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Reviews
Hannibal (2001)
Foster & Demme made the right decision
Having seen this at the cinema a couple of days ago, I am still stunned as to how AWFUL this film was - what were they thinking of??!! I have read one review which stated that this film was a "thriller with no thrills" which sums it up perfectly, gone is the suspense and the good vs evil battle of "The Silence of the Lambs" to be replaced with a tedious, annoying mess. Lecter has been turned into a camp joke, and not a funny one at that, while Julianne Moore as Starling seems to spend most of the movie talking through clenched teeth and giving a simpering look. I'm not sure who should be blamed for this - Thomas Harris for writing a very poor sequel or Ridley Scott for his laborious direction.
My respect to Jodie Foster & Jonathan Demme for having nothing to do with this.
Billy Elliot (2000)
Best British movie of this year-which isn't saying much
The British Film Industry is in the doldrums at the moment and I for one am fed up with my local cinema filled with rip offs of "Lock, Stock & 2 Smoking Barrels". So it came as welcome relief that this film came along. Chiefly what makes this film work for me is that it is a British Film made for a British Audience - too often the British are portrayed as upper class twits or raving psychos and it's refreshing to see something different. It actually tries to be authentic and doesn't alter the dialogue or accents to suit the international market. The film isn't original, but lets face it with the exception of " Being John Malkovich" very few film are nowadays. What drives it are a clutch of fantastic performances that make you believe in the characters & want them to succeed. Complaints have been made against using the miners strike of the 1980's as a backdrop, but that's all it is, a backdrop - it's used and in my opinion very effectively, to further illustrate the struggle & sacrifices that Billy & his family must make in order that he can fulfil his dream and as for it being used as a setting too many times - when? the only other film I that I can think of is "Brassed Off" In short, a brilliant film that the British can be proud of, a rare commodity these days - let's just hope Mike Leigh is filming something....
Miracle Mile (1988)
Quite simply one of the best movies I have ever seen
To anyone who has not seen this, I would urge you to try & obtain a copy because it is amazing On the face of it, it would appear to be a simple thriller about whether the Anthony Edwards character has listened to a genuine message that a nuclear strike is about to hit Los Angeles, or whether it is a hoax, and the subsequent panic it causes. However the film goes much deeper than that, dealing with the issue of fate, our own mortality, relationships with each other & the fact that the human race has evolved so much that we have the power to undo all that we have achieved & destroy ourselves.
Coupled with an amazing soundtrack by Tangerine Dream & superb acting, this is a very special film.