alasdair7 Reviews

The Oracle (1979– )

popular in the day

[8/10 · 11 September 2020]

Part of a great Monday night's viewing on ABC in 1979. Danger UXB may have been first, then The Oracle and then 1990 with Edward Woodward and Robert Lang.

Anyway there were several episodes - not one as seems to be suggested - and to its further credit there was the album cover of The Babys classic Broken Heart amongst the wall decorations. My favourite group.

How easy it will be to obtain any of this very entertaining drama is conjecture, but the acting and plots were first class and if it has been lost then it is to our shame. John Gregg and Pamela Gibbons were an early example of a life in the fast lane brutally handsome terminally pretty couple.

Barry Lyndon (1975)

The most beautiful lighting in cinema history

[10/10 · 11 September 2020]

This film began an interest in photography with me that has lasted to this present day.

Its visual splendour alone is my recommendation for anyone to watch this film. Make sure that you study every scene closely and multiple times. After all Kubrick does not insist on a multitude of takes for nothing!

Where possible I was led to believe that studio lighting was avoided and hundreds of candles can be seen in the indoor scenes.

The skin tones are perfect and the incredible beauty of Marisa Berenson adds to the visual feast.

Some great characters appear in the film including Captain Feeny (Arthur O'Sullivan).

A masterclass in lighting and a highly entertaining film that must be watched slowly and in detail many times.

Crime and Punishment (1979)

John Hurt and Timothy West

[8/10 · 11 September 2020]

John Hurt is far and away the best actor I have ever seen, anything that he was in was a recommendation in itself.

I remember enjoying the series when it aired here in Australia on ABC in 1982.

I have never forgotten the brilliance of the exchange between Porfiry Petrovich (West) and Raskolnikov (Hurt). The acting is probably the finest I have ever seen in a dual scene. Worth watching for these scenes alone.

The reviews seem to be a bit down on the series but it is interesting enough basically a great display of British acting.

Out (1978)

Brilliant

[10/10 · 26 July 2013]

Eight years since the last review so time for another. Tom Bell, the principal actor has passed away since then.

It is gripping drama, well filmed, and of course, as well acted as any drama, creating a sombre mood as Frank Ross goes about the business of finding out who was the "grass" responsible for putting him inside after a carefully planned robbery with a very tight team.

Ross's obsession with finding the informant is matched by the intensity of Bryce's contempt for Ross and "his kind." It provides dramatic tension throughout and the legitimacy of Bryce's policing is as much in question as Ross's morality about being on the wrong side of the law.

Drama like this lives forever because of high credibility, Brian Cox's portrayal of the treacherous McGrath makes the series even more memorable.

Funky Squad (1995)

Too Accurate!

[10/10 · 26 July 2013]

Everything about the series is a reminder of what we were served up in the 60s 70s and 80s.

One of the motivations, certainly from Kennedy, Gleisner and Cilauro was to get television back for ripping them off when they were growing up in the 70s.

The series was so effective that I seriously found myself absorbed in the twists and turns of the plot, even though even those were supposed to be satirical.

Even satire itself can wear thin, Private-Eye with its caption on a photo of a statue of Queen Victoria had her saying "ho ho very satirical" so it is difficult to sustain the intensity over the entire episode.

All that was needed was for the actors to copy every detail, theme music, incidental music, camera-work, stunts and the laughs flow from that.

There's a little gloating on how much we have progressed since the primitive sexist days of the 70s and 80s, considering the series is now 18 years old, the awareness of sexism has not progressed a lot since then, if at all.

Anyway, enough serious social commentary, it was great to watch this series for the first time in the last few days, very tightly scripted, Tim Ferguson was Kojak like in his use of his own language to moralize about the state of society and inequality.

On a serious note satire may have the power to induce social change, but those who need to be changed find it the hardest to realize that they are being satirized. It's a wrap.

Red Dog (2011)

Great Entertainment

[3 October 2011]

Well worth a visit to the cinema to see this film which will eventually reach classic status.

