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davidtemplepenn
Reviews
Final Verdict (1991)
Well performed, nicely shot, saccharine. "To Kill a Mockingbird" lite
This film lacks only one thing, really - a believable,consistent script.
I hoped for the first 20 minutes that it would have a twist at the end, then realised it wouldn't. It's "To Kill a Mockingbird" lite.
I know I'm in England, but was US law in this period REALLY that shoddy? I didn't believe it for a minute.
Good performances all round, though: special mention to Fionnula Flanagan (Pearl, the Madame) - she really should, at least, have been Oscar nominated for Best Supporting for "The Others" this year.
Good cast,solid direction, good art direction. Pity about the story & script.
See "To Kill a Mockingbird" or "Inherit the Wind" instead.
Gosford Park (2001)
Fascinating, well worth seeing, but slightly flawed.
People seem to be comparing this to Agatha Christie novels. They are wrong, unless that is lazy shorthand for prewar who-dun-its.It has much more of the social conscience of Dorothy L Sayers, or, perhaps more accurately Margery Allingham.
The camera work is stunning, and a lot less intrusive than in Pret a Porter. The soundscape takes a little getting used to - realising one is listening to someone off camera to one's right whilst looking at the people to one's left is disorientating for a while, particularly in a mystery-thriller when one doesn't want to miss any 'clues'.
I went in a party of four: only two of us picked up who had committed the murder AFTER it had (supposedly) been explained - you do have to concentrate hard.
Great acting, hardly a foot or a syllable put wrong: for my money Emily Watson, Derek Jacobi (who steals scenes by NOT doing anything, perfectly in character), Eileen Atkins (weirdly underrated in the UK, much more respected on Broadway)and Richard E. Grant shade the acting honours by a whisker, but it's an ensemble piece, and I'm sure all the cast would say (in public at least) that naming favourites is heinous.
All in all, a very good film, but not a Friday night after a meal with a few friends thing. You do have to concentrate.
The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)
The best lit film I've seen
Drama, bordering on melodrama, and all the better for it.
Lana Turner is beautiful, Vincente Minnelli realises this and shoots accordingly.
The lighting is wonderful.
Kirk Douglas has never been better - I don't always rate him as an actor, but in this he is superb.
All this - and TV has a decent print.
Watch, video and watch again!
Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)
Fun: far, far too long
Great score, Julie Andrews at her sweetest, with just that little bit of bite, Mary Tyler Moore being nice as only she can, Carol Channing and Bea Lillie being brilliant as Carol Channing and Bea Lillie; what could go wrong?
Quite simply this film is at least 45 minutes too long.
The Others (2001)
Very good film - a ghost story not a 'horror' film
Fionnula Flanagan is equal to Dame Judith Anderson - as deadpan scary housekeepers come they don't come better than this. As second lead, could she be nominated as best supporting for the Oscars?
Nicole Kidman is superb (as I have come to expect).
Eric Sykes (British readers will know him as a farceur) plays straight, to good (and not distracting) effect.
Interestingly set in Jersey 1945, and written and directed by a Spaniard (can I presume he was brought up a Catholic) there is a full diet of subtexts played out here, but without going into spoilers it's difficult to discuss them.
I rated it a 9 rather than 10 because the younger child (son) grated once or twice.
Worth seeing, definitely, but don't expect a horror film - it's a ghost story in the tradition of MR James.
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Escapism with a strong dash of melancholy
The cinematography is superb, the art direction wonderful, the SFX seamless, the performances perfectly judged - this is a film that anyone who cares about cinema MUST see.
It is not to everyone's taste, but those (probably a very significant minority) whose taste it is will treasure it - a beyond cult classic.
Baz Luhrman has directed Opera on stage, and the truly dramatic use of music shows it. This is a director who isn't scared of emotion (cf Romeo + Juliet).
Baz Luhrman, Nicole Kidman, Jim Broadbent, Ewan McGregor, .... (to complete this list with technical names would take me well over the word limit) - thank you all for a wonderful night out.
Final word - this is a film for a BIG SCREEN - on DVD, video or TV it will be lost.