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The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015)
Much more than just another in a slew of WW1 Costume Dramas
Aside from the fact that a 67 year old Jeremy Irons plays a 37- 42 year old character, (whom, as a friend of Keynes and member of the Bloomsbury set ,may have been inclined to marry his own son), this is a superb film. Devika Bhise illuminates every scene she is in; a brief bio here reveals her mind to be as bright as her beauty and presence. She is sublime in this film and stands out in a production characterized by excellence; this is not just another costume drama about Oxbridge: it raises issues about identity and education that are as pertinent now as they were in 1918. Dev Patel, as the man who indeed knew infinity,(God), brings a balance of amiability and intensity to his performance. There are implicit, but never obstructive, questions in this film, that go far beyond such tiny matters as the existence or absence of a Divine being; he film asks if we value universal humanity and the universal worth of education? It puts yet another good case for doing so; but 2016, with its unending tale of greed defeating good, tells us this is even less likely in the current century than it was in the last.
Now Add Honey (2015)
...and plenty of bubbles
Mediocre reviews are not necessarily indicators of mediocre films. This is definitely the case with N.H.A., a fast paced, socially aware film. This Aussie-tralasian comedy features both farce and farce paced witty dialogue.While the movie is mainly light in tone, it is unafraid to toss in some reality ; on the way to a (Thankfully, considering the subject matter.) happy ending. Some of the best lines pass by faster than a Hollywood car chase, but are delivered believably by a uniformly strong cast. There is a large rota of characters needing incentive and motivation, the film delivers this. NA.H. is age, body, and life positive; with out claiming life is perfect. It says we have the right to feel good about ourselves, and is kind enough to allow us all to feel good for an hour and forty minutes. That has to be a good thing.
Witless (2016)
Fresh, Bright, Funny.
Synopsis: Having witnessed a crime, 2 ordinary women find themselves on the right side of the law, but on the lamb none the less. ( How's my cockney idiom? It's been a while since I saw Minder.) Since watching the program, I've looked up the pedigree of the writers and was unsurprised to find they have, in the past, produced work I've really enjoyed. This series is spot on: the women in the leads are bright, vivacious, beautiful, and their comedic timing is perfect. The supporting cast, many of whom I hope will become regulars, are equally adroit. At the time of writing the next episode is going to air tomorrow evening, if you're reading this before that time I'd be catching the first episode shortly before hand to give myself a double treat on 29/04/2016. Well worth watching. I'm entirely confident this show will maintain a bullet fast momentum, set in the first episode.
Perspectives: John Sergeant: Sergeant on Spike (2012)
I'd rather Sergeant on the spike.
This documentary seeks to append a narrative on a life, and so is in the end tiresome. (The middle and the beginning aren't too good either.) The " documentary", quotation marks alluding to the fact that it is actually an upmarket tabloid, starts from the assertion it will follow in the steps of a genius. I will turn this on its head. (Apparently that is all there is to comedy now that we are plagued by comic genius.) I will follow in the slow and methodical steps of John Sergeant. John ambles at a leisurely pace, daggers to hand, through the life of his comic hero. J.S. wears a nice shade of beige. John grew up in the beige decades, an era so called because of the characteristic popularity of the subtle color among progressive "artistic" types. (And Sergeant.) Waddling through it, he takes a mere 40 minutes to suck all of the retrospective joy out of Spike's life. Believe me, watching this will do the same to you.
Whining, and whining, and then whining some more was a medium size industry for the children of fellow Goon: nasty, but loaded, Peter Sellers. (Thankfully that whining was brought to a screeching halt by an abysmal biopic starring California's own Geoffrey Rush.) For this budget minded tripe, J.S. and his editors don't bother to corral the progeny instead they speak to people who were around Spike when he was working 100-hour weeks. Apparently when he was working those long hours he was difficult to get on with. At no point does the narrator take a compassionate look at Spike's mental health.
This program is a tribute only in the sense that it is taxing. It is edited to make even the most likable interviewees appear mean spirited. Historically, the hagiography was the biographical form that was most reviled; this needs to be rethought; by putting this sort of posthumous hatchet job where it belongs: behind a locked door. (With no supper.)
It's an appending of a narrative, and an upending of a life with out an "up" ending. Move that slack, shapeless bottom and scurry back to the corridors of power*, Mr Sergeant. *Ordinarily he is a political commentator.)
Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party (2005)
Not Hollywood Babylon
If you have an interest in Hollywood: see this movie. More over, if you have an interest in life: see this movie! A small and intimate gathering with a man ( spoiler alert) who has changed favorite beers from Budweiser to Heineken.
S.T. believes in birthday magic. He just happens to be an accomplished actor who tells a story with panache, who can make it happen himself. He's obviously gregarious and a listener as much as a speaker; but we get a night at home with Steven Tobolowsky, his wife, and friends, edited to show his skill as a master story teller. Seriously, Homer would have had a run for his money asked to compete against S.T. A master storyteller he is indeed. The eponymous birthday boy regales us, as his guests , with not a moment of mean spirit, not a scintilla of bitchiness, and keeps us riveted for the entire film. It's just a relaxed affair, with the family house as the set, yet you've not seen anything quite like this before. Watch out for appearances by WC Field's least favored co-stars in some delightful moments, too.In all: a delight.
Brooklyn (2015)
Pretty But Vacant
Colm Toibin is a great writer. Nick Hornby is not. I have enjoyed some of C.T.'s novels a great deal (In fact "The Heather Blazing" is a favorite of mine.) I like his genteel style in such work. The performances here are fine, or better than fine; it looks lovely: the color palette, the costumes, the scenes and scenery all make for a fine backdrop. Where it fails, and it is a major failing, is that it says nothing of any real worth about the migrant experience. Eilis (Saoirise Ronan) is shipped off to NYC through the assistance of her thoughtful sister and a kindly priest. (In a good performance by Jim Broadbent as Father Flood.) Up until an easily predicted plot development the difficulties faced by our heroine are a bout of seasickness, the need for 30 seconds training in her new job as a shop assistant, and a touch of homesickness. While I'm happy to see women succeed, there would have been far more dirt under the fingernails of all of these women. Apart from the minor matter of losing her virginity, Eilis could indeed be the sainted mother of God. It all suffers from Nick Hornby blandness. Everything he touches turns to bland. My advice: stay away from his cooking and, more importantly, his "creative" projects. This is not meant to be an art house atmospheric enigma, nor is it, but it fails to involve solely because of a threadbare plot that avoids detailing the threadbare aspects of lives led by women who were, in reality, the working poor.
Entertainment (2015)
Bemused or Amused ?
In reality, I'd give this film an orange and a telephone pole out of 10. That is to say,"Entertainment" eschews linear narrative.The surrealism is, mostly, gritty. It is an uneasy watch, and part of the difficulty is the misogyny depicted. The central character's act does for variety entertainment what Ted Hughes did for baking; yet, it is a beautiful film in the sense that it's a moving wallpaper with characters as part of a landscape.( The Mojave desert is stunning.) It is original ,the cast is faultless, and it's ironic. Some of the jokes are hilarious; despite the fact that they are part of an anti-comedy act and because of their complete mean spiritedness. It is beyond deadpan: it puts the soul in a vacuum and watches it writhe. The soundtrack also deserves mention as it is rather lovely.