jgw321's Reviews

I Know Who You Are (2017)

7/10

19 November 2017

Warning: Spoilers

A man has amnesia after a car accident and does not remember who he is but is suspected of having murdered his missing niece.

This was shown on BBC4 as 10 episodes of series 1 (truncated, not abridged, from the original Spanish 16 episode series). Many reviewers on IMDb thought this was the complete story and were disappointed by the cliff hanger (demise of a character), which they assumed was the resolution. The BBC have now shown the second part (series 2, with episodes 11 to 16, in Spain they had all sixteen sequentially) and so the series can now be judged properly. The reviews that assume it was edited down to ten episodes are flawed themselves.

This is a long story with a contorted plot, with many twists. This is not an American thriller, with cardboard cut out characters where everything depends on the action, this is European where the characters are complex and irrational, as humans are, and it is all about how they inter react. If you are impatient and like the plot to unfold quickly before you, you may find this hard going or tedious, particularly if you can't relate to the characters, which is hard in this production. If however you enjoy following through all the possibilities as they open up, only to find a dead end and have to look for another route, then you may enjoy this.

There are plenty of twists in this story which are often dealt with in an episode; a twist occurs as a cliff hanger at the end, or at the start, of an episode and then is worked out during the episode. There is little reworking of events that happened several episodes away, so that you have forgotten them, and the twist produced like a rabbit out of a hat. These are done in full view which needs more skill and imaginative writing.

The characters are a problem, they are in the main hard to empathise with. An example is Marta Hess (well played by Eva Santolaria) an attractive woman, but with unlikable behaviour and always smirking. The two main characters are very well portrayed Juan (Francesc Garrido) and Alicia (Blanca Portillo). Juan is a quiet, cool character (appropriate for a lawyer) but very active inside his head, you can see it in his eyes, continually scheming and looking for his best advantage. "Inscrutable" was how another reviewer described him. His wife is more ebullient, but a very hard person and is not to be taken advantage of. As the series progresses we discover that they didn't get where they are, top lawyer and judge, by serving tea to the vicar. By the end of the series these are perhaps the two you can most empathise with; their morals may be different to yours but you can understand why they are like they are, they care about their own family and will do anything to preserve and promote it.

As the series nears the end, things start to slot into place and you can sense a resolution coming. However it does not appear as you might be anticipating and it is left ready for a second series. I am not sure if there will be one (third in the BBC way of reckoning), but it is possible, there is the interaction of Juan and Anna to play out.

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Vendetta (I) (2013)

4/10

Good thriller, full of revenge, but no twists or character development.

13 October 2017

If you want a film full of violence and revenge, to get your adrenaline going, then this will fill the bill. It doesn't have the qualities to make it a great film, but it is not pretending to be that, just an entertaining action flick.

However, it is a bad film in that it seems to have the message behind it that vigilantism is the solution to our current crime problems. In watching the film it dawns on you that the author is saying our current system is broken and out of control. So well and good, that is a good point to make, but in watching the short bundled with the DVD (The Snowman) it seems to be advocating vigilantism as the solution. Our system may be bad and need fixing, but this is not the way to go. It is hard to tell if the film itself is pro vigilantes, as it was left in the air ready for the sequel. However, I won't be watching it.

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Electric Dreams: Crazy Diamond (2017)

Season 1, Episode 4

8/10

A little Gem

9 October 2017

A simple little short story, a touch of menage a trois, a touch of life in the future, pipe dreams to escape an authoritarian regime; interesting enough on its own, but the real delight is afterwards, when we reflect on the film and what it means. Are we back with Blade Runner? The final scene when Ed finds his LP record seems to say this to me.

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Black Lake (2016–2018)

3/10

Could have been better

9 October 2017

Had the makings of a thriller but poor writing let it down. None of the characters had any redeeming characteristics and behaved irrationally throughout. This sort of film will work as a supernatural thriller, or as one that appears to be, but turns out to have rational explanations; but if you try to have both, as this film did, it doesn't work. Poor example of what Scandie drama can be.

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Hurlyburly (1998)

9/10

Theatre Lives!

24 November 2012

It is very much like a stage play, (not surprising since that is where it came from). It is all in the dialogue rather than action; interaction between two or three characters only most of the time, sudden changes of mood and dynamics, more cerebral than visceral. It is more expansive than a stage play though, even though it has that feel about it. The screenplay includes nice cinematic touches like the car phone dialogues where one car over takes the other and he shouts at him as he goes past. A similar thing was done from the balcony of the flat earlier in the film. There are also some qualities of a Michael Mann about it with the use of architecture and music as film elements.

