Reviews

This certainly isn't a critics movie. OK, so Big Nothing isn't the most original film in the world. Blackmail attempt goes horribly wrong, etc. etc. I can also see how some people have problems with seeing Simon Pegg as an American.

HOWEVER, in it's defence, 'Big Nothing' is a lot of fun, is snappy, stylish, well paced and all in all a very enjoyable piece of film making. I found it really funny (I loved Mimi Rogers' quip about Pink Floyd), and the film got a good reaction from the rest of audience too. If you're after a good old slice of entertainment then Big Nothing is worth seeing. Definitely a 'Friday night' with popcorn type of viewing.

Being a fan of Loach's work, I was expecting to be gripped and blown away by this film. Sadly I was not. I was actually rather bored.

The chief problem with this film for me was the script - it felt like one long political and ideological lecture rather than the telling of an incredible story in the history of Ireland. It vacillates between a howling rage or an earnest debate, with no dramatic tension to make it work as a piece of cinema. The narrative flow and pace is absolutely all over the place, with a stop start momentum that makes the film incredibly hard to settle into.

Loach's trademark gallows humour is sadly lacking, and there is next to no character development, so it was very hard to care for the protagonists. The British soldiers were one dimensional cardboard cut outs and more pantomime villains than vicious oppressors.

Cillian Murphy is excellent, but I felt that Orlagh Fitzgerald's performance was all 'one- note', and Padraic Delaney as Teddy lacked the charisma and gravitas for someone who is supposed to be an inspirational leader.

Despite my criticism of the film I want to point out that I don't subscribe to the notion that this film is anti-British. The atrocities committed by the British government are well documented. We can't pretend that it didn't happen. This is just a very flawed depiction.

An ensemble piece set amongst a middle class group of thirty something friends in Barcelona.

This tepid drama punches well below its weight. Whilst certainly watchable, it never really gets going. Only María Pujalte's standout performance as Sofía really provides any interest or believable moments. As an unconventionally sexy woman, she perfectly captures the female habit of hankering after the unavailable and unsuitable man who has no real respect for her (in this case a married man), rejecting the attentions of a sensitive and intelligent but uncharismatic suitor. This element excepted, the minor characters and their sub plots are far more interesting than the main action.

Cesc Gay appeared to try and pinpoint the inherent loneliness that many city dwellers often feel despite a comfortable lifestyle and a close group of friends, but ultimately the angst middle class misery feels more self indulgent than poignant and insightful.

A very charming and sometimes funny movie about teenagers at high school, I found this piece very engaging, mainly because it brought so many memories flooding back. The agonies of fitting in, of approval, of being 'cool', NOT being a jerk, and most importantly of all, the agonies of dispensing with virginity.

It includes many staples of the teen movie genre - the coolest and most fancied boy in school,convertible cars, the local hip hangout, and of course the geeky boy who ends up being the one with depth and intelligence. It's shot in a zappy style as suits the genre and audience, but not so much that it becomes a distraction.

Short and sweet (83mins), it ticks along at a zappy pace, albeit at the expense of some character development, and there are moments that feel a bit predictable and contrived, but overall this film has a sharpness and edge so sorely lacking in the standard fare produced by Hollywood.

What a waste. How such an incredible story could be allowed to be let down with such shoddy direction and terrible dialogue is completely beyond me. If Liz Murray is such a genius why on earth did she approve this script? A bit more development (and a new director) would have done justice to and made this piece more deserving of it's central theme.

Thora Birch was good but the other performances were two dimensional at best - again I think as a result of the inexperienced direction. Kelly Lunch as her mother was overly dramatic and on the whole unconvincing.

One plus is that the pace and momentum really works - the film ticks along nicely.