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leighinstoke
Avid Collector of VHS tapes now DVD is more prominent - means VHS are so cheap!
Love most films - even trashy American B-movies that you get on Hallmark. British films from the 50s/60s are favourites of mine.
Westerns and B/W War movies don't go down so well though.
Norman Wisdom is a favourite of mine, so is Caine, etc.
Can't think of anything else to write here so will stop before I start waffling on.
Reviews
The War Zone (1999)
As well as the storyline....
Yes - other's have commented on the incest storyline, so lets not dwell on that.
Sit and watch this film once again and concentrate on the other side of Tim Roth's skill - his directing and whole input into this film from the production crew.
The War Zone is dark, it's grim, it's everything Tim Roth starred in during his early days playing 'Trevor' when scenes were lit with just a single bulb - watching this film made me think back to the early career of Roth and those who produced and directed him.
Again, look at the set - it's bare - the family have just moved into the Devon cottage and it's a dump - but that's what makes the set stand out - especially the old clifftop battery and the sea below - I don't think any better locations could be found for the cold feeling they give when viewing and the scenes filmed within them.
Add all of this brilliance to the storyline and hopefully you can see why I'm desperate to see this film once more.
Tipping the Velvet (2002)
A fantastic and bawdy production by the BBC!
The BBC surpassed themselves with the boundaries they crossed with Tipping the Velvet. In the past they've been 'daring' with Dennis Potter's works but this mini-series (as it was screened in the UK) is superb. Andrew Davies work is top notch - I've not read the Sarah Water's novel but I can imagine he's done it real justice. I comment on the bawdiness - most men have watched it for that - proved to be a main talking and selling point when originally advertised. The fact is, it portays the lesbian side of society in the 1800s - a time when most thought it was old men and rent boys - well it was - lesbianism took place mainly behind closed and often respectable doors.
You can also look at Tipping The Velvet as a 'love story' - it actually is - as well as 'self discovery' that many gay/bi and straight people go through and comments on this occur and repeat all the time.
If you've not seen it yet - either repeated on TV or on DVD - get it - you'll be in for a treat - and even the production and filming of it is perfect. Just try to hide your blushes in parts - like I said - 'bawdy' is the order of the day - and beware a 'phallus' or two!
Enjoy!
Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960)
Watch again and again and again....
This is one of those types of films that actually lets you forget who the big stars in it really are (a young Albert Finney) - and just lets you enjoy the film for what it is - a classic and gritty British film. I've watched it over and over and seen it again today - and forgot how good - and funny in places it really is.
Director Karel Reisz used his skills perfectly in this - he took places lit and furnished as he found them, let people naturally perform and simply laced together a piece of cinematographic brilliance.
People forget that he also directed such films as The French Lieutenants Woman and produced This Sporting Life, but I personally feel this masterpiece, amongst his early and sadly rare work was the best by far.
If you've not seen this film and claim to be a fan of 1960s British Cinema, you'd better get it into your collection and view it very soon - be prepared for some smiles, some laughs, some hard scenes but, overall, a treat.
Enjoy!