The criticisms in this review of stereotyped acting are justified but are far outweighed by the emotional impact of the acting of Koko as Red Dog. I think it's fair to say that the dog knows he's acting! There's a tremendous sincerity about this breed of dog and for perhaps the first time in cinematic history we see an animal who has genuinely succeeded in endearing itself to the public. So many animals are heavily prompted in films but Koko and his handler have succeeded in bringing out the sincere love that many animals have for their owners.

The cinematography is another feature, the outback is an incredible opportunity for varied light patterns ranging from fading night skies to stark midday sun scenes.

Great use of treeless plains with solitary figures in the distance are also a winner, so with some classic photogenic scenes the film is likely to be remembered for some time.

The human emotion is well portrayed and tears were welling up in a few scenes, some nice accompanying music as well.

St. Trinian's (2007)

Thank Ronald Searle

[21 January 2011]

The brilliant artwork ideas of Ronald Searle gave birth to the brilliant concept of St. Trinians.

The film remains faithful to the original concept and spirit, the girls are the kindest delinquents ever known and the characters are all as lovable as they were in the original films which delighted me when I was at school.

It's good to enjoy a bit of escapism and this film is the perfect answer, those born after the 60s may not realise how popular and loved the St.Trinian's films were, so any revival is welcome, especially one done as well as this.

Gigli (2003)

Most hated film but not the worst

[7/10 · 21 January 2011]

I think it's amazing that so much can be spent on a film and yet the public rubbish it so badly where's our gratitude? There are quite a few good points from the reviews and maybe the reason for the discontinuity was that they were in a hurry to finish. Walken's appearance could have been a lot more menacing if he had been allowed to do something psychopathic and unpredictable but he was almost like "I'll do the standard Walken thing, a few veiled threats and exit stage left." Pacino surprised me when he shot the guy through the head for no real reason other than he didn't want to go to prison, the actor had to sit there through the rest of the scene with his mouth open impersonating a chap shot through the forehead.

One review did notice the rainman impersonation. Jolie drives off into the sunset twice the last time with the guy at the end who seems to be allowed to escape to wherever he wants to almost with Pacino's approval.

It's also possible that the actors thought it was going nowhere so just played things out to collect the dollars as it would have been too embarrassing to just cancel the film and destroy all the evidence of it ever having taken place.

U Be Dead (2009 TV Movie)

A pretty standard stalker

[8/10 · 21 January 2011]

Very worthwhile viewing, shown here tonight on ABC the Australian "government" channel. It's surprising that there are no reviews as far as I can see.

Stalkers are an interesting breed, they tend to use the same methods most of the time and almost never stop. From the research that I have done on this subject stalkers never seem to lose interest or wane in their persistency.

The stalker Maria Marchese obtained amazing amounts of information but this is pretty standard stuff for a stalker. Celebrity stalkers find out the most incredible details, private phone numbers for instance.

Stalking seems to be quite a common problem and doctors/psychiatrists because of their perceived status are often vulnerable. A psychiatrist Jan Falkowski's girlfriend Debbie Pemberton suffers death threats from Marchese because Marchese's delusion is that Debbie is an obstacle to Maria's imaginary union with Falkowski.

A little hard to grasp perhaps but one celebrity who suffered this was Catherine Zeta-Jones who received constant threats for having a relationship with Michael Douglas that the stalker felt was their right to have. Search Dawnette Knight for some examples of the graphic language used.

All in all just another case but it ruins the lives of so many including the stalker who usually gets incarcerated.

Gavin deBecker, Park Dietz, J. Reid Meloy are some of the names that you can look up to find out more about stalking so that the next time you hear of a case you won't be surprised!

Born to Kill (1947)

Still surprising

[9/10 · 26 January 2010]

A pretty interesting film with a great plot which the actors themselves must have really believed in. If a pack mentality develops amongst actors when one of them doesn't like the script, plot, set or anything else dissatisfaction seems to spread amongst them.

I can see no evidence of this amongst the diversity of performances found in this film. Reading about the life of Lawrence Tierney confirms his authenticity as the tough guy.

I became very involved in the twists and turns that the film took and was in constant amazement that what I was watching was happening over 60 years ago.

Another intriguing aspect of the film was looking at the careers of the actors and that Audrey Long married Leslie Charteris and her 88th birthday is due this year! Probably worth watching for the acting alone.

