Reviews

I am prepared to give Vin Diesel the benefit of the doubt as far as his acting abilities. It is incredible that he once auditioned for the part of the transvestite in Flawless. A part eventually played by Philip Seymour Hoffman. However if he expects to be the new Arnold Schwarzenegger perhaps he should wait for another vehicle than this overblown over hyped artless piece of moviemaking. I walked out before the end -expecting something better. save your dollars folks.

On the odd occasion I visit the cinema to pay their exorbitant prices for several reasons. To be entertained.To escape from a familiar world to an unknown dimension. To be diverted from the usual mundane cares of earning a living, etc etc. LOTR did this for me in no uncertain terms. I say this unequivocably despite the fact of having been filmed in this lovely land of ours-the NZ landscape never looked so beautiful. Enough has been said about the acting the script the costumes & scenery and I will not belabour the point.But it has been gratifying to read all these positive reviews for a nz made film which has obviously left its mark on so many viewers at this the dawn of the 21st century.Only time will tell if it will live up to those remarks in posterity and not just the box office.

I feel deprived somewhat that I only got in to this series midway through the opening season. To all seasoned political watchers I recommend it for its almost authentic portrayal of the highs and lows of running a large country. It is not excellent per se, but it is very good. The characters are not cardboard cutouts but eminently watchable and well researched-no doubt it helps to have a few ex-WH staffers on the writing team. Martin Sheen stated in an interview that his role as President Jed Barlett is a mixture of Clinton Carter and George Bush and I concur. His character is not a saint but one gets the feel that here is a decent man with a passion for a job he loves but dosent necessarily like doing. There is a scene where he receives his twice weekly intelligence briefings, a necessary task no doubt but for the president a soporific trial. The dramas that unfold in the series range from the trivia of organising a state dinner to the moral and ethical dilemmas of staying an execution or authorising a bombing in Iraq. I would doubt that the real scenarios portrayed week by week are so encountered by the real WH staff. They'd be run of their feet for one thing. But one does get the drift of how decisions are reached, the chain of command, the coddling up to congress and the public at large, and of course the power play and influence peddling, the continual spin doctoring of public opinion, and of course the perrenially cynical but necessary WH press corps so ably managed by the press secretary CJ Cregg. What a gal. She is my favorite cast member. Thoroughly professional at her task yet still vulnerable in so many ways, she yearns for a personal life albeit in the arms of Danny Concannon a hard nosed reporter who definitely has a soft spot for her. I reckon Rob Lowe can also be forgiven his past transgressions for a fine portrayal as deputy CD, though whoever wrote in his characters ongoing relationship with a high class call girl must have did so with tongue in cheek. Lowes comments on the subject have yet to be recorded. More praise for him and his acting skills. I could write a few more lines here about all the other actors and characters but enough has been said on that score by others methinks, and with more insight. Suffice it for me to leave it there and wish the makers of the series well. I look forward to more evenings of, at least for an hour giving in to some very watchable television.

This is probably the best version of Shakespeares tale of doomed young love on film. Besides it leaves Baz Luhrmans rendition in the dust. What was the man thinking of?? Director Zefirelli gives it the same treatment as Taming of the Shrew, with lots of authentic settings and opulent costumes not to mention a superb cast led by a talented Olivia Hussey and a never seen again Leonard Whiting. Just loved the masked ball scene, what better place to meet the girl of your dreams. This is also the film that started Michael York on his career. he plays cousin Tybalt with a splendid malevolence as does Natasha Parry as Lady Capulet. What young girl wouldnt want to get away from a parent like that. For many of my age group at that time, this was our first taste of the Bards work. It amazed us then as it still does today that many issues of 500 years ago havent really changed much, although Shakespeare manages to cleverly disguise such issues behind the cloak of humour and wit. Not all of Zefirellis productions were as successful as this early work but it must surely stand out as one of his best.

