A competently put together film (as you’d expect from Ron Howard), with adequate performances (as you’d expect from Tom Hanks). Not exactly an acting masterclass, except in adequately ambling through a mediocre film. My fellow viewers reckoned that the dialogue was hideously creaky (though I didn’t notice so much). The story is very daft, but… I quite enjoyed the whole experience.

Really it’s a pretty faithful adaptation of a book which had lots of interesting ideas, and a brilliant hook of a story, and was told in barely adequate prose (with hideously creaky dialogue).

As it is so faithful, and also because it condenses a novel-sized story into a 2 hour film, the film really lays bare the shortcomings of the plot. It is such blatent tosh when one sees it being played out with real live people on the big screen, and apparently with a straight face. The story is revealed for what it is: a crossword-puzzler’s secret wank fantasy, where the future of Western Civilization hinges on the hero’s ability to do anagrams. It just doesn’t hold up very well. Continue reading →

I first read about this movie in Cinefex, a special effects journal, and as an fx showcase, it’s quite a good film. However, as a film, it’s a nasty and exploititive piece of trash. Continue reading →

I don’t know if this film has ever been released commercially. It seems to have been marketed at Cannes in 2003. I borrowed a copy from a friend who was in it.

Anyway, it’s a feature-length film about a motley crew of variously violent Glaswegians, and the events following a stabbing. It features knife fights, car chases, fantastic editing, variable acting ability (and some of the creakiest dialogue you’ve heard), and was made for the absurdly low sum of £800. (Actually, under £800, I believe.)

It’s well worth watching if for no other reason than to see what a dedicated filmmaker can do on an absolute shoestring.
Continue reading →

Ah, a lovely example of Good Filmmaking. See it if you’re in the mood for a meatier film that might make you think.

It is well shot, acted, directed, scripted. Some of the cinematography (it takes place in London and Kenya) is drop-dead gorgeous. It tackles important issues (corruption by Big Pharm in third world countries). The story is compelling.

What surpised me slightly is that it’s based on a John LeCarré novel. Continue reading →

Deeply, deeply mediocre.