The film grew on me as it went along. One of the things that made it difficult perhaps, was that none of the characters were very likable, but the acting by all of them was a tour de force. Nice to see Meg Ryan given a chance to do some real acting instead of being just pretty-pretty set decoration. It's a film that is hard to take in one sitting I think, and will bear repeated viewing with more coming out each time.

This film is likely to appeal to people who liked such films as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Glengarry Glen Ross, Le Diner de Cons and others which have a stage play feel about them. Who said that theatre is dead?

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Humanity (1999)

3/10

Nice still photography.

24 November 2012

"A police detective who has forgotten how to feel emotions, because of the death of his own family" That part of the summary doesn't ring true. He is clearly upset by the death, and the manner of it, in the early scenes. It seems the director was insensitive to his actors. Dispair, emptiness, loss were all well portrayed by the actors in the early scenes, but he just seemed to want more of the same, as though he hadn't got it yet. The effect was to drag the whole film out to the point of boredom. Add that to the fact that none of the characters were likable, and it is a wonder if any of the audience would still be there by the end of the film. The film did capture the distracted empty feeling that loss through death can bring, but that is all it managed to do, over and over again, for two and a half hours. The director should watch City Island and follow the advice given by Alan Arkin, "No Pauses!".

We recognised Wimmeraux, that was a high point.

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House of Sand and Fog (2003)

7/10

A powerful human story

24 November 2012

Kathy (Jennifer Connelly), through not bothering to open her mail, gets her house confiscated by the County and auctioned to pay of a debt which she does in fact not owe them. Behrani (Ben Kingsley), is a hard working Iranian immigrant leading a triple life, moonlighting on two menial jobs to pay for a lifestyle at home beyond their means. He sees the auction notice and buys the house at a knock down price, with a view to making a huge profit and climbing the social ladder. The film unfolds from there.

None of the characters are truly likable, they have good qualities but are also flawed. This makes them proper rounded human characters and gives the actors a good chance to show their acting skills. Shohreh Aghdashloo and Jonathan Ahdout play Nadi and Esmail, a mother and son role that they were to repeat in 24 series four. Ron Eldard plays Lester, a sympathetic cop who oversteps his powers in trying to help Kathy.

To me, the film centres around Behrani and his stubborn refusal to see other than his own self interest, and his eventual realisation of what really matters to him. Ben Kingsley pulls this off remarkably well, we know he is a fine actor, schooled in Shakespeare, but even so his performance still impresses. He is well supported by the other main characters though. The message behind the film, issues behind tensions between naturalised immigrants and the incumbent (indigenous isn't right) population is not fully spelt out, but you are given plenty of things to think about. The film uses symmetry to point out parallels, inviting you to compare. One obvious one is the viewing platform built on the house by Behrani which resembles the pier that we see Kathy walking on.

If you need to empathise with characters in films, then this one might be not to your taste. If you like a film you can think about, where the characters have good and bad sides, then this is worth seeing. Apart from the realisation that Behrani comes to (the real climax of the film) and the lesser one by Kathy in the punch line of the film, there is not much character development. The development is in the plot, and how a chain of small events can lead up to something bigger.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel (2009)

9/10

Title is spot on.

24 November 2012

This film has a slow silly start (men dressed up in animal costumes!), we nearly passed up on it. However we kept with it, and once the story got going we were glad we did. It is not a film with a profound message, but it is very entertaining and gives you things to think about if you like time loop puzzles. Wait for the chance meeting with the girl in the pub (or fast forward to it if you are watching a recording) before you decide, if at the beginning you find you don't like the film.

All the classic problems with time travelled are explored in this film, some with fresh interpretations, so the film does do what it promises in the title. If you like Douglas Adam's view of the world in Hitchhiker's Guide or Grant/Naylor's view in Red Dwarf, then you should give this film a try.

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World's Greatest Dad (I) (2009)

7/10

An unusual film

26 November 2011

Robin Williams films are always a risk; some are brilliant, some bad, some mediocre. This one is difficult, it starts off like one of the bad ones, but takes a turn part way through. Up until then, the son is so obnoxious that you wonder why you are still watching the film, why waste sympathy on a looser, and his Dad who can't see why his son is a problem.