Laura, a woman in her late 50's just recovering from a sojourn in a mental hospital returns home to her estate in the temporary care of her son and his wife. A rather dubious couple to say the least. While walking in the grounds one morning she hears or thinks she hears groaning sounds emanating from the ground and tries to raise the alarm. Unsurprisingly when help arrives the voice is no longer evident and so the seeds of doubt are raised about her sanity. Caught this one on the box very early one morning and scared me enough to have a really lousy sleep. De Havilland is in her element here as the recovering patient and gives her character enough credibility to even make the viewer wonder as to her mental state. The black & white photography enhances the suspense of the whole story. Unfortunately not available on dvd or video.

British made drama based on a true story of a chance meeting in Moscow in the early 60's between an english actress and a british double agent and soviet spy. Coral Browne was part of a cultural exchange tour in 1961 between Great Britain and the Soviet Union touring and giving performances as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. One night following a performance in a Moscow theatre she is approached by a familiar looking gentleman. The man turns out to be the traitor and double agent Guy Burgess now residing permanently in the USSR. Oddly they strike up a friendship and he offers her the hospitality of his small apartment as well as an insiders view of being an honoured if not trusted but permanent houseguest living in a totalitarian state. It is the height of the cold war and even he is followed and surveilled upon. Life it seems is not all bread and roses in the utopian state and Burgess confides in her an aching home sickness for his homeland and even the simplest pleasures of english life. He particularly bemoans the unavailability of certain luxury items and being a dapper young man in his Cambridge days is at a loss even to find a really good suit behind the entire iron curtain. Coral touched by his predicament offers to help. Enough said.

The collusion of director John Schlesinger and writer Alan Bennett have produced an exceptional drama which won a few BAFTA awards following its release in 1993. The performances are highlighted by Alan Bates sad self deprecating portrayal as Guy Burgess and some effortless acting by Coral Browne who plays herself with aplomb. A bit like John Malkovich playing John Malkovich but with an interesting edge. The story also gives us some interesting vignettes into soviet life. When they find their hotel bath is minus a plug, Coral and a fellow actor in fun complain loudly to the hidden microphones. Five minutes later to their amazement the concierge knocks on their door with a...you guessed it. In the end the drama offers its own conclusion on betrayal and those who practise it. As Coral a loyal englishwoman herself accurately summed up to Burgess with whom she sympathised to some extent. "You p***ed in our soup....and we drank it". In other words whatever my personal friendship for you some sins are unforgiveable. This is the life you have unwittingly chosen for yourself. Enjoy...

One hell of a great movie. What more is there to say, that hasnt been said already by previous comments. I guess everyone was just bored with sinking boats, dinosaurs, lunar landscapes, and car chases. Simple as that...and about time too.

At last a gladiator movie for the fans of that genre and no B-grade one at that...and not an italian film director in sight. Sorry just a Fellini dig there, just couldnt resist. I looked hard for any evidence of another "Caligula" remake but this is a far superior depiction of ancient Rome and none of that unnecessary debauchery either.A muscular Russell Crowe has fun here with a lot of chain-mail(roman internet) tridents, spears, swords the lot. Looking more macho here than he did in "LA Confidential". He plays a good guy called Maximus. A general turned slave turned gladiator and he's out for revenge against...Joaquin Phoenix. Looking all grown up,pumped up and beefed up with god knows what, last seen in "8MM". Joaquin plays a guy with the unlikely name of Commodus(I just kept thinking of a toilet seat) who is just as nasty as nasty can be. Definitely the villain of the year. With all the expected hype this is definitely no sleeper movie. Its just too good to keep quiet for so long. Even if you dont get into the plot which is understandable enough just go for the fighting and the blood and the guts and the gore of which there is a moderate amount. Historically inaccurate though it may be and no doubt purists will howl at this it is extremely watchable not only for the drama in the great circus but the political shenanigans behind the scenes which tells you that nothing much has changed really in that quarter. We are all bored with sci-fi at the moment considering the extrememly disappointing "Phantom Menace" not to mention the doomed from the start "Mission to Mars". Drown you sorrows in this movie and you'll feel so much better afterwards. Salve. Pax Britannica....

