What to say? Atonement is a wonderful film. Slightly flawed, but who isn't?
Set in England just before, during and after the Second World War 'Atonement' follows the insanely heart-breaking consequences of a love affair which having just blossomed is torn apart by a third party.
Keira Knightly and,FiLm WoRM favourite, James McAvoy are the leads in what must be one of this years best films. The director Joe Wright is sure to be lost to the other side of the Atlantic being as good as he is. I haven't yet seen his Pride and Prejudice but I'm sure the offers must now be coming thick and fast...
Without giving the story away, Cecilia and Robbie are the star-crossed lovers. She a hugely wealthy educated society girl and he an adopted games-keepers son. The first part of the film is set within the grounds of the country estate of the family on the hottest day of the year and we see much of the day to day household action through the eyes of the slightly creepy little sister Briony. As she sits watching the grown ups, one wonders what horrid little thoughts might be going on in her mind. We soon find out.
Visitors to the house bring together the potential lovers and a scene of great passion is played out in library, much to the horror of a spying Briony. Childish thoughts combined with misinterpretation create a magnificently gut-wrenching scene played out to the entire ensemble. Tears? Yup. The hot, sticky, sexy day turns cold and dark so very quickly. The lovers are separated and in the spirit of the the title, Briony spends the rest of years trying to atone for the harm she has caused.
Cecilia and Robbie are forced into their new lives and the atmosphere is both sad and almost palpably tear drenched. Bound for France, after years of separation, Robbie comes face to face with the horrors of war. Cecilia turns her back on her family and becomes a nurse to the thousands of physically and mentally damaged soldiers returning from the fighting... as does her little sister.
You sense a real feeling of loss and missed opportunities for the couple but worse is to come...
By the end of the film, it's difficult not to feel that life really is one big joke on us especially when at the mercy of others. The use of social class divide and the notion of childish whims are excellent.
The one-shot scene of soldiers waiting to be rescued from a beach in France rivals that of the famous Saving Private Ryan opening scene of battle. The costumes seem meticulously put together and the leading actors are pretty perfect. Knightly could do with more of these adult roles and McAvoy has only just begun. I can't wait to see what he's doing in ten years.
Almost as much as the scenery and landscape was magnificent I have to mention the music. Running with the theme of writing and typing the thumping, crashing and haunting melodies in the soundtrack become the third lead character. Maybe a tad over-scored at the end when we meet Briony in her last incarnation as an aged writer, played beautifully by Vanessa Redgrave but none the less, wonderful, emotive and beautiful music throughout.
Support British films and go and see this. You will not be disappointed (unless your cold, cold heart has finally frozen over...)
Saturday, 22 September 2007
Run, Fat Boy, Run ~~~
I went into the cinema with the idea that I was going to be seeing the usual, and wonderful, dead-pan slap-slick comedy of Simon Pegg. Little did I know that there was more to this film than I had first imagined.
Before we go any further, I must add that Simon Pegg is a bit of a hero of mine. We have too many interests in common (even I am confusing Simon with his wonderful on-screen persona Tim Bisley, from Spaced.) The horror films, the computer games, the same 70's/80's social references even, and this is the clincher, sense of humour. So at this point, after Spaced, Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz this film had a lot to live up to...
The story is simple - guy finds girl, has lovely life then on the day of their wedding freaks out and, quite rightly, looses girl. As I said, simple. The pleasure therefore comes from the characters, script and general fleshing out of the story.
Number one - it's a rom-com (yuck!) set in England. London biased (of course) but at least not Yankie-land. (Although I must also add that David Schwimmer (of Friends) directed it - and brilliantly, too!)
Number two - Thandie Newton stars and she is gorgeous. And a great actress yet to really fulfil her potential. (Yes, in Crash she was excellent - also, years ago in In Your Dreams.)
Number three - Dylan Moran also stars. Great arse shots!
Anyway, Simon stars as sad and rather lonely Dennis. He lives in a teeny, tiny flat somewhere in London having walked away from Libby (Newton) and their baby. His wonderfully charismatic landlord finally helps Dennis realise the mistakes he's made and his rather boring security guard job helps tip him over the edge. In the process, he does discover that he can run, especially after a great chase with a huge, black transvestite nicking frilly knickers! Add into the mix a new and rather over-achieving man in Libby's life, one who runs marathons for fun, which pushes Dennis into deciding he can prove his love through the power of a sustained jog.
Cue much comic training and a healthy dose of competition.
