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Reviews
Love Actually (2003)
Brilliant, funny, warm film about love
The first couple of times I watched Love Actually I thought it was ok - amusing in parts but not special. Then I watched it on a flight relaxed in a business class seat having had a few glasses of wine and suddenly this wave of warmth came over me - the penny dropped and I realised it was a wonderful film that explores all types of love with a heartwarming feel (without being sentimental).
My particular favourite story is Jamie and Aurelia - there's an intensity there and language is NOT a barrier to falling in love - I know this to be true from experience.
People say the stories are superficial - I disagree. What we see are just snapshots of each story - it's up to us as the audience to interpolate and imagine what has happened in between. Of course some of the love stories are more lust but love but then other stories are about parental love, or brotherliy love...the range is very wide.
The Colin story is clearly (to me) a "fantasy" - some American women do genuinely drool over English accents but of course they don't jump into bed because of this, but this is the fantasy element. And it's just very funny.
The most emotional moment (apart from Jamie/Aurelia) is Karen (Emma Thompson) realising the jewelry gift is not for her. Emma T's acting here is quite remarkable.
It is very funny - Bill Nighy is brilliant. The music is terrific - there are two main love themes which fit perfectly with the storylines.
Overall the film is a celebration of love - and that love is the primary emotion that drives humans.
Speed (1994)
Entertaining but too unbelievable even for an action film
The film is entertaining and the premise behind the film is great. But unfortunately there are just too many ridiculous aspects which spoil it, most of which other people have identified. The part I find especially ridiculous is when the bus gets off the first freeway. The bus hits all kinds of obstacles (cars etc) along the way, almost all of which would have slowed the bus down below 50mph. The jump across the 50 ft gap in the freeway would take little over 1 second for a bus doing 50mph. But the gap shown in the movie looks enormous and even more crazy is the bus taking off like it's a kangaroo! Then there's Reeves and Bullock sliding on a panel thing with wheels...they would have fallen off that easily. Another cliché is some poor soul who cannot escape from danger...the woman in the lift who won't move...she would be out like a shot! And the tourist guy taking ages to cross from one bus to the other...he'd be over like a shot! Human instinct is to survive. I've given it 4/10 as I think Hopper does a good job as the "madman" and there are some funny one-liners.
Columbo: Troubled Waters (1975)
One of the very best Columbo episodes
I am a complete Columbo nut and this is one of my favourite episodes. The murder is very elaborately planned and executed, however, the murderer, Mr Danziger, does make a couple of big mistakes. The first is planting the receipt for the gun in the receipt box of Lloyd Harrington (the pianist and recently dumped boyfriend of the victim Rosanna Wells). The second mistake is to draw the letter L in lipstick on Rosanna Well's mirror, trying to implicate Lloyd H. I think Danziger must have watched too many Agatha Cristie movies! Rosanna Wells died instantly and so could not have written anything.
Having made these mistakes, this makes Columbo suspect that something is afoot. It then becomes clear that whoever is trying to setup Lloyd Harrington, must have had a master key to various parts of the ship. This immediately suggests Danziger himself...
Unsually for a Columbo episode, the murderer's downfall is sheer bad luck. A feather from the pillow he used to muffle the shot sticks to his body, stays on his body even when changing from the steward uniform to his pyjamas and then falls to the ground in the sick-bay. And Columbo is only there to see this feather because he suffers from seasickness.
A lot of people refer to Columbo as "bumbling". I think this is totally wrong. He is really VERY shrewd. Watch Columbo study the pianist's face when they tell the pianist that Rosanna Wells is dead. He is studying the guys reaction. Dean Stockwell does a great job as Lloyd H and his reaction is completely natural as an innocent guy. Columbo likes to give the impression of being absent-minded and bumbling, but this is just a ruse to catch the murderer off-guard. Columbo is a very perceptive man.
The British crew on the ship are excellent. I particularly love the Captain's frustration in Columbo not being able to see that "obviously the pianist committed the crime".
