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bobbyfletch85
Reviews
Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale (2007)
Finally Gervais isn't the one making the cameo!
Having been a fan of The Office and an underwhelmed viewer of the Extras series I approached this 'Special' with caution.
In this 90 minuter, Gervais battles with his ambition to create something admirable but struggles to overcome his urge for fame. Colliding with a host of superbly performed celeb cameos he finds himself free-falling into mediocrity and is forced to re-arrange his priorities.
This was a 'special', deserved of the title. Gervais rewarded viewers who stuck with him through the previous two series which gave us no plot, no story and over-reliance on star cameos. In Extras, Gervais ambition had always been to communicate his view on the TV and Film industry but, in the series, this message always became diluted.
In the 'Special' the cameos were used sparingly whilst that enforced awkward silence that usually accompanies his work was rarely used. It was out with the dead-air moments and in with themes and story. Gervais performed well, proving himself to be a capable actor at long last, with some excellent dramatic and emotional moments - his final speech particularly resounding, and yes, quite moving too.
What I like about Extras and this special episode is his emphatic case against lazy comedy and cheap gags. He subtly makes numerous digs to Catherine Tate and shows like Hardware.
Though they've taken their time, I believe Gervais and Merchant have finally made their point, or rather, protest against the fame factory. I strongly recommend this, not just as an excellently written comedy but as an engaging piece that examines celebrity culture. It's comedy with something a little extra. Yes, finally, Gervais isn't the one making the cameo!
Heroes (2006)
Heroes of serial drama
'Heroes' is a programme that commands a measure of dedication but in return gifts viewers with a sumptuous escapist feast. Skillfully blended stories, edge of your seat drama and cliffhangers which leave you begging for more - boy is it addictive! As a former film student, I recognise the craft that's gone into making this joyful, energetic and imaginative project. The US has an impressive CV for producing top draw drama but this one transcends less rewarding shows like 'Lost' and 'Brothers & Sisters' by flooding our narrative taste buds a bargello of weaving plots and subtle plants which pay-off with aplomb. Crucially, centering on the kind of down-to-earth superheroism that the X-Men franchise failed to grasp. This show takes a bat to British serial dramas. Forget the wooden and tacky Dr.Who and the endless parade of soulless crime drama's from ITV or the so-called suave Hustle. Britain is not even a worthy side kick to the US output. So, you might say it's because of the budget? But it's not just the effects that excite, it's the high quality drama, masterfully constructed plots, pathos and philosophy. Okay, the split-personality woman (Nicky/Jessica) is the weakest strand and the acting occasionally dips but few can deny the positives of this sublimely produced series.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
Sunk without a trace!
Where to start really... A lengthy tribute would contradict my score so I'll be as brief as I can.
POTC3 is an absolute wash out. It is a ridiculously plot heavy piece, with hours of build up to strands that are never paid off. The characters are horrendously developed, indeed Will Turner is totally redundant. Kiera Knightly produces a dreadful performance in a role that includes several vomit-inducing incidents desperately trying to protest against the 'mans' world. This includes her being named King of Pirates, having more guns than everyone else, giving a corny motivation speech worse than Morpheous in Matrix 2 and generally trying to look hard. She might as well as just got her bra out and burned it.
As for Depp, well... even his most hardcore fans will be sick to the sight of him by the end. His self-indulgent screen hogging and boring nonsense fail to entertain like he just about managed to in POTC1.
At least 45 minutes of this film could have been cut for being pointless plot that goes absolutely nowhere (see Chow yun fat and the whole calypso thing).
However, I'm sure the mindless twits who like this drivel will forgive the mind-numbingly unsatisfying story (nearly 3 hours!) and gloat about the CGI, which to be frank is exceptional. But if George Lucas has taught us anything, it's that CGI means bugger all without a strong narrative.
I'm amazed no one failed to see the issues with this film further up the ladder, so to take it to the cutting room and rescue it from being a complete let down. Even Keith Richards was an immense anti-climax - which I believe summed up the essence of the film. Plenty of stars but no quality.
The film suggests a fourth instalment but genuinely, I think they may struggle to finance it. People will be fed up with this pathetic end to the trilogy which should have ended after POTC1 - a swashbuckling enjoyable flick. Instead, they decided to weave a labyrinth of plot (to please critics who claimed the previous films were simple), a script filled with cliché rhetoric and endless scenes with little direction or drama. In the cast, the film has an embarrassment of riches but they're not worth their weight in dung let alone gold after their performances - be it the scripts fault or their own.
Take my advice and hoist anchor - this is fool's gold.
Zidane, un portrait du 21e siècle (2006)
An entertaining bore draw
Zidane, un portrait du 21e siècle offers an unusual and surprisingly thoughtful experience, providing a sense of the frustration and isolation of a legendarily talented footballer, but little more.
The film begins with a silent first 15 minutes observing Zidane's skill and movement. It feels rather like you're watching the Skysports player-cam and as such, is a little disappointing. Coupled with the initial jumping back to the perspective of a viewer watching at home, then returning back to the high quality camera POV's, it leaves you somewhat restless, as the director tries to create a hyperbole of space and reality. However, you soon become aware of the human ambiance; Zidane's heavy breathing, feet dragging on the grass like a stag before battle, the visceral crunches of hefty challenges; all creating a very tangible texture.
