cdemw Reviews

Sleuth (1972)

Quite Simply Brilliant

[9/10 · 20 November 2007]

The background on this film for me was that I spent ages trying to get hold of this film and then because of the remake it got aired (without fanfare) on ITV4 in the middle of the night. Well, it was worth the wait.

Michael Caine and Laurence Olivier feed off each other in these visceral performances, it was hard to judge who was better! It made me think of 'The Deer Hunter' where Chris Walken and Robert De Niro are so brilliantly cast against each other, or even Glengarry Glen Ross where the ensemble cast is truly peerless.

Caine's performance as Tindle is seminal, you can feel his hunger for a victory, to pull one over Olivier's snobby gentry. Similarly, the film is crackling with tension, down to Olivier's portrayal of Andrew Wyke - seething with arrogance, classism and as a symbol of the ever-declining bourgeoisie. What really impressed, however, was how funny the script managed to be without losing the drama, something that isn't easy to achieve.

The two performances, however, are not enough - it is Anthony Shaffer's subliminal screenplay, from his stage play, that is the glue that binds this together. The dialogue is fantastic throughout and doesn't falter, whilst Caine and Olivier deliver their lines and interactions completely naturally.

Cinematographically the film is excellently shot, with the insinuation of Wyke's plainly freaky marionettes and clutter as watching over the charade between Caine and Olivier. There is also a great score to accompany, adding to the thriller aspect of this piece.

I won't go over the plot because the only way to enjoy this film is to see it, all you need to know is it is a tale of jealous, competitiveness and revenge.

'Sleuth' is a master piece, it is witty and sharp and makes the viewer think, whilst Olivier and Caine chuck out performances that easily rank along the best they have done, before or after. So, to reiterate, it was completely worth the wait.

Good Luck Chuck (2007)

Unchallenging & Uninspired Comedy

[5/10 · 19 November 2007]

Let's be honest, with 'Good Luck Chuck' I wasn't expecting a high-brow comedy with a cutting critique on society. At the same time, I was expecting slightly more than just rude words and nudity. I was disappointed.

The starting sequence with young Chuck is amusing enough, the humour being in small children not understanding adult terminology - we've all been there - and setting up the plot of Chuck as someone unable to find love. As an adult, however, Chuck isn't particularly likable or dislikeable which is a slight problem: Dane Cook's character doesn't invoke any strong feelings either way.

Jessica Alba, as Cam, is undeniably beautiful and at least half of the ticket sales to this movie will be young men hoping to get a glimpse of her naked, or at least in her skimpies. Her comedy acting was adequate although the impression I got was that she was put in the film solely as eye-candy.

My main problem, however, is that this film isn't disgusting enough to be a gross-out comedy, it's not clever enough to rely on its dialogue and it's not fast-paced enough to be carried by the physical humour. It seems that the producers thought they'd get away with this film by putting more breasts in this than a KFC Family Bucket, and unless you're a 14 year old boy that's not really going to cut the mustard.

In the guise of a saviour and curse of the film is Dan Fogler as Stu as the comic relief. Whenever the dialogue might come close to meaningful he comes out with an obscure and filthy euphemism, which at first is funny but then weighs him down (in this film) as a one-trick pony.

Ultimately, don't go to see 'Good Luck Chuck' with high expectations, they're not going to be met. Take it as it is, don't question anything and you might just enjoy it - bubble-gum for the eyes. And if anything justifies it's existence, the scene over the closing credits was the only thing that had me laughing uncontrollably. An unremarkable film that will kill an hour and a half if you've got it spare, if not I'm sure you can think of better things to do.

Beowulf (2007)

Surprisingly Good - A 3D Treat

[8/10 · 17 November 2007]

When going into the theatre to see this I in two minds - it was my first 3D movie and I had heard good things, however I wasn't particularly taken by the concept or the trailers. I was unsure what to expect, however I ended up leaving the cinema extremely satisfied with the film, and tellingly, unable to stop discussing it long after the ride home.

Visually it is an absolute treat, Zemeckis uses 3D superbly, some of the camera angles and sequences are as great an art as the photo-realistic animation. Occasionally the odd shot appears where the impression is that it was set up solely to emphasise the 3D (e.g. starting at the end of a branch and panning out) and whilst this doesn't add to the film it is actually a pleasant reminder of the novelty of 3D.

There are only two areas that let Beowulf down aesthetically: the eyes and the mouth. The eyes were static throughout and it is the little details that make the difference when trying to make something as uber-realistic as this, such as the fact that the pupils didn't react to light. As for the lips - they're just not quite there yet - sometimes the speech didn't seem to be quite right.

The characters are expertly introduced and developed, most notably Anthony Hopkins character, Hrothgar and the tension between his wife. Grendell and his mother are wonderfully creepy and seductive, and bizarrely enough almost encourage sympathy.

For me the most disappointing part of the film was actually Ray Winstone as the titular character - he was fantastic when talking in a low growl, however the film really suffers when he shouts in full cockney accent. "I will kill your monstah!". I half expected Grendell's head to be smashed between a car and it's door. John Malkovitch is a saving grace with his none-more-sinister voice and interesting faith sub-plot.