The final part of the film does wane slightly, probably because of the length of time spent covering the actual marathon Dennis is competing in but overall, the film is pretty tight leading to a rather predictable yet exciting climax.
Ultimately a little light on comedy, it's difficult to tell if the ultimate balance struck between comedy and drama was the writer's intention?
I did enjoy the feeling being in a vibrant, working London. Hank Azaria was excellent as the controlling love-interest, Whit. Everyone did a great job but somehow, for me, it just wasn't enough. I know I'm quite demanding with my films, and having seen 'Knocked Up' recently has set the bar pretty high for this new, and potentially exciting, genre of grown up rom-coms with added edge.
My advice - see this, then when Simon or David's next film comes out you can say 'Oh, that was miles better than 'Fat Boy...'
Before we go any further, I must add that Simon Pegg is a bit of a hero of mine. We have too many interests in common (even I am confusing Simon with his wonderful on-screen persona Tim Bisley, from Spaced.) The horror films, the computer games, the same 70's/80's social references even, and this is the clincher, sense of humour. So at this point, after Spaced, Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz this film had a lot to live up to...
The story is simple - guy finds girl, has lovely life then on the day of their wedding freaks out and, quite rightly, looses girl. As I said, simple. The pleasure therefore comes from the characters, script and general fleshing out of the story.
Number one - it's a rom-com (yuck!) set in England. London biased (of course) but at least not Yankie-land. (Although I must also add that David Schwimmer (of Friends) directed it - and brilliantly, too!)
Number two - Thandie Newton stars and she is gorgeous. And a great actress yet to really fulfil her potential. (Yes, in Crash she was excellent - also, years ago in In Your Dreams.)
Number three - Dylan Moran also stars. Great arse shots!
Anyway, Simon stars as sad and rather lonely Dennis. He lives in a teeny, tiny flat somewhere in London having walked away from Libby (Newton) and their baby. His wonderfully charismatic landlord finally helps Dennis realise the mistakes he's made and his rather boring security guard job helps tip him over the edge. In the process, he does discover that he can run, especially after a great chase with a huge, black transvestite nicking frilly knickers! Add into the mix a new and rather over-achieving man in Libby's life, one who runs marathons for fun, which pushes Dennis into deciding he can prove his love through the power of a sustained jog.
Cue much comic training and a healthy dose of competition.
The final part of the film does wane slightly, probably because of the length of time spent covering the actual marathon Dennis is competing in but overall, the film is pretty tight leading to a rather predictable yet exciting climax.
Ultimately a little light on comedy, it's difficult to tell if the ultimate balance struck between comedy and drama was the writer's intention?
I did enjoy the feeling being in a vibrant, working London. Hank Azaria was excellent as the controlling love-interest, Whit. Everyone did a great job but somehow, for me, it just wasn't enough. I know I'm quite demanding with my films, and having seen 'Knocked Up' recently has set the bar pretty high for this new, and potentially exciting, genre of grown up rom-coms with added edge.
My advice - see this, then when Simon or David's next film comes out you can say 'Oh, that was miles better than 'Fat Boy...'
Sunday, 9 September 2007
1408 ~ (and a bit for trying)
5th Sept '07
(Update - I was hard on this flick so I've upped the worm rating. It was a well made film but considering they were trying, it didn't make it. Still better than the majority of films but still, can't win them all.)
I think John Cusack is one of the best actors of his generation. I've grown up watching his films and appreciate his style and dead-pan comic delivery. I don't think he can be beat doing black comedies. But he certainly can be beat doing horror. Sorry John. This is a Stephen King story and as such can go either way when presented on screen. Even having Samuel L Jackson in the distance does nothing for the content and feel of the film or story.
A disillusioned writer spends his life visiting 'haunted' houses and writing up the results. He's cynical. About everything. His wife and he are separated and it takes a while to find out the reason why. Once the audience is in on the sub-story, the entire film takes a turn... for the worse. Before this is explored, he checks himself into room '1408' a supposedly hugely possessed and evil room at the Dolphin Hotel in New York. Jackson, the Manager, makes the emphatic warnings not to stay in the room but Cusack is having none of it.
So in he goes... for a horror film, I didn't find it scary. For a psycho-drama, not interesting enough. The effects were well, effective but there just wasn't enough depth or interest to the horror and dementia that ensues.
It could have gone so much further and delivered so much more.
