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Under Milk Wood (1971)
A wonderful commentary on a bygone age
I saw this film again after a gap of many years. The story is well known ,the author lauded and the actors quite superb. What really captured and engrossed me was the 'time frame' of the film in it's setting of Fishguard. It is of another age,innocent and simple, lost in the vaults of time. Everything about it is of the heart. The schoolchildren,the honest rascal, sometimes no-good, characters and the relationships. Watching and listening to Burton is to enjoy the rich voice of a great artist. And, has Elizabeth Taylor ever looked so stunningly beautiful as in this film ? It also shows how rich we were in highly talented actors during this period. This account " in the day of ...." will increase in importance as the years roll on. It will surely stand the test of time.
Lore (2012)
A deeply moving and different story
After seeing Atmen ( Breathing )the night before, the viewing of LORE confirmed the high quality of German language films. LORE is a tad different from the usual films about this period. WWII stories mainly depict the Allies side of events. Refugees, prisoners of war,Hitler assassination attempts, Rommel,the resistance movement and so on. LORE gives us the less frequently mentioned, at least publicly, privations and dreadful experiences of the innocent victims of a defeated nation. The story line has been well told elsewhere. I will limit myself to saying how deeply moving this film is at many levels. It is fiction which creates it's own fact. The physical and psychological sufferings of so many innocent people on the losing side, so often ignored,is graphically portrayed in this account of the horrors in the aftermath of WWII.
The Virgin Soldiers (1969)
All so true .....
Having seen this again i must say it gets better. I view it from the perspective of a soldier serving in Malaya, as it was at the time, in the mid-1950's the period in which the film is set. So much of the behaviour is very true to the real thing. In fact i almost see it as a commentary on army life at the time. The plot is almost credible , you would have to have been there. The 'atmosphere' of the period and place is captured in the b+w format. If anyone wants to know what army life was like in mid 1950's Malaya then this film will tell you more than any academic study. It certainly reflects the peculiar fun and horrors of National Service life. The plot thins towards the end but what precedes it makes viewing worth while.
The Deep Blue Sea (2011)
having made it did they have to show it ?
After about 20 minutes i was on the point of walking out on this film, something i've only ever done once in years of cinema going. Then i thought,well it's so long since i've seen such a lousy film i'll stay for 'research' (sic) purposes. I haven't seen the play but this film gave me the impression that it was a film of a play. A play by an amateur dramatic society on a learning curve. Apologies to ADS's. The acting is 'stiff' and stilted. In the 'old' days there was time to light up a fag between words or reactions. The gloom of the film is depressing, maybe that was intentional ? There are many period wartime flashbacks, in particular in the tube station. THAT was so corny it almost beggared belief. More like a waxworks than a realistic impression. I don't know what it was like in that situation during the blitz but one thing is for sure,if that was the reality then a bomb would have been merciful. Anything to get away from the dreadful singing and 'sad' atmosphere. As if the acting wasn't enough we had to put up with one of the most excruciating sound tracks. Wingeing and whining isn't in it. I like my music from Mozart to Miles and most stuff in between but this bordered on the unbearable. Most end of film credits gain my full attention due to the accompanying music. Recent Almodovar ( The Skin I Live In )and Woody Allen ( Midnight in Paris )films are graced by wonderful soundtracks but TDBS had me scampering for the exit at first opportunity. Do see this film just to prove to yourself how stoic you are.
True Grit (2010)
'That's Entertainment'
I came to see this film after reading reviewer MW (03.01.2011 ) who was critical of many aspects. Having seen 'True Grit' i have to say this is another nugget from the rich seam of Coens Gold. Of course there is some grit in the seam but not enough to dull this shiny extraction. It scores on storytelling, warm, clear photography and acting of a very high standard. If the test of a film is the audience reaction at the end then this wins. Agreed there is a 'weepy' element at the end but the audience reaction ( Theatr Clwyd, N Wales ) was more reflective and smiley than tearful. If it's just a yarn then that's OK by me when well spun.When we go to a film to be entertained at a seriously high level 'True Grit' is the sort of uncomplicated experience that fills the bill.
