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Lusitania: Murder on the Atlantic (2007)
Politics Vs History
##### Possible Spoiler #######
In this event Politics won. This is what we have to come call a "docu-drama" the telling of a story within an actual historical event.
In this case the event was the sinking of the liner RMS Lusitania on the 7th May 1915 by the German submarine SMS U-20. 1,198 passengers and crew were killed and the outcry against Germans was resounding and loud, especially in the then neutral US.
Even against the backdrop of the horrors of WWI it was big news and yet it has largely faded in favour of the Western Front or Gallipoli when WWI is reviewed. So this film should have been interesting and informative. However what we got was a fantasy that would have made the dead turn in their graves.
Those "right-on" chaps at the BBC who made this rubbish probably had this discussion first.
Producer "I don't like the Iraq war so I want to make a film that shows I don't. So I am going to tell the tale of the Lustiania.
Editor "Err OK, but wasn't she sunk by the Germans?"
Producer "Yes but we can have a German sailor with a conscience which will absolve them of any blame"
Editor "Err OK, but was't she off her advised course?"
Producer "Yes,but we will make up a reason and make the Captain a sympathetic guy picked on by the evil government (Dr Kelly anyone?) trying to cover up the fact she was carrying munitions"
Editor "Err OK, but hasn't it been proved by the survivors, manifests of the cargo from New York and by modern divers to the wreck that an ammunition explosion didn't happen? And anyway its was illegal to torpedo the liner without warning first?"
Producer "Yes, but we will just follow German propaganda at the time and at the end of the film tell everyone in writing we just made that bit up!"
Editor "How do we blame the government to make the viewer understand they shouldn't support the Iraq War?"
Producer "We show imagined conversations between Churchill and a captain who wanted the Lusitania sunk. We make the view believe the liner was routed into the path of U20 in order for her to be torpedoed, we don't tell them the admiralty were sending two destroyers at speed to escort her, we make it like their was only one U Boat in British waters, we don't tell them the Germans altered the U20s log ...
Editor "But if viewers are stupid enough to believe this made up tosh as accurate history how do we get them to link it to the situation in Iraq?"
Producer "Simple at the end of the film the lead character turns to camera as tells the viewer that he was betrayed by his government.
If the BBC want to make political points (and they increasingly do) than that's their affair. But for them to twist and invent historical fact to do it is disgraceful. Poor.
Heartless (2005)
Hoots mon its Scottish
Tourist Scotland meets a jet set London money-maker. OK so its stereotyped characters, clichés and locations, but it didn't loose too much for that.
Angus Deyton isn't the UKs greatest actor but he dose have a cynical charm which made this work. Transplant surgery is quite a ripe subject for writers and this isn't that original, but its funny and heart-warming (if you will pardon the pun) and even though you think you know the ending, it keeps you guessing all the way.
Good. The acting is convincing and there is just the right amount of humour. Its touching without ever going over the top and kept me well hooked.
Bad. Do all Scotsmen outside Glasgow wear kilts and dance round swords all the time? If you think yes, then this would not be a bad point and you will have a set of bagpipes in your living room and say D'ya Ken? Not many do though and this shortbread tin view of Scotland did start to get on my nerves.
Overall, I found it an entertaining story and well worth a watch.
Our Town (1940)
Worth a look
Quirky. Saw this on a cheap "three old films for £3.99 DVD" and wasn't expecting that much. However, I was pleasantly surprised, quite adventurous for 1940 I thought and what a sad end. I enjoyed the way we moved into 20th century, the subtle changes and quite hoped that the story would have continued up to 1940.
Faults. Spent ages building up the characters and then seemed to run out of time and rushed the end. The final scene in the grave yard was over stretched as well.
Good. William Holden, probably the first early film I have seen of him and can see why he was so popular with the ladies, and the story was just so different (original?). For the price of a coffee you can't go wrong.
Aces High (1976)
Obvious, but alright
Its an anti war film. That's it. No great epic, no great direction, no good production values and certainly not even original.
I mean how many war films over the past 30/40 years do you know that are set in WWI that are not weighed down with a none too subtle anti war message? This is nothing different and nothing that hasn't been seen before, even in the mid 70s. Positive side. Both Christopher Plummer as the "best of a bad job" and Malcolm McDowell "I can not handle this, pass the whisky" are excellent and the planes do look the part. Class system shown (as it was/is in the British forces) but not stuffed in your face so it dominates the film.
The aerial battles are good but not exactly "Battle of Britain" standard and the whole film seems to have been shot in a filed round the back of the studios and the ending is hardly a shock. Still all in all it an alright if not good film to watch on a Sunday afternoon.
No Angels (2004)
Fast, furious and real
Its not set in London (or Manchester). Its based on the premise that nurses and doctors are not god like creatures. Lots of sex and very un PC. I mean nurses smoking cigarettes drinking to excess and having casual sex! Florence Nightingale this isn't.
If you have a traditional in your view of hospitals as genteel places, where silent beautiful nurses glide from bed to bed caring for ill grateful patents with a stoic handsome Dr on call 24 hours a day, then you will hate this. The nurses have lives outside the hospital! The patents are sick with visible illnesses! The staff are under resourced and under pressure! It deals with death, sex, incompetence and relationships. Its is enjoyable and well worth a look and because it isn't prime time it doesn't have the "pre watershed" censor that Casualty/Holby City do so it can be that bit more realistic.
These are real characters and after two series the actresses have got them to a T. They are incredibly real and you can see what motivates them to continue in a massively rewarding and then unrewarding vocation.
Apparently all the scenes are based on real life incidents. Obviously compressed into hour long episodes but never the less they are in the main realistic. Third series? A new main character perhaps but it would be very welcome.
28 Days Later (2002)
My kids could have written this!
Great early shots of deserted London and err well that's about it. Once outside the smoke you can second guess every twist and turn, you know who's going to live and who's to die. You know the soldiers are really bad guys and you just know the ending is going to be a let down. Nothing new and nothing to get excited about. Damn shame as like most movies of this genre a decent writer and director who work on the same wavelength would have made this a cult classic (Like The Omega Man or the Day of the Triffids). Question, why when they have the whole of empty London in which to select transport for a lengthy journey, they end up strapping luggage to a London Taxi! Good promise, Pity it ran out after half an hour. (by the way my eldest is 7)
Rita, Sue and Bob Too (1987)
True!
It's not Hugh Grant in some over priced London suburb falling in love with hilarious results, It's not angry young men fighting against an unfair class system, it's not about forbidden homosexual partnerships or a mixing of Indian and British culture. This film shows a snap shot of British working class life as it was (and still is in many cases!). The British film industry's Liberal Elite hate this kind of movie as it attempts to show real people. Not every working class person has a chip on there shoulder! It's packed full of swearing and sex and even a little bit of violence. If you are easily offended don't watch, but if you fancy a realistic Brit flick that doesn't have Hugh Grant in it, then see this.