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ethical_trader
Reviews
Kill List (2011)
Gripping, tragic and a true homage to the dogme gritty style that is becoming a British forte
Writing this as the credits roll, and I'm truly breathless! What a fantastically brilliant ,but not a 'fantasy' or 'bright' in a kids movie Walt Disney sense film. Seen 'Angel Heart'? Did you like it? Then you will love this in buckets. Cast? Superb, with a very real style and an obvious license to ad lib as the mood took them which lead to a depth and believability in the scenes that was engaging and totally identifiable in every day life and all relationships that are in/on rocky waters. There's plenty of symbolism and clues as to what is going on, and the early signs of 'the pact' are fairly easy to deduce - what keeps you guessing is how it'll unfold. Because this whole script and delivery were kept entirely real and in our world, my main worry now is 'what if........'? DON'T GET MARRIED, DON'T HAVE KIDS, IN FACT......NEVER GET CLOSE TO OR LOVE SOMEONE - YOU WILL BE HURT IN WAYS YOU CAN'T IMAGINE! No spoilers here, I don't do lists or plots, just impressions - and my impression of this one is it will be in plenty of DVD collections in the future as a must have, yet people will ask 'No Oscars'???!!!
The Inbetweeners Movie (2011)
Painfully puerile but not in the good and funny way that the TV series was.
My header says it all, but IMDb want a whole ten lines, maybe if I just go 'AAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!' it will help to fill the space?! I found this film so awful I left before the end, the 'jokes' weren't that funny, and were mostly of a visual and totally predictable nature; including a rehash of the 'disabled kids on a roller-coaster' joke, which was a classic TV moment, just like Del Boy 'playing it cool', only this time it was by a hotel pool, and not that funny - yet it was the 'funniest'(?) moment that I saw. The casting had every middle class wannabe that wants to go to RADA in there, which constantly annoyed me, not even 'The Queen' talks like that anymore. If you've ever done an 18-30 holiday you'll know there's very little 'posh totty', just plenty of 'northern tarts' with their boobs hanging out off their face's on 'E', while Cockney lads pour spirits down their throat in the hope of a quickie if they get them drunk enough. This 'movie' tried to emulate that 'culture' a wee bit, but no where near well enough. Even the dance tunes in the bars weren't a touch on the real thing, another thing that annoyed me no end, they were mostly just cheesy pop which no self respecting DJ would play - in fact everything about this annoyed me to the point of wanting to start an FB campaign to demand my money back, however I decided it would be a waste of energy and I'd already wasted enough going to the flix in the first place. How could this have been so bad when the TV series was so good? I'm flummoxed. Nuff said, watch it at your peril and remember that it's time you'll never get back.
Terra Nova (2011)
How to save Humankind? Go back in time and make the same mistakes again.
Despite what I'm going to say in this review, I will say stick with this series for some entertaining stories, forgive it its obvious flaws and lack of forward thinking or radical ideas, and just hope that the more irritating characters will get killed off.
Straight away, you just know it's American, with all of the stereo types that will inevitably involve. Europeans are constantly irritated by the over simplification of group culture in American drama's; we ask "don't these audiences have a brain? Can't they work it out"?! I'm sure they can, but producers want a nice safe package for the major networks, and this is a fine example of that play it safe mentality that feels it needs to tick the right demographic boxes (for the sponsors sake).
So, it's 2149 and Earth is dying, through the excesses of capitalism, industrialisation and war, no surprises so far. A technology has come along to allow 'colonists' to travel back 85 million years to an alternate time stream on Earth (Terra Nova) and get the chance to eat real food and breathe clean air, good for them! However they set up a colony under the guidance and leadership of a wizened yet tough and ruthless old soldier and his obvious authoritarian 'regime', supported by tonnes of well armed soldiers that don't seem to do anything except sentry duty (the first of many clichés, more to come, in bucket fulls!). How do they achieve the setting up of this colony? They farm, that's good, it makes sense. They set up a trading system that involves producing goods and and a central market to enable selling them for money. BAD, BAD, BAD! If you wanted to save mankind and avoid the excesses and mistakes that have destroyed all human kind what the hell are you doing instigating the very same system that has destroyed us in the first place???!!! Big fail, and one that had me hurling abuse and the odd boot at the TV whenever this system was reinforced and justified. Humans managed perfectly well for thousands of generations in non authoritarian tribes, (Ancient Celtic tribes elected their chiefs, so did many others) all without the need for money because resources were plentiful, as they so obviously are on Terra Nova. One can't help thinking that if Scandinavians had done the initial colonising they would never have made this fundamental error. Yet Scandinavians don't have that irrational, brainwashed fear of 'the big bad boogie man, Socialism'.
