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Reviews
The End of the Affair (1999)
soul-less
I went along with expectations of a wonderful love story and instead got a soul-less mish-mash. The characters were unbelievable, at times their dialogue was simply ridiculous - 'Love doesn't end just because we don't see each other' - was this supposed to be the moment when the audience clutched their hankies to their eyes and beat their bosom? Give us a break. Perhaps if the characters seemed to genuinely love each other I might have been able to swallow this line. Oh and the 'ending' of the affair, as it were, well.... a bit too glamourised and mysterious for me.
The thing about this movie that I did like was the excellent settings and costuming. Just gorgeous. Sumptuous. But all for nothing if the storyline is completely soul-less. I give it a 4 out of 10.
Justice (1998)
No Justice
Putting an audience through this is injust and there should be a law against it. Awful, just awful!
Heaven's Burning (1997)
This is a joke, right?
This couldn't have been a serious action flick, surely? I was cacking myself all the way through it and so was the entire audience - the shoot-em up scene at the end was the funniest, boy did it have 'em rolling in the aisle! A complete cack from go to whoa.
The Castle (1997)
Excellent!
Talk about laugh! Another fine piece of champagne comedy from the boys of D-Gen fame. Very Melbourne humour but accessible enough for all nationalities. (I'm sure many jokes went over the heads of the yanks, however) Bonnie Doon - now there's a holiday destination!
Bargearse (1993)
What a hoot (pun intended)
A masterpiece. Champagne comedy at it's best. Bargie will steal your heart with his wise-cracking, tear-jerking, thigh-slapping one-liners. Definitely a cult classic.
Dance Me to My Song (1998)
Please Explain
It seems everyone is raving about this film, the reviewers are gushing, there's effusive articles in Who Weekly, Cannes was agog - am I the only one who did not enjoy it? Don't get me wrong, I'm not some inhumane, able-bodied bastard/bitch, I just didn't think the film was a good one. Why was Eddie's character not explored to it's full capacity? Who the hell was phoning him at Julia's house and why? Where was he on his way to when Julia cut in front of him? Was he a baddie with a heart of gold? Why was Madelaine such a two-dimensional character? I just found the whole thing exhausting, laborious and with too many under-explored characters left floating aimlessly. If it was so good why wasn't it nominated for more AFI awards? Nominated for Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress (Rena Owen), it won neither. Perhaps it is a case of the Emperor's New Clothes with this film.
Withnail and I (1987)
Such character!
This would have to be one of the UK's finest films - it has it all; subtlety, humour, pathos and identifiable characters (not to mention an excellent soundtrack). Each character in this film, from Withnail, Marwood & Monty to the proprietor of the tea rooms in Penrith, is given depth. Some may only have a line or two ("GET IN THE BACK OF THE VAN!") but each and every one has a place in my heart. Incredibly funny and dry dialogue, (the sort to generate spontaneous rectitals at parties) excellent performances (the feather in Richard E. Grant's cap) and well-rounded, lovable characters. I have a handful of friends who appreciate this film as much as I do, yet others, to whom I have recommended it, have turned their nose up and declared it silly, pointless and unfunny. I suppose you have to have a certain sense of humour to 'get' this film. Generally speaking, if you're a fan of Monty Python or Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, you will enjoy "Withnail & I" immensely.