For those of you who scare easily, this is a great 'horror' for you... just beware of the ghoul with the axe!!! (Ha, ha!) And you don't baulk at a little blood, do you? Or rooms which possess??? Enough, already! Enjoy if you have to.
(Update - I was hard on this flick so I've upped the worm rating. It was a well made film but considering they were trying, it didn't make it. Still better than the majority of films but still, can't win them all.)
I think John Cusack is one of the best actors of his generation. I've grown up watching his films and appreciate his style and dead-pan comic delivery. I don't think he can be beat doing black comedies. But he certainly can be beat doing horror. Sorry John. This is a Stephen King story and as such can go either way when presented on screen. Even having Samuel L Jackson in the distance does nothing for the content and feel of the film or story.
A disillusioned writer spends his life visiting 'haunted' houses and writing up the results. He's cynical. About everything. His wife and he are separated and it takes a while to find out the reason why. Once the audience is in on the sub-story, the entire film takes a turn... for the worse. Before this is explored, he checks himself into room '1408' a supposedly hugely possessed and evil room at the Dolphin Hotel in New York. Jackson, the Manager, makes the emphatic warnings not to stay in the room but Cusack is having none of it.
So in he goes... for a horror film, I didn't find it scary. For a psycho-drama, not interesting enough. The effects were well, effective but there just wasn't enough depth or interest to the horror and dementia that ensues.
It could have gone so much further and delivered so much more.
For those of you who scare easily, this is a great 'horror' for you... just beware of the ghoul with the axe!!! (Ha, ha!) And you don't baulk at a little blood, do you? Or rooms which possess??? Enough, already! Enjoy if you have to.
Transformers ~~ (2 worms)
I'll keep it brief... I could have lived without the army sub-plot. I would have happily endured more of the main character and his quirky and well scripted parents. I could have survived with less of the lead female and I could even have done with either a lot more OR a lot less of the actual Transformers.... Sounds odd? Well yes, and so was the film.
I shake my head in utter disbelief of what the end result of this much awaited 'blockbuster' turned out to be. I was really quite into these 'robots in disguise ' when I was growing up. My brother still has many of the toys are they are very cool. I've never really taken any interest in the cartoons but someday hoped that a 'live' action adventure film would be produced. Now I wish they hadn't bothered! Harsh? I stand by my opinion.
I loved, loved, loved seeing Shia LaBeouf on the big screen. With intelligent movie choices in the future, this kid will be big. He's got charisma, a bit of geek-chic and brings with him a sense of intelligence and depth which many of his contemporaries lack. Also, he can sure deliver comedy.
I can't even be bothered to relay the plot... (what friggin' plot???) Goodies and baddies. High-tech government stuff. Robots in aforementioned disguise. I did like Bumble Bee, the hot yellow car who Sam Witwicky (LaBeouf) is adopted by. Robots and mayhem combine. Stuff happens. The good robots get to do comedy - I did not really enjoy this exploration of robots from the future doing a form of slap-stick. The world is saved and the guy gets the sexy girl.
Maybe ten year olds appreciate the nuances better than I? I'll never know. Shame. Not.
I shake my head in utter disbelief of what the end result of this much awaited 'blockbuster' turned out to be. I was really quite into these 'robots in disguise ' when I was growing up. My brother still has many of the toys are they are very cool. I've never really taken any interest in the cartoons but someday hoped that a 'live' action adventure film would be produced. Now I wish they hadn't bothered! Harsh? I stand by my opinion.
I loved, loved, loved seeing Shia LaBeouf on the big screen. With intelligent movie choices in the future, this kid will be big. He's got charisma, a bit of geek-chic and brings with him a sense of intelligence and depth which many of his contemporaries lack. Also, he can sure deliver comedy.
I can't even be bothered to relay the plot... (what friggin' plot???) Goodies and baddies. High-tech government stuff. Robots in aforementioned disguise. I did like Bumble Bee, the hot yellow car who Sam Witwicky (LaBeouf) is adopted by. Robots and mayhem combine. Stuff happens. The good robots get to do comedy - I did not really enjoy this exploration of robots from the future doing a form of slap-stick. The world is saved and the guy gets the sexy girl.
Maybe ten year olds appreciate the nuances better than I? I'll never know. Shame. Not.
