I've just come from the Irish press screening and I must say to the various naysayers who seem to think their comments on the net hold any validity they are completely wrong, in my opinion. I'm a working journalist who has been writing about movies and the industry for over 20 years and it seems to me that there are plenty of folks who live in front of their computers and have little or no experience of what it is to enjoy a movie with a like minded crowd. (By way of qualification I have also worked in cinemas and film festivals). Put simply "Quantum of Solace" is a cracking thriller, a fine Bond film and an overall damn good night at the movies. The action is top class (especially the opening car chase), the acting is more than solid and the direction is especially great. The storyline makes perfect sense if you assume that this movie is the second in a trilogy where Bond will eventually uncover the mystery of Vesper Lynd's death. The screening tonight was with an audience of several hundred, from radio, press and TV and the vibe among the audience upon leaving was of a 'a very good picture'. To put it very simply, no more no less; it's no masterpiece, simply a good flick and a good night out. So there, for what it's worth a report from the ground. In this reviewer's opinion, a very enjoyable experience which will be enjoyed my millions worldwide. Finally to the various bloggers out there, all I will say is simply this, a night at the movies with a Bond flick is nothing more than that, a night at the movies. It does exactly what it says on the tin
.Nuff said.
Reviews
4 Reviews
Hancock
(2008)
Possible Spoilers
19 June 2008
Warning: Spoilers
I've just come from the first media screening in Ireland and I must say I couldn't be more disappointed.
The first hour is cracking and it certainly lives up to all we expected from the various trailers and clips. However the last 30 minutes are truly terrible. While the movie comes out of the gate at high speed (with a fantastic combination of black humour, effects and script) the third act is incredibly weak.
There is a lovely twist at the film's mid point and at the time I honestly felt this could be something very special however it's almost as if a second director took over from there, one who has no idea what they were doing.
To add insult to injury the 'villain' of the piece comes out of leftfield and feels like they have no place in a so called superhero movie.
In a post screening discussion one of my pals made the very valid point; "I am Legend" was weak but Smith's fans won't forgive two dogs in a row." How true.
"Hancock" is not terrible, just terribly disappointing. Especially when you consider the talent involved.
On a final note we were asked to fill in response sheets on leaving so perhaps the studio have realised what they have on their hands and are desperately looking for feedback on how to fix it, albeit at this late stage.
I hope they do because I feel there is a good (but not a great) movie buried somewhere in this mess.
The first hour is cracking and it certainly lives up to all we expected from the various trailers and clips. However the last 30 minutes are truly terrible. While the movie comes out of the gate at high speed (with a fantastic combination of black humour, effects and script) the third act is incredibly weak.
There is a lovely twist at the film's mid point and at the time I honestly felt this could be something very special however it's almost as if a second director took over from there, one who has no idea what they were doing.
To add insult to injury the 'villain' of the piece comes out of leftfield and feels like they have no place in a so called superhero movie.
In a post screening discussion one of my pals made the very valid point; "I am Legend" was weak but Smith's fans won't forgive two dogs in a row." How true.
"Hancock" is not terrible, just terribly disappointing. Especially when you consider the talent involved.
On a final note we were asked to fill in response sheets on leaving so perhaps the studio have realised what they have on their hands and are desperately looking for feedback on how to fix it, albeit at this late stage.
I hope they do because I feel there is a good (but not a great) movie buried somewhere in this mess.
The Commitments
(1991)
For it's time it's a classic
2 November 2006
The Commiments holds a very unique place in Irish modern movie history. For a start you have to understand that the Dublin that the film was shot in was incredibly bleak in the early '90's. Unemployemt was huge, money was scarce etc. When the film opened in Dublin it was a genuine phenomenon. The biggest cinema in Dublin (The Savoy) showed the picture around the clock on it's opening weekend and it played to pretty much full houses at all shows. I watched, for the 4th time, with a crowd of approx 500 at 6.00am on Sunday and the atmosphere was electric. This was a film we could relate to, it was about us and where we lived. Suffice to say it was a monster hit in Ireland at the time. I was working in the cinema business at the time (managing UCI) and I was lucky enough to be at the premiere. When the cast were introduced one by one the roof lifted. I attended the party where The Commitments (all of them) played in a tiny club on the docks called The Waterfront and to say that was pretty special is an understatement. To this day I'm still friend with Dick Massey (Billy Mooney) and and from to time to time he will remissness about his time with the film. The Commitments only played live together three times, the Dublin premiere, the NY premiere the LA premiere. I saw then in their home town! While the movie is certainly flawed it is still a classic for it's time.
Rumble Fish
(1983)
Risk
14 March 2006
Quite simply, this is one of the finest movies of the 80's, in my opinion. I first saw this movie as a revival in my local cinema (in Harolds Cross, Dublin, Ireland) and it blew me away. As a film it features a near perfect performance from Matt Dillon. He was always an actor with great potential, as witnessed by his nomination for "Crash". Mikey Rourke's performance was completely misinterpreted as nonsense at the time but I believe eventually critics (or film buffs) will recognize it as the masterpiece it is. The cinematography is so perfectly crisp. I love this picture and it was an importance movie during my twenties, to my friends and me. Perhaps the following story best illustrates how much of an impression this movie had in Dublin during the 80's. While out on a free night myself and a friend of mine were wandering around Dublin city center, late at night, looking for more fun, (with a few drinks inside us it has to be admitted), when we heard a tune from the OST from "Rumblefish". "Cool as f**k, we thought. We go up this lane, then a left there and then turn a corner and we're looking at a door in a wall no sign above it no nothing but with great music emanating from within. To our left was some graffiti, which read: "The Motorcycle Boy Reigns". When you're in your 20s and you encounter something that like that, you know you're in good hands. The club (it was called Risk by the way) is long defunct but the memory of how "Rumblefish" was an indelible part of Dublin's underground culture remains to this day.
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