j-connolly's Reviews

Noah (2014)

2/10

Noah (2014, Darren Aronovsky)

24 March 2020

The film has an excellent cast. It starts promisingly, but is soon let down by a howling maelstrom of themes clshing in confusion much like the tempest and unending rain flooding the earth as they float in a sort of enormous shed on the limitless oceans.

The potentially interesting angle of practical matters involved in an ark are skated over, as are all specific and potentially rich avenues of life on an ark.

Instead, the focus is on family, childen, and a range of characters who don't take on proper form because the script doesn't let them. There are only three central character, and none of these are developed meaningfully. Including Noah, who is a symbol without persona.

It's a film which passed very slowly. And yet the film was not without some critical success, which makes me wonder.

Minor point : Crowe is directed with the current malady of actors mumbling and muttering their lines at the very limits of what is audible. Oe gets the impression this is a technique to make us strain to hear, and pay attention, giving the illusion this is something really worth listening to. The bits we can't quite make out, we subconsciously think must be profoundly deep and meaningful since, being inaudible, they are cloaked in mystery.

2 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

The Tempest (1979)

9/10

A playfully punk Shakespeare play

26 January 2020

A wonderful version of The Tempest. The atmosphere mkes it striking. The ragged old dark palace where it's set. The gothic punk acting. The excitement, drama, and passion it adds to the play. It brings out the mythical and magical side in a playful way, with a dark gothic flavour. Those expecting a costume drama and Shakespeare play in theatre wan't like it. They won't see the humour and drama. Those who remember the seventies will love its hilarious festive playfullness.

2 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

The Best Offer (2013)

5/10

A story with good elements that doesn't work.

21 July 2013

Warning: Spoilers

An arrogant and lonely auctioneer fiddles auctions with a bent colleague to build a private collection on the cheap. An heiress contacts him with a vast collection in a crumbling villa. She keeps evading meetings, and turns out to be an agoraphobic hiding in a secret apartment in the villa.A romantic relationship, complete with furious arguments and reconciliation, blossoms between the fifty-something auctioneer and the 27 year old recluse. A whizz-kid helps the auctioneer on technical matters, including putting back together an automaton pieces of which mysteriously appear out of nowhere, on the floor, in various rooms in the villa. Many other sub-plots emerge, no doubt in order to give complexity and subtlety to the plot, and lead the viewer off on wrong conclusions, all the better to be absolutely amazed when the truth comes to light.

This fails to happen. The plot lines are transparently obvious, the flaws grotesque ("The experienced auctioneer" can't tell a real 17th century from a version put together by a mechanics nerd. The auctioneer can't tell the "valuable ancient collection in the villa" from bits and pieces put together by the youngsters, and so on).

It's entertaining for a good bit, but disbelief cannot be suspended for the second half. And then it goes into extra time, and that's just too much.

75 out of 123 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

The Disappearance of Alice Creed (2009)

6/10

Decent first film, a few too many plot devices.

11 April 2013

The first few minutes of this film are impressive, showing a methodical and soundless preparation for something nefarious. The small cast is excellent as is the script.

The plot-line is ornate. Too many themes are crammed into this thriller, at some expense in thrill. An example is the unnecessary stripping of Arterton for kidnap photos to suggest sexual abuse. The second is the complicated bisexual trio which develops. In general, a number of slow and clumsy plot constructions, in particular involving a bullet casing, and an endless scene trying to retrieve keys from a pocket. This viewer found these devices irritating.

Comparison with other early movies like Reservoir Dogs or Blood Simple helps show the value of a straight plot with good lines to tell a compelling story.

However, the bare bones of the plot are excellent, with clever plot twists, and this is a decent first film, with a few good thrills.

0 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Another Man (2008)

2/10

An ambitious failure aping Sweet Smell of Success

15 May 2010

The pitch is promising: A outsider breaking in to cinema criticism. And breaking in from a tiny little village in the mountains. And not a particularly nice or admirable outsider but one without creativity, without charm, but with only ambition: The outsider forcing his way into the arts world is a fraud. A "Sweet Smell of Success" of the art critic world, and out in the sticks instead of in the big city.

It goes wrong fundamentally because the film feels exactly like the subject it's trying to examine. It has all the ticks of a piece without insight into, or distance from, it's subject. And you walk out of the cinema thinking "Wow that guy Baier got a lucky break somewhere, did he seduce the studio boss's wife maybe ?" The key in the film, which is undoubtedly meant to be post-modern and clever in all sorts of superficially meaningless ways: "I have nothing to say", the protagonist says. "Neither have I, Now shall we go ?" the successful newswoman and sex-interest says.