Until Steven Spielberg decides to make a better series this is the best re-enactment we have of the story of Jesus Christ to last us into the new millennium. It is indeed a splendid re-telling. The director has deliberately made no effort here to put his own 'interpretation' on the holy scriptures preferring instead to stick to the written text word for word in which it appears he has adhered to faithfully. From Joseph & Mary's arrival in Bethlehem for the census and then the early years growing up doing his 'fathers' work, those early unforgettable miracles, recruitment of the disciples and ultimately to Calvary and then the climax of the Resurrection.

Zeffirelli makes good use of his stars here giving the benevolent sanhedrin characters, Nicodemus and Joseph of Aramathea to Olivier and James Mason. James Farentino makes a forceful impression as Simon Peter and Anne Bancroft almost reprises her seductress role in the Graduate as Mary Magdalene. Robert Powell, an auburn haired actor has received well deserved praise as the messiah and I would not disagree with them but why it was necessary to cast a blond blue-eyed boy to depict the younger Jesus gives us pause to wonder. The beautiful and authentic filming locations in the sea of Gallilee and the kingdom of Jordan gave an added realism to the holy story. In this country the film has often been repeated on TV during the easter break and for a lapsed christian like myself this is always time for meditation, reflection and inspiration.

He was known as Bertie in the family and he was the eldest son and heir of Queen Victoria, probably the whitest woman, not to mention the most morally pure to ever sit on the english throne. To everyone else he was the prince of wales. Later he was to be known as King Edward VII, of Great Britain & Ireland, defender of the faith etc etc. This BBC series is a re-enactment of his life and has tried to keep to historical accuracy as much as possible, although anglophile purists may find much to criticise. Due in part to his position poor Bertie was singled out early from his four brothers & four sisters for special treatment. His stern lutheran father Albert the prince consort had arranged a strictly academic upbringing for his eldest son which was totally unsuited to his personality. Albert however neglected to imbue his son with what he needed most at that time, fatherly affection. His mother as she so often did took her cues from her husband and was happy to leave their childrens education in his hands. Consequently following the early death of his father from typhoid Bertie turned his back on academia and swore he would never read another text book. At 20 he married the beautiful danish princess Alexandra of Denmark and was to father 5 children by her. Initially it was a happy marriage but soon Berties short attention span and wandering eye caused him to seek respite in the arms of other woman. Most notably among them Lily Langtry, Agnes Keyser, Alice Keppel and Daisy Brook. What his wife thought of these friendships can only be guessed at and she can not have been unaware of these liaisons. The prince of wales for reasons of decency and protocol made a point of only aligning himself with married women most of whom he would introduce to his wife. Divorced ladies were out of bounds and forbidden even in the royal presence. It was to say the least an ambiguous set of rules. His liaisons were an open secret and discretion was the watchword for members of his household. Royalty then was treated with more respect than it is now. Bertie was as immoral in many respects as his mother was amoral to the whole of the british empire. But despite these major flaws in his character he proved a hardworking and popular monarch for the short period that he reigned. At a time when relations with France & England were at their lowest ebb he toured there and his presence in Paris at such a turbulent time helped to initiate the diplomatic accords known as "the entente cordiale". Following death in 1911 he was sincerely mourned by his subjects and as his private secretary Frederick Ponsonby eulogised at his funeral,,,"we will all miss this wayward popular and in the end humane sovereign"

For me a thoroughly absorbing biographical portrayal of this very interesting personality. Timothy West, despite a close resemblance to Edward failed to capture his jovial character and avuncular personality so often remarked about in the contemporary diaries of the time. A shame really because then the series would have been doubly watchable. Helen Ryan although not quite capturing the famous beauty of Queen Alexandra does an adequate job as Bertie's long suffering wife. At Bertie's deathbed it was Alexandra who in a gracious gesture summoned several of the kings closest friends to say their final farewells to him. Francesca Annis also stands out here in her role as Lily Langtry a part she was to repeat in another tv series depicting one of the most famous of english courtesans of the time. Overall I give this a 7/10. Unfortunately not out on video or DVD.

