tony-peterson Reviews

Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)

The only English language film ever made that needs English subtitles!

[4/10 · 26 March 2006]

After doing such a wonderful job of the film CHICAGO, you wouldn't have thought that the Director, Rob Marshall could do anything wrong. Well, think again.

What an absolute load of drivel this film is.

I could hardly understand a word of dialogue in the entire film. This must be the only English language film ever made that needs English subtitles! There was much fuss made of the fact that Chinese actors played Japanese roles and that the Japanese were insulted by this. Surely they'd be more insulted by the stilted, stereotypical fake Asian accents used throughout the film.

And as for the film's three Oscars (!): Best Cinematography, Art Direction and Costume Design? Heavens!! Haven't Oscar's standards dropped over the years! If you want to find out anything about a geisha's life, then watch the 1962 Shirley MacLaine film, MY GEISHA. Even though it's a typical 1960's romantic comedy, that particular film will explain, in much greater detail, all you'll need to know. And in a much more entertaining way, I might add.

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001)

FINAL FANTASY is a masterpiece!!!

[10/10 · 19 March 2006]

Is it too premature of me to say that FINAL FANTASY is the CITIZEN KANE of animation films and a quantum leap in film technology in general? The possibilities seem endless for these new techniques in animation. And whilst I'm sure there's going to be more advanced computer graphic-based films in the future, I'm also sure this will be the film text book that they'll use to develop even more groundbreaking visuals to stun us with.

Even if the animation hadn't been as fantastic as it is, this would still be a bleak and brilliant look at the Earth in 2065, after a 34 year siege by alien phantoms.

The Earth is a mess, New York is under a glass dome and death and destruction is everywhere. Dr. Sid, his assistant, Dr. Aki Ross, and Aki's boyfriend, Colonel Gray, have discovered the real reason the Earth has been invaded and they try to save the planet. A gung-ho Government representative, General Hein, won't listen to reason and sets about fixing things so well he nearly destroys the Earth in the process. That's about it, storywise, and yet, there's hardly a dull moment from start to finish.

For some strange reason, when this film was first released, a lot of people complained about the supposedly "crappy" existentialist storyline. Some people just can't see the forest for the trees, can they? Don't people open their eyes? Can't they see how good this film is? And, of course, some people just can't handle anything that deals with spirits, the afterlife or any form of mysticism whatsoever. I feel sorry for them.

All I can say is: this film is both outstanding and astounding! The computer graphics are sensational, breath-taking and, at times, beyond belief and genuinely scary! The lip-synching is a tad off sometimes, but after a while you don't care (or really notice) because there's so much happening.

This is a great film and there's absolutely no doubt in my mind at all: FINAL FANTASY is a masterpiece!!!

The Endless Summer (1966)

One trip definitely worth taking!

[10/10 · 19 March 2006]

THE ENDLESS SUMMER is a terrific Documentary and a really great "trip" (in every sense of the word) to another era: the 1960's.

Basically, the film is a photographic journal of two American surfers who start off from California, USA, and travel the world to find "the perfect wave". We follow them as they travel, and, if we're in a receptive mood, we have a lot of fun also. The film includes most of their trip, but the focus is on their journey through North and South Africa, New Zealand,Hawaii, Tahiti and Australia.

The film features some typical surfer humour that some would find a bit "lame", but it always makes me laugh. One silly example: The two surfers pack their bags for their trip. One of them reads about possible shark attacks. The next thing that we see is the other one packing a single "band-aid"...for emergencies! Typical surfer humour!! Interestingly, but unfortunately for us, the only place the boys can't find a decent surf is here, in Australia! During their Australian trip they are constantly told by the younger and older surfers alike: "You guys really missed it. You should have been here yesterday!" This really means: "You guys really missed it. You should have been here last winter!" There are so many good things in the film to enjoy: the laconic narration by Bruce Brown; the personalities of the two surfers, Robert and Mike; the evocative music score; the excellent photography and editing; and the scenic locations all combine to make this a great experience. This is one of the few films that will make you really appreciate surfing...and documentary films. It's a fine example of how to make an imaginative film with a small budget. THE ENDLESS SUMMER is truly one trip definitely worth taking!

