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Reviews
Bohéma (2017)
Prejudice takes centre stage
This 6 part series can be found under the title ' Private Live or 'Bohemia' and is filmed in the Czech language. It is Hollywood in Prague during the Second World War and does a great job of showing the dilemmas of living under an oppressive occupying power. Shown in flash back from a Grandfather to grand daughter perspective it shows the third Reich's attempts to use the Prague film industry for propaganda and anti semetic agenda's. Mixed into this is the complicated romantic and familial relationships amongst the Czechoslovakian Film Industry. It adds historical context with the killing of Reinhard Heydrich though this not shown. It's easy to lose something in having to read subtitles but it still gives a big punch and tells a thought provoking tale covering corruption, homophobia and anti semitic policies of the German regime.
Solo (2016)
Undercover and worth uncovering
I've only watched series 1 and it held my attention all the way through if you like Undercover cop shows then this really works
Its weakness might be that it's localised so no international scenes but it's believable enough to keep us on the edge of our seats. Some might see a twist in the plot coming up but it certainly surprised me The Protagonist works hard with his sultry looks but the plot he carries moves along at a swift pace. His antagonist ( Fazio from Montabalno ) carries the dark side of the series with a strong performance too the only disappointment was the end leaves us hanging for season two. I don't think it needs one.
The Liberation Men (2024)
It's not what you think!!
I was a fool! I checked out the Director thinking his involvement with 'Designated Survivor' would mean a definite bit of entertainment on a lazy afternoon! How wrong was I? This is your typical low budget war movie which only those who were involved in its production would sit down and watch. My clue came in the first few minutes when - spoiler alert- a troop carrier with 2 soldiers in immaculate uniforms were 'blown up' by what sounded like a small fire work. Next a hospital scene with no hospital staff and very poor dialogue. I'm generally tolerant of low budget movies but my patience ran out after 10 minutes! There are a ton of good war movies out there, watch those instead.
War Blade (2024)
It's better than it looks!
War Blade is a low budget film but produced with expertise and backed up with actors who know their way around a script. The story flows well with nuance and helped me care about the characters. There's no big battles or grand sweeping air shots so it keeps it simple and intimate which is appropriate for this type of film. What really makes it for me is Daryl O' Donovan's score! It drives the narrative and sets the mood as all good scores should and sets it apart from a the really poor low budget films that I have given up on after 10 minutes. There is no exploiting of female characters but people who have hearing difficulties might be critical of the character who has poor hearing as his hearing only affects those who speak to him but he has no problem hearing his own voice!!
It wouldn't be my favourite war film about French resistance but it's worth a watch.
Silent Assassin (2022)
Italian Assassin
Based on a true story!
Fatal family feud Italian style! I'm not really sure why they chose someone with a speech and hearing impediment to be the main protagonist but apart from empowering someone who is clearly disempowered I don't think it adds too much to a very simple plot!
Set in traditional rural Italy in the 1850's two families have an agreement of daughter marrying son. The future Father in law falls out with the other family and 'mute son' decides to take revenge with a single shot rifle and he has a deadly aim.
Religion plays its part as it often does in Rural Italy
The Assassin is silent but not out of choice.
Nameja gredzens (2018)
Not Vikings
Small budget paid for three actors who were strong enough to carry this average Pagan versus Christian film. James Bloor plays the evil villain who rides the line of comedy evil to gratious malevolent wannabe King. His nemesis Edvin Endre plays the good king as good as other more shorter roles in the similar set of Vikings. Ivo Martinsons attracts the camera with his wild eyed aggression and stereotypical Viking looks; bald head and long beard he backs up Bloor and Endre keeping the action swift enough to want to watch more. Sadly more is just a lot of fighting, a lot of blood spilled and stunt men and women doing their bit. I wanted more from the romantic interest of the King but she must still be learning her craft. I gave it my time just to watch those three actors but Vikings has set the benchmark too high to really appreciate this ' trying very hard' film.
I must point out that reference to Rome spoils the historical context as Crusaders came along a few hundred years later but may be it's there to focus on the Christian versus Pagan narrative which doesn't really add much value to the film.
Miasto 44 (2014)
War realism!
Warsaw 1944 is harrowing and thought provoking and not for the faint hearted! There are lots of young actors who give everything to their part even young children show the despair and fear of living under such a ruthless attack. There may be romance but set against such a gaunt background it's as rare as any sense of peace you may find whilst watching this compelling film. It's well directed and brilliantly filmed even to the final shot which depicts Warsaw morphing from hell into the modern day Warsaw. It's worth watching to the end for it. I'd rate it an 18 because of the gore but unlike other films of similar ilk it adds to the story rather than glorifying it.
Boudica (2023)
Boo dica
I was disappointed that they killed off Clive Standen ( Rollo from Vikings) but this epitomises this potentially great film. There's nothing wrong with the action, typically vicious and graphic for this genre. There's nothing wrong with the acting; Peter Franzen and Olga Kurylenko hold your attention and rightly take centre stage. The script is good enough to make it all believable with appropriate subtitles to emphasise the multi cultural aspect but my biggest grief is WHERE IS THE MONEY? Clearly the budget was big but then not realised! It needed a bigger cast and much better and bigger location. It makes the whole production look cheap and totally spoils it for me. May I add a personal gripe that clothes and uniforms looking like they have literally bee chosen off the peg means I have to suspend an amount of belief which is a shame.
Animal Kingdom (2010)
"It's a crazy f#!*ing world "
Jacki Weaver steals the show as the mother of the wayward sons She really is the glue that holds this intense and gripping drama together! Guy Pearce maybe more famous but he's a bit part as a cop trying to arrest a family of crooks who eventually and inevitably turn in on each other. It's not your regular cops and robbers and the set up is cleverly implied ie the original crime is not shown. Its focus is mainly on the relationships between the brothers, the controlling matriarch and the vulnerability of the youngest son. Mom admits that all the brothers have different fathers but seems to favour the elder. The ending is dramatic and leaves me with a feeling of a couple of hours well entertained.
The Hitman's Bodyguard (2017)
You can't be serious!
I didn't last for more than 30 mins and I am very tolerant!! There was Loads of action, loads of swearing, loads of dead and injured ( all men btw) and loads of jokes- which landed like an Elephant jumping from a tenth floor window not ( cos I hardly smiled) Samuel L Jackson is an 'A' list actor but this is one of many films that he would not have been missed from and was only in because his mate was in it too. Salma Hayek was there for eye candy, as she was not asked to act much and once I realised that every situation is more shooting, more miraculous escaping with not very funny witty conversations - I gave up!
La catedral del mar (2018)
The Virgin Mary wins
This is a story of misogyny and anti semitism in 13th century Catalonia. It's the story of a male hero whose daring do's helps him reluctantly rise through the aristocratic ranks leaving loved lost in his wake. To fall in love with our hero is to be cursed with a broken heart and violated body This series leaves very little to the imagination when showing the darker side of mans ( and it always is male) humanity to man.
The only woman to not suffer is the Virgin Mary, who 'helps' and eventually rescues Arnau with some predictability!
It deserves its 18 certificate but if you can stand the bleakness and violence and forgive poor continuity as children grow to adulthood whilst no one else ages it is worth watching all 8 episodes.