Largely forgettable teenage movie with a couple of redeeming features. But not enough to save it from mediocrity. This cinderella story will no doubt receive star billing in some future film festival of this genre. While Rachel Leigh Cook gives an adequate performance Freddie Prinze jr proves he's not just a pretty face. Not that this picture has really tested his acting skills. My main disappointment is with Anna Paquin who should know better than to star in something like this. What on earth was she thinking of. Good God girl..!. On the whole give it a miss or else wait for a rainy day...

Historical BBC series on the life of Nancy Astor one of the three beautiful and talented Langhorne sisters from Virginia,USA. Each of whom was as charismatic as they were charming, but none more so than the second eldest Nancy. She was not only to marry one of the richest men in the world at the time William Waldorf Astor but to make her mark in politics as the first woman member of the british parliament. In the course of a very interesting life she suffered her share of tragedies including her first marriage to a profligate gambling womaniser whom she never stopped loving and a domineering love hate relationship with her first born Bobby. Throughout the series we are also introduced to the famous personalities of the time, Margot Asquith, Winston Churchill, Nancy Cunard, Paul Robson,Charlie Chaplin, Bernard Shaw to name a few. During a parliamentary tour of the soviet union she harangues Joseph Stalin, "when are you going to stop killing people?".Running for election and not wishing to hide her wealthy background Nancy would motor around in her chauffeured rolls royce from factory to slum to colliery urging ordinary working men to vote for her. They did. Nancy as she grew older was never one to hold back and because of this and a very sharp tongue made enemies within her own party. Consequently she was never offered a cabinet post and passed over for many of the important select committees. It was an anti climax to what could have been a promising career. Despite these setbacks Nancy never forgot her debt to the working class englishman and on her death bequeathed a large part of the Astor fortune to the appropriate charities.

This series will appeal to many admirers of victorian and edwardian history. Many of the scenes were filmed on actual location at Nancy's birth place in Virginia and at Cliveden House, the Astor estate in England where she entertained many of her famous guests. Lisa Harrow in the title role gives an uneven performance coming across more convincingly when portraying the older Nancy. James Fox is also to be commended for his role as the kindly and understanding Waldorf. Unfortunately not out on video.

Low budget New Zealand film released 1984. Starring Lisa Harrow fresh from her lead role in the BBC series 'Nancy'. Based on NZ born author Sue MacAuleys' semi autobiographical best seller of the same name.

Synopsis:- Liz a middle class pakeha(european) housewife suffering from depression has a nervous breakdown and is admitted to a mental hospital. There she meets up with Tug, a polynesian teenager undergoing drug rehab. For some unknown reason she is attracted to him. The feeling is mutual and following discharge from hospital the two move in together despite their different backgrounds and misgivings from both their friends. Almost immediately there is a clash as the two find it increasingly difficult to fit into each others worlds. It is not an auspicious beginning. Do they have enough love & respect to overcome these differences.

Brave effort from the producers and directors at a time when the NZ film industry was struggling to make itself felt in the international scene. Pity they could not have found a more interesting and original opus to do it. Lisa Harrow is her usual professional self doing some of her best work in the hospital scenes. In stark contrast was Pilisi's wooden & amateurish performance as Tug, a role in which a nation wide search was made and where everyone should have looked harder. The theme is not an original one and despite Temuera Morrison's cameo as a gang member there are few redeeming features. Shame really for the efforts of all involved they deserved success but they just missed the boat on this one...

Never has so much talent and so much money been expended by so many people to produce such a disappointing and overrated movie. I gather the producers got their script from the current NASA Mars project, a major undertaking in itself apart from one or two major gliches. Leave Mars to the experts fellas and just stick to good old planet earth.

PS: one major redeeming feature. The never before attempted do or die space walk by the astronauts to the orbiting capsule. The tension was so tight and the margin for error so small that for one second you nearly had me there. Almost but not quite.

