H4wke

There is nothing so oddly cozy as a British murder-mystery story. Biscuits with tea, one sugar, cake (might as well), comfy chairs, bucolic scenery; a club, bludgeoning the back of a head; blood, pouring across the floor as the bowels empty, as the corpse bloats and dries and goes in the ground below stone and flowers.

Chris Columbus continues his mystery in a castle trilogy, but this time the only magic trick is how mediocre the film is with the cast that it has. Instead of doing a 40s period piece, they settled for actors from the time, and the pickings are extremely welcome: Brosnan, Mirren, Kingsley, Imrie, hell throw in Pryce and Grant while you're at it. The cast is more stacked than a typical tiered cake stand, and you'd think their age would be more than a quirky part of the film. The story skirts around a sense of time having passed but never divulges into it effectively, instead providing a plot that feels too open and shut - nothing to snag on or grasp at.

It's frustrating because I want to love it. All the ingredients are there but it pops out of the oven undercooked and underwhelming.

Still, it is a decent foundation for a series of more interesting tales. So, I'll be there for the next one - I just hope it's deeper than a puddle. I'll bring my wellies just in case.

It was only while reading the book earlier this year that I realised how much of this film had stuck with me. I watched it once as a teenager and despite not fully understanding it, the scenes stuck in my brain unlike most movies. The book is surprisingly worse, to be sure, but it does in a way embellish the film upon return.

What isn't surprising is how fantastic The Godfather truly is. It goes through the great range of human emotions across sturdy, well-plotted rails. Endless stories about what it took to get this vision on screen are well known by many, and the effort shows brighter than ever.

Truly magnifico, one of the great epics of American storytelling. I can't say anything that hasn't already been said.

De Palma is a director that just wants to have fun. Whether it's Phantom of the Paradise (weird characters) or Mission Impossible (weird actors), there is a genuine feeling that him and his crew put their hearts, their very souls into the film. Sisters is a movie that I'm sure stuck out from the crowd at the time, with it's neat use of split screen, quirky intro sequence and creepy performances.

Unfortunately it commits the cardinal horror sin of explaining everything that's happened. I was enjoying it until the possibilities were wrapped up before my very eyes and presented in a neat, tidy, consumable package.

Still, it was unnerving at times, and always a treat to see that palpable De Palma energy.