Reviews
The Silver Fleet (1943)
Hammy
Fairly typical early forties wartime movie. The Nazi's are portrayed as vain and stupid but you have to remember that victory was by no means certain in 1943, and a lot of movies from this era are little more than moral boosters. The weak ending leaves you disappointed too.
Cold in July (2014)
It holds on to you - until the end
The story and characters kind of convince you to hang in there, but the finale is woeful, typical Hollywood, corporate by the book. A better ending would have made a better movie.
The Irishman (2019)
Oh, so long
Standard fare from Scorsese with all the faces from past gangster movies. Just such a shame they are all pensioners now, it would have been a cracker if it was made twenty years ago but you are left with the feeling you've just watched your favourites from an old age home and at nearly three and a half hours, I feel like I've aged watching it. Good story, well acted but as I say, would have come over better if the cast were in their thirties or forties.
Cosmic Sin (2021)
Oh Bruce!
I wanted to like it but Brucie, your days as an action hero we're gone ten years ago. Flabby and tired looking, Willis stumbles along on autopilot and it's a bit sad. He's a great actor but someone needs to guide him to plan 'B', a move to older, deeper characters where he can express his undoubted skills.
Entrapment (1999)
Slick whimsy
Rather enjoyable to be honest. It's the same slick heist scenario we've seen before in Ocean's Eleven and many more. An elderly Sean Connery does what he does in most of his movies - plays Sean Connery, this time as an undercover policeman. Catherine Zeta-Jones shows incredible physical flexibility as a sort of high end cat burglar. That there could be a love interest between them is stretching things a little far. Cross and double cross and a few spectacular stunts along the way, we're led to the finale, complete with a little twist. I've sat through much worse and it's worth watching if you're a Connery/Zeta- Jones fan.
Stardust (2020)
Crushing, could have been so much better
What a waste. I grew up listening to Bowie and Ziggy Stardust. The opportunity to make a great film about a unique artist has been utterly squandered. I just hope someone tries again.
The Mad Axeman (2019)
I disagree that this is a bad film
I rather enjoyed it. Low budget that's true, but the film has a real sixties feel and explores a brief relationship between three characters, Frank the escaped prisoner, John charged with looking after him and Lisa, the girl brought in to keep him entertained. There is a claustrophobia in this tight little scenario and the movie is character driven and quite intense. Fairly true to the real story, the ending is both inevitable and sad. I'd say it's worth a watch if you like '60's gangster movies. You won't get to see the Krays though, they're the reason for the film but they don't feature because it's not necessary, the only hand they had in this entire tragedy was the escape of Frank Mitchell and his murder.
Incheon sangryuk jakjeon (2016)
Waste of time watching this utter rubbish
A film obviously made for the Korean market, with Liam Neeson thrown in to add some Hollywood credibility, a poor performance from him also. Every character has the ability of James Bond and the SAS combined, the gunfights and action overblown beyond proportion. The only character that shows any charisma and acting ability is the villain and I was so disinterested I can't even remember his name. Give it a miss.
A Hidden Life (2019)
Unusual, something different
I agree it's a little slow and quite long, but like after a good meal it leaves you satisfied. The relationship between August and Valerie is almost spiritual and provides both of them with the strength they need to endure this experience. Haunting and at the same time beautiful, this film shows Austria's rural locations in breathtaking beauty, and the slow rise of Nazi tyranny as it takes people over. It has a real feel of the frightening indoctrination of peaceful people. The love that kept the two principles strong is subtly played, and one mans conscience and inevitable destruction is almost agonisingly played out. Would I watch it again? Probably not because it's too long and takes too much out of you but I'm glad I've seen it. Harrowing and at the same time compulsive.
Real Money (1996)
The same team that made 'Fighters'
Ron Peck had a strange infatuation with boxing and somehow engineered his way into trainer Jimmy Tibbs's gym and stable of boxers to make the documentary 'Fighters'.
Real money is a unique spin off, the same boys more or less ad libbing their way through a story of drugs, money, boxing, gangsters and crime. No one in this (except Jimmy Flint) had any acting experience, they're all young up and coming east London boxers but the production is quite gritty and worth a watch, it has a certain atmosphere.