Very fine underrated british drama released in 1988 and now sadly passed into oblivion. Alas by all accounts there are no copies on video or dvd. The story focuses on one Harry Perkins. Former coal miner and popular left wing leader of the british parliamentary labour party. Following a landslide election he is soon to be sworn in as prime minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, first lord of the treasury and the Kings first minister, with whom he appears to get along fine. Others however take more convincing. His arrival to say the least causes consternation amongst the mandarins of the civil service and their underlings, a few media barons not to mention the white house, britains NATO allies, the head of the BBC and a few others besides. It is not an auspicious beginning. Their main concern of course is how far left the Kings new first minister is going to take them. Old Harry has a few radical policy changes in mind which is sure to rattle a few established institutions and practises of whom he is quite prepared to ignore. He has a manifesto to follow, promises to keep his electorate and more important matters to ponder over. It is then that a few partisan members of his own intelligence service together with a powerful media baron(shades of R.Murdoch) decide to take matters into their own hands and initiate measures to ensure that Harry Perkins is brought back into line. They do this in the most unsubtle ways. Like opening his mail, prying into his past life and even manipulating his bank accounts to show unaccounted deposits. To a wider degree and on a more machiavellian scale they also manipulate the head of one powerful union and there is suspicion about their involvement in the unexpected death of the PM's chief scientific adviser on the eve of an important meeting. Most of this is accomplished through the old boy network within the civil service and other organs of the government where the 'old school tie' comes into prominence. It is the start of a very british coup...! Harry of course is not entirely ignorant of this skullduggery behind his back and pretty much knows who is behind it. He bides his time and with only a few trustworthy helpers in his inner circle including the blunt spoken chief of his security detail, he ponders over how to foil their plans and pinpoint the traitors in their midst. Enough said.

This is an amazingly good drama as only the brits can produce these days. Ray McAnally shines in his portrayal of the politically savvy and down to earth Harry Perkins. It is one of his best roles and sadly one of his last. Alan McNaughton stands out also as Sir Percy Browne the treasonous MI5 chief and Tim McInerney as his able but weasley paranoid assistant Fiennes. It is a story of excessive political manipulation at its worst and written by Chris Mullin at the height of the Thatcher years when despite the economic upturn only a few people were actually benefiting from it. It was also a time when Great Britain had never actually been so close to the USA in their foreign, defence and economic policies. Thatchers close working relationship with Reagan outlined all that very clearly. Hopefully the drama will be released in video form so that others can also appreciate this low budget but very canny political tale.

It was indicative of the man that John Wayne produced some of his best work in his latter years. 'True Grit' comes to mind as well as 'Rooster Cogburn' co-starring Kate Hepburn. Many like me went of the man during the 60's on account of his politics and die-hard stance on the Vietnam War. After watching this latter day coming of age movie I can finally forgive him for that. Briefly the story begins with a cattle rancher(Wayne) and his decision to reluctantly hire 11 teenagers,literally, to help him move his large herd to the main railhead some days ride away.They are cowBOYS in every sense of the word. For reasons the story explains earlier on there is a temporary lack of able bodied men for hire hence his dilemma. So accompanied by his black cook(Browne) the only other adult in the roundup he shepherds his cattle and these nervous youngsters through a series of both perilous and humourous misadventures. Enough said.

The film did not pretend to be anything than what it was an adventure story set in Texas starring a group of young lads and their crusty old mentor. Although it dwelt on the dilemmas and mischief making that young boys are prone to it dwelt only briefly on matters of sex which I thought made sense. No teenager lost his virginity on this trip. Also the supporting cast were excellent. Bruce Dern who always makes for a good baddie. Roscoe Lee Browne playing the worldly wise camp cook who sagely advises a group of itinerant 'working girls' to perhaps wait another year or two before plying their wares in front of the adolescent lads in his care. And Colleen Dewhurst in all her dramatic regalness always manages to instill dignity & class into what ever role she find herself. Here the role being that of madam of a travelling brothel . 28 years after its release it is now a classic. May it continue to be enjoyed by current and future generations who have yet to discover the meaning of a true western movie...

