omullarn Reviews

The Professional (1981)

They use their teeth more than their guns

[2/10 · 7 December 2010]

I do not understand the high rating and glowing reviews that this film has received. The plot points are weak; the acting is appalling, with each actor - except Belmondo, earning his rent money in a bored performance - chewing the scenery every chance they get. If it weren't for Belmondo, and the fondness so many of us have for him, I doubt this movie would score more than 3 out of 10.

Watch Le Samourai; watch Rififi, or Le Circle Rouge, or Bob Le Flambeur, or any number of really good French crime movies, with classic actors and you'll see why I gave this 2 out of 10, and even that is generous.

The Oxford Murders (2008)

Awful pseudo intellectualism

[2/10 · 4 November 2010]

If you know any mathematics or even basic physics, avoid this movie.

The authors knew enough about encyclopedias to source plot elements but not enough to connect them with any foundation

"One hour with him is like a lifetime with anyone else" is a testament to how thoroughly boring the Professor character was. Poor John Hurt - perhaps not the worst role in his career, but a definite low.

That they referenced Borat - and I doubt it was inadvertent - in their choice of substitution for Fermat - may indicate that even the scriptwriters knew how implausible the plot was.

We have an American Ph.D. student who doesn't immediately recognize the reflected digits puzzle - not only a standard in IQ books, but well known to any mathematics undergraduate - insulting the entrance qualifications for Oxford, but also American universities. Sigh.

The author has a BA in Pure Mathematics, so...I think I know what I am writing about.