Starring: Robert Beatty
A small boy is trapped in a bank vault just as it is being locked for the weekend.
Considering nearly the entire movie is on 1 set, the pace is very well maintained in a race against time to open a bank vault, for once with robbery not the motive. Forget the opening schoolboy error that results in the child being locked in the vault, the rest of the plot is well thought out and has you on the edge of your seat. Some of the acting isn't the best and the parents seemed a bit wet, but it's worth a view and you get an interesting science lesson on what happens to your body if you're trapped in a sealed room and the oxygen runs out. 9/10
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Lady in white 1988
Starring: Lukas Haas
After seeing the ghost of a murdered girl, a young boy discovers the identity of her killer.
This is a slightly unusual movie. It starts off as a harmless childrens ghost story with touches of gentle humour and then from time to time, turns into a taut thriller with racist undertones that results in real tragedy. The story is a bit laboured at times, but is well enough made and it's interesting to see the 12 year old and slightly squeaky Lukas Haas.
No classic, but certainly unusual and worth seeing for that reason alone. 5/10
After seeing the ghost of a murdered girl, a young boy discovers the identity of her killer.
This is a slightly unusual movie. It starts off as a harmless childrens ghost story with touches of gentle humour and then from time to time, turns into a taut thriller with racist undertones that results in real tragedy. The story is a bit laboured at times, but is well enough made and it's interesting to see the 12 year old and slightly squeaky Lukas Haas.
No classic, but certainly unusual and worth seeing for that reason alone. 5/10
Sunday, March 12, 2006
His girl Friday 1940
Starring: Cary Grant
A remake of 'The Front page' with Hildy Johnson turned into a woman
There's various actors whose films you always eagerly anticipate. James Stewart is one and Cary Grant another. I have to say this is the most disappointing Cary Grant movie I've ever seen. The pace is frenetic and doesn't relent for the entire 90 minutes. There's people talking at 100 miles an hour, talking over each other, 3 or 4 telephone conversations taking place at once, it's just impossible to take in a quarter of the conversations being hurled at you. I know cue-bite is crucial, but this was ridiculous. Timing in both visual and audio comedy is crucial, so many gags would have been missed because there was so much going on. I laughed once or twice but always at visual things, when there was a sudden lull in the chatter. The character Earl Williams had the most effective scenes, mainly because half a dozen other characters weren't about to butt in. Very disappointing and utterly exhausting to watch. 3/10
A remake of 'The Front page' with Hildy Johnson turned into a woman
There's various actors whose films you always eagerly anticipate. James Stewart is one and Cary Grant another. I have to say this is the most disappointing Cary Grant movie I've ever seen. The pace is frenetic and doesn't relent for the entire 90 minutes. There's people talking at 100 miles an hour, talking over each other, 3 or 4 telephone conversations taking place at once, it's just impossible to take in a quarter of the conversations being hurled at you. I know cue-bite is crucial, but this was ridiculous. Timing in both visual and audio comedy is crucial, so many gags would have been missed because there was so much going on. I laughed once or twice but always at visual things, when there was a sudden lull in the chatter. The character Earl Williams had the most effective scenes, mainly because half a dozen other characters weren't about to butt in. Very disappointing and utterly exhausting to watch. 3/10
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Closely observed trains 1966
During World War 2, an apprentice railway guard at a country station falls in love and becomes a saboteur.