For many historical buffs of Christopher Columbus this is probably as close a depiction of the discovery of the america's as hollywood has ever done. The politically correct version. It begins in a spanish town square where Columbus is witness to an auto-da-fe, one of many public executions of heretics put on for the benefit of the faithful all courtesy of the spanish inquisition. As far as religious tolerance goes it was a not a good time or place to be around. From that scene one wonders if Columbus is suddenly filled with the desire to discover new worlds where such cruel acts are not necessary and religious tolerance is an accepted fact. But alas, no. With the royal patronage and sponsorship of Queen Isabella herself Columbus, here played incongruously by Gerard Depardieu, is of to discover a new continent out west. Except as we all know he doesn't quite make it and has to settle for an unknown island somewhere of the coast of central america. Following several return trips to Spain where he is feted by everyone he is asked to return and set up a colony, a little spain if you will. The idea is also to spread the word of God to the indigenous populations hopefully with their acquiescence. But not all goes according to plan and the experiment fails miserably and Columbus must return home to ignominy and personal abuse from his enemies at the spanish court. The rest is history.

The film I believe was a faithful attempt to portray the conditions and circumstances of the 15th century that our main character had to live under. At the 500th anniversary of Columbus' discovery there was much opposition from american indigenous groups who saw no reason to celebrate and saw Columbus' feat as the beginning of the end for their history and culture. Not quite the truth but pretty close. I would tend to support them in that stance as the later part of the film shows in its depiction of the conquistadores subsequent treatment of the native populations. Also a matter of record. As a film there are a few outstanding flaws. Casting being one of them. Depardieu and Assante should have changed roles. I kept seeing Gerard as a frenchman as did everyone else. Sigourney Weaver gave ample dignity and grit and staunchness to her role of Queen Isabella who in reality was no simpering female sovereign. Like I said a few flaws but it will have to do for now until some better director comes along.

Interesting re-enactment of the desert campaign during WWII as seen through the experiences of one small company in the British army. They are a disparate group of soldiers. A motley band of commonwealth troops of mixed personalities led by Captain MacRoberts played by Richard Burton. Through the fire and hell of battling the Desert Fox and his war-hardened troops MacRoberts by lifting their spirits and their morale eventually melds his men into a fighting fit group of warriors. Enough said.

Although the story has neither the forced authenticity of 'The Longest Day' or the Hollywood panache of 'Where Eagles Dare' I believe it still manages to stand out in a special place on its own. Prior to a host of many other war movies it was the first to concentrate exclusively on the common soldier in the trenches, his anxieties for the present and hopes for the future. I also liked the side story of the young captain who is surprised to have under his command a favourite old school master, Bartlett played by Robert Newton. It causes some quizzical looks amongst the men, especially when he insists on continuing to address the old private as sir. Here the Desert Fox is played with dignity and respect by James Mason. The other german characters are also portrayed benignly, perhaps in view of the fact that very few atrocities were committed by Rommel's troops unlike their counterparts in Eastern Europe. History records accurately what eventually happened to Rommel in the aftermath of the plot to assassinate Hitler but here that is all in the near future. I recommend this b & w film to all war movie buffs of this English made genre but if you're looking for 'Saving Private Ryan' perhaps you should give it a miss.

Even a baseball buff like myself realises this is not a baseball movie. And you don't have to be to appreciate it. Not one of my favourite films but one that touched me for a long time afterwards. I didn't know what to expect at the start but as the story took these unexpected twists and turns the more engrossed I got caught up in it. Ray's confrontation with Terence Mann, Ani Kinsella's spontaneous outburst at the PTA meeting, giving Archie Graham a lift to the game. It was all a mystery till right to the end.

The most heart rending moment I guess was at the end. Not a dry eye in the house. Enough said. Without giving the story away I can only add a wistful hope, if only everyone had a second chance at saying what we really feel to our loved ones...before its too late.

