1957 / UK / 161 minutes
Director: David Lean
Screenplay: Carl Foreman and Michael Wilson, based on the novel The Bridge Over the River Kwai by Pierre Boulle
Starring: William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Sessue Hayakawa
Genre: Action, drama, war
This film is set in Thailand in 1943 and concerns a group of British Prisoners Of War led by principled dutiful gentleman officer Lieutenant Colonel Nicholson (Guinness) who are ordered by their Japanese captors, led by tough strict Colonel Saito (Hayakawa), to work on a rail bridge spanninjg the Kwai river. After a long battle of wills between Nicholson and Saito, primarily due to the latter's insistence that officers work alongside the men, the two reach a compromise, and Nicholson and his men co-operate on the construction of the bridge, partly to boost the prisoner's morale and partly out of pride in British engineering.
Unbeknownst to anyone at the prison camp however, a small group of Allied soldiers, led by cynical realist American naval officer Shears (Holden), who has some secrets of his own, and who managed to escape from the prison camp, are moving through the jungle on a dangerous mission to destroy the bridge by any means necessary.
Based on a novel by French author Pierre Boulle (whose work also inspired Planet of the Apes), this is an acknowledged cinema classic. Directed by David Lean, the master of widescreen spectacle, it is a hugely entertaining film. It's not an all-action shoot 'em up war film, although there are some exciting action set pieces, it's more of a character piece. Particularly interesting is the relationship between Nicholson, practically the epitome of the stiff upper lipped British officer, and Saito, his Japanese counterpart, initially antagonistic it becomes something more complex.
The film was the winner of seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and there are elements of it that have become part of cinema history, such as the prisoners whistling the "Colonel Bogey March" while marching, and the exciting climax.
Saturday, 28 February 2015
Saturday, 21 February 2015
Raging Bull
1980 / USA / 129 minutes
Director: Martin Scorsese
Screenplay: Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin, based on the book Raging Bull: My Story by Jake LaMotta, Joseph Carter and Peter Savage
Starring: Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty and Joe Pesci
Genre: Drama, sports
This film is widely regarded as one of the greatest films of the 1980s and one of the peaks of director Martin Scorsese and actor Robert De Niro's careers. The film tells the true story of champion boxer Jake LaMotta (De Niro) following his career from a hungry up and coming prize fighter in the early 1940s to to a bloated nightclub entertainer in the 1960s. It details how the violence and rage which made LaMotta such a feared and formidable opponent in the ring, affected his personal life and relationships, in particular with second wife Vicky (Moriarty) and his brother and manager Joey (Pesci), which were coloured by his obsessive rage, sexual jealousy, paranoia and self-destructive behaviour.
LaMotta is never a likeable individual, but he is fascinating and weirdly sympathetic thanks to the astonishing performance by De Niro, in which he attained peak physical form to play the young LaMotta (the real Jake LaMotta on whose autobiography the film is based and who served as an advisor for the film-makers commented that DeNiro was one of the twenty best middleweight boxers of all time). and then famously became hugely overweight to play the older LaMotta.
The film is shot in beautiful black and white with a brief colour sequence about halfway through the film. Most of the film is shot in the gritty low-key style familiar from earlier Scorsese films, but the boxing scenes are spectacular choreographed and edited and stylishly shot.
A bleak, savage and uncompromising film, it is also a masterpiece.
Director: Martin Scorsese
Screenplay: Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin, based on the book Raging Bull: My Story by Jake LaMotta, Joseph Carter and Peter Savage
Starring: Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty and Joe Pesci
Genre: Drama, sports
This film is widely regarded as one of the greatest films of the 1980s and one of the peaks of director Martin Scorsese and actor Robert De Niro's careers. The film tells the true story of champion boxer Jake LaMotta (De Niro) following his career from a hungry up and coming prize fighter in the early 1940s to to a bloated nightclub entertainer in the 1960s. It details how the violence and rage which made LaMotta such a feared and formidable opponent in the ring, affected his personal life and relationships, in particular with second wife Vicky (Moriarty) and his brother and manager Joey (Pesci), which were coloured by his obsessive rage, sexual jealousy, paranoia and self-destructive behaviour.
LaMotta is never a likeable individual, but he is fascinating and weirdly sympathetic thanks to the astonishing performance by De Niro, in which he attained peak physical form to play the young LaMotta (the real Jake LaMotta on whose autobiography the film is based and who served as an advisor for the film-makers commented that DeNiro was one of the twenty best middleweight boxers of all time). and then famously became hugely overweight to play the older LaMotta.
