Films on TV – Vertigo

Tags

BFI, cultural olympiad, Film, Films on TV, freeview, Hitchcock, itv3, Movie, television, tv, UK, vertigo

Film of the week: Vertigo (1958) – ITV3 Sunday 21.00

It’s currently a good time to be British, and its also a good time to be a Hitchcock fan.

Britain’s greatest director is in many ways a man of the moment. As part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad the BFI have taken to restoring Hitchcock’s nine extant silent films, whilst also running a huge retrospective celebrating his work.

Vertigo is one of the best, and a great example of how Hitchcock blends entertainment and art. Vertigo is possibly his deepest film, whilst still being a ruddy good watch. And with the results of Sight and Sounds once-a-decade poll of the greatest ever films being announced just next week, it’s looking increasingly plausible that Vertigo could steal the number one spot which Citizen Kane has held since 1962.

 

Also on: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (Dave, Saturday 23.00) / Chariots of Fire (Film4, Wednesday 18.35) / The Bourne Identity (ITV1, Friday 22.35).

Advertisements

Review roundup – The Apartment / Casshern / Bicycle Thieves

Tags

BFI, Bicycle Thieves, Casshern, cinema, DVD, Film, Movie, opinion, Review, Review roundup, The Apartment

Here’s one of these little review roundups I like to do sometimes:

The Apartment (1960) [pictured] – A simply delightful romantic comedy. In order to progress his career, insurance clerk C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) lends out his apartment nightly to various bosses and colleagues in need of somewhere to take women. But a burgeoning romance with an elevator girl played by Shirley MacLaine starts to cause complications. The film is extremely funny and very touching, with the two leads supremely likable and full of chemistry. Billy Wilder – the man behind so many classics (Sunset Boulevard, Double Indemnity, Some Like It Hot) – directs with subtle efficiency and class. It’s how romantic comedies should be. [4.5/5]

Casshern (2004) – I used to love this crazy Japanese sci-fi – which attempts to tackle the horrors of war via an over-the-top action movie about a super soldier fighting mutants and their robot minions. But the truth is it hasn’t aged too well, with the never-great-in-the-first-place CGI now looking very dated and the OTT lens flare and graphic overlays a bit silly. As a kind of live action anime it still has charm, and it does actually say some interesting things with reflections on Japan’s Imperial past. The use of well known western classical music on the score provides a nice juxtaposition to the eastern sci-fi visuals. There are shades of Blade Runner and Metropolis in design, but it never challenges those greats. [3/5]

Bicycle Thieves (1948) – I’m gonna say something controversial here, but Bicycle Thieves is overrated. Sure it’s a very significant movie in terms of filmmaking, I’m not denying that. The location shooting, unprofessional actors and downbeat ending all provide a realism that was largely absent from cinema of the time. But let’s be honest, it is quite a bore to watch. [3/5]

 

Damsels in Distress (2011) – review (London Film Festival Surprise Film)

Tags

Adam Brody, Analeigh Tipton, BFI, cinema, Damsels in Distress, Festival, Film, Greta Gerwig, LFF, London Film Fesitival, Movie, surprise film

So it turned out that Damsels in Distress was the LFF Surprise Film. Which certainly surprised me.

With all the talk of Moneyball, The Rum Diary, My Week With Marilyn and The Iron Lady, this quirky Greta Gerwig comedy seemed to shoot out of nowhere. And I’m glad it did. It was whimsical, charming, and consistently funny throughout.

Now, it wasn’t a choice for everyone, and it can certainly be accused of being too quirky or too full of whimsy. It basically follows a group of dumb college girls at an East Coast University, their attempts to spread happiness and prevent suicide, and the relationships they engage in with even less intelligent men.

It’s a rambling film that doesn’t have much in the way of plot other than a few comedy situations thrown together, the editing is at times messy, the sound mixing is off (in that the repetitive but delightfully fluffy score is too loud), and the characters are a bit flat. Now, that makes it sound terrible. And there will be people calling it terrible for these reasons. But what it does have is a well written script – full of funny lines and witty comebacks – and ‘The Gerwig’ on top form.

Greta Gerwig has developed a cult following and it’s easy to see why – she’s ridiculously likable in this despite playing someone is self obsessed and, she admits, crazy. Less likable is Analeigh Tipton, last seen contributing a talentless performance to Crazy Stupid Love (I’m refusing to use that film’s stupid punctuation) and who is previously know for being on America’s Next Top Model – which explains it all really. The supporting characters played by Adam Brody and a handful of newcomers are all a little underdeveloped, though at times very funny. They all get some good lines and show solid comic timing. But ultimately, it’s Gerwig’s show.

