pollocka Reviews

Rendezvous (1976)

Fun, but a fake

[10/10 · 23 October 2004]

A fun short film, some crazy manoevres, but not as fast as it makes you believe.

On the Champs Elysee the car is (according to the soundtrack) running close to max revs in 5th gear which means it should be doing about 150mph, yet it takes 67 seconds to cover 2 kilometres which puts its average speed at 67mph on a dead straight road with supposedly almost constant full throttle.

By taking the 'racing line' through corners, mounting the camera close to the road and dubbing the sound it gives a good impression of speed, but other cars pass by too slowly and most of the pedestrians barely notice what is supposed to be a 4 litre V12 Ferrari bellowing through a city at full chat.

What C'etait un Rendezvous aspires to, Getaway in Stockholm achieves.

Mulholland Drive (2001)

Don't bother!

[1/10 · 24 November 2002]

I watched the DVD for the first time last night, and I have to say I was not impressed at all. The film has nothing to say, it seems to be a few different stories that are either linked by very tenuous or confusing links, or not linked at all. I agree films should make you ask questions, but this is ridiculous.

After watching the film I noticed that in the DVD case it gave you a list of ten clues to help you understand the film. Well what's the point in that? Surely you wouldn't expect to have to read a summary of a book to help you understand it, it should be self contained.

Furthermore, when watching the actor interviews they hardly mentioned the film, all they could talk about was David Lynch, David Lynch, David Lynch, as though the fact he made a film was such an amazing thing. The film offers no insight into life, but a whole heap of insight into the mind of David Lynch and it seems to me that he is very egotistical. When you watch a film be Spielberg or Stone you don't sit through it thinking "What is the director saying?", with Mulholland Drive you are constantly thinking "This is a David Lynch film, and it is typically insane."

It seems he was trying to make a more insightful Magnolia right down to using an LA Road name for the title and having interweaving plots and characters, but Magnolia said everything it needed to and Mulholland Drive said nothing.

28 Days Later (2002)

Spoilers

[6/10 · 11 November 2002]

It was a pretty good film. Whilst not specifically about Zombies it was definitely a movie in the zombie genre.

The first half was interesting and entertaining, the film asked some serious questions but provided few answers. The sargeant said that the zombies wouldn't get across the seas and oceans, but can we really believe not one of them made it across the Channel or through the Chunnel? The behavior of the soldiers I would think would be better IRL but that is perhaps me wanting the best from a British squaddie.

The sound was not very good, often music or ambient noise overpowered the dialogue. They also used the same camera effect as in the opening battle scene of Saving Private Ryan. I don't know what it is but it makes it look very jerky like they are shooting at 20frames per second, and was particularly bad during a the rain scene at the blockade.

However, for a 21st century look at the zombie movie, it is okay, set upon a typically dark and bleak British backdrop which I like anyway, perhaps the fact it was set in Britain saved it for me.

Quiz Show (1994)

A wonderful film

[10/10 · 11 November 2002]

I watched this film for about the fifth time last night. I first saw it a couple of years ago when my mum brought it home, she'd picked it out of the bargain bin at the supermarket, and what a bargain!

It is a superb tale, I notice some have said 'who cares it was just a dumb quiz show', well that is hardly the point, many films are made where, what was seemingly the subject is actually just a background for the real story to be told.

Quiz Show is a brilliantly told morality tale, but that is not to say it preaches. It can get away with not preaching because the consequences of their actions didn't harm anyone. It doesn't say, 'if you do something wrong you will be punished'. It says 'If you do something wrong, can you live with yourself'. "It's the getting away with it I couldn't stand" Charlie says at one point.

A classical tragedy of a man with the world at his fingertips who throws it all away at his own volition. As a classical Shakespearean actor Fiennes is perfect for the role.

A wonderful intelligent and literate script, the pieces between Charlie and his father in the Athanaeum and at the picnic are wonderful.

Subtle music and stylish presentation are the icing on the cake.