The film is shot in beautiful black and white with a brief colour sequence about halfway through the film. Most of the film is shot in the gritty low-key style familiar from earlier Scorsese films, but the boxing scenes are spectacular choreographed and edited and stylishly shot.
A bleak, savage and uncompromising film, it is also a masterpiece.
Saturday, 8 November 2014
On the Road
2012 / France / 124 minutes
Director: Walter Salles
Screenplay: Jose Rivera, based on the novel On the Road by Jack Kerouac
Starring: Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Kirsten Dunst, Alice Braga, Amy Adams, Tom Sturridge, Viggo Mortensen
Genre: Drama
Jack Kerouac's cult novel On the Road, published in 1957, defined what would become known as the Beat Generation, became a counter-culture touchstone and is now an acknowledged classic of American literature.
This film certainly will not become a classic, cult or otherwise, and is unlikely to become a generational touchstone. Set in the late 1940s and early 50s, the virtually plotless narrative revolves around aspiring writer Sal Paradise (Riley) who undertakes a series of journeys with his charismatic irresponsible friend, Dean Moriarty (Hedlund).
It's well-made and always looks good, but the novel cries out for a more experimental, free-wheeling approach. As it is, the film captures none of the verve and excitement of Kerouac's prose, thereby most of the point. It's a well-night impossible task to make a good film of Kerouac's works because they are so dependent on literary style and technique. As it is, it's an attractive, well-made but basically undistinguished literary adaptation.
The film is well-acted by an impressive cast, however while he has the looks and charisma, and turns in a solid performance, Garrett Hedlund doesn't really capture the force-of-nature magneticism of Dean Moriarty. As Moriarty's young wife, Marylou, Kristen Stewart is fantastic.
Director: Walter Salles
Screenplay: Jose Rivera, based on the novel On the Road by Jack Kerouac
Starring: Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Kirsten Dunst, Alice Braga, Amy Adams, Tom Sturridge, Viggo Mortensen
Genre: Drama
Jack Kerouac's cult novel On the Road, published in 1957, defined what would become known as the Beat Generation, became a counter-culture touchstone and is now an acknowledged classic of American literature.
This film certainly will not become a classic, cult or otherwise, and is unlikely to become a generational touchstone. Set in the late 1940s and early 50s, the virtually plotless narrative revolves around aspiring writer Sal Paradise (Riley) who undertakes a series of journeys with his charismatic irresponsible friend, Dean Moriarty (Hedlund).
It's well-made and always looks good, but the novel cries out for a more experimental, free-wheeling approach. As it is, the film captures none of the verve and excitement of Kerouac's prose, thereby most of the point. It's a well-night impossible task to make a good film of Kerouac's works because they are so dependent on literary style and technique. As it is, it's an attractive, well-made but basically undistinguished literary adaptation.
The film is well-acted by an impressive cast, however while he has the looks and charisma, and turns in a solid performance, Garrett Hedlund doesn't really capture the force-of-nature magneticism of Dean Moriarty. As Moriarty's young wife, Marylou, Kristen Stewart is fantastic.
Horns
2013 / USA - Canada / 120 minutes
Director: Alexandre Aja
Screenplay: Keith Bunin, based on the novel Horns by Joe Hill
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Max Minghella, Joe Anderson, Juno Temple, Kelli Garner
Genre: horror, dark fantasy, drama
In the small American town of Gideon's Falls, Ignatius "Ig" Perrish (Radcliffe) is accused of the brutal rape and murder of his girlfriend Merrin (Temple). Despite his repeated protestations of innocence, the townspeople are convinced of Ig's guilt. After a night of heavy drinking, Ig wakes up to find two large horns growing out of his head. While people can see the horns they don't appear to really notice them, but they are also compelled to confess to Ig their deepest, darkest secrets. Ig determines to use the power of the horns to help him discover the truth behind Merrin's murder.
The film is an adaptation of the 2010 novel Horns by Joe Hill, and sticks relatively close to the source. The story moves back and forth in time shifting from the present day narrative to Ig and Merrin's youth and the growth of their relationship. Several elements of the film may be too bizarre for some audiences to accept, but I enjoyed it. It's less of a conventional horror movie and more of a darkly satirical religious crime drama. The performances are superb, with Daniel Radcliffe in particular fantastic as the complex, troubled Ig Perrish.
Director: Alexandre Aja
Screenplay: Keith Bunin, based on the novel Horns by Joe Hill
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Max Minghella, Joe Anderson, Juno Temple, Kelli Garner
Genre: horror, dark fantasy, drama
In the small American town of Gideon's Falls, Ignatius "Ig" Perrish (Radcliffe) is accused of the brutal rape and murder of his girlfriend Merrin (Temple). Despite his repeated protestations of innocence, the townspeople are convinced of Ig's guilt. After a night of heavy drinking, Ig wakes up to find two large horns growing out of his head. While people can see the horns they don't appear to really notice them, but they are also compelled to confess to Ig their deepest, darkest secrets. Ig determines to use the power of the horns to help him discover the truth behind Merrin's murder.
