willbekinsale-1 Reviews

Talking with Angels (2004)

a majestic view of a boy's efforts to hold on to the family

[8/10 · 8 May 2004]

From the moment it begins - it's beautiful. But behinds it's beauty lies a desperate struggle for a son to keep his family together while his mother is schizoid. The boy in this film is incredible. The director's lightness of touch with his performance is stunning.

There are so many touching moments here, like when the mum leaves the house, forgetting to dress, so the son puts an old net curtain on her to make her respectable. Or when the nurse in the waiting room tries to help him but he rejects her offer as it's plainly just lip service.

A brilliant film which deserved to win the BAFTA as did the director's previous film SKIN DEEP.

8/10

Women in Love (1969)

clash of the titans leads to evaluation of the sexes

[8/10 · 8 May 2004]

Caught this on the tv again the other day. It's not hard to see why the film made such a fuss at the time. Unlike modern English period dramas this has brooding sexuality in bucket loads. Bates is fantastic as a man who coming to terms with his gasp of sexuality while Oliver Reed as the moody and tense factory owner is set to explode throughout.

Remember Glenda Jackson before she came a left wing politician in a right wing party? If you don't, you need to check this classic film out. She is amazing. The moment when she is she is turned on my Reeds brutality towards his horse by the side of the train track is electric. Then yet again in the pub when she teases the drunk and almost gets raped is also charged. Later with the cows she wants to be dominated by Reed pushing him further and further on. Great stuff. Why can't Merchant Ivory have the balls to make something like this?

Wasp (2003)

realism bites hard in the east end

[10/10 · 4 May 2004]

Saw this at Bermuda Film Festival. Wasp really was one of the most affecting films I've ever seen. It's power to control the audience - almost like a Hitchcock classic. Taking you to the edge then pulling back - don't want to give the story away.

I thought DOG was brilliant, but this film is a lot more subtle. It follows the story of a woman who is on the verge of loosing her children. She wants to maintain her life style although she lacks the resources to do it. The audience were very quiet as we see her stark life unfold in harsh terms. The interaction with the wasp and the child got an audible gasp from the viewers who were on the edge of their seats. Some people even left the cinema. I've never seen a film which captures the plight of people who don't have any choice in life. Don't miss this one - it's a classic.

Dad's Dead (2002 TV Short)

It's sad when we loose our most special thing - childhood

[9/10 · 4 May 2004]

Another outstanding film from Bermuda Film Festival. Like the winner of Best Short - WASP. This film earned a honourable mention for it's powerful insight into what happens inside the mind of a sociopath. It was the most original and different film I think I've seen. Blending imagination with reality in a way I've never seen. It was like mixing fine art painting with a hard urban story. Saying that the technique didn't compromise the punk street feel of the film.

Johnno controls his best friend. Making him do things you just DONT do. We watch as the lies and cheats. Abusing an old man, shattering all of the boys hopes and dreams in the process. I found myself thinking about the film for days. Do people like this exist? If so, what are they up to? And why does society not deal with them? This one also hit the audience hard because of it's brutal ending and no doubt left them feeling at unease with the world.