One of the best Columbos. I give it 10/10.
The World's Fastest Indian (2005)
Charming film
I really enjoyed this film. Anthony Hopkins is one of my favourite actors, I thought he played this part brilliantly. I couldn't say if his accent was 100% accurate or not, but then I don't think that is very important. The character he plays is totally convincing, a somewhat lovable eccentric, who devotes his time to building and perfecting this Indian "motorsiccle" (as he calls it). Part of the enjoyment is seeing him meeting various people along the way, some who want to help him, others who want to make things difficult. But he overcomes them with his Invercargill charms. How he fares with the racing I shall leave for you to find out. The ending is very simple and moving. A very good film and definitely worth seeing.
The Wicker Man (2006)
Why on earth was this dreadful remake of an original masterpiece made?
This remake of the original Wicker Man is dreadful and pointless. All the charm of the original is lost. The plot is more or less the same as the original, but crucial elements of the original (the conflict between Christianity and Paganism, the wonderful music, the eroticism, the sheer terror as the victim realises his fate, etc) are missing.
This film adds nothing to the original, leaves out fundamental aspects of the original, so WHY MAKE IT??? Apart from being a dreadful film, the whole notion of re-making the original Wicker Man is equally dreadful. It's like trying to re-make the Wizard of Oz. Some films are SO unique, that re-filming them is idiotic.
Don't bother seeing this LaBute catastrophe. Just get the original out on DVD.
The Day of the Jackal (1973)
A film with plot from start to finish
This film definitely belongs in the category of masterpiece.
The acting is superb, Edward Fox is perfect as the assassin. What struck me most about the film is that the first two hours is non-stop plot. Just about every scene develops the plot in some way. There are so many small details that you pick up on repeated viewings. Even something as mundane as the Jackal buying a melon in an Italian market is for him to go off and do target practise to calibrate his rifle.
The Jackal's preparations are meticulous, ingenious. Inspector Thomas's efforts to track down the Jackal's various identities are laborious. But with Lebel leading the police work, they are never too far behind the Jackal.
Zinnemann's directing is perfect too. There are wonderful shots, camera angles. The plot development in the first 2 hours is relentless up until the Jackal getting into position. Then there is a sudden change of pace. Almost nothing happens for 10 minutes, all we see are various aspects of the Liberation Day preparations. It's clever because it gives us, the viewer, a breather before the final denouement.
I give this film 10/10
Who Dares Wins (1982)
Great action and plot but unbelievable characters
This is an entertaining film which culminates in some exciting action scenes. The problem is the main terrorist character Frankie who takes Skellen on board. Would she really do this? The other members of her People's Lobby warn her that Skellen could be working undercover but she ignores them ! It's just too ridiculous. Also the terrorists see Skellen meeting up with his contact and then eliminate the contact, so that should make them more suspicious. Supposedly Frankie takes Skellen on board because they develop a relationship in the space of five minutes of cheesy chat-up lines. It can only be explained by the comment towards the end that they are "amateurs".
The other ridiculous aspect is the terrorists demand that the British government drop a nuclear bomb on a submarine base. Firstly they are against nuclear bombs so this hardly seems something they would demand. Secondly they should realise that the Government wouldn't do it in a million years...
From the SAS point of view, the plot seems believable. The rescue scenes at the end are gripping and will leave you in a chill the first time you see them, particularly the Mews scenes.
It's worth watching anyway
Crash (1996)
Great music, interesting plot, but tries too hard to be shocking
The overall premise that people can be aroused by car crashes does seem strange at first but perhaps it is not so crazy as sex and death have long been associated with each other.
I don't really understand why this film caused such an uproar. The film is more bizarre rather than offensive and it does have some great, genuinely erotic moments. It starts off promisingly enough but then the middle part of the film just seems to be an endless succession of everyone screwing everyone which I found rather tedious. It seemed to me as though the film was trying TOO hard to be shocking. Not having read the book, I can't say whether this is the fault of the film or the book.
