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MrAkimbo
Reviews
Warlock (1959)
An uneasy alliance twisting psychology with tradition...
Warlock is a peculiar film. I admire the director's intention, and having not read the original novel, I cannot state whether the interpretation was faithful to the book or whether the director chose wild sweeps of dramatic license instead? When the film concludes I saw it as a failed film. Many of the reviews so far comment on the caliber of the performances. While I agree, I would use the metaphor, a poorly constructed car can still have an engine that runs fine.
In its favour the film has a brooding quality to it, scenes are careful in its precision and placement as the casts are framed at different planes of the screen space. It makes you work hard to notice, hear the dialogue in its almost stage like presentation, and consider the underlying emotions. Indeed Fonda himself never the most outward of performers adds to the enigma of the film, and what its trying to achieve which some may declare as perfect casting for a fictional character beset with ambivalent emotions. As the film advances to the denouement, the imagery is rich, predetermined in its lavish design to illustrate the metaphor of long lasting friendship, yet still I found myself feeling cheated somewhat.
Without giving too much away, the reason I believe and is somewhat endemic of the other reviewers who have hinted at the subtext of homosexuality contained in the film.
The creative choices used by the director at times are awkward and incoherent. E.g. there are scenes where the character portrayed by Quinn, 'Morgan', although saying something his body language suggests something different - this could be seen as great direction - the point is the unspoken body language hint at homosexuality rather than anything else. At times he is framed in the back plane of the screen space, akin to the way soap operas will frame a nagging wife who complain to their husbands.
Similarly, Fonda's character a much respected and feared gunman at one point disarms a rowdy character. He instructs the character to approach him and then clouts him with the butt of his revolver. This scene rang false to me. A feared gunslinger should never have to instruct anybody - they just act. The concept of repercussion means nothing when they are ingrained with toughness.
This is why I find the film frustrating, and ultimately a failed but honourable film. Dmytryk took, no doubt a challenging novel, and attempted to realise it.
I can't help but consider what John Ford would have done with the material, or any other notable Western luminary film director. Maybe he would have left it well alone believing it a mismatch of emotions and themes to portray?
Intouchables (2011)
A beautiful film...a MOT for life.
Rare do you watch a film where the energy just bounces off the screen leaving you with a warm glow. I felt after watching this movie one of those life affirming moments - a clear summer sky where the clouds are full, loaded with health and the warm light that seems to last forever showing off the land about you typical of summer evenings.
This 'glow' is because the principal casts are excellent. I cannot direct a negative to any of the casts, pinpoint a scene where the acting was forced or lacking in motivation. Omar Sy is infectious as a performer. He struts. He dominates with his energy. Whoever cast him deserves praise, as he is the right balance between cock sure attitude and understanding. Francois Cluzet pedigree dates back decades, and his assured but restrained performance is the right level of rebound compared to Sy's exuberance. Trust in a maestro to deliver a seasoned performance. It would be easy - and a major oversight - to read the synopsis about the movie and believe the subject matter depressing. Funny, moving, idiosyncratic, unexpected, real, intimate, soul praisingly positive, and many other adjectives could be used to describe this excellent film.
I stumbled upon this movie knowing little of its release or background, and its a gem of a film. One of them films you watch and yell, 'yesssss to life'.
The fact that its based on a true story is inspiring in itself. The production value fulfilled the necessary parts to realise a wonderful and life inspiring story, achieving for once, the medium of film to rank in the spheres of great art. An aesthetic tonic for the soul.
I Am Ali (2014)
Priceless footage for the devote fans.....
Where do you begin assessing such an individuals inspirational story?
Browse any bookshops, any DVD store and the titles devoted to Ali stretch and stretch. There will be always be people who will disaffect themselves from his achievements. They will point to his infidelity. How a man who converted to the Islamic faith was also a skirt chasing womaniser. Granted, the negatives will say his boxing genius is undeniable, but they will cancel any semblance of his skills by attributing and highlighting his less than perfect outside boxing antics and rank him undeserving of the majority who consider him an amazing person.
I'm a fan of boxing. I enjoyed the unseen footage we have here. Clips, family interviews, and other footage has been assembled to show a personal side of Ali - in particular reference to his family life - a major highlight are the archived audio recordings between Ali and his young children.
Ali was a victim of circumstance. He came along in the glitz and revolution of the 60's, and took the boxing world by storm. There have been other colourful characters in boxing history - Ali though was wildly different. A firework personality whilst his peers stuck to the persona of being a boxer and nothing else. When the events unfolded (his Vietnam draft) he stood firm to his beliefs and with an unbreakable confidence eventually, aided by the sea-change of thought against the Vietnam War, overcame the situation. It was the 60's a time of cultural and irrevocable change.
Love him? Loathe him?
He never withered in the face of extreme criticism. I admire him for that. From the beginning he set out to conquer the boxing world - the adoration, the mythic status afforded to him, unexplainable, but who hasn't met somebody in their lifetime who commands a special kind of attraction by virtue of their charisma.
If you're a fan of pugilism,, then watch this, as it demonstrates why Ali was a grade 11 in athletic prowess when most champions were blessed to reach a grade 8, 9, if they were considered exceptional. All stars shine in the universe, Ali was the universe when it came to boxing.
A movie buff will appreciate this film. It is a well made documentary. At times very moving, funny, and always informative with the rare unseen footage moments.
'Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them', Shakespeare said.
Ali has led an extraordinary life. In fact many might say he is has achieved all three of what the bard wrote about 'greatness'.