The film is an adaptation of the 2010 novel Horns by Joe Hill, and sticks relatively close to the source. The story moves back and forth in time shifting from the present day narrative to Ig and Merrin's youth and the growth of their relationship. Several elements of the film may be too bizarre for some audiences to accept, but I enjoyed it. It's less of a conventional horror movie and more of a darkly satirical religious crime drama. The performances are superb, with Daniel Radcliffe in particular fantastic as the complex, troubled Ig Perrish.
Grindhouse
2007 / USA/ 190 minutes
Director: Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino
Screenplay: Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Rose McGowan, Kurt Russell, Freddy Rodriguez, Rosario Dawson, Michael Biehn, Josh Brolin, Marley Shelton, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Genre: Action, horror, crime, science-fiction
This film is a homage to the world of "grindhouse" cinema. Grindhouses were cinemas that specialised in low-budget exploitation films in the 1970s. The movies they showed were usually not very good quality and often released in damaged prints, and they were often shown in double bills are all night marathons. Here we have what you might be letting yourself in for at a double feature at the grindhouse.
The program kicks off with Planet Terror, directed by Robert Rodriguez, in which the residents of a small Texan town struggle to survive against a virus which turns people into hideous, flesh-eating zombie like monsters. Next up is Death Proof, directed by Quentin Tarantino, in which women are pursued by a psychopathic stuntman who kills his victims with a customised "death proof" stunt car. To add to the fun, the films are preceded by trailers for fake movies: Machete (which did become a feature film in 2010), Werewolf Women of the SS, directed by Rob Zombie, a homage to the Nazi exploitation sub-genre, Don't, directed by Edgar Wright, a tribute to the Hammer Horror films, and Thanksgiving, directed by Eli Roth, a tribute to the holiday themed slasher movie sub-genre.
It's a very entertaining show, and certainly full of action, however the excessive violence and callousness, as well as the plot holes and bizarre quality of the films will not be to everyone's taste. The film is made to look like a grindhouse show, including scratched film, washed out colours, missing reels, out of focus images, and at several points the film seemingly burning up in the projector, which adds to the authenticity, but at times does become quite irritating.
Grindhouse underperformed at the US box office and so Planet Terror and Death Proof were released internationally in extended versions as separate stand alone movies.
Director: Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino
Screenplay: Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Rose McGowan, Kurt Russell, Freddy Rodriguez, Rosario Dawson, Michael Biehn, Josh Brolin, Marley Shelton, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Genre: Action, horror, crime, science-fiction
This film is a homage to the world of "grindhouse" cinema. Grindhouses were cinemas that specialised in low-budget exploitation films in the 1970s. The movies they showed were usually not very good quality and often released in damaged prints, and they were often shown in double bills are all night marathons. Here we have what you might be letting yourself in for at a double feature at the grindhouse.
The program kicks off with Planet Terror, directed by Robert Rodriguez, in which the residents of a small Texan town struggle to survive against a virus which turns people into hideous, flesh-eating zombie like monsters. Next up is Death Proof, directed by Quentin Tarantino, in which women are pursued by a psychopathic stuntman who kills his victims with a customised "death proof" stunt car. To add to the fun, the films are preceded by trailers for fake movies: Machete (which did become a feature film in 2010), Werewolf Women of the SS, directed by Rob Zombie, a homage to the Nazi exploitation sub-genre, Don't, directed by Edgar Wright, a tribute to the Hammer Horror films, and Thanksgiving, directed by Eli Roth, a tribute to the holiday themed slasher movie sub-genre.
It's a very entertaining show, and certainly full of action, however the excessive violence and callousness, as well as the plot holes and bizarre quality of the films will not be to everyone's taste. The film is made to look like a grindhouse show, including scratched film, washed out colours, missing reels, out of focus images, and at several points the film seemingly burning up in the projector, which adds to the authenticity, but at times does become quite irritating.
Grindhouse underperformed at the US box office and so Planet Terror and Death Proof were released internationally in extended versions as separate stand alone movies.