The rating for this film has been hotly discussed and in my opinion I do not think it is suitable for children under the age of 12. Grendell would have truly terrified me as a child. The violence, as well as bawdiness, does not make it a family film for young children although having said that the lewd references do provide good humour and balances out the movie.

So, overall, this was worthy of an 8. Breathtaking animation, incredible action (especially the finale featuring an excellent dragon) and a generally brilliant cast. Beowulf throws down the gauntlet to film-makers to show what can be done with 3D and is an indication of the potential. It's not all the way there yet, but it's a damn good start.

Tristram Shandy (2005)

A brilliantly complicated, simply funny comedy!

[9/10 · 14 March 2006]

If you're not familiar with Steve Coogan and his work as Alan Partridge you're going to be disappointed. If you're only familiar with Steve Coogan as Alan Partridge you're going to be disappointed. Steve Coogan plays himself brilliantly, perfectly in fact. The petty disputes of an actor, about something so mundane such as the height of his shoes ("It's an issue of status") are expertly portrayed, whilst anyone watching this really feels the irritation of being pigeon-holed as a one character man (most people who interact with Coogan as Coogan in this film seem to think he actually is Alan Partridge).

The film's plot is truly anarchic, but this is entirely intentional, and as ironic as it may seem this anarchy is beautifully orchestrated. The book of Tristram Shandy, that the film within the film is based upon, sets out to tell the life of events of Shandy, however through continuous distraction and procrastination never gets further than his birth. This is addressed in the film as well, but the characters themselves are all distracted and procrastinate as well...this is a the film of a film of a book, which is all loosely based upon the same book!

In terms of actual comedy this film is hilarious. There's great physical comedy (Coogan, a hot chestnut, the genital region), there's superb character interaction and there's just a comedic genius in the obnoxiousness of Steve Coogan as Steve Coogan.

The show-stealer, without a doubt, is Rob Brydon. His impressions are spot on (of Steve Coogan/Al Pacino/Roger Moore) and he is funny as the 'modest' Uncle Toby and as himself. The chemistry between Coogan and Brydon is spot-on, with totally improvised opening shots and closing shots.

David Walliams, Mark Williams, Stephen Fry and Dylan Moran all have memorable bit parts. Mark Williams is especially funny as the historical adviser ("What did you think of Cold Mountain's battle scenes.....SH*TE!") and for those who know Dylan Moran as himself can enjoy his last line (Q"How many drinks do you have a day?" DM "...er..a number....").

It isn't the fantastic acting or simply the comedy that made this film so enjoyable, however, it was the story it told. Coogan is an insecure, unfaithful and utterly self-centered brat in the beginning. Yet when, like Walter Shandy does in the book, he realises that however much you try to plan something, control life, it makes no difference it will always lead it's own anarchic path. Only after discovering this does he find peace, his libido and the film feels naturally resolved.

Tristram Shandy: A Cock & Bull Story is laugh out loud funny and I really would recommend anyone who's interested in film or comedy to see it.

Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005)

Great actors, brilliantly shot but a substandard plot

[5/10 · 15 January 2006]

Starting with the cast, just by having Dame Judi Dench featuring, let alone starring, one immediately expects the film to be to a high standard. Dench takes the lead role of Laura Henderson, a wealthy widow who invests in the Windmill Theatre just before World War II breaks out. With no experience in show-business, she recruits Vivien Van Damm, played brilliantly by Bob Hoskins. Dench and Hoskin's carry the film, with fantastic on screen chemistry, and if one was to judge the film solely on their performances then I would rank it much higher than 5/10.

The problem with 'Mrs Henderson Presents' is the plot. One is expected to believe everything put forward in the film because of what is almost obligatory in any award winning film now - it is 'based upon a true story'. How much is true, but there are moments in the film that were tedious, tenuous and just begging for the editor's scissors. Despite her best efforts, Dench's scene's with a gravestone in a war cemetery in France aren't moving, because it is so hard to have sympathy with her character - an extremely wealthy, arrogant upper class pensioner. The use of archive footage from World War II also broke the film up, and made it a jagged, rather than smooth, plot. Parts of the film are simply unbelievable and others confusing as to what the film is trying to say. Dench actively encourages one of the girls to all but whore herself out to a soldier, and is later at least partly responsible for her death - yet this isn't dealt with other than a quick line "There are things I have done that I regret". This is brought up in the finale of the film, a big speech Mrs Henderson gives to the crowd who want to get into the recently closed down theatre (due to the danger of crowds congregating - due to the Blitz). The speech is awful, truly awful. She justifies the girl's death by the fact that she lost a son in the Great War - and this in turn is expected to explain her behaviour with Van Damm, the girls and her friends...but it isn't explored in the film. The speech seems a cop-out.

It would be unfair to focus on the negative points of this film, because there are many positives, if not just the fabulous soundtrack. The supporting cast are great (especially Will Young, who's opening line is sublime), the costumes are spot on and the atmosphere given inside the theatre are brilliant. There are moments of great humour with Dench and Hoskins, who's will they/won't they relationship is key to the film. Perhaps the biggest triumph for this film is the fact that the nudity really is dealt with artfully, something I really wasn't expecting.

In conclusion, Mrs Henderson Presents is a film which is rather like a supermodel: beautiful to look at but really there's no substance.