Secondly the dialogue is downright terrible: Some of the supposedly quick witted repartee falls to the ground with a leaden clunk. The nominally revealing scenes have all the subtlety of a brick. The nasty scenes hinting at a broken relationship veering close to physical abuse. The wooden scene referring to "Renart" (fox) the medieval tale. That's because the guy studied medieval literature and runs over a fox in the snow. This loudly advertises some deep personal frustration in the protagonist in mystical terms. Which unfortunately makes this viewer want to scream.

But it manages two points: One for the nice landscape photography (the interiors were exaggeratedly staged). One for the storyline (it might have worked). And nearly one for the female lead.

I write all this because I was actually really looking forwards to this. I started toying with the idea of walking out half way through but stayed the course with gritted teeth.

There is one little curiosity: The guy seems to admire "Stranger than Paradise". That's as far away this ambitious pretension as you get. So there's hope yet, but I'm not holding my breath on this one.

7 out of 12 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Eden Is West (2009)

9/10

Execellent story, excellent story-telling

9 November 2009

This tale of illegal migrants is masterfully told as a straight story of events along the road to Paris. In order to illustrate many facets of the illegal immigrant saga, the writers have gone out of their way to include many more events, mishaps, and adventures that could credibly happen to a single migrant. Some people may object to this, but it serves to make this a more universal picture of events that can overtake an exile.

The emphasis of the story-telling is not a political or social statement, it's a strikingly enjoyable film with excellent cinematography which nevertheless manages to raise many serious issues. It's a story of human adaptation to loss of home and lack of normal human contact.

The protagonist says little because he can hardly speak French or English. Language throughout the film is not very important as a result. The audience, like migrants themselves, sits through episodes in Arabic, Greek, French, German, and English.

Along this rootless journey, he strikes up relationships ambiguous relationships along the road, mainly warm and yet fleeting - particularly the toy-boy episode at the start. There are many little subtle moments in the film, each making powerful comments about human moral choices under duress.

Combining suspense, drama, and subtly thought provoking episodes, this is another lasting film from Costa Gavras.

15 out of 22 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Elan blanc (1961– )

7/10

Educational mini series on North American Indians

1 September 2009

A mini series exploring at a number of aspects of north American Indian life.

The main characters are Elan Blanc (César Torres) and Moustique (Moustique) who demonstrate making a tepee, carrying children Indian-style, hunting, horse riding among others.

The narration is in the form of a conversation between the actors, and also addresses some issues of trouble with European colonisers. It includes segments apparently borrowed from other documentaries showing French sailing ships carrying colonists to American shores.

It was filmed largely in the Lac du Paty near Caromb, in the Vaucluse department in the south of France.

Overall an engaging and humorous mini-series, with an educational intent.

1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Asterix at the Olympic Games (2008)

2/10

Inexplicably terrible followup to Cleopatra

18 February 2008

I was really looking forwards to this: Whereas "Asterix & Cesar" wasn't great, they seemed to have found their stride with "Asterix et Cleopater" only to inexplicably throw it all away with this heap of rubbish. Where shall I start: The cast.

Clovis Cornillac - catastrophic. There isn't a hint of the quick wittedness and light footedness you expect of Asterix. Instead of being the mainstay of the film, he's a sideshow: Unfunny, uncharismatic. Bring back Clavier!

Alain Delon? I nearly wept! He's an all time legend. Cool, hard, dangerous. And here? A creepy buffoon. His worst role. Ever.

That's enough. Now the plot: In Asterix & Cleopatre, the writers (and director) managed to update the Goscinny original comic spirit and clever references very successfully in my opinion. That is, without sacrificing the flow of the narrative, and without over-emphasizing modern references. That is, they didn't get in the way nor did they hobble the Goscinny narrative.

These clowns seem to have completely missed the plot. The unsubtle references stick out like a sore thumb, and the things referred to will all be forgotten in a few years.

But more fatally for the plot: they've glued together episodes from different Asterix books with elaborate pastiches to try and re-establish some sort of story logic.

Then, they have seriously warped the actual olympic games narrative flow. The plot they've come up with leaves you constantly thinking "What? How ... why is this happening now? Where is such-and-such gone?" and most importantly "hmm, was that joke supposed to be ... funny?".

