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Reviews
Hail, Caesar! (2016)
Clooney Catastrophe
The star line up for this film is impressive but that's as far as it goes. I thought it sounded like a fun romp but the reality is it's a laboured take on the studio system. The characters are very 2 dimensional and the storyline is impossibly weak. I find it hard to believe Clooney could play such a lame role and how on earth did they make him look so unattractive? Alden Ehrenreich did manage to shine in portraying his role as Hobie and his performance did generate laughs. Otherwise there was a distinct lack of laughter in the aisles. Josh Brolin provided the necessary gravitas and could've provided a ready foil for the comedic elements but this was never really exploited. I really fail to see why so many respected actors would risk their reputations in a film of such low calibre. It is certainly not one of the Coen brothers better offerings and I think they are simply riding on their reputation.
Wolf Hall (2015)
Could do better
On the plus side, the acting is terrific and Mark Rylance in particular excellent. Likewise the atmosphere created and the sumptuous costumes. A great deal of thought has gone into small details which I appreciate but I fear a lot of the significance of these will go over the heads of the majority of viewers as being of small consequence, if indeed recognised.
On the negative side, working out who is who amongst the lesser characters is almost impossible as they all look alike. I have a degree in history and considering the importance of Norris, Brereton, and Weston in the downfall of Anne Boleyn, I find it frustrating that even I simply cannot recognise them individually and they are never referred to by name. The same is true of Smeaton unless he carries his lute. I have a similar problem with Anne's ladies in waiting. I can recognise Jane Boleyn but would others realise she is Anne's sister-in-law, married to Anne's brother George and carrying the title of Lady Rochford. Mary Boleyn is never even accorded her title as Lady Carey. Chancellor Thomas Audley is mentioned by name once and if anyone other than a historian works out who he is I'd be very surprised. Likewise would anyone identify Anne's father when referred to as Lord Wiltshire. Surely the script could use names a bit more frequently to assist viewers.
I do not understand why so much was made of James Bainham although this was clearly a device for illustrating the religious persecution rife throughout the entire Tudor period. I did not know of him and I doubt his name means anything to the general public. It simply confuses and detracts from Cromwell's story.
I also dislike the portrayal of Anne herself. She comes across as more petulant than the charming, intelligent and scheming woman she would have to have been to engineer both Katherine's divorce and her own subsequent marriage. After all, kings were expected to take mistresses at the time and they, or their families, were usually well rewarded as her sister Mary had been. It is also highly unlikely that Cromwell would have come out with a bald 'No' when asked to do something by a Queen of England. He was a courtier and a servant so would've been far more diplomatic.
I continue to watch it mainly for the wonderful portrayal of Cromwell himself but also wonder why the BBC did not choose to dramatise it AFTER the final instalment of the trilogy is published.
Children of Dune (2003)
Dreadful
The acting in this is quite simply dreadful and such liberties have been taken with the storyline that makes it impossible for anyone to follow unless they know the book well, in which case they will cringe. Stilgar has no presence, Jessica is weak beyond belief and completely overshadowed by Wensicia who is not a Bene Gesserit and should be of lesser stature. The twins should be younger and Irulan should be blond. All these are easily remedied aspects and changing them adds nothing to the plot. The simplification of the story is understandable and probably necessary but where details are retained, they should be kept true. Palimbasha was not killed by a crysknife but with a poisoned dart - why change it? Alia threw herself out of a window rather than stabbing herself. One highpoint is the Baron Harkonnen who is simply deliciously evil and his control is depicted well, as is the careful and gradually increasing living skin of Leto. What a shame the rest does not live up to it.
The Invisible Woman (2013)
Wonderful acting but unsatisfying
Fiennes IS Dickens - he both looks like him and captures the Victorian celebrity brilliantly. Felicity Jones does an excellent job in a much more restricted role spanning the 2 very different scenarios of her current and former lives. However the film is overlong and at its close, I felt I knew little more of Ellen Ternan than I did at the beginning. It is not immediately apparent to the audience that the precarious nature of the acting profession underlies both Nelly's lack of choice in becoming Dickens' mistress and her sister's switch to a governess role. The audience is led to believe Nelly chose the role of mistress from love, hence the protracted mourning, but this does not ring true and in reality she had little choice in the matter. Her mother's collusion in the affair is a comment on the social and moral structure of Victorian England and is well depicted in the film. Dickens is cruel to his family and I never sense real happiness and joy in the relationship with Nelly as one would expect in an affair. Fiennes portrayal makes it clear Dickens adored her, but within certain bounds, whereas Nelly's feelings remain inscrutable, even ambivalent, as does her relationship with her later husband. The flashbacks comprise so much of the film as to make a nonsense of Nelly's later life and there seems no resolution to the anguish portrayed, which seems out of proportion. Nelly was required to be 'Invisible' having chosen a particular path and the film does little to shed light on her despite the undoubted skills of the actors.
The Railway Man (2013)
Well worth seeing
Understated performances dealing with a difficult subject showcasing character acting at its best. The anguish conveyed by Colin Firth is masterful and Nicole Kidman is surprisingly good in her supporting role. Some scenes are harrowing but then this is a war film. However the film's approach is not 'gung-ho', it is not about heroes and villains and avoids the usual platitudes associated with war. Instead it tackles the subject at an individual and very personal level giving it, if anything, much greater power to move the audience. Are the flashbacks just that or are they Lomax's nightmares/hallucinations? - ultimately they could be any or all of these. How do veterans of conflict resolve their experiences internally? - this is as valid today as in WW2. This film takes you on an emotionally charged journey and makes you think. I would challenge anybody not to be affected by it.
The Awakening (2011)
Thoughtful thriller, no horror story
If you just want a scary movie, don't see this. The Awakening covers more themes than simply the paranormal, even if a couple of moments do make you jump. It deals with guilt, loneliness, fear and loss during the stark aftermath of WW1 and consequently is more about humanity than spirituality. The 2 leads are excellent as is the atmosphere created by both the accompanying score and the cinematography. For me the sign of a good film is that you come away thinking about it and re-assessing it after the denouement. I just wish the director hadn't followed convention vis a vis the hero and heroine as it wasn't necessary and detracted from the rest of the film.
The Tree of Life (2011)
Dreadful
This film has no cohesion, no focus and is simply boring. I kept expecting something to occur which would give the film some deep spiritual meaning but nothing did. It seemed that the director expected the constant use of imagery to replace any plot/storyline/character development and the overall impression is one of unmitigated pretentiousness.
I have never fallen asleep in a film before but with this, it was hard to stay awake and I did eventually succumb. I would've walked out except I was with friends and wasn't sure if they were enjoying it. It turned out all 4 of us thought the director had simply lost the plot (no pun intended).