Not one of my most favourite films but one of the best loved. It was the early 70's, I was only 12. The Vietnam war was on and The Beatles' were splitting up and this film suddenly sprang up to take our minds of all that. If Butch & Sundances' criminal exploits didn't instil young boys like myself with the desire to imitate they somehow did capture our admiration. To the despair of law enforcement types everywhere no doubt.All the other characters seemed to fit their roles perfectly. The one I best remember was that long suffering guard on the money van who kept getting robbed.What a guy. And Katherine Ross as Etta the school teacher, my word.For a lot of adolescent young lads this was their first view of a pair of breasts and so lovely they were too. The other memorable scene was of course the bike ride with Etta and Butch, and that tune "raindrops keep falling on my head" which everyone kept humming days later. Many years later I thought back to that scene which was so incongruous to the whole theme of the movie but somehow seemed to fit in perfectly. There have been more noteworthy films by far but for a few special reasons this is probably my best loved. It would be interesting to see if a new generation will appreciate it in the same way. I suspect not. Oh well...

Coincidentally did you know there was a scene at the end which was cut from the original where Butch & Sundance following a long shootout ride of into the sunset with 200 dead bolivian soldiers in their wake...Go figure.

One reason we tolerate watching 3 or 4 bad movies in a row is that eventually we get to see a good one come out of nowhere and hit us in the face. The green mile is such a film. Based on a Stephen King serial,arn't they all, the story is set in a Louisiana prison during the depression. It revolves around the head guard of an execution detail named Paul Edgecumb(Hanks). Paul is a good and kindly character as are most of the members of his team, bar one.They are conscious of their roles and professional duties and are anxious that their charges, for the brief time they are with them should be relieved of as much stress as possible prior to their execution. Not a scenario one would expect in a southern prison of the 1930's but there you are.Despite their serious duties there is always some welcome levity and on occasion they can be heavy handed when the need arises.Which they do several times with a recalcitrant prisoner to the audiences laughing approval. One day the arrival of a new prisoner arouses everyones curiosity. John Coffey is a black man condemned to death and he is enormous but everyones initial nervousness by his size is waylaid by his child like innocence, his fear of the dark and quiet disposition.Then later on in the prison block stange things start to happen...

Some of the material was unadulterated soppy tear jerker sentimental and contrived, and I loved it. I sympathised with the prison guards for all their grisley work and wonder how they manage to keep it together in such a place. The casting was just right even to the role of Percy the one sociopathic prison guard.Bonnie Hunt noticably gets better in each role,less hair brained.The question never arises in the movie about the origin of these miraculous powers and why they happened to reside in this particular person. I reckon to have gone into such detail would have spoilt the story.I guess its all a matter of faith. I rated this movie an 8/10. I didnt mind the length and believe the subject theme warranted it. Besides you hardly notice it.If I have seen one good warm fuzzy film this year, this is it.

Enjoyable but long movie with a competent cast led by Hopkins & Pitt. Despite the retelling I found the chemistry between Forlani & Brad Pitt did work. I was also impressed by a marked improvement in his acting abilities. Theres hope for the man yet. Without giving too much away this premise of the spectre of death coming to earth in human form and mixing with us mortals is an intriguing one. What if he liked the place, found a nice woman or man and decided not to return home. The thought of living an over extended life is not an unpleasant one but the question arises of the millions of sick & suffering who would welcome a quick relief to their discomfort and pain. Oh well just a thought that niggled at me afterwards. The supporting cast here give very commendable performances. Marcia Harden as the 2nd favourite daughter and Jeffery Tambor as her effusive,bumbling yet loving husband. I rated this film 7/10. A great romantic tale but a tad too long.

This film is not a tragedy whatever anyone else says. And I know I won't give too much away when I say it has what I consider a happy ending (for me that means like...satisfactory closure). This, an original american tale by english director Sam Mendes. Watching the first 20 minutes the story seemed to follow a formulaic line regarding dysfunctional families, etc etc. I kept waiting for the inevitable plot developments to kick in except the formula didnt follow its usual route much to my surprise and the rest of the audience too I suspect. There are worthy performances all round here and both Spacey & Benning have recieved worthy mention. But light praise must also be given to Wes Bently & Thora Birch for showing us the angst and pain of growing up different in that special world inhabited by teenagers where being the same and trying to fit in is all that matters. Not my pick for best picture this year (I give it 7/10)but a well structured film with some touching moments regarding the basic human flaws in us all....And its also not a bad commercial for Sony digital camera's.

