arthurdaley69 Reviews

Kenny (2017)

King Kenny

[10/10 · 11 January 2018]

I sat down to watch this on DVD with my football mad fellow Liverpool supporting son and we were absolutely blown away. For an hour and a half we were virtually transplanted into the world of Kenny Dalglish. How this man has not received a knighthood for his services to his fellow human beings never mind his contribution to football is beyond me. He helped so many people at the time of the Heysel disaster and again more noticeably at Hillsborough and through all the years since. All ultimately to his own detriment in that he had to abandon the job he loved as manager of Liverpool FC to save his health and family.

Kenny was my hero long before this DVD and he always will be . He is a true legend.

I dare anyone to watch this and find a way to not admire him greatly.

King Kenny YNWA.

Hard Times (2009)

A poor effort

[3/10 · 16 July 2013]

One of the weakest films I've seen in a long time. Some talented actors are assembled but the script is lazy and lets them down. They could have literally phoned their lines in and in some scenes they may well have done just that. The characters don't know whether they are Irish or Northern Irish and they sound like neither. For instance the postman's van is marked 'Poste' and looks like a Republic of Ireland post van but seems to be delivering across the border.

Potential wasted in my opinion.

Interestingly there is a huge disclaimer from 'Pfizer' at the start of the movie which must mean there was conflict over the depiction of their product in the movie.

Wide Open Spaces (2009)

Roll up, roll up for the famine theme park................

[2/10 · 13 September 2012]

Wide Open Spaces is one of the UNfunniest comedies I have ever had the misfortune to watch. Gerard Ring (Owen Roe) is a chancer of the highest order with seemingly an endless supply of failing get rich quick schemes. The latest of these being a 'Famine Theme Park'. Myles (Ardal O'Hanlon) and Austin (Ewan Bremner) are flatmates who owe people a lot of money after selling fake merchandise on e-bay and they land jobs with Ring setting up his park.

Characters are introduced all over the place at random with seemingly no thought and all are idiotic. Inevitably disappear just as randomly and with little or no explanation. The dialogue is flat, boring and pointless. The plot is non-existent. The only good things about this movie are the Neil Hannon soundtrack and the fact that it's mercifully short. If you have this DVD and haven't watched it yet pop on the special features and go through them. The bits they have there are ten times better than the movie itself.

Mutual Friends (2008– )

Watch it just for Patrick

[7/10 · 9 September 2011]

I picked this up recently in a DVD bargain bin and seeing as I hadn't caught it on TV I threw it on the DVD player yesterday to see what it was like. I found it reasonably entertaining if a little clichéd. The story centers on a group of 'middle class' friends and their various interactions following the suicide of one of the gang. Martin & Jen (Marc Warren & Keeley Hawes)have been married a few years with one child and things have gone stale between them. I really liked Keeley Hawes in both 'Spooks' and 'Ashes to Ashes' but her character in this is so shallow, whiny and self absorbed she is totally unlikeable. Her useless lawyer husband Martin is more likable in some ways but you still find yourself wanting to give him a good shake to cop himself on a bit. Leigh (Claire Rushbrook) is the grieving widow and she carries the part off reasonably well without ever looking like she's particularly upset. Liz (Sarah Alexander) is the ex of Patrick (Alexander Armstrong) sand there are some brilliant scenes involving both of these actors. Liz is a bit of a spoiled type who never seems entirely content with her lot no matter what. Alexander Armstrongs 'Patrick' saves the whole kit and caboodle even though this seems unlikely given his feckless free spirit / would be layabout outlook on life. Armstrong is perfect for the role and to be fair he accounts for at least 5 of the 7 stars I give this programme. Interestingly from about the 2nd episode on I was wondering if it was meant to be a continued series or would it have a neat 'one off' 6 episode arc with things all neatly tied up at the end. I have to say the ending surprised me a little - particularly since a lot of the content was fairly predictable at times - but it worked for me. I was quite please to find here on IMDb that there was intended to be a continuation ie another series but I for one am glad there wasn't. Not because it was bad, just because I think sometimes less is enough. Finally I think 'Sarah' (Martin's boss) deserves a mention. Emily Joyce was very watchable as a vampish domineering solicitor.