The good thing about Saturday newspapers is that they now frequently give away DVD's. This movie came from The Independant. I'm not a great fan of foreign language movies but have recently seen a few charming ones also free from newspapers. This film is set at a tiny quiet station in occupied Czechoslovakia. Quite how they justified the amount of staff there baffled me. This is actually a lovely film, the innocent naievity of the apprentice, the fear and loneliness of all the characters from whatever class and the sexual frustrations again of every character. this is actually quite a racy movie, the scene where the telegraphist is rubber stamped on her legs and bum is very erotic, more so than the pottery scene in Ghost. Ultimately, de-motivation and frustration led to this triviality which ultimately led to a tragic but moving ending. 9/10
The good thing about Saturday newspapers is that they now frequently give away DVD's. This movie came from The Independant. I'm not a great fan of foreign language movies but have recently seen a few charming ones also free from newspapers. This film is set at a tiny quiet station in occupied Czechoslovakia. Quite how they justified the amount of staff there baffled me. This is actually a lovely film, the innocent naievity of the apprentice, the fear and loneliness of all the characters from whatever class and the sexual frustrations again of every character. this is actually quite a racy movie, the scene where the telegraphist is rubber stamped on her legs and bum is very erotic, more so than the pottery scene in Ghost. Ultimately, de-motivation and frustration led to this triviality which ultimately led to a tragic but moving ending. 9/10
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Cinderella Liberty 1974
Starring: James Caan
A sailor on shore leave picks up a prostitute and falls in love with her.
I've never been a huge fan of James Caan, I find him a bit single paced and predictible. At the start of this movie, I had no reason to revise my opinion, but his performance as a sailor on extended shore leave due to a boil on the bum, followed by the Navy losing his records grew on my enormously. He picks up a pool-hustling bar hoare and decides to change her life for the better. At first, he is just annoying as it is clear the lady and her 11 year old son with bad teeth don't want him to stick around. But gradually, their barriers are removed and we are left with a touching love story. The performances are all extremely credible with special mention for the lad playing the 11 year old with terrific maturity. The settings are well observed, with the squalor of the flat leaving little to the imagination. Early on, I wasn't sure where this film was going, but a quality script left us with a movie about the fear of change, the fear of loving and the fear of being hurt. Could these fears be conquered? Well, I'll leave you to decide for yourself, but be sure there are tears and laughter along the way with a nicely thought out ending. 7/10
A sailor on shore leave picks up a prostitute and falls in love with her.
I've never been a huge fan of James Caan, I find him a bit single paced and predictible. At the start of this movie, I had no reason to revise my opinion, but his performance as a sailor on extended shore leave due to a boil on the bum, followed by the Navy losing his records grew on my enormously. He picks up a pool-hustling bar hoare and decides to change her life for the better. At first, he is just annoying as it is clear the lady and her 11 year old son with bad teeth don't want him to stick around. But gradually, their barriers are removed and we are left with a touching love story. The performances are all extremely credible with special mention for the lad playing the 11 year old with terrific maturity. The settings are well observed, with the squalor of the flat leaving little to the imagination. Early on, I wasn't sure where this film was going, but a quality script left us with a movie about the fear of change, the fear of loving and the fear of being hurt. Could these fears be conquered? Well, I'll leave you to decide for yourself, but be sure there are tears and laughter along the way with a nicely thought out ending. 7/10
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Yankee Doodle Dandy 1942
Starring: James Cagney
Biopics aren't my favourite type of movie. The biggest compliment I can pay is that I went straight to the encyclopedia at the end of the movie to find out more about George M Cohan. I obviously knew some of the songs and was amazed at the sheer volume of material that he'd been involved in. Cagney was terrific, convincing as the arrogant, brash youngster but also showing a subtle side to his acting when he potrayed his character's maturity, appreciating his family's priceless involvement in his success. The film is littered with musical numbers, none of which grated on my nerves. This was flag waving, patriotic stuff, but understandable as made during the war years. My one complaint is that Cagney never looked convincing as a young man, looking middle aged when he was supposed to be 17, easier to look older than younger a guess. A worthy Oscar winner.
7/10
Biopics aren't my favourite type of movie. The biggest compliment I can pay is that I went straight to the encyclopedia at the end of the movie to find out more about George M Cohan. I obviously knew some of the songs and was amazed at the sheer volume of material that he'd been involved in. Cagney was terrific, convincing as the arrogant, brash youngster but also showing a subtle side to his acting when he potrayed his character's maturity, appreciating his family's priceless involvement in his success. The film is littered with musical numbers, none of which grated on my nerves. This was flag waving, patriotic stuff, but understandable as made during the war years. My one complaint is that Cagney never looked convincing as a young man, looking middle aged when he was supposed to be 17, easier to look older than younger a guess. A worthy Oscar winner.
7/10
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)