However it turns out that this is the clever part of the film, it is necessary to set up for what follows. Daryl Sabara should be commended for his acting of Kyle, it is hard to imagine the character being played better (worse) by anyone. At the end of the film, it is possible to realise that it is a clever comment on people and their attitude to others; and like any good film gives you plenty to think about over the following week.

What did let this film down was that there was nothing to carry the audience through the first part, which was quite lengthy. Without a warm character to relate to, or a ray of hope to cling on to, the likelihood is that the film will lose its audience before it gets to the meat of the film. If you do stick it out, you find it very moving in places, so a dark comedy; and quite sharp on its criticism of the fickleness of human nature, but at the same time the steadfast nature of true friendship. It was certainly a brave film to make, as it could have easily failed at the box office.

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Puncture (2011)

9/10

A film that does tell an important story.

18 November 2011

Warning: Spoilers

When you start to watch this film you could easily think, "Oh no! Not another sordid drug film" and give up; but persevere, the film is worth it. The drugs continue, they are not just a side issue and play centre stage. The film has to be like this though as it is a real story which is being portrayed as it was, warts and all. The hero, lawyer Mike Weiss, is hard to empathise with; there is a brief period where he tries to give up drug taking and we see further pain as he goes through "cold turkey", but generally we have little patience for his self inflicted pain. Finally, after a plot point that would be a spoiler so I omit, his partner takes it on. He has been reluctant all the way through to take on this expensive case that is unlikely to succeed, and that they just can't afford. This is where the honesty of the screen play pays off, you end up respecting the hero even if you still can't like him.

The actual winning of the case, the courtroom drama itself, happens with screen titles at the end. Some seem to think this is a cop out, but they have missed the point that the story is about the four participants; Mike Weiss, Paul Danziger, Jeffrey Dancourt and Vicky the nurse and how they got to where they were, and not about the winning of the case, that is just the reason why the story was worth telling.

If you are not moved by this film then you are lacking in perception and should maybe stick to cartoons and soaps.

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The Song of Lunch (2010 TV Movie)

10/10

Best adaption of a poem to film I have seen

15 October 2010

It is not easy to transfer poetry to film. Poetry does not tell a story like a simple novel, with the plot explained in logical prose. Instead it approaches the subject sideways; with ideas, hints and suggestions with which, by enrichment from your own experience, you arrive at a shadowy glimpse of something profound about what it is to be human.

This films achieves this in just the same way that a poem does. It is a brilliant film that I could watch over and over again, getting more from it each time. This is because the poem and film are catalysts to the beholder's share, which will be different each time I view as my mood changes, and my experiences grow.

If you don't understand poetry then this film could be rather bleak, since it dwells on ageing, lost love, mortality and similar themes. If you accept that these themes are ever present in our daily lives and we have to come to terms with them, and you understand and enjoy poetry then this is a must see film for you.

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Front of the Class (2008 TV Movie)

7/10

Film that can teach us all

29 November 2009

The story of Brad Cohen's determination to be a school teacher in spite of his Tourette's Syndrome.

I always have a problem with actors playing the part of someone with a handicap, I find it harder to relate to them than I would to someone with a real handicap. After the initial recognition of a handicap in someone, it fades away into the background as you get to know the person. With an actor playing a part it is somehow always in the way, no matter how well they play the role. For me this always spoils the enjoyment in such films, no matter how well they are made.

This film is no exception, there are some cheesy bits, but there is a lot of good acting from the whole cast. I will only pick out one for mention, Sarah Drew playing the girl friend not a very major role, but very well acted. She came through as a thinking, caring young American; like the sort of original founding Americans, full of ideals, spirit and hope for the future that we saw in John Adams.

There are some very moving moments, but overall it is an upbeat film. It was worthy of an 8 were it not for the distraction of the ticks, ironic as Jimmy Wolk has in fact portrayed just what was required; he shows frustration and anger but always with hope and exuberance shining through. It is really my fault that I find his performance distracting, as that was the whole point. I just feel that I would have enjoyed it more had Brad Cohen played himself.

JG

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The Zip (1989)

6/10

Man finds his chest has a zip in it

23 July 2003

When getting undressed for bed a man discovers his chest is zipped.

He hides it from his wife and seeks medical help the next day but declines their offer.

He finds his own solution.

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A La Cart (1997)

7/10

The shopping trolley that doesn't like being pushed around.

23 July 2003

An eleven minute short that starts with a man having fun with a shopping trolley in a multi-story car park.

He gets distracted by a woman returning to her car.

A good short worth watching.

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