May Film Highlights

I might have mentioned the blog before...


Iron Man 3 (2013) Robert Downey, Jr.,Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Ben Kingsley, Jon Favreau. Dir: Shane Black.

Suffering from PTSD, an edgy Stark earns the attention of a terrorist who attacks his home. More dramatically satisfying than previous instalments, but still has too much plot and an ultimately disappointing villain. Real issue is a not-so-surprising third act twist which muddies the point – just what’s the villain after?
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Trance (2013) James McAvoy, Rosario Dawson, Vincent Cassel, Danny Sapani. Dir: Danny Boyle.

An art thief consults a hypnotherapist when he forgets where he’s stashed a painting after a concussion. You know it’s heading for a big twist, and even if you don’t guess it (it’s not that surprising) it’s quite meaningless because the characters are paper-thin and pretty dull. Pleasingly flashy.
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Ghost in the Shell (1995) Atsuko Tanaka, Akio Ōtsuka, Iemasa Kayumi. Dir: Mamoru Oshii.

In future Japan, a secret agency of cyborgs must stop a hacker who re-writes people’s minds. Insightful, mind-bending sci-fi that asks questions about who we are and where we’re going. Packs a colossal amount into 82 minutes, but worthwhile if you can keep up with it. Impressive animation and sound.

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The Abominbale Snowman (1957) Peter Cushing, Forrest Tucker, Maureen Connell, Richard Wattis, Robert Brown. Dir: Val Guest.

An ethical doctor joins an unethical expedition to the Himalayas searching for yeti. Considering meagre budget, does decent job of creating a believable mountainside setting, and of making it suspenseful. Alas, not much happens during first hour and the interesting ideas in Nigel ‘Quatermass’ Kneale’s script are not entirely developed.
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Frenzy (1972) Jon Finch, Alec McCowen, Barry Foster, Anna Massey, Barbara Leigh-Hunt. Dir: Alfred Hitchcock.

A struggling divorcee is framed when his ex-wife falls victim to a serial killer. Hitch’s penultimate is soaked in references to his past and old London, while also embracing contemporary sexual explicitness. Has flaws – mis-placed comedy and unsympathetic lead – but proves he still had plenty of tricks up his sleeves.
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Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Benedict Cumberbatch, John Cho, Alice Eve, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Peter Weller, Bruce Greenwood, Anton Yelchin. Dir: J.J. Abrams.

 
After an attack on earth, Kirk and crew fly into dangerous territory to catch a terrorist. An action packed sequel that has the moral dimension missing from the first outing. It smartly steal many of the original series’ best ideas although the plot is still overspilling (cryogenic torpedos?)

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The Collector (1965) Terence Stamp, Samantha Eggar. Dir: William Wyler.

A shy butterfly collector kidnaps and imprisons a woman to make him fall in love with her. A little artificial – it’s a stretch that Eggar couldn’t overpower Stamp, but the relationship that develops between them is intriguing, as much about divisions of class and education as it is isolation and sexual obsession.


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January 2011 Film Highlights

Vist the blog damn it!

Rare Exports (2010) Onni Tommila, Tommi Korpela, Per Christian Ellefsen, Ville Virtanen. Dir: Jalmari Helander

Archaeologists dig up the frozen body of Santa, who soon unleashes his wrath against the naughty. Terrific dark horror comedy with a wickedly funny anti-festive premise. It’s also visually splendid, boasting some suspenseful direction and moody scenic cinematography. An absolute hoot from start to finish.

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The Green Hornet (2011) Seth Rogan, Jo, Cameron Diaz, Christophe Waltz. Dir: Michel Gondry

A spoilt rich layabout teams up with a fighting genius to become a new crime fighting hero. A shaky script, some good laughs, but the side-kick is more likeable and engaging than the hero. The plot doesn’t kick in until very late and Gondry is not in his element.

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Ghost Ship (1943) Richard Dix. Russell Wade, Edith Barrett, Ben Bard. Dir: Mark Robson

A new ship’s officer starts suspecting that the Captain is unhinged and possibly dangerous. A tense, moody film that doesn’t quite have the chance to develop its character’s decline in its brief running time. But it retains a strong sense of mystery and atmosphere found only in the best noirs.

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Catfish (2010) Dir: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman.

