fran7204 Reviews

The Legend of 1900 (1998)

beautiful but sad film

[11 December 2004]

Enjoyable film, very sad but thought-provoking. Tim Roth's character, 1900 was tragic as he just could not develop his life. It was like the ship was his surrogate mother who he was unable to leave. I loved the fact that his 'father' was a black man too. I would have loved to see 1900 have romance and experience life on land, albeit for a short moment. If only he could make that journey to shore, who knows his life could have different.

Beautiful, sad film.

Deceiver (1997)

Not one of Tim Roth's best films

[28 November 2004]

There are a lot of twists and turns in this film and the majority of the plot and the characters behaviour are not credible at all. It begins well but suddenly the viewer is catapulted into total confusion. The viewer is not sure whether anything or anyone is real. ..................SPOILER COMING UP................................. Personally I think that Tim Roth's character is bad. He is a rich boy who knows it and doesn't like anyone telling him what to do/think and thinks he is above the law. He uses his money and intelligence to do what he wants and this gets him out of a very bad situation. He is attracted to and thrives on an 'otherness' to his world of responsibility - illegal liqour, vice, drugs, murder.

The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989)

Beautifully shot, fantastic dialogue

[28 November 2004]

This film is beautifully shot, has fantastic costumes and backdrops, clever

dialogue and the music is great. I did feel disgust at some of the scenes,

particularly at the beginning and obviously at the end but was glad that I

watched it. I think I will rewatch it again at some point.

I thought the characters were great and displayed a whole realm of human

emotions. There were loads of hidden messages and symbolization in the film but the one of the rotting carcusses and fish outside the restaurant to symbolize the 'finding out' of the affair was very striking. I didn't want the lovers to be discovered!!!! Just one criticism - I didn't know what era this film was set in at all.

The Last Great Wilderness (2002)

Escapism

[7 November 2004]

This film isn't horror, its very unique bizarre drama. Its still very good drama, quite amusing in some places and uses the art of suspense and subtle

references to classic horror films to keep the viewer engaged. Charlie is in Scotland hoping to burn down the house of a celebrity who has

nicked his wife when Vincente throws himself upon his mercy in a motorway

service station. Charlie is obliged to take Vincente in his car where they do a great deal of male bonding on the road. They run out of petrol on a very

deserted patch of Scottish highland and are forced to take 'refuge' (being the operative word) in a lone manor house, miles from anywhere, where there are

some very strange characters residing. The film centralises on the characters exercising their own demons by being

surrounded and supported by other dysfunctional people who have their own

problems. The film ends with some shocking violence. To be fair, its a very

unrealistic story and quite confusing at some points but if you, as like the

characters of Charlie and Vincente are looking for some escapism, 'The Last

Great Wilderness' could be for you.

Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Thoroughly Enjoyable

[6 November 2004]

Thoroughly enjoyed this film. Was totally gutted when it finished as its one of those films where you don't want it to end as it was so enjoyable. It did a brilliant job of sending up the classic zombie movie and the subtle

references to the original Dawn Of The Dead and 28 Days were appreciated.

Just one small complaint - zombies go for brains! If you haven't seen this film yet, love horror, British humour and are in your late twenties and in a relationship that's going nowhere, watch it! You will not be disappointed.

Nil by Mouth (1997)

Family

[6 November 2004]

Kathy Burke portrays the battered wife extremely well - taking it as part and parcel of being an east-end wide-boy's other half. It is inenvitable that she will go back to him (Ray Winstone) after her severe beating as that's the life she knows and as she holds traditional family views of marriage she wants her child to be raised by a mother and a father. She believes in love. The extended family plays a major role in supporting her, her mother (Leila Morse) is a hardened

woman but with a heart. They are not shocked by the going-ons of the

destruction caused by alcohol and drug addition. They just get on with it and this is a powerful message that with family, love and support, you can conquer any mountain. People see it as a depressing and disturbing film but the final

gestures and actions of all the characters suggest otherwise. Gary Oldman has done a great job in directing this film and it was brave of him and his sister to tackle a very difficult subject which has obviously affected their lives so deeply.

Meantime (1983 TV Movie)

Pollacks with a B!

[6 November 2004]

This film is a snapshot of 1980s Britain where life was good for some and not so great for others and this film focuses on the latter. The Pollacks are a

dysfunctional family - 4 dysfunctional people living together in a confined space with no aspirations, money, jobs, escapism. We are with them for about an hour and a half and thats more than enough as you will feel suffocated by their

oppression - I was trying to find an excuse to get out of my bed and do

something but I lost the will when this film swallowed me up and made me feel that there was nothing to get up for as it was so depressing.

The boys in this family aren't really boys, they are old enough to be classed as 'men' but because of lack of money because of lack of work, they are still in the role of children, sharing a bedroom and living with mum and dad and they never leave the estate. Nothing goes on in this film,the characters have a really boring existence. We wait and wait for some revolutionary turning point for at least one of the characters but it never comes.

Made in Britain (1982 TV Movie)

Its 2004 - this film doesn't pack a punch anymore

[6 November 2004]

This film is dated but it is still historically important as it reveals youth attitudes growing up in Thatcharite Britain. It was a bit of a blast from the past - do you remember the pips when you answered the phone? I digress........... Anyway, Tim Roth is great as the uncontrollable Trevor and as you know, this

role gave him such acclaim. I first saw Tim Roth in the BBC drama. 'King Of The Ghetto' and from them on I was hooked and am now a collector of his films.

During this period, he was such a gritty raw talent, although I think Hollywood has softened him up now or perhaps its age! This is a TV movie, but a good one albeit a bit predictable but I was surprised to see how short it was. The DVD copy I have has been cut as it does not show him in the detention centre which is a bit of a disappointment. I don't know why it was cut out as the film wasn't long in the first place and its not to do with the language as its peppered throughout with expletives. Can anyone shed any

light on this?

Prick Up Your Ears (1987)

Bravo!

[6 November 2004]

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. The was a good camaraderie between the two

main characters of Joe Orton and Kenneth Halliwell but I couldn't help feeling sorry for Kenneth as he was such a tragic figure - his invisibility, his hair loss, his compulsive behaviour, his unappeal to other gay men.......... I bought this film in a box set with other Gary Oldman films - because he is such a versatile actor, his roles have led me to being introduced to subject matters that I would otherwise be totally ignorant about, one of which is the playwright Joe Orton's most colourful but short life...and at least Kenneth got the

recognition he thoroughly deserved in this film, albeit not in his lifetime. Watch this film and enjoy it as I did and see Dr Octopus in a most challenging role!.

The War Zone (1999)

Too much vagueness

[6 November 2004]

This film isn't pleasant viewing but as its about incest, you wouldn't expect or want it to be. I wanted to see this film because I am a big fan of Tim Roth and wanted to see his directing style otherwise I would not have watched this film as its not an appealing subject. Its a very explosive and emotionally disturbing and graphic story set against a grim Devon backdrop. Seen through 15 year old Tom's eyes, it documents one

family's experience of ultimate betrayal - incest. After watching this film, as a viewer, I am left with a lot of questions unanswered. It is never made clear why the family moved there from London, we do not know what the parents do for a living but there is suggestion that the father deals in antiques, there is too much unnecessary nudity, which is puzzling beyond

belief, there is no suggestion as to how long the incest has been going on for or why Dad is the way he is and moreover, the film stops at a point where you

need to know if the family can recover from this awful situation but you are left wondering what happens to them.