Linda Green (2001–2002)

Not the worst

[6/10 · 7 September 2010]

I picked up series 1 on DVD very cheaply about 4 years ago but never watched an episode until this week. I have watched 8 of the 10 episodes now and I have to say overall I found it quite enjoyable. The show was created by Paul Abbott who went on to do 'Shameless' so it has a good pedigree.It doesn't always hit the mark but the dialogue is witty and generally sharp even if none of the story lines amount to a whole lot. But life is like that isn't it.

Liza Tarbuck carries the title role well, she's big brassy and confident - most of the time anyway. The singing is probably a bit overdone, I felt there was no need to sing a full song at the beginning, middle and end which is pretty much how it goes in each episode.

I really like Daniel Ryan, Claire Rushbrook and Sean Gallagher who are the principal members of the supporting cast - being Linda's best mates. I love watching out for early appearances of established stars or cameos even and this series is packed with them. Pam Ferris is brilliant as are David Morrissey and Christopher Eccleston - he plays twins - which I thought was a great storyline. I also spotted Maxine Peake (later to be Veronica in Shameless) as a receptionist in a gym.

How Harry Became a Tree (2001)

When is a feud not a feud?

[7/10 · 18 August 2010]

When it's all in your head! I found this a bit of an odd movie but I liked it more then I thought I would after the first 10 minutes - 'How Harry Became a Tree' stars Colm Meaney, Cillian Murphy and Adrian Dunbar. It's a 'funny tragedy'.

Typically Irish but could easily be transplanted to any nation or any era I imagine. Harry (Meaney) causes a feud when there is no reason for one and entangles his son (Murphy) and locals in a web of deceit and while he plots revenge for many imagined slights.

I am Irish and 'How Harry Became a Tree' is set in 1920's Ireland. I always fear that movies set in Ireland in this era give a very bad picture to foreigners about the Ireland of today.

There is of course a world of difference between then and now but sometimes Hollywood doesn't seem to have copped on to that - 'Leap Year' being the most recent paddywhackery schtick I can think of.

I think 'How Harry Became a Tree' would have been a much better movie if the writer / director / producer etc etc had been brave enough to set it in contemporary Ireland.

The Other Man (2008)

Fails to deliver

[5/10 · 11 August 2010]

Being reasonable familiar with a lot of movies Liam Neeson and / or Laura Linney have been involved in I had relatively high expectations for 'The Other Man'. It doesn't always happen to me but on this occasion I foolishly allowed myself to be taken in by the blurb on the DVD box. Unfortunately as is so often the case, this potentially good movie missed it's mark by a considerable distance. Linney and Neeson are competent (even good at times) but the screenplay let them and us viewers down badly. Neesons scenes with his twenty something daughter were dreadful, truly dreadful. I feel it was trying to be 'Frantic' and got confused along the way so tried to morph into 'Terms of Endearment'. As a result it was neither strong enough in one genre or the other.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

2001 - A Space Oddity

[4/10 · 8 July 2010]

I have to say I found this very dull and boring and I did zap through at least a third of the movie to keep myself awake. The only reason I give it a half decent rating is for the special effects (must have been amazing to 1968 audiences) and the cinematography. The story is non existent and the acting nothing special.

It was impossible to feel any attachment or empathy for the characters as everything is so clinical and cold. Maybe that was Kubrick's intention and if so then hey he succeeded with me at any rate. The HAL storyline could have been even better but at least there was some semblance of a story to that bit. The rest no way.

Like at least one other reviewer said already on here this is for hard core SCI FI / Kubrick buffs only.

Heartlands (2002)

An underrated gem - probably......

[7/10 · 7 July 2010]

'Heartlands' is a British made bittersweet tale of an ordinary guy, Colin, who is abandoned as his wife runs off to Blackpool with a copper (Colins local darts team captain and best mate to boot).

The tag line reads - an epic journey......on a small scale - and thats quite apt.