The colony has an obvious over reliance on technology and extravagant gadgets that need a whole load of electricity, rather than adapting to their new environment in a more sympathetic and practical manner. Most of the gadgets have a neon glow that is totally wasteful of precious energy and unnecessary, mmmmm? The vehicles used to travel on unexplained roads through hostile jungle and dinosaur infested landscapes are quite often open sided, and backed up by motorbikes that reminded me of the 'old' Battlestar Galactica shows after they reached Earth (had the production budget slashed). Yet you see vehicle drivers and crew succumbing to quickly reflexed dinosaurs and their appetite for human flesh, hasn't anyone heard of doors? Who designed these things?!
The 'good guys', all committed capitalists, (Colonists) are always well turned out and shiny clean, have impeccable manners, with not one 'ugly' amongst them as they all at one time or another have certainly modelled for a home shopping catalogue. If there is one that is vaguely 'normal' looking, you can bet that they're a 'colourful' character, quirky but lovable.
The bad guys (Sixers) are all 'radical' looking with a wardrobe and hairstyles from the punk era with lots of ink and piercings and quite a few 'uglies'. They have bad attitudes and a scheming, violent nature fuelled and lead by an evil leader who is a carbon copy of Tina Turner in Mad Max III. The good guy/bad guy stereo type is now well and truly in full flow. Shame, as I prefer the Sixers, at least they're more in tune with their new home and have virtually no reliance on technology or capitalism. Why are they portrayed as the bad guys when they have more of an idea on how to exist as a self supporting tribe? Oh, I forgot, this is an American show with a stream of commercials every five minutes so we wouldn't want to deter all of those gadget hungry consumers do we? The sponsors just wouldn't allow it.
Already we have war (the Sixers have broken away to set up an alternate colony). Greed through ownership and the pursuit of money; and industrialisation through the desire to produce goods for profit alone rather than goods for the good of the community as a whole. See the flaws to this doomed utopia?
I'll have to stop writing now, my obvious irritation with this show is boiling to the surface and I don't want to break any more screens, whether they belong to a TV or PC.
Having derided the lack of imagination such a show should have, I'll sign off by saying that it can be entertaining in a blinkered, non imaginative, 'wholesome' American way.
UPDATE............
I got as far as episode 10 as I was hoping this show would improve, it hasn't. I would compare it to watching a relative die from some creeping, body consuming disease. The anger I now feel is that of someone that knows there's a cure, yet the doctors haven't a clue and won't listen. Give this show a wide berth, go for a walk or talk to your friends instead, you'll get a lot more satisfaction from it.
Il divo (2008)
Disjointed, confusing, yet compulsively watchable....
Having spent some time living in Italy back in the nineties,I was baffled how a man like Berlusconi could be considered as a leader. I (and most Italians) knew he was a crook, that he almost certainly had Mafia connections, and that he was a power mad, sex crazed 'little man'. He owned the three major TV channels(Rai 1, 2, 3) that constantly ran propaganda ad's saying what a nice man he was, accompanied by posters in the countries largest super market chain, which he just happened to own (Citta Marketta). Yet being an outsider I had little concept of Italy's political forum - I was truly baffled. Well, after five minutes of being introduced to Andreotti in this film, I had it all worked out, Burlosconi was the lesser of two evils, yet preferable as he wasn't quite as evil as those he was replacing. If ever I need to show a film of a true psychopath it wouldn't be any Hannibal movie, (he did recognise right from wrong, and only punished the 'guilty'). Andreotti is the personification of a psychopath - chilling in his lack of emotion - to the point where even his compadres fear him so kiss hiss backside in the pursuit of a valid 'friendship' - all skilfully portrayed in this biog. Yet the most telling thing about this story is that he got away with it, despite a wealth of evidence implicating him in corruption, murder, assassination etc, one court after another is overturned in its findings and the man lives his life with only short term punishment at best, THIS IS ITALY, WATCH AND LEARN, thanks.
The Fades (2011)
Just gets better and better - a classic unfolds before my eyes - thank you again BBC!