Mame (1974)

An excellent film version of the hit Broadway show!

[10/10 · 19 March 2006]

MAME is a very enjoyable musical comedy that was tragically savaged by the critics when it was first released. And I truly don't know why, because the production values are really great: the photography, film editing, production design, costumes, choreography and musical scoring are all first rate, and the director, Gene Saks, has done a wonderful job in transferring the hit Broadway show to the screen.

Lucille Ball, of course, is not Rosalind Russell, the original film Mame, or Angela Lansbury, the Broadway Mame, but her performance is very good all the same because she brings her own zany brand of humour to the role and makes it her own.

Also, although Lucille is not really a vocalist, she brings a surprising depth of feeling to the melancholy Jerry Herman song, IF HE WALKED INTO MY LIFE. I haven't heard any other singer perform this song as well as Lucille does it. She really understands the lyrics, and you truly feel her heartache when she reflects on what she may have done right or wrong in the rearing of her nephew, Patrick, who's gone from being a sweet little boy to a sullen, snobbish young man in just a few short years. What a great performance! As far as I'm concerned, MAME is up there with GYPSY; THE MUSIC MAN; THE PAJAMA GAME and HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING as being an excellent film version of a Broadway show, and I think it's wonderful!

Crack in the World (1965)

An engrossing film from start to finish!

[8/10 · 19 March 2006]

Crack in the World (1965) CRACK IN THE WORLD is an excellent Sci-Fi film made at a time when really good ones were few and far between.

It stars Dana Andrews as a brilliant but insecure scientist who has a theory that he can drill a hole into the centre of the earth to retreive all the atomic power we need. Janette Scott is his much younger wife, who is torn between her husband and his his rival, Keiron Moore, who disagrees totally with Dana's theory.

Although I did not see this at the cinema when it was first released, I did see the trailer for the film (during a showing of the Disney film THE MISADVENTURES OF MERLIN JONES) and I couldn't wait to see it!! Unfortunately I never got around to seeing it and has to wait 20 years before I finally re-discovered it on late night television and I've loved it ever since.

The special effects are quite good, considering the obvious limitations in budget and technology of the time and I'm surprised they weren't nominated for an Oscar.

An engrossing film from start to finish

Sleuth (1972)

A brilliant film version of a brilliant play!

[10/10 · 19 March 2006]

This is a delightfully witty and suspenseful film, based on Anthony Shaffer's hit play.

The story concerns Andrew Wyke, a crime writer, who invites Milo Tindle, a successful owner of several hairdressing salons, to spend the weekend with him to discuss the fact that Milo has been having an affair with Andrew's wife. Andrew wants his revenge and begins a cat-and-mouse game that sees Milo put through an emotional wringer before the weekend is over.

Andrew, a man who likes both practical jokes and challenging people with his brilliant mind, uses every trick in the book he can to get Milo to suffer, but Milo has a few tricks of his own and uses them to great advantage to make Andrew suffer as well. It's a game of mental chess and we're always kept guessing from minute to minute as to what will happen next.

The director, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, keeps the film moving at a brisk pace, and with only two characters on screen at all time, he has chosen two of the best actors to do the job.

Sir Laurence Olivier, as Andrew, and Michael Caine, as Milo, act each other off the screen, without either of them over-acting. Both men thoroughly deserved their Best Actor Oscar nominations, and Michael Caine in particular is so good I think perhaps he should have won the award itself (unfortunately, Michael lost out to Marlon Brando in THE GODFATHER).

SLEUTH is filled with witty dialogue, clever plot twists and plenty of "in" jokes. And John Addison's amusingly apt music score is an added bonus as well.