Michael Sheen is really good as Colin, very different role from Clough in 'The Damned United' or Frost in 'Frost/Nixon'. Loads of well known actors involved including Mark Addy (Dave in 'The Full Monty' & more recently Friar Tuck in 'Robin Hood') Ruth Jones (Nessa from 'Gavin & Stacey'), Celia Imrie ('Dinnerladies' etc etc), and another from 'Gavin & Stacy' - a very young looking James Corden is a member of the darts team although he has practically no lines.

The wife and her lover are a right pair of selfish creeps and while he was making his epic journey to win her back - on his Honda 50 - I had the sinking feeling of an inevitable cheesy happy ending. Much to my surprise about half way through, the film shifted in tone a little and a variety of possible endings appear. I think the one they went with works as it wasn't the one I feared but neither was it the one I expected.

Trust Me (2009)

A random TV episode...

[2 July 2010]

Just happened across an episode (no idea which one) of this on RTE in Ireland very very late last night. RTE have this really annoying habit of buying random TV programmes from the US & Australia and sticking them into the 1am to 4am slot so no one realises they are on. They don't even have the name of the show up on screen at the 'ad breaks'.

I thought this might be OK with Eric McCormack from 'Will & Grace' and yer man from 'Ed'but it wasn't really very good and so it was no surprise at all when Ifound this note on the internet today (after I searched IMDb for the title of course :-)

'On Friday, April 10th, 2009, the New York Times reported that TNT opted out of renewing Trust Me for a second season due to low ratings.'

I wont be watching any more of it then.....

Man on Wire (2008)

Top class documentary

[8/10 · 1 July 2010]

Hands up if you had ever heard of Philippe Petit before the release of this fantastic documentary 'Man on Wire'. I certainly hadn't but after watching this I will never forget him.

Philippe Petit (now 60) is an amazing high wire walker and had already performed unbelievably dangerous high wire walks in Paris and on Sydney Harbour bridge before he came up with the most audacious high wire plan of all time - to walk between the twin towers of the World Trade centre in 1974.

'Man on Wire' is truly a breathtaking experience from start to finish. I was absolutely engrossed from the first minute. Director James Marsh has assembled an incredibly beautiful combination of images using rare footage, live interviews, recreated scenes and still photography.

The film is set up like a heist movie, (Danny Ocean himself couldn't top this one though), we get to see the detailed thoughts, ideas, training and preparation of all the participants over a few years in intimate detail and I really had a sense of wonderment throughout the entire thing. Undoubtedly a fantastic movie and Michael Nyman's haunting and emotive score was the cherry on top.

Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

Could have been so much better....

[5/10 · 22 June 2010]

After watching this movie over the weekend I was left with the impression that Sergio Leone would have been better served by going into more detail on the early part of the movie which was far more entertaining than the turgid middle section and the woeful last hour. I am normally very good at staying with a movie that jumps around but this was a nightmare. It might have made a genuine epic if the tale was told chronologically rather than the backward / forwards mess it became.

The story is too complex and tries to be all things to all men. Too many plot lines and incidental characters are introduced only for their purpose or contributions to be left unfinished so the viewer is ultimately unfulfilled.

Having said that I was impressed with the acting - James Woods, Robert De Niro (and even Danny Aiello) who all put in stellar performances.

Spanning several decades this movie was never going to be easy to squeeze into almost 4 hours on screen. While I found the first half gruesome, violent, funny and entertaining by turns overall I was disappointed with this 'epic' homage to the gangster. It felt like decades passed - particularly while watching the last hour.

Easy Rider (1969)

A nice surprise...

[7/10 · 17 June 2010]

I watched 'Easy Rider' with expectation's of it being dated, clichéd, amateurish and overrated. But I was very wrong to do so. It's just one of those movies that grabs you early on and doesn't let go. Everything moves slowly and yet their sublimely surreal day to day life experience and the fantastic scenery keeps you hooked. Hopper, Fonda & Nicholson combine brilliantly to flesh out what could have been a very bare stark dull story. It's amazing what they managed to come up considering the relatively low budget and their constant very drug addled state! Definitely one for every movie collection. I particularly liked the scenes involving 'locals' who were openly evil with their hostility, fear and hatred of anything non conforming. The tension oozes off the screen in those scenes and it's so markedly different to the scenes involving the mellow laid back yet undeniable wild drifters, Fonda & Hopper. The music is great too.

