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Reviews
On Expenses (2010)
"You couldn't make it up!" so says the opening titles
It's enough to make you really angry, the UK MP expenses was the great political scandal of last year. This drama shows us how one woman's determination to find out things under the freedom of information act led to the unearthing of MP's expenses claims, an issue that is still ongoing.
Aside from any personal feelings on the actual matter this is a masterful piece of drama, I honestly thought it was going to be a dowdy, dirge-like political drama, the type where they go on and on about names and vague policies and laws you've never heard of and couldn't give two straws about. It wasn't. It was funny, serious and paints the MPs as quite lovable villains coming out with silly remarks which are spot on. You could even boo and hiss if you feel so inclined. Excellent performances from Cox and Maxwell-Martin are so believable and fun. This is something I honestly wasn't expecting it was like "Have I Got News for You" crossed with "Hustle". My only problems were the length (one hour hardly seems like enough time for such a great story and such great actors) and the dances that the character of Heather did - a metaphor for frustration but maybe unnecessary.
The Duchess (2008)
All I wanted from this film and more
Okay, so let's put this in context, if you don't like period dramas, don't go and see this movie, you probably won't like it, and it is NOT Diana's story, nothing like although some in the marketing department thought so ...
But i love this film, having being dying to see it since the first teaser trailer. I love everything about it the costumes, the characters, the acting, the whole package.
Keira Knightley in a corset again, but then i think these are roles she is good at, this role required her to have this real sense of melancholy to her and she did it beautifully.
Ralph Fiennes is funny, repulsive and endearing in his role as the duke you feel one thing for him and then another, you can't write this guy off as anything in particular. All i know is that i wouldn't want to be married to him.
I hope that both Knightley and Fiennes get their second and third Oscar nominations for this respectively, as they are well made parts.
As for the others:
Dominic Cooper, is lovely as Grey if perhaps a little underused, Hayley Atwell's character is again one you want to hate but really can't, and Rampling is great as the mother.
All in all a great period flick, i say 10/10, but if i wasn't so into this kind of thing i'd probably still rate it quite highly, it is a fine piece of film-making.
Fiona's Story (2008)
Perception is everything
Never glamorising it's subject, never showing anything to offend per say. This Drama does exactly what it says on the tin, it is Fiona's story, the story of a woman forced to think about her husband in a way which she should never have had to.
With Excellent performances by the couple, this drama really made me think about perceptions, and about how a perfectly innocent act one day is given a sinister edge the next.
My sympathy always lay with Fiona, someone who is obviously hurt and confused, even when an extra-marital affair on her side becomes apparent- which i understood, but not necessarily approved of. And it really made me think, well worth the watch.
My one criticism is there wasn't enough light in it, and by that I mean the type given out by a light bulb or the sun,quite dark most of the time- although I suppose that goes with the subject.
The Sarah Jane Adventures (2007)
Brilliant! Absolutely Fantastic
Firstly i must say i am 20 years old, secondly i do not have any younger siblings or relatives and thirdly i am not a fan of the "old" doctor who- a little sacrilegious to some people perhaps... but I LOVED this!
It is meant for kids but with Russell T Davies co-writing and producing, it won't keep Who fans young and Old away. In a way I think it is better than Torchwood, because it excludes nobody from watching it. I and my Dad watched this just to see what it was like and we both felt it was excellent.
The plot was sophisticated which is great because it assumes that children are intelligent and does not talk down to them (a pet peeve when i was growing up).
The characters are lovable when they should be as you do like Sarah-Jane and her sidekick Maria. Sinister (again they were not just sinister too children but adults too) when they should be; the Bane Mother and her Spawn were scary and interesting, worthy of a possible Doctor Who cross-over if they felt like it. And humorous when needed; Kelsi being a non-believer and a popular culture freak saying things like "You should be on Jeremy Kyle, mate!" Of course the Doctor was mentioned a couple of times and that satisfies any Who fan really nicely as well ( Torchwood have only done it about twice in the whole series!)
All in all great tea-time fun, and I look forward to the next adventure and hope to see more of the same characters.
The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
Rubbish, and boring
This film is too long for a start, it drags and Emmy Rossum sings in the same voice for over 2 hours and that's more than anyone should have to listen to- not that she's a bad singer you understand it just drags.
The best bit is when the Kevin McNally character gets hanged by the Phantom (Butler)- who by the way was very good , superb singer and very good looking - even when his mask is taken off- surely not the point!
I feel sorry to trash it, because genuinely want to like it, i really do! I love musicals and have sung some of the songs in music lessons, but the film does nothing for me, the lavish sets don't work - surprising because the do in "Chicago".
The plot plods along and the ending is really strange. I understand why people like this but i don't... perhaps i should watch it on DVD and have breaks... then i might like it better.