Surreal (yet almost believable) - get the kids off to bed because they'll be freaked in no uncertain measure! Your six year old will be certain there's a monster in the dark places. I'm not the kind for listing actors names or plot synopsis - my reviews are just an emotional impression based on whether I'm hooked or not (which makes the 'ten line mandatory rule'of IMDb a bit frustrating at times)- I'll leave the name dropping to the geeks that love that kind of thing. What I can say is the story is absorbing, cashing in on the apocalyptic view of the world that we all seem to have at the moment, yet not cashing in as it's intelligent, witty and philosophical in its approach; (morons won't get the 'message's', but will enjoy the action, freak factor and the odd naked teenager.....well almost naked). There isn't one dud or wooden performance in here, a solid script backed up by solid acting that makes you beg for more of the story; a real 'I can't wait!' kind of effect (on me anyway), clever underplayed directing (the best kind in my view as it's more 'real', yet it's not Dogme). Do I have my mandatory ten lines yet, let's see? YUP
Incendies (2010)
Big Boys Don't Cry? This One Did.....
I'm meant to provide at least ten lines according to IMDb - Yet this film only needs one word, 'Profound' - I could use a thousand and still not describe this MONUMENT of a film ......let's try.....engaging, hypnotic, beautiful, deep, shocking, chilling, honest, disturbing, emotional, original, soul destroying, uplifting, tear invoking, truly 'human'. No 'spoilers',or 'clever clichés' are needed ( I don't think there's a single cliché in the whole two hours) - I've waited a long time for a film like this - After writing the effect it had; just to get my thoughts down while still fresh, I'm going straight to my best mate and fellow film lover's house with a glorious yet modest DVD case and demand he watch it - "right now, Dave, right now! Put that kettle down, your coffee will go cold anyway, JUST WATCH THIS!!!" - And I know he'll thank me for my obstinate insistence. Thirst will mean nothing, the 'bathroom'? You'll learn to hang on, hunger? It won't occur. Very rarely will you encounter such a masterful telling of a story, trust me - yet don't allow anything to distract you, and when you think "the subtitles aren't working", you're not meant to understand.....it's from the main character's perspective and they don't speak Arabic either, a clever touch that you'll learn to get. Monsieur Villenueve, if I ever win the lottery and write the script that's in my head - YOU will direct it after rewriting it. I'll pay you anything and give you free reign - pure Dogme with subtleties of touch and inflection that very few of us will ever have but can only dream of thinking once in our lives. IF THE Oscars WEREN'T SO 'EXCLUSIVELY ANGLO' AND INCLUDED FOREIGN FILMS FOR BEST PICTURE ETC - THIS WOULD HAVE WON A HALF A DOZEN. Bravo, again, Msr Villenueve, BRAVO!!!!! Wajdi Mouawad - you gave us this play from your heart - I hope it's not you're own life story - if so......go with God, peace brother.
Tomorrow, When the War Began (2010)
Great Idea, But No 'Red Dawn'.
Not going to show off with loads of names and long 'filmie' words etc. There are some good performances and a few typically Aussie chuckles. Some great views of 'The Bush', oh dear, to compliment the scenery in an 'action' flick doesn't bode well, does it? My disbelief started when half a dozen 'young adults' head out into the bush on a camping trip - and not one ciggie or tinnie in sight. If you know Aussies, you know this is an impossibility unless it's an evangelical outing. I can list a half a dozen 'resistance' films to watch instead of this; Black book 8/10. Red Dawn 7/10. Flammen Og Citronen 8/10. Went The Day Well 7/10. The Army Of crime 7/10, even Battle Los Angeles 5/10. Suffice to say if you're over 16, you'll be disappointed. I'm amazed that the stupidity of most of the characters, from wearing bright colours when 'hiding' in the bush; to not picking up enemy weapons when they're freely lying around - despite only having a couple of their own was enough to infuriate me. The cherry on the cake though was the dull soundtrack, so to sum it up? Dull, dull, "oh, as if..." - (shout at the screen)!!! Then dull again. I can't help thinking that if this was given 'Dogme' treatment or had a more ballsy director it could have been a great film, but it wasn't and didn't. nuff said.
Page Eight (2011)
The simplest review you'll ever read.......
Slow paced yet clever enough to keep your interest - no need for shoot outs, car chases or fireball explosions because some 'producer' claims "It's what an audience wants!" ( I, for one, don't, unless it's a blood and gore war film). Touches of Le Carre without the seedy Lambeth safe house that seem to pop up in his novels. This is stylish and clever with excellent dialogue, therefore excellent performances from all of the major players. They believe in their characters and it shows,(apart from one 'minor player' that left me a bit annoyed at his wooden delivery - should have been easy to have re-shot that bit with another 'bit part actor'as it was only a short scene on the stairs, you'll spot the bit I mean). All in all, subtly understated, so more believable, and most importantly, a story with a grain of truth running through it that we will all identify with; unless you've lived on the moon for the past 15 years. Bravo, give us more of the same.