For all its flaws, Damsels in Distress made me laugh out loud a helluva lot. For that I would highly recommend it. Fluffy, enjoyable and funny with a satirical look at the current state of American education and social cliques, it’s quite possibly this generation’s Clueless or Mean Girls.

 

[xrr rating=4/5]

 

Coriolanus (2011) – review

Tags

BFI, cinema, Coriloanus, Film, Gerard Butler, LFF, London Film Festival, Movie, play, Ralph Fiennes, Shakespeare, UK

The 55th BFI London Film Festival starts today with the gala screening of Fernando Meirelles’ 360. And what better way to celebrate than to take a look at the only film I’ve managed to see in advance of the festival: Coriolanus.

Coriolanus sees Ralph Fiennes both act and direct in this Roman-based Shakespeare play updated to a modern day setting. It’s a strong directorial debut, with Fiennes showing flair in the action sequences as well as handling the Shakespearean dialogue – and actors – extremely well. Fiennes takes the titular role of a power hungry general expelled from his country who teams up with his fiercest rival, played by Gerard Butler, for a rampage of revenge. They are joined by some top class acting talent in the form of Brian Cox, Vanessa Redgrave, Jessica Chastain and James Nesbitt, but it’s actually Butler who impresses the most, with a surprisingly charismatic performance.

The strength of the film is in the relationship and chemistry between Fiennes and Butler’s relationship. Their rivalry and subsequent union feels believable and well established. The modern military setting fits well here, updating them from warring Romans to badass military guys.

At other times though the modern day setting feels a bit forced and doesn’t quite fit the material. Coriolanus is essentially banished from his country because he doesn’t come across very well on TV talk show and a small mob get a bit angry. If only we could try this with David Cameron (yeah, that’s right, I just made a tenuous political reference).

Another issue is that despite the audience constantly being told he’s so tough and manly, Coriolanus comes across as extremely whiney and emotionally unstable. This grates after a while. He’s supposed to be some sort of ultra-tough general, but all he really wants is his mother’s approval. I ended up disliking Fiennes’ character not for his actions but because he wouldn’t shut up. I found Butler a lot more watchable, playing a dangerous yet ultimately likeable man. This is no fault of Fiennes but is actually inherent in the writing. Has anyone ever questioned Shakespeare’s script-writing abilities before? Coriolanus is solid, but it’s certainly no Hamlet or Macbeth.

It has its flaws then, but Coriolanus is still pretty good. It’s an interesting take on Shakespeare and a strong directorial debut that is largely quite enjoyable to watch.

 

[xrr rating=3/5]

 

Coriolanus screens at the London Film Festival this weekend and then is released fully in January 2012.

London Film Festival Stuff!

Tags

BFI, british, cinema, Festival, Film, LFF, London, London Film Festival, Movie, UK

So today was the launch event for the 55th BFI London Film Festival which temporarily sent Twitter into a crazy land of cinematic excitement this morning.

The two most exciting announcements were Shame, which I’ve mentioned in these parts before (AND AM FUCKING EXCITED FOR), and The Artist (pictured) – the new silent that wowed Cannes and has got me sweating in anticipation.

Of course, I’m probably not going to see either of those since I’m not a BFI member (I know, but I do have a Sight & Sound subscription) and the tickets will sell faster than cakes that are hot.

Anyway, I’ve been combing through the line-up and there’s plenty to be intrigued by. I’ve put together a little list of things which look cool and that I might be watching come mid-October:

Children Who Chase Lost Voices From Deep Below (pictured left) – beautiful looking anime.

Coriolanus – Ralph Fiennes’ modern day take on Shakespeare.

Dragonslayer – a documentary portrait of 20-something skateboarder who feels disconnected from the world around him.

 

Hari-Kiri: Death of a Samurai – Takashi Miike’s Samurai follow-up to 13 Assassins.

The Ides of March – George Clooney’s political campaign drama.

The Kid with a Bike – the new one from art-house favourites the Dardenne brothers.

Michael (pictured right) – that paedophile drama from Cannes. A man lives a mundane life, except for the fact he has a ten-year-old captive in his basement.

Point of Order! – a documentary edited from live TV recordings of the 1954 McCarthy hearings.

Restless – a teenage romance from the always dependable Gus Van Sant.

Sarah Palin – You Betcha! – king of the documentaries Nick Broomfield turns his eye to Sarah Palin.

A Simple Life – about a relationship between a middle aged man, played by Andy Lau, and an elderly woman. Film festivals can always do with more Andy Lau.

Stateless Things – crossing stories of two young men stuck in hopeless situations in South Korea.

Target – a Russian dystopian tale set in the near future.

This Must Be The Place – Sean Penn plays a retired rock-star going on a road trip.

Weekend (pictured left) – an British indie romance. Two guys fall for each other, but one is planning to leave for America.

We Need to Talk About Kevin – much discussed adaptation finally makes it here.