and represented class through the use of stereotypes i.e. the 'progressive' prison governor and the patronising employer. A good film nonetheless.
The story of Colin's refusal to fit into the pattern of 'model prisoner' or 'consumer' is well conveyed by Richardson and the scenes which follow Colin's runs through the woods are beautifully shot. Overall the film was slightly jumbled and represented class through the use of stereotypes i.e. the 'progressive' prison governor and the patronising employer. A good film nonetheless.
Brilliant! British 'realism' at its best!
19 November 1998
Karel Reisz's direction and the brilliant acting of Albert Finney enable this film to stand the test of time. The film was revolutionary for its time as it was one of the few movies that gave expression to the voice of a working-class character.
The representation of vernacular speech, everyday humour, and location shooting makes this film stand out as a classic of 'realist' cinema. Arthur Seaton is a difficult character to sympathize with, but Finney's cheeky, brash performance makes him compelling.
What is annoying is the interference by those imbeciles at the British Board of Film Censors, who would not allow the use of the word 'bogger' (in spite of allowing numerous other common swear words) because it sounded like 'bugger'. Also an off screen reference to Brenda successfully terminating her abortion was removed (abortion was illegal up until 1967). In retrospect it seems ridiculous now but it goes to show that there are often covert reasons behind censorship.
The representation of vernacular speech, everyday humour, and location shooting makes this film stand out as a classic of 'realist' cinema. Arthur Seaton is a difficult character to sympathize with, but Finney's cheeky, brash performance makes him compelling.
What is annoying is the interference by those imbeciles at the British Board of Film Censors, who would not allow the use of the word 'bogger' (in spite of allowing numerous other common swear words) because it sounded like 'bugger'. Also an off screen reference to Brenda successfully terminating her abortion was removed (abortion was illegal up until 1967). In retrospect it seems ridiculous now but it goes to show that there are often covert reasons behind censorship.
Nil by Mouth
(1997)
Certainly not the best British film ever made!
3 November 1998
I find myself strongly disagreeing with the other users. 'Nil by Mouth' was a bleak, desolate and ultimately nihilistic film. Gary Oldman is utterly self-indulgent and enjoys showing people wallowing in degradation. He also commented that the film was a study of 'machismo' and Ray Winstone's character is used as an attack on this supposedly masculine vice.
The technical work is very good and the camera work skilfully conveys the grim reality of south London council estates. However this film lapses into cultural relativisation and contains few real insights into why people can act with such brutality. 'Nil by Mouth' has received such high praise for its focus on victimhood. At the end of the film the family are reunited as victims. Unfortunately today the 'victim' as opposed to the 'heroic' is treated as the most worthy cultural motif and the only thing we can aspire to be.
The technical work is very good and the camera work skilfully conveys the grim reality of south London council estates. However this film lapses into cultural relativisation and contains few real insights into why people can act with such brutality. 'Nil by Mouth' has received such high praise for its focus on victimhood. At the end of the film the family are reunited as victims. Unfortunately today the 'victim' as opposed to the 'heroic' is treated as the most worthy cultural motif and the only thing we can aspire to be.
An excellent and moving film.
2 November 1998
'The Grass Arena' is an excellent book and a remarkable film. Mark Rylance, of the Royal Shakespeare Company, is outstanding as John Healy.
What makes the film especially moving is that it shows true faith in the human potential. John Healy though living right to the point of utter destitution as a drunken vagrant finds salvation through chess. When he attempts to enter the elite world of chess masters his background is used against him. The pomposity of this narrow minded prejudice is well exposed in the film.
Unlike the film the book ends with John Healy trying to find solace through Buddhism and travelling to India. What is sad in both endings is that John's brutalisation, stretching from his father's boxing lessons to the alcoholism of the grass arena, make it very difficult for him to get close with women he is attracted to. A wonderful film and a great story.
What makes the film especially moving is that it shows true faith in the human potential. John Healy though living right to the point of utter destitution as a drunken vagrant finds salvation through chess. When he attempts to enter the elite world of chess masters his background is used against him. The pomposity of this narrow minded prejudice is well exposed in the film.
Unlike the film the book ends with John Healy trying to find solace through Buddhism and travelling to India. What is sad in both endings is that John's brutalisation, stretching from his father's boxing lessons to the alcoholism of the grass arena, make it very difficult for him to get close with women he is attracted to. A wonderful film and a great story.
Lucie Aubrac
(1997)
High in sentiment, low in substance.
13 October 1998
Claude Berri commented that his film was primarily a study of Lucie and Raymond's relationship irrespective of the political events going on around them. To me this was the central weakness of the film. It seemed to be more an examination of 1990s French attitudes towards masculinity than an exploration of two people's love for each other amidst a major conflict. The courage and bravery of people in wartime is treated as being of secondary importance to the love affair.
Donnie Brasco
(1997)
Excellent!
13 October 1998
This was a great film and a gripping story. This must be Mike Newell's proudest achievement. Some people criticise it for being a 'buddy movie' but I think it is a realistic account of undercover cop work. Pacino is the perfect victim 'even a dog gets a warm piece of the sidewalk'. Depp is excellent and so are Madsen and Kirby. The film went into the inevitable but deceitful forging of a friendship between Lefty and Donnie. A classic!