The King's Speech (2010)
one of the most overrated films of recent years....
Oh dear, oh dear....so many votes, so many Oscars, it makes me wonder what has happened to our sense of values. This is one of the most over-hyped films of recent years. Talk about cream cakes and royal stories, it is enough to make me think a royal wedding is in the offing...mmm, could be a film there. The story of George VI and his stammer is well known but was it enough for a film which stretched like elastic until it rebounded. I believe this was a typical 'English' film which played to the 'soft centre'of English sentiment. Was there a moral to this story? George VI was a decent man? His character was moulded by his family history ? He triumphed over adversity ? Nothing special there. And as for the acting, well that was pretty ordinary . In short this film doesn't rank high. One really wonders how it would have rated without the syrupy press reaction and the topicality of the latest royal wedding party. No, if you want to see this story as it should be told, turn to the television version ( of the same name ) black and white archive footage and a non-dressed up commentary. Much better by far.
127 Hours (2010)
well, guess what ?
Knowing the story behind this film as it was reported at the time i was looking forward to an earth moving film experience....how disappointing. Starting with a sound track designed to rattle windows on Mars and an introduction which, far from exciting my anticipation, had me wondering if i was in the middle of another film altogether. It must have been difficult to make this film stand up with such a limited story line,resultingly there is continual 'padding-out' which certainly drained my interest. Not very often i find myself nodding off in the middle and looking at my watch. Slumber was however difficult with the music beating heck out of my eardrums. The flash backs really were a nonsense, i mean,was the director trying to force me to tears. ( He failed on that score ) By comparison ' Touching The Void ',a similar theme, was much more successful. Trying to sum up as the credits scrolled down at the end, i came to the conclusion that this was some sort of rock/pop music suite which used the moving image as an accompanying instrument. OK, it had it's moments but for me it would have needed both arms trapped by that boulder to make it watchable.
La tête en friche (2010)
one hell of a warm film...
This film is a perfect example of those qualities that seem to be impossible in American/British cinema. It has a homeliness and innocence which is believable while being obvious fiction. The acting of Depardieu, Gisele Casadesus and Maurine is superb, in fact none of the cast are anything but excellent. It is not always the case that 'flashback' scenes don't interfere with the continuity but here they work perfectly as the character of Chazes is built up. His relationship with Margueritte, from the initial pigeon naming encounter to the final 'rescue' is beautifully developed. This film is finely worked comedy, painted over a morality which is never syrupy, leaving one with a smile and even a moist eye, at the end.
Dead Man (1995)
one of depp's best
..this surely rates as Depp at his best. in an unusually surreal plot it has a sort of reality of it's own. here is true art in the movie genre, from the sound track to the industrial hokum and the chillingly bare setting as they ride through the wintry birch forest...watch that scene , turn off the soundtrack and listen to Sibelius,( recommend Symphony No 2 ) master of the barren landscape, and you'll see what i mean.
..and how odd that Mitchum makes such an impact in such a mall time.
..what do we watch, reality or fiction, the line is blurred like the settings....so weird that opening scene on the train and then as he walks through Machine. ' What are you looking at man ? ' that guy would have shot his head off if he hadn't looked away while the guy got on with his business. reminded me a little of my native Liverpool UK where it's not to wise to look people in the face as they approach.
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in summary this must be one of the most underrated movies i have seen. i guess Depp only has one like this in his locker.
El espinazo del diablo (2001)
...a scary treat for grown ups
a really fine creative story line, well acted, filmed and scripted. not many films can scare grown ups in this cynical world but this one succeeds. the ghost was so well developed and crucial to leading the story along that the boundary between fiction and fact ( in the context of the film ) became blurred. this film shows that the art of imaginative tale-telling is till alive and kicking although it surely remains a one-off for impact and originality which blends a morals through fiction.