Gran Torino review
Gran Torino, the story of a fiercely independent widower bonding with a Hmong family who are harassed by a gang from their own community, can be quite gritty, but it is also hilariously funny in places. It offers a lot of depth and the story, following the turn-around of the main character’s racial prejudices and growing love for his new family, is both touching and gripping. The script itself is very well written with some fantastic dialogue and numerous memorable one-liners that are destined to become classic movie quotes.
The supporting cast are patchy but more than passable for most of the film, but Clint Eastwood delivers what could possibly be the best performance of his illustrious career as the ultimate Grumpy Old Man. It is all the more impressive that, not to mention baffling how, he can both star in and direct a film of this quality. At the age of 78!
It is extremely surprising and completely ridiculous that this film was ignored for major awards such as the Oscars. In any review of films from the past year, Gran Torino would not only sit very comfortably indeed alongside considerations for the likes of best director and best actor but look incredibly daunting to challengers for best film.
27th Feb 2009 | 4 Comments
Three Monkeys review
Three Monkeys (of see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil fame, rather than any kind of Terry Gilliam prequel) is a brooding drama from Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan about the family of a man who takes the fall for a hit-and-run committed by his employer. The premise is simple but the repercussions are unexpected, complicated, and more than a little depressing (although we’re not in the same super league as Better Things).
All four central characters—the politician, his driver, his wife, and their son—are excellently played. The lauded sound design is too noticeable and off-putting for my tastes but the cinematography is truly brilliant. It is the story that prevents Three Monkeys from being a great film, however, as although the dialogue-light script is good the film is not entirely captivating.
16th Feb 2009 | Comment
David Fincher: Best to Worst opinion
- Fight Club (1999)
- Seven (1996)
- The Game (1997)
- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2009)
- Zodiac (2007)
- Alien 3 (1992)
- Panic Room (2002)
Fincher hasn’t made a bad film but Ben Button doesn’t come close to the classics of Fight Club and Seven.
13th Feb 2009 | 1 Comment
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button review
Benjamin Button is not only long but unnecessarily long, which significantly mars the overall impact of the film. A more concise story with a slightly more challenging script to complement the wonderfully visual film could have turned it in to one the best of the year so far.
Performances are good, especially from Brad Pitt and Tilda Swinton’s brief role is worthy of note. Cate Blanchett, however, is sometimes awkward, from the inaudible mumblings as an elderly Daisy, to the baffling choice of using her to dub the 10-year old Daisy, to the portrayal of a pregnant 42-year-old Daisy with perfect skin and not a grey hair in sight. The actress ages far too well, which is a particular problem in this film, and as great as Blanchett is I can’t help but feel she was miscast.
13th Feb 2009 | Comment
Timecrimes review
Anyone with even the slightest inkling that there exists a thing called “science fiction” will know that meddling with time travel causes nothing but trouble. And trouble is exactly what the characters get in this neat but mind-bending little Spanish flick.
Although short-term events can be predictable, the twisted arc of the story is, against expectations halfway through the film, anything but. Not to undermine the small cast (whose lead actor is particularly convincing), the script is the real star and careful direction prevents the complex story becoming a complete mess.
Timecrimes (or the much better sounding Los Cronocrimenes) is enjoyable, clever, and humorous but it isn’t for everyone. With a small budget it is rough around the edges but it is all the better for that fact.
9th Feb 2009 | Comment
Hansel & Gretel review
A confused South Korean film that is more dark fantasy than horror, Hansel & Gretel suffers from apparently not knowing what it wants to be.
The concept is strong and the story original and the wonderful world created by the intricate design, especially of the sets, is a standout feature. But the viewer is jarringly thrown around, sometimes incoherently, and is pushed far too quickly past the dark humour and scares that make the start of the film so enjoyable.
5th Feb 2009 | Comment
