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andylevett
Reviews
Big Train (1998)
Much better than repetitive Fast Show
As much as I like the Fast Show for it's homelyness, many of the charachters and sketches become to predictable, repetitive and sometimes are forced to reach that 'hilarious' catchline.
Big Train is the solution. Many original sketches sometimes never repeated. Show Jumpers obsessed with being fireman? and people say this isn't original?
As for the World Stare Out Champs with Barry Davis and the summarisers, just superb. More of this please!
Father Ted (1995)
Up There with the best
What genre does this fit into, slapstick? satire? situational? I'm not sure, all I know is that this is one of the best TV comedies ever written. It can't just be slapstick it's too clever, I just can't put my finger on why. All I know is that some of the scenes are just pure genius. There are times where the writers have been purposely pedictable to intensify the humour and the pathos of the priests other times the emphasis on the stereotypes is acted to hilarious effect. The 'Simpsonesque' spoofing of classic film stories is fabulous in this semi-cartoon world of Craggy Ireland. Then the piece de resistance, the squabbling priests on rival islands. "don't worry I'm sure you'll do very well Ted" "do you really think so Dick?" "noooo!" absolutely brilliant.
So tragic that Dermot couldn't still be around to give us more (although I understand the writers were not intending to do so anyway. His legacy though is 3 perfect series of one of the top 5 TV comedies of all time.
Sexy Beast (2000)
A great study in dread.
Firstly I'm surprised that so many Americans don't understand our dialogue. I'm not criticising them for that, it's obviously hard for them to get the accent or they wouldn't say it, I was just surprised. Having said that this is a very gritty base form of lower class London accent. It's hard hitting and makes the point it's supposed to. At least if you are a brit and know the relevance.
It's true to say that this film is short on plot but I think the plot is secondary. It's about how an individual can cause so much dread even if in truth they are no real physical threat. The power of Ben Kingsley's character made me cower, you know there is no way this guy would ever take no for an answer. I could put myself in Gal's situation,I think everyone has met someone with Don's single mindedness. It's a performance worthy of the oscar nomination and you have to say that once Don was dead the movie was effectively over as an event and the rest was tying up the loose ends of what plot there was.
I'm just sorry that our American friends couldn't comprehend more of Ben's dialogue. I'm amazed that someone commented that he thought even Ben Kingsley didn't know what he was saying. I speak with quite a well bred English accent and understood every word. You wanna try understanding our people from North East England!
By the way Dan Franzen, yes the British do speak English, especially The ENGLISH ones. The further you go from England the less likely it is to be real English you are speaking. One of our inventions you ain't stealing a claim to is our f***ing language.