The Bourne Ultimatum ~~~~
15th August '07
...almost the perfect end to the trilogy. In it's own right, a damn entertaining action/thriller with all the markings of a Bourne adventure. The let downs first, and to be fair, there aren't many. Wobble-cam, although expertly applied was, I felt slightly overused. Blink and you certainly will miss it. That said, this method of filming the action does add to the overall feel and pace of the movie. Beware sitting too close to the screen! I hope this translates better when it's released on DVD and despite the fact that frenetic camera work can contribute towards blurry-vision and cinema-sickness, where would the Bourne films be without it? The second point to be made was the screamingly obvious lack of dialogue for the main man. Maybe Matt Damon is happy to be mute the majority of the film leaving him more time to concentrate on the almost humanly impossible fight scenes and physical stunts? Whatever the reason, it would have been nice to feel slightly more engaged with the mysterious and ever hunted Bourne.
That said, the merits of the third Bourne film still outrank the majority of action-thriller films of the past decade or so. No wonder the new Bond has changed gear! Damon's physical demands have been taken to a new level and the newish 'sport' of free-running has been put to spectacular effect.
Briefly, Bourne is still on the run. He's still on the run but is also doing the chasing. Since the lovely Marie carked it in B2, Bourne has become and an increasingly desperate and lonely man. Without seeming to be aware, or care, of his own mortality he begins to hunt for the truth about both his wife's murder and how he originally came to be embroiled in the underworld of espionage and murder - for the US government no less.
Without giving the entire plot away, it goes without saying that many countries are visited (including a nice section in London) and a few new and old key characters are met and explored. Nicky, the young Paris station agent, appears again and the relationship with Bourne is developed.
One stand out scene in (possibly) Morocco puts paid to the idea that the 'pen is mightier than the sword' - I think you'll find that indeed, the book is mightier than both! Watching this particular epic fight, I have to admit that I was left open-mouthed and rather flabbergasted! Ten out of ten for originality and ingenuity!
Whilst not as 'human' as the first two films, the audience gets to see what Bourne does best. Out-fight, out-think and generally whip some baddies asses. He doesn't use guns unless he really has to and in seeing a 'soldier' go back to basics I am reminded of the potential the producers etc must of seen on reading Ludlam's original books. Whilst I wouldn't say this was the best of the trilogy, I am already looking forward to watching this again. (I suspect that it grow on me...)
...almost the perfect end to the trilogy. In it's own right, a damn entertaining action/thriller with all the markings of a Bourne adventure. The let downs first, and to be fair, there aren't many. Wobble-cam, although expertly applied was, I felt slightly overused. Blink and you certainly will miss it. That said, this method of filming the action does add to the overall feel and pace of the movie. Beware sitting too close to the screen! I hope this translates better when it's released on DVD and despite the fact that frenetic camera work can contribute towards blurry-vision and cinema-sickness, where would the Bourne films be without it? The second point to be made was the screamingly obvious lack of dialogue for the main man. Maybe Matt Damon is happy to be mute the majority of the film leaving him more time to concentrate on the almost humanly impossible fight scenes and physical stunts? Whatever the reason, it would have been nice to feel slightly more engaged with the mysterious and ever hunted Bourne.
That said, the merits of the third Bourne film still outrank the majority of action-thriller films of the past decade or so. No wonder the new Bond has changed gear! Damon's physical demands have been taken to a new level and the newish 'sport' of free-running has been put to spectacular effect.
Briefly, Bourne is still on the run. He's still on the run but is also doing the chasing. Since the lovely Marie carked it in B2, Bourne has become and an increasingly desperate and lonely man. Without seeming to be aware, or care, of his own mortality he begins to hunt for the truth about both his wife's murder and how he originally came to be embroiled in the underworld of espionage and murder - for the US government no less.
Without giving the entire plot away, it goes without saying that many countries are visited (including a nice section in London) and a few new and old key characters are met and explored. Nicky, the young Paris station agent, appears again and the relationship with Bourne is developed.
One stand out scene in (possibly) Morocco puts paid to the idea that the 'pen is mightier than the sword' - I think you'll find that indeed, the book is mightier than both! Watching this particular epic fight, I have to admit that I was left open-mouthed and rather flabbergasted! Ten out of ten for originality and ingenuity!
Whilst not as 'human' as the first two films, the audience gets to see what Bourne does best. Out-fight, out-think and generally whip some baddies asses. He doesn't use guns unless he really has to and in seeing a 'soldier' go back to basics I am reminded of the potential the producers etc must of seen on reading Ludlam's original books. Whilst I wouldn't say this was the best of the trilogy, I am already looking forward to watching this again. (I suspect that it grow on me...)
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