The Accused (1988)

Powerful treatment of a nasty theme

[8/10 · 26 January 2010]

After channel surfing for a while I settled upon this movie as I quite enjoy the work of actress Jodie Foster. It is interesting to see her as a well known actress here but not yet enjoying the prominence and quotable lines that Clarice Starling brought her.

A couple of the themes explored in this film are the group behavior of males and how easily they seem to be influenced by a psychopathic but overpowering minority.

It also illustrates the issue that the onus seems to be on the woman to prove events no matter how condemning the perpetrators actions were.

There is the taunting of the victim as well which seems to cause the heckles to rise in the watcher.

A sombre footnote at the completion of the film seems to highlight the motivation for the story to feature as a film.

The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936)

Exploration of moral dilemmas

[26 January 2010]

The film, almost seventy five years after its release as this review is written, still provides a dilemma that could be endlessly discussed on the human condition.

A man is given unlimited power by three deities as they look down on the earth. The mind of Wells is highly visible as the plot develops.

It is approached in a tongue in cheek manner and the special effects of the time must have been very labor intensive in relation to the genius of todays computer graphics.

The moral questions could employ any philosopher in endless discussion. A relatively young Ralph Richardson portraying an old character gives us a glimpse into the early career of a classic British actor.

In a strange way it is a kind of feel good movie and very thought provoking. It may also intrigue the present day viewer as they consider the possibility of the cinema goer in the 1930s wondering how the camera tricks were performed.

The Saint in London (1939)

The Simon Templar Template

[10/10 · 26 January 2010]

For its historical value alone this film is worth watching. The Saint always manages to outwit his criminal nemeses. What must have appealed to the generation of cinema goers at the time was The Saint's roguish way of making his villains look extremely foolish.

I have only read one of the Leslie Charteris Saint novels and found the literary version to be even more intriguing than Sanders portrayal. Sanders however gave Saint afficionados enough to enjoy as their hero once again completely destroys the sinister agenda of the sophisticated crooks.

I'm sure many of the older generations pine for the days of heroes such as Sanders where violence was much more left to the imagination than seen.

Seventy years have passed since this gem and it is fascinating to observe the lifespans and careers of the actors.

Don's Party (1976)

David Williamson - Australia's Answer to Shakespeare

[10/10 · 19 June 2009]

The summary title might be embarrassing to a modest man like Williamson but he really does have an uncanny knack of exposing human foibles that I have found astonishing for many years.

Don's Party is well recognised as a work of genius portraying the hopes of Australians on Election Night in 1969 who wanted to see the end of successive Liberal Governments for over 20 years. This election did not provide a change but established Whitlam as a very real threat to the Liberals' perceived right to rule. He was successful 3 years later.

The characters are of real interest in this film as they lose control due to the unlimited flow of alcohol. Had they been in a more restrictive environment there may have been some very interesting thoughts exchanged.

Intelligent and beautiful actresses are the sober ones whose presence as human beings with feelings and opinions goes woefully unappreciated by the "Ugly Australian" in the males. The male behaviour becomes more tribal as the evening degenerates and the gorgeous enchanting women are left to themselves.

The King of Comedy (1982)

An Authoritative study on fame

[10/10 · 27 February 2009]

I am at present writing to keep a record of what I have watched over the years, I tend to look into some films I watch fairly deeply and think over the motivation for the storyline and then its ultimate release.

The King of Comedy is a film that I have managed to apply to nearly every situation that involves fame and its consequences for "star" and fan since I first saw it in the late 1980s.

People refer to Pupkin (sometimes called Pumpkin to further demean his lowly status as an obsessed fan and comedy hopeful) as a spooky character.

He is no less obsessed with Jerry Langford than a lot of other people might be with their favorite star but he seems to be able to carry his pursuit far enough to get a ride in Jerry's limo.

Jerry is quite obnoxiously impatient and intolerant of hopefuls and rather than saying no to Pupkin he asks him to contact his staff who advise that after hearing his tape Pupkin should try his material in front of a live audience.

It is a film that needs to be thought through very carefully as it explores the obsessed fan concept very deeply. How much do stars owe their fans, are they entitled to ignore their fans or are they responsible for the effect they have on them however extraordinary.