Happiness (1998)

We need a minus rating for this one

[1/10 · 20 April 2010]

'Happiness' - an all time low in scraping the barrel. Stunning in it's complete lack of morals taste or decency. Amazing considering it starred the likes of Philip Seymour Hoffmann and Lara Flynn Boyle. In fairness their acting was quite incredible considering the subject matter involved. An unnecessary movie - a complete and utter waste of time for everyone involved including us viewers. Of course the critics loved it (back in 1998) or thereabouts I think but I am glad to say the sicko style of director / writer Todd Solondz has been given precious little opportunity for his weird tastes to hit the screen since.

An extremely rare occasion for me to say I will be returning this to the 2nd hand shop I bought it in as I would not allow it to remain in my collection.

Plot Spoilers follow - ( I apologise for using the word plot as it's really a false description considering there is no plot to speak of) do yourself a favour read them so you can avoid the mistake I made!!

Everything but 'Happiness'! Some of the 'lowlights' include -

relationship break ups leading to suicide kids being 'unrepentantly' molested and worse very graphic conversations between adults and kids - I know it's a movie script - doesn't make it OK!! an exploitative author who wishes she was raped so she could write about it obscene phone calls to random women and neighbours e.g. above mentioned writer someone is murdered and body disposed of little bits of a time in plastic bags

All the while the characters are either loudly proclaiming they are blissfully content or totally useless.

While early on in the film there were some 'darkly comic' moments (which is why I watched it to a conclusion) overall it was one of the worst movies I have ever had the displeasure to watch. Thankfully I am not alone in this view as per multiple reviews on here already.

The Nines (2007)

Definitely not a 9....

[2/10 · 12 March 2010]

I really like Ryan Reynolds and Hope Davis and I actually had high hopes watching this last night on DVD. Mainly as I try to avoid reviews until I watch something myself and form my own opinion Big mistake! My 2 /10 is for the first segment which in fairness is actually quite decent and if they had made the movie about the characters in section 1 alone it may have risen above the 5/10 mark.Once it moved into TV 'reality show' territory it stank to high heaven. Ryan Reynolds captured the essence of an actor on the edge wonderfully but as a gay TV writer and famous games creator / devoted family man he was definitely less effective. From the blurb on the box I expected a flashback thriller along the lines of 'Memento' - unfortunately this is nowhere near that standard of movie.

The Black Dahlia (2006)

Dire stuff.

[1/10 · 2 March 2010]

I've had this on DVD for quite a while but only got around to watching it last night. From the blurb on the box and with the cast / director involved I was really looking forward to an exciting thriller. How wrong I was. Brian De Palma is truly a great director - I mean think about it, his CV includes movies like Snake Eyes, Scarface, Carlito's Way, The Untouchables and even Mission Impossible - but this is surely a blot on his copybook. Dire dire dire. The cast looks fantastic and includes solid actors like Aaron Eckhart, Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson and even Hilary Swank but it's a truly awful. My 1 out of 10 is for the DVD box cover. The rest is not worth wasting 'ink' on.

Kings (I) (2007)

A long way from home....

[9/10 · 5 February 2010]

An excellent movie and very unusual in that it is almost entirely 'as gaeilge'. Colm Meaney is the most recognizable actor involved, well for non Irish people he will be anyway, but the supporting cast is equally strong.

Having lived in England for a while in the 1990's myself I could readily identify with the constant nagging doubts as to whether they could make a go of it back home or not - if only they had the courage to give it a try.

This movie is obviously intensely 'Irish' but it's message could apply to any foreigners anywhere.

CrashBurn (2003)

Not that bad.........

[9 March 2005]

I saw the first episode of this on late night Irish TV last night and I thought it was a bit quirky and not nearly as bad as the reviewer in 2003 seems to think it was.

There were some Tarantinoesque touches with the same scenes being revisited from different characters angles which I suppose would have been considered more clever if it was original, but this technique added a nice touch for a TV series.

Maybe RTE have consigned it to the graveyard shift for a reason, but then they tend to show 'Water Rats' at a similar hour and thats not the worst thing I've ever seen so I will certainly watch it some more to see how it develops!