A photographer develops a multi-layered online relationship with a child artist and family, but eventually smells a rat. Documentary unveiling of an elaborate deception, which may or may not have happened. Moments certainly raise doubts, but the pay-off is worth it. A troubling film about a prevalent modern phenomenon.

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Night and the City (1950) Richard Widmark, Googie Withers, Francis L. Sullivan, Gene Tierney, Herbert Lom. Dir: Jules Dassin.

A small time tout finally finds a scheme to make him rich, but quickly makes dangerous enemies. Absolutely terrific film noir strikingly filmed in post war London. Unremittingly bleak and full of fascinating seedy characters; it’s tautly paced with always a hint of danger in the air.

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Van Helsing (2004) Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale, Richard Roxburgh, David Wenham. Dir: Steven Sommers.

The vampire hunter goes after Dracula, Frankenstein and the Wolf Man. Uses a coda of ‘more is more’ inevitably resulting in a loud, gaudy, stupid mess. The script is appalling, the dialogue: groan-inducing, acting: wooden, and the plot: hole-ridden. An insult to Universal’s monster legacy. Beckinsale’s corset – the only highlight.

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Arsene Lupin (2005) Romain Duris, Kristin Scott Thomas, Pascal Greggory, Eva Green. Dir: Jean-Paul Salomé

A master thief with a troubled past seeks an ancient treasure with a seemingly immortal women. Stuffs so much into two hours that it never stands still for a moment, making it difficult for you to feel for the characters, or be really impacted by the drama. And it has so much potential...

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Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Laurence Luckinbill, James Doohan. Dir: William Shatner

A cult leader and his followers hijack Enterprise and take it on mission to find God. Why anyone thought they could satisfactorily realise such an abstract concept is anyone’s guess. There’s too much jokiness too, but at least Shatner, Nimoy and Kelley get plenty of screen time together.

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August Films

Quantum of Solace (2008) Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric, Gemma Arterton, Judi Dench. Dir: Marc Foster.

Bond goes on a quest for revenge and tries to uncover an international criminal conspiracy. Keeps you entertained with one action set piece after another, but quickly disconnects you from the story, leaving you wondering what the point of it all was. Amalric is wasted.

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Straight on Till Morning (1974) Rita Tushingham, Shane Briant, James Bolam, Katya Wyath. Dir: Peter Collinson.

A Liverpool girl travels to London to find a man who can impregnate her, but meets a Peter Pan obsessed psychopath instead. Unconvincing suspense thriller, which is more memorable for the flashy and largely confusing cutting rather than any of the actual events. The ending does justify some of the wait.

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The Queen (2006) Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, James Cromwell, Helen McRory, Sylvia Sims. Dir: Stephen Frears.

Blair tries to elicit a more emotional response from The Queen after Diana’s death. An interesting behind the scenes look at a bizarre time in British history, which manages to be sympathetic to almost all involved. Although it’s all so nice it’s difficult to see it as being authentic.

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Moon (2009) Sam Rockwell, Kevin Space, Dominique McElligott. Dir: Duncan Jones

Lone space station operator Rockwell starts to see things as his tour of duty ends. An old school intelligent sci-fi film which prioritises character and themes of morality and humanity over effects and easy thrills. Rockwell is brilliant in a difficult role, though the staging and shooting could’ve been more distinctive.

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The Cat’s Meow (2002) Kirsten Dunst, Edward Herrmann, Eddie Izzard, Cary Elwes, Joanna Lumley. Dir: Peter Bogdanovich.

Plausible telling of the events surrounding film mogul Thomas Ince’s death on William Randolph Hearst’s yacht. Engaging and elegant period piece which tells of the developing dark side of money and the media in Hollywood in the 20s, but it leaves you wanting more. Izzard surprisingly good as Chaplin.

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Star Trek (2009) Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Eric Bana, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban. Dir: J.J.Abrams

Kirk, Spock et al take their first trip on the Enterprise and face a time travelling Romulan warmonger. Although it lacks the depth and morality of the original series, this reimaging is slick as hell. Colourful and fast paced, it reminds you just why these characters and their adventures were so popular in the first place.

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The Warriors (1979) Michael Beck, James Remar, Deborah Van Valkenburgh, David Patrick Kelly. Dir: Walter Hill

Blamed for the death of a legendary leader, a New York gang is hunted as they try to return to their turf. Ridiculous at every level; the dialogue is wooden enough, the characters cardboard enough, the acting bad enough with scenes so stupid that cult classic status was guaranteed.

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