Change Your Image
jason brown
Reviews
Irréversible (2002)
An extraordinary and powerful film (spoilers)
This film is certainly one of the most powerful and moving films of its kind in recent years. The effort required by the viewer to get past the gore and the often dizzying (and, admittedly, sometimes irritating) camera-work is substantial but you'll be ultimately rewarded with a highly intelligent, very moving and superbly acted film.
Criticism of the extinguisher scene is ridiculous. It is the climax to an incredible opening sequence which is (intentionally) disturbing and unsettling. To have cut it would have lessened the impact of the rest of the film. The lighting of the scene and the minimal camera-movement mean that there is no 'glorifying' or 'exploitation' - it simply and incredibly effectively shows the horrific consequences of male hormones and revenge. The fact that it's the wrong man makes it all the more powerful.
And the rape scene has been criticised by many for its length. The length is surely there to pummel our senses and try to give some idea of what such an ordeal might be like. The total detachment with which the scene is filmed (minimal camera-movement again) serves to show the stark reality of what is happening. After the best part of ten minutes everyone is thinking "God - this is never gonna end.....", and surely that's the point? I think it puts us as near as we are ever going to get to feeling like the victim.
And these two scenes put the rest of the film, with its wonderful and touching moments of humour and love, into context.
The acting is fantastic throughout. To do any of the scenes, even lighter stuff like the lovely tube scene, without cuts is impressive, but for Prestia and Bellucci to do that 9 minute rape scene in a single take is truly amazing. Bellucci deserves nominating for every acting award going.
This film will stay with you for a long time. It has many memorable images (both horrific and beautiful) that will burn into your movie subconscious.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Magical, but No.1??!!!!
Am I the the only person on the planet who thinks that Elijah Wood was extremely dull? He had no presence whatsoever, and while I know that Frodo wasn't supposed to be the most charismatic character ever, a bit of fire wouldn't have gone amiss. Yeah, I know he's got lovely eyes, but looking like a hobbit does make a great performance.
And what on earth did they spend so much on prosthetic feet for?!! I know that it indicates an admirable sense of detail for the source work, but how many significant shots of feet did we get?!!! They should have saved the pennies to improve some of the diabolical FX shots (frequent occasions where actors were so obviously superimposed in front of scenery) which really were not good enough for the 21st Century, and stuck out like a sore thumb, especially when compared to the rest of the CGI, which were frequently breath-taking.
Most of the film's acting is excellent, and the cinematography and scenery frequently stunning - I loved some of Jackson's long sweeping shots, which were almost dizzying on occasion. It's also very dark and scary in places - the horses and orcs in particular gave me the willies (to quote Slartibartfast - was Gandalf based on him or what?!), but some of the battle scenes certainly suffered from over enthusiastic editing, but this seems to be a trait of many modern films - everything from Gladiator to Planet of the Apes - chopped to almost a lightning blur.
I've been a fan of Jackson since Bad Taste, and he's done a very very good job with this film, but not a truly GREAT job. I love what he's done, and would recommend it to EVERYONE, but let's keep things in perspective - this is no Godfather or Star Wars.
Educating Marmalade (1982)
Andrew Davies
Just thought I had to comment on this, since I never knew it was written by Andrew Davies, the man behind adaptations of 'Bridget Jones's Diary' and countless television classics like 'House of Cards', 'To Serve Them All My Days', 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'Emma', as well as one of my all time favourite TV series, 'A Very Peculiar Practice'.
'Educating Marmalade' also starred the wonderful Charlotte Coleman from 'Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit', 'Four Weddings and a Funeral', and the much underrated (did anybody else see it?) Simon Nye ('Men Behaving Badly') comedy 'How Do You want Me?' with the brilliant Dylan Moran and Frank Finlay.
How Do You Want Me? (1998)
Highly underrated comedy.
This is one of the most brilliant and most underrated TV comedy series of all time. From the writer of 'Men Behaving Badly' Simon Nye, but in a totally different vein, this is warm, witty and often touching.
It basically tells the story of a young couple who have moved to the countryside to be near her (Charlotte Coleman) parents. The husband (comedian and acting genius Dylan Moran) resents the move and doesn't get on with her father. And that's it. But the acting and directing is so perfect that every episode was engrossing. BBC2 stuck both series of this on quite late at night and hardly anybody seemed to see it, which is a tragedy. If you ever get a chance to see it, it's well worth a look.
Swordfish (2001)
Realism...
I'm sorry, but I just can't stand any more brain dead, pretentious wannabe-critics moaning about this film's lack of realism. Swordfish is flashy, great-looking and fun, which is precisely what it's meant to be. If you want realism go and watch a Mike Leigh film...
P.S. I love Mike Leigh, by the way.