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Jim_Miles
Reviews
I Capture the Castle (2003)
Romance done comically and dramatically. Not soppy like I expected.
At the start of this film I was groaning thinking it would be some kind of emotional, sickly, up up up fest. But within minutes it fast forwards a few years and a family headed by a burnt out writer are living in a castle struggling against poverty. But good fortune shines on them with the introduction of a couple of wealthy American brothers who own the land and from here (only about 20 minutes in) the film really takes off.
It succeeds in combining drama and comedy in just the right amounts as well as maintaining the audience's interest in a wide range of many characters, none of whom feel redundant. Part of the way it does this is by the contrast of poverty and wealth portrayed in the film - it's touching but also provides some of the film's most entertaining moments.
I think the biggest criticism is that parts are unrealistic and out of place, such as when the father's children trap him in a tower and I couldn't really relate to any of the characters. Whether this is because of the past setting or something else, I'm not sure.
Overall, I Capture The Castle is an entertaining drama with believable acting by most of the cast so that the unlikely scenarios are pulled off with conviction and you are interested in what happens next. It's definitely at the shallower end of the romance movie pool, which is a good thing.
Punch (2002)
Thought provoking and well acted.
This film is essentially about the relationship with between a single father and his daughter. But there's a very clunky other element to it - topless female boxing. It's supposed to be a 'hook' to get people to see the film, but frankly it would be much much better left out completely since it just doesn't work alongside the father daughter relationship theme and is a long way past the wrong side of grotesque.
The conflicts and alliances that exist between the father, daughter, father's girlfriend and her sister are portayed effectively, often highlighting the success of calmly resolving an issue instead of being aggressive and violent. The film reminded me of Almodovar's work in its handling of complicated relationships in unique situations, although sometimes I felt it wasn't showing me anything I hadn't seen before (topless female boxing aside).
The acting is excellent, particularly that of Sonja Bennett and Meredith McGeachie who portray their respective characters with complexity and emotion, but without going overboard.
Overall, it's a well constructed film with a lot of issues that walk out of the cinema with you and it's probably a shame that most people won't see it.