Reviews
Father Ted (1995)
Best ever?
A very simple concept; 3 priests, each socially impaired in their own special way, inhabiting a parochial house on a god-forsaken island off the West coast of Ireland. Beautifully written, wonderfully acted, and utterly blasphemous and subversive, it is a strong contender for best sitcom ever. A whole host of cameo roles by little-known actors and actresses all hit the spot perfectly. If the whole cast and production team haven't excommunicated by now, it would a miracle. Now becoming available on DVD, a must-buy if ever there was one. An all-time classic for Feck's sake.
Gakkô II (1996)
A bitter-sweet look at the stigma of mental handicaps.
A well acted and touching portrayal of the problems faced by both handicapped high school students and their teachers. Although there are touches of comedy in the film, the over-riding impression is one of sadness tinged with a sense of achievement for what little the kids manage to achieve with the odds against them.
Tôkyô monogatari (1953)
Ozu's greatest work
An elderly rural couple make a once in a lifetime trip to Tokyo to visit their 2 children trying to make a new life for themselves in post-war Tokyo. The old couple encounter only coldness and inhospitality from their own 2 children, whereas the widow of their son, who was killed in the war, is the only one who shows them any kindness. After the visit, they return to the countryside whereupon the ageing mother dies, basically from a broken heart. Ozu's well-publicised feelings regarding the responsibilities and duties of the family unit are never more elegantly or graphically portrayed than in this, one of the true masterpieces of post-war cinema. In parts, the poignancy is simply overwhelming. It would take a heart of stone not to be moved by this picture. If ever there was a "must see", then this is it.
Maximum Bob (1998)
Wonderful but worrying
One of the funniest TV series I have seen for a long time. A great cast led by a superb performance by Beau Bridges. I enjoyed the show from start to finish and have absolutely no intention of visiting Florida if I can possibly help it.
Ashita (1995)
The usual canny blend of the tragic and comic
Interesting theme, slightly lengthy in places, but overall the comical moments do not distract the viewer from the portraits of some sad and lonely characters.