Brassed Off
(1996)
Overrated sentimental, tub-thumping tosh!
13 October 1998
In spite of a good cast I did not enjoy 'Brassed Off'. The characters are all presented as helpless victims who can only show their pride in order to survive.
Certain scenes such as the bailiffs seizing possessions from Stephen Tomkinson's house just seem added on for pathos. The final concert scenes at the Albert Hall are perhaps the worst in the film, especially the sentimental tub-thumping by Pete Postlethwaite. The music was about the only good thing in the film. Overall it was just a sentimentalised and romanticised view of a defeated working-class pit community which will, no doubt, appeal to the politically inept.
Certain scenes such as the bailiffs seizing possessions from Stephen Tomkinson's house just seem added on for pathos. The final concert scenes at the Albert Hall are perhaps the worst in the film, especially the sentimental tub-thumping by Pete Postlethwaite. The music was about the only good thing in the film. Overall it was just a sentimentalised and romanticised view of a defeated working-class pit community which will, no doubt, appeal to the politically inept.
The Blue Lamp
(1950)
A must for all those interested in early post-war Britain.
13 October 1998
This film rode on the back of moral panics about youth crime in post-war Britain. The narration at the beginning of the film states that there had been a sharp increase in crime after the war. However statistics show that the crime rate had actually fallen between 1945-50.
The plot is unilinear with a simple moral message. Eventually Dirk Bogarde gets caught and will learn the cruel lesson of not following the 'code' of the experienced 'professional' thief. Bogarde's performance stands out in an otherwise average film. In the words of critic Andy Medhurst, Bogarde is 'erotic and compelling' while his counterpart Jimmy Hanley (PC Andy Mitchell) playing the rookie policeman is 'bland and neutered'.
Overall the film is pro-establishment and set out to give a moral message to the supposedly displaced youth of post-war Britain.
The plot is unilinear with a simple moral message. Eventually Dirk Bogarde gets caught and will learn the cruel lesson of not following the 'code' of the experienced 'professional' thief. Bogarde's performance stands out in an otherwise average film. In the words of critic Andy Medhurst, Bogarde is 'erotic and compelling' while his counterpart Jimmy Hanley (PC Andy Mitchell) playing the rookie policeman is 'bland and neutered'.
Overall the film is pro-establishment and set out to give a moral message to the supposedly displaced youth of post-war Britain.
Shallow Grave
(1994)
Chilling, terrifying and beautifully held together.
9 October 1998
The central performances in this film are excellent and Danny Boyle shows himself to be an excellent storyteller. To find the subtleties in the plot one has to watch this film more than once. Overall, a terrific and terrifying film. A must for all cineastes.
The Slasher
(1953)
Hysterical and terrible!
2 October 1998
'Cosh Boy' was made at a time when society was preoccupied with youth. Many men died in the war leaving widows on their own to cope with family life. The fear of crime in the early post-war period was blown out of proportion. 'Cosh Boy' is a reflection of this moral panic and many newspapers carried stories about 'cosh boys' going out mugging old ladies.
Lewis Gilbert's film follows the rise and fall of Roy Walsh a young thug from Battersea. The acting is dire. Ian Whitaker who plays Roy's educationally backward sidekick Alfie collins is staggeringly bad. The film follows the struggles of Roy's widowed mother Elsie who is unable to control her son supposedly because of the absence of a man in the house. The grandmother also lives with Elsie and knows that Roy is no good, she represents the older wiser generation that believed in discipline and family life with two parents. The film has a soapbox message in advocating law and order. It starts from an irrational premise, i.e. the country risks being over-run by youthful barbarians. It advocates that women should follow their prescribed gender roles as housewives and mothers, leave the hard stuff like discipline to men. The most nauseating line in the film comes from Grandma Walsh 'They don't know what hard work is these days. Eight hours a day, five days a week, makes me laugh'. So the working classes should be grateful for less exploitative working hours and conditions. Reactionary trash but a laugh a minute none the less.
Lewis Gilbert's film follows the rise and fall of Roy Walsh a young thug from Battersea. The acting is dire. Ian Whitaker who plays Roy's educationally backward sidekick Alfie collins is staggeringly bad. The film follows the struggles of Roy's widowed mother Elsie who is unable to control her son supposedly because of the absence of a man in the house. The grandmother also lives with Elsie and knows that Roy is no good, she represents the older wiser generation that believed in discipline and family life with two parents. The film has a soapbox message in advocating law and order. It starts from an irrational premise, i.e. the country risks being over-run by youthful barbarians. It advocates that women should follow their prescribed gender roles as housewives and mothers, leave the hard stuff like discipline to men. The most nauseating line in the film comes from Grandma Walsh 'They don't know what hard work is these days. Eight hours a day, five days a week, makes me laugh'. So the working classes should be grateful for less exploitative working hours and conditions. Reactionary trash but a laugh a minute none the less.
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