Hitch (I) (2005)

Smart one liners

[8/10 · 27 February 2009]

It took a few switches of channels for me to finally settle on this film on free to air TV in Australia.

Although I have a few film reviews here they are mainly to help me keep track of what I've watched and I had little to no knowledge of the principal actors.

What finally kept me watching was Hitch's interaction with the very hard to impress Sara Melas, for some reason she is attracted to the fast talking thinks on his feet Hitch whose character nevertheless does exhibit tremendous sincerity.

It really is a commentary on American culture which, in many movies at least, appears to be dominated by the dating scene.

Dating in America is a possible personality cult and therefore Hitch tries to "even the score a little" by giving so called unattractive men/guys the opportunity and means to get noticed by, date and form relationships with very attractive women.

I certainly found it worth watching and was moved by the breakup/retrieval situation, always a winner in movies.

The Illustrated Family Doctor (2005)

clever black comedy

[9/10 · 26 February 2009]

The continually puzzled and worried expression of Gary Kelp, played very well by Samuel Johnson, forms an interesting platform for all the other characters in the film.

The photography with a lot of long shots gives a sense of letting things happen which is really the story of the principal actor's life, it is happening and he is powerless to stop it.

Interesting appearances by the Mark Little sound alike and act alike ( Mark began as the master of stand up in the early to mid 1980s) Jason Gann and veteran Paul Sonkkila as a menacing presence are a brilliant diversion from Johnson's hopeless downward spiral.

Jason Gann was on the verge of massive success as a comedy actor in Wilfred probably the greatest Australian Comedy ever. Along with Adam Zwar and Cindy Waddingham he played a human in a massive dog suit who manipulated his owner and uncertain boyfriend an out of work media monitor.

Gann as Carl Lucas steals the show during his scenes as well as Kelp's wife Carol.

Sonkkila as Snapper Thompson menaces Kelp with advice, usually in the toilet, over eye lotions and how to open doors.

Very much worth watching as Australian comedy progresses to a new level experimenting with the use of black humor.

The Shark Net (2003)

Brilliant example of Australian drama

[10/10 · 16 February 2009]

A fine example of Australian life during the 1950s and 1960s when the extraordinary "serial killer" Eric Edgar Cooke caused a great deal of trouble. It has been stated that he was the man who made Perth residents start to lock their doors at night.

The mundane Drewe household with Dunlop clocks and similar company products highly visible contrasts with the extraordinary one man crime wave Cooke, played disturbingly well by Dan Wyllie who emerges as an actor who seems to be able to climb inside his characters. I rate Wyllie very highly as an actor, his peers must feel the same way as he is often given extremely complex character roles.

It is obvious that the other actors also believed that they were in a good production.

McInnes succeeds as Drewe's company obsessed father who we would be proud to put the company before any other human need that he may have.

A Clockwork Orange (1971)

Interesting Themes

[8/10 · 21 November 2008]

Considering it was released 37 years ago, the ideas/ideology expressed in the film still present relevant and certainly thought provoking moral challenges.

The initial violence is enough to tip the vulnerable mind into copying it and I would be surprised if there have not been unmistakable attempts recorded in criminal acts over the past 37 years to prove this.

However the film regains its footing on this score when McDowell's aversion therapy works, at least until the Psychiatrist in the Hospital sees him near the end, a very funny scene where he is shown diagrams and must supply the missing quote "did I pass?"

It was interesting to see a young Warren Clarke as Dim, recently Dalziel and Pascoe as Dalziel. He has worked pretty constantly since his appearance in A Clockwork Orange.

A virtually flawless script the peculiarity of Alex's phraseology is remarkably easy to follow and gives the character his sense of mischief and non conformism.

The humorous scene at the end where he is being fed, symbolically as well, by the Minister and holds his mouth open to indicate that his primary interest is food and that his entitlement to it is unquestioned conveys that his miscreant former personality is well on its way back.

McDowell finding himself back in the home of one of his victims and initially unrecognized is another clever role reversal and his torture is repaid to some extent.

The prison guard is hilarious, the army sergeant personality parodied so well in the past by such comedic geniuses as the late Milligan is well played.