Koteas is excellent as Vaughan as are Deborah Unger and James Spader. For me the real star of this film is the superb music written by Howard Shore - electric guitars playing complex melodies over shifting chromatic harmonies. The music is instantly memorable.
The film is worth watching as there is an interesting surreal atmosphere to be enjoyed and some highly charged, inventive dialogue. I found more subtleties in the film, the more I watched it.
The Wicker Man (1973)
Extraordinary must-see film with beguiling soundtrack
I can't believe I haven't seen this film until recently. This film is beautifully observed, seductive, spiritual and ultimately devastating. Like other people I was entranced by the soundtrack - the most memorable parts of the film are those accompanied by the wonderful May time songs.
The songs themselves are beguiling, seemingly simple but with hidden subtleties and they fit wonderfully with the plot. The Willow Song and accompanying dancing is intensely erotic - how Sgt. Howie (Edward Woodward) does not succumb I shall never know ! My favourite song is Gently Johnny which is a plaintive ballad singing of the joys of physical play - it reminded me of some the baudy songs in Carmina Burana. Particularly shocking was the joy and energy the islanders show singing Summer-is-a-coming-in during the films final shocking scene.
I think the other aspect which I found particularly powerful was the ambiguity the film suggests about pagan beliefs - there is much beauty in them with refreshing viewpoints compared with Sgt. Howie's rather stuffy, religious nature and yet also a barbaric side which becomes increasing more evident as the film unfolds.
This is definitely a film that should be watch 2-3 times in one go as there are many subtleties which may go unnoticed first time round. The acting is superb particularly Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee. This film is a must see.
Snatch (2000)
Brilliant and very funny
Snatch is a great film, very funny and brilliantly cast and acted. Alan Ford as Brick Top is outstanding - he even has the right teeth for the part! The three black guys are hilarious in their bungled attempts and with the squeaky dog... I thought the music was good too - not intrusive but kept the momentum going. Can't believe that was Brad Pitt playing One Punch Mickey - he was excellent with the incomprehensible accent. The film exudes confidence of it's brilliance and wit. The characters were all exaggerated perhaps and everyone having nicknames is a bit cliched but so what - it was very entertaining. Go and see it.
Scarecrow (1973)
Extraordinary film
Right from the opening shot of a long country road, this film generates atmosphere and this continues right through to the end film. Scarecrow contains one of one of those very rare acting partnerships (Gene Hackman and Al Pacino) which adds some indefinable quality to the film. Definitely worth seeing - you will not be disappointed.
The Horse Whisperer (1998)
This film, like the book, goes astray
This film is deeply flawed the same way the book was. I read the book first and was very excited by the first couple of chapters. Everything was fine until the author decided to introduce the love story element. Instead of being a deeply moving story of redemption and healing, it got swamped by this schlocky, pappy and very unbelievable love story.
I don't know if the author got swayed by the fact that Robert Redford was interested in the film rights when the author was half-way thru and decided to make a good old Hollywood romance. Well if he did it was a shame because this could have been one of the truly great stories this decade.
The only plus points of this film were the acting and the stunning Montana scenery.
Jackie Brown (1997)
Perfection in Film
I love this film - I think it's the best film I've seen for years. In a way it's a very simple film - the plot has many twists but it's all fairly easily laid out. It's also very relaxed especially the Mall scenes which just flow along showing the final coup from each perspective. Pam Grier playing JB was sensational - a woman with great attitude but seemingly vulnerable and damn sexy. What I loved about the relationship between JB and Max Cherry, the bailbondsman, was the way Tarantino chose to develop it i.e. just using the way they looked at each other, songs in the background. In fact the music used in this film is superb and expresses exactly the mood that Tarantino wants to convey at any moment or maybe it's the music that creates the mood. For me this was a 10/10 movie.