In a moment after the referee wrongly gives away a penalty, which the opposition score, Zidane approaches and speaks the words "You should be ashamed". Zidane's tone and presence makes this emphatic condemnation almost papal.
There are times in this film when one finds them self checking the time remaining on the DVD player. Whilst being able to appreciate Zidane's awesome touch and effortless ability, the footage is repetitive and too enclosed to really gather a true sense of Zidane's perspective. Those audiences who make it past the 15 minute mark are rewarded when Mogwai's splendid soundtrack kicks in and is complimented by Zidane's subtitled monologue. Here, you really appreciate the fact that they didn't choose an English footballer as their subject. The delicate manner in which french translates, provides a poetic and cinematic syntax. We English are very wasteful with our words and I'm sure if we were hearing David Beckham's thoughts, we would be more spurious at the lack of numerous mentions of "Obviously", "You know" and "fantastic".
At half time the film installs context to the game displaying both violently moving images together with trivial incidents apparently going on elsewhere in the world whilst the game takes place. The intriguing suggestion is that the match, tied with fate, is pointless and memorable like all things.
In truth, after this point, the film has completed it's goal and as such, drags to the finish. The camera work seems dizzying and whilst the intention is to make the viewer feel Zidane's experience, it ultimately fails. Whilst we empathise with his irritation and patience, we are not rewarded like he is, with the thrill of being on the pitch. There is an absence of space and vision, which, would truly mimic his sensation.
Zidane's exit is practically welcome when he is sent off ten minutes before the match finishes, but he leaves with a poetic sense of irony. After a game of fisticuffs, his hot head landing him in trouble like it did at World Cup 2006, we are left with an emotive sense of futility, his sending off - a metaphor for mortality, leaving the pitch to a hero's applause.
I think the film could have benefited from more subtitled speech from Zidane and with the extension of the soundtrack lasting from start to finish. But what hampers this film is it's lack of creating the true experience of space and vision in a football game, in truth, the attempt to re-create Zidane's frustration at not receiving the ball on time and having his passes clumsily lost, is overwhelmed by our frustration at the sense of claustrophobia and detachment.
Children of Men (2006)
Gritty, electric and eerily real
A powerful and energetic film that takes the gritty textures of 28 Days Later and the dystopian noir of Bladerunner creating a memorable and fierce movie that, is at times, spectacularly realistic.
Clive Owen is slowly but surely becoming a very decent actor and in this, save for a few patchy pieces of bad dialogue where he simply swears through scenes, does a good job as the movie's protagonist. Julianne Moore is an odd choice; playing an American leader of a British terrorist movement and yet again, I feel she delivered an empty performance. I really don't know how she manages to get into so many good films.
Through a severe depiction of 2027 London, Children of Men is an advertisement for what Britain could become in the future. What is most clever from this film is the gritty, long shots of action, reminiscent of Saving Private Ryan, where action unfolds before our eyes without cutting and flush with rawness, so stunningly real it'll leave you feeling you've been hiding behind Clive Owen till the very last spray of gunfire. The film is layered with intelligent, meaningful points and messages; perfectly timed for the current climate on immigration, nationalism and racism.
Though the pace dips in places where exposition takes over, it's delivered by charming hippy Michael Caine, but be warned his repetitive salvation "Amigo" may irritate. Electric and vividly clairvoyant, you won't see a better film this year. Britain has had some dire films in it's attempt to battle Hollywood but as Children Of Men's London proclaims "Britain soldiers on"... well after seeing this film, you'll be checking yourself for flesh wounds.
The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)
Flawless Carell!
This is a decent comedy picture. Steve Carell performed flawlessly, handling comedy, romance and serious acting with ease - this guy is seriously talented and he's done a fantastic job. I expected the plot to be one dimensional, focused on only getting Andy (Carell) to lose his virginity but there were some decent sub-plots and his character's journey was engaging and flush with original comedy moments.
This to me was a very different American comedy, laughing close to the bone; Andy's loneliness, self-alienation as well as some tough jokes about Al-Queda and Indian-Asians. Plently of inter-textuality; name dropping recent events, pop news and perhaps too many similies to American celebrity's meant a lot of jokes were wasted on an English audience.
A strong supporting cast did well especially Seth Rogen who is sure for bright things, he played his role quietly and had some excellent delivery. But a word on Paul Rudd who played the ex-girlfriend pining David. His story was boring and tedious, his whinging about his ex-girlfriend was empty and his performance in the film was woeful. Timing way off and improvisations weak. Inevitably the weakest parts of the film were Rudd's scenes. I felt actor Paul Rudd had requested more lines and story-emphasis such was amount of weak lines and go-nowhere dialogue he spouted.
40 year old virgin is a strong comedy, the script isn't dynamite but Steve Carell makes weak gags strong with a mockery style tone, he really did an incredible job and he's a name i want to see more of. I feel with out Carell this film wouldn't be nearly as funny, he makes laughs at minutes, turning the bad jokes upside down.
Fans of the Office and Arrested Development will particularly enjoy this film.