A brilliant film version of a brilliant play!

Genghis Khan (1965)

Not the most accurate of films about Genghis Khan, but at least it's enjoyable in a silly, entertaining way

[6/10 · 19 March 2006]

Genghis Khan (1965) This is probably not the most accurate of films about Genghis Khan, but at least it's enjoyable in a silly, entertaining way. It's a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. I can see it's not all it should be, but I like it nonetheless.

I'm not a big fan of Omar Sharif, but, in the title role, he's rather good and a lot better here than he was in DOCTOR ZHIVAGO or LAWRENCE OF ARABIA.

The film features very stereotypical Chinese characters and co-stars Robert Morely and James Mason both look and act like two characters from Gilbert and Sullivan's THE MIKADO. It's rather ludicrous, but, once again, enjoyable.

Production values are high and Dusan Radic's music score is not only evocative but one of the best from the mid-1960's.

The Killing of Sister George (1968)

Maybe a bit too shocking even in this day and age for some viewers

[8/10 · 19 March 2006]

The Killing of Sister George (1968) THE KILLING OF SISTER GEORGE tells the story of June Buckridge, a middle-aged actress who portrays "Sister George" in a cosy weekly British TV soap opera called "Applehurst".

In the show June, as "Sister George", is a sweet and charming District Nurse loved by all, but off-screen she has a more sinister side to her personality: she's a hard-drinking, foul-mouthed, cigar smoking lesbian, totally insecure in her relationship with the much younger Alice "Childie" McNaught (Susannah York).

Into this insecure relationship arrives the spidery Mrs. Mercy Croft (Coral Browne), who indirectly gets June sacked from her television role and seduces June's lover into the bargain.

Beryl Reid is sensational as June Buckridge. Using a wide variety of acting skills she makes the character completely her own. It's a memorable performance, but perhaps a bit too theatrical at times.

Coral Browne fairs a bit better and simply oozes fake charm and arch superiority. She's positively malevolent. Her every line of dialogue and facial expression seem to drip with evil intent. What a great performance.

Susannah York is a bit hard to take as "Childie". She's simply the wrong actress for the role because she appears to be too old and her personality is too "strong" for someone who is supposed to have been dominated by her lover.

The film, directed by Robert Aldrich, will be a bit too full-on for most audiences. In the play on which the film was based, the lesbian relationship was only hinted at, never really mentioned. But in the film, however, Aldrich hits you over the head with it again and again.

Be warned: the trip to The Gateways Club (a lesbian bar) maybe a bit too shocking even in this day and age for some viewers.

A good film, but it could do with some pruning, but definitely worth seeing for Beryl Reid and Coral Browne's performances.

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

An excellent, haunting film...but what does Jake's character see in Heath, and where are the "secret smiles" all lovers share?

[10/10 · 15 March 2006]

Although this is an excellent, haunting film, it was still very disappointing on so many levels, and the biggest disappointment was the absence of any sparks between the two main actors, Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal.

The entire romantic angle of the film is spoilt because it's hard to fathom exactly what it is that Jake's character sees in Heath's character, because Heath hardly says a word, and just mopes around endlessly. Where are the knowing, "secret smiles" that all lovers share? Nowhere to be seen in this film, that's for sure.

It's all very well for Heath's character to be too scared to come out of the closet, but surely, every now and again, when the two of them are together, he'd show some form of affection. After all, they are supposed to be madly in love with each other. They show a bit of enthusiasm when they go off to their "fishing trips", but except for one or two moments, we never see them having any fun together.

The supposedly controversial sex scenes are too tame.There's a lot more genuine sexuality in the original short story and it would have been a real breakthrough if, for once, a Hollywood film had smashed through a few of the remaining taboos and made a flat-out effort to tell this story the way it was originally written.

Despite my initial disappointment, I can still see it's an excellent film, and perhaps one that needs to be seen a few times before the full impact sinks in.