I might just get one. We have new neighbours you see...

The wonder of Laurence Olivier was his flexibility. From Shakespeare to the light & fluffy he was not too proud and that he enjoyed his profession so is shown in all his last works. This film is one of the latter and it may delight you with its humour and insight. A story set in Paris(sigh) of two adolescents from very different backgrounds and their budding romance in this the city of love. Which raises a good question mr director, why go to Venice when you could have done it all here the most romantic place in the world. But I digress. Lauren(Diane Lane) & Daniel(Thelonius Bernard) are the leads. Two youngsters with very high IQ's, they both read Heidegger & Nitsche for kicks, and who are surrounded by incompetent adults led by Daniel's dad, a parisien taxi driver with questionable ethics and Laurens mum Kay( Sally Kellerman playing a snobbish ex-patriot socialite) who balks at the thought of returning to the states-"goddam Houston".There is also a fine supporting cast of David Dukes playing George, a very avant-garde film director(so he says) and to Kay a potential husband number three, and Arthur Hill playing the kindly stepfather Richard. Broderick Crawford also makes a cameo appearance as himself, sadly one of his last. Olivier makes his entrance as the comical old gentleman with a mysterious past who used to live at the Browning's Villa in Venice and who befriends the two youngsters regaling them with a romantic tale of eternal love which can only be sealed with a kiss in a gondola under the bridge of sighs in Venice.Enough said.

Director Hill directs against type here but imbues his story with some wonderful vignettes. When Daniel's friend Londet sneaks them in to watch a blue movie Laurens reaction is a typically adolescent, morbid curiousity followed by revulsion and then a pert clinical summary.As if to say this aint that kind of a movie folks. Interestingly the two teenage leads found the eventual physical contact an embarrasing experience for all and had to be firmly encouraged by the director.There is a hint of their discomfort on screen but only for a moment. Love conquers all(sigh). Oliviers humourous performance transfixes when he almost gags on his croissant when seeing his criminal identikit photo in the newspaper. Hill also finds time to place excerpts from previous movies into his latest film,but aptly so. Albeit all in a foreign language. I also loved the photography and the landscape, I dont remember Italy being this lovely. The performances by all are very affecting although Lane did go on to bigger though not always better things. Bernard with his gallic good looks and despite passable reviews was never heard from again. Olivier sadly has passed on and will be missed by all for a long time to come.The ending was predictable but touching all the same.It never won any awards but twenty years later it remains one of my firm favourites for love story of the decade.

A light drama set in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury area of the early 70's. It is the latter days of the Vietnam War, an innocent time for us here in the 90's prior to the advent of AIDS & gay liberation & Watergate. Young cute and blind Don Baker(Edward Albert) makes a concerted effort at independence from his home and his clinging over-protective mother(Eileen Heckart) by moving into his own apartment. He meets and falls for the girl next door,literally. Goldie Hawn, here in one of her more successful & effortless roles as an extrovert gregarious actress. Young Don must come to terms with his blooming relationship together with his handicap.There is also mothers apparent disapproval of her son's budding affair.(her silence on the matter is thunderous). Enough said.

There are some wonderful scenes in this movie especially those moments between Heckart & Hawn. For her role Heckart deservedly won an oscar that year. Domineering & disapproving she may be but she is not an ogre rather a contrast in femininity to Jill, the other woman in Don's life. The emotional change as she slowly accepts her son's independence gives the film some substance it would not otherwise have. Wonderful scene when mother & girlfriend first meet, in his kitchen, and Jill in her underwear !.The chill in the air is palpable but both characters size up the situation without even a hint of discomfort. The ending was surprising and very apt, a very touching moment between mother & son. Edward Albert does a convincing turn here and his circumstances are clearly the pivotal link for the other two characters coming into conflict. But it does seem superfluous at times in view of Hawn & Heckart's strong performances. A not too serious romance not to be missed by the romantics in all of us.