All in all, truly catastrophic. The only saving grace is - I supposed toddlers might find it exciting.

35 out of 47 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Latcho Drom (1993)

10/10

Fabulous and moving musical journey

18 February 2008

This film is a tapestry, a series of portraits of Rom communities woven together by music. It's very much a musician's film, because of the paucity of spoken dialogue - and what dialogue there is, is not important to the structure of the narrative. Some might expect a National Geographic tale of "customs, dress, and music" or a plot-line orbiting a few central characters - don't look for that here.

This is because it paints a portrait of a family of peoples, rather than telling a story of individuals. The plot is the story through space (India to Andalucia) and/or/ time (we cannot tell) of a people. There is no need of narration. You get a sense of a joyous people, strongly linked in small communities where social interaction is very important. And a great sense of sadness in parts, at their rejection by society at large.

So it's a paean to Rom culture, very beautifully shot, with a wide spectrum of Rom music, and a sting in the tail which is the oppression these people have faced, and still face.

7 out of 7 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

The Crime of Monsieur Lange (1936)

10/10

One of Renoir's best - social comment that leaves you smiling

15 May 2007

One of Renoir's best - a humanist story of worker cooperation under duress and naturally with a strong social undercurrent. It's strongly narrative following the hopes and dreams of the younger generations, contrasted with the wily and self interested actions of some of the older, more experienced characters.

The way the story is told, be beautiful cinematography all sweep you along through perfectly choreographed dramatic tableaux. With the little guy at the centre moving the action along without ever really taking center stage. Masterful.

I can't help comparing it with "It's a Wonderful Life" by Capra, because of the same "good guy versus corrupt company boss" side, and the strong social message in both. They both leave you feeling "Ah that's alright then" with faith in humanity.

So it's one of the happier Renoirs, with his trademark moral undertone.

2 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Blow-Up (1966)

9/10

A stunning thriller

31 March 2006

Warning: Spoilers

A successful fashion photographer is pictured in the swinging sixties in his trendy South Ken studio. We see a hot and steamy photo sessions (Verushka) and a group fashion shoot follows. He isn't happy with how they perform, so abruptly halts the session telling the models "keep your eyes shut. It's good for you. Now!" . He slips off, and cruises around London in his Rolls taking pictures. He wanders into a park.He sees a woman pulling a man along. He follows them like a stalker, flitting from tree to tree and snapping reels of film. Satisfied with the shots he's taken, he saunters off, prompting the woman to spot him and come running in a panic, demand all the photos. She is clearly desperate, and even tries to rip his camera away from him. Why? The question haunts the rest of the film, with sixties parties, would be groupies and fashionistas (Jane Birkin) trying to get him to take pictures of them, and the mysterious woman (Vanessa Redgrave) showing up in the studio and going to all lengths including taking all her clothes off to get the photos back. The photographer becomes more interested. What has he seen? He blows up the pictures biger, and bigger. And bigger still. And murder, or attempted murder seems to appear, unclearly. He revisits the scene in the park in the dead of night, and in the dark the truth appears. And his studio is ransacked. So what has he seen? The film ends with a mimed tennis match which becomes completely convincing, specators scanning from side to side following non- existent tennis balls. So what is truth? And what does a photographer see, and what does much does he construct what he photographs? And hence, what do we all see, how much to we fill in the gaps and invent, and how much is true?

In short a wonderful atmospheric thriller, beautifully shot by a veteran clutch of Italians in London in the late sixties. The scenes in the park with the wind blowing will stick in your mind, the park in question is in Greenwich, lovely place, the tennis court still there, and the hill in the centre.

It's hard to find anyone who doesn't find this film gripping, mysterious, through provoking and beautifully photographed. I don't understand a previous comment about "lack of people who will defend this film", I know nobody who hasn't found it thrilling and thought provoking, and we're no artsy elite types. And the "only for serious movie goers" is way off: Who is a "serious movie goer"? The bottom line it it's a damn fine thriller. The only scene I'd criticize is the Jane Birkin scene which was on the edge of uncomfortable at times (photographer abusing teenage groupies).

You may laugh but a completely different story by another Italian which resembles this: "Once upon a time in the west". Because of the slow and tense mystery which emerges slowly as the film progresses.

Recommendation: A must see atmospheric thriller. You'll feel driven to watch it several times. Make sure the sound quality is good though.

4 out of 9 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

j-connolly

Reviews

Tell Your Friends

Recently Viewed