Sean-M

Natural Born Killers is a confusing, overwhelming and largely tasteless film of superb visual variation and quality. The film also has one of the best soundtracks I've heard in terms of music that works appropriately with the visuals to maximise audience response. I really liked this film, with much of the appeal stemming from the fact that it was never made to be taken seriously. It was an extremely funny, cynical and depraved look at an American society in which the media circus farce that remains ever-present in our faces is so blatant that we actually tend to miss it. In terms of commenting on the acting, I won't waste too much time as it serves no purpose in a film that was always going to touch the very limits of over-acting for Hollywood without employing the services of Jim Carrey. Critically evaluating the acting in-depth in this film is simply naieve.I will however say, that both Juliette Lewis and Woody Harrelson were superbly cast. Both looked and sounded the part, while any criticisms of Robert Downey Junior in particular that I have heard are grossly unfair. I would refer to my earlier point while adding that he overacted to the point where his spoof cop show was believable and his ranting and obsessiveness complete with the horrendous Australian accent (which he didnt need to employ) was hilarious and in many respects made the film. Likewise the jumpy, ranting and distasteful Governer played by Tommy Lee Jones and the driven but pyschotic cop Scagnetti, played by Tom Sizemore were fascinating for the film, albeit with limited screen-time. Both representative of an establishment as twisted as the Killers it cages, Jones added to the humour while Sizemore's role was darker and more thought-provoking. All typical Oliver Stone Territory. Above all else, I think this film is mis-understood and its controversial content ensures that it is easily written-off. While certain visuals were just too abstract or repetitive (As I found the majority of the car-driving scenes were) I found on the whole they were superb, adding another level to the audiences opinions and reactions to characters without the use of dialogue, providing a more useful method of conveying the insanity of both the central characters and those around them complete with the worlds they inhabit, awash as they are with commercial break, war, holocaust and even other film images. The scene with the Indian in particular still holds considerable fascination. There was also a tendency running throughout this film for the camera to return to focus that extra half-second on facial expressions made in the course of conversations. A great technique that makes you wonder exactly what you are seeing in a sequence that appeared normal seconds before. Combined with continual shifts to black and white, this all adds to the eerie and abstract nature of the film. This unfortunately is lost on the majority of those who watch this film, and again is typical of Oliver Stone, as are the little subtleties he employs throughout, such as the vietnam plaque on the wall for the Indian's son, the appearance of Nixon on TV, the spoof cop show or Mallory's TV-show family whose patriarch is a hard-drinking unemployed, sexual-abusing racist who rants at the wrestling on the TV. The TV show scene in particular is much maligned despite its signifigance in showing that, when presented in the right way, an audience will love anything, again tying in with the media madness that envelops the film. Theres a lot more to this film than can probably be appreciated with one viewing and the darker elements of Mickey's past for example were left tantalisingly vague for the audience. However, overall I'd say its the most unrealistic, yet brilliant film I've come across in a while, with the continual cuts and downright ludicrous images reminiscent of "Fear and loathing in Las Vegas", and the black Humour in a similar category as "Man bites dog." I liked it but I would recommend it anyway for the superb cinematography and the fact that its a highly unorthodox and fascinating take on popular American culture.

An extremely competent look at the Scottish drug-Scene, Trainspotting is a perfect example of the potential of the UK industry to tell a story of tragedy, horror and hope in a manner that the American industry has yet to do without drifting into tired Cliche. While the manner and style of delivery are extremely funny and at times appear almost unreal, the fact remains that these characters are real. The clearly psychotic and alcoholic Begbie, played by Robert Carlyle is a supporting role that is actually of immense value to the film. Here we have character who I've met, you've met and we've all met. A man with very little to lose absorbed in a sea of alcohol and prone to violence. I choose him as example because he isnt even involved in the drug-scene in which the main characters are central. In fact his opposition is somewhat humorous when we consider his own vices make him argueably worse off and the incidences of violence he becomes involved in

are most definitely black humour. Considering what is actually happening isnt funny, watching it play out, aside from one major incident, is extremely funny. And that is the tone of the film throughout, as characters continually talk nonsence and sail through the lives they have chosen, making very little progress, but instead drifting downwards until an opportunity presents itself to change their ways, where upon Renton, Ewan McGregor, must make a choice between his own life or his friends. McGregor himself is excellent in the film that made him, as is Jonny Lee Miller, who surprised me in this film by having a more thought-provoking character than the script and time strictly allowed considering his relatively minimal place in the main storyline. Ewen Bremner provided some excellent and often well-needed comic relief and Carlyle as I mentioned, was outstanding. This film is both real and unreal, taking the Humour of "Human Traffic" and the somber tone of "My name is Joe" and blending them together to create an unforgettable experience vividly accompanied by strains of "Perfect day" and other cultural and nostalgic sounds, particularly of the place and period. Trainspotting has been accused of glamourising drug-use but I firmly believe anyone who takes this view hasnt watched it properly. The fun is equally, if not more so, matched by some nasty images and for the time it was released, provided what was a very necessary look at the growing drug industry, the loss it creates and the hope that can arise. Superb.