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Reviews
The Constant Gardener (2005)
Political thriller???
Political thriller, aye? Well, where was the nail-biting tension, the suspicion, the suspects? This is a beautifully filmed picture but ever so boring! The story moves along slower than slow and watching paint dry on the wall is more interesting.
Credits to Rachel Weisz for her portrayal of the eccentric, passionate and at times naive Tessa Quayle. The fact that Ralph Fiennes doesn't pull off the grieving widower that seeks out the truth his wife has been fighting to uncover and also to solve his wife's murder makes this film ever so boring.
To sum up, this is definitely not how a thriller should be done in 2006!
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005)
If you want to survive this you've got to know where your towel is
First I loved the books, then the TV series and now this film. If you haven't read the books or seen the series this film might take some time getting used to as it is, well let's say, somewhat bizarre.
Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman) has a really bad day. First he is told to vacate his house and then the Vogons ( a very bureaucratic alien live form) destroy the planet earth all together as it has to make way for the new hyperspace express way. Now Arthur is in for a ride, as he's been saved from certain death by his somehow strange friend Ford Prefect (Mos Def). Ford, an alien himself, shows Arthur that there is more than just earth. Oh boy yes, much more. Arthur meets the Vogons (although he'd probably have liked to miss out on that experience), Zaphod Beeblebrox (Sam Rockwell) the two-headed president of the galaxy, manic-depressed robot Marvin (Alan Rickman-voice), Slartibartfast (Bill Nighy) who's already putting together earth II and last but not least he meets Trillian (Zooey Deschanel) a fellow earthling. They all travel the galaxy in order to find the answer to the question of "life, the universe and everything". The only way to survive this adventure is with the help of his friend Ford, the "Hitchhike's Guide to the Galaxy" (that luckily reminds you not to panic) and of course most importantly a towel.
Okay, Garth Jennings hasn't created the ultimate new version of the Hitchhiker's Guide but I think it is exactly that what makes this film so good. The mind-boggling special effects, very colourful sets and lovable CGI creatures make this film somehow special. The good old story just filmed again with more technological possibilities. Just take the scene where Arthur and Slartibartfast inspect earth II. Brilliant! Besides, listening to the dolphins in the beginning just makes you happy. You just HAVE to tap your foot along rhythmically and nod your head from side to side with a huge big grin on your face and sing along.
If you're in for a good time: WATCH IT! And hey, don't forget to bring your towel along-you'll need it to dry your tears.
The Interpreter (2005)
a 2005 "must see"
It's been a long wait for a truly good film this year. And here it is.
All we really knew about the film prior to it's release was that Kidman and Penn star in a thriller directed by Sydney Pollack. The real talk was about the fact it's been filmed at the UN and it seemed as if the "this-is-what-the-film-is-about" bit went totally unnoticed until we got the first glimpse of the trailer. And hey that was quite something. All of a sudden it became a "must see" movie.
Late one night Silvia Broome (Kidman) an interpreter at the U.N. overhears an assassination threat against an African leader. Agent Tobin Keller (Penn) is assigned to investigate the threat and protect Silvia. Although he doesn't trust her and it all sounds very vague to him and his colleagues he begins his investigation into the case. The deeper her digs into Silvia Broome's past the more he suspects that she is involved in the whole conspiracy. He mistrusts Silvia and is torn between seeing her as a suspect or a victim. As it turns out both is correct. On the one hand she is the victim of a totalitarian regime that killed all her family and friends and on top of that is hunted by a killer. On the other hand she seeks revenge for all the lost lives and lost hope. In the end Tobin uncovers the truth and prevents the murder from happening.
Okay, I know this story doesn't sound too original in itself but it is the right stuff for a good thriller. In addition to this the relationship between the two main characters tend to slow things down at times and even makes you fidget in your seats but it adds a very special kind of tension. But what makes this film truly great are Kidman and Penn. They must have inspired the rest of the cast to follow their lead as everybody's performance is very believable and good throughout. Both Kidman and Penn have raised the film onto another level.
As yet the best Hollywood has come up with this year and Kidman's best performance to date.
This is a 2005 MUST SEE! Don't miss it!
The Calling (2000)
may this film rot in hell
Although there's been MANY films where I left the cinema early as I didn't like them this is truly the one which has been UNBEARABLE to watch! Surely, you all know the situation when you watch a film the umpteenth time and can mouth along the dialogue?! Well, I watched this film once (not even actually) and after 10 minutes a friend and I started "predicing" what was going to be said next and hey we were right - word by word by word. But it isn't only the dialogue; the whole thing is disastrous! The actors are bad (and by that I don't mean the characters they are supposed to impersonate) and the story is weak - it's been done too many times before. If you have a gripping story and use flashbacks to build up the tension that's fine, but as everything is o too predictable in this film they only fill the time till a long awaited and long anticipated end. We went to see it and managed an entire 70 minutes and that was including adverts and trailers... So my advice: STAY AWAY FROM IT and may this film rot in hell!!!