Does he die in the end or does he pass into a very graphic fantasy that consumes him? An intentional ambiguity I feel.

The Fourth Protocol (1987)

quite involving

[8/10 · 3 November 2008]

At this stage of his career Pierce Brosnan was only known to me for his part in Remington Steele which was a fairly light role.

In fact James Bond is a fairly harmless character compared to the ruthless agent he plays in this film. The urgency of his acting is the feature of this film.

Caine's character is engaging but fails to keep pace with Brosnan's Petrofsky.

I watched this on cable television in my hotel and was guessing throughout what year it might be by the devices used and cars driven.

Another chilling role was the authoritative Sir Nigel Irvine played by the late Ian Richardson who dresses down the gormless character Anton Rogers plays "a treat." As Richardson rates amongst my top 5 actors it was a very enjoyable part of the film for me.

Out of interest John Hurt, Alan Bates, Humphrey Bogart and Edward Woodward would be the other four.

Point of No Return (1993)

Powerful and believable concept

[10/10 · 31 October 2008]

I was intrigued by this film from the very beginning.

I have appreciated Bridget Fonda's acting ability since the film Scandal where she played the stunningly attractive Mandy Rice-Davies so I would probably watch it for that reason alone.

However she plays a highly complex character with an iron will and carries her role off with the similar ruthless efficiency of her assassinations.

She appears to be in a no win situation even though she has escaped death by execution. There is the nagging doubt in my mind that this technique has not been used by "authorities" at some time.

The idea is just so clever that it is almost as though it couldn't be thought up unless it really has happened somewhere.

I know little of the background to the film so I am unsure how the idea originated.

An intriguing film and very involving.

The Ipcress File (1965)

Pretty solid British film

[8/10 · 31 October 2008]

The sublime acting talents of Michael Caine were beginning to emerge strongly and are well showcased in this film.

He was in his early 30s for this film and his "against all odds" character is more than a match for the authoritarian bureaucrats that he has to battle with.

There is something of the David Callan about his character Harry Palmer and there may have been some influence for James Mitchell's character.

There is an overwhelming sense of history in this film as it retains its power and I have to keep reminding myself that I was only 4 years old when it was made.

It really is a platform for Caine to display his total involvement with his role and he tends to dwarf the other characters even though Gordon Jackson was a particular favorite of mine.

The sultry Sue Lloyd who was unforgettable in the Two Ronnies detective spoof "Done To Death" is another draw card for students of female beauty.

Redentor (2004)

Brilliant from start to finish

[9/10 · 31 October 2008]

A prime example of the far reaching scope of semi-public broadcaster SBS in Australia.

They have a film in a different language nearly every night and it was hard not to be drawn into this film as the moral lessons appear to be driven home by the writer, producer and director.

As stated by previous reviewers this enormous country suffers from extremes of wealth and poverty and the themes are treated very powerfully in this film.

It transcends a plot as the viewer becomes so absorbed by the characters that the outcome is almost secondary.

The closing titles which feature the dynamic sound of Gigi D'Agostino also claim the attention of the watcher as they illustrate what a mammoth production this film was.

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring (2003)

Very instructive

[10/10 · 31 October 2008]

It's difficult not to get the feeling that there are deep moral lessons to be learned from this film.

It involves a young child who is brought up under the guidance of a very learned man in an (apart from extreme cold in Winter) idyllic setting.

The tranquility of the setting, which is so brilliantly filmed it could be watched for that alone, is an overwhelming characteristic.

We are not moved away from the scenery and are left to imagine what caused the wreckage of the young man's life when he returns.

It becomes clear that life away from the gentle discipline of his instructor only brings ruin however attractive and whatever form the lure away may be.

Family Life (1971)

Very bleak and disturbing

[26 October 2008]

Filmed in a distant documentary style presumably for realism. The film may have provided a touch of inspiration for later films such as Frances starring Jessica Lange.

Sandy Ratcliff plays a disturbed young woman who fails to be understood by the authority figures represented in many ways by her surprised parents and also by the medical/psychiatric staff.

The bleak conversational way in which it is filmed adds to our feeling of helplessness for Ratcliff's character which at times is as mischievous and out of control as Jessica Lange later was in her portrayal of the late Frances Farmer.