(1968) Edward Fox, Mick Jagger, Anita Pallenberg, Michèle Breton, John Bindon. Dir: Donald Cammell, Nicolas Roeg.
Review No:575
A gangster hides in the home of a musician, who has an unexpected effect on him. Experimental film about identity which uses creative cutting and visuals to show Fox’s character unfurl, stripping away the roles he plays. Little grating, but intriguing, with alluring moments and a surprising turn from Jagger.
(2010) Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Mickey Rourke, Sam Rockwell. Dir: Jon Favreau.
Review No:574
After revealing he’s Iron Man, Stark faces complications, foremost his declining health. A strong start increases the threat and personal stakes, but loses its way in the middle, throws in some gobbledegook and leaves new characters with nothing to do. Thankfully Downey can pretty much carry it on charisma alone.
(2012) Jason Statham, Catherine Chan, Chris Sarandon, Robert John Burke, James Hong, Reggie Lee. Dir: Boaz Yakin.
Review No:573
An ex-cop tries to keep a girl savant safe from corrupt cops and Russian and Japanese mobsters. Big, dumb and brutal. The plot and premise is utterly ludicrous and logic deficient, but with regularly scheduled beatings and shootouts, it's reasonably undemanding fun. Although some wit in the script is sorely missing.
(2003) Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci, Bruce Dern, Lee Tergesen, Annie Corley. Dir: Patty Jenkins.
Review No:572
Dramatisation of the events and the relationship that turned Aileen Wournos into a killer. A serious subject is given what is ultimately a rather TV movie-like treatment, centring the crimes around a doomed romance, which feels rather bogus. Theron earns her right to be taken seriously, but Ricci’s role’s under-written
(1974) Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Joanna Lumley, Michael Coles, William Franklyn, Richard Vernon. Dir: Alan Gibson.
Review No:571
Police call in Van Helsing to help them investigate a Devil’s cult. Lee’s final Dracula has elements of spy and political conspiracy movies, but AD 1972’s rejuvenating effect is over, and it peters out halfway through like before. And the idea of Dracula as a company boss is just crap
The life of Bob Marley, as told by his family and friends. First family-endorsed Marley documentary explores the life of an extraordinary talent and the popular, social and political impact of his music, without indulging in hagiography. Startling footage, great tunes, and real characters make it hard to improve upon
(1937) John Laurie, Belle Chrystall, Eric Berry, Finlay Currie, Niall MacGinnis. Dir: Michael Powell.
Review No:569
A dangerous wager has severe consequences for a dwindling island community. Powell shoot his first A picture on location, experiencing first-hand the issues facing isolated islanders. Based on a true story, he perfectly captures a beautiful but harsh landscape and the sad passing of a simpler way of life
(2008) Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt. Dir: Louis Leterrier.
Review No:568
Pursued by the military, Bruce Banner tries to find a cure that’ll prevent him from becoming the Hulk. Even superhero movies need slow moment to build and develop characters. Seems to miss the middle out, and be on constant build-up to the finale, which has its excitements, but is hard to care about
(1938) Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, Charles Ruggles, Walter Catlett, May Robson, Fritz Feld. Dir: Howard Hawks.
Review No:567
A palaeontologist’s life is turned upside down by a debutant who happens to have a leopard. All-time classic comedy, with a snappy and outlandish script, which yields all kinds of riches. Only a double act as good as Grant and Hepburn could pull off the breakneck speed of it. Superb
(1972) Roddy McDowall, Don Murray, Ricardo Montalbán, Natalie Trundy, Hair Rhodes. Dir: J. Lee Thompson.
Review No:566
The apes’ baby is now 20; he arrives in the city to find evolving apes are now a slave class. The first planned sequel develops the ongoing story in a more satisfying way, even if script’s patchy and rushes along. Having an experienced director pays off with a stunning climax
Well they're doing the old bigger and better thing. I suppose it's a touch more serious - there's one particularly hair-raising sequence. But it's also funnier too to balance that out
Well The Department is a much broader, drawn out version of Infernal Affairs. I think The Departed uses material from the Infernal Affairs sequels to bolster the story - one of which is a prequel and the other sequel and prequel. I haven't seen the sequels but they aren't as popular, and if you see Infernal Affairs you can see why they'd be problematic - the ending is pretty definitive.
Anyway, Infernal Affairs is a much shorter, more compact film. It has the same basic plot, but runs miles faster than The Departed, to a point where it can be challenging to keep up. I'd recommend trying it, because it's a completely different viewing experience.
Well war films aren't really a specialist subject of mine, but hard to say it’s the all time greatest, because there are so many different types of war film. I don’t think you can compare films about WW2 and films about Nam, because the world has changed so much from one to the other. And film makers are usually trying to stress different points about conflict in each.
Apocalypse is really a one off, a rare nightmarish vision that sprung from production chaos almost equal to the madness seen on screen. It maybe be the best film about the inevitable madness of war. And probably the best film about Nam.
It scores high because there’s really nothing else like it. I don't think anyone would finance something so ambitious today. Well, not unless it was 3D and had giant robots in it.
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Comment by David Paul Nixon
on Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
50 Word Film Reviews