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Tanithpanic
Reviews
La rose de fer (1973)
Not quite what I expected but not a waste of time
Visually delightful, but I really did expect more from the plot. I also found the violence between the couple distasteful (I really hate to see a man who's supposed to be a normal guy slapping a woman around.) I think it might have worked better as a short story than a full length feature. The girl's eyes as she slowly descended into madness were very impressive.
Maybe it didn't help that neither of the two main characters had any warmth or personality about them, I like to empathise with the protagonists, not feel indifferent to their fate,
It's not one I'd want to see again, but I certainly don't begrudge the time I spent on watching it, there are some great close-ups, camera tricks, etc, to enjoy.
Rollercoaster (1999)
Beautiful images, good plot
I love this film, I could play it on a loop some nights, if I had more time. The characters are mostly well thought out and though the kids appear as hooligans at first, it becomes obvious that they all have pain to deal with, except Sanj - maybe the one character who's a little undefined. The story is gripping and the scenes where the fairground is illuminated at night are so beautiful to watch. Kett Turton has one of the most moving, expressive faces that I've seen since Johnny Depp and I don't use that compliment lightly. Brent Glenen is also excellent for his age. I was ready to dismiss Stick, played by Brendan Fletcher, as just another kid with an attitude problem, until some of the facts about him were revealed. Again, there's some brilliant acting here. Maybe the most unsympathetic character for me is Chloe, because she just seems to walk into situations she could have handled much better. Sex shouldn't be used as an anti-depressant, girl!
The images aren't all attractive, there's a shot of dead flies in a toilet that aren't a pretty sight, and at the beginning there's a nasty surprise for one of the kids on entering the theme park.
To return to the acting,even the security guard, who has some ulterior motives, isn't just a typical bad guy, though he certainly has an unpleasant side. Not the kind of man you'd want your kids to be alone with for too long. Then there's a good soundtrack throughout, add this to a stunning climax and you have a minor classic. Maybe my only complaint is that it made me want to visit a funfair and there's never one in town when you need it!