myrndra Reviews

Funny Games (2007)

At least I only wasted 10 minutes of my life...

[1/10 · 17 January 2009]

...on this tripe. It was showing on Film4 and looked interesting on adverts, so I thought I'd give it a go.

Two Hitler's youths torturing a family to death. Originally an Austrian film: what a surprise. Apparently these sociopaths have the power to rewind time. I don't, but I did have the power to turn over to a different side, and I did.

As someone else has already said, the people to whom this film's message are directed won't bother watching (not gory enough); and the rest of us, who don't find violence entertaining, will be put off by the film itself. Life is ugly and difficult enough without b.s. like this.

Rebus: The Falls (2006) Season 2, Episode 1

Disappointing

[3/10 · 19 September 2008]

I agree with the gentleman above, that future Rebus films, if there are any more, should be based on short stories or written fresh. There is no writer besides Rankin himself, or maybe Jimmy McGovern, with the talent to do justice to the layered plots and characterisations of Rankin's creations.

Ken Stott is all right as Rebus, rumpled and grumpy, but we're still watching Ken Stott. I think they need to cast a Scottish unknown if they do a future series.

The biggest disappointment has been the actress who plays Siobhan Clarke. Whining, whingeing, don't do this, how could you do that... you almost expect Rebus to cry, 'What are you, my mother???' Siobhan in the books was really cool, a Hibs supporter and a well-rounded female character. Here she is just a two-dimensional nag.

I know that films are seldom as satisfying as books because they are different media; but it is so disappointing to watch a crime drama that could have been so much better had the production people, writer and director got their thumbs out and tried a little harder.

Rainbow (1978 TV Movie)

Blood-Chilling Noise

[1/10 · 13 August 2008]

This is one of the worst films on a famous person's childhood I have ever had the misfortune to watch: saccharine, vague, wooden performances all round but especially wooden is McArdle, a butch kewpie doll who is badly miscast in the lead. And her singing! Nothing like the nuance and subtleness of Garland's, just a strident noise to chill the blood. Blessed are the inventors of the remote, which meant I could mute the sound from the comfort of my sofa every time McArdle opened her mouth.

The thing I don't get is why child labour is frowned upon in every arena except that of entertainment, and the obscenity that is the Child Star. If you really want to know about Judy Garland's childhood, don't bother with this garbage, read Gerald Clarke's GET HAPPY: THE LIFE OF JUDY GARLAND. As a book it's fascinating, well-researched, and blessedly *silent*.

Blackball (2003)

Ace!!!!

[10/10 · 2 November 2006]

Quite pleasantly surprised by this film - I taped it for a reason I can't recall, and when I finally sat down to watch it laughed so hard I vibrated. Sexy West Country accent from the unstoppable Paul Kaye, excellent best-buddy shtick from my potting hero, Johnny Vegas; some great cameo turns; and a love interest that was actually interesting.

Being American-born, having fled the US (partly) to get away from the really dreadful bits in American culture only to find they've bloody followed me, I'm usually annoyed to find a Septic chewing up the scenery in British TV or film. Hey, *I* found Britain first; YANKS GO HOME!!! is my motto.

But in this case, I thought Vince Vaughan a perfect addition to an already stellar cast. Maybe it was because Vaughan's character didn't posit the usual American nasal every-sentence-is-a-question? rap; maybe it was his blast of fresh & sweary air. Anyway, this film is a must-see for fans of British comedy who like intelligence, vulgarity, quick wit: 'He was a national bowling champion aged 45: too much, too young.' Not to mensch a script, for once, *not* written by the unfortunately ubiquitous Richard Curtis.

Cracker (2006 TV Movie)

Finally!!!

[10/10 · 1 October 2006]

Great to see the big man back, though I felt an inward groan when I saw the theme. But Jimmy McGovern has improved with rage - no appeasing one small section of the suffering population by focusing on Asians. He went for the big picture and said EXACTLY what many people have been feeling for several years now about American money backing Northern Ireland, the myth of the Yanks winning WWII for the Allies, and the b.s. that is the war in Iraq. Some top acting from the leads plus the usual McGovern snappy intelligence in the writing made it essential viewing. Jimmy McGovern is our national treasure. His scripts make up for the oceans of bad clichés strangling uniform operas such as The Bill, Spooks, and every other indigo-coloured cop show bloating up our screens nowadays. Thank you! The one aberration he didn't have time to mention is the other grave crime that the Americans have yet to answer for: the butchery of Robbie Coltrane in the name of the US-produced abomination 'Fitz'.

See No Evil: The Moors Murders (2006)

Haunting

[10/10 · 16 May 2006]

When I saw this television drama advertised I didn't think I'd be watching it; I don't believe in recent (in the last 50 years) true crimes being 'used' as a source of 'entertainment'.

I did watch the second half of 'See No Evil', however. I think the cast was uniformly excellent, especially the two actors in the lead roles. It was intelligently written and focused more on how the crimes affected those around the killers than on the heinous nature of their murders.

It also brought to light the hard work of some of the police involved in the case as well as the ordinary people who volunteered to search the moors for the victims' bodies with nothing more sophisticated than sticks. At one end of the human spectrum was the bewildering amorality of the murderers; at the other, the generosity of those trying to help with the police searches. When the end credits rolled over silence, I found myself in tears.

A brave and sober account of events that no one who was alive and living in Manchester at the time will ever forget.