Tuesday, 28 October 2014
Her
2013 / USA/ 126 minutes
Director: Spike Jonze
Screenplay: Spike Jonze
Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Olivia Wilde, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Pratt
Genre: Science-fiction, romance, drama
This film is set in a near future Los Angeles. Theodore Twombly (Phoenix) is in the process of divorcing his wife, Catherine (Mara), and works writing heartfelt, intimate letters to people on behalf of clients who either can't or won't write their letters themselves. One day Theodore installs a new, talking, computer operating system (voiced by Johansson) with artificial intelligence, that can seemingly learn, adapt and evolve. Calling itself Samantha, the operating system soon becomes invaluable to Theodore, and they soon fall in love.
This is a surprisingly sweet, and heartfelt romantic film despite it's science-fiction trappings. There is a genuine poignancy in Theodore and Samantha's relationship. Phoenix gives a great performance as the lonely, soulful writer who can only really express himself when he is writing letters posing as someone else. Johansson however, is the real standout with her entirely vocal performance as the operating system. There are wonderfully quirky science-fiction touches such as voice operated computers that mimic human handwriting, and the world that the film creates is far enough away that it seems strange and yet close enough to our own that it feels all too plausible.
This is a wonderful film and one of the best love stories of recent times.
Director: Spike Jonze
Screenplay: Spike Jonze
Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Olivia Wilde, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Pratt
Genre: Science-fiction, romance, drama
This film is set in a near future Los Angeles. Theodore Twombly (Phoenix) is in the process of divorcing his wife, Catherine (Mara), and works writing heartfelt, intimate letters to people on behalf of clients who either can't or won't write their letters themselves. One day Theodore installs a new, talking, computer operating system (voiced by Johansson) with artificial intelligence, that can seemingly learn, adapt and evolve. Calling itself Samantha, the operating system soon becomes invaluable to Theodore, and they soon fall in love.
This is a surprisingly sweet, and heartfelt romantic film despite it's science-fiction trappings. There is a genuine poignancy in Theodore and Samantha's relationship. Phoenix gives a great performance as the lonely, soulful writer who can only really express himself when he is writing letters posing as someone else. Johansson however, is the real standout with her entirely vocal performance as the operating system. There are wonderfully quirky science-fiction touches such as voice operated computers that mimic human handwriting, and the world that the film creates is far enough away that it seems strange and yet close enough to our own that it feels all too plausible.
This is a wonderful film and one of the best love stories of recent times.
Saturday, 12 July 2014
22 Jump Street
2014 / USA / 112 minutes
Director: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
Screenplay: Michael Bacall, Oren Uziel and Rodney Rothman, from a story by Jonah Hill and Michael Bacall, based on the television series 21 Jump Street
Starring: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Peter Stormare, Ice Cube, Amber Williams
Genre: Comedy, action
This movie is the sequel to the 2012 film 21 Jump Street which itself was based on the 1980s television series. This time round cops Jenko (Tatum) and Schmidt (Hill) are assigned to go undercover as college students to locate the suppliers of a new synthetic drug called "WHY PHY" which caused the death of a student. While Jenko quickly befriends the local jocks, causing a rift between him and Schmidt who falls for art major Maya (Williams).
The film is hugely entertaining. Much of the humour is very self-referential about being a sequel to a successful movie. The filmmakers know the rules of a sequel The audience knows the rules of a sequel and the filmmakers know that they know. There are a lot of jokes about the fact that it's "exactly the same as last time" but with a bigger budget. The secret to the film's humour and heart is the genuine chemistry between Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum whose bromantic relationship and pitch perfect comic timing is genuinely winning.
The movie's humour is lowbrow and the material is dumb, but it's smart enough to play with it. It's perfect for a fun movie night.
Director: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
Screenplay: Michael Bacall, Oren Uziel and Rodney Rothman, from a story by Jonah Hill and Michael Bacall, based on the television series 21 Jump Street
Starring: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Peter Stormare, Ice Cube, Amber Williams
Genre: Comedy, action
This movie is the sequel to the 2012 film 21 Jump Street which itself was based on the 1980s television series. This time round cops Jenko (Tatum) and Schmidt (Hill) are assigned to go undercover as college students to locate the suppliers of a new synthetic drug called "WHY PHY" which caused the death of a student. While Jenko quickly befriends the local jocks, causing a rift between him and Schmidt who falls for art major Maya (Williams).
The film is hugely entertaining. Much of the humour is very self-referential about being a sequel to a successful movie. The filmmakers know the rules of a sequel The audience knows the rules of a sequel and the filmmakers know that they know. There are a lot of jokes about the fact that it's "exactly the same as last time" but with a bigger budget. The secret to the film's humour and heart is the genuine chemistry between Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum whose bromantic relationship and pitch perfect comic timing is genuinely winning.
The movie's humour is lowbrow and the material is dumb, but it